smile4stamps
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2009
- Messages
- 4,427
So... Barb asked me awhile ago to post a synopsis of our December trip and what I found to be the high and low lights!
I figured today was a good as day as any to get this posted as it is ONE WEEK till I am getting off of work and will be heading to the airport!
Let me start with the most positive thing about this trip. Meeting everyone!!
I had the pleasure of meeting Brenda and Emily previously in Disneyland but on those meeting we usually only had time for a meal or a ride or two as it was always weekdays when I was down there and for some darn reason Brenda always had to work!
So it was Fun spending time with Brenda and Emily again at WDW where we got to spend a lot more meals together and also a lot of park time!
We had a great time getting pictures on my last night after the Christmas party ended as we made our way out of the park!
This is one of my only ones with Rachel even though we dined with her quite a bit!
This trip was great in that with other people along Hunter was willing to do more in the parks! I am hoping the same holds true for my upcoming trip! Either that or Brenda and I will ditch the guys and go do stuff ourselves
But... on to the food...
We had one AWFUL meal and unfortunately it was both a service and a product issue for Hunter so he has deemed never again to return to KONA. I know for many this is a favorite but for us we have had bad or slow service on all of our visits and the bad Hollandaise sauce was just the nail in the
coffin.
We also had a server issue at Biergarten which has put that on my husbands Kill list as well. I am hoping he will change his mind at some point as I really like the food there!
Onto the good! and I think the rest was ALL GOOD! With the exception of a few slow servers. I'm looking at you Tea Room and the Yachtsman. I think for the most part these were just REALLY SLOW services and at the Yachtsman it wouldn't have even been an issue if we hadn't been on a time crunch.
Some of my favorite meals were.... Almost all the rest of our dinners!
We had a great experience at Flying Fish, Citrico's, delicious food at Yachtsman, and California Grill remains as our absolute favorite.
The steak I had at Flying Fish was awesome. I would skip the fish though as it is just too blah for me... I think it needs some spices!
Hunter also loved his Pork dish.
At Citrico's we shared our entree of my favorite dish there... The Short Ribs!
The short ribs there are absolutely delicious. I prefer them over the Troffie pasta but the gnocchi were good as well!
At Yachtsman despite the slow service our steak was outstanding! The only thing we hate is the way they cut it there!! But we managed to fix that ourselves so we were both satisfied!
Then there is our Favorite Restaurant. California Grill. We have become good friends with the Sous Chef there and he treats us well. We weren't sure if this would carry over with a group our size but it certainly did!
To start Chef Eddie treated everyone to a mushroom risotto. This was SO GOOD!
Hunter and I usually share appetizers here because they all sound so good!
This time we went with something new. The Pate Flatbread
This was quite good. I thought there might be a bit more Pate on it but it was enough to tell it was there without being overpowering.
For our second appetizer we went with what quickly became a favorite during our October trip.
The Pork Belly Nigiri!
We truely love this! Unfortunately we had forgotten to convey that it needed to be made in the Sushi Paper instead of Nori... I can't remember if they remade it or if Hunter just pulled it off.
For our Entree which we shared we went with the Bison Center Cut Striploin with celery root puree, Chanterelles, Fig Bread Pudding, and Madeira-Fig Demi Glaze. This was delicious! It was a good thing we had each had an appetizer or I would have wanted more!
After watching Wishes from the observation deck we contemplated dessert. Although CA Grill is not someplace that we actually contemplate much of anything for dessert as Hunter always tells Chef Eddie "Surprise Us!"
And then the "Platters" of desserts came out
A blurry group photo from this meal.
And one with Nancy, our server, who did a FABULOUS job!
Even though there were 7 of us at this meal with 5 different checks there was not a delay at all in getting things settled.
Overall it was a great trip! A bit too short in my mind but fun nonetheless! I am excited to be returning to WDW next week with Barb joining us for many more dining events and her Birthday celebration and Brenda joining a day later with her husband Michael to celebrate her birthday which was a few days ago!
If you would like to find out more about our dining plans I've outlined most of them in my PTR with a link in my signature!
I figured today was a good as day as any to get this posted as it is ONE WEEK till I am getting off of work and will be heading to the airport!
Let me start with the most positive thing about this trip. Meeting everyone!!
I had the pleasure of meeting Brenda and Emily previously in Disneyland but on those meeting we usually only had time for a meal or a ride or two as it was always weekdays when I was down there and for some darn reason Brenda always had to work!
So it was Fun spending time with Brenda and Emily again at WDW where we got to spend a lot more meals together and also a lot of park time!
We had a great time getting pictures on my last night after the Christmas party ended as we made our way out of the park!
This is one of my only ones with Rachel even though we dined with her quite a bit!
This trip was great in that with other people along Hunter was willing to do more in the parks! I am hoping the same holds true for my upcoming trip! Either that or Brenda and I will ditch the guys and go do stuff ourselves
But... on to the food...
We had one AWFUL meal and unfortunately it was both a service and a product issue for Hunter so he has deemed never again to return to KONA. I know for many this is a favorite but for us we have had bad or slow service on all of our visits and the bad Hollandaise sauce was just the nail in the
coffin.
We also had a server issue at Biergarten which has put that on my husbands Kill list as well. I am hoping he will change his mind at some point as I really like the food there!
Onto the good! and I think the rest was ALL GOOD! With the exception of a few slow servers. I'm looking at you Tea Room and the Yachtsman. I think for the most part these were just REALLY SLOW services and at the Yachtsman it wouldn't have even been an issue if we hadn't been on a time crunch.
Some of my favorite meals were.... Almost all the rest of our dinners!
We had a great experience at Flying Fish, Citrico's, delicious food at Yachtsman, and California Grill remains as our absolute favorite.
The steak I had at Flying Fish was awesome. I would skip the fish though as it is just too blah for me... I think it needs some spices!
Hunter also loved his Pork dish.
At Citrico's we shared our entree of my favorite dish there... The Short Ribs!
The short ribs there are absolutely delicious. I prefer them over the Troffie pasta but the gnocchi were good as well!
At Yachtsman despite the slow service our steak was outstanding! The only thing we hate is the way they cut it there!! But we managed to fix that ourselves so we were both satisfied!
Then there is our Favorite Restaurant. California Grill. We have become good friends with the Sous Chef there and he treats us well. We weren't sure if this would carry over with a group our size but it certainly did!
To start Chef Eddie treated everyone to a mushroom risotto. This was SO GOOD!
Hunter and I usually share appetizers here because they all sound so good!
This time we went with something new. The Pate Flatbread
This was quite good. I thought there might be a bit more Pate on it but it was enough to tell it was there without being overpowering.
For our second appetizer we went with what quickly became a favorite during our October trip.
The Pork Belly Nigiri!
We truely love this! Unfortunately we had forgotten to convey that it needed to be made in the Sushi Paper instead of Nori... I can't remember if they remade it or if Hunter just pulled it off.
For our Entree which we shared we went with the Bison Center Cut Striploin with celery root puree, Chanterelles, Fig Bread Pudding, and Madeira-Fig Demi Glaze. This was delicious! It was a good thing we had each had an appetizer or I would have wanted more!
After watching Wishes from the observation deck we contemplated dessert. Although CA Grill is not someplace that we actually contemplate much of anything for dessert as Hunter always tells Chef Eddie "Surprise Us!"
And then the "Platters" of desserts came out
A blurry group photo from this meal.
And one with Nancy, our server, who did a FABULOUS job!
Even though there were 7 of us at this meal with 5 different checks there was not a delay at all in getting things settled.
Overall it was a great trip! A bit too short in my mind but fun nonetheless! I am excited to be returning to WDW next week with Barb joining us for many more dining events and her Birthday celebration and Brenda joining a day later with her husband Michael to celebrate her birthday which was a few days ago!
If you would like to find out more about our dining plans I've outlined most of them in my PTR with a link in my signature!
As most know, DS is moving on to college in the Fall and a new chapter in both of our lives will begin. This trip was a first step in that direction for me. First time I put me ahead of the men in my life. First time on a plane alone, at a hotel alone and taking a trip with no family. I have to thank all of the wonderful people on this trip for helping me do it and enjoy every minute! (Ok, except for the one breakdown in EPCOT!). Such an honor to spend time again with Barb and Brenda & Emily. And to meet the others that I felt I already knew Paula, Linda and Patti & little Emme. Adding Hunter, Phillip, Beth, Rachel & Rob to the mix only iced the already perfect cake!
I am so sad that I will not be able to meet up with you all this year. I am already having serious Disney withdrawals with no trips on the horizon. I will have to visit thru you all for now.
