Ok you guys...its on, the LIVE Nicki and Todd..Summer edition!

[KatMark]

DH and I are 35 & 36 and I think we are as excited about the pirate beds as our DS who is 10. Shhhh-dont tell on us though.

I promise not to tell! It's your secret.

 

[mickey2minnie1]

Ohhhhhh! I am soooo disappointed in the Nine Dragons reviews. We were hoping to dine there in October. We love Chinese food. Oh well, we will have to choose another.

 

[MickeyNicki]

Awesome reviews as usual!!

I so want to do Kona breakfast and 50's Primetime but don't know where to fit them in. I have to figure this out because Kona breakfast always looks so awesome in every review!

Thank you! I cannot believe how much I missed Kona, the breakfast there is the best!

Good morning, friend. Hope you guys had a restful night. I say you should do Tutto because I know it is a fav of yours and you know you like the food.

I really think the resorts need to start doing different colored key cards for resorts and then making you show them NO MATTER WHAT RESORT you are staying at for pool privileges. It is unbelievable what people will do. My oldest DS and his girlfriend are going next month and they are staying at the CBR (not happy with this...but they really didn't have a choice) and she asked if pool hopping was allowed. I told her no. She said she didn't think so but wanted to ask before she tried to go elsewhere (I guess the pirate theme just isn't doing it for a 21-year old ).

Anxious for the next set of reviews. And still waiting for that cell number to put in my phone for the next time you scare the crap out of us.

Hello my good caring wonderful friend! So far I do have lunch schedule at Tutto, since you told me too! I hope your DS and girlfriend have a blast at CBR! I need to email you that number!

I am now starving for Tonga Toast! Somehow I have to have that AND try those pancakes on our trip. Thanks for all the menu pics, too; it's great to see a current menu so you know what you're looking at is actually correct (at least for a little while!)

I was cracking up at you bringing Tupperware! Such a good idea!

Do what I do, make your DH order one and you order the other one and eat from both plates! I try to get the menu pics in because the ones online are never current..glad it helps! Tupperware, never leave home without it!

PSA Be very careful getting on the boats in bad weather - the boats cannot be out in lightning - they are monitored, and are radioed to get out of the open waters... we waited 30 minutes under a bridge - no a/c - until the all clear was given.

I figure you ought to know, you must've paid your dues when you were 'sick' - glad that weather didnt affect your boat trip, nor your DHS day!!

Once again, I'm most appreciative of the pics of the drink menus

Hope you have fun on your solo day!

That is a great tip...the boats were so warm today I thought I was gonna pass out! More drinks are coming but there will be more when I have a solo day!

Is that bucket just for the caramel corn or have they changed the buckets for all the popcorn?? That bucket is adorable. I love it! I want it. But I do not like Caramel Corn

They have Star Wars buckets for the regular popcorn and prepackaged caramel corn in the bucket that I have.

I'm about to start reading to catch up How much drinking am I going to be doing?

Oh girl, you better get a full bottle and a glass...plenty of ice too

 

[MickeyNicki]

Happy Monday!

My goodness, I sure missed a lot over the weekend! Thank goodness you are feeling better and hope today is a good one.

Loved the photos of 50's PT - haven't eaten there since Feb 2006 when we had terrible service and that delicious Fried Chicken was awful too - was soooo disappointed as it had been a fave. Excited to know it's great again!

I used to get Carmel Corn in the MK at the Candy Shoppe and that little walk up cookie place in Liberty Sq - of course, I cannot think of the name right now, but it's near the bridge & across from the Christmas Shoppe. Only got it there once b/c they keep it in the fridge! Yuck.

Hope y'all are enjoying the day! Swan view is fabulous!!

p.s. What a darling couple!!!! For those who asked, there's a photo in the first post in the link with the nieces. Now I'm reading that review!

Oh thank you, I think we are pretty darn cute too..but not when we are at Epcot all day in 90 degree weather! They no longer sell caramel corn at MK...it is sad because I loved it there! Try and get back to 50's, it was soooooo good!

Just got caught up. I'm glad you guys are feeling better. Nine Dragons was one of those places I wanted to try. Not anymore!

We love the Swalophin but haven't stayed there since 2006. I noticed they still use the same bath products.

I'm glad you liked ESPN. Have talked DH into staying at the Boardwalk for our 20th anniversary in 2011 and that restaurant was one of the selling points.

Can't wait to hear about Bluezoo. I hope Todd doesn't change his mind about this one.

The Swalophin is a ghost town, no one in either resort, the restaurants are empty and the spa is offering $59 facials and massages...hmmm might have to do that! The bath products are yummy! Since we are staying at BWI in Oct I can see us going back to ESPN...nice place! BlueZoo was a keeper, reviews coming up!

Finally had a chance to get caught up..So glad the Pixie Dust worked! Everything looked really good yesterday. We've done Kona for dinner, but I really want to go for breakfast and for REAL coffee! Hope today is another good one for you!

Today was awesome, thanks! And I had real Starbucks today...YAY!

That picture from the California Grill looks familiar. That's what I saw looking out the window from the Tambu Lounge that same night!

Great reviews! I'm so glad we didn't go to Raglan Road. We were going to go there last Monday, but went to Restaurant Marrakesh instead.

Wasnt the weather the pits?! How was Marrakesh?

No more fried cheese appetizer at 50's??!!!!

Oh the HORROR!

Great reviews!

Oh my I never even noticed!

Great reviews. I have always thought about Nine Dragons but with all the bad reviews I think I'll skip it. I don't think I've ever heard good reviews. Can't wait to do Cali Grill in Oct. nothing but great reviews there. Thanks for all the reviews.

Oh no, dont do it! Cali Grill was incredible, you will love it!

We have never done 50's Prime Time. The food looks good and the drinks even better. Guess I better add it to my list for 2010 also. At this rate I am going to need to book during free dining.

The drinks were great, the food is good ole home cooking!

Wow, I had a lot of catching up to do, and I've only been gone for a day! Nicki, you are a DIS board rock star!

I love breakfast at Kona.....and I agree with you, it can be too sweet. But I still have to get it everytime!

Looks like I may be adding a stop at Tune In Lounge for that picnic punch on our October trip....thank goodness said trip just got extended by another day since DH has just been blessed with 5 bonus vacation days....or else I don't think my liver would be able to keep up with the list of drinks I've compiled!

You better get ready for another full day of chowing down cuz I am posting soon! That is great about the extra vacation days....hope you get lots of wonderful things to eat and drink..and make sure you let me know what you had!

Thanks alot!!!!

No problem! Marsha writes amazing reviews!

Honey, I knew I liked you for a reason! From one Italian girl to another, I'm glad you enjoyed it as much as I did!

Soulmates! I have to tell you the aromas from Il Mulino are killing me, I so need to try that place!

Late to the party as usual, but I found you!!! Just caught up on your report

I'm sorry to hear that you had a few bad meals. That food at RR looked horrendous!!!

I'm loving the storm photos!!!

Reading your Kona review made me realize that I hadn't planned a meal there for our trip in October, so I fixed that real quick Thanks

Enjoy the rest of your trip Nicki!!

Hey babe thanks for making it to the party! With all the bad sky view weather the last few days we have not had any rain!

 

[MickeyNicki]

Good evening my fellow food enthusiasts! How are we? Are we ready to rock? The Swan is incredible, the beds are just wonderful and we slept so soundly that when I awoke at 9am I could not believe it! DH was still snoring, uh sorry snoozing so I went to the Java Lounge to get some grub.

I had a latte....oh sweet heavens a real latte! I got DH a cappucino. He said it was good. Forgot to take pics but it is just coffee.

For DH I picked a cinnamon bun..he said it was very sweet and very dense and he prefers the ones at POFQ instead. And an OJ which was good!

A plain bagel with cream cheese, it was ick...just a big thick roll.

And a croissant for me, which was gross because the top was covered in a sweet sticky almost honey like glaze....BLECH!

A huge serving of fruit...there was blueberries, cantalope, honeydew, watermelon, oranges, strawberries and pineapple and it was AWESOME! Lots of fruit to share and we still have some left over.

The Java Lounge also sells cereal, donuts and muffins.

After we had our showers and such we were out the door for Epcot!

 

[MickeyNicki]

Ah a day of snacking around the countries, what better way to spend a Monday? The park wasnt busy at all and we did a few rides and stuff before going back to the countries for lunch.

First stop, France for a Grand Marnier Slushie.

Oh sweet nectar of the gods where have you been all my life! So cold and smooth and wonderful tasting, I just love it and it was mine all mine because DH was not into booze today.... I know and I still married him.

 

[MickeyNicki]

From there we went to Tangierine Cafe and I had a message to deliver. Skunk from the Disboards asked me to find a CM names Naima and let her know her adoptive parents miss her and will see her in November.

Well there she was, behind the pastry counter and I delivered the message, she was so happy she hugged us both and gave us a free strawberry tart! The tart was killer, the berries sweet, the tart was soaked in a nice rum flavor or something, we loved it!

If you guys are ever at the TC and see Naima tell her hello, she is a real cutie!

Now you guys know I love the falafel wrap from TC right? Well sadly, not anymore...it was a bit different in March and now it is totally different. They are not falafel patties but now they are falafel balls and they are so spicy my eyes were on fire. And they are served on a thin pita like bread instead of the thicker doughier bread. I had to let DH eat the rest of it....the lentil salad and couscous was delish! Next time I will get the chicken schwarma

More pastries from TC

Meatballs and saffron rice...Todd loves these, thinks they are hamburger and not lamb but what he doesnt know will not kill him!

 

[MickeyNicki]

On to Germany! Since DH is 100% German we always get food here, any food it doesnt matter what

We shared a brat with kraut and it was great! DH eats the kraut and said it was great, the brat was nice and had a good spice to it and the soft steamed roll.....OY it was perfect!

And a few pics from the candy store in Germany! I found the gingerbread men and asked if they were fresh and soft, when I bought one in March it was dry and stale. The CM said they were so we bought one, inhaled it and then bought 8 to put in my tupperware and take home with us...the CM said he never saw anyone buy that many before but I told him he never met ME before ha ha!

 

[MickeyNicki]

On our way to China I had to get another Peach Snap! And again, I was lucky enough to drink it all myself!

Ah the drink of lushes all over the world!

DH has an eggroll fetish and since Nine Dragons bit the dust he had them at Lotus Blossom instead...they were so much better!

After a ride on Maelstrom I wanted a fancy water from Norway and I took a few pics, could not get them all because the cases were all fogged up with condensation.

 

[MickeyNicki]

It was hot, I mean a real scorcher and DH was getting cranky so we headed back to the Swan to relax. On the way out we had to stop at France to get DH something to eat in the morning, he has to be out the door at 6am to get to his meeting.

He got macaroons and a chocolate croissant, OJ and we have fruit left over from this morning and I will make coffee in the room for him...yes I will be up too! Cannot review them yet but I did take a ton of pics for you guys.

 

[MickeyNicki]

And tonights dinner was BlueZoo, have read wonderful reviews and seen fantastic pictures from Brenda and Rosie and the DisneyFamily...so excited to try it ourselves! Quick walk from the Swan so DH had to get to bed early, it was perfect!

We arrived at 6:30, the bar was empty, the restaurant was just about empty. We were seated in a cozy little round booth in the back of the restaurant. Our server was Jay, great guy, super attentive but not smothering at all. Great suggestions and very helpful! The restaurant is gorgeous, there are "dancing fish" rotating on a spit at the entrance past the bar, that is how they cook them so they look like they are dancing. The raw bar was impressive too....the atmosphere is very calming and relaxing.

We both had ice tea and Fiji water.

The bread was great, there was a parmesan cheese lavosh that to me tasted like burnt cheese but Todd liked it alot. A nice thing dense chewy ciabatta bread and the best, these little bread squares with carmelized onions on top...oh sweet carbohydrated god thank you! I scarfed these puppies down fast and Jay was quick to bring more.

And the butter, oh my the butter. It is a fennel infused butter and I could have licked the little bowl. Fennel, or anise, is the licorice tasting celery looking thing that we always eat from Oct-Jan (that is the only time Publix carries it) and it is very crisp and clean tasting. This butter with the little bread squares and I was one Happy Italian Chick!

DH was getting scared off by the menu, he said he didnt know what any of it was so he decided on the cheese flatbread for an appie because they did not have any salads. The flatbread was insane, nice crisp and super thin, the cheese was salty and chewy, the basil fresh and the sauce was not a tomato sauce but more like a cream tomato sauce that was thick and rich and wonderful.

I wasnt feeling any fish tonight, we are supposed to go to FF tomorrow so I thought hey, I will get the filet. BlueZoo is the winner of the best filet ever award, better than Jiko, kicks Cali Grills in the pants and beats Le Cellier by a mile. I had it cooked med rare, it was cooked med rare. It was nestled on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes, carmelized red onions, balsamic reduction and pureed carrots that DH and I fought over. I loved my meal, DH loved my meal and I will get my butt back to BlueZoo in Oct!

Todd wanted the chicken, he loved it...especially the skin which I do not feed him at home, 2 days in a row he was allowed to eat chicken skin and he is so happy....I may sound like a strict wife but I need a healthy husband around for a long time ya know? But on vacation all that goes out the window and he is free to eat how he wants. The potato cake was good, the peas were terrific and the chicken was so moist and flavorful but the best part was the salted parmesan greens on the top...HOLY MOLY he loved it!

As if we didnt have enough food we also ordered the garlic olive oil fries with fresh herbs like thyme and rosemary...wowza these were the best fries I have ever had...we left the mashed potatoes and the potato cake on our plates and ate all the fries!

Jay asked if we wanted dessert, Todd said of course and I said just one cuz I am bursting at the seams!

Jay said the first dessert, the molten chocolate cake was super thick, dense and very very rich so DH opted for the banana tart. It was very sweet, tart, creamy and light...great end to a great meal. It comes out looking so cool with this white chocolate ball on the top and then Jay doused it with a warm rum sauce....I can actually feel the pounds adding on right now.

So if you are thinking of a killer meal, run do not walk, to BlueZoo...you will not be sorry! Many thanks to Briarosie, TigerKat, Oybolshoi and the DisneyFamily for recommending this joint...we will be back for sure!

 

[oybolshoi]

So glad that you enjoyed your dinner at Bluezoo! I wish you were going to be at WDW on the 16th of October because I think there's gonna be a group of DISers having dinner there, slapping fish around and sucking down drinks ... it would only be more fun if you and Todd were there.

And Jay just about died when I told him they were serving suckling pig ... he would order that in a porky heartbeat if it's still on the menu in October.

 

[KatMark]

God, you confuse me every time I read your results. We're going to have to go two weeks next year and get the deluxe dining plan just to get in all of these new places (and our old standbys) in. I am so glad that the last two days have improved over the disaster of the first two.

Have a great evening and we'll see you tomorrow.

 

[TigerKat]

I'm so glad y'all enjoyed BZ as much as we did!!!!

I'm so sad I won't be able to join the mega group going on 10/16, we arrive 10/17.

 

[oybolshoi]

I'm so glad y'all enjoyed BZ as much as we did!!!!

I'm so sad I won't be able to join the mega group going on 10/16, we arrive 10/17.

You'll be there for the other gathering ... cake it is!

 

[MickeyNicki]

Tomorrow is my solo day and I have changed my plans a scazillion times but I have finally decided what I am going to do. I will make it to Epcot at rope drop and I am going to see every single ride and show and Innoventions thing there is to see...by 3pm ha ha! I want to see the Norway, France, China and Canada shows...never did see them so this will be a treat. I will probably eat breakfast at the BW Bakery and then have lunch for one at Tutto Italia and of course drinks and drinks and maybe a snack or two...without DH to share it with I dont know how much I can handle.

Then I have a spa day set for the Mandara Spa, at BlueZoo tonight they gave me 20% off any services and items at the spa since I dined onsite for dinner. Then I get back to the room and there is a message saying the spa is giving $59 facials and massages but they are only tasters and for 25 minutes so DH said that he knew we were going to stay a few extra days he wants to treat me to a spa day! So I have an afternoon appt for a facial and 75 minute stone massage! I am so excited! Then we will have a late dinner at Flying Fish...he probably will not get back until after 7 so this will work out great!

If any of you guys see a wandering woman without a clue as to what to do next, with a huge grin on her face, camera in one hand and a boozy concoction in the other, well that will be me..come on over and say hi!

 

[LilAnn]

Hi! I'm a new poster, but couldn't help myself after this last post! My DH and I have been talking about trying Blue Zoo when we go down in August. However, since we are going with more family and they offered free dining, we shifted the dates around and will probably not get a chance to try it this time around. I was finally coming to terms with with not going there until I saw all of your pictures and read your reviews. Now I want to go so badly! I think my stomach is growling just thinking about it... I can't wait to read about all of your other meals!

 

[oybolshoi]

Nicki, the Mandara Spa at the Dolphin is honestly one of the best that I've ever been to. If you've never been there before it will knock your socks off - it's incredible.

 

[Samandmom]

Wow!!! That dessert looks amazing!!!

 

[MickeyNicki]

So glad that you enjoyed your dinner at Bluezoo! I wish you were going to be at WDW on the 16th of October because I think there's gonna be a group of DISers having dinner there, slapping fish around and sucking down drinks ... it would only be more fun if you and Todd were there.

And Jay just about died when I told him they were serving suckling pig ... he would order that in a porky heartbeat if it's still on the menu in October.

I wish I was going that week too but sadly DH has meetings that week and we had to push our time back a week, plus the big 40% off discount is the week later...more $$ to eat with babe! I hope you all have a great dinner at BlueZoo and make sure you tell me all about it...maybe in 2010 we can be there!

Tell Jay that I asked about menu changed and they said this menu will stay until Fall....they change it 4 times a year for the seasons...keeping my fingers crossed that the suckling pig is still there...sounds great doesnt it??

God, you confuse me every time I read your results. We're going to have to go two weeks next year and get the deluxe dining plan just to get in all of these new places (and our old standbys) in. I am so glad that the last two days have improved over the disaster of the first two.

Have a great evening and we'll see you tomorrow.

Ok lets all go for 2 weeks on the deluxe dining plan and eat ourselves silly! I think DH was worried about tonight because the place was empty and the menu was iffy to him but we had a fab time with super tasty food!

I'm so glad y'all enjoyed BZ as much as we did!!!!

I'm so sad I won't be able to join the mega group going on 10/16, we arrive 10/17.

You keep telling me all these wonderful places to try, you are my foodie hero!

You'll be there for the other gathering ... cake it is!

Bummer I miss that one too!

Hi! I'm a new poster, but couldn't help myself after this last post! My DH and I have been talking about trying Blue Zoo when we go down in August. However, since we are going with more family and they offered free dining, we shifted the dates around and will probably not get a chance to try it this time around. I was finally coming to terms with with not going there until I saw all of your pictures and read your reviews. Now I want to go so badly! I think my stomach is growling just thinking about it... I can't wait to read about all of your other meals!

Oh no, you have got to try and break away from the family and go with your DH...you guys will love it, perfect date night place!

Nicki, the Mandara Spa at the Dolphin is honestly one of the best that I've ever been to. If you've never been there before it will knock your socks off - it's incredible.

Ooh baby I cannot wait...do they have a sauna and such that I can use? I totally forgot to ask the girl, she did tell me that I did not have to bring anything except my room key!.....I figure I can stay there until 6-7 or so and just veg out!