Our 1st Dining Report - August 11-18th, 2009

[Joshua_me]

Wow !

Really great quality pics, Dina... Thanks for taking the time to do this...

We've been 'scared away' from the Sci-Fi since a *really* bad experience a couple of years ago. Maybe it's time to give it another try.

Looking forward to more reviews...

 

[KatMark]

Dina, loving your reviews. We are doing Sci-Fi on our "mini" trip to the CSR next month. It's been years since we've been there (at least 9 or 10) and we can't wait to be back.

 

[devonsmommy]

Loving your reviews so far!

 

[dina7]

On our next day, which was our 1st full day in the parks-Wed, 8/12, we started with MK, our favorite! Got there for Rope Drop as we did all the other days of the trip for the rest of the pks too. We don't normally do that EVERY day & now I remember why... because it makes me exhausted, which it did!! Had a great time anyway!

Ate lunch at Columbia Harbour House. Had the Shrimp Platter with Fries & a Coke. Apple Crisp for dessert.

I was excited when I heard on the Boards that they had a new Shrimp Platter, so I had to try it. It wasn't that great though...your basic fried shrimp. Oh well. Next yr. I will try the Anchors Aweigh Sandwich that everyone raves about. (I think that's the name of it) The Apple Crisp was surprisingly good though & served warm which was a plus.

 

[dina7]

The CM at Columbia Harbour House was very helpful in explaining how the DP works at Ctr. Svc restaurants & stated that there was no difference in ordering for a child. They can order anything on the regular menu. When I was reading other Dining Reports before we left, people were saying it depended on which CM you got whether they would let you order off the regular menu at Ctr. Svc or that one of you had to get on a separate line to order the child the food off the reg. menu, etc. This is how it was at all Ctr. Svc. places...you could order any meal regardless if it was for a child or an adult. So that was easy. Sometimes my DS(8) orderd a kid's meal & sometimes an adult meal depending on what he was in the mood for or what he like on the menu.

Sorry I didn't take any photos of everyone else's food at CHH. Figured everyone has seen chicken nuggets & fries & if you have read at least 1 Dining Report, you have seen the infamous Triple Choc. Cake. DH & DS(14)had the 8 Chicken Nuggets, DS(8) had 6 Chick. Nuggets, all w/ Fries & Large Bottled Waters & Triple Choc. Cakes.

They all loved the Triple Chocolate Cake...it looked really sweet to me w/ all the icing, but I didn't try it. DS(14) said it was his favorite dessert of the trip.

Total for Lunch at Columbia Harbour House if not on DP = $59.49

 

[sctigger]

 

[dina7]

Next is our 4:50 ADR at

We checked in 10 minutes before as instructed when I made ressies by phone. Were given a pager & waited about 10-15 minutes for our table. We had done b'fast here before we had our younger son & lunch last yr. We loved both & wanted to try the dinner now that we were on the DP.

Photo of my dinner plate:

Ok, I will start at the top of the plate at 12:00: Mixed Veggies in a tasty light sauce, right below it is a mussel in thai curry sauce...they look weird but were yummy & the sauce didn't have much of a distinctive flavor -not spicy at all, corn spoon bread-delicious, adobo pulled pork-good, but I took too much, wasn't THAT good, some sort of beef-excellent, got 2nds on that, more mussels, some sort of pasta & veggies in a yummy cream sauce-got more of that too, garlic mashed potatoes-really good, but I'm a big potato fan, broccoli in puri puri, some type of supposed spice, but didn't taste any additional flavor besides fresh broccoli. In the center is rotisserie chicken which was very average-just ate a couple of bites of it.

Here is the problem with my Dining Report & buffets. I am so into the fun of eating the food, that I do not make a note of what things are called. This presents a real problem once we get to Boma, you'll see.

Dessert Plate:

Starting at the left going across the plate: Chocolate Cake-good, Chocolate Trifle-good, but a little too sweet & I took too much...not enough to this dessert to eat this much of it, I think this was banana bread pudding, but I wouldn't swear to it & I didn't eat much of it, at the bottom of plate is Coconut Flan which was the best dessert of the nt!

Cost of CP Dinner for 3 adults & 1 child if not on DP=$122.44 inc. tax!!
While we enjoyed the food, this character dinner is a colossal rip-off if not on the DP! I would definitely do the lunch to save $ as the food is almost identical.

 

[dina7]

DS(14) & DS(8)

DS(8)

Took a photo w/ Pooh too, but didn't want you to get sick of my kids.
Did not get to meet Eeyore as we got tired of waiting for him to get to our table & we were finished eating. It takes a long time for all of the characters to make it around to your table. It's funny, last yr. we didn't get to see Piglet for the same reason. We were fine w/ it though especially because my boys aren't that little anymore & don't feel like they "have to" see every character from Pooh.

 

[MarkinNM]

GREAT REPORT!!!!

Going in 18 days and Sci-Fi as well as Crystal Palace (have a BF & D booked) and cant wait to try it! Thanks for the pics and your thoughts...........

 

[SweetMommy]

I'm loving your reviews, can't wait to read more!

 

[DLo]

We ate at CP last year for lunch and this year we will be having dinner there before MNSSHP. I agree about cost/value but hey we got free dining so I am not worried about it. Paid oop last year for lunch and enjoyed it.

 

[Sandy321]

BTW, we had a grocery delivery from Garden Grocer. Had the following items delivered: case of Deer Park Water-saved $ with that since we brought 4 bottles in a small cooler bag w/ us every day to the pks., 3 boxes of cereal, 1/2 gal. milk, Dixie Paper Bowls, (brought plastic spoons from home) 2 bags Goldfish, Fritos, & Baked Lay's. We used up everything except some bowls, 1 box of cereal because DS(14) decided to skip b'fast every day so we brought that home, part of 1 of the bags of Goldfish, & some of the fritos & chips...we just threw the rest of those out b4we left. To us it was still worth it to do the grocery delivery. Mainly for the water savings & saving time in the am by eating cereal in the room. I know a lot of people use their snack credits the nt. before to get bakery items at their food court to eat in the am, but CSR is very annoying w/ what is allowed as a snack. The only fresh bakery items that count as a snack credit at Cafe Rix, which is the grab & go food place, are Cookies & Muffins! The other items that count as a snack credit there are small containers of cereal & oatmeal, Pop Tarts, pint size milk, & candy. I think that is all I remember because I specifically asked the CM working there. Same thing at the Pepper Market Food Court...only cookies & muffins count as a snack credit. A Croissant or Danish cost over $4 each.

Thank you for this! We are going to do a grocery delivery for the first time in Jan - and Ihavent a clue what I should order!!

For us what we did was split a CS breakfast - I couldnt eat a bakery item for breakfast, I need protein!! Then we split a CS lunch! It works nicely for our family... (and then some days we do a character breakfast)

On our next day, which was our 1st full day in the parks-Wed, 8/12, we started with MK, our favorite! Got there for Rope Drop as we did all the other days of the trip for the rest of the pks too. We don't normally do that EVERY day & now I remember why... because it makes me exhausted, which it did!! Had a great time anyway!

Ate lunch at Columbia Harbour House. Had the Shrimp Platter with Fries & a Coke. Apple Crisp for dessert.

I was excited when I heard on the Boards that they had a new Shrimp Platter, so I had to try it. It wasn't that great though...your basic fried shrimp. Oh well. Next yr. I will try the Anchors Aweigh Sandwich that everyone raves about. (I think that's the name of it) The Apple Crisp was surprisingly good though & served warm which was a plus.

I'm excited now too - CHH is our absolute favorite CS place in MK - That shrimp looks better than what Long John Silver offers!!

Love your review of CP - glad to hear you didnt wait long - just read that the wait was over an hour for another person during free dining! and I chuckled about not remembering what you took - I am so guilty of that as well!! Your kids are great! Thanks for sharing your pictures!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

The Anchors Aweigh Sandwhich is one of my favorites! It's nice to get away from the fried/burger environment. Their Vegetarian Chili is really good too! Thanks for your dining report, nice pictures, nice family!

Other than Boma, I really don't care for the Disney Buffets.

 

[dina7]

Thank you for this! We are going to do a grocery delivery for the first time in Jan - and Ihavent a clue what I should order!!

Love your review of CP - glad to hear you didnt wait long - just read that the wait was over an hour for another person during free dining! and I chuckled about not remembering what you took - I am so guilty of that as well!! Your kids are great! Thanks for sharing your pictures!

Yes, our wait wasn't bad for CP on Wed. 8/12...we met up w/ a friend of mine in MK on Mon. 8/17 who had a Lunch ADR for CP & she said it was mobbed & waited over an hour as well. The CM told her it was because there was a problem with the online ADR system making too many ADR's for the same times. MK was also packed on the evening of 8/17 & we figured the Free Dining had a lot to do w/ it.

Thanks for the nice comments about my family too!

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

Enjoying your dining reviews. Thanks for the tip about lunch being identical to dinner at CP. We have FD next trip but if it's pretty much the same I may try and book lunch.

Looking forward to hearing more.

 

[IrishTinkerbell]

 

[gemmybear83]

Brilliant reviews!

Were staying at CSR next month and doing an order from Garden Grocer, weere you in your room when the food was delivered, if not how did you get it?

Also did CSR charge you a delivery charge?

Thank you!

 

[dina7]

Brilliant reviews! Thanks!!
Were staying at CSR next month and doing an order from Garden Grocer, weere you in your room when the food was delivered, if not how did you get it? No, we weren't in our room when food was delivered. Garden Grocer will leave a msg. on the phone in your room & on your cellphone if you give them the # letting you know your order was delivered to CSR. Bell Svcs. stores the grocery order for you at no charge & keeps cold items refrigerated. All you have to do is call Bell Svcs. when you get to your room after receiving msg. from Garden Grocer & ask them to bring it to you.
Also did CSR charge you a delivery charge?
Thank you!

CSR did not charge a delivery charge since they just store the order at Bell Svcs. & bring it to you later. I think when people have things shipped directly to CSR, they go to the Business Ctr. & are charged, I believe.

 

[dina7]

On the way out of MK on 8/12 my 2 boys chose to each get a Huge Cinnamon Roll "to go" from the Main St. Bakery that they ate later in our room. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a photo of them, sorry. They were huge though & they loved them. I tried a bite & I have to tell you, I was underwhelmed. Just tasted like a cinnamon roll, nothing special. Maybe it was because I didn't try any of the really gooey part near the middle. Next time I will have to give it a 2nd chance since they were raving about them.

Cost of 2 Cinnamon Rolls if not on DP=$5.89 inc. tax

 

[dina7]

Got to AK at Rope Drop for the 1st time. They do a cute little opening ceremony w/ Mickey, Minnie & Pluto. We rode the Kilimanjaro Safaris which is a favorite of mine & saw a decent # of animals, but no lions. A couple of giraffes came right up to our car, which was fun. Then walked through the Pangani Forest Trail which is a must-do for me since I love gorillas. We saw a bunch of them this time. They are so amazing. The boys & DH did Kali River Rapids.

Then I think that's when we ate lunch at Restaurantosaurus. We placed our order at 11:05 & the place wasn't crowded, but for some reason it
took longer than we thought it should for our food to be ready...strange.

Sorry, again I didn't take photos of the food because we all had burgers & I was starving. DH got the Bacon Double Cheeseburger & the 3 of us got the Cheeseburger, all with Fries. I had a Coke & the boys had Bottled Water. We all had the Chocolate Cake for dessert. I took a photo of the cake since it looks slightly different than the one at MK. I thought the frosting on the cake was too sweet, so I took a lot of it off & ate most of the cake without it. My family made fun of me for that one.

Total for Lunch if not on DP=$55.01 inc. tax

After lunch we rode Primeval Whirl a couple of times & saw the Flights of Wonder Show which we always enjoy. Went back to CSR for an afternoon break. Next is our early dinner at Boma.