Party of 3 on the DDP - April 2012 *Updated 5/15: CHH and Final Thoughts*

[wilma-bride]

Cookies & Cream Gelato

 

[Linda67]

Cookies & Cream Gelato

I'm with you all the way

 

[DisneyFanJon]

Ohh...that desert party looks so good!!! It is nice to see a review about it. I have been curious but yet to try it. Did they have any healthy desert options? (I know....oxymoron) but we might be traveling with my grandmother and she has diabetes. Is there any plain fruit or something like that? Thank you!!

Apologies if someone has already answered this, but last time I booked the desert party I told the CM on the phone one of our party had diabetes and she made a note of it. When we arrived and were seated the CM in charge brought him a special plate out which had sugar free brownie, strawberries and other fruit out, and he was still welcome to choose anything suitable from the regular buffet as well . It didn't cost any extra.

 

[vettegirl]

The taco salad looks really good, it looks just like the one that serve at DL in Anaheim.

 

[modred]

Thanks for the great reviews....the pictures are awesome! The dessert party looked fabulous - think we are going to have to try it!

 

[st4rrab0vemybed]

Great food report, so far! Thanks for sharing.

The tuna noodles and strawberry shortcake from SS look amazing and definitely yummy.

I liked how the Biergarten looked on the inside- too cute!

The dessert party looked like a lot of fun, and had some good choices to choose from! I really hope to try this one day.

Also really liking that sticky bun, and could so go for one now ... yum!

 

[iloveeeyore]

I know what you mean about the gelato! Cosmic Ray's has added a chocolate gelato and a mango sorbet and they are both so good and refreshing! And such a nice change from all of the other CS desserts! Yum! I'd love to try the cookies and cream one!

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

Cookies & Cream Gelato

I'm with you all the way

I know, it was really good!!

Apologies if someone has already answered this, but last time I booked the desert party I told the CM on the phone one of our party had diabetes and she made a note of it. When we arrived and were seated the CM in charge brought him a special plate out which had sugar free brownie, strawberries and other fruit out, and he was still welcome to choose anything suitable from the regular buffet as well . It didn't cost any extra.

That is good to know! I did see a couple of CMs walking through with premade plates that looked different from the buffet. I wasn't sure if it was for allergies or something else but it's good to hear they accomodate!

The taco salad looks really good, it looks just like the one that serve at DL in Anaheim.

Yum - another reason I need to get to DL!!

Thanks for the great reviews....the pictures are awesome! The dessert party looked fabulous - think we are going to have to try it!

Thank you for reading! I hope you get a chance to try the dessert party - it was really fun!

Great food report, so far! Thanks for sharing.

The tuna noodles and strawberry shortcake from SS look amazing and definitely yummy.

I liked how the Biergarten looked on the inside- too cute!

The dessert party looked like a lot of fun, and had some good choices to choose from! I really hope to try this one day.

Also really liking that sticky bun, and could so go for one now ... yum!

Thanks so much - I'm glad you're liking the report! Ah, the sticky bun, so yummy! And something I don't have the other 51 weeks of the year so it makes me drool for it all the more .

I know what you mean about the gelato! Cosmic Ray's has added a chocolate gelato and a mango sorbet and they are both so good and refreshing! And such a nice change from all of the other CS desserts! Yum! I'd love to try the cookies and cream one!

I agree! I hope they keep up with this trend. Variety is good!

I hope to be back soon with my review of our 'Ohana dinner!

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

We strolled from the GF over to the Poly to check-in for our 5:20 p.m. ADR at 'Ohana. I’d read lots of reviews about long lines to check-in but amazingly, there was no one in line on the side for guests with ADRs (there were a few families in line on the side for guests without ADRs). Within a couple of minutes we were checked in and we headed off to the waiting area with our buzzer, which went off promptly at 5:20.

We were shown to our table, which was on the other side of the wall that is behind the fire pit (if you’re facing the windows that look out to MK, all the way to the right). I felt a little disconnected from the rest of the restaurant over there but it was a nice spacious table.

(our table)

(view from our table)

The welcome bread was placed on our table when we were seated but knowing how much food was to come, I only had a snitch.

Our server came right over and was very friendly – I wish I could remember his name but I do know that he is from Hawaii. He explained the food offerings and listed off the kids’ choices for DD (she picked a hot dog) but said it was also fine if she wanted to share in the food brought to the table. DH and I each ordered a tropical mojito.

The salad and our dipping sauces were dropped off first.

The dressing on the salad is a very tasty honey-lime vinegrette.

It was not long before the dish of noodles and veggies came out. And right behind that were the wings and pot stickers.

The noodles were a little different than I remember – the seemed less saucy and a little more curly like ramen noodles than lo mein noodles, if that makes sense. They were good but not quite the same. For me the stars of the apps are the wings and pot stickers. Oh yum, I could fill up on those alone!

As we feasted the servers started coming around with the skewers (sorry, no pics – my hands were full)! We started off with chicken, then steak, then pork (which we were going to pass on but our server insisted that DH at least try a piece) and finally shrimp. The shrimp and steak were my favorites. The chicken had a nice flavor to it but was a little dry. As with the last time we ate at ‘Ohana, I come away sad that my stomach capacity isn’t greater but at a certain point I had to say Uncle for fear I would bust!

While we were eating the entertainer came around playing her ukulele and doing the games with the kids. At one point she called the kids up to dance with their parents so DD and DH went up to take a spin. It was very cute!

After a short break our dessert came out.

I have to say, I’m underwhelmed by the bread pudding. Strange, I know, because it’s a dessert that most people rave about. In retrospect I should’ve just had some ice cream with the caramel banana sauce because the bread pudding really doesn’t do it for me. Probably for the best since I was so full anyway! I had a few bites and called it done!

Our server brought the bill and I noticed he had rung us up as three adults so I asked him to correct that so our DDP credits wouldn’t get messed up. He took care of it and we were able to settle up the bill. Cost OOP for this meal would’ve been $87.

I see mixed reviews for ‘Ohana but we’ve always had good food here (we’ve done breakfast twice and dinner twice) and the service for the most part has been good. I’d actually say the server we had this time around was probably the best one we’ve had – very friendly and mellow. I wouldn’t hesitate to go back here for dinner, although it’s not one we do every trip, mainly because we have so many places we want to try.

 

[Linda67]

Great review of 'Ohana
I could happily live on their noodles and bread pudding

 

[TRAVELQUEEN]

Have to agree that I have never understood the bread pudding hype--it is pretty average in my mind--I actually think that the bread pudding at Tusker is far superior

Glad you had a good dinner in any event!

 

[Gorechick]

Thanks for the O'Hana review and pics. We're trying it for the first time on our trip in August.

 

[CatNipRules]

Another thanks for the 'Ohana review and pictures! We are trying it for the first time in October and I was hoping that others thought highly of it.

Can't wait to read more!

 

[kelleigh1]

Great reviews. I think I gained a few pounds looking at the Wishes Dessert Party...lol.

 

[kadesha]

We're also trying 'Ohana for the first time during our trip. I can't wait to try the bread pudding. I'll probably be like you though and be underwhelmed. I remember when I tried my first dole whip I was so excited because of all the great reviews, but it was utterly disappointing to me.

 

[wilma-bride]

'Ohana remains a firm favourite of mine but I don't get the bread pudding obsession. I'd far rather have something chocolatey or cheesecake.

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

Great review of 'Ohana
I could happily live on their noodles and bread pudding

Thank you - glad you enjoyed the review!

Have to agree that I have never understood the bread pudding hype--it is pretty average in my mind--I actually think that the bread pudding at Tusker is far superior

Glad you had a good dinner in any event!

My next review is of TH and wouldn't you know I forgot to try the bread pudding (I'd seen it on the menu but never made my way to it). Next time!

Thanks for the O'Hana review and pics. We're trying it for the first time on our trip in August.

Another thanks for the 'Ohana review and pictures! We are trying it for the first time in October and I was hoping that others thought highly of it.

Can't wait to read more!

Enjoy - I hope you both have a great time at your first 'Ohana visit!

Great reviews. I think I gained a few pounds looking at the Wishes Dessert Party...lol.

Hehe, I know what you mean!

We're also trying 'Ohana for the first time during our trip. I can't wait to try the bread pudding. I'll probably be like you though and be underwhelmed. I remember when I tried my first dole whip I was so excited because of all the great reviews, but it was utterly disappointing to me.

Another 'Ohana first timer! Enjoy it!

'Ohana remains a firm favourite of mine but I don't get the bread pudding obsession. I'd far rather have something chocolatey or cheesecake.

Glad I'm not alone in the bread pudding issue! It's such a favorite 'round the boards I feel like I *should* love it!

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

After stuffing ourselves at ‘Ohana, I couldn’t picture that I’d be hungry ever again but sure enough, we woke up the next morning ready to take on breakfast at Tusker House. We’d never been to TH before so I was really looking forward to it.

We arrived at AK around 9:20 and our ADR wasn’t until 10:10 so we had a bit of time to kill, but not enough time to do any rides so we decided to stop in at Island Mercantile and try to use one of our 20% off coupons that were printing out with our CS receipts (we’d collected quite a few of these coupons but had yet to use one since they were only good until noon). DD and I each picked out a t-shirt and she also got a pin and some chocolate coins. We had everything bagged up to be held at the front of the park (except the chocolate, they wouldn’t take that) and headed over to TH to check in.

The check-in line was quite long. DH ran over to grab safari FPs and was back while we were still in line. Once checked in we got in line for our picture with Donald. I was surprised that he wouldn’t sign DD’s autograph book but I guess they have to keep things moving. Our buzzer went off just as we finished photos.

I loved the décor around the buffet area – nicely themed!

We headed right at the buffet and then into the large dining area:

(this is actually a picture looking back toward the buffet but you get the idea)

Then all the way to the back to the odd little room in the back right corner of the restaurant. It was a dark, tight little room with three four-tops and two two-tops. It was so tight in there that the characters really had to squeeze by! It really felt disconnected from the rest of the restaurant and we couldn’t see anything that was going on when the characters did their parade. Our server seemed downright frazzled when she dropped off our juice. I told her we didn’t want coffee but would like water. She ended up bringing a pot of coffee and never did get us that water.

Since she said it would be at least 10 minutes until our first character came by, I went up to make a plate for DD and then one for myself. Here’s my plate:

(Mickey waffle, cinnamon roll, crumb cake, veggie quiche, potatoes, bacon and fruit)

I was really blown away by the food quality – everything was so tasty and nice and hot. The serving dishes appeared fresh and not all disheveled as they sometimes look at a buffet! I’m not generally a big buffet fan so this is a big compliment! I loved the jungle juice and it definitely reminded me of the juice at ‘Ohana breakfast.

(you can see in this pic that there was a little window into the rest of the restaurant but we couldn't see much unless we stood because there was a decorative chest or something there - you can also sort of see by DD's autograph book that when the people at the table next to us stood up they were practically touching our table!)

As we were eating the characters started coming around. First Mickey, then Daisy and lastly Goofy. I wasn’t sure if DD was starting to outgrow the character meal phase but she was as thrilled as ever to see the gang, get autographs and pose for pictures.

Once the characters were done I headed back to the buffet – not for more food but for pictures for my review!

All and all I was very pleased with our meal here and would definitely go back. My only biggish complaint was I really didn’t like our table location at all. We were as far as possible from the buffet and walled off from the rest of the restaurant. I probably should’ve/could’ve asked for a table change, but in my experience doing this at Disney, it seems to be a little bit of a rigmarole to change tables – they can’t just do it on the fly, you have to go back to the front of the restaurant, the seater has to get the manager, etc. I’m sure it’s because they have a precise process for seating and I didn’t feel like making a hassle. Service was just average – I definitely felt that our server was frazzled and perhaps had too many tables. Since it was a buffet I didn’t feel like it affected our experience as much as it would’ve at an a la carte restaurant so it wasn’t a big negative for me.

Cost OOP for this meal would’ve been $68.

 

[emmysmommy]

Thanks for sharing your reviews! We have cancelled our TH ADR the last two times were were going to AK... the food looks great though!

Your Wishes dessert party has me thinking.... that may be a great option for future visits. Thanks for sharing where to find information on when bookings open up.

 

[CanadianPaco]

Thanks for your review of Tusker House!!! Your pics are wonderful!