Pre-trip Report! A Flower, Food & Garden Girls trip!

[ChrissyLady]

Hello!

Thanks for joining in for my first (pre) dining report!

Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Chrissy! i have been visiting WDW for as long as I can remember, and I even participated in Disney College Program waaaaay back in the day. My mom, Pati, and I will be at the 'World for a little Flower & Garden FUN!!

Here we are on one of our many previous trips:

We will be there for 5 nights, staying at POFQ, and have made all of our ADRS... whether that will change or not remains to be seen!! We are also very much looking forward to snacking at the booths and trying some new tastes!

So far, we have:

Saturday, March 7 - Arrival day. We plan on going to Magic Kingdom this night, we arrive around 8pm and EMH are until 2am! Planning on grabbing dinner at Pecos Bill's.
Sunday, March 8th - Breakfast at Akershus
Monday, March 9th - Breakfast at Hollywood & Vine, Dinner at Via Napoli
Tuesday, March 10th - This will be a later start day, planning on having pool or DTD time, then heading to DAK around 1pm. Dinner at Tusker House.
Wednesday - Breakfast at Crystal Palace.

The rest of our meals, we plan on eating counter service or serious snacking at F&G booths. Counter service options have always been my downfall, (I feel like I ALWAYS end up at Pizza Planet or Cosmic Rays) so here is where I always need some input...

We are putting LOTS of things on our list, so far in the "maybe" category are:
-BOG lunch
-Sunshine Seasons (on the advice of my BF we will be trying the croissant berry pudding for SURE!)
-Electric Umbrella
-Columbia Harbor House
-Pinnochio Village Haus

I'm not sure I would consider these must do's, but we always end up here:
-World Showcase (anywhere depending on mood)
-Wolfgang Puck Express
-Pizza Planet
-Cosmic Rays
-Flame Tree

We will change these a million times, and hopefully come up with some fresh new items we haven't had before!! Like I said, we have been here many times and eaten in all of these locations...but some not for many years so it will be an adventure!

Looking forward to sharing with you!

 

[ChrissyBeth29]

Girl I am in! Since I can't go with you ladies, I will follow along this way!

 

[pumba]

I love your picks...I can also do a few times Earl oF Sandwich at DTD...Love Cosmic Rays and Pizzafari and oh I CAN HARDLY WAIT NOW

 

[lillygator]

we arrive on 3/7 as well....can't wait to hit the Flower and Garden booths!

 

[vettegirl]

Sounds wonderful!

 

[ChrissyBeth29]

What, specifically, are you looking forward to at Food and Garden? Is there anything jumping out at you from the booths?

 

[ChrissyLady]

Thanks, all! We are very excited! ChrissyBeth29, I haven't seen any official menus for the booths yet, have you? Based on years past, I love the Buttercup Cottage at the UK Pavilion, and the Primavera Kitchen in Italy! There's also a drink they used to have called La Vie en Rose at the France booth, it was like the slushes but with St. Germain and cranberry juice... SOOOOO good!! I hope they still have that!

 

[Vernie822]

I'm in! I will be there the same dates as you for a girls trip as well. We can't wait to check out Flower and Garden.

Saturday, March 7 - Arrival day. We plan on going to Magic Kingdom this night, we arrive around 8pm and EMH are until 2am! Planning on grabbing dinner at Pecos Bill's.
Sunday, March 8th - Breakfast at Akershus
Monday, March 9th - Breakfast at Hollywood & Vine, Dinner at Via Napoli
Tuesday, March 10th - This will be a later start day, planning on having pool or DTD time, then heading to DAK around 1pm. Dinner at Tusker House.
Wednesday - Breakfast at Crystal Palace.

Yum! You have some great restaurants planned. I haven't been to Akershus, but from what I have seen it sounds like a great character meal. We loved Via Napoli and Crystal Palace on our last trip. Character breakfasts are the best!!

 

[ChrissyLady]

I'm in! I will be there the same dates as you for a girls trip as well. We can't wait to check out Flower and Garden.



Yum! You have some great restaurants planned. I haven't been to Akershus, but from what I have seen it sounds like a great character meal. We loved Via Napoli and Crystal Palace on our last trip. Character breakfasts are the best!!

Ah, that's awesome you will be there at the same time! Looks like we are both staying at POFQ too! Yes, I'm so excited about Akershus, never been there... I figure you really can't go wrong with a breakfast buffet. And when is it ever as fun to eat at buffets as it is at Disney?!

 

[ChrissyLady]

One new ressie added: Rose & Crown for our last night. Made a later dinner in hopes of catching Illuminations from here... and I'll cry and cry because I won't want to leave!!

 

[ChrissyBeth29]

You know how I feel about Rose and Crown! I make a ressie EVERY trip and then cancel. There is just nothing on that menu that appeals to me, much to the chagrin of Ry who asks to eat there EVERY time. Sorry, buddy. Illuminations=

 

[Disneymaddness]

I'm in! We are doing a girls trip in April and also staying at POFQ so I am really interested in your trip. We also have ADR's for Akershus but for dinner. We are so excited!!

 

[ChrissyLady]

Update: We cancelled Rose & Crown Made an ADR for Chefs de France for dinner on Sunday

It looks like we are getting closer and closer to hearing the full details of the Outdoor Kitchens!!! Disney Parks Blog released a few more details today,
I cannot WAIT to hear the full list. I have an ever growing "Disney Treats Wish List" which I will share before the trip and we'll see how many I actually get to!

 

[Disneymaddness]

I saw the blog about the F&G food. Looks good so far!

 

[Vernie822]

Update: We cancelled Rose & Crown Made an ADR for Chefs de France for dinner on Sunday

It looks like we are getting closer and closer to hearing the full details of the Outdoor Kitchens!!! Disney Parks Blog released a few more details today,
I cannot WAIT to hear the full list. I have an ever growing "Disney Treats Wish List" which I will share before the trip and we'll see how many I actually get to!

Ooh Chefs sounds so good - I am definitely thinking of adding that to the list for our November trip. I can't wait to see what the Outdoor Kitchens have to offer this year!!

I swear my Disney Treats Wish List never stops growing either, haha. We were just there in September for Food and Wine so I am excited to see how Flower and Garden compares!

 

[ChrissyLady]

Ooh Chefs sounds so good - I am definitely thinking of adding that to the list for our November trip. I can't wait to see what the Outdoor Kitchens have to offer this year!!

I haven't been to Chefs in probably 3 years or so, but I'm never disappointed there! And yes, the Flower & Garden booths IMO are always much calmer than F&W... that may be because they are still relatively new... once it catches on I'm sure it'll be much of the same! We were there this past October and we couldn't get near the booths (or anything else in World Showcase, for that matter) during the weekend. To me, that's not fun. We are going to give F&W a little rest until we miss it terribly enough to go back at that time of the year. I find the food to be a bit lighter, fresher spring flavors, I just enjoy Flower & Garden so much!

 

[ChrissyBeth29]

I totally agree with you about the seventh circle of hell that F&W has become on weekends. It's just not enjoyable to me. I'm so glad you canceled Rose and Crown. Now Ryan won't drool! Last time I was at Chefs(2011) the food was decent but it was just SO crowded and our service was abysmal!

 

[ChrissyLady]

2 DAYS TO DISNEY!!!

We have altered our food plans slightly, AND we have Flower & Garden Outdoor Kitchens to try!!!

So here's the list so far:

Saturday, March 7 - Arrival day. We plan on going to Magic Kingdom this night, we arrive around 8pm and EMH are until 2am! Planning on grabbing dinner at Pecos Bill's.

Sunday, March 8th - Breakfast at Akershus - We are going to try to do a resort monorail loop and for snacking and shopping - perhaps light lunch or snacks at Capt Cook's! We also added dinner at Chefs de France this night!

Monday, March 9th - Breakfast at Hollywood & Vine, Dinner at Via Napoli

Tuesday, March 10th - Added early lunch at Be Our Guest for this day! This will be a later start day, planning on having pool or DTD time, then heading to DAK around 1pm. Dinner at Tusker House.

Wednesday, March 11th - Breakfast at Crystal Palace. Also planning on maybe taking to boat to DTD this night for some shopping and eating... perhaps WPE or Cooke's of Dublin? Erin McKenna's? Ghiradelli? It's still a mystery!




Flower & Garden Outdoor Kitchens: Here's what we hope to try! Since I will not be partaking in alcohol on this trip, I will let my trusty trip partner-in-crime, my Mom, report back on all the boozy loveliness!

Botanas Botanico - Coconut Tres Leches (what!?), possibly the White Corn Arepa with Braised Beef and Chayote Slaw

Urban Farm Eats - So far it looks like we will skip this one... but I have not counted out the Kale Salad with Dried Cherries, Almonds, and Goat Cheese with White Balsamic Vinaigrette, minus the goat cheese if possible

Pineapple Promande - I can't pass up a Dole Whip! And the ACE Pineapple Cider is delicious. And I have always wanted to try the Frozen Desert Violet lemonade!!!

Fleur De Lys - Gnocchi Parisien à la Provençal, Parisian-style Dumplings with Vegetables and Mushrooms, oh yes! I will eat you! Macaron Guimauve à la Fraise, a Strawberry Marshmallow Macaron- yup, you too, buddy! La Vie en Rose Frozen Slush – Vodka, Grey Goose Orange, St. Germain Liquor, and White and Red Cranberry Juice - one of the yummiest drinks ever!

Taste of Marrakesh - Falafel Pocket with Cucumber Tomato Salad and Tahini Sauce, maybe! Pistachio Baklava, FOR SURE! Desert Rose — Sparkling Wine with Pomegranate Liqueur

Hanami - Frushi – Fresh pineapple, strawberries and melon, rolled with coconut rice, topped with raspberry sauce, sprinkled with toasted coconut and served with whipped cream on the side - I have never tried this! It might be the year...

The Smokehouse - Again, this is something I will likely skip - although if this R.C. Sweet Tea made with Twinings Cold-Brewed English Classic Tea is non-alcoholic I will partake!

Primavera Kitchen - Fior di Latte, Prosciutto e Pane di Casa — Pinwheel of Mozzarella, Prosciutto, Ciabatta Bread, looks intersting to me! Cheese manicotti – Egg pasta stuffed with ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, tomato sauce and béchamel - I've read reports that this one just isn't worth it, but I may try it anyway! White peach bellini – Prosecco and white peach puree, SO GOOD! Frozen Italian primavera – Assorted fruit slushy with limoncello and vodka, one of the best Disney cocktails of all time, IMO.

Lotus House - Beijing-style candied strawberries, always wanted to try these! Hopefully we will get to them. Vegetable Spring Roll, great little snack.

Jardin De Fiestas - Veggie Quesadilla – Flour tortilla filled with Monterey Jack Cheese and mixed veggies, if it looks good, I'll try it.. otherwise it's just a quesadilla, right? Flan de queso con chocolate Abuelita – Mexican chocolate custard with whipped cream and cinnamon, yes, for sure!

Florida Fresh - the item that interests me most here is the Florida Blueberry and Lemon Curd Tart... and I will make Pati try the Key Lime sparkling wine for me!

I will certainly be missing the Buttercup Cottage this year, as it has been a favorite in the past... the cheese plate, the desserts! But I think we will have plenty to try to make up for it

On to my Disney Treats Wish List! I add to my list between trips, so as I try these various goodies, I mark them off my list. Some of these have been on here for a while!
-Iced Coffee Float at Sleepy Hollow/ Auntie Gravity's - MK
-Waffle Sandwiches at Sleepy Hollow - MK
-Berry Croissant Bread Pudding at Sunshine Seasons - EP
-Magic Cookie Bar - there's a couple, Wilderness Lodge and Riverside... I'll take either!
-Storybook Circus Treats (still haven't made it here!)
-Gourmet Flavored Popcorn - EP
-Warm Peanut Butter Brownie at Sunshine Seasons - EP
-Cookies at Flour & Sugar stand - Disney Springs
-Cupcakes at Kusafiri Bakery - DAK

These are the most important ones! I would like to at least scratch a couple more off the list... Anyone have any other favorite treats I should add???

 

[Vernie822]

YUM!! Just a few more days for us too, we arrive on the same day.

I need to make a treats wishlist! We have our ADR's and I have an idea of where we'll do quick service, but I think I need to make a treat wishlist before I get there and forget about all of them. Haha.

I'm excited to hear about how you like Akershus - I think we'll be trying there on our trip in November for breakfast.

You have awesome ADR's lined up. We're planning for.. Ohana dinner, 50's Prime Time lunch, Raglan Road dinner, Tusker House breakfast, Be Our Guest dinner, and possibly a BOG lunch as well.

 

[sarahann77]

Sounds good. Looking forward to hear about the F&G booths.