Reservations? We don't need no stinking reservations, we do it TODD'S way! COMPLETE

[Pooh&OurHunny]

Joining in and I'm so excited that I found another Food Review from you. I have been away from Disboard and today I saw you started a new review
I love reading your review (its soooo entertaining, full of information and I get a great laugh)
I was reading and I said oh there is a Brandon mall in FL, my 6 yr old son comes running to the computer and said oh my they have a mall named after me, I think we need to visit it on our next Florida vacation.
I can't believe where ever Toad wants to eat, he walks in and gets you guys a table, what luck is that (only if he can use that luck for LOTTO.)
LOVE LOVE your review and now I have to check Disboard daily to read yours
Thank you for sharing

 

[MickeyNicki]

I'm always looking for Fried Chicken when at Disney, but the best to be found is at Trails End after 4. They even have a to go box - it's sooo much fun to get the to go box and sit in the rocking chairs in the porch at Trails End, relaxing and people watching.

What a fabulous day you had - that orange thingy sure looks good!!

....and talk about a cliffhanger!!!! Come on, come on...did Todd get his PT fried chicken?

(um...did he leave any pickles for other guests?! )

Trails End is a place I want to go to, the menu looks great and it sounds like a nice quiet lunch. The Tangerine Dream was awesome..we were sitting by our pool today and Todd said "Dont you wish we had a pool bar?"

Nicki you are giving Christine way to many ideas !!She has us staying at 4 different resorts, doing HDD, CP, Mickeys Christmas Party, Keys to the kingdom, at least 10 differedt restaurants and all in 4 1/2 days !!!

I'm sorry Rosie! Your plans have me running...does she really have you staying at a different resort each night???

YES!!!! And we still have 18 mos to plan our 65th celebration!

Get out the violins.... My last visit to Disney will have been November 2010 by the time we go in December 2012. We need more days!!!!! That's the longest I'll ever been away.

I think more days is something you should def do! 2 years between WDW visits would kill me

Christine, I don't like them either! I never got the hype they get!

We are so alike!

NICKI,
I am VERY happy that you had a great meal at CG! And guess what ...... we know Ryan as well! BUT, you should have asked for RON!!!!!!!!!!!

I will def ask for him in Oct...do you have a picture of him?

Love, love, love your food choices ...... the ravioli sound delish, just what I would have wanted. Can't wait to go back again.

It was fantastic!

I just booked my excursions/dining for our third cruise - guess it's update time tonight!

How exciting! It will be here before you know it

Nicki - am absolutely LOVING your food report!

It's making me chuckle so much too - Todd is like some kind of Jedi being able to get into all these places with no ADRs!

CG sounds amazing - we love eating here too. And that oreo cupcake from Main Street Bakery made me drool.....

Thank you! Todd is nuts...wherever he wants, or should I say whatever he wants to eat, he gets...its just not fair!

still loving this - the sandwiches at POFQ look amazing. Shame that Todd is giving non-planning a good name. Won't be showing this trip report to dh or he mmight get the same idea. :

We love the POFQ food court, lots of choices and it is pretty good food too. I hope none of your mates read this review and try to do Todd's crazy scheme...not for their sakes but for your own sanity!

Glad that you had a great meal at California Grill Everything that the two of you ordered looks soooo good.

Boatwrights looks pretty good too. We stayed at POR last year and it always looked pretty slow. If we ever stay there again we'll have to try it.

It was way too hot to eat that weekened. We spent the morning in Epcot and I was really looking foward to snacking around WS in the afternoon, but the heat was so unbearable I dont think I ate anything between our breakfast and dinner. I didn't get to cross many of my must try snacks of the list.

I was so relieved when CG turned out to be a winner again. And Boatwrights, what an unexpected treat! Yes it was way too hot to eat or drink and we missed out on alot of our faves too but there is always the next trip!

CA Grill looks wonderful! Except that foam stuff on your ravioli just looks weird, but I'll trust you when you say it was good. It actually looks like something out of Top Chef, with the one chef, Marcel, always has to put foam on everything. And my own last meal at CA Grill was less wonderful then it had been in the past, so I'm glad to read a really good review of it again!

OMG that is exactly what I was thinking, maybe Marcel was in the kitchen? That guy foamed everything!

Enjoying your reviews. So far, you are doing pretty well without reservations! I really like the look of that Tangerine Dream. I wonder if they have it at places other than POFQ? Also, glad Todd fit in that bratwurst in Germany. DH and I share one on every trip--just a tradition. Of course, we wash it down with a Beck's.

Todd's plans, or really non plans, turned out pretty well. The pool bar menu looked to be standard, I bet they have it at the other resort pool bars too.

 

[englishrose47]

Nicki !!Christine is just having toooooo much fum throwing all these ideas at meI am pretty sure we will stay at 1 resort, 2 max!!!It is just deciding which one !!Then once having decided that what to do for dining and how many activities we can fir it to those 4 1/2 days

 

[MickeyNicki]

Great review of Cali Grill - can't wait to eat there!

I love the look of the Shrimp Po Boy. I along with everyone else want to know if you got into 50s PTC!

Thank you, I hope your meal at CG is just as great! HS coming up...the suspense is killing you isnt it

I'm sorry you're lactose intolerant. I suppose in the grand scheme of things its not a huge deal, but I think I'd be devastated. Aside from the cheese, a lot of which doesn't even have lactose in it, I drink a lot of milk! I should probably shut up now before I make you feel worse. Sorry.

You have no idea how terrible this is...I drink skim milk with cereal every single day, I love cheeses, pizza, lasagne, bagels and cream cheese, cheesecake and of course, ice cream. Now I have to find alternatives because the Dairy Ease doesnt always help and then I am just miserable.

I am thrilled that you loved Cali Grill this time! I just switched a bunch of things around and made an ADR there for our July trip. I feel like I can chance one signature with Max during our trip and it might as well be my favorite.

I hope you can get in there, I think Max would love the dessert sushi with gummy fish and rice kripies as the sushi

Can't wait to hear more and I'm certainly looking forward to hear how EMHs at MK went. Oh...and you LOVE the Universe of Energy??!! I enjoyed it, for sure, but it seems to be one of the rides in EPCOT in need of a serious overhaul. I don't think it has changed, aside from the movie at the beginning, since the 80s!

I know it is cheesy and in need of a re-do but I just crack up at it every time

Oh, and you have this New England girl seriously terrified of the heat! It sounds ferocious. But I suppose that's why we'll be touring the way we will; no afternoons in the parks for us!

Honey it was hot, like you could feel your skin cook kinda hot.

thanks for the reviews......I had the breakfast platter each morning and I was getting sick of it too......I opted for two pieces of bread to go with the eggs and sausages...and toasted them there...
I kept on saying I was going to get the po boy at the resort but didnt end up doing it....for some reason the heat and drinking all the beverages made me not hungry or was it the heat.
Thanks again for your reviews

Next time you go makes sure you try that po boy. And I agree, when its hot the thought of food was

Thoroughly enjoying your trip report. Keep it coming!

Thank you!

Wow, the CG looks amazing!! DH and I are making a trip in July for our anniversary and I think I'm going to have to try and squeeze that in.

I hope you get it and the food is just as delish!

You are making me very glad we booked CG for Oct! . Looks and sounds so delish!!

And I have to go back and take notes on the various foo foo drinks you've mentioned... So many look good. There has to be some upside to all that heat, right? An "excuse" to try different frozen concoctions!

By the way, are you sure Todd isn't pregnant w/ that pickle fetish???

Cali Grill in Oct...love it! Nothing is better than a frozen drink right, even if it is cold out! If you were to look in my fridge right now there are 6 different jars of pickles in there...he is a big pickle fanatic!

Glad that you enjoyed CG. We've eaten there twice and I really like it. My biggest complaint is that it is LOUD. I didn't mind in January when we brought the kids but the first time we went was a date night (we hired an in-room babysitter) so I was a little annoyed at the noise level. Food was great both times!
I've never been to POR or POFQ so I can't comment on the food. Your drinks are making me envious though...

Amanda

The three times we have been to CG they have all been around 5:30 and it wasnt that loud. I did notice tons of kids but I never heard anything from them.

This is the first time I am reading your reports. This one is awesome so far! Looks like I have alot of reading to look forward to.

Thanks!

Welcome! I hope you enjoy them!

Just found your reviews and am caught up. I can't imagine turning over the reins of a WDW trip to my husband!!!!! I guess I'm a Disney Control Freak!!!!!!! You have me really worried now about our next trip as we've told our yongest son who is 13 now that we'd take him back next summer so he can experience WDW in the hot weather. What the heck was I thinking?????? I can't handle the heat here in Indiana let alone Florida. Oh well guess I should start turning off the air and start conditioning my body NOW. Your trip reports are the Best! Thanks for sharing!!!!!!

Hi there and thank you so much! Yes I did turn control over to him, I still cant believe I did it but it wasnt as bad as I thought it was going to be...the worst part of it was the hot temps and not wanting to do anything at all from 11am to 4pm

 

[MickeyNicki]

Well, I am several updates behind because I am having MAJOR computer issues. I've finally been able to get on Andy's computer, so I'm trying to each up.

Uh oh...it isnt that old right? Did Romeo get rained out today?

We are not fans of Pecos Bills (the taco salad Shelley had was a shell, huge piles of lettuc and a teaspoon of meat);perhaps we should give it another shot.

They give you a scoop of meat in a shell and you get to doctor it up...thats what makes it so good

That cupcake looks really yummy. I am such a sucker for a good cupcake. Oooh good, when you get here we are going to Old Marco for the best cupcakes ever!

As you know, we were one of those that hated Boatwright's. Our meal and service was sooooooooooooo bad that even with your good review I don't know that we'll be back anytime soon. But your meal does look very yummy.

Just as we were leaving the guy in the bar started playing and it was getting loud...I see what you were saying

That Peach Snap! frozen cocktail looks really tasty...I think I'll have to add that to my list to try. Todd and Mark are so alike...he'd be getting that brat and sauerkraut too.

I swear they are brother's from another mother!

I'ms o glad that your meal at California Grill was a big success; I remember how bad it was the last time you ate there.

Me too!

I may have missed your response, but was Todd's name on the bag? It was supposed to be and I'm curious if it was.

No it wasnt on there...but he is using it as his lunch bag now because "Kathy gave it to me and its mine!"

Can't wait for hte next update (hopefully my computer is fixed soon).

Coming up soon...I have been at the pool all day trying to make my last vacation day worth it

Just keeping up so I know what ideas Nicki will give Christine

Nothing new yet Rosie...but wait for it!

Glad everything's working so well for you without reservations !! Doesn't it bite though when men are right???

I was reading your older reviews and couldn't help but notice the difference between those two Fulton's plates.

In 2009

In 2011

Yikes.

Exactly! Todd wants me to email Fultons to express our disappointment and send them the pictures of our previous meals.

Enjoyed your latest reviews particularly Kona breakfast as we are hoping to try this out next visit. I was interested to see your opinion of the beignets as I remember being so excited to try these out at POR one morning and then being unable to eat them. I think thats the food item at Disney I've been most disappointed in after so many rave reviews.

That happened to me with the zebra domes from AKL..they were talked about so much and I was dying to try them and when I did I could not see what the fuss was about....they are not that great.

It has been so great reading about POFQ. We are staying there this December and this is making me SO extra-excited (if that is possible?)!

Honestly, that shrimp po' boy looks so good, that is one I can't wait to try. And we've been going back and forth about boatwrights, because, as you noted, it doesn't have the best rep on the boards. Still, it's going to be SO close and I don't think I'd ever go out of my way to eat there so a part of me wants to try it on this trip. I think your review just may be the tipping point in deciding to go for it.

Thanks again for all the great photos and reviews!

I hope you love the POFQ as much as we did..I can totally see this as our home resort. I say got for Boatwrights, we enjoyed it so much..I wonder why everyone says its so bad?

Joining in and I'm so excited that I found another Food Review from you. I have been away from Disboard and today I saw you started a new review
I love reading your review (its soooo entertaining, full of information and I get a great laugh)
I was reading and I said oh there is a Brandon mall in FL, my 6 yr old son comes running to the computer and said oh my they have a mall named after me, I think we need to visit it on our next Florida vacation.
I can't believe where ever Toad wants to eat, he walks in and gets you guys a table, what luck is that (only if he can use that luck for LOTTO.)
LOVE LOVE your review and now I have to check Disboard daily to read yours
Thank you for sharing

Happy you found me! Yes the Brandon Mall is in Brandon Florida, really close to the I4 exit off of I75. It is a nice area and Todd goes to meetings up there all the time. Tell your son they named an entire town after him! If Todd was lucky at lotto I would be so happy, I would move into WDW and live in the castle!

 

[KatMark]

When did this lactose thing start? I knew nothing about it.

He got all of his games in Saturday; rained out yesterday and has four games today and it is 90 degrees here (it's going to be 96 by Friday!).

 

[MickeyNicki]

On to our night at HS. We waited a few minutes for the bus and let me tell you it was hot...it was around 4pm and it was still soooo hot that I really didnt want to go anywhere but once the ac of the bus hit me I was good to go.

HS didnt look that busy and when we first got there my idea was to try and get us into 50's PT but Todd wanted to ride the Backlot Tour before it was closed for the night...this is his favorite thing in HS. On the way we checked out Toy Story and it had an 60 minute wait so we skipped that. And did I mention it was still hot?

Around 5:30 we start off towards 50's and I was reminding him that our resort had fried chicken after 5pm so we could just go back there if we couldnt get in for dinner.

Todd: Oh yea of little faith...have I let you down yet, we will get in just relax

Me: I dont think so pal, your luck is bound to run out..there is no way we are getting in there

Todd: The park isnt that busy, we should be ok

And he was right, the park isnt that busy at all but, as we approach the place we see a line out the door and people all over.

Me: Ok genius, now what?

Todd: Lets go check it out

Me: You do that, I'll be in the bar...I need a drink

The bar was packed and I did notice people eating at the bar so I thought if I just waited them out I would grab two chairs for us....no problem. But I am married to Boy Wonder and he comes over to me

Todd: Stop stalking the diners, we are in

Me: I am not stalking....wait, what did you just say? What do you mean we are in?

Todd: Well I waited until it was my turn and they told me it would be about 20 minutes but they would seat us, no sweat. (Insert HUMONGOUS grin here)

Me: So what, you want a medal or something?

Todd: No, a simple "I was wrong you are totally right" will suffice

Me: You have a better chance of winning the lotto than me saying that to you

So we hang out in grandma's living room and around 6:15 they called us and we were seated at a 2 top way in the back. Our server was a sweetheart and while she didnt overly do a lot of the schtick she was still in character mode and the other waiter was totally into it so that was enough for us.

As we were being seated Todd saw the wedge salad and that is his favorite so we ordered one and I cannot believe it but I skipped my beloved onion rings because at the time the thought of them made me kinda ick

The salad was huge, half a head of lettuce! Large enough to share and have some left over. I ate some but worked my way around the cheese.

As we were chilling out I kept peppering him about our plans for Tues, it was our last full day at WDW and I didnt know what we were doing. His response was always the same, I will let you know when I have finished dinner. As our waitress was coming around to clear the salad plate (which was at the end of the table) I asked him again and he said (loudly) "Do I look like I am finished eating yet?"

Well our waitress thought he was talking to her and she slowly but the dish down and backed away from the husband and I was laughing so hard and Todd was just cracking up and we explained to her why he said that and she was just laughing...it was a funny, you had to be there moment but we kept laughing about it all night.

Todd went for his craving, fried chicken. He asked for all white meat and receive 2 chicken breasts and subbed the greens for string beans. He loved it and ate it all...it was very good and I ate the rest of his beans.

I decided on Mom's Sampler Plate with pot roast, fried chicken breast and meatloaf. There were greens and string beans and potatoes with beef gravy but I preferred Todd's because they had chicken gravy. Todd ate the pot roast and said it was awesome, very tender and full of flavor. THe meatloaf was to die for and I ate it all...the fried chicken was so good, tender and not greasy at all. Very large portions and I am glad he helped me finish it.

I was pretty full but he wanted to try the Boston Cream Pie Parfait, he loves Boston Cream Pie and it is so rarely on the menu that I knew he would go for it. This was great, even I liked it and I am normally not a fan. There were layers of cream and sponge cake and chocolate...it was the way the cake should be served!

Another totally fantastic meal at 50's PT! When we were leaving Todd asked if we were eating here in Oct and I said no, you wanted Mama Melrose....do you want me to change it?

Todd: Nah, lets wing it

Me: Are you trying to make me insane? So...what are we doing tomorrow?

Todd: Dont know yet

Me: Yup its official...I am going to the nut house

Todd: Oh, we are going to visit your mother?

By now the weather is so nice, it has really become comfortable and we made our way over to Fantasmic. I had to text Kathy to see where to sit, middle about 12 rows up, and it was great.

On the way we picked up a passionfruit frozen drink..I love these!

We got there around 7:30 and it started at 9 so we had time to just hang out and talk. His plans for tomorrow was breakfast at the resort and then go to DTD to see another movie, Fast Five, but this time we would do the Fork and Screen and have lunch there. I was totally fine with that, we wouldnt be out in the heat in the midday!

At this point he didnt know what he wanted to do that next night but I had plenty of time to pester him about it.

Dont rat me out but I really like this kind of vacation...but I will deny it if he ever asks! I better enjoy it while it lasts because our next trip in Oct is very scheduled

 

[TigerKat]

We've never eaten at 50's PT. Johnny loves fried chicken so we'll need to try it soon!

Can't wait for the F&W schedule to come out so we can start planning our ADR's around the events we want to attend. I'm really leaning towards a "no ADR" trip because most of our favorite places can be booked on short notice.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

GREAT update, Nicki!!! I really like HS - even though there's not much I do there other than walk around, eat, Muppets (getting tired of that one) and of course my fave, Beauty & The Beast show.

While I'd love to go back to Prime Time, my fear is with Rosie so into the antics, I'd be bright red, under the table most of the meal. I am SO SHY and do not enjoy the PT antics at all....but LOVE the fried chicken and would like to try the sampler you had. That's looks sooo good!

You are right!! We need more ngts for our birthday trip - going to work on Rosie to see if we can add just one more and stay at one resort.

 

[marivaid]

I would love to try 50's one day. I've never had fried chicken or meatloaf, and the fried chicken looks mighty good. But I'm a bit worried because my sister is coming along on our next trip and she just had gastric surgery, so obviously "cleaning her plate" there is going to be an issue and I'm worried they'll tease her for it. Watcha think ?
Can you do the Fantasmic package at 50's ?

 

[dizneeat]

Another yum yum update, dear friend!

We have never been to 50s yet, but it might just make it on a to do list!

I love the look of your sampler platter, the pot roast and meatloaf look delish. And that dessert does too!

Can't believe the next day will be your last full one at WDW. Please tell me I am reading this wrong.

BTW, did you see them sell the dessert samplers at Fantasmic? I would love to try one in August!

 

[KatMark]

Okay, now you have gone and done it. I had my heart set on Mama Melrose since we've not been there since 2008. But we've not been to 50's Prime Time since Andy and Mark were about 11 and 9, and if I show those pictures to Romeo he is going tow ant to hae the pot roast or the meatloaf. Now, what am I supposed to do?

I'm glad the seats worked out for you.

And, of course, it is Todd's bag! It was his birthday. And I'm glad he liked it.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Wow! Todd is totally on a roll! don't worry, I won't say that to his face.

I had a visit to the bar at Primetime in the back of my head for Oct and I think you have solidified the plan.

On the edge of my seat to see if his luck holds. Thank you for opening our eyes to the possibility of a no ADR trip!

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

50's in another one that has been on our off my list for August. Mostly because DH didn't think he wanted to eat there ... that is until I just showed him that fried chicken! Now he is all in! Just a bit of tweaking and I got us a lunch ADR.

I can't really make any more changes so I have to hope your last reviews don't 'do anything for me'!

 

[joecatz]

LOVING this thread! Wife and i are florida Residents, but its the opposite dynamic. I'm the planner and she would rather wing it!

For those interested, a little tip about California Grille. It's probably the easiest restaurant to get a next day reservation to if you're persistent, mainly because people ACTUALLY CANCEL their reservations, because they get charged if they dont. try the concierge the night before after 5 PM. works like a charm.

Also, other than the character meals, and very popular park restaurants, its usually pretty easy to make reservations a week or a few days before. Signature places are easy to book.

Same with the MK resorts.

Great thread!!

 

[gigi1313]

okay, that mom's sampler has me!! we ate at 50sPT once a few years ago and were under-impressed... the hardest part was deciding what to order... but now i already know what we will be having if we get as lucky as Todd... as we, too, will not have reservations (or will we?! LOL!)

 

[disnutt]

It's from the Disney Florist!

Thanks!

 

[bigal'sdaughter]

I leave my computer for a family filled weekend and miss like 8 pages! omg!
The POFQ food court and pool bar drinks look awesome.
I truly am just so psyched y'all are getting in such great places! CG and 50's PT.
I'm glad 50's was great - we honestly had an ok experience in Jan. Food was good, service good just no schtick...
Oh and your epcot pics are awesome! Thank you!
I am really enjoying your review...

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Ahhh so far behind! I'm lactose intolerant as well, I totally know how it is! I'm good with most aged cheeses (cheddar for one), but mozzarella and ricotta are best enjoyed with a Lactaid. The Lactaids don't help at all with ice cream for me, that's pretty much off limits for me now!

Todd's meandering walk-up tactic is pretty impressive! I'm glad he was able to get his fried chicken...at least that won't be dictating future meals!

I'm also happy to see that the bus service from POFQ was pretty good - that's the top contender for the next resort we're going to stay at!

 

[PrincessTrisha]

Another set of really great reviews!

I actually have to thank you and Todd - when I spent a couple nights at POFQ in March, the one morning I had a cinnamon roll from the food court (based on something I read in one of your reviews). It was wonderful - after I bought it, I was unsure because I usually prefer my cinnamon rolls to be more donut like (yeast raised donut) versus the danish style pastry that the POFQ is. It was outstanding!