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

[Amy&Dan]

Okay, I am going to print out those ADR plans for your next trip and see how they match up to the real thing!

Bummer about the calamari at Tony's, I love it too.

Have you ever tried Tokyo Dining? I hate hibachi places but Dan loves Japanese food and its our compromise. Excellent tempura, incredible service and I don't have to sit with strangers that are sure to annoy me.

I swear the family from he** on your bus to the CR sounds like the same family dd and I sat with on a bus to OKW one day. Knock down drag out between a couple of the women and the bus driver did nothing. Can you imagine being at either of their houses for Thanksgiving??

Sounds like a great trip, but that heat is killer. Its supposed to be 97 next Tuesday which is our first full day at WDW. God help me, I am from Colorado I may die in that sticky heat!

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

Very sad that your report is over! But glad to hear Via Napoli is back on the good list! We are planning to try it in August. Also glad that you didn't try someplace else that isn't already on my list!

Love your line-up in October! I do believe there will be changes either before or during your trip though! We will be hitting quite a few of those places during our trip so you will get a pre-review from us for the following:

Artists Point
Cali Grill
Le Cellier
Mama Melrose
Kouzzina - this is a maybe for us & would be breakfast
Rose & Crown
Sanaa

I can't wait to try Sanaa!

 

[TigerKat]

Thanks once again for a very entertaining review with tons of laughs!!!

I look forward to planning F&W with you next month!

 

[shortchange1026]

Great reviews (as always!) but bummed they are over! We loved the Rose and Crown when we were there 3 years ago, we had a great meal. I hope you guys have a good time there. It looks like they changed the menu slightly (for the better!). We are going the same week you are and staying at the POFQ as well. Can't wait!

 

[Kim1964]

That was a fun report. I've never read a trip report/food review before, but this was very entertaining....your husband has amazing luck!! I will never mention this thread to my husband, though, as I don't want him to think it's possible to go without ADRs and still eat at popular places.

 

[bigal'sdaughter]

Awesome Nicki- thank you so much for this review!
In October I am hoping for a little of Todd's luck because if plans change we are going to try to walk up to Sanaa....
Question about that for all of you experts reading this - do you think I could do that one solo with a well behaved DD (with coloring book)... we live in a tourist area and she is VERY used to eating in fine dining/date night restaurants.....they do have a kids menu and it seems Jiko would be the fancier option....

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Aw... I am so sorry to see your trip and reviews end. What fun it was to share in your ADR Free adventure!!

I'm sorry the heat was so awful and you were not feeling well some of the time - I can't take that heat either, so know how awful it can make one feel - truly sick...and to add the lactose intolerance on top of that..well, yuck!

Will be looking forward to the October reviews! I've no trip for such a long time that I enjoy your reviews even more!

Thanks so much for sharing the fun with us...you two are a hoot!

p.s. Those Beignets look sooo good to me!! Swear I could smell the things looking at the photo! Yes, they are much better in New Orleans, but I even go over to FQ just to enjoy these each trip.

 

[tinacaplan]

So sad its over.... You enjoyed Via Napoli this time? Maybe I just didn't order the correct things. They also put proscuitto cotto on the pizza last year, which is the cheaper stuff, and I don't like it at all. It reminds me of boiled ham. Not great on a pizza...or much of anything IMO! I'm so tempted to try this again!

Thanks for sharing the reviews, Nic. And the banter between you and Todd is always great.

 

[ThinkTink09]

Thanks for the great reviews as always! I was happy to see the dine-in movie report especially; I was curious about that

 

[dvc4life]

Ah, man. Too bad it is over already. Can't you just make stuff up and keep posting!

Seriously, another great trip report. I think if we went to Disney without reservations now my DH would have a heart attack. I remember when we first would go down to WDW and have no reservations and couldn't get in to a restaurant at a park, he would absolutely freak. He doesn't enjoy CS meals for supper so we had a hard learning experience. Now we always have a plan in motion for our evening meal. But then again, that was for a table for 4, not 2, so that could have made a difference . Just glad that it works for you guys.

We are also going down in October for F&W and MNSSHP. So I will be anxiously awaiting your report from then.

 

[TanzUnited99]

Yay finally a walk up DH didn't get!! What a great memory for you!

However, he did manage to get into VN and all the other restaurants so am sure he will love reminding you of that!

I love your Oct ressies (we are also trying Artist Point and Sanaa) though have to agree with others that I am expecting them to change!

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

it's over

we didn't snack much either. we used our credits for waters, etc... most of the snacks we got--we took home. i still have caramel corn in my house it was seriously, just too hot.

the whole time we were there i was so miserable i vowed never to do the dxddp again. of course now that i'm planning, i remember that we eat more in november since it's not so unbearable... so we're dxddp'ing it again

we had rose and crown for the first time this trip and it was awesome. we really liked it and i got it again for november!!

 

[DrMomof3]

I'm sad your trip is over! Can't wait for the next one!!!
We don't buy a lot of snacks at Disney at all. In fact I don't think my kids have ever had a Mickey bar in all the trips we've made. Crazy, huh?

Amanda

 

[MickeyNicki]

Although I really want an unbeaten streak - as a wife and mommy I am hoping you won this one Nicki!
Those cinnamon buns look great - I also am a huge cinnamon bun fan -my favorite breakfast ever! Just so sad they seemed to change at the Main Street Bakery....
I cannot wait for your caramel shop review... that is now always a must do!

We posted at the same time! (basically!)
No Caramel? I am in shock!

I was happy I won this one too although I would have loved to get my chicken schwarma platter! Yes it was a no caramel and basically no treats kind of trip...no one was more shocked by this than us! It was just too hot to eat anything.

I don't think you'll stick with all your ADRs, since your trip is five months away, and you're like me and always think of somewhere else you'd rather eat. But you must eat Kouzzina! I still can't believe you haven't been there yet, and it is quickly becoming one of my favorite restaurants on property!

I hope we stick with all our reservations because they look really good! I hear great things about Kouzzina and Kathy (TigerKat) ate there the same week I was there and she raved about it

Well, this is the one meal you DID NOT tell me about when we talked on the phone or texted. I am so glad to hear that Via Napoli is back to being on the "good list" because, as you know, Romeo and I have a dinner ressie in September and we really want to try it. But I was a little worried after your last review (and you know I trust your total judgment on these things).

Had to give you something to look forward to! VN was outstanding...we just loved it, aside from the bread I'm sorry you weren't feeling well on your last day. I think you were having Starbucks withdrawal.

And let me tell you, my Triple Venti non fat sugar free vanilla latte isnt the same now that I have it made with soy milk!

What was with Toddle Duck and no snacks?

We blamed the heat! And he loves the name...although I like Meanie the missing dwarf but he says I resemble that name more.....

Your new line-up sounds great. We really like Rose & Crown. I'll be curious what you think of Artists Point as that is one we keep talking about.

It was fun...as always...reliving your trip with you and Todd.

I am looking forward to those two places so I hope we keep them! One of these days we are gonna do a trip together...now change your dates for 2012 and lets go in Oct for F&W

Love your dining reports!!! You guys are so amusing and with all your great pics you're always such a help with deciding dining for our trips!

Thank you, so glad you liked them!

Thank you for sharing and proving that a no ADR trip is possible!! not necessarily for the faint of heart but possible without going counter-service all the way. You really had some good meals.

Plans for Oct look great. Can't wait for the F&W info to be released.

It was totally my pleasure! We had great meals and I cannot wait to go back...I keep checking online and my mailbox for the coveted 2011 F&W book! Hurry up July!

In fairness, I was able to walk up to Via Napoli twice in December.

I think you guys will love Sanaa!

I agree...we walked up twice in Nov too. Sanaa sounds awesome!

[/COLOR]

I made some comments next to your restaurant choices!

I cannot believe you are already done with your reviews, girl! Can you stay at WDW with us some time - I mean a 4 week trip - oh how wonderful would that be!

And btw I did juggle around a lot of my ADRs and some of them are just backup as we want to "kind of wing it" the second part of our WDW stay. Thanks to Todd that should work well (okay, we did the same thing last summer - had ressies, cancelled them day of, and went somewhere else).

Thanks for the reviews and the laughs, Nicki, my friend! They were wonderful as always!
Hope to see you again soon!

Great minds think alike...we both like the same places! There is nothing in this world better than 4 weeks in WDW than to spend that time with you and Tom in WDW! I wish that I could do that but alas I have to work to make the money to go to WDW in the first place...a never ending cycle

Now that I am finished with this I can finally go back to yours, Kathy's and Tina's threads and start harrassing you guys again

I'm so sorry your reviews have come to an end. Bummer! Glad you had a great time except for the heat I suppose! As I said before, I'm not sure I'll be up to our next summer trip in June. Its definitely a pain when you have school age children (8th grade next year) and you can't take them out of school unless you want to be hung by your ears! Would you mind sharing what your Top 10 restaurants at WDW are? I'd love to know. I know it won't be Teppen Edo. Can't wait for your fall reviews!!!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing your reviews with all of us!

No one is sorrier than I am! We had a great time, well besides the heat and lack of planning

My top ten places are and in no order (and I will not speak for my DH)

1. Citricos
2. Cali Grill
3. The Wave
4. Flying Fish
5. Yachtsman
6. Il Mulino
7. Kona - for breakfast or lunch
8. Cape May - for breakfast or lunch
9. Via Napoli
10. Yachtsman

Okay, I am going to print out those ADR plans for your next trip and see how they match up to the real thing!

Lets start the bets!

Bummer about the calamari at Tony's, I love it too.

Hopefully it was just an off night.

Have you ever tried Tokyo Dining? I hate hibachi places but Dan loves Japanese food and its our compromise. Excellent tempura, incredible service and I don't have to sit with strangers that are sure to annoy me.

We have not tried it but I keep asking to! He always wants the hibachi instead.

I swear the family from he** on your bus to the CR sounds like the same family dd and I sat with on a bus to OKW one day. Knock down drag out between a couple of the women and the bus driver did nothing. Can you imagine being at either of their houses for Thanksgiving??

All I can think of is they must be pretty miserable people to argue in WDW!

Sounds like a great trip, but that heat is killer. Its supposed to be 97 next Tuesday which is our first full day at WDW. God help me, I am from Colorado I may die in that sticky heat!

I heard that WDW is 98-99 today....OMG I cannot imagine. Todd said if he was there he would stay in the room or the pool the entire trip!

Very sad that your report is over! But glad to hear Via Napoli is back on the good list! We are planning to try it in August. Also glad that you didn't try someplace else that isn't already on my list!

VN was awesome, I cannot wait to go back for those fried veggies!

Love your line-up in October! I do believe there will be changes either before or during your trip though! We will be hitting quite a few of those places during our trip so you will get a pre-review from us for the following:

Artists Point
Cali Grill
Le Cellier
Mama Melrose
Kouzzina - this is a maybe for us & would be breakfast
Rose & Crown
Sanaa

I can't wait to try Sanaa!

I cannot wait for any of them...I think the 2 that I am looking forward to the most is AP and Sanaa!

Thanks once again for a very entertaining review with tons of laughs!!!

I look forward to planning F&W with you next month!

Thanks Kathy! I cannot wait to go back for F&W, lets plan like this. First booth a drink and a snack, second booth same as the first, third booth forget the snack just gimme the drink!

Great reviews (as always!) but bummed they are over! We loved the Rose and Crown when we were there 3 years ago, we had a great meal. I hope you guys have a good time there. It looks like they changed the menu slightly (for the better!). We are going the same week you are and staying at the POFQ as well. Can't wait!

See you at the POFQ! Look for the tall guy scoping out the cheese danish! So glad to hear R&C is good, I have been wanting to try it for a while.

That was a fun report. I've never read a trip report/food review before, but this was very entertaining....your husband has amazing luck!! I will never mention this thread to my husband, though, as I don't want him to think it's possible to go without ADRs and still eat at popular places.

Thanks! I try to keep it all in one because there is no way I could remember all the details to do a separate trip report! While we had great luck for this trip he knows that Oct would be alot harder since it would be busier with F&W stuff.

 

[MickeyNicki]

Awesome Nicki- thank you so much for this review!
In October I am hoping for a little of Todd's luck because if plans change we are going to try to walk up to Sanaa....
Question about that for all of you experts reading this - do you think I could do that one solo with a well behaved DD (with coloring book)... we live in a tourist area and she is VERY used to eating in fine dining/date night restaurants.....they do have a kids menu and it seems Jiko would be the fancier option....

You are very welcome I hear you can get a walk up for Sanaa but not until it is dark, which will be earlier in Oct, because most people want to go early and see the animals. I think your DD would be fine...as long as my niece plays on my IPhone or colors she is fine!

Aw... I am so sorry to see your trip and reviews end. What fun it was to share in your ADR Free adventure!!

Me too but we have Oct to look forward to and that will be a lot more structured

I'm sorry the heat was so awful and you were not feeling well some of the time - I can't take that heat either, so know how awful it can make one feel - truly sick...and to add the lactose intolerance on top of that..well, yuck!

It was pretty bad but not as bad as that last day. I hear it is 98 in WDW today

Will be looking forward to the October reviews! I've no trip for such a long time that I enjoy your reviews even more!

That is the worst! We went a year between trips in 09/10 and it was a killer!

Thanks so much for sharing the fun with us...you two are a hoot!

No, we are insane!

p.s. Those Beignets look sooo good to me!! Swear I could smell the things looking at the photo! Yes, they are much better in New Orleans, but I even go over to FQ just to enjoy these each trip.

My dream vacation is NOLA with that coffee and fresh made beignets!

So sad its over.... You enjoyed Via Napoli this time? Maybe I just didn't order the correct things. They also put proscuitto cotto on the pizza last year, which is the cheaper stuff, and I don't like it at all. It reminds me of boiled ham. Not great on a pizza...or much of anything IMO! I'm so tempted to try this again!

Thanks for sharing the reviews, Nic. And the banter between you and Todd is always great.

It was a week trip but it went so fast, where does the time go? I think the key is to get just a plain cheese pizza...we had it twice and it was great but the topping pizzas not so much.

We are just your average goofballs...you should have seen us at Best Buy last night buying a new computer! We must have been a sight!

Thanks for the great reviews as always! I was happy to see the dine-in movie report especially; I was curious about that

Glad it helped...I cannot wait to go back and do that again, it was alot of fun

Ah, man. Too bad it is over already. Can't you just make stuff up and keep posting!

Sure I can, what would you like me to review for you

Seriously, another great trip report. I think if we went to Disney without reservations now my DH would have a heart attack. I remember when we first would go down to WDW and have no reservations and couldn't get in to a restaurant at a park, he would absolutely freak. He doesn't enjoy CS meals for supper so we had a hard learning experience. Now we always have a plan in motion for our evening meal. But then again, that was for a table for 4, not 2, so that could have made a difference . Just glad that it works for you guys.

Thanks! There are a lot of nice CS places in Epcot especially but my husband likes a sit down relaxing dinner every night...I am glad his non planning came together as well as it did.

We are also going down in October for F&W and MNSSHP. So I will be anxiously awaiting your report from then.

Cool! Do our dates overlap?

Yay finally a walk up DH didn't get!! What a great memory for you!

Thats what I said!

However, he did manage to get into VN and all the other restaurants so am sure he will love reminding you of that!

You are 100% correct!

I love your Oct ressies (we are also trying Artist Point and Sanaa) though have to agree with others that I am expecting them to change!

I hope they are good, the reviews lately have been very positive

it's over

we didn't snack much either. we used our credits for waters, etc... most of the snacks we got--we took home. i still have caramel corn in my house it was seriously, just too hot.

the whole time we were there i was so miserable i vowed never to do the dxddp again. of course now that i'm planning, i remember that we eat more in november since it's not so unbearable... so we're dxddp'ing it again

we had rose and crown for the first time this trip and it was awesome. we really liked it and i got it again for november!!

All good things must come to an end. Its the heat, you dont want to eat when you are melting from the heat I cannot imagine doing the DXDDP...we never go on the plan and the thought of three TS a day is just overwhelming to me. I do remember that we ate more in Nov too...the weather was much nicer then.

I'm sad your trip is over! Can't wait for the next one!!!
We don't buy a lot of snacks at Disney at all. In fact I don't think my kids have ever had a Mickey bar in all the trips we've made. Crazy, huh?

Amanda

I cant wait either! I dont like the Mickey Bars...they are just Dove bars and I can get them at the grocery store...if I want a snack I want something I cannot get just anywhere.

 

[KatMark]

I am looking forward to those two places so I hope we keep them! One of these days we are gonna do a trip together...now change your dates for 2012 and lets go in Oct for F&W

We haven't even looked at dates for 2012 yet. Mark about fell over when I told him that in 2013 to plan on taking three weeks off because I want to do the cruise, Disney World and Nicki Land.

When we are together in September, we'll discuss 2012 dates (I just know that I can't get the condo the weekend around Halloween because the owner always goes at that time).

 

[dizneeat]

We haven't even looked at dates for 2012 yet. Mark about fell over when I told him that in 2013 to plan on taking three weeks off because I want to do the cruise, Disney World and Nicki Land.

When we are together in September, we'll discuss 2012 dates (I just know that I can't get the condo the weekend around Halloween because the owner always goes at that time).

Oh fine! If you are considering going on the cruise around Halloween that definitely leaves US out!
And you promised that we ALL go on this cruise together!

Just kidding!

 

[KatMark]

Oh fine! If you are considering going on the cruise around Halloween that definitely leaves US out!
And you promised that we ALL go on this cruise together!

Just kidding!

I said Halloween because Nic wants to go to F&W which would mean October; not even sure if Mark could get off three weeks in October because of his trade show schedule (it would be tough enough in September)

 

[dizneeat]

I said Halloween because Nic wants to go to F&W which would mean October; not even sure if Mark could get off three weeks in October because of his trade show schedule (it would be tough enough in September)

I am just kidding, Kathy!
But promise me, whenever you go, to let me help planning! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to do that!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

And let me tell you, my Triple Venti non fat sugar free vanilla latte isnt the same now that I have it made with soy milk!

You should try almond milk. I don't think Starbucks uses it, but at home it's great for cocoa and stuff. I like the Blue Diamond original unsweetened stuff. It tastes more like cow's milk to me, and is kind of creamier, and doesn't have that soy aftertaste.