akmomesq
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Sep 24, 2009
- Messages
- 120
Hi -
We just returned from our first ever trip to DL. It was FANTASTIC and we can't wait to go again.
I wanted to give a quick review of the FFI, since I had a hard time finding much info on it - and of the Mickey & Friends breakfast buffet at the PCH Grill.
FFI: We got an $89/night deal. That, and the fact that they would guarantee adjoining rooms, made us go with FFI. I can't compare it to other good neighbor hotels since it's the only one I've visited, but I can say that while the decor was unimpressive really - it was clean and convenient. The staff was very friendly and helpful, the bed was comfortable, the shower was nice, and it seemed to me to be very close to the parks. I don't know if we'd stay again (we stopped at the Grand Californian for a peek and I think my husband and I were both smitten), but I'm not disappointed with the FFI.
We chose to do 2 character dining experiences while there - Ariel's Grotto for my daughter and Mickey & Friend's for my 7 year old who is a Stitch fanatic. Ariel's Grotto was fantastic. We ate there for lunch, the food was delicious, and the character interaction was great. Cinderella, Ariel, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and Belle were there - each princess stopping at every single table of the packed restaurant for autographs and pictures. The waitstaff was so organized - the entire lunch was so well-run it was truly impressive. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. That and the BBB were the absolute highlights of my daughter's trip. (By the way, at the BBB, if you don't want to buy a $65 princess gown - I highly suggest bringing one. Or do like I did, convince your daughter to buy one of the princess nightgowns - they were fancy enough for her to feel princess-y, she wore it outside like a dress - and we can use it again - all for about $30.)
The other character dining experience - the breakfast buffet at PCH Grill with Mickey & Friends was a HUGE disappointment. If I hadn't pre-paid for it, I would've walked out. The vibe was not what I'd come to expect from Disney. It was unenthusiastic to say the least. I felt like I was eating at the Denny's down the street. The servers were scarce - I had to chase someone down with the creamer pitcher in my hand to get cream for my coffee and by the time I found someone to get it, my coffee was cold - but there was no one to replace it for me and we didn't get a refill offered until we were being handed the check just about.
But what REALLY killed the experience was the food. We changed our reservations from 9 to 11 a.m. and I'm sure that had a lot to do with the quality of the food - though paying over $100 for 4 people to eat I think I had a right to expect more.
The food was gross. The Mickey waffles were completely hard. The pancakes were hard around the edges and kind of soggy inside. The oatmeal had a film on top of it. The eggs looked congealed. The bacon - I tried to pick up a piece and just about the entire bowl of bacon lifted up en masse. My husband and I each tried an omelet (they were made in front of you and appeared to be the only "fresh" thing being offered). My kids had some fruit. My daughter tried to eat a mini-bagel but it was so stale she couldn't bite through it (and ended up flinging jelly everywhere when she tried to rip a piece off with her teeth - it was that stale.) The best thing I had to eat was the handful of dry apple jacks I took from the cold cereal dispenser on the way out.
I realize that it's usually not a good idea to eat from a buffet so long after opening, but like I said above, paying that much money I feel justified in fully expecting to get a decent meal.
If you want to give the buffet a try, I highly suggest making your reservations close to opening. Maybe it's better then.
We just returned from our first ever trip to DL. It was FANTASTIC and we can't wait to go again.
I wanted to give a quick review of the FFI, since I had a hard time finding much info on it - and of the Mickey & Friends breakfast buffet at the PCH Grill.
FFI: We got an $89/night deal. That, and the fact that they would guarantee adjoining rooms, made us go with FFI. I can't compare it to other good neighbor hotels since it's the only one I've visited, but I can say that while the decor was unimpressive really - it was clean and convenient. The staff was very friendly and helpful, the bed was comfortable, the shower was nice, and it seemed to me to be very close to the parks. I don't know if we'd stay again (we stopped at the Grand Californian for a peek and I think my husband and I were both smitten), but I'm not disappointed with the FFI.
We chose to do 2 character dining experiences while there - Ariel's Grotto for my daughter and Mickey & Friend's for my 7 year old who is a Stitch fanatic. Ariel's Grotto was fantastic. We ate there for lunch, the food was delicious, and the character interaction was great. Cinderella, Ariel, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and Belle were there - each princess stopping at every single table of the packed restaurant for autographs and pictures. The waitstaff was so organized - the entire lunch was so well-run it was truly impressive. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. That and the BBB were the absolute highlights of my daughter's trip. (By the way, at the BBB, if you don't want to buy a $65 princess gown - I highly suggest bringing one. Or do like I did, convince your daughter to buy one of the princess nightgowns - they were fancy enough for her to feel princess-y, she wore it outside like a dress - and we can use it again - all for about $30.)
The other character dining experience - the breakfast buffet at PCH Grill with Mickey & Friends was a HUGE disappointment. If I hadn't pre-paid for it, I would've walked out. The vibe was not what I'd come to expect from Disney. It was unenthusiastic to say the least. I felt like I was eating at the Denny's down the street. The servers were scarce - I had to chase someone down with the creamer pitcher in my hand to get cream for my coffee and by the time I found someone to get it, my coffee was cold - but there was no one to replace it for me and we didn't get a refill offered until we were being handed the check just about.
But what REALLY killed the experience was the food. We changed our reservations from 9 to 11 a.m. and I'm sure that had a lot to do with the quality of the food - though paying over $100 for 4 people to eat I think I had a right to expect more.
The food was gross. The Mickey waffles were completely hard. The pancakes were hard around the edges and kind of soggy inside. The oatmeal had a film on top of it. The eggs looked congealed. The bacon - I tried to pick up a piece and just about the entire bowl of bacon lifted up en masse. My husband and I each tried an omelet (they were made in front of you and appeared to be the only "fresh" thing being offered). My kids had some fruit. My daughter tried to eat a mini-bagel but it was so stale she couldn't bite through it (and ended up flinging jelly everywhere when she tried to rip a piece off with her teeth - it was that stale.) The best thing I had to eat was the handful of dry apple jacks I took from the cold cereal dispenser on the way out.
I realize that it's usually not a good idea to eat from a buffet so long after opening, but like I said above, paying that much money I feel justified in fully expecting to get a decent meal.
If you want to give the buffet a try, I highly suggest making your reservations close to opening. Maybe it's better then.
), Goofy's Kitchen. It's disappointing to hear that they got rid of the salmon and the pineapple scones, 2 unique & yummy things that the Lilo & Stitch breakfast used to have. Seconding what Sherry E said, next time, if you want to do a Character meal, go with Goofy's Kitchen...I've never had a bad experience there, and have been going there since I was around 12 years old (aka, a million years ago, when it was in the old location). I've read a couple bad reviews of the place, but what seems like 99.999% of the time, GK gets good reviews.
