September/October 2009 Dining Reviews - Updated 11/1
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onelilspark
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If it helps, I'd pick Citricos too, and you can see the MK from a few tables. I wouldn't count on it though...it's not the best view and if you're counting on seeing the fireworks, they don't pump in the music. If you wind up at one of those tables, it's more of a bonus than anything.
And I'm loving the reviews!
disneyfav4ever
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I'm easily amused too. I love food porn.
Glad you're enjoying them.And I'm loving the reviews!
disneyfav4ever
No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep
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Ugh! I am so annoyed at my computer right now. I had this review all typed out last night, and then it somehow went back a page, so my review disappeared, and then this morning I was typing up what I thought of the food at Party for the Senses in a draft in my e-mail before I forgot what I liked that night, and then the same thing happened. Needless to say, I am pretty agravated right now, but hopfully this too doesn't end up getting lost in cyber space. Anyway. . .
After Fantasmic I had said goodbye to Cathryn, and headed back to All Star Movies. I really wish I had been able to get a room at Pop, since that's where she was staying, and she had promised me jell-o and pudding shots had I been able to stay there. But, unfortunatly, All Star Movies was the only value resort available since I had booked so late.
Upon getting back to the resort, and I actually went to Movies this time since I had packages to pick up. I had been taking Music's bus the rest of the trip since it was closer to my room, I had been in the Mighty Ducks building all the way at the end, which is so much closer to Music's bus stop then Movie's.
After picking up my packages I realized I was a little hungry. It was going on 9:00 then, and dinner had been at 4:00. I really wish that they gave those using the Fantasmic dinner package a choice of early or late show, so we had the option of not eating that early.
Even though all the food stations were still open, I didn't want a full meal, but I wanted something junky, but not sweet, so my options were kind of limited. I settled on cheese fries.
These were good. Exactly what I wanted. The fries were fresh, they seemed to be backed on the fries, and couldn't make them fast enough. The cheese sauce was the usual fake stuff that I don't really count as cheese, but it's what I was expecting.
It gets an
Coming up next, my Animal Kingdom day, with breakfast at Pizzafaria, lunch at Sanaa, and two dinners.
After Fantasmic I had said goodbye to Cathryn, and headed back to All Star Movies. I really wish I had been able to get a room at Pop, since that's where she was staying, and she had promised me jell-o and pudding shots had I been able to stay there. But, unfortunatly, All Star Movies was the only value resort available since I had booked so late.
Upon getting back to the resort, and I actually went to Movies this time since I had packages to pick up. I had been taking Music's bus the rest of the trip since it was closer to my room, I had been in the Mighty Ducks building all the way at the end, which is so much closer to Music's bus stop then Movie's.
After picking up my packages I realized I was a little hungry. It was going on 9:00 then, and dinner had been at 4:00. I really wish that they gave those using the Fantasmic dinner package a choice of early or late show, so we had the option of not eating that early.
Even though all the food stations were still open, I didn't want a full meal, but I wanted something junky, but not sweet, so my options were kind of limited. I settled on cheese fries.
These were good. Exactly what I wanted. The fries were fresh, they seemed to be backed on the fries, and couldn't make them fast enough. The cheese sauce was the usual fake stuff that I don't really count as cheese, but it's what I was expecting.
It gets an
Coming up next, my Animal Kingdom day, with breakfast at Pizzafaria, lunch at Sanaa, and two dinners.
disneyfav4ever
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I woke up early again, determined to make it to rope drop at Animal Kingdom. I knew if I wanted to get everything done that I wanted to, I had to make rope drop.
As soon as the park opened I headed for the Safari, and got on it right away. The animals were out and about this morning, but nothing much that I hadn't already really seen before, though the giraffes were really close this morning, as were the elephants, so that was cool.
After the Safari, it was still before 9:30. I wanted to see the 10:00 showing of Festival of the Lion King, so I headed in that direction. I was a little hungry, and Pizzafaria was on the way to Camp Minnie-Mickey, and I figured I had plenty of time to get food and eat.
There was only one family ahead of me in line, and only one family at the other register, yet somehow it took twenty minutes for me to order and get my food. Also, while I was watching the food be prepared, I saw my order sitting there, while they were trying to get this other family's food together.
At the restaurant I used to work at, if we got an order for a single person, and whatever they had ordered was made, we'd put it up right away, as to not make anyone wait longer then necessary.
But I waited, and waited some more, as I they put the other family's food together. Then as soon as they were gone, it took them five seconds to grab my pizza and hand it to me. Which, again, had been sitting there for a good ten minutes by this point, so now had I not only waited, my food had also just been sitting there for that long.
They need a little more organization, and need to be a little quicker, as there were plenty of people working.
Anyway, for my breakfast I had the breakfast pizza.
It was filled with eggs, cheese, and peppers. It was good, but was a little bland. Despite it sitting for as long as it did, it hadn't dried out. The crust was very thick and a soft and chewy dough.
It gets an
If anything, it could've used some meat. A little bacon or sausage would've been nice in it, and would've added some spice, or even salty flavor, that it really needed.
Despite the long wait for my food, I ate fast, and was able to just make it to the 10:00 showing of the Lion King.
As soon as the park opened I headed for the Safari, and got on it right away. The animals were out and about this morning, but nothing much that I hadn't already really seen before, though the giraffes were really close this morning, as were the elephants, so that was cool.
After the Safari, it was still before 9:30. I wanted to see the 10:00 showing of Festival of the Lion King, so I headed in that direction. I was a little hungry, and Pizzafaria was on the way to Camp Minnie-Mickey, and I figured I had plenty of time to get food and eat.
There was only one family ahead of me in line, and only one family at the other register, yet somehow it took twenty minutes for me to order and get my food. Also, while I was watching the food be prepared, I saw my order sitting there, while they were trying to get this other family's food together.
At the restaurant I used to work at, if we got an order for a single person, and whatever they had ordered was made, we'd put it up right away, as to not make anyone wait longer then necessary.
But I waited, and waited some more, as I they put the other family's food together. Then as soon as they were gone, it took them five seconds to grab my pizza and hand it to me. Which, again, had been sitting there for a good ten minutes by this point, so now had I not only waited, my food had also just been sitting there for that long.
They need a little more organization, and need to be a little quicker, as there were plenty of people working.
Anyway, for my breakfast I had the breakfast pizza.
It was filled with eggs, cheese, and peppers. It was good, but was a little bland. Despite it sitting for as long as it did, it hadn't dried out. The crust was very thick and a soft and chewy dough.
It gets an
If anything, it could've used some meat. A little bacon or sausage would've been nice in it, and would've added some spice, or even salty flavor, that it really needed.
Despite the long wait for my food, I ate fast, and was able to just make it to the 10:00 showing of the Lion King.
ChelleinNC
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It should have been a no-brainer when it came up for someone to hadnd it to you. Unfortunately, Common Sense isn't all that common anymore
Glad it wasn't cold and dried out
disneyfav4ever
No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep
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I really can't believe how long I had to wait for it. And what was really crazy was they must've looked at my slip so many times. They had a tray with a bottle of water on it, so I knew it was mine, since there were only two other groups in the entire restaurant, and they just looked at it without it clicking in their heads that all that needs is a pizza, and there were quite a few pizzas right in front of them.It should have been a no-brainer when it came up for someone to hadnd it to you. Unfortunately, Common Sense isn't all that common anymore
Glad it wasn't cold and dried out
If that had caused me to miss the Lion King, I would've been much more annoyed then I was, but I still made it, so it didn't really matter in the long run, but it was still annoying.
disneyfav4ever
No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep
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So after the Lion King I walked to Asia, where I rode Expedition Everest and then got in line for Finding Nemo. In line I called my dad, our conversation went like this.
Dad - "How's your trip?"
Me - "Fine. How's my cat?"
Dad - "Fine." (Long pause) "Anything else?"
Me - "Nope"
Dad - "See you on Sunday then."
That was the extent I talked to my parents the entire trip. Actually I didn't talk to my mom between the night before I left, and a couple days after I got home, and then she only asked me how my trip was as an after thought.
Anyway, Nemo was great, and the last thing on my to-do list at Animal Kingdom, so after the show was over I headed to the Animal Kingdom Lodge for my lunch at Sanaa.
My ADR was for 1:55, and I left the park around 12:30, which should have given me tons of extra time at the Lodge, but it took forever for a bus to get there, and once one did, there wasn't even enough space for everyone on the bus. Probably the worst wait I had for a bus all week, especially considering that it wasn't park closing or opening.
I got to the Lodge around 1:20, (seriously almost an hour to get from Animal Kingdom to the Lodge, and it's like a five minute drive, there's something seriously wrong with that.) I found the restaurant without much trouble, which suprised me, because at home I have a terrible sense of direction, but in Disney I seem to be able to figure out where to go quite easily. Same with my sleep schedule, I'm a night owl at home, but an early bird in the morning in Disney.
I checked in, and even though the restaurant wasn't very busy, had a twenty minute wait to be seated. I was still seated before my ADR time, but just by a few minutes. It seemed like I did a lot of waiting today. Once I was seated though, the meal progressed at a pleasant pace, it wasn't incredibly slow, but I wasn't rushed either.
I had originally planned to pay for this meal with a dining plan credit, but due to not going to the Wave on my departure day, I decided to pay for this meal out of pocket, and then use the two credits I had left at Jiko that night.
I started my meal with the African Starr mojito.
It was a mix of Starr African rum, tangerine liquor, mint, and lime. Usually I'm not a big mojito drinker, it had honestly probably been about a year since the last time I've had one, but I was really in the mood for one, and this one was very refreshing, and also very strong.
It gets an
I decided to get an appetizer. Even though it was getting pretty hot outside, the soup sounded really good to me. It was tomato soup with paneer cheese.
It was very good. The soup was nice and thick and creamy, with a nice bland of spices. The cheese was interesting, and tasted somewhat like mozzerella.
It earns a
For my entree I choose a new menu item that I hadn't noticed on any of the Disney websites before, grilled lamb kefta.
This was delicious. It was similar to the lamb wrap I'd had at Tangerine Cafe for lunch the day before, except for the tamarind glaze, which had a lovely tangy flavor. It was served on naan bread with greens, tomato, onions, and cucumber-yogurt sauce. The whole thing was very tasty, and very reasonably priced too I thought at $12.49, or just over $10 with my discount.
It gets an
Sanaa is an excellant new restaurant at Disney, and in my opinion, is better then Kouzzina. It seems like it could be one of my new favorite spots for lunch away from the parks, though I'll have to eat there again to be sure.
Dad - "How's your trip?"
Me - "Fine. How's my cat?"
Dad - "Fine." (Long pause) "Anything else?"
Me - "Nope"
Dad - "See you on Sunday then."
That was the extent I talked to my parents the entire trip. Actually I didn't talk to my mom between the night before I left, and a couple days after I got home, and then she only asked me how my trip was as an after thought.
Anyway, Nemo was great, and the last thing on my to-do list at Animal Kingdom, so after the show was over I headed to the Animal Kingdom Lodge for my lunch at Sanaa.
My ADR was for 1:55, and I left the park around 12:30, which should have given me tons of extra time at the Lodge, but it took forever for a bus to get there, and once one did, there wasn't even enough space for everyone on the bus. Probably the worst wait I had for a bus all week, especially considering that it wasn't park closing or opening.
I got to the Lodge around 1:20, (seriously almost an hour to get from Animal Kingdom to the Lodge, and it's like a five minute drive, there's something seriously wrong with that.) I found the restaurant without much trouble, which suprised me, because at home I have a terrible sense of direction, but in Disney I seem to be able to figure out where to go quite easily. Same with my sleep schedule, I'm a night owl at home, but an early bird in the morning in Disney.
I checked in, and even though the restaurant wasn't very busy, had a twenty minute wait to be seated. I was still seated before my ADR time, but just by a few minutes. It seemed like I did a lot of waiting today. Once I was seated though, the meal progressed at a pleasant pace, it wasn't incredibly slow, but I wasn't rushed either.
I had originally planned to pay for this meal with a dining plan credit, but due to not going to the Wave on my departure day, I decided to pay for this meal out of pocket, and then use the two credits I had left at Jiko that night.
I started my meal with the African Starr mojito.
It was a mix of Starr African rum, tangerine liquor, mint, and lime. Usually I'm not a big mojito drinker, it had honestly probably been about a year since the last time I've had one, but I was really in the mood for one, and this one was very refreshing, and also very strong.
It gets an
I decided to get an appetizer. Even though it was getting pretty hot outside, the soup sounded really good to me. It was tomato soup with paneer cheese.
It was very good. The soup was nice and thick and creamy, with a nice bland of spices. The cheese was interesting, and tasted somewhat like mozzerella.
It earns a
For my entree I choose a new menu item that I hadn't noticed on any of the Disney websites before, grilled lamb kefta.
This was delicious. It was similar to the lamb wrap I'd had at Tangerine Cafe for lunch the day before, except for the tamarind glaze, which had a lovely tangy flavor. It was served on naan bread with greens, tomato, onions, and cucumber-yogurt sauce. The whole thing was very tasty, and very reasonably priced too I thought at $12.49, or just over $10 with my discount.
It gets an
Sanaa is an excellant new restaurant at Disney, and in my opinion, is better then Kouzzina. It seems like it could be one of my new favorite spots for lunch away from the parks, though I'll have to eat there again to be sure.
Danadisney
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Thank you for posting with pictures. I loved the Remy theme for grading the food...so cute and creative.
englishrose47
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Great review keep 'em coming !!!
princessbride6205
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Just read through all your reviews - love your rating system!
We'll definitely be trying Sanaa on our next trip.
We'll definitely be trying Sanaa on our next trip.
disneyfav4ever
No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep
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Thank you for posting with pictures. I loved the Remy theme for grading the food...so cute and creative.
Glad you're all enjoying!Just read through all your reviews - love your rating system!
We'll definitely be trying Sanaa on our next trip.
Tatania
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The first night of our stay at AKL, my sister and I stopped at Saana because we were trying to figure out where to go for dinner. They were taking walk-ups but we decided the items looked to pricey for what you were getting. Next time, I'll go for lunch as it seems the better deal - like practically all Disney restaurants.
At Pizzafari you were a lot more patient than I would have been. If I see my food sitting under the heat lamp at a fast food joint - I'll give them about 5 minutes, tops, and if I haven't been handed my food by then - I speak up about it. I dread getting lukewarm food.
BTW, the fries I had one night at the Pepper Market had clearly been sitting around a LONG time and were not good. I threw them out. Glad to hear they make them fresh at the Pop resorts.
At Pizzafari you were a lot more patient than I would have been. If I see my food sitting under the heat lamp at a fast food joint - I'll give them about 5 minutes, tops, and if I haven't been handed my food by then - I speak up about it. I dread getting lukewarm food.
BTW, the fries I had one night at the Pepper Market had clearly been sitting around a LONG time and were not good. I threw them out. Glad to hear they make them fresh at the Pop resorts.
disneyfav4ever
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Lunch is usually the better deal, and sometimes I prefer it to dinner. I like Le Cellier better for lunch then dinner, as there are better steakhouses when I want to spend that kind of money on a filet, but I liked the steak sandwich I had there. Chefs de France is another one, their dinner menu is pricy, but I can make a meal out of their $8 flatbread at lunch. I also am really starting to like leaving the parks at lunch time, and taking a break at a resort. Sanaa's a good choice for lunch.
I don't know why I didn't say something at Pizzafaria. That was just too long of a wait. Half of the time I waited would've even been almost unreasonable. If I had ever waited that long at a McDonald's, I would've complained.
I don't know if it's so much they make them fresh at All Stars, as there were just a lot of people wanting fries that night. They do seem to be one of the only snack items there that is hot and not sweet.
disneyfav4ever
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After my lunch at Sanaa I headed to Epcot. There I shopped a little bit, and even though I had told myself I was done shopping for the trip aside from a few Food and Wine Festival items, I just had to buy a Mickey ice cream bar tote bag. I actually didn't spend that much this trip though, as I am already busy saving for next year's trips.
I then walked to France, where I got to meet MickeyNikki. She is super nice, and we talked for over an hour. I walked to the Boardwalk with her, since she had a dinner ADR at Flying Fish, and got to meet Todd too, which was cool, and then took a bus from the Boardwalk to Downtown Disney.
I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do with myself. I still had three hours until dinner, and even though I hadn't been hungry at all at Epcot, which I blame on the heat, I decided I wanted a snack. I got off at the Marketplace, not really sure what I wanted to eat, or where I wanted to go to get it.
So I walked. I walked all the way through the Marketplace, then all the way through Pleasure Island, then all the way to the end of West Side. I decided to go to Wolfgang Puck Express, and get a side order of macaroni and cheese.
While in the restaurant I remembered that macaroni and cheese came with the filet at Jiko, and that's what I was planning on ordering there. Did I really want macaroni and cheese twice in the same night? Nope, I really didn't. One of the salads sounded really good though, the beet and goat cheese one. Did I really want to spend $11 on an entree salad though that close to dinner? This was supposed to be a snack. But then I remembered I had counter service credits to use, and I was certain I wouldn't be needing one the next day with the plans I had. So I decided to use one of my two remaining credits, and get myself that salad. I am so glad I did!
The salad was wonderful, it was lots of spinach leaves, and full of lots of toppings. I hate it when salads skimp on the toppings, they're the fun part. Anyway, it was full of beets, mandarin oranges, pecans, and lots of yummy-yummy goat cheese. It also had a nice amount of citrus vinaigrette on it, no dry lettuce here.
It gets an;
And was probably the best salad I'd ever eaten.
Since I was using a counter service credit, I also got dessert. I had wanted creme brulee, but apparently that's only at the Wolfgang Puck Express at the Marketplace. So I "settled" for key lime pie.
This was tasty, a little too tart for my taste, but good. It was also very large, and I couldn't finish it.
It gets an;
I also got a cherry coke, which I enjoyed, since they don't really seem to have that anywhere else on property as far as I can tell besides Earl of Sandwich.
After my "dinner" I walked around some more, debated going to see the Toy Story 3D double feature, but the 7:00 showing would mean I would have to miss dinner, my other dinner that is, and the 11:00 showing was just too late. I also wanted to try out Characters in Flight, but it was too windy for that. So broke my "no more shopping" rule again, and bought a cute princess mug that I hadn't seen anywhere else. And I really like that mug, it has all the princesses on it, but doesn't look very childish at all.
I then walked to France, where I got to meet MickeyNikki. She is super nice, and we talked for over an hour. I walked to the Boardwalk with her, since she had a dinner ADR at Flying Fish, and got to meet Todd too, which was cool, and then took a bus from the Boardwalk to Downtown Disney.
I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do with myself. I still had three hours until dinner, and even though I hadn't been hungry at all at Epcot, which I blame on the heat, I decided I wanted a snack. I got off at the Marketplace, not really sure what I wanted to eat, or where I wanted to go to get it.
So I walked. I walked all the way through the Marketplace, then all the way through Pleasure Island, then all the way to the end of West Side. I decided to go to Wolfgang Puck Express, and get a side order of macaroni and cheese.
While in the restaurant I remembered that macaroni and cheese came with the filet at Jiko, and that's what I was planning on ordering there. Did I really want macaroni and cheese twice in the same night? Nope, I really didn't. One of the salads sounded really good though, the beet and goat cheese one. Did I really want to spend $11 on an entree salad though that close to dinner? This was supposed to be a snack. But then I remembered I had counter service credits to use, and I was certain I wouldn't be needing one the next day with the plans I had. So I decided to use one of my two remaining credits, and get myself that salad. I am so glad I did!
The salad was wonderful, it was lots of spinach leaves, and full of lots of toppings. I hate it when salads skimp on the toppings, they're the fun part. Anyway, it was full of beets, mandarin oranges, pecans, and lots of yummy-yummy goat cheese. It also had a nice amount of citrus vinaigrette on it, no dry lettuce here.
It gets an;
And was probably the best salad I'd ever eaten.
Since I was using a counter service credit, I also got dessert. I had wanted creme brulee, but apparently that's only at the Wolfgang Puck Express at the Marketplace. So I "settled" for key lime pie.
This was tasty, a little too tart for my taste, but good. It was also very large, and I couldn't finish it.
It gets an;
I also got a cherry coke, which I enjoyed, since they don't really seem to have that anywhere else on property as far as I can tell besides Earl of Sandwich.
After my "dinner" I walked around some more, debated going to see the Toy Story 3D double feature, but the 7:00 showing would mean I would have to miss dinner, my other dinner that is, and the 11:00 showing was just too late. I also wanted to try out Characters in Flight, but it was too windy for that. So broke my "no more shopping" rule again, and bought a cute princess mug that I hadn't seen anywhere else. And I really like that mug, it has all the princesses on it, but doesn't look very childish at all.
wdwfanatic316
DIS Veteran
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Just read through the whole thread- great reviews! Can't wait for more!
Can't wait for more!ChelleinNC
Say "Hi" to Art the Greeter for me!
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I'm looking forward to trying Sanaa. I toured it this summer and thought it was beautiful and the food all looks wonderful
disneyfav4ever
No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep
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Thanks for reading!Just read through the whole thread- great reviews!
Everything I saw looked really good. I'm going to have a hard time not getting the lamb again next year though.I'm looking forward to trying Sanaa. I toured it this summer and thought it was beautiful and the food all looks wonderful
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