So Many Desserts! A Rare QSDP Review w/ pics! 6/19-6/26 FINISHED!: Wrap Up 8/16

[DLR29]

Lotus Blossum Cafe

For dinner, I was NOT gonna have more burgers and fries! So we compromised and went to the Lotus Blossum Cafe regardless of the negative things I've heard of the place. 7 of us got the Orange chicken. Being 1/2 Chinese, I know what Chinese food is. This chicken was good but it was not legit Chinese food. More along the lines of Panda Express (which I have to say I love! )...good but not authentic.

DM got the Oriental salad. The chicken was the same chicken but it had a different sauce. The salad was actually pretty good but again, very "American" version of Chinese food. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

For dessert we all got the strawberry-red bean ice cream. To be honest, you could not really taste the red bean part. It was so delicious I forgot to take a pic before it was all gone! And they gave us a decent portion of it too! mmmmmmm

In the end, if you're looking for true Chinese food, you're not gonna find it here. But the food is tasty and is not too exotic for those picky eaters!

Lotus Blossum Dinner- 8CS used (13, 38)
OOP cost: $116.25
Running total OOP cost: $1643.07

We also (earlier) went over to France to the Pasterrie to pick up some new items for breakfast the next morning. We used 9 snacks to get:
-4 raisin swirls (delicious, way better than I thought it would be!)

-2 apple turnovers

-2 Ham and cheese croissants
-1 Elephant Ear (Palmiers)

So the...
Boulangerie Pasterrie Breakfast- 9S used (13, 29)
OOP cost: $33.18
Running Total OOP cost: 1676.25

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

You were able to get the ham and cheese croissants for a snack credit? I had heard that was no longer an option and was so sad. I think you used to be able to get the quiches as well. I loved the year that anything under $4 was a snack. Seemed simple even though some things were marked up a tad bit to not be included.

Yours is one of the very best reviews I have read and I have read many.

Slightly Goofy

 

[Aurora's Mommy]

I could be wrong, but that oriental salad looks an awful lot like the orange chicken.

Regarding the "americanized" Chinese food, this has always been the way of Epcot. Although it is an opportunity to introduce people to authentic cuisine, the american palate is probably not ready for "real" Chinese food. (Stinky tofu anyone?).

Still really enjoying your report. Keep up the good work.

 

[disneynan]

I could be wrong, but that oriental salad looks an awful lot like the orange chicken.

I had the same thought.

Loving this review though. We're going in Nov on the QS plan. I'm actually really excited about using QS instead of TS as we have in the past. No worries about reservations and not spending hours dining.

Thanks for the reviews to many places that we would not have thought to try.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

We have considered the flexibility the QSDP offers. This trip we have the DDP, but the QSDP would be just fine with us. I was going to say you didn't even have a hamburger on your trip, but then I came across the Electric Umbrella meal. The impression I have when one mentions QSDP, people think hamburgers and chicken nuggets the whole trip. That is not the case, as you have shown. The are so many options. Some of our favorites are Pepper Market, Captain Cook's, Port Orleans, Earl of Sandwich and as mentioned, Wolfgang Puck. Does WPE still have the corn flake french toast?

 

[DLR29]

You were able to get the ham and cheese croissants for a snack credit? I had heard that was no longer an option and was so sad. I think you used to be able to get the quiches as well. I loved the year that anything under $4 was a snack. Seemed simple even though some things were marked up a tad bit to not be included.

Yours is one of the very best reviews I have read and I have read many.

Slightly Goofy

Yes the croissant was a snack credit but the quiche, I know for sure, was not. My dad wanted the quiche so we asked and they said it would be a CS option.

I could be wrong, but that oriental salad looks an awful lot like the orange chicken.

Regarding the "americanized" Chinese food, this has always been the way of Epcot. Although it is an opportunity to introduce people to authentic cuisine, the american palate is probably not ready for "real" Chinese food. (Stinky tofu anyone?).

Still really enjoying your report. Keep up the good work.

Oops, fixed! I was writing the last update really quick and I guess I forgot to copy the other link!

I could be wrong, but that oriental salad looks an awful lot like the orange chicken.

I had the same thought.

Loving this review though. We're going in Nov on the QS plan. I'm actually really excited about using QS instead of TS as we have in the past. No worries about reservations and not spending hours dining.

Thanks for the reviews to many places that we would not have thought to try.

Thanks for reading! I want to hear how you guys tackle the plan also when you come back!

We have considered the flexibility the QSDP offers. This trip we have the DDP, but the QSDP would be just fine with us. I was going to say you didn't even have a hamburger on your trip, but then I came across the Electric Umbrella meal. The impression I have when one mentions QSDP, people think hamburgers and chicken nuggets the whole trip. That is not the case, as you have shown. The are so many options. Some of our favorites are Pepper Market, Captain Cook's, Port Orleans, Earl of Sandwich and as mentioned, Wolfgang Puck. Does WPE still have the corn flake french toast?

I actually didn't have a burger at Electric Umbrella, but I did have one at Pecos Bills (I forgot pics). I kinda wanted to try the Pepper Market because they have some interesting options, but I didn't think a side trip to CSR just for the restaurant would be worth it. I also wanted to try Earl of Sandwich but everytime we were at DTD we wanted WPE! And yes, WPE does have the corn flake french toast!

 

[disneynan]

Thanks for reading! I want to hear how you guys tackle the plan also when you come back!



I actually didn't have a burger at Electric Umbrella, but I did have one at Pecos Bills (I forgot pics). I kinda wanted to try the Pepper Market because they have some interesting options, but I didn't think a side trip to CSR just for the restaurant would be worth it. I also wanted to try Earl of Sandwich but everytime we were at DTD we wanted WPE! And yes, WPE does have the corn flake french toast!

I'll try to do a review when we return. Sometimes I have good intentions while on the trip, but the regular life gets in the way once we get back home.

We had planned on eating at least once or twice at EOS, but after reading several QSDP reviews have decided it will be WPE too! I just hope they don't withdraw it from the plan before we get there.

 

[goin' again!]

I just found this thread and I'm psyched! We are going in Sept/Oct and this is our first time using any dining plan and I'm thrilled to see all the different CS restaurants you are reviewing!
Question: Are you buying water at the parks OOP or just drinking at mealtimes. I'm wondering if our snack credits will be gone before the end of the trip if we use them on water; and besides, there are so many other tasty things to spend snack credits on other than water!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Aurora's Mommy, aw shucks, next thing I know you are going to be telling me that the pizza is not authentic either.

DLR29, thank you for the info on the French croissant. My dh has to have something for breakfast (as well as the other two meals and half dozen snack periods) and it is challenging to find him something with some protein.

I am on a low carb diet and keep to it pretty well all year long but let myself falter at DW so a hambuger, with bun suits me just fine, some of the time.

Slightly Goofy

 

[FirstMagic]

I'm enjoying reading your Quick Service reviews! I'd like to refer all the people who say "There's nothing to eat at Disney World but burgers and fries." to this. (Usually people who have never even been to WDW... )

Glad you posted some Wolfgang Puck Express breakfast photos too!

 

[kikiq]

I just found this thread and I'm psyched! We are going in Sept/Oct and this is our first time using any dining plan and I'm thrilled to see all the different CS restaurants you are reviewing!
Question: Are you buying water at the parks OOP or just drinking at mealtimes. I'm wondering if our snack credits will be gone before the end of the trip if we use them on water; and besides, there are so many other tasty things to spend snack credits on other than water!

This was our big question also. This is how we handled the water situation. My DH had a breakfast plate every morning and with it he could get 2 drinks. He would get 2 waters that we took to the parks. When we order a meal, we always asked for ice water, it's free and most CMs will give you a large cup of ice water. At lunch we filled up our water bottles with the ice water. My DH used some snack credits on water but on our last day we still had 4 snack credits left.

 

[Linda67]

Yeah, Electric Umbrella isn't fantastic, it's just 'ok'. I had the Greek salad and it was quite nice but it could've done with more cheese and olives etc. Underneath that top layer, it was mainly lettuce.

Totally agree with you. It's a nice fresh salad but there is not enough cheese or olives

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

And yet another option to add to our list for our Feb. plan. We plan on using the QSDP provided the prices don't jump!

 

[Mommytwotwins]

Just wanted to say thanks for posting these reviews!! I never even considered the QS plan and we already paid for the regular plan(we leave in 10days) but I think next time we my just do the QS. You have shown everyone that QS does not equal just burgers and fries but many other options that some of us were not awear of. I can't wait to go...I am going to WGE for sure!!!

 

[DLR29]

I just found this thread and I'm psyched! We are going in Sept/Oct and this is our first time using any dining plan and I'm thrilled to see all the different CS restaurants you are reviewing!
Question: Are you buying water at the parks OOP or just drinking at mealtimes. I'm wondering if our snack credits will be gone before the end of the trip if we use them on water; and besides, there are so many other tasty things to spend snack credits on other than water!

Good question. We actually used these awesome water bottles called "Vapur" bottles. They actually are plastic and foldable. So we would freeze water in them the previous night, then we would drink them in the morning and then when we were done, we would just fold them up and put them in our pockets. Here's a picture of one (found off of google images):

We did use a couple snack credits for waters, and especially when we had that 1 CS breakfast we got some more waters, but we mostly used these special bottles.

I'll try to do a review when we return. Sometimes I have good intentions while on the trip, but the regular life gets in the way once we get back home.

We had planned on eating at least once or twice at EOS, but after reading several QSDP reviews have decided it will be WPE too! I just hope they don't withdraw it from the plan before we get there.

If they withdrew WPE from the QSDP there would be an angry mob, no joke! I totally understand how regular life gets in the way. I'm about to go off to college in a few days and I really just want to finish this report before then but I've been so busy!

Aurora's Mommy, aw shucks, next thing I know you are going to be telling me that the pizza is not authentic either.

DLR29, thank you for the info on the French croissant. My dh has to have something for breakfast (as well as the other two meals and half dozen snack periods) and it is challenging to find him something with some protein.

I am on a low carb diet and keep to it pretty well all year long but let myself falter at DW so a hambuger, with bun suits me just fine, some of the time.

Slightly Goofy

So you let yourself go at WDW! Hahaha oh well, the food there is totally worth it! But for burgers for sure go to Pecos Bills because there is an amazing "fixins" bar.

I'm enjoying reading your Quick Service reviews! I'd like to refer all the people who say "There's nothing to eat at Disney World but burgers and fries." to this. (Usually people who have never even been to WDW... )

Glad you posted some Wolfgang Puck Express breakfast photos too!

Thanks! Yup, I'm out to prove that there's more to WDW fast food than average burgers and fries! About those WPE breakfast photos, I can't look at them very often because I actually start feeling SO hungry when I see them! Yeah, it was that good!

This was our big question also. This is how we handled the water situation. My DH had a breakfast plate every morning and with it he could get 2 drinks. He would get 2 waters that we took to the parks. When we order a meal, we always asked for ice water, it's free and most CMs will give you a large cup of ice water. At lunch we filled up our water bottles with the ice water. My DH used some snack credits on water but on our last day we still had 4 snack credits left.

This is the strategy we did on one day. The thing is that with all of the other food, we didn't really need a CS breakfast every morning. But it is a good idea if you want to use your snack credits for other things instead of just water.

Totally agree with you. It's a nice fresh salad but there is not enough cheese or olives

I think in general the CS salads that we had were extremely lettuce-y. Not that is necessarily a bad thing sometimes, but you know...sometimes you want all that other yummy stuff too!

And yet another option to add to our list for our Feb. plan. We plan on using the QSDP provided the prices don't jump!

Hopefully the prices won't jump, but unfortunately they usually do! It's crazy how much Disney is costing nowadays. But (although I haven't gotten there yet) you'll see that we did save money using this plan...though not huge savings, it was something.

Just wanted to say thanks for posting these reviews!! I never even considered the QS plan and we already paid for the regular plan(we leave in 10days) but I think next time we my just do the QS. You have shown everyone that QS does not equal just burgers and fries but many other options that some of us were not awear of. I can't wait to go...I am going to WGE for sure!!!

I'm glad to have shown you the benefits of the QSDP. Maybe I have helped you choose some of your CS options for your upcoming trip! I am so jealous! Can you take me to WPE with you!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

We seldom go to WPE fewer than six times per trip. This time might only be five since we are definitely going to the TS version at least once, OP. I am careful with a dollar and that was the only place I could justify the expense.

Macadamia Chicken, Butternut Squash Soup and Flourless Chocolate Cake here we come!

BTW, I hate to break it to you but I usually come back from DW about 5 pounds lighter and I eat what I want when I want and only then.

Slightly Goofy

 

[MinnieTink]

Just wanted to post a big thank you to DLR for this thread! It's great!

This is our third time doing free dining, but the first time for just QS and we are going to enjoy a less scheduled vacation.

Also wanted to add that there are a few options as far as water is concerned. We drive so we bring a case or two with us. There are also places that will deliver cases of water to your resort. I think Costco and staples both do this. If you read the sticky at the top of the Dining plan board about the confirmed snacks, you won't want to waste your credits on water. I'd rather have a chocolate covered strawberry!

 

[basketlacey]

Marking my spot on page 9! Thanks so much for this review. I am really enjoying it.

I have GOT to go to bed - I will catch up on the rest tomorrow!

 

[DLR29]

We seldom go to WPE fewer than six times per trip. This time might only be five since we are definitely going to the TS version at least once, OP. I am careful with a dollar and that was the only place I could justify the expense.

Macadamia Chicken, Butternut Squash Soup and Flourless Chocolate Cake here we come!

BTW, I hate to break it to you but I usually come back from DW about 5 pounds lighter and I eat what I want when I want and only then.

Slightly Goofy

Wow, how do you manage that? I am a sucker for flourless chocolate cakes. mmmmm There certainly are enough options to go to WPE that many times in 1 trip.

Just wanted to post a big thank you to DLR for this thread! It's great!

This is our third time doing free dining, but the first time for just QS and we are going to enjoy a less scheduled vacation.

Also wanted to add that there are a few options as far as water is concerned. We drive so we bring a case or two with us. There are also places that will deliver cases of water to your resort. I think Costco and staples both do this. If you read the sticky at the top of the Dining plan board about the confirmed snacks, you won't want to waste your credits on water. I'd rather have a chocolate covered strawberry!

Like the giant peanut butter cups, chocolate covered strawberries are also great ways to use snack credits because normally they are WAY overpriced. Anyway, if we had driven we probably would have brough a big case of water. Driven to WDW once, not really in a rush to do it again!

Marking my spot on page 9! Thanks so much for this review. I am really enjoying it.

I have GOT to go to bed - I will catch up on the rest tomorrow!

Hope you caught up today. Hopefully the next installment will be up tomorrow.

 

[DLR29]

Oops double post...stupid slow internet!