MickeyMonstersMom
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2002
- Messages
- 1,429
About me: Im a 30-something single mom who accompanies her children to Florida to visit their dad, then enjoys some R&R until we all come home again. I dont know how to make a long story short, so bear with me. Id rather describe than rate everything - I hope the information is useful, or entertaining! I did save the receipts but am too lazy to go get them right now; if anyone wants to know a specific price Ill be happy to look it up. Let me know if you have any questions.
Before I forget, every single CM at every single eatery gave me great service as a solo diner. Ive had experiences where CMs have seemed unsure of how to deal with a solo, or even have come right out and said, but youre here ALONE??? like it was some kind of terrible condition, and I had absolutely none of that this trip.
Table Service
Jiko: I have very little experience with fine dining, and almost cancelled this ADR more than once as I wasnt sure Id get through the meal without somehow embarrassing myself. However, the great reviews here, with the promise of a great steak, had me showing up for my 5:30 ADR about half an hour early.
I was seated right at 5:30, at the first table to the left as we entered the dining room. I was next to the window and had a view of the corner by the door to the pool. The opposite chair would have had a better view, of the walkway outside as well as the restaurant, but that chair was stuck under the table and we could not dislodge it. Hence I did not get to see the restaurant well at all, so I cant comment on the decor. My server, Omar, brought a hot towel scented with orange blossom (mmm) for my hands. I expected him to leave the plate and return for it later, but he waited for me to pat my hands and sniff appreciatively, then took it back with him. He recommended the Gamekeepers Cabernet Sauvignon and brought me a taste ahead of time to make sure its what I wanted. Ive never had that wine and (now know that I) prefer merlot, but decided to go ahead with Omars recommendation and got a glass of the Gamekeepers - turns out that it really came to life when paired with the filet, and Im glad I went with it!
Omar then brought a basket of a wheat and corn bread along with a Tandoori butter. The spread tasted a little pumpkin-y at first, and the more I ate, the more I liked it! The same was true of the carrot-buttermilk dressing on the field green salad. I was amused to see that there were flowers in the salad; yes, I know there is such a thing as edible flowers, but Id never actually seen them used in food. They were delicious, though.
Dinner was served at a leisurely pace, giving me lots of time to relax and enjoy the wonderful African music. My filet mignon arrived shortly after Id finished the salad. Id ordered it medium-well, hoping that it wouldnt be dry. O.M.G. It was amazing. The best filet Ive had in over 15 years! It was so tender, so flavorful - I cant give it justice with mere words. The macaroni and cheese was a great foil for the steak as well. I noticed at this point that there were no salt and pepper shakers or other condiments out on the tables, which says something about the quality of the cooking (or my level of sophistication). The food simply did not need additional seasoning - it was just perfect.
Lastly, my creme brulee arrived. I am not a fan of pistachio, but creme brulee is my favorite dessert. It was just OK, somewhat runny, and the top tasted singed in spots. The chocolate at the bottom saved the dish, and I enjoyed the biscotti on top. It was a huge portion, 3 times the size I was expecting, and there was no way I could eat all of it.
I overheard Omar talking to a nearby family about their food allergies. He was impressively knowledgeable about the ingredients in each dish as well as the origins of those ingredients. He discussed each course extensively with the group to determine the best options for them. He brought me the check shortly afterward, and I was on my way out a little after 7:00. It did not feel at all like the meal took 1.5 hours. It was very relaxing yet not time-consuming or tedious. Jiko was definitely a fantastic experience, but not one I would do every time I came to WDW. First, while one family had a (wonderfully well-behaved) toddler with them and there were several teenagers present, I would not pay for my children yet as they would not appreciate the experience. I also cant justify the cost as a solo diner (mom guilt) all the time. However, Ill be dreaming of that filet mignon and probably not order another until I do go back to Jiko someday.
Boatwrights: This restaurant has been a must-do for breakfast ever since I stayed at Dixie Landings in 1993. I always order the strawberries and cream and the sweet potato pancakes. I usually drive myself over, but did not rent a car this time and had to rely on WDW transportation to make it to my 9:10 ADR. Luckily I was able to catch a bus to MGM right away at 8:00, and a dispatcher saw me at the POR stop there and sent a bus for me, so I arrived at Boatwrights by 8:30.
Even though I was early and there were a lot of people in the hallway, I was seated right away. I ordered my English Breakfast tea and sipped while waiting for the strawberries. As always, they were perfectly ripe and the cream was so decadent! This is such a simple dish, but it always tastes better here than when I make it at home. I drained the tea and waited a while for the pancakes - the restaurant was the busiest Ive ever seen it. There was something different about the pancakes - less sweet potato, or perhaps less spice - at any rate, they werent quite as unique as I remembered. I still managed to put away two of them, though, and enjoy a refill of my tea. Id return for the berries, but maybe try a different breakfast entree the next time. Or maybe Ill wax nostalgic and get the pancakes anyway.
Garden View Lounge Afternoon Tea: Ive been trying to get an ADR here for years, and finally landed a 2:00 one, just as they opened. I arrived at 1:40 but the podium was empty so I curled up in a nearby chair until the CM arrived right at 2:00. I was seated immediately at the far wall next to the window, so I had a lovely view of pink flowers with the swimming pool behind me (so I did not have to see that while dining!).
Julie explained the menu and brought out vials of each tea to sniff before choosing. I chose the Garden View blend, which (unfortunately) is made only for the GVL - I wish it were available for sale! I chose that and enjoyed it greatly. If nothing else, Id go back just to have more of that tea! Luckily, I also greatly enjoyed my choice of the Buckingham Palace, so Ill definitely be back.
Julie brought out the teapot and poured my first cup through the little strainer, then covered the pot with a big purple tea cozy. My first course was tea sandwiches: tuna (substituted for the shrimp salad), egg salad, chicken salad, watercress and cucumber, and grilled pear with gorgonzola. Mmmm. Each sandwich was actually a quarter of a full sandwich, but because there were several on the plate, it was deceptively filling. My favorite was the watercress: Id read for years about British tea sandwiches and watercress, but had never tasted it until now. Yum! I also loved the pear sandwich - very different. The chicken salad had a sweet taste to it. The tuna was just tuna, and the egg salad wasnt exotic either, but I still liked them. There was also an onion tart, a tiny little cup with a rich onion taste. I took little bites of that between bites of sandwich.
Next came a scone and a jam tart. I had recently bought some Devonshire cream and scones at a local supermarket, and had been horribly disappointed when I tried it at home. However, now I get it! The things that store called scones were nothing like the warm, light, tender pastry served at the GVL. The cream melted into the pastry and was absolutely delightful. The jam tart was also wonderful. I was becoming full at this point, but still wished for more! By the time Julie told me of my dessert choices, I was too full to consider the trifle or additional pastries, though, and I just asked for the strawberries and cream. This was a heaping bowl of berries, topped off with a generous dollop of homemade (of course) whipped cream. There was no way Id be able to eat all of that, but I tried my best.
I left the GF at 3:00, full to bursting, and cancelled my dinner ADR at Boma. Even at 9:00 that night I was still too full to want dinner! I didnt believe the advice here on the DIS that this is a big meal, but now I know better!
Believe it or not, I think DS 9 would enjoy this, and I hope to take him the next time were all at WDW. Ill drag DD along, too - at 12 y/o she thinks shes too cool for this stuff, but maybe shell give in and like it a little. At any rate, the Afternoon Tea has become a must-do for my solo trips.
Boma: I simply must eat at Boma at least once every trip. Its a family and personal favorite. Ever since a very crowded experience one year, I always try to get the earliest ADR time available, and landed a 5:00 for my last night at WDW. I love just hanging out at AKL, so I arrived before 4:00 and wandered around before checking in. The CM at the podium said to come back at 4:25, so I settled in and watched Victoria Falls for the 10-15 minutes before receiving my pager. A CM laughed and said it seemed silly to hand out pagers so early because all the tables were ready, it was just a matter of leading the early birds to our seats - then my pager went off and it turned out that Id been given that CM! Amy was from Utah and very personable. She had not heard of the DIS and was intrigued by my notebook and explanation that I was preparing dining and trip reports for the other members to live vicariously through my descriptions . She led me to a back alcove almost directly across the outside walkway from my seat at Jiko - she called it the tranquil table, as it was right next to a little pool and in this quieter part of the restaurant. What a perfect location for solos or couples! Even though the restaurant did get noisier as it filled up, this part stayed relatively quiet and relaxing.
As always, I picked up samples of almost every soup. Tonight was all new to me: I tried a dark, rich mushroom soup, a potato-bacon soup, and a stew that started with a P and had chicken in it. The mushroom was very tasty, and I enjoyed the P. stew until I found a shrimp (Im not allergic but have a phobia - long, boring story). However, the star of the evening was the potato-bacon. Again, OMG. I had two more bowls of that stuff! Instead of a typical cream soup with chunks of potato, this was pureed, with a texture more like very milky mashed potatoes. The first thing I did upon arriving home was pull this recipe off the internet, and I bought the ingredients the next day (guess whats for dinner tonight? ). The cucumber-ham salad with grano (whatever that is) was also very tasty, and I always love the mango dressing for the green salad. Then I moved on to the salmon, excellent tonight - it was a Moroccan recipe with almonds and peppers. It went very well with the couscous Marrakesh that I also have to have every time I go to Boma. Yum yum yum!
The final bowl of soup preceded my dessert choices. I was a complete pig! I filled a plate with flourless chocolate cake, chocolate crunch mousse (these two were really good eaten together), a piece of melk tart, some pastry that looked like baklava but whose name I cant remember (had a flowery taste to it), banana bread pudding with the vanilla sauce, and a zebra dome just to say so. The zebra dome had a white bottom and caramel-y taste to it, but my memory was of a chocolate one? Im not sure if there are different variations or what. I ate almost all of that, and then Amy came by to recommend the cocomisu. Im not a big fan of coconut and was quite full, but took a little anyway. That was quite good - too bad Id filled up on the other desserts as that was the best one of them all! Oh well, something to look forward to on my next trip! Amys service was fantastic, and the evening was the perfect way to round out my time at WDW.
Counter Service
Earl of Sandwich: I stopped by here on a whim on my first day. I hadnt planned to go to DTD but ended up there while playing a round of bus roulette just as my tummy started rumbling for lunch. I had expected a more extensive menu, more like a deli, but found several sandwiches that sounded really good. I ended up ordering a Florentine: grilled chicken with mushrooms, swiss cheese, and creamed spinach on grilled focaccia (I think; cant remember exactly). The sign at the register offered chicken corn chowder, so I ordered that as well. At the other end of the counter where I ordered my Diet Coke, the CM asked which soup Id ordered and huffily informed me that they only had chicken noodle or tomato. Darn. I settled for the tomato (arguing with the woman who kept telling me that they did not have potato, and Im practically yelling, NO - the TOMATO!), caught the sandwich as she slung it at me (was NOT impressed with her attitude at all) and looked for a seat before she could do me bodily harm.
Im very glad I got the tomato - it was rich and buttery, and went with the sandwich perfectly. My only complaint is that the soup and sandwich were both quite salty. In the end, I took off most of the chicken and dipped the rest of the sandwich in the soup. I couldnt finish the entire sandwich - a very generous size - but did polish off that soup. I do want to try some of the other sandwiches someday, but wont make a special effort to eat here. The service was a bit scary.
Wolfgang Puck Express: This was the BEST. Counter Service. EVER. I ended up eating here twice and would have done so a third time if that pesky airline hadnt interfered and made me go home. Both times I waited in line for a while, but the food (linguine with tomato, garlic, and basil) was well worth it. The first time I ordered it to eat there, along with a Diet Coke and a creme brulee. After ordering I took a plastic marker with my number and sat down inside. Within ten minutes a waiter brought out a heaping bowl of linguine with 2 slices of herbed bread. The bowls were nice ceramic (there are signs all over saying, Dont throw away the dishes.) but the utensils were plastic. I would have slurped that linguine with my hands if Id had to, though - it was that good. As for the creme brulee, even though it was served in a foil pot-pie pan and was mass-produced, it was still the best creme brulee Ive ever tasted. The texture was firmer and the rich vanilla taste was just heavenly. My server, Carlos, was very attentive even though it was a CS place, chatting with me a bit about doing WDW solo and making sure I was taken care of - I really appreciated that.
I went back the next day for another round! This was actually after my Afternoon Tea, and even at 9:00 I wasnt very hungry, but I assumed that once I got back to my resort I would be, so I ordered the linguine to go this time. I didnt want to order a drink because Id save money and refill my POP mug at the resort, but the CM at the counter gave me a glass for water to sip while I waited. The place was still incredibly busy, so I stood near the napkin/utensil area and watched the men cooking. A CM saw me waiting and grabbed a bag and put napkins and things in it for me, then assured me the food would be ready soon. Again, nice service. Sure enough, I was soon on my way back to POP. WPE had amazing food and fantastic service, and I will definitely return. In the meantime, Ill be experimenting quite a bit to see if I can recreate that pasta!
Ghirardellis: On my last day I wanted to save up tummy space for Boma, but knew Id have to eat something to tide me over. What better thing than a sundae?! I was amazed that the place wasnt busier at 2:00 on an 85-degree day: there were fewer than ten people in line, and I had several tables to choose from after placing my order. The single-scoop hot fudge sundae was the perfect size, and came out promptly.
Everything POP: This place had the most cheerful CMs in the entire World. Every single person I spoke with, whether food servers, cashiers, or custodians, were gracious, upbeat, and happy. I loved my oatmeal (tastes so much better when someone else makes it, you know) and enjoyed the Kids breakfast platter. The croissant sandwich was too salty and I was unable to finish it, though. One night I tried the turkey dinner, finding the mashed potatoes and green beans great (especially for a food court), but again thought the turkey, gravy, and stuffing were way too salty. I had another dish of green beans one night - just those - because I really liked them. Every day it seemed that one Mug Wash and one frozen Coke machine were broken down, but there was always at least one working every day. I was impressed that there was a selection of teas out on the beverage island as well. I love staying at the POP, and the food court is one reason why: it always has a wide variety to choose from, the food typically is good, and the CMs are great.
Sassagoula Floatworks: OK, I only ordered beignets, but I did go there so I figured it deserved mention too. Ive never had beignets before, so I thought they would be much smaller. Mine were made to order (I assume they all are?), and were piping hot and fluffy. I was surprised at how small this food court is compared to POP or even POR; however, there were no long lines and the small beverage area was very efficiently set up. The decor was pretty, too. The atmosphere is relaxing compared to a typical WDW food court. Id bring the kids back for beignets (DD would not be too cool for those!).
Well, old MMM is done now, and obliged to you all for hearin me. Again, let me know if you have any questions. Im in mourning now for all that great food and service, not to mention considering a diet plan to return to sane eating, so Id be happy to talk about this some more!
Before I forget, every single CM at every single eatery gave me great service as a solo diner. Ive had experiences where CMs have seemed unsure of how to deal with a solo, or even have come right out and said, but youre here ALONE??? like it was some kind of terrible condition, and I had absolutely none of that this trip.
Table Service
Jiko: I have very little experience with fine dining, and almost cancelled this ADR more than once as I wasnt sure Id get through the meal without somehow embarrassing myself. However, the great reviews here, with the promise of a great steak, had me showing up for my 5:30 ADR about half an hour early.
I was seated right at 5:30, at the first table to the left as we entered the dining room. I was next to the window and had a view of the corner by the door to the pool. The opposite chair would have had a better view, of the walkway outside as well as the restaurant, but that chair was stuck under the table and we could not dislodge it. Hence I did not get to see the restaurant well at all, so I cant comment on the decor. My server, Omar, brought a hot towel scented with orange blossom (mmm) for my hands. I expected him to leave the plate and return for it later, but he waited for me to pat my hands and sniff appreciatively, then took it back with him. He recommended the Gamekeepers Cabernet Sauvignon and brought me a taste ahead of time to make sure its what I wanted. Ive never had that wine and (now know that I) prefer merlot, but decided to go ahead with Omars recommendation and got a glass of the Gamekeepers - turns out that it really came to life when paired with the filet, and Im glad I went with it!
Omar then brought a basket of a wheat and corn bread along with a Tandoori butter. The spread tasted a little pumpkin-y at first, and the more I ate, the more I liked it! The same was true of the carrot-buttermilk dressing on the field green salad. I was amused to see that there were flowers in the salad; yes, I know there is such a thing as edible flowers, but Id never actually seen them used in food. They were delicious, though.
Dinner was served at a leisurely pace, giving me lots of time to relax and enjoy the wonderful African music. My filet mignon arrived shortly after Id finished the salad. Id ordered it medium-well, hoping that it wouldnt be dry. O.M.G. It was amazing. The best filet Ive had in over 15 years! It was so tender, so flavorful - I cant give it justice with mere words. The macaroni and cheese was a great foil for the steak as well. I noticed at this point that there were no salt and pepper shakers or other condiments out on the tables, which says something about the quality of the cooking (or my level of sophistication). The food simply did not need additional seasoning - it was just perfect.
Lastly, my creme brulee arrived. I am not a fan of pistachio, but creme brulee is my favorite dessert. It was just OK, somewhat runny, and the top tasted singed in spots. The chocolate at the bottom saved the dish, and I enjoyed the biscotti on top. It was a huge portion, 3 times the size I was expecting, and there was no way I could eat all of it.
I overheard Omar talking to a nearby family about their food allergies. He was impressively knowledgeable about the ingredients in each dish as well as the origins of those ingredients. He discussed each course extensively with the group to determine the best options for them. He brought me the check shortly afterward, and I was on my way out a little after 7:00. It did not feel at all like the meal took 1.5 hours. It was very relaxing yet not time-consuming or tedious. Jiko was definitely a fantastic experience, but not one I would do every time I came to WDW. First, while one family had a (wonderfully well-behaved) toddler with them and there were several teenagers present, I would not pay for my children yet as they would not appreciate the experience. I also cant justify the cost as a solo diner (mom guilt) all the time. However, Ill be dreaming of that filet mignon and probably not order another until I do go back to Jiko someday.
Boatwrights: This restaurant has been a must-do for breakfast ever since I stayed at Dixie Landings in 1993. I always order the strawberries and cream and the sweet potato pancakes. I usually drive myself over, but did not rent a car this time and had to rely on WDW transportation to make it to my 9:10 ADR. Luckily I was able to catch a bus to MGM right away at 8:00, and a dispatcher saw me at the POR stop there and sent a bus for me, so I arrived at Boatwrights by 8:30.
Even though I was early and there were a lot of people in the hallway, I was seated right away. I ordered my English Breakfast tea and sipped while waiting for the strawberries. As always, they were perfectly ripe and the cream was so decadent! This is such a simple dish, but it always tastes better here than when I make it at home.
I drained the tea and waited a while for the pancakes - the restaurant was the busiest Ive ever seen it. There was something different about the pancakes - less sweet potato, or perhaps less spice - at any rate, they werent quite as unique as I remembered. I still managed to put away two of them, though, and enjoy a refill of my tea. Id return for the berries, but maybe try a different breakfast entree the next time. Or maybe Ill wax nostalgic and get the pancakes anyway. Garden View Lounge Afternoon Tea: Ive been trying to get an ADR here for years, and finally landed a 2:00 one, just as they opened. I arrived at 1:40 but the podium was empty so I curled up in a nearby chair until the CM arrived right at 2:00. I was seated immediately at the far wall next to the window, so I had a lovely view of pink flowers with the swimming pool behind me (so I did not have to see that while dining!).
Julie explained the menu and brought out vials of each tea to sniff before choosing. I chose the Garden View blend, which (unfortunately) is made only for the GVL - I wish it were available for sale! I chose that and enjoyed it greatly. If nothing else, Id go back just to have more of that tea! Luckily, I also greatly enjoyed my choice of the Buckingham Palace, so Ill definitely be back.
Julie brought out the teapot and poured my first cup through the little strainer, then covered the pot with a big purple tea cozy. My first course was tea sandwiches: tuna (substituted for the shrimp salad), egg salad, chicken salad, watercress and cucumber, and grilled pear with gorgonzola. Mmmm. Each sandwich was actually a quarter of a full sandwich, but because there were several on the plate, it was deceptively filling. My favorite was the watercress: Id read for years about British tea sandwiches and watercress, but had never tasted it until now. Yum! I also loved the pear sandwich - very different. The chicken salad had a sweet taste to it. The tuna was just tuna, and the egg salad wasnt exotic either, but I still liked them. There was also an onion tart, a tiny little cup with a rich onion taste. I took little bites of that between bites of sandwich.
Next came a scone and a jam tart. I had recently bought some Devonshire cream and scones at a local supermarket, and had been horribly disappointed when I tried it at home. However, now I get it! The things that store called scones were nothing like the warm, light, tender pastry served at the GVL. The cream melted into the pastry and was absolutely delightful. The jam tart was also wonderful. I was becoming full at this point, but still wished for more! By the time Julie told me of my dessert choices, I was too full to consider the trifle or additional pastries, though, and I just asked for the strawberries and cream. This was a heaping bowl of berries, topped off with a generous dollop of homemade (of course) whipped cream. There was no way Id be able to eat all of that, but I tried my best.
I left the GF at 3:00, full to bursting, and cancelled my dinner ADR at Boma. Even at 9:00 that night I was still too full to want dinner! I didnt believe the advice here on the DIS that this is a big meal, but now I know better! Believe it or not, I think DS 9 would enjoy this, and I hope to take him the next time were all at WDW. Ill drag DD along, too - at 12 y/o she thinks shes too cool for this stuff, but maybe shell give in and like it a little. At any rate, the Afternoon Tea has become a must-do for my solo trips.
Boma: I simply must eat at Boma at least once every trip. Its a family and personal favorite. Ever since a very crowded experience one year, I always try to get the earliest ADR time available, and landed a 5:00 for my last night at WDW. I love just hanging out at AKL, so I arrived before 4:00 and wandered around before checking in. The CM at the podium said to come back at 4:25, so I settled in and watched Victoria Falls for the 10-15 minutes before receiving my pager. A CM laughed and said it seemed silly to hand out pagers so early because all the tables were ready, it was just a matter of leading the early birds to our seats - then my pager went off and it turned out that Id been given that CM! Amy was from Utah and very personable. She had not heard of the DIS and was intrigued by my notebook and explanation that I was preparing dining and trip reports for the other members to live vicariously through my descriptions
. She led me to a back alcove almost directly across the outside walkway from my seat at Jiko - she called it the tranquil table, as it was right next to a little pool and in this quieter part of the restaurant. What a perfect location for solos or couples! Even though the restaurant did get noisier as it filled up, this part stayed relatively quiet and relaxing.As always, I picked up samples of almost every soup. Tonight was all new to me: I tried a dark, rich mushroom soup, a potato-bacon soup, and a stew that started with a P and had chicken in it. The mushroom was very tasty, and I enjoyed the P. stew until I found a shrimp (Im not allergic but have a phobia - long, boring story). However, the star of the evening was the potato-bacon. Again, OMG. I had two more bowls of that stuff! Instead of a typical cream soup with chunks of potato, this was pureed, with a texture more like very milky mashed potatoes. The first thing I did upon arriving home was pull this recipe off the internet, and I bought the ingredients the next day (guess whats for dinner tonight?
). The cucumber-ham salad with grano (whatever that is) was also very tasty, and I always love the mango dressing for the green salad. Then I moved on to the salmon, excellent tonight - it was a Moroccan recipe with almonds and peppers. It went very well with the couscous Marrakesh that I also have to have every time I go to Boma. Yum yum yum! The final bowl of soup preceded my dessert choices. I was a complete pig! I filled a plate with flourless chocolate cake, chocolate crunch mousse (these two were really good eaten together), a piece of melk tart, some pastry that looked like baklava but whose name I cant remember (had a flowery taste to it), banana bread pudding with the vanilla sauce, and a zebra dome just to say so. The zebra dome had a white bottom and caramel-y taste to it, but my memory was of a chocolate one? Im not sure if there are different variations or what. I ate almost all of that, and then Amy came by to recommend the cocomisu. Im not a big fan of coconut and was quite full, but took a little anyway. That was quite good - too bad Id filled up on the other desserts as that was the best one of them all! Oh well, something to look forward to on my next trip! Amys service was fantastic, and the evening was the perfect way to round out my time at WDW.
Counter Service
Earl of Sandwich: I stopped by here on a whim on my first day. I hadnt planned to go to DTD but ended up there while playing a round of bus roulette just as my tummy started rumbling for lunch. I had expected a more extensive menu, more like a deli, but found several sandwiches that sounded really good. I ended up ordering a Florentine: grilled chicken with mushrooms, swiss cheese, and creamed spinach on grilled focaccia (I think; cant remember exactly). The sign at the register offered chicken corn chowder, so I ordered that as well. At the other end of the counter where I ordered my Diet Coke, the CM asked which soup Id ordered and huffily informed me that they only had chicken noodle or tomato. Darn. I settled for the tomato (arguing with the woman who kept telling me that they did not have potato, and Im practically yelling, NO - the TOMATO!), caught the sandwich as she slung it at me (was NOT impressed with her attitude at all) and looked for a seat before she could do me bodily harm.
Im very glad I got the tomato - it was rich and buttery, and went with the sandwich perfectly. My only complaint is that the soup and sandwich were both quite salty. In the end, I took off most of the chicken and dipped the rest of the sandwich in the soup. I couldnt finish the entire sandwich - a very generous size - but did polish off that soup. I do want to try some of the other sandwiches someday, but wont make a special effort to eat here. The service was a bit scary.
Wolfgang Puck Express: This was the BEST. Counter Service. EVER. I ended up eating here twice and would have done so a third time if that pesky airline hadnt interfered and made me go home. Both times I waited in line for a while, but the food (linguine with tomato, garlic, and basil) was well worth it. The first time I ordered it to eat there, along with a Diet Coke and a creme brulee. After ordering I took a plastic marker with my number and sat down inside. Within ten minutes a waiter brought out a heaping bowl of linguine with 2 slices of herbed bread. The bowls were nice ceramic (there are signs all over saying, Dont throw away the dishes.) but the utensils were plastic. I would have slurped that linguine with my hands if Id had to, though - it was that good. As for the creme brulee, even though it was served in a foil pot-pie pan and was mass-produced, it was still the best creme brulee Ive ever tasted. The texture was firmer and the rich vanilla taste was just heavenly. My server, Carlos, was very attentive even though it was a CS place, chatting with me a bit about doing WDW solo and making sure I was taken care of - I really appreciated that.
I went back the next day for another round! This was actually after my Afternoon Tea, and even at 9:00 I wasnt very hungry, but I assumed that once I got back to my resort I would be, so I ordered the linguine to go this time. I didnt want to order a drink because Id save money and refill my POP mug at the resort, but the CM at the counter gave me a glass for water to sip while I waited. The place was still incredibly busy, so I stood near the napkin/utensil area and watched the men cooking. A CM saw me waiting and grabbed a bag and put napkins and things in it for me, then assured me the food would be ready soon. Again, nice service. Sure enough, I was soon on my way back to POP. WPE had amazing food and fantastic service, and I will definitely return. In the meantime, Ill be experimenting quite a bit to see if I can recreate that pasta!
Ghirardellis: On my last day I wanted to save up tummy space for Boma, but knew Id have to eat something to tide me over. What better thing than a sundae?! I was amazed that the place wasnt busier at 2:00 on an 85-degree day: there were fewer than ten people in line, and I had several tables to choose from after placing my order. The single-scoop hot fudge sundae was the perfect size, and came out promptly.
Everything POP: This place had the most cheerful CMs in the entire World. Every single person I spoke with, whether food servers, cashiers, or custodians, were gracious, upbeat, and happy. I loved my oatmeal (tastes so much better when someone else makes it, you know) and enjoyed the Kids breakfast platter. The croissant sandwich was too salty and I was unable to finish it, though. One night I tried the turkey dinner, finding the mashed potatoes and green beans great (especially for a food court), but again thought the turkey, gravy, and stuffing were way too salty. I had another dish of green beans one night - just those - because I really liked them. Every day it seemed that one Mug Wash and one frozen Coke machine were broken down, but there was always at least one working every day. I was impressed that there was a selection of teas out on the beverage island as well. I love staying at the POP, and the food court is one reason why: it always has a wide variety to choose from, the food typically is good, and the CMs are great.
Sassagoula Floatworks: OK, I only ordered beignets, but I did go there so I figured it deserved mention too. Ive never had beignets before, so I thought they would be much smaller. Mine were made to order (I assume they all are?), and were piping hot and fluffy. I was surprised at how small this food court is compared to POP or even POR; however, there were no long lines and the small beverage area was very efficiently set up. The decor was pretty, too. The atmosphere is relaxing compared to a typical WDW food court. Id bring the kids back for beignets (DD would not be too cool for those!).
Well, old MMM is done now, and obliged to you all for hearin me. Again, let me know if you have any questions. Im in mourning now for all that great food and service, not to mention considering a diet plan to return to sane eating, so Id be happy to talk about this some more!
