Steelersfan
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2002
Well for what its worth, here is a review of our July 21-28, 2007 Disney dining experiences.
Our group was:
Me: Im a big guy who really likes to eat but Im not picky at all unless the food gets too fancy. Seafood is a big time no-no.
My Wife: Has many of the same tastes as me. She has a mild allergy to shellfish so no seafood here either!
Our Daughter: Sydney is 3 ¾ and eats sporadically. Loves chicken nuggets, fries and PB&J.
My Parents: Both like most foods except seafood.
My Brother: He is also a big gut who likes to eat. He also travels quite a bit for work so he gets to sample some different foods which was useful in making this evaluation.
My Niece: Carlee is 10 but actually ate off of the childrens menu because she was nine when we booked the trip. She has Celiacs disease which means she cannot eat foods with gluten. This was interesting to see how the chefs could accommodate her. It is worth noting that she would constantly get sick before her diagnosis so she still eats very little and gets nervous that shell get sick again when she eats.
We were on the dining plan and I have mixed feelings as to whether we will use it the next time.
The Positives:
1. Plenty of food! We honestly could have eaten until we exploded! You cannot possibly imagine just how much you are going to eat on this plan. Like I said, I like to eat and even I was shocked at the amount of food given in a day!
2. Guilt free character meals. It was nice to attend so many character meals and not have to pay at the end. I know we already paid in advance but it was a good value because we would have spent well over the money we paid per day.
The Negatives:
1. Time issues. We found that having a sit down meal every day really cut into our plans. Each meal took anywhere from 1 ½ to 2 hrs to complete if you start counting from the time you leave for the meal, sign in, get seated, eat, square up the tab, get transportation back to the park, etc. In addition, it seemed like just when we were on a roll, we had to stop and go eat. It is especially tough because it was soooooo crowded that we had to leave extra time to travel. Plus, when you have to book these meals 6 months in advance, you have no way of knowing exactly how your day is going to unfold.
2. Wasted food. I know I said that the plethora of food was a positive, but there was almost too much. For example, there is NO WAY we would have ever needed the desserts if we were paying out of pocket. When you add in the costs of the desserts it kind of makes the plan seem like a better bargain but it really isnt if you throw away the dessert of part of the meal because you are just too full from the sit down, or you dont eat your moneys worth at the sit down meal because you ate your dessert earlier in the day. I cannot imagine a light eater getting any value out of this plan.
If we went back right now I would just pay for three or four character meals and eat counter service when we were hungry. I think it would have been cheaper. I would also make my reservations for the late breakfast or first lunch. I think this would fit our touring plan better since we like to get to the park early, leave in the afternoons for a nap and return (not necessarily to the same park) in the evenings. It wouldnt cut into our time as much.
Also, keep in mind that the kids selections are very limited at the counter service restaurants and even the non-buffet choices. Keep this in mind also, your appetizers will come out well before the kids meals so you will either have to share or request that they at least bring out one of the sides or you will have to deal with an angry child.
Now for the reviews Ill be reviewing this in a realistic fashion. For example, if I ordered a counter service burger Im not going to criticize it because it didnt taste like filet mignon. It is a counter service burger and should be judged as such.
Day 1:Cosmic Ray's
We arrived in the evening and it was pouring. We all were hungry and went to Cosmic Rays in the MK because it had a big selection and was very helpful in the gluten free department. It was a little crowded due to the rain so we grabbed two tables in front of Sonny Eclipse and saved tables while we went up.
My parents both had the burgers. They said they were very good and my dad was especially impressed with the fixins bar. It really was loaded with mushrooms, etc. It had plenty of choices. (sorry no pics)
My brother and I had the chicken and ribs platter. We both agreed that the chicken and mashed potatoes were awesome. He does not like carrots but mine were very good. The ribs were not really all that good though. You had to rip them off the bone. The sauce was good and it was really no big deal because the rest of the meal was so filling. We had the chocolate cake for dessert which was good but VERY rich. It would have been great with a big glass of milk.
My wife had the chicken strips. She usually gets these at restaurants because she likes them and they tend to be difficult to screw up. She said hers were very good.
My daughter had the kids chicken nuggets and they even gave her a chocolate cake for dessert. She ate most of it although she was very distracted by Sonny Eclipse and was just excited for the trip in general.
They took care of my niece too. We will definitely eat here again. My dad was kind of mad he didnt see the chicken/rib combo but the fixins bar made up for it. This restaurant has very good food and great variety. There is something for everyone. The only negative was that there were different food lines for various items. I guess this could be a problem for some but I would recommend grabbing a table then take turns going up for the food if it is busy.
More days to come soon!
Our group was:
Me: Im a big guy who really likes to eat but Im not picky at all unless the food gets too fancy. Seafood is a big time no-no.
My Wife: Has many of the same tastes as me. She has a mild allergy to shellfish so no seafood here either!
Our Daughter: Sydney is 3 ¾ and eats sporadically. Loves chicken nuggets, fries and PB&J.
My Parents: Both like most foods except seafood.
My Brother: He is also a big gut who likes to eat. He also travels quite a bit for work so he gets to sample some different foods which was useful in making this evaluation.
My Niece: Carlee is 10 but actually ate off of the childrens menu because she was nine when we booked the trip. She has Celiacs disease which means she cannot eat foods with gluten. This was interesting to see how the chefs could accommodate her. It is worth noting that she would constantly get sick before her diagnosis so she still eats very little and gets nervous that shell get sick again when she eats.
We were on the dining plan and I have mixed feelings as to whether we will use it the next time.
The Positives:
1. Plenty of food! We honestly could have eaten until we exploded! You cannot possibly imagine just how much you are going to eat on this plan. Like I said, I like to eat and even I was shocked at the amount of food given in a day!
2. Guilt free character meals. It was nice to attend so many character meals and not have to pay at the end. I know we already paid in advance but it was a good value because we would have spent well over the money we paid per day.
The Negatives:
1. Time issues. We found that having a sit down meal every day really cut into our plans. Each meal took anywhere from 1 ½ to 2 hrs to complete if you start counting from the time you leave for the meal, sign in, get seated, eat, square up the tab, get transportation back to the park, etc. In addition, it seemed like just when we were on a roll, we had to stop and go eat. It is especially tough because it was soooooo crowded that we had to leave extra time to travel. Plus, when you have to book these meals 6 months in advance, you have no way of knowing exactly how your day is going to unfold.
2. Wasted food. I know I said that the plethora of food was a positive, but there was almost too much. For example, there is NO WAY we would have ever needed the desserts if we were paying out of pocket. When you add in the costs of the desserts it kind of makes the plan seem like a better bargain but it really isnt if you throw away the dessert of part of the meal because you are just too full from the sit down, or you dont eat your moneys worth at the sit down meal because you ate your dessert earlier in the day. I cannot imagine a light eater getting any value out of this plan.
If we went back right now I would just pay for three or four character meals and eat counter service when we were hungry. I think it would have been cheaper. I would also make my reservations for the late breakfast or first lunch. I think this would fit our touring plan better since we like to get to the park early, leave in the afternoons for a nap and return (not necessarily to the same park) in the evenings. It wouldnt cut into our time as much.
Also, keep in mind that the kids selections are very limited at the counter service restaurants and even the non-buffet choices. Keep this in mind also, your appetizers will come out well before the kids meals so you will either have to share or request that they at least bring out one of the sides or you will have to deal with an angry child.
Now for the reviews Ill be reviewing this in a realistic fashion. For example, if I ordered a counter service burger Im not going to criticize it because it didnt taste like filet mignon. It is a counter service burger and should be judged as such.
Day 1:Cosmic Ray's
We arrived in the evening and it was pouring. We all were hungry and went to Cosmic Rays in the MK because it had a big selection and was very helpful in the gluten free department. It was a little crowded due to the rain so we grabbed two tables in front of Sonny Eclipse and saved tables while we went up.
My parents both had the burgers. They said they were very good and my dad was especially impressed with the fixins bar. It really was loaded with mushrooms, etc. It had plenty of choices. (sorry no pics)
My brother and I had the chicken and ribs platter. We both agreed that the chicken and mashed potatoes were awesome. He does not like carrots but mine were very good. The ribs were not really all that good though. You had to rip them off the bone. The sauce was good and it was really no big deal because the rest of the meal was so filling. We had the chocolate cake for dessert which was good but VERY rich. It would have been great with a big glass of milk.
My wife had the chicken strips. She usually gets these at restaurants because she likes them and they tend to be difficult to screw up. She said hers were very good.
My daughter had the kids chicken nuggets and they even gave her a chocolate cake for dessert. She ate most of it although she was very distracted by Sonny Eclipse and was just excited for the trip in general.
They took care of my niece too. We will definitely eat here again. My dad was kind of mad he didnt see the chicken/rib combo but the fixins bar made up for it. This restaurant has very good food and great variety. There is something for everyone. The only negative was that there were different food lines for various items. I guess this could be a problem for some but I would recommend grabbing a table then take turns going up for the food if it is busy.
More days to come soon!
