The deliciousness has landed!

[my3disneygirls]

We stayed off property in Kissimmee. It was a good location and only about 10 minutes from MK.

Me, DH, DD15, DD11, DD6.

OK, DISers. Here is my crack at a dining review. Our trip was 4-5 through 4-12. We did not eat at a lot on site places and the off site places we went to were downright boring because we were going for cheap. We had some unforeseen circumstances that burned through some of our food money. Little DD had an eczema flare-up and needed creams, lotions and cleansers. She also got sick and missed two weeks of school. With the med’s, DR visits, new meds because some caused an allergic reaction ran a pretty high tab. And that is WITH insurance! Not to mention having a child home eats up money, special food requests because they don’t feel well…AKA, “Mom is a huge sucker when I’m sick and I know it!”. But this is Disney and I am happy to eat at some lousy chain restaurants, just being there is what is important.

So, in the words of Peter Pan in Phillarmagic; “Here We Gooooo!”

TS:
Kona Café, dinner
Biergarten, dinner
BBB: The bold, the beautiful and the downright scary. Yes I know not food, but I am mentioning it anyway.
CRT, lunch. My kingdom for a decent wand!

CS:
Pinocchio Village Haus
Germany Beer Stand
Kaki Gori
France Booze Stand
Mexico Booze Stand
Tamu Tamu
Fruit stand
Toon Town hot dog stand
Norway Beer Stand
Tangerine Café
Yorkshire County Fish Shop
Columbia Harbor House

Busch Gardens Tampa:
Zambia Smokehouse

As I said we did a lot of mediocre off site dining, but I will highlight one place that I feel is a standout for breakfast value. If you are like us and prefer a huge breakfast and just a snack midday, this will surely tied you over till dinner. But be warned arrive too much past 8:30AM, you will be waiting forever! This holds true for any popular breakfast spot.

 

[suzimar57]

let the reviews begin!!!

(all set with snacks here...)

 

[my3disneygirls]

Saturday 4/5 We arrive in Orlando around 2:30. The company we like to use for car rentals is now at the airport so it's very convenient. As hubby is checking in at the rental counter the sky opened up and it poured. It rained on and off as we drove to the timeshare. My parents always have extra weeks, so they give them to us. We stayed at Orbit One, it's a small place. It has two pools and no elevators. We were on the third floor which made for one heck of a workout, but I didn't care because I hate when people are above me.

Let me backup. Hubby checks us in and he signed us up for one of those damned timeshare presentations for Monday. I wanted to kill him. He knows how I have everything scheduled ahead of time. Not only that, but he left a 20.00 deposit, so they are basically holding our money for ransom. After the hour long presentation(they always say that) we would get a 100.00 gift card. He said he was weak with hunger and just wanted to get out of there. Oh well.

We drop our stuff in the room. It was nice and really clean. Two bedrooms, two baths. three tv's, full kitchen, washer and dryer, blow dryers, iron and ironing board everything you would need. Our master bedroom had a king bed! Let me tell you going back to my queen bed at home was a drag.

We are beyond starving and it was around 4:00. DH did not want to wait for our 6:20 ADR at Kona. I stuck to my guns, I have never been to Kona and was looking forward to it. So we first hit the liquor store for some provisions for the week. We checked in at the podium at 5:40 and it was no problem being seated early. We waited a good 15 minutes for our server Sandy G. to take our drink order. We were starving and oh so cranky so the 15 minutes felt like an eternity.

Seeing which way the wind was blowing we ordered our meals with the drinks as not to waste anymore time.
Me: Shrimp Curry soup to share with DH and the Tuna Oscar.
DH:Kona Longboard Lager and the Tuna Oscar
DD15:Cheeseburger!? What the...Apparently DH was talking about burgers earlier and she couldn't think of anything else. There is no burger on the adult menu, but they do serve them, they come with bacon and a choice of cheese and fries. So it was a bacon swiss angus burger for her.
DD11: Tuna Oscar cooked medium
DD6: Cheeseburger with a side of fries and a salad.

We waited another 10 minutes for our drinks. I was drooling over everyone eating around us. Finally drinks and BREAD and BUTTER. We dove into it like a pack of wolves. OMG, sooo good! Warm soft bread and the sweat butter was just what we needed to feel human again. The bread was demolished in about 3 minutes. I got my soup and we were offered more bread, heck yeah!

The soup was outstanding. Nice and spicy with lots of shrimp. It was not a typical yellow curry flavor it was really different from any other soup I have ever had. The sweet bread was a nice counter point to the spicy soup. I ate half and gave the rest to DH. He loved it also.

This is when the tide turned. We are eating the soup and the second round of bread and the entrées come out. Apparently the place was working on a feast or famine way of serving this evening.

Tuna Oscar, mine and DH is perfectly seared on the outside and cool and raw on the inside. DD is cooked a perfect medium with a nice warm pink center. The Tuna was outstanding! The tuna had a spicy kick to it the tart green tomatoes were a nice foil to the rich tuna. The tomatoes could have used a better breading. They did not seem fried at all and were a bit slimy under the fish. I didn't care though the tuna was so good. The fried crab meat was sweet and the breading was light. I detected no wasabi in the hollandaise what so ever, which disappointed me a bit since I love wasabi. There was also a nice portion of asparagus that was wonderfully crisp tender.
DD raved about her meal she ate almost all of the tuna and loved every bite.

DD15's burger was nice, big and juicy.
DD6's burger was good too. I tasted it and it was good quality.

Total $111.40 with tax. I have no idea what DH tipped.

Would I go again? Yes, the food was great quality and you can have off service anywhere, it happens. DH was not impressed with the decor, I thought it was cute.

Off to Magic Kingdom! Did anyone pack the canoe?

 

[TigerKat]

I'm in.......

 

[suzimar57]

nice start at Kona, sounded good!

 

[my3disneygirls]

Thanks for reading! I am being a bit long winded, so I apologize. Reliving the trip I guess is too much excitement for me.

Magic Kingdom, here we come. We walk to the car all is clear, we drive toward the park it starts to rain. We park the car and it pours. This is a classic Florida Monsoon, high winds, lightening, thunder the works! We put on our ponchos wait for it to let up slightly and we run to a waiting tram. Hop on the monorail and the Monsoon we experienced in the parking lot turned into something really ugly. The monorail was kind of swaying in the wind and the lightening and thunder was crazy. My six year old was crying and didn’t want to go. Sorry little one the tickets are paid for we have to tough it out.

We run toward the entrance and wade though a foot of water to get there. Not something I would normally do in an electrical storm. By the time we got in, it let up a bit. It rained on and off all night.

Good thing about a rainy night in MK, no crowds. The bad thing the rides we wanted to go on were closed due to the storms. So BTMRR and Splash would have to wait.

The family was waiting to go on that race car thing and it was getting late and all I could think about was Figaro Fries. The much touted snack of champions, so I headed over to Pinocchio’s Village Haus. I get the fries and went back to the family who looked at the food in amazement. Ahhh, our first experience with the unholy union of, bacon cheese fries and salad. I can’t describe how much we loved Figaro Fries, so I will quote DD11; “Who ever invented this is a genius!”. Enough said.

 

[TigerKat]

I've yet to try the famed figaro fries. I may need to put that on my must-try list.

 

[oybolshoi]

So many people have posted good reviews of dinner at Kona that I'm seriously considering breaking with vacation tradition and booking a dinner here instead of breakfast ... I wonder what this will do to my marriage?

I've enjoyed your reveiws so far - looking forward to reading more!

 

[thunderbird1]

Loving this so far! You're cracking me up--"beyond starving," yet we're waiting for Kona; a monsoon but sorry, tickets are paid for so we're going! Hmm, maybe I'm enjoying it because it sounds like me--dh told me last trip I "march everyone through the parks like a drill sergeant!"

Your description of the figaro fries has me drooling--I must make sure to try them next time. That and the school bread from Norway. Both DIS faves, and though I start out with the greatest of intentions, I never seem to get there. At Epcot, I blame the margarita stand in Mexico , but I have no excuse at the MK. Next trip for sure!

Keep the reviews coming!

 

[slavike]

I am so glad that you like Kona! We love it too! We stay at the poly just to be near it I think!

I can't wait for the rest!

 

[my3disneygirls]

nice start at Kona, sounded good!

It sure was a great meal to start off the trip. Thanks for reading.

I've yet to try the famed figaro fries. I may need to put that on my must-try list.

You have to try the fries and another thing to mention they only cost 3.19 plus tax. It is so filling that it must be shared so it's a good deal.

So many people have posted good reviews of dinner at Kona that I'm seriously considering breaking with vacation tradition and booking a dinner here instead of breakfast ... I wonder what this will do to my marriage?

I've enjoyed your reveiws so far - looking forward to reading
more!

You should try Kona for dinner. Sometimes Disney food can let us down. Many times I feel as if I can make or get better food at home. This meal was one of the best I have had in a while. If you are worried about hubby do a breakfast and a dinner. That way you both will be doubly happy.

Loving this so far! You're cracking me up--"beyond starving," yet we're waiting for Kona; a monsoon but sorry, tickets are paid for so we're going! Hmm, maybe I'm enjoying it because it sounds like me--dh told me last trip I "march everyone through the parks like a drill sergeant!"

Your description of the figaro fries has me drooling--I must make sure to try them next time. That and the school bread from Norway. Both DIS faves, and though I start out with the greatest of intentions, I never seem to get there. At Epcot, I blame the margarita stand in Mexico , but I have no excuse at the MK. Next trip for sure!

Keep the reviews coming!

Believe me I was so close to saying forget about Kona and let's just get a Whopper. It wasn't easy with a hungry family giving me the stink eye.

Hubby is always telling me to slow down in the parks. Hello! Wait times, fast passes, crowds. If it wasn't for me running around getting our fast passes and telling them which rides to go on first we would only go on two rides a day.

I am disapointed to report, I still have not had a stinking Dole Whip. The first day the rain made a cold snack unappealing and then the crowds were so crazy every stand was mobbed. The problem is there are so many places to snack you are bound to miss something.

I am so glad that you like Kona! We love it too! We stay at the poly just to be near it I think!

I can't wait for the rest!

The Poly is my dream resort. One day I must stay there.

 

[slavike]

The dole whip debate rage's on.

We used to be Huge fan's then they started to get really runny, they changed them, I don't know how but they did, I can't explain it....

Then We found in the Enchanted Grove over by the spinning tea cups..

Strawberry Swirl which is basically a dole whip with strawberry sherbert instead of Pineapple Sherbert...

Oh so good. More stable too, much less messy!

I don't know where you are from...but in the Cleveland Area every where you go they have Orange Whips..that's orange sherbert and vanilla ice cream those are pretty good too.


I think they are so good, because it's just so frikin' hot down there and it's so cold it's super treat...

One day you will try them, just don't build them up too much so many people have only to be disappointed. Ask my husband, the first time I had built them up so much and he looked at me like...this is it...this is it what you have talked about for all these years...

 

[my3disneygirls]

Sunday 4/6. I got everyone up and dressed nice and early except for DD15. We planned to go to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. We don't have one by us, so the family likes to hit them on vacations. This place has gotten a bad rap for service, but I feel that many of the off site places have crappy service. It seems like the servers are in a vacation state of mind.

We left DD15 behind and gave her the time we would be back and told what I would do to her if she wasn't ready and made us wait. Kidding...sort of. We arrive around 8:30 and were seated right away. If you like a big breakfast this is the place to go. Hubby is a huge eater and he leaves here full.

Just to give you an idea of the value here is a favorite or ours. Grandpa's Country Fried Breakfast: Comes with 2 eggs, 2 biscuits and gravy, grits. A choice of baked apples or hash brown casserole. A choice of Chicken fried chicken or Chicken fried steak. Now I do order this, but I share with the little one she loves the chicken and she orders a small breakfast so she can share mine. The kids also don't order any toast and have my biscuits. Now, what would you pay for this ridiculously huge meal 11.99? 10.99? How about 9.99? No! You get this breakfast for...7.49!

For the four of us it cost around 35 bucks and we were full to the hilt. Of course the place has to sell Webkins, so we also left with two new friends.

We went back grabbed DD15 and we were off to Epcot.

 

[phabric]

Have enjoyed reading your reviews. Looking for more.

 

[Leslieann1024]

Sunday 4/6. I got everyone up and dressed nice and early except for DD15. We planned to go to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. We don't have one by us, so the family likes to hit them on vacations. This place has gotten a bad rap for service, but I feel that many of the off site places have crappy service. It seems like the servers are in a vacation state of mind.

We left DD15 behind and gave her the time we would be back and told what I would do to her if she wasn't ready and made us wait. Kidding...sort of. We arrive around 8:30 and were seated right away. If you like a big breakfast this is the place to go. Hubby is a huge eater and he leaves here full.

Just to give you an idea of the value here is a favorite or ours. Grandpa's Country Fried Breakfast: Comes with 2 eggs, 2 biscuits and gravy, grits. A choice of baked apples or hash brown casserole. A choice of Chicken fried chicken or Chicken fried steak. Now I do order this, but I share with the little one she loves the chicken and she orders a small breakfast so she can share mine. The kids also don't order any toast and have my biscuits. Now, what would you pay for this ridiculously huge meal 11.99? 10.99? How about 9.99? No! You get this breakfast for...7.49!

For the four of us it cost around 35 bucks and we were full to the hilt. Of course the place has to sell Webkins, so we also left with two new friends.

We went back grabbed DD15 and we were off to Epcot.

We have Cracker Barrels sporadically here in Texas, but do enjoy their meals whenever we are nearby ! And you got a giggle out of me when you brought your two new friends into the equation . . . how long until they lose their appeal ?

 

[sandym718]

I don't know where you are from...but in the Cleveland Area every where you go they have Orange Whips..that's orange sherbert and vanilla ice cream those are pretty good too.

Ah...good ole Cleveland Orange Whips!! I haven't had one of these in years (even though I'm still here in Cleveland). Brings back memories of getting to go to the bowling alley with my dad when I had off from school the next day...always got an orange whip!!

Sorry for the hijack...enjoying your reviews!!

 

[my3disneygirls]

The dole whip debate rage's on.

We used to be Huge fan's then they started to get really runny, they changed them, I don't know how but they did, I can't explain it....

Then We found in the Enchanted Grove over by the spinning tea cups..

Strawberry Swirl which is basically a dole whip with strawberry sherbert instead of Pineapple Sherbert...

Oh so good. More stable too, much less messy!

I don't know where you are from...but in the Cleveland Area every where you go they have Orange Whips..that's orange sherbert and vanilla ice cream those are pretty good too.


I think they are so good, because it's just so frikin' hot down there and it's so cold it's super treat...

One day you will try them, just don't build them up too much so many people have only to be disappointed. Ask my husband, the first time I had built them up so much and he looked at me like...this is it...this is it what you have talked about for all these years...

I know, about the hype. At first I believed everything that was bragged about here was the bomb diggity then I came to my senses. It all can't be wonderful. With the F fries I was prepared to hate them and then come here and say you people are nuts, but this was the thing that lived up to the hype.

Have enjoyed reading your reviews. Looking for more.

Thanks for reading!

We have Cracker Barrels sporadically here in Texas, but do enjoy their meals whenever we are nearby ! And you got a giggle out of me when you brought your two new friends into the equation . . . how long until they lose their appeal ?

Once the tags came off at home and they came to life in Webkins World. This was DD6's 10th webkin, so she got a superbed. DD11 only has 4, so I think she only wants them to catch up to her little sister.

 

[my3disneygirls]

Sunday 4/6 continued...

We were prepared for rain in the afternoon so we brought along the ponchos. It was about 10:30, I told the family to head to TT and check out the wait and I would fast pass Sorin'. I grabbed the stroller filled with ponchos and high tailed to the Land Pavillion. I will tell you all that I lost weight on this trip. Walking up and down the stairs at the timeshare and running around like a loon for FP's. This has actually spurred me into continuing with excercise.

OK, way to go OT your own thread. The Sorin fast pass time was 4 something. The wait for TT was too long and SE was down. So they met me at the Land and we did the living with the land ride. The lines for Nemo where too stupid long to even consider. Around 12:00 - 12:30 the rain started slowly. At this point it was on and off. We went over to WS were we started getting some drinks. I can't give you the exact order of the drinks, but we either started in Mexico or France.

Lime and Mango Margarita in Mexico. 8.50
I would usually get all of the flavors layered, but the apple didn't appeal to me and I was meh on the strawberry. I don't know if they changed or my tastes, but the mango, just didn't taste good to me. I would also prefer more of a boozy kick. I shared with hubby, If I liked it more I wouldn't have.

German beer stand. Pretzel and beer. I can't find the name of the beer on any of the online menus. It was something to the effect of Optimator. Anyone who knows the actual name feel free to correct me because I would love to know. The beer was in a word YUM. Disclaimer:Being that this is my thread I reserve the right to occasionally use annoying discriptive words when I can't think of anything better. The pretzel was the best I ever had perfectly soft and warm with a nice yeasty flavor. If you find youself feeling snacky in or around Germany do yourself a favor and get a pretzel.

Kaki Gori: This was for the kids. The rain was on and off. It was humid and when the sum was out it was pretty gross out. This was to cool down/make there tongues numb enough so they couldn't complain. Two strawberry Kaki Goris for the 3 girls to share. I tried to talk them into getting one cherry, I hate any artificial strawberry flavor, but they wanted the strawberry. They loved it, I took one bite and thought it was disgusting. Sickeningly sweet, I don't know how they ate that stuff, but they enjoyed it and that's all that matters.

Fish and Chips Kiosk: Harp Draft. If memory serves me this is a darker beer. It was nice and mostly for DH. When it's sticky out I'm looking for something more refreshing and that is up next.

France kiosk: Lemon Citron slush. I always get the Kir Royal, but I was looking for something different. The guys ahead of me got the Citron Slush so I asked them about it. They said it was refreshing, that was all I needed to hear. And it was refreshing and not too sweet. Just what I was looking for.

We did our FP for Sorin did Nemo then the downpour. We slogged toward Germany for our Biergarten ADR. Now at this point it was a cold rain and quite miserable to walk through. I checked in at the podium at 5:00 for our 5:45 ADR. We got in right away and there were quite a few empty tables. I guess lots of people blew off their ADR's because of the weather.

Dh and I got the beer flight, which is always nice. I don't know if it was the fact that I was wet and sitting in a cold restaurant, or that I was coming down with something, but I was not in a meat mood. I tried a little of everything, even fav's of mine were not doing it for me. On my first time up I also got the potato leek soup. OMG, ding, ding, ding we have a winner. It was just what the doctor ordered, DD15 and I were loving this soup She was freezing too and did the trick. Since my second trip up still did not give me what I really wanted, so on my third trip I got a second bowl of soup and filled to the brim. Ahhh, heavenly!

DH got a lot of everything, so pretty ate our money's worth. Of course the entertainment is great as usual. Our server Ines was great. She was like magic. You would get up for the buffet leaving plates behind. You come back and all the dirty dishes were cleared. The kids sodas were promply refilled also. I have never had bad service here and there is always something for everyone.

Total 175.49 with tax and 18% tip.

Up next, rescheduling our what is to be called the not a timeshare, timeshare presentation and a day at AK.

 

[undertheseas]

Great reviews, I'm loving your descriptions! Do you happen to know how much the beer flight at Biergarten was?

Waiting for more reviews, thanks for posting!

 

[natesmommy]

This is great, can't wait to read more.