Third Time's a Charm: Xmas Trip Report and Guide

[PlutoTheDog89]

Targeted Thread Completion Date: Saturday, March 2nd.


I know I keep pushing the completion date back. Fortunately, I keep coming up with ideas to include, so stay tuned. Next up will be Food Reviews, then I'll finish with a Xmas Guide!

Overview

I tried to decide for a while how to write this. I wanted to write this a while ago, but I got busy with work and helping to get our house back in order. I finally sat down to start writing. Im going to start it now, and shoot to complete it within a week or two.
Im going to start off by giving you the day-to-day report. I decided to do this in a detailed manner. I see a lot of questions on this board about how to pack or how the weather is. I included the weather for that day, as well as an idea of what we wore. I will also create a post of how and what to pack for the trip. I will also include detailed reports about the hotels we stayed in, restaurants we ate in, the good and bad of the trip, and a quick guide to surviving Christmas in Disney. As many people who have gone to Disney for Christmas know, it requires a lot of planning and patience.

First, meet my family:

Me: Im 23 years old, and I love Disney. Of the times I remember, Ive been to Disney about 8 times. If you ask my parents, theyd say probably more like 10. My favorite ride is Tower of Terror, with RocknRoller Coaster being a close second. My sister and I love RnR because we used to be afraid to ride it, but finally overcame our fear and did it, and loved it! It is now our New Year tradition to ride it after the clock strikes 12. Im the planner and researcher of the family. Im a foodie, so Im the one always looking to try new food in the parks and hotels.

Sister: Or, DS as theyre called around here. My sister is 28, and loves Disney the most out of all of us. Shes the one running toward the characters like a little kid. Shes probably been to Disney close to a dozen times. Shes the ride-planner. She leads, and we follow in Disney.

Parents: My parents are the reason for our love of Disney. My parents hate the beach, so growing up, our big vacations werent to Fort Lauderdale, or OCMD or OBX they were to Disney. In our early teens, it seemed annoying. We wanted to go to the beach like the rest of our friends and be cool. Now, looking back, our times at Disney provided us with the best memories, and a tradition my sister and I plan on keeping with our children (along with summer vacations to the beach!)

The trip would be our third Christmas trip in 4 years, and our fourth trip in as many years. We first went to Disney for Christmas four years ago, taking Amtrak from New York to Florida. We hated it. Not a knock against Amtrak - I love it for quick trips and it's been great for going between NY and Maryland, but a trip that long was rough. The next year, we drove down. We had always driven down, and our only fear was the snow. Fortunately, we didn't run into any snow. The problem we did have, however, was that I broke my foot a week before the trip. In a walking boot, the trip was uncomfortable, but with the knowledge that we would be in Disney soon, it kept me going. We recently went to Disney for a friend's wedding back in April 2012. We flew down, as it was a short trip, and we realized flying was really the way to go. We decided to fly down for this trip, and the flight went flawlessly.

This trip was extra special. For a while, it was in doubt. My family was hit by Sandy, setting us back financially and making us wonder if we could afford a trip at this time. Then, my aunt was diagnosed with cancer, and after a short battle, passed away.

After much deliberation, my family decided we needed the trip and it would be therapeutic. Our family and friends agreed.

I frequent these boards, after having found them last year. It helps to plan as well as temper my excitement leading up to the trip. Fellow Christmas Dis-ers can agree that Disney in Christmas needs careful planning, patience, and expectations. After two trips during Christmas, my family was a bit more prepared, with tailored expectations.

To make things easier on you:
1) December 24th: We Leave for Our Third Christmas in Disney
2) December 25th: Christmas Day in Magic Kingdom
3) December 26th: The Cold Sets In: Outside and in my Immune System
4) December 27th: Coldest Day at Disney, but we press on!
5) December 28th: No Luck with Water Part 1
6) December 28th: No Luck with Water Part 2
7) December 29th: Around the World
8) December 30th: NYE Dress Rehearsal
9) December 31st: Rockn' Into the New Year
10) Weather and Packing for Christmas
11) Disney Dining Plan and Tips
12) Table Service Reservation Reviews
13) Quick Service Reviews
14) Snacks

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

December 24th: Ready to escape NY and head to Disney!
Day: 73 Degrees, Partly Cloudy
Night: ~58-63 Degrees, Cloudy
Clothes: T-shirt and Jeans in the Day; Shirt, sweater, and pants at Night

And so begins our third installation of a Disney Christmas, our third in four years, and fourth visit in as many years.

The day started with the alarm going off at 4:45am. I rolled off my futon-turned-bed with a smile, knowing that not only we would be heading to Disney, but I'd finally have a bed to sleep in (my frame was lost in the flood), and the other frames were taken down for construction on the house.

We trekked into the 30 degree weather and drove to the airport. After packing the car and traveling, we arrived at Islip-Macgarthur around 6, settled in, and waited for our flight. Our flight touched down smoothly, and after arriving at Orlando International, we found and boarded the Magical Express. The trip on the ME was smooth, and got us there in about 30 minutes.

While we’re at it, let me add a quick and helpful note. The ME Express boards on the “B” side on Level 1. When you arrive in Orlando, you will be on the “A” side on level 3 after taking the monorail over. Basic instinct will tell you to take the elevator down to level 1, then walk over to the “B” side. Wrong. You have to walk through Level 3 to the “B” side, then take the elevator downstairs to level 1. It’s actually a fun walk, as you pass the Disney store on the way to side B.

We were booked to stay at the POFQ. Upon first arriving, it was beautiful. We were greeted with sugar cookies and lemonade and immediately headed to our room, where we freshened up. We were in the 1 Building, with a nice view of the Saussagoula River. We hung out a while then went to EPCOT to see the park and eat dinner at Tutto Italia.

Upon arriving back from EPCOT, we had a message from the front desk. They were letting us know that we had a package waiting. Confused, we went over to pick it up. It turns out that the Disney Reservation Center had heard of our problems leading up to the trip and sent over an extravagant gift bag, filled with goodies. It was over the top, and we could not have been more thankful.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

12/25: Magic Kingdom Christmas Day
Day: 75 Degrees, Sunny
Night: ~60-65 Degrees, Clear Skies
Clothes: Day: T-shirt and Jeans; Night: Shirt and Pants

We woke up early and headed to Magic Kingdom for the morning. We probably got there for 7:50am and the last ten minutes of the morning EMH. We wanted to get there earlier, but we just couldnt get ourselves out of bed. It was amazing how easy it was to get on the rides. We were on Space Mountain in about 25 minutes, and Buzz Lightyear in around 15 minutes.

For breakfast, we did a snack - a cinnamon roll from Main Street Bakery. This thing was out of this world. Warm, gooey and sweet. The one downfall I saw was Disney's crowd management. One CM saw the MSB line getting long, so told half the line hat Casey's would be opening and had everything MSB had. We asked about the cinnamon rolls, and she said "yeah! We make them and they take them!" After a 10 minute wait on line, Casey's had no clue what we were talking about, and it was back to a long line at MSB. A waste of time that left us agitated. We ate outside of Caseys, with a great view of the castle and the show that was going on then.

We then Fast Passed Runaway Railroad, and had about 2 hours of free time. We went to explore Fantasy Land to try a Lefeu's brew and see the area, but the park was already beginning to fill up (around 11am) and there was a line wrapped around Fantasy Land just to go into Gaston's Tavern! We hopped on the train, walked around more, and finally rode Runaway Railroad for the first time in years. It felt like they added bunny hops and turns. I didnt see a ton of change in the queue, but we also didnt have much time to stop and see the area. It was definitely a ton of fun, though, and greatly missed.

The one thing I saw that bothered me was a group went to Fastpass while others waited on Standby. Once they got around to where the line cut into two lanes, and the CM wasn't looking, then helped he family hop over the line into the Fastpass. Before anyone can say anything, they were on the ride. A major flaw in the ride line is not checking right before getting on the ride, instead of getting to the line break.

After this, it was around noon and the park was swamped, as expected. We went back to the hotel to relax in the gorgeous 70 degree weather.

Later that day, it was time for dinner. We got dressed up nice, and started our trip over to the Grand Floridian. We had a reservation at Narcoossee's. This was probably my favorite restaurant the entire trip. I was looking forward to the almond cheesecake for a long time, and finally got to have it. Being on the meal plan, we were covered for entrees and dessert, as well as a non-alcoholic beverage. With it being Christmas, though, we decided to splurge. I spotted the oysters as an appetizer, and was sold. I ordered the oysters with a dirty Ketel One Martini. The martini was made perfectly, and the oysters were cooked to perfection. Time for the main course. For the main course, I ordered the surf and turf. The steak was so big and filling, I was pretty full by the time the meal was done. Now for dessert. When I say the almond crusted cheesecake was unlike anything I have ever tasted, I mean it. It was so decadent and delicious, I almost wish I wasn't so full and was able to enjoy it more. I was nearly doubled over with how full I was, and I made sure to finish the entire cheesecake.

After Dinner, we went back to MK. We expected the crowd to be packed, which it was. Our goal was to get on a few rides and see the fire works. There was EMH, so we decided to ride Small World and a few others before the fireworks, then during EMH we would go to Fantasy Land. To give you an idea of just how packed it was, here are some pics:

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

12/26: The Cold Sets in a bit, outside, and my immune system
Day: Mid 70s, Raining in morning, Sunny in Afternoon
Night: ~55 Degrees
Clothes: Day: T-Shirt, Jeans, Windbreaker (rain)

When I woke up on the 26th, I was so congested, it was miserable. I knew what was happening: I was getting a cold. I jumped in a hot shower, hoping the congestion would go away a little- maybe the room was too dry. No luck. In the past, I've suffered a broken foot while at Disney, as well as a bad cold and a stomach virus. I refused to let this get me down. I popped some medicine and started getting ready to go to Animal Kingdom. When we were about to leave, it started raining. We were a short walk away from the dining hall, so we figured we'd head there, wait it out, and then head to AK. While there, I started putting down as much tea as possible. In my mind, it would work.

The rain finally started to let up and we scurried to a bus. AK was a ghost town at first. My sister and I took advantage and made a B-Line to Mount Everest (well, it's more of a "C".. or a "S"). Little did we know, we were rushing to stand still. We waitied 40 minutes (good for Mount Everest during Xmas). When we finally got on, the coaster was going great. We rode it down Mount Everest.. and... STOP! The ride stopped moving. We figured maybe it was one of those situations where the ride stopped to let people get off, due to congestion. Then the announcement came on. What seemed like not that high up, was actually 8 stories up. I snapped a quick shot of the roller coaster stopped, but out of respect for Disney, did not snap any shots behind the scenes.

After this fiasco, we stuck to the ground. We went on the safari and enjoyed the parade (I'll do a separate post of parade pics). The sun started to come out during the parade and it was amazing. It was the type of day where under the sun, it felt really warm and nice, but out of the sun, it was a bit chilly. This usually makes for a really cold night. We left the park around 4 or 5-ish. It was getting dark and really chilly. We knew it was going to go down to 50 or so this night and on the 27th, so we packed accordingly.
(Helpful Note: This is perfectly normal. Many days can be very comfortable and many nights can wind up being very cold. A quick rule of thumb would be, unless it's going to be above 70 all day and sunny, prepare for a chilly night.)

We left AK and went over to the lodge for Boma. This restaurant was my choice. I was so excited to eat, I tried to not let my cold get the best of me. I started out with the carrot and ginger soup. I was hoping this would clear my sinuses and allow for a more enjoyable meal. No dice. I then tried the seafood curry. Amazing taste, but no help. Oh well. I am a huge fan of Boma and love to eat, so I went back on line, filled up on meat and African side dishes. Unfortunately, I forgot to leave room for dessert. Oh well, the Zebra Domes were calling. I polished off about 5 desserts before being unable to move. Now, at a much smaller 170 pounds, I forgot that I'm unable to eat the way I did in year's past, when I was 190 (2 yrs ago) and 215 (3 yrs ago). Between the cold and over-eating, I felt miserable.

We were set to go to DHS, but we all felt pretty stuffed. My family and I decided that rather than push it and risk me getting sicker for the rest of the trip, why not take the night off, rest and relax, and try again tomorrow. So we went back to the hotel, I took a ton of cold medicine, and I was off to bed.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

12/27: Magic Kingdom, Crystal Palace, and the cold starts to go away!
Day: 61*- mid 60s, very chilly in the morning, warmer in the afternoon
Night: ~40 Degrees
Clothes: Morning/Day: Undershirt, collared shirt, sweater, Jeans, Socks, Ugg Slippers and a windbreaker.

Night: Thermal, UA longsleeve, Hoodie, Windbreaker, Shorts/Sweatpants layer, thick socks and UGG Slippers
Thursday morning came too quick. I woke up still feeling pretty bad, but having stayed in last night, I refused to let it bother me again. After a hot shower, I was feeling a little better.

This morning was my sister's pick for a food place. Her choice was Crystal Palace. Since my sister is a bit of a child when it comes to the characters (not a bad thing), she wanted a character breakfast. I won't get too much into the food, as I want to do a separate post that is a review of each restaurant and food, but for some reason the breakfast buffets just don't do it for me. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE breakfast, and I love the Mickey waffles and all, but the food winds up being lukewarm, and I feel like what you can get at the buffet, you can get everywhere else.

With the breakfast reservation being 8:30am, we wound up being finished around 9:30am. The park was still not that crowded, so we decided to get a few rides done. We waited for Thunder Mountain Rail Road about 30 minutes. In the cold, this ride could be a rough one, as it's out in the open. I think after this, we maybe got on another ride or two before the park was pretty packed. When I say pretty packed, I mean the line for Small World stretched to the Haunted Mansion ... Yes. That packed.

We decided to call it a day, which secretly, I was happy about. I wanted to get back and rest. We left the park around 12ish and the sun was starting to get a bit stronger. Although it was low 60s, in the sun it felt like 70, and the UV rays were about a 4 or 5 . I threw out the idea to go back and lay by the pool. We would obviously stay in sweats and layers, but it'd be nice to lay in the sun and let the sun clear my sinuses, and to get some natural vitamins.

I fell asleep by the pool, and when I woke up I felt like a new man. I also got some sun as well! With the temperature not hitting 70 and well, information from the weather channel, we knew this night would be the coldest of the trip.

We decided tonight we would go to DHS, followed up by Illuminations at EPCOT, as Epcot had EMH. I'm glad I packed correctly, as when the sun went down, the bitter Florida cold (sounds like a contradiction) came out. The temperature plummeted down to the low 40s and for Florida, it was very cold. I started layering. I threw on a thermal shirt (last minute purchase - GENIUS), followed by a loose-fitted UnderArmor longsleeve shirt, then a hoodie. I had some thick winter socks, and some man-UGG slippers. I also wore a baseball cap, and brought along the trusty hand warmers.

At DHS, we did the Great Movie Ride. We planned on eating there, but no QS caught our eye. Instead, we decided to try and find something at EPCOT. We went to see the Osbourne lights, then we started to get pretty hungry. I recommended Sunshine Seasons, and the family decided we'd give it a try.

At DHS, there is bus service and boat service to EPCOT. Unfortunately, the line was incredibly long, and the wait would be at least 3 buses, and on the boat line - 2 or 3 boats. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the bus stop for the Ticket and Transportation bus. If we didn't make the next bus, we'd certainly make the bus after that. We quickly ran over to that line, and were on the next bus. After arriving at the T&TC, we hopped on the monorail, and were at EPCOT in no time.

Pete Tip: If the line is too long for the bus or boat from DHS to EPCOT, hop on any bus going to the Transportation Center, then the monorail to EPCOT. A lot of people don't think about this, and it could save a lot of time. Another idea, if you're really pressed for time and need to get to MK, hop on the Polynesian, Contemporary or Floridian bus and take the monorail to MK.

At EPCOT we were all pretty hungry. We found Sunshine Seasons, and went in to see what they had. Now, we've been to Disney and have never tried Sunshine Seasons. I see a lot of people are a HUGE fan of this place on DisBoards and let me say, it did not let us down. I got the Chinese Chicken and it was outstanding. The dessert I had (the chocolate log) tasted like it had been sitting out for a little while, but it was delicious nonetheless.

After Illuminations, I wanted to finally try Boulangerie Patisserie, the French Bakery in Epcot. I never really knew about it until last year when a family friend got married in EPCOT. I opted out of trying it then, because the wedding was to feature a French Dessert Party. Wrong. it featured a Dessert party in France. I couldn't choose when I first got in. Eventually, I decided on the Napoleon. Being Italian, I've had my fair share of Napoleons. When I tell you that this Napoleon was the best, I mean it. Again, more about it in my food review, but wow - this place did not let me down!

My cold was still out in full force. We tried to get on Test Track, but it was a 2 hour wait, even during EMH. I guess everyone had the same idea as us. We called it a night and I went back, took some medicine, and it was back to bed. Fortunately, this would be the last night that my cold would affect me.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

12/27: Downtown Disney, Fort Wilderness Lodge, Magic Kingdom
Day: 72*, Sunny, turning to overcast skies later in the day
Night: Low 50s, Rain
Clothes: Day: Button down shirt, undershirt, Jeans, Sneakers
Night: Longsleeve shirt, sweatpants, sneakers, windbreaker

When I woke up in the morning, I was feeling like a million bucks. The sun was beaming through our window, so we had a feeling it was going to be a great day. With a stretch and some cleaning up, we were out and ready to go. It was warm enough to feel comfortable in a button down shirt and jeans. I think anything less (short sleeves or a t-shirt) it would have been chilly in the morning.

Where should we go for breakfast? By now, the dining hall had grown a bit old. We decided on such a gorgeous day to head to breakfast at Downtown Disney. I had been talking up Earl of Sandwiches and Wolfgang Puck Express, so why not give it a try. "Wanna grab a bus?" .. Nope, let's take a boat. It's so beautiful outside. We were cutting it close, as it was about 10am, and the boat line was short.

The boat driver seemed a little inexperienced. He kept downshifting aggressively to let other boats pass. I'm no captain, but I don't think you're supposed to idle the engine. Before long, we were stuck right before the bridge going into the DTD inlet. Tick tock, it's 11 o'clock. Breakfast is over and we're sitting ducks. We finally made it to DTD around 11:30am. We decided to opt for Wolfgang Puck Express - an amazing choice. It lived up to its expectations. My sister and I got a personal pizza. I had frozen yogurt for dessert and my sister had the cheesecake. My mom had a pasta dish, and my dad had a chicken dish. We all left very satisfied.

After lunch, or breakfast, or the first meal of the day.... my sister and I decided to rent a boat for an hour. We opted for the larger boat, and it allowed us to soak up some sun and get some incredible pictures on the boat.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

After the boat ride, we went back to the room to freshen up. We had reservations at Whispering Canyon, so we wanted to make sure we got there on time. If I remember correctly, I believe we took the bus to DHS, as it was closest to our hotel, then we jumped on a bus to the Wilderness Lodge.

We were quickly seated and given cornbread. The cornbread was delicious. We were given the menu and 'ordered' by our waitress to pick a few items. Maybe because the waitress saw we were an older family, her antics were not as aggressive as it was with the other families. We didn't mind at all, we were there to eat. Truthfully, it's unlike O'Hana. O'Hana separates the food, bringing it out to you in drifts and drabs. Whispering Canyon piles on your choices, brings it over, and usually one plate is sufficient.

I had barely any room for dessert (WHY DO I KEEP DOING THIS TO MYSELF?!). After dinner, we had a reservation for a horse-sleigh ride to view all of the decorations at Fort Wilderness. I would post pictures of this, but I had to keep my phone in my pocket. Why, you ask? Because it was absolutely pouring within 5 minutes into our ride. A gorgeous fun ride wound up being miserable. It was to the point that the driver offered to drop us off at the bus stop so that we didn't have to bear any more rain.

Disney Pixie Dust: Disney actually did not charge us for the sleigh ride, which I found really nice. We did not complain, we decided on our own to go on the ride, however I found this really nice.

We immediately found our way back to the hotel room, sobbing wet. We dried off, and my sister and I wanted to go to Magic Kingdom for EMH. We were coming down the stretch, and we felt like we wanted to start packing everything into the trip. My parents stayed at the room, and we decided to press on.

It started raining while we were on the bus. We decided to tough it out. We went to see Mickey indoors, then shot over to the Bear Jamboree. By the time we were done, the rain was gone, EMH was starting up, and due to the rain - the park was basically empty. Correction - the park WAS empty. We rode Thunder Mountain twice within 30 minutes. The first time, some rain was still falling. I actually went through the entire Thunder Mountain ride with my eyes closed as my hood went over my eyes.

Pete Tip: Ride Thunder Mountain at night and try it with your eyes closed. I've been on the ride close to 100 times, I know every twist and turn, and yet, it played with my senses so much it made the ride 100x better - if you can believe it!

After Thunder Mountain, we grabbed a delicious Dole Whip, and went on Goofy Coaster four consecutive times. Now, my sister is 28 and I'm 23. We're both grown adults, and we enjoy the Goofy Coaster more than most kids. Parents and CM's get a kick out of my sister and I when we ride it. The ongoing joke is that when we get older and have kids, we will leave the kids with our wife and husband and ride it on our own.

We finally called it a night around 2am. The park was empty and after getting our fill of rides and pictures, we went back to POFQ.

Pete Tip: If you do nothing else during EMH, it presents a great photo opportunity. Magic Kingdom is brighter during Christmas. It's also much more packed. If you find yourself on the wrong end of weather during EMH, try to tough it out. The park is so empty, it presents a great opportunity to get photos in front of the castle and on Main Street... as seen below:

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

It seems as though you and your family are having a nice vacation even with the Christmas crowds.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

December 29th: Around the World in EPCOT
Day: Mid 70s, Overcast
Night: Mid 50s, a little chilly
Clothes: Day: Polo shirt, Jeans, sneakers
Night: T-shirt, Hoodie, Windbreaker, Jeans, Sneakers

We decided to sleep in a bit today, and go to EPCOT and just walk the park. We're a big fan of the food... and drinks that the World Showcase has to offer, so we decided to do a bit of a drinking and eating around the world (without over-doing it). Around 7am, this loud ringing started going off in our room. Having lived in a dorm for 4 years, I knew exactly what it was. Still, it was funny to see my dad hit the alarm clock repeatedly (mind you, this is after 5 days of that same alarm going off, you'd think we knew the sound by now). It was the fire alarm, making the room unbearable to stay in - I guess that's the point. It seemed like the alarm was just in our building. After about a half hour, the fire department had the alarm turned off (it went off on accident). Back to bed we went for another hour or so.

After getting up and out, it was around 11am. We got to EPCOT around 12, and you can already see that the parks were starting to fill up already. -- There is a lull, if you can call it that, between the madness. Usually the parks clear up a little (not saying much) between Christmas and NYE. This is usually the 27th and 28th. It seems that a good amount of people only go to the park for Xmas OR NYE, not both. So, the days in between are a little less chaotic.

Our first stop was Test Track. We knew at noon the line would already be crazy. However, our goal was to pick up a Fast Pass. The return was for 7pm. Perfect, I'll return to the reason behind this later on. I was in need of a coffee-- a good coffee. I stopped at the Future World entrance of the World Showcase to grab a coffee. Better yet, it was a little warmer out, let me grab an Iced Coffee. I sipped happily as we entered the World Showcase. My sister loves the nachos from Mexico, so she grabbed those. I knew all along my main goal. The pretzel and a nice tall beer from Germany. My cupboard at home has enough of those tall plastic steins for me to throw a party, so how about two more. Once in Germany, I grabbed myself a pretzel using a snack on the Disney Dining Plan, then grabbed two souvenir mug beers, one for me and one for my sister.

After more walking, we grabbed lunch in Japan, in one of the restaurants in the back. Not too hungry, I opted for a small chicken dish, but I could not pass up the green tea iced cream. WOW! My mind was blown. A little more walking around and a Grand Marnier Orange Slush and our day was complete. We went back to the hotel to freshen up.

We knew the temperature would drop down from mid 70s to mid 50s this night. Normally, 50s could be comfortable, as long as its on the higher end. Unfortunately, we were going from a pretty mild temperature down to the 50s. This meant it was deceiving weather. It would be warmer until 7 or 8ish, then drop. We bundled up a bit, and were off. We made our way back to EPCOT (we left because we wanted to bundle up), getting into the park around 6:45pm. You could already feel the wind picking up and the temperature dropping. By the time we were in the park, it was 7pm. We hopped on Test Track, were off by 7:20pm, and on our way to the Coral Reef for our dinner reservation.

I liked the new test track. It seemed like the same old Test Track, but with a nice face lift. Everyone will have their complaints about the Tron-looking theme, but the truth is, in a few years you'll be the same ones complaining about TT looking out-dated. The only thing I didn't like was the "design your own car". Yes, it adds to the ride and allows for interaction, but it also holds up the line.

At Coral Reef, I had the catch of the day over grits. It was a top-5 dish. I went with the Molten Chocolate cake, following the waiter's advice. I understand the cake is very hard to make. Mine came out overcooked and the middle did not produce the chocolate lava. My sister's did. I know it's a tough cake to perfect, but you would think the Disney chefs would have a little more consistency. Sorry, as a foodie I had to vent.

We planned to go to DHS to end the night, as the park had EMH. We saw the late showing of Fantasmic, then my dad and I went on Tower of Terror. ToT is probably my favorite ride, behind RnR, which broke down while I was on ToT. We decided to wait on RnR, even when it was back up and running. My sister and I would do our normal New Year tradition and ride RnR that night.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

December 29th: NYE Dress Rehearsal
Day: Mid 50s, sunny
Night: High 40s
Clothes: Day: Jeans, shirt & Hoodie with my NY Giants Jersey over it
Night: Longsleeve shirt, hoodie, hat

With no reservations and no where to be today, we decided to have a very relaxed, open day. We decided to start our day at DHS, make our way back to the hotel, eat at Art of Animation food court and explore the AoA, then head to Magic Kingdom for the fireworks.

We got to DHS around noon-ish. Already, the park was pretty full. If you remember, I mentioned how there is a "grace period" on the 27th and 28th where the crowds die down very slightly. Well, on the 29th and 30th they build right back up again. I'm actually starting to think that NYE gets more crowded and crazy than Christmas (because honestly, while MK was packed on Christmas, it was nothing like this - pictures below).

We started feeling hungry, so I recommended Starring Rolls. I had been dying to try the Gingerbread Cupcake. The Gingerbread cupcake was gingerbreak, with a cream cheese frosting. The cake was moist and soft, and the cream cheese frosting matched with the cake for an amazing taste.

We got back to the hotel and relaxed a little bit. It was starting to get a little depressing, as we knew we only had two days left.

Toward the evening, we bundled up a bit - I wouldn't say it was COLD, even at high 40s ~ low 50s, but it was a little chilly. We went to Art of Animation for dinner, because we had heard the food court was pretty awesome. It was. I had a create-your-own burger for dinner and a peppermint gelato for dessert. They had a pasta bar, salad bar, pizza bar, you name it! We decided this was our new go-to spot for a quick service lunch or dinner, and will definitely be going back at least twice next trip!

After dinner, we explored the resort a bit. The resort is gorgeous. It wraps around a lake, and the theme is Animated Disney movies. If not for the size and amount of people, we would probably stay there next year. It will definitely be a place we stay at when we have kids in the family, and I recommend it for families.

We then boarded a bus and took it over to MK. During NYE, Disney actually contracts a coach bus company, so that they have more buses running to and from resorts. We were lucky enough to get the luxury of riding one over to MK.

The scene at MK is a lot of fun. They actually run through a "dress rehearsal" of their NYE party on 1/30. There's a DJ by the castle, and music is piped throughout the park. They countdown to 12am, just like on NYE, and the firework show is the exact same.

Pete Tip: If you don't feel like dealing with the crowds on NYE, or are afraid of not getting into MK due to crowd capacity, MK runs the same exact show on NYE. We usually do MK for 1/30, then DHS for NYE. Another instance would be if you are leaving to go home on 1/31, but want to still celebrate NYE in Disney - do it on 1/30!

After the fireworks, we were exhausted. We figured we'd head back to the room and get some sleep. Tomorrow would be a long day.

 

[wiigirl]

Following along...Great pictures!

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

December 31th: Rockn' into the New Year
Day: 75*, Sunny - Gorgeous
Night: High 50s
Clothes: Day: Jeans, t-shirt
Night: Shirt, Khakis, Fleece over the shirt, shoes

We knew the day would be coming - the last day of the trip. With all we had been through at the end of 2012, I was ready to start the new year and craving a new start. Unfortunately, this new start meant the end of an amazing, much needed trip.

We woke up a little later, as we would not be getting much sleep at all this night. We planned on staying at DHS until 1 or 2am, then we would need to wake up at 5am to bring our bags down for the Magical Express.

We decided to do something different. We decided we would not be going to the park, as they would be too crowded and lines for rides would be obscene. With the weather being so gorgeous, we decided to soak every last bit in as it was about 30 degrees in NY. We decided to go to the boardwalk bakery and sit outside along the water to eat.

The biggest mistake we made was going to EPCOT, walking to the back of the park, and taking the boat to the boardwalk. I warned my parents that it would be mayhem there, but no one listened. It took around twice the time it would normally take just to get to EPCOT. As we got closer, you could see that every spot in the parking lot was already taken and there were cars parked on the grass. When we finally got to the park, the lines to get in were crazy. Finally, a Disney CM announced anyone with a room key could enter through a separate entrance. GENIUS! We lined up and after taking about 20 people, they announced that entrance was now closed. What a waste of time. Now, we had to go to the other entrance that's line had built up tremendously since we got to the park. I'm not complaining or feeling entitled with the room key. My complaint is, don't come up with a brilliant idea, pull people over to another line, then say "no, this area is closed now, go on that much longer line".

Picture: Futureworld, about 200 yds from World Showcase

We finally got in. The park was wall-to-wall with people. After finally getting through, we boarded the boat and made our way over to the Boardwalk. At the Bakery, I got a sandwich and the peanut butter cheesecake. The bakery is one of my favorite places for dessert!

After, we walked around, touring the Boardwalk hotel, then went to DTD. We wanted to see Splittsville and see what it looked like. I have to say, I'm really impressed with Splittsville and the concept of it. Outside is a bar that overlooks the water. My sister asked if I wanted to grab a drink. Why not, I thought. I saw an orange slush and figured "I love orange, I'll have that one". Bad idea. It was something called a "Grain Train". Grain alcohol mixed with orange to create a slush. It was delicious, but I definitely felt it on our boat ride back to the hotel. I grabbed a nap and "slept it off"

For dinner, we were heading to the Turf Club at Saratoga. We jumped on a bus to DTD then a bus to Saratoga. Once at the Turf Club, I had built up a solid appetite. I wanted to end the trip with a nice steak. I got a really good steak and a fruit cobbler. The fruit cobbler was awesome. I wanted something light, as I had been over-eating all trip.

After dinner, we went over the DHS. It was not that bad. Maybe because DHS is spread out, it does not give the appearance of being packed, or maybe because most people head to MK or EPCOT for NYE. We grabbed an electric lemonade in front of 50s primetime cafe and secure a nice spot to watch the fireworks from.

After the fireworks, my sister and I did our yearly tradition of riding the Rock n' Roller Coaster. Then, it was time to slowly leave and bid a sad goodbye. We got our 3 hours of sleep, and it was back to New York.

After eating, we did a few laps up and down the boardwalk. Hard to remember how fast time had gone. It was only April 2012 we were in that very place for a family friend's wedding.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

We were fortunate to get a few really, really good days while down in Disney. It's especially nice that on Christmas and Christmas Eve we were able to enjoy the weather, which made for a much, much more memorable time in the parks.

The weather in Disney during December is bipolar. One day it could be warm, mid 70s and gorgeous out, and the next day could be mid 50s and cloudy. Below is the weather we experienced during our trip (also included in the day-to-day), how I packed, and some overall tips on how to predict the weather down there.

Weather
December 24th: Day: Low 70s, cloudy Night: Mid 60s, comfortable
December 25th: Day: Mid to high 70s, sunny Night: Low 60s, comfortable
December 26th: Day: Mid 70s. Rain to start the day, turning to sun Night: High 50s, noticeable drop in temperature, very chilly
December 27th: Day: Low 60s, chilly most of the day Night: High 40s, very chilly
December 28th: Day: Low 70s, Sunny Night: Low 50s, a little chilly
December 29th: Day: High 70s, beautiful outside Night: High 50s, comfortable but a little chilly
December 30th Day: Mid 50s, very chilly Night: 40s, cold
December 31st: Day: 70s and beautiful Night: Low 60s

Packing Tips
As you can see from the weather above, the weather in Disney differs on nearly a day-to-day basis. One day, it could be mid 70s and gorgeous, and you'll be walking around in a short sleeve shirt, the next day - it's 50 and you're wearing a coat. Now, for some people traveling from much colder places than NY - maybe 50 isn't that bad for you. Maybe that's mild. The thing is, remember you are going from mid 70s to 50 in a day. The drop alone can cause you to feel a chill.

I went back and forth with ways to pack to beat the temperature. I knew I would have to layer, but how do I do this without overpacking. I tried to decide on a set way to pack, and leave it at that. Here's the idea I came up with that worked. A Note: Throughout the entire trip, I needed at least a long sleeve shirt. Even on warm days, I would have been comfortable in a long sleeve shirt. I decided to pack for a late Fall-November type climate. Where it could be comfortable and warm, or very chilly in NY.

I started by packing the obvious things I needed, then when it came to clothes:
- Long sleeve shirts (collared and t-shirts)
- Jeans
- Khakis
- Sweatpants

The key is to layer when it starts to get a bit colder, so I then packed layers:
- Fleece
- Sweaters
- Hoodies (hooded sweatshirts)

Now, I wanted to prepare myself for when it would be a warmer, as I knew the temperature would be hitting 70s:
- Shorts (Never used them)
- T-shirts (worn on Dec. 25th and Dec 31st)

The next category of clothes, I called my "Extreme Clothing". This was the clothes I would hope I did not have to use, but came in handy when I wore it a few nights:
- Thermal Undershirt
- Winter coat (had to wear it down anyway)
- Scarf
- Gloves
- Thick socks
- Hand warmers - YES They really come in handy!
- Windbreaker water-resistant jacket

As you can see, the core of the clothes I packed was for cooler temperatures. I then threw in a few t-shirts for warmer temperature, and packed for very cold temperature. The key to surviving the weather is layering.

Let's say on one day it's very warm. Well, I have my t-shirt and jeans. Now, the next day is a little chillier. I have a long sleeve shirt and jeans, and a hoodie or sweatshirt if I need it. Now, that night is very cold. High 40s cold. I have jeans, thick socks, a thermal, a longsleeve, my scarf and gloves, and a winter coat to keep me warm.

It sounds like a lot - but I got everything in under the airport weight for bags and was happy I "overpacked" a bit.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

For the Dining Plan, we had the normal dining plan, which included (1) Snack, (1) Table Service and (1) Quick Service for each night of your stay. You are not limited under this plan. You could use three Table Services in one day, or all your snacks in one day. So for instance, let's say you have four people in your party, and are staying 8 nights, like we did.

This would mean that you have 32 Total Snacks, 32 Total Table Services and 32 Total Quick Services - meaning 8 Snacks, TS, and QS meals per person for the trip, or one per night.

So let's break down how we went into planning our meals. Now, most restaurants are (1) Table Service. Some of the more expensive restaurants, like Narcoossee's, cost two table services.

Here's a breakdown of the meal plans: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/me...alog/WaltDisneyWorld/en_us/PDF/2013Dining.pdf

We knew going in that we wanted to go to Narcoossee's. A few couples had gone there during our trip in April for the wedding and raved about it, so we knew we wanted to try it. That would be our Christmas Day dinner. So now, two Table Service meals were being used.

For Christmas Eve, we wanted Italian. We decided to do Tutto Italia for Dinney 12/24 when we got down to Disney. It cost 1 TS per person. Now, we each had used 3 Table Services.

From there, we each had the opportunity to choose a place to eat at. So, our reservations looked like this:

Table Services (8 per person)
12/24: Tutto Italia (1) for Dinner
12/25: Narcoosse's (2) for Dinner
12/26: Boma (1) for Dinner
12/27: Crystal Palace (1) for Breakfast
12/28: Skipped (0)
12/30: Coral Reef (1) for Dinner
12/31: Turf Club (1) for Dinner

Quick Service Meals (8 per person)
- Disney Art of Animation (1) - 1 Dinner
- Boardwalk Bakery (1) - 1 Lunch
- Wolfgang Puck Express(1) - 1 Lunch
- Sassagoula Floatworks (3) - 2 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch
- Japanese Restaurant in EPCOT (1) - Lunch
- Sunshine Seasons in EPCOT (1) - Dinner

Snacks (32 Total)
- 4 Cinnamon Roll at Main Street Bakery (4)
- 2 Dole Whips (2)
- Pretzel in Germany (2)
- Pastries from France (4)
- Le Fou's Brew (2)
- Gingerbreak cupcake at Starring Rolls (4)
- Bottled Drinks in the park
- Nuts and snacks in the park

Tips for Dining Plan

- The regular Dining Plan is enough. Let's say you do a quick service for lunch and a table service for dinner. That means you get two entrees for the day, and two desserts. My family usually has one dessert in a day and that's a lot. Two desserts in one day just gets way too much. Mix in an appetizer with your table service, and they'd be rolling you out of the restaurant at the end of the day. That's just a personal opinion. If an alcoholic drink is important to you, opt for the regular plan and just purchase a drink. Another option, if you drove down, bring a cooler and stash some desserts away!
- Use your Quick Services for Lunch/Dinner From a value standpoint, you get much more value for your money by using your quick service meals for lunch or dinner. When you use it for Breakfast, you only get the meal and a drink. For Lunch, you get the meal, a drink and a dessert.
- Use Snacks for Breakfast Using the above tip, you can use snacks for breakfast. A muffin, croissant, even the cinnamon roll at Main Street Bakery counts as a snack. It's quick, delicious, and much more worth it!
- Use your mug Most meal plans include a mug that can be used at your resort. Take advantage of this, filling it with tea, coffee, soda or juice or water. If you paid for it, get some use out of it!

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Table Service Reservation Reviews

As a huge foodie, I was excited about getting to eat at Disney Restaurants. I love the desserts and how every plate looks like it is straight out of a 5-star restaurant (even though it may not taste like it). I also love the idea of being on vacation and eating out.

So to recap, my family each got to choose a place to eat, and then we had restaurants we decided on as a whole. Here's what we went with:
- Tutto Italia - Dinner (Family Decision)
- Narcoossee's - Dinner (Family Decision)
- Boma - Dinner (My Decision)
- Crystal Palace for Breakfast (Sister's Decision)
- Coral Reef - Dinner (Dad's Decision)
- Turf Club - Dinner (Mom's Decision)

How I'd rank the Table Services against each other:
1) Narcoossee's
2) Turf Club
3) Coral Reef
5) Whispering Canyon
4) Boma
5) Crystal Palace
6) Tutto Italia

Reviews:

Narcoosee's

Narcoossee's lived up to its expectations. I knew going in that I wanted the Surf and Turf as I had read that it was fantastic, and I was craving fish as I did not have it on Christmas Eve. They brought over bread with butter that had a pink salt on it. The bread and butter was amazing, and I probably enjoyed too much because I was full by dessert. I started the evening by ordering an appetizer (I felt like it tonight). I ordered the oysters. They brought over fried oysters on small pieces of toast. I was expecting fresh oysters, so this was a slight letdown, but it was delicious nonetheless. I also went with a Kettle One Martini, dirty, with blue cheese olives. I thought for sure the waitress would mess it up. I'm far from a drink snob, but once in a while I prefer a nice martini. She seemed confused at first, then flashed a smile and said "of course". Well, the martini was perfect. One of the best I've ever had, in fact.

I went with the Surf and Turf for dinner. At first glance, sticker shock takes over. Even being on the meal plan, you can't imagine a dish for $78. However, the steak was very big. It was well seasoned, perfectly cooked, and melted in your mouth. The lobster tail was even better. They serve it with butter, but I didn't even need to use the butter. The tail was sweet and buttery at the same time and a nice compliment to the dish.

For dessert, of course, I went with the almond crusted cheesecake. By now, I felt like I was about to burst. I was so full, and yet, the cheesecake was soooo good. I kept eating and eating and finally finished it. Easily, hands down, the best dessert I've ever had in my life - and I've had a lot of desserts.

Overall: A
Food: A
Service: A
The Good: The food, the service, and the view
The Bad: There were seats open by the window and they still only sat us by the bar. We would have preferred to overlook the water.
Tips for dining here: If you come for dinner, book a later reservation and enjoy the electric water parade. Also ask for a table close to the windows.
Will We Return Next Year? Absolutely. For Christmas Eve.

Turf Club

We went to Turf Club as our New Years Eve dinner, before heading to DHS. As soon as arriving at the restaurant, you feel as if you just stepped into a golf clubhouse or a the Kentuck Derby (.... or Saratoga ). This was a huge plus for me.

It was gorgeous out, so when the hostess asked if we preferred inside or outside, I stepped in front of my family and said "outside, definitely outside". The outside deck is beautiful, with heat lamps to keep you warm if it's a little chilly outside. Unfortunately, the view leaves a little to be desired. It basically overlooked their pool, which is surrounded by trees. There was a little bit of a view, however, and that was just the road and landscape.

As an appetizer, because we were hungry, we got the Buffalo Chicken dip. None of us were too impressed with this dish. I got a steak dish, which included mashed potatoes and a blue cheese fondue. The steak was cooked perfectly, but a little under-seasoned. The mashed potatoes and blue cheese fondue added an awesome compliment, though. If I had to do it again, I'd opt for the lamb chops, which my dad loved, or the root beer pork chops.

For Dessert, I was feeling overloaded from all the desserts I had all trip. I saw something with fruit in it and thought "YES, HEALTHY!" and ordered it. Wow, I'm glad I did. It was a seasonable fruit cobbler with ice cream and, dare I say, nearly rivaled the almond cheesecake.

Everyone was really satisfied with their meal. It's an upscale bar and grill type food, which is what we were all in the mood for. We went into the night not knowing what to expect. It absolutely exceeded expectations, and I can definitely say that the Turf Club is a hidden gem at Disney.

Overall: B+
Food: B+
Service: B
The Good: The food was awesome, the ambiance was relaxed, the dessert
The Bad: The service was a little slow, the view wasn't what we expected
Tips for dining here: If you come and it's packed, say you'll sit outside if there's tables. Even if it's a little chilly, the heated lamps will keep you warm.
Will We Return Next Year? Maybe. If we don't, it's only because we opted to try somewhere new and didn't have enough meals.

Coral Reef
I feel like Coral Reef is a staple at Disney. One of those restaurants that everyone has to do at least once. Maybe it was the famous Full House restaurant, but I feel like Coral Reef was that place that was so popular in the 90s, but lost its flare in the 00s. My dad wanted to try this place, and I'm glad he did. I went with the Catch of the Day over smoked gouda grits. This dish was really good. I was excited about having the molten lava cake. When made correctly, this is a really, really good dessert. It is also very tough to make, as if you overcook it, it just becomes a chocolate cake. I figured Disney chefs would get it right. They did not. Mine was simply a warm chocolate cake, while my sister's was a molten cake. You would think that Disney chefs would prepare dishes with a bit more consistency, so I was unhappy about this. It was a good dessert, but nothing special.

Overall: B+
Food: B
Service: A
The Good: Great service, entree was good
The Bad: The Dessert really dropped the ball, we were places at the back and our view of the tank was inexistent.
Tips for dining here: Request a seat near the tank
Will We Return Next Year? Maybe. If we don't, it's only because we opted to try somewhere new and didn't have enough meals.

Whispering Canyon

I love BBQ food, so I was excited about this. They started us off with some corn bread, which is probably my favorite. I started filling up on some corn bread. The waitress came over, and I was a little uneasy. I began wondering what shenanigans she would pull off. The only big thing she did was throw straws at us. We were okay with this. She probably figured with us being an older family, we were there to eat, not for the show. The food was good. The mashed potatoes were a spotlight, and the sausage was also very good. I think my favorite "meat" was the fish. We ordered this on our second tray, and being full, I was unable to enjoy it as much though. The dessert was okay, but nothing special. It was basically jars of different cheesecake.

Overall: B
Food: B+
Service: B
The Good: Food was good
The Bad: Dessert left a little to be desired
Tips for dining here: You'll enjoy it much more with a young family.
Will We Return Next Year? Probably not. We saw what it had to offer. Next year, we'll try something new.

Boma
It's unfortunate that I had a pretty bad cold when we went to Boma, because I believe I would have enjoyed it a bit more. Boma has a lot of African themed food. Unfortunately, if you're not crazy about that type of food, it does not offer many choices to go with. At the time, having a bad cold, I opted for soup. Their soups are top notch. I had a seafood curry soup as well as a carrot ginger soup. Their meat and fish are also very good. I enjoy the Watermelon and Feta cheese salad, as well as their cold salads. Unfortunately, my family was not crazy about the food. We had been there twice already, so we decided this would be the last time.

Overall: B
Food: C
Service: B
The Good: I enjoy the food, plenty of desserts
The Bad: If you are not crazy about African-themed food, you will not enjoy Boma. Also, the line gets very long here and you could wait 10-20 minutes between plates. Think "Vegas Buffet line"
Tips for dining here: If you can get a seat near the buffet, take it. Enjoy the soup, and save room for the amazing desserts.
Will We Return Next Year? No. We've had our fill of Boma.

Crystal Palace

We went to Crystal Palace for breakfast. A quick disclaimer - I expected to wake up feeling better and I still felt pretty sick, so I was in a bad mood to start. I love breakfast, probably my favorite meal, so I didn't want to let it ruin my sister's choice of Crystal Palace. The characters came around and we got some pictures, which was nice. I think my biggest complaint with breakfast buffets is the food never feels hot. Having to douse my waffles and pancakes in hot syrup because they are lukewarm is not my idea of enjoyable. The create-your-own omelette station was awesome though, so that earned it some points. They also had a solid selection of fresh fruit as well, which was a huge plus. I think next year, if a character breakfast is recommended, I may try to push for O'Hana. If it's anything like their dinner, this means they bring hot breakfast to your table, which I would much prefer.

Another thing I didn't like was the service. Our waitress paid little attention to us, and when we went to pay the bill, she did not return our change. When we asked her about the change, she said she assumed that it included tip. That would have been a 22% tip which she did not earn by coming to our table once and refilling our drinks.

Overall: C
Food: C+
Service: C
The Good: Nice Selection, Characters were fun
The Bad: Food was not hot, service was poor.
Tips for dining here: Fun for a young family. Maybe if you get the first reservation, food will be hot and more fresh.
Will We Return Next Year? Hopefully not. We will do Breakfast, so if anyone can recommend a place where breakfast is hot and fresh for a buffet, it would be appreciated (we've tried Chef Mickey's).

Tutto Italia

Tutto Italia missed its mark on so many levels. We're Italian, so for Christmas Eve we wanted either fish or a huge plate of pasta. Well, Italy in EPCOT would be a hit, right? Wrong. I ordered the pasta dish with the sausage, and truthfully, it tasted like glorified Chef Boyardee. The Tiramisu was good, but not great. The way I see it is this: I had a Napoleon from France and it was the best Napoleon I had ever had. You would expect an Italian Restaurant at Disney to provide a pretty darn good Tiramisu. It was par. I've definitely had better, so it really did not hit it's mark.

Overall: C
Food: C
Service: B
The Good: Our Waiter was awesome. He was an Opera singer from Italy and very charismatic. The Sangria was outstanding.
The Bad: Food left a lot to be desired
Tips for dining here: The Sangria is outstanding.
Will We Return Next Year? No

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Quick Service Reviews

When we weren't munching on snacks or enjoying dinner at Disney's Restaurants, we enjoyed our food from Quick Service Locations. Usually, our go-to is Pecos Bill's in Magic Kingdom, which I fully endorse. This time, we decided to try a few new places.

Here are the Quick Services we enjoyed and how I'm ranking them:
1) Wolfgang Puck Express - Lunch
2) Disney Art of Animation Food Court - Dinner
3) Boardwalk Bakery - Lunch
4) Katsura Grill, Japan in EPCOT - Lunch
5) Sunshine Seasons in EPCOT - Dinner
6) Sassagoula Float Works - Breakfast/Dinner

Wolfgang Puck Express

I have heard a lot of people talk about this place, and we finally tried it. I was unhappy, as my family was quick to order and I didn't have time to really think. Fortunately, I chose the Vegetable pizza, an awesome choice. For dessert, I went with the Frozen Yogurt. You order at the counter, are given a number to bring to a table, then the food is brought to your table. The Vegetable pizza was fantastic. Better than what you would expect from a quick service restaurant. The frozen yogurt was a great dessert. Light and tasty and just what I needed at that time of the day.

Overall: A
Food: A
Service: A+
The Good: The food was great and the service was on-point. Also, an awesome selection
The Bad: They don't have bathrooms in the restaurant. Am I reaching here? Can you tell I enjoyed it?
Tips for dining here: It gets very, very packed during lunch hours.
Will We Return Next Year? Absolutely.

Disney's Art of Animation Hotel Food Court

My family wanted to see the new Art of Animation Resort, as we had heard some great things. We decided on the trip over to eat at the food court, as I read that they had a create-your-own burger I wanted to try. I got a create-your-own burger, as well as a peppermint gelato. My dad got pizza, which he was really happy about, and my mom and sister both did a CYO Burger. The burger was good, the fries were a little cold, and the gelato was rich and creamy. This place was churning out a lot of really delicious looking dishes. They had a pasta bar, a dessert bar, obviously a CYO Burger Bar, and a place to get pizza. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone looking for delicious choices.

Overall: A
Food: B+
Service: A
The Good: The food was great with lots of choices.
The Bad: The fries were sitting out and a little cold.
Tips for dining here: With the size of the resort, it can get very busy here. Make sure to plan out your attack. Maybe one family member can be in charge of getting desserts, and another the food. My gelato was melting and my fries were cold by the time I sat down thanks to the lines.
Will We Return Next Year? Probably more than once!

Boardwalk Bakery

Maybe I'm biased to this day. Picture this: New Years Eve Day, end of December, the temperature is mid 70s, no wind, clear skies. You find yourself enjoying a nice sandwich, salad and dessert while sitting on the boardwalk overlooking the water. That alone is enough to catapult it into the top three. The selection of dessert is another reason. Peanut butter cheesecake, mocha cupcake, brownies? Wow. The sandwich was pretty good too, but if you go to the boardwalk bakery, you're most likely going for their star-studded lineup of desserts. Our second ever visit did not disappoint.

Overall: A
Food: B
Service: A
The Good: The desserts.
The Bad: Limited seating, the sandwich was good, not great.
Tips for dining here: More of a dessert place. Nice to sit out on a warm night or nice morning and snack on a baked good.
Will We Return Next Year? We won't use a QS here, we may stop by for a dessert, though.

Katsura Grill, Japan, EPCOT

This place was very good. Apparently it is fairly new. I had a beef and chicken dish with rice, and for dessert I had the green tea ice cream. The Ice cream was the highlight of the meal. It didn't taste too much like tea, but also had this fresh, citrus-y taste to it. The dish was very good as well. It tasted like most Asian restaurants, but the portion was big and at the price, it provided some serious value.

Overall: A
Food: A
Service: A
The Good: The Green Tea Ice Cream is outstanding, the value for a Quick Service is very good.
The Bad: Portions seem a little small for the price
Tips for dining here: At the price, there is a lot of value in using your QS here.
Will We Return Next Year? Probably not. Only because we want to try other places.

Sunshine Seasons, EPCOT

I read a lot about Sunshine Seasons on DisBoards, as well as on Yelp. I was excited to try this place, as it seemed like people were pretty high on it. Maybe I built my expectations up too high, maybe I just was not in the mood for food with an Asian flair. Whatever the reason, this did not live up to its expectations. I got a tofu dish, which was pretty good, don't get me wrong. However, it was because of lack of choice. I was just in the mood for something else. The dessert also tasted like it was laying out all day. This was a huge downfall for me. I got the spongecake log that is made specifically for Christmas, and was let down when it was not that good. I'd recommend it, but be prepared for what they have to offer - Sandwiches, salads and Asian dishes.

Overall: B
Food: C+
Service: A
The Good: The entree dish was pretty good.
The Bad: The dessert tasted old, not much selection for dinner
Tips for dining here: Go for Lunch
Will We Return Next Year? No

Sassagoula Float Works

We were sort of stuck going here, as this was the food court at our hotel. Don't get me wrong, the food wasn't BAD, we would just not go out of our way to eat here again. And, if we stay at POFQ, we will most likely only eat here if we are pressed for time. When we first arrived, we were starving. We got sandwiches. I had a Shrimp Po'Boy. The sandwich was HUGE. Definitely a value for the QS points. However, it had fried shrimp and the entire dish tasted way too fast food-like. You know my stance on breakfast - for the meal plan, it provides no value whatsoever. I must say, though, that the Beignets were awesome.

Overall: C+
Food: C
Service: B
The Good: The Po'Boy is a huge portion, the Beignets were awesome.
The Bad: A lot of fried food, poor service, and breakfast has no value
Tips for dining here: Go if necessary. If you get the Po'Boy, stay away from the shrimp.
Will We Return Next Year? Probably, as we are staying at the resort.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Snacks

I went to Disney with an agenda. Have you ever heard the term "He/She lived life, but never LIVED"? Well, I've eaten at Disney, but never eaten. There's a different assortment of reasons for this. I've been to Disney a ton of times, but never had some of the most popular items. For one, some of the items I never even knew about. The other reason was that I used to be 240 pounds (my first Christmas trip I was down to 230), and I became very health conscious. I was extremely strict on my diet, and although I enjoyed myself in Disney, I limited the enjoying to my three meals and nothing more. Now I'm more educated, and at 170 pounds (and proud of it), I was ready to cheat a bit.

My favorite snack is the pretzel in Germany and a tall dark beer in the plastic stein. Since I turned 21, not a trip goes by that I don't indulge - it was even better when I drank around the world in April 2012. This was on my list.

Second on my list was the ever popular Dole Whip. My favorite fruit is pineapple, hands down. I love anything with pineapple in it and anything pineapple flavored so this was a definite for me. It lived up to every bit of praise it gets on DisBoards, so thank you for the recommendation.

I couldn't go through Christmas without trying a Gingerbread cupcake from Starring Rolls. This thing was out of this world. It tasted almost like a cakey-soft Gingerbread cookie, topped with cream cheese frosting. The two components made for an awesome, really good cupcake. I would definitely recommend it.

At the recommendation of a friend, we decided to have cinnamon rolls from the MSB for breakfast one morning. We were fortunate enough to get them hot, as they brought out a whole new batch when we finally got in. The line gets long, so I'd recommend getting there early. I'm not a huge "sweets" for breakfast kind of guy, but this thing hit the spot. For a snack, it's totally worth the value.

I had actually never been to the French Bakery. Funny story regarding this - I decided to try this back on our April trip. When I brought this up, my family said "no, the wedding is going to have a French Dessert Party, just wait for the wedding". Well, I waited, and the wedding had a dessert party in France. Very cool, but certainly a mix-up. So this trip, I made it a goal to try. I love Napoleons, but usually the Italian version (with the icing on top) is too sugary for me. I was happy to see the French version was topped with powdered sugar instead. I got the Napoleon and it was the best one I've ever had. The cream was perfect, the dough was light, and the powdered sugar added a nice compliment to the sweetness. It was also huge, and a great value for a snack.

Another snack my sister and I had was the Lefou's brew. We got it in a regular cup, because we didn't wanna carry around the souvenir cup. My first impression was "how do they think of this?". I mean, it's seriously genius. I'm in advertising and consider myself creative, so this was definitely a fun drink for me. The taste - it was a little sugary. It was the type of drink you finish and feel like jittery feeling from the sugar. But, it was delicious. It brought me back to my childhood when you would ask your mom for apple juice and she would bring you an ice cold apple juice juice box. Was there anything in the world better than ice cold apple juice? No? Then this is the drink for you. On top is a mango whipped topping, which goes awesome with the apple juice. The biggest thing for me was that with most iced drinks, you drink up the liquid and are left with an icy, dull tasting drink. This is not the case with Lefou's brew. It remains consistent the entire time.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

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