Ugh, what were we thinking?! 9 days Deluxe Dining with pics! MY Number 2! 7/21!

[DisneyBelle27]

Yay for getting your internet back!!! I know how much it sucks to be without it...it's like, well how am I supposed to contact my mom or my husband now? Do I really have to walk to the next room just to talk to them???

You have no idea. Not only was our internet out but so were our phones. And our house is in a dead zone so my cell phone doesn't even work! I can barely send a text!

 

[DisneyBelle27]

I've heard that the sun is closer in Florida??? Not sure how true this is but I sure can agree with it either way! i don't know how you folks live in extreme weather....first, sickeningly hot weather, then gnarly snowstorms...goodness gracious! I should be thankful for Cali weather!

I'm also a teacher, not to mention I know a lot of random info.! (I'm currently an assistant w/5th-8th grades and I love it!). The sun is not closer to Florida (not really that possible since we're all on the same planet, lol) but the rays of the sun are more direct due to the curvature of the earth. That is to say, they hit the surface of the earth at an angle closer to 90 degrees than in the northeast. That is why the equatorial regions are as hot as they are and the polar regions are as cold as they are!

Sorry, that was just the teacher coming out in me! I always enjoy correcting common misconceptions (and let me tell you, misconceptions are common! The other day I had an 8th grader tell me that Vietnam is not a country, it was a war! )

 

[bangzoom6877]

I'm also a teacher, not to mention I know a lot of random info.! (I'm currently an assistant w/5th-8th grades and I love it!). The sun is not closer to Florida (not really that possible since we're all on the same planet, lol) but the rays of the sun are more direct due to the curvature of the earth. That is to say, they hit the surface of the earth at an angle closer to 90 degrees than in the northeast. That is why the equatorial regions are as hot as they are and the polar regions are as cold as they are!

Sorry, that was just the teacher coming out in me! I always enjoy correcting common misconceptions (and let me tell you, misconceptions are common! The other day I had an 8th grader tell me that Vietnam is not a country, it was a war! )

Ahh, you just brought me back to 3rd grade when my teacher told the class that the closer to the equator you are, the hotter it is!

LOL about what your 8th grader said about Vietnam...that's just too much!!

 

[Meteora]

Thanks so much!
We are going to Citricos this Friday and are really looking forward to it.

 

[DisneyBelle27]

Ahh, you just brought me back to 3rd grade when my teacher told the class that the closer to the equator you are, the hotter it is!

LOL about what your 8th grader said about Vietnam...that's just too much!!

Hahaha!!! I can't help it! LOL Good thing I'm a teacher! And seriously, I could write a book about the things my students have said to me. A 6th grader once told me the North Pole is a state (in the U.S.).

 

[crmscotland]

Wow! - great dining report, fab pictures. Thanks for posting all this.

 

[PrincessKara22]

Completely true about how ridiculously good looking the waiters at Chefs de France are! And they are so good at flirting with EVERY SINGLE WOMAN who comes in the door. I know they are French but GOSH! I've never been smiled and winked at so many times in my life, LOL! My waiter was super hot and hilarious and now we're facebook friends but alas-he's back in France Anyway, I love reading your dining reviews! you're adorable! and I'm so jealous you can go to DL whenever you want practically! I've never been!

 

[bangzoom6877]

Hahaha!!! I can't help it! LOL Good thing I'm a teacher! And seriously, I could write a book about the things my students have said to me. A 6th grader once told me the North Pole is a state (in the U.S.).

I know!!! I teach Foreign Language (Italian & Spanish) and some of the things these kids come up with are just too funny...you have to be a foreign language teacher to really appreciate them or find them funny though. In my department, we all laugh about the same things all the time, and some about some more unique things the kids say. We all say we should write a book because you just can't make this stuff up! LOL about the North Pole being a state in the US!

I actually had a 9th grader tell me earlier this week that there are between 57 and 60 states in the USA, but he was unsure about the actual number.

 

[Forever Fairy]

Leshaface, I've decided if you and your DH are there when me and my DH are there - we so need to hang out. I LOVED all your reviews - my DH thinks I'm crazy sitting hear reading them and laughing out loud!

I've never been to some of the places you have been (AP, Brown Derby) but am very willing to give them a try this time, due to your reviews.

Thanks so much for all the info and your great sense of humor and insight!

 

[DisneyBelle27]

I know!!! I teach Foreign Language (Italian & Spanish) and some of the things these kids come up with are just too funny...you have to be a foreign language teacher to really appreciate them or find them funny though. In my department, we all laugh about the same things all the time, and some about some more unique things the kids say. We all say we should write a book because you just can't make this stuff up! LOL about the North Pole being a state in the US!

I actually had a 9th grader tell me earlier this week that there are between 57 and 60 states in the USA, but he was unsure about the actual number.

Seriously, you have to laugh or you'll start crying (or at least I will!). I work in a district where a lot of the families are broken or not at all well off and their background info. is basically nothing. Their whole world is the town they live in. But we are really trying to give them a larger sense of the world.

To up the ante, here's a story for you:
I had an 8th grader who couldn't label New Jersey on a blank U.S. map (and I teach in a NJ school), and the same student recently asked me 'where is the State' in the United States of America. She honestly had some weird idea that all of our states are separate countries but there's some state somewhere that make up our country...or something...honestly, I didn't even fully understand her question...

Not to mention, I'm currently teaching a unit on ancient China and I had multple students ask me if 'Asian people can see the same way we can'? Well, at least they're being curious!

 

[DisneyBelle27]

Sorry for so much off-topic conversation! I can't wait for your next review!

 

[bangzoom6877]

Seriously, you have to laugh or you'll start crying (or at least I will!). I work in a district where a lot of the families are broken or not at all well off and their background info. is basically nothing. Their whole world is the town they live in. But we are really trying to give them a larger sense of the world.

To up the ante, here's a story for you:
I had an 8th grader who couldn't label New Jersey on a blank U.S. map (and I teach in a NJ school), and the same student recently asked me 'where is the State' in the United States of America. She honestly had some weird idea that all of our states are separate countries but there's some state somewhere that make up our country...or something...honestly, I didn't even fully understand her question...

Not to mention, I'm currently teaching a unit on ancient China and I had multple students ask me if 'Asian people can see the same way we can'? Well, at least they're being curious!

Wow, that's amazing. I work in the NYC Public School system...not the greatest right now since the mayor took control of the public schools when he first went into office in 2002. He has been progressively destroying our high schools by "closing" them, then re-opening them as 4 or 5 smaller schools, which means 4 or 5 principal's salaries instead of 1 principal's salary...in the mean time the graduation rates at these smaller schools are exactly the same (and in some cases lower) than they were before they broke them up. There are more fights among the students since they are now rivals in different schools but sharing a building where they have to use the same cafeteria, auditorium, etc., because the buildings were designed to be one school not 4 or 5 schools in one building. It's really sad because all that is expected of our students at this point is ALL academic, and there are no more shop classes or other classes where the students get to use a skill and see what they are really good at doing. So many of them fail these academic courses and they get discouraged, cut class, see no point in going to school and work a meaningless job that they hate for the rest of their lives. I think they need to bring back classes like wood shop, ceramics, automotive courses, etc. so that the kids can really see what they are good at, and then decide on a career. The bottom line is that we are also not there with them at home and we don't know very much about their home life because of that. None of the politicians are taking that into account.

OK, I'll get off my soapbox now...sorry for sounding so negative, but I get so sick of some teachers blaming the kids and saying that it's because the kids are lazy and disrespectful, and yes, in some cases that is true, but in many cases they lead very sad home lives and have things going on in their lives that no one should ever know. And I get sick of the politicians blaming the teachers when the standardized test scores are lower than they want them to be, and then they take the credit when the test scores go up.

 

[Leshaface]

I am loving your food report. Can't wait to read the final ADRs! I am going to recommend you on our July thread - if you don't mind of course!

[I am a teacher from PA; DH and I will celebrate our 14th anniversary in July in WDW! ]

Our summers vary so it could be a beautiful June or a ridiculous June... This past summer or the one before (summers run together) schools had to dismiss early several days because of the heat. (PA rocks- early dismissal for summer/ early dismissal for heat. ) So, the humidity might not be better than Florida, but like the MD poster said, the sun is less intense.

Ooh please do!!!! Thank you!! It's feels like I've just been awarded something prestigious!!...a "Recommendation on Another Thread" award!!

Congratulations!!!! 14 years, that's awesome!!! 4 years sounds so little in comparison, but we'll get there one day!

Wow!!! Heat=early dismissal!!! Amazing how that works...but i'm REALLY hoping the weather won't be too bad when we go at the end of June/early July...

You are killing me with all the lucious food pics, the pic of the school bread in Norway had me licking my lips. I so can not wait for November to come and the Food and Wine Festival, first time ever going to it

I would LOVE to go to the Food and Wine Festival!!! You're so lucky!!! I die everytime I see/hear about people snacking their way around the world...uggh...you should definitely be taking some pics!!!

Just wanted to pop in and say I am loving your review! We have not eaten at any of these places yet and I am trying to find the perfect place for dh and I to eat without the kids when we go in Nov.(my in-laws are coming along and can watch them so we can go eat out 1 evening) I love the pix and reviews!
I was just wondering which place has the best ambiance and food!

Well thank you!!! I would have to say for ambiance and food would be Citricos...it was pure heaven...the atmosphere was so laid back, yet had this very slight touch of elegance to it, and the food was amazing!!! Second would have to be Flying Fish, third would be California Grill for the ambiance...I'd reverse FF and CG though when it came to the food...regardless of where you go, you're going to have a fabulous time!!

I teach high school Italian & Spanish. I teach 4 Italian classes and 1 Spanish class. Sometimes I teach 5 Italian classes and no Spanish. I have both licenses though. DH teaches high school Health Education. He is also a dean and works much more with safety and security in the school than he does in the classroom. He only teaches 2 classes but he is very busy all day. We teach at different high schools, but not too far away from each other. He drives me to work then goes to work from there, then he picks me up on the way home and we get the boys at school. The school where I work is only 10 minutes from our house and his school is about 15 minutes away from mine if there is a little traffic or if you get stuck at a few traffic lights on the way. Otherwise the ride can be done in about 10 minutes.

I received my Bachelors in Health Education, and was working on Masters in Public Health, when I realized that my degree was going to get me NO WHERE here where I live...I would have to travel about 45 miles to even consider a Health Education job, which SUCKS!!! No one here in the valley wants to get healthy!!! And WOW! Spanish and Italian?!?! That is awesome!! You'd think that after 4 years of Spanish in HS, then 1 year of Spanish in College, AND me being Hispanic, I would know a thing or two of Spanish!! I really want to get the Rosetta Stone program...have heard good things about it...have you heard anything good about it???

I hope your husband gets a teaching job! It's such a wonderful thing to do and I find it very rewarding. It is stressful, like any other career is, but I really love what I do and I love my school.

Ugh, I really hope he gets one too!!! The whole, living on one salary thing, sucks!!! But so far, so good, and I'm sure in the end, it will all be worth it!

If you start going to WDW over the summer, we may be there at the same time in 2012! We go every other year, so that will be our next trip after this upcoming one.

Ooh that would be AWESOME if we went during the same time!!! If we do, we're going to HAVE to meet up!!! We can do lunges and squats together around the World Showcase in between eats!!!

I know it gets so crowded in the summer, but like I said, we like to spend 10 nights there, plus I think during Christmas break or Easter break it would be much more crowded than in the middle of July.

And seeing how it won't be two more years for us also, we're just going to have to make it a longer trip, to make up for 2011, so 10 days it is!!

One thing DH and I always talk about is the fact that our DVC membership will last until we turn 65...which is 10 years after we retire! I think the first thing we will do when we retire is go to WDW during the off-season when it is less crowded! Well that and a fall foliage cruise which is always just after the schoolyear starts! It's funny, a lot of people tell me that we won't want to go to Disney without the kids once they are grown, but I disagree. I know plenty of adults who love it just as much, if not more, than the children do! DH and I agreed that Disney is the only place we could go over and over and not get bored! That's why we bought the DVC membership. We never thought we would want to own a timeshare but I like the way the DVC works and having extra space is always a plus!

OOooo we, too, are going to be getting DVC one day!! We've both agreed that it would be the best thing for us and our Disney love!!! Wow, yet another thing I need to add to my wait list....yikes!

Hi! I just joined your TR and love, love, love it!!!

I'm all caught up now and starving for some good food.

Thanks for your report!

Thank you Marshay and Welcome!!! Glad you like it!

You have no idea. Not only was our internet out but so were our phones. And our house is in a dead zone so my cell phone doesn't even work! I can barely send a text!

Wow this sounds horriffic!!! Whenever we go on mini vacations to the coast, we always stay in a town called Cambria, and it's a NIGHTMARE trying to get a signal there!! I literally have to be standing on the beach, almost right in the water to get any bars!!! I couldn't IMAGINE having to deal with that on the daily!!!

I'm also a teacher, not to mention I know a lot of random info.! (I'm currently an assistant w/5th-8th grades and I love it!). The sun is not closer to Florida (not really that possible since we're all on the same planet, lol) but the rays of the sun are more direct due to the curvature of the earth. That is to say, they hit the surface of the earth at an angle closer to 90 degrees than in the northeast. That is why the equatorial regions are as hot as they are and the polar regions are as cold as they are!

Sorry, that was just the teacher coming out in me! I always enjoy correcting common misconceptions (and let me tell you, misconceptions are common! The other day I had an 8th grader tell me that Vietnam is not a country, it was a war! )

Thanks for clearing that up!!!!

Wow!!! That's incredible!!

Thanks so much!
We are going to Citricos this Friday and are really looking forward to it.

Oooh, you must let us know how it went!!!

Wow! - great dining report, fab pictures. Thanks for posting all this.

For sure!!! I love sharing all my pics and info with anybody who will listen!!

Completely true about how ridiculously good looking the waiters at Chefs de France are! And they are so good at flirting with EVERY SINGLE WOMAN who comes in the door. I know they are French but GOSH! I've never been smiled and winked at so many times in my life, LOL! My waiter was super hot and hilarious and now we're facebook friends but alas-he's back in France Anyway, I love reading your dining reviews! you're adorable! and I'm so jealous you can go to DL whenever you want practically! I've never been!

I'm sooo glad I'm not the only one who thinks they're gorgeous!! Flirting is very second nature to them right!?!? I mean, I'm not complaining at all! How funny that you two are FB friends!!! How did that whole conversation come up..."Goodness you're hot...wanna be FB buddies???" Lol!!

I LOVE that I can go to DL whenever...even If I wanted to make it a day trip and leave early in the morning and get there at rope drop I could...my birthday is on Wednesday...perhaps a trip there is in order!!!

 

[Leshaface]

Wow with all these teachers on board, I guess I"m going to have to watch my spelling and grammar!! ugggghhhhh..... It truly feels like I'm back in Elementary! Naw I'm jk!!!

Anyways, as soon as my DH emails me my reviews, I'll post it!!! I write them in advance so I don't feel so behind!

Also I may not be around on wed, thurs, fri, since my birthday is on Wed!!!! A big , because it's my birthday and we can celebrate, but a big because I'm turning 26....yikes!!!

 

[Gouden Leeuw]

Thank you so much for your review!!!!!! The pics are awesome and I have to wait until lunch to read this or I get way too hungry.

The review has really helped with the trip myself and my DBF will be going on in July '10 as you went to a lot of the restaurants that we were looking at, and have even added a few from your review. I am a newbie to the whole Disney experience as this is my first real trip there (I had a one day visit around the age of 7 but all I can remember is the Dumbo ride and the Tea Cups and my mother feeling very sick after), so I am really counting this as my first trip. I am very excited to go and experience the food as food/cooking is my passion and when we starting looking into the trip I knew that the DxDP was the one we had to do.

I also have to say that I am seriously considering doing a review once we return as I have found yours, and other reviews so helpful with our planning and I hope mine with be just as useful.

Anyways thanks again, and I can't wait to read your last few reviews, Sci-fi Diner especially as the DBF really wants to go to it but is looking for more reviews on it before he makes reservations.

Cheers!

 

[OurDogCisco]

I'm so happy your photobucket is cooperating now! I was really bummed that couldn't see the pictures.

Funny thing we went to DL at the same time and stayed at the same place. LOL...

 

[Leshaface]

Thank you so much for your review!!!!!! The pics are awesome and I have to wait until lunch to read this or I get way too hungry.

The review has really helped with the trip myself and my DBF will be going on in July '10 as you went to a lot of the restaurants that we were looking at, and have even added a few from your review. I am a newbie to the whole Disney experience as this is my first real trip there (I had a one day visit around the age of 7 but all I can remember is the Dumbo ride and the Tea Cups and my mother feeling very sick after), so I am really counting this as my first trip. I am very excited to go and experience the food as food/cooking is my passion and when we starting looking into the trip I knew that the DxDP was the one we had to do.

I also have to say that I am seriously considering doing a review once we return as I have found yours, and other reviews so helpful with our planning and I hope mine with be just as useful.

Anyways thanks again, and I can't wait to read your last few reviews, Sci-fi Diner especially as the DBF really wants to go to it but is looking for more reviews on it before he makes reservations.

Cheers!

to the DIS!! I'm so glad you like my reviews!!! Uggh, I know what you mean about waiting until lunch to read....I hate when i'm writing for all these wonderful restaurants and then I have to go home to eat my lunch which consists of a crappy sandwich or sub-par salad! BLAH!!!

Ooh so your first 'official' trip is coming up in a few months!!! How exciting!!! You're gonna be hooked, I guarantee it!!!

And yes PLEASEEE do a Dining Trip Report!!! I would love to see your pics and hear about what you ate!!!

Sci-Fi coming up!!!

I'm so happy your photobucket is cooperating now! I was really bummed that couldn't see the pictures.

Funny thing we went to DL at the same time and stayed at the same place. LOL...

I was literally going INSANO without my photobucket pictures!!! So now we'll just have to wait and see how long before my pictures can't be seen anymore....

Oh no way?! Same time, and at the GCH?? So funny! We probably were in the same elevator and had NO idea!!! Did you have a nice trip? I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of crowds this trip!!! It was so nice!!!

 

[Leshaface]

Welcome back to the, “how do you say, ah yes, show.” (Chris Kattan, SNL)

So we woke up this morning, not feeling Italian food…that’s a downside to making ADR’s…making assumptions at what you think you’re gonna want to eat that day…ugh… So I said, hey lets see if anything is availablefor 12 at DHS and if nothing’s open, we’ll just keep our ADR with Tutto Italia.

DH called the Dining line and sure enough, Sci-Fi was available at 12 for lunch! Sorry my hot Italian men, you’ll need to take a backseat this trip…next time you can grace me with your hotness..LOL!

So DH and I have NEVER been interested in any of the Table Service restaurants here. I’ve always been somewhat intrigued by the set-up of Sci-Fi, but was worried about the spaciousness of my booth, and how close the diners were in front of me…I mean, were they gonna be close enough to me that they could scratch their head and get dandruff and/or hair on my plate? So this meal was definitely straying from our schedule and that was okay with us! We need a little spontaneity (as if skipping out on Yachtsman wasn’t spontaneous enough, right?! lol!

So we get checked in and we wait for about 10 minutes probably…I didn’t mind…I was browsing in the shop attached to the restaurant, planning my attack on which snack to get for later.

Our name gets called and I love the feel of this place…it’s exactly what you see at a drive-in!!! I was stoked!!!

They even have the “speakers” attached to your booth!!

So we were seated in the middle of the car, a couple behind us and a family of 3 in front of us…never once did I feel uncomfortable about the seating arrangement. The spacing was just right! I didn’t have to worry about the couple behind me listening in on our conversation (not that we were saying anything bad, but if I wanted to speak badly, I had that option, lol!) and I didn’t have to worry about the balding guys hair falling into my plate!!! No hair there to fret over!!! Haha!

On to the fattiness!!!

Appetizers:

I ordered the Double Dip For Two - Spinach and Artichoke Dip and Seven-Bean Chili with Corn Tortilla Chips for dipping (10.99)

The artichoke dip was awesome, but the chili dip….WOW!!! So good!! I was disgusted with myself that I finished the whole bowl…then me and DH got to thinking…we’re used to eating Mexican food almost on a daily basis, and this was the closest thing to Mexican we’ve had on the entire trip! We were deprived, apparently!

DH ordered the Onion Rings (6.99)

Must say, these were some of the best O rings I’ve had! It ENFURIATES me when I take one bite of an onion ring and the entire onion comes out of the batter! These never feel apart…yes they were greasy but oh well!

Oh and we ordered two Vanilla Cokes (2@3.19)

Entrees:

Staying consistent with our fattiness theme, we both went with the Angus Chuck Burger - Flame-broiled beef patty topped with cheddar or swiss cheese, sauteed onions, mushrooms and crispy bacon. Served with a choice of cucumber-melon salad or french fries (12.99)

Fattiness never felt so good…it felt and tasted like home. It was bomb! This was our first and only burger of the trip!!! I don’t know why I loved it so much, I just remember it being wonderful! Yes, it’s only a burger, but maybe deprivation set in again?!

Desserts:

I went with the Hot Fudge Sundae - vanilla ice cream with hot fudge, whipped cream and a cherry (6.99)

Haha, this is the only pic I have of my dessert! Lo siento!

DH ordered the No Sugar Added Dessert Brownie -with Ice Cream and Strawberries (6.99)

Can you tell by the title of his dessert that he felt guilty about his meal??? And yes no pic…my motto is, “No Sugar, No Picture!”

For those using the Deluxe Dining Plan, they take 1 credits per person because it’s a Table Service restaurant, so it’s 2 credits total.

For those paying OOP, here was our total for 2 Vanilla Cokes, 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts with tax = $68.51

I’m so glad that we changed our mind on Tutto Italia. I had Tutto my last trip and it was great, but I’m glad I replaced it with someplace new! I don’t think I would have ever “planned” to make ADR’s with Sci-Fi just because it didn’t seem like our “thing” whatever our “thing” may be, I don’t know! Lol! I wish there would have been more clips added to the reel, so that if you were to eat here for an hour or so, you wouldn’t see the same thing twice, but whatev…But I was really soo happy with Sci-Fi that I would LOVE to eat here again!

 

[Zeebs]

My facebook status says, I should not watch television programmes about desserts when you have gestational diabetes.

It should say I should not read this report when I have gestational diabetes.

Although I did just cheat a little bit and had the most tiniest amount of rum and raisin ice cream.

Kirsten

 

[Marshay]

I'm glad you gave a good review to Sci-Fi. This is on my to-do list when my youngest gets out of a high-chair. It looks like a fun place to eat with basic {fatty} food -- what more can you ask for?