Vittles A Go-Go: Hicks on Holiday - Update 2/14/09, pg 18 COMPLETE!

[arieljasmine]

Well, then double congrats! First baby is a milestone.
We have taken 3 of ours to WDW around their first birthday (10 mo., 1 yr, and 15 mo.) and they LOVED it!

Happy planning!

Thanks again, that is good to know. I think it's never to early for some Disney magic

Laur's x

 

[SunnieRN]

I've been working so many hours that I have been having missin' dis pains! Catching up on your trip report was a great way to jump back in! Love the chef mickey pictures!
Can't wait for more!

 

[DisneyMom5]

Thanks again, that is good to know. I think it's never to early for some Disney magic

Laur's x

I agree!

I've been working so many hours that I have been having missin' dis pains! Catching up on your trip report was a great way to jump back in! Love the chef mickey pictures!
Can't wait for more!

Glad you stopped by! Thanks for reading!

 

[DisneyMom5]

Puffed...French...Toast...drooooooooool,
Pork Trifecta,
And a little Pooh for Good Measure
Crystal Palace - Magic Kingdom
Sept. 21, 2007

When we last left the Hungry Hicks,
they had eaten at Chef Mickey’s during a thunderstorm,
and narrowly avoided an international incident
involving the Head Mouse himself.

The next morning, we were all feeling a bit glum
as it was to be Bionic SIL and kids last day at WDW.
We planned a Little Ones AM EMH at MK.

[I think this program has been discontinued,
but it was an extra hour in Fantasyland only,
geared towards kids under 5.
But any Disney hotel guests were allowed in early.]

We decided to be there at rope drop, hit all of Fantasyland,
and take a break around 10:30 for our brunch ADR at Crystal Palace.

We had planned on eating at Crystal Palace on our very first trip in 2004.
We even had reservations to meet up with my best friend,
who happened to be vacationing down there at the same time.

But, alas, it was not to be,
as DisneyGirl came down with a horrible case of stomach flu.

So, in 2005, we made sure we went there twice,
for breakfast AND for lunch.

We LOVED the breakfast, and thought the lunch was pretty good too.

So, for this trip, we decided to repeat our dual visits,
and hit both breakfast and, this time, dinner.

Bionic SIL’s kids had yet to meet the Hundred Acre Woods Gang,
so this would be a great opportunity.

We arrived at Crystal Palace, and checked in pretty quickly.
I don’t remember waiting on the porch for very long before our pager went off.

As another Dis’er put it, the waiting area for this restaurant is horrific,
looking much like the scene in Gone With the Wind
where all the wounded are lying in the town square of Atlanta.

[Was it Hank Scorpio that said that? Bendy/OyBolshoi?
Anyway, it was funny.]

Everyone is trying to squeeze onto the porch to
A) try to check in at the miniscule check-in window,
and
B) trying to get just a tiny bit of shade.
It is chaos, and I don’t mean the controlled kind.

Everytime we have been there,
we have seen people being turned away as walk ups,
so if you have ANY desire to eat here, make your ADRs!!!

We were led into the dining area,
and seated at the exact same table we had had breakfast at before!
And the table next to it.

Yup, that's Stitch Jr. in the pic:

You could roughly see the castle out the window,
especially when they did the little puffs of fireworks
during the castle show.

Our drinks were brought out quickly,
which seemed to consist of either chocolate milk or orange juice,
with coffee for all of our coffee drinking crew.

Our waitress was from China, and that was pretty neat also.

We then headed up to the buffet to fill our plates.

They have a nice selection of cold and hot here,
and we are never disappointed.

My favorite is the puffed french toast.
I don’t have a picture,
but if you go to the food porn thread you can find several pics of it there.

I’m not sure how it is french toast,
as it pretty much seems like a big puffed hot donut,
but covered in syrup it is to die for.

I also love that you can get the pork trifecta here.



What!?! You haven't heard of the pork trifecta?

Well, I can't find the exact quote in which he deems it the "trifecta,"
but here's a little quote in which Homer
(and I do mean Simpson, not the Greek poet)
sums up how I feel
about cured pork products....

Homer: Are you saying you're never going to eat any animal again?
What about bacon?
Lisa: No.
Homer: Ham?
Lisa: No.
Homer: Pork chops?
Lisa: Dad, those all come from the same animal.
Homer: Heh heh heh. Ooh, yeah, right, Lisa. A wonderful, magical animal.

Ok, well, technically, he added pork chops, and left out sausage,
which is most correctly part of the pork trifecta, but you get the idea.

Mmmmmmmm.......

Ahh, good times, good times.

Anyway....

I had, on our previous trip,
tried the breakfast lasagna that everyone raves about.

I didn’t like it.

It was a mixture of goop and day old breakfast breads
– pancakes, etc.–
and it had a vaguely fake banana flavoring taste, which I detest.

[Just ask me about how much I like circus peanut candy.
Blech. Yucky. Blah. ]

So I avoided it this time.

And concentrated on all the other good things to be had.

The character interaction here is plentiful and fun.

DangerBoy and Pooh (you can see the buffet in the background of these pics)

Princess K and The Inquisitor and Pooh

The crew and Eyeore (he's my favorite! )

The previously mentioned Hick kids, and Bitsy and Tigger

The Chef and Piglet
(His favorite -- and may I just say, WOW,
has The Chef grown since last Sept.
He probably is all tall as Piglet now. Wow.)

The little Hicks and Piglet (Love the stairsteps. )

They also, like Chef Mickey’s, have a bit of a party moment,
where the kids get to carry flags
and march around the room with the charcters.

Yes, even mature DisneyGirl and Poch Jr. felt the need to march:

Everyone in our group found something to like at Crystal Palace.
And considering the size of our group,
I think that's saying something!

So, there ya go.
If you are in search of tasty breakfast food,
a nice convenient location in Magic Kingdom,
and fun, albeit noisy, atmosphere,
Crystal Palace is the place to go!

Next up: Sunshine, You Are My Sunshine, You Make Me Hungry....
Dinner at the Sunshine Seasons Food Court, Epcot

 

[LuccaDrake]

I enjoyed the Homer quote immensely! We did CP for dinner last year and they had a great selection. We didn't book it this year but I would certainly go back if only for the puffed french toast I keep hearing about!

~Beka~

 

[ktdaiwik]

Oh those photos are great!I am so glad we booked breakfast here for my Birthday on our first day at Disney!Ky was very excited to see who he would be meeting character wise!!!
Thanks for sharing once again...roll on the next report!!!

 

[boldlyreal]

OMG I know right these are the nastiest things in life!!!!! :barf: The new banana split Oreos taste just like them! ewwwwwwwwwe shivers, cooties

 

[DisneyMom5]

I enjoyed the Homer quote immensely! We did CP for dinner last year and they had a great selection. We didn't book it this year but I would certainly go back if only for the puffed french toast I keep hearing about!

~Beka~

We don't actually watch entire episodes of Simpsons anymore,
because it's still a bit mature for my kids. LOL
But the little bits we see are just as funny as they were 17 years ago.
(can you believe it's been on that long?

Dinner was nice too (review on that later) but I really like the breakfast.
I'm not sure if we'll go back next time,
only because we want to try some new places.
(of course, that all depends on the probability
of them offering free dining again. Sigh.)

Oh those photos are great!I am so glad we booked breakfast here for my Birthday on our first day at Disney!Ky was very excited to see who he would be meeting character wise!!!
Thanks for sharing once again...roll on the next report!!!

Thanks! I'm always curious if people actually want to see pics
of my kids on a food report,
but I figure it gives you the concept of the place.

OMG I know right these are the nastiest things in life!!!!! :barf: The new banana split Oreos taste just like them! ewwwwwwwwwe shivers, cooties

I hear it's a love/hate thing on the circus peanuts.
Some people just love them. shudder

Banana Split Oreos?!?

That's just wrong, soooooo wrong.
How dare they defile the good name of Oreo with artificial banana flavoring.


When I ordered my wedding cake, I selected a variety of flavors,
as it was going to have multi-levels.
The cake lady offered banana cake,
but I said John doesn't like banana cake,
and I only like homemade banana cake.
She assured me that it would be.

So I thought it would be a nice choice for people.

Well...we cut into our cake at the reception,
and wouldn't ya know we cut into banana.

I should have pulled a bridezilla moment and said,
"hey, before you snap the pic, let me cut a different flavor"
It was my wedding...but I was gutless.
I figured John could just deal.

We bite into our cake and it was ARTIFICIAL BANANA FLAVOR.
Blech blech blech.
We then had to fake smile for the camera and act all lovey dovey,
when what we really wanted to do was head for the nearest trash,
and spit it out.

[Here is a pic, which, although it is NOT the cake eating pic,
will give you a visual of two crazy lovestruck kids...
and all you have to do is superimpose a yucky cake face....]

Apparently, some people put fake banana flavor
in their homemade banana cakes
and, indeed, I have been told that is the case for many,
which boggles the mind
since bananas taste great in cake without any help.

Ok, enough of that rant, I have to finish getting everyone ready for church.

Have a great week everyone, and thanks for reading!

 

[arieljasmine]

We loved the CP dinner last year (Pooh is my very favourite character ) so maybe we will get to try breakfast next year - it sounds really good.

Laur's

 

[adsrtw]

Wow, I only got through the first page, but I will be back to read. What an awesome group you have!

 

[DisneyMom5]

We loved the CP dinner last year (Pooh is my very favourite character ) so maybe we will get to try breakfast next year - it sounds really good.

Laur's

I really think the breakfast is a bit better, but the dinner buffet is solid good eats.

Wow, I only got through the first page, but I will be back to read. What an awesome group you have!

Glad you joined us! Thanks for reading.

 

[Jubilee]

I love this TR - I told DH, "If they can do it, we can do it with 2 kids!!!" I'm glad I didn't start reading this when you started writing it or I would've died of anticipation over the year but I totally understand it taking so long at the same time.

Oh, and give 50's Prime Time a chance next time you eat at DHS! We really loved the crazy antics....we got a younger server so she was our cousin and even though it was not the best food, it was the best memories! Tattle on your husband and kids for putting their elbows on the table, etc. if you want hilarity to ensue.

 

[HeatherSue]

That AM EMH in fantasy land sounds really fun!

Funny, I don't remember planning to meet you at CP in 2004:confused 3...

That puffed french toast sounds good. I did a search and found a recipe. I haven't tried it yet, though!

PUFFED FRENCH TOAST
(The Crystal Palace..Magic Kingdom)

2 whole eggs
2-1/2 TBLS sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 c. milk
1 c. flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
12 slices Texas style toast, cut in half diagonally
cinnamon sugar mix (4 tsp. cinnamon + 3/4 c. granulated sugar)

Mix eggs, sugar, salt, vanilla, and milk until blended. Slowly add flour and baking powder; mix until smooth. Dip bread in batter. Fry in hot skillet with 1" oil until browned. Drain on paper towels; roll in sugar mix

I LOVE the Homer Simpson quote! Tessa would agree with his sentiment!

How much do you like circus peanut candy?

I love me some Eeyore, too!

Maybe we should try eating there on our Feb. trip. It looks like fun and sound yummy. I love breakfast buffets!

I once bit into a Reese's peanut butter cup, only to find that it was BANANA flavored?!? It was truly HORRIBLE!! My favorite candy had tricked me! I was suspicious of all Reese's for quite some time after that. It was the commemorative Elvis Reeses. Yes, really.

I can't believe you bit into banana flavored cake at your wedding. You poor things! I LOVE the wedding picture, though. How cute are you two?!

 

[DisneyMom5]

I love this TR - I told DH, "If they can do it, we can do it with 2 kids!!!"

I'm saying! It's all what you're used to.
We just have always had an attitude of "our kids come with."
You'd be surprised what all little kids can do
if you give them a chance!

I'm glad I didn't start reading this when you started writing it or I would've died of anticipation over the year but I totally understand it taking so long at the same time.

Yeah, it's taking waaaaay longer than I thought it would.
Like I said a while ago,
I have to tell myself to do a 15 minute update,
and that has to be good enough at the time.

Oh, and give 50's Prime Time a chance next time you eat at DHS! We really loved the crazy antics....we got a younger server so she was our cousin and even though it was not the best food, it was the best memories! Tattle on your husband and kids for putting their elbows on the table, etc. if you want hilarity to ensue.

Dh will thank you! LOL
He HATES that kind of thing,
but I think we might be able to work around it. tee hee

That AM EMH in fantasy land sounds really fun!

I'll tell more about it in the trip report,
but they had a bunch of characters out
solely for the purpose of playing with the kids.
No autographs or lines.

Stitch was riding Dumbo with the kids, and Mary Poppins was on the Carousel.

Funny, I don't remember planning to meet you at CP in 2004:confused 3...

I bet we hadn't even HAD a conversation about WDW at that point,
because I hadn't become addicted until after that trip.

That puffed french toast sounds good. I did a search and found a recipe. I haven't tried it yet, though!

PUFFED FRENCH TOAST
(The Crystal Palace..Magic Kingdom)

2 whole eggs
2-1/2 TBLS sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 c. milk
1 c. flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
12 slices Texas style toast, cut in half diagonally
cinnamon sugar mix (4 tsp. cinnamon + 3/4 c. granulated sugar)

Mix eggs, sugar, salt, vanilla, and milk until blended. Slowly add flour and baking powder; mix until smooth. Dip bread in batter. Fry in hot skillet with 1" oil until browned. Drain on paper towels; roll in sugar mix

I wonder if that IS the same thing.
If there is bread in the CP version, I wouldn't know it.
It looks and tastes like a donut.
Though, it IS kind of like the Monte Cristo at Bennigan's,
and that does have bread in it.

I LOVE the Homer Simpson quote! Tessa would agree with his sentiment!

We used to get a pizza from Pizza Hut that we called the Pork Lover's Pizza, or the Non-Kosher delight. LOL

How much do you like circus peanut candy?

I love me some Eeyore, too!

I read about Teresa and the Eeyore. Sniff.
I have an Eyeore story later in my report...
You'll have to wait like everyone else though. LOL

Maybe we should try eating there on our Feb. trip. It looks like fun and sound yummy. I love breakfast buffets!

Me too! I love breakfast foods all day long.

I once bit into a Reese's peanut butter cup, only to find that it was BANANA flavored?!? It was truly HORRIBLE!! My favorite candy had tricked me! I was suspicious of all Reese's for quite some time after that. It was the commemorative Elvis Reeses. Yes, really.

THAT...IS...JUST...WRONG. Seriously.
That's as bad as the banana flavored oreos.

I can't believe you bit into banana flavored cake at your wedding. You poor things! I LOVE the wedding picture, though. How cute are you two?!

We are ADORABLE!!! LOL
John is smaller, and I am bigger, so it all works out.



Thanks for reading everyone!

 

[PrincessTrisha]

I once bit into a Reese's peanut butter cup, only to find that it was BANANA flavored?!? It was truly HORRIBLE!! My favorite candy had tricked me! I was suspicious of all Reese's for quite some time after that. It was the commemorative Elvis Reeses. Yes, really.

Oh, I loved those! I found them on the way home from Disney last year at a dollar store (3 pks for $1) tried one down the road and instantly regretted not getting more.

I have to say I am loving your report. I had started reading before and am so glad to see you writing again. I usually stick to dining reports but you enticed me over to find your trip report as well.

I have finally convinced my best friend to take her 4 kids to WDW (I took her oldest a few years ago). They are delivering community newspapers/flyers/catalogues in order to raise the money. She orginally wanted to go in October but I convinced her to go at the end of September to take advantage of free dining. Since it's her, her mom and 4 kids (1 who is a disney adult) they booked 2 rooms at Pop. All she keeps saying to me is, "It better be worth it!". I think I'll show her your report because there is nothing I could say to her that would prove better than your report.

 

[DisneyMom5]

Oh, I loved those! I found them on the way home from Disney last year at a dollar store (3 pks for $1) tried one down the road and instantly regretted not getting more.

I have to say I am loving your report. I had started reading before and am so glad to see you writing again. I usually stick to dining reports but you enticed me over to find your trip report as well.

I have finally convinced my best friend to take her 4 kids to WDW (I took her oldest a few years ago). They are delivering community newspapers/flyers/catalogues in order to raise the money. She orginally wanted to go in October but I convinced her to go at the end of September to take advantage of free dining. Since it's her, her mom and 4 kids (1 who is a disney adult) they booked 2 rooms at Pop. All she keeps saying to me is, "It better be worth it!". I think I'll show her your report because there is nothing I could say to her that would prove better than your report.

Just saw this! Hope your friend has a great trip. How could she not, right?
Free Dining is an excellent way to take a first trip, but it really spoils you! LOL

Update on it's way!

 

[DisneyMom5]

Sunshine, You Are My Sunshine, You Make Me Hungry....
Dinner at the Sunshine Seasons Food Court, The Land, Epcot
Sept. 21, 2007

The Hicks had left Magic Kingdom to spend Bionic SIL last night at WDW at an Epcot PM EMH.
We were hungry not too long after getting there, as our late breakfast at Crystal Palace had worn off.

We decided to try out the very large food court at The Land Pavillion, called Sunshine Seasons.

This was our first time here for a meal since the totally revamped it when they put in Soarin'.
We had gotten some snacks earlier in the trip, and were amazed at all the food choice.

We especially liked that there were interesting kid's meals.
Several of the children got chicken legs, w/mashed potatoes, a big hit!

A couple of the olders got a pork chop meal, w/ potatoes and veggies.
I recall them saying this was pretty good.

I believe John stuck with his customary double cheeseburger, but as I cannot find my notes, I will get back to you on that.

I had the chinese food, where you pick two entries and a side.
I picked veggies, a beef thing and a chicken thing.

It was...eh.
That's the best I can say.
I wish I would have tried something else.

The desserts, on the other hand, were fantastic.
I had a strawberry shortcake that was served in a layered style.
It was delicious. Several other strawberry shortcakes were also eaten at our table.
It seems to me there were a couple of types of cake and cookies also at the table.
They have big Nestle cookies available here.

Chef C picked a butterfinger brownie, and gave it a big .

There were sooooo many choices here, you could eat here for a week and never duplicate.

I think the next time I would stick with something simple, and definately NOT Chinese.
But otherwise, what I tasted was very good.
[If I find my notes, or DisneyGirl remembers better, I'll post with a few more details!]

Next up: Breakfast with the Big Cheese

 

[ktdaiwik]

Yahhhhhhh another update!
I was wondering what the food was like at the Sunshine Season,was thinking of trying it out for lunch one day.I know to avoid the Chinese for sure,hubby will love that they have pork as I cannot eat it due to being allergic to it.
Looking forward to more updates.

 

[DisneyMom5]

Breakfast with the Big Cheese
Chef Mickey’s Breakfast - Contemporary Resort
Saturday, Sept. 22.

It was Saturday morning, and we had decided in advance to take this day easier.
We slept in a little later, and woke only to say good-bye to Bionic SIL and the kids.
Yup, they needed to get back to the real world: home, daddy, and school.
The rest of us were headed to a late breakfast at Chef Mickey’s,
and then a leisurely afternoon at DTD.
You can read more about DTD in my trip report...when I get there. LOL

We had never been to Chef Mickey’s for breakfast,
and we were really looking forward to it.
We took the bus to MK, then the monorail to Chef Mickey’s.
This works pretty well, especially if you are too stingy for a taxi,
or have to large a group to deal with it.
But make sure you plan plenty of time.

We waited with our buzzers, once again avoided an expensive group picture in front of a plate,
and looked forward to a breakfast that at the moment was smelling pretty good!

We were seated in the bigger room that is floor level, and thought it was a pretty good location.

Mickey Art

The character interaction was good as usual, with plenty of time for each character.
Unlike some experiences I have heard,
we sometimes feel like we’d just like to eat,
and not necessarily be interrupted by the characters.

But, like I’ve said before, my kids are all about the food.

And having met the characters several times now, they aren’t as worried about seeing Mickey and friends.

Waving the napkins

They are making some weird faces in some of these.

You can see some of those yummy mini-mickey waffles in these pictures, as well as juice boxes that the waitress brought out for the kids.

We didn't order any GF foods for the kids, as there were plenty of fruit, egg and meat options, as well as hash brown patties, which they love.
There is a kid's area on the buffet, but it is available to everyone.

Danger Boy and Mickey

Danger boy and Mickey, and a better view of the restaurant:

We found a good assortment of food on the buffet.
Plenty of hot and cold items, plus cereal, and desserts!

We love a good breakfast buffet, and this one did not disappoint.

All I ask for in a buffet is VARIETY.
Plenty to choose from.
Variations on a theme.

I think that Chef Mickey’s, and Crystal Palace excel at breakfast buffets.

Of the two, I probably prefer Crystal Palace,
but only because I really like the puffed french toast.
Droooooool............

Chef Mickey’s has a fun, party atmosphere, good food, and very good character interaction.
A late breakfast seating is nice when you are having a more laid back day.

Warning #1 - The bathrooms at Chef Mickeys are down a narrow flight of stairs, and really inconvenient to get to.
They are nice, but just out of the way.

TWarning #2 - I would caution against trying to get to DTD from the Contemporary.
It was an absolute pain.
The bus system there is terribly lacking.

Apparently, you should be happy with the monorail getting you to two of the parks,
and not too concerned if it takes over a half an hour for a bus to show up to take you shopping.

If I had paid that much a night for a room there, I would be seriously peeved.

So, if you just concentrate on monorail-ing it in and out of there, you will be fine.

So, there you go. Hicks give Chef Mickey’s Breakfast a !

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

MOM, I love that song! I used to sing it to my kids while dancing around the house with them. They refuse to do it anymore.

DisneyGirl looks just as I remember.

Buffets are made for families. If only all of life could be a buffet. Choices, we need choices.

SG