nicksmom87
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- May 1, 2010
- Messages
- 128
Got back late last night from our whirlwind trip to WDW. We (DH, me, DD17, DD7) were on the DxDP, and had some ADRs and the rest we "played by ear". When considering the menu prices, we came out ahead on meals, but we left WDW with several snack options still left on our card. Here's a quick review (my opinion) of our meals:
Day 1: LUNCH -- QS lunch at Lotus Blossom Cafe (China in Epcot): I had sesame chicken salad - it was ok, dressing was good. DD17 had orange chicken - liked it. DD7 had sweet & sour chicken - it was ok. The ginger ice cream was good. DH wasn't hungry.
DINNER -- Had ADRs at Kona, but got caught in torrential downpour and got soaked. Had to go back to resort to change clothes and it was too late to make ADR, so we got salad (build your own) and roast beef & blue cheese sandwiches at Beach Club Marketplace in resort. Also, got bean soup! Everything was great!
Day 2: BREAKFAST: Character Dining at Cape May (Minnie Mouse, Goofy & Donald Duck). Good buffet choices including Mickey waffles and grilled asparagus. We liked it...went back another day.
LUNCH: Akershus with the Princesses -- loved it! Lots of princesses (Belle, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Arielle, Cinderella) and quite good food. DH and DD17 loved the mushroom ravioli, and I had the local dish (kotkakke??), which is similar to swedish meatballs...pretty good. The appetizers are buffet style and very good....herring, salmon, meats & cheeses, salad, good bread.
DINNER: California Grill - FABULOUS! Everything from the view, our waiter (Ryan) and the food was amazing! DH had the Bison which was absolutely the best steak at Disney! I had the beef filet, also very very good! DD17 had the pork tenderloin which was super! DD7 had the kids salmon and loved it!!! Our appetizers were also great - DD17 had the cheese board which was the most memorable. I had the crab stuffed lotus flowers which were also quite tasty. Don't recall what DH had, but it was ALL great. Desserts were equally fabulous! HANDS DOWN OUR BEST MEAL OF THE TRIP!
Day 3: DD7 and me on our own (DH and DD17 at Volleyball Nationals) --Quick, late breaky at Beach Club marketplace. She had french toast sticks which were really yummy! Better than my ham & cheese croissant, which was just ok.
Dinner : DDs had CS meal somewhere in DHS. Burgers, fries, chicken nuggets. They liked it -- and the Chipmunks showed up to dance with them. DH and I had LeCellier -- yummy! I had the LeCellier filet which was very good and DH had the salmon, also very good. The cheddar cheese soup was great, too. Chocolate whiskey cake for dessert was fantastic! PROBABLY SECOND BEST DINNER OF TRIP.
Day 4: Character breakfast at Cape May again -- still good.
Lunch: don't remember -- maybe just snacks.
Dinner: Seafood buffet/clam bake at Cape May - YUM YUM!! Great crab legs! Also great clams, mussels, mahi-mahi, and all the fixins. DD7 loved the corn on the cob, mac & cheese and chicken nuggets, too!
Day 5: Lunch at Tusker House - VERY GOOD! Lots of choices for non-adventurous folks as well. But I loved all the african/mediterranean fare! YUMMO!
DINNER at Artist Point: This was the disappointment meal of the trip. After all the great reviews and hoo-hah, I really was excited about this one! The atmosphere is nice and pretty and we had a good table at the window overlooking the waterfall. Our waiter was nice, but not particularly efficient. The food, with the exception of the mushroom soup and house bread, was just mediocre. I had the buffalo/bison strip which was bland and somewhat tough (didn't even come close to comparing to DH's at Cali Grill!). DH had the salmon, which he said was very good, but not spectacular, and certainly not as good as what I cook at home! DD17 had scallops which were very good. The soup was OUTSTANDING, and I'd go back for lunch just for the soup. The basket of bread was also great. However, for a 2-meal table service, I definitely wouldn't do this one again. In my opinion, Artist Point has no business counting as a 2 meal restaurant or signature dining experience. Again, the resort/surroundings were lovely....the food just fair.
Last day: BREAKY at Hollywood & Vine - good buffet breaky.
LUNCH at Beaches & Cream -- yummy burgers, most excellent onion rings and ice cream!
So, there ya have it. Just my opinions, of course. I would say that a "must-do" would be Cali Grill, and a "should do" is LeCellier. I wouldn't go back to Artist Point, except for soup & bread.
Day 1: LUNCH -- QS lunch at Lotus Blossom Cafe (China in Epcot): I had sesame chicken salad - it was ok, dressing was good. DD17 had orange chicken - liked it. DD7 had sweet & sour chicken - it was ok. The ginger ice cream was good. DH wasn't hungry.
DINNER -- Had ADRs at Kona, but got caught in torrential downpour and got soaked. Had to go back to resort to change clothes and it was too late to make ADR, so we got salad (build your own) and roast beef & blue cheese sandwiches at Beach Club Marketplace in resort. Also, got bean soup! Everything was great!
Day 2: BREAKFAST: Character Dining at Cape May (Minnie Mouse, Goofy & Donald Duck). Good buffet choices including Mickey waffles and grilled asparagus. We liked it...went back another day.
LUNCH: Akershus with the Princesses -- loved it! Lots of princesses (Belle, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Arielle, Cinderella) and quite good food. DH and DD17 loved the mushroom ravioli, and I had the local dish (kotkakke??), which is similar to swedish meatballs...pretty good. The appetizers are buffet style and very good....herring, salmon, meats & cheeses, salad, good bread.
DINNER: California Grill - FABULOUS! Everything from the view, our waiter (Ryan) and the food was amazing! DH had the Bison which was absolutely the best steak at Disney! I had the beef filet, also very very good! DD17 had the pork tenderloin which was super! DD7 had the kids salmon and loved it!!! Our appetizers were also great - DD17 had the cheese board which was the most memorable. I had the crab stuffed lotus flowers which were also quite tasty. Don't recall what DH had, but it was ALL great. Desserts were equally fabulous! HANDS DOWN OUR BEST MEAL OF THE TRIP!
Day 3: DD7 and me on our own (DH and DD17 at Volleyball Nationals) --Quick, late breaky at Beach Club marketplace. She had french toast sticks which were really yummy! Better than my ham & cheese croissant, which was just ok.
Dinner : DDs had CS meal somewhere in DHS. Burgers, fries, chicken nuggets. They liked it -- and the Chipmunks showed up to dance with them. DH and I had LeCellier -- yummy! I had the LeCellier filet which was very good and DH had the salmon, also very good. The cheddar cheese soup was great, too. Chocolate whiskey cake for dessert was fantastic! PROBABLY SECOND BEST DINNER OF TRIP.
Day 4: Character breakfast at Cape May again -- still good.
Lunch: don't remember -- maybe just snacks.
Dinner: Seafood buffet/clam bake at Cape May - YUM YUM!! Great crab legs! Also great clams, mussels, mahi-mahi, and all the fixins. DD7 loved the corn on the cob, mac & cheese and chicken nuggets, too!
Day 5: Lunch at Tusker House - VERY GOOD! Lots of choices for non-adventurous folks as well. But I loved all the african/mediterranean fare! YUMMO!
DINNER at Artist Point: This was the disappointment meal of the trip. After all the great reviews and hoo-hah, I really was excited about this one! The atmosphere is nice and pretty and we had a good table at the window overlooking the waterfall. Our waiter was nice, but not particularly efficient. The food, with the exception of the mushroom soup and house bread, was just mediocre. I had the buffalo/bison strip which was bland and somewhat tough (didn't even come close to comparing to DH's at Cali Grill!). DH had the salmon, which he said was very good, but not spectacular, and certainly not as good as what I cook at home! DD17 had scallops which were very good. The soup was OUTSTANDING, and I'd go back for lunch just for the soup. The basket of bread was also great. However, for a 2-meal table service, I definitely wouldn't do this one again. In my opinion, Artist Point has no business counting as a 2 meal restaurant or signature dining experience. Again, the resort/surroundings were lovely....the food just fair.
Last day: BREAKY at Hollywood & Vine - good buffet breaky.
LUNCH at Beaches & Cream -- yummy burgers, most excellent onion rings and ice cream!
So, there ya have it. Just my opinions, of course. I would say that a "must-do" would be Cali Grill, and a "should do" is LeCellier. I wouldn't go back to Artist Point, except for soup & bread.
What is it like?
) 
it was labor of love 
Don't think I will be doing that again. 
