We're Still Hungry! A DDW July Getaway - 8/5 Complete!

Here's one photo I forgot to include with my Contempo review - since my breakfast was relatively late (at about 10:50, just before lunch started), CMs were already bringing out pastries for the day. You know what that means - cupcakes! I don't really like Disney cupcakes, but I still took pics of cupcakes that looked interesting. At Contempo Cafe, for example, there was a new strawberry lemonade cupcake: strawberry cake infused with a lemon-cream center and iced with strawberry buttercream.

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After my stop at the TTC, I walked over to Poly and into Captain Cook's. It was an absolute madhouse on Friday - an enormous tour group had taken up nearly all the tables (and standing space) both inside and outside of the restaurant. In fact, it took me a while to get close enough to the bakery to see what the current cupcakes were. The current cupcakes are chocolate-macadamia and piña colada. Both look good, but I was hoping that they would still have their mango-passion fruit cupcake. These ones didn't sound like they'd be worth the calories, IMO (:duck: correction - Disney food doesn't have calories).

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While I didn't end up getting a cupcake, I definitely had room for a pineapple-vanilla swirl dole whip. Sadly, it took a while to find a table since the area around Captain Cook's was so crowded. By the time I found this table by the beach, my dole whip had started to melt. :sad: It still tasted good, and I always like the combo of tart pineapple with sweet, creamy vanilla. However, I finished less than half of this since I wasn't loving the melty texture.

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After a monorail ride to MK, my first stop was at the Main Street Confectionery. I was excited to try a new treat here - the Mickey ear hat brownie. They come in a variety of flavors, such as raspberry or mint. My choice was English toffee.

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This snack also missed the mark for me. The brownie was dense and quite chocolatey, but there was very little of the buttery toffee flavor I was craving. I only finished about half of this as well. Maybe I'll try another flavor next time, such as mint.

After my second snack disappointment, I picked up a fastpass for Space Mountain, checked out Storybook Circus for the first time, and rode Dumbo. The new queue is interesting. It's basically a glorified play area for young kids, with benches on the side for adults to sit and check their iPhones. :laughing: At first, I was kind of underwhelmed. However, in retrospect, the queue seems pretty brilliant - adults get a break from standing in the heat, and kids can burn off some energy instead of wait in a generic switchback queue. It's a win-win for families. :thumbsup2

Once my Dumbo flight was over, I headed back to CR for my lunch at The Wave. Hopefully lunch would help me forget about the somewhat disappointing snacks...
 
Oh man! Melty dole whip = no bueno! Too bad you couldn't just go up to someone at one of the tables in Captain Cook's and tell them that you are DonaldDoleWhip and you need the table to conduct official business with your Dis dining review! :rotfl:

Is that all the toffee that was in/on the Mickey head brownie thingie? If so, I would agree, pretty weak on the toffee. I have to say that the way those strawberry/lemon cupcakes look at Contempo Cafe would have tempted me to get one!

The Wave lunch... I really am looking forward to your review! I've cancelled every ADR there except breakfast in the past....just haven't felt like dining in a place that doesn't have a view of anything. But if the food is great someone could convince me to take a chance. :p
 
Oh man! Melty dole whip = no bueno! Too bad you couldn't just go up to someone at one of the tables in Captain Cook's and tell them that you are DonaldDoleWhip and you need the table to conduct official business with your Dis dining review! :rotfl:

Is that all the toffee that was in/on the Mickey head brownie thingie? If so, I would agree, pretty weak on the toffee. I have to say that the way those strawberry/lemon cupcakes look at Contempo Cafe would have tempted me to get one!

The Wave lunch... I really am looking forward to your review! I've cancelled every ADR there except breakfast in the past....just haven't felt like dining in a place that doesn't have a view of anything. But if the food is great someone could convince me to take a chance. :p
If Captain Cook's is ever that crowded in the future, I might have to take your suggestion! A dole whip just doesn't deserve to be treated this way. :lmao:

Regarding the brownie, there was a sparse amount of those toffee 'crumbles' on the bottom of the brownie as well, but not enough to impact the taste. Perhaps the raspberry or mint version might do a better job of incorporating the secondary flavor into the brownie, but I didn't love this one. That strawberry lemonade cupcake was the most tempting-looking one of the trip! :goodvibes

I can't wait to review The Wave again. I haven't always loved my food there, and you raise a good point regarding the atmosphere. But the food is unique for a casual Disney restaurant, and I appreciate how the menu takes risks (even if they don't always pay off). :thumbsup2
 
WHAAAAT ............ DonaldDoleWhip get's a sub-par Dole Whip :eek:

I am calling Bob Iger right now ;)
 

WHAAAAT ............ DonaldDoleWhip get's a sub-par Dole Whip :eek:

I am calling Bob Iger right now ;)
:rotfl: Thanks for that. I'm sure next time will be a completely different experience now that Bob Iger is on it.

Hopefully he's already been informed of the cold wonton incident as well. :thumbsup2
 
Sorry about your melty dole whip - we hardly ever get ice cream in the summer because of that problem (I hate melty ice cream).

What a shame you were a little disappointed with the Mickey hat brownie too - I just added that to my 'Snacks to try' list yesterday (although I will probably get the mint).

Thanks for the update :thumbsup2
 
I know I am a little late joining the party, but I can't wait to read more! I went back and read your past two dining reports as well! :thumbsup2
 
Sorry about your melty dole whip - we hardly ever get ice cream in the summer because of that problem (I hate melty ice cream).

What a shame you were a little disappointed with the Mickey hat brownie too - I just added that to my 'Snacks to try' list yesterday (although I will probably get the mint).

Thanks for the update :thumbsup2
Who would've thought that ice cream would be less enjoyable in the heat? Not me. :rotfl: Oh well - next time I'll enjoy a dole whip in more ideal climate conditions. And hopefully the other brownie flavors will be very good. :)

I know I am a little late joining the party, but I can't wait to read more! I went back and read your past two dining reports as well! :thumbsup2
Thanks so much! I hope you enjoyed the previous reviews, and I'll do my best to make these ones good as well. :goodvibes
 
What a bummer to be disappointed by both your snacks, I'm hopeful that future ones are more satisfying. ::yes:: I'm always sooo tempted by the decadent looking Disney cupcakes, but every time I get one I'm always defeated by how incredibly sweet and rich they are. Hubby never has any problem polishing one off so I can't convince him we should share one, LOL. That strawberry lemonade cupcake looks absolutely divine, but I know I'd end up throwing more than half in the garbage. :eek: It probably won't stop me from trying one if they're still available in September though. :rotfl:

Loving you reviews, waiting for the next update. popcorn::
 
Wow, tough morning with two snack disappointments...and one of them was your favorite (and namesake), the Dole Whip. :worried: Hopefully things improve with your lunch at The Wave. And speaking of, I have never been to The Wave so I'm anxiously awaiting your review. :surfweb:
 
Great reviews!

I'm with you on the dole whip, I strongly dislike my ice cream melted, but my DH would have loved your dole whip, at home he puts his in the microwave!:scared1:
 
What a bummer to be disappointed by both your snacks, I'm hopeful that future ones are more satisfying. ::yes:: I'm always sooo tempted by the decadent looking Disney cupcakes, but every time I get one I'm always defeated by how incredibly sweet and rich they are. Hubby never has any problem polishing one off so I can't convince him we should share one, LOL. That strawberry lemonade cupcake looks absolutely divine, but I know I'd end up throwing more than half in the garbage. :eek: It probably won't stop me from trying one if they're still available in September though. :rotfl:

Loving you reviews, waiting for the next update. popcorn::
Agreed on the cupcakes - most of them are too much for me. There are only a few that I've been able to eat more than half of (such as the orange cream cupcake at Boardwalk Bakery - it's not available right now). That said, they really are perfect for splitting - maybe you could split one with DH and he could have a second one for himself? :rotfl:

Wow, tough morning with two snack disappointments...and one of them was your favorite (and namesake), the Dole Whip. :worried: Hopefully things improve with your lunch at The Wave. And speaking of, I have never been to The Wave so I'm anxiously awaiting your review. :surfweb:
It was a rather strange morning - a great breakfast followed by two subpar snacks in a row. That's why I was counting on The Wave to set things right again. My review of The Wave is coming up! :goodvibes

Great reviews!

I'm with you on the dole whip, I strongly dislike my ice cream melted, but my DH would have loved your dole whip, at home he puts his in the microwave!:scared1:
I'm glad to hear someone would've enjoyed my dole whip in its melty state. Ice cream normally seems like a perfect warm weather food, but that melty texture wasn't appealing (ice cream gets creamy and soupy when it melts, which is bad enough; this was almost slimy). :( Oh well - next time I'll scarf it down before the heat can take its toll. :thumbsup2
 
I was really looking forward to my lunch at The Wave. I've previously had 4 meals here (breakfast x 2, lunch, dinner), and some experiences have definitely been better than others. However, I've always loved the idea of The Wave - a non-signature restaurant at WDW with a focus on local, sustainable, and seasonal cuisine.

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I arrived about 15 minutes early for my 1pm ADR. After walking through the modern entryway, I was seated immediately.

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The restaurant was practically empty, which doesn't surprise me - this place hasn't reached the popularity level of resort restaurants like Kona Cafe. I think part of that might have to do with the atmosphere (this place has a rather boring ambiance once you've passed the entryway, bar, and waiting area) and the somewhat unusual menu. As a result, I guess they feel the need to promote The Wave to CR guests - this pamphlet was in our room.

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But enough with that - let's dive in for some sustainable, market-inspired cuisine!

Before arriving at The Wave, I had checked the menu on the official Disney World site and knew exactly what I wanted (The Wave Cobb side salad and the grilled top sirloin steak salad). Both of these items were still on the menu, but I also saw some new dishes that I wanted to try.

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While we're at it, here are the breakfast and dinner menus as well (all in one convenient image)!

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With my plans shaken up due to the menu additions, I ended up picking a different appetizer: The Wave Summer Salad, with locally sourced watermelon, avocado, arugula, and pecans, with feta and white balsamic.

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This was fantastic. The watermelon was refreshingly sweet and juicy. Combined with the salty feta and olives, crunchy pecans, creamy avocado, and peppery arugula, I loved the unique combination of flavors and textures. The watermelon and olive combo was particularly unusual to me - a delightful bite that combined salty and sweet notes. This dish far exceeded my expectations for a non-signature restaurant.

I also picked a different entree - The Wave Cobb Salad with chicken, served with locally sourced greens and tomatoes, naturally raised eggs, bacon, avocado-buttermilk dressing, and Midnight Moon goat cheese. What a fun presentation - it's deconstructed! As a result, you can basically control each bite and re-create the flavor combinations that you're looking for. I really liked this salad - the greens might have had a little too much dressing for me, but since the other components weren't dressed, it wasn't an issue. The chicken was served warm and peppery, and the avocado, tomato, and egg were all fresh. The real action was occurring in the center of the plate, where the bacon was thick, chewy, and sweet (it was almost like candy - an unexpected twist), and the Midnight Moon did an impressive job filling the role of "tangy blue cheese". This was a tasty, unique interpretation of a traditional Cobb salad.

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My server, Ashley, was very friendly. She refilled my water quite a few times, and she even brought me different silverware between the appetizer and entree round - a nice touch. Soon enough, she brought over the dessert menu, which was also slightly different from the online menu.

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My original plan was to order the Creamy Indulgence, primarily because I was excited to see a macaroon (or "macaron", as it's commonly spelt) on the menu. However, the sorbet trio sounded perfect for the heat, and Ashley also recommended it. The sorbet trio ended up being my choice.

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Ashley recommended sampling the sorbets from left to right. On the left is the coconut key lime sorbet. I liked this sorbet because it combined the tartness of key lime with the milkiness of coconut. It was extremely refreshing and topped with some crunchy toasted coconut.

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The middle sorbet was mango-guava. The texture was extremely smooth and silky, and while I could've used a bit more guava flavor, this sorbet really reminded me of summer. The chocolate on top was quite dark, which I love.

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Finally, the pineapple passion fruit sorbet: what an incredible finale! This sorbet had a bold, vibrant flavor, with the tangy, sour passion fruit combining perfectly with the tart pineapple. This was my favorite of the three sorbets, and it was a perfect way to end my trio experience.

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The pineapple topping on the last sorbet was absolutely delicious - it had a sweet, almost buttery flavor and a soft texture. In fact, I loved it so much that I ended up asking Ashley how the pineapple was cooked. She went to the kitchen to find out, and apparently it's roasted with some rum (I never would've guessed - I thought it might have been caramelized or braised). When she came back, she also brought more of the pineapple from the kitchen. What a wonderful surprise - I had no problem finishing it. :lovestruc

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My lunch at The Wave absolutely delighted me. From the creative appetizer to the last bite of pineapple, the food and service were far above expectations. The Wave's menu is less traditional than other Disney casual restaurants - the food here changes with the seasons, and the kitchen is often trying new things. Of course, not everything always works out perfectly, but I appreciate that this restaurant at least tries to be interesting, creative, and seasonal. I can't wait to return here for another meal. :cloud9:
 
Wow! Your Wave review certainly exceeded my expectations! All of your courses looked perfect. I can imagine the salty/sweet combo was wonderful for the olives and watermelon. Brilliant!

Did they offer you bread with your meal or is that only dinner? Just curious since I could order either of the salads and have a piece of bread and call it a meal ... well, throw in some dessert and then it's really a meal!
 
Wow! Your Wave review certainly exceeded my expectations! All of your courses looked perfect. I can imagine the salty/sweet combo was wonderful for the olives and watermelon. Brilliant!

Did they offer you bread with your meal or is that only dinner? Just curious since I could order either of the salads and have a piece of bread and call it a meal ... well, throw in some dessert and then it's really a meal!
I'm pretty sure the bread is only for dinner (we received it at dinner but never for lunch, and I've seen it in dinner reviews) but it wouldn't hurt to ask! After all, at Liberty Tree Tavern the rolls are for dinner but people have successfully gotten them for lunch. :thumbsup2

I was very impressed by The Wave overall - IMO, they do a great job with salads (my mom had the tuna salad last summer and it was great, and the sirloin steak salad also sounds delicious). But I'd be happy to try some of their non-salad options as well (like the bison burger). :goodvibes
 
:rotfl: Thanks for that. I'm sure next time will be a completely different experience now that Bob Iger is on it.

Hopefully he's already been informed of the cold wonton incident as well. :thumbsup2

Bob has assured me that your next Dole Whip will be an awesome experience :coffee:
 
Wow, what a great Wave review! Those salads seriously look fantastic. My sister and I had dinner here during our last trip we thought it was good but it didn't bowl us over. But this lunch really looks great (as does the dessert!). I'd really be up for doing lunch at The Wave after reading this!
 
Great review of the Wave! We went there last year for our first dinner of the trip and thought their food was very good!
 
We are really looking forward to our dinner at The Wave in August. Your review is making me wonder if I should change it to a lunch and add The Grand Floridian Cafe for dinner. I have been so good about not changing anything but I had a feeling your review would change that! ;)
 















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