What Do You Mean It's Time To Eat Again? A DxDDP Pictorial Upd. 11/1 Chefs de France!

[wilma-bride]

The strawberry soup is delicious. I didn't realise they had ice-cream at breakfast, though - my DS would LOVE that

 

[CanadianPaco]

Ice cream for breakfast -heavenly!

 

[TPCShauna]

So happy to see that your breakfast at 1900 P.F. was good. Honestly, we go because Mary Poppins is my favorite character and I'm guaranteed to see her there. I really enjoyed the meal there last time as well and thought the food was quite good (and I don't like buffets.)

BTW, you and I are food twins in some ways. I don't drink orange juice with pulp either. I prefer to drink my juice, not chew it. My favorite thing at the buffet was the make your own omelette station as they will do an egg white omelette and I don't eat egg yolks.

Thanks for the review!

 

[Nicole721]

How was the strawberry soup?? Does it kind of taste like a smoothie??

It's more like melted strawberry ice cream. It's much thinner than a smoothie. I don't know if you've ever been on a cruise, but this is one of my favorites when I cruise. The Strawberry Soup at 1900PF wasn't as sweet as the one I have when I cruise, but I have a very big sweet tooth (which is why I have gummi bears with my breakfast LOL).

So happy to see that your breakfast at 1900 P.F. was good. Honestly, we go because Mary Poppins is my favorite character and I'm guaranteed to see her there. I really enjoyed the meal there last time as well and thought the food was quite good (and I don't like buffets.)

BTW, you and I are food twins in some ways. I don't drink orange juice with pulp either. I prefer to drink my juice, not chew it. My favorite thing at the buffet was the make your own omelette station as they will do an egg white omelette and I don't eat egg yolks.

Thanks for the review!

It's the consistancy that I have a problem with...chunks mixed with liquid One of the many "issues" I have with food (I also won't usually eat any meat or poultry with bones in it, or poultry without the skin removed). But I hear from DSis it was very good OJ. If it wasn't freshly squeezed, it apparently tasted an awful lot like it

And thanks, everyone, for the comments. I'm so glad everyone is enjoying this review

Crystal Palace will be up later today

 

[TPCShauna]

It's the consistancy that I have a problem with...chunks mixed with liquid One of the many "issues" I have with food (I also won't usually eat any meat or poultry with bones in it, or poultry without the skin removed). But I hear from DSis it was very good OJ. If it wasn't freshly squeezed, it apparently tasted an awful lot like it

This is SO ME! I can't eat anything with skin or bones or that looks like a "part". Even my fish has to be a filet. I can't handle it looking like an animal. I really should be a vegetarian but I like steak and bacon. YUM!

 

[Nicole721]

Day 4: Winnie? Didn't We Just See You At Breakfast? Lunch at the Crystal Palace.

A few hours after breakfast, we finally conviced DM to come over to MK with DGM so we could all have lunch together. They got to the park, but DM was just too sick to stick around and it was an overcast day and DGM's arthritis was acting up, so they left to go back to the hotel, leaving DSis and I for Crystal Palace for lunch.

We headed over to the CP 15 minutes before our 1:00 ADR to be handed a beeper. It was VERY crowded. We were seated a bit after 1:00. I assume it's hard for them to keep ADR's going on time when they tell people it could take up to two hours to visit with all of the characters. Thankfully, they were able to seat DSis and I at a table for two, so hopefully some nice family was able to walk up and get the table for four we had reserved. We quickly decided that we DIDN'T want to waste two hours meeting the same characters that we had met for breakfast, but we were seated near where the characters came out and we got through them rather quickly (though we left before we got to meet Eeyore and a few others...the parade had stopped the flow of characters and we just didn't care that much).

We decided to eat at Crystal Palace because there really wasn't another table-service place we wanted to eat at that we weren't already scheduled to eat at. Our server was attentive and our drinks were always quickly refilled. When we started at the buffet, much of the food was already gone and was in the process of being replaced. CP kind of reminded me of a cruise ship buffet: lots of options, but nothing really to go crazy over. I had my little-bit-of-everything. I thought the flank steak was pretty good. My sister and I both wondered what broccoli with puri puri and key lime ponzu tasted like (neither of us knowing what puri puri or ponzu were) and decided it tasted like plain broccoli. We found this to be common with a lot of the food: fancy titles for plain tasting food. I found that I enjoyed the food from the kids corner best, but I think this review has already established that I create too many complications with adult food (you can't go wrong with mac and cheese and chicken nuggets).

So, as you can see, lots of food, lots of choices, but it was all very plain tasting. I guess this is to be expected at a place with so many people coming in and out. And I think the quality slips at many character meal places because the experience with the characters makes up for subpar food (1900 Park Fare is an exception, depending on when you go, so can be Chef Mickey's).

DSis and I both agreed that Crystal Palace really exceled with dessert. I'm almost embarassed to post my dessert plate (last pic) but really, all of it was good (and no, I didn't eat all of it). I had more of a problem with my fellow diners than I did with the dessert. One guy shoved his way in front of me and grabbed strawberries with his bare hands without even trying to use the tongs. Another woman was shoving cookies in her purse to eat later. I just thought that was kind of tacky. But they were very good cookies. The pecan pie bites were very good. The whisky soaked trifle was also very good but the whisky held a very heavy note.

I honestly wish MK had more table service meals so that I had choices other than having meals at the same place more than once per trip or wasting TS credits at QS because while dessert was very good, the rest of the food really wasn't anything to write home about. The parade they had was nice for the kids, but it made it hard to navigate our way to the food-area and once you see people's hands go into food (or see them lick their fingers and then reach for the serving spoon), you kind of lose your appetite (one of the reasons I prefer traditional table service meals...if I don't see it happen, it didn't happen as far as I'm concerned). But, again, when you eat with characters, it's not uncommon for food quality to be less than stellar.

It started storming after lunch so we went back to the hotel to check on DM and DGM and to grab a nap. We only had a few hours to rest before we had to venture back to MK for a very royal dinner.

Up next: Dinner Fit for a Queen at Cinderella's Royal Table

 

[faindrops27]

Day 4: Winnie? Didn't We Just See You At Breakfast? Lunch at the Crystal Palace.

A few hours after breakfast, we finally conviced DM to come over to MK with DGM so we could all have lunch together. They got to the park, but DM was just too sick to stick around and it was an overcast day and DGM's arthritis was acting up, so they left to go back to the hotel, leaving DSis and I for Crystal Palace for lunch.

We headed over to the CP 15 minutes before our 1:00 ADR to be handed a beeper. It was VERY crowded. We were seated a bit after 1:00. I assume it's hard for them to keep ADR's going on time when they tell people it could take up to two hours to visit with all of the characters. Thankfully, they were able to seat DSis and I at a table for two, so hopefully some nice family was able to walk up and get the table for four we had reserved. We quickly decided that we DIDN'T want to waste two hours meeting the same characters that we had met for breakfast, but we were seated near where the characters came out and we got through them rather quickly (though we left before we got to meet Eeyore and a few others...the parade had stopped the flow of characters and we just didn't care that much).

We decided to eat at Crystal Palace because there really wasn't another table-service place we wanted to eat at that we weren't already scheduled to eat at. Our server was attentive and our drinks were always quickly refilled. When we started at the buffet, much of the food was already gone and was in the process of being replaced. CP kind of reminded me of a cruise ship buffet: lots of options, but nothing really to go crazy over. I had my little-bit-of-everything. I thought the flank steak was pretty good. My sister and I both wondered what broccoli with puri puri and key lime ponzu tasted like (neither of us knowing what puri puri or ponzu were) and decided it tasted like plain broccoli. We found this to be common with a lot of the food: fancy titles for plain tasting food. I found that I enjoyed the food from the kids corner best, but I think this review has already established that I create too many complications with adult food (you can't go wrong with mac and cheese and chicken nuggets).

So, as you can see, lots of food, lots of choices, but it was all very plain tasting. I guess this is to be expected at a place with so many people coming in and out. And I think the quality slips at many character meal places because the experience with the characters makes up for subpar food (1900 Park Fare is an exception, depending on when you go, so can be Chef Mickey's).

DSis and I both agreed that Crystal Palace really exceled with dessert. I'm almost embarassed to post my dessert plate (last pic) but really, all of it was good (and no, I didn't eat all of it). I had more of a problem with my fellow diners than I did with the dessert. One guy shoved his way in front of me and grabbed strawberries with his bare hands without even trying to use the tongs. Another woman was shoving cookies in her purse to eat later. I just thought that was kind of tacky. But they were very good cookies. The pecan pie bites were very good. The whisky soaked trifle was also very good but the whisky held a very heavy note.

I honestly wish MK had more table service meals so that I had choices other than having meals at the same place more than once per trip or wasting TS credits at QS because while dessert was very good, the rest of the food really wasn't anything to write home about. The parade they had was nice for the kids, but it made it hard to navigate our way to the food-area and once you see people's hands go into food (or see them lick their fingers and then reach for the serving spoon), you kind of lose your appetite (one of the reasons I prefer traditional table service meals...if I don't see it happen, it didn't happen as far as I'm concerned). But, again, when you eat with characters, it's not uncommon for food quality to be less than stellar.

It started storming after lunch so we went back to the hotel to check on DM and DGM and to grab a nap. We only had a few hours to rest before we had to venture back to MK for a very royal dinner.

Up next: Dinner Fit for a Queen at Cinderella's Royal Table

Please do not be embaressed of your dessert plate. There is no reason. Just to let you know when I ate there last year. My dessert plate looked the same. The only difference, is I did eat every bite!

Thanks for the wonderful reviews!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Everything looks so delicious!!!

 

[susieq76]

Awesome reviews!!!!

 

[BONITATIME]

I have done desert plates like that and eaten it all too.
I love the deserts in CP

 

[ChelleinNC]

If your desert plate was "bad" what does it say that I've been known to go back for seconds on the things I've really liked

 

[MelanieC]

Thanks for the great reviews. Loved that you put links. Thanks again!

 

[suzimar57]

great reviews - love the CP dessert display!

 

[irongirlof12]

great piccies for the yummy food at CP.

 

[Nicole721]

Day 4: Dinner Fit for a Queen at Cinderella's Royal Table

We headed back to the GF just as the rain really started to come down. DSis and I did a bit of shopping (she did a Make-Your-Own-Lipgloss at Basin White) and did some people-watching in the lobby before heading to our room. DGM was napping and DM took some Advil and was napping, too, so DSis and I just watched some TV and relaxed. I planned so much of this trip to be "Go, go, go!" and planned for rope drops and late night EMH's and it was just too much for us. Vacations are supposed to be relaxing so taking mid-day breaks, missing rope drop, and heading back before EMH ends seemed like bad ideas before we arrived but now was our saving grace. Well, that and all the food sustinence to keep us going

Around 4:00, DM was feeling better and DGM was itching to get out again, so we headed back to the MK for our dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table. The park wasn't as crowded (probably because of the rain earlier) so we made it in quickly and in no time, we were in Fantasyland. We did a few go-rounds on DGM's favorite ride, It's a Small World, before heading over to CRT.

CRT was the first ADR we made at 6:00 am at 180 days out. We didn't have a full choice of times, but we certainly had a good list to choose from. We chose 5:50 because it wasn't too early and it wasn't too late that we wouldn't be able to find a spot to watch Wishes.

It was PACKED. Little girls in princess dresses and little boys swinging swords. Lots of screaming. But it was Disney...we were used to it. DSis and I took our pics with Cinderella while we waited (in the same obligatory heroine princess pose that we had with Belle at Akershus). DSis and I were even given wands. We staged a friendly faux sword fight (we were bored and they were running quite behind on ADR's...we had a 5:50pm ADR and we weren't seated until at least 6:20pm) and a little girl in an Aurora costume came up to us and told us that wands were for making wishes come true, not for fighting. Her mom seemed to be somewhere in between embarassed and thinking her child was the cutest child ever. It was a rather cute exchange.

When it came time to finally go upstairs, DM and DSis took the elevator up with DGM. I took the stairs to get the full-effect. CRT is such a beautiful restaurant. It captures the mystique of a castle with the whimsical setting of a fairy tale. It was very loud, though, but that's to be expected with a packed house. I don't think I saw an empty table.

Our server came over and took our drink orders and brought us some pretzel rolls with butter. I was excited for this, but it kind of let me down because I was expecting the same kind of pretzel bread that they serve at Le Cellier but it just wasn't quite as good. But it was warm and very satisfying. Just not Le Cellier quality.

For our starters, DGM and I both started with the Vegetable Spring Roll (with soy bean and bok choy salad and ginger-garlic sauce). It wasn't that good. The vegetables were too crispy for my liking (I like them a bit softer in an egg or spring roll) and they lacked flavor. The sauce was good, but it didn't provide enough flavor to compensate for a lack of any flavor coming from the vegetables. The wonton was very crispy, though, so that saved it a bit.

DSis and DM both started with the Mixed Field Greens salad (with Blue Cheese, Raspberries and Candied Walnuts tossed in a Berry Vinaigrette) and both thought it was very good. They both said enjoyed it. I tasted it and thought that all the flavors worked well together and the blue cheese didn't overpower the salad.

While we were eating our appetizers, the Fairy Godmother and Furla and Perla came around. The FGM praised us for bringing DGM with and told her she was fit to be the queen of the entire MK. While DGM was playing around with Furla and Perla, the FGM announced some special happenings in the restaurant (including the Fantasy Suite winners for the night who were dining amongst us and a girl celebrating her Sweet 16...to which the FGM said "Sweet 16 and never been kissed" a few times before finding her a nice young man...young being around 8...to kiss her...no worries, it was on the cheek) and then leading the restaurant in song.

After the little show, our entrees came out. DSis ordered the Lemon Lavender Chicken (on top of Mashed Potatoes served with Wilted Spinach and a chicken Jus) and thought it was pretty good but tasted a little funny.

DGM had the Roast Lamb Chops )with fingerling potatoes, Vegetable Ragout, and drizzled with a Herb Pesto) and she absolutely loved it. She ate every bite. The lamb was very soft and the potatoes had a bit of seasoning that worked very well with the lamb.

DM didn't want to eat any meat since she was still feeling a little off, so she ordered the Cheese Tortelloni (with julienne vegetables, garlic marinara Sauce and fresh Romano). She thought it was just okay. I tasted it and it tasted like any run-of-the-mill tortelloni.

I ordered the Prime Rib (with gratin potatoes and a cabernet sauce). I know prime rib is fatty and this wasn't as bad as some other cuts I've had, but it was still just a bit too fatty for my liking (and, picky eater I am, it's the only appealing thing on the menu, too) and it was a bit overcooked (I asked for a cut that was towards the medium side of medium well but I guess they went in the other direction and went to the well done side). The potatoes were the same potatoes I had at Coral Reef. They were pretty good. The cabernet sauce was DELICIOUS. I wish it came with more. I also wish they had some horseradish for the prime rib to give it a little kick. It also came with some asparagus, which was cooked perfectly and very tasty.

For dessert, DSis, DGM, and I all ordered the Chocolate Cream Cheese Buckle (with chocolate ice cream and drizzled with chocolate sauce). There was no cream cheese to be found and it tasted like the chocolate muffins that we buy at our local Sam's Club. I was really disappointed because the picture of it always seemed to look so yummy.

DM really ordered the best dessert (Poached Pear on Angel food cake topped with Mango Sorbet and drizzled with a Port Reduction Raspberry Sorbet) and since she wasn't really hungry, I ate most of the cake part and some of the sorbet. The angel food cake was really soft and moist and the port reduction raspberry sauce was absolutely delicious (DM thinks it's the same reduction they poached the pear in). The portion was pretty small, though.

We thought at CRT, the food was hit or miss: everything was either really good or subpar and there wasn't much of a middle ground. I'm not sure if we would eat here for dinner again just because for a two-credit meal, the food isn't that great and we now have had the experience of it once. It's just another Disney instance of charging the customer for the experience instead of the food. And that's fine for the first time you experience it, but I think next time, our two-credit meals will be geared more towards fine dining instead of experience dining (unless it's something we haven't done yet...I'm all for trying every experience at least once). But if you are traveling with kids? It's such a fun place to eat and I'm sure seeing them having fun would outweigh the quality of the food.

After dinner, we spent a few more hours going on rides and shopping before settling down for Wishes. After Wishes, it was a MADHOUSE to get out. DSis and I wanted to hang around for awhile to let the crowd die out and as we were trying to maneuver DGM's wheelchair away from people to a quieter area, a man shoved his child's stroller into DM's ankle and shouted "MOVE IT" before shoving the stroller into her ankle again to illustrate his point. Disney is such a magical place, but people lose their manners so quickly here and if that's the manners those parents set for those kids, I feel sorry for the kids. No harm done to DM (she actually stopped me from walking over and giving this guy a piece of my mind) and we hung around Adventureland for a bit before catching the monorail back to the GF.

Up Next: The Big Kahuna's Take On Breakfast at Kona Cafe

 

[ChelleinNC]

Ok, gotta ask: Furla? & Perla? I know Perla,we saw Suzie & Perla at 1900 PF last time we were there, just don't think I know who Furla is

The only time we've eaten at CRT was for breakfast (long time ago 6/01). We really enjoyed it, saw all the princesses and Fair Godmother was wonderful She managed to make grumpy DS happy again

Mom would have had to hold me down, to not go say something to that Father How incredibly rude & obnoxious!

 

[Nicole721]

Ok, gotta ask: Furla? & Perla? I know Perla,we saw Suzie & Perla at 1900 PF last time we were there, just don't think I know who Furla is

The only time we've eaten at CRT was for breakfast (long time ago 6/01). We really enjoyed it, saw all the princesses and Fair Godmother was wonderful She managed to make grumpy DS happy again

Mom would have had to hold me down, to not go say something to that Father How incredibly rude & obnoxious!

Ahh I knew I forgot to post something.

It was Suzie. My sister and I always called her Furla (maybe because it rhymed with Perla and she was furry? I'll have to ask my mom where we came up with that).

 

[irongirlof12]

sounds like cindy need to wave her wand over the food she serves. Shame really as expectations run high for a 'castle' meal. I have it on my list of must do's and hope to go next time around, more for the experience that the food so... if it turns out okay I won't be disappointed

 

[chocolateMinnie]

Just found your reviews and wow!! Great reviews and photos. Glad you liked Akershus breakfast as we have booked that for the first time next year. We have been to CP for breakfast and dinner and loved it but never to lunch and also have that booked, sounds like it may not be as good as the other two meals, we thought CRT was fantastic but maybe we weren't expecting much on the food, it was fine and the restaurant is lovely. Looking forward to the rest.

 

[TPCShauna]

DSis and I wanted to hang around for awhile to let the crowd die out and as we were trying to maneuver DGM's wheelchair away from people to a quieter area, a man shoved his child's stroller into DM's ankle and shouted "MOVE IT" before shoving the stroller into her ankle again to illustrate his point.

Oh my heavens to betsy, he would have rued the day he did such a thing to me. I would have stalked that man until a security guard could be found and pressed charges for assault. I know exiting after Wishes is stressful but there is NO CALL to physically assault someone. Yes, this might seem a bit drastic but people like that should be taught a lesson. And no, I don't think I should turn the other cheek just because I am at Disney. Can you imagine what he is like on a day-to-day basis at home?

We, too, were underwhelmed at our Castle meal last trip and this was before it was made a two-credit meal. The food was only so-so but we did enjoy the ambiance of eating in the Castle. I agree with you completely on the "experience" dining aspect of the meal and can guarantee that we won't be back until I have a little princess of my own in tow.