What's the Big Deal With Staying On Property Anyway? *Goodbyes* 12/17 p.114

[jmskinner]

For the pins. What a great birthday gift! I want that Pluto with the balloon one.

The lanyard is cool also. I have stopped wearing mine and took all my pins off because it rubs on my camera.

Love the bird pics. I'm always taking pics of animals in the world also, as you know.

 

[carissanboys]

After resting back in the room for a short time, we got in the van and drove over to the Poly. It never fails that when we drive over, we end up going past the parking lot and have to exit and re-enter. It's quite humorous actually. We went to the Poly twice on this trip and both Chuck and I made the same mistake. We just kept looking for a spot close to the building and before we knew it, we had to exit. The CM at the gate even laughed at us once. (It's okay - I know y'all are laughing too.)

I just love the Poly! As we got to the second floor, we saw this very long check in line. Thankfully, we realized it was for 'Ohana. Even though Kona was practically empty, we still had to wait a bit before they seated us. Guess they didn't have all of their servers working yet.

I love how elegant Kona looks.

Our buzzer went off and we were seated in a great little corner spot - out of the way. Our waitress was very efficient, but she just seemed to be lacking in the Disney magic. That's kind of how I felt about Kona I guess. I loved the atmosphere and thought it was beautiful, but I don't think I ever really felt comfortable.

Our waitress brought us some bread and our drinks. The Hawaiian bread and macadamia honey butter is AMAZING! We devoured it pretty quickly. One of my favorite parts of the meal.

The boys loved the umbrellas that came with their drinks.

On the Dining Plan we were allowed to have a fruity non-alcoholic drink. I had some raspberry something or other - very good. Can't remember what Chuck had, but here's a picture:

Then it came time for our meals.

Chuck got the Tuna Oscar. He said it was very good just found the sauce to be too sweet. It overpowered the wasabi.

I ordered the Teriyaki-style New York Strip. Probably THE best meal of the trip for me (and yes - I'm comparing it to the mushroom filet at Le Cellier ). The steak was cooked perfectly and the teriyaki sauce was awesome.

I didn't take any pictures of the kids' meals and I didn't write much down for notes (I usually took my notes at the end of the day to quickly jot down the order of events and anything major that happened).

It was time for dessert and to be honest - I was too full for more food. There wasn't anything on their dessert menu that really appealed to me, but I went with the Banana-Chocolate Creme Brulee. Chuck ordered the White Chocolate Cheesecake.

First the waitress brought me this:

It was a cream puff. I took a small bite and gave the rest to the boys. I'm guessing that they don't have enough room with the creme brulee plate to do anything special so they gave me this instead. I was a little disappointed that there was no singing or anything. We later saw a different waitress bring out dessert to someone and SHE sang Happy Birthday. Guess our waitress wasn't a singer.

The creme brulee was good. There's a chocolate layer on the bottom. I was just too full to enoy it.

The boys made their own sundaes, which they loved!

So, overall, I enjoyed our meal at Kona. I thought the food was fabulous and the atmosphere is very elegant. I don't know that I would go back though. Maybe if it were just Chuck and I. The overall feeling of the restaurant, including our waitress, was a bit too, uh - "high class" for me. I think if we'd had a different server we would have felt differently.

With bulging bellies, we made our way outside to the beach. This is one of the things that really draws me to this resort.

The boys played in the sand while Chuck and I sat on the swing. We didn't stay too long since we wanted to get back to Magic Kingdom for SpectroMagic and Wishes.

Up Next - Moving Update - Getting Close!

 

[jmskinner]

Ok, I know you didn't have the best time, but due to the food porn I want to give Kona a try. The DH loves terriyaki sauce, so I am sure he will love the steak.

 

[carissanboys]

Just getting caught up! I don't love birds either...as a matter of fact when Bryan and I went to the MK in Feb. of 1996 a bird stuck its beak right through my ice cream cone and lifted the ice cream right off the cone!! I liked your picture though! What a GREAT birthday surprise from Keith! How very thoughtful!! I can't wait to hear what you thought of Kona!!

Those birds can be pretty cheeky!

For the pins. What a great birthday gift! I want that Pluto with the balloon one.

The lanyard is cool also. I have stopped wearing mine and took all my pins off because it rubs on my camera.

Love the bird pics. I'm always taking pics of animals in the world also, as you know.

Don't tell Keith, but I kept those two balloon pins for myself.

Ok, I know you didn't have the best time, but due to the food porn I want to give Kona a try. The DH loves terriyaki sauce, so I am sure he will love the steak.

The food was excellent and I really think with a different server we would have enjoyed it more. It just didn't feel special for my birthday, you know? However, I had two other meals that kind of made up for it.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Sorry you had a less than stellar server but I'm glad that you at least enjoyed the meal! The cheesecake sounds yummy!

 

[torsie24]

Wow! It looks a lovely meal - I think I may order exactly what you did when we go as it all looked delicious!!!

Sorry your server wasn't overly Disney, but I'm glad you had a lovely birthday dinner!

 

[mommytothreeboys]

I am a steak girl all day long and that steak looks amazing! I'm sorry your birthday dinner wasn't what you had hoped, but I'm glad you at least enjoyed the food!

I laughed about the parking lot story...that is totally something I would do! LOL!

Can't wait to hear more!

 

[pixidustmom]

Ohhhhh, your whole meal looked and sounded so yummmmmyyyy. Now how am I going to eat my pbj sandwich knowing I was just drooling over your food?

 

[Goofster57]

Finally Food Porn​

Sorry you weren't overly please with your experience. I have only been there for breakfast and really enjoyed it.

I have found that when dining at Disney the server can make or break your experience.

The little Birthday Plate was cute

Nice up-date,

Please don't tell me that is it for Food Porn

Those birds can be pretty cheeky!
Don't tell Keith, but I kept those two balloon pins for myself.

 

[mnkyboy24]

The drink That I had was a virgina Pina Colada. Quite awesome, even without the rum.

 

[eandesmom]

With Kona I think the challenge is that it's just a lovely restaurant, inside disney. It doesn't have the personality of many places where your server gets into the theme. But as you noted, the food is amazing! My DH and I had the exact reverse of you and Chuck and it was my best meal of the trip.

But for entertainment, there are other places the kids liked better. They'd eat there again and be fine with it (and I plan to go there for breakfast) but they really got into more of a dinner show at many of the places so I think that skewed it a little for them. A great dinner, just not as Disney-ish as some others

What a lovely day you had!

 

[carissanboys]

Sorry you had a less than stellar server but I'm glad that you at least enjoyed the meal! The cheesecake sounds yummy!

The server did an excellent job...serving. Don't get me wrong! I just prefer someone a bit warmer and more friendly.

Wow! It looks a lovely meal - I think I may order exactly what you did when we go as it all looked delicious!!!

Sorry your server wasn't overly Disney, but I'm glad you had a lovely birthday dinner!

You should! That steak was sooooo yummy.

I am a steak girl all day long and that steak looks amazing! I'm sorry your birthday dinner wasn't what you had hoped, but I'm glad you at least enjoyed the food!

I laughed about the parking lot story...that is totally something I would do! LOL!

Can't wait to hear more!

I love a good steak too. Medium rare!

Ohhhhh, your whole meal looked and sounded so yummmmmyyyy. Now how am I going to eat my pbj sandwich knowing I was just drooling over your food?

I know. Everything kind of seems dull after that.

Finally Food Porn​

Sorry you weren't overly please with your experience. I have only been there for breakfast and really enjoyed it.

I have found that when dining at Disney the server can make or break your experience.

The little Birthday Plate was cute

Nice up-date,

Please don't tell me that is it for Food Porn

It definitely wasn't a bad experience at all - just not what I'd hoped for on my birthday I guess. I wanted everyone in the restaurant to serenade me!! I wanted there to be fireworks!! Oh wait - that's coming up.

Of course there's more food porn! What kind of DISer do you think I am???

The drink That I had was a virgina Pina Colada. Quite awesome, even without the rum.

I thought it was a Pina Colada.

With Kona I think the challenge is that it's just a lovely restaurant, inside disney. It doesn't have the personality of many places where your server gets into the theme. But as you noted, the food is amazing! My DH and I had the exact reverse of you and Chuck and it was my best meal of the trip.

I think you're right. If we'd had that same server somewhere outside of Disney, I probably would have thought she was awesome. Like I mentioned - she was efficient. I just wanted something special on my birthday I guess.

 

[wahoostampingirl]

I love, love, love Kona! We go there at least once a trip and sometimes two times. I've had the Teriyaki Strip Steak and I have to agree that it is excellent. I also love the Macadamia Pineapple Pancakes for breakfast. My dh has to have a French Press Pot of coffee every time he's in there. We celebrated our 15th anniversary there and received a cream puff kind of dessert too. Not my favorite kind of dessert, but it was very pretty.

I know what you mean about your server though. We always seem to get one who does a fine job, but just isn't that friendly. However, it doesn't detract from our love of Kona.

 

[cjackearl]

I definitely think that you should have gotten serenaded! Not only was it your birthday but Disney's new theme? Hello? What are you celebrating? I get it. The food does look amazing though. We've got a ressie there in June.

 

[carissanboys]

I love, love, love Kona! We go there at least once a trip and sometimes two times. I've had the Teriyaki Strip Steak and I have to agree that it is excellent. I also love the Macadamia Pineapple Pancakes for breakfast. My dh has to have a French Press Pot of coffee every time he's in there. We celebrated our 15th anniversary there and received a cream puff kind of dessert too. Not my favorite kind of dessert, but it was very pretty.

I know what you mean about your server though. We always seem to get one who does a fine job, but just isn't that friendly. However, it doesn't detract from our love of Kona.

I kicked myself afterwards for not ordering a pot of the french press coffee!! The desserts and their presentation were beautiful!

I definitely think that you should have gotten serenaded! Not only was it your birthday but Disney's new theme? Hello? What are you celebrating? I get it. The food does look amazing though. We've got a ressie there in June.

Thank you! I was thinking something along the lines of "Be Our Guest" from Beauty and the Beast. A big number with all of the staff - huge production! Something I did forget to mention is how many times I was told "Happy Birthday" that day by all of the CMs. I should have kept count! Usually it was just "Happy Birthday", but a few times I heard "Happy Birthday Carissa!"

 

[Charleston Princess]

Dinner looks delicious -- we loved the bread and macadamia butter when we ate there last June! Mmmm! Love the beach pictures! The Poly is always so beautiful!

 

[KathyRN137]

Wow! I feel stuffed just reading about your dinner!!

The Poly beach looks so inviting!

Happy Birthday, Carissa!!

ooohhh, Spectro and Wishes coming up... my absolute favorite!!


Kathy

 

[DisneyJo]

How sweet of Keith to send you a Birthday pressie

I so agree about the steak at Kona, when we ate there it was the best steak of the trip and we ate at Le Cellier twice, it was delicious!

 

[dddisrunner]

Carissa, I always get that exact meal that you had when we go to Kona!! I LOVE it...so good!! I think the butter and bread at Kona is to DIE for!!! Sorry the server wasn't more upbeat and cheery for your birthday!! It seems like you went on a night that wasn't too crowded, it has always been near capacity when we have been!! GREAT update as usual!!

 

[MeMom]

I ordered the Teriyaki-style New York Strip. Probably THE best meal of the trip for me (and yes - I'm comparing it to the mushroom filet at Le Cellier ). The steak was cooked perfectly and the teriyaki sauce was awesome.

With bulging bellies, we made our way outside to the beach. This is one of the things that really draws me to this resort.

The boys played in the sand while Chuck and I sat on the swing. We didn't stay too long since we wanted to get back to Magic Kingdom for SpectroMagic and Wishes.

Up Next - The Boys Make Friends With the Help of Glow Sticks

That meal is just what I would get. It looks sooo good!

Sweet picture of the boys on the beach!