Who's Gonna Have More Fun? Two PTR's for the Price of One!

[sjs314]

I do not know how but you slipped a second post in there on me Jo

To tired here for an adventure, might find me a cool shady spot and take a nap in MK too if I were there

 

[JoBird]

Hi Sheila! How ya doin?

I'm crashing now... I think I need a nap as well.

Maybe I'll just climb into my bed......


snoooooooze.

 

[Lovemy3babes]

Shelly, hooray for Mickey mail! Too bad it was the wrong info though. At least it was fun to receive. lol!!

Jo, 33 days! So close!

 

[JoBird]

If I could be in WDW right now....
I'd be hot after a long morning of walking around FW in Epcot. So I'd duck into Stave Church in Norway to enjoy a little cool air and look at all the Vikings.
That Eric the Red... he looked mean!



Hope all is well with everyone--- the countdown is well on the way in this house!
Tommorrow I will post my MK Resort Dining.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Good morning everyone!! It's August!!!!!!!!!!!! We are going to Disney THIS MONTH!!!!!!!!!!!!


Love the countdown Jo!!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Shelly....yay for you being able to say This Month!!! I know your boys are so excited!!
Jo....ONE MONTH!!!! And I like your daily countdown...I love the little Stave church also!!!

 

[lala3291]

Hey Everyone! I hope that you all had a great weekend. Ours was good, great weather- but busy!
Shelly- Yay for going to WDW this month! It's almost here! You will have to be sure to take lots of pics at the Poly, because we will be there in March for DD's 21st birthday! Her and I are planning a girls trip (no DH!) for us, DD18, and DD9. We will be going March 1-5 I believe (a short trip, since we are going as a family in January). I cannot wait to read your reviews of the Poly!
Jodi- What a fun countdown! I love it!
Enjoy your day!

 

[sjs314]

If I could be in WDW right now....
I'd be hot after a long morning of walking around FW in Epcot. So I'd duck into Stave Church in Norway to enjoy a little cool air and look at all the Vikings.
That Eric the Red... he looked mean!




Hmmmm You can go inside the Stave Church??? Really? Learn something new today

Hope all is well with everyone--- the countdown is well on the way in this house!
Tommorrow I will post my MK Resort Dining.

Good morning everyone!! It's August!!!!!!!!!!!! We are going to Disney THIS MONTH!!!!!!!!!!!!


Love the countdown Jo!!

I can not believe it is August already where did July go???

I am going through not liking my font and color been playing with it all morning.

 

[JoBird]

If I could be in WDW right now, I'd be walking thru the queue at Splash, Fast Passes in hand, enjoying how cool it is inside. I love it there!

 

[JoBird]

Good Morning Ladies!!!!!!!!


Shelly!!!!!!!! It's this month!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Sheila-- you can go into Stave Church--- I love it in there. It's tiny and has A/C!


Lauren----- you lucky thing--- going to the Poly! That will be so much fun! I hope your DD has a wonderful Bday---- how could she not???




Okay I'm getting my dining post together......

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Shelly....yay for you being able to say This Month!!! I know your boys are so excited!!
Jo....ONE MONTH!!!! And I like your daily countdown...I love the little Stave church also!!!

Thanks Shawna!! Yep, the boys are super excited!!

Hey Everyone! I hope that you all had a great weekend. Ours was good, great weather- but busy!
Shelly- Yay for going to WDW this month! It's almost here! You will have to be sure to take lots of pics at the Poly, because we will be there in March for DD's 21st birthday! Her and I are planning a girls trip (no DH!) for us, DD18, and DD9. We will be going March 1-5 I believe (a short trip, since we are going as a family in January). I cannot wait to read your reviews of the Poly!
Jodi- What a fun countdown! I love it!
Enjoy your day!

Hey Lauren! We had a nice weekend too. Another hot one!!

Congrats on the Poly trip!! I will be sure to take a ton of pics for you. Let me know it there's anything specific you want a picture of!

I can not believe it is August already where did July go???

I am going through not liking my font and color been playing with it all morning.

I know, the summer has flown by. Just like I knew it would. Which is good on the Disney front, but not so good that we will be starting school 2 days after we get back.

I like the green font!!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

If I could be in WDW right now, I'd be walking thru the queue at Splash, Fast Passes in hand, enjoying how cool it is inside. I love it there!

Sounds wonderful!

Good Morning Ladies!!!!!!!!


Shelly!!!!!!!! It's this month!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Sheila-- you can go into Stave Church--- I love it in there. It's tiny and has A/C!


Lauren----- you lucky thing--- going to the Poly! That will be so much fun! I hope your DD has a wonderful Bday---- how could she not???




Okay I'm getting my dining post together......

I still don't think I've ever been in Stave Church. Or even know where it is. I know you always talk about it and I always say I am going to find it but always forget.


Looking forward to your dining post. . .

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Sheila, I did that a while back on our Snowbird thread!! LOL...did all the diff colors...it was neat...that one row, i guess the bottom one,is soooo pale you can hardly see any of it! And yes, the Stave church is a must see!!
Just wanted to interject that I started our annual Christmas shopping thread today!! So, y'all come on and say hey!!http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=42066003#post42066003

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Yay for going to Disney THIS month!!! So exciting!!!

 

[JoBird]

Magic Kingdom Resort Deluxe Dining:


California Grill:

What we ordered:

Honestly, it was in 2007 that we went to this restaurant, so the menu has changed since then. I know that we ordered Yoshi’s Deluxe Sushi Platter, a flatbread, Caesar salads, and had the Filet. Dessert was a Crème Brulee and Choclate lava cake.

Thoughts:
Mark and I went to this restaurant while on the DDP- it was our only trip we had it. It was back when the tip was included as well as an appetizer. Being a signature restaurant we had to use 2 credits each for our meal. It was worth it.

Food wise, the meal was probably the best I’ve had on property. The steak was delicious. It was served with mashed potatoes that were heavenly. The sauce that went with it was wonderful. Mark enjoyed the sushi- said it was the best he’d ever had. It looked really pretty, however I abstained.

Service was wonderful--- and terrible at the same time. The hostess was a rude little thing and it really set me off. I don’t remember exactly what happened— I know we showed up about 45 minutes early (on purpose) so that we could sit and have a glass of wine at the bar before our meal. She wanted to seat us immediately and was put off when we said we’d rather wait a few minutes. We’d been running around all day and wanted a nice pace to our meal. She wanted to rush us in, and then rush us out. I understood her position; I know it’s tough to have all those guests to tend to. However it really set the tone for the meal as this was my first attempt to have everything go “just right” at WDW. I had purposely made reservations for later in the evening, wanting dessert to coincide with Wishes and if we started eating earlier, we’d be well finished with our entire meal before they began.
Yes, I was setting myself up for disappointment. Nothing goes the way you plan it.

We did get to relax for a bit – she told us that if we didn’t take the table right then it would be a “little bit” after our ADR that we were able to be seated. We said we’d wait. So we did. For an hour and a forty five minutes. So much for our dessert and fireworks show.

Our waiter was outstanding. We’ve never had any problems with servers, but this one was wonderful. We were never rushed; he explained the menu and made sure we had everything we needed before we had a chance to ask. It was a great experience.

The fireworks started just after our steaks arrived, and it was disappointing to me because I was hoping to walk out to the observation deck to watch them, but we couldn’t because our meal would have been cold.

It was then that I realized I had been going about the trip wrong. I had been trying to make sure all of this “magic” happened at different times for us and I kept failing at it. While I think being on the DIS is wonderful, it sometimes sets you up for disappointment when you see all of these great things that people are able to accomplish, and you try to force it for yourself. I promised myself from then on that I would let the magic just happen. And I have been so happy since then.

So- California Grill gets a 4.75 rating from us. If the hostess had been pleasant it would have been a 5.


Wilderness Lodge-

Whispering Canyon Café:

What we ordered:

Canyon Skillet
All You Care To Enjoy $28.99 per person

Smoked Pork Ribs, Pulled Pork, Oven-roasted Chicken, Beef Brisket, Mashed Potatoes, Cowboy Beans, and Corn on the Cob Mixed Greens Salad with Apple Vinaigrette, Coleslaw, and Fresh-baked Cornbread

Whiskey Maple-Glazed Trout - Served on a bed of arugula-frisee salad $18.99

Sheriff's Shakes - Chocolate, Vanilla or Strawberry All-You-Care-to-Enjoy $6.39

Thoughts:
We’ve been here twice- The first time Mark and I ran into some friends of ours at WDW and they wanted us to eat dinner with them here so they added us onto their ADR. I didn’t know anything about the restaurant. When the waiter began berating my girlfriend about riding the stick pony, I almost lost it. We ordered the Skillet and I thought it was okay. Wasn’t my favorite, but I thought thekids would get a kick out of the shenanigans of the workers so I scheduled this restaurant for the following trip. That trip, we ate here on our arrival night and I should have known better. We were exhausted and the kids- especially Belle- didn’t appreciate the nonsense at all. I do know that the trout here was better than the skillet. We have no plans of returning anytime soon. Rating: 3 out of 5.


Artist Point:

What we ordered:

A Selection of Artisanal Cheeses - Smokey Blue Cheese, Reypenaer VSOP, "The Drunken Goat" with Seasonal Garnishes and Walnut Toast $14.00

Mixed Field Greens Salad - with peaches, rogue creamery blue cheese and Orange-Honey Vinaigrette $10.00

Cedar Plank Roasted Copper River Salmon - (type of salmon changes seasonally) with confit artichokes, petit zucchini, baby carrots, and bacon-egg vinaigrette $48

Thoughts: This was another restaurant that Mark and I went to during an adult’s only trip. I had high expectations for it. Unfortunately, it wasn’t good. The best thing we had was the cheese Platter- it was delicious. The salmon was raw. Like, just barely seared on the outside, and I had asked for mine to be cooked medium-well. I guess the cook thought he knew best and refused to fix it that way. Mark’s was the same. Needless to say, we were very disappointed. The restaurant is beautiful and relaxing. Service was just so so. I think they forgot we were there because our server disappeared for half of our meal. We won’t be going back. Rating: 2 out of 5.



Polynesian:

Kona:

What we ordered:

Breakfast:

Ham and Cheese Omelet - with home-fried potatoes and a biscuit $10.49 (Mark had them make it with egg whites)

Macadamia Pineapple Pancakes - with macadamia nut butter, pineapple sauce and your choice of ham, bacon or sausage $9.99

Fruit Plate - fresh seasonal fruit served in a pineapple with banana nut bread $8.99

100% Kona Coffee French Press Pot $7.49 (serves 2)


Thoughts:
YUM. That is all. Can’t wait to get back there!!!! And I HATE breakfast! Rating: 5 out of 5.


Lunch:

Sticky Wings for Two - glazed chicken wings with a tangy mustard drizzle and toasted sesame seeds $12.99

Big Island Tacos - served in a House-made Shell with Pasta Salad and Smokey Bacon Slaw:
Fish Taco - Seared Tilapia with tomato salsa and mango mayonnaise $13.99

Asian Noodle Bowl - Spiced Beef Broth with Strip Steak, Snap Peas, Carrots, Celery, and Rice Noodles 14.99

Thoughts:
Oh My gosh. We went there just about everyday of our last trip for lunch. It was that good. I could eat their fish tacos all day. LOVE them. And the wings?? If you haven’t had them, you have to get them. So dang good. This is my favorite TS for lunch. Rating: 5 out of 5.


Kona Island Sushi Bar:

What we ordered:

Kona Crab Cake Roll - fresh jumbo lump crab cake, avocado, and an Asian tartar sauce $10.99

Volcano Roll - spicy tuna, shrimp salad, tempura crunch $13.99

And I ordered this from the Kona café menu:

Kona Salad - Mixed greens, Maytag blue cheese, fresh fruit, red onions, and smoked almonds with a citrus vinaigrette $8.49

Thoughts:
If you like sushi and you want something quick- this is a good place. I think. I don’t eat it, but Mark said it was definitely good. Not as good as California Grill, but good. You are able to order off of the Kona menu which is what I did to order my salad. It was a fast meal- there aren’t many seats at the bar there. Rating: 4 out of 5.


‘Ohana:

What we ordered:

'Ohana ...a place of family, laughter and sharing ...Hawaiian style.
All-you-care-to-enjoy family style feast served right to your table.
Adults $32.99; Children 3-9 $15.99 - Includes coffee, tea and soda


'Ohana Welcome Bread
Mixed greens with a honey-lime dressing
Appetizers/Accompaniments
Pineapple-Coconut Bread
Mixed Greens with Mango-Poppy Seed Dressing
Honey Coriander Chicken Wings
Pork fried dumplings
Sweet Golden Pineapple
Skewers
Prepared over an oak fire
Oak Grilled Chicken
Asian Barbecued Pork Loin
Marinated Sirloin Steak
Spicy Grilled Peel - n - Eat Shrimp
Accompaniments
Egg Noodles tossed in a peanut sauce with pineapple
Stir fried vegetables
Dipping Sauces
House Made Peanut Sauce
Chimichurri Sauce
Pineapple Sweet and Sour Sauce
Dessert
'Ohana bread pudding served a la mode with Bananas and Caramel Sauce


Thoughts:
We love this restaurant because it is so family friendly and just a fun time all the way around. The wait to get seated can often be a bit of a wait, and we don't love the shrimp here. I also don't care for the dumpling thingy-- Kinda weirds me out--- but the bread pudding???? It might be worth the price alone. Don't be surprised if you fight over who is going to lick the bowl! Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Great update Jodi!

And Happy 1 Month by the way!!!!!!!!


Never been to California Grill. Sounds wonderful though. I'm not sure it's something the kids would appreciate or enjoy. Maybe someday we will stay at the Contemporary and DH & I will eat at CG and leave the kids in the room!

I know what you mean about setting yourself up for disappointment. Nearly everything went wrong on our 10th anniversary trip in 2008. Now I just take the magic as it comes rather than trying to make it!

You know my feelings on WCC.

I agree with you on Kona Cafe 100%!!! LOVE it and I don't even like breakfast! Hey, that makes 2 for us. BRG and Kona!

Can't wait to try dinner at Ohana!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Sheila, I did that a while back on our Snowbird thread!! LOL...did all the diff colors...it was neat...that one row, i guess the bottom one,is soooo pale you can hardly see any of it! And yes, the Stave church is a must see!!
Just wanted to interject that I started our annual Christmas shopping thread today!! So, y'all come on and say hey!!http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=42066003#post42066003

Christmas shopping!! I might need to wait until after Disney to start thinking about Christmas!!

Yay for going to Disney THIS month!!! So exciting!!!

Thanks!!

 

[sjs314]

Jo - We have never dined at CG, it is just not our type of place a little too fancy. It surely did seem as if the Hostess punished you guys and put your name at the bottom of the list when you did not accept the table offered early.

We ate at Artist Point years ago when we stayed at WL, I do not think it was a signature restaurant then

WCC I am mixed feeling we like the food but depending on how we are feeling the noise level can get to be too much, even so I have 3 ADRs for there in October since we changed resorts , doing lunch on arrival day after JB changed our arrival flight getting us to Orlando and hour and a half later

Breakfast our last full day and dinner the night of MNSSHP since I was able to snag a 5:05pm and I figure that will give us the most down time at the resort before the party

I so hope I do not regret eating there this trip


Have never done Kona or 'Ohana but I am glad we are eating at 'Ohana this trip after reading what you had.

Still thinking about Kona for breakfast.

We did the Aloha dinner one year, the menu was quite different than the current one from what I read but our server was great and kept the mai tai's flowing and I was feeling no pain by time we were done with dinner

 

[Lovemy3babes]

Jo, it sounds like the Cali Grill hostess was on a power trip. How nice of her. Ohana sounds so yummy!! That is on our definite next time list!

Shelly, this month! Woot!

 

[JoBird]

Afternoon everyone!


Sea---- hope you made it to Vegas and everything is going good and you are having a nice time with your wife.

Great update Jodi!

And Happy 1 Month by the way!!!!!!!!


Never been to California Grill. Sounds wonderful though. I'm not sure it's something the kids would appreciate or enjoy. Maybe someday we will stay at the Contemporary and DH & I will eat at CG and leave the kids in the room!

I know what you mean about setting yourself up for disappointment. Nearly everything went wrong on our 10th anniversary trip in 2008. Now I just take the magic as it comes rather than trying to make it!

You know my feelings on WCC.

I agree with you on Kona Cafe 100%!!! LOVE it and I don't even like breakfast! Hey, that makes 2 for us. BRG and Kona!

Can't wait to try dinner at Ohana!

Thanks Shelly!!!! you are right--- we now have two!!!! BRG and Kona! Hopefully we will have 'Ohana and you don't think I'm a loon for liking it.
CG-- you would love their steak-- they cook it right!-- I think at some point Mark and I would go back but it's expensive to take everyone. Def a date nite type place, although there were a ton of kids in there when we went.

Christmas shopping!! I might need to wait until after Disney to start thinking about Christmas!!


Thanks!!

I was thinking the same thing about this trip------ I have to get thru it before I can even think of shopping for Christmas!

Jo - We have never dined at CG, it is just not our type of place a little too fancy. It surely did seem as if the Hostess punished you guys and put your name at the bottom of the list when you did not accept the table offered early.

We ate at Artist Point years ago when we stayed at WL, I do not think it was a signature restaurant then

WCC I am mixed feeling we like the food but depending on how we are feeling the noise level can get to be too much, even so I have 3 ADRs for there in October since we changed resorts , doing lunch on arrival day after JB changed our arrival flight getting us to Orlando and hour and a half later

Breakfast our last full day and dinner the night of MNSSHP since I was able to snag a 5:05pm and I figure that will give us the most down time at the resort before the party

I so hope I do not regret eating there this trip


Have never done Kona or 'Ohana but I am glad we are eating at 'Ohana this trip after reading what you had.

Still thinking about Kona for breakfast.

We did the Aloha dinner one year, the menu was quite different than the current one from what I read but our server was great and kept the mai tai's flowing and I was feeling no pain by time we were done with dinner

Okay you have to squeeze in a trip to Kona for Breakfast. As in, MUST! Both Shelly and I agree on it... you know it must be good!

I have thought of the Aloha show before but didn't know if it would be worth it or not.

Jo, it sounds like the Cali Grill hostess was on a power trip. How nice of her. Ohana sounds so yummy!! That is on our definite next time list!

Shelly, this month! Woot!

Power trip-- that's exactly what it was. Sad, really, but I had read that it may be that way before we even got there. Their reputation precedes them I'm afraid.

You will love 'Ohana!!!