Saphire
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2000
- Messages
- 4,035
We just returned from seven days with the free dining plan. I figured it saved the four us over $1500. This is an amazing opportunity and for those of you yet to visit, you're in for a treat! Thanks to these boards, I knew exactly how it worked and on our last day had just enough credits for drinks and sandwiches to-go for the long airport wait. Here are some comments about table service restaurants:
LeCellier: Everything here was superb. I had the tomato stack and it was so huge, you could have made a meal from just that. The tomatoes were perfect and seasoned so well, it was delicious. All other portions were small, but we still left very full. DH had the cheddar cheese soup, DS had the shrimp and DD had the tenderloin kabob, all excellent. DD got a frozen orange smoothie, which is included in the DDP. I was surprised the cheese assortment app. was not on the menu as I was looking forward to that...perhaps they took it off the menu during free dining? For entrees we all got steak except DD got the chicken. Again, it was wonderful. Desserts were great too...sorbet, creme brulee, double berry cobbler.
Crystal Palace: We ate here for breakfast and dinner on two different days. Breakfast was great as we got into the park early for an 8:00 ADR and then were the first ones called into the restaurant. It was quiet and everything was fresh and delicious. The dinner was crazy...the restaurant was packed at 4:00 and was just too busy, going up to the buffet was an obstacle course. The food was very good, but I must recommend an early ADR for breakfast vs. dinner as it was a totally different experience.
Mama Melrose: Somewhat unimpressed with the food here. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't that good, lol. I got the Wood Grilled Chicken and it was quite bland, DH got the Penne Alla Vodka and he liked it ok. Our kids got the flatbread pizza and they enjoyed it. The bruchetta appetizer had a strange flavor in it, but our kids liked it. The desserts were good, cheesecake and gelato.
Coral Reef: This was the only restaurant we had to wait for our table (30 min) and they told us they were behind when we checked in. We were seated in the very last row, far from the fish, but our kids are older so it didn't matter and I never requested to be seated closer. The booths are comfortable and cozy, the lighting very nice. This was our most expensive meal, and when leaving our kids couldn't believe we didn't have to pay the $220 bill. Everything was very good here. For appetizers we had shrimp, ceasar salad and lobster soup. Entrees were steak, crab cakes, and salmon. Desserts we all tried something different...California Gold, Cheesecake, Chocolate Wave and Butterscotch Brulee. The specialty drinks are not included here, only soda, but they were included in the DDP at Le Cellier. This was a wonderful meal.
Kona Cafe: We had a wonderful waiter here, and an incredible meal. All the DIS reviews were right! DH tried a Mai-Tai. For appetizers we tried the pot stickers, crab cakes, ceasar salad and chowder. Entrees were Mahi-Mahi, Asian Pasta, Shrimp and Scallops, and Beef Terryaki. For some reason we were most full here and our waiter offered to wrap desserts up for us but we were headed to the MK and it was quite hot. So we all shared the white chocolate cheesecake and it was amazing! I wish I had those other desserts now!
Hoop-De-Doo: We all loved the fried chicken, etc. and the show...my DS was chosen as the 'brave indian' at the end of the show, which I will write about in my trip report. This is one place you will leave full and happy!
Rose and Crown: My favorite meal. In all our trips we never visited here. I don't know if it was the cold Pint, or the company...we were surrounded with the lovely sound of British customers, as well as our waitress from England. And the food was delicious. I had the cheese and fruit assortment along with some nice bread for the table. Cheese and bread make me happy, so happy. DH had the mushrooms, DD the potato and leek soup and DS the shrimp. All were great. The fish and chips were amazing. I have heard mixed reviews over the years of this signature dish, but I found it moist and tender and flavorful. YUM. DH had the cottage pie, and our kids had the chicken pasty. Delicious. The desserts were wonderful too...the coffee trifle was divine, DH got the sticky pudding, and DS got a chocolate torte. We will be back!
LeCellier: Everything here was superb. I had the tomato stack and it was so huge, you could have made a meal from just that. The tomatoes were perfect and seasoned so well, it was delicious. All other portions were small, but we still left very full. DH had the cheddar cheese soup, DS had the shrimp and DD had the tenderloin kabob, all excellent. DD got a frozen orange smoothie, which is included in the DDP. I was surprised the cheese assortment app. was not on the menu as I was looking forward to that...perhaps they took it off the menu during free dining? For entrees we all got steak except DD got the chicken. Again, it was wonderful. Desserts were great too...sorbet, creme brulee, double berry cobbler.
Crystal Palace: We ate here for breakfast and dinner on two different days. Breakfast was great as we got into the park early for an 8:00 ADR and then were the first ones called into the restaurant. It was quiet and everything was fresh and delicious. The dinner was crazy...the restaurant was packed at 4:00 and was just too busy, going up to the buffet was an obstacle course. The food was very good, but I must recommend an early ADR for breakfast vs. dinner as it was a totally different experience.
Mama Melrose: Somewhat unimpressed with the food here. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't that good, lol. I got the Wood Grilled Chicken and it was quite bland, DH got the Penne Alla Vodka and he liked it ok. Our kids got the flatbread pizza and they enjoyed it. The bruchetta appetizer had a strange flavor in it, but our kids liked it. The desserts were good, cheesecake and gelato.
Coral Reef: This was the only restaurant we had to wait for our table (30 min) and they told us they were behind when we checked in. We were seated in the very last row, far from the fish, but our kids are older so it didn't matter and I never requested to be seated closer. The booths are comfortable and cozy, the lighting very nice. This was our most expensive meal, and when leaving our kids couldn't believe we didn't have to pay the $220 bill. Everything was very good here. For appetizers we had shrimp, ceasar salad and lobster soup. Entrees were steak, crab cakes, and salmon. Desserts we all tried something different...California Gold, Cheesecake, Chocolate Wave and Butterscotch Brulee. The specialty drinks are not included here, only soda, but they were included in the DDP at Le Cellier. This was a wonderful meal.
Kona Cafe: We had a wonderful waiter here, and an incredible meal. All the DIS reviews were right! DH tried a Mai-Tai. For appetizers we tried the pot stickers, crab cakes, ceasar salad and chowder. Entrees were Mahi-Mahi, Asian Pasta, Shrimp and Scallops, and Beef Terryaki. For some reason we were most full here and our waiter offered to wrap desserts up for us but we were headed to the MK and it was quite hot. So we all shared the white chocolate cheesecake and it was amazing! I wish I had those other desserts now!
Hoop-De-Doo: We all loved the fried chicken, etc. and the show...my DS was chosen as the 'brave indian' at the end of the show, which I will write about in my trip report. This is one place you will leave full and happy!
Rose and Crown: My favorite meal. In all our trips we never visited here. I don't know if it was the cold Pint, or the company...we were surrounded with the lovely sound of British customers, as well as our waitress from England. And the food was delicious. I had the cheese and fruit assortment along with some nice bread for the table. Cheese and bread make me happy, so happy. DH had the mushrooms, DD the potato and leek soup and DS the shrimp. All were great. The fish and chips were amazing. I have heard mixed reviews over the years of this signature dish, but I found it moist and tender and flavorful. YUM. DH had the cottage pie, and our kids had the chicken pasty. Delicious. The desserts were wonderful too...the coffee trifle was divine, DH got the sticky pudding, and DS got a chocolate torte. We will be back!
