Most Recent Reviews
Reviewed by cinderella3 Review Date: 11/20/2014
Rating: (8) Recommended
I ordered the Pressed Turkey Club and thought it was delicious. Especially for a QS at Disney. Fries were too salty for my taste but they were okay. The Mickey Check Meal was perfect for my toddler. We were able to let her eat what she wanted and take the rest with us for her snacks later. My husband ordered the Desert Pear Lemonade and that was...interesting. It wasn't gross but I took one sip and just wasn't interested in drinking any more of it. I'm sure others like it. My son had the chicken nuggets and liked them. One of the best parts was that I didn't have to stress over finding a table as there was plenty of seating. A rarity at WDW! Overall, it was a nice relaxing place to sit and eat and the food was pretty good.
Pros:
Plentiful seating, Good FoodCons:
noneReviewed by cinderella3 Review Date: 11/20/2014
Rating: (4) Recommended
My family and I attended the Christmas party in 2013 and it was the highlight of our Disney trip. This year, not so much. My favorite part of the party was the parade, castle show and fireworks. The parade was at least twice as long last year. Last year they had everything that was in the electrical parade in with the Christmas parade. This year none of the electrical parade floats were included. They also cut out other parts of the parade. They did add some Frozen floats but not enough to make up for all they took out! The parade lasted maybe 10 minutes long and we had to stand there for 2 hours just to hold our 2nd row spot to view the parade. Didn't even stay for the castle show as we were so tired of standing in the same spot with two small children that long. It was such a disappointment. That being said, I do think the ticket is worth it if you want short wait times on the rides. You could ride more rides during that party than you could all day long during regular park hours. The snow on Main Street is still beautiful of course but you can't really stand there and enjoy it. That street is packed. When we arrived three hours before the first parade, there wasn't anywhere to stand to view the parade from Main Street. There are some great character meetings available as well with the characters dressed in Christmas costumes. That was fun for the little ones. Hot cocoa and cookies were not as good as last year either and we had to wait in line quite a while for them. Overall, I would do it again just to ride the rides without lines. Had I known how utterly disappointing the parade was going to be, we would have used that 2 hours much more wisely. Just a few notes-I entered the price I paid for the tickets however I don't remember the cost exactly. It was in that neighborhood though. Also, we attended November 14, 2014 and last year we attended the exact same week in November but it was a Monday night instead of a Friday night.
Pros:
Short lines for rides, snow on Main Street, special character meetingsCons:
Parade VERY shortReview of IllumiNations Sparkling Dessert Party
Reviewed by freshegg Review Date: 11/20/2014
Rating: (1) Not Recommended
One word...awful! My family of 5 adults, one infant and one child attended this and were so disappointed. I hate complaining about Disney because I so appreciate the extra effort they take to make everything magical however, I wish they would have made the extra effort to have chairs/seating at this event. After a long day in the parks we were so looking forward to relaxing with premium seats for Illuminations. We had previously attended the same party in MK and loved it. Sadly this event is stand up only at bar height tables with most of the tables being on an incline so standing for an hour was almost impossible. Most people ended up sitting on the ground til the show started. Our little one couldn't even see over the table and had to sit on the ground the whole time. Bottom line, if you arrive anywhere around the World showcase an hour before Illuminations you will get far better views right against the fence, be able to at least sit on flat ground and will save yourself $50 a person.
Pros:
good selection of desserts and drinksCons:
no chairsReview of Everything POP! Breakfast
Reviewed by CinCin Review Date: 11/19/2014
Rating: (6) Recommended
I saw several choices for breakfast but most of them were carb heavy at the stations and loaded with fats and sugars. I only ate breakfast here a few times as the only healthy choice that was a hot meal was the made to order omelets and even though the chef was preparing several orders at once it still took a while and the line moved very slowly. Rather than wait a long time, I opted for fruit and I was able to get just an order of bacon at another station without waiting. The scrambled eggs were way too runny for me to even try ordering. I didn't see a station where I could get grits, cream of wheat, or malt o meal already prepared. It gets really busy in the morning after 8 so I might have just not seen it. I did find a chocolate croissant pastry that was out of this world heavenly and the clouds parted and angels sang when I bit into this delicious treat. I gave up eating healthy at that point and indulged. I would have loved to have found a tortilla and a bit of scrambled egg and cubed potatoes. That would have made my perfect breakfast. They had Texas Pete hot sauce in little packets so I was able to have my omelet with pepper sauce. It's much milder than Tabasco and not vinegary so it takes a lot of packets but the Texas Pete had a nice mild/medium flavor and I was content with it as a substitute. There was a really good selection of grab and go items and juices, yogurts, and cereals in the back. Seating was a bit of a hassle in the peak times but they had a lot of tables and more outside too. I'd eat there again but go early and not have to wait in line for the omelets. That is pretty much the only thing I would eat again along with the chocolate croissant. I didn't care for the bacon much and had to microwave it to get it done enough where I could eat it. I didn't order the sausage as it was links and it looked really pale and underdone and it wasn't even pork. I know I am a picky eater, but I really had a hard time finding something suitable (no bread group) and ended up most mornings with just some fresh fruit. I didn't see just plain hard boiled eggs and they certainly didn't have any refried beans. They did have a crazy breakfast sandwich using frosted pop tarts instead of toast. I didn't see any one ordering it but they had several made and prepackaged. I think for others this food court is just fine and I think my husband would have enjoyed it but I didn't so much with such limited options for my dietary needs. My omelets were delicious and they need more stations doing the made to order omelets!!!
Pros:
made to order omelets, bounty platters were largeCons:
totoo many carb options, thin floppy bacon, sausage not pork.Review of Disney Dining Plan
Reviewed by mochridh Review Date: 11/18/2014
Rating: (5) Not Recommended
The first time we went to Disney World in 2008, the Dining Plan was different and we loved it.
Back then, we had the choice between appetizer or dessert and as I am not a big dessert fan, the option was very appreciated. It also included a gratuity, but we always tipped more on top of it.
We also noticed that the restos were waaay emptier than they now are.
Since then, we've become incredibly disenchanted with the DDP and will give Tables in Wonderland a go in a few weeks (DVC members). Being that we would rather share an appetizer and I enjoy a glass of wine with my meal, our calculations (on a detailed spreadsheet based on our usual trends) show that we will not be spending more for TIW, may even save some $$, but will enjoy flexibility and not feel pressured into cramming in 48 snacks because we paid for them.
If more people dumped DDP, they would likely revamp it to make it more attractive.
Pros:
You'll try more restos than usualCons:
Too much food, very little flexibilityReview of Brown Derby Lunch/Dinner
Reviewed by CinCin Review Date: 11/18/2014
Rating: (9) Recommended
I dined here Nov. 2014 as part of a dinner/Fantasmic dining package. I expected this to be a bit ritzier than it was but then again, it's in the middle of a theme park. So it's a bit disappointing to look around and guests aren't dressed up and there is a mismatch as the setting is elegant and so old California feeling with the white and dark woods and the mission style. It was a bit loud inside with all the diners so it isn't a quiet refined meal either, but it was delicious and offered dining options not available anywhere else with good service and a great escape from the parks for a while. This is the only The Hollywood Brown Derby remaining. The food was actually really good. I had the famous cobb salad as an appetizer and had them hold the tomatoes, which was no problem at all. When they say the salad is finely chopped, they mean it. For a comparison, pico de gallo is slightly chunkier. I wasn't sure about the blend of flavors in the cobb salad, they were all very bold and very unique and it took a couple of bites to get used to the unique flavor adventure, but I did end up eating all but a couple of bites so it is something I would order again just not the large portion though as the appetizer size was plenty. I am not a big blue cheese fan and tolerate it in tiny doses but I do enjoy flavor and as a foodie I had to give the salad a try. For my entree, I chose their signature steak and it was delicious! It came with potatoes and a green bean/carrot mix of roasted vegetables. Mmmmmm. I had the grapefruit cake for dessert. It isn't listed on the menu, only as a mini on the dessert trio sampler, but I asked about it and the server brought me a full sized slice. Before I ordered it I had no idea what to expect but I will say that it was quite tasty and not really that tart and not too grapefruity at all. It was not too sweet either and a nice refreshing dessert to my wonderful meal. During my meal the server brought my paper fastpass ticket to my table and it allowed me access to special seating without the standby line for hours to get a seat. The seating they had reserved for the FP section was fantastic. Prime viewing location in the center and high enough up to get a great view. The package was a great deal and I really enjoyed the show, but I will happily return here just to dine too. The menu offered several tasty choices, but I would order the same meal exactly again, it was that good.
Pros:
Good food, good service, fastpass for Fantasmic, grapefruit cakeCons:
—Review of Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue
Reviewed by CinCin Review Date: 11/18/2014
Rating: (10) Recommended
This was my first visit and before I went, I was quite hesitant as I feared the jokes too corny, the food so so, it was way out at Fort Wilderness, and I was dining alone and feared being seated with a bunch of strangers and the whole family style service...and the ribs being fatty and not getting white meat chicken, etc. I was sooo wrong about everything. This was a fabulous meal! I had a great table right near the stage in category 2. I was seated alone and they had the most delicious cornbread. I ate half the loaf before dinner even started. My server gave me the recipe! The chicken was all white meat breast on the bone with skin on and it was like you'd get at home. It tasted like fresh home cooking and not like chain restaurant chicken. The ribs were meaty and lean and I really enjoyed both meats. The mashed potatoes were real and not reconstituted instant ones. The beans were ranch style and quite good. The entertainment was funny and appropriate for all ages and not the least bit boring. The dancing was really good and they had some really good voices too. All the cast was very talented and entertaining. The icing on the cake though was the strawberry shortcake. It's already my favorite dessert, and then their version is so delicious and homemade. I had the best evening there and I will definitely return. Both the food and the show were great. I attended the 6pm show and when it was over, they had all our resort buses lined up to transport us back to our home resorts. It was wonderful not to have to wait for a bus and have one waiting on me for a change. The bus waited about 15 minutes after I boarded for others that were still streaming out from the show. Yes, it's a bit steep for a meal, but for me it was so worth it. I had a great evening of fun and memorable food too. I would not bother paying for tier 1 seating as my table had a great view and the actors still came to all the tables even the tier 3 seats in the balcony. I can't say enough about this wonderful experience except GO!
Pros:
Fun show, great food, bus service to resorts afterwardCons:
noneReview of Garden View Lounge Tea
Reviewed by CinCin Review Date: 11/18/2014
Rating: (6) Recommended
This isn't a place you really go for a gourmet meal, but this is a relaxed respite from the hustle and bustle of park touring and the crowds and lines. I've been twice now and enjoyed my first visit in 2012 so well I made it a must do on my recent trip Nov. 2014. I am quite picky about food and made a couple of substitutions and they happily obliged. I dislike onion and seafood so I had them skip the egg salad and the shrimp sandwiches. I had a nice variety of roasted beet, chicken curry and cucumber watercress. I do like the variety offered. The tea was not quite the same as last time and had no leaves in it. There was no need for the fancy little strainer like it used to and it did not get stronger as it sat so the first cup was the same as the last cup. That was disappointing as this is a tea room. The scones were fine but a bit small and they came with a tiny serving of strawberry jam, lemon curd, and cream and not with the little jars this time. The strawberries were sweet and ripe and topped with a layer of whipped cream. This is a much more filling meal that it appears. I really didn't have room for the strawberries but ate a few anyway as it is my favorite dessert. The setting here was elegant and it was not crowded, very quiet, and the views onto the courtyard/garden area were beautiful. The Grand Floridian resort where this is located is beautiful and elegant and transports you to a Victorian age. The resort is lovely and certainly worth paying a visit to and spending some time at even if you aren't staying there. This was such a relaxing meal and there was the lovely piano music drifting in from the lobby. Overall, this is a bit pricey considering it is just finger sandwiches and a few pastries and fresh strawberries so this experience isn't really about the food so much as the atmosphere. Even though this was a bit different with the tea and the china was plain and not getting the little jars of lemon curd and jam for the pastries, I still enjoyed my visit very much and it still remains on my must do list.
Pros:
relaxing, peaceful, elegant and a great getaway from the parksCons:
pricey for what you getReview of Starring Rolls
Reviewed by CinCin Review Date: 11/17/2014
Rating: (9) Recommended
The turkey sandwiches are delicious! It is made on a artisan bread and then cut into large wedges so they are pre made and you can't make special requests. It had a type of viniagrette dressing on the bottom that had a mix of red and other mild light green peppers and and Italian type flavor to it. I scraped that part off since I am not a fan of peppers but it otherwise added a nice flavor overall to the entree. The turkey was shaved and piled up so it was a hearty portion size and the bread was soft and tasty. This reminded me in a way of a muffaletta with the type bread used and the dressing. It was very very good. I also had the Butterfinger cupcake which was huge. I only ate half because of the size and tossed the rest. It was delicious but I simply didn't want to have to carry it around with me. I had had the cupcake before so I already knew I was going to like it, but the sandwich surprised me as I didn't think of this as a "meal place". The only downside to my experience here was the limited seating. I had to circle a few times to look for a spot that might be opening up but after not finding anything, in frustration and hunger, I finally asked a couple if I they minded if I joined them. They were already finished eating. We ended up having a nice conversation and I made some new friends. Then after they left, and I was seated alone, I saw a couple looking for a spot and I invited them to join my table. So I made more new friends! I would definitely go back and order the same meal. I only wish they would do something about the seating as there was space to add a few more tables. I didn't mind sharing but for a family of 4 my arrangement would not have worked out.
Pros:
Butterfinger cupcake, terrific turkey sandwichesCons:
too little seating, crowdedReview of Earl of Sandwich
Reviewed by moghedan Review Date: 11/17/2014
Rating: (2) Not Recommended
The complete and utter lack of sandwich distribution ability, plus the amazing ability to make me cus in Disney World, combine to make this one of my worst experiences.
