Most Recent Reviews
Reviewed by DisneyJunkie Review Date: 11/01/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
Despite the hefty price tag, my wife and I have always loved staying at the Poly. Between the rooms overlooking Seven Seas Lagoon with a view of nearby Cinderella Castle and the monorail station right there at the resort, it really has so much of what we personally look for. The rooms are spacious and comfortable; the restaurants are among the best on property, and the overall South Pacific tropical paradise theme is terrific.
Pros:
Great views. Fantastic theming. Monorail.Cons:
ExpensiveReview of Kona Cafe Lunch/Dinner
Reviewed by HOBBES Review Date: 10/31/2013
Rating: (8) Recommended
I had never seen this restaurant before so had originally planned on using it for an anniversary meal until people on discussion boards warned me it was not quiet and romantic. I am very pleased we decided to still try it though. We came on a Saturday lunch and although quite noisy-it is open no walls between the restaurant and the hotel lobby-and to begin with there was hideous high pitched whistling coming from somewhere that was driving staff and guests alike crazy, it was a most enjoyable meal. We skipped a starter and went straight for the main event. DH had the Teriyaki steak dish and I had the turkey sandwich. It was huge-it would have fed us both. The waitress very kindly let me sub the pear slaw for sweet potato fries which I split with DH, who gave me his pasta salad in return. Both fries and salad were delicious. DH loved his steak-it had never occurred to him to try a steak with a sweetish sauce before but he enjoyed it. Although not the greatest cut of steak you will ever see, he said it was tender and there was nothing left on his plate at the end. I had the crème brulee for dessert and DH had the kilauea torte. The crème brulee was delicious-even DH liked it and he is not keen on banana taste. His torte was very nice too although I didn't get to share much...We enjoyed our meal and will certainly pencil it in for an escape from theme park dining next time.
Pros:
a really different set of items on the menuCons:
quite noisy and openReview of Grand Floridian Cafe Lunch/Dinner
Reviewed by HOBBES Review Date: 10/31/2013
Rating: (9) Recommended
We had around a ten minute wait before our table was available, but it was a lovely evening so we sat outside and waited for our table. When they took us in , we had the only disappointing moment of the night, as our table was the first one in the restaurant, just past the podium so we had a constant stream of people walking past. We had told them on our reservation that it was our anniversary and I had repeated it to the greeter and the waitress so I was disappointed not to get somewhere a little more romantic inside the restaurant. We had a cocktail each but can't tell you what. I think mine was something about the Keys (yes it was so potent it has wiped my memory!!) DH ordered the soup and I ordered the chick pea fritters. His soup was parsnip-very tasty as I dunked a bit of my bread in! My chick pea fritters were delicious-even DH who would normally turn his nose up at anything like that said he would happily eat them. Main course I had the pasta which was very nice but very very filling-especially as I had eaten quite a bit of bread to begin with-curse Disney and their delicious breads! Dh had the pork chop-the smoked sweet potato mash was wonderful-now I have to try to recreate it at home. He even enjoyed his asparagus and he normally has to be force-fed green veggies. To finish we had the sharing platter of desserts which was just right-just about 2 mouthfuls each of each dessert -and we snapped Mickey's body clean off his feet and devoured him between us! A really nice meal, perfect for our anniversary. We will definitely come again.
Pros:
lovely meal and the affordable side of GF diningCons:
we were sat in the doorway!Review of Plaza Restaurant
Reviewed by HOBBES Review Date: 10/31/2013
Rating: (8) Recommended
We had around a 35 minute wait for our table which I was not pleased with as there is nowhere in the air-conditioned cool to wait-we were basically just sitting on the wall outside in the heat giving the stink-eye to those inside to hurry up! However when we got in the meal made up for it. First of all we chose a milkshake and when our server, who was excellent, said we could have any ice cream flavours as a milk shake we both plumped for mint choc chip. OMG it was fantastic-we got a large glass full each plus nearly as much again in the jug. Plus when we had finished slurping it up the straw, we had about half a pound of chocolate chips in the bottom of the glass-talk about the gift that goes on giving! DH had the grilled chicken which he said was very tasty and juicy. I had the veggie sandwich which was delicious and such a change from endless burger type meals. Plus joy of joys, broccoli slaw, same as Columbia Harbour House put in the lighthouse sandwich. Gosh it was good! DH had the cheesecake to finish and it was big enough for two (some might have fallen into my mouth...)it was very nice and also made me regret having a tummy full of mint choc chip milk shake!
Pros:
inexpensive for a sit don malCons:
looooooooong wait for our tableReview of Kouzzina by Cat Cora - Dinner
Reviewed by thenardier1500 Review Date: 10/31/2013
Rating: (6) Recommended
My second review of Kouzzina in the last few months brings almost the same experience: great food, slow service. Our waitress was slightly more attentive than our waiter in August, but the kitchen was about as slow as can be. Our reservation was for 6:40. We left at 9:10PM. There's absolutely no need for any meal to take that long. It was the first night of the trip, and I was dying to make Illuminations, too bad the slow service dashed those hopes!
Pros:
FoodCons:
ServiceReview of Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria
Reviewed by thenardier1500 Review Date: 10/31/2013
Rating: (6) Recommended
I hadn't been to Via Napoli, and went on the recommendation of a friend of mine. The food was very good. I had the Paccheri dish with Pancetta and Chicken. I thought the portion was a bit small, in comparison to other Disney dishes, but otherwise it was very good. The pizza at our table smelled and looked delicious, and my dining companions all had good things to say about it.
The service was lacking, I thought. We felt very rushed, as we were in and out in less than an hour. Our waiter wouldn't let us order any appetizers, even though we said flat out that we would pay for them, and that we understand how the dining plan works. Also, my food, along with the other pasta dish, came out 10 minutes before everyone else's food. We were done eating before everyone's food was out.
I would go back, but I'll definitely give it some time before I return.
Pros:
FoodCons:
ServiceReviewed by jaygalterio Review Date: 10/31/2013
Rating: (2) Recommended
"3D Dessert Discovery"
Attended 10/25, Sweet Seats
Offerings on hand -
# of Individual Dessert Areas: 4
# of Individual Dessert Items: 10
Sweet Seats had 3 additional dessert items.
One additional item was delivered to each of the Sweet Seats that I was not able to taste. Luckily I was warned that it included cheese before I tried it (allergies). No real description was given of the item. My wife, who did try it, didn't seem impressed.
All the rest was questionable in it's presence (cold cuts, fruit, cheese, etc.). It's debatable if these should be called "desserts" but that is really up to personal preference.
Most of the fruit were not above the level of items that can be bought at an average supermarket. No special preparation was done to the fruit, seemed like items that were either dumped into a bowl.
Some of the items, like the popcorn, were a complete throw away in effort. They were nice, in theory, but by no means should be considered a "top billed" item. I'm sorry but popcorn is popcorn, flavoring it with different glazes really doesn't raise it's profile enough to justify the entrance price.
The same about the "charcuterie" and "cheese" items. Nothing there struck me as anything special and seemed to be haphazardly dumped into serving containers.
And, at an even more subjective personal opinion, of the desserts only three were worth a second visit: Teeny Weeny Hot Dog Cart, 1 item from the Bites of Cake, and 1 item from the Sweet Seats. All the rest were less than impressive.
All the rest of the items varied between tasteless (almost all the items from "Bites of Cake") and tooth achingly sweet (the chocolate "cone" in the Sweet Seats).
The placement of the "Sweet Seats" was also a considerable disappointment. Our table was literally up against the stage, right in front of one of the speakers. It was uncomfortable both physically and socially.
On a whole, certainly not worth the price of admission.
Pros:
—Cons:
Not worth itReview of Pinocchio Village Haus
Reviewed by HOBBES Review Date: 10/31/2013
Rating: (8) Recommended
We ate here on MNSSHP night-it was the only fast food place open at the point we wanted to eat (6.45) The lines were long-for this very reason no doubt, and tables were in short supply so i was a little annoyed to see them closing off areas-surely as long as there are still people to seat they should leave everywhere open? However the flatbreads made up for this-I had Caprese and DH had barbecue chicken-both were a far nicer pizza than the one we had in ASMu food court, not greasy or stodgy at all. Only complaint was the corners were a bit dry and sharp as I had a sore throat, and lets face it if thats all i can find to complain about its a good meal!
Pros:
pleasantly surprisedCons:
not much seating and they were closing several areasReview of Columbia Harbour House
Reviewed by HOBBES Review Date: 10/31/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
This is another we ALWAYS visit-we came twice this holiday. First of all, I'm pleased to see that the lax attitude of the staff to their job from 2 years ago has improved-last time the staff were more concerned with playing pranks on each other than serving. Both times we visited-once at a very busy time of evening-we were served quickly and courteously.
Both times I had the Lighthouse sandwich-I dream of that at night when I'm at home! DH had the fish and chicken one time and the straight fish the other. He is a fried fish connoisseur-we are British and know decent fish and chips when we see them!-and he pronounced both to be perfectly cooked.
Seating never seems to be a problem for us here but the first time saw loads of people standing in corners to eat downstairs rather than try upstairs. I appreciate with several small children, and/or strollers going upstairs is a problem but there is always plenty of seating up there.
Pros:
different choices on the menuCons:
—Review of Boulangerie Patisserie les Halles
Reviewed by HOBBES Review Date: 10/31/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
First time we have been in since the refurb-its great that there is so much more room-its a little confusing to have the line split into 2 but both sides have the same things. Lots of tables to sit and pig out. We had the quiche which seems a lot bigger than before-we were able to split a quiche and 2 cakes between us and feel like we'd had a decent meal. We also had the lemon tart (with meringue) and the choccie eclair (much better value than the pathetic sized cannoli we had from F&W festival a couple of nights later)
