Most Recent Reviews
Review of General Exhibits and Experiences
Reviewed by bellebookworm9 Review Date: 09/12/2018
Rating: (9) Recommended
We visited on Days 2 and 3 of this year’s Food & Wine Festival, August 30th and September 1st. For being both the opening weekend (Friday-Saturday) and the Labor Day holiday weekend, the crowds were much more manageable than expected, which was a pleasant surprise. Of course there were choke points but I was planning for much worse. We didn’t even witness any drunken debauchery, which I had heard was becoming more of a problem over the years.
Saw lots of cute F&WF merchandise in MouseGears as well as the merch booths scattered around the park. Visited the Festival Center briefly for breakfast at the Mimosa Bar. It was pretty empty at 9:30-9:45am but it looked like a nice setup (my first time ever in the building!).
We sampled many options from the Marketplace booths and I’ll review those separately. Overall, I really like Food & Wine (I was happy when Flower & Garden started offering some food kiosks as spring travel has worked better with my schedule for the last 5 years or so) and I’m glad I was able to visit again this year since our last visit during this time was back in 2011!
Pros:
Crowds much better than expected; lots of cute merchandiseCons:
—Review of Food & Wine Food Booths
Reviewed by bellebookworm9 Review Date: 09/12/2018
Rating: (8) Recommended
My mom and I sampled a number of items over our two days at Food & Wine Festival this year during opening weekend. While I admit that, surprisingly for us, a lot of the best items were drinks (we aren’t big drinkers), I was very disappointed that the price for many wines has gone up a whopping $4 compared directly to last year - from $6 to $10, and of course the pour size isn’t any bigger. I thought the Ice Wine in Canada was delicious but I could not believe I paid $10 for what amounted to a shot glass’s worth.
With the negative out of the way, we enjoyed almost everything we tried. Beverage winners: Dragon Berry Refresher at Refreshment Port and the Tropical Mimosa at Shimmering Sips. Best food: Baked Shrimp Scampi Dip from Coastal Eats with a close runner up of the Spinach and Artichoke Dip from The Almond Orchard as well as the Beer-braised Beef from Belgium. Outstanding desserts were the simple classics of Coconut Rice Pudding in Mexico; Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting from Hops & Barley; and Creme Brûlée with Raspberry Jam from France.
We only tried a few things that we really didn’t like. The Hard Sparkling Coconut Pineapple Water from Active Eats...I’m not even sure how to describe it but it was bad and disappointing. Sounds like it could be delicious but it absolutely wasn’t. The New Brunswick Slider from Hops & Barley - the beef was tender but I could not believe how SPICY this was. I’m from Buffalo; we love our Beef on Weck with horseradish, and this slider mentions Horseradish Cream. This was on another level. My mom and I both experienced burning mouths, tongues, and even lips that didn’t go away until after several bottles of water, carrot cake, braised beef and a waffle from Belgium, and we were well into Creme brûlée from France before the burning stopped. There should be a warning on this! The Black Pepper Shrimp in China was also spicier than I remembered but at least that is somewhat expected.
One other general downer: the milkshake machine at The Chocolate Studio was already broken by 9pm on Day 2 of the Festival. They were still serving the Chocolate and Pumpkin Chai Caramel “Shakes
Pros:
Many delicious options; great for sharing; popular booths have two sets of registers to keep lines movingCons:
Prices of drinks has gone up significantlyReview of Pop Century Resort (Value Resort)
Reviewed by lt4bags Review Date: 09/12/2018
Rating: (3) Not Recommended
Our very first stay from 8/31-9/6.. Usually stay at PO Riverside, but that resort was not offered with the free dining promo.. and while I know this is a value and not a moderate, and although I did expect smaller rooms and more guests, this was awful! Housekeeping or lack there of, not until after 5 pm most days.. had to call for towels and coffee, cast members not friendly and not really concerned with our concerns! Never any ice in the ice machines and it was HOT!! Very crowded, rooms are very nice but extremely small! Have no idea how a family of 4 would ever fit.. we were 3 adults. I would spend the extra $$ and stay a moderate level for sure. No Disney magic here.. 🙁
Pros:
FoodCons:
Housekeeping, Crowds, Ice Machines, Cast MembersReviewed by lt4bags Review Date: 09/12/2018
Rating: (10) Recommended
Had breakfast here for the first time on 9/2 - one of the best meals I've ever had! The ham and turkey (try the mustard sauce) as well as the oak grilled asparagus and tomatoes.. oh my gosh! Everything was amazing, the cast members are great! Will definitely do this again - will try dinner too next time!
Pros:
Just about everything!Cons:
NothingReview of Nomad Lounge
Reviewed by elainep Review Date: 09/15/2018
Rating: (7) Recommended
Stopped in at Nomad Lounge at Animal Kingdom on Monday, July 2nd, shortly after noon, hoping to enjoy a glass of Montes Alpha chardonnay (which I had enjoyed on a previous visit) and try their meat sliders. Unfortunately, they no longer offered the Montes Alpha chardonnay and the sliders weren’t on the menu anymore either. With the help of my server, Jeannette, I sampled a couple of chardonnays, decided on one (the more expensive one, of course) and ordered the chicken satay, which was fine. Maybe I was just disappointed because I had a taste for sliders … For me, Nomad Lounge is a beautifully decorated place to stop in for a drink and enjoy air conditioned comfort. But if I’m going to sit at the bar and have a meal, I’d rather go to Yak & Yeti.
Pros:
Beautifully decorated, great themingCons:
Didn't have the menu items I was expectingReview of Brown Derby Lunch/Dinner
Reviewed by elainep Review Date: 09/15/2018
Rating: (8) Recommended
After a LONG morning at Hollywood Studios on Tuesday, July 3rd (got there before 6:30 a.m.to fully experience the new Toy Story Land), I checked in at the podium at the Brown Derby shortly before my 12:10 ADR time. I was seated within minutes. I always enjoy walking down the stairs into this dining room—it’s a weird departure from theme park into old Hollywood. I was seated at a table for 2 at the upper level which is always good—you get a nice view of the entire dining room. I always get the same thing here for lunch: the andouille-crusted chicken breast sandwich with roasted potatoes instead of slaw. I am so glad they started offering lunchtime sandwich options. I can’t stand the combined lunch/dinner menus that seem to be the standard at many of the WDW sit-down restaurants these days--who wants to pay $40-50 for lunch? And, eat a full, heavy meal? Anyway, this meal did not disappoint. My only complaint is that they no longer offer Fess Parker chardonnay by the glass. Ramey was fine, but I’ve always enjoyed the nod to former Disney film stars.
Pros:
Old Hollywood atmosphereCons:
Same menu for lunch and dinnerReview of Chefs de France - Lunch/Dinner
Reviewed by elainep Review Date: 09/15/2018
Rating: (8) Recommended
Had a 6:30 ADR at Chefs de France at Epcot on July 4th. The Tables in Wonderland discount isn’t applicable on the holiday and since the restaurant doesn’t accept it at dinner anyway, I figured I wasn’t really losing anything, especially since they feature a 3-course prix fix for $39.99. Started with the lobster bisque (excellent) and a glass of Pouilly-Fuisse (also excellent) and chose the salmon for my entrée (always good here, and I remembered to order it a bit more well done). It was served with long grain and wild rice and broccoli—felt like I was eating healthy (despite indulging in the warm baguette with butter at the start of the meal). For dessert, I selected the apple tart, which was fine but would have been way better had it been served warm. Overall, though, a nice dining experience with great service by a young lady whose name I unfortunately can’t remember.
Pros:
Prix fix menu option, somewhat authentic French bistro atmosphereCons:
No Tables discount at dinnerReview of Skipper Canteen
Reviewed by elainep Review Date: 09/15/2018
Rating: (9) Recommended
I started an afternoon visit to the Magic Kingdom on July 5th with a 1:00 lunch at Skipper Canteen. Frankly, I was amazed that I was able to snag an ADR only a day or two beforehand, but I’d heard that most people don’t realize the restaurant is there—here’s hoping they don’t find out anytime soon. After checking in, I waited briefly in the indoor, air conditioned waiting area that I didn’t realize they had—on previous visits, I waited outside, which in January is great; in July, not so much. I was seated at a table for 2 right along the window—perfect for people watching. My server was Dani, who was terrific, very friendly. Lunch was terrific as well—they had the Montes Alpha chardonnay I was looking for a couple of days earlier at Nomad Lounge in Animal Kingdom, which was a pleasant surprise. I selected the sustainable fish ("not piranha") as my entrée, which I think was grouper, but I honestly can’t recall. It might have been mahi, but either way, it was delicious. Dani brought me an extra cup of the sauce it came with because she said “people seem to like it.†And I did—just a terrific meal. I really like this place—it has a sort of Yak & Yeti feel to it and I love the corny Jungle Cruise-inspired jokes. And truthfully, it’s nice to have the option for a great meal right in the park. In the past, hopping the monorail to enjoy lunch or dinner at one of the resorts was the way to go, but with the increased security, doing that has become somewhat of a hassle. Skipper Canteen is now my go-to spot, especially since it’s next to impossible to get into Be Our Guest.
Pros:
Great theming, great mealCons:
Pickier eaters may find the menu intimidatingReview of The Wave Lunch/Dinner
Reviewed by elainep Review Date: 09/15/2018
Rating: (8) Recommended
Met some local Orlando friends for dinner at The Wave at the Contemporary on Tuesday, July 3rd. We had an ADR for 6:30 with the ultimate goal of viewing the holiday fireworks from the 4th floor observation deck at 9:05. Seems like a long time between dinner and fireworks viewing, but it turned out we needed every minute of it. We were seated in a u-shaped banquette just after our ADR time—there were 7 of us. Our server was Leanna, who was outstanding—when we couldn’t decide on wine, she offered samples; when one of the diners asked if she could get the mussels entrée with the sauce that was served with the mussels appetizer, she said “no problemâ€. An issue with one of the entrees (a beef tenderloin that was over cooked and fatty) was dealt with and resolved promptly. The filet I ordered was fine. Was it the best on property? No, that nod goes to LeCellier or Shula’s, but the seasonal salad appetizer I had was terrific, as were the 2 glasses of Oberon cabernet I enjoyed. Other dining companions ordered the filet, gnocchi and the fish of the day (a spicy salmon) and were quite happy with their selections. We shared several dessert options and were done just after 8:30, plenty of time before the fireworks started, which was really convenient, especially for holiday viewing and avoiding the crowds on Main Street. Plus, the lounge adjacent to The Wave is a pretty good spot as well …
Pros:
Convenient for fireworks viewingCons:
Good food, but not quite a signature restaurantReview of D-Luxe Burger
Reviewed by elainep Review Date: 09/15/2018
Rating: (7) Recommended
Didn’t have an ADR for dinner on Thursday, July 5th, but since I was enjoying music on the outdoor patio at the House of Blues, I figured I could just eat there or try counter or quick service elsewhere at Disney Springs. At around 7:00 or so, I headed over to D-Luxe Burger (I’d heard good things about it). There was a huge line—people were waiting outside and it was starting to rain. So, I went to the My Disney Experience app and used the mobile ordering feature to order the Classic Cheeseburger, regular fresh-cut fries and a vanilla gelato shake. I then walked right through mobile order door, got a table and waited just a few minutes for my shake and my meal to arrive. It was kind of like being in the FastPass line and going past the poor suckers waiting in the standby queue. But, I was a bit disappointed in the burger—while it was thick and thankfully not overdone, it wasn’t all that warm and lacked flavor. I had to add salt & pepper (which is not at the table, you have to walk to the self-serve area to get your condiments, along with utensils; a roll of paper towel at the table serves as napkins, something I am not a fan of). The fries were tasty, served in a cone, which is something I like, but they could have been a tad hotter. Portion size, though, was generous--they could have been easily shared with another person (or two). The shake was really, really good—the standout of the meal. It ought to be at the price. And despite the fact that some of my experience fell short of expectations, I think I have to go back and give the place another try.
