Food Picture | Taryn's Mad Hatter Adventures

Tag: Food Picture
- A Quick Getaway – All Star Movies!
  
  Posted at 2:57 pm by taryngirl, on March 1, 2019
  
  2/26/19 Part One
  
  I received an email invitation for a Disney Annual Passholder after hours event. In checking my calendar…I was free. In checking flight prices…they were dirt cheap! In checking with a travel buddy…she was free to attend also! What start out as a 1 day trip, ended up being 2 days.
  
  The first step was getting reservations for the event. They are extremely limited in number and it’s first come first served. Success for us both!
  
  The next step was booking a resort. I was able to find a room at All Star Movies with an Annual Passholder (AP) rate. Total cost…$238 including tax for 2 nights in a Standard room. And finally, I had to book my airfare. I fiddled around with Philadelphia and Harrisburg. I was able to get good pricing on way down to Orlando from Philly with my friend. But my return flight would be to Harrisburg. Total cost for airfare was about $90 TOTAL on Frontier. (I usually fly Southwest form Philadelphia. Just last August Frontier began service from Harrisburg. I also recently became a Den Club Member. Harrisburg is actually closer to me and an easier drive, so I was excited to try it!). We also realized this would be a birthday trip for both of us!
  
  I was up at out the door at 4 a.m. for the drive. Our flight was smooth and we arrived a half hour early into Orlando. Since we were only coming for two park days, we packed everything in a backpack to use as our personal item. With Frontier Airlines, the flight is usually cheaper but you pay for each “add on”. Carry on baggage, checked baggage, choosing a seat…these all have costs. See HERE for full information on Frontier’s policies.
  
  We headed for the Magical Express which is located on the B side of the airport. From landing until arrival at our resort, it was about an hour. Our Magical Express had stops at Coronado Springs, All Star Sports, All Star Music and finally our resort, All Star Movies. It was a packed bus!
  
  Our plan was to check in at the desk even though we had the room number texted to us. We wanted to get our birthday buttons, decline mousekeeping so we could get a gift card, and make sure my Magicband worked since it didn’t at the airport. (I had completed online check in and got the text that our room was ready while we were on the Magical Express.). We also wanted to get lunch at the food court and then head to the room to drop things off.
  
  Here are some pictures of the food court! We made it there at about 12:45 p.m. which is prime lunchtime and it was surprisingly EMPTY! The food court has several different “bays” that you can order from. Here is an overall menu featuring all of the bays:
  
  Grab and Go section
  
  This surprised me! A wine display!
  
  (Dining Plan Eligible)
  
  We both decided to order from here! I honestly couldn’t decide. I get too overwhelmed with too many choices. I was running around from bay to bay trying to narrow it down.
  
  I opted for the Meatball Sandwich and it came with 2 sides. I could pick from chips, a roll or a side salad. This was actually a lot of food for the cost I though! The chips were amazing and the meatballs were really good. The castmember was also very friendly and talkative.
  
  My friend ordered the Spinach Artichoke Pasta and also got two sides. I’m assuming it was good because she ate it all!
  
  Overall I really liked the variety and the quality for it being a “value’s” food court!
  
  My friend decided she really wanted dessert so she went back up for this Cookie Dough. Since she was wearing her birthday button, they gave it to her for free! It was also very good!
  
  Part 2 up next…the actual resort and our room!
  
  Posted in All Star Movies, Dining Review, Disney, Quick Service, Uncategorized, Walt Disney World Resort | 0 Comments | Tagged All Star Movies, Disney, Disney's Magical Express, Food Court, Food Picture, Foodie, Magical Express, Walt Disney World
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios – 50’s Prime Time Cafe
  
  Posted at 2:27 pm by taryngirl, on December 5, 2018
  
  Welcome back! We continued on with our touring in Hollywood Studios. We had to check out the new store that replaced Sweet Spells, and Kinsey found this cute headband!
  
  One thing on her bucket list this trip, was to meet BB8. Mission accomplished! We pretty much walked right in with no wait.
  
  We knew we would be hungry for lunch early because we were up so early, so we had a reservation for 50’s Prime Time Cafe at 11:05 a.m. This table service restaurant serves classic American comfort food in a setting reminiscent of the family’s house in “Leave it to Beaver.” The theming is really neat! The staff here might joke around a little bit…”no elbows on the table,” “eat your dinner before you eat dessert,” etc. Or they might throw straws at you. Just be prepared if you eat here!
  
  Here’s Kinsey in the waiting area:
  
  This is just one of several different rooms offering seating:
  
  Here are some menu pics. They have a great variety and amazing milkshakes!
  
  It was hot outside and I didn’t want to eat anything too heavy. I opted for the appetizer Fried Herb and Garlic Cheese, which is served with a raspberry sauce, grapes and apples. It also came with a breadstick.
  
  This cheese was really good with the fruit and raspberry sauce. The breadstick however, was gross.
  
  We also had some Beer-Battered Onion Rings to share.
  
  These were really good! And there were tons of them. Between all of us we didn’t even finish them.
  
  Kinsey ordered the kid’s chicken fingers. (They let her order off of the kid’s menu even though she was 10.)
  
  Alex had the Caesar Salad with Salmon.
  
  One of her daughter’s had a bowl of Chicken Noodle Soup.
  
  Her other daughter had the Caesar Salad with Chicken.
  
  I think the food here was just fine. But if I had the choice I would probably pick Mama Melrose or Sci Fi.
  
  After lunch we had a FP+ to use in Toy Story Land and then we headed back to the resort. Of course we had to stop for some PhotoPass pics!
  
  I took some pics of the new Skyliner that is coming to connect Hollywood Studios with a few different resorts.
  
  This first picture is taken where the old bus stops used to be. They have been moved….far, far away! I talked to a security guard who said this just closed 2 days before we got there. And that they were redoing and pushing back where the bus stops would be located.
  
  Let me tell you my story about the current bus stop situation here. Warning…it is not a pleasant one! First of all, the walk to the actual bus stops from the gate is a good 10 minutes (as of August 2018). It was afternoon, hot, humid, and we were tired from getting up so early. So we trudged to the bus stops. There were maybe 4 people in our line in front of us, who had already been waiting 20 minutes. There was NO SHADE! I seriously thought Kinsey was going to pass out. We waited 45 minutes for a bus. It finally comes and we all get on. And the driver doesn’t leave. She’s waiting for her replacement for a shift change. And he’s late. Very late. We sat another 30 minutes on the bus without moving, and the driver just told us to call and complain to Disney. Meanwhile another bus came and pulled up further down from us. So the people who didn’t fit on our bus and were still out in the queue were able to board that bus and leave! Our bus was jam packed full, standing room only. Finally the new driver comes and takes his time inspecting the bus for damage, etc. Then he gets on. And sits there. Without driving. People started chanting “MOVE THIS BUS! MOVE THIS BUS!” It was bad. It was a bad experience all around and one that I’ve never had prior or since! A few days later, I stopped in at the front desk of the Polynesian to let them know what happened. I was way too tired and hot to do it the day we came back. The cast member I spoke with knew exactly what I was talking about because several other guests also complained. I wasn’t looking for any form of compensation, but rather alerting them to the issue. Did the driver realize how far away the bus stops now were? Was there a miscommunication? I have no idea, but I wanted them to be aware. She offered us 3 FastPasses for the following day which was very nice.
  
  And this ends our Hollywood Studios day!
  
  Up next…Disney Springs and Homecomin’
  
  Posted in Dining Review, Disney, Hollywood Studios, Uncategorized, Vacation | 0 Comments | Tagged 50's Prime Time Cafe, Dining Review, Disney, Food Picture, Foodie, Hollywood Studios
- Grandeur of the Seas – Bridges, Main Dining Room Dinner Night #1
  
  Posted at 7:28 pm by taryngirl, on August 30, 2018
  After checking out our room, we headed back up to the deck to check some things out. First stop…the ice cream machine! We stopped here no less than twice a day…
  
  We checked out some other areas of the ship:
  
  The stairs in the Centrum:
  
  A Porthole:
  
  We headed to the muster drill. We were supposed to be on Deck 5 outside, but major storms were rolling in. So instead we were inside the theater. It was a little bit chaotic since multiple stations were located inside, but at lease we could sit down!
  
  From following different message boards and researching, I knew that we were going to:
  - Pass under the Key Bridge (and be able to see a red, white and blue buoy, which is the location where Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner)
  - Pass under the Chesapeake Bay Bridge
  - Pass over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (which we drive ON every summer to go to the beach!)
  I also had seen different times when these were supposed to be happening. I knew the Key Bridge was coming up soon, so we headed outside on deck 5 and could see it coming in the distance! It was perfect timing. Just off camera here to the left is where the red, white and blue buoy is.
  
  It was also perfect timing for us to head back and get ready for dinner. Our luggage up to this point had not been delivered yet. Once we got back to the room, our little suitcase was there, but not our big one! I talked to our room steward and he said I should have had it by now, and said to go down to deck 1, which I knew was the “naughty room.” A few different things can make you end up in the naughty room…alcohol, power strips, irons, crock pots…anything on the banned item list. I knew I had none of these, so at this point I was just hoping my suitcase WAS there!
  
  Yep. It was. I was too scared to take a picture because there was security…and luggage, everywhere! I was amazed at some of the items that were being pulled out of the suitcases. I claimed my suitcase and they told me I couldn’t have a power strip. I didn’t have one and tried explaining. They opened the suitcase and then ran it through the machine again. I was fine! So away we went with the suitcase to get ready for dinner.
  
  Dining on Royal Caribbean
  - There are 3 different dinner options when booking your cruise.
    - Assigned time of 5:30 p.m.–This is located in the Main Dining Room on the Grandeur, Deck 4–Great Gatsby. You will have the same wait staff for the length of the cruise.
    - Assigned time of 8:00 p.m.–Also located in the Main Dining Room on the Grandeur, Deck 4–Great Gatsby. You will have the same wait staff for the length of the cruise.
    - My Time Dining–This is a great option if you don’t want to be tied to a set time. If you want more flexibility with your evenings and days when you are in port, this will work great for you. You CAN make reservations through your Cruise Planner online, or you can just show up during dinner hours posted in the Cruise Compass. By just showing up, you may have a wait depending upon how many other people are doing the same thing as you! This is located in the Main Dining Room Balcony on the Grandeur, Deck 5–Great Gatsby. You may have different wait staff throughout the cruise.
  - Another option is to eat in the Windjammer buffet up on deck 9. You can choose to do this any evening you wish, even if you choose one of the above three choices. It’s a courtesy to alert your main dining room wait staff so they know not to expect you.
  - There are also a few dining locations on the Grandeur that you can pay an upcharge to eat in. I didn’t eat in any of these so can not share any tips or advice! I will say, I didn’t really want to pay additional to eat when the Main Dining Room is included in your cruise fare!
  We arrived at about 5:25 p.m. on deck 4 (just one above where our cabin is…super convenient!) The entrance to the Main Dining Room is next to the main “hub” of action…the Centrum. This is where they play live music, and have other entertainment. This area was PACKED! And there was a line that wrapped around to get into the Dining Room doors. I think this happens on the first night on almost any ship because no one knows where their table is! After the first night, it’s a breeze.
  
  We were escorted to our table, and to my surprise, we were seated with 2 other groups! I thought for sure we would have our own table because there were 5 of us. But we were at a table for 11! A family of 4 from Australia, and 2 friends from England (1 lives in US now). We absolutely loved meeting these people!
  
  I had already browsed some menus prior to getting on the ship. There was a big hubbub a few months ago when Royal changed their menus!
  
  Night 1 Menu:
  
  You can see the Starters, Main Courses, and Desserts. Some of these were standard on the menu and served every single night.At the bottom are a few “Premium Selections” that you can order and be charged the amount shown next to the entree.
  
  Kid’s Menu (same every night):
  
  We met our waiter, Austin from India, and our assistant waiter, Kevin from the Philippines. They both were very good and very efficient. They did expect our entire order, including dessert, right off the bat.
  
  I mentioned earlier that during the muster drill we were having thunderstorms. Well they didn’t stop! They continued the entire way down the Chesapeake! I was glad we were wayyyyyy out to sea yet. The lightning was non-stop! This was the Chesapeake Bridge while we were eating.
  
  I ordered the Caesar Salad and the Creamy Wild Mushroom Soup.
  
  The Caesar Salad was okay. Not the greatest, not the worst. I particularly liked the shaved Parmesan cheese. The soup was amazing! And I don’t really love mushrooms.
  
  My daughters both had the Seasonal Fruit Plate. My youngest only eats watermelon, and my oldest eats everything except cantaloupe.
  
  The fruit was very fresh! And between the 3 of us we ordered at least 2 plates each evening.
  
  Chicken Waldorf Salad:
  
  Shrimp Cocktail:
  
  These were eaten by others at our table. I’m assuming they were good because no one complained!
  
  Kid’s Pizza with French Fries:
  
  She deemed this one of the best pizzas she ever had! And she would continue to have. Every.single.night.
  
  Spaghetti Bolognese:
  
  My oldest daughter ordered this. And she ate every single last noodle. We were supposed to share, and I had one bite. I LOVED the sauce! It was so good that I would order this later in the week for myself.
  
  New York Strip Loin:
  
  I realllllly wanted to love this steak. But it was just okay. I prefer Filet Mignon so this was just eh. I’m glad I got it cooked medium. The potato and vegetables were great!
  
  Here are a few dishes others at our table ordered:
  
  (This may have been the fish of the day?? Or the Horseradish Crusted Salmon?)
  
  Aged Prime Rib of Beef:
  
  Next up was dessert!
  
  Warm Hazelnut Chocolate Cake:
  
  If you like hazelnut, you will love this! It was so delicious! Very warm, and perfect with the whipped cream.
  
  Royal Cheesecake:
  
  My oldest daughter got this every single night! It was SO GOOD. I’m picky about cheesecake! And the strawberries were perfect with this.
  
  Royal Chocolate Cake:
  
  I think this was very good, because there was none left!
  
  Overall we loved our experience in the Main Dining Room, and were stuffed to the gills when we left.
  Posted in Cruise, Grandeur of the Seas, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Uncategorized, Vacation | 0 Comments | Tagged Food Picture, Foodie, Grandeur of the Seas, Great Gatsby, Main Dining Room, Menu Picture