Taryn's Mad Hatter Adventures

Tales from my (mostly Disney) travels!
Taryn's Mad Hatter Adventures
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  • Tag: Foodie

    • Dining Around Universal Orlando

      Posted at 12:16 pm by taryngirl, on May 10, 2021

      11/16/2020

      This post is going to cover some dining around Universal.

      We had dining reservations for lunch at Finnegan’s Bar & Grill.  I am not super familiar with Universal restaurants, so I spent a lot of time checking out menus and pricing, etc.  This is one reservation I was very excited about!  I made the reservation online.  I received text alerts reminding me of the reservation.  We showed up at our time and were seated immediately. There was live music that was just ending at the bar.   As we were finding throughout this vacation, the menus were not printed, rather we had to scan a QR code to view it.  These cards were placed at each table.  My observations while we were sitting…it felt really busy, there were many large parties, and the wait staff was running all over the place. It was slightly chaotic and loud!  

      We placed our order and were brought some complimentary bread.  It was some kind of soda bread with apple butter (I think) and regular butter.  I did not enjoy this at all.  I love bread! But this was not it…

      Because it was so hot, I really wanted something light.  I went with the Celtic Chicken Club Salad with the dressing on the side.  It looked great, but it was really just okay. I was so disappointed at both this place and the food!  I was bummed. But, we had a dinner coming up at Margaritaville that would hopefully make up for it.

      For dinner on this same day, we had reservations at Margaritaville, which we also made online. Since the parks were closing on the early side, dinner reservations at City Walk made sense so we could hit it on the way out. It’s a very short walk between them. It was daylight while we were walking over. (This is also the area where you can find boat transportation to select resorts.)

      There was a long line of people waiting to check in.  However, I had read that if you have reservations, you should just go to the front of the line, which is what we did, and we were seated immediately. Yes we got dirty looks, but if you have a reservation, you don’t have to stand in the line!

      Besides the digital menus, we were also finding that the menus were very limited in choices, which was fine with us because we aren’t that picky, but they were slimmed down very noticeably.  We weren’t super starving, so we went with a few appetizers.  Alex ordered the Volcano Nachos.  This portion size was humungous!  These were very good!  I opted for the Key West Chicken Quesadilla and this was also good.  

      By the time we were finished with dinner, it was dark, and everything was lit up.

      I could not visit City Walk and NOT try a Voo Doo Doughnut! I had heard so much about them, and I love donuts soooo…

      I couldn’t pick just one, so I went with one of the specials and the Dirt doughnut. The special snowman one did not have any filling. THESE WERE SO GOOD! I spent the next two days eating them for breakfast/snacks!

      There are so many options at Universal and in the City Walk area!

      Posted in Dining Review, Uncategorized, Universal Orlando | 0 Comments | Tagged Dining Review, Foodie, Universal, Universal Orlando
    • Beaches and Cream Lunch Review

      Posted at 2:51 pm by taryngirl, on March 31, 2020

      January 28, 2020

      After the craziness of riding Rise of the Resistance, we headed out the gates and to the boat.  We took the boat to the Beach Club for our reservation at Beaches and Cream.

      Beaches and Cream had a makeover!  The seating area was expanded and the menu received a small makeover.  We couldn’t wait to check it out!

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      The check in podium is located outside the restaurant.  Generally to dine here, you must have a reservation.  There is some counter seating that may be open for walk ins, but it’s tough to get in here!

      The menu:

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      I can never decide what I want here, because I love this kind of food.  It’s usually a toss up between the burger or the chili cheese dog (which by the way is not on the regular menu anymore), and then a dessert decision is also a struggle!

      Here you can see he expanded seating area inside the restaurant:

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      I ordered the chili cheese dog, even though it wasn’t listed on the menu!

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      Alex ordered the Reuben.

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      Both were delicious!

      And for dessert, we went with the no fail No Way Jose to share.

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      This is probably my favorite ice cream sundae in Disney!  I love peanut butter and chocolate together.

      If you are staying in the area of Beach Club, Yacht Club or Boardwalk, this is a great lunch spot.  Or even if you are going between Hollywood Studios and Epcot as we were.  It’s reasonably priced for a table service, and the desserts available are fabulous!

      Next up…the Sky Liner and Riviera Resort!

      Posted in Beaches and Cream, Dining Review, Disney, Uncategorized | 0 Comments | Tagged Beach Club, Beaches and Cream, Dining Review, Food Picture, Foodie, Table Service
    • Breakfast at Disney’s All Star Movies

      Posted at 2:42 pm by taryngirl, on March 19, 2019

      2/27/19

      I really try to eat Mickey waffles every time I go to Disney.  This trip was no different!  I checked the online menus before staying here and was super happy to see them listed!

      We were heading to Epcot today and weren’t in a super hurry.  We had some FP+, but they were for later and we weren’t planning on rope dropping anything.

      We stopped at the food court on the way to the bus stop.

      Here are the various menus for the different “windows.”

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      There really is something for everyone.  They also have the grab and go cases available, cereal, bagels, pastries, etc.

      Chrissy opted for one of the Breakfast Flatbread Pizzas and a side of Potato Barrels.  I tried a bite and it was yummy!  IMG_4154

      This is my go-to meal.  Mickey Waffles with Sausage (no bacon, so extra sausage) and Breakfast Potatoes.  SO GOOD!  I don’t know what it is about Disney sausage, but it’s my absolute favorite.  Especially with the waffles.

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      I would also have this the next day for breakfast…

      Posted in All Star Movies, Dining Review, Disney, Quick Service, Uncategorized, Walt Disney World Resort | 0 Comments | Tagged All Star Movies, Dining Review, Disney, Foodie, Quick, Walt Disney World
    • 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!

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      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:

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      This surprised me!  A wine display!

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      (Dining Plan Eligible)

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      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.IMG_3996IMG_3997IMG_3998IMG_3999IMG_4001

      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. IMG_4002

      My friend ordered the Spinach Artichoke Pasta and also got two sides.  I’m assuming it was good because she ate it all!IMG_4003IMG_4004IMG_4005

      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!

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      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
    • Storybook Dining at Artist Point with Snow White

      Posted at 1:20 pm by taryngirl, on January 20, 2019

      I was lucky enough to enjoy the latest character meal being offered in Walt Disney World!  Storybook Dining with Snow White!  I was in Orlando for a travel agent training, so I joined several other agents at Artist Point in the Wilderness Lodge on January 10, 2019.

      We took Lyft from Animal Kingdom Lodge where we were staying.  We got Lyft XL as there were 6 of us, and the cost was about $3 per person once we split it up with tip.  There is no direct bus from resort to resort.  So we would have had to bus to Magic Kingdom, then get on a boat or another bus to Wilderness Lodge.  It was just easier to do Lyft and we were there in a jiffy!

      Wilderness Lodge is GORGEOUS!   The lobby is stunning.  I personally have never stayed here but I would love to!  I felt like I was in a cabin in the mountains somewhere.  Here are a couple of shots of the lobby.

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      Check in for Artist Point is through the lobby and to the left.  At the check-in desk, the hostess was sure to tell us to enjoy our “60 minute dining experience.”  She sent us up the ramp where another hostess sat us at our table immediately.  She also said, “Enjoy your 60 minute dining experience.”

      Artist Point has been magically transformed into an enchanted forest for this special character dining experience.  It used to house a different restaurant, and the switch excited half the people, and upset the other half.  Now, you can dine with Snow White, Dopey, and Grumpy, who come to visit you at your table, and the Evil Queen who is stationed in the center of the dining room and you go to her to get your picture taken.  Kind of like the Beast at Be Our Guest for dinner.

      Also noting, we were staying 1 night at Animal Kingdom Lodge, and we all had the Disney Dining Plan for this 1 night stay.  This dinner is $55 plus tax for an adult.  The Dining Plan costs $75.49 per adult.  Dinner also comes with a drink, which can be an alcoholic drink, and we all know those cost more than a soda!  So besides this meal, we still had 1 Quick Service Meal (also comes with an alcoholic drink if you wish), 2 Snacks, and the Refillable Mug.  We more than made out by using the Dining Plan this night.. You can read more about the different Dining Plans HERE.

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      We were seated and greeted by our waiter.  He welcomed us to our “60 minute dining experience.”  (What the heck!  They really want you in and out!). He took our drink orders and explained the menu.  We all opted for an alcoholic drink, as this came with the Dining Plan.  This dinner is a little bit different, as everyone receives the appetizers and desserts automatically.  You don’t get a choice.  You DO get to choose your main course though.

      Almost immediately, Snow White stopped by our table.  One of our agents was FaceTiming her daughter so she could see the restaurant, and just then Snow White stopped by!  She had a really cool interaction with her…asking her if she was in a magic mirror!

      We wanted a group picture with her, which was impossible at our table.  So we had to move to out to the hostess stand.

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      She was really great and stayed in character the entire time!

      The Menu:

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      This is the “allergy” menu they provided us when asked.

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      I opted for the “A Brew of Peaches.”  It sounded like it was going to be sweet and fruity!  Peach, raspberry, sugar and bourbon.  How bad could it be?

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      Well…it was SO STRONG!  All I could taste was bourbon.  I actually thought it wasn’t my drink and he made a mistake.  We passed it all around the table!  But alas, this was the drink I ordered.  I ended up giving it to my friend and just had water.  Notice the drippings down the side of the glass.  I think that was the sugar!  I think everyone else enjoyed their drinks.  Unfortunately, I don’t have any pictures.

      These were our place settings.

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      The characters here do not sign autographs.  Instead you receive this apple with signatures attached to your napkin.

      While we were waiting for appetizers, Grumpy found us.

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      His character was great!  He “happily” took a picture with each of us.

      Our appetizers arrived.  They are placed on this spinning “tree” that is attached to the center of the table.  Our party of six had two tables pushed together.  So three were on this table and three on the other, except they had all 6 shrimp in this one jar.

      These are shared and are one per person.2019-01-12 07.31.07

      Up first is the Winter Squash Bisque.  Caramel Loli, Granola.  The white thing on the stick is actually marshmallow that is meant to be stirred into the soup.

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      This was my favorite of the three items given to us.  It was smooth and creamy and tasted really good.  It was maybe 4-5 spoonfuls.

      Next, is the Hunter’s Pie.  Chicken, black truffle, stone fruit preserve.

      2019-01-12 07.32.39These were just okay.  The center of the pastry part…the chicken was actually hard.  Like a solid disc.  I dipped it into the preserves which tasted ok.  I personally didn’t love this!  Maybe 1.5 inch in diameter.

      Last was the Wicked Shrimp Cocktail.  Soy, Miso, Avocado, Thai Chili, Greens.

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      I don’t eat shrimp so didn’t taste this.  I’m not allergic, I just don’t like it.  Two others in our group also don’t eat it.  So at the start of our ordering, one person mentioned it.  He brought here this next picture…a Tomato Salad.

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      She also doesn’t eat tomatoes!  So she gave it to me.  This was delicious!  Fresh and really good flavor.

      Overall, my opinion on the appetizers…not my favorite!  Really small portions and I would prefer to choose what I would like to eat and not have a preset menu.

      While waiting for our main course, Dopey found us.

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      He was super cute and playful compared to Grumpy!

      Our main courses had finally arrived!

      I ordered the Brother’s Grimm Roasted Chicken.  Confit Potatoes, Roasted Brussel Sprouts, Apples and Chestnut Butter (Two views below!)

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      This was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!  The chicken (yes there is a bone) was so moist and flavorful with the sauce.  The Brussel sprouts were cooked perfectly and tasted great with the sauce and potatoes.  I would definitely order this again if I ever went back!

      My friend ordered the Magic Mirror Slow-Braised Veal Shank.

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      Three others ordered the Royal Prime Rib Roast.  Horseradish Mashed Potato, Hay-Smoked Carrots, Popover, Jus

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      Some ordered with regular mashed potatoes.  This had mixed reviews!  One person commented that they wished they kept the horseradish mashed potatoes instead of regular.

      The below picture is the Brother’s Grimm Chicken with Broccolini substituted for Brussel Sprouts.

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      Every now and then, music came over for all to hear, and the characters danced around the dining room.

       

      While we were waiting for our dessert, someone came to our table to tell us the Evil Queen would be leaving soon, so we might want to go see her now.

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      She was REALLLLLLLY good!  She was not friendly, and not nice.  Haha!

      Our dessert was brought soon after we got back to our table.  These were also shared and were 1 per person.

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      Fairy Tale Gooseberry Pie–Meringue, Gooseberry

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      This tasted kind of like apple pie!  It was tasty, and small.  Maybe 3 spoonfuls??

      “Poison” Apple–White Chocolate-Apple Mouse, Sour Center

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      This was super cute and tasted just ok.  Gone in two bites!

      Miner’s Treasures–Sponge Cake, Chocolate Gems, and Buttercream Icing

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      This was my favorite of the three!  I loved the addition of the chocolate gems, and the buttercream frosting was really good!

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      Just when we thought we were finished (we were way past 60 minutes here by the way!), our waiter showed up with this:

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      He explained that this was The Hunter’s Gift to the Queen.  Cracked Maple Popcorn, Ganache Heart.

      To me it was a little strange!  He scooped it out of the box with a spoon and put it on the plate.

      Overall Impression:

      This is a great deal if you have the Disney Dining Plan.  The character interactions were great.  I loved my main course.  The decor in the restaurant was neat.  There is a photo pass photographer at the Evil Queen.

      I thought the appetizer and dessert portions were small.  I don’t like not having a choice! If you are a particularly picky eater, I don’t know if this is the restaurant for you.

      I would eat here again, but only if on the Dining Plan.

      I would love to hear any comments or questions you may have!  Have you eaten here?  What was your favorite part of the dining experience?

      Posted in Artist Point, Dining Review, Disney, Uncategorized, Vacation, Walt Disney World Resort, Wilderness Lodge | 0 Comments | Tagged Artist Point, Dinner, Disney, Disney Dining Plan, Foodie, Resort, Seven Dwarves, Snow White, Storybook Dining, Table Service, Walt Disney World, Wilderness Lodge
    • 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!

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      One thing on her bucket list this trip, was to meet BB8.  Mission accomplished!  We pretty much walked right in with no wait.

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      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:

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      This is just one of several different rooms offering seating:

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      Here are some menu pics.  They have a great variety and amazing milkshakes!

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      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.

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      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.

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      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.)

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      Alex had the Caesar Salad with Salmon.

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      One of her daughter’s had a bowl of Chicken Noodle Soup.

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      Her other daughter had the Caesar Salad with Chicken.

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      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!

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      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.

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      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
    • Disney’s Contemporary Resort – Contempo Cafe and BVG Shopping

      Posted at 8:02 pm by taryngirl, on September 3, 2018

      Continuing on with our first day…our plan was to hit Disney’s Hollywood Studios this evening.  We had a Fastpass+ for Toy Story Midway Mania.  However, right about 5:30 p.m. or so, it started thunderstorming.  (Usual occurrence pretty much all summer through Octoberish!)  We were prepared and had ponchos.  Butttttt, neither of us were really feeling it.  We were tired from getting up so early to debark the cruise and the long travel day.  But it was too early for us to go to bed.  So we decided to hop on the monorail and head over to one of my Top 3 Quick Service locations!

      From the Polynesian, we hopped on the monorail and got off at the third stop, which is the Contemporary Resort.  Check out these clouds!  (Incidentally, this is the bridge to Bay Lake Tower, which is where we own our Disney Vacation Club, and where we stay later on in the trip.)

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      CONTEMPO CAFE DINNER MENU:

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      So ordering here works the same as Captain Cook’s.  When you walk in, you will first see the menu boards pictured above.  Keep going into the order area and you will see the AMAZING DESSERT CASE!  These hands down are the best resort quick service desserts that I’ve ever experienced!  I seriously drool just deciding what I want.

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      My daughter chose the cookie sandwich:

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      She enjoyed this and couldn’t eat the whole thing.  It was so rich!  We took half back to the room for later.

      And I chose the Peanut Butter Pie:

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      This was DIVINE!  First of all, it’s huge.  So it can definitely be shared!  I couldn’t eat the whole thing, so I took half back to the room.  You can see it has some vanilla pudding on the bottom.  (This was so good, I came back for another on our last day!)

      As you continue in the register area, you will see the cold cases.  I didn’t get pics of these because my arms were full!  Drinks, salads, sandwiches, etc. were located there.

      Once you get to the registers, that is where you order your food.  They will give you a number to put on your table, and once ready someone will bring you your food.

      We weren’t super hungry, so opted for the kid’s chicken nugget meal.  We chose apples and fries for our sides, and a bottle of water for our drink.

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      Disney chicken nuggets are some of our favorites!  This was good and hit the spot followed by our dessert.

      From here we headed to the two shops located on this same floor.

      B.V.G is one of my favorites anywhere!  They always have a great selection, as well as a variety of goodies to choose from.

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      2018-08-23 07.48.13

      Up Next…Day 2!

       

       

       

      Posted in Contempo Cafe, Contemporary Resort, Dining Review, Disney, Quick Service, Uncategorized | 0 Comments | Tagged Contempo Cafe, Contemporary Resort, Dessert, Disney, Foodie, Menu Picture, Merchandise, Shop, Snacks
    • 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…

      IMG_5391

      We checked out some other areas of the ship:

      The stairs in the Centrum:

      IMG_5397

      A Porthole:

      IMG_5394

      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.

      IMG_5399

      2018-08-21 18.38.37

      2018-08-21 18.37.42

      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:

      2018-08-21 18.36.01

      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):

      2018-08-21 18.35.07

      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.

      2018-08-21 18.32.14

      I ordered the Caesar Salad and the Creamy Wild Mushroom Soup.

      2018-08-21 18.31.25

      2018-08-21 18.30.53

      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.

      2018-08-21 18.30.11

      The fruit was very fresh!  And between the 3 of us we ordered at least 2 plates each evening.

      Chicken Waldorf Salad:

      2018-08-21 18.29.22

      Shrimp Cocktail:

      2018-08-21 18.28.41

      These were eaten by others at our table.  I’m assuming they were good because no one complained!

      Kid’s Pizza with French Fries:

      2018-08-21 18.28.09

      She deemed this one of the best pizzas she ever had!  And she would continue to have.  Every.single.night.

      Spaghetti Bolognese:

      2018-08-21 18.27.34

      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:

      2018-08-21 18.27.03

      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?)

      2018-08-21 18.26.27

      Aged Prime Rib of Beef:

      2018-08-21 18.25.52

      Next up was dessert!

      Warm Hazelnut Chocolate Cake:

      2018-08-21 18.24.52

      If you like hazelnut, you will love this!  It was so delicious!  Very warm, and perfect with the whipped cream.

      Royal Cheesecake:

      2018-08-21 18.24.12

      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:

      2018-08-21 18.23.33

      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
    • Captain Cook’s Lunch

      Posted at 11:37 am by taryngirl, on August 28, 2018

      When we arrived to the Polynesian, I was starving.  So we headed directly to Captain Cook’s, which is the quick service location there.  I hadn’t stayed at this resort for 5 years, and this location had undergone some renovations since then.  Here’s the lunch/dinner menu posted (August 2018):2018-08-25 11.07.12

      2018-08-25 11.06.36

      Each quick service location seems to operate differently.  For this particular one, there was a queue set up and 3 registers.  You order at the register and they give you pager.  You can order “for here” or “to go.”  If eating here, you simply go to your table and sit putting the pager on the table.  If taking it to go, there’s a to go counter just to the left of the registers.  If you are ordering a kid’s meal, be sure to note what all comes with it!  It’s usually 2 “sides” and a drink.  The sides may be carrots, grapes, apples, a cookie, fries, etc.  At this location you have to go to the refrigerators and retrieve any of the cold items, including the kid’s drink.

      2018-08-25 11.04.22

      2018-08-25 11.06.12

      Another random note…if you are on the Quick Service Dining Plan, or the Standard Dining Plan, as your beverage you can get a single serve alcoholic drink.  Pictured here you can see some beer.  This would count as your beverage if you don’t want a soda, etc!

      2018-08-25 11.05.43

      2018-08-25 11.05.18

      The buzzer:

      2018-08-25 11.04.51

      2018-08-25 11.03.25

      And my choice for lunch, Pan Asian Noodles and Vegetables with Chicken:

      2018-08-25 11.02.57

      Being the planner I am, I already had a list of all of the food I wanted to try on this trip!  I had googled menus, pictures, review, etc.  I knew I had to have these noodles!

      My review:  They were just okay.  Boo.  I was expecting more flavor!  I did eat almost all of it, and it was a good portion size.  Good mix of vegetables, chicken and noodles.  I don’t think I’d order it again here though!  I might try the Pork Fried Rice or the Hot Beef and Cheddar (which looked amazing!).

      Stay tuned for more reviews from here!  We did have a few more meals here for breakfast and lunch.

      Posted in Captain Cook's, Dining Review, Disney, Polynesian Village Resort, Quick Service, Uncategorized, Walt Disney World Resort | 0 Comments | Tagged Captain Cook's, Disney, Foodie, Polynesian, Polynesian Village Resort, Quick Service
    • March Disney World AEP Trip {Day 5}! Part 2–Satu’li Canteen and Mobile Ordering

      Posted at 7:57 pm by taryngirl, on August 1, 2018

      DID YOU KNOW…that for some Quick Service restaurants throughout Walt Disney World, you can order ahead?  This fantastic service is called MOBILE FOOD AND BEVERAGE ORDERING!  (You can read all about it directly through that link that takes you to Disney’s official page.)

      Basically, instead of waiting in line, you can go onto your My Disney Experience App,

      This is the menu shown outside of the restaurant:

      IMG_2338

      The restaurant itself does have both indoor and outdoor seating.  One note, there are signs on the tables stating you must be a patron of the restaurant in order to use the tables.  So don’t plan on getting a table and sitting there while you wait for the rest of your party who is riding Flight of Passage.

      We stood outside the restaurant and used the My Disney Experience App to order our food. We walked in immediately.  When entering, just look for the separate Mobile Order Pick Up window.  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WAIT IN THE REGULAR LINE!  There was only one person in front of us in this line.

      IMG_0600

      If you didn’t order ahead, this is what the line looked like:

      IMG_0599

      What you can’t see is that the line snaked and then went out into the foyer area of the restaurant.  SO WORTH ORDERING AHEAD!  You can save so much time.

      Confession time…I was skeptical.  I always have modifications, no this, extra this, etc. etc.  You can still modify with the app! 

      Now to the good stuff…the delicious food!  I ordered the Chopped Wood-Grilled Chicken Bowl with Rice and Creamy Herb Dressing and NO Boba Balls!  This is also served with Crunchy Vegetable Slaw.  I also asked for all three sauces on the side when I got up to the window.  The other two sauces are the Black Bean Vinaigrette, and the Charred Onion Chimichurri.  I mixed all three together in the bowl and it was SO GOOD.  I will definitely eat here again and I will definitely order this exact same thing!

      IMG_2427

      My friend ordered the Kid’s Meal–Cheeseburger Steamed Pod which is served with Chips and a drink.IMG_0595

      My other friend ordered the Combination Bowl:  Grilled Beef and Chicken with Rice base and the Chimichurri Sauce.

      IMG_0597

      They each also ordered a dessert.  This is the Chocolate Cake (chocolate cake with a crunchy cookie layer and banana cream topping).  We all tasted it.  It was really good and super rich!

      IMG_0596

      The other dessert was the Blueberry Cream Cheese Mousse.  (blueberry cream cheese mousse with passion fruit curd)  I didn’t try this one, but they said it was good!

      IMG_2423

      I have eaten here on a past trip as well.  These are some pictures of food my group ordered during that trip. 

      Chopped Wood-Grilled Chicken with Romaine and Kale Salad Base.

      IMG_0236

      Regular order of the Cheeseburger Pods served with Chips.

      IMG_0239

      Overall, this quick service restaurant is one of my favorites!  Be sure to give it a try at least once.

      Up next…Cruising on Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas!

      Posted in AEP, Animal Kingdom, Dining Review, Quick Service, Satu'li Canteen, Uncategorized | 0 Comments | Tagged Animal Kingdom, Avatar, Disney, Foodie, Mobile Ordering, Pandora, Quick Service, Satu'li Canteen, Walt Disney World
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