Doing Dizney

Daughter #2 is a senior at The University of Central Florida, nice life eh. No trip to visit her is complete without a trip to Dizney World.

I am not a big fan of Disney but my wife loves it. We stayed at the Polynesian Resort. Beautiful place.

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The Atrium.

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Now as for the food, the only meal we had at the hotel was breakfast. I ordered "The Samoan". Pulled ham hash with poached eggs. No pic because I had them take it away and replace it with a fruit cup. It was that bad.

Now a lot of people say you should not be critical of Disney food because of the volume of food they serve everyday. I say you should be critical and hold them to the standards you would have with any restaurant you visit. Because they do this everyday they should be darn good at it.

This visit was actually a suprise for my wife. She thought we were going straight to our hotel at UCF. The park closed at 7:00 PM but with a special pass you could attend the Halloween Party and stay till midnight. $75.00 for 1-day admission and $50.00 for Halloween pass per person.

As usual the grounds and decorations were beautiful

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The place was not crowed at all. The longest wait on any ride was 10 minutes.

In Frontierland I tried the BBQ at Pecos Bill's.

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Not very good. Smothered in an overly smokey sauce.

For dinner we went to Tony's in the Magic Kingdom. Modeled after Tony's in "Lady and the Tramp. My favorite line in the movie is when Tony says "Hey look, it'sa Butch and he'sa with a Cockerial a Spanish Girl"

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Service is great. Quick, but you do not feel rushed. I ordered the antipasto($13.95), which was very good. In the pic from the top left is roasted garlic(yes I ate it all), a basil pesto which was a little funky, pomadora secci(sundried tomato sauce)which was excellent, gorganzola, marinated artichokes, capacola, roasted pepper bread sticks, prosciutto and assorted olives.

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For my entree I ordered calamari. Small, chewy, tasteless pieces of calamari. The red sauce was right out of a jar and had a processed taste. The other condiment was olive relish which did not pair well at all.($9.95)

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My wife ordered the NY Strip($27.99) No comment needed, just check out the pic.

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The inside of Tony's is very nice. BTW, If you are looking for a quiet meal, this is not the place.

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It was nice seeing M.K. at night. What a difference.

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The one thing Disney does very well....FIREWORKS!!!!!

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Why is it every guy's wife loves Disney and guys do NOT! I go every couple year with my wife and 4 kids around X-Mas and it costs me a small fortune.

I say go to UNIVERSAL STUDIOS, it is cheaper, better and the food is not as awful, it is just bad. The Park is better than Disney and not as crowded.

I'm a husband and absolutely love Disney World. To me, it's the perfect vacation. Universal is ok but to me there's no comparison.

I'm a husband and absolutely love Disney World. To me, it's the perfect vacation. Universal is ok but to me there's no comparison.

It's been my experience that the MK has the worst food of the 4 Disney theme parks & EPCOT has the best.

Hello all ,

Good report there Joe . We visited Disney last year around this time and caught the entire Halloween festivities . We got a great deal at the Movie Resort , value resort , 5 days 4 nights for the three of us with admission passes each day came to $585 tax included . NOT per person for all three of us !!!! . We drove down and ate outside the park every evening in Kissimmee . Nothing spectacular about any on site meal I had and severly over priced .
You are so correct that even though they are doing so many meals a day you would think the quality would be better , or they just don't give a hoot !!!
I felt bad for those without a car that had to do three a day at Disney , that would have been unbearable really .
I also happen to like not love Disney , have been there many times when my parents lived in Merritt Island and we had the comped Accomodations ( thanks Mom) I loved it last year because of the great deal .

Benzee

We have been to Disney many times, it is too bad you chose to eat at the Magic Kingdom, there are so many other places within the resort to try!!!

Disney is not just the Magic Kingdom it has 3 other parks and 2 wonderful water parks, plus the downtown area which is a lot of fun for adults without kids, it is amazing hotels, entertainment, golf courses,fishing,shopping, and eating!

I have always wanted to stay at the Poly, it is so pretty there

Over the last 30 years, I would say I was here well over 50 times. I guess I should have said that I used to like Disney. It never grows old with my wife or my kids.

And thanks to roadfood.com I also had my best meal ever at Disney. After all these years of coming to Disney I never tried a Casey Hot Dog until yesterday. I forgot who the OP was, but THANK YOU!

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This was an excellent, all beef 1/4 pounder. I went with raw onions and a spicy relish. The relish was outstanding. Sweet, sour, crunchy and a very nice amount of heat.

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Here's the fixin's bar. Kraut was off to the side.

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Note to Disney: Find the person responsible for the dogs at Casey's and put him/her in charge of all food service.

Benzee, This is the first time staying in the park since my honeymoon 25 years ago.

The only thing I dislike about Disney is the WAY overpriced food that really isnt that good.
When I lived in Florida, the nice part about going during the off season was that FL. residents would get a 15% discount and there were no lines. At that time, mid 80's, they were only making 14 million a day.

If you gonna eat at Disney you may as well go with some of the top shelf restaraunts considering the price of regular food ive found that for not a crazy amount more; you can find some really good places in especially Epcot, Animal Kingdom and MgM as well as in the Resorts like the Grand Floridian and Boardwalk and Such! The Mexican joint in Epcot and The Brown Derby in MGM are 2 examples that i really liked!

Nice trip and pictures Joe, thanks.

The last time I was there, way back when we discovered the kid's meals in what I think was Fantasy Land. That's what it's called here.

For just a couple dollars we had delicious grilled cheese sandwiches, a bag of chips and a drink. Best meal in the park! However I don't know if they still do that.

The adult food was awful.

Last night we went to one of my favorite places to eat, The Gaylord Palms Hotel. The Gaylord has a huge atrium that is just amazing. We always eat at the Villa De Flora Restaurant. It's a buffett in the atrium, but all food is prepared by very good Chefs at each station. Here are some shots of the atrium.

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And don't miss The Gaylord Gators.

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The Villa De Flora Restaurant.

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And the food. Roasting chickens and vegetables.

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Mussells, paella and coconut shrimp with mango sauce.

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Asiago polenta, osso bucco and garlic smashed reds.

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The carving station. prime rib, ham and boneless leg of lamb.

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There is also a fresh made pasta bar, cheese, salads, soups, etc. Oh and desert bar with a ice crean sundae bar. This is my one weakness when it comes to desert, Baklava.

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After dinner I like to stroll over to Old Key West for an after dinner drink. I board a full size sailboat and have my sambuca overlooking the calm waters. And it is all indoors.

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There are many other restaurants in this complex, but I just love sitting in the beautiful atrium and enjoying dinner with a good glass of wine. BTW, They have a very nice wine list of about 30 choices by the glass or bottle.

The only hotel that rivals this one is The Ventian in Vegas, IMO. [/img][/img][/img][/img][/img][/img][/img][/img][/img]

Iwannago and myself are going to Disney on 12/27/08 for New years Eve. I wannago is graduating with a MBA to go along with the BS in Nursing and a BS in psychology. I have been to EPCOT several times and the entertainment is very good and some of the food is very good.

I look forward to New years Eve and all the celebrations that go along with it.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Disney food,we've found , is great...quality...even gourmet...and the "all you can eat" buffets,like the crystal palace...are great buys when you comsider the amount and variety of the food...and with all the drinks included, a great deal for thirsty tourists in the hot weather...We love Disney!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by cavandre

It's been my experience that the MK has the worst food of the 4 Disney theme parks & EPCOT has the best.

100% correct

some of the on-property hotels have excellent restaurants as well. One of them (GF, I think) has an actual 5 star rated restaurant

quote:

Originally posted by joerogo

thanks to roadfood.com I also had my best meal ever at Disney. After all these years of coming to Disney I never tried a Casey Hot Dog until yesterday. I forgot who the OP was, but THANK YOU!

I'll claim partial credit, as I talked this place up several times on RF after we ate there in Jan 08. The only other place in the Magic Kingdom we liked was The Dole Pineapple stand in adventure land, which produces several very good fresh-pineapple-based items.

My favorite meal ever at Disney world was the mushroom filet w/risotto and beer cheese soup at Le Cellier in Epcot

We're heading back in Jan 09 and will be checking out the French place and Coral Reef in Epcot, Ohana at the Polynesian, 1900 Park Fare at GF, and of course faves like Casey's/MK, Yak and Yeti Counter/AK, and Le Cellier (twice, YUM!)

Benzee

That is a great deal Benzee! Who did you use to get that price? I want to take the wife and kids.

Great pictures and report joerogo

Johnny

quote:

Originally posted by leethebard

Disney food,we've found , is great...quality...even gourmet...and the "all you can eat" buffets,like the crystal palace...are great buys when you comsider the amount and variety of the food...and with all the drinks included, a great deal for thirsty tourists in the hot weather...We love Disney!!!!

Mrs. Metro and I like Disney too, but surely you are jesting about the food. The only decent food we've ever had at Disney was at Three Chefs at EPCOT-France. I'm told that le Cellier in "Canada" serves a good steak, but we've never tried it.

Rather than stay on the property we always rent a car and a house with golf privileges (cheaper than The GF) so we can "do Orlando" and not be a captive of the Mouse. Besides, if we stayed at the GF I have a hunch that all I'd do is walk around muttering bitterly "Jeez, for this money we could be at The Homestead or The Greenbriar". That would be an unhappy vibe and a real buzz-kill.

Here's our "go to" place in Orlando: http://www.kissimmeesteakhouse.com/ . I "discovered" this place during the Reagan administration and have enjoyed it on every trip to Orlando since. BTW: 99% of their business is with the locals; it's a true "Roadfood treat".

No were not kidding California Grill has won numerous awards for its food....and many of the World Showcase resaurants,run by the various countries are excellent..and we love the food at the Brown Derby at MG...Ohana's serves a class mal too!!!!

Being a Floridian for 50 years, and living 60 miles from it from 1998-2005, I went 6 months after they opened in 1982, and have never been again.
I knew people (grown with NO kids) that would go there 4 times a year.
They looked at me with amazement when I told them the last and only time I was there.
I have been to Downtown Disney (complex) mostly to the House of Blues for concerts, but never have stepped beyond that since that one time.
I was amazed the first time I went to that area.. Had not been there for 26 years and it shocked me to see how it was built up.
It used to be just a 2 lane road leading to the main parking lot.

Nice report, Joerogo.

I went to Disney World once, in 1986. I was virtually dragged, kicking and screaming, by my brother and sister for a family gathering. My brother bought me a five-day "gold key" pass, so almost everything was "free". I thought that I would go nuts after a day. Wrong. I loved it. We stayed in two Tree Houses on site. We mostly ate at the various nation-themed restaurants in Epcot, which were good, and the Polynesian for breakfast, which was satisfactory (no pulled-ham hash, then). I could have stayed for a month!

Disney has made a concerted effort to make their food something special...if you've not been in many years,you're missing out...so many places with great food!!!

We've had several good meals & drinks at the Raglan Road Pub in Downtown Disney.

joerogo...Did you get to the Food & Wine Festival at EPCOT?

We only had one day to spend at Disney. I know that there are a lot of dining venues throughout the parks that offer better food than what I had. My point is that every dining option should be at least, good to excellent.

I think I do know why Disney has no incentive to upgrade the quality of its food. The Disney Dining Plan. Everywhere we went, the first question the server asked was "are you using the dining plan". They fill their restaurants through the dining plan. It's like selling a cheap buffet.

Sipping Sambuca on a Sailboat..............NOW you're talkin'!!!!!

There is lots of fine dining at Disney with wonderful food (and you are going to pay top dollar) Many people going to Disney just eat at the theme parks themselves and find lots of average food at above average prices. There are a few good restaurants within the park themselves (Many at Epcot)but for the best food you have to go to the hotels and here are as good restaurants as you can find anywhere.

Some of the best are:

California Grill perched high atop the Contemporary Resort with its picture-perfect views of the Magic Kingdom.

Citricos at the Grand Floridian Hotel offering innovative Mediterranean cuisine.

The Flying Fish at Disney's Boardwalk specializing in seafood

Victoria and Albert's at the Grand Floridian for a special and very elegant experience

Artist Point's Pacific Northwest cuisine at the Wilderness Lodge.

Shula's at the Walt Disney World Dolphin

Bluezoo at the Walt Disney World Dolphin for great seafood

Jiko at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, an atmospheric restaurant with an African flair.

Il Mulino, Disney’s newest restaurant at the Walt Disney World Swan, for great Italian food

quote:

Originally posted by joerogo

I think I do know why Disney has no incentive to upgrade the quality of its food. The Disney Dining Plan. Everywhere we went, the first question the server asked was "are you using the dining plan". They fill their restaurants through the dining plan. It's like selling a cheap buffet.

Actually, your theory has a fatal flaw. The DDR is (at it's simplest) a prepaid alternative to paying out of pocket at the time of purchase. Those persons using the DDR would for the most part still be buying meals in the parks with cash at the time of purchase if they did not have the option of the DDR. Those of us spending cash at the point of purchase are pretty much just as much a captive audience as the DDR folks.

(non-topical aside: I find the DDR is generally a bad deal -- only a good idea if it is a freebie as a rare incentive to purchase a vacation package -OR- if you plan to spend more time eating than taking rides and attractions)

The reason you are asked if you have the DDR at the register is the food has to be rung up in a different manner. Try to never get behind a family with the DDR, ordering in such cases becomes a much harder task as what you order has to fall into certain categories, and every selection is questioned as such.

quote:

Originally posted by leethebard

Disney has made a concerted effort to make their food something special...if you've not been in many years,you're missing out...so many places with great food!!!

I'd stop well shy of saying the food overall at Disney (most especially at the Magic Kingdom Park) is special. There is still plenty of below average food at Disney, particularly in the Magic Kingdom Park. However, there are a few good eats that one can research in advance at each Park, with Epcot World Showcase area being the exception.

I also like how there is a concerted effort to offer fruits and veggies as alternatives to the traditional sides of fries or chips.

The reason we went to Orlando was family weekend at UCF. Saturday we enjoyed a tailgate party sponsored by my daughters sorority.

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Food was donated by Chick Fil-A

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This saved the day for me.

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Now UCF is a great school, but they should take some tailgateing courses at Penn State. But they did do somethings right.

They have a great transportation system.

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Shi**ers are never full.

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Then disaster struck. We ran out of beer. They told me not to worry, we'll just call the beer Police.

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It's nice to have such a caring police force. One big problem though, no lime for the Corona's.[/img][/img][/img][/img][/img][/img]

I would have traded all that Disney food for the tray of CFA nuggets. The polynesian sauce is not bad, joe. I put it on their sandwiches.

Back in the day when I was a wife, I didn't like Disney World. The one year we took my son to all that stuff the standout for me was Sea World. But then I don't like Myrtle Beach either, so I think my taste in entertainment runs a bit counter.

quote:

Originally posted by joerogo



And thanks to roadfood.com I also had my best meal ever at Disney. After all these years of coming to Disney I never tried a Casey Hot Dog until yesterday. I forgot who the OP was, but THANK YOU!

Mosca, 6/17/07:

"We had a good hot dog at Casey's Corner at the entrance to The Magic Kingdom; the spicy relish was really good. "

I don't know that I was the first, though.