Trip wrap up and observations

This years' visit was very nice and relaxing. Better than last year. Walt Disney World can wear out the best of us and it is impossible to do everything during a two week vacation. It takes months to do everything WDW has to offer. The following are a few observations from our trip.

- When the Disney Dining Plan started (2005), it was a very good deal and we purchased it with our package. The following year, they changed it and it was no longer a good deal. We have not purchased it since it's first year. We looked at our receipts from this trip and we may have saved a few dollars if we had purchased the Deluxe Dining Plan. Now that would have locked us into the on site restaurants only, but that is not a big deal as there are so many to choose from. The Deluxe Plan is probably too much food, but a savings is a savings.

- The prices on the small souvenirs we usually buy for friends and family has gone up dramatically. So much so, it was immediately noticeable.

- There was a lot of work going on in the parks. More so than usual ( I am not referring to the Fantasyland expansion).

- As my wife and I get older, the park "commando" touring is a thing of the past. For years, we would be on the go constantly so that we could hit every ride at every park. It was tiring and we would need a few days to recover once we got home. Our future trips will be more leisurely. Actually, our next trip in 2012 may start with (7) days at the parks followed by a (5) day Disney cruise. We have never been on a cruise and the down time after the parks should be wonderful.

- The quality of the food in the parks could be better. Years ago, before the dining plan, the food was much better.

- We have now stayed at both Port Orleans sections. They are both beautiful and we give them an enthusiastic recommendation.

- With the closing of the Pleasure Island clubs and Virgin, it is a ghost town from The Marketplace over. Disney must work on bringing in new establishments and creating new energy at both the Pleasure Island and Westside sections.

Day Eleven-Disney's Hollywood Studios

It was another late night at The Magic Kingdom last night, but we dragged ourselves out of bed and headed to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Our first stop was Rock n Roller Coaster as it had just opened from a small refurb----love that takeoff! Tower of Terror was next. There are a few signature attractions in Orlando--Pirates of the Caribbean/Haunted Mansion at Walt Disney World and Spiderman at Universal Orlando, but Tower of Terror ranks up there with the best of them.

After Tower of Terror, it was time for lunch at 50s Prime Time Cafe and it was none too early as we were starving. 50s Prime Time Cafe is styled after kitchens of the 1950s with televisions playing clips of old TV series. The food is good, but it's the atmosphere that is the draw. We started with the wedge salad. My wife had the BBQ chicken sandwich with fries and I had the fried chicken which is served with mashed potatoes and southern greens. For dessert, I had the Boston Cream cupcake. Everything was OK, not spectacular and I am not a fan of southern greens.

50s Prime Time Cafe, Wedge Salad

50s Prime Time Cafe, BBQ Chicken Sandwich With Fries

50s Prime Time Cafe, Fried Chicken With Mashed potatoes and Southern Greens

50s Prime Time Cafe, Boston Cream Cupcake

After lunch, we finished a few attractions and headed out. For dinner, we decided to try The Lake Buena Vista Ale House located right outside the entrance to Hotel Plaza Boulevard. The food was typical pub food, not spectacular but good. We decided to try two appetizers, fried clams and fried mozzarella. For entrees, my wife ordered a quesadilla and I had a steak. We wasted a lot of food.

Lake Buena Vista Ale House, Fried Clams and Fried Mozzarella

After dinner, it was time to head back and pack as we were on the road home tomorrow morning.

Day Ten-'Ohana and Magic Kingdom

We started the day by headed over to Olivia's at Old Key West for an early lunch. Olivia's is a very nice place for lunch and it is one of the only places at WDW that serves true sweet tea. My wife started with the onion rings and I had the crab cakes. For our entrees, my wife had the soup (cheddar ale) and half sandwich (turkey panini). I had the cheeseburger and fries. A few years ago, WDW changed it's hamburger buns throughout it's quick service restaurants.....for the worse. They changed from a nice soft white bun to a whole grain type of bun. The taste is unpleasant and the texture causes it to break apart whenever grabbed. Olivia's serves their burgers on a nice grilled white bun which is tasty.

Olivia's, Onion Rings

Olivia's, Crab Cakes

Olivia's, Cheeseburger With French Fries

Olivia's, Cheddar Ale Soup and Turkey Panini

After lunch, we went to Downtown Disney to watch another movie. We love watching movies on vacation.

After the movie, we headed back to the room to relax as we had another late night at The Magic Kingdom in front of us.
We woke from our nap, showered and headed to 'Ohana for dinner. I always like to reserve 'Ohana before a late night at the Magic Kingdom. After dinner, we hop on the monorail and head over.

'Ohana is an all you can eat type of restaurant where sides are served family style and skewers of meat are brought to your table. Everything was very good (As usual). After dinner, we headed to the Magic Kingdom.

'Ohana, Coconut Bread

'Ohana, Salad

'Ohana, Sauces

'Ohana, Wings

'Ohana, Potstickers

'Ohana, Broccoli

'Ohana, Lo Mein

'Ohana, Steak, Pork and Turkey

'Ohana, Shrimp

'Ohana, Bread Pudding

Day Nine-Downtown Disney and Ghirardelli

We slept in again as we did not get back from Epcot until 1:30am last night.

We decided to head to Wolfgang Puck's for lunch. Years ago, we went to Wolfgang's and were not impressed. We have not been back since, and figured we give it another shot.

We started with the tempura shrimp roll. It was good, but not spectacular. After the appetizer, my wife had the peperoni and mushroom pizza and I had the beef and gorgonzola pocket with homemade chips. Maybe we were expecting more as it is a Wolfgang Puck restaurant, but all the food was just OK.

Wolfgang Puck's, Tempura Shrimp Roll

Wolfgang Puck's, Beef and Gorgonzola Pocket

Wolfgang Puck's, Pepperoni Pizza with Mushrooms

After lunch, we drove around Orlando a bit and hit a few outlets. Since we visit WDW every year, we have noticed a disturbing trend. As Disney continues to build and offer incentives to stay on site (Magical Express, Disney Dining Plan, etc.) not to mention the planned Flamingo Crossings area, it seems the tourist type establishments (hotels, restaurants, mini golf, etc.) outside the gates of WDW have diminished greatly over the years. Half of International Drive and most of 192 are a shell of what they used to be. I have never seen so many things closed or re-purposed. I am not sure if it a good thing or a bad thing and my wife and I are always torn on whether go visit restaurants/stores outside the gates of Disney. It will be interesting to see how the area fares in ten years or so. It does make me sad a bit.

Again, it was very hot, so we decided to head back to the room to relax.

We headed to Point Orlando for dinner. We wanted to eat at BB Kings, but a band was playing that required a $10.00 cover. We were not up for listening to music and wanted a quiet dinner. We decided to try the Copper Canyon Grill. They are known for their rotisserie chicken. We started with the Fiesta Eggrolls which were an eggroll wrapper filled with chicken/corn/black beans/cheese. For our entrees, my wife ordered the chicken and ribs combo and I had the Chicken and Filet combo. Both were served with mashed potatoes and sauteed green beans. All the food was very good and we would go back.

Copper Canyon Grill, Fiesta Eggrolls

Copper Canyon Grill, Chicken and Ribs Combo

Copper Canyon Grill, Chicken and Filet Combo

After dinner, we headed to Downtown Disney for more shopping and ended the night with a chocolate shake and hot fudge sundae from Ghirardelli, both were very good.

Ghirardellis

After the World of Disney (how many rooms of shopping are in here?) we headed back to the room.

Day Eight-Epcot and School Bread

We woke, showered and headed to Planet Hollywood for lunch before going to Epcot. When booking through Disney, you are given a voucher for $15.00 off at Planet Hollywood. We have not eaten at Planet Hollywood in 4-5 years, so we decided to give it a try. Almost all the Planet Hollywood locations in the U.S. have closed over the course of the last few years (except a few) and we now know why. Even with a $15.00 coupon, we would not eat here again. The food is just terrible and the seating is so close together, it is uncomfortable. We did not take pictures, sorry.

After lunch, we headed to Epcot. The summer crowds started to noticeably pick up today. We did not have dinner reservations and tried our luck at Tutto Italia. No such luck, booked solid---oh well. We rode Maelstrom just before Illuminations and hit Kringla Bakeri og Cafe for a snack. I had the Lefse and my wife had The School Bread. The Lefse was potato bread with butter and brown sugar. It was horrible, definitely not my cup of tea. The School Bread was good though.

Kringla Bekeri og cafe, Lefse

Kringla Bakeri og Cafe, School Bread

 After Illuminations, we hit a few more rides and headed out.

By the time we arrived at Port Orleans, we were hungry. We decided to try the food court. I had the make your own pasta (penne pasta, chicken, peas, broccoli, prosciutto in alfredo sauce) and a fruit cup. My wife had the cheeseburger with fries and a brownie. Both were good, much better than the meal at Planet Hollywood. After dinner, it was off to bed.

Riverside Mill Foodcourt, Make Your Own Pasta with Fruitcup

Riverside Mill Foodcourt, Cheeseburger, Fries and Brownie

Day Seven-Animal Kingdom

We woke and only had something to drink for breakfast as it was a bit too hot to eat. We headed towards Animal Kingdom and leisurely made our way through The Oasis. We jumped in the Everest line. An hour later, we were on board the train and off we go! After Everest, it was time for our reservations at Yak & Yeti. We have eaten at Yak & Yeti every year since it has been open.

We started with the Dim Sum Basket which was very good.

Yak & Yeti, Dim Sum Basket

For our entrees, my wife had the Sweet and Sour Chicken and I had the Shaoxing Steak and Shrimp. Both were excellent. We never had a bad meal and Yak & Yeti.

Yak & Yeti, Sweet and Sour Chicken

Yak & Yeti, Shaoxing Steak and Shrimp

After lunch, we decided to leave and take in a movie. After the movie, we went to the room to nap. Throughout the entire trip, it was very hot and humid (92 degrees+), so slow going with plenty of breaks was definitely the way to go.
For dinner, we decided to try Boatwright's which is the full service restaurant at our resort. We ordered iced tea and our server brought each of us two glasses as it was very hot.

Boatwright's, Iced tea

Cornbread is brought to the table and we both started with the Caesar salad which was good.

Boatwright's, Cornbread

Boatwright's, Caesar Salad

For our entrees, I had the filet medallions with mashed sweet potatoes and my wife had the jambalaya. Both were OK.

Boatwright's, Filet Medallions with Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Boatwright's, Jambalaya

After dinner, it was off to bed.

Day Six-Epcot (best ham & cheese I ever had)

We woke and headed to Epcot. Epcot is my wife's favorite park. Upon arrival, we went directly to The Land, grabbed a fastpass for Soarin' and rode Living With The Land. After the ride, we shared a breakfast platter at Garden Grill.

Garden Grill, Breakfast Platter

After breakfast, it was off to Soarin', Circle of Life and Journey Into Imagination. After that, we headed into World Showcase starting at the UK end. We like World Showcase, but it is getting a bit "tired". It is in need of a new country or a new attraction or two. By the time we reached France, it was time for lunch and we had reservations at Chefs de France.

The meal starts with a baguette. My wife ordered the Croque Monsieur which is a french toasted ham and cheese. It came with a simple green salad. I ordered the three course fixed menu which started with the lobster bisque.

Chefs de France, Baguette

Chefs de France, Lobster Bisque

After the bisque, I also had the Croque Monsieur. This is not your ordinary grilled ham and cheese. It was the best ham and cheese I ever ate.

Chefs de France, Croque Monsieur

I ended with the profiteroles which are a small eclair pastry with ice cream. They were good.

Chefs de France, Profiteroles

Remy comes around during lunch and he did make a stop by our table.

Epcot, Chefs de France, Remy

After lunch, we walked through the rest of World Showcase, grabbed a fish and chips snack then headed back to the room to relax.

Epcot, United Kingdom, Yorkshire Fish & Chips

After a quick nap, we showered and headed to The Yachtsman Steakhouse. We have eaten at The Yachtsman on three previous trips. Two years ago, we had a fantastic meal at Yachtsman, but missed it last year as it was under a rehab when we were there. We were really looking forward to it.

Upon arrival, we were seated immediately. The restaurant was roughly half full which we thought odd as it has traditionally been a long sought reservation.

A mixed bread basket with butter/olive oil/roasted garlic was brought to the table. The bread was fresh baked and very good with the stand out being a pull apart onion roll-very good.

Yachtsman Steakhouse, Bread Basket

I ordered an unsweet tea for dinner and when it arrived, it was served with a small container of simple syrup. This is the first time I have seen this, a nice touch.

Yachtsman Steakhouse, Iced Tea with Simple Syrup

We both ordered the Caesar salad to start and they were very good.

Yachtsman Steakhouse, Caesar Salad

For our entrees, we both ordered the New York Strip which came with potato gratin. We also ordered a side of creamed spinach and a side of sauteed mushrooms. When the food arrived, we immediately noticed the creamed spinach was different than in years past. In years past, it was very "cheesy" with a hard parmesan crust on top. This time, there was no crust and onions have been added. This is the first time I have seen onions in creamed spinach. Upon the first bite, it was obvious the changes to the creamed spinach decreased the quality of the dish. So much so, we had a few bites and left the rest. The quality of the New York Strip was sub par as well---it was bit tough and not seasoned. The side of mushrooms were OK, but the potato gratin was very good. We were disappointed in this meal as it is an expensive restaurant.

Yachtsman Steakhouse, New York Strip with Potato Gratin

Yachtsman Steakhouse, Creamed Spinach

Yachtsman Steakhouse, Sauteed Mushrooms

After dinner, we walked to Beaches & Cream for dessert. I had a chocolate shake and my wife had the brownie sundae. After dessert, we headed back to room.

Beaches & Cream, Brownie Sundae