Prawn Heads & Cupcakes & Soups, Oh My! 10/5 Complete (now with my Dining Wish List)!

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Aw, I am sad too!!! It was fun!

When will you be back next?

I don't know when we'll be back yet - I'm in Disney limbo!

Pinapple and chocolate seems like such an interesting combination. I must say, it's not something I would have considered trying if it weren't for the Dis!

Your pictures of WL are excellent! It seems as though you have stayed in many of the deluxe resorts. Do you mind if I ask which one was your favorite?

That snack was one of the best of the trip.

As for the deluxe resorts...almost all of them have been my favorite at different points in time. From 1995 to 2002, it was Poly. Then from 2002 to 2004, it was Boardwalk Inn. From 2005 to 2007, it was Beach Club. From 2008 to 2010, it was Grand Floridian. And since 2011, my favorites have been Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge, and Yacht Club - I love them all for different reasons. Here are some of my thoughts about my current favorites.

-Contemporary is currently one of my favorites because of its location and decor. The rooms are spacious, modern, and elegant, and Disney has done a great job updating the feel of the entire resort (from the lobby to the dining options - Cali Grill is up next for an update). Walking to Magic Kingdom is a huge perk - I usually prefer it over waiting in line for a monorail. Plus, if you need to catch a bus to any resort, you can simply walk to MK's bus stop to catch a direct bus.

-Yacht Club is currently my favorite resort in the Epcot area. Compared to Beach Club, it has a more central location - the walk is slightly longer to Epcot, but it's slightly shorter to Swan, Dolphin, and Hollywood Studios. Yacht Club provides access to the excitement and bustle of Boardwalk, Beach Club, and Stormalong Bay, but it feels more quiet and serene than BC. Unlike BC's rooms, all YC rooms have full balconies - I appreciate the consistency. And finally, the nautical decor is really cool - it reminds me of my favorite Disney character.

-Wilderness Lodge is a place I never thought I would stay - we used to rule it out due to the small, dark rooms and inferior transportation options (compared to monorail and Epcot resorts). However, we've grown to love this place. It provides a similar sense of escape as AKL - you really feel like you're surrounded by the forests of a national park. At the same time, MK is just a boat ride away. The lobby is incredible (complete with dramatic music and towering totem poles). The dining options here are great - I love all of them except WCC (which I haven't tried yet). And finally, the rooms are looking better than ever.

DDW - did they make the pineapple with dark chocolate? Yours appears to be milk but I am wondering if there was a choice?

Since I didn't see any options, I assume this was all they had (I would've preferred dark). But maybe they've added a dark and milk option at this point (since the grapes were available in dark and milk chocolate).

I hope you're having a wonderful trip!

 

[emmysmommy]

Lovely snack!! I love the combo of chocolate and pineapple. When I was recuperating from surgery earlier this year my employees sent me a big Edible Arrangements fruit basket and I picked all of the chocolate covered pineapples out before I shared with my family!!

That was a cool photo of your snack with Main St. in the background.

It will be a dark lonely place here on the DisBoards dining section without a DDW dining review for awhile!

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Lovely snack!! I love the combo of chocolate and pineapple. When I was recuperating from surgery earlier this year my employees sent me a big Edible Arrangements fruit basket and I picked all of the chocolate covered pineapples out before I shared with my family!!

That was a cool photo of your snack with Main St. in the background.

It will be a dark lonely place here on the DisBoards dining section without a DDW dining review for awhile!

Edible Arrangements are so cool! I don't blame you for picking out the chocolate-covered pineapple pieces - the basket was meant for you anyway.

It sounds like it'll be a while before your next report as well. It's okay though - there are so many new dining reviews to enjoy (along with the exciting live thread)! And at least your current report isn't nearly done yet.

 

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

-Yacht Club is currently my favorite resort in the Epcot area. Compared to Beach Club, it has a more central location - the walk is slightly longer to Epcot, but it's slightly shorter to Swan, Dolphin, and Hollywood Studios. Yacht Club provides access to the excitement and bustle of Boardwalk, Beach Club, and Stormalong Bay, but it feels more quiet and serene than BC. Unlike BC's rooms, all YC rooms have full balconies - I appreciate the consistency. And finally, the nautical decor is really cool - it reminds me of my favorite Disney character.

I want to stay in YC so badly, especially for the F&WF. We had reservations there initially, but for reasons that would take longer to explain than would be entertaining, we had to switch to Poly (not that the Poly is a a bad alternative by any means). Oh well, I suppose I will just have to come back again! Epcot is still my favorite park.

 

[emmysmommy]

And at least your current report isn't nearly done yet.

That's code for tick tock get moving on it, right?

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I want to stay in YC so badly, especially for the F&WF. We had reservations there initially, but for reasons that would take longer to explain than would be entertaining, we had to switch to Poly (not that the Poly is a a bad alternative by any means). Oh well, I suppose I will just have to come back again! Epcot is still my favorite park.

Hopefully you'll get a chance to try YC sometime - it sounds like you'd really enjoy the walk to Epcot.

Poly is also nice, but we aren't huge fans of the current rooms - they're a bit dark IMO. Apparently the rooms are being refurbished over the next few months - I can't wait to see the new design.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

That's code for tick tock get moving on it, right?

Actually, it was code for "prolong it because I don't want it to end!"

 

[sushi candy]

The chocolate and pineapple combo sound amazing. I wish I had a chance to see the Wilderness Lodge. We visited the Poly, Grand Floridian, Contemporary, Beach Club, and Yacht Club on this trip.

Aww your report is almost over. Sniffles,

 

[AvasMommy526]

Yep - Contempo is the one with the bananas and salted caramel sauce!

Yess! Thank you! I'm in love with salted caramel right now! Had a salted caramel mocha from Starbucks yesterday, Just my thing!

Chocolate covered pineapple......I love it! I did the same thing emmysmommy did with her edible arrangement! Horde the chocolate covered pineapple, share the rest

And noo, your report can't be over already! It just started! You better hurry and plan another trip

 

[Tracerr00]

The Wilderness Waffles were wonderful! (how's that for a too many "W" words in one sentence?) I'm just going to have to go to WCC to get them I guess, even if they aren't in Mickey form. Although those strawberry waffles do look fantastic!!

I love fresh pineapple but I've never had chocolate covered pineapple. I might even have to make my own at home! But it won't compare to that view!

 

[jabead]

-Wilderness Lodge is a place I never thought I would stay - we used to rule it out due to the small, dark rooms and inferior transportation options (compared to monorail and Epcot resorts). However, we've grown to love this place. It provides a similar sense of escape as AKL - you really feel like you're surrounded by the forests of a national park. At the same time, MK is just a boat ride away. The lobby is incredible (complete with dramatic music and towering totem poles). The dining options here are great - I love all of them except WCC (which I haven't tried yet). And finally, the rooms are looking better than ever.

Your photos and talk of the Wilderness Lodge have me really excited to stay there...even if they no longer have those Mickey waffles at RF. As of now, I've booked Wilderness Lodge for the first 3 nights of our trip and then BWV for the last 3. Of course, I still have to convince my DH that he wants to spend our Spring Break vacation at WDW! So wish me luck!

 

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

So I saw where you posted this

So head-on prawns are the new signature trend? Cali Grill is so behind the times

In all seriousness, Cali Grill's current menu is sounding good. I wish I had a trip planned soon - it would be on my list!

on the live updates thread and wanted to respond here where I knew you'd see it.

So I was looking at the Jiko menus today [at work ] and trying to figure out what I would order from Jiko. My first impulse is the filet, but I J has been talking about wanting to try the Jiko filet since we booked this trip months ago, so I know that's what he's going to order. The prawns were my next thought, but I was struggling as I thought "but DDW has already reviewed the prawns so well, I need to offer variety!"

Feel free to tell me how silly I'm being. I know I should not agonize over menus this much.

 

[vettegirl]

Aww how sad, last snack! You are going to have to plan another trip. I too am in limbo about when I will go back. I think I am going to hold off for a least a year and go all out next winter for the end of food and wine.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

The chocolate and pineapple combo sound amazing. I wish I had a chance to see the Wilderness Lodge. We visited the Poly, Grand Floridian, Contemporary, Beach Club, and Yacht Club on this trip.

Aww your report is almost over. Sniffles,

It sounds like you got to see a nice variety of deluxe resorts - next time you'll need to check out Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge, and Boardwalk.

Yess! Thank you! I'm in love with salted caramel right now! Had a salted caramel mocha from Starbucks yesterday, Just my thing!

Chocolate covered pineapple......I love it! I did the same thing emmysmommy did with her edible arrangement! Horde the chocolate covered pineapple, share the rest

And noo, your report can't be over already! It just started! You better hurry and plan another trip

Salted caramel, chocolate-covered pineapple - both are incredible, even outside of WDW.

I'd love to plan another trip soon, but we'll just have to wait and see.

The Wilderness Waffles were wonderful! (how's that for a too many "W" words in one sentence?) I'm just going to have to go to WCC to get them I guess, even if they aren't in Mickey form. Although those strawberry waffles do look fantastic!!

I love fresh pineapple but I've never had chocolate covered pineapple. I might even have to make my own at home! But it won't compare to that view!

Sounds like a good plan - make some chocolate-covered pineapple at home, and then put those WCC waffles on your list for next time!

Your photos and talk of the Wilderness Lodge have me really excited to stay there...even if they no longer have those Mickey waffles at RF. As of now, I've booked Wilderness Lodge for the first 3 nights of our trip and then BWV for the last 3. Of course, I still have to convince my DH that he wants to spend our Spring Break vacation at WDW! So wish me luck!

A split stay sounds perfect! Hopefully DH will go along with it, especially since you've already gotten so far in the planning process.

So I saw where you posted this

on the live updates thread and wanted to respond here where I knew you'd see it.

So I was looking at the Jiko menus today [at work ] and trying to figure out what I would order from Jiko. My first impulse is the filet, but I J has been talking about wanting to try the Jiko filet since we booked this trip months ago, so I know that's what he's going to order. The prawns were my next thought, but I was struggling as I thought "but DDW has already reviewed the prawns so well, I need to offer variety!"

Feel free to tell me how silly I'm being. I know I should not agonize over menus this much.

IMO, if the prawns sound fantastic to you, you should go ahead and order them! After all, some of the most popular WDW dishes have probably been reviewed hundreds of times (or more) on this site - Via Napoli pizza, Tonga Toast, Cali Grill's filet, Le Cellier's cheese soup, Starring Rolls cupcakes, etc. And all those (mostly) positive reviews reinforce the idea that these items are worth trying!

Aww how sad, last snack! You are going to have to plan another trip. I too am in limbo about when I will go back. I think I am going to hold off for a least a year and go all out next winter for the end of food and wine.

Hopefully we'll be out of limbo relatively soon. Even if both of our next trips aren't for a while, it still feels nice to have dates set.

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

I had to go all the way back to page 35 to get caught up, but I've enjoyed every minute of it.

It is such a shame I didn't see that picture of your strawberry cupcake before I left for our trip. That would have been something I would have loved.

I'm disappointed to hear about the menu change at Beaches and Cream. We are hoping to stay at Yacht or Beach Club next summer and I like the lighter menu choices.

If DH hears about bananas foster waffles at Roaring Fork we will finally get to stay at WL. Of course you did mention that Beaches and Cream has a new grilled banana bread and peanut butter dessert so I could probably persuade him either way.

Your pictures are so gorgeous they could be award winning. I especially love the one from the WL boat dock.

Thanks again for sharing your dining experiences at WDW with us. I've really enjoyed it.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I had to go all the way back to page 35 to get caught up, but I've enjoyed every minute of it.

It is such a shame I didn't see that picture of your strawberry cupcake before I left for our trip. That would have been something I would have loved.

I'm disappointed to hear about the menu change at Beaches and Cream. We are hoping to stay at Yacht or Beach Club next summer and I like the lighter menu choices.

If DH hears about bananas foster waffles at Roaring Fork we will finally get to stay at WL. Of course you did mention that Beaches and Cream has a new grilled banana bread and peanut butter dessert so I could probably persuade him either way.

Your pictures are so gorgeous they could be award winning. I especially love the one from the WL boat dock.

Thanks again for sharing your dining experiences at WDW with us. I've really enjoyed it.

Between WL and YC (or even BC), I think you'd be making a wonderful choice.

I'm so glad you've enjoyed the reviews and photos - the report is almost over!

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Soon we left Wilderness Lodge and were on our way to the airport. Since my mom hadn't eaten anything yet, we stopped at Poly because there was a certain meal she felt like having.

For some reason, I went photo-crazy in Captain Cook's, so please excuse me for all the pics of CC's tropical decor.

For lunch, my mom got the multigrain turkey club with lettuce, tomato, and bacon (she always gets it without the mayonnaise). Steamed veggies are on the side. This is one of her favorite WDW foods - it's just so simple but well-done, and the bread is flavorful and hearty. I'm happy she was able to get it.

On the way out, I took several pictures in the Polynesian lobby.

And with that, we left WDW and arrived at MCO. At the terminal, I bought this snack for the plane:

And finally, a picture from the air:

So that's it! 6 nights in WDW, 5 exhilarating plunges down Summit Plummet, 4 unique AKL restaurants, 3 Disers met (along with Brenda's family!), 2 of my favorite signature restaurants, and a delectable assortment of prawn heads, cupcakes, and soups.

 

[jabead]

Bravo, Mr. DoleWhip!!!

Thank you so much for another fantastic Dining Report!

(Oh, and I have to tell you that I thought that you were going to end your trip with a Dole Whip when I saw that you were at Captain Cook's.)

 

[jedijill]

Great review! Hope you get another trip planned soon!

Jill in CO

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Bravo, Mr. DoleWhip!!!

Thank you so much for another fantastic Dining Report!

(Oh, and I have to tell you that I thought that you were going to end your trip with a Dole Whip when I saw that you were at Captain Cook's.)

Thank you so much! And the dole whip will have to wait for next time, whenever that is.

Great review! Hope you get another trip planned soon!

Jill in CO

Thank you! And nothing is planned yet, but I'm hoping the next trip won't be too far away.

It's exciting that your trip is so soon - it means we have more reviews to look forward to!