Greetings From England – The Brits Are Back!! **COMPLETED 07/05**

[DisneyMamato4]

We stayed at AKL a few weeks ago and every time I walked by Jiko on my way to the pool I would stop and smell, it just smelled wonderful. Never had a chance to try it though, maybe next time because it sounds awesome.

[Linda67]

Originally Posted by John's Mom

Our last two visits to Jiko were very disappointing.

After reading your review, I think we'll give it another try. Thanks.

Kathy

Oh it's a shame you have had some disappointing meals at Jiko; this was our first time eating there but it really was excellent from start to finish

Originally Posted by wilma-bride

Well, I read the review at work (as promised) and it sounded great. Got home, looked at the pictures and it looked even better

What's next?

Hey Joh
Via Napoli next

Originally Posted by chocolateMinnie

I can't believe I agreed to my family crossing Jiko off our list for october - it looks amazing

All the more reason to start planning another trip

Originally Posted by DonaldDoleWhip

So happy you enjoyed Jiko! I really wanted to get that perch dish but couldn't fit it in since we did Yachtsman instead. Hopefully they still have it next time!

The Perch was outstanding
I would find it very difficult to order anything else if it's still on the menu next time we visit

Originally Posted by TanzUnited99

Mmm your review of Jiko sounds great!

Am glad you enjoyed your meal - all the pics look good and your review of the cheesecake has me drooling!

The cheesecake was soooooooooooo creamy and delicious

Originally Posted by mamaboogie

Hi Linda!

Sooooo glad you loved Jiko!

It was our favourite meal of the whole holiday last year! Our definite top of the list to return to!

Can't wait to hear more!

Hi Shari

When I first made the ADR I wasn't sure if DH would find the menu as interesting as me but we both ended up loving this meal

Originally Posted by DisneyMamato4

We stayed at AKL a few weeks ago and every time I walked by Jiko on my way to the pool I would stop and smell, it just smelled wonderful. Never had a chance to try it though, maybe next time because it sounds awesome.

Oh you must try it next time, if only for the Flatbreads

[Linda67]

Thursday 26th May 2011

Today was a great day

We were booked onto the ‘Around The World On A Segway Tour’ at 7.45am and although the early morning wakeup call was painful it was sooooo worth it

It turned out that we were the only two people booked on the tour (there were 13 people on the later tour ) so we were escorted into a totally empty Epcot, ahead of all the breakfast guests and were treated like VIPs!!

This is such a fun tour by the way, zooming around an empty world showcase was a wonderful experience and our guide was excellent





Don't we look cool

After our tour ended we grabbed FPs for Soarin’ and then spent the morning enjoying Future World

On our way to our lunch ADR we found time to stop off in Mexico for a little pick me up

DH grabbed a Coke and I picked up one of these from La Cantina San Angel



Mixed Berry Margarita

Whilst standing in ‘Mexico’ with my delicious drink in hand the Margarita Gods smiled down on me and right on cue the entertainment began



Can you spot the new band member

After our musical interlude it was time to skip through passport control and head over to Italy for our lunch ADR at Via Napoli

We checked in and were seated within a couple of minutes; there were a lot of people arriving without ADRs and the restaurant seemed to be able to accommodate them all and there seemed to be plenty of empty tables inside

Our table for lunch was a lovely two top in the window; we were really lucky with our table allocations on this trip and always ended up with great views

Our server introduced himself and took our drink orders; Coke for DH and a Pomegranate Cosmopolitan for me



Once our drinks were delivered our server took our appetiser and entrée orders before going AWOL for pretty much the rest of our lunch

An assistant server bought us bread and olive oil



Bread Service

DH loves Calamari so decided to order some as an appetiser

I am really not a fan of Calamari but when it arrived I decided to try some



Calamari Fritti - corn-crusted rings served with spicy tomato sauce

This was wonderful calamari, as I said I am really not keen on this usually (tough, chewy, you know the score) but this was great and not at all chewy, the tomato sauce was delicious and my only complaint would be that we would have liked to have more fresh lemon to squeeze over the dish but we couldn’t track down our server to help us

Whilst we were enjoying our Calamari there seemed to be confusion all around us as to which orders belonged to which table

Basically every table that our original server had attended to had a problem, with incorrect orders being delivered and everyone’s food being delivered at different times

The table next to us were really unhappy; half of them had finished their entrees before the others in their party had even received theirs

I guess we got lucky as both of our entrees arrived at the same time

DH chose this;



Quattro Formaggi - mozzarella, parmesan, fontina, provolone

And for me;



Ortolano - tomato, mozzarella, vegetables

I loved my pizza, the base was perfect and the tomato sauce was delicious with the veggies

Top marks from me

DH didn’t enjoy his as much as me; he regretted ordering this and wishes he had just got the Margarita Pizza which is his usual choice

He knew it was a 'White' pizza before he ordered it but he really missed the tomato sauce and felt that it was just too rich without the tomato flavour to cut through the cheese

It wasn’t a bad pizza by any means; it was more that he ordered badly

Shortly after we had finished our entrees our server re-appeared and ran round all of his tables apologising, I think he may have been spoken to by his manager

Next up was dessert and we both ordered the same thing



‘Ugly But Good’ - Amarena cherry and vanilla gelato sundae with cookies

Oooh this was fab, wonderful vanilla ice cream and the cherry sauce was divine

Overall I really enjoyed Via Napoli but the service was nothing to write home about.

We weren’t in a rush but if we had expected a quick lunch we would have been disappointed

We would definitely return to Via Napoli and loved the setting and atmosphere of the restaurant; they were also offering Pizza by the slice from a window next to the main restaurant and I think that would be a great choice for a grab and go option

Coming Up Next ………………….A Night In Downtown Disney

[auntfrannie]

I'm really enjoying your reviews! How cool to be the only ones in a tour. No wonder you felt like VIPs!

[TanzUnited99]

Yay on being the only two on the Segway tour - what a great way to start the day!

The pizzas look yummy - it's a shame DH didn't enjoy his as much as he thought he would.

Mmm all these desserts look sooo good - can you tell I have a sweet tooth?!

Don't know how I'm going to cope with all the choices at Disney World!

[Kricketnp]

Just read through this whole review and enjoyed every minute of it! We are staying at WL in August, so it was nice to see some of the things from Roaring Fork, as well as the fancy pool drinks. Thanks for the entertainment on a slow day at work!!

[mamaboogie]

Does your night in Downtown Disney involve an alcoholic beverage or two??

[wilma-bride]

Wow, Via Napoli looks fantastic. I like Calamari but, like you say in can sometimes be tough and chewy. That looked great though. And I love the look of the Quattro Formaggi - I don't like tomato so that would be right up my street

By the way, if you enjoyed the Segway tour at Epcot, you'll have to try the Fort Wilderness one - it's loads better and you get to go faster

[sjs314]

I am dying to try Via Napoli on our October trip, your pics were great. DH loves calamari, me not so much but it did look good. Enjoyed the review

[Linda67]

Originally Posted by auntfrannie

I'm really enjoying your reviews! How cool to be the only ones in a tour. No wonder you felt like VIPs!

It was a wonderful tour and just amazing to be whizzing round World Showcase on our own

Originally Posted by TanzUnited99

Yay on being the only two on the Segway tour - what a great way to start the day!

The pizzas look yummy - it's a shame DH didn't enjoy his as much as he thought he would.

Mmm all these desserts look sooo good - can you tell I have a sweet tooth?!

Don't know how I'm going to cope with all the choices at Disney World!

That's why we all keep going back, there is always something else to try

Originally Posted by Kricketnp

Just read through this whole review and enjoyed every minute of it! We are staying at WL in August, so it was nice to see some of the things from Roaring Fork, as well as the fancy pool drinks. Thanks for the entertainment on a slow day at work!!

Woah, the whole report in one go, you deserve a medal
Hope you have a great day at work today

Originally Posted by mamaboogie

Does your night in Downtown Disney involve an alcoholic beverage or two??

Me? alcoholic beverage? never !!
Actually not a drop past my lips at DTD that evening

Originally Posted by wilma-bride

Wow, Via Napoli looks fantastic. I like Calamari but, like you say in can sometimes be tough and chewy. That looked great though. And I love the look of the Quattro Formaggi - I don't like tomato so that would be right up my street

By the way, if you enjoyed the Segway tour at Epcot, you'll have to try the Fort Wilderness one - it's loads better and you get to go faster

Morning Joh

We actually did the Fort Wilderness Segway Tour last year and loved it

It also introduced us to Wilderness Lodge for the first time and that's probably why we ended up staying at WL this year



Funnily enough we were the only two on the Fort Wilderness Tour as well; perhaps we need to change our deodorant

Originally Posted by sjs314

I am dying to try Via Napoli on our October trip, your pics were great. DH loves calamari, me not so much but it did look good. Enjoyed the review

A big thumbs up for Via Napoli from us and the calamari was by far the best I have ever had

[cbg1027]

Wow I'm really late joining in, but I'm here now! Everything looks good, especially Jiko - I agree it is quite amazing!

[Linda67]

Originally Posted by cbg1027

Wow I'm really late joining in, but I'm here now! Everything looks good, especially Jiko - I agree it is quite amazing!

Never too late to join in

I still can't believe that anyone at all is reading this

[Linda67]

Hey everyone

Hope you are all having a wonderful week

Thursday 26th May Continued

So following a great morning and lunch at Epcot we explored Word Showcase for a while before deciding to head back to Wilderness Lodge for an afternoon at the pool

We had no plans for dinner this evening so we decided to hop in the car to Downtown Disney for a spot of retail therapy and a bite to eat

In between shopping we stopped by The House Of Blues for a quick drink and met a lovely couple who had just got married at Disney and were staying on for their honeymoon; it was fun chatting to them, you could tell that they were made for each other

As we were close by following our drink we headed into Disney Quest for a while but didn’t stay long as hunger began to strike

We still had plenty of CS credits left and neither of us wanted a big meal as we were planning to go back to WL for a late night swim so we went back to the old favourite; Earl Of Sandwich

OK, I am re-cycling photos here as we ended up ordering the same sandwiches that we had eaten on our previous visit



The Caprese - fresh mozzarella, roma tomatoes, fresh basil and drizzled balsamic vinaigrette



Tuna Melt - albacore tuna salad and Swiss cheese

We split both the sandwiches and they were delicious as always

I didn’t get to try my beloved Veggie Sandwich on this trip so I will have to make sure I do in October

I also pick up one of these



Earl Of Sandwich Bread Pudding

I ended up taking this back to WL and eating it for breakfast on our balcony the following morning

Ooh I loved this and will certainly pick one up next time I am there

DH ordered the same as on our previous visit as he had loved it so much



Strawberry Shortcake Dessert Pot

He munched this down in no time

I have just heard the exciting news that a new Earl Of Sandwich location has opened in London

It’s nowhere near where I work but I think it would be well worth hopping on The Tube one afternoon in the name of research

Coming Up Next ………. ‘May The Cup Cake Be With You’; We Head Over To Star Wars Weekends

[TanzUnited99]

Yay on going to EoS again!

Didn't know that Eos was opening in London - will have to look into that

[wilma-bride]

Love EOS. We were going to try the London one when we were there at the beginning of the month but it closed at 4 in the afternoon