Dining Review: Nine Dragons

On Tuesday September 2nd I headed into Epcot and my lunch reservation at Nine Dragons, at the China pavilion in the World Showcase.

This was a bit of a "cheat" on my goal of eating at different Table Service restaurants this trip, as I had been here before.  However, I really enjoyed it back in March and wanted to give it another try.  Plus, I ended up having 1 extra Table Service credit on the Dining Plan (I had canceled a meal earlier in the week) and so I thought, why not?

Nine Dragons doesn't get much love from Disney bloggers and the Disney fan community, and I honestly have no idea why. Both times I have been there, the food is good and most importantly, the service is top-notch.  I think some of the nicest, best cast members at Disney work here at Nine Dragons - they do a phenomenal job.  This meal was no exception.

I arrived at Nine Dragons and although I had a reservation, I was not in their system.  But no matter, they weren't busy and were able to seat me right away (I still don't know WHAT happened to that dining reservation - it's floating around the interwebs, I guess!). I was escorted to a table near the front of the restaurant, and my waitress came by soon after.

She took my drink order (my usual Diet Coke) and then gave me some information about the menu.  Like a number of the Table Service restaurants, they had a Prix Fixe option where for one price you got a soup, your entree and dessert.  She also said not to look at the entrees listed on the table tent for the Prix Fixe, that I could choose any entree from the menu that I wanted. That was great, as none of the listed entrees really excited me.

After a short deliberation, I chose the Hot and Sour Soup, the Sesame Chicken and the Ginger Cake for dessert.

The soup came first, and it was SO GOOD.  I didn't get a picture, because I was enjoying it so much I didn't stop to take one!  It was the perfect blend of hot and sour (thus the name) and was just delicious. If I could have bought a thermos of it to take with me, I would have!  So good.

It was then time for the entree, and my portion of Sesame Chicken, with fried rice, was *just* right. The perfect portion where I felt satisfied when I left, but I was not bursting at the seams.  Just looking at it now makes me salivate for this lunch - I really need to learn a Sesame Chicken recipe so I can attempt to recreate this at home.

The dessert was also quite good - and like a bad blogger, I of course didn't get a picture of it.  Grrr. I really enjoyed it; it was light and almost refreshing, and was the perfect end to my meal.

I had another great experience at Nine Dragons, and will definitely be coming back again.  Not only was my food good, the correct temperature, delivered in a timely fashion, etc - - the service was wonderful. Everyone from the hostesses to my waitress was kind, friendly and struck the perfect balance between being an attentive waitress, but not hovering over me.

Nine Dragons is still on my list of favorites - and is quickly becoming a place I HAVE to go to when at Disney World!

What is your favorite Table Service restaurant in the World Showcase?

Have a magical day!

Trip Report - Saturday, August 30th - Departure Day! Part One

Hello, everyone! Today I am starting the Trip Report of my latest Disney World / Disney Cruise Line adventure. I arrived at Disney World on August 30th, was there until September 4th and then departed for a 3 night cruise on the Disney Dream.

On Saturday the 30th, my day started bright and early; I was on the road to Minneapolis about 5:30AM. I had an afternoon flight but a meeting with a friend beforehand, and so I got there a bit early.

After my meeting, I made my way to the airport - I was ready to get this trip started!

When I did my online check in for the flight, I saw there were quite a few First Class seats available. I checked at the Delta counter and they told me it would be about $280 to upgrade - um NO thank you! However, about 2 minutes before we were set to board, they announced they were doing upgrades for $100 to First Class.  I hightailed my tush over the desk, and got my 1st class upgrade.  I was ready to start this trip in style!

I have flown First Class before, but it had been a few years.  Wow, was it nice!  The seats are nice and roomy, and we even got a lunch onboard, which was actually pretty good. Wine was complimentary, but as it was 2:00PM I decided to forgo the glass of vino and had soda instead.

It was an easy flight to Orlando, and we touched down about 5:15. After making my way to Magical Express (and sitting on the bus for about 30 minutes), we were on our way!

My Free Dining stay was at Coronado Springs, but I flew in the night before and so needed just one night somewhere else.  There was an awesome annual passholder rate at Pop, so that's what I chose.

Check in at Pop took a surprisingly long time, seeing as how I had done the online check in.  But come to find out, the system was saying my room was not ready, when in fact it was, and that was delaying me. The cast member couldn't have been nicer, however, and after a quick call to her boss, I was on my way.

I had intentions to go to Hollywood Studios this night, and eat at Brown Derby.  However, waking up at 4AM was taking its toll on me and so I decided to instead stay at Pop for the night, relax and take a swim in the pool.  My room for the night was *right* next to the pool in the 90s section, so it was super easy to take a quick dip before heading out to Everything Pop to get some dinner.

Coming up in Part Two: Everything Pop is all decked out for Halloween, and I show you my room for the night!

Have a magical day, and a great weekend!

Cruising Solo on the Disney Cruise Line - My Top 5 Tips

In early September, I embarked on my first truly solo cruise on Disney Cruise Line.  I say "truly solo" because even though I have stayed in a room by myself before, I booked the trip myself, and didn't have any friends or family book the cruise along with me.

I was honestly a bit anxious as the cruise date was nearing.  Don't get me wrong - I KNEW I would have a great time, and that it would be the same uber-relaxing, fabulous DCL vacation, with or without family and friends. But I would be lying if I said I wasn't a bit nervous about being solo on the ship.  I don't know why I felt differently about that vs Disney World, but there you go.

However, I had a WONDERFUL time (more details to come on the Trip Report!) and wanted to share some ideas / tips that made cruising solo really special.

1) Connect with a cruise meet and/or Facebook group before you leave.
I was privileged to meet a FABULOUS group of ladies before our cruise, on a Facebook group we set up. It was wonderful talking to each other and getting excited in the months and weeks before the cruise.  I was also able to meet my new friend, Caletta, and we ate together each night which was a lot of fun. It was nice to have solo time, but then also know I was meeting a friend for dinner at night. We also had a quick meet-up on embarkation day, so we could put names and faces together.  This was super fun because not only did I get to meet these great ladies and their families, but it was nice to run into people on those 3 days that I knew and have someone to say hi to, chat with, etc.

2) Take some time to do "special" experiences.
Visit the spa.  Heck, LIVE in the spa. You're on your own schedule, so there's no one to give you grief if you spend 4-5 hours a day in the Rainforest Room. Or take a ship tour, or a beverage tasting, or any of the myriad of things available for adults on the cruise. If you're bored, it's your own fault!

3) Speaking of experiences...sign up for a Mixology or Wine / Beer tasting class.
If you like a cocktail or glass of beer, be sure and sign up for one of the many mixology / tasting classes they have on the ship during your cruise.  Your daily Navigator will have more information about where to sign up - make sure to check it out the first day, as space is limited!  I've done both the mixology and wine tastings and both were a lot of fun.  There's also usually a fun group of people at these classes, too, and the nature of the class often leads to conversations and interactions with your fellow passengers.

4) Relax like it's your job.
Let's be honest - one of the primary joys of cruising is doing NOTHING. As in, grabbing your book, an umbrella beverage and taking up residence on a deck chair.  Or falling asleep on said deck chair.  Ahem. Not that I did any such thing, of course.  But seriously - RELAX!  Enjoy it.  Kick back.  Have NO schedule. Sleep until noon if you want.  Live a life of a lady (or gentleman) of leisure, even for a few days. 

5) Chat with the cast members.
One of my favorite memories of this cruise is sitting at Pink (one of the cocktail lounges on the Dream) after dinner one night, and having a fun hour+ chat with Ricardo, the bartender.  Assuming your chatting with them isn't taking them away from their job duties, most cast members are more than willing to stop and speak with you for at least a few minutes.  Not only did I have a fun night, I now have a DCL friend who I will hopefully see again in January.

If you've cruised solo, what are your favorite things about cruising by yourself?

Have a magical day!

A Hidden Mickey at Coronado Springs

On my final morning at Coronado Springs, before the car came to take me to Port Canaveral, I was walking around the gorgeous lobby.  I wanted to be sure and take as many pictures as I could, and soak up the lovely atmosphere.

As I was taking a picture of the back of the check-in area, I noticed something - a hidden Mickey! The light from the fixtures create the perfect Mouse head on the wall.

Pretty cool, huh?

Dining Review: Liberty Tree Tavern

On Monday, September 1st, I spent a lovely morning at Magic Kingdom.  After doing lots of attractions, it was time for lunch!  I made my way over to Liberty Tree Tavern.

I was excited, as I've not eaten here before but the reviews have always been pretty great.  It was quiet (a theme I would see all this week) and after checking in, I was able to be seated right away.

The menu has a variety of "traditional" fare - sandwiches, soups, salads, etc. I seriously considered ordering the BLT, as I LOVE a good BLT, but decided instead on the Colony Salad.  It's a salad with warm chicken, cranberries, cheese, green onions, apples and pecans with a very nice vinaigrette dressing. 

As I waited for my meal, I took a few pictures from my seat.  I was probably one of four groups dining at 11:30AM that day, so it was very quiet.

 

One nice thing about dining solo is that your food often comes pretty quick.  After only about 5-6 minutes of sitting at my table, my salad arrived.

 

YUM!! This was SO good and really hit the spot.  It was a super hot, sticky September day and having the cool salad was the perfect entree.

It was then time for dessert.  Remember, when you use a Table Service credit with the Dining Plan, you also get a dessert.  My lovely server told me all the choices, and then I asked his opinion on what I should order.  Without hesitation he said, "The Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake" and so that's what I chose!

 

Oh my goodness - this was SO GOOD.  Holy crap. The chocolate cookie / brownie, with the ice cream, AND chocolate sauce and caramel, AND toffee bits?! Be still be heart.  It was divine.  As you can see, it was HUGE and this could easily be split among 2 adults.

So, the verdict?  Would I eat here again?

Absolutely, 100%!  The food is good, the service is great and the atmosphere is wonderful.  There are so many more dishes here that I need to try, so you can believe I WILL be back!

Have a magical day!

 

 

It's Fall at Disney World!

During my trip, they were decorating the Magic Kingdom in all its fall finery.  I thought this cute little guy was particularly cute.  Wouldn't it be fun to have your house all decked out in decor like this?

I love all seasons at WDW, but I think they do fall particularly well.  You just want to stroll down Main Street USA, with a pumpkin spice latte or apple cider in hand, and soak in all the fabulous fall atmosphere.

What is your favorite Disney World season for park decorations?

Have a wonderful day!

Dining Review: Les Chefs de France

Today I am going to share my dining review of Les Chefs de France, located at the French pavilion at Epcot's World Showcase.

I was on a mission this trip to experience Table Service locations that I haven't visited in the past, and Les Chefs de France was on the list.

I toured Epcot on Tuesday, September 2nd and had a wonderful day (a full blow-by-blow of this day to come later!).  After a ride on Mission Space, I made my way back to the World Showcase and to Les Chefs for my 6:30PM reservation.  I was a few minutes early but I was able to be seated right away.

My waitress was great, very friendly.  I was seated at a 2-top table (I found this was the case for every Table Service meal I had) and was given a menu.  I ordered my normal Diet Coke, as sodas are included on the Dining Plan, and looked at what I would like to eat.

For each Table Service meal on the Dining Plan, you get your entree, dessert and a non-alcoholic beverage.  However, Les Chefs has a Prix Fixe option (as do many other locations) that is included on the Dining Plan and ends up giving you more food.   If I had paid out of pocket, it would have been $39.99 (plus tip).

I chose the french onion soup, the Gratin de macaroni for my entree and their strawberry and creme cake, which also came with a small scoop of sorbet.

The first course was the soup, and it was a large serving.  I was expecting more of a cup of soup, but this was a large bowl.  It also came with a good sized full baguette, which I didn't eat as I wanted to have room for the rest of my meal.

My main course was the Gratin de macaroni, and I had been anxious to try this.  Mac & cheese is one of my favorite meals to make at home, so I had high hopes for Les Chef's version.  As you can see in the picture, it was another HUGE serving and I only ended up eating about 1/3rd of it. It looked to be nearly a full box of pasta in just that one dish.  I have to say, honestly - I was a bit disappointed in it.  I didn't have much flavor and was very rich.  I think my macaroni I make at home is better, so that was a disappointment.

At this point, I was already pretty full but wanted to try a few more bites of the dessert.  I LOVE the dessert / pastry shop at the French pavilion so I was looking forward to dessert but again was underwhelmed.  It was fresh and the cake was a good consistency, but again not very flavorful.  The sorbet, however, was incredible - it tasted like it had been made fresh that day and it was probably my favorite part of the meal.

Here are some more pictures for you:

I didn't dislike the experience and I wasn't upset; my waitress was just lovely and the atmosphere of the restaurant was top-notch.  I will give them another try some time in the future - I like to give a restaurant at least a few tries before I decide not to go again, just in case they are having an "off" night. However, I'm sorry to say Les Chefs de France didn't make it onto my "must have" list for Disney Dining.

I was glad I was able to make it there this trip and try it out for myself.

Thank you for reading - and have a magical day!

I'm Home!

Hi everyone!  I am back home in Iowa and can't wait to share with you more in-depth information about my Disney World and Disney Cruise Line vacation.  I will be sharing reviews and information, including:

* Dining Reviews of Pepper Market at Coronado Springs resort, as well as Les Chefs de France, Liberty Tree Tavern, Maya Grill and Splittsville at Downtown Disney.

* Review of bowling at Splittsville.

* Room reports for Pop Century, Coronado Springs and the Disney Cruise Line.

* "Tips and tricks" for using the Disney Dining Plan.

* And MORE!

Thanks again for following along with the LIVE blogs last week ~ I will be back here tomorrow with a new post but in the meantime, have a Magical day!

LIVE blog - Dining: The Final Numbers

Happy Thursday, everyone!  Today I board the Disney Dream, and will be only checking in sporadically here and on social media. I wanted to wrap up the Live blog about the dollars and cents of the Dining Plan so let's go!

As of this writing, I have not used my last Counter Service credit yet; however, I am using it for breakfast on this final morning and have already selected what I am ordering, so I can report back to you and then do the final tally.

I will also be doing a pros and cons post about the Dining Plan in the coming weeks!

So here is the Wednesday and Thursday AM information:

Wednesday: 

Breakfast - I used a Snack credit at Hollywood Studios to get a muffin.
Actual cost if paying OOP: $2.99
Dining Plan: 1 Snack credit

Lunch - Pepper Market.  I ordered the Empanadas, a soda and a piece of German Chocolate cake (which is in my fridge as we speak, and might be a snack later tonight).
Actual cost if paying OOP: $18.57
Dining Plan: 1 Counter Service credit

Dinner - Maya Grill.  I had a soda, the Shrimp Tacos and a piece of the Coconut Flan for dessert.  That was my favorite dessert of the vacation so far!  So good.
Actual cost if paying OOP: $34.93
Dining Plan: 1 Table Service credit

Thursday:

Breakfast - Veggie omelet with an orange juice.
Actual cost if paying OOP: $10.98
Dining Plan: 1 Counter Service credit

I also have 2 remaining Snack credits left; I am going to pick up two bags of Goofy's Candy Company candy at the gift shop and either take them home or share with friends on the cruise.
Actual cost if paying OOP: $7.00
Dining Plan: 2 Snack credits

So......drumroll please......

Cost of Dining Plan: $242.56

Actual cost of food ordered: $226.08

So, as you can see, had I paid for the Dining Plan I would not have saved any money (although the totals were very close).  However, as I said I also did not order typically higher-priced items or even look for the most pricey snacks to get the "best deal."  And of course, this was a Free Dining promotion so I came out money ahead, as I didn't pay for the Plan.

I do think the Dining Plan has merit for many reasons, and in the coming weeks we'll chat about it more in a Pros vs Cons post, so be on the lookout for that.

Today I depart on the Disney Dream!  I will be trying to post a picture or two, here or there but won't have as much internet access while on the ship. But I look forward to sharing LOTS of pictures and videos with you when I return to land on September 7th.

Thanks for reading - and have a magical day!

LIVE Blog - Dining Plan: The Numbers - Tuesday

Hello from Orlando!  I wanted to report about Tuesday's Dining Plan, where I went and what credits I used.

Tuesday got off to a relaxing start.  I was originally going to head over to Epcot in the morning, but was pretty tired and decided I needed to just sleep until whenever I got up.  I ended up going to the pool for a while in the morning, which was great, and then was in Epcot from about 11:15 - 8:45PM.  I will do a full report on Tuesday at another time - - it was a great day!

I will also do more in-depth dining plan reviews of each of the Table Service locations at another time, and for now will just be giving you the dollars and cents information.

Today, I ended up using 2 of the Table Service credits.  I didn't use any Quick Service or snacks (but I did buy a Grand Marnier slushie, which is not on the Dining Plan.  Shhh!)

Breakfast - Carrot cake from a Counter Service meal.  I got the cake a few nights ago when I had dinner at Coronado, and wasn't hungry for it then but saved it in the fridge in my room.  I had that this morning, with a nice cup of coffee.
Cost: FREE

Lunch - Nine Dragons, China pavilion, Epcot.  They had an option where you could get a soup, entree and dessert for one price (prix fixe) and were able to use the Dining Plan on this option.  I got the Hot and Sour soup, the Sesame Chicken with Fried Rice (pictured above) and a ginger cake.  It was VERY good.
Actual cost if I would have paid OOP: $36.89
Dining Plan: 1 Table Service Credit

Dinner - Les Chefs de France, French pavilion, Epcot. I also did the same option here as I did at Nine Dragons, the Prix Fixe menu.  I chose the French Onion soup, the Macaroni and Cheese and a strawberry cake with sorbet.
Actual cost if I would have paid OOP: $45.78
Dining Plan: 1 Table Service Credit

Today is my final full day at WDW before the cruise, and I'll report back Thursday morning about Wednesday's dining.  I have 2 Counter Service, 1 Table Service and 3 Snacks remaining.  I have heard that people often have Snack credits at the end of their trip, and that has been the case with me as well.

Thanks again for following along - see you later!

Have a magical day!

LIVE Blog - Dining Plan: The Numbers - Sunday and Monday

As promised, I wanted to check in and let you know how I am doing so far on the Dining Plan.  Since it started Sunday, and Sunday evening was the only credit I used that day, I am going to combine Sunday and Monday into one post.

So, to recap: I have a total of 4 Table Service credits, 4 Quick Service credits, and 4 Snacks to use over the course of my stay.  I also got a refillable mug when I checked in, that I can use during the course of my stay.

With each Table Service meal, you get your entree, dessert and a nonalcoholic beverage.  You also get the same for each Quick Service meal - an entree, dessert and beverage.  If you're eating at a buffet, that counts as 1 Table Service.

I've also decided that in the coming weeks, I am going to do posts about how to use your credits "smarter", not harder.  I am quickly learning that this is quite a bit of food and you can really stretch what you order and for example, use your beverage choice and dessert choice from a Quick Service meal to get a muffin and orange juice, which you can then eat for breakfast the next day.  But more on that later.

So to recap where we are so far:

Sunday:

Dinner - I used a Quick Service credit that night, and went to the Pepper Market food court at Coronado Springs.  I ordered the nachos (HUGE - big enough to split), a soda and a piece of carrot cake (which is currently in my fridge and will be a good snack some evening).
Actual cost if I would have paid Out Of Pocket (OOP): $16.97
Dining Plan: 1 Quick Service Credit

Monday: 

Breakfast - I ate at the Lounge I have access to at Coronado, which was FREE!  Sweet!

Snack - I got a Strawberry freeze/slushie at the Magic Kingdom.
Actual cost if I would have paid Out Of Pocket (OOP): $3.99
Dining Plan: 1 Snack Credit

Lunch - Liberty Tree Tavern, where I ordered a Diet Coke, the Colony Salad, and the Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake for dessert (which was amazing).
Actual cost if I would have paid Out Of Pocket (OOP): $27.00
Dining Plan: 1 Table Service Credit

Dinner - Pepper Market at Coronado Springs.  I ordered a bottle of water, the Crab Cake sandwich and a brownie. I remembered to bring my refillable mug to dinner, so I put the water in my fridge in the room and am going to carry that to Epcot tomorrow morning.  This will save me using a Snack credit for bottled water.
Actual cost if I would have paid Out Of Pocket (OOP): $20.98
Dining Plan: 1 Counter Service Credit

I will check in on Wednesday with today's dining information and then on Thursday, before I leave on the cruise I will add Wednesday's info and add up the grand total.

Thanks for reading - and have a magical day!

LIVE blog - The Dining Plan: How's It Going?

Good afternoon from sunny (and HOT!) Orlando!

If you remember, back when I was talking about this vacation and Free Dining, I said I would report back and let you know how the Dining plan worked out.  Meaning, in terms of dollars and cents, would you save money by choosing the Dining plan?

Of course, the Dining package was Free (I booked a Free Dining room and ticket package) but for the sake of reporting, let's assume I paid the $60.64 per adult, per day rate for the regular Dining plan. As a reminder, this gives you, for each night of your stay, one snack, one counter service meal and one table service meal.  You also get a refillable mug to use at your resort for coffee, soda and tea. So, in total, I would have paid $242.56 for the dining plan.

Also, I am ordering what I would have ordered regardless of whether I had the Dining plan or not. Meaning - if I want to order the pasta or the steak or the salad, etc, I will - vs looking at the menu and saying "This pasta costs $15 and this steak costs $30 so I am going to get the steak." This is not a wrong way to do the Dining Plan, by any means - in fact, it gets the most bang for your buck - but since I am comparing apples to apples, I wanted to order what I would have, had I paid out of pocket.

I am also committed to not spending any additional money on food, above and beyond the Dining plan. I will report on this as well, and let you know how it works out.  I know it can be done, with a little creativity, and so I'm anxious to try out my "strategy".

So that I don't have a monster-huge post when I get home, I am going to check in every day and give you the lowdown on Dining from the previous day.  I'll let you know what I ordered and how the total for the day compared to the $60.64 per day price of the Dining plan.  I'll also keep you posted on how many snack, counter and table service credits I've used, and how many I have remaining. At the conclusion of the trip, I'll give a grand total and we'll have a final discussion.

Since tips for your servers are not included in the Dining plan, I am not going to report what I spent on those, as I would be paying them regardless of having the Dining plan or not.

I will report on Tuesday what credits I have used so far, and what the dollar value of those items were compared to the Dining Plan.

In the meantime, have a wonderful afternoon and I'll see ya back here tomorrow!

LIVE blog post - First Full Day: August 31st, 2014

Hello, everyone!  Hope you're having a wonderful Labor Day weekend.  I am having a blast down here and wanted to share with you my Sunday and what I did on my first full day at Disney World.

The morning started a Pop Century.  I didn't need to be at Downtown Disney until about 10AM, so it was nice to sleep in and have a leisurely morning.  I checked out of Pop, had my bags transferred over to Coronado, and made my way over to Downtown Disney.

After browsing in a few shops (and buying the Disney Dooney and Bourke I have been eyeing for YEARS - love it!!), I met my cousins and my cousin's girlfriend at Splittsville, the bowling alley and restaurant.  I will write up a whole blog post about it later, but we had a great time.  It's $20 per person to bowl for an hour and 15 minutes, and we got in almost 3 full games, which was great.  The lanes are very nice, and the bowling alley is very cool and retro.  We had a great time.  Our scores, however, were nothing to brag about.  :)

After we bowled, we ate at Splittsville and then the kids dropped me off at Coronado Springs, which will be my home for the next four nights.  Again, a full blog post about Coronado is coming but - - spoiler alert - I LOVE it.  Just adore it.  I will be back here again.

It's been center-of-the-sun hot in Orlando, which is par for the course in August/September.  I had thought about going to Animal Kingdom in the afternoon, but decided that a dip in the pool was a better idea.

It was heavenly - just what I needed.  I walked around a bit, and discovered that the laundry facilities are mere steps from my room, which is awesome. I then went to the Lounge in my room section (I am in the Business section of rooms, as this is a Convention resort) and grabbed a few snacks and a Diet Coke.

I then came back to my room, and decided to hop over to Hollywood Studios for about a hour or so.  I went on the Backlot Tour, walked through One Man's Dream and then headed back on the bus to Coronado.  I grabbed a quick dinner, and went back to the room to rest up.

Tomorrow is Magic Kingdom (well, you'll be reading this Monday, so, today) and probably another afternoon in the pool.

I will also be posting an update on the Dining Plan, so look for that on Monday late-afternoon!

Thanks for following along - have a magical day!