DAY 8 SATURDAY 28th OCTOBER 2006
My trip report for this day can be found here:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1298973
The plan for today is to do Epcot thoroughly, well at least Future World or World Showcase. The intention is to get there early and have breakfast at the Electric Umbrella. We have an ADR for 1pm at the Biergarten and an ADR for 7.30pm at the Rose & Crown. Yes, youve guessed it watch Illuminations during desert.
Meals ended up as follows:
Breakfast
DW and DS got up late today so DD and I agreed to head off to Epcot without them and meet up later.
DD took the bus to Epcot but when we got there we found that the Electric Umbrella did not serve breakfast Im certain I read that it did, but never mind well head for the Fountain View Bakery for some pastries. Oh dear it looks like that has turned into a wine bar during the Food & Wine Festival. After getting a few rides lined up we eventually got breakfast at Sunshine Seasons in The Land Pavilion details below:
Time: 10:40am
Location: Sunshine Seasons, Land Pavilion, Future World, Epcot
Overall:
Food rating: 7/10
Service: 6/10
Atmosphere: 6/10
This was quite a good breakfast certainly on a par with both Tusker House and Mara. Unfortunately I did not get an itemised bill just the total, with tax. That was $19.98
Me:
Breakfast Plate
Large Orange Juice
DD:
Breakfast Plate
Large Orange Juice
They both looked like this:
In the meantime DW and DS had gone to the usual haunt (Mara) and got:
Time: 11:00am
Location: Mara, Animal Kingdom Lodge
Overall:
Food rating: 7/10
Service: 6/10
Atmosphere: 6/10
DW:
Breakfast Wrap - $5.59
Large Orange Juice - $2.99
DS:
Breakfast Wrap - $5.59
Large Orange Juice - $2.99
Lunch
Time: 01:00pm
Location: Biergarten, Germany, World Showcase, Epcot
Overall:
Food rating: 6/10
Service: 7/10
Atmosphere: 8/10
Me:
Lunch Buffet - $19.99
½ Litre Oktoberfest beer - $7.46 (excluded from Dining Plan)
DW:
Lunch Buffet - $19.99
DS:
Lunch Buffet - $19.99
DD:
Lunch Buffet - $19.99
I wasnt initially keen on going to the Biergarten because I wasnt sure if the family would like the food or the atmosphere, however we had a family chat and Biergarten got the thumbs up. Suits me I was looking forward to a beer.
In the event we came away a little disappointed. The food was perfectly edible but nothing spectacular (though viewing the photos now, it seems ok).
We were seated with a family from the Tampa area who often visited WDW for meals, especially during the Food & Drink Festival. They were talkative, so I was talkative back. The entertainment was good wholesome fun (and loudly enjoyed by all especially our friends from Tampa) but a little short.
I discovered that the head of the group was an aerospace engineer which was originally my area of expertise, and his wife was in healthcare IT systems which is my current area of expertise. We got on fine but hit a few awkward patches that I steered away from rather than make a fuss. At one point he said how the Harrier was so much better now it was an American aircraft (I was a member of the design team, so that went down well). Later I asked which his favourite restaurants in World Showcase were. The answer was the San Angel Inn in Mexico - they like Mexican food; and the Bistro de Paris in France but they dont go there anymore. I asked why, thinking they had a bad dining experience, and quickly realised the error of my ways as we steered onto the subject of Iraq and lack of gratitude for services previously rendered, etc. Again, I steered off the subject holidays and politics dont mix in my view.
My DW was looking miserable in the corner I thought all this chat must have upset her. To be fair, he tried to cheer her up with a few jokes about wives. Im not sure it worked, especially as it turned out that she had split a tooth and was not in the best of moods. (We didnt find this out until we got home but my DW suffered with toothache whenever she ate during the rest of the trip.
Maybe my initial thoughts were correct. The family didnt enjoy the biergarten as much as they thought they would, or I hoped they would so we probably wont go back (except for the beer which was pretty good).
Anyway here are some food photos. Unfortunately I didnt note what it was, but you can work some of it out Im sure. The desert was quite nice though especially the one with blueberries in it.
Dinner
Time: 07:30pm
Location: Rose and Crown, UK, World Showcase, Epcot
Overall:
Food rating: 7/10
Service: 5/10
Atmosphere: 9/10
Me:
Fruit and Cheese Plate - Stilton, Camembert, and cheeses from Five Counties: Derby, Leicester, Cheshire, Double Gloucester and Cheddar served with seasonal fruit $8.99
Surf and Turf - Grilled Steak with horseradish aioli, Harry Ramsden's Batter-fried Fish, green beans and mashed potatoes - $23.99
Sticky Toffee Pudding - $4.99
Diet Coke - $?
DW:
Prawn Cocktail - Petite bay shrimp tossed in a traditional cocktail sauce - $7.99
Cottage Pie - ground beef with carrots, topped with mashed potatoes and cheddar cheese, served with green beans - $14.99
Sticky Toffee Pudding - $4.99
Diet Coke - $?
DS:
Prawn Cocktail - Petite bay shrimp tossed in a traditional cocktail sauce - $7.99
Grilled Steak - served with Yorkshire pudding, green beans, mashed potatoes and beef demi glace - $21.99
Warm Apple Crumble - topped with ice cream - $4.99
Sprite - $?
DD:
Potato and Leek Soup - roasted potatoes, cream and leeks - $4.99
Grilled Steak - served with Yorkshire pudding, green beans, mashed potatoes and beef demi glace - $21.99
Warm Apple Crumble - topped with ice cream - $4.99
Tea - $?
In addition we bought the following beverages (which were not included on the Dining Plan):
Bass Ale $7.50
Café Latte $3.49
Cappuccino $3.69
3 x Orange Juice - $6.09
We had to wait about 15 minutes to be seated so we were given a pager and told we could wander around the UK and Canada if we wished. When we were called we were seated out on the patio which seemed an ideal position to watch Illuminations. The patio has a lower area at the front and a raised area at the back near the building itself. The whole area was covered by an awning.
We were introduced to our server (from Essex) and duly ordered our appetisers and entrees.
The appetisers came fairly quickly. My DW was a bit surprised by the prawn cocktail it wasnt the bowl of tiny prawns smothered in Thousand Island dressing that she expected. So, low marks on authenticity but probably better marks on taste.
DD said her Potato and Leek soup was very good.
I thought the Fruit and Cheese plate was perfectly acceptable good but nothing outstanding.
Then came the bit that annoyed me and dropped the Rose & Crown marks for service. Whilst we were still eating our appetisers, a waitress came out (not our assigned server though) and deposited our entrees on the table. Plates were teetering on the edge as space was cramped. I got the feeling that they wanted to move us out quickly maybe to get another group in before Illuminations, I dont know. Well I finished up my appetiser and made sure I ate my entrée nice and slow well you need to chew it slowly to ensure you digest it right.
My wife found her cottage pie to be pretty average as far as cottage pies go it looked reasonably photogenic though.
The kids thought their steaks were okay, but again nothing to write home about.
My Surf and Turf was average pub grub too. The steak wasnt tough but not particularly tender or tasty either. The fish looked like an eel as it seemed to be a battered tube however it tasted like cod. I could get better fish and chips at home but I often say that Harry Ramsdens is over-rated.
I managed to hold off finishing my entrée until just before the start of Illuminations. Our server then took orders for deserts which came out when Illuminations started. Unfortunately, it was a bit difficult to watch the show at the same time as eat the desert. The alternative was to let the desert get cold.
Our Sticky Toffee Pudding was well presented and quite tasty though the toffee seemed to be poured over the top of the sponge, rather than being cooked with the sponge as Ive had on other occasions.
The kids liked their Apple Crumble, but again it had a different take from versions at home and the portion fitted in a ramekin dish, so it wasnt that big.
As for Illuminations, you couldnt beat the Rose & Crown for proximity. We seemed quite a bit closer than at other points around World Showcase. Would I recommend it? Im not so sure. I like to see everything that is going on. Unless you are right at the front of the patio, you will find that the awning obscures your view of fireworks high in the sky, the lasers, searchlights, etc. I felt it was like looking at Illuminations through a slot in a letterbox. Though it was nice to sit down and eat whilst watching, it did mean you either missed bits of the display or you let your meal get cold.
So, we left the Rose and Crown a little disappointed mainly due to an obscured version of Illuminations and rushed service. I still tipped our server over and above the amount included in the Dining Plan despite the problems earlier I figured it wasnt her fault as she didnt deliver the entrees.
As you can see, the day started out with great expectations of Biergarten and the Rose and Crown but we were left a bit underwhelmed on both counts (I was really hoping to fly the flag on this one too!). Never mind, tomorrow is Day 9 and we have an ADR at the California Grill. That has got to be good, hasnt it?
My trip report for this day can be found here:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1298973
The plan for today is to do Epcot thoroughly, well at least Future World or World Showcase. The intention is to get there early and have breakfast at the Electric Umbrella. We have an ADR for 1pm at the Biergarten and an ADR for 7.30pm at the Rose & Crown. Yes, youve guessed it watch Illuminations during desert.
Meals ended up as follows:
Breakfast
DW and DS got up late today so DD and I agreed to head off to Epcot without them and meet up later.
DD took the bus to Epcot but when we got there we found that the Electric Umbrella did not serve breakfast Im certain I read that it did, but never mind well head for the Fountain View Bakery for some pastries. Oh dear it looks like that has turned into a wine bar during the Food & Wine Festival. After getting a few rides lined up we eventually got breakfast at Sunshine Seasons in The Land Pavilion details below:
Time: 10:40am
Location: Sunshine Seasons, Land Pavilion, Future World, Epcot
Overall:
Food rating: 7/10
Service: 6/10
Atmosphere: 6/10
This was quite a good breakfast certainly on a par with both Tusker House and Mara. Unfortunately I did not get an itemised bill just the total, with tax. That was $19.98
Me:
Breakfast Plate
Large Orange Juice
DD:
Breakfast Plate
Large Orange Juice
They both looked like this:
In the meantime DW and DS had gone to the usual haunt (Mara) and got:
Time: 11:00am
Location: Mara, Animal Kingdom Lodge
Overall:
Food rating: 7/10
Service: 6/10
Atmosphere: 6/10
DW:
Breakfast Wrap - $5.59
Large Orange Juice - $2.99
DS:
Breakfast Wrap - $5.59
Large Orange Juice - $2.99
Lunch
Time: 01:00pm
Location: Biergarten, Germany, World Showcase, Epcot
Overall:
Food rating: 6/10
Service: 7/10
Atmosphere: 8/10
Me:
Lunch Buffet - $19.99
½ Litre Oktoberfest beer - $7.46 (excluded from Dining Plan)
DW:
Lunch Buffet - $19.99
DS:
Lunch Buffet - $19.99
DD:
Lunch Buffet - $19.99
I wasnt initially keen on going to the Biergarten because I wasnt sure if the family would like the food or the atmosphere, however we had a family chat and Biergarten got the thumbs up. Suits me I was looking forward to a beer.
In the event we came away a little disappointed. The food was perfectly edible but nothing spectacular (though viewing the photos now, it seems ok).
We were seated with a family from the Tampa area who often visited WDW for meals, especially during the Food & Drink Festival. They were talkative, so I was talkative back. The entertainment was good wholesome fun (and loudly enjoyed by all especially our friends from Tampa) but a little short.
I discovered that the head of the group was an aerospace engineer which was originally my area of expertise, and his wife was in healthcare IT systems which is my current area of expertise. We got on fine but hit a few awkward patches that I steered away from rather than make a fuss. At one point he said how the Harrier was so much better now it was an American aircraft (I was a member of the design team, so that went down well). Later I asked which his favourite restaurants in World Showcase were. The answer was the San Angel Inn in Mexico - they like Mexican food; and the Bistro de Paris in France but they dont go there anymore. I asked why, thinking they had a bad dining experience, and quickly realised the error of my ways as we steered onto the subject of Iraq and lack of gratitude for services previously rendered, etc. Again, I steered off the subject holidays and politics dont mix in my view.
My DW was looking miserable in the corner I thought all this chat must have upset her. To be fair, he tried to cheer her up with a few jokes about wives. Im not sure it worked, especially as it turned out that she had split a tooth and was not in the best of moods. (We didnt find this out until we got home but my DW suffered with toothache whenever she ate during the rest of the trip.
Maybe my initial thoughts were correct. The family didnt enjoy the biergarten as much as they thought they would, or I hoped they would so we probably wont go back (except for the beer which was pretty good).
Anyway here are some food photos. Unfortunately I didnt note what it was, but you can work some of it out Im sure. The desert was quite nice though especially the one with blueberries in it.
Dinner
Time: 07:30pm
Location: Rose and Crown, UK, World Showcase, Epcot
Overall:
Food rating: 7/10
Service: 5/10
Atmosphere: 9/10
Me:
Fruit and Cheese Plate - Stilton, Camembert, and cheeses from Five Counties: Derby, Leicester, Cheshire, Double Gloucester and Cheddar served with seasonal fruit $8.99
Surf and Turf - Grilled Steak with horseradish aioli, Harry Ramsden's Batter-fried Fish, green beans and mashed potatoes - $23.99
Sticky Toffee Pudding - $4.99
Diet Coke - $?
DW:
Prawn Cocktail - Petite bay shrimp tossed in a traditional cocktail sauce - $7.99
Cottage Pie - ground beef with carrots, topped with mashed potatoes and cheddar cheese, served with green beans - $14.99
Sticky Toffee Pudding - $4.99
Diet Coke - $?
DS:
Prawn Cocktail - Petite bay shrimp tossed in a traditional cocktail sauce - $7.99
Grilled Steak - served with Yorkshire pudding, green beans, mashed potatoes and beef demi glace - $21.99
Warm Apple Crumble - topped with ice cream - $4.99
Sprite - $?
DD:
Potato and Leek Soup - roasted potatoes, cream and leeks - $4.99
Grilled Steak - served with Yorkshire pudding, green beans, mashed potatoes and beef demi glace - $21.99
Warm Apple Crumble - topped with ice cream - $4.99
Tea - $?
In addition we bought the following beverages (which were not included on the Dining Plan):
Bass Ale $7.50
Café Latte $3.49
Cappuccino $3.69
3 x Orange Juice - $6.09
We had to wait about 15 minutes to be seated so we were given a pager and told we could wander around the UK and Canada if we wished. When we were called we were seated out on the patio which seemed an ideal position to watch Illuminations. The patio has a lower area at the front and a raised area at the back near the building itself. The whole area was covered by an awning.
We were introduced to our server (from Essex) and duly ordered our appetisers and entrees.
The appetisers came fairly quickly. My DW was a bit surprised by the prawn cocktail it wasnt the bowl of tiny prawns smothered in Thousand Island dressing that she expected. So, low marks on authenticity but probably better marks on taste.
DD said her Potato and Leek soup was very good.
I thought the Fruit and Cheese plate was perfectly acceptable good but nothing outstanding.
Then came the bit that annoyed me and dropped the Rose & Crown marks for service. Whilst we were still eating our appetisers, a waitress came out (not our assigned server though) and deposited our entrees on the table. Plates were teetering on the edge as space was cramped. I got the feeling that they wanted to move us out quickly maybe to get another group in before Illuminations, I dont know. Well I finished up my appetiser and made sure I ate my entrée nice and slow well you need to chew it slowly to ensure you digest it right.
My wife found her cottage pie to be pretty average as far as cottage pies go it looked reasonably photogenic though.
The kids thought their steaks were okay, but again nothing to write home about.
My Surf and Turf was average pub grub too. The steak wasnt tough but not particularly tender or tasty either. The fish looked like an eel as it seemed to be a battered tube however it tasted like cod. I could get better fish and chips at home but I often say that Harry Ramsdens is over-rated.
I managed to hold off finishing my entrée until just before the start of Illuminations. Our server then took orders for deserts which came out when Illuminations started. Unfortunately, it was a bit difficult to watch the show at the same time as eat the desert. The alternative was to let the desert get cold.
Our Sticky Toffee Pudding was well presented and quite tasty though the toffee seemed to be poured over the top of the sponge, rather than being cooked with the sponge as Ive had on other occasions.
The kids liked their Apple Crumble, but again it had a different take from versions at home and the portion fitted in a ramekin dish, so it wasnt that big.
As for Illuminations, you couldnt beat the Rose & Crown for proximity. We seemed quite a bit closer than at other points around World Showcase. Would I recommend it? Im not so sure. I like to see everything that is going on. Unless you are right at the front of the patio, you will find that the awning obscures your view of fireworks high in the sky, the lasers, searchlights, etc. I felt it was like looking at Illuminations through a slot in a letterbox. Though it was nice to sit down and eat whilst watching, it did mean you either missed bits of the display or you let your meal get cold.
So, we left the Rose and Crown a little disappointed mainly due to an obscured version of Illuminations and rushed service. I still tipped our server over and above the amount included in the Dining Plan despite the problems earlier I figured it wasnt her fault as she didnt deliver the entrees.
As you can see, the day started out with great expectations of Biergarten and the Rose and Crown but we were left a bit underwhelmed on both counts (I was really hoping to fly the flag on this one too!). Never mind, tomorrow is Day 9 and we have an ADR at the California Grill. That has got to be good, hasnt it?
