One reason we had such a great trip this time was because we were commited to trying new things. I guess the visit to Redd Rockett's Pizza Port - where I've been twice before - counts as new because it was Mike's first visit and it doesn't involve a bread bowl. Alas, I'm still trying to figure out how to keep from jiggling this little camera:
You'll notice that Mike has already inhaled one slice of pepperoni while I've barely popped open the side salad. (Decent pizza, rather plain salads. I think it was iceberg, a piece of tomato, and... I'm not sure if there was anything else.) Anyway, it was good to just get something quick and not spend a lot of time trying to find a perfect match between whim and offering.
The Dole stand outside the Tiki Room isn't new to us, god no, but Mike decided to bust out and get a Dole Whip Float instead of regular Dole Whip. (A Dole Whip, for the purposes of Disney and brevity, is pineapple soft serve. A "float" is pineapple soft serve in a cup of chilly pineapple juice, with an umbrella and cherry.) Mike liked the float, but he still prefers the regular whip because in the float the ice cream melts too fast. I prefer the float because you get to drink the pineapple juice.
The lines were crazy at the Dole stand every day we were there, so the trick is to remember that there are two sides to the line. The other side is inside the Enchanted Tiki Room waiting area, and it's always less busy. Sure, then you have to see the ETR, but since it's still the most charming thing in the park, why not?
Now a word about the Crowne Plaza Anaheim Resort. This place was great. Seriously great. $48/night on Priceline (plus nightly $9 resort charge for parking/amenities). The reviews had me worried - people said it was "nice" and "fine" but not as good as the other three-star places Priceline offers in the area, namely the Hyatt across the street and the Hilton by the convention center. As much as I like both of those properties, we both agreed the Crowne Plaza simply rocks. It's cozy, smells great (flowers all around the outside), and the BED IS AMAZING.
Part of this picture is blocked out because Mike thought it looked too suggestive. Now it looks even more suggestive. Ha.
That little burgundy bag on the nightstand holds the complimentary (I hope, because we took it) ear plugs, sleep mask, and lavender linen spray. The drapes have a clasp that permits absolute darkness. To Mike's right is a CD player, and in that player is the complimentary (again, I hope) CD with three tracks of guided sleep meditation (skip - skip - skip) and a dozenish tracks of soothing soundscape noises (mmm). Meanwhile, I wasn't sure those square pillows would be adequate, but somehow they were just perfect, as was the mattress. Thanks again to Priceline, I've stayed at six of the better hotels by D'land (Anabella, Hyatt, Hilton Convention, Doubletree Hilton Orange, Desert Suites, here), and this place wins hands down for the Best Bed Ever.
But back to the food, you'll notice that on the endtable there is some pineapple (again with the pineapple) Fanta. Nobody wants to fuss with groceries on a Disney vacation, I know, but after you've paid for one meal in the parks or one soda in a hotel vending machine, it doesn't seem so silly to bring your own water, sodas, and snacks, especially if driving in. At every hotel we've seen people hauling in their own stuff, so don't worry about the Tacky Factor. (It's Disney.) We shopped before leaving, but there is a Target at Harbor and Chapman that sells that sort of thing at reasonable prices. (In other words, don't be tempted by the mini-marts when this is so close.)
Now we can get to the good stuff.
Feeling bolder than ever, Mike - who only volunteers to eat at Italian restaurants when he's worried about whether I'm happy - suggested the Wine Country Trattoria at California Adventure. Here he is checking the menu outside while we wait to be called:
Lovely place - outstanding service. You have to love a waiter who is constantly (but unobtrusively) "just topping off" your half-full soda. They start you out with a basket of soft but dense (and slightly cheesy?) breadsticks and, I think, a sun-dried tomato cream cheese spread:
Here Mike is looking over the menu again, unintentionally making a face. Oops. Note that he's wearing the shirt from last year's El Dia event.
He decided to begin with a house salad, which we ended up sharing because of course I decided I did want one after seeing his. Here he is near the end of it:
For his main course (don't say "entree" to an Australian), he went with the meatball sandwich. As always, sorry about the blur and grain. My inability to hold a camera very still can no longer be disguised. There goes that career in surgery I was hoping to pursue this summer.
Me, I made a last-second switch from the caprese sandwich to the vegetable lasagna. Mmm! Good choice! I was afraid the lasagna might be too heavy for warm weather (or warmish - it was the beautiful and breezy high 70s), but it was almost delicate with its thin sheets of sliding noodle and the rustic vegetables that tasted as if they'd been carefully spooned onto the layers.
The Trattoria was a winner - neither one of us can wait to go back. Yes, with tip it was fifteen dollars more than the pizza joint, but that's like a handful of nickels in Disney money, not to mention a galaxy's difference in ambience and quality.
After some rides and fun on the DCA boardwalk, we were thirsty and happened to be in Downtown Disney. Jamba Juice appealed, but we can have JJ at home. How about a watermelon granita from the stand outside the AMC theatre?
Later that night, having found no love for walk-ins at the finer establishments in New Orleans Square, we enjoyed the Hungry Bear Restaurant in Critter Country. I liked this restaurant before even tasting the food because 1) its very presence means that Country Bear Jamboree is gone (sorry) and 2) it's secluded beneath shady trees alongside the river.
Mike made puppy eyes at the funnel cake, but he ended up with a bacon cheeseburger and I had the veggie burger. Mike liked the buns - "hearty, not soft." I liked the mayo packets. Veggie burgers in nicer places just never come with mayo. Mien is pictured below, turned upside down for no good reason. A solid meal, no complaints, would dine again, A+++++++.
The next day I finally got to see the inside of the Golden Horseshoe, once home of legend Wally Boag. I'd been craving the zilla-sized mozz sticks from the adjacent "Stage Door Cafe," but here was a chance to have some tasty junk food and a show. Mike was happy because he got to have a bread bowl, this time with chili:
I not only broke down and used the flash, but I chopped off part of Mike's head. Now you know how much work the dSLR usually does for me.
They also had these 12-inch long piece of chocolate cake, I kid you not. We did some staring at other tables with real regret.
The show was good, but I thought they still did variety shows. Sated, we crept out after about 10 minutes.
Everything always smells good by the Penny Arcade on Main Street. We always say we will get something, but we never do. So, we didn't get these chocolate pecan thingamabobs that were being made fresh in the window:
Ditto for the Candy Shoppe just inside California Adventure, where we didn't get these neat-o cookies:
On our last day we were smart and made dinner ressies for Cafe Orleans. (As it turned out, we didn't need them, despite the park feeling much busier that day.) I was looking forward to finally trying a famous Disneyland Monte Cristo, modified to be veg-friendly. (Mozzarella, Swiss, and Brie instead of Turkey, Ham, and Swiss.)
Mike shocked all viewers (me) by getting the same thing. No meat? No meat. Okay...
This turned out to be an eerily wise choice, for when the fried-and-dusted-with-powdered-sugar Monte Cristos came out, he was agog. Or maybe agag. Sweet stuff? People eat these with meat in them?
Turns out his Aussie sensibilities could never have managed sugar and pork in the same mouthful, so going with me on the three-cheese version was an excellent, if unusual for him, choice.
I can't tell you what these sandwiches cost because it still makes my stomach roll a little. Suffice to say that we were both glad to have tried them but we'll never order them again. I thought mine was way too heavy on the brie, and we both agreed there wasn't enough complexity happening on the plate, and this comes from two cheese lovers.
I took half of mine home - the whole thing got really boring after a few bites. It was fine to eat in the hotel room later, but that's all it ever was at its best - "fine." So, tick a long-time wannado off the list and move on.
Except I can't move on without a word about some parents who bring some children out to eat. If your child is going to scream throughout the meal, remove the child. Really. Go. Get rid of them. Especially if you and your husband and one of your other children are all going to gather around the back of my head to coax the toddler into eating while said toddler is letting out piercing screams about six inches from my face. Go. LEAVE. Kids are kids, sure, and that's why they don't get to eat at nice full-service restaurants sometimes. Sorry. You don't have the "right" to eat if these are your manners: you gambled, now accept that you lost. That's why you look forward to the little ones getting older and getting to have (and enjoy) those more sophisticated experiences. That's why Disney offers varied levels of dining. (Hey, I don't get to eat at Club 33, and you don't see me complaining. Out loud.)
(At least apologize to neighbouring patrons and, you know, maybe pick up a few of the pieces of cutlery your assorted brood threw to the floor during the meal. That's all I ask.)
Suckage of the entitlement crowd aside, it was fun to visit at least four new places and not just get the same old stuff. It will be hard to keep up this spirit on the next trip because I think we're both going to want to run straight to the Trattoria, but who knows? Maybe Blue Bayou or Ariel's Grotto is just as tasty and pleasant. Hopefully it won't be too long before I can stand to ride the battered Cali freeways again!
For $2.95 I am GLAD you passed on the flip-flop cookies. Good Lord, at that price they should be as big as real flip flops... and you should get 2. I mean, you can buy REAL flip flops for less!!
:)
That said, they look like they'd be really easy (and cute) to make....
Posted by: Heather | 14 June 2007 at 02:39 PM