LOTS OF DISNEY, ORLANDO AND PLACES THEREABOUTS !!

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Doug Wilcoxon - page 2

Doug Wilcoxon has 22 articles published.

#TBT Magic Kingdom Tickets

in Walt Disney World by

I’m ok with numbers, but how about calculations for inflation.

Shown are two tickets for the Magic Kingdom. Epcot was almost five years old and there was a “party goin’ on right here…” (thanks Kool & the Gang)  15 Years of the Magic Kingdom.  Not minding the smudge of the year stamp, these tickets are from July 24, 1987. Just a bit beyond the celebration start date of October 1, 1986.

1987 Magic Kingdom Ticket

 

$26.00 One Day Ticket to the Magic Kingdom. I like how the sales tax is included. Nice round numbers. Paper tickets would make it harder to execute demand pricing. Now for some excitement…. according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Inflation Calculator… the $26.00 in 1987 has the same buying power as $55.25 in 2016. Granted, ticket prices have increased faster than the rate of inflation, but wouldn’t you say the fun has increased exponentially?

This was our fist visit to Walt Disney World.  The wife and I had just got married and were in the area on our honeymoon so we thought we should stop at Disney and check it out. You may have heard that mid July is a bit warm in Florida. We had no idea where we were going or what we might want to see. We just bought the tickets and walked inside to commence sweating.

We walked first to the castle after a nice stroll down Main Street USA, through the castle stopping to look at the mosaic. Exiting out the back and taking a right we proceeded to walk right into Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride and wait in line for about an hour and a half. Hey, what did we know. No plans, no nothing, we just showed up.

We had a great time and spent two days at the parks. A day at Magic Kingdom and a day at Epcot. Of course we were exhausted, but we had a great time.

Just before returning home, we bought the Birnbaum Guide to Walt Disney World. From that day forward we understood the importance of planning when visiting Walt Disney World. In 1987 it was only two parks, Disney Village and some hotels.  Now with all the offerings you may be able walk in and wander in the wilderness in contentment, but with kids it may be a bit stressful. To fully enjoy your vacation at Walt Disney World and experience it to the fullest it is best to plan.

If you want to make the most of a Walt Disney World vacation, to get the scoop on current happenings, the ins and outs at the parks and resorts, and the discounts, then talk to someone who lives it everyday. My friend Crystal can assist with the planning and book your reservations. She loves her Disney Life.

 

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First Stop on Arrival at Walt Disney World – The Earl

in Walt Disney World by

Does your family have a first stop when arriving at Walt Disney World?

Some family traditions are handed down from generation to generation, but ours started because we are always hungry after the long drive to Walt Disney World. Some families surely make their first stop the Magic Kingdom, Epcot or maybe a ride on the monorail.  We owned our tradition. We looked forward to the Earl first, then we could focus our satisfied appetites on Walt Disney World, because exploring the world cannot be done on an empty stomach.

One would think it easy, for a family of four, to come to an agreement regarding dining at WDW with the multitude of various options, but it seemed the only place we agreed upon was the dinner at Earl of Sandwich.  Destination Disney Springs, the locale formally known as Downtown Disney, and a beeline to the Earl was always the first stop after checking into the resort. Everyone has more than one favorite and never a complaint was muttered.

“The World’s Greatest Hot Sandwich” – could they make that claim if it wasn’t true?

A quick peruse through their website shows they are in more than one location… who knew?  The website shows they are located in Downtown Disney Anaheim and Disney Springs Lake Buena Vista, FL. Disney lovers can enjoy tasty sandwiches on both coasts. Don’t let me lead you to believe those are the only two locations, because that is not the case.  There are quite a few, and one may be in a city near you.

Typically with most sandwich joints I stick to one type, but here at the Earl I like to mix it up. I have yet to try the veggie. It does look good, but when there is the All American, Ham ‘N’ Swiss, the Italian, or Holiday Turkey year round, the Original 1762 is another favorite. Here are some photos, some dating to around 2013. Notice the consistency throughout the year.

I’m guessing here, but this has to one of the best sellers. How can one go wrong with Salami, capicola, ham, mortadella mozzarella, Roma tomato, Italian seasoning & Italian dressing.

 

A look inside the magic. I think the bread makes these sandwiches unique.

 

This one isn’t on the website menu. Will investigate its whereabouts.

 

Full disclosure here… I don’t know what this sandwich is, but in the interest of complete coverage I will visit the Earl this weekend and not leave until this sandwich is identified.

 

There is usually a line for this attraction. This is a typical view upon arrival. Don’t let it worry you though, because the line moves fairly fast. The adjacent gift shop had shared an interior door with the Earl, but it has been closed up. I can only assume because the line would wrap into the store and impede vacationers from spending money. Regardless, get in line, look at the menu, and prepare to change your mind a few times before you get to the register.

 

Pay attention to this sign. When you place your order at the other end of the counter you do not pay. Just place the order and move along… keep that line moving…

 

Grilled chicken, ham Swiss, pineapple & BBQ sauce. Yum Yum

The sandwiches not only take good pictures, but their tasty too!

Every now and then I throw a wrap into the mix.  Mostly I stick with the Thai Chicken Wrap.  It tasty and crispy. The sweet chili sauce will build the heat slow, but heat you up by the time you finish the sandwich. It is my standard wrap.  Don’t forget your toothpick with the wrap, don’t want Mickey looking at tortilla leftovers between your teeth.  Tried the Buffalo Chicken wrap recently, while good, The Thai Chicken Wrap is still my favorite.

There are other items on the menu, but other than the pasta salad (which is usually my side), I haven’t tried them. The sandwiches are enough to keep on a rotation. Once the craving is satisfied for one sandwich I can move on to another the next visit. We still visit here often even though we no longer make those long drives. It’s one of our go to places.

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Can’t Get Enough of Amorette’s Cakes

in Walt Disney World by

Every visit to Disney Springs brings us for a stroll through Amorette’s. The cakes are works of art.  We also enjoy talking with the employees who are more than happy to discuss the cakes or answer any questions you may have.  Unfortunately as of this post we haven’t purchased a cake, but I made it my number one New Year’s Resolutions.

I wanted to share a photo of a cake that will be “the cake” when we make a purchase so that I can complete at least one New Year’s Resolution.

Every layer sounds delicious. The smudge in the picture was on the glass separating the viewing public from the cakes. I can only assume some youngster or a near sighted adult took a very close look at the card. Cake cost $75.00

 

There isn’t much that can be said. I am looking forward to sampling this cake. Do you eat it a layer at a time or by multiple layers? That slice is about right for me… proportionally speaking.

 

On one of the very few cold days so far this year we tried Amorette’s Hot Chocolate Ganache. It is a very thick 4 oz. serving and was described as a hot chocolate espresso. Sadly it wasn’t to my liking. It was a bit too intense for my taste.  I would like to hear from someone who drinks espresso and could provide a comparison.

Looking at Amorette’s website, the Signature Cake is now listed at $85.00. The photo was taken December 4th. I better hurry, that’s increasing faster than my New Year’s Resolutions excuses.

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Random Review of Walt Disney World 2016 Christmas Decorations

in Walt Disney World by

The greatest Christmas light display on the face of planet earth was discontinued this year and we all are a bit wistful because of its absence.  Because of the technological wonders of mobile devices we don’t have to rely just on our memory to relive the glory of the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, but we can purview our thousands of digital photos to bring the moment back to clarity. Before the 2016 review here is a moment from 2013, the first time we visited the display.

Snow falls in Florida at Disney Hollywood Studios during the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. 2013.

Typically I don’t care to have the Cinderella’s Castle covered in anything, it alone is a beautiful building which does a fine job projecting the image of the Happiest Place on Earth. When we visited during the birthday celebration, it was transformed into a cake. Initially I thought it was pretty creative, and it was, but I really missed the castle. But in the case of the lights at Christmas, they complement the castle perfectly.  This is one of my favorite times to see it all aglow.

The Magic Kingdom is festive from the entrance to the castle. Main Street USA is well decorated and always an enjoyable stroll, but the decorations tend to drop off as you enter the other lands.

On the second floor of the Main Street Railroad Station, two decorated trees frame the ticket window. Simply done by today’s standards, but a perfect fit for the era portrayed. This is a good place to get a birds eye view of Main Street. It was fairly crowded, but we weren’t elbowing our fellow travelers trying to get a good picture.  There was room for everyone except you had to be quick on your feet if you wanted a bench seat. The benches are valued real estate.

My wife and I enjoy viewing the Christmas decorations at the resorts more than the parks. One of our favorites is the Port Orleans French Quarter Resort.  You may say “Hey, that’s not a Deluxe Resort!” and you would be correct, but first it is a sentimental favorite because we spent our vacations here when our kids were youngsters. Second, we like the look of the French Quarter Ironwork and the vibrant colors used in the decorations. We spent many vacations at the French Quarter Resort until we joined the Disney Vacation Club and the kids fell in love with the Boardwalk swimming pool and waterslide.

Close up of the decorations of a Christmas tree in the Port Orleans French Quarter Resort lobby.  Masks galore.

On display in the lobby are gingerbread houses created by the employees. These are judged, though I am not sure by who, and ribbons are awarded. These pictures are of the top two entrants at Port Orleans French Quarter. It is fun to look at and amazing to see the creative people who work within the resort.

Santa has been cut from the picture. Obviously I’m not a professional photographer. I liked the look of the bridge and the icing icicles in this display.  Also note that there was lighting under the snow along the perimeter. It was a nice touch, unfortunately I was so impressed by the setup I forgot to snap a photo. I don’t recall what it was displaying.  Maybe next year.

 

A castle with Micky and Minnie silhouettes and coconut snow. Notice the purple firework and fireworks smoke trail overhead. Another creative idea.

Last year the Boardwalk Resort had a large gingerbread house where they sold treats. This year there was no house (maybe the gingerbread house bubble burst), but a table was set up for kids to do some holiday crafts. We watched for a bit, but didn’t take any pictures of the festivities. The kids were having a great time. A table was decorating cookies and one young boy placed about a half pound of various color icing on his cookie.  By far my favorite cookie, not for creativity, but for icing quantity.

Lots of poinsettias used in the flowerbeds make for a colorful contrast with the greenery and the large tree provides a focal point on the Boardwalks Village Green.

The lobby of the Boardwalk Resort is beautiful without the decorations. The oversize garland fits superbly with the decor. This is a shot along the back wall of the lobby before exiting onto the veranda. (Can you call it a porch at a deluxe resort?)

Just outside the back door of the Boardwalk Resort Lobby, the veranda overlooks the Boardwalk’s Village Green, these stairs take guests to the Boardwalk. More large and in charge garland on display along the stair railing.

Garland along the stair railing lit up for the evening.  I wanted to see the contrast of the daylight and evening decoration.  Of course with the benefit of the twinkling lights it always seems more magical at night, but the daytime decorations hold their own.

When you visit Disney Springs and drive by the full Lime Garage and drive by the full Orange Garage, the surface lot, across the Sassagoula River from Sarasota Springs Resort usually has a place to park. At the entrance from the surface lot stood this display.  I like the display, but looking at it now it kind of reminds me of Stargate SG1. Hopefully no one stepped through the portal.

Walking along the lakefront past Bongo’s Cuban Cafe stood this interesting tree. It is a unique tree and the lights in the blue globes set it off. I haven’t seen it before, but we didn’t make many trips to Disney during the holidays so it may only be new to me. Either way, its a fun tree.

That’s it for our random walk through the resorts and a couple of the parks. I know there is much more out there at Walt Disney World, but maybe next year after the Thanksgiving turkey has settled we can hit the parks early, burn some holiday calories and enjoy a chaser Turkey Leg (except at Animal Kingdom).

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Happy New Year – 2017

in Florida Locales by

The year 2016 came and went in the blink of an eye and here I sit with a clean slate of possibilities for 2017.  All the 2016 resolutions will roll over to the new year in order to start anew. The year 2016 completes our first full year in Florida and there are a few things of note that you don’t think much about when you are living in the midwest.  Here are few things I have learned this past year…

  • The palm trees in the yard need to be trimmed quite often.  I only trimmed the trees in the north when a branch was sickly.  Here the fronds begin to droop and brown. Ours (queen palm) produces a fruit bundle that weighs 40 to 50 pounds, which if not cut soon begin to drop the small balls which kind of stink up the yard.  It also produces a long spear that can provide a nice puncture wound or rip one of the screens on the lanai. Which brings us to the next item.
  • The lanai. I always called it a screened in porch growing up in Illinois, but here it is a lanai. Either way I’m not complaining.  It does sound more relaxing when you say “I’m going to hang on the lanai” The origin is Hawaiian so there you go.
  • It’s easy to weed the flower beds or anywhere for that matter. The whole yard is sand.  Hidden under the grass is sand… and lots of it. Many times when Dad had me digging holes in Illinois I would mutter my dislike for the clay soil that seemed to be everywhere in our yard.  In Florida the muttering is at a minimum when I break out the shovel.
  • There is a reason the retired folks head south in the winter.  It is downright beautiful weather in the winter months.  Those months when I was shoveling snow, chipping ice, power sliding in the school parking lot (I do miss that), are forgotten when you are debating whether to wear the white shorts after labor day or bring a jacket to the park because it might get a bit chilly when the sun goes down on a beautiful January day.  For comparison… here is a shot of our Indiana driveway after a January 2014 snow and a Walt Disney World Monorail shot from January 2015.

 

  • There is a reason the retired folks head north at the winter’s end.  It gets smokin hot in the summer. Heat and humidity are both high. It makes it hard to breathe sometimes for new runners like myself, but moderation is the key with lots of liquids.
  • Walt Disney World cannot be done in a day, a week or even a year.  There is so much to see and do.  The World is huge and depending on the current “stage” of your life not everything may appeal to you, but there is something for everyone. You may feel you have outgrown something, but rest assured there will be 20 things waiting to take its place.  You may outgrow it, move on, and then come back years later appreciating it from a different perspective that can only come with your increased years on planet earth.
  • It is hard to work for a living in the vacation kingdom of Orlando.  There is so much you want to see, activities you want to do, but one still needs to earn a living, mow the lawn, trim the palm trees, and maintain the house.

They say you can’t do it all, but this year were going to get as close to “all” as humanly possible.  Here is to a Happy and Healthy 2017 wherever you may find yourself.

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JUST ANNOUNCED: MINION LAND

Illumination’s Minions are taking over an entire street at Universal Orlando. Blast your way to supervillain stardom in the new

Ghirardelli makes a stop at Epcot Food and Wine

in Walt Disney World by
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A great view as we near the festival center. In the “old” days this probably would have qualified as a Kodak Picture Spot.

The Festival Center at Epcot is a giant building tucked away between the Universe of Energy and Mission Space. Tucked away as best a giant building can be, with some strategic landscaping and other giant buildings on either side for disguise. Apparently the future consisted of large buildings and not tiny houses… but I digress. The festival building is the building formally known as The Wonders of Life Pavilion.  I’m all in with Wonder… and Life, but this “demoted from the ranks” pavilion, like Pluto or Lake Champlain, didn’t really draw our families attention during the yearly visits in the 2000’s, we never made an appearance at this pavilion.

That is… not until 2016 when taking a break from the food and the wine we decided to see what the festival building had in its friendly confines (Cubs reference). I would say it is exactly as described.  A festival center. There were more people hanging around than I expected.  The gift shop was doing a brisk business, appeared to be few tables available in the cafe… unless this was also the Chew stage… I didn’t look close enough to make the differentiation.  I had spotted my Festival Center destination and now wasn’t the time to be window shopping.

20160919_121036I was truckin by the cafe when my eyes noticed the Ghiradelli sign. Nothing fancy or in huge letters, but the title of the exhibit and name of the sponsor.  Always eager to learn about chocolate and nab a complementary Ghirardelli square (my favorite is the salted caramel) there is no time to waste.

In Disney terms it would be considered a fairly simple straightforward display.  Around a center console and along the wall is a brief outline of the process from which chocolate is derived.  Good… interesting… you won’t have to jockey for position to read the story.  That’s ok.

Along another wall is a series of what I would refer to as dioramas. Each of these dioramas feature scenes containing chocolate sculptures of characters from Disney movies or newly acquired movie franchises… you may know where I’m going with that one… may the force be with you.

From the Festival Center events page, it states the following about the display of chocolate figures… “enjoy amazing chocolate sculptures created by the master chefs at Walt Disney World Resort.”  I really enjoyed these sculptures and took a lot of photos.  Unfortunately what I didn’t take was the a photos of the creators names of these chocolate masterpieces. You will need to go read those for yourself.

I recommend a side trip to the Festival Center to check out the Ghiradelli carved chocolate scenes. It’s something a bit different than the typical attractions, and it shows the skill and creativity of the these individuals. Maybe I’m not an impartial subject since it reminds me of the sculptured butter cow my Grandma would take me to see each year at the Illinois State Fair. Who doesn’t love carved butter in the shape of a cow. Isn’t it poetic.

The display was enjoyable to my wife and I and there are plenty of photos following that shows my favorites (which is pretty much everything), but we weren’t dragging any kids away from a Frozen meet and greet. Not sure how entranced kids will be with this display. Sure they would like the molded chocolate characters and the nod to Star Wars,  but they may not appreciate the talent required or materials used. Certain that they would eat the complimentary chocolate square though.

A Bug’s Life…

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Heimlich – My favorite character from this movie. A good Heimlich quote for life. “Francis, leave them alone, they are poo-poo heads.”

 

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Don’t know these two characters. Can you help me out?

 

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Flik on the right.

Not from A Bug’s Life…

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This was a scene with wildlife which was very well done. Not sure what Disney reference from which this was created. Lots of glare and smears on the glass of this display. Apparently some people wanted a close look.

Ratatouille… I enjoyed the movie, but there is something about Rats and food that gives me the willies, though I would eat a rat made of chocolate.

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Love the detail of the fur coats and the side items. All created from chocolate.

 

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This was my favorite layout of the displays. The use of the cheese wheels (chocolate wheels) and the rats is a nice touch.

 

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Another cheese wheel and well carved chocolate vegetables. Vegetables on my plate are mostly for display too.

 

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Star Wars…

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Yoda. Future king of the Studios.  The Yoda quote above my desk… “Do or do not, there is no try”.

 

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BB-8

 

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Millennium Falcon with Stormtrooper feet in background.

Last but not least are a couple with a shout-out to the theme park coaster attractions.

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Skip Some Walking Time on the Friendship Launch – Epcot

in Walt Disney World by

As I was finishing my Croughnut the idea of a walk to the other side of the World Showcase Lagoon was sounding less and less desirable.  Hard as it is to believe, the idea for lunch at Via Napoli, in the Italy Pavilion, was beginning to form just as the final bite of Croughnut was disappearing from the ducks view. In order to make myself feel better about the quick lunch, today’s Croughnut will be classified as an appetizer.

Almost directly across from The Refreshment Port is a dock for boarding the Friendship Launch. Disney refers to it as launching from Canada, but more accurately we will refer to it as the Croughnut Launch. From our seat at the Croughnut observation post we watched a couple of Friendship Launches make their way over to the other side of the lagoon.

 

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Those with the sharp eye will note that this is not across from Croughnut heaven. That’s right, I liked this picture better. Consider it artistic license.

This boat makes it way from the Croughnut Launch Dock to another dock situated between France and Morocco. I would estimate the cycle time for pick-up and departure for the Friendship Launch about every 20 minutes.

The boat is enclosed and air conditioned. It’s a nice change of pace when the sweat quits running down the small of your back. But don’t worry it’s only a short time until you reach the other side.

For those who prefer to maintain their outdoor swagger, there is a bench seat outside the cabin at the rear of the boat… or for you nautical types the stern. This is my favorite seat. Seating is very limited (see first picture). When you are on the water you should be outside absorbing the sea/lake/pond air, unless of course it’s the end of an evening on a cruise ship where shipmates will have uncomfortable glances while you are strolling the deck in your pj’s.

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Hanging out at the back of the boat, preparing to depart from the Croughnut Launch Dock.

Where am I going with this you may be wondering.

It’s been years since the last voyage and I have forgotten how enjoyable this small excursion is across the World Showcase Lagoon. It may take more time than walking to your destination, but is it a race to each attraction? Is that any way to spend a vacation… racing from attraction to attraction. For some it is and I do admit we did the same thing, but eventually we decided to slow down and enjoy our trips at a different pace.

 

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I may be beating a dead horse here, but if you look closely as departing the Croughnut Dock The Refreshment Port sits between the two buildings. Au revoir Refreshment Port!

 

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Rounding the first corner of the World Showcase Lagoon is Canada.

 

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The smell of fish and chips waft across the water as you make your way by England. That wafting may be dependent upon current wind direction. We stopped by the Yorkshire County Fish Shop and had the fish and chips at the start of food and wine. One order of Fish and Chips consists of two pieces of fish and some fries. The fish was cooked well (a light golden brown) and the fries were crispy. One order fish and chips $10.49 two bottled water $3.00 each, total with tax $17.18.

 

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Sitting between Disney’s England and France pavilions beyond this bridge is the International Gateway. The channel after the bridge leads to Crescent Lake where the Boardwalk Resort and Yacht and Beach Club sit along the shore. Another channel leads between the Swan and Dolphin Resort and on to Disney Hollywood Studios. The boat ride from the International Gateway to Disney Hollywood Studios is about 25 minutes which includes stops at Boardwalk, Yacht Club, The Swan.

 

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France is in sight as you approach the dock between France and Morocco.

The boat ride along the lagoon provides a different perspective of the World Showcase. It gives you a little time to sit back and relax. So enjoy the ride and the view, it’s a short ride, but a nice change of pace.

Work in Progress Map – places visited and miscellaneous comments.

 

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Croissant Doughnut…. Croughnut?… Cronut? at Epcot

in Walt Disney World by

There’s a place in Epcot that at one time Ray Kroc would have been proud to see… a hybrid McDonald’s selling smakerals of their signature food to theme park goers. Alas, it is no more (when it went to the big fryer in the sky I do not know). In its place there is a simple menu with only one item that I really care about. That would be the Croissant Doughnut… Croughnut. I like this spelling.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH THE CROISSANT DOUGHNUT.

This trip was designed specifically for a Croughnut. If you visit Epcot for no other reason but a Croughnut, then it will have been worth it.  Whoa… slow down… Dougie. That may not quite be true if you are vacationing on a non-hopper ticket. Then you will definitely want to see more than a Croughnut… maybe two Croughnuts… no… better see some of the other attractions.

My point is this should be a stop for the family.

But, beware. There are some shady characters who may want to sample your Croughnut. I heeded the advice of the sign and didn’t feed the wildlife. Not because of my concern that they will get aggressive, but because I wanted the Croughnut all to myself. From the picture below it appears that we are beyond wildlife acclimation to the Croughnut diet. It seems he knows what it’s all about.

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LOOK INTO MY EYEEEES! GIVE ME YOUR CROUGHNUT!

The Croissant Doughnut is currently going for $4.99.

Other than the Croughnut and a water, that is the extent of my culinary experience at this location.  I haven’t paid attention to the other featured items, but notice in this picture… I’m a bit taken aback by the Godiva Hot Cocoa with Godiva Liqueur at $9.50. After a bit of research I found that the Godiva Liqueur is 15% alc/vol.  It is a bit more than just a hot cocoa. That may go well with the Croughnut in wintertime and should provide your daily sugar intake requirements.

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TUNNEL VISION FOR THE CROUGHNUT.

The Refreshment Port is located just as you enter World Showcase and make the right hand turn towards Canada. It will be to your right. To your left is a lake. Bring our Canadian friends a Croughnut, I’m sure they wouldn’t mind some fried dough, cinnamon and sugar… word on the street is that Canadians enjoy a good doughnut or a Timbit.

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THE REFRESHMENT PORT IN ALL ITS GLORY.

 

Educational Note for Ray Kroc – In 1917 Ray lied about his age and joined the Red Cross to be an ambulance driver. Thought it an interesting similarity to another gentleman from that era.

Shout-Out Note to the Johnson Family for introducing us to the tasty Croughnut.

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Yellow Dog Eats – Gotha FL

in Florida Locales by

A favorite find is a restaurant that is a local creation, has a unique personality and great food. These places don’t need to be a part of the hottest retail strip or an overwhelming marketing push. There is a “feel” to the place from the moment you walk through the door or step on the patio. Chains try to mimic the homegrown vibe, but it’s an experience hard to replicate.

I believe the personality of the creator (Fish) is part of the ambiance at Yellow Dog Eats (make sure to read Jayme’s profile too). I knew it was going to be an experience to our liking as we approached the newly restored VW bus walking in from the parking lot, saw the irreverent signs, chalk art, and cool 70’s like flashing lights on the patio.

Those who were fortunate enough to be present at the creation (thanks Dean Acheson) of Yellow Dog Eats witnessed something special, fortunately they passed their good fortune and good find on to other family and friends who visit and pass the good experiences and good vibes down the line. Which brings us to a big Thank You to our neighbors who were so kind to invite us to share lunch and introduce us to Yellow Dog Eats!

Words are not enough. I will let the food photos speak with their obvious tasty goodness.

All food descriptions are directly from the Yellow Dog Eats Menu.

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Approaching the back patio area from the rear parking lot.

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1/2 Rack of Ribs with “Gold” Sauce. $9.95

This was my choice for lunch.  Fish’s Gold Sauce is a perfect compliment to the tender ribs. A large side of the “Gold” Sauce is served with the ribs. I didn’t make use of the extra sauce as not to drown the ribs. (Not that there is anything wrong with that). The ribs can stand alone if you so desire… which I desired.

 

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Mr. Smokey – Our tender pulled pork topped with juicy smoked pineapple slices, fried onions, pecan-smoked bacon and Fish’s Gold BBQ sauce on a fun fluffy bun. $10.95

 

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Smokey’s Smoked Salmon Salad – Fresh Salmon dry rubbed with Yellow Dog’s special seasoning blend and smoked to perfections. Served on a bed of field greens and garnished with cucumbers, grape tomatoes, carrots, sun dried fruit & nut blends, sprouts, red peppers, scallions and sliced red onions. $13.95

The dry rub salmon stood out from across the table. The salad is top notch.

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Drunken Pig – Our “Club Elvis” smothered with homemade beer-cheese soup, topped with scallions… $10.95. ….. Club Elvis, – Our tender pulled pork decadently topped with pecan smoked bacon, gouda cheese, crispy fried onions and topped with Fish’s Gold BBQ sauce, served on a fun-fluffy bun

 

 

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The Holy Crap – Named by a beloved friend and customer, this weekly special quickly became a fan fave! Featuring our honey mesquite roasted turkey piled high and pressed to perfection with avocado, pecan-smoked bacon, goat cheese, red onions and basil mayo served on our thickly sliced multi-grain bread. $10.95

 

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Back patio decor.

 

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A refurbished VW Bus. It’s open, but it looks too nice to eat inside. A closer look is in store next trip.

 

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Goodbye Yellow Dog Eats. See you again soon.

 

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JUST ANNOUNCED: MINION LAND

Illumination’s Minions are taking over an entire street at Universal Orlando. Blast your way to supervillain stardom in the new

Yachtsman Steakhouse at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

in Walt Disney World by

The title is boring and not quite what I want, but it does reflect what this blog post is about. Something a bit catchier would be “Meat Traditions Are Made Here – and good salads if you really feel like it – but this is a STEAKHOUSE”

I am not proud of this fact, but I am a steak snob, unfortunately my snobbery is limited by my budget so I can’t be as snobbish as I would like regarding great steak places. I guess it’s more like budgetary steak snobbery.  My mom would be disappointed in my high faluten steakish ways.

It may have been a sign of good things, but on the way to the Yachtsman a rainbow appeared in the distance on this sunny day. At the end of every rainbow waits a dry aged Porterhouse. That’s the way it was told in our family. If only we were looking towards the Yachtsman could it have been more perfect. Maybe this day the end of the rainbow is the California Grill.

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A Porterhouse awaits at the end of the rainbow!

It’s our first visit to the Yachtsman Steakhouse. It has been on my list for a number of years, but the visit never came to fruition. When a chance at steak night presented itself I always lean on the trusty mainstays I have come to enjoy for various reasons, such as, Morton’s, Ruth’s Chris, Bob’s Steak and Chop House, St. Elmo’s Steakhouse and Malone’s …so I was hesitant to visit a Disney Steak House when my cup overfloweth with perfect filets, interesting salads and in some cases World Famous Shrimp Cocktail.

This restaurant is designated Signature Dining and does have a dress code. Typical business casual is what is required with the addition of dress shorts and a shirt (for most of us guys shirts are usually a good idea anywhere) or an inauspicious T-shirt. Not allowed – Tank tops, swimwear, guys with hats, cut offs, or torn clothing, T-shirts with offensive language or graphics. I had a hat, but just stashed it under the chair and they were ok with that. There really isn’t a good place to hang a hat, which would be a nice feature.  I assume they don’t want ball caps. See here at the Disney Food Blog for all the particulars.

We arrived fashionably late due to a picture session with Anna and Elsa so the hostess was understanding. She was warm and friendly, directing us to a small sitting area while we wait for our table. The waiting area is small, which I immediately like for two reasons.

One, my perception is a small waiting area means that the restaurant doesn’t overbook. The Yachtsman adheres to the reservation schedule and we are seated promptly. As we exit the small waiting area there is no group of impatient hungry diners waiting for the waiting room seats.

TwYachtsman - Dry Aged Beefo, across from where I sit in this waiting area is a meat case where slabs of beef are being beautifully dry aged to perfection. I didn’t realize that the Yachtsman had dry aged steak (I didn’t do any research… is that bad for a blogger?). Looking at cuts of beef is a favorite pastime. I would have waited longer if needed, just to stare at the savory cuts, but that was not to be since as I stated before, we are seated promptly.

Admittedly, I didn’t pay much attention to the decor (another blog another day). Hunger and a dry aged steak is on my mind and I immediately have my nose in the menu looking for my go-to selection.  The Filet Mignon. This is something I do not normally consider for substitution, as a matter of fact I don’t recall that last time I ordered something else. But… the dry aged 32-oz Porterhouse for two is definitely drawing my interest.

Why forego the trusty Filet?  I have never had a dry aged steak and all of the menu steak selections were wet aged beef except for the 32-oz Porterhouse and the 18-oz Kansas City Strip Steak.

After a few minutes discussion with a friend, we determined to split the Porterhouse and experience the dry aged tastiness together. Dry aged beef vs wet aged beef is a debate for another day, but since I have never sampled dry aged beef it was time to expand my horizons.

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32-oz Porterhouse

Evening is setting in and, not to distract other diners, the photos are taken without a flash. Hence it is a bit dark. The steak is delivered to the table sliced and hot.  The Porterhouse components of the Kansas City Strip Steak is to the left and the Filet Mignon is to the right.

The Porterhouse arrives on a very hot platter, topped with garlic butter and already sliced.  A nice feature that makes it easy to share. The steak is flavorful and well cooked. I believe it has a different flavor due to the dry aged process, but one I can’t describe. I wouldn’t say better or worse, but different. The strip portion is very tender for the type of steak, almost as tender as the filet. The two of us put it away fairly easily.

The menu does state a 32-oz Porterhouse for Two and not giving it consideration prior to the order I am looking forward to 16 oz of meat. It appears to me the total weight includes the bone weight (will investigate further in future post). This may be common, but being a filet man I never considered bone weight. An educated meat guess would put the filet portion at 6-8 oz and the Kansas City Strip portion at 12-16 oz.

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8 oz Filet Mignon with side.

Our wives each order the filet and are happy with their dinner. I don’t want to lead you astray, but I cannot recall the side. For me, sides are not that important at a steakhouse. My focus is on the steak. We did have some Sauteed Mushroom Caps cooked with garlic and sherry wine sauce. It was tasty, but how can you go wrong with anything cooked in garlic and sherry wine?

There is no room left for dessert. I hoped after a walk around the lake, we would crave a dessert about the time we strolled in front of Ample Hills Creamery, but it was not to be.

All at our table are satisfied with our choice of dinner. The waiter is helpful, fun to chat with, personable and responsive, but not overbearing. The Yachtsman menu is one of my favorites because of its heavy reliance on beef, but this is my personal preference, some seafood and chicken options are available.

Not mentioned or shown above was a seasonal salad that the wives loved. The Chef’s Garden Heirloom Tomato Salad. For freshness and taste the Chef’s creation is a good choice to try something new. It is vacation after all.

I recommend this steakhouse for any serious steak lover or really any food lover in general.  It is one I am looking forward to adding into the rotation.

Meat Note: I was wondering about the difference between a Kansas City Strip and New York Strip.  Apparently there is no difference. Both are from the same cut of meat. There appears to be a long history of argument regarding the proper name and who was first. Of course the internet is full of opinion with regard to the true beginnings and proper name of the strip steak.

Photos credit: John Lebel

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