Review: Texas Roadhouse

On May 17,2014 after spending the second day at Road America’s Spring Vintage Weekend, I took the long way back to my hotel. I ended up at the Texas Roadhouse.

It, of course, has a western cowboy theme and a friendly staff. The young lady showed me to my table and brought along a basket of rolls and cinnamon butter.

I ordered a 6oz sirloin, corn and steak fries. Since I said this was my first time at the Texas Roadhouse, one of the manager brought me a sample of their ribs.

The roll was good but I am not a fan of cinnamon butter. The corn and fries were okay.

The steak was very good but the ribs were outstanding. You could easily pull the meat of the bones. It was very flavorful. I would go with the ribs over the sirloin if I go again.

Review: Pizza Ranch

On May 16, 2014, I came to see Road America’s Spring Vintage Weekend. For dinner, I decided to check out the Pizza Ranch. First, the decor has an old west flavor to it.

Pizza Ranch is a buffet that serves fried chicken and pizza. You pay when you enter and they will ask you if you want a special pizza. Since I was alone, I decided to just take a slice from the pizza bar.

I selected a slice of pepperoni pizza, a fried chicken breast, some corn and a roll/butter. The pizza was good but nothing special. Since it was sitting on the pizza bar, it was on the cold side.

The roll was okay. The corn was very good and fresh. And the fried chicken was excellent. Crispy flavorful skin. Chicken good and big. I shouldn’t have but I went back for a couple fried chicken legs and a little ice cream.

The dessert bar has a couple dessert pizzas and soft serve vanilla ice cream. No ice cream toppings because the ice cream is for the dessert pizzas. It was nice rich vinilla ice cream.

Review: South Union Roadhouse

After visiting the Illinois Railroad Museum, I decided I wanted a steak. Using Yelp, I found the South Union Roadhouse.

Of course, the Roadhouse doesn't serve steak at lunchtime. The burger and fries were great. I had bbq sauce on the burger but it was just ok off the self bbq sauce.

Walt Disney World: Magic Kingdom

On the forth day March 19, 2014, I went to the Magic Kingdom. I got there in time to see the opening the park ceremony. I walked as fast as I could to the Jungle Cruise. I had to wait a couple minutes for the Adventureland section to open. First thing mid-week in March, my fast pass was not really needed. The fast pass for Monster Inc Laugh Floor was needed. It saved 10-15 minutes. For lunch, I made a reservation for the Crystal Palace. See my review of the Crystal Palace.

Bunny - Stop trying to kiss her.

Review: Akershus Royal Banquet Hall and the Disney Princesses

If your daughter(s), wife and/or girlfriend is into one or more Disney Princesses, you must take them to Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in the Norway section of Epcot. All who attend the royal banquet can expect to meet several of the following Disney Characters: Snow White, Cinderella, Belle, Princess Aurora, Ariel and/or Mary Poppins

I booked several months early and had trouble figuring out how my reservation time would work. The world showplace section opens at 11am. And my reservation was earlier than early hours for the future world section of Epcot.

On thursday March 20th, I got to Epcot a half an hour before my breakfast reservation. You go to the special breakfast reservation line to enter. Note: I think the only other facility that was open was the stroller, wheelchair and ECV rental store.

When you get to the Norway section, you check in with the friendly staff outside. After 5-10 minutes I was lead inside to a waiting line for a picture with one of the princesses. That day it was Belle. Then you are taken to your table.

While there is a buffet section, everybody was served a big plate with 2 sausages, 2 bacon, cheesy hash browns and scrambled eggs. It was there when I got back to my table. I wondered why the buffet didn’t have a carving section, bacon and sausage.

Some of the other princesses come around to each table to chat, sign autographs and/or have pictures taken. On this day, I didn’t see Mary Poppins. If you need one particular princess, you may want to check when making the reservation.

The food was good but you are really paying for the characters and a souvenir photo package.

Review: The Crystal Palace

On Wednesday 19, I planned on going to the Magic Kingdom. Months earlier I chose three fast pass rides and the Crystal Palace for Lunch. The fast pass rides I changed when I got there with my iPhone.

Again, I got to my restaurant choice a little earlier than my reservation. I gave my name to the friendly staff outside. In less than five minutes, my name was called and I was seated near the front and the buffet.

My friendly waitstaff took my drink order and tried to explain about the plates. I took one of the kids plates since the larger adult plates were hidden behind the kids food area.

The food was very good so I went with a little reluctance to get a second kids plate full of the carved meats and another roll. (I am on a diet).

Note: While good, you are paying more to meet and greet the Winnie the Pooh characters.

Review: Coral Reef restaurant

On tuesday March 18th, I had lunch at the Coral Reef restaurant. I had gotten a reservation months earlier but got there early. I was given a beeper which went off 5 minutes later.

I was given a table next to the fish tank. Staff was friendly. I immediately ordered a steak. I am not that into eating fish.

My drink and fresh rolls came quickly. The roll was good but the butter may have been unsalted. The restaurant may have a thing about salt. There was no salt or pepper on the table.

My steak was excellent tasting but had more gristle than I would have expected. The mashed potatoes and rest was good.

2014 Epcot International Flower and Garden show -- pt2

2014 Epcot International Flower and Garden show

There are two reason to go to Disney World during the week mid-March.

1) the line early in the morning are short or non existent so you can do your favorite rides.

2) The second reason to go mid-March is the Epcot International Flower and Garden show. Disney does an excellent job creating characters out of flowers.

Review: Tusker House

On Monday March 17th, I spent the day at Animal Kingdom. Months earlier I reserved a time for lunch at the Tusker House. There were several african items on the menu I was going to try. I couldn't find them on the buffet.

Therefore for me, Tusker House was not worth the money. The food I selected ended up being usual average food. And Mickey, Donald and Goofy were not of interest to me. (Other than watching them interact with the kids).

Review: Expedition Everest

This roller coaster was my second ride on Monday March 17th. I set up a fast pass for this months earlier. I got there before my fast pass time so I had to sit there awhile listening to the people scream as they go down one of the last drops on the ride.

Disney did a good job setting up the entrance paths with interesting things to see while waiting your turn. Fast Pass was worth it this time. Maybe only 5 minutes to actually get on the ride. I liked the roller coaster. I don't do rides with over the head loops so this one was very good.

Review: Kilimanjaro Safari

On Monday March 17th, I hopped on the bus to take me to the Animal Kingdom. My first stop would be the Kilimanjaro Safari.

On a monday in March around 9am, there was little wait time difference in standby versus fast pass. You board the safari vehicle.

I don't know how much money they spent putting in the ruts that we bounced along.

Some animals were hiding or far away. But some were close. An ostrich slowed us down by walking down the middle of the road. Kilimanjaro Safari is always a good ride to go on.

The music is supposed to be my version of Hakuna Matata but Garageband didn't translate it well.

Review: Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

I arrived at Walt Disney World on Sunday March 16, 2014. After checking in, I went to Hollywood Studios to ride the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

If you can, set up a fast pass time before you go. Or get a phone app. Even at 6:30pm, the standby wait was 60 minutes. With fast pass, it took 20 minutes from start to finish. Note: Some rides will allow you to enter 5 minutes before your fast pass time.

After getting the magic band green light, I whizzed by all the standby line and entered the hotel library. It was dark and very well done. They gave the “history” of the hotel and why you were there. After several minutes, you enter another waiting line that travels thru the hotel’s boiler room to get you to your service elevator.

Upon sitting in the elevator, the doors closed the lights go out and the elevator starts to rise. Some guy on our elevator let out a loud scream and scared the heck out of all of us.

The doors open and the seats move forward thru a dim spooky hallway. Then the fun beginnings. The elevator rises and lightning hits the hotel making the elevator go crazy.

Even though I had a seat belt on, it seemed at times there was 1.5 feet of space between me and the seat. Not good for people with bad backs. But it was very fun.

However it only last a minute or so. If I had waited 60 minutes, it would not have been worth it.

Review: 50s Prime Time Cafe

I arrived at Walt Disney World on Sunday March 16, 2014. After checking in, I went to Hollywood Studios to have dinner at the 50s Prime Time Cafe.

It is styled as a 50s era kitchen. The wait staff pretends to be your aunt or uncle. They usually try to embarrass the fathers by hand feeding him his vegetables by hand and making a motorboat or airplane sound. For me, they only warned me about my elbows on the table.

I ordered Aunt Liz's Golden Fried Chicken served with Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Chicken Gravy, and Collard Greens. The chicken was excellent. The coating were crisp with the correct spices. The rest of the meal was average.