Carthay Circle Restaurant--who's been?

[bennette]

Anyone have a direct number to the restaurant?

Not yet.

[THpoohbear]

Boo. I was hoping, (even though I know I'd have a very slim chance), to change my lunch reservation to a dinner one tomorrow night. But they are booked. Seeing as it is supposed to be 100 degrees, this pregnant, heat-hating lady doesn't think walking around DLR is going to fly. We will go for a bit in the evening to say bye to DL (passes expiring) but will probably let the lunch reservation go. Sniff! I'll have to wait until the day comes when we have passes again.

[biolabetty]

My neighbor and I ate there last night. We had no reservations (this was around 8 P.M.) but were told that if we returned between 8:30 and 8:45 we would probably be able to get in. Obviously we did. We were seated in a far back banquet room across from the door to the balcony area. Our server was wonderful, she spent a lot of time just chatting with us and apologizing for the very noisy group that was adjacent to us. The group never really bothered us though, and even the group later apologized for being so loud. I had the soup, which was good but too spicy for me in the long run because I felt it all night long. I also had the chicken meatballs with pasta, which were also good, but I think I would have liked to have a few veggies included in it somewhere. The menu wasn't really my favorite, I'm not a lamb or seafood person (didn't want a heavy beef entree that late at night in this heat) and chose the only chicken item I could find on the menu. It was a pleasant experience, but I would have enjoyed a few more chicken options.

[tea4two]

We ate there tonight. Had requested a table in the main dining room with a view of the pass when the reservation was made. Repeated the request when we checked in, acknowledging that we knew it might not be fulfilled. When we were seated, the main dining room was almost empty (1 table of 4 seated under the cupola), and the hostess began leading us toward the solarium-with-the-disruptive-automatic-doors, so I asked where we were going and did she know that we had requested the main dining room. She blanked and went to ask a young man with a clipboard who told us that we could not be seated in the almost empty dining room because "they like to reserve the tables with views of the pass for parties of 20." Ahem, there were no parties larger than the one party of 4 anywhere to be seen in that room. Our poor hostess looked at him, looked at us, then the young man finally gave her a reluctant ok to seat us by the pass. The whole time we were there not one party of 20 appeared. Chef Gloria was out front, and we enjoyed watching her in action. She was really on the ball, sending back bowls of cavatelli because they lacked enough lamb.

We had the heirloom tomato salad (loved the sorbet!), the biscuits (yummy -- with apricot butter for me, without for Mr. Tea), the ceviche (another yum), and the bacon wrapped shrimp (amazed that they could fnd such sweet corn when this has been such a sad corn season for us). Dessert was the only let down. The white peach pie was tasty, but the crust was doughy and a bit gummy. Service at the table was very good. The AP discount was much appreciated. We got WOC FPs even though we shared everything and only ordered one entree -- I'm guessing we passed the minimum price barrier -- but couldn't use them, so we gave them away to a young couple on BVS who were celebrating their 9th anniversary.

I was told that the burger can only be ordered at lunch (and I didn't see any burgers, fries, or sliders going out of the kitchen), so we will have to return to try that. Overall impression: we still like Napa Rose better, but CCR is a very nice addition to the parks.

[cstephens]

"they like to reserve the tables with views of the pass for parties of 20."

Given the setup, I'd think a party of 20 at those tables would be incredibly cramped. Or maybe they only reserve those tables for hobbits.

Very odd indeed.

[mrsdisney68]

Which do you consider the WDW in-park signature restaurants?

We are going to have Christmas eve dinner here. What are the seating choices? ie what type of rooms or different areas? It will be my husband and I and our kids 13 and 16. Really looking forward to it.

[bennette]

Given the setup, I'd think a party of 20 at those tables would be incredibly cramped. Or maybe they only reserve those tables for hobbits.

Very odd indeed.

It doesn't make sense. My recollection is the two tables closest to the pass seat four each and couldn't be put together because of the way the staff's foot traffic goes? Maybe he was confusing the "pass" with one of the rooms?

[biolabetty]

We were rather surprised ourselves when we were finally seated in a fairly empty room after having been told that they were completely booked. It was only us and that large party, there were at least 5 empty tables nearby.

[tea4two]

It doesn't make sense. My recollection is the two tables closest to the pass seat four each and couldn't be put together because of the way the staff's foot traffic goes? Maybe he was confusing the "pass" with one of the rooms?

It was really weird. The guy clearly was reciting a token response, but even at that, the response doesn't make sense. And for a very early dinner reservation (4:30 pm), how many parties of 20 was he expecting to drop by?

[Gone2Disneyland]

The Naboombu All-Stars MouseAdventure Team went together for lunch on Sunday July 29. It was the first visit for three of us and the first meal for all of us. We had a great time!! We checked in and then used our time waiting to be called to tour all of the framed Disney material in the lower floor. As a designer, I loved the graphic design of the Bar Menu found on tables downstairs.

We were seated upstairs at a table in the west side of the building, which opens out to a balcony that we later went out on to watch part of the Pixar Play Parade. We all ordered alcohol, with me opting for the Brown Derby. I'm not much of a cocktail drinker, so it was the name of the drink more than anything else that sealed my choice. It wasn't bad and even my friends who sampled it but aren't great bourbon drinkers thought it was really good.

It was a combination of just being in a weird, experimental mood and also not really in the mood for red meat that I ended up choosing the Korean Pulled Pork Sandwich with its sunny side up fried egg inside of it. I really enjoyed it, tho' there was a homemade pickle in the sandwich whose flavor overtook the pork. Glad I sampled the pork first before biting into the sandwich. I didn't hear any complaints either about my friends' orders of the Angus Burger, Tuscan-style Braised Lamb, Chicken Salad and Halibut Ceviche.

For dessert, my friends ordered the Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream but all I saw on the menu was Fried Banana Split Monte Cristo Sundae. We shared, but my attention was mostly on the sundae. MMMMMmmmmmmm! A friend also ordered an Earl Grey tea and received a small tea pot. She removed the top to find tea leaves in a sieve that hot water was poured over (Impressed!) and way more than enough tea than she needed for dessert. But she thought to ask our waiter if she could have a take-out cup for the tea. She got that plus ice, and it was iced earl grey tea on the go! And a large cup to boot (that tea pot easily held three to four cups worth of tea).

Like I said, after lunch we ended up on the balcony to watch the Pixar Play Parade which happened to start around that time. The service was pretty good, and we compared it naturally with the Blue Bayou. Obviously this venue is much larger and we never felt rushed here as we sorta did at the BB which servers quick to clear dishes right away.

We're looking forward to our next opportunity to dine there and try other items from the menu and perhaps even take advantage of the WoC tickets, which our server reminded us of but we weren't going to be in the park that late to use them. And here's pictures from our visit.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gone2di...th/7755551748/

[bennette]

So I was at 1901 today and they have cucumber. "Of course" they have cucumber. They can easily "grab some from the lower kichen."

You all can thank me later.

I'm happy to report that all items sampled from the lounge menu (same as main lounge) met with largely positive results.

Vietnamese tacos and chicken roll received the highest marks.

Shredded beef roll was met with mostly good reviews.

We also had from the kids' menu the following: chicken tacos with beans and rice; grilled cheese with tomato soup; and tiny hot dogs in phyllo with three gourmet sauces (French's mustard, ketchup, and ranch dressing!). Kid plates all came with very nice fruit on the side.

The soup received mixed reviews. It was loved by some, found a bit bland by others, and "not like the kind in the can" by yet another.

We had several members in our group who are very picky eaters so I was impressed all could be made happy.

Note that the kids' sorbet push pop and ice cream sandwich are available on the kids' lounge menu, if you aren't impressed with the adult desserts.

[adriennek]

So I was at 1901 today and they have cucumber. "Of course" they have cucumber. They can easily "grab some from the lower kichen."

You all can thank me later.

Did they say "Oh! It's YOU again!?!??"

[bennette]

Did they say "Oh! It's YOU again!?!??"

Different bartenders.

Perhaps I drove them all away.

[candles71]

Different bartenders.

Perhaps I drove them all away.

Or they were hiding in the back.

[Malcon10t]

tiny hot dogs in phyllo with three gourmet sauces (French's mustard, ketchup, and ranch dressing!). Kid plates all came with very nice fruit on the side.

Love the "gourmet sauces"!

The soup received mixed reviews. It was loved by some, found a bit bland by others, and "not like the kind in the can" by yet another.

Did you love it or find it bland?

[Malcon10t]

tiny hot dogs in phyllo with three gourmet sauces (French's mustard, ketchup, and ranch dressing!). Kid plates all came with very nice fruit on the side.

Love the "gourmet sauces"!

The soup received mixed reviews. It was loved by some, found a bit bland by others, and "not like the kind in the can" by yet another.

Did you love it or find it bland?

[bennette]

Did you love it or find it bland?

It's like they waved a tomato in front of the pot.

It wasn't bad; I'm just still trying to figure out what it tasted like. Not Ragu. Not basil. Not cream, I don't think.

I don't know what Campbell's tastes like, other than tin, so I can't comment on that, other than to say it definitely didn't taste of tin.

[bennette]

Dang, I keep getting duplicate posts for some reason.

[Toocherie]

No one tried the kids' desserts? Having read gonetodisneyland's review and seen their pics I think that pulled pork sandwich is calling my name. But then I want the ice cream sandwich.

[bennette]

No one tried the kids' desserts? Having read gonetodisneyland's review and seen their pics I think that pulled pork sandwich is calling my name. But then I want the ice cream sandwich.

One does what one can (purely in the interest of others) but there was birthday cake. Not even if could eat more after that. And alas, it was too hot outside for more than one adult beverage so I still have the botanical gin and tonic on my list.

[CariBelle]

Has anyone received and used WoC passes recently?

[MammaSilva]

We did on our trip in August and it was amazing. They were firm on the 2fer thing, either an ap and an entree or an entree or dessert but were totally willing to work with us with Missys choices. The viewing area was awesome.

[CariBelle]

Thanks MS! I hate dealing with the crowds for this show, but it was requested by both friends that will be with me so I knew I had to do something and this all works out nicely!

[MammaSilva]

They offered us 'down in front' aka the splash zone or further back where she wouldn't get wet or the HCA viewing area, so I'm sure that will work well. Just an idea, I'm not sure which day you plan to do this but we've found thru experience that the 2nd show is usually less crowded and the wait to be 'loaded' into the viewing area is a lot shorter. The preferred area has it's only special line up spot and it was printed on our fast pass. We didn't even head to the area til 30 minutes out as opposed to the 2 hours for the early show

[CariBelle]

We are going on a Sunday and will see the second show for the exact reasons you posted!