Grand Floridian Resort and Spa and a Dinner Filled with Many "Characters"

The past week, I was at possibly the “Happiest Place on Earth,” Walt Disney World. Although this was my fifth trip to Disney World, the excitement for me was still there. I don’t know if it’s the great customer service, the thrilling rides, unique resorts, entertaining character meals, or all the fantastic characters, but something about Walt Disney World makes me so jubilant. On this trip, we decided to stray away from Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort and try a new deluxe resort called the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. Now let me tell you that this resort was amazing. When you first glance at it, it has a very neat and luxurious Victorian charm. This huge resort is very clean, spacious, and very well kept.  The Victorian theme was prevalent throughout and the employees or “cast members” were so helpful from check in to check out.

The Rooms

We booked a lagoon view room that had 2 queen beds and a sofa. Our room also had a partial view of the Magic Kingdom, more specifically Cinderella’s’ Castle. Now the rooms were OK. They we clean and well kept, but it just seemed a little out dated. After seeing the resorts opulent lobby, a little more luxury was expected in the hotel rooms. However, the rooms were big and the beds were comfy. The only complaint I had with the room was that it was near the water so literally all day and night we heard the horns of boats passing by constantly. However, this was just a minimal inconvenience.

The Service

Possibly the best impression that this resort left on me was the fact that once our Magical Express Bus arrived to the hotel from the airport, a concierge/check-in desk representative personally greeted us upon arrival and escorted us to the main lobby to get checked in. That was pretty cool if you ask me. Another thing that I really found to be very convenient was the check out service. The resort offered a baggage service that allowed us to print our boarding passes as well as check in our bags all the way to our final destination. What I mean by this is that we basically checked in our bags at the hotel, and didn’t see them until we got to our home airport’s baggage claim. This service was so helpful and hassle free that essentially allowed us to skip the checking in process at the airport and skip right to the security check in area.

Dining Options

Now to the good part- the food. This resort is home to Disney World’s finest restaurant, Victoria and Alberts. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the proper attire (suit jacked and slacks) so I couldn’t make a reservation to dine there.  However, there were other good options that I tried.

Grand Floridian Café

The first place I tried was the Grand Floridian Café. This casual sit down restaurant offered a simple menu of delicious fare. The first time I went here, I tried the Shrimp and Grits. The shrimp was plentiful and the grits were creamy and flavorful. This dish truly was a very nice meal. Now the next night, we ate here again and I tried the Grand Floridian Burger. Now this burger was possibly one of the best burgers I’ve ever had in my life- honestly. This juicy burger was topped with red onion marmalade, fresh grilled onions, a special lettuce, and juicy, succulent lobster meat. It was fantastic. Our waiter was also pretty cool. Although during our second visit to this café we had a different waitress, our waiter from the previous night came over to greet and conversate with us for a little bit. It was a very nice touch.

1900 Park Fare

My best meal experiences occurred at the popular 1900 Park Fare.  This is one of the few restaurants on Disney property that had a character breakfast. The character breakfast featured Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Alice from Alice in Wonderland, and the Mad Hatter. All the characters came around to each table and spent individual time with us to pose for pictures and conversate. This meal here was also pretty good. The breakfast was a buffet that featured a carving station, Mickey Mouse Waffles, pancakes, eggs, fresh fruits, breakfast pastries and breads, lobster eggs benedict, smoked salmon potatoes and more. It was honestly one of the better breakfast meals that I enjoyed at Walt Disney World.  This restaurant also featured a dinner buffet called 1900 Park Fare Cinderella Happily Ever After Dinner. Now let me tell you, this restaurant is one of the those places that you have to make a reservation months in advance just to get a table, but lucky me, I was able to go to the extremely helpful concierge desk and make reservations for the next night. I truly was SO lucky.  This character dinner was one of the best dinners I’ve ever experience at Walt Disney World. Not because of the food which was quite mediocre at best, but primarily for the character interaction. First of all, I got to meet and take pictures with Cinderella and other guest posed with Prince Charming. But second of all, I got to have long and interesting conversations with the Evil Step Mother and the Step Sisters. Let me tell you, these characters were something else. They were loud, obnoxious, funny, and so similar to characters in the movies. The Evil Step Mother came to our table and started telling me how wonderful her daughters were and that I should choose on of them to marry. She then grabbed me and escorted me across the dining hall to show me her available daughter. Then each sister came to the table to pose for picturing while also interrogating me to see if I was “husband material.” They then capped off the conversation with “Mother, I found my husband!” This was a very funny experience that I had so much fun with and I believe this kind of thing happens to all “available” men at the table. So ladies, watch out! Overall, this was a great restaurant filled many characters and fun, unique interactions throughout out. Highly recommended.

Cinderella <3

Step Sister 1...Future Wife?

Alice in Wonderland

The Buffet

Pastries...yum

Step Sister 2...Future Wife?

Just Food....and the Smoked Salmon that I loved

Evil Step Mother....Future Mother In-Law? 

Tigger :)

Mad Hatter...I like his nose

Cinderella

Dining Room

Gasparilla Grill and Games


This was one of the food places that I couldn't live without on my trip. This 24/7 quick service restaurant offered great croissant sandwiches for breakfasts, burgers, fries, sandwiches, and rice for lunch and dinner, and creamy soft serve ice cream and pastries all day and night. It was truly so convenient.





The Complaints

Now I do have one huge complaint with the resort- the Wi-Fi. You see I’m a huge techie so I always need my phone, laptop, or iPad around me. Unfortunately the Wi-Fi signal at this hotel was awful. I could barely connect to it and when I did, the signal lasted for a measly 2 minutes. At first I thought it was just the signal in my particular building, so I went to the main lobby to try it out. However, the Wi-Fi still sucked.  However, this problem was resolved when I called the front desk and they added my devices’ IP addresses to the resorts internet connection. 

Final Thoughts

So overall, other than terrible Wi-Fi connection, this was possibly my favorite of all the Disney Resorts that I had the privilege of staying at. I would definitely be returning to the Grand Floridian the next time I take another great vacation to possibly my favorite vacation destination in the U.S., Walt Disney World.

Until next time Walt and Mickey!

The Best Restaurants and Buffets in Las Vegas

If you are like me, then you are probably a huge foodie. And in my opinion, there’s no better place to experience some fantastic dishes and unique cuisines than in the dazzling city of Las Vegas. “Whether you love the traditional burgers and fries or you prefer the Wagyu Beef and caviar, Las Vegas has it all.  From casual and quick eats to buffets and fine dining, there’s a place for you.  Carla Pellegrino, Charlie Palmer, Wolfgang Puck, Joel Robuchon, Michael Mina, Bobby Flay and Batali Bartollota- you name it and Vegas has it. This is possibly one of the greatest places for foodies and gourmet indulgers.  So don’t be shy, go ahead and try it all!” – Under 21 Guide to Las Vegas

Well in case you were wondering, you can find the best buffets, casual restaurants, fine dining establishments, and more, all in my new eBook, the Under 21 Guide to Las Vegas. In this guide you will find the best attractions, restaurants, shopping, spas, outdoor activities, and shows that are great for those less than 21 years old.  You see, I understand that there are many guidebooks out there about Las Vegas, but unfortunately they truly only focus on the people who can gamble, party, drink, etc…Some guidebooks do talk about kids in Las Vegas but they are missing that one particular group, the 18-20 crowd.  That’s why it is my goal to provide you with the best information to help you make the most out of your Las Vegas trip.  From little kids to young adults, this book is the ultimate guide for the under 21 crowd. I even hid a few little surprises and secrets. So let’s find those surprises. Come on in!

This is the perfect travel companion for those who are looking for a different perspective of Las Vegas, as well as a nice listing of the best casual, themed, fine, and all-you-can-eat restaurants. To enter this food haven, click HERE (of just click on the picture of the book)

Things To Do
Las Vegas

A One of a Kind Pastry Experience

It's only fitting for two world-class Five Diamond resorts to have their own World Pastry Champion. Nestled in the Aria Las Vegas and the Bellagio is Jean Philippe Patisserie. The artistic genius of Chef Jean-Philippe Maury is displayed daily at Las Vegas' first truly European-style pastry shops. You'll be welcomed into this imaginative display by a breathtaking chocolate fountain and large elegant designer cakes. Pastries, desserts, and snacks include carefully crafted chocolates, cookies, freshly made crepes, salads, sandwiches and delicious drinks. This is my favorite dessert place in all of Las Vegas. Be sure to try one of the fresh made crepes made to your order. It truly is a luscious experience that just can't be missed.

College Kid Budget: $-$$

Things To Do
Las Vegas

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Chick Fil A

Although I work at Chick Fil A, I decided that it may appropriate to review this restaurant through the eyes of an experienced Chick Fil A employee. The biggest wow factor of CFA is the service. The service is something that you would never experience elsewhere in terms of fast food restaurants. Cashiers and the front staff are very generous, polite, and helpful. Also the fact that they refer to you as a guest instead of a customer is a very nice touch. I also respect how the workers reply to a guest’s thank you with a “my pleasure” instead of a “you’re welcome” or “uh-huh.”

Now to the food. When I work at CFA, I normally bread and cook the chicken. This isn’t a glamorous job but it does tell me how important this duty is. Really this person is responsible for creating either very tender and juice chicken, or very tough and crunchy chicken with an unpleasant feeling in the mouth. What people really don’t know about CFA is that you can add cheese and vegetables to your sandwich. Honestly, this is what makes the CFA original sandwich so good. I like mine with no pickle, American cheese, and bacon strips. Plus add some Chick Fil A sauce and you got yourself a killer sandwich. Another great menu item is the breakfast platter. This little known menu item is the highlight to CFA’s breakfast. The platter comes with a biscuit, filet, eggs, and sausage gravy. It’s pretty delicious. But overall, you really can’t go wrong with anything on CFA’s menu.

Cravings Buffet at the Mirage

If you’re looking for good food choices without the steep prices, Cravings is a pretty good buffet choice. Rated by the “Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas” as the 6th best choice, Cravings, allows diners to “celebrate the art of eating in a visually appetizing scene designed by Adam Tihany and experience eleven cooking stations, a street of restaurants and an array of tempting elements.” (Mirage.com). I really enjoyed the different stations especially the gelato section and its variety. The overall atmosphere was very modern and contemporary, and the service I experienced was attentive. Overall, this is a good pretty good buffet that I will probably return to it in the near future, hungry for more.


College Kid Budget: $$

Things To Do
Las Vegas

Nacho Mamas in Baltimore Has Great Affordable Nachos

During the summer, my and I roommate took a trip to a small bar/restaurant outside of Fells Point, Md. called Nacho Mamas. My roommate has always been talking about how much he loves going to this place so I decided to finally see what all his hype was about. Now I must say when I first arrived at Nacho Mamas, I wasn’t really impressed. It just looked like a typical sports bar with limited seating and wooden booths. Plus the restaurant didn’t even have a Mexican or Hispanic theme, which is what I’d expect with a name like “Nacho.” However once I my meal arrived to the table, and I took a huge first bite, I was quite impressed. After scanning the menu, the only thing that caught my eye was these chicken nachos. I then ordered this meal expecting to have an average size portion. But boy was I wrong. The serving size of these nachos was ridiculous.  This thing honestly could’ve fed 4 people and still have leftovers. I dug in and didn’t even make a dent in the nachos. I literally tried to continue eating after I was full so that it seemed like I got my money’s worth. But I just couldn’t succeed. Despite this failure of finishing my meal, I was very satisfied with my nachos. The chicken was large and tender, the cheese was baked and stringy, the beans were beany, and the tortilla chips were warm and crispy. It was pretty good. Now the best thing about this was that it was only about ($10). Not bad if you ask me.

In terms of the restaurant’s atmosphere, it’s very dark, and sports bar like. What I mean is that people are drinking beer, talking loudly, and watching the game on the TV screens near the bar.  Also within this restaurant the Elvis theme is pervasive throughout the restaurant with many pictures and memorabilia covering the dark walls. It’s a pretty cool setting to enjoy a nice meal.

So overall, Nacho Mamas is very affordable and is a great dining option for those on a college student’s budget.

College Kid Budget: $$

Baltimore Vacations

The Grand Buffet at MGM Grand

The MGM Grand Buffet is not my favorite buffet in Las Vegas but it is satisfactory. With a name such as "Grand" Buffet, I expected to have a large selection of different food, but unfortunately selections were limited. I honestly found myself filling my stomach with plates full of mac and cheese. The quality of food was okay but the crab legs and seafood just wasn't what I expected.

The one thing that saved this fiasco of a dinner buffet was the dessert section. This section, yet small and secluded, offered some tasty pastries and desserts that I actually enjoyed. Now this wasn't amazing, but it did help me feel better about spending money on this buffet.

I must say that one good thing about this buffet is that it was kept clean and was well maintained. The staff was also fast at giving us refills and clearing our tables of plates and silverware. So overall, my experience with the service was good, but the ambiance and atmosphere was filled with noises from the casino.
I honestly must say that I will probably never go back again unless I receive a free buffet pass. But other than that, I think I'll just have to pass.

College Kid Budget: $$

Things To Do
Las Vegas

Possibly the One of the Best Korean Restaurant in the D.C. Area

If you love sushi and buffets, then boy oh boy do I have a great place for you.  Located in Alexandria, Va.,

there is a nice, family owned Korean restaurant called Heebeen. Although Heebeen does feature a menu that you can order items off of, the highlight of this restaurant is their lunch and dinner buffets. From extensive selection of authentic Korean dishes to the fresh preparation of freshly made sushi, Heebeen is the ultimate restaurant for the Korean and Asian food enthusiast. I myself love sushi, so I always try to make an effort to come here in order to fulfill my cravings. For $15, you can eat plates after plates of sushi and Korean food, a price that is well worth the money. I can’t tell you how many times I went to sushi bars or Panda Express Sushi, paying $10 for only 6 pieces of tuna sushi and California rolls. But here at Heebeen, I can stuff my face for hours at a time. Now the location is a little hectic and crowded, but once you make it to the restaurant, it will all be worth it. So overall, this is hands down my favorite Korean restaurant and it will definitely fulfill your Asian palette.

College Kid Budget: $$

So What's Gluten Free at Chick Fil A?

If you’re like me then you probably love Chick Fil A. Not only because of their great service, but mostly for their amazing chicken. Now for some of you, you may have Celiac Disease, or gluten allergies, or maybe you’re just on a gluten-free diet. In that case, it may be kind of difficult to determine which foods do an do not contain gluten. But don’t worry, I got you covered. Here is the official listing of gluten-free menu items, as verified by Chick Fil A, that you can now eat and be almost 100 percent sure that it’s gluten-free. (I say almost because there still is that small chance that someone in the kitchen cross contaminates.) You can also find this information in HERE

Entree

• Chick-fil-A® Chargrilled Chicken Filet
• Chick-fil-A® Chargrilled Chicken Garden Salad
• Chick-fil-A® Chargrilled Chicken & Fruit Salad
• Tortilla Strips

Wolfgang Puck Cafe at Downtown Disney

When I found out that Downtown Disney had a formal Wolfgang Puck restaurant, I was pretty ecstatic. Unfortunately, this excitement disappeared when I saw the menu. Although this restaurant is very nice and has a beautiful view of the lake, the food was mediocre. I ordered lobster risotto and it was actually really good. However, the portion was minimal. And for a $45 risotto, I expected a huge bowl full, but that didn't happen. My family also had the same thing happen to them. There entree's were good, but the portion was just too little. We honestly could have went downstairs to the cafe restaurant and have 4 times as much as we did for about half the price. Despite my disappointing and overpriced meal, I was very pleased with the overall service that I received at this restaurant.

So to be clear, at Downtown Disney, this restaurant is called "Wolfgang Puck Cafe." Now once you go inside, there is a very casual family friendly restaurant downstairs, and a more formal and expensive restaurant upstairs. So overall, in my opinion, the upper dining room of this restaurant is not worth the premium. As a result, I would suggest that you save your money and try the more casual restaurant downstairs. Enjoy!

College Kid Budget: $$$

Fulfill Your Barbecue Cravings with a visit to Famous Daves

The other day, I had this HUGE appetite for some barbecue. Whether it was chicken, ribs, or just the plain sauce by itself, my craving for something barbecue was immense.  As a result, I couldn't resist but to take a trip to my local barbecue joint, Famous Daves. And boy oh boy was I satisfied!

Famous Daves is one of these restaurants that I truly can't get tired of. I have found myself gorging away at their smoked meats day in and day out (well mostly like twice or three times a month). The atmosphere is very casual and the decor is greatly influenced by pork. Now in terms of food, there is one thing that I always get, the Famous Dave's All-American Feast. Now let me tell you that this is nothing shy of a feast. You get delicious ribs, brisket, barbecue baked beans, potato salad, mac and cheese, french fries, corn on the cob, warm cornbread, and barbecue baked chicken, all of which is placed on like this huge trash can lid that cover's your entire table.  I never have room for dessert so I can't really provide any comments about them, but I'm pretty sure they're good.

In terms of service at Dave's, I must say that it's attentive when needed. What I mean by this is that the waiters and waitresses are very nice and helpful, but they do know how to give you your space, especially when you are devouring your feast. Also the food comes out really fast and is very fresh and hot. So overall, the service from once you are greeted until once you leave this restaurant is very good.

So if you ever have a huge barbecue craving and are looking for great food at a very reasonable price, be sure to check out the nearest Famous Daves.

College Kid Budget: $$

Baltimore Vacations

Ohana at the Polynesian Resort in Disney World

Ohana is a very nice restaurant nestled in Disney's Polynesian Resort. I went to Ohana and truly enjoyed every aspect of this dining experience. You truly can't beat enjoying Hawaiian and Asian Pacific influenced delicacies in a very cool and relaxing atmosphere, all while being accompanied by a singing ukulele player.

In terms of the menu items, everything was pretty good. I must say that it's not fantastic but everything was cooked and seasoned very nicely. Just the fact that this restaurant was in an all-you-can eat format made the food taste better in my opinion. When you arrive at your table, your host greets you and then immediately starts bringing out the food. First we got appetizer type foods such as Asian dumplings, noodles (pretty delicious) and small tangy chicken wings. Then came the real food! Our host brought out a variety of meats on skewers such as chicken, beef, and pork. Overall, the meats were great and really filling. Then came my favorite item of the night...the dessert. I don't know what it was that I was eating but it was amazing. It was like some bread/cake/pastry with sugar coated bananas, caramel, and ice cream. But either way, I loved it.

Winning Big at Buffets...Especially in Vegas

Ahh the buffet…I truly enjoy your all-you-can-eat nature.  From your endless selection to your moderate prices, I can always leave you feeling happy and satisfied.  I especially love being in your presence in one of my favorite cities in the world, Las Vegas.

Las Vegas is a city of dazzling lights, elegant casinos, extravagant clubs, and my favorite, world class food.  For those with a huge appetite and plenty of time, buffets are the way to go.  Buffets can be found in almost every hotel and casino and the food quality can range from casual to gourmet.  For those who are willing to spend a little extra for fine dining quality foods in a buffet format, they should check out the buffet at the Wynn Las Vegas, Bellagio Buffet, and the newly opened Wicked Spoon at the Cosmopolitan. These buffets provide delicious gourmet food at a premium price.  Prices usually range from $20 to $30 for lunch and $35 to $50 a person for dinner.  So how do you win big? At most buffets in Vegas, they never close in between dinner and lunch.  This then allows hungry customers, such as yourself, to come in just as lunch is about to be over and get lunch prices.  Then if you wait for a few minutes, the buffet will start bringing out the dinner meals.  So basically, you are getting the same dinner selection, but at half the cost.  So the next time you find yourself going to a buffet in Vegas or elsewhere, make sure to go in between lunch and dinner and you will win big!

Things To Do
Las Vegas

The Wynn Buffet at Wynn Resort Las Vegas

The Wynn Buffet is arguably one of my favorite buffets in Las Vegas. From the gourmet fare to the delicious desserts, this buffet is nothing short of spectacular. The food at this buffet almost resembles eating fine dining quality food in an all you can eat format. There are also some very unique dishes that you just won’t find at any other Las Vegas buffet, such as octopus salad.  The buffet features quite a bit of live action stations such as a great pasta station that allows you to make your own past. I highly recommend doing this because it won’t disappoint. There is also a large selection of gourmet cheese, fresh fruit, unique pastas, and some melt in your mouth cheeses.  Plus if you add in the always fresh crab legs and shrimp cocktail, you got yourself a great all around buffet.  So overall, if you’re looking for delicious gourmet meals, high quality meals, and spot-on desserts, all in a very bright and upscale setting, the Wynn Buffet is your buffet of choice.

College Kid Budget: $$$

Things To Do
Las Vegas

Great Mac and Cheese and Even Better Prices

Noodles and Company is a great restaurant for noodle enthusiasts like myself. With the vast variety of noodles to choose from as well as a very affordable price, Noodles and Company is the way to go. With steep food prices at the nearby University of Maryland campus diner, the affordable prices as well as quantity of food given is a very nice change. My favorite dish is the Wisconsin Mac and Cheese (around $6) primarily because it's so simple, yet delicious and plentiful. I've tried numerous other options here but this mac and cheese is still my favorite. So overall, this is a nice little noodle shop that provides great food and affordable prices, which ultimately provides you with the most bang for your buck.

College Kid Budget: $

  

Baltimore Vacations

A Meat Lover's Paradise

Last night I took a trip to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor to check out a Brazilian restaurant called Fogo de Chao. After much hype and the huge build up from a few friends, I wanted to check it out myself. Now I must say, once I walked into the restaurant, sat down, and immediately tried some of their fresh cooked meats, I was truly blown away.

Fogo de Chao is a Brazilian restaurant that is in all you can eat format. The unique thing about it however, is that instead of you personally going out to a food station to grab your meal, servers come to you with skewers of fresh meat and cut some on a plate for you. A nice touch to this dining experience is that the servers actually have varying meat preparations. What I mean by this is that if you prefer you beef medium rare, the servers will personally go into the kitchen and bring you your meat cooked medium rare. This was very helpful, mostly because I prefer my meat medium well. Fogo de Chao also features a very impressive salad bar. With a vast selection of fresh vegetables and foreign cheeses, the salad bar will provide you with a nice alternative to the typical carnivorous fare. Overall, this restaurant resembles a five star restaurant in terms of food and service, but the fact that it’s a little more chaotic and noisy than you would expect from a fine dining establish, the restaurant seems more like an non-intimate upscale buffet.

 

 My overall experience at Fogo de Chao was very nice. The servers were attentive and the quantity and variety of meat that they brought out to you was very extensive. My personal favorite was the sausage and the filet mignon wrapped in bacon. In all honestly, almost every meat (except this pepper steak) that they brought to me was delicious.  So if you’re looking for an unlimited amount of delicious meats, fresh vegetables, foreign cheeses, and Brazilian drinks, all in a very casual yet somehow still affluent settomg, Fogo de Chao is your restaurant of choice.

College Kid Budget: $$$

Baltimore Vacations