Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant

The Sci-Fi Dine-in Theater was some of the best food my family had while staying at the Walt Disney Resort. The main theming for the restaurant is based on a 1950s drive-in movie theater. You sit in replicas of classic cars that are your booths, and  face a movie screen that shows old B movies, trailers, and cartoon shorts. AWESOME!!  As you look around you see lighted buildings, and a twilight landscape painted and light on the walls. One of the greatest touches I thought was that the kitchen was made to look like a concession stand.  These little touches made it fun for any of us who may have ever been to a drive in (maybe not in their golden age but before they started to close them down), the only thing missing was the occasional honk of a horn.
I had little in the way of expectations for the food. I believed it was a gimmick restaurant and like most the food would be boring, bland, or just plain bad. I was wrong. The food was delicious. You could get yourself an old stand by like a burger and waffle fries made with incredible ingredients, they also had other dining fare that you would never have been able to get at the drive-in theater. I myself had to get the Memphis style ribs after being told thy had a smoker on site (really how can you not order fresh smoked ribs? YUM!). They came with a side of baked beans and coleslaw it made for a great and filling meal. I topped this off with what they called a shake ( I called it soft-serve with a straw but it was very good soft-serve ice cream).

You must make reservations for this restaurant as soon as you can or you will not be able to get in. They don't offer walk in service. The front staff was friendly and courteous. They got us a table fast and gave us options on what we would like to sit in. The server was great as well. Knowledgeable about the food, funny, and showed up only as you were about to need him. It was definitely a difference from some of the other places we the at.

Basically I am saying if you can get a reservation you would be very foolish not to, take the family to this establishment for some fun. It is a definite memory maker that your family will talk about (my 4 year old was telling his best friend about it). If you can't tell I definitely recommend this place!

5 Fave Friday Dream Vacations

  

Ok this week’s 5 fave Friday list is……favorite places that I dream about going. We all have those moments when we stare out the window and just want to transport to someplace else. Here is my list:

5.) Greece. I am a huge history buff and going somewhere that is steeped in history and the setting for such great mythological stories just gets my juices going. I also LOVE Greek food. Gyros, pasta, lamb, olives MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM. The only thing I don’t much care for is ouzo (I just don’t like l the black licorice taste). I feel kind of bad because I really kind of mash up the Mediterranean countries but if pressed to pick one to visit it would probably be that one. Sadly at the time of this blog post they are in the midst of a huge economic crisis. Then again so is the rest of the globe, pass the spanakopita.

Yep they land right over a beach

4.) Sint/Saint Maartin/Martin. This island in the eastern Caribbean has both Dutch and French influences because both countries have shared the island for a long time. It is pretty, white beaches look like someone sprinkled baby powder by the water and, again, it just feels like they have great history. Only one problem was I visited on a cruise ship so there was just a wave of tourists that flooded the town. Also check out the rum and guavaberry liquor distilleries. They give out fruity tasting samples.

3.) Vietnam. This place has always seemed so very exotic and a truly ancient place where it wouldn’t be out of the norm to see Indiana Jones step out of a Pho restaurant. A blend of Asian and French melted together to create a culture uniquely their own. A few years ago I had heard that there was a tour company that started up there for accessible travels through Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia (complete with modified scooters capable of taking on a wheelchair. Sounds amazingly cool.

2.) Australia. Who doesn’t dream about going there? It has what can be best described as an old wests feel when you venture out to the outback. Some great natural monuments (Uluru, and the Great Barrier Reef) that  lay inside or just off the coast. Very cool architecture in the city and a great vibe as most of their cities have modernized for past Olympic Games, and other international events. It seems like a different world from where I live.

1.) Hawaii. This is a jewel in the Pacific. The different islands offer just about everything you can think of in activities. There are literally miles and miles of sandy warm beaches. Hiking, star gazing, sailing, snorkeling and scuba diving, clubbing, shopping, farmers markets, and food. You can be a tourist and visit Pearl Harbor to pay your respects. You can go to Kauai and get away from the massive sprawl of Honolulu. You can even see an active volcano eject molten rock, or go experience a luau. In short this is the place I would like to be most of the time.

Honorable mention:

*Panama Canal. One of the biggest modern marvels of the world. How could you not want to see a river/lake complex that cuts across the land and goes from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean?

5 Fav Friday

I started trying to do this once before and it just made me sad for not traveling. I am going to buck up and try it again, because I can always come up with 5 favorites. This week 5 favorite places I have eaten (or dreamed of eating) on vacation right after I have gotten off the plane. This is not the best food, nor is it the fanciest. We have all gotten off the airplane ravenous and because airline food is just nasty we have grabbed a quick bite. Here are mine:

5. Ivar's Seafood - Seattle Tacoma International Airport. Simply put it has something other than Pizza, Burgers, or mall Mexican or Chinese. This place has been making food since 1938 and was on a Frommers best list. We usually fly in at night around dinner (or a bit later) so I go get a bowl of clam chowder, and my son will eat anything that he can dip (fish and chips with Tatar sauce applies).

4. Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill located in Disney's California Adventure was one of those places that we discovered after a long foodless flight. We were going to go to one of the nicer eateries but the lines were to long, and really the last thing my wife and I wanted to do was sit inside. (Forgot to mention that we came from rainy Seattle to mid 60's Anaheim and were treated to the first sun we had seen in a while). Not the best Mexican food (rates about on par with Qdoba Mexican Grill), but the first time we went there it just hit the spot. Plus the food is very kid friendly and it is outside so the birds can get a meal off of what your kiddo drops. If you are looking for another alternative Taste Pilots Grill in DCA is also worth a shot (burgers, ribs, fries...) or if you happen to be in Disneyland try Cafe Orleans where some of the Blue Bayou food can be found to go. Really I do not work for Disney, I just like going there and having fun.

3. Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport, at the airport in Orlando (huh, imagine that). OK this could be the jet lag talking but my wife and I took the red eye and got to Orlando as a jump off for a cruise. I do not think either of us had been that tired and hungry in a long time. We had a very nice bellman take our bags and gently guide us to their restaurant where we were served a very delightful breakfast of fruit, waffles, and eggs (and coffee for me). Then the same bellman came back to get us as our room was done several hours early and he said we looked like we needed sleep. Fantastic service!!

2.) The Rio Buffet- Las Vegas, Nevada. This was the first meal we had right after my then fiance and I got settled in to our room. We were in Vegas to get married and or best person (who had to Vegas many times) treated us to the Rio. It was good and there was (as promised) tons of different things to gorge yourself on. We had far superior food at the Bellagio buffet but the Rio will always have a special place in my heart.


That leads to numero Uno!!

1.) Tropical Taco in beautiful Hanalei, Kauai, Hawaii. I have sang this song on other posts but this is the best fish taco I have eaten. I am in an area that has really good Mexican food and this little taco stand just blows the doors off them all. It could be the fresh caught fish, or the hand made guacamole, or the fact that they make it to order. Maybe it is the simplicity of it all. This would be one of the things I would ask for in my last meal.

So now that I have told you my faves. Tell me some of yours bu leaving a comment.

Amazing delights of Paradise

As you might have gathered from some of my past blogs, when I am on vacation I like to try the local restaurants. My trip to Kauai was no different. We went all over the island trying some old favorites, and some new places recommended by fellow travelers and locals. I find that if you want the really good places try what the locals like, and also look for the hole in the walls that have no parking spaces. This can mean that there are some good things to be found.....or that it has really bad service.

Bad food or mediocre service wasn't something that I had to worry about on this trip. Whether it was the delicious fish taco that I had at Tropical Taco in Hanalei, or the fancy meal I had at Keoki's Paradise. The food was always fresh and tasty, and the atmosphere was family friendly and ready to assist us in any way. We never got any trouble for being the couple with the wheelchair and the toddler. In fact we opted to get a sitter one night and go to Kieko's Paradise only to see that they welcomed guests with kids (although at the prices I am not sure I would ever take a toddler there).

Let me give a run down of my favorite places for dine in or take out from this and my last trip.

South Island:

Bubba's Burgers is a local institution that serves some very good burgers. The Kapaa one we ate at had a no frills seating area, and a counter that overlooked the street so we could watch the tourist and locals shop and go about the day. Lets just say a good burger and people watching made this a nice place to go, especially is you have a pick eater.

Poipu Tropical Burgers is a family style restaurant that serves breakfast lunch and dinner. This is the type of place that my wife, son, and I could find something we truly wanted to eat. We went there for brunch, and dinner. They have great pancakes, good eggs, and nice crispy bacon. I also had the fish and chips there and can say for a place that has a little of everything on their menu it they were pretty good. The service is what makes this place nice. They had a place ready for us by the window, and the crayons and graham crackers were at the ready for my hungry toddler. It can be difficult to find parking at the Poipu Shopping Center where it is located so make sure you add some extra time.

And since I am on the topic of the Poipu Shopping Center, we ate at two other places there (Pukadog, and Papalani Gelato)

Pukadog specializes in hot dogs with exotic toppings such as mango, pineapples, and other types of relish (traditional toppings are there as well). You basically get to customize your own Polish or Veggie dog. It wasn't my favorite place but my son liked the veggie dog with mango salsa (it is very sweet with just a hint of salty from the hot dog.

Panalini Gelato was a nice treat. If you have never had gelato Hawaii is a good place to try it. It is a creamy Italian ice cream with some unique flavors. They did a respectable job and the staff was very friendly. I guess I just preferred the shave ice at Pono Hale Family Restaurant.

Keoki's Paradise is a more upscale restaurant great for taking that special someone on a nice date. If you get there before 5 you can have an opportunity to take advantage of half portions and chef specials. I had a petite fillet Mignon and lobster with a nice salad and yummy ice cream pie to split with my wife. Cap that with a few good drinks and it made the splurge for the babysitter that much more worth it.

North Island:

Tropical Taco I will not lie to you. This is the reason we traveled to the north shore of Kauai. They have the best fish tacos I have ever had. Fresh caught, fresh cooked, simple ingredients make this something I crave even when I am off island. My son isn't a big fish eater so he had a fantastic bean burrito which was the size of his head and which he made short work of. It is also nice to walk around Hanalei afterwards because you just never know what you will find there. Cap off the experience with shave ice and you can hit the beach satisfied.

West side:

This is where we ate the most and is the mid point between Hanalei/Princeville in the north, and Poipu/Koloa/Port Allen in the south.

Brick Oven Pizza has two locations (Kapaa, and Kalehio). We ate at the one in Kapaa which was clean friendly, and didn't balk at the wheelchair and toddler as we came through the door. They greeted my son with a dough ball to play with and had no problems with our pizza choice (mushroom and Portuguese sausage). It was delicious, really some of the best I have had. If you are looking for a place were you can catch a game (several big screen TVs showing different sports), get a good drink, and be family friendly. You would be hard pressed to get a better place.

Mema Thai Chinese Cuisine, first I will say that this wasn't bad food. I think that they keep the spiciness down because this place does a ton of tourist business (take out mostly). I live in an area that has really great Asian food so when I say this is pretty good food it means something. Just make sure that you ask for a little extra spice, and try the pineapple fried rice YUM!!

Ono Family Restaurant. Big portions of good fresh food make this family style place a must if you are in the area. The topper is they have a shave ice booth just outside that has the BEST shave ice on the island (i mean it there was a vote).

Eggberts  This is a standard for us as a breakfast and lunch restaurant. It is located in the Coconut Market Place and is what I look for in a restaurant. Cheap and Cheerful. It is kid friendly has tons of choices on the menu and you do not have to be dress up. Just don't go in there and ask for a fruit plate. This is a classic breakfast joint and they want you to enjoy yourself with their excellent fair. Try the banana pancakes with coconut syrup. Makes me hungry just thinking about it.

I will add more places on to this post so if you are going to Kauai check in every now and again for my reviews.

Free to Be

It's a funny thing, vacation. You save up your money, you plan, you research, and then when you finally get to your destination, almost inevitably there's someone in your group who will say "So this is it?". That's when you need to think about activities you can do in addition to the primary purpose or destination of your vacation.

I've done a lot of trips, and we've done a lot of research. The one thing that I'm proud to say is that when we do a destination trip, such as our upcoming Disneyland vacation, we usually have researched the subject enough to have come up with some alternative ideas, in the event we get restless. You may think that there's nothing else to do in the greater Anaheim area, but that's not the case.

If you decide you've just had enough of the parks (and who doesn't get to that point, sooner or later), you can rent a car and in less than an hour be on a beautiful sandy beach overlooking the ocean. You can head to San Diego for history, or LA for glamour. You can catch some nature by exploring the state parks in the area, and maybe get a little outdoor recreation in too.

Citysearch.com is a great tool in these instances, and it's something that you can access easily at the last minute, even while you're away. If you don't want to bring a laptop or smart phone, check with the concierge at your hotel -- you might get some suggestions that only a local would know. Talk to other vacationers or staff members. What are their favorite places to go when they are in town, or in the area? Where do they like to eat, that is off the beaten path? They may not initially want to share their "secrets" with you, but if you're polite (and persistent) you may find some hidden gems.

In short, be open to being spontaneous. While traveling with a disability requires pre-planning and research, it does not require an itinerary that is set in stone. Be flexible and have fun -- this is your vacation after all, and you've definitely earned it!

Will that be paper or plastic?

So I am now about thirty days out from my trip to Disneyland. We have received the itinerary it has been mailed to us by the wonderful Mary at AAA Travel (she puts stickers on it so it is very festive when we receive it) and now it is time to do some of the logistic work to make the trip smooth sailing.

With this in mind I have a couple of tips that we have found very useful. #1 is the Disney gift card. This was dropped into my brain by some very hardcore Disney-o-philes a few years ago. If you are on a budget (and who isn't) it will make you stick to it. Disney gift cards make carrying cash, credit cards, or travelers checks unnecessary as they can be used at most places in a the parks as well as around most of the Disney owned hotels. You can get these nifty little cards at any Disney Store, or at the parks or online. I have been told that if you lose them they can be reissued (although you need the directions from the back of the card so make a copy). If you have kids who want some independence in their spending you can get specific amounts and dole them out as the trip goes on (perhaps on a per day basis). This would allow you to make limits on the amounts they have without stifling them. And when its gone, its gone.

What we have done is figure out a per day amount of money for food multilpy it by the amount of days we are there and then split it between two cards. This allows one of us to find a place to set while the other goes and places the order. Also important to know is that most of the Downtown Disney places will not take it as they are all independent from the park itself (except the World of Disney Store they do take it).

I will be giving out a tip or thing of interest every day as part of National Blog Posting Month. Tomorrow maybe transportation :)