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Mama Della’s Ristorante at Universal Orlando Review

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In February, my mom and I stayed two nights at Universal Orlando’s Portofino Bay Hotel. While there, we had the pleasure of eating at Mama Della’s Ristorante for dinner once and breakfast twice. I will be posting a full review of the hotel soon, but I thought I would do a separate post on the food here.

Mama Della's Ristorante

Mama Della’s Ristorante

For those who don’t know, Mama Della’s Ristorante is one of several Italian restaurants found at Universal’s Portofino Bay Hotel. It currently serves breakfast (7 AM to 11 AM/12 PM) and dinner (5 PM to 10 PM) while being closed for lunch. It is a nice sit down restaurant. However, it’s a step below the uber fancy (and even pricier) Bice.

Over the course of our stay, I was able to eat here three times. So, I think I can give a good overall review of the place. First up is breakfast! Then, I will cover dinner!

Breakfast

We ate here both mornings of our stay at Portofino Bay Hotel. The first morning, we tried the buffet. We are a sucker for a good breakfast buffet. Priced at $30/adult, it wasn’t too much more expensive than ordering from the menu. They had a good assortment of items on the buffet. I tried two different fruit juices, but wasn’t a big fan of either one. I keep trying biscuits and gravy at UO but it never meets my expectations. The French toast and pancakes were fine. I always enjoy trying the different pastries on the breakfast buffets at the resorts. The highlight of this meal was the oatmeal with fun toppings! I had never seen candy and sprinkles as oatmeal toppings, so I had to try it. It was actually pretty good!

The second day we ordered from the menu. I selected the Italian French Toast and was not disappointed. The brioche bread was the perfect foundation for the Italian pastry cream, banana, and Nutella. It was definitely a sweet way to start my day! I probably needed a side of protein if this was supposed to power me through a park day though. It was good, but I couldn’t finish it.

Personally, I preferred the French toast to the buffet. If I go back, I will definitely choose it over the buffet. You can see photos of what all I sampled in the pictures in my Instagram post below.

Dinner

Given that we were planning to eat here on a Saturday night, I made a dining reservation just to ensure we were able to eat here during our stay. We already had dinner plans at Finnegan’s Bar and Grill for the Float Ride and Dine on Sunday. I was happy I had made the reservation as we didn’t have to wait long for our table.

The meal begins with a lovely bread basket. I really enjoyed trying the different breads. The accompanying butter and garlic was a nice touch. My mom chose the lasagna as her entree and seemed happy with it. It was a pretty good sized serving too. I got the chicken parmesan and was served a huge helping of chicken! I ate only about half of it, but it was really tasty. The pasta was just ok. The broccoli was basic. The real star was the chicken.

Towards the end of our meal, some performers started going around the restaurant. It was nice to hear live music while eating. I wish they had started earlier in our meal since we had to leave to watch the Mardi Gras parade. However, it was a nice touch. Overall, it was a nice meal.

Is Mama Della’s worth it?

I think you have to try Mama Della’s Ristorante at least once if you are staying at Portofino Bay Hotel. I think it does a nice job of immersing you into the Italian theme. The music at dinner was a great touch! If you are looking for something a little less fancy, there is a quick service restaurant that looks good too! Also, I highly recommend grabbing some gelato from the Gelateria for dessert!

So, have you ever eaten here? What did you think?

Chef Mickey’s Character Dinner Review

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Back in February, my mom and I enjoyed Chef Mickey’s character dinner at the Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World. We used a table service credit to dine here, so I thought I would share if we thought it was worth it.

Chef Mickey's Character Dinner

Chef Mickey’s Character Dinner

My mom and I first ate here years ago. Since then, my mom has brought it up several times. My mom loves character dining and enjoys the options of a buffet. It just so happens that most character meals are a great use of a dining plan table service credit. So, since we had the plan this trip and we attended the Magic Kingdom After Hours Event, it seemed like a good time to dine here again for dinner.

For those who don’t know, this is a character buffet meal located at the Contemporary Resort. That makes it walking distance to Magic Kingdom and a great dinner option for an After Hours Event. It costs $66/adult for dinner, which makes it excellent use of a dining credit! We also got some adult beverages, which further increased the value. Although, I always wish I had just gotten a fancy milkshake or smoothie as the drinks at Disney are too strong for me.

The Characters

Given that it’s called Chef Mickey’s, it’s no surprise that the characters here are all dressed like chefs! We had an early dinner reservation and subsequently saw the characters in a rapid fire fashion as they came out. First up, was Goofy, followed by Pluto. Then, we saw Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse himself! Lastly, we saw Minnie Mouse. The staff here are great at making sure everyone meets every character as we had two cast members ask us if we had seen everyone. That doesn’t happen at every meal, so I appreciated that touch.

Most character meals tend to be loud and boisterous. This is no different. I think the location of the restaurant in the middle of the resort makes it a touch louder though. Nonetheless, it’s a fun time if you enjoy meeting characters.

The Food

As this is a buffet meal, the food is plentiful with lots of options. I enjoyed the Asian noodles, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, salad, pasta, and salmon. The breadstick was dry and a little hard. I will admit none of these are particularly exciting dishes or groundbreaking. So, if you are looking for something a little different or perhaps a better quality, then I recommend looking elsewhere.

I will say that I enjoyed trying the various desserts. I probably should have looked prior to starting as I quickly filled up my plate. I really enjoyed the cannoli tart with Chef Mickey’s chocolate on top. I also enjoyed a strawberry lemonade mini cake. There was also a cookies and cream dessert that I liked. The mini Minnie and Donald cupcakes looked adorable, but were pretty basic. The warm apple crisp was also basic but nice.

Overall, the food was ok. I wouldn’t visit for the food alone.

Is Chef Mickey’s Character Dinner Worth It?

As with any character meal, it’s expensive. I think it’s definitely worth a table service credit though. Honestly, I would be very hesitant to pay $66 for it out of pocket. The food was fine but not amazing. The characters were cute but a little rushed. If you have kids or a character lover in your party, then it’s probably a hit. If you have adults with a refined palate and no need for characters, you can probably save your money to eat elsewhere.

Have you ever eaten here?

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Review

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Having recently given my opinion on the Gran Destino Tower, I thought I would do an overall review of Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort!

Disney's Coronado Springs Resort

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

As a quick refresher, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is a sprawling moderate resort at Walt Disney World. Its decor has touches of Spanish, Mexican, and Southwest American flair. There’s even a conference center here! It also boasts a surprising number of restaurants!

Standard Room

On my very first trip to Walt Disney World in 2014, my mom and I stayed in a standard room here. I loved the pretty turquoise color used in 2014, but the current theme is nice as well. The rooms here are comfortable and lovely. They are perfect for an adults only trip.

Pros

  • Lovely theme – This resort has a romantic theme that would be great for a couples getaway.
  • Recently refurbished – You know the rooms should be nice here as they have been refurbished in the past several years.
  • Lots of food options – Since this resort hosts conventions, it has more than the average number of food options on site. So, you don’t have to leave the resort to eat.
  • Awesome pool – I know lots of people love the main pool here with its gigantic pyramid!
  • Quieter – If you aren’t staying during a convention or sports event, it tends to be a quiet place.
  • On-site perks – I love the free park transportation and 60 days advance dining reservations that staying on-site provides.

Cons

  • Large layout – This is my biggest gripe about most of the moderate resorts at Walt Disney World. They are huge! This can make for a long walk at the end of a long day.
  • Multiple bus stops – There’s only bus transportation available here and there’s multiple bus stops around the resort. So, pack your patience when you stay here.
  • Simple theme – While I think the theme is beautiful, it’s not too exciting for kids. There aren’t many Disney touches around this resort.
  • Crowds – I urge you to consult crowd calendars for sports events and/or conventions before booking here. We got lucky because we were staying in between cheer and dance competitions. However, we got to see big crowds leaving on our arrival day and big ones arriving when we were departing.

Is Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort worth it?

While I love the Gran Destino tower here, I don’t intend on spending money to stay in a regular part of the resort again unless I get a good deal. I love the Skyliner access at Pop Century or the small size of the French Quarter. However, it is a good resort. It would really come down to preferences and price for me.

So, have you ever stayed here? What did you think?

Crystal Palace Character Breakfast Review

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Back in October, my husband and I enjoyed the Crystal Palace character breakfast in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World! Today, I am sharing our review of that experience.

Crystal Palace Character Breakfast

Crystal Palace Character Breakfast

My husband and I grew up watching Winnie the Pooh cartoons and movies. I’ve been lucky enough to meet Pooh and friends a couple of times. However, my husband hasn’t been with me on those prior trips to Disney. We initially had this meal booked for a March 2020 trip. However, that trip was cancelled due to Covid when the resort shut down. We’ve been slowly making up reservations from that trip with each return visit, including trying Topolino’s Terrace Character Breakfast on this trip as well. So, I was tickled to finally check off Crystal Palace with my husband so he could meet these characters!

For those who don’t know, Crystal Palace is a greenhouse-inspired with Victorian touches restaurant right off Main Street in the Magic Kingdom. It features a buffet and Winnie the Pooh characters!

Breakfast Food

I booked a late breakfast reservation for 10:15 AM. Breakfast is cheaper than lunch and dinner, at $48/adult vs $61/adult. However, as with my Tusker House Breakfast Review, they start switching out the food from breakfast to lunch around 10:45 AM. So, we got to enjoy a little bit of both meals for the price of breakfast!

The one item they are known for here during breakfast is the churro Mickey waffles! I made sure to grab one as soon as I hit up the buffet to make sure I didn’t miss it. It’s a sweet, cinnamon waffle that’s unique as most other locations only serve regular Mickey waffles. So, if you are looking for a character meal with a little bit different menu, this may be a good spot. You can view more of my food in the Instagram post below.

The Characters

Being two grown adults, my husband and I try not to take too much of the characters’ time. This was a pretty fast character meal though. First up was Piglet. He’s so pink and cute! Next up, it was Tigger who is a brighter orange than you would think. Then, it was Eeyore! He was extra cute as he came up behind my seated husband and played a bit of peek-a-boo with him. Haha! That was probably the stand out memory from this meal. I loved the pictures I managed to get of my husband and Eeyore.

Currently, Winnie the Pooh does not come around to the tables to meet you. You get in line to meet him at the end of your meal, before you leave the restaurant. Thankfully, we didn’t have to wait too long to meet him. There’s a cast member there to take photos, which made it the only character photo we got together. I thought it was a nice touch.

Is Crystal Palace character breakfast worth it?

As with any character meal, it’s an expensive meal. Aside from the much hyped churro waffles, I wouldn’t say any of the food stood out. However, you don’t really go here for the food. Besides, the food options in Magic Kingdom can be lackluster anyways. If you are a fan of Pooh and friends, then this is a great option. If you are looking for a sit down breakfast at MK, then it’s also not a bad idea. I wouldn’t recommend this place for someone on a tight budget though.

So, have you enjoyed the Crystal Palace character breakfast?

Cabana Bay Beach Resort Review

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In December, my mom and I stayed in a standard tower room at Cabana Bay Beach Resort during the Universal Orlando portion of our trip. Today, I’m sharing a review of that experience as well as my thoughts on the resort as a whole.

Cabana Bay Beach Resort

Cabana Bay Beach Resort

Last year, I reviewed the family suite at this resort. For my third stay here, we booked a standard room. Unfortunately, a regular room wasn’t ready when we checked in. So, they gave us a tower room with a bit of a view of Volcano Bay (the waterpark).

As you may recall, CB is a Value Resort at Universal Orlando. This means it’s in the same category as Universal’s Endless Summer Resorts, which I reviewed previously. Previously, it was considered a Prime Value, but it has been downgraded to a Value with the addition of the Stella Nova and Terra Luna coming in 2025. It offers only bus transportation to the parks and doesn’t come with free express passes. It features a retro 50/60’s vibe with lots of fun little touches.

Standard Room

My mom continues to enjoy the retro vibes of this resort. I think it makes her feel nostalgic. The beds were moderately comfortable. One huge complaint I have about this resort is the water pressure. It’s not enough for the shower or the toilet to work properly. Universal really needs to work on that. Overall, it was a comfortable enough room, considering we got a passholder discount and were there for only two nights.

Bayside Tower

While we had a standard two queen room, it was situated in the Bayside Tower. I have mixed feelings on the tower. While the tower itself seemed quieter than the building, the view of the waterpark made for a loud stay during the day. The drums that beat and the music that plays at the beginning of the day woke me up the one morning that we were sleeping in. Additionally, we could hear music playing during the day when we were napping. The noise is one of the reasons I recommend getting a white noise machine and/or a standard view at hotels. The other problem is the distance from the lobby and transportation. It’s quite the walk with all of your luggage or at the end of a long day.

Food Options

Given that this is a Value resort, there’s only quick service options here. There’s the main Bayliner Diner food court that serves the bulk of you what you can get here. I recommend the half chicken for dinner from here. I like to grab a smoothie and a croissant sandwich from Shakes Malt Shoppe for breakfast. There’s also the Galaxy Bowl Restaurant, Swizzle Lounge, two pool bars, and a Starbucks here. Unfortunately, if you want a nicer sit-down meal, you’ll have to head to the parks or City Walk.

Pros

  • Free park transportation – Again, free park transportation is one of the main reasons I tend to stay on property at UO and Disney.
  • Early park admission – Hotel guests can enter a certain park 1 hour early.
  • More affordable – We got a great passholder deal on this room of around $150/night!
  • Pool – CB has the largest pool on property and even has a lazy river!
  • Bowling alley – Fitting the retro theme, there’s even a bowling alley at this resort! It would make a great non-park day activity.
  • Lots of room options – There’s interior entry rooms in the main buildings as well as the towers. There’s also several exterior entry rooms available as well as family suites.

Cons

  • No sit down restaurant – For some families, this may be fine. For others, it may be a disappointment.
  • Bus only transportation – It’s not really feasible to walk over to Sapphire Falls to take the boat to the parks here. Although, there is a 20 minute garden walk path over to the parks.
  • Low water pressure – In fact, when we moved over to Disney I was actually impressed with their water pressure. That’s how low the pressure is here.
  • Can be crowded – Given how large the resort is, it can be a crowded resort. Additionally, sometimes groups or teams may stay here.
  • Distance – Given how many rooms this resort has, it’s spread out as far as UO resorts go. Depending on where you are staying, it may be a bit of a hike to the bus and/or lobby.

Should you stay at Cabana Bay Beach Resort?

If you want a good value on the hotel or need a quieter family suite, then this is an excellent resort. In fact, I know lots of people consider this one of their favorite resorts. It’s usually more affordable and has plenty of room options. If you want a classier theme, quieter resort, express passes included, or boat transportation, then you will want to consider a different resort. Have you stayed at Cabana Bay?