Nine Dragons: First impressions

On our way to World Showcase’s China Pavillion, I was concerned about locating Nine Dragons, since the Asian area has a lot of little hidden entranceways toward the back. Fortunately, the restaurant can be found on the left of the archway at the pavilion’s entrance, making it easy to locate.

While the outside of the venue is pretty standard, the inside is very attractive; the music, lanterns, and the artistic wall designs are wonderful to look at. The cast members at the front desk were very attentive, helping us when some of our party was late, as well as offering a menu while we waited to be seated.

But while the restaurant itself was great to look at, the table settings were very simple in comparison; the placement mat was made of paper, and the general appearance was anything but immersive. On the plus side, however, our waiter was a very witty man and was happy to answer all of our questions. He also was quick to refill our water glasses and make sure we had everything we needed.

Nine Dragons: The meal

Nine Dragons’s food options are typical for a Chinese restaurant. And although most of the dishes are familiar, there is a spin put on some of them – something I could tell by both their descriptions in the menu and by their arrival on my plate in front of me; the fried rice, for example, not only included shrimp and chicken, but also ham.

I ordered two appetizers: the Pot Stickers and General Tso’s Chicken Bao Buns. The Pot Stickers were very underwhelming in their appearance, and the only taste I could find came from the accompanying soy sauce. They could’ve easily been store-bought and frozen.

The bao buns, fortunately, were just the opposite. They surprised me right away by their appearance – bao buns are one of my favorite dishes, and I had never seen them prepared like this, served open instead of closed, so that you can see all of their contents. The buns were delicious, possessing many flavors that harmonized into one delectable appetizer, and they quickly became a favorite at the table.

For an entree, I ordered the Honey-Sesame Chicken, which came with fried-egg-and-vegetable rice. The chicken tasted very good, but the fried rice didn’t provide much in the way of taste, which meant that the chicken was left as the sole source of flavor for the entire meal. This trend carried over to the rest of my dining party, but everyone still seemed to enjoy their meals overall – especially my one friend who cannot have glutten, who said she was very pleased with the gluten-free menu and the quality of those dishes.

Nine Dragons: Final thoughts

Nine Dragons was great to be in. It has windows that overlook the rest of World Showcase, and taking a break from the crowds in such a peaceful atmosphere was wonderful to experience – the decor and ambiance, in particular, are terrific to be immersed in, especially after a long day.

But then there’s the food. Generally speaking, it was delicious, though sorely lacking in its ability to create a unified and tasteful combination. Even worse, most of it, I feel, can be found at any Chinese restaurant – not to mention for much cheaper. My fried rice and chicken entree cost $22 – you can get just as much food for half the price elsewhere. Since most people visiting Walt Disney World Resort want a unique experience and are already paying a lot of money to make that happen, spending so much on a meal you can get almost literally anywhere else would definitely be a disappointment.

I would definitely not suggest having dinner here; there are plenty of other Disney restaurants to choose from that give you the chance to try something new and different while still providing a great atmosphere. However, if you’re looking for something light but a bit filling to hold you over, I highly suggest going for the General Tso Bao Buns. I know I will again!

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10. “Dig a little deeper”

Don’t go without proper research

The most common mistake is also the easiest to avoid: do your research. Look up when and where characters you want to meet are going to appear, what rides will be closed, when the parades are – you get the drill.

There’s no such thing as too much research.

9. “The bare necessities”

Don’t go without a list

Okay, you’ve done your research – now what? Prioritize. Whatever is most important to you, plan to knock that out first. Don’t leave Disney World regretting that you missed an experience because you didn’t plan ahead.

On that note…

8. (Don’t expect to) “go the distance”

Don’t think you can do it all in one day

This is imperative. You have to accept the fact that you will not see/do/meet/experience everything in one day. There’s just too much to do at Disney. If you go in with this mindset ahead of time, it’ll be easier to enjoy your day. This makes the priority list mentioned above so important for your trip.

7. “I wanna be like you”

Don’t ignore the locals

Locals know what they’re doing. Locals rule the parks. Learn from them what you should do on your trip. Ask for suggestions from cast members – no one knows the ins and outs of Disney like someone who works there. They can advise you on what to skip and what you shouldn’t miss.

6. “Be prepared”

Don’t go without being properly prepared

Welcome to Florida, where it can rain anywhere between five minutes to five hours, where it was supposed to be 95 degrees but now you’re wearing a sweatshirt and boots, and where it can be 55 degrees in the morning, then 85 degrees in the afternoon.

Florida weather is unpredictable. This goes back to the whole research concept – look up when you’re going to Disney, and pack carefully. No matter what, though, bring sunblock and tennis shoes! Those are Florida essentials (as is our weather page).

5. “Be Our Guest”… or not

Don’t go broke on food

Don’t break the bank because of food. Now, many people will say to just pack food to Disney World to save money, which it definitely will. However, the resort has some great culinary offerings that you shouldn’t miss. What you should consider doing instead is one of the following: either pack a lunch and buy Disney snacks, or make reservations at one of the neat restaurants and pack ordinary snacks.

And here’s another pro tip: if you opt for the buy-lunch option, don’t go with the typical chicken nuggets, hot dogs, and burgers fare that you can get anywhere – really try to order something that you can only get at Disney.

4. “Shiny”

Don’t spend so much on souvenirs

Be careful of falling into the habit of spending too much on trinkets, many of which you can get cheaper elsewhere. Here are a few personal suggestions of what not to buy:

• Mickey Ears – yes, they’re the quintessential Disney purchase, but really ask yourself if you’re ever going to wear them again
• Character shirts – since you can buy a princess shirt anywhere, you might want to do exactly that
• Stuffed animals – go to any store in Orlando and you will find a similar stuffed Mickey for much less than at Disney

And here’s what I think you should pick up:

• Pins – they’re a cool way to remember your favorite parts of the resort, plus you can use them to decorate your backpack, hat, jacket, scrapbook, picture frame, etc.
• Logo/year shirts – get a shirt that says the year that you visited Disney World, which is pretty much exclusive to the resort
• Picture frames – get a beautiful Disney frame to display that awesome shot in front of the castle!

3. “Let it go”

Don’t lose your cool

If you weren’t aware of this already, Disney is one of the top vacation destinations in the world, which means there are going to be lines – for everything. Be ready to deal with it. Keep your head, take advantage of FastPasses, and plan your day wisely. Bring games and books to keep you and your family entertained. Try your hardest to not take your frustrations (if you have any) out on those around you – just breathe and make the best of it.

2.“Hakuna matata”

Don’t freak out when things don’t go your way

Keep in mind where you’re going, while it can be a magical place, is also a place operated by people, so there will be human error. The rides are machines, so there will also be technical error.

Disney will do everything it can to make sure these incidents are rare, and if it does happen, it is good at making it up to you. However, in those instances, remember to keep your expectations – and your temper! – in check; if you don’t, it might ruin your day (and, possibly, other guests’, as well).

1. “My, oh, my, what a wonderful day”

Don’t forget to enjoy yourself

When all is said and done, this is supposed to be an amazing and fun experience. Don’t become so obsessed with planning and sticking to your list of things to do that you forget to pause and just be in the moment. Put down the phones and tablets and spend time with your friends and family. Take all the pictures! Don’t avoid the camera because you’re “too sweaty” or you “look gross” – these are memories that should last a lifetime. Don’t miss out on it.

BONUS: Don’t miss out on the season

Among all that planning and prioritizing, make sure to research any special events that can be going on at the theme parks when you’re going to be there. From Disney-held events like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival to fan-run events like Dapper Day, there are always things going on in Walt Disney World that can add a festive spin to any vacation.

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The post Your first Disney trip: Top 10 mistakes to avoid appeared first on Orlando Informer.