Archive for October 5th, 2009

The glass and steel entrance of The Wave restaurant on the first floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort complements the minimalist décor of the lobby and registration desk.  An atmospheric lounge washed in underwater blues and a spacious bar with twinkling stars above are both attractive areas to have a drink, although the lounge functions more as a holding area for waiting guests during busy times.

There is an interesting wine list featuring selections from the major wine-producing countries of the southern hemisphere:  Australia and New Zealand, South Africa, Chile and Argentina.

Desserts are attractive presentations of three related selections: a trio of sorbets; three creamy concoctions including a cheesecake, a mousse, and a panna cotta.

The dining room itself suffers a bit from comparison to the other public spaces.  Without the gleam and glow of rippled glass, brushed metal, and colored lighting, it seems to announce the fact that it’s a windowless room.  Curvaceous ceiling sculptures and interesting chair backs reflect the theme but don’t mitigate the dungeon-like ambiance.

Review: Am I the only one who’s getting bored with the whole “sustainable fish” thing? It seems to be showing up on every Disney menu for both lunch and dinner.  I can promise you that I am far less interested in whether it’s sustainable than I am in what kind of fish will actually be on the plate.  It’s only been a little over one week since we dined at The Wave and, even after reviewing the menu, I cannot remember what I had for dinner.  It was that forgettable.  It may well have been something that swims and is being sustained.

What I do recall are the three attempts to get salt for whatever it was I ordered.  Condiments are removed from the tables for the evening meal and the first time I requested salt,  I was given an empty shaker without so much as a plug in the bottom.  The second container had the plug but no salt.  Finally, I did get a filled shaker but the meal was almost over.   Oh, and add me to the list of those who don’t like the cardboard straws.  The  milkshakes would have been so much more enjoyable with (gasp) plastic.  Otherwise, the service was excellent and the staff friendly and helpful.

While the food was tasty and well-presented, albeit unmemorable, I have trouble getting past the cavern concept – the main reason I’m not a fan of the wildly-popular Le Cellier.  Rather than seeming intimate and cozy, the room feels dark and dreary; exactly like something stuck in an unused corner on the ground floor of a building.  I’m perplexed by the decision to move the arcade up to the bright and busy concourse and place the restaurant here.  However, based upon the feedback of enthusiastic diners, and the crowds waiting to be seated the night I visited, I am, once again, in the minority!

Menus

Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Wine
Dessert

The Wave

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Breakfast 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Lunch 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Dinner 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Lounge 12:00 noon to 12:00 midnight