food IS a theme park
OF COURSE you knew it was National Nacho Day today, right?!? Great. Now that we’ve got that established, it’s time to DIG IN! Over at the Magic Kingdom, we’re seeing two brand new options on counter service menus.
Nacho TIME!
Y’all THIS IS NOT A DRILL. We found the best holiday popcorn bucket of the season so far over in Disney’s Hollywood Studios for Flurry of Fun — A Santa Alien Bucket!
Alien Popcorn Bucket in Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Yes, that’s right, he’s the cutest. EVER.
OK, it’s no secret that Disney World is a BUSY place during the holiday season, and New Year’s Eve is a MADHOUSE. There are plenty of events happening already, but most of them are already sold out…or well on their way to being sold out.
Happily Ever After
But you’re in luck! Today we’ve got a new New Year’s Eve bash to add to the agenda, and it sounds like a great one! Say hello to the Fort Wilderness New Year’s Eve Beach Dessert Party!
Epcot’s World Showcase at Walt Disney World
is home to so many interesting restaurants serving high-quality food from around the (actual) world that it can be hard to decide which to choose.
And frankly, Nine Dragons in the China Pavilion has been one that we’ve decided to skip much of the time. The setting is lovely and worth exploring, but in the past, the food has been lackluster, no better than most of the Americanized Chinese restaurants found in strip malls around the country.
But we give second chances (and third and fourth and fifth) here at the DFB, so I made a reservation and hoped for something to love in this table service spot. And while I won’t say Nine Dragons has clawed its way up too far in the rankings of table service restaurants at Epcot, I will say that my most recent visit was the best I’ve had here.
While I encourage you to take that with a grain of salt, I also want to acknowledge that plenty of you do enjoy eating here, and I will always cling to optimism that even the least palatable of Walt Disney World dining locations will be in a constant state of flux, striving for better.
But let’s start with what we already love about Nine Dragons: its magical decor and warm atmosphere.
Welcome to Nine Dragons!
Yesterday, we brought you news about the menus for the Disney Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure kicking off on November 9th in Disneyland Resort. And today, we have a sneak peek at two holiday sweets coming to Disneyland Resort to start the holiday celebration on November 9th as well.
Check out the Peppermint Churro…
Peppermint Churros ©Disney
… and the Candy Cane Mickey Beignets! [Read more…]
YAY! In addition to it being suddenly Christmas in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, we also get to dig into a brand new snack at Storybook Treats — Tink’s Pixie Dusted Cone!
Tink’s Pixie Dusted Cone
This is the next snack in line using the new lime dole whip at Storybook Treats. First we had the Peter Pan Float, which is still there on the menu; and next it was the Maleficent Cone, which has its last day on the menu today.
Hi, there! We’re back with another DFB Video today, and I’m sharing my favorite Walt Disney World restaurants with you!
Morimoto Asia
“So, what’s your favorite restaurant in Walt Disney World?” It’s a question I get asked all the time, and today I’m sharing my current favorites with you! While my list can — and does — often change, this video tells you all about my current favorites and exactly why they are on my list! Are you ready?! [Read more…]
OK, I’m dead. This is easily the most adorable thing ever.
Mike Wazowski Cupcake
We’ve shown you countless halloween cupcakes over the past two months — caramel poison apple cupcake at Wilderness Lodge, the not-so-poison apple cupcake at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (my love.), and more — but this one is, by far, the most adorable.
Ralph Breaks the Internet
hits movie theaters on November 21st. And soon, you’ll have the chance to meet Ralph and Vanellope von Schweetz in Disney Parks!
Ralph and Vanellope ©Disney
In Disneyland Resort, guests can find Ralph and Vanellope starting November 9th. They’ll be in Hollywood Land in Disney California Adventure. [Read more…]
is a table service option in Epcot’s Future World at Walt Disney World.
As you might imagine, Coral Reef is located in the Seas Pavilion, home of The Seas with Nemo and Friends. It’s one of only two table service restaurants in Future World — the other being Garden Grill in the neighboring Land Pavilion. The biggest draw to Coral Reef is the centerpiece of the restaurant: the six-million-gallon aquarium where fish, sea turtles, and (sometimes) divers swim by throughout the meal.
But even with that draw — making Coral Reef a truly unique Disney World experience! — Coral Reef often sinks to the bottom of DFB’s rankings of table service restaurants. Sadly the food just hasn’t been that great over the years. Lunch in 2014 was decent at best, with the Seared Mahi Mahi being the only I’d-get-that-again dish (alas, the Sriracha Shrimp we enjoyed on that visit are no longer on the menu…).
But you know we like to re-review restaurants on the regular, since chefs, menus, and servers change up regularly. My most recent visit was the best I’ve had in terms of food, and while it won’t move Coral Reef up to the top of the list at Epcot — admittedly a difficult park because there are so many awesome choices — it gives me hope that maybe the restaurant is providing a better experience for guests.
Coral Reef
The atmosphere of Coral Reef is the star of this restaurant, and for those who love sea life or aquariums, this really is a must-try. Nothing quite compares to the beauty of dining with only eight inches of glass between the diner and the sealife.
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
