disney dining tips | the disney food blog

Epcot Food and Wine Festival FAQ: When are the Marketplace Booths Open?

Time to dive back into the DFB Reader Question Mailbag!

We love getting questions from you guys about all things Disney food-related. And that’s especially true when it comes time to plan for the Food and Wine Festival.

The 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival will run for more than 7 weeks — September 25-November 16, 2015. And one of the biggest draws to the festival are the World Showcase Marketplace Booths that are set up throughout the different countries of World Showcase. (Check out our Booth Page for lots of details about the booths and what you can expect when you visit them.) And be sure to keep checking back — we’re adding new information constantly!

Readers send us lots of questions about the booths, especially about [Read more…]

Grand Launch and Discount! The DFB Guide to Epcot Snacks e-Book, 2015-16 Edition

By AJ Leave a Comment

It’s here!! We are absolutely thrilled to share the Grand Launch of the Disney Food Blog Guide to Epcot Snacks e-Book, 2015-16 Edition!

Use Your Snack Credits Wisely!

And to celebrate, we’re offering a $3 discount for a limited time! Use code Epcot2015 at check-out!

We’ve updated our detailed snack guide to help you find the best eats (and treats!) in Walt Disney World’s Epcot. You’ll see some of your old favorites as well as some snacks that you might have missed. This edition includes over 300 Epcot snacks, and over 50 NEW snacks!

The Disney Food Blog Guide to Epcot Snacks e-Book

The DFB Guide to Epcot Snacks e-Book

is created to supplement our massive Disney Food Blog Guide to Walt Disney World Dining e-Book. Here you’ll find in-depth information, photos, and reviews about iconic and new-to-you Epcot snacks — in great detail!

How Do I Get One?

There is absolutely no waiting to satisfy your snack cravings! This guide is an instantly downloadable PDF guide with 350 pages of information and advice on over 300 delicious snacks that you can savor in Disney World’s Epcot. Download your copy right now, and start planning!

Don’t Miss Out on the Best Snacks in Epcot!

This guide is guaranteed to help you better plan your snacks and treats in Epcot, or your money back — [Read more…]

Pizzafari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Discontinues Breakfast

By Kim LaPaglia 16 Comments

For all you breakfast-lovers, we’ve got some Animal Kingdom updates for ya.

Learn About:Pizzafari

Animal Kingdom
Disney World Restaurants

While guests to Disney’s Animal Kingdom have been able to enjoy an assortment of breakfast items at Pizzafari (a convenient stop on a trek toward Africa!), the breakfast offerings have been discontinued as of June 17, 2015.

With the opening of the Animal Kingdom Starbucks on Discovery Island last week, Pizzafari has returned to an 11:00AM opening time.

For other breakfast options in Animal Kingdom, stop by Starbucks and Kusafiri Bakery.

Was Pizzafari a breakfast stop for you? Let us know in the comments below!

Review: Frozen Summer Fun Treats and Eats in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

By Kim LaPaglia 9 Comments

Frozen Summer Fun

is back for a second year at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, running June 17 through September 7, 2015. We’re sad to say that Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post did not return this year, so there’s no central location to find all of your Frozen eats; but a few of the featured items did return along with one or two updated treats.

Frozen Summer Fun Sign

Most of the Frozen Fun activities this year are located on Center Stage (where the hat used to be) and in the theaters located at the end of Hollywood Boulevard.

Center Stage During The Frozen Welcoming Ceremony

Let’s take a look at some of the goodies.

Frozen Summer Fun Drinks

Disney has set up tents in front of the theaters offering drinks for [Read more…]

News: 2015 Epcot Candlelight Processional Dinner Package Restaurants and Pricing

By Kim LaPaglia 21 Comments

Candlelight Processional Dinner Packages will return

during the 2015 holiday season at Walt Disney World!! And for those of us that like guaranteed seating and avoiding long waiting lines, this is very good news!

Epcot’s Candlelight Processional

Along with restaurant information (sorry, no Le Cellier again this year)and costs (some steep, yikes!), you’ll also find some intermittent booking availability online for this very popular event, however 2015 narrators have not been announced as of yet. Note that all information here is subject to change.

In 2015, the Candlelight Processional will take place from November 27 – December 30.

Disney World Candlelight Processional Dining Package

This coveted ticket provides guests with a lunch or dinner meal at select Epcot restaurants and guaranteed seating! The package includes your choice of an appetizer, entree, dessert, and non-alcoholic, non-specialty beverage from the chosen restaurant’s menu or 1 full buffet where applicable. Prices exclude tax and gratuity, and park admission is not included. And yes, you can use the Disney Dining Plan to pay for your package, see more information here.

2015 Out-of-Pocket Costs
The package costs vary based on lunch versus dinner, starting at [Read more…]

Epcot Food and Wine Festival FAQ: How Much Should I Budget For the Festival?

By AJ Leave a Comment

You may be just starting Summer vacation and all that goes with it, but here at Disney Food Blog, we’re also busy gearing up for one of our most favorite times of the year — the Epcot Food and Wine Festival!

The festival, which runs from September 25 until November 16 this year, will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2015. There is so much to do, see, taste, and experience, all crammed into seven weeks. So you’re bound to have some questions about planning for it — and specifically, how to budget for all you want to do.

So today, let’s talk a little bit about budgeting to get you ready for Fall’s biggest Disney food event.

How Much Does It Cost to Go to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival?

Many things at the festival are included in your Epcot admission. Attractions and events such as Eat to the Beat Concerts, Back to Basics Seminars, and the Cranberry Bog are all complimentary with your Epcot ticket.

The Cranberry Bog Returns to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival in 2015

And new for 2015, guests can also enjoy Remy’s Ratatouille Hide and Squeak Scavenger Hunt, a fun game that will take place around World Showcase.

But food and drink, even at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival Booths, is not included in the price of admission. And Special Events do cost extra and can range widely, depending on the events you plan to attend.

How Much Money Should I Budget For a Day at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival?

The answer to this question varies widely from person to person. A great way to experience the festival is by Eating and Drinking Your Way Around the World, Marketplace Discovery Passport, in hand! In the past, plates and pours at the World Showcase Booths have averaged [Read more…]

The 180 Days ’til Christmas Sale Starts TODAY!

By AJ 4 Comments

Christmas Sale? Whaa?? “But AJ, it’s June, and we’re sweltering and/or being rained on!”

Well…it’s also only 192 days until Christmas. And if you’re planning a December Disney trip, it’s time to don your Santa hat and get into the holiday spirit, my friends! We’ve got three great offers starting today that are all yours until that magical 180 Days Before Christmas on June 28th!

Main Street Holiday Decor!

Why is the 180 Day mark so magical? Most restaurants at Disney World start booking for Christmas Day on June 28th, 180 days before Christmas Day.

So….if you wanna get a table for your holiday dinner at one of Disney’s most popular restaurants, you’ve gotta get on the horn in the next couple of weeks! Not sure where you want to eat? Let us help you with that!!

Holiday Cupcake from the BoardWalk Bakery

180 Days ‘Til Christmas Sale — 3 Great Ways to SAVE!

We know you’re just as excited as we are about the upcoming holiday season in Walt Disney World! And like we said: it’s never too early to start making plans. After all, you’ve gotta make those advance dining reservations 6 months ahead, especially around the busy holiday season. So we have three exciting offers for you today — and they’re all yours until June 28th — 180 Days Before Christmas!

1) Get $5 Off the DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World Holidays 2015 e-Book Pre-Order (Plus 2014 Guide FREE!)

Get $5 off

when you pre-order your copy of the DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World Holidays 2015 during our 180 Days ‘Til Christmas Sale going on from now until June 28th! Just use code 180Days when you check-out to get the discount.

And if that’s not enough to make you press the purchase button, remember you’ll be able to instantly download the 2014 Guide for FREE and start your planning — today! We’ll share our favorite spots for holiday meals, all of the holiday events, hundreds of photos, and more! It’s the perfect way to nail down your plans and snag the most popular holiday reservations in Walt Disney World.

You’ll then receive the 2015 Guide via email automatically as soon as it’s published in early November. Yep — that means you get two editions for the price of one, so you can start planning right away.

2) Bundle for More Savings!

Want more for your money?

Purchase the Holiday Bundle for $5 off the already deeply discounted price! It’s like getting an entire book for free! Just enter code 180days at the check-out.

In the Holiday Bundle, you’ll get:

The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, 2015 Edition,
The 2015 DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World Holidays, and the 2014 Edition for FREE as an immediate download.

On a budget? Find out how to make those dollars stretch all around Disney World. These two unique resources are ALL you need to plan your holiday dining!

And with these handy, e-book format guides at your fingertips, there’s nothing that you won’t know about food at Walt Disney World! Just download them, put them on your mobile device, and GOOOOOOO!

To take advantage of this amazing deal, just enter Promo Code 180days at checkout!

3) Get Over 70% Off ALL of the DFB Dining Guides!

Finally, this is the way to get the biggest bang for your buck in our 180 Days ’til Christmas Sale. ACT NOW and collect ALL of Disney Food Blog’s Dining guidebooks for 70% off their regular prices.

Do you anxiously await new DFB posts? Want even more great information, pictures, and tips? Then the DFB Everything Bundle is for you!

And to get you ready for that next big Disney World trip, we are offering the DFB Everything Bundle for 50% off the already low BUNDLE price — that’s over 70% off the cover prices of the books. Just enter promo code 180Days at checkout to take advantage of this offer for a limited time only.

The Everything Bundle includes, well, Everything! When you purchase this special bundle of DFB Guides, you’ll get it all:

[Read more…]

Even More Top Disney Dining Tips from the Experts!

By AJ 5 Comments

We are back with some great advice some of the best experts around when it comes to planning your Disney Dining — DFB Readers!

Seriously, you guys are the best, and I’m always excited to learn new things from your experiences! So when it came time recently to update our Top Tips for Disney Dining, we turned to you for input and advice. And you responded with tons of great suggestions.

Check out just a few of them below, as we offer you even more Top Disney Dining Tips from the Experts!

Have a Plan…and Don’t Blow Those Snack Credits on Things You Can Get at Home!

It was important enough for several different DFB readers to mention — and expound on! Do not waste those precious Disney Dining Plan snack credits on something as ho hum and common as a piece of fruit or a bottle of water.

And…I have to agree here. You can get a banana and a Dasani in your supermarket at home. But when was the last time you waltzed into Kroger and picked up a Carrot Cake Cookie or Schoolbread?

Yep, they can sometimes pile up on you toward the end of the trip. So spend a little time planning beforehand so you don’t waste a single one. Here’s a TIP: DFB Snack Guides can come in handy for this endeavor; we have one for every park at Walt Disney World with our recommendations for the best snacks!

Carrot Cake Cookie at Writer's Stop in Disney's Hollywood Studios

Make Those Snack Credits Count with a Carrot Cake Cookie

Get the Dining Plan…And Don’t.

One of the most interesting suggestions for stretching your Disney Food Budget came from @Greg_Crowder: he suggested that you go halfsies on the Disney Dining Plan. He writes: “2 of us had the free plan a couple of years ago and 2 didn’t. The snacks and counter [service] meals were plenty for all 4 people.”

Butterfinger Cupcake at Starring Rolls Cafe in Disney’s Hollywood Studios Are Totally Shareable!

It’s true that Disney portions can be pretty big, and eating lots of large meals and rich snacks and then walking 100 miles a day may be a tall order. So if you’re willing to share, this can be an excellent way to keep costs down. It also means that you pre-pay, so your spending money goes a little further.

Just note that if you’re all staying in the same room, you all need to be on the same plan; so this tip only works if your compadres are in a different room.

Don’t Forget About Resort Restaurants.

Many readers chimed in that visitors should never forget to check out resort dining options, saying that you should definitely venture out of the Park for incredible food. Resort restaurants offer some of the most amazing dining on property.

Slow-cooked in Gravy, Simple and Well-seasoned Butter Chicken and Chicken Vindaloo at Sanaa — Be Sure to Schedule a Meal Here

Sanaa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge was mentioned lots of times. For instance, reader David Mendoza says: “Whether you are staying at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge or not, make the trip to the Sanaa restaurant. Wonderful food and such a picturesque setting, watching the beautiful animals as you dine on some of the most awesome food in Disney World! A real must see! And when you are done you can take a stroll and get even closer to the animals. Truly a wondrous place.”

I couldn’t agree more! (Read my latest Sanaa review here.)

Allergies and Food Sensitivities? No problem.

We’ve written about it lots of times — Disney is tops when it comes to serving guests with allergies, food sensitivities, and special diets. And our readers are eager to agree that Disney routinely goes above and beyond to ensure their guests have the best experience possible, regardless of their dietary limitations.

Jiko Allergy-Friendly Menu -- Appetizers -- Click to Enlarge

Example of Jiko’s Allergy-Friendly Appetizer Menu

Ann Hooghuis Dealy weighs in by saying, “If you have food allergies or sensitivities [Read more…]

Reminder! Just a Few More Days to Get These Limited Time Discounts!

By AJ Leave a Comment

I hope you’re all having an amazing day on this Memorial Day Monday!

As we mark a time of remembrance this Memorial Day weekend, we also look forward to fun celebrations with family and friends as Summer gets underway! And if you’re like me, that means one thing — vacation is JUST around the corner!

I wanted to remind you that here at DFB we’ve got some fantastic discounts on our best-selling DFB Disney World Dining Guidebooks for a limited time to celebrate all of the fun trips planned ahead!

Believe it or not, it’s already time to start making those Advance Dining Reservations! And we’re going to help you make sure you choose the best restaurants Disney has to offer. There are hundreds, after all!

We have three great offers for you to choose from! Read on for all the details, but hurry — you can only take advantage of these savings through Saturday, May 30!

Discount #1: $5 Off The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2015

Our fully guaranteed, comprehensive e-Book offers more than 490 full-color pages to help you plan your very best Disney World trip ever!

With reviews, tips, expert advice, and hundreds of color photographs, you’ll get the biggest bang for your planning buck! And our handy e-Book format has been completely updated for your 2015-16 Disney World vacation.

Inside the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2015, you’ll find:

A 5-Step Strategy for Disney Dining Planning, covering everything you need to know from budgeting and booking to kids’ meals, dining discounts, and fireworks. 5 simple steps and you’re done!
A comprehensive and in-depth look at EVERY Disney World restaurant, kiosk, bar, and lounge, including our personal tips to ensure a positive and stress-free dining experience.
Four free, [Read more…]

Memorial Day Sale! DFB Disney World Guidebook Discounts for a Limited Time!

By AJ 2 Comments

Whether you’re planning a trip to Walt Disney World during the busy Summer season, or you have your eyes set on a Fall Food and Wine Festival Trip or a Holiday Extravaganza, we know one thing for sure: you need to make some plans.

We have three great offers for you to choose from! Read on for all the details, but hurry — you can only take advantage of these savings through Saturday, May 30!

The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2015

Our fully guaranteed, comprehensive e-Book offers more than 490 full-color pages to help you plan your very best Disney World trip ever!

Inside the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2015, you’ll find:

A 5-Step Strategy for Disney Dining Planning, covering everything you need to know from budgeting and booking to kids’ meals, dining discounts, and fireworks. 5 simple steps and you’re done!
A comprehensive and in-depth look at EVERY Disney World restaurant, kiosk, bar, and lounge, including our personal tips to ensure a positive and stress-free dining experience.
Four free, [Read more…]

Looking for something?

STAY CONNECTED

Epcot Food and Wine Festival FAQ: When are the Marketplace Booths Open?

Grand Launch and Discount! The DFB Guide to Epcot Snacks e-Book, 2015-16 Edition

And to celebrate, we’re offering a $3 discount for a limited time! Use code Epcot2015 at check-out!