food IS a theme park
Do you read the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World? Me too. I’m also a devotee of their website, TouringPlans.com, so I was honored to be asked to write a guest blog about dining in Disney for the site!
You can find my top tips for saving time, saving money, and avoiding crowds while dining in Disney World up on their blog today! TouringPlans also has a Disney Crowd Calendar and step-by-step itineraries to help you avoid long lines.
Thanks for reading!
A few good notices that couldn’t wait until the round-up tomorrow:
Discounts on Disney Stuff When You Eat Counter Service
Hooray! I knew eating burgers and fries would come in handy someday! If you’re headed to Disney World in the next two weeks, your counter service dining receipt might include a coupon for 20% off purchases at stores in the theme parks and Downtown Disney between the hours of 9AM and 12PM! Check out specs on the offer over at DIS.
Guy Fieri and the Food Network Talk Holiday Food at Disneyland
We mentioned it in our Disneyland Candy Canes post, because Guy has a segment on the candy canes in his Disneyland Holiday Foods Special. There’s a lot more to see, however! Set your DVR for Saturday at 9PM. If you miss it, you can catch the special again on Dec. 11th, at 8PM.
Tables In Wonderland Holiday Harvest Dinner
If you’re a Tables in Wonderland member, you can take part in a private Holiday Dinner, followed by the Candlelight Processional and Illuminations. Join other members at the Norway Lounge for a delicious menu of spicy seared tilapia, a medly of winter greens with cranberry vinaigrette, prosciutto and sage wrapped pork tenderloin, and olive oil bruised yukon gold potatoes followed by chocolate ganache brulee or asian apple crumble. Yum!
The event is limited to 80 guests and costs $98 per person. If you’re interested and a Tables in Wonderland Member, email [email protected] with your daytime phone number, home address, and the people in your party — you’ll be notified on a first come, first served basis.
Stay tuned tomorrow for our regularly scheduled round-up of Disney Food links from around the web! Also, be sure to vote in our “Best Steakhouse” poll in the right-hand sidebar 😀
Exciting news! Starting December 11th, 2009, the Aloha Breakfast with Lilo and Stitch will switch to Surf’s Up! Breakfast with Mickey and Friends!
According to @DisneylandNews on twitter:
Beginning Dec. 11, the character breakfast at Disney’s PCH Grill will change to “Surf’s Up! Breakfast with Mickey & Friends.” New breakfast buffet will include flatbreads from a wood burning oven & signature chilaquiles with shredded beef, salsa verde & queso fresco.
Sounds good to us!
In light of Mickey’s and Minnie’s imminent move out of Disney World’s Fantasyland, I thought we’d take a tour through each mouse’s kitchen to glean whatever cooking and food-related tips and tricks we can before they take up residence elsewhere. Today, we visit Minnie’s kitchen!
First stop is Minnie’s bulletin board. Located just outside her kitchen, we get an idea of the kind of diet advice she’s giving out in her magazine:
A Note From the Fairies
Minnie's Response
And diets are clearly a concern for Minnie (guess she’s working hard on keeping that mouse-ful figure!). Here’s her little invention for keeping the calories at bay — “diet cookies.” You can have as many as you want, if you can get to them through the glass!:
Minnie Invites Us to Sample Her Diet Cookies
Minnie's Diet Cookies
As we enter Minnie’s kitchen, there’s always a lot going on. This is the room where you’ll find the most interactivity in Minnie’s house, and for all her talk about diets, there’s nothing diet in here! Follow the crowd and see what Minnie’s making in her oven and microwave — there are really fun sound effects here, too:
We've Got a Cake Mixing Up for the Oven...
Another Cake is Just About to Rise in the Oven
That Cake Sure Rose Up Fast
Popcorn Flies Around the Microwave
Once you’re full of cake and popcorn, check out Minnie’s “WestingMouse” fridge to see what kinds of cheesy goodness she has today. Also, be sure to check out her favorite cookie recipe, “Cheesy Chip Cookies,” pinned up on the door.
Minnie's Westingmouse Fridge
One Side of Minnie's Fridge
And Minnie's Freezer Section
Chewy Cheesy Chip Cookies
All cheesed out? Check out what Minnie’s “put up” for the winter, along with a few of her prized cookbooks:
Minnie's Canned Goods
Minnie's Cookbooks
Interestingly, Mickey seems to have a candy company to rival Goofy’s…
Mickey's Candy Company Items
And it’s fun to see what Minnie’s collecting — teapots!
Minnie's Stores Collected Teapots Above the Cabinets
Even the pots and pans are musical here! You can hear them banging and clanging in rhythm!
Musical Pots and Pans
Finally, head out into Minnie’s sun room and see her prized buttercups…
Butter - Cups
Thanks for touring Minnie’s kitchen with us. We’ll be visiting Mickey soon, but I hear his kitchen’s being remodeled…something about a contest…
A New Disney Food Blog “Mini-Series!”
I recently had the great luck to interview several Disney World Moms Panelists about their Disney dining experiences and opinions. They shared some fantastic information, and I’m excited to announce that I get to consolidate all that expertise into several blog posts for you!
Over the next few weeks, I’ll share several posts that will include tips and stories shared by the Moms Panelists. These will cover a wide range of topics, including suggested restaurants for kids of certain ages, dining alone in Disney World, and Disney World restaurants offering the biggest bang for your buck, among others!
Thanks to all of the moms (and dad) who were so generous with their time and their wonderful stories (and with their patience — I ask a LOT of questions!).
Mickey With Some 2009 Moms Panelists
But First: Last Chance To Apply for the 2010 Moms Panel Is Sunday, September 20th!
Before I leap into the first topic tomorrow, I’d like to remind everyone that Sunday is the last day to complete your 2010 Moms Panel Application. And, remember, you don’t actually have to be a mom to be on the panel… . If you’re interested in applying, just click on the link and answer three little questions.
To give you a little better feel of what it’s like to be on the panel, I asked two-year Panelist Erin F. about her experience being a “mom.”
“I was always the ‘go-to’ mom in the neighborhood for Disney planning; my husband used to joke that I should do this for a living! The first year I read about the contest, I filled out the application on a whim. It’s been a life-altering experience: going backstage, meeting incredible cast members, and finding friends on the moms panel who will be dear to me for life!”
And here’s a bit of advice from Erin about applying:
“Be yourself, and mention a niche area you know a lot about, such as traveling with food allergies or visiting with grandparents. Make yourself sound unique in some way. If you have writing, marketing, or communication experience –- demonstrate that. And always check spelling, grammar, and word usage.”
For more helpful hints on applying, check out this post with suggestions from other moms panelists. Good luck with your applications, and be sure to visit the Disney Food Blog tomorrow for the first post in the Moms Panel Mini-Series where some of the moms share their most magical Disney dining experiences!
See you tomorrow!
(All images and graphics copyright Disney)
Many thanks to Amanda Tinney, writer of the rockin’ new blog DisneyEveryDay.com, for guest blogging about this new menu! Can’t wait to try it! (Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full menu)
While wandering the World Showcase promenade yesterday I passed through Mexico, and something strange caught my eye. It was the round menu plaque, whose twin hangs on the pillar flanking each side of the entrance to the Cantina de San Angel Inn (Mexico’s Counter Service Restaurant). Chilaquiles! Chilaquiles, caught my eye! I have passed by these pillars many times before and have never seen that word. I have only had the pleasure of sampling Chilaquiles (pronounced cheela keeleez) at Mexico’s booth during the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival and they were delicious…spicy but delicious. Looks like they have taken up a permanent residence here at the Cantina de San Angel.
New Menu at Cantina de San Angel
My guest and I decided that we would have to go check out the new offerings that very day. We had already eaten lunch and it was not quite time for dinner yet so we settled on an order of Guacamole with Corn Tortilla Chips. This turned out to be a fantastic choice! The price was just right at $5.50 and the portion size was large enough to fill both of us up. The guacamole was smooth and buttery with just the right portions of heat and tang. It was topped with fresh, diced tomatoes. The ratio of chips to dip was also portioned out so that “no chip was left behind”. The dish was made to order so that the chips on the bottom stayed crisp and did not get soggy under the dip. You can definitely taste the onion in this dish so if you are on a date, either bring a breath mint or make sure your other half eats their fair share. This item is also NOT part of the Disney Dining Plan, but is certainly enough for two people.
Cantina Chips and Guacamole
I asked a cast member when the menu had changed and was told that it had been about two months ago. I also asked if the Chilaquiles on their menu were the same as the Chilaquiles served at the Food and Wine Festival. I remembered that the Food and Wine Festival version had a green tomatilla sauce. She informed me that the sauce for the Cantina de San Angel version was topped with a red sauce.
Everything on the new menu looked delicious! The cold beer, margaritas, and churros are still a mainstay on the menu along with the newer items, which round out the offerings. The next time you visit Epcot make sure to stop by the Cantina de San Angel and turn your meal into a Fiesta!
Cantina de San Angel Menu and Prices:
Chilaquilies con Pollo – $9.99 – Fried corn tortillas with melted Monterey Jack cheese, chicken and red sauce, topped with onions and sour cream, served with black refried beans and rice.
Burrito de Carnitas – $8.99 – Flour chipotle tortilla filled with pulled pork, black beans, rice, shredded lettuce, cheese and salsa.
Cantina Nachos – $8.75 – Tortilla Chips with beef, cheese, tomatoes, jalapeno peppers and sour cream.
Guacamole with Corn Tortilla Chips – $5.50 – Avocado dip mixed with onions, cilantro, chile serrano and lime.
Kids Picks – $4.99 – (for our guests 9 years old and younger) Choice of grilled cheese quesadilla or chicken nuggets. Served with corn chips with cheese sauce and carrots. Includes choice of 1% milk, bottle of water, or small soft drink.
Churros – $3.25 – Fried dough rolled in cinnamon sugar.
Bunuelos – $2.95 – Round fritter sprinkled with sugar.
Beverages – from $2.19 to $2.49
XX Lager Draft Beer – $7.50
Frozen Margarita – $8.99 – Tequila, Triple Sec and Lime Juice
Frozen Pina Colada – $8.99 – Rum and Pina Colada Mix
As many folks know, Disney World Resorts offer Disney Refillable Mugs for guests to purchase and use for free refills! Here are a few of the most popular Frequently Asked Questions about the Disney Refillable Mug Program (also known as Rapid Fill):
“Refillable mugs” are 16 oz. insulated coffee mugs sold at Disney hotels. Guests are entitled to unlimited free refills on fountain drinks, coffee, and tea from self-service beverage locations at Disney resorts for their length of stay.
The Rapid Fill program began in August 2013 and allows Disney Resort guests to buy (or receive as part of the Disney Dining Plan) a Resort mug which can be refilled for a certain period of time as designated at time of purchase. These mugs are enhanced by an RFID bar code which enables the mug to deactivate when the designated time is complete.
Mugs used to be considered collectibles, with each Disney resort offering unique patterns for their mugs. But starting with the Year of a Million Dreams, the mugs have been one standard design and shape no matter where you purchase them.
I’m not on a Disney Dining Plan, so I’ll be purchasing my mug separately. How much do they cost?
$19.99 for Length of Stay (up to 14 days)
Refillable Mug Price Increase October 2019
I’m resort hopping. Do I need to purchase a new mug at my second resort?
Nope! Upon purchase, simply purchase the amount of total days that you’ll be staying on Walt Disney World property. Note that if you are switching to a non-Disney-owned resort (for example, WDW Swan and Dolphin), then you’ll only want to purchase for the part of your stay that is at a Disney-owned resort.
What beverages are available for Disney Refillable Mug refills?
You can refill your mug with coffee, iced or hot tea, soda-pop (these will be ALL Coca-Cola products — Disney does not sell Pepsi products due to Coke’s long-time sponsorship agreement), and hot chocolate.
*COOL INFO:* It’s interesting to note that most refillable mug stations have some sort of Hi-C lemonade/fruit punch option OR red/blue Powerade.
Beverage Station
What beverages aren’t available for Disney Refillable Mug refills?
Most notably, milk and “real” fruit juice (e.g. no OJ or Apple Juice).
Will they refill my frozen margarita at the pool bar?
No. But you get points for creativity.
Where can I buy the mugs and get refills?
Purchase/Refill stations are located in food courts, quick service locations, and pool bars at all Value/Moderate/Deluxe resorts. Check with your resort front desk to be sure you know of all the locations at your hotel where you can get refills.
Rapid Fill Mug on tray
Do I get a Disney Refillable Mug if I’m using the Disney Dining Plan?
Yes! As of 2012, all Disney Dining Plans now offer refillable mugs for everyone on the plan.
May I only use the Disney Refillable Mug at my resort?
No. Mugs may be used at any Disney-owned resort on property.
While you can’t use your resort mug in the parks (unless you’re getting water), you CAN purchase refillable mugs in the water parks. Disney’s also been rumored to be testing refillable mug programs in the theme parks.
Refill date notice
Can I save my mug when I get home and bring it back to use on all my subsequent Disney trips?
No. Mugs are for the specific number of days that you purchase.
What do the current mugs look like?
New mugs were recently released in February 2014. Take a look!
The new mug
If I’m paying an exorbitant amount for my room and there are Disney Refillable Mugs already in there, does that mean they’re free?
The mugs are never free (unless you get them as part of an already paid for Dining Plan). The cost will be placed on your bill as a charge.
Okay. So how do I use my Rapid Fill mug with RFID bar code?
It’s easy! Follow our step-by-step directions for using your RFID refillable mug.
Any other cool stuff you should tell us about the Disney refillable mug program?
YES! Each self-service refillable mug location has a MUG WASH! That’s right — there’s a little sink right next to the soda-pop dispensers that you can use to wash out your mug. Comes in very handy when switching between your drinks of choice…say between Coffee and Powerade?
MUG WASH!
Do YOU buy the mugs, DisneyFoodBlog?
You know, I used to buy the mugs at every resort as collectibles, but I always ended up in rooms far away from the refillable mug stations and never really used the mugs enough to justify the purchase (I wish Disney would put in more mug stations, but I know that would probably be taken advantage of by non-mug-buyers). That said, when I’ve taken trips to Disney World where my primary activity has been reading by the pool, having the mug for free refills has been a real blessing!
If you can’t live without your coffee, or if you need a travel mug for your morning commute at home, buy the mug. It’s fun to see that little Mickey face every morning!
Four colors to choose from
Rapid Fill mugs are here to stay!
We want to hear about your own refillable mug experiences. Share in the comments below!
THANK YOU to Zapperz at My Disney Mania for allowing me to use his stunning Wishes Dessert Party photos from this weekend. Stop by his blog and see more of his photos from his trip (including a few from the Museum of Pintiquities)!
The Wishes Fireworks Dessert Party is currently running from June 23 through August 28. (9/18 Update: The Wishes Dessert Party has been extended through January 2nd, 2010!) It includes exclusive viewing for Wishes fireworks and a self-service dessert buffet. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 407-WDW-DINE.
You can read more about the event on our previous Wishes Dessert Party blog post.
Tomorrowland Terrace--Location of the Dessert Party
Castle from Party Vantage Point
SpectroMagic from Party Vantage Point
Wishes from Party Vantage Point
Wishes from the Party Vantage Point
Healthy Treats
So, Disney’s been doing this crazy thing lately. They’ve been offering…healthy snack food. It’s weird. It’s an oxymoron wrapped in irony. I’m not at all sure how I feel about this.
Fresh Fruit Choices
I mean, it’s probably for the best. But, as a result of this change, I now have the option to feel even MORE guilty about eating that popcorn, turkey leg, funnel cake, school bread, mickey bar, fudge, and homemade chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwich…because I could have, instead, had a salad, or some fresh apple slices, or some carrot sticks. Carrot sticks!?!
Kids' Picks Options
They have these things everywhere now. Restaurants, resorts, even at a snack stand right next to the Castle. They follow you everywhere. Even the kids are forced to re-consider their choices: while 5 years ago it would be french fries and Coke or nuthin’…now there’s the option of grapes and milk at Disney? How confusing.
Mixed Fruit at Everything POP
But don’t get me wrong. I fully understand that moderation and healthy choices are key when it comes to a nutritious diet. I partake of healthy proteins, veggies, whole grain breads and cereals. Egg-white omelets, even.
However, does the “everything in moderation” rule really have to follow me to Disney World? The place where I’m a kid again, where I can survive on gallons of Coca-Cola and mountains of Goofy’s Sour Flavored Sugar alone if I so desire? I mean, there are dole whips to be eaten. The Mickey Bar is an icon!
Salads and Everything POP
Alas, when you can’t beat ’em, you should probably join ’em…in moderation, of course. The apple slices DO come with a little container of caramel for dipping. But I’d stay away from the grapes if I were you. I do believe my last batch, from the snack stand next to the Castle no less, had already begun fermentation.
Apples and Veggies at Everything POP
The TouringPlans.com Blog has a great summary of the remaining questions (and potential answers) lingering from yesterday’s online dining reservations launch.
The summary includes a great What We Know and Don’t Know So Far section, mentioning topics like what time the online system opens for use on each respective morning; and the fact that you can now book dinner shows and Special Dining Events online, like Hoop-Dee-Doo and “Dine with an Imagineer.”
Also included are sections on the menus that Disney has been posting on its site and potential abuses of the online system.
Check out the blog here!
Great job, TouringPlans!
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