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Category: Disney Springs

First Look and Review: Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza in Disney Springs

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In Disney Springs and in need of some pizza STAT?

Learn About:Blaze Fast Fire'd Pizza
Disney Springs
Disney World Restaurants

Then look no further than the brand new Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizza! (OK, anyone else wondering why there’s an apostrophe in “Fire’d”? Isn’t the apostrophe supposed to stand in for a letter? What letter is missing here? Isn’t Fast Fired OK? But I digress.)

You may already be familiar with Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizza if you live near one of its existing locations in the United Sates or Canada.

If not, your next trip to Disney Springs may offer you your first opportunity to try a Blaze artisanal pizza pie fired up in an open-flame oven in 180 seconds (that’s the FAST part!).

Blaze joins the ranks of spots like D-Luxe Burger, Earl of Sandwich, and Cookes of Dublin as another Counter Service option for Disney World’s shopping and dining district.

Blaze Fast Fire'd Pizza

Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizza

Here we go!
[Read more…]

Review: Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming Florida Kitchen and Southern Shine at Disney Springs

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I hope that you’re sitting down.

Learn About:Homecomin'
Disney Springs
Disney World Restaurants

Because we have a ton of pictures and details to share with you about Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming Florida Kitchen and Southern Shine!

The restaurant opened with fanfare and plenty of rave reviews. And we were right there with you as we shared a first look!

If you can believe it, we’ve been back to Homecoming Florida Kitchen (hereafter shortened to HFK to save my fingers extra typing) again since opening day. As a result, we have lots of variety to share with you about this special spot.

This is a place that beckons you to slow down and sit a spell. So to begin, let’s take a nice, leisurely look around.

Atmosphere

You’ll find HFK right in the heart of Disney Springs, where the Town Center and The Landing come together.

Sign

Sign

While the outside may look a little Plain Jane at first inspection, you may form a different opinion after your initial look. Tons of windows, shaded in part by the metal hip roof that overhangs them, is reminiscent of the Florida Vernacular style of architecture. I love that you don’t find a single ounce of faux stucco here — the building choice of most Florida homebuilders these days. [Read more…]

Review: Coca-Cola Store Rooftop Beverage Bar Adult Drink Menu

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We’re back at the new Coca-Cola Store Orlando in Disney Springs to check out some new sips… already!

Learn About:Coca-Cola Store Orlando Rooftop Beverage Bar
Disney Springs
Disney World Restaurants

You see, the Coca-Cola Store Orlando just opened earlier this month, bringing not only TONS of merchandise dedicated to the iconic beverage, but also a brand new sipping experience at the Rooftop Beverage Bar — one of the coolest new spots to take in the views of Disney Springs.

In the opening days, however, only the all-day menu was available. So, we were able to take in the new International Tray, which gives guests the chance to sample sixteen beverages from all over the world, and the Float Tray featuring mini Ice Cream Floats with eight different Coca-Cola brand soda flavors. (You can take a tour of the full location here.)

Coca-cola Store Rooftop Beverage Bar Area

Coca-Cola Store Rooftop Beverage Bar Area

In the weeks since, they’ve debuted their Adult Beverage menu. That’s right — beginning at 3:00 pm daily, a list of drinks is available for guests 21 and over (though you will also find a few Mocktails, too!). It features a combination of classic cocktails along with a few twists. [Read more…]

What’s New Around Walt Disney World: July 19, 2016

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It’s high temps and good times in Walt Disney World this summer season! We’re spotting plenty of frosty summer sips to help you beat the heat, along with all sorts of new restaurants to stop in and take an air-conditioned breather.

And if we’re talking about new restaurants, there’s only one place to start this round of What’s New, and that’s…

Disney Springs

Latest Additions

I know — it’s as though the openings are never-ending at Disney Springs! The Grand Opening Summer Celebration is ON for this dining, shopping, and entertainment district!

Disney Springs

Disney Springs

Can you believe it? What once seemed like a never-ending transformation of what was once Downtown Disney to Disney Springs is now complete (though we still have a few more spots to welcome in the coming months!). [Read more…]

News: “The Polite Pig” Is On the Way to Disney Springs, Opening Spring 2017

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On a quick trip to the World of Disney Store in Disney Springs recently, I couldn’t help but notice these colorful signs with cute sayings, just a couple stops down from Amorette’s Patisserie in the Marketplace…

Signs in Disney Springs

Signs in Disney Springs

Curious, I snapped a few pics. And then, lo and behold, we heard at our Disney Springs media event today that The Polite Pig, “a new fast casual concept,” is on the way to Disney Springs!

polite pig logo

To “bring in local flavor,” James and Julie Petrakis, the James Beard-nominated chef/owners of two popular Orlando-area restaurants (in Winter Park, FL, specifically) will open this new location in Spring 2017. Both The Ravenous Pig and Cask & Larder are known for their emphasis on using seasonal ingredients, offering “the best seasonal foods that Florida has to offer” (quote sourced from The Ravenous Pig website).

[Read more…]

Review: New Late Night Menu and Forbidden Lounge at Morimoto Asia in Disney Springs

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Morimoto Asia

 arrived in Disney Springs in late September of 2015.

Learn About:Morimoto Asia
Disney Springs
Disney World Restaurants

Even though this Signature Restaurant is still a relatively new spot, at this point it could be considered one of the more established restaurants in the area given the many additions to dining options in Disney Springs since that time.

But Morimoto Asia has still gone through several changes of its own since opening. For instance, Morimoto Asia Street Food has since hit the scene, offering the restaurant’s signature Pan-Asian cuisine in a Quick Service fashion.

Even more recently, they’ve created an option custom-made for all you night owls out there enjoying the newly revived nightlife of Disney Springs with a new Late Night Menu!

And nighttime is an especially good time to visit Morimoto Asia. Because even though it’s a remarkably beautiful restaurant no matter the time of day, it’s especially pretty at night when the script on the outside of the building is brightly illuminated.

Morimoto Asia at Night

Morimoto Asia at Night

The late night menu is available each night starting at 10 PM, and is served exclusively on the second floor of the restaurant. [Read more…]

First Look! Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming Florida Kitchen in Disney Springs

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We’re here for a FIRST LOOK at Homecoming: Florida Kitchen and Southern Shine!

Learn About:Homecomin'
Disney Springs
Disney World Restaurants

Newly open in the Town Center of Disney Springs (yesterday was Opening Day), Homecoming is the latest venue opened by a Celebrity Chef in Disney World.

While the restaurants backed by Chef Morimoto (Morimoto Asia) and Rick Bayless (Frontera Cocina) make up other terrific recent additions to Disney World’s shopping and dining district, Homecoming is especially significant to Disney World and Florida as Chef Art Smith has strong connections to both.

Hailing from Jasper, Florida, Chef Smith is also a former Disney Cast Member via the Disney College Program! So, as you can imagine, even though Chef Smith heads up restaurants in other areas of the country, the name Homecoming has an extra special meaning.

Homecoming sign

Homecoming sign

We’ll be back with our full review of this new spot next week, but in the meantime, we couldn’t resist sharing this FIRST LOOK with you.

Oh, and just look who dropped by to say, “Welcome!” [Read more…]

News! Homecoming by Chef Art Smith to Open on July 12th in Disney Springs

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Are YOU as excited about the impending arrival of Homecoming: Florida Kitchen and Southern Shine as we are?!

Coming Soon -- Homecoming: Florida Kitchen and Shine Bar

Coming Soon — Homecoming: Florida Kitchen and Shine Bar

Well, it looks like we’ll all get our chance to welcome Chef Art Smith’s newest restaurant to Disney Springs VERY soon… as in TOMORROW, July 12th!! [Read more…]

Review: The Coca-Cola Rooftop Beverage Bar in Disney Springs

By 16 Comments

Let’s all “Have a Coke and a Smile…” at the brand new Coca-Cola Store Orlando in Disney Springs!

Coca-Cola Store Orlando

Coca-Cola Store Orlando

You can’t help but notice the huge Coca-Cola logo in its classic font as you approach the building, which was purportedly built to resemble a Coca-Cola bottling plant in the 1920s. (Ummmm….okay…..? Bottling plants in the 1920s had super futuristic, floor-to-ceiling glass walls, then? If you say so, Disney.)

Featuring three floors dedicated to the iconic soda, the experience begins when you walk under the 30-foot-wide blown-glass chandelier, which was made from repurposed Coca-Cola bottles. It’s kinda like you’re inside a giant bottle of Coke, eh? [Read more…]

Menu Sneak Peek for Homecoming: Florida Kitchen and Southern Shine by Chef Art Smith

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The arrival is getting closer… Homecoming: Florida Kitchen and Southern Shine — an upcoming restaurant headed by Chef Art Smith — is coming to Disney Springs soon!

Coming Soon -- Homecoming: Florida Kitchen and Shine Bar

Coming Soon — Homecoming: Florida Kitchen and Shine Bar

Orlando My Way from WESH TV got a Sneak Peek at the space… and the MENU!

It’s all Southern fare and fun, starting with… well, the Starters! Items like Church Lady Deviled Eggs and “Bunch of Puppies” with Pimento Cheese (I. LOVE. HUSHPUPPIES!).

Church Lady Deviled Eggs @Homecoming FL, Twitter Account for Homecoming: Florida Kitchen and Southern Shine

Church Lady Deviled Eggs @Homecoming FL, Twitter Account for Homecoming: Florida Kitchen and Southern Shine

“Buns & Such” features a Fried Chicken Sandwich and a Fried Catfish Sandwich. But it’s the Main Plates that are especially eye-catching, I think. We’re gonna focus on the poultry here… what with Fried Chicken & DOUGHNUTS and Art’s Fabulous Fried Chicken on the menu! (Pair those up with some Cheddar Cheese Biscuits or Momma’s Mac and Cheese under the Sides menu!)

Fried Chicken @Homecoming FL, Twitter Account for Homecoming: Florida Kitchen and Southern Shine

Fried Chicken @Homecoming FL, Twitter Account for Homecoming: Florida Kitchen and Southern Shine

Last week we spotted Chef Smith himself checking out some artwork at the new spot…

Chef Art Smith checking out the artwork at Homecoming

Chef Art Smith looking at Homecoming

… and we can’t wait to welcome him — and Homecoming! — to Disney Springs SOON!

Which dish would you most like to try at Homecoming: Florida Kitchen and Southern Shine? Please let us know with a comment! 

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