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Category: News

Grand Launch Sale! The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2013 e-Book

By 5 Comments

We’re excited to announce the grand launch of The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2013 e-Book! This valuable resource is fully updated for 2013 visits, and is now available for purchase and download to help you make the most of your dining opportunities while in Disney World.

The fully updated DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2013 e-Book is an instantly downloadable PDF guide, featuring over 400 full-color pages of photographs, information, and advice about our favorite things — food and dining in Walt Disney World.

It’s guaranteed to help you navigate your way to delicious dining on your next vacation! And if you’re ready to get yours now, head on over to DFBGuide.com to pick it up!!

For our Grand Launch Sale, use code: 2013 to get a $4 discount for a limited time! And at the end of this post, we have details on even more savings!

Note: If you purchased the 2012 Guide last year, scroll down for details on repeat purchase discounts.

What’s In The Guide?

As thousands of repeat customers already know, the Guide includes:

  • 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.
  • A comprehensive and in-depth look at Disney World restaurants, including our personal tips and tricks to ensure a positive and stress-free dining experience.
  • Free, downloadable worksheets for planning your trip. These worksheets are designed to help you execute all the steps of planning the perfect Disney dining experience. And they’re reusable for your next trip!
  • Seven sample one-day dining itineraries for a head-start on planning.
  • A comprehensive index of bars and lounges. An often under-appreciated option for both dining and entertainment, the e-Book devotes a whole index to the topic.
  • The ability to be read on your mobile device or computer! It’s fully portable right in your pocket!

While our 2012 Guide was very extensive, Disney World is always updating menus, prices, and other dining info. And we’re always finding new things to tell you about! So we’ve updated our 2013 edition with over 100 new pages of details along with more exclusive info! Check out a couple of sample pages below. Click to enlarge!

DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Sample Page

Samples Pages of the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2013

Here’s Just Some Of What You Get With Our 2013 Guide:

  • Over 100 NEW pages of Disney Dining information — 400 pages total!
  • A greatly expanded Disney Dining Restaurant Reviews section, covering all Disney restaurants, food kiosks, bars, and lounges
  • An updated Disney Dining Plan section and price analysis for 2013
  • NEW Disney food and restaurant photos
  • An updated Disney Snacks chapter for enjoying treats in the theme parks and resorts, one of the most popular Disney dining topics
  • An extended and updated section on birthday parties and specialty cakes in Disney World
  • A comprehensive, 10-page chapter of Disney Dining news and updates from the past year, including new restaurants, new menus, and more
  • Details about how the My Magic+ Planning System could affect your vacation planning
  • 11 Great Snacks you must try this year
  • Scavenger Hunts and Top 5 List updates
  • Updates on all pertinent facts such as dining hours, prices, resources, phone numbers, and restaurant closures/openings
  • All new restaurant additions, closures, refurbishments, and added dining experiences
  • And much more!

And the best part is: the price hasn’t changed! Our extensive Disney Dining information, fully updated and extended with 100+ extra pages and countless new details, will cost you the same amount that it did in 2012.

DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Sample Page

DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Sample Page

But, of course we’re offering a discount for our Grand Launch week!! To celebrate the launch and to thank you for your support of the blog, we’ll be offering the Guide for $4 off its standard rate for a limited time! Order your copy now at DFBGuide.com and use code: 2013 for your discount!

Should I buy the 2013 Guide if I have the 2012 Guide?

The 2013 Guide has entirely updated information, a greatly extended Disney Dining Restaurant Reviews section, over 100 extra pages and more photographs, an updated chapter on snacks, a 10-page “what’s new this year in Disney World” section, extended scavenger hunts, and more.

If you purchased the 2012 Guide and would like to purchase the 2013 Guide, we’ve got a special discount for repeat purchasers. Email me here to get a limited-time, one-use, exclusive discount code to purchase the 2013 Guide at a $6 discount. Please include the email address you used to purchase the 2012 Guide in the body of your email.

For more detailed information and screen shots from the e-Book, head over to DFBGuide.com! With a 100% money-back guarantee, you have nothing to lose! 🙂

Want Even Greater Savings? Here’s How!

Great three awesome e-Books bundled for over 30% off! Limited time only…

Three Great e-Books: Over 30% Off!

Our DFB Guide & Snacks Bundle offers:

  1. The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2013, PLUS
  2. The DFB Mini-Guide to Magic Kingdom Snacks, AND
  3. The DFB Mini-Guide to Epcot Snacks

All three are being sold together for the first time –and for a massively discounted price. Just $29.95 instead of the regular price of nearly $42.00.

Our Snack Guides vibrantly display and review over 250 Disney World snacks (!!), but also showcase some our favorite under-the-radar treats and eats in the parks. Get your DFB Guide & Snacks Bundle — including the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2013, the DFB Guide to Epcot Snacks, and the DFB Guide to Magic Kingdom Snacks — for over 30% off here.

Find out more about the DFB Guide & Snack Bundle here!

Thanks for your support of the DFB!

News! First Look at the New California Grill Menu at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

By 20 Comments

We previously brought you the news that California Grill, one of Disney World’s most popular dining spots, will be closing for a major renovation on February 1.

The signature restaurant, located high atop Disney’s Contemporary Resort, will be closed until late summer. In the meantime, Chef Brian Piasecki is already busily creating a new menu that blends classic dishes with fresh updates. Thanks to Disney Parks Blog, we’re getting a few first looks at a few of the creations. First up: sushi!

Although Yoshie Cabral, the restaurant’s beloved sushi chef, is retiring, sushi will continue to play a big role on the menu.

New Sushi Creations

Some of the new items aren’t fish at all, but take their inspiration from traditional Japanese dishes, like Japanese-style Bone Marrow with Crunchy Panko and Sweet Onion Jam and Beef Tartare. I can’t wait to try these!

Traditionalists will also find Sea Urchin Nigiri with Mamanori (soybean paper), Salmon Roe and freshly grated Wasabi Root.

More New Sushi Options

Meat lovers will find plenty to tempt their palates, too. The 24-hour Braised Beef Short Rib with Truffle Whipped Potatoes, Vol-au-Vent (puff pastry) with Roasted Vegetables and Natural [Read more…]

Guest Review: New Earl of Sandwich Macaroni and Cheese!

By 9 Comments

Welcome DFB guest author Jenna G. as she tells us all about the brand new Winter Special at Earl of Sandwich in Disney World’s Downtown Disney — Mac and Cheese!

Learn About:Earl of Sandwich
Disney Springs
Disney World Restaurants

For those of us braving the wintry weather in most of the country, there are some new cozy comfort foods at Earl of Sandwich that may make us all feel better!

Check out these Earl of Sandwich Winter Time Specials, available for a limited time only.

We tried the macaroni and cheese, which was medium in size and was a sharable snack between two.

Winter Time Specials -- Get 'Em While You Can!

As a connoisseur of great Walt Disney World macaroni and cheese (my favorite being the Truffle Mac & Cheese from Yachtsman Steakhouse) I will say that this wasn’t the best mac ‘n’ cheese. But I can easily see it being a favorite with children.

Macaroni and Cheese

For the price of $3.99, it provides great value and [Read more…]

UPDATES! Food Photos of Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Menu Items (Plus New Marketplaces!)

By 28 Comments

Awesome news! We’re just as excited as you are that FOOD will be featured at this year’s Epcot Flower and Garden Festival (March 6-May 19), and now we have PICTURES!!

UPDATE: See the full list of food and beverages available at the festival here!

Below, you can see the updated menu (with extra menu items AND marketplaces added in red in the lists below) and photos of some of the eats you can expect to find a the Festival! See this post for previous details!

Menu Items Will Include:

  • Dole Whip with Spiced Rum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Shrimp and Stone Ground Grits with Andouille Sausage, fresh Zellwood Corn, Tomatoes and Cilantro

Shrimp and Stone Ground Grits with Andouille Sausage, fresh Zellwood Corn, Tomatoes and Cilantro

  • Angel Food Cake with macerated Florida Berries

angel food cake with macerated berries

  • Watermelon Salad with Pickled Red Onions

Watermelon Salad with pickled Red Onions, Baby Arugula, Feta Cheese and Balsamic Reduction

  • Pulled Pig Slider with Cole Slaw

Pulled Pig Slider with Cole Slaw

  • Waterkist Farms Heirloom Tomatoes are paired with house-made Mozzarella, Minus 8 Vinegar and fresh Basil

Waterkist Farms Heirloom Tomatoes are paired with house-made Mozzarella, Minus 8 Vinegar and fresh Basil

  • Sweet “Frushi” made with Fresh Fruits and Coconut Rice
  • Hot Sun Tomato Wine, Watermelon Passion Fruit Cocktail, Orange Blossom Pilsner, and Blueberry Blue wine

Watermelon Passion Fruit Cocktail, Orange Blossom Pilsner (both Florida Fresh marketplace) and Blueberry Blue wine (Fruits by the Glass marketplace)

  • Nonalcoholic drinks will include chilled rose blush lemonade, frozen desert violet lemonade, and strawberry slush

Chilled Rose Blush Lemonade (The Cottage marketplace near UK pavilion), Frozen Desert Violet Lemonade (Pineapple Promenade marketplace) and Strawberry Slush

Marketplaces Will Include:

To showcase these goodies, 12 specialty themed marketplaces will be set up around Epcot. These will include:

  • Smokehouse Barbecue and Brew at American Adventure
  • Florida Fresh at the World Showcase Promenade
  • Primavera Kitchen in the Italy Pavilion
  • The Cottage: Savories, Trifles and Tea garden marketplace at the UK Pavilion
  • Pineapple [Read more…]

News! Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Menu Items Announced

By 25 Comments

UPDATE:

Check out this updated post featuring MORE menu items and PHOTOS of the food that will be available at the 2013 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival!!
____________________________________________

Awesome news! We reported late last year that the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival would be expanding their specialty food offerings this year. And according to the Orlando Sentinel, there have been a few menu items announced for the highly anticipated Garden Marketplace booths at the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival this year (March 6-May 19)!

For the first time, the Flower and Garden Festival will offer multiple food booths featuring regional goodies from the United States and some of the World Showcase countries.

Menu Items Will Include:

  • Shrimp and Stone Ground Grits with Andouille Sausage, fresh Zellwood Corn, Tomatoes and Cilantro
  • Angel Food Cake with macerated Florida Berries
  • Watermelon Salad with Pickled Red Onions
  • Baby Arugula, Feta Cheese and Balsamic Reduction
  • Sweet “Frushi” made with Fresh Fruits and Coconut Rice
  • Nonalcoholic drinks will include chilled rose blush lemonade and strawberry slush

AND….

Dole Whip with Spiced Rum!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, please!!

Marketplaces Will Include:

To showcase these goodies, 12 specialty themed marketplaces will be set up around Epcot. These will include:

Fun Find: A New Form of Gummy Bears at Epcot

By 4 Comments

I have a bit of a gummy bear addiction.

During a Walt Disney World visit in December, I was distressed to find that the epic giant gummy bears had completely vanished from Epcot’s Germany pavilion. Yes, I know that they’re readily available elsewhere, but I found it comforting to walk by and admire their shiny, sugary smiles each time I walked the World Showcase.

RIP Giant Gummy Bears -- now no longer available in the Germany pavilion

Fast forward a few weeks later to another trip and another loop around the Showcase. Still no giant gummies, but in their place was a new product, Choco Gomis, a dual layer chocolate bar with embedded gummy bears. I had never seen anything as glorious as this, even on my recent trip to gummy-centric Germany.

Obviously this was a must purchase item.

I bought both the blue and pink packages, thinking that they were different flavors, but as it turns out, they were exactly the same.

Opening the wrapper reveals a thin sliver of milk chocolate, topped by a more substantial layer of white “yogurt” chocolate. Nestled in each square is one perfect glossy gummy bear.

For the amount of candy you get, the bars are a little pricey, but the [Read more…]

Review: The NEW Sunday Brunch at Raglan Road Pub in Disney World

By 11 Comments

Sweet news out of Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant!

Learn About:Raglan Road Irish Pub
Disney Springs
Disney World Restaurants

We were thrilled late last year to bring you the news that they would begin serving Sunday brunch after the new year. After all, we here at Disney Food Blog have enjoyed both lunch and dinner at the authentic Irish pub immensely.

Later in the week, we will be bringing you more exciting news from Raglan Road about another fun meal option for Sunday dinner. But today, we’re excited to bring you the first look at all the delicious dishes we sampled at a recent media event celebrating the launch of The Rollicking Raglan Sunday Brunch.

Atmosphere

The atmosphere here is lots of fun. The pub really is an “Irish” Pub: some of the features were actually built in Ireland and shipped to Orlando for assembly.

Raglan Road -- Outside

The hostess stand is directly before you as you enter, and to the left, you’ll spy the pub patio, a great place to people watch during the mild Florida winter — or anytime of the year.

Entrance Foyer

You’ll want to check out the gift shop as well during your visit. Here you’ll find a wonderful stock of Raglan Road merchandise, but you’ll also find items that celebrate Ireland.

I keep promising myself that I’ll buy some of the beautiful sterling silver jewelry one of these days!

Gift Shop

There’s a reason that Raglan Road appears to be so authentic — it is. The bars and much of the interior woodwork came from churches and pubs in Ireland. The beautiful bars are more than 100 years old!

One of the Two Bars

The small platform in the center of the room becomes a [Read more…]

Fun Find: Phineas and Ferb Treats at Epcot (“The Doofenslurper!!”)

By 17 Comments

Several Epcot kiosks, including Promenade Refreshments where these came from, have some special offerings for Phineas and Ferb fans.

The three special items include an Agent P sugar cookie on a stick, a kids’ “Power Pack,” and the “Doofenslurper.”

The Power Pack, $7.99, includes an Uncrustables sandwich, carrot sticks, a Danimals yogurt, and a juice box, all served in a souvenir Agent P lunch box. This is a relatively healthy child’s lunch plus a great takeaway for one reasonable price.

But the thing I really wanted for me was the Doofenslurper, because how could you not want something called a Doofenslurper?

The Doofenslurper is frozen lemonade (more like a slushie) topped with a now ubiquitous fruity foam.

Doofenslurpering at Epcot!

As for the actual consumable, the lemonade plus foam concoction tasted like [Read more…]

News! A la Carte Menus at Pepper Market in Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

By 9 Comments

Recent changes at Pepper Market at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort have resulted in brand new lunch and dinner menus at the food court.

Learn About:Pepper Market Food Court
Disney World Restaurants

Over the past several months, Pepper Market has gone through a series of menu changes. Prior to December 2011, the counter service spot offered a unique cafeteria-style experience, allowing guests to select their meal from a wide array of items. In early 2012, the restaurant switched to a buffet service; and on January 1, 2013, the new a la carte menu went into effect.

While the restaurant’s popular all-day buffet (and never-ending burritos) is gone, the meal is still a Quick Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan, and the lunch and dinner menus are varied and interesting.

Pepper Market Entrance

Guests can still expect a healthy assortment of Mexican- and American-inspired dishes, including the popular burrito with steak, rice, and beans … and a lot of delicious cheese sauce!

The burrito at Pepper Market is a crowd pleaser.

Here’s a peek at the new, a la carte breakfast and dinner menus (lunch is still [Read more…]

Review: Limited Time Magic Golden Horseshoe Revue Dinner in Disneyland

By 8 Comments

Disney’s Limited Time Magic events have begun, and Disneyland is currently celebrating with “A Salute to the Golden Horseshoe Revue.” This is a nod to the original show that Walt Disney created in 1955.

The Golden Horseshoe at Disneyland

Show Details

The show features comedy, songs, and dancing set to a fun musical score that will make you want to dress up, put a feather in your hair, and learn to Can-Can.

Tables and Clean Glasses Available for Ladies!

Tuesdays through Mondays now until February 4th, the “flashback” show can be seen a few times a day with a special Annual Passholder only showing at 6:30.  The annual passholder show is $35 and you must make reservations in advance  though the annual passholders events line at  (714) 781-PASS.

The Annual Passholder show is a $35 ticketed event that includes dinner & reserved seating for the revue. If you’re not a passholder, stop at guest services to get a ticket to one of the earlier shows. 

Your Hostess for the Show: Miss Lilly

Golden Horseshoe Revue Tribute Show

Can-Can Dancers

Please note that the entertainment is exactly the same as the shows performed during the day. So, if you don’t feel a need to spend $35 or aren’t interested in the foods being served at the Annual Passholder event, I highly recommend you still go check out one of the Thursday through Monday tribute shows.

Eats

  • Starter: Corn chips in a souvenir Golden Horseshoe boot mug
  • Entrees: Black forest ham and roast beef sandwiches
  • Sides: Golden raisin and carrot salad, Yukon golden potato salad, Very Berry fruit salad
  • Children’s Menu (available upon request): 2 PB&J sandwiches with sides
  • Vegetarian Option (available upon request): Vegetable and cheese sandwiches with sides
  • Beverages: Mint Julep, water, coffee
  • Dessert: Walt & Lilly’s 30th Anniversary Celebration Cake

We started off with our table being adorned with Fritos in a boot. My absolute favorite item of the evening: Crunchy, salty Fritos served up in a take home souvenir Golden Horseshoe plastic boot (which I plan to fill with root beer floats at home in the near future).

Drinks were then served, bottles of water or a bottomless Mint Julep if you prefer. We shared one at the table [Read more…]

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