Tips from the DFB Guide: Don't Miss These Holiday Events in Disney World!

Tips from the DFB Guide: Don’t Miss These Holiday Events in Disney World!

Summer may have just officially started, but we are already thinking of the Holidays at Walt Disney World!

Sounds crazy, I know, but we’re just over 180 days — six months! — until the holidays are in full swing, and NOW is the time to make dining plans for your holiday meals — but it’s also the time to consider what other fun activities you’ll enjoy at Walt Disney World this holiday season.

To jumpstart your planning, today we’re talking about some of our favorite Tips from the DFB Guide to the Holidays at Disney World: Three Holiday Events that you can’t miss!

And speaking of the DFB Guide, don’t get to take advantage of our 180 Days Til Christmas Sale! Through June 28, we’re offering three great ways to save when you pre-order the 2015 DFB Guide to the Holidays at Walt Disney World. Check out all of the details about the sale here!

Now, let’s take a look at some of our favorite holiday events that you should definitely plan on working into your Disney holiday calendar…

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

Snow on Main Street USA and life-size Toy Soldiers? That’s part of your reality when you attend the long-running and beloved Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

This hard-ticketed event takes place during select evenings from November 8 until December 18, 2015, this year, and brings all of the joy and warm fuzzy feeling of Christmas and the holiday season to Magic Kingdom.

Toy Soldiers During the Once Upon a Christmastime Parade!

During the event, guests enjoy special entertainment and character meet and greets. Complimentary cocoa and cookies fuel you up for all the fun. And there are TONS of special, exclusive treats that you can enjoy only during the Party!

Snickerdoodles and Hot Cocoa

And be sure to grab a front row seat for Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade, which features Santa as well as some of your favorite Disney holiday characters. And, of course Anna and Elsa will be there!

Holidays Around the World

Looking to observe the holidays with international flair? Then an evening at Epcot for Holidays Around the World will fit the bill nicely. Enjoy a stroll around Epcot’s beautiful World Showcase as storytellers from around the globe share seasonal tales within several of the pavilions — free with Epcot admission!

Père Noël

And if you didn’t score a seat for the [Read more…]

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…]

First Look and Review: The New Vivoli Gelateria in Disney World’s Disney Springs

By AJ 13 Comments

Welcome to your newest cold snack stop in The Landing at Downtown Disney… Vivoli Gelateria (also known as Vivoli Il Gelato)!

Of course, calling it a “cold snack stop” hardly does it justice. For a brand new place on the Disney dining scene, it’s rich with a history that began in Florence, Italy, in 1932, when Raphael Vivoli became one of the founders of the business.

Vivoli Sign

Plus, that little “cold snack” we’re referring to is gelato crafted using many ingredients such as cocoa powder, pistachio, and hazelnut directly from Italy.

Just a few flavors in store

I can’t wait anymore! Let’s [Read more…]

News: Disney World Plastic Cheese Sauce Removed From Condiment Bars

By AJ 62 Comments

Say it ain’t so…

Plastic Cheese dispenser

Seriously? My beloved PLASTIC CHEESE (otherwise known as “Hot Cheese Sauce,” but whatever…) will no longer be offered on Disney World Counter Service restaurant condiment bars?!

As much as it pains me to say it, it DOES [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: June 21, 2015

By Brooke Leave a Comment

Happy Father’s Day to all of you out there who are celebrating today!

Zuri’s Sweets Shop Opens in Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Today, we’re sharing all the news that you might have missed this week, including important openings, interesting new treats, and some brand new experiences. Check it out!

Disney Food News

A brand new culinary adventure is available for DVC members, and booking opens tomorrow! Stay tuned to DFB for details!
We have a first look at Zuri’s Sweets Shop, which opened in Disney’s Animal Kingdom — and we include a review of their new poop candy! (It’s deeeeelicious!)
Creature Comforts, the new Starbucks in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, also opened this week. We take you on a photo tour of this new java stop.
Disney World is testing free taxi service for guests traveling to signature restaurants.
Clam Chowder in a Bread Bowl has returned to Walt Disney World. We review Min and Bill’s version of this favorite dish here!
In our latest installment of Epcot Food and Wine FAQs, we give you advice on how to budget for this year’s festival.

Check out all the latest Disney Food News — even the stuff we don’t mention in posts on the blog! — on our Disney Food News Pin Board, including menu updates, restaurant closures, special events, and more!

We’ve got all the latest for you, so check it out before you go.

DFB Reader Finds

If you find a fun new food — or other edible awesomeness — in or about Disney, share a photo with us on facebook or twitter so we can add it to our DFB Reader Finds each Sunday!

Today, we’re featuring Comfort Foods!

Melissa Edmonds Kruep shared this wonderful shot of the Meatloaf at T-Rex. She says it’s Amazing!

Meatloaf at Walt Disney World’s T-Rex

Beth Kahline Scott just celebrated her honeymoon at Disneyland with this delicious meal — Three-Cheese Monte Cristos and Pommes Frites from Cafe Orleans! The PERFECT celebration meal, IMHO!

Three-Cheese Monte Cristo and Pommes Frites from Disneyland’s Cafe Orleans

Do you have a favorite Disney Food find? Share your photos with us!

Deal of the Week: 180 Days ’til Christmas Sale Now Through June 28!

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, now is the time to book! And we can help you plan every meal.

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!

On a budget? Find out how to make those dollars stretch all around Disney World. Our DFB Guides 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!

Check out our 180 Days ’til Christmas Sale to discover three great ways to save for a limited time!

As always, thanks for your support of DFB! We couldn’t do this without you!

On to the Round-Up!

Mickey Fix

is giving away a Dooney and Bourke bag! Check out all of the details on their website — but hurry! The deadline to enter the drawing is June 29.

Eating (and Drinking) Around the World highlights the big news that the Ocean Spray Cranberry Bog will return to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival this year.

Disney Parks Blog shares the special Inside Out-inspired options available right now at Disney California Adventure’s Award Wieners.

WESH TV explores the Dine with Animal Specialists Experience at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Resort.

And it’s always fun to take a look at what’s new on Cake Wrecks. This week — fantastic Disney Cake Fails.

Nerdy Nummies whips up some Carbonite Cheese and Crackers — the perfect snack for your next Rebel get together! (Get the molds she uses here.)

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…]

News: Disney World Testing Free Taxi Service to Signature Restaurants

By Kim LaPaglia 18 Comments

Disney is currently testing a new transportation method — complimentary direct taxi service — for guests dining at select signature restaurants while staying at Walt Disney World monorail resorts!

Monorail Orange at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Until June 30, 2015, some guests at the monorail resorts (Grand Floridian, Polynesian, and Contemporary) will be selected to participate in this Disney dining test. Those invited to participate will receive complimentary round-trip vouchers delivered to their room.

Participants will have the option of enjoying direct taxi transportation to [Read more…]

First Look: Zuri’s Sweets Shop — and the Poop Candy! — at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

By AJ 27 Comments

Editor’s Note: The “Match the Species” Treats at Zuri’s Sweets Shop — aka the “poop” candy — is no longer available. Cast Members at the spot have said that it was only available as a test. We’ll let you know when/if we see it return!Zuri’s Sweets Shop

is open for business in Harambe Market at Disney’s Animal Kingdom!

Zuri’s Sweets Shop

And we are so excited to give you a little tour! But there’s a particular treat at this candy shop that may not be for the faint of heart… .

Of course there’s plenty of animal-themed candy and confections here at Zuri’s, but when your eye lands on the poop-themed candy?

Giraffe Poop

Let’s take a little look around the shop, and then we’ll give you our full review of [Read more…]

Photo Tour: Animal Kingdom Starbucks Now Open

By AJ 16 Comments

Starbucks opened today

in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, completing the line-up of Starbucks locations in Walt Disney World parks (the others being Magic Kingdom’s Main Street Bakery, Epcot’s Fountain View, and Hollywood Studios’ Trolley Car Cafe along with Downtown Disney’s two locations).

On a recent tour of the building’s exterior (formerly a merchandise store), we noticed what looked like coffee beans added to the design elements. Africa is one of three main regions from which Starbucks sources their coffee!

As you approach the Starbucks from the front of the park (located between Discovery Island and Africa), this is the first Entrance of two that you will encounter.

Starbucks Entrance and Peter, a Super Helpful and Friendly Cast Member Decked Out in the Team Uniform

You’ll notice that the name “Creature Comforts” has stuck, which kind of make sense, right? I love the two little monkeys with their coffees flanking the sign. 😉

The Store’s Official Name is Creature Comforts. And Yes, They Do Serve Monkeys Apparently.

But just in case you’re not sure where you are, a subtle mermaid logo sign is posted near the door.

With [Read more…]

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