There are so many unique eats at the Tokyo Disney Resort. In this post, I’ve complied most of the items my family tried on our recent trip. Rather than do individual posts on each thing, here’s a mega post featuring them all! Ready, let’s go to Tokyo!
Review: Sweet Potato Nuggets at Magic Kingdom’s Golden Oak Outpost
The last time we visited the Golden Oak Outpost in Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland, it was for a Fry Feast, trying out their revamped menu featuring loaded Waffle Fries.
Because my hands (and tummy) were full of fries that day, I didn’t have the chance to sample the other new addition to the menu at that time: Sweet Potato Nuggets. Before the fry takeover, you may recall that Golden Oak Outpost offered Corn Nuggets dusted with Powdered Sugar for a short time. So today we’re back to finally check out the newest nuggets on the scene.
You’ll see the Sweet Potato Nuggets on the menu underneath the variety of Waffle Fries. By the way, where there were previously four types of fries, you’ll now see three (the Tex-Mex Fries didn’t make the final cut).
Golden Oak Outpost menu
At first glance, the Sweet Potato Nuggets looked a bit like the Corn Nuggets (save for the color), thanks to the helping of powdered sugar dusting the top.
Sugar-dusted nuggets
But where the Corn Nuggets featured a separate fried batter surrounding creamed corn, the sweet potato nuggets are nothing but sweet potato. Once you bite in, you can easily see that [Read more…]
First Look! 2015 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival MUST-EAT Treats!
It’s HERE!! Spring has sprung and the 2015 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival has officially begun, bringing all the topiaries, musical fun, and FOOD along with it!
We’ve been spending the day taking in the sights, and — more importantly 😉 — all the tastes at every single one of the Food Booths! You can see the full menus for this year’s booths here!
For the third year running, the Flower and Garden Festival is offering Outdoor Kitchens (food booths similar to the Food & Wine Festival Marketplace booths), with a springtime focus on fresh-from-the-garden flavors.
Now, we’d like to show you some of the best of this year’s best! So, grab your passport and LET’S GO!
2015 Flower and Garden Passport
Botanas Botanico
has made its debut! This Outdoor Kitchen is brand new to the Festival this year, featuring South American dishes, with an emphasis on Venezuelan classics. You can find it between the France and Morocco Pavilions.
Botanas Botanico
We’ve got two standouts here that we want to let you know about right away! Cachapas con Queso is a sweet yellow corn pancake topped with Farmer’s Cheese. This just-sweet-enough dish is pleasantly rich, too.
Cachapas con Queso
The White Corn Arepa doesn’t disappoint, either, with the tasty braised beef providing lots of bang for the buck.
White Corn Arepa
That said, we’re happy to say that everything at this new booth was fresh and delicious!
Quinoa “Naanwich” and Kale Salad
Head to Urban Farm Eats for the Quinoa “Naanwich,” a nice vegetarian surprise packed with flavor, thanks to the arugula pesto and sun-dried tomatoes.
Quinoa Vegetable “Naanwich” with Arugula Pesto and Oven-Dried Tomatoes
A salad as a DFB favorite? Who woulda thunk 😉 ? We were pleasantly surprised by the full range of flavors presented in the Kale Salad with the dried cherries and goat cheese, along with a nice crunch from the hearty helping of almonds.
Kale Salad with Dried Cherries, Almonds, and Goat Cheese with White Balsamic Vinaigrette
We also reeeeeeally enjoyed the Crispin Blackberry Pear Cider here, finding it fresh, and fairly dry.
Crispin Blackberry Pear Cider
The Ice Pop
It was love at first sight — and taste! — with the Ice Pop cocktail-on-a-stick at Fleur de Lys! A cold and delicious mix of Grand Marnier Peach Raspberry Liqueur, Vodka, and Iced Tea — all wrapped up in a nostalgic package!
A Grown-Up Ice Pop Debuts at the Fleur de Lys Outdoor Kitchen in the France Pavilion
Pineapple Dog
You do NOT want to miss the Pineapple Dog at Pineapple Promenade! We’re happy to declare it as outrageously good, thanks to the [Read more…]
YOU MUST EAT THIS: Warm Peanut Butter Brownie at Epcot’s Sunshine Seasons
This past Sunday was National Peanut Butter Day!! But, you guys know that around here, every day is peanut butter day, so… I couldn’t wait to tell you about this ah-mazing snack I tried last week!
It’s at Sunshine Seasons, which is one of the best counter-service joints in Epcot. It’s home to yummy breakfasts (including their Croissant Berry Bread Pudding), healthy grab and go eats, and dinners that rival many table service meals.
It’s also THE place for some fabulous snacks in Epcot, including Strawberry Shortcake, the Red Velvet Whoopie Pie, and one of my favorite carrot cake cupcakes on property.
But, now, I’ve found something that puts all of that to shame. I’d heard rumors about this awesomeness, and — FYI — they’re TRUE.
Warm Peanut Butter Brownie
Check out the Warm Peanut Butter Brownie.
Warm Peanut Butter Brownie in the Container
Honestly, it doesn’t look like much at first glance. But, you can see that the Brownie Batter is swirled with Peanut Butter. So that’s awesome. A thin Caramel Glaze adds another element to the top.
Warm Peanut Butter Brownie — Up Close
But then, you cut into it and you see that there’s far more here than meets the eye initially. Inside, you meet with a thick ribbon of [Read more…]
News! Planet Hollywood Will Be Re-imagined to Fit the Disney Springs Look
If you’ve found your parking spot by using Planet Hollywood’s giant globe-meets-spaceship as a landmark, get ready for a change.
As we mentioned in a previous post, we now have confirmation that the iconic restaurant will be undergoing a major transformation in the near future. The makeover will take place to ensure that the restaurant’s decor is consistent with the rest of Disney Springs. (Read more about the transformation of Downtown Disney to Disney Springs here.)
The star-themed eatery will transform into Planet Hollywood Observatory, and will be modeled after a turn of the century (20th century, that is) observatory, a feature that a town might have had at the time.
The new motif will incorporate a high-tech planetarium inside, thus enabling guests to “dine among the stars.”
But if you’re sad to see the Hollywood memorabilia go, don’t be. Much of it will stay put, as the restaurant and lounge will still feature props and costumes from film. In addition, large movie screens will play movie features as you dine. (You can take a look at the current atmosphere and menu in our review here.)
Current Planet Hollywood
The outside area will also transform with brick surrounds, and the pole that has hosted the neon “Planet Hollywood” sign will be turned into a [Read more…]
What’s New Around Walt Disney World: March 3, 2015
We’re taking a quick trip around all four Disney World Parks and then making stops at several Resorts, where a lot of food news seems to be taking place as of late!
But we’re starting our “World”-wide tour at Downtown Disney, and taking a peek at how things are shaping up as the transition towards “Disney Springs” continues on. And we may even take a sneak peek at something coming to our friends in Disneyland on the west coast.
Disney Springs mural
So, are you ready to see What’s New? Good! Because in the words of Peter Pan, “Here we GOOOOOOO…”
DOWNTOWN DISNEY
Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC
Okay, so we’ve mentioned it a couple of times recently, but that’s because we’re happy that BabyCakes has a new home in Downtown Disney! Located at The Landing of what will be Disney Springs, Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC has been up and running since 1 pm on Sunday, February 22nd.
Erin McKenna’s Bakery storefront
Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC
Erin McKenna
Samoa Donut
Featuring gluten-free and vegan baked goods, this is great news for guests on some dietary restrictions. Read our opening day review here!
Flour and Sugar
Speaking of baked goods, Flour and Sugar is a little kiosk that can be found on the newly opened Marketplace Causeway. It sells pre-packaged cookies inspired by various cities in the Sunshine State.
Flour and Sugar
We tried the Siesta Key Key Lime S’more, and we’ll have a review here for you soon!
Key Lime S’more
Disney Springs Construction
All in all, things really seem to be picking up speed in Downtown Disney with the Causeway completed, allowing an easy stroll from spots around T-Rex to the Rainforest Cafe side at the Marketplace.
The Marketplace Causeway
Light post on The Marketplace Causeway
Disney Springs sign
We’ll be sure to take a little tour along the path when we’re back with our Flour and Sugar review! The next thing we have our eyes on? Look for [Read more…]
WDW Swan and Dolphin Resorts Announce Spring Savings and Easter Character Meal
As the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival gets underway, we have more spring news for you.
Pineapple Dole Whip
If you’re still looking for a place to stay while you attend the Festival, you’ll want to check out the springtime savings available at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts. From March 4 – May 17, 2015, guests will save up to 40% off!
For guests vacationing April 1-8 at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel, a full schedule of Easter-themed activities awaits. With meet-and-greets with the Easter Bunny, glow-in-the-dark and traditional Easter egg hunts, bunny hop races, arts and crafts, and a poolside showing of the movie HOP, the young and young-at-heart will find plenty to do when taking a break from the enchanting gardens in Epcot.
Other featured experiences during the week include a special Easter Bunny basket delivery to the room on Easter morning and an Easter dinner buffet at Garden Grove Cafe with Disney character appearances on Sunday, April 5, at 5PM. Additional costs apply for both.
This resort is within easy walking distance of both Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and provides [Read more…]
Review: Territory Lounge at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort
We are headed back to Territory Lounge! FINALLY!
The lounge, located in Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort, is pretty much the definition of awesome when it comes to Disney resort bars and lounges.
We’ve talked about the pub grub here in the past, and it’s no secret that every time I stay at WL I find myself down here at least a few times. So during a recent stay I was excited to dig in and share the latest updates with you.
So kick back for a relaxing visit. Let’s begin by taking a look around.
Atmosphere
You’ll find the Territory Lounge tucked off to the left side, way past Whispering Canyon Cafe, as you enter the lobby of Wilderness Lodge. It’s fully separated from that animated restaurant, so don’t let its close proximity put you off. It’s fairly quiet in here.
Bar Area and Round Table Seating
There’s sort of a nostalgic hunter’s lodge feel about the Lounge, matching the feel of the whole resort. Wood paneling, paintings of wildlife, and antiqued walls give that sense that you’re in a bit of a man cave.
Rich Colors and Comfortable Seating Make the Space Inviting
Americana Decor and a Cozy Loveseat Make for an Inviting Space
Intimate tables for two along the wall offer that “didn’t-get-here-early-enough-to-get-the-easy-chairs” seating. 😉
Intimate Seating Along the Paneled Wall
I love the shadowboxes that hang just above these tables. They’re full of interesting expedition objects, and the faint glow provides nice light.
Cool Shadowboxes Use Old Expedition Tools as Decor
But, of course, I always seek out the comfy seating in a Disney lounge, and Territory doesn’t disappoint. Curling up in these easy chairs with a nightcap seems like the perfect way to end a Disney Day.
Comfy Chairs and the Framed Flatscreen
Be sure to check out these guys, too! The carved bears [Read more…]
Disney Food Post Round-Up: March 1, 2015
As Downtown Disney continues to transform to Disney Springs, we are thrilled to report on the return of BabyCakes NYC products where Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC now resides. This is huge news for Walt Disney World guests with special diets!
Erin McKenna’s Bakery is now open
And while many of us are experiencing freezing temperatures, we can’t help but dream about visiting the 2015 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival. This year’s Outdoor Kitchens have some exciting menus sprouting up!
For all the details on the above news and more, just click on the links below!
Disney Food News
- First review and photos for Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC in Downtown Disney. Great news for fans of BabyCakes NYC!
- We have full menus for the Outdoor Kitchens, coming soon to the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival at Walt Disney World!
- Bradley Falls at Disney World’s Animal Kingdom is featuring a Thai Pork Sandwich with Asian Cucumber Slaw on the current menu.
- Is Aloha Isle in the Magic Kingdom closing? This rumor may become reality. Get your Dole Whip at Sunshine Tree Terrace!
- Macadamia Nut Treats for sale at Disney’s Polynesian Village.
- New Communication Cards — let the waitstaff know if you want to participate (or not) in the antics — at Whispering Canyon Cafe.
- New Disney cookbook hits the shelves at Disney Parks.
- The Cinderella Premium Popcorn Bucket is coming to Hollywood Studios in March to celebrate the release of the “Cinderella” live-action film!
- New menu items debut at Raglan Road at Downtown Disney Orlando.
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 restaurant closures, Dining Events at Four Seasons Orlando, Fairfax Fare at Disney’s Hollywood Studios no longer serving breakfast, Special Menus at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen for Orange County Restaurant Week, New Menu at Maya Grill, 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!
Do you start your morning with a Disney coffee mug? Yep, we thought so!
Facebook Friend Nicola showed us this “cup of magic”. Yum!!
A cup of magic
And Eugene, another Facebook Friend, shared his brew in a Starbucks mug from Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Do you have a favorite Disney Food find? Share your photos with us!
The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2015
We recently launched The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2015 e-Book! This valuable resource is fully updated for 2015-16 Disney vacations, and is now available for purchase and download to help you make the most of your dining plans while in Disney World.
The fully updated DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2015 e-Book is an instantly downloadable PDF guide, featuring over 490 full-color pages of photographs, information, and advice about our favorite subjects — food and dining in Walt Disney World.
It’s guaranteed to help you navigate your way to delicious dining on your next trip! And if you’re ready to get yours now, head on over to DFBStore.com to pick it up!!
For our Grand Launch Sale, use code: 2015 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 2014 Guide last year, scroll down for details on repeat purchase discounts.
Here’s Just Some Of What You Get With Our 2015 Guide:
- Over 490 Pages of Disney Dining and Planning information, tips, reviews, and recommendations!
- An in-depth Disney Dining Restaurant Reviews section, covering all Disney restaurants, food kiosks, bars, and lounges
- An updated Disney Dining Plan section and price analysis [Read more…]
Review: New Menu Items (and Lots of Fresh Cocktails!) Debut at Raglan Road Irish Pub in Time for St. Patrick’s Mighty Festival
at Downtown Disney continues to be one of my favorite spots to gather with friends.
Although the major overhaul of the Downtown Disney / Disney Springs area makes getting here more difficult, I think it’s worth the time and effort to make it happen.
You’ll find Raglan Road right in the front of what was formerly known as Pleasure Island, but what is slowly morphing into The Landing at Disney Springs. Indeed, so much work has taken place in this area (finally!) that you’ll hardly recognize it if you haven’t been there for a while. Let’s take a quick look at the immediate area, and also have a little look around the Pub before we settle in for the food talk.
Atmosphere
So…how long’s it been since you visited Raglan Road? Because the landscape around the Pub has definitely changed a bit. At least, for the time being. If you’re accustomed to approaching Raglan Road from the (previously) adjacent parking lot, you might be a little disoriented.
Raglan Road — Outside, with Construction Walls
We actually parked in the completed West Side Parking Building, and the exit brings you out in front of Planet Hollywood. From there, it’s just a short walk, past some of the new Disney Springs shops, to reach Raglan Road.
Don’t let all of those construction walls put you off. Once you’re inside, it’s exactly the same, and you’ll start to feel that sense of the familiar as you step into the foyer.
Entrance Foyer
The gift shop is located to the right. You’ll find a good assortment of Raglan Road merch, but there are also some interesting items that would make awesome gifts.
Gift Shop
You can choose between two bars. And be sure to leave yourself plenty of time to look around — the bars and other trim in the pub were actually salvaged from pubs, churches, and other spots in Ireland. That sense of nostalgia and antique? Totally authentic.
One of the Two Bars
Raglan Road is pretty large, boasting three separate dining rooms, plus a snug and a few inviting corners. For a more extensive tour, check out our most recent lunch review.
Recently, I had the chance to sample some of the new menu items that Raglan Road has introduced just in time for St. Patrick’s Day.
Eats
The staff of Raglan Road were excited to share some delicious new dishes with us. To showcase them, we enjoyed a sampling of several new items at a recent luncheon.
Dinner Menu — Click to Enlarge
Raglan Road fans will be relieved to see that a lot of their favorites, like Dalkey Duo and Nom Nom Wings, made the cut.
Menu — Appetizers — Click to Enlarge
Likewise, there are a couple of new Entree options that we’ll look at, but all of the signature items remain.
The New Dinner Menu — Entrees — Click to Enlarge
Menu — Salads and Sides — Click to Enlarge
While what you see here may not be plated in exactly the same way it was for us when you order it, you’ll get the idea from the pictures of the fives courses we enjoyed.
We also have several drinks to show you. Don’t worry; what you’re about to see was a team effort, and not my own personal parade of drinks. 😉 To keep things straight, I’ll share the cocktails as they were served — paired with each course.
We began our meal with an aperitif, an Irish Honey Cup. The refreshing drink combined Bushmills Irish Honey, Pimms, Fresh Lemon Sour, and Sprite for a little sparkle. The drink was garnished with Cucumber and Fresh Lemon.
Irish Honey Cup
We began with Harry’s Beef Carpaccio, a combination of Seared Beef Tenderloin with a side of Greens and Tomato, simply dressed with Creamy Anchovy Vinaigrette. The dish is garnished with freshly shaved Parmesan…
Harry’s Beef Carpaccio
…and an Anchovy Filet. I confess, this wasn’t my favorite part. But others seemed to enjoy it. And it was certainly a showstopper!
Anchovy Garnish on the Carpaccio
Our next course would be an [Read more…]
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