Tips from the DFB Guide: The Best Spots for Coffee and Tea in Walt Disney World

Just a couple of years back, if you wanted to get a decent cup of coffee or tea somewhere inside the Big Purple Gates, you were out of luck.

With Nescafe on standby in most spots, the coffee outlook was dismal. And while Twinings teabags are available all over the place, there still wasn’t anything special about them.

But in the last few years, Disney has really stepped up their game in both the java and cuppa departments!

Today, we’re sharing one of our favorite tips from the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining — Where to Find Good Coffee and Tea in Walt Disney World.

Starbucks

By far, the biggest beverage news to hit Disney in the last few years has been its partnership with coffee giant Starbucks. Love them or hate them, you can’t dispute — they’re super popular.

Trolley Car Cafe –the home of Starbucks in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Seriously…there’s a reason for the queue ropes inside! Have you seen a Disney Starbucks on a busy morning? Madness!

The Line at a Disney Starbucks Can Get CRAZY Long

The first two Starbucks to open in Walt Disney World replaced established eateries — Main Street Bakery in Magic Kingdom and Fountain View in Epcot. Now you can stroll right up to Cinderella Castle with your Vanilla Latte in hand, or enjoy your Frappuccino in the shade of Spaceship Earth.

Fountain View Starbucks in Epcot

Two additional stores are located in Downtown Disney — one walk-up window nestled between entrances to World of Disney and a larger store in West Side, which boasts a Starbucks Reserve Counter.

Enjoying a Cup of Coffee on the Patio of Starbucks West Side

Trolley Car Cafe, the Disney’s Hollywood Studios Starbucks outlet, opened a couple of years ago, bringing the famous mermaid to Hollywood Boulevard.

Trolley Car Cafe is now open!

And shortly after Trolley Car threw open its doors, the final Walt Disney World store opened in Creature Comforts in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Starbucks in Animal Kingdom

Aren’t a fan of Starbucks? Joffrey’s is considered the “official” coffee of Disney World and still operates a number of kiosks throughout the Parks, where you can grab a cup of coffee or a selection of espresso drinks.

Great Spots for Tea

If you prefer tea to coffee, there are also some great spots for you to enjoy a cup. And we aren’t just talking about your grandmother’s cup of tea. 🙂

One of my favorite spots for tea is the [Read more…]

News! “A Cooking Safari with Mickey” Cookbook Coming Soon to Disney Parks

By Brooke 8 Comments

Pam Brandon and the Chefs at Disney have put together yet another cookbook to share some of our favorite dishes — and we have a feeling we’ll be adding this one to our shelves soon!

A Cooking Safari with Mickey will feature recipes from the restaurants of Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. The emphasis will be on the cuisine of South Africa and India.

A Cooking Safari with Mickey Cookbook Cover

Could it be…is it possible…we’ll finally have the secret to the incredible [Read more…]

Best Breakfasts in Disneyland

By AJ 13 Comments

Editor’s Note: River Belle Terrace no longer serves breakfast as of February 10, 2016, and is now a table service restaurant for lunch and dinner.

You’re in the Happiest Place on Earth — Disneyland!! And you’re ready to kick off a fun-filled day of park touring, thrills, and lots of character interaction. These are the streets that Walt himself walked, the Park that started them all!

But how do you ensure that your day gets off to a great start? By kicking it off with the most important meal of the day!

There are tons of iconic snacks and delicious meals that we love to enjoy every time we visit Disneyland. But there are also some terrific breakfast options, too. Today, we’ll take a closer look at some of our favorites.

Steakhouse 55

If it’s a leisurely, sit-down breakfast you’re looking forward to, you can’t go wrong with Steakhouse 55. Located in Disneyland Hotel, this restaurant has been around nearly as long as the Park itself. It offers a quiet and elegant way to start off a day of Disney fun.

Steakhouse 55 in Disneyland Hotel — A Quiet Way to Start Your Day

Sometimes, I really love the option to fill up on a big breakfast, and then snack or eat lightly through the rest of the day. And there’s a no more luxurious morning splurge than a beautifully cooked plate of New York Steak and Eggs!

New York Steak and Eggs

You can also customize your breakfast a bit and Build Your Own Omelette. Choose three from a list of fillings to make your breakfast totally unique.

Choose to Build Your Own Omelette

Add some of those delicious Roasted Potatoes, and you’ll be fueled up for hours of Disney fun.

River Belle Terrace

Other times, my first priority is to get into the Parks super early, and then find a bite to eat. After all, there’s something truly magical about being one the of the first people in!

When I’m more interested in touring than spending precious time waiting for my order to arrive, I head to River Belle Terrace. And actually, there are two reasons that this is one of my favorite Disneyland breakfast spots. First off, the patio area offers gorgeous views of the Rivers of America. For me, this is such a serene way to start my day.

View from River Belle Terrace

Although it’s a counter service spot, this isn’t food that you eat on the go. Comforting options like Biscuits and Gravy demand that you stop long enough to enjoy your meal.

Of course, you can’t enjoy breakfast here without at least one Mickey Pancake! Enjoying one while watching for the Mark Twain Riverboat to paddle by is Disney Bucket List stuff!

Mickey Pancake

But don’t pass up the chance to try the [Read more…]

News: Disney Valentine’s Day Treats Make the Celebration Extra Sweet

By Brooke 2 Comments

Nothing says “I love you!” like a giant pile of frosting. And some of our favorite spots throughout Disney World are featuring extra special love-themed desserts this weekend.

Cupcake lovers have lots of options. We think the Chocolate Raspberry Cupcake at Magic Kingdom’s Main Street Bakery should top the list. After all, what goes better with your favorite Starbucks beverage than a big chocolatey cupcake??

Chocolate Raspberry Cupcake at Magic Kingdom’s Main Street Bakery

But the Raspberry Panna Cotta Cupcake from BoardWalk Bakery also has us intrigued. It’s like two desserts in one, and reminds me a bit of the Master’s Cupcake at Be Our Guest Restaurant, which features Grey Stuff — Cookies and Cream Panna Cotta.

Raspberry Panna Cotta Cupcake from BoardWalk Bakery

If you like to have your cupcakes and eat them too (plus you’d like a couple other things), then head to the Beach Club Marketplace for the Sweetheart Dessert. It includes Cupcakes, Chocolate Covered Strawberries, and Chocolate Truffles. Best of all — there’s two of everything, so no sharing required. 🙂

Sweetheart Dessert from Beach Club Marketplace

If we had a vote right now for Disney’s cutest couple, I’m pretty sure that Lady and the Tramp would probably score in the top 3. So it’s fitting that they’re the face of amore on a cupcake at Disney’s Hollywood Studios right now.

Lady and the Tramp Cupcake

We had a chance to try this one for ourselves the other day, and it’s pretty adorable. Featuring Red Velvet Cake and whipped Chocolate Ganache Frosting, it’s also delicious. You’ll find it at The Trolley Car Café, Starring Rolls Cafe, ABC Commissary, Pizza Planet, Backlot Express, Studio Catering Co., Rosie’s All American Café, and Fairfax Fare.

Lady and the Tramp Cupcake — Inside

However, I personally want to drive to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge right now for some of these [Read more…]

Review: Flavored Popcorn in Epcot

By AJ 15 Comments

So, I’ve got some serious Disney Popcorn for you today. And I. Mean. Serious. Like, so serious that if you don’t have any room left on your Disney World snack list for your next trip, you have to bump something else.

We’ve heard for years about all of the awesome Flavored Popcorns that guests enjoy at the Parks of Tokyo Disneyland. (Dining in Disneyland columnist Heather Sievers got to try many and shared them with us in this recent post.) And of course, we’ve seen a little dabbling in the Flavored Popcorn genre in Disneyland, with the intro of fun flavors at Sally’s Cozy Cone Motel.

Gourmet Flavored Popcorn Options at Epcot!

But at Walt Disney World, we’ve been kind of stuck with the Butter Flavored or Caramel. There are pre-packaged flavors and some fun movie popcorn options. But as for fresh, flavored popcorn? Pretty much nada.

But not anymore!

Gourmet Flavored Popcorn at Epcot

There it is! Looks like just another Disney Popcorn cart, right? This one is right outside Journey into Imagination in Epcot. And it’s the ONLY one that we know of that furnishes these beautiful little snacks.

Gourmet Popcorn Cart in Epcot

And there’s that fresh Disney Popcorn…

Popcorn Cart From the Side

But then, you spy this — flavors!!!!! (And colors too!)

Epcot Flavored Popcorn Cart

The menu tells all — you have your choice of popcorn here. You can go with the Gourmet Flavors, or you can stick with the plain Disney Popcorn. Both options are also available in a Souvenir Bucket too, of course.

Gourmet Popcorn Cart Menu — Click to Enlarge

This was too good to pass up — so of course, I had to try all three! The savory flavor choices include [Read more…]

Dining in TOKYO Disneyland: The Chandu Tiger Tail

By Heather 9 Comments

One of the most adorable stars of Tokyo Disney Sea is this cute little tiger named Chandu.

Chandu with Bananas: In this scene of the attraction, the room is filled with the aroma of bananas, yum!

He plays Sinbad’s sidekick in Sinbad’s Storybook Voyage, which I fell in love with upon taking my first ride through.

[Read more…]

Review: New Menu Items at Animal Kingdom’s Local Food Cafes (Yak & Yeti Counter Service)

By Wendy 13 Comments

We’re taking a trip to Animal Kingdom’s Asia for lunch today, at none other than Local Food Cafes.

Learn About:Yak and Yeti Local Food Cafes

Animal Kingdom
Disney World Restaurants

This counter service spot is known by a few monikers, and might be best known as “Yak & Yeti Counter Service.” It sits directly next door to one of my very favorites eateries, the Yak & Yeti Restaurant (I’ve learned to live with my near constant craving for their Fried Wontons dessert). And indeed the full name is Yak & Yeti/Anandapur Local Food Cafes.

Name aside, it’s a convenient stop for anyone who has just faced the Yeti on Expedition Everest, or is looking to dry off in the sun after a drenching on Kali River Rapids. The focus here is Asian food featured in an assortment of rice bowls, salads, and wraps. In fact, today we’ll be sampling one of each, so please join us!

Local Food Cafes sign

Atmosphere

At first glance, the only thing you can really see are the ordering counters, and long lines here often accompany them.

Local Food Cafes

Local Food Cafes blends in so well with its surroundings that I often think people see the lines before they notice the ordering stations and menus.

There can be a brief moment of confusion for many guests who wonder where to go after receiving their orders, and that’s where a few more signs come in handy, pointing you to the right.

Sign to seating

That’s also where you’ll find your utensils and a fairly large assortment of condiments ranging from Soy Sauce, Duck Sauce, and Hot Sauce to ketchup and mustard.

Condiment cart

Utensils

A tip: there is hardly ever a line at the second cart towards the back seating, since most people have already stocked up at the first cart just past the ordering station.

It appears, at first, that seating is just one long row of tables right next to the Quality Beverages window (home of the Yak Attack!).

Immediate seating area

But the more you wind around, the more seating you’ll find. It goes on…

Seating

and on…

Seating

and on. All seating here is outside, though some of it is covered.

And, as always, there plenty of [Read more…]

Rumor: Is Chicken is Back on the Menu at ‘Ohana?

By AJ 17 Comments

It stirred up quite the controversy when the Chicken Skewers were removed from the menu last spring at ‘Ohana.

Learn About:‘Ohana

Polynesian Resort
Disney World Restaurants

This popular restaurant at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort features an assortment of meats grilled over an open-flame and served family style.

In recent months since the removal of the Chicken Skewers, featured meats have been Sweet and Sour Pork Loin, Szechuan Sirloin Steak, and Spicy Peel-and-Eat Shrimp. While chicken was still available in the form of Honey-Coriander Wings, it was no longer an entree.

However, as of today, we’re hearing anecdotal confirmation of a return as well as seeing chicken back under the “Skewers” menu at ‘Ohana on the official Walt Disney World website! Here’s a screen shot of the newly revised menu on the Walt Disney World website, listing Sweet and Sour Chicken. You may notice that the chicken dish has replaced the Sweet and Sour Pork Loin on the menu.

‘Ohana menu screen shot

We’ve also seen mention (and a picture!) of the chicken on the Facebook page of our good friend, Tikiman.

Grilled Chicken at ‘Ohana — photo via a Disney Food Blog guest author

Now, as always, things are subject to change and change quickly in regards to [Read more…]

Review: Cookes of Dublin at Disney World’s Downtown Disney

By AJ 14 Comments

We’re stopping in for a quick, midday bite to eat at Cookes of Dublin!

Learn About:Cookes of Dublin

Disney Springs
Disney World Restaurants

You’ll find this little fish and chips shop at Walt Disney World’s Downtown Disney, adjacent to Raglan Road Irish Pub. In fact, it’s part of that complex and shares a kitchen with the Pub.

Cookes has been a consistently reliable stop for a quick, hot meal every time we’ve visited. And we think they serve some of the best Fish and Chips around. But I simply can’t resist their Irish Vintage Cheese and Bacon Dip (and you shouldn’t, either).

But on a recent trip, we decided to branch out a bit and try a few other menu options! Let’s check out what we sampled this time out.

Atmosphere

You’ll find Cookes of Dublin around the corner from Raglan Road. If you’re coming from the Downtown Disney parking lots directly in front of Raglan Road, you’ll veer right, just past the gift shop and Hole in the Wall Bar.

Cookes of Dublin — Outside

As you wait in the queue to order, be sure to take in Cookes Philosophy. This spot is more quick service than counter service; you can expect a bit of a wait while your food is cooked to order, but it won’t take long.

Philosophy

This is a really, really small space, but it’s not without charm. Trim on the floor and the counter are vintage-looking tile in classic Slytherin colors (probably coincidental), and there are plenty of brass accents as well.

Cookes Ordering Counter

Once you place your order, you can proceed to the right side of the ordering area, where you’ll pick up condiments and fill your drink cups.

Condiments

You’ll find a full array of toppers for your meal, including some familiar favorites. After all, you can’t have [Read more…]

Sneak Peek! Ice Pop Frozen Cocktail Coming to the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival

By AJ 9 Comments

It is less than one month until Epcot officially welcomes Spring with the 2015 Flower & Garden Festival beginning on March 4, 2015!

Even among all the gorgeous topiaries and fun Garden Rocks Concert Series, what we at the DFB look forward to most is the Outdoor Kitchens. They’re similar to the Marketplace Booths at the Epcot Food & Wine Festival, offering plates and sips in appetizer portions allowing you to sample a wide variety of flavors throughout your World Showcase stroll.

And today, thanks to the twitter feed of L’artisan des Glaces, we’ve got a glimpse of a new offering coming to the Outdoor Kitchen in France: the Ice Pop Frozen Cocktail!

Ice Pop Frozen Cocktail © L'artisan des Glaces

It’s Grand Marnier Raspberry Peach, vodka, and iced tea. While [Read more…]

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