"How I Use My DFB Guide" Contest Finalists and Winner!

“How I Use My DFB Guide” Contest Finalists and Winner!

After devouring countless calories and seeking out the best eats in Walt Disney World, we gathered some of our best tips in our four comprehensive Guides to Disney World Dining.

We absolutely love your emails, tweets, and facebook notes telling us how much the guides have helped as you plan your Disney vacations, and we wanted to share your stories! So we asked to hear from YOU once again about how you use the guides in our “How I Use My DFB Guide” Contest.

A huge thanks to everyone who sent in their stories! We’re super excited to announce our contest finalists and the winner. We loved these responses so much that we decided to give ALL 13 of our finalists their choice of a free DFB Disney Dining Guidebook! And the winners will get a little extra something to remind them of their past and future Disney adventures! 🙂

How Do YOU Use Your DFB Guide? Finalists

Mickey Ice Cream Bar

We loved the story of this little princess enjoying one of her first (of many, I hope!) Mickey Premium Bars!

Attached is a photo of our daughter enjoying one of her favorite snacks at Disney – we used the DFB guides to select the best frozen treat for her. You can see she loved it. -Dustin

Mickey Bar Smiles

Enjoying a Mickey Bar!

Kaki Gori
This story of a hot day, a cool treat, and a couple of smart cookies easily made our finalist list!

When my Fiance and I took our first trip to Disney World together last year, it was SWELTERING! While meandering the World Showcase and sweating like a beast, I remembered reading about something in the DFB Dining Guide that would eventually be our savior: Kaki Gori! I would have never known about it without you!

Attached is a pic of us enjoying this delicious icy treat. Thanks, DFB for saving us from the heat, and for turning my tongue a lovely shade of red. 😉 -Sandy

Kaki Gori on a hot day!

Dole Whip
Thanks to Sam for sending in this awesome story of the beginning of what I know will be a [Read more…]

Review: Black Forest Cake Roulade at Epcot’s Sommerfest

By AJ 7 Comments

I’ve always spied the desserts at Sommerfest in Epcot’s Germany with envy. Apple Strudel, Bavarian cheesecake, and…Black Forest Cake Roulade! For any cherry and chocolate lover (like yours truly), this was a must-try…

Atmosphere

Located just off to the side of Germany’s picturesque cobblestone town square, Sommerfest has all the look and feel of a 16th century German town. You will feel like you’ve left Florida behind as you walk among the buildings, smell the sausages and sauerkraut, and hear the polka music wafting in.

Sommerfest in Epcot's Germany Pavilion

There are a few tables inside, but this is a great spot to grab a bite and eat outside al fresco style.

Eats

Sommerfest really is a hidden gem among the counter service options in World Showcase. You can choose from a couple of sausages (Bratwurst or Frankfurther), both served German-style with sauerkraut. And those lovely hand-twisted pretzels (NOT the same as the other Disney soft pretzels, mind you) is also an option.

But today was the day I was finally going to indulge in that Black Forest Cake Roulade I’d been eying for a year or so.

Sommerfest Menu - Click to Enlarge

A rolled cake, sandwiched together with whipped cream around a cherry compote, and then covered in chocolate flakes. You totally want to dig in, right?

Black Forest Cake Roulade

The outside was coated with [Read more…]

News! 2013 Disney Dining Plan Pricing and Updates

By Kim LaPaglia 93 Comments

Details for the 2013 Disney Dining Plans are being unveiled!

You can see updated pricing for the 2013 plans below (thanks to reader Pudge the Fish for this!). And there are price changes as well as clarifications that you need to know about if you’re planning a 2013 trip.

The major stand-out seems to be that Le Cellier in Epcot is listed as two table service credits for both LUNCH and dinner meals.

2013 Disney Dining Plan Pricing

As always, the price has gone up on many of the plans. See calculations below…

Quick-Service Dining Plan
(all year long)
$37.58 per night ages 10 and up
$14.32 per night age 3 to 9

2012 was $34.99 and $11.99.

See more info on the Quick Service Dining Plan page.

Be Our Guest Restaurant will be a new addition on the 2013 Disney Dining Plan

Standard Dining Plan
(Value and Regular Season)
$55.59 per night ages 10 and up
$17.16 per night age 3 to 9

2012 was $51.54 and $15.02.

(Peak Season)
$56.94 per night ages 10 and up
$18.16 per night ages 3 to 9

2012 was $53.54 and $16.02.

Read all about the Standard Dining Plan!

Deluxe Dining Plan
(Value and Regular Season)
$99.97 per night ages 10 and up
$26.84 per night ages 3 to 9

2012 was $85.52 and $23.79.

(Peak Season)
$102.27 per night ages 10 and up
$28.91 per night ages 3 to 9

2012 was $89.52 and $25.79.

We’ve got all the details on our Deluxe Dining Plan page.

Le Cellier Lunch

The 2013 brochure now shows Le Cellier Steakhouse in Epcot as a two table-service credit restaurant for lunch! Since March 2011, the restaurant has been a one-credit location for lunch and a two-credit location for dinner.

Other Clarifications

There have been a few changes made to the Disney Dining Plan brochures for 2013 as well.

Special Dining Events
The brochure this year spells out clearly that “special dining events with special menus offered at certain table-service locations” are not included in the [Read more…]

Epcot Food and Wine Festival Belgian Waffle Recipe

By AJ 3 Comments

Belgian waffles have been a staple of the Epcot Food and Wine Festival for the past two years, and I thought it would be fun to feature the Disney Belgian Waffle recipe as we countdown to the 2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival!

The Belgium Booth at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival

We’ll feature a few more recipes as we continue the countdown to September 28th! If you try them out, be sure to let us know! 🙂 Stay tuned to our 2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival pages for all the latest details…

Belgian Waffle with Berry Compote and Whipped Cream

Belgian Waffles with Berry Compote and Whipped Cream

Serves 4 (makes 8 4×4-inch waffles)

Belgian Waffles
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon dry active yeast
1 1/2 cups [Read more…]

Disney Food for Families: Getting Kids to Try New Foods at Walt Disney World

By Erin 19 Comments

It’s no secret that my daughter Louisa is more than a little produce averse. There was a period of about four years when NO fruit or vegetable crossed her lips, and even now at age 12 she still has to be cajoled into having more than a bite or two of something as innocuous as sweet potato or banana.

Frozen bananas, a gateway fruit.

So you can imagine my surprise when, on a recent trip to the Animal Kingdom’s Yak & Yeti restaurant, she consumed nearly the entire plate of wok-fried green beans we had ordered for the table. It was one of those parenting moments where you hold your breath and move slowly so as to avoid breaking the spell.

Yak & Yeti wok-fried green beans. My hero!

Those Yak & Yeti yummies didn’t turn Louisa into an inveterate bean eater, but she is now occasionally willing to nibble on a tempura string bean if we’re out for Japanese. Based on our prior track record with legumes, I’m going to count that solidly in the win column.

The Theme Park Food Effect

What was it about the Yak & Yeti beans that made Louisa such a fan? Yes, they were quite tasty, and yes, the green part was handily obfuscated by a crunchy, yumtastic fried breading coating; but we had tried similar ploys in the past to no avail. My theory is that the Yak & Yeti beans were flavored by the spice of (cue the orchestra) The Theme Park Food Effect.

Much like campers will say that meals eaten on the trail are the BEST, you know that their experience is colored by the fact that their senses are overwhelmed and they’re starving from an [Read more…]

First Look! 2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Merchandise

By AJ 25 Comments

More Epcot Food and Wine Festival info comin’ your way!!

While we wait for the 2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival menus to be revealed, let’s take a look at some of the merchandise that will be sold at this year’s Festival scheduled for September 28 – November 12.

According to the DisneyParks Blog, Disney’s Event Merchandise department has created some unique items for this year’s event.

Pins and Vinylmation

First up, I HAVE to show you these limited edition pins. Cranberry bog fans will want to collect the Mickey Mouse in a cranberry bog version… Now, I ask you, WHY does Mickey get to go in the cranberry bog and I DON’T?!??!

I’ve been asking Ocean Spray on twitter (@OceanSprayInc if you’d like to petition for me) for months to let me get in the bog, and, alas, no answer…

2012 Food and Wine Vinylmation and Pins

Also showing up in pin form: The main logo pin features Chip and Dale. Disney Vacation Club members should look for a Minnie Mouse pin, and Annual Passholders might want to pick up the new Figment pin (!!!!) — yes please.

Vinyl fans will love that limited edition Vinylmation figure! The 3-inch figure features Tony from “Lady and the Tramp.” Designed by Billy Davis, the edition size is ONLY 2,500.

Signature Artwork This Year

Check out this piece – it’s the signature artwork element that will be used on some of the merchandise pieces like cutting boards, trivets, spoon rests, coffee mugs, and coasters. (Looks like we also get a sneak peek at what the Marketplace Passports will look like!)

2012 Food and Wine Festival Artwork

Drinkware

Two drinkware pieces that will be showcasing the festival logo include a wine glass and light-up tumbler.

(Yes, I am getting a light-up tumbler and you can’t stop me. I’m putting it on my tray when I walk through the festival. Yes, I bring a tray to the festival.)

2012 Food and Wine Merchandise

Apparel and Other Kitchen Items

Look for the following “sketch” on kitchen items like [Read more…]

Guest Review: Tutto Gusto in Epcot’s Italy Pavilion

By AJ 19 Comments

Let’s raise a glass to Lisa Davis for this fabulous review of Tutto Gusto’s wines, cheeses, and more! Tutto Gusto is a new wine bar serving small plates and meals in Epcot’s Italy pavilion.Tutto Gusto

Wine Cellar in Epcot’s Italy Pavilion is the second venue of its kind in Epcot. Having experienced the joys of drinking and dining in Mexico’s La Cava del Tequila, my husband and I anxiously awaited the opening of Tutto Gusto.

We were finally able to visit in early June, one month after it officially opened.

Tutto Gusto Entrance

Tutto Gusto is much larger than La Cava del Tequila, but still retains a small/intimate atmosphere. The decor and lighting help to make you feel as if you just walked into the wine tasting room of a winery in Italy. (Editor’s Note: See a photo tour of Tutto Gusto here!)

You can sit at a table in the main area by the food case and wine display, or in a more intimate setting by the fireplace. There are several table sizes to accommodate different sized groups.

Fireplace Room at Gusto

Gusto Seating

On our visit, we were able to walk right in and be seated, which was a pleasant surprise considering the wait times we typically have at La Cava del Tequila. There were two greeters at the entry — whom we initially walked right by on our way in — to provide us seating options.

Since it was just the two of us, we chose a loveseat by the fireplace. On a side note, we believe we came at a great time, having arrived at 7 p.m. on a Friday, just after a severe late-afternoon thunderstorm that cleared the park.

The fireplace area is separated from the [Read more…]

New! Pineapple Coconut Cupcake at Epcot’s Sunshine Seasons

By Kim LaPaglia 8 Comments

Learn About:Sunshine Seasons

Epcot Restaurants
Disney World Restaurants

Woo! You know we like to keep you updated on all of the snacks in Disney parks, and we love when readers send pics and updates to us when they’re in Disney World and Disneyland!

Thanks to Susan T. (who also found the fabulously popular King Cupcake at Pop Century), we’ve got a review of a brand new one!

Spotted inside Epcot’s Land pavilion at the Sunshine Seasons food court was a pineapple coconut cupcake. What a fun, summery treat! (We’ve also seen a pineapple coconut cupcake earlier this year in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.)

Pineapple Coconut Cupcake

Selling for $3.99 or a Disney Dining Plan snack credit, this concoction has a creamy pineapple frosting, is topped with toasted coconut, and is garnished with 2 small pieces of fresh pineapple.

Susan informs us that it tastes like pineapple upside down cake, but with [Read more…]

Disney World Cheese Plate Gallery

By AJ 31 Comments

FINALLY!!

After several years…and lots of cheese…we’ve finally put together a list of many of the cheese plates found in Walt Disney World restaurants!

Cheese from Tutto Gusto in Epcot's Italy

For those who have never had a cheese plate in a Disney World restaurant, here’s a little Disney cheese plate primer:

Cheese plates are often offered as both an appetizer and a dessert
They usually provide small samples of three, four, or five cheeses
Cheese plates are served with accompaniments like dried fruits, nuts, compotes, honey, and small pieces of toast or crackers
The samples are usually arranged from mild to strong, with a veined blue cheese almost always at the end of the line

You’ll find goat milk, cow milk, and sheep milk cheeses with varied aging processes and preparations. If you’re dining in a themed restaurant, the cheeses may be themed as well (e.g. Cheeses from California).

I can highly recommend pairing just about anything with honey or dried raisins on the vine. 😉 In fact, I usually ask my server to bring an extra side of honeycomb since I nearly always run out.

Another tip: always ask for more little toasts. Even if you’re NOT sharing with a dining partner, you’ll still run out.

We’ve had many requests for this type of post — there are a lot of cheese lovers out there — so I hope this is helpful. Note that plates change often, so you may find different cheeses and accompaniments on your visit. Please share your reviews and experiences in the comments section below!

Epcot

Les Chefs de FrancePlateau de fromages de France

My very favorite cheese plate in all of Disney World is found here, at Chefs de France. The creamy, delicious cheeses in large portions could probably be a meal in themselves!

Imported cheese board $14.50. Available at lunch and dinner.

Cheese Plate

Le Cellier
Assortment of Artisanal Cheese
accompanied with Chef’s Selection of Dried Fruits and Preserves $14.00. See our review!

Cheese Plate

Boulangerie Patisserie
Cheese Plate
Get a similar plate to the one in Chefs de France over here at the [Read more…]

Disney World Free Dining Package for Fall 2012

By AJ 73 Comments

Editor’s Note: The Free Dining promotion has been extended until December 20, 2012. Source: MouseSavers

Disney World’s Free Dining Promotion is back for Fall 2012! The promotion is available for the following dates and is currently for Disney Visa Cardholders ONLY. The package is expected to be available to the general public on Thursday, July 12th.

Disney World Free Dining Fall 2012 Dates

Book the free dining package if checking in on the following dates. Guests must book by September 29, 2012, and availability is limited. Book by calling 407-W-Disney.

9/30/12–10/4/12
10/19/12–11/1/12
11/9/12–11/15/12
11/23/12–11/29/12
12/10/12–12/13/12

A 3-night minimum stay is required (14 nights is the maximum stay). A minimum 2-day park ticket must be purchased for each guest in the room, and a $200 deposit must be [Read more…]

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