News! Princess Dinners at Ariel's Grotto in Disney California Adventure

News! Princess Dinners at Ariel’s Grotto in Disney California Adventure

Starting June 15, 2012

, Ariel’s Grotto at Disney California Adventure will offer character dining during dinner with Ariel and other princesses. Choose between breakfast, lunch, or dinner! While Ariel’s Grotto has offered fun character breakfast and lunch dining, princesses at dinner will be a welcome addition to this whimsical restaurant.

Each character meal will include music, yummy food, and Disney Princesses. Before you book, check out our Ariel’s Grotto review!

Dinner reservations are now available for booking via 714-781-DINE (3463) or email to [email protected].

NOTE: After June 14, 2012, “World of Color” dining packages will no longer be offered at Ariel’s Grotto.

Disney Food for Families: Ideas for Successful Table Time with Kids

By Erin 9 Comments

Let’s face it. When you’re in Disney World or Disneyland, eating out for nearly every meal, eventually there’s going to be some waiting around — waiting for your table, waiting for your food, waiting for the check.

The hobby horse parade at the Whispering Canyon Cafe is a great way for kids to blow off some steam.

In an ideal world, you’d pass the time by making polite conversation with your family. But in reality, that may be a tall order after several days of togetherness, forced sibling cooperation, and minding of manners. And for a younger child, patience and conversation making are simply developmental milestones that have not yet been reached.

Given all these challenges, how do you get through a Disney meal with happy, content, occupied kids? And how do you make sure of the following?

Everyone (children and adults) gets to eat at a comfortable pace,
Everyone sits at the table when they’re supposed to,
No whining or complaints, and
No one bothers guests at other tables.

It’s possible! First, we’ve got some things to consider when making your Disney Dining Reservations.

Then scroll down for ideas of how to keep the kids occupied and entertained at the table!

The First Step: Choose the Right Restaurants

Before making your dining reservations, take an honest look at your family. If your children are patently incapable of sitting still for a meal at your local diner, then you may want to save extended signature dining for another visit.

If your kids are generally OK at restaurants at home, but sometimes get a little squirmy, you may want to focus your dining on restaurants where noise and movement are the norm. These include buffets, character meals, and meals with entertainment.

The parade at 'Ohana also allows kids to get their groove on.

No one will notice if Junior needs to get up and stretch if everyone else in the restaurant is jumping up to [Read more…]

Tip from the DFB Guide: Free Tours at Animal Kingdom Lodge Restaurants

By AJ 20 Comments

We’ve added lots of fun and new dining info to our updated e-Book — The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2017. One of my favorite tips in the book is the recommendation of the free tours at the Animal Kingdom Lodge restaurants! Yep, free!

After you read all about this great Disney Dining Tip, learn more about our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining — including a limited-time discount code — here!

Animal Kingdom Lodge Restaurant Tours

The Animal Kingdom Lodge in Walt Disney World is known for quality table-service restaurants that offer some exotic menu items and exquisite African-themed decor. But there’s a way to explore the restaurants without actually dining in them!

Learn The Meaning Behind the Decor At Jiko Restaurant

Jiko, Boma, and Sanaa offer half-hour culinary tours each day! These tours cover some of the decor and meaning behind the architecture of the restaurants and also explain certain menu items. You may even get to sample some of the restaurant’s dishes.

You can see our review of the Boma and Jiko Tour here.

Seating at Sanaa

When you don’t have time to eat at each restaurant, [Read more…]

Review: Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano

By AJ 27 Comments

Learn About:Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano

Disney's Hollywood Studios
Disney World Restaurants

Today, it’s time to check back in on one of Disney’s more hidden eateries — Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

As I’ve observed before (and many of you have agreed), you just never know what you’re going to get when you dine at Mama Melrose’s. Sometimes it’s mundane, and sometimes it’s great — and it’s the “greats” that keep me going back for more! What will it be today? Here we go!

Atmosphere

Not much has changed in the atmosphere department since my last trip to Mama’s. We were greeted with the same general decor that we found on previous visits: warm, cozy, inviting, and slightly bizarre.

Atmosphere in Waiting Area

…The story goes that Mama came west from Italy to make her name in Hollywood. While the actress fame didn’t pan out, she opened her “Ristorante Italiano” and gained a place in the heart of her new city that way! And so, the interior reflects the journey from Italy all the way to Hollywood. Though I feel like there’s a hearty helping of New York City’s Little Italy in there, too.

Show Kitchen

We arrived on time for our Spring Break reservation, but we had a bit of a wait before our table was ready. (Full disclosure — I asked for one of the rare window-side tables so that my photos would come out a bit better, so that might have been why the wait was longer).

While we waited, the kitchen staff were busily assembling [Read more…]

Construction Update: Carthay Circle Theatre in Disney California Adventure

By AJ 2 Comments

The Carthay Circle Theatre is looking gorgeous in Disney California Adventure. Disney Imagineering has worked hard on the replica of this famed theatre in which “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” premiered in 1937. Check out these great pics that Heather got!

Carthay

We first reported on this construction back in 2009, and then learned at the D23 Expo that this venue will showcase an exclusive restaurant.

Acclaimed Napa Rose Chef Andrew Sutton is creating the menu, and we anticipate exquisite cuisine. The last time we dined at Napa Rose, Chef Sutton let us know that [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: April 15, 2012

By AJ Leave a Comment

We’ve had a fun week sharing the excitement of our new e-book! And check out those eats that we can look forward to at the Art of Animation’s food court, Landscape of Flavors. It’s not what you’d expect for food court fare…!

Mickey Fruit Tart at Art of Animation Resort

Disney Food News

The newest Disney food court, Art of Animation’s Landscape of Flavors, will open with an out-of-the-ordinary menu!
New Disney kitchen accessories! Exotic Animal Kingdom tableware plus Bamboo Mickey collection!
Disney Restaurant photo packages are part of the new PhotoPass+.
New cupcakes at Captain Cook’s at the Polynesian Resort in Walt Disney World.
New Gelato Popsicle Stand in Disneyland’s Downtown Disney.
Disneyland’s La Brea Bakery Café Introducing New Menu Items in Late May!
Disneyland restaurant reservations can now be booked via internet!! Find out how!
Free Disney World Dining Package offered by Virgin Holidays to UK guests for vacation dates in 2013!

We’ve got more delicious news on our Disney Food News Pin Board, where Disney Food News is updated on a regular basis!

Grand Launch: The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2012 e-Book

This week we announced the grand launch of the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2012 e-Book! It’s an instantly downloadable PDF guide, featuring over 310 full-color pages of photographs, information, and advice about our faves — food and dining in Walt Disney World.

We’ve updated our 2012 edition with over 60 new pages of details along with more photos, coverage of new Disney dining experiences, exclusive games, and more!

For our Grand Launch Sale, use code: 2012 to get a $4 discount this week only! Order your copy now at DFBGuide.com and use code: 2012 for your discount!

If you DID purchase the 2011 Guide and would like to purchase the 2012 Guide, we’ve got a special discount for repeat purchasers. Email us here to get a limited-time, one-use, exclusive discount code to purchase the 2012 Guide at a $6 discount. Please include the email address you used to purchase the 2011 Guide in the body of your email.

On to the Round-Up

Walt Disney World For Grown-Ups

stops by Scat Cat’s at the Port Orleans French Quarter resort.

Stuff From The Park looks back at a 1965 Carnation Cafe menu from Disneyland.

Studios Central finds extra hot dog carts around Disney’s Hollywood Studios to accommodate spring crowds.

AllEars.Net showcases South African wines featured at the Animal Kingdom’s Mombasa Marketplace!

Eating (and Drinking) Around the World displays construction photos of the Tutto Italia renovation.

Main Street Gazette stops by the Polynesian’s Kona Cafe to sample the Chef’s Choice dinner option.

Progress City, U.S.A. focuses on the evolution of Epcot’s culinary offerings!

Mouse on the Mind takes a look at unique bread services at WDW restaurants!

New Disney Kitchen Merchandise

By AJ 24 Comments

Disney’s always sharing fun new Kitchen merchandise and goodies! Here are a few we found on our recent treks to the parks!

Mombasa Marketplace

Bamboo Serving Set

On an expedition through the Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World, we uncovered these fun kitchen accessories at the Mombasa Marketplace!

This imported Bamboo Coaster Set will protect your surfaces with different Mickey designs. Set includes six coasters with five different Mickey designs in a durable 4 in. square!

Mickey Mouse Coasters

The imported bamboo platter is a fun serving plate for your next party!

Mickey Mouse Platter

Stir it up with a Mickey Mouse utensil, too!

Mickey Mouse Utensils

New Line of Mickey and Minnie Kitchenware

I thought this black and white pattern was classic and stylish! I found these at the gift shop at Port Orleans Resort, French Quarter, and also in several large Disney shops around the parks.

Time to brew some tea with this adorable teapot and character [Read more…]

Disneyland Dining Reservations Via Email Now Available

By AJ 4 Comments

Great news for us Disneyland food fans! Restaurant reservations can now be booked via email! Remember, reservations in Disneyland can be booked 60 days in advance.

Say Hello to Tigger at Minnie's Breakfast at the Plaza in Disneyland!

Here’s how it works:

Guests may now email their dining reservation requests to [email protected]
Requests will be reviewed the same day, when received during the hours of 7 a.m. – 9 p.m., 7 days a week
Requests received after hours will be reviewed the next day
Guests may request Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and Studio Disney 365 reservations through this email address as well
Email requests should include the following information:
1. Name of the restaurant or experience you’d like to book
2. Requested reservation date and meal period (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
3. Total number of guests in your party
4. Your name and phone number
Remember: Your request is not confirmed until you’ve received a confirmation number

See our list of Disneyland table-service restaurants here!

As always, you can also book your reservations by phone on the Disney Dine Line (714-781-DINE).

Thanks to the Disney Parks Blog for the details!

Disney Restaurant Photo Packages Now Part Of PhotoPass+. Is It Worth It?

By AJ 9 Comments

We can’t wait to share some of the great new dining info that you’ll find in our updated e-Book — The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2012! In honor of the grand launch, let’s dig in!

New PhotoPass+ Option

For starters, we’ll take a look at the recently released PhotoPass+ option! It’s a new way to get all of your PhotoPass, Disney Attraction, and Dining photos in one handy package. But is it worth it just because it gives you access to your dining photos?

A Photo Package at Cinderella's Royal Table. Add Your Family Here.

Of course we analyzed this for you! The $199.95 package can be a good option for guests that hail down lots of PhotoPass photographers or tend to really want to show folks back home what they looked like on Test Track, however it’s not [Read more…]

Guest Review: Cookes of Dublin in Downtown Disney

By AJ 20 Comments

Learn About:Cookes of Dublin

Disney Springs
Disney World Restaurants

We’re welcoming back Melissa Sue Sorrells Galley with a review of Cookes of Dublin!

I found myself sitting alone in my room at Pop Century with a free evening. It was getting late, and the parks were closing early, so I decided to take myself on a date to Downtown Disney.

When I got off the bus at Pleasure Island, I had no plans for dinner, but I knew I was hungry. The line for Raglan Road was daunting, and I wasn’t in the mood for Fulton’s, so I headed into Cookes of Dublin.

Pleasure Island

Cookes of Dublin

This hidden quick service gem is located right on the water at Disney’s Pleasure Island. You might walk right by it on your way to the Marketplace without even noticing it if you weren’t weak with hunger. But next time you head to Pleasure Island, make sure to keep your bellies empty and your eyes open because Cookes is worth [Read more…]

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