WDW Foodie Fest: Two New Event Dates Announced!

With Disney Food Blog’s second annual WDW Foodie Fest just a month away, I’m excited to announce the dates for two more events during our week-long celebration of Disney food! Check out the schedule of events here!

WDW Foodie Fest

Join the Disney Food Blog team during the first week of the 2011 Epcot Food and Wine Festival as we gather to celebrate Disney food! With several events to choose from, we hope we’ll get to see all of you at least once!

Currently we have four WDW Foodie Fest events scheduled (with one more possibly on the way)! Personally, I can’t wait for the main event on October 2nd at Disney’s Beach Club Resort.

Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011: WDW Foodie Fest Main Event

We’ll be at our very own private location — Ariel’s in Disney’s Beach Club Resort — from 11am-1pm enjoying the comforts of [Read more…]

Disney Cruise Review: High Tea at Palo

By Heather 7 Comments

Dining in Disneyland columnist Heather Sievers brings us on Board the Disney Magic’s Mediterranean Cruise for High Tea at Palo!

Although this was my third Disney Cruise, my husband and I had never had a chance to dine at The Disney Cruise Line’s upscale (and kid-free) Palo. We’d heard amazing things, but were always so happy with our dining room experiences that we never strayed from our nightly servers. I now ask myself, “What the heck were we thinking?!?”

Palo is an Adult Exclusive Restaurant Located on Deck 10 Aft

On this last cruise, an 11-day Mediterranean Cruise, we had not one, not two, but three chances to visit Palo; and honestly, I wish we had made even more reservations than that. Each visit was for a different meal. We tried the brunch (amazing), we tried the dinner (amazing), and we also visited the High Tea. This was my first “fancy” official type high tea and I will tell you this: high tea at Palo would be hard to top.

High Tea Place Setting

High tea is offered on sea days only and reservations are a must. It takes place at 3:00pm and will set you back a mere [Read more…]

2011 Halloween Snacks Materialize in Disney Parks

By AJ 13 Comments

Hmm… last I checked the calendar it was August, but in “Disney time” that means Halloween is right around the corner! Check out these not-so-spooky treats Heather and I found in Disneyland and in Disney World! One question, though — why is Mickey’s tongue hanging out on all of the logos? Weird. On we go…

I’m usually not a fan of the pre-packaged, hard-icing sugar cookies, but these might be too cute to pass up.

Sugar cookies

And here are a couple of treats for the candy corn lover! We didn’t try them, but gummy candy corn smelled oddly of butter….yep, I said butter. Next time you’re in a Disney candy store, see if you can find a bag and smell ’em. Would love to hear from anyone who’s tried them!

gummy candy corn and regular candy corn

If Halloween cookies and cupcakes are your thing, grab these [Read more…]

Review: Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort

By AJ 23 Comments

Learn About:Narcoossee’s

Grand Floridian
Disney World Restaurants

It’s quiet, it’s refined, the food is decent, and it’s one of those “hidden gems” when it comes to seeing the Magic Kingdom fireworks!! What more could you ask for? 😉

Narcoossee’s boasts prime real estate at the Grand Floridian resort on the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon and has some of the best seafood on Disney World property.

Atmosphere

Getting to Narcoossee’s can be a bit of a trick — maybe that’s why it’s still not all that difficult to get an ADR here!

The restaurant is located at the end of the Grand Floridian transportation boat dock, which means it’s about as far from the front door of the lobby (and the monorail) as you can get! If you wind up taking a boat there, it’ll be easier; but since Narcoossee’s is a signature dining location, you’ll likely be a bit dressed up, so a boat from the theme park might not be the best choice. 😉 Once you arrive at the lobby, ask a Cast Member how to get there. It’s much easier than trying to follow signs or a map.

Narcoossees Sign

Upon arriving at the restaurant, you’ll walk past the Chef’s vegetable and herb garden, which lines each side of the entry sidewalk to the resort. (Oh yeah, remember that Narccoossee’s is outside the main lobby, so bring your ‘brella if [Read more…]

Katsura Grill, Rogue Food & Wine Booths, and More Changes in Epcot’s Japan Pavilion

By AJ 3 Comments

Andy over at Eating (and Drinking) Around WDW got the inside scoop on a bunch of news coming out of the Japan pavilion in Epcot! Here are the main subjects, but be sure to head over to his site for details!

Katsura Grill and Gardens Replaces Yakitori House

The Yakitori House, now closed for refurbishment, will reemerge as Katsura Grill (menu will stay essentially the same, Andy says), and the beautiful gardens next door will be refurbished as well!

The Yakitori House in Epcot's Japan Pavilion Will See Some Changes

Japan Food & Wine Festival Booth Being Used as a Stand-In Counter-Service Spot

Those of us familiar with the Japan Booth will recognize the structure and sign here! It’s serving a limited menu of [Read more…]

News: Disney World Price Hike on Soda Pop

By AJ 21 Comments

Along with the counter service price hikes noted in the parks this past week, we’ll also be paying more for our soda pop fix as well.

Pop Varieties

We heard via twitter from Epcyclopedia today that soda pop prices have risen by $.40 per cup. Old Fountain Drink Prices: $2.19 and $2.49. New Fountain Drink Prices: $2.59 and $2.89.

Studios Central reported that soda pop was $2.79 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Backlot Express (which has refill stations that guests are able to access).

While price hikes aren’t necessarily “news” in Walt Disney World (they’re pretty much an expected standard at least once per year, right?), your family might drink enough soda pop over a week-long visit to have this make a difference. If your family of four purchases five drinks per person, per day, for seven days, that’s [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: August 28, 2011

By AJ Leave a Comment

We’re sending prayers and well wishes to those braving the storm on the East Coast! Stay safe, all!

We’re back from Disneyland and have loads of fun reviews for you! From garlic cheese bread to hot link corn dogs to some of the best roasted pigeon we’ve ever tasted — stay tuned for some more great Disneyland food coverage over the next several weeks!

In the meantime, here’s the news…

Latest Disney Food News

New restaurants and restaurant revitalization is coming to Main Street, U.S.A., in Disneyland. Watch for the Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe and more!
Gourmet hot dogs are on the menu at Fairfax Fare in Hollywood Studios.
The dates for Disney World Free Dining being offered for 2011-2012 have been changed and new booking codes were released. Check to see if your dates are now listed! (Any bookings under the original codes will be honored. No worries!)
New menu items have been unveiled at two Magic Kingdom restaurants –- Cosmic Ray’s and Columbia Harbour House!

Reminder: The DFB Mini-Guide to the 2011 Epcot Food & Wine Festival e-Book Now Available!

Our mini-guide includes over 130 pages of information about this year’s Festival! It’s written as a planning guide for veterans of the festival and those visiting for the first time!

One of our favorite bonus items is a daily schedule to help you plan your most delicious adventures!

You can get your own copy of our new mini-guide here! Remember to use code CHEF for $2 off the regular price! 😉

Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic Menu Now Available

Have you booked your tickets for the second annual Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic in Disney World? It’s coming up on October 7-8 — we’ll be there, and hope to see you!

They just released the menu for the event with dozens of stations showcasing eats and sips from the resort’s restaurants. See the full menu here!

On to the Round-Up!

A Snow White Sanctum

digs up rare Texas Electric recipe hand-outs featuring Snow White. Thanks to George Taylor at Imaginerding for the heads up!

Walt Disney World For Grown-Ups visits Casey’s Corner!

The Healthy Voyager eats vegan in Epcot.

disZine outlines the latest information about Grand Gatherings ending in January 2012.

Main Street Gazette laments over the simple foodie pleasures that we all delight in at Disney destinations.

Yesterland recounts the Yacht Bar in Disneyland’s Tomorrowland. (It’s gonna take me a while to get all of Yesterland’s great historic material into the round-ups, but I’ll get there… mark my words… .)

Chip and Dale Pretzels: The Ultimate Take-Home Snack

By Erin 12 Comments

Disney Food for Families columnist Erin Foster sings the praises of her favorite Disney treat.

Other Disney snacks are more luscious, richer, chewier, and chocolate-ier. I have a place in my heart for some of these sultry sirens (I’m talking to you Disney fudge). But when it comes time to choose a snack to take home with me, I’m going with the Chip & Dale pretzel every time.

Snack-size bag.

Yes, it’s a packaged pretzel. In most cases, it’s the most basic of snack foods, hardly worth mentioning; but if it’s a Chip & Dale pretzel, then it’s so much more. Truly this is the ultimate in [Read more…]

New Specialty Hot Dogs at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

By AJ 13 Comments

Learn About:Fairfax Fare

Disney's Hollywood Studios
Disney World Restaurants

Studios Central recently spotted some new menu items at Fairfax Fare in Disney’s Hollywood Studios! Specialty hot dogs!!

Gourmet Hot Dogs are being served with chips for $8.19 each plus tax. Choices include:

Macaroni & Cheese and Truffle Oil

Barbecue Pork and Coleslaw

Burrito Dog with Lettuce, Tomato, Cheddar, Jalapeno, and Sour Cream

Fairfax Fare - Gourmet Hot Dogs

I think that Mac and Cheese dog is going to [Read more…]

Guest Review: Shutters at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort

By AJ 8 Comments

Today we welcome back D.J. Jones with our very first Vero Beach Resort review — take a look at Shutters Restaurant! Feel free to join in more of D.J.’s adventures at his blog The World of Deej.

On the final evening of our recent trip to Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, my wife and I were faced with a food dilemma. Do we keep things casual and have the final meal of our trip at Shutters, or do we go out with a bang, as we’d originally planned, and dine at the more upscale Sonya’s?

Given that I had not worn shoes of any kind in over three days, I was in no mood to put on flip flops, much less get “dressed up;” therefore Shutter’s became the obvious choice.

Shutters Restaurant -- photo copyright Disney