Guest Review: Breakfast at Disneyland's River Belle Terrace

Guest Review: Breakfast at Disneyland’s River Belle Terrace

Join me in saying Aloha once again to Mark Hickson – Disney fan, former Disney Imagineer, Hawai’i resident food blogger – and now comfort food reviewer! Thanks, Mark for sharing this article with our readers!

Can you say “Comfort Food“?

One of the best places to get a hearty breakfast is at the famous River Belle Terrace. World famous for their signature Mickey Mouse pancakes, they also serve my favorite Eggs, Sausage, and Pancakes. You get 3 scrambled eggs, 3 sausages, and 3 pancakes, all done to perfection. Add a hot cup of coffee and you are set!

River Belle Breakfast

One thing that has always been consistent is the quality of the pancakes served here. The grill is set at the perfect temperature so no matter how long the cakes are on the griddle they are never, never overcooked.

Back in the 90’s I asked a cook there what the griddle temperature was. She said only her Area Supervisor knew and that it took over an hour to warm it up right. It is continuously cleaned and [Read more…]

Disney Food for Families: Fun Without Characters

By Erin 18 Comments

When first-time families think of dining at Walt Disney World, the main thing that comes to mind for fun is character meals. After that, they’re at a loss about ideas for amusing places to eat. What to do?

No worries; even if character experiences aren’t on your agenda, there’s still plenty of fun to be had dining at Disney. These spots are particularly good if you have children of different ages in your party. The younger kids will be having a great time, even if their older siblings are “too cool” for characters.

Here’s the primer on getting the fun…without the fur ;-)! We have focused on restaurants that have entertainment and shows, spots that have entertaining waitstaff and themes, and places that have great kid-friendly (and interesting!) “views.”

Restaurants with Entertainment

These spots have a live show, movie, or something else that will hold your kids’ attention while they eat. Most of them are interestingly themed as well.

Dinner at the Dine-In

Sci-Fi Dine-In, Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Sit in a car-shaped table, facing a movie screen, just like you’re at an old-time Drive-In movie. The movies playing are campy clips from 1950s and 60s science fiction gems like Plan 9 From Outer Space and Attack of the 50 Foot Woman.

Along with film snippets, you see drive-in promo pieces such as a dancing hot dog advertising the refreshment stand. The movie reel is totally silly, and for many kids, this is the only way they’ll get to experience this classic slice of Americana.

The best part? Your kids can order the Picnic Burger — a hamburger AND hot dog in one! See a recent Disney Food Blog Sci-Fi Dine-In review here.

Raglan Road, Disney Springs
Visit in the evenings and be treated to Irish bands and step dancers on the center stage.

It’s the best of all possible pub experiences, with great food and a gargantuan [Read more…]

Super Bowl Eats in Disney World

By AJ 9 Comments

Lines to get in on Game Day

While you may immediately think of chicken wings (hubba hubba!) at ESPN Club on the Boardwalk for Sunday’s big game, there are plenty of other things going on in Disney World this coming Sunday!

If you’re lucky enough to be in Disney World this weekend, check out your options, my friends…

ESPN Club

The ESPN Club at the Boardwalk is adding outdoor bleacher seating and some big screen TVs for the folks who don’t make it inside the restaurant (the line is always around the block on this one!).

ESPN Wide World of Sports

The mecca for sports in Disney World will be ready for an influx this weekend! The ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill will be open throughout the evening. And over at the Welcome Center, Disney World guests can watch the game on the Jumbotron and dine on wings, nachos, and drinks from two different bars. Watching is free, eating/drinking is not.

Disney Resort Restaurant Menus

But if you’re like me and you can’t be talked out of chicken wings and nachos, a few of the Disney Resort dining locations are adding some of your favorite game-day snacks to their menus on Sunday!!

All-Star Resorts

The All-Stars will add chicken wings and nachos to their [Read more…]

Review: Fife and Drum Tavern Features Classic and Rare Disney Treats

By AJ 20 Comments

The American Adventure pavilion in Epcot is not a place one necessarily associates with great food, but you’d be surprised how many special little treats you can find here!

This is the only spot in Epcot where you can pick up a funnel cake (and the seasonal pumpkin spice funnel cake!), the shop here often sells interesting and classic American candy, and the Fife and Drum Tavern has become the epicenter of some of Disney World’s most beloved treats!

Atmosphere

The Fife and Drum is basically a permanent kiosk at the “outskirts” of the American Adventure pavilion in Disney World’s Epcot.

Fife and Drum Tavern

There are two ordering windows, and guests are expected to take their eats and sit at the sea of tables that lies between the Liberty Inn counter-service restaurant and the Fife and Drum.

Eats

What I’ve realized in the past couple of months as Fife and Drum has added to their menu is that this spot seems to be a magnet for Disney food cult favorites as well as obscure, random items! Classics like turkey legs, popcorn, and cream cheese pretzels are coupled with rarities like the American Dream slushie and frozen Jim Beam Red Stag lemonade!

Fife and Drum Menu - click image for larger version

Let’s go through some of the fan favorites and random options on the menu to get a better feel for what you can order at this little hot spot of Disney food goodness…

American Dream slushie

Currently, this spot is one of the only spots in Disney World where you can get the American Dream slushie, a mixture of strawberry and raspberry slushies and soft serve vanilla [Read more…]

News! “The Cupcake Store” Kiosk Now Open in Disneyland’s Downtown Disney

By AJ 4 Comments

Great news for California-bound cupcake lovers! The Cupcake Store has opened another kiosk in Anaheim’s Downtown Disney District!

Many of you will remember when the company opened up a kiosk in Downtown Disney in 2009, and it looks like they’re back with even more offerings this year.

Cupcake Store Kiosk

Heather headed out there last night to snap a few pics. The store is offering several flavors of individually packaged cupcakes.

A few items on the menu

I think the Lemon cupcakes look amazing, but those red velvet and chocolate ones look pretty fantastic, too!

Lemon and Pure Vanilla

red velvet and pure chocolate

Of course there are plenty more to choose from — just take a look at these!! [Read more…]

Guest Review: Grand Floridian’s Afternoon Tea at the Garden View Lounge

By AJ 29 Comments

We’re welcoming back guest author Melissa Sue as she shares a review of the Grand Floridian’s afternoon tea!

My husband, Rob, and I headed to the Grand Floridian for an afternoon tea experience in December.

Grand Floridian

Atmosphere

After hopping off the monorail we found the waiting area for the Garden View Lounge, which is located on the bottom floor of the Main Building lobby. The waiting area is extremely charming — though too small — and has Beauty and the Beast characters Chip and Mrs. Potts inlaid into the tile floor. How cute!

Mrs. Potts is the perfect Disney touch outside the tea room!

This Chip won’t blow bubbles in your tea!

The check-in podium was easy to locate and well-appointed. Unfortunately, there were only two seats in the waiting area, so we were mostly standing while we waited.

The check-in podium, on the south east side of the Main Building at Grand Floridian.

And, boy, did we wait. I should preface this by saying that the Tea Room was obviously either overbooked or understaffed the day of our tea. Our party of two waited for [Read more…]

French Dip Sandwich at Earl of Sandwich for Limited Time

By AJ 3 Comments

Hey all!! Earl of Sandwich posted on twitter and facebook about their brand new French Dip Sandwich, complete with red onions and au jus!!

New French Dip at Earl of Sandwich

I have no idea how long it will be around, but it’s being advertised as [Read more…]

New Menu Details! Landscape of Flavors at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

By AJ 14 Comments

Thanks to Pam Brandon over at the Disney Parks Blog, we have even more details on the new Landscape of Flavors food court (which seems to have undergone a name change since we last reported!) opening this summer with Disney’s Art of Animation Resort!

Landscape of Flavors Concept Art -- Disneys Art of Animation Resort

Dining Concept

According to Disney Parks and Resorts Director of Food & Beverage Concept Development, Chef Ed Wronski, the focus of this new type of food court is customization. Guests will be able to “make your own” and choose from a variety of options more often in this spot.

Start planning now how you want to create your gelato sundae, smoothies, omelet, pasta, salad, sandwich, and more! There will also be a focus on “better-for-you” options in this location, so perhaps going of your diet won’t be as much of a temptation here! (Wait a minute…who are we kidding? They’ll still have Mickey Bars won’t they?)

Individual Menu Items

Like the other value and moderate resorts, this food court will still be a regular old food court in that it will have five “shops,” each themed to a particular type of food.

Soup-Salad-Sandwich Shop

Guests will be treated to a [Read more…]

Disney Dining Tip: Customized Ice Cream Sandwiches

By AJ 31 Comments

Editor’s Note: Both Main Street Bakery in Magic Kingdom and Fountainview in Epcot are now Starbucks locations and do not currently offer Customized Ice Cream Sandwiches. They are still available in Magic Kingdom at Plaza Ice Cream Parlor and Sleepy Hollow Refreshments. At Epcot, you can find Macaron Ice Cream Sandwiches at L’Artisan des Glaces in the France Pavilion. Look for them at Dino Bites in Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Scoops in Hollywood Studios.

One of my faaaaaaaaaavorite snacks in Disney World is the homemade ice cream cookie sandwich that can be found in all four parks.

Now I’m not talking about the Nestle “pre-packaged” version (although those are delicious); I’m talking about the fully homemade, ginormous-cookies-with-two-scoops-of-ice-cream-smooshed-between-’em ice cream cookie sammich. Oh look! Here’s one now!

Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich

Yep, these have been cult favorites in Disney parks for years. They’ve long been my breakfast of choice from the Main Street Bakery (well, those and the cinnamon rolls of course). 😉

Anyway, I’m not here to tell you about these beautiful little gifts of ice creamy goodness. I’m here to tell you about a special SECRET about the gifts of ice creamy goodness… [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: January 29, 2012

By AJ Leave a Comment

Breakfast Bread Pudding at Cinderella's Royal Table

Hey there, hi there, ho there!! It’s time to start up another great week of Disney food by taking a look at the awesomeness that happened last week!

As always, let’s start with the latest news in the food-related dis-o-sphere!

Disney Food News

Serious fun and deliciousness on the docket this week!!

Tables in Wonderland has announced an awesome event for February 25th! And, by the by, we’re hearing reports that DVC members can now get Tables in Wonderland cards!! Woo!
A new Breakfast Bread Pudding has been introduced at Cinderella’s Royal Table in the Magic Kingdom
Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney Orlando is undergoing some refurb of the lounge and external areas. It’s still open during construction.

DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining e-Book!

It’s been a while since we mentioned our Disney Food Blog Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, so I wanted to share the details for our newer readers!

Our inaugural edition of this instantly downloadable e-Book is packed with over 250 pages of must-know tips, tricks, secrets, and details for first-timers and veteran visitors to Disney World! And don’t forget the photos! There are over 200 photos in this book alone!

Now’s the time to grab your copy (updated in December 2011 with the latest info!). Head over to DFBGuide.com to see sample pages, reviews from top media outlets like the Orlando Sentinel, and more! You could be reading it in minutes! And don’t forget to use Code DFBA11 to get your discount. 🙂 Thanks for supporting the Disney Food Blog!

On to the Round-Up

DisZine

takes a look at the new canine treats wagon that’s been barking up trees all over Disney World property! (Bad pun? Sorry about that.)

Walt Disney World for Grown-Ups takes us to the cozy Ale & Compass Lounge at the Yacht Club Resort.

All Ears Net blogger Laura G. has a rockin’ report on food during the WDW Marathon weekend! Carb-loaders rejoice!

Main St. Gazette shares another addition to the ice-cream-sundaes-bigger-than-your-head contingent in Disney World. We now have the Kitchen Sink, the Sand Pail Sundae, and this behemoth.

Disney Hipsters heads to favorite counter-service spot Columbia Harbour House for some yummy eats!

All’s Fare Food Blog visits Tony’s Town Square restaurant in the Magic Kingdom with not-so-impressive results (surprised?).

Mouse on the Mind shares a fun mini-review of Wilderness Lodge’s Artist Point.

Reminder:

The Disney Food Blog Newsletter is coming out this week!! If you’re not on the list, jump on here!

Looking for something?

STAY CONNECTED

Guest Review: Breakfast at Disneyland’s River Belle Terrace