Five Fun Disney Food Experiences That Won't Break the Bank

Five Fun Disney Food Experiences That Won’t Break the Bank

Find Out How They Make Mickey Bread!

While touring attractions and riding rides is the main reason why many folks visit Walt Disney World and Disneyland, there are quite a few little-known adventures that might not be promoted on the front of the guide maps, but are still just as fun to experience.

Today we’ve got a few of our favorite food experiences that might be a little “dark horse” when it comes to the popular vote, but we’ve never heard any complaints from folks who tried them! See if they might fit a time slot in your next vacation!

Miyuki the Candy Artist

Miyuki is an incredible performer and artist who makes teeny-tiny sculptures out of rice candy, right in front of your eyes! She is one of only 15 people in the world who are professionally trained in the art of Japanese candy-making — a trade she learned from her grandfather.

Miyuki and her Candy Art

Watch as Miyuki turns a ball of hot rice candy into an incredibly beautiful tiger, peacock, unicorn, or other gorgeous creature. It’s truly an amazing sight to see. Read more about Miyuki and see photos and videos of her creations here.

Miyuki's Pink Leopard

In past years, Miyuki has been able to [Read more…]

Are You Ready for a Disney Dining Adventure?

By AJ 8 Comments

We are!! We’re currently working on our upcoming e-Book: DFB Dining Adventures, Start Point: Magic Kingdom Area, and we wanted to give you a sneak peek of what to expect — as well as give you a reason to start thinking about your own dining adventures!

New DFB Dining Adventures e-Book Coming Soon!

Planning your dining can be extremely time-consuming, and making it fit around your plans in the parks can be even more difficult. We’ve had countless reader requests for pre-planned dining strategies that can be dropped right into your vacation plans. This next installment in our series of useful Disney Dining e-Books is our answer!

But we wanted to take it a step further and make it a LOT more fun than just a bunch of restaurant lists, so we invented the concept of the DFB Dining Adventures!

These adventures are a series of one-day, two-day, or one-week themed dining and attraction strategies that you can mix and match to fit YOUR vacation style! They’re an easy and fun way to make sure your visit to Walt Disney World is 100% unique!

What Will DFB Dining Adventures Look Like?

DFB Dining Adventures will include dining suggestions and activities that all fit into a fun theme! Here are just a few examples of the over 40 different Dining Adventures you’ll have to choose from in our new e-Book!

Sweet Cream Cheese Pretzel at Lunching Pad

In our “Totally Tomorrowland” Dining Adventure you’ll make a visit to [Read more…]

Review: Napa Rose Chef’s Counter

By AJ 26 Comments

Napa Rose

We finally got the chance to dine at Chef Andrew Sutton’s Chef’s Counter at Napa Rose in Disney’s Grand Californian Resort (Disneyland) — and I’m pretty sure I’ve never been so excited in my life. We’ve eaten at Napa Rose once before, but we’ve never had this experience!

Eight people can dine at the Chef’s Counter at a time — four on one side of the “order up” area, an four on the other. There are two seatings per night at 5:30pm and 8:30pm; we were there for the last seating and had the chance to take up one whole side of the counter with Heather Sievers and her husband, so we already had great company taken care of.

And as far as atmosphere goes, this was definitely one of the most incredible meals I’ve ever had at a Disney restaurant — or at any restaurant…

Napa Rose Show Kitchen from the Chef's Counter

Atmosphere

Napa Rose is a signature restaurant — i.e. “high end” — but it has a very casual feel. Guests enter through the Napa Rose lounge (a great place to eat if you don’t have reservations and want to experience fantastic food) and pass the [Read more…]

2011 Wine and Dine Half-Marathon Finish Line Party Brochure and Map!

By Kim LaPaglia 2 Comments

Jut a couple of weeks until the Epcot Food and Wine Festival begins, and that means that those of us who have been training for the Wine & Dine Half-Marathon and Half-Marathon Relay get to anticipate the Finish Line Party!!

After running the 2011 Wine and Dine Half-Marathon, it’s time for fun at the Finish Line Party, featuring Epcot attractions and food kiosks from the 2011 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival! The party will be held on Saturday, October 1, from 10:30 p.m.- 3:00 a.m.

runDisney recently published the the 2011 Finish Line Party brochure, which offers all of the details on attractions, refreshments, events, and more! (Did someone say Rose & Crown Pub??!??!?!?!)

Click the images below to see larger versions of the Wine & Dine Half-Marathon brochure and map!

Brochure and Map - click image for larger version

Finish Line Party Map - click image for larger version

I know I’ll be spending some time at [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: September 18, 2011

By AJ 2 Comments

2011 Hawaii Booth

We’re counting the days until the Epcot Food and Wine Festival officially opens!

Come see us at WDW Foodie Fest at the Beach Club on October 2nd between 11am-1pm!

Latest Disney Food News

The 2011 Epcot Food and Wine Festival World Showcase marketplace booths have been constructed around World Showcase. We’ve got pictures of returning booths as well as the three newbies – Portugal, Caribbean Islands, and Hawaii!
You’ll want to take a peek at these menu changes at Beaches & Cream, Sanaa, and Rose & Crown!
There are two new snacks to seek out on your next WDW vacation — North Bay Smoothie in Epcot and the Chocolate Cappuccino Cupcake in Disney’s Hollywood Studios!
Fun videos showcase menu items that will be offered at Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival. Watch and learn how to make your new favorite dishes!
Check out a preview of upcoming Food-related Vinylmations!
There are changes at the long-running Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. Find out why!

WDW Foodie Fest — Two Weeks Away!

Do you enjoy food? Meeting with other Disney Food Fans? Scavenger hunts? Games? Stop by our WDW Foodie Fest events happening throughout the week from October 2-8!

Our Main Event, open to everyone, FREE, and serving Mickey Bars and other snacks, happens on October 2, 2011! See the schedule of events here!

The DFB Mini-Guide to the 2011 Epcot Food & Wine Festival e-Book Reviews

We’re honored that our newest Mini-Guide is getting such positive reviews! Thanks to Magical Kingdoms for this quote!

Whether you’ve visited the Food and Wine Festival before or not, you’ll find useful information in this mini guide. …[The] format means it’s perfect for reading on the go, and taking with you to the parks for instant reference whilst at the Food & Wine Festival. …The guide is simply bursting with information and tips to help you get the most from the Food & Wine Festival.

Read the full review here

! Thanks again to Magical Kingdoms!

And Now…On to the Round-Up!

WDW for Grown-ups

asked their readers to chime in on their “can’t miss” Disney restaurants! Is yours included??

A Wedding Cake Blog gives us a dose of adorableness with this Mickie and Minnie cake topper!

Disney Hipster Blog inspires a new way to drink around World Showcase — introducing the Epcot Shandy!

Main Street Gazette does an awesome and thorough review of the Liberty Inn vegetable burger! Looks yum.

Epcyclopedia notes that Splitsville, the new bowling/dining/entertainment center in Downtown Disney, will begin construction soon!

Daydreaming Disney! shares how her WDW food passion was inspired by the Disney Food Blog! (Thanks, Emma!)

Disney Parks Blog highlights a new dining experience at House of Blues in Disneyland!

TouringPlans.com Meet & Eat Event

By AJ 2 Comments

TouringPlans.com

has announced a Meet & Eat Event in Epcot’s World Showcase for October 2nd, and yours truly will be a guest speaker!

Details

Time:

2:30 – 3:30 pm
Location: World Showcase, country TBD

Food and drinks will be provided, and Guest Speakers will include [Read more…]

Disney Food Pics of the Week: Counter-Service Cult Favorites

By Kim LaPaglia 3 Comments

We love drooling over the food photos at the Disney Food Blog Photo Extravaganza flickr group!! Although these pics make our tummies rumble, we are grateful for your submissions to the group!

The Disney Food Pics of the Week this week feature counter-service foods that I intend to savor on my next vacation. I’m counting the days until I can start digging in!

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cupcake

The magic here is in two words — chocolate and peanut butter. This Chocolate Peanut Butter cupcake served at Starring Rolls Cafe in Disney’s Hollywood Studios is on my vacation’s foodie list!
Photographer: Bonnie Creevy

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcake

Grand Marnier Orange Slush

While strolling through the 2011 Epcot Food and Wine Festival and tasting some new dishes, I’ll stop in France for this thirst-quenching beverage. The Grand Marnier Orange Slush in France is on my [Read more…]

Epcot Food and Wine Festival Menu Item Videos!

By AJ 8 Comments

Thanks to Stitch Kingdom for tipping me off to some very cool news for my fellow Epcot Food & Wine Festival fans! This year, Disney’s created videos giving sneak peeks of seven of the World Showcase booth menu items — including two brand new-to-the-festival items!

Check out full World Showcase Booth Menus and pictures of many of the World Showcase Food Items on our World Showcase Booths Index Page!

Strawberry Martini

This item hails from the Poland Booth. Check out the rest of the Poland Booth Menu items here!

Jamaican Jerk Chicken

This is a brand new dish at the festival, and you’ll find it at the new Caribbean Booth! See the rest of the Caribbean Booth Menu items here as well as a picture of the new Caribbean booth that was just constructed in [Read more…]

Dining in Disneyland: Will Run for Food — Star Tours 5K and Breakfast at Tangaroa Terrace

By Heather 8 Comments

Dining in Disneyland columnist Heather Sievers shares a photo tour of her Disneyland Star Tours 5K route and brings us along to breakfast at Tangaroa Terrace after the race!

When, several months ago, I signed my family up for the Disneyland “Star Tours” Family Fun Run 5K, I didn’t really think that we’d actually be running. I thought it might be a fast walking, behind the scenes look at Disneyland & California Adventure’s backstage areas. You know, fast enough to burn a few calories, but slow enough to take photos?

An Early Morning Welcome

So, when my husband decided that the four of us were going to kick it into high gear and run, I got a little nervous — nervous that I was going to miss something cool as we jetted (exaggeration) through the course. At least I knew that I was running for rewards: a cool medal and some fun snacks, followed by my first breakfast at Tangaroa Terrace.

The Starting Line and Star Tours 5K

Our journey started early at the tram roundabout near the Mickey and Friends Parking Structure. A jedi master stood at the start line and wished us well, sending us off to the tunes of the cheery Cantina Scene [Read more…]

First Look: New Epcot Food and Wine Festival World Showcase Booths Are Up

By AJ 11 Comments

The International Marketplace booths are being installed around World Showcase for the 2011 Epcot Food and Wine Festival!

We’re adding the new booth photos to our Epcot Food and Wine Festival Menus pages as we get photos of them, so feel free to check them out while you’re planning your culinary trip around the World Showcase!

This Year’s New World Showcase Booths

Portugal

The Portugal booth is the place to go for calamari this year; and don’t forget that there will be a wine bar right next door to this booth!

I love the tiled sign!

2011 Portugal Booth

Hawaii

Aloha! No plans to see Aulani any time soon? Then stop by the Hawaii booth in Epcot for Tuna Poke! Note the thatched roof and lava-rock walls on [Read more…]

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