Disney Food Post Round-Up: September 19, 2010

Ladies and Gents, my next round-up will be coming to you from Walt Disney World! Very exciting, but right now, let’s talk about the great — and not-so-great — Disney food news from this week:

A price increase is anticipated on Disney World buffets starting October 3rd.
La Hacienda de San Angel is open for walk-up guests, as is La Cantina de San Angel. See a report from the Grand Opening this week, and check out the La Hacienda de San Angel menu and La Cantina de San Angel menu. Reservations are being taken for dates after October 15th.
Disney has made it easier to make dining reservations on your smartphone!
Disney Online is teaming up Cat Cora and the Muppets for some online shows about food and recipes!

Also, we got word from DFB reader Lori Kiehl that ‘Ohana might be closed during breakfast from 17-20 of January. No official word on that, but FYI.

And now, on to the round-up!

Studios Central shows a detailed look at where you can find elements of Star Tours in Disney Hollywood Studios’ Sci-Fi Dine-In.

Main St Gazette reviews the Zebra Cupcake in Animal Kingdom (agreed that the cake was the best part on this one, Ryan!)

OC Register reports as Disney California Adventure says goodbye Pizza Oom Mow Mow and hello Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta.

Disney Geek shows off the new Halloween popcorn bucket for the Disney parks!

etckt reviews Via Napoli!

WDW Magic reports that Bongos Cuban Cafe has been added to the Disney Dining Reservations System.

The Givens Chronicles is counting down to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival by making recipes from the 2009 festival! Here’s her rendition of New Zealand’s Lamb Sliders!

Disney Dispatch is also counting down to the Festival with a look at Argentina.

WDW Info reports that Chef Mickey is no longer table-side at Chef Mickey’s in WDW’s Contemporary Resort. According to user reports, he’s up front taking pics now rather than visiting table-side.

Finally, I wanted to share with you a few other perspectives on the La Hacienda de San Angel opening in Epcot this past week. Scott Joseph, Orlando’s premier food critic, has a fantastic video from his experience at the Grand Opening:

And here are some write-ups from around the Disney-sphere about the Grand Opening event:
Zannaland (Margarita menu!!!), Disney Everyday, Scott Joseph Orlando, Theme Park Mom, Daily Disney from Orlando Sentinel, WDW Radio, Lauging Place, Inside the Magic, WDW News Today

Haute Mickey

By AJ 16 Comments

It’s great when I find chic, sophisticated Mickey-fied items that I can use in my kitchen or for entertaining; and if you add travel into the mix, I’m in love.

I found these cool items in Epcot a few months ago and wanted to share the love:

Have a great weekend (happy entertaining)!

Price Increase Possible on Disney World Buffets

By AJ 16 Comments

UPDATE:

DFB contributor Sarah Holodick recently received confirmation on the price increase from an in-the-know cast member friend. Here are the details she received: “The higher pricing will affect ALL buffets property-wide for dinner only. Cinderella’s Royal Table will have price increases for breakfast, lunch and dinner.” Thanks Sarah!
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We’ve been chatting a lot about prices around here lately, and here’s another piece of info to toss around.

We’ve got a credible rumor that as of October 3, the regular price of Disney’s dinner buffets will bump up to $36.99, and the seasonal pricing (usually in effect during high traffic times like Summer, Thanksgiving, Spring Break, and Christmas) will be raised to $40.99.

No details on which restaurants will be included and excluded, and those of you on free dining and the Disney Dining Plan don’t have to worry a lick, but this could make a difference for large groups traveling without the Dining Plan.

Still rumor status until it’s announced by Disney, as always. Hopefully more info later.

Thanks to TouringPlans for the info.

Review: Disneyland’s Napa Rose

By AJ 11 Comments

As promised in the August Disney Food Blog Newsletter, here’s our review of premier Disneyland restaurant, Napa Rose!

Napa Rose is the top brass when it comes to dining in Disneyland. The restaurant, presided over by decorated Chef Andrew Sutton, is located in the woodsy Grand California Resort located in the middle of Disneyland’s Downtown Disney district.

Napa Rose

Atmosphere
The style of the restaurant is similar to that of the Grand Californian — warm, muted tones fill out the craftsman style, with light woods and an open floor plan. The massive windows look out onto a lovely patio and wooded area, so the feeling of seclusion compliments the openness of the restaurant itself.

View of Open Kitchen From Restaurant

Patio

Pass by a “few select” wines in the restaurant’s wine cellar — showcasing a few special Lasseter vintages, of course — on your way to the dining room, where the focal point is [Read more…]

Photo Quiz: Teacups, Oranges, and Avocados

By AJ 4 Comments

An eclectic array of broken and whole tiles, teacups, teaspoons, and more has been pressed into this wall in Disneyland Resort. Does anyone know where?

Where in Disneyland Resort Am I?

La Hacienda de San Angel Grand Opening and Food Pictures

By AJ 14 Comments

Living in Texas, I don’t have the opportunity to attend the openings of Disney’s restaurants; but boy did I get lucky on this one! Thank you to the WDW Today Podcast for allowing me to publish pics from their coverage. Check out their twitter stream to see more great pics from the Grand Opening at Epcot’s La Hacienda de San Angel!

Restaurant Info
The backstory behind La Hacienda de San Angel is that a Mexican family restored an old hacienda and wanted to open it to guests and serve food. The beautiful artwork and pottery throughout the hacienda are meant to be created by the house’s artistic owner. La Cantina de San Angel, the counter-service restaurant outside of the Hacienda, is part of the story as well — it was supposedly created to serve the overflow from the hacienda!

La Hacienda will be serving dinner from 4pm each night and will offer an incredible view of the Illuminations fireworks. During the day, it will serve as indoor seating for La Cantina de San Angel, which will serve lunch and dinner daily.

Main dining room

Just a reminder, La Hacienda de San Angel is now open for business for walk-in guests. You can also make reservations for dates after October 15th via Disney’s reservations system! You can see the the La Hacienda de San Angel Menu here. You can see La Cantina de San Angel’s menu here!

Grand Opening Celebration
Here are some incredible pictures from the Grand Opening Celebration:

Mickey and Donald Helped with the Ribbon Cutting

Margarita Bar

Tequila Scorpion

Shrimp Taco

More photos after the jump! [Read more…]

La Hacienda de San Angel Menu

By AJ 13 Comments

Epcot’s newest restaurant has an equally new — and incredible looking — menu!

Featuring classics like queso fundido and churros coupled with market-fresh entrees like the Parrillada Del Mar — Mixed grill of mahi mahi, shrimp, and scallops — and the Arrachera — a 6 oz flank steak — guests will find a new and different concept of Mexican dining than has been seen in Epcot before.

One thing I do notice about the menu is that prices are quite high as a general rule. With entrees starting at $21, you might be better off getting two appetizers if you’re budget dining.

To see the full La Hacienda de San Angel menu, click here. See La Hacienda de San Angel food photos here.

The restaurant will be open for walk-ins from September 16th through October 15th. Guests can now make La Hacienda de San Angel reservations for dates after October 15th via Disneyworld.com’s dining reservations website and 407-WDW-DINE.

For more details about La Hacienda de San Angel, see our La Hacienda de San Angel info page.

New La Cantina de San Angel Menu

By AJ 1 Comment

The newest counter service menu in Disney World today is the Cantina de San Angel menu in Epcot’s Mexico! Featuring favorites like empanadas, tacos, paletas, and churros, there’s something for everyone!

Check out the La Cantina de San Angel menu here!

La Hacienda de San Angel Reservations Now Open

By AJ 5 Comments

Reservations are now available for Epcot’s La Hacienda de San Angel restaurant in the Mexico pavilion.

The restaurant will be walk-up only through October 15th, so reservations are only available after that date.

To see more information about the restaurant, including food photos, menus, and more, see our La Hacienda de San Angel info page.

Disney Dining Reservations Go Mobile

By AJ 17 Comments

THANK GOODNESS! The Disney Restaurant Reservations system is now available in an easy-to-use mobile format for your smartphones (iphone and droid versions are currently working; blackberry is coming soon).

iPhone Screen Shot of Moblie Reservations System

Note: this is not an App that you have to download. Disney’s just made it easier to navigate the reservations system on your phone by creating a mobile version of the current system.

What does this mean for you? Now you can search for an available restaurant reservation by date, time, restaurant, theme park, cuisine, hotel, and more quickly and easily from your phone — no matter where you are. Standing in line at the [Read more…]

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