Guest Review: The Crystal Palace Restaurant

Welcome Guest Reviewer Katie Drake as she transports us to a by-gone era and the world of Winnie the Pooh!

Couldn’t snag a reservation with the princesses at the Castle? Why not try the Palace down the street?!

The Magic Kingdom’s Crystal Palace may not boast any Disney movie royalty, but it does have everyone’s favorite friends from the Hundred Acre Wood, available for meet and greets all day long. Most guests take advantage of the scrumptious breakfast offerings, but the restaurant is one of the few at Walt Disney World that offers character meals three times a day, and lunch and dinner have several tasty offerings.

Atmosphere

After walking down Main Street U.S.A., visitors are in a turn-of-the-century frame of mind, and taking a bit of refreshment in the conservatory sounds perfectly delightful. With it’s airy walls of windows and greenery throughout, the Crystal Palace feels like a Victorian greenhouse, but with plenty of AC cranking to keep the heat and humidity at bay.

Guests must wait outside on the veranda until their table is ready, the air stirred by [Read more…]

Disney World Treats for Guests with Special Diets

By Kim LaPaglia 8 Comments

Update: Disney is no longer offering Divvies. They are currently offering bakery items from the Enjoy Life and OMG Manufacturers along with Rocky Mountain Popcorn, and Surf Sweets Jelly Beans throughout the Parks and Resorts.

WDW strives to accommodate guests with special diets. While dining at table service restaurants can be extremely enjoyable even for diners with dietary concerns, finding snacks can be more time-consuming. Don’t spend time on your vacation looking for safe treats, read our Allergies and Intolerances information before your trip. You’ll discover counter-service locations that cater to special diets and places to get your Divvies such as the Main Street Bakery!

Products such as Divvies snacks (no eggs, no nuts, no dairy) are available throughout the resort. Gluten-free products are also sold in Walt Disney World. Vegans can find yummy snacks too. The popcorn in the parks uses an animal-free butter flavoring!

When time permits, venture over to Downtown Disney to visit BabyCakes NYC for inspired sweet treats!

Divvies

Divvies at Gasparilla Grill

Divvies cookies are sold for $2.49 per package. Caramel Popcorn ($4.29) makes for a great “grab ‘n go” snack. Other items include Jelly Beans for $3.99 and a Fudge Brownie at $3.39. These products aren’t cheap but they’ll satisfy your craving while adhering to your dietary concerns.

Cost for Divvies

Divvies products are made specifically for [Read more…]

Disney World AMC Theatre Dine-In Experience Begins May 16

By Kim LaPaglia 6 Comments

The AMC Theatre in Downtown Disney Orlando will unveil a new experience with in-theatre dining on May 16, 2011. This 24-screen cineplex gives food top billing with great menu choices in six of their auditoriums. The menu will include quesadillas, burgers, flatbread pizzas, grilled sandwiches, specialties, and tempting appetizers and desserts (see a sample menu here). Quench your thirst with a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic specialty drinks, beer and wine.

Guests will watch feature films while savoring cuisine and cocktails! AMC Dine-In Theatres offer this meal with your movie option along with a convenient bar and lounge, MacGuffins, for gatherings before or after the flick. When you opt for the Dine-In experience, you’ll enjoy casual, table top dining with reserved seats. Best of all, you won’t miss a minute of the on-screen action with personalized service brought to your seat and a call button to quietly signal your server.

Sample Menu Page

Guests of the Fork and Screen option will need to be [Read more…]

African Inspired Meals in Walt Disney World — Tusker House

By AJ 12 Comments

Jambo! Join me in welcoming Disney guru Mary Jo Collins and Disney World Moms Panelist Bernie Edwards back to the blog! In this article they’ll share with us various locations to enjoy an African Inspired Meal at Walt Disney World. We also get a close-up look at the Tusker House restaurant. Twende! Let’s go!

Theming Outside Animal Kingdom's Tusker House

Visiting the Walt Disney World Resort has become synonymous with the enjoyment of great dining at restaurants both inside and outside the theme parks. For many of us, these meals lend us the opportunity to experience exotic foods from exotic places.

African Food in Disney World
Fortunately for guests of Walt Disney World, African cuisine is showcased in a variety of table service restaurants offering a peek at the food that has been influenced by the marinade of cultures, colonies, trade routes and history of this land. To describe or categorize what African food is in a few words would be impossible.

The cuisine is as varied in Africa as the cuisine of any large continent. The continent’s regions each have significant differences in their own distinctive dishes and preparation techniques. However, in Africa the various cuisines traditionally combine [Read more…]

Dining in Disneyland: Mother’s Day Brunch at Catal

By Heather 1 Comment

It may be a little last minute, but if you are in the Disneyland area and have no Mother’s Day plans for mom, take her to the Downtown Disney District for brunch.

Catal is offering a special Mother’s Day Brunch that will be served from 10:00am to 3:00 pm. The menu offerings look amazing. It’s a three course meal with an option for $7 bottomless “MOM-osas!”

Pricing is $40 for adults & $12.95 for children under 10. If you are an annual passholder, don’t forget to use your AP for an extra dining discount.

If you’ve never dined at Catal, I can assure you that you will love it. Check out our dinner review here.

2011 Wine and Dine Half-Marathon Finish Line Party Tickets on Sale Now

By AJ 4 Comments

The 2011 Wine and Dine Half-Marathon Finish Line Party is a celebratory event following the Wine and Dine Half-Marathon and Half-Marathon Relay on October 1, 2011, in Disney World. For those who have a friend or family member running the race, tickets for the after-party are now available for purchase!

Specs and Pricing:
* $59 by August 31, 2011
* $69 between September 1 and September 24, 2011
* $79 between September 25 and October 1, 2011

Tickets ordered after August 31, 2011 will not receive the commemorative ticket and must be picked up at a will-call location on site before the event. Purchase here.

The Craziness That Was Last Year's After-Party

The Party’s Gonna Be Better This Year, We Promise!
Here’s the language I received about the party after registering for the race this year:

The post-race party will be expanded in 2011 to include a variety of Epcot® attractions and many more food and beverage locations. In addition, the half marathon finish line will be moved to just outside the main entrance to Epcot®. Our intent is to provide more space for the finish itself, a larger spectator viewing area, and a greatly expanded baggage claim operation. The Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon finish area will be [Read more…]

Dining in Disneyland: Big Thunder Ranch BBQ Review

By Heather 15 Comments

Happy Cinco de Mayo!! Dining in Disneyland columnist Heather Sievers is back with more buckets of food 😉 Check out this Big Thunder Ranch BBQ review, then go check out a few more of her columns here.

Big Thunder Ranch BBQ

In my household, there has always been controversy surrounding the Big Thunder Ranch BBQ. We’ve been on and off supporters of it for about 15 years. The controversy? Over the years, it’s been good, it’s been bad, it’s moved around (for a while BBQ was being served at the Rancho del Zocalo location), it’s even been non-existent. We passed it by for the last few years and recently we decided to give it another chance. I’m happy to report that we are once again supporters.

Welcome Sign

Big Thunder Ranch BBQ is located in the corridor just outside of Fantasyland as you are entering Frontierland. There are no rides directly around it, making it a quiet area where you can get away from [Read more…]

WDW Swan and Dolphin to Host BBQ Bash on July 2nd

By Kim LaPaglia 2 Comments

The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resorts have announced a summertime Stars & Stripes Celebration featuring a BBQ Bash! See booking details here.

Date: July 2, 2011
Time: 3:00 – 8:00 pm
Location: Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, Fantasia Gardens Pavilion
Cost: Kids: $25, Adults: $45

It’s a family-friendly barbecue offering entertainment from a live band and good ol’ carnival style games. Chefs will tantalize taste buds with mouth-watering BBQ foods. The menu will include: coleslaw, potato salad, watermelon, burgers, hot dogs, mac & cheese station, baked beans, cornbread, mini apple pies, snow cones and more!

Cash bar will include wine, beer buckets and specialty cocktails.

The outdoor venue, Fantasia Gardens Pavilions, is located adjacent to the Fantasia Gardens miniature golf course on Epcot Resorts Blvd. across from the WDW Swan and Dolphin resorts.

Special all-inclusive, over-night packages available for families of all sizes! Please call 888-828-8850 for more information and to make your reservations. To purchase tickets only, click here.

Book your accommodations and your BBQ now!

And Don’t Forget:

The Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic is coming up October 7-8, 2011!

Disney Food Pics of the Week: Comfort Food

By Kim LaPaglia 11 Comments

We love the new pictures we’ve been receiving in the Disney Food Blog Photo Extravaganza! Warning: Don’t try looking at them when you’re hungry! 😉

The Disney Food Pics of the Week this week feature Comfort Food. For a taste of home, try one of these comforting menu items!

Mom loves an excuse not to cook! This Mom’s Night Out tray from Pop Century’s Everything Pop Food Court makes a hearty meal of Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans & corn bread.
Photographer: Chrissy Field/siriusthinking

Mom's Night Out Special

Home-style meals such as Mom’s Chicken Pot Pie are available at the 50’s Prime Time Cafe in [Read more…]

What’s Your Favorite New-To-You Disney Food?

By AJ 37 Comments

We’ve all experienced it — that moment when you first bite into something you’ve never had before…and realize you now have a new favorite food to add to your list of must-eats! I’ve had that experience multiple times in the past year, and thought it might be fun to trade stories with you guys.

First up, and probably my very favorite, is that completely-pre-processed-and-I-know-it fried ice cream at the ~~American pavilion in Epcot~~ stand on the Boardwalk! I mean, come on. Melty ice cream goodness covered in crunchies, fried, and drowned in dark chocolate syrup?! GIMB! (Translation — Get In My Belly!)

Fried Ice Cream Close Up

Next, I’ve got to give the spotlight to the Disneyland hand-dipped corn dog. I know this isn’t a “new” item at all, but it’s new to me this year, and I’m in love.

Corn bread just tastes better in Disneyland — at least I think so — and when you wrap it fresh around a savory hot dog and stick a few fries on the side, it’s like heaven in a basket. You may have [Read more…]

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