Disney California Adventure Tortilla Factory to Morph Into Ghirardelli Factory

Disney California Adventure Mission Tortilla Factory

As of Tuesday May 31, 2011, the Old Mission Tortilla Factory at Disney California Adventure has closed. But hold onto your hats because rumor has it they are replacing it with a Ghirardelli factory, chocolate shop, and soda fountain!

If the current timeline stays the same, guests at DCA will be able to experience all of the delicious Ghirardelli goodness in 2012.

The location will remain, but the exterior will be changed to resemble Ghirardelli’s famous waterfront chocolate factory in San Francisco.

Ghirardelli Soda Fountain Downtown Disney, Orlando

Disney Imagineering plans to expand the current building to the adjoining backstage structure that currently houses DCA’s first aid and lost children complex. This expanded complex will have enough space to allow for a factory tour experience, as well as a chocolate shop and soda fountain (we smell free chocolate… ;-)).

The Ghiradelli experience will be in a prime location because of its proximity to the main entrance to Cars Land, which is due to open in June 2012, and also along DCA’s parade route.

So while you will not be able to get your free bag of birthday tortillas anymore, you can rest assured that you will be able to enjoy some of the best chocolate and ice cream in the world!

Source: Micechat

Top Ten Disney Cruise Line Dining Tips

By Kim LaPaglia 99 Comments

Kim L. is our Disney cruise guru around here! (Seriously. She knows EVERYTHING about cruising and was even the Disney World Moms Panel Cruise Specialist her second term on the panel.) She’s put together her top 10 tips to get the most out of your Disney Cruise dining experience, but we want to hear your tips as well, pretty please. Will you add yours in the comments section below?

1. Order The Cake of the Day: Order the Cake of the Day from Room Service! Room service is complimentary (although a gratuity is appreciated), and it’s fun to sample (um, okay, devour ;-)) different cake slices.

Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake at Animator\’s Palate

2. Skip Shore Excursion Eats: Use Room Service for a quick sandwich while getting ready for your shore excursion. Then time your return to the ship to coincide with your next meal.

3. Find Hidden Treats: Ask your server to start each meal with a cheese (similar to All Hands On Deck) or seafood platter (I saw shrimp served in the Mediterranean) for the entire table to enjoy. It’s not on the menu. Parents can request cheese, grapes, and crackers for the kids. Just ask if it’s available during your voyage!

Likewise, chocolate covered strawberries are not on the dessert menu but are sometimes available by special request. Ask for a [Read more…]

Snack Series: Caramel Covered Shortbread in Epcot

By AJ 33 Comments

Over at Epcot’s Karamell-Küche in the Germany pavilion, there are endless treats to try…as we all know.

The caramel smell hits you like a wave when you walk into the shop, and I sincerely suggest you eat before you stop in, because if you’re even the least big hungry, I promise that your eyes will be significantly bigger than your stomach…as mine were a couple of weeks ago!

Stopping in to get a bit of information about how the caramel corn is made (my Dad needed the details as he’s working very hard on duplicating the recipe! Yay!), I, of course, had to check out the display cases. And I saw this.

I know I’ve seen it before, but it never called out to me like it did on this visit. (You know how that is…when food calls out to you…right? No?) Sweet, gooey caramel layered onto a lovely piece of shortbread. Shortbread crumbles on top. Simple, yet pretty freaking [Read more…]

Guest Review: Tangaroa Terrace at the Disneyland Hotel

By AJ 16 Comments

Welcome back guest author Carrie Hayward, author of PassPorter’s Disney Weddings & Honeymoons, as she shares her recent trip to the Disneyland Hotel’s newest restaurant — Tangaroa Terrace. Thanks, Carrie!

My husband and I are big fans of Disney’s take on tiki culture and often wonder why they don’t exploit the theme more around the parks and resorts, especially when it comes to food service (Aladdin’s Oasis, I’m looking at YOU). So we got very excited when we heard that Disney was reimagining the counter-service restaurant at the Disneyland Hotel with a tiki theme. On Sunday we had a chance to try the new [Read more…]

Mini “Food & Wine Festival” at Disneyland’s Downtown Disney This Week

By AJ 2 Comments

Well, we lost the REAL Disneyland Food and Wine Festival this year, but those lucky enough to live near Disneyland or who happen to be on vacation there at the moment can consider taking part in the mini “Food and Wine Festival” that is happening at three of Downtown Disney’s Restaurants through June 3rd!

Enjoy delicious food, spirits, and wine from Italy, Spain, and Mexico at Catal Restaurant and Uva Bar, Tortilla Jo’s, and [Read more…]

Disney World 40th Anniversary Foodie Merchandise

By Kim LaPaglia 13 Comments

In October 2011, Walt Disney World will celebrate forty years of making magic and Fortieth Anniversary merchandise is being sold at WDW stores. With a vintage look and retro-inspired motifs, these items are great souvenirs for all Disney fans! We, of course, like the foodie ones…

Milk Chocolate covered Nuts and Raisins

Yum! Cashews, Almonds, Peanuts, Pecans and Raisins are covered in chocolate, which means you’re getting some great protein with these treats, right?

Milk Chocolate Covered Nuts and Raisins

Label

Assorted Chocolates

These yummy chocolates can be had for just $18.95. With versions shaped like [Read more…]

Guest Review: Beers Around the World, Part 1

By AJ 26 Comments

Now’s a good time to grab a mug of your favorite brew as we welcome D.J. Jones with a review of beers found in Epcot’s World Showcase. D.J. is a lifelong Disney fan from Ocala, Florida. You can follow all of his adventures at The World of Deej. We raise our glass in a DFB toast to this first installment of Beers Around the World!

La Rossa at Via Napoli in World Showcase's Italy

Perhaps my favorite thing to do in all of Disney is to take a stroll in Epcot’s World Showcase while enjoying my favorite adult beverage. Most of the time this is beer, and over the years I’ve tried each of the many brews offered throughout the World Showcase.

In preparation for this post, my team of experts conducted painstaking research, so that you may know what beer is available in each of the 11 pavilions. It was a tough job, especially for my liver, but somebody had to do it.

Learn About:La Cava del Tequila

Epcot Restaurants
Disney World Restaurants

Mexico

Our adventure begins in the Mexico pavilion, where the research team visited La Cava del Tequila.

While tequila is the main attraction at La Cava, they also feature many of Mexico’s well-known beers. Sol, Bohemia, Tecate, Dos Equis Light, and Dos Equis Amber are all on the menu by the bottle.

I enjoyed a Dos Equis Amber, which features a nice body of flavor, and was ice cold. In fact, it was the [Read more…]

Disney Food Pics of the Week: Tacos

By Kim LaPaglia 8 Comments

Thanks to all who have contributed their photos to the Disney Food Blog Photo Extravaganza! We really enjoy seeing your photos!

The Disney Food Pics of the Week feature tacos, so let’s take a look at some South of the Border creations from Disney World and Disneyland. 🙂

Doesn’t this Taco Salad at Cucina Cucamonga in Disney California Adventure look delicious?! We love the high-quality counter service food at Disneyland.
Photographer: Michael Greening

Taco Salad

Check out these Grilled Mahi Mahi Tacos at Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante in Disneyland’s Frontierland!
Photographer: Jon Chua

Grilled Mahi Mahi Tacos

Here’s the taco salad served at Pecos Bill’s in the Magic Kingdom. Have you tried this salad? Let me know your thoughts in [Read more…]

Challenge: The Disney Food Blog WDW “Cupcake Crawl”

By AJ 76 Comments

You’ve heard about the Monorail Crawl, Erin just created the Epcot Candy Crawl, and some of you have even attempted “drinking around the World” Showcase, but to my knowledge, this particular mission has never been attempted. It’s a feat only for the strong. A challenge for your sweet tooth. It’s the Cupcake Crawl!

That’s right. Those of you who live for cream cheese frosting, chocolate, cheesecake, and pure decadence — this one is for YOU! Disney Cupcake fans — are you brave enough to try it?

Cupcake Crawl Map -- click for larger image

The Disney Food Blog’s “Walt Disney World Cupcake Crawl” Strategy

Here’s the plan. You can either follow this step by step or mix and match, but be sure to visit these [Read more…]

Wine Dinner at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen: June 1st, 2011

By AJ Leave a Comment

Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen in Disneyland’s Downtown Disney District is serving up a wine dinner with Robert Michero, a managing director at Maddalena Brands, San Antonio Winery on Wednesday, June 1st. Come expecting to enjoy some delicious food including goat cheese and andouille stuffed zucchini blossoms, lamb wellington, a banana fosters redux, and much more.

Location: Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen at Disneyland’s Downtown Disney
When: June 1st at 6:30pm
Cost: $125 per person (plus tax and gratuity)

Click for larger image

Each course will also be paired with either champagne, wine, or sherry. Featured wines include [Read more…]

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