2011 Disney World Free Dining in August and September

Free dining is back for Fall 2011!

Free Dining Available Now for Disney Visa Cardholders

Book the Disney “Memories Vacation Package” with your Disney Visa and get free dining — the Disney Dining Plan, that is — this fall at Walt Disney World! Offer is valid for most nights August 28, 2011 through September 24, 2011. Note that this package will be available for the general public on May 2nd. You must book by August 27, 2011.

Stay at a Value Resort and get the Quick Service Dining Plan for free. Use Code I25 when booking.

Stay at Moderate, Deluxe, and Villa Resorts to get the Regular Dining Plan for free. Use code O2M when booking.

The package includes:

Disney World resort accommodations (3 nights minimum)
Base Tickets (2 day minimum) that you can upgrade for an additional cost
A PhotoPass Photo Book (Mousesavers.com notes that this required item adds about $100 to the total price)

Free Dining Available on May 2nd, 2011, for the General Public

This package will be available to the general public starting May 2, 2011. Call early, as availability on this package is very limited!

Wondering if the Free Dining Plan is a good deal for you? We do an in-depth analysis in our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining e-Book!

Souce — The Wonderful MouseSavers.com

How to Order a Cake at Walt Disney World

By AJ 19 Comments

Editor’s Note: Information updated as of August 2012.

How to order a cake depends on what kind of cake you want and where you want to have it.

Podium cake with custom inscription at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Disney Restaurant Podium Cakes

If you’re OK with a simple supermarket-style cake in vanilla or chocolate, you can get one just by asking at the podium when you check in for your reservation at any Disney restaurant except Victoria & Albert’s. These 6-inch cakes serve 5 and cost $21 plus tax.

Basic Custom Cakes

With 48 hours’ notice, most restaurants also offer basic custom cakes in larger sizes and a limited range of flavors with basic decorations. If an 8-inch cake is offered, it will be available in chocolate or vanilla and cost $32–$35 (serves 8). Ordering a 10-inch cake ($45, serves 16) will get you more flavor choices—usually vanilla, chocolate or marble cake filled with vanilla buttercream, chocolate buttercream, white chocolate mousse, dark chocolate mousse, strawberry mousse, or raspberry mousse and covered in vanilla or chocolate buttercream or whipped cream. Sheet cakes are available in 1/4 ($55, serves 25), 1/2 ($80, serves 50) and full ($120, serves 100) sizes. The price of adding a screen-printed image to a cake varies by location and ranges from as little as $2 to as much as $35—and at some places it’s free!

Mickey Mouse cake at BoardWalk Bakery

Most restaurants also offer a Mickey Mouse cake in the shape of his head bearing a screen print of his face for $48. It serves 10–12 people, is available in white or chocolate cake with chocolate filling, and is covered in chocolate ganache. Although the cake cannot be customized, you can have a message written on the serving plate. At restaurants serviced by the Contemporary Resort Bakery, the Mickey Mouse cake may be covered in piped buttercream frosting rather than a coating of chocolate ganache.

CLICK HERE for photos of basic custom cake styles.

Fancy Fondant-Covered Cakes & Mini Cakes

If you’re looking for an elaborate fondant-covered cake, a mini cake, or cakes in nonstandard flavors, only the bakeries at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, the Contemporary Resort, BoardWalk Inn, Animal Kingdom Lodge, and the Yacht & Beach Club offer these, and only BoardWalk Bakery will let you pick up a cake. Note: The bakery at Animal Kingdom Lodge will not make mini cakes or fancy fondant cakes smaller than 10 inches.

Custom cake at the Contemporary Resort

However, if you’re staying or dining at the Polynesian Resort, you can get a fancy cake by calling Private Dining at the Grand Floridian. For fancy cakes at the Wilderness Lodge, and Fort Wilderness, call Private Dining at the Contemporary. For fancy cakes at the Magic Kingdom, call Cake Hotline at 407-827-2253 and choose option #4; or email [email protected]. For fancy cakes at Epcot’s Coral Reef, Garden Grill or Le Cellier, call Private Dining at the Yacht & Beach Club. Fancy cakes are also available at Caribbean Beach, Old Key West, Pop Century, and Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, which are serviced by BoardWalk Bakery, and at Art of Animation, which is serviced bythe Yacht & Beach Club. For these resorts, call the Cake Hotline and follow the prompts for your resort to place your order. You can pick up your cake at the restaurant or food court; many resorts will even deliver it to your room. Complete details on the cake choices and prices at each park and resort can be found on the Disney Cake Options By Location page.

To order, call Walt Disney World’s Cake-Ordering Hotline at 407-827-2253.

At this time, Disney has no email address you can write to with a cake inquiry, and there is no Disney-run web site showing cake options and prices. When ordering a fancy custom cake, you may run into difficulty with Private Dining cast members who are not aware of the bakery’s capabilities. Politely ask to speak to the pastry chef directly so that you can get the official word on cake options.

Need more cake info or details on flavors and embellishments available? Visit our Disney Cake FAQ page that Carrie put together for us!

Carrie Hayward is the author of PassPorter’s Disney Weddings & Honeymoons (http://www.passporter.com/weddings.asp), a guidebook and bridal organizer for weddings and honeymoons at Walt Disney World and on the Disney Cruise Line. Follow her adventures in Disney dining at http://disneytravelbabble.com and @lurkyloo on Twitter.

Monorail Coffee!

By AJ 12 Comments

For those that weren’t aware, the Transportation and Ticket Center has added one of our favorite new little coffee kiosks. (Like the one over by the Epcot monorail station.)

Transportation and Ticket Center Coffee Kiosk

Now, when are they going to put coffee stations on the buses…? 😉 Here’s one of the menu signs for the kiosk. The other menu sign photo [Read more…]

Disney Food for Families: It’s a World of Candy

By Erin 41 Comments

Disney Food for Families columnist Erin Foster and her daughters toured World Showcase with an eye for candy!

You’ve probably heard of the Drink-Around-The-World activity where you and some strong-stomached companions visit each country at Epcot’s World Showcase and partake of a signature adult beverage in every land. Sounds good to me too, but unfortunately that’s not going to work when your touring partners are a couple of 11-year-old girls.

When my twin daughters, Josie and Louisa, and I were recently faced with an afternoon at Epcot and a two-hour wait for Soarin’, we decided to do what any good Disney foodie would do: eat. Specifically we decided to undertake the G-rated version of country crawl: Candy-Around-The-World.

World Showcase

We set up a few rules for ourselves:

We had to buy and sample a candy in each Epcot country. It’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it. 🙂
The candy had to be as native as possible.
When in doubt, get a recommendation from a cast member from the represented country.

And off we went to create an international sugar coma. When we started our trek, we happened to be near [Read more…]

DIY Disney Magical Drinks: The Mad Hatter

By AJ 6 Comments

Chef BigFatPanda is back with a new addition to the Disney Food Blog! We all know and love the Chef’s DIY Disney column here on the Food Blog, which gives us handy directions on how to make our favorite Disney recipes at home.

But Chef BigFatPanda’s latest introduction to the column is a series of unique magical drinks that we can all taste-test at home. To kick off this new series, the Chef has created a drink that’s perfect for those who love things both sweet and sour!

Mad Hatter

This drink, appropriately called The Mad Hatter, combines the kick of Vodka, the sweetness of Midori, and an extra little bit of flavor with some Sweet & Sour. Altogether, this drink will surely make you think of that sometimes sweet…and sometimes sour…character from Alice in Wonderland — the Mad Hatter! See the green of his hat and the yellow of his coat?

Magical Drinks

Here’s the Chef’s original recipe for this fun drink! [Read more…]

Guest Review: Specialty Hot Dogs at The Lunching Pad

By AJ 8 Comments

During a weekend visit to the Magic Kingdom, Sarah Holodick continued taste testing hot dogs with a stop at The Lunching Pad. Our thanks for taking on this hot dog throw down! Take it away, Sarah!

After having an awesome experience at Casey’s Corner, Matt and I wanted to continue our hot dog throw down with the dogs at The Lunching Pad. We noticed last summer when the new dogs were introduced (I wish they had kept the Reuben Dog!), but we never made it over until now.

Since the Coney Island Dog seemed pretty basic, we decided on the Philly Cheese Steak Hot Dog and the Taco Hot Dog.

Hot Dog selection

The cheese steak dog is topped with beef, onions, peppers, mushrooms, and cheese sauce. The taco dog is served with [Read more…]

Tables in Wonderland: May 2011 Events

By Kim LaPaglia 7 Comments

Check out these fun May 2011 Tables in Wonderland events in Walt Disney World!! Details can be found below the photos. Click on photos for larger version!

click image for larger version

Flower Power Happy Hour

Date and Time:

Sunday May 8, 2011 6:00pm – 8:30pm
Location: American Adventure Parlor at Epcot
Cost:$35 per person, gratuity is included

The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is a special spring event filled with a colorful array of flowers, lush gardens, topiaries, live music, unique shopping, and educational programs. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the festival, finish off the day with a melodious evening at the America Gardens Theatre adjacent to the American Adventure Pavilion and enjoy music from the 1960s and 1970s during the Flower Power Concert Series. Join your fellow Tables in Wonderland members for a cocktail hour and then reserved seating for the concert of the ever-so-dreamy Davy Jones, best known as the front man for the 60’s sensation “The Monkees”.

Click on image above for menu.

For reservations, e-mail [email protected] with the following information: your interest to book, your name, daytime phone number, home address, and the number of people in your party. You will be notified on a “first-come, first-served” basis. Your credit card will be taken over the phone once your reservation is confirmed. The event is limited to 60 Guests. The event is exclusive to Tables in Wonderland members.

Illuminations Dessert Party

Date:

Sunday May 28, 2011
Time: 8:00pm – 9:30pm
Location: Isle de France at Epcot
Cost: $50.00 per person, plus tax. Gratuity is included.

Platters of rich, moist, delectable, and delicious desserts. A sky filled with glowing balls of fire and emblazoned with piercing streaks of light. The evening air rich with the sounds of an orchestral score. You are invited to a private Tables in Wonderland Dessert Party! Come enjoy a front row presentation of the premier nighttime spectacular at Epcot, IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, while you sample platters of exquisitely prepared delectable desserts and rich coffees.

Click above image for menu.

For reservations, e-mail [email protected] with the following information: your interest to book, your name, daytime phone number, home address, and the number of people in your party. You will be notified on a “first-come, first-served” basis. Your credit card will be taken over the phone once your reservation is confirmed. The event is limited to 100 Guests. The event is exclusive to Tables in Wonderland members.

The Wave . . . of American Flavors Discovery Dinner

Date:

Thursday, May 19, 2011
Time: 6:30 p.m. Reception; 7 p.m. Dinner
Location: The Wave . . . of American Flavors at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Please meet at restaurant’s main podium.
Dress: Casual Evening Attire
Price: $92 per person, includes tax and gratuity

Highlighting Hank Scott, President of Long & Scott Farms, who represents the third generation of the Scott family’s farming tradition. Scott Farms was established in 1963 by Billy Long and Frank Scott, Jr. who were childhood friends from the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Hank, who has worked on the farm since he was a boy, returned to the farm full-time after graduating from the University of South Florida.

Click on image above for menu.

For reservations, e-mail [email protected] with the following information: your interest to book, your name, daytime phone number, home address, and the number of people in your party. You will be notified on a “first-come, first-served” basis. Your credit card will be taken over the phone once your reservation is confirmed. The event is limited to 44 Guests. The event is exclusive to Tables in Wonderland members.

New! Dessert Trays at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

By AJ 14 Comments

Disney’s Hollywood Studios has unveiled new desserts. Check out these dessert trays! They are totally unique and make dessert on-the-go a delicious adventure! No word on exactly WHEN they’re sold, but we’re told you can find them at Hollywood Scoops.

click image for larger version

Fantasmic Sweet Treats Tray is Key-Lime Pie, Tiramisu, blueberry cheesecake, Mickey Brownie, and Raspberry Cake. This costs $13.99. With sparkling wine, it’s $19.99.

click image for larger version

The Evening Delight Tray is brie and cheddar cheese, fresh fruits, and chocolate-dipped strawberries. This costs $11.99. With sparking line, it’s $17.99.

click image for larger version

The Just Goodies Tray has pretzel sticks dipped in chocolate and candies, and strawberries and marshmallows with a chocolate dipping sauce. This costs $11.99. There’s no sparkling wine option here.

click image for larger version

These remind me a little bit of the Fantasmic’s Premium Viewing Dessert Trays in Disneyland! Do you think they might start a dessert event at Disney World’s Fantasmic, too?!

A special thanks to Shelley Carran at OntheGoinMCO.com for sending us the scoop on these desserts!

Review: Wilderness Lodge’s Artist Point

By AJ 15 Comments

Learn About:Artist Point

Disney World Restaurants

Ah, Artist Point. This restaurant and I have had a love-hate relationship, to be sure. On my first visit, I loved it. But after the second visit, I wasn’t chomping at the bit to go back.

On my third visit last December, I was in heaven.

Atmosphere
Artist Point is one of Disney’s lesser-known signature restaurants (read about the dress code here). Located in Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort, it specializes in cuisine inspired by the American Northwest (think salmon, big game meat, apples, berries, and mushrooms, for starters).

Entry

The high-ceilinged restaurant is understated, decorated with muted earth tones and a mix of light and dark wood. Chunky craftsman-style chandeliers punctuate the dining room, and soaring murals of Pacific Northwest scenes provide a [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: April 24, 2011

By AJ Leave a Comment

Wilderness Lodge Carrot Cake Cupcake

Hi all!! Happy Easter to all who celebrate it! 🙂 We’ve got a TON of news this week, so let’s get started.

First of all, the 2011 WDW Foodie Fest, our Disney Food Blog meet-up, has been announced! The main event will be on October 2nd in Disney World, and we’ll be having several events throughout the week as well! Find out more about the WDW Foodie Fest here.

Latest Disney Food News

A new carrot cupcake was unveiled at the Wilderness Lodge
The Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek is offering packages to marathon runners
Rose and Crown has a new appetizer trio
2011 Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend Events encourage guests to run, taste and sip
Tables in Wonderland released more information on the Cairo dinner
New foodie vinylmations and pins make great collectibles

Recent Reviews of the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining

And of course we have to highlight the great folks who are giving us a review of the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining — our new e-Book! Do you have your copy?

Imaginerding, the last word in Disney books of any kind, highlights the reasons the book should be added to your WDW planning library. Read his review here.

Travel Hyper recommends the book for guests with dietary concerns and International travelers looking for information on gratuities. It is also noted that the book is even helpful to seasoned WDW visitors. Read her review here.

Now, On to the Round-Up!

A Wedding Cake Blog

shows us an elegant Disney wedding cake!

DisneyContemporary.com polls Facebook fans for Contemporary Resort restaurant favorites — past and present!

Main Street Gazette goes nutty with a favorite salty/sweet snack at WDW.

Walt Disney World for Grown-Ups reminisces about Epcot’s Kitchen Kabaret Revue.

Studios Central has some tips for your next Character Meal!

All Ears’ Searching Disney With Steve highlights a hidden Mickey in Disneyland’s Rancho del Zocalo!

Disney Parks Blog tells us what munchies can be found at Disneyland’s hotel lounges.

Looking for something?

STAY CONNECTED