food IS a theme park
Thanks to all who have contributed their photos to the Disney Food Blog Photo Extravaganza! Keep on sending ’em! The Disney Food Pics of the Week feature adult beverages! Slàinte!
This margarita flight is served at La Cava del Tequila in Epcot’s Mexico pavilion! Salud!
Photographer: shnewell
Margarita Flight
The Lapu Lapu is served in a pineapple at the Tambu Lounge at [Read more…]
We’ve been reporting the news, and now I get to share the pics with you! The Wave…of American Flavors in Disney World’s Contemporary Resort has a brand new meal — a breakfast buffet! They’ve been testing it since December, and according to one of the managers I had a chance to speak with, it looks like it’s going to stay. I’m glad to hear it; the buffet is delicious.
Atmosphere and Background
As we know, The Wave focuses on a sustainable menu full of local products. In fact, The Wave was just approved to change their menu every few months — they’re one of the only non-signature restaurants able to do this — so that they can offer an even wider variety of seasonal, local ingredients. I’m looking forward to the updates!
Contemporary Resort's The Wave Restaurant
Regarding atmosphere, you can see a lot of great photos of the restaurant in our review of dinner at The Wave here. But here’s a quick pic from this week that shows that the [Read more…]
We continue to celebrate the launch of our 2013 Edition of the The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining e-Book with one of my favorite restaurant tips from the DFB Guide!
Fireworks from Bistro de Paris Window
There are lots of unique reasons to dine in certain Disney World restaurants, and one of the most interesting is the view you’ll have from your table.
At many Disney World restaurants, you’ll have the chance to glimpse fireworks shows, parades, animals, and more, but only if you ask for the right tables!
For example, at Epcot’s Bistro de Paris you’ll have a wonderful view of the Epcot fireworks, but to get it you’ll have to score a window-side table. The key? Make sure your reservation is for about an hour before the fireworks begin, and be sure to request a fireworks-view table — a seat in the middle of the row of tables next to the window — when you check in for your reservation!
While nothing is ever guaranteed, if you let the host know you’re willing to wait a bit longer for a great table, chances are good you’ll have a wonderful dining experience with a fantastic view of the show!
Want to know more about which seats to request in which restaurants?
What are your favorite table requests? Let us know in the comments below!
Traveling to Disneyland soon? You’ll want to add these resort restaurants to your dining list! We give a foodie shout-out to the winners of the Southern California Restaurant Writers awards!!
With a 36 year history, the Southern California Restaurant Writers, Inc. selects winners from south Santa Barbara to the border of Mexico. With such a large region, it’s a testament to the food quality at Disneyland that so many awards were presented to Disneyland restaurants at the annual banquet Sunday night.
Join me in congratulating Executive Pastry Chef Jean-Marc Viallet named the Pastry Chef of the Year! For the last ten years, Viallet has been dreaming up creative pastries for Disneyland guests.
Jean-Marc Viallet, Executive Pastry Chef, Disneyland Resort
Disneyland Resort received top honors in five categories! The Golden Bacchus is presented to restaurants with an extensive wine collection. The Golden Sceptre is considered the “top restaurant” award.
Special Award Category
* Pastry Chef of the Year: Jean-Marc Viallet, executive pastry chef, Disneyland Resort
Golden Bacchus Wine Award
* Napa Rose (Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel)
* Steakhouse 55 (Disneyland Hotel)
Golden Sceptre (Five Star)
* Napa Rose (Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel)
* Steakhouse 55 (Disneyland Hotel)
Gold (Four Star)
* Ariel’s Grotto (Paradise Pier, Disney’s California Adventure park)
* Blue Bayou (New Orleans Square, Disneyland park)
Sterling (Three Star)
* Goofy’s Kitchen (Disneyland Hotel)
* Storyteller’s Cafe (Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa)
Source: Disney Parks Blog
Chef Photo copyright Disney
Disney Food for Families columnist Erin Foster discusses a great bonus you can find with some kids’ meals on Walt Disney World property!
It’s long been said that Disney is in the details. One of my favorite Disney details is the container for children’s meals at some of the counter service restaurants at Walt Disney World. What is this magical container? The sand bucket!
Buckets ready to be called into action
There are restaurants located near the pools or sandy areas at Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, the Yacht & Beach Clubs, and the Caribbean Beach Resort that serve their kids’ meals either in, or with, a new, [Read more…]
Disney Food Blog’s own The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2013 e-Book — offers great insight into dining at WDW! Today, I’d like to share one of my favorite late night dining tips from the DFB Guide!
If you find yourself in WDW needing to refuel late at night (this happens a lot with late flights!), there are actually a few locations around WDW that are open late, or even 24 hours!
For example, the Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort is open all day and all night! It’s also a convenient stop on your way out of the Magic Kingdom. Take the resort monorail or a boat launch to the Grand Floridian before heading back to your parked car at the Transportation and Ticket Center.
Late night options include a 16″ pizza, which you can customize with toppings! Or choose from individual flatbread pizzas and sandwiches. Dine in or take your food outdoors to a table overlooking the marina (and Cinderella Castle).
Want to know more about late-night and 24 hour dining in Walt Disney World?
Where do you curb your late night hunger? Let us know in the comments below!
For all of you drinking-around-the-World fans, it’s time to dive into Sake! If you haven’t had the chance to sample it, Sake is a Japanese alcohol made from rice. Like wine and beer, it has multiple varieties, flavors, and “faces,” and exploring it can be a full-time job! For those who want a full history of Sake, the Wikipedia version is a good one.
Today, I had the chance to spend an hour or so with friends Sarah and Matt (many of you know Sarah Holodick from her many guest articles on this blog) at the Sake bar in the very back of the Mitsukoshi Department Store in Epcot’s Japan pavilion.
Mitsukoshi Department Store
I’ve never seen this little tasting area very full, and today — during Spring Break — the line was long for the cash register, but the Sake bar itself was still quite barren. I chalk that up to not enough advertising, because spending time sampling at this little location is a great way to relax and refresh during a long day at Epcot.
The menu offers 10 different sake varieties to choose from, all of which are sold by the [Read more…]
The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining
–is chock full of foodie info! Let’s take a look at another tip from the book — The Top 5 table-service restaurants in Walt Disney World for those dining on a tight budget…
Milky Way Sundae — Beaches and Cream
We chose these options because they are less expensive than other table-service locations, but also because we genuinely like to dine in these restaurants. A cheap price isn’t the only thing that makes dining in a restaurant worth it; good food and good atmosphere definitely have to be taken into account! So here are our favorite low-cost spots for taking a relaxing break from the hectic pace of the parks:
Top 5 Table-Service Restaurants on a Budget
» Beaches and Cream: This fun diner in Disney’s Beach Club Resort is tiny, but worth the wait! Order classic burgers and hot dogs, and the biggest ice cream sundaes you’ve ever seen!
» Trail’s End Restaurant: Tucked away at Fort Wilderness Resort, this country-style eatery is a buffet for breakfast and dinner and an a la carte spot for lunch. Be sure to try the sticky bun sundae!
» The Plaza: A small restaurant a stone’s throw from Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom, this spot specializes in comfort food! We love the price, the service, and the view!
» The Fountain: Another diner reminiscent of the 50’s, this Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin restaurant has more milkshake varieties than we could try in a month of Sundays!
» 50’s Prime Time Café: One of our favorites for food and atmosphere, this Hollywood Studios diner themed to Mom’s 1950’s kitchen serves up some great fried chicken and pot roast, and will likely make you laugh ’til you cry!
What are some of your favorite budget-friendly restaurants in Walt Disney World? Let us know in the comments section below.
Cupcake from Hollywood Studios
Hi, all! My biggest and favorite news of the week is the launch of The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! A hearty THANK YOU to those who have purchased a copy; it’s been such an honor to hear positive comments and feedback this week. I’m truly grateful.
Also, I’ve been reporting from Disney World since Thursday and will continue to do so until Wednesday. Watch my feed on facebook and twitter for real-time updates and photos from the World!
And now, on to the round-up!
DisZine shares the news about The Wave’s new breakfast buffet in Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
About Theme Parks shares the results from the Readers’ Choice Awards!
Main St. Gazette takes us to Mexico’s San Angel Inn in Epcot!
Pooh’s Travels writes about Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen in Disneyland!
Studios Central follows up on last week’s Sunset Ranch Market post by explaining the trucks of produce nearby in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The celebration of our new e-Book — The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining — continues! Let’s take a look at a fantastic kid event that’s highlighted as part of the Special Dining Events for Kids section of the book!
Alice at Grand Floridian (image (c) Disney)
At the Wonderland Tea Party, kids (4-10) will enjoy tea (okay, it’s just apple juice ;-)), stories, arts & crafts, games, and a make-your-own cupcake. Of course, some special Wonderland friends will stop by too. Look for Alice and the Mad Hatter. Although characters are subject to change, they seem to appear most frequently.
Check the schedule as it seems to change. Current times are Monday through Friday afternoons from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. You’ll find the tea party in the Victorian splendor of the Grand Floridian’s 1900 Park Fare Restaurant. Parents will receive photos of their child enjoying the festivities on a PhotoPass card. To book your child at this wonderful event, call 407-WDW-DINE 90 days in advance. Space is very limited and the current price is $42.60.
During your blissful hour of quiet, enjoy a lunch at the Grand Floridian Cafe, shopping or a spa treatment!
Curious for more information?
After all, more events for kids means more time for a spa treatment for you!
What events do your kids recommend? Let us know in the comments below!
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