Reporting Live From Disney World

Reporting LIVE

Hi all! As you might know, I’m in Walt Disney World this weekend attending a Disney Media Culinary Event called:

“From 5 Stars to Mickey Bars!”

I didn’t think I’d be back in Orlando until the Epcot Food & Wine Festival, so this is very exciting! Big thanks to those at Disney who extended such a gracious invitation to us to dine with them throughout the World!

I’ll be reporting here on the blog about the gourmet (and not-so-gourmet!) adventures of our little group — I know we’re headed to Flying Fish Cafe, Hoop Dee Doo Revue, Cape May Cafe, and Kouzzina, to name just a few!

If you want to follow along, be sure to find me on twitter and facebook to see the latest updates there as well! Also, those of us attending the event will be tweeting with the hashtag #DisneyMedia, so you can see updates from the whole group by following that tag!

Looking forward to sharing with you even more from the wonderful world of Disney food as we go through the event this weekend!

Also, don’t forget that I’ll be reporting live from Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival next week, so stay tuned for those updates as well!

In accordance with FTC guidelines, please note that my transportation, lodging, and food have been provided by the Walt Disney Company for this Media event.

Gluten Free Snacks at Main Street Bakery

By AJ 11 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.

Just came across this display of specialty diet items in the Main Street Bakery today! It’s new to me, so I thought I’d share. For more great info and resources for dining gluten-free in Disney World and Disneyland, check out our Gluten-Free Resources pages!

Gluten Free Items at Main Street Bakery

Main Street Bakery Gluten-Free and Specialty Diet Items
The first thing to catch my eye was the caramel popcorn! It looked deeeeelicious! All of these products seem to be from the same brands — French Meadow Bakery and Divvies. Has anyone sampled these brands? How are they? Any preference?

Gluten Free Jelly Beans at Main Street Bakery

[Read more…]

Eat to the Beat Concerts Announced!

By AJ 3 Comments

Great news! The Eat to the Beat concert series for the 2010 Epcot Food & Wine Festival has been released! I hope I can stick around long enough for Air Supply!!

Performances will be nightly at 5:15 p.m. 6:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. This year’s schedule (subject to change) includes:
10/1-10/3 — Taylor Dayne, “Tell It to My Heart”
10/4-10/5 — Kool & The Gang, “Celebration”
10/6-10/8 — Sugar Ray, “Fly”
10/9-10/10 — Taylor Hicks, “Do I Make You Proud ”
10/11-10/12 — Air Supply, “Lost in Love”
10/13-10/15 — Sister Hazel, “All For You”
10/16-10/17 — Howard Jones, “No One Is To Blame”
10/18-10/19 — Exposé, “Seasons Change”
10/20-10/21 — 38 Special, “Hold on Loosely ”
10/22-10/24 — Night Ranger, “Sister Christian”
10/25-10/27 — Billy Ocean, “Caribbean Queen”
10/28-10/31 — Starship starring Mickey Thomas, “We Built This City”
11/1 – 11/3 — Boyz II Men, “End of the Road”
11/4-11/5 — Roger Hodgson formerly of Supertramp, “Give A Little Bit”
11/6-11/7 — Jon Secada, “Just Another Day”
11/8-11/9 — Hanson, “MMMBop”
11/10-11/11 — Rick Springfield, “Jessie’s Girl”
11/12-11/14 — Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, “Go Daddy-O”

Stay tuned for more info on the festival, and be sure to keep an eye on the Disney Parks Blog!

Thanks to Corey for the tip!

“You Won’t Believe This!” Snack: Brownie-Frosting Sandwich

By AJ 24 Comments

This one is going to be hard to top. It might be my favorite “You Won’t Believe This!” Snack to date.

I was knocked off my rocker when I tried this Brownie-Frosting Sandwich today. There’s no other name for it. Earl of Sandwich calls it “The Earl’s Brownie Creme,” but, in my book, it’s a big ol’ Brownie-Frosting Sandwich.

Here’s the basic construction: a huge, circular, rich brownie was cut in half and filled with the most delicious frosting imaginable. First, let’s discuss the brownie: This was the closest thing to home made I’ve ever seen in a Disney baked good. It looked, smelled, and tasted [Read more…]

Epcot’s Liberty Inn: A Publick Dining Room

By AJ 5 Comments

Did you know there’s a counter service restaurant in Epcot’s American Adventure pavilion? Lots of folks don’t, because it’s tucked back into the corner, but this place is massive!

It’s a great spot to stop for a rest and a bite to eat when you’re halfway around your World Showcase touring, and it’s also a good place to pass the time while you’re waiting for a show in the amphitheater across the way — Flower Power Concerts, Eat to the Beat Concerts, and the Candlelight Processional all take place there! (Note: Don’t feel like searching for a seat for the concerts? Sitting at an outdoor Liberty Inn table will give you the opportunity to hear the concert while enjoying your food! Win-win!)

Outdoor Seating

Atmosphere
While this is a typical Disney counter-service restaurant, imagineers have provided special touches [Read more…]

Best Restaurants for Magic Kingdom Parade Viewing

By AJ 27 Comments

The Magic Kingdom Parade is a rite of passage for every Walt Disney World guest, and with a little planning, you can save time by dining and watching the parade at the same time!

Here are a few of my favorite ways to combine two “must-do” activities — eating and parade viewing — in the Magic Kingdom:

Casey’s Corner Outdoor Tables

Grab a Hot Dog at Casey’s
The location of Casey’s Corner, a counter-service restaurant specializing in hot dogs, is just about perfect for parade viewing. Situated on the end of Main Street right next to the hub and the Castle, the main outdoor dining area of Casey’s will provide a fantastic view of the parade floats going by.

You’ll need to snag a spot early, so head over to Casey’s about 15-30 minutes before the parade is scheduled to begin, order your food, and commandeer your red-and-white striped umbrella table. The closer you are to Main Street, the better. While crowds of people might block your view of some of the characters on the street, this is nice, shaded spot from which to see the floats. I especially like this spot for watching SpectroMagic (or the Main Street Electrical Parade). Keep your spot to watch Wishes.

If you don’t like the idea of holding a table, grab your dogs and dine while holding your spot on the curb!

Get an Outdoor Table at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe
…but it has the be one of the correct outdoor tables! This counter-service eatery located in Frontierland has several outdoor dining areas, but the one you want will be closest to the front door. This dining area butts up against a slatted fence, which you’ll be able to [Read more…]

Disney’s Hollywood Brown Derby

By AJ 25 Comments

Note: See answers to last week’s photo quiz at the bottom of this post!

One of my new favorite restaurants on Walt Disney World property is one I’d never set foot in during all my trips to Disney World: the Hollywood Brown Derby in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

I’d always looked at the menu and figured, “Too expensive. Too hoity-toity,” and never gave it a second thought. But since starting the Food Blog — and embarking on an adventure of eating in every Disney restaurant I could — I was excited to finally have a reason to try this place out. After all, I’ve always heard glowing reviews. And, let me tell you, they’re deserved.

Atmosphere
Disney’s Hollywood Brown Derby is a replica of the famous Vine Street Brown Derby, originally built in 1928 and home to dozens of famous Hollywood rumors and stories, including Clark Gable’s proposal to Carole Lombard in booth #5 and Lucille Ball’s dinner roll food fight. Disney World’s Brown Derby is an officially licensed Brown Derby Restaurant, and is the fifth Brown Derby Restaurant to be built.

Brown Derby History -- Click Image for Larger View

The likeness to the original restaurant is uncanny — the covered entryway, signage, dining room, and even decor are identical to the namesake. And those well-known caricatures grace [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: April 18, 2010

By AJ Leave a Comment

Lots of Disney food news this week, including:

Via Napoli, the proposed name for Epcot’s new Italy pavilion restaurant
A Festival tagline and some Eat to the Beat concerts announced for the Epcot Food & Wine Festival happening in Fall 2010
Sushi found in Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Mother’s Day Events were announced for WDW and Disneyland
The new Studio Catering Company menu was reviewed

And don’t forget to check out the awesome posts over on the Disney Blog Carnival! There’s a new one up this week!! Now, on to the round-up!

DisneyGeek, our favorite Disneyland photographer, has some fun photos of the opening days of Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival! (Start at the linked page and click through the next few pages for more pics.)

The Unofficial Guide to Disney’s Contemporary Resort takes a look at breakfast options at the Contemporary Resort.

The OC Register is reporting from Disney’s California Food and Wine Festival! Check out the latest from Guy Fieri’s appearances!

Theme Park Insider has a “What’s On Your Funnel Cake?” poll with some great opinions in the comments section!

The Disney Chick walks us through the recipe for Jarlsberg and Leek Soup from Akershus.

Disney Parks Blog shares some photos of great Disneyland Food and Wine Festival merchandise!

Main Street Gazette has a photo blog of the decor over at the Adventureland Veranda in Disney World.

The Daily Disney posts the recipe for one of the most popular items at the 2009 Epcot Food & Wine Festival — seared beef tenderloin with sweet potato puree!

@Marcomboy sent the best twitpic ever. Seriously. I love this. Where can I get one?

Touring Plans takes a look at Trail’s End in Disney’s Fort Wilderness.

Disneyland Food & Wine Festival Twitter Contest

By AJ 2 Comments

Disneyland is currently holding a twitter contest! Each week during Disney’s California Food and Wine Festival, Disneyland will be giving away 2 1-Day, 1-Park tickets and a $50 Disney Gift Card

Here are the details from the Disney Parks Blog:

As promised, here’s more information on how you can participate in Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival Twitter Sweepstakes:

1. Follow us on Twitter by going to twitter.com/disneyland.
2. To enter, reply between 12:01 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. (PT) Wednesday with #DisneyFWFest & “Enter me in Disney’s California F&W Festival Sweepstakes.”
3. Sweepstakes open to US residents 18 and over. No purchase necessary. 1 winner selected per week, on 4/14, 4/21 and 4/28/10. Void where prohibited. Please read the detailed rules to find out all the details.
4. Winners will be notified by direct message the day after such Wednesday sweepstakes, and such winners should follow the directions in that message. In order to win and receive a direct message from @Disneyland, you must follow @Disneyland. Winners must reply by email with their full name, email address, physical mailing address and phone number within 24 hours of the time of such winning notification. Tickets and Disney Gift Cards will be shipped to the winner overnight. Tickets must be used by May 31, 2010, the final day of the Festival, or their use will be forfeited.

Good luck! I’ll see you at the Festival!

Visit our F&W Festival page for more info on Disney’s California Food and Wine Festival.

Disney Blog Carnival #2!

By AJ Leave a Comment

DisMarks.com Logo

For those of you who enjoyed the first Disney Blog Carnival, here’s the second one right on its heels!

Just head over to DisMarks to see over 30 great articles and blog posts about your very favorite subject — Disney! Click through and give those writers some love.

By the way, a blog carnival, for those who haven’t seen one before, is a collection of posts submitted from different bloggers on a similar topic. It often takes place weekly or monthly.

DisMarks.com is a Disney-focused social news website that launched a brand new Disney Blog Carnival two weeks ago. The Disney Blog Carnival is scheduled to occur around every two weeks, so stay tuned for even more great Disney articles all in one place.

If you’re a Disney blogger and want to participate in the next Disney Blog Carnival, everyone is welcome. Submissions for the next carnival are due on May 1st, and you can submit your articles or blog posts right here.

Looking for something?

STAY CONNECTED