LIVE Food News and Photos: Disney World Media Event

UPDATE: Read about the Opening Date for Be Our Guest Restaurant and Reservations Info!

I’m reporting this week from the Walt Disney World Media Event showcasing the new Give a Day, Get a Disney Day volunteer program! Last night was the kick-off event, and we heard some fun dining news and got to taste some great eats over at the ESPN Wide World of Sports! (Psst — if you just want to see pics from the kick-off party, scroll down.)

Disney Food News
Unfortunately, I didn’t hear any BRAND new Disney food news, but recently opened restaurants Kouzzina and Sanaa were mentioned, along with the upcoming Be Our Guest restaurant and Gaston’s Tavern, to be found in the new-and-improved Fantasyland in 2012.

Other fun mentions that some of you might not have heard about are the two new, “interactive” restaurants on board the brand new Disney Cruise Line cruise ship, The Disney Dream. These include the Enchanted Garden, which magically transforms your surroundings from early morning to a night sky while you dine, and the Skyline Lounge, which has walls that change to reflect a new city scape each day!

Skyline Lounge

Enchanted Garden

Media Event Treats and Eats
The event kick-off was held in the ESPN Wide World of Sports on Walt Disney World property. The first part of the evening was a [Read more…]

Sucker Punch!

By AJ 5 Comments

There are some quintessential theme park foods that come to mind when you think of Disney World — funnel cakes, Dole Whips, Mickey bars, and, for me, lollipops. Maybe it’s because I don’t eat them very often, maybe it’s because they’re so shiny and colorful, maybe it’s because I associate them with vacations from my childhood, but I always want to buy a big, ol’ swirly lollipop.

They’re an eye-catching hallmark of a Disney vacation. Their colorful sugar swirls captivate the eye in any shop, and I think they’re actually pretty artistic. So, for today’s mid-week pick-me-up, I wanted to share a few of my favorite sucker shots with you guys. Sit back, relax, remember when you were a kid, and let the colors take you away to YOUR happy place. 🙂

long disney lollipop

disney red and yellow lollipops

disney princesses lollipop

Pirate Mickey Lollipop Disney World

Mickey-shaped lollipops disney

More after the break! [Read more…]

Old Hickory Steakhouse at Gaylord Palms Resort

By AJ 10 Comments

I was kindly invited to a complimentary dine-around at the restaurants at Gaylord Palms Resort the last time I was in Orlando, Florida (you can see my photos and description of the Sora Sushi Bar here).

Gaylord Palms Resort is just a few miles away from Disney World’s main gate, and is a quick taxi ride or drive away from any Disney park or resort. On my evening at Gaylord Palms, one of the most impressive restaurants I got the chance to sample was a Gaylord brand signature spot, Old Hickory Steakhouse.

Gaylord Palms Old Hickory Steakhouse

Atmosphere
For those who haven’t been to Gaylord Palms Resort, the many guest rooms surround a huge indoor atrium separated into the resort’s three distinct themed areas — Key West, St. Augustine, and the Everglades. Old Hickory Steakhouse is located in the Everglades district, which is evident in the architecture and decor of this completely stand-alone restaurant.

Old Hickory Steakhouse, (c) Gaylord Palms Resort

Old Hickory Steakhouse is a traditional and upscale restaurant, with a chef who’s [Read more…]

“What IS That Stuff?”: Favorites from Boma

By AJ 28 Comments

I mention Boma around here a LOT. It’s a breakfast and dinner buffet over at the Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort, and it’s a great buy for adventurous eaters who want to try something a bit outside the fold from burgers and ribs. And for people who do prefer burgers and ribs, Boma can be a fun and delicious step out of your comfort zone. Thanks to our friends at AKLResort.com for collaborating on this post.

Boma Sign

While dishes on the Boma buffet change daily, there are a few authentic African options that are available more often than not. Picky eaters (including myself) are often scared off by unfamiliar names or ingredients that aren’t found in the typical American diet, so I’m going to use a post to showcase some of these items, tell you what’s in them, and show you pictures. Sometimes a little familiarity is all it takes for these dishes to be worth a try the next time you’re at Boma!

Pap and Chaka Laka
Pap is a dish made from corn flour, butter, and water, and is seasoned with salt and pepper. It’s a staple of African cooking almost everywhere. Chaka Laka is a spicy South African vegetable relish that often features peppers and chiles, beans, and other vegetables, and can be flavored with curry powder. Pap is very often served with some sort of meat or vegetable relish/topping — when you try this, you know [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up, February 7, 2010

By AJ Leave a Comment

Eat here

Here’s the food news of the week, highlighted here on the Disney Food Blog:

Disneyland annual passholders can now book reservations for Disney’s California Food and Wine Festival signature events. The rest of us have to wait until Feb. 16th!
WDW’s Downtown Disney is saying goodbye to McDonald’s on April 30th. In its place will be a franchise of Latin fast food chain, Pollo Campero.
Magic Kingdom is seeing more dining renovations.

Also, if you didn’t see it already, be sure to check out our first ever Disney food photo quiz. You can see the answers at the bottom of this post. Now, on to the round-up!

SamLand’s Disney Adventures shares a great detail from Pinocchio’s Village Haus in Disney World. Be sure to check the comments, where Anthony from DLRPMagic shares a very related detail from Disneyland Paris!

Orlando Sentinel shares more construction pics from Epcot.

DLRPToday, same folks from DLRPMagic, incidentally, reports that Hurricanes Discotheque will be closing permanently on March 31, 2010.

Designing Disney takes us to Disneyland’s Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor.

Disney and More reminds us that Disney Legend Walt Peregoy’s artwork is currently being exhibited at the Chocolate Bar in Encino, CA. I call this a food post because of the location. I think it works. Walt is best known for his work on 101 Dalmatians.

Stuff From the Parks shares a cool Haunted Mansion “I Scream” ice cream spoon from the 1969 Haunted Mansion grand opening promo. Learn more about the “I Scream” promo from this Imaginerding post.

The OC Register explains how Disney’s paying employees to lose unhealthy, excess weight.

2719 Hyperion is able to take its eyes away from the goodies and document the decor at the Disney’s Hollywood Studios Beverly Sunset Sweet Spells shop (also known as the Scary Apothecary).

WDW Alone reminds us to get training for the Wine and Dine Halloween 5K fun run

Orlando Sentinel reports that central Florida and the Disney area is the Word’s Most Celiac Friendly Destination!

DF 82 brings us back to Disneyland Paris with a look at Toad Hall.

Main Street Gazette shares a trip to Le Cellier — including a photo of the Chocolate Moose.

Disney Parks Blog has some suggestions for Date Night at Disneyland’s Downtown Disney.

Healthy Eating in Walt Disney World

By AJ 47 Comments

A Great Lunch Option at Starring Rolls Cafe

Some of you listened to the Healthy Eating in WDW episode of the WDW Today podcast last week, but there’s still a lot of information and tips for those of you who’d like to — or have to — start eating a bit healthier while you’re on vacation.

Even if you just want “not to go overboard,” (I feel your pain.) the tips, menu options, and “eat this not that” suggestions will help!

General Advice:
First thing first. These are tips everyone already knows, but we sometimes need a reminder or two…or three.

Look for fresh, not processed foods: You can find fruits and veggies in every theme park. When you’re in a resort food court, consider a salad, boiled egg, or pita and hummus.
Learn to be a “bother:” Order sauces on the side, substitute veggies/fruit for fries, ask that your meat not be cooked in butter, or see if you can order a half-portion of an entree for less money.
Watch portion size: Disney likes to give you your money’s worth when it comes to food, so be aware when you order. Make a meal out of an appetizer, and when you splurge on a rich entree or huge dessert, share with someone else at the table.
Eat breakfast: Breakfast is going to be one of the easiest and cheapest meals to eat healthily in a restaurant, so book mid-morning breakfast ADRs and fuel up with eggs, veggies, and wheat toast. Plus, there’s no temptation of ordering dessert!
Call ahead: If you’re eating at a set-menu restaurant or want healthier, or no-sugar-added dessert options, call or write to Disney ahead of time ([email protected], or 407-824-5967).

Sanaa’s Menu is Full of Delicious, Healthy Choices

No Matter Where You Eat…
…there’s going to be something there that won’t eventually kill you 😉 Here are a few menu options [Read more…]

Disney’s California F&W Festival: Annual Passholder Advance Ticket Sales

By AJ Leave a Comment

DLRFoodWinelogosmall

Disneyland Annual Passholders will be able to purchase reduced-price, advance tickets starting today for Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival special events, including winemaker dinners, a new Brewmaster Dinner, and the Festival finale celebration “Taste Food-Wine-Life.” To purchase, log into Disneyland’s AP Special Offers Page.

For more details, pricing, and information about these events, see our Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival page.

The general public will be able to book events starting February 16th at 10am, via the Disneyland Food and Wine Festival page.

Thanks to the Disney Parks Blog.

Flying In To Scuttle’s Landing

By AJ 6 Comments

Over the course of this next year, we’ll have to look at several Magic Kingdom establishments that are soon to be no longer. Princesses, beasts, and faeries are taking over Fantasyland, so there just won’t be room for seagulls anymore!

Scuttle's Landing

Scuttle’s Landing has long served as a waiting area for moms and dads while daughters waded into Ariel’s Grotto or sons flew with Dumbo, a dance party location during Magic Kingdom parties, THE place to get your frozen coke, and where everyone [Read more…]

WDW Downtown Disney: Goodbye McDonald’s, Hello Pollo Campero

By AJ 28 Comments

pollocampero

According to the Orlando Sentinel, McDonald’s is pulling out of the Disney World entertainment district, Downtown Disney.

The McDonald’s restaurant at Walt Disney World’s shopping-and-dining district will close April 30, Disney said this afternoon.

This is the part of the fall-out from the end of the Disney/McDonald’s exclusive sponsorship agreement, which terminated in 2004.

“Our alliance partners are ever-changing and this shift in our relationship with McDonald’s reflects the dynamic nature of the sponsorship business,” Disney spokeswoman Zoraya Suarez said.

The replacement restaurant, Pollo Campero, is a Latin chicken fast-food chain. Business Wire is reporting that the chain is joining forces with franchisee Levy Campero to provide a new concept restaurant in Downtown Disney based on Pollo Campero’s standard family-style Latin dining coupled with new fresh, healthy menu additions, like chef-made salads, sandwiches, fruits, and healthy snacks as well as vegetarian, gluten-free, sugar-free, low-sodium or organic offerings.

Pollo Campero is scheduled to open in Fall 2010.

MK Renovations: Mrs. Potts’ Cupboard & Main Street Ice Cream Parlor

By AJ 2 Comments

Mrs. Potts’ Cupboard

In keeping with the upcoming Fantasyland revamp into a forest wonderland housing princesses, mermaids, and beasts, Mrs. Potts’ Cupboard has lost her clock tower and has received a renovated thatched roof.

Check out WDWMagic for before/after pics!

Main Street Ice Cream Parlor
WDWMagic is also reporting that the Main Street Ice Cream Parlor has disappeared behind a scrim due to extensive external renovations. The parlor is currently open to guests during construction.

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