Guest Review: Tony's Town Square | the disney food blog

Guest Review: Tony’s Town Square

Cody, who writes the fantastic Global Disney Pinvestigation Blog, is back with another guest review! This time, he visited Tony’s Town Square in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. Take it away, Cody!Atmosphere

Entering from the Turn-Of-The-Century Main Street USA I wondered how the theme of the restaurant would fit with the theme of the surrounding street. As it turns out, my inquiries were quickly put to rest. The restaurant is themed after the restaurant from the 1955 Disney Animated Movie, the Lady and the Tramp, and after researching a bit I realized that Lady and the Tramp takes place in early 1900s. So of course the theme fits nicely with the surrounding area.

Tony's Front Patio

Welcome to Tony's

Upon arriving, we were early (like normal), and we waited for about one minute in the waiting area, which is a small lounge/living area with a small T.V. (which shows Lady and the Tramp non-stop). The waiting area wasn’t themed to Lady and the Tramp, but it [Read more…]

No Park Tickets? No Reservation? No Problem!

By AJ 19 Comments

The main complaint I hear regarding the re-instated 180-day window for Disney World Advanced Dining Reservations is that it’s impossible to get a seat in a restaurant “on a whim.” I wanted to address that concern and add another challenge: what if you don’t have park tickets, either?

I thought it’d be fun to tackle this situation and suggest a few spots in both Disney World and Disneyland for those who find themselves in this “pickle!”

Beaches and Cream Beef Sandwich Au Jus

Walt Disney World

Nope! I’m not kidding. It doesn’t have to be a hassle to find a good, table-service meal in Disney World — even when you don’t have a reservation or a park ticket! Here are four of my favorite go-to locations at all different price points:

Beaches and Cream $
Welcome back to the 1950’s soda shoppe! Beaches and Cream is located at Disney’s Beach Club Resort and doesn’t even take reservations, so you won’t ever run into the no ADR problem! This spot serves simple, but delicious, [Read more…]

“The Best Thing I Ever Ate at Disney!”: Desserts

By AJ 92 Comments

I am SO excited!! Dessert!!!

Here’s the final post in our series based on the Food Network’s (very cool) show, The Best Thing I Ever Ate. As many of you know, due to some keen suggestions from readers we’re splitting our series up into different sections: breakfast, appetizers & side dishes, snacks & drinks, entrees (lunch & dinner), and desserts.

Today, we’re finallly taking a look at desserts! I’ve done my favorite brand of informal polling (i.e. posted questions on twitter and facebook 😉 ) to find out others’ experiences of the “Best Thing They Ever Ate” in Disney parks and resorts.

The following are the answers received from our readers about their favorite desserts! If your favorites aren’t here, please add them in the comments section below!

Yak and Yeti Cream Cheese and Pineapple Fried Won-tons: While I haven’t had the pleasure of trying these myself, you can bet Yak and Yeti is the first place I’m going when I arrive in September! (No kidding…it’s my first ADR…even before Liberty Tree Tavern lunch, and you guys KNOW how we feel about Liberty Tree Tavern lunch!)

Yak and Yeti Fried Cream Cheese Wontons.

Dole Whip: What better dessert [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Weekly Round-Up: August 8, 2010

By AJ 1 Comment

Via Napoli Dining Room

It’s been another news-filled week for the Disney food world! Here’s the latest:

Via Napoli has opened in Epcot. We have pictures, menu, and a reader review for you.
Candlelight Processional Dinner Package booking will open on August 26th
Le Cellier Dinner will require 2 Disney Dining Plan Table Service credits beginning March 2011. Here is more info about the 2011 Disney Dining Plan.
Wine and Dine Half-Marathon and 5K Course Maps and Medals have been announced
The WDW Tomorrowland Lunching Pad has added specialty hot dogs and nixed Turkey Legs from the menu
Disneyland is getting a permanent Cupcake Store

Also, a quick reminder for those of you coming back from Disney trips: we’d love to see your pics over on the Disney Food Blog flickr page! And now, on with the round-up!

Future Probe reviews Epcot’s Coral Reef Restaurant.

Disney Parks Blog reports on a new brunch and Bloody Mary bar at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen in Disneyland’s Downtown Disney.

Designing Disney takes us back to the Cafe des Visionnaires of yesteryear in Disneyland Paris.

Disney Daddy shares the details from his Lunch with an Imagineer at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. These days you can experience Lunch with an Imagineer at Flying Fish Cafe!

All Ears‘ Deb Martin Koma interviews Marianne Hunnel about this year’s Food and Wine Festival.

Main St. Gazette takes an in-depth look at a fun vegetable garden in Epcot from the 2010 Flower and Garden Festival, which happens to include eats like Ursula’s Onions, Peter Pan’s Peas, Mickey’s Beanstalk Beans, Kanga’s Purple Kale, and Stitch’s Strawberries!

Makin’ Memories Photo Blog showcases dessert pics from the recent Tables in Wonderland Great Movie Ride dinner.

A Taste of Disney shows us how to make Jiko’s filet mignon with mac and cheese and red wine sauce.

Chip and Co looks at Disney World restaurants from a senior citizen’s perspective.

Of course there are lots of reports from Via Napoli‘s early days! Check out Mousesteps, Jeff Lange, WDW Radio, Jack Spence’s Report, Zannaland, Disney Every Day, The Daily Disney, Laughing Place, Theme Park Insider, WDW News Today x2, Orlando Attractions, WDWMagic, and Inside the Magic for even more pics and reviews.

2011 Disney Dining Plan

By AJ 12 Comments

A sneak peek at the 2011 PDFs describing the Walt Disney World Disney Dining Plan are available. While not too much has changed besides the Le Cellier 2-credit dinner, it’s still worth it to check out the links when you’re planning for next year.

Note: Many of the restaurants not owned and operated by Disney do not sign on to the Dining Plan until later in the year, so if you see holes in the list, that’s why. This is just a sneak peek.

Head over to our Disney Dining Plan individual pages to see the new links and read more about the Disney Dining Plan:
Standard Dining Plan
Quick Service Dining Plan
Deluxe Dining Plan
Premium Dining Plan
Platinum Dining Plan
Wine and Dine Add-On

Thanks to Pudge the Fish for combing the details!

2010 Candlelight Processional and Dinner Packages

By AJ 7 Comments

Candlelight Processional (copyright Disney)

Disney World’s Candlelight Processional is a [Read more…]

Disneyland’s Mint Julep Recipe

By AJ 39 Comments

This post was promised in the Disney Food Blog July Newsletter, and I’m excited to finally be publishing it!

If you’ve ever been to Disneyland, you know all about the famous alcohol-free (natch!) Mint Julep that can be found at Blue Bayou, Cafe Orleans, and the French Market. This refreshing, mint-y, lime-y, ice-y treat is a love-it-or-hate-it kind of cult favorite, but no matter what, you’ve gotta at least try it!

Disneyland Mint Julep

Enjoy it on the Cafe Orleans patio along with some of those delicious Pommes Frites, or grab one at the Mint Julep Bar at the French Market — where you can also get some great sweet snacks — and sit back and relax while listening to the [Read more…]

Secret Spots: Writer’s Stop

By AJ 42 Comments

This is my favorite place in Disney World. (Well, this and the Carolwood Pacific Room at Wilderness Lodge, but since that doesn’t have any food, I have to defer to Writer’s Stop.) Food…books…writing…it’s everything that I love all tucked away into a corner of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

And I put it under the “Secret Spots” banner because so many folks have told me that they’ve never heard of or seen it — but I’m almost positive it’ll become one of your favorite places as soon as you spend a leisurely 30 minutes sipping coffee and reading books in this wonderful little store.

Atmosphere
This is essentially a Disney-fied coffee shop and bookstore. It was originally placed in Hollywood Studios (back when the park was still Disney-MGM Studios) to promote ABC’s Ellen sit-com, representing her book store in the show, “Buy the Book.” The ceiling is still covered with television studio lights as though the shop itself is a TV set, and for quite a while one could find remnants of Ellen strategically placed throughout the store (scripts, etc.). Check out this Studios Central link for an up-close look at these remaining set items! Once Ellen petered out in the late 90’s, the shop survived and [Read more…]

Course Maps for Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend

By AJ 2 Comments

Are you signed up for the 2010 Wine and Dine Half Marathon or the Mickey’s Halloween Family 5K? If so, here’s what you’re training for! The course maps for the Half Marathon and 5K are posted below. Click on the images to see larger versions. Course descriptions are taken from the ESPN Wide World of Sports Website.

Wine and Dine Half Marathon Course: click image for larger version

Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Course Description
Start at the newly re-imagined ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex running down Victory Way and then west on Osceola Parkway toward Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Park. Make your way past the Tree of Life, Expedition Everest™, Dinosaur® and then race back to Osceola Parkway and head toward Disney’s Hollywood Studios™. You will [Read more…]

Le Cellier Dinner Will Require 2 Dining Plan Credits Beginning March 2011

By AJ 20 Comments

UPDATE: This is confirmed — click here to see the full 2011 Disney Dining Plan PDF. Below is a screen shot of the Le Cellier credit expenditure.

Thanks to Len Testa for the confirmation and GDPinvestigation for the PDF.
______________

While the “Le Cellier 2-credit” rumor had always been alive and well among Disney circles, I’ve never found enough evidence to report it here on the Disney Food Blog.

However, I received a mysterious email in my inbox last week mentioning that Le Cellier dinner will begin to require 2 Disney Dining Plan Table-Service credits starting in March 2011. Alas, the rumor has been confirmed.

Epcot’s Le Cellier Steak House will require 2 Disney Dining Plan credits for dinner, beginning March 1, 2011. Lunch will still be 1 credit.

Click the following link to read more about Disney World’s Dining Plans.
Click the following link for information and menus for Le Cellier Steak House.

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