food IS a theme park
Happy Holidays from the Grand Californian at Disneyland Resort, where the gorgeous and festive gingerbread house stands tall and where guests can pick up loads of Holiday Treats in the lobby!
Completed Grand Californian
The pastry chefs at the Grand Californian aren’t messing around with their holiday offerings; the list of treats is small but mighty! You’ll find classic gingerbread alongside whoopie pies and truffles. Yup: there’s something for everyone!
Victoria & Albert’s Restaurant
at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is the foremost restaurant for fine dining in Walt Disney World.
Elegance is paramount in every aspect of the dining experience at Victoria & Albert’s, from decor to service to food. If you and your significant other want a fancy, sophisticated night out, Victoria & Albert’s — with its dinner jackets-level dress code and ten-and-older age restriction — is a unique experience.
What sets Victoria & Albert’s apart from other fine dining at Walt Disney World is the personalization that goes into each guest’s experience. About a week before guests dine here, the restaurant reaches out to learn about each diner’s allergies, likes, and dislikes.
Personalization can take multiple forms at Victoria & Albert’s, from the substitution of a specific ingredient to the creation of an entirely new dish, and so diners receive dishes that suit their likes from start to finish. That’s pretty amazing.
Victoria & Albert’s
I’ve dined at Victoria and Albert’s multiple times, but usually I choose the chef’s table in the kitchen. This time I headed into the regular dining room. I wanted to figure out 1) Is the experience worth the money, and 2) Which is better — the Chef’s Table or the Main Dining Room? Let’s find out.
Victoria & Albert’s has three dining room experiences from which to choose: the Main Dining Room, the Queen Victoria Room, and the Chef’s Table. As I mentioned, on this visit, I dined in the Main Dining Room, which houses layers upon layers of tasteful Victorian style. Luxurious window and wall treatments, muted colors, and classic wood accents create a space that is comfortable, but formal. [Read more…]
Please welcome back guest author Alex Freeman, who’s brought us a review of the Wild Africa Trek featured at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park. After getting an awesome view of the animals on the savanna, trekkers are treated to some wild eats! Jambo, Alex!
On December 27, my sisters and I took part in the Wild Africa Trek offered at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Some of you are probably wondering why I am writing this review for a food blog, but this Disney tour includes a wonderful treat at the end.
Great views await from The Boma!
At least 15 minutes before your scheduled tour time, you check-in at the Wild Africa Trek desk located to the left of Tusker House Restaurant. Even though I have been to Animal Kingdom many times, I did not know the area where the desk is located even exists.
There are outside tables for people who want to bring food from other quick service places and eat in a relatively quiet and peaceful atmosphere.
Outdoor Seating
Once you check-in, you are reminded of the Trek conditions (you must be over the age of 8 and you must be between 45 and 310 lbs).
Also, you are given a waiver to sign, which not only covers a variety of medical situations, but also permission for Disney to use any pictures they take of you in their promotional materials.
Trek Logo.
After everyone is checked-in (which was 11 people for our tour), you are greeted by your two Trek guides. Our Trek guides were named Lonnie and Paul and they were absolutely fantastic — hilarious, informative, and very friendly.
We followed both of our guides through a gate that led us to uncharted territory for the general public.
Trek Guides!
In this area, you are given a locker to hold any of your personal belongings. You are not allowed to bring anything besides a camera (as long as it has a wrist strap that can be attached to your harness). Everything else, including your phone, must be stored in the locker.
You are then weighed and given a suitable harness, which they help attach to you. This harness includes a gear loop (which will attach you to the bridges), a souvenir water bottle (which you get to keep), and a headset so that you can hear both of the guides even when they are not right beside you. This headset was an absolute necessity when we were in the middle of a crowd.
Get your Trek gear!
Once you are strapped to your harness, you are asked to practice walking across a suspension bridge. This bridge is much [Read more…]
When standing in front of Carthay Circle Restaurant in Disney California Adventure, you will notice three entrance doors. The two on the left lead you into the restaurant while the one on the right takes you somewhere very, very special.
Carthay Circle Restaurant Marquee
1901, a private lounge reserved for Club 33 Platinum Members and their guests, is perhaps one of the most tranquil spots in all of Disney California Adventure. A variety of eats and treats are served here, which are also served at Carthay Circle Lounge (a spot that all park guests can access — no membership needed there).
With a simple 1901 plaque at its entrance, behind the door is a spectacular space filled with historic mementos that Walt himself would’ve probably chosen to put on display.
1901 Entrance Plaque
As with Carthay Circle Restaurant, when you walk into 1901, you are immediately taken back to the 1930’s. The colors, decor and furniture are inviting, almost as if you are walking into someone’s home.
The lounge is divided into two areas.
The hallway that divides the room in two.
On one side of the room you’ll find comfy couches surrounded by some chairs, loveseats, and a few little [Read more…]
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