food IS a theme park
We had a case of wanderlust this week, and instead of getting out the passport and packing, we just hopped over to spend the day in Epcot. Our journey started with some time spent in Future World, followed by a trip around the World Showcase. And boy, did we find a lot new eats and buys for you on this “trip”!
Epcot
We talk a lot about pretzels here at the DFB — because we pretty much love all of them. Ham and Cheese Stuffed Pretzels? Love. Authentic German pretzels in World Showcase? Uh-huh. Pretzel Roll Breadsticks at Le Cellier? Yaaaass x 5000!
So when we heard that the Jalapeno Cheese Pretzel (which they’re now calling the Pepper Jack pretzel) we’ve loved for years (and which has always been available in Disneyland) was staging a comeback, we got twisted up in a whole bunch of excitement. So you know we had to get over to the Lunching Pad ASAP to tear off a piece of that.
The Lunching Pad is located at the base of the Astro Orbiter adjacent to the Tomorrowland stroller parking — so beware that this area can get super crowded at times. But it’s worth it to pick your way through the chaos because the Lunching Pad serves up some great classic theme park grub. We particularly enjoy a good Hot Dog or Frozen Carbonated Beverages. Yum!
But on this visit, we just wanted pretzels. All. The. Pretzels.
Lunching Pad Menu
If you are spending any part of this holiday season in Disney World (which has already officially kicked off with events like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party), I’m just going to assume that a visit to the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights is on your vacation itinerary.
This special holiday event has become even more of a Must-Do this year, with the fact this holiday season is the final chance to watch the Lights dance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Before the Lights even come on, though, lots of folks like to stake out their spot on the Streets of America to wait for the moment when the Lights begin to shine. Fortunately, there are some snacking opportunities to help you pass the time with some tasty treats!
As always, the Pretzel Garden opens up in advance of the show, serving up… well, pretzels, of course. Churros, glazed almonds and pecans, and a few beverages round out the list.
I spotted the ol’ standbys at this little kiosk right away: the Cream Cheese Pretzel and the Mickey-shaped Pretzel.
Pretzel Garden
But there was also an addition to the pretzel selections on the menu: the Pumpkin Spice Pretzel. [Read more…]
Today we’re back in Disneyland visiting a classic Main Street location — Coca Cola Refreshment Corner!
Outside View
Right next to new fan favorite, Jolly Holiday Bakery and Cafe, this is the place to take care of any hot dog craving you may be having.
But it’s another iconic snack that we are after today! One you can enjoy in both Disneyland and Disney World! Read on…
This spot may look familiar to Disney World fans. It’s in the same location as — and looks very similar to — Casey’s Corner in Magic Kingdom!
Everything about Refreshment Corner points to the theme of turn of the century Small Town America. And since Coca Cola is the corporate sponsor for the counter service spot, you’ll also see that famous logo throughout the space.
Ordering Area
Tiffany-style lamps with the logo lend a vintage vibe to lighting fixtures.
Vintage Coca Cola Tiffany-Style Light Covers
The small amount of space inside Refreshment Corner is taken up by [Read more…]
I get lots of emails and questions about the food I personally love in Disney World, and today I’m sharing some of my favorite Disney Food Kiosks!
You know the ones — those cute little structures that are almost restaurants, but not quite? Here are a few of the BIGGEST TASTES you can get at the smallest places in Disney World! 🙂
I hope you’ll share some of your favorites in the comments, too!
There is no way I could have a list of favorite kiosks without putting Magic Kingdom’s Aloha Isle right up front! The welcoming little stand, located in Adventureland, is home to one of Disney’s most beloved treats, after all.
Aloha Isle
That’s right — we’re talking Dole Whips!
And whether you like yours in float form, swirled with vanilla, or are you’re a purist, most Disney fans don’t consider their trip complete until they’ve made at least one stop here.
Dole Whip Float! A Must-Eat snack for every Disney guest.
As for me, I prefer about one visit to Aloha Isle for each day I’m at Disney. 🙂 No kidding, even though I’m usually eating non-stop on every Disney trip, this is one snack I never skip.
At the midway point while you’re walking around Epcot’s World Showcase, you’ll encounter another of our favorite stops, Fife and Drum.
This unassuming little stand looks like just another drink stop, but be sure to swing by and check out the menu for some seriously fun eats. Fife and Drum is home to some items you won’t find anyplace else! But there are not-to-be missed classics here as well, like the cult favorite Smoked Turkey Legs.
Fife and Drum Tavern
If you’re a pretzel fan, you have three different varieties to choose from. The stuffed Jalapeno Cheese Pretzel has a great spicy kick! And you’ll also find the sweet Cream Cheese Pretzel (decadent!) and the Mickey Soft Pretzel (cute!) here, too. This is one of the few places in Disney World to find all of these kinds of pretzels sold in one spot.
UPDATE: Please note, you can still find all these pretzels in the American Adventure Pavilion; however, they are now located at the Block and Hans Craft Beer kiosk.
Jalapeno Cheese Pretzel!
There are also some amazingly tasty drinks here as well. We’ve told you about the Jim Beam Red Stag Lemonade, a wonderful little frozen drink with a punch, thanks to black cherry-flavored bourbon.
You can get your root beer float fix here, too, made with vanilla soft serve.
Root Beer Float
But the piece de resistance of slushies can also be found in this humble spot: I give you the American Dream! This incredible frozen drink combines [Read more…]
Pomegranate Martini Conquers Everest
Happy April Fool’s Day! No tricks here, today — just treats!! In the Disney Food news this week, we take a look at Springtime treats, new menu items, more menu changes, and some new adult beverages!
We’ve also gathered some really fun and fascinating reads in the round-up. Cheers!
Here’s the latest…
We’ve got more delicious news on our Disney Food News Pin Board, where Disney Food News is updated on a regular basis!
Episode 2 of the DFB Podcast is rarin’ to go! In this episode, we’re talking about some of our newest counter-service finds, answering listener questions, and awarding our first DFB Podcast Trivia prize!! 🙂 Head on over and click on the Mac and Cheese Hot Dog!
Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it. 🙂
If you have any Disney dining questions, send them along to us to be answered on the podcast! Just contact us here, and put PODCAST in the subject line!
Walt Disney World for Grown-Ups
heads to the Wilderness Lodge for breakfast at Whispering Canyon Cafe.
Pixie Crust throws a vintage Disneyland party featuring Dole Whip cupcakes!
AllEars.net tours Europa – the adult entertainment district aboard the Disney Fantasy!
Disney Tourist Blog reviews one of my favorite counter service spots in Disneyland — the Plaza Inn!
Main Street Gazette samples the new Slow-roasted Pulled Beef Sandwich at Tamu Tamu Refreshments in the Animal Kingdom.
Laughing Place reviews one of the rotational dining restaurants on the Disney Fantasy — Animator’s Palate! But Inside the Magic didn’t love the Animator’s Palate food on the Fantasy — see why here!
stuff from the park looks at a vintage menu from Disneyland’s Cafe Orleans.
DisneyContemporary.com shares a recipe for Creamy Goat Cheese Polenta from the California Grill. Love this stuff!!!
One of our favorite under-the-radar Disney snacks, Sweet Cream Cheese Pretzels, were first seen at Disney World in the Magic Kingdom and offered only at The Lunching Pad in Tomorrowland.
Then, we were excited to find them at Fife & Drum Tavern in Epcot’s American Adventure pavilion.
Sweet Cream Cheese Pretzel
If you are a fan of these pretzels, you’ll now be able to munch on one while touring Disney’s Hollywood Studios. On a recent visit, we spotted cream cheese pretzels at the Pretzel Garden on the Streets of America!
Pretzel Garden at Streets of America
If you haven’t had one, these pretzels are filled with a sweet cream cheese (not really a “frosting,” but still sweet!), and covered in a dusting of [Read more…]
Well, it was a pretzel kind of day on Friday in the Magic Kingdom and Epcot!
I sampled the famed Jalapeno Cheese Pretzel — now found at Fife and Drum — for the very first time, found out some details about the Sweet Cream Cheese pretzel in the Magic Kingdom, and learned more about the new (to WDW) Mickey-shaped pretzels!
Fife and Drum
That’s right! We though they could only be found in one place in the parks (Animal Kingdom for the Jalapeno pretzel; Magic Kingdom for the Sweet Cream Cheese pretzel), but they can both be found in Epcot these days!
Epcot’s Fife and Drum, right outside of the American Adventure building, is the unassuming home for these very popular and sought after snacks! This spot is next to the near the Liberty Inn, so find a seat at the [Read more…]
We are!! We’re currently working on our upcoming e-Book: DFB Dining Adventures, Start Point: Magic Kingdom Area, and we wanted to give you a sneak peek of what to expect — as well as give you a reason to start thinking about your own dining adventures!
Planning your dining can be extremely time-consuming, and making it fit around your plans in the parks can be even more difficult. We’ve had countless reader requests for pre-planned dining strategies that can be dropped right into your vacation plans. This next installment in our series of useful Disney Dining e-Books is our answer!
But we wanted to take it a step further and make it a LOT more fun than just a bunch of restaurant lists, so we invented the concept of the DFB Dining Adventures!
These adventures are a series of one-day, two-day, or one-week themed dining and attraction strategies that you can mix and match to fit YOUR vacation style! They’re an easy and fun way to make sure your visit to Walt Disney World is 100% unique!
DFB Dining Adventures will include dining suggestions and activities that all fit into a fun theme! Here are just a few examples of the over 40 different Dining Adventures you’ll have to choose from in our new e-Book!
Sweet Cream Cheese Pretzel at Lunching Pad
In our “Totally Tomorrowland” Dining Adventure you’ll make a visit to [Read more…]
I have a confession. Until this past week, I had never actually eaten my very own sweet cream cheese pretzel in Walt Disney World. So when my husband and I decided to throw caution to the wind and head into the Magic Kingdom at 11pm on a Saturday during Spring Break, we figured it was high time to make a change.
Sweet Cream Cheese Pretzel at Lunching Pad
After riding everything we possibly could, we headed over to the Lunching Pad and purchased one of these yummy treats. They look like regular soft pretzels, but they have a faint dusting of what seems like [Read more…]
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