food IS a theme park
Disney Springs is planning to start Disney World’s phased re-opening tomorrow, May 20th.
Chicken Guy!
We’ve been keeping you updated with all of the restaurants that plan to re-open tomorrow, but Earl of Sandwich, Chicken Guy!, and Planet Hollywood just released more information on how they plan to protect guests at the re-opening.
CityWalk in Universal Orlando has officially reopened and we’re coming at you LIVE with the latest.
Universal
We’ve already updated you on crowds, parking, and the new safety protocols in place, but now we are heading to grab some food and drinks to see what the new restaurant experience is like.
Businesses across the country have begun to reopen and we have been keeping you updated with how local task forces are working to balance supporting the economy while keeping citizens safe.
CityWalk
Universal Orlando’s CityWalk reopened today with new procedures, and Disney Springs plans to reopen next week. Today, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) released a new set of guidelines to help businesses decide whether they are ready to proceed with reopening or not.
We’re LIVE in Orlando, Florida for the reopening of Universal Orlando’s CityWalk.
The shopping and dining district has been closed since March, but CityWalk at Universal Orlando is opening today with limited hours, limited offerings, and new health and safety measures in place. Follow along with us as we take you step-by-step through the new guest experience.
Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at Walt Disney World’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground has been entertaining diners for almost 45 years, and we’ve certainly enjoyed our share of shows by the Pioneer Hall Players. (Read our last review of Hoop-Dee-Doo here!)
But while Hoop-Dee-Doo is known for its on-stage antics and overall energy, the food has not taken center stage. Not even close. The fare includes traditional crowd-pleasers like fried chicken, ribs, mashed potatoes, and cornbread, but this is basically banquet food churned out in what feels like a conveyor belt production.
So why would I still say Hoop-Dee-Doo is something everyone should try at least once? Because the show is entertaining enough to justify enduring some mediocre food. And you’re really paying for that entertainment, not for the grub. (Although, of course, we see high-priced mediocre foods in plenty of restaurants that don’t have shows, soooo… .)
Pioneer Hall — Home of Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue
I kept my recent ADR for Hoop-Dee-Doo because of the show and because I like to give Walt Disney World restaurants a second (and a third and an infinite) try. Has the food improved? Is the show still compelling? Let’s see how they’re Hoop-Dee-Doin’ it.
Walt Disney World has no shortage of special events for guests looking to level up their vacations, but few are as distinctly Disney World as the Highway in the Sky Dine Around.
Highway in the Sky Dine Around
This bespoke dining event is a progressive dinner that begins with drinks and a bright and flavorful appetizer and ends with fireworks and (more) drinks. [Read more…]
The Disney Skyliner gondola system is brand, spanking new, and with that newness comes some logical questions and needs. What’s it like to ride the Skyliner? Can I bring my stroller on board? What happens if I get stuck twenty feet over Hourglass Lake (oh wait…that already happened!)? Check out our Skyliner FAQs!
Skyliner sailing to Epcot
But what we need — what we really need — is a Skyliner Food Tour! [Read more…]
The Little Mermaid is celebrating 30 years on November 13 (somehow Ariel doesn’t look a day over 16!), and Walt Disney World is celebrating with a truly unique spin on a movie anniversary tie-in.Â
The Little Mermaid Menu at Coral Reef
For a limited time, some menu items have been renamed with a little inspiration from Little Mermaid at Coral Reef Restaurant in Epcot’s Seas with Nemo and Friends Pavilion!Â
[Read more…]
Today’s a HUGE day at Walt Disney World, and one of the biggest events of the day is the release of Disney’s new plant-based dining options and green leaf logo!
Plant-Based Logo
We told you about this logo and new menu items last week (read about them here), and today, Walt Disney World is rolling out its plant-based quick service updates! While checking out the NEW varieties of beignets at Scat Cat’s Club Cafe at Port Orleans — French Quarter this morning, we also spied a new Plant-based Mickey-shaped Waffles option in Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory. [Read more…]
When it comes to restaurants on the Monorail Resort loop at Walt Disney World, a few probably spring immediately to mind: California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Grand Floridian Cafe at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (well, maybe not that last one, but we’re on a mission to make it a must-do for everyone!).
But even though those headliners get the most attention from guests (and are regularly enjoyed here at DFB!), lesser-known restaurants on the loop often bring just as much quality and thought to their menus. The Wave… of American Flavors on the lobby level of the Contemporary can be a surprisingly good destination meal — especially for breakfast. There’s a SUPER SECRET DFB TIP included in our review that we think you’re going to want to know about… .
The Wave bills itself as crafting new American flavors that incorporate international tastes, too. The focus of the restaurant’s fluid menu is on seasonal and local ingredients, and while we don’t see the menu changing as often as, say, The Wave’s upstairs sister-friend California Grill, the menu here does have a level of freshness that you don’t find everywhere.
The Wave serves up three meals a day, with lunch and dinner being a la carte. (See our dinner review here!) Breakfast offers both buffet and a la carte options, making it a great place to grab an early meal with the fam. I met up with friends to check out the offerings and see if some old favorites and new additions are still worth a journey to The Wave.
The Wave… of American Flavors
The Wave is located in the lobby of the Contemporary, so if you arrive by Monorail, you’ll need to head downstairs to the ground level. [Read more…]
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
