food IS a theme park
Whether you’re heading to Disney World soon and you want some juicy last-minute tips, or whether you’re generally curious to learn more about how Disney does it all, have we got some SECRETS for you!
Cinderella Castle
Today, we’re going to dive into some of Disney World’s BIGGEST secrets, from behind-the-scenes activities that happen on a daily basis to ways you may be tricked into spending more money than you need to spend!
There’s so much going on in Disney World on October 1st!
Happy 50th!
It’s Disney World’s 50th anniversary, so there will be new shows, new rides, new merchandise, and more all over the parks! If you’re planning to be in Disney World on October 1st, it will be a crazy, fun, and super busy time! That’s why you need to move fast to get your dining reservations NOW! [Read more…]
Have you been to Disney World at Christmas time??
Animal Kingdom Christmas Tree
The gorgeous decorations, characters in their Christmas outfits, and the Christmas food — oh, that Christmas food!! If you’re planning to visit Disney World this Christmas, October 26th is a very important date for you so that you can get the best Disney Christmas food! [Read more…]
We’re seeing a TON of restaurants around Disney World getting reopening dates!
Sebastian’s Bistro
Just in the last couple of weeks, we’ve been to the reopening of Casey’s Corner, seen the new menu for a re-imagined Citricos at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and dined at the newly reopened Sebastian’s Bistro and Maya Grill! But that’s not all the Disney food news yet — a restaurant with a reopening date is accepting reservations NOW!
UPDATE: The dining reservation system is now back up and working once again, and guests are now able to search for, make, and otherwise handle their Disney World dining reservations.
Between booking your hotel stay, tickets, dining reservations, and more, there’s a lot to keep track of when planning your Disney World vacation.
Cinderella Castle
And, if you’re hoping to dine at any of the popular Table Service restaurants in the parks or resorts, you probably know how important it is to book your dining reservations early. But, today guests looking to book their dining reservations may have some difficulties.
Earlier this week, we noticed something a little odd with the Disney World dining reservation system.
Disney Screenshot
On Tuesday, many Disney guests woke up to wide-open availability for hard-to-get dining reservations in Disney World. Later, the entire reservation system went down. Now, a representative from Disney has reached out regarding this glitch.
UPDATE: Dining reservations are now available again both online and in the My Disney Experience app. Disney announced that the reservations were made available in error. New reservations made during the glitch will be canceled to ensure social distancing. Learn more here.Â
We’ve noticed something pretty strange about the Disney World dining reservations this morning.
Goofy Meeting and Greeting
With the reopening of the Disney World resort hotels and theme parks, there were some changes to dining — particularly with limited capacities. Now, several months later, could something be changing?
You’re likely already familiar with using the My Disney Experience website or app to book your dining reservations throughout Walt Disney World parks, resorts, and Disney Springs. But did you know that some of these restaurants also offer reservations through OpenTable.com? We’ve got all the details!
Steak Frites at Wine Bar George
Want to try booking a dining reservation through OpenTable.com? We’ve put together a list of all participating restaurants on property. While you won’t find any in-park dining on the list, there are plenty of Resort and Disney Springs restaurants available via the site.
Planning your Disney World vacation is about to change—big time. While making your Advance Dining Reservations 180 days in advance will still be important, MyMagic+ is going to make it easier to pre-plan your trip and maybe even save your Disney dollars at the same time!
We’ve outlined the basics of the new Walt Disney World Resort technology below, followed by a healthy dose of Disney dining tips for making the most of the new system — including how it will change your Disney Dining planning, and how you might save money using MyMagic+!!
This past week, MyMagic+ — a new, tech-savvy planning process for your Disney vacation — officially rolled out across the Walt Disney World resort. Relying on RFID technology, this will create a “more immersive, more seamless and more personal experience” for guests, according to Disney Parks Blog.
A major piece of the MyMagic+ puzzle is the new My Disney Experience website and mobile app, which help guests plan their trip. The interactive tools allow guests to log in to book advanced dining reservations and ride times for popular attractions as well as parade and fireworks viewing locations with FastPass+. They’ll also make it easy to change those plans on the fly from any smartphone or Guest Relations kiosk.
All of that MyMagic+ data—including ride and meals times—will be encoded onto the new must-have Disney accessory: the MagicBand. These high-tech bracelets will replace the Key to the World card, becoming a room key, theme park ticket, PhotoPass card, FastPass and charge account in one.
MyMagic+ MagicBand in action
Right now, guests saying at WDW resort hotels, Annual Passholders, and those who purchase PhotoPass will automatically receive a complimentary standard MagicBand. Upgraded wristbands, decorated with characters, will also be available for an additional fee.
Guests who stay off property will receive an RFID-enabled card, which will act as a park ticket, charge account and FastPass+ ticket, but they will have to purchase a MagicBand separately.
Don’t Forget Your MagicBand!
The new technologies will likely have a significant impact on your dining strategy, so we’ve put together a quick primer on how to make the most of MyMagic+:
The most immediate and obvious impact of the MagicBand will be the ability to pay for snacks and quick service meals with the flick of a wrist.
Literally tap the RFID bracelet (or card for non-resort guests) against the sensor at the register to settle the bill on purchases of $50 or less quickly and efficiently. No more digging around for the Key to the World!
With the current system, FastPass dictates your return window based on how many FastPasses have already been distributed. On some days, it’s possible to arrive at Soarin’ at 9:30 a.m. only to be locked into a 6:35-7:35 p.m. return time. That presents a problem for those [Read more…]
FINALLY!!
After several years…and lots of cheese…we’ve finally put together a list of many of the cheese plates found in Walt Disney World restaurants!
Cheese from Tutto Gusto in Epcot's Italy
For those who have never had a cheese plate in a Disney World restaurant, here’s a little Disney cheese plate primer:
You’ll find goat milk, cow milk, and sheep milk cheeses with varied aging processes and preparations. If you’re dining in a themed restaurant, the cheeses may be themed as well (e.g. Cheeses from California).
I can highly recommend pairing just about anything with honey or dried raisins on the vine. 😉 In fact, I usually ask my server to bring an extra side of honeycomb since I nearly always run out.
Another tip: always ask for more little toasts. Even if you’re NOT sharing with a dining partner, you’ll still run out.
We’ve had many requests for this type of post — there are a lot of cheese lovers out there — so I hope this is helpful. Note that plates change often, so you may find different cheeses and accompaniments on your visit. Please share your reviews and experiences in the comments section below!
Les Chefs de FrancePlateau de fromages de France
My very favorite cheese plate in all of Disney World is found here, at Chefs de France. The creamy, delicious cheeses in large portions could probably be a meal in themselves!
Imported cheese board $14.50. Available at lunch and dinner.
Cheese Plate
Le Cellier
Assortment of Artisanal Cheese
accompanied with Chef’s Selection of Dried Fruits and Preserves $14.00. See our review!
Cheese Plate
Boulangerie Patisserie
Cheese Plate
Get a similar plate to the one in Chefs de France over here at the [Read more…]
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