food IS a theme park
If you’re anything like us, just about any vacation is better with Mickey Mouse. And now that the 2020 Disney Cruise Line itineraries have been released, there’s no better time to explore ports all over the world!
Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Dream
You might not be ready yet to start humming Jingle Bells just yet, but the Holidays at Walt Disney World are on their way… and frankly, we love it! It’s the most wonderful time of the year to visit (even with the massive crowds!), and there are endless holiday-themed experiences to make your holidays even brighter!
Magic Kingdom Holiday Style
Disney World does the holidays right — from decor to events to merchandise and more!
And we don’t want you to miss out on any of the top draws. So let’s take a look our list of the 26 Must-do Disney Holiday Events — and Eats! — to celebrate this season at Walt Disney World! [Read more…]
Let’s head over to Ample Hills Creamery on the Disney World Boardwalk for our next DFB Video!
This new location on the Boardwalk offers house-made ice cream, sundaes, unique cones, ice cream flights, floats, and more! You can see our original Ample Hills review here!
But if you want to see the place in action, check out our latest DFB video review. Check out one of our favorite concoctions: an Ooey Gooey Butter Cake Sundae!
Quiet on the set! There are some new lunch items available at Starring Rolls Cafe in Disney’s Hollywood Studios that we have to share!
Starring Rolls is a tiny cafe on the corner of Hollywood and Sunset Boulevard — doesn’t that location just scream show business? I usually swing by to check out its collection of sweet treats and pretty pastries, but the often-overlooked lunch options are worth a shot! Soups, salads, and sandwiches are the stars of the show at lunch time, and we suggest finishing off lunch with one of our all-time favorites, the Napoleon.
Ready?
Starring Rolls Cafe on Sunset Boulevard
And, ACTION!
During a recent pass through Target, I was please to see that much like last year, they’ve got a nice selection of Disney-branded treats fill your Valentine’s stocking. (Wait, that’s not a thing, is it?)
Many of the items feature retro-style Mickey and Minnie illustrations. They remind me a bit of the “Get A Horse” film short that runs before the theatrical showings of Frozen.
My Target had an aisle end-cap with a Disney theme, but I found Disney items scattered throughout the Valentine candy section, not just on the end-cap.
The items included a plush Mickey, holding a chocolate heart lollipop.
These cutie patootie Mickey and Minnie tins hold wafer cookies.
Here’s a cupcake mix. It comes in a [Read more…]
I made my bi-monthly trek to Target and encountered a staggering amount and variety of Disney-themed Valentine merchandise. Not surprisingly, a fair amount of Mickey and princess goodies graced the shelves. Very surprisingly, the Mickey and princess treats were far outnumbered by Star Wars Valentine candy. Apparently residents of a galaxy far, far away have quite the sweet tooth. Who knew?
Here a photo tour of what I found in the seasonal Valentine shop:
Goblet mugs filled with Star Wars conversation hearts. Chewie needs me, I know he does.
R2 and Darth heart-shaped boxes, filled with conversation hearts.
R2 and Darth boxes.
Take a close look at the back of the R2 heart box and you’ll see that the “conversations” appear to be somewhat Star Wars related.
The ones I can make out say, “Mine will U B,” (like Yoda texting?) and “Luv Machine.” Machine! Get it! I need to find out who makes this stuff and steal their job because it is awesome beyond belief.
Yoda and Vader heart box [Read more…]
Time for a great new Disney Cupcake addition to the Contempo Cafe bakery case in Disney World’s Contemporary Resort!
Our love for the Contempo’s Red Velvet Cupcake with its fantabulous cheesecake center, may be rivaled by this one!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcake at Contempo Cafe
These cupcakes are pretty large — probably shareable if you’re the sharing type — and topped with a creamy, light frosting. Not quite whipped cream frosting — there’s definitely some heft — but close.
Top of chocolate peanut butter cupcake
Once we went in for our cross-section shot, I was pleased to see the center of the cupcake stuffed with peanut butter filling. And, as expected from a Contempo Cafe cupcake, this wasn’t just more of that light frosting. This was real-life peanut butter filling — more like what you’d expect in a peanut butter [Read more…]
I’ve always spied the desserts at Sommerfest in Epcot’s Germany with envy. Apple Strudel, Bavarian cheesecake, and…Black Forest Cake Roulade! For any cherry and chocolate lover (like yours truly), this was a must-try…
Located just off to the side of Germany’s picturesque cobblestone town square, Sommerfest has all the look and feel of a 16th century German town. You will feel like you’ve left Florida behind as you walk among the buildings, smell the sausages and sauerkraut, and hear the polka music wafting in.
Sommerfest in Epcot's Germany Pavilion
There are a few tables inside, but this is a great spot to grab a bite and eat outside al fresco style.
Sommerfest really is a hidden gem among the counter service options in World Showcase. You can choose from a couple of sausages (Bratwurst or Frankfurther), both served German-style with sauerkraut. And those lovely hand-twisted pretzels (NOT the same as the other Disney soft pretzels, mind you) is also an option.
But today was the day I was finally going to indulge in that Black Forest Cake Roulade I’d been eying for a year or so.
Sommerfest Menu - Click to Enlarge
A rolled cake, sandwiched together with whipped cream around a cherry compote, and then covered in chocolate flakes. You totally want to dig in, right?
Black Forest Cake Roulade
The outside was coated with [Read more…]
Today, it’s high time that we share with you our thoughts about the one and only working microbrewery at Walt Disney World, Big River Grille & Brewing Works!
Located at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Resort, the American pub-style restaurant features a primo location to see and be seen right on the Boardwalk. But, I’ll be right up front with you and tell you now that this has NOT been my favorite place to eat at Disney in the past.
However, we came to it with an open mind hoping to find some improvements on our last visit. We were rewarded with a much, much better experience than in times past! What did they do right on this visit? Read on…
The entrance to the restaurant on the Boardwalk, beneath an awning bearing the restaurant’s name.
Big River Grille & Brewing Works
Once inside, you’ll notice that there are three distinct seating areas within the restaurant: the bar area to the right; the seating area to the left, a rather nondescript space; and a patio area offering great views of the Boardwalk, the lake, and the Yacht and Beach Club on the other side of water. (You may even see the tops of Illuminations fireworks from here.)
There are a few good reasons to head over to Big River Grille:
1.) It’s normally pretty easy to get into, so if you’re hungry and don’t have an advance dining reservation, or you’re at Epcot or Hollywood Studios and would like to skip out on the park crazy for a while, this can be a good place to come for a bite and a sip.
2.) As I mentioned above, it’s the only working microbrewery at Disney, and the beers are quite popular! (More on the beer a little later.) It’s also pretty cool to look around the interior and see just where your brew is being produced.
Brew Kettle, Big River Grille
3.) Finally, while I don’t love the [Read more…]
Let’s start out with a personality quiz today…
Loading ...Clearly, we’re talking about cupcakes here! We’ve got two completely different snacks to consider from Captain Cook’s Snack Company at Disney’s Polynesian Resort, and you may have just chosen which one will be your first choice the next time you’re in Disney World! Those adjectives perfectly describe the snacks I’m about to review…
Both cupcakes — Chocolate Macadamia and Lemon Ginger — sell for $3.99 or a Disney Dining Plan snack credit. Perfectly fitting with the South Seas ambiance (of COURSE the South Seas have cupcakes!!!), these new flavors capture the essence of the tropics!
OK, forgive the photo backgrounds — I had this cupcake balanced on my suitcase as I was checking out of the hotel! Still, I think the lighting is pretty fun… . Anyway, this thing tastes as good as it looks, I promise.
Artfully arranged macadamia nut slices hint at the fabulousness inside! I mean really, doesn’t that look like a mini mosaic?
Chocolate Cupcake Undressed
And you can see the piles of chocolate on top. Sometimes that dark chocolate frosting can be gummy or plastic-y, but in this case, it was just plain luxe. Creamy — [Read more…]
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