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DFB Video: EVERY Dining Spot in Epcot’s Future World! Food Tour

Happy Saturday! We’re back with another DFB Video this weekend, and we’re taking you on a Food Tour of Epcot’s Future World!

Mickey Mouse at Garden Grill in Epcot

Now, your mind may not automatically leap to Future World when you consider dining options in Epcot. After all, the park is home to World Showcase with its myriad of restaurants and snack stops featuring cuisine from around the globe.

But if you’ve always bypassed Future World eats in favor of World Showcase, you’ll want to watch our newest DFB YouTube video to learn about some of the options unique to Future World, including one of our all-time favorite character meals, some super yummy popcorn, and one of the best dessert bakery cases in all of Disney World. [Read more…]

Review: Chip N’ Dale’s NEW Harvest Feast Breakfast at Epcot’s Garden Grill

By AJ and the DFB Team 20 Comments

Are you ready to start your day with Chip & Dale (along with a few more Disney pals) at Epcot’s Garden Grill?!

Learn About:Garden Grill Restaurant

Epcot Restaurants
Disney World Restaurants

That’s right! Garden Grill, Disney World’s only rotating restaurant, has been serving dinner only for a while now. But on November 8th, TWO new meals joined the lineup: Garden Grill now serves up breakfast AND lunch, in addition to dinner! (This, by the way, brings the total of Character Breakfasts in Epcot to two, with the Norway Pavilion’s Akershus Royal Banquet Hall offering the other option with Princess Storybook Dining. Characters are now at both restaurants for every meal.)

The menu for the new lunch addition nearly duplicates that of Chip ’N’ Dale’s Harvest Feast for dinner. But breakfast is all-new, operating each day from 8:00 to 10:30 am.

We can’t wait to dig in! And we’ve got a few friends who would like to say “Good Morning” to you, too…

Chip

But let’s take a look around first. And, as always with the Garden Grill, I do mean AROUND… [Read more…]

Review: New French Dip Burger at Epcot’s Electric Umbrella

By Wendy 16 Comments

Truth: it’s not very often that I visit Epcot’s Electric Umbrella in Future World.

Learn About:Electric Umbrella

Epcot Restaurants
Disney World Restaurants

From time to time, it’s been known to debut something unique, but other than that, the regular items don’t hold a ton of appeal when compared with so many crave-worthy hits around World Showcase. However, they’ve switched up the menu here a bit recently, so it’s time to check it out and see how the new items fare.

But first, I should mention that there is potential for this to be the scene when you hit Electric Umbrella around dinner time while everyone else is tasting their way around World Showcase during the Food and Wine Festival…

Electric Umbrella outdoor sign

Empty outdoor seating at Electric Umbrella

View of the Fountains

Not bad!

The last time we headed to Electric Umbrella to check out a new burger was when the Macaroni and Cheese Burger arrived on the scene. That one didn’t make the cut for the updated menu (and it definitely wasn’t my favorite). Neither did the Meatball Sub, though the fan favorite Vegetarian Flatbread remains.

Now you’ll find a Sausage and Pepper Sandwich (Italian sausage, peppers, onions, and tomato, topped with Provolone cheese), and a Veggie Naan Wich (broccoli slaw and edamame topped with tofu wasabi dressing). I found the Veggie Naan Wich of interest because that brings the vegetarian options to two — which doesn’t sound very impressive until you consider that there are only five spotlight items on this menu.

Electric Umbrella menu

But having tried the previous version of an “Extreme” burger at the Electric Umbrella, I just had to get the final new item on the menu: the French Dip Burger.

French Dip Burger

Of course, it comes with fries.

Fries on the side

This Angus burger is topped with brisket and crispy onions, and a slice of Muenster cheese is [Read more…]

Review: Lunch at Epcot’s Coral Reef Restaurant

By Wendy 16 Comments

We’re dining “Under the Sea” today at Epcot’s Coral Reef Restaurant!

Learn About:Coral Reef Restaurant

Epcot Restaurants
Disney World Restaurants

And if you’re wondering if it was all part of my plan to insert that song in your head for the rest of the day, the answer is “Yes.”

(Insert evil laugh here. 😉 )

Coral Reef is one of only two Table Service Restaurants in Epcot’s Future World (the other being Garden Grill), and the only one open for lunch, which is the meal we’re having today. But first things first: in order to eat at Coral Reef, you’ve got to find it. Just head to “The Living Seas…” whoops! I mean, “The Seas with Nemo and Friends” Pavilion.

And once you get your fill of the birds chanting “Mine, Mine, Mine,” just hang a right…

The Seas Pavilion

… and head as far as you can towards the back. (The outdoor sign will help, too.)

Heading to Coral Reef

Coral Reef sign

So, now we’ve found it! Let’s head in…

Atmosphere

As per usual with Disney dining, there are some fun details to take in here, starting right at the entrance.

Entrance

Seahorse door handle

The dining room is well-concealed for the “big reveal” to come, but touches in the check-in area (which expands into a fairly large hallway) give several indications as to what awaits you once you dine.

Octopus at Check in

Octopus at check-in counter

What are those lights, anyway? Jellyfish?

Check-in area hallway

Glass fish behind check-in counter

But as fun as it always is to check out the little things, the truth of the matter is that everyone is here to see one, single, MAJOR “detail.” The aquarium!

Coral Reef Dining Room

Yep — the dining room has giant picture windows that look right into the massive Living Seas aquarium. It’s like you’re dining in a submarine.

Coral Reef Dining Room

And here’s an interesting thing about Coral Reef: in most restaurants, several of the tables for two are often tucked on the outer perimeters, and sometimes that can lend to a feeling of being a little removed from the atmosphere. At Coral Reef, many of the tables for two receive “front rows seats” for the big show. Our table for two was right next to this table for four.

Coral Reef Seating in front of aquarium

Our server presented Fish Guides to us, so we could identify some of the marine life swimming by.

Fish Guide

Being that close contributed just a little extra to an already unique experience. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves…

Aquarium views

Though I gotta say, this felt [Read more…]

Review: Dinner at Garden Grill Restaurant in Disney World’s Epcot

By Wendy 43 Comments

We’re heading back to Epcot’s Future World for dinner at Garden Grill Restaurant!

Learn About:Garden Grill Restaurant

Epcot Restaurants
Disney World Restaurants

This is a DFB favorite, and it comes together as Chip ‘n Dale’s Harvest Feast. The dinner features an all-you-care-to-eat meal served Family Style.

If you’ve ever shied away from eating in Future World in favor of the more varied cuisine available in World Showcase, it may be time to give Disney World’s only rotating restaurant a chance.

Please join me, Chip ‘n Dale, Pluto, and the main Mouse himself (MICKEY!) at the Harvest Feast for some food and fun!

Garden Grill Sign

The Atmosphere

The atmosphere? Well, that depends… You see, the Garden Grill rotates over the various scenes of the Living with the Land attraction, so what you see depends on where in the rotation you are in the moment.

It takes about one hour to make the full rotation, so it’s slow enough that you don’t really notice the feel of it while you are dining — at least, I didn’t. I was too busy enjoying the views! Take a look…

Living with the Land as seen from Garden Grill — The Farmhouse

Living with the Land as seen from Garden Grill — The Farmhouse Dog!

Living with the Land as seen from Garden Grill — Rainforest

Transition from Rainforest to Desert

Garden Grill Mural

We enjoyed all of this from our table on the lower level of this two-level restaurant. It’s definitely a score if you are seated on the lower level, which is fashioned with booths as opposed to the chairs and tables on the upper level.

Garden Grill booth

The booths provide more of a “front row seat” experience for the attraction, so it’s worth asking at check-in to see if you can get one. I wasn’t expecting a booth since it was just my husband and me, but several of the booths are divided with drop-leaf tables, allowing for a larger family on one side, and a pair on the other. The drop-leaf, of course, can be raised to accommodate a larger group, if needed.

Larger Booth — Family Side

Larger Booth — Side for a pair

Of course, the special touches are in full effect here — check out this table setting! Remind you of a certain character?

Mickey Table Setting 🙂

Speaking of… The one thing with the ability to distract you from the attraction views is… well, it’s actually FOUR things: the Characters!

Here’s Chip striking a pose in front of the Prairie Desert.

Chip strikes a pose

Pluto stopped by to say “Hello!”

Pluto!

Dale plotted how he might sneak some of our food…

Dale Plotting…

… but I informed him it was people food, and not well-suited for chipmunks. (That makes for a sad chipmunk!)

Sad Dale

Okay, this next shot is not a shining example of terrific photography 😉 . But I hope it conveys that moment of excitement when you first spot THE EARS over a nearby booth (c’mon, you can admit it!), and realize who will be at your table shortly…

EARS!

Farmer Mickey Mouse — in OVERALLS, no less!!!

Farmer Mickey

At the start of the meal, I was a bit [Read more…]

Review: Coral Reef Restaurant

By AJ 33 Comments

Learn About:Coral Reef Restaurant

Epcot Restaurants
Disney World Restaurants

At long last, Coral Reef is finally getting its due on the Disney Food Blog! The last time I visited this restaurant was when I was much, much younger, so I knew it was time to give it a try again. It’s been through a lot of changes, but, from what I can tell, the basics are still the same…

Atmosphere

Coral Reef is one of only a couple of table-service restaurants located in Epcot’s Future World. You’ll find it hidden in the Seas With Nemo and Friends (The Living Seas for those who used to visit in the 80s), tucked back in the right-hand corner. You really need to want to find it; you won’t just stumble over this restaurant by mistake! But after all these years, the sign is still very similar to what it was way back when, so those who have a tinge of Epcot nostalgia like me will be very pleased…

Upon entering the restaurant (using the seahorse door handle of course), you’ll find that the place is themed — as it should be — but in a very stylized manner. Walls and flooring are undulating as if you’re under water. Light fixtures resemble coral and shells. Glass fish sculptures sit inside lit alcoves behind the [Read more…]

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DFB Video: EVERY Dining Spot in Epcot’s Future World! Food Tour

Review: Chip N’ Dale’s NEW Harvest Feast Breakfast at Epcot’s Garden Grill

Review: New French Dip Burger at Epcot’s Electric Umbrella

Review: Lunch at Epcot’s Coral Reef Restaurant

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Review: Dinner at Garden Grill Restaurant in Disney World’s Epcot

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Review: Coral Reef Restaurant

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