magic kingdom | the disney food blog

Review: Cinderella’s Royal Table Breakfast

Lords and Ladies of the Kingdom, we welcome you to…Cinderella Castle!!!

Admittedly, I couldn’t wait to go back to the castle — in the middle of Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom — to dine. I’d never had breakfast here (not since I was a small fry, at least), and I was downright giddy! I don’t care how old you are, it’s just plain rad to go inside the castle where nobody else (unless they have a reservation, too, of course) gets to go. Seriously. Rad.

So I made the reservation the minute our 180-day Advanced Dining Reservation Window opened up (yep — this is one of the toughest reservations to get, so book early), gave them my credit card number (need to lock this one in with a card number — call in advance to cancel, or you’ll be charged), and started counting down the days…

Atmosphere

There are several magical things that happen when you book an early breakfast reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table:

You get into the Magic Kingdom early. That’s right. Book your reservation for 8:00am on a day when the park doesn’t open until 9 and you get the wonderful experience of entering the park before anybody else and walking down an empty Main Street USA. You feel like a VIP. THEN, when you’re finished with your meal, you’ve already bypassed the huge crowds that gather at the entrance turnstyles at opening time, and you get first crack at Fantasyland. Very cool trick.
You get to explore the castle and its [Read more…]

Disney Food Trends: Gourmet Mac and Cheese

By AJ 21 Comments

Even Chef Mickey is in on the trend...

I’ve been noticing a few food trends while traipsing through Disney parks, and I think they’re important to mention — especially since they seem to be popping up on every menu re-vamp out there.

First, we gotta take a gander at good old macaroni and cheese. When I asked Disney World’s Sanaa Chef Bob Getchell about the gourmet mac and cheese trend that seems to be taking over Disney restaurants, he mentioned that chefs like to make food they themselves love; many have fond memories of mac and cheese while they were growing up, and they want to create new and improved contemporary recipes for the dish. Here are a few of our favorite versions on and around Disney property:

Yachtsman Steakhouse
Yacht Club Resort’s Yachtsman Steakhouse gets a nod due to a relatively new mac and cheese dish I found on the menu in October. Their truffle mac and cheese uses huge orecchiette noodles and Reypenaer cheese with a touch of truffle oil and a topping of crunchy onions. It’s served in a cast iron baking dish that lends a rustic look — very fun! The best part — it tastes amazing. Rich, tangy, creamy sauce nestles into those pasta pieces and serves as the perfect accompaniment to the meal. This is sold as a side dish only, so be sure to look for it at the bottom of the menu.

Yachtsman Steakhouse Mac and Cheese Side Dish

Le Cellier
Not to be outdone, Epcot’s Le Cellier Steakhouse has also introduced some mac and cheese on the menu. Served in a cast iron skillet, elbow macaroni is [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: December 26, 2010

By AJ 2 Comments

Magic Kingdom Christmas Tree

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! We’re looking forward to the new year here at Disney Food Blog, where we’ll be unveiling some fun new features we’ve been working on. In the meantime…

Here’s the latest Disney Food News!

Disney’s released a new cookbook! We love the combo of history and recipes in this one!
Some photos from the “new” Kouzzina!
Check out our coverage of the Disney World Gingerbread Displays this year! Here’s Part I and here’s Part II!
Disney’s released a fun new site that showcases recipes, food crafts and more! Check it out!

Now, on to the round-up!

Disney Parks Blog was teeming with foodie fun this week. Check out this great recipe for a Tom and Jerry (these are really popular in my hometown, so it’s fun to have the Disney recipe for them!).

Main Street Gazette features one of my favorite brownies on Disney property — the paw print brownie from Animal Kingdom’s Kusafiri Bakery.

Yesterland — in an oldie, but goodie history article — discusses the Tahitian Terrace, and gives us a menu to peruse!

Watch Me Eat goes to Pollo Campero in Disney World’s Downtown Disney!

Makin’ Memories has a fun video from Karamell-Kuche in Epcot’s Germany!

Guest Review: Liberty Tree Tavern Dinner

By AJ 6 Comments

Welcome James Hummel (who you may know as @DisneyNorth over on Twitter) as a guest author today! James is a font of wine knowledge, but today he’s reporting on dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern — which serves a menu akin to a typical United States Thanksgiving-type meal each night. Enjoy, and Happy Thanksgiving! (Interestingly, James is from Canada, so he probably has to work today. Poor James. 🙁 )

Having never dined at a Magic Kingdom table service restaurant, I figured it was time to check one out. After reading the great reviews about the lunch that was served at Liberty Tree Tavern, I thought I would “take one for the team” and check out dinner.

Atmosphere
As with the rest of Liberty Square, the Liberty Tree Tavern looks like a stereotypical 18th century American Revolutionary War period establishment. Guests are welcomed into an open common area with a large fire place/cooking area. The room was decorated with an autumn theme when we were there.

Entry Lobby Decor and Chandelier

While I’m used to a certain level of noise at Walt Disney World, Liberty Tree Tavern seemed rather loud. Granted, my 2 year old son had no trouble adding to the noise level. There seemed to be a [Read more…]

Disney Food Pics of the Week: Funnel Cakes

By AJ 6 Comments

Thanks to all who have contributed their photos to the Disney Food Blog Photo Extravaganza! Keep sending them along! This week, the Disney Food Pics of the Week feature everyone’s favorite fried dough — the Funnel Cake!

A Disney California Adventure sweet treat! Photographer: Jobber99

Next, a classic cake — found in Magic Kingdom’s [Read more…]

Guest Review: Magic Kingdom’s Columbia Harbour House

By AJ 44 Comments

Thanks to Bill Iadonisi for this guest review of a favorite Magic Kingdom counter-service eatery — Columbia Harbour House! Take it away, Bill!

With 98 restaurants on property and counting, Walt Disney World is a food connoisseur’s Mecca. With offerings from German, American, Asian, Haute Cuisine, Bistro and everything in between, there is something for every discriminating palate. Even guests with any food allergies can be accommodated. But an important part of the food scene in Disney is the counter-service or “quick service” restaurants. They are vital for two main reasons: Time and Money. But mention quick-service and most conjure up the universal burger, french fries, chicken fingers and Mac and cheese. Yes, there are restaurants that do serve up these perennial favorites, but there are many wonderful alternatives with the [Read more…]

New Treat Trails at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

By AJ 8 Comments

Everyone knows that the treat trails are the place to be at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, and this year there are more than I’ve ever seen before. Here are some fun and not-to-be-missed trails. (Some have more than one candy spot, and some are just fun to see!)

For more info about Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, check out our “Candy-Lover’s Guide to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party” and our recent post about new cupcakes at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.

Trick or Treat Spot Entrance Sign

Brer Rabbit’s Candy Cavern
This trail will lead you down behind the Splash Mountain queue line — a place many of us have never been before! There are two candy spots, but one was only handing out raisins on my visit.

Brer Rabbit's Candy Cavern

Hakuna Ma-Treat-A
Located next to the Jungle Cruise, this treat spot is marked by [Read more…]

Two New Menu Items at Disney World’s Liberty Tree Tavern

By AJ 11 Comments

After being a burger devotee at Liberty Tree Tavern‘s lunch rush for years, I decided to change it up this week and order two of the newest items on the menu!

First up — the Freedom Pasta: chicken, sauteed with tomatoes, mushrooms, and fresh basil join fusilli pasta in a cream sauce. The verdict? Delicious. I needed to add salt (as per usual with me and cream sauces), but the chicken was crispy and not overdone, and the sauce was thick vs. watery (WHY do chefs let watery cream sauces exist? Why?).

Freedom Pasta at Liberty Tree Tavern

For dessert, I went with the brand new gluten-free dessert — Decadent Chocolate Terrine. This is like taking a slab of the richest brownie dough you can imagine out of the refrigerator and eating it raw. Some of you (like me) will [Read more…]

Guest Review: El Pirata Y El Perico

By AJ 14 Comments

My friend and fellow Disney fan, Sarah Holodick, headed over to El Pirata y El Perico last week to enjoy the last few days of this restaurant’s “busy season” run. You’ll be hearing from Sarah a few more times over the next couple of weeks, too! Take it away, Sarah!Atmosphere

Not so long ago, I had the pleasure of trying a “new to me” restaurant as well as a couple old favorites. First, I will highlight my experience at the ever-elusive El Pirata Y El Perico. I went solo on Thursday morning and was surprised to see the menu was different from what I had previously seen at various sites online. I had read it would be from August 15th – September 4th for lunch to help accommodate free dining, so I knew this was my chance to try it out, and I’m [Read more…]

Riding Off to Sleepy Hollow

By AJ 26 Comments

We’re transported back to the year 1790 in Dutch Tarry Town, New York. The more detailed location is Sleepy Hollow (which has yet to become an official town), and here we find the memory of a star-crossed couple, Ichabod Crane and Katrina Van Tassel…

Atmosphere
You never know what to expect with those brilliant Imagineers. Believe it or not, you’re actually in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom theme park — at a counter-service location, no less. Sleepy Hollow (the snack spot, not the town) is located just southwest of Cinderella Castle and [Read more…]

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Review: Cinderella’s Royal Table Breakfast

Atmosphere

Disney Food Trends: Gourmet Mac and Cheese

Disney Food Post Round-Up: December 26, 2010

Guest Review: Liberty Tree Tavern Dinner

Disney Food Pics of the Week: Funnel Cakes

Guest Review: Magic Kingdom’s Columbia Harbour House

New Treat Trails at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

Two New Menu Items at Disney World’s Liberty Tree Tavern

Guest Review: El Pirata Y El Perico

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