food IS a theme park
Earlier this month, Magic Kingdom moved its park opening show to Cinderella Castle…which means MK guests get to wander around Main Street before the park officially opens!
Breakfast at the Kingdom!
Along with this change, breakfast options have been increased on Main Street, including new menu items at Casey’s Corner, theMain Street Plaza Ice Cream Parlor, and more! We’ll have full reviews of all of these items later this week, but here’s an overview for now!
So, what’s #OnTheList this week? Why, it’s a breakfast item that is worth waking up early for every single time…
… because nothing says “Good morning!” quite like a plate full of MICKEY WAFFLES!!
Today, we head to the west coast for a guest review of Goofy’s Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel. Let’s take a tour — courtesy of guest author, Liz Jostes.
For our family’s first trip to Disneyland, I booked breakfast at Goofy’s Kitchen. Since we were staying at the Disneyland Hotel and our flight home wasn’t until the afternoon, it was a perfect and convenient stop on our final morning on property.
Goofy’s Kitchen is located next to the pool area in the Disneyland Hotel, and a short, easy walk from the Downtown Disney District (for those not staying at the Disneyland Hotel).
As you walk through the doors of Goofy’s Kitchen, you enter into a lobby and wait for your turn to check-in and pay for your meal (gratuity is automatically included). Then you are welcome to meet Goofy while waiting for your table. [Read more…]
We’re starting the day with waffles, waffles, and MORE waffles at the Roaring Fork!
Oh, and did I mention they’re MICKEY WAFFLES?
Now, we’re no strangers to Roaring Fork, the Counter Service restaurant at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Typically, though, we’re taking a look at their bakery case, which is known for adding some terrific cupcakes to the Disney Cupcake realm. Through the years, those have included the Carrot Cake Cupcake, the Chocolate Caramel Cupcake, and the S’mores Cupcake. And the Magic Cookie Bar, while not a cupcake, is certainly no slouch of a dessert.
But Roaring Fork has another claim to fame, thanks to a selection of Mickey Waffles available throughout the morning. And though they aren’t technically desserts like their bakery case counterparts (Captain Obvious says “You’re welcome” for pointing that out ;-D), each of the three selections offer, in their own ways, a decadent start to your day at Disney World.
So get ready to step in with me and say “Good morning!” to the Roaring Fork!
The Roaring Fork naturally echoes the rustic Pacific Northwest vibe of its home, Wilderness Lodge.
Roaring Fork sign
The decor is so in keeping with the rest of the Lodge that the most surprising thing about Roaring Fork is not so much the ambience, but the size. Just a couple of ordering counters, refrigerators, and a place to refill your Rapid Fill Mugs make up the whole of the place. [Read more…]
We’re tackling another question from the DFB Reader mailbag! And today, it’s all about breakfast.
The Samoan at Kona Cafe
Our reader asks:
Where can we get a good breakfast if we are NOT into characters or buffets?
There are lots of spots to enjoy a terrific breakfast at Walt Disney World — even if you prefer not to have characters, and you’d rather order a la carte.
We’ll break down a few of our favorites below, and share why these spots are tops for starting your Disney Day.
If you are crunched — for time, money, or both — then consider some of Disney’s best Counter Service Breakfast options.
Deluxe resorts are some of my favorite spots for counter service eats. Roaring Fork at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge offers Mickey Waffles with a variety of toppings. We love the Bananas Foster option!
Wilderness Lodge Waffles
And at Captain Cook’s, located in the Polynesian Village Resort, you can indulge in an iconic Disney breakfast — Tonga Toast — without paying table service prices!
Writing about Disney Food — all of it — well, it’s kinda the point of this blog. But I am never happier than when I can share one of my truly favorite meals with you.
And ‘Ohana’s Best Friends Character Breakfast definitely qualifies! Let’s take a closer look at this experience as we head into the Great Ceremonial House and see why ‘Ohana Breakfast is definitely #OnTheList!
Recently, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort underwent a lengthy refurbishment. If you haven’t visited the resort in a while, you’ll definitely notice some changes to the lobby and other public areas.
Tiki Statue in Lobby
With the Resort’s name change (the Polynesian resumed its original, opening day name), we also welcomed a couple of exciting new additions — the Pineapple Lanai and Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto. [Read more…]
We know… if you were able to bring Fido on your Disney World vacation, you totally would. You would probably even sneak him a bite of your Mickey Waffle under the table at your resort food court as you start out each day before heading into the parks. After all, you love nothing more than starting the day with a Mickey Waffle, so why wouldn’t he?
Well, now your dog can have one of his very own! Our friends at Mickey Fix let us know about this awesome Mickey Waffle Pet Chew Toy, and it can be yours (well, Fido’s, really!) from the new Disney Tails line found on DisneyStore.com!
©Disney
But why stop there? Wouldn’t he just love his own Mickey Mouse Ice Cream Bar Chew Toy, too?
©Disney
There are actually several chew toys available, though not all of them feature food. How about [Read more…]
Who doesn’t love a Mickey Waffle? We’ve dedicated lots of posts to this beloved treat here on the blog. In fact, it’s probably one of the only universal Mickey shaped foods that can be found throughout all Disney parks.
We’ve got them here in the states at the Disneyland Resort and they’re aplenty in Walt Disney World. I’ve also had one at Aulani. I saw them at Disneyland Paris, and I’ve seen photos of them from Hong Kong.
But Tokyo Disneyland? They have an entire restaurant dedicated to Mickey Waffles! I give you The Great American Waffle Co.
The Great American Waffle Co.
The Great American Waffle Co. is located in Tokyo Disneyland’s World Bazaar area. I fell in love with this spot the minute I saw this Mickey waffle sign hanging outside. Wouldn’t it be awesome if this sign hung above every place in the world that sells Mickey Waffles??? It really should be the universal sign for Mickey waffles.
Mickey Waffle Sign
The menu here is small, but I guarantee it will make you happy. You can have [Read more…]
Today, we’re getting a hearty start to our day with breakfast at Captain’s Grille!
I’ve long considered Captain’s Grille to be a hidden gem at Walt Disney World. Located at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, this place isn’t much to look at (pretty boring, in fact), but they really do have some great food and there always seems to be a table available.
I love heading here for a quiet, delicious lunch, or for a full breakfast spread. Similar to The Wave…of American Flavors at the Contemporary, at breakfast you can choose from the buffet or order from the a la carte menu.
The decor of Captain’s Grille is consistent with the rest of the Yacht Club Resort. You won’t find anything outlandish in this corner of Disney, just lots of blond wood and boaty details — stripes, stars, compass-type stuff, anchors…you know the deal.
Captain’s Grille Seating
The space is open with lots of light from overhead chandeliers and recessed light above as well as windows onto the lobby and grounds. The whole effect gives the room an airy feel. Seating is comprised of large padded chairs and booths. It’s fairly typical to find a sparsely populated dining room, so I’ve always considered the space to be roomy and comfortable.
The Main Seating Area
In the main seating area around the ceiling you’ll spy these porthole-type windows, which give you the feeling that you’re enjoying your meal below deck.
Porthole Window Detail
Shadow boxes feature interesting items, like this grouping of vintage keys.
Decor
While there aren’t tons of decorative details here, what you will find is pretty interesting. The three-dimensional sailing scenes are some of my favorite touches, and are a whimsical way to bring the theme into focus.
A Ship Sailing the Ocean Blue
Ocean Scenes
Now that we’ve had a look around, let’s explore the breakfast options.
Starting your day off with a [Read more…]
While Disney’s Polynesian Resort is undergoing extensive renovations (including Captain Cook’s), it’s still a good time to stop by ‘Ohana for the Best Friends Breakfast featuring the adorable Lilo & mischievous Stitch. Today, guest author Rebecca Elliott reviews her family’s morning meal at Walt Disney World.
‘Ohana, located in Disney’s Polynesian Resort, is an extremely popular dinner venue with overwhelmingly positive reviews. Its all-you-care-to-eat format of delicious Polynesian-inspired dishes and relaxed atmosphere earn it rave reviews from just about everyone that eats there.
But is the character breakfast equally as good? My husband, daughter and I decided to find out!
The Polynesian is one of Walt Disney World’s original resorts. I remember going to the luau when I was a kid back in the 70s and feeling like I was in another country.
As an adult, I recognize that there’s something decidedly kitschy about it. I half expect to see Elvis a la Blue Hawaii round the corner with Joan Blackman on his arm. The theming is fantastic, and consistent.
Pluto Makes His Way Through the Dining Room
‘Ohana is on the second level of the lobby, just a stone’s throw away from the monorail. Guests are required to check in at the host stand before entering the restaurant. We found this a little confusing, mostly because there were a lot of excited children swarming the area.
We ended up walking right past the host stand. We were re-directed to the “cousin” in the lobby’s host area who was pleasant and efficient and whisked us to the photo area. (Cast members are called “cousins” to reinforce the feeling that everyone at ‘Ohana is family.)
We had our picture taken in front of a Tiki-inspired hut and waited for our buzzer to go off. When it did a few minutes later, we made our way to the host stand inside the restaurant, where we were greeted warmly by more exceptionally friendly “cousins.”
Baskets of Welcome Bread Await Diners
On the way to our table, our host gave us helpful information about the service for our meal and tidbits about the open kitchen and some of the menu items.
We were seated at a sunny table near the window with a sweeping view of Seven Seas Lagoon and the Magic Kingdom. (Editor’s Note: Views may be obstructed due to ongoing construction.) Our server quickly greeted us and also took a moment to explain the service style. Breakfast would arrive in a large skillet, with the ever-popular Mickey waffles brought separately. Before scurrying away, she uttered those six magical words, “It’s all you care to eat.”
Live Kitchen Elements, Including This Grill, Are a Focal Point
Our server returned with a basket of Hawaiian welcome bread flavored with pineapple and coconut, as well as iced cinnamon bread. Both were delicious.
Welcome Bread with Pineapple and Coconut, and Iced Cinnamon Bread
She also brought ‘Ohana’s famous breakfast beverage – a combination of passion fruit, orange and guava juices, known as P.O.G. I would drink this juice intravenously if I could. It’s heaven.
P.O.G. – Passion Fruit, Orange, and Guava Juice
Next came a fruit plate, with cantaloupe, honeydew, grapes, and berries. Poor fruit plate. It barely got touched, because the gigantic skillet of breakfast yumminess arrived, heaped with [Read more…]
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
