food IS a theme park
Disney World is constantly getting new snacks, drinks, and menu items!
The Drop Off
In the past few months alone, we’ve seen new snacks for Disney World’s 50th Anniversary, multiple menu overhauls at restaurants, and plenty of new treats “just because.” One place where you can often count on new additions is at The Drop Off Pool Bar at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, and recently, we found a new drink there that we think our readers are going to be VERY interested in!
If you’ve been following along with us today, you know that Disney World’s 50th anniversary is officially underway and there’s a WHOLE LOT of food to try as part of the festivities!
It’s the BIG day!
There are actually OVER 150 new treats coming to Disney World to celebrate the big anniversary, including a twist on a classic Mickey ice cream bar, a sundae with a WHOLE Mickey pretzel on top, and Haunted Mansion-themed treats. Today we made our way to try one new snack that features a twist on one of the most iconic Disney snacks ever: the Dole Whip!
For today’s DFB Video, we are sharing with you one of our all time favorite snacks — Dole Whip!
We love Dole Whip for so many reasons — it’s tart-sweet tanginess…the refreshing way it says, “Hey! You’re on vacay!”…and the fact that you can get it on BOTH coasts! [Read more…]
Welp — it’s finally happened. The Epcot Food and Wine Festival is pretty much happening year around now!
No — not really. But with this is exciting news, it kinda sorta seems like it!
Holidays Around the World at Epcot
I’ve loved the holiday eats, drinks, and treats that you can get during a cozy winter visit to Epcot during Holidays Around the World. In addition to enchanting stories of winter time celebrations from all over the globe, guests have also indulged in holiday specialties, like Buche de Noel in France and Sweet Tamales in Mexico. And it’s not Christmas without at least one serving of Glühwein in Germany! [Read more…]
I hope that you’re sitting down.
Because we have a ton of pictures and details to share with you about Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming Florida Kitchen and Southern Shine!
The restaurant opened with fanfare and plenty of rave reviews. And we were right there with you as we shared a first look!
If you can believe it, we’ve been back to Homecoming Florida Kitchen (hereafter shortened to HFK to save my fingers extra typing) again since opening day. As a result, we have lots of variety to share with you about this special spot.
This is a place that beckons you to slow down and sit a spell. So to begin, let’s take a nice, leisurely look around.
You’ll find HFK right in the heart of Disney Springs, where the Town Center and The Landing come together.
Sign
While the outside may look a little Plain Jane at first inspection, you may form a different opinion after your initial look. Tons of windows, shaded in part by the metal hip roof that overhangs them, is reminiscent of the Florida Vernacular style of architecture. I love that you don’t find a single ounce of faux stucco here — the building choice of most Florida homebuilders these days. [Read more…]
Today, we have a big treat for you!
You know that we love to talk about the Epcot Food and Wine Festival here at DFB. It’s like the Super Bowl and Olympics and Christmas all rolled into one!
Party for the Senses Sign
And while there’s tons to do and see and eat throughout the event, some of the most highly anticipated premium events are the Parties for the Senses. (See the review of our last time attending the event here.) In 2016, you can choose from parties held on October 1, 8, 15, 22, 28, and 29, featuring different themes. Read all about it on our Special Events Page! [Read more…]
We are just a couple of weeks from the start of the most wonderful time of the year! The 2014 Epcot Food and Wine Festival gets underway on September 19!
Today, we’re bringing you another preview of some of the Marketplace Booths that will be featured at this year’s festival.
It’s hard to figure out just which one of the more than 25 kiosks is our favorite. We love trying returning classics and brand new dishes every year.
Come check out what’s new and what’s returning at the Greece and Puerto Rico Marketplace Booths.
Night and day, it’s never surprising to see loooooong lines at the Greece Marketplace Booth. This exotic spot has been a favorite for as long as it’s been around.
Greece Marketplace Booth
But a few years back, it cemented its claim to fame when they introduced a simple dish — Griddled Greek Cheese with Pistachios and Honey. It’s a favorite, and it’s returning again this year.
Throughout the Food and Wine Festival, we continue to see a commitment on Disney’s part to offer inventive and delicious vegetarian dishes. Brand new for 2014, the Greece Marketplace will offer a classic dish — Moussaka! But this version is vegetarian, made with soy as a meat replacement. We tried it at the Food and Wine Festival Preview dinner, and it won rave reviews.
Vegetarian Moussaka
The dish was surprisingly hearty and full of bold flavor.
But our real reason for trip after trip to the Greece Booth is the super simple [Read more…]
Today, we welcome @MealTrip back to Disney Food Blog with an in-depth look — and some incredible photos! — of the opening night performance of Harambe Nights!
We enjoyed our first experience with this new hard ticket event at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom when we brought you a sneak peek from a media event recently. Now that the performance — which includes the new show The Lion King –A Concert in the Wild, a Welcome Reception, and a Street Party afterwards — is open to the public, we wanted to bring you another look at the event.
Let’s see what works — and what still needs a little work.
I made my way to the event location in plenty of time to check out the area for Harambe Nights before many of the guests arrived, and the set up is quite well done.
Festively-capped Cast Members greet guests of the event at the front gate of Animal Kingdom.
Cast Members Welcoming Guests to Harambe Nights
Here’s a close up of the Harambe Nights sign.
Welcome Sign
Let’s head in and take a look around.
As you enter the area, don’t forget to grab a program right after you check in and receive your wristband. The program contains information about merchandise, food, and the show.
Distributing Programs
It also gives you a handy schedule so you know just how the evening will unfold.
Event Program — Click to Enlarge
Here’s the view as I arrived. The streets of the new Harambe Theater District are set up and ready to go before the party.
Streets of the New Harambe Street District as Guests Arrive
And here’s the area after 1,000 people are let in!
Streets of the New Harambe Theater District as it Fills with People
There are numerous beverage and food stations set up throughout the area. Here’s an example of one of the beverage stations. And yes — that’s Jungle Juice!
Beverage Station
The Welcoming Party menu is somewhat light, and everything food and drink-wise is repeated at all stations, so if you’ve found one, you’ve found them all.
Welcome Reception Menu — Click to Enlarge
The self-serve hot “appetizer” stations are well-looked after by Cast Members, and if you feel the line is too long when you walk up to one, just hang back and wait a few minutes. The crowds tend to ebb and flow, and there’s plenty of time to visit the food tables multiple times without standing in a long line.
Self Serve Appetizers at the Welcome Party
Spicy Durban Chicken will be familiar to guests who have dined at Boma or Tusker House.
Spicy Durban Chicken
Also throughout the area, there are numerous [Read more…]
If you’re in need of serious refreshment pre- or post-Maharajah Jungle Trek, then I have the perfect adult beverage for you!
It’s one of our Top 10 Frozen Drinks in Disney World, so you know it’s gotta be good!
Maharajah Jungle Trek Sign
Hang a right at Anandapur Local Food Cafes (Yak and Yeti’s counter service spot), and you’ll find Quality Beverages.
Quality Beverages Serving Window
Through the little walk-up window, you see walls that are “antiqued” to give them character. Since this is basically a beverage stop, most of the counter space inside is taken up with frozen drink machines and beer taps. There are a few chips and snacks that are displayed, too.
Inside Quality Beverages
I can’t resist pictures of [Read more…]
Welcome to Friday Happy Hour! Guest Author Melissa Sue Sorrells Galley takes us to one of our favorite rest stops — the Dawa Bar in Disney’s Animal Kingdom!
You sure do a lot of walking in Animal Kingdom. The paths are beautiful, but they’re long. And after a morning touring Disney’s most animalriffic theme park, I like to stop for a nice, refreshing drink. Luckily, there’s a perfect place for resting and sipping in Africa’s Harambe Village.
Dawa Bar in Harambe Village
Located just as you cross the bridge into Harambe, Dawa Bar is inside a huge, covered pavilion just next to the line to get into Tusker House and across from Tamu Tamu Refreshments.
Dawa Bar Seating
It’s a great place to sit, relax and watch Harambe pass you by. If you time your cocktail right, you can even [Read more…]
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