food IS a theme park
Dining and snacking in Disney World is almost as fun as the rides themselves! But just like the attractions, when it comes to restaurants, there are rules, guidelines, and even tricks and hacks to get the BEST experience.
Cinderella’s Royal Table
Some rules and tips for Disney World restaurants are obvious (e.g. make reservations waaaaay in advance for Cinderella’s Royal Table!), but we’ve got LOTS of other insider secrets to help you level up your next Disney dining experience!
Dining at Disney World can be a pricey endeavor, but not all restaurants are created equal! While there are plenty of ways to save your next meal in the parks and resorts, there are also plenty of ways to spend the equivalent of one night’s rate at your resort hotel in one sitting!
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
If you’ve ever wondered just how much it costs to dine at Disney World’s most expensive restaurant, look no further. Let’s take a look at none other than Victoria & Albert’s, located at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.
Bienvenido to Jaleo by Chef José Andrés!
Newly open in Disney Springs, this is the fifth Jaleo location in the U.S. (the restaurant has its origins in Washington, D.C. where it opened in 1993). So Jaleo already comes accompanied with a well-earned reputation for showcasing the authentic Spanish cuisine of Chef Andrés through a variety of shared plates along with paellas, sangria, Spanish cheeses and wines and much more.
But Chef Andrés is not only known for his cooking. Among other and numerous accolades and awards, he has been named both “Outstanding Chef” and “Humanitarian of the Year” by the James Beard Foundation and received the 2015 National Humanities Medal from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Chef Andrés was also nominated for the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for disaster relief work through World Central Kitchen, the non-profit organization he founded in 2010.
We have been looking forward to the opening of Jaleo in Disney Springs for some time now, and we are so excited to bring you along for our first visit!
Jaleo
The Disney Springs location presents the biggest Jaleo yet. [Read more…]
The upcoming Disney’s Riviera Resort released booking availability in January for dates starting December 16, 2019. That release came accompanied by information regarding the restaurants that will be part of this resort inspired by the Walt and Lillian Disney’s travels along the Mediterranean coastline.
Riviera Resort Concept Art ©Disney
Today brings more information about Topolino’s Terrace — Flavors of the Riviera, which will be the signature rooftop restaurant for the resort. It “draws inspiration from the cliffside restaurants along the European Riviera… with beautiful vistas, cliffs, islands and the Mediterranean Sea.” [Read more…]
The beautiful Japan Pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase is currently home to two Table Service restaurants: Tokyo Dining and Teppan Edo (which we visited again just recently).
Japan Pavilion Pagoda
But in the future, it will be home to three Table Service locations, as Disney has announced that a Signature Dining experience “inspired by the natural beauty of Japan” is on the way to the Pavilion!
Hey Guys! We’re back with another DFB Video today, and we’re ranking ALL the Disney World Two-Credit Restaurants from BEST to WORST!
Where does California Grill fall on the list?
A “Two-Credit” Restaurant refers to how many Table Service credits are required to dine when utilizing the Disney Dining Plan. They’re also referred to as “Signature Restaurants” which means guests paying out-of-pocket will be spending some pretty big bucks to eat there. We find that some are very worth the splurge during your vacation and others… well, it’s time to find out how we rank Disney World’s Two-Credit Restaurants from BEST to WORST! [Read more…]
Disney fans everywhere are pretty excited for Aprill 22nd — the anniversary of Animal Kingdom’s opening, and the debut of the Rivers of Light evening spectacular as well as the Harambe Wildlife Parti and the Discovery Island Carnivale. [Editor’s Update: Please note that since the original publishing of this article, Disney has announced that the Rivers of Light spectacular will be delayed, and they will be releasing further information regarding an updated debut date for the spectacular and both street parties in mid-late May 2016.]
But after that date, it’s not as though the changes will stop coming to Animal Kingdom as it transitions into a all-day-into-nighttime park. Even after the arrival of Rivers of Light, two more highly anticipated additions will still be on the way this summer: the opening of Tiffins, Animal Kingdom’s very first signature restaurant, and the accompanying Nomad Lounge in the Discovery Island area of the park.
Artist’s Rendering of Tiffins Restaurant ©Disney
Tiffins will serve lunch and dinner daily, and the menu will feature food that “takes diners to Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americans.” But Disney has now released more about the restaurant’s atmosphere and backstory. Emily O’Brien, the Walt Disney Imagineering Executive Show Producer for Disney’s Animal Kingdom, states that “Tiffins is not about a make-believe place, it’s about real people and places.” [Read more…]
We’ve been excited for the debut of the “Rivers of Light” nighttime spectacular coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom next year, but now there’s even MORE to look forward to! Tiffins — a Signature Restaurant — will open in Animal Kingdom in 2016 as well!
©Disney
The dining experience at Tiffins will “celebrate the art of traveling” with a menu reflecting the locales that inspired the park itself. According to Disney, waterfront views will be a feature of this lunch and dinner option, which will offer both indoor and outdoor seating. [Read more…]
A new dining opportunity is coming to Narcoossee’s, one of the signature restaurants at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.
A hallmark of Narcoossee’s is the wonderful views it offers of Seven Seas Lagoon, which makes it known as an especially terrific option if you book your Advance Dining Reservation for dinner in coordination with a showtime of Wishes — the Magic Kingdom Fireworks spectacular.
Later this fall, Narcoossee’s will be making the most of its unique setting in the daytime with the new Waterfront Brunch, which will be offered on Sunday mornings beginning November 22, 2015 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
The meal will begin with a specialty beverage of either champagne, a Mimosa, or a signature Bloody Mary, while a smoothie option will be available for guests under 21.
Next, a shared basket of pastries will include house-made chocolate and traditional croissants alongside muffins, Danish pastries, and pecan sticky buns, all served with Vermont cultured butter and seasonal jam.
©Disney
Guests will then choose from an appetizer selection including Onion Soup Gratinee, Shrimp and Grits, Seafood Charcuterie, an Artisanal Cheese Selection or a Romaine Salad. Entree choices will include Lobster Eggs Benedict, Brioche French Toast, Chicken and Waffles, Freshly Caught Seasonal Fish, and Steak and Eggs (among others). Brunch will end with a dessert trio. [Read more…]
Disney is currently testing a new transportation method — complimentary direct taxi service — for guests dining at select signature restaurants while staying at Walt Disney World monorail resorts!
Monorail Orange at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Until June 30, 2015, some guests at the monorail resorts (Grand Floridian, Polynesian, and Contemporary) will be selected to participate in this Disney dining test. Those invited to participate will receive complimentary round-trip vouchers delivered to their room.
Participants will have the option of enjoying direct taxi transportation to [Read more…]
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
