UK pavilion

Fun Find: More Collectible Teapots at The Tea Caddy in Epcot’s UK Pavilion

It had been a while since I’d stopped by The Tea Caddy in Epcot’s UK Pavilion. I’m not much of a tea drinker — although, that might be my own fault. I haven’t ever invested much time in learning about or developing a taste for tea, mostly relying on the occasional box of whatever is on my supermarket shelf when I have a cold. (Although the Mad Hatter Tea available for Afternoon Tea at the Grand Floridian’s Garden View Tea Room almost made me change my ways. But I digress…)

Display at The Tea Caddy

So, I don’t often make it a point to check out this shop dedicated to all things tea, but I had some extra time before meeting up with some friends for an Advance Dining Reservation at the Rose & Crown, so I popped in. And I’m glad I did. I was struck by these little works-of-art-in-a-teapot immediately upon entering the shop.

Since I’ve been living under a rock when it comes to tea, I have no idea how long these beautiful James Sadler Teapots have been available at The Tea Caddy. But I enjoyed looking at them so much that I thought I’d share them here.

The first one that caught my eye was right in the front of the shop, paying tribute to London.

London Teapot

Top of London Teapot

London Teapot spout

On that same display, but tucked on the opposite side, was the Village Store teapot.

Village Store Teapot

Village Store closeup

The world famous Beefeaters are featured on [Read more…]

Spotted! Rose & Crown Pub and Dining Room Merchandise in Epcot’s UK Pavilion

By Wendy 9 Comments

Is the Rose & Crown Pub and Dining Room your home away from home while you’re in Disney World? If so, you might enjoy knowing there are a few ways to take a piece of the Pub back home with you!

Rose & Crown Pub and Dining Room

We’d enjoyed seeing some of the merchandise dedicated specifically to the Rose & Crown during a tour of the Food & Wine Festival Center, but I had no idea how extensive the line was until a recent visit to the Sportsman’s Shoppe in Epcot’s UK Pavilion (just across the path from the pub itself).

How long has it been there? Honestly, I don’t know. It’s been a while since I’d paid a visit to the Sportman’s Shoppe in particular. But it was fun to check out all the goodies dedicated to the place “Where Jolly Good Times Happen on This Side of the Pond,” and we thought fans of the pub might enjoy a glimpse, too!

Rose & Crown merchandise display

“Where Jolly Good Times Happen on This Side of the Pond”

From barware to clothing, this stuff runs the gamut. If you’ve enjoyed a pint (or two!) at Rose & Crown, you might like any of the collection of glasses, from pints to [Read more…]

Review: Fish & Chips at the Yorkshire County Fish Shop in Disney World’s Epcot

By Wendy 40 Comments

Are there any Disney experiences that are such important vacation traditions for you that, had they not taken place, you’d almost feel as though you hadn’t really been to Disney?

Learn About:Yorkshire County Fish Shop

Epcot Restaurants
Disney World Restaurants

Allow me to give you an example: “I haven’t really been to Magic Kingdom until I’ve been on the Haunted Mansion.” Or, of course, any of these great first day at Disney traditions!

Well, mine ways always: “I haven’t been to Epcot until I’ve had Fish & Chips from the United Kingdom Pavilion.”

Is anyone with me here?

Let’s head back to the Yorkshire County Fish Shop for its signature dish!

Atmosphere

The Yorkshire County Fish Shop blends in fairly seamlessly with the rest of the Pavilion. The shop itself stands independent of the seating areas, and can be identified by its forest green signage, which identifies (just about) everything on the menu: Fish & Chips!

Yorkshire County Fish Shop

It’s not at all unusual to find a line here at any time of day, but the midday lunch rush and the half hour before Illuminations are particularly busy.

Upon receiving your order, the next part of your adventure is finding a place to sit. There isn’t a ton of seating in the area, and the tables to the right (facing the Fish Shop) are rather large, not leaving a lot of options for smaller parties or more tables.

Tables to the right of the shop

If you can score a table, you’re rewarded with some of the best views World Showcase can offer. However, be warned — you may also be visited by some birds… they are not even remotely shy here.

Even with more ample seating, it would likely be a struggle to find a place, because it’s nearly always hoppin’. There is a bit of additional seating with smaller tables towards the back of Rose & Crown Pub and Dining Room.

Walkway to the back

This group of tables is separated from the Rose & Crown seating by a small wall, and it offers a bonus of being right by the water.

Back of Rose & Crown and Yorkshire County Fish Shop

While these benches aren’t only for guests of the Fish Shop, they do offer enviable seating when you’re enjoying your fish & chips while waiting for Illuminations to begin.

View of World Showcase from the UK Pavilion

For my part, when I spent some (admittedly far too brief) time in London, I picked up fish & chips at a few stands that never had any sort of seating, and I just found a random place to sit wherever I could. So that’s exactly what I do at the UK Pavilion. I pass the gardens across the street and head towards the back.

Back of the UK Pavilion

Bench in UK Pavilion

We found a seat… now it’s time to tuck in!

Eats

Like I said, the signs on the Fish Shop tell you just about everything you need to know about the menu, specializing in only one entree…

Yorkshire County Fish Shop Menu

Fish & Chips!

Fish & Chips

Prior to grabbing your spot, you’ll want to stop by [Read more…]

Fun Find: Must-Have Teapots in Epcot’s UK Pavilion

By Brooke 14 Comments

I love tea, so I rarely make a trip through Epcot without checking out what’s new at the Tea Caddy in the UK Pavilion.

The little shop is your stop for just about any variety of Twinings Tea that you might be looking for. You’ll also find an ever-changing host of snacks and British pantry items. But my favorite items to browse are the tea pots, teacups, and mugs you’ll find here.

The Tea Garden Behind the UK Pavilion’s Tea Caddy

I always spy something new. And my recent visit at the beginning of the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival didn’t disappoint.

Cupcake Tea Accessories

You know all those afternoons that you sit around, leisurely sipping tea and eating delicious cupcakes?

Right. Me neither.

But a girl can dream, can’t she?

So maybe daily cupcakes aren’t such a great idea for my waistline. But cups of tea? Score! Super good for you! So we might as well have our Cupcake Teapot. And hold the cupcakes. (At least some of the time. On Thursdays maybe?)

Cupcake Tea Pot

And while you’re at it, here’s a great coordinating Mug!

Cupcake Mug

And Coasters, too!

Cup Cake Coasters

And don’t you need a little calorie-free-ish cupcake-themed serenity in your life?

Alice in Wonderland Goodies

But there are also some really fun finds if you love a little [Read more…]

Spotted: New Food Items Available in Epcot’s Canada and UK Pavilions

By AJ 13 Comments

One of my favorite activities in Walt Disney World is to wander around the World Showcase and check out what’s new.

While I always love old favorites, like Pocky and my beloved Fruit Gums, it’s definitely fun to stumble across a brand new display and get all excited about what I find. New or new-to-me — it’s all good!

Dueling Earths in the World Showcase

On a recent trip that just happened to coincide with the holidays, I found several fun new snack items that I wanted to show you. I’m thinking Picnic Around the World! Who’s with me?

Canada Pavilion

O, Canada! You can always surprise me.

We will keep dreaming of the day that you come into your own, but in the meantime, I’m going to grab some Covered Bridge Potato Chips and snack away. I’ll have one Ketchup-Flavored and one Sweet Potato, please! Oh, and a Montreal Steak Seasoning, too! (Ok. I’ll share a few.)

Chips from Epcot's Canada Pavilion

These are definitely going on our World Showcase picnic!

It is interesting to note that all of the snacks I found in the Canada Pavilion shops, such as chips and maple sugar candies, are pretty pricey. They’re especially expensive compared to the treats in other lands. Hmmm…

Being an obsessive tea drinker, I’m all about The Tea Caddy in the UK Pavilion. But another great thing about this shop: you can find lots of different candies and snacks here as well.

On the wall across from the register, we found another entry into the potato chip category: Yorkshire Crisps. These would def satisfy my crunchy-salty craving right now.

Yorkshire Crisps

And just in case you’re caught [Read more…]

What’s Your “Every-Trip” Food?

By AJ 62 Comments

Have you realized that you have an “every-trip” food? Something you eat every time you’re in your favorite Disney park or resort?

I figured my “every-trip” food would be something very “Disney-esque,” like an ice cream cookie sandwich or a Mickey rice krispie treat. But, it’s not. I realized that the thing I eat on every single trip, without fail, is candy, made by Nestle, and imported to Florida from the UK. Sad, but true.

It’s no secret that I’m addicted to Rowntree’s Fruit Gums and Fruit Pastilles. I have been since I first found them in a Tesco in London a million years ago; I used to keep rolls of them in my tiny dorm-room refrigerator and eat ’em while I was studying. 🙂

They’re ten times better than any Ju Ju Be or Dot ever could be, and they have a serious history. You can even [Read more…]

Carl the Croc-Wrestling Bartender and the Magical Pint of Guinness

By AJ 39 Comments

If you’re lucky, you’ve found yourself once or twice squeezed into the fun little Rose and Crown pub in Epcot’s UK pavilion. If you’re really lucky, you’ve found yourself there with wonderful friends and a nourishing pint of Guinness. And if you’re REALLY, really lucky, you’ve found yourself a guest of Carl the Bartender — the most dynamic entertainer this side of the pond!

So, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, let’s talk about Carl the bartender and his famous balancing pint of Guinness.

Rose and Crown Carl the Bartender

I wandered into the pub one day, snapping pics as I’m wont to do in Disney World dining establishments, and Carl, who was filling a pint glass with Guinness for a guest, struck up a conversation. I quickly noticed his handiwork on the head of the pint (a lovely and ever-so-appropriate shamrock) and asked the guest if I could take a photo of his beer. He obliged, and I soon found out that Carl happens to be well known for his “Glass-Balanced-On-A-Dime” trick, which of course I needed to see!

Shamrock Design on Top of Guinness

First, Carl did his impressive trick of balancing an empty glass on a dime…

One glass...

…then he decided to top himself by balancing two glasses on [Read more…]

Epcot’s Yorkshire County Fish Shop

By AJ 30 Comments

Yorkshire County Fish Shop

The Yorkshire County Fish Shop in Epcot’s UK pavilion is a quaint, corner counter-service eatery with a gorgeous view from the outdoor tables. Located next to the Rose and Crown Pub and Dining Room, this Chip Shop in the World Showcase offers a quick and hearty meal you can grab on the go, or snack on while waiting for Illuminations.

Fish and Chips

My husband visited the Yorkshire County Fish Shop on his own last week and gave the following review:
“The fish and chips in Epcot were a pleasant surprise. World Showcase counter service has been known to fall short of the country being represented, and while I’m sure the Brits in the crowd might disagree with me, I found I was given a reasonable facsimile of ‘real, British’ Fish and Chips.

The fish didn’t have a terribly strong taste, but I honestly prefer it that way. I like to taste my vinegar, or ketchup (yes I use ketchup on my fish) as much as I like the taste of the fish. I thought the batter was quite tasty.

The chips were ‘authentic.’ They’re just right for absorbing vinegar, although once again I tend to mix it up and use ketchup on some. To be fair, I’d use HP sauce if they gave me the chance, but I figured I was lucky they even had vinegar.” (Psst — He also told me he liked that they served it in newsprint.)

Don’t forget to head over to the kiosk outside of the Pub to grab a nice Yard of Ale to accompany your meal!

Fish Shop Menu

Have you had the fish and chips at the UK pavilion? Do they remind you of your days across the pond, or do they fall flat on your “British-y” scale?

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Fun Find: More Collectible Teapots at The Tea Caddy in Epcot’s UK Pavilion

Spotted! Rose & Crown Pub and Dining Room Merchandise in Epcot’s UK Pavilion