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DFB Podcast Episode 13: Money-Saving Disney Dining Tips!

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Welcome to the lucky 13th episode of the DFB Podcast!

We’re so excited to bring you another chapter in the crazy antics of Brad and AJ! (HA HA!)

What’s Happening in the 13th Episode?

In this episode we:

Cover the latest Disney Food News, including important Epcot Flower & Garden food news and new menus at several WDW and Disneyland restaurants; discuss some great money-saving tips at Walt Disney World and Disneyland; answer a few listener questions, and reveal the answer to our Episode 12 trivia question (AND compel you with a brand-new trivia question!).

Listener Questions…

Here are the questions we’re answering in the 13th Episode!

Rachel W.: I saw from the Harira Soup mention in the Restaurant Marrakesh review that [Read more…]

Tips from the DFB Guide: Should I Book a Disney Character Meal?

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Dining at Walt Disney World is very often an experience rather than just a meal. It’s become a rite of passage to dine with characters during a visit to Disney — and there’s stiff competition to secure Advance Dining Reservations at some of these table-service restaurants.

Mickey strikes a pose!

Meeting Cinderella, rubbing Pooh’s tummy, hugging Mickey Mouse, and posing with Chip and Dale are some of the memorable moments that can be discovered while dining at Character Meals.

Tigger Lounges and Signs an Autograph Book at the Plaza Inn

But is a character meal right for your group? On one hand, adults and kids alike enjoy meeting characters from Winnie the Pooh’s Hundred Acre Wood, Cinderella’s Castle, and more! Yet on the other, character meals can be costly — both in time and money!

We’ve been to countless meals in which Disney characters hobnob with guests, and now we can help you determine if a character meal fits well into your next Disney vacation!

Chef Mickey serves up fun and food at the Contemporary Resort!

In our The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2013 e-Book, we have an informative section on character meals. Pick up your copy here for an extra $4 off using code 2013 for a limited time! Your vacation is an investment and we want you to have the best trip possible!

So let’s take a look at whether a character meal makes sense for YOUR family…

Should I book a character meal?

Let’s get right to some important dining considerations that we’ve included in the DFB Guide to help you plan your meals.

Meet the princesses at a character meal!

1. Do you have kids who may be afraid of characters?

Character meals can be a good place for children to get to know the Disney characters. However if one (or more) of your children are not fond of the characters then consider dining at a restaurant with a fun theme instead.

Not sure if your kiddo hates characters? Here’s how to find out without too much trauma: [Read more…]

News! Rix Lounge Announces Tequila Tasting at Coronado Springs Resort

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Now and then we like to explore the lesser-known hang-outs at Walt Disney World. Tucked into the main building at Coronado Springs Resort and specializing in awesome tequilas (they’re run by the same folks who run Cava del Tequila!) Rix Lounge is a unique place to unwind!

Rix Lounge Entrance

We’ve got a photo tour of this fun nightspot for you below, but first I have some super fun news to share for those of us who love tequila and beverage tastings!

Rix Lounge’s FIRST EVER Tequila Tasting

Rix Lounge will host their first ever Tequila Tasting on Saturday, March 30th, at 8pm! A tequila ambassador (Hilda, maybe?) will guide guests through the history and production process of tequila, the different types and categories of tequila, and of course a tasting.

Rix Tequila Tasting

I’m guessing this will be a LOT like the tequila tastings from the Epcot Food and Wine Festival, which have now been turned into full blown tequila lunches! The tasting will include Milagro Select Barrel Silver, Partida Reposado, and Gran Centenario Añejo. A delicious Sangrita will be the finishing touch.

Tickets are available to the general public (ages 21 and up) at $30 per person in advance, or $35 per person at the door. A table reservation is required.

Rix Lounge Photo Tour

Now, for those of you who haven’t ever been to this little-known Disney hot spot, let’s take a gander around! Here’s a photo tour for ya!!

Rix Lounge Decor

Many special events are held at Rix Lounge, including kid birthday parties and romantic weddings! So, check the schedule before planning your evening. There is [Read more…]

Dining in Disneyland: Making English Toffee at the Candy Palace

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The candy kitchen windows are one of my favorite places to hang out. On every single Disney trip, whether it be to Disney California Adventure, Disneyland, or even just a stroll through Downtown Disney passing by Marceline’s I HAVE to peek in the window and see what the candy makers are up to.

Candy Palace in Disneyland

On a recent trip to Disneyland, I passed by Candy Palace on Main Street and noticed some adorable candy makers having way too much fun making English Toffee.

English Toffee Making at Candy Palace

Making English Toffee

The process is a three person job. It all starts with a little rectangular piece of toffee.

English Toffee Grab

Next, it’s dipped in to a bath of melted milk chocolate.

Chocolate Bath

After it has a perfect coating of milk chocolate, the toffee is rolled in chopped almonds.

Almond Time!

And for the grand finale, 12 ounces of English Toffee are

[Read more…]

New Menu Options at Earl of Sandwich! (And Holiday Sandwich Year-Round!!)

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Update: Disneyland Annual Passholders get a 20% discount (that’s twice the Passholder dining discount!) on Mondays and Tuesdays in March 2013 at Earl Of Sandwich in Downtown Disney Anaheim.

We’ve got some seriously rad news for all of you fellow Earl-lovers today!!!

Learn About:Earl of Sandwich
Disney Springs
Disney World Restaurants

In Disney World, Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris, Earl of Sandwich specializes in delicious counter-service eats. (Read an Earl of Sandwich Review in Disney World here and an Earl of Sandwich Review in Disneyland here to find out what all the fuss is about!)

And here’s the latest — new menu items are being added the first week of March, including hand-tossed salads, handcrafted wraps, and Artisan soups…and the HOLIDAY SANDWICH will now be offered year round!!

“Earl of Sandwich is known for the World’s Greatest Hot Sandwich. We now have great wraps, salads, and soups to match”, says Steve Heeley, President & CEO of Orlando based Earl of Sandwich.

Wrapped Earl of Sandwich...sandwich!

The Full Montague is a fan favorite at Earl of Sandwich

Yep — there’ll be a lot more to choose from the next time you head over to Earl!

New Earl of Sandwich Menu Options

Healthful options for on-the-go dining is just one reason that Earl of Sandwich is so popular! Let’s check out the new items!

  • 8 Great new “Greens” Hand–Tossed Salads, including Berry, Almond & Chicken Salad, BBQ Chicken, and Thai Salads.
  • 7 Great new “Hand Crafted” Wraps, including Buffalo Chicken (YES, PLEASE!!!!); Baja Chicken; and Chicken, Bacon & Avocado Wraps.
  • A new line of high quality Artisan Soups, including chicken noodle, black bean, chicken tortilla, butternut squash, and other great new flavors. Yes, the signature tomato soup will still be available!
  • New, lighter breakfast offerings, including oatmeal with fruit, nut, and brown sugar toppings. Also look for New York style bagels and cream cheese.
  • Two great sandwiches join the permanent line-up — the cult favorite Holiday Turkey Sandwich, and the [Read more…]

Snack Series and Recipe!: The Magic Cookie Bar at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

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By now, you’ve probably had the incredible cookies at Gideon’s Bakehouse in Disney Springs, and we bet you’ve even tried out the Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches at Dino-Bite Snacks in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. But we can almost guarantee that you haven’t heard of THIS Disney cookie yet!

Wilderness Lodge

One of our favorite treats in Disney World is HIDING, but we want you all to be able to enjoy it, so we’re giving up its secret now! Check out Disney’s Magic Cookie Bar and learn where you can find this super tasty dessert. [Read more…]

DFB Reader Questions Answered: Have Selma’s Cookies Disappeared?

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Time to answer a reader question!! 🙂 We believe that if one of our readers has a question about Disney dining, there are probably more folks out there wondering the same thing!

Here’s a question that we’ve received from several of you about one of our favorite Disney pre-packaged snacks — Selma’s Cookies!

Selmas Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie -- One of Our Favorites!

One reader asks:

On my last visit I was unable to find Selma’s Cookies (the large individually wrapped ones such as chocolate chip) in any of the sweet or bakery shops in The Magic Kingdom. Do you know if they are indeed still selling them?

And the answer is [Read more…]

Guest Review: Lunch at Via Napoli in Epcot’s Italy Pavilion

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Today, we’re traveling to Epcot’s Italy Pavilion for lunch at Via Napoli in this guest review by Julie B.!

Learn About:Via Napoli
Epcot Restaurants
Disney World Restaurants

Buongiorni a tutti! I want to tell you about one of my favorite places for lunch in all of Disney World: Via Napoli, located in the Italy pavilion of World Showcase.

Via Napoli is a relatively recent addition to the dining options of Epcot (and part of a major restaurant overhaul in Italy’s pavilion over the past few years).

This pizzeria doesn’t disappoint when enlightening diners with the true wonders of Neapolitan pizza.

Via Napoli!

Atmosphere

The first thing you should know about Via Napoli is that it’s huge, and I mean HUGE! When you walk into the main dining room you’ll notice that it’s very wide but also features sky-high ceilings. This does create a lot of echoing, so Via Napoli is not the best place to come for an intimate meal (but it’s great if you’ve got kids who need to blow off some steam).

The large dining room.

A benefit of those high ceilings is that they have large windows and allow the room to be bathed in natural light. It’s one of the main reasons I love to dine here for lunch instead of dinner.

Another one of my favorite parts of the restaurant’s large size is the center table that stretches across the whole room. If you’re seated at this table, you’ll be [Read more…]

New! Le Cellier Light-Up Menus in Disney World!

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OK, I gotta tell you about this! We heard about another interesting update to the Le Cellier menus in Disney World’s Epcot and had to check it out!

We reported recently on the fact that Le Cellier has now gone to an all-day menu — but guests will have another surprise to explore when they arrive!

Here’s the new light-up menu!

This is a great option for darker restaurants like Le Cellier — the perfect way to see your menu with out eye strain. The menu itself is lit from behind! Here’s the menu — dark — just as you’re opening it…

…and here it is as it lights up automatically when you open it all the [Read more…]

Review: Flame Tree Barbecue at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

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Last week, I had the pleasure of heading to Walt Disney World for a super quick jaunt around the parks.

Learn About:Flame Tree Barbecue
Animal Kingdom
Disney World Restaurants

And while there, I decided it was high time to stop by one of my (and yours!!) favorite spots in Animal Kingdom, Flame Tree Barbecue.

Flame Tree Barbecue consistently gets rave reviews from Disney food fans as one of the top — if not the top — counter service spots in all of Walt Disney World. I was anxious to see if it still lived up to my fond memories…

Atmosphere

Located in the Discovery Island section of Animal Kingdom, you’ll find this colorful restaurant adjacent to the entrance to Dinoland (which is awesome, and you should totally go there). And as the name clues you in — they specialize in barbecue, with meats that are smoked right in the “Flame Tree Barbecue Smokehouse.”

Flame Tree Barbecue Sign

Normally, you see lines snaking back from the ordering area — note the cow-line ropes in the picture. But it was shockingly not busy when I got there late in the afternoon (around 4:30pm). See? I told you those Disney Dining Tips are for real! 😉

Flame Tree Barbecue -- Outside View

The set up is your standard Disney counter service situation, with multiple ordering stations and pick up lines. You won’t find any automated kiosks here…yet!

Ordering Kiosk

For guests who aren’t familiar with smoked meats and the pink color that the meat takes on due to the process, you’ll find these signs. You can be sure that your meat is thoroughly cooked, even though it may appear pink inside.

Sign Regarding Smoking Process

Once you’ve chosen your food, be sure to [Read more…]

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