Downtown Disney | the disney food blog

Review: Pleasure Island Drinks for #ThrowbackThursdays in Disney Springs This Summer!

Care to take a walk — or a sip? — down Memory Lane?

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Disney World Restaurants

Then join us for few drinks at Dockside Margaritas in Disney Springs!

Why??? Because the outdoor Margarita Bar located in the Marketplace is currently serving drinks that used to be served at Pleasure Island. For those unfamiliar, Pleasure Island was once a section of Disney World’s shopping, dining, and entertainment district — then known as Downtown Disney — that put the emphasis on entertainment, offering nightlife for adult guests. Dance clubs included (among others) the 70s and 80s themed 8TRAX, the BET Soundstage, and Mannequins; while comedy spots included the Comedy Warehouse and the much beloved and dearly missed Adventurer’s Club.

So if beverage names like Leisure Suit, Hoopla, Thriller, Punch Line, Funmeister and Kungaloosh mean anything to you, then you’re going to want to belly up with us today at Dockside Margaritas!

Dockside Margaritas at Disney Springs Marketplace

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News: Local Food Trucks at Downtown Disney District at Disneyland in October

By AJ Leave a Comment

If grazing at a trendy food truck round up sounds good to you, then you’ll love this news out of Disneyland!

During the month of October, be sure to stop by Downtown Disney District to check out an array of dishes from three new food trucks.

Find Habit Burger Grill and the Dos Chino Taco Truck on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, this weekend through October 30. On most days throughout the weekends of October, you’ll be able to catch BrewWings as well. [Read more…]

Review: Lunch at The Boathouse in Disney Springs

By AJ 16 Comments

It’s back to The Boathouse for us today on the DFB!

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The Boathouse

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The BOATHOUSE (as it’s officially known) has only been part of the Disney dining scene since this past April, when it opened in The Landing area of Disney Springs . (Believe it or not, though, it’s no longer the newest dining gig in town, since spots like Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar, Vivoli il Gelato, and Morimoto Asia have all made their debuts since). Still, it has already made a big name for itself for a few reasons: first, its arrival marked the debut of the first of several more upscale dining additions coming to Disney Springs (with a price tag to match).

Second, with live music and watercraft tour options (have you seen the Amphicars?!), it’s also helping to ring in the entertainment-heavy focus that will continue to become a hallmark of several dining options in Disney Springs once the area’s transformation is complete.

While we explored the restaurant in full during its opening week, on my most recent trip, we decided to do things a little differently — a midday visit to explore what the main bar area has to offer.

The Boathouse Sign

Of course, we couldn’t help taking another quick look around this beautiful space first… [Read more…]

FULL MENU Review: Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar in Disney Springs, Walt Disney World

By AJ 31 Comments

Welcome, adventurers, to Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar in The Landing of Disney Springs!

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Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar

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Or should I say, “Welcome Back”? Just last week, we brought you a First Look from Opening Day of the Hangar, and today we’re back for a full review, including every single food item on the menu, several of the specialty cocktails from the uniquely-themed list of libations, and even a glimpse at some of the specialty souvenir drink glasses on their way to Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar.

The reasons behind the high levels of anticipation surrounding the opening of the Hangar Bar have been twofold: first, the backstory surrounds Jock Lindsey — a frequent pilot for the movie character of Indiana Jones — so fans of the film franchise were especially excited to have the chance to step inside the story.

Second, the ongoing transformation from Downtown Disney into Disney Springs continues to bring a whole new kind of dining scene to Disney World, including more upscale dining venues like The Boathouse and Morimoto Asia (set to open this coming Wednesday), and uniquely-themed spots such as the one we’re visiting again today.

Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar Sign

So, we know who Jock Lindsey is… but why the “Hangar Bar”? You see, when Jock was flying Indiana Jones over Florida while searching for the Fountain of Youth, he just so happened to spot a piece of waterfront land that caught his attention. [Read more…]

First Look: Disney World’s Morimoto Asia Menu

By AJ 27 Comments

Morimoto Asia — the newest dining addition to Disney World’s Disney Springs — will open its doors to guests on September 30th. Reservations are available now via OpenTable.com, and will be available by calling the restaurant directly beginning September 30th at (407) 560-6686. Advance Dining Reservations will be available through (407) WDW-DINE beginning November 1st.

Ultimately, the restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner (as well as a weekend brunch) with operating hours from 11 am to 2 am daily, but in its opening weeks it will be operating for dinner only.

Morimoto Asia concept art ©Disney

Although, before you make that reservation for dinner you may want to know what’s on the menu :), which will be the first to feature Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s “pan-Asian” cuisine. Fortuantely, we’ve got a glimpse for you today, thanks to the Morimoto Asia Facebook page! [Read more…]

First Look! Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar in Disney World’s Disney Springs

By AJ 11 Comments

Join us, fellow members of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers, for a First Look at Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar! We’ll be back on Monday with a FULL REVIEW!

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Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar

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Newly open in The Landing of what will become Disney Springs, the new HANGAR is the latest Downtown Disney HANGOUT! Then again, maybe “new” isn’t really the word for it…

You see, as the story goes, Jock Lindsey — a frequently trusted pilot for Indiana Jones — discovered this waterfront property in 1938 as he flew with Indiana over Florida on the hunt for the Fountain of Youth.

He returned to the area in the 1940s to make his home, setting up a small business — Jock Lindsey’s “Air Tours” — offering scenic plane tours of the state. And now we are left with the Hangar that he also used to host his friends in the Society of Explorers and Adventurers, of which Jock, too, was a member.

Outside of Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar

Are you ready to step in and see what adventures await? [Read more…]

News: Full Menu Released for Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar

By AJ 10 Comments

Doors open at 11:30 am on SEPTEMBER 22nd to Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar in Downtown Disney!

Concept Art for Jock Lindey’s Hangar Bar

@WDWDowntown Twitter

Last month, Disney gave us a sneak peek of what to expect on the menu full of bar eats, with Air Pirate Pretzels and “Squid! Why’d it have to be Squid?” headlining the selection. [Read more…]

Review: Italian Ice in Downtown Disney

By Wendy 4 Comments

Amidst all the construction and general day-to-day bustle in Downtown Disney (not to mention some big name restaurants on the way as the Disney Springs transformation moves forward), it’s easy to forget there are a lot of little stands and kiosks dotting the area, including stops like Wetzel’s Pretzels and the Downtown Snow Company featuring shaved ice.

There are a few, though, that don’t have a brand name of any sort. They’re simply marked as “Italian Ice” stands, and you’ll find one on the West Side (next to the Characters in Flight balloon experience) and one in the Marketplace, just by the main stage where guest musicians (often school bands and choirs) perform.

Italian Ice kiosk sign

The kiosks are small, but the one on the West Side is especially noticeable thanks to all the bright colors.

Italian Ice Kiosk

The main sign tells you ice cold treats are the headliner, but it just so happens you’ll find a variety of Churros here as well: typically Bavarian Cream, Dulce de Leche (caramel), and King Cinnamon and Sugar. (Alas, those Churro Ice Cream Sandwiches in Disneyland never made their way to the east coast). [Read more…]

Review: Lava Lounge at the Disney Springs Marketplace

By AJ 4 Comments

Today we’re taking this blog all the way to the edge… of Downtown Disney!

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Lava Lounge

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We’re stopping for drinks and grub at the Lava Lounge, found just about as far as you can go to the end of Downtown Disney’s Marketplace. It’s funny — with the majority of the transformation to Disney Springs affecting the Landing, the West Side, and the parking areas of Downtown Disney, the Marketplace feels largely unchanged.

Now, I know that’s not true, considering the addition of spots like the Marketplace Causeway, the Marketplace Co-op and Dockside Margaritas. But comparatively speaking, and even with the welcome additions in the other areas, it feels nice to still have some familiar spots to enjoy in the area.

It says something about the rate of change in Downtown Disney lately that the Lava Lounge — now just over two years old — feels like one of those familiar spots. Still, being relatively young in the scheme of things, a lot of DFB Readers haven’t had a chance to explore it. So let’s make our way underneath that big ol’ volcano and check it out!

Lava Lounge

Atmosphere

You’ll experience much of the atmosphere of the Lava Lounge before even entering the Lounge itself. The hallmark of the area, of course, is the “active” volcano, and if you’ve ever been anywhere in the Marketplace when it erupts with fire (about every half hour or so, I think), you’re familiar with the almost thunder-like roar that accompanies it. [Read more…]

Review: Bongos Cuban Café Express

By Wendy 4 Comments

When you’re strolling through Downtown Disney, you really can’t miss Bongos Cuban Café.

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Bongos Cuban Cafe Express

Downtown Disney
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The white building is huge, and takes up a hefty bit of space on the West Side, directly opposite Splitsville Luxury Lanes and right next to Exposition Park (home base for the Disney Food Trucks).

And, of course, part of the building is actually structured as an ENORMOUS PINEAPPLE. So that helps raise the profile a bit, too.

What’s harder to find – and indeed, most guests walk right by – is Bongos Cuban Café Express (sometimes referred to as the Bongos Walk-up Window). And it just so happens to be a great place to sit for a spell and grab a quick meal or snack.

The window is tucked into the left side (if you’re facing Bongos). So now that you know it’s there, let’s take a quick glance around!