magic kingdom | the disney food blog

Guest Review: Cinderella’s Royal Table

Thanks to Chip and Co. for this guest review of Cindy’s! As it turned out, his family didn’t love the place; but there are some great insights here as a result. Thanks again, Chip!
Cinderella's Royal Table

On paper, this sounded like a great idea. I mean who wouldn’t want to have dinner inside the castle at Walt Disney World?

“Let’s have dinner in Cinderella’s Castle.”
“That sounds great. It will be so magical!”
“It will cost us 2 dining credits each.”
“Well I am sure it will be really good, then.”

I can still hear the conversation with my wife ringing in my head. [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: February 14, 2010

By AJ 2 Comments

Happy Valentine's Day!

Wow! What a week! Two days at Disney World can be exhausting! Here are a few links to some news and info reports from the World this week:

Cinderella and princesses now attending dinner at Cinderella’s Royal Table
The foodie side of the Mega-Canned-Food-Sculpture in Walt Disney World this week

Stay tuned for more stories this week from my trip to Disney World! Now, on to the round-up!

Disney Geek reports that corn dogs are on the menu at Disneyland’s Stage Door Cafe while the Corn Dog Castle is closed for refurb through 2011.

@Marcomboy, via twitter, shared some Valentine’s Day Desserts at Disneyland’s Storytellers Cafe. In the photo: Red Velvet Mini cupcake, Snickers cheesecake, and flourless chocolate cake. Also available are a heart-shaped chocolate raspberry tart and a heart shaped strawberry mousse.

Disney Family.com has some great Alice in Wonderland ideas! Check out these edible teacups, this smiling Cheshire Cat cupcake, and this cool make-it-yourself Alice cupcake topper!

The Red Carpet takes us along with her as she dines at Disneyland’s Club 33!

Main Street Gazette shares a memory of an extinct restaurant, the Polynesian’s Papeete Bay Verandah, along with one of its lost recipes: Chicken Toa Nue.

DisneyShawn shows us the detail of Pinocchio’s Village Haus.

A World View shares a review of Cat Cora’s Kouzzina.

Disney Parks Blog shares their top WDW Romantic Restaurants. (You can also check out the DisneyFoodBlog top three romantic restaurants in Disney World, based on our reader survey!)

Chip and Co shows us how to do a DIY breakfast from the Kona Cafe!

Cinderella and Princesses Now Appearing at Fairytale Dinner

By AJ 2 Comments

Cinderella Poses at a Character Breakfast

The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that Cinderella’s Royal Table will add princesses to their character line-up for dinner!

Now, guests usually can expect to see Snow White, Jasmine, Aurora and Belle during breakfast, lunch and dinner. The royal beauties stop by each table to chat, pose for photos and sign autographs.

For years, Cinderella only visited the restaurant for breakfast. Now, your little princes and princesses will be able to see her — and her royal friends — at dinner as well! Get your dialing fingers ready, though; you’ll need to call or book online 180 days in advance to get an Advanced Dining Reservation for this hot ticket character meal!

Disney Food Post Round-Up, February 7, 2010

By AJ Leave a Comment

Eat here

Here’s the food news of the week, highlighted here on the Disney Food Blog:

Disneyland annual passholders can now book reservations for Disney’s California Food and Wine Festival signature events. The rest of us have to wait until Feb. 16th!
WDW’s Downtown Disney is saying goodbye to McDonald’s on April 30th. In its place will be a franchise of Latin fast food chain, Pollo Campero.
Magic Kingdom is seeing more dining renovations.

Also, if you didn’t see it already, be sure to check out our first ever Disney food photo quiz. You can see the answers at the bottom of this post. Now, on to the round-up!

SamLand’s Disney Adventures shares a great detail from Pinocchio’s Village Haus in Disney World. Be sure to check the comments, where Anthony from DLRPMagic shares a very related detail from Disneyland Paris!

Orlando Sentinel shares more construction pics from Epcot.

DLRPToday, same folks from DLRPMagic, incidentally, reports that Hurricanes Discotheque will be closing permanently on March 31, 2010.

Designing Disney takes us to Disneyland’s Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor.

Disney and More reminds us that Disney Legend Walt Peregoy’s artwork is currently being exhibited at the Chocolate Bar in Encino, CA. I call this a food post because of the location. I think it works. Walt is best known for his work on 101 Dalmatians.

Stuff From the Parks shares a cool Haunted Mansion “I Scream” ice cream spoon from the 1969 Haunted Mansion grand opening promo. Learn more about the “I Scream” promo from this Imaginerding post.

The OC Register explains how Disney’s paying employees to lose unhealthy, excess weight.

2719 Hyperion is able to take its eyes away from the goodies and document the decor at the Disney’s Hollywood Studios Beverly Sunset Sweet Spells shop (also known as the Scary Apothecary).

WDW Alone reminds us to get training for the Wine and Dine Halloween 5K fun run

Orlando Sentinel reports that central Florida and the Disney area is the Word’s Most Celiac Friendly Destination!

DF 82 brings us back to Disneyland Paris with a look at Toad Hall.

Main Street Gazette shares a trip to Le Cellier — including a photo of the Chocolate Moose.

Disney Parks Blog has some suggestions for Date Night at Disneyland’s Downtown Disney.

Healthy Eating in Walt Disney World

By AJ 47 Comments

A Great Lunch Option at Starring Rolls Cafe

Some of you listened to the Healthy Eating in WDW episode of the WDW Today podcast last week, but there’s still a lot of information and tips for those of you who’d like to — or have to — start eating a bit healthier while you’re on vacation.

Even if you just want “not to go overboard,” (I feel your pain.) the tips, menu options, and “eat this not that” suggestions will help!

General Advice:
First thing first. These are tips everyone already knows, but we sometimes need a reminder or two…or three.

Look for fresh, not processed foods: You can find fruits and veggies in every theme park. When you’re in a resort food court, consider a salad, boiled egg, or pita and hummus.
Learn to be a “bother:” Order sauces on the side, substitute veggies/fruit for fries, ask that your meat not be cooked in butter, or see if you can order a half-portion of an entree for less money.
Watch portion size: Disney likes to give you your money’s worth when it comes to food, so be aware when you order. Make a meal out of an appetizer, and when you splurge on a rich entree or huge dessert, share with someone else at the table.
Eat breakfast: Breakfast is going to be one of the easiest and cheapest meals to eat healthily in a restaurant, so book mid-morning breakfast ADRs and fuel up with eggs, veggies, and wheat toast. Plus, there’s no temptation of ordering dessert!
Call ahead: If you’re eating at a set-menu restaurant or want healthier, or no-sugar-added dessert options, call or write to Disney ahead of time ([email protected], or 407-824-5967).

Sanaa’s Menu is Full of Delicious, Healthy Choices

No Matter Where You Eat…
…there’s going to be something there that won’t eventually kill you 😉 Here are a few menu options [Read more…]

Flying In To Scuttle’s Landing

By AJ 6 Comments

Over the course of this next year, we’ll have to look at several Magic Kingdom establishments that are soon to be no longer. Princesses, beasts, and faeries are taking over Fantasyland, so there just won’t be room for seagulls anymore!

Scuttle's Landing

Scuttle’s Landing has long served as a waiting area for moms and dads while daughters waded into Ariel’s Grotto or sons flew with Dumbo, a dance party location during Magic Kingdom parties, THE place to get your frozen coke, and where everyone [Read more…]

MK Renovations: Mrs. Potts’ Cupboard & Main Street Ice Cream Parlor

By AJ 2 Comments

Mrs. Potts’ Cupboard

In keeping with the upcoming Fantasyland revamp into a forest wonderland housing princesses, mermaids, and beasts, Mrs. Potts’ Cupboard has lost her clock tower and has received a renovated thatched roof.

Check out WDWMagic for before/after pics!

Main Street Ice Cream Parlor
WDWMagic is also reporting that the Main Street Ice Cream Parlor has disappeared behind a scrim due to extensive external renovations. The parlor is currently open to guests during construction.

Restaurant Review: The Wave

By AJ 21 Comments

I posted a brief mention of the Contemporary Resort’s newest restaurant a few weeks ago, but I wanted to get a full review up of the The Wave as soon as possible. It’s one of Disney World’s most recent additions, and it’s getting pretty good marks from what I’ve seen.

Contemporary Resort's The Wave Restaurant

Atmosphere
The Wave is located on the Contemporary Resort‘s lobby level. (It’s tucked back into the space that used to house the Food and Fun center.) You’ll enter the restaurant through an archway and a tubular hallway — reminds me of the old Journey Into Imagination rainbow walkway after the ride — through blue and bubbles and other [Read more…]

Memory Lane: 1955 Disneyland Restaurant Ads

By AJ 7 Comments

Like Adventureland and Fantasyland, the “Kingdom of Good Eating” at Disneyland is another great attraction.

PaleoFuture

recently published on scribd a scan of the July 15, 1955, Souvenir edition of the Long Beach Independent Press-Telegram. This is a Disneyland edition, on the front of which Walt Disney himself introduces Disneyland’s Magic Kingdom to the readers:

Presented in this special newspaper section are a few of the many delights and wonders that are yours to enjoy in Disneyland.

The paper includes stories about Disneyland’s new attractions, along with ads for Disneyland’s contracted landscapers, gas company, electric company, roofers, bra shoppe (??), and more. Of course, what we’re interested in is the food.

The following are several ads for the new Disneyland restaurants, along with one of a few journalistic stories about the dining options. If an image is too small to read, just click and enlarge.

Intro to the “Kingdom of Good Eating” in Disneyland

An intro to Eating Land at Disneyland

[Read more…]

FriedDoughFunnelCakeElephantEar

By AJ 24 Comments

I’m honored to say that I got the chance to tape another WDWToday show yesterday (You can listen to it over on WDWToday.com)! The show is about healthy eating in Walt Disney World, but somehow we ended up talking about Funnel Cakes — and I quickly realized I’ve never mentioned Funnel Cakes here on the blog.

What’s a theme park food blog without a Funnel Cake post?!

Forgive me for the oversight, and let me appeal to you with a few photos.

Funnel Cake with Powdered Sugar

As you can see, funnel cakes are basically a bunch of sweet dough pushed through a funnel and fried into a funny shape in a whole bunch of oil. You can have them plain, covered in [Read more…]