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EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival

Review: Cheesecake in a Glass at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

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There are so many excellent places to grab a bite at Animal Kingdom that sometimes I have a hard time choosing where to eat!

But recently, I found myself in need of a break (and a little nourishment), so I decided to head over to Tamu Tamu Refreshments.

Tamu Tamu Refreshments at Disney's Animal Kingdom

The counter service walk-up window is located conveniently en route to Kilimanjaro Safaris, making it a great place to stop and rest on your way to (or from) the savannas of Africa!

But did you know that the little unassuming spot is also home to an amazing covered eating area that will transport you? Come have a look with us!

Atmosphere

Even though you have to pass the ordering window to get to it, I’m going to start by showing you Tamu Tamu’s lovely seating area.

Just beyond the ordering window, you’ll find a little passage to a covered patio. It’s one of my favorite places to take a break within this beautiful park. And who knew there was this much shade just beyond the walkway!

Part of the patio is protected from the sun by a rustic covering. Fans mounted throughout the space move the air around and make it comfortable. This spot is often quieter than other seating areas in the park because many folks simply just don’t know about it!

Covered Patio Area

The back of the patio is bordered by a wall of carved plaster, and a large “sausage” tree with thick foliage provides shade here.

Carved Walls and Shade Trees

A sign that appears to be hand-lettered tells of the [Read more…]

Review: Be Our Guest Restaurant FastPass+ System

By 67 Comments

UPDATE: Please note that as of February 25, 2015, FastPass+ is no longer available, as Be Our Guest Restaurant began to accept Advanced Dining Reservations for lunch. For further information, please click here. 

I took a quick trip to Walt Disney World last week and had the opportunity to experience several new technological initiatives related to Dining at Disney World.

I’ve written these up in several posts for DFB, and today we’ll cover my review of the new FastPass+ system being rolled out at Magic Kingdom’s Be Our Guest Restaurant!

Stay tuned over the next week to see more new technology innovations that are affecting Disney dining in Disney World!

Be Our Guest FastPass+

First up, I was invited to test a FastPass+ reservation to the Magic Kingdom’s Be Our Guest restaurant at lunch. The invite came via email with a link to the WDW website.

The email told me to log into my My Disney Experience account and enter my resort reservation number. Once logged on, I was allowed to choose which day I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity.

Choosing which day to dine at BOG.

Then we were allowed to choose whether we wanted “FastPass+ Expedited Arrival” or “FastPass+ Direct to Table.”

Expedited Arrival allows you to skip the line into the restaurant. “Direct to Table” allows you to completely order your meal in advance so that it is ready for you when you walk in the door. I chose “Direct to Table” — more on that in a sec.

Then we selected which of the available dining times we wanted. The only times presented to us during the test were early (before 11:50 a.m.) or late (after 1:45 p.m.) My guess is that Disney is trying to offload guests to less popular times.

Because I had selected “Direct to Table,” I was brought to a new set of screens where I could choose to order meals for my husband (my traveling companion for this trip) and me individually or as a group.

We then saw the restaurant’s menu, just as if we had been ordering from one of the touch screen kiosks in the standby line.

I ordered the Tuna Niçoise Salad and a helpful screen popped up asking me if I wanted my dressing on the side or tossed into my salad in the kitchen.

There was even a link to [Read more…]

News! California Grill Opens September 9th; Reservations Available Monday, August 26

By 59 Comments

Circle this upcoming Monday, August 26, Disney Food Fans! That’s the day when we will finally be able to begin booking advance dining reservations for the newly renovated California Grill!

The NEW California Grill!

The signature restaurant, which sits high atop Walt Disney World’s Contemporary Resort, has been closed since early 2013 as it underwent a complete makeover.

It’s scheduled to open on September 9th, and will feature a new menu — including some awesome desserts!

Sundae Sampler Dessert Trio at California Grill!

Look for the new menu to continue to feature seasonal ingredients, but with a somewhat lighter hand.

While fan favorites like the flatbreads will continue to be around, Chef Brian Piasecki also plans to utilize the wood-burning oven for new dishes. These include Baked Local Prawns with Charred Lemon, and Savory Meatballs with Herbed Orzo.

Read our review of these [Read more…]

Review: Dinner at Il Mulino New York Trattoria in the Walt Disney World Swan Hotel

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It’s been a while since we had taken in a dinner at Il Mulino, so let’s head over for some Italian, shall we??

Learn About:Il Mulino New York Trattoria
Swan&Dolphin Restaurants
Disney World Restaurants

The upscale restaurant has a reputation for serving some of the best Italian food in all of Walt Disney World. And that makes sense, since it is modeled after the critically acclaimed New York restaurant of the same name.

Since we love Italian food, I thought it was time to head back and see if that opinion still held. After all, with the opening of Via Napoli and Tutto Gusto in Epcot’s Italy Pavilion — and the re-opening of Tutto Italia with a new menu — there is suddenly a little more competition.

We headed there on a recent trip with high hopes that it would be just as delicious as ever!

Menu Cover

Atmosphere

The vibe of Il Mulino is New York chic. Rather than feeling like you’re in a corner of Walt Disney World property, it seems like you’re a thousand miles away in a cityscape. Clean, modern lines in the bar and throughout the restaurant hint at the urban feel, while exposed beams and brick warm up the space.

Bar Area

While we visited at a fairly quiet time, the bar can be a very gregarious gathering place with the amount of convention traffic that the Swan and Dolphin Hotels see. If you have the chance to stop for a drink here, I’d definitely recommend it! The bartenders have been friendly and entertaining in my experience.

Bar Seating

Low, comfortable couches offer a nice contrast to traditional bar seating, and make for a cozy gathering place.

Additional Bar Seating

This curious display of food, wine, cooking utensils, and even [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: August 18, 2013

By 6 Comments

New technology continues to be unveiled at Walt Disney World restaurants. This week, we have an exclusive report on the Rapid Fill beverage program at Disney resorts, as well as the Touch to Pay system that comes along with the MyMagic+ rollout.

Choose your Rapid Fill mug!

Choose your Rapid Fill mug!

Let’s not forget that we’re still gearing up for the 2013 Epcot Food and Wine Festival. We’re excited about the new Chase VIP Lounge location in the American Adventure pavilion!

It’s time to catch up on the news. Read on…

Disney Food News

Lots of news from Disney this week!

Of course, there’s more! Check out all the latest Disney Food News — even the stuff we don’t mention in posts on the blog! — on our Disney Food News Pin Board, including An Artful Open House at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen in Disneyland’s Downtown Disney district, Animal Kingdom Menu Changes, New Entertainment at Scat Cat’s Club in the Port Orleans French Quarter resort, and more.

DFB Reader Finds

If you find a fun new food — or other edible awesomeness — in or from Disney, share a photo with us on facebook or twitter so we can add it to our DFB Reader Finds each Sunday!

We love this tweet received from Reader Nicole: “Thanks @DisneyFoodBlog for all the yummy suggestions and it’s only Day 1!” You are welcome!! 😉

Day 1 of Disney Food!

Reader Becky tweeted the new menu from Epcot’s Sommerfest restaurant. The side item — German Potato Salad — is a new addition!

Sommerfest Menu — click image for larger version.

The DFB Guide to the 2013 Epcot Food & Wine Festival e-Book

We’re thrilled to announce the grand launch of the DFB Guide to the 2013 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival e-Book! With over 190 pages and multiple bonus items, it’s pretty substantial!

In honor of our grand launch, we have a discount option for DFB readers (as always!). You can get the new mini-guide for $3 off the regular purchase price for a limited time — just use code CHEFS at the check-out!

As always, we’ve made this mini-guide instantly downloadable for your convenience, and easily installed on your mobile devices. It’s a PDF guide with over 190 pages of detailed information about the Festival as well as photographs and customized bonus items to help you get the best experience possible.

Bonus Items

The DFB Mini-Guide to the 2013 Epcot Food & Wine Festival includes customized bonus items that go above and beyond any other Food & Wine Festival coverage currently available. These include:

  • A full, daily schedule of events for every day of the festival
  • A printable World Showcase Booth Menu Checklist that you can use to plan, and easily bring with you to the festival
  • Themed World Showcase booth crawls (there’s even one for the kids!)
  • Food and Wine Festival customized Touring Strategies for One Day visits, Budget-Conscious visits, visits with kids, and more
  • A chapter dedicated to all “New for 2013” events, menu items, booths, and more
  • Full food, wine, beer, winery, and chef indexes, including dates and locations of where you can find your favorites
  • Epcot Food and Wine Festival recipes
  • And more!

Once again, celebrate the grand launch with us by getting $3 off the purchase price for the e-Book!

Order your copy now for only $11.95 (regularly $14.95). To secure the discount, use code CHEFS at the check-out.

Want an Even Better Deal?

We’ve got it! For an even bigger discount, [Read more…]

Review: Champagne Seminar at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic

By 5 Comments

For the fourth year in a row, we are looking forward to celebrating food and fun at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic! Mark your calendars for this special event, which takes place this year on Friday, October 18, and Saturday, October 19.

We have enjoyed the Causeway tasting booths that are the mainstay of the event during that past few years.

A Beautiful Sunny Evening on the Causeway

But there are also many fun and informative food and beverage seminars that take place over the course of the two-day event. AJ already reviewed her experience at the Modern Mixology seminar, and now I’ve got a new one to share: Base to Bubbles.

Base to Bubbles Presentation Screen

Base to Bubbles Seminar Atmosphere

The fun begins when you arrive and check in at the registration table outside, behind the hotel on the Causeway. We went ahead and picked up our wristbands, as well as my ticket to Base to Bubbles at the registration table.

While my husband milled about the Causeway to get the lay of the land, I headed back into the Swan’s conference center to find the room where my seminar would be held.

Food and Wine Classic Wristbands and Base to Bubbles Ticket

Soon, I found the right room, and the [Read more…]

News! Starbucks Coming to Downtown Disney at the Disneyland Resort

By 2 Comments

Two more Starbucks locations have been announced for the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California!

Later this year, coffee lovers can get their Starbucks fix at a kiosk location and near the west entrance to World of Disney. Both locations will be found in the Downtown Disney District.

Starbucks signage

Starbucks!

Already open, [Read more…]

News and Review!: Rapid Fill Refillable Mugs for Walt Disney World Resorts Now in Use

By 161 Comments

Welcome back DFB author Wendy with an informative report on the new Rapid Fill Resort Mugs in Walt Disney Word. Rapid Fill intro photo

At the time of this writing, the mugs are in use at Disney’s All-Star Music Intermission Food Court and All-Star Movies World Premiere Food Court. (Disney’s All-Star Sports End Zone Food Court is currently closed for refurbishment). They will be rolled out at the rest of the Disney World resorts shortly.

As you may recall from a previous post on Rapid Fill Refillable Mugs, Rapid Fill allows Disney Resort guests to buy (or receive as part of the Disney Dining Plan) a Resort mug which can be refilled for a certain period of time as designated at time of purchase. These mugs are enhanced by an RFID bar code which enables the mug to deactivate when the designated time is complete.

Perhaps you have some questions… I know I did! So, let’s get started!

Rapid Fill Refillable Mug Frequently Asked Questions

I’m not on a Disney Dining Plan, so I’ll be purchasing my mug separately. How much do they cost?

$8.99 for 1 Day
$11.99 for 2 Days
$14.99 for 3 Days
$17.99 for Length of Stay (If you’re staying longer, “Add-1-Day” or “Add-2-Day” options can be added.)

Rapid Fill Prices

Rapid Fill Prices

What do the new mugs look like?

For now, just like the previous mugs. You’ll still see Mickey and a few of his pals enjoying some poolside fun. You’ll notice a few differences, however…

Guests can now choose from orange, purple, and green lids for the mugs (previous choices included blue, black, and bright pink).

Green, purple, and orange mugs

Green, purple, and orange mugs

The Rapid Fill logo has been added to the mugs.

Rapid Fill Logo

Rapid Fill Logo

You may notice a tiny bit of text to the right of the handle. It reads: “Refills available at no additional charge at [Read more…]

2013 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Booth Preview: Scotland and Brazil Booths

By 11 Comments

Excitement is building for the 2013 Epcot Food and Wine Festival! And we know that you’re looking forward to it just as much as we are!

We’re keeping track of the Food and Wine Festival marketplace booths and menus carefully, and I wanted to share a preview with you today!

As always, the culinary team at Epcot is striving to keep this classic event fresh and exciting by introducing some brand new Marketplace Booths to the mix. New for 2013 is another entry from the United Kingdom, the Scotland Marketplace Booth! And after a year long hiatus we’re also excited to see a return of another South American hotspot, the Brazil Marketplace Booth!

Let’s take a closer look at what these two marketplaces will offer this year’s festival guests.

Scotland Marketplace Booth

While we are still awaiting our first pictures of what the Scotland Marketplace Booth will actually look like (soon!), we are excited already to know some of the fun additions that the menu will bring to this year’s festival.

And check out the new stamp from the Scotland booth that guests will be able to get in their Food and Wine Festival passports! (It’s in the bottom right hand corner of the slide.)

Scotland Booth Information

The menu offers some intriguing new flavors for guests!

2013 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Scotland Booth Menu

  • Seared Scottish Salmon with Cauliflower Puree, Watercress and Malt Vinaigrette
  • Vegetarian Haggis with Neeps and Tatties (Griddled Vegetable Cake with Rutabaga and Mashed Potatoes)
  • Scottish Banoffee Tart with Bananas, Scottish Whisky Toffee, Walkers Shortbread Crumbles and Sweet Cream
  • Innis & Gunn® Original Beer
  • Loch Lomond Cocktail featuring Glenfiddich® 12 year
  • Glenfiddich® Scotch Flight (12, 15 and 18 year)

Seafood lovers are already looking forward to the inclusion of authentic Scottish Salmon.

Scottish Salmon with Cauliflower Puree, Watercress and Malt Vinaigrette

And the Scottish Banoffee Tart will feature a pleasant kick courtesy of Glenfiddich Whisky Cream! I can’t wait to try this one!

The Scottish Banoffee Tart will be part of the NEW Scotland Booth at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival in 2013

I have no idea what to expect from the Vegetarian Haggis, but you know I’ll be first in line to try it!

The other real standout here will be a number of [Read more…]

Review: Apple Fritters and Clam Chowder at Royal Street Veranda at Disneyland

By 14 Comments

We’re heading into Disneyland for a taste of the Big Easy. Let’s check out Royal Street Veranda!

Located in New Orleans Square, this spot is a great place to relax with a cup of coffee or a bite to eat before hopping aboard your Pirates of the Caribbean boat.

Walk Up Window for Ordering

Today, I’m enjoying a classic Disneyland meal — and sampling a unique dessert!

Atmosphere

The atmosphere of Royal Street Veranda is actually the atmosphere of New Orleans Square, since it’s really just a walk up window. That slice of Deep-South-Meets-Colonial-Port-Town is evident all around you.

The stone terrace that serves as the spot’s seating area bumps right up beside the line for Pirates of the Caribbean.

Seating -- Right Beside the Line for Pirates of the Caribbean

After a busy morning of fun, I was so ready to tuck into a light lunch. Join me!

Eats

Royal Street Veranda offers a very limited menu. Basically, there are a few drink options; three soups — clam chowder, steak gumbo, and vegetarian gumbo; and a trio of fritters.

May seem minimal, but it fits the bill nicely for this little stand. And you know how much we love unique, can’t-get-it-anywhere-else Disney menu items!

Royal Street Veranda Sign and Menu

This is also your destination for [Read more…]

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