food IS a theme park
Here’s some info for any of you who are well into planning-mode for your next Disney vacation… . The ability to change certain aspects of your Advance Dining Reservations is now an option via your online Disney Account!
Disney Account Sign In Screenshot
Magic Kingdom, how we love you.
You are, for many of us, the source of our earliest Disney Memories. Heck, some of us remember when you were the ONLY Park. (Am I showing my age here?)
Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom
But even though you’ve been around the longest, we’re no less fond of you. In fact, coming back to ride old favorites or experience new attractions always feels a bit like coming home. [Read more…]
We are back with some great advice some of the best experts around when it comes to planning your Disney Dining — DFB Readers!
Seriously, you guys are the best, and I’m always excited to learn new things from your experiences! So when it came time recently to update our Top Tips for Disney Dining, we turned to you for input and advice. And you responded with tons of great suggestions.
Check out just a few of them below, as we offer you even more Top Disney Dining Tips from the Experts!
It was important enough for several different DFB readers to mention — and expound on! Do not waste those precious Disney Dining Plan snack credits on something as ho hum and common as a piece of fruit or a bottle of water.
And…I have to agree here. You can get a banana and a Dasani in your supermarket at home. But when was the last time you waltzed into Kroger and picked up a Carrot Cake Cookie or Schoolbread?
Yep, they can sometimes pile up on you toward the end of the trip. So spend a little time planning beforehand so you don’t waste a single one. Here’s a TIP: DFB Snack Guides can come in handy for this endeavor; we have one for every park at Walt Disney World with our recommendations for the best snacks!
Make Those Snack Credits Count with a Carrot Cake Cookie
One of the most interesting suggestions for stretching your Disney Food Budget came from @Greg_Crowder: he suggested that you go halfsies on the Disney Dining Plan. He writes: “2 of us had the free plan a couple of years ago and 2 didn’t. The snacks and counter [service] meals were plenty for all 4 people.”
Butterfinger Cupcake at Starring Rolls Cafe in Disney’s Hollywood Studios Are Totally Shareable!
It’s true that Disney portions can be pretty big, and eating lots of large meals and rich snacks and then walking 100 miles a day may be a tall order. So if you’re willing to share, this can be an excellent way to keep costs down. It also means that you pre-pay, so your spending money goes a little further.
Just note that if you’re all staying in the same room, you all need to be on the same plan; so this tip only works if your compadres are in a different room.
Many readers chimed in that visitors should never forget to check out resort dining options, saying that you should definitely venture out of the Park for incredible food. Resort restaurants offer some of the most amazing dining on property.
Slow-cooked in Gravy, Simple and Well-seasoned Butter Chicken and Chicken Vindaloo at Sanaa — Be Sure to Schedule a Meal Here
Sanaa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge was mentioned lots of times. For instance, reader David Mendoza says: “Whether you are staying at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge or not, make the trip to the Sanaa restaurant. Wonderful food and such a picturesque setting, watching the beautiful animals as you dine on some of the most awesome food in Disney World! A real must see! And when you are done you can take a stroll and get even closer to the animals. Truly a wondrous place.”
I couldn’t agree more! (Read my latest Sanaa review here.)
We’ve written about it lots of times — Disney is tops when it comes to serving guests with allergies, food sensitivities, and special diets. And our readers are eager to agree that Disney routinely goes above and beyond to ensure their guests have the best experience possible, regardless of their dietary limitations.
Example of Jiko’s Allergy-Friendly Appetizer Menu
Ann Hooghuis Dealy weighs in by saying, “If you have food allergies or sensitivities [Read more…]
This was a BIG Disney Food news week! No worries though — we’ll get you caught up now. First up, you’ll want to know that Magic Kingdom’s Be Our Guest Restaurant will start accepting Advance Dining Reservations for lunch starting February 25th. No more FastPasses for your afternoon meal at the Beast’s Castle.
Trolley Car Cafe sign
Now, let’s move on to the newest hot spot in Walt Disney World. Trolley Car Cafe, a Starbucks location, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is now serving up your favorite beverages.
For all the details on the above news and more, just click on the links below!
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 restaurant closures, menu updates, and more!
We’ve got all the latest for you, so check it out before you go.
If you find a fun new food — or other edible awesomeness — in or about Disney, share a photo with us on facebook or twitter so we can add it to our DFB Reader Finds each Sunday!
It’s always a great time for chocolate, right?! Check out the Mud Pie shared by Facebook Friend Wendy. You can pick one up at Flo’s V8 Cafe in Cars Land at Disney California Adventure.
Mud Pie at Flo’s V8 Cafe
Frosting lovers — do not walk by Cheshire Cafe in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. Stop and get a gourmet cake cup like this Mad Hatter Mocha version sent in by Facebook Friend Jacki.
Mad Hatter Mocha Cake Cup
Do you have a favorite find? Share your Disney food photos!
We recently launched The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2015 e-Book! This valuable resource is fully updated for 2015-16 Disney vacations, and is now available for purchase and download to help you make the most of your dining plans while in Disney World.
The fully updated DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2015 e-Book is an instantly downloadable PDF guide, featuring over 490 full-color pages of photographs, information, and advice about our favorite subjects — food and dining in Walt Disney World.
It’s guaranteed to help you navigate your way to delicious dining on your next trip! And if you’re ready to get yours now, head on over to DFBStore.com to pick it up!!
For our Grand Launch Sale, use code: 2015 to get a $4 discount for a limited time! And at the end of this post, we have details on even more savings!
Note: If you purchased the 2014 Guide last year, scroll down for details on repeat purchase discounts.
UPDATE 6/17/2015: Be Our Guest Restaurant began testing prix-fixe quick service breakfast beginning March 20 and it’s currently extended through October 3. Advance Dining Reservations for the meal opened on March 17. Breakfast hours are scheduled 8-10AM. Lunch
, Dinner…and now Breakfast?
Be Our Guest Restaurant has proven to be extraordinarily popular. It’s incredibly difficult to get a dinner advance dining reservation (ADR) a full two years after its opening. And lunch continues to be such an attraction that Disney seems to be moving toward a FastPass+ System for the quick service meal — something unprecedented.
But it’s looking more and more like we’ll all have another shot at dining in Beast’s Castle in the very near future.
We’ve been monitoring rumors forever it seems that Be Our Guest would begin serving breakfast. And it looks like that rumor is about to become a reality.
Our team has been checking daily to see if Be Our Guest is offering a breakfast ADR option…and as of today, they are! Now, before you run over and excitedly jam up the Disney website 😉 , I should mention that, while the breakfast option is showing up, it’s not bookable yet. When we try to book a table, we’re told that we can’t at this time.
Be Our Guest Breakfast Option on Disney World Website
But here’s what we DO know: [Read more…]
!!
Okay, so that’s the name of my FAVORITE sundae at Beaches and Cream Soda Shop at Disney’s Beach Club Resort…as well as an exclamation of surprise!
I’m here to give you lot a heads up that Beaches and Cream, our favorite go-to when you DON’T have a reservation for a restaurant in Disney World, is now taking online and phone advance dining reservations.
With an upcoming Disney trip, our DFB editor, Kim, just booked lunch for early January!!
Lunch Reservation for Beaches and Cream
And… my Mom (yep, AJ’s Mom for those who have met her) is at Walt Disney World right now and confirmed with the restaurant! Reservations officially begin booking for December 18th and later, but if you call 407-WDW-DINE now, Walt Disney World Dining will accept and honor your reservation prior to that date. Woohoo!!
If you visit Disney Dining online, you’ll now see Beaches and Cream has the “Find A Table” option!
Find A Table at Beaches and Cream
If you are booking online, available tables will first begin showing for December 18th. Holiday visitors should book their upcoming lunch or dinner at Beaches and Cream now. Once word gets out, these [Read more…]
A coveted reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table just got tastier!
Many guests opt for a breakfast inside the Castle, and now there’s a new menu item to enjoy — Caramel Apple Stuffed French Toast.
As if a walk down Main Street U.S.A. in the early morning isn’t exciting enough, actually getting to dine inside the iconic castle at the Magic Kingdom is seriously memorable.
Next time, you’re headed to dine with Disney royalty, check out this new breakfast menu item, which recently replaced the Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast.
Breakfast Menu - click image for larger version.
Reader Kristin fills us in on the details:
It was unbelievable! My daughter and I do this as a trip tradition, but I have always just passed off that we pay more for the location/characters. This meal made the price worth it! I had the french toast version back in 2008 and I couldn’t finish it. But this new version was [Read more…]
At Disney’s BoardWalk Resort, Kouzzina by Cat Cora is now offering a Prix Fixe Menu.
This five course dinner includes some of Kouzzina’s chefs’ favorites and specialties.
Note that beverages are an additional cost unless you are paying with the Disney Dining Plan (non-alcoholic beverage included).
It’s important to know that substitutions will not be offered, so guests with special dietary concerns should opt for the regular menu.
Mezze Pikilia
Goat Cheese Sto Fourno
Lamb Soutzoukakia
Sautéed Shrimp
Spiced Hummus
Greek Hummus and Spreads at Kouzzina
Soupa kai Salata
White Truffle Avgolemono
Horiatiki Salata
Dolmades
Palate Refresher
Duo of Signature Piata
Fisherman’s Stew
Slow Braised Short Ribs
Smoked Feta Mashed
Seasonal Vegetables
Kouzzina Short Ribs
Glyka Pikilia
Mini Budino, Sour Cherry Spoon Sweet
Walnut-Pistachio Baklava
Duo of Pagota
If you are dining a la carte and wish to try one of the above dishes, these items will also available individually. Guests in your party may choose from the a la carte or prix fixe menu and not all guests have to choose from the same menu.
The Prix Fixe menu is now available for $69.00 per person or one table-service credit per person for Disney Dining Plan guests.
In addition, the standard Disney Dining Plan will accrue a surcharge of $18.53 and guests with the Deluxe Disney Dining Plan will pay a surcharge of $4.54. Discounts will apply, and an automatic gratuity will only be added for parties of six or more guests.
While Advance Dining Reservations are suggested, they are not necessary in order to order from the prix fixe menu.
What’s your favorite dish at Kouzzina? Will you order the Prix Fixe menu on your next visit?
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.
Where can I find a great steak at Disney World? How about a fabulous vegetarian meal? A beer? Live Music? My Lost Dining Reservations?
After years of answering questions from our readers, we at the DFB know the information that you most need to make your Disney Dining worry-free. We’ve been covering frequently asked questions here on DFB for a while, but today we’re answering a few of our favorites!
Wondering where to find a great steak in Disney World? We've got the answers!
When you need Disney Dining Details at-a-glance, we’ve got the answers to your questions in a quick and easy format in our The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2013 e-Book so you can find the deets that you need right away. Scroll down to the bottom of this post for details on discounts!
Let’s take a look at a few of our favorite FAQs…
Here are five frequently asked questions about Disney food that we’ve included in the DFB Guide to lead you to fantastic finds!
We recommend Yachtsman Steakhouse, Le Cellier Steakhouse, Jiko, Shula’s Steak House, and Flying Fish Café. Lesser known spots we also suggest include Teppan Edo and Kona Cafe! Yes, you can find a great steak in Walt Disney World!
Rib Eye with Sweet Potato Beignets at Yachtsman Steakhouse
Craft beers are becoming more widely available at Disney’s bars, lounges, and restaurants. Just a few of our favorites include featured craft beers in Epcot’s Italy pavilion, The Wave at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and Raglan Road Pub in Downtown Disney. Beer is made on-premise at Big River Grill and Brewing Works on Disney’s Boardwalk.
Of course, don’t forget to visit Rose and Crown Pub in Epcot for a great British beer list!
Choose Your Own Beer Flight of Warsteiner, Magners, Kilkenny, and Smithwicks at Raglan Road!
If you just need a six-pack for your hotel room fridge, your Disney World resort store will sell them (though they may be outrageously priced).
To save a few bucks, venture to one of the two Hess Stations on Walt Disney World property. One is across from the Boardwalk Resort; the other is across from Downtown Disney and is within easy walking distance.
The Animal Kingdom Lodge offers two restaurants with great vegetarian options. At Boma, the buffet has a wide selection of items for vegetarians. Nearby in Kidani Village, the menu at Sanaa has an entire section devoted to [Read more…]
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