food IS a theme park
SOUND THE ALARMS — a beloved EPCOT snack is BACK!
EPCOT
For those who might not remember the good old days, cronuts used to be a BIG thing in EPCOT. These special pastries are a mixture between croissants and donuts (often covered in cinnamon sugar) and they are a masterpiece in sweet goodness. They had disappeared from EPCOT, but now it looks like nature is HEALING.
Looking for breakfast on the go when you’re in Disney World? There are plenty of options to choose from in the parks and resorts!
Contemporary Grounds, the Joffrey’s location at the Contemporary Resort.
You can pick up quick items like the Cinnamon Roll at Gaston’s Tavern in Magic Kingdom or some pastries from Les Halles in EPCOT. You’ll also find Joffrey’s and Starbucks locations all around the property, so there are usually quite a few choices there. The other day, we picked up a quick bite from Joffrey’s, and in true DFB fashion, we just had to share our thoughts! 😜
The Croissant Doughnut has had a few homes in Epcot over the years since making its debut.
Croissant Doughnut with cinnamon sugar
What’s better known as the Cronut arrived with much fanfare at the Refreshment Port in 2013. [Read more…]
Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival
is a fabulous opportunity to eat lots of great food and to drink lots of great drinks. And while we know we’ll be putting some of our returning favorites on our must-eat list — we also make a second list: New Stuff We Can’t Wait to Try! (Yeah, we’re all about lists here at DFB!)
2018 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival
And this is that list — including a few items we got the chance to sample recently!
The new Guinness Bailey’s Shake from the Ireland booth got us all kinds of excited when we saw it on the menu! We were expecting a frozen, creamy drink with a powerful hit of Guinness and Baileys — and that’s just what we got when we tried it during a preview! PLUS it comes with the glass! We can’t wait to try it again!
Guinness Baileys Shake
The Shimmering Sips Mimosa Bar is brand new this year, and the offerings sound incredible! Mimosas include varieties like the Tropical Mimosa and the Madras Mimosa (which we have tried!), and there’s a tasty-sounding, kid-friendly drink called Frozen Apple Pie!
Madras Mimosa
But aside from those intriguing drinks, the Mimosa Bar is also serving up pastries like an Almond Croissant and a Cheese Danish with Sweet Icing! One of each, please! [Read more…]
Just when you thought Casey’s Corner couldn’t get any better (rotating Specialty Hot Dogs!), now our favorite Disney World hot dog spot is open for breakfast!
Recently, Walt Disney World announced that its beloved “Welcome Show” would move from its familiar location atop the train station to its new home on the stage in front of Cinderella’s Castle.
Casey’s Corner, with its perfect Main Street location and iconic design, is one of a few Main Street, USA, locations that will be opening for the breakfast crowd. We love Casey’s classic decor so much, we might stop for breakfast just to spend more time checking it out!
Casey’s Corner
While the relocation of the Welcome Show was a downer for those who have grown to love watching it at the train station, the introduction of new breakfast options is pretty exciting!
It’s a New Year!!!
And to ring it in, there are some NEW GOURMET HOT DOGS coming to one of our very favorite Counter Service spots… Casey’s Corner in the Magic Kingdom!
Casey’s is, of course, THE quintessential place to enjoy a dog in Disney World. While you can always grab a standard hot dog to top at the condiment bar, Casey’s has also long been home to the classic Chili-Cheese Hot Dog and the less traditional Barbecue Slaw Dog (in addition to the fan favorite Corn Dog Nuggets).
But you may notice something new on the menu during your next visit to Casey’s… and any subsequent visits after that. Because a new rotating specialty menu will feature new Hot Dogs every month.
Casey’s Corner
And they’re starting with a foot-long version of the Mac & Cheese and Bacon-topped Hot Dog! [Read more…]
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here! We hope you have all your baking, shopping, and prepping done…because we sure don’t.
Skipper Canteen Entrance
We have been celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas here on the DFB with 12 days of fun giveaways and great discounts on DFB Dining Guides and we hope you were able to get in on the fun!
It’s been a big week for food news at Walt Disney World with the grand opening of the Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen!
We gave you a first look of the Jungle Cruise-themed restaurant last weekend and then we shared our full review with you a few days later!
We have a lot to share, so let’s jump right in…
We know, we know… we talk about the 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival a lot around here. Like, a LOT, a lot.
And can you blame us? It’s our favorite time of year, and we can’t wait to dig into all the new flavors like Brazil’s Layered Meat Pie with Mashed Yucca (as well as some of our old standbys — I’m looking at you, Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup) at the Festival Marketplace Booths this year.
But let’s say your Disney World travel dates fall outside of the Festival dates of September 25 – November 16th. What’s a Disney food fan to do?
I’ll tell you what… You can try a few Food and Wine Festival offerings in spots around Epcot and Downtown Disney right now. Follow me!
We’re starting at Epcot’s Refreshment Cool Post, tucked between the China Pavilion and the walkway to Germany.
Refreshment Cool Post
You may have passed the Refreshment Coolpost a bajillion-and-one times on your jaunts around World Showcase without thinking much of it. Kid-friendly fare is the primary focus, with the main offerings of hot dogs and frozen yogurt (for a time it was a super yummy pineapple) providing options for picky eaters far away from the American Adventure Pavilion. Even if you have walked right on by, you may still be familiar with the nearly constant sound of drums being played by the congregating kiddos! [Read more…]
The long-awaited moment has arrived…
So, in the (slightly paraphrased) words of Lumiere, “Now, we invite you to relax, let us pull up a chair, as Be Our Guest Restaurant proudly presents… your Breakfast!”
Since the day Be Our Guest Restaurant opened as part of New Fantasyland in November of 2012, it seems to have only picked up steam. To say that its initial offerings of a Table Service Dinner and Counter Service Lunch have been successful would be an enormous understatement. The popularity and demand for meals at Be Our Guest have led to a third offering for the day, which is the new meal and experience that we’re here to review now: Breakfast at Be Our Guest Restaurant!
UPDATE: Please note that as of June 2015, the original test phase of breakfast at Be Our Guest Restaurant has been extended and Advance Dining Reservations are available for breakfast through October 3, 2015.
Be Our Guest sign
Before we step inside, though, it’s worth exploring the outside grounds a bit, since that’s where you check in for your Advance Dining Reservation. But mostly, it’s just a neat hour to be in New Fantasyland and experience some of the quiet among the earliest breakfast arrivals.
Quiet New Fantasyland
With the Daylight Savings Time change being so recent, the sun had not been out long before my friends and I arrived for check in, so the natural light in the area was especially beautiful.
Beast’s Castle
Gargoyles in the morning
But it’s also the indoor themeing of this restaurant that makes it so special, so let’s step once more into the Beast’s Castle…
Entrance to Be Our Guest
We’ve taken one or two (or three) tours around Be Our Guest Restaurant before, but it’s undeniable that the exceptional theming has been the top draw for guests hoping to dine here. And since, as with lunch, you get to choose where you sit for breakfast, you’ll want to give each of the three rooms consideration before your visit.
I don’t know which of the rooms has been most in demand since Be Our Guest opened. I’m guessing that it might be the Ballroom, since it so perfectly captures the scene where Belle and Beast dance together in the film, and is complete with elegant seating, stunning chandeliers, and falling snow.
The Ballroom
Dancing Snow Outside of Be Our Guest Ballroom
Ballroom Tables
Chandelier
Many guests, though, are eager to dine in the West Wing: the place Belle was forbidden to go due to the presence of the Enchanted Rose.
The West Wing
Enchanted Rose
Aside from the magically falling rose petals, amazing special effects in this room include the sound of periodic thunderstorms, simultaneously revealing glimpses of the Beast in the portrait of the prince.
Portrait of the Prince
A Glimpse of the Beast
While the third room, the Rose Gallery, isn’t open for dinner, it IS open for both breakfast lunch. The highlight is the [Read more…]
Last December, we were thrilled to report that Epcot had jumped on the cronut wagon!
Epcot’s Refreshment Port (if you’re walking from Canada, you’ll find the Port immediately before the paths that take you into Future World) quietly introduced them with this unassuming sign listing “Croissant Doughnut.”
Cronut Menu Sign
Of course, “Croissant Doughnuts” is quite an apt description for these fried pastries formed out of rings of croissant dough (plus, as I mentioned in the previous post, the name “cronut” is trademarked — so legal stuffs and whatever).
We tried ’em. We loved ’em. But guess what!!
Not only are the cronuts still in full swing at the Refreshment Port… you can now get them A LA MODE.
You need to approach the counter to see this option: it’s on a small sign near the registers, so you can’t find it on the regular display… at least, not yet.
Specialty Cronut Menu Sign
Just take a look!
Cronut a la Mode
The ice cream is a generous portion of vanilla soft serve. If you want ice cream with every bite, you’re set!
Of course, I had to get the regular (non a la mode) cronut for a side by side comparison… all in the name of proper research, of course 😉 .
Cronut a la mode compared to regular cronut
Everything that we love about the cronut to begin with [Read more…]
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