food IS a theme park
We’re back with What’s New at Disney’s Hollywood Studios this week, and it includes several menu changes, tons of cool merchandise, and a peek at current Toy Story Land and Skyliner construction (read more about the Disney World Skyliner here!)! Then, we’re skipping over to Art of Animation and Pop Century for a quick look at What’s New at the resorts! So put on your fancy pants, and let’s get our glamour on!
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Happy weekend! Here’s all the Disney food news this week!
House-Made S’more at The Ganachery
The 2018 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival is ON! We have FULL MENUS for the Epcot Flower and Garden FESTIVAL plus Photos of EVERY FOOD ITEM and most beverages!
And, Pixar Fest is ON at Disneyland Resort! This fun festival runs through September 3! Click here to get a checklist for ALL the food at Pixar Fest and see our review!
And it’s time to get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2018 e-book! Save 25% now with code wdw2018!
We have a lot to share with you this week, so let’s jump right in…
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 menu updates, restaurant closures, special events, and more! We’ve got all the latest for you, so check it out before you go. [Read more…]
Welcome back to another installment of What’s New! This time we’re at Disney’s Hollywood Studios where there’s a whole lotta new we won’t get to see until June 30 when Toy Story Land opens! But in the meantime, we’ve got the skinny on menu changes, pop-up bars, and merchandise that just might tide us over until Woody welcomes the gang to his new land (and opens his lunchbox)!
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Sweet Spells closed a couple of weeks ago
, and let’s just say that almost no one was happy about it. Where would we get our sweets? What would happen to the spells? (Okay, maybe we’re just worried about the carbohydrates…) And while we haven’t seen any of the Sweet Spells-specific food items shift over to Trolley Car Cafe, we’re glad that Sweet Spells favorites like the Carrot Cake Cookie, Napoleon, Danish, and Candy Brownie have all remained at Trolley Car.
Trolley Car Cafe Treats
So while we hear you, lovers of treats who don’t want to wait in that Starbucks line, we’re still relieved that the Carrot Cake Cookie and these beautiful treats are still nearby! But note that the carrot cake cookie has had a bit of a makeover — the cake part is now pretty thick and serious, so it’s more like a round cake versus a whoopie pie.
Trolley Car Cafe Treats
Guests can also pick up a Tale As Old As Time Cupcake at Trolley Car right now, and it sounds lovely. Vanilla cake, raspberry filling, white buttercream (which is actually yellow…maybe they meant to put “vanilla buttercream”?). Classic and sweet.
Tale As Old As Time Cupcake
The Tale As Old As Time Cupcake features some details from Beauty and the Beast, including red roses, yellow frosting, and Belle and her prince in white chocolate form.
Tale As Old As Time Cupcake at Trolley Car Cafe
If the heat of late spring and impending summer have got you down at Hollywood Studios, there are a couple of great pop-up bars to fuel your adventures. Sunshine Day Cafe Pop-Up Bar is conveniently located on Sunset Boulevard, and is serving up wine, beer, and a couple of specialty drinks.
Sunshine Day Pop Up Bar
Sunshine Day Pop Up Bar
We have previously seen Baby Blues and Green Screen elsewhere in Hollywood Studios, but those bright colors suck us in every time.
Sunshine Day Cafe Pop Up Bar
If you’re in Echo Lake, you’ll find the Echo Lake Pop-Up Bar with specialty cocktails and wine.
Echo Lake Pop Up Bar Menu
At Fairfax Fare and Rosie’s All-American Cafe, Red Stag Black Cherry Bourbon Lemonade has replaced Jim Beam Black Cherry Lemonade.
Fairfax Fare and Rosie’s All-American Cafe Drinks
In the world of desserts, Backlot Express now offers BB-9E and Kylo Ren Cupcakes instead of BB-8 and Darth Vader Cupcakes.
Backlot Express Desserts
And the missing menu boards at ABC Commissary have been replaced with digital menu boards, just as predicted.
ABC Commissary New Menu Boards
KRNR Station is now serving up nachos!
KRNR Station now has nachos!
And a super yummy-looking S’mores Brownie has appeared at Dockside Diner. We definitely want to get into that!
Dockside Diner S’mores Brownie
Merchandise at Hollywood Studios is exciting this week! For starters, guests can purchase ties with character at various locations in the park, including the Orange Bird, Haunted Mansion, and Monorail designs! These have been around for a while and aren’t “new,” but they’re still super fun!
Orange Bird Tie
Haunted Mansion and Monorail Ties
And if you get the Tiki Room Tie, we beg of you: please request it as the Tiki, Tiki, Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Tie.
Tiki Room Tie
Also available are a couple of elaborate Minnie Ear designs. Belle is loaded with detail!
Belle Minnie Ears
As is the Cheshire Cat, whose tail curls around one ear!
Cheshire Cat Minnie Ears
We have a thing for the VHS Notebooks that have been available for a couple of years, and now we can get our VHS-loving fingers on The Little Mermaid, Lady and the Tramp, Peter Pan, and Dumbo!
VHS Notebooks!
The biggest news in merchandise is happening at the former Sweet Spells location, which is now a Pixar merchandise location — Tinseltown Trinkets and Reel Vogue!
Sweet Spells is now Pixar Merchandise Shop
Inside the store portion of the old location there’s lots of merch to peruse, as well as some packaged sweets like cotton candy and massive lollipops.
Sweet Spells’ New Look
Sweet Spells’ New Look
The promised Pixar merchandise is actually very sweet, including these Up!-inspired couples’ tees!
She’s My Greatest Adventure
He’s My Greatest Adventure
Mike and Sully get some love with Monsters, Inc./University-inspired gear.
The Overachiever Monsters Tee
The Natural Monsters Tee
This tote ain’t subtle, but it’s fun!
Roar Your Heart Out Tote
And, well, if you’ve been in the market for a plush Sully tail, we say why? But also: you can find yours here!
Sully Tail
But, oooooooh! You knew there had to be Toy Story merchandise! This tank celebrates the little green guys!
Oooooh! Tank
And this hoodie is colorful and playful.
Toy Story Hoodie
Meanwhile, we’re totally into this Squad Goals tote. What other squad could a Disney fan need?!
Squad Goals! Tote
If MagicBands are your thing, you’ll definitely want to check this out: a Toy Story MagicBand!
Toy Story MagicBand
Toy Story MagicBand
Toy Story MagicBand
That’s it for now from Disney’s Hollywood Studios! You know we’ll be back with more What’s New — so stick with the DFB crew!
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Which of the new DHS tidbits are you most excited about? Tell us in the comments!
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
at Walt Disney World has always been a destination for movie (and TV) magic.
And even though the park is in the throes of dramatic re-imagining, we’re happy that some favorite dining experiences have remained. One such favorite is 50s Prime Time Cafe, the totally immersive, throwback-Thursday-everyday table service restaurant where your Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins berate you for putting your elbows on the table and the menu is packed with comfort food.
We’ve visited 50s Prime Time Cafe several times over the years (most recently in 2016), and one of the best parts of the experience here is the consistency of the food. If you enjoy American comfort food, you won’t be disappointed by the offerings at 50s.
And if you’re not a fan of heavy classics like meatloaf and fried chicken, there are actually still some decent options for you — and you’ll get to experience the fun of mid-century family life straight out of a sitcom.
So set the table, keep those elbows off the table, and get ready to clean your plates!
50s Prime Time Sign
The immersive experience at 50s Prime Time Cafe is evident from wall to wall — and we mean that literally. You’ll find old timey collectibles ev.er.y.where. And we can’t get enough of them!
Open shelving and tchotchkes galore!
Retro busts and figurines
Everyone should have a Cookie Trolley.
Every shelf is packed full of fun stuff — so you’ve got to take a stroll to check it all out. Seating is in the family kitchen, where shelves of retro items are on display and everyone gets a television — black and white and flashing clips of old programs! (And yes, these are the SAME clips you saw on your last trip…even if it was in, like, 2005.)
Seating at 50s Prime Time Cafe
The wallpaper is seriously serious, with its classic black-and-white checkerboard pattern.
50s Prime Time Cafe Seating
And the TV styling? Space age, baby!
They should sell these things.
But here at 50s Prime Time Cafe, there are rules, family!
Stay out of Mom’s kitchen!
Remember that dining here, you’re being served by your cousin most likely, and they’re pretty straightforward! No special treatment for you, and if you can’t tell them what color the soap was in the restroom you may end up standing in the corner for not washing your hands. If you don’t want to take part in the shenanigans (like singing “I’m a little teapot” in front of the whole restaurant when you didn’t finish your veggies), let your server know when you are seated.
If you’d like to see some of the fun antics, click here!
So what’s Mom cookin’ up in there? Let’s check it out!
The menu at 50s Prime Time Cafe is a laundry list of classic American comfort food — with a few nods here and there to healthier eats that probably weren’t on Grandma’s table. But you’ll want to start with a glance at the Drink Menu, where you can pilfer something From Dad’s Liquor Cabinet (or select a Sparkling Wine or Craft Beer).
50s Prime Time Cafe Drink Menu
Beverages at 50s Prime Time Cafe
While these adult beverages are a fun addition to the meal (and included in the 2018 Disney Dining Plan!), there’s really one drink you’ve got to try — and it’s family friendly! The Peanut Butter and Jelly Milk Shake is front and center on the full menu, and it’s delicious!
50s Prime Time Cafe Menu
It’s served in a tall glass with the stainless milkshake cup so you can top off your shake throughout your meal. And you’re going to want to drink every last drop!
PB and J Milkshake at 50s Prime Time
On this visit, I asked to see the Allergy-Friendly Menu and received this two-page menu with allergens clearly listed in red.
50s Prime Time Cafe Allergy Friendly Menu
50s Prime Time Cafe Allergy Friendly Menu
The Fried Herb and Garlic Cheese is one of my favorite things on any menu anywhere in the World — and we celebrated hard when it returned to the menu years ago after disappearing for a period! It’s a wheel of fried cheese served with fruit, raspberry sauce, and a piece of crusty bread. You have to get this!
Fried Herb and Garlic Cheese Appetizer
Next up, entrees! Dad’s Stuffed Pork Chop was a miss on my visit. I love the concept — and the flavors are good.
Dad’s Stuffed Pork Chop
There’s great color on the outside of the chop, and the accompaniments are colorful and tasty.
Dad’s Stuffed Pork Chop
But this pork chop was way too tough and a challenge to cut through — to say nothing of actually chewing it! Hopefully it was just poorly executed on my visit and is actually awesome for everyone else. But I wouldn’t chance it again.
Dad’s Stuffed Pork Chop Interior
Rather, I’d go for a Sampling of Mom’s Favorite Recipes! This is a definite yes if you enjoy the three components: Roast Beef, Fried Chicken, and Meatloaf (complete with ketchup squiggle).
Sampling of Mom’s Favorites
If you’re looking to choose just one of the three, though, the Fried Chicken is the bomb, followed closely by the Roast Beef. You can’t go wrong with either one!
Sampling of Mom’s Favorites
The Sustainable Verlasso Salmon is one of those menu items that likely wasn’t on everyone’s gran’s table. But it’s a terrific option for those looking to eat a little lighter (and more sustainably). This was well prepared and served with a great assortment of veggies.
Sustainable Verlasso Salmon
The final entrees of the day are actually two versions of the same dish: Adult and Kids’ Chicken Pot Pie. This creamy mix is a combo of chicken, mushrooms, carrots, celery, onions, and peas. It’s topped with a flaky pastry — which seems to be pretty much the only difference between the two sizes. The grown up version comes with a square of pastry…
Adult Chicken Pot Pie
…while the (way more fun) kids’ version comes with Mickey-shaped pastry! Really, the portion size was so similar that it’s worth it to go with the kids’ just for the fun factor!
Kids’ Chicken Pot Pie
The flavor on this is a little bit bland, but I’m not a huge chicken pot pie fan. If you LOVE pot pie, you’ll likely enjoy this one. It has several guest devotees.
Of course, there’s also a Dessert Menu, where Mom and Dad have listed some of their favorite sweets.
Desserts at 50s Prime Time Cafe
Dessert at 50s Prime Time Cafe features some classics — and we do love a classic dessert! Unfortunately, these were not really up to par. The Traditional Warm Apple Crisp was covered in plenty of sweet/buttery crisp.
Traditional Warm Apple Crisp
But the filling is a generic canned apple pie-type filling. So it was tasty, but it wasn’t special.
Traditional Warm Apple Crisp
Dad’s Favorite Chocolate Peanut Butter Layer Cake was disappointing (especially for lovers of chocolate/PB combos!). This was dry and unremarkable. Get the Peanut Butter and Jelly Shake instead!
Dad’s Favorite Chocolate Peanut Butter Layer Cake
Pull up a chair in Mom’s kitchen if:
Change the dining channel if:
Family, 50s Prime Time Cafe is still the bee’s knees, with tasty eats and some of the best atmosphere you’ll find in the World! On my visit the service was truly amazing (shout-out to Mark and Elaine). It’s a must-do at least once in your travels to Hollywood Studios. And don’t forget: if you can’t score an Advance Dining Reservation for 50s (or the walk-up time is too long a wait for you), you can get the full menu in neighboring Tune-In Lounge!
Is 50s Prime Time Cafe on your Disney must-do list? Tell us what you love the most!
Wow.
We’ve just heard that Sweet Spells will be closing permanently later this month to make way for a Pixar merchandise location.
Quoi?!?
Sweet Spells in Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Sweet Spells has served traditional Disney park snacks such as Mickey-shaped Krispy Treats, Cake Pops, Fudge, and more over the years. It’s one of the spots where you can see specialty Caramel Apples being decorated, and it added a line of Whoopie Pies unique to the location a couple of years ago.
What’s up, Disney pals? Today we’re excited to bring you What’s New at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. And we’ve got photos of all that great Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge merchandise!
Welcome to Disney’s Hollywood Studios!
is a terrific place to dine if you’re looking for a little Hollywood Flair at Disney’s Hollywood Studios — and the best part is that there’s no ADR required!
That’s right! You can saunter up to Brown Derby Lounge on a whim and experience the understated elegance and tasty menu that so many have lauded in the Brown Derby Restaurant proper.
We’ve enjoyed our visits here, where Margarita and Martini Flights rule and you almost can’t go wrong with the menu of Brown Derby Restaurant-approved eats. And with outdoor seating on Hollywood Boulevard, it’s a great place for people watching!
During a recent visit to the World, I dropped in for a few plates of food — and left having eaten the best thing I ate in my entire visit! I love being surprised by awesome food — even more so when it’s served in such a great location!
Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge Bar
Happy weekend! We hope you’re having a wonderful weekend, now it’s time to kick back, relax, and catch up on another week of Disney food news!
Reuben Sandwich
The FULL MENUS for Epcot’s upcoming FLOWER AND GARDEN FESTIVAL are out! And we’ve got them here — plus a TON of photos of returning food items to the booths! Check them out and start your planning – the Festival starts February 28!
And it’s time to get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2018 e-book! Save 25% now with code wdw2018!
We have a lot to share with you this week, so let’s jump right in…
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 menu updates, restaurant closures, special events, and more! We’ve got all the latest for you, so check it out before you go. [Read more…]
We’re kicking off the weekend with HUGE news… Disney World’s new TOY STORY LAND will open on June 30, 2018!!
Toy Story Land construction wall
As guests, we’ll all shrink down to the size of a toy when we enter this brand new land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios! Get ready to enjoy two new attractions (in addition to an expanded Toy Story Mania) when the Slinky Dog Dash and Alien Swirling Saucers start dashing and swirling in June.
Star Wars: Galactic Nights
, the popular one-night event, is returning to Disney’s Hollywood Studios on May 27th from 7:oo PM until midnight!
Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular ©Disney
This Star Wars-themed event celebrates everything Star Wars with character encounters, special entertainment, specialty merchandise, and of course Star Wars-themed food and drink! [Read more…]
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