food IS a theme park
There is a lot happening in Disney World right now!
EPCOT
We are getting a major Magic Kingdom expansion, Hollywood Studios has two new shows coming soon, and Animal Kingdom just said goodbye to an opening day attraction for a new attraction coming this year. Not only are the parks changing, the prices are too which normally means a price increase. That’s why we were so shocked (and thrilled) that it somehow got cheaper to eat at one of our favorite EPCOT restaurants!
We’ve seen Disney World reopen a LOT of different locations and experiences over the past several months, but some things still remain closed.
Norway Pavilion in EPCOT
We’ve seen character meet and greets and meals return, buffets come back, and experiences reopen, like Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. But, some major restaurants have remained closed, especially in EPCOT. We hadn’t heard a word about these dining spots until recently, when it was announced that Monsieur Paul would be reopening! And now, ANOTHER popular restaurant in EPCOT will be reopening SOON!
Walt Disney World has TONS of restaurants.
Some guests aren’t changing their plans!
Picking where to eat can be overwhelming especially if this is your first trip to Disney. From some of the best quick services to the worst food in Disney, there are LOTS of opinions. Breaking down every Disney World restaurant would definitely take a while so today, we’re just going to focus on a select few. Let’s head to EPCOT together and rank their best (and worst) table service!
EPCOT is known for having a LOT of delicious food. The countries around World Showcase each have some tasty dishes inspired by authentic cuisine from those cultures. Or you can visit during a festival (like the upcoming International Festival of the Arts) to find even more options at festival booths around the park.
EPCOT’s World Showcase has some very delicious food
With so many different options available, is it worth it to have a sit-down meal at a restaurant with a much less exotic menu? What if we told you that Mickey would be there? And that the entire restaurant is actually spinning? We’re visiting Garden Grill today to see if this spot is worth a visit in the best Disney World park for food. [Read more…]
We’re constantly keeping an eye on the latest Disney food news for ya!
Chefs de France
That includes new eats, disappearing treats (womp, womp), and the latest menu updates. And boy, do we have some changes to tell you about over at Chefs de France!
If you’re looking for decent Italian food in Walt Disney World, you don’t have to look too far.
In every park (save Animal Kingdom) there are Italian restaurants — some better than others — and Disney Springs has several from which to choose (think: Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante, Terralina Crafted Italian, Enzo’s Hideaway Tunnel Bar). Even the resorts get in on the action with one of our favorites — Il Mulino — located at the Swan Hotel.
And then, of course, there’s the Italy Pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase, where food is celebrated in several forms: pizza at Via Napoli, gelato at a cart outside, wine in the Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar, and classic Italian dishes at Tutto Italia.
Tutto Italia opened in 2013 in the space formerly occupied by Alfredo’s. And even though the name had changed, a lot of Alfredo’s remained. The overall styling of the restaurant was retained — murals, crystal chandeliers, and dark wood create an elegant atmosphere — while the menu satisfies with traditional Italian dishes.
It’s been a while since my last official review of Tutto Italia (see that review here!), so on a recent trip I decided it was time to return and see if this oft-forgotten spot is worth a more regular visit.
Outside Tutto Italia
Tutto Italia’s design aesthetic features some classic, elegant elements. [Read more…]
is located at the back of the Morocco Pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase at Walt Disney World.
This table service spot is oft forgotten in part because of its location, in part because Morocco’s quick service spot Tangierine Cafe is so good, and in part because Restaurant Marrakesh just doesn’t have the reputation for wowing guests like many of the other World Showcase table service options have.
I like to revisit restaurants whether they’ve got a decent rep or not, and Restaurant Marrakesh is one that we needed to check out again. But it’s one of the options for this year’s Flower & Garden Garden Rocks Dining Package (click here for more info on Garden Rocks and the dining package!), so I was excited to return (and get a coveted ticket to the show!).
Restaurant Marrakesh is a dichotomy. On the one hand, the atmosphere features lovely design details in keeping with the overall styling of the pavilion itself, the building of which was overseen by the government of Morocco. On the other hand, the food at Restaurant Marrakesh is largely uninspired and lackluster.
Restaurant Marrakesh
The atmosphere at Restaurant Marrakesh celebrates some of the classic Moroccan design seen elsewhere in the pavilion (and in the, you know, country of Morocco). [Read more…]
Bonjour from Chefs de France!
Chefs de France is located, of course, in none other than Epcot’s France Pavilion. If you’ve been reading the DFB for any length of time you already know that France is a must-visit Pavilion when it comes to dining options in the World Showcase, what with Counter Service and snack showstoppers like Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie and L’Artisan des Glaces, as well as signature drinks like the Grand Marnier Orange Slush.
But the longtime favorite we’re visiting today is one of the Pavilion’s two Table Service restaurants (the other being Monsieur Paul, the signature dining option). And “longtime” is definitely the operative word, as Chefs de France has been welcoming guests since the park’s opening.
But that doesn’t mean things have stayed exactly the same over the years. In fact, our recent visit was due to some changes at Chefs de France that we wanted to check out for ourselves.
Chefs de France
The change includes a new menu, and we made a midday Advance Dining Reservation to scope out the situation. [Read more…]
We are enjoying a leisurely lunch today at Les Chefs de France, the table service restaurant in Epcot’s France Pavilion.
This iconic eatery has been the location of many happy meals and memories for me through the years. But as with other Disney spots, it’s always good to check in occasionally. Disney restaurants can be wildly inconsistent; a place that’s spot-on during one meal can go south the next time you visit. So I always make it a priority to check back in at all of Disney restaurants to see if they’ve gotten better or worse, and to show you what they’re serving up lately. You get to choose if they’re worth your time and money.
Let’s go. 🙂
I have very early memories of this restaurant. When you walk by at night, it just looks so cozy inside! And it’s honestly beautiful any time of day.
Les Chefs de France in Epcot
Little has changed here since the restaurant first opened when the park did. But that’s ok. Because the whole point here is to look like a classic French bistro that you’d find in Paris. And it really, really fits the bill. [Read more…]
It just goes to show… you can visit Disney World a million and one times (and I’ve got to be coming up close to that number 😉 ), and still notice something new every time.
I’m a fan of Via Napoli in Epcot’s Italy Pavilion. Not only does it serve the best pizza in Disney World; it’s become a tradition for us.
So how is it, then, that I only noticed this incredibly cool detail on my most recent visit? OK, at least I THINK it’s a cool detail. I might be totally making it up, but I could super see Disney Imagineers doing this on purpose.
Look at this orange tree as seen through one of the restaurant’s windows.
Orange Tree outside the window
And now check out the fresco painting on the wall right next to it.
Wall mural next to the window
Hmmmm…. Looks similar, right?
I think this may be a continuation, bringing the [Read more…]
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