food IS a theme park
Do you love stopping by the Earl of Sandwich in Disney Springs or Disneyland Resort’s Downtown Disney?
Earl of Sandwich in Disney Springs
And do you love their awesome MAC and CHEESE? How about Roast Beef? Well, what if we were to tell you that ALL of these things are coming together in a limited time sammie? That’s right, the Earl of Sandwich has introduced the Beefy Mac & Cheesy Sandwich! [Read more…]
The new year has begun, and what better way to start the year than with lunch at one of our favorite Walt Disney World table service restaurants: Liberty Tree Tavern! You know this colonial-esque spot as the premier place to get a turkey dinner in Magic Kingdom, but the lunch menu also offers a la carte options, so I got into that for ya, too!
Liberty Tree Tavern
Liberty Tree Tavern takes its colonial roots seriously, and diners can see that in the decor. Each room is packed to the gills with details from the time period, and if you look closely, you’ll see that rooms are themed to colonial figures. George Washington gets a place of prominence over the mantle in his room.
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!
Today, we’re sharing with you our latest visit to Garden Grill Restaurant for Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Harvest Feast Dinner!
Garden Grill is basically one of my favorite character meals. First, it’s a character meal with really great interaction. And while Chip ‘n’ Dale are the headliners, here, you also get to hang out with Farmer Mickey and Pluto!
But beyond the characters, we enjoy the unique ambiance that Garden Grill offers. If you’ve never visited the restaurant, wait ’til you see what it does! Yes — DOES!
We’ve also had some pretty fantastic meals here. Breakfast is virtually a tradition for my family.
But today, we’re visiting in the evening. We’ve enjoyed past dinners here. Let’s see if the trend continues.
Looking for Garden Grill Restaurant? Hang a right after Spaceship Earth and head toward The Land Pavilion in Future World West.
The Land Pavilion
Walkways line the perimeter walls inside the building and lead you down to the pavilion’s three levels, which hosts Living with the Land, Soarin’, and Sunshine Seasons (one of our favorite counter service spots) on the bottom. There’s also an elevator if you’d prefer it to walking.
The Land Ceiling
You’ll find the Garden Grill directly across from the entrance.
Garden Grill Sign
And here’s where we talk about what Garden Grill does: it rotates. In fact, it’s the only restaurant in Orlando — and only one of a handful in the world — that spins.
Now, just in case the thought of a rotating restaurant doesn’t sound all that appetizing, we promise you that Garden Grill spins at a snail’s pace. We aren’t talking spinning teacups here.
Garden Grill Wide View
Why does it spin? Well, there’s more than one way to check out the attractions within Living with the Land! As the restaurant rotates, guests are treated to scenes from the ride. This mural acts as sort of a gateway.
Garden Grill Mural
You’ll visit a farmhouse — or see it from above, anyway. I think this scene is particularly fun, because you get to look inside one of the windows from this vantage point!
Farmhouse Scene in Living with the Land
You’ll also see extremes in landscapes. As you view a rainforest scene, and watch it morph into a desert scene as you travel.
Rainforest
Transition from Rainforest to Desert
The Desert
Your vehicle for sightseeing is your table, of course.
Tables are arranged in a sort of stadium seating pattern on two levels around the restaurant. Top tier tables are your garden variety rectangular tables, like you see here.
Table and Seating
On the lower level, semi-circular booths face out, giving you the best view of the scenes you pass.
Garden Grill booth
Larger Booth — Family Side
And did you notice? Mickey makes an appearance before your meal ever starts! 😀
Mickey Table Setting 🙂
And that brings me to Reason Number Two that you might want to visit Garden Grill: the characters. Let’s check ’em out.
One of my top reasons for visiting Garden Grill is the character interaction. In fact, it’s one of my Top Two Favorite Character Meals in Walt Disney World! Of course, I love when I can see Mickey during a character meet and greet. And here, he’s dressed in his farmer finest.
Mickey Mouse
Mickey is joined by his faithful pup sidekick, Pluto.
Pluto
But this is, after all, Chip ‘n’ Dale’s gig. So you’re sure to see the playful pair as you enjoy your dinner.
Chip
Sad Dale
And that’s one of the coolest things about Garden Grill — it’s not just the stellar character interaction, but the amount of interaction you get. The restaurant is fairly small in size, so that means you normally have the chance to visit with characters more than once during your meal.
So we’ve talked about the fact that Garden Grill rotates, thus making it something kinda special. And, of course, any day that you can share your meal with Chip ‘n’ Dale and Friends is gonna be a good one.
But how about the food? Well, the good news is — that’s pretty great, too.
Garden Grill serves its meals family style, meaning that shareable platters are brought to the table, and you can ask for more of anything you like. That also means that everyone dining has the choice of a non-alcoholic beverage as part of the prix fixe price of his or her meal. But if you’d like, you can also order from a list of special drinks, including cocktails, mocktails, beer, and wine.
Special Drinks Menu — Click to Enlarge
Wine Menu — Click to Enlarge
You don’t really choose what you’re getting at Garden Grill (unless you have special dietary needs; talk to your server in that case). The offerings are pretty much standard. You’ll start with warm Dinner Rolls, served with a side of Whipped Butter.
Rolls with Whipped Butter
Next comes the Harvest-Inspired Farmer’s Salad. During our visit, the salad included greens, hard boiled egg, radishes, and grape tomatoes. It’s lightly dressed with a creamy dressing.
Harvest-Inspired Farmer’s Salad
The main course is the combination platter with sliced Homestyle Pot Roast, sliced Turkey Breast, and Italian Sausage served with sautéed Peppers and Onions. Sides on the platter include Mashed Potatoes and Bacon and Leek Stuffing.
The Italian Sausage is new, having replaced the previously served Sustainable Fish of the Day.
Platter of Meats, Mashed Potatoes, Dressing, and Gravy
But that’s not all. You get additional veggie sides, like Green Beans and Sweet Potatoes, plus Macaroni and Cheese.
Platter of Sides — Mac & Cheese, Green Beans, and Sweet Potato Fries
For dessert, it’s a shareable Short Cake topped with Fruit Compote and Vanilla Bean Whipped Cream.
Short Cake
Some folks may call this a cobbler. Whatever name you give it, the rich cake and super saucy berry topping is a winner with everyone at the table.
You’ll enjoy Garden Grill if:
You may want to skip Garden Grill if:
After lots of visits, I still love Garden Grill Restaurant.
I think I’ve laid out a pretty convincing argument. When you visit Garden Grill, you’re getting a three-way combo of unique environment, great characters, and excellent (and plentiful) food. And when it comes to characters and kids, I personally lean toward a character meal where the food comes to you, because it’s so much easier to juggle kids, characters, and food when you don’t have to worry about visiting a buffet.
But even beyond the convenience of Garden Grill, the characters, and the novelty of the place, I think this place just offers really great food. It may be kind of standard fare, but it’s thoughtfully prepared. And when you’re paying Disney prices, it’s great when you can enjoy a character meal as much for the food as for everything else.
If you haven’t tried it before, book an advance dining reservation for Garden Grill Restaurant. I think you’ll be pleased.
Now, I’d love to hear from you! Is Garden Grill Restaurant one of your favorites? Let us know in comments!
Join us at the The Diamond Horseshoe. Recently guest author, Lori Fries, enjoyed dinner at this iconic spot in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. An all-you-care-to-eat feast will be offered through September 10, 2016.
The Diamond Horseshoe recently re-opened for table-service lunch and dinner in Frontierland.
We made an advance dining reservation (ADR) for The Diamond Horseshoe the first day we could. We ate dinner at 3:30PM, so I guess it was more of a late lunch/early dinner. We read one bad review from opening night, but as a local experienced Disney foodie I was excited to try something new.
The horseshoe-shaped restaurant looks the same as it has for years.
The Diamond Horseshoe
Diamond Horseshoe Seating and Stage
On the stage sat a beautiful old-time player piano. [Read more…]
It has been too long since I’ve taken a trip to Chef Mickey’s in Disney World’s Contemporary Resort!
We’ve shared with you our review of their breakfast buffet. But today, we’re heading there to see what’s new for dinner!
When many people think about a “Disney character dining experience”, they immediately think of Chef Mickey’s. This one has it all — the Fab Five, a sprawling buffet of family-friendly foods, regular raucous celebrations, and monorails whizzing by.
But in the past, the food has had a reputation for being a little lackluster. Time to see how things are looking these days… . We have a lot to cover, so let’s get started!
One of the coolest things about Chef Mickey’s is its location. You’ll find this well-known character meal at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
Chef Mickey's Sign
This place is a stone’s throw from the Magic Kingdom in Disney World, which makes it a great place to stop and eat before heading into the park, or after a long day of rides and attractions.
Once you enter the hotel’s main floor lobby, take the elevator to the fourth floor. Chef Mickey’s is located on the south end of the concourse, right below where the Disney World monorail enters the building. (You can also arrive at the Contemporary via said monorail, of course — in which case you’d take an escalator down to the 4th floor).
The Grand Canyon Concourse at the Contemporary
Head to the central desk to let the hostess know that your party has arrived. You can’t miss it — Mickey is smiling down with his fork and spoon, ready to greet you!
Central Desk Check-In
If your table isn’t quite ready, you can wait until your party is paged in this comfortable seating area. This spot features a view of Bay Lake and the resort’s pool patio — and offers plenty of room for running off excess energy.
Waiting Area
Before you’re seated, your party will [Read more…]
Welcome back guest author Carrie Hayward with a review of breakfast and lunch at Flo’s V-8 Cafe in Cars Land, Disney California Adventure!
This Spring we got to attend an Annual Passholder preview of Cars Land. Everything was open, including new counter-service restaurant Flo’s V-8 Cafe.
We are usually pretty disappointed by the counter-service options at Disney California Adventure and Disneyland (Jolly Holiday Bakery excepted!), but we waited in the 20-minute line with our hopes high. Who wouldn’t want to eat in a life-size replica of the stylish drive-in from Cars?
Flo's Really Shines at Night!
Flo’s is HUGE inside, with four dining rooms.
The restaurant actually extends halfway down the block, but one wing is themed to an auto clinic [Read more…]
A few weeks ago, I was able to get a media sneak peek and food preview of Cars Land.
While we were there, every single attendee was in awe of its landscape, then we were blown away even more when we were led into Flo’s V8 Cafe for a tasting!
Flo's V8 Cafe Signage
At that time, no photos were allowed. But, guess what? After 5 years, the time has come, the walls are down, and Flo’s is open for business!
Flo's Entrance
Flo’s V8 Cafe was modeled after a Route 66 stop called Midpoint Cafe in Midpoint, Texas.
And the backstory in Cars Land is that Flo’s caters to the growing number of Route 66 visitors and race fans coming to Radiator Springs, with a “showroom” dining area that overlooks the Radiator Springs Racers attraction. This is one of the amazing views…
Watch the Radiator Springs Racers and enjoy the view while you dine at Flo's!
The minute you walk into Flo’s, you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. To me, it felt like the scene in Back to the Future when Marty enters the soda fountain to find his dad, George McFly sitting there.
You’re in complete awe of the music, the colors, the decor; everything. Flo’s is, in fact, so gorgeous that they have a Photo Pass photographer set up with a tripod out front to take pictures of people in front of the restaurant!
Here’s some of the fun outside “decor” that makes Flo’s so much fun to [Read more…]
Update: Check out the discreet integration of Starbucks into Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe.
We’ve had a great time sharing sneak peeks of many of the new dining locations opening soon in Disney California Adventure! Be sure to check out the great menu options at Flo’s V-8 Cafe, Sally’s Cozy Cone Motel, Carthay Circle Restaurant, Trolley Treats, and Clarabelle’s Ice Cream!
And one more of the places on Buena Vista Street I am really looking forward to is the Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe. Why? Because Disney California Adventure NEEDS a good counter service spot where one can grab a great sandwich and a STARBUCKS beverage!
Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe
At a recent media preview I was able to check out some of the items that will be served at the Cafe, and it looks like there will be some pretty tasty options…
I got some great photos of the dishes that will be served here at the Fiddler. The first thing I noticed about the menu, though, was that the items appeared to be very similar to what is being served over in Disneyland at the Jolly Holiday Bakery.
This is not a bad thing by any means; Jolly Holiday is fantastic! Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Fiddler, Fifer & Practical will be serving a wide variety eats:
A Sampler of Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe Offerings
I don’t have the “official” names of the sandwiches pictured below, but some appear to be identical to [Read more…]
Tucked into one of Disney World’s most iconic resort hotels — The Grand Floridian Resort and Spa — Gasparilla Grill is one of the only restaurants open 24 hours in Walt Disney World!
Gasparilla Grill is the the counter service location at the Grand Floridian and is sandwiched between the Grand Floridian Cafe and the Grand Floridian Kids’ Club.
It offers both hot and cold (grab-and-go) items as well as bakery items and soft-serve ice cream.
Gasparilla Entrance
Gasparilla Food Area
You’ll find plenty of seating inside and outside. Outdoor seating has a fantastic view of [Read more…]
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
