food IS a theme park
We know that booking a Walt Disney World vacation can be a daunting experience — especially when trying to decide where to lay your head each night! Disney resorts number in the dozens (with expansions, renovations, and new resorts in progress!), with tons of Orlando-area hotels to consider as well.
You can never go wrong at the Polynesian Village Resort!
There are a lot of still new things to enjoy at Animal Kingdom, and today we’ve got the scoop on a few of them!
Over at Tiffins, the much-lauded signature restaurant that embraces travel and adventure, diners may experience not one but two prix fixe menus! The first prix fixe option is designed for busy days — days when the restaurant has lots of ADRs lined up. Offerings include Braised Wagyu Pozole and Grilled Swordfish.
Tiffins “Busy” Prix Fixe Menu
Woo! Christmas is approaching at warp speed, and if you’re like us, you’re still putting the finishing touches on your Christmas to-buy list. (Or maybe you’re more prepared than we are. If so, teach us your ways!)
Here are some nifty and original ideas for the holiday season… and beyond!
We love a Christmas village — all the more so when the village includes adorable Disney-styled buildings like this one!
It’s so cute and seasonally appropriate that we’ll be leaving ours out well past New Years, thankyouverymuch! 😉
For the snazzy dresser who still likes a dose of whimsy, these Mickey Cufflinks are a total must have! And we’re calling these out because they are good for year-round gifting!
Pool bars don’t get a lot of love in the Disney food world, probably because they aren’t really what you’d call “destination dining.”
Obviously, they’re more of a convenience for when you’re… well, by the pool at your Resort! You’re not going to go out of your way to visit one, but you sure are glad that they’re around the pool when you are. Because there’s hungry… and then there’s I’ve-been-swimming-all-day hungry.
But that’s kind of a shame, because some pool bars have some pretty decent food (and great drinks)! The Oasis Bar & Grill Pool Bar at the Polynesian Village Resort really stepped up the game, for example, with items like great Kahlua Pork Sliders. And the Uzima Springs Pool Bar at Animal Kingdom Lodge serves flatbreads (including a unique Braai Chicken Flatbread) that’ll satisfy any sudden carb craving. And then Geyser Point at Wilderness Lodge took “pool bar” to the next level.
Cabana Bar and Beach Club at Disney World’s Dolphin Hotel (it’s convenient to the Swan, too) is one such under-celebrated pool bar. Cabana even made an appearance at the Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic in October with their Double Fried Chicken! But my WOW here at Cabana was the aioli — there are tons of them and they are amazing. If you’re like me and love your dipping sauces, read on.
Cabana Bar and Beach Club
Cabana Bar and Beach Club (not to be confused with Banana Cabana at Caribbean Beach Resort or Cabanas on board the Disney Cruise Line ships) boasts a surprisingly huge menu (several pages long!). You’ll want to start with the Cocktails, which are cleverly named… and generously poured. 😉 [Read more…]
Back in July at the D23 conference, Disney World’s newest form of transportation was announced: the Skyliner, a gondola connecting Epcot and Hollywood Studios with several Disney resorts. Since then, we’ve been daydreaming about flying between resorts and parks, taking in the views from above. And now we have some new details to pore over — plus some exciting concept art — courtesy of the Disney Parks Blog!
Copyright Disney Parks Blog
We know that the holiday season can be a busy time, so the last thing you might think you need is another holiday to celebrate. But Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant in Disney Springs wants you to know about a holiday beer fans will be celebrating all month. Yup — it’s National Lager Day! Who knew?!
Raglan Road
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort, Riverside, is beloved by guests for its charming setting, classic accommodations, and location along the Sassagoula River.
Dining at Riverside is also quite good when it comes to resort eats, with four options for food and drinks. Boatwright’s Dining Hall is a hidden gem (though not everyone agrees with me on this ;-D) of a table service option serving up southern favorites like killer Jambalaya. River Roost is a comfortable lounge that offers a small apps menu. And Muddy Rivers on Ol’ Man Island, where you can grab a beverage while lounging by the pool (including the new Frosé).
But for a huge variety of quick service options, you want to head to Riverside Mill Food Court. Riverside Mill is known, of course, for classic Disney eats like Chicken Nuggets and Create-Your-Own-Pasta as well as southern-stylized grub like Fried Shrimp and Cajun Chicken Sandwiches.
The Riverside Mill
So, welcome to The Riverside Mill… established in 1875!
Riverside Mill Food Court is fairly distinctive against the lush backdrop of the resort, with its blue exterior paint and chunky white wood railings. I love the terrific front porch feel of the building. [Read more…]
Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat! Please put these gifts under my tree! (We know it doesn’t rhyme, but we have to go with our hearts, y’all!) Here are some Disney-fied items that we want, want, want this year!
The Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Woodland Tote by Loungefly is so stinking cute! But what we appreciate most is that it’s in classic red, so it’s perfect for grown up Disney fans! It’s subtle, stunning, and the color combinations are super interesting.
With so many dining options to try at Walt Disney World, it’s not every trip that I’m able to return to some classic Resort restaurants — particularly if I’m not staying at the Resort in question.
But on a recent visit, I had a meeting that was (thankfully!) at the Grand Floridian Cafe. Located off the lobby in the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa’s main building, the Grand Floridian Cafe offers lovely views of the rose garden and courtyard pool beyond. It’s nice and tranquil, but not at all stuffy. So if you want to check out the Grand Floridian with your entire crew (including kiddos), this is a great place to try it.
The Cafe menu serves up traditional American dishes with a few nods to seafood and Southern fare in celebration of the Sunshine State, and our most recent trip here was for dinner. But a great feature at the Grand Floridian Cafe is the brunch-style menu offering breakfast dishes (in addition to the lunch offerings) through 2:00 pm. Hence the “Pancakes and Burger” mashup we’re reviewing today!
And there’s another big boon for the Grand Floridian Cafe: since it’s on the Resort Monorail loop, it’s easily accessible from Magic Kingdom and a terrific get-away if you need a little break from the park.
Like every restaurant at the Grand Floridian, the Cafe is simple and elegant. You won’t find over-the-top, Disney-fied theming in terms of characters or bright colors. But you will feel as though you’ve gone back to the Victorian Era (minus all the stiff social constructs). Check in takes place at a desk with white columns and great trim details.
Grand Floridian Cafe Entrance
Right away you’ll notice the lattice-and-flowers carpeting, which carries throughout the restaurant. The wood trim also continues into the dining room, where floral wallpaper and tasteful seating await.
has become a destination all its own within Epcot’s Germany Pavilion.
And with good reason! Even among the Pavilion’s diverse offerings within Biergarten (a Table Service buffet complete with festive entertainment), Sommerfest (the Counter Service spot with NUDEL GRATINNNNN), and Bier Carts and Hovels, Karamell-Küche focuses on one thing, and one thing only:
CARAMEL!
From seriously addictive Caramel Corn to Caramel Bacon Squares to the ah-mazing Caramel Pecan Bar (you gotta try it!), it’s hard to take in all the different iterations of caramel treats tucked within the Caramel Kitchen’s bakery case.
And speaking of different iterations… I noticed a change to one of my favorite golden treats on my last visit when I spotted a sign for the Caramel Butter Bar. It was front and center ahead of what looked suspiciously like the old Caramel Covered Shortbread — also previously known as the Chewy Caramel Bar.
Caramel Butter Bar
I wasn’t super concerned at first because this particular snack has been known by a few different names over the years, but basically remained a dependable combo of thick caramel poured atop and in between layers of buttery shortbread.
I figured I was good to go because the “new” Caramel Butter Bar looks… virtually identical to its predecessor. See? [Read more…]
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