food IS a theme park
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…]
Disney Springs: So many restaurants! So many seasonal treats! So much… construction. 😉
Disney Quest is no more!
Let’s see what’s new this week!
The building that was formerly Disney Quest is completely gone, leaving room for the construction of the NBA Experience! Here’s some NBA Experience concept art for those wanting a sneak peek of what’s to come. (I see a “Grill” in our future…)
Update: As of January 2018, mac and cheese has returned! See our note at the end of this post! Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano
at Disney’s Hollywood Studios has been a guest go-to for years, and the Strip Steak with Mac and Cheese has — by far — the most fans (yours truly included).
Strip Steak and Mac and Cheese at Mama Melrose’s
Which is why it pains us to report that the steak has changed. And the Mac and Cheese? It’s disappeared, and has been replaced with… a bed of potatoes. (Whaaaat?!) The new dish is a Grilled Flat Iron Steak with Fingerling Potatoes. [Read more…]
Here at the DFB, we love a good Disney food mash-up, but truth be told, even in our wildest dreams we never conjured up this one: Donut Nuggets.
We know, we know: they sound intriguing and delicious. (And maybe just a smidgen odd…)
The masters of American casual comfort food at D-Luxe Burger are the brainiacs behind this new creation, and since we are masters of, you know, eating donuts and nuggs, we had to get in on the action.
D-Luxe has quickly gone to the top of our favorite counter service burgers because — for once! — the burgers themselves aren’t overdone hockey pucks! We also enjoy the clever combinations of ingredients, like the Southern Burger with fried green tomatoes and pimento cheese (the caviar of the south, y’all!). Plus they have several dipping sauces, and that’s never a bad thing.
D-Luxe Burger sign
You know we love to bring you the latest Disney World food news, and this week we are checking out What’s New at Animal Kingdom and the All-Star Resorts!
Welcome!
There is a TON of seasonal fun going on as we officially enter the Holiday Season, so get ready to join us and see it all!
Animal Kingdom is all sorts of FESTIVE, as the beloved park Christmas Tree is up for the season! And it’s just as magnificent as ever, presiding over the entrance to the park. [Read more…]
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