food IS a theme park
Could it BE?! We’ve just finished counting the votes from part one of last night’s polling and we know which FOUR restaurants will be advancing to the semi-finals!
‘Ohana Waiting Area
Did your top contenders make it through to fight another day? Let’s take a quick look at the current rankings!
Our minds continue to be BLOWN by how this Disney World Counter Service Throwdown is GOIN’ down! If you haven’t printed out your bracket yet, don’t worry — there’s still time!
Bacon Mac and Cheese bacon Fries at Casey’s Corner
With only two rounds left before the winner is crowned, let’s take a look at just who’s currently left standing!
Good morning from Animal Kingdom, friends!
Animal Kingdom
We recently found ourselves at the park quite early (trying to get on Flight of Passage TBH), and in need of a breakfast to fuel our wild adventures. We decided to head to the Yak and Yeti Local Foods Cafe, located in the quiet village of Anandapur. That’s right — we traveled all the way from the planet of Pandora to Asia, just for breakfast. (Talk about dedication. 😉 )
Ahh, cheese: basically one of our favorite food groups here at DFB.
Blue Cheese at BaseLine Tap House
If you’re as obsessed as we are (and we are pretty passionate), you’ll want to know EXACTLY where you can find the best cheese in Disney, from killer mac to cream cheese frosting excellence and more! And, we’ve got the greatest list for you, friends… .
Hello from Asia in Disney’s Animal Kingdom! We got so excited seeing Kevin from Up that we worked up an appetite!
Kevin from UP is now in Animal Kingdom!
It’s been a while since we’ve stopped at Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafes, so we decided to swing by for a quick lunch.
Yak & Yeti Local Foods Cafe
As, the menu suggests, Yak & Yeti features “tasty food,” which, in this case, is Asian cuisine. One of the best things about this spot is the large portions — you certainly get a good bang for your buck. (or dining plan!)
Yak & Yeti Menu
We decided to go for the Teriyaki Beef Bowl and Vegetable Tikka Masala. We also had to stop by the awesome condiment cart, which truly is one of the best reasons to dine here. There’s a large and unique variety of sauces — from soy sauce to duck sauce.
Since its earliest days, I’ve always enjoyed a stop at Yak and Yeti Restaurant.
Yak and Yeti is located in Animal Kingdom’s Asia (you’ll pass it on the corner on your way to the Maharajah Jungle Trek) in the fictional village of Anandapur. Like Tiffins and Restaurantosaurus — and pretty much any restaurant in Animal Kingdom — theming is key here, with decor that is immersive and memorable. While you dine, you are surrounded by images and icons of Asian culture. Even the brightly painted exterior mimics that which you might see on the colorful village streets of Northern India or Nepal.
And as for the food? It’s also usually — dare I say it? — consistent here. Consistently GOOD. If you’ve been reading DFB for any length of time, then you’ll know that is a compliment I rarely bestow, as it’s so rarely earned in any Disney World Table Service restaurant.
So… I headed to Yak and Yeti ON MY BIRTHDAY, because I reeeeally wanted those firecracker shrimp on my special day. Did my most recent visit likewise measure up?
Once you’re on the right continent in Animal Kingdom, the bright purple stucco exterior that makes up Yak & Yeti Restaurant is accented by arched windows, intricate corbels, and beautifully carved doors.
Yak and Yeti Restaurant
The backstory here is that the owner of this building in Anandapur is a man named Arjun, a former merchant who’s turned his opulent home into lodging for travelers. These details account for the eclectic mix of statues, wall hangings, and furniture. The bar area you see below features examples of these details. [Read more…]
We know, we know… Back-to-School time is fast approaching (and in some spots, it’s already arrived!). But the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer aren’t quite over just yet, so we’ve still got some summer celebrating to do!
And, hey, the coming of Fall isn’t so bad, anyway. Not when we’ve got our very favorite autumnal event coming to the first stop on our tour in a matter of weeks. That’s why we’re kicking things off at Epcot to see What’s New!
The 2016 Epcot Food & Wine Festival will be here before we know it! Sure signs of its return are starting to appear around the park…
Epcot Food & Wine Festival Coming SOON!!
… as in, like, literal signs 😉 . Even the Miniature Train display in the Germany Pavilion has received its annual decorations!
Train Display in Germany
Train Display in Germany
Have you checked out the full list of Booth Menus to start strategizing your noshing plans yet?! It’s never too soon… the Festival starts on September 14th! [Read more…]
The year isn’t the only thing new around Disney World… we’re on the lookout for new eats, sweets, and refurbishment feats. Please keep your hands, arms, feet, and legs inside your ride vehicle at all times as we tour all four Disney World Parks to see What’s New!
Something’s always just around the corner at Disney World!
We’re starting out with another WILD trip to Animal Kingdom, which includes a couple of menu updates. At Yak & Yeti Restaurant, Firecracker Shrimp and Ahi Tuna Nachos for Two join the appetizers (the Dim Sum Basket for two remains), and Ginger Salmon with Japanese Udon has been added to the noodle dishes. Chicken Tikki Masala is among the new specialty entrees, and Malaysian Seafood Curry arrives under Wok selections.
Yak and Yeti Restaurant
Be sure to check out the Specialty Drinks for some fun new beverages: Pink Himalayan, Kiwi Kimono, and a Rickshaw Rickie.
Right next door at Local Food Cafes (also known as Yak & Yeti Counter Service), Korean Stir-fry Barbecue Chicken has replaced the Sweet and Sour Chicken.
Local Foods Cafe menu
At Dino Diner in Dinoland, U.S.A., the Snow Cone has been switched out for Nachos, served with just cheese or as Nachos Supreme (at least for these cooler months).
Dino Diner
Dino Diner
Tamu Tamu Refreshments has undergone another menu refresh, currently offering the Slow-cooked Chicken Curry, Vegetarian Curry, and Roasted Chicken Salad.
Tamu Tamu Refreshments
This isn’t entirely unexpected, as the menu here seems to go through a standard rotation. So, if you’re disappointed that the Slow-cooked Pulled Beef Sandwich is no longer available, Hakuna Matata. It could very well make its way back around in a few months.
And, as we discussed a few weeks back, Flame Tree Barbecue is closed for refurbishment with a tentative reopening of April 1st. Find out where you can find some of your favorite Flame Tree foods at other locations around the park!
Flame Tree Barbecue closed for refurbishment
Speaking of refurbishments, construction of [Read more…]
Happy New Year! Looking ahead, we anticipate sharing delicious reviews from new Disney restaurants. And we just heard that STK will be coming to Disney Springs at Walt Disney World.
Tiramisu Cupcake
And you know we’ll be visiting old favorites like Captain Cook’s. Recently while checking out the new Polynesian Lobby (click the link to see photos!!), we found a Tiramisu Cupcake there!
Plus, read the top Disney food news from 2014. Just click on the links below!
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 restaurant closures, and more!
We’ve got all the latest for you, so check it out before you go.
If you find a fun new food — or other edible awesomeness — in or from Disney, share a photo with us on facebook or twitter so we can add it to our DFB Reader Finds each Sunday!
Our readers continue to tempt us with delicious food from Walt Disney World. Let’s take a look at some items from the Animal Kingdom! Here’s a Mac and Cheese Hot Dog courtesy of Katie.
Mac and Cheese Hot Dog
Or for table-service, head to Yak and Yeti for these yummy appetizers sent in by Angelica.
Do you have a favorite find? Share your Disney food photos!
Want a big discount on our most popular DFB Guide in time for the new year? Or, you know, just cause you want to start planning your 2015 Disney trip TODAY? ;-D
It’s yours! Pre-Order the 2015 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining today and use promo code HAPPYNEWYEAR for $5 off!
We know that when it comes to your Disney vacays, planning ahead is practically essential these days. And if you can save time and money in the process — even better!
And that’s why today, when you pre-order the 2015 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining and enter promo code HAPPYNEWYEAR, you’ll save $5 off of the already low cover price!
But the really cool part? You get two books for the price of one! We’ll deliver the 2014 Guide to you immediately, and email you the 2015 Guide as soon as it is available early next year.
Here are a couple of sample pages for you — just click to enlarge!
DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Sample Page
Samples Pages of the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2013
The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is stuffed FULL of helpful features to help make your trip go smoothly, like:
One of the lesser-known, but still pretty awesome restaurants in Disney’s theme parks is Yak & Yeti, found in the Asia section of Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Our experiences there have always been good when it comes to the food, but one of my favorite parts of the dining spot is the decor.
It’s clear that Disney’s imagineers searched high and low for authentic props and “set dressing” for this restaurant, and I’ve always been captivated by the lighting particularly.
On a visit many years ago, I snapped shots of several of lamps, light fixtures, and even chandeliers that make this restaurant so eclectic. I just came across the pics and wanted to share them with you. Be sure to leave a comment and let me know which Disney restaurant decor you’re most fond of!
Yak and Yeti Restaurant
This incredible chandelier hangs above the main staircase up to the second floor. Its tiered crystals practically drip down to the railing!
Atmosphere from lighting
A few old-fashioned and vintage options look like they were taken right out [Read more…]
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
