Magical Adventures & Memories
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw these in the Main Street Confectionery today and just had to share them here: Turkey Leg-shaped Rice Crispie Treats! I have never had the real turkey legs that are so popular at all the Disney Parks…and have no plans to try them any time soon…but these turkey legs, I can do!
Here are some more seasonal delicacies!
What’s your favorite seasonal treat at a Disney Park?
Just saw these Santa Mickey mugs for Dole Whip and had to share! The line was too long to ask last night but I’ll update as a find more info. If they are like the Halloween Dole Whip mugs, they will be available daily, not just for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. The Halloween mugs were available in some resort locations with desserts inside too, so keep an eye out.
If you’re a local about to be forlorn at the ending of Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival this weekend, or just too far off to experience the festival in person, you can enjoy delectable Disney creations online with Disney.com’s web series. I somehow missed season one, but I’m excited to check out this series for great ideas to recreate Disney masterpieces at home:
The “Taste of Disney” web series on Disney.com offers guests the rare opportunity to explore the delectable culinary experiences found at Disney Parks and bring the magic into their homes. Mother and daughter hosts Pam Brandon and Katie Farmand are back for the second season, giving guests a behind-the-scenes look into the amazing food and special events of Disney Parks.
This season’s episodes feature in-depth interviews with the head chefs and event planners from Disney Parks, sharing their secrets from the most magical dining spots in the country. Fans can look forward to:
After watching each episode, guests will be able to access the recipes for all featured dishes and make them at home. Guests can also check out the “Meet the Chefs” page for in-depth information about the hosts, chefs and other guests from the series.
Which recipe would you love to see recreated on the series??
Saw this beauty in Adventureland today and had to snap a photo! I’ll be enjoying one later tonight for sure!
A reliable source (aka one of my amazing Disney cast member friends) has just let me know that an all-new Duffy Bear will be released for the 16th annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival! The design of the Duffy must remain secret for now, but hopefully he’ll be released a little before the opening day of the Festival, September 30th.
EDIT: Thanks to the all-powerful StitchKingdom for letting me know that Food & Wine Duffy was actually at the D23 Expo! I actually walked right by him and didn’t take any pics. Oops, bad blogger. Can I blame being overwhelmed by Disneyland goodness? 😉 In any event, thanks to StichKingdom.com, I can now share photos of the Food & Wine Duffy NOW!
That’s right, not only is there a 2011 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Duffy, there’s an Aulani Resort Duffy and Halloween and Holiday Duffy’s too! Collect them all! 😉
Speaking of Food & Wine, did you know that the Disney Food Blog Mini-Guide to the 2011 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is on sale now? The best part is it’s all in a .PDF file so you can carry it on your smart phone or iPad where ever you go, while you dine around the world! I’ve seen this guide, and it is worth every penny.
You’ll have access to menus and photos (including many food photos!) from the World Showcase booths. You’ll also get location, time, and price details for every single event, concert, and seminar at the Festival. Our exclusive and customized bonus sections will help make your trip to the Festival your best visit ever.
Take a look before your trip to decide what menu items and events your family will enjoy, then book early to make sure you’re one of the lucky attendees! Time is money on a Disney Vacation; get the most out of both!
Keep checking back for news on the Food & Wine-themed Duffy!!
Today’s post comes to you from David Landon, owner/author of Future Probe and EPCOT-aficionado. Please enjoy his take on how Coral Reef has changed over the years.
When The Living Seas opened in 1986, 8-year-old me was fascinated by it. I especially wanted to eat at the Coral Reef Restaurant, since it combined two of my favorite things-seafood and expansive undersea vistas. Unfortunately, my mom’s dislike for seafood meant that a meal at the Coral Reef was out of the question during my childhood visits to Walt Disney World. On my first trip to EPCOT as an adult, though, the Coral Reef was at the top of my dining to-do list. Until I saw the menu.
To judge from their menus, many of Disney’s table-service restaurants, especially in EPCOT, are designed to cater to Sophisticated Adults, people who actually enjoy golf and willingly wear a blazer even when they’re not going to a wedding or a funeral. I am not one of these people. I’m a meat-and-potatoes guy. When I see a menu item like “Compote of whipped Spaetzle in a Mascarpone reduction”, it doesn’t assure me that I’ve picked a great restaurant, it makes me wonder if the waiter mistakenly gave me a menu written in Klingon.
I was further discouraged from eating at the Coral Reef by the negative reviews it received. Words like “disappointment”, “mediocre” and “overpriced” kept popping up (although complaining about things being overpriced at Disney World is a little silly. It’s like going to a Michael Bay movie and complaining about the explosions) After repeating some of those comments on my blog, I decided that I really ought to eat there at least once, if only to confirm that the place was as bad as I thought it was. So, on the eve of a weekend trip in August 2010, I took the plunge (ha ha!) and made a reservation.
Although the reviews I’d read said that the service at the Coral Reef was indifferent at best, all the Cast Members my wife and I encountered there were fantastic. I had already reviewed the menu online and knew exactly what I would order, but my wife needed more time. Our server checked back with us at regular intervals, kindly answered all my wife’s questions, and never made us feel rushed.
We were pleasantly surprised to be seated at a table right next to the aquarium. Just inches away, on the other side of the glass, a large sea turtle was resting on the bottom of the tank. He stayed there throughout our meal, occasionally swimming up to the surface for a lungful of air. Best of all, the old Living Seas area music was playing over the restaurant’s PA system! Unfortunately, the noisy conversation from the restaurants other patrons worked against the quiet peacefulness that the aquarium, the restaurant’s subdued lighting, and the area music were trying to create, but it’s not like Disney can put a Cone of Silence over every table. (Bonus points if you know what a Cone of Silence is!)
Another complaint I’d heard about the Coral Reef is that the portions are too small. I’d have to disagree with that; I found them to be quite sufficient. I didn’t have any food left over (except for the watercress, which I chose not to eat because, as you may have noted earlier, I am not a Sophisticated Adult) but I wasn’t hungry after I finished eating, either. My wife’s Caesar Salad came not with just cut-up pieces of chicken, but an entire chicken breast. We both enjoyed our entrees very much. My steak was grilled to perfection, and the potatoes were very tasty as well. My wife enjoyed her salad very much, and she absolutely loved the Chocolate Wave she ordered for dessert. She said it was even better than Le Cellier’s Chocolate-on-Chocolate Whiskey cake. High praise, indeed!
My only criticism of the Coral Reef is the limited menu options. You’d think a seafood restaurant inside EPCOT’s Seas pavilion would offer a wide selection of seafood, but sadly that’s not the case. Still, I definitely recommend the place. It’s the best table service restaurant in Future World. The food is just as good as Le Cellier’s, but the Coral Reef is easier to get into and has the superior atmosphere.
So, don’t believe the reviews. Whatever problems the Coral Reef had since they were written have been corrected. The food is great, the atmosphere is perfect, the service is excellent, and best of all you don’t have to be a Sophisticated Adult to enjoy it.
BIO: David Landon is the author of the EPCOT-centric blog futureprobe, which Internet surfers often stumble upon by mistake. He is also the co-host of the Circlevision Radio podcast, which launches in Summer 2011.He can often be found on Twitter under the handle @futureprobe1982, making what he thinks are witty remarks. He lives in North Central Florida with his wife and an extremely excitable Chihuahua.
A couple of weekends ago we wandered in to the Magic Kingdom’s Main Street Confectionery and discovered these sweet Easter treats. I’m kind of hoping the Easter Bunny stops here before visiting my house!
In addition to the edible goodies, Easter Bunny Duffy was hanging out, along with these cute Mickey and Minnie plush, dressed in chick costumes, inside a zippered egg. Really cute! Those pretty Spring colored glass Mickey plates were hard to resist too!
Has anyone tried any of those yummy cupcakes or cookies?? They almost look too cute to eat! Almost. If you plan to be in Walt Disney World for Easter, check out these Disney Easter dining options too.
As AJ notes in the preface, “There’s no guidebook I’ve found that covers Disney World dining the way I’d like it to be covered. This e-Book has twice as much dining information and advice than any official Disney dining guidebook on the market. And, due to its digital format, it’s completely portable in the parks.” Since it downloads in a .pdf file, you can pop the book open on your smart phone, iPad or laptop and double check information on the go. That way you can also click directly on links or phone numbers and not have to write down a thing. Brilliant!
What’s included? Well, it would be impossible to list it all there is so much, but here’s a sample:
A 5-Step Guide to Stress-Free Dining to help you easily plan your Disney dining in one sitting. There is a section on budgeting, with average costs for counter and table service dining as well as beverages (alcoholic and non-) to help you prepare for costs, or consider the Disney Dining Plan.
A Dining With Kids section, which offers restaurant choices and unique menu suggestions for kids, so no one gets bored with chicken nuggets! Need to know which characters are in each character dining location? She’s got you covered. Tips for avoiding meltdowns? Yep! And if you’d like a kid-free night out, the guide shares what to expect at the Kids Clubs too.
Dining reviews, which are perfect when you have indecisive family members!! If that’s not enough, there are also sections on special celebrations, a comprehensive list of all lounges and bars, even sample dining itineraries. It really lives up to its promise to offer “steps for a stress-free, personalized plan!” And if by chance you are unhappy, there is a money-back guarantee!
Not convinced? Check out some of the amazing reviews by top Disney authors and see some sample pages here. If you’re a Disney veteran and wonder what this guide could offer you, AJ reminds us, “Even if you’ve been to Walt Disney World hundreds of times, the Imagineers, chefs, and cast members will always keep surprising you. You deserve to know what incredible dining opportunities and experiences are available to you, and new ones are being added all the time!”
If you’re ready for all the info now, you can purchase The Disney Food Blog Guide to Walt Disney World Dining by clicking here. The price is $18.95, which includes four downloads, that’s a great deal!
*Disclosure: I was given a complimentary copy of The Disney Food Blog Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, which did not influence my review one bit, it’s just that wonderful! In addition, the links contained in this review are affiliate links which means if you purchase the e-book after using these links, I will get a small commission. Win-win! 😉
AMC Downtown Disney 24 now open, a new theatre experience with a menu of possibilities –
Our local movie theatre has a dine-in option but it is limited to those 21+. While I do enjoy going on date nights with my husband without kids in the theatre, there have been times I wished we could bring all the kids with us and enjoy the dinner option as well. It’s not like the 21+ makes the theatre kid-free, since we still share a theatre with regular movie-goers, the 21+ area is just in the balcony. AMC seems to have perfected the best of both worlds. Guests must be 18+ or accompanied by a 21+ parent or guardian, so you can’t just drop the kids off for dinner and sneak off to House of Blues. The menu showcases something for everyone from appetizers to drinks and desserts. Let’s check out how it works and the Fork & Screen menu offerings:
Watch the latest movies with seat-side service at AMC Dine-In Theatres™, a new experience that combines the cuisine and cocktail options of a restaurant with the fun and excitement of a movie theatre. AMC® offers two options of Dine-In Theatres. If you’re in the mood for casual dining, check out Fork & Screen® or try Cinema Suites® for an upscale experience. Each option has its own exciting atmosphere and selection of tasty, surprisingly affordable menus. How the AMC Dine-In Theatre Experience Works
1. Select your movie, showtime and reserved seating preference.
2. Price includes your movie ticket, dining is at an additional cost
3. Menus are available at your seat. Press the call button and a server will arrive to take your order.
4. Relax and enjoy the movie while you dine at your seat. If you need anything else, simply press the call button.
5. The server will deliver your check before the end of the film.
Guests of Fork & Screen can enjoy in-theatre dining combined with the most current movies and other exciting events presented in the immersive big-screen viewing environment of an AMC theatre. Guests have to be 18 years old or accompanied by a parent or guardian that is 21 years or older. Adult guests are able to order beer, wine, cocktails and food at MacGuffins. Named after a term coined by famed filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock, MacGuffins is a warm, relaxing and inviting bar with a spacious lounge. Guests can relax before or after their entertainment at tables and soft-seating areas. Guests 18 years old and over, and minors accompanied by a parent or guardian, are welcome to enjoy MacGuffins.
(Menu updated 5/12 – items and prices subject to change)
Prices are around $7 per ticket extra for Fork & Screen, plus of course the cost of food and drinks. Prices may vary with showtime as well. Watch for updates with Disney AMC pricing as it becomes available. Will you pay for this added experience? Sure beats nachos or a chili dog, in my opinion!
Via Napoli almost instantly won my heart as my new favorite place to dine at Epcot. I’m not even a huge pizza fan, but I just loved everything about this place, from the atmosphere and cast members to of course, the food (much more than just pizza). I covered opening day at Via Napoli as well as another trip with my husband. When out of state friends came to visit Walt Disney World, we naturally met up at Via Napoli for dinner. I recommended my favorite dessert to my friend that night and he loved it. So imagine my sadness when I dined there today with my mom and children (who still had never been) and the dessert menu was missing two items!
The Gelato Frizzante (my favorite!) and the Copa Di Brutti Ma Buoni (Good but Ugly Sundae) were completely removed from the list. I fell in love with the Gelato Frizzante when we had little samples of it opening day and ordered it again at each visit. My husband tried and loved the Copa di Brutti ma Buoni on his first visit and also enjoyed it. I asked our server what happened but she just said they were taken off the menu. Could we really be the only people that liked them? Perhaps they were too labor intensive to make? In any case, it makes me sad, but since I was usually too full from the meal to have needed dessert, I guess it’s probably a good thing in my case. I always overdid with the Gelato Frizzante! Here are some pictures of the new dessert menu – no items have been added, simply the two removed items: (click to enlarge the photos)