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Brought to you by...
John and Donna Gross "The Full Mickey - At a Discount!" The Wall Street Journal
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WALT DISNEY WORLD SWAN AND DOLPHIN RESORT RECIPES
Crabcake recipe from the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin
Resorts
Butter Beer Pudding Recipe From the Walt Disney World Swan and
Dolphin
Recipe for Grilled Flank Steak with Fingerling and Brussel Hash from the
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin
Monthly Recipe From the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin: Papa a la
Huancaina
Recipe for White Bean Soup from the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin
Resort
Eggnog Pound Cake Recipe from the Walt Disney World Swan and
Dolphin
Country Potato and Cabbage Soup Recipe From the Walt Disney World Swan
and Dolphin
Recipe for Crisp Escarole Salad with Garlicky Anchovy Dressing From the
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort
Milanese Risotto Recipe From the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin
Resort
Whole-Wheat Greek Pizza Recipe From the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin
Resort
Grilled Chicken Recipe From the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin
Resort
Chocolate Caramel Tart Recipe From the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin
Resort
Carolina Poulet Rouge Recipe From the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin
Resort
Tuna Carpaccio Recipe From the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin
Resort
Waldorf Chicken Salad Recipe From the Walt Disney World Swan and
Dolphin
Braised Short Ribs, Potato Silk and Organic Cauliflower recipe from The
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort
Gingerbread House recipe from The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin
Resort
Rosemary Roasted Poussin with Porcini Cream Sauce and Root Vegetable Mash
recipe from The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort
Crab Mac & Cheese recipe from The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin
Resort
Chicken Saltimbocca Sandwich recipe from the Swan and Dolphin
Resort Recipe for Chianti Risotto with Radicchio served at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts: http://www.swandolphin.com/recipeclub/0808print.html For the recipe for Sweet and Spicy Ribs served at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts, see: http://www.swandolphin.com/recipeclub/0708print.html For the recipe for Grilled Pineapple and Chicken Salad served at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts, see: http://www.swandolphin.com/recipeclub/0608print.html
For the recipe for Chilled Carrot and Orange Soup from the Walt Disney
World Swan and Dolphin Resort, see:
For the recipe for the Atlantic Seafood Bowl served at the Walt Disney
World Swan and Dolphin Resort, see:
For the recipe for Rack Lamb, Gyro Flavor from the kitchens of the
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, see:
For the recipe for Calamari Alla Toscana at the Walt Disney World
Swan and Dolphin Resort, see:
For the Macadamia Nut Crusted Snapper recipe from the the Walt Disney
World Swan and Dolphin Resort, see: For the Christmas Sugar Cookies recipe from the Walt Disney World's Swan and Dolphin Resort, see: http://www.swandolphin.com/recipeclub/1207print.html For the recipe for Lemon Crème Brûlée from the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts, see: http://www.swandolphin.com/recipeclub/0907print.html
For the Gingerbread recipe from Walt Disney World's Swan and Dolphin
Resort, see:
Beth, our travel agent, reviews Tokyo Dining at Epcot: "I wanted to take my daughter and boyfriend to Teppan Edo in Epcot’s Japan pavilion, but we couldn't get reservations so I booked us at Tokyo Dining next door instead, expecting similar food, but minus the at-the-table cooking. We skipped the elevator and trudged up the steep flight of stairs where we were greeted by a pretty girl in traditional Japanese attire. She asked that only one of us stand in line to check in while the others took a seat. The line moved very quickly, despite the fact that people for both restaurants were checking in at the same place. Seating in the waiting area was acceptable enough - but the noise was insane! We arrived about 30 minutes prior to our 6:45 reservation time, hoping to get in a little earlier. No such luck. In fact, it was about 6:55 before we were called, so we had about 40 not-so-glorious minutes of babies crying, children screaming, and adults talking way too loudly. To make it worse, Tokyo Dining’s eating area is completely open to the waiting area so you get the dining noise mixed in with the waiting noise. As loud as it was while waiting, it was ten times worse when we sat down to eat. We could hardly hear each other talk. Our server introduced herself (well, we think she did, but we're not really sure what she said) and took our drink order. Our iced tea came back with moist warm hand towels to clean up with, a nice touch. As usual, we were looking for vegetarian entrees and that proved too surprisingly tough here. (Usually not the case with oriental dining.) We don't care much for sushi - and there wasn't much veggie sushi anyway - so we all ended up with the veggie tempura which, while tasty and beautifully presented, was too much fried food. It was either that or steamed veggies, though, so we didn't see that we really had a choice. We also shared a side salad with a heavenly ginger dressing. I think we should have just all had salad and dessert and maybe shared one order of tempura. Oh, well. Three orders of veggie tempura at $14.95 each, the salad, two iced teas, tax and gratuity came to right about $70. We all left with headaches and not happy with our meals. We will NOT be dining here again. Instead, we'll pay a little more to dine next door as I'd originally hoped - and wait outside until our pager goes off to avoid the noise. If we can't get into Teppan Edo and feel Japanese cuisine is a must then we figure we're better off at Yakitori, the counter service location across the walk. At least it’s more quiet!"
Beth, our travel agent, reviews Chevy’s Fresh Mex at Downtown Disney: "So, there we were, needing to leave Disney World and get home, but not wanting to go just yet. We were hungry for lunch, though, which gave us the perfect excuse to hang out just a little longer. The thing was, we didn't have any dining credits and we didn't want to pay Disney prices for food. We did, however, have a car so we could go anywhere. That’s how we ended up right across the street from the Hotel Plaza Blvd. entrance to Disney property. Chevy’s parking lot has got a clear view of those welcoming walls, complete with the familiar Disney logo and even Mickey Mouse. So we'd left, but we didn't feel really gone. A perfect compromise. Admittedly, I knew nothing about this place, but my boyfriend got so excited I seriously thought he'd run people over if they got in our way. The man who'd just told me he thought a little 'good Mexican food' would be great screeched into the parking lot and nearly ran to the front door, leaving my daughter and me in the dust. Apparently, there used to be a Chevy’s about 45 minutes north of us many years ago and since it closed poor Eric had been searching for another ever since. It was purely coincidence that there was one where we happened to end up. Anyway, if you want to learn more about the place check out www.chevys.com. I'll just tell you that if you like really yummy, GOOD Mexican food – for about the same price you'll pay for a salad at a Disney food court – this is your place. You can download coupons off the internet, and join their club online to get a free appetizer on your next visit. If you have a car, head towards Downtown Disney, turn at the Hilton onto hotel Plaza Blvd, and keep going onto you leave Disney property, cross the street, and enter into the Crossroads Plaza. Chevy’s Fresh Mex is on your left. If you don't have a car you can take a cab from Downtown Disney for a few dollars – or you can take one of the Downtown Disney buses to the Doubletree Guest Suites and then walk the rest of the way (maybe a half mile)."
Phone Lines Open July 20 For Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
Special
Events
La Nuova Cucina Bistro Italiano in Sand Lake Road in Orlando a gem of
a find
10 Questions for Chef Brian Piasecki, California Grill at Walt Disney
World Resort
California Grill at Disney's Contemporary Resort - Risotto Recipe
California Grill at Disney's Contemporary Resort - Golden Gate
Cocktail
A Mother’s Day brunch in Vero Beach at Gloria Estefan's
resort
Disney World uses coupons to promote off-peak dining &
shopping
Beth, our travel agent, writes about dining at Biergarten in Epcot’s Germany pavilion: "YUM! When traveling with children and a vegetarian, sometimes finding a good place to eat can be a challenge. You do, after all, want to make everyone happy. But we were looking for a good place to do lunch for Valentine’s Day, and making the reservations about a week in advance. Not a lot to choose from! We settled on the Biergarten in Epcot’s Germany pavilion. It turned out to be a great choice. We showed up 20 minutes before our priority seating time and were given a pager. We headed next door to check out the shops and the pager went off exactly on time. I’m not really sure why we had to wait because there were many empty tables, but I suspect it could have something to do with the fact that this is a buffet and they don’t want it to get overly crowded around the food. If so, the system works well because we never had to wait behind more than one or two people. We were seated with a nice family of four at a long table, and our server quickly came by to take drink orders. Soft drinks, beer, and wine are included in the price. The salad bar area is a little small, but everything was tasty and there was plenty for the vegetarian in the group. Next stop was the bread basket which included short 'soft pretzel' sticks to die for. Then came potato and leek soup which was so good that I had to ask for the recipe. Even the kids liked it! Entrees included a variety of schnitzel and wurst and plenty of sauerkraut as you’d expect, but also salmon, chicken, and assorted other options. The sides included roasted potatoes, a few types of spatzle, hot potato salad - and even mac n’ cheese for the kids. The dessert selection was ample and heavenly. In short, all members of our group had no problem eating to capacity and then some, and loving every mouthful. The entertainment was a small group of musicians in lederhosen playing traditional German instruments. The kids were fascinated by the alpine horns. We were all too busy eating to get up at the invitation to polka around the dance floor, though. (We couldn’t move by that time anyway.) This is also one of the most reasonably priced dining options (aside from counter locations) that you can find in Epcot. Lunch runs until 3PM and is only $20 for adults and $10 for kids. A few more entrée options come out for dinner and the price increases to $33 for adults and $14 for kids, so come for a late lunch for a real bargain. Just be sure to check over your bill carefully before paying… The child with us was charged as an adult and we were ALL charged a premium, apparently an upcharge for the Valentine’s Day holiday which was never mentioned during the booking or check-in process, so the $75 lunch ended up costing us $111. Ouch! That’s what I get for letting someone else sign for me while I’m in the bathroom." Beth wrote Walt Disney World about the overcharge she received after dining at Epcot's German Biergarten. Here is what they had to say: "Rather than emailing, I took the time to write and mail a letter to Disney’s Guest Services department regarding the surprisingly high bill I got during a recent lunch at the Biergarten restaurant in Epcot’s Germany pavilion. I attached a copy of my email dining confirmation as well as a copy of the receipt. It’s been just over a week since I mailed it, so I was surprised to get a phone call so soon from a very pleasant woman who apologized profusely. She then addressed each concern separately. As to being charged incorrectly for the child under ten, she confirmed that we were overcharged for her. To compensate, they are sending me a $25 Disney gift card to help with expenses on my next visit. (I mentioned in my letter that we go frequently; not sure what they’d do for a family that has no current plans to return.) As to the pricing for the lunch on that date, I expected it to be $19.99 for adults, $10.99 for children, plus tax. Apparently, the price at the Biergarten changes frequently and for early February the pricing for lunch had increased by $2 for adults and $1 for children; however, we were (as I suspected) also charged an additional premium because it was Valentine’s Day. Disney acknowledges that the exact pricing for the day you’re dining doesn’t appear on their website, nor is it on the confirmation that you get by email (when doing reservations online), so if you’re not using dining credits and want to confirm pricing for your specific dates, you can call Disney Dining at 1-407-WDW-DINE and they can tell you what the pricing will be - subject to change prior to arrival, though, so I’m not sure exactly how that protects you from unanticipated increases. The cast member added that as a rule, if the date is a 'blackout' on the Tables in Wonderland program* you can count on a holiday premium being charged. (I looked it up after the call and the blackout list includes New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, Mother's Day, Easter, 4th of July, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. No mention of Valentine’s Day, so it’s obviously not a pool-proof method of checking.) Note that she didn’t know for sure about the Valentine’s Day charges for this year and promised to check it out and get back to me. She called back less than 10 minutes later, so she was thorough in her follow-through. Finally, as to the confusing nature of how the suggested gratuities are presented, she acknowledged that pre-figuring 18% and 20% for you (to aid the mathematically challenged) is fine for a regular restaurant, but admittedly higher than most people tip at a buffet location. Nevertheless, it’s presented as a guideline only and you’re permitted to write in anything you want to. In the end, I have to say that I’m not only impressed with the fact that they followed up (so many companies wouldn’t), but that they did so with such speed, courtesy, and professionalism - and with a true indication that they really did want to make it 'right' for me." *Note from John: Tables in Wonderland is a dining program for Florida residents and Annual Passholders. See our book, "Secrets To An Affordable Walt Disney World® Vacation," for details.
Another bad hidden fee pops up -- a 'health' surcharge at
restaurants
Downtown Disney McDonald's to close
Which Orlando restaurants offer that 'wow' factor
New Dining Room at Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand
Floridian Resort & Spa
New Tables in Wonderland for 2010 - (Formerly known as the Disney
Dining Experience, a program where Florida residents and annual passholders
save 20% on dining at the resort. (See our book for more details.)
A taste of France in Celebration
C'mon, all y'all - just Hoop-Dee-Doo it Character Dining is back at the Magic Kingdom's Liberty Tree Tavern Jan. 3, 2010 through Feb. 15, 2010. The Crystal Palace will be closed for refurbishing during the same period. (Source: Disney email blast, 11/03/09)
Beth, our travel agent, writes about 2010 Disney dining: "Don’t panic if your favorite restaurants don’t yet appear on the 2010 dining plan list. There are always a few that wait to renew their contracts until the last possible minute (most notably, a few of the Epcot locations). There’s no reason at this point to think that the 2009 participants won’t all be back next year. And speaking of dining… The 2010 Quick Service plan cost is up $1 for kids (ages 3-9) and $3 for adults to $9.99 and $31.99 respectively. The Basic plan has a more complicated pricing. In value and regular seasons the cost increases $1 for children, $3 for adults, to $11.99 and $41.99 respectively. During peak, summer and holiday seasons the rates are $5 more for adults and $1 more for kids. The cost of the Deluxe plan remains the same as this year: $20.99 for children and $71.99 for adults. Inclusions for the plans are the same as this year EXCEPT that children will now get an appetizer with lunch or dinner at full-service locations. Gratuities are still not included."
Beth, our travel agent, writes about Disney dining reservations: "Now that the kinks are (mostly) worked out of the online dining reservation system, Disney will revert to allowing dining reservations 180 days out starting on October 27. And speaking on online reservations, I still maintain that the process is rather slow and tedious. If you have time to kill – or you’re sitting on a never-ending phone hold with the dining people – then go for it. In fact, you can even start an hour earlier than the call center does (6AM eastern time), but I personally would aim for doing just one or two reservations in that session (the places that are hardest to get) and then call at 7AM. Special note: be sure if you’re doing it online you check out after about 20-25 minutes because your session will TIME out after 30 minutes and you’ll lose everything in your cart. (I know this from personal experience!) Once you’ve confirmed the first group by checking out you can go back in and start again with your second group of reservations."
The Laughs Are Still Fresh After More than 35 Years and 34,400 Performances
at ‘Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue’
Children’s Miracle Network Classic Creates Innovative Wine &
Dine Walk Along Walt Disney World Fairways
Changes aim to make Disney restaurants more pleasant, profitable
Opa! Kouzzina by Cat Cora officially opens at Disney's Boardwalk
Chef Dee Foundoukis -- Kouzzina by Cat Cora
Disney Animal Kingdom Yak & Yeti vegetarian
Dining is Part of the Show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Magic Kingdom Eats: From Quick Bites to Lunch with a Princess
Picnic in Disney's Animal Kingdom
Disney updating menus and dining rooms
New Waterfront Eatery Opens at Downtown Disney Early May 2009 LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Paradiso 37, a high-energy restaurant and bar featuring cuisine from North, South and Central America, welcomes guests to its table in May at Pleasure Island at Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World Resort. The lakeside eatery will offer a delectable variety of menu offerings representing the 37 countries of the Americas, plus an international wine bar, 37 varieties of tequila and 10 signature frozen margaritas. The new concept was developed by Orlando-based E-Brands Restaurant Group, a multi-concept restaurant group which currently owns and operates Timpano Chophouse, Samba Room, Taqueria Canonita, Aquaknox, David Burke, Salsa Orlando and Canonita Express in a number of locations across the United States. The lively Downtown Disney restaurant will feature nightly entertainment and will be open daily from 11 a.m. until late night. (Source: Press Release, 04/08/09)
Sanaa Brings Flavors of India, Africa To Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Fans of Jiko-The Cooking Place and Boma-Flavors of Africa have a new reason to dine at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge as Sanaa debuts May 1 in the resort’s new Kidani Village expansion. The new Walt Disney World restaurant’s unusual name, pronounced "Sah-NAH," is the Swahili word for "artwork." With interiors inspired by African art and remarkable views of the resort’s Sunset Savannah through 9-foot windows, diners experience "the art of African cooking with Indian flavors" in the 150-seat, family-oriented restaurant located on the ground floor just below the lobby. Sanaa’s cuisine is a melting pot of tastes from the islands of the Indian Ocean that all are part of Africa - Zanzibar, the Seychelles, Comoro Islands, Mauritius and Madagascar. “ "These islands were on important trade routes with influences from French, Portuguese, Dutch, British, Arab and Chinese traders," said Chef Bob Getchell. "The diverse spices and flavors give us an endless array of options for Sanaa." The most indelible mark on the cuisine of the region was made by Indian traders who introduced curries, spice blends and breads. Central to African-Indian cuisine is the use of the tandoor oven, essentially a large clay pot similar to a pizza oven. The tandoor provides very high, dry heat that creates a crisp outer layer and moist interior. Along with meats, a favorite tandoor oven treat is the Indian bread naan, which is slapped directly onto the oven’s clay walls and allowed to bake until puffy and lightly browned. The Sanaa kitchen will have two custom tandoor ovens. Specialties include tandoori chicken, lamb and shrimp, slow-cooked curries, and braised short ribs. "Don’t think of curry as spicy," said Chef Getchell, "but as a centuries-old cooking method that allows flavors to fully develop in the meats, vegetables, and sauces." The base blend of seasonings for Sanaa’s curries include cardamom, chiles, cinnamon, cloves, saffron, coriander, nutmeg, fennel seed, cumin, tamarind, turmeric and more. The turmeric is what gives many curry dishes their characteristic yellow color. Appetizers such as lamb kefta with tamarind-dried papaya sauce, and unusual salads like okra, radishes and tomato, roasted beets, and carrot, orange and mint start the dining experience. Entrées include the tandoori-roasted meats, curries, and sides such as dahl (stewed lentils), curried crushed potatoes, stir-fried green beans and slow-cooked spinach and paneer (a mild South Asian cheese). Indian style flatbreads including naan, roti, and paratha are paired with chutneys, Indian style pickles and raita (yogurt-based dip). For guests who prefer more American flavors, there is a grilled pork chop and club sandwich at lunch, and grilled flank steak at dinner. Sweets are the final adventure, including mango pudding, cardamom-butter cake, papaya with sea salt and lime and vanilla-coconut rice pudding. The restaurant is open from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. and from 5-9 p.m. An adjacent 24-seat lounge serves African wines, beer and spirits. For reservations, call 407/WDW-DINE. Kidani Village at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is part of Disney Vacation Club. (Source: Press Release, 03/31/09)
Revisiting Fantasmic! dinner package at Disney's Hollywood Studios
Food for Thought: Universal's BK WHOPPER Bar opens, "Ratatouille" animatronic
arrives at Epcot and Character Dining returns to the Liberty Tree
Tavern
More parents feed their kids apples instead of fries at Disney
parks
Disney World's wine market no Mickey Mouse story
Disney World cafe puts fare at diners' fingertips
Disney Dining Plan Can Be Good Deal For Family
The whole family can dig in at Disney's T-Rex Cafe
Disney's menu change is good for the goose, not the gourmet
Disney's new dinosaur-themed restaurant opens
Review of the new Wave restaurant at the Contemporary resort: good
intentions, some good food, problems with staff and ambiance. |
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Beth, our travel agent, writes: WHAT'S UP WITH DISNEY DINING??? I know I mentioned it before, but just to reiterate: Disney is changing the dining reservation system to enable you to book dining online. In preparation for that change-over (tentatively scheduled to debut in November) reservations cannot currently be made beyond February 22. The change does not effect Victoria & Albert's, Cinderella's Royal Table, and Chef Mickey's; you will still be able to book those 180 days in advance by calling 1-407-WDW-DINE. Once the new system is up and running, the 180 day rule will return for the rest of the dining venues. Also, please, please, please don't forget to make your dining reservations as early as possible. That means as soon as you know that you'll be traveling to Disney World. If you wait until you arrive you will have little (if anything) to choose from, particularly over busy periods. Reservations are needed for ALL character meals, dinner shows, and sit-down meal locations whether you have a dining plan or not! I cannot stress this enough. (I know, I know... You didn't make reservations for your trip five years ago and getting in was no problem. Well, things have changed. MAKE RESERVATIONS!)"
Cynthia writes: "Dear John, As promised, here is our review of the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Review dinner show. We had a party of five, all adults, mothers/daughters and friends. We had category 2 seating and could see the stage pretty well. The show is absolutely slap-stick and cornball humor; but, with our group of ladies it was great fun. The singer/dancers are very talented and do a good job delivering their corny lines and moving the show along. They also interact with the audience and leave the stage from time to time to put the spot light on an audience member and provide him/her with a friendly moment of embarrassment... it’s all in fun and everyone seemed to enjoy it. The food is terrific. When you get to your table you’ll find a cool bowl of salad and a hot slab of cornbread awaiting you. Both are very good, but the cornbread was exceptional. After some music and comedy, the next round is brought out, which consist of fried chicken, baby-back ribs, mashed potatoes, and baked beans. At this point, my only disappointment was that there were no more vegetables to enjoy... I guess the salad is enough for most, but I would’ve liked another veggie on the menu. Even so, everything that was served to us was tasty and perfectly prepared. We had seconds on the ribs, and ate two slabs of cornbread; it was so good! The show resumed as we were finishing up the main course, then we were served strawberry shortcake for dessert. Again, we were surprised at how good it was. Everything we ate had a homemade quality, and we enjoyed all of it. The only negative to our evening at the Hoop Dee Doo, is that we didn’t know that we had to transfer to a bus indie the Ft. Wilderness campground to get there. I was told that we could drive to Pioneer Hall for the show, and envisioned a different scenario. When we got to Ft. Wilderness there was a parking lot and a kennel, and no real signage to direct us. We drove to another entrance to be told that we needed to go back there and catch a bus to the Hoop Dee Doo Review. Because of the confusion we were behind schedule, and some of our group literally had to run to catch the bus while the last two came as quickly as possible with a wheelchair. If you’re planning to attend, give yourself plenty of time for the bus transfer. All in all, the Hoop Dee Doo Review turned out to be a highlight of our trip. We had dined at Narcoosee’s (another highlight) the night before, and we laughed about how different the two evenings were. Both enjoyable, in differing ways, and both we will do again."
Anna writes:
This has really become a big problem. On our last vacation we could find nothing available without a reservation - no matter how late! The Disney Dining Plan has made that impossible. It is very popular and everyone, of course, is booking out the restaurants months in advance.
The best I can say is to see upon arrival if there are any last minute
cancellations. In the meantime, I would call every day several times a day
to see if someone has canceled. Also - the restaurants in the theme parks
are the hardest to secure, try those in the resort hotels. For a list of
those, see:
Cynthia writes:
We don't care for corn ball humor, but some do like it. You can read some
reviews at: Thank you for your kind comments. It's members like you who keep us going! God bless you, too! Cynthia wrote back:
We'd love to publish your report! We invite all of our readers to contribute their comments to our newsletter.
Cynthia writes:
It gets mixed reviews. For recent feedback, see: Category 3 seats are located on the lower level, far left or right, and upper level. Both levels provide an unobstructed view of the show. Cynthia wrote back:
Lisa writes:
Contact Beth, our travel agent. She has a file of the current dining plan eateries. See http://ezinearticles.com/?Snack-Time-at-Walt-Disney-World&id=1225697 for some helpful information.
Big Bamboo Reopens: "For those of you not familiar with The Big Bamboo
or The 'Boo, as it was affectionately referred to, it was a
true-to-the-definition dive bar, located in Kissimmee and heavily frequented
by Disney cast members."
A new Magic Your Way Quick Service dining option will be added January
11, 2009. For a set fee, the plan will include two quick service meals, two
snacks, and refillable mug. More details coming. $29.99 per adult; $8.99
per child, per night. Beth, our travel agent, writes: "Is the quick service plan worth it? Well, there's no doubt that you'd save money if you take all that you're entitled to. I mean, a quick service dinner can set you back $15-20 without much trouble at all, so getting lunch, 2 snacks, and the drink mug on top of it is a real bargain. The question is, is it worth paying $10 more (adult) or $2 more (child) to get the basic plan? If you're inclined to have a character meal and/or table service meal pretty much every day then I'd say it probably is... But if you will be happy with just one or two of those larger meals during the stay, then take the Quick service plan and just pay for the better meals."
Busch's All-Day Dining Deal: SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and Aquatica
visitors can buy wristbands good for unlimited dining at their cafeteria-style
restaurants.
Cynthia, Lifetime Deluxe Member, writes:
We haven't eaten at Boma's. I'm not sure I'd like African seasonings. I believe a dominant African seasoning is cinnamon!
Cinderella's dinner has a lot of fans, but the food is not a strong point. You'll find this site's reviews helpful.
There's a great view right on the outside steps of the restaurant or anywhere along the lagoon. You're in for a real treat at Iluminations! A must see!
Beth, our travel agent, writes: Dining at Boma in Animal Kingdom Lodge... "I had the pleasure of staying in a concierge level room at this resort once. While I loved very American breakfast offered in the lounge, I wasn't crazy about the hors d'oeuvres around dinner time. It turns out that (as you suspected, John) African spices are an acquired taste that I - apparently - haven't yet acquired the taste for. Not surprisingly, I found dinner at Boma to be equally disappointing. Even the desserts that I'd heard so much about fell short. A friend of mine that lived in Africa for a time tells me that this is one of her favorite places to eat, so if you want 'real' African food this is the place to go. Otherwise, skip it unless you have adventuresome taste buds. There are TONS of great places to eat where you can be nearly certain you'll like the food." Viewing Illuminations.... "Check to see which way the wind is blowing and be sure to NOT be where the wind will blow the smoke from the fireworks into your face. I learned that lesson the hard way! You cannot imagine how much smoke there is coming off the lake during those fireworks."
Lisa writes about Disney dining changes:
Thanks, Lisa, for the update.
Beth, our travel agent, writes about tipping on the Disney Dining Plan: Everyone that's ever asked me about the basic dining plan knows how much I love it. While it's not the least expensive way to eat at Disney, it's a real bargain if you are planning to do a character meal or full-service meal once a day for most of your stay - especially if you have children ages 3-9. You never have that little voice in your head telling you to order chicken or pasta when you really want prime rib (because it's all covered by the plan) and you're prepaying most of your food costs so you know in advance exactly what you're spending on food... or do you? I had a very interesting discussion with a man yesterday who told me of a family group that just returned from Disney World. They had a great time, and for the most part they loved the dining plan. What they didn't count on, though, was the gratuities. They were totally aware that gratuities were no longer included in the plan, and they understood that for parties of 6 or more 18% would automatically be added on, but in their minds they were budgeting 18% of the cost of the dining plan rather than 18% of the retail value of the food they ordered. This is a little detail that cannot be stressed enough: the gratuity is figured on the total of the bill as if you were paying out of pocket for everything you ordered. Now, if you're NOT a group of six or more, you can choose to leave less than 18% just like you can when you dine out anywhere else. If, however, you are dining with six or more that gratuity is going to be charged directly to your room. So, let's say your family of two adults and two teens heads out to Le Cellier for a nice steak dinner, a meal that takes one table-service credit each. To keep things simple, we'll say you all skip the appetizers since they aren't included, and you all decide to order the same entree and dessert: the filet mignon ($34.99) and the crème brulee ($6.99). You also each order Diet Coke (to cancel out the calories of the dessert) for $2.95 each. That's a total of $44.93 per person plus tax (another $2.92) and you're thrilled with your decision to spend $37.95 per person per night on your basic dining plan because you've spent more than that on just one meal! And then you realize you still have to pay a tip. A 15% gratuity is $26.96 - ouch! Of course, no one is going to MAKE you leave 15%, but you know that (or more) is what's customary for good service these days. Now, let's say that your family is dining with your sister's family of four. You're now a party of 8 so the gratuity is going to be billed to your room automatically, and it's billed at 18%. You're going to see a charge of $32.35 on your room bill at the end of the trip. If you ate like this every day for 7 days, the bill for gratuities at the end of the stay would be over $226!!! Didn't see THAT coming, did you? I'm not trying to say you should avoid the dining plan OR that you should eat pasta for every meal. I'm just saying that you need to understand in advance what to expect with these gratuities so you're not blind-sided. Those gratuities apply even if you're on the FREE dining offer, so plan for them. And if you've upgraded to deluxe dining then you REALLY need to think ahead because there's more of a tendency to eat 2-3 meals a day in the priciest places. By the way, if the gratuity thing is really an issue for you, you CAN find places that offer entrees for under $15. Also, gratuities are included when you use your credits for Grand Gathering events, dinner shows, room service, or pizza delivery (all of which take 2 table-service credits). Drop me a note if you need links to menus and/or tips for getting the most from your dining plan.
Kim writes:
The SpectroMagic Parade usually runs at 8 and 10 PM when the park stays open later. You'll need a window seat at the Crystal Palace to see it as it runs along Main Street; and a window seat at Liberty Tree Tavern to see it as it makes its way through Frontierland. Unfortunately, you'll only be able to see it in the distance. The best view is from the outside tables at Tony's Town Square restaurant at Town Square Exposition Hall. Kim wrote back:
Here's the Disney Hollywood Studios calendar. Fantasmic runs 8:30 and 10 PM on longer nights. Tony's outside eating area is elevated and inaccessible to those without reservations. You should be able to see the parade from the tables just fine. We haven't personally eaten at 50's Prime Time, but many love the waitresses pretending to be mom.
The Thomas family describe their dining experiences at Walt Disney
World.
"Dining Well at Disney - A child's dream visit can be a culinary pleasure
for adults, too."
For a review of Hollywood & Vine restaurant at Disney's Hollywood
Studios, see:
"The Biergarten restaurant at Germany is always a surefire hit with
guests. Not only is the variety of food good (it's a buffet), but the Octoberfest
Musikanten group that performs there is invariably entertaining."
"The food I sampled at Jiko [at Animal Kingdom Lodge] was creative
and well-executed, a fusion of styles and cooking techniques using seasonings
and spices associated with African cuisine."
The Wave restaurant opens next month at the Contemporary and will
feature wines from Argentina, Australia, Chile, New Zealand and South Africa.
The wines (except sparkling wines) will also have screw tops - no corks.
"Central Floridians are frustrated by the Disney Dining Plan, which
caters to tourists who plan way in advance for vacation meals."
New restaurant to debut at Downtown Disney: "The 5,000-square-foot,
two-story facility will have a tequila bar and outdoor seating along Village
Lake."
Disney Serves Best Martini: "The trade magazine for full-service
restaurants and bars said the company's usual attention to themed detail
and operational efficiency has made the resort the nation's 'Best Chain Overall
Beverage Program.'"
"The Cheesecake Factory is closing its restaurant at DisneyQuest in
Downtown Disney [in May]... The restaurant will be replaced with FoodQuest,
a counter-service eatery owned and operated by Disney."
A review of eateries at Epcot's Japan Pavilion: "Teppan Edo includes
a floor show from entertaining chefs while Tokyo Dining offers a more serene
atmosphere with good sushi. Both restaurants give an insight into Japanese
customs even as they break down gender stereotypes."
For the recipe for Apple Shooters from the California Grill at Walt
Disney World's Contemporary Resort, see:
$7 a beer! Those conventioneers must really run up a tab. For a review of
the new Rix Lounge at Disney's Coronado Springs, see:
$7 for green beans! And the food quality - in a word, embarrassing. For a
review of the new Yak & Yeti restaurant at Disney's Animal Kingdom
park, see:
"Foodie award winners: Scott Joseph and Sentinel readers pick Orlando
area's finest restaurants." Boma at Animal Kingdom Lodge and Latin Quarter
at Universal's CityWalk made the list.
Orlando's Sentinel's Theme Park Rangers discuss having Thanksgiving dinner
at the Liberty Tree Tavern in the Magic Kingdom as well as tips on how
to get a last minute reservation.
Disney is going to build a new restaurant in the Contemporary's main tower
called "The Wave." The restaurant is expected to open spring or summer
2008 and will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.
"Two life-size dinosaurs will grace the outside and dozens more robotic dinosaurs
will decorate the interior of the T-Rex restaurant and store under
construction at Downtown Disney."
"Walt Disney Co., seeking to address concerns about childhood obesity and
eating habits, will phase out trans fats from food served at its theme
parks in Paris, Hong Kong and Tokyo over the next two years."
"Work has begun on Walt Disney World's latest full-service, themed restaurant,
the T-Rex, to be opened at Downtown Disney in a partnership with Landry's
Restaurants out of Houston... T-Rex is to become a full-menu, full-service
family-oriented restaurant, a genre that's oddly scarce at Downtown Disney."
The 12th annual Epcot Food & Wine Festival is now in full swing. "The 12th annual fest will feature seminars, tastings, culinary demonstrations and food samples from such countries as China, Chile, Turkey and Peru." And Oklahoma! (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 09/28/07) Click here for more information, including the link to download Disney's Food and Wine Festival Guide. "Now you can search restaurant inspection records from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation for inspection reports on all eateries from July 2006 to present." Start your search here.
Cindy, a member since 2001, writes:
Those dates fill up fast! If you plan to visit Disney over the holidays, call ASAP to reserve Cinderella's Table before they're booked out! I'm glad you are enjoying your membership, Cindy!
"Reservations (at the California Grill) can be made only with a credit card -- no exceptions -- and no-shows will be charged $20 a head. Guests must check in on the hotel's second level, then be escorted to the top in a dedicated elevator." In other words, no one gets in who just wants to watch the fireworks! (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 07/01/07)
"Most of the food I had during my two visits to the Swan's newest signature restaurant (Il Mulino) was well-prepared and served by a staff that showed training, if not consummate professionalism, in an atmosphere that is large and bustling -- yes, noisy -- without being frantic, and stylishly modern but decidedly not cozy." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 06/03/07)
Walt Disney World has announced that children can get FREE refills on milk, juices, soda, and bottled water at its table-service restaurants effective May 31!
Deb writes: "John: We have just arrived from a wonderful vacation at Disney World. We were use to the old diners package, but this was a lot of food. We also spent a lot of time getting to, eating and leaving a sit down meal. I would say 2 hrs for a sit down meal. If you were at another park, my guess 3 hours total with travel... We all mentioned it was restricting. At least we had reservations. Over and over again people tried for walk in sit downs and were told reservations only. Everyone should make reservations if on the Diners Package. If not they will not use their Magic Diners Plan to the Maximum." Many don't realize how much time it takes to get to a restaurant, eat and get out. Be sure to plan your vacation days accordingly.
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