Tag: disney dining

Best Bites: Snacks Magic Kingdom Edition

by disneywonderlandgazette, posted in Disney, family, Family Vacation, Toddler, Toddler Travel, Uncategorized, Walt Disney World
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Photo courtesy of Walt Disney World

When you are treking all over Walt Disney World you can work up quite an appetite.

In between meals you can be wanting a little something but not a full meal. Luckily, there are a lot of places within Walt Disney World to pick up a quick bite.

However, not all snacks are created equal. This is especially true if you are on the dining plan where you receive two snacks per night booked at the resort.

A few years ago, Disney changed what was considered a snack on their dining plan.

One of the easiest ways to identify a snack is looking for a little white and purple box next to the item. If you have this, then you know it is a snack.

However, any single serve item is considered a snack (box of popcorn, ice cream bar, etc.)

But, a smart vacationer knows how to use the snacks to their favorite.

For example, you can use a bottle of water for a snack credit or you can use it on a cup of chili at Columbia Harbor House.

Below, are my top choices for how best to use your snack credits in the Magic Kingdom.

Magic Kingdom

Breakfast 

Liberty Square Market: This location has a variety of fresh fruit available, yogurt and even a Mickey pretzel. It opens at 9 a.m.

Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies: This quick service restaurant offers smoothies that would make a quick breakfast on the go. It opens at 10:30 a.m. (This however is not on the dining plan so you will have to pay out of pocket.)

Main Street Bakery: Here you can use your snack credit to get your Starbucks fix for the day. The bakery opens at 9 a.m.

Lunch/Dinner

Aloha Isle: This is my personal favorite, Dole Whip. This creamy (yet vegan) frozen treat is an icon of Disney cuisine. You can also get a pineapple spear. This location opens at 10 a.m.

Columbia Harbor House: This, in my opinion, is the biggest bang for your snack buck. Here you can get a cup of vegetarian chili, New England Clam Chowder, Steamed Vegetables and coleslaw. Columbia Harbor house opens at 11 a.m.

The Friar’s Nook: Sometimes when it is really hot in WDW you will want something that will cool you off in the middle of the heat. Here you can get a frozen lemonade that should do the trick. The restaurant opens at 11 a.m.

The Lunching Pad: Another location to get your Mickey pretzel fix. This location opens at 10 a.m.

Those are just a few of my favorite ways to make a meal out of a snack in the Magic Kingdom. For more tips on using the dining plan pick up your copy of Mousekatots.

mousekatots

 

 

A New Meal with Character

by disneywonderlandgazette, posted in Disney, family, family fun, Family Vacation, Toddler, Toddler Travel, Uncategorized, Walt Disney World
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Photo courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

When you have a little one who is obsessed with seeing the Disney characters up close and personal it can be difficult to try and track them down all over the parks.

This is why, in my opinion, the best option is to plan a character meal.

There are lots to choose from that cover all three major meals and offer a bunch of different characters.

This week, the Disney Parks Blog announced that a special breakfast featuring some of Disney’s most popular couples will be offered this spring.

This new breakfast will take place at Trattoria al Forno located at the Boardwalk Resort.

Currently, the power couples from “The Little Mermaid” and “Tangled” are slated to make appearances at the breakfast.

Right now, information regarding prices and menu have not been released yet.

If you are looking for a great character breakfast that is currently offered is Tusker House at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park.

You get to see Mickey and the gang, the buffet has plenty of traditional breakfast staples plus some additional offerings that are unique to the restaurant.

When we have gone in the past it hasn’t been that busy so we were able to spend a lot of time with the characters and got some really cute photos.

The Bite: Cheshire Café

by disneywonderlandgazette, posted in Disney, family fun, Family Vacation, Toddler, Toddler Travel, Uncategorized, Walt Disney World

 

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Photo courtesy of Walt Disney World Resort

The Magic Kingdom has several charming places that are hidden away in plain sight.

One such place is nestled in Fantasyland near the boarder between this land and Tomorrowland.

It is called Cheshire Café and looks like something straight out of a storybook.

This little kiosk, that resembles a little cottage complete with sundae shop chairs and decorative umbrellas offers an assortment of light breakfast options and quick grab and go snacks.

This location does not participate in the Disney Dining Plan, but nothing is more than $5.

This restaurant would be the perfect place to grab a quick, toddler friendly breakfast before you take on the attractions in Fantasyland.

Menu items include:

  • Assorted Cereals with Milk
  • Muffins
  • Whole Fruit
  • Simply Orange Orange Juice
  • Minute Maid Raspberry-Lemonade Slushy
  • Mocha Iced Coffee
  • Hot Tea
  • Smartwater
  • Minute Maid Lemonade Slushy
  • French Vanilla Iced Coffee
  • Nestle Hot Cocoa
  • Coffee (regular and decaf)
  • Dasani Bottled Water

 

*Insert shameless plug here*

For more tips about other restaurants that would be a good fit for your Toddler as well as to what attractions will be a hit with your Mouskatot, pick up a copy of Mousekatots today.

They make wonderful Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers.

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All aboard for dinner

by disneywonderlandgazette, posted in family fun, Toddler, Toddler Travel, Uncategorized, Walt Disney World

For many people the Monorail at Walt Disney World is more than a vehicle for transportation.

For awhile now people have been using the monorail as a way to drink at the different deluxe resorts in the form of a monorail bar crawl.

Disney decided to take things one step further and offer a new experience: Highway in the Sky Dine-Around.

 

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Photo courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

 

This new experience, announced by the Disney Parks Blog yesterday, is a sort of “progressive dinner” that will start Dec. 2.

Participants will have the opportunity to dine at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

According to the blog, the dining event will start at The Wave … of American Flavors at the Contemporary for a cocktail, then hop on the “highway in the sky” to the Polynesian to have South Pacific themed “sips and appetizers.”

Next stop will be at the Grand Floridian for dining at Citricos for an entrée and wine pairing. There will also be a sparkling wine and sampling of artisanal cheese in the lobby.

The final stop of the grand monorail food tour will be back at the contemporary for dessert, cordials and coffee on the private patio with the view of fireworks at the Magic Kingdom.

This dining experience will be available Tuesday, Friday and Sunday (with blackout dates of Dec. 23 and Dec. 31).

The cost is $150, gratuity included, but tax is additional. Valet parking is included.

If this sounds like something up your alley, you can make reservations at 407-WDW-DINE.

Photo courtesy of Disney Parks Blog
Photo courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

While the price tag is pretty hefty, it is still a little cheaper than Victoria & Albert’s and it seems like this is more of a unique experience that lets you save the best of the hotels on the monorail line. (Visiting the different hotels are one of my favorite things to do on vacation.)

Is this something you would like to try? Leave a comment below.

Prepare to Let Your Belly Shake Like a Bowl Full of Jelly

by disneywonderlandgazette, posted in Disney, family fun, Family Vacation, Toddler, Toddler Travel, Uncategorized, Walt Disney World

The imaginers at Walt Disney World are smart.

They know that people go nuts during the annual Food and Wine Festival in Epcot.

When we were there last week it was so hard to move because the booths were jam packed with people waiting in line to savor international food and beverages.

So how can Disney bring more magic to the resort’s holiday season?  By adding international themed food booths to Epcot’s Holidays Around the World.

 

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Photo courtesy of Walt Disney World
Joining the various seasonal activitites that have been a long standing tradition at Epcot during the holiday season will be these food booths.

The Disney Food Blog has an awesome entry about all the various booths, complete with photos of some of the holiday themed delacasies that have been offered in the past.

Germany

Called Proust! The German themed holiday pavilion has been a staple of the holiday festivitites for awhile. But, this year their offerings are expanded to include an artisan cheese plate, Sauerbraten with red cabbage and spätzle, Williams Punch, the Carmel Kiss and Gluwein.

If the spätzle is anything like the kind that is served in the German restaurant, it should be delicious.

America

Disney decided to stick to the holiday traditions when it came time to create the menu for the American booth.

This year, guests can enjoy roasted turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce, pork tenderloin with green bean casserole, roasted  sweet potato wedges and a champagne Demi-Glace.

Don’t forget the alcoholic beverages such as Firenog, Shipyard Eggnog White Porter Aged on Bourbon, and more.

Switzerland

While this country doesn’t have a perminant presence in Epcot, they will be represented this holiday season with a booth situated between France and Morocco.

Food selections including duck confit, dumplings and roasted Brussels sprouts with a fig reduction.

My personal favorite offering at this booth would be the cheese fondue in a bread bowl.

Sachertorte will be prepared with chocolate cake, apricot jam and dark chocolate glaze in addition to other tasty temptations.

American South

The holidays are all about comfort food. That is why comfort foods are going to shine at a booth dedicated to this region of the United States.

Hoppin’ John (a traditional treat for New Year’s Eve with black eyed peas, ham hocks and kale over rice with cornbread crumbles), blackened catfish with white cheddar grits and okra, tomato and onion stew and a chocolate pecan tart will be available.

Spain/Latin America

 

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Photo courtesy of Walt Disney World

In honor of the Feast of the Three Kings a special booth has been erected that will offer a variety of foods from this region. Offerings include a shredded beef tamale with avocado creama, roasted pork with mashed yucca and pickled green bananas.

Of course traditional Three Kings Bread will be available for purchase.

Beverages will include Coquito (coconut milk) and for the adults, a rum floater.

There will also be plenty of holiday offerings throughout the parks including Mickey Santa Hat Cupcake, gingerbread ice cream, panettone and more.

What holiday treats sound most tempting to you? Leave your comments below.

 

 

Tot Five: For the Health of it

by disneywonderlandgazette, posted in Disney, family fun, Family Vacation, Toddler, Toddler Travel, Uncategorized, Walt Disney World

When I often think of Walt Disney World, I think of an indulgent vacation with a lot of relaxation.

However, just because you are on vacation, it doesn’t mean that you have to take a vacation away from your healthy lifestyle.

While Mickey ice cream bars, churros and giant turkey legs might sound good, if you take it to the extrememe you might regret it when you get home.

Here are my tot five tips on staying healthy while at Walt Disney World.

1. Eat Healthy

 

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Photo courtesy of Walt Disney World.

You are on vacation, and the last thing you want to do is worry about if you are eating healthy or not. It’s your vacation so you want to enjoy your food a little more than you would at home. This is fine as long as you work in a little healthy foods every now and again.

At Disney this is easy to do. All restaurnts, including quick service, offer healthy options like salads, rice dishes, lean sources of protein and more.

For the Mousekatots, you can look for the Mickey Check on menus throughout the resort. This will indicate the healthiest options for the little ones.

2. Portion Control

If you are going to grab a bite to eat for breakfast, lunch or a small dinner and you want to watch your calories, you can always purchase a child’s meal for yourself.

Even on the dining plan you can use a credit for a child’s meal (and if a child has a dining plan they can use the credit for an adult meal. They aren’t separated into adult and child catagories like they used to be.)

3. Swap out your dessert credit for a snack

If you are on the dining plan, you are entitled to dessert with your counter service restaurant.

Instead of getting a dessert, you can swap it in for anything that is considered a snack like a piece of fresh fruit.

4. Exercise

 

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Photo courtesy of Walt Disney World

If you go on a Walt Disney World vacation you are going to do a lot of walking.

But, if you are a runner or enjoy going for a morning walk to get some exercise or take in the sights and sounds of your resort, Disney has something for you.

In a partnership with new balance, the athletic shoe company, each of the resorts has a map that shows you the best and safest places to run or walk at your resort as well as the distance.

These maps are usually on sign posts around the resort. If you can’t find them, ask at the front desk and they should be able to point you in the right direction.

5. Balance is Key

While eating healthy and exercising is important while you are on vacation, you also want to cut yourself some slack. Treat yo self!

If you have been healthy all day, a nice little treat won’t undo all of it.

Also, if you do put a little weight on during your vacation, don’t stress. It is your vacation and you can always lose what you put on.

What are your tips for staying healthy while at Walt Disney World? Leave it in the comments below.