Dining In Disney – The Walt Disney World Food Blog

Starting 10/26/2011, Disney Dinner Reservations at Chef Mickey's at Disney's Contemporary Resort (and other select restaurants in Walt Disney World) will require a credit card to hold reservations. (Image © Disney)

If you’re planning a trip to Walt Disney world or are there now and your looking to make Disney dinner reservations, you are not alone. Next to making the arrangements for your flights and hotel stay, the next most important thing you need to do to make your vacation successful is making dinner reservations at the best restaurants you can find available. So how do you make Disney dinner reservations without making it a frustrating experience? Let me tell you how. Read the rest of this entry

Deep into the pathways of Frontierland there is a treat that is taking Mickey Mouse fans and Disney food connoisseurs by storm. Not simply because it’s a tasty treat but because it’s a cool new version of the soft pretzel that only Disney could come up with. Yes, you guessed it…..one of the hottest Disney treats is in fact the Mickey Pretzel!

Probably the coolest thing to ever happen to the soft pretzel! Say hello to the now famous Mickey Pretzel! ©Disney

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Walt Disney World announced that starting today when you book a 4-night/5-day room and ticket package for arrival between October 2011 and March 2012, you will receive the Disney Dining Plan for Free! You must book your stay by October 29, 2011 to receive the special free dining deal.

The way this works is that in order to receive the Disney Quick Service Dining Plan you need to book your stay at a Disney Value Resort. In order to receive the normal Disney Dining Plan (which includes the sit down meal) you need to book your stay at a Disney Moderate, Disney Deluxe or Disney Villa Resort. Read the rest of this entry

I often wish I lived near Walt Disney World so that I could enjoy the foods and restaurants that I’ve come to love. Sometimes there’s nothing worse than being up here in Pennsylvania and having your wife ask you what do you want to do for dinner and you uncontrollably blurt out “Chef Mickey’s!” or “Kona Cafe!” or “Pecos Bill!” I’ve often thought that Disney or some other aspiring restauranteur should open a themed restaurant up this way as I really think something Disney’ish would draw big crowds. Although I probably won’t see a Chef Mickey’s up here anytime soon, I am happy to report that we will have an EARL OF SANDWICH! Read the rest of this entry

Every time we visit Walt Disney World we find something new and interesting in their shops and this past trip in June was definitely no different.  The coolest food related souvenir had to be the new ‘Disney Theme Park Snack and Play’ set for kids that includes miniature play versions of some of Disney’s favorite park foods. Yes, your child can now bring home plastic play replicas of the famed Mickey Ice Cream Bar, the very yummy Mickey Head Rice Krispie Treat, buttery park popcorn and YES, even the very famous and highly sought after Disney Turkey Leg! Read the rest of this entry

For those patient enough to wait to make plans for your next trip to Walt Disney World, it appears you will be rewarded with FREE FOOD! Back by popular demand is the Free Disney Dining Plan for Spring and Summer 2011 that everyone has been waiting for.  Note that the Free Dining Plan is for arrivals most nights between 4/23/2011 and 8/13/2011. Here are the details. Read the rest of this entry

For those of you who own an iPhone or iPad and are big Disney World fans, the new application called “WDW DINING” is something you should have. I recently downloaded this handy little Disney iPhone app and to be honest I didn’t have high expectations as I didn’t think it could have all of the info I would want. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see that this app is loaded with cool features and most importantly for me has complete updated menus for every Walt Disney World Restaurant! I thought I would take you screen by screen and show you some of the cool things this app can do and how it can help you the next time you vacation in Walt Disney World. Read the rest of this entry

2011 is right around the corner and many of you have already started making your vacation reservations for next year so it’s time to talk about the latest changes in the Disney Dining Plan.  There are a few changes in next years plan. Some good, some not so good (including an increase in price.) Here’s a synopsis of the 2011 Dining Plan and what you can expect for next year.

You will have three choices for your 2011 Disney Dining Plan:

Option #1:  Disney Quick Servic

e Dining Plan – this plan will give each member of your party the following each day of your stay:

- Two (2) Quick Service Meals
- Two (2) Snacks

In addition, each party member will receive a refillable resort mug which is good for unlimited drink refills at your resort for your entire length of stay.

COST:
Adults (Ages 10+):    $34.99 per day

Childr

en (Ages 3-9):    $11.99 per day

Option #2:  Disney Dining Plan – this plan will give each member of your party the following each day of your stay:

- One (1) Table Service Meal

- One (1) Quick Service Meal

- One (1) Snack

COST:

Adults (Ages 10+):      $45.99 per day (regular season)

$47.99 per day (peak season)

Children (Ages 3-9):    $11.99 per day (regular season)

$12.99 per day (peak season)

Option #3:  Disney Deluxe Dining Plan – this plan will give each member of your party Two (2) Snacks AND any combination of three (3) of the following each day of your stay.

Choose from:

- Quick Service Meal

- Table Service Meal (including appetizer)

So for example, you could get two (2) snacks, two (2) Quick Service Meals and One (1) Table Service Meal (including appetizer) to meet your daily allotment.

In addition, each party member will receive a refillable resort mug which is good for unlimited drink refills at your resort for your entire length of stay.

COST:

Adults (Ages 10+):    $78.99 per day

Children (Ages 3-9):    $21.99 per day

Additional Notes:

- Gratuity is not included in any plan

- When purchasing a Quick Service breakfast, you will now only recieve one (1) non-alcoholic beverage (in 2010 you would receive two)

- Le Cellier has been added to the Signature restaurants list meaning it will require two (2) Table Service credits for each person (beginning March 2011.)

Summary:

While I’m not so happy about the price increases I will say that if you like to try different restaurants and enjoy eating out then the Disney Dining Plan is still a better way to go. If you do the math you will certainly save a little bit of money by using the plan over doing the ‘pay-as-you-go’ method. There are also some small changes from last year but overall the choices remain relatively the same. As always I would suggest sitting down with your family and planning out where you would like to eat and then do some math based on what you ‘think’ you would eat at these restaurants.  There are a host of sites that offer up-to-date menus so it wouldn’t be hard to figure out.

The bottom line is that part of your Disney Vacation is about the food and enjoying the different restaurants that Disney has to offer. Make the most of your time and enjoy the good eats around you and if that includes going with the Disney Dining Plan, then that is great. If not, you can be just as happy (and maybe even have some more change in your pocket at the end of the day too!) Enjoy!

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. Guests who prefer to include dining in their vacation packages can choose a Walt Disney World Magic Your Way vacation package which includes a Disney dining plan which can save on dining.

Three vacation packages are available that include a Disney dining plan, Disney resort hotel accommodations and Magic Your Way tickets. The Disney dining plans feature a variety of meal and snack entitlements both in terms of the type of restaurants guests can visit and the number of meals and snacks included with the plans.

The choices are:

Magic Your Way Package Plus Quick-Service Dining :  includes two quick-service meals and two snacks per person for each night of guest’s vacation package stay, plus a refillable drink mug for each person which can be refilled as often as they like at any quick-service location at their Disney resort hotel.  Meals and snacks can be chosen at more than 50 selected restaurants throughout Walt Disney World Resort. And guests can save up to 20 percent per adult on Disney dining needs.

Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining : offers one table-service meal, one quick-service meal and one snack per person, per night of guest’s package stay, with over 100 select restaurants to choose from. The package helps guests save up to 30 percent per adult on dining.

Magic Your Way Package Plus Deluxe Dining: includes three meals and two snacks per person, per night of guest’s package stay, plus a refillable drink mug for each guest on the package which can be refilled as often as they like at any quick-service location at their Disney resort hotel.  This package allows guests the flexibility to choose any combination of table-service and quick-service restaurants from more than 100 participating restaurant locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort. With this package, guests can save up to 40 percent per adult on dining.

The package cost varies based on which package a guest chooses, guest’s ages, and the number of nights in the package stay. To determine cost, guests have three options: go to www.disneyworld.com; call 407/W-DISNEY to book arrangements; or visit a local travel agent.

Here are some additional facts regarding the Disney dining plans:

Guests can redeem their meals in any order throughout their package stay until each person on the package has depleted his/her allotted meals and snacks. For instance, a guest who has purchased a Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining for three nights would have entitlements of three table-service meals, three quick-service meals and three snacks during their stay.  The guest could use all three table service entitlements on the same day if they choose.

Guest’s Key to the World card, which is a room key and much more, electronically tracks the use of dining entitlements included in a package. It should be presented at dining locations, and the server or cashier will provide guests with a receipt showing the meals and snacks remaining on their Disney dining plan.

Children ages 3-9 must order from a children’s menu, where available.  A Disney dining plan is unavailable for guests under the age of 3, but they may share from an adult plate at no charge, or a meal may be purchased from the menu.

Gratuities are not included except for pizza delivery, in-room private dining, dinner shows and character dining meals at Cinderella’s Royal Table.  An automatic 18 percent gratuity charge will be added to the bill for parties of six or more.  An automatic gratuity charge may also be added to the bill for items ordered that are not included in a Disney dining plan (for example, alcoholic beverages).

Table-service meal entitlements can be exchanged for special dining experiences that guests will remember for a lifetime.  One table-service meal entitlement can be used for most character dining meals. Two table-service meal entitlements can be exchanged for one character dining meal at Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom, one signature restaurant experience (such as Citricos at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa), one Disney dinner show (such as Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground), or one pizza delivery in-room (requires adult entitlements).  If the vacation package includes lodging at select Disney Deluxe or Disney Deluxe Villa Resort hotels, two table-service meal entitlements can be exchanged for in-room private dining.

Some of the signature restaurant locations available with certain Disney dining plans are:  Jiko-The Cooking Place at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Flying Fish Cafe at Disney’s BoardWalk, California Grill at Disneyis Contemporary Resort, Ci­tricos and Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Artist Point at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Yachtsman Steakhouse at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Dreams Come True Dinner at Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom and The Hollywood Brown Derby at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Some of the table-service restaurant locations available with certain Disney dining plans are:  Kona Cafe at Disney’s Polynesian Resort, The Wave at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Les Chefs de France and Coral Reef Restaurant at Epcot, 50′s Prime Time Cafe at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Wolfgang Puck Cafe in the Downtown Disney area.

Some of the more than 50 quick-service dining locations available with a Disney dining plan are:  Pepper Market at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Contempo Cafe at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Flame Tree Barbecue at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe at Magic Kingdom, and Yakitori House and Sunshine Seasons at Epcot.

Examples of a snack are:  frozen ice cream novelty, popsicle or fruit bar, popcorn scoop (single serving box), single-serving bag of chips, single piece of whole fruit, 20-oz. bottle of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite or Dasani water, medium fountain soft drink, single-serving pre-packaged milk or juice, 12-oz. coffee, hot chocolate or hot tea.

Merchandise or photo-imaging products that may be offered at character dining experiences are not included, except at Cinderella’s Royal Table and Ackershus Royal Banquet Hall.

Theme park admission is required for some dining locations.

Dining reservations in advance of a visit are strongly encouraged, as due to the popularity of the Disney restaurants, the restaurant and seating of guests’ choice may be limited or may not be available. Reservations are accepted at most Walt Disney World table-service restaurants, signature restaurants, character dining locations and dinner shows, and may be made up to 90 days prior to arrival by calling 407-WDW-DINE (407-939-3463).

Copyright 2009 Disney

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — With drinks like the Antioxidant Cocktail, entrées such as linguine with clams, rock shrimp and fresh thyme in chunky tomato broth, and crispy almond-pineapple-raisin “baklava” for dessert, The Wave brings a surge of new dining ideas to Walt Disney World Resort.

Located in Disney’s Contemporary Resort, the restaurant offers bold cooking inspired by fresh markets, featuring American cooking with world flavors.

Guests enter the stylish space on the first floor of the hotel through a brushed steel arch “tunnel” into The Wave’s lounge, one of the largest at Walt Disney World Resort.  The sleek, serene décor is earthy browns and golds, with frosted glass lamps for soft ambient light and a copper-colored metal ceiling.  Banquettes and booths line the perimeter of the dining room, and wooden tables are set with white linen napkins.
Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the 220-seat restaurant takes casual dining into the health-conscious 21st century.  The classic American breakfast menu includes plenty of egg creations, but guests also can make their own Wave muesli or sip a berry smoothie with raspberry puree and non-fat yogurt blended with Odwalla Berries GoMega (a great source of Omega-3).  The Pure Sunshine breakfast cocktail features organic vodka and orange juice topped with Vitamin Energy Drink.  Coffee is organic Colombian (fair trade and “Smithsonian-certified bird-friendly”) and teas are whole leaf Pyramid bags in flavors from chamomile blossoms to monsoon chai.

At lunch, light eaters might enjoy pepper-seared tuna with Napa cabbage slaw and summer rolls, or watermelon and arugula salad with balsamic drizzle.  Entrées include oversized salads and a vegetarian sandwich with grilled tofu, roasted veggies and herb goat cheese on multi-grain bread, but guests also can chow down on an Angus chuck burger with cheese and Applewood smoked bacon, or a classic grilled Reuben.

The dinner menu offers a delicious spin on comfort classics such as pan-seared Alaskan black cod with corn and edamame (soybean) stew with cilantro chutney; braised lamb shank with bulgur lentil stew and red wine sauce, and a nouvelle chicken pot pie with thyme pastry. Sides at both lunch and dinner include wilted greens and roasted potatoes and carrots.

“Lots of stocks, lots of broths and seasonal ingredients keep the menu well balanced,” said Chef Frank Brough. “We are sourcing ingredients locally and regionally to create fresh flavors, and our fresh catch of the day features sustainable seafood.”

Desserts continue the theme with a dozen choices for mixing and matching three mini-favorites for one price.  From no-sugar-added chocolate mint mousse to fresh fruit sorbets and coconut panna cotta with passion fruit, guests can indulge their sweet tooth without a big hit in calories.  Or go overboard with a dessert cocktail like the Mudslide martini: Baileys Irish Cream, vanilla vodka, Kahlúa and vanilla ice cream.

Wine ‘With a Twist,’ Innovative Spirits Menu

The wine program, with only screw cap wines, is cutting-edge and supports sustainable agriculture. Industry experts say that the screw cap is the most significant technical evolution in the wine industry since the glass bottle was introduced 250 years ago.

And the options for screw cap wine are growing.  The Wave serves no California wines (California Grill on the resort’s 15th floor has a corner on the California market), but instead focuses on bright-style New World wines from the Southern Hemisphere, including Argentina, Chile, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

Sparkling wines from Tasmania, Rieslings from South Australia, floral New Wave whites from Argentina and pinot noirs from New Zealand are among the interesting choices, with 50 available by the glass.  A flight of 3-ounce samplings and dessert wines, ports and sherries round out the wine list.

For beer fans, certified organic ales from Orlando Brewing are on the menu. Produced in Orlando, these handcrafted ales use only American-grown certified-organic barley malt.  Three Orlando Brewery ales are available on tap, including Blonde Ale, Pale Ale and Blackwater Dry Porter. Also on the menu is gluten-free Redbridge lager.

Trendy cocktails are served for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Start the day with a Pomegranate Splash (vodka, pomegranate liqueur, cranberry juice and soda water) or the Ultimate Bloody Mary (organic vodka, Bloody Mary mix and a dash of red chili sauce).

“Natural and flavorful are the buzzwords for cocktails,” said Stuart McGuire, director of beverage sales and standards for Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts.  The Pure-tini mixes organic vodka with organic mango and passion fruit liqueur.  The Antioxidant Cocktail features wild berry vodka, black raspberry liqueur, açai juice with agave, lychee, aloe juice and freshly squeezed lemon juice.

The Wave is part of a revitalization at Disney’s Contemporary Resort that includes a makeover of the hotel’s fourth floor with a new game arcade and new quick-service eatery for salads and sandwiches (replacing Concourse Steakhouse).  The popular Chef Mickey’s restaurant and the monorail station anchor that family-friendly area.

Copyright 2008 – Disney