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Category Archives: Top Eats
Show Your Romantic Side – With a Disney Flair!
Valentine’s Day is upon us – and it’s one of those holidays you either love or hate. But no matter how you may feel about V-Day, showing you love someone and being romantic is a great thing to do not just on February 14th, but on any and every day of the year! When you’re taking a Walt Disney World vacation, romance might not be the first thing on your itenerary – but it should be! Here are some ways you can incorporate romance into your WDW getaway and show your someone special just how special they are to you:
Wine and Dine Them: Thanks to the Advanced Dining Reservation, or ADR system that Disney has put into place, you can plan a surprise for your loved one by booking a romantic meal for 2. And the great thing about dining at Disney World is there are so many choices, so no matter what kind of cuisine they are into, you can make sure you pick the perfect place for your meal. Some top favorites for romantic dinners include: California Grill (which can also be a great place to view the nightly fireworks from the Magic Kingdom!), Victoria and Albert’s (an upscale, intimate dining experience), or Cinderella’s Royal Table (a character dining experience like none other that takes place in the perfect setting – Cinderella’s Castle)
Plan A Special Delivery: “If you can dream it, you can do it” – Walt himself said this, and the Walt Disney World Experience strives to embody this quote every day, and special occasions are no exception! The Disney Dream Makers can help you express your love with all kinds of gifts – from flower arrangements, to custom cake deliveries, to room decor, to gift baskets of all shapes an sizes – they do it all and more (check out this romantic “A Wish Come True” gift experience, which is just one of the many examples of gifting options)! If you know you want to celebrate but aren’t sure how to make it happen, check out the Dream Makers link or call them at 407-WDW-GIFT
Share your Love: Are you celebrating your engagement/wedding/honeymoon/anniversary, or even just your love for each other on your vacation? Show it with a pin – these are available at the guest services areas of each Park or at your Disney Resort – pins that announce you’re “Just Married” or “I’m Celebrating!” or “It’s My Birthday!”, and you can wear them while at the Parks. They definitely add to the magic, as Cast Members make a fuss over them, as do other guests – its a cute way that you can remind yourselves and the world about the love you share with each other!
Moonlit Stroll: There is nothing quite like a romantic walk after a delicious dinner in a setting as beautiful as Walt Disney World. I think every place is a great place for a romantic stroll in WDW, but some of the more beautiful ones include: The Polynesian Resort (the tiki torches light the pathways and make for a beautiful setting), The Boardwalk Resort (at night it comes to life and lights up in magical ways), and The Grand Floridian Resort (there is a reason this is the most popular place to have a wedding at WDW, its Victorian theming is charming and truly a sight to see!). In the evenings, people tend to flock to the parks to get a good spot for parades/fireworks viewings, so the Resorts are a great place for some quiet time to catch up and reconnect with your loved one
Carriage ride: There are few things more romantic than a horse drawn carriage ride, and Walt Disney World gives you two places where you can have this experience: ride through nature trails at Disney’s Fort Wilderness, or take a ride through old New Orleans at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort. Check out more info on the carriage rides here
Ultimate Relaxation: Surprise your honey with a couples massage or other spa treatments at one of Disney’s top rated Spas. This is vacationing at it’s finest – getting pampered, getting massaged and relaxing, all with your favorite person in the Happiest Place on Earth – Disney World!
Can’t afford a WDW getaway? Then get them the next best thing, something from the Disney Store that shows how much you love them – check out My Blog post for more info
Use these tips to make your magical Walt Disney World vacation even more special, and remember that while its definitely important to show your loved ones how much you care while you’re on vacation or on Valentine’s Day, its even more important to show them your love every day (so they don’t forget ha!)
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Adult Dining in Disney World – Top 5 Restaurants to try
Enjoying a Beer Flight at Big River Grille
Over the years, Walt Disney World has really worked on improving the dining experience for their guests, and they have done an amazing job, it really sets them apart from amusement parks where all you can get is burgers/fries/chicken fingers and the occasional grilled chicken sandwich. The problem they have now (if you can even call it a problem), is that they are so many choices, that a lot of people stick with what they know, which is the chicken fingers and burgers – which are still delicious, but not exactly adventurous.
One of the best things about going to Walt Disney World as an adult is the FOOD – now that you’re grown up you can decide where you want to eat, and what you want to eat, so to get you out of that bland theme park food rut, I have compiled the top 5 ‘different’ restaurants for adults to try at Walt Disney World, in hopes that you will get out there and experience some of the amazing food that WDW has to offer!
5. Via Napoli – This is a relatively new restaurant in Italy at Epcot’s World Showcase, and they are serving up some truly amazing and authentic italian dishes, like lasagna, chicken parmesan, and spaghetti with veal meatballs (yum!). They are also doing a variety of wood fired pizzas with everything from tomatoes and cheese to eggplant and artichokes. The smell of the pizzas is drool worthy for sure, and as if that wasn’t enough, they are serving a variety of wines and other italian inspired beverages to help you cool off after a hot day of touring the Parks.
4. Big River Grille and Brewing Works - Head over to Disney’s Boardwalk Resort and have a casual dinner at this microbrewery, where you can sample flights of their beer made on premisis. The menu isn’t huge, but the items on it are delicious – start out with the beer cheese soup, then an entree of hazelnut crusted chicken, and finish with a rich dessert of chocolate confusion (chocolate cake, mousse, chips, and then more chocolate!). If you aren’t in a food induced coma at this point, you can take an evening stroll down the idyllic Boardwalk, which is nice in the daytime but is even more beautiful when it’s all lit up at nighttime
3. Cape May Cafe – This buffet at Disney’s Beach Club Resort is a surf inspired character meal by day, and a surf-and-turf (character free!) seafood buffet by night. Enjoy a true New Englad Style Clambake with steamed clams, mussels, and other favorites, including chicken, ribs, salad bar, and dessert. What could be better than delicious all you can eat seafood in a beautiful resort setting?
2. Raglan Road – This Irish Pub is located in Downtown Disney and serves up Irish classics like Bangers and Mash, as well as crowdpleasers like New York Strip Steak. Their full bar has a wide array of beer and wine selections, and the Irish dancers and live Celtic tunes will keep you happy all night! OH and I can’t forget to mention their Bread Pudding Dessert, it is to die for, and worth going there just for that!
1. Boma – The bus ride over the Animal Kingdom Lodge is worth it for this buffet of African inspired dishes, including Bobotie – a spiced meat dish with an egg topping and the ever popular Zebra Domes, a dessert treat filled with a delicious custard with a hint of liquor in it! Boma has so many amazing dishes I had never tried before that it would be impossible to name them all, they were all worth trying (and most were worth going back for seconds too!), the meats and different salads and hummuses were out of this world! I wasn’t too sure about the ‘ethnic’ cuisine and if I would enjoy it or not, but I loved every single thing I tried and would go here again in a heartbeat, and that’s why it has received the coveted #1 spot on the list!
Honorable Mention:
Kouzzina - I just had to mention this little gem, with their Greek inspired dishes and ideal location at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort, I would highly recommend breakfast here – as many of the dishes were updated and some new ones were added (think gooey baklava and fluffy omelettes stuffed with feta and spinach!)
Now, I know there are TONS of other amazing restaurants out there, these are just some of my personal favorites that don’t abide to the standard “theme park cuisine” code, and each one is unique and does things it’s own way, which I love!
Dining in Walt Disney World can be an amazing experience, and I urge you to try something new and different, after all, you’re on vacation!
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Disney Snacks that are too good to pass up!
When I came across this topic, my mouth started watering, and my stomach growled! Ok, sure, it’s nearly lunchtime, but I think it has more to do with all of the incredible snacks that you can get at Walt Disney World!
If I’m not careful, I could spend all day writing about all of those delicious snacks, so instead of that, I think I’ll focus on my all time favorite snacks, where you can get them, and why I love them so much!
- Cinnamon Roll — This wonderful, delectable snack is available over at the Main Street Bakery at the Magic Kingdom. Made fresh all day, these wonderful snacks are an incredible way to start your day, end your day, continue your day, or even save to prepare for your next Disney day! I’ve had them for breakfast, bought them during the day to take back to the resort for later, and had them as a late night snack on our way out of the park. All of that gooey deliciousness is absolutely addicting, and if you have never had one, I urge you to try one out the next time you are able.
- Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar — This is a winner, winner chicken dinner in my wife’s eyes! You can find this perfect ice cream bar all over the parks, and is a great snack to have on a hot summer’s day, but make sure you eat it quickly or it will melt! How can you go wrong with premium vanilla ice cream, shaped in a Mickey Mouse head formation, and coated in delicious chocolate?
- Popcorn and Diet Coke — Call me dumb, but I love to have an old fashioned snack of Popcorn from the popcorn vendors and a Diet Coke. There is just something perfect about walking down Main Street, U.S.A., smelling that wonderful popcorn, and getting a snack to settle down with before the next big parade! I’m picturing it in my mind right now!
- Jumbo Turkey Leg — This delectable treat is more than just a snack — it’s practically a whole meal! Smoked turkey (although Bob from MouseChat.net swears it’s made out of emu), terrific flavor, all wrapped up in a foil wrapper. I love them, and so does my daughter Sophie!
- Last but not least, I love getting beignets over at the Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory Food Court at Port Orleans French Quarter! These wonderful doughy creations, sprinkled with powdered sugar, are the real deal! Another great breakfast treat!
That concludes my trip to those Disney snacks that are too good to pass up for me and my family. I know some of you will be shocked that I didn’t make mention of Dole Whips and other tasty delectables — those snacks are really good, but I don’t have cravings over them.
Tell me, though, what is on your list that I didn’t mention here?
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Tastes so good – Casey’s Corner hotdogs
When you’re walking right down the middle of Main Street USA you’ll look straight ahead and see the castle… It will make you sigh!
If you look to your left you’ll look you’ll see Casey’s Corner hotdogs… it will make you drool!
My absolute favorite counter service meal comes from Casey’s Corner! No, its not one of the fancy-shmancy gourmet hotdogs they’re selling for about $3.00 more now. Its a good, old fashion, DELICIOUS hot dog.
My kids love the corn-dog nuggets there, but when I order a hot dog with fries and get some of that scalding hot cheese (that will burn you for real… be careful!), I’m officially one happy woman.
Throw in a few goofy cartoons on the big screen inside while I relax in the grandstands or outside listening to the pianist tickle the ivories while I enjoy the view under the umbrellas.
Make sure you try one on your next visit! It will have you saying “Yum…. TASTES SO GOOD!”
Drop by our Casey’s Corner Page and tell us what you think! We would love to hear your review.
Read more from The Disney Diva at www.tipsfromthedisneydiva.com
Eats Outside the Parks – Why They’re Worth The Trip
Most people come to Walt Disney World for the theme parks. They are the main attraction, and each of the 4 is truly amazing in their own ways. One thing that most people don’t realize on their first few trips is that the World extends far beyond just the parks – and many of the WDW Resort Hotels are a destination in and of themselves. All of the Hotels are huge, beautifully themed, and best of all – the food there is to die for. Seriously, some of the best food in WDW comes not from the Parks – but from the Resorts.
So the question is, why should you leave the Parks, the thing you really came to see, to go eat at some Hotel?
Here are the Top 5 reasons:
1. No Park Admission Required: I know I have said it before, but I will say it again – a trip to WDW is not cheap (but it IS worth every penny), and one way I like to save money is by purchasing theme park tickets for fewer days than the length of my stay (if I am going to be in WDW for 5 days, I may only buy a 3 or 4 day Park Hopper Pass). So what do I do on those days without a Park ticket? Well, I relax mostly, and EAT – I can travel to any of the other Resort Hotels within the World for free, and eat at any of their restaurants without paying for park admission, whereas if I want to dine with Cinderella in her castle, I need to pay the price of an admission to the Magic Kingdom
2. Variety: Park food has come a long way since the burgers and fries of my childhood, but it still tends to be overall the same throughout the parks, with many quick service eateries offering variations on the same foods. The resort hotels can be more creative in their offerings, and if you are willing to make the trip from the Parks, you can experience African themed cuisine at Boma, sushi at California Grill, or a delicious steak at Yachtsmen’s Steakhouse, and so much more!
3. Change of Scenery: After a long day at one of the parks, you’re tired, your feet hurt, you’re hot, you’re hungry, and there may or may not have been multiple meltdowns already (I know I am guilty of them, even as an adult!). So what better way to relax, recharge, and refuel than by eating a delicious meal at one of the many Disney Resort Hotels? You’ll feel better, and ready to take on the Parks again in no time!
4. Smaller Crowds – Like I said, most people come for the theme Parks, which is good for you if you make the smart choice to eat at the Resorts – generally the resort restaurants are less busy which definitely makes for a more enjoyable dining experience. This also means it may be easier to get an Advanced Dining Reservation for one of these restaurants, or if you don’t have an ADR, it may be easier to just walk in and try to get a table at a less crowded resort restaurant. NOTE: While this is usually true, it isn’t always the case, and more popular resort restaurants will be packed and have no availability, but as a general rule of thumb, you have better chances if you want to eat a sit down meal outside of the Parks.
5. The FOOD – saved the best reason for last, and as I mentioned, the variety of food is amazing outside the Parks, but the quality is another thing that really sets it apart. It actually tastes good – all of it! Some of the best food I have ever had has come from Walt Disney World – they really work hard to provide the best of everything to their Guests, and the food is no exception. Even the Counter Service restaurants within the resorts are great – you wouldn’t expect that a food court type eatery would provide such great food, but they do, it’s consistently good, and the fast, friendly service keeps me coming back time and time again.
My personal faves when it comes to dining outside the Parks? I love Boma (new and exciting foods that were also super delicious), and Chef Mickey’s is a must do (what better place to meet Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto and Goofy all at once, while you watch the Monorail sail through the beautiful Contemporary Resort).
Take a chance and explore some new Resort Hotel restaurants on your next WDW trip, you’ll be glad you did!
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