Subscribe for FREE!
Receive our Daily Disney Newsletter.
Have the best in Disney News & Views Delivered to you!
Tag Archives: Disney Food
Things you can only get at Walt Disney World…
It’s not always easy being an adult Walt Disney World lover. When I tell people I am headed to WDW on my next vacation, I get that weird look, that one that says “really? What a weirdo”…usually it only lasts a second, and they say something like “Oh, that’s nice” when what they really mean is “that’s for kids…I wouldn’t want to go there”. In these situations, I usually try to be a Disney cheerleader, rallying for Team WDW, and i have come up with this list of things that are so unique, that you can only get them at Walt Disney World:
The Service: The employees of WDW (they call them Cast Members) provide the highest level of service I have ever experienced. They are friendly, polite, helpful, and most of all, they actually seem to really like their jobs. They will bend over backwards to make sure you have an amazing time, and that is truly special, and something you don’t see much of these days.
The Accommodations: Disney has many different choices of places to stay, all with their own theme. From the Polynesian Resort that’s like living in a luau, to the Port Orleans Resort where they serve up gumbo and beignets with a true Louisiana flair, to the Boardwalk Resort-where they have a real wooden boardwalk reminiscent of Old Atlantic City (this one is my personal favorite, and is breathtaking at night!)
Have you tried these fun things to do OUTSIDE of the WDW Theme Parks?
Walt Disney World has four theme parks to offer guests which are all amazing and special in their own ways. But it doesn’t stop there. The vision extends beyond the parks in so many ways, and there are tons of activities you can do that don’t require a park admission, like:
- Watersports- Sammy Duvall’s Watersports Centre at the Contempotary Resort has waterskiing, parasailing and wakeboarding, and you can rent all kinds of boats from canoes to jetskis to motorboats at many of the resorts. And if all that isn’t enough, you can go on a bass fishing trip with a professional Disney fishing guide who will have you reeling them in no time.
- Resort hopping – After a morning at one of the parks, I love to hop on a monorail/boat/bus to different resorts to take in the scenery and atmosphere there. The Polynesian is a great place to soak in that tropical feeling while enjoying a delicious Dole Whip, and Port Orleans French Quarter and the Grand Floridian are both great places for a romantic stroll with your better half. The Animal Kingdom Lodge is a great place to animal watch, and to grab some lunch or dinner.
- Food – While the Parks have some great eats, I would argue that as a whole, the food is better outside the parks. The resorts as well as Downtown Disney have some incredible restaurants with a huge variety of foods, there is a place for everyone, from the more formal Victoria and Albert’s at the Grand Floridian, to the more mellow House of Blues in Downtown Disney (where the live music is almost as good as their chicken wings!). If you’re looking to be entertained while dining, then try a dinner show (think wild west fun at Fort Wilderness or a hula theme over at the Polynesian), or a character meal, where the food is usually endless and the characters come right to your table. I highly recommend venturing away from the parks for meals, as I have found the quality and taste higher and there are often fewer crowds to contend with.
- Downtown Disney – This area is an open market type of setup full of stores, restaurants, and entertainment options. From an exclusive to Disney Cirque Du Soleil show, to a Lego store, to a Ghiradelli dessert shoppe serving up amazing sundaes, to an authentic Irish Pub, to a……well you get my point, there’s a lot to see and do! Downtown Disney is a place where you can spend a whole day (or even longer for me, since I love to shop and they have some of the best stores, including the huge World of Disney)
New Disney-Branded “Better For You” Food Products to be Showcased at Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit
Disney Consumer Products(DCP) will showcase its new assortment of “better for you” food products at the Produce Marketing Association’s PMA Fresh Summit October 26 – 28 in Anaheim, CA. Produce products featuring beloved Disney characters on the packaging will be on display, demonstrating how fresh produce plays an integral part in Disney’s ongoing commitment to helping families eat more nutritious foods. Guests are invited to sample the offerings at the Disney booth #4220. Families can shop for more nutritious options including Disney-branded sliced apples, Disney Foodles by Crunch Pak and produce from Dayka Hackett and Chelan Fresh. Parents can look for the “Mickey Check” icon on Disney’s licensed foods products to easily find nutritious foods at local grocery stores and national retailers.
“Disney is committed to providing families with more nutritious food options, and we are excited to see the produce category continue to expand,” said John T. King, director of consumables for Disney Consumer Products. “Licensing our character designs for use in connection with fresh produce encourages kids to make better choices and is a great way to promote increased consumption of fruits and vegetables for the entire family.”
Disney understands the challenges faced by parents in regard to their families’ nutrition and wants to be part of the solution. In 2006, Disney announced new food guidelines aimed at giving parents and children more nutritious eating options. As part of its ongoing effort to encourage healthier lifestyles, Disney introduced Magic of Healthy Living – a national multimedia initiative designed to help parents with their quest to raise healthy, happy kids.
The Disney produce licensee program has grown to encompass additional produce categories as well as some well-known brands including Ready Pac, Naturipe and Crunch Pak. Categories now include fresh apples, grapes, cherries, berries and stone fruit along with value added products such as mini-meals, salads, and sliced apples specially developed for kids.
Disney will showcase the following:
10 Things things that you’re never “Too Old” for at Disney World
A lot of adults write off Walt Disney World as “kid’s stuff”…personally I think that is nuts! While I believe adults can find a lot of ‘grown up’ activities to keep them happy and busy, I also think that everyone should take the time to experience all of these at least once (if not over and over!):
- Spinning on the teacups as fast as you can (please note: adults AND kids should probably NOT eat right before attempting this!)
- Getting your picture taken with characters – adults may think it’s silly to wait in line for Minnie’s autograph (I know I do – even I draw the line here – did enough of that when I was a kid!) but if you’re enjoying a character meal, and Minnie comes over to say hi, don’t avoid it, embrace the chance to let her hug you and have your picture taken with her (Minnie is quite the little flirt with the gentleman – so keep an eye on your husbands ladies!). On a separate but related note, I also think no one is too old for character meals, where you will find a fun, casual atmosphere and some of the best food WDW has to offer!
- Water Slides – Disney offers two water parks full of all kinds of slides and pools, it’s the perfect way to cool off on a hot day
- Roller coasters – even though many of the rides at WDW may be geared towards the younger crowd, there are many that adults can enjoy – from Space Mountain in the Magic Kingdom to Expedition Everest in Animal Kingdom, every park has at least one ‘thrill’ ride that will get your adrenaline pumping!
- Towel Animals – When you stay on property at one of WDW’s many hotels, the cast members who clean the rooms will leave your towels/washcloths in cute shapes, sometimes animals or setup as a vase for pipe cleaner ‘flowers’, it may seem silly, but it always makes me smile (and usually take a picture…could probably make a whole album full of towel animal pictures! Silly, but it’s just another one of those Magical Disney touches that I love!)
Disney World Quick Tips – Guy Friendly Disney World Activities
It’s no secret that a lot of folks out there think that Walt Disney World is kid’s stuff. I am completely opposed to this way of thinking, and believe there truly is something there for everyone. One of my hardest audiences that I have encountered is my husband – he just doesn’t seem to love WDW like I do, and it took a LOT of convincing to get him to agree to go to WDW again. So the real question in his mind is “what’s in it for me?” Well, check out some of the ‘guy-friendly’ activities below that I am hoping will get him as entranced by the mouse as I am:
Going Fast: Hop onto GM’s Test Track at Epcot for a change to be a ‘test dummy’ as you ride through some ‘unpredictable’ conditions and reach speeds of 60 mph. Travel 0-57mph in just 2.8 sec on the Rock’N Roller Coaster, which as a bonus is Aerosmith themed. Or, if your guy is the more adrenaline junkie/adventurous type, give him the chance to drive (or ride shotgun) in a real NASCAR race car at the Walt Disney World Speedway with the Richard Petty Driving Experience. At speeds up to 140 miles per hour, this is the real deal for NASCAR fans and for those of you who really want to feel the wind in your hair!
Flying High: Go para sailing at Walt Disney World and get a rare view of the resort from 450 ft in the air. Parasailing is just one of the water sports they offer, Waterskiing, Wakeboarding, Kneeboarding, Jet Skiing, and Tubing are also available.
