Disney World Dining

ABC Commissary: Chicken Curry

2010-12-06T12:16:00.001-05:00

Looking for something a bit spicy on a cool December day at Disney's Hollywood Studios, I ordered the chicken curry at ABC Commissary - and totally loved it! It was hot and just the right amount of spicy/tangy, with large chunks of chicken. Half of the bowl is the curry mix; half is white rice. The portion is very large, enough for sharing if you're having dessert too.

Price: $8.49, plus tax. My small soft drink was $2.19. Total tab: $11.38. Great deal for table-service size and qualty.

Location: Commissary Lane, Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Hollywood Studios: Counter-Service Breakfast

2010-10-20T10:43:00.001-04:00

Here's the breakfast menu at Fairfax Fare at the Sunset Ranch Market, located next to Rock'n'Roller Coaster on Sunset Boulevard. Served until 10:30 AM, it's typical fast-food type breakfast... and perfect if you followed my advice to arrive at park opening and need a bite before lunch.

Outdoor seating. Good place to wait if the rest of you group is riding (or taking a second ride) Tower of Terror or Rock'n'Roller Coaster.

Earl of Sandwich: BLT Breakfast Sandwich

2010-10-18T07:39:00.001-04:00

We stopped in for Sunday breakfast at the Earl's and got my favorite breakfast there: the Breakfast BLT with egg. The bread is their trademark roll, the bacon very crispy, fresh lettuce and tomato topped off with a fresh-cooked egg. It's a real bargain at $3.99.

Location: Downtown Disney Marketplace. Open for breakfast at 8:00 AM.

2010-05-22T15:16:00.001-04:00

Snack time at Pecos Bill's at the Magic Kingdom

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Lunch at Epcot: Boulangerie Patisserie

2010-03-28T13:03:00.001-04:00

Trying something new at the French pastry shp was a great idea! The quiche was creamy and tasty, with a perfectly flaky crust. The apple tart was not too sweet with another perfectly flaky crust. Two forks up!

Dinner at Wolfgang Puck Express Downtown Express

2010-03-26T18:47:00.001-04:00

The salmon at Wolfgang Puck Express was moist and flaky, with the right amount of seasoned toppings. The fingerling potatoes had a nice texture, even if I would have preferred mashed or more sauce. Will definitely order again!

My Favorite Sunday Brunch: Ham Cheese Croissant

2010-02-28T14:17:00.001-05:00

The weather is beautiful here at Epcot, where I am enjoying a croissant jambon fromage at the France Pavilion.

Disney's Hollywood Studios: Hey Howdy Hey Take Away

2010-02-15T09:19:00.000-05:00

Located across from the entrance to Toy Story Midway Mania in Pixar Place, Hey Howdy Hey Take Away serves snacks and soft drinks. There's no seating available here; the nearest seating is at the Studio Catering Co., near the exit of the Backlot Studios Tour.

Read more about Pixar Place on Page 38 of Mouse Map.

Disney Hollywood Studios' Backlot Express: Meaty Macaroni

2010-02-13T12:52:00.001-05:00

Kid's pick Meaty Macaroni at Backlot Express is made with turkey, so it's not too heavy. I got acookie today, instead of the "default" applesauce.

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Pop Century: Mediterrean flatbread pizza

2010-02-11T20:00:00.001-05:00

The flatbread pizza at Pop Century's Everything Pop food court are made with a thin, crispy crust and a variety of toppings. It's not a typical "American-style" pizza -- for that, go to the pizza counter across the food court. This pizza is tangy and unique, a perfect option for grown-up tastes.

Pop Century is one of four Value Resorts at Disney World. Each one has a food court with multiple counters. Read more about the Value Resorts on Page 73 of Mouse Map.

El Pirata Y El Perico, Magic Kingdom

2010-02-01T21:46:00.000-05:00

Restaurant: El Pirata Y El Perico

Location: Adventureland, Magic Kingdom

Quick Review: This counter-service restaurant is only open seasonally -- which is too bad because I love their Mexican-style food! The menu might vary from the one you see here. Indoor and outdoor seating.

For more info: See page 17 in Mouse Map.

Have you eaten here? Use the comment box to post your review!

Pizzafari, Disney's Animal Kingdom

2010-01-31T22:07:00.000-05:00

Meal: Pizza with Caesar side salad and two small beverages.
Location: Pizzafari, Discovery Island at Disney's Animal Kingdom.
Quick Review: This pizza lunch is just the right size for two to share! The cost is about $9, plus $2.25 per drink. The crust is between thin and thick, not too "dough-y," with a mild, tasty sauce.
For more info: See page 44 in Mouse Map.
If you've eaten at Pizzafari, add your review by using the Reader Review checkbox below and/or writing a comment.

Smart dining at Disney World - CNN.com

2008-06-23T18:10:00.001-04:00

Browsing around on the CNN web site, I came across a nice article titled Smart dining at Disney World by Eileen Ogintz. She makes the standard recommendations... and makes a comment that I think it worth sharing:

I was disappointed that Disney restaurants -- so quick with the kids' menus and crayons and awesome kids' desserts (how about a white-chocolate puzzle that came with a brush and different color frostings so they could "create" their own desert?) -- didn't immediately offer some Mickey-shaped crackers when we sat down.

That's a great point. If you're traveling to Disney World with small children, be prepared for relatively slow service at restaurants. Just to review... Disney World has two basic types of restaurants: counter-service and table-service.

At counter-service restaurants, you stand in line to order and pick up your food, then seat yourself to eat. Think glamorized fast food.
At table-service restaurants, you are seated, then a server takes your order and serves your meal. (There are a few buffets, where you serve yourself.)

No matter where you're dining, don't expect quick service. Long lines are typical at counter-service restaurants. Enjoying the ambiance is part of the thrill of eating at table-service restaurants, so service isn't rushed.

So here's my secret tip... Look for packages of Mickey crackers and cookies at your Disney hotel gift shop! They cost about $3 or $4 and come in resealable packages. Perfect for carrying to the parks!

Simplifying Disney Dining Choices

2007-11-26T12:38:00.000-05:00

The folks at Walt Disney World divide their restaurants into eight categories, and some of those categories are not very helpful in choosing restaurants based on price. To make your choices easier, Disney World dining is divided into four categories in the EZ Fun Guide to Walt Disney World. Plus a tip for other food options.

Counter Service

Food is ordered and served at the counter. Some counter-service eateries have plenty of indoor and/or outdoor seating. Others have only limited seating, typically outdoors. Prices are under $10 per meal. Included are the following types as grouped by WDW:

Counter Service (also called Quick Service on some Disney park maps)
Quick Bite (kiosks with limited outdoor seating)

(We prefer eating our meals at counter-service restaurants. It's faster and less expensive. Hours of operation are also more flexible.)

Table Service

You are seated at your table, then either order from menus with service by wait staff or serve yourself from a plentiful buffet with some service by wait staff. All have plentiful indoor seating. Prices typically range from $15 to $29 per meal, with most around $18-20. Reservations are recommended, and cancellation penalties may apply. Included are the following types as grouped by WDW:

Casual Dining (especially table-service restaurants in the parks and moderate resorts)
Themed Dining (five specially decorated and themed table-service restaurants in the parks)

Character Meals

These table-service restaurants provide guests with an opportunity to interact with the characters. All meals are buffet or family service, which means there is a set price for each diner. Prices are a little more expensive than restaurants in the Table Service category. Reservations are highly recommended, and cancellation penalties may apply. Included are the following types as grouped by WDW:

Character Dining

Special Dining

Enjoy unique dining at these table-service style restaurants. Menus include regional and international cuisine, fresh seafood or other creations by expert chefs. Three are dinner shows. Prices begin at $30 and range up to $75. Reservations are highly recommended, and cancellation penalties may apply. Prepayment is required for dinner shows. Included are the following types as grouped by WDW:

Signature Dining
Special and Unique Dining
Dinner Shows

One More Food Source

The shop at each WDW resort has a variety of snacks, bakery items and beverages. Many also have frozen dinners and pizza, bread and sandwich supplies. See the resort detail pages in Resort Hotels beginning on Page 72 for more information on what kinds of food items are available at your resort.

Hint: Compared to other resort categories, Fort Wilderness and Disney Vacation Club Resorts offer a wider selection of meal items. The best selection is at the Meadow Trading Post at Fort Wilderness.

Food and Wine Festival Reservations Open August 6

2007-08-01T12:35:00.000-04:00

Woo hoo! Get your dialing fingers ready.... The annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival will begin taking reservations at 7:00 AM on Monday, August 6 for specialty dining events.

The festival, which runs September 28 through November 11, features many separately ticketed events that are extremely popular with festival guests and availability is limited.

What's popular: The Party for the Senses grand tastings, cheese and food pairings, prestigious wine schools and tastings, elegant multi-course dinners with wine pairings and other special dining events.

Several hundred Disney and celebrity chefs collaborate with renowned winemakers to create a wide variety of tasting experiences at Epcot and at signature Walt Disney World restaurants. Who expected? Cat Cora, Alan Wong, Jeff Henderson, Keegan Gerhard, Colette Peters and G Garvin. Of course, each celebrity chef participates only for a day or two.

Your regular Epcot admission includes entrance to the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, wine and beer seminars, cooking demonstrations, Eat to the Beat! concerts, culinary exhibits and all park attractions and entertainment.

So what's the magic number? Call 407-WDW-FEST (939-3378) for information and to make reservations for special events and programs. Remember reservations will be accepted beginning August 4, but you can call for information now. You can also read festival details online at disneyworld.com/food .

Free Drink Refills for Kids' Table-Service Meals

2007-07-13T12:33:00.000-04:00

Now I must admit that at first, I didn't think this was a big deal... then I read the fine print. The kid's meals at Disney World table-service restaurants now include free refills on all beverages -- including milk, juice and bottled water.

I've eaten quite a few kid's meals. And I've always gotten refills on soft drinks. It's nice to know that the healthy options are now included in the free-refill policy.

The fine print: "The refill policy, which is offered at more than three dozen table service restaurants in the Disney parks and resorts, does not apply to specialty drinks that typically are not included with the kids' meals."

That makes sense.

All this talk about table-service restaurants reminds me that I haven't made dining reservations for our September trip. I must get on that!

An Introduction To Disney World Dining

2007-07-10T17:47:00.000-04:00

To paraphrase the famous saying, a vacationing family moves on its stomach. To nourish and refresh guests, Disney World has 300 dining locations, plus portable food carts, offering a grand total of 6,000 menu choices.

Even so, the question of what’s for breakfast and lunch and dinner and snacks can be daunting. Is it in our budget? Is the line too long? Can we be seated? Will everyone like it?

This blog is dedicated to helping you plan your Disney dining experiences. It is one of my networks of blogs and web sites designed to help you plan the perfect Disney World vacation.