As of October 2009, the Disney Parks Blog is reporting that you can see Remy at 12:30, 1:40, 2:50, and 5:20 pm Monday through Saturday.
Thanks to FJFuchs for these fun pictures of Remy!
Disney World Online Dining Reservation Info
Disney Online Dining Reservations System
Keith at MouseMisers has posted his experience with the new Disney Dining Reservations system, currently available only to Travel Agents:
Walt Disney World launched the long awaited online reservation system for dining reservations. Originally due in 2008, it was launched late last night, currently for Travel Agents only. No indication was given when the tool will be made available to the general public, but my guess is 2 weeks of testing should do. Currently, only reservations May 26, 2009 and after are available in the system, so the logical launch date would be May 26, 2009. I guess we will have to wait and see.
Read more of his experience–and see screen shots of the system–on his blog.
Cheese Plate Series: Citricos
Citricos Cheese Plate
Ah, another cheese plate post (you can see the first in the series, Narcoossees, here). Let’s stick with the Grand Floridian and head to a restaurant that I truly love and think is one of the best in Walt Disney World.
Citricos has exceptional food and wonderful service. It’s consistent, which we always like. The cheese plate isn’t one of my favorites, unfortunately. There were other appetizers that were just as good, if not better. But the waiter this trip mentioned that they change out their cheese menu often, so perhaps it will improve in the future (this plate is from February 2009).
Cheeses
Lemon Ricotta (Cow’s Milk; upper right hand corner of photo)
Yours truly is NOT a big fan of ricotta, and this was probably my least favorite cheese on the list. I think the lemon taste, along with the texture, was what I least enjoyed. This was the only local cheese on the list and is from central Florida.
Corsu Vecchiu (Sheep’s Milk; lower right-hand corner of photo)
Anything they serve with honey is always going to be my favorite; I’ll just get that out into the open right now. This was the “moderate” cheese on the plate and was undoubtedly our favorite. This is imported from Corsica.
Oregon Blue (Cow’s Milk; lower left-hand corner of photo)
The strongest cheese, as usual, was a blue. From the Rogue Creamery in Oregon, this is an award-winning blue that’s aged for 90 days in Roquefort modeled caves. We enjoyed this–especially with the raisins. It’s one of the weakest blues I’ve had recently.
Citricos Cheeses
Jungle Juice vs. Frunch
Jungle Juice at Tusker House
Jungle Juice and Frunch are very often mistaken for one another, so I figured I’d try to clear up the whole specialty breakfast juice question.
You can find Jungle Juice at the Tusker House in Animal Kingdom (and sometimes at Boma). You can find Frunch at Boma breakfast (at least you used to be able to…the last time I was there, the juice looked a lot like jungle juice, so any confirmations would be helpful!). Also, remember that jungle juice is commonly known outside of the Disney Character Breakfast crowd as alcohol-based…so, definitely don’t add that to you 5-year-old’s morning meal…
Jungle Juice Recipe
1 part Orange Juice
1 part Passion Fruit juice
1 part Guava juice
Frunch Recipe–serves 12
One 8 ounce can Lemonade, frozen and canned (follow directions on can to dilute)
One 8 ounce can Pineapple Juice, frozen and canned (follow directions on can to dilute)
One 8 ounce can Orange Juice, frozen concentrate and canned (follow directions on can to dilute)
12 ounces Mango Juice
6 ounces Grenadine
Mickey Waffles
Mickey Waffle
Every time I visit a Disney message board, the restaurant posts are always filled with questions about Mickey waffles. I thought I’d stick up a picture and give a little info about these yummy little guys.
WHERE CAN I FIND MICKEY WAFFLES?
Disney restaurants have “waffled” through the years, and many have gone back and forth in recent years between serving them and not serving them. For example, Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom served square waffles with Pooh characters on them for a long time, and have now switched to Mickey waffles. Also, Wilderness Lodge’s Whispering Canyon Cafe and private dining served waffles shaped like pinecones for many years, and have in my recent experience served Mickey waffles. I have no idea whether this is because they run out of their original waffles, or if Mickey waffles are in such high demand that all restaurants are beginning to carry them as a staple.
Here’s where you can safely rely on Mickey waffles for breakfast. Please send me an email at [email protected] with your updates!:
- Chef Mickey’s: Contemporary Resort
- Donald’s Safari Breakfast: Tusker House in Animal Kingdom
- ‘Ohana and Captain Cook’s: Polynesian Resort
- Crystal Palace: Magic Kingdom
- Cape May Cafe: Beach Club Resort
- Whispering Canyon Cafe: Wilderness Lodge
- Food Courts: Most food courts at the value and moderate hotels
- 1900 Park Faire: Grand Floridian
MAKING YOUR OWN
Most folks recommend that the “secret ingredient” in Mickey waffles is Carbon’s Golden Malted Flour. Here’s a good recipe to use for Mickey Waffles:
4 eggs, separated
1 cup milk
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt (optional)
2 cups flour
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla (optional)
Beat egg yolks and sugar in a bowl until light. Add cooled melted butter, milk and vanilla extract. Add flour, baking powder & salt, beat well. Beat egg whites until stiff and gently fold into batter. Bake and serve.
WHERE TO GET A MICKEY MOUSE WAFFLE MAKER
Purchasing your own Mickey Mouse waffle maker is proving to be a bit difficult these days. The maker that produces waffles that most resemble those served at the parks and resorts is uniformly out of stock or not sold anymore online. The next best version was recalled in 2007 for bad wiring causing risk of shock. Of course, you can buy it on ebay if you want to take the risk.
So, my friends, your options for make-at-home mickey waffles are reduced to: the Mickey Then and Now waffle maker and the Disney Mickey and the Gang 5-in-1 Tasty Baker and Waffle Maker.
Animal Kingdom Picnic in the Park
Picnic Under the Tree of Life
September 2012 Update: Picnic in the Park in its original format stopped being offered in 2010. After, a grab-and-go option was offered from Beastly Bazaar in Discovery Island. The Grab and Go meal came with a reusable bag. Meal choices for two ($17.99), three ($24.99) or four ($32.99) persons. Meals included: choice of sandwiches, chips, desserts, plus a bottled water. Guests with the Disney Dining Plan could use quick-service credits.
Beastly Bazaar closed in August 2012. Therefore, we are unsure if the grab and go picnic option was moved to another merchandise location. Stay tuned for more information.
May 2010 Update: Picnic in the Park has been downgraded to a grab and go area in Discovery Island’s Beastly Bazaar. Head there for sandwiches, chips, and drinks. The latest info can be found here in our Picnic in the Park Updates Post.
New options everywhere, yes indeed. The Animal Kingdom is now offering a way to make use of all of those beautiful “spots without use” throughout the park!
NOTE: See November 2009 Changes to Picnic in the Park as well as photos of the meal here
Here’s the “skinny:”
UPDATE: As of 6-27-09, Picnic in the Park is also offering meals for two people. Tier choices are the same.
Tier One features sandwiches:
Meal for Three – $24.99 + tax
3 Sandwiches, 1 Large Gourmet Side, 3 Desserts or Fruit, 3 bottles of
Dasani water
Meal for Four – $32.99 + tax
4 Sandwiches, 2 Large Gourmet Sides, 4 Desserts or Fruit, 4 bottles of
Dasani water
Meal for Five – $40.99 + tax
5 Sandwiches, 3 Large Gourmet Sides, 5 Desserts or Fruit, 5 bottles of
Dasani water
Meal for Six – $48.99 + tax
6 Sandwiches, 4 Large Gourmet Sides, 6 Desserts or Fruit, 6 bottles of
Dasani® water
Gourmet Sides (16oz)
Chips, Mac & Cheese, Fruit Salad, Coleslaw, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Tomato & Cucumber, Corn Medley, Orzo Pasta Salad, Green Beans, Oven-Roasted Potato Wedges
Desserts
Apple, Brownie, Cookie, Cornbread, Crisped Rice Treat, Orange
Tier Two offers a choice of rotisserie chicken or ham
Meal for Three – $29.99 + tax
6 Pieces of Rotisserie Chicken or 1 lb. of Ham, 2 Large Gourmet Sides,
3 Desserts or Fruit, 3 bottles of Dasani water
Meal for Four – $38.99 + tax
8 Pieces of Rotisserie Chicken or 1 1/4 lb. of Ham, 3 Large Gourmet Sides,
4 Desserts or Fruit, 4 bottles of Dasani water
Meal for Five – $47.99 + tax
10 Pieces of Rotisserie Chicken or 1 1/2 lb. of Ham, 4 Large Gourmet Sides,
5 Desserts or Fruit, 5 bottles of Dasani water
Meal for Six – $56.99 + tax
12 Pieces of Rotisserie Chicken or 1 3/4 lb. of Ham, 5 Large Gourmet Sides,
6 Desserts or Fruit, 6 bottles of Dasani water
Gourmet Sides (16 oz. container)
Chips, Mac & Cheese, Fruit Salad, Coleslaw, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Tomato & Cucumber, Corn Medley, Orzo Pasta Salad, Green Beans, Oven-Roasted Potato Wedges
Desserts
Apple, Brownie, Cookie, Cornbread, Crisped Rice Treat, Orange
Picnics can be picked up (and paid for) at a pre-set time at the Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery in Harambe Village (it’s hooked into the Tusker House), and can be eaten in one of 14 designated picnic spots in the park. You’ll get a plates, utensils, and a map of picnic spots when you pick up your grub.
Guests on the Disney Dining Plan will use counter service points for this meal.
Ten Commandments of Disney Dining
Casey's Corner
II. Thou shalt use up every single snack credit, even if thou thinks thou’s stomach lining has probably already burst
III. Thou shalt not feel in any way juvenile for eating things shaped like giant mouse heads
IV. Thou shalt forget about thou’s diet and just order the No Way Jose already
V. Thou shalt gladly again pay too much for a funnel cake even though it made thou sick yesterday because it’s just that good
VI. Thou shalt take pity on the ‘Ohana cast member and stop asking them when the potatoes are going to come back. There have trans fats, people. They’re never allowed to come back. Sniff…
VII. Thou shalt not build thou’s entire trip around maybe, just maybe, getting a table on the patio of Rose and Crown for Illuminations
VIII. Thou shalt eat at at least one restaurant where thou gets to use chopsticks and potentially eat something that isn’t a hamburger
IX. Thou shalt eat in the castle. Thou just has to. It’s the law.
X. Thou shalt not even tell thou’s daughter that dining with the princesses even exists until thou has secured the ADR. It’s just not worth the pain.
(Thanks to Caitiesus on the WDWForGrownups.com forums for inspiration!)
Epcot Food & Wine Festival Countdown
The Epcot Food & Wine Festival is one of the premier foodie events in the nation, welcoming specialty chefs, wineries, breweries, and other food professionals from around the globe to showcase their talents in an extravaganza of cultural tastes and experiences.
No. Disney did not pay me to write that. But if they want to use the text, they can send me an email.
This year, the Food & Wine Festival is scheduled for September 25-November 8, 2009.
The festival will share tastes from several countries through over two dozen kiosks set up around Epcot’s World Showcase. Kiosks serve tapas-sized portions of regional specialties for between $2 and $5 each, and recommended wines and beers for pairing.
The event also features several special dining events and culinary programs; you’ll have to make reservations for these and pay for them separately and in advance. These will (likely) be announced sometime in July 2009 and be up for booking starting in August 2009 by calling 1-407-WDW-FEST. (All bookings are non-transferable and non-refundable.)
For those of us who can’t wait the three months until the 2009 agenda comes out (and for those of you who want to see an idea of what you might be able to expect from the festival this year), here’s the 2008 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Guide.
Free Dining at Walt Disney World–The Pros and Cons
The pros and cons of this offer are different for everyone, so I thought I’d take a minute to give you my specific “set of learnings” from my previous free dining experiences:
- Free dining means I get to use up all of my table service credits in three days by eating at California Grill every night
- Free dining means that Yachtsman Steakhouse stops serving Ribeye because it takes up too much space on the grill
- Free dining means I leave for the airport with about 20 bottles of water because I wasn’t able to use all of my snack credits (blame California Grill)
- Free dining means I get to discover that Casey’s Corner hot dogs and french fries are the best hot dogs and french fries in Disney World, and that’s that.
- Free dining means I should leave more tummy room to use snack credits on Dole Whips!
- Free dining means I have to book my advanced dining reservations even earlier than before!
- Free dining means that the ghost town that was September in Disney World has now turned into a literal free-for-all! Use fastpass!
HAVE FUN!
“Book Early” Series: Le Cellier
Le Cellier
Lots of folks just glide right by the large, wrought-iron gate leading to the beautiful replica of Vancouver’s Victoria Gardens in Epcot’s Canada Pavilion. They figure it’s just a garden, of which there are MANY in Disney World, so why stop to gawk when you could move on to Soarin’?
Breadsticks
Le Cellier, that’s why. French for “the cellar,” Le Cellier is the Canada Pavilion’s table-service steakhouse restaurant that’s known for its filet with mushroom risotto,
Cheddar Cheese Soup
cheddar cheese and Moosehead Beer soup, and delicious breads. Le Cellier has been on top for a while now, and quality and service haven’t seemed to suffer for the many years I’ve been dining there. It’s dark, cellar-like dining room provides plenty of cover for Disney big-wigs who have been rumored to hold business meetings on the premises.
Sausage and Corn Polenta
Le Cellier is part of our “Book Early” Series, because it’s practically impossible to get a dinner reservation here, and only slightly more possible to get a lunch reservation.
Filet with Mushroom Risotto
The place is booked solid six months in
advance, and, in my opinion, Le Cellier could easily pay an extra cast member full-time wages to turn away potential walk-in diners.
When you do get a seat, indulge in that Cheddar Cheese soup, the new sausage and corn appetizer, and the lovely filet mignon (though we like the good ol’ burger, served with black diamond cheddar, just as much). If you still have room
Burger and Fries
for dessert the maple creme brulee is wonderful, but I tend to grab the seasonal cobbler most of the time!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
