food IS a theme park
We’ve said it once, and we’ll say it again: Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival is a must do at least once in your Disney life. The food is fine, the drinks are tasty, and the celebration is energetic.
2017 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Logo
is one of the most popular spots to grab a snack or treat in the World Showcase at Walt Disney World’s Epcot. And now the home of School Bread is closed until summer. BOOOO!!!!
Kringla Bakeri og Kafe sign
We all know that Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival is one of the prettiest times to visit Walt Disney World’s second-oldest park. But with the addition of food booths (called Outdoor Kitchens at this festival!), the Festival got delicious, too!
The Epcot Flower and Garden Festival
Sunshine Seasons is a beloved quick service lunch spot, and with cheerful decor and tons of menu options — including some healthier for you choices — it’s easy to see why.
Plus, it’s located in the Land Pavilion in Epcot’s Future World at Walt Disney World — and every WDW fan knows that’s the spot to ride Soarin’ and Living with the Land. So, you know, you’ll be there anyway. Why not score some good eats?
And good eats they’ve got! We’ve long celebrated the dessert case here, where you can snag such sweet beauties as the Strawberry Shortcake and the Mickey Oreo Cheesecake (which is as adorable as it is yummy). And now the Rose Gold Minnie Ears Cupcake, of course!
The savory options here are awesome, too, with some of the food growing right in the Land’s greenhouses showing up on the menus. One of the things we appreciate most about Sunshine Seasons is that the menu offers a lot of non-standard quick service items. Spicy Fish Tacos and Mongolian Beef are crowd pleasers, and guests with various food preferences and needs will find plenty of options here, too.
Epcot’s Sunshine Seasons
It’s time to let the sun shine in!
Sunshine Seasons can’t be missed — literally. It’s the center of the Land Pavilion and features soarin’ ceilings, bright swaths of fabric, and massive floating globes (in the spirit of hot air balloons). You’ll look down onto the seating area as you make your way down to the lower level (where you find entrances to those rides we mentioned).
Sunshine Seasons from Above
If you’re looking for Garden Grill and its super fun character meal, that’s on the top level across from the pavilion’s entrance (you’ll look straight over the open area below).
But everything else you’re looking for is on the lower level. When you arrive on the lower level, you’ll enter Sunshine Seasons’ ordering area and be greeted by a large menu board. This will give you an overview of the various food stations — including Sandwiches, Asian Noodles, Soup & Salad, and The Grill (and let’s not forget The Bakery!).
Sunshine Seasons Menus — click for larger image
Each ordering area also features an illuminated menu board above the station. And you can see the prepared food and on-going food prep here as well. Trays are located beneath each station so you don’t have to juggle your cupcakes and your rotisserie chicken.
Sunshine Seasons Asian Cuisine Station
There are also grab-and-go stations and designated Kid Zones where the littles can grab their sides and drinks.
Bottled Drinks
Kids Meals Beverages and Sides
Across from the food stations is a long beverage area. You’ll select your beverage before heading to the check out.
Beverage Area
But, y’all, don’t miss the dessert cases. We insist. Some are grab-and-go and some are behind the glass. There are winners in both locations, so peruse and choose.
Grab and Go Desserts
Desserts!
If you’re looking for the Rose Gold Minnie Ears Cupcake, this is where you’ll find it. (We all want to look at her again, so…)
Rose Gold Ears Cupcake
When you’ve made your selections, head to the check-out, where you’ll find a few more grab-and-go options as well.
Check-out
You’ll pass utensils, napkins, and condiments on the way to the seating areas, each of which has sort of an amoebic shape and a low wall encircling it. These seating areas are best seen in their entirety from above. They’re packed with tables and chairs (with some booths along the wall). This is fairly extensive, and it’s typically not too difficult to find a table.
(Here’s a bit of trivia: the different sections are themed to different seasons, so check the table design to see which section you’re sitting in!)
Sunshine Seasons at The Land pavilion in Epcot
During busy meal times, Sunshine Seasons will be hoppin’. It’s a fun and cheerful place to eat — so let’s dig in!
On this visit I ordered a Reuben. This classic sandwich featured layers of Corned Beef, Swiss Cheese, Sauerkraut, and Russian Dressing. The fillings are grilled between great Crusty Bread.
Reuben Sandwich
This was so good. Satisfying and exactly what a Reuben should be. The cheese was melted, the corned beef deliciously salty, and the bread perfectly crisp. This is definitely a solid option for a diner who’s after classic eats. But note that this is pre-made, so unless you’re willing to wait a LONG time, you won’t be able to get one customized to your tastes.
Reuben
Next up, I tried a guest favorite. The Slow-Roasted Pork was substantial. Covered in house-made BBQ sauce, it definitely made an impact on the plate.
Slow-Roasted Pork with BBQ Sauce
The pork itself was delicious; tons of flavor. But that sauce? Holy vinegar, Batman! It was so strong, this was hard to get down. I don’t know if this was a bad batch or of this is the standard level of vinegar in the BBQ sauce, but it was way too much for my taste. It was all I could smell for about an hour after being there!
Slow-Roasted Pork with BBQ Sauce
The sides for the Slow-Roasted Pork are sort of cafeteria-style: a big scoop of Mashed Potatoes (meh) and a piece of Corn on the Cob. But for a picky eater, these would be fine. But if you ARE a picky eater, or choosing a meal for such a person, get that BBQ sauce on the side.
Sides with Slow-Roasted Pork
So maybe we can’t say everything on the menu here is spectacular, but Sunshine Seasons is doing quick service just about as well as anywhere else in terms of selection and diversity of options. And we really appreciate that. Plus the desserts are not to be missed. I mean…
Flower Pot Cupcake
Sunshine Seasons is for you if:
Get your sunshine somewhere else if:
Sunshine Seasons is a terrific place to grab a quick meal or a sweet treat during your Epcot visit. It’s super convenient if you’re already in the area, and the options are diverse and tasty (for the most part!). Plus, it’s really fun, bright, and relaxed — just as your vacation should be!
Chef Paul Bocuse — one of the most celebrated Chefs of all time — passed away on January 20, 2018, at the age of 91. Chef Paul’s passing is certainly a loss to the culinary world, but to many Disney and Epcot fans as well.
Chef Bucose with Mickey at Opening of Chefs de France
His accolades were many and varied: among them, Chef Paul was one of a group of chefs who pioneered modern French cooking and “nouvelle cuisine” in the 1960s and 70s. This weekend, French President Emmanual Macron paid tribute to the owner of the three Michelin star restaurant L’Auberge du Pont de Collonges, describing him as the “incarnation of French cuisine.”
In the early 80s, Chef Bocuse was invited by the Walt Disney Company to create restaurants for the France Pavilion in EPCOT Center. The result was Les Chefs de France, which now runs under his son, Jérôme.
Just in case you haven’t heard about the mayhem surrounding Rose Gold Minnie Mouse Ears in Disney Parks (on both coasts!), here’s the skinny…
Rose Gold Minnie Ears!
The minute Rose Gold Minnie Ears hit Disney Parks merchandise locations, the shops could not — and still can not — keep them on the shelves! Folks spent time hovering online waiting for updates about their return and scarfing them up in numbers. You could say they’re kindofa BIG DEAL. [Read more…]
Le CellierCheddar Cheese Soup
fans, rejoice! Now there’s a quick service option so you can get your fix without expending two signature Disney Dining Plan credits! Thanks to the Refreshment Port, Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup is now available (and snack credit eligible!).
Refreshment Port Menu
Happy New Year!
There’s no denying that 2017 has been a year of changes, some good and some not-so-good. But when it comes to Disney food news, we have to say this year has been FULL of updates!
Ready to ring in the New Year!
And as we get ready to ring in the New Year with party hats, noisemakers, and a toast, we’re taking a few minutes to review some of the biggest Disney Food News stories of 2017!
Let’s go! [Read more…]
As I was taking in the sights, sounds, and tastes of the Epcot Festival of the Holidays, I took a little detour into Epcot’s Germany Pavilion.
Weinkeller in the Germany Pavilion
I was passing through the Weinkeller when something caught my eye: a small grouping of Glühwein Chocolate Bars by Schwermer.
has become a destination all its own within Epcot’s Germany Pavilion.
And with good reason! Even among the Pavilion’s diverse offerings within Biergarten (a Table Service buffet complete with festive entertainment), Sommerfest (the Counter Service spot with NUDEL GRATINNNNN), and Bier Carts and Hovels, Karamell-Küche focuses on one thing, and one thing only:
CARAMEL!
From seriously addictive Caramel Corn to Caramel Bacon Squares to the ah-mazing Caramel Pecan Bar (you gotta try it!), it’s hard to take in all the different iterations of caramel treats tucked within the Caramel Kitchen’s bakery case.
And speaking of different iterations… I noticed a change to one of my favorite golden treats on my last visit when I spotted a sign for the Caramel Butter Bar. It was front and center ahead of what looked suspiciously like the old Caramel Covered Shortbread — also previously known as the Chewy Caramel Bar.
Caramel Butter Bar
I wasn’t super concerned at first because this particular snack has been known by a few different names over the years, but basically remained a dependable combo of thick caramel poured atop and in between layers of buttery shortbread.
I figured I was good to go because the “new” Caramel Butter Bar looks… virtually identical to its predecessor. See? [Read more…]
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