T.G.I.F. Pic Of The Week – Foodies Rejoice – Food And Wine Time Is Almost Here!

The characters, the rides, the shows – there’s so much to see and do at Walt Disney World that just thinking about it all makes me tired…and HUNGRY. Luckily, WDW has some truly amazing cuisine – and if you’re a “foodie” then you might want to plan your Disney vacation around the annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival – where you can experience even MORE amazing eats!

 

This year the Festival runs from September 14th – November 14th, and in addition to TONS of pop up kiosks featuring cuisine from around the world – places like Belgium, Brazil, South Korea, and MANY more will be represented

The idea here is to pair the country’s signature dishes with their best wines and beverages, to really showcase the food AND drink! Check out the full list of kiosks that will be at this year’s festival Here

In addition to the food and drink available for purchase, there will be live concerts, culinary demonstrations, beverage seminars, and newly added this year – the chance to get in on the action with “Mix it, Make It, Celebrate it!” classes (like sushi making and cake decorating to name a few!)

The Food and Wine Festival is really a dream come true for someone like myself – who loves Disney and FOOD – and I can’t wait to check it out next fall when I head to WDW!

TGIF!

T.G.I.F. Pic Of The Week – Hungry In Animal Kingdom? Feast On This!

I talk a lot about Disney Food – with good reason! They work hard to create culinary experiences that are unique and delicious – and they certainly have come a long way from the trips of my childhood, where it was burgers and chicken fingers and not much else

Oh, plus, one of the great things about being an adult at Walt Disney World is that you get to decide where you want to eat (instead of your parents calling the shots!) – and there’s a lot to choose from! No matter what kind of food you prefer, chances are good Disney has it!

I will admit – I wasn’t a huge Animal Kingdom fan when I was a kid – but I have recently grown to appreciate it a lot more, probably largely in part due to its amazing dining options!

 

Check out these mouth watering options next time you’re at Animal Kingdom:

Like these sandwiches at Flame Tree Barbeque – piled high with pulled pork or smoked turkey

Or this Mandarin Chicken Salad at Yak And Yeti – doesn’t that look super fresh?

And for someone sweet, head over to the Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery to snag one of these amazing giant Brownie Paws

Head over to Pizzafari for – yep, you guessed it, pizza! As well as salads, yummy breadsticks and they serve beer and wine here too (yum!)

 

Oh – and these are just the counter service/snack options for those on the go – there are plenty more eats available at AK, including some great table service restaurants – check out all the options here

One thing’s for sure – you’ll never go hungry while touring Animal Kingdom!

TGIF!

Character Meals – Why Adults Will Love Them Too!

Donald’s Safari Breakfast at Tusker House in Animal Kingdom was great – good food and great characters too!

So what comes to mind when you think “Disney Character Meal?” Probably a loud, crowded room full of screaming kids, and kid cuisine like chicken nuggets and mac and cheese. I am guessing you are not picturing that this is a fun place for adults to enjoy a meal, but as an adult who loves Walt Disney World, I can assure you that Disney Character Meals can be fun for everyone, not just kids!

First of all, to me, the best thing about character meals is the FOOD – many of them are buffets, and others are served family style (meaning the menu is set and brought out to you on platters, and you can have seconds or even thirds of all the yummy dishes!). Breakfast usually includes eggs, meats, baked goods, and the always delicious Mickey Waffles, while you can expect carved meats, amazing sides and delectable desserts at lunch/dinner

My husband enjoying some amazing food and Winnie The Pooh characters at Crystal Palace!

Then there is the location of the various character meals, some are in the Theme Parks, but a lot of them are hosted in the various WDW Resorts – which gives you a chance to check out all the unique and different accomodations Disney has to offer! I like to head over to the Resorts about an hour before my scheduled character meal, so I can have a chance to walk around the Resort grounds, check out the pool and resort gift shop, and take in the atmosphere to see if it’s a place I would eventually like to stay. Or, if it’s a really nice Resort, I take this time to pretend I AM staying there, since some of them are a little too expensive to stay at, but are still great places to eat!

And I don’t care how old you are, getting to meet Mickey or Cinderella or whoever your favorite character was when you were a kid is still magical, I know my parents still love it, and my face still lights up when Minnie comes over and I get to pose with her for a picture. Getting to meet characters, and being in Walt Disney World in general, takes you back to a simpler time, where your favorite characters had adventures involving villains, and where fairy tales came true. It reminds you of how great it was to be a kid, and that, to me, is the best part about getting to go to character meals.

So consider some character meals when you are booking your Advance Dining Reservations for your next Walt Disney World trip, the food, atmosphere, and character meetings make it all worth it!