Bird’s Eye View of a Magic Breakfast

Gearing up to celebrate a monumental birthday is likely different for everyone. Some people plan lavish parties with lots of excitement, but for me, there was a lot of crying, panic, and anxiety. When I found myself with a work-free day on my 30th, I decided to make the best of it and celebrate WDW style! If you have to turn 30, you might as well turn 30 at Disney’s Polynesian Resort, right?

A few days prior, I made a reservation for myself at Kona Cafe, and promptly sent an e-mail to the WDW Special Diets team (thank you Disney Hipsters Adam and Andrew for the advice!). You see, I had heard tell of vegan Tonga Toast. Though I had never had traditional Tonga Toast, I figured: if there’s any way to celebrate a birthday, it’s with vegan deep fried bread and cinnamon, so I might as well give it a whirl!

I received a reply from WDW Special Diets the day following my request. They assured me it wouldn’t be a problem, and to just notify the host or hostess that I had spoken with them. Bingo bango, right? I can’t say I wasn’t skeptical, or preparing myself for potential disappointment, but I figured if nothing else, there was Kona coffee in it for me, so it would be a win/win either way!

Pressed Pot Kona Coffee

When I arrived, it was like they had all been waiting for me! Mind you, there were only two other families eating breakfast at 11am on a Monday at Kona Cafe, but everyone was so welcoming and courteous (heck no, I didn’t tell them it was my birthday, are you crazy?!). My server, who was just the nicest young man (I can start calling people “young man” now that I’m 30), immediately got the chef (also a nice young man). Since my e-mail to Special Diets had detailed that I was specifically hoping for vegan Tonga Toast, the chef knew exactly what I had come for and let me know it wouldn’t be a problem. He said it would take just a few extra minutes to change the oil. Take as long as you want, buddy, just bring on the Toast!

As I sat consuming an entire pressed pot of Kona coffee, the most wonderful looking breakfast food item I had ever seen was placed before me. Ladies and gentlemen, it was French Toast, it was as big as my head, there were bananas inside, and a little cup with a spout filled with some magical strawberry concoction. Was this heaven? I think it was. A delicious, cinnamon sugar heaven. It was extremely filling, but so good that I wanted to keep eating forever. The strawberry compote was the perfect compliment to the French Toast. Maple syrup, maple schmyrup.

There were bananas. Inside!

I managed to eat about half of my portion, leaving all of the poor side-of-fruit to get packed up to go along with the second half of my toasty breakfast. I ate the second half secretly, in small spaced out bites throughout the day. This was so filling I didn’t have an appetite for anything else the rest of the day. Don’t forget about the entire pressed pot of coffee just for me, but still!

This has to be one of my all-time favorite meals I have ever eaten at WDW. I promise, I am not exaggerating. If you find yourself seeking out an amazing vegan breakfast or early lunch option, please be sure to contact Special Diets ahead of time so the chef can be prepared to make you this amazing meal. Also, if you’re going, make the reservation for one extra person and invite me, ok?

A Slice of Vegan Tonga Toast Heaven is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Starting May 9 for reservations on or after June 24, 2013, Disneyland Resort will charge a $10 per person fee to no-shows for dining reservations. We confirmed with Disney that this rule will apply to all Table Service restaurants in Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, Downtown Disney, and the three resort hotels. The fee will also apply to cancellations at Bibbidi Bobbidi  Boutique in Fantasyland.

A valid credit card will be required when making reservations. Guests must cancel at least 24 hours in advance of their reservations to avoid the new fee. Disneyland Dining may be reached at 714-781-3463 or dine@disneyland.com.

Disneyland Resort Implements Cancellation Fees for Dining and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Loyal TouringPlans readers, I am here to tell you that you don’t have to eat hamburgers or chicken fingers when you visit the Disneyland Resort. There was a dark period in the 1990s and early 2000s when food at the Happiest Place on Earth took a turn for the worst and many of the park’s counter service dining locations served bland, overpriced, mass-produced slop. Thankfully after a series of menu revisions over the last few years, most of Disneyland’s eateries have some delicious options. Today I will share some that you must try on your next trip.

Plaza Inn Specialty Chicken
Plaza Inn – Main Street USA, Disneyland – $13.99

Disney’s description: “Three pieces of chicken, fried to a golden brown, seasoned with distinctive herbs and spices, served with mashed potatoes, buttermilk biscuit and mixture of vegetables”

What I’m about to say may be controversial to Southern California theme park goers: In my opinion Plaza Inn’s fried chicken can go toe to toe with Knott’s Berry Farm’s fried chicken. I know it sounds crazy but this is one of Disneyland’s most popular entrees for a reason. The chicken pieces are gigantic and juicy, but still have a nice crisp crust on the outside. Included in the meal is a breast, thigh, and leg, along with mashed potatoes and green beans. The included biscuit is nothing to write home about but tastes great when drenched in honey from the condiments stand. Don’t be scared by the relatively high price tag. This meal is huge and is big enough for most people to share, but you probably won’t want to.

Fried Green Tomato Sandwich
Hungry Bear Restaurant – Critter Country, Disneyland – $8.49

Disney’s description: “Cornmeal crusted fried green tomatoes layered with two slices of fresh heirloom tomatoes, topped with havarti, rémoulade, jicama-mango slaw and served on a multi-grain roll. Served with sweet potato fries or zesty slaw.”

I’m not going to lie, I was a bit put off when I first heard of this sandwich. How good could a theme park fried green tomato be? Very good! The sandwich is served on a fresh multi-grain roll and packed with fresh vegetables and a slice of cheese. The jicama-mango slaw is good but not overpowering, it adds just the right amount of sweetness to the sandwich. The fried tomatoes are thinly breaded and not greasy. The sandwich is also served with sweet potato fries which some people aren’t a fan of. I love sweet potato fries and they are a lot better than the bland french fries Disney serves at other counter service locations. What I love about this meal is that it’s filling but I don’t feel like I ate a heavy meal. Perfect for those hot summer days in the park where you don’t want feel bogged down by a big lunch or dinner.

Mediterranean Skewers
Paradise Garden Grill – Paradise Pier, Disney California Adventure – $11.49

Paradise Garden Grill is one of the new eateries that opened as part of the revamped DCA last year. It hard to believe that this location was once a McDonalds! Disney transformed this location into one that offers some of the highest quality food available in the park. At Garden Grill guests may select their choice of skewer (grilled steak, lemon-oregano chicken, vegetable, or beef kefta) and then select a sauce (Moroccan chili, chimichurri, tandoori-spiced yogurt, or tzatziki . The combination in the picture above is lemon-oregano chicken with chimichurri. My personal favorite is beef kefta with Moroccan Chili, but I’ve tried all the different skewers and sauces and they’re all delicious. The meat they use is high quality and perfectly cooked. If you can’t decide which one of the excellent sauces to order, you may ask to try all of them on the side. Unfortunately Paradise Garden Grill doesn’t appear to be very popular. Perhaps the menu sounds too exotic for the average theme park guest. Don’t let that scare you away from trying one of the resort’s best counter service restaurants.

Sourdough Bread Bowl
Harbour Galley – New Orleans Square, Disneyland – $9.29
Royal Street Veranda – New Orleans Square, Disneyland – $9.29
Pacific Wharf Cafe – Pacific Wharf, Disney California Adventure – $9.29

Bread bowls at the Disneyland Resort have been sold for as long as I can remember and have created a large following of fans over the years. It’s not surprising that because of this they are offered in three different locations in the two theme parks. The soup served in the bread bowls come in several different varieties. In Disneyland you can find clam chowder, vegetarian gumbo, steak gumbo, and broccoli and cheddar cheese. Over in DCA you can find tomato bisque, broccoli and cheddar cheese, and clam chowder. You really can’t go wrong with any of them. All of the soups are thick and served hot. Perfect for a cold day. The bread bowl is thick and freshly made daily. My only gripe with the bread bowls is that the soup serving sizes seem to shrink each year while the price goes up. Luckily the bread bowl is still huge and pretty much a meal itself. Buy your bread bowl at Harbour Galley and then make the short walk over to Hungry Bear Restaurant’s seating area for a beautiful view of the Rivers of America while you eat.

Brioche French Toast
Flo’s V8 Cafe – Cars Land, Disney California Adventure – $7.99

I debated whether or not to include a breakfast item on this list. Everything else on here is served from 11 AM until the various counter service restaurant closing times but the Brioche French Toast is served only from park opening until 11 AM. It’s just too good to leave off. The Brioche French Toast is made up of a giant piece of French toast, covered in lightly salted caramel, with a banana on top. It’s hard to even classify it as French toast because to me it tastes more like bread pudding. It’s incredibly good, but keep in mind you’re basically eating a gigantic dessert for breakfast. If you’re fine with that then go nuts. Heck, order two.

Do you have any favorite Disneyland counter service entrees? Post them in the comment section below.

Want to see the most up-to-date Disney menus on the internet? Check out our dining sections for Disneyland and Walt Disney World where all menus are checked for accuracy at least every 90 days.

5 Must Try Counter Service Food Entrees at Disneyland Resort is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Disney

The new artisan ice cream shop coming to Epcot’s France Pavilion in World Showcase has a name. Known as L’Artisan des Glaces, the new shop will feature 16 flavors of ice cream and sorbet, all made in-house with fresh ingredients.

In addition, the location will offer a treat for adults. Grown up ice cream treats will be available for those who ask for a shot of liquor on top, served inside a martini glass.

The shop is expected to open in mid-June.

New Information About France Ice Cream Shop is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

In an exciting bit of news, Emeril’s Restaurant Orlando and Emeril’s Tchoup Chop have announced the addition of Mother’s Day menus (each unique to their respective restaurant) available for lunch and dinner on May 12, 2013. Both restaurants will continue to offer their standard menus on that day, allowing guests to partake in the pleasures of both lists.

Emeril’s Orlando at Universal CityWalk has crafted a bevy of indulgent starts including New Orleans Barbecue Shrimp, Creole Marinated Fried Calamari, an Oyster & Artichoke Dome and a Veal & Shrimp Stuffed Bell Pepper. Other starts such as the Smoked Wild & Exotic Mushrooms and the Poor Man’s Chicken & Biscuit served with Redeye gravy have certainly caught my attention.

Unique soups and salads added to the list include Rotisserie Chicken & Adouille Gumbo, Emeril’s Salad with sun dried tomatoes, brioche croutons, and pepper jack cheese, and Cornmeal Fried Oyster Salad (this one has me salivating).

Wood-Oven Pizzas highlight the classic Margherita along with a delicious-sounding White Truffle pizza with confit cremini mushrooms, Gruyere cheese and a truffle emulsion–the most sophisticated pizza I’ve read about in quite a while! Entrees such as the Pecan Crusted Drum, the Mushroom Duxelle Stuffed Quail, the Slow Braised Pork Chops (anything braised at an Emeril’s restaurant has been amazing in my experience) all sound delectable.

And to close out the meal are the Bananas Foster Pancakes, which if Tchoup Chop’s Banana Cream Pie is anything to base our expectations off of, this will be incredible!

I’ve already been thoroughly impressed by Emeril’s Tchoup Chop (see our lengthy, in-depth review of the normal menu here) so it should come as no surprise that the special Mother’s Day menu for one of my new favorites has my eyes watering just reading about it. A unique appetizer serving of Ragoût of Duck Pastrami Confit with a Coconut-Sriracha Biscut easily demands my attention. A Warm Spinach Salad served with five spiced pickled red onions (*drools*) and macadamia crusted goat cheese with a chorizo vinaigrette has all the right notes that I look for in a salad and I’m dying to know just what this will taste like!

Three new entrees have been created for this annual one-day occasion including the Fire Cracker Fish “Wok Fry,” served with sticky rice, papaya-serano salsa and a kaffir lime butter sauce. Seafood fans will surely go for the Pan Roasted Jumbo Sea Scallops with Mâche and a yellow curry-coconut lobster cream sauce. And knowing the impeccable record Tchoup Chop has in my book with meats, the Grilled Hangar Steak with a hoisin barbecue glaze, brabant potato hash and Chinese mustard will surely impress!

Tchoup Chop has also added a few items to its tasting menu (another aspect of this fabulous restaurant I hope to test soon enough) such as the Pan Seared Jumbo Sea Scallops.

Universal Food News: Emeril’s and Emeril’s Tchoup Chop Mother’s Day Menus is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

A popular evening hotspot at the Universal Orlando Resort’s CityWalk, Pat O’Brien’s has long had a reputation for strong drinks and food with New Orleans flair. I discovered the establishment one day by happenstance when a group of friends invited me to join them, and while I only sampled a few of the appetizers they ordered during their late-afternoon visit, I was sold from that point on that I should return to try out a full meal and some drinks. I’m an admitted fanatic when it comes to New Orleans cuisine, as well as an active seeker when it comes to trying new mixed drinks, so this seemed like the perfect place for me!

I started by sampling some drinks… The Disneyland fan in me immediately gravitated to the Mint Julep, but the traditionalist in me knew that I must order the restaurant’s signature Hurricane. With my friend in tow I could indulge and try both without overdoing it—a wise decision, as I would find out that the alcohol content of these drinks is high, despite their well masked flavor profiles. The Mint Julep was totally clear (unlike the Scope-green syrup delicacies I love from the Mint Julep Bar in New Orleans Square) with a decent filling of ice, mint leaves, cherries and an orange. Despite the clear visibility, this drink is loaded with two ounces of strong Bourbon. This being my first alcoholic mint julep, I was a little surprised at how powerful the bourbon was in relation to the mint, but after a few sips it become much more smooth and pleasant to drink. If you’re not a mint or bourbon person, this isn’t the drink for you, but it is definitely a strong kick to start your meal with!

The Hurricane is a huge, 26 ounce serving with four whole ounces of Pat O’Brien’s Hurricane Rum mixed with the company’s Hurricane Mix (which you can buy to make your own at home). The Hurricane has a distinctly “hurricane flavor” with a fruity twang that masks the rum beautifully. An orange and cherry topper hangs above the glass but will likely sink to the bottom as you drink, or will be placed on the table to avoid the bulk in an attempt to get a greater sip. The Hurricane presents a dangerous prospect for the indulgent: the alcohol is almost invisible to the taste, meaning that the drink gives of the sense of being light on the booze. This may prompt you to want to drink more (and a few are fine), but this drink packs a hidden wallop that given time will come back to show its face. Be careful with this great drink and don’t be fooled by its taste. It is strong; you just won’t know it until the drink has set in.

The Mint Julep cost $8.99 and the Hurricane $11.49, the latter being the better deal in terms of the size of the drink. One benefit I neglected to realize until the end of the meal is that by paying the full price for the drink you are actually able to get the souvenir glass as a takeaway (a lower priced, smaller serving size is available without the glass). Even better, this isn’t just the case where they wash out your glass to return it to you to take out, still wet. Rather, after your meal has been paid for you can take your receipt to the gift shop counter outside of the entrance to the restaurant to redeem your glass, delivered brand new in a transportable box for safe keeping!

But we hadn’t come to Pat O’Brien’s solely for drinks and souvenirs… We wanted to indulge in some great “N’awlins” cuisine! We opted to share two appetizers and one entrée. Being the seafood lover I am (as is my friend), we had to go with the intriguing Crawfish Nachos, described as a serving of fresh tortilla chips covered with New Orleans-style Crawfish Etouffee and topped with melted Cheddar Cheese and Sour Cream. Save for the sour cream we ordered the plate as is, enjoying the rich flavor of the etouffee and the whole pieces of crawfish meat strewn about the nachos. This is a hearty serving to be sure with the right amount of cheese, meat and etouffee sauce to give this dish a surprising amount of balance. We left no morsel untouched, as it was just that great! I can honestly say I’ll be returning based on those nachos (and the Hurricane) with all other reasons simply a bonus at this point!

The New Orleans Spicy Cheese Fries sounded like a good idea as we were both in the mood for something with a little heat. Listed as “Pat O’s Spicy Fries Piled High, smothered with Cajun Cheddar Cheese Sauce, topped with Bacon & Sour Cream,” we were expecting a similar serving size to that of the crawfish nachos, with a good deal of cheese sauce, a decent amount of bacon and a reasonable amount of spice. Sadly we were mistaken on all accounts. The appetizer portion looked to be more like a side dish with a meager amount of cheese sauce and bacon included and the “piled high” fries being a layer or two thick in height. We inquired to our waiter as to why this wasn’t what the menu advertised and he simply replied “that it is a cheesy theme park cliché” to list them on the menu like that and that they are intentionally not spicy. It was a confusing answer but one that we weren’t going to argue. At the end of the day, the fries were pretty good as was the cheese sauce (where there was some), so it wasn’t like we hated what we received, rather it wasn’t what we expected. I’d probably avoid this one in favor of getting the crawfish nachos (or another drink), especially when the fries are $6.99 for an order and the Mint Julep is only two dollars more.

The final piece to our meal was the Jambalaya, “a combination of rice, andouille sausage, chicken breast, and shrimp cooked with Cajun spices, served with a sour dough roll. While not the absolute best jambalaya either of us had ever had, we were certainly pleased with the plate overall. The serving size while initially small to the eye ends up being more than enough as the rice is filled with tons of good proteins and vegetables. The rice itself was moist and clumped together like some of the good risottos and paellas I’ve had before—more stuck together than some of the other jambalayas I’ve had but it fit both of our tastes perfectly. Not listed but present were black eyed peas, scallions and diced green peppers all of which added to the great and variable flavor profiles found between the grains of rice. Overall, this was a great entrée that we would both happily order again!

Despite a disappointing spot with the “Spicy Cheese Fries,” we really loved our experience at Pat O’Brien’s and will undoubtedly return soon to get more of those delectable crawfish nachos and a Hurricane or two. The food and drinks are entirely affordable and a great meal can be purchased for a more-than-reasonable price. That coupled with a great atmosphere in the already wonderful evening setting of CityWalk makes Pat O’Brien’s a gem in Universal Orlando’s table service dining line up that some (myself included) seem to have overlooked in the past. But now this one is on my radar as a go-to place, to be added to my “frequent visits” list…

Universal Food Finds: Pat O’Brien’s is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Situated in the back corner of the Wilderness Lodge lobby just behind Territory Lounge, Artist Point offers diners the opportunity for a fantastic Pacific Northwest-themed meal with spectacular views of the lodge’s grounds and Bay Lake. I was able to book a last-minute ADR for this meal just a few hours beforehand, and walkup availability is pretty common here early in the night.

Just like the décor and location of the restaurant, the menu stresses a seasonal Pacific Northwest theme. For appetizers, you’ll generally find dishes that fit in one of three categories:

• Seasonal salads: a light salad option (roasted beets in the fall; field greens in the winter), along with a few heavier salads (one recent dish is confited bacon with grilled corn)
• Wildcards: during fall and winter, venison carpaccio is a more adventurous start to the meal
• Staples: Subject to availability, there’s nearly always a mussels dish; a cheese plate; and their signature Smokey Portobello Soup, which is worth a trip on its own.

Oak-smoked venison carpaccio with Washington State cherries, drunken goat cheese, fennel, and shaved black truffle

Smokey Portabello soup with roasted shiitakes, chive oil, and sourdough croutons

A typical Artist Point cheese plate has one each of a bleu, mild and hard cheese with walnut toast

Entrées fit the standard formula for Disney table service restaurants: chicken, pork, beef, vegetarian, fish, and seafood. Artist Point also tends to add buffalo and a few other seafood dishes to the mix to accentuate the theme. Cedar plank-roasted salmon is their signature entrée. Often servers will recommend the prawn and crab “hot pot” or scallop dishes, as well. I tend to stick to the land when choosing entrées and come back to Artist Point time and time again for their pork and buffalo.

Desserts feature their signature berry cobbler, a chocolate-centric dish, crème brûlée, and a no sugar added option that’s definitely worth a try. Recently, a trio dessert titled “The Mural” has been available with a sweet potato or pumpkin cheesecake and cranberry sorbet alongside a divine chocolate semifreddo. Don’t let the name scare you away; this half-frozen custard-filled chocolate ice cream ball is one of the best tasting things you can try at Artist Point. For this meal, I settled on a few of the newer options on the menu.

Signature berry cobbler with raspberry ice cream

Sweet potato cheesecake,Valrhona chocolate almond semifreddo, and house-made cranberry-port gelato

Vanilla bean crème brûlée with chocolate biscotti

To start, I jumped at the chance to have the duck confit salad. The plate itself is decorated with a very sweet cabernet reduction and a few quarters of figs, the tart (which was essentially a gruyere cheese quiche), a very large portion of the duck confit, all topped with a late harvest salad dressed in vinaigrette. The tart had a great cheese flavor that acted as an appropriate savory offset for the well-seasoned duck. The sweetness of the cabernet reduction and figs mirrored traditional duck accompaniments, and was balanced out by the acidity in the dressing on the greens. This dish was the perfect way to start a meal, and I would gladly have eaten another serving as my entrée. Instead of feasting on more duck, I tried the newest variation of the “savory donut” served with one entrée.

The Certified Angus Beef filet is served with a wild mushroom ragout and a truffle and hazelnut crunch donut filled with sage-flavored sweet potato puree on a red currant gastrique. I opted to swap the beef filet for the buffalo strip steak, which came topped with the same wine-infused butter as the filet to set the flavors up for the dish. Presented as a trio with the perfectly-cooked buffalo on the left, the plate transitions from salty to sweet in a great balance of hearty late fall and winter flavors. The mushroom ragout creates a rich sauce for the meat, and the donut offsets both with a lighter, sweeter flavor than you’d find in a traditional “meat and potatoes” dish. I felt adventurous on this particular dining occasion and decided to give the bone marrow at the center of the plate a try. The best way to overcome the strange texture is by spreading it like butter on the incredible house-made sourdough bread served at the beginning of the meal. Overall, this entrée highlights why Artist Point has a dedicated following among those dining at Walt Disney World – outside-the-box concepts, but at the heart of it all, simple and well-executed flavors.

For dessert, I was able to enjoy my favorite selection on the menu at the moment – the dark valrhona and white chocolate “sculpture” with drunken cherry crunch and blackberry port sauce. The dark and white chocolate components are not as sweet as you might expect, especially when eaten with the dark chocolate shavings and the crunchy components scattered around the plate and on top of the first layer. When paired with the sauce and cherries, the dessert is well-balanced, light, and easy to eat. In addition to the crunch on top, there are Maker’s Mark-soaked cherries hidden in the center of the tower. These surprise cherries make for a few unexpected and very tasty bites towards the end of the meal.

All three courses came to my table in a pretty timely manner, with the exception of the appetizer. My server was fantastic in filling the wait, though. He had already provided the bread service and didn’t hesitate to bring out a quick amuse-bouche of corn and acorn squash soup to hold me over while he found the duck confit. All of my questions about each dish were patiently answered, both before I ordered and after I received my food. Every course came expertly paired with great wines that I’d gladly order separately now after trying them with these dishes. I wouldn’t hesitate to return to Artist Point in the near future for a relaxing dinner in the wilderness based on the value of the meal and the quality of the food and service.

The Wildest (And Tastiest) Meal in the Wilderness is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

TouringPlans.com is proud to announce another addition to our stable of  eBooks: the Walt Disney World Bars and Lounges eGuide!

Are you unfamiliar with the over 70 bars and lounges found on Walt Disney World property? Are you a frequent visitor who is always on the lookout for hidden gems and new experiences? Do you like pretty pictures? Have you always wanted to try your hand at making Disney cocktails at home? This eBook is for you!

With descriptions and numerical ratings of every single bar at Walt Disney World plus over 400 pictures, this eBook is just another way that TouringPlans.com fully prepares you for any Disney vacation. From the Walt Disney World bar novice to the advanced lounge lizard, this eGuide offers something for everyone! It contains information about history, themes, drinks, and food at every lounge along with wonderful pictures illustrating the highlights. The suggestions and tips in this eGuide will easily pay for themselves as the Bars and Lounges eGuide will help you pick the best bars and make the best selections, saving valuable vacation time!

Another wonderful thing about this eGuide is the 26 cocktail recipes that allow you to continue that Disney vacation feeling from your own home lounge. The recipes are designed to minimize the amount of liquor needed to maximize the value of our drink list.

Cheers!

Purchase Walt Disney World Bars and Lounges on the TouringPlans.com eBooks page! As a thank you for purchasing from our site, we are offering 20% off for a limited time. Use code BARSBLOG20 when you purchase the eBook!

Still need convincing? Check out these sample pages!

WDW Bars and Lounges: A Brand New Touring Plans eGuide! is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Yum! Breakfast! Is it weird that I don’t eat breakfast at home (unless you count cookies) but that I love eating breakfast at Disneyland? Maybe my body is fueling up for all the walking I’m about to do. Maybe my body knows I’m within walking distance of Mickey Waffles! Whatever the reason, breakfast at Disney is a must do for me! If I’m trying to save money, that breakfast may just be a few donuts from a box that we brought with us (and, really, is that all that different from cookies?), but otherwise we make a point to find something tasty to start the day.

1. Jazz Kitchen Express – Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen in Downtown Disney District isn’t open at breakfast, but the Express Window is! And there are lots of good choices for breakfast. The beignets are probably the most popular and with good reason. They are hot deliciousness dipped (smothered?) in powdered sugar. Or try them dipping style with cinnamon sugar and syrup on the side. Take my advice and do not attempt to eat these without several napkins on hand. Messy doesn’t even begin to describe it. Worth it, but messy. The breakfast burrito pictured at right is also delicious.

2. Steakhouse 55 – In my blog post about my favorite restaurants at Disney, a commenter pointed out how good the breakfast at Steakhouse 55 in the Disneyland Hotel is. Boy was that person right! Shout out to Marmorgan! And unless you are getting the steak and eggs for $17, it’s fairly reasonably priced! A large stack of hot pancakes for $11, build your own omelet for $12, an American breakfast with eggs, ham, bacon or sausage and toast or a bagel for $12. With the Two Times Four you get French toast or pancakes, eggs, bacon AND sausage for $12. Not bad for a nice restaurant, huh? I didn’t say cheap, I said reasonable. Compare it to the prices of Goofy’s Kitchen next door and you’ll realize what a bargain you’re getting.

3. Tangaroa Terrace – You may remember a previous blog post where I said I was not excited by the Tangaroa Terrace menu in the Disneyland Hotel simply because they only had sweet potato fries. No plain old regular Idaho potato fries! But the breakfast menu is a crowd pleaser. And I’m not talking about the Egg White, Vegetable and Tofu bake, although I’m sure the vegetarians out there would disagree with me. There are lots of other great choices though. The Breakfast Platter was delicious. I could have eaten a whole plate of just the roasted potatoes. The French toast comes with a banana caramel sauce and bacon. There are also some ginormous cinnamon rolls to make just about anyone happy.

4. White Water Snacks – White Water Snacks in the Grand Californian Hotel and Spa is a great option. Especially if you want to grab something quick and hot on your way into the park. There are biscuit sandwiches, a breakfast burrito and French toast Sticks. Of course, the real highlight here for me is Mickey Waffles! Mickey Waffles are quick and pretty cheap at 6 bucks! The best way to start any day at Disney, right?

5. Carnation Café – The Carnation Café is one of my favorite places for breakfast in the Disneyland Park. The menu is quite big. Here your Mickey Waffles come with bacon or sausage. My dining companions loved the Huevos Rancheros and Apple Granola Pancakes. The delightful Oscar, the longest employee of Disneyland, has a wonderful breakfast platter named after him, and is there to greet the diners in the morning.

6. Jolly Holiday Bakery – The Jolly Holiday! You didn’t think I was going to leave that off did you? The Bakery is, not surprisingly, a bakery! Of course, a bakery is a good place to get breakfast! In the morning they have quiche, fresh assorted pastries, specialty coffees, cookies (!), cupcakes! Everything you could want or need in the morning!

7. La Brea Bakery & Café – La Brea in Downtown Disney has both an express counter and a sit down restaurant. The restaurant side has much more elaborate options like smoked salmon and items with very fancy names like Croque Madame. There are some very yummy options at the sit down restaurant to be sure, but if you want to grab something on the go, there is a lot to choose from at the express counter. There are breakfast paninis, quiche, French toast, and more fresh breads than you can shake a stick at!

8. Earl of Sandwich – A recent (happy) addition to the breakfast line up at Disneyland is Earl of Sandwich. Known for its delicious sandwiches during the day, Earl also has breakfast sandwiches! They’re hot, taste great, and cheap! Less than $4!

9. Flo’s V8 Café – Did you know Flo’s V8 Café in Cars Land serves breakfast? It does! There are chicken tamales, French toast, a platter with eggs, toast and breakfast potatoes…Wait. They had me at breakfast potatoes.

10. River Belle Terrace – The River Belle Terrace in Frontierland has Mickey Mouse pancakes? No, I did not say Mickey Waffles, I said pancakes! Walt himself was rumored to have dined on Mickey pancakes in the mornings at the River Belle Terrace. Of course, there are regular shaped pancakes too, but what purpose do those serve? The River Belle Terrace is also a great place to get your breakfast and sit outside, people watch, and enjoy the beautiful setting.

What’s your favorite place to eat breakfast at Disneyland? Let us know!

10 Great Places to Eat Breakfast at Disneyland is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

With today being the first day of spring, Spring Break is right around the corner! (Wasn’t it just Christmas?!)

With that being said, a busy season is upon us, and over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios there is a great option for guests to get both a quick meal and reserved seating for Fantasmic!

The Taste of Hollywood to Go is a prepackaged meal that will be offered at the park from March 24 – April 4. There will be five different choices that guests can choose from. They are:

• hot fried chicken with roasted garlic mashed potatoes, sweet corn and carrots and warm apple crisp
• veggie sandwich with avocado, orange and tomato salad, tabbouleh and chocolate cake
• California and tuna sushi roll with avocado, orange and tomato salad, ginger-marinated tomatoes and cucumbers and a spicy pecan chocolate cluster
• shrimp salad with avocado, orange and tomato salad, ginger-marinated tomatoes and cucumbers and mandarin orange cheesecake
• cold-cut roast beef with creamy horseradish, potato salad, grilled asparagus and chocolate cake

In addition, there will be two kids options:

• turkey and American cheese wrap with apples and carrots with Ranch dip, strawberry yogurt and a seven-layer cookie bar
• strawberry yogurt, apple wedges, carrot sticks, Goldfish crackers, and an organic apple and cinnamon oatmeal bar

Meals will cost $15.99 for adults or $5.49 for kids ages 3-9. If a guest is using the Disney Dining Plan, it will be one quick service entitlement.

The pick up location will be at Min and Bill’s Dockside Diner from 11 am – 8 pm. While reservations are not “required,” the option is only available on a first come, first served basis, so if you have not made reservations, make sure to check early to see if there is any availability. If you would like to make a reservation, call (407) WDW-DINE

Taste of Hollywood To Go Meals Being Offered is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.