Disney Dining – Grand Floridian Café Breakfast

Last December at Walt Disney World, we ate a lot.  Adding both new experiences along with old favorites made coping with the Christmas crowds easier – less park time, more culinary exploration.  We rarely have a sit-down breakfast on vacation, so enjoying some early morning dining reservations was a rare treat.  One of the new places we tried was the Grand Floridian Café.

Grand Floridian Café Breakfast

It’s hard to write an honest review of a dining experience that began with vomit. Not our own, thank goodness, but there was upchuck splattered liberally near the cafe’s entrance.  If you’ve been to the Grand Floridian before, you may have noticed the dramatic and beautiful tiled floors.grand-floridians-tiled-entranceJust before our arrival, it appeared that a little someone had been violently ill smack in the middle of the lovely tiled atrium.  We gingerly skirted around the mess – I don’t know about Raymond, but I made a valiant effort to NOT breathe in until we were safely inside the restaurant. We were shown to our table immediately and seated beside a window.grand-floridian-cafe-table

The Grand Floridian Café’s décor is everything you’d expect from its location. It completely reflects the overall resort theme – white, bright, open and airy with small, lovely details in keeping with a Victorian feel. grand-floridian-cafe-detailsOur server visited our table right away with menus for us to look over.  I liked the simple presentation of the condiment selection on the table.grand-floridian-cafes-fancy-condimentsWhile there was nothing fancy or particularly outstanding among the menu offerings, there were some solid, hearty breakfast choices mixed among lighter fare like breakfast salads. I did not order one of theses, but thought the idea had merit. grand-floridian-cafe-interiorAs often happens with Raymond and I, we decided to order something to share and selected The Garden Omelet (Three-Egg Omelet, Spinach, Feta, and Roasted Tomato served with Lyonnaise Potatoes or fresh Fruit). We were keeping in mind that lunch that day would be at Whispering Canyon Café, another new experience for us, and we wanted to be good and hungry by then.grand-floridian-cafe-window-seat

While we waited for our omelets, I passed the time people-watching out the window. It was early and there weren’t too many people out and about yet.  There were few people seated near us in the restaurant.  It was Christmas week and while everywhere else was ridiculously busy, the Café was not doing a booming business this early in the day and that was just fine with us.grand-floridian-cafe-breakfastThe food was fine, even if our particular selection was rather unremarkable. The service was excellent, the restaurant’s peace and quiet was welcome and soothing.  Would we eat here again? Sure – especially during Christmas week when finding a serene spot to fuel up is nearly impossible.

I’ve heard the Grand Floridian Cafe’s lunch menu is good, boasting the popular Grand Café Sandwich (Open-faced hot Ham, Smoked Turkey Breast, Bacon, and Tomato with a rich Boursin Cheese Sauce and Fried Onion Straws).  Maybe next time we’ll try a mid-day meal instead of breakfast. Excluding the unfortunate vomit greeting, we had an overall good experience.

Have you tried the Grand Floridian Café? What did you think about it?

 

Disney World Snack Check

Over the past year, some of my favorite Disney World snacks have disappeared.  Now I find I’m challenged with finding acceptable replacements.  Remember how enamored I was with the Roasted Pork Shank in Gaston’s Tavern?  Gone.  Remember the glorious Sweet and Spicy Chicken Waffle in Sleepy Hollow?  Also gone.  How about that amazing Jalapeno Cheese Stuffed Pretzel I enjoyed so much at Animal Kingdom?  You guessed it…gone.  While I’ve never been a fan, even the quintessential Disney Turkey Leg is becoming so scarce, fans will surely be disappointed if/when those legs are permanently off the menu.

Disney World Snack Check

Not one to dwell on what I cannot change, I propose we focus on future Disney World visits and devise a plan for snacking necessities.  I’m open to suggestions.  If you have a favorite snack that is not on this list, please don’t hold back!  Let me know where I can find it and what you love about it.  In the meantime, here are the snacks I’ve got left (at least as far as I know right now) and where I’m planning to eat them:Churro-DHS

Churro –  Snack Cart in Frontierland / Magic Kingdom (if you need to know why this is the perfect treat, check here) – otherwise, you’re probably a fan like me and you know the comfort and perfection of this snack’s crunchy-chewy delectableness.Citrus-Swirl

Citrus Swirl – Sunshine Tree Terrace in Adventureland / Magic Kingdom – Another snack I can and have waxed poetic about.  I’m picturing myself enjoying one of these during the late afternoon after taking a ride on either Jungle Cruise or Pirates.  Adventure makes me hungry and a Citrus Swirl will get me through to supper time without spoiling my appetite.Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar

Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar – Animal Kingdom.  Sure, I know you can get these in any park (and I do love them in Epcot), but Animal Kingdom is HOT!  I need ice cream here most of all.  It has a certain brunch-time appeal to me.Starring Rolls / Red Velvet Cupcake

Something Cake-ish – No visit to the Studios would be complete without at least a bite or two of either a cupcake or a Carrot Cake Cookie.  Both of those options are too much for me to eat on my own (too much sweetness), but sharing works out great!  I prefer mine early in the day and I don’t care if my cupcake is Butterfinger or Red Velvet since both are heavenly.  I’ve been buying my cupcakes at Starring Rolls and my cookie at The Writer’s Stop.  With all the changes going on at the Studios, there’s no telling when those locations and their offerings may change.  This will be top priority on my next visit in a few weeks.RM-Epcot-Italy-Gelato-Espresso

Croissant Donut? Chocolate Croissant? Espresso Gelato “Affogato”? All three excellent snacks have been available in Epcot.  I’ll be there during Food & Wine so I’m not sure I’ll have the time or intestinal fortitude to get to any of these on my next visit, but all are solid snack choices in my opinion and all are also great for sharing.

What do I need to add to the lineup?  Egg roll? Fudge? School Bread maybe?  What are your favorite Disney snacks? Have any of your go-to snacks disappeared?

 

 

 

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort – Pineapple Lanai

It’s time for another installment of Saturdays With Nick!  This one’s for all you Dole Whip and Polynesian fans alike.  Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort – Pineapple Lanai

By Nick

Back when I was a kid, and by kid, I mean in my early 40’s, you could not only get a Dole Whip at the Magic Kingdom, you could also get one at Captain Cook’s at the Polynesian. Not only that, but it was self serve! So, of course, people would tower their pineapple treat as high as gravity would allow!

That is no longer the case, but you can still get Dole Whips and Dole Whip Floats at the Poly, at Pineapple Lanai.

PL, as I just now started calling it, is located right off the main lobby of The Great Ceremonial House.
It has a souvenir bowl and sipper, but that isn’t what makes this my new favorite spot to get a Dole Whip.

My favorite Dole Whip option is the Pineapple and Vanilla Swirl, and that is no longer offered at the Magic Kingdom, so this is the only spot to get that tasty snack!

Have you been to Pineapple Lanai?

 

To read all about Nick’s amazing Disney collectibles and his many Disney adventures, visit the Disney Musings Blog  (where this article first appeared).  You can follow Nick on Twitter, on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Pinterest.  You can also listen to Nick, our friend Dave, and me on The Disney Exchange Podcast where we talk about our love for all things Disney – new episodes every Sunday morning.

Disney World Dining – 5 Great Lunch Spots

Twilight-Zone-Tower-of-TerrorThere’s a lot to be said for a sit-down lunch on a Disney World vacation.  Especially during the hot summer months – a table service meal provides an excellent break from the scorching sun and high humidity.  It gives you time to rest, re-hydrate, cool off, and re-energize so you can get back to park touring action!  Sometimes a restaurant’s lunch menu is less expensive than their dinner menu, making this strategy a money-saving one as well.  While there are many (MANY!) restaurants on our favorites list, today I’d like to recommend a few we particularly love for a mid-day break…

Disney World Dining – 5 Great Lunch Spots

Magic Kingdom Area – When it’s hot, I want to eat outside the park.  A short (and wonderfully cool and scenic) boat ride away is the Wilderness Lodge’s Whispering Canyon Café.  What we like about this restaurant is the no-frills but tasty menu and the casual, relaxing atmosphere.  Keep the fun going with an eatery that’s packed with great Disney service and a few hilarious antics.  Check out the menu here.Whispering-Canyon-Burger

Disney’s Hollywood Studios – The Hollywood Brown Derby is right in the middle of the action, but makes you feel miles away.  The inside dining room provides a beautiful, old-Hollywood setting, but the outdoor patio lounge is our favorite (menu).  With shaded tables and an interesting menu (offering plenty of light options on a hot day) – we love grabbing a late lunch or happy hour snack here.RM-Brown-Derby-Patio

Animal Kingdom – I’m a big fan of lunch on the go in this park during the not-so-summery months of the year, but when the weather is at its hottest, I want to escape the heat inside the Yak & Yeti’s dining room.  Like everything and everywhere else in Animal Kingdom, Yak & Yeti is elaborately themed.  The menu is great and it’s easy to find something refreshing and not too heavy on a hot day.

Epcot – The choices are overwhelming!  I would love to say it’s an easy decision, but I’d be lying.  My absolute favorite thing about needing to eat lunch in Epcot is the opportunity to dine around the World (Showcase).  Most of the time, we opt for sharing counter-service meals so we try food from several different countries.  When we want a light lunch on a hot day, though, it’s hard to beat Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar in the Italy Pavilion.  Tutto Gusto in Epcot's ItalyThe high top tables and wine cellar atmosphere are great and the food and beverage options even better!  We like to share a couple of small plates of Italian meats and cheeses then enjoy an entrée of pasta or a panini.  The servers are always happy to help with wine selection if you aren’t up on your Italian labels.Morimoto-Asia-Dining-Room

Disney Springs – Now this is a great place for a cool, relaxing mid-day break…and the choices are awesome!  I could recommend several excellent options for a fabulous dining experience, but I’ll narrow it down to one great restaurant – Morimoto Asia.  What we love about Morimoto’s is the perfect combination of tranquil atmosphere and excellent food (share some spareribs – they’re amazing!).  Morimoto-Asia-Spare-RibsThis place may be a little pricier than the other options I’ve listed, but the experience and service are worth a bit extra to me.  The menu is extensive and a meal here is the kind of experience that can’t be rushed, so set aside a couple of hours and just relax!

Do you like a sit-down lunch at Walt Disney World?  What’s your favorite place to eat on a hot day?