You, my Disney-loving friend, will recognize the feeling: It seems like forever since we last visited our favorite vacation destination. Our dining plans were made months ago, our FastPasses have been booked, our Magic Bands should arrive any time and the wait is nearly over! Now that I can finally say, “Next month I’m going to Walt Disney World!”, here are 30 completely random things I’m looking forward to…
Would any of these be on your list?
Dinner at Morimoto Asia
The scent of Bay Lake Tower’s lobby
Every detail in Animal Kingdom (like how the sounds in Pandora change throughout the day)
Pre-race people-watching in our runDisney corrals
Dawa Bar beer
Looking out over Animal Kingdom from the tea train on Expedition Everest
Singing with the Dwarfs in the mine…Heigh-HO!
Crossing finish lines!
Monorail announcements!
Crispy Pork Belly
19.3 miles of one-on-one time with Joseph at Disney World
Yak & Yeti eggroll
Every second on the PeopleMover (gotta rest those feet!)
That first glimpse of Cinderella Castle
Balloon vendors on Main Street U.S.A.
Soaking up my favorite Spaceship Earth scenes (for a little while longer)
That was only 30 things and there are about a million more! I can’t remember when I’ve been more excited about vacation…time to start packing! Are you headed to Walt Disney World this fall? What are you most excited about?
I’m not whining. That’s not what this is. I’m not complaining either. I’m here stating facts: I’m angry and need a bit of talk therapy. You are my therapist today – I need a sympathetic ear about a few things I’ve got to get off my chest. Time to clear the air, so to speak, which doesn’t mean I’ve lost any love for Disney. The fact of the matter is that while I generally don’t mind change and often welcome it with open arms, sometimes change hurts. This is one of those times.
I will freely admit to being extra excited about some of the new things at Walt Disney World. It was (my opinion) way past time for Illuminations to make way for something new and I cannot wait to see Epcot Forever and whatever comes after that. I’m excited about Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. If the Great Movie Ride was never going to be updated, then a completely new experience is the way to go! I love Toy Story Land and I’m happy about Galaxy’s Edge if for no other reason than that the Studios had become a shadow of its former self.
If I’m ambivalent about the Skyliner and Disney Riviera Resort, it’s because I almost always stay at Bay Lake Tower and don’t expect I’ll be experiencing them anytime in the near future. I also don’t care about new dance parties of any variety, but get that for many guests, these experiences are a welcome way to create fun memories.
Now to the news that has really made me angry as few things have before. A change that I believe will hurt for quite some time to come. The Burudika Band in Disney’s Animal Kingdom will end its performances on October 13th when their contract with Disney expires. The Harambe section of the park will never be the same! The band’s contribution to the atmosphere and the joy the performers brought to guests with every performance cannot be ignored. We at least stopped to watch them for a few minutes or, more often, spent a good bit of time enjoying their music while sipping a beverage at the Dawa Bar. Burudika is Swahili for “to be refreshed” and soaking up those moments of perfect relaxation in Harambe created some of our family’s happiest vacation memories. The band isn’t the only live entertainment being cut, but this is the one that irks me the most. I love Animal Kingdom. I think I might love it a little bit less now.
Well, there it is. I’ve moved on from anger to sadness now and I’ve got something in my eye which will prevent me from writing more. Thanks for being here for me today – you’ve been a great help by allowing me to get these feelings out. I’ll be back soon with a better attitude. Maybe.
We’ve never had a bad visit to Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival. It sometimes gets a bad reputation for rowdy crowds and over-imbibing merrymakers, but our experiences have always been positive. Bear in mind that we are firm believers in that early to bed, early to rise adage – especially at Walt Disney World, so we may be inadvertently avoiding the worst festival guests. That being said, we’re well into the planning homestretch for this year’s Food & Wine visit and I’m getting pretty stoked!
Our 2019 Strategy – Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival
While I don’t do as much extensive pre-festival planning as some, I always make sure to start my research on the Disney Food Blog’s festival pages. I find I rarely have to look anywhere else for the scoop on all things delicious and entertaining. This year I’ve got two major considerations as I build my must-try list: Limited festival time and a big appetite.
Limited Festival Time
Because we’ll be at Walt Disney World for slightly less than four days, We’ll need to be strategic about making the most of our Epcot time. Fewer attractions and more World Showcase is the plan. The Eat to the Beat Concerts during our visit will feature Sheena Easton, Kris Allen, and Boyz II Men. Personally, of the three, I’d pick Sheena Easton if there’s enough time to watch a bit. In the 80’s I loved her music and for a time Sheena and I even sported the same hairstyle. (I’m humming the morning train song now as I type.)
Big Appetite
As you may already be aware, our favorite son, Joseph, and I are running the Wine & Dine Challenge for the first time this year. Nothing like running 19.3 miles in two days to make a body mighty hungry! Also, burning lots of calories makes me feel less guilty about the food booth indulgences. Some of this year’s choices are outstanding and my wish-list top five include (in no particular order):
Brazil – Crispy Pork Belly with Black Beans, Tomato and Onions
The Alps – Venison Stew with Crushed Potatoes
Flavors from Fire – The Steakhouse Blended Burger: Blended Beef and Mushroom Slider with Brie Cheese Fondue, Arugula, and a Truffle and Blue Cheese Potato Chip on a Brioche Bun
Spain – Seafood Salad with Shrimp, Bay Scallops, Mussels, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, White Balsamic Vinegar and Smoked Paprika
Thailand – Red Hot Spicy Thai Curry Beef with Steamed Rice
The only repeat is the Crispy Pork Belly – Raymond and I both love it so much that we once stopped in at Epcot and made our way to World Showcase just to split an order on a super-crowded Saturday night. We were on our way to dinner someplace like Yachtsman Steak House, but had to make time for that one dish. It was the only thing we did in Epcot that day. Even saying the words…crispy. pork. belly. Makes me happy.
While we may not get as much time at Food & Wine as we’d like this time, I plan on making the most of this limited opportunity. If I can manage to squeeze in an order of Morocco’s Spicy Hummus Fries or a bowl of Refreshment Port’s Duck Confit Poutine with Fig Demi Sauce and Brie Cheese Fondue, I’m going for it.
Are you a fan of Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival? What are your favorite dishes?
Our friends, Nick and Barbie, scored a dinner reservation at Artist Point for the new-ish Story Book Dining and invited us along (’cause they’re super nice that way). Here’s a recap of our experience including my usual honest feedback.
Thoughts on Story Book Dining at Artist Point
Overall, we had a wonderful time. The lateness of the reservation (8:30-ish if I remember correctly) was both good and bad. The restaurant was amazingly uncrowded, quiet, and virtually kid-free, but we were also very tired. After a day at the parks, I thought we might be too exhausted to enjoy this experience but I worried for nothing. I think I’ll recap our dinner in two parts – 1. Characters and Service 2. Food/Dining Experience. Hopefully, if you’re considering whether or not Story Book Dining would be a good fit for your family’s plans, this review will help you decide.
Characters and Service
We were seated promptly upon check-in and shown to a table in the back of the dining room – this location was perfect for us. Our server was excellent. Unhurried in a good way, she made us feel like her only guests. We noticed right away there was a multi-tiered tree-like stand in the middle of the table. Our server explained that appetizers and desserts are served to be shared (and the presentation is certainly unique) more on that later. Like other character dining experiences, we could expect the characters to stop by our table throughout our meal.
Because the restaurant was not busy, we got to spend what felt like extra time with each character (Snow White, Dopey, and Grumpy) as they came around. Snow White was lovely and spoke to us adult-to-adult making her visit extra enjoyable and not a bit cheesy (which can happen occasionally with some face characters). Grumpy and Dopey were adorable and managed to communicate well with everyone at our table without speaking – Disney characters are typically excellent at this and the dwarfs were no exception. Grumpy gave lessons on being…grumpy.
The Queen is also at Artist Point for a meet-and-greet, but rather than visiting each table, the Queen is available to guests on their way out of the restaurant. I think this is clever and not only adds a special treat at the end, but also allows families to adjust for children who might find her a bit intimidating. There’s a special backdrop for pictures and for me, this was one of the best character interactions EVER. The Queen is one of my all-time favorite characters and I was fangirling like crazy. She was absolutely wonderful in appearance and attitude. Her condescending sneer, her regal bearing, her disdain for our presence – perfection! I was impressed beyond description.
Food / Dining Experience
Because this was a character meal, I automatically had low expectations about the food. I find most character meals entertaining, but the food is rarely the draw. Artist Point’s menu is creative and as I mentioned, the appetizers and desserts are presented in a unique way for sharing. While cute, I was not a fan. I don’t mind sharing, but the offerings were more dramatic and showy than tasty. Here are a few pictures of the appetizers and desserts. They weren’t horrible, just not great.
Winter Squash Bisque
Hunter’s Pie
Wicked Shrimp Cocktail (Jar)
Miner’s Treasures
Fairy Tale Gooseberry Pie, Poison Apple, Miner’s Treasures
While the appetizers and desserts met my low expectations, the entrees did not. My entree was absolutely delicious and a very pleasant surprise. The menu has changed since our visit early in 2019, but I believe the flavor and quality will still be excellent no matter what dishes make up the entree selection.
I ordered Bashful’s Butter-poached Snapper (Root Vegetable Risotto, Wild Mushroom, Citrus Butter Sauce) and Raymond had the Royal Prime Rib Roast (Horseradish Mashed Potato, Hay Smoked Carrots, Popover, Jus) – we were equally happy with our choices. Well seasoned and cooked to perfection, our entrees were the highlight of the meal.
As of this writing, the meal’s price is posted on Disney World’s website as $59.99 for adults per three-course meal and $35 for children. While Artist Point does not accept Tables in Wonderland, this experience requires only one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan – a good bargain!
Practicing my evil sneer
Bottom Line
As far as character dining goes, this is a pretty good choice for families who like a more upscale experience. It felt quite a bit fancier than Chef Mickey’s or Tusker House and we enjoyed not having to get up and down to select food from a buffet. As it’s not too princess-heavy, the characters have appeal for all audiences and our party of four adults didn’t feel out of place. (Note: If you want both fancy and a buffet, try 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian.)
Would we visit Story Book Dining at Artist Point again? We would! I’ll be watching for an opportunity to bring our family here in the future. How about you? Have you tried this new character dining experience? What did you think about it?
