Parks & Resorts – Page 39

REVIEW: Earth Eats in Future World, Epcot International Food and Wine Festival 2017

WDWNT on September 19, 2017

Welcome to a marketplace review for the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival 2017, taking place in the park from August 31st through November 13th, 2017. This review will cover “Earth Eats”, which is located in Future World West behind Club Cool, in the cluster labeled as “Next Eats”.

Earth Eats

Food:

Ricotta and Zucchini Ravioli with Rustic Tomato Sauce – $4.75
Grilled Beef Skewer with Romaine, Apricots, and Feta Cheese – $5.25
Peanut Butter and White Chocolate Mousse with a Caramel Drizzle – $3.50

Beverages:

Kurt Russell’s Gogi Wines Chardonnay “Goldie”, California – $10.00
Kurt Russell’s Gigi Wines Pinot Noir, California – $15.00
Redstone Meadery Black Raspberry Mead, Colorado – $7.00

Ricotta and Zucchini Ravioli with Rustic Tomato Sauce – $4.75

Vegetarian dishes usually aren’t my thing, but this particular ravioli is a real winner, The ricotta cheese and zucchini are blended together nicely for a flavor combination you won’t soon forget.

Grilled Beef Skewer with Romaine, Apricots, and Feta Cheese – $5.25

This is fine, but there are a dozen better beef dishes you can find at other marketplaces around World Showcase. Also, where did the accompaniments go? Below is a picture from last year, with more of the advertised cheese…

Peanut Butter and White Chocolate Mousse with a Caramel Drizzle – $3.50

I think I ordered the Peanut Butter and White Chocolate Mousse with a caramel drizzle at least 5-7 times last year when it debuted. I love any dessert with peanut butter, but the light mousse mixed with the caramel flavoring is just about perfect.

Kurt Russell’s Gogi Wines Chardonnay “Goldie”, California – $10.00, Kurt Russell’s Gigi Wines Pinot Noir, California – $15.00

Please enjoy my classy picture of wines over a receipt, with way too much silverware in the background and a dirty table underneath

Kurt Russell’s Goldie is honestly one of the best Chardonnay varieties you’re going to find at Epcot, let alone Food and Wine. It’s $50 a bottle for the 2013 vintage, making $10 a glass not the worst deal at the event. Considering the light crispness of the wine, it’s well validated at the price point, and somehow all comes back around to Guardians of the Galaxy being in Epcot…

The Pinot Noir comes in at $75 a bottle for the 2013 vintage, justifying $15 a glass. This wine brings forward notes of plenty of fruit, making for a very flavorful wine that most will enjoy. It’s a perfect use of those Tasting Sampler tabs we told you not to buy (but you probably did anyway).

Redstone Meadery Black Raspberry Mead, Colorado – $7.00

This thing is pretty weird. It’s basically an alcoholic carbonated drink with a black raspberry flavor. I thought it was quite refreshing for a hot day and probably a good choice for those who don’t like a strong alcohol taste with their drinks.

REVIEW: Active Eats in Future World, Epcot International Food and Wine Festival 2017

WDWNT on September 19, 2017

Welcome to a marketplace review for the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival 2017, taking place in the park from August 31st through November 13th, 2017. This review will cover a brand new booth called “Active Eats”, which is located in Future World West, in the “Next Eats” cluster behind Club Cool.

Active Eats

Food:

Loaded Mac ‘n’ Cheese with Nueske’s Pepper Bacon, Cheddar Cheese, Peppers, and Green Onions – $4.75
Roasted Verlasso Salmon with Quinoa Salad and Arugula Chimichurri – $5.50
Sweet Avocado Crema with Strawberries, Yellow Cake, and Tortilla Streusel – $3.75

Beverages:

M.I.A. Beer Company HRD WTR Cucumber & Lemon Lime Hard Sparkling Wine, Doral, FL – $4.00
Chateau Ste. Michelle Cold Creek Riesling, Columbia Valley, WA – $6.00
Evolution by Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, OR – $6.00

Loaded Mac ‘n’ Cheese with Nueske’s Pepper Bacon, Cheddar Cheese, Peppers, and Green Onions – $4.75

Yes, the Loaded Mac and Cheese is still a fantastic blend of bacon, peppers, green onion, and cheese, and yes, the portion size can be small. We had two fantastic servings of this already, and while it may be on the tiny side, I think it is still worth buying if you enjoy dishes with a lot of spice.

Roasted Verlasso Salmon with Quinoa Salad and Arugula Chimichurri – $5.50

The Verlasso Salmon is well prepared and quite flavorful, and the quinoa salad is good enough. I wouldn’t tell you not to order this, but it also isn’t a dish that would come to mind when you ask me for the better dishes at the Festival.

Sweet Avocado Crema with Strawberries, Yellow Cake, and Tortilla Streusel – $3.75

Hands down the best new item of 2017, the avocado crema steals the show. I’ve had this twice now, and both times it was absolutely off the charts. The softness of the yellow cake, the sweet flavor of the strawberries and avocado crema, and the sugary crunch of the toppings make for a surprisingly good dessert. While you may be drooling over the return of your favorite chocolate snack this year, I think you may have a new favorite once you try this.

M.I.A. Beer Company HRD WTR Cucumber & Lemon Lime Hard Sparkling Wine, Doral, FL – $4.00

I can’t say that I’ve ever had “Hard Water”, but I can’t say it wasn’t refreshing or enjoyable either. Given that the event has started in August, an alcoholic drink closest in substance to water is a nice touch, even if it is a fad that never really caught on. Likely the most refreshing alcoholic drink at the event, I say give this a try.

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REVIEW: Coastal Eats in Future World, Epcot International Food and Wine Festival 2017

WDWNT on September 19, 2017

Welcome to a marketplace review for the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival 2017, taking place in the park from August 31st through November 13th, 2017. This review will cover a brand new booth called “Coastal Eats”, which is located in Future World West, in the “Next Eats” cluster behind Club Cool.

Coastal Eats

Food:

Lump Crab Cake with Napa Cabbage Slaw and Avocado Lemongrass Cream – $5.00
Baked Shrimp Scampi Dip with Sourdough Baguette – $5.50
Seared Scallops with Roasted Corn and Butterbean Succotash and Chili Chipotle Butter Sauce – $6.00

Beverages:

Erath Pinot Gris, Oregon – $6.00
Soter Planet Pinot Noir, Oregon – $7.00

Lump Crab Cake with Napa Cabbage Slaw and Avocado Lemongrass Cream – $5.00

This is a surprisingly healthy serving for Food and Wine and the flavor did not disappoint. While I’m pretty tired of avocado seemingly being on top of everything at these events, it pairs well here for a dish I would highly recommend for the seafood-lover.

Baked Shrimp Scampi Dip with Sourdough Baguette – $5.50

Another surprising sizable and shareable dish, the baked shrimp scampi is another I would recommend from this booth. The buttery and flavorful shrimp go nicely soaked into the sourdough bread.

Seared Scallops with Roasted Corn and Butterbean Succotash and Chili Chipotle Butter Sauce – $6.00

I have yet to be disappointed by a scallops dish at this festival, and this new attempt may be my favorite yet. The chili-chipotle butter sauce is fantastic, combining spice and flavor nicely with the perfectly seared seafood.

REVIEW: The Chocolate Studio in Future World, Epcot International Food and Wine Festival 2017

WDWNT on September 19, 2017

Welcome to a marketplace review for the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival 2017, taking place in the park from August 31st through November 13th, 2017. This review will cover “The Chocolate Studio”, which is located in Future World West in the pathway to World Showcase near the Imagination pavilion.

The Chocolate Studio

Food:

Liquid Nitro Chocolate-Almond Truffle with Warm Whiskey Caramel – $4.75
Sweet Dark Chocolate Raspberry Torte with Whipped Cream and Raspberry Dust – $4.25

Beverages:

Justin Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles – $7.00
Banfi Rosa Regale, Piedmont – $9.00
Lenotti Recioto della Valpolicella, Veneto – $10.00
RL Buller Fine Muscat, Rutherglen – $6.00

Liquid Nitro Chocolate-Almond Truffle with Warm Whiskey Caramel – $4.75

The Liquid Nitro Truffle is still a delight and still on our absolute must list for the event for all the reasons we have been saying for years now.

Sweet Dark Chocolate Raspberry Torte with Whipped Cream and Raspberry Dust – $4.25

For those who prefer a dark chocolate flavor, the raspberry torte is absolutely sublime. A nice alternative to the truffle… or you could just get both…

Justin Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles – $7.00

This comes in around $30 a bottle outside of the festival, so $7 for a glass isn’t a terrible deal considering the majority of the festival prices. Pairs well with either chocolate dessert and it’s perfectly enjoyable.

Banfi Rosa Regale, Piedmont – $9.00

This is that bright red translucent wine that comes up whenever chocolate is advertised somewhere. It’s not bad, but $9 a glass is hard to swallow considering how readily available and inexpensive the wine is elsewhere.

Lenotti Recioto della Valpolicella, Veneto – $10.00

Fairly unique and difficult to find outside of the festival, we recommend this purchase which pairs well with the chocolates.

RL Buller Fine Muscat, Rutherglen – $6.00

Another fairly interesting wine for the festival, high ratings across the board on many wine enthusiast websites, and at $6 a glass it feels validated.

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REVIEW: The Cheese Studio in Future World, Epcot International Food and Wine Festival

WDWNT on September 19, 2017

Welcome to a marketplace review for the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival 2017, taking place in the park from August 31st through November 13th, 2017. This review will cover “The Cheese Studio”, which is located in Future World West in the pathway to World Showcase near the Imagination pavilion.

The Cheese Studio

Food:

Braised Beef “Stroganoff” with Tiny Egg Noodles, Wild Mushroom, and Boursin Garlic and Fine Herbs Cheese Sauce – $5.00
Savory Caramelized Onion and Boursin Garlic and Fine Herbs Cheese Tart with Cold Arugula Salad and Aged Balsamic – $4.50
Cheese Trio: Profiterole topped with Boursin Garlic and Fine Herbs Cheese and Orange Apricot Jam, Smoked Salmon Pinwheel with Boursin Shallot and Chive Cheese and Everything Seasoning and Strawberry Macaroon with Boursin Pepper Cheese – $5.50

Beverages:

Leth Steinagrund Grüner Veltliner, Austria – $5.00
Liberated Pinot Noir, California – $6.50

Braised Beef “Stroganoff” with Tiny Egg Noodles, Wild Mushroom, and Boursin Garlic and Fine Herbs Cheese Sauce – $5.00

I would say that is is a good dish, not great. The “stroganoff” isn’t very flavorful, but the egg noodles underneath were quite good.

Savory Caramelized Onion and Boursin Garlic and Fine Herbs Cheese Tart with Cold Arugula Salad and Aged Balsamic – $4.50

Not only is this a massive serving for $4.50, it is also as good as it is large. The cheese, arugula,balsamic, onion, and garlic all made for a pleasant combination that I will likely be back for. Well, at least if I leave plenty of room, because this thing is massive, likely as filling as your average counter service meal at Epcot.

Cheese Trio: Profiterole topped with Boursin Garlic and Fine Herbs Cheese and Orange Apricot Jam, Smoked Salmon Pinwheel with Boursin Shallot and Chive Cheese and Everything Seasoning and Strawberry Macaroon with Boursin Pepper Cheese – $5.50

Another new favorite, this interesting take on the cheese trio is a must order. While the profiterole was a little forgettable, both the salmon and the macaroon were bursting with flavor and both tasted incredibly fresh.

Leth Steinagrund Grüner Veltliner, Austria – $5.00

The Gruner Veltliner is indigenous to Austria, where these specific grapes are grown and harvested. This white is worth a try if you’ve never had this variety of wine before, this is what Food & Wine is best at.

Liberated Pinot Noir, California – $6.50

Named for breaking the trend of overly ripe fruit and high alcohol contents of other pinot Noir. $18 for a fairly common bottle, interesting enough if you’re up for $6.50 a glass, but the Gruner Veltliner is a more unique option

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REVIEW: The Wine and Dine Studio in Future World, Epcot International Food and Wine Festival 2017

WDWNT on September 19, 2017

Welcome to a Marketplace Booth review for the 2019 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, taking place in the park from August 29 to November 23, 2019. This review will cover the Wine & Dine Studio kiosk located in Future World West. This is a one-stop-shop for some fancy wine during the 2019 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. (Note that the menu prices do not include tax!)

For our complete coverage of the 2019 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, head to our festival landing page here.

Wine & Dine Studio Booth at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival 2019

Food:

Seared Scallops, Truffled Celery Root Purée, Brussels Sprouts, and Wild Mushrooms featuring Melissa’s Produce – $5.75
Pulled Duck Confit with Cannellini Bean Ragoût and Zinfandel Reduction – $5.50
Trio of Artisan Cheese – $5.25
- Fromager d’Affinois de Excellence with Toasted Baguette
- Point Reyes Original Blue with Apricot Jam
- Point Reyes Toma with Honey
Artist Palette of Wine and Cheese – $11.25
- Trio of Artisan Cheese paired with Round Pond Estate Sauvignon Blanc, St. Francis Chardonnay, and Recuerdo Malbec

Beverages:

Round Pond Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Rutherford – $6.00
St. Francis Chardonnay, Sonoma County – $6.00
Recuerdo Malbec, Argentina – $6.50
Eden Canyon “Jolie” Red Blend, California – $9.00
Meiomi Rosé, California – $5.00

Seared Scallops, Truffled Celery Root Purée, Brussels Sprouts, and Wild Mushrooms featuring Melissa’s Produce – $5.75

Scallops can be pretty hit or miss at the Festival in my experience, and this one is a definite hit. Cooked perfectly, the scallop is nicely accented by the celery root puree, Brussels sprouts, and wild mushrooms.

Pulled Duck Confit with Cannellini Bean Ragoût and Zinfandel Reduction – $5.50

OK, so this is a picture from last year and there are different accompaniments, but this dish is usually on point, offering a very tender sampling of the bird. The accompaniments come from last year’s pork tenderloin, which was also quite good, so I can’t imagine that this will disappoint.

Artist Palette of Wine and Cheese – $11.25

For the price, this is the best value sampler available at the event. It basically offers a combination of a dish and three wines from the menu for $11.25. All of the cheeses and wines are are rather enjoyable as well, with the Recuerdo Malbec being a personal favorite of mine (although not a great value on its own, as you’ll see below).

While we did not have many of the wines in individual servings, here are some thoughts on the value:

Round Pond Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Rutherford – $6.00

Ringing in at $6 a glass is a very lousy value compared to the average 2016 vintage running $25 at your local wine store. If you enjoy pleasant wine aromas, anticipate notes of melon, peach, and amoretto.

St. Francis Chardonnay, Sonoma County – $6.00

$6 for a glass, or $15 for a bottle at home. We recommend passing entirely.

Recuerdo Malbec, Argentina – $6.50

Expect notes of blackberries and plum, according to Wine.com, but also $6.50 a glass compared to $20 a bottle at home. You can do better.

Eden Canyon “Jolie” Red Blend, California – $9.00

$9 for a glass is steep, but from what we’ve found the last vintage was in 2011 which almost validates the $9. For a few bucks more you can get a much better red at Earth Eats

Meiomi Rosé, California – $5.00

2015 vintage, $5 a glass or $25 for a bottle at home. This is the best value at Wine and Dine in terms of wine.

Location of the Wine & Dine Studio at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

The Wine & Dine Studio is located in Future World West along the pathway between the Imagination pavilion and World Showcase. The Wine & Dine Studio is Number 5 on the map below.

More Information

All of our 2019 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival coverage is available from our landing page at https://wdwnt.wine!
Previous coverage:

PHOTOS: New Haunted Mansion Furnishings Available at Disney Springs, Including Chairs and Mirrors

WDWNT on September 19, 2017

Hey’ who’s got a few thousand dollars to burn and loves The Haunted Mansion? Marketplace Co-Op at Disney Springs sure hopes the somebody does…

If there’s “room for one more” chair at your dinner table, the Disney Springs shop has Haunted Mansion chairs with or without armrests for sale.

The version without armrests will cost $2000 each.

The chairs are not actually in stock, but are special order items that have no discounts applicable and there are shipping charges attached.

The one with armrests will cost $4000 each. Yes, they are cool, but they do seem tiny bit overpriced. Regardless, I’m sure people will buy them because they are Haunted Mansion-related and Mansion fans never cease to amaze me.

Personally, I’d settle for this new mirror that is for sale, $250 and any discounts are applicable.

It’s pretty neat, although I would have made it with just a hitchiking ghost in the middle, just like in the attraction.

There is apparently also a new $55.00 Haunted Mansion tea set for sale, but it was sold out when we got to Marketplace Co-Op.

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PHOTOS: Construction Underway on Walt Disney World’s “Star Wars VR Attraction” at Disney Springs, A Look Inside

WDWNT on September 19, 2017

The Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire VR attraction coming to Disney Springs this holiday season is under construction now, taking over what was the Star Wars room of the Once Upon a Toy store at Disney Springs.

From inside of Once Upon a Toy, a black curtain blocks guests from the new area under construction.

Photo by @TharinWhite on twitter

No exact opening date or price point for the experience has been announced as of yet.

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PHOTOS: Land Clearing Has Begun for Epcot’s Guardians of the Galaxy Ride

WDWNT on September 19, 2017

Being the first Sunday of the park’s Food and Wine Festival, I had to park really far away from the entrance of Epcot this afternoon. On the bright side, it did afford the opportunity to see that work had begun on the future site of the Guardians of the Galaxy attraction.

Construction vehicles are present and a noticeable amount of shrubbery has been cleared in places. You’ll also notice a plethora of colored markers in the ground.

In case you are unfamiliar with the area pictured above, it is a large section of unused land north of the Universe of Energy, practically in the Epcot parking lot. If rumors are true, the queue and load area for the ride will take place in the Universe of Energy building, with the roller coaster ride system launching guests into a massive show building in this expansion plot.

Guardians of the Galaxy at Epcot will open before Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary in 2021.

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TODAY ONLY: Labor Day Sale at the WDWNT TeePublic Store, 30% Off Everything!

WDWNT on September 19, 2017

Today only in the WDWNT TeePublic Store, everything is 30% off. Grab your favorite WDWNT designs on shirts, stickers, notebooks, and more, at 30% off at our one-day-only Labor Day sale!

Shop now and use the promo code LABOR30 to get the great sale prices!

Checkout WDWNT’s Latest Designs

Pay tribute to the closing of the Universe of Energy at Epcot with this cool design!

Pay tribute to the closing of The Great Movie Ride with this take on our original “Make The Movie Ride Great Again” shirt.

Are Figment’s days numbered (again)? Show your support with this call to action tee!

Joining us at our 10th Anniversary celebration in September? Show your support with this shirt!

There are more designs, as well as notebooks, stickers, phone cases, and even coffee mugs, all at 30% off! We’ll see you at the parks (wearing your awesome new shirts hopefully)!

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