Disney’s Animal Kingdom is now offering a special cinnamon cream cheese mousse at a few counter service restaurants, just for the holiday season. This bright red dessert is coated in a red glaze, has chocolate cream cookie crumbles and apple-compote at its base and is topped with a green meringue kiss. You’ll find this mousse at Satu’li Canteen, Flame Tree Barbecue and Pizzafari.
Cinnamon Cream Cheese Mousse ($5.29)
It makes for a pretty picture.
Merry Christmas from Pandora, where I guess it’s always a blue Christmas…
So, how is it? It tastes like Christmas (kids, don’t try to eat decorations at home). There’s a subtle sweetness brought on from the glaze, which ends with a subdued cinnamon flavor that doesn’t linger, but is prominent enough to be the focal point of the dessert. Mixing the cookie and apple with each bite yields a fantastic mix, perfect for the holidays. Personally, we still enjoy the regular offering from Satuli more, but this is a nice diversion for the season (and better than any other dessert you’ll have at Flame Tree or Pizzafari).
Even though I panned it unmercifully in our review, one of the staples of Flame Tree Barbecue at Animal Kingdom has been its signature and exclusive barbecue sauces. Well, one of those sauces will soon be no more…
According to cast members at the establishment, the regular barbecue sauce is in short supply and should be running out soon. The cast members stated that they were informed that it will not be restocked and instead they will simply be distributing only the Heinz Barbecue Sauce packets. The sweet and spicy sauce made just for the restaurant will remain, however.
I prefer the sweet and spicy sauce myself, but I know that many will miss this exclusive sauce at Flame Tree Barbecue. Will you?
In our latest photo report, we take a trip to Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park to see what’s news and exciting as 2016 draws to a close.
Merry Christmas from Animal Kingdom!
Flame Tree Barbecue Expansion
The new dining gazebo at Flame Tree Barbecue finally opened a few weeks ago.
Have a Wild Holiday!
The kitschy decor in Dinoland U.S.A. continues to be a favorite of mine.
Animal Kingdom boasts some of the best decorations in all of Walt Disney World.
DINOSAUR Reopens
DINOSAUR reopened a few weeks ago from its lengthy, multi-month refurbishment boasting a number of upgrades and fixes.
The first section of the queue added a number of new display cases, as well as removing the large mural that once stood at the left end of the room.
The graphics package for all of the existing displays were updated as well.
Here is where the mural once stood.
Many of the items on display are on loan from Texas Christian University’s College of Science and Engineering.
As for the ride itself, a number of effects were fixed, most notably the laser field that appears over the Iguanadon in the finale scene, indicating that he indeed was captured and transported back to the institute. This effect is simple, but has been broken since the earliest days of the ride’s existence, dating back to Countdown to Extinction. A new effect replaced the long static “Compsognathus” dinosaurs who appeared to jump over the Time Rover, a large screen with video of these creatures doing this action. Overall, the ride looks amazing and the changes are all positive. This is one of the finest attraction refurbishments I have ever seen, and much needed for our beloved DINSOAUR.
The graphics along the exit of the attractions were updated as well and look great… other than the fact that the logos get cut off in the frame…
This and That
I had to pay a visit to my favorite Christmas decoration in all of Walt Disney World on my last visit…
IT’S SANTA-SAURUS!!!
2017 merchandise is now available at Walt Disney World.
DisneyWorld.com today added information on Rivers of Light dining packages
According to dining packages available for the show on DisneyWorld.com, Rivers of Light will officially debut on or around May 1st, 2017. The dining packages offering reserved viewing space for the show will begin to be offered on May 1st, so the show would have to debut by then. Dining packages will be available for booking 180 days in advance should all go according to plan this time.
For some reason, the Tiffins package is not actually listed along with Flame Tree Barbecue and Tusker House, but the official information confirms that 3 restaurants will be a part of the dining package.
Rivers of Light dining package information
Rivers of Light dining package information
UPDATE: The page has since been removed from DisneyWorld.com, so we will have to wait and see if this was an error on Disney’s part or if we are really going to have to wait until May for Rivers of Light to debut.
It has been a little while since we checked in on Animal Kingdom, which is probably because it has been the red-headed step-child of the Disney World parks this Summer, starting with such promise, but then careening into one of the worst Summer campaigns ever experienced in Orlando. September 5th brings the end of nighttime offerings at the park for a little while, but for just how long we do not know. However, work progresses slowly on AVATAR, Rivers of Light is still yet to get a debut date, but yet life goes on at the 4th gate of WDW. Let’s see what’s new and exciting at the park since our last visit…
Pandora: The World of AVATAR
Pandora: The World of AVATAR
Scaffolding has vanished from the floating mountains of Pandora, giving us a nice look at what should be a rather pleasant looking area.
Pandora: The World of AVATAR
Pandora: The World of AVATAR
A lot of foliage is going in, making it harder to see the area. Don’t worry, we will take to the skies above Pandora later this week to show you a better look.
Pandora: The World of AVATAR
Pandora: The World of AVATAR
We also have a video of the AVATAR area to share with you:
The cheeseburger flatbread… If you haven’t watched our review yet, you can do so below:
Pizzafari
The new menu board wasn’t available yet, so they board outside is just blank right now.
New menu at Tamu Tamu Refreshments
Tamu Tamu Refreshments has an updated menu, including a chocolate waffle.
New menu at Tamu Tamu Refreshments
Tree of Life Trail
Tree of Life trail
Work continues on the path behind the Tree of Life, the only project moving slower than AVATAR. Maybe we should put the beach-rock team on these projects? At least there is a fence now.
New Everest Merchandise
Expedition Everest Adventure Pack
I never noticed this Expedition Everest Adventure Pack for kids, which is kind of neat as each item has the Everest logo.
Expedition Everest Adventure Pack
Expedition Everest Adventure Pack
Everybody Paint the Dinosaur
Hester & Chester’s Dino-Rama
The giant dinosaur in Dino-Rama now has spots to go with the new green paint scheme.
Hester & Chester’s Dino-Rama
DINOSAUR Refurbishment
DINOSAUR Refurbishment
DINOSAUR remains closed for enhancements through the Fall of 2016.
DINOSAUR Refurbishment
There’s not many attractions where you can just close the blinds to keep people from looking in, but this is one of them.
DINOSAUR Refurbishment
The fountain is off during the refurbishment.
DINOSAUR Refurbishment
DINOSAUR Refurbishment
DINOSAUR Refurbishment
Don’t worry kids, you can still pin trade even though the ride is closed.
DINOSAUR Refurbishment
I do love the use of concept art on the board, as well as the picture of Chester and Hester…
Flame Tree Barbecue Expansion
Flame Tree Barbecue
The expansion of Flame Tree Barbecue rolls on…
Flame Tree Barbecue
2017 Walt Disney World Calendar
2017 Walt Disney World Calendar
The always popular Walt Disney World calendar for 2017 is now available.
2017 Walt Disney World Calendar
The Main Street Electrical Parade made it in, as did an image from Star Wars Weekends, both discontinued heading into 2017.
