RUMOR: Disney Restaurants at Walt Disney World to be Added to OpenTable for Reservations

WDWNT on December 21, 2017

If you want a reservation at a Disney-owned restaurant at Walt Disney World, you currently have to call 407-WDW-DINE or use the Disney website/mobile application to do so, but in the near future, it appears guests may be able to use OpenTable.

width=

OpenTable allows people to make reservations for restaurants just about anywhere, in fact, several 3rd-party restaurants at Disney Springs use the service as well as the DisneyWorld.com system. Disney would add the restaurants to OpenTable as well in hopes of gaining more attention with diners in the Orlando area, as the app showcases nearby restaurants when you open it.

OpenTable does have the capability of requiring a credit card hold for restaurants, so the same reservation parameters that currently apply at Disney restaurants would still be in place if this happens.

There is no set time frame for this service to roll out, but it should be fairly soon if it clears all of the appropriate channels.

New Details Revealed for Terralina Crafted Italian, Coming to Disney Springs in Early 2018

WDWNT on December 21, 2017

Terralina Crafted Italian will be the name of the new restaurant coming to Disney Springs early next year to replace Portobello.

width=

Terralina will be owned and operated by the Levy Restaurant Group, the same company that owns and operates Paddlefish.

width=

According to the Disney Parks Blog, the restaurant is expected to transport guests to “la dolce vita,” (the sweet life) essence of the spectacular Lake District of Northern Italy.

Alison Weber, Chief Creative Officer for Levy, gave details of the backstory. “The story here is of a first-generation Italian family, from the Lake District, who built a home in Disney Springs, expanding it over the years to welcome more friends and neighbors to enjoy their hospitality, and, of course, food! At Terralina Crafted Italian, every detail supports the philosophy that ‘life is meant to be savored through the simplest of pleasures.’ The table is even set that way … ready for good conversations, storytelling and moments to be enjoyed.”

The building will feature an open rotunda that welcomes guests with a rustic stone fireplace, a new outdoor patio with a veranda bar that spills out into the Disney Springs promenade, and a two-story glass conservatory that showcases stunning views of Lake Buena Vista. The restaurant will have a wood-burning oven and open display kitchen.

James Beard-Award Winning Chef Tony Mantuano will lead menu development. We’ll bring you more menu details as we get them!

 

REVIEW: Cinnamon Cream Cheese Mousse Dessert from Satuli Canteen, Flame Tree Barbecue, & Pizzafari at Animal Kingdom

WDWNT on December 11, 2017

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.

width=

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Mousse ($5.29)

width=

It makes for a pretty picture.

width=

Merry Christmas from Pandora, where I guess it’s always a blue Christmas…

width=

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).

Narcoossee’s Brunch and Las Ventanas Dinner Set to End Soon at Walt Disney World

WDWNT on December 11, 2017

Two Walt Disney World restaurants will soon be concluding two of their meal services.

width=

Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa will no longer offer brunch after January 27th, 2018. The brunch service began in November 2015 and was offered only on Sundays.

width=

Las Ventanas at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort will no longer offer a dinner service following December 30th, 2017. They will continue to offer breakfast and lunch.

PHOTOS: First Look Inside The Edison, Pizza Ponte, Maria & Enzo’s, and Enzo’s Hideaway at Disney Springs

WDWNT on December 11, 2017

Disney has shared more details on The Edison, a lavish industrial Gothic-style destination for fine food, handcrafted cocktails and exciting nightlife that will be a future Disney Springs destination. More recently, three additional food and beverages venues – Maria & Enzo’s, Enzo’s Hideaway and Pizza Ponte – were added to the list of tenants inside of the complex.

width=

The Edison will be a landmark restaurant, bar and lounge that is sure to become a go-to hotspot for Central Florida nightlife. The building, which originally served as the power plant for the growing town of Disney Springs, showcases remnants from its past life: keep an eye out for the Boiler Bar, with its dizzying electrical display panels, and the adjacent boilers, which are still classic centerpieces of any power plant. The décor includes a one-of-a-kind mural romanticizing the golden age of innovation and a larger-than-life, working clock tower that greets guests upon arrival.

width=

width=

By day, The Edison will welcome families with an amazing lunch menu. In the early evening, everyone is invited to dine, but as night sets in (around 10:00 p.m.), the location transforms to an adults-only scene for guests ages 21 and up, with a groundbreaking beverage menu, delectable dining and entertainment (including gravity-defying aerialists) unlike anything else at Disney Springs. Here, you’re invited to escape the everyday and experience the era of invention and imagination.

Adjacent to The Edison is a trifecta of Italian venues, located in what was once the Disney Springs Air Terminal, a majestic Art Deco structure that welcomed guests from across the globe to a world of sun, beauty and legendary hospitality. As the story goes, the air terminal was popular into the early 1930s, but travelers diminished as the years brought on more modern flying alternatives and larger destinations. Upon its closure, the building was purchased by an Italian immigrant couple named Maria & Enzo; the duo had previously run the small bakery in the terminal’s lobby.

width=

Inspired by their shared love of food and travel, they opened Pizza Ponte with Sicilian-style pizza by the slice, made-to-order sandwiches and handmade Italian pastries. The success of this venue allowed Maria and Enzo to fulfill their ultimate dream to restore and transform the long-forgotten terminal to its former glory, giving it new life as a grand restaurant showcasing the flavors of Southern Italy.

width=

Named after its founders, Maria & Enzo’s features vaulted ceilings, a geographically correct mural depicting the destinations once serviced by the terminal (New York, Daytona Beach, New Orleans and Cuba among them), and an impressive globe chandelier. (Insider Tip: Look closely and you can see that Disney-inspired locations are called out, including a marker that denotes Marceline, Missouri – the hometown of Walt Disney.) The main dining room pays homage to the original departure lounge while nearby, a more intimate dining room highlights its history as the first-class lounge with service standards that are second to none.

Steps away, the unexpected Enzo’s Hideaway offers a glimpse into another lounge – this one, a secret space that first served as a bootlegger’s hideout. A legendary speakeasy that was discovered by Enzo after he purchased the terminal, this network of tunnels was the center of the Springs’ social life during the “dry years” of prohibition. Look no further than the graffiti wall and you can begin to imagine the storied nightlife that took place here.

//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js

All four venues are expected to open within the next month and should be fully operational by early January, 2018.

SaveSave

SaveSave

Reservations for Ale & Compass at Yacht Club Resort Now Open

WDWNT on November 20, 2017

Beginning today, guests can make reservations for the soon-to-open Ale & Compass Restaurant at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. The restaurant, set to open Nov. 26, replaces the Captain’s Grille at the Yacht Club. The new venue is themed as a New England gastropub reminiscent of an off-shore lighthouse, using salvaged materials for the decorative finishes. A few select diners will be able to sit at the on-stage “hearth” oven area, which is the focal point of the new space.

Ale & Compass will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, featuring menu items inspired by New England cuisine and developed by Disney’s Flavor Lab. The culinary director of the Flavor Lab, Lenny DeGeorge, is from the Boston area and spent his summers in Cape Cod.

“The menu is inspired by all the great restaurants in the New England area that I have experienced growing up,” says DeGeorge. “The New England melting pot of flavors and ingredients from Italy, Portugal, and England, coupled with central Florida influences, are present on the menu that delivers modern gastropub classics.”

Next door to the Ale & Compass Restaurant is the expanded and reimagined Ale & Compass Lounge, also opening Nov. 26. The lounge will feature a variety original and classic cocktails, an extensive list of New England and local beers, and a menu of lighter bites.

Disney’s announcement about the new restaurant included a photo review of a number of items from the menu, including:

width=
Blueberry-Bacon Pancakes

width=
Mushroom, Caramelized Onion and Gruyere Cheeseburger

width=
Fried Chicken and Waffles with House-made Pickles and Orange-Chili Honey

width=
Coastal Clambake (1/2 Maine lobster, clams, corn, and potatoes)

width=
Caramelized Leek and Chorizo White Clam Hearth “Pie”

width=
Parker House Rolls with spreads of Bacon Jam, Pub Cheese, and Smoked Trout

width=
Lemon “Curd” Meringue Pie

width=
Twelve-Layer Chocolate Cake (Flourless chocolate cake and ganache served with milk-coffee chantilly)

You can find the full Ale & Compass menu in our our previous post.

For reservations, visit DisneyWorld.com/dine or call 407-WDW-DINE.

 

 

The Wave Introduces “The Seven Seas Lagoon”, 24oz Alcoholic Drink

WDWNT on January 29, 2017

With tornado warnings in the area, we were looking for some shelter for the next few hours while at Walt Disney World, so we decided to head into The Wave at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Upon entering the bar area, we were greeted by this…

width=

The Seven Seas Lagoon at The Wave and Top of the World Lounge, Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Meet “The Seven Seas Lagoon”, a 24 oz shareable drink only available at The Wave and The Top of the World Lounge (in Bay Lake Tower).

In the drink are the following ingredients:

  • Skyy Vodka
  • Parrot Bay Coconut Rum
  • Soda Water
  • Agave
  • Lime
  • Pineapple
  • Strawberry Apple Boboa
  • Swedish Fish
  • Life Preserver Candies
  • A Glow Cube
  • Mickey Straws

width=

The Swedish Fish and Strawberry Apple Boboa swim at the bottom of the Seven Seas Lagoon.

width=

Mickey straws are provided, and come with a candy life preserver on them!

width=

Surprisingly it only costs $22.00. We shared it between 3 people and it was honestly big enough for up to 3 guests to enjoy.

The drink itself is very sweet, but it has a nice sour flavor to counteract it, reminding me of many of the old Star Wars Weekends specialty drinks that were available at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The soaked Swedish Fish swimming in the drink were quite delightful, as were the boboa.

For the price, fun, and flavor, you will be hard pressed to find a better shareable beverage at Walt Disney World. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to finish this large drink I ordered…

REVIEW: Gasparilla Island Grill Returns with Exquisite Entrees & Desserts, Quick Service Goes Upscale

WDWNT on January 16, 2017

Following a short refurbishment, the Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa reopened recently featuring a number of interior changes and a drastically new menu.

width=

The restaurant is tucked in the back of the main building, towards the marina area, so many guests are not even aware that it exists. This often makes it a quiet getaway from the rest of Walt Disney World, but it can get busy from time to time.

width=

A completely new station was built featuring desserts, pastries and sweets from the Grand Floridian Bakery, as well as a selection of coffee and specialty beverages.

width=

width=

width=

width=

The self serve dessert case is well stocked with amazing looking treats.

width=

width=

width=

width=

There are also assorted pastries available.

width=

width=

A look at the overall menu.

width=

width=

Next up is the sandwich and pizza station.

width=

width=

And of course, there is the much improved sandwich bar. No more hot dog served in a baked potato here…

width=

width=

width=

Gasparilla Island Grill is the latest counter service establishment to receive Coke Freestyle machines and they have tow of them which work using the Rapid Fill technology in Disney cups.

width=

Coffee, hot cocoa, iced teas, and more are also available.

width=

width=

Not much has changed over at the condiment station.

width=

width=

Some quick grab and go options by the registers.

width=

You can sit indoors and outdoors here and they will bring your food to when it is ready either way.

width=

I prefer outdoors if the weather is nice as the atmosphere in the marina area is always really enjoyable.

width=

width=

OK, enough of that, let’s talk about the food!

Sausage and Mozzarella Pizza ($11.29)

width=

One of the big selling points of the new Gasparilla Island Grill is the new pizza-making process…

Each pizza—which cooks in 90 seconds at 840 degrees—is served on pizza dough made in-house daily by Chef Erich’s team at the Grand Floridian Bakery.

You could really taste the difference here and this was a big step u in quality for counter service pizza at Walt Disney World. The sauce was really sweet, so don’t expect New York-stlye here, but the overall flavors of the personal pie were really good. The distribution of the toppings could have been a little better, but really I’m just nitpicking here. If you want a quick pizza, I would highly recommend getting one here.

Chicken and Brie ($12.99)

width=

Described as “Grilled Chicken and Ham on a Brioche Bun served with French Fries”, there is actually a whole lot more going on in this sandwich. There is also some sort of strawberry jam in here and a good amount of arugula. Jam of any sort isn’t my favorite thing to eat, but overall I thought this sandwich was really good. The bread was nice and fresh and the ingredients in the sandwich all blended together really nicely. Grilled chicken sandwiches at Walt Disney World’s counter service restaurants aren’t often very good, but this is one that I would order again.

width=

Coconut Pot de Creme ($4.29)

width=

Now, for what you have all been waiting for… dessert! This coconut pot de creme might be my favorite dessert I have ever had from a quick service establishment. I love coconut, so if you don’t, obviously don’t order this, but I can’t imagine a scenario where anyone wouldn’t think this is amazing. The crust holds together a rich coconut creme, which is accented nicely by the whipped cream and coconut shavings on top. I will be back for this over and over again. Grand Floridian Executive Chef, Scott Hunnel personally recommended this to us as his favorite when we were picking out desserts, and I can see why.

width=

German Chocolate Cupcake ($5.49)

width=

As good as this cupcake looked, it did not have a taste that matched. Overall, I found it to have little chocolate flavor and the coconut material in the middle did little to enhance it. Next time, I think I’ll have to go for the Minnie Mouse Cupcake, because this just did not deliver the promises made by its beautiful exterior. It wasn’t dry or poorly made, it just didn’t have any flavor.

width=

Overall

I have always loved Gasparilla Island Grill, but this new menu is a giant leap forward in quality, putting this restaurant towards the top of the list for the absolute best counter service eateries in all of Walt Disney World.It is also one of the few that offers some sort of late night menu and remains open 24 hours a day. I am anxious to try more of the new menu soon, so expect another review (if I can keep up, there are literally dozens of reviews I have in process waiting to be posted) in the not-too-distant future.