Top 5 Romantic Dining Experiences In Disney World

Which dining experiences will be the best for romance? Can we EVEN have romance on a vacation to Disney World? Well, YES, you can and Walt Express has narrowed down our faves! Whether it’s an anniversary, birthday or even Valentine’s Day, we have your romantic dinner covered!

A Few Things to Remember:

• Do not take this the wrong way. Disney World is full of children and for the most part, everything is very child-friendly. However, there are a few restaurants and dining experiences that are geared more for the adult crowd. This does NOT mean that children are not accepted, but it does mean that it’s not your typical character meal with kids running around everywhere. You know your children and you know how they will respond to a dining experience like this. So, if your child does not like sitting still for a couple of hours, these restaurants are not for them.
• If the restaurant is located in a Disney Park, park admission is required.
• Reservations are highly recommended and can currently be made 60 days prior to your vacation.

Let’s Get to the List

• 5. California Grill in the Contemporary Resort: This signature dining experience is one of a kind! Located in Disney’s Contemporary Resort, you can take in the sights of Seven Seas Lagoon and Magic Kingdom park. If you time your reservation just right, a view of the nightly fireworks show in Magic Kingdom park will set the stage for the perfect ending to a romantic evening. 
• 4. Sanaa in Animal Kingdom’s Kidani Village: Located in the Kidani Village, you will watch gazelles, zebras, giraffes, kudu, ostriches, cranes and more as you dine. Sanaa bread service is the BEST on Disney property, and yes, you can order just the bread service. I would suggest a Godiva Chocolate Martini to enjoy while watching the animals!
• 3. Le Cellier Steakhouse in Epcot’s Canada Pavilion. Nestled deep in Canada (crossing the border is not necessary), you will find a delicious, cozy dinner waiting for you at Le Cellier Steakhouse. Share the Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup appetizer and a little small talk, while you wait for the main course! After dinner, sip on a glass of Chappellet Chardonnay while you wait on the fireworks to begin (uummm…we are talking about Epcot’s nighttime fireworks show, let’s keep this PG)! 
• 2. Jiko in Animal Kingdom Lodge: Could there be anything better than a Savannah sunset and African inspired cuisine? If this sounds romantic to you, then Jiko is definitly the place to be! 
• 1. Be Our Guest in Magic Kingdom: Yes, it’s cliché, but hey, it worked for the Beast! The Rose Room is by far, the MOST ROMANTIC!

Previous Number ONE-Honorable Mention

Victoria and Albert’s in the Grand Floridian: This is by far, the number one place for romance in Disney World, but has not reopened as of yet. This restaurant deserves an honorable mention. Reservations are extremely hard to come by and there is a waiting list. You will dine on a seven or ten course meal and sip on world class wine. This IS a truly amazing experience and will have you talking about it for years to come. Dress code is strictly enforced.

What are your thoughts on Disney and romance? I mean, Mickey and Minnie do this everyday, right! Have you done anything romantic on your Disney trips? We would love to hear about it! Drop us a comment and let us know, or better yet, send us some pics!

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Doing Disney World with NO dining plan? What is this atrocity you speak of? With all of the current changes going on at Disney World, the Disney Dining Plans will not be available for a while. We have come up with 6 tips to help you maneuver Disney World Without the Dining Plan.

Disney World Without The Dining Plan

Some people love the dining plan, some people hate it. Whatever your take is on the Disney Dining Plans, these 6 tips will help and possibly even save you some money! Be sure to watch the video of my husband and I explaining how we do Disney World without the dining plan. It’s all in fun as things sometimes get a little heated! LOL! You don’t want to miss it.

• BRING FOOD-We aren’t talking about bringing 4 coolers and 6 meals. We are talking about bringing some sandwiches and snacks. Although we do recommend splurging on cake pops and Mickey pretzels! Good ole PB and J is great. My kids love turkey sandwiches as well. Make a little extra room in your backpack for a few sandwiches and save BIG!
• BRING WATER-This one is not hard. Bring your favorite tervis and you are all set. Fill it up before you leave our for the day. Don’t forget you can get FREE ice water at most quick service restaurants. If you are still using a stroller, this comes in SUPER handy with bringing in bottles of water. A small cooler and water will keep you hydrated all day!
• STARBUCKS-Stock up on Starbucks gift cards and save them until visiting Disney World. Then splurge on those treats!
• DISNEY GIFT CARDS-Purchase Disney gift cards at a discount! This helps so much. Retailers such as Target and Sam’s Club sometimes offer these gift cards at a discount. Every little discount helps!
• MOBILE ORDER-This is a huge money saver for us. We like to do mobile order and be done. It’s quick and easy. Also, you don’t have the children at the counter pointing out everything they want. They get what they get and it’s DONE! Everybody happy!

SHARE (or NOT)

• SHARE quick service meals-unless you are the perfect family who never argues, this one may not work well. We don’t like to share our food. Seriously, it’s a great money saver since some quick service restaurants offer larger than normal portions. One of our favorites is Pecos Bill at Magic Kingdom. The portions are large and they have an amazing toppings bar. Everyone gets to choose their favorite toppings and NO arguing on who doesn’t want what on their nachos!

Enjoy!

These are just a few tips that my family uses when we visit Disney World without the dining plan. Of course, my husband PREFERS the dining plan. LOL!

What are your best tips for heading to Disney World without a dining plan? We would love to hear them! Head on over to our Facebook group, DISNEY EXPRESS LANE, and let us know. We might just add them to our list.

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Raglan Road At Disney Springs

We absolutely love the food and the atmosphere when dining at Raglan Road at Disney Springs. We have dined here for both lunch and dinner. Our very first experience was at dinner. Going in, we did not know what to expect. Our table was located right in front of the main stage where performers sang and danced as we enjoyed our meal. Live Irish music and dancing makes for such a fun dining experience. They do have parts of the show in which they interact with the audience even asking for volunteers to join in with fun dancing and singing competitions. The Live music and dancers can only be enjoyed during the dinner dining hours starting at 4:30 pm and continuing until the restaurant closes.

The food here is fantastic and the variety is perfect. 80% of the menu can be made to fit any food allergy which gives so much room to try something new every time we go. My absolute favorite is the Fish & Chips. Best I have personally ever had.

A close second is the Pork Chop with Sweet Potato Mash. Other family favorites are the OMG Burger and the Shepard’s Pie. The chef here was excellent in preparing my food gluten free. Restaurants on Disney World property are the best at assisting families with many of the common food allergies. I feel completely safe and confident when visiting a restaurant while on my Disney World vacation.

We enjoyed the indoor seating, but they do offer outdoor seating out on the patio. Here you will find a Patio Stage where they offer Free Nightly Entertainment.

Raglan Road Lunch

Lunch is more laid-back. Although it is not live entertainment during the lunch hours, you can still enjoy the sounds of Irish music playing in the background while taking in all the amazing Irish decor found throughout the restaurant. We enjoyed our first visit so much that we took my daughter for a birthday lunch. They made her birthday extra special with a free dessert and even sang Happy Birthday. My brother, sister-in-law and niece joined us and really enjoyed themselves as well.

Know Before You Go

• The Disney Dining Plan or the Disney Deluxe Dining Plan are both accepted here for lunch or dinner. The Disney Quick Service Dining plan is not accepted at this location. One table credit per family member will be used for your meal here.
• Raglan Road at Disney Springs will accept walk-ins. However, I highly recommend making a reservation before you go. Reservations can be made up to 180 days in advance. Having a reservation will lower your wait time to be seated for your meal.
• Raglan Road has some fun & unique features. Grab a drink at one of the four imported bars. Pick up a delicious baked good over at the Cookies of Dublin bakery or stop in and grab a souvenir to remember your visit over at Raglan’s very own gift shop Drapery & Gifts. Don’t forget to stop in at Goofy’s Candy Company while you are visiting the Disney Springs area!

Have you found this little gem at Disney Springs yet? If so, we would love to hear all about your experience in our Facebook Group, DISNEY EXPRESS LANE!

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Goofy’s Candy Company At Disney Springs

At Goofy’s Candy Company, you can find sweets and treats for every member of your family. Goofy’s is a bright, candy-filled shop that can be found in Disney World’s Disney Springs and is always a must-do for our family when we’re at Walt Disney World. 

Goofy’s Candy Company isn’t a huge shop, but it is absolutely packed with the best and most delicious sweets around. Whether you are looking for colorful and unique caramel apples, giant Mickey-shaped rice cereal treats, or unique Disney-themed candies, cookies, or popcorn, Goofy’s has them all! One of the best things to remember: if you’re using a dining plan during your visit, almost all of the sweets at Goofy’s Candy Company can be purchased using snack credits from your dining plan!

My kiddos love jellybeans, and Goofy’s has all of the flavors that you could wish for if you’re a jellybean lover! You can mix and match specific flavors inside of the shop, or you can find pre-made bags of jellybeans all over the Disney Parks during your visit. The same goes for the Goofy Candy Company gummies, which my son is obsessed with. You can find them at Goofy’s or almost any of the candy or resort shops all over Disney World.

Flavored cotton candies, pretzels, trail mixes, nuts, specialty suckers, and more round out the pre-packaged Goofy’s Candy Co. items. All of these make amazing gifts to bring home to family and friends. If I ever travel during the school year, I try to bring home several bags of the Goofy’s Candy Company taffy to share a little bit of Disney with my high school students.

The specialty popcorn available at Goofy’s Candy Company is something that we always stock up on before we head home from Disney World. Offered in multiple flavors and sizes, the popcorn ranges from our favorite kettle and caramel corn to more colorful and unique flavors as well.

One of my favorite additions at Goofy’s is the inclusion of Disney teas and coffees! A wide range of coffee and tea blends is available and packed up nicely so that you can take them home with you. There are nifty flavored spoons in chocolate and honey that add a sweet touch to your morning beverage and they also have lots of neat gift sets that you can take with you to share with friends and family.

If you have any children of fandom in your life, you are in luck too. Be on the lookout for new movie merchandise (snack merchandise, that is). When we were last at Disney World, they were celebrating the anniversary of The Lion King so there were Lion King treats everywhere. There are even Minnie Mouse special treats for every fan! The Minnie Mouse collection of snacks is bright and bold in Minnie colors and includes some favorites like nut brittle, chocolate covered nuts, chocolate chip cookies, and Minnie Mouse cookies.

We brought home a nice selection of Star Wars rice cereal treats that included Darth Vader, BB8, and Porgs from the Last Jedi. Also, there is a huge selection of Walt Disney World Walker’s Shortbread Rounds, my absolute favorite cookie!

Goofy’s Candy Co. is a top stop for us when we are Walt Disney World, you should make sure that you and your family make sure and give it a try on your next Disney World adventure too!

What is your favorite treat from Goofy’s Candy Company? Drop by our Facebook Group, DISNEY EXPRESS LANE, and let us know!

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The Turf Club Bar & Grill at Saratoga Springs is one of our favorites that we found a few years ago when we were exploring the resorts. Join us as we give you our review of this delicious dining experience!

Turf Club Bar & Grill At Saratoga Springs

Our family is on a mission to eat at every restaurant on the Walt Disney World resort property, and while we have eaten at quite a few we still have a long way to go to cover them all. Although, when we find a favorite we tend to go back again and again, which I think is slowing us down. LOL! When we find a favorite it is hard not to go back time after time.

Welcome To The Turn Of The Century

Themed to turn-of-the century Upstate New York, you will find photos of jockeys and their horses, antique riding gear and racing articles can be found throughout. This unique, little restaurant is tucked away from all the hustle and bustle inside Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. It has its very own cocktail lounge where you can enjoy a beverage while you relax, shoot a game of pool or just kick back and watch the game on one of the three TV’s while you wait for your table.

Both inside and outside seating is available. We love to sit inside because this restaurant is not very large. It has a very intimate dining setting complete with dim lighting, music and large windows giving amazing views of the beautiful Lake Buena Vista Golf Course as well as parts of Disney Springs and the water way where the boat transportation runs. A covered patio area is also available for outside seating. Ceiling fans will keep you cool if you are dining during the warmer months. What a delight this dining experience would be on the patio during the cooler months.

Dining At Turf Club Bar & Grill At Saratoga Springs

The food here is amazing! On our last visit, we started out sharing a seasonal salad mixed greens, watermelon radish, orange segments topped with candied walnuts and a citrus vinaigrette along with some gluten free rolls and butter. The chef took great care in preparing our food to accommodate our allergy.

My dinner was the rancher’s reserve prime rib with mashed potatoes, broccolini and Au Jus so delicious. My husband had the pan-seared airline chicken with mashed potatoes, roasted rainbow carrots and herb jus.

We were so stuffed that we skipped out on dessert this time, but they do have some amazing options available a vanilla creme brulee, gelatos and classic lemon meringue pie just to name a few. I think next time we will be starting with dessert!

Highly Recommend

We think that this location is a great one for date night, but this is a family friendly restaurant. They do have plenty of great options for the kiddos including the more kid familiar foods such as cheeseburgers, hot dogs, apple slices, banana bits and mashed potatoes. If you are looking for a more relaxed quiet dinner after a long day enjoying the parks, I highly recommend this restaurant.

The Turf Club Bar & Grill is open for dinner only (5:00 pm-9:30 pm), so reservations are a must for this location. Be sure to check for available days/times on your My Disney Experience app up to 180 days prior to your visit. The Disney Dining Plan is accepted here and is one table service credit. The cocktail lounge opens one hour before the restaurant so you can enjoy a beverage or just relax before dinner. 

Did you know we have a Facebook Group dedicated to all things Disney? We sure do and we would love for you to be a part of it! Join here: DISNEY EXPRESS LANE.

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It’s always understandable to want to sleep in and relax when you’re on vacation, I mean, you’re trying to get a break from the real world after all. I want you to seriously reconsider sleeping in on your next Disney World vacation because getting up early can actually help add a little extra magic to your vacation! I’ve got four great reasons why you should rise and shine at Disney World during your next vacation!

Rise And Shine At Disney World

It’s totally OK to sleep in sometimes on your vacation, but these four reasons will have you ready to rise and shine at Disney World!

Faster Transportation

Disney transportation can get crowded during the busy seasons at Disney World, so getting up early is a key to avoiding those crowds! By catching those early buses from your resort to hopping on a near-empty monorail or skyliner, you’ll stay ahead of the crowds and keep from getting stuck in a long line for a bus or monorail spot! Nothing can be more frustrating than being ready to be in the parks and then not being able to get there because of a long transportation wait!

Less Crowds = Smaller Lines

Another great reason to get up early when at Disney World is to avoid those long lines! Whether it’s the long line for security checks outside the park gates or a long line for your favorite ride or character Meet and Greet, lines can make your day seem to slow down. When we’re in the parks, we like to be up and around early into the parks so that we can hit our favorite rides, experiences, and areas before the midday crowds arrive!

We have found that if we can make it to Rope Drop each morning at whatever park we’re in that day, we are able to maximize our park time by hitting our must-dos early so we can spend the rest of our day making Fastpasses and exploring new things that we’ve never done before. Make the best use of your time by arriving to the parks bright and early before everyone else is even out of their room!

Less Crowded Breakfast Options

Our family is definitely a breakfast family, which means that one of our biggest priorities every trip is to book some of our favorite places. We like to book Resort Character meals as early in the day as possible so that we can go straight from those meals to the parks whether via monorail, bus, boat, or skyliner.

If you book In-Park breakfast reservations that are for before park opening, you also get early access to whichever park your reservation is in that day! A personal favorite at Magic Kingdom is Be Our Guest. For breakfast and lunch Be Our Guest is a quick-service restaurant where you can order your food ahead. The wait times are short which is especially awesome because you can get done with breakfast and go get a head start on the parks. You can head to your favorite spot in the parks and beat the large crowds to those more popular areas in each park!

BEST Photo Ops!

And my top reason for getting up and at ‘em early on your Disney World vacation are the most AMAZING photo ops happen before the crowds arrive! There’s nothing wrong with having a picture taken in front of Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom that has people in the background, but I would say that a picture with no crowds is totally magical! Same thing goes for pictures at any of your favorite magical places. Photopass photographers are stationed throughout the parks even before park opening to accommodate early breakfast guests. And don’t forget to be on the lookout for special magic shots with Photopass photographers; and if you have a particular one in mind be SURE to ask them to help you get that perfect shot!

Whether you are an early riser or you like to sleep in, there is no wrong way to do Disney! We would love to hear how YOU do Disney! Head on over to our Facebook Group, DISNEY EXPRESS LANE, and let us know!

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Dining at Disney World can be an overwhelming thing. There are tons of options in the parks and throughout the resorts. There are so many options between dinner shows, character meals and dining themes. My family recently visited Coral Reef At Epcot. We have never dined there but we had heard good things so we decided to give it a try.

Coral Reef At Epcot

I carefully reviewed the menu prior to making reservations because I as well as my kids aren’t big seafood eaters and I wanted to make sure there would be options for us. Looking at the menu, I wasn’t super excited, but I still wanted to give it a try. So I booked my advanced dining reservations and hoped for the best!

On our way to the restaurant I was a little worried, again with the non seafood options being sparse. However, when we walked in, I was in awe at how beautiful it was. We checked in and we were seated within a few minutes. We got a nice booth facing the huge aquarium that is inside the restaurant. It’s basically an entire wall of water, it was a nice view. Our server was amazing. She was funny, friendly and great with the kids. She explained what was included in the dining plan and what would be extra. They have add on options that are not available on the dining plan, such as the Snow Crab Legs and the Crab Oscar.

My husband ordered the Shrimp and Grits and finished his entire plate. My son and I opted for the steak. I don’t usually order steaks when we go out but I was starving after all the walking we did that day and I wasn’t really in the mood for chicken. My littlest ordered the chicken nuggets and corn for her meal. I also ordered the Magical Star Cocktail. Our drinks came quickly and our server spent a lot of time with our table, I don’t think we laughed so hard at a meal in a long time. Especially never at a restaurant! She was very entertaining, the kids loved it every time she visited our table.

Once the food came out I was pleasantly surprised, my steak was cooked perfectly. It was seasoned, it was a very good piece of steak. The steak was paired with mashed potatoes and bacon. It was easily one of the best meals I had the entire vacation. My husband agreed that his food was just as good. We were stuffed, the kids ate all of their food too which is rare for them! 

Desserts: Coral Reef At Epcot

Before our food even came out, our server asked what we would like for dessert and we placed the orders. So after our meal was finished we were served our dessert. We ordered the Key Lime Tart, the Angel Food Cake, the Bailey’s Almond and Jack Mousse. I tried them all! The key lime tart was just that, very tart. It was good but it was a bit more tart than I like.  The meringue on top was excellent and added sweetness to the tart lime. The strawberry shortcake was very good, it was not exactly what my son thought it was going to be and as a picky eater he wasn’t overly thrilled, but my husband and I thought it was fantastic. The Bailey’s mousse was also very good, something I would get again!

We did use the dining plan for our trip and we were a party of two adults and two kids. However, my son is 10 so Disney considers him an adult, meaning he orders off the adult menu. 

All around our visit was amazing. It was definitely one of our favorite dinners this trip and a return restaurant for us! If you are thinking about trying something different I would absolutely look into a visit to Coral Reef!

BONUS: The Seas with Nemo is right next door!

Have you visited Coral Reef At Epcot? We would love to hear about your experience! Join our Facebook Group, DISNEY EXPRESS LANE, and let us know about it!

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Satu’li Canteen Dining Review

In Pandora at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Satu’li Canteen offers some of the most unique offerings of any restaurant in the Disney World Parks. From Cheeseburger Pods to the customizable bowls to the unique and beautiful desserts, Satu’li is a feast for the senses and not just your tastebuds! Satu’li Canteen is one quick service credit on the Disney Dining Plans!

Satu’li Canteen is themed to match Pandora and really is beautiful. It reflects Na’vi culture with a little bit of human contrast thrown in. When you go in, you will either be given a menu or can grab one to take a look at while you wait. There is also a large menu board in the ordering area that lists all of the choices for meals.

Picky Eaters And Satu’li Canteen

My kids like to eat, but they are sometimes a little bit picky. When at Disney World we tend to stick to things like chicken strips, cheeseburgers, and hot dogs. So I was a little bit nervous about taking them to Satu’li Canteen. However, we discovered that there was something that each of them loved and I would be ready to take them again in a heartbeat.

Satu’li Canteen Offerings

At the Canteen, our favorite offering was the “Create Your Own Bowl.” These bowls offer you a choice of a base, a protein, and a sauce of your choice. When ordering we always like to ask Cast Members for recommendations because I am such a wimp and don’t like spicy food. (Don’t be afraid to ask Cast Members for advice when ordering!) The bowls also come in Kid sizes and are still customizable.

We decided to try a little bit of everything, so we ended up getting a Chili-Garlic Shrimp bowl, a Combination Beef & Wood Grilled Chicken bowl, a Beef only bowl, a chicken only bowl, and a Chili-Spiced Crispy Fried Tofu Bowl. We chose a variety of bases including noodles, rice and black beams, red and sweet potato hash, and hearty salad. The sauce choices included cream herb, charred green onion vinaigrette, and black bean vinaigrette (just a heads up…this one was a little bit spicy but very tasty).

We shared between ourselves and the portion sizes were very generous! The kids size really was a decent sized meal that I could have eaten and been very happy with.

Kids Menu

There are some cool kids menu options too. The cheeseburger stuffed pod was interesting and actually incorporated cheeseburger flavors including cheese and pickles. The “Teylu” hotdog was also pretty tasty and was basically a regular hot dog wrapped in bread dough. There is also a quesadilla option, but we didn’t get to sample it this trip. All of the kids meals are served with vegetable chips which I personally really loved!

Satu’li Canteen Desserts

After our meal, we decided to order both of the featured desserts – or Ber’ri in the Na’vi language: the blueberry cream cheese mousse and the chocolate cake. While the chocolate cake incorporated some neat dessert techniques and had a good flavor, the runaway favorite was the blueberry cream cheese mousse was definitely the winner. We actually went back and got another to share so that we could have some more!

Mobile Order

One of the best parts about Satu’li Canteen is the ability to Mobile Order in the park! We didn’t Mobile Order on our first trip through since we wanted to sample a little bit of everything and get Cast Member recommendations. when we wanted more dessert I used the Mobile Order so I could skip the line! Never miss an opportunity to Mobile Order when you can; it’s such a life-saver!

A Must Do For Our Family

Overall, Satu’li Canteen is a must-do for us on future Animal Kingdom visits. We were all super satisfied with our meals and agreed that we probably should have gone back again before the end of our last Disney World visit. From our family to yours: make sure and make time for Satu’li Canteen!

For more fun and unique dining experiences at Disney World, check out: UNIQUE DINING EXPERIENCES.

We have a Facebook group that is nothing but Disney fun and information. Join us by clicking right HERE: DISNEY EXPRESS LANE.

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Hacks For Epcot’s Food and Wine

If you have been around our blog for long, you know we LOVE Epcot’s festivals. The Food and Wine Festival has been around for quite some time now and it only gets bigger and better ever year! This year’s festival will run from August 29th until November 23, giving you plenty of days to sample everything they have to offer! And believe us, you will want to try it ALL and go back for seconds and thirds!

We have some pretty amazing hacks for Epcot’s Food and Wine festival that will help you make the MOST out of your experience!

Go EARLY in the week. Monday through Thursday is usually considerably less crowded than the weekends, when locals tend to visit more.

AVOID the weekend, if possible. I know, sometimes this may not be an option. If you have to visit on a weekend, keep reading to learn how to still make the most of your experience! You will STILL have a blast!

World Showcase OPENS AT 11 am and you need to be there! Take advantage of extra magic hours if you are staying at a Disney World resort.

Plan TWO DAYS to take in everything the festival has to offer! When Epcot is hosting a festival, we like to spend one day exploring the World Showcase and another day in Future World. On our second Epcot day, we go back to our favorites from the festival!

Get a DISCOUNT on seminars and more. Yep, if you are an annual pass-holder or DVC member, you can score a little discount for Food and Wine seminars and more!

NO extra park ticket is required. That’s right! Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival is INCLUDED in your admission to Epcot. NICE, I know!

BEGIN at the Festival Port of Entry. Everyone asks where to begin this delicious journey and we think the best spot is at the official Port of Entry. I mean, you don’t want to miss anything, right?

ALLERGY FRIENDLY options are available at many of the refreshment ports. Check the signs and ask if you are not sure!

Grab BREAKFAST in Future World! Booths in the Future World open when the park opens, usually at 9 am. Grab breakfast there and be ready to hit the World Showcase at 11 am, when it opens. Make that fast pass for Soarin’ or Test Track at 10 am!

Bring PONCHOS! You KNOW this one! Don’t even chance it!

DISNEY GIFT CARDS can be a HUGE money saver during the festival! Purchase them in advance at a discount and use for your food purchases during the festival.

Stay on-site at an EPCOT RESORT! There are several resorts on Disney World property that offer direct access to Epcot’s World Showcase! This provides easy access to all of the yumminess and is very convenient! Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Disney’s Boardwalk Resort and Disney’s Yacht Club Resort all offer direct access to the World Showcase through the International Gateway. The Disney Skyliner will also allow transportation to Epcot from the following resorts: Disney’s Riviera Resort, Caribbean Beach Resort, Pop Century Resort and Art of Animation.

WATER, WATER and even more WATER. If you plan on drinking around the World Showcase, you will definitely want to drink a lot of water! This will keep you hydrated in the Orlando heat! Remember that most quick service restaurants will give you a free cup of ice water.

Do NOT make advanced dining reservations. I mean, if you really want to, go ahead, but don’t say we didn’t warn you! With all of the dining options during the Food and Wine Festival, you could literally have a 20 course meal! Even picky eaters will find a favorite!

MAXIMIZE that Disney Dining Plan! Here is where is gets good. Listen to what I am saying. GET THE DINING PLAN when you visit Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival. There will be a menu at each marketplace and you will see the little emblem below. That means it’s a snack credit on the Disney Dining Plan! One quick service meal will also convert to three snacks! You could sample something from each country and even have a dessert.

• The Disney Dining Plan is only available to guests staying at a Disney World Resort.
• A table service credit on the Disney Dining Plan will also convert to three snack credits, but I do not recommend this, as it is not a money saver.
• Look for this little purple and white emblem and you will know right away that it’s a snack credit!

BONUS TIP-If you are staying on site at a Disney World resort, you have the option to have any purchases sent to your resort! So, you don’t have to lug around all of the goodies that you purchase at the Food and Wine Festival! Believe me, there will be a ton of merchandise that you will not be able to resist. Well, you might can resist, I sure could NOT!!

Hacks For Epcot’s Food and Wine

If you are planning on visiting this amazing festival, be sure to check out 2019 FOOD AND WINE GUIDE for every little detail you will need to know about for this year’s festival!

Head on over to Facebook and join our group: DISNEY EXPRESS LANE!

A big THANK YOU to our friend Vince for sharing some of his Food and Wine treats with us!

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Storybook Dining At Artist Point

First of all, our family loves Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. It is a beautiful resort and it fits our family’s personality. We love hiking, camping, and the great outdoors. The decor is stunning and you can stroll around the lobbies to take in all of the architecture which is just absolutely breathtaking.

Heading To Wilderness Lodge Resort

We were early for our reservation (we had taken a bus from the Magic Kingdom over), so we spent some time strolling around the resort. We checked out the lobby, saw Chip and Dale, who were visiting with guests in the lobby. Then we walked around the grounds for a little while taking in all of the beauty that the Wilderness Lodge has to offer.

Artist Point Restaurant

Artist Point is a beautiful restaurant and feels very much like you’re sitting in the heart of the woods. It was quiet and not very crowded for a character meal.

When it was time for our reservation, we were greeted by our server and he let us know that we were being seated in one of the best spots in the restaurant: the Queen’s Table. Why was it called the Queen’s Table? Because we were seated RIGHT in front of where the Evil Queen greeted guests. This was by far one of the best character experiences we have ever had because we got to watch the Queen interact with everyone throughout our entire meal! If you have never met her, I have to tell you that she might be my favorite character that we have met with ever.

A Three Course Meal

Now, this dinner is a three-course meal with shared appetizers and desserts. The concept was new to us, but our waiter explained everything to us and made sure we were ready for when characters were going to appear and when we would get our chance to meet the Queen.

Snow White was lovely and sweet and came out quite quickly after we were seated. My girls and my son loved her. She wrapped up her visit to our table by giving my son a kiss on the forehead (and the best photo-op)! When he grows up I’m definitely showing posting this in his graduation slideshow!

Appetizers And Characters

The appetizers were small bites with enough for everyone at our table to have a portion. They were brought out together, but were plated so that you could grab your own of each of the offerings. The kids all had special appetizers brought out on a small bread board. We had mushroom soup, Hunter’s Toureen, and Wicked Shrimp Cocktail. The mushroom soup was definitely my overall favorite and I swapped my husband my shrimp cocktail for his soup!

While we finished our appetizers, we met Grumpy and Dopey. We made our best grumpy faces and then we blew kisses to Dopey as he had to leave! While we waited we were able to keep a constant watch on the Evil Queen’s meet and greet with other guests. I have to say that our night would not have been quite as enjoyable if we hadn’t been seated where we could see and hear all of these interactions!

Entree

Our entrees arrived and they were delicious. All of the adults but my mother-in-law had the prime rib with horseradish mashed potatoes and a popover. It was delicious! My mother-in-law had the Sorceress Spell of Land and Sea and she said it was one of the best things we ate during our entire trip. The children’s portion of the prime rib was large and my kids devoured it. The sides were equally as good. My oldest had the roast chicken and the portion size was really big! The sides were good too! Overall, the entrees were awesome and have been some of the best that we’ve had at any character meal at Disney World!

Desserts And The Queen

The dessert portion of the meal was also a hit. I honestly wish I could have had a giant slice of the gooseberry pie! It was delicious. The best part about the small portions was that you got to sample a little bit of everything. There was a little bit of trading and bartering for favorites toward the end too. And, there was a special finale brought out by our server before we got to meet with the Evil Queen. I don’t want to spoil it, but it was very…dramatic just like the Evil Queen herself! (And also, it was really delicious!)

Meeting the Evil Queen after watching her throughout our entire meal was definitely a highlight of our night. She was funny, dry, and really fun to watch interact with other guests. My children were so excited to meet her and couldn’t keep straight faces throughout their conversation with her. (They had watched her all evening, so they had some crazy questions for her….Part of the perks of sitting at the Queen’s Table for sure!)

Storybook Dining At Artist Point is a Complete 10!

Overall, I would have to give this dinner a 10. It had the best food, atmosphere, and character experiences that I think we’ve had at a meal. It also wasn’t super crowded like I’ve found some of our other character dining experiences to be and honestly, I preferred it to Cinderella’s Royal Table because of that.

At one Table Service dining credit I feel like this dinner was definitely a gem and if you’re Character Dining inclined, should be on your must-do list!!

Tips For Storybook Dining At Artist Point

• This is only one table service credit on the Disney Dining Plan
• Allow for extra travel time
• Bring those autograph books

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