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L’Artisan des Glaces Now Serving Deliciousness in EPCOT’s France

You have a new place to satisfy your sweet tooth in EPCOT. L’Artisan des Glaces is a new artisan ice cream and sorbet shop in the France pavilion. It features 16 yummy flavors, all made in-house with fresh ingredients. For grown-up tastes, you can even ask for a shot of liquor on top – served in a martini glass.

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The entrance is on a ramp that leads into the old bakery door.

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Some more new signage in the area.Read More »L’Artisan des Glaces Now Serving Deliciousness in EPCOT’s France

Top Ten Ways to Get Your Disney Sugar Rush.

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I like to think that calories consumed at Disney World don’t count.  Oh sure, I can’t prove it, but when was the last time you gained weight on a Disney trip? Given what is clearly the start of a solid scientific hypothesis, let’s just go with the idea that you can indulge all you want and not feel guilty. If you feel the same way, I’ve got the top ten must-do sugar rushes right here on this list. Best of all, everything, save for the bread pudding, is just one snack credit on the Disney Dining Plan.

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10. The  Red Velvet Cupcake at Starring Rolls in Hollywood Studios.

Unlike a lot of cupcakes sold at Walt Disney World, this one isn’t so sweet that you can’t taste the actual flavors, which is great because the red velvet base of this cupcake comes with a cream cheese center that’s topped with delicious cream cheese frosting.  These cupcakes will sell out early, so make sure you pick one up before early afternoon.Read More »Top Ten Ways to Get Your Disney Sugar Rush.

Counter Service Hits and Misses at Walt Disney World

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A lot of time is spent talking about Advanced Dining Reservations or how to maximize the value of your Disney Dining Plan, but the reality for most Disney World guests is that they’ll be eating mostly at one of the many counter service locations. So, I’ve put together a list of hits, misses, and some hidden gems for those dining on a budget or who just don’t want to take the time away from the attractions a sit down restaurant requires.

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Read More »Counter Service Hits and Misses at Walt Disney World

18th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Sept. 27-Nov. 11 Early Details Announced

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The 18th Annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival will return to Walt Disney World this fall with exciting new flavors and entertainment options. This year your culinary trip around the world will include tastes from the Scotland marketplace and a return trip to Brazil as part of more than 25 total marketplaces around the world showcase. Five new acts have also been added to the Eat to the Beat Concerts.

Fresh for 2013:
Super Festival Sips

  • New marketplace debuts; favorites return – Traditional flavors with a twist will pair with beers, meads and Scotch at the new Scotland Marketplace designed by Walt Disney Imagineering. Scottish officials were so impressed with the hit Disney film, “Brave,” that they contacted festival planners about participating in this year’s festival. The Brazil Marketplace returns by popular demand with an exciting new menu following a one-year hiatus. Hawai’i is back with its flavorful Kalua Pork Slider, and Terra, which debuted last year, returns with vegan favorite Trick’n Chicken Curry.

    • Read More »18th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Sept. 27-Nov. 11 Early Details Announced

A Visit to Planet Hollywood

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I’ve lived in Central Florida for 8 years now and visited Walt Disney World a few times over the years before that, but I never visited Planet Hollywood in Downtown Disney. Now that we’ve heard it’s going away in the Disney Springs makeover for Downtown Disney, it was time to go.

My review below the jump:

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Top Five Most Overrated Disney World Things

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Okay, so it’s painfully obvious that I love Disney World, but even a diehard fan like me has the occasional head-scratching moment over some things that achieve cult status among Disney fans. Whether it’s food, a certain restaurant, or even a resort, I just don’t get it and I think I’m not the only one. Or at least I hope not.

Here are my top five overrated Disney things.

5. The Polynesian.
For years I’ve wondered why the Polynesian, which essentially looks like the hotel the Brady Bunch would have stayed in during their family trip to Hawaii if Mr. Brady wasn’t still paying alimony to his first wife, has such a cult following. Sure, it’s got a great pool and gorgeous landscaping. The way they light the grounds at night is breathtaking and, dare I say it, romantic. And you can’t beat the location on the Magic Kingdom monorail. Beyond that, however, it’s kind of underwhelming: Dark rooms, dated furniture, and a small lobby. And I’m pretty sure that 90% of the plugs in the rooms don’t even work.Read More »Top Five Most Overrated Disney World Things

Sampling the Food at EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival

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There is no more colorful theme park than EPCOT when the Flower & Garden festival is in full bloom. For 20 years it has been a must stop destination for Disney fans who also appreciated the colors of spring, talents of the gardener, and who hoped to maybe pick up a tip or two for their own home garden. If you wanted food and drink you had to go to that other festival in the fall.

This year, Disney decided to import a little of the fall flavor into the spring lineup and the result is a new mix of floral and food. While I don’t have Disney’s internal numbers, my personal observations and the reports of others indicate that the food and drink offerings haven’t been all that popular. That’s a shame because there really is some great food out there.

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I hope Disney doesn’t throw out this idea after just one attempt. Next year guests will know what to expect and Disney will have a better idea of what works and what doesn’t.

If you follow me below the jump, I have a short review of a number of the food and drink selections that I’ve had the opportunity to try. Read More »Sampling the Food at EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival

Top 10 Tips To Get the Most from the Disney Dining Plan

I’ve already written about whether or not the Disney dining plan is a good deal, but I haven’t discussed how you use it. Chances are if you’re a first-timer using the plan, you’re a little overwhelmed: You’ve got credits and refillable mugs and desserts that you might not even want coming out of your ears! Fortunately, using the plan doesn’t have to be confusing and it can be easy to maximize your credits so that you get the most out of the plan. Here’s how.

1. The dining plan starts as soon as you check into your resort and get your Key to the World Card. Contrary to popular belief, “check-in” at a Disney resort doesn’t start when you get your room, which may be as late as 3:00 in the afternoon, but when you check into the resort, which can be any time of the day. You’ll get all your dining credits and then you can start using them immediately. On a related note, your credits are good until midnight the day you check out.

2. Quick-service and table-service meals each come with one entrée, dessert, and a non-alcoholic drink. At buffets, this means access to the buffet and drinks.Read More »Top 10 Tips To Get the Most from the Disney Dining Plan