Author: touringplans.com

One of the treasures you can uncover at Disney Springs is Amorette’s Patisserrie. The lovely interior has an art nouveau inspiration, and you can enjoy delicious desserts and cakes here year-round. We love visiting this French-inspired bakery at Disney Springs, especially when there are new seasonal treats to enjoy.

Pumpkin Crème Brulee – $7.00

What a picture perfect petite treat! Anyone who loves fall flavors is sure to fall in love with this pumpkin creme brulee. Warm pumpkin spices mingle with dreamy creme with a crispy sugar shell on top. For the price this is a good value.

Pumpkin Minnie Mousse Dessert –  $9.00

For something with a little more character the Pumpkin Minnie Mousse is a fun Disney-themed dessert packed with pumpkin flavor. If you just can’t get enough pumpkin spice this treat is for you.

Cookies and Cream Halloween Black Candle Petit Cake – $16.00

If you’ve had your fill of pumpkin spice already, or just not a fan, the Halloween Black Candle Petite Cake is going to draw you in like a moth to a flame. Multiple layers of cake make this a tiny, but tall cake. Cookies and cream flavors offer a nice break from the pumpkin flavored everything, while the festive exterior still gets you in the spooky spirit.

Our readers give Amorette’s a 94% thumbs up rating and rank it 13 out of 41 similar options at Walt Disney World. Besides a lovely interior there are tables and chairs, with umbrellas just outside. Mobile ordering is not available at this location, and sometimes the line can get a little long as patrons often have a hard time deciding among all the beautiful creations.

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Do you have a favorite treat at Amorette’s? Let us know!

The post REVIEW: Prepare to Fall in Love with These NEW Autumn Treats at Amorette’s appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Dining, Disney Springs, Snacks, disney desserts, disney halloween, disney springs halloween

Nowadays there’s such a lack of new stuff inside the Walt Disney World theme parks that we get excited over the little things. New prizes at the Dino-Rama Fossil Fun Games debuted this week, and we were way too excited about them. But, they are adorable, so it’s warranted. Our field team recently visited Disney’s Animal Kingdom with the hopes of winning one of the prizes, and to explore the park.

There are five midway games, Comet Crashers, Bronto Score, Whack-A-Packycephalosaur, Mammoth Marathon, and Fossil Fueler. Due to COVID restrictions, only Comet Crashes and Bronto Score are currently open, however more games will be added as cleaning protocols are determined. Each one is themed to the campy, bright lights and gaudy decor of Dino-Rama. It’s hard to resist the energy and excitement. Then when you see the prices, your excitement may become extinct.

Each game costs 1 voucher per player with packages as follows:

• 1 game, $5.00
• 3 games, $10.00 ($3.33 per game)
• 5 games, $15.00 ($3.00 per game)
• 7 games, $20.00 ($2.86 per game)
• 10 games, $30.00 ($3.00 per game)

Our field team representative attempted Comet Crashers, which involves tossing tiny “comet” balls into moving cups. No prize was won and so our field representative headed to the rest of the park. After enjoying a stroll through Animal Kingdom, she decided to revisit Dino-Rama. Using a brilliant new strategy she stood by the basketball game and found someone who is good at it, and got them to win one for her. Score! What an adorable little Triceratops!

What does one do after winning a cute little dino plush? Why get a yummy, boozy Dole whip, of course. The King’s Cooler from Tamu Tamu Refreshments at Harambe (Africa). Tamu Tamu Refreshments has earned a 95% thumbs up and is ranked #8 out of 107 dining options at Walt Disney World.

The King’s Cooler arrived to Animal Kingdom last year in honor of the live action “The Lion King.” It has continued its reign since. It is a generous serving of pineapple Dole whip topped with strawberry, watermelon, and coconut-flavor syrups and a shot of your choice of either Parrot Bay Coconut Rum or Plantation Dark Rum. This is definitely a very fruity treat.

For $10.00 you may want to get a specialty cocktail at Thirsty River Bar or Nomad Lounge for a few bucks more. But, for Dole whip fans the King’s Cooler is worth a try. You can also get it without the rum, known as Simba Sunset for $5.49 (a regular Dole whip is $4.99).

Another slow day in the park presented low wait times throughout the park. Looking back on Monday’s wait times, the highest average wait times were about 25 minutes for Flight of Passage and Navi’i River Journey.

Have you ever played the midway games at Dino-Rama? Are you a fan of Dole whip? What do you want us to try at Disney’s Animal Kingdom next? Let us know in the comments.

 

The post New Dino Prizes and Boozy Dole Whip Await at Disney’s Animal Kingdom appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Dos and Don’ts, Drinking, In the Parks, Snacks, disney dinosaur, disney dole whip, disney drinks, Disney’s Animal Kingdom

This week Getting to Know Universal covers the pizza joint Red Oven Pizza Bakery! Located next to Starbucks in CityWalk, Red Oven opened in 2014 as the first addition in a massive CityWalk refresh project. Unlike typical theme park pizza, Red Oven features artisanal pizzas with fresh ingredients cooked in a high-temperature oven for a crisp crust.

Quick Glance

• Location: CityWalk
• Cuisine: Pizzas and salads
• Service: Counter service
• Price: $10-$15 per entree
• Universal Dining Plan Accepted: Yes
• Touring Plans Rating: 3 1/2 stars, 90% reader approval
• Seating: Outdoor, covered

The Experience

Universal embraced the Neapolitan pizza and quick service trends of the 2010s with Red Oven Pizza Bakery. Red Oven features a large, covered outdoor seating area with views into a large pizza oven. Inside houses a small ordering space that is surrounded by a modern pizza preparation area and bar. Guests place their orders at the counter and receive a buzzer and choose their seats outside. Team Members deliver silverware, napkins, condiments, and entrees to the tables.

The decorations and theme are minimal but modern, featuring Roma tomato cans, bottles of wine, and white tile. Outside tables and chairs are wooden with bright highlights of red.

The Food & Drink

Red Oven is similar to Blaze at Disney Springs and offers fresh, quick personal pizzas. Unlike Blaze there is no pizza assembly line, guests order from a set of red and white sauce pies – do not worry, modifications are allowed. Pizza options range from the classic cheese and pepperoni to rapini and roasted chicken.

If you are unfamiliar with Neapolitan pizzas, they feature crispy, airy crusts, chewy but firm dough, and well-balanced ingredients. Compare this to a typical theme park pizza that has the mouthfeel and taste of soggy cardboard covered in congealed cheese. Needless to say, Red Oven is a step above nearly all theme park pizza and easily matches the quality at Via Napoli. Ceasar, arugula, and Caprese salads are also available.

What pairs better with pizza than beer? Red Oven offers bottle selections plus draft beer, including Peroni from Italy. Fountain drinks, bottled water (including San Pellegrino), and red and white wine are also available.

The Opinion

Red Oven Pizza Bakery gets thumbs up from Touring Plans, the community, and me. The pizzas are perfectly sized, feature fresh ingredients, and stand heads and shoulders above typical theme park pizza. Out of the fast-food options in CityWalk, Red Oven is the best. If Red Oven sounds great but you wish for something more upscale, visit Vivo Italian Kitchen next door.

Have you been to Red Oven Pizza Bakery? What is your go-to meal? Let us know in the comments.

The post Getting to Know Universal – Red Oven Pizza Bakery appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: CityWalk, Dining, Universal Orlando Resort, citywalk, Red Oven Pizza Bakery

When you’re visiting Walt Disney World, the question isn’t if it will rain, but rather when it will. Once you encounter the inevitable downpour, you have three possible ways to protect yourself: a poncho, an umbrella, or a rain jacket/coat.

Many guests have strong opinions about which is the optimal form of rain protections, but truth is, there are the pros and cons of each.

UMBRELLA

PROS:

• Can potentially protect more than one person.
• Can protect bags you’re carrying.
• When wet, can be clipped to the outside of bag to facilitate drying.
• Many are compact and easy to carry.
• Can be used as a parasol for sun protection. (Important in Florida heat.)
• Keeps your face dry. Important for guests wearing glasses and for guests wearing masks during the pandemic.
• Easy to share with others.

CONS:

• Ineffective during heavy wind.
• Could poke/bump other guests in crowded walkways.
• Must fold/unfold when going in and out of spaces.
• Larger/sturdier models may be heavy.
• Unlikely to fit into a pocket.
• Likely leaves your legs exposed to water.
• Keeps a hand occupied – thus making that hand unavailable for carrying packages or holding onto a child.

PONCHO

PROS:

• Lightweight.
• Many can be folded to be compact.
• Can be used as a blanket to cover a chilly child.
• Can be used as a tarp to cover a stroller or mobility device.
• Can be used as a blanket to sit on wet grass (for example in the Magic Kingdom hub) or on hot pavement (for example when waiting for a parade). [Note, during the pandemic parades are on hiatus.]
• Useful for protection on water-intensive rides such as Splash Mountain or Kali River Rapids.

CONS:

• Disposable ponchos are not environmentally friendly.
• Difficult to get a good fit. Hoods often fall off, particularly with less expensive options.
• Once the shower has ended, what do you do with a big wet poncho?
• Must be removed for some indoor rides (Rise of the Resistance, for example). Repeated over-the-head on and off could leave you damp.
• Possibly difficult to re-fold.

RAIN JACKET

PROS:

• Can get accurate fit. Hood will usually stay up.
• Adds a layer to trap heat (good in cold weather).
• May have pockets to help you store other items.
• Some models are long enough to cover your legs.

CONS:

• Leaves bags/backpacks exposed to rain.
• Adds a layer to trap heat (bad in warm weather).
• Shorter models leave legs and derriere exposed to rain.
• Difficult to share with other members of your party if you’re not the same size.

Personally, I was a poncho girl for many years, mostly because of the versatility of being able to use it as a stroller cover, but once my children were out of their stroller years, I moved on, primarily due to two issues – 1) Walking around with a wet poncho after a soaking just got too gross. 2) I rarely wear ponchos in the non-Disney world, so it seemed impractical to buy them only for vacations.

I’ve transitioned to mostly carrying a small umbrella. It’s usually enough to keep me dry until I can get somewhere indoors to wait out a passing shower. I also bring a larger raincoat, similar to the LL Bean Women’s Trail model, that I’ll wear if rain is expected all day.

What’s your Disney World rain gear strategy?

The post Disney World in the Rain: Poncho vs. Umbrella vs. Jacket appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Trip Planning, Walt Disney World (FL), packing, poncho, raincoat, umbrella

This week’s SATURDAY SIX spends a night at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort! We’ve been making our way around the Universal Orlando Resort since their reopening after an unprecedented months-long shutdown to see what changes have been made to their on-site hotels.  Today we’re heading into pound for pound the best “value” hotel in Orlando, Cabana Bay…

It seems like a million years ago now, but when Cabana Bay opened in 2014 it was Universal’s first on-site hotel that was targeted to a different audience from the premium experiences offered by the Hard Rock Hotel, Royal Pacific Resort, and Portofino Bay. The immediate success of Cabana Bay led to the fast tracking of a collection of resorts which more than doubled the amount of rooms at Universal; including Aventura, Sapphire Falls, and Surfside Inn & Suites.

For those who have never been to the Universal Orlando Resort, Cabana Bay is located right next to Aventura and Sapphire Falls. Both Aventura and Sapphire Falls were closed at the end of August until at least the end of 2020. Cabana Bay remains open, and we’re going to check out what’s going on at the resort, starting with…

# 6 – Safety First

One of the biggest strengths Universal has across the board since reopening is making guests feel safe during these “unprecedented times.” While you will see sarcasm on social media from people who just can’t believe it’s true, both Universal and Walt Disney World are leaps and bounds above anyone else in Florida when it comes to enacting safety changes and following through with them. Let’s take something as simple as wearing a mask. Now, my “day job” is in the medical field and because of that I have been wearing a mask every single day since about the middle of March. I wear a mask at work and everywhere we go when I’m not at home. Over the last six months, Universal and Disney are the only two places I have EVER seen employees not only tell people who weren’t wearing masks they had to wear them, but also remind guests to wear them correctly. I’ve seen bus drivers tell guests they couldn’t get on a bus without a mask. I’ve seen temperature check security guards tell guests they couldn’t enter a hotel without a mask. I’ve seen Team Members and Cast Members in the parks kindly remind guests to pull their masks above their nose. This may not seem like much to those reading this at home, but I have not seen this type of diligence anywhere else I have been in the entire state.

With that out of the way, let’s get to some more things Cabana Bay is doing for guest safety, such as the previously mentioned “temp check.”  Every guest coming into Cabana Bay gets their temperature taken. If you’re temperature is under 100.4 degrees you will get a colored wristband to wear. Each day is a different colored wristband, so you will need to get your temperature taken each day of your trip. If your wristband comes off (or you rip it off, like our kiddos did), you’re going to have to get your temperature taken again. Like the masks, there is no “ifs, ands, or buts.”

There is signage throughout the resort reminding guests of safety guidelines.

The check-in process has markings on the ground for guests to keep socially distancing from each group.

The check-in desks themselves have plexi-glass to protect the Team Member and guest.

Sorry Millenials, no “venmo” accepted for payment during these unprecedented times.

Social distance reminders at every elevator.

You will find hand sanitizer at every elevator bank, or any other place at the hotel where you’ll be touching something another guest may have touched (such as a gate into the pool area).

At dining locations, you’ll find some tables have been taken out of commission to ensure social distancing between groups.

# 5 – The Retro Theming

If you are a fan of vintage ’50s and ’60s minimalist designs – and who isn’t – Cabana Bay is the place for you. The retro theming is everywhere. Before you even check in there are classic cars outside available for photo ops. Inside the main lobby building you have artwork, seating, and an entire design aesthetic that brings you back to another era. The rooms themselves have analog clocks along with Zest soap and VO5 shampoo in the bathroom. There is neon signage throughout the resort, which gives the hotel some great elements at night. Many value resorts hit you over the head with larger than life gaudy theming, but Cabana Bay surrounds you like a 1950s sit-com mom’s hug and delivers coherent top-to-bottom theming you generally find at much higher-end resorts.

# 4 – Galaxy Bowl

Some people enjoy the athleticism of basketball, while others admire the grace and skill of soccer, but we at the SATURDAY SIX favor bowling as our favorite sport, as it is the only one you can participate in while eating chili cheese fries or chicken wings (preferably both). Cabana Bay is the only theme park resort in Florida to offer a 10-lane bowling alley.  Galaxy Bowl is actually inspired by the famous Hollywood Star Lanes, the bowling alley seen in The Big Lebowski. Galaxy Bowl can also be considered the resort’s only “table service” restaurant as they have their own dedicated menu along with a full bar. There are even two separate souvenir cups (a 32 oz cup for beer, and a fun bowling pin cup for non-alcoholic drinks).

During busier times, Galaxy Bowl may be reserved for Cabana Bay guests only. Otherwise it is open to everyone.

# 3 – The Pools

Cabana Bay has two large pool areas.  One features a waterslide designed to look like a large diving platform from years ago. The other pool area doesn’t have a slide, but it features something even more unique for a theme park hotel pool area: a lazy river!

# 2 – The Food and Drink

Similar to Disney’s Value Resorts, the Bayliner Diner is a large food court with several stations featuring a wide array of items. Pizza, burgers, paninis, and chicken sandwiches are like those at similar venues, but you’ll also find an international section with mahi mahi, Brazilian beef churrasco, and a vegan stir fry. There is a dedicated grill and fryer for those looking for cooked gluten-free options, along with a wide selection of pre-made gluten free items.

The seating area for Bayliner Diner is huge, and has a ton of tables and booths. One nice feature is that all the booths have easy access outlets near them to charge your devices (the actual rooms at Cabana are also filled with many outlets and USB charging stations). There are Coke Freestyle machines for those buying the Sonic Fill souvenir mugs, as well as regular soda stations for those purchasing “one time use” cups (which have RFID chips allowing three extra refills over the course of two hours). There are several large TVs playing ’60s era television ads, which carries that same level of fun nostalgia you’ll find at Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant, It is extremely rare to find a food court worth going out of your way to dine in, but Bayliner Diner even tops AOA’s Landscape of Flavors.

Cabana Bay’s pizza station has their own themed pizza boxes. One is for pizza, the other for breadsticks.

Bayliner also serves some excellent breakfast options before you spend the day at the pool or the parks.

Cabana Bay also has THREE great bars, including the incredible Swizzle Lounge located directly in the lobby. That’s right, go tell someone else in the family to check in while you saddle up to a bar ripped straight out of the ’60s. Outside in the Cabana Courtyard is Atomic Tonic, which has a wide selection of themed drinks as well as a souvenir cup that you can take with you in the pool.  Meanwhile, over in the Lazy River Courtyard is The Hideaway Bar & Grill, which also has its own set of themed drinks (as well as a full bar).  All three bars have TVs (generally playing a current sporting event), and The Hideaway is directly next to a shockingly great made-to-order take out window, so you can grab a bite to eat as well. Cabana Bay is the gold standard of value resort bars and lounges.

That’s right, you can take your drinks to the actual pools at Cabana Bay.

Oh, did we mention Cabana Bay has a STARBUCKS in the lobby?!

# 1 – Steps Away From Volcano Bay

I’ve gone on the record saying that Volcano Bay has become my favorite park in all of Florida, and Cabana Bay is all but connected to it! In fact, guests staying at Cabana Bay have their own dedicated walkway (and security check) to get to the park. For me personally, being close to a park is my absolutely favorite part of an onsite hotel. Being able to walk to Disney’s Magic Kingdom made me love The Contemporary. Being able to walk to EPCOT and DHS made staying at Yacht Club and the Boardwalk a blast. I always thought the walk from the Royal Pacific to Islands of Adventure was quick, but the jaunt from Cabana Bay to Volcano Bay is the fastest of all. With everything considered: view, price point, and amenities, a Volcano View room at Cabana Bay is the best place to stay not only at Universal, but in all of Orlando.

Aengus Mackenzie  – the only person to have had a drink at every single bar on Universal property in one weekend – has put together this fantastic chart showing the walking distances from the various onsite hotels and theme parks from each other.

Honorable Mention – The Resort-Specific Merchandise

We just celebrated the SEVEN anniversary of The Magic, The Memories, and Merch!, the sister article to the SATURDAY SIX, and it is safe to say we love theme park resort merchandise. Cabana Bay has hands-down the most unique resort-specific merchandise at  any Disney or Universal hotel, let alone value resorts. There are your usual pins, keychains, t-shirts, and coffee cups, but also beach towels, beach bags, candy, and even waterproof phone cases. There are Galaxy Bowl-themed bowling shirts, Atomic Tonic shot glasses, and more Jack LaLanne-related items than you could have ever dreamed existed. Cabana Bay’s gift shop is actually one of the top five stores at Universal, as it also contains a great mix of items from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, The Simpsons, Despicable Me, Transformers, and even Marvel. Chocolate frogs, unicorn plush (“It’s so fluffy!”), King Kong shirts, and Cabana Bay breath mints–that’s what I call a gift shop!

So there you have it: The SATURDAY SIX Spends a Day at Universal’s CABANA BAY! See you next weekend for the latest installment of the SATURDAY SIX, where we’ll look at something fun from the world of Disney and Universal. If you enjoyed yourself, be sure to check out The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! articles covering the latest from the Disney Outlet Stores. You can also follow Your Humble Author on Twitter (@derekburgan).

If you enjoyed this article, you will surely like the following: 

The SATURDAY SIX Spends a Day at the UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT

The SATURDAY SIX (and Bacini) Spends a Night at UNIVERSAL’S ROYAL PACIFIC RESORT

The SATURDAY SIX (and Bacini) Spends a Night at UNIVERSAL’S SAPPHIRE FALLS RESORT

Special Thanks to The Elite Brandon Glover, the bio-est of all reconstructs @bioreconstruct, Captain Cruiseline Scott Sanders of the world famous Disney Cruise Line Blog, my personal protege Hunter “Elvey” Underwood, the SAT SIX Fun Squad of Parkscope Joe and “the Dadalorian” Nick, hot shot Michael Carelli, charter member of the Universal Four @Nitro230, and Hermione Granger’s tutor Megan Stump for their invaluable assistance with this article. The SAT SIX is inspired each week by goofballs Aengus Mackenzie and LitemAndHyde and you Potterheads will  enjoy Meg’s other blog work over at the Central Florida Slug Club.

The post The SATURDAY SIX Spends a Night at Universal’s CABANA BAY BEACH RESORT appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Saturday Six, Universal Orlando Resort, Volcano Bay, Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort