A Blog About Disney Stuff

I had dinner over at the Contemporary’s The Wave last week, and it reminded me of the Hulu series The Great, about how Catherine the Great came to rule Russia. (It’s well-written, funny, and charming. Definitely worth watching.)

It wasn’t that Elle Fanning was at Disney World (she wasn’t), and I’m pretty sure I couldn’t order borscht if I tried.  No, while I was at The Wave, the thing that reminded me of eating like royalty was the fact that there were a total of three people in the dining room, and we were served by an entire kitchen staff outfitted with millions of dollars in cooking equipment.  It was as close to having a personal Disney chef as you can get. And it was glorious.

Every dish I tried was perfect. And they were probably perfect because the chef had no other meals to prepare but mine. Every item came out of the kitchen exactly when it was done. Nothing sat under a heat lamp waiting for my server to finish a circuit of other tables, because my server – Charlene – had no other tables. She had only me.  And so while 2020 has been absolutely horrible, if you like eating at Walt Disney World, now is the time to do it.

Dinner started with bread service. This mini-loaf of multi-grain bread came out warm, its just-baked aroma floating out from under its cloth wrapping. This was a dark, multi-grain loaf that tasted of sweet molasses. The crust managed to be crispy and chewy at the same time.

Along with the bread came a small plate of butter, topped with pink Himalayan sea salt.  I’d like to take a second to thank the kitchen staff for ensuring the butter was at room temperature, and easy to spread on the bread.  Serving cold butter with fresh, warm bread is probably a crime in France, and the Florida legislature should definitely consider adopting this idea.

For my appetizer, Charlene recommended something not on the menu – the evening’s special of Chicken Pozole soup ($9.50).  This was an avocado-based soup made with chicken stock, chicken, tomatillo, onion, and radish.  It was delightful. I could taste a touch of garlic, perhaps cilantro, and I think poblano or jalapeño pepper added smokiness and depth.  This wouldn’t be out of place over at La Hacienda at Epcot, and if I had a Mexican grandmother, I’d definitely ask abuelita Testa to make this every time I visited.

I told Charlene that I was in the mood for steak for my main course, but asked for recommendations. Charlene said the beef tenderloin ($36) was very good. It came with potato gratin, which I was also really in the mood for, and so I was prepared to go with that. But then Charlene said “…and the pork tenderloin looks really good tonight.”  Because Charlene’s soup recommendation was great, I went with her main course recommendation and ordered the pork tenderloin ($26). Best decision I made that night.

This pork tenderloin was one of the best main dishes I’ve had in Walt Disney World in years.  But let’s start with the smoked cheddar cheese grits – I would eat these every day, with every meal.  I’m not a huge fan of grits – if they’re too soft, the texture is off-putting – but these were perfect, done with a little bit of chew, and the smoked cheddar flavor was assertive without being overpowering.

On to the meats! The pork tenderloin came with a coffee-barbecue sauce that was mellow and tangy. That went well with the pork, which was done to a perfect medium rare – I was absolutely certain this plate had spent exactly zero seconds under a heat lamp.  The pork had a flavor that was so rich, it almost tasted like beef.  And I loved the broccolini, which I think was steamed, and cooked until just done.  At first I was surprised at how well the broccolini went with the coffee-barbecue sauce and the cheddar cheese grits, and then I remembered that the kitchen is filled with professionals who do this for a living, and do it way better than I could ever hope.

Total cost for the soup, pork, and a soda was $38.97. The Wave accepts Tables in Wonderland discounts, which reduced the price by 20% and adds an automatic 18% gratuity, for a total of $40.03.  By any measure, this meal was a bargain at that price, and it would’ve been a bargain if the pork was $36 instead of $26.  As I said earlier, this is a great time to be eating at Walt Disney World restaurants, and I’m excited to go back for more.

The post Dinner at The Wave – Eat Like Royalty appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Dining, discounts, Resorts, Trip Planning, Walt Disney World (FL), the wave, The Wave of American Flavors, The Wave… of American Flvaors

It ain’t easy being green, but Disney World’s new McDonald’s makes it look pretty EFFORTLESS!

The former McDonald’s on Disney World property shut its doors back in October to undergo a major renovation. The new location originally planned on opening sometime in March, but let’s just say their timeline got a little waylaid. Now, the new McDonald’s is finally OPEN, so let’s go check it out!

We’ve been closely monitoring the construction of the new Mickey D’s since its predecessor was demolished last year. The new location is much LARGER than the previous McDonald’s, plus this newer model comes fully-equipped with lots of eco-friendly bells and whistles!

In addition to a bigger dining room, the new McDonald’s features an enormous outdoor seating area. Solar panel awnings provide guests with some shade while collecting energy to fuel the restaurant!

Believe it or not, the new McDonald’s runs ENTIRELY on energy provided by Florida’s SUN! You’ll see little markers throughout the restaurant with facts about solar energy so you can learn something while enjoying your Big Mac attack!

There’s even an interactive element to the new Mickey D’s — you’ll find some stationary bikes off to the side, and if you pedal them fast enough, you’ll light up the iconic Mickey D’s sign!

Now we’re sooooo happy we’ve been doing all of those virtual spin classes at home these last few months! We can really feel the burn!

There’s also a hand bike for those with better upper body strength than us.

The new McDonald’s still has a drive-thru so you can get your food without leaving your car.

There are multiple pick up windows that span one entire wall of the restaurant. McDonald’s drive-thru is pretty popular with a lot of guests who are either heading to the parks or are on their way home and just need a quick bite or drink!

The pretty much covers the exterior of the new McDonald’s, so now it’s time to head inside. We noticed this enhanced safety measures sign posted on the door which states McDonald’s is conducting wellness and temperature checks of its employees, while they’re also requiring all workers to wear face coverings and gloves. Due to Orange County’s order mandating face masks must be worn in public areas, guests must wear face coverings until they’re seated at the restaurant. Then they’re allowed to remove them to enjoy their meal.

We noticed some nifty foot pedals had been installed at the entrance…

You press down on the pedal with your foot so that you don’t have to touch a door handle!

Once inside, we noticed several hand sanitizer stations had been set up in case you wanted to disinfect! We liked the “free gift” gimmick they were advertising it as!

Guests can use kiosks to place their orders and pay for their food. You can also use McDonald’s free app or, if you prefer, you can walk up to the counter and order your items the old-fashioned way. The choice is up to you!

You’ll either take an order number or be handed one if you place your order with a McDonald’s team member. Then you take it to your table and an employee will bring your food out to you.

Some of the tables were unavailable and had markers indicating guests should find somewhere else to sit. We also saw if we forgot to order something or were still hungry, there was a QR code we could scan to order more food without getting up!

Several tables had built-in tablets, although none of the touchscreens were active when we stopped by.

And while the restaurant is equipped with self-service fountain drinks, the beverage bar is currently closed to guests.

To get a refill, you can ask a McDonald’s team member at the counter for a fill-up!

And now that we’ve got our Happy Meal in hand and have had the chance to explore the new McDonald’s after many days of waiting, we’re feeling pretty happy ourselves!

If you’re looking for a fast (and CHEAP!) meal on your way to or fro from the Disney parks, Disney World’s new McDonald’s is fully operational — and pretty neato, too! Check it out on your next trip for all your Big Mac and Chicken Nuggie needs!

Click here to see every restaurant, ride, store, and experience that Disney World will be offering when the theme parks reopen!

Will you be swinging by the new McDonald’s at Disney World? Let us know in the comments below!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Counter-Service, Disney News, Featured, Walt Disney World, construction, delay, Disney World, grand opening, mc donalds, McDonald’s, reopening, solar energy, solar power

Could a Disney World License Vanity Plate be coming to Florida?

There is a bill being introduced to the Florida Senate that has information about a Disney World Vanity License Plate in the documentation.

It reads:

The department shall develop a Walt Disney World license plate as provided in this section. The plate must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Walt Disney World” must appear at the bottom of the plate.

The annual use fees from the sale of the plate shall be distributed to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central and Northern Florida, Inc., a nonprofit organization under. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. A maximum of 10 percent of the proceeds from the sale of such plates may be used for administrative and marketing costs.

For those lucky enough in Florida this is a chance to share your love of Disney World and to help the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central and Northern Florida!

 

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: Parks & Resorts, Walt Disney World, Disney World, Disney World Vanity License Plate, Florida, Make a Wish

Disney World Annual Passholders will need to provide their own transportation for AP Previews

In an email sent out to those who were lucky enough to get into the Annual Passholder Preview it states that If you are staying at a Disney Resort hotel, Disney transportation will not be available for this limited event. You will need to provide your own transportation to the Theme Park parking lot.

We reported earlier today that the Monorails & Skyliners will not start running till the official park opening on July 11th & 15th, more about that here.

So it looks like if you’re planning on attending the AP Preview at the Magic Kingdom, you will have to provide your own transportation to the Transportation and Ticket Center, or if you are attending previews at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will have to provide your own transportation to the drop-off area or parking lots.

There is still no word on the AP Preview for Hollywood Studios and Epcot… 

Please Note

Face coverings are required for all Guests (ages 2 and up) and Cast Members. Please bring your own face coverings and wear them at all times, except when dining or swimming.

All face coverings should:

• Fully cover an individual’s nose and mouth and allow the Guest to remain hands-free
• Fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
• Be secured with ties or ear loops
• Be made of breathable material, either disposable or reusable

Costume masks are not considered appropriate and are prohibited from being worn, in alignment with existing rules.

The use of face coverings is not a substitute for physical distancing.

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: Parks & Resorts, Walt Disney World, animal kingdom, Annual Passholder, AP Preview, Disney World, disney world annual passholders, Magic Kingdom