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Disney Parks

Review: One of the BEST Disney World Restaurants to Come Home To ❤️

We’re taking you along with us today as we visit the newly reopened Disney Springs.

Welcome Back to Disney Springs

Disney released a new set of safety procedures prior to the reopening and we are here to find out how these new protocols impact guests’ dining experiences. Come along with us as we explore dining at Wine Bar George.

Reservations

Wine Bar George opened today, May 20th, at noon. We made a dining reservation shortly after Wine Bar George announced they were reopening, so there was a table waiting for us when we arrived.

Wine Bar George

Wine Bar George is checking in all guests with advance dining reservations digitally so once we arrived, we texted Wine Bar George to be seated. Walk-up guests were instructed to wait in line on special markers until the next available table was ready.

Standing Outside of Wine Bar George

We also noticed Wine Bar George is offering a full to-go food and beverage menu if you don’t feel like dining in.

Wine Bar George Food To-Go

A plexiglass shield has been installed on the hostess’ stand.

Wine Bar George

And hand sanitizer was left out for guests to use at the bar.

Hand Sanitizer

Once we were seated, our server provided us with a brown paper bag to store our masks in while we ate. We were also given some individually wrapped hand wipes.

Wine Bar George

As we looked around, we noticed the tables were all spaced out accordingly while we saw managers wiping down each table and chair after each set of guests left.

Menu

Wine Bar George announced before reopening that they would be using a contactless, digital menu — which requires guests to view menus on their own devices. You scan a QR code provided at your table and can view the menu on your own personal electronic device.

Wine Bar George QR Code for Digital Menus

Before visiting, we noticed the White and Dark Chocolate Trifle and Teriyaki Salmon Salad had been taken off the online menu, but there didn’t appear to be any additional menu cuts. We ordered the Saganaki on Fire and Burrata Cheese apps — two of our absolute Wine Bar George FAVORITES!

Service

Before the restaurant reopened, Wine Bar George announced some of the additional safety measures it would be following. These included ensuring all team members are certified in safe food handling, strict kitchen sanitation standards, requiring all team members to pass a health check before their shift, and strict handwashing policies.

Wine Bar George

The restaurant also said that all place settings, tables, chairs, utensils, and condiments in both dining areas and common areas will be sanitized after each use. We found this was most certainly the case with our dining experience today. Normal glassware is still in use with disposable straws…

Glassware at Wine Bar George

…and paper disposable napkins are being used with regular cutlery rolled up inside.

Paper Napkin and Cutlery at Wine Bar George

When our Burrata came to the table, our server was wearing gloves. After not seeing this small plate of wonderful cheesiness for some time, it was a sight for sore eyes.

Service at Wine Bar George

And when our Saganaki on Fire showed up, the food runner who brought it to us was also wearing gloves. Look out for those flames!

Saganaki on Fire

Normally the server squeezes a fresh slice of lemon over the top for us, causing the flames to grow even higher, but we were instructed to do our own lemon-squeezing.

Saganaki on Fire

Payment

We noticed our server switched gloves before bringing us our check which he said is standard practice for them now. We asked him if he felt comfortable being back and he said yes — “they’ve had a lot of training and feel safe.”

Today’s Lunch at Wine Bar George

All of Wine Bar George employees were very welcoming, especially THIS Wine Bar George employee, George Miliotes himself!

George Miliotes

George told us he is very happy to be back! He also said it feels weird not being to smile at his guests but the master sommelier made it a point to tell us he is, IN FACT, smiling beneath his face mask.

Overall Experience

Overall, the restaurant felt clean, calm, and welcoming. The staff informed us that they felt well-trained and excited about being back. The entire process ran smoothly. Reservations for Wine Bar George are currently available on the My Disney Experience app starting the second week of June as well as available earlier on OpenTable.

Would you visit Wine Bar George with these new measures in place? Let us know in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disney Springs, Featured, Table-Service, Walt Disney World, advance dining reservation, dining, Disney, disney dining, disney reservations, disney restaurant, disney springs, disney springs dining, disney springs restaurant, Disney World, disney world resort, table service dining, walt disney world resort, Wine Bar George

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Disney Merch Disney Parks

You’ve NEVER Shopped in Disney World Like This Before

Today, we’re LIVE at the reopening of Disney Springs in Disney World.

Disney Springs

We’ve already shown you a look into parking, temperature checks, and we have also reviewed the new Welcome Back” drink at Starbucks! But now its time for us to hit a few Disney Springs shops!

Disney announced many third party stores along with non-Disney owned restaurants would be permitted to reopen starting today, May 20th. We’re going to be stopping by each location to see how they each approached the new health and safety protocols, but we’ve got A LOT of ground to cover, so we’ll keep updating this post as we visit more stores! 

Disney Springs

And remember — Disney-owned locations (such as World of Disney) will begin reopening May 27th, but for, now, here’s what’s happening at some the Disney Springs retailers!

Anthropologie

We stopped by clothing and home decor retailer Anthropologie to see what modifications they’ve made for their reopening.

Anthropologie

A notice at the front welcomes guests back and includes a few of the safety measures the store is taking to keep guests and staff safe. This includes social distancing, keeping the store extra-clean with increased sanitary practices, and having associates available to address any concerns guests might have.

Anthropologie Sign

The biggest physical difference we spotted at the store is a large plexiglass shield has been installed at the cash registers.

Plexiglass at Anthropologie’s Cash Registers

We also saw a large bottle of hand sanitizer was put out for guests and employees to use.

Anthropologie

Uniqlo

We popped into Uniqlo to see what precautions they’re taking to keep their guests and workers safe. A greeter stationed at the door was also available to help with any online in-store pick-up orders!

Uniqlo

There was also new signage posted throughout the store including this welcome back sign which included some of Uniqlo’s new policies! They’re limiting capacity, practicing social distancing, accepting mobile payment, modifying some of their guest services such as having restrooms and fitting rooms open to guests while also encouraging guests to bag their own items.

Uniqlo Sign

Markers have been guided to add guests throughout the store. They’re more subtle than some of the markers we’ve seen other stores using, but they’re present.

Markers at Uniqlo

Plexiglass barriers have been installed at the cash registers at Uniqlo as well.

Plexiglass Shields at Uniqlo’s Cash Registers

We also saw Uniqlo employees wiping down the card readers at the checkout counter between each guest’s transaction!

Basin

We stopped by Basin bright and early this morning to see what was happening inside this store that sells luxury bath and body products!

Basin

This store sells tons of beautiful soaps, bath bombs, and all sorts of wonderful smelling-stuff! Even though we were wearing our face masks, we could still smell all the wonderful scents in the air! While you CAN still handle the product, Basin requests you keep your “touching of stuff” to a minimum.

Basin Reopening

We also discovered Basin has bundles of travel-sized hand sanitizer for sale — it’s their own Premium brand and includes essential oils to keep your hands from becoming too dry! $20 will buy you a three-pack!

Hand Sanitizer at Basin

You CAN still test the products and wash your hands inside of Basin (do note that there are portable handwashing stations outside)! The samples are applied using disposable wooden sinks, which you can rinse them off using a touchless faucet.

Basin Reopening

Social distancing for customers was also being encouraged while markers showed guests where to stand while waiting to checkout.

Arribas Bros.

Next, we stopped by Arribas Bros. to see what changes they are implementing.

Arribas Bros.

Overall, the store looked pretty normal with loads of sparkly glass sculptures and crystal ornaments everywhere we turned.

Arribas Bros.

We noticed a sign on the counter which provided additional safety information to guests. Cashless payments are not required but they are encouraged at this time.

Arribas Bros.

And Cast Members were on hand to answer any questions! So far, each shop we’ve visited has had a greeter stationed right at its front door!

Arribas Bros.

Signs on the counter also requested guests not to handle merchandise excessively. Additional items weren’t on display but you could request a Cast Member to show them to you.

Arribas Bros.

There were also some signs on the ground indicating where guests should stand while waiting in line to make a purchase.

Arribas Bros.

Ron Jon Surf Shop

At Ron Jon Surf Shop, we were able to have a quick chat with one of the managers. He said the team came in about a week ago to start cleaning the store and set up to welcome back guests. At check out, employees are now wiping down touchscreens in between each guest.

Ron Jon Surf Shop

The team has also been having weekly calls to discuss the new procedures so that everyone would be ready to go once the store reopened. Everyone came in an hour early today to receive additional training while new signage had been put up and requesting guests to stay 6 feet apart while shopping.

Ron Jon Signage

Ron Jon is ONLY accepting cashless payments at this time. 

Ron Jon Surf Shop Not Accepting Cash Payments

Free People

We were too early to get in Free People, but we’ll circle back soon to check it out!

Free People reopening today

We did notice a sign on the door. Here’s what it said.

Sign on Free People’s Door

Free People has stated certain procedures and policies will be modified such as increased cleaning routines, masks required for all employees, reduced hours, social distancing reminders, limiting occupancy, and installing plexiglass guards at the cash registers. We’ll be back to check them out shortly.

Volcom

Again, we were a little too early for Volcom, but we did see an announcement posted on its door.

Volcom

The letter made us very interested to see what safety measures they’ve instituted. We’ll definitely be back after our dining reservations to check out their stuff.

Volcom

We’ve got some meals to run off to, but for now, check out everything you need to know about wearing face masks in Disney Springs!

We will be updating this post with new information, so be sure to check back. And if you have ANY questions about shopping in Disney Springs, please let us know!

Which protocols would help you feel safest as a shopper? Let us know in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: disney merchandise, Disney Springs, Walt Disney World, advance dining reservation, American Threads, antropologie, arribas bros, Basin, chapel hats, columbia sportswear, crystal art, crystal art by arribas bros, Disney, Disney merchandise, disney reservations, disney restaurant, disney shopping, disney springs, disney springs dining, disney springs reopening, disney springs restaurant, Disney World, Disney World reopening, disney world resort, edward beiner eyewear, free people, happy hound, health, lucky Brand, luxury of time by diamonds international, merchandise, Pandora, payment, pele soccer, pop gallery, reopening, ron jon, Ron Jon Surf Shop, sanitation, sanitizer, sanuk, Savannah Bee Company, shopping, sosa family cigars, Sugarboo and Co, ugg, Uniqlo, unode50, Vera Bradley, volcom, walt disney world resort

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Disney Business Disney News Disney Parks

News! Earl of Sandwich, Chicken Guy!, and Planet Hollywood in Disney Springs Share New Safety Protocols

Disney Springs is planning to start Disney World’s phased re-opening tomorrow, May 20th.

Chicken Guy!

We’ve been keeping you updated with all of the restaurants that plan to re-open tomorrow, but Earl of Sandwich, Chicken Guy!, and Planet Hollywood just released more information on how they plan to protect guests at the re-opening.

Earlier today, we got a sneak peek of what Disney Springs’ new health and safety protocols look like in practice, but now we know more about how Earl of Sandwich, Chicken Guy!, and Planet Hollywood will adapt their restaurants with extra safety procedures.

Planet Hollywood

These restaurants will first protect guests by enforcing extra safety measures with their employees.

All employees will be required to undergo health checks each day, wash their hands every 20 minutes for 20 seconds, wear personal protective equipment (where appropriate), undergo enhanced training on sanitation and social distancing.

Chicken Guy!

The restaurants will also work with their vendors to ensure they are following similar precautions and will remind employees of these standards at the beginning of each shift.

The restaurants have modified the guest experience by transitioning to single-use menus, installing sanitizer dispensers, and updating the dining room floor plans to promote social distancing. They will sanitize and disinfect tables after each party and will sanitize throughout the restaurant frequently.

Guy’s Favorite Sauces

You can read more about Earl of Sandwich’s opening here, Chicken Guy’s here, and Planet Hollywood’s here. We will continue to keep you updated with the latest and be sure to tune in tomorrow for our live coverage from Disney Springs!

Which of these three restaurants is your favorite and why? Let us know in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Counter-Service, Disney Springs, Featured, Table-Service, Walt Disney World, advance dining reservation, Chicken Guy!, dining, Disney, disney dining, disney reservations, disney restaurant, disney springs, disney springs dining, disney springs reopening, disney springs restaurant, Disney World, Disney World reopening, disney world resort, Earl of Sandwich, Planet Hollywood, reopening, table service dining, walt disney world resort