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Disney Food Disney Parks Other

There’s an AWESOME New Loaded Fries & Frozen Drink Combo in Disney World!

Disney Springs has been open for a couple of days now, and we’re already getting word on new menu offerings at some of our favorite dining locations.

The Basket at Wine Bar George

The Basket at Wine Bar George is a counter service window that brings the best of Wine Bar George to-go! And now it’s easier than ever to order your favorite loaded french fries and frozen beverages TOGETHER!

UPDATE: According to employees, these pairings are just suggestions and they are not being sold as a combo deal at this time. A new pairing suggestion is called “Frozen & Fries,” aka our new go-to snack this summer! These combos come with your choice of loaded french fries and frozen drinks to-go. Honestly, we’re going to have a hard time deciding between combos like Queso Fries with their signature Frosé

Queso Fries with Frosé © Wine Bar George

Togarashi Fries with Friezling made with Dole Whip Lime

Togarashi Fries with Friezling made with Dole Whip Lime © Wine Bar George

California Fries with Frozcato made with Dole Whip Pineapple (anything Dole Whip is a winner in our book!)…

California Fries with Frozcato made with Dole Whip Pineapple © Wine Bar George

and Buffalo Fries with Freaujolais! 

Buffalo Fries with Freaujolais © Wine Bar George

We may need to order one of everything! Note that you will order these fries and drinks individually. The pairings are just Wine Bar George’s suggestions. Next time you visit Disney Springs, stop by The Basket and grab some loaded fries and a frozen beverage!

Which combo of fries & drink would YOU order? Let us know in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Counter-Service, Disney Springs, Featured, Walt Disney World, disney springs, The Basket, The Basket at Wine Bar George, Wine Bar George

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Disney Parks

PHOTOS: What It’s Like To Eat in a Reopened Disney World Right Now

We’re reporting to you live from Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort today for this first time since mid-March.

Line Outside T-REX

That’s because while the rest of Disney World’s theme parks and hotels will remain closed until further notice, some third-party restaurants and retailers have started reopening today.

We’ve been busy sharing with you our own guest experiences such as parking at Disney Springs, having our temperatures taken, and seeing what some of the recently reopened retail stores have been like inside. Now want to share with you what it’s like to dine at Disney Springs right now. Do note that each location is doing things a little differently!

As a reminder, masks can be removed when sitting and dining at a table service restaurant in Disney Springs.

Table Service Restaurants in Disney Springs

The Boathouse

At 11AM, The Boathouse reopened today. We made our reservation over the phone and were given the option to dine inside or outside. Tables were noticeably spaced apart in the main dining room.

Dining Room Inside The Boathouse

The restaurant is also taking walk-up reservations for patio seating and their indoor dining room is limited to 25% capacity. We spotted this sign stating face masks must be worn at all times unless seated at a table.

The Boathouse

We sat outdoors where the guest tables had also been spaced apart more than usual. The Boathouse has been using paper menus for some time, but are no longer passing them between guests — our sever even suggested we keep ours as a free souvenir!

Dated Paper Menu at The Boathouse

The servers at The Boathouse were all wearing masks and gloves. Cutlery was rolled in a cloth napkin while drinks were served in normal glassware with paper straws. We ordered the Jumbo Lump Cake with a side of Truffle Fries.

Food Runner at The Boathouse

And the Duck, Duck Razz, of course! Good to note: the bars are not open at The Boathouse yet, but they will make you a drink to go.

Duck Duck Razz

We DO love this martini. Can you blame us? Look at that little guy!

Servers were cleaning their own tables in between guests. We asked our server what her experience has been like. She said the restaurant staff was given the choice if they wanted to come back right away, and she was ready to go and is excited to be back. Training packets were sent out a week ago and yesterday team members were brought in for training.

The Boathouse

Everyone is being asked to change out their gloves in between tables while cooks in the kitchen have a timer that goes off every 15 minutes reminding them to stop, wash hands, and change gloves.

Frontera Cocina

Frontera Cocina also opened at 11AM today while the staff came in earlier this week for safety training. The restaurant is doing food-to-go and currently accepting reservations. We booked our table in advance on OpenTable and once we arrived, we noticed a new hand sanitizing station for guests and employees at the front of the restaurant.

Hand Sanitizing Station at Frontera Cocina

Frontera Cocina is using both disposable paper menus and digital menus. There’s a QR code at each table that you can scan to view the menu on your smartphone or you may view a paper menu instead. Our server told us paper menus are being thrown out after each use.

QR Code for Digital Menu

Beverages were being served in normal glassware with single-use agave straws. Unlike The Boathouse’s servers, the food runners at Frontera Cocina weren’t wearing gloves.

Frontera Cocina

We ordered the Flautas and the Play with Fire Margarita. Our food was delicious as it always is at Frontera Cocina.

Flautas and Margarita

Frontera Cocina is also operating a to-go window where you can pick up eats or sips without the full sit-down experience.

Frontera Cocina Drink To Go

Things were a little different at Frontera Cocina, but the staff was still friendly and the fare was still delicious.

Wine Bar George

Over at Wine Bar George we saw similar distancing efforts such as markings on the ground to guide the queue for entry.

Waiting on Wine Bar George

They also have a To-Go Booth with the full food and beverage menu available for purchase.

To Go at Wine Bar George

The check-in booth at Wine Bar George featured a plexiglass shield for the hosts.

Wine Bar George

As we were seated we noticed some significant health measures. The restaurant is using digital menus that you access via a QR code. You are also delivered a paper bag to hold your mask and two packaged wipes to clean your hands when you sit down. Standard glassware is used.

Wine Bar George QR Code for Digital Menus

George Miliotes was here today! You know him as the “George” part of Wine Bar George. He came and talked to us, telling about how hard it was for him not to be able to smile at customers. Such a nice guy!

George Miliotes

We ordered the Burrata and the Saganaki (read: cheese on fire) and they both delighted. We do love us some Wine Bar George.

Burrata and Saganaki

The servers were wonderful, as always, and took care to follow health measures. We noticed that our server was changing gloves often and he told us that they had undergone a good amount of training.

Saganaki on Fire

We had a nice time at Wine Bar George and they have put some thought into following the new health guidelines.

Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill

Our trip to Wolfgang Puck showed us some changes too. We had a reservation, but there was almost an hour-long wait for walk-in guests. We think this is partly due to demand and partly due to the fact that there are fewer, spaced out tables to allow customers to distance.

Wolfgang Puck

The restaurant has shifted its menu a bit. Instead of changing menus between lunch and dinner, they have one all-day menu that is slightly reduced. Since the menu is more similar to their dinner menu, they have opted to include more lunch options at the Grab and Go Window outside.

Wolfgang Puck

Some more of their health measures include heightened cleaning, sanitizer available at all bus stations, the sanitization of pens between uses, handwashing required anytime a team member enters the kitchen, and the use of gloves.

Wolfgang Puck

We opted to try the Bruschetta this time since our server said it was the most popular appetizer, and it did NOT disappoint. Think Caprese salad piled on fresh bread. Yeah, it’s good.

Bruschetta

At the To-Go Window, we tried the new Reese’s Cookie, the Banana Pudding Gelato, and the Kakamora Cocktail. Honestly, we’re not sure there is a more perfect dessert.

Wolfgang Puck To Go

We’ll be keeping an eye on Wolfgang Puck and the other dining locations to see how health measures develop over the next few days and weeks.

Counter Service Restaurants in Disney Springs

Starbucks

We stopped by Starbucks early this morning and discovered they have a new specialty drink called “Welcome Back!”

Welcome Back

It’s a cold drink made from mango, dragonfruit refresher, coconut milk, strawberries, blackberries, and pineapple ginger syrup topped with golden ginger whipped cream! 

Instead of guests congregating around the order pick-up window, a friendly Starbucks employee retrieves your order and places it on a table for you to grab while you wait at a safe distance.

Starbucks at Disney Springs Today

Guests were also encouraged to socially distance themselves while waiting in line with some floor decals indicating where guests should stand.

Starbucks at Disney Springs Today

And while Starbucks was selling Reusable Cups today, they aren’t permitting guests to use them at this time. As for payment, they’re still accepting all forms, but we recommend downloading the Starbucks app as a touchless payment option!

Joffrey’s Coffee

We also swung by Joffrey’s Coffee and Tea Company to see how they’re adapting.

Joffrey’s Reopened

There were social distancing markers on the ground to keep guests six feet apart from one another. At Joffrey’s, they fittingly use coffee bean stickers to denote where to stand. There were also designated entrances and exits to keep the flow of traffic moving a certain way.

Joffrey’s Coffee Bean Distancing Markers

We were able to confirm that you can walk around Springs with your coffee, you cannot, however, stay and drink your coffee inside of Joffrey’s. They ask that you remove your mask to take a sip or bite, and replace it between sips or bites.

Joffrey’s Reopened

Joffrey’s is still serving a full menu of coffee and donuts when you need a pick-me-up.

The Polite Pig

You know we love The Polite Pig, so of course, we had to stop by and see how they’re contending with new health measures. Plus, they have a new item on the menu! Like pretty much everywhere, there are stickers on the floor telling guests where to stand.

Polite Pig

We also noticed that they had a heightened cleaning protocol. An employee was out wiping down the divider chains while we were there. The interesting touch here was that employees are wearing branded masks!

Polite Pig

When ordering, you can opt to use a digital menu through a QR code or you can use a paper menu to be disposed of after use.

Polite Pig Menu

A big thing here is that the sauce bar is out of commission. You can still get sauces, but the employees will bring them to you.

Polite Pig Sauce Bar Closed

We ordered the pork rinds (because they’re NEW) and a gloved employee brought them over to us. Pork rinds and sauce? We’re not sure we’ve had that before but we’re not complaining. They were tasty!

Polite Pig

As you can see, all the restaurants we visited have implemented different safety precautions with many following social distancing and sanitation practices. If you have any questions about our dining experiences, please let us know.

What did you think about some of our dining experiences at Disney Springs today? Let us know in the comments below.

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Counter-Service, disney merchandise, Disney News, Disney Springs, Featured, Snacks, Table-Service, Walt Disney World, 4 rivers cantina, Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza, Chicken Guy!, Earl of Sandwich, Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC, Frontera Cocina, gradual reopening, Häagen-Dazs Ice Cream, joffrey’s coffee and tea company, may 20th, phased reopening, Planet Hollywood, quick service restaurants, reopening, STK Orlando, Sunshine Churros, Table Service Restaurants, The Basket, The Boathouse, third party restaurants, Wine Bar George, Wolfgang Puck Bar and Grill, YeSake

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Disney Parks Disney Recipes Other

Did Your Favorite Disney Springs Meal Survive These Menu Changes?

Big changes are in store for Disney Springs on May 20th — and we’re not just talking about the shops that will be reopening.

Filet Sliders at Splitsville

What we’re actually referring to are the several menu changes we’ve noticed cropping up recently at a handful of the dining locations set to open on Wednesday.

While we’ve been keeping track of the confirmed Disney Springs restaurants and stores that will be reopening this Wednesday, it seems several establishments are dropping items from their menus in preparation to reopen.

Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming

The Jasper Board at Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming (which is an array of smoked fish dip, pimento cheese, char-grilled smoked sausage, bread and butter pickles, candied pecans, and buttermilk crackers) along with the Key West Shrimp Cocktail have been removed.  The Char-grilled Chicken Tenders (a newer addition which we recently tried) have also been taken off the board.

Chargrilled Chicken Tenders

Other detracted items include Homecoming’s Braised Short Ribs, Addie Mae’s Chicken & Dumpling Soup, Braised Kale and Collards, Southern Slaw, Sweet Corn Spoon Bread, Slow-cooked Baked Beans, Bradley’s Grits, Shine Cake (Chef Art’s signature dessert), and Auntie’s Chocolate Cake.

Shine Cake

Shine Cake

The Kitchen Plate (a sampling of three different house-made sides) is subbing out its Slow-cooked Baked Beans for Southern Slaw instead. But, Hand-Cut Okra Fries served with icebox dressing for $16 has been added.

Additionally, the Whiskey Breeze Bulleit Bourbon and Honey Lavender Fresh are no longer listed.

Wine Bar George

Over at Wine Bar George, the menu cuts continue. The White and Dark Chocolate Trifle and Teriyaki Salmon Salad have been taken off the menu.

Welcome to Wine Bar George!

Meanwhile, more menu changes were made Wine Bar George’s grab ‘n go counter, The Basket!

The Basket at Wine Bar George

Sandwiches including the Goat Cheese (with Fig, Arugula, and Ficelle), the Prosciutto (with Brie), and the Ham and Gruyère Baguette are no longer listed.

The Basket Sandwich

For Bites & Boxes, The Basket’s Olives & Hummus and Calabrese, Brie, and Honey with Crackers Boxes are not listed on the menu.

However, there is a new French Fries option. For $8, you can get French Fries served with your choice of either Queso, Togarashi, California, or Buffalo toppings.

The Basket

For drinks, the Delirum Nocturnum Belgian Strong Dark Ale and Halter Ranch have been taken off the menu. Truth or Consequences Moscato is now being sold for $9 a glass in addition to a new seasonal selection. Bud Light is also now available for $8.

Splitsville Luxury Lanes

At Splitsville Luxury Lanes, the Filet Sliders, Impossible™ Sliders, Fig & Pig Flatbread have been removed from the list of appetizers. And while Splitsville’s other pizza options are still available, the Firehouse Mozzarella Pizza and Veggie Mozzarella Pizza are no longer being listed.

Firehouse Pizza

Several sushi options including the Ninja Crunch Tempura-fried Salmon and Kani Kama Krab Roll, Crouching Dragon Tempura Shrimp Roll, and Yum Yum Roll Tempura Shrimp Rolls have also disappeared.

Splitsville Sushi

Several entrees including the Buddha Bowl, Spicy Veggie Bowl, and Vegan Bowl have been cut as well as the Chimichurri Skirt Steak. The Foghorn Burger, Bacon Cheeseburger, and Turkey Burger, have been removed as well.

Paddlefish

Now that Mother’s Day has come and gone (and Paddlefish has remained shuttered since mid-March), they’ve removed their Lobster Ravioli Dish and replaced it with their Father’s Day offering. The Steak Oscar served with Lump Crab Meat, Béarnaise, and Mashed Potatoes will be available on Sunday, June 21st for $52.

Paddlefish

Lobster Bisque Soup, the Maine Lobster Roll, and Table-side Lobster Guacamole, the Chilled Trio, and Seafood Boil with 1¼ Pound Maine Lobster have also been taken off.

Lobster Roll

Frontera Cocina released their new modified menu, which you can check out here! We’ll keep you posted on any more menu updates as soon as we spot them!

Did one of your favorite menu items get cut? Let us know which one in the comments below!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disney News, Disney Springs, Featured, Snacks, Table-Service, Walt Disney World, art smiths homecomin, disney springs, Disney World, items removed, limited menus, may 20th, menu changes, Paddlefish, reopening, splitsville, The Basket, The Basket at Wine Bar George, updated menus, Wine Bar George