Quick Service Part 4 – Earl of Sandwich, Sleepy Hollow and L’Artisan des Glaces

The Earl of Sandwich

Yes, the Earl of Sandwich does remind me of Panera Bread. Nothing wrong with that, I like Panera. The food here is reasonably priced and always fresh and yummy. The salads are some of my favorites along with the soups. I know it’s warm in FL but we do get soup weather. The menu does change seasonally but that’s part of the charm. Who doesn’t want a Thanksgiving sandwich in the fall? They have different bottled drinks as well as the fun Coca Cola machine.

The location is wonderful in Disney Springs and has plenty of inside as well as outside seating. This is a nice quick stop to fuel your day of shopping!

Sleepy Hollow

Sleepy Hollow is located just over the bridge from the left side of the castle into Liberty Square in Magic Kingdom. Think one word – WAFFLE. While they have many delicious items I would say that they are most well known for their Fresh Fruit Waffle Sandwich with Chocolate Hazelnut Spread. I know you either like that sort of thing or you don’t but I can tell you by the feedback and lines that it’s a pretty big deal. They also offer a waffle with powdered sugar and/or cinnamon as well as the always fantastic funnel cakes.

They also offer coffee, tea and assorted soft drinks. Not to be confused with the Starbucks on Main Street that does not serve waffles.

L’Artisan de Glaces

If you enjoy wonderful quality ice cream, you have to visit Epcot’s France Pavilion. They have a generous variety of flavors and some sorbet also.  The shop is very cute and charming. The staff is always very nice and will even give out samples. There is limited seating outside of the shop.

You can order 1 or 2 scoops or go for the famous macaron ice cream sandwiches. They are as beautiful as they are yummy! There are waffle bowls and some sauces and even a hint of Grand Marnier if you are so inclined. Not to be confused with the booth that sells frozen orange Grand Marnier slushes – they are deadly!

Stop on by because there will be something for everyone!

PD

The Rose & Crown at Epcot’s UK

The Rose & Crown

We decided to go to Epcot for the day on Saturday and made a last minute reservation on MDE. With just two people that is never a problem even the day of.

Being a warm day, we chose to eat inside but I have eaten outside with the quick service menu. The restaurant feels like Old English, at least to my New England eyes. There are plates and pictures of Royals throughout. The staff are also imported and simply delightful! We had a young man named David who loves the Disney Life and would love to some day relocate permanently. (He did say that since there are 3 Davids there from Liverpool, to refer to him as the handsome one.)

I went with the Fish and Chips and they have become my new favorite. They are as good as anything in NE. Sorry but even as good as Ye’ Olde English in Woonsocket, RI. You can taste the beer in the batter and the fries are thick and crispy. The portion is generous and you will be full after eating this!

My husband had the Shepherd’s Pie. He devoured every last bite! The lamb was savory and flavorful and the potatoes creamy and delicious. He didn’t speak much so I took that as a huge deal because he doesn’t usually stop speaking! He did manage to finish my Fish and Chips also. He had a beer that was suggested by David and found it was a perfect compliment to the meal.

What I really liked was that you didn’t get that rushed feeling that sometimes happens at the nicer restaurants. This was an enjoyable meal with great atmosphere and a new friend.

PD

Going To WDW Without Going On Rides

Going to Disney Without Going on Rides

We all know that Walt Disney World has some fantastic rides. Magic Kingdom has the mountains – Splash and Space. It is also home to the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and the new Seven Dwarfs Mine Train which opened to rave reviews. Hollywood Studios is known for The Rock ‘N Roller Coaster and the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror which looms over the park and can be seen from everywhere. Expedition Everest with Yeti and Dinosaur will get your blood pumping in Animal Kingdom. Test Track and Mission:SPACE are the thrill rides in Epcot although Sum of all Thrills at Innoventions can be as wild as you want to make it – within the boundaries of math, of course. So if you are looking for some adventure, you’re sure to find it.

For me, nope. Not looking for that at all. Of the above rides, I will go on 1 maybe 2 if the mood strikes. I have a soft spot for Dinosaur. Not sure why but I love it. Also, I can be persuaded to go on Sum of All Thrills if I am allowed to create it (no drops for this girl). So what could you possibly do in Disney World if you are not going on rides?Well, there are tons of shows!

 They do a pretty good job right at the front of Cinderella’s Castle at Magic Kingdom. I could watch that show over and over.  Philharmagic is always a fun time reliving some favorite movies and the Carousel of Progress helps me to remember that Walt had a hand in all of this. Oh and the parades! The Festival of Fantasy parade blows my mind. There is a fire breathing dragon! Fire. Breathing. Dragon. I don’t need to plummet down a mountain for excitement.

So if I choose to watch the Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo instead of visiting the Yeti, don’t think I’m not having a blast. I am getting so much out of every visit to Beauty and the Beast that I wouldn’t trade it for all the Terror in the world! Figment is enough to get my imagination going, I don’t need to go into Space. Don’t skip the wonderful movies in France, Canada and China!

I get enough excitement dodging raindrops in Florida or as I refer to it – Liquid Sunshine. I don’t need to go on any rides! I could also people watch forever and there is no greater variety than right in WDW. People from all over the world and every culture is represented. Talk to cast members and other guests. There are some really great people out there!

Enjoy Disney your own way but make sure you are having fun!

PD

EPCOT’s China Pavillion: Nine Dragons Resaurant

EPCOT seems to be the Disney Park with the most choices and variety of places to eat. The World Showcase offers very authentic dining experiences from each of the 11 countries showcased. The Nine Dragons Restaurant in the China Pavillion provides guests with a calming atmosphere and delicious meals.

Walking into the low lit building we instantly noticed that the loud noises and hustle of an always moving area were eliminated. The dark wood with colored glass features and the classical music gave a real calm feel. This was a nice break from a hot day.

The food that is featured here is just amazing. The two entrees featured above are a barbecue pork rice bowl and fried rice bowl. Both of these meals are served in a giant bowl and you would have to very, very hungry to finish it all. The rice had a ton of flavor and the meat was savory and tender. Another great entree that is very good and plentiful is the sweet and sour chicken with steamed rice. We must comment on the service we received on our many times here. They are excellent, your glass will never be empty and they are very appreciative and thankful for your business.

If you don’t want to or just don’t have time for a sit down meal there is an outside quick service that offers many of the same meals but more of a lunch sized serving of it. Nine Dragons Restaurant is a must do for us when we go to the World Showcase.

Thank you for reading and enjoy!!

PD

Non-Park Days at WDW – For Adults

Tags

Contemporary Resort, Dining, Disney

Sometimes you have a 7 day vacation but only 5 days worth of park passes. What to do with that down time? There are several great adventures you can get into for adults!

1. Monorail Crawl – Stop by each of the three resorts on the Resorts Monorail Line for an adult beverage or two and a snack. At the Grand Floridian, stop by the Mizner’s Lounge for a Pino Grigio (or latte) with an Orange Chocolate Biscotti. The Polynesian is a great place for the Kalua Pork Tacos and Rosita’s Margarita (or the NA Schweitzer Falls). Then onto the Contemporary’s Wave Lounge for some soft pretzels and dip along with a Jameson Irish Coffee (or a Sparkling No-Jito). Make sure you have reservations and a designated driver!

2. Disney Springs – Between dining, shopping and entertainment, this is one stop you want to make time for. There are fun dining experiences (Rainforest Café and T-Rex) and some fine dining establishments (The Boathouse and Portobello Country Italian Trattoria) and grab and go spots (Wolfgang Pucks and Earl of Sandwich) that will satisfy every guests appetite and wallet. As far as shopping goes, they have the largest Disney store and also small specialty stores. If you want to buy it and it’s Disney, chances are good you’ll find it here. Entertainments is varied. You can bowl, listen to live music or even watch the acrobats at Cirque Du Soliel. All fun and all right there.

3. Stay at the resort – Why leave, there’s plenty to do! We recently spent the day lounging around Port Orleans Riverside. We filled up our cups and headed over to Ol’ Man Island. Yes we went down the slide – you should try it! We had a light lunch of sandwiches and chips at the Muddy Rivers Pool Bar (along with a white sangria for me). We then changed and took a walk around to the French Quarter for a beignet at the Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory. They are a must! Time for a break and wait for the movie to begin (Big Hero Six). We could have gone for a bike ride or fishing but we were taking it slow, maybe next time!

PD

Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria

Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria

With it’s three wood-burning ovens, you will definitely find a real authentic Italian feel here. The décor is quaint and the atmosphere is loud and boisterous. It works here. We spoke with the manager from the Patina Restaurant Group and he was so enthusiastic about the cuisine and the staff. Nice to hear that.

My husband had the Carciofi Pizza, which is made with artichoke, fontina and mozzarella cheeses and truffle oil, no red sauce. The individual size is a large 12 inch pie. This was made to order and served fresh out of the oven. Very savory and way too much for one person (although Joe rolled away from the table).

I had the Piatti Alla Parmigiana – Tortino di Melanzane (Eggplant parm with roasted potatoes). It was nice not to have the eggplant over the usual pound of pasta! The eggplant itself was thinly sliced and lightly breaded. No heaviness at all here. The sauce was incredible! Not a huge portion but it was more than enough!

My niece had the Piatti Alla Parmigiana- Pollo (Chicken parm with roated potatoes). The chicken breast was butterflied and flattened. The breading again was light and crispy without being greasy. This also came with the roasted new potatoes which are lightly seasoned with salt, pepper, oregano and olive oil. This was delicious.

For desert we had the Tiramisu, Zeppole di Caterina and Pistachio Gelati e Sorbetto. Let’s just say that the Zeppole should be illegal! Probably one of the best deserts ever. The gelato was creamy and had a nutty brittle topper and the tiramisu was as good as any I’ve had. You could definitely share  – if you had to.

The prices are a little high but worth it in my opinion. I will definitely be visiting again!

Hidden Disney – Although the names of the three ovens are after actual volcanos in Italy (Etna, Vesuvio and Stromboli), the faces were inspired by Pinocchio’s misadventures on Pleasure Island. No Jiminy Cricket sightings, unfortunately!

PD

Olivia’s Cafe at Old Key West

Tags

Dining, disney dining plan, old west

Olivia’s Café at Old Key West

I’ll admit it, I go to these fantastic restaurants partly because I love checking out the resorts! They are so unique and beautifully themed  that they would stand alone anywhere but in WDW you have such over abundance of options. You can go from Victorian era grandeur to Flavors of Africa and then onto some fried chicken and ribs along with the show at a western show.

Olivia’s Café feels like going to a Mom & Pop diner at the seashore. It’s not overly grand and it’s not trying to be. It’s kitschy and nautical. There are pictures of families who have enjoyed the resort hanging on the walls like regulars and keepsakes lovingly framed. The staff is dressed appropriately for area (Old Key West, of course) in khakis and Hawaiian shirts.

The food, however is not just casually put together. The presentation as well as the flavors really stand out. Definitely makes an impression. I had the Seven Mile Sea Scallops and cannot wait to have it again. The scallops were lightly grilled and placed over polenta that was extra creamy. Olive oil tossed asparagus peeks out from under and crispy prosciutto tops off the dish to perfection.

Quick Service – Part 1

 Quick Service – Part 1

Pizzafari

The Animal Kingdom is home to Pizzafari. As the name implies, they serve pizza. They are open for lunch and dinner. They serve personal size thick crust cheese, pepperoni, meat lovers and vegetable pizzas with a Caesar salad on the side. Not only is the pizza really yummy but the salad is excellent. They also serve a meatball sub, a romaine salad and pasta with sauce. The children’s menu offers mac & cheese, cheese pizza, uncrustables and pasta.

The food is good and the restaurant itself is fun and brightly decorated. There is plenty of seating and Cast Member are often seen coloring pictures with children or leading a Congo line. This is a great place for a cool down relaxing meal before trekking off into Africa.

Tangerine Café in Epcot’s Morocco

Inside Epcot’s Morocco is a gem that is hidden in plain sight. The Tangerine Café has some of the best food that I’ve had in all of WDW. It’s refreshingly different from anything else I had enjoyed. It’s wonderful fresh food simply prepared to be a filling and surprisingly delicious meal.

I had the Shawarma Chicken Platter and it is literally enough for two adults. The meat was moist and flavorful and the combinations of hot and cold food and spices really worked. The hummus was creamy and the pita was warm. The wraps (lamb, chicken and falafel) were also generously sized.

There is seating outside and inside but it’s open to the hustle and bustle of Epcot. Adjacent is also a coffee bar with pastries. Don’t skip it!

The Artist’s Palette at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa

Think “upscale deli” and that’s what you’ll get at The Artist’s Palette. The food is freshly prepared to order in front of you and will often be delivered to your table if you not ready when you pay for your meal.

We had the Caprese Flatbread pizza and the Spicy Italian Beef sandwich. Both were wonderful light meals along with fountain soda and light lemonade. There are multiple yummy looking deserts to choose from including cupcakes. The general store and gift shop are all connected so you can mix grab and go items with your order.

The seating area is accented by colorful lighting fixtures that feel like artwork. There is a drawing station for younger kids but they won’t kick you out if you’re older (don’t judge). Tables can be hard to find and seating can get tight but you can always bring your order down a few steps and eat by the pool.

T-Rex at Downtown Disney (Disney Springs)

T-Rex is a dinosaur themed restaurant with attached gift shop in Downtown Disney. It is operated by the same company that manages the Rainforest Café. It has much the same feel and a variation on the menu. We went with a 10 year old boy and he was completely fascinated by the whole experience. He loved the sounds and sights and even ate some food.

The atmosphere is fantastic. They did a great job in making you feel like you are in the Dinosaur ride from Animal Kingdom. The dinos move and make sounds and it’s a completely immersive experience. We were in the ice age room and it was chilly, nice touch.

We had the Prehistoric Pasta with Chicken (also available with shrimp), the Bronto Burger and the Boneyard Buffet. All the meals were pleasantly presented and tasty. The portions were very good but the pricing I felt was just a little high. For desert I had the Cosmic Key Lime Pie and it was fantastic!

I thought it was a little loud in there and a little pricy but it was overall a fun time and I would go again!

Coral Reef Restaurant – Future World Epcot

The Coral Reef Restaurant is located in Future World in Epcot. It is adjacent to The Seas with Nemo and Friends. It’s to the right of the Nemo entrance and can sometimes be overlooked.

The interior of the Coral Reef is slightly dated yet still charming. You definitely get the under the sea feel with the tank open for viewing of all seating. It is really cool to see a turtle swim by as you are enjoying your meal. The seating is a little tight together. The servers really have to work at not bumping into one another.

The food is fantastic! We had the Baked Cheese Manicotti with Maine Lobster Tail and the Grilled New York Strip Steak. They were both cooked to perfection and were beautifully presented. This has been one of the better meals I’ve had in the Parks. The lobster was not overcooked and the steak was moist and not overcooked even at medium well. I could have gone for seconds!

We ended the meal with the Turtle Cheesecake with Caramel and Vanilla Panna Cotta Tart with Key Lime. They were as delicious as they were pretty! A wonderful way to end a meal.

I would definitely go for another round at Coral Reef. I left there full and satisfied! I would give this a 4 out of 5.

PD