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Perhaps even more iconic than its enormous 55-foot counterparts in the main lobby, the character totem welcomes shoppers to the Wilderness Lodge Mercantile.  The store features merchandise with a decidedly woodsy flair.  Look for characters in their best “ranger” attire as well as outdoor-themed clothing and gift items.

It’s certainly one of the most attractive and inviting resort shops, and really shines during the holiday season when the fireplace is crackling and the signature red and black buffalo plaid lends a colorful continuity to the displays.  Even the shop windows are highly-themed and imaginative.

There are coonskin caps for all budding Davy Crocketts and “Fish Fear Me” t-shirts for the sportsmen in the family.  The presence of the adjacent Villas at Wilderness Lodge signals an expanded selection of grocery items as a convenience for those staying in accommodations with full kitchens.

The Lodge’s mascot is Humphrey the Bear  and bears are a recurring theme throughout the resort.  Guests will find Humphrey holding up his friends from the base of the character totem, as well as carved and plush versions on the shelves.

While hours may vary with the season, the Wilderness Lodge Mercantile is typically open from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Familiar dishes, simply prepared; pleasant surroundings and prompt, cheerful service; the Turf Club Bar & Grill is another relatively unknown restaurant tucked away in a Disney Vacation Club property.

While it’s popular with the guests staying at Disney’s Saratoga Springs and Spa, the Turf Club is often seen as little more than a default choice when other, more popular, venues are not available.  In fact, the food is as good as, and often quite a bit better than, what is available at other locations in the Downtown Disney area.

Guests enter through a charming lounge that exudes a sense of clubby goodwill in keeping with the racing theme of the resort.  It features comfortable seating, a pool table, and the equestrian art and memorabilia found throughout the property.

Well-placed mirrors make the deceptively small dining space appear larger, and there is a covered, outdoor terrace which is a nice option during good weather.  Seldom busy, it offers a haven for those looking for a change from the chaos of character buffets.

Review: Dining at the Turf Club is an event that seems to polarize guests.  We seldom hear moderate reviews of this restaurant.  Instead, people are typically extremely positive or negative.  And yet, it is a moderate experience in almost every way.  The menu is strongly “American” with the somewhat bland offerings and seasonings that the term often implies.  The ambiance is relaxing while lacking the unique personality many of us look for in a Disney restaurant.  During my last visit, I found the service to be excellent and listening to others around us, it was clear that guests who made the trip more than once during their stay were greeted and treated like old friends.  If not for the food, it may be worth a special trip for the quiet, unhurried surroundings.

Menus

Lunch

Dinner

Dessert

The Turf Club Bar and Grill

Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa

Lunch 12:00 p.m. to 4:55 p.m.

Dinner 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Stepping into Olivia’s feels like a warm hug – sunny and bright and, well, just plain homey.  Patrons can expect the friendliest of welcomes and a casual, relaxed atmosphere.

Disney’s Old Key West is the original Disney Vacation Club resort and many years ago, the members began bringing their family photos.  Today, some of the walls are still covered with frames of every conceivable shape, size, and color, featuring the faces of loved ones – newborns and grandparents, kids and characters, weddings and birthdays and Grand Gatherings of every sort.

Few guests who aren’t staying at this property make the trip to the “Keys” to eat here, so walk-ins are typically seated quickly.  Happily, at a time of increasingly homogeneous offerings at many of the other Walt Disney World restaurants, Olivia’s menu has retained some of its original Conch Flats flair.  Many dishes feature a dash of the Caribbean: tropical fruits, jerk spice, conch and shrimp, mojito marinade, beans and rice.   A number of the more interesting menu items have come and gone through the years, only to return, perhaps in response to guests’ complaints.  The conch fritters are back and perhaps we will see a return of the coconut shrimp.

Diners can choose to eat indoors or at one of the tables outside on the shady patio.  And the restaurant’s namesake still smiles from the top of the menu!

Review: I have always been particularly fond of the Po Boy which was off the menu for several years, so I was delighted to see it had returned when I was last there.  It’s a shrimp version and doesn’t have the wonderful french bread that the purist would demand, but the shrimp are always cooked perfectly – a simple and satisfying sandwich.  During the period when it wasn’t offered, the chef was always willing to make it especially for me, which may account, in part, for my very positive review!  While many returning Walt Disney World guests have started a tradition of a first or last meal at a character dining venue, my family and I will often make the trip to Olivia’s at the beginning of our vacation.  Somehow, the cheerful ambiance and friendly smiles seem infused with that special “Disney feeling” we love so much.

Menus

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Dessert

Olivia’s Café

Disney’s Old Key West Resort

Breakfast 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Lunch 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Dinner 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Fabulous Art Deco design details both inside and out make Hollywood & Vine a visual delight.  Both breakfast and lunch feature the Play ‘n Dine program with Playhouse Disney friends.

Along with the Hollywood Brown Derby and Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano, dinner here can also be booked as part of the Fantasmic! Dining Package which includes a voucher for a designated seating area at the show.

What it is: a fun and boisterous stop for the under-five set.  Meet, dance, and sing with Handy Manny and Little Einsteins Leo and June.  There’s lots of great character interaction and the children are invited to jump up and join in; often!  Be sure to attend with an appropriately-aged companion.  As I sat waiting for my table to be called, there were dozens of conversations swirling around me, and it was clear that not a single person had a clue as to who these characters were!  Little children are definitely the “stars” who dine at Hollywood & Vine.

What it isn’t: a top choice for adults and older kids.  Because of the target age group, during breakfast and lunch this restaurant has a much higher percentage of very small children than most other dining venues; very small, very excited children.  It is understandably noisy and hectic and the buffet is sub-par; few choices and poor food quality.  Depending upon the time of year, the adult meal can cost more than $30.00; very pricey for mediocre food and a frantic atmosphere if you are not on a Disney Dining Plan.

Hollywood & Vine

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

8:00 a.m. to park closing

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

No characters appear at dinner; Play ‘n Dine is breakfast and lunch only

Walt Disney World has added another symphony of tastes to its repertoire of unique fine-dining experiences with the Chef’s Tasting Wine Dinner at the Flying Fish Café.

Many “Chef’s Table” events typically take reservations for a certain number of diners who are treated as a group to some special one-on-one time with the Chef in a private room or secluded area of the restaurant.  Others, such as the Chef’s Table at Victoria and Albert at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, accept one reservation for a single party on a given night.  The Chef’s Tasting Wine Dinner combines both approaches – the meal can be reserved at various times for individual parties of up to six guests and takes place at the counter of Disney’s wonderful Flying Fish Café.  Think of it as a “menu with benefits.”

It’s an indulgent and delicious meal of five courses, offering lots of opportunity to chat with chefs and sommeliers during the meal.  Each course and the accompanying wine are presented with an in-depth discussion of ingredients and preparation and diners can request changes to the prix-fixe menu to accommodate preferences and special dietary requirements.

Review: Not understanding that this was not a “group” event, I was a bit dismayed to be kept waiting for nearly a half-hour after my arrival at the Flying Fish Café.  I began to wonder if I was the only one who had made a reservation and thinking that perhaps it would be cancelled.  In fact, I WAS the only one, but it quickly became apparent that this is the format for the Dinner.  I was seated next to a couple of other guests who had enjoyed an earlier reservation time for the Chef’s Tasting and who ended up remaining throughout my meal, as well, sharing their Disney dining experiences and making my evening that much more special.

Diners have the opportunity for a photograph with the Chef before sitting down at the long bar which faces the open kitchen of this restaurant.  The sumptuous meal featured a variety of beautifully prepared and presented dishes paired with well-chosen wines.  When the sommelier learned that I preferred red wine, he immediately substituted reds for some of the white wines on the menu.  The menus are custom-printed and very much of-the-moment; mine actually varied slightly from the one enjoyed earlier that same evening by the guests sitting next to me.

While I enjoyed everything, the most memorable component of the meal was actually the smallest.  I was treated to my first taste of the little fruit known as finger lime.  When squeezed, the pulp pops out in the shape of tiny balls that look very much like caviar; hence its nickname, the caviar of citrus.  It added unmistakable zest to the first course of miso-cured yellowfin tuna and Jonah crab roulade, and an example of the cut fruit was brought to the table so we could learn more about it.  It’s one of the special pleasures of this type of dining – the opportunity to try something completely new!

The constant visits from chef and sommelier make participants feel quite special.  Towards the end of my meal, a server came over to share a story with me.  The party she had been serving in another part of the room spent their entire evening speculating about the stream of visitors joining me from the kitchen, finally deciding I must be a food critic.  They were surprised to learn that they could enjoy the same attention by reserving the Chef’s Tasting Wine Dinner.

The best part of all?  In keeping with the Café’s focus on seasonal specialties, the menu is constantly changing, allowing guests to experience this wonderful food adventure again and again!  I admit it; I’m hooked!

Chef’s Wine Tasting Dinner at the Flying Fish Café

Disney’s Boardwalk

Sunday through Thursday

5:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.

Reservations must be made at least one day in advance; 48-hour cancellation policy

While many guests focus on restaurants in the parks, a number of the best dining venues, including all but one of the Signature Restaurants, are actually located in the resort hotels.  Along with the wonderful Kona Café in Disney’s Polynesian Resort, the Grand Floridian Café offers quality that’s several notches above that of most other “one-table-service-point” venues.

A wall of Palladian windows floods the room with light during the day with views of the gardens and pool.  In keeping with the Victorian theme, there are the requisite florals and intricate woodwork that are found throughout the resort.

Overlooked by most visitors, it’s not unusual to be seated as a walk-in. Its close proximity to the Magic Kingdom makes it a great choice for those who are unable to obtain a reservation in the park or prefer a more serene and relaxed dining experience.

Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the Grand Floridian Café features dishes that range from traditional favorites to more contemporary creations, presented with an upscale flair.

The atmosphere is inviting, with pleasant, knowledgeable service and consistently excellent food.  It’s not fine dining, but it’s some of the best moderately-priced table-service fare to be found at Walt Disney World.

Review: The wonderful thing about Walt Disney World is that there is, indeed, something for everyone.   From chicken nuggets to fois gras, vegan to kosher; the dining staff makes every effort to cater to food allergies, religious and cultural requirements, and the preferences of all age groups.

Since up-to-date knowledge about all facets of Disney vacations is a requirement of my job (yes, yes, it’s challenging but it must be done!), I try to squeeze as many dining experiences as possible into each visit.  Some I enjoy more than others.

During a recent one-night stay before a cruise on Disney Wonder, I decided to get breakfast since I knew I would have a long day ahead.  Normally a tea-and-toast type, I opted to run over to the Wave at Disney’s Contemporary Resort since it was the closest to Disney’s Bay Lake Tower where I was staying.  While I’ve had other meals here, this was the first (and last) time for breakfast.

No, this is not a review of the Wave – be patient; I’m making a point here!  The Wave’s menu, which promises “American Flavors,”  leans toward food with a light touch; even the heartier proteins are typically paired with more health-conscious substitutes for the traditional side dishes.  The breakfast offerings are heavy on whole grains and egg whites.

I would have been thrilled with a good Mickey waffle, but they were not to be had. Not wanting eggs, muesli, or multigrain pancakes, I decided on the Continental Breakfast which included juice, tea, and “assorted pastries.”  The “pastries” turned out to be a dish of granola with yogurt, some tasteless fruit, and a frightening multigrain muffin of indeterminate origin.  One look was enough – I paid the server and left – total dining time including seating and the wait for service, 7 minutes.  Might be your American Flavor; definitely not mine.

Unwilling to give up on breakfast, I made my way to the Grand Floridian Café.  No reservation?  No problem!  Sunshine, fresh flowers, and a real breakfast menu.  Dismayed by my earlier attempt, I decided to go with what I know and splurged on pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream.  A brief wait and the server returned with heaven on a plate.  Perfectly-cooked pancakes; light, fluffy, with strawberries tucked inside like a gift rather than tossed on top; a dusting of cinnamon-sugar and a big bowl of whipped cream. They were the best pancakes I have ever had. If there is truly something for everyone, then this is the something for me.

Menus

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Dessert

Grand Floridian Café

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa

Breakfast 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Lunch 11:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Dinner 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

A Disney Halloween isn’t only about pumpkins and parties.  It’s about spooky sightings and devilish details.  There are endless ways of capturing that “not so scary” spirit!  Here are just a few of our favorites.

It’s the time of year when fireworks wear their autumn colors,

Villains come out to play,

and all the cool guys are hanging around.

Some old friends just fit right in;

while others get all dressed up

to celebrate!

We look at the everyday details; architecture,

attractions,

and ambience;

with new eyes.

And discover that some of the most spooktacular subjects of all

are the classic favorites!

With rather extraordinary fanfare, Disney Parks made its latest announcement an hour ago.  I spent a puzzling half-hour on facebook with 10,000 other viewers, watching the live feed.  I have to assume many more were logged in through the Disney Parks Blog site since that was completely unavailable.

It was fascinating to read the comments coming in as the presentation made its ponderous way forward.  Obviously a group of true believers, even the most diehard members of the audience became discouraged as the show rolled on.   By the end of the broadcast, the comments were almost 100% negative; surprised, dismayed, and negative.  It wasn’t so much the content; it was the failure to deliver on the heels of so much hoopla.

Supporting the research which indicates the importance of vacation memories, the new “Let the Memories Begin” campaign will give guests the chance to share their own photos and videos and see them projected on the façade of Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World Resort, or It’s a Small World at Disneyland Resort.  There was a rehash of old news about the World of Color, new Disney Cruise Line ships, park expansions, Aulani.  Very nice; very anticlimactic; very disappointing to the vast majority who very clearly were expecting something a great deal more dramatic.

Despite the public’s love affair with the notion of sharing the mundane details of daily life with the world, there is obviously a different set of standards when it comes to corporate pronouncements.  Still an evolving concept, social media outlets are being embraced by business with mixed results, and this appears to have been a misstep.  While it may be acceptable for Disney to publish tidbits and trivia on its blog and fan page, it seems that using them to whip people into a frenzy of anticipation about a “big” announcement which turns out to be small after all, is not.  There was a lot of speculation regarding this “exciting news;” pretty much all of it far exceeding the somewhat ho-hum rollout of the new marketing campaign.  Can’t help but feel that there’s a lesson here for us all – go big or go home.

Photo by Vanessa Guzan

While it may not be exactly the change that many were hoping for, Walt Disney World’s Space Mountain has gone “Starry-O-Phonic” with the addition of a new audio feature.  All flights will now be enhanced by a specially-composed musical score and sound effects, playing from 60 speakers installed throughout the ride.

Because the system does not broadcast from onboard speakers, it doesn’t deliver the synchronized, immersive experience of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, but riders report that it does add to the atmosphere and fun of this great attraction.