Some of the changes this year include the addition of booths in the World Showcase that represent the Caribbean and Portugal.  A complete listing of the participants and menus, along with a schedule of the popular Eat to the Beat concerts, is included in the Festival Guidemap.  Fans of Party for the Senses will be happy to learn that cast members from Cirque du Soleil will once again add their special brand of fun and excitement to this popular event.

Also new for 2011 is the addition of Sweet Seats to the “3D” Disney’s Dessert Discovery, The Discovery of Chocolate series, the Cranberry Bog Display, Home Entertaining Seminars Hosted by HGTV, Mixology Seminars, Scent Demonstrations, Italy Food & Beer Pairings, Italy Dessert & Wine Pairings, Italian White Truffle Lunch, Mexico Tequila Lunch, The Magic of Healthy Living Dinner, and the Kitchen Memories seminars.

For your convenience, we’ve  put together a series of printable guides which highlight the program offerings for this year.  Those wishing to attend any of the special events and seminars can begin making reservations on August 16, 2011.

Premium Events and Experiences

Premium International Events

Special Festival Seminars and Experiences

Special Sweet Events

You can also get further details about past Festivals by reviewing earlier posts.  It’s a wonderful time to visit Walt Disney World ~ the weather is beautiful, the Magic Kingdom is festively dressed for Halloween, and there is so much to see and do and taste!

One of the most enjoyable experiences onboard a Disney Cruise Line vessel is certainly a visit to Palo, the wonderful specialty restaurant.  Exclusively for adult guests, this lovely venue serves Northern Italian dishes seasoned with flair and friendliness.  It’s an opportunity to dress up and spend several hours lingering over a great meal.

Featuring spectacular ocean views from Deck 10, aft on both Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, this location was originally slated for the children’s areas until the designers realized that the magnificent vistas would be wasted on most kids!  Those traveling on Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy will find the same great dining on Deck 12, aft.

The serene atmosphere is enhanced by Italian arias singing softly in the background and the sparkle of Venetian glass and masks from the Carnevale.  But the Palo experience is about the food and the service.  The attentive and knowledgeable servers manage to be dignified and gracious, as befits the more formal surroundings, while maintaining the warmth and friendliness we have come to expect from Disney cast members.  It’s a charming combination that provides the perfect showcase for Palo’s elegant, yet approachable, menu.

Review: For me, Palo is always one of the highlights of a Disney Cruise and I had the opportunity to book the three different seatings during my most recent voyage: dinner, brunch, and tea.

In fact, because this was a long transatlantic voyage with a smaller number of passengers onboard, I was able to enjoy dinner on several evenings!  I have never had more personalized and exceptional service than I experienced during this trip, thanks to the outstanding Mirko, whose professionalism and kindness made every meal memorable.  I can only hope that our readers will be fortunate enough to be seated at one of Mirko’s tables when they cruise on Disney Magic.

Those who appreciate a fine dining experience and enjoy the upscale ingredients and magnificent presentation might agree that the portion sizes sometimes leave us wishing for a bit more.  Palo always seems to get it just right – beautiful food beautifully presented with enough on the plate to make everyone happy!

There has been discussion about a certain lack of seasoning in some of the dishes and I think it’s a valid point – my penne arrabbiata, for example, while delicious, did not have the expected spicy punch the name implies.  However, experienced Disney diners have come to understand that the company is acutely aware of its demographic and preparations tend to reflect the preferences of this target audience, often at the cost of authenticity.

Dinner is a consistent favorite but I was also pleasantly surprised by Brunch.  After being settled at their table, guests are invited to join the server for a visit to the buffet where dozens of menu items are explained in detail.  They are escorted past an extraordinary selection of food laid out on trays and platters; then, an additional array of “entrée” items are displayed which are prepared to order.  The Brunch reservation is a bit harder to come by since it’s not offered on all cruise days.

Tea was another matter entirely.  A little background:

Tea was introduced to western civilization hundreds of years ago and enjoying the beverage with a light repast, sometime between the midday meal and the evening meal, became the fashion.  This “afternoon tea” reflects the custom we know today – tea served in elegant china with charming accoutrements and small sandwiches and sweets.

“High tea” is a term used for many years in the U.K.  It is a workingman’s supper; a rustic and hearty evening meal which generally features bread and butter and leftover meats from the main meal of the day which is served at lunchtime to fortify the hardworking men facing a long afternoon of labor.  In some households, high tea constituted the main meal similar to our “dinner” but is most often synonymous with the meal taken after the heaviest meal of the day.  It is referred to as “high” tea because it is eaten at the high table or dining table rather than the low tea tables where afternoon tea is typically laid out.  High Tea is the antithesis of the dainty, fussy little tidbits and delicate tableware that define Afternoon Tea.  At some point, Americans decided that the term “high” must mean refined and they consistently misuse it in this context.

While the average person might be forgiven for getting the terms confused, it’s a bit harder to overlook the error when it’s made by those in the food-service industry who should be better educated about the terminology of their profession.

Interestingly, the “high tea” served at Palo wasn’t far off the mark; clunky, chipped teapots and cups, clumsy sandwiches tossed on a plate, and rushed, perfunctory service; a less-than-stellar effort from a venue which otherwise delivers.  In fact, I never actually got to sample the meal on offer because my teapot had a crack in it which caused tea to leak all over the table onto the floor and I was unable to get the attention of the woman serving the guests in my area.  After a half-dozen attempts, I left the restaurant; she never even noticed my departure. While the restaurant manager could not have been more gracious in his efforts to make it right, it was an unacceptable experience.

I was also interested to see the tea selections listed on the menu.  It’s always surprising that restaurants make such a point to be accurate in their descriptions of so many other items – wines, proteins, even olive oils; but pay so little attention to tea.  Palo’s tea offerings, which featured a mix of teas and tisanes, included an English Breakfast blend, a Darjeeling, and, amazingly, an “orange pekoe.”  Orange pekoe is not a specific tea flavor, region, or blend, it’s a grading category.  The term is used for designating a whole-leaf tea as opposed to a broken-leaf grade.  I looked at a couple of teas before choosing and I would guess that all of the teas available are actually orange pekoe.  I know I’m making a fuss about details that most patrons would find unimportant, but if a restaurant is going to position itself as a knowledgeable purveyor, then it needs to get things right.  Calling one tea jasmine and another orange pekoe is somewhat like listing coffees as “Kona,” “Arabica,” and “medium grind.”

Palo’s management team should seriously consider discontinuing their tea service until they can bring it up to the standard of dinner and brunch.  As it currently stands, it’s an embarrassment.

I would strongly recommend that cruisers make reservations at the earliest opportunity for both dinner and brunch, if available, and pass on “high tea!”

Depending upon the guest’s stateroom category and Castaway Club status, reservations can be made from 75 to 120 days in advance.  There are also some additional openings that can be booked onboard although those wishing to secure one of these reservations should go immediately to the designated area as soon as they embark.

Patrons must be 18 or older and the dress code requires dress pants and shirt or jacket for men and a dress or pantsuit for women.

Currently, there is an additional charge of $20.00 for both dinner and brunch on all ships.  Tea seems to have an upcharge of $10.00 on Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, and $15.00 on Disney Dream, but these prices do change often and the actual cost appears to be dependent upon which Disney website you’re looking at.

Questions about gratuities at Palo arise often since only a small percentage of the upcharge goes into a pool that is split amongst the servers.  The majority of the extra fee is applied to food costs. While gratuities are added to any beverage charges, the total of a few dollars seems disproportionate to services rendered.  There is an enormous range of opinion on the subject of tipping so I can only offer my personal take on the topic:  if I were having this caliber of meal at any other restaurant, it would be well over $100 per person, and I tip accordingly, generally $20 to $30 per person for dinner, leaving cash with the receipt so that I know it will go directly to the individual who has provided such wonderful service.

Located at the beautiful Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort, Roaring Fork is definitely one of the better quick-service stops.  Diners will find the usual selection of burgers and pizza as well as the familiar children’s menu items.

But Roaring Fork also offers some delicious choices which are unique to this venue.  For a welcome change from the typical fast-food fare, try the Territory or Wilderness Salad or the Ham and Tillamook Cheddar Sandwich.  There’s a nice bakery section featuring the popular magic cookie bars, and little individual chocolate bundt cakes.  Breakfast items range from a hearty Bounty Platter to Create-Your-Own Yogurt Parfaits and assorted pastries.

There is a seating area inside, or guests can choose to dine under an umbrella at one of the tables outside with pleasant views of the courtyard. Roaring Fork is also convenient to the main pool area and has seasonal hours that generally run from about 7:00 a.m. to midnight.

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.

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

Guests visiting Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort can take advantage of an early holiday gift this year in the form of special dining discounts at selected locations during specified hours.

Coupons are valid before noon or between 3:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.   Click on these links to print your coupon for Walt Disney World or Disneyland, or look for them in the Times Guide at Walt Disney World, the Holiday Entertainment Guide at Disneyland, and at the bottom of selected receipts at both locations.

At Walt Disney World, enjoy a 30% discount at these favorite Quick-Service spots from December 19, 2010 to January 1, 2011:

Magic Kingdom Park

• Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe
• Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe
• Columbia Harbour House
• Pinocchio Village Haus
• Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant

Epcot

• Electric Umbrella
• Liberty Inn
• Sunshine Seasons

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• Backlot Express
• ABC Commissary
• Studio Catering Company

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

• Flame Tree Barbecue
• Pizzafari
• Restaurantosaurus
• Tamu Tamu Refreshments

If you’re planning a visit to Disneyland between December 19, 2010 and January 3, 2011, take advantage of the same savings at these popular venues:

Disneyland Park

• French Market Restaurant
• Hungry Bear Restaurant
• Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante
• Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port
• Tomorrowland Terrace

Disney California Adventure Park

• Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill
• Lucky Fortune Cookery
• Pacific Wharf Cafe
• Taste Pilots’ Grill
• Award Wieners

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.

Grab a seat for some of the most interesting quick-service fare to be found in EPCOT’s World Showcase.  Offering a more authentic “taste” of the country than many of the other pavilions, Morocco’s Tangierine Café serves up some traditional dishes at reasonable prices.

Couscous, lentil salad, falafel, hummus, and tabouleh are all found on the menu, along with various meats, wraps, and, of course, bahklava.

There is limited seating indoor seating as well as some lovely covered tables outside, where diners can sit and enjoy their shawarma with a side of atmosphere!