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GOOD EATS

Foods by Park (Part 3)

2/16/2023

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Epcot is the park to go to if you LOVE food!  Between all the food available in each country, the restaurants, and festival foods, there is just too much to do in one blog.  This blog will focus on great snacks to eat around the park that you can find most of the year. 

For anyone unfamiliar with Epcot, Epcot is broken up into two major parts:  Future World and the World Showcase.  Future World is where you'll find the majority of the rides, while the World Showcase has all the great country pavilions with tons of places to eat.

We rarely grab dining reservations when we are at Epcot.  Each country has so many great grab and go options that will easily fill you up from dawn till dusk.
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There are a few good things to eat if you are in Future World.  The Connections Cafe has is Epcot's Starbucks location and mostly has what you would expect to find at Starbucks.  But the Liege Waffle is a standout.  It's just a perfect little waffle.

You may also want to keep an eye out for Club Cool.  At Club Cool you can sample Coca Cola products from around the world.  It's definitely an interesting experience.  And no one likes the Beverly drink!  The soda from China is supposed to be a plum soda but really tastes like barbecue soda, yuck!!!  Most of the sodas are pleasant and interesting.  Since Club Cool is completely free, it's worth sampling.
There are some more snacking options in Future World and some of the festival food booths will sometimes be located there as well, but the good stuff is over at the World Showcase!  Everything around the lake will have something that sounds good.   Now unless your trip is in the odd weeks between festivals you should be able to enjoy one of them.
Mexico has some great eats and drinks!   The stalls here will have a variety of great Mexican flavors and frozen margaritas, but the real star for us is inside of the pyramid.
Once you go down the steps into the plaza on your right you will see La Cava del Tequila!  Seats are very limited but worth it if you want to enjoy some chips and Guac with your margaritas.  You can always get in line for the walk-up bar and take those drinks to go.

They easily have 30 different margaritas and they are all fabulous!  My favorite is the Maelstrom, a sweet and spicy mango habanero margarita.  You can also just order the tequila flight if your adventurous.
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Our next stop is Norway.  Here you can find the Kringla Bakeri with all of its sweet Norwegian baked goods.  I have to say that most of their pastries are not very sweet.  I have a bit of a sweet tooth and sometimes felt these pastries a little lacking in sweetness.

The School bread is a classic that is well loved, but I enjoyed the Norwegian Kringla.  It's a pretzel shaped pastry that is topped with chocolate or almonds.
Over in China you can find a wide variety of Chinese snacks and treats.  They have potato chip flavors you'd only find overseas as well as some tasty food.

If you are lucky the cotton candy artist will be there working his magic inside of the House of Good Fortune.  It may just be cotton candy, but they can make it look amazing.
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You can't go through Germany without stopping at Karamell-Küche!  You can smell the sweet smell of caramel as you approach.  Karamell-Küche is sponsored by Werther's so you know it's good!

There are caramel bars, caramel apples and candies.  We personally love the caramel corn.  They are making it fresh as you walk in, so the ooey gooeyness is right there.
SOOOO GOOD!  It's hard not to inhale the bag since you want to leave room for other food.

Of coarse you can always get a warm German pretzel OR instead grab the pretzel bread pudding.  
If you want a drink inside Weinkeller you can get a shot of Mozart chocolate liquer.  It's like a sweet  shot of chocolate milk!
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Italy is know for pasta, but here we are hoping for PIZZA.  Now I'm not going to stop at Via Napoli just for pizza but if Pizza al Taglio is open I'd definitely grab a slice.  The pizza here is very authentic Italian pizza.   I heard they fly in water from Italy to make the pizza dough!

Now these are festival food but the bombolinos are fantastic.  These little cream filled donuts are delightful.  They change them up for different festivals.  This years came with an espresso cream.
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The America pavilion doesn't have many favorites.  The Moonshine Sour is a great little cocktail from the walk-up window at Regal Eagle.  It's essentially a blackberry moonshine lemonade. Nice!

The funnel cake stand is also worth mentioning.  Their funnel cake is often covered with a variety of flavors,   Cheesecake crumbles and strawberry ice cream on top of funnel cake?  Yes, please!
Japan has a great shaved ice stand.  They can add sweetened condensed milk on top of your shaved ice making a unique combination of flavors.

You can always find some good combination of sushi and sake.  Angie likes to go up to Katsura Grill and order her violet sake.
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We don't often stop to eat in Morocco, I will on occasion grab some pistachio baklava at Oasis Sweets and Sips.
France has some hits and misses.  At L'Artisan des Glaces the ice cream is superb.  I don't know what magic combination makes the Ice Cream Martini good, but the combination Grand Marnier and chocolate  ice cream did NOT work for me.
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On the other hand the Croque Glacé is FANTASTIC!  A scoop of ice cream scooped into a fresh brioche bun and then put it in a hot press.  You get a warm yummy ice cream sandwich.  I don't know why, but it just works!

If you happen to be coming  in through Epcot's International Gateway in the back we like to stop at Les Halles Patisserie for breakfast.  The pastries here are top notch.  The Fraises is a flaky tart topped with strawberries and cream.  The Croque Monsieur is a wonderfully toasted ham and cheese sandwich coated in cheese.  And you can't go wrong with a Napoleon or croissant.
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In the U.K.  there's only one thing I can say:  Fish & Chips!  Grab these guys at Yorkshire County Fish Shop.  They are huge flaky pieces of battered fish with big thick cut french fries.

From here we'll head to our last stop around the world in Canada.
Canada has a few great options worth trying out.  First off is the maple popcorn, it's a sweet and slightly salty delight.

Poutine comes in a wide variety over at the Refreshment Port.  Traditional poutine is french fries covered in gravy and cheese curds.  Sounds gross, but it's a well loved dish.
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It gets tricky trying to cover all the variety of extra food that Epcot has available during their festivals.  There are usually many delicious sounding options and the menus change every year.

There were some fantastic options during this years International Festival of the Arts.  Up next I'll cover the many restaurant options in my next blog.

Hope you all found this list tasty.  We love helping our clients find the best of the best when visiting Walt Disney World.  Let us know if we can help you make that Disney vacation just a bit more magical.  When it's time to plan for Disney:

It's Mouse O'Clock!

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Food Park by Park (Part 2)

1/11/2023

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Usually the 2nd most popular park on our list is Hollywood Studios.  Popular for Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, Hollywood Studios has some great eats.

Sure there's tons of places that serve the staples of pizza and burgers, but as always I want more.  At least if I'm going to eat a burger I want it to be somewhere unique.   As long as we're paying premium prices for food I want a cool experience to go along with my meal.

Follow along through my deep dive of food in Hollywood Studios.
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Great snacks are hidden all over the park,  like the Cookie Nom Nom.  The gooey centered chocolate chip cookie from the Incredibles 2 can be found at the Neighborhood Bakery located behind Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway.

There's a whole street themed after the Incredibles which makes this little treat a great excuse to walk down and explore this dead-end street in Hollywood Studios.  You can also run across some Incredibles characters here on occasion.
Our favorite place to grab a quick bite in Hollywood Studios is Woody's Lunchbox located in Toy Story Land.  At breakfast they have these great breakfast bowls loaded with tots, eggs, sausage and gravy.  They always have their freshly made toaster pastries, these rotate through flavors such as Blueberry, Raspberry, Hot Cocoa, and Chocolate Hazelnut.

The Grown-Ups Lemonade is a great drink.  It's a black cherry lemonade with cherry vodka, a great way to the day. 🤣 😜
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At lunch/dinner there are these fantastic grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup.  The BBQ Brisket Melt is like a grilled cheese stuff with brisket.  So Good! 
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We're still waiting for the Toy Story BBQ restaurant location to open, but till then Woody's Lunchbox is the place to eat.
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Star Wars:  Galaxy's Edge has a great variety of snacks and eats to enjoy.  As a huge Star Wars geek I had to try it all.  So of course I had to sample to blue and green milk located at the Milk Stand.  These are definitely an acquired taste.  They aren't milk, they are a coconut and rice milk icee with different flavors.  Blue being fruit and green being citrus and floral.

I think the blue milk is just OK but there is nothing that will make me want to drink the green milk again.  You can also have them spiked with alcohol, but no amount of tequila will make the green milk palatable.  But as a Star Wars lover I couldn't pass up the chance to try these.
The soda bottles around Galaxy's Edge are a great little keepsake with their unique shape, labels, and lid.  There is no longer and issue trying to get these home through the airport. 😆

At Kat Saka's Kettle you can find their specialty popcorn.  This red and purple popcorn is a mix of sweet and spicy flavors.  I couldn't stop eating them.  Kat Saka's is located over in the market area near my next stop Ronto's Roasters.

Ronto's Roasters is know for their Ronto Wraps: a yummy grilled sausage wrapped in a pita with a peppercorn sauce.  In the morning it's paired with an egg patty while in the afternoon it has some slaw on top instead.
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Our last stop at Galaxy's Edge is Docking Bay 7.  This quick service location has some unique looking foods from across the universe, but really they aren't from another galaxy.  Most of the food here is actually really good.

The surprise star here was the vegetarian option, the Felucian Kefta.  These plant-based Mediterranean spiced meatballs come with hummus and pita.  This quickly became our favorite Star Wars dish.

Other dishes like the Fried Tip Yip are actually just a crispy chicken  shaped log served with mac and cheese.  Still tasty, even with it's odd look, but it'll definitely please the kids.
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Heading back to our own galaxy there are still plenty of quick service places to eat.  Catalina Eddie's has sandwiches and salads.  The ABC Commissary is alright, Pizza Rizzo is okay for a quick slice, but my choice would be the Backlot Express.

The have a great BBQ Pulled-Pork Burger that sounds as good as it's called.  There's a solid Cuban sandwich on the menu.  And of coarse to indulge my sweet tooth I had to try the Wookie Cookie.  This HUGE oatmeal cookie sandwich has a vanilla icing center with a chocolate Chewbacca bandolier.

Reservations Required

For your sit down reservation locations Hollywood Studios has 6 locations that you can reserve ahead of time.  Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano has some fine Italian cuisine and the Brown Derby has that classic style of eating surrounded by art of Hollywood's finest celebrities, but neither are my top choices even their food is good. 
If you are looking for a character meal then you will need to checkout Hollywood and Vine.  The food is served buffet style and has plenty of options for the picky eaters but really you are there to meet the characters.

At breakfast you can run across Disney Junior characters like Fancy Nancy, Vamparina, and Roadster Racer Goofy.

At lunch/dinner you meet with Minnie Mouse and her friends in their seasonal outfits.  Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Daisy can be seen roaming around in outfits fitting the season.  Daisy had her cute spidery Halloween dress for this last visit.
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The Sci-Fi Dine-In is a new experience for anyone who has never been to real drive-in movie theater.  The booths are styled like cars from the 1960's in this dark interior theater.  You get to enjoy classic Patty Melts, Burgers, and Malted Milk Shakes while watching snippets from cheezy Science Fiction films.  The ambiance is the real star here.
The 50's Prime Time Cafe is another slice of classic Americana.  The tables are kitchen counters in your Aunt's house.  The waitresses go around making sure you've "eaten your vegetables" and will give you a sticker if you "clean your plate."

The food is classic American comfort food:  Fried Chicken, Pot Roast, Meatloaf, etc...  All while enjoying classic scenes from I Love Lucy and the Honeymooners on the tiny black and white TV on your counter.  They call it comfort food for a reason and it sure is tasty.
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Your last reservation spot isn't really for food.  Over at galaxy's Edge you can enjoy some fantastic cocktails over at Oga's Cantina.  There are a couple of snack foods on the menu, but I'd rather enjoy their drinks.

Enjoy listening to their droid DJ R3X spin some tunes while enjoying a Fuzzy Taun Taun.  It's served with a foam on top that numbs your mouth.  There are also non-alcoholic drinks so the little ones don't feel left out.

The Star Wars atmosphere is just fun and the cast members who work there really get into the spirit of Star Wars.  We've always had a good time at Oga's.
Guests need not worry about finding something to eat while wandering Disney's theme parks.  But it's good to know where the yummy food can be found.  Or at least where you can have a memorable dining experience.

Follow along with our series for more food tips Park by Park.
When it's time to plan for Disney it's

Mouse O'Clock!

I leave you with a picture of the Wookie Cookie.  Big enough to share for sure!
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Food Park by Park (Part 1)

12/29/2022

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Disney World is the perfect place to indulge!  When visiting the parks there are so many food options that it can be hard to know where the good food is.  Many park-goers settle for eating burgers and pizza, but I tell you there are so many better options out there.

This the first of a 4 part series talking about the different food at each park.  So we have to start off with Magic Kingdom.  There are so many better options than eating at Cosmic Rays or the Lunching Pad.
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There really aren't any bad options in Disney, but I like to eat more than just your basic theme park food.
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Snacks!

Don't get me wrong, buying a popcorn bucket is great way to snack around the park.  If your family loves popcorn then it is a great investment for the refills.  We do enjoy our mini corndogs and mickey-shaped pretzels with the cheese dip.  But I want more!
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Magic Kingdom is my favorite park for snacks and treats.  Rather than stop for a sit down meal, there are many great places to grab a quick bite.
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Sleepy Hollow is the best place for your fried foods! Every item is fried up fresh when you order it.  In the mornings they have their Fresh Fruit and Nutella Waffles and full-sized Mickey Waffles.  Don't forget the funnel cakes.

The rest of the day you can find hand-dipped corn dogs and my favorite lunch item:  The sweet and spicy chicken and waffle sandwich.  Sleepy Hollow also freshly fries their own potato chips.  These will always beat out grabbing a burger or pizza.
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Nearby you can also find the iconic Turkey Leg, which has always been a skip for my family.
Of course we have to bring up Dole Whip.  Found at Aloha Isle in Adventureland, the Pineapple soft-serve is a classic.  Angie loves the original, but I prefer the Coconut Dole Whip whenever it is available.

You can get the soft-serve by itself, swirled, or as a float, usually in pineapple juice.  Flavors rotate every so often so keep an eye out for what new delights are available.

That coconut dole whip in pineapple juice is just, <} chef's kiss!
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Many of the bakeries are loaded up with specialty cupcakes.  They are very pretty and great for pictures but it's just a cupcake.  Buttercream frosting on a cupcake can only go so far to impress me.

Most of the rice krispy treats aren't very good, even when dipped in chocolate.  There are a few more treats I'd rather enjoy than spend my money on these. 
Instead I'd head over to the Cheshire Cat Cafe and grab a few of these.  The Cheshire Cat Tails are flakey chocolate croissant-like twists with a light drizzle of pink and purple.  They are pretty tasty and an overall better pastry.

Look for these near the Tea Cup rides in Fantasyland.
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Gaston's Tavern has a couple of staples.  A few of the treats rotate in and out but these two are always on the menu.  The LeFou's Brew is a Frozen Apple Juice with a hint of Toasted Marshmallow and topped with All-Natural Passion Fruit-Mango Foam, which is really refreshing when it's hot out.

The enormous Cinnamon Roll isn't my favorite but is definitely a crowd pleaser..  We always ask for extra frosting, which they give you in a little cup.  I recommend saving that frosting for the bottom half as it tends to get a bit dry toward the bottom.
The Spring Roll cart has some unique snacks.  The springs rolls are loaded with unconventional fillings such as Pepperoni Pizza or Cheeseburger.  Sometimes there will be new flavors added in like Philly Cheesesteak or Pastrami.  Each comes with a dipping sauce, like marinara.

​The Spring Roll cart is only open on weekends and can be found near the bridge to Adventureland.
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Sit Down Options

There are a lot of fans of Pecos Bill or Pinocchio Village Haus, but I've never been too impressed with their menus.  If you head to Tomorrowland you can also find the Lunching Pad and Cosmic Rays but these are also lackluster.

Now if you are looking for some of the nicer signature dining experiences in Disney you'll need to make a reservation.
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The two BIG reservations that many fans are looking for is Cinderella's Royal Table and Be Our Guest.  Honestly the food in both locations is good, but I wouldn't call them amazing. 

You are mostly there for the experience of eating in the Beast's Castle or meeting some princesses over at Cinderella's.  They are very pretty, but the food isn't the focus.
The Crystal Palace is a buffet style restaurant that features Winnie the Pooh and his friends.  The food is better than most buffets at breakfast and lunch/dinner.  If I'm looking for a character meal with better food options, this would be my pick.

​Plus you get Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore coming around for pictures.
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Tony's Town Square Restaurant is pretty standard Italian food.  Pizza and Pasta with garlic bread.  I know they've updated the menu since I've last been there, but we were pretty underwhelmed.

I'm willing to give this place another shot since the update, but i'm hoping for more than the Olive Garden with Lady and the Tramp vibes.
Last on our list is Skipper's Canteen.  The food wasn't bad here.  Maybe we didn't pick the best options on the menu but I was picking up P.F. Chang impressions.  This is another restaurant that I'll try again at some point.  The atmosphere and hokey dad jokes from the cast members really make me want to give this one another shot.

Because we go to Magic Kingdom often enough, we usually just eat on the go and enjoy our snacks.  But sometimes you just want a nice sit-down meal.  Enjoy your food and some air conditioning while giving your feet a rest.
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Magic Kingdom is always a must for any Disney going family!  These snacks should be enough to peak the interest of any would-be Disney foodie.

Of course the are always new specialty or limited-time offerings that are fantastic, but you can't always count on those being available on your trip.  So I tried to cover the items that are always available.

Not every item served at Disney is FANTASTIC, but there are some sure winners here.  Keep following us for more food tips in the next blog installments.

When it's time to plan for Disney it's:

Mouse O'Clock

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A Tour of Starcruiser Food in 12 parsecs

5/12/2022

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Part 2 of my blog series about the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser!  Today we will talk about a lot of the food and drink you can experience aboard the Halcyon.  Now, I didn't get to try everything on the ship, there just wasn't enough time and space in my stomach.

Most of the food onboard is food you will probably be familiar with, just presented in an unconventional manner so it looks like it came from a whole other galaxy.  Overall they were pretty successful with all the food!
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You can get 6 full meals aboard the Halcyon.  Lunch and Dinner on your arrival day, Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner on your 2nd day, and Breakfast on your departure day.  ALL FOOD on the ship is included with the cost of your voyage.  Sadly, it doesn't cover alcoholic drinks.

You are even given a food voucher on your band to receive Lunch and a beverage at Docking Bay 7 in Batuu during your excursion.  This drink can be alcoholic, so feel free to indulge that free drink at Docking Bay 7.
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Beyond your standard meals you can also get food over at the Sublight Lounge, the ship's bar area.  There is even a snack stand in the Atrium loaded with a variety of snacks like spicy popcorn, fruit, and cookies.
All of your meals will be eaten in the Crown of Corellia Dining Room which has ample seating.  Breakfast and Lunch are done in a cafeteria style with free seating.  You go into the kitchen with a tray, select your meal items and drink before finding a table.  We never had an issue finding ourselves a table, though sometimes I did have to ask the staff for some silverware.
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The trays were segmented allowing you to grab 3 big plates at a time, or using a big plate slot for two smaller plates.  I really liked the idea because it helped keep me from dropping anything on the way to my table. In order to try everything, I did have to make multiple trips back to the kitchen.
Most of the food looks odd, but you'll recognize the flavors.  The waffle looking bread is actually a grilled cheese with tomato soup.  The little green bread is actually a sunbutter and jelly sandwhich pod.  The majority of lunch is comprised of refreshing salads, small sandwiches, flatbreads, and soups.  There are also some small desserts.  The cafeteria has a soda machine as well as blue and green milk on tap.  I'm neither a blue or green milk person but I was told by the staff that it was less slushy and more milky than what is served on Batuu.
Some of the lunch items were really tasty.  The unique presentation of the grilled cheese had really good flavor.  Some of the other items weren't bad, but not in my usual flavor profiles I enjoy.  There was flatbread that tasted like chicken tikka masala that Angie enjoyed, but wasn't for me.
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We took many a trips to the Sublight Lounge for cocktails and meeting up with mission contacts.  I even played a few hands of Sabacc on the Holo-Table.
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The Sublight Lounge is a full service bar, though I'm not sure if they serve droids in there.  We sampled almost every drink available on the menu and we really enjoyed most of them.  If you can't find a drink you like on the menu you can always just ask for what you usually like to drink at home.
Martinis and Gimlets were pretty solid.  A few of the drinks come in collectible glasses, though that of course comes with the price for the glass.  I was told by some of the crew that the food in the Sublight Lounge was the best, but never had a chance to try it myself.  There was a very theatrical smoked cheese platter that sounded fantastic, but was I always either full from the previous meal or busy running missions.
Breakfast was more or less what you would expect at a breakfast buffet.  Assortments of eggs, breakfast pizzas, pastries, and fruit.  There was also a selection of juices out for you to enjoy including Disney's pog juice.

Classic waffles with the Chandrilla Cruise logo on them paired with some sausages is a good way to start the day.  More odd little presentations, but otherwise it's breakfast as usual.
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I enjoyed the waffle pressed crispy potatoes and the bacon weave.  I will warn you if an item is blue it will have some taste of the blue milk.  I really did not enjoy the blue butter or blue breakfast yogurt parfait.  Though I was pleasantly surprised by the subtle caramel notes in the syrup.
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Dinner is by far the most theatrical of meals aboard the Starcruiser.  There are two dinner times and you will be assigned either the early or late dinner before your voyage.  Servers will take you to an assigned table because dinner is a full house.

Our first dinner started off strong with these colorful Bao style buns.  Each one had a different filling, but they were all good!  We also had an assortment of sauces to try them with and along with a vegetable noodle salad.

These were shortly followed by some amazing beef tenderloin on mashed potatoes and four more side items.  The tenderloin was very tender and so very flavorful.
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We had some shrimp, bourbon chicken, fluffy green rice, and spiced vegetables to pair with the beef.  We were not disappointed in this meal.

Dinner also comes with a performance by the  Twi'lek performer Gaya.  Depending on your seating you may get one heck of a performance!
Don't worry if your kids are picky eaters.  There is also a kids menu with plenty of safe options.
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For our second night we payed to be seated at the Captain's Table.  For $35 a person you will share the table at the center of the Dining Room.  This gets you a phenomenal view of the events for the evening as well as some brief interactions with the Captain.  She is very busy so doesn't stick around for very long.

Along with prime seating the Captain's Table comes with 2 extra courses and an extra entree for your dinner.  We got to have some extra character interactions and attention because of our seating.  Lt. Croy engaged us and the Captain in some lively conversation.  ​We also got to keep this heavy metal coaster from the Captain's Table.
There was a unique little compressed wash cloth, that expanded when wet, for us to clean our hands before dinner.  Traveling the galaxy can be such dirty business.
Our extra courses were a Galactic Garden bite, which was a vegetable combination on a cracker, and the Tri-Color Redfruit Shooter.  The Shooter was literally a test tube shot of chilled tomato flavors.  Like a Gazpacho shot...

The Mustafarian Spreads and Breads were my favorite course of the night.  It was a delightful Pimento Cheese spread served with breads and crackers.   I cleaned that little bowl of cheese.

Of course I had to try the blue shrimp!  It was kind of like shrimp cocktail served on a seaweed bed.  The flavors all worked well together.
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The main coarse was a trio of entrees.  It would have been two but the Captain's Table comes with the addition of Poached Lobster.  Everyone did get the Short rib and Whitefish.  These were amazing, but the Lobster did kind of fall short for Angie's discerning palate. LOL Finishing off the meal was a lovely Chandrilla chocolate cake that looked as good as it tasted. We also had some macaron cookies in addition to the cake.
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I nearly forgot about the dessert party that happened at the end of our last night.  It had a variety of cute sweet treats as well as some flavored popcorns.

I have a sweet tooth, so I enjoyed pretty much all the little treats here.  There were some cookies, bon bons, sorbets, and more sweets that I can hardly remember them all.
Of course no trip would be complete without discussing our Excursion to Batuu.  We had our reservation for Oga's Cantina that I would not miss!  We also used our meal credit over at Docking Bay 7.  I actually really like the food at Docking Bay 7.  My top pick is the Hummus Garden Spread and I'm not even a vegetarian.
There really wasn't anything bad to eat on this whole voyage.  Clearly I can't say I liked everything, because not every food was seasoned to my taste but we are here for the experience.  The food is a large part of that experience so I had to try all the weird food from all over the galaxy.

I miss my trip around the Galaxy, but we are already talking about when we can go again.  We'll bring the children for this next voyage so they can experience it all with us.  This is just such an amazing experience for any big Star Wars fan.

Stay tuned for my next blog about our fantastic voyage aboard the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser.
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When it's time to plan for Disney:  It's Mouse O'Clock!

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Steakhouse 71

1/19/2022

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We've been to Steakhouse 71 at Disney's Contemporary twice now.  Angie went with her friend for cocktails and a light snack and We went there for dinner as a family on our last visit.  So, I had high expectations from a Steakhouse in a deluxe resort.

From other reviews I have heard that their breakfast menu and burgers are a good choice, but I can't go to a steakhouse without having some STEAK!  But sadly, we have a kind of mixed review.  Follow along and I'll give you the good and bad of Steakhouse 71.
Steakhouse 71 is a pretty relaxed family-friendly steakhouse with a 1970's re-imagined style.  The food is an updated version of some of Walt Disney's favorites.  It was definitely a pleasant atmosphere.  Angie's first visit was to Steakhouse 71's Lounge.  And she was very happy with her experience.
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The ladies had an amazing experience at the Lounge.  The bartenders were friendly and helpful, offering to customize their drinks and give them something different if they weren't enjoying it.  They were funny and very attentive.

Angie raves about the Peanut Butter and Jelly wings.  They come in a sweet peanut glaze akin to a Thai peanut sauce with a hint of jelly flavoring.  They sound odd, but were really yummy.  The girls had a great time overall at the lounge.
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Definitely had some good  cocktail options.  The bartenders know how to make a good drink.
Sadly I wasn't as impressed with our dinner experience as Angie was with the lounge.  The food wasn't bad.  The steak was well seasoned and cooked to my specifications.  The chimichurri sauce I picked to go along with my steak was really good.  But generally the food was nothing spectacular for the price tag.

Niko enjoyed his French Onion Soup and Angie's Pork Bone-In Rib Chop was honestly better than my steak in a head to head competition.   The Potato Brioche appetizer was just dry and disappointing.  Generally food was good, but not worth the added cost of eating at Disney.
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I really wanted to enjoy this place.  I'm willing to try Steakhouse 71 again but for breakfast or lunch.  There are many better options for dinner.
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Not every restaurant is a winner.  But we pride ourselves on giving our clients our honest feedback on our experiences.  So if you're looking for a good drink Steakhouse 71 has a great lounge, but I wouldn't stick around for a full dinner.  We follow the Disney FoodBlog and the Stackhouse Burger on the lunch menu comes highly recommended.  We'll have to try that one on another trip.

We always welcome to give you our restaurant recommendations!  Let us know what you're looking for and we have a good idea of what direction to point you in!

When It's Time to Plan for Disney:  It's Mouse O'Clock!

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Harmonious from Spice Road Table

11/10/2021

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Epcot recently debuted their new fireworks show Harmonious.  People always wonder what the best place is to watch the fireworks  and with Epcot there are a lot of different vantage points to watch from.  Since the show is centered on the lake, you can really watch the show from almost anywhere.  While we enjoy a good fireworks display, we really prefer to have a good seat and some good food to go with it.

Disney has brought back the Dining Fireworks packages at select locations, so we HAD to try out Spice Road Table in Morocco.  We love Mediterranean food, so this just seemed like a perfect match. 
Fireworks packages have to be booked in advance and space is limited.  So make sure to get these booked well in advance.  You get prime seating and some great food for $72 per adult and $31 per child.

Harmonious wasn't scheduled to begin till 10pm that night but we were checked in and seated at Spice Road before 9pm.  The menu is pretty straightforward.  You each get two small plates, drinks, and a platter of desserts.
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There are no kids menu options here, but that never stops my kids from trying out new foods.  We tried the Lamb Kefta, Spicy Chicken, Spicy Shrimp, and the Naan Spreads.
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We thoroughly cleaned each one of these plates.  The food was really good.  Flavorful and delicious!  The only complaint was that the shrimp was spicier than my daughter liked.  If you enjoy the Mediterranean flavor palette then this is a good choice for you. 

While the kids had their sodas Angie and I enjoyed some mimosas.  I am not usually a champagne drinker, but I don't drink wine or beer so I enjoyed a Blood Orange Mimosa.  Angie enjoyed the waiters recommendation of the Hibiscus Mimosa.  The drinks are included with the fireworks package, so our waited continued to bring out fresh mimosas throughout the experience.
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Our seating was in a roped-off area right next to the water.  We had a prime view of the lake and watched the new light displays on Space Ship Earth.  
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We honestly had one of the best tables at Spice Road for watching Harmonious.  The music was piped into the location so we got to experience it all from our table.  We finally got to see what that big ring is for in the middle of the lake.
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The kids were so entrance by the fireworks show they didn't even notice when the dessert plates were placed on the table.  The Baklava was the obvious star of this plate. The Marzipan cookie was pretty tasty.  I was most surprised by the Karydopita.  This little spiced walnut cake was SO moist.  YUM!

The food was all really good, but not plentiful.  Do not come here expecting to get a big meal.  I probably could have eaten another plate or two of food, but maybe I'm just a glutton.  You get a yummy meal with a really comfortable view of the fireworks at Epcot.
I know my family enjoyed this experience.  I know that given the opportunity we will probably book this Fireworks Dining Package again.

I may have to try eating here for dinner for the full menu.  The food was really good!  It's just so hard to not fill up while eating around the world in Epcot...
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Ask us for more tips and recommendations to make that next Disney trip AWESOME!  We'll keep trying everything at Disney so we can give you our honest opinions on it all.

When it's time to plan for Disney: 
​
​ It's Mouse O'Clock!
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Eat in Space!

10/28/2021

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Space 220

We got to try Epcot's new dining experience Space 220 and all I can say is WOW!  Located right next to Mission Space in Epcot, this dining experience is out of this world...

You get the experience of dining in a space station with some pretty spectacular views.  Offering modern American cuisine and cocktails Space 220 is an expensive dining choice but is the experience worth $55 each for lunch or $79 each for dinner and $29 for kids.  Follow along with us for an exciting dining experience.
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The entry ticket you are given begins your experience with a ride in the space elevator.  This is a pretty cool simulation!  After a short trip up 220 miles above the Earth you arrive at the space station.
There you are greeted by your hosts who walk you to your table with a pretty spectacular view of Earth.  Your views will be dependent on the time of day.  So you get a daytime view at Lunch and a night view at Dinner. 
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No matter where you are seated you get a pretty big view of space.  Even tucked away in the corner like we were, we ended up seeing all sorts of things in our window.
​You'd think the view would get boring, but it stays pretty fresh with astronauts and spaceships that will occasionally drift into view.
While the experience is cool, we are here to eat!  And the food really did not disappoint.  With lunch you get an appetizer (Lift-Offs) and an entree (Star Course) while dinner has the addition of a desert (Super Nova Sweets.)

We started off with the Big Bang Burrata, Starry Calamari, and Space Greens.  The kids of course loved their fried Calamari while the adults enjoyed their salad and cheese.  Our entree course the Slow Rotation Short Rib, the 8oz Filet Mignon, and the X2 Duck.  While our steaks were both pretty good choices, the duck was the star course here.  I'm not even a duck fan.  This was just mouth-watering.  Our daughter Zoey tried a bite and I had never seen her make that face of yumminess.  I think she had her first food-gasm.  Both the roasted and confit duck of this dish were SO good.  We highly recommend it.
Desert was the Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake, the Chocolate Cheesecake and the Carrot Cake.  We were celebrating Niko's Birthday so we also got a little chocolate cupcake to celebrate.

Of course we had to sample the drinks!  Zoey enjoyed the Moon Rocks drink, which features Pop Rocks while Niko sipped at his Lightyear Lemonade.
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I had to try the Planetary Punch because I can't pass up a drink that bubbles.  The drink looks very cool but I found it to be overly sweet.  Angie had the Nebula, which was surprisingly good.  She's not a whisky or bourbon drinker, but it was a good cocktail.

Walking back you can really see the rest of the space station.  The hallways and view of the rotating vegetable garden are very pretty.  But now we have to return to earth with another trip in the space elevator.  This is certainly a dining experience we won't forget, especially the duck...
This may not be the dining experience for everyone, but we really enjoyed it.  Though it is pricey, we think it is worth doing at least once if you are going to be visiting Epcot.

Ask us for tips and recommendations for your next vacation.  Mouse O'Clock is here to show you the ropes from our first hand experiences.  When it's time to plan for Disney:  It's Mouse O'Clock!
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Disney Springs, just delightful!

7/7/2021

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We always carve out some time to go to Disney Springs whenever we are visiting Disney World!  Disney Springs is a a waterfront shopping,  dining, and entertainment center nestled in Walt Disney World!
It's easily accessible from all of Disney's resorts using their free transportation or you are welcome to drive in.  There is so much to see, do, and eat that you might want to plan ahead.

Shopping, lots of shopping!

Disney Springs is filled with opportunities for shopping.  From high end stores like Coach and Tommy Bahama, all the way to Disney specific themed shops like The Star Wars Galactic Outpost and the World of Disney!

The World of Disney is actually the largest Disney store on earth, so lots of sweet Disney merchandise can be located here.  You could easily spend a day shopping here if that's your thing.
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If you're a fan of Legos or M&M's than Disney Springs has a shop for you!
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SO MANY Dining Options!

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Disney Springs is home to 62 different quick-service, table-service, and lounges for you to grab something to eat.  My favorite restaurants in Disney are located here!

From fantastic seafood at The Boathouse to some amazing treats at Gideon's Bakehouse, you won't be short of dining options.  My personal favorite is still Raglan Road!  There is something for everyone!
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You can eat at T-Rex so the little ones can be entertained by dinosaurs and mammoths.  Or snag a over-the-top donut at Everglazed.  There are just too many places to mention worth eating at...

Can't Forget about Entertainment!

Disney Springs also has plenty of opportunities for entertainment.  Granted not all of them are up and running again, but there is still lots to see and do.  From live stages with musical performances to riding in an "AmphiCar."  We've seen a lot of options to keep you busy.  You could even just watch a movie or go bowling.
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I am not a "heights person", but Angie and the kids enjoyed going up in a hot air balloon over Disney Springs.
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Some of the fine dining locations have entertainment in and around their restaurants.  Like Raglan Road Irish Pub with their dance performances.
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You can always catch that next big movie release at the AMC theater here.
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Soon Cirque du Soleil will be opening their new show "Drawn to Life,"  it will be right here in Disney Springs.  Inspired by Disney's animation this should be a very cool show.

Disney Springs is always growing and changing with new offerings.  There's always something new every time we visit.
Whatever your tastes may be, there is something for you at Disney Springs.  We like to book dining here for our arrival day or when we go to Animal Kingdom since that park usually closes earlier.

Feel free to ask us for more tips and reviews.  If there's a restaurant you want us to review in Disney, let us know and we'll try and check it out.

​Just remember:  When it's time to plan for Disney, It's Mouse O'Clock!
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A lil Irish Hospitality!!!

2/24/2021

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It's rare for me to find a restaurant that I am so instantly in love with.  Raglan Road Irish Pub in Disney Springs made my heart all a flutter!  Any place that gives complimentary champagne on Valentine's Day already has a leg up.

After a long day of walking the parks, I didn't know what to expect outside of a yummy menu.  The fun boisterous band was playing some Irish pub music as we walked and I was already pumped.  The menu looked so good it was hard to decide where to begin, but we ordered some drinks and appetizers while we settled in to enjoy our evening.

Wow, were we not disappointed.
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Our waitress brought our soda bread with a Guinness and olive oil reduction.  OMG I had not expected this to be that good.  When we found out it was what they put on their ribs, I was a little sad I hadn't ordered the ribs.  There's a lot to choose from on this menu.

Check out their menu here!  So many puns and good food!​
I had a very smooth Strawberry & Cucumber Mojito while Angie had the Rosemary and Maple Whiskey Sour.  I'm not a beer drinker, nor am I a scotch guy, but there menu was full of great Irish drinking options.  Angie order one of their spiked coffees later on in the meal.
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We split two appetizers while we waited for our entree.  I picked the Nom Nom Wings which were nice sweet and spicy wings.  These were good but not the star of this food round!

Angie order the Scallop Forest.  I'm not usually a scallop guy, but these golden battered scallops were great.  We had never had a fried scallop like these.  I kept expecting the sauces to be a cocktail and tartar sauce, but no.  The citrus lime sauce was SO good.  It paired better with them than the sweet chili jam, but both were really good dipping sauces.
The band was good, but wow these dancers could really move.  There were several bouts of dancing including this dance off that we recorded.  It was like watching a competition to see if they could out maneuver  each other.

I can't imagine how exhausting their dancing has to be.  It was really impressive.
Live entertainment is a nightly occurrence at Raglan.
There was no way we were going to eat at an Irish Pub and not have some Bangers.  Raglan's Bangin' Bangers and Mash were a solid meal.  Sausages and Mashed potatoes aren't usually impressive, but these managed to wow us.
It all just kind of melded together in this great blend of salty goodness.
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SOOOO Good!!!
If you have room for dessert, you HAVE to try their bread pudding!  Ger's Bread and Butter Pudding was a symphony of yumminess.  Our waitress told us the secret to eating it right.  You dump out the pudding on the plate and pour the butterscotch sauce and creme fraiche across all of it.  I wasn't expecting this to be better than the Ohana Bread Pudding, but it was just a little bit better.
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If you are looking for a good time and a great meal, I could not recommend this place more.  Raglan Road Irish Pub is just TOO good to pass on.  I look forward to going here again on our next visit.  Make sure to get a reservation because with social distancing this place can fill up fast.

If you need help getting a reservation, ask us for help.  We are always happy to hunt down those reservations for you if they open up.  At Mouse O'Clock we do our best to make sure our clients have their best trip!

​Ask us for a free quote!  When it's time to plan for Disney:  It's Mouse O'Clock!
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Best food I ever ate...

1/27/2021

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We love food!  So much so, that part of our Disney planning is figuring out where to eat and snack along our day.  Disney knows how to make some very yummy treats.  Here are some of the BEST things I have ever eaten.

This list will definitely include  some of the food from our Disney cruises.  It would be impossible for me to make this list without including cruise food, because it was just TOO good to ignore.  I'm not saying that all food at the parks and cruises are amazing, but there are some foods that I never pass up an opportunity to grab while I am there.
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Warm Sticky Date Pudding - Animator's Palate on Disney Magic
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Why have just another burger and fries when there are so many other options.  Over at Sleepy Hollow there is this delicious Sweet and Spicy Chicken and Waffle sandwich.  It has a yummy slaw and the chicken is coated in a sinfully spicy and still sweet sauce.  It's a great option for lunch or even a quick dinner.
If you've ever talked about food at the parks, I'm sure someone has mentioned Dole Whip.  Dole Whip is a great soft serve that is a blend of vanilla and pineapple.  It's very sweet and a classic staple of the park.  It does come in other flavors but the other flavors are sometimes seasonal or only available for a limited run.  Disneyland regularly carries more flavors, but they're still closed.

Dole whip isn't really my thing, it's good, but the Kakamora Float is AMAZING!  It's a coconut dole whip served with pineapple juice and blue curacao.  It comes topped with a chocolate cake ball Kakamora.  I could eat this at any time.  Find it at Aloha Isle in Magic Kingdom.  I'm sad when it's not available, but it's become so popular that it's almost a regular item.
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Disney cruise lines has some great desserts.  That sticky date pudding I pictured in my intro was FANTASTIC, a top tier dessert.  The most highly coveted dessert of any Disney cruise is the Grand Marnier Souffle.

This delicate and delicious souffle was found on every Disney Cruise I've been on.  They know it's THAT good, so you'll find it on the menu at least one night of any voyage.  Grand Marnier is a light citrus liqueur that they use to make this great creamy sauce you pour on to and into this wonderful dessert.

We usually order more than one, because it is just that good.  Make sure and leave room for dessert this night, because it is worth it.
Lamb is one of those meats that some people shy away from.  It can taste gamey and isn't always delicious.  The rack of lamb is one of my favorite meals here.  I hunt for every last morsel on the bone.  It's just that tasty.

You can usually find the rack of lamb listed on one of the menu's of any given Disney Cruise.  I don't recommend every cut of lamb as I have found some to be too fatty, but don't ignore the rack.
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Popping back over to the parks the Cheshire Cat Tail is a treat worth looking out for.  It is a braided chocolate croissant with a pink and purple drizzle cris-crossing its yumminess.

This one will be harder to locate as it's usual location is The Cheshire Cafe is closed.  Last time it was available at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe in Tomorrowland.
There are many yummy treats throughout the parks, my favorites all just happen to be in Magic Kingdom.  Some noteworthy treats are the Pongu Lumpia in Pandora at Animal Kingdom and the Fried Green Tomato Sandwich over at Hollywood Studios.  Some of the food in Galaxy's Edge is noteworthy as well.
I can never ignore the appetizer options on a Disney Cruise.  The Black Truffle Pursettes are these delicious earthly mushroom pastas in a creamy sauce.  I don't have the the words to fully describe how delicious these really are.

They can be found at least one night of most Disney cruises, so keep your eyes peeled for this one.
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I am a huge fan of sweets, if you haven't guessed by my selections so far.  This one is only going to be found on the Disney Magic at Rapunzel's Royal Table.  The Fry Pan Sweet Bread is a simple but delicious treat.

Here we have a fried sweet bread dusted in powdered sugar, topped with a chocolate hazelnut drizzle and vanilla ice cream.  Plus it comes in a frying pan.  Who knew this could be SO good?
With so many delicious options, it's hard to make a wrong choice.  We'll be back in the parks soon and we'll keep you updated on what's good.  I always enjoy the food at any of the Epcot festivals, so we'll keep you posted.

Let us help you feast your way through Disney!!!
Find out more on our Facebook page or join our Mouse O'Clock Insiders Group for more tips and details.

When it's time to plan for Disney:  It's Mouse O'Clock!
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    Angie & Gabe Garcia-Lavin make up the Mouse O'Clock Travel team. Married for more than a decade, they share a love of each other and a love of Disney that runs deep. 

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