Expert Reviews

Storybook Dining at Artist Point {Review}

1/11/2019 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • Artist Point, located in Disney Wilderness Lodge, is a favorite signature dining restaurant in Walt Disney World. They recently made a change (in December 2018), to a character experience known as Storybook Dining! This new family favorite restaurant will not only delight your taste buds but will also excite the kid in all of us with a unique character experience! Upon arrival, a brief ‘story’ is told of who will visit you during your dinner experience as well as the proper way to address The Queen! Snow White, Dopey, and Grumpy will also visit guests with The Queen. You will notice lovely woodland decor at every turn, twinkle lights, and a storybook in the center of the dining room.  A Lazy Susan at your table resembles a great oak tree with leaves designed to hold both your appetizers and desserts! Signed ‘apples’ tie your silverware together. Snow White is introduced […]

Greet and Dine with Disney Characters at Chef Mickey’s {Review}

12/11/2018 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • What is the number one question that guests ask while at Walt Disney World? “Where’s Mickey Mouse?!” Everyone who makes the trek to Disney World wants to see the world’s most loveable mouse! And chances are that if you’re looking for Mickey, you want to see his best pals too! Chef Mickey’s is a fun and interactive character meal inside Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and it’s the place to see nearly all of them! Chef Mickey’s is a great way to meet your favorite Disney pals while enjoying the atmosphere of the Contemporary Resort. While dining on the delicious all-you-care-to-eat buffet, some of your favorite Disney characters will come by to your table to sign autographs and pose for pictures. While characters are subject to change, you can generally expect to see Chef Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, and Pluto during your meal! You may even see the Disney World monorail […]

Gaston’s Tavern

3/18/2024 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • Gaston. According to his song, he’s everyone's favorite guy. But better than the man himself is Gaston’s Tavern and it has become one of my favorite Magic Kingdom snacking hideouts since its opening. Gaston’s Tavern is located in Fantasyland in the square centered by Gaston’s statue. It offers snacks as well as light meal options which is perfect when you aren’t hungry enough for a complete quick service meal but want something a little bit more than a light snack. Walking into the restaurant you will first encounter a warm pub atmosphere with wood paneling and barrels filled with LeFou’s Brew. Cozy tables line the far wall where guests make themselves at home. But the hidden gem is the room to the right that brings to life the famous scene in the movie, Beauty and the Beast, where LeFou extols the virtues of Gaston in song. Entering the room you […]

Fantastic Foods Only Found at Disneyland!

3/13/2024 • Disneyland, Reviews • We all love the amazing entrees, snacks and treats found at Disney parks across the the globe. Most of us know of the many great options at Walt Disney World but to me it all goes back to the original in Anaheim. Here are some of the most delicious, delectable and divine Disney dishes one can find. So let’s get started! #5. Monte Cristo Sandwich Take some ham, turkey and Swiss cheese between two slices of bread then deep fry the thing and dust in powdered sugar and don’t forget the berry dipping sauce then you have the world-famous Monte Cristo. Yeah, that’s right it’s a deep-fried sandwich. This mammoth mountain of food is found at Cafe Orleans or Blue Bayou Restaurant in New Orleans Square. After tackling the sandwich I’m pretty sure you won’t be riding Space Mountain anytime soon. Your food induced coma will have you riding the […]

Restaurant Spotlight: Ale & Compass

3/20/2024 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • Ale and Compass restaurant is located at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort.  I love staying at this resort and welcomed the opportunity to try this new experience.  This restaurant was formerly named Captain’s Grill and has been recently refurbished and the menu has been re-imagined as well.  I recommend giving this new location a try especially if you are staying at a Disney resort nearby. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at Ale & Compass and it is a table service establishment.  It was not super busy during the time I visited but had steady dining traffic. If you are on the Disney Dining Plan, 1 entitlement is required to eat here. While I always suggest making advance dining reservations while dining on Disney property, walk-in customers would have been welcomed during my dining experience here. My daughter and I decide to try breakfast and really enjoyed our dining experience. Upon […]

A Hidden Treasure Awaits at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto

6/29/2018 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • Does the name Trader Sam sound familiar? If you’re a long-time Disney fan, it should. Trader Sam is the legendary “head” salesman who offers you a hard-to-pass-up deal—2 of his heads for 1 of yours—at the conclusion of Jungle Cruise in Magic Kingdom.  Don’t worry, you don’t have to trade anything in order to enjoy this hidden treasure. Tucked away on the ground floor of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and down a hallway, you’ll come to a door that will display Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto and the hours that it’s open.  Actually, you’ll probably walk right past it the first time, like I did!  I missed it and walked outside and followed the sign to the outdoor terrace of Trader Sam’s.  The outdoor terrace looked like a very nice, standard terrace with plenty of umbrella covered tables and chairs.  There was a very small bar that you could order your refreshments. […]

It’s Not Just Food When It’s This Good! Food for the Soul at Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming

3/13/2024 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • From the moment I read the menu for Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming restaurant, I knew this would be at the top of my Disney dining bucket list! This is down-home cooking at its best. Arrive hungry. You do not want to miss an opportunity to sample the foods if you aren’t prepared to fill your belly. 2) As a party of two, I knew our eyes were too big for our stomachs, but the selections are that good that we didn’t want to pass anything up! My best recommendation would be to go with a group of at least four people so you can select several things from the menu and share them. Between the two of us, we ordered a couple appetizers: the Church Lady Deviled Eggs and the Ham and Jam Biscuits. With the deviled eggs, aside from the fact that they are delicious, the presentation is fabulous! […]

Tutto Italia – Dining in Epcot Review

5/18/2018 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • Italian food is comfort food for many families. Epcot is full of a large variety of international flavors but for those wishing a meal filled with delicious yet familiar options, Tutto Italia is a wonderful option to consider for your next Epcot lunch or dinner. The first question many people looking for an Italian Epcot meal is should I book at Via Napoli or Tutto Italia? Tutto Italia has a slightly more upscale feel and menu over Via Napoli. While Via Napoli is known best for its pizza, Tutto Italia, also holding true to authentic Italian cuisine, has a fuller range of dining options, from appetizers with calamari or a variety of salads, entrees with steak or vegetarian pasta, to every one of your favorite Italian desserts. >A formal restaurant setting with while table cloths greet you as you are seated. With a large number of indoor seats accompanied by […]

Resort Review: The Waldorf Astoria

3/27/2024 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • Need a little reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the theme parks? The Waldorf Astoria in Bonnet Creek offers just that. Tucked right inside Disney property, it boasts indulgent relaxation just minutes from the theme parks. My husband and I wanted a quick getaway for the weekend for a little “R and R.” We decided on the Waldorf Astoria and were so glad we did. While the grounds were beautiful, the thing that stood out most to us was the exceptional customer service, from the gentleman checking us in after midnight to the warm and friendly chefs at Oscar’s restaurant. Upon checking in, we were upgraded to a spacious suite with a living room, a gorgeous marble bathroom and a lanai that was perfect for enjoying that first cup of coffee in the morning. Although the décor seemed a bit dated, it gave us exactly what we were looking […]

Spotlight on the Boardwalk Resort

3/19/2024 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • As a Travel Specialist, I am often asked where I “like” to stay when I visit Walt Disney World?  One of my most preferred locations is Disney’s Boardwalk  Resort.  The atmosphere is very whimsical and intended to be reminiscent of visiting Atlantic city!  It opened in 1996, the year of my first Disney vacation!!  It is located on Crescent Lake, directly across from Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club.  Boardwalk offers entertainment, dining, and is a short walk to the world showcase in Epcot.  It is a bit of a longer walk to Hollywood studios or you have the option of taking a brief boat ride to both parks.  Disney Springs, Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom transportation is via bus. The Boardwalk resort is a deluxe property and brings many additional amenities.  Deluxe resorts offer larger rooms (compared to a value or moderate resort), valet parking, outdoor nighttime movies, a club […]