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Developers are proposing to build the nation's biggest shopping mall in northwestern Miami-Dade County. View the full article

NEW PORT RICHEY — A Tampa Bay area deputy has been fired and arrested after officials say he texted photos from a suicide investigation to his ex-girlfriend. View the full article

Little ones share their favorite memory from a conversation they had with Crush the turtle from Disney Pixar's Finding Nemo in Epcot! http://di.sn/6000F1KG SUBSCRIBE: http://di.sn/q7h About...From:Disney ParksViews:206951ratingsTime:00:36More inTravel & Events

I’m back to tell you about more Icelandic adventures you can have with Disney Cruise Line this summer! In addition to Reykjavik, we’re calling on Akureyri, a charming fishing village located at the base of the beautiful Eyjafjordur Fjord. Designed just for Disney cruisers, our signature Port Adventure in Akureyri, Local Food And Gourmet, gives you the chance to savor Icelandic cuisine, including waffles, ice cream and smoked lamb, during visits to two farms and a smoke hut in the countryside. The excursion concludes with a visit to Santa’s House (did I mention Akureyri is only 60 miles from the Arctic Circle?!) where Christmas is celebrated all year long. You’ll have the chance to see Santa, buy holiday items and meet the legendary Grýla, the villainous mother of the thirteen Icelandic Santas. Akureyri is known as the gateway to the natural wonders of Northern Iceland, including Goðafoss, the “Waterfall of the Gods,” one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland. On our Leisurely Akureyri & Godafoss Port Adventure, a visit to this amazing sight is combined with a stop at the gorgeous Akureyri Botanical Garden, home to every plant species indigenous to Iceland, plus high-latitude and high-altitude plants from around the world. We also offer an adult-only departure of this tour for those exploring Akureyri without kids. During our Akureyri Highlights tour, you’ll have the chance to explore some of the area’s must-visit locales and landmarks, including museums, art galleries and the iconic Akureyri Church, built in 1940 on a hill overlooking the town and fjord. One of the museums, Laufás Folk Museum, dates back to the 1860’s when it was built as a farmhouse in the traditional Icelandic style of stone and turf. One of the last of its kind in the country, the house now serves as a museum and provides a genuine insight into farm life in Iceland over the past centuries. Next up, we’ll begin exploring Northern European ports that we’re visiting this summer during our Baltic cruises. Remember, when the ship’s in port, venture ashore! Icelandic Adventures in Akureyri with Disney Cruise Line by Arnaldo Zanonato: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

Join us in welcoming back Victoria Kabakian! She’s treating us to a review of the ultra-posh Remy — a Disney Cruise Line fine-dining restaurant. Welcome to Remy The crème de la crème of Disney Cruise Line dining is without a doubt Remy, the Ratatouille inspired restaurant on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. On a recent cruise on the Disney Fantasy, I finally got to check out the “other” adults-only dining option from Disney Cruise Line. The classic ships (Disney Magic and Disney Wonder) only feature Palo, a wonderful Italian restaurant inspired by Venice, but the two newer ships have also added this French culinary experience deriving half its menu from Chef Scott Hunnel from Walt Disney World’s Victoria & Albert’s and half from Chef Arnaud Lallement from L’Assiette Champenoise, a Michelin three-star restaurant in Tinqueux, France, to create a gastronomic collaboration that is worth every penny (and calorie). AtmosphereLocated on deck 12 aft (that’s the ship’s rear end for you land-lubbers), Remy is the ultimate tribute to the most perfect “little chef” there ever was. Even before entering the main dining room, two of the wines that are featured in the film Ratatouille are displayed in the wine case: a 1961 Château Latour (featured in the scene where Chef Skinner and Linguini are drinking in the office) and a 1947 Cheval Blanc (featured in the restaurant review scene with Anton Ego). And by the way, you can actually purchase these wines at Remy from their wine vault if you’d like. They cost $13,000 and $25,000 respectively. 1961 Château Latour 1947 Cheval Blanc Wine vault Past the wine display is the intimate and elegant dining room, with windows stretching from end to end. This is truly the perfect setting for enjoying a view of the sunset during your meal. In fact we did, and trust me, it was stunning. The view from our table Sunset Details featuring Remy and his brother Emile can be found throughout the main dining room. Remy is found hidden in glass atop one of the vibrant chandeliers. He is carved in wood on the backs of chairs. Remy and Emile are stitched into the fabric of the booths and their figures frame every mirror in the space. Remy atop one of the lighting chandeliers Rat detail on the back of a chair Part of the gorgeous dining room Rats stitched onto a booth Remy on one side of a mirror And his brother Emile on the other side Upon further exploration, there are two additional dining rooms: a small wine room and of course the beloved Gusteau room, which is a replica of Gusteau’s restaurant in Ratatouille and even features a painting depicting the kitchen at Gusteau’s. A hand-woven carpet (one of three on the ship — the others are found in the atrium and the bridge where the ship is navigated). We’re told it took several months to create. The Gusteau Room The hand-woven carpet is a focal point The painting of Gusteau’s kitchen EatsAlthough Remy also offers a Champagne brunch (at a $50 surcharge) on sea days, on this recent cruise we decided to splurge on dinner (a $75 surcharge plus $99 more if you add the wine experience, which we did not). First and foremost, the meal begins with a very special Champagne cocktail inspired by a very special character in the film, Colette. The Colette The Colette is prepared tableside and includes a bit of strawberry, a mint leaf, some Absolut Pears, and Taittinger Champagne. By mixing the Champagne with a spirit, the bubbles dissipate, but by adding a small bit of dried apricot at the end, it creates an effervescent effect that mimics the natural bubbles in Champagne. It’s like a fun magic trick that you get to drink. Cheers. Tableside preparation of the Colette cocktail After the strawberry and mint, they add the Absolut Pears Taittinger Champagne Adding the bubbly The dried apricot replaces the lost bubbles The finished product Even before menus are presented, another taste of apparent magic hits your plates. The amuse bouche is a small sphere of deep-fried tomato soup. How is it made, you ask? Well after guessing that it’s prepared similarly to the way Chinese soup dumplings are made (using gelatinized broth in the filling, which then essentially melts when its heated), our amazing server Guiseppe confirmed that my suspicions were on the right track. How does it taste? Like deep-fried tomato soup, and oh so good. Deep Fried Tomato Soup A selection of fresh breads including tiny baguettes, multi-grain, and caramelized onion brioche are offered up next along with creamy butter from Vermont and sea salt from Bordeaux in France. The baguettes feature the perfect sound that Colette describes in the film as being a sign of great French bread. It has that crackle and that perfect taste and texture. The brioche is delicate and rich, another classic French creation. The multi-grain is the only bread I didn’t try. The rat-detailed bread plate Bread Selection Butter and Sea Salt The menu is divided in half with two tasting menus (with a la carte options as well so you can easily mix and match). The Saveur menu (meaning “flavor” in French) is created by Lallement, while the Goût menu (meaning “taste”) is created by Hunnel. Both are exquisite options, and while my sister opted to stick to the Goût side of the menu, I tried a little bit of each. Dinner Menu Our next treat from the chef before starting our official first course is langoustine with lobster bisque and lettuce reduction. The bite of langoustine is perfectly tender and succulent atop the super flavorful mound of bisque. The flavor of the sea really shines through here, creating a lovely start to this very special meal. Langoustine with lobster bisque and lettuce reduction For our first course, we both selected the Wagyu carpaccio with ratatouille, basil coulis, 8 year aged Modena balsamic, and Parmesan crisps. The cold ratatouille is actually hidden underneath paper-thin layers of one of the world’s most famous beefs. The soft textures of the beef and ratatouille are offset by the Parmesan crisps, while the basil coulis and aged balsamic each provide contrasting nuances of herbaceous freshness and sweetness. Wagyu Carpaccio Ratatouille hidden underneath For our second course we tried the scallop crusted with masago (Japanese pearl rice) and served with a curried coconut broth, shiitake mushrooms, and bok choy. The scallop itself is the largest scallop I’ve ever seen in my life. It is perfectly cooked, still soft and slightly under in the center, with a lovely crisp texture on the exterior from the masago. The curried broth is so full of flavor, I wanted to tip the edge of the bowl directly into my mouth and slurp. Don’t worry, I didn’t. Anton Ego wouldn’t approve of that behavior! Scallop with curried coconut broth Our third course is a polenta and chicken egg yolk stuffed ravioli served over a mixture of corn, black barley and poulet rouge topped with a sweet corn emulsion. This course truly encompasses the chicken AND the egg. I love the sweetness in this dish from the three different uses of corn (polenta in the filling, and corn in the base and in the emulsion). The chewiness from the black barley adds a great textural element, and of course the oozing yolk is the highlight of the dish. Ravioli Mmmmm, runny yolk! My sister’s entrée from the Goût side of the menu is onion ash and black Hawaiian salt dusted lamb medallions, asparagus, marble potatoes, and pickled onions. The meat is succulent with a very unique flavor from that onion ash dusting. My sister only spared me one bite (but it was a wonderful bite) and she couldn’t stop swooning about her choice. It really is a lovely dish. Lamb My entrée from the Saveur side of the menu is cold smoked and pan-roasted Wagyu beef with carrot puree, baby carrots, an orb (thanks, molecular gastronomy) filled with more carrot puree and braised short rib, spinach coulis, and served with a tableside drizzle of Bourguignon sauce. The beef is cooked perfectly and is so utterly tender. The bit of carrot puree and braised short rib that is encapsulated on the dish (not too visible in the picture, unfortunately) is a really neat surprise. It almost bursts in your mouth with sweet carrot puree and then that delicious meatiness that is short ribs. Oh yes. No regrets. Wagyu Beef At this point because we were here for my birthday (belated, but still worth celebrating!) the chef actually came out and took a photo with us and then signed personalized menus for us. What a great treat! Personalized signed menu Next it’s time for the famous Remy cheese cart. A variety of cheese from hard to triple cream, goat to blue are offered up along with some dried figs, dried apricots, honey comb, and crispy cherry bread. We tried a nice sampling before getting ready for dessert. And that’s when the red napkins come out… Cheese Selection Oh glorious cheese The Remy red napkin signals the dessert course is next My sister had the Peruvian baked chocolate mousse with caramel sauce, dusted with sugar, and served with an orange tuile. It was rich and delicious. Peruvian baked chocolate mousse I absolutely loved my dessert, which featured a palet of chocolate sponge, apricot jam, milk chocolate mousse, and dark chocolate ganache served with a mixture of fresh and honey-roasted apricots, and tart apricot jelly. The combination of rich chocolate and tart apricot is a lovely marriage that isn’t explored often enough in the pastry kitchen. I’d love to see more of this on other menus and in my belly. Definitely two thumbs up. Chocolate and apricot Oh, but wait there’s more! After dessert they serve a variety of mignardises including lemon diamonds, homemade lollipops (lemon and mint flavors), nougat, chocolates, homemade orange marshmallows, and cannelles (a small, tender French pastry). Anything you can’t finish (except the lemon diamonds and those crispy oval things, which are too delicate) is wrapped up in a doggy bag to take home. An array of mignardises Homemade orange marshmallows and cannelles An extra birthday surprise The ladies are presented with roses and then later the staff at Remy sends a box of chocolates to your stateroom. It’s like the fun (and calories) never really stop. A red rose to end the evening Box of Remy chocolates Our box of chocolates actually didn’t arrive in our stateroom as they typically do. A couple days later I actually asked guest services if they still send the chocolates just to be sure, and then the staff at Remy apologized and sent them down. I guess it was one very small slipup in an otherwise perfect meal. OverallIn addition to the outstanding food and atmosphere at Remy, I can’t say enough about the exceptional staff. Our server and all the other staff we encountered were very friendly and down-to-Earth without sacrificing professionalism. Especially when I wandered around to take pictures, they were so accommodating and even pointing out features I should highlight that I hadn’t even noticed myself, like some of the hidden Remy details. I truly believe that a meal at Remy is the best you can get at sea and if you’re over 18 and willing to throw a few extra bucks Disney’s way. It’s great for special occasions or for anyone who simply loves food. Pixar’s Ratatouille is so brilliantly woven into the theme here that even with my experience and knowledge with Disney Imagineering it still manages to blow me away. Disney has done Remy proud with this exquisite restaurant in his honor. Victoria is a Minnie Mouse-obsessed Disney enthusiast and food blogger at Mission: Food. She’s a classically trained cook with a soft-spot for cooking up Disney favorites in her kitchen when she isn’t park-hopping or sailing away on Disney Cruises. I’m ready to book a Disney Cruise. How about you? Share your Remy experiences with us! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com!Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on TwitterBecome a Facebook Fan Related posts: Disney Cruise Line: “Hidden Remy” Photo Tour and Food Review Guest Review: Remy Champagne Lunch Aboard the Disney Fantasy Cruise Ship Remy: The Disney Cruise Line’s Most Exclusive Adults-Only Restaurant View the full article

St. Patrick’s Day is Tuesday, March 17, and guests at the Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim can celebrate Irish heritage with their pick of locales for variations on the traditional corned beef meal, along with some special St. Patrick’s Day entertainment. At ESPN Zone, a corned beef, cabbage and potatoes special will be available throughout the day on Tuesday. Sports fans also will be able to accompany the onscreen entertainment with a glass of green beer. Catal Restaurant & Uva Bar is offering a St. Paddy’s Feast throughout the month of March with a sandwich featuring shaved corned beef brisket, house sauerkraut, secret sauce and Swiss cheese served on a marbled rye rustic roll and served (in a nod to neighbors across the Channel) with the popular Uva garlic shoestring french fries. The special is paired with Red Trolley Irish Red Ale by Karl Strauss. For St. Patrick’s Day lunch and dinner at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen, there will be corned beef and cabbage along with a variety of special drink offerings: green beer, baby Guinness shots and, for the more adventurous, Jorge’s Bayou Leprechaun cocktail. Beginning Friday, March 13, and continuing through St. Patrick’s Day, Crossroads Restaurant at House of Blues offers corned beef sliders, Guinness beer cheese soup, fish & chips and a classic corned beef Reuben sandwich. On St. Patrick’s Day, the dining and entertainment experience will be plussed with green beer, Guinness and Jameson specials all night, live karaoke with The Reel Band, starting at 8 p.m., and free glow sticks and beads for guests. In the House of Blues Music Hall, a St. Paddy’s Day Bash with Street Dogs begins at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Additional Downtown Disney St. Patrick’s Day entertainment will be provided by traditional Celtic dancers performing in front of WonderGround Gallery from 6 to 10 p.m. Tuesday. In fact, if you’re looking for a tasty, lively place to celebrate St. Paddy’s with friends and family, look no further than the Downtown Disney District. Erin go Bragh! St. Patrick’s Day Dining and Entertainment in Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort by John McClintock: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

The Dreamer Class of 2015 received a warm welcome from Walt Disney World President George Kalogridis, Steve Harvey, ESSENCE Magazine's Editor-at-Large Mikki Taylor and more! #DDA2015 ...From:Disney ParksViews:51045ratingsTime:01:34More inTravel & Events

If you follow my runDisney posts on the Disney Parks Blog, you know I love being at the finish lines of our events. Watching runners celebrate one of the most memorable moments in their lives is exciting, inspirational and emotional. You see it all – screams of joy, tears of happiness, hugs and high fives. And once in awhile you witness life-changing events. You see, as one journey ends for some runners, another journey begins for others. That is exactly what happened for one couple I caught up with at the Disney Princess Half Marathon presented by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. As Thatiany Leal-Oliveira from Boca Raton, FL, ran her first half marathon and first runDisney event, she traveled the 13.1-mile course through Magic Kingdom Park and Epcot, as her prince, Sal Lisboa of Deerfield Beach, FL, was in a race of his own, a race into the future. Both taking different courses, but both focused on the finish time. A finish that couldn’t come fast enough. Not only was the coveted Disney Princess Half Marathon Tiara finisher medal waiting for Thatiany to put around her neck, but so was a life changing proposal and “bling” to put on her finger. So what did she say? Well, runDisney is all about “happily ever after” stories, so see what happens for yourself. Congratulations Sal and Thatiany, and we wish you a “happily ever after” as you race into the future. If you want to know more about runDisney and future event weekends, visit runDisney.com. You can also follow us on runDisney Facebook, and on Twitter and Instagram @runDisney. ‘Will You be My Happily Ever After?’: A runDisney Proposal at Walt Disney World Resort by Robert Hitchcock: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

It’s somewhat rare that anything changes at Yorkshire County Fish Shop in Epcot’s UK Pavilion. Learn About: Yorkshire County Fish ShopEpcot Restaurants Disney World RestaurantsAnd I don’t mean that as a bad thing. When you’ve got a great classic like Fish & Chips as the main event, I’m of the opinion that Yorkshire County Fish Shop falls squarely under the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” category. So when I strolled past a few weeks ago on the way to meet some friends at Rose & Crown Pub and Dining Room and noticed that the dessert option had changed to Victoria Sponge Cake filled with jam and buttercream (you can now also find whole fruit options as well), I knew I wanted to get back as soon as possible and give it a try. Yorkshire County Fish Shop Yorkshire County Fish Shop menu Prior to the Victoria Sponge Cake, the dessert option on this limited menu was an English Bay Sugar Cookie, and before that, the common dessert option was a package of shortbread cookies for… well, for as long as I can remember. So the Victoria Sponge Cake is a definite departure from the cookies. Unfortunately, I can’t claim to be familiar with a traditional English Victoria Sponge Cake. But I can tell you that the version you’ll receive at Epcot comes, understandably, in a “To Go” package, custom made for the search for seats at this popular stop. Victoria Sponge Cake in package Victoria Sponge Cake in package Before I dug in, I wanted to give you a chance to see inside. Between two rounds of yellow sponge cake is a bit of the buttercream and a touch of berry jam (raspberry, I believe) with no big chunks of berry, just small bits of seed. Inside Victoria Sponge Cake When you try it in a more typical fashion, it will look more like this: Victoria Sponge Cake Cross section of Victoria Sponge Cake The sponge cake was exceptionally moist. If you’ll forgive my unsophisticated palate (I know what I’m about to say isn’t exactly an example of haute cuisine ), upon trying it, I just thought, “Hey! It’s like Twinkie!” Which makes some sense, given that Twinkie is also sponge cake. More specific to the Victoria Cake, though , I enjoyed how the cake itself wasn’t overly sweet, and I thought the small amount of jam provided just the right fruity aftertaste. But I would have loved to have seen a much thicker layer of the yummy, sweet buttercream — like, a ton of it. Due to the small portion size (and lack of buttercream), I’d pass on purchasing this out of pocket in lieu of other great dessert options all around World Showcase (for instance, Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie is right over the bridge stepping into France, and you can grab something much more substantial for your $4.19). But as a dessert option for your meal when you’re on the Disney Dining Plan, it’s fun to see them change it up here — as long as nothing ever changes with my Fish & Chips, that is! And as much as the shortbread was an authentically British treat, the offering of a new British dessert is a nice touch. Will you be trying the Victoria Sponge Cake? Please let us know with a comment! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com!Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on TwitterBecome a Facebook Fan Related posts: Epcot’s Yorkshire County Fish Shop Review: Fish & Chips at the Yorkshire County Fish Shop in Disney World’s Epcot Disney Food Throw Down: Best Fish and Chips in Walt Disney World View the full article

Planning a visit to the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival this spring? If so, you’re in for a treat! We’ve recently introduced several new atmosphere entertainment experiences throughout the international pavilions of World Showcase, and there’s even more on the way. GalleryExperience Fresh Entertainment This Spring at Epcot view allItaly – Join in the music, energy and flair of the spectacularly choreographed flag-throwing team of Sbandieratori Di Sansepolcro. Featuring hand-painted flags, magnificent period costumes and live music, the Sbandieratori bring to dynamic life a rich, 500-year Italian tradition that’s not to be missed.United Kingdom – Strolling the quaint streets of the United Kingdom pavilion, you can enjoy a delightful, acoustic performance by Paul McKenna Band, a traditional four-piece group from Glasgow, Scotland, whose contemporary approach to songs never strays too far from their Scottish, folk music roots. Canada – On the Mill Stage, the Canadian Lumberjacks demonstrate their professional skills in a safe and friendly competition, a time-honored tradition from Canada’s great timber and logging areas, featuring axe throwing, chopping, log rolling and more.Morocco – B’net Al Houwariyate, a multi-generational Berber music and dance troupe from Marrakesh, takes to the Medina stage of the Morocco pavilion for a lively and interactive performance, illuminating the stories and experiences of women in Morocco. Starting this week, Voices of Liberty has a fresh new look and sound for their appearances on the outdoor stage at America Gardens Theatre. Two days each week, this remarkable 8-part a cappella group is bringing their talents to even more guests, performing fresh arrangements of popular American songs, both classic and contemporary. Voices of Liberty will continue their traditional performances in the rotunda of The American Adventure pavilion Wednesday through Sunday each week. These new, authentic experiences – along with long-time favorites like Mariachi Cobre in Mexico, Jeweled Dragon Acrobats in China, the Taiko drummers of Matsuriza in Japan and others – are all part of our continuing efforts to keep Epcot entertainment fresh and contribute to the rich cultural landscape of World Showcase. Which of these groups are you looking forward to catching during your day at Epcot? Let us know in the comments section. Experience Fresh Entertainment This Spring at Epcot by Shawn Slater: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

The new cars most likely to become valued collectibles in the future include high-powered sports cars like the Chevrolet ZO6 and Dodge Challenger Hellcat and limited editions like the Mazda MX-5 Miata 25th Anniversary model, according to the experts at Hagerty Insurance, which specializes in... View the full article

The countdown to the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration is on! After getting a peek at the new artwork coming to special 60th anniversary popcorn buckets and hot mugs for Disneyland park and Disney California Adventure park, I couldn’t wait to share it with Disney Parks Blog readers. On the popcorn buckets at Disneyland park, look for the Fab 5 playing the old piano in front of the Refreshment Corner on Main Street, U.S.A. On the souvenir mug, Mickey and pals invite you to join them in watching a dazzling fireworks display in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. No one knows more about shining diamonds than Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – look for them on the Disney California Adventure park souvenir popcorn bucket. Marcus Gonzalez, Product Development Manager, Novelty Synergy Integration for Disney Parks Food and Beverage, shared his inspiration for the bucket: “Snow White standing in front of Carthay Circle Restaurant and Lounge is an homage to the original Carthay Theater, which premiered ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ on December 21, 1937.” On the souvenir mug, look for Mickey and Minnie dressed in their Diamond Celebration best with iconic Disney California Adventure park landmarks behind them. These novelty items will only be available at food & beverage kiosks throughout Disneyland Resort when the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration kicks off on May 22. Which souvenir item will you add to your collection? Sneak Peek: New Novelty Items to Celebrate Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration by Rachel Brent: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

One of the most fun, and frankly easiest, ways to meet favorite Disney characters at Walt Disney World Resort is through themed character dining. Each park, and many resorts, offer a unique experience where families are immersed in the story of their beloved characters as they dine on delicious meals. Character dining is a great option for young children since the characters come to each table, allowing kids to give hugs and get autographs with several of their favorites without waiting in line. Parents can rest assured that their child will get to see every character during the course of the meal. We asked our Walt Disney World Facebook fans to vote on their recommendations on the best in-park dining for little ones, and here is what they came up with. From classic characters and princesses to Disney Junior stars and even a meal in an enchanted castle, we think this is a great list. Do your kids have a favorite character dining experience? #DisneyKids: Top 5 Restaurants for Little Ones at Walt Disney World Resort by Jamie Langdon: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

Recently, I shared my dining experience at Shutters at Old Port Royale at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort with you. This weekend, guests will be able to sample menu favorites from Shutters at Old Port Royale on the Fantasy Fare Truck at Exposition Park in Downtown Disney West Side. March 6-8, you’ll be able to experience the sweet and spicy flavors of the Caribbean: Island Chicken Wings ($9.75); Jerk-seasoned Mahi with Ancho BBQ, pineapple salsa, and yellow rice ($9.50); and Warm White Chocolate-Cinnamon Bread Pudding ($4.00). Exposition Park, located at Downtown Disney West Side, is open 12:30-11 p.m., weather permitting. Tip: Park in the newly opened Orange Garage for nearby access. If you’re hungry for more, Shutters is open for dinner daily, and accepts the Disney Dining Plan. For reservations, visit DisneyWorld.com/dine or call 407-WDW-DINE. ‘Food Truck Takeover’ by Shutters at Old Port Royale This Weekend at Downtown Disney by Rachel Brent: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

The eighth-annual Disney Dreamers Academy kicked off with a special parade in Magic Kingdom featuring the Dreamer Class of 2015, Steve Harvey, ESSENCE Magazine's Editor-in-Chief Mikki Taylor.From:Disney ParksViews:30772ratingsTime:01:23More inTravel & Events

There are so many unique eats at the Tokyo Disney Resort. In this post, I’ve complied most of the items my family tried on our recent trip. Rather than do individual posts on each thing, here’s a mega post featuring them all! Ready, let’s go to Tokyo! I’m going to start with my very first snack stop at Tokyo Disney Sea. We stopped at Refrescos’ in the Mediterranean Harbor area for a little bit of everything: A Gyoza Sausage Bun, a Maple Mickey Churro, and Cream of Corn Soup. Basically one of every thing on the menu. We were really excited because there was absolutely zero line. I’m told that the Gyoza Sausage Bun is one of the most popular items at Disney Sea and sometimes people wait over an hour for one. We lucked out because apparently this was an area that just recently started selling them. Normally they are only at the stand in Mysterious Island. Gyoza Sausage Bun, Corn Soup & a Mickey Churro I was most excited about the Maple Mickey Churro, but unfortunately, it fell way short of the churros we have at the Disneyland Resort. Although it scored major points for being Mickey shaped, the churro itself was hard, dry and had very little flavor. Really cute, but not at all worth it. Mickey Shaped Maple Churro The Corn Soup was fabulous. It’s not creamy like a chowder you’d find in the states, but it is still flavorful and hits the spot on a chilly day. I love that it’s served in a cup, easy to sip on if you want to take it to go. The soup is served up piping hot, so I used this cute little Mickey stir stick to help cool it off! Corn Soup is quite popular throughout the Tokyo Disney Resort, we saw it in several locations. Corn Soup Now, on to that famous Gyoza Sausage Bun… It’s fabulous. The bun is served warm; its chewy outer bun is fresh with an almost sweet taste. The meaty filling is juicy and flavorful. A little bit of everything from Refrescos. Next up, we are heading over to the Dreamer’s Lounge at the Tokyo Disneyland Hotel. This is a great spot to unwind after a day in the parks, which is exactly what we did. At first we were just going to have some drinks, but then I spotted some things that others around us were eating that I had to try. I mean, who knows when we’d we back so let’s go for it. The drinks alone are worth writing about. We tried two very fun non-alcoholic specialties, one was a fruity holiday special and the other a Coca Cola based drink made to look like Mickey’s pants.  The little details that make these drinks so adorable are really quite simple. They were made with lemon rind and stuck to the inside of the glasses. With some tiny cookie cutters I think this would be really easy to do at home. I don’t know what they used to get them to stay in place, I’m thinking something like honey might work. Dreamer’s Lounge Specialty Drinks My boys were hungry for a snack, so we ordered a fruit platter to share. I was so pleasantly surprised by the variety, quality and presentation of what came to the table. Look at that peeled grape! The dish was tasty and gorgeous. Dreamer’s Lounge Fruit Platter Now, for that impulse order, the Holiday Dessert Sampler. I saw this at another table and basically pointed saying “That Please!” This trio of fun treats were almost too cute to eat. All of the items were good, but nothing spectacular. Unfortunately, it was much more adorable to look at than delicious to eat. Dessert Sampler The little “gift box” was a spongy type pastry with a fondant ribbon. Inside the present was chocolate ganache. The Mickey hand on the plate was painted chocolate. A “Present” from Mickey Next, is the little gelatin bowl. Embellished with mini chocolate candy canes, this “jello” type dessert was topped with strawberries. Gelatin Dessert with Strawberries This cute little “hat” box was like a small fruit tart. The box was similar to sponge cake. It was filled with vanilla custard and fresh fruit. The lid was made of chocolate. This was my favorite of the three items. The “Christmas Fantasy” text was an edible powdered sugar. Mini Fruit Tart Going back into the parks, we hit Tokyo Disney Sea on Thanksgiving Day. We were obviously not going to find a traditional turkey dinner here, but we did find turkey legs in Mysterious Island’s Nautilus Galley. I’m normally not a turkey leg supporter, but these ones appeared more “natural” in size than the enormous ones we have at the US parks. Plus my kids wanted turkey, so we approved. Happy Thanksgiving! This spot also sells one of the more popular Tokyo Disney snacks, the Pork Gyoza. These were much different from the Gyoza Dog. They were more of a traditional gyoza; flat, pan fried, and filled with flavor. We LOVED these. Add a little soy sauce for dipping and I think I’d be comfortable saying that these were my second favorite snack behind the Pizza Spring Roll. This snack with a crispy outside, warm pork filling & salty soy sauce was a perfect Thanksgiving day dish! Pork Gyoza I didn’t notice too many frozen treat stands at the Tokyo Disneyland Resort, but it was also November/December and chilly! I did see a few carts that carried these 4 items: the Tiramisu Ice Cream Sandwich, the Sea Salt Ice Cream Monaka, the Minnie Ice Bar (Peach & Raspberry) and the Mickey Ice Bar (Tropical Fruit). Frozen Treats Menu The only one we tried on our trip was the Mickey Ice Bar which was a tropical fruit flavored popsicle. It was delicious and refreshing. Because the weather was cold and rainy, we just didn’t find ourselves craving frozen treats. I really regret not trying the cute shell shaped Sea Salt Ice Cream Monaka. That raspberry and peach Minnie Ice Pop sounds delicious, too. I am glad we tried the tropical fruit Mickey Ice Bar, though. Even in the cold rain, it was fabulous! Pretty adorable, too! Tropical Fruit Mickey Ice Bar Still hanging out in the Lost River Delta area of Tokyo Disney Sea, right next door to where we picked up the above Mickey Ice Bar, was a food stand called Expedition Eats. It’s at this food wagon that you can find the Yucatan Sausage Roll. Expedition Eats Signage Cost was about $3.61. This was one of the longer lines that I waited in. The Yucatan Sausage Roll, is basically a hot dog in a French Roll. They are assembled onsite. Below you can see the hollowed out French rolls ready to be stuffed with a sausage (hot dog). Yucatan Sausage Roll Preparation I have to say, I didn’t think that this one was worth the wait. The bread was really fresh; it was served crispy and warm. The “sausage” though really was just a hot dog — and an unflavorful one at that. I think if I had some good ol’ Heinz ketchup or yellow mustard to dip it in, it would have been a whole other story. Plain and dry though, it was really nothing special. Yucatan Sausage Another churro fail for us, the Seasonal Chocolate Churro with Cranberry Dipping Sauce. Although a chocolate churro sounds delicious, it didn’t live up to my expectations. Like the Mickey Shaped Maple Churro above, this one was also hard, crispy and seemed almost stale. The sauce was tart; not a terrible flavor, but it didn’t really go with the churro. I DID LOVE the adorable packaging and little dipping container that the sauce came in though! Chocolate Churro with Cranberry Dipping Sauce Back over at Tokyo Disneyland’s Westerland is the Lucky Nugget Cafe. Famous for serving up fried chicken, this was actually the very first thing that we ate at the Tokyo Disney Resort. It was also our first good look at a Tokyo Disney Resort plastic meal display. I’m telling you these displays are the most handy things ever. All you have to do is point to order! So for this meal, I wanted to share the plastic version and then the real version. Here’s the plastic version at the order counter. Plastic Fried Chicken at the Lucky Nugget Cafe The meal comes with Fried Chicken, Onion Rings, French Fries, Grapes and Cole Slaw. I also ordered the Sparkling Tapioca Drink, which was lemon based & delicious. The food here was quite good and looked very close to its plastic counterpart! You can see that I got that yummy corn soup here, too. The only thing that I wasn’t 100% behind was the slaw. It was very heavy on the mayonnaise. Not terrible, but not my favorite. Overall, I’d say that this was a great spot to have a meal. The scenery of the Rivers of America makes for a nice backdrop, and I feel comfortable saying that the food is “Picky American” (aka my children) kid friendly too! REAL Fried Chicken at the Lucky Nugget Cafe There are two hot spots for Curry at the Tokyo Disneyland Resort. You can find it in Disneyland at the Hungry Bear or over at Disney Sea at the Casbah Food Court. We actually ate at both, but I only took a photo at the Arabian Coast’s Casbah Food Court. We tried the Chicken Curry. It comes with some Naan Bread and Sticky White Rice. The flavor was amazing. Not your typical “theme park” food. Honestly, I was really impressed with this meal. If you are a curry fan, and have the chance to visit the Tokyo Disney Resort, you must eat at one or both of these spots. We also tried the Flan for good measure.  My taste buds were happy! Chicken Curry and Flan The final thing I’m sharing in this post is the Cream Cheese Brownie from Tokyo Disney Sea. I really wanted to love this treat, but it just didn’t do it for me. Although the cream cheese top layer was good, the brownie itself was very dry. I literally had a bite and tossed it in the trash. Such a disappointment. Cream Cheese Brownie Overall, my trip to Tokyo was absolutely amazing. The food at the Tokyo Disney Resort is just over the top great. Nearly everything we tried was unique and delicious. I know there are tons of things that we didn’t get to try on our 5 night stay, so I guess that means we’ll just have to go back! Have you been to the Tokyo Disney Resort? Did you try any of the items mentioned in this post? What do I need to add to my “must eat” list for the next visit??? Heather Sievers is the Disney Food Blog’s Dining in Disneyland columnist. See more of her columns here! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com!Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on TwitterBecome a Facebook Fan Related posts: Guest Review: Snacks at Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea Dining in Tokyo Disneyland: The Many Faces of Popcorn at Tokyo Disney Resort Guest Review: Eats and Treats at Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea View the full article

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Last night, hundreds of Disney Parks Blog readers gathered at the Disneyland Resort for our Disney’s “Cinderella” Royal Celebration. The event started with a special screening of Disney’s new live-action film, “Cinderella” and the new animated short, “Frozen Fever”, both opening in theaters on March 13. Then guests were invited to a royal reception at the Disneyland Hotel, where they enjoyed dancing, desserts and special photo opportunities. But the evening’s biggest surprise was an appearance by the stars of “Cinderella,” Lily James and Richard Madden. Take a look at this magical moment and more from the event in the video below! Did you join us for Disney’s “Cinderella” Royal Celebration at the Disneyland Resort? Tell us about it in the comments! And be sure to catch “Cinderella” in theaters on March 13. Surprise Appearances and More at Disney’s ‘Cinderella’ Royal Celebration at the Disneyland Resort by Erin Glover: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

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