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The Washington and Houston Families Visit Walt Disney World View the full article

The Valenzuela Family Aboard Disney Cruise Line View the full article

A Holiday Surprise for the Jones Family | Disney Parks View the full article

Welcome to Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa View the full article

360 Video: 'The Disney Parks’ Magical Christmas Celebration' View the full article

Behind the Scenes: 'The Disney Parks’ Magical Christmas Celebration' View the full article

A few weeks ago, we gave our readers the chance to vote for the Disney character they’d like to see featured in our special Christmas Day edition Disney Doodle, a series that imagines what a Disney character would do if he or she had the chance to visit the parks. The character with the most votes? Pascal from “Tangled”! According to artist Ashley Taylor, the doodle was inspired by “the scene in ‘Tangled’ where Pascal marvels at the floating lanterns in the sky. There’s no doubt he would be impressed by this beautiful holiday display!” View the full article

Charlie Ridgway was behind many of Disney's most iconic moments. He helped coordinate media coverage of the opening of Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom in 1971, along with the openings of Epcot, what is now Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom. For more than 40 years, if you... View the full article

It’s a pretty common occurrence. You’re in the middle of your Walt Disney World vacation, it’s the holiday season, and you’d love to enjoy a table service meal. But there’s only one problem: you don’t have an advance dining reservation (ADR). Maybe your plans changed, or the weather did. Or it could just be that you planned to grab counter service, but now you’re rethinking that move. Whatever the situation, you might think that all hope is lost. There’s no way you’re getting into any Disney table service restaurant that you didn’t book 180 days out. Right? You might be surprised to learn that I book a lot of tables just days before I head to Walt Disney World. And it’s not all that rare for me to change things up at the last minute — even during the busiest times of the year! How do I do it? Flexibility helps a LOT. But if that’s not an option, what you need are some tried and true spots where you can probably score a table with very short notice, or even as a walk up. Here are our suggestions for Where to Dine When You Don’t Have a Reservation in Walt Disney World. And if you love what you see here, be sure to check out the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining for tons of great tips! The Wave…of American Flavors One of my favorite resort dining spots is The Wave…of American Flavors at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Bonus: it’s within walking distance (or monorail ride) of Magic Kingdom! The Wave offers a hearty start to your day. Enjoy an a la carte breakfast of some of the restaurant’s specialties, like Sweet Potato Pancakes. Sweet Potato Pancakes with melted butter and maple syrup And if you can’t make up your mind between sweet and savory, you can opt for the Buffet. The Wave Breakfast Buffet Personally, my favorite meal here is dinner. The restaurant takes a seasonal approach to their menu, so dishes change up regularly. I’d say The Wave is on par with many of Disney’s signature restaurants in terms of its interesting offerings. Don’t miss the Beef Tenderloin — it was one of my favorite meals during a recent visit. Herb Salt Seasoned Beef Tenderloin And if the The Wave Bacon and Eggs — a combo of beautiful Pork Belly and a sous-vide “Perfect Egg” — is available on the dinner menu, get it!! You’ll thank me. The Plaza Restaurant Imagine dining at an historic spot on Main Street USA, steps away from Cinderella Castle. You probably figure that you’ll need to book that table a full 180 days out. Well…surprise! You don’t. Not when you make a last minute decision to take in a meal at The Plaza Restaurant. The Plaza Restaurant — Outside Even though the restaurant is fairly small, you’ll find that it’s normally not very crowded. And now, the Plaza intentionally holds open space for walk ups. There are some real winners on the menu. I’ve enjoyed many of the Sandwiches here, and the Chicken Strawberry Salad has a loyal following. And — you guys! — Plaza Loaded Fries!! Yasssssss! Plaza Loaded Fries But hands down, my recent favorite has been the Meatloaf Meal. Super flavorful and generously portioned, I crave this one from time to time! Meatloaf Meal at The Plaza Restaurant And don’t forget to order one of their Hand-Dipped Milkshakes. Express delivered thanks to the Main Street Ice Cream Parlor right next door, these old-fashioned treats are some of our favorites. Yak & Yeti Restaurant Where can you go if you’re looking for a sit down meal in Disney’s wildest park? Yak & Yeti Restaurant is always a solid choice! Located in the Asia portion of Animal Kingdom, Yak and Yeti is actually operated by Landry’s. But the attention to detail in the decor here would make any Disney Imagineer proud. Be Sure to Pencil in Extra Time Just to Look Around! The fare is a wonderful mix of Pan Asian with some Indian flavors thrown in as well. And here’s a TIP: with small plates, “shareables”, and plenty of interesting cocktails, Yak & Yeti is a great spot to make a meal out of apps. I love the Dim Sum Basket for Two! Dim Sum Basket for Two But absolutely save room for dessert. The Mango Pie gets super high marks, and the Fried Wontons are legendary! Walt Disney World Lounges When you find yourself without an ADR but wanting something more than fast food, Disney World bars are lounges are a GREAT alternative. They don’t accept ADRs, so seating is always first come, first serve. And inventive takes on pub grub throughout the ‘World makes these some of our favorite dining spots. Crew’s Cup Lounge at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort Let’s take a closer look at a few of our favorite spots to enjoy tasty cocktails and delicious food in a relaxed atmosphere. Nomad Lounge Nomad Lounge at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is one of my new favorites for sure. To begin, the space is gorgeous. Inside, soaring ceilings celebrate the romance of travel. Nomad Lounge Bar Outside, a wrap around terrace overlooks beautiful green spaces. And soon, you’ll be able to spy Pandora from here! Outdoor Seating Be sure to take your time as you look at the menu at Nomad Lounge. It’s totally a work of art! Nomad Lounge Menu Menu Art and Spice Trader Classic The drinks are as well. Try the Kungaloosh Spiced Excursion Ale for something different. If your tastes run to cocktails, you’ll find some inventive ones, and there are also plenty of non-alcoholic cocktail options. We loved the Spice Trader Classic! Spice Trader Classic While bites are pretty light here, we love the option of Tiffins Bread Service in the Lounge! Tiffins Signature Bread Service We were impressed with Wings as well, and we can’t wait to try the African-spiced Wagyu Beef Sliders on our next visit. Tune-In Lounge For a taste of home — home in the 1950s, that is — check out Tune-In Lounge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The lounge is adjacent to 50s Primetime Cafe. In fact, it kind of serves as the waiting area for the restaurant. Tune-In Lounge The full bar is a fantastic spot for people watching as you enjoy a drink — like the groovy classic, Dad’s Electric Lemonade! Dad’s Electric Lemonade But here’s the best news — you can also order from 50s Prime Time’s full menu! So go ahead — enjoy Fried Herb and Garlic Cheese or Aunt Liz’s Golden Fried Chicken without an ADR! Aunt Liz’s Golden Fried Chicken Territory Lounge But we’ve saved one of our very favorites for last — Territory Lounge. Territory Lounge Dressed Up For the Holidays! This spot, located at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, is one of the best places to hang out at Walt Disney World. Whether I’m looking to just enjoy a quiet glass of wine, or I’m interested in some hearty bar food, they always have just what I’d like. Wine! Yay! And the cozy atmosphere — and cool carved bears! — keep me coming back again and again. As for bites, DO NOT MISS the Fondue. It changes names — currently, it’s boasting Chardonnay in the mix — but it’s always amazing. Fondue — Up Close And if they also have the donuts — GET THEM. You’re welcome. Ready for All of Our Best Tips? We’ve got TONS of Disney World Dining Tips — including even more restaurant suggestions for your every need — in our big, bold 2017 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining! With more than 600 pages, The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 20+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs! With sample dining itineraries, plus our “Disney Dining at a Glance” section, featuring “Where Can I Find?” options, you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to get your copy of The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining E-book — and use code HAPPYPLACE for a 20% discount! Now we want to hear from YOU! What are your best little-known tips, finds, and hidden secrets for dining in Walt Disney World? Leave a comment and share below! 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 Newsletter Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook Fan Related posts: Tips from the DFB Guide: The Best Spots for Coffee and Tea in Walt Disney World Tips from the DFB Guide: Healthier Options in Walt Disney World Disney Dining Tip from the DFB Guide: Dining at Bars and Lounges in Walt Disney World View the full article

Happy holidays, everyone! Just a reminder that “The Disney Parks’ Magical Christmas Celebration” special will kick off tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. EST on ABC. In this year’s special, hosts Julianne and Derek Hough will take viewers on a magical ride through our parks that combines our parks’ beloved Christmas day parades with musical performances, surprise celebrity appearances, heart-warming family stories and more. Performances on tap include: Alessia Cara performs a “A Holly Jolly Christmas” from Disney’s Hollywood Studios Mariah Carey sings “All I Want for Christmas is You” from the Disneyland Resort Sofia Carson delivers a new arrangement of “Silent Night” from her Disney Channel performance and also hosts from backstage at Walt Disney World Resort Kelly Clarkson performs “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” in front of Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park Gavin DeGraw sings “Merry Christmas Baby” in front of Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park Jordan Fisher performs “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)” from Disney’s Hollywood Studios OneRepublic performs “Kids” from Disney’s Hollywood Studios Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks deliver solo and duet performances from their new album, “Christmas Together,” in front of Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park View the full article

The past twelve days, we’ve shared special graphics and GIFs with you, depicting different Disney characters preparing for or celebrating the holiday season in different ways. Now that there’s only one day left until Christmas Day, our Holiday Countdown series is concluding with one of our team’s favorite Disney characters – Orange Bird. Happy holidays, everyone! Click below to see previous “Countdown” posts: Holiday Countdown: Two Chipmunks Chasing Holiday Countdown: Three Bears A Cubbing Holiday Countdown: Four Tiki Birds Holiday Countdown: Five Green Alien Friends Holiday Countdown: Six Friends A Singing Holiday Countdown: Seven Dwarfs A Mining Holiday Countdown: Eight Fairies Flying Holiday Countdown: Nine Villains Plotting Holiday Countdown: Ten Disney Dogs-A-Barking Holiday Countdown: Eleven Epcot Countries Holiday Countdown: Twelve Monorail Trains View the full article

Looking for a seriously refreshing drink in Disney’s Animal Kingdom? Look no further than the Jungle Juice Slushy at Mahindi! It’s the next delicious stop on the DFB YouTube Channel train! Frozen Jungle Juice at Animal Kingdom’s Mahindi Kiosk Jungle Juice (aka Lilikoi Juice at the Polynesian, aka POG Juice at other spots) has long been a breakfast favorite of mine. And I was over-the-moon excited when I first found it in slushy form a while back at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It’s the perfect refreshing treat as you’re taking in the exotic sights, sounds, and flavors of this special park. There’s nothing we love better than experiencing all of the amazing treats, eats, and drinks at Disney. And we love bringing you with, courtesy of our new DFB YouTube Channel! If you never want to miss a culinary adventure, then be sure to subscribe to our channel. You’ll be alerted every time we post a new video. Now, I wanna hear from you. Is the Jungle Juice Slushy one of your must have Disney Treats? Leave a comment and let us know what you think below! 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 Newsletter Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook Fan Related posts: My Great Idea That You Have to Try: The Jungle Juice Float in Disney’s Animal Kingdom! UPDATE!: The Original DFB Jungle Juice Float in Animal Kingdom New Video: Colossal Cinnamon Roll at Disney’s Animal Kingdom View the full article

Guten tag from beautiful Salzburg, Austria! This week I’m sailing on the very first Adventures by Disney Holiday River Cruise, making stops in eight charming cities and towns throughout four countries along Europe’s Danube River. It’s been nothing short of breathtaking thus far, but this evening I was especially charmed by the warm glow of Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart, and I couldn’t help but share it with all of you. I’ll have even more details to offer about this adventure when I get home, so look for them here on the Disney Parks Blog in the weeks to come. In the meantime, check out what’s in store for our 2017 sailings on the Adventures by Disney website. An Adventures by Disney vacation makes for the ultimate holiday gift (I’m just saying – imagine telling your kids that they’ll spend next Christmas here)! View the full article

Walt Disney World has announced who the performers will be for its first Epcot International Festival of the Art, which debuts next month. + On Jan 13-16 and 20-23: Ashley Brown and Josh Strickland. They will perform songs from: "Beauty and the Beast," "Tarzan," "Mary Poppins" and "The Little Mermaid."... View the full article

Holidays at the Disneyland Resort bring special seasonal touches around every corner, and the residents of Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland park are in the spirit as well. Let’s take a look at some of their holiday decorations. Mickey Mouse has his house decked with traditional holiday garlands, complete with oversize colored lights. Check out Minnie Mouse’s gazebo, with its matching pink and purple adornments. How lovely! And if you’ve seen the new “World of Color – Season of Light” at Disney California Adventure park, you know that holiday decorating isn’t really Goofy’s expertise, but I’d say he did a pretty good job with his house – bowling pins notwithstanding. Which is your favorite festive feature of Mickey’s Toontown during the holiday season? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

In need of a last-minute holiday gift? Look no further! Disney Artist Simone Miranda and team have you covered with our DIY Hot Chocolate Kit tutorials. They’ve put together a clever way to gather and display all the ingredients you’d need for Cocoa, Holiday Cocoa, Spicy Cocoa and Salted Caramel Cocoa. Download the step-by-step instructions here and the ingredients for each here. View the full article

It’s the newest Walt Disney World Resort event that will excite all of your artistic senses. When the Epcot International Festival of the Arts begins January 13, you’ll find performing arts celebrating all styles and genres of music – with the Disney twist – all around Epcot. We’re particularly looking forward to collaborating with Disney Theatrical Productions, which will bring an exciting new showcase of favorite music and Broadway talent to the America Gardens Theatre stage. Throughout the six weekends of the festival, different pairings of phenomenal Broadway artists will perform songs from some of Disney on Broadway’s award winning shows. We’re excited to announce the lineup of performers for this brand new series: Jan. 13-16 and 20-23: Ashley Brown and Josh Strickland performing songs from: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Tarzan, Mary Poppins and The Little Mermaid Jan. 27-30 and Feb. 3-6: Kerry Butler and Kevin Massey performing songs from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Tarzan, Newsies and Aladdin Feb. 10-13 and 17-20: Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald White performing songs from Disney’s The Lion King, Aida, Aladdin and The Little Mermaid Performances will be 5:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday through Monday of each festival weekend. Future World Plaza will also be filled with a variety of other visual and live performances including Epcot Living Statues, performances by Central Florida high schools and acclaimed university and college talent appearing through a partnership with Disney Performing Arts. Plus, Epcot’s American Music Machine will perform on the Future World Fountain Stage. The festival runs Fridays through Mondays from Jan. 13 – Feb. 20. We’ll have more to share as the Festival approaches, so keep reading the Disney Parks Blog for details. View the full article

‘Tis the season for gift giving! Disney Floral & Gifts is happy to share our Gift Guide with you – including gifts for everyone on your list! See our top picks for this season and learn more by clicking on the images below or by visiting our Gift Guide on the Disney Floral & Gifts website. Holiday Gift Guide for Families Holiday Gift Guide for the Young at Heart Holiday Gift Guide for Adults **Please note: The Disney Floral & Gifts Gift Guide series is exclusive to our Walt Disney World© Resort location.** View the full article

A few weeks ago, we asked Disney Parks Blog readers to help select new “Words Are Powerful” Color Infusion bangles by ALEX AND ANI. This collection features Disney sayings and attributes of some of our most beloved characters. Today, I’m delighted to share the results of the recent vote. The top three phrases as voted by our readers were: Make Your Own Path – Pocahontas Be Forever Brave – Merida Unlock the Magic – Jasmine These Disney Parks fan-selected bangles will join the “Words Are Powerful” collection in spring 2017. I also have a special treat for fans of Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. The image above shows the new park icon bangles that will be coming to Disney Parks in early 2017. To make room for these new designs, we will be retiring the original park icon bangles first introduced a few years ago. Once released, each of these bangles will have a retail of $44.95 plus tax, and will be available in both Shiny Gold and Shiny Silver Finishes. Look for ALEX AND ANI on the Shop Disney Parks app, the Disney Parks online store, and at the following locations at Disney Parks: Disneyland Resort Disney California Adventure park – Elias & Co. Disneyland park – Fortuosity Shop Downtown Disney District – Disney Vault 28 and World of Disney Store Walt Disney World Resort Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Discovery Trading Company Disney’s Contemporary Resort – Bayview Gifts Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Keystone Clothiers Disney Springs – Tren-D, World of Disney Store, and ALEX AND ANI Epcot – Mouse Gear Magic Kingdom Park – Emporium View the full article

Central Florida's leading candidate for priciest address isn't on a chain of lakes, in Winter Park or Windermere. Of the 100 most valuable houses in Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Lake counties, more than a tenth line Enchanted Oak Drive at Walt Disney Company's Golden Oak community. That street... View the full article

A holiday tradition in the making for the past three years, Disneyland Resort horses recently participated in the annual Horsetown Parade of Lights in Norco, Calif. Brabant team Bug and Finn had the honor this year to pull the white vis-à-vis carriage festooned with lights. Riding in the carriage was Alexa Garcia, Disneyland Resort Ambassador for 2017-2018. In addition to the colorful lights on Bug and Finn’s harnesses, the Disneyland Resort entry also sprinkled snow as a nod to the nightly snowfalls on Main Street, U.S.A. Take a look as Bug and Finn are prepped for “showtime!” View the full article

We’re stepping well outside our usual stomping grounds today… Universal Studios … to pay a visit to The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen at Universal Studios Florida’s CityWalk! Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen Now really, can you blame me? When I heard about this new steampunk-inspired restaurant with over-the-top sundaes and shakes — along with a full menu that includes ALL-DAY BRUNCH — I just knew I had to make it happen. Forgive my moment of weakness, my Disney friends. Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen sign But if you’re so inclined, please join me inside The Toothsome Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen! Atmosphere The Emporium and Kitchen come to us on behalf of Professor Doctor Penelope Tibeaux-Tinker Toothsome, who traveled the globe in the early 19th century learning ways to infuse chocolate into all sorts of dishes. The Story of The Toothsome Emporium — click to enlarge Upon returning home to London she discovered that her family had departed in an attempt to find her and join in her adventures. So she decided to establish one spot — the “world’s foremost chocolate emporium” — to share her knowledge of chocolate. Bags of Cocoa Beans The Professor’s place has been quite the hit since it opened at Universal’s CityWalk in September. My friends and I arrived promptly at 11:00 am (when it opens daily) and had no trouble at all getting a seat. We were told by our server — and knew already from other sources — that it was a good thing we got there early because this place is still filling up quickly. Just be prepared to wait if you go later in the day. (Currently, the location is not taking reservations.) Once inside, our eyes were greeted by Steampunk Decor Galore!!! Emporium Atmosphere Emporium Atmosphere Emporium Atmosphere Emporium Atmosphere There are gizmos aplenty! (You can take the girl out of Disney World, but… ) Emporium Atmosphere Emporium Atmosphere Emporium Atmosphere This huge restaurant (that has an ENORMOUS menu to match — you’ll see what I mean soon) is two stories, each with their own main dining room. Main Dining Room Main Dining Room Smaller dining rooms are surrounded by windows for a more brightly lit atmosphere. Downstairs Ice Cream Parlor Dining Upstairs Dining Table Seating I thought the bar areas were especially fun! Bar If you don’t have time to sit for a meal (or if the wait is too long), you aren’t left without a chance to enjoy some Toothsome goods. There is a Confectionary serving Milkshakes, Sundaes, and Crepes at a counter that you can take along. Confectionary Counter Confectionary Menu Ice Cream Brownies Red Velvet Cupcakes Or you can just grab some chocolate from the same general merchandise area to enjoy later. Merchandise Area Chocolate Bar Chocolates Chocolates For all the fun scenery, though, this is a Savory Feast KITCHEN. So let’s see what Professor Doctor Penelope Tibeaux-Tinker Toothsome has in store for her guests at her Emporium! Eats Okay, as always, we’re going to start with a look at the menu… which is seriously gigantic. Like…it’s a serious BOOK. SO gigantic, in fact, that we’re going to take it section by section along with our food choices starting with the list of Libations, where you’ll notice chocolate playing a major role in several of the cocktails (for any of the menu pages, just click the image to enlarge). Libations Menu — click to enlarge My friends and I actually just had water… which would typically make for an incredibly boring picture if not for the super cool glasses it was served in. Water Glass Appetizers at the Emporium are referred to as Temptations… and when we looked at the list, we realized that was a pretty appropriate title. Take a gander! “Temptations” Menu — click to enlarge “Temptations” Menu — click to enlarge We knew we had to try the Totchos, because I’d heard good things. And I probably would have chosen them anyway, given that Totchos are fried tater tots topped with spicy green chili, andouille cheddar cheese sauce, and crispy pork belly. Totchos The substantial pile of tots stayed crispy even with the cheddar cheese sauce topping it. That said, I didn’t think there was enough of that sauce, so I requested more on the side for dipping. Extra Andouille Sausage Cheddar Cheese Sauce Can’t say we picked up any heat from the spicy chili, but the pork belly gave it such a wow factor on its own that I didn’t miss it. If you have someone in your group who really isn’t into the idea of pork belly, it’s prepared and diced in such a way (more reminiscent of thick-cut bacon) that this may be the dish to turn them around. Totchos Totally addictive. We also got the Philly Cheesesteak Rolls, which are served with a cherry pepper aioli on the side. Philly Cheesesteak Rolls Cherry Pepper Aioli We got them just for fun, but seriously, these were SO good. The crunchy, golden-fried shells are filled with beef and plenty of cheese. They’re reminiscent of the tasty Cheeseburger Spring Rolls in Magic Kingdom. Philly Cheesesteak Rolls You receive four full-sized rolls so this is about perfect for a party of four. Since they’re filling, you don’t want to ruin the rest of your meal by having more than one, but they are so yummy that it’s hard to hold back if there’s any left on the plate. This was probably the only item we purchased that we finished completely. SO wow. The Baked Brie was probably the least exciting of the appetizers we picked. Baked Brie I had high hopes, and the brie was strong and tasty, but there nothing noteworthy about it. Baked Brie Baked Brie It is served, though, with some of the Emporium’s Chocolate Almond Bread, which you do have to purchase separately here; it’s not brought out as a complimentary precursor to the meal. That bread turned out to be the highlight of this appetizer, with just a subtle hint of sweetness and otherwise almost akin to rye. Chocolate Almond Bread and Lavosh Even though it’s a pet peeve of mine when bread isn’t included with your meal, I would consider getting this one on its own. We’re moving on to the Flatbreads next, including some unique choices like a Duck Confit Flatbread and Forest Mushroom. Flatbreads Menu — click to enlarge Ultimately we went with the Blackened Steak and Blue Flatbread, with crimini mushrooms, caramelized onions, spinach, and Wisconsin blue cheese. Blackened Steak and Blue Flatbread This was definitely a crowd-pleaser at the table. It was simply well-executed. Whenever I see steak listed as an ingredient (as opposed to being an entree, where it receives much more attention) I assume it’s going to be a little tough or chewy. That wasn’t the case here. The steak was very tender. Blackened Steak and Blue Flatbread I also appreciated the mild flavor of the blue cheese and the hint of sweetness from the caramelized onion. And I was impressed at how the VERY thin, almost cracker-like flatbread was still able to withstand the hearty toppings. The Professor Doctor made sure to include some Salads and Soups on the menu. Salads and Soups — click to enlarge We didn’t get any . I’m telling you, the menu was so huge we really had a hard time narrowing it down! And when I go somewhere and don’t get any cocktails or soups, you KNOW there’s a lot more on the menu I had to manage! ;-D Would you believe we’re only just now arriving at the Entrees? The Entree page is interesting in that it runs the gamut from a couple of chicken options starting at $14.95 to a few choices that — in Disney-speak — would be considered “Signature.” Entree Menu — click to enlarge We all leaned, though, towards options from the Sandwich and Hamburger selections, along with a Pasta dish for our main courses. Sandwich Menu — click to enlarge Hamburger Menu — click to enlarge Pasta Menu — click to enlarge The Blue Plate Burger is a half-pound patty topped with grilled meatloaf, garlic mashed potatoes, cheddar cheese, sweet corn, and bordelaise sauce on toasted brioche. We ordered it with French Fries (the other side choice is Kettle Chips). Blue Plate Burger and Fries For me, there was a bit too much going on here, and it turned out to be a pretty messy burger. While I like brioche, there is too much sauce and topping on this burger for a soft bread to withstand it. Blue Plate Burger But it’s fun. And I didn’t mind the presence of the corn as much as I thought; the sweetness helped to break up the other ingredients a bit. We also got the May Contain Bacon Burger… mostly for the fun name , but also because it’s topped with thick cut bacon and grilled pork belly along with pineapple chutney and chipotle Jack cheese — this time on a pretzel bun. May Contain Bacon Burger and Kettle Chips Here’s a close-up of the tasty house-made Kettle Chips. House-made Kettle Chips Though the burger sounds over-the-top, it really just turned out to taste like your basic — and really good — bacon burger with a nice fruity taste from the pineapple. May Contain Bacon Burger May Contain Bacon Burger In both cases, though — and this is important — the burger patties themselves were terrific, and prepared nicely to our medium rare requests. In fact, in every instance where a dish involved meat, it was well prepared, flavorful, and tender. That remained the case with the chicken in the Gnocchi. It’s served with grilled chicken, sweet peppers and rapini (the broccolini you see), with a mole cream sauce — that’s where the bit of chocolate is in this dish! (And, no, there’s not chocolate infused in every dish.) Gnocchi It comes together as a kind of Mexican-Italian fusion with the dumplings meeting the mole sauce. Gnocchi Oddly, though, I almost picked up a subtle red curry taste to it. Maybe that was due to the cumin, which is found in both mole and red curry sauces? Whatever the case, the dish was packed with flavor, and unique. Some at the table found this to be very masala-like. Oh, and I did mention ALL-DAY BRUNCH earlier, didn’t I? Brunch Menu — click to enlarge Brunch Menu — click to enlarge We ordered the Banana and Nutella French Toast, made with Challah and a banana mascarpone filling, topped with bruleed banana. Banana and Nutella French Toast Lots of macadamia nut pieces were sprinkled on top, too. Banana and Nutella French Toast Prepare yourself: this dish is not moist and eggy, like your typical French Toast. It’s actually rather dry, which is where that Nutella Cream comes in handy. Nutella Cream and Chocolate-Covered Strawberries But once I mentally adjusted to the difference this dish completely won me over when I realized exactly what it tasted like: FUNNEL CAKE. So, yeah, it’s Brunch, but really… it’s dessert . And it WORKS. Oh, what’s that? Did somebody say “Dessert?!” Dessert Menu — click to enlarge Well, there’s more than a few to choose from, so let’s start with the Sundaes! Sundaes — click to enlarge Sundaes — click to enlarge Our choices were the Banana Cream Pie Sundae and May Contain Nuts. Banana Cream Pie Sundae May Contain Nuts Sundae At a glance, the sundaes look completely enormous, and they are generously sized. But in essence they’re three scoops of ice cream each with one fairly large dessert-type piece. For instance, it’s the slice of banana cream pie— natch — in the Banana Cream Pie Sundae. Banana Cream Pie Sundae The cream pie was the highlight of the Sundae, which is otherwise comprised of pretty standard, traditional sundae flavors. The piece of Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie in the May Contain Nuts was pretty awesome, too. These large pieces are served along with some smaller “accent” items like the peanut butter cups and brittle, and a few piles of garnished whipped cream. May Contain Nuts Sundae In both cases, it’s the plating that makes the sundaes seem bigger than they are. That said, they are still PLENTY big, and great for sharing around the table. Of all the sweet treats we tried, the May Contain Nuts was the all-around favorite due to the delicious chocolate peanut butter pie and heavenly peanut butter drizzle. More intriguing than the Sundaes, perhaps, is the enormous selection of Milkshakes. Milkshake Menu — click to enlarge Milkshake Menu — click to enlarge We saved just a wee bit of room for the Red Velvet, Strawberry Cheesecake, and Bacon Brittle Milkshakes! Red Velvet, Strawberry Cheesecake, and Bacon Brittle Milkshakes The components of the Bacon Brittle Milkshake are bacon ice cream and bacon caramel. Bacon Brittle Milkshake It’s topped with bacon brittle and a slice of chocolate-covered bacon. Bacon Brittle Milkshake Bacon Ice Cream, in case you’re curious, is just really… weird. Not the most professional description, I know, but “weird” is the word for it. There was some maple and vanilla to deliver some sweetness when you took your first sip, but what made it so unusual was the prominence of a back-end smokiness that was unexpected, and didn’t completely work, in my opinion. It’s fun to try a sip or two, but I can’t imagine drinking an entire one by myself. What stood out the most with the Red Velvet Milkshake was the cupcake topper. Red Velvet Milkshake It was full sized, and actually quite good. They probably could’ve gotten away with making the cupcake something that was more about looks on top of the shake, but it was moist and tasty and stood on its own as a dessert. Red Velvet Cupcake Getting into the shake itself, though, I could not get past the texture. Red Velvet cake was blended in with the vanilla ice cream and raspberry sauce and ended up making the shake itself very grainy. Red Velvet Milkshake It was like drinking cake, if you can imagine that. (A word to the wise: DON’T imagine that.) Pass. The base of the Strawberry Cheesecake Milkshake is Sour Cream Ice Cream. Strawberry Cheesecake Milkshake And though it’s also topped with cheesecake, whipped cream, graham crackers, and a chocolate dipped strawberry, that straight-up taste of sour cream is definitely the most prominent, with just a mildly sweet aftertaste. Strawberry Cheesecake Milkshake As for our table, the jury was divided: one of us absolutely hated it, one thought it was interesting but couldn’t drink a full glass of it, and one said it was her favorite. So, if you REEEAAALLYYYY enjoy sour cream, have at it! If not, steer clear . Either way, that is how we ended our very first visit to The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen! Overall I gotta give credit where credit is due. Universal Orlando has created a spot not only with a terrific atmosphere custom-made for Steampunk fans, but they deliver here with the food as well. Though I’d have to say that for a place that is marketing up the over-the-top sweet stuff, I very much preferred the savory fare with some truly creative and well-prepared dishes. The Emporium is located at Universal Orlando’s CityWalk, so you don’t need park admission to visit. However, if you drive yourself you will need to park your car. And even though CityWalk is Universal’s shopping and dining destination, parking is not free as it is for Disney Springs. At the time of this writing, parking for Universal is $20.00 (the fee is lifted for Florida Residents after 6:00 pm). So that’s something to consider. We at DFB all agreed that we wouldn’t be willing to pay 20 bucks just to go to this restaurant. But if your Orlando vacation plans include a trip to Universal (perhaps to get your Harry Potter fix) and you’re already on property, I’d gladly recommend a trip to The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen! Sooo… whaddya think? Would you like to dine at The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen? 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 Newsletter Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook Fan Related posts: Trend Alert! 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