Travel Eats documents my food adventures outside of Chicago.
I spent my first full week of 2014 on vacation in Walt Disney World with my family – including my 6-year-old niece and 3-year-old nephew, who were especially caught up in the magic of Disney. While it was a blast to see shows, go on rides, and otherwise get in touch with my inner child, I was just as interested in the culinary landscape (let’s face it, Disney World might as well be its own city). Here’s the best of what I ate and drank in 7 days across 4 Disney parks.
Magic Kingdom
Due to its popularity with the kids (and adults) in our party, we spent more time in this park than any of the others. From a luscious, beautifully plated dessert at Cinderella’s castle – in the company of princesses! – to a Thanksgiving-style feast at a patriotic tavern, I was impressed by our fantasy-infused meals. I knew I’d be in for an extravagant week when “grabbing a hot dog” on Main Street to make it time for the electric parade resulted in a behemoth dog smothered in so much pulled pork and coleslaw that I could barely pick it up to eat it. Other Main Street treats included a dessert-like latte (at a cleverly disguised Starbucks) and a Mickey rice-krispie treat made fresh at the confectionery.
Cinderella’s Royal Table, Fantasyland
Casey’s Corner, Main Street
Liberty Tree Tavern, Liberty Square
Main Street Bakery, Main Street
Main Street Confectionery, Main Street
Epcot
Going into the trip, I was most excited to sample the international fare at Epcot’s World Showcase. Mexico proved a reliable option for creative (and strong) margaritas with caramelized pineapple and ginger or jalapeño and cucumber at La Cava del Tequila. I also loved the spicy shrimp in chile sauce at the adjacent restaurant, San Angel Inn. France also didn’t disappoint, with stunning pastries by day and perfectly cooked duck confit by night.
La Cava del Tequila, Mexico
San Angel Inn Restaurante, Mexico
Les Halles Boulangerie & Pâtisserie, France
Chefs de France, France
Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Studios held my favorite dining atmosphere – next to the castle, that is – at the charming 50’s Prime Time Café, complete with TV reels, furniture, and decor from that era. From “Dad’s Liquor Cabinet” came electric lemonade with a neon-light ice cube (and yes, I took the cube home for future glowing beverages); it paired nicely with comforting meatloaf and onion rings with zesty horseradish sauce. I also felt transported to the Golden Age at the Brown Derby, imagining stars that dined on the same Cobb salad at the original Hollywood restaurant. I adored the mushroom and bleu cheese napoleon appetizer here as well. And this park was also where I attempted to conquer a jumbo turkey leg – I couldn’t finish it, but enjoyed each smoky bite.
Animal Kingdom
With only one whirlwind day at Animal Kingdom, there wasn’t a lot of time for dining. I knew I wanted to try something from the Africa area, and the mild chicken curry with rice and pita turned out to be an excellent, filling snack. The best sip of the day was frozen mango rum lemonade, unfortunately shared and slurped too quickly to get a photo.
And, even though it’s technically not inside Disney World, I have to gloat a tiny bit about enjoying a piña colada at the resort’s poolside bar on Polar Vortex Sunday…
For a comprehensive guide to all things Disney dining, check out Disney Food Blog; I found it to be a very helpful resource before and during the trip.