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Disney Parks Other

Review: We’re Trying the Chocolatti Drink at the Reopened Earl of Sandwich in Disney World

Disney Springs has started its phased reopening today, with select third-party restaurant and retail locations welcoming back guests.

Earl of Sandwich

Disney Springs has started to reopen with additional health and safety measures in place. And, while not all locations have resumed operations, Earl of Sandwich has officially reopened. Our team headed out to get a feel for how things are going around Disney Springs — so, let’s take a peek inside Earl of Sandwich!

Last week, we learned that Earl of Sandwich would be reopening their doors on May 20th. So, we stopped by to see how things look inside one of our favorite sandwich shops. Much of these protocols were present at other counter service dining locations. Our first encounter with Earl included ground markers outside in case they needed to start an outdoor queue, but we were able to head right inside!

Earl of Sandwich

Menu

Like other Disney Springs dining locations, Earl of Sandwich implemented disposable paper menus.

Earl of Sandwich Menu

Their menu looked largely the same with many of our favorites available for purchase! Their disposable menus also provided information about what your Disney Dining Plan credits would get you.

Earl of Sandwich Menu

Service

Like other locations today at Disney Springs, floor markers were present to remind guests to stand six feet apart while in line.

Earl of Sandwich

We saw employees wearing masks as well as gloves. Similar to our experience at Chicken Guy!, guests were not allowed to approach the counter where you would normally grab cup lids, napkins, and utensils. An employee was ready to grab whatever you needed for you!

Earl of Sandwich

This included filling and refilling whatever fountain drinks you need.

Earl of Sandwich

There was hand sanitizer ready and available for customers to use.

Earl of Sandwich

Like other dining locations, indoor, as well as outdoor tables, were spread out to meet physical distancing guidelines.

Earl of Sandwich

Eats (or rather, drinks!)

Obviously, we had to give something a try while we visited Earl! We picked up the new-to-us Chocolatti beverage, which is blended Ghirardelli chocolate topped with sea salt, whipped cream, and chocolate sprinkles. Essentially a chocolate lover’s dream, or so we thought!

Chocolatti

While we found the drink to be a cool and refreshing sip on a hot Florida afternoon, we wished the chocolate flavor was more pronounced. Especially when you include Ghirardelli as your main ingredient, we want to taste ALL that chocolatey goodness!

Chocolatti at Earl of Sandwich

Payment

The plexiglass screen guards were present at the registers for Earl of Sandwich. Other than that, the payment process was very familiar and not as out of the ordinary to us. At this time, they are still accepting cash as a method of payment.

Earl of Sandwich

Overall Experience

As a long-standing Disney Springs staple, Earl of Sandwich is back and in full swing! We noticed many similar protocols to other counter service dining locations throughout Disney Springs.

What is your favorite menu item at Earl of Sandwich? Let us know in the comments!

Related posts:

  1. Have A Royal Banquet with the NEW “Earl’s Feast” in Disney Springs!
  2. NEWS: Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC to Reopen in Disney Springs on May 20th
  3. News! Earl of Sandwich Is Opening With Disney Springs on May 20th!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Counter-Service, Disney Springs, Featured, Walt Disney World, disney springs crowd levels, Disney Springs Earl of Sandwich, disney springs re-opening, disney springs reopening, Earl of Sandwich, health and safety measures

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Disney Parks

Here Are the Places Where You Can Buy Booze To-Go in Disney Springs Right Now

Today we have been in Disney Springs exploring not only the restaurants and shops, but also observing the new safety measures put in place as Walt Disney’s World’s shopping and dining district begins its phased reopening today.

Balloons in Disney Springs Today

New measures include — but are not limited to — required face coverings, physical distancing markers, and temperature checks. Along with the new measures, there are certain establishments and experiences in Disney Springs that are not open to guests at this time.

These include Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and cake decorating at Amorette’s Patissiere, and entertainment venues like THE VOID and the NBA Experience. Additionally, standalone bars are not open.

The BOATHOUSE Bar

You may think that means you can’t get a drink outside of table service restaurants like Wine Bar George or The BOATHOUSE. But we are letting you know about the places that you can get a drink to go at walk-up counters in various locations around Disney Springs.

You’re welcome. 

There are a few table service restaurants that already previously offered walk-up windows where you could purchase alcoholic beverages, and they still do. These include Frontera Cocina, Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, and The Basket at Wine Bar George.

Frontera Cocina Drink To Go

At Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, they did not previously serve cocktails at the walk-up window — just frozen drinks. But for the time being, a bartender from inside can create cocktails for walk-up guests.

Wolfgang Puck To Go

The BOATHOUSE does not typically host a walk-up window. However, because they cannot host a bar right now, we found that they will make you a drink to go.

The Boathouse Reopening Interior

(You just can’t take the glass from the cute DUCK Drink.)

Duck Duck Razz at THE BOATHOUSE

There are even places you may not typically expect to find alcoholic beverages, but you still can. For instance, did you know Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company serves alcoholic options?

Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company

They did previously, and continue to now.

The YeSake kiosk — which is only walk-up service, as per usual — also serves beverages such as Frozen Beer.

Distance Markers at YeSake

Other counter service locations that serve alcohol that are currently open include The Polite Pig, and a small selection of beer is served at the 4R Cantina Barbacoa Food Truck, and Chicken Guy! (which also serves wine).

The Polite Pig

Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza is open as well.

Additional table service locations currently open (without walk-up windows, but you can still grab a bite or drink while there) include Planet Hollywood, Paradiso 37, STK Orlando, and T-REX.

Line Outside T-REX

Remember, you are allowed to sip (and eat!) and stroll around Disney Springs when you can carry away your items, and you can read more about that here.

And to read more about the current status of Disney Resorts and parks around the world, you may visit any of the links below.

Are you following along with the reopening of Disney Springs? Please let us know with a comment!

Related posts:

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  3. What It’s Like to Eat and Drink in Disney Springs When You’re NOT in a Restaurant

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disney Springs, Featured, Walt Disney World, disney springs, disney springs reopening, Frontera Cocina, health and safety measures, Joffrey’s Coffee and Tea Co., The Basket at Wine Bar George, The Boathouse, walk up window, Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, YeSake

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Disney Parks Other

Photos: We Tried Out The NEW Addition To The Polite Pig’s Menu in Disney Springs

Disney Springs began a phased reopening on May 20th, and we stopped by to check it out.

The Polite Pig

Disney Springs began reopening with additional health and safety measures. While not all locations chose to resume operations immediately, The Polite Pig is one of the third-party restaurants that reopened with Disney Springs. So, we stopped by on our visit to Disney Springs to see what it looked like on its first day back in operation.

Menu

Polite Pig is still using the same overhead digital menu as before in addition to one posted outside.

Polite Pig Menu

Or you can grab your phone and scan to view the menu from the contactless menu QR code!

Polite Pig Menu

The restaurant had decals on the floor letting guests know where to stand. Once you wait your turn, you order at the register like normal.

Polite Pig

The Polite Pig installed plexiglass dividers to protects guests and cast members, but we were able to pay with a card using the pin pad.

Polite Pig Ordering

The Polite Pig is still offering an extensive menu and even added a new Pork Rinds option. We confirmed with a couple of cast members that Polite Pig is not selling Gideon’s Bakehouse cookies at this time because Gideon’s is still limiting their production. We will for sure keep you posted on this.

Seating

Polite Pig is still seat yourself, but the seating appeared to be spaced a little further apart than we have seen in the past. There were no signs denoting that any tables were off-limits, so we picked a table and waited for our food.

The Polite Pig

The Polite Pig

Tables remain equipped with paper towel holders and we admit — we used some hand sanitizer before and after out of respect for ourselves and the next guests.

Polite Pig Paper Towels on Table

Polite Pig gave us a buzzer with a number for our server to find us once the food was ready.

Service

Face coverings are required for all guests and cast members in Disney Springs and Polite Pig was no exception. Each cast member was wearing a mask and they even had their own branded Polite Pig masks. Cast members at the front were wiping down high-traffic areas like poles and railings after guests passed by.

Polite Pig

Sauces are still available, but they are no longer help yourself. You’ll need to let your server know what you want and they will grab it for you.

Polite Pig Sauce Bar Closed

Our server delivered our food with a smile — and gloves!

Polite Pig

Then, it was time to chow down.

Food

We tried out the new Pork Rinds — for science! And it’s the Polite Pig, after all, so we tried some crispy pig skins…to be polite!

They were served with a pimento dipping sauce. Pork rinds with a sauce was an interesting concept, but hey — we love a good sauce.

Polite Pig

The rinds themselves weren’t spicy, but the pimento sauce has a kick. Rind and spice lovers, this may be your new jam.

Drinks

The Polite Pig Bar was closed, but the soft-serve beverage station was still self-serve. There was a small divider between the stations to help limit contact between parties.

Polite Pig Sauce Bar Closed

Overall Experience

Our experience at Polite Pig was very similar to our past visits. Sure, there were extra dividers and we needed our server’s help to grab sauces, but the overall process was familiar. We appreciated the servers using gloves and cast members sanitizing high traffic areas. But we probably could have done without the paper towels on the table and –although they were tasty — the pork rinds didn’t come close to beating out the killer corn!

Have you eaten at The Polite Pig? Share your experience in the comments!

Related posts:

  1. The Chicken Guy! Reopening in Disney World Had LONG LINES and New Procedures. Check Out Our Experience Here!
  2. News! Earl of Sandwich, Chicken Guy!, and Planet Hollywood in Disney Springs Share New Safety Protocols
  3. The Rubber Duckie Drink RETURNS! We’re Back at The Boathouse in Disney Springs on Reopening Day

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Counter-Service, Disney Springs, Featured, Walt Disney World, dining, Disney, disney dining, disney restaurant, disney springs, disney springs dining, disney springs reopening, disney springs restaurant, Disney World, Disney World reopening, disney world resort, polite pig, reopening, walt disney world resort

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Disney Parks Other

REVIEW! We Ate at the Reopened Wolfgang Puck Bar and Grill (AND Their To-Go Counter!) in Disney World

It has been a day. We have been taking you all around Disney Springs on its re-opening day.

Wolfgang Puck

Now we’re heading to Wolfgang Puck Bar and Grill to see how they modified their restaurant with new health and safety protocols. Care to join us (virtually) for lunch?

Reservations

Wolfgang Puck Bar and Grill re-opened to guests today at noon. We snagged a reservation from OpenTable, but you can also make a reservation on the Wolfgang Puck website. While they were accepting walk-in guests, the wait was between 45 minutes and an hour for parties of two (with an even longer wait for larger groups) without reservations when we arrived at 12:30PM.

Wolfgang Puck

The wait seemed to be partially due to demand, and partially due to the reduced seating, with the table spaced farther apart to allow customers to distance.

Seating

Speaking of seating, the tables were spaced noticeably farther apart than before the closure. For reference, here’s an idea of the seating the last time we visited the restaurant.

Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill interior

In contrast, the tables in the center of the restaurant are now spaced farther apart, and some tables were purposely left empty in order to allow guests to distance.

Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill

Here’s a closer look at one of the empty tables with a sign indicating that it was to remain vacant.

Empty Table at Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill

The seating was noticeably reduced, and we had no trouble maintaining our distance from other guests with the restaurant layout.

Menu

We were given disposable paper menus, and there are a limited number of items available. Despite the reduced selection, there were still several appetizers, salads, pizzas, burgers, entrees, sides, and desserts for guests to choose from.

Wolfgang Puck Menu

Instead of offering both a lunch and dinner menu, there are currently offering one all-day menu. Here’s a look at the drinks that were available on the menu as well.

Wolfgang Puck Menu

Our server informed us that since many of the menu items are similar to their typical dinner offerings, they have started serving more lunch options at the Grab and Go window outside, which has also reopened (more on that later!).

Service

There were a number of health measures followed by all of the restaurant staff, including heightened cleaning, sanitizer available at all bussing stations, the sanitization of pens between uses, handwashing required anytime a team member enters the kitchen, and the use of gloves.

Wolfgang Puck

Our server also informed us that the staff came in on Monday for safety training and arrived early today to rearrange the tables. All of the food runners were wearing gloves, and any servers who deliver food must change gloves and wash their hands before and after dropping off the plates.

Food

Our server said the Bruschetta is the best-selling appetizer on the menu, so we decided to give it a try. And wow, we’re glad we did — it was SO GOOD!

Bruschetta

The bread was perfectly crispy, and the veggies on top were super fresh. It reminded us of a Caprese salad on top of fresh bread, and we would definitely order this delicious appetizer again!

To-Go Options

As mentioned earlier, the to-go window also reopened with grab-and-go options. In addition to lunch and snack items, guests can also order drinks at the to-go window, prepared by a bartender from the restaurant.

Wolfgang Puck

We grabbed the Kakamora’s Dart Cocktail, themed for Moana. It was a blend of Plantation Pineapple Rum, Malibu Coconut Rum, and Lime. We really enjoyed this drink — it was refreshing, and not overly sweet like some tropical cocktails can be.

Kakamora’s Dart Cocktail

We also tried a few desserts! The Salted Caramel Banana Pudding was soooo good! The banana pudding was super creamy with big chunks of banana and vanilla wafers, topped with a scoop of salted caramel gelato. We’ll definitely grab this again the next time we’re in Disney Springs!

Salted Caramel Banana Pudding

And the Reese’s Cookie was also a winner! It might sound a little basic, but this huge, soft peanut butter and chocolate chunk cookie was stuffed with Reese’s Pieces making it the ultimate blend of dessert flavors.

Reese’s Cookie

One thing to note if you’re grabbing something from the to-go window — the seating options are super limited. The seating here was always sparse, and now that the tables are extra spread out and reduced, it can be tough to find a spot!

Wolfgang Puck Seating

But they do have signs indicating the seating is reserved for Wolfgang Puck guests at least! So if you see a table you’d like, ask a host if you can sit there.

Overall Experience

While things were definitely a little different than our last visit, we had a positive experience on our visit today. The food both inside the restaurant and at the to-go window was incredible, the staff was super friendly and helpful, and we had plenty of room to enjoy our eats.

Wolfgang Puck To Go

Just keep in mind that there was a pretty long wait for walk-in guests, so try to grab a reservation if you’re looking to eat inside the restaurant anytime soon! For an even more detailed comparison, you can check out our full review of Wolfgang Puck Bar and Grill from before the closures here!

What do you think of Wolfgang Puck’s new dining experience? Let us know in the comments!

Related posts:

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  3. News! Earl of Sandwich, Chicken Guy!, and Planet Hollywood in Disney Springs Share New Safety Protocols

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disney News, Disney Springs, Featured, Special Stuff, Table-Service, Walt Disney World, advance dining reservation, banana pudding and salted caramel gelato, bruschetta, dining, Disney, disney dining, disney reservations, disney restaurant, disney springs, disney springs dining, disney springs restaurant, Disney World, disney world resort, kakamora’s dart, reeses cookie, table service dining, walt disney world resort, Wolfgang Puck, Wolfgang Puck Bar and Grill

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Disney Parks Other

Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC Has Officially Reopened in Disney World! See Their New Health Measures Here.

Disney Springs has officially reopened today.

Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC

A large number of third-party restaurants and retailers have reopened their doors at Disney Springs, and we’re here LIVE to check out all of the new health and safety measures that are in place. One of the locations that has reopened today is Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC.  

Safety Measures

The location is currently open from 10AM – 10PM. In order to promote safety, the bakery is only allowing one group in at a time. Markings are placed on the ground so guests waiting to go inside the bake-shop can distance themselves from other customers.

Erin McKenna’s

Once guests are inside, they are asked to stay behind the red tape. Parties must stand in or near the designated squares on the floor to look at the bakery case, make their payment, and wait for their treats to be given to them!

Erin McKenna’s Tape on the Ground

All of the Cast Members at Erin McKenna’s wore masks and gloves to handle food and beverages.

Cast Member at Erin McKenna’s

Menu

If you’re visiting Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC, you may be happy to know that the bakery is also offering their full menu. While the bakeshop is accepting orders by phone 24 hours in advance (with payment accepted over the phone), walk-ins are also welcome after they wait outside for their turn. The bakery is encouraging cashless payment as much as possible, but still accepting cash at this time.

Erin McKenna’s Menu

Can we have one of each??

Erin McKenna’s Bakery Case

On top of Erin McKenna’s, there are so many other spots open in Disney Springs today that we’re giving you a first look at!

Are you planning to visit Disney Springs soon? Let us know in the comments below. 

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From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Counter-Service, disney dining tips, Disney News, disney parks, Disney Springs, Featured, Snacks, Walt Disney World, disney dessert, disney dining, disney news, disney snacks, disney springs, disney springs reopening, disney treats, Disney World, Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC