Category: Disney Lists

Complete List of Reopening Details for Disneyland When it Opens Next Month

Post author By chipandco.com
Post date June 16, 2020

Complete List of Reopening Details for Disneyland When it Opens Next Month

The Disneyland Resort is still closed but pending government approval, the parks will reopen next month! Let’s go over all of the reopening details for Disneyland you’ll want to know.

The Downtown Disney District will begin opening on July 9. Pending government approval, both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure will reopen July 17. And Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel will reopen July 23.

Upon reopening, certain Disneyland Resort theme parks, hotels, restaurants and other locations may be limited in capacity and subject to restricted availability or even closure based on guidance from health experts and government officials.

Certain attractions, experiences, services, and amenities will be modified, have limited availability, or remain closed. Park admission and offerings are not guaranteed.

Disney’s focus remains on the health and safety of all guests and Cast Members. When the resort reopens there will be enhanced health and safety measures in place which include:

Enhanced Protective Measures: Face coverings for both Cast Members and Guests will be required, with the addition of hand-washing stations and physical barriers, where appropriate.
Physical Distancing: Theme park capacity will be reduced to enable physical distancing and appropriate signs will be added to help Guests move responsibly throughout the property.
Temperature Checks: All Guests will undergo temperature screenings prior to entering the Downtown Disney District or the theme parks; in addition, health screenings and temperature checks will be required daily for Cast Members.
Limited-Contact Enhancements: Cashless transactions are recommended and Cast Member and Guest interactions will be reduced with helpful technology, including the expansion of Mobile Order in the Disneyland app, Apple Pay and more.
Enhanced Cleaning and Sanitation: Disney will build upon its existing standards of cleaning with heightened protocols.

There will also be a new park reservation system in place when the parks reopen. The following updates will help promote physical distancing:

Park Reservations: Because theme park capacity will be significantly limited to comply with governmental requirements and promote physical distancing, attendance will be managed through a new theme park reservation system that will require all Guests, including Annual Passholders, to obtain a reservation for park entry in advance. Theme park reservations will be subject to availability. More details about this new reservation system will be available soon.
New Ticket Sales: At this time, Disney is also temporarily pausing new ticket sales and Annual Passport sales and renewals. Additional details will be provided soon.
Hotels of the Disneyland Resort: Pending governmental approval, Disneyland Resort Hotel Guests will once again enjoy being immersed in the magic when Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, and Disney Vacation Club Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa reopen to Guests and members starting on July 23, 2020. The Disneyland Hotel will open at a later date. Plans to support physical distancing as well as increased cleaning measures, along with a number of other health and safety protocols, will be implemented as part of the phased reopening of the hotels and the Disney Vacation Club.

Additionally, select attractions and certain experiences that draw large group gatherings—such as parades and nighttime spectaculars—will return at a later date. While character meet-and-greets will be temporarily unavailable, Characters will be in the parks in new ways to entertain and delight Guests. The Disneyland Resort will also have capacity measures in place, as well as limitations on parking and operating hours.

Source

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: News, Disney California Adventure, Disneyland, Downtown Disney, Parks & Resorts, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa, Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, disneyland hotel, Disneyland Reopening, Disneyland Resort, Downtown Disney District

Tags Disney California Adventure, disney's grand californian hotel and spa, disney's paradise pier hotel, disneyland, disneyland hotel, Disneyland Reopening, Disneyland Resort, Downtown Disney, Downtown Disney District, news, Parks & Resorts

Disney Lists

6 CRAZY RARE Things You Can See in Disney World (And When You Can Spot Them)!

Post author By disneyfoodblog.com
Post date June 13, 2020

Disney World is definitely the Most Magical Place on Earth — at least we think so! While the parks already sprinkle pixie dust on your vacation regularly, they’ll even go the EXTRA mile with a few surprises!

Festival of Fantasy Parade

Although you might be able to meet Mickey or watch the Festival of Fantasy parade on a normal basis, there are a few rare things that happen in Disney World that most people don’t get the chance to see…unless you know where (and when!) to look!

But, we’re giving YOU all the details, so you can keep an eye out for these uncommon sights the next time you’re in the parks!

No Strings Attached Pass (AKA a Pinocchio Pass)

You may have received a “Multiple Experiences” FastPass in Disney World if a ride you’re waiting for breaks down, but the “No Strings Attached” Pass, otherwise known as a Pinocchio Pass is like the HOLY GRAIL of passes. This golden ticket can get you anything from a free FastPass to a snack item and even some new merchandise!

Pinocchio Pass

Unfortunately, though, Pinocchio Passes are usually given out when something goes wrong during your trip (so don’t expect to be able to ask a Cast Member for one whenever you like!). If a Cast Member wants to add some extra magic to your day to try and fix a problem, you might be given one of these to rectify a problem. It’s a really wonderful way to brighten your day, especially since unexpected things happen on vacations all the time.

Rainy Day Cavalcades

Florida gets a LOT of rain, so there’s bound to be more than a few days when the weather gets in the way of outdoor entertainment in Disney World. While fireworks might be canceled altogether if the weather prevents them, there is actually a version of the parades meant for these kinds of circumstances! Although the parks will usually delay the parades first to see if the rain will subside, the “normal” parades may be canceled if the floats or costumes could be damaged.

Minnie Mouse in the Rainy Day Cavalcade!

They’ll send out a Rainy Day Cavalcade instead so you can still spot your favorite characters! Recently at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, we witnessed a cavalcade in the rain where the pirates carried mops! So, basically, it was the cutest thing ever!! And, we’ve seen Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party showcase a few characters in their holiday best, waving to guests on Main Street from a trolley.

It might not be the parade you were expecting, but it still is so much fun to watch!!

Rain-Check Voucher

Speaking of rain, sometimes Disney has to make a few changes to their own schedules due to unforeseen circumstances. During one of the last Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party events we attended, it was VERY rainy — like raining cats and dogs, you guys. Even though we had a great time, it did affect the party’s entertainment, attractions, and characters.

Magic Kingdom Rain Check Voucher

When we were leaving, we received a “rain-check voucher” as a way of making up for the major changes the rain caused during the party. It basically stated that we would automatically receive a 1-day Disney Park ticket OR we could call Disney to have our ticket switched to another Magic Kingdom hard ticketed event in the future.

Magic Kingdom Rain Check Voucher

Pretty neat, right?? BUT, there wasn’t much of a notification about this! A lot of guests left the park without realizing that they received a “rain-check voucher.” So, you’ll want to ask at guest relations if your event gets rained out or check your My Disney Experience app to see if a voucher has turned up.

An Empty Disney World

With all the wonderful Cast and Crew Members, along with the crowds of guests visiting the parks, it’s pretty hard to imagine an empty Disney World. Although it’s rare, it DOES happen from time to time! Here are a few ways you can possible experience a (mostly) empty Disney park.

Kiss Goodnight

If you stick around after the fireworks to let the crowds thin out before leaving, you may get a chance to see the “Kiss Goodnight” show that the Magic Kingdom puts on. The castle puts on a brief light show with music and a sweet announcement that the park has closed for the day.

Main Street, U.S.A. at the End of the Night

During this time, the park is usually mostly empty (so it’s perfect for those Nighttime Magic Shots in front of the castle without anyone around).

Passholder Previews

Sometimes when there is an Annual Passholder preview for a new land, there’s a limited amount of people that are allowed in that section of the park. When Pandora opened early for Passholder previews in 2017, we just WALKED ON to Flight of Passage without a huge line (unheard of nowadays!!).

Pandora

Plus, we practically had no wait to get a Pongu Lumpia and a Night Blossom to go along with it at Pongu Pongu.

After-Hours Events

The After-Hours events are also a GREAT way to take advantage of MUCH shorter lines, exclusive entertainment, and fewer people in the parks! There aren’t as many people who attend these hard-ticketed events so you can see and do more things than you’d typically be able to during the day. The downside to this though — these events do cost a pretty penny, so if you’re interested, see if your budget can fit an After-Hours event.

Villains After Hours

Plus, who wouldn’t want to party with ALL THE VILLAINS or go on a late-night waterslide trip at Typhoon Lagoon with glow sticks??

Hurricane in Disney World

Even though it’s smack dab in the middle of hurricane central, did you know that Disney World is actually deemed one of the safest places to be during a hurricane in Florida? If you happen to visit the parks during hurricane season, you might need to know that your vacation could change in some weird ways (it helps to have some pro-survival tips!).

Oh no! It’s raining in the Magic Kingdom!

While the parks might be a lot emptier before possibly closing as a safety precaution, hotels even have specific set-ups for hurricanes. The resorts plan activities to keep guests of all ages entertained as they’re kept inside during the hurricane, and they’ll even typically bring out some fan-favorite characters to meet with guests!

Polynesian Village

And, in case you wonder what happens to the Disney Skyliner during a storm, the gondolas are taken off the lines and stored (so no gondolas swinging in the wind!).

Disney Skyliner Preparation for Dorian

The parks can close in an abundance of caution, but they try to reopen as quickly as safely possible. Visiting during a hurricane may not seem ideal, but it can be a very unique experience.

RARE Characters!

Don’t get us wrong, folks! We LOVE see classic characters like Mickey and Cinderella when we’re visiting Disney World. However, sometimes you can spot some SUPER RARE characters during your visit.

Character Palooza

Every once in a while, an unadvertised event can happen in Disney’s Hollywood Studios called Character Palooza! This is hard to pin down and can change locations and times each day, so it really is all about being in the right place at the right time! During this awesome meet-and-greet, upwards of 10 characters, usually the characters on the steamboat at the end of Fantasmic, will gather in this one spot to briefly meet guests!

Fantasmic!

Sometimes a smaller version of Character Palooza will even pop up at the International Gateway over in Epcot with Mickey and Minnie or even princesses and villains, if you’re lucky.

Holiday-Exclusive Characters

The holidays may be a great time to visit Disney World in general, but they also bring out some AWESOME character costumes that are only seen during these events! We’re not just talking about Halloween and Christmas — you can also spot them during the 4th of July, Easter, and more!

Mr. Easter Bunny and Mrs. Easter Bunny

Many of the characters will greet in the resorts or even special spots in the parks (like the American Adventure Pavilion for the 4th of July).

Unscheduled Character Appearances

Did you know that sometimes characters will even ride attractions inspired by their films?? It’s not super common to see it, but sometimes Alice or the Mad Hatter will hop on the Mad Tea Party, Cinderella or her stepsisters will wave to guests on Prince Charming Regal Carousel, and Aladdin or Jasmine will fly on the Magic Carpets.

Wanna Take a Carousel Ride With Drizella??

These special character rides happen on SUPER rare occasions but if you happen to be in the right spot at the right time, you could make a REALLY unique memory!

Even though you might not see these things very often in Disney World, they make for some pretty special memories if you have! Keep your eyes peeled when you’re navigating Disney World — you never know what unique experiences you might walk right into!

Have you seen any of these rare things in Disney World? Let us know in the comments below!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disney Entertainment, disney parks, disney resorts, Featured, Special Stuff, Walt Disney World, after-hours event, annual passholder previews, character palooza, cinderella carriage, Disney, disney hurricane, disney news, Disney World, empty park, golden ticket, H2O Glow Nights, Hurricane, kiss goodnight, no strings attached pass, pinocchio pass, rain check voucher, rainy day cavalcade, rare characters, villains after hours

Disney Lists Disney Parks

7 Disney World Rides That NEED A Virtual Queue This Summer!

Post author By disneyfoodblog.com
Post date June 13, 2020

At this time, Disney World hasn’t revealed what their virtual queue system will look like when the theme parks reopen in July. But it seems like it is all but certain Disney will implement SOME sort of virtual queue experience, but it’s scope and intricacies are unknown at this time!

World of Disney Virtual Queue sign

We’ve seen Virtual Queues already in place at some experiences like World of Disney for when crowds get large. At Universal Orlando, not every attraction had virtual queues, so we may not see EVERY ride and attraction at Disney World add one. That said, we have a few ideas for which rides we think TOTALLY need a Virtual Queue in Disney World.

One of the pros of Virtual Queues is that much of your “waiting” in line happens before you even step into the physical queue space! Much like FastPass+, you wait for your designated return time, and then you enter the attraction with an expedited wait time from there. That means that you would walk through the queue area at a much quicker pace!

Universal queue

We’ve already seen Disney implement Virtual Queues with Rise of the Resistance, to mixed reviews. But most would say that the in-queue experience tends to be smoother and faster (well…most of the time)!

Rise of the Resistance

There are SEVERAL rides at Disney World with less-than-stellar queue areas. They are either entirely outdoors (making for a super hot, super NOT fun experience), or they are just plain boring and long with nothing to do or look at! These are our first prime candidates!

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

The queue for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is entirely open-air, with relatively no air conditioning to relieve you from the Florida heat.

Big Thunder Mountain in Disney World

While there are a couple of fun, interactive elements throughout the queue, like “blowing up” dynamite out on the mountain or checking out all the odd cages full of canaries, it’s not nearly as interactive as the queues for Peter Pan’s Flight or even Haunted Mansion. The “wildest ride in the wilderness” would definitely benefit from a Virtual Queue where we don’t have to stand in that line for an hour!

Space Mountain

While we appreciate great air conditioning as much as the next person, we’re including Space Mountain on this list because it is an incredibly LONG queue.

Space Mountain

Space Mountain sometimes offers interactive games along the standby queue that give kids and adults something stimulating to do while standing in line. If this isn’t available, there are space-themed games you can play in the Play Disney Parks app.

Space Mountain

While interactive games on the Play Disney Parks app is a decent alternative to just standing in line, we would much prefer a Virtual Queue where we can just walk right on to the ride, more or less, when our return time comes up. And while the Star Tunnel’s music is among our favorites, it already takes several minutes just to walk through the entire hallway. That’s plenty of time for us!

Flight of Passage

Some folks love certain aspects of the standby queue for Flight of Passage. Much of the queue is indoors, and there are some pretty interesting things to look at! But to get there, you still have to stand in a long, and we mean LONG, outdoor queue.

Flight of Passage

Years after the attraction has opened, Flight of Passage still frequently has a wait time of two or more hours, so a virtual queue could be a very welcome change for this ride!

Slinky Dog Dash

Slinky Dog Dash is another attraction in high demand, meaning that it is HARD to snag a FastPass for the attraction. And if you can’t snag a reservation, you have to resort to standing in the standby queue, and let’s just say…it’s miserable!

Slinky Dog Dash Wait Time

You would think that with all the innovations and improvements made to the rides and attractions over the years, the queue experience would grow and evolve with them! But Slinky Dog Dash is your typical 100% open-air, outdoor switch-back queue. And with wait times regularly well above one hour, that’s a LOT of time to stand around in the Florida heat!

Soarin’

Soarin’ also offers interactive games that are projected on the walls of the queue area from time to time through the Play Disney Parks app.

The queue area for Soarin’

But if you don’t have the Play Disney Parks app, Soarin’ can be one pretty uneventful queue experience. While the app is a good boredom-buster while you’re waiting in line, like Space Mountain, we would rather walk onto the ride when it’s time to hop in line!

Kilimanjaro Safaris

If you’re looking for a quintessential Animal Kingdom experience, there’s nothing better than Kilimanjaro Safaris. This is a truly one-of-a-kind attraction, not just at Disney World, but around the world!

Kilimanjaro Safaris Wait Time

The ride has seen some updates throughout the years. Its original version dealt with the dangers of poaching, and during the middle of your tour of the Harambe Wildlife Reserve, you would find yourself in the crosshairs of poachers! The ride has since been updated to just be a tour of the Reserve.

Kilimanjaro Safaris Lions

The queue area for Kilimanjaro Safaris is long and entirely outdoors. The pre-show video is a fun preview of the animals that you’ll see on safari, but we would much rather skip to the good part: the live animals themselves!

Rock N Roller Coaster

Our final attraction that we would love to see get a Virtual Queue is Rock N Roller Coaster! Until you reach the pre-show room where you have your encounter with Aerosmith, there is quite literally nothing to do in the queue.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Entrance

Most of it is outdoors in a traditional switch-back configuration. And while much of it is shaded, the extended queue can easily stretch around the front of the building, creating a very unpleasant, sunny experience.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster line

Virtual queues for Rock N Roller Coaster could also make for an easier way of planning your trip to the far end of Hollywood Studios, where many guests will often try to get back-to-back FastPasses for Rock N Roller Coaster and its neighboring attraction, Tower of Terror.

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

With FastPass+ temporarily suspended, guests will need to come up with another way of easily experiencing these two rides, and Virtual Queues may be just the solution!

There’s no question that the queueing experience at Disney World is already going to change drastically with the temporary suspension of FastPass+. And with a more-than-likely Virtual Queue system on its way, everything we know about planning your day around what rides you want to experience could look TOTALLY different! These changes are necessary as part of the new health and safety protocols, but we think some of these attractions will really benefit from having a new way of “waiting” in line!

[cysc id=’Disney_Parks_Reopen’]

What queue at Disney World do YOU think needs an upgrade, or could really benefit from having a Virtual Queue? Let us know in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Animal Kingdom, disney parks, disney’s hollywood studios, Featured, magic kingdom, Walt Disney World, big thunder mountain railroad, Disney World, disney world virtual queues, flight of passage, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Slinky Dog Dash, soarin’, space mountain, splash mountain, virtual queue, virtual queue system

Tags animal kingdom, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, disney parks, Disney World, disney world virtual queues, disney's hollywood studios, Featured, flight of passage, Kilimanjaro Safaris, magic kingdom, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Slinky Dog Dash, soarin', space mountain, splash mountain, virtual queue, virtual queue system, Walt Disney World

Disney Food Disney Guides Disney Lists Disney Parks Disney Vacations

Here’s What to Eat at Disney World’s Contemporary Resort!

Post author By disneyfoodblog.com
Post date June 13, 2020

Greetings from Disney’s Contemporary Resort! We’re stopping by this classic Disney World Resort hotel to share with you some of our favorite eats and drinks! The Contemporary is a Deluxe Resort, which means that they’re going to be offering TONS of food options, from Signature Restaurants to Character Dining to Quick Service.

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

The Contemporary is also on the Monorail loop (literally — the Monorail runs THROUGH the hotel!), making it super easy to dine at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa as well as Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.

Disney’s Contemporary Resort with Monorail Access to Magic Kingdom and Epcot

And, of course, this also means it’s a quick ride (and walk!) to Magic Kingdom. Let’s take a closer look at what dining options the Contemporary has to offer!

Note that as a part of Disney World’s reopening, certain experiences might be unavailable. Check with Disney prior to your visit to see what is available.

California Grill

Sitting high above Disney World (15 floors up to be precise) is California Grill, the Contemporary Resort’s Signature Restaurant.

California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

You’re going to be paying top dollar for the food and service here. If you’re using the Disney Dining Plan, you’ll be redeeming two Table Service Credits. We think it’s a decent use of those two credits and, in fact, we included California Grill on our list of the best value Two-Credit restaurants of 2020!

California Grill

One of the huge draws to California Grill is the sweeping views of Magic Kingdom. By day the views stretch on and on, and by night, you have one of the best views of the fireworks!

Views of Magic Kingdom from California Grill

Even if your meal isn’t during the fireworks, you can come back and watch the fireworks from a special viewing terrace. Just bring back your receipt and you have access to the terrace!

Magic Kingdom Fireworks From Disney’s Contemporary Resort

But let’s chat about the food itself because this restaurant offers MUCH more than just a pretty view! Overall, the menu at California Grill, as the name of the restaurant and the resort implies, is going to be contemporary Californian cuisine. One of the highlights of California Grill’s menu is their hand-rolled sushi.

Sushi Varieties at California Grill

These are far from the priciest items on the menu, so if you’re looking for value on the Dining Plan, you’re better off ordering a more expensive item. But if you’re paying out of pocket, their Sushi Rolls are a great way to dine at a Signature Restaurant while keeping your bill relatively low!

Sushi at California Grill

Other highlights on the menu include wood-fired pizzas, a wide range of entrees, apps like the ah-mazing Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli (it’s been on the menu since the restaurant open in 1995!), and a huge selection of California wines.

Enjoy the Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli at California Grill

California Grill also has an adjacent lounge where you can order from the full menu without needing a reservation! This lounge is first-come, first-serve, so you may want to plan to arrive early if you want a seat.

California Grill Lounge

Note that guests who dine in the lounge will also have access to the terrace to view the fireworks! Just save your receipt to be permitted on the terrace before the show begins.

The Wave…of American Flavors

The Contemporary has a couple of additional table service restaurants that you should know about! The first is The Wave…of American Flavors. Commonly referred to as just The Wave, this restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. While lunch and dinner are decent here, The Wave really shines during breakfast.

Full plate with Breakfast Potatoes

You have your choice of a breakfast buffet or order a la carte off the menu.

The Wave Breakfast Menu

A great HACK at The Wave is for those of you interested in the buffet. You may find that there is no omelet station at the buffet — never fear! If you select the buffet, you can still order an omelet with your server and they’ll whip one up for you at no extra cost!

Omelette from The Wave

Their sweet potato pancakes are another highlight that you can pick up on the buffet or a la carte! And no breakfast is complete without a mimosa! At The Wave, you can get REFILLABLE mimosas!

Sweet Potato Pancakes!

The best part about breakfast at The Wave is that since this is more under the radar, you can typically find a last-minute reservation!

As for lunch and dinner, we’re actually sticking with the breakfast theme for one of our favorite appetizers: Bacon and Eggs! This dish comes with crazy-good maple-lacquered Pork Belly with a “Perfect Egg” and Tillamook Smoked Cheddar Grits.

Bacon and Eggs

Like California Grill, The Wave also has a lounge where you can sip on some legendary cocktails. One of our favorites is the Seven Seas Lagoon Cocktail. This “fishbowl” beverage is big and strong! It features Skyy Vodka, Parrot Bay Coconut Rum, Blue Curaçao, Agave Nectar, Pineapple Juice, Fresh Lime Juice, topped with Fruit Boba, Gummy Fish, and a glow cube for good measure!

Seven Seas Lagoon

All in all, The Wave…of American Flavors is a hidden gem at The Contemporary. It’s a great breakfast option if you’re looking to fill up before heading into Magic Kingdom or a nice spot to unwind after a long day. Note that the decor at The Wave looks kind of like a 1970’s car dealership, so…there’s that. But the food is good and well-priced.

Chef Mickey’s

While our first two restaurants we’ve talked about are definitely more “chill,” Chef Mickey’s is anything BUT!

Chef Mickey’s

Chef Mickey’s is classic Disney World character dining. It’s almost like a rite of passage to dine here, and combined with the fact that you get to meet the Fab 5 (Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, and Donald), reservations can sometimes be tricky to grab.

Mickey Mouse at Chef Mickey’s

A trip to Chef Mickey’s is all about the characters more than it is the food. The food has been GOOD, but not GREAT over the years (although we have noted that it has slowly but surely gotten better). Even with an improving menu, it’s still a loud, crowded restaurant that can make for a less than stellar experience for some.

Chef Mickey’s Seating

Chef Mickey’s serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. For the most bang for your buck, try to get a reservation time for brunch, that way you’ll be able to pick from the breakfast AND lunch selections.

As far as specific food items go, you’ll have all the typical buffet selections to choose from like Mickey Waffles, bacon, and eggs for breakfast, and chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, a carving station, and more for lunch and dinner.

Mickey Mac and Cheese

If you have a sweet tooth, their waffle bar and sundae bar are both fun and tasty. Kids will also love constructing their own waffle or sundae creations.

Mickey (and Minnie!) Waffles with Toppings

There’s no denying that Chef Mickey’s is one of the most well-known restaurants in all of Disney World. While some consider this a must-do, we’ve often left feeling a bit rushed and disappointed. With SO many guests coming through the doors, it can feel a bit hectic in here. There are other great restaurants where you can meet Mickey, and many other character buffets or plated character meals to consider that have just as good food, if not better, and many offer more chances to interact with the characters.

Contempo Cafe

We’re moving on now from the traditional table service restaurants at The Contemporary and we’re checking out Contempo Cafe! This is the primary Counter Service dining location at the resort.

Contempo Cafe in the Contemporary Resort

The Monorail passes right next to Contempo Cafe, making this an ultra-convenient pit stop for some food before hitting the parks! There’s not a whole lot of flash to Contempo Cafe. It can be loud at times due to its location in the middle of the Grand Canyon Concourse (the big open middle part) of the Contemporary’s main building (it’s also right next to Chef Mickey’s). It also lacks any discernable theming, so don’t expect much beyond grabbing some food here.

The monorail and the Mary Blair Mural at Contempo Cafe

Speaking of food, there are a variety of selections here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For a counter service location, Contempo Cafe is top-notch!

Contempo Cafe Menu

For lunch and dinner, their Grilled Cheese with Tomato Soup Combo knocks it out of the park. The French Dip is another sandwich selection that we have loved over the years!

Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup Combo!

We’re always checking in on Contempo Cafe because they are also known for serving up some seriously spectacular specialty cupcakes! Our Contempo Cafe Cupcake Hall of Fame includes the Churro Cupcake…

Churro Cupcake

…which is Cinnamon Cake with Cinnamon Icing and a Vanilla Pudding Center. Oh, and obviously a mini churro as a garnish!

Churro Cupcake — Inside

We’re also obsessed with their Monorail Cupcake! This treat is a vanilla cake topped with cookies and cream frosting, a chocolate shell, candy pearls, and an Oreo. And we can’t forget about that adorable white chocolate monorail!

Monorail Cupcake

A third cupcake that we found simply stunning is the Dulce de Leche cupcake! This beauty is yellow cake topped with salted caramel buttercream, candy crisps, a chocolate swirl, and a large salted caramel truffle chocolate.

Contempo Cafe’s Dulce de Leche Cupcake

And lest we forget our FAVORITE treat here — the Peanut Butter Pie. If you’ve read the site for a while, you know we’re suckers for peanut butter and this thing has YET to disappoint us! It’s a thick scoop of peanut butter cream cheese on top of a vanilla cream tart! This. Thing. Is. Delicious. Seriously, if you love PB too, it’s worth a hop off the monorail to grab even if you’re not staying here!

Peanut Butter Pie — YUM

Whether you’re running in for a cupcake or taking a few moments to eat a full meal, you could soon find yourself recommending Contempo Cafe to all your friends!

Outer Rim

Our last few stops at Disney’s Contemporary Resorts are going to be more or less centered on beverages. While The Contemporary has some great food spots, we wanted to make sure we gave a shout out to all the DRINK spots, too! Let’s start with Outer Rim.

Outer Rim Lounge at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Outer Rim currently only serves beverages. In the past that you used to be able to grab a bite to eat here, but when we checked their official menu, the food items were removed.

Outer Rim Bar

While the Outer Rim is a good spot in the resort to sip on a tasty cocktail, you won’t find a ton of unique offerings here. Their “standout” drinks like the Blue Glowtini, Pina CoLAVA, and Moscow Mule are bar staples across Disney World Resort, and you’ll find Outer Rim’s generic “Disney Bar Menu” in TONS of other places.

Glowtini

That doesn’t mean we never see specialty menu offerings here. This past Valentine’s Day (or Villaintine’s Day, if you will), we spotted a few extra evil special concoctions to celebrate the occasion!

The Antagonist

Though their menu is typically limited, Outer Rim is a reliable watering hole to stop by to cap off your long day at Disney World.

Contemporary Grounds

Moving on now to a necessary beverage of a different sort… coffee! When you’re running around the theme parks for days at a time without stopping, caffeine is going to be your best friend. So stop by Contemporary Grounds first thing in the morning for a delicious latte!

Ordering and Serving Area at Contemporary Grounds Coffee Bar

At Contemporary Grounds, you’ll have plenty of coffees, lattes, and cappuccinos to choose from. There’s also a decent variety of baked goods to munch on with your morning fuel!

Contemporary Grounds case

Contemporary Grounds is also home to one of our FAVORITE food accessories, Latte Art!

Contemporary Grounds Latte Art

You can choose from a wide selection of fun graphics to have printed on the foam of your drink for just 50 cents!

Latte and Donut Art Options

We can’t think of anything better right now than grabbing some latte art and then strolling over to Magic Kingdom from The Contemporary!

The Sand Bar

Before we hop over to Bay Lake Tower, we’re heading outside to visit The Sand Bar, the main poolside bar at The Contemporary.

The Sand Bar

This nautical-themed counter service dining location is going to be your go-to destination for a bite to eat or something to sip on while you lounge by the pool! There aren’t too many surprises here when it comes to their menu. Expect to find burgers, hot dogs, salad, and all the typical tropical alcoholic drink options you would expect to find at a poolside bar.

The Sand Bar

You can also escape the heat at The Sand Bar! This bar offers both outdoor and indoor dining experiences.

Cove Pool Bar

Head over to the connected Bay Lake Tower pool to find the Cove Bar. Note that only DVC members or guests of Bay Lake Tower can access this pool. Similar to The Sand Bar, the food options are limited and their drink menu features your basic poolside staples.

Top of the World Lounge at Bay Lake Tower

For our last stop on our tour around The Contemporary, we’re actually hopping over to Bay Lake Tower and to the Top of the World Lounge!

Bay Lake Tower

Bay Lake Tower is The Contemporary’s newest addition for Disney Vacation Club rooms and villas. But you can totally stay here even if you aren’t a DVC Member! But what you CAN’T do unless you’re a DVC Member is visit Top of the World Lounge. That’s right, you either need to be a DVC Member or be the guest of a Member to enter!

Top of the World Lounge

If you’re ever able to visit, we totally recommend you do so! Top of the World is quite the exquisite lounge as far as Disney World lounges go. They have the standard lounge menu to order from, with a few specialty selections. The Bay Lake Sunset was a lovely refreshing drink that we would order again!

Bay Lake Sunset

They also have small bites like soft pretzels and cheese plates to munch on.

Soft Pretzels and Dips

Overall, although access to the lounge is limited, it’s one of our favorite Disney World lounges! If you time your visit just right, you can get a spectacular view of the Magic Kingdom’s fireworks as well!

We hope this foodie trip around Disney’s Contemporary Resort gave you an idea of what to expect next time you want to dine there! As a Deluxe Resort, we would expect a wide variety to choose from, and the Contemporary doesn’t disappoint! While some dining locations are worth checking out more than others, the location of The Contemporary in proximity to Magic Kingdom makes their restaurants and lounges among the most convenient choices around!

What’s your favorite thing to eat at Disney’s Contemporary Resort? Let us know in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Character Dining, Contemporary Resort, Counter-Service, disney dining tips, disney resorts, Featured, Snacks, Table-Service, Walt Disney World, Bay Lake Tower, California Grill, California Grill Lounge, Chef Mickey’s, Contempo Cafe, Disney World, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Outer Rim, The Wave, The Wave Lounge, Top of the World Lounge

Disney Food Disney Lists Other

SATURDAY SIX: 6 Reasons We Love UNIVERSAL STUDIOS FLORIDA

Post author By touringplans.com
Post date June 13, 2020

This week’s SATURDAY SIX takes a look at reasons we love UNIVERSAL STUDIOS FLORIDA! With the theme parks in Florida beginning to re-open from an unprecedented closure, we felt it was time to celebrate what draws us all to these wonderful places. Our first stop is a park celebrating its 30-year anniversary: Universal Studios Florida (USF).

# 6 – Dining

Forget rides, one of the biggest transformations that USF has had over the course of the last decade is in the area of food. There was a time when you could make a case that USF dining was hands down the worst at any Disney or Universal park, and now it has become one of the best thanks to the introduction of several unique and highly themed quick service venues throughout the park. From the great tasting and healthy options at Today Cafe to the hilariously and maybe a bit unhealthy options at Fast Food Boulevard (we’re looking in your direction The Clogger), there is something for everyone.

SATURDAY SIX: 6 Reasons We Love UNIVERSAL STUDIOS FLORIDA — Today Cafe. (photo by Michael Carelli)

# 5 – Photo Ops

In an Instagram world, pictures are becoming an even bigger part of the theme park experience. For the first-time visitor – or longtime seasoned theme park veteran – USF has a bunch of locations, characters, and other photo-ops that are going to make you stop in your tracks and get out the camera. In fact, it starts off right as you are approaching the park. Located directly in front of Universal Studio Florida’s entrance is the spinning Universal globe. The iconic globe is just perfect for photos from several different areas (including the bridge leading to CityWalk). Make sure that any camera rookies in your party don’t have an itchy trigger finger and be sure they wait for the “Universal” logo to turn around and frame the shot.

# 4 – The Shows

The most underrated aspect of Universal parks are the shows. Trust me, I get it. For years I avoided the Horror Make-Up Show thinking I wouldn’t like it. Personally I’m not a big fan of horror movies and “make up” isn’t that high on my list either. Once I was finally dragged into the theater and watched the show, I had a moment straight out of Arrested Development; realizing I had made a huge mistake taking a pass on the show for so many years. Turns out it is a fascinating look into the make-up (and special effects) of horror films and is absolutely hilarious. There are two hosts of the live show, and they spend much more time on “funny” rather than “scary.” They also throw in a whole bunch of pop-culture references for the crowd to enjoy. I could not recommend the show any higher and for me it is just as enjoyable as the big budget shows at Disney like Finding Nemo: The Musical or Festival of the Lion King.

Enjoy live music? USF is gonna rock your world with several wonderful acts located throughout the park.

Another moment of full transparency. I’m not a fan of the Blues Brothers film. I love Dan Aykryod and John Belushi, but the movie does nothing for me, so for a long time I had zero interest in seeing this live show.

Boy, what a mistake that was.

The Blues Brothers Show has energy and every Team Member I have seen play the characters of Jake and Elwood Blues seem to nail it each time. Each set they are accompanied by the singing waitress Mable and a sax player appropriately named Jazz. These two also bring it, every performance. The songs are for the most part well known (Gimmie Some Lovin’, Jailhouse Rock, Respect, and the headliner Soul Man), but it’s how the characters seem to channel their movie counterparts which makes this a must watch show. The show is so good it overcomes several of the things that I’m generally not a big fan of in theme parks, including 1) live music, 2) standing, and 3) no shade. Don’t be a fool like me and keep putting off this show during your touring of the park. The Blues Brothers play several times throughout the day, and you can fit a performance into your schedule. It will be worth it.

Over in Diagon Alley we have Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees belting out wizarding world tunes in a show that has quickly become one of the best live acts in theme park history. The character of Celestina Warbeck was one that was only mentioned briefly in the Potter books (J.K. Rowling has since gone on to write a small historical essay on Celestina for Pottermore), but Universal Creative took that small piece of coal and pressed hard enough to produce a true diamond.

Diagon Alley continues its theme park show dominance with the live performances of the Tales of Beedle the Bard. The Wizarding Academy of Dramatic Arts (WADA), a roaming street troupe, performs hourly in Diagon Alley to recreate the tales from Wizarding World’s equivalent of Aesop’s fables. Using Michael Curry puppets (Finding Nemo: The Musical, Tapestry of Nations, many Olympic performances), WADA brings to life the morality plays central to the Wizarding World.

The Tale of Three Brothers is a parable about the power of wishes and instant gratification (and the basis of the Deathly Hallows), while The Fountain of Fair Fortune is an inspirational tale about the rewards of overcoming one’s hardships and setbacks. Performances from the talented, comedic cast celebrate the many types of dramatic personas to create a real personality that melds with the stories. This unique style adds style and texture to an already realized world. Another highest possible recommendation.

# 3 – The Events

I mentioned my own trepidation about trying the Horror Make-Up Show, and I had the same fears about Halloween Horror Nights. For me, it was AMC’s The Walking Dead which got me through the door. Since that time, American Horror Story, Stranger Things, and Ghostbusters have been gateways to get casual fans to experience the event. Once you try HHN, you are almost sure to get hooked. While HHN is a separate hard ticket USF’s Mardi Gras and Christmas events are both included with park admission.

# 2 – The Attractions

One could make the case that USF was years ahead of its time. When it opened, USF’s concept of “ride the movies” was a stark contrast to what Disney had done with EPCOT several years earlier. As we all know, almost all theme park rides today are built with an Intellectual Property attached.

# 1 – The Theming

For the longest time, the biggest knock against Universal parks was they were “just a collection of rides.” No matter how good the rides were, the level of immersion just wasn’t the same compared to other world class theme parks. Universal could have been considered a poor man’s Walt Disney World or a rich man’s Six Flags. However, to quote Bob Dylan, The Times They Are A Changin‘. Universal had already changed the game with the introduction of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade Viillage, but Diagon Alley took theming to the next level. With the London waterfront area outside leading into a jaw-dropping reveal of Diagon Alley inside.

The New York area of USF is a good example of how Universal is “fixing” some of its previous – for lack of a better word – “mistakes.” Replacing the Twister attraction was one based around The Tonight Show. This allowed Universal to create a facade that fits much more in line with the other New York theming in the area.

As theme park fans, we are generally used to concept art being an “interpretation” of what we will actually see. Often times the finished result has huge differences from the concept art. However, over at Universal, the concept art is almost always spot-on, even to the tiniest detail. The transformation of the area of USF that became Springfield USA, is nothing short of phenomenal. If you are a fan of The Simpsons tv show, it’s a dream come true.

Honorable Mention – The Merch!

Generic merchandise is a Nay Nay when it comes to Universal, as the park routinely delivers fantastic merchandise!

Double Secret Honorable Mention – THE HISTORY

Just as Universal Studios Florida opened not long after EPCOT, both parks share another similar trait: extinct attractions which theme park fandom still clamor for. While Disney fanboys miss the days of Horizons, World of Motion, and Universe of Energy, the Universal stans want to bring back rides based around King Kong, Back to the Future, and Jaws.

So there you have it: Six Reasons We Love UNIVERSAL STUDIOS FLORIDA! See you next weekend for the latest installment of the SATURDAY SIX, where we’ll look at something fun from the world of Disney and Universal. If you enjoyed yourself, be sure to check out The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! articles covering the latest from the Disney Outlet Stores. You can also follow Your Humble Author on Twitter (@derekburgan).

If you enjoyed this article, you will surely like the following:

Special Thanks to The Elite Brandon Glover, the bio-est of all reconstructs @bioreconstruct, Captain Cruiseline Scott Sanders of the world famous Disney Cruise Line Blog, my personal protege Hunter “Elvey” Underwood, the SAT SIX Fun Squad of Parkscope Joe and “the Dadalorian” Nick, hot shot Michael Carelli, charter member of the Universal Four @Nitro230, and Hermione Granger’s tutor Megan Stump for their invaluable assistance with this article. The SAT SIX is inspired each week by goofballs Aengus Mackenzie and LitemAndHyde and you Potterheads will enjoy Meg’s other blog work over at the Central Florida Slug Club.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Halloween, Saturday Six, Universal Orlando Resort, saturday six

Tags Halloween, Saturday Six, Universal Orlando Resort