Tag: disney springs reopen

This Disney Springs Restaurant is Offering a Cast Member Discount for a Limited Time!

Post author By disneyfoodblog.com
Post date May 27, 2020

The reopening of popular Disney-owned locations wasn’t the only exciting news coming out of Disney Springs today!

Disney Springs

Since Disney Springs locations began reopening on May 20th, we’ve been stopping by the restaurants to see what’s new. And today, we found out about a limited-time deal being offered to Disney Cast Members!

We now have one MORE reason to love Morimoto Asia! The restaurant has announced that for a limited time, all Cast Members are eligible to receive a 20% discount!

Morimoto Asia

The offer is valid now through June 30th, 2020, and to take advantage of the discount, a Walt Disney World Cast or Operating Participant ID will need to be shown. Just keep in mind that the discount does NOT apply to alcohol!

©Morimoto Asia

Reservations for Morimoto Asia are available on OpenTable. And take it from us, this is definitely a restaurant worth experiencing! Did you know we found beer cheese sauce there on our last visit?? YUM!

Check out our full experience at the newly reopened Morimoto Asia!

Have you eaten at Morimoto Asia in Disney Springs? Share your experience in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disney Discounts, Disney Springs, Featured, Table-Service, Walt Disney World, cast member discount, Chef Masaharu Morimoto, disney cast members, disney springs, disney springs reopen, disney springs restaurant, Morimoto Asia

Tags cast member discount, Chef Masaharu Morimoto, disney cast members, Disney Discounts, Disney Springs, disney springs reopen, disney springs restaurant, Featured, Morimoto Asia, Table-Service, Walt Disney World

Disney Food Disney Parks Other

The 8 BIGGEST Disney World Menu Changes That Happened This Week!

Post author By disneyfoodblog.com
Post date May 26, 2020

We stopped by Disney Springs to check out the newly reopened locations and, of course, enjoy some eats!

Bruschetta

Disney Springs began a phased reopening on May 20th, with select third-party shops and restaurants welcoming back guests. And the new health and safety measures weren’t the only thing that was different — we also spotted menu updates at several of the Disney Springs restaurants. Here are the biggest menu changes we saw!

The Polite Pig

We swung by The Polite Pig and found a few new menu items waiting for us to enjoy! Pork Rinds are now available, complete with a pimento dipping sauce!

Pork Rinds

But wait, there’s more! They’ve also added a new Chef’s Special — Shrimp and Grits! With smoked grilled shrimp covered in a honey peppercorn glaze and served over a bed of creamy cheddar grits, this was just too good to pass up!

Chef’s Special at The Polite Pig

We also noticed creamed corn and a private barrel bourbon flight which were both new to the menu.

Polite Pig Creamed Corn and More

And just a heads up, we checked with a member of the team and confirmed that the Gideon’s Bakehouse cookies are not available at The Polite Pig right now. But don’t worry, they will be back eventually!

Starbucks

And Starbucks welcomed back guests — literally — with the “Welcome Back” drink — a blended mango dragonfruit refresher with coconut milk, strawberries, blueberries, and pineapple ginger syrup topped with golden ginger whipped cream!

Welcome Back Drink at Starbucks

This drink was super refreshing and we loved the combo of fruity flavors! No word on how long it will stick around, but if it’s available on your next visit to Disney Springs, we recommend giving it a try!

Check out our first visit back to Starbucks in Disney Springs!

Frontera Cocina

Frontera Cocina will be offering a modified menu for a limited time, so we stopped by to give a few of the options a taste! We tried the Play With Fire Margarita and the Chipotle Chicken Flautas, which were both fantastic!

Flautas and Margarita

The margarita was made with cucumber, jalapeño, fresh lime juice, agave nectar, a hibiscus salt rim, and your choice of Montelobos mezcal or Tromba Blanco Tequila. It was a great blend of sweet and tart, with just the slightest hint of heat!

Play with Fire Margarita

And the Chipotle Chicken Flautas were filled with a mix of mashed potatoes (!!!) and chicken, which made for a wonderful flavor combo! Frontera Cocina was two-for-two in our book!

To read our full review from Frontera Cocina, click here!

Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill

Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill also sported some menu changes at both their table-service restaurant and to-go counter. The table-service restaurant is temporarily offering an all-day menu, rather than separate lunch and dinner menus.

Wolfgang Puck Modified Menu

Since the items inside skew more towards dinner, they’ve started offering more lunch items at the to-go window. And there are new desserts to-go as well — the Reese’s Cookie, Strawberry Shortcake, and Salted Caramel Banana Pudding all made their debut!

Plus, they’ve also started offering cocktails to-go, which were previously only available inside.

Wolfgang Puck To Go

We tried a few of the new to-go items as well as the tried-and-true favorite appetizer, bruschetta, from the restaurant.

Bruschetta

Spoiler alert, everything we had here was fantastic! But we have to give a special shoutout to the star of the show, the Salted Caramel Gelato topped Banana Pudding.

Check out our full experience at Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill!

Earl of Sandwich

We also stopped by Earl of Sandwich, one of our favorite Disney Springs staples, to try the new-to-us Chocolatti drink. What exactly is a Chocolatti? We’re glad you asked!

It’s blended Ghirardelli chocolate topped with sea salt, whipped cream, and chocolate sprinkles.

Chocolatti

We liked how cool and refreshing this drink was, but it wasn’t quite as chocolatey as we were expecting. But if you’re looking for a more understated chocolate flavor, this might be for you!

Check out our first trip back to the reopened Earl of Sandwich!

Morimoto Asia Street Food

Morimoto Asia Street Food reopened on May 22nd, and we couldn’t wait to stop by and check it out! They’re offering a temporary menu with reduced options, but we still found plenty to satisfy our cravings!

We tried the Spicy Chashu Ramen, which we’ve previously seen offered on the Morimoto Asia table-service menu.

Spicy Chashu Ramen

The ramen was quite spicy and delicious! If you’re heat-adverse, you might want to stick to the Tonkotsu Ramen instead, but we loved the heat! We also noticed that they switched out the pork tenderloin bowl with a beef tenderloin bowl.

Click here for our full experience at Morimoto Asia Street Food!

Wine Bar George

We also stopped by the delightful Wine Bar George and spotted some new Fries and Frozen drink pairings at their quick service spot, The Basket! We did confirm with a member of the team that these are suggested pairings, but they aren’t being sold as a combo deal at this time.

But see if you can resist these incredible pairings! How about the Queso Fries with the signature Frosé??

Queso Fries

Or maybe the Togarashi Fries with Friezling made with Dole Whip Lime is more your style?

Togarashi Fries

Or maybe you’re interested in the heavenly pairing of California Fries with Frozcato made with Dole Whip Pineapple?

California Fries

Or, last but not least, what do you think of the Buffalo Fries with Freaujolais?

Buffalo Fries with Freaujolais

Each of these baskets comes with a whole POUND of fries, so this is a great snack if you’re starting to feel hangry! Each flavor of fries was a winner in our book. What can we say, Wine Bar George has knocked it out of the park again!

Click here for our review of the loaded fries at The Basket!

Paradiso 37

We also noticed some menu changes at Paradiso 37. They’re also offering limited menu options for the time being, as we saw with several Disney Springs restaurants.

Paradiso 37 Outside View

We did spot a few new items on the menu, including Beef Empanadas filled with beef, sour cream, and pineapple chutney and those Mini Ice Cream Cones are back!

Here are 4 awesome Disney Springs dining deals, including Happy Hour specials at Paradiso 37!

We were happy to be back in our element at Disney Springs, and having some new menu items to check out made it even better! We’re continuing to keep an eye on the eats and drinks available in Disney Springs, so stay tuned for more updates!

We were at the reopening of Disney Springs…here’s everything you need to know!

Which Disney Springs restaurant are you the most excited to visit? Let us know in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Counter-Service, Disney Springs, Featured, Snacks, Table-Service, Walt Disney World, bbq pork bun, Disney Springs Earl of Sandwich, disney springs re-opening, disney springs reopen, disney springs reopening, disney springs restaurant, disney springs restaurants, disney springs starbucks, Earl of Sandwich, Frontera Cocina, Loaded Fries, margarita, Morimoto Asia Street Food, Paradiso 37, pork rinds, Ramen, reeses cookie, salted caramel banana pudding, spicy chashu ramen, Starbucks, strawberry shortcake, The Basket at Wine Bar George, The Polite Pig, Wine Bar George, Wolfgang Puck, Wolfgang Puck Bar and Grill

Disney Parks Other

7 Tips For Wearing a Face Covering in Disney World

Post author By disneyfoodblog.com
Post date May 23, 2020

We’ve got the tips you need to make wearing a face mask in Disney World more comfortable!

Magic Kingdom

With the reopening of locations like Shanghai Disneyland, Disney Springs, and Universal Orlando CityWalk, it’s become a common practice to require guests to wear masks. And since this is new for many Disney guests (including us!) the new accessory might take some getting used to. Here are the top tips our team has picked up from exploring the newly reopened locations in our masks!

Bring Lip Balm!

One unexpected consequence of wearing a mask — our lips got super chapped! We found that having lip balm on hand was a real lifesaver for us. Be sure to throw this in your park bag even if it’s not normally on your list!

Face Mask

If you happen to forget lip balm on your trip, you can check for it in the hotel gift shop — or place an order to be delivered to your hotel!

Click here to learn more about getting packages delivered to your Disney World Hotel!

Protect Your Ears!

In our experience, we’ve found it’s way more comfortable to secure our mask around our head instead of behind our ears. But since most masks are designed with ear loops to keep them in place, we’ve had to get creative! Try investing in an ear saver that will allow you to hook the mask behind your head and take the pressure off of those poor ears!

Vera Bradley Face Masks

Using one of these handy tools allowed us to safely modify our standard masks to make them more comfortable!

If You Have Long Hair, Wear It Up!

This tip has helped us on a few levels. First, with the straps and ear savers on our masks, wearing our hair up reduced the amount of tangling. And, since the mask has made the shopping experience a bit hotter, having our hair off of our neck has helped us stay cool!

Cast Member with required face mask

Whether you prefer a soft hair tie, or a sturdy coil design, as long as you have something to keep your hair out of the way of your mask (and the back of your neck!) you should be set.

Don’t Forget to Wear Sunscreen!

Just because your mask will cover part of your face doesn’t mean you can skip the sunscreen! Be sure to apply sunscreen to your face, shoulders, arms, legs — any exposed skin! Wearing sunscreen will also help reduce the potential “face mask tan” you could end up with if you have extended exposure to the sun (this one is “sweat proof”).

Don’t forget your sunscreen!

We’ve seen sunscreen for sale in the parks before, but we recommend bringing your own to make sure you’re prepared and have your preferred brand (this one comes in a non greasy stick so you can apply easily).

Bring a Personal Fan!

It’s no secret that Disney World can get pretty hot, and wearing a mask can make you feel a little bit warmer. So, it’s more helpful than ever to carry a personal fan with you in the park! Having some extra airflow from a handheld fan can make a huge difference. And while there are some battery powered versions, we’ve also found rechargeable fans which means more space in our suitcase!

Cooling Fans

This is another product you might be able to find around Disney Springs if you’re in a pinch. But bringing your own will probably be cheaper — and that way you won’t have to sweat it out until you can find one!

Buy Your Child a Mask That Fits Well!

While children under the age of three are exempt from wearing masks in Disney Springs and CityWalk, everyone aged three and older is required to wear a face covering. And it can definitely be difficult to encourage the kiddos to keep the masks on! But one thing that does help is to make sure you buy a mask designed for children — that way the fit is designed for them and it will be both more comfortable and more effective.

Disney-themed Cloth Face Masks ©Disney

Plus, if your child has a face mask with a cool design that they enjoy, it can become more of a fun experience and encourage them to stick with it!

Avoid Wearing Glasses if Possible!

Wearing a face covering can cause glasses to fog up pretty quickly. So, if you need corrective lenses and you also have contacts available, we suggest opting for the contacts so you don’t have to deal with the fogging effect with your glasses!

Heart-Shaped Sunglasses

Of course, sometimes glasses are unavoidable. Whether they’re corrective lenses or sunglasses! If you do need to wear glasses on your visit, be prepared for the fogging and be sure to pack a microfiber cloth to wipe down your lenses regularly.

It’s definitely been an adjustment for us to get used to wearing a mask around Disney property. But we’ve these tips to make the experience much more comfortable! Be sure to keep these things in mind when wearing a face covering around Disney World to make things easier for yourself and the rest of your family!

Do you have any tips for wearing a mask in Disney World? Share your suggestions in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: disney parks, Disney Springs, Featured, Walt Disney World, chapstick, cloth face masks, cooling fans, DFB Tips, disney disney springs, disney face mask, Disney Face Masks, Disney Spring face masks, disney springs reopen, disney springs reopening, face covering, face mask, face mask tan lines, face masks, fan, hair tie, health and safety measures, lip balm, sunscreen

Disney Food Disney Parks Other

Photos and Review: How Do Morimoto Street Food’s Bao Buns Compare to Pandora’s Cheeseburger Pods??

Post author By disneyfoodblog.com
Post date May 23, 2020

Morimoto Asia Street Food is now reopened in Disney Springs!

Morimoto Asia Street Food

Select third-party shops and restaurants began reopening at Disney Springs on May 20th. We were there on reopening day to share our experience, and we’re continuing to drop in to check out locations as they reopen. Today, Morimoto Asia Street Food joined the list of reopened locations at Disney Springs, so we stopped in to grab some lunch!

Ordering Process

Similar to other locations around Disney Springs, Morimoto Asia Street Food has social distancing markers set up to show guests proper spacing as they stand in line to order their food.

Social Distancing Markers

We noticed that the large overhead menu which used to be placed above the counter was missing. Instead, there was a copy of the temporary menu, with reduced offerings, displayed in front of the register.

Morimoto Asia Street Food

It wasn’t yet set up when we ordered, but by the time we left, a plexiglass guard was installed in front of the register.

Plexiglass Guard

They were accepting cash payments, although the Cast Member informed us that they are encouraging contactless credit card payments if possible. The self-serve condiment station has been removed, so the Cast Member handed us sauces, napkins, and silverware after we placed our order.

Morimoto Asia Street Food Cast Member

They informed us that they’ve placed an order for packaged silverware and napkin kits, but they hadn’t arrived yet.

Seating

The restaurant removed some tables and spaced out the seating to allow for social distancing while dining.

Seating at Morimoto Asia Street Food

There was also a hand sanitizer station set up by the seating area.

Hand Sanitizer Station

As we were eating, another party finished their meal and left, and a Cast Member immediately wiped down the table at which they were sitting. So, in our experience, the team was on top of sanitation procedures!

Eats

Okay, now for the fun part — FOOD! The restaurant was offering a temporary menu with reduced options.

Morimoto Asia Street Food Menu

First, we tried the BBQ Pork Bun. We were curious to see how it compared to the Cheeseburger Pods from Satu’li Canteen in Disney’s Animal Kingdom! This was a soft bao bun filled with a creamy pork mixture for $7.

BBQ Pork Bun

We really enjoyed this BBQ Pork Bun! The texture was nice and fluffy, and the flavor was a bit sweet. So this might be a good choice if you’re trying to avoid excess spice! The bun by itself wasn’t super filling, but it would be great as a snack or a light lunch. It’s safe to say, in our opinion, this bao and Satu’li Canteen’s don’t disappoint! Both are filled with rich, meaty mixtures — it may just be a matter of whether you’re craving pork or beef!

BBQ Pork Bun

We also tried the Spicy Chashu Ramen, which had Soy Flavored Pork Broth, Roasted Pork, Scallions, and a Soy Marinated Egg. And as much as we enjoyed the bun, the ramen was the real winner for us! Fair warning, it was pretty spicy, so it’s probably best to avoid this one if you’re not a fan of heat.

Spicy Chashu Ramen

But, in addition to the spice, there was a ton of great flavors in the ramen. We really enjoyed the pork which was sliced super thin and cooked perfectly. The noodles did help balance the spice a bit, and we liked that we could taste the soy in both the egg and the broth. So, the ramen gets two big thumbs up from us!

Overall Experience

We really enjoyed our time at Morimoto Asia Street Food. Both of the menu items we tried were awesome (especially the ramen!) and we took notice of the many precautions the restaurant and its Cast Members were taking. As usual, it was an absolute delight dining at Morimoto Asia Street Food! We’ll definitely be back again soon — we’re still dreaming about that ramen! You can check out our pre-closure review of Morimoto Asia Street Food here!

Have you eaten at Morimoto Asia Street Food? Share your experience in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Counter-Service, disney restaurant review, Disney Springs, Featured, Walt Disney World, bbq pork, bbq pork bun, disney springs, disney springs dining, disney springs reopen, disney springs reopening, Morimoto, Morimoto Asia Street Food, pork buns, Ramen, spicy chashu ramen

Tags bbq pork, bbq pork bun, Counter-Service, disney restaurant review, Disney Springs, disney springs dining, disney springs reopen, disney springs reopening, Featured, Morimoto, Morimoto Asia Street Food, pork buns, Ramen, spicy chashu ramen, Walt Disney World

Disney Parks

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

Post author By disneyfoodblog.com
Post date May 20, 2020

We are in Disney Springs today for the reopening of Walt Disney World’s shopping and dining district. We are taking in all the experiences, which now include following new safety measures along with dining and shopping among the currently open restaurants and shops.

Welcome Center at Disney Springs

Along the way, we’re stopping at newly reopen table service restaurants like Wine Bar George, Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, The BOATHOUSE, and more to see the new measures in action when it comes to dining. But Disney Springs is also well-known for all sorts of counter service options including grab-and-go spots. What’s it like to eat and drink around Disney Springs when you’re not doing so at a sit-down restaurant?

We have visited both Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea and Starbucks in the Disney Springs Marketplace, and we stopped by the outside counter at Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, among other locations.

Wolfgang Puck Outdoor Counter

Neither Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea or Starbucks offer indoor or have dedicated outdoor seating, and in all cases you queue up to order your food and drink. So, let’s do exactly that!

Physical Distancing in Queues

We are finding that Counter Service locations have easy-to-spot signage on the ground so you know where to stand to keep to the recommended physical distancing measure of 6 feet from other guests.

Starbucks at Disney Springs Today

At Joffrey’s, guest flow is directed by dedicated entrances and exits. And you may already be familiar with the line flow at Starbucks, which always had directional “ropes” since it’s always a busy spot, but they have been extended to allow for more space between guests.

Placing and Getting Your Order

As a reminder, all cast members — and guests — in Disney Springs are required to wear a face mask. Placing your order itself is otherwise the same, though cashless payment is encouraged.

Starbucks at Disney Springs Today

At Starbucks specifically, a barista presented each person their drink.

Starbucks at Disney Springs Today

This is opposed to having guests gather by the pickup window as was previously done.

Alcohol in Disney Springs

Both Joffrey’s and the Wolfgang Puck outdoor counter served beverages with alcohol before (and without, of course!), and continue to do so. At Wolfgang Puck, the outdoor drinks were all previously frozen beverages. However, a selection of cocktails is also available now.

Outside at Wolfgang Puck

You see, several table service restaurants also typically feature bar-only service. However, bars-only are not operating in this initial reopening phase. As such, Wolfgang Puck is providing a to-go option, with drinks made by a bartender inside. And Frontera Cocina is also serving drinks at their To-Go window.

Frontera Cocina Drink To Go

And, because the bars are not currently open, we found out you are even able to get a drink to go from The BOATHOUSE. As to where you can imbibe… .

WHERE You Can Eat and Drink

As it turns out, enjoying your grab-and-goes is a lot like it was before. We are still spotting tables and chairs placed outside nearby dining locations that do not have their own designated seating, and have not noticed any areas where they have been entirely removed.

Welcome Back Drink at Starbucks

And you CAN stroll with your goodies as usual. The biggest logistical question here is the wearing of face masks, which again, are required. And we were informed by several cast members that guests who have food and drink in hand may have their face coverings lowered while eating and drinking.

These new measures at grab-and-go dining echo those in place all around Disney Springs, and you can read more about all the new measures in full by clicking here. To learn more about the status of Disney Resorts and parks around the world, you can visit any of the links below.

Where do you like to grab a bite or beverage in Disney Springs? Please let us know with a comment!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Counter-Service, Disney Springs, Featured, Walt Disney World, disney springs, Disney Springs May 20th, disney springs reopen, Frontera Cocina, health and safety measures, Joffrey’s Coffee and Tea, Starbucks, Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill

Tags Counter-Service, Disney Springs, Disney Springs May 20th, disney springs reopen, Featured, Frontera Cocina, health and safety measures, Joffrey's Coffee and Tea, Starbucks, Walt Disney World, Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill