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Walt Disney World Tries to Make Dining Easier
 You can work up an appetite making your way through the Orlando theme parks and standing in all of those ride lines. There are so many great places to eat at the Disney theme parks too. Over at the Magic Kingdom you have the great buffet restaurant The Crystal Palace. For a great hotdog or cheeseburger you can check out Casey’s Corner. There are also a variety of dining locations throughout the parks like the Noodle Stand in Tomorrowland or Mrs. Potts’ ice cream shop in Fantasyland. The great themed restaurants at Disney’s Hollywood Studios are always fun to check out. You have the Sci-Fi Diner where you can sit in a “car” and watch old sci-fi movies while waitresses roller skate up to you. Over at the Prime Time Diner, a 50’s themed restaurant, you can enjoy old-fashioned American food where the waitresses make sure you eat all of your food—just like mom would. But if you’ve ever eaten at any of these restaurants, you might have had to encounter one of the negatives: overcrowding. Especially during the summer, when park attendance is at its highest thanks to the kids being out of school, the Disney restaurants can be an incredibly stressful experience. Groups usually have to designate people to order the food while the other group goes to reserve the table. If you’re in a large group, it’s especially difficult. Well, the problem was apparently getting out of hand and Disney, always ready to please their customers, is ready to change the system to make dining at the parks a smoother experience. You will no longer be able to send someone to hold a table for your party. Disney restaurant cast members will now be seating hungry guests in their restaurants much like a waiter would in a regular restaurant. This doesn’t apply to every restaurant in the Disney parks, only the quick service restaurants like the Commissary at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. While some guests are complaining about the longer wait times this is causing, Disney feels this will help make the dining process easier, even if it does take a little bit longer. Labels: Disney Dining, disney resort dinning, disney world, orlando park tickets, Orlando Restaurants
Opa! At the Disney Boardwalk - Kouzzina by Cat Cora Opens
 After months of waiting fans of Iron Chef Cat Cora can now experience the chefs incredible Greek cuisine at the Walt Disney World Boardwalk. Foodies and Disney world fans have been waiting for this great addition to the Orlando theme park area for quite some time but now everyone can check out this great dining establishment that will takes up the spot where Spoodles used to be. The interior of Cora’s restaurant features a welcoming décor of dark woods and iron work. There are family pictures all over the walls to give you the feeling you are eating at a family owned restaurant. In many ways you are, because Cora herself designed the menu and waited for her family’s approval before deciding on the final selections. "I love everything about this menu," says Cora. "But most importantly it has the approval of my family. And trust me, my mom and dad would tell me if it wasn't right. Greeks are very passionate about their food." You will be able to enjoy scrumptious dishes like pastitsio, Greek-style lasagna, with buccatini pasta, cinnamon and ground beef as well as delicious oak-grilled lamb burgers. For dessert you can have chocolate boudino cake or traditional baklava with spiced nut filling and coffee frappes on the side. Cat Cora plans to be at the restaurant in Florida at the Walt Disney World Resort as often as she can. Considering she’s the Executive Chef of Bon Appétit magazine as well as restaurant owner, mom and now the owner of her own Coranation Wines, that might be a little difficult. So, Cora enlisted the help of Disney culinary team veteran Dee Foundoukis to help out in the kitchen while Cat’s away. "She's first generation Greek," says Cora. "She gets what I am trying to accomplish. She has my vision and my passion." We’re sure Kouzzina is going to be a hit at the Disney Boardwalk. While family friendly this establishment still provides a classy dining setting the entire family can enjoy. After all, it’s nice to treat yourself to something other than park food while on vacation. Labels: BoardWalk Resort, Disney Dining, new restaurants, orlando dinning, Orlando Restaurants
Iron Chef Cora Brings her Kouzzina to Disney
 She won what is considered the toughest cooking competition and cemented her spot in the food world as the only female Iron Chef. Now, Cat Cora will bring her culinary expertise to the Walt Disney World Resort BoardWalk. With Kouzzina (“kitchen” in Greek), Cora plans to bring “time-honored recipes passed down from my ancestors, as well as my favorite Greek and Mediterranean dishes that my family loves” to the Walt Disney World restaurant family. Cora has been working on the restaurant plans since 2008, but it is not her first partnership with Disney. Cora also worked on a series of Disney Video on Demand shows that taught families how to develop healthier eating habits. While she already has a barbecue-style restaurant, Cora wanted to go back to her routes with Kouzzina and make Mediterranean food more accessible to the guests that visit Disney from all over the world. Kouzzina takes the place of Spoodles, once popular for its breakfast buffet, and will be having a pre-opening with a special menu. The special menu will have breakfast, kid’s breakfast, dinner and dessert all with the Mediterranean theme Cora loves. Among the many appetizers guests will be able to sample are goat cheese stuffed grape leaves, Vongole (clams, sausage, wine broth and garlic croutons) and calamari with lemon. For dinner guests will dine on cinnamon stewed chicken, char grilled lamb burgers or spiced briami (oven roasted veggies, oregano and Mazithra cheese with orzo). Don’t forget the dessert! Among the delicious offerings are baklava , galaktoboureko (semolina custard in baked phyllo dough and vanilla-praline ice cream) and loukamathes (freshly made Greek doughnuts dipped with warm honey). Reservations are already open for the big September 17th premiere, so it might be a good idea to check out Disney’s new online reservation system. Disney recently opened up an online portal for its reservation system. Disney restaurants like Teppan Edo and The Crystal Palace are notorious for filling up fast. If a Disney restaurant has a good reputation, you can count on it having long wait times—especially during the upcoming holiday season! So if you want to get a taste of Kouzzina then make sure you call ahead and reserve your spot if you don’t want to wait hours in line for a meal. With a new family, her title as Iron Chef, celebrity appearances and her job as the editor of Bon Appétit magazine, Cora’s got her hands full. But we’re guessing guests of Kouzzina will keep their stomachs full with the delicious food Cora has planned for the menu. Labels: BoardWalk Resort, Disney Dining, disney resort dinning, new restaurants, Orlando Restaurants
Eating Healthy in the Parks
 Mickey shaped ice cream bars, Shamu slushees, Jurassic Park cheeseburgers, French fries, and soda galore - Ahh, the joys of theme park food! It is all delicious and fun, until your guilty weight-and-health conscious mind steps into the picture. But, dining at the Orlando theme parks does not need to be this way, thanks to newer and healthier in-park dining options! Walt Disney World is notorious for delicious in-park food options. Disney understands that people are becoming more health conscious and have begun implementing numerous healthy dining and snacking options for those who visit their four Disney theme parks. As you walk around the parks, each park has at least one fresh fruit stand. Also, look to grab fast options such as Dole whips, turkey legs, a cup of chili, or fresh fruit bars to keep fat and calories at bay! When going to a quick-dining option in the parks, look for Disney’s newest side items, for kids and adults alike, such as low-fat milk, 100% fruit juice, unsweetened applesauce, baby carrots, or fresh fruit – in replacement of the fatty French fries and soda. When at Disney sit-down restaurants, don’t be afraid to speak up! They are more than willing to accept your special dietary needs requests. Ask if you can substitute for a healthier side item, put dressings on the side, or for sugar-free or fat-free dessert options. Universal Studios Orlando has been put on the map recently for their break-through dining options of trans-fat-free in-park dining options! Many of the in-park restaurants and food locations at Universal Orlando offer cooking in trans-fat free oil or heart-healthier options. Kid’s meals now come with the option of fruit or trans-fat-free French fries, while adults have the choice of a side salad or trans-fat-free French fries. SeaWorld Orlando has been doing its part in conservation for the animals and the environment over the years, but now they are doing their best to conserve one of the top animals on the planet – humans. With healthy food stops, SeaWorld Orlando has some of the most heart-healthy options out of all of the theme parks. At Mama’s Kitchen Healthy Alternatives, guests can get quick-service options that are prepared with fresh ingredients and lower-fat items. Diners can visit any restaurant throughout the park and see low-fat, low-carb, sugar-free, and vegetarian options. If you are looking to satisfy your sweet tooth without sacrificing your diet, SeaWorld Orlando can help you out with their sugar-free options at Polar Parlor ice cream shop, Sweet Sailin’ Candy Shop, and the Cypress Bakery. All of the Orlando theme parks are jumping onto the health band-wagon, to make Orlando vacations healthier and happier than ever! So, make your diet and wallet happier. With the help of OrlandoFunTickets.com, you can save money on your discount theme park tickets while getting the scoop on these great healthy dining options. Labels: adults at Universal, Discount Disney Tickets, Disney Dining, orlando dinning, Seaworld Orlando, vacation dinning
Great Animatronics Come in Small Packages at Disney
 Normally, a rat would be a very unwelcome creature inside a restaurant and cause to call the Health Department. But at Les Chefs de France restaurant at Disney's Epcot, one special rat isn't just a welcome guest, he’s actually part of the restaurant’s crew. The star of the Academy Award-winning Disney Pixar film Ratatouille, Remy is the newest Audio-Animatronics character created by Walt Disney World Imagineers, and he’s part of a whole new guest experience at Les Chefs de France called “Bon Appétit from Chef Remy.” Inside the France pavilion eatery, a Maitre d’ greets diners six days a week, four times a day, with a rolling food cart. That cart carries a silver domed cheese platter that the Maitre d’ dramatically uncovers to reveal the six-inch-tall Remy, complete with silky soft fur, pink paws, and a traditional toque. The rat-turned-Chef then comes to life, entertaining diners with nimble movements and lively banter. Chef Remy and the Maitre d’ make stops at each table through the restaurant, and in addition to chatting up the guests, the culinary rodent even breaks out his dance moves every now and then, dancing to various tunes from a romantic French song to a hip-hop jam. The “Bon Appétit from Chef Remy” experience lasts 40 minutes long and includes small Remy laughing, sniffling, and even flirting with his new restaurant friends. The smallest Audio-Animatronic figure in Walt Disney World history, Remy is part of the Living Character initiative created for Disney Parks by Walt Disney Imagineering. “By combining technologies, our Living Character initiative creates new levels of guest interaction and brings characters to life like never before,” said Holger Irmler, who worked on the Remy project for Walt Disney Imagineering. “Things we do are so complex, yet our goal is to make them seem so magical to our guests." Since its inception, the Living Character initiative has been providing guests with never-before-seen animatronics technology and a heaping helping of legendary Disney magic. You might remember the first Living Character debuted in 2004, a large and loveable dinosaur named Lucky who visited Disney’s Animal Kingdom from June to August in 2005. Lucky was an 8 foot tall green dinosaur pulling a flower-covered cart and led by “Chandler the Dinosaur Handler,” and he was able to move freely and talk with guests much like Remy is able to. Remy was originally debuted at Disneyland Resort Paris and was such a hit that Imagineers chose to have him visit Epcot next, with Les Chefs de France serving as the perfect Parisian setting for the French rat. Guests will be able to visit Chef Remy at the Epcot restaurant every Monday through Saturday until September 5. For a dining experience like no other, be sure to pay a visit to Epcot soon to see one of Disney’s most charming characters come to life. In addition to getting your Walt Disney World tickets from OrlandoFunTickets.com, we recommend that you make reservations up to 90 days in advance if you plan to dine at Les Chefs de France and meet Chef Remy. Labels: Disney Dining, EPCOT, EPCOT attractions, Orlando Restaurants
Eat Your Way Through Walt Disney World
 If you are a hardcore roller coaster rider, chances are that eating at Orlando theme parks for you means light meals that won't come back with a vengeance later. If you’re the hustler kind of theme park-goer, and you like to cram as much fun into your day at the park as you can, chances are that you want easy, refueling meals like pizza and burgers in a memorable atmosphere. And alas, there’s the gourmet vacationer – burgers and pizza are hash for you, and you won’t be satisfied with anything less than the best. Now, what do all these different diners have in common? The answer’s quite simple: they can all eat and be happy at Walt Disney World. No matter what your needs and tastes are, there’s a restaurant to suit you at Disney, from the international cuisine of Epcot to the kid-friendly fare at Magic Kingdom. And though we won’t deny that Disney cuisine can be on the pricey side, you won’t regret stuffing your face at these eateries. The Light DinerSome of the best light fare can be found at Disney cafes, and one of our favorites is the Yak and Yeti Counter Service at Animal Kingdom, where you can have tasty egg rolls or fried rice for just a few bucks. For a little more, you can also have the Mandarin Chicken Salad, which is light and tasty. We also like the Sunshine Seasons at Epcot, which serves up soups, salads, and stir-fried Asian specialties. Also, a great tip for frequent snackers and vegetarians is to look for fruit stands – each park has at least one where you can find apples, pears, bananas, oranges, and other fruits, all healthy, inexpensive, and not too heavy. The Fun SeekerOne of the most fun dining experiences at Disney can be found at the Prime Time Diner at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This 50’s style eatery features ample portions of American classics, including fried chicken, burgers, meatloaf, and thick creamy milk shakes. The rowdiest of kids will be entertained by the vintage TV clips, from I Love Lucy to Our Miss Brooks, and the service staff is fun and familiar too – your good ole’ “mom” and “dad,” who won’t neglect to tell you to finish your vegetables. Hearty appetites will also appreciate the Crystal Palace at Magic Kingdom, where a Victorian theme coupled with a colorful character topiary adds whimsical charm to any meal. American favorites abound in the buffet, with dishes like prime rib, rotisserie chicken, Atlantic salmon, and New England clam chowder cooked right before your eyes in the live on-stage kitchen. Plus, you never know whom you might see at this character-frequented buffet. The GourmetAnd finally, for the more refined palates that visit Walt Disney World, there’s nothing like the Coral Reef Restaurant at Epcot. Located at The Seas with Nemo & Friends, the Coral Reef Restaurant is helmed by Chef Roland Muller, who has created an amazing menu of seafood options for lunch and dinner. Try the Pan-seared Ahi Tuna, a perfectly cooked cut of tuna with parsnip puree, roasted carrots, caramelized cipollini onions, and red wine reduction. The Wild Mushroom Lasagna is tasty and filling too, and we love wrapping things up with the Bailey’s and Jack Daniel Mousse, topped with a ganache and a chocolate cigar. So if you’ve seen the sights of Walt Disney World but not tasted the tastes, try taking a culinary tour of your favorite Disney theme park. We guarantee you won’t go home hungry! Satiate your Disney cravings today with Walt Disney World tickets from OrlandoFunTickets.com. Labels: Disney, Disney Dining, Disney Dinning, Disney Dinning Plan
Re-Imagineering Downtown Disney: New Additions in 2009
 It started with the closing of Pleasure Island last year; then, T-Rex: A Prehistoric Family Adventure, A Place to Eat, Shop, Explore and Discover opened, creating a whole new standard for Disney dining. With all these changes, visitors might be wondering what’s going on at Downtown Disney, Walt Disney World Resort’s beloved shopping, dining and entertainment hub. Well, this famous Disney attraction that’s a popular favorite among tourists is getting a little bit of a makeover, with new restaurants and all-new attraction set to draw crowds later this year. Since Downtown Disney has always been a free place for visitors to walk, shop, and spend a leisurely afternoon, guests will be surprised to learn that in the spring, Downtown Disney will get its very own iconic attraction in the form of a giant tethered balloon. Not much is known about this aerial ride that, for now, is simply known as Aerophile. But the word from Disney is that it will take guests 300 feet into the air from the waterfront. With a volume of 210,000 cubic feet of lighter-than-air gas, the 72-foot-diameter balloon will lift up to 30 guests at a time on a six-minute trip by day or night, giving them an unparalleled, 360-degree view of up to 10 miles. Adding to the fun will be a new Downtown Disney restaurant, a high-energy eatery and bar from E-Brands Restaurant Group. There’s no official word on the name yet, but we can expect to see an international wine bar, a tequila bar with more than 50 kinds of tequila, and 10 signature frozen margaritas. This new dining spot will also be located on the waterfront and will be open daily until late into the evening with nightly entertainment. The new additions will certainly fill help to fill a bit of a hole at Downtown Disney, which has developed ever since Pleasure Island closed back in late September, after close to 20 years in operation. Reportedly, Disney was responding to guest feedback asking for more family-friendly experiences. Pleasure Island featured nightclubs like the Adventurer’s Club, Comedy Warehouse 8 Traxx, Motion, Mannequins, and BET Sound Stage. While Disney reinvents Pleasure Island with a new slew of dining, shopping, and other unique features, Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant, Fuego by Sosa Cigars, Curl by Sammy Duval, and Orlando Harley-Davidson will still be open to visitors. So far, Downtown Disney’s newest additions include Disney’s new Design-A-Tee store presented by Hanes, which we recently reported on, and T-Rex: A Prehistoric Family Adventure. T-Rex combines dining with entertainment, allowing kids to learn and play in an interactive prehistoric environment built around water, fire, ice. Both places are part of a recent trend in Disney stores, restaurants, and attractions to provide interactive entertainment, where the guest can be an integral part of the fun. We’ll keep you posted on all the latest developments at one of Walt Disney World’s most beloved spots, Downtown Disney. And in the meantime, don’t forget to check out all the fun at other Disney theme parks like Magic Kingdom and Epcot – you can find discount Disney tickets right here at OrlandoFunTickets.com. Labels: Discount Disney Tickets, Disney Attractions, Disney Dining, Downtown Disney
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