Theme Park Foodie

If you have any questions about theme park food, Central Florida’s attractions or Theme Park Foodie, I can be contacted through email or Twitter. I’m always happy to help in any way that I can!

[tpfoodie]

The Dawn Brancheau Foundation's DREAM BIG 5K - April 12 at SeaWorld Orlando

Scenic Family Run and Community Service Featured for Fourth Annual Event

The Dawn Brancheau Foundation’s Fourth Annual Dream Big 5K, a family-friendly fun run, will be held Saturday, April 12 at 7:30 a.m. at SeaWorld Orlando. The run will be followed by community service projects that positively impact organizations the Foundation supports in the Central Florida area.

The Dream Big 5K is a scenic 3.1-mile fun run through SeaWorld Orlando. The mission of the Dawn Brancheau Foundation is to improve the lives of children and animals in need, inspire others to follow their dreams, and promote the importance of community service. Dream Big 5K participants are encouraged to form a team and ask family, friends, and co-workers to join them. There will also be a special route for a Family Fun Walk, where strollers/baby joggers are welcomed.

During the run, Dawn's inspirational music from her personal iPod will play throughout the park. Prizes will be awarded for the first three male, female and youth runners.

The proceeds of this year’s event will be used to:

- Refurbish the Foundations two adopted villas at Give Kids the World - Purchase farm equipment for the expansion of Dawn's Garden at Edgewood Children’s Ranch - Construct Dawn's Playground for the children at Matthew's Hope - Purchase new bunk beds for the children at Central Florida Children’s Home - Add exercise equipment to Dawn's Play Yard at Osceola County Animal Services - Supply veterinary care and medicines to the dogs at Harbor House Paws for Peace Kennel and Orange County Animal Services.

Runners, walkers, and supporters are encouraged to bring new or gently used running shoes with them on the day of the race so they can be donated to families serviced by Matthew’s Hope.

All participants are invited to join in the community service projects following the Dream Big 5K. Volunteers will remain in Sea Harbor Pavilions immediately after the event to assemble “doggie adoption bags” for Osceola County Animal Services, and "Family Food Bags" to be donated to the families serviced by Matthew's Hope. 

Registration and packet pick-up will be held in the lobby of the Fairfield Inn & Suites at 10815 International Drive on Friday April, 11, 2014, from 3 p.m.-7 p.m. Onsite registration on the event day begins at 6 a.m. with the run kick off at 7:30 a.m.

For more information about The Dawn Brancheau Foundation’s Dream Big 5K, please visit http://dreambig5k2014.kintera.org/. The Dawn Brancheau Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity, was formed in 2010 in memory of Dawn Brancheau, a truly inspirational woman.  For more information about the Foundation or to donate, please visit DawnsFoundation.org.

[tpfoodie]

A few more photos from SeaWorld's Antarctica Empire of the Penguin: - New Coca-Cola freestyle machines featuring the attraction's signature beverage, South Pole Chill - The Cup That Cares refillable souvenir cup. Available for $9.99, a dollar from each cup purchased is donated to the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund - SeaWorld's newest attraction, Empire of the Penguin - Expedition Cafe, a new quick-service dining location at Antarctica featuring Italian, American and Asian fare - Plush Pucks available for purchase in the area gift store, Glacial Collections

[tpfoodie]

Exciting news from Walt Disney World's New Fantasyland! Guests enjoying dinner at Be Our Guest Restaurant can now enjoy a full serving of Beauty and the Beast's signature "Grey Stuff." The popular "Grey Stuff" was previously available only to people celebrating special occasions such as birthdays or anniversaries. Now, for $4.29, all guests can enjoy the signature dessert! A brief review: The Grey Stuff is served over a chocolate pastry. Though small, the dessert is rich enough to be enjoyed over coffee, wine, or good conversation. We loved it! It is officially one of our new favorite Walt Disney World treats.

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[tpfoodie]

Emeril’s Orlando at CityWalk Offers 3-Course, $30 Menu in August

Image Courtesy of Emeril's Restaurants

Emeril’s Orlando, located at Universal Studio’s Orlando CityWalk, will continue a 3-course, $30 summer menu through the month of August. Beginning August 1, Emeril’s will feature four classic dishes from recipes found in Chef Emeril Lagasse’s first cookbook, Emeril’s New New Orleans Cooking. 

  3 for $30 August Menu

Appetizer:

Andouille Gnocchi with Spicy Tomato Sauce and Herb Nage

  Entrées:

Tipsy Snapper with Ginger Sake Sauce and Fried Arugula

OR

Tamarind Glazed Pork Chop with Caramelized Sweet Potatoes and Green Chili Mole Sauce

  Dessert:

Chocolate Fantasy Cake

  *Tax and gratuity not included.

[tpfoodie]

We recently had the pleasure of enjoying some of Hersheypark's tastiest treats. Scroll through the photos to join us on a sweet culinary adventure!

Pictured Left to Right: Hershey's Candy Apples, Hershey's Hugs Cookie Sandwiches, Pit Beef Sandwich w/ Macaroni and Cheese, Chocolate-Dipped Banana, Turkey Hill Moose Tracks Ice Cream, Cookie and Reese's Smores

[tpfoodie]

“Ashamed of his monstrous form, the beast concealed himself inside his castle, with a magic mirror as his only window to the outside world.” - Beauty and the Beast

The facade of Be Our Guest Restaurant is absolutely stunning at night.

[tpfoodie]

HI Foodie looking at meal deals at MK, IOA and US is it worth it and just how eatable is the food. We have breakfast organised at part of the accommodation booking and have a party of 4 ( Two adults and two girls one aged 16 and one 10 ) also we have jam packed the holiday with things to do so need to keep costs down

Hello!

In my opinion, the meal deals at Universal Studios an Walt Disney World are not a great value. The meal deal dining offerings at IOA and USF are very limited and do not include many of the best restaurants in the parks. At Disney, the meal plan is flexible and can be designed to meet your needs, but very few people actually save money using it because of all of the limitations tied to the plan.

To keep costs low, have a large breakfast before going into the parks and eat a late lunch/early dinner in the parks. You will still have the opportunity to enjoy the dining options in the parks, but won’t break the bank!

[tpfoodie]

New logo, new layout!

Though simple, this rebranding has been in the making for more than a year. The colors, fonts and new layout for the blog were carefully chosen to emphasize user-friendliness and create a more seamless reading experience for Theme park Foodie fans and followers. If you have any comments or suggestions, send us a tweet or @themeparkfoodie or an email at [email protected].

[tpfoodie]

FULL MENU: SeaWorld's Expedition Cafe

Photo by Joe Burbank of the Orlando Sentinel

SeaWorld’s new realm Antarctica officially opens on May 24th, and the expansion (the largest in the theme park’s history) features a new dining location. Expedition Cafe is a quick-service dining location that is designed to resemble a research outpost in Antarctica. The menu was crafted to reflect the types of food that would be served at research locations depending upon the nationalities of researchers located there. Pretty cool touch, huh? Italian, American and Asian fare are available at Expedition Cafe. The menu’s set up and pricing leads us to believe that this dining location will be included on the All Day Dining Deal, but it may not be initially included due to high interest in the Antarctica expansion. The full menu is below!

Ristorante Italiano

Entrees Emperor’s Spaghetti & Meatball Platter: $11.99 Italian Rope Sausage Sandwich: $8.99 Garden Lasagna: $9.99

Cafe Side Selections Breadsticks (3): $3.99 Parmesan French Fries: $2.99

Shamu Kid’s Meal (9 and under): $5.99 Choose One Entree: Spaghetti & Meatball or Garden Lasagna Choose One Side: Breadstick or Parmesan Cheese Fries Choose One Beverage: Milk (White, Chocolate or Strawberry), 100% Apple Juice or Kid Size Soft Drink

Grab & Go Sub Zero Italian  Hero: $8.99 Chicken Caesar Salad: $8.99

Stateside Chicken

Entree South of the Equator Fried/Baked Chicken Platter: $9.99 - $11.49 Deep Southern Fried or Savory Baked Chicken served with your choice of Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Macaroni and Cheese or French Fries and a Homemade Biscuit. Extra charge for all white meat. 2 pc. $9.99 / 3 pc. $11.49

Cafe Side Selections Mashed Potatoes and Gravy: $2.99 Macaroni and Cheese: $2.99 French Fries: $2.99 Corn on the Cob: $3.29 Homemade Biscuit: $.99

Shamu Kid’s Meal (9 and under): $5.99 Choose One Entree: Home Dog / Fried or Baked Chicken Wing or Leg Choose One Side: Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Macaroni and Cheese, French Fries or a Biscuit Choose One Beverage: Milk (White, Chocolate or Strawberry), 100% Apple Juice or Kid Size Soft Drink

Grab & Go Iceburg Wedge Chef Salad: $8.79 Turkey Club Croissant: $8.99

Asian Grill Entrees South Pole Pepper Steak: $10.99 Teriyaki Chicken: $9.99 Orange Chicken: $9.99 Shrimp Lo Mein: $8.99

Cafe Side Selections Fried Rice: $3.99 Lo Mein: $3.99 Egg Roll: $2.49

Shamu Kid’s Meal (9 and under): $5.99 Choose One Entree: Orange Chicken, Teriyaki Chicken or Pepper Steak Choose One Side: Jasmine Rice, Fried Rice or Lo Mein Choose One Beverage: Milk (White, Chocolate or Strawberry), 100% Apple Juice or Kid Size Soft Drink

Grab & Go Asian Freshie Salad: $3.69

Excited about the menu offerings at Expedition Cafe? Disappointed? Send us a tweet at @themeparkfoodie to share you thoughts!

[tpfoodie]

can i take a can of soda into universal studios

The best response I can offer is “maybe.” The list below, provided by Universal Orlando Resort, outlines acceptable and prohibited items. You’ll notice that soda is included in neither list. My recommendation would be to try bringing the can of soda. If they ask you to discard it, it will not be an expensive loss.

Acceptable items:

Bottled water

Small snacks that do not require heating

Any food required for medical purposes and medically–indicated nutritional supplements

Any food required for special dietary needs

Baby food/baby formula

Soft-sided insulated bags no larger than 8.5” wide x 6” high x 6” deep

Prohibited items:

Picnic lunches

Food that requires heating or refrigeration

Alcohol and glass containers

Hard-sided coolers

Soft-sided coolers larger than 8.5” wide x 6” high x 6” deep

Coolers, suitcases, and bags with wheels

Source: Universal Orlando Resort

[tpfoodie]

SeaWorld Offers Customizable "Cup that Cares"

Photo Courtesy of SeaWorld Orlando

SeaWorld Orlando announced today that it will be selling penguin-shaped cups at its newest attraction, Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, set to open on May 24th. These customizable souvenirs may appear cute and cuddly (or, in our opinion, fun and festive) they are designed to encourage guests to help the planet “one refill at a time.”

The Cup That Cares program is a new reusable cup program that uses technology to create an interactive and innovative experience for SeaWorld guests. The cups were designed to connect with Coca-Cola Freestyle beverage dispensers available at the new Antarctica attraction. Guests are personally engaged through the use of a RFID chip embedded in each cup that interacts with software in the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines to calculate how guests are being environmentally responsible when reusing the cup. The technology embedded in the new souvenir cups calculate the amount of CO2 guests save from entering the atmosphere when they choose to refill their souvenir cup. Each guest’s conservation history will be logged by software developed by SeaWorld and Coca-Cola, and guests will be thanked for saving their personal amount of CO2 from entering the atmosphere. SeaWorld notes that every refill of reusable cups prevents the emission of 27 grams of CO2. The cups are also cost effective; each refill costs only $.99.

There are two versions of the Cups That Care. One, available at beverage stations at the Antarctica attraction, features photos of Puck (the attraction’s signature hero) and his penguin family. More creative guests and children will likely opt for the Create A Cup That Cares option, which invites guests to create a personalized penguin character cup by choosing from more than 40 accessory options including eyes, hair, glasses, hats, bow ties, necklaces, SeaWorld shopping bags and miniature Shamu ice cream bars.

“Just as penguins do within their colonies, humans also can band together to make a big difference through small actions,” said Dan Brown, Chief Operating Officer of SeaWorld, Discovery Cove and Aquatica Parks. “We see great potential with this new program because it encourages guests to be more aware of their actions – and reduce their carbon footprint — in an easy, fun and innovative way. Each step may be small, but it all adds up when we work together.”

SeaWorld also announced today that it will be serving an exclusive and custom vanilla-flavored beverage through the Coca-Cola Freestyle dispensers at Antarctica called “South Pole Chill.” We imagine that such a sweet concoction will soon become a favorite of young guests.

As you may remember, we recently wrote about this possibility in our column for Orlando Attractions Magazine. You can read more about Coca-Cola Freestyle and how it has the potential to change Orlando’s theme parks here.

For more information on Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, like SeaWorld on Facebook or visit SeaWorldOrlando.com.

[tpfoodie]

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with an Epcot ¡Fiesta!

Photo Courtesy of Walt Disney World Media Relations

A week-long Cinco de Mayo ¡Fiesta! is coming to Epcot's Mexico pavilion as part of Walt Disney World's Limited Time Magic. San Angel Inn Restaurante and La Hacienda de San Angel, the pavilion's restaurants, will be offering the following specialty menu items to celebrate from May 5 to May 11! 

Appetizers

Cream of Chile Poblano: Chile poblano, cilantro, onion, garlic and Mexican cream, garnished with tortilla strips, poblano peppers and cream ($7.50)

Chalupas de Chicharron: Corn dough topped with roasted chipotle sauce, shredded chicken, pork rind in green tomatillo sauce, fresh cheese, sour cream and avocado ($11.50)

Entrees

Chile en Nogada: Egg-battered stuffed poblano pepper with pork, almonds, raisins, apple, pineapple, cinnamon, roasted tomato and garlic, topped with a walnut cream sauce ($24.50)

Enchiladas de Mole Poblano: Corn tortillas filled with marinated chicken, topped with mole poblano sauce, sesame seeds and Mexican cream ($23.50)

Pollo Rostizado en Salsa de Mercado: Slow roasted French-chicken breast, topped with a roasted green tomato, pine nuts, garlic, onion and saffron sauce ($23.50)

Dessert

Camotes en Leche Condensada: Sweet potato dessert topped condensed milk, garnished with almond brittle ($7.00)

[tpfoodie]

Top 5 Insider Tips For Dining at Be Our Guest

1) Make advanced dinner reservations yesterday (or ASAP)!

Disney dining reservations can be made 180 days in advance, and each day the Be Our Guest dinner reservations are quickly snatched up. There may be a few days with availability scattered over the course of the next sic months, but these are few and far between. If you want a Be Our Guest dinner reservation, stay up until 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time or wake up early 180 days before your trip to the Magic Kingdom to make your reservation. You can make advanced dining reservations online here or by calling the reservation hotline at [phone]. Lunch is served from 4:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. If you are unable to make reservations for dinner, don't worry! Reservations are not required for lunch.

2) Be prepared to wait in line for lunch.

The lunch at Be Our Guest is a modified quick service style. Guests enter the restaurant, are directed through the Beast's Study where they order using a touch screen, and then seat themselves. Disney cast members deliver lunch to the tables by using RFID magical roses guests receive when they finalize their order. While this process is very efficient, the restaurant is very popular and fills up quickly. If you're hoping to dine at Be Our Guest for lunch, you'll likely wait in a line of some sort. If you get to the restaurant by 10:30 a.m. a short line will have begun to form, but you will be seated when the restaurant opens at 11:00 a.m. If you decide to have lunch at a later hour, be prepared to wait in a line that may be more than an hour long. Lunch is served from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., but the line has been known to close at 2:00 p.m. Our best recommendation for waiting in line? Pick up a LeFou's Brew at Gaston's Tavern, hop in line at 10:30 a.m., enjoy the quality time with friends and family and get excited for a great lunch!

3) Know the limitations on the availability of the Grey Stuff.

There's been a lot of hype about the Grey Stuff being served at Be Our Guest, but guests planning on visiting the restaurant shouldn't get too excited until they know all of the details. The Grey Stuff is, unfortunately, not available on the menu. Guests celebrating a special occasion can request the treat, which is a cookies and cream concoction, but it cannot be ordered as a dessert. It is also only available during dinner service. We teamed up with Orlando Attractions Magazine to call for Disney to add the dessert to the menu, and we're keeping our fingers crossed that it will be added in the future. In the meantime, tell your server with a wink and a smile that you're celebrating something special (birthday, anniversary, first visit, etc.) to get a taste of this iconic Beauty and the Beast dessert.

4) Bring your best ball gown! Dinner guests have a date with the Beast.

When New Fantasyland opened, the Beast stopped meeting guests with Belle in Epcot at the World Showcase and reappeared in his study at Be Our Guest. It makes sense that he would want to meet visitors from the comfort of his own castle, and who wouldn't enjoy dancing with the Beast after enjoying a lovely meal? Of course, the Beast (being a "hideous monster" and all) comes out at night; he only meets guests during dinner service. He's also rather stingy with his time, as he likes to take photographs with entire parties and not individual visitors. If you make reservations for Be Our Guest, be sure to bring your camera and a smile! Ball attire is optional.

5) The restaurant features three different rooms, and each tells a different piece of the story of how Belle and the Beast fell in love.

When people imagine Be Our Guest, most think of the beautiful grand ballroom with the decadent golden chandeliers above and windows with a view to an enchanted wood and softly falling snow. While the grand ballroom is one of the rooms available for dining within Beast's Castle, there are two others that are just as breathtaking. The Rose Gallery room has a similar feel to the ballroom. It is an opulent, warmly lit venue that features portraits of Belle and the Beast and their enchanted friends. The Rose Gallery is only available during lunch. The other room, a favorite of many diners, is the West Wing. This room is dimly lit, and features a number of the Beast's, er, personal "touches" including a slashed portrait of the Prince (which has an enchanted surprise in store), ripped and hanging curtains, and the rumble of thunder and flashes of lightning. Meanwhile, amidst the destruction, the enchanted rose glows peacefully. The West Wing is a very well-themed, fun and unique dining venue, but parents be warned: it may be too dark and scary for some young children.

Do you have any tips for guests planning to dine at Be Our Guest? Comment on our pin on Pinterest or shares your thoughts with us at @themeparkfoodie!

[tpfoodie]

Coca-Cola Freestyle Machines are Multiplying at Orlando's Theme Parks

Our latest column for Orlando Attractions Magazine is live! Coca-Cola Freestyle machines are popping up around Orlando's theme parks, and their presence could change Central Florida's theme parks forever.

Guests can expect a wider selection of beverage options at the Orlando theme parks. They can choose from the 120 plus flavors provided by the machine, but they also have the option to mix different flavors to come up with new beverage creations. A few of our favorite example combination recipes include Dreamsicle Coke (½ Orange Coke, ½ Vanilla Coke), Mai Tai (Fanta Orange, Fanta Peach, Minute Maid Lemonade, Hi-C Fruit Punch and Dasani Lime) and Very Berry Lemonade (Strawberry Minute Maid and Raspberry Minute Maid). There are more than 14,000 two drink combinations alone, so the possibilities for creative mixtures are almost endless.

Click here read more about what the arrival of Coke Freestyle machines means for your next theme park visit and how they may be used by theme park culinary teams to add further detail to the immersive themes of the area's attractions.