Most notably, there are two challenges that are well-known in the Disney traveler groups and those involve 1) cupcakes and 2) drinking around the world at Epcot. While one is kid-friendly and the other is not, I'll cover both of these challenges and tips for making the most of your stay in Orlando!
First, let's start with the basics. Breakfast is offered in the parks as well as in the food courts and dining areas of the resort hotels. I'm a fan of bringing my own granola bars on vacation but when Be Our Guest announced a trial run of their new breakfast menu, I couldn't resist! Please note: Be Our Guest still requires reservations for breakfast. While I don't recommend making this stop an everyday option because it is still quite expensive (about $20/adult and $12/child), it is worth making an exception once or twice.
The menu features mature tastes for adult palettes, such as the open-faced bacon and egg sandwich shown above (poached eggs, applewood bacon, brie cheese, and arugula on a toasted baguette served with fresh fruit), but crepes, french toast, cereal, scrambled eggs, and oatmeal are still available for the little ones. Beverages and pastries are included with every meal. Tip: Disney chefs are happy to accommodate for food allergies. My travel partner is allergic to melon and was substituted with a fruit bowl that only included berries.
Lunch is a snap with plenty of options to suit your needs. Every park is dotted with quick-service dining as well as snack carts and table-service restaurants. For a family on-the-go, I recommend grabbing snacks throughout the day to keep your energy up and stopping for a long lunch or dinner. If you need to take a child back to the hotel to nap, the Disney resort hotels offer plenty of safe options at the food court including burgers, pasta, and pizza. If a buffet is more your style (no way you can go wrong with that one!) then I highly recommend Hollywood & Vine at Hollywood Studios.
My travel companion enjoying his food court spaghetti at Caribbean Beach Resort
Dinner is usually where I like to splurge. I enjoy taking a long break in the evening at a table-service restaurant with the option to order drinks and dessert. I understand some families with small children prefer to steer clear of these establishments but don't worry, those quick service options and food courts are open for every meal. The restaurants at Disney World are a great opportunity to try something new so be adventurous!
Perhaps you like French flair? I will never stop recommending Be Our Guest because the menu, the desserts, the wine, and the ambiance are unrivaled! Or maybe a Japanese steakhouse is more your style? Teppan Edo in Epcot is a winner!
Dinner and a show at Teppan Edo
Let's circle back to the buffet idea - how about a smorgasbord of authentic German food? Biergarten in Epcot has it all!
Just look at that face! He's clearly stuffed.
And who could forget Rainforest Cafe? It's my favorite place to dine and it offers a fun atmosphere for the kids. After all, who wouldn't want to enjoy their meal among animatronic apes and huge aquariums? There are two Rainforest Cafe options on Disney World property: Animal Kingdom and Downtown Disney.
Here's where things get interesting; let's say you're not quite hungry enough for a full meal but you need something to keep the tummy grumbles at bay. Disney is renowned for its snack options and is sure to provide something for everyone. You can find healthy options such as fruit, pretzels, and yogurt in every park or food court. But c'mon, we're on vacation. Let's talk about SUGAR! Disney World churros, Mickey ice cream bars, and the famous Dole Whip are all viable options to please that sweet tooth.
The Dole Whip float is my favorite! Pineapple soft serve atop pineapple juice
Try the Cronut (a fried flaky donut topped with cinnamon and sugar) near the Canada pavilion in Epcot!
The new Gaston's Tavern in Magic Kingdom's Fantasyland is the perfect stop for a sugar craving. You can pick up enormous cinnamon rolls and LeFou's Brew (no-sugar-added frozen apple juice with a hint of toasted marshmallow, topped with passion fruit-mango foam) or let this be the start of your CUPCAKE CHALLENGE by savoring one of the seasonal cupcake options!
Anna's Birthday Cupcake with LeFou's Brew
As far as challenges go, the cupcake tour has very few rules. Basically, make a point to find a cupcake everywhere you go when you're at Disney World and you're sure to leave with a new favorite. I'm sad to report that I failed this challenge on my last trip because I forgot (gasp!) to try a cupcake at the famous Starring Rolls Cafe in Hollywood Studios. Here are the other options that made the cut:
Lemongrass Coconut cupcake and Key Lime Tart from Boardwalk Bakery on Disney's Boardwalk
Zebra and Simba cupcakes from Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery in Animal Kingdom
Strawberry cupcake from Boardwalk Bakery
There are many, many more options for cupcakes at the various Disney World resort hotels but that's why I love this challenge - it never gets old! You'll always find something new to try on each return trip.
If you've read this far then you're probably ready to hear about the second, and more risky, challenge of the Disney World variety. Drinking around the world at Epcot has mysterious beginnings but I have a sneaking suspicion that someone started it by accident and kept the tradition going. The challenge is simple: enjoy one adult beverage from each country in the World Showcase. Sounds easy, right? WRONG. I modified the challenge on my trip in 2014 to split the drinks with my traveling companion so that we could both finish and still make it to our hotel without assistance. Here was our plan of action:
What we quickly learned upon reaching Epcot was that many of these options were not nearly as delicious as we expected. For example, the Green Tea Plum Wine slush was very sour and oddly salty. I am happy to report that the Grand Marnier and Grey Goose slush from the France pavilion emerged as the clear winner for our taste buds and we are sure to purchase it on our repeat visits.
Here is a photo montage of our challenge (please note, some items on the original list were not available and had to be substituted):
It's always good to have a little bit of fun while you're on vacation :-)
For a traveling party of two adults, I typically plan to spend $100/day for food, drinks, and snacks. This is usually enough to cover a quick-service lunch, a table-service dinner, and one or two snacks. There are some table-service restaurants, such as Be Our Guest, that will easily gobble up $100 so make sure to look at the menus before you go. One very helpful option is the Disney Dining Plan. I've never used it myself but I've read enough to know that it is often the best choice for families - plus Disney World runs a promotion in the fall season to get free dining with a room package. You can't beat that! There are three options for the Disney Dining Plan: quick service, regular and deluxe. See the differences here.
One perk you'll notice as park of the regular and deluxe dining plans are the popular refillable mugs. If you're staying at a Disney World resort hotel, make sure to pick up one of these beauties because they'll allow you free unlimited refills with purchase (you select the number of days).
That's it for Disney World food! Now I'm hungry....
Next up we'll discuss the MagicBands, Disney World app, FastPass+ process, and other tips/tools for your trip!
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