When I started to write a Top Ten list for Disney World snacks I quickly realized that what I might consider a snack is not necessarily what would be included as a snack credit on the Disney Dining plan.  So for the purposes of this list, I’ll stick with only items that may be purchased with a DDP snack credit…I’ll have to cover other ‘snacks’ in another column!

 This is the symbol you see on a Disney menu when it qualifies for a snack credit.  Here are my favorites – and no judgments please about how many of them are sweets!

10.  All-American Sundae – Plaza Ice Cream Parlor, Magic Kingdom.  I know you can get ice cream sundaes anywhere, but there’s nothing like sitting at one of those white parlor tables, enjoying a cool, creamy bowl of ice cream covered with hot fudge and peanut butter drizzle, watching the crowds pass by on Main Street USA!

9.  Croissant Berry Pudding – Sunshine Seasons, Land Pavilion, Epcot.  This is the ultimate in bread pudding and you can even have it for breakfast!  This is a rich bread pudding made with buttery croissants and laced with blueberries.

8.  Pain Au Chocolat (Chocolate Croissant) – Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie, France Pavilion, Epcot.  There are several places around WDW where you can get ‘croissants,’ but most of them resemble the texture you’d find in a Danish, rather than a croissant.  If you’re looking for the real thing, Les Halles is the place to get it!

7.  Giant Cookie – Writer’s Stop, Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  I know, you can get giant cookies at lots of places, but these are extra good.  There’s something about the texture that’s soft without feeling under-baked.  The big cookies come in chocolate chip (my fave), sugar, peanut butter and white chocolate macadamia.  Note: Writer's Stop is scheduled to be closed for the construction of the new Star Wars and Toy Story Lands. For the time being it is serving as a spot to grab appetizers and drinks and may become a waiting area for the Sci-Fi Dine In restaurant next door.

6.  Croissant Jambon Fromage -- – Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie, France Pavilion, Epcot.  If you’re getting a sense that I like croissants, you’re right!  I had to include something savory on this list and here it is – you can get a ham and cheese croissant sandwich for a snack credit!

5.  Caramel Corn – Karamell Kuche, Germany Pavilion, Epcot.  You may think you’ve had caramel corn before, but this is not your run-of-the-mill Cracker Jack stuff!  Made fresh on site, this is sweet and savory (kind of!) and crunchy goodness!

4.  Chocolate-Covered Sea Salt Caramels -- Karamell Kuche, Germany Pavilion, Epcot.  The name says it all – what’s not to love?!

3.  Carrot Cake Cookie – Writer’s Stop, Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  Yes, I already talked about the big cookies at Writer’s Stop, but this is more than a cookie.  It’s like carrot cake and cookies rolled into one.  There’s a delicious cream cheese frosting sandwiched between two carrot cake flavored cookies.  Don’t tell anyone, but I often have this for ‘breakfast’!  As state above, Writer's Stop is no longer a coffee and pastry shop, but you can still get the carrot cake cookie at Sweet Spells.

2.  Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich – Plaza Ice Cream Parlor, Magic Kingdom.  One of my family’s favorite things is getting one of these to share while waiting for the parade or fireworks.  We used to get them from the Main Street Bakery before it became a Starbuck’s.  Thank goodness we can still get them from the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor.  They take two fresh-from-the-oven big chocolate chip cookies and slather rich ice cream in between.  If you’re trying to down this without sharing, you better eat quickly before the ice cream melts!

1.  Dole Whip Soft Serve – Aloha Isle, Magic Kingdom.  It’s a classic.  There’s just nothing like Dole Whip – that fruity, creamy, sweet and tangy cone or cupful of pineapple deliciousness – straight up or as a float, you can’t go wrong.   If you’ve had one you know what I mean.  If you haven’t, just do it!

I’m sure everyone has favorite in this category that didn’t quite make it on this list:  Cupcakes of all sorts throughout the parks and resorts, funnel cakes, chocolate-dipped fruit…and I haven’t even mentioned snacks to be had at the Epcot Food & Wine or Flower & Garden Festivals!  Let me know you’re favorites!

As with the Table Service Restaurants post, it was difficult to narrow this list down to ten Walt Disney World watering holes!  Once again, the criteria had to be places to which I’ve actually been and had drinks – even then, it was challenge to pick only ten!

#10  High Octane Refreshments – Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Tucked back in the corner of Streets of America across from the Studio Backlot Tour, this outdoor walk-up offers a variety of frozen and specialty cocktails (I like the Rum Runner!) as well as wines and beers, both bottled and on tap.  There are several small tables, but with the afternoon sun beating down, I had a hard time finding some shade.  Note: This location has been closed to make room for the new Star Wars and Toy Story Lands.

#9  Cookes of Dublin Patio – Downtown Disney – Watch the crowds walk by at this little spot next to Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant.  I like to grab a pint here and relax after hours of shopping.  And it may be one of the few places in America that serves a proper pint of Magner’s over ice, a perfect refreshing beverage for a warm day.  It’s also a great place to meet up with friends without going into a restaurant.  You can grab a bite from the Cookes counter and bring it out to the patio.

#8  Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar – Italy Pavilion, Epcot – Just like the name says, this is a cozy, somewhat dark wine “cellar” that also offers small plates.  They have a nice selection of Italian wines, meats and cheeses as well as a few dishes from the Tutto Italia kitchen.  It’s a must-do for every wine lover.

#7  Tune-In Lounge – Disney’s Hollywood Studios – This would rate much higher on my list except for the fact that there aren’t really tables to sit at since it serves as the “waiting room” for the 50’s Prime Time Restaurant.  The bar has a dozen or more seats and you can actually order off the restaurant menu and dine here.  The rest of the room is decorated to look like a mid-20th century suburban rec room, complete with black & white TV screens playing clips of old shows.  They have nice drinks here like Dad’s Electric Lemonade and Grandma’s Picnic Punch and I do like the atmosphere.

#6  Tambu Lounge – Polynesian Resort –This iconic bar next to ‘Ohana restaurant features delicious tropical beverages like the Lapu Lapu served in a fresh pineapple.  A visit to this lounge is a tradition with many long-time Disney guests, whether they’re staying at the Polynesian or hopping off the monorail from the Magic Kingdom.

#5  Territory Lounge – Wilderness Lodge – If you’re looking for a nice quiet place to relax and enjoy a cocktail, this is it.  Back off the lobby of Wilderness Lodge, this rustic lounge has quite a few tables and a nice little menu of small plates including cheese fondue (oh, yes!) and buffalo nachos.  It’s easy to get to Wilderness Lodge if you have a car, but you can also take a Disney bus from one of the parks or Downtown Disney or take a boat from Magic Kingdom.

#4  River Roost Lounge – Port Orleans Riverside – I realize this may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is mine!  This place is more about the entertainment than anything else.  It serves up the standard Disney cocktail menu, but Wednesday thru Saturday nights, ‘Yehaa’ Bob Jackson entertains with his wacky sing-along show and rockin’ piano.  He’s a real hoot!

#3  California Grill Lounge – Contemporary Resort – It’s first-come, first served at this lounge within the California Grill restaurant.  If they’re full, you may not even be able to get up there.  Check in at the CG desk and, if there’s room, they’ll escort you to the elevator that goes straight to the 15th floor.  Their hand-picked wine list includes dozens that are available by the glass and the inventive cocktails created by their expert mixologists are worth the trip.  I’m told at present you do not need to have a dinner reservation to go to the lounge, but that could change seasonally.  If you can get in, it’s also a great place from which to see the Magic Kingdom fireworks.

#2 & 1 – Perhaps not surprisingly, Epcot boasts a tie between my personal favorites:  La Cava del Tequila (Mexico Pavilion) and the Rose & Crown Pub (United Kingdom Pavilion).  They are both wonderful places to escape from the hot Florida sun or just to relax over drinks and conversation.  

At the bottom of the ramp inside the Mexico pavilion, La Cava del Tequila has become a very popular place.  There are rumors that they’re going to expand the lounge because there is usually a line to get in.  It features over 100 tequilas and they concoct such interesting margaritas as avocado-melon or jalapeno, rimmed with a hibiscus Himalayan salt or blood orange, topped with a wild berry foam – delicioso!  While you can get drinks to-go from the bar, it’s even better when you can sit and sip while enjoying a basket of warm tortilla chips with queso or something else from their small tapas menu.  They frequently have special promotions like free chips and salsa for following them on Twitter.  Ask your server if there are any promos going on while you’re there.  

The Rose & Crown Pub on the opposite side of the lagoon has the look and feel of a traditional English pub.  The large carved-wood bar serves both the restaurant and the lounge area in the front.  If you’re lucky enough to get one of the handful of tables here you may want to order something from the limited pub menu. I recommend the fish & chips or the cheese plate!  One of the best things about hanging out here was the opportunity to be entertained by “The Hat Lady”.  Apparently things have changed somewhat of late… WDWMagic reported “…the entertainment at the Rose and Crown will be purely music, with guests being able to sing along and make requests. The former ‘Hat Lady' will continue to appear, but as a pianist only, and she will not perform the 'Hat Lady' show.”…not sure exactly what that means, but let me know if you’ve been there lately and have more info.

Honorable Mention:  One of my favorite cocktails, the Yak Attack, comes from the Yak & Yeti restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park.  I couldn’t include it on this list, however, because it’s really not a lounge – just a service bar inside a restaurant.  Do stop in and get a Yak Attack to go or, if you’re lucky, you might be able to enjoy it at one of the few stools at the bar.

There are other places I need to try, but it’s hard not to visit my favorites and there’s never enough time to do everything!  I hope you’ll make time to enjoy some lively libations on your next visit.  Leave comments here and let me know your favorite spots. Happy and safe travels!

 This week’s Top Ten is my personal favorite table service restaurants at Walt Disney World – Parks & Resorts.  I did not include Downtown Disney restaurants on this list because there would be too many to narrow down to ten!  There are also some highly acclaimed restaurants that are not included in this list simply because I haven’t eaten there.  For example, every list of Disney restaurants places Victoria & Albert’s at the top of the list, but since I haven’t had the pleasure of dining there, I didn’t include it.  Also, I chose my favorites based not only on food, but also on atmosphere and themeing.  Moderately priced restaurants (approx. $15-30/person) are indicated by ($$), while expensive restaurants (approx. $30-60/person) are indicated by ($$$) – note these prices generally do not include alcohol.  So here are my Top Ten:

#10  ESPN Club ($$) - BoardWalk area – This casual sports bar restaurant is a perennial favorite because, while you might go there to relax and catch a favorite game on TV, the food is also reliable, albeit standard American sports bar fare.

#9  Hollywood Brown Derby ($$$) – Disney’s Hollywood Studios – The reason this restaurant didn’t rank higher on my list is that it can be pretty pricey for what you get.  I’ve had some great food there, but it’s generally not inventive.  The menu changes seasonally, so sometimes there are better choices than others.  The menu and prices here are the same at lunch and dinner…gotta love that famous Grapefruit Cake, though!

#8  Artist Point ($$$) – Wilderness Lodge -- A few years ago this might have garnered the #2 or 3 spot, but it’s been inconsistent.  While some of my best Disney meals were here, I’ve also been very disappointed.  The Smokey Portobello Soup is Heaven in a bowl!  Hopefully they’ve worked out whatever glitches they had.

#7  50’s Prime Time Café ($$) – Disney’s Hollywood Studios – I love everything about this place.  From the décor to the servers’ shtick to the food, it’s worth a trip.  The menu is all about home-style cooking and comfort food.  My favorite order is the entrée sampler, which includes crispy fried chicken, fork-tender pot roast and meatloaf “with all the fixings”.  It’s hardly a trip to Disney without a stop for drinks at the bar or their famous PB&J shakes (yes, really!).

#6  Chefs de France ($$) – Epcot’s France Pavilion – If you enjoy French cuisine, this is a reasonably priced place to enjoy it.  It really feels like a bistro in Paris and the menu includes some of my favorites like Quiche Lorraine and Cabernet-braised beef short ribs.  All I can say is YUM!

#5  Citricos ($$$) – Grand Floridian – This upscale restaurant in the Grand Floridian offers dishes you won’t see elsewhere in Walt Disney World.  While there is somewhat of a Mediterranean influence, especially in the appetizers, you won’t see big pasta dishes on the entrée menu.  Rather, there are more classical offerings like pan-seared Florida grouper and their house specialty Braised Veal Shank.

#4  Be Our Guest ($$) – Magic Kingdom – As the newest table service restaurant, getting a reservation for dinner here isn’t easy.  While they do pack quite a few tables into the large ballroom of Beast’s castle, the candlelit atmosphere is delightful – like you just stepped into the movie.  Our food was delicious and reasonably priced.  The service was great and our host, Beast, even made appearances throughout the evening, remaining in the library for photos after your meal. *Note – while this easily made the number 4 spot as a dinner location, at lunch it’s a counter service restaurant with a better than average fast food selection.

#3  Jiko – The Cooking Place ($$$) – Animal Kingdom Lodge – When I asked my daughter to describe this, her favorite restaurant, her response was “expensive but amazing – the filet mignon is to die for.”  People love this restaurant for the African ambience and unique flavors that Jiko’s menu offers.  While my daughter may enjoy the beef filet best of all, what brings diners in is the opportunity to try more regional dishes like Spicy Botswana-style “Seswaa” Beef Short Rib or Tagine Chicken.

#2  Flying Fish Cafe ($$$) – BoardWalk area – Most of my family members had dined here and raved about it, but after several WDW trips, I still hadn’t had the opportunity.  When I finally crossed the threshold of Flying Fish, what I found inside was true bliss.  Despite its name, Flying Fish is not just about seafood.  Their talented chefs produce dishes highlighting fresh local produce, sustainable seafood and aged meats.  There are a few seats at the counter of the show kitchen where you can watch the food being prepared while you dine.  They’re famous for their Idaho Potato-wrapped Red Snapper which I love, but I’m frequently tempted by something new.  I try to make it here at least once on every trip and have never been disappointed.  Editor's Note: Flying Fish is closing for a few months, beginning January 31, 2016, for a complete renovation including a menu overhaul.  I can't wait to try it when it re-opens!

#1  California Grill ($$$) – Contemporary Resort – Newly remodeled and re-opened in the Fall of 2013, the California Grill offers signature gourmet dining – a most inventive and unique menu, expertly prepared.  With spectacular views from the top of the hotel overlooking the Magic Kingdom area, you can go out on the roof to watch the fireworks.  The wine list is extensive, with over 300 hand-picked wines.   The menu featuring “the flavors of the Pacific Coast” changes seasonally and includes such diverse choices as sushi, brick oven-fired flatbreads, Sonoma goat cheese ravioli, and oak-grilled filet of beef.

Honorable Mention:  The charming Rose & Crown at Epcot's U.K. Pavilion and steak-lovers’ favorites Le Cellier ($$$) at Epcot’s Canada Pavilion and Yachtsman Steakhouse ($$$) at the Yacht Club Resort.

Do you have a favorite restaurant on this list – or one that’s not on the list?  What’s a spot you can’t miss?  Keep it to the Parks and Resorts.  We’ll discuss Downtown Restaurants in a future post.  Let me know in your comments!

Top Ten Tuesdays
In an effort to spread a little information as briefly as possible, I’m going to try some “Top Ten Tuesdays” in which I discuss my “top ten” of something.  Today I’ll start with:

My Top Ten Things To Do at Walt Disney World Without Going Into The Parks
When thinking about Walt Disney World, so many people think only about the Theme Parks.  But there are so many things to do “around the World” without ever setting foot in the parks – just ask my husband who is “parked-out”!  Everyone has their favorites, but here are my Top Ten:

#10.  Downtown Disney – This could easily be #1, but I wanted you to read it first.  Going to Downtown Disney (DTD) is usually the first thing we do when we get to Orlando, just to immerse ourselves in a little Disney culture.  These days there’s a lot of construction going on as they turn DTD into Disney Springs, but it’s worth the parking hassle to explore all the shops and restaurants.  To avoid the parking problems you can take a bus from your resort or, from some resorts, a boat to DTD.

#9.  Golf – This is my husband’s #1.  With one 9-hole and three championship golf courses, there’s plenty to challenge every golf-lover.  For the amateur there’s also miniature golf at Fantasia Gardens and Winter Summerland.  In another column I’ll talk about other recreational activities.

#8.  ESPN Club – This restaurant/sports bar is a great place to go on game day.  With nearly 100 screens showing any number of games, sports fans will always be entertained…and the food’s pretty good too!  It gets very crowded during “big games”, so be sure to get there early.  As you can imagine, it’s a popular spot during NCAA March Madness which also overlaps Spring Break!

#7.  Go see the animals at Animal Kingdom Lodge – There are 30 species of African wildlife roaming the Savannah and Animal Specialists to tell you about them.

#6.  Dinner Shows – Whether it’s the Spirit of Aloha Show at the Polynesian or Hoop Dee Doo Review or Mickey’s Backyard BBQ at Fort Wilderness, these shows serve up fun entertainment and good food.

#5.  Speaking of entertainment, one of my favorite things is going to Port Orleans Riverside to see Bob Jackson.  “YeHaa Bob” plays a rockin’ piano in the River Roost Lounge and gets the audience involved in some sing-alongs.  Super silly and super fun, Bob has somewhat of a cult following which tells you it’s sure to be a good time.

#4.  And speaking of Lounges, that brings me to my #4 – Cocktails!  The resorts offer some terrific watering holes where you can relax over your favorite libation.  All beautifully themed to their resort, many offer a selection of tasty appetizers or small plates as well.  Many of the lounges have specialty cocktails and those infamous glow cubes!  Try the cozy Belle Vue Lounge at the Boardwalk, Territory Lounge at Wilderness Lodge, Victoria Falls Lounge at Animal Kingdom Lodge or the hip and contemporary Rix Lounge at Coronado Springs, just to name a few.

#3.  Pin Trading – Disney Pin Trading has become a popular pastime for many Disney aficionados and you don’t have to go into the parks to trade.  Disney’s Pin Traders and World of Disney at Downtown Disney as well as the gift shops at the resorts offer pin boards for trading.  Many of the cast members in the resorts and Downtown also wear lanyards for trading pins with guests.  But be careful – pin trading can be addictive!

#2.  Ride the Monorail – one of the best free things to do that is sure to get you in the Disney mood.  Hop on at the Ticket & Transportation Center (TTC) or go have a bite to eat at the Contemporary, Polynesian or Grand Floridian, then catch the monorail from there and ride the Magic Kingdom area loop.  From the TTC you can transfer to an Epcot monorail which glides over Future World before stopping at the terminal, offering nice views of the park.  It also affords you the opportunity to jump off at any of the three resorts on the Magic Kingdom loop and explore the resorts, check out the gift shops or grab a bite to eat.

#1.  EAT! – There are so many great restaurants around Walt Disney World and most of them are not in the parks.  The food as well as the theming at resort restaurants are pure Disney magic.  Add to that the wealth of choices at DTD and you have a foodie Mecca.  In future Top Ten Tuesday posts I’ll offer my favorite restaurants. 

There's a lot of discussion online lately about the "snack" category at Walt Disney World.  With several clients coming up on spring break trips, I thought I'd add my two cents.  If you're on the Disney Dining Plan you obviously want to get the most for your money and, if you're not a big eater at certain mealtimes or if you have small children, your snack credits might even constitute a "meal".

Here's what the Disney Dining Plan website describes about the Snack credit:
     "Examples of snacks are: 1 frozen ice cream novelty, popsicle, fruit bar, popcorn scoop (single-serving box), single-serving bag of snacks, single piece of whole fruit, 20-oz. bottle of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite or Dasani water, 22-oz. fountain soft drink or juice, 12-oz. coffee, hot chocolate or hot tea, single-serving prepackaged milk or juice"

Yes, a bottle of water costs $2.50 in the parks, but you can get far more food than a bottle of water!

When you see this symbol on a menu board, that item qualifies for a Snack credit.  Here are just a few examples of things you can get for a snack credit:
​
In Magic Kingdom:
- A muffin, scone or latte from the Main Street Starbuck's
- A Dole Whip Soft Serve at Aloha Aisle
- Potato Leek Soup at Be Our Guest
- Freshly dipped fruit at Big Top Treats (be careful - the pineapple spears can be messy!)
- A baked potato or baked sweet potato (seasonally) at Liberty Square Market 

At Epcot:
- A Berry cream puff or Mixed green salad at Norway's Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe
- All sorts of lovely caramel desserts at Germany's Karamel Kuche
- Combo Sushi at Japan's Kabuki Cafe
- Lobster Bisque or myriad pastries at Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie in France

At Animal Kingdom:
- Fresh fruit at Harambe Fruit Market
- Chicken Fried Rice at Anandapur Local Food Cafe
- Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich at Dino-Bite Snacks
- Oatmeal with apples, brown sugar and raisins at Pizzafari

At Hollywood Studios:
- Funnel cake at Oasis Canteen
- Cream Cheese Pretzel at the Pretzel Garden
- A giant Carrot Cake Cookie (a personal favorite!) at Writer's Stop
- Carrots and celery with ranch at multiple locations...and the list goes on...

...and on for several pages!  Here's a link to a good article from our friends at the Disney Food Blog (copy and paste the link into your browser):  
http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2012/05/09/top-6-disney-dining-plan-snack-credit-values-for-2012/

While the article references 2012, many of the same tips apply...be sure to read the comments at the bottom of the article.

If you have favorite ways to use your snack credits, let us know!

I recently returned from a whirlwind trip to Walt Disney World where I did exactly what I counsel my clients not to do -- we ran ourselves ragged!  I should explain that this was a group of 12 ladies for my daughter's bachelorette weekend.  The main issue was not having enough time for all the things we wanted to do...but isn't that always the case?!  When you have only two full and two partial (travel) days, you have to set realistic expectations.

 Walt Disney World is a huge place with four theme parks, two water parks, a downtown dining and entertainment district and myriad good restaurants.  In addition, the main reason for our having a bachelorette there was to enjoy the International Food & Wine Festival at Epcot.

We had a couple people in our party who'd either never been to Walt Disney World (WDW) or hadn't been in decades.  Naturally we wanted them to make it to all four parks and experience the highlights at each.  Another thing to remember is that traveling in a large group can be cumbersome.  You'll find that you spend time waiting for "the rest of the group," whether it's in a food line or a bathroom break.  For that reason, advance planning is invaluable when going in a group.  You may find that the schedule you've pre-planned gets thrown off for one reason or another, but you'll spend less time trying to make decisions about what to do next.

 When your time is limited at WDW decide on your "must-do's" ahead of time and if you find yourself with extra time, so much the better.  It's impossible to do everything.  Part of the magic of Disney is taking it all in -- the careful thought put into every detail reminds us that it's all about telling a story.  Take the time to enjoy your own story and make magical memories.

I'm going back again, this time escorting clients to the Food & Wine Festival along with my husband, and plan to make it a more leisurely trip.  The next couple blogs will contain some details of Food & Wine and a review of our dinner at the newly remodeled California Grill.

Happy and safe travels, everyone!