Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner at Disney's Animal Kingdom-109 of The Disney Exchange

Lisa, Dave and me, Nick = The Disney Exchange Podcast

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Smooth. Like ESPN? Dave does too.

We talk about Disney "Dine on the Go" which debuts January 12th at the Magic Kingdom, and if we think it is worth it.

It's a windy day at The Disney Exchange.

Dave my be bad luck. Maybe don't visit while he is at Walt Disney World.
He goes on to share his Disney Marathon Weekend experience, including the cancellation of the half marathon, the expense, weather conditions, and characters.

The Epcot International Festival of the Arts Merchandise is amazing!

Spring has sprung early at Walt Disney World!

Our main topic: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and a snack at Disney's Animal Kingdom!
We each go around and share our choices for each meal of the day!
Most of the venues at DAK are discussed in some capacity, and really, there are so many amazing options!

Pea-can. Pea-kahn. Puh-kahn.

Birdfood. Thems good eats

The Wheel of Distiny topic this week: It seems that food booths will be a part of Epcot year round eventually, how do you feel about that?


You can send us an email at info@thedisneyexchange and reach out with show suggestions, submit Wheel of Distiny topics, or request a listener number (remember those?) on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedisneyexchange, Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneyexchange

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Thank you for listening to The Disney Exchange!
 

Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney's Grand Floridian

By: Nick

In January, while staying at the Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort, Barbie and I ate several meals at the resorts quick service restaurant, the Gasparilla Island Grill.

Gasparillas is a convenient and quiet spot to start the day, and we had breakfast here before heading to the parks on a few occasions. Breakfast is served until 11am.

It does get crowded, but we never had a problem finding an open table. Actually, we had a regular booth that we sat at during every visit.

Interestingly, this wasn't always a quiet spot. While looking online at Disney's Official Site, the photo that is featured shows several arcade games along the wall, so I was not expecting it to be as nice as it turned out to be. The games have been moved to their own separate arcade space located adjacent to the Grill during a refurbishment that took place starting back in 2012. I bring this up in case you do research and find that photo. Odd that Disney hasn't updated their site.

The food offerings are standard Disney fare. There is an assortment of bagels and pastries to choose from.

The menu board will help you make other choices, such as the Bounty Platter, Croissant Sandwich, or...

... Mickey-shaped Waffles!

There are healthy choices as well, which can be found in the refrigerated section, such as fresh fruit, vegetables, and yogurt. My wife Barbie inexplicably chose some of these one morning. (Who eats healthy on vacation, really?!)

On another morning I had the pancakes, and they were very good.

We also had dinner here one evening.

The offerings include made to order sandwiches, such as the Grand Turkey, Ham and Swiss, and Roast Beef, burgers, pizzas, soups, and the aforementioned grab 'n' go items.
You can also create your own salads by choosing from Romaine Lettuce or Baby Greens and a variety of your favorite ingredients, adding Flank Steak or grilled chicken

I had a Angus bacon cheeseburger that was very tasty, one of the better quick service burgers in my opinion. And the homemade potato chips are terrific. You can get cucumber salad instead of chips.

Barbie had the Margherita Flatbread, which is made with Mozzarella, Tomato, and Basil, which she really enjoyed.

For dessert they offer cookies, brownies, cake, soft serve ice cream, and a selection of frozen treats like the beloved Mickey Premium Ice Bar.

There is also seating outdoors, and if you time it right, you can catch Wishes from the Magic Kingdom!

Gasparilla's is open 24/7, if you are hankering for a snack after a long day at the park.

Yak and Yeti at Disney's Animal Kingdom

By: Nick

Located in Disney's Animal Kingdom's Asia section is perhaps one of the most beautifully themed restaurants in all of Walt Disney World, Yak & Yeti.

As with almost everything in WDW, there is a back story.
Yak & Yeti is a house owned by a wealthy merchant who has fallen on hard times. To supplement his income, he has converted his home into an establishment that well-to-do travelers might seek out in India. It is filled with items collected by the owner and his family on their travels throughout Southeast Asia.

You can spend plenty of time just looking at all the incredible items scattered throughout.

My favorite dining area is on the second floor. We request a table by the window overlooking the courtyard, making it a great place to people watch as you enjoy your meal.

My wife and I ate here during it's opening week in 2007, and the food quality has not slipped a bit in the ensuing years.

On our most recent trip, my wife and I both ordered the same dish, the Chicken Lo Mein - Lo mein noodles, carrots, cabbage, green onions and bean sprouts. Served with chicken $17.99.

Yes, you can get Chicken Lo Mein at any Chinese restaurant, but this is the best either of us has ever had! Perfectly cooked chicken, noodles and vegetables. I could go for some right now!

On past trips we've had the Baby Back Ribs – slow-roasted ribs, hoisin BBQ sauce, chicken fried rice, sweet chili slaw: $25.99.

The ribs are very tender, and the spice tangy, but by no means overwhelming. The fried rice is amazing.

 
Crispy Mahi Mahi - filet of mahi mahi, Japanese bread crumbs, Cantonese sweet and sour sauce, jasmine rice, stir-fried vegetables: $23.99.

The mahi mahi is crispy on the outside, yet light, flaky and juicy inside. The chili sauce is lightly spicy and the vegetables are always fresh.

Duck with Anandapur Glaze – roasted half duckling, orange wasabi glaze, jasmine rice, stir-fried vegetables: $23.99.

The duck was delicious, and the sauce a perfect compliment.

Yak & Yeti is owned by Landry's Inc., which also owns the Rainforest Cafe and T-Rex Restaurants located at Walt Disney World, and they do not accept the Tables in Wonderland Card, but do give a 10% to Disney Vacation Club (DVC) members at lunch and dinner.

Fantasyland's Be Our Guest Restaurant

Before I begin my review, I just want to say, if visiting Walt Disney World, you absolutely MUST go to Be Our Guest. It is not about the food, it is about the experience. You ARE in the Ballroom from Beauty and the Beast. You ARE in the West Wing! You'll see your host, the Beast! It is absolutely beautiful inside and out, the theming is a 10 out of 10.
But...

...our experience was sadly not as magical as we would have hoped.
We arrived for our reservation a bit early, a good idea, as there always seems to be a line.

Advanced Dining Reservations at the 6 month mark are a very highly suggested at this very popular establishment. We tried to add another couple 5 months prior to our visit, and we were unable to!

The wait was only a few minutes, and we were escorted in. I'd seen the exterior on our previous trip in October of 2012, but my jaw dropped the moment we entered the castle. None of my photos even come close to doing it justice.

We were seated in the ballroom by the West Wing, which I had to check out. On a future trip, I will request to be seated here for a different experience.

Our host, Beast, makes several appearances throughout the evening.

Our server was very friendly, but, as we'd discover, very inattentive.
For dinner, my wife and friend Kandi had the Layered Ratatouille, oven-baked zucchini, eggplant, mushrooms, tomatoes and caramelized onions sliced and layered with quinoa, served with a bell pepper sauce  for $15.99, which they both described as excellent. My wife actually said it was like the scene in the Pixar film "Ratatouille", where the critic was brought back to his childhood after trying the dish prepared by the "Little Chef", Remy.

 

Our friend John had the Grilled Strip Steak, with garlic-herb butter and pommes frites, $29.99.

 He ordered it medium well. It came out charred on the outside, but cooked fine on the inside, and he said it was okay. I tried his fries and they were excellent.

 

I ordered the Thyme-scented Pork Rack Chop, with au gratin macaroni, seasonal vegetables and red wine au jus, $21.99.

The macaroni is a grown up mac and cheese, and it was very good, a little on the rich side. The pork chop was fine. The problem primarily being just 2 nights earlier, at the Hollywood Brown Derby, I'd had the world's BEST pork chop, as I've come to call it, and this was destined to not live up to that. 

After one bite, I realized I should have ordered something different.

 

As for the service, if we wanted anything, we had to locate and flag down our server. 

Then, there was the Grey Stuff, and dessert. 

I asked about the Grey Stuff, and we were told that it was only served for special occasions. As a friend pointed out, isn't the fact the we are at Walt Disney World a special enough occasion?! 

Luckily, our server took note that Kandi and John were wearing their Anniversary buttons, and brought us 2 dollops of the Grey Stuff...

... it's good, but not as delicious as the song would have us believe.

The desserts we ordered, however, were a let down.

 My wife had the Strawberry Cream Cheese Cupcake, vanilla sponge cake, strawberry mousse filling, and cream cheese icing, which sounds amazing, but was described as bland, all the flavor being on top.

John and I each had the Triple Chocolate Cupcake, chocolate sponge cake, chocolate mousse filling, and chocolate ganache. Again, this sounds much better than it actually was.

At $3.99 each,  at least they didn't break the bank. 

So, a mixed bag here. Lackluster service, good, not outstanding, food, but arguably the best themed restaurant in the World. 

We will certainly be back, and I will give a different entree and dessert a try, because where else can you get a photo op like this one of my wife and me dancing in Beast's Ballroom?!

  

This article was originally posted on the Tips From the Disney Diva Blog where Nick is a contributing writer.

La Hacienda de San Angel in Epcot's Mexico Pavilion

Located across from the Aztec Pyramid in the Mexico Pavilion in Epcot's World Showcase, La Hacienda de San Angel has a prime location on World Showcase Lagoon.

Open from 4:00pm–9:00pm for dinner each evening, this is, and please, don't spread this around, as we don't want EVERYBODY knowing, a GREAT spot to watch Illuminations! Let's get to our experience, and I'll be making suggestions along the way.

We had an 8:00pm ADR, and arrived a few minutes early. Suggestion 1- Make a later ADR within an hour of Illuminations.

We were immediately called, and escorted to a dining area nowhere near the large windows looking out over the lagoon.

 I asked if there was anything available by the windows, and was told it may be a few minutes. We waited only about 10, before we were again called, and this time we were brought into a much lovelier dining area overlooking the water. Suggestion 2 - Ask for a window seat.

The regular menu. Our friend Kandi is a vegetarian, and asked for vegetarian suggestions.

 

Our server brought a Vegetarian Menu. Suggestion 3, if you have a special dietary needs, don't hesitate to bring this to your server's attention. This one really applies to ANY Walt Disney World restaurant.

My friend John and I shared the "La Hacienda," $49.95. It came with New York strip, chicken al pastor, chorizo sausage, vegetables, rice and beans. Everything was perfectly cooked, and flavorful. The corn was amazing!

My wife had Tacos de Vegetales, grilled vegetables and queso fresco on flour tortillas served with roasted corn $18. She really enjoyed it, and says she can't wait to go back.

Our friend Kandi had the Enselada de la Casa, Spinach salad with queso fresco, tomatoes, pomegranate, pine nuts, and avocado with mustard vinaigrette dressing for $14.

Just as we were finishing dinner, the lights dimmed and the music from Illuminations began to play.
We had front row seats for one of the most beloved shows at Walt Disney World.

After a great show, we had dessert. Our friends shared the Corn Ice Cream. Yes, Corn ice cream! It came with popcorn, and was sprinkled with paprika. I cannot recall the cost or exact name. We had a taste, and it was very good.

My wife and I shared the Empanada de Manzana, puff pastry filled with sauteed caramel apples, served with dulce de leche ice cream and cajeta (caramel sauce) $7.95, which was also very good.

This was a really great meal, and a really great location from which to view Illuminations, and look forward to our next trip and visit to La Hacienda de San Angel.

This review was originally written and posted on the Tips From the Disney Diva Blog, where Nick is a contributing writer.