Disney released the very popular discount package called Free Disney World Dining for travel dates August 15-October 2, 2010.  The Free Dining discount is currently only available to Disney Visa Cardholders, but this discount will be released to the general public in just a few days! 

With this discount, guests staying at a Disney Value Resort will receive the Quick Service Dining Plan for free but can easily upgrade with a minimal charge to Disney's Basic Dining Plan!  Guests staying at a Disney Moderate or Disney Deluxe Resort will receive Disney's Basic Dining Plan for free and are also welcome to upgrade to Disney's Deluxe Dining Plan.

You don't want to wait another minute to book this amazing package.  Contact us today for your free, no obligation quote!  Or Call 281-380-3437!

Kids 3-9 stay, play and dine FREE at Walt Disney World® Resort when you purchase a 4-night/5-day Magic Your Way Package with Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan!


Disney Rewards® Visa® Credit and Debit Cardmembers, don’t miss out on this exclusive Walt Disney World® Resort deal. When you purchase a 4-night/5-day Magic Your Way Vacation package that includes room, Theme Park tickets and a Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan for stays most nights March 14, 2010 - August 14, 2010, a child 3 - 9 can stay, get 5-day Theme Park tickets and the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan, FREE!



Make your family’s stay more magical with these Resort extras:

• Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan - Lets you choose Quick-Service meals and snacks at over 50 select Walt Disney World® Resort restaurants.
• Disney's Magical Express Service - Enjoy complimentary motor-coach transportation to and from Orlando International Airport.
• Extra Magic Hours Benefit - Each day, one of the Parks is open for extra time to enjoy select attractions. (Valid Theme Park admission and Resort ID required.)
• Guest Transportation - Complimentary transportation takes your family from your Disney Resort Hotel to all four Disney Theme Parks and more - throughout the day!

For More Information on this deal and others, contact us now!  Call 281-380-3437 or Online

True Disney foodies know you haven’t arrived until you’ve dined at the crème de la crème of restaurants – Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.  But now the top-rated dining room has a new “must do”: the gorgeous Queen Victoria’s Room.

Queen Victoria’s Room is behind closed doors just off the main dining room.  With just four tables, restaurant manager Israel Perez promises attention to your every whim.  They’ve brought back French gueridon service – a gueridon is a fancy rolling cart that goes from table to table for customized service and “wow” factor – a flourish of Himalayan sea salt atop your filet, a decadent wine sauce or a lavish display of cheese, for instance.

Anyone who’s tasted Chef Scott Hunnel’s exquisite creations knows this is a memorable affair.  How often do you savor perfectly seared Kurobuta pork tenderloin and belly, or butter-poached lobster with bisque and lobster roe foam?  And vegans and vegetarians are Hunnel’s favorite challenge.  The sommelier happily will pair something delicious with each of the 10 courses.  Yes, 10 courses, but they’re small.  Still, plan on three to four hours of leisurely dining.

It’s worth the price of a baby-sitter – no kids under 10 are allowed in the dining room, so you’re guaranteed an evening of blissful quiet.  Be advised, men must wear jackets (tie optional) for this formal affair.  
 
You’ll float out the door with a long-stemmed rose for women and personalized menus for everyone to carry home.  Cost for Queen Victoria’s Room is $200 per person, plus $95 for wine pairings.  The restaurant has its own reservation line, 407/939-3862.  

Reservations for Queen Victoria’s Room are being accepted now for this special dining experience starting Feb. 5, 2010.  There is just one seating nightly.   

During my recent visit to Walt Disney World, I stopped into Disney's Contemporary Resort to check out Contempo Cafe and I'm sure glad I did! This quick service eats was the best lunch I had using Disney's Dining Plan!  I highly recommend this restaurant, with or without Disney's Dining Plan!  If you are using Disney's Dining Plan, the value and quality of food your receive at The Contempo Cafe is outstanding!

Disney's Contempo Cafe, like its name indicates, has a contemporary feel and the menu is on electronic boards with color photos.  You then can place your order at the touch screens and head directly to a cashier.  Seating is in a casual 147-seat dining area with red and blue accents and views of the Disney monorail passing through the famous hotel.  Just over your shoulder will be Chef Mickeys, known for it's wonderful character meals and if you're lucky you may even catch a glimpse of Mickey and friends while waiting for your meal!

Prices are not on the menu boards but on the touch screens where you can order in Spanish or English.  Diners can choose a salad with dressing on the side, for instance, different kinds of cheeses for burgers or salad or chips with sandwiches.  And don't worry, if the touch screen intimidates you, there is always a friendly Disney castmember to walk you through the ordering process.

A pager blinks when your food is ready for pickup at the counter.  My daughter enjoyed the thin crust pizza while I had a hearty Turkey Sandwich with Brie, Apple Butter, Apples and Arugula on Challah Bread with a side of delicious housemade potato chips! And for dessert and don't forget dessert, I enjoyed the black forest cupcake and my daughter enjoyed the dirt and worms cupcake that was loaded with gummy worms!

If you are on the Disney Dining Plan, you won't want to miss Contempo Cafe for one of your Quick Service Meals!  The food was so fresh and had the best dessert selection. It's just a short monorail ride over from Magic Kingdom, so why not enjoy a delicious quick service meal here on your next visit!

Contempo Cafe is open from 7am-10pm, serving breakfast until 11am. The "grab n go" is open 6am-midnight.

This post is part of the Disney Blog Carnival. Go there to read more great Disney posts!!

Dining is a dream come true at Magic Kingdom® Park. Beginning Feb. 7, 2010, Fairytale Dining will be the new name for the character dining experience at Cinderella’s Royal Table. Once you enter the Castle foyer, you will have a photo opportunity with Cinderella as she welcomes you to the feast. Upstairs in the enchanted dining hall, Cinderella’s royal friends, the Disney Princesses, will mingle with you as you dine.

Reservations for this dining fairytale can be made 180 days in advance.  Book with us and we will take care of all your dining reservations.  CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION!

Down-home cooking reflecting the spirit of the American pioneer tempts modern-day appetites at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.       

Mealtime traditions of the grand lodges of the late 1800s are captured, from the types of food and cooking methods to the dining-room ambiance of the lodge’s restaurants: chefs slow-smoking meats and serving up fresh fruit cobbler for dessert; high, wood-beamed ceilings, and dormers framing views of waterfalls, tall pines and Bay Lake.       

Dining options at the 728-room lodge include: Whispering Canyon, a family-style cafe; Artist Point, the resort’s signature restaurant featuring Pacific Northwest cuisine; cafeteria-style Roaring Fork; Cub’s Den, a retreat for kids; and Territory Lounge.

Artist Point            
The beauty and the mystery of the American Northwest is recalled at Artist Point -- a specialty restaurant decorated with dramatic landscape art from the era. The eatery offers an elegant yet casual dining experience with a light wood design, a high-beamed cathedral ceiling, and dormer windows allowing natural lighting to illuminate. The windowed restaurant allows a panoramic view of the courtyard, waterfalls and Bay Lake.            
Traditional Northwestern dinner specialties include cedar-roasted Pacific king salmon, braised buffalo short rib and pan-seared duck breast. All wines are from the Pacific Northwest. 


Territory Lounge, Roaring Fork, Cub’s Den            
Between Whispering Canyon and Artist Point is Territory Lounge, themed with Teddy Roosevelt in mind for his contribution to the National Park system. Territory Lounge is open daily, serving cocktails, specialty drinks and Pacific Northwest wines. Appetizers and snacks are available from 5-10 p.m.            
The Cub’s Den is a children’s dining and entertainment facility offering video games, movies and fun food for kids, such as hot dogs, pizza and ice cream.            
Roaring Fork Snacks and Arcade serves up grilled sandwiches and snacks -- cafeteria style -- 24 hours a day. Trout Pass, the resort’s pool bar, offers hot dogs and cold sandwiches.            
Nestled in the back lobby is the library -- a cozy retreat for reading, writing letters or relaxing by the majestic three-sided stone fireplace.

Guests who prefer to include dining in their vacation packages can choose a Walt Disney World Magic Your Way vacation package which includes a Disney dining plan – which can save on dining.
           
Three vacation packages are available that include a Disney dining plan, Disney resort hotel accommodations and Magic Your Way tickets.  The Disney dining plans feature a variety of meal and snack entitlements – both in terms of the type of restaurants guests can visit and the number of meals and snacks included with the plans.

The choices are:

Magic Your Way Package Plus Quick-Service Dining – includes two quick-service meals and two snacks per person for each night of guest’s vacation package stay, plus a refillable drink mug for each person which can be refilled as often as they like at any quick-service location at their Disney resort hotel.  Meals and snacks can be chosen at more than 50 selected restaurants throughout Walt Disney World Resort.  And guests can save up to 20 percent per adult on Disney dining needs.

Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining  – offers one table-service meal, one quick-service meal and one snack per person, per night of guest’s package stay, with over 100 select restaurants to choose from.  The package helps guests save up to 30 percent per adult on dining.  

Magic Your Way Package Plus Deluxe Dining – includes three meals and two snacks per person, per night of guest’s package stay, plus a refillable drink mug for each guest on the package which can be refilled as often as they like at any quick-service location at their Disney resort hotel.  This package allows guests the flexibility to choose any combination of table-service and quick-service restaurants from more than 100 participating restaurant locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort.  With this package, guests can save up to 40 percent per adult on dining.

The package cost varies based on which package a guest chooses, guests’ ages, and the number of nights in the package stay.

Here are some additional facts regarding the Disney dining plans:
Guests can redeem their meals in any order throughout their package stay until each person on the package has depleted his/her allotted meals and snacks.  For instance, a guest who has purchased a Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining for three nights would have entitlements of three table-service meals, three quick-service meals and three snacks during their stay. The guest could use all three table service entitlements on the same day if they choose.  

Guests’ Key to the World card, which is a room key and much more, electronically tracks the use of dining entitlements included in a package.  It should be presented at dining locations, and the server or cashier will provide guests with a receipt showing the meals and snacks remaining on their Disney dining plan.  

Children ages 3-9 must order from a children’s menu, where available. A Disney dining plan is unavailable for guests under the age of 3, but they may share from an adult plate at no charge, or a meal may be purchased from the menu.  

Gratuities are not included except for pizza delivery, in-room private dining, dinner shows and character dining meals at Cinderella’s Royal Table.  An automatic 18 percent gratuity charge will be added to the bill for parties of six or more.  An automatic gratuity charge may also be added to the bill for items ordered that are not included in a Disney dining plan (for example, alcoholic beverages).  

Dining reservations in advance of a visit are strongly encouraged, as due to the popularity of the Disney restaurants, the restaurant and seating of guests’ choice may be limited or may not be available.  Reservations are accepted at most Walt Disney World table-service restaurants, signature restaurants, character dining locations and dinner shows, and may be made up to 180 days prior to arrival.

Contact us for more information on Disney's dining plans and get a no-obligation vacation quote!  We can help make dining suggestions and make all your dining reservations for you!

Celebrity chef Cat Cora poses Sept. 17, 2009 with Chef Mickey Mouse during the grand opening of her first signature restaurant, "Kouzzina by Cat Cora," located at Disney's BoardWalk at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Cora, the first and only female Iron Chef on the Food Network series "Iron Chef America," officially opened the Greek-inspired, 200-seat restaurant Sept. 17, 2009 with a traditional Greek toast. "Kouzzina" is Greek for "kitchen." (Gene Duncan, photographer)



Chef Cat Cora and Disney have debuted an exciting new family-dining restaurant with the opening of Kouzzina by Cat Cora at Disney’s BoardWalk at Walt Disney World Resort.

This is the first table-service restaurant for the celebrity chef, featuring a menu of Mediterranean-style cuisine that pays tribute to the Cora family’s Greek roots.

Owned and operated by Disney and open daily for breakfast and dinner with seating for about 200 guests, the new restaurant features “time-honored recipes passed down from my ancestors, as well as my favorite Greek and Mediterranean dishes that my family loves,” Cora says.

As a Mississippi native born to a family of Greek restaurateurs, Cora grew up immersed in two different and flavorful cultures, and has taken from that unique background the kitchen “know-how” handed down through generations.  The cuisine at Kouzzina (Greek for “kitchen” and pronounced “koo-zee-nah”) showcases Mediterranean cuisine and Chef Cora’s philosophy to create simple yet sensational meals.

The restaurant’s spacious interior features an open kitchen, wooden tables and chairs and a walk-up pizza window for casual dining at outdoor tables on the boardwalk.  Breakfast specialties include Kouzzina’s signature blend of press-pot coffee and an icy Greek frappé with coffee, milk and natural sugar.  Sweet choices include steel-cut cinnamon oatmeal, blueberry orange granola pancakes and Greek-style yogurt with fresh fruit and house-made granola.  Savory breakfast creations include turkey-sweet potato hash with two eggs and arugula salad; the stacked Kouzzina breakfast with two poached eggs, kalamata olive toast, artichoke spread, sweet potato hash and bacon or chicken sausage; and spinach-tomato-feta scrambled eggs.

For dinner, Cora’s hand-selected beverage menu includes “Cat’s Ouzo-tini,” Mediterranean sangria and her own wine label, Coranation, featuring California wines.  Starters include crisp calamari, goat cheese-stuffed grape leaves, spinach pie and Spiro’s Greek Salad.  Entrées range from cinnamon stewed chicken to traditional whole fish and a char-grilled lamb burger, with sides such as chilled salt-roasted beets, smashed garlic-fried potatoes, sautéed brussel sprouts and herbed orzo with Greek olive oil and Kasseri cheese. A traditional baklava and dense, rich, chocolate budino are dessert favorites.

Cora began working with Disney in 2008 by creating a Disney Video on Demand series to showcase ways to help families develop more healthy eating habits.  The first and only female Iron Chef on Food Network’s hit show “Iron Chef America,” Cora is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in New York.  She also is executive chef for Bon Appétit magazine.  In addition to hosting the instructional cooking demonstrations for Disney Video on Demand, Cora has been a featured chef at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival and at Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival at Disneyland Resort.