Food at DisneySea

So the big deal about DisneySea in Tokyo is the Fantasy Springs

We ended up at Arendelle inside Fantasy Springs.

In the area, we ended up at Snuggly Duckling

The details are amazing!

And some awesome artwork everywhere.  There's a trick to coming here thought, you do have to have a mobile order placed before they'll let you in, especially if it's cold or rainy.  That's their way of crowd control, much like their rides.

I got another set for meal.  Again, check the mobile order to see if there's any upgrade opportunities for any collectables.  And if you check their site, they will tell you what they have what which restaurant has what goodies.

I got Ham and Cheese, and I truly thought it was just ham and cheese, not realizing it's Ham & Cheese AND Hamburger.  So it was lots of meat for a lunch. 

The set came with fries and a drink.  I got a 'dessert' which is really colorful jello and cream, but it came with a limited edition cup, so what the heck.  YOLO, amirite?!

Back to the front of the park after walking around a bunch, we sat down for tea break.  Instead I got a coffee latte, not realizing that it came with coffee jelly.  I'm not a fan of that, but since that's what I got, just drank it. 

Of course, I got the famous Mike Wazowski Melon Pan.  It was odd, because I thought it was baked that way, but it's really a regular Melon Pan (Bread) with a fondant layer on top.   So, there you have it, the extra 'sweet' came from the fondant top.   The Melon Pan by itself is totally fine, but for novelty, right?! 

DisneySea has alot of unique rides, but they also have some that are familiar like the Tower of Terror.  That ride has like 240 minute wait time.  Erm, no, thanks!  But! If you go to the Tower of Terror gift shops, they have gachapon machine for 500 yen you can twist for a toy. 

Tokyo DisneySea

https://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/en/tds/restaurant.html

 

Food at Disneyland

When in Tokyo Disneyland, must have some of their food.

But first, yes, we went before rope drop.

Not because we're crazy, but the line is really long.  Since Tokyo Disney are mostly attended by locals. 

Must have the Cinderella Castle shot.

But wait, wait! We have Baymax Vending machines.  They're just too cute not to share.

Another cute thing, is the Chef in the Beauty and the Beast ride.

When you buy meal sets, they have park limited merch, like candy holder, special plates, lunch bag... etc.  My set came with sandwich, fries, and soda.  Don't worry I didn't eat all that on the tray.

I got the fried chicken sandwich, what's unusual is that they paired it Tartar sauce, which we typically associate with fish, not meat.  The outcome, I don't hate it, not sure if I want to go back to it.  Definitely different. 

The day we were there was a tad cool, so grabbed a cup of Peach tea.  Turns out there are real slices of peach at the bottom of the cup.  No wonder it smelled extra nice. 

Another kind of vending machine, it's tea pots in front of Alice's dining hall.  They even blow smoke on the spout. 

For afternoon snack, finally found the little Alien Mochi.  They come in either 3 or 5 pieces.  It has chocolate filling, strawberry filling, and vanilla.  The chocolate one was a surprise.  I'm used to fruit middle for mochi usually.  But it was extra chewy. 

Tokyo Disneyland

https://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/tdl/restaurant.html

 

Oga's Cantina

One thing my friend recommended for my Star Wars loving kiddo is to go to Oga's.

You make the reservations at the 60 day from your park entry day.  It's open and good for any park, meaning, if your first day is at Magic Kingdom, you can make reservations for other parks dining.  

They laid down these awesome coasters, totally napped them after as a memento souvenir 

One part of the menu are all alcohol based. 

Here's a bunch that's has no alcohol and couple items to munch on.

Hidden at the back is Blue Bantha - which has blue milk, vanilla butter sugar cookie on top.  Blue Milk is more like a citrus-y kinda with a hint of coconut. 

The front with the boba on top is the Jabba Juice, which has orange-pineapple juice, kiwi, cantaloupe, and blueberry poppin' pearls on top.  Very fruity.

The other one, in reality has a bit of dried ice in it, and so the boba is floating and dancing and smoking, when the drink arrives.  It has Powerade Lemon Lime flavor, wild strawberry, blueberry, and green apply poppin' pearls. 

You're really coming here for the decor and party with DJ R-3X, and if that name sounded familiar it's because he was the original bot that was getting people in trouble on Star Tours years ago.  They kicked him out and updated the ride with CP3O and R2D2 as drivers.  In here, you'll see some collections by the owner and traveler's alike.  

Besides making a reservation, you must arrive 15 mins early to check in, then they'll text you when your turn is up.  Don't expect too much, seating actually is very limited to bar and some coves along the wall.  There's a lot of standing-table for your party.  It's an experience, now that I've done it, I can check my box. 

Oga's Cantina

Galaxy's Edge

Disney Hollywood Studios

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/hollywood-studios/ogas-cantina/

 

Garden Grove

Another restaurant at our hotel property is the Garden Grove.

Located inside the Swan Hotel, you cannot get there without marveling at the swan fountain at the middle the hotel lobby, 2 more fountains on the outdoor gardens, and a very nice kitchen with beautiful wedding cakes display.  The space in the place is huge, and I can see people come here to have a nice evening dinner.

Alas, we were here for breakfast.  As limited as I was - and still am - I can only order 2 eggs scrambled.  For $22, they want to give you your money's worth with bacon, and a giant slap of hash.  It's nice and all, I can only eat a bit, so $22 was kinda wasted on me.  But the coffee and service are good.  Alot of hotel guests come here for breakfast before heading over to the parks. 

Even though it's expensive, it's about the same for any hotel restaurants. But the staff are nice, and the place is calming.  The A/C was a tad strong, but the decor is cute.  I will say that they need to re-institute the character breakfast at the property like they once did, so the parents don't have to have a Hunger Game style of reservations for various Parks sit-down restaurants.  Not only that, for $53 of breakfast to meet Pooh Bear and Piglet is not worth it, I went and stood in line for photo op instead.

Garden Grove

https://swandolphin.com/dining/garden-grove/  

 

Ratatouille - the ride

One of the food-related ride is at EPCOT.

One of the Cast Members told us a joke about EPCPOT it stands for Every Person Comes Out Tired.  Basing. 

One of the fun place is the International Showcase, and as a Franco-phile, I love the France. 

Check out the cool ride of Ratatouille.  

I just love the wallpaper - it's Emil & Remy with fork spoon, knife, and salt and pepper forming an Eiffel Tower.  So cool.  

Basically you're the little rat learning the ropes with Remy, and you might get under the broiler, or go into the freezer, as the little rats.  Sorry, did not pick up any recipe at the ride, but you do get surrounded by food like giant sausage, grapes, and wine.  The little rat-cars all dance around with the similar technology as Mickey & Minnie's Railway and Rise of the Resistance, the whole thing choreographed nicely.  Definitely worth the time to go line up.

Check and see what showcase is happening in EPCOT, we were there for Flower & Garden, and the Food & Wine is notorious for that park.  Definitely time your visit.

Ratatouille

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/attractions/epcot/remys-ratatouille-adventure/

 

Dole Whip

You cannot go to Disney's Magic Kingdom without getting a Dole Whip!

Same as Disneyland, the main stay of Dole Whip is right next to the Tiki Room.  However, we saw the line, which snaked around an imaginary rope, couple times, I'd figure we don't need it that much.

Instead, we went to Storybook Treats, which is right across from the Seven Dwarf's Mine Trains.  The only difference is that their Dole Whip is not pineapple but lemon citrus.  When it's hot, it's just as refreshing and quench the thirst.

The best part of that location is that they turn things around quickly, and we can get to our Fass Pass time at the Small World just in time.

Whether you hate the song or a forever-ear-worm for you, that is a mandatory ride when one come to any Disney parks.  For my kid who claimed that he'd forgotten about going at 4 years old. This is an initiation for all kids young or old. 

Storybook Treats

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/magic-kingdom/storybook-treats/

 

The Fountain

We're staying on Disney property but our hotel does not belong to Disney.

At the sister hotel to our property, the Dolphin.  There's a soda shoppe/diner called the Fountain.

What is Soda Shoppe without cream soda?  It's a nice little bottle.

I'm still on the soft food diet, so I went for Chicken Soup.  It helps with some protein and some veggies.  As you can imagine at Disney, there's not a lot of places with soup in the park because they want you to be up and about and going to different rides or shops.  

So to find soup, your best bet is not in a park.  All the mid-high end of the properties have nice restaurants and serves soup.   For us, on property but not Disney Resorts, you get something different, let's cartoony, more themed.  

Food-wise, it's not bad, and we happen to get there early enough to grab a seat before all the tired children floods the restaurant for dinner.  There are also alot of people that come back grab a nap and go back to the parks for fireworks or night shows.  Staying at Swan & Dolphin are super convenient, since one goes to Hollywood Studios and the other to EPCOT.

The Fountain

1500 Epcot Resort Blvd

Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

https://swandolphin.com/dining/fountain/

 

Disney Food and Wine Festival - Day 2

Here's a recap of the Food & Wine Festival at Disney Day 2

More walking and more eating...

Picking up where I left off the day before.  Here's Belgium.

This is the Beer - Braised Beef over a bed of smoked gouda mashed potato.  It's pretty dang good.  Would've like to have a bigger portion.

Finally, the ALPS!  The long awaited...

... the Raclette.  I'm not going to lie, I was a tad disappointed that the Raclette portion was not enough.  The cheese wasn't melted enough before scraping onto the potato, but you know, it's a rare thing so I treasure it.

Then I got this Milk Capped Lychee Tea at a Tea Stand in front of China.  It's kinda unique, it's lychee iced tea, foamy milk on top (sorta like a latte) and then some Himalayan Salt.  So, the tea is sweet but the foam is salty.  That said, I'm not sure it's worth $7.95.  The Bubble Tea was cheaper.  And frankly, I would have gotten the tea, which is much better without the foam.

Next stop on the World Tour, is Africa.

This is the much talked about Kenyan Coffee BBQ Beef Tenderloin with sweet potato and corn mealie and slaw.  The Slaw was fine, the sweet potato was fine, but the much talked about tenderloin was chewy and cannot taste the coffee marinate.  It was actually pretty disappointing for a dish.

Walking along.  Wait, what?!  There's a Chocolate Studio?  How can I not stop in?!

This is the liquid nitro chocolate-almond truffle with whiskey caramel.

They basically threw a bunch of words that I like into one dish and I'm totally ok with that.  What they did is this mousse-like texture, they scoop it into a bucket of nitrogen and do a 'flash' cook.  By the time they fish it out it's a solid and they smash it with a mini-hammer, and sprinkled in these salty crumbs.  It's scrumptious.  Highly recommend.

Next to it is the Cheese Studio, WHA?!

Here, I had the Black Pepper Boursin Soufflé.  It is a nice little soufflé in a mini muffin style and they add some fig marmalade.  The sweet and the saltiness from the cheese makes a perfect match.  It's actually a good pairing.

Oui Oui, here we are in France!

This is the Boeuf Braise a la Bordelaise, Pomme Dauphine.  So, that is braised beef in cabernet with red onion and puffed potato.  I can eat those puffed potato all day with that sauce.  It was so good, but I had to focus!  Only taste, not full dish.

Last thing, out at the Refreshment Outpost, I got a Nigerian Meat Pie.  It is really an empanadas with curried minced meat inside.  We happen to get there when they have a fresh batch out of the oven, so it was hot, hot, hot!

Of course, this is Disney.  You can get any merch regarding this event from head to toe.  Then, again. I kept reloading my gift card, which is unique to this event and it's a good keepsake for me.

Now, for something different....

Here are the very controversial Galactic Bottles.  

They were much talked about because you can only get it here at Disney Star Wars Galaxy Edge.  Nowhere else in the park.  Lots of people think they're neat and bring them home as a souvenir.  EXCEPT, TSA thinks its shaped like a detonator and therefore caused an uproar.  If you check, most TSA in Orlando have seen these enough times to let them thru.  However, don't forget that 3oz liquid rule.  Which means, you cannot get a full bottle home.  Enjoy the drink, rinse it out, pack it, and take it home for a good wash and enjoy it then.

This trip was fun.  Ate lots, saw lots, walked lots.  I highly recommend you do a trip with people who have the same gusto as you.  Don't forget to pace yourself, both in the money and the food department.  At the end of the day, you are paying theme park prices, so yes, things are inflated.  If you veer off to do an official meal, double check and see if they do mobile order.  One of the Disney Apps can help you skip the line.

Let's talk tickets: their prices is depended on their predicted attendance.  That said, it's a little also like booking airfare.  The earlier and more days you book ahead, the cheaper it is.  You can add park hopper, which allows you to move from park to park, which I did one day in 3 parks.  OR! They have a deal that lets you in after noon for a discount price, but they only have 2 days or more on sale, not less. 

Another reason you want to get your tickets at least 60 days earlier is so that you can book your fast pass.  Some folks this is a sport, it's all strategic and good planning.  For instance, you can only do 3 fast passes in one park.  So, if you have a park hopper, how do you plan and so on.  Either way, it's Disney, you'll have fun!

Epcot Food and Wine Festival (thru Nov 23, 2019):

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/epcot/epcot-international-food-and-wine-festival/

Coke Bottles at Galaxy Edge:

https://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/coca-cola-and-disney-designed-these-galactic-bottles-for-star-wars-galaxy-s-edge