Extra! Extra! Tink All About It!: New Restaurant Announced for Disney Springs!

Good morning, Tinkers!

     Happy FRIDAY! Congrats! You made it to the weekend!

Photo Credit: DisneyWorld.com

     This morning, there's some fun news out of Disney Springs! In Summer of 2016, Chef Art Smith will bring us Homecoming: Florida Kitchen and Southern Shine. The award-winning chef has appeared on many cooking shows, and has been preparing food for celebrities and politicians for years. Being a native Floridian, he has a special love for down-home Southern cuisine, with a Florida twist, and that's just what Homecoming will be about. The menu will feature items like Shrimp and Grits, Deviled Eggs and Mockingbird Cake, and I am sure the atmosphere will be fun and welcoming, though details have not been revealed yet, other than the setting being described as "rustic-chic". The Southern Shine Bar will surely have some outstanding summer punches, cocktails and elixirs.

     Disney Springs is sounding more and more awesome every time something new is announced! What do you think? What are you the most excited about experiencing at the all new Disney Springs?

Tink Tested: Cooke's of Dublin Dinner

Location: Next to Raglan Road in Disney Springs 
Meals Served: L, D

Type of Cuisine: Irish/English quick service

Dining Plan: Yes
Full Menu: Cooke's of Dublin Dinner Menu
Atmosphere: Casual pub/cafe

Fun Stuff: The many outdoor tables allow for great people watching, and you can even catch some live music on most nights. 

Stand out dishes: Fish and Chips, Hog-in-a-Box, Beef and Lamb Pie, Garlic and Parmesan Chips (Fries)

Best Use of Dining Plan Point: Meat Pie, Shrimp or Hog-in-a-Box ($11.95) + Any Dessert ($5.00) + Any Cold Beverage ($3.50) = $20.45

Experience: The night we went to Disney Springs to check in on all of the construction projects and see what was new, we hadn't eaten any dinner, and the gremlins, (K and D), were ravenous, so we picked one of our favorite quick service spots to grab a bite, Cooke's of Dublin. We discovered this place a few years ago, when we were on a vacation and using a dining plan. We were looking for some unique options. You know, something other than the standard burgers and fries. We knew we loved Raglan Road, so we figured Cooke's was a smart choice to try, since it is owned and operated by the same people. Since then, we have been many times, though we hadn't ever taken the kids there. 
     If you have never been, Cooke's of Dublin is a small counter service location, connected to the side of Raglan Road. They specialize in delicious dishes from the United Kingdom, like meat pies and battered fish and chips, but in a quick service format. It's a nice alternative to Raglan Road when you can't get a reservation, or you don't want to pay the prices of a full service dinner. 
     We were there on a Sunday night, and Disney Springs was relatively busy, so the line for Cooke's of Dublin was out the door. Now, that's an easy thing to have happen, since the location is on the small side, but it was still comparatively busy. Seating is a really tough thing here, since there are only a handful of tables inside the cafe, in the air conditioning, and not a whole lot outside either. It was a pretty hot night, so I grabbed an inside table while The Hubs placed our orders. He did run into some difficulty since they do not offer an allergy menu, and the staff seemed confused as to the difference between an egg allergy and a dairy/gluten allergy. They kept telling The Hubs that he was safe to order the chicken fingers for K, because the batter was dairy and gluten free. He would then say, "Yes, but are they EGG free?", and the gentleman behind the counter would say, "Yeah, dairy and gluten free." Huh? After much confusion, we finally got it confirmed that all of their standard batter for breading is not JUST dairy and gluten free, but also egg-free as well. Once that was out of the way, The Hubs took the number they gave him to place on our table, and got our refillable drinks from the fountain. We waited a very long time for our food... almost 30 minutes. They were very busy, so we understood, but keeping the hungry littles from melting down for 30 minutes while we waited wasn't easy. 
     When the food did come to the table, everything looked amazing. K and D would be sharing an order of chicken fingers and chips, which were cut similar to steak fries. The chicken was lean and the breading was not overly greasy. I got a Caesar salad. It looked fresh and fantastic, with a nice surprise of prosciutto crisps on top, but unfortunately, the dressing was flavorless and super oily. In fact, I said to The Hubs, "The only way to describe this salad is 'slick'." It just felt slippery and gross, with no flavor to it. I ended up not eating it. That was fine though, because we also had an order of my favorite: garlic Parmesan skinny chips. These babies are hot, delicious fries, covered in garlic and fresh grated cheese. SO good! I highly recommend you trying them! The Hubs got the "Hog in a Box", which we both found to be a hysterically funny name, but we both have the sense of humor of a 12 year old boy. It was a piece of pork shoulder, potatoes, sage and onion stuffing and applesauce, all in a Chinese-takeout-looking box. It was SO delicious! The pork was tender and flavorful, and the sweetness of the applesauce mixed so nicely with the savory stuffing. He was really glad he ordered it. He had planned on ordering his standard Cooke's of Dublin favorite, which is their Battered Burger. Yup. An actual battered and fried burger. He loves it. I find it to be too much grease for me. Because of this visit, though, he has a NEW favorite dish, and will likely order the Hog in a Box again. 

Chicken and Chips

Garlic Parmesan Chips

Caesar Salad

Hog in a Box

Hog in a Bo

   Even though the food took a long time and my salad was disappointing, the fries, the pork, and the chicken fingers all made the visit worthwhile. I find their battered items, like the fish and chicken, to be consistently delicious. Their chips are always flawless. You should, for sure, add it to your "Must Do" list for Disney Springs, just try and avoid weekend nights if you don't want to wait. Enjoy!

Tink's Tots Try It Out: According to D (6 yo girl) What did you like at Cooke's of Dublin, D?   I liked the salad. I know you didn't like it, but I did.   Oh, you did? Ok. Well, I am glad you liked it.   Well, I liked it a little. I liked the fries and chicken too. They were good. And I liked that the little boy in the picture was a cook.   Huh? Oh! The pictures hanging in the restaurant were of The Cooke Family. The Cooke's of Dublin. He wasn't a cook, like a chef. Cooke was his last name.   Oh. (Looks down in a disappointed way.)

Tink's Tots Try It Out: According to K (2 yo boy)  K, did you have good chicken at the restaurant?   Yeah, I do. I sit wif Mamma.   Yes, we did let you sit on the booth instead of in a high chair. That was a mistake Mamma won't be making again soon.   Haha! I sit on the floor and up-down on seat.   Yup, all of that. You were all over the place. It was not cool.   K is us-um, Mamma.   I agree, kid, you ARE awesome. Next time, you will be awesome in a high chair.   Ok.

Will we be back: Yes! One of our favorite places for a quick service meal on Disney property!

Tink In The Parks: Disney Springs Update

Good evening, Tinkers!

     Aren't you glad it's already Wednesday? Holiday weekends are the gift that keeps in giving. At least for that following work week.

     The other night, The Hubs and I took the littles on over to Disney Springs, (formerly known as Downtown Disney), for a stroll and a quick dinner. I hadn't been to that area in quite a while because, quite honestly, I avoid it at all costs with the current construction situation. With the huge, on going project to expand Disney Springs, as well as redo all of the roadways into and out of the place, there's often a sea of traffic within a mile of the place. Since I haven't really needed to go there for anything, we have steered clear. I now know that I may have been cheating myself out of a lot of fun, because despite the construction walls, cranes and heavy machinery, Disney Springs is already looking beautiful. And there's plenty open to do!

Second garage under construction

New footbridge

     If you haven't heard, what used to be called "Downtown Disney", (and probably will forever be called that to many Guests, the same way The Studios will always be "MGM" to them), is pretty much doubling over the course of the next few years. New shops, lots of new dining options, entertainment and so much more is coming to the space. In fact, several new locations have already opened, including The Boathouse restaurant, a vegan bakery, a gelataria, and several merchandise outlets. There are also some great projects going on to add parking and to ease accessibility. You'll immediately notice the two huge new overpass foot bridges, one from Hotel Plaza Boulevard to Disney Springs, and another from the Team Disney area, to the Springs. These bridges will help so much, since Guests will no longer need to interrupt the flow of traffic in order to cross, and it will be much safer. There are also going to be new roads, connecting I4 and other major roadways, right to Disney Springs. Parking wise there is already one garage built, toward the AMC movie theater, and a second is being constructed now, down toward the Marketplace side. The garages employ some pretty awesome technology. Outside of the garage's entrance, there is a sign telling you how many open spaces there are on each level. Then, when you arrive at the level you want to park on, there are signs above each row, indicating how many spaces are available in that row. Free spaces have a green light bulb glowing above them, for easy visibility. I love all of this! Makes parking SO much easier!

      We grabbed a spot in the garage, and headed on in to Disney Springs. I love these glowing "Show Your Disney Side" signs that are on the construction walls around Planet Hollywood. Really fun! We walked toward the Marketplace side, and saw that Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar is coming along. Signs are up and it'll be ready for Guests later this year. The bar is themed to Indiana Jones and looks very unique and like it'll offer a whole new type of experience. Morimoto Asia is also looking incredible! I have to admit, I haven't been all that excited for this new Asian fusion location, who's namesake is an Iron Chef of The Food Network. But LOOK! There's some sort of conveyor belt of glass bottles. The chandeliers look gorgeous too! Now it's on my "must do" list, for sure! To quote Alice in Wonderland, "How very curious."

Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar

Morimoto Asia looks sleek, sophisticated and beautiful.

How incredible are those strands of crystals hanging from the chandeliers? And this contraption seem to be some sort of conveyor belt. Can't wait to see what it does!

     We strolled around the old marketplace side and checked out the new margarita bar, (we didn't enjoy any adult beverages though, since toddlers and tequila are generally a bad mix), as well as some of our other favorite places. 

     We were pleasantly surprised to catch some live entertainment, too! There was an a cappella group singing pop hits, as well as Disney classics, right by Once Upon a Toy. D and K are always happy to hear "Let It Go", no matter how it is performed, so they were into it. I thought it was a nice touch to have live music outside, while people were walking around. I can never get enough Disney live entertainment! I wish there was more.

     We ended up getting dinner at Cookes of Dublin, which is sort of like having quick service Raglan Road.  It was a great meal, and I plan on sharing the deets with you tomorrow, when I review the location. For now, I am headed off to Neverland. Between the sun and the walking K and I did at The Magic Kingdom today, my eyes are barely staying open enough to write this. In fact, I better go edit this post and make sure there's no idbjfowoookjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj, proving that I fell asleep writing it. (Shhh.... I think I did.)

     Overall, my takeaway from this quick outing was that despite the traffic to get in there, Disney Springs is still totally worth the time and energy to get to. We had fun as a family, and didn't really do a whole lot, other than walk around and grab dinner. I'm very excited for all of the fabulous new offerings coming to Disney Springs! I'll be back to try all of them, and of course, report out to you. In the meantime, I will not hold the traffic issue against Disney Springs. I'll come visit. I promise. You just keep those free Ghirahdelli Chocolate samples coming.

Extra! Extra! Tink All About It!: Holidays at Disney Springs

Hello again, Tinkers!

     So summer is coming to an end and I bet I know what you're thinking... Only 108 more days until Christmas!!! Too soon? Ok, I agree. But, it's not too soon to start thinking about the fun stuff we will be able to do at Disney Springs this year during the holiday season!

     As Downtown Disney transforms into it's bigger, newer, even more entertaining version of itself, Disney Springs, we are going to get to see some new holiday themed magic coming our way. Of course, the fun decorations, holiday music and such will still be there, but there's some new stuff too. Namely:

- A new Meet and Greet location for Santa, across from Ghirardelli Ice Cream Shop. (But don't worry... the virtual wait time will be back this year, and rather than standing in the queue, you can get a pager and return when jolly old Saint Nick is ready for you!)

- Holiday themed backdrops all around Disney Springs, made to look like pop-up greeting cards. What a fun new way to get a holiday snapshot that your family can use for your holiday greeting card!

- Three all new, unique Christmas trees that have never been seen before!

     Plus you'll also get to enjoy some familiar favorites, like stilt-walking toy soldiers, special Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Christmas entertainment, holiday treats and eats and even performing "snowflakes"!

     I'm excited to check out the holiday fun at Disney Springs! Are you??? 

- 

Tink's Tips: Top 5 Ways to Spend Your Evening OUTSIDE of the Parks

Good afternoon, Tinkers!

     Enjoying your weekend? I hope you're squeezing the heck out of these final hours of summer. I know we sure are around here!

     Now that we are headed into "off-season" here in theme park world, (HALLELUIAH!), one of the very few negatives is that parks generally start closing earlier. So if you are visiting in off-season, what should you plan on doing to occupy your evenings? Here are five of my favorite ways to spend an evening, outside of the parks!

1. Make Dining An Event

     With so many awesome restaurants on Disney property, you could easily make an evening out of enjoying your dinner reservations. In fact, there are already some meals that include entertainment, like Disney's three dinner shows, The Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue and Mickey's Backyard Barbecue at Fort Wilderness, and The Spirit of Aloha, (known to most Guests as "The Luau"), at The Polynesian Village. These three shows each include not just your meal, but a fantastic musical, interactive show. They are fun for all ages, but do be aware that the only one that features characters is Mickey's Backyard Barbecue.
     Speaking of characters, character dinners are available outside of the parks, in the following locations: 1900 Park Fare at The Grand Floridian, Chef Mickey's at The Contemporary, and Garden Grove at The Swan. Kids will love having the opportunity to interact with The Mouse OUTSIDE of "his house".
     Not into the character scene, but want some entertainment while you dine? Whispering Canyon Café at The Wilderness Lodge offers a goofy, interactive experience. The ESPN Club at The BoardWalk is the best place to catch a game. 'Ohana at The Polynesian has a strolling ukulele player, and hula lessons. Rainforest Café and T-Rex at Disney Springs have amazing scenes around you, with animatronics that come to life while you dine. Sanaa at Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village, offers some pretty unusual dinner companions... giraffes and zebras frolicking just outside of the windows.
     If live music is more your style, check out House of Blues, Bongos Cuban Cafe, Paradiso 37, and Raglan Road, all at Disney Springs, and all have live musicians onsite. Raglan Road even has Irish Step Dancers!
     And even if you aren't looking for "dinner and a show", there are so many fantastic restaurants to choose from, you are sure to find something you will love! Dining reservations can be booked at disneyworld.com/dining.

2. Everybody Do The Monorail Hop!

The Grand lobby

     I love visiting the resorts on the monorail line, (The Contemporary, The Polynesian Village and The Grand Floridian), especially at Christmastime when they are all decked out in their holiday finest. Even if it's not holiday season though, it's fun to see the resorts' different theming, shop in their gift shops, have a cocktail, or check out any live entertainment taking place, like the Grand Floridian Society Orchestra. In fact, many adult Guests have taken to doing a Monorail Pub Crawl, stopping off at the various bars in the monorail resorts.

Beautiful fixture at The BoardWalk

     Been there, done that? Check out some of the other resorts! The Swan and Dolphin, The BoardWalk, and The Yacht and Beach Clubs are all within walking distance of one another. The Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of my very favorite resorts to visit, since you can relax on one of the many balcony areas and gaze down at the gorgeous African animals on the savannah.
     Visiting Disney resorts can provide hours of fun for your family. Just keep in mind that some amenities are reserved solely for Guests staying at those resorts, especially the pool areas.

3.Carriage Rides, Mini-Golf and Campfires (and Movies), Oh My!

     Both Fort Wilderness and Port Orleans Riverside host carriage rides through some of their quieter and more scenic areas. It's a nice way to have a romantic date night, or to take the kiddos out to do something quiet and fun. Carriage rides are $45 and each carriage can hold up to 4 adults, or 2 adults and 3 small children. Reservations are recommended, and can be made by calling 407 WDW-PLAY.
     Disney has two awesomely fun places to mini-golf. Fantastia Gardens is located across the street from The Walt Disney World Swan Resort. There are two courses. One is a traditional mini-golf course, with the characters from Disney's Fantasia creating obstacles for your ball. The second course is called "The Fairways", and it is MUCH for challenging, (and not quite as fun for kids), since it has sand traps and water hazards, and no characters shooing your ball along. At the second mini-golf location, Winter-Summerland, it's Christmas all year round! One course shows off what it's like to celebrate Christmas in July and has sandmen instead of snowmen. The second course shows Christmastime in the snow, and each hole has a different wintery scene. Unlike Fantastia Gardens, both courses here are equally fun and family-friendly.

Photo credit: DisneyWorld.com

     Over at Fort Wilderness, you can sit around a campfire with those zany chipmunks, Chip and Dale, and sing-a-long to campfire songs, roast marshmallows, and then enjoy a movie under the stars! But that isn't the only place you can watch an outdoor movie. In fact, most Disney resorts offer "dive-in" movies, on a blow up screen, right next to the pool. It's a cool way to enjoy your favorite Disney films.

4. Stroll the Showplace of the Shore, The Vacation Sensation, Where There's Timeless Fun for Everyone!

     The BoardWalk doesn't get nearly the attention that it deserves, in my opinion. If you've never been, it's a gorgeous resort, themed to a 1920's Atlantic City-esque beach hotel. It's nestled along Crescent Lake, right behind Epcot, and directly across from The Yacht and Beach Clubs. It's SO much more than just a resort, though! The property has four great restaurants, Flying Fish Cafe (fine dining), Trattoria al Forno (moderate Italian), The ESPN Club (casual sports bar), and Big River Brewing Works (casual micro-brewery). There are also great grab and go spots, including a pizza window, a fantastic bakery, (the Peanut Butter, Banana and Candied Bacon Pie is a must!), and outdoor carts with hot dogs, funnel cakes and more. If you have a sweet tooth that needs a fix, there's also Seashore Sweets, where you can get ice cream and candies, including saltwater taffy.


 
     Once you are well-fed, you can be sporty, and take a run around the almost mile long loop surrounding the lake, (or stroll at a leisurely pace, like I do), or even rent a surrey bike for 2, 4 or 6 Guests. Trust me, they are WAY more challenging than they look, but a whole lot of fun! You'll crack up for years, thinking of Auntie Susan getting out and trying to push your bike up the hill.
     Want to have a drink and enjoy some adult-only fun? Jellyrolls is a dueling piano bar that gets Guests raising their glasses and singing along to their favorite tunes. Atlantic Dance Hall hosts a DJ dance party every night, though it's usually not a very busy place. The building is beautiful though, and the balconies have a great view of Illuminations at Epcot. Atlantic Dance holds a special place in my heart, since I used to frequent this location in the early 2000's during the swing music revival. They used to host nightly dance lessons and then live swing bands. It was the perfect use of that space. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that swing music will come back around again and revive Atlantic Dance. Anyway, if you live to support your favorite team, you'll love catching a game at The ESPN Club, where there are screens everywhere, including in the bathroom stalls. They even host live radio sports shows on some days!
     If you're looking for something more family friendly, you can stroll the BoardWalk in the hours leading up to Illuminations, (7-9pm), and catch one of the live performances of magicians and dare devil acts. Then, at 9pm, when it's time for Illuminations, head down toward Atlantic Dance and stand just outside, to get the best view of the high fireworks from the show.
     The BoardWalk is a really fun way to spend a night, and not nearly as busy as Disney Springs.

5. Discover the NEW Disney Springs!

     Disney Springs, (formerly known as Downtown Disney), has over 80 different venues onsite of shopping, dining and entertainment for the whole family.
     Unique shopping experiences are all over, including The LEGO Store, Disney Design-A-Tee, Orlando Harley Davidson and United World Soccer. If you need to do some last minute gift shopping, World of Disney is the largest of all of the Disney gift shops, and there isn't much that you can't find there!

     Dining options include some of the best restaurants in all of Orlando, like The Boathouse, Wolfgang Puck Café, Fulton's Crab House and Raglan Road. There's all different styles of cuisine and all different types of restaurants to choose from!

     If you are looking for something fun to do while you eat, check out Splitsville, where you can bowl or play pool, as well as catch a tasty bite. Enjoy dinner and a movie at AMC's Fork and Screen Dine-In Movies. Or if you already ate, you can still catch a flick on one of the 24 screens. For the next few months, you can still visit DisneyQuest, Disney's indoor, interactive theme park. There are games here ranging from old school Pac-Man and Ski Ball machines, to Virtual Space Mountain, where you can create and ride your own virtual coaster. DisneyQuest is a lot of fun, but it will be closing it's doors in 2016, to make way for the all new NBA Experience, so enjoy it while you still can!
     See one of the very best shows I have ever experienced, Cirque du Soleil: La Nouba, in their permanent location at Disney Springs. This show is an Orlando exclusive and is loved by Cirque and Disney fans alike. Don't assume you're going to see Disney characters, or hear Disney music, though. The show has no tie in to Disney at all, but it is mesmerizingly beautiful and the music will be stuck in your head for weeks later. I should know. I have seen it 14 times, and would go again tonight if some one gave me a ticket.
     Get one of the best views of Disney property money can buy, at a relatively low cost, when you board Characters in Flight... if you can stomach the height, and the swaying. If you've been to Disney at all in the past 6 years, you have seen the huge red and yellow balloon floating above Disney Springs. A ride in the balloon will give you the chance to view miles and miles in every direction and you can take some really fantastic pictures. If you time it right, you may even catch a view of some fireworks! Flights are, of course, subject to weather conditions.
     As I have warned you in the past, there is currently major construction going on, as they are almost doubling the number of shops and restaurants over the next few years. It's going to be incredible when it's all done, but in the meantime, parking, and even driving in the area, can be challenging. If you want to visit, your best bet for getting there is using Disney busses or boats, (Boat service is available from Saratoga Springs, Old Key West, Port Orleans French Quarter, and Port Orleans Riverside.), but if you have to drive, leave yourself plenty of time to get there and get parked.



     Of course, these are only 5 of the many, MANY things you could do. There's always evening spa or salon appointments, resort arcades, swimming in your resort's pool, working out in one of the fitness centers, or just plain hittin' the hay early, so that you can get a nice head start into the parks the next day. (Or to then sleep in late the next morning too. I won't judge.) The point is, parks closing early doesn't mean less fun for you as a Guest. It means a wider array of things to choose from and hopefully getting to experience something new to you. I, for one, am THRILLED that we are about to start the least busy month of the year. To us locals and Guests that are lucky enough to visit this month,  It's the mooost wonderful tiiiime of the yeeeeaaarrrr!

Extra! Extra! Tink All About It!: Great Irish Hooley Festival at Disney Springs!

Good afternoon, Tinkers!

     Only a few more hours until the weekend begins! It's a mixed emotions kind of weekend for us here in Orlando, as it is the last summer weekend, and school starts on Monday. BUT that does mean that it's time for fall activities to begin and I'm very excited to share with you that The Great Irish Hooley Festival will be returning to Disney Springs (aka Downtown Disney)!
     What? The Great Hoosey-Whatsy? The Great Irish Hooley Festival! September 4th-7th, 2015, this Celtic festival of music, dance, craft beers and delicious cuisine takes over Ragland Road and the surrounding areas. There are Craft Beer Master Classes, a special brunch at Raglan Road, step dancers showing off their stuff, Celtic face painting, and plenty of rockin' live Irish music! To check out the list of bands performing and get more official information on the event, click HERE!
     It's guaranteed to be a toe-tapping, pint glass raising, fish and chips eating-good time!

Photo credit: DisneyParksBlog.com

Tink Tested: Wolfgang Puck Grand Cafe Lunch

Location: Downtown Disney, West Side, on the waterfront

Parking/Transportation Situation: General Parking in Orange Garage, parking lot behind Cirque du Soleil, or behind the Hess Station. Bus service from all parks and resorts.(If using Disney Transportation, allow 1-1.5 hours transportation time. Due to current construction in this area, allow for a minimum of 30 extra minutes driving time, more if visiting on a weekend evening.) 

Meals Served: L, D

Characters/Entertainment: None

Type of Cuisine: Californian, including pizzas and sushi

Type of Menu: A la carte

Pricing/Dining Plan: $/ 1 Table Service Point Per Person
Full Menu: Wolfgang Puck Grand Cafe Lunch Menu

Atmosphere: Pop Art Café  
Dress Code: Theme park casual

Guests Who Would Enjoy This The Most: Couples, Adults

Level of Difficulty of Getting a Reservation: Moderate

Fun Stuff for Kids: Though there are plenty of fun things for kids at Downtown Disney, there's not really much for them in this restaurant, other than views of the Characters in Flight Balloon, and the Amphicars from The Boathouse. (Depending on where you are seated.)
Rating of Appeal to Kid-Diners: Are we done yet???

Stand out dishes: Butternut Squash Soup, Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf, BBQ Chicken Pizza, Roasted Chicken and Key Lime Pie
Best Use of Dining Plan Points: Roasted Salmon or Seasonal Fish and any dessert

Experience: The hubs and I decided to do this one at the last minute on a weekday afternoon that we were both off and the kids were at school. Normally getting into Wolfgang Puck's at a desirable time, can be tough, but for lunch on a weekday, Downtown Disney, (or at least this side of it), is pretty empty. We were kid-free and ready to paaaarty! Or, just have lunch without any interruptions, potty breaks, hysterical crying or thrown silverware. I would be on my best behavior. We parked in the technologically advanced Orange Garage and walked on into the West Side and down to Wolfgang Puck's. 
     It's interesting to note that Wolfgang Puck was one of the very first "celebrity chefs", and his opening a restaurant in Downtown Disney was a very big deal when it first happened. Of course, thanks to The Food Network, there are hundreds of celebrity chefs now and many of them have had their hand in Disney dining in one way or another. Cat Cora helped create the recently closed Kouzzina at the BoardWalk, and Chef Morimoto will be bringing Morimoto Asia to Disney Springs in just a few months. Not to mention, many celebrity chefs make appearances at Epcot for Food and Wine Festival. And all of them can thank Wolfgang Puck for helping make cooking shows, and owning your own big-name restaurants, a "thing". Thanks, Wolfy. (We are tight. He lets me call him Wolfy.)
     I had dined at the Cafe several times before, sometimes having great meals, sometimes only so-so. There are certain dishes there that I know I love, and that's typically what brings me back. I have also eaten at the counter service option, Wolfgang Puck Express, several times. (Both the one in the Marketplace and the one attached to the West Side cafe.) I love the Express. In fact, the Express is one of the very best uses of a Disney Dining Plan counter service point! Great food and since the prices are on the high side for a counter service place, it's a great deal. 
     Anyway, the restaurant was very slow when we arrived and we were greeted and sat right away. The more upscale "Dining Room at Wolfgang Puck", which is on the second floor, is only open for dinner, and the Cafe, downstairs, was pretty empty. Again, weekday dining, and eating at an odd time makes all the difference in the world. Our table offered a view of the Characters in Flight hot air balloon, which is located just to the side of the cafe. I will gladly share with you the fact that sitting there, watching the breeze sway that balloon from side to side pretty much helped seal the deal for me that I do NOT want to experience that anytime soon. Yikes! From our table, we could also see the beautiful show kitchen. Because cooking with flare is done on an expert level here, there are seats available facing directly into the pizza kitchen, and seats surrounding the sushi bar. Most tables in the main dining area do have at least a bit of a view of the show kitchen.
     While we looked over the main menu, we decided to take the server up on her offering of the "Pizza of the Day", and put one in for an appetizer. Wolfgang Puck always has great wood-fired pizzas, so we knew we would enjoy that. I normally always get the Butternut Squash Soup here, because it is fantastic, but since it was 100 degrees out, I was not in much of a soup mood. Can ya blame me? Just as we put in our entree orders, the pizza came out. It was covered in meatballs, onions and ricotta cheese. It smelled delicious and tasted even better! Wood-fired pizza is where it's at, man. Yum-o! 

     Our entrees came out within 15 minutes of ordering them, and also looked quite tasty. The hubs went with the Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf Sandwich with homemade chips and I got the Orecchiette Pasta. The sandwich was topped with onion straws, smoked mozzarella and garlic aioli. It had a nice, savory and slightly smoky taste. It was filling and really enjoyable. My pasta was beautiful on the plate, since the broccolini and cherry tomatoes gave the dish a lot of color. The Italian sausage was abundant and had a nice fennel flavor that wasn't too overpowering. I loved that the pasta was just in an olive oil base, without a heavy sauce dragging it down. I usually get the roasted chicken at Wolfgang Puck's, (which is weird, since I am not a big chicken eater, but it's pretty incredible from here, as are the garlic butter mashed potatoes that come with it). I was happy that I decided to try something new and get the pasta though. I really liked it! Reminded me of something my grandmother would make. Except my grandmother would have made it with about 8 other side dishes and then demanded that you try them all. And leave room for dessert. 

     Speaking of which, we did not leave room for dessert. They do have great Key Lime Pie at Wolfgang Puck's, which the hubs is always excited about, but that pizza did us in. In fact, both of us took leftovers home. Plus Candy Cauldron is like right across the walkway, so how could we not go get caramel apples, right? We were practically obligated. Very important thing at Disney... always keep your snacking options open. 
     It was nice having the afternoon to ourselves, but there were two little munchkins who would be wanting a ride home from camp, so we figured we should roll out instead of going to see a movie, (or take a nap in a movie). Both of which, we considered doing. Parenting makes me sleepy. 

Will we be back: I wouldn't say no if someone wanted to go there, but if I was going to Downtown Disney for a full service meal, I'd pick Raglan Road over Wolfgang Puck's, every time. And honestly, if I had a craving for pizza, roasted chicken, or butternut squash soup, I'd go to the Express over the Cafe. It's cheaper and the food is the same. 

Tink Tested: The Boathouse Lunch

Location: Downtown Disney, Old Pleasure Island area, on the waterfront

Parking/Transportation Situation: General Parking in Orange Garage, parking lot behind Cirque du Soleil, or behind the Hess Station. Bus service from all parks and resorts.(If using Disney Transportation, allow 1-1.5 hours transportation time. Due to current construction in this area, allow for a minimum of 30 extra minutes driving time, more if visiting on a weekend evening.) 

Meals Served: L, D

Characters/Entertainment: None

Type of Cuisine: American steaks and seafood

Type of Menu: A la carte

Pricing/Dining Plan: $$$/ 2 Table Service Points Per Person (NOTE: Any entrée listed as "Serves 2" will require 4 Dining Plan Points.
Full Menu: The Boathouse Lunch Menu

Atmosphere: Upscale yacht club
Dress Code: Theme park casual

Guests Who Would Enjoy This The Most: Couples, those that enjoy fine dining, particularly seafood

Level of Difficulty of Getting a Reservation: Moderate

Fun Stuff for Kids: Though there isn't really any entertainment for kids in the restaurant, other than coloring pages, before of after dinner, make time to take the kids out to the docks behind the restaurant, to look at the various boats and vessels docked back there. You can also take part in the hottest new "to-do" in Downtown Disney, a ride in the kitschy "Amphicars", which splash down right next to The Boathouse's entrance.

These 1950's vintage cars pick up passengers on land, then drive straight into the lagoon for "splashdown", where they convert to motorboats and take passengers on a 20 minute tour of the Downtown Disney area. Three Guests can ride, for $125 per car. There is also a gorgeous Italian water taxi, called the Venezia, which tours around the lake. The $75 fee per person includes chocolate covered strawberries and champagne. Or, if you prefer, the Lady Rose is an old-timey steamboat for two. The rate is also $75 per person, and includes the strawberries and champagne. All boating experiences can be booked by calling 407 WDW-BOAT, or by visiting The Ship's Store gift shop.

Rating of Appeal to Kid-Diners: This is cool!!!

Stand out dishes: Coconut Frog Legs, Lobster Cocktail, Beach and Sea Lobster Bake for 2, Dry Aged Tomahawk Rib Chop, Gibson S'mores Baked Alaska for 4
Best Use of Dining Plan Points: Filet Mignon Oscar Style and any dessert

Experience: The Boathouse, (managed by the Gibson Restaurant Group), is one of the first of many new restaurants set to debut at Downtown Disney, or "Disney Springs", as it will now be called. Since the time that we first saw it being constructed, my husband has been dying to go there. Growing up on the beaches of New England, he's always loved all things nautical, and the lighthouse beacon out front was beckoning him to come and eat. So when it was time for me to make plans for Father's Day, The Boathouse was an easy choice. I had found out that my Mum would be visiting us that weekend, as well, so about three weeks before, I made our reservation. It was easy to grab a lunch reservation, though I did notice that dinner was very full. Again, we went with the "off" time of 3pm, in an effort to avoid crowds and not visit this more upscale restaurant until after K had already napped. I was pretty sure that diners paying upwards of $75 per person to eat would have pretty low tolerance for his laughing-screaming-crying-singing-throwing-things combo that he favors when he is not rested.

     The Boathouse was posing one problem for us... how to get there with the least amount of walking. This wasn't just because we are lazy, (we are!), but more so because Mum has a bad knee and can't do long distances. Not to mention, it was hot as Hades out and we wanted to arrive in our Father's Day best, NOT looking like we had jumped in a swimming pool of sweat. (I know, gross, right?) We got to Downtown Disney early, and decided we would park behind Cirque, walk to the boat dock, take the boat to the Marketplace side, and then walk across the new footbridge from next to Rainforest, over toward T-Rex. News flash! We probably should have just parked in the garage and walked past Planet Hollywood, through the old Pleasure Island section. There was a huge line for the boat, so we waited in the blazing sun for about thirty minutes, only to get to the other side and have to walk way more than I remember the walk being from the boat dock to the Boathouse. I was, indeed, a hot, sweaty, bright red mess by the time we got to our destination, and Mum was limping along, cursing our lunch choice. (Don't worry, she'd be thanking us later!) The good news was, along our cursed walk, we did get to meet up with friends of ours, who were our tablemates on the Panama Canal Disney Cruise we did a couple of years back! It was great to see them, even if it was only for a quick hello! Disney friends are the best!
     We made it to The Boathouse, and got all checked in. The first thing you will notice here, without a doubt, is the incredible nautical decor. The whole place is full of teak, brass, nautical flags, rope, antique motors, and even whole boats! Yes, there are actually a couple of booths that are built inside boats! Pretty incredible to see!

     We were brought into a beautiful, sunny room, with a gorgeous view of the marina out

back. It looked like we were right back home, in a New England yacht club. (Not that I frequented yacht clubs in Boston, but you get the point.) We got settled at our table, and our server came over to greet us. Then the first shock of our meal came.... The menu did NOT look like the menu we had looked at online! This wouldn't be a big deal to most people, but in this case, the hubs had already figured out not only what HE was going to have, but what me and the kids were ordering too, so that he could get a taste of everything he wanted. (I would normally not allow this, but since it was Father's Day and he IS a pretty epic co-parent, I granted him this right.) The menu we were given seemed like a lighter lunch menu, and featured more sandwiches and less steak and seafood. With panic in his voice, my husband asked the server about it, and the gentleman said that this WAS, in fact, the lunch menu we were looking at, and that we could of course order off of the main dinner menu, and he happily brought us out copies of that to look at. WHEW! Trust me, no one in that dining room wanted to see a grow man cry. Dodged a bullet there. 
     We deciding on starting with a Caesar salad to share. The chef did come out to speak to us about K's egg allergy and he was more than happy to answer all of our questions, and accommodate us with egg-free "chickin nuggits, peez". D is all about seafood, so she chose the fried shrimp. The salad was served quickly and was quite delicious. Not too much dressing, and not too heavy on the anchovies, just the way I like a Caesar. There was plenty to share and the salad was good, but the BREAD. The bread was to die for! Heaven-sent, soft, freshly baked sweet rolls, with creamy butter. We were all pretty much sold on the restaurant already, between the decor, the views and the bread. My husband had also elected to get some oysters on the half shell, which he said were the best he's ever had. (I'll take his word for it. That texture is NOT one that I enjoy.)

     When the entrees were delivered to our table we all gasped. Partly because of the sheer size of them, and partly because they looked SO delicious! See????

     My mother had chosen a dish that is listed as an appetizer on the menu: Jumbo Lump Crab and Avocado. It was basically a huge pile of fresh crab meat and avocado salad, on a bed of lettuce, and covered in a tarragon remoulade sauce. She had one bite and was in love. She said it had a delicious flavor and was just FILLED with crab. She loved it so much, that the very next day she said she would go back to the Boathouse for lunch again and get the same thing, if she could. It was a winner, for sure! 

     The kid's entrees came in super cute paper car trays, which the kids thought were just amazing. D's portion of fried shrimp was pretty large, and it came with a side of watermelon. She thought the shrimp were delicious and enjoyed revving the paper car's engine as she ate. K's chicken strips were gigantic and served on skewers. And I've gotta say, they were fantastic! Like, so good that if there wasn't already far too many great options on the menu, I would consider ordering them. Crispy, not overly fried or greasy, and full of juicy white meat. In general, the kid's menu was very well put together. The restaurant could easily be over kids' heads with the amount of seafood and higher priced items on the menu, but the cute, classic car dinner boxes, and the unique menu items like Pigs in a Blanket and Make Your Own Tacos, really mix up the options and make it fun.

     The hubs knew he wanted both steak and seafood, so after carefully perusing the menu, (online, for the past two weeks), he had decided that the smartest and most cost effective way to get what he wanted, was for he and I to share the Beach and Sea Lobster Bake for 2 ($60), and the 28oz Porterhouse for 2 ($60). This may seem crazy, but, if you look at the Surf and Turf Table for 2 option ($135), it is only a rib chop and a lobster. It's a higher price point and does not include all of the extras of the Lobster bake, like the clams, mussels, sausage, potatoes and corn. Smart dude I married, huh? The food was incredible. Truly. The steak was perfectly seasoned and grilled. The seafood was fresh, flavorful and in a delicious broth. We both thoroughly enjoyed the entrees. The hubs was giddy and literally doing a "happy food" dance in his seat. Totally delicious. In fact, I think we may have found our new go-to place for celebration meals. (Sorry, Yachtsman!)
     Now, it is important to note that most entrees, other than the Lobster Bake, are a la carte, and the pricing does not include side items. The sides may look like they are priced high, but they are rather large and most of them are shareable, so you could easily share one or two side items among a party of four. We got a side of fries and between the five of us, we couldn't finish them! I have heard some mixed reviews of The Boathouse from other Guests and I believe that the ones that are rating it on the low side were not prepared for the pricing and the size of the items, and may have misordered, as a result. Our meal was fantastic, and left us no room in our bellies for dessert. The Boathouse is already well known for their gigantic baked Alaska dessert, but the idea of eating ice cream right then made us nauseated. We opted to pay our check, and stroll out to the docks on the backside of the bar, to check out the various boats docked there. It was beautiful being among those gorgeous Italian yachts and various speedboats. There were even microphones set up there, so it looked like there is perhaps some live music at night as well. On a (much) cooler evening, I bet it would be amazing to eat outside here. I'll have to remember that come October.... or January, depending on how the Florida fall treats us. 
     After looking at the boats, and watching a few of the Amphicars take their "splashdowns" into the lake, the daily storm clouds were rolling in, so we called it a day, and went home to digest. And maybe nap. Oh, god, I was full. 
     At the end of the day, the hubs declared it "one of the top five meals of my life". 10 points to Gryffindor (me) for making a great Father's Day plan!!!

Tink's Tots Try It Out: According to D (6 yo girl) Miss D, what did you think of The Boathouse?   "Oh, I liked it a lot!"   Good, I'm glad. What did you like about it?    "Well, I really liked the food...my shrimps were good. And I like the thing it came in a lot... the car box thing."   It was pretty cool. What did you think of the restaurant itself? Did you like how it looked and stuff? What would other kids like about it?   "I liked how those cars drove into the water, and it looked cool inside. Kids would like the boats and stuff."

Tink's Tots Try It Out: According to K (2 yo boy)  K, did you like eating at The Boathouse?   "Yeah. Boats. In house? Mamma's house? Firewooks?" (My kid is so brainwashed by me that he thinks that Cinderella Castle is "Mamma's House".)   So somehow you just segued from talking about The Boathouse to asking to go see fireworks at The Magic Kingdom? Smooth.   "Smoovie?"   No, no smoothies. We're getting off topic. Did you like that chicken on the stick at the restaurant? I thought it was yummy.   "Yeah, yum-yum. Shicken was gooood, Mamma. I see boats."   Did you like seeing the boats?   "Yeah. Can I 'ave boat, Mamma?"   Did your Daddy coach you to ask me that?   "Yah."   I thought so. We will talk about it in about 16 years, ok?   "Ok, Mamma!"

Will we be back: Fo' sho. I just hope that next visit can live up to the epic-ness that my husband declared our first visit to be.