Disney’s Old Key West Resort is a treasure. This island-themed resort is the first Disney Vacation Club ever built, and for many Members it holds a boat full of cherished memories. Olivia’s Cafe is the table service restaurant of this beloved resort, and it is considered a hidden gem by many. Chrissy on our team, and her family, stopped in earlier this month to give brunch at Olivia’s a try. Here’s why we think it should be on your Disney dining list, even if you’re not a guest of this resort.

Brunch at Olivia’s is available Saturdays and Sundays 7:30 a.m. -2:00 p.m. Reservations are not required, but we do recommend them since brunch is such a special meal period. This is a good choice if you’re looking for brunch at Disney Springs, but don’t want to deal with the crowds, since Disney’s Old Key West is in the Disney Springs neighborhood.

Indoor and outdoor seating is available. The dining room is adorned with old Florida decorations and photos of some of the first members to ever join Disney Vacation Club.

Here’s what Chrissy and her family ordered:

• Loaded Key West Bloody Mary – Ketel One Vodka, Spicy Bloody Mary Mix, Shrimp, and Bacon $13.00
• Conch Fritters – Served with Key Lime-Mustard and Roasted Pepper Rémoulade $12.00
• Banana Bread French Toast – Topped with Bahamian Banana-Rum Syrup, Coconut Whipped Cream, and served with choice of Bacon or Sausage – $16.00
• Chicken and Waffles – Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Sweet Potato Waffles with Bacon Jam, Fresh Berries and Maple Syrup – $16.00
• Shrimp and Grits – Sautéed Shrimp over Parmesan Grits with a Roasted Tomato-Red Pepper Vinaigrette -$22.00
• Crab Cake-Eggs Benedict – Two-Poached Eggs and Two-Pan Fried Crab Cakes on an English Muffin with Key Lime Hollandaise and Olivia’s Breakfast Potatoes – $18.00

How can you go to brunch at a Key West themed resort and resist ordering a Bloody Mary? Olivia’s offers a Loaded Key West Bloody Mary and it is fantastic! Chrissy reports hers was thick and zingy; she loved it! What’s great about this Bloody Mary is that it is “loaded” with shrimp and bacon, and the traditional celery stalk and olives, but it is not overly loaded with toppings that distract from the drink.

Another must-do when you’re at a Key West themed destination is to order Conch Fritters. Conch is a  high-protein shellfish which is usually sweet and mild. Many folks compare the taste and texture of conch to fried clam strips. They are chewy, and in the case of these Conch Fritters, the conch meat is diced and rolled into the fritters. The serving yielded seven fritters and came with two sauces. The table was divided on which sauce was best, the Key Lime-Mustard or the Roasted Pepper Rémoulade.

Perhaps the big highlight of the meal was the Chicken and Waffles. It can be hard to decide between sweet and savory when doing brunch and this dish delivered both. Chrissy reports it was savory, salty, sweet, and crunchy. What takes this dish over the top is the delectable bacon jam.

On the decidedly sweet side is the Banana Bread French Toast. From the photo you might assume this dish is dense, but Chrissy reports it was light and fluffy. If you have a sweet tooth, this is the must-order dish on the menu.

If you’re craving something purely savory then the Shrimp and Grits is the way to go. This is a classic Southern favorite and the serving was very generous. Of course, it is one of the pricier entrees, but it delivered on flavor and quality.

The Crab Cake-Eggs Benedict is the one dish that didn’t deliver. Crab cakes are always difficult to pull off well without getting into a pricey product. Most restaurants skimps on the crab meat and beef up the filling to save cost, such is the case here. If you’re craving seafood go for the Conch Fritters or the Shrimp and Grits instead.

We have rating ad rankings for every Walt Disney World dining location, and Olivia’s Cafe has 92% thumbs up rating, and is ranked #20 out of 105 table service restaurants. Our team has tried their fair share of brunches around Walt Disney World. We would recommend brunch at Olivia’s to anyone looking for a brunch with a tropical flair, generous portions, and away from crazy weekend crowds. It’s easy to waste away again at Olivia’s.

Have you ever dined at Olivia’s Cafe? What’s your favorite brunch at Walt Disney World? Let us know in the comments!

The post REVIEW – Brunch at Olivia’s is the Perfect Way to Waste Away appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

Disney World currently requires you to wear a face covering at all times on property — and maybe you want a little Mickey style while you do just that!

Cinderella Castle

Earlier today, we spotted some brand-new masks in Disney World! They’re quite a bit pricier than the older versions — and they’re sporting some new features, too. Now, if you’re in the market for a new mask, you’ll probably want to know exactly what the differences are, so you can figure out if the high price is worth it. And that’s why we’re here: to break it all down for ya! Let’s get started.

First of all, we found 2 designs of the new masks, in a study new plastic packaging. You can opt for a silhouetted Mickey…

It’s Mickey!

…or go with a brighter blue mask! We decided to buy the latter — it’s a super classic design!

New masks!

Now it’s time to compare the old and the new! Get ready, people: it’s time for the nitty gritty.

The new…vs. the old!

We’re going to start with the structural differences. The new masks have a nose wire down the middle to help conform to your face. The straps are also adjustable, for a more snug fit!

Check out that wire!

As far as size goes, they are just a little bigger than the old masks. When we placed the old design on top of the new one, we could really see the difference. For context, we got a large in both types. In the photo below, you can also see that the stiff wire on the new mask means it’s not really able to lay flat.

The new one is just a little bigger!

We really appreciated the addition of the nose wire! It added structure to the mask and ensured that it didn’t press right up against our face. We found the old masks to be a bit baggy and loose, while this one conformed quite a bit better. We’re attributing that to the wire and the adjustable ear straps — which were actually pretty comfy!

Here’s a side view!

If you’re thinking about this mask, you will want to know that the fabric is much thicker than the old cotton masks or your everyday disposable mask. It’s certainly breathable, but you will notice a difference. We would have preferred the mask to be a little thinner, but the quality was good.

Check out that fabric!

We think most adults would be good to go with a size large in these. Small kids would want to get a small, teens or small adults a medium, and bigger adults an XL. And remember that the adjustable strap goes a long way in getting that perfect fit! The large worked well on us but was a bit loose under the chin, so we could have opted for a medium and just lengthened the ears.

New face mask!

Overall, we’d say these are the highest-quality face masks Disney has made. Our only complaint is the thickness of the fabric. But if you’re looking for a sturdy, durable mask that will fit well, the splurge may be worth it. At $14.99 apiece, they’re a bit pricier than the typical $9.99 options…but you do get some great new features.

We’ll keep an eye out for more new products, and we’ll be sure to review ’em for you! Stay tuned to DFB.

Check Out These New Masks in More Detail!

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Would you want to try one of these new masks? Let us know in the comments!

The post Review: Are Disney’s New Face Masks Worth the BIG Price Increase?! first appeared on the disney food blog.