Disney’s Animal Kingdom is preparing for some special festivities in April, and in the meantime, we’re here with what’s new in the park!

A popular sold out 50th anniversary item was restocked, and one merchandise collection seemed to be lost or confused. Plus we HAD to tell you all about a super gross souvenir. Find out all about it here!

Animal Kingdom Merchandise Updates

Riverside Depot

A Portrait of Walt Disney World: 50 Years of The Most Magical Place on Earth was found restocked at Riverside Depot! This special book is all about the history of Disney World, and it’s been sold out for some time, though we have seen it pop up briefly in a few Disney Parks.

If you’re looking for this book,  you might want to hurry over to Animal Kingdom! It costs $60.

Read about more ways to celebrate Disney World’s 50th anniversary from home!

Discovery Trading Company

We found EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Merchandise outside Discovery Trading, which is weird because, well, this isn’t EPCOT. We found several items from the Orange Bird Collection, including spirit jerseys, t-shirts, and the Orange Bird plush.

If you can’t make it to EPCOT, you might be able to pick up some festival merchandise from an entirely different Disney Park!

Check out all the 2022 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival merchandise here.

We also spotted a new Kids Blue/Purple Ombre Spirit Jersey at Discovery Trading for $49.99. Blurple, maybe?

Blue and purple fade together in an ombre design, and the back of the jersey has the Walt Disney World logo across the back.

We’ve got one more stop!

DinoLand U.S.A.

Okay, this isn’t totally new, but this week we talked about how this dinosaur toy might be one of the grossest souvenirs we’ve seen in Disney World. Why? It’s made with this squishy, sticky texture that basically attracts dirt.

Kids might love this little dino but prepare for it to get gross REALLY fast. You can find it in DinoLand U.S.A.!

Check out our thoughts on this dinosaur souvenir here!

And that’s about it! If you’re visiting Disney World soon you might want to prepare for Spring Break crowds, and check out our video about all the Animal Kingdom restaurants!

Check out all the special celebrations coming to Earth Day at Animal Kingdom!

Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!

Have you visited Animal Kingdom recently? Tell us in the comments!

The post What’s New in Animal Kingdom: A Lost (?!) Merchandise Collection and a 50th Anniversary Item Gets Restocked first appeared on the disney food blog.

Thanks to the fact that there’s almost always a food festival going on no matter what time of year it is, EPCOT has gotten a reputation of being a park where you skip out on a full meal to save room to snack your way around the booths in World Showcase. And, while we’re all for saving some precious stomach space for new Dole Whip flavors, Frushi, or whatever else is being cooked up by the spectacular Disney culinary team, sometimes it’s nice to take a break from the hustle and sit down to enjoy a meal.

While there are certainly some amazing Quick Service locations throughout the park (hello, Fish and Chips), we’ll be the first to tell you that the Table Service restaurants in EPCOT are SO worth a visit — even if it’s swallowing some park time. And, when it comes to favorites, there’s one spot that we just can’t get enough of — Le Cellier Steakhouse. Tucked into the depths of the Canada Pavilion, we’re heading back once again to see if the food is still worth the hype.

The first thing to know about Le Cellier is that it is one of Disney World’s signature dining locations, meaning that it is a bit pricey! So, you’ll want to be prepared to drop some major cash on your meal here (or two dining credits when the Disney Dining Plan returns). This restaurant has been around since EPCOT first opened in 1982 and now boasts some seriously good steak. Time and time again we crown this restaurant as being one of the best in Disney World, and just when we think we’ve tried it all (including a beef CANDLE), we journey back to confirm that Le Cellier is popular because it is simply just that good.

Atmosphere

Now, if you don’t know where Le Cellier is, you might have a little trouble finding it. In order to reach the restaurant, you need to walk through the gardens of the Canada Pavilion where you’ll eventually stumble upon the cave that is Le Cellier. If you reach the exit or entrance to Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360, you’ve gone too far. Of course, there is some signage in the area, so be sure to keep an eye out for that to help you navigate.

Once inside, you’ll feel like you stepped right into the depths of a wine cellar complete with stone walls. Le Cellier translates directly to “The Cellar” in French, so the theming is pretty much an exact match to the name!

The dining area itself has a really distinct atmosphere — one that we really love! Dark molding, lowing ceilings, and dim lighting create an intimate and romantic atmosphere that makes it a great spot for a special meal out with your significant other (though it’s also super family-friendly). One thing to note, though, is that there is tons of lighting…it’s just not all that well lit, meaning that you might be reaching for your phone’s flashlight to read the menu.

That being said, the health and safety measures implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic have made it even easier to see the menu because there’s now a QR code available on the table for you to access the menu on your phone! Of course, you can still ask for a paper menu if you’d prefer.

Most of the tables in the dining room have standard chairs, though a few booths surround the restaurant. And, regardless of where you’re seated, you’ll find a place setting with a small plate, napkin, and silverware.

But, what about the eats? Well, let’s dive into the menu!

Eats

At the top of the menu, you’ll find a huge selection of appetizers, which you DON’T want to skip over when you’re eating here. We’ve eaten our way through this list a time or two and have really enjoyed the Artisan Cheese and Charcuterie Plate along with the infamous Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup (pro tip: you can usually find this popular soup at the Canada booth during the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival if you want to give it a try without a reservation).

When it comes to entrees, the menu has expanded a bit since the last time we visited to include the Bison Strip Loin. And, there are four enhancements (or sides) that you can add to your meal if you’d like for an additional cost.

There is also a selection of Poutines, that are delicious and offer a traditional Canadian dining experience. This is another portion of the menu that has grown since the restaurant reopened in 2020.

Of course, there are also Canadian-inspired desserts like the Maple Creme Brûlée or the Maple Leaf Cheesecake…

…and if you’re dining with your kiddos, there’s a whole menu for them!

For those who are looking to pair a drink with their meal, there is also a selection of special 50th-anniversary beverages (including the color-changing EARidescent Sip-a-bration), cocktails, beer, and wine.

But, one of the highlights of the meal is one that you WON’T find on the menu — the complimentary bread service! And, that’s where our dinner started! When you first sit down, no matter when you’re dining, you’ll get three types of DELICIOUS bread served with Maple Salted Butter. And, while the bread and butter are certainly delicious, like anything at Disney World, there’s more than meets the eye (or stomach) — these breads actually represent some cool Canadian facts.

First up is the Pretzel Bread, which represents Ontario, known for hosting the world’s second-largest Oktoberfest.

Then there’s the Multigrain Bread, which is meant to be representative of the fact that three Canadian provinces produce HALF of all the grain in North America.

And lastly, the Sourdough Bread represents the Yukon part of Canada, which is near Alaska where they only get three hours of daylight in the winter. So when spring rolls around, the people here celebrate with a Sourdough Festival (BRB, adding that to our bucket list).

Of course, each one is tasty in its own right, but our absolute favorite has to be the pretzel bread. If you’re ordering up the Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup be sure to save this roll for dipping because, just like peanut butter & jelly, the two were MADE for each other.

Speaking of which…we simply can’t resist the soup ourselves, so we ordered it up as our appetizer. And, folks, this one NEVER disappoints. It’s made with Moosehead Pale Ale and Nueske’s Applewood-smoked Bacon. This soup is LEGENDARY and for good reason — it’s CHHHHEEESSSY and made perfectly EVERY single time. 

It’s a nice thick soup that isn’t chunky, and you get a slightly smoky taste from the bacon that really makes it stand out. But, it can be pretty filling, so you might want to get a kid’s portion or split it with someone if you plan on ordering an entree. The soup is $13 for a full size and $3 for a kid-size bowl.

When it comes to our entree, we chose to order the Le Cellier Filet Mignon — we’re at an up-scale steakhouse after all! This dish costs $59 and is an AAA Canadian Tenderloin served with Mushroom Risotto, Asparagus-Tomato Relish, and Truffle-Butter Sauce.

We ordered it Medium Rare and it was cooked BEAUTIFULLY with a nice char on the outside. Inside was LOADS of nice and juicy buttery filet flavor. And, it’s very obvious this is a great cut of meat — just look at it! The risotto was also delicious featuring a nice creamy texture and great flavor.

Now, this steak used to come with Mashed Potatoes, which we have to say — we miss. So, with the portion size a bit smaller than we’re used to, we opted to order the Loaded Boursin Mashed Potatoes as an Enhancement for $10. And, this certainly satisfied our potatoes craving. These mashed potatoes were nice and creamy with a great added crunch on top from the potato skins.

Plus, these mashed potatoes have LOADS of cheese, which y’all know scores BIG points with us!

To top off our meal, we ended with the Warm Pecan-Brown Butter Tart and WOW. We might have to come back again just for dessert after giving this one a try!

It’s served warm with Maple Ice Cream, Brown Sugar Anglaise, and Whisky Caramel. It’s hard to choose just one thing that we loved about this dessert — the Candied Pecans on this were SO tasty, the crust was SO buttery, and the maple flavor was SPOT on. This might actually be one of our new favorite desserts at any Disney World table service restaurant — yeah, WE WENT THERE.

Now, the tart is pretty crumbly and ours fell apart easily, but we were still able to pick up all the fragments into one perfectly delicious bite with our fork.

Nosh Or Not

Make your way to Le Cellier if…

• You love steak. This is one of the BEST steakhouses in Disney World and you’ll almost always find the highest quality steak here.
• You’re celebrating a special occasion. This is a great spot to book for an anniversary, birthday, or other major life celebration because the atmosphere is a bit more upscale and “special” compared to other Table Service restaurants in EPCOT.
• You want to enjoy a relaxing meal and don’t mind sacrificing park time. Nothing is rushed here so if you just want to break away from the crowds, sit back, and enjoy the Disney atmosphere and great this is a great place to go.

Skip Le Cellier if…

• You have children who don’t want to sit for a long time in your party. While there are quite a few kid-friendly options here, it’s a pricey restaurant to be ordering up grilled chicken and mac and cheese that you could get next door at a Quick Service restaurant for half the price.
• You’re on a budget. Being labeled as a Signature dining location comes with a price tag and it ain’t cheap. Your meal will likely run about $50+ per person here.
• You’re vegetarian or don’t like red meat. Le Cellier is known for its steak and, while there certainly are other options the signature dish (and many others) revolves around red meat.

Overall

There’s a reason we keep returning to Le Cellier over and over, and it’s also why it’s often hard to get a reservation here — it’s one of the BEST signature dining experiences there is at Disney World! Our meals here are consistently good, so you can rely on it to be a spot where you’re going to enjoy every last bit of food on your plate no matter when you stop by.

That being said, you’ll likely walk out of here feeling full and that could really impact the rest of your day if you were planning to hop on Test Track right after or if you want to dine at several food booths during one of the EPCOT festivals. Plus, you’ll also need to dedicate a bit of time to dining here, so if you’re someone who likes to pack their park day full of activities, this is going to suck up a few hours.

Of course, Le Cellier does a pretty good job at changing up the menu just enough to keep us coming back so, we’ll probably be visiting again soon! It’s expensive, yes, but it’s good to treat yourself every once in a while, right?

See more of our latest Disney World food reviews HERE!

Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!

Have you ever dined at Le Cellier? What’s your favorite dish there? Let us know in the comments!

The post REVIEW: Is Le Cellier Still An EPCOT Staple? We Found Out! first appeared on the disney food blog.

Hello on this fine Monday morning. We are not okay.

Disney has been releasing a lot of incredible Minnie Ears headbands recently, including Mickey Pretzel Ears, sparkly Tomorrowland Ears, and even Orange Bird Ears. But today, they’ve officially outdone themselves with FOUR brand-new DESIGNER Mickey Ears headbands! Check them all out here!

Disney and Coach just teamed up to release a new collection of merchandise in honor of Disney World’s 50th Anniversary. This collection has a LOT Of new items, including a backpack, several purses, a hoodie, and more.

More of the Coach collection

Legends of Hollywood at Hollywood Studiospic.twitter.com/hy8jY9Q85k

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) March 28, 2022

 

But what we were MOST excited about was the four NEW pairs of Mickey ears that came out as part of this collection! Each of the four ears represents a different Disney park, with one for Walt Disney World, one for Disneyland, one for Shanghai Disneyland, and one for Disneyland Paris.

The Disney Coach Collection arrived in the parks!

Bags and ears! pic.twitter.com/gOL9Ihh9ly

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) March 28, 2022

 

Each set of Mickey ears is leather with various decals and patches on the ears. The park they represent is embossed on the back of one of the ears, and the park’s opening year is embroidered on the side of the headband.

The black Mickey ears represent Disney World, with gold stitching and decals of Mickey, a rainbow, a groovy-looking flower, and ’71, among other designs. There are also patches with various logos of Walt Disney World on the front.

On the back, check out the embossed design of Cinderella Castle!

The side is embroidered with 1971, the park’s opening date.

The white Mickey ears are for Disneyland, with decals of flowers, Mickey, and some cherries. There are also patches featuring Goofy and Donald Duck.

These ears are embroidered with Disneyland’s opening year of 1955 in blue on the side.

Good news! You don’t have to go to the parks to get these ears. They’re available for pre-order on shopDisney now! They cost $295 online, which is the same price that we saw in the parks.

Click here to pre-order the Disneyland Resort Coach Mickey Ears.

Shanghai Disney Resort is represented with red Mickey ears, which have some of the same decals as the Disney World and Disneyland ears. These, however, also have a Minnie Mouse bow decal and a patch featuring Minnie as well!

The side is embroidered with the park’s opening year of 2016.

These ears are also available for pre-order on shopDisney now, for $295.

Click here to pre-order the Shanghai Disney Resort Coach Mickey Ears.

And Disneyland Paris is represented with the yellow Mickey ears. These ones have decals of Mickey’s iconic red shorts and Minnie’s white glove! There are patches for Donald, Minnie, and Goofy.

The side is embroidered with the park’s opening year of 1992.

The Disneyland Paris ears are also on shopDisney for pre-order now. They’re $295 online as well!

Click here to pre-order the Disneyland Paris Coach Mickey Ears.

Each set of ears is $295. We spotted the new collection inside Legends of Hollywood in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Uptown Jewelers in Magic Kingdom, Discovery Trading in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Creations Shop in EPCOT (although only the Disney World Mickey ears were available in Creations Shop).

We spotted three of the four ears online for pre-order at shopDisney, and we’ll be sure to let you know when we see the last pair appear as well! Keep following DFB for more news about the latest Disney merchandise.

Click here to see more Minnie ears that you can get online now!

Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!

Which set of new Mickey ears is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

The post Hide Your Wallets! Disney World Has 4 NEW Pairs of 0 Mickey Ears 😱 first appeared on the disney food blog.

Which restaurants at Disney’s Hollywood Studios deserve the spotlight and which should be booed off stage?

We’ve got some thoughts and today we’re sharing them all with you. It’s time to RANK EVERY HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS RESTAURANT!

Check out our video below Ranking EVERY SINGLE Restaurant in Disney’s Hollywood Studios to see our list!

Are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes!

Watch the video and let us know your pick for the very BEST Hollywood Studios restaurant!

The post DFB Video: Ranking EVERY Restaurant in Disney’s Hollywood Studios first appeared on the disney food blog.