Mouse Extra

We do spend a lot of time and effort in preparing for our Disney vacations on where and when we are going to eat. What World Showcase restaurant are we going to do? Should we have our sit-down meal at lunchtime or dinner? How do we get to that resort for our 6 o’clock seating? Why is counter service at the Studios so bad? These are all questions we ponder as we book our vacation and get those ressies 180 days beforehand. While we spend so much time on our big meals, many of us leave some of the most important aspects of munching to chance. Hopefully, this article will help you get the most out of snacking around the parks.

First of all, no one should be permitted to attend the Magic Kingdom without getting a pineapple dole whip. It should come with the darn ticket. Citrus swirls (at the Sunshine Tree Terrace) and Strawberry swirls (at the Enchanted Grove) are nearly as good as alternatives. For those hot days, you can try root beer floats at Sleepy Hollow or fresh fruit at a couple of different locales. These are all good choices for a cool pick-me-up after a morning of running around the Mountains. And then there is the smoked, what appears to be dinosaur, legs. There are a couple of spots to get these massive sticks of turkey meat. People love them and you get good bang for your buck, too. Although I must warn you, it may be difficult to scarf one down while sprinting from Big Thunder to Space Mountain.

The snacking Mecca of Walt Disney World has to be the World Showcase at Epcot. Food is a very important part of your Epcot experience, whether its an ADR at one of the restaurants or strolling the promenade sampling food from around the world. The highlights of this journey start with churros in Mexico. These popular cinnamon fried dough sticks have made their way to the other parks in recent years. Nearby, you can head to the Kringle Bakeri og Kafe for Norwegian delights like the rice cream and vaffler or the kringle, a sweet pretzel. That boardwalk treat, the funnel cake, is the American contribution to this fattening trek. You also must try the Kaki-gori at the Japan pavilion. This concoction of shaved ice and sweet fruit flavoring is excellent. Finally, there is French pastries, those cholesterol busting desserts. At the Boulangerie Patisserie, you can sample croissants, éclairs, and mousse. Wine by the glass is available nearby to complete the experience.

At the Disney MGM Studios, snacking is even worse than its counter service establishments, which is saying quite a bit. Personally, when at these movie studios, I enjoy a big souvenir tub of popcorn, which is available under the big sorcerer’s hat. The Animal Kingdom has better prospects. The tea cart in Asia is a fine example of the eclectic choices that keeps things interesting here. There are pot stickers available nearby at the Chakrandi Chicken shop. The Kusafiri coffee shop in Harambe has pastries to go with good espresso and cappuccino.

There is nothing like a good snack and the choices at Walt Disney World are varied. At what other theme park can you enjoy Norwegian sweet pretzels, jumbo turkey legs, and Asian pot stickers? But don’t forget the typical fare either. There seems to be a counter, stand or cart everywhere you turn. At the numerous ice cream carts you can grab frozen chocolate covered bananas (which are good), Mickey shaped cookies & cream chipwiches (which are even better) and other similar delicacies. So when planning your Disney vacation keep all of this in mind. And don’t you dare forget that dole whip.

Today’s article is by Mike, contributing writer to Mouse Extra

Whenever I think back on my experience at the 50s Prime Time Café at Disney MGM Studios, I feel I understand the meaning behind Kurtz’s famous last words in the Heart of Darkness: “the horror, the horror.” In short, I’d rather chew tin foil then eat there again. The premise behind this restaurant is rather straightforward: you have entered “your” family’s kitchen sometime in the 1950s. The decor is kitschy and right out of an episode of “Leave it to Beaver.” On small televisions, you can watch clips of “I Love Lucy” and other classic (and not so classic) sitcoms.

The food is below average and fairly pricey. Lunch items include such typical Mom and Pop fare as fried chicken, pot roast, meatloaf, and chicken pot pie. The prices range from $13 to $16. These same items appear on the dinner menu with similar prices bucking the usual trend of being able to eat cheaper at lunchtime. Dinner does also include other choices like glazed salmon and pork tenderloin. Appetizers are basically the same, as well. The choices include beer-battered onion rings, shrimp cocktail, and Cesar salad. There is a bevy of specialty drinks of both the alcoholic and non-alcoholic type. Kids may like the flavored sodas which are basically a combo of sprite and a fruit juice like sour apple or watermelon.

But herein lies the rub with the Prime Time Café- the cast members. Keeping with the general theme, the servers are your family members- brothers, sisters, mothers, third cousins twice removed. The shtick presented by your “family” sets this restaurant apart in the annoying department. “Mom” may inspect your hands for cleanliness or scold you for not finishing your vegetables (I hated that as a kid and it has not gotten any cuter since). Your “siblings” may tease you while “Mom” isn’t around. This nonsense is definately not for the shy and younger kids may find it unsettling. I just find it distracting, which on second thought, may be a good idea considering the quality of the food. Its particularly bad if the cast member is not giving it his or her all (a rare exception I grant you).

This restaurant is often compared to the other heavily themed Disney MGM Studios eatery, the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater. The food is not great at either establishment, but I love the atmosphere at the Sci-Fi. The eat-in cars and cheesy movie clips are fun. I find the atmosphere at the Prime Time bothersome which just accentuates the fact that the food is not very good. I am aware that there are many supporters of the Prime Time café who love to play along with the servers and enjoy the vibe. Its just not for me.

Today’s dining review is from Mike, contributing writer to Mouse Extra

To review the Sci-Fi Dine In Theater at the Disney MGM-Studios is perhaps the most difficult of all the dining reviews we will write.   Unless you read the final paragraph below, you will think this place is terrible and not even worth consideration. Read the rest of this entry »

Hiding behind Muppet Vison, tucked into a remote corner of the Disney-MGM Studios lies a cozy little Italian joint called Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano.    This is a nice, quiet place that delivers just enough to recommend, but not enough to get excited over. Read the rest of this entry »