Mouse Extra

It appears Disney’s Wide World of Sports is about to undergo a major change, as Disney finally puts the mega-popular ESPN brand name to its proper use in the theme parks.   According to a press release this morning, the complex will undergo a complete rebranding.  You can read the entire press release here.

Aligning the world’s No. 1 family vacation destination with the worldwide leader in sports, Walt Disney World Resort and ESPN are joining forces to re-brand Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex with the ESPN brand, creating an entertaining and immersive experience for the nearly 2 million athletes, coaches and spectators who come through the Disney sports complex each year.

Plans for the re-branding initiative – which was announced today during the ESPN upfront presentation to advertisers and sponsors – are still in the development stage, but initial concepts involve renaming the sports complex and incorporating the signature elements of ESPN throughout the 220-acre facility, which is a leading venue for amateur and professional sports in the country.  The project aims to enhance the experience of both athletes and spectators by connecting them to their favorite ESPN programs, personalities and elements.  It also will provide advertisers new sponsorship opportunities at the grass roots level.

It is somewhat unusual for Disney to be so upfront with things that are still at the “developmental stage”.  Usually they let it orbit the rumor world for a few months and then offer the details when they are good and ready.  Despite the longwinded press release, there is little here that says much more than a new name.  Could that really be all there is to this project?  Perhaps, but they seem to be hinting here to much more.

For one thing, I believe there still is an All Star Café over at that complex.  I can’t imagine ESPN would want a direct competitor to its own line of restaurants within their new digs.  Could this be the place where Disney puts the giant-sized flagship ESPNZone?

According to the Disney Gossip blog, there is a rumor that some good news and some bad news about a certain sponsor at Walt Disney World may be coming soon.  The bad news is Nestle may no longer be a providing sponsor.  The good news is that Nestle may no longer be a providing sponsor.

Now we’re hearing that Nestle, with its headquarters in Switzerland, may be on the way out in favor of competing products from that second most famous of American brands, Coca-Cola.

So what is the bad part about this news?  Well, Nestle makes the ice cream found at the parks.  And I think we can all agree that there is more than one terrifically delicious item found at the ice cream carts in Walt Disney World.  They will surely be missed and I would expect nothing short of gastronomical outrage should this come to pass.

The good news is that Nestle is also the provider of the coffee found in the parks and resorts.  I am not exaggerating when I say it is the worst coffee I have ever had that hasn’t been sitting in the cup holder of a car for three days.  I can’t possibly imagine that there is a potential major sponsor out there that makes worse coffee than that.

In the end, I think this is a net plus for my enjoyment at Walt Disney World.  While I do recognize that Mickey Bars are terrific, there are many places throughout the resort to get equally delicious sweets.  However, the same can not be said about coffee, which many adults simply can’t live without.  Searching for good coffee at the Mouse makes one feel like Ponce de Leon.

In a move that may delight some and offend others, Disney announced this week that children under the age of ten years are banned from dining at Victoria and Albert’s in the Grand Floridian resort.  The Orlando Sentinel has the story this morning.

The company that reinvented the family vacation has drawn the line against potentially loud, ill-mannered or whiny kids in its only restaurant with a five-diamond rating from AAA travel service. Children younger than 10 are no longer welcome.

“We want to be the restaurant that’s available for that adult experience,” said Victoria & Albert’s general manager, Israel Perez.

Though a first for a restaurant at Walt Disney World, this is not a first for the Disney Company.  Palo, an adult-only restaurant on top of each of the Disney Cruise Line ships, immediately comes to mind as a comparison.  Victoria and Albert’s is simply looking for the same type of atmosphere.  But it is rare, even outside of Disney, to see a published ban like this. 

Victoria and Albert’s is not a particularly kid friendly place to begin with.  According to the article, they only get a few per month anyway.  So then one must wonder why make the ban to begin with?  The answer is plain and simple, marketing.

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

The Wilderness Lodge is one of the most visually stunning resorts in Walt Disney World. Its based on the classic national park lodges in the Western part of the country, places like Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. The lobby like the region itself is best described as “grand.” The pool is reminiscent of bubbling springs. Although not on the monorail system, the Lodge can be reached by boat or bus.

Within the massive lobby, the hungry can find the Whispering Canyon café. A wide open eatery that is one of the better places to take the kids for a bite. The food can be ordered a la carte, but most people get the family style, all-you-can-eat skillets. This costs, at this time, about $22.50 for an adult. You start with salad and apple vinaigrette. The skillets are loaded with smoked ribs, pulled pork, roasted chicken, and sausage. You also get as much cornbread, mashed potatoes, beans, slaw, and corn on the cob that you can shove down your throat. The entrées that you can order separately include things like fish, chops, and meat loaf most of which costing about $20 a pop.

The big draw here is the fun and games. Your kids can enjoy various activities like broom races. The servers are clued into the shenanigans, as well. There are several things you can do/say to elicit some “goofy” response. You can wear something from a rival such as Sea World. You could tell the server its a party member’s birthday. You can claim your straw is not long enough. Ask the server where his “six shooter” is. Have a male member of your party ask for the location of the restroom. Chew gum or ask where one can purchase it. These things may prompt the server or they may not depending on the server and what he/she is in the middle of doing, but try it at some point.

The food is average to above average, but the place itself can be a real “hoot” especially for kids. I’m not a big fan of family-style, but at least here you have the option to steer clear of it. I would recommend you save room for the cinnamon tortilla dessert. Its stuffed with vanilla ice cream and topped with fresh bananas and a banana-caramel sauce.

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

Port Orleans is perhaps the most popular of Walt Disney World’s moderate resorts. I suppose people love the French Quarter feel and old Southern charm. In the not too distant past, this resort was actually two different places- Port Orleans and Dixie Landings. They have been combined into Port Orleans with the French Quarter and Riverside districts. Boatwright’s is located at the Riverside section. At the name implies, there are boat making tools and similar items decorating the walls as well as boats hanging over your head.

Way back when, Boatwright’s attempted to be a real Cajun restaurant, but it never really pulled it off. Blackened seafood as well as shrimp & crawfish etoufee could be had. However, it was always guilty of catering to the masses instead of staying true to the cuisine. It sacrificed being an accurate representation of Creole food for a more generalized, boring menu. The facility became less and less Cajun seemingly everyday. Now, it seems to be a more tame Southern style place.

The menu as it stands now starts off with appetizers like shrimp cocktail, onion soup and crab cakes. The prices range from $5 to $10. For an entrée, choices include pot roast, chicken dishes, and penne with shrimp, all ranging from $15 to $20. The lone Cajun holdover is jambalaya: chicken and Andouille sausage with rice and plenty of Creole spices. Southern greens and potatoes accompany most meals.

I would not recommend Boatwright’s for a meal myself. Frankly, it’s quite dull. In a resort called “Port Orleans”, I would expect a real attempt at Cajun cuisine with things like blackened catfish, gumbo, po’ boys and the like. Instead, we get a rather bland menu even back when it tried a more Cajun feel. If you want a pretty good attempt at New Orleans food and not something too toned down, hop over to Downtown Disney and try the House of Blues, a personal favorite.

Today’s Disney Dining Review is by Mike, contributing writer to Mouse Extra