Theme Park Foodie

Photo by Joe Burbank of the Orlando Sentinel

SeaWorld’s new realm Antarctica officially opens on May 24th, and the expansion (the largest in the theme park’s history) features a new dining location. Expedition Cafe is a quick-service dining location that is designed to resemble a research outpost in Antarctica. The menu was crafted to reflect the types of food that would be served at research locations depending upon the nationalities of researchers located there. Pretty cool touch, huh? Italian, American and Asian fare are available at Expedition Cafe. The menu’s set up and pricing leads us to believe that this dining location will be included on the All Day Dining Deal, but it may not be initially included due to high interest in the Antarctica expansion. The full menu is below!

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Ristorante Italiano

Entrees
Emperor’s Spaghetti & Meatball Platter: $11.99
Italian Rope Sausage Sandwich: $8.99
Garden Lasagna: $9.99

Cafe Side Selections
Breadsticks (3): $3.99
Parmesan French Fries: $2.99

Shamu Kid’s Meal (9 and under): $5.99
Choose One Entree: Spaghetti & Meatball or Garden Lasagna
Choose One Side: Breadstick or Parmesan Cheese Fries
Choose One Beverage: Milk (White, Chocolate or Strawberry), 100% Apple Juice or Kid Size Soft Drink

Grab & Go
Sub Zero Italian  Hero: $8.99
Chicken Caesar Salad: $8.99

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Stateside Chicken

Entree
South of the Equator Fried/Baked Chicken Platter: $9.99 - $11.49
Deep Southern Fried or Savory Baked Chicken served with your choice of Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Macaroni and Cheese or French Fries and a Homemade Biscuit. Extra charge for all white meat.
2 pc. $9.99 / 3 pc. $11.49

Cafe Side Selections
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy: $2.99
Macaroni and Cheese: $2.99
French Fries: $2.99
Corn on the Cob: $3.29
Homemade Biscuit: $.99

Shamu Kid’s Meal (9 and under): $5.99
Choose One Entree: Home Dog / Fried or Baked Chicken Wing or Leg
Choose One Side: Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Macaroni and Cheese, French Fries or a Biscuit
Choose One Beverage: Milk (White, Chocolate or Strawberry), 100% Apple Juice or Kid Size Soft Drink

Grab & Go
Iceburg Wedge Chef Salad: $8.79
Turkey Club Croissant: $8.99

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Asian Grill

Entrees
South Pole Pepper Steak: $10.99
Teriyaki Chicken: $9.99
Orange Chicken: $9.99
Shrimp Lo Mein: $8.99

Cafe Side Selections
Fried Rice: $3.99
Lo Mein: $3.99
Egg Roll: $2.49

Shamu Kid’s Meal (9 and under): $5.99
Choose One Entree: Orange Chicken, Teriyaki Chicken or Pepper Steak
Choose One Side: Jasmine Rice, Fried Rice or Lo Mein
Choose One Beverage: Milk (White, Chocolate or Strawberry), 100% Apple Juice or Kid Size Soft Drink

Grab & Go
Asian Freshie Salad: $3.69

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Excited about the menu offerings at Expedition Cafe? Disappointed? Send us a tweet at @themeparkfoodie to share you thoughts!

SeaWorld Orlando announced today that it will be selling penguin-shaped cups at its newest attraction, Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, set to open on May 24th. These customizable souvenirs may appear cute and cuddly (or, in our opinion, fun and festive) they are designed to encourage guests to help the planet “one refill at a time.”

The Cup That Cares program is a new reusable cup program that uses technology to create an interactive and innovative experience for SeaWorld guests. The cups were designed to connect with Coca-Cola Freestyle beverage dispensers available at the new Antarctica attraction. Guests are personally engaged through the use of a RFID chip embedded in each cup that interacts with software in the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines to calculate how guests are being environmentally responsible when reusing the cup. The technology embedded in the new souvenir cups calculate the amount of CO2 guests save from entering the atmosphere when they choose to refill their souvenir cup. Each guest’s conservation history will be logged by software developed by SeaWorld and Coca-Cola, and guests will be thanked for saving their personal amount of CO2 from entering the atmosphere. SeaWorld notes that every refill of reusable cups prevents the emission of 27 grams of CO2. The cups are also cost effective; each refill costs only $.99.

There are two versions of the Cups That Care. One, available at beverage stations at the Antarctica attraction, features photos of Puck (the attraction’s signature hero) and his penguin family. More creative guests and children will likely opt for the Create A Cup That Cares option, which invites guests to create a personalized penguin character cup by choosing from more than 40 accessory options including eyes, hair, glasses, hats, bow ties, necklaces, SeaWorld shopping bags and miniature Shamu ice cream bars.

“Just as penguins do within their colonies, humans also can band together to make a big difference through small actions,” said Dan Brown, Chief Operating Officer of SeaWorld, Discovery Cove and Aquatica Parks. “We see great potential with this new program because it encourages guests to be more aware of their actions – and reduce their carbon footprint — in an easy, fun and innovative way. Each step may be small, but it all adds up when we work together.”

SeaWorld also announced today that it will be serving an exclusive and custom vanilla-flavored beverage through the Coca-Cola Freestyle dispensers at Antarctica called “South Pole Chill.” We imagine that such a sweet concoction will soon become a favorite of young guests.

As you may remember, we recently wrote about this possibility in our column for Orlando Attractions Magazine. You can read more about Coca-Cola Freestyle and how it has the potential to change Orlando’s theme parks here.

For more information on Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, like SeaWorld on Facebook or visit SeaWorldOrlando.com.

Photo Courtesy of Walt Disney World Media Relations

A week-long Cinco de Mayo ¡Fiesta! is coming to Epcot’s Mexico pavilion as part of Walt Disney World’s Limited Time Magic. San Angel Inn Restaurante and La Hacienda de San Angel, the pavilion’s restaurants, will be offering the following specialty menu items to celebrate from May 5 to May 11! 

Appetizers

• Cream of Chile Poblano: Chile poblano, cilantro, onion, garlic and Mexican cream, garnished with tortilla strips, poblano peppers and cream ($7.50)
• Chalupas de Chicharron: Corn dough topped with roasted chipotle sauce, shredded chicken, pork rind in green tomatillo sauce, fresh cheese, sour cream and avocado ($11.50)

Entrees

• Chile en Nogada: Egg-battered stuffed poblano pepper with pork, almonds, raisins, apple, pineapple, cinnamon, roasted tomato and garlic, topped with a walnut cream sauce ($24.50)
• Enchiladas de Mole Poblano: Corn tortillas filled with marinated chicken, topped with mole poblano sauce, sesame seeds and Mexican cream ($23.50)
• Pollo Rostizado en Salsa de Mercado: Slow roasted French-chicken breast, topped with a roasted green tomato, pine nuts, garlic, onion and saffron sauce ($23.50)

Dessert

• Camotes en Leche Condensada: Sweet potato dessert topped condensed milk, garnished with almond brittle ($7.00)

1) Make advanced dinner reservations yesterday (or ASAP)!

Disney dining reservations can be made 180 days in advance, and each day the Be Our Guest dinner reservations are quickly snatched up. There may be a few days with availability scattered over the course of the next sic months, but these are few and far between. If you want a Be Our Guest dinner reservation, stay up until 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time or wake up early 180 days before your trip to the Magic Kingdom to make your reservation. You can make advanced dining reservations online here or by calling the reservation hotline at (407) 939-7211. Lunch is served from 4:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. If you are unable to make reservations for dinner, don’t worry! Reservations are not required for lunch.

2) Be prepared to wait in line for lunch.

The lunch at Be Our Guest is a modified quick service style. Guests enter the restaurant, are directed through the Beast’s Study where they order using a touch screen, and then seat themselves. Disney cast members deliver lunch to the tables by using RFID magical roses guests receive when they finalize their order. While this process is very efficient, the restaurant is very popular and fills up quickly. If you’re hoping to dine at Be Our Guest for lunch, you’ll likely wait in a line of some sort. If you get to the restaurant by 10:30 a.m. a short line will have begun to form, but you will be seated when the restaurant opens at 11:00 a.m. If you decide to have lunch at a later hour, be prepared to wait in a line that may be more than an hour long. Lunch is served from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., but the line has been known to close at 2:00 p.m. Our best recommendation for waiting in line? Pick up a LeFou’s Brew at Gaston’s Tavern, hop in line at 10:30 a.m., enjoy the quality time with friends and family and get excited for a great lunch!

3) Know the limitations on the availability of the Grey Stuff.

There’s been a lot of hype about the Grey Stuff being served at Be Our Guest, but guests planning on visiting the restaurant shouldn’t get too excited until they know all of the details. The Grey Stuff is, unfortunately, not available on the menu. Guests celebrating a special occasion can request the treat, which is a cookies and cream concoction, but it cannot be ordered as a dessert. It is also only available during dinner service. We teamed up with Orlando Attractions Magazine to call for Disney to add the dessert to the menu, and we’re keeping our fingers crossed that it will be added in the future. In the meantime, tell your server with a wink and a smile that you’re celebrating something special (birthday, anniversary, first visit, etc.) to get a taste of this iconic Beauty and the Beast dessert.

4) Bring your best ball gown! Dinner guests have a date with the Beast.

When New Fantasyland opened, the Beast stopped meeting guests with Belle in Epcot at the World Showcase and reappeared in his study at Be Our Guest. It makes sense that he would want to meet visitors from the comfort of his own castle, and who wouldn’t enjoy dancing with the Beast after enjoying a lovely meal? Of course, the Beast (being a “hideous monster” and all) comes out at night; he only meets guests during dinner service. He’s also rather stingy with his time, as he likes to take photographs with entire parties and not individual visitors. If you make reservations for Be Our Guest, be sure to bring your camera and a smile! Ball attire is optional.

5) The restaurant features three different rooms, and each tells a different piece of the story of how Belle and the Beast fell in love.

When people imagine Be Our Guest, most think of the beautiful grand ballroom with the decadent golden chandeliers above and windows with a view to an enchanted wood and softly falling snow. While the grand ballroom is one of the rooms available for dining within Beast’s Castle, there are two others that are just as breathtaking. The Rose Gallery room has a similar feel to the ballroom. It is an opulent, warmly lit venue that features portraits of Belle and the Beast and their enchanted friends. The Rose Gallery is only available during lunch. The other room, a favorite of many diners, is the West Wing. This room is dimly lit, and features a number of the Beast’s, er, personal “touches” including a slashed portrait of the Prince (which has an enchanted surprise in store), ripped and hanging curtains, and the rumble of thunder and flashes of lightning. Meanwhile, amidst the destruction, the enchanted rose glows peacefully. The West Wing is a very well-themed, fun and unique dining venue, but parents be warned: it may be too dark and scary for some young children.

Do you have any tips for guests planning to dine at Be Our Guest? Comment on our pin on Pinterest or shares your thoughts with us at @themeparkfoodie!

Our latest column for Orlando Attractions Magazine is live! Coca-Cola Freestyle machines are popping up around Orlando’s theme parks, and their presence could change Central Florida’s theme parks forever.

Guests can expect a wider selection of beverage options at the Orlando theme parks. They can choose from the 120 plus flavors provided by the machine, but they also have the option to mix different flavors to come up with new beverage creations. A few of our favorite example combination recipes include Dreamsicle Coke (½ Orange Coke, ½ Vanilla Coke), Mai Tai (Fanta Orange, Fanta Peach, Minute Maid Lemonade, Hi-C Fruit Punch and Dasani Lime) and Very Berry Lemonade (Strawberry Minute Maid and Raspberry Minute Maid). There are more than 14,000 two drink combinations alone, so the possibilities for creative mixtures are almost endless.

Click here read more about what the arrival of Coke Freestyle machines means for your next theme park visit and how they may be used by theme park culinary teams to add further detail to the immersive themes of the area’s attractions.

SeaWorld Orlando is preparing to open it’s newest attraction, Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin on May 24. The area will feature the “coldest theme park ride in the world,” a new penguin exhibit and a new dining location.

As the attractions’ grand opening date approaches, we’re getting more and more excited about the new dining options offered in the area. As we prepare to do a write up on all of the food or specialties that we would love to see (and those we actually expect to see) at Antarctica, we have to ask:

What dining options would YOU like to see offered at SeaWorld’s Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin?

Photo Courtesy of the Disney Parks Blog

This morning, the Disney Parks Blog announced that a new restaurant will be opening in Epcot’s World Showcase by late 2013. The Spice Road Table, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant that will be located in Morocco, will feature a small plate menu and refreshments and will offer indoor and outdoor seating. The new dining venue will be located on the waterfront of the Seven Seas Lagoon.

In this writer’s opinion, another small plate restaurant will be a wonderful addition to the World Showcase dining line up. I’m sure the Spice Road Table will become a fast favorite for IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth viewing, or for watching the World (Showcase) go by.

Through April 6th, SeaWorld Orlando visitors will have the opportunity to try a new dining option offered for the Spring Break season. The Ocean Terrace Lunch Buffet, located at the Dine with Shamu venue in the park, if available from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The cost for adult attendees is $19, but children can dine for as a little as $9.

The adult menu includes turkey and gravy, beef stew, chicken cacciatore, an assortment of salads, an assortment of cookie and brownie desserts, and the children’s menu features hot dogs, mac and cheese, carrots with ranch dressing and pudding.

Although I am a big fan of SeaWorld’s food offerings and the high quality of its culinary options, I personally wouldn’t pay $19 to give this dining option a try. The turkey and beef stew entrees seem out of season and too heavy for the springtime Orlando sunshine, and the dessert selection leaves something to be desired. For $19, an adult can purchase a full meal of chicken, brisket, ribs and a side with a dessert and a drink at Voyager’s Smokehouse.