All the Disney Parks in One Podcast
Disney Parks Podcast Show #456 – Disney News for The Week of April 23, 2018
In this episode, Tony and Parkhopper John discuss new cast members at Walt Disney World, new play apps for Walt Disney World and Disneyland, a new expansion for Tokyo Disneyland, and so much more!
Disney Parks Podcast Show #456 – Disney News for The Week of April 23, 2018
In this episode, Tony and Parkhopper John discuss news about Neil Patrick Harris buying Haunted Mansion art, solar farms powering 2 theme parks, Disneyland Space Mountain permits, and so much more!
Disney Parks Podcast Show #454 – Disney News for The Week of April 16, 2018
In this episode, Tony and Parkhopper John discuss Solo: A Star Wars Story merchandise, rumors of new monorails for Walt Disney World, purchasing your Annual Passes in the My Disney Experience App and so much more!
Wine Bar George is one of the most highly anticipated additions to the vibrant food and beverage scene at Disney Springs. This 200-seat wine bar, scheduled to open soon, is centrally located at The Landing. The space is reminiscent of a winemaker’s home, complete with terrace seating that has sweeping views of Disney Springs and the waterfront stage.
Wine Bar George will offer more than 130 selections by the ounce, glass, and bottle in a range of varietals, vintages, and prices. Acclaimed wineries as well as up-and-coming growing regions and wineries will be featured along with small plates, artisan cheese and charcuterie boards, and sharable entrées designed to complement the wine list.
The biggest reason for all the excitement is George Miliotes himself – renown wine expert, native Floridian, and Disney alum. A celebrity in the wine world, George is a Master Sommelier – one of only 249 in the world. In fact, Wine Bar George is the only wine bar in Florida owned by a Master Sommelier.
We gladly accepted the invitation from George to stop by his home to taste (and sip!) some of the highlights from Wine Bar George. Executive Chef Ron Rupert, who will be at the helm of all things culinary at Wine Bar George, also joined us. My partner, Alex Dunlap, captured some shots of what will be offered and, no surprise, everything was delicious – on the plate and in the glass!
George poured two very special wines to taste – both are listed on the menu under “Outstanding by the Ounce.” These exceptional wines are selected by George in partnership with the respective winery. These wines can be ordered by 1 oz, 3 oz, or 6 oz pours or by the bottle.
For the first wine, George met with owner/winemaker Johannes Selbach to secure a delicious Selbach-Oster, Bömer Riesling – dry, crisp, lush, and very food-friendly. The second wine – Antinori Guado al Tasso – is an incredible Super Tuscan made from the classic Bordeaux grapes with Cabernet Sauvignon as the star. George snagged the wine direct from the winery in vintages from 2004 through 2013.
Ron’s philosophy in the kitchen at Wine Bar George is simple. “I want to create delicious food that pairs well with wine. I pull flavors from around the world that are relevant – that create memories.” Here is a sneak peek at some of his dishes.
The Big Board – An impressive selection of six artisan cheeses and five crafted meats that serves two or more.
Grilled Octopus with Lemon Vinaigrette – This light and refreshing salad has tender pieces of Spanish octopus (a result of grilling then chilling the octopus) with a touch of acidity from the lemon vinaigrette.
Crispy Mac & Cheese Bites – These crispy cheesy bites are surprisingly light. Served with tomato nage and Pecorino, they are Ron’s imaginative take on a grilled cheese with tomato soup.
Porchetta Spiced Pork Cheeks – Served with a creamy three-cheese polenta, these small bites of meaty goodness are cooked long and slow to perfection. The orange gremolata takes it over the top.
Grilled Whole Greek Sea Bass – One of the “family-style plates” that serves two or more, this light and tender whole fish is served with cannelloni bean ragoût and seasonal vegetables.
Olive Oil Cake – This moist cake with a rich olive oil flavor is served with candied olives and lemon mascarpone.
When the doors open to Wine Bar George, expect something special. “It is my responsibility to bring joy to the wine list and the experience,” said George. “I want Wine Bar George to encourage conversations of what is brilliant and special in the wine world.”
In the toy-filled backyard that is Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, guests “shrink” to the size of a toy and explore the world of Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and friends. In the middle of all the fun, Andy has taken his vintage Woody-themed lunch box and propped it open with a thermos, turning it into a walk-up window where his toys can grab a bite to eat. From a nearby tower, green army men stand at the ready, keeping watch for Andy’s return.
Opening June 30, Woody’s Lunch Box will dish up all sorts of sandwiches and sides that blend classic flavor combinations with a modern twist, plus nostalgic soda floats and specialty beverages. We caught up with the team at Flavor Lab – the concept development kitchen – to ask how much fun (and challenging) it was to take sentimental food favorites and give them a modern make-over…in flavor and presentation.
“Everyone has a special food memory, so it can be tricky putting a modern spin on the favorites,” explained Lenny DeGeorge, Concept Development Culinary Director for Walt Disney World, about the year-long menu development process. “We honored these classic dishes by using the best ingredients to elevate the flavors. How we constructed the sandwiches was important, such as layering the ingredients in a specific order, to maximize textures and flavors. Why have a cold sandwich when you can have a toasted hot, gooey cheese-filled one?”
Here is a peek into Woody’s Lunch Box. Gee, I wish my mom would have packed me a lunch like this!
S’more French Toast Breakfast Sandwich – Oozy goodness in a chocolate ganache- and marshmallow-stuffed French toast topped with graham cracker crumbles. Inspired by the classic American campfire treat.
Smoked Turkey, Eggs, Swiss, Peppers, and Onions on Sourdough – The perfect hand-held stack of breakfast goodness.
Breakfast Bowl – The green army men line up for this hearty bowl of potato barrels, brisket-country gravy, and scrambled eggs.
BBQ Brisket Melt – With a nod to cowboy Woody, this Texas-style smoked brisket features cheddar, Monterey Jack, pickles, and BBQ sauce on garlic butter-grilled sourdough.
Monte Cristo with Raspberry Jam – Woody’s version of this classic sandwich has layers of ham, turkey, Swiss, and raspberry jam…and is grilled to a golden brown.
Totchos – Potato barrels, corn chips, chili, and cheese – what’s not to love??
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Sides include tomato basil soup, vegetable macaroni salad, and potato barrels. Mini Babybel snack cheese, the official snack cheese of Walt Disney World Resort, is also an option to eat with your meal or as an on-the-go snack.
Raspberry Lunch Box Tart garnished with Icing and Dried Fruit and Chocolate-Hazelnut Lunch Box Tart garnished with Icing and Caramelized Bacon – Even toys need a sweet treat! Inspired by breakfast toaster pastries, this modern interpretation, with its uniquely delicate crust, is the perfect hand-held pastry.
The littlest toys can enjoy a grilled cheese sandwich or turkey sandwich, both served with potato barrels and mandarin oranges. For toys looking for more lighter options, they can grab one of these tasty bites at Woody’s Lunch Box or check out the many other healthful offerings available at Disney’s Hollywood Studios including fresh fruits and vegetables, salads, and grilled meats and fish.
Banana Split Yogurt Parfait – Layers of banana-vanilla Greek yogurt (with a hint of honey), fresh bananas, strawberries, and pineapple topped with granola and chocolate chips. A delicious and healthful way to start the day!
Smoked Turkey, Tomato, and Lettuce on Multigrain Bread – This quintessential lunch box sandwich is a light and fresh option. And to give it a kick of flavor, we add a creamy Dijonnaise.
Soda Floats – All toys would agree that a refreshing soda float is the perfect nostalgic beverage!
The adorable Alien Sipper may be purchased and filled with any fountain drink or the signature Mystic Portal Punch – Powerade Mountain Berry Blast with flavors of lemon-lime and tangerine.
The big kids can enjoy the backyard with Grown-Up’s Lemonade cocktail (cherry vodka, Odwalla Lemonade, and black cherry purée), beer, or hard cider.
A permit was filed today with the South Florida Water Management District for “Project H” to clear the land of vegetation and stockpile fill. While we don’t yet know what “Project H” is, the site specified in the permit is directly adjacent to the new Star Wars land under construction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
This site (shown in green) is a 9.5 acre plot of land directly across the entrance road from the show buildings being erected in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and is a likely spot for the location of the new Star Wars hotel.
The site is directly south of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and would be just below the show buildings shown in this construction photo.
At Walt Disney World Resort, we are always looking for ways to wow our guests with new technology that enhances their experience. The My Disney Experience app is a perfect example, with recently introduced features like mobile order and online check-in that are providing families and friends with additional choices to make their vacation even more enjoyable and convenient. Today, we are unveiling another exciting app feature: a digital key.
Coming soon to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, a new feature in the My Disney Experience app will allow guests to quickly unlock their hotel room using a digital key on their mobile devices, providing them with another seamless room entry option that brings added ease and flexibility to their experience.
Guests can also use their digital key to unlock the hotel entrance gate and common area doors requiring a key, which may include pools, fitness centers, elevators and club level lounges. Arriving travel parties that have checked in online may even use their digital key to bypass the need to visit the front desk, giving them the opportunity to go directly to their room when it is ready and start their vacation even faster.
The feature represents the latest evolution of keyless room entry, which we began offering with the MagicBand, the unique all-in-one device that effortlessly connects the vacation choices guests make in My Disney Experience. Guests may use either or both options to enter their room during their stay.
So how does it work? To use their digital key, guests can opt in and activate the feature on their check-in day through a brief set up process in the app. To enter their room, guests tap the “Unlock Door” button and then simply hold their phone against the door lock. Check out the video below to see a sneak peek of the feature in action.
Bluetooth®-enabled mobile devices with the latest version of the My Disney Experience app are required to take advantage of a digital key for room entry. And don’t forget to wear your MagicBand for all other uses including park entry, FastPass+ redemption, room charges and more.
We will have more to share soon about the digital key feature and other future enhancements to the app, so be sure to read the Disney By The Numbers Blog for the latest information and updates on My Disney Experience – your one-stop-shop for all things Walt Disney World during your visit.
Above is the pricing information that is being sent to people who have signed up to the email form saying they were interested.
We’ve heard of a few people getting them but there was over 10,000 interest forms filled out and it’s being done in rounds.
Are you ready to sign up? Comment below