July 21, 2011
Dave and Busters
Dave and Busters has opened on I-drive. A Chuck-E-Cheese for big kids, this will sure to be a hit with the teen kids and those big kids at heart.
Dave and Busters opens in the International Drive spot formally occupied by Race Rock. That building was torn down and the new premises built specially for Dave and Busters.
Dave and Busters houses a bar area, a restaurant area and an arcade area. The restaurant area is away from the arcade area, so you are not in the middle of the action while dining.
A welcome addition to the Orlando area which, I suspect will be great for families with teenage kids and young adults.
http://www.daveandbusters.com
Dave and Busters
8986 International Drive
Florida, FL 32819
Phone: 407-541-3300
Hours
Sun-Thurs:11am-1am
Fri-Sat:11am-2am
Current Specials
Happy Hour
Mon-Fri 4:30-7pm
1/2 Price Cocktails
$2.50 Domestic Pints
$1 Off 22oz Drafts
Late Night Happy Hour
Sun-Thurs 10pm-Close
1/2 Price Cocktails
$2.50 Domestic Pints
$1 Off 22oz Drafts
Power Hour
Mon-Fri 4:30-7pm
60 minutes of video
game play for only $10
May 15, 2011
A New In-Theatre Dining Experience with a Menu of Choices
Opens May 16 at Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World Resort
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (May 6, 2011) – AMC Theatres® (AMC), a leading theatrical exhibition and entertainment company, announced today that guests will be able to watch the latest movies while enjoying their favorite food and beverages at AMC Downtown Disney 24 located in Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World Resort. AMC Dine-In Theatres, the only theatre of its kind in the Orlando area, debuts at this location May 16 and combines restaurant cuisine and cocktails with AMC’s noted immersive movie theatre experience and hit movies.
“We are excited to present AMC Downtown Disney as another one of our flagship AMC Dine-In Theatres,” said Gerry Lopez, chief executive officer and president, AMC. “Since the launch of this concept, we’ve received tremendous feedback from our guests about the enhanced experience and variety of food and beverage options. More than 90 percent of our surveyed guests who attended a Dine-In location said it met or exceeded their expectations.”
AMC Dine-In Theatres offers a meal-and-a-movie option and a bar and lounge.Dine-In Theatres (six auditoriums at AMC Downtown Disney):
- Casual, in-theatre dining
- Upgraded, comfortable reserved seating
- Table-top dining
- Seat-side service and a personal call button that discreetly alerts a server
- An extensive menu including a wide array of entrees such as an enticing selection of quesadillas, burgers, flatbread pizzas, grilled sandwiches, house specialties, as well as appetizers and deserts
- A wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic specialty drinks, beer and wine
- Fork & Screen guests must be at least 18 years old unless accompanied by a parent or guardian
MacGuffins® Bar & Lounge:
- A full-service bar and lounge area inside AMC Downtown Disney 24
- The perfect place to hang out with friends before the show or discuss the movie after it ends
- Named after a term coined by famed filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock
- Features a variety of beer, wine, cocktails and the full Dine-In Theatre menu, including appetizers and desserts
- MacGuffins Bar & Lounge guests must be at least 18 years old; minors accompanied by a parent or guardian (at least 21) are welcome
AMC Dine-In Theatres at AMC Downtown Disney 24 pricing:
- Ticket prices range from $6-13, depending on day of week and showtime, for the Dine-in Theatre experience.
- Menu items start at $6.59-8.99 for appetizers and adult entrees range from $8.59-11.99.
- Specific pricing information, including value pricing and senior/student pricing, for the Dine-In Theatres at AMC Downtown Disney 24 can be found at www.amctheatres.com/dinein (click on the Downtown Disney 24 link).
AMC Downtown Disney 24 also offers 18 traditional auditoriums featuring stadium seating, the innovative Marketplace concession area and an ETX auditorium. ETX includes a 20-percent larger screen, 3D technology, digital projection and an upgraded sound system. Specifically, the digital projection system produces images at a higher resolution than HD and there are nearly twice as many audio channels compared to typical auditoriums.
July 10, 2010
Via Napoli (Artist's renderering: Walt Disney World)
Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria is scheduled to open during August 2010. Located in the Italy Pavillion at Epcot, this 300 seat restaurant expands the dining options at this multicultural part of Walt Disney World.
The Patina Restaurant Group’s CEO Nick Valenti created the authentic menu based on his travels in Southern Italy. A feature at Via Napoli is its three wood-burning ovens which are named after the three active volcanoes in Italy – Mount Etna, Mount Vesuvius and Stromboli.
The Walt Disney World blog gave a sneak peek at the new menu which includes
Appetizers
- Sicilian eggplant with olives and raisins
- Salad of lettuce, fagiolini (string beans), fennel and tomatoes; arancini (fried saffron risotto balls) with meat ragù, mozzarella and pomodoro sauce
- Corn-crusted fried calamari
- Minestrone with basil pesto
- A plate of arancini, mozzarella, calamari, portobella mushrooms, asparagus, zucchini and carciofi (artichokes).
Main course salads
- Manzo (filet of beef) with greens, red onion, gorgonzola, apple and cucumber with a red wine-mustard vinaigrette;
- Chopped salad with lemon chicken, greens, cantaloupe, cucumber, red pepper, green beans, onions, almonds and pasta crisps with honey-citrus vinaigrette;
- Calamari with arugula, carrots and fennel with orange vinaigrette.
- Pastas: candele (long, tube-shaped pasta) with sausage ragù; linguine with seafood; malfadine (ribbon pasta) with guanciale (unsmoked Italian bacon) and pomodoro sauce; lasagna verde.
- Piatti alla Parmigiana: (dishes topped with Parmesan and mozzarella gratinée): veal, chicken and eggplant
Wood-fired pizzas
The pizzas will be made with caputo flour imported from Southern Italy, San Marzano tomatoes, handmade mozzarella and water from a local spring just like in Italy’s Campania region – 10-inch, 20-inch or 1/2 meter to share: a dozen choices include
- Margherita with tomato, mozzarella and basil
- Arciofi with artichoke, potato, pecorino cheese, prosciutto and cantaloupe.
Deserts
- Tiramisù
- Zeppole di ricotta (ricotta cheese-fried dough, whipped cream and chocolate sauce)
- Apple cake with almond sorbetti
- Gelatie
- Vanilla gelato with almond cookies and amarena cherries
Yum!
–Kay
- Providing special vacation home rentals and advice for over 5 years to families and friends wanting to make the most of their time and money while visiting Walt Disney World.
- Windsor Palms Resort Vacation Rental http://www.windsorpalmsorlando.com
- Emerald Island Resort Vacation Rental http://www.emeraldislandorlando.com
June 29, 2010
A new Orlando Ale House restaurant is being built in the area. This is great news for guests at the The Manor located on the Emerald Island Resort in Kissimmee/Orlando as it provides another local dining option for guests at our vacation rental home. The Orlando Ale House will be located next to the Publix at Orange Lake (across the street from Rolling Oaks Commons where the SuperTarget and Olive Garden is located). I don’t know the date it is due to open yet, but as soon as I find out, I will share.
Click here to visit the Ale House Website.
–Kay
- Providing special vacation home rentals and advice for over 5 years to families and friends wanting to make the most of their time and money while visiting Walt Disney World.
- Windsor Palms Resort Vacation Rental http://www.windsorpalmsorlando.com
- Emerald Island Resort Vacation Rental http://www.emeraldislandorlando.com
June 25, 2010
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Don’t want to miss the celebrated Party for the Senses grand-food-and-wine-tasting event? Can’t wait to attend the debut of the First Bites Opening Reception? Ladies and gentlemen, set your alarms for 7 a.m. July 20! That’s when the phone lines open to call Disney reservation specialists and book these and other events scheduled for the 15th annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, which presents Delicious Discoveries Oct. 1-Nov. 14 at Walt Disney World Resort.
Fans of the festival’s special programs and events can choose from among one dozen categories of special wine and culinary events scheduled during the festival’s six weeks. New programming this year includes the Sept. 30 First Bites Opening Reception festival preview, 3-D Disney’s Dessert Discovery and the Taste, Shake and Indulge Like the French Grand Marnier tasting experience. Returning events include favorites like Celebrating Family and Friends in the Kitchen, Epcot Wine Schools, Mexico Tequila Tastings and Food and Wine Pairings.
Throughout the festival, the park will present more than 25 international marketplaces where food, wine, beer and spirits lovers can sample cuisine, culture and entertainment from six continents. The new Belgium marketplace will serve Steamed Mussels with Roasted Garlic Cream, and the new South Korea marketplace packs plenty of taste into its BBQ Short Ribs with Steamed Rice and Cucumber Kimchi.
At least 250 Disney and celebrity chefs will conduct culinary demonstrations and host tasting events. In addition, the Festival Welcome Center will feature Authentic Taste Seminars and Authors without Borders weekend conversations that are included with Epcot admission.
Guests can call 407/WDW-FEST (939-3378) for information and to make reservations for special events and programs. Festival details will be available at www.disneyworld.com/foodandwine before reservations open July 20.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – They span four decades of popularity. Collectively, they’ve thrilled music lovers with everything from Pop, Techno and Adult Contemporary to Southern Rock, Progressive Rock and Pop Rock. But they have one thing in common: They are seven acts playing the Eat to the Beat! concert series for the first time during the 15th annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Oct. 1-Nov. 14 at Walt Disney World Resort.
Appearing for the first time on the Eat to the Beat! stage are:
- Sugar Ray (Oct. 6-8) “Fly”
- Air Supply (Oct. 11-12) “Lost in Love”
- Howard Jones (Oct. 16-17) “No One Is to Blame”
- 38 Special (Oct. 20-21) “Hold on Loosely”
- Roger Hodgson formerly of Supertramp (Nov. 4-5) “Give a Little Bit”
- Hanson (Nov. 8-9) “Thinking ‘Bout Somethin’”
- Rick Springfield (Nov. 10-11) “Jessie’s Girl”
They are part of an 18-performer concert series that will bring music to Epcot each evening of the Food & Wine Festival. Concerts are included with Epcot admission.
Additional information about the Eat to the Beat! concert series will be available at www.disneyworld.com/foodandwine.
February 7, 2010
Tutto Italia in EPCOT will be having a Carnival of Venice celebration beginning February 8th 2010 through to February 16th 2010. This special celebration includes an appetizer, entree and desert. Prices are $19 for lunch and $29 for dinner. Servers will be wearing amazing handmade Venetian masks and costumes. Dinner will also feature the strolling musical trio “Viva Venezia”
The chef inspired menu also features Fileto Di Pesce Al Melograno (Halibut with Pomegranate Sauce) at dinner.
http://bit.ly/CarnivalofVenice
Call (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463) for reservations.
FILETO DI PESCE AL MELOGRANO (HALIBUT WITH POMEGRANATE SAUCE)
Serves 4
Halibut
1 3/4 pounds halibut fillet (1 1/2 inches thick), cut into 4 even portions
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
Pomegranate Sauce
1/4 cup dry white wine
2 tablespoons chopped shallots
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup pure pomegranate juice
1 tablespoon butter
For the halibut:
1. Season the halibut with salt and pepper.
2. Heat olive oil in large frying pan over medium-high heat until just starting to smoke.
3. Carefully place the halibut in the oil and cook for 4minutes each side, turning once, until golden brown on each side.
For the pomegranate sauce:
1. Boil wine and shallots over medium-high heat in heavy small saucepan for approximately 2 minutes or until most of wine has evaporated.
2. Add heavy cream and pomegranate juice and bring to a boil for approximately 5 minutes or until reduced to 3/4 cup.
3. Whisk in butter. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
4. Spoon sauce over halibut before service.
Sounds delicious!
–Kay
- Providing special vacation home rentals and advice for over 5 years to families and friends wanting to make the most of their time and money while visiting Walt Disney World.
- Windsor Palms Resort Vacation Rental http://www.windsorpalmsorlando.com
- Emerald Island Resort Vacation Rental http://www.emeraldislandorlando.com
February 6, 2010
A new Downtown Disney eatery will be opening in late 2010. Pollo Campero is a Guatemalan fried chicken restaurant chain - think a latin version of KFC - featuring fried and grilled chicken, salads and specialty drinks.
Pollo Campero will open in the space currently occupied by McDonald’s which is closing shortly.
–Kay
- Providing special vacation home rentals and advice for over 5 years to families and friends wanting to make the most of their time and money while visiting Walt Disney World.
- Windsor Palms Resort Vacation Rental http://www.windsorpalmsorlando.com
- Emerald Island Resort Vacation Rental http://www.emeraldislandorlando.com
As part of a 2004 decision to end a 10 year exclusive sponsorship agreement with Disney, the McDonald’s restaurant in downtown Disney will close at the end of April. McDonald’s will still continue to operate the restaurant near to the entrance to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
In its place will be a Pollo Campero, a Latin chicken fast-food restaurant.
–Kay
- Providing special vacation home rentals and advice for over 5 years to families and friends wanting to make the most of their time and money while visiting Walt Disney World.
- Windsor Palms Resort Vacation Rental http://www.windsorpalmsorlando.com
- Emerald Island Resort Vacation Rental http://www.emeraldislandorlando.com
February 4, 2010
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Two exciting additions are coming to Epcot World Showcase, with culinary expansions under way at the Italy pavilion and Mexico pavilion.
In Italy, an authentic Neapolitan pizzeria is under construction with opening planned for fall 2010 in time for the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. Operated by Patina Restaurant Group, the same restaurateurs who run the pavilion’s Tutto Italia Ristorante, the 300-seat pizzeria is inspired by Naples 45, another Patina Restaurant Group pizzeria on East 45th Street in New York City.
The casual pizzeria will feature wood-burning ovens – and will import water from a source that most resembles the water in Naples, Italy, home of some of the world’s best pizza dough. The menu also will feature pastas, salads, sandwiches and Italian wines.
The 14,000-square-foot space will include indoor and outdoor dining.
At Mexico, the popular Cantina de San Angel restaurant is expanding, and will feature 400 seats with al fresco seating for lunch and a perfect place for viewing “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth,” the nightly Epcot fireworks spectacular.
The restaurant will feature south-of-the border creations from the culinary team at San Angel Inn LLC, who have run both the outside eatery and the pavilion’s San Angel Inn for more than 25 years. Opening also is set for fall 2010.
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Looks like great new additions to EPCOT.
–Kay
- Providing special vacation home rentals and advice for over 5 years to families and friends wanting to make the most of their time and money while visiting Walt Disney World.
- Windsor Palms Resort Vacation Rental http://www.windsorpalmsorlando.com
- Emerald Island Resort Vacation Rental http://www.emeraldislandorlando.com