Tag Archives: Dining

Jun 24 2015

Zuri’s Sweets Shop Now Open And The New Poop Treats

Zuri's Sweets Shop

Updated June 27, 2015: It is being reported that Disney has removed the new poop treats from Zuri’s Sweets Shop as of today.

Have you heard the news? Zuri’s Sweets Shop is now open in the new Harambe Marketplace of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Here are the latest details courtesy of Disney:

Guests can take their taste buds on a mouth-watering safari with a visit to Zuri’s Sweets Shop at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This new merchandise location at Harambe Market in the Africa section of the park offers an assortment of wild new treats and eats.

Zuri's Sweets ShopZuri’s Sweets Shop features 80 exclusive food items inspired by the sights, sounds and flavors of Africa. Guests can purchase themed decorative candy apples, assorted bulk trail mixes, uniquely flavored chocolate bars and delectable popcorn with a touch of African spices. Guests with a taste for barbeque also can find the signature sweet and spicy sauce from the park’s popular Flame Tree Barbecue.

This unique location also includes a colorful confectionary case filled with a variety of candies and baked treats. Guests with a sweet tooth will be thrilled to find tiger-shaped sugar cookies, elephant-shaped caramel apples and colorful giraffe marshmallow pops alongside Disney confectionary classics, such as Mickey Mouse chocolate chip cookies and tasty chocolate fudge.

In addition to the festive themed food items, Zuri’s Sweets Shop also offers items for the home, such as decorative “Blessing Baskets” and African-inspired dinnerware and décor.

Now what Disney’s press release doesn’t happen to mention is that Zuri’s Sweets Shop is home to the new poop treats. That’s right folks, if you haven’t already heard this unbelievable news, Disney is selling treats that look like animal poop! The official name is “Match The Species Treats” and they come in elephant, giraffe, hippo, and cotton top tamarin varieties. From what I hear, if you can get past what they look like they are all tasty chocolate desserts. Here are the descriptions:

  • Zuri's Sweets ShopElephant Poop – Chocolate peanut butter fudge with sweet rolled oats and coconut flakes.
  • Giraffe Poop – Rolled chocolate fudgy brownie and freshly made caramel.
  • Hippo Poop – Chocolate fudge caramel brownie with peanut butter and rolled oats.
  • Cotton Top Tamarin Poop – Pretzel pearls coated in chocolate peanut butter fudge with sweet rolled oak flakes.

Zuri's Sweets ShopThese treats are just $3.99 a poop (I mean, a pop 😉 ) or one Disney Dining Plan Snack Credit. My money is on the giraffe variety. I think it is the only one I could get myself to actually try!

Will you be trying Zuri’s Sweets Shop on your next visit?
What do you think about the poop treats? Please leave a comment!

Jun 12 2015

Animal Kingdom’s Harambe Market Now Open

Harambe Market at Night

Have you heard about the latest addition to Disney’s Animal Kingdom? The Harambe Market offers another interesting dining spot for guests to try. At this location, you’ll get the chance to taste some unique African flavors. Here are all of the details courtesy of Disney:

Harambe Market, a bustling marketplace alive with the aromas and flavors of African street foods, adds an exciting new dimension to the expanded Harambe Village experience at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park in Walt Disney World Resort.

Built around a Colonial-era train depot design complete with a 1960s water tower, Harambe Market invites Disney guests to sample true flavors of Africa before or after they embark on the Kilimanjaro Safaris wild animal adventure. Four themed shops offer fresh meals, snacks and beverages like those found in an African street market.

Each quick-service shop window built into colorful store fronts reflects the shop owner’s personality and offers plenty of guest dining options, including:

  • Kitamu Grill featuring skewered chicken and a kebab flatbread sandwich.
  • Famous Sausages showcasing a corndog made with a South African boerewors sausage dipped in curry-infused corn batter.
  • Chef Mwanga’s spice-rubbed Karubi Rib paired with green papaya-carrot slaw.
  • Wanjohi Refreshments (wanjohi means “brewer” in Swahili) quenches thirsts with craft draft beers like Safari Amber Lager; six South African wines by the glass, The Starr of Harambe frozen drink with Starr African rum and mango puree in a souvenir mug, red Sangria with Van der Hum tangerine liqueur, and non alcoholic tangerine lemonade or fountain beverages like Sparberry from Zimbabwe.

“Boats, trains and travel led to the discovery of exotic spices that were traded and brought from foreign lands,” Chef Lenny DeGeorge says. “These foods have been tailored for the locals. With the ribs, we have a ras el hanout spice blend, which has about 20 different spices mixed in. The berbere spice is on the chicken skewer and the kebab sandwich. We used madras curry powder in the corndog batter.”

Walt Disney Imagineering developed the authentic Harambe Market concept during travel and research in Africa, says Walt Disney Imagineering art director Joan Hartwig.

“When guests come to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, we want them to be excited by the adventure of experiencing different cultures,” she says. “For Harambe Market, we had the opportunity to travel in east Africa and bring back details that our guests will be able to experience here. So when guests finish their safari, they can come to a real east African marketplace and sit down and enjoy the authentic flavors of Africa.”

With the recent addition of the Festival of the Lion King theater district and the new market, Harambe Village has nearly doubled in size and “you feel like you are actually in a real village in Africa,” says Walt Disney Imagineering show producer Emily O’Brien.

“You have the whole gamut of experiences, with the central area, the theater district, specialty vendors and a great market. Guests will really feel like they’ve been transported to another place for a really fun experience.”

Harambe Market offers shaded tables for dining, and area shops sell wares from Africa. The marketplace will offer direct access to Kilimanjaro Safaris, the Wildlife Express train to Rafiki’s Planet Watch and a path to Asia attractions like Expedition Everest.

501 WaysHeading to Disney World soon?

If you are planning a vacation to Disney World, be sure to check out these valuable resources to help you save time and money:

Have you tried the Harambe Market yet?
Please leave a comment!

May 27 2015

More Dining And Shopping Locations Coming To Disney Springs

Disney Springs

Downtown Disney is really making progress in its transformation into Disney Springs. We’ve already seen a parking garage, pedestrian walkway, restaurants, and shops open, but now Disney has announced even more to come. Here’s the latest information from Disney:

Exciting new high-profile tenants, including fashion retailers Zara, Tommy Bahama, Lilly Pulitzer, UNIQLO and PANDORA, are the latest to sign on as Downtown Disney continues its expansion into Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort.

A total of 13 new tenants were announced, including eight retail shops. With new retailers already aboard and new restaurants either open or coming soon, Downtown Disney is transforming into an exciting new waterfront district for world-class shopping, unique dining, and high-quality entertainment.

By the time it’s complete in 2016, Disney Springs will double the number of shops and restaurants currently found at Downtown Disney and grow to more than 1 million square feet, including 350,000 square feet of new leasable space. Disney Springs will include four distinct, outdoor neighborhoods with a high-quality, diverse mix of retailers – including premium, affordable luxury and fast fashion options. Sophisticated restaurants will provide experiences for families and convention-guests alike.

“Over the past few months we have opened several new dining and retail locations, which have quickly become the top producers in their chains,” said George A. Kalogridis, president of Walt Disney World Resort. “This type of momentum builds on the historical strength of the Downtown Disney area and its popularity with our guests from around the world as it evolves into Disney Springs,” he said.

Coming to Disney Springs:

RETAIL

Zara: Owned by the Inditex Group, one of the world’s largest fashion retail groups. Zara is known for its men’s, women’s and children’s clothing and accessories, and how it expertly interprets current fashion and style trends of the season, delivering original designs to the consumer in a matter of weeks.

Tommy Bahama: Iconic island lifestyle brand Tommy Bahama embodies relaxed sophistication. The hallmarks of this casual collection include island-inspired sportswear, denim, and swimwear for men and women in luxuriously soft silks and cottons, richly woven textures and eclectic prints.

Lilly Pulitzer: The authentic American resort wear brand, Lilly Pulitzer, is landing in the heart of Disney and will be offering their clothing and accessories, optimistic outlook, and happy prints to those who’ve loved the brand for years and new Lilly Girls out there. 

UNIQLO: Leading global retailer UNIQLO designs, manufactures, and sells casual apparel that comes from the company’s Japanese values of simplicity, quality and longevity. The simplest design hides the most thoughtful details in clothing that is constantly being innovated to bring more warmth and lightness, better design and comfort to people’s lives.

PANDORA: Building on its existing relationship with Disney Parks, the popular jewelry brand offers classic yet modern charm bracelets, along with necklaces, rings and earrings, as well as a line of exclusive Disney-themed jewelry.

UGG: The UGG® brand is recognized as a premium lifestyle brand offering men’s, women’s and kid’s footwear as well as loungewear, outerwear, home products, cold weather accessories and handbags.

L’Occitane en Provence: L’Occitane en Provence is an international skincare and beauty line celebrating the culture and beauty of Provence, France.

Edward Beiner: A leading eyewear designer, purveyor and retailer, Edward Beiner offers today’s aspiring lifestyle-oriented customer the world’s most original, authentic and innovative designer, fashion and high performance eyewear.

DINING

Edison: Inspired by The Edison venue in Los Angeles, this lavish “Industrial Gothic” -style restaurant, bar and nighttime destination is themed to a 1920s-period power plant, recalling an exuberant era of invention and imagination. It will feature exceptionally good classic American food, craft cocktails and live entertainment including cabaret and music.

Sprinkles: The world’s first cupcake bakery, as named by Food Network and others, serves up handcrafted cupcakes, slow churned ice cream and homemade cookies. Their innovative Cupcake ATM satisfies sweet-toothed epicureans 24/7.

Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza: Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza is a modern day “pizza joint” known for its custom-built artisanal pizzas, freshly made salads, blood orange lemonade and s’more pies. The fast-casual restaurant features an interactive assembly-line format that allows guests to customize their pizza, choosing from over 40 fresh, artisanal toppings – all for one price. The generously sized, 11-inch pizzas are “fast-fired” in a blazing hot open-flame oven and ready to enjoy in just 180 seconds.

Vivoli Gelateria: Vivoli Gelateria serves expertly crafted gelato made with fresh, seasonal ingredients, panini sandwiches and espresso drinks.

Tea Traders Café by Joffrey’s: Tea Traders Café by Joffrey’s specializes in premium loose-leaf teas (hot, iced, blended) featuring customs blends, accessories and packaged teas from all over the globe; created to go or for a tea experience in the café.

501 WaysHeading to Disney World soon?

If you are planning a vacation to Disney World, be sure to check out these valuable resources to help you save time and money:

Excited about any of the new shopping or dining locations?
Please leave a comment!

May 18 2015

Chef Mickey’s Brunch Begins May 31, 2015

Chef Mickeys

Soon there will be another place to grab lunch with some of your favorite characters at Disney World. On May 31, Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort will begin serving brunch in addition to their normal breakfast and dinner buffets. The brunch menu will include breakfast favorites, soups, salads, veggies, antipasto, barbecue ribs, chicken, an ice cream bar, assorted bakery items, and more. Brunch will be served from 11:30am – 2:30pm each day and can be enjoyed while you visit with Mickey and the gang. Reservations will open up Friday, May 22 and can be made online or by calling 407-WDW-DINE.

501 WaysHeading to Disney World soon?

If you are planning a vacation to Disney World, be sure to check out these valuable resources to help you save time and money:

Excited about Chef Mickey’s Brunch? Are you booking a reservation?
Please leave a comment!

May 14 2015

Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar Coming To Downtown Disney

Hangar Bar

Exciting news for fans of drinking and Downtown Disney! A new aviation-themed lounge, Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar, is coming to Downtown Disney. Here’s what we know so far courtesy of the Disney Parks Blog:

With a prime location along Lake Buena Vista and seating for 150, the venue will feature unique cocktails – such as the “Hovito Mojito” with Barsol Quebranta Pisco, fresh lime juice and simple syrup – and small plates such as “Air Pirates Everything Pretzels” with house-made mustard and beer cheese fondue. The design team has gone to great lengths to ensure that every element – from the propeller-based ceiling fans and diving bell “booth” to the “Rolling Boulder Meatballs” on the menu – fits within the storyline.

Hangar BarAnd just what is that story? Ardent fans of the “Indiana Jones” films may recognize Jock Lindsey as Indy’s frequent pilot; he’s also the owner of a pet snake named Reggie – an important detail, trust me on this! In the main room, guests will discover an expansive bar, aviation decor filling the room, vintage travel posters covering the walls and correspondence between Jock, Indy and their fellow adventurers on display. Guests can eat, drink and be merry outside as well, in Jocks’ old steamboat, now in permanent dry dock and aptly named “Reggie;” and in nearby seating on the adjacent deck.

Look for Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar to open in Downtown Disney this fall!

501 WaysHeading to Disney World soon?

If you are planning a vacation to Disney World, be sure to check out these valuable resources to help you save time and money:

Are you excited to try Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar?
Please leave a comment!