Walt Disney World: It's Not Just for Kids » Downtown Disney

Disney Discount: Restaurant.com

Hedy — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:48:43 +0000

At home, I’m a huge fan of getting discounted restaurant gift certificates at Restaurant.com. However, I always thought that there was no point in looking at them for Orlando, as I stay on-site at both Universal and Disney World.
This led me to do my own poking around on there, and I found that Bice at the Portofino Bay Resort at Universal Orlando is also on Restaurant.com.

While poking around there, I found that they had Giraffe Cafe at Royal Plaza Hotel. Now, if you’ve never been there (we returned a rental car there, but that’s another story for another day), it’s within spitting distance of Downtown Disney. Additional, Restaurant.com also has the Outback Restaurant and Kook Sports Bar (both at Buena Vista Palace) and Andiamo Italian Bistro, both of which are also at Downtown Disney hotels. If you’re looking to save on food, it might be worth the trek there. Restaurant.com also has Tradewinds at CocoKey Water Resort, which is very near to property.

Every month, new certificates go up on Restaurant.com. on the first of the month (they are also re-stocked, so you can pick up any which may have been sold out in the previous month.

Between now and February 5, save 70% at restaurant.com using the code SCORE.

Disney Discount: Restaurant.com

Hedy — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:16:29 +0000

Every month, new certificates go up on Restaurant.com. on the first of the month (they are also re-stocked, so you can pick up any which may have been sold out in the previous month.

Between now and January 31, save 80% at restaurant.com using the code DATE.

Disney Discount: Restaurant.com

Hedy — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 04:43:02 +0000

At home, I’m a huge fan of getting discounted restaurant gift certificates at Restaurant.com. However, I always thought that there was no point in looking at them for Orlando, as I stay on-site at both Universal and Disney World.

However, Kim of Reward Site Round Up posted that the House of Blues, which is in Downtown Disney, is now on Restaurant.com. The fabulous folk on the Disboards have alerted me to the fact that a number of Swolphin restaurants: Garden Grove (just for dinner, not the Character meal), Kimonos, bluezoo, Il Mulino, and Shula’s. As you can easily walk from Epcot to these restaurants, it seems like a painless way to save some money on vacation.

This led me to do my own poking around on there, and I found that Bice at the Portofino Bay Resort at Universal Orlando is also on Restaurant.com.

Every month, new certificates go up on Restaurant.com. on the first of the month (they are also re-stocked, so you can pick up any which may have been sold out in the previous month. While poking around there, I found that they had Giraffe Cafe at Royal Plaza Hotel. Now, if you’ve never been there (we returned a rental car there, but that’s another story for another day), it’s within spitting distance of Downtown Disney. Additional, Restaurant.com also has the Outback Restaurant at the Buena Vista Palace, and Andiamo Italian Bistro, both of which are also at Downtown Disney hotels. If you’re looking to save on food, it might be worth the trek there.

If you’re planing on staying at an airport hotel at one part of your trip, or even eating at MCO, they have McCoy’s Bar and Grill and Hemisphere restaurant, both of which are at the Hyatt which is in MCO.

Between now and September 14, save 60% at restaurant.com using the code SAVE.

Magical Blogorail Green: Favorite Disney Activity Outside the Parks

Hedy — Fri, 27 May 2011 11:00:30 +0000

Welcome to those of you joining me from A Disney Mom’s Thoughts and those of you who have just hopped aboard. I am the second stop on our Magical Blogorail.”

This month, we are sharing our favorite Disney Activity outside the parks. Mine, which will come as no shock to my regular readers, is shopping at Downtown Disney (DTD-I’m talking about the one in Orlando specifically, but I’ll get into why I prefer it to Anaheim later on in the post). Heck, I like it so much I’ve been known to cab it over there during a non-Disney Orlando vacation. I love it for the shopping, food and theming.

The largest draw in Downtown Disney in terms of shopping has to be the World of Disney (WoD), which I usually hit at least once per trip. As a Disney Visa Cardholder, I get a 10% discount on my purchases over $50 (similar discounts are available for Annual Pass holders as well). Because of this, I usually use my WoD stop to load up on souvenirs I’ve seen elsewhere on Disney property, including jewelry, pins and pens. It’s a really cool place to look around as well.

Other places I never miss on a trip to Downtown Disney are Mickey’s Mart (an under $10 store, although it seems like every trip more and more items are ones you can get anywhere on property, maybe its new version will help), Disney Days of Christmas, Basin, and Tren-D. I had a blast at the Little Miss Matched store in December, so I am looking forward to checking it out in its new location.

Foodwise, Downtown Disney is home to three of my favorite food experiences: Goofy’s Candy Company, Earl of Sandwich, and Planet Hollywood.

There are the Downtown Disney detractors who complain that every store there sells the same stuff, I’m not saying this is wrong, but I have to admit I prefer it to Disneyland’s version. I love Jamba Juice and Sephora, but there’s a Sephora five minutes from my house-I don’t need to go to one on vacation.

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is Your Highway in the Sky.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail Loop should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1^st Stop ~ A Disney Mom’s Thoughts

2^nd Stop ~ Walt Disney World: It’s Not Just For Kids

3^rd Stop ~ Your Highway in the Sky

4^th Stop ~ Magical Days with the Mouse

Final Stop ~ Adventures of a Disney Princess

WDW Not Just for Kids Review: Fresh-a-peel

Hedy — Mon, 16 May 2011 14:47:54 +0000

In December (man, I might want to actually re-start my trip report, huh), I had planned on checking out Fresh-a-Peel, the “healthy option” section of Pollo Campero in Downtown Disney. These restaurants are located in the old McDonald’s area, and I was impressed by how un-McDonaldsy the place looked. I was very excited to see all the vegetarian options, and I decided to order a salad. I got in line, and waited, and waited. After waiting for a long amount of time, I ended up at my man the Earl of Sandwich (which was jumping, in contrast to Fresh a peel’s empty-ness). I did try a couple of BabyCakes samples, a banana bread and a cupcake bit, which I liked.

However, being a curious sort, I decided to check out Fresh a Peel’s ready to go options for my flight home. I got a quinoa salad, a chick pea salad, and popchips. I also got a chocolate cupcake from Babycakes. I was not impressed by the salads (too oily) or the cupcake (although how good any cupcake would taste after being smooshed in a carry-on is up for debate.

In short, I would not return to Fresh a Peel, with the Earl of Sandwich right down the street. Have you tried Fresh a Peel? What did you think. Let me know in a comment, on Twitter or Facebook.

Worldless Wednesday January 26, 2010

Hedy — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 13:58:01 +0000

Characters in Flight balloon Dec 2010

See all Wordless Wednesday pictures

Wordless Wednesday: January 12, 2011

Hedy — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 11:52:03 +0000

Pollo Campero/Fresh A-peel/Babycakes is now open

Hedy — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 15:48:33 +0000

BabyCakes-from WDWTodayPodcast on Twitpic

And I have to admit, it looks like a surprisingly awesome place for vegetarians and vegans. I knew Fresh a peel was going to be vegetarian-friendly, but I did not know that there was going to be a BabyCakes bakery there as well. BabyCakes is a bakery which will feature cupcakes which are gluten, egg, dairy and soy-free. Now, I eat all of the above items (I’m an ovo-lacto vegetarian, if you want to be particular about it). However, I can definitely appreciate there being an option for those who cannot eat those items for whatever reason. It will also be Kosher, which is nice for those who keep Kosher.

Fresh Appeal’s menu includes salads and other vegetarian offerings-I’m looking forward to hearing reviews on it as it opens.

WWoHP Trip report-Downtown Disney

Hedy — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 21:19:07 +0000

I woke up early the next morning. I headed back down to the Orchid Court Lounge to grab a cinnamon bun. My package from WWoHP was in, so I picked it up-you pick it up at the front desk at Loews resorts, which
I find weird. I hopped into a cab to get to the premium outlets. I thought is was a little weird that the cab was going the same way as to the Prime Outlets, as they are in opposite directions. Sure enough, dude took me to the Prime Outlets. He did then take me to the Premium Outlets, but my fare had been increased by about $15. I WAS NOT A HAPPY Hedy. Do NOT MESS WITH THE Hedy, especially when shopping or Disney is concerned. By the time we reached my destination, I had assembled my army of important information: His cab number, his cab’s telephone number, the Orlando City Taxi division and the relevant number. I handed him my credit card to pay-he informed me that if I paid in cash, he would knock $10 off the fare. He then told me that if I paid by credit card, he couldn’t do that. I knew what I wanted-to let his taxi company know about this event in addition to the correct fare, so I said I’d just pay by credit card (I wanted back up documentation of the amount I paid). The cabbie informed me that if I reported him, he would get in trouble. Golly, and he seemed so upstanding (eyeroll)). I said “That’s ok” and left the cab. I called the cab company, and left a message for his supervisor detailing the events. I said I wanted a full cash refund, while I did not think I would get it, it was a good starting point. Cash refund requests get attention because cash can be spent at a competitor’s service. I made a beeline for the Disney Parks outlet. I was really looking for Christmas stuff (for that upcoming cruise I should start a PTR on). I bought some tote bags that would have been my fish extender had I not kind of bought a stocking last week, and a bracelet. I stopped in Crocs and LeSportsac, both of which were meh, and CCO. I think the Florida sun had gotten to my brain, because finding the taxi stand was hard. I ended up with a tax driver who was awesome.
The second I step on Disney Property, I go all gooey inside. I kept on staring up at the WoD, thinking that this is what I day dream about when I’m at home. I had an 11:30am reservation for Paradiso 37. My meal was almost free thanks to an Opentable Cheque. The food was awesome-I got the crazy corn, and I was pretty much licking my plate. I had an aqua fresca and a frozen sangria as well. However, my menu was dirty. Ew. So it gets a meh.
I headed onto browse around the WoD. I headed over to Pleasure Island-I had seen a phot of one of the last vestiges of old Pleasure Island on Imaginerding, and I wanted to find it. I found it.
Characters in Flight was down, as is customary when I want to ride it. I had a great DIS meet with Marvaid-I’ve been reading her TR’s for three years, so it was nice to meet her. I then went to Goody’s Candy Co for dessert. It was actually too hot for a dipped (although now it’s a topped) fudge cookie, so I just got a fudge cookie (I felt vindicated when the CM told me he thought it was an Oreo). However, I have to admit that I was a little disappointed at some changes I saw. Of the make your own snacks, the only one which is able to be a Dining Plan credit are the marshmallows; also, they no longer have the Make Your Own frozen drink cups. That said, if you can bottle eau de Goofy’s Candy Company scent, please send it to me. I may or may not have hopped on Disney Food Blog to see if I was missing anything important.

By that afternoon, I had not heard back from the cab. I probably would have let it go if I wasn’t going home the next day. I called the manager, spoke to him, and got my discounted fare. I grabbed dinner to go at Earl of Sandwich, and headed back to RPR.
At RPR, I ate my salad, and went over to Universal Studios. It was PACKED. I saw T-3, and then I headed to buy Ferdie his birthday shirt-it has all four Hogwarts houses on it.

WDW Not Just For Kids Review: Tren-D

Hedy — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 21:10:17 +0000

This post is part of Disney Blog Carnival 12. Check it out!

I talk about the Disney Company’s failures to acknowledge its adult fans a lot on this blog. So when I first heard about Tren-D I was very interested. Tren-D is located in the Downtown Disney Market Place of the Walt Disney World Resort. It is a store full of Disney stuff, but it is aimed at young women.

Tren-D, IMO, is where Disney shows where it could go with adult fan marketing. Looking for shirts? There are wicked cute Disney Couture shirts that you won’t see anywhere else. Personally, the day I went I was having an I-lost-an-earring crisis. They had jewelry that was cute, but not too Disney (chandelier earrings with hidden Mickeys). Of course, they have both the Harvey’s Seatbelt bags and the famous Disney Dooney and Bourke bags. They also sell some Baekgaard items.

Earrings at Trend-D, 2010

It’s the theming that really makes Tren-D stand out, though. Case in point: in August they had an Alice in Wonderland Queen of Hearts themed area with merchandise (obviously). However, it also included such gems as the earrings to the right, and a entire tray of bottles of OPI’s Off With Her Red (which was designed for the recent Alice in Wonderland movie). This sort of themed selling to adults is proof of what Disney can do when it works well.

Are you a Tren-D fan? Let me know in a comment, on Twitter or Facebook. If you like what you’re reading, subscribe in a reader or by e-mail.

Walt Disney World: It's Not Just for Kids » Downtown Disney

Disney Discount: Restaurant.com

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Disney Discount: Restaurant.com

Disney Discount: Restaurant.com

Magical Blogorail Green: Favorite Disney Activity Outside the Parks

WDW Not Just for Kids Review: Fresh-a-peel

Worldless Wednesday January 26, 2010

Wordless Wednesday: January 12, 2011

Pollo Campero/Fresh A-peel/Babycakes is now open

WWoHP Trip report-Downtown Disney

WDW Not Just For Kids Review: Tren-D