A Look Back at Disney Soundstage’s Great Northern Bean Soup

 by Beth Keating

Lifestyle

DisneyBizJournal.com

December 31, 2021

 

In the past few weeks, while pulling menus together for the holidays, I decided to look for something slightly different for this year’s New Year’s Eve celebration.  In our family, we typically put out an “eat when you want to” buffet of finger foods that people can nosh on throughout the night, as we put on movies, wait for the ball to drop in Times Square, and generally chat with family and friends.  

 

In trying to come up with something special for this year’s table, I decided to take some inspiration from Disney World’s 50th Anniversary.  Throughout the parks and restaurants, the Disney chefs have reached back to the opening of Walt Disney World in 1971 to offer up specialty treats to honor the anniversary.  

At places like Casey’s Corner and Cosmic Ray’s, they are serving Walt’s Favorite Chili on a Chili-Cheese Dog. The Hollywood Brown Derby plates up Walt’s Corned Beef Hash with its filet mignon.  The Skipper Canteen is dishing Veranda Fried Rice with spicy chili-garlic shrimp from the original Adventureland Veranda Restaurant in Magic Kingdom, which closed in 1994. (The Skipper Canteen now operates on the same site, and, by the way, from personal experience, the Veranda Fried Rice is very good.) And at The Plaza Restaurant, they are making the Monte Cristo Sandwich, original to when Disney World opened.

 

In the spirit of looking back to the gastronomic history of Disney, I pulled out my beat-up, coffee stained copy of Cooking with Mickey (Gourmet Mickey Cookbook) Volume II: The Most Requested Recipes from Walt Disney World and Disneyland, published somewhere around the year 2000 (there’s no actual copyright date in the book.) 

 

I love this book as much for the memories of the meals represented by the recipes as I do for the many restaurants in the book that no longer exist.  It’s a fun way to reminisce about long ago trips to Disney World. The cookbook itself was a souvenir purchase on one such vacation.

 

I usually put out some sort of hot food in a crock pot for guests to help themselves that evening, and this year, I spotted a recipe from the now-defunct Soundstage Restaurant at the since-renamed Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park.  I can remember taking our oldest son there and having a character meal with Aladdin and Jasmine among the “celebrities” we met that day.  I thought the recipe for their “Soundstage Great Northern Bean Soup” would be a fun and filling addition to the hot selections on our buffet.  After preparing the soup as directed in the book, I poured it into a crock pot to keep warm for guests to help themselves when they wanted.

In case you’d like to revisit the old MGM-turned-Hollywood-Studios, here’s the recipe, direct from the Cooking with Mickey cookbook.

 

Soundstage Great Northern Bean Soup

 

Ingredients:

½ pound great northern beans, dry

10 cups water

4 chicken bouillon cubes

¾ cup celery, diced small

1 cup onion, diced small

1 cup carrots, diced small

1 cup smoked ham, diced small

¾ cup tomato, diced small

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon white pepper

¼ teaspoon thyme, ground

¼ cup cornstarch, diluted in 2/3 cup water

 

Soak beans in cold water overnight.  Drain beans, rinse well, and place in a large soup pot with ten cups fresh water and bouillon cubes.  Bring to a boil and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook beans for approximately 1 hour until tender but still firm on the inside.  Add celery, onions, and carrots and cook an additional 30 minutes until vegetables are tender.  Add ham, tomato, salt, pepper, and thyme and mix well.  Cook for 10 minutes. Add cornstarch mixed with water and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes until mixture thickens.  Remove from heat and let soup cool for 10 to 15 minutes.

 

Mix well and serve.

 

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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!

 

For you and as a gift! The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution is here! It combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement and fun for Disney fans, including those who love Mickey, Marvel, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Pixar, princesses and more. Also, “The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution” comes with a handy spiral binding for easy use. 

How Will I Get To Disney World Now?

 by Beth Keating

News/Analysis

DisneyBizJournal.com

December 30, 2021

 

With the end of 2021 comes the end of “Disney’s Magical Express,” the complimentary transportation service that whisked guests from the airport to their Disney Resort hotels in the blink of an eye, and without ever having to touch their luggage after they dropped it at their home airport. Indeed, it was, especially for families with small kids, one of the best perks of staying on site.  

But now that perk has flown away, leaving guests to ponder how to efficiently and cost-effectively get where they need to go. There are several alternatives to Magical Express that can fill the gap without the need to rent a car (which, these days, is not only enormously expensive, but generates additional nightly parking fees at your Disney hotel).

 

The most obvious option is to take a Mears shuttle.  Mears operated transportation back and forth to Disney long before the Magical Express came into being, and has been serving the Orlando area since 1939.  (They operate in other cities as well). In fact, in the old days, a Mears voucher was sometimes included in our Disney travel package.  Other times, when no voucher was part of the package, our family called Mears directly to book a ride.  

 

Beginning New Year’s Day, Mears will operate Mears Connect, a transportation service between Orlando International Airport (MCO) and the Disney Resort hotels in two different categories: Standard and Express. 

 

Standard service is a shared ride on a Mears Connect vehicle with a limited number of stops.  Vehicles will have guests on their way within 20 minutes of arrival at the reception area. 

 

Introductory rates for Standard service are $16.00 per adult and $13.50 per child ages 3-9 (one way) or $32 per adult and $27 per child ages 3-9 (round-trip). Children under three ride free.

 

Express service is direct service to the resort and back to the airport (guaranteed first stop), with limited to no wait time. Express service is not considered private service, though, and may be shared. Introductory rates for Express service are $250.00 for up to four passengers and $55 for each additional passenger.  

 

Mears is planning to add additional locations in Orlando in the coming months; they also offer charter bus, car services, limousines, and taxi services throughout the area.

 

Contact Mears directly for more information and to book rides.

 

A second shuttle opportunity arrives on February 1, 2022, when “The Sunshine Flyer” begins operations.  A series of very cool looking motor coaches themed to look like 1920’s-era passenger train cars and locomotives will also greet guests at MCO and transport them to their resort. Even the drivers and staff will be dressed as 1920’s rail conductors and engineers, and every coach wrap is distinct in its style. The Sunshine Flyer is operated by Transportation Management Services, Inc., which has, over the last 26 years, organized transportation for clients such as the National Basketball Association, United States Golf Association, and Major League Soccer.

 

As of now, tickets are $17 per adult and $12.50 per child ages 3-8 (one way) and $34 per adult, and $25 per child ages 3-8 (round-trip). Children under two can ride on an adult’s lap for free.

 

The Sunshine Flyer pledges that guests will not wait more than 20 minutes to board their bus, and the ride to the resorts is scheduled so the last stop will not take more than 65 minutes.  The service will also be adding new locations in 2022, including Orlando Hotels, International Drive Hotels, and other Disney Partner Hotels.

 

Another big bonus?  In honor of Disney’s 50th anniversary, The Sunshine Flyer is donating 50% of their sales during the first 50 days of service to the Make a Wish Foundation of Central & Northern Florida.

 

Contact The Sunshine Flyer for more information, or call 866-FL-FLYER.

 

If the shuttle bus routine is not your jam, there are also ride sharing services such as Uber and Lyft operating in the area. Prices for Uber and Lyft will vary based on surge pricing, pick-up and drop-off locations, etc.  

 

And if your trip is still a few years off, there may be an opportunity to take the “train from the plane,” when Brightline eventually opens a station at Disney Springs as part of their planned extension of the high-speed railway’s route from the airport.  That option is likely to be many years down the road, however. You might want to reserve Mears or The Sunshine Flyer in the meantime.

 

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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!

 

For you and as a gift! The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution is here! It combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement and fun for Disney fans, including those who love Mickey, Marvel, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Pixar, princesses and more. Also, “The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution” comes with a handy spiral binding for easy use. 

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon To Reopen January 2

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

December 29, 2021

 

Following a nearly two-year-long closure, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park in Florida is slated to reopen January 2, 2022.  But before you get too excited, its reopening also means that Disney’s Blizzard Beach will be closing on January 1 for refurbishment.  

Courtesy of Walt Disney World website

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon closed its gates with the COVID shut downs in March 2020, and did not reopen with the rest of the Florida parks in July 2020.  Nearby Blizzard Beach did welcome back water park guests in 2021 after its year-long closure, but it will now get its turn to undergo a spruce up.

 

Among Typhoon Lagoon’s attractions are the Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool; the coaster-like raft ride Crush ‘n’ Gusher; the family raft ride Miss Adventure Falls; the Humunga Kowabunga body slide; lazy river ride Castaway Creek; and the Ketchakiddee Creek water play area for little ones. Guests can also arrange to take surf lessons at the park.

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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!

 

For you and as a gift! The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution is here! It combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement and fun for Disney fans, including those who love Mickey, Marvel, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Pixar, princesses and more. Also, “The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution” comes with a handy spiral binding for easy use.

Walt Disney and Beyond: Gain Insights and Catch Up on the Daily Dose of Disney

Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating – Episode #231: Walt Disney and Value Systems – Entrepreneurs like Walt Disney can affect their firms long after others take over.

Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating – Episode #232: Walt Disney on Investing Your own Job – Walt Disney serves up advice on being an entrepreneur, that is, inventing your own job.

 

Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating – Episode #233: Walt Disney and the Passion of Work – Night and weekend working? Walt Disney didn’t see these things as burdens. Why?

 

Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating – Episode #234: Be a Shrewd Promoter Like Walt Disney – Creative types often don’t like marketing. You need to get over that.

 

Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating – Episode #235: Raiders’ Marion is an American! – Marion in Raiders of the Lost Ark is a great character, including her unmistakable Americanism.

 

Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating – Episode #236: Jack Kirby on the Common Man’s Literature – Jack Kirby was the king of comic books, and he understood the value of this form of storytelling.

 

Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating – Episode #237: Eisner on the Disney Business Model – Michael Eisner serves up the essentials of the Disney business model, which can work for other businesses, too.

 

Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating – Episode #238: Indiana Jones’ Dad on Writing Things Down – Yes, I agree with Prof. Henry Jones – it’s important to write critical things down, so nothing gets lost or forgotten.

 

Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating – Episode #239: Walt Disney and Shareholders – “Shareholders” and “profits” are not bad words. Walt understood how free enterprise aligns the interests of owners, workers and customers.

 

The “Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating” podcast serves up a Disney or Disney-related quote each day, with DisneyBizJournal’s Ray Keating offering brief, additional thoughts on how each dose ties in to life, career, business, entrepreneurship, creativity, storytelling, work, or just plain fun.

Trying Out the 50’s Prime Time Café’s Cranberry Chutney

 by Beth Keating

Lifestyle

DisneyBizJournal.com

December 24, 2021

 

I had already served my own variation of homemade cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving, but given that my family still wanted cranberry sauce with their baked ham for Christmas, I decided to pull out some old recipe books and see if I could come up with something just slightly different to accompany the meal.  

With Disney World’s 50th Anniversary festivities surrounding us at the parks this year, one of the books I pulled out was my old, beat-up copy of Cooking with Mickey (Gourmet Mickey Cookbook) Volume II: The Most Requested Recipes from Walt Disney World and Disneyland from somewhere around the year 2000.  It was a souvenir acquisition from a Disney trip during Disney’s millennium celebration, I think, and I love the history this book contains, because many of the restaurants in the book no longer exist.   

 

The recipe I eventually settled on for our Christmas meal was from the 50’s Prime Time Café, a personal favorite restaurant of our family, which I thought would make a nice detail to accompany the dish for our dining conversation.  I don’t know if they even serve this at Prime Time Café anymore, since I haven’t spotted it on recent menus. 

The recipe predates “Hollywood Studios,” and hails from when the park was still “Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park.”  If you’d like to accompany us on this little detour down Memory Lane, here’s the recipe, direct from the Cooking with Mickey cookbook.

 

(As a note, I ended up doubling the recipe for our family’s meal, because the original recipe does not make a tremendous amount of chutney. If you are serving more than 2-3 people, you’ll probably want a bigger batch.)

 

50’s Prime Time Café Cranberry Chutney

 

Ingredients:

½ cup cranberries, frozen, thawed

3 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon brown sugar

½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon ginger

½ teaspoon cloves

¼ cup water

¼ cup celery, finely diced 

¼ cup onion, finely diced 

1 medium apple, peeled, diced

2 tablespoons raisins

 

In a medium-size saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add all above ingredients except apples and raisins. Simmer for 15 minutes. Add apples and simmer for an additional 10 minutes, or until apples are soft. Remove from heat and stir in raisins while sauce is still hot. Cool thoroughly.

 

Serve as an accompaniment to turkey burgers or carved turkey.

 

(Or in our case, baked ham!)

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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!

 

For you and as a gift! The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution is here! It combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement and fun for Disney fans, including those who love Mickey, Marvel, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Pixar, princesses and more. Also, “The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution” comes with a handy spiral binding for easy use. 

“Spider-Man: No Way Home” Best MCU Movie Since “Endgame”

 by Ray Keating

Review (SPOILER FREE)

DisneyBizJournal.com

December 23, 2021

 

DisneyBizJournal.com Movie Rating: 4 stars out of 5

DisneyBizJournal.com Box Office Rating:  $$$$ out of $$$$

 

In Spider-Man: No Way Home, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man has to grow up, and moviegoers are enjoying, and should enjoy, going with Peter Parker on nearly all of the 148 minutes of this journey. In fact, Spider-Man: No Way Home ranks as the best MCU movie since 2019’s Avengers: Endgame.

 

Unfortunately, given dubious recent endeavors, one has to actually pause to give a thumbs up to the filmmakers – director Jon Watts, and writers Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers – for simply serving up a blockbuster story that makes sense, and isn’t riddled by story and/or character inconsistencies. 

Thankfully, though, No Way Home goes well beyond such barebones expectations. While the film starts off kind of pokey, moviegoers soon find themselves immersed in a story jammed with consequences, and packed with so many emotional wallops that I eventually lost count. (Writing a spoiler-free review of this movie is a mighty challenge.)

 

Watery eyes and a tear here and there were part of the viewing experience. There’s also a nice amount of humor sprinkled in, but a marked step up in wit and quips from some other recent efforts. Indeed, No Way Home is that rare superhero movie that is rich in both laughs and tears.

 

There’s a lot going on in this film, and that isn’t something to be criticized, but instead, it’s worth savoring.

 

Along the way, there’s plenty of action one expects from a superhero movie, but notably improved upon compared to recent MCU films like Eternals and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Unlike those two previous movies, even during times of mayhem the CGI holds up in No Way Home. This is rip-roaring good stuff.

 

No Way Home also rates as a full movie in a way that perhaps some other superhero films come up a bit short, including, to a certain degree, the previous Tom Holland Spider-Man movies – Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far from Home. That is, Peter Parker/Spider-Man goes on a full character arch, with game-changing consequences to decisions and actions along the way.

 

Finally, No Way Home serves up a more traditional – in the best sense of the word – take on superheroes and what they’re supposed to be about, that is, trying to do the right thing, trying to save others, and sometimes having to sacrifice to achieve such lofty goals. Yes, with great power comes great responsibility.

 

As for the business side of No Way Home, this film is turning out to be the biggest box-office hit of 2021. As of this writing (December 23), the film, which was released in the U.S. on December 17, had hit a global box office of $751 million.

 

It looks likely that No Way Home will top $1 billion during the Christmas weekend. That will make it the first and probably the only 2021 release to top the billion-dollar mark – and deservedly so. 

 

With a reported production budget of $200 million, that’s quite a Christmas gift for Sony, as well as for Disney and Marvel in that No Way Home is proving that audiences aren’t growing tired of superhero movies, and specifically, MCU movies. But given the under-performance of Eternals, for example, perhaps audiences are ramping up their demands for higher quality superhero movies. We can all hope that is the case.

 

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Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

For you and a great gift! The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution is here! It combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement and fun for Disney fans, including those who love Mickey, Marvel, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Pixar, princesses and more. Also, “The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution” comes with a handy spiral binding for easy use. 

 

Keating has three new books out. Vatican Shadows: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is the 13^th thriller/mystery in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. Past Lives: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story is the 14th book in the series. Again, get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed book at www.raykeatingonline.com. And order the 15th book in the series What’s Lost? A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story – grab it at Amazon.com or signed editions at www.raykeatingonline.com. 

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

Did Disney’s “Be Our Guest” Restaurant Redeem Itself After All These Years?

 by Beth Keating

Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

December 21, 2021

 

Be Our Guest has been a restaurant of extremes over the years – sometimes revered and sometimes reviled for its menu.  Despite its stunning theming, there have been great swings in both the quality and the content of the menu.  

 

Our first trip to Be Our Guest when it opened years ago was for breakfast. It was the only reservation we could get in an era when Be Our Guest reservations were extremely hard to come by.  We counted ourselves fortunate, though, and the fact that it was on the Disney Dining Plan made it both an excellent value and a pretty tasty meal.

 

Over time, we’ve tried the locale on a few more occasions, with varying results.  There was the dinner with elementary-aged kids, where the entrées had a more distinctly upscale French flair, and we spent a lot of money on meals the kids simply didn’t eat. Then there was a later trip, where the food was just “meh.”  We did like the hybrid sit-down quick-service lunch that was a mid-point between the typical counter service and a sit down meal that existed for a while.  You ordered at a counter, but your food was brought to your table via an adorable glass topped waiter’s cart. Then our final attempt was perhaps prophetic for us.  We were scheduled for breakfast, and just a few moments after our plates were delivered, fire alarms went off and the restaurant was evacuated. Needless to say, we’ve had a checkered past with Be Our Guest.

 

With things at many Disney World restaurants getting definite changes in the days following the COVID closures, we decided to give the restaurant another go.  As schedules would have it, we were able to dine at Be Our Guest twice, several weeks apart, at a lunch with one set of guests, and then a dinner seating with different guests.  Since both of those menus are identical at the current moment, we got a chance to see if the meals had changed, and whether the meals were consistent during different times of the day.  (Breakfast is not being offered right now, but our server assured us they are working on bringing it back soon.)

 

There are three dining rooms available at the large eatery. You can “dine in palatial splendor,” as the promos say, in the Grand Ball Room, with its bright, high domed, cherub-painted ceiling, chandeliers and Gothic arches, all accompanied by a view into a courtyard where falling snow straight out of the movie enchants.  The Beast’s West Wing study is dark and foreboding. Thunder rumbles, and Beast’s glass-domed rose waits in a corner.  In the Castle Gallery, a life-sized spinning “music box” featuring a dancing sculpture of Belle and Beast dominates Belle’s private library.  The sculpture is said to be a gift from her father, Maurice. 

 

Guests used to be able to meet Beast at dinner in the “before times,” but now Beast makes a few passes through the rooms to wave to guests throughout your dining experience. 

 

The meals are pay-one-price for both lunch and dinner, at an adult price of $62 and children’s meal of $37.  Guests get a choice of an appetizer, entrée and dessert.  The only difference between our two recent visits was the addition of a 50th anniversary specialty dish, the “Captain Nemo Octopus,” a seaweed salad, with cucumber, pickled beets, hearts of palm, tapioca crackers, beets mousse, and carrot-ginger silk.  Even our calamari-loving diner shied away from that option, however, so we can’t share much on that front.

 

Instead, our diners opted for the French onion soup, topped with loads of melty, toasty Gruyère and Provolone, and the Maine lobster bisque made with crème fraîche.  Both soups were excellent, and the lobster bisque received high marks from our seatmates for the amount of poached lobster included in their bowl.  The bisque was creamy, with just a touch of heat on the follow-through.  

 

The onion soup, the recommended specialty of the house according to our waitress, was distinctly flavorful without being overly salty. There were tons of onion ribbons in the rich, golden brown broth, and Lumière himself had melted the cheese on top for us, assured our server (wink, wink for a little movie humor).   

 

Along with our soups, a basket of rustic rolls with salted butter appeared on our table.  It was, perhaps, the least magical part of our meal because they were just standard rolls.  

 

If we had chosen to forego soup in the hot Florida weather, we could have also selected a plate of mixed field greens, or an assorted meats and artisanal cheese board, a simple yet tasty selection for which guests on our second visit opted.

 

Diners can select one of six different entrées for their meal, ranging from Herb-salted Pork Tenderloin; Vadouvan Spiced Vegetables; Center-cut Filet Mignon; Pan-seared Sea Scallops; or Poulet Rouge Chicken, a savory bread pudding and seasonal vegetables with a chicken glace.

At both of our meals, most of our diners opted for the Center-cut Filet Mignon. Served with creamy, smooth Robuchon Yukon Potatoes, seasonal vegetables, and cipollini-garlic purée with a red wine purée, the dish was substantial.  Our plates had an array of cherry tomatoes and a lightly dressed spinach alongside crisp green beans.  (Most of us felt the beans would have benefitted from a few more minutes of steaming). The consensus among guests was that the beef was excellently seasoned, and the cuts of meat were well chosen.  The gravy was not overly heavy, and did not detract from the flavor of the meat.  While not the finest Filet Mignon we’ve had on Disney property, no one was disappointed with their selection of the Filet. 

The desserts were delicious as well.  With the exception of the special 50th anniversary offering, the Ned Land Sea Cake, diners receive a tray with all three desserts to sample.  The 50th Anniversary Ned Land Sea Cake (a tip of the hat to the “20,000 Leagues Under The Sea” attraction that used to be where Be Our Guest is now) is a lemon and strawberry shell cake and pistachio microwave cake with chocolate rocks, Grey Stuff, and Swedish Fish.  

 

For everyone choosing the traditional route, your plate will include a Lemon Jam Macaron; an uber-cute white chocolate "Chip" cup that looks just like Chip from the movie, filled with Grey Stuff and crispy pearl decorations; and a Dark Chocolate Truffle with Dark Chocolate Grand Marnier Ganache.  Our macron was chewy, yet unexpectedly light at the same time, with a hint of raspberry flavor.  The truffle was super rich and decadently soft and almost fudge-like.  The edible chocolate “Chip” cup was filled with really fluffy “Grey Stuff” cookies and cream panna cotta, which was delicious.  Don’t believe us? Ask the dishes.  (So sorry… it had to be said!)

 

We did not have any kids dining with us, but their choices include Grilled Beef Tenderloin or Pan-seared Chicken Breast served with a choice of an appetizer, two sides, one dessert, and choice of small milk, water, or apple juice.

 

The end result?  These meals at Be Our Guest were far superior to our earlier forays into the castle.  As big Beauty and the Beast movie fans, earlier jaunts to Beast’s home were simply to get the chance to see the inside of the castle (dining is the only way to do so), and the food was merely secondary to the experience.  Now we can add that the food is an enjoyable part of the visit as well.

 

 

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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!

 

For you and as a gift! The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution is here! It combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement and fun for Disney fans, including those who love Mickey, Marvel, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Pixar, princesses and more. Also, “The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution” comes with a handy spiral binding for easy use. 

Where to Watch Football in Disney World?

by Ray Keating

Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

December 19, 2021

 

The end of the NFL season is fast approaching. Your team is in the playoff mix. And you’re either vacationing at Walt Disney World, or you live locally but don’t have access to NFL Sunday Ticket via DirecTV? What to do?

 

Well, I came across an answer recently.

Head over to Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. That’s always worth a visit. After taking a stroll around the place, head to Rix Sports Bar and Grill.

 

The food is pub-style adequate. I had the Kona Burger on a recent visit, which is a half-pound burger with grilled pineapple, teriyaki aioli, and wonton strips among the toppings. It was pretty good – not great, not poor. Matters improved just a bit by tossing in waffle fries. (Yes, I’m a sucker for waffle fries.)

Other items that caught my eye on the lunch menu were the Venetian Burger, Ale Battered Fish and Chips, a California Chicken Sandwich, and yes, I’d like to give the Meatloaf Sandwich a try. Also, I missed the Blue Cheese Cole Slaw last time, so that will be something to try.

 

Will there be a next time? Yes. I’m a local without DirecTV, and am a Minnesota Vikings fan. Our waiter informed us that Rix has NFL Sunday Ticket, with games spread across some 31 television screens. Count me in.

 

So, bring on the appetizers, the drinks, and the main menu items at Rix, and let’s go Vikings. Skol!

 

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Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

Great Christmas Gift! The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution is here! It combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement and fun for Disney fans, including those who love Mickey, Marvel, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Pixar, princesses and more. Also, “The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution” comes with a handy spiral binding for easy use. 

 

Keating has three new books out. Vatican Shadows: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is the 13^th thriller/mystery in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. Past Lives: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story is the 14th book in the series. Again, get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed book at www.raykeatingonline.com. And order the 15th book in the series What’s Lost? A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story – grab it at Amazon.com or signed editions at www.raykeatingonline.com. 

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.