Take a Spin Around the Resorts in Old-Fashioned Surrey Bikes

 by Beth Keating

Lifestyle

DisneyBizJournal.com

April 5, 2024

 

Disney World is so much more than the theme park side of life, though if you are only staying for a short time, you may not get to see much beyond the four parks.  There aren’t enough hours in the day.  But back when our kids were little, the parks were far less crowded, and it took less time to get through all the rides and attractions.  We actually had a few hours to do some of the other activities scattered throughout the resorts.  One of those endeavors was the old-fashioned surrey bikes, which made for an entertaining afternoon.

We chose our four-wheeled ride at the BoardWalk, though there are now other locations available for joy riding as well.  Disney does a pretty good job setting the stage for a day at the Jersey Shore – drop by the BoardWalk, and you can easily imagine yourself at a turn-of-the-century resort in the mid-Atlantic. Pop in to the lobby of the BoardWalk Inn, and you’ll spot a replica of Lucy the Elephant (a landmark building that really did grace the shore many moons ago, and still stands today in Margate, NJ.) And don’t let those “nanny chairs” by the fireplace scare you. They, too, help create the scene for a step back to Atlantic City.  Maybe stick with perusing the model carousel instead, or drop in to the 1930s-era Belle Vue room to hear some old time radio broadcasts while sipping your favorite adult beverage.

In addition to the BoardWalk, surrey bike rentals can be found at a number of different resorts, including Old Key West, Port Orleans - French Quarter, Port Orleans - Riverside, and Saratoga Springs.

  
Single bench bikes currently go for $30.00 per half hour, while double benches go for $35.00 per half hour.  You may think that doesn’t sound like a long time; in the Florida heat, that is more than enough time to make your way around most of the resorts.  At the BoardWalk, it was long enough to make a few passes around Crescent Lake, past the Yacht and Beach Club, past Jellyrolls, and back to the BoardWalk lawn. Most of the ride is an easy one, especially if you have multiple “peddlers” in your party, but if you aren’t in tip-top shape, the slight hill approaching EPCOT can be a bit of a challenge, particularly if you have the extra weight from the rugrats in the front of the bike who aren’t peddling their own weight.  Not that we’re saying that from experience or anything!

Surrey bikes come in a 2, 4, or 6 person version, and if your offspring are too short to do the peddling themselves, the bikes come with a convenient “basket” on the front that serves as a kid-safe seat (like a shopping cart seat).  They can be in charge of pulling the rope to ring the bike bell to warn unsuspecting guests of your approach!  We still talk about the great joy on our son’s face as he furiously rang that bell with all his might as we huffed our way around the promenade. (Drivers themselves must be at least 18 to operate the bikes; 21 after 8:00 p.m.).

While our spin around the BoardWalk was a fairly easy one, with the wooden slatted walkways making for a pleasant outing, the other resorts offer a range of vistas for your journey.  Over at the Port Orleans and Saratoga Springs locations, you can watch the Sassagoula River float by as you peddle, or enjoy the scenery of the beautiful white-columned mansions.  Some spots have a bit more of a woodsy appeal.  Personally, having family from Jersey, we like the old-time vibe of the Jersey Shore, especially at night when there is sometimes live entertainment to enjoy as well, reminiscent of Coney Island with its carnival games, jugglers, and barkers.  Plus, there’s ice cream to be had, and before long, The Cake Bake Shop  and the Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs kiosk will be open, offering up even more treats to enjoy with your visit.  Sadly, post-COVID, the live entertainment and carnival games on the BoardWalk have been scaled back – it’s not nearly as lively in the evenings anymore.

If coordinating as a bike-riding team on the surrey bikes doesn’t enthrall you, and you are more the “do-it-yourself, by-myself, thank you very much” type, there are also regular bike rentals, including adult bikes and kids’ bikes – with training wheels if you need ‘em - available for hire at four different resort locations, including Old Key West, Port Orleans - Riverside, Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, and two Fort Wilderness counters: The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and The Campsites at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort. Your rental fee ($9-$20) will include helmets and child seats in the price. (Florida law requires bicyclists under 16 years of age to wear helmets.)

If your vacation gives you enough wiggle room to enjoy some of the delights of kicking back, relaxing and giving in to a full-fledged “resort day,” definitely consider a spin on the surrey bikes.  It’s a memory in the making.

__________

 

Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.

 

Get The Disney Planner: The TO DO List Solution by Ray Keating. More information at

https://raykeatingbooksandmore.com/shop/ols/products/disneyplanner. And please listen to the Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating podcast. 

 

Disney World’s New Food Truck is a Step Up

 by Beth Keating

Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

February 10, 2024

 

We’ve been coming to Disney World for decades, and had never set foot inside of Big River Grille & Brewing Works at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort – until late December of this past year, just a few weeks before the restaurant’s unexpected and sudden closure in January.  To be honest, we weren’t heartbroken at the news, since the burger platters we’d eaten at Big River, part of a national chain, were just average. Other Disney guests were just as nonplussed at the closure news. The working microbrewery did fill a certain food slot on the boardwalk, however, so its absence will be missed in that regard.

On the other hand, the news that Disney was replacing the restaurant, however temporarily, with a rotating selection of FOOD TRUCKS(!) was met with a degree of skepticism. The BoardWalk area is a valuable piece of real estate that is surprisingly already in a bit of a food desert, with the loss of the former ESPN Club, The Cake Bake Shop still under construction, and the Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs stand not open yet. Several of the other existing restaurants aren’t open at lunchtime.  If you have a ticket to EPCOT, no problem, you have lots of options, but if you aren’t EPCOT bound, your choices are a bit more limited throughout the day. You’ll most likely be eating at the BoardWalk Deli.

 

On a trip to the BoardWalk this week, we decided to give the food trucks a try. On the afternoon we arrived, it happened to be the “APP’S” food truck.  We were pleasantly surprised by the visit to this Colombian-American style food truck, and decided that the selections were actually a step up from the prior Big River Grille.  In fact, we enjoyed the options we tried at App’s more than some of the selections we’d previously sampled at the Arts Festival booths, though there’s obviously a price difference. On our visit, the truck was parked on the boardwalk itself, closer to the Jellyrolls end of the loop.  (Hours and days of service for the food trucks vary.)

In addition to a rather extensive selection of 19 different entrées for a food truck, there’s also a board announcing a daily special.  (The APP’S truck has their own Facebook account, so you can check out their meals before you get to the BoardWalk.). Choices range from specialties like  arepas, tostones, empanadas, and pucha, to chorizo burgers, grilled chicken wraps, maizito salad, wings, chicken tenders, quesadillas, and even a fully loaded hot dog. For the less adventurous, there’s also a grilled cheese. Prices range from $13 for the grilled cheese or chicken tenders, to $15 for the pucha, tostones, and burgers.

On our visit, we decided to try the daily special, the Arepa Encarnada, as well as the Arepa con Pollo. The Arepa Encarnada ($14.00) was a fresh made Columbian arepa with mozzarella cheese, tomato, onions, cilantro, sweet kernel corn, shredded cheese, shredded beef, ketchup, mayo, pink sauce and garlic cilantro sauce.  That garlic cilantro sauce was an excellent addition to the top of our beef arepa, adding a smooth creaminess to the dish.  The beef was juicy and tender, and the corn was fresh and crisp, a nice inclusion that added a touch of sweetness and a bit of textural crunch.

Our second selection was the Arepa con Pollo ($14.00), prepared with a Columbian arepa with mozzarella cheese, diced tomatoes, chopped onions, cilantro, diced avocado, shredded cheese, shredded chicken breast, ketchup, mayo, pink sauce and garlic cilantro sauce. This selection was also very good, with finely shredded chicken and melty mozzarella pulling it all together. As with the daily special version, the cilantro sauce was flavorful without being spicy, and had an herby freshness. It was on the milder side, and a welcome topper to the dish.  The base of the entrée, the corn arepa, was nicely flavored, and while the fluffy pancake still had that distinct corn griddle flavor, it did not overpower the rest of the flavors in the dish. The dish was carefully layered so that all the components were equally blended. We’d return to the BoardWalk again just for these arepas.

Our only problem with the dishes was a serving container one – the white paper under the arepas couldn’t stand up to the heat from the food, and disintegrated pretty quickly, getting stuck to the food. We found ourselves picking the paper off of our forks several times. Other than that, we had zero complaints about eating from a food truck, parked at the BoardWalk of all places!

 

While it’s an outdoor food truck setting, there was plenty of seating, both at café tables next to the food truck, and at some tables closer to the water a bit further down on the boardwalk.  If the weather is nice, it’s a really pleasant way to enjoy your meal, waterside, watching the Friendship Boats making their way up and down Crescent Lake. The meals are freshly made as you wait, but our food was ready in under ten minutes, so the wait wasn’t long. We dined al fresco around noon-ish, and we weren’t the only guests, but our food was ready quickly.

While we are looking forward to whatever new venture is coming to the empty Big River space, we’re also looking forward to trying some of the food coming to the boardwalk with the new rotating variety of food trucks. If they are all as good as App’s, you’ll have a good lunch, indeed.

 

__________

 

Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.

 

Get The Disney Planner: The TO DO List Solution by Ray Keating. More information at

https://raykeatingbooksandmore.com/shop/ols/products/disneyplanner.

Happy Thanksgiving to All DisneyBizJournal Readers!

 by Beth Keating

Lifestyle/News

DisneyBizJournal.com

November 24, 2022

 

At our house, we are a divided family when it comes to the holidays. A few family members have been playing Christmas music since late October, while others do not consider the Christmas season ushered in until Santa makes his way to Herald Square at the end of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York.  Then, it is permissible to start putting the tree up.

 

However, as a Disney family, it takes some adjusting to the fact that the “Disney Holiday Schedule” is a few beats off from the rest of the world.  Halloween starts in August, Mickey’s Christmas parties have been firing off for several weeks now, towering trees and snowflakes have graced the parks since November 1st… you get the idea.  In the past few weeks, the holiday gingerbread displays have also begun assembling.

We’ve enjoyed the Gingerbread House at the Grand Floridian in past years, and the themed carousal at Beach Club is always fun, but this year we were especially impressed by the gingerbread building at the BoardWalk Inn.  The BoardWalk display had been missing for several years, and in addition to being glad to see it back, we offer up a hearty round of applause to the culinary team who created the new confection.  It is incredibly detailed!

 

The gingerbread building is a replica of the Resort’s newest restaurant, the BoardWalk Deli. 

 

A large window allows a peek into the deli, with Chefs Mickey and Minnie hard at work on teeny tiny little samples of the BoardWalk Deli’s menu offerings in a kitchen so sculpted that the itty bitty appliances and cooking utensils seem ready to start baking.  The petite dishes lined up on the deli counters are adorable, and we particularly got a chuckle out of the miniature Mickey Ear cakes lined up on a bakery shelf. (Not saying that we’ve ordered those cakes for family birthdays in the past or anything…) 

 

Outside the “building,” the deli’s red striped awnings overlook tiny Christmas trees and a selection of benches, tables and chairs for hungry guests to enjoy Chef Mickey’s culinary treats. There are even miniature ornaments on the trees!  Talk about attention to detail!

 

Like many of the gingerbread spots on Disney property, there’s a pop-up shop to purchase some yummy gingerbread goodies and other treats and libations (and themed holiday merch, including BoardWalk ornaments and collectible pins, as well).

Just outside this enormous gingerbread construct is a sign that lists all the hard work and sweet ingredients that went into baking this beauty, with 200 hours of decorating time by the bakery “elves.” In all,  21 gallons of honey, 182 pounds of whole wheat rye flour, 182 pounds of light rye flour, 168 pounds of bread flour, 168 eggs, 3 gallons of egg whites, 30 pounds of powdered sugar, 0.5 pound of Cream of Tartar, 140 pounds of granulated sugar, 20 pounds of fondant, 5 pounds of ammonium carbonate, 10.58 pounds of Lebkuchen, a “heaping teaspoon of magic,” and “a sprinkle of pixie dust” went into this enormous replica.

And if you have the time, you’ll find 26 different hidden Mickeys throughout the gingerbread.  It could be a nice Thanksgiving… or Christmas… scavenger hunt for your family.

 

_______________

 

Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.

 

Disney World’s New BoardWalk Deli To Open Soon?

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

July 28, 2022

 

Shout out to all our former New York and New Jersey residents: The deli sandwiches you’ve been craving – and can’t find down here in Florida – will be arriving soon at the new BoardWalk Deli at Disney World!

 

Sometimes, Disney seems to take forever to complete an announced project. (Looking at you 2017’s Tron announcement!!!)  But in this case, the progress from announcement to slicing of the first sandwich seems to be speeding along.  Disney has posted operational hours for the new BoardWalk Deli beginning Monday, August 15, 2022.  We only got the news about the deli’s arrival in March! Obviously, the posted serving times are subject to change as construction chugs along, but the grand opening appears to be imminent.

 

The new deli will be located alongside the BoardWalk resort, and the BoardWalk Bakery has already closed so work on the new venue, as well as that of The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers, can take place. Fans of the ESPN Club were disappointed to see the old barbells and signs had already been taken down to make room for the new eateries as well.  

 

Disney Parks Blog has shared the tentative menu for the new deli, and if, like us, you are missing some of these Northeast delights, you’ll be thrilled with the selections.  Disney says it’s “inspired by the delis of the Northeast region, with a menu that takes you on a road trip of classic sweet and savory flavors from New York to the Jersey Shore.” All of the breads will be baked fresh in-house, and the dill pickles, always wrapped up with sandwiches in New York delis, will be made in-house, too. Specialty coffees will be available to kick-start your park day.

 

Among the proposed selections will be the signature Italian Sub ($11.49) with thinly sliced capicola, sopressata, and pepperoni with provolone, arugula, tomato, arugula pesto, and mayo on fresh-baked ciabatta bread; a Pastrami Reuben ($12.99) topped with sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing on marble rye bread (so iconic!); a roasted chicken sandwich ($10.49) with cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, and roasted garlic aioli served on ciabatta; a chicken salad wrap ($10.99) with rotisserie chicken, grapes, walnuts, and mayo in a spinach wrap; and a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato-basil soup ($9.99).  Plant-based diners can enjoy the Veggie Crunch Muffaletta ($10.49) with cured and pickled root vegetables, an olive-giardiniera tapenade and plant-based cheese, served on focaccia. Several salads will be offered as well ($9.99-$10.99).  

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

Looking for breakfast?  The deli will be serving house-baked bagels with “a choice of schmear;” sweet breakfast pastries ($3.79-$6.79); warm bagel sandwiches, including an everything bagel sandwich ($8.99) with cage-free eggs, sausage, and cheddar cheese, or a bagel breakfast sandwich ($8.99) with cage-free eggs, bacon, sweet caramelized onions, and cheddar cheese; or a plant-based ciabatta sandwich ($7.49) “egg” Florentine, plant-based cheese, tomato jam, and arugula.

 

As of this posting, it looks like the BoardWalk Deli will be open from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m.  That’s especially good news for our former New York and New Jersey friends who are looking for one of those very specific style of breakfast-time egg sandwiches from back home.  (I was wondering…it’s just eggs, bacon and cheese. Why is it so hard for local venues to duplicate that? Maybe we can convince Disney to offer the egg sandwiches on Kaiser rolls as well as bagels for a more authentic Northeast deli egg sandwich?  Just sayin’.) 

 

And while it may not be the BoardWalk Bakery any longer, there will still be plenty of sweet treats available at the new deli, including cannolis ($4.19) that will amazingly be filled to order in a crispy shell stuffed with mascarpone cheese, ricotta, shaved dark chocolate, lemon zest and an adorable Mickey swirl. Blueberry scones with crème fraiche; chocolate-dipped cream puffs; raspberry danishes; brownie cheesecake;  brownies; banana bread; the much-loved Disney “cookies & cream cupcake;” and the 50th Anniversary Celebration Cupcake will all be dished up for you as well.

 

In our house, we are particularly looking forward to what Disney is calling “New Jersey Crumbcake,” recognizable to those of us from the Northeast as the thick, moist yellow cake with sweet cinnamon-crumb topping that is just as thick as the cake, and is so often displayed in the glass cases of diners and bakeries across the tri-state area. And how about the “New York-style Half-moon Cookie, topped with rich chocolate ganache and buttercream,” which is what we former New Yorkers would call a “black and white”? We can’t wait to see whether it will live up to the cakelike consistency with firm frosting that we all knew and loved back home.

 

Here’s hoping that the posted start dates are accurate.  We’ve been hankering for one of those Pastrami Reubens!

 

_______________

 

Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for 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!

Hot Dog and Fries on the BoardWalk – Simple and Perfect

 by Ray Keating

Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

March 27, 2022

 

Where to go for a quick, casual lunch on a bright, sunny day? 

 

I always enjoy heading over to the BoardWalk Inn at Walt Disney World with its turn-of-the-century, Atlantic City theming. And of course, the boardwalk itself is set around Crescent Lake.

So, it’s a great setting for a relaxed lunch, and the BoardWalk To Go Cart offers the right menu, including chicken tenders, a BBQ pulled pork sandwich, a Philly CheeseSteak sandwich, and more. But on a recent stop, for me, it was, what one might call, the classic triple play. That is, an all-beef hot dog, French fries and a Coke.

I sat at a lakeside table with a great view, and dove into my meal. The hot dog was long, thick, flavorful and juicy, while resting inside a soft bun. The fries were crispy and hot. And sometimes an icy Coca-Cola is just the right drink. Altogether, it was a simple and delicious lunch.

Next couple of visits will have to involve a corn dog, the cheesesteak, the cheddar bacon fries and the garlic parmesan fries.

 

What will it take to get me back? Just another sunny day, maybe with a nice breeze off Crescent Lake.

 

__________

 

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?

 

Two great ways to order Ray Keating’s new book – The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Signed paperbacks at https://raykeatingonline.com/products/weeklyeconomist and/or the Kindle edition at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09WKN81RG.

 

Get more out of 2022 with The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution! 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.

 

Disney Announces BoardWalk Inn Upgrades

 by Ray Keating

News/Lifestyle

DisneyBizJournal.com

March 12, 2022

 

Disney’s BoardWalk Inn has a certain charm that I can’t resist. This turn-of-the-century, Atlantic City themed boardwalk, set around Crescent Lake, ranks as a favorite place for this local to stop in for eating, shopping, and finding an ideal spot to get some work done on the laptop. 

Hence, I was quite pleased with Disney’s announcement that various upgrades to the resort are coming.

 

On the Disney Parks Blog, the company pointed to new investments in dining options as well as in other resort improvements.

 

I’m intrigued by the arrival in 2023 of The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers, which will be a table service restaurant and bakery offering “both savory and dessert menus.” And perhaps most interesting, an afternoon tea service will be available. Count me in for some Earl Grey and scones while I get some book writing done! 

And the BoardWalk Bakery will be transformed into a lakeside sandwich shop, and  a “new coffee bar with artisanal beverages and quick bites” will be introduced inside the resort.

 

Finally, Disney notes upgrades to the resort lobby, lounge and rooms that promise “light and airy touches … carrying the seaside breeze right inside.”

 

All this indicates that guests and locals will have even more reasons to enjoy the BoardWalk Inn. 

 

__________

 

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?

 

Get more out of 2022 with The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution! 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.

Trattoria al Forno: Lively, Friendly and Nice Italian Food

 by Ray Keating

Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

September 16, 2021

 

Does Trattoria al Forno complete the Disney BoardWalk experience?

 

Hailing for most of my life from New York, I’m guilty of assuming that, unless I’m in Italy, Italian food outside of the New York City metro area is not going to measure up. You’ve heard my ilk before, such as claiming “Pizza outside New York isn’t pizza.” And, well, it tends not to be.

At the same time, I have long enjoyed Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Resort and entertainment area. That’s been the case since my wife and I rented a Surrey bike years ago, and put our young son in the front seat for little tikes. And I appreciate the turn-of-the-century, Atlantic City waterfront feel.

 

So, could I hit on a combo of place and food, specifically, the BoardWalk and good Italian cuisine? The answer with Trattoria al Forno is: Yes, absolutely!

 

Prior to our visit, there was some skepticism after hearing mixed reviews of the restaurant. But after experiencing Trattoria al Forno’s food and ambiance, I was left bewildered by such takes. 

The Trattoria’s open kitchen concept is welcoming, and provided a lively backdrop to the room. The service was attentive and friendly. And yes, the food is excellent.

 

The meal started off with lovely small loaves of warm ciabatta with olive oil and a tasty tapenade. While the tapenade was a touch on the salty side, the bread was absolutely heavenly dipped in the olive oil, but was even better with what was to come.

We had ordered the Coastal Mussels appetizer ($18.00), which was quite good – with flavorful and tender mussels, and a nice small kick of red pepper. The pesto cream sauce worked magic on its own, and our waitress thoughtfully brought extra loaves of that wonderful bread for sopping up the sauce. We could have eaten a bowl of the pesto sauce all on its own!

 

Also, the Insalata Caprese ($13.00) ranked as a delightful appetizer. The house-made burrata was chilled and creamy, served on a bed of thick, ripe slices of tomato, with a sprinkling of heirloom tomatoes as well. The basil leaves were picture perfect, dark green and strongly flavored, with a light dressing of olive oil to pull it all together.

 

In terms of entrees, the big star with our group was the Veal Osso Buco ($34.00). It came on a bed of polenta, which worked well. The thick gravy nicely complemented the fall-off-the-bone veal. Delicious.

 

As for the Parmigiana di Pollo ($26.00), the chicken breast was thicker than typical for a chicken parmigiana dish, and was served over a bed of gnocchi. While a traditional pasta would have been preferable with the parm, the gnocchi base beneath the chicken was a bit of a culinary twist, and it still worked. 

The only small disappointment during our meal was Grilled Swordfish Salmoriglio ($32.00), as the fish was slightly overdone and wasn’t as flavorful as expected.

 

But make no mistake, this was a superb dinner.

 

While too full for dessert, our party returned to strolling the Boardwalk, and catching the fireworks far off in the distance from the Magic Kingdom and from EPCOT, which were much closer. In fact, the view from the EPCOT bridge turned out to be ideal. 

 

Good food at Trattoria al Forno, the BoardWalk Resort and fireworks make for a marvelous Walt Disney World night.

 

__________

 

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?

 

Keating has three new books out. Vatican Shadows: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is the 13ththriller/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.

 

You also can order his book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York  from Amazon or signed books  at RayKeatingOnline.com. His other recent nonfiction book is Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know. 

 

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!