by Beth Keating
News
DisneyBizJournal.com
July 21, 2023
Inflation has your dining budget in a tailspin…. Disney costs are creeping ever upward.... But you still want to eat somewhere special on your vacation. If you are heading to Florida this fall, we just might have a fun way for you to beat those higher prices. Plus, you get to try a restaurant you might have overlooked in the past.
From August 18 through October 1, 2023, Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining program will be returning for its 18th year, and at least 115 Orlando area restaurants will be participating in this year’s food fest. (More continue to be added.) Four of the Magical Dining restaurants are on Disney property, but nearly a dozen others are “close by,” depending on your transportation access.
What is Magical Dining, you ask? It’s a great program that offers diners the opportunity to choose from a limited, three-course prix fixe menu at participating restaurants at a discounted price. And don’t worry about not liking the pared-down options. It’s a source of pride amongst the chefs to showcase some of their best entrées, and you will always have at least a few selections to choose from. (Plus, you can peek at the menus ahead of time.) The three-course dinner includes the choice of an appetizer, entree and dessert from the restaurant’s “Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining” offerings. Just ask your server for the specially curated menu.
This year, the program will be offering two separate pricing tiers for diners, to open up a greater variety of restaurant choices, one at a $40 tier and the other at $60 (plus tax and gratuity). There are even a few Michelin Guide honorees on the list, including BACÁN ($60 menu, Wave Hotel, Lake Nona); The Ravenous Pig ($40 menu, in Winter Park, and also the sister restaurant to Disney Spring’s The Polite Pig); and The Pinery ($40 menu, Lake Ivanhoe).
Looking to stay overnight? Some of the local hotels are also offering special rates via Visit Orlando’s Magical Nights.
And as a special bonus, part of your dining costs will go to support local charities. One dollar from each $40 menu, and two dollars from each $60 menu will be donated to The Lifeboat Project. The Apopka-based Lifeboat Project raises awareness about human trafficking and provides support and trauma recovery to trafficking victims. Additional donations will also be awarded to six other local nonprofits in Orange County. Magical Dining has raised more than $2 million for Orlando area organizations during its existence.
The four “on Disney property” restaurants participating this year include JALEO at Disney Springs ($40 menu); STK (Valid - 10/3) ($60 menu, Disney Springs); Il Mulino New York Trattoria ($40 menu, Walt Disney World Swan Resort); and Amare at Swan Reserve ($40 menu, Walt Disney World Swan Reserve Resort).
Other nearby “Disney area” restaurants include deep blu Seafood & Grille ($60 menu, Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek); LakeHouse ($40 menu, Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, located next to Walt Disney World); The Venetian Chop House ($60 menu, Caribe Royale Hotel on World Center Drive); Lakeside Bar and Grill ($40 menu, Celebration); Unreserved Food Bazaar ($40 menu, JW Marriott Bonnet Creek); Zeta Asia and La Luce (both $40 menus at Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek); and Benihana - Lake Buena Vista ($40 menu, Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista on Hotel Plaza Boulevard).
If you have a car or want to take advantage of Uber or Lyft, there are dozens of other participating restaurants a short drive away from Disney, including a few near I-Drive and Universal Studios, such as The Kitchen ($40 menu, at the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando.)
Menus are available for preview at OrlandoMagicalDining.com, with additional menus and hotel deals being added as the kick-off date gets closer. Menus can be searched based on pricing tier, location and cuisine, plus vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. (Reservations are definitely recommended for the more popular venues, but walk-ins may also be available.)
The menus for the four Disney-property eateries include:
JALEO AT DISNEY SPRINGS ($40 Menu)
STARTER:
Traditional pan con tomate
- toasted slices of crispy bread brushed with fresh tomato
Croquetas de poll
- traditional chicken fritters
Pimientos del Piquillo Rellenos con Queso Caña de Cabra
- seared piquillo peppers filled with goat cheese
APPETIZERS (Second Course)
Espinacas a la Catalana
sautéed spinach with pine nuts, raisins and apples
Empedrat de Montgetes
traditional catalan bean salad with tomatoes, olives and sherry dressing
Ensalada Verde
mixed greens with tomatoes, onions and olives with sherry dressing
MAIN COURSE
Chorizo Casero con Puré de Patatas al Aceite de Oliva
house-made traditional chorizo with olive oil mashed potatoes
Pollo con Pisto Manchego
josper grilled chicken thigh with a traditional vegetable stew
Gambas al Ajillo
the very, very famous tapa of shrimp sautéed with garlic
Tortilla de patatas
spanish omelet with potato and onions
DESSERT
Flan al Estilo Tradicional de Mamá Marisa con Espuma de Crema Catalana
a classic Spanish custard with ‘espuma’ of catalan cream and oranges
Pan con chocolate
chocolate custard with caramelized bread, olive oil and brioche ice cream
Sorbetes Caseros
one big scoop of the daily sorbet flavors
UPGRADES & ENHANCEMENTS
Upgrade third course for Carne Asada for $9
Upgrade third course for Veggie Paella for $9
STK at DISNEY Springs (VALID - 10/3) ($60 Menu)
APPETIZERS
Burrata
marinated beetroot, pickled red onions, basil oil, crunchy sourdough
Tuna Tartare
hass avocado, taro chips, soy-honey emulsion
LIL’ BRGS
wagyu beef, special sauce, sesame seed bun
MAIN COURSE
Steakhouse Skirt 8oz
confit fingerling, Parmesan gremolata, chimichurri sauce
Maple Rubbed Salmon
pickled cherry tomatoes, piquillo broccolini, olive dressing
Mushroom & Truffle Tagliatelle (Risotto)
Vegetarian
pecorino, braised mushrooms, baby spinach, shaved black truffle
DESSERT
Apple Pie
cinnamon crumble, maple creme fraiche, salted caramel ice cream
Cheesecake
raspberry coulis, berries
Chocolate Cake
chocolate ganache sauce
UPGRADES & ENHANCEMENTS
FILET 6oz + $12
AUSTRALIAN WAGYU FLAT IRON 8oz + $19
RIBEY FILETY 10oz + $23
RIBEYE 12oz + $16
IL MULINO NEW YORK TRATTORIA at WDW Swan Resort ($40 Menu)
APPETIZERS
Insalata Trattoria
local farmers greens, radish, red onion, feta cheese, Marcona almonds, sundried tomato vinaigrette, toasted focaccia croutons
Minestrone
vegetable soup with orecchiette and pesto
Insalate Caesar
the classic Il Mulino Caesar salad
MAIN COURSE
Rigatoni con Fungi
rigatoni pasta with wild mushrooms, italian cherry peppers, garlic and truffle oil
Pollo Scarpariello
hand cut chicken with garlic, white wine, wild mushrooms, and spicy cherry peppers
Ravioli al Formaggio
ricotta cheese filled ravioli with tomato basil sauce, Parmesan cheese and parsley
DESSERT
Torta di Cioccolati
flourless chocolate cake, whipped cream zabaglione
Tiramisu
layered espresso and coffee liqueur infused lady fingers coated with mascarpone cream
Frutti di Bosco con Zabaglione
mixed berries served with whipped cream and zabaglione cream
AMARE AT SWAN RESERVE AT WDW Swan Reserve ($40 Menu)
APPETIZERS
Chargrilled Pepper Crostino
chargrilled crostino topped with marinated grilled bell peppers, parsley, grated manchego cheese
Mediterranean Dips
grilled pita bread served with red pepper muhammara dip, garlic toum yogurt dip, mint chermoula dip
Taverna Salad
local organic greens, red onions, kalamata olives, cucumbers, marinated artichoke hearts, black pepper honey vinaigrette
MAIN COURSE
Grilled Souvlaki
your choice of two grilled tender chicken or angus beef skewers, with crispy potatoes, tabbouleh, pesto, harissa spiced hummus, and warm pita bread
Romesco Chicken
fennel marinated roasted chicken breast, paprikash style braised thigh, house made pappardelle pasta, organic vegetables, cauliflower puree, roasted red pepper and walnut romesco sauce
La Margherita
tomato basil, tuscan olive oil, ricotta and provolone cheeses
DESSERT
Amaro Flavored Sokolatina
layered flourless chocolate sponge cake, dark chocolate mousse, chocolate sauce
Greek Yogurt Cheesecake
rich custard of greek styled yogurt, cream cheese, seasonal berries, hand pressed golden graham crust
Pistachio Caragli
baked crispy sweetened filo, sicilian pistachio, organic gallberry honey syrup, sour amarena cherries
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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.
