Le Chefs de France: Restaurant Review

Name: Le Chefs de France
Location: Epcot, in the World Showcase France Pavilion
Cuisine: French
Type: Table Service
Good For Those Who:  Like things made with gruyere cheese and lots of cream.
Price Range: Listed in the $$ range, which is about $15-$35 per person. Lunch entrees are $20-$25 ish, and dinner entrees are closer to $30.
Times: Lunch from 12:00pm to 3:00pm, dinner from 4:30pm to 9:00pm.
Reservations: Strongly recommended. You can make one on the Walt Disney World website.

An outside view of the restaurant.

Impressions de France: Attraction Review

Name: Impressions de France
Type: Short Film
Location: Epcot, in the World Showcase France Pavilion
The Gist: An 18-minute widescreen tour of France, set to the music of French composers such as Saint Saens and Dubussy (thanks, Google!). Features some of the most scenic and famous locations in France.
A Must-Do For: Francophiles, classical music fans, people who need an air-conditioned space to sit for 18 minutes.
Avoid If: You have small children who are likely to randomly start crying. Be nice, don't ruin the show for others. Kids don't care about this one, anyway. Its for adult tastes.
Lines and Other Tips: Not a line, really, but you have to wait until the next show is over, which would at most be 18 minutes, I guess. Btw, this is the one World Showcase film (out of France, Canada and China) that lets you sit down. In actual seats. If you've been walking all day, it makes a difference.

I love Impressions de France, I honestly do. Almost my favorite thing in the World Showcase (almost). The music is wonderful, the the scenes are beautiful, and it always makes me wish I could afford to go to France. I guess I will just have to settle for watching this over and over, getting pastries from the bakery next door, and staring at the fake Eiffel Tower. *Sight*.

xoxo, Lily

Boulangerie Patissirie: Food Review

Name: Boulangerie Patisserie
Location: Epcot, in the World Showcase France Pavilion
Cuisine: French
Type: Counter-Service
Serving: French pastries (this is essentially a bakery), along with coffees, quiches, and sandwhiches for a light snack.
Good For Those Who: Like flaky pastry and things with lots of cream.
Price Range: Listed in Disney's $ range, which is technically $15 or less. Most things her run about $5-$8, seeing that they serve snack-type things.
Times: All day (well, from 11 a.m. on, since that is when the showcase opens). Good place for a light lunch, snack or dessert.
Reservations: None taken.
My Recommendation: I always get the chocolate mousse (not even a pastry, I'm aware, but I like it!). But, the napoleons come highly recommended by my mother and sister.
Healtheir Option: Um... it's a bakery, I mean...

Don't ask me how to pronounce it, I don't know either. But anyway you slice it, this is always my go-to place for dessert at Epcot. It smells heavenly, and they have a ton of options. You really can't go wrong.

xoxo, Lily

*Note: Food prices and menu options are subject to change at any time, so I can't guarantee my information will always be accurate.

**Also, the "healthier options" I give are simply based on my knowledge of healthy eating and nutrition. I am not a doctor! For specific information regarding calories and such, I suggest contacting the individual restaurants via the Disney World website.

Living With the Land: Ride Review

Name: Living With the Land
Type: Ride, Slow Boat Ride
Location: Epcot, in the World Showcase Land Pavilion
The Gist: Learn about human interaction with nature and ride through actual greenhouses to see some newfangled eco-friendly techniques for growing food (the food they grow here is actually served in the restaurants at Epcot).
A Must-Do For: People interested in plants, agriculture, and/or being environmentally friendly.
Avoid If: You are adverse to being educated while at Disney World.
Fear Factor: 1/10. A calm, slow, educational experience- nothing scary.
Lines and Other Tips: Usually, the wait times for this are easy, probably the longest I have ever waited is 15 or so minutes. Keep in mind that this ride does not usually run long after dark, so if it is a must-do for you, don't put it off.

Ok... so, I know this one sounds totally boring, and yeah, it probably will be for kids, but I personally love it. Just a nice, easy, and interesting experience at Epcot. It actually is sorta fascinating to see some of the crazy ways they grow food.

xoxo, Lily

Teppan Edo: Restaurant Review

Name: Teppan Edo
Location: Epcot, in the World Showcase Japan Pavilion
Cuisine: Japanese
Type: Sit-Down
Good For Those Who: Like the type of restaurants where the chefs cook your food on the table in front of you.
Price Range: Disney lists this location in their $$ range, which means everything is between $15-$35.99 per person. The entrees here run around $28 or so at both lunch and dinner.
Times: Lunch is 12-3:45pm, and dinner is 4-9pm.
Reservations: Try to have them. You'd be really lucky to get in without one. Reservations can be made at the WDW website.
What You Get: Basically, you choose the meat you want from the menu, and the chefs come to your table (which you usually will share with another party) and prepare it in front of you, along with rice, noodles, and veggies, which are included with all the entrees.

If you've ever been to Kobe, or anyplace like that, you know the drill here.

I feel like a Disney traitor just saying this... but, in my honest opinion, if you are looking for this type of food, just go to Kobe. They give you more food, it tastes better, and the prices are slightly cheaper. And there are like a million locations around Orlando, including some near Disney. Sorry, Epcot, you loose on this one. If you are looking to eat in the park, you have more unique options, in my honest opinion:)

xoxo, Lily

Ellen's Energy Adventure: Ride Review

Name: Ellen's Energy Adventure
Type:Half Movie, half very slow-moving ride
Location: Epcot, in Futureworld, in the Universe of Energy Pavilion
The Gist: Ellen DeGeneres and Bill Nye the Science Guy team up to teach riders about the varies sources of energy.
A Must-Do For: Fans of Ellen DeGeneres and Bill Nye the Science Guy (they actually work quite well together on-screen).
Avoid If: You don't belive in evolution or would be bothered by some midly outdated facts about energy production (global warming is basically just glossed over. This ride is pretty old...).
Fear Factor: 2/10. There are some loud noises, and parts of it get a little dark. There are some dinosaur animatronics, but don't worry, they are much less realistic and friendlier than those on that Animal Kingdom ride.

Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room: Restaurant Review

Name: Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room
Location: Epcot, in the World Showcase United Kingdom Pavilion
Cuisine: British
Type: Table Service
Good For Those Who: Like meat pies, fish & chips or sausages; you like adorable British guys (this place is crawling with them!).
Price Range: Disney lists this location in their $$ range, which means $15-$35.99 per person. At both lunch and dinner, entrees run about $15-$20, on average, although the selections vary.
Times: Lunch: 12-3:20pm, dinner: 4-8pm.
Reservations: Good to have them, but if you go and put your name in right at 12, you should be able to get a table without one.

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros: Ride Review

Name: Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros
Type: Ride, slow boat ride
Location: Epcot, in the World Showcase Mexico Pavilion
The Gist: Panchito and Jose Carioca (from the 1944 Disney film The Three Caballeros) go searching for Donald Duck through scenic Mexico, drift along with them in this leisurely boat ride.
A Must-Do For: Guests with children who are otherwise board with the World Showcase
Avoid If: You find Donald Duck a bit grating (Not to say I'd blame you... haha).
Fear Factor: 1/10. Nothing scary about this ride in the least, completely kid-friendly
Lines and Other Tips: This ride never has a wait. I mean, they don't even post wait times for this, because they are nonexistant. Don't let a line deter you, either, even if it seems there are a lot of people waiting, never fear. It always goes fast.

Via Napoli: Restaurant Review

Name: Via Napoli
Location: Epcot, in the World Showcase Italy Pavilion
Cuisine: Italian
Type: Table-Service
Good For Those Who: Want the most authentic Italian pizza you can get without actually going to Italy
Price Range: This restaurant falls into the $$ range, which is between $15 and $35.99 per person. The entrees here ran around $18 for individual pizzas and $20 or so for other dishes.
Times: Lunch served 11:30am to 3:15pm; dinner from 4:30pm to 9:00pm
Reservations: I would make them if you want to guarantee yourself a table. Probably going to be difficult otherwise. You can make reservations online on the WDW website.

Maelstrom: Ride Review

Name: Maelstrom
Type: Ride, Boat Ride
Location: Epcot, in the World Showcase Norway Pavilion
The Gist: Take an adventure through Norway and ride past vikings, polar bears, and even trolls.
A Must-Do For: People who want to educate themselves about culture while still going on a ride; people who like Vikings (who doesn't?); kids who want to do something more thrilling than the Grand Fiesta Tour but less thrilling than Test Track.
Avoid If: Hmm. Although this ride is not very scary, I remember being nervous when I was younger. There are some dark spaces, an angry polar bear animatronic, some angry troll animatronics, a short period of sailing backwards, and a small drop at the end. Adults will be fine, but small children could be frightened.
Fear Factor: 3/10 for the reasons listed above. To put it in persepctive, they don't even bother to give you seatbelts or lapbars. That should show you how tame this ride is by modern standards. Either way, note that this ride is probably less than 2 minutes long, so it will be over very soon if your kids freak out.

Restaurant Marrakesh: Restaurant Review

Name: Restaurant Marrakesh
Location: Epcot, in the World Showcase Moroccan Pavilion
Cuisine: Moroccan, obvs.
Type: Table Service
Good For Those Who: Like Bellydancers, want ethnic food a that's a little less obvious than like, Chinese
Price Range: Disney lists this in their $$ range, which is between $15 and $35.99. Entrees here run around $18 each at lunch and $25 for dinner.
Times: Lunch from 11:30am to 3:15am; dinner from 3:30pm to 9:00pm
Reservations: Recommended if you want to guarantee a table without a long wait. However, the one time I was here, we went for an early lunch, and there was barely anyone else in the whole place, so if you want to walk in, you may be able to do that if you go closer to 11:30.

The Seas with Nemo and Friends: Ride Review

Name: The Seas with Nemo and Friends
Type: Ride, Slow-moving
Location: Epcot, in Future World, in the Living Seas Pavilion
The Gist: Board a "clamobile" and travel through scenes from "Finding Nemo", ending up infront of an actual aquarium, where, in a clever bit of technology, characters from the film are projected amongst real dolphins, turtles, fish and sharks.
A Must-Do For: "Finding Nemo" fans, little kids who are bored with the other stuff at Epcot, people who like aquariums.

A view from outside.

Tangierine Cafe: Restaurant Review

Name: Tangierine Cafe
Location: Epcot, in the World Showcase Moroccan Pavilion
Cuisine: Moroccan
Type: Counter Service
Good For Those Who: Want more exotic food choices, such as couscous, falafel, and lamb.
Price Range: Disney lists this location in their $ range, which means everything is less than $14.99 per person. Entrees here run around $12 each.
Times: Lunch, dinner, and snacks (they have a small bakery area as well).
Reservations: None needed, since this is quickservice. Like I always say, to avoid the busiest times of day, eat before noon or after 2pm.
My recommendation: I like the falafel sandwhich. Like, do you even know how hard it is to find falafel in Orlando?? This is one of the few places I can get it, and it is good. The tangeierine couscous is also yummy.

Soarin': Ride Review

Name: Soarin'
Type: Ride, Simulator
Location: Epcot, in the Land Pavilion
The Gist: Take a peaceful, simulated hangliding flight over California. Basically, how it works, it you sit in rows of benches and then you are hoisted up over a giant screen, feet dangling and all.
A Must-Do For: People who like California, people who want to experience an attraction that is admittedly different from anything else you've ever done.
Avoid If: You are afraid of heights. Much of the ride features simulated height, and you actually are about 20 feet in the air. So not really for the acrophobic.
Fear Factor: If heights don't bother you, then this is 1/10. It is very peaceful and unscary.

Biergarten: Restaurant Review

Name: Biergarten Restaurant
Location: Epcot, in the World Showcase German Pavilion
Cuisine: German
Type: Buffet (ALL YOU CAN EAT!!!).
Good For Those Who: Like buffets; want to gain 10 pounds; like beer
Avoid If: You are on a diet that you wouldn't want to blow, you don't like sausages or potatoes, you want a relaxing dining experience. Also note that they seat you at communal tables with other guests, so if this would bother you... then go someplace else.
Price Range: Since this is a buffet, there is a set price per person. This is, of course, subject to change, but the sample menu lists $21.99 per person for lunch, and $32.99 per person for dinner. Drinks are separate costs, obvs.

Test Track: Ride Review

Name: Test Track
Type: Ride, fast-moving, racecar type thing
Location: Epcot, in Futureworld
The Gist: See how manufacteres test the cars we drive, and finish with a 64-mile-an-hour jaunt around the track. This is billed as being the longest ( meaning amount of disntance covered) and fastest (meaning speed-wise) attraction in Disney history.
A Must-Do For: Car buffs, people who want to do a thrill ride that is not too thrilling.
Avoid if: You think you would be bothered by high speeds.
Fear Factor: 4.5/10. Honestly, this ride is not that scary. It is not a roller coaster, there aren't really any drops, the speed is really just the thing. Originally, I was too scared to go on this one, but then my boyfriend made me, and I ended up loving it. I kind of thought that the speed would bother me more than it did. It actually doesn't bother me at all. This, to me, seems so different than when you go fast on a roller coaster. It basically happens on one plane, you aren't twisting and turning and droping and looping like on other rides. Kids love it, too. So does my mom, who freaks out on the Barnstormers. So that should tell you something.

San Angel Inn: Restaurant Review

Name: San Angel Inn
Location: Epcot, in the World Showcase, Mexico Pavilion
Cuisine:  Mexican
Type: Table Service
Good for Those Who: Like Mexican food; wish they could just live in the Mexican Pavilion because it is just awesome and beautiful and smells good. That is, people like me. Which is prolly no one...
Price Range: According to Disney's pricing system, this is a $$, which means everything is in the $15 to $35.99 range. Entrees at lunch run about $18 per person, while dinner runs about $25.
Times: Serves lunch and dinner
Reservations: I recommend you have one (they can be made on the WDW website), particularly for dinner. If you want to do an early lunch (like 11 a.m.) you may be able to get a table without one. This might be possible at other times too, but expect a wait.

Spaceship Earth: Ride Review

Name: Spaceship Earth
Type: Slow-moving, Educational
Location: Epcot, in Futureworld. Inside the big ball. Kinda hard to miss.
The Gist:  Relax as Judi Dench's voice narrates a trip back through time. You slowly move through different scenes in history and see how advances in communication brought about our modern technology-centered lifestyle. At the end, see what your future might look like (and what your face looks like on an animated body) with a silly interactive thing they do on a computer screen in front of you.


Cue the dramatic space-traveling music they always blast at the entrance to Epcot.

The Garden Grill: Restaurant Review

I have eaten at most restaurants at Disney World, and I thought it'd be helpful to provide some info and my thoughts on every place I've been- food at the parks does not come cheap, so it helps to know what you're getting before you go! I'll start with one of my all-time favorite restaurants, The Garden Grill.

Name: The Garden Grill Restaurant
Location: Epcot, Future World area in the Land Pavilion
Cuisine: American
Type: Table service, food served all you can eat, family style
Good for those who: Want a character dining experience, have an obsession with rotating restaurants, appreciate the value of sustainably-grown food.
Price Range: Disney lists this restaurant as a $$ on their pricing scale, which technically means $15-$35.99 per person. I can safely tell you that the prices here are much, much closer to the 35 end of that range than to the 15. The food is served family-style at a fixed price, which they do not list on the website, which I suspect is because it fluctuates occassionally. But, you can definitely count on it being at least $30 per person.