Paradiso 37 Brings Street Food to Downtown Disney

Disney is full of numbers. There are 101 Dalmations, Club 33, D23 and now at Downtown Disney, Paradiso 37. Since the closing of the Pleasure Island clubs last year, many wonder what will be the fate of the Downtown Disney area. The Marketplace has a great draw thanks to the incredible shopping options it offers Disney fanatics, but on the other side of the center is the void created by the closing of the Pleasure Island dance clubs.

Raglan Road, a delicious Irish restaurant, is the one of the quieter area’s saving graces, but now with Paradiso 37, it’s obvious the west side of Downtown Disney is slowly coming back to life. Located opposite the Harley Davidson store, Paradiso 37 offers the best street food inspired cuisine from all of the American continents; North, South and Central. In keeping with the numbers theme, they feature an incredible tequila bar with 37 varieties of tequila from across the globe. For the margarita lovers, the restaurant boasts ten different varieties, with the mango margarita as their signature drink.

The food selections are inspired by 37 different countries in the Americas. The menu has a wide range of options from American macaroni and cheese to El Salvadorian pupusas, so you’re sure to enjoy your own culinary journey in the restaurant’s airy atmosphere. We love to start off our meal with the Queso Fundido, a delicious pot of the chef’s special melted cheeses flavored with cilantro and chiles. Have your cheese with either warm flour tortillas or crispy tortilla chips. For your main course, a great choice for a big appetite is the Paradiso 37 Surf and Turf. Enjoy grilled BBQ shrimp and Argentinean skirt steak served with corn on the cob and street style potato pancakes. Last but not least, a great dessert to try is the Paradiso 37 sundae. Beautifully presented in a fresh coconut shell, this sundae brings vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice creams with chocolate dipped bananas. This sinful sundae is topped with chocolate sauce, sprinkles, whipped cream and the quintessential cherry. Lunch and Dinner menus are available from the restaurant as well as a large alcohol menu.

The interior is fun and colorful with a great patio seating option that lets you look out at the rest of Downtown Disney and its shimmering lake. Everything is presented with its own flair, from the bubble glasses you get with your water to the colorful furniture and tequila bottle chandeliers overhead. It’s a great place to settle down after a long day of shopping at the Downtown Disney Marketplace and enjoy the various live entertainment Paradiso 37 plans to have every night. This is a great start to reviving the wonderful entertainment, dining and shopping complex that is Downtown Disney.

Eat Up at Animal Kingdom

Disney’s Animal Kingdom first opened its doors in 1998 with the popular “Not a Zoo” slogan. It is one of the most popular Orlando theme parks and a favorite with the Disney crowd. Animal Kingdom is always packed, so make sure to get discount Disney tickets to Animal Kingdom before your visit. The $1 Billion dollar park contains the Animal Kingdom Lodge, an African-style lodge located in the Animal Kingdom area. The Animal Kingdom Lodge sits on Disney’s 33-acre wildlife preserve and is one of 8 Disney Deluxe Resort Hotels. Where else in the United States could you open your windows to see zebras and giraffes walking by?

Walt Disney World is making sure to keep their visitors happy by adding great things to their parks year round. Food is always an important part of a theme park visit, especially in larger parks like Animal Kingdom that require tons of walking. Any chance to take a rest and have a snack is appreciated while on your own animal adventure! The latest culinary addition to the Animal Kingdom family is the Sanaa restaurant. Sanaa, pronounced “sah-NAH”, is named after the Swahili word for “artwork.” This sit-down restaurant features African and Indian foods including Tandoori chicken and lamb Kefta, all creatively presented with an artistic touch. Sanaa sits 150 visitors and is located within the Kidani Village resort, which is part of the Disney Vacation Club Family.

If a restaurant setting doesn’t fit your sense of adventure, Animal Kingdom is also offering Picnic in the Park. This feature, which debuted in April, offers visitors to the part a chance to picnic in 16 spots throughout the park. Picnic lunches can be ordered at the Island Mercantile Store on Discovery Island and picked up at the Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery. Picnic lunches can be ordered for groups of 2-6 people at prices ranging from approximately $20-$60 US dollars. Each lunch brings utensils and condiments. Keeping with the nature-friendly theme of Animal Kingdom and the Walt Disney World Resort, the picnic lunches come in reusable green bags with the “Every Tree Has Character” slogan.

Like in all Orlando theme parks, there are various restaurants and snack shops to fulfill your thirst and hunger at the Animal Kingdom. But Sanaa and Picnic in the Park provide two brand new options that will fit the personalities of any Disney-goer. Bon Appétit!

Pleasure Island Heats Up This Spring

It started with the opening of new stores like Tren-D and Disney Design-A-Tee early this year, and then guests were offered an amazing new experience earlier this month in the form of Characters in Flight, a hot air balloon ride taking off from the waterfront and hovering over Walt Disney World. Now, even more fun additions are being made to Downtown Disney’s Pleasure Island, and they can leave no doubt that Walt Disney World is working hard to improve everyone’s favorite entertainment district in time for vacation season in Orlando, Florida.

First up, there’s no denying that the closing of Pleasure Island’s nightclubs has left a void in Downtown Disney. However, Disney is now filling at least some of that absence with a new nightly celebration that takes the parties that once existed inside the nightclubs and moves them right to the streets. “Celebrate Tonight!” is an energetic street party hosted by Disney DJs who will spin the latest and greatest of party hits. Perfect for anyone celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or just having fun, this new celebration is themed to match with Disney’s What Will You Celebrate? promotion and invites everyone to celebrate along – no matter what the occasion.

As part of the fun, guests are invited to join in on popular group dances and participate in sing-alongs. There’ll also be stilt walkers and a party crew to get the crowd motivated and excited. “Celebrate Tonight!” will be held every night in the West End Plaza of Pleasure Island, with the party carrying on from 5 to 11 pm Sundays through Thursdays and 6 pm to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

And aside from a new party, spring will also see the opening of a new restaurant at Pleasure Island called Paradiso 37. This high energy restaurant and bar will arrive in early May and bring with it cuisine from North, South, and Central America for a true paradise.

Located lakeside across from the now closed 8TRAX, Paradiso 37 will offer a delectable variety of menu offerings representing the 37 countries of Americas. Guests will also be able to sample an international wine bar, 37 varieties of tequila, and ten tasty signature frozen margaritas. In addition, this lively new addition to Pleasure Island will offer nightly entertainment, serving up food, drinks, and music until late into the evening.

Paradiso 37 is coming to Downtown Disney from the Orlando-based E-Brands Restaurant Group, which also owns and operates Timpano Chophouse, Samba Room, Taqueria Canonita, Aquaknox, David Burke, Salsa Orlando, and Canonita Express.

With a new restaurant and street party, it looks like Pleasure Island, which has been somewhat shy of pleasure for quite a while now, is coming back to life just in time for the summer. Take it as your cue to plan your Walt Disney World vacation, which can include fun days at the parks and exciting nights at Downtown Disney. Book your Walt Disney World tickets now at DWTickets.com and you’ll have made step one towards a pleasurable Disney getaway.

Eat in the Wild at Animal Kingdom

Only at Walt Disney World can you get up close and personal with animals like zebras and lions at Animal Kingdom through attractions like the Kilimanjaro Safari and Habitat Habit! and the savannah at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. And soon, through a new dining option offered at the park, guests will have the opportunity to eat among the animals for a wild dining experience with an ambience no other restaurant can provide.

With Picnic in the Park, guests can turn any meal at Animal Kingdom into an adventure – and there’s no planning or sandwich-making required. All guests have to do is pre-order their picnic at a guest relations office or the Tusker House Restaurant in the Harambe Village in the Africa area. Guests can then come back to pick up their picnic at a time of their choosing (so long as it’s no earlier than two hours after the order is placed) at the Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery next to the Tusker House. Once they do, it’s time to chow down as guests can take their picnic to one of 14 designated picnic spots around the park.

Guests can choose from various picnic options, including rotisserie chicken or ham and sandwiches like Turkey Focaccia, Chicken Wrap, Ham Grinder, or Tuna Pita. The feast also comes complete with various side options, like chips, coleslaw, corn, green beans, mac & cheese, orza pasta, and various kinds of potatoes and salad dishes. Rounding off the wild meal are desserts like brownies, cookies, cornbread, crisped rice treats, and fruits.

Each picnic comes in a reusable bag with plates, utensils, and a map marked with the picnic locations, and guests can order their picnics for a minimum of three people and a maximum of six. Picnic orders have to be placed between the hours of the park opening and 1:30 pm; if you’re on a Disney dining plan, a Picnic in the Park can be used as a Quick Service Meal.

Since Animal Kingdom doesn’t have as many eateries as other parks in Walt Disney World, picnicking is a much needed and unique new option, in addition to being affordable – a picnic for three costs between $24.99 and $29.99, and a picnic for six costs between $48.99 and $56.99. And afterwards, guests can digest at a comfortable and fun indoor Animal Kingdom show like It’s Tough to Be a Bug! or Finding Nemo The Musical.

To go on an animal adventure and dine within the exotic environments of Animal Kingdom, check out Walt Disney World tickets today at DWTickets.com. Picnicking in the Park will definitely add a whole new level of fun to your Animal Kingdom visit, not to mention give you an extra burst of energy for seeing and experiencing the park.

Have It Your Way at Universal CityWalk

The King has come to Orlando. No, we’re not talking about the King of Sweden or Saudi Arabia or even Elvis; we mean the Burger King, which has brought its Whopper goodness to Universal Orlando CityWalk in a new restaurant that’s the first of its kind anywhere. This week saw the opening of three new restaurants in the Universal Studios entertainment district, giving guests new options for great dining and casual fun.

Panda Express, Moe’s Southwest Grill, and the world’s first Burger King Whopper Bar are the new additions, housed together in one connected dining area on the second level of CityWalk. Open for lunch and dinner, each of the three new restaurants offers guests delicious food prepared right before your eyes. After placing and picking up their order, guests can then make their way into a new modern and trendy dining room outfitted with posh booths and tables.

Part of the family-owned national chain, Panda Express will serve up fresh, high quality Chinese food served hot; Panda’s highly-skilled chefs use the ancient Chinese art of wok cooking to prepare crisp and tangy favorites like Orange Chicken and Beijing Beef. Moe’s Southwestern Grill, meanwhile, will serve fresh, made-to-order southwest flare, with signature items such as the Homewrecker Burrito and Joe Coctostan Quesadilla. Complimentary chips and salsa come with every meal, as well as warm, exceptional service.

The Whopper Bar, however, will really make a unique mark on CityWalk’s dining with a new restaurant concept that takes Burger King’s “Have It Your Way” philosophy to new heights. There, guests will be able to enjoy premium and customizable selections off a new Whopper-based menu with interesting variations of the original Whopper. And when they say “have it your way,” they mean any way – guests will be able to dress their burger with unique toppings like jalapenos, Parmesan peppercorn sauce, sautéed mushrooms, and onion rings. They’ll even be able to opt for “extra thick” burgers.

Though the restaurant’s name may suggest otherwise, there’s no alcohol served at the Whopper Bar – just juicy whoppers, and in the morning, breakfast items like Croissan’wiches, French toast sticks, and hash browns. The restaurant has a sign indicating that the Orlando location is the world’s first.

A 30-acre complex filled with nightclubs, premier restaurants, and live entertainment, Universal CityWalk is one of Orlando’s hottest nightspots. When it came to dining, however, Universal CityWalk big wigs saw something missing in the area’s offerings.

“We saw a desire for quick, casual meals among our guests,” said Ric Florell, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Resort Revenue Operations. The three new restaurants were their answer to the void.

Great for fueling up in the morning before hitting Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure, Whopper Bar, Panda Express, and Moe’s Southwest Grill are sure to be popular spots at CityWalk. Be sure to check these eateries out next time you pass through Universal Studios, and remember to get your Universal Orlando tickets at DWTickets.com before you go so you’ll have more money left over for noshing.

New Downtown Disney T-Rex Café is Dino-Mite

Downtown Disney, known to visitors from all over for its amazing restaurants and shops, now has a new reason to attract visitors, especially families. The T-Rex Cafe, which opened on October 14th, is more than just a restaurant; it is a complete attraction, with retail, dining, and fun activities for adults and kids alike.

T-Rex, which is owned by Rainforest Cafe owners Landry Restaurants, creates an interactive prehistoric environment, with décor centered on water, fire, and ice. The restaurant has been designed to make visitors say, “Wow,” with an exact life-size replica of a 140-foot long Argentinosaurus outside and a 5,000 gallon shark tank and robotic octopus on the inside. Kids will love the large animatronic dinosaurs ensconced in the walls along with real fossils, and the cascading waterfalls and bubbling geysers make it a nice setting for adults, too. The Geo-Tech and Ice Cave rooms are also particularly neat, with their flaming walls and glowing, color-changing ceilings.

Kids will be able to have fun before or after dinner with the restaurant’s many activities. In the fun and educational Paleo Zone, little ones can learn on interactive screens and play in multiple exploration areas. They can excavate in the "dirt" in the Discovery Dig area, or explore the mine and pan for precious stones, minerals, or fossils in Discovery Creek. T-Rex is a great place for children to act out their curious natures and have fun exploring and learning. And if nothing else, it’s also a great way to get them to burn off the sugar from dessert.

And though it might be easy to forget, T-Rex is, after all, a restaurant. So how is the food, you ask? T-Rex offers a surprisingly wide selection of American fare, including appetizers, soups, salads, pizzas, pastas, burgers, sandwiches, meat entrees, and dessert. Think T.G.I. Fridays, but with catchy dinosaur-themed names. The restaurant actually has a wood-burning pizza oven in its “Kitchen of Fire,” and guests have the option of designing their own custom pizza. The Mammoth Mushroom Raviolis are also quite nice, cooked in a lobster cream sauce with Roma tomatoes and fresh spinach. The most creative options on the menu, though, are the seafood and sandwiches, with unique offerings like the Tarragon Chicken Salad sandwich, which includes a Rotisserie chicken pulled and tossed with tarragon, celery, onions, toasted almonds, and mayo on a toasted hoagie roll. And herbivores need not worry – there are some vegetarian options available. There is also a separate menu for children.

T-Rex also features a wide array of souvenirs, apparel, toys, and other dinosaur-related merchandise. Children will especially enjoy building their own stuffed dinosaur friend with the first-ever Build-A-Dino, by the makers of the Build-A-Bear Workshop. It’s not all fun and games just for children, however. T-Rex features a full-service “Shark Bar.”

The 600-seat restaurant has been widely anticipated since its construction began in October 2007. With Walt Disney World’s recent closure of six Pleasure Island nightclubs and their family-oriented replacements nearly two years away, T-Rex is fulfilling a need for dining space in Pleasure Island.

So be sure to stop by T-Rex and have your own prehistoric adventure. And while you’re there, don’t forget to actually eat!