Tag: Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort

New 10-Course Menu at Victoria & Albert’s Expands Exquisite Dining Experience

Victoria & Alberts

With the distinction of being the only AAA Five Diamond restaurant in Central Florida (and one of only three in the state), Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa continues to raise the bar.

The award-winning dining room is adding a new Chef’s Degustation Menu, a series of 10 small courses featuring some of Chef Scott Hunnel’s favorite dishes inspired by the seasons and by his world travels to Asia, Spain, Italy and France. The seven-course Chef’s Tasting Menu will remain, and the kitchen will continue to meld tradition with innovative cuisine “for an avant-garde culinary journey,” says Israel Perez, maître d’hôtel.

Other big changes include a focus on food-and-wine pairings in the adjacent Queen Victoria Room. With just eight seats, diners will be offered Chef Hunnel’s 10-course menu paired with exclusive wines from Victoria & Albert’s impressive wine cellar. “The wine pairings will be exclusive to the private room, and we want to enlighten our guests about how the chef and sommelier work together to perfectly pair food and drink,” says Perez.

Adding the 10-course menu in the main dining room creates a more leisurely dining experience, and other special tableside touches have been added, such as a cheese trolley, tableside butter carving and a custom chocolate box for selecting post-prandial sweets.

The popular Chef’s Table, tucked in a cozy kitchen alcove with a front-row seat for watching the action in the kitchen, continues to offer 10 to 13 courses, small tastes of everything from caviar to Japanese Wagyu beef, paired with wine and spirits. The dinner lasts nearly four hours, the time filled with delectable tastes and conversations with the chef and his team.

“Diners now have a choice of three distinct dining experiences with food-and-wine pairings in Queen Victoria Room, two menus in the main dining room and the Chef’s Table in the kitchen,” says Perez. “Whichever they choose, they will enjoy the finest quality ingredients and impeccable service.”

The seven-course menu is $185 ($250 with wine pairings); the 10-course menu is $235 ($340 with wine pairings). Dinner in the Queen Victoria Room is $340, and includes 10 courses paired with wine. The Chef’s Table in the kitchen is $250. The restaurant is open daily for dinner. For reservations, call 407-939-3862.

Disney Files Permits for Grand Floridian Renovation

grand-floridian-resort

It appears that one of Walt Disney World’s top resorts will be getting some upgrades.

A large portion of Disney’s Grand Floridian’s inventory will be getting a “suites renovation” that started on April 9th, according to a notice of commencement filed with Orange County.

The documents identify five buildings are going to be renovated, including Big Pine Key, Boca Chica, Conch Key, Sugar Loaf Key and Sago Cay.

Disney has been aggressively improving its hotel and lodging options, including the recently opened Polynesian Resort bungalows.

Contemporary Resort & Grand Floridian Resort Offers Special Easter Brunch

grand-floridian-resort

Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort are both offering a special Easter Brunch on Sunday April 5th.

Available only to guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resor hotel, both will feature a buffet, floral displays and character meet and greets. At the Contemporary, the brunch will be located in the Ballroom of the Americas, where guests will be able to meet Thumper and Miss Bunny. Seating times are 10:00am-11:30am, 12:00pm-1:30pm, and 2:00pm-3:30pm.

Over at the Grand Floridian, guests can meet Mr and Mrs Easter Bunny hosted at the Grand Floridian Ballroom, with seating times of 10:30am-12:00pm, 12:30pm-2:00pm, 2:30pm-4:00pm.

At both hotels, the cost is $49.00 (ages 10+) and $27.00 (ages 3-9). Prices are inclusive of tax and gratuity. Brunch buffet includes unlimited regular and decaffeinated coffee, hot tea and iced tea. Mimosas and Bloody Marys may be purchased separately. No discounts are available, and it is not on the Disney Dining Plan. The brunch can be booked at the resort concierge desk.

Disney’s Contemporary Resort Easter Brunch menu

Florida Farm to Table Vegetable Display

Grilled Bell Peppers
Charred Asparagus
Marinated Immokalee Tomatoes with Balsamic and Virgin Olive Oil

Florida Seasonal and Tropical Fruit Display

“Plant City” Strawberries
Melons
“Central Florida” Watermelon
“Indian River” Ruby Red Grapefruit

From our Florida Garden

“East Coast Florida” Red Watercress, Arugula and Baby Spinach Salad-Tupelo Honey and Balsamic Vinaigrette
“Mt. Dora” Triple Sweet Corn Salad with “Winter Haven” Teardrop Tomatoes

“Minnie” Buffet

Tossed Green Salad, French Dressing & Lite Italian Vinaigrette
Carrot Sticks with Ranch Dip
Chicken Fingers with Honey- Mustard, BBQ Sauces
Potato Barrels with Ketchup
“Minnie” Jelly Bean Cup Cakes

Action Stations

Egg Omelets to order with Choice of Toppings
Hand-carved and Slow Roasted Honey-Glazed Ham

Hot Food

Gluten-free & Vegetarian Quiche with Leek, Caramelized & Gruyere Cheese
Sausage and Smoked Bacon,
Chicken and Dumplings
“Port Canaveral” Shrimp Cheesy Grits
Scrambled Eggs
Candied Baby Carrots
“Delray Beach” Organic Green Beans with Toasted Almonds
Oven Roasted Marble Potatoes

Dessert

Macaroons
Mini Easter Egg Cheesecake
Plant City Strawberry Tartlets
Citrus and Chocolate Mousse

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Easter Brunch menu

 

Easter Salad

Chopped Romaine & Petite Greens, Purple Orchid Petals, Carrot Ribbons, Heirloom Tomatoes, Macerated Cucumbers, Roast Garlic Croutons
Served With Wild Berry Vinaigrette Or Creamy Watercress Ranch

Soups

Chilled Strawberry Soup Shooters

Entrees

Potato Hash Topped

Scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese and chives

Roasted bacon, blueberry chicken sausage

Royal Herb Grilled Chicken Breast
With Sautéed Prosciutto, Leeks, and a Gruyere Cream Sauce

Pan Seared Filet Of Salmon, With A Citrus Beurre Blanc, Pickled Radish Salad and Lime

Mustard & Molasses Glazed Ham
Served With Mustard, Cranberry Sauce, And A Peppered Maple
Mayonnaise

For the Kids

Mac and cheese
Pasta with tomato sauce
Crispy chicken nuggets
Steamed broccoli
Diced fresh fruit

Croissant: Plain & Whole Grain?
Citrus muffins
Hot cross buns
Bunny cupcakes?
Mickey shaped chocolate tarts

Victoria & Albert’s Chef Scott Hunnel Nominated for 2015 James Beard Award

Scott Hunnel

Congrats to Chef Scott Hunnel, a semi-finalist for the prestigious Best Chef award for the South Region by the James Beard Foundation. Chef Hunnel leads the team at Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (already a AAA Five-Diamond winner).

He’s among 20 chefs from Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Puerto Rico nominated for the honor. The final ballot will be announced on March 24, with chefs chosen by regional judges. Winners will be announced in Chicago on May 4.

With only 53 coveted seats in the dining room, plus the opulent (and even smaller) Queen Victoria’s Room and private Chef’s Table in the kitchen, Chef Scott sources the freshest seasonal ingredients from around the globe in a menu that changes daily.

Good luck, Chef Scott!

Walt Disney World Monorail System Operating Revised Resort/Express Beam Routes During February and March

Monorail Gold

The Walt Disney World Resort Monorail System will be operating revised routes on both the Resort and Express beams over the next couple of months.

The changes listed below will be in operation February 3 – 5, February 9 – 12, February 23 – 26, March 2 – 5 of this year, between the hours of 11am and 7pm.

  • Monorails on the Resort beam will stop at Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort only.
  • Monorails on the Express beam will stop at the Magic Kingdom, Transportation and Ticket Center and Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

The above changes mean that resort beam guests who wish to get to Epcot will have to first get to the TTC by using the Express beam, and then change to the Epcot beam. Alternatively, direct buses will serve the resorts for travel to Epcot.  Also….remember that the TTC is a short walk from Disney’s Polynesian Village, so if you can get to the Poly on the resort beam you will be able to get to the TTC fairly easily.

Walt Disney World Shuffles Hotel Leadership

grand-floridian-resort

Disney has made some changes to the leadership team for the Walt Disney World hotels, including the changing of personnel, and creating new positions.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort will each now have a dedicated general manager instead of a shared position. Kim Marinaccio takes on the role at the Grand Floridian, moving from Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Norm Noble holds the GM role at the Polynesian after previously running both the Polynesian and Grand Floridian.  Kent Mitchell is moving from the GM position at the Contemporary to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Kidani Village.

Overseeing the deluxe resorts will be Tracey Powell in a new position of vice president, Deluxe Resorts, based at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Tracey has previously held positions in Theme Parks and Resort Pricing, along with most recent roles in revenue Management and Analytics.

The changes come as part of a wider reorganization of the resort hotel leadership, which saw Josh D’Amaro taking up the role of senior vice present, Resort and Transportation Operations earlier this year.

Cinderella Dining at Citricos During Cinderellla’s Royal Table Rehab

Citricos

Beginning January 8, 2015, the Disney princesses will welcome guests to Cítricos at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa while we spruce up Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom Park. Reservations are available for Walt Disney World Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members beginning December 3. Reservations open to all guests on December 4.

Cinderella will be there to greet guests as they arrive, and the Disney princesses will visit each table for photos and autographs during the dining experience. Diners also can participate in an interactive “Magical Wishing Ceremony” with Cinderella and the Disney Princesses, with “wishing wands” and “wishing swords” for little ones.

Breakfast and brunch hours are 8 a.m.-2:20 p.m., and cost is $49.99; $31.99 ages 3-9. The experience is on the Disney Dining Plan (2 entitlements). For reservations call 407-WDW-DINE. Online reservations and information will be available at a later date.

TripAdvisor Names Victoria & Alberts One of the Top 5 Restaurants in the US

Victoria & Albert's

Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa was honored as one of the Top 5 restaurants in the United States in TripAdvisor’s 2014 Travelers’ Choice awards.

The Walt Disney World Resort restaurant is the only Florida restaurant on the illustrious list. “One-of-a-kind dining experience in Orlando – worth it!” and “A special meal in a special place,” reads the TripAdvisor website.

Victoria & Albert’s also is a AAA Five-Diamond Award winner, one of just two in Florida. Under the helm of Chef Scott Hunnel, maître d hotel Israel Perez and Pastry Chef Erich Herbitschek, the restaurant features some of the very best seasonal ingredients from local markets, as well as from around the world.

TripAdvisor branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, according to the website, reaching nearly 280 million unique monthly visitors and more than 170 million reviews and opinions covering more than 4 million accommodations, restaurants and attractions.

The awards honor top travel spots worldwide based on millions of reviews and opinions from TripAdvisor travelers. Award winners were determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews for restaurants worldwide, gathered over a 12-month period.

Congrats to Chef Scott, Israel, Chef Erich and the entire Victoria & Albert’s team!

WDW Testing New Bus Route Between Monorail Resorts and Typhoon Lagoon

Disney Buses

Disney will be testing a new bus route between the Magic Kingdom monorail resort hotels and Typhoon Lagoon next week.

Starting October 12th and lasting through October 25th, the bus route will travel between Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Typhoon Lagoon.

The new route should now provide direct service from Typhoon Lagoon after 2pm. The current routing leaves the monorail resort guests having to transfer back to their hotels via the monorail from Epcot.

Grand Floridian’s Garden View Tea Room Closes for Refurbishment

grand-floridian-resort

The Garden View Tea Room at Disney’s Grand Floridian closed today to begin a nearly 8 week refurbishment.

The Garden View Tea Room is scheduled to reopen to guests on August 30, 2014.

During the closure, the My Disney Girl’s Perfectly Princess Tea Party will be relocated to Citricos restaurant at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.

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