Family, travel, mom blog | Theme Park Mom (Leigh Caldwell)

The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin has announced a new event: the Food & Wine Classic. This event will be held during the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival this fall.

On Friday, Oct. 8 and Saturday, Oct. 9, the Swan and Dolphin will offer beverage seminars, live music, and tastings from some of the great restaurants at the resort, including Todd English’s bluezoo, Shula’s Steak House and Kimonos.

The beverage seminars include education on wine blending, rieslings, sake, craft beers, champagne and mixology.

You can attend the Food & Wine Classic as part of a package with a hotel stay, or you can buy a ticket to just come to the festival. Here are your choices:

• Hotel packages come at a special (great!) rate of $169 per night, which includes a beverage seminar for two plus unlimited food and beverage samplings. You can book this for one or two nights – the tasting stations will be different each night of the event.
• Advance purchase event-only tickets are $50, which include one beverage seminar and unlimited samplings for one night of the event.
• You can also buy food and wine samplings a la carte – tickets are $2 each or 25 tickets for $45. Or you can buy a wristband that gets you unlimited samplings for $50 on the day of the event.

For reservations, call 1-888-828-8850 and refer to rate code FWCLAS. For seminar reservations only, please call 407-934-1609.

I am beyond excited about this event and trying to rearrange my October schedule right now so that I can be there both nights. I am a huge fan of the restaurants at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, and I’m sure this event will be top-notch.

Free dining can be a great savings for families traveling to Walt Disney World. It’s a deal that has traditionally been offered in the fall, but today, Walt Disney World extended the dates for free dining through many weeks in 2011!

Here are the dates when you can now book free dining at Walt Disney World:

2010

• Oct. 1-7
• Oct. 22-28
• Nov. 12-18
• Nov. 27 – Dec. 2
• Dec. 10-21

2011

• Jan. 1-5
• Jan. 9-13
• Jan. 21 – Feb. 3
• Feb. 11-17
• Feb. 25 – March 3
• May 27 – June 2
• Aug. 19 – Sept. 29

You need to buy at least a 4-night/5-day Magic Your Way package to get free dining at Walt Disney World.

If you stay in a Deluxe or Moderate resort, you will get the Disney Dining Plan for free. If you stay in a Value resort, you get the Quick Service Dining Plan.

Some of these dates will book up very quickly now that this discount has been announced.

My family loves free dining, but it might not be the best deal for every family. I suggest using a Disney-only travel agency to learn the ins and outs of this deal and decide if it’s the right one for you. If you’re looking for an agent, I recommend the Magic Makers at Enchanted Destinations.

Walt Disney World has announced some of the benefits available in the Magic Your Way Packages for 2011. In addition to your lodging and park tickets, the 2011 travel packages will include:

• A 15% discount on the regular hourly rate at a Children’s Activity Center at a select Disney Resort hotel
• A 15% discount on select services of 50 minutes or greater at Niki Bryan Spa locations at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa or Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
• A Walt Disney World marina discount giving guests 15% off the regular price of any boat rental and 15% off the regular price of select Guided Bass Fishing Excursions at participating marina locations

2011 Walt Disney World packages can be booked now. A Disney travel agent can help you get the best deal. My favorite agents are the magic makers at Enchanted Destinations.

Today is the 15th birthday of my favorite Walt Disney World restaurant, Disney’s California Grill.

The California Grill is on the top floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and it has a spectacular view of the Magic Kingdom and the Seven Seas Lagoon.

For me, the restaurant is the ultimate Disney date night. Great food, great wine and a great view of the Magic Kingdom fireworks.

The restaurant features California wines, and the wine list changes daily. I am always amazed at how well my server knows the wine list, and I have never gotten a bad recommendation.

The menu at California Grill changes regularly, but there are some mainstays that are my favorites. I love the grilled pork tenderloin with goat-cheese polenta, and the filet. The cheese board is also one of my favorite cheese courses at Walt Disney World.

Disney has created a special cocktail to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Disney’s California Grill. It’s called the Golden Gate Cocktail, and I can’t wait to try it. Here’s the recipe:

• 1 1/4 ounces Remy Martin VSOP Cognac
• 3/4 ounce Amaretto Disaronno
• 1/2 ounce cranberry juice
• Orange slice, for garnish
• Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a martini glass.
• Squeeze the slice or orange into the drink.

If you’ve never tried the California Grill, it’s a great splurge for your next Walt Disney World trip. You will need a reservation. You can make one online or by calling (407) WDW-DINE.