Lunar New Year with Uniqlo

Happy New Year, readers! Even as January comes to a close, you can still find ways to celebrate 2020. Uniqlo is a popular clothing store that sells Japanese casual fashion worldwide. For the last week, they have been celebrating Lunar New Year with many activities in Disney Springs. Taiko drum performances were held on January 24-25, featuring members of Epcot’s Matsuriza. You can win prizes by spinning Gara Gara wheel or pulling paper from Kuji wall; I got a paper fan and candy when I tried. Calligraphy is offered on first floor where you can get your name written in Japanese. I asked them to write Alex’s name as a gift for him. These in store events like these are available January 24-February 2, so come in soon for new year fun!

Kindered Pride Foundation Photography

 

Source: Photography Links

The Boathouse

The Boathouse at Disney Springs is a fabulous place to dine for a special occasion. There’s even a unique experience where you’ll be escorted by a driver in a classic car out in Lake Buena Vista. With a variety of dishes and an idyllic setting, it’s a great place to come together.

Cuisines at The Boathouse include American, seafood, and steakhouse styles. Alex here had the Sandwich King, featuring cherry peppers and jalapeno Havarti. A spicy hit for him. I myself had mac and cheese, which I believe had pimento in it. It made for a unique taste that wasn’t too overwhelming. Of course seafood is plentiful here, from baked lobster to tuna poke and much more. Different steaks are also available, including many filet Mignon. There’s something for everyone here.

One part of The Boathouse that stands out is the cars you may find out in Lake Buena Vista. These cruises can serve many purposes, whether you want a private outing or a small cruise with the family. You can get either thirty minutes or a full hour on the Venezia Champagne Cruise. On top of that, you’ll get champagne and chocolate covered strawberries! A twenty minute cruise in an Amphicar is also available. Live entertainment surrounds The Boathouse as well. Bugle performances and flag ceremonies can be found here.

The Boathouse is a fantastic restaurant with food and entertainment that goes well with its theme. With a variety of activities and cuisines to choose from, you can make a great time here!

Pizza Ponte

Among the many new additions to Disney Springs, Pizza Ponte is a delicious newcomer. It’s a quick service Italian restaurant with bigger pizza cheaper than in the Disney Parks. Not to mention the vast array of desserts to choose from, Pizza Ponte is very much welcomed.

As the name implies, pizza is one of your options for lunch/dinner. Served by the slice, the pizza is quite large. They need two plates to hand it to you! In the Disney Parks, you may get a small personal pizza for nearly ten dollars. At Pizza Ponte, these large slices are seven dollars! Still a bit much compared to other places, but for being on Disney property, it’s worth saving the three dollars. Also available are sandwiches and calzones, also priced rather fairly for the resort.

Desserts and pastries are plentiful at Pizza Ponte as well. I had gotten a canoli when I first went. Chocolate lovers will adore this. Chocolate chips and a sweet ricotta filling wrapped up by a crispy breading is the perfect mid day snack. You can also get parfaits, cookies, tiramisu, cheesecakes, and more. Whether it’s just a snack or dessert for your meal, you’ll find something to satisfy your need for sugar.

For a quick and affordable meal at Disney Springs, Pizza Ponte is a great option if you’re in the mood for Italian. You get your money’s worth in the amount of food and there are some sweet desserts to compliment your meal.

Blaze Pizza

The simplest way to describe Blaze Pizza is “Subway, but with pizza.” That doesn’t mean it’s a bad place though. Blaze is delicious! It allows guests to put whatever they want on their pizzas. The traditional favorites, like cheese, pepperoni, etc, are available. But the joy is coming up with your own combinations.

I’ve only been to two Blaze Pizza locations: near the University of Central Florida and in Disney Springs. The set up is very similar in both. You go up to a buffet style counter, tell the staff what you want, then pay. You get a buzzer for when your pizza is ready because they have to put it in the oven. You take a seat and pick up your food when your buzzer goes off. The only thing that can slow it down is a larger crowd, but even then you get your pizza in a timely manner.

The pizzas are awesome. The crust is thin and crispy and you can ask for as much cheese as you want for it. It comes in six slices and is about twelve inches in diameter. It can be easy to eat it all in one sitting or have enough to take home for later. It all depends on your appetite.

For a fresh custom made pizza, Blaze Pizza is the place to go. Here in Orlando, you can find one near UCF and one in Disney Springs. Whether you eat it all or need a box, you’ll enjoy it!

Disney Performing Arts

If you find yourself in Disney Springs this summer, go see the Disney Performing Arts (DPA) at Disney Springs. The DPA invites students to perform in different locations of Walt Disney World Resort. Over at Disney Springs, I had the opportunity to watch them sing in front of World of Disney. They were marvelous! They sang popular songs from Disney, Broadway, and more. My personal favorite performances were their covers of “Seasons of Love” from Rent and “Won’t Say I’m in Love” from Hercules. I love how everyone was assigned to certain roles for different songs. It gives everyone a moment to shine and some of the singers got very into character. Their performance of “Let’s Get Together” from The Parent Trap was a lot of fun to watch. Come on down to see these talented singers!

 

Nicholas Marks

Do you ever see someone do something and just know they love it? That’s how I felt watching Nicholas Marks at Disney Springs. Marks is a guitarist who adds a Latin flare to popular songs and performs his own original pieces. He performs Wednesday through Sunday nights from 6pm to 9pm.

There is a lot of passion in his performances. Every now and then he would stand up to dance to the music and do a few tricks with his guitar. One moment he raises it above his head and plays it perfectly, the next he spins it around and continues without missing a beat! The crowd adored it and he loved their joy.

You can follow Marks on Instagram at nicholasmarksmusic or visit his site nicholasmarks.com, where you can purchase CDs of his music. His songs are also available for download on iTunes.

D-Luxe Burger

For a casual lunch or dinner, D-Luxe Burger at Disney Springs is the place to go. One of the newest additions to Disney Springs’s expansion, D-Luxe Burger is the place to go for gourmet burgers and unique gelato shakes.

D-Luxe Burger has a great variety of burgers and sandwiches. Classics and deluxe burgers available for one, or get duos to share with a friend. Most burgers use red meats, but you can get a ground chicken burger and a veggie burger if you prefer. Fries are available with a plethora of dipping sauces to go with them, like curry ketchup, chipotle mayo, and garlic ranch. Duos can include two classic burgers, two premium burgers, or a classic and a premium burger. Drinks are also well diverse in D-Luxe. There’s a classic soda fountain, tea, and alcoholic beverages like hard cider and wine. Everyone in your group will be able to find something good.

Is your sweet tooth buzzing? D-Luxe Burger serves different kinds of gelato shakes and and floats. I recommend the S’mores Shake, which blends vanilla gelato, chocolate sauce, marshmallows, and crushed graham crackers into a delicious treat to cool you off. You could also get classics like vanilla and chocolate or specials like cake, strawberry shortcake, and salted caramel. Don’t forget the floats, such as Coke, Cherry Coke, root beer, and orange.

If you have the Disney World app on your phone, D-Luxe is the one restaurant in Disney Springs that allows you to place in a mobile order. Just select what you want, pay on the app, and let the restaurant know when you arrive to pick it up. Also on the app are menu items you can’t find in the restaurant, including onion rings, loaded fries, and bacon themed meals. It’s the best way to skip the line and save some time.

D-Luxe Burger is the best place to go for burgers and shakes when you visit Disney Springs. Come in any time, or place a mobile order and take your time picking it up. It’s the perfect quick stop for lunch and/or dinner.

Art Smith’s Homecomin’

For a truly unique meal experience, come on down to Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’. This southern style restaurant was founded by Art Smith, a former student of the Disney College Program, and can’t be found anywhere else.

Art Smith grew up in Jasper, Florida. He started as a student at the Disney College Program, which gives students an opportunity to work around the restaurants, theme parks, and hotels in the resorts. He has since become a well renowned chef. He worked as Oprah Winfrey’s personal chef for ten years and has opened four other restaurants in the United States. He had appeared on The Today Show and Top Chef Masters. But Florida is where Smith feels at home, and Homecomin’ is his way to expressing it. It represents both his return to his home state and his return to the Disney company.

One of the most popular items at Homecomin’ is the fried chicken. It comes in quite a few different meals, like sandwiches and salads. You may need a box for whatever you get. The chicken here is huge! Even a friend of mine had to get a box for the rest of hers. Seafood is also available here, with catfish, grouper, and shrimp as some of the main plates. When I went to Homecomin’, I found the Kitchen Plate an interesting menu item. It allows you to select three sides as your meal. Cheddar biscuits, mac and cheese, grits, coleslaw, mashed potatoes, and more give you a chance to try a little of everything available. You’ll be getting your money’s worth in quality of the food and portion size. There’s nothing wrong with taking some to go!

Art Smith’s Homecomin’ is a great place to get a taste of Florida. You can tell a lot of love went into the restaurant, from its history to the food itself. And since it isn’t anywhere else, definitely give it a chance.