Disney restaurants continually rotate their menus to provide better experiences throughout Walt Disney World. May brings a long list of additions and changes to many of the park and resort food locations. For many, this also includes the addition of new vegetarian options throughout the parks.
The Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater, found in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, has premiered a number of new options, including signature blended beef burgers. The BBQ burger features a house sauce with bacon, cheddar, crispy-fried jalapeño and onion straws all packed between a brioche bun. A Falafel Burger with a crispy chickpea falafel patty, arugula, tomato, Tatziki sauce and red pepper aioli on a brioche bun has also been added to Sci-Fi’s menu.
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall at Epcot has rolled out a new Fylt pasta dish. This dish features four-cheese stuffed pasta with white wine-cream sauce, roasted vegetables, chive oil and a balsamic glaze.
Surf and Turf has made a return to Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. The meal pairs a six-ounce lobster tail with a six-ounce sirloin, served with Yukon gold rustic mashed potatoes and roasted spring vegetables.
Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort has began offering new specialty candy themed drink specials. The Gummy Oasis, features gummy bears in a frozen cotton candy lemonade. The Watermelon Crush features Nerds® candy mixed into frozen watermelon and cherry lemonade. Both drinks are also available in alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions.
Changes at the Magic Kingdom can be found at some popular quick service locations. Casey’s Corner will be featuring a Buffalo Chicken dog with an all-beef hot dog loaded with shredded buffalo chicken, garlic-ranch dressing and celery starting on June 4th. Pizza Frusta, a folded pizza-like snack, is now available at Cool Ship. This on-the-go options give you the choice of tomato and cheese or pepperoni and sausage.
The Smiling Crocodile at Disney’s Animal Kingdom has also added Open-Faced BLT sandwiches to its menu. For one snack credit you can choose from turkey, salmon or pimento-cheese on toasted ciabatta with lettuce, tomato, and thick-cut smoked, house-roasted bacon.
Which of these new options are you most excited to try?
Summer is in full swing in Disney parks around the world, and each location is offering experiences you definitely do not want to miss. Disneyland Resort, California just kicked off their ‘Summer of Heroes’ event with the opening of their new attraction, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT in Disney’s California Adventure park. The Summer of Heroes also features daring missions with some of your favorite Avengers, heroic meet and greets, and even a dance-off featuring an ‘awesome mix’ from Star-Lord. Hong Kong Disneyland will also be starting their Super Hero Summer event on June 14th.
Walt Disney World just set their ‘Blockbuster Summer’ in motion with the opening of their new land Pandora- The World of Avatar in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Here you will travel right to the moon of Pandora and be able to experience thrills like riding on a banshee and tasting many of the local flavors. Hollywood Studios also just began showing their ‘The Music of Pixar Live’ show. This show will bring the music of Pixar to life as a live orchestra performs many favorite scores from movies like Monsters Inc, Cars, Toy Story, Up, and Finding Nemo. Various characters from these films will also be making an appearance as well.
Of course, what would a trip to any Disney park be without a nighttime spectacular. The Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World just launched their new fireworks show, ‘Happily Ever After.’ This new show features amazing castle projections of many of your favorite characters and movies, dazzling fireworks, and an humorous and heartwarming story. If you want even castle magic, don’t forget to check out the ‘Once Upon a Time’ projection show, which begins shortly after ‘Happily Ever After’. In this show, Mrs. Potts and Chip tell the stories of many favorite Disney classics. Some new stories will be told in ‘Fantasmic’ this summer at Disneyland Park, California. While you are there, make sure to check out the ‘Main Street Electrical Parade’, before it’s gone on August 20th.
Around the world, international Disney parks will be celebrating summer in their own ways. Tokyo DisneySea will be featuring their ‘Disney Pirates Summer,’ while Tokyo Disneyland is bringing back their nighttime parade ‘Dreamlights,’ which will now feature characters such as Elsa and Anna from ‘Frozen.’ Disneyland Paris is celebrating their 25th anniversary, and you will be able to experience two new shows, a new parade, and a new nighttime show. Shanghai Disney is also preparing to celebrate its first anniversary after welcoming over 10 million people in its first year of operation.
With so much going on this summer at Disney parks all around the world, there is no limit to what you can do and explore! Will you be taking a trip to see any of these attractions this summer?
Five new dining concepts debut as early as Fall 2017, joining the stellar line-up of awarding-winning restaurants at Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort:
Opening in 2018 on the West Side is Jaleo, a concept by world-renowned Chef José Andrés’ ThinkFoodGroup. Bringing the spirit and flavors of Spain, the Disney Springs restaurant will feature an extensive menu of tapas that reflect the rich regional diversity of traditional and contemporary Spanish cuisine, such as paella cooked over a wood fire, hand-carved Jamon Iberico de Bellota and wood-grilled Iberico pork. With five locations in the United States and Mexico City, this will be the first location in Florida. The first floor of the multi-level restaurant will feature a “grab-n-go” storefront with Spanish-style sandwiches. Designed by noted Spanish designer Juli Capella, the multi-level space will feature vibrant, theatrical décor representing the colorful culture of Spain.
Also in 2018, a new Wolfgang Puck concept will open in a new location in Town Center. Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, will modernize the traditional “bar and grill” concept in a setting inspired by traditional farmhouses with a touch of elegance. The restaurant, designed by tonychi, will capture the essence of laid-back California dining made popular by Puck at Spago, his flagship restaurant in Los Angeles. The menu will highlight the best of Puck’s signature dishes with Mediterranean influences, innovative takes on comfort food classics and handcrafted specialty cocktails, beer and wine.
This fall, Chicago-based Levy Restaurants is introducing a new Italian concept at Disney Springs with James Beard award winner and “Top Chef Master” Chef Tony Mantuano leading development. The new restaurant will replace Levy’s Portobello Country Italian Trattoria and will feature dishes inspired by Mantuano’s adventures in Italy.
Opening later this year, The Edison, a lavish “Industrial Gothic” restaurant, bar and nighttime destination will debut. A collaboration of Patina Restaurant Group and Kinetescape’s Andrew Meieran, The Edison is noted for classic American food, craft cocktails and live entertainment including cabaret. (The Disney Springs location is inspired by its sister location in Los Angeles.) With Old World sophistication and romance, The Edison will be themed to a 1920s-era electric company, recalling an exuberant era of invention and imagination with entertainment that includes contortionists, aerialists, DJs and more.
Also opening in late 2017 is Wine Bar George, with Master Sommelier George Miliotes bringing his expertise to Disney Springs with an unparalleled wine list including more than 100 selections by the bottle and glass in a range of varietals, vintages and prices. Shareable plates, cheese and charcuterie will complement the wine list, featuring local artisans and seasonally relevant dishes. Wine education will be served up in an approachable and fun manner, including special events and visits from renowned winemakers. Miliotes is widely regarded as one of the industry’s foremost wine experts, and is one of only 236 professionals certified by the Court of Master Sommeliers.
There is nothing like sleeping in a classy, ocean-front room and awakening to the sounds of waves crashing against the sand. It is one of the finer things in life. And it is exactly what I experienced recently on a memorable getaway to The Inn at Laguna Beach.
The adventure began when a friend I pulled off the 5 Freeway in Orange County and took SR 133 nine miles south to Laguna Beach. This winding, canyon road can be crowded at times, but is definitely a beautiful ride through lush hills and wilderness areas. The road ends at Highway 1, where we turned right and found The Inn at Laguna Beach.
Perched on the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean in the city of Laguna Beach, the boutique hotel features 70 well-appointed guest rooms, a roof top terrace with a fire pit, newly renovated swimming pool and modern meetings facilities. Our gorgeous 4th-floor room oozed beachside charm and came with a plush pillow-top king bed with 250 thread count linens, twin bathroom sinks, and shower and tub.
The Inn at Laguna Beach is a paradise on the cliffs above the ocean (photo by Inn at Laguna Beach)
The room also featured a desk area, with free Internet, flat screen TV, a big comfy sofa, and best of all, a large balcony with table and chairs overlooking the beach. From the balcony we could see the sunbathers, paddle boarders, swimmers, and boats in the ocean in front of us. To our left we saw the luxurious Laguna Beach coastline, with miles of sandy beach and ocean-front hotels. And to the right there was a small rock island inhabited by birds, and the Laguna Beach Tide Pools.
When not taking in the picturesque view on the balcony, we were laying on the beach or strolling around town looking for new places to eat. For lunch, we discovered The Greeter’s Corner Restaurant (www.thegreeterscorner.com) a block from the hotel.
At the restaurant I enjoyed a fresh crab and avocado sandwich stuffed with coleslaw on a French roll. My friend had crispy fish and chips with white cod, coleslaw and French Fries. While eating we sat on the patio next to the beach and absorbed the memorable atmosphere.
Eiler Larsen, also known as The Greeter, was one of Laguna Beach’s most beloved residents
The cafe is named after Eiler Larsen, who for 40 years stood on a corner in town and waved to all those who passed through town. A native of Denmark, Larsen came to be known as “The Greeter” and in 1963, the city proclaimed him to be Official Laguna Greeter. He was such a part of town that they even put his foot-prints in the sidewalk. My mom, who used to come to Laguna Beach as a child remembers his long hair and cheerful smile.
After lunch, we walked along the beach and followed a walking path in front of the hotel to Heisler Park. Stretching about a half-mile along coastal bluffs, this oceanfront park has walking trails, gardens, a marine refuge with tide pools, picnic tables, barbecues, lawn bowling greens, stunning vistas, and a bunch of awesome sculptures, such as blue whale, giant time pieces, and mariners of the sea.
The hotel is located right next to great beach trails like Heisler Park
Back at the hotel we joined other guests for the complimentary Wine Hour, held each day between 5pm and 6 pm. Located on the 4th floor terrace, overlooking the ocean, the event is a lovely way to spend an afternoon. A server comes around with complimentary wines, the views are spectacular and there is also a full bar with drinks for purchase.
The complimentary daily Wine Hour at the hotel is great way to spend an afternoon
After Wine Hour, we headed to the lobby for complimentary milk and cookies, offered each day at 6 pm. From her we walked a block to C’est la Vie Restaurant and Bakery (www.cestlavierestaurant.com/)for a delicious French dinner.
A local favorite since 1982, the bistro serves authentic, freshly-baked crepes, croissants, macarons, and cronuts, along with sandwiches, espressos, house-made desserts, and aged port wines. For our meal, I devoured beef Bourguignon. Marinated 24 hours, these tender, braised short ribs were served with pearl onions, mushrooms, and garlic mash in a Burgundy wine reduction. My friend had Chilean sea bass with harissa oil ratatouille and beurre blanc sauce.
C’est La Vie serves awesome French food by the beach
We concluded our evening with a moonlit walk along the sand and a glass of wine on our balcony.
The Inn at Laguna Beach is located at 211 N Pacific Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA 92651. For more information on staying at the hotel and current specials, call 800 544 4479 or visit: www.innatlagunabeach.com
It’s no secret that every ‘once upon a time’ story ends with ‘happily ever after.’ Now, Walt Disney World Resort guests can discover just how magical and emotional that fairy tale ending can be with the newest, most breathtaking fireworks show in the history of Magic Kingdom Park – “Happily Ever After.”
In addition to fireworks, the stunning new nighttime extravaganza features more lasers, lights and projections than any show at Magic Kingdom Park before it. “Happily Ever After” is also an entirely new kind of Disney storytelling, one that takes guests on an inspiring journey filled with heart, humor and emotion. Guests become part of the journey themselves as they follow favorite Disney characters on an adventure to seek out their destiny, face adversity and ultimately fulfill their dreams on the road to their happily ever after.
The 18-minute spectacle features moments from classic Disney films such as “The Little Mermaid” and “Aladdin” to modern blockbusters “Moana” and “Zootopia.” Cinderella Castle becomes part of the story itself, with dazzling projections bringing heartfelt Disney stories to life on and around the iconic 18-story-tall castle. Quasimodo from “Hunchback of Notre Dame” swings from the turrets. Woody and his pals from Disney•Pixar’s “Toy Story” recreate the castle entirely out of toys. And Maleficent from “Sleeping Beauty” envelops the castle in her signature green flames.
Here is a just a sneak peak of the new show:
The story begins with scenes of fantastic dreams full of hope, wonder, magic and light. Disney villains soon become part of the story, attempting to quash those beautiful dreams and forcing the heroes to fight for what they believe in. Overcoming their fears, the heroes triumph and are celebrated with spectacular fireworks.
Because no Magic Kingdom Park fireworks display is complete without this little bit of magic, Tinker Bell flies across the night sky, reminding guests that with a little faith, trust and pixie dust, everyone can find their own happily ever after.
Characters and scenes from more than 25 Disney films are featured through state-of-the-art projections, enhanced by more than 50 choreographed spotlights, brilliant lasers and plenty of awe-inspiring fireworks. Paired with an emotional score, the new spectacular drives the message home that anyone can grab hold of their dreams and make them come true as long as they are brave enough to listen to what guides them and bold enough to pursue their destiny.
The score for “Happily Ever After” was recorded by a 75-piece orchestra in London and includes tunes from a multitude of Disney movies, including “Aladdin,” “Brave,” “Tarzan,” “The Lion King,” and “The Princess and the Frog.”
“Happily Ever After” is presented nightly. Show times vary based on park hours.
To the delight of many, the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival will be returning this fall for its 22nd year. It will feature more food marketplaces and run longer than ever before. The festival will run from Aug. 31 to Nov. 13, 2017 and will feature a record-breaking 35 marketplaces to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Epcot.
Two new stands that will appear at this year’s festival include the India and Spain booths. A Madras Red Curry vegetarian dish and Pistachio Cardamom Bundt Cake are some of the new dishes that await you at the India booth, while the Spain booth will offer flavors such as a Charcuterie in a cone.
Popular activities such as “Eat to the Beat” concert series, Remy’s Hide and Squeak Scavenger Hunt, and demonstrations from popular culinary icons will also be returning throughout the festival. There will also be a family focus this year, with more kid friendly options and activities found throughout the festival.
The Festival Center will also be returning to offer Culinary Demonstrations, Beverage Seminars, and Cheese Seminars throughout the festival. In addition, the Festival Center will feature special merchandise exclusive to the Food and Wine Festival as well as a wine and liquor shop where you can purchase some of your favorite drinks from around the festival.
Be sure to check out this year’s International Food & Wine Festival at Epcot to experience all of the exclusive tastes, sounds, and experiences available this fall.
For the last decade, Celtic Woman has been successfully bridging the gap between World music and chart topping hits. Celtic Woman: Voices of Angels, featuring Susan McFadden, Mairead Carlin, Éabha McMahon, and their newest member, fiddler and harpist Tara McNeill, breathed new life into the acclaimed music group. Joining the tour is a very talented back-up band of musicians that play multiple instruments, such as the bodhrán, tin whistle, bagpipes, and Uilleann pipes.
Performing Celtic traditionals like Óró, sé do bheatha ‘bhaile and Dúlamán, and American contemporary hits like My Heart Will Go On and You Raise Me Up, Celtic Woman dazzled audiences to multiple standing ovations. McNeill and the band provided amazing musical segues for costume changes with instrumentals that truly embodied the feel of Ireland.
The lighting design was beautifully done, appropriately highlighting performers as well as setting the tone for each song. Projected scenery from Ireland, and cinematic storytelling rounded out the overall feeling of the show.
Voices of Angels was an absolute treat to experience. The women of Celtic Woman each have a very distinctive voice, beautiful in their own way. The backup singers could dance as well, and the musicians were so talented. Bagpipes really pull on my heart strings, and I might have teared up a few times… hearing an almost acapella version of Danny Boy certainly helped.
The Collector, aka Taneleer Tivan, has officially opened his doors to his fortress for the guests at Disney California Adventure! His collection now features the infamous Guardians of the Galaxy and you are invited for a VIP tour! Entering his gallery one is witness to over 2,000 of his most prized possessions, many of which you have probably seen elsewhere…
We were fortunate enough to attend his gala event on Thursday where The Collector was there himself to open his doors with a bang! After some incredible eats, galactic drinks and groovy entertainment, we were welcomed past his prominent gold statue of himself to view his ginormous collection for ourselves!
However, walking through his office we were interrupted by a little critter… perhaps a rowdy raccoon of sorts, and I believe he wants you to help him with a special mission. Keep in mind he has the walkman belonging to Peter Quills, the Starlord. There is no telling what type of mischief he has planned.
Check out below our interviews, our reaction to our ride along the gantry lift and some photos from the nights offerings. To say the least, this attraction is non-stop excitement and pure thrills accompanied with some great laughs and a lighter undertone. It’s a welcome addition to the edge of the Disneyland Resort. In coming weeks, lookout for some burnt marks throughout the ground signifying your entry into the realm “Knowhere”!
Guardians of The Galaxy Mission Breakout Photo Gallery:
Get ready to be taken into the moon of Pandora at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! Today marks the official opening of of Pandora- The World of Avatar, the newest land at Walt Disney World. In this new land you will travel 4.4 light years away from Earth and become immersed in the land and culture of Pandora. The care and detail that went into the creation of this new land is clear as soon as you step foot inside. You will find many unexpected interactive elements, and cast members and characters who speak the language of the indigenous Na’vi people.
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At night the land glows to life as much of the flora is made of bioluminescence. Guests will have to opportunity to purchase merchandise such as shirts, face paints, and even their own miniature banshee. Many of these items will also help you glow to life in the night time environment.
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Pandora also features two new attractions. The Na’Vi River Journey will take the entire family on a beautiful boat ride exploration of the forests of Pandora. If you are looking for a more thrilling experience, you can hop aboard your very own banshee (or “ikran” as it is pronounced in the native language) and fly through the skies of Pandora as your very own avatar. Both rides give you a very different way to experience the world of Pandora first hand and experience its beauty.
Check out the video below to see the dedication of this new land, and make sure to give it a visit the next time you are in Walt Disney World
Starting today at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World, guests will be able to experience the music of many favorite Pixar films performed from a live orchestra in ‘The Music of Pixar Live! – A Symphony of Characters.’ The show takes place in the three times per evening at the Theater of the Stars stage where the Beauty and the Beast show currently runs during the day. The show features live orchestral performances from beloved Pixar features such as “Toy Story,” “Up,” “Finding Nemo,” “Finding Dory,” “The Incredibles” and “Cars.” Characters such as Mike, Sulley, Woody, Buzz, Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, Carl Fredrickson, and many more will also be dropping by!
Behind the scenes recordings with many of the minds behind the music and animation of the films will also be featured during the performance. These video segments will give guests an inside look on the composure, story building, and development of these films.
This show will be running every evening in the summer from May 26 – Aug. 27, 2017. Current times are 5:00 PM, 6:45 PM, and 8:15 PM (subject to change). If you are heading to Walt Disney World this summer, put this on your must-do list!
With the summer theme park season now in full swing, Knott’s Berry Farm has raised the ante when it comes to local water parks. Knott’s Soak City has just opened the largest expansion in its history. During this year’s Knott’s Soak City expansion project, the waterpark underwent a 2-acre expansion and two new ride towers were installed for the 2017 summer season. Knott’s Soak City is a seasonal park open from May 20 through September 10. The new expansion features seven new slides on the new Shore Break and The Wedge towers. Knott’s also fully remodeled their main dining facility, Longboard’s Grill, and added numerous semi-private cabanas.
We were fortunate enough to be invited to the grand opening of the new expansion. After attending a short media preview the Week before, I was excited to see the final touches of the new expansion and to get to ride the new slides for myself. I also brought the harshest critic in my family, my 12-year old daughter, for a different perspective.
Pricing
The ticket prices for Soak City are: General – $48, Juniors or Seniors – $37, Knott’s Berry Farm and Soak City Ticket – $70 (online only), or you can buy a Knott’s Gold Pass for $286 which allows you to enjoy unlimited visits to Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Soak City Waterpark all season long. Plus, enjoy early entry to Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Soak City on select days and special discounts on food & merchandise, hotel stays, and Knott’s Scary Farm.
Entrance
After you purchase your tickets you must go through a security check point. They had four metal detectors and plenty of security staff when we arrived. When you first enter the waterpark there is a fantastic new fountain featuring a surfer riding the waves. Dressing areas and lockers are located behind the fountain before you enter the main park area. There is also a merchandise location just to the right of the entrance in case you need sunscreen, a hat, a towel, or even goggles. You can also pick up your Soak City themed merchandise here on the way out.
New Slides
After a brief ribbon cutting ceremony we were ushered in to the new expansion area with the sound of a steel drum band playing in the background. We headed straight to the Shore Break tower which is situated where the Pacific Spin slide was formerly located. Shore Break has four Aqua Launch Chamber slides and two dueling tube slides attached at various levels on the tower. We headed to the top of the almost six story high tower to try the Aqua launch slides first. If you have never been on an Agua Launch slide before, they place you in a vertical plastic tube with a translucent floor for you to stand on, and after the tube has been secured and a brief countdown, the floor is removed and you slide down the vertical shaft on a high-speed free-fall down through a series of drops and turns. When you reach the bottom you just climb out of the narrow flume that collects you. This slide is a must do!
To ride on the dueling slides that are attached to Shore Break tower you must carry a tandem, or single rider, inner tube up with you to the launch platform. There was no one at the entrance to the queue to inform us but I observed others carrying tubes up so I figured we should as well. When you reach the launch platform you are briefly instructed on the safety procedures and you enter the tube to begin the 20 second journey to the bottom. If you choose a tandem tube, the larger person in your party will enter the load area first. The tube for this ride is fully enclosed until you reach the bottom and there are several sharp turns and drops along the way. Both my daughter, and I, had a blast on the new tube slides and we highly recommend trying both slide types on the new shore break tower.
By the time we had completed our rides on the Shore Break tower the park was now open for regular guests. The park filled up FAST! I am not sure of the attendance figures and capacity is for Soak City, but they had to be close to that number by the time we left for the day. The only reason I mention that is when we finished at Shore Break we headed to the brand-new family raft ride called The Wedge. During the media preview I was able to check out the new slide and watch as some of the life guards tested the new slide. The Wedge is a large open tube type slide using 8 man rafts to traverse the 6 turns before reaching the bottom. When my daughter and I entered the queue, we were at the bottom of the four-story tower. After waiting for close to 20 minutes we had just made it to the bottom steps of the tower. It was obvious at that point that the wait was going to be over 60 minutes, so we decided to try out the many new refurbished areas of the park. The Wedge appears to be very slow loading and many times while waiting we observed rafts going down with only two people which would cause the wait to be even longer. If you decide to visit Knott’s Soak City I would make The Wedge your second stop, after scoping out your covered spot to store your stuff for the day.
Refurbished Slide Towers
Along with the 2-acre expansion, Knott’s Soak City refurbished all of their existing rides and ride towers. With a fresh new sliding surface and bright colored paint schemes, the other slides seemed to be in tip top shape. Many of the slides require either a mat or a tube to ride on them so be sure to carry those with you as you climb the towers. Each of the slides were exciting with varying levels of intensity and you can’t go wrong on which you choose. Just observe the length of each line if you want to maximize that number of slides you go on during your visit. After sliding we checked out the newly refurbished Beach House, which is an elaborate splash zone play area. Three huge buckets of water, each with close to 500 gallons, continuously fill eventually dumping their contents at random intervals on the guests below. There was a plethora of water cannons that could be manipulated to squirt unsuspecting park goers as well as two smaller water slides attached to the Beach House tower. This was a great area to go and have a little fun without having to wait in a long line to enjoy the day.
Lazy River
Next, we headed to the Sunset River which is a 1,780ft lazy river that dissects the park in the middle. Since the park was extremely crowded, there was a long wait to get an inner tube to enjoy the Sunset River. The Sunset River has two zero-entry access points. I would suggest the one that is located between the new expansion area and Longboard’s Grill since this is the area that most people seemed to be exiting from, which allowed us to get an inner tube in a shorter period of time. The Sunset River was enjoyable and moves at a nice pace. There are several foot-bridges that go over the river and one solitary bucket along the route that drips water onto your heads as you pass underneath. My only complaint about the Sunset River would be that it needs some interactive water nozzles or buckets along the route to help cool the upper portion of your body that is not in the water.
Food
Let’s talk briefly about your eating choices at Knott’s Soak City. Knott’s has completely refurbished the Longboard’s Grill and added a shaded dining area outside. By 11:30 in the morning the line to get food at Longboard’s was close to an hour long. I don’t know if it was opening day jitters or if it is a design flaw but the service was slow. The food unfortunately was not any better. Granted we only received two different meals, what we did receive was not very appetizing. My daughter got the chicken strips, which was a good-sized portion but cold, while I chose the cheeseburger. Both meals were underwhelming. I will not do a full review on the food at this time because I am hoping that because it was opening day for the season that they were unprepared. You can also buy other fast food type items at Surf Daddy’s or Pizza at Portside Pizza. There also three new Coca-Cola Refresh stations located throughout the waterpark. Prices were comparable to what you would find at any theme park.
Landscaping
The one thing that may have impressed me the most is the new landscaping and themed entrance to the newly expanded waterpark. Although in general Knott’s Soak City does not have a central theme that flows throughout the park, the landscaped areas were fresh and appealing. The walkways have been reworked and a new sign has been installed at the parking lot entrance. The new cabanas are also a plus. They seem to be a little out of my price range, $199-$350, but some of them do included beverage and food service. Cabana rentals are available where you buy your admission.
Overall Thoughts
Overall, I was very pleased with our time at Knott’s Soak City. The slides were exciting and there were a wide variety of thrill levels to choose from. The entire 15-acre site was well groomed and I could see that the majority of guests were having a great time. It is hard for me to equate the value of admission to the amount of attractions and slides that we were able to enjoy since my tickets were comped for the day, but the pricing does seem to be fair for the amount of attractions that are available. If you are a waterpark fan I would highly recommend that you visit Knott’s Soak City, I don’t think you will be disappointed.
Other Facts:
With the recent 2-acre expansion, Knott’s Soak City Waterpark is now a 15-acre park which boasts 23 speed and tube body slides
The 1,780-ft-long Sunset River sits at one-third mile in length. It also one of the widest and longest water park lazy rivers in the word.
The Beach House, which offers three stories of hands-on fun including interactive water guns, nozzles, faucets and other surprises has been entirely refurbished.
Knott’s Soak City children’s themed area, Gremmie Lagoon, offers the smallest thrill seekers their own pint-sized playground of interactive octopus, submarines and other oversized landmarks that squirt, sprinkle, soak and splash kids.
Twenty new semi-private cabanas have been installed in the new expansion area.
Twenty new planter areas have been installed throughout the park in addition to the new landscaping in the expansion area
Excitement over the debut of Pandora — The World of Avatar means that guests will be arriving early each morning when the new land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom opens.
Make a stop at fast-casual Satu’li Canteen, where a diverse menu will offer plenty of choices. On the savory side, there’s a hearty Vegetable Goat Cheese Frittata with Wood-Fired, Herb-Crusted Beef and Chimichurri; as well as Pork Shoulder Potato Hash with Chorizo Sausage and Natural Jus, or a Steamed Pod (bao bun) with Scrambled Egg, Bacon, Spinach and Pickled Vegetables.
If you prefer a sweet beginning to the day, try the Tropical Pandora Forest Fruits with Yogurt Muesli and Vanilla Maple Syrup; Steel-Cut Oats with Whiskey Raisins, Marcona Almonds, Goji Berry, or Cinnamon Swirl French Toast with Blueberry Cheesecake Dollop and Passion Fruit Anglaise.
For ages 9 and younger, there’s three tasty meals: Cinnamon Swirl French Toast with Blueberry Cheesecake Dollop and Passion Fruit Anglaise; a Scrambled Egg Steamed Pod (bao bun), and cereal and milk.
