Ears the News with Richard

The Disney Parks and Resorts Merchandise contact details have been changed.  The new email address is merchandise.guest.services@disneyparks.com.  The phone number is 877-560-6477.  This service allows guests to order specific items that are available in the parks via mail order.

Downtown Disney's Marketplace Bus Stop is scheduled to be closing for a refurbishment from 2/3/2013 to 2/24/2013.  During this time only the Pleasure Island bus stop will be available.

Limited Time Magic's 'True Love Week' from 2/11/2013 to 2/17/2013 will feature a number of candlelit dinners for two with prix fixe menus. Here are the provisional menus for the restaurants taking part:

The Hollywood Brown Derby

$70 per person
- Colossal Prawn Stuffed with luscious Blue Lump Crab over a creamy Polenta with White Cheddar and Chorizo Locally grown tender Greens tossed in Cranberry Honey Vanilla Vinaigrette with succulent Strawberries, Fennel Pollen, Lavender Goat Cheese, and Spiced Pecans
- Glazed Filet of Beef with a Red Wine Reduction topped with Cabernet and Shallot Butter, velvety Mousseline Potatoes and Asparagus
- Sweetheart Dessert Duo for sharing: Chocolate Praline Hearth with a tantalizing Strawberry Champagne cake

Shutters

$35 per person
- Caribbean Conch Chowder with Cornbread Crouton
- Seared Ribeye with Herb Butter sauce, Plantain & White Sweet Potato Gratin, Grilled Asparagus Shutters
- Chocolate & Strawberry Sweetheart dessert

The Wave

$70 per person
Butter Poached Lobster with Local Florida Avocado
Local Heirloom Tomato Tower with Buffalo Mozzarella, Organic Basil Oil, Toasted Pine Nut Brittle, and a Balsamic Fig Emulsion
Duck Confit Rillette with Florida Candied Kumquats, Almond Praline, Vanilla Bean Powder, Organic Micro Chervil, and a Sweet Tarragon Aioli Pasture Prime Farms
Grilled Wagyu Rib-eye with Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, Brown Butter Asparagus, and a Black Truffle Bordelaise Organic Infused Citrus Truffle Torte

Yachtman's Steakhouse

$75 per person
Amuse - Oysters and Pearls, Moscato Sabayon, Caviar, Sorrel
Appetizers – Choice of: Caesar Salad Crisp Romaine, Aged Parmigiano-Reggiano, Foccacia Croutons; Shrimp Cocktail House-made Cocktail Sauce, Meyer Lemon Gel, Fennel; Seared Scallops Cauliflower Puree, Pancetta, Lemon Verbena Nage; or Gnocchi Acqua Pazza, Poached Hen Egg, Forest Mushrooms
Entrees – Choice of: Filet Mignon Oak-fired 8-oz Filet, Mashed Potatoes, Red Wine Sauce; New York Strip 12-oz Strip Steak, Peppercorn Brandy Sauce, Potato Gratin; Twin Lobster Tails Vanilla Buerre Blanc, Parsnips, Grilled Lemon; Butternut Squash Tortelloni Sunchoke Bisque, Wild Mushrooms, Foraged Greens; Ahi Tuna Pommes Mousseline, Jardiniere Vegetables, Truffle-Verjus Vinaigrette; or Long Island Duck Celeriac Pure´e, Chestnuts, Kumquats, Port Jus
Dessert - Chocolate strawberries
Toasting celebration - Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Yellow Label Brut, Reims NV (full flute), Cakebread Cellars, Napa Valley (2oz), Groth Cabernet Sauvignon (2oz), Meeker Fro-Zin, Russian River (2 oz)

Artist Point

Amuse Bouche - Kumamoto Oyster with Caramelized Bok Choy, Double Smoked Bacon, and Washington State Apple Sambal
Second Course - Sea Salt-roasted Heirloom Beets with Charred Leek “Soil”, Date Pure´e, Goat Cheese, Candied Pecans, and Maple-Cider Vinaigrette
Third Course - Cedar Plank-roasted King Salmon with Butternut Squash, Baby Fennel, Rapini, and Pinot Noir; Grilled Hand-cut “Black Angus” Filet Mignon with Truffle Campanelle and Cheese, Foraged Mushroom Ragou^t, and “Chocolate” Merlot Gastrique; or Crispy Buttermilk-dipped All-Natural Airline Chicken with Herb Spa¨tzle, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Bacon Jam, and Garlic-Tomato Broth
Fourth Course - Valrhona Chocolate Indulgence with Local Strawberries

 

Good news for us coffee drinkers.  Joffrey's Coffee will be replacing Nescafe as the standard coffee served throughout the parks and resorts at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland.

During the next few months, Joffrey's will become the standard coffee offered at all Disney owned and operated locations, which will include quick service and table service restaurants, along with the in-room coffee at moderate and deluxe resorts.  As part of the agreement, Joffrey's will be producing unique blends just for Disney locations.

Joffrey's has already been operating their speciality coffee kiosks in the parks for a number of years, and has also been supplying espresso and other coffees for the signature dining locations at the parks and resorts.  If you have had the coffee at one of the kiosks located just outside the four parks, you have had Joffrey’s coffee.

This expanded agreement with Joffrey's does not replace or impact the introduction of Starbucks Coffee to each of the parks.

Splitsville has introduced a new pricing structure including a 'Priority Bowling' option that for a price, gives you the next available lane.  Splitsville now also accepts Tables in Wonderland for a 20% dining discount, and is now on the Disney Dining Plan for one table service credit.  Disney gift cards are accepted, and room charging via a Key to the World card is now also accepted.  Here is a full rundown of the new pricing and options:

Operating hours and Pricing

Monday through Thursday

Daytime: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM - $15 person
Evening: 4:00 PM to 10:30 PM $20 person
Late Night: 10:30 PM to 2:00 PM $15 person

Friday through Sunday

Daytime: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM - $15 person
Evening and Late Night: 4:00 PM to close - $20 person

Bowling times may vary based upon party size:
1 hour: 1-2 people
1 hour 15 minutes: 3 people
1 hour 30 minutes: 4-5 people
1 hour 45 minutes: 6-8 people
Shoe rental is included 

Priority Bowling

Priority Bowling allows your group to receive the next available lane(s) upon check-in. Maximum of 2 lanes per group. Maximum of 8 bowlers per lane. Pricing includes bowling. Shoes are $4 per person.

Daytime: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM - $80 hour
Evening & Late Night: 4:00 PM to 2:00 AM - $125 hour