Our family used to dine at Chefs de France on almost every trip to WDW. We hadn’t been there in a few years, so decided to add it to our itinerary this past August. It was exactly as I remembered it, and we had a great dinner together.
Dining at Chefs de France feels as though you’re eating at a charming cafe on the streets of Paris. It’s a great, easy spot for families to enjoy lunch or dinner in the World Showcase. We usually go for dinner, mostly because we have other lunch spots that we like to hit up in Epcot. The servers, who are all from France, have always been incredible friendly and helpful.
The main menu is obviously very French-focused, with a kids menu also offering dishes with a slight French flair (in case you have very picky eaters like we did, be sure to check the menu in advance of booking). The food is good, but not one of our favorites in the World Showcase. Upstairs above Chefs de France is the nicer restaurant, Monsieur Paul. It’s a totally different atmosphere – think white tablecloths – and in our opinion has better food (which comes with a higher price tag and a dress code).
We’ve never had a bad experience at Chefs de France, so we consider this a solid go-to option. If you have older kids or are more adventurous foodies, there are other spots we would recommend going first (in addition to Monsieur Paul in France, Mexico, Germany and Canada are a few of the best!).
Post-dinner, be sure to stop by L’Artisan de Glaces (also in France) for some ice cream or sorbet to enjoy while you watch Illuminations!
WDW Park Planners Tip:
Book your dinner reservation approximately 1.5 hours in advance of Illuminations: Reflections of Earth. That way, you have enough time to enjoy your dinner and then walk out directly to watch the fireworks! The viewing area from France outside of the restaurant is usually pretty quiet, but you can also head over to the bridge that leads to the United Kingdom for one of the prime viewing locations (which will likely be a bit more crowded).
Elizabeth is the third sister in the Gerth family. She is currently a senior at Trinity High School and loves animals, the arts, writing, and of course, all things Disney. She is excited for the next chapter in her life as she prepares for college!
As I’m sitting here in class, all I can think of is Disney World’s Main Street Confectionery. Partially because my classroom currently smells like the Main Street Confectionery. Also, I have a sweet tooth. It’s uncanny how similar it smells of sugar floss with accompanying notes of happiness and chocolate.
Just the scent alone brings back smiles and memories from my family’s vacation this past August. After growing up and going to Walt Disney World every summer with my family, I can say that the adorable old-fashioned sweet shop is definitely one of my favorite shops that I have to stop in every trip (and maybe buy a lil’ something-something). The shop offers caramel apples that resemble your favorite Disney pals, Mickey-shaped rice krispie treats, and plenty of fudge and other sweet treats to please the whole group. You can even watch the confectioners dip and decorate the apples, or bag freshly made cotton candy. Young and old alike can’t help but feel like a “kid in a candy store” after stepping into the charming shop.
The best part of the Confectionery is to leisurely stroll down Main Street U.S.A., taking in all the sites and sounds (listen for the music!) while we enjoy our treats. Did you know that the turn-of-the-century Main Street U.S.A was mainly inspired by Marceline, Missouri, which is Walt’s beloved hometown?
If you happen to be in the right place at the right time, you may get to see the Dapper Dans, a barbershop quartet, perform! They’re a Main Street classic and have sung a few special songs to various family members over the years. There’s never a shortage for things to see and do on Main Street U.S.A., so be sure to take in all the magic!
Location: Epcot® Resort Area Resort Category: Deluxe Resort
Walking into the lobby of Disney’s Beach Club Resort is one of our family’s favorite things at WDW. The sites, the sounds and the beachy smell (they make a candle of it!) just brings a flood of happiness to us. We’ve stayed at this resort more than any others and have a hard time staying anywhere else – there are so many things we love about it! Picking just five favorite things was tough, but here is what we came up with…
5. The lobby
From the time you get off the Magical Express and are welcomed by the lobby greeter, the New England ambiance is pure relaxation. The distinct lobby smell has been captured perfectly by this candle company HERE.
4. The Rapid Fill Refillable Mugs
Purchase your refillable, 16 oz. plastic mug for $19.99 and get free refills on soda, hot chocolate, hot tea, iced tea and coffee for your entire stay! It’s worth the investment if you’re there for more than a long weekend (and you like your beverages). We’ve even shared our mugs between family members to save money – two kids to a mug. Bring your cup down to the pool and you can stay refreshed with refills at Hurricane Hannah’s. Keep in mind, though, you cannot refill the mugs at the parks. Fun souvenirs to bring home after your trip!
3. Lafferty Place Arcade
While arcades may not be for everyone, this spot located near the pool is a family favorite of ours. We like to hit it in the afternoon after some pool time, and then we swing by Beaches and Cream for ice cream on our way back to the room. You pay to play at this arcade, but it’s worth it since the AC is always cranked in there! Kids will love the pop-a-shot, air hockey table, skee ball and Guitar Hero (okay so those are my favorites…let’s be real).
2. The Kitchen Sink
So many great family memories ordering The Kitchen Sink at the ice cream shoppe, Beaches and Cream. This monstrous sundae comes, as the name suggests – in a kitchen sink – and is enough to feed a very hungry family! When we were a family of 6, we got pretty close to finishing the entire sink, but we never quite found the bottom. Regardless of the challenge, it’s fun to order, and is a Beach Club Resort staple!
1. Location, location, location!
Choosing our top reason for loving the Beach Club Resort was easy. We love being close to Hollywood Studios AND Epcot. Taking the boat to Hollywood Studios is a nice change from the buses (although they can get pretty hot in the summer) or if your group is up for it, you can make the mile-ish trek by foot.
The best location perk though, is the very short walk to Epcot. Having access to the side entrance to the park allows you to get in to World Showcase in just minutes. Easy in, but even easier out. No fighting the crowds after Illuminations – just a quick walk back to your room.
Our family loves going to Epcot when we stay at the Beach Club. We definitely spend more time there than when we’re at other resorts – we like to walk over for drinks, to enjoy the live music (British Revolution!!), and then to hit up our favorite countries for dinner before catching Illuminations!
WDW Park Planners Tip
Take advantage of being able to walk to Hollywood Studios – if your group is able to and up for the extra steps! We’ve done the early morning walk to the park AND the late night walk back to the hotel.
MORNING: When Extra Magic Hours were at 7am at Hollywood Studios this past August after the opening of Toy Story Land, we wanted to get to the park by 6:30am to be there when they start letting people in. Well, the boat doesn’t start running until 6:30am (which we didn’t find out until we were out there in the pitch black), so we decided to make the trek by foot. I’ll be honest, not everyone in my family was thrilled about this, but we had some good laughs as we watched the sun rise over the park. And for the record, we were some of the first people on Slinky Dog Dash that day 🙂
NIGHT: Be prepared to walk home from Hollywood Studios! The boat line can get extremely long, especially after Fantasmic or the Star Wars fireworks let out. If the boat is a better option for you and your group, you may want to consider heading out a few minutes early (before the show/fireworks let out), so you can get in the boat line quickly. We’ve also done this in the past, especially when my youngest sisters were still in strollers. Definitely worth it with strollers! Otherwise, you may have to wait for a few boats before you get on, and they typically run every 15 minutes or so.
