Disney Food - Disneyworld, Orlando Florida

"TWO SANDWICH REVIEW"

Where: 

The Mara in Jambo House at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

Fairfax Fare on Sunset Blvd in Disney's Hollywood Studios


What: 

Angus Bacon Cheeseburger

Truffle Macaroni & Cheese Gourmet Hot Dog

Build:

 Angus Bacon Cheeseburger: 1/2 lb burger patty, American cheese, bacon, sesame seed roll, french fries

Truffle Mac & Cheese Hot Dog: Standard 8/lb size dog, truffle mac and cheese, bacon crumbles

Comments: 

First you should know that my family is a bunch of Disney freaks and we've stayed at just about every hotel they have to offer so this is not my first rodeo. This is going to be a mixed bag review of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Now remember, you're at Disneyworld, where even the worst things in life don't seem too bad - including food. I need you to know, I understand the fact that when you're at a quick service food stand inside a theme park your bar level for expectation of food quality should automatically be set pretty low simply because, sometimes you get lucky and sometimes you don't.

First up, The Bad - While staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge's Kidani Village (btw, don't ever stay there - email me if you'd like the reasons why), on our first night after traveling we went for a quick bite to eat at The Mara, a quick service restaurant in the Jambo House complex (the older and much nicer of the Animal Kingdom accommodations) I ordered the cheeseburger with high hopes but was very disappointed. This could have been a really good burger if they didn't cook the meat to infinity and beyond. The bacon was good, the cheese was creamy and tasty, the bun was very fresh, and then there was the meat - a slab of charcoal, (I even tucked some Fries under the bun in a last ditch effort to make it taste better). I fully understand cooking burgers well done is a way to cut down on one of many liability issues Disney faces, but there are new "slow-food" chains out there that are cooking burgers well while keeping them juicy and fresh tasting - 5 Guys just to name one. If they can do it, how can the culinary magicians at Disney not pull it off??? What a shame, I could tell it had potential too, that Angus flavor was there, it was just way too well done and at 9 bucks, it shouldn't-aughta to be that way so I'm rating it on the low side of boring and at that I'm being generous - 5/10. (check my rating chart at the bottom of the home page).

Next up, The Good - Fairfax Fare at Hollywood Studios - My brother-in-law is responsible for finding this beauty... who'da thought a truffle mac and cheese dog at a Disney food stand? I had to try it, and it was worth it. Creamy mac and cheese with a hint of truffle accented with bacon on a fresh roll... it was great and if not for the "too small" size of the dog, this would've gotten higher marks. 8/10.

Now, I need to vent... next up, The Ugly - Throughout all the parks I was constantly seeing food establishments with extremely long lines... why? why, why, why? I mean, let's face it, everyone at Disney is on vacation, and you don't usually count your change on vacation simply because you're on vacation and you are ready to spend your hard-earned money to have fun. Yet I kept seeing people heading for something to eat and turn and walk the other way because they didn't want to waste so much time on a food line. (Can't blame them). Disney has put so much effort into making the lines for rides quick and painless I can't for the life of me figure out why they don't create more places to get food. So many people with pockets full of money who are not eating simply because they couldn't get near the food counter without wasting a good portion of their park time. As Walt says: "it's a happy place" but wouldn't it be a lot happier if everyone was walking around glowing from a full, satisfied belly instead of worrying when you'll be able to get your family something to eat? I give the food service an overall fail rating - 3/10.