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Amatista Cookhouse Review – Breakfast and Dinner

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I figured I would do an Amatista Cookhouse review since it’s one of the few restaurants at Universal Orlando that I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying both breakfast and dinner from. This review will provide a look at both meals as well as a look at some of the options for the Magical Dining promotion happening right now.

Amatista Cookhouse Review

Amatista Cookhouse Review

The Amatista Cookhouse is the main dining option (sit down meal) at the Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Orlando. I previously mentioned the good food here in my Loews Sapphire Falls Resort Review. However, I was also able to partake in their dinner during the Magical Dining promotion last fall while staying at Aventura Resort. This review will focus on both of those experiences for dinner and the one morning I had breakfast here.

Breakfast

My mom and I had breakfast here one morning in February 2023. It’s a breakfast buffet with lots of fresh donuts/pastries, some meats and cheeses, fruits, pancakes, as well as an omelet station. We were particularly impressed with the freshness of the donuts. I also liked the quality of the meats and cheeses. The omelet was tasty too! Unfortunately, I was disappointed with the “biscuits” as they were more akin to dry little rolls than biscuits.

At almost $30/each, it is a bit pricey. However, most things were tasty and you can’t leave hungry. I think this meal is ideal for a leisurely non-park morning.

You can view some of our breakfast food if you swipe through my pictures in this Instagram post.

Dinner

I feel like dinner is where this restaurant really shines. I’ve eaten dinner here twice and had a good meal each time. The most recent occasion (seen above) started with a delicious basket of assorted rolls. I love the cheese rolls, but my mom isn’t a big fan of cheese. So, there’s more for me!

For an entrée, I chose the half mojo marinated rotisserie chicken. It was a juicy chicken with a good flavor from the spices and two sauces. For my sides, I went with the pink beans for something different. Honestly, they tasted like regular beans to me. I also got the platanos maduros, which are fried bananas. They were fun and a sweet addition to my meal.

Lastly, my mom and I split a dessert. We got the caramel apple breading pudding. The accompanying pumpkin spice ice cream made this a creamy treat that would be perfect for fall.

Overall, this was a good and filling meal. I will admit the service was a little slow though. So, maybe don’t eat here if you are in a hurry.

Magical Dining

Another reason I’m posting this review now is because between now and October 1st, you can eat here and enjoy the Magical Dining promo! Magical Dining is Orlando’s culinary special that allows people to eat a three course meal for either $40 or $60 at select restaurants! Plus, up to $2 goes to charity! So, it’s a good way to save some money on food while giving back! Last fall, we happened to eat here during the promo and enjoyed our meal! This restaurant’s menu is $40 for the promo, which saves you at least a few dollars depending on which items you select.

For my appetizer, I selected the ancho chile chicken empanadas. I really liked these. They were too spicy for my mom though. My mom chose the queso for her appetizer, which we both enjoyed. I got the salmon for an entrée and my mom got the steak. Both dishes were perfectly cooked and tasty. My mom got the dark chocolate mousse with raspberry, which unfortunately isn’t an option for Magical Dining this year. However, it was good if you like dark chocolate. I got the Caribbean rum cake, which was really good and I highly recommend it. You can see pictures of our food from this meal in the Instagram post above.

Is Amatista Cookhouse Worth It?

Personally, I feel the food is much better at dinner than breakfast here. However, I think you need to make sure you have enough time to eat here as it’s not exactly a quick meal. Also, it tends to be a pricier meal. So, if you are on a tight budget, it might be best to stick to a grab and go option elsewhere. It is a good option for a tasty, leisurely meal for adults.

Walt Disney World Value Resorts Guide

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There are so many different places to stay at WDW that it can be difficult to decide which is best for you and your family. So, as part of my content on the hotels, I’m doing a breakdown guide for each tier of hotels to help people decide which one is best for them. Today, I’m starting with the Walt Disney World Value Resorts!

Disney World Value Resorts

Disney World Value Resorts

Technically, there are five different Disney World value resorts: All-Star Movies, All-Star Music, All-Star Sports, Pop Century and Art of Animation. The All-Stars are the cheapest rooms on property. Pop Century is typically a little more expensive than those three and Art of Animation is the most expensive in this category. I’ve stayed at all but All-Star Sports and I believe that each of them can be the right fit for certain people. To help people decide, I will be declaring which one is best for each circumstance.

Best for Couples

The best value for a couple is Pop Century. My husband and I have stayed here many times! We love that it’s on the Skyliner and the prices are more tolerable than some other places on property. Also, the theming tends to draw in fewer groups, so it’s a little calmer than the others. You can read my full Pop Century review to get a better idea of what you can expect at this hotel.

Best for Bigger Families

I know that some people have larger families and require a suite. For that, I’m going to recommend the suites at All-Star Music for the most budget friendly. However, the suites at Art of Animation look amazing as well! I think it really depends on your budget here. If you can’t spring for AoA, then Music is perfectly fine. However, the theming at Art is probably more attractive to families with small children. Full disclosure: I’ve never had the privilege of staying in either of these suites. However, if I ever do, I will post a separate review and may amend this post to reflect my new opinions.

Best for Teens

If you have teenagers traveling in your group who have outgrown over-the-top Disney character themes, then I would suggest looking at All-Star Music or All-Star Sports. Both of these have large statues themed to the resort that may appeal to teens with an interest in sports or music. I did an All-Stars Resorts Overview a while back that you can read to get a better sense of pros/cons of staying at an All-Stars.

Best for Disney/Pixar Movie Fans

If you have a “Little Mermaid”, “Cars”, “Lion King”, or “Finding Nemo” fan then you should consider Art of Animation. I stayed in a “Little Mermaid” room back in 2019 for my Art of Animation review. I was tickled with the theming and I imagine other fans of these films would be as well.

If you have a “Toy Story”, “101 Dalmatians”, “Love Bug”, “Mighty Ducks” or “Fantasia” fan, then you should stay at All-Star Movies.

Best Disney World Value Resorts Overall

I think the best Walt Disney World Value Resorts are Pop Century and Art of Animation. The Skyliner just can’t be beat! However, a stay at an All-Star is still a good time and is better in certain circumstances. Those are just the two I prefer. So, do you agree with me? If not, which one(s) do you prefer?

Fall in Orlando Theme Parks

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While it may seem a little early for this post, the theme parks are beginning to celebrate the autumn season later this week! So, I thought I would do a fall in Orlando theme parks post to kick-off the fall season. If you are wondering about summer in the theme parks, here is my post on it from two months ago.

Fall in Orlando

Fall in Orlando

Personally, fall is one of my favorite times to visit the theme parks! You can typically expect a bit cooler temperatures, which I consider a huge win. However, I would encourage you to keep an eye on the extended weather forecast if you plan a fall trip as it’s prime hurricane season. I’ve been lucky in that only one trip has been impacted by a hurricane. It is something to keep in mind though. On another note, I love fall and all of the theme parks have some fun/Halloween events to look forward to! So, I think it’s worth planning a trip during the fall months as long as you pay attention to the weather.

Epcot Food and Wine Festival

If you are visiting Walt Disney World in the fall, you can expect to experience the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival! Taking place from August 29th to November 23rd in 2024, it’s a fabulous festival with lots to enjoy for fellow foodies! I don’t drink much, but I love eating! I enjoy walking around this festival and trying different dishes. They also have some cool concerts planned as part of their Eat to the Beat series. If you are visiting during these months, I highly recommend a visit.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

If you are visiting Walt Disney World from August 9th to October 31, 2024, then on select nights you can attend the separately ticketed event Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom. I was supposed to attend last year, but the hurricane cut-off my WDW portion of the trip. Unfortunately, I haven’t attended this party since 2019. However, prior to that I attended it several times. It’s one of my favorite things to do at Walt Disney World! I love the special parade as well as fireworks! I’m hoping to attend this year’s bash. FYI: it’s not a scary event. It’s a family-friendly event including trick-or-treating for kids of all ages!

SeaWorld Orlando Halloween Spooktacular

Last year, I was lucky enough to visit SeaWorld Orlando and enjoy their Halloween Spooktacular event. In fact, you can read my SeaWorld Orlando Spooktacular Halloween post from last year to get a better idea of what to expect at this event, including my review of the Count von Count Spooktacular Breakfast. This seasonal event takes place on weekends from August 31 to November 3rd. This is one of the few Halloween events included with regular park admission. It also takes place during the day, which has its pros and cons. It’s a family friendly event with mermaids and dancing scarecrows. You can also trick-or-treat around the park for an additional cost.

SeaWorld Orlando Howl-O-Scream

Now, we are moving on to the scarier, more adult Halloween events in Orlando. While SeaWorld is child friendly during the day, it takes a turn for the scary on select nights from September 6th to November 2nd with their Howl-O-Scream event. A separately ticketed event meant for adults, it features several haunted houses, scare zones, shows, roaming haunts, and themed bars. It is cheaper than the OG scary event at Universal, but seems to be in the same vain. I haven’t ever attended this one, but I’ve heard good things about it.

Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights

Lastly, we have the premiere Halloween theme park event, Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando. This is the top tier scare event. It features 10 highly themed haunted houses, including popular IPs. It will take place on select nights from August 30th to November 3rd.

As of May 2024, Universal hasn’t officially announced any IPs for this year’s event. If you are on the fence, I recommend reading my Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando: Tips for Anxious Folks post. I attended in 2023 by myself and did a post Halloween Horror Nights Solo Tips for anyone considering doing the same. I also booked a 2023 HHN Daytime Houses Tour and reviewed it. Lastly, I posted a separate Halloween 2023 at Universal Orlando Resort Guide to give you an idea of what to expect.

Orlando Theme Parks in Fall

As you can see, there are several fun events taking place in fall in Orlando theme parks. From the haunts to the scary good food, there’s something for everyone! So, which of these events are you planning on visiting this year? Or, which of these is your favorite to visit each year?

You can view my other seasonal theme park guides here:

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Review

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Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is another one of the “value resorts” at Walt Disney World. I previously stayed there in 2019 on a solo trip. Today, I’m going to review it as I wrap up my look at the value resorts at WDW.

Art of Animation Resort Review

Art of Animation

Disney’s Art of Animation resort is across the lake from Disney’s Pop Century Resort, which I reviewed a few weeks ago. It’s basically a sister resort to Pop with highly themed areas corresponding to different Disney/Pixar films. It also has access to the Skyliner for transportation to Hollywood Studios and Epcot. While technically considered a value resort, it is usually the most expensive value resort on property. This is due to the popular animated film themes and the fact it has family suites. This is a fun resort to walk around and look at the huge statues in each area. The movies represented include: the standard rooms in “The Little Mermaid” and family suites in “Cars”, “Finding Nemo”, and “The Lion King”.

Pros

  • Movie Themed Rooms/Sections – This is probably one of the biggest perks of staying here. If you or your loved one is a big fan of one of these movies, then this is a huge reason to stay here. I stayed in “The Little Mermaid” section to celebrate my 30th birthday since the original animation came out the year I was born.
  • Family Suites – The family suites can sleep up to 6 people with a regular queen sized bed, a bed/table combo, and a pull out sofa bed. This is great for larger families or groups. It also makes it more expensive. I’ve not had the pleasure of staying in one of these rooms, but I hope to someday. If I do, I will be sure to do a separate review and link it here.
  • Large Pool – In fact, Art of Animation has the largest resort pool at Walt Disney World! The Big Blue Pool is themed to “Finding Nemo” and is very big!
  • Skyliner Access – My husband and I love the Skyliner. It’s so easy to use and we prefer to stay at resorts on the Skyliner just to use this mode of transportation.
  • On-site Perks – Just like staying at Pop or even Disney’s All Star Resorts, you get certain perks for staying on-site including 60 days advance dining reservations, early park entry, and free park transportation!

Cons

  • More Expensive – The standard rooms are the most expensive value rooms and the suites are sometimes comparable in price to a deluxe resort.
  • Beds in Suites – Again, there’s only one regular bed in the suites. So, I guess you can pull straws for the other beds in a group with multiple adults. Ha.
  • Noise – This is moreso in a standard room as those have outdoor corridors. The suites have interior hallways and should be quieter.

Is Art of Animation Worth The Money?

I think the question of value of this resort really comes down to preferences and budget. It may be worth it for a fan of one of the movies or for larger families. However, a couple would probably prefer the cheaper rooms across the lake at Pop.

Universal Orlando Tips for First Time Visitors

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I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me sooner to write a Universal Orlando tips post. However, I am finally posting it in case anyone needs help planning their first trip!

Universal Orlando Tips

Universal Orlando Tips

As of this writing, I have visited UO five times! So, while I won’t claim to be a true expert on the resort, I do have some experience in visiting it. Thus, these are things I keep in mind when visiting or wish I had known when I first started visiting.

General Information

As of 2023, Universal Orlando Resort consists of two theme parks and a highly themed water park. They are currently building a third theme park, scheduled to open in 2025. The resort also currently has two value resorts, two prime value resorts, one moderate, and three premiere hotels. I’ve visited both theme parks and stayed in all but one of the resorts. You can read my reviews of the Universal Resorts to see what I think of most of them.

Pro tip: I highly recommend staying on-site at one of their resorts as the free transportation is very useful. I feel safe using it, especially as a female traveler at night. Plus, you get additional time in the parks when you stay at a resort hotel.

Do You Need a Park-to-Park Ticket?

I suspect lots of people ask this question as theme park tickets can be expensive. Honestly, if it’s not in the budget, don’t fret. The only thing you miss with a single park per day ticket is riding the Hogwarts train between the two parks. While it’s a must-do for any Harry Potter fan, it’s not necessary for other folks. As a passholder I must admit that I enjoy starting at whichever park has early entry and then heading to the other one. However, that’s because I’ve visited several times now and have done most of what I want to do by now.

Now, if you can only afford one day at one park, that is trickier. Personally, I have spent the most time in Universal Studios Florida. However, that is also where the majority of seasonal events take place. It’s also where the new Minions Land just opened up. However, I also love Grinchmas at Islands of Adventure. I would recommend checking out the rides and lands in each park to determine which one is most appealing to you and your group.

Seasonal Events

If you are looking to add a little more entertainment or food options to your trip, then you may want to consider visiting during a seasonal event. There are three seasonal events at UO: Mardi Gras from early February to April, Halloween Horror Nights from early September until the end of October, and Christmas from early/mid-November to early January. I have written posts on each of them previously and they are linked above for further descriptions of each. Needless to say, I highly recommend visiting during these events if once catches your eye.

Universal Orlando vs Walt Disney World

Personally, I visited UO after WDW. So, if that’s you, then this section is for you. First, you should understand that UO is much smaller and more relaxed than WDW. No need to make dining reservations 60 days out here. However, you should make reservations for the more popular restaurants such as Mythos or character dining a few weeks in advance. Logistically, a UO visit is much calmer than a WDW one.

I would like to point out that UO has more thrill rides than WDW. UO rides also tend to be screen heavy, i.e. they rely on screens to show you stuff versus animatronics like at Disney. It’s definitely easier to experience motion sickness at Universal. While it’s never been a problem for me, I believe Universal’s rides may not be as accommodating for larger folks. So, if you get motion sick easily or are of a bigger stature, this may not be a place you want to spend several days in.

Additionally, I think it’s worth pointing out that Universal can be edgier than Disney. While it’s still a family-friendly park (aside from HHN), you can expect to see things here that Disney would never do. For instance, you may see some humor in the rides or on signs with jokes that Disney would never allow.

Final Tips

It’s impossible to condense my Universal Orlando tips into a little list. Nonetheless, I hope you found some helpful ideas here. For what it’s worth, I think 2-3 days is an ideal amount of time to spend at this resort. So, have you ever visited Universal Orlando Resort? Do you have any tips?