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Walt Disney World Vacation Information and Advice

June 2015: Day 3 Magic Kingdom & Epcot

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Posted on May 3, 2016 by waltdisneyworldblog

For me and hubs, Magic Kingdom and Epcot are like peanut butter and jelly. Both awesome on their own, but put ’em together and BOOM! – a perfect pairing.

As I’m sure I’ve mentioned, Epcot is my husbands favorite park. I love Magic Kingdom and Epcot pretty equally, but for separate reasons. Magic Kingdom is nostalgic, full of wonderful aromas and attractions. Epcot offers adventure and excellent and abundant dining. Conveniently linked by the monorail, getting from one park to the other is easy and enjoyable. Going to both parks in one day also saves us the “argument” of which park to visit first on our trip.

So on our third day, the alarm buzzed at 6:30, we each grabbed a quick shower, enjoyed apple with almond butter and granola on the balcony, and were on our way to Contemporary Grounds for depth chargers by 7:00ish. We walked over to MK and passed through security and the turnstiles just as the opening show was wrapping up.

We walked straight back to Fantasyland and walked on to the virtually empty “Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid.” Our luck continued when we were able to walk onto “its a small world.” Next we went across to Peter Pan’s Flight. The standby queue was 35 minutes, which for Peter Pan, isn’t bad. Disney recently redid the standby queue to feel like you walk through the Darlings’ house. I CAN NOT rave about this enough! It is so awesome! If you spot Peter Pan’s Flight with a 30ish minute standby – go! You’ll enjoy your time in the queue as much – if not more – than the attraction itself. Post Peter Pan our streak continued with no wait into Mickey’s PhilarMagic and finding a 15 minute wait at The Haunted Mansion. (This kind of morning is why I think waking up early and taking advantage of early hours is the way to go.)

Cinderella’s stepsisters and stepmother delighting guests out in the open.

A quiet morning in the back of Fantasyland.

Hubs

Peter Pan’s Flight queue

How hubby feels about it’s a small world…

Mickey’s PhilarMagic

Leaving Haunted Mansion we stopped off at Sleepy Hollow and split a waffle filled with Nutella and fruit. So good. With our bellies full we headed back to Adventureland and walked right into the Enchanted Tiki Room.

Tangled Rest Area

Tangled Rest Area with water fountains and charge station

Wallfe + Nutella + Fruit = YUMMIES

Enchanted Tiki Room

At this point, though we were clearly on a roll, we decided to walk back to Bay Lake Tower for a break. We didn’t have any Fastpass+ reservations until later and our dinner reservations were fairly late at Epcot, so we thought breaking earlier in the day made sense. After returning to Bay Lake Tower, we both worked out (the Contemporary has a small, but awesome gym), we showered and went to the Contemporary’s Contempo Cafe for lunch. We got on the Monorail and were on our way back to MK to use our FastPass+ reservations for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain. Next we spun ourselves silly in a teacup at Mad Tea Party and then cooled off with this delicious raspberry lemonade slush from the neighboring Cheshire Cafe. We did a little people watching at the Casey Jr. Splash n’ Soak Station outside of Dumbo while we waited for our final FastPass+ reservation at Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. We’ve only experienced this attraction a couple of times, but it really is fun and adorable. I will say this about it: I spotted a lot of hats and a couple cell phones lost from the ride. Stash ’em away people. Think of how silly (furious) you’re going to feel to be out your iphone because you wanted a selfie.

Contempo Cafe Lunch

Splash Mountain

Our log awaits

Anyone for a spin?

Raspberry Lemonade Slush from Cheshire Cafe

Casey Jr. Splash n Soak Station

At this point we felt like we’d had a really great first day at MK and so we hopped the Monorail over to Epcot to spend the rest of the afternoon and evening.

After passing through the gates, we had planned to head directly to the World Showcase to spend the evening, but Spaceship Earth had very small standby time that we couldn’t resist. After a glimpse at our future we ambled to the World Showcase to roam and kicked off with a beer in Germany. Prost!

We had dinner reservations at Via Napoli in Italy. This was our first visit to Via Napoli and we loved it! Everything was delicious and the ambience is light and airy. It was simultaneously a cozy spot for a romantic dinner and a relaxed family environment. We would definitely dine there again, and I don’t hesitate in recommending it.

Via Napoli

Via Napoli Menu

Tiramisu & Pistachio gelatto

Espresso with dessert

Post dinner we felt full and content, and decided to head home to Bay Lake Tower for a little swim and balcony relaxing. We caught a beautiful sunset on the way back that was the beautiful cap on a beautiful day.

The Epcot “Can’t Miss” List

Posted on March 5, 2015 by waltdisneyworldblog

This blog post is brought to you by… yet another snow day. March has settled in and I think everyone is longing for spring. Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival started up yesterday. If I close my eyes and wish really hard, do you think I could transport myself there among the topiaries, special outdoor kitchens, and illuminated nighttime gardens?

Nope, I don’t think so either.

At least I have some beautiful pictures to brighten the gray sky.

Epcot is Hubby’s favorite park. He likes the mix of culture from the World Showcase with the action of Future World. Epcot also has wide open spaces that he finds appealing. For us, Epcot means a blended day of attractions and culinary samplings.

The Epcot list includes attractions, snacks and quick service food. Table Service restaurants are so numerous at Epcot that I won’t address them on the list. Items with an asterisk are “super favorites,” or things we tend to do multiple times.

The Walt Disney World Blog 2015 “Can’t Miss” List:

Epcot

(By area) Future World East, Future World West, World Showcase

Spaceship Earth * – This attraction mixes history with the technological future. Interactive touch screens in the vehicles give you a personalized experience on the ride. You can have a different touchscreen experience every time, which is one of the reasons this is a super favorite.
Ellen’s Energy Adventure – What do Ellen Degeneres, Bill Nye the science guy, and Alex Trebek all have in common? They are all stars of this attraction, along with some dino animatronics. This ride lasts about 45 minutes and you will most likely exit knowing a sciency thing or two you didn’t know before.
Test Track * – True confession: When this attraction first premiered, it didn’t really thrill me all that much. I liked it, but it certainly wasn’t going on my “can’t miss” list. However, in 2012 it was remodeled with a few fresh ideas that not only bumped it onto the “can’t miss” list, but also into super favorite status. Sponsored by Chevrolet, you will travel through an interactive queue, build a custom vehicle on touch screens, and then have those specifications applied to your ride to see how your design performs. It’s really fun.
The Seas with Nemo and Friends * – This ride is adorable and clever. Climb into a clam shell and travel through the Finding Nemo story. As you exit the ride you will have a chance to roam the aquarium and view a variety of salt water dwellers. An added bonus: the queue is rarely very long and it moves swiftly.
Turtle Talk with Crush – If you have little ones, this is a must. Using technology developed by Steven Spielberg, Crush appears and chats with the humans who have dropped in to visit him.
Living with the Land * – This boat ride is all about growing and raising food. That may not sound all that exciting, but it’s really neat to glimpse the direction agriculture is taking. You’ll see plants growing in unusual configurations and in super sizes. Fun Fact: The Land produces substantial amounts of produce and much of it is used in kitchens at Epcot.
Soarin’ * – Oh how I love this attraction. Love it. This hang-gliding simulation transports you to California. You’ll experience stunning views, scents, and music. I recommend getting a FastPass+ for this ride The stand-by queue time quickly climbs and stays lengthy.
Sunshine Seasons – This quick service spot is located in The Land. It offers a variety of fresh, tasty delights that will suit anyone’s palette. This is one of our favorite Epcot lunch spots.
Gran Fiesta Tour – Head inside the Mexico pavilion to hang out with Donald and his amigos on this charming boat ride.
Journey Into Imagination with Figment – It’s hard not to love Figment. This whimsical ride celebrates your senses and imagination.
Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar – We love wine. If you do too you should head to the Italy Pavilion in the World Showcase. This cozy little corner offers a substantial selection of Italian wines. We’ve had some great wine flights here. If wine isn’t your speed there is also beer. If you feel peckish, check our their small plate menu.

La Cava del Tequila – Located inside the Mexico pavilion of the World Showcase this bar offers a wide variety of tequilas, tequila based cocktails, and my personal favorite – margaritas!
Yorkshire County Fish Shop – If you like fish n’ chips, this is your place. We love to grab a cold beer here on a hot afternoon. Cheers!

Finding the Perfect Disney World Vacation Balance

Posted on February 18, 2015 by waltdisneyworldblog

I am a creature of habit. I like a routine and if I find something that works I tend to stick to it. This is also true of my Walt Disney World vacations. I have resort hotels I really love, and attractions I can’t miss, and treats I must eat. (Ahem, Dole whip!!) And when in WDW I will go to any length to fit it all in. (My husband was entirely unprepared for this on our first trip together.)

As I mentioned yesterday in my Pack Like A Pro post, my cousin just honeymooned in WDW and I made this list of my “must see” attractions for her. It occurred me as we were talking about attractions and dining, that in my two recent trips I have focused on the things that I love to do and sort of dismissed things that didn’t fall into that category. Several times I said, “Well, I haven’t done that in a few trips, but I remember enjoying it.”

I am certain I can’t be the only person in this boat. Disney World is so massive, and offers so much to to do. You only have so much time when you’re there, and you feel this pressure to do the things you know you love because once you leave it’ll likely be a while before you go back. Sound familiar to anyone?

This repetition pattern is especially true for dining. Typically we only have one table service meal per day. We have spots that we really love to dine and so we repeat locations. Do we enjoy our meals? Absolutely. But trying a new restaurant is fun – and at Disney World it will probably be delicious.

Peter Pan’s Flight was a 1st time experience for Hubs last June.

On our last trip, we did a better job of having a more balanced vacation. We enjoyed a little relaxation and did lots of swimming. We fit in attractions that we missed the trip before and all of our favorites. In our upcoming trip in June, Hubs and I have a new motto: balance what we love with “new” experiences. Let’s qualify “new.” New will be something neither of us has experienced, something one of us hasn’t experienced, or something we didn’t do in our last two trips.

For us, barring favored Les Chefs de France, all of our table service restaurants will be “new.” We are staying at Bay Lake Tower, which will be a brand new experience for both of us. We have a short list of attractions that we have not done together that we are going to try to hit. Additionally, to my husbands fervent delight, we have scheduled a day where we will not be going into a park. If you can manage it, a day away from the parks to rest and relax by the pool or whatnot is a great choice. You’ll be better refreshed and able to enjoy your vacation.

In the next few days I will be sharing my list of “can’t miss” favorite attractions, and I can assure you we will try to squeeze all of those in. (Our favorites list is plentiful.) But I think we are on our way to a more balanced Walt Disney World vacation that will leave both us feeling very joyful.

Ultimately everyone will have their own idea of a perfectly balanced Walt Disney World vacation. But for us, the perfect balance looks like this: our “must see” favorites mingled with new experiences and a little relaxation.

How To Plan Your Dining Reservations at Walt Disney World

Posted on May 8, 2014 by waltdisneyworldblog

Hello friends! As promised from my post earlier this week, I am sharing my dining reservation strategy with you. I’ve been using this method for many years now, and I find it to be the best, most efficient way to plan my time at WDW.

Here are the two firm truths about planning a WDW vacation – short or long. 1.) Walt Disney World is expensive. 2.) Walt Disney World is gigantic, with hundreds of options for things to do. If you don’t at least spend a little time planning your trip before you go – you will end up wasting precious time. Using the WDW Blog Disney Vacationing Theorem we know that Truth 1 + Truth 2 = THE ULTIMATE TRUTH. See below:

WDW is Expensive + Nearly Infinite Ways to Spend Your Time =
TIME IS MONEY!!

Like my lesson for the day? It’s true. I promise. But here’s the deal – I’m not saying you have to pre-plan every minute of your trip. In fact, I frown upon that. Over-planning is a great way to be miserable during your vacation. You can’t control everything at Disney World. Buses run on loops. Attraction queue line times fluctuate. It’s all about balance. Your planning should have structure – but not be overly full. And your plans should be FLEXIBLE.

When I start to plan my WDW vacation I start with my Table Service dining reservations. Why? Disney World restaurants are not like regular restaurants. Availability is limited, reservations do fill up and a stand-by wait time can be hours. MAKE RESERVATIONS. And make them early. You had better believe I am online or on the phone 180 days out from my vacation to make dining reservations. If you do that, you can usually have any restaurant you want at any time you want.

As you know from my last post, my upcoming trip was short notice. As soon as we had booked our room we got working on planning and making said dining reservations. Here’s how I go about it.

First, I make a chart for the number of days I am going to be on vacation, and I include a bisection for each of the four main theme parks: Below the WDW Vacation 2014 block I have 7 spaces down the left side of the paper, one block for each of the days on my vacation. Across, to the right of the WDW Vacation 2014 block I have 4 large blocks for the 4 main theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom.

Once I have the grid in, I start to fill in the blocks across for the 4 parks and the blocks down with the specific dates of my trip.Once all the dates are filled in, I visit Disney’s official website to find out what hours each of the 4 parks are open every day. AND most importantly, what the Extra Magic Hours are for the days of my vacation. Extra Magic Hours are extra times, either before a park opens or after it closes that are available ONLY to guests staying at a Disney Resort Hotel. EMHs (Extra Magic Hours) are a great way to visit your favorite attractions with lightened wait times. I place morning EMHs above the parks regular hours, and night EMHs below. I also highlight the EMHs so I can see them apart from the regular park hours. I do this because I almost always take advantage of the EMHs when they are offered. You’ll also notice Epcot is divided into two. That’s because Future World (FW) and World Showcase (WS) have different hours. Once everything is filled in, I take a look at the chart with a PENCIL (so you can make changes) and circle what park I think I’ll visit on what day. This is almost always dictated by the EMHs. Above you can see that on Friday, May 9 the park hours aren’t filled in. This is the theoretical day I arrive at WDW. I won’t go into the parks that day. Instead I’ll hang by the pool, go shopping at Downtown Disney, visit Disney’s Boardwalk, or buy tickets to Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach.For me, this all comes down to what parks I love and the EMHs. On Saturday, May 10 I circled Disney’s Hollywood Studios because it has morning EMHs. I then drew an arrow over to Epcot because I’ll probably finish my day there. Same thing happened on Wednesday, May 14. I chose to take advantage of the morning EMHs at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but have myself jumping to Animal Kingdom that afternoon.

Once I have this tentative plan sketched out in pencil I consider my dining reservations. Typically my family will eat at one Table Service Restaurant a day, and eat at Quick Service spots for the rest of the day. Usually our Table Service picks are for dinner, but now and again we’ll go for breakfast or lunch. This is where the WDW Blog Vacationing Theorem comes into effect. To make the most out of your time you want plan your Table Service dining reservations to be in the park you’re visiting that day. If you’re in Animal Kingdom for the entire day, but you have dining reservations at Epcot, you will lose time traveling to Epcot, which could take up to an hour. If you had dinner at Animal Kingdom you could spend that hour visiting an attraction or two.

So for example, on Sunday, May 11, I circled Magic Kingdom. Magic Kingdom has evening EMHs, so I would plan to be at MK all day and night. So logically I want to make dining reservations for a Magic Kingdom restaurant. On Wednesday May 14th, I have morning EMHs at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and then plan to hop over to Animal Kingdom to finish the evening. I should plan to make Table Service reservations for breakfast at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or dinner at Animal Kingdom. Lunch reservations could be made at either park, depending on when I want to hop from one to the other. Since Animal Kingdom closes early (6 PM), another choice would be to have dinnerat my Resort Hotel after Animal Kingdom is closed.

Once I have planned what meal I want to eat in what park, I start looking for reservations. If you’re calling 180 days in advance, you shouldn’t have any problems snagging what you want. If you’re like us this year, planning a short notice trip, you just need to be a little flexible with your times and restaurants. We had no trouble making satisfactory reservations for our upcoming trip in June. Once I have my dining reservations made, I like to highlight the block where they occur, and write the place and time off to the side (PINK). I also marked my park visiting plan in purple. This paper becomes my go-to physical reference for what’s going on, before I leave for my vacation. The My Disney Experience Application on my phone (or on Disney’s website) is my digital copy. The My Disney Experience App really makes it easy to see what you have going on each day. Love it.

Here’s a recap of my Table Service Dining Tips:

Reserve Early! – You should be prepared to make your reservations 180 days out from your vacation, or as soon as you can if you’re planning a last minute trip. This will grant you the most choices.
Plan to eat where you’re playing! This is where my chart is useful. If you’re going to be in Epcot – eat in Epcot. This will save you the most time. (Again referencing the WDW Blog Vacationing Theorem stated above.)
Keep your times consistent! If you make reservations for dinner every night, make them for about the same time. This will keep your body from going haywire.

One last word: the strategy listed today is really all about time and making the most of it. It doesn’t factor in other dining considerations such as character dining. If you have kids who would love Mickey & Friends character dining – find a place that does that! But be logical about it. If you’re at Magic Kingdom, make a reservation for Chef Mickey’s at the Contemporary. Yes,The Contemporary is outside of Magic Kingdom, but it’s right next door just a short walk or Monorail ride away. You won’t waste much time in transit.

ABOVE ALL, be prepared AND be flexible. Have a game plan going in, but be prepared to change. On my last trip to WDW I probably changed or canceled at least 2 of our dining reservations. Maybe you wind up wanting to spend more time at one park over the other, or you decide you want to just cut your day short and go back to the hotel for a pizza and a swim. Go with it!

P. S. Just so you know, the chart I made up for this post was just an example chart. It was much prettier than my charts usually end up looking when in process. See below for my working draft of our upcoming trip… Needless to say, I made a nicer draft in the end.

Epoct International Flower and Garden Festival is Back!

Posted on March 5, 2014 by waltdisneyworldblog

With the cold weather monotonously raging on here in the northeast, it’s almost impossible to imagine spring being right around the corner. (15 days and counting!) And while my iPhone weather app is telling me it’s a balmy 30º outside my window, temperatures appear to be averaging mid-70s this week in WDW. It’s a quirky habit I have – every morning before leaving bed I check our weather, and then I torture myself with checking the weather at Walt Disney World. *Sigh.

So with my landscape still appearing gray and white, I will vicariously enjoy spring with today’s opening of the 21st Annual Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival. Flower & Garden Fez means Epcot is brimming with colorful additions until the festival wraps up on May 18th. And the best part? When you go to Epcot you get to participate in all the festival fun at no additional cost. (There are a couple of exceptions – special garden tours are available at an additional ticket price.)

Here’s the rundown of the Flower and Garden Festival offerings this year:

Topiary and Garden Displays: This is by far one of my favorite parts of the festival. Epcot’s landscapes and gardens are always lush and beautiful, but they really take them to another level for the festival. Gardens are suddenly charged with extra color and intricate patterns of plants. The topiary sculptures are simply amazing. Some of them take almost a full year to come to life. Some topiary displays, such as the Panda topiary display in China, bring some of the International traditions of the World Showcase to life. But most of them display favorite Disney Characters. Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Whinnie the Pooh & Friends, Peter Pan and Captain Hook, Bambi, Mike & Sully, The Lion King, and Beauty and the Beast are among a few of them. Kermit and Miss Piggy are joining the fun this year as well. There are over 100 topiary displays in all, and many of them are illuminated gardens that take on a new life after dark.

HGTV and DIY Network Stars Presentations: Impressive personalities such as Vern Yip, John Gidding, Genevieve Gorder, and David Bromstad are making appearances to give presentations on how you can improve your home and gardens.

Flower Power Concert Series: On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 5:30, 6:45, and 8:00 PM you can head to the American Gardens Theater for a little musical entertainment. Rotating musical guests such as The Guess Who and STARSHIP starring Mickey Thomas, will be appearing for 30 minute concerts.

Kid Sized Fun: Tinker Bell’s Butterfly House with delight kids with the many butterflies flitting around. Kids will also find special play areas and gardens just for them.

Festival Center: The Festival Center is host to food, special merchandise for the festival, and learning experiences. Here is where you’ll find the HGTV star presentations as well as other seminars and exhibits.

Special Happenings: While the Flower and Garden Festival is open daily from March 5 – May18, there are a few special events that are scheduled within that bracket:

Art in the Garden Weekend – March 28-30
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Specialists – April 4-5
Florida Fresh Weekend – April 25-27
Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc – May 9-11

Outdoor Kitchens: Ah, my other festival favorite. This is the second year Flower and Garden Festival will be offering Outdoor Kitchen’s with small plate offerings that focus of fresh food and spring flavors. Taking a nod from the Food & Wine Festival in the fall, you can taste your way through the festival sampling spring through the eyes of cultures of the world. All of the menu items are available for purchase à la carte.

Florida Fresh – Focusing on tasty offerings from the Sunshine State. You’ll find a watermelon salad, shrimp and grits, and a Florida Kumquat pie to tempt your taste buds. A plentiful offering Florida beer, wine, and juices can also be found.
Hanami – Located in Japan this outdoor kitchen honors spring with sushi, fruishi (fruit sushi), puffed rice cakes, Kirin draft beer, and two fruit slushis – Pineapple Paradise with Yuzu and Orange Mango.
Jardin De Fiestas – Located at the Mexican Pavilion in the World Showcase this outdoor kitchen has tapas to try. To eat you can try pork tacos with grilled pineapple, onions, and cilantro, a mushroom and cheese quesadilla, or Mexican chocolate custard. Beer, white sangria, raspberry margaritas, and tequila flights are available to sip.
Fleur de Lys – Decadent french cuisine includes Parisian-style dumplings with vegetables and mushrooms, pulled duck confit with garlic and parsley potatoes, and an orange blossom macaroon with white chocolate ganache. Beverages include La Vie en Rose slush – Vodka, Grey Goose Orange, St. Germain Liquor, and cranberry juice, Kir Imperial – Sparkling wine, Chamboard and black raspberry liquor, Rosé pamplemousse cocktail – Rosé wine mixed with natural grapefruit syrup, and Kronenbourg Blanc 1664 – a white beer.
Lotus House – This China Pavilion kitchen features Beijing-style candied strawberries, spring pancakes with grilled chicken and green apple, and vegetable spring rolls. Quench your thirst here with popping bubble tea, Kung Fu Punch – Vodka and triple sec with mango and orange juice, South Sea Storm – Guava juice with light and dark rum, Plum wine, Beer and Lychee aerated water.
Pineapple Promenade – Pineapple Dole Whip fans will be delighted to see the return of this outdoor kitchen which offers pineapple soft serve. Try the soft serve on its own, or try it infused with Myer’s dark rum or Parrot Bay coconut rum. You can also have it served on a sweet potato cinnamon waffle. Is your mouth watering as much as mine right now?!? Frozen desert violet lemonade, Tropical Mango Ale, St. John Brewers, and Once Upon a Vine’s The Lost Slipper Sauvignon Blanc are also available.
Primavera Kitchen – Italy’s offerings of spring include Caprese, three cheese manicotti, and a torta di ricotta – lemon cheesecakes with limoncello-marinated strawberries. Wines, white beach bellini, strawberry rossini, beer and a frozen Italian primavera – assorted fruit slushy with limoncello and vodka will also tempt you.
Taste of Marrakesh – Mint iced tea, white sangria and Moroccon beers and wines all make great pairings with this outdoor kitchens small plates that include lamb brewat, harissa chicken kebab, and baghrir – Moroccan pancake with honey, almonds, and argan oil.
Urban Farm Eats – New this year this menu is all-natural. Eats include a pickled beet salad with goat cheese cream, mizuna, and pistachios, Land-grown eggplant “scallop” with romesco sauce and spaghetti squash, and a ghost pepper-dusted tilapia with crisp winter melon slaw and mint oil. Beverages include Cucumber lemon spa water, The Vegan Vine Chardonnay, The Vegan Vine Cabernet Sauvignon, and Redbridge Gluten-Free Sorghum Beer.
The Smokehouse: Barbecue and Brews – This is the place I would lose my husband and brother. Probably my dad too, come to think of it. BBQ includes a pulled pig slider, smoked beef brisket, smoked turkey “rib,” and “Piggylicious” a bacon cupcake with maple frosting and pretzel crunch. Beers include Magic Hat #9, Magic Hat Brewing, Maduro, Cigar City Brewing, Fat Tire, New Belgium Brewing Company, Billy’s Chilies, and Twisted Pine Brewing Company. If you can’t decide – don’t worry, you can try them all with a flight. And if you prefer grapes to hops, try The Original Shack Red Wine.
The Buttercup Cottage – Grab a taste of England with this menu that features a baked potato and cheddar biscuit with smoke salmon tartare, a pork and apple sausage roll, or a freshly baked lemon scones with berry preserves and crème fraÎche. If you want something lighter try field greens with Plant City strawberries, toasted almonds, and Farmstead stilton. Beverage offerings include chilled rose blush lemonade, Twinings cold brewed English Classic with lemon grass syrup, or the Berry tea cocktail – Twinings Cold Brewed Mixed Berry Tea with Florida Cane vodka and Plant City strawberry flavored with raspberry and açaí syrup. Wine drinkers may enjoy the Iron Horse Fairy Tale Cuvee or the Deloach Pinot Noir.
Intermissions Cafe – Located in the Festival Center, this spot offers beers, wines and flavorful bites. Fruit and cheese plates, wraps, and Caprese Push-Pops are among the menu items.

Clearly the Flower and Garden Festival offers so much to see, do, learn, experience, and taste. You can do as much or as little as you like. If you’re really into it, make sure to pick up a festival guide so you don’t miss anything and give yourself some extra time at Epcot – you’ll need it!

M.M. – Epoct International Food & Wine Festival Picks

Posted on October 14, 2013 by waltdisneyworldblog

After taking two days to bring you two (very) long posts about the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, I just couldn’t seem to let it go. Food, food, food, was all hubby and I could talk about. So I made the decision last Friday that we would take the weekend to consider the Food Marketplace menus I divulged in Part 1, and pick our must-tastes. We worked separately on our lists, so we could compare. There was no set number of items – just a food & drink choosing free-for-all.

Hubby sat down and chose his list within about 10 minutes. “How?!?” you ask. I don’t know. It took me forever. (Forever looking more like 30 minutes.) At any rate, here are the lists: His, Hers, and Ours (common items among our lists).

HIS EATS:

Grilled beef skewer with chimichurri sauce & boniato purée – Argentina
Seared mahi mahi with jasmine rice and “singa” sauce – Singapore
Almond crusted blue cheese soufflé with fig jam- Cheese
Artisan cheese selection – Cheese
New England Clam Chowder – Hops & Barley
California roll – Japan
Dole pineapple fritters – Refreshment Port
Fried shrimp with Dole pineapple sweet & sour sauce – Refreshment Port

HIS DRINKS:

Tequila flight – Mexico
Rogue Chocolate Stout – Hops & Barley
Orlando Brewing Company Sun Shade Organic Pale Ale – Florida Local
Glenfiddich Scotch Flight – Scotland
Beer Flights 1 & 2 (essentially, all of them) – Craft Beers

HER EATS:

Black Pepper shrimp with suchuan noodles – China
Schniken nudel (pasta gratin with ham and cheese) – Germany
Roast bratwurst in a pretzel roll – Germany
Ravioli de formaggio all’emiliana (baked cheese ravioli with creamy beef bolognese sauce) – Italy
Florida shrimp cerviche with fire-roasted vegetables and micro cilantro – Florida Local
Steamed Green Lip Mussels with garlic butter and toasted bread – New Zealand
Boeuf bourguignon (braised short ribs in cabernet with mashed potatoes) – France
Canadian cheddar cheese soup – Canada
Seared Scottish salmon with cauliflower purée, watercress and malt vinaigarette – Scotland
Berbere-style beef with onions, jelapeños, tomato, okra, and pap – Africa

HER DRINKS:

Aulani Sunrise – Hawai’i
Möet & Chandon Impérial –France
Orange Dole Whip with Crème de Cacao White – Refreshment Port (I’m not sure what the actual consistency of this would be – but Disney calls it a drink, so that’s where I put it. All the more reason to try – curiosity.)
La Face Neige Sparkling –Canada
Sparkling Pomegranate Kir – France
Kim Crawford Pinot Noir – New Zealand
Once Upon a Vine’s The Lost Slipper Sauvignon Blanc – Cheese
Sangria – Mexico
Pascual Toso Sparkling Brut – Argentina

OUR EATS:

Beef empanada – Argentina
Grilled lamb chop with mint pesto and potato crunchies – Australia
Spicy hand roll (tuna and salmon with chili pepper, soy sauce, and sesame oil topped with Kazan Volcano sauce) – Japan
Teriyaki Chicken roll – Japan
Potato and leek waffle with braised beef – Belgium

OUR DRINKS:

Terrrazas Reserva Malbec – Argentina
Singapore Sling – Singapore
Beer Flights 1 & 2 – Brewer’s Collection

Clearly I had more items than hubby. I just had a harder time deciding! I don’t really think there are any items I wouldn’t be happy to at least try. My list was a mix of favorite flavors with a one or two out of my everyday comfort zone. The point is to have new adventures right?

Hubby is a big beer guy, so I wasn’t surprised to see so much of the brew on his list. I”m much more of a wines gal – with a fervent love for sparkling wines. There were plenty of those to tempt me. BUT here is my COMPLAINT for the Food & Wine Festival Food Marketplaces: There were several food marketplaces offering beer flights, and a couple (Mexico & Scotland) offering a liquor flight – but NO ONE offering a wine flight. How silly and disappointing is that? *Sigh. Guess I’ll just have to head to the Wine Cellar in Italy to quench my wine flight thirst. For the record – hubby and I liked that spot so much we visited it twice on our last trip. I do think this is the last of my Epcot International Food and Wine Festival posts for this year. Feel free to weigh in and offer up your picks from the Food Marketplaces in the comments section. 🙂

Epcot International Food and Wine Festival – PART 2

Posted on October 11, 2013 by waltdisneyworldblog

Over the last couple of days, as I have been writing about this year’s International Food and Wine Festival at Epcot, my mouth has just been constantly watering. I’ve just felt hungry, every time I think about the festival. So many delights!

Yesterday we reveled in all of the flavorful offerings of the Food Marketplaces. Today in Part 2, I’m going to fill you in on the Special Events portion of the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. There is a ton to see and do this year aside from the Food Marketplaces, with the opportunity to learn quite a bit. Many of these events are located in the Festival Center, which you shouldn’t miss. The festival center is located in Future World in-between Ellen’s Universe of Energy and Mission to Mars. Other Special Events take place in the World Showcase – just make sure to check your Guidemap and Festival Guide to know where to go.

Special Experiences at the Food & Wine Festival fall into two categories: “Free” (included in your Epcot park admission) and Ticketed, meaning of course that there is an additional cost to participate.

I like free, so let’s start with that list:

Authentic Taste Seminars – Based on a single, whole food ingredient, these are 30 minute seminars that discuss the ingredients history and uses.
Book & Bottle Signings – Daily there is an opportunity to meet with a well known wine maker or chef, and get their autograph. The schedule changes daily, but here a few of the names for the signings this year: Buddy Valastro, Jamie Deen, Warren Brown, and Jill Ramsier & David Forrester from Quantum Leap Winery.
The Chocolate Experience: From Bean to the Bar – Calling all chocolate lovers! Hosted by the beloved Ghirardelli, you can sample chocolate and admire sculptures made only of chocolate designed by Walt Disney World Pastry chefs. You can also shop for chocolate gifts or try a cup of “drinking chocolate.”
“Seasons of the Vine” – Running continually though the day, this a great seven minute video about the making of wine.
Intermissions Café – Another spot to try a bite. Wines, cheeses, sandwiches and salads are on the list of available eats.
The Stock Pot Shop – This is the place to purchase a little Food & Wine Fez to take home with you. There is special festival merchandise, cookbooks, and cooking products. Calling this one “free” may be a stretch, but it’s free to look, right?
The Art of Food & Wine – A play on words, this is a gallery with prints and original artwork that you can purchase or simply admire.
Discover the Cranberry – Ocean Spray Cranberry has an awesome information set up this years festival. On your way from Future World into the World showcase you’ll find Ocean Spray has set up a cranberry bog (cool!!). Learn all about this amazing crop and sample some dried cranberries. Yum.
Eat to the Beat Concert Series – Daily, there are several concerts featuring a rotating group of musicians. Epcot does a great job of bringing in a variety of musicians, who all have had pretty well known careers. The concerts are shady, and a great opportunity to sit back, relax and enjoy a bite to eat. Or just digest. Here are this years artists: STARSHIP starring Mickey Thomas, The Go-Go’s, Air Supply, Sister Hazel, Sugar Ray,Edwin McCain, The Manhattan Transfer, Wilson Phillips, The Pointer Sisters, Night Ranger, Boyz II Men, Survivor, 38 Special, Smash Mouth, Spin Doctors, Christopher Cross, Hanson, Dennis DeYoung, and Big Bad VooDoo Daddy,

This is one of the best perks, in my opinion, of the Food & Wine Fez. Who doesn’t want to catch a bit of a concert?

Now the not free, but very awesome (I-want-to-TRY-THEM-ALL) available Special Events:

Wine/Beverage Seminars – Join together with a winery principal or beverage expert who will guide you through a selection of wines or beverages. Delight your palette and learn at one of these informative sessions for $14 a person. Count me in!
Culinary Demonstrations – A variety of chefs and beverage specialists will be sharing tips, while they prepare an item you will get to sample. With a cost of $14 per person, this is a great way to learn and taste without breaking the bank.
Kitchen Memories – Big names in the restaurant world, such as Art Smith and Robert Irvine, will demonstrate the preparation of an appetizer, main course, and dessert. Wines will be paired with each course. This is a great way to have a personal experience, taste a lot, and learn a little along the way.
Mixology Seminars – This is another great value, and an experience I would recommend if you want to try something extra at the Food and Wine Fez. For $15 a person, you will watch a drink specialist prepare a selection of 3 cocktails. And of course you will get to sample all of them as well. Cheers!
Cheese Seminars – Paired with wines and beers, this is a great opportunity to sample, taste, and learn about a variety of cheeses.
The Discovery of Chocolate – Now crazily enough, I am not really a chocolate person. But I know more people than not, who would love to give this experience a go. On select Sundays, Chocolatiers will teach guests about chocolate. And of course there is plenty of tasting, with accompanying wines.
Sweet Sundays – Here the day kicks off with a breakfast buffet, sparkling wines, and of course – dessert! The desserts preparations are all demonstrated by a prestigious pastry chef or baker. Breakfast, sparkling wines, and dessert!?! How did they know three of my favorite things?
Culinary Adventures in Signature Dining – Located at a variety of restaurants across the WDW property, these are specially designed feasts prepared by Disney’s signature chefs. Dine on a specialty multi-course menu with selected beverage pairings.
Food & Wine Pairings – Pull up a chair at either Restaurant Marrakesh in Morocco or Tokyo Dining in Japan to indulge in three specially prepared dishes with a specifically chosen wine pairing.
Pavilion Dining Events – In this series, the Mexico, Italy, France, and Japan Pavilions of the World Showcase are hosting specialty events. Try the Mexican Tequila Lunch in Mexico. Italy is offering both a Food & Beer pairing as well as a Food & Wine pairing at the Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria. France has three options: Parisian Breafast, Regional Lunches – to get a tour of France’s wine regions, and a Mixology Series: Taste, Shake, and Indulge Like the French. Presented by Grand Marnier, guests will taste and prepare a range of French cocktails. Or perhaps you’ll want to head to Japan for The Hibachi Experience, which is new this year. This is Hibachi on the finest level, including specially selected sake for each course.

Once again, as you can see, there is a myriad of events and choices involved in the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. Your experience is completely customizable. Spend just a little or go all out – it’s completely up to you. If I were going I would certainly take advantage of as many of the free events as possible. I also think that I would try a couple of the low cost seminars: Mixology Seminars, Culinary Demonstrations, and Wine/Beverage Seminars.

Now that I’ve gone through the entire festival I will also say this is a much more adult centered event, than family/kid centered. Some of the Food Marketplaces we discussed yesterday have things kids would love, and would make a great addition to your family’s exploration of the World Showcase. If Mom and Dad really want to get into the festival on the family vacation, I suggest utilizing one of the many fantastic Disney run childcare services. That way the kids are having a great time and Mom and Dad can really enjoy the festival offerings.

It’s been a very exciting couple of days bringing all of the Food & Wine Fez happenings to the blog. I decided that on MUNCHY MONDAY next week, I am going to give a sort of Part 3 of the festival, and share the things hubby and I decide we want to try from the Food Marketplaces. Until then, have a great, TASTY weekend!

M. M. – Sunshine Seasons at Epcot

Posted on September 9, 2013 by waltdisneyworldblog

Hello hungry people! For MUNCHY MONDAY this week we are visiting one of the best Quick Service spots in Walt Disney World – Sunshine Seasons at Epcot.

If you’re in Future World in Epcot and your stomach starts to rumble, head to The Land Pavilion and make your way downstairs to quiet your hunger in this delicious eatery.

Part of what makes Sunshine Seasons so charming is it’s bright decor. Vibrant greens, warm yellows, and oranges are the focus of the color scheme, making you automatically imagine warm sunshine and lush grass. The Land is designed with an open floor plan, so that the seating area of Sunshine Seasons has a view of the ceiling overhead. Suspended above are whimsically painted hot air balloon sculptures and draped ribbons. The globes of the hot air balloon sculptures each represent one of the 4 seasons, centered around one that is painted as the earth.

Sunshine Seasons serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. As far as breakfast is concerned, Sunshine Seasons is one of the few spots in Epcot that offers this meal. The menu is minimal, but you’ll find the basics such as pastries, breakfast sandwiches, fruit, bagels, yogurt, and even french toast for kids.

Lunch and Dinner offer much more extensive and variant menus. But here’s what is really great about it – Sunshine Seasons offers yummy, flavorful, HEALTHY food. Let’s be real. When you’re at WDW, you’re on vacation and for many of us that means indulgence. We tend to eat less carefully and there’s nothing wrong with that. But I find I get to a point where I really want something more than a burger and french fries. Sunshine Seasons is a fantastic spot to grab something tasty and healthy to give your body some much needed fuel. (Epcot is huge – you do a lot of walking!!)

The lunch & dinner food choices all fall into categories: Sandwiches, Asian Flavors, Soup and Salad, and Wood-fired Entrees. Each category has it’s own station, where you order what you like. In the sandwiches station you can expect to find something such as a turkey sandwich with monterery jack cheese and chipotle mayo on ciabatta bread, served with potato salad. I have that delicious sandwich for lunch more than once. Salads offer classics like chicken cesear, or try one with roasted beets and goat cheese.The grill features oak-grilled chicken and fish entrees served with veggies. If you want something with Asian flair, try the Mongolian Beef with veggie fried rice, or the Spicy Cashew Chicken with vegetable stir-fry noodles. Kids have a range of choices such as a chicken leg with mashed potatoes or rice and grapes. Or perhaps they’d macaroni & cheese with carrots and grapes. And let me tell you – that mac n’ cheese is darn good.

If your sweet tooth happens to strike, fear not. Just because there are healthy choices here doesn’t mean dessert isn’t at hand. A big, beautiful case displays a myriad of dessert choices so you can find just about anything you’d like. (Think cheesecake slices, mini fruit tarts, cookies, strawberry shortcake, brownies, and plenty of cupcake choices.)

After you finish eating, don’t leave The Land right away! Soarin’, Living With The Land, and The Circle of Life attractions are also in this pavilion. The Garden Grill restaurant calls The Land home as well, but that’s another yummy story for another MUNCHY MONDAY.

Just like anywhere in WDW, the menu may change with the seasons. But overall, Sunshine Seasons is focused on offering healthy choices with some Asian flavors. I know you’ll find something there that will make you smile.

M.M. – Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bar

Posted on August 26, 2013 by waltdisneyworldblog

Pictured above my friends, is pure happiness. A perch in the shade with my favorite ice cream treat in the ENTIRE WORLD: Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bar. Welcome back to MUNCHY MONDAY, the tastiest day of the week.

Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bar:

noun

Perfection. A frozen serving of silky, creamy vanilla ice cream covered with a thick, rich chocolate shell in the shape of the iconic Mickey ears.

Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bar is a whole-lotta-name. My family and I usually just call it a Premium Bar, and I’ll treat you all like one of the gang and refer to it as such here. Sold exclusively by Disney, we can thank Nestle for bringing this delight to us. The bar comes packaged in a red, blue, and white wrapper featuring a smiling Mickey face. (You can see the wrapper stuck under my cup in the picture above.) Now-a-days you can find a Premium Bar just about anywhere on Walt Disney World property. They’re available at all theme parks, as well as Downtown Disney, from an ice cream cart. You won’t have to trek far in any park to find one of these carts set up with a big, blue umbrella and a sign displaying what goodies it offers. You may also be able to find a Premium Bar in the food court of your WDW Resort Hotel. Just ask a cast member if your hotel serves them up.

Now that you know where to find them, let’s talk strategy. Everyone has a different approach to how they eat a Premium Bar. Hubby, as seen to the left, digs right in, biting off an ear. He prefers to enjoy the chocolate & vanilla flavors together in bites. I’m not really a bite-my-ice cream kinda gal. I like to savor the ice cream slowly as it melts. So I very carefully eat the chocolate shell first and then eat the vanilla ice cream layer by softly melting layer. You can see below, how I’ve already got the side of the chocolate coating off, exposing the vanilla ice cream. My strategy also makes the Premium Bar last longer. Win.

Like Pineapple Dole Whip, I shamelessly eat more than one of these during a WDW trip. I simply love them. They’re the ideal treat – sweet, cool, and refreshing. Incidentally, I’ve discovered that despite of the countless hours I’ve spent at Walt Disney World and the many, many times I’ve enjoyed this treat, I have very few pictures of it. I will say that this reason is probably two pronged. Firstly, it’s so tasty you want to eat it immediately, and photographing it doesn’t really come into consideration. Secondly, we usually visit WDW in the summer. And it’s HOT. There is little-to-no time for snapping pictures before you start to have a melting mess on your hands. But the melting mess, especially when you’re a kid, is part of the fun.

M.M. – Chef Mickey’s

Posted on August 19, 2013 by waltdisneyworldblog

Welcome back to MUNCHY MONDAY! I must admit I had a hard time deciding what to write about this morning – there are just too many delectable choices at WDW. Fortunately, my very wise momma suggested one of her favorite dining spots – Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Hotel. Though I wouldn’t admit it to her, Mum knows best and she proved it with her perfect pick. Chef Mickey’s has it all: great food, a breath-taking setting, and lots of VIP treatment from Mickey Mouse and his pals.

Located inside Disney’s Contemporary, this restaurant is just a short stroll or Monorail ride from the Magic Kingdom. The restaurant is open and bright, with striking views of the Monorail coming and going. The many windows of the Contemporary let in plenty of light and offer picturesque views of Bay Lake and the Magic Kingdom. You can also glimpse the beautiful mosaic mural by the legendary American artist Mary Blair. Don’t be surprised if the mural looks familiar, especially if you’ve just come from the Magic Kingdom. Mary Blair was instrumental in creating designs for Magic Kingdom’s classic attraction It’s A Small World. She also created designs for the boat ride El Rio del Tiempo in the Mexico pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase, as well as concept art for Disney classic films such as Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, and Song of the South.

Window view from Chef Mickey’s

This spot is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and all three meals are hosted by Mickey and friends. Personally I think this is one of the best ways to meet the VIP characters. Dressed in their kitchen finest, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto (sometimes Chip n’ Dale too!) come to visit you right at your table one by one. You have time for pictures, autographs, and plenty of hugs. A lot of special interaction can happen with character dining that doesn’t always happen at the parks. And the best part – no waiting in line! How special to be a kid (or kid-at-heart like me) and start your day having breakfast with Mickey Mouse and his pals before hitting the parks. Or in turn, take a break and have lunch with the gang, or see them at dinner as the perfect end to the day.

My brother (a chef himself) & Chef Mickey

Chef Mickey’s is a buffet restaurant, so help yourself to as much as you like. Breakfast includes items such as scrambled eggs, quiche, bacon, sausage, pancakes, biscuits, bagels, croissants, french toast, breakfast potatoes, cereals, yogurt, fresh fruit, and my favorite- Mickey Waffles! And if you’re like me, you’ll be pairing your eats with lots of coffee and fresh juice. Lunch and dinner buffets are host to American fare such as soup & salad, pastas, roasted turkey, fresh fish, roasted chicken, carved beef, and various veggie sides. Kid’s can have all of their favorites too – such as macaroni and cheese, chicken tenders, and pizza. Dessert can be found at the ice cream sundae bar. Yes please.

A meal with favorite characters is a great way to celebrate your day and this table service spot is well worth taking some time out of your schedule for. Chef Mickey’s is popular with guests so reservations are a must. I suggest you make them as soon as you are able to after booking your vacation. The characters and cuisine are subject to change, but for the most part it’s a pretty steady scene with lots of smiles and laughs.

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