Disney Dinners: A Yummy Way to Countdown to Your Disney Vacation

Anticipation is one of the wonderful side effects of booking your Disney Vacation.  You’ve figured out where you want to stay and how many days you want to go.  You’ve been wise and booked your package with Upon A Star Travel and are taking full advantage of the Concierge service.  You’ve excitedly told your kids!  “YAY!  We’re going to Disney!!” They yell.  Now you have to wait- it’s the hardest part.  It can be especially difficult for kids.  When you’re little, time moves so slowly.  Even High Schoolers feel like they’ve been in a relationship forever if it lasts from Christmas to Snowball.  A fun way to help add to the anticipation and move the time more quickly are Disney Dinners! 

A Disney Dinner is a meal themed after a Disney movie.  My family started doing this on Friday nights and we count down the weeks instead of the days.  It doesn’t feel as long to say we leave in 10 weeks instead of 70 days.  This gives everyone something to look forward to each week.  It also helps us get reacquainted with some Disney movies and characters.

My kids are 11, 13 and 16.  We rotate who gets to pick the movie.  Then they help plan and assist with cooking the meal to go with it.  I can’t even explain how wonderful this has been for my family.  With school and activities, it’s been quality family time.  We work together on the menu, including looking up recipes together.  We then post the menu on the fridge, a day or 2 before so everyone knows what’s planned.  Sometime we plan a menu that’s similar to the location where the movie takes place- we did a Hawaiian theme for Lilo and Stitch.  Sometime we play on words like our Pirates Pizza Party because my husband was craving pizza.  My son is autistic and by posting the menu in advance, he knows what is coming and has tried many new foods since we started doing this.  He associates it with the movie so it “makes sense”.  Working one on one with each of my kids has been wonderful, and they’ve really been great about cooking. 

There are several ways to plan Disney Dinners.  You can make it simple and pick fun names for simple foods like Playing Card Sandwiches for Alice in Wonderland or “Poisoned” Apple Slices for Snow White.  There are some great preschool ideas online (check out Pinterest).  You can add activities, coloring pages and decorations.  You can even get some Walt Disney World recipes online for your dinners.  Make it your own and have fun!

Here are some of our favorites:


You can follow Carrie on facebook at facebook.com/uponastarcarrie and on Twitter & Instagram @uponastarcarrie.

California Grill Brunch

If you were watching my page last week, you know that my hubby and I had the opportunity to dine at the California Grill's new brunch this past Sunday.  I was so excited, because it was literally opening day for this experience!  Being among the first to take part was amazing.  

California Grill is located atop the Contemporary Resort, and it offers stunning views of the Magic Kingdom, Epcot (in the distance), and the other Magic Kingdom resort areas.  It's also a very popular location for viewing Wishes Fireworks in the evenings.  

So here is an admission: prior to this weekend, I had never eaten here.  Hard to believe, right? It's always been on the list, but we never followed through for one reason or another.  We love a good brunch, though, so this was the perfect time to make a reservation.  

The hostess was so kind and escorted us right up to the lobby.

We were greeted immediately and ushered to our table.

As you can tell by the chopsticks, the California Grill does offer a lot of sushi.  Of course, there are many other delicious offerings as well. Here's a peek at the menu.

The first course is self-serve. There is a beautiful display of all of the above offerings.  I particularly enjoyed the mini lettuce wedge and the self-serve yogurt station, although all of it was amazing!  There is also bread service served with butter and jam delivered right to the table.

Next came the entree.  We both tried the steak, and it was out of this world!  The seasoning and preparation were perfect.  I also heard rave reviews about the sweet potato pancakes.  I guess this means I'll have to go back to try those!

For those so inclined, there is a complimentary cocktail included; there is also a Bloody Mary Bar available for those who would like to choose their own ingredients -- based on the amount of Bloody Marys I saw on tables, I'd say this station will be very popular!

After all of this amazingness, you may think the experience is almost over - au contraire! There is still a luscious dessert tray!  Of course, dessert is only complete with coffee, and the coffee here was amazing.  It was french-pressed, strong, and not bitter at all.  It was the perfect accompaniment to the beautiful cookies and candies.  Disclaimer: I totally forgot to take a picture before we dug in... so this is a midway through re-arrangement of the cookies/chocolates. :) There is also a yummy toffee bark!

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Of course, you simply must check out the observation decks at some point throughout your stay.

 The entire experience lasted about an hour and a half, so it's definitely a leisurely experience.  Unlike some of the character breakfasts/brunches, this location was quiet and peaceful.  I should also mention that there was a wonderful piano/string bass duo playing throughout our meal, adding to the ambience.  There were some families there, but by and large the population consisted of adults.  This is a great location for honeymooners and couples.  it would also be a great option for a date day - drop the kiddos off at the Polynesian's Kids' Club (there is a charge for this) and then the adults can enjoy a date before heading out for the day.

I would absolutely go back here! Have you ever dined at the California Grill? Comment below!

Disney Springs Area Transformation

On my recent trip to Walt Disney World, my hubby and I spent some time exploring the newly expanded Disney Springs area.  While it isn't completely finished yet, much of the area known as "The Landing" is largely construction free, and the West Side is coming along beautifully.  The Marketplace has some fresh expansion as well.  

So let's begin with the Landing.  We ate lunch at the Boathouse on this particular visit.  The Boathouse is considered signature dining for dinner, so it requires 2 Table Service credits. In this case, we opted to pay out of pocket.  

The Boathouse is beautiful, and as you might imagine, has a nautical theme.  It also features Amphibious Cars, which you can pay to take a ride in!  They are really cool. Oh, and the blackened salmon BLT was amazing! 

But the Boathouse isn't the only new addition.  Right next door, take a trip into the world of Indiana Jones by visiting Jock's Hangar.  I loved all the subtle nods to the classic Indiana Jones movies. Although I didn't get one, they DO offer really cool looking souvenir mugs!

A spot that I have been really excited about is the new Ganachery, which features an onstage kitchen that produces amazing chocolate!  The assortment was to die for, and the taste ... incredible! I tried the Egyptian Sea Salt Dark Chocolate, and it was everything I hoped it would be!

Although I didn't get to head in and try yet (stay tuned, I'm eating there in March!), Morimoto Asia is now open!

Another great addition (that I missed getting a picture of) is the Gelato Shop.  And if you go there, you must try the Riso! It was a surprisingly yummy treat!

Moving on to the West Side, many things have remained the same, but there were two additions/changes that I was really excited about!  Now it boasts a Star Wars Galactic Outpost as well as a Marvel Super Hero Headquarters!

There is still a lot of construction occurring here, but there are more great shops and restaurants to come!

Of course, the Marketplace is still a great place to shop.  The World of Disney Store is newly expanded, and as always, the Lego Store is a fun place!  It also has my favorite shops, Tren-D and the Co-Op.  Inside the Co-Op, there is a great new men's store, Twenty-Eight and Main.  My hubby really enjoyed shopping here!

I am excited to see how this area continues to transform, and I will definitely keep blogging about the changes as I experience them!  What are you most excited about? Comment below!

runDisney Marathon Weekend 2016

After a week of hiatus (apologies!), our blog is back in action with a report about this year's Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna! I had the honor of running during race weekend for the 3rd year in a row, and it was my husband's 4th year in a row.

As usual, it was such fun! We always like to have some days in the parks both before and after the races, so we truly were able to enjoy the full experience.  We started off with a bang by going through the Expo, touring the new Disney Springs area, and we followed it up with a treat: the last night of the Osborne Lights.  I will be dedicating blogs to both of these last 2 topics in the coming weeks (it's just too much for one post!)

When running a race in WDW, if you stay on property, you can always be assured that there will be transportation to the event; that being said, we aren't fans of having to wake up super early to avoid the traffic when riding a bus.  We decided to stay on the monorail for quick access to and from the event. In the past, we have always been proponents of using the Race Retreat, but with this year's good forecast, we made the decision to forego it.  This allowed us to sleep 'til 3am rather than rising at 2am.  

We were to Epcot in fairly short order, but due to the heightened security, we ended up waiting in the line to have our bags searched for quite sometime.  This resulted in our jogging to our corral (E)... so at least we got a bit of a warm up in! We heard the National Anthem being sung and knew we had to hustle.  We arrived about 5 minutes before the first corral released.  Close one! My advice for future races is to not bring a bag if it can be avoided.  If you do, arrive early to avoid arrive to your corral late.

Weather this time around was a bit chilly for the majority of the trip, but for our Half Marathon, it was absolutely perfect.  We had intended not to stop for any pictures, but ... well, who can resist when lines are short for characters you've never had a photo with?  All told, we met our goal time-wise even with the stops! 

Entertainment throughout the course was fun as always, and each year I feel like the corral releases are more organized.  This year was no exception. Throughout the run I tried to take some video clips.  Considering I was running throughout most of them, I'm impressed with my camera work (hahaha!).  I've compiled everything into a little video so you can appreciate the fun of a runDisney event. 

 

Anticipation - It's Half the Fun!

Excitement.  Anticipation.  Joy.  Magic.  These are some of the words that come to mind as I think about our upcoming Disney trip.  There is nothing like experiencing all that WDW has to offer, but as we all know, there is usually a LOT more time spent waiting for the trip to commence than there is experiencing the magic in person.  


So, why not make the waiting part of the excitement?  Even now, as I sit here writing this, my gaze wanders to the countdown I have posted on the wall.  Everytime I change a number, I feel a thrill.  At first, it's when I go from a 3-digit countdown to a 2-digit countdown.  Then, I get excited at every milestone -- 90 days, 60 days, 30 days.  And by the time it reaches single digits?  Well, I'm over-the-moon excited.  


A countdown is a great way to anticipate the excitement to come.  If you have children, allowing them to change the countdown helps them to get involved in the pre-trip excitement.


And that's not the only thing you can do to extend the Disney experience.  Starting from the moment I make that next reservation, there is the joy of figuring out what new restaurants to try.  Then, once everything is booked, I have the fun of inputting everything into the MyMagic+ app. There is the researching of park hours, extra magic hours, and figuring out what is new to see and do.  


For the littler ones (and, I admit, for many of us adults), watching the Disney movies that inspired the attractions in the parks is a fun way for them to prepare for the Magic.  Beauty and the Beast, Dumbo, The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Peter Pan -- there are lots to choose from!  And don't forget about some of the classic attractions like the treehouse from Swiss Family Robinson and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.


As the trip edges ever closer, we listen to park music -- we have LOTS of it on our computer! -- to set the mood as we pack and look at pictures of previous WDW trips.  All of these things help us to experience Disney magic before setting foot on the plane to Florida!  


So, don't waste the anticipation; relish it as part of the magic & excitement of a Disney vacation!

Part 2 Navigating Disney World with Special Needs

I’m back with some more tips and suggestions to make your trip to Disney easier and more enjoyable for your kids with special needs.

Resort Choices

Most kids with special needs, whether they are physical, emotional or intellectual, can’t wait long. If that is the case in your family, I suggest staying at a Monorail resort. The resorts on the Monorail are Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. These resorts are a stone’s throw from The Magic Kingdom, and the monorail stops at the Transportation and Ticket center that can easily get you to Epcot. That being said, we have stayed at other resorts and have not had issues with transportation. All Disney buses are equipped with a lift gate for wheel chairs and electronic scooters. While waiting for buses, I often have very small bottles of bubbles to keep the kiddos distracted and busy while waiting. 

Schedule Breaks

It’s important to give kiddos a break from the sensory overload going on during the day. If possible, try to take a break during the day and head back to your hotel and take a swim or a nap. We always find that this really helps the kids reset, and us as well! If you can’t make it back to your resort, find an area in the park that you can stop and take a break. I also find that kids with ADD/ADHD need to burn off some of that extra energy they are carrying round. To help burn some energy, head to some of the play areas in the parks; The Bone Yard at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is our favorite!

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Stay hydrated

Ok this is important for everyone going, however really important for kids with special needs. Did you know that kiddos with Autism, ADD/ADHD can dehydrate faster? Take some bottles of water into the park to make sure you and the kids keep hydrated. Don’t forget you can also go to any quick serve dining location and request water, and it is free!

 

Be Safe

Disney is a big place, and the crowds can be intimidating. I try to dress my kids in matching outfits and tend to stick to brighter colors too. I also take a picture of them every morning when we head out the door to the parks so I have a photo of them in their outfits for the day. You can also buy/make bracelets with beads on them with your cellphone number so that if they get separated from you, they can show the bracelet to a cast member and they can call you. I always point out cast members to my kids so they know they can go to them if they get separated or need help.

 

Dining

Where to dine is a big deal at Disney! Know a bit about the restaurants you may want to go to. Are they too loud, sensory overload, will they take too much time up eating there? My suggestion is to make reservations for off-times to eat. They crowds won’t be as bad and it's not as loud.

 

Plan, Plan, Plan

I find the more organized you are, the better you will do and the better your kids will do too. Get help planning! We would love to help you plan out the details of your trip so that it can be enjoyable for you. I hate it when I hear about someone having a bad time at Disney, and usually it’s because it wasn’t planned out well. While planning out the details of a trip is important for everyone, I think it is of the utmost importance to families with kiddos that have special needs. You want to have every tool available to you to make your trip a success.

 

Have a magical vacation!

Lori!

 

I’m happy to answer any questions you may have!

Find me at:

lori@disiningmemories.com
www.facebook.com/uponastarlori
Twitter: @uponastarlori
Instagram: Uponastarlori

 

Quick Service Dining in Disney: Epcot Edition!

A few weeks ago, I began a series on Quick Service dining around Walt Disney World.  If you missed part 1, you can catch up here.  Today, we will be heading around Epcot and talking about my favorite Quick Service eateries and snack locations!

Epcot has such a huge amount of options for food.  It also has my favorite Quick Service restaurant on all of Walt Disney World - Sunshine Seasons! This place is my favorite for a variety of reasons.  First, it is located in the Land Pavilion, which is my favorite.  It's my happy place, and sometimes during a stressful day I like to envision sitting in the food court area here, looking up at the Seasonal Hot Air Balloons that decorate the ceiling.

Of course, the important part, even more than the atmosphere, is the yummy food!  Sunshine Seasons has a variety of options: Stir Fry, Salads, Sandwiches, Rotisserie Chicken, Soups... and so much more!  The pastry section never ceases to amaze, and you are sure to find something for every palate!  There are also fantastic breakfast selections. 

In all my food pictures, I am ashamed to say that I do not have a single picture of my typical order here -- the salmon over green beans.  It's so amazing! I do have a picture of my husband eating his favorite dessert, though -- a red velvet whoopie pie!

Sometimes, though, when we are ready for lunch, we are back in World Showcase.  On those days, we love to try out the countries.  We have recently come to really enjoy the food at the Liberty Inn (American Adventure Pavilion). 

All American food with options like Hamburgers, Chicken Wraps, S'mores & Apple Pie abound here.  I've always found the food to be tasty, and the lines aren't too bad, either!

Another yummy option is the Cantina de San Angel in the Mexico Pavilion.  This is the quick service area, and there is a beautiful outdoor seating area that overlooks World Showcase Lagoon.  Yet again, no food pictures.  Apparently I am always too hungry to snap a picture before I eat...

I also want to give a shout out to 2 of my favorite snack options here.  First up is Karamel Küche in the Germany Pavilion.  This is Werther's Caramel at its finest, and holy moly is this place good!

My second shout-out goes to France.  Between La Boulangerie Patisserie (pastries & coffee) and Les Glaces des France (ice cream), I don't know if I can pick!

So, there you have it.  Next time you're at Epcot, give one of these options a whirl - and let me know what you think! 

Tasting and Drinking Our Way Around the World: Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival 2015

This week, agent Carrie shares her experience at this year's Food & Wine Festival! If you've always wanted to go but haven't, this post is for you!       ~Jenn

My best friend from high school, Amy, and I have been going to small wine festivals around PA for many years.  As we celebrated our 30th birthdays at a fall wine festival in Yorktown in 2005, we decided we needed to have something greater in order to “look forward” to the big four-oh looming in front of us.  We decided to go to Italy!  We started planning, even buying books and tapes to learn Italian.  We weighed out the pros and cons of going with a tour group vs. renting a convertible and winging it.  Sometime last year it hit us- we have no money saved up for our grand tour of Italy.  Over the last 10 years, life happened- children got older, houses were bought, jobs were lost and new ones started.  That’s when my husband surprised us by saying he was sending us to Italy!...in Epcot for the Food and Wine Festival.  

I started reading and learning about the F&W Festival.  I quickly learned it was not like any of the festivals I’d been to locally -- meaning no free wine tastings.  I was a little worried about how much money we were going to spend on tiny sips of wine.  I started to feel overwhelmed with everything there is to know about the festival.  There are parties, special events, food demonstrations by famous chefs, drink seminars, and so much more.  I wanted it all!! 

There were two small problems with wanting it all…money and time.  The money is pretty self-explanatory.  While the demos and seminars felt completely doable at $15pp for a 45-60 minute session, some of the parties and VIP experiences went for up to $500pp.  Time was the bigger factor.  We were going for a Girl’s Weekend and only 2 days in the parks.  At first, I wanted to spend both days at the festival (Epcot is my favorite park), but then I found out that Amy hadn’t been to the parks since high school. So we HAD to go to the Magic Kingdom for a day.

We made the sad decision to skip the demos and our desired special event - the Italian Regional Food and Wine Pairing Luncheon - because it would take 3 hours up in the middle of our day.  Instead, we planned to eat (and drink) our way around the World.  The Global Marketplace consists of 30 booths that represent countries and refreshments that are placed around the World Showcase.  It’s more than the regular World Showcase pavilions.  Additional countries are represented as well: Poland, South Korea, Greece, and Patagonia are just a couple of examples.  We pre-purchased the Sampler Package that included 8 entitlements for food or drink items in the Global Marketplace, a 20th Anniversary F&W pin, and VIP seating for the Eat to the Beat Concert.

After a beautiful morning riding rides in Future World, we headed to the Festival Center.  It’s the hub of all the comings and goings for F&W.  The demos and seminars happen here.  There is a small area to buy festival merchandise (Dooney and Bourke anyone?!?!)  This is also where you pick up any festival tickets and passes.  While we were there, we got a F&W gift card and loaded it with the max money we were willing to spend at the festival.  This was to ensure we didn’t go overboard.  We also got our “Festival Passport”, which tells you all the Festival booth menus throughout the Global Marketplace.  This passport makes a great souvenir because you can have it stamped at each country’s booth you visit.

The booths have a minimum of 2 main dishes, a dessert, and a beverage.  We decided to order different dishes so we could try each other’s.  In Scotland, I ordered the Haggis with Neeps (rutabaga) and Tatties (potatoes) and Amy had the Seared Sea Scallop with Spinach-Cheddar Gratin and Crispy Bacon.  I thought the haggis was a bit dry, but since I’ve never had haggis, I have nothing to compare it to.  That became the theme of the day…let’s try something we haven’t had before.

Then we went over to Hawaii.  I was disappointed that they were sold out of the Tuna Poke with Seaweed Salad (at 12:15pm!), and they didn’t know when they would have more.  So, we both had the Kalua Pork Sliders with sour Pineapple Chutney and Spicy Mayo.  I could have had eaten these all day!

Off to Greece!  You can easily find Greece in the Marketplace.  Just follow the cheers of, "Opa!"  When you pick up your drink, shout, "Opa!" and the cheer is quickly returned.  This was one of the best interactions with Cast Members and people at all the booths we visited.  I got a Greek Salad and Amy got the Vegan Moussaka with Vegan Sausage Crumbles.  My salad was good, but small.  The moussaka was also good, but very hot.  It was a 90-degree day, and eating the super-hot food wasn’t going down well, so it didn’t get finished.  I was very impressed with the vegan/vegetarian options all through the marketplace.

Next was the Champagne and Desserts booth.  As a champagne lover, this was my favorite booth.  I really wanted to splurge on a tasting on Dom Pérignon, but at over $20 for 2 ounces, I couldn’t bring myself to do it.  Darn budget!  Instead, I went with the Moet & Chandon Nectar Impérial instead.  Amy got the Moet & Chandon Impérial to go with her Chocolate Cherry Exposion dessert.  I got the fancy Strawberry-Basil Champagne “Toast”.  Everything was phenomenal!  We immediately planned to go back at the end of the evening to get another glass of bubbly and dessert.

Next stop was the Refreshment Port. This booth is not a country, but it offers one of the best Disney treats around -- the Dole Whip with Coconut Rum!!  We enjoyed this while looking out at the lagoon for a small break.

O Canada!  Cheddar Cheese Soup and Moosehead Lager for me.  Wild Mushroom Beef Filet Mignon with Truffle Butter and Tawse Vineyard Cabernet Franc for Amy.  The soup and filet are on the menu at Le Cellier, so I was a little disappointed that there was nothing new.  But, I LOVE the Cheddar soup and the beer was light and made an excellent pairing.  The wine was really good and had the right notes to compliment the fillet and earthy mushrooms.  It was one of our favorite booths, and Amy now wishes to go to Le Cellier the next time we are in WDW.

After a shopping excursion and concert in England, we headed over to France.  It was Champagne again for me in the Sparkling Pomegranate Kir.  The Boeuf Bourguignon was so delicious and melted in my mouth.  I was excited to see it on the menu, because I have always wanted to try it.  Amy’s Cabernet Sauvignon was a bit bland, but the Crioissand aux Escargots was the simply amazing.  It was both our favorite of the whole festival.  We then went into the wine shop, Les Vins de France, where we purchased the red and white wine flights.  This was our biggest disappointment of the day.  Each glass was 2oz, and the flight was $18ea.  Given the rich food we had, the wine seemed, well…boring.  We still drank it all while sitting on the edge of the fountain enjoying the beautiful day.

Italy!!!  We finally made it!  We started with some shopping and pictures -- and then it poured!  Have no fear; there is a w(h)ine shop.  While we whined about the rain for a minute, we drank a glass of wine.  Due to the rain, La Bottega Italiana was packed.  We got one glass of Pinot Noir, then got back in line to get another glass of something we couldn’t pronounce (looks like those Italian tapes were a waste of money). We really enjoyed the wine here.  By then, the rain had slowed down a bit so we headed to the festival booth.  I tried the Raviolo alla Caprese (cheese ravioli) and Amy had the Filetto di Pollo Funghi al Marsala (chicken marsala).  We were very disappointed in the Italian booth.  It only had those 2 selections, and they were so dull.  A great part of our time at the booth was talking with a nice couple from Cleveland -- I had to poke a little fun at his Browns shirt.  Turns out “Mrs. Browns Fan” was actually a Steeler fan and grew up 2 blocks from where I currently live.  It’s a small world after all!

With one more entitlement left and 10 minutes until our dinner reservation, we headed to Germany.  They make the best Riesling, and they have four to choose from!   We drank our wine while we headed over to Morocco to try Spice Road Table as our final stop in trying something new.  We had a little wait, so we decided to get henna tattoos that mean “Sisters”.  I really enjoyed the atmosphere and cast members here.  Everyone was very helpful and friendly, and the food was amazing!  We watched Illuminations from here and then headed back.  We were entirely too full (and a bit too giddy) to stop at the Champagne booth again.

We ended up using all of the entitlements and all but a couple dollars on the gift cards.  We were happy we didn’t go over budget.  We were disappointed, though, that we didn’t make it to more of the Global Marketplace.  As we started around the lagoon, our goal was not to miss anything.  The only booth we purposely missed was Poland.  As Pittsburghers, we didn’t think they could do a pierogi better than home -- I mean after all, we have pierogi races at Pirate games.

The Epcot Food and Wine Festival is an EVENT!  We had so much fun the whole day.  Even after an amazing day at the Magic Kingdom, we said we were going to come back and do 2 days at the festival.  We’ll be back for our next milestone birthday celebration!  Forty-One is a big deal…right?

Quick Service Dining in Disney: Magic Kingdom Edition

I think it's well established that I love to eat.  Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks... I'm no respecter of times.  And when I am on vacation, good food is very important! That being said, I have decided to do a series involving my favorite eateries around the "World". Because there are so many, and in order to keep these posts manageable to read, I'll focus on a specific type of dining in a park/resort.  For me, the Magic Kingdom really epitomizes the Disney experience.  As such, our journey begins here.

When it comes to a Quick Service meals in the Magic Kingdom, the first that comes to mind is the ever-elusive Be Our Guest.  This restaurant is an anomaly in that it changes over from a Quick Service by day to a Table Service by night.  I love this! First of all, the ambience is second to none.  As a little girl who grew up loving Belle and her movie, dining in Beast's Castle truly never ceases to amaze me.  

Trust me, these pictures do NOT do this place justice! But really, the focus of this article is the food.  And Oh. Em. Gee.  It is fantastic! I typically get the carved turkey sandwich with pommes frites (AKA french fries), which is so so good! Dessert varies, but I love anything with the gray stuff on it -- and hubby almost always opts for the Strawberry Shortcake cupcake.  Of course, there are tons of options here, and I'm pleased to say that they are a lot different from traditional fast food.

Aside from the menu, this location is unique as far as how it serves your food.  When you check in/order, you are given a small "rose".  This is actually a handy little device that uses RDFI technology to allow the servers to know where you chose to sit - and they deliver your order right to you! You also get real silverware (as opposed to plastic).  As far as seating choices go, I love dining in the West Wing -- it's so spooky and amazing. 

The trick with this restaurant is that you usually can't just walk in.  Reservations are a must if you really want to dine here.  So, when you need a "walk in" location, one of our favorites is Columbia Harbour House in Liberty Square.

There are so many things I love about this place.  But first, I have to give a shout out to my favorite greeter.  He sings to the passers-by, rings a bell, and welcomes everyone in with a smile.  He is basically a fixture from what I can tell - I think I see him every trip!

The menu is definitely heavy on seafood, which happens to be my favorite.  I love the fried fish and chicken basket when I feel like throwing my diet to the wind, but on my most recent trip, I discovered how amazing the salmon platter was!

The decor inside is nautical, and there are some nods to the Haunted Mansion ... one of my favorite attractions! If you dine here, try to sit on the second floor - there is a great view!

My 3rd go to in the Magic Kingdom is definitely Pecos Bill's Tall Tale Inn.  This has been an annual favorite of mine, partially because of the fixin's bar!  Now a disclaimer: there was just an announcement that this restaurant is slated to receive a new menu.  And I am SUPER excited about it!  Originally I was in love with their taco salad, which was discontinued a couple of years ago.  Now, it is going to be a lot of burritos, rice bowls, and fajitas.  Second to seafood, these are my favorite food groups!

Now for some stunning news -- I apparently have absolutely no food pics from this establishment.  This is likely because I'm starving and gobble down my food before taking a picture when I go here... I promise to rectify this situation on my trip in January!  Hopefully the new menu will be in place by then so I can offer our loyal readers a review.

So, those are my 3 faves in the Magic Kingdom.  Honorable mention goes to the Diamond Horseshoe, which is only open seasonally.

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So, what are your go-to Quick Service eateries in the Magic Kingdom? Comment below!

Memory Maker at Walt Disney World® Resort

One of the newest offerings for Walt Disney World® Resort packages is Memory Maker.  I just love this package!  For those of you who have never been, or who haven't been in sometime, Memory Maker has replaced the Disney's PhotoPass service.  Memory Maker is essentially an enhanced version of the PhotoPass service. 

In its newest form, Memory Maker includes every picture that is taken in the park as a digital download.  This is much more convenient than the PhotoPass CD -- especially since many newer computers don't even have CD/DVD drives as a standard option. Now when I say every picture, I mean every picture -- even the on-ride photos!  My hubby & I know where every on-ride camera is, and we usually do something funny when we know a photo is going to be snapped.  We would never buy these photos, though, opting to spend our money on other souvenirs.  With Memory Maker though, we have the luxury of having each and every funny moment. 

Do you enjoy my hubby's costume in the Splash Mountain pic?  He is the attraction Soarin'. He decided that for Splashdown on Splash Mountain, he should wear the goggles.  I did not notice at all until I saw the picture!

There are also lots of photo opportunities as you walk around each park.  Sometimes, there will even be a bit of extra magic that will appear in your photos when you look at them!

There are also amazing on-ride videos that show up... plus some other fun videos!

Memory Maker is currently $169 for pre-purchase, and I highly recommend adding it to your package! Just be sure it is added on at least 3 days prior to your trip.  I have so many fun pictures from my recent trips.  I even have footage of my mom on a roller coaster now! You don't want to miss out on wonderful memories like these. Have you used and loved Memory Maker? Comment below!