Merry Christmas!

As the Christmas holidays approach, I find myself enjoying the beauty and wonder of the season.  And since the vast majority of my Christmas decor is Disney-themed (who knew?!), I keep reflecting on how much I love the Christmas Season in Walt Disney World.  

Everywhere you look there are twinkling lights, evergreen boughs, and of course Christmas trees!

Even the resorts are completely decked out -- my favorites are the Train Display at the Yacht Club and of course the life-sized Gingerbread House at the Grand Floridian!

Nighttime is just magical here -- the Castle has millions of lights on it!

And of course, don't forget about Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party! It "snows" on Main Street, there are carols, cookies & cocoa, and of course, your favorite attractions are open!

No one does Christmas like Disney! Want to see for yourself? Let us help you see it in person next year!  Merry Christmas one and all! 

The Great Escape - Cruise Like a Norwegian

So, in a departure from my typical Disney theme, today I am going to write about my recent cruise on the new Norwegian Escape.  On November 28, I departed on a hosted cruise with the Janelle & Co Crew on the 3rd even voyage of this brand new ship.  It was a fun experience from start to finish!  

So let's start with accommodations: we stayed in a balcony room, and it was very nice. 

As usual, there are several clever hidey-holes and such to help keep you organized throughout the week.  The staterooms were furnished beautifully, and it still had that "new ship" smell. In the picture above, you'll notice 2 beach towels; each stateroom comes with 1 beach towel per person to use throughout the cruise.  These can be exchanged for clean ones at any time on the pool deck.  There is a $25 charge for a lost towel, however - so keep track of it. :) And in case you're wondering, I found the bed to be quite comfortable. 

The ship itself has a lot of "bells and whistles" so to speak, including a 3-story ropes course, several waterslides, a jogging track, and the first Margaritaville at sea!

And the kids were certainly not left out, either! There were lots of areas just for them to enjoy the company of other kids.  Entourage, the Video Arcade, and a huge splash and play zone were just some of the kid-friendly options.

Never fear; the adults had some private areas, too!  Spice2O is located aft, and it is a space for adults only.  This space is quite popular, so it's a good idea to grab a chair early.  There is a really cool Misting Grotto that's great for cooling off. After 7pm, this space is used for family-friendly deck parties, including a glow party and an 80's themed dance party.  The 80's party was pretty incredible!

For an even more adult setting, you can also pay to use the Vibe Beach Club for the week.  This area of the ship has a private entrance, and once inside it has a bar, lounge chairs, and other great accommodations away from the hustle and bustle.  If you want to enjoy this, you definitely need to book is as soon as you board, as there are no pre-bookings at this time.

For those of you unfamiliar with Norwegian, it is a freestyle cruising experience.  Most cruise lines have set dining times, early and late, with a show either before or after.  You have a set location to dine with the same staff each night, and depending on how large your party is, you are sometimes seated with other guests.  Freestyle Cruising is different in that you schedule (or don't schedule) when you want to eat, see shows, and who you sit with.  If you are a party of 2, you can have a table for 2.  If you want to dine with friends, great! There are 3 dining rooms, and you can eat in whichever "floats your boat" each night.  And just as you are used to when cruising, everything is included (except soda and alcohol, of course).  Have 2 or 3 entrees if  you like -- or all 4 desserts -- no one is judging. Taste, Savor, and the Manhattan Room were all fabulous.  The chocolate lava cake was probably the best I've had.

There are also multiple specialty restaurants aboard.  If you want to "upgrade" to a specialty restaurant, there is either a cover charge or else you will order á la carte.  Of course, Norwegian offers packages that include most of the specialty dining establishments, which eliminates the upcharge for the meal.  We took advantage of adding on this special offer with our "Freestyle Choice", and we were so glad we did! We enjoyed the specialty restaurants a LOT!  Moderno, the Brazilian Steakhouse, was incredible.

We ate at La Cucina (Tuscan style dining) the next night...

And then, what may have been the best meal of the trip - Cagney's Steakhouse!

Of course, there is always the option to dine at the buffet on Deck 16 - The Garden Cafe.  This place had great food - better than you'd expect!  I was very happy with my meals here.  

Entertainment-wise, there are 2-3 Broadway Style shows to choose from.  One is a dinner venue and requires an upcharge, but the other two are free - however, reservations are suggested.  Million Dollar Quartet and After Midnight both boasted amazing casts, and they were some of the highest quality shows at sea that I have seen.  I would even say the caliber was close to that of a Disney Cruise - and you know that's saying something coming from me!

There was also a "Howl at the Moon" dueling piano bar that had shows 4 of the nights.  Although I missed the first one, I didn't miss any others -- they were THAT good. We sat for a full 4 hours listening one night.  

Of course, there is a casino, and there are several other spots to hang out in a more "nightclub" atmosphere after dark should you so choose.  There is never a lack of things to do.  Oh - and since it's football season, the brewery always had the latest games on the TV via satellite.

One last area to mention is the spa.  I am a spa junkie, and it has become a big deal to me to treat myself to a Thermal Suite on my cruise vacations.  The facilities were beautiful here.

I very much enjoyed the facility offerings, although I honestly felt like the oversold passes into the thermal suite.  Finding lounge chairs actually became difficult, and the noise level was much higher than is usual - and so the experience was not as relaxing as I had hoped.  The steam room was broken for a couple of days as well.  I am hopeful that it was due to it being a new ship, and hopefully these glitches will work out given time.  The Spa Manager was very apologetic and promised to look into everything, so I would give this a try again. 

One other neat thing is that there is now a Norwegian iConcierge app available for iPhone and Android -- you can keep in touch with your onboard friends with unlimited calls and texting via the ship's wifi all week for the cost of $7.95 per user.  You can also check out what's going on throughout the ship!  If you want additional internet services (for Facebook, email, etc), there are packages for purchase.

Of course, as this was a hosted cruise, there were lots of friends on the ship - and we had the privilege of making many new ones.  Want to try Freestyle Cruising for yourself? Join us on the Great Getaway next October! We would love to have you aboard with us!



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!

water pic.jpg

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: Animal Kingdom Edition

Hi Friends! It's time for another post in our dining series!  In case you've missed any, here are links to parts 1-3:

Part 1 (Magic Kingdom)
Part 2 (Epcot)
Part 3 (Hollywood Studios)

Today we will talk about Animal Kingdom's Quick Service options.  Animal Kingdom is definitely a huge park - and it's getting bigger! Due to this fact, it's good to know where your sure bets are food-wise so you can manage your time wisely in the park. Oh, and fair warning; I have noticed a deficit in my picture collection - I definitely need more food pics from this park!!

First up, I love the food at Pizzafari.  At least as of last time I ate there, they had mini-pizzas (as you may imagine), paninis, and more.  The food is always good, and the lines move quickly.  There are also some Hidden Mickeys scattered about! 

Can you spot the Hidden Mickey?

Can you spot the Hidden Mickey?

My next pick for quick service dining is Restaurantosaurus.  This is largely due to the amazing theming here! The link above will take you to pictures from Disney's website -- since my collection is lacking.  Essentially, this restaurant is run by a bunch of students on an archaeological dig.  There are fun dino touches everywhere -- and if you look closely, you can spot their lawn chairs on the roof.  Make sure to explore the space and see all of the cute touches throughout!  There are lots of tables and chairs here, and the food is tasty, even if it's standard fare.  The little kids' meals come in buckets with shovels (as of my last visit), so that's super cute as well. 

Another great place is the Flame Tree BBQ.  Although seating is outdoors, the food is delicious - just walk by and you'll see.  This is conveniently located in the park, so it's a popular venue for sure. 

Finally, make sure to grab a Dole Whip or chocolate mousse espresso waffle (say what?!?!?!?!) from Tamu Tamu refreshments!  There are so many delectable treats at this stand.  Many are a snack credit, but some aren't, so make sure you check before ordering.  

What's your favorite treat from Animal Kingdom?

Quick Service Dining: Hollywood Studios Edition

If you've missed any part of the series, you can catch the first two parts here:

Part 1 (Magic Kingdom)
Part 2 (Epcot)

Today's blog will be all about the Quick Service & snack options in Disney's Hollywood Studios.  As one of the smaller parks, you would think there would be fewer choices.  You may be pleasantly surprised to learn that there are quite a few!  Of course, the Studios is undergoing a major transition currently, so it's possible that some of the current offerings will be tweaked/re-themed as the park continues to take shape.

Let's start with breakfast.  On days when I start off at Hollywood Studios, I love to hit Starring Rolls Cafe! This little shop off of Sunset Blvd has amazing pastries!  I highly suggest the Apple-Craisin Turnover! The cinnamon rolls are good too...

We often use a snack credit here.  Of course, if you are looking for a different snack option here, try out the Writer's Stop over near the Streets of America!  The carrot cake cookie comes highly recommended by Upon A Star Eric...

And apparently I have no pictures of the yummy treats here -- but here is a shot of the front window with a hidden Mickey, plus a shot of a wall that still has the MGM branding! Love those little hidden nuggets.

Of course, you can't just eat snacks all day.  Well, at least, that's what people tell me.  So for those times when you need to have a full meal, we have 2 "go-to" places.  The first is Pizza Planet near the Streets of America.  I love this location, because it actually comes with a mini-salad as a side dish!  OK that's not the only reason, but it's a nice addition to the personal pizza.  I think the pizza is pretty tasty, too! They also usually have fantastic cupcakes for dessert! 

Next up is the ABC Commissary.  Honestly, I was disillusioned with this location for about 3 years.  A combo of the menu and the crowds put me off of it, but happily, I had a great experience the past couple of trips.  It's back in my good graces!

The Commissary has TVs showing ABC shows, and it even has props from them!

No food pics from here at the moment, but the burgers are great.  I also loved the new salmon salad that they are offering! This is definitely worth the visit. 

What are your favorite locations in Hollywood Studios?  

Navigating Walt Disney World® with Special Needs/Autism Part 1

When you are a parent of a child with Autism you do a lot of planning ahead for travel. This is especially true when you are planning a trip Walt Disney World®. I was very nervous the 1st time we took our son to Disney World. How would he do on a plane? Would he be able to stand in line at all? Would the sensory overload be too much to handle? Would he even have fun? I am here to tell you that it can work out; with careful planning and care it can be a great time for all!

 

The Disability Access Service card that Disney provides is a big part of making your trip a success. The DAS is a card that you can obtain at Guest Services at any of the parks. The DAS card is for children and adults with disabilities. You can get your DAS card at the Guest Services locations at any of the parks.  

 

Anytime we have done this, the cast members have been amazing - very kind and respectful. They will ask you what type of accommodations your child might need. Because of HIPPA laws, they are not allowed to ask you for proof of disabilities. Some people are adamant about taking a letter from a doctor. It’s honestly not needed. I explain to the CM that my son has trouble standing in lines and has sensory issues. They will then take a picture of your child using an iPad. If you do not want your child’s picture taken, an adult is able to stand in for the picture.  This is what the card looks like:

The card is good for everyone in your party and is good for the entire length of your stay. It’s basically like having an extra fastpass. You will take the card to an attraction that you want to ride, or you can also use the DAS on character greetings as well. If the wait time is more than your child can handle, the Cast Member will give you a time to return to ride the ride/meet the character. They will mark it on the DAS card. Return back at that time (you don’t have to be back at the exact time). When you return, in most cases they will send you through the fastpass entrance. The cast member will then cross out the ride and you are free to go to another attraction and use the DAS card. You cannot use the card again until you either ride the attraction listed or have it crossed off. If you change your mind, etc., just have a Cast Member cross off the ride.

Here are some more tips to help make your trip a success!

 

1.    Be specific with cast members about your child’s needs. When you explain what they can or can’t handle, they will have a better idea of how to help you.

 

2.   Use your fastpass in conjunction with the DAS card. If your child likes rides, using both the fastpass and the DAS card will allow you to be able to ride more without such long wait times that can be very hard for them to handle.

 

3.   Be prepared to rest. We have to take some breaks now and then for some rest; really we all do need them, but it’s a must for my son. Go somewhere that they can sit and be calm (or as calm as they can be). One of the areas my kids love the most is The Boneyard at Animal Kingdom. It’s an amazing play area. They have an area out of the sun that is filled with small smooth pebbles where they can “dig for fossils”; it’s perfect for kids with sensory issues. My son loves it - in fact, all of my kids do!  And mom and dad love it because we can sit and rest for a minute.

4.    Bring what you know you need from home. My son fidgets, so when we do have to stand in line I always have his go-to tiny R2D2 figure that he holds in his pocket. If your kids have something like that, make sure to bring it!! Blanket, toy necklace, you name it - make sure you don’t forget it!

 

5.   Headphones. Fireworks are amazing at Disney World, but they are also very loud. We bring a pair of headphones that help block some of that sound out.

 

6.   Roll with it. Sometimes your day just may not go the way you planned it. You just have to roll with it. It might take a bit longer to get through the parks, and you may miss a ride or two, but there is still fun to be had!

                                                                                                            

Part 2 coming soon!

Have a magical day!

Lori

 

P.S. If you have any specific questions I am happy to talk with you. You can find me at:

lori@DISiningmemories.com

www.facebook.com/uponastarlori

twitter: @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! 

Recent Blog Posts

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!  

Cruising Excursions in the Caribbean

If you've been following my blog series, you know that I had the amazing opportunity to sail on the Disney Fantasy over the 4th of July holiday week this year.  For those of you who have never cruised, you may be wondering about getting off the ship in the islands.  And that is exactly what this blog is about! :)

While modern day cruise ships are destinations in and of themselves, they also provide us with the fantastic opportunity to see beautiful locations without having to constantly pack and unpack.  Think of a floating hotel - with LOTS of amenities!  Honestly, you never need to get off the ship - there is just so much to do! But at the same time, these gorgeous destinations are just begging to be explored, and hey, you're already there, so why not?

The first stop on our Eastern Caribbean voyage was St. Maarten.  St. Maarten is an interesting mix of Dutch and French, and there are lots of shore excusions to take advantage of.  In this case, though, we opted to just get off the ship to shop and sightsee.

 A word of caution; although you can get off at any port of call and "go it alone" so to speak, you must be very aware of the time.  The ship will leave without you if you're late!  If you are on an excursion organized by the Cruise Line, that's another story (they'll take care of you!).  Anytime my hubby and I decide to go somewhere aside from the immediate port area, we do so only through an organized excursion.  End disclaimer.  

The lovely thing about most islands is that there is fabulous shopping right in the port area, so no need to stress about missing the boat - literally. St. Maarten's main shopping district was a beautiful 10-minute walk.  There is also a ferry for $7/person each way.  I am glad we chose to walk, because I actually found the Love Shack along the way!

Couldn't verify if there was glitter on the mattress... but there WAS glitter on the front porch...

Couldn't verify if there was glitter on the mattress... but there WAS glitter on the front porch...

Oh... and a goat...

So, how was the shopping?  There were a lot of lovely places and boutiques.  There was the usual touristy stuff, then a lot of American brands.  THEN -- we found Olde Towne!

And there was an adorable boutique that sells gorgeous one-of-a-kind glass jewelry.  So of course I had to buy a bracelet. :) Oh, this chocolate place pictured above was yummy too!

We also had some time to snap some pics of the beach and beautiful scenery:

There were lots of great excursions offered in St. Maarten - private beaches, scuba, snorkel, glass-bottom boat tours - but we just wanted to relax here.  Because we didn't do an official excursion, we were back on the ship long before most people returned.  This allowed us to enjoy the ship with a whole lot less people on it! And this is a great thing in and of itself - especially because the AquaDuck line was less that 10 minutes!

Another perk was that the Rainforest Room was empty.  What is the Rainforest Room you ask? AMAZING.  It's part of the Spa, and you can buy either a day pass or a length-of-cruise pass.  It consists of a variety of Saunas, Steam Rooms, and special showers that help you unwind and relax.  Then you go into a room with heated stone chaise lounges and stare at the ocean -probably fall asleep- and then stare at the ocean again as you are blissfully lulled by the ocean waves.  There is a scent of eucalyptus in the air - oh and did I mention the hot tubs overlooking the ocean?  Yeah, those are there too.  I HIGHLY recommend purchasing the length-of-stay pass, which includes sugar scrubs for each day.  I don't have pics of this, because people get weirded out when you're snapping photos in such a place - even if everyone IS in a bathing suit... :)

Back, now, to excursions.  Our next stop was in St. Thomas, and as you may know, that is very close to St. John.  I have been on great excusions to St. Thomas, but never to St. John, so, this time I went for the new experience! After breakfast, we embarked on an Eco-Hike Tour of Cruz Bay  & Caneel Bay with a stop at the Beach. 

We learned so much about the Island of St. John.  There is no airport on the island, and so the only way to get there is by flying into St. Thomas and taking a ferry over.  Incidentally, we took a ferry to St. John! It also is too small to port large ships like the one we sailed on.  St. John really has a lot of "desert" type things about it - water is at a premium, and they were experiencing a drought when we were there.  Fortunately, our guide had bottles of water for us as we hiked.  It is a gorgeous island!  

Mid-hike, we had a stop at Honeymoon Beach, which was just gorgeous! I mean... look at that water!

The water was warm, the sand was soft... but we still had a bit more of a hike before returning to the ship.  So we set off and visited Caneel Bay, home to the Rockefeller estate! People can rent bungalows here for their vacation, and it's quite a beautiful location!

After we ferried back to St. Thomas, we did just a bit of shopping at the port before heading back for lunch. 

It was a great day! But I have to say that my favorite stop was the last one... Castaway Cay! 

First of all, when we woke up, we could see the entire island from Cabanas (where we grabbed a quick breakfast).

As you can see, Disney's private island in the Bahamas is absolutely breathtaking.  The water, the sand - everything. Gorgeous. After our breakfast, we met up with our group on the dock and headed off on a nature hike/kayak adventure!  We learned a lot about the history of the Bahamas and it's flora/fauna.  It was extremely interesting!  We got to see a mangrove nursery, too, and that was where, on a secluded beach, we boarded our kayaks.  

Working a kayak is fun - but wow it is tiring!  We got to splash around on the beach a little, and then it was time to head back to the main part of the island.  On the way, we found this little thing - not sure what it is, but it has a Mickey on it!

And it was perfect timing - lunch was being served!  We chose to eat in Serenity Bay, the adult-only portion of the island.  It is the last stop on the tram, and it is beautiful!

If an adult-only beach isn't in the cards, there is plenty of fun to be had over in Pelican Point! 

Pelican Point has 2 parts, and it is the hub of shopping and activity on the island.  

There is a great snorkeling bay (and matching excursion!) here, and you can even rent bikes to tour the island at your leisure.  Even without equipment, there is no doubt you will have a blast on Pelican Plunge!

Can you spot the Hidden Mickey in that picture?  There are also kids' activity centers (on and off the ship), so there will never be a dull moment for the kiddos!

I have to say that Castaway Cay is one of the most fabulous islands I've been to.  It has so much to offer (even stingray swims), and the set-up of the beaches flowed nicely.  I truly can't wait to go back!

Have you been on an awesome excursion that you'd like to share? Comment below!

 

Dining on the Disney Fantasy

So, this post is all about food.  Those of you who know me are not surprised, because food is one of my all-time favorite topics, and pretty much it's one of the highlights of my vacations. There was so much amazing food on the Disney Fantasy! Warning: you will be hungry after reading this post!

So, let's start with Cabanas. Cabanas is a buffet that serves meals throughout the day. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served up here. This is a great place to come for good food, fast. There is no dress code (many people were in swimsuits/cover ups), so it's easy to come and go throughout the day.  The theming of Cabanas is so cute! You can find the Seagulls from Finding Nemo , and there is an amazing mural on the wall as well. 

Food offerings at Cabanas range from fresh fish to burgers, delicious soups/salads, and great dessert options too.  This is also a place where you can grab a fountain drink or iced tea 24/7.  Oh, and coffee.  It's always time for coffee... 

Cabanas is busiest at breakfast and lunch, and there are a couple of hours each day where it will close down to switch food offerings. Not to worry, though! If Cabanas is closed, there is still food to be had out on the pool deck (Deck 11). Just stop by Flo's V8 Cafe for a great assortment of sandwiches, salads made to order, and of course, Luigi's Pizza. Themed much like Cars Land in Disney's California Adventure, this a great place to grab a quick lunch or a snack.  Yes, pizza is completely legit as a snack on a cruise. :) I should know...

Of course, there are also a lot of sit-down dining options. Disney Cruise Lines features a one-of-a-kind rotational dining schedule. There are 3 dining rooms, and your cabin/dining group moves among all 3 throughout the week.   the great thing is that your serving staff moves with you. I have to say that we were blessed with the most awesome duo with Maria and Sanaaj! I was sad to leave them at the end of the week. 

Onto the sit-down restaurants. Let's start with Royal Court. This is what I would call the "fanciest" main dining room.  There are gorgeous mosaics featuring the Disney princesses with their princes, and the scenes from the movies are beautifully recreated. There are special touches everywhere, including the pumpkin carriage light fixtures scattered throughout.  The atmosphere is quiet and regal, and of course, the food is served beautifully.  You can also dine here for breakfast or lunch, if you prefer a sit-down style meal. We did both at some point throughout the cruise, and it was so delicious!

Another of the sit-downs is the Enchanted Garden. This is a whimsical, garden-themed venue filled with flora and fauna. And as you dine, you watch the daylight fade to twilight... And that is when the light fixtures "bloom". No seriously they do! I really enjoyed the look of this one. This is another choice for breakfast on certain mornings. 

Perhaps the most talked about dining option is Animator's Palatte.  This restaurant is extremely interactive! On our 7-night cruise, we had 2 totally different experiences. The decor looks like an artist's studio, and you are surrounded by your favorite animated characters... on shelves, on screen... everywhere! And throughout the evening, the palattes on the ceiling change. 

Our first dining stint here involved your favorite turtle and mine, Crush! I don't want to give too much away, but let's just say that we had Crush speaking Pittsburgh-ese! If you do not know what that is, well, be glad hahaha! The second night we dined in this location, we got to take part in be the animators! It was amazing to watch things come to life right in front of us on the screen. We even got credit for our work! Both evenings were so much fun. They were unique in ways that simply must be experienced to appreciate them fully. 

Now, back to the food. :) AMAZING. Here are some of the options. I think my hands down favorite was the Chilean Sea Bass. I could really go for some of that right about now... Oh wait, sorry, I digress.  

Although your dining experience changes each night, all three restaurants will serve the same evening menu, so you needn't worry about missing out on a great entree that any be served elsewhere. That being said, each night's menu was different, and it was even themed to some degree. On the Fourth of July there were special patriotic offerings (the apple pie sundae was phenomenal). Pirate night boasted dishes with swashbuckling names... And it was all delicious. Honestly top-notch in my opinion. The best part? You can have as many entrees or desserts as you like.  I may have had 3 desserts one night... Ok I did. (one of these was Brady's...)

But maybe, just maybe, you think you want to relax on your verandah. Or you would rather have coffee while sitting in your PJs. Fair enough! That's why there is a great room service menu available all day! We ordered coffee and fresh fruit many mornings and enjoyed our ocean view.  I should have taken a pic on an at sea day -- LOL!

Another fun thing to order is cookies and milk.  These suckers are GINORMOUS and super tasty! What a great evening snack! Or breakfast... Or midday snack... 

What about ambience, though? For those of you looking for a more upscale dining experience, the Disney Fantasy has two amazing options: Palo & Remy. Both require an upcharge; $30/person for Palo and $70/person for Remy. Reservations are required, and there is a dress code. We dined at Palo for brunch on our 2nd at sea day, so we got to enjoy the food and atmosphere while still dining at the Enchanted Garden in the evening.  

I think Palo is hands down one of the best meals I have ever eaten. Inspired by Venice, Italy, the term Palo actually means pole - as in the poles used to power gondolas. The decor was impeccable, and the view of the ocean was exquisite. The service, too, was fantastic.  She was attentive, but never hovered.  First, the server talks you through the dining options and courses.  Then, you head up to the buffet to sample as much as you like.  And get this- the server fills your plate for you! Go hungry, because you will want to try everything!  

Palo is known for their gourmet pizza, but since we were there for brunch, there were also scrumptious breakfast and lunch options. So, in the name of research, we tried it all!   We started by splitting the rum raisin pancakes.  Next, pizza! We got one and had them do half and half toppings to get the flavor of more than one option.  Palo is also famous for their lasagna, so we split a portion of that in addition to our meals.  My salmon was divine, and Brady loved his chicken parm.  Thankfully, sizes are portioned to allow you to get more than one, so we could have room for dessert. 

Speaking of dessert- making a choice here was even harder than at the appetizer buffet! There were at least two Nutella desserts... Clearly I had those. The cappuccino mousse and tiramisu were phenomenal, and Brady enjoyed all of his selections as well.   

My advice? Make a reservation! They fill quickly, so don't wait! You can reserve a spot ahead of time, or you can call when you embark.   

Remy is the other restaurant, and this one is French-style, themed after the movie Ratatouie.  There were little nods everywhere to Remy, the French Chef Rat. A bit of trivia... In the movie, a patron orders a certain bottle of $35,000 wine.  You can find this very same wine in the wine room here! If it's actually ordered, the rumor is that the Captain himself will come have a glass with you.  

Although we haven't yet dined at Remy, we fully intend to next time we are on the Dream or Fantasy! A more full report will be offered then.  

All this talk about food is making me hungry.  I think I'll go get a snack.  Until next time, friends... 

Cruising on the Disney Fantasy Part 1

With the launch of our new website comes the relaunch of my blog (which has been dormant for far too long).  For weeks now, I have been excited to share with everyone exactly how amazing my latest Disney adventure was.  This time, I embarked on a 7-night cruise Fourth of July cruise on the Disney Fantasy.  

So excited to head out! We have our Disney swag and we are ready to go!

So excited to head out! We have our Disney swag and we are ready to go!

In a word, it was AMAZING.  As Disney Cruise Lines newest ship, the Fantasy is one I had never been on, and I couldn't wait to see it in action.  Taking the shuttle from our Disney resort made the transition seamless, and I loved watching the onboard video, which really got us excited for the journey ahead. Check In was a smooth process, and before we knew it, we were onboard in our gorgeous stateroom.  Now, if you have ever been on a cruise, you know that the staterooms/bathrooms can feel a little... cramped.  I can honestly say this was the best stateroom experience I've ever had.

There were so many hidey-holes; it was super-easy to find a place for all of our stuff.  And of course, having a balcony was fantastic.  We definitely enjoyed room-service for breakfast most mornings here.  I was even pleasantly surprised by the lifeboat drill, which was not nearly so chaotic as I anticipated.  

Everything about the week was perfect -- food, entertainment, facilities -- everything! I could spend an entire post on each one, but for the purposes of this post, I'll give you a bird's eye view of the experience.  The decor is quintessential Disney mixed with the beauty of the ships from the turn-of-the century. Even the deck chairs were inspired by those of the (dare I say...) Titanic!  Yep, I sat on one for that very reason.  

Everything was well-planned and well thought-out, from the theming to the technology, the kids' areas to the adult-only areas.  And each area had use throughout the day - even the adult lounge areas.  This part of the ship, Europa, was beautifully themed.  By day, it hosts family activities, and by night, it turns into the nightclub area. The Tube is inspired by the London Underground, Skyline Lounge features a gorgeous changing skyline of 7 cities of the world, the Carousel (Italy) offers snacks and drinks, O'Gills Pub offers snack and drinks with an Irish flair, and there is also a French-inspired Champagne Bar, Ooh La La.  On another note, the Skyline Lounge has hidden Jedis and Star Wars characters hidden!

And while we are on the topic of Europa, I have to give a shout-out to the bathrooms which were... amazing.  Um yeah -- I took pics of the bathrooms. It's totally not weird. :)

One of the highlights of the cruise was definitely Pirate Night!  This special night, featured on many of Disney Cruise Line's itineraries, has a special deck show, character appearances, and fireworks!  Even the evening's dinner was pirate-themed!

I mentioned earlier that our cruise was over the 4th of July.  There were special festivities and decorations for the event. 

All throughout the ship were opportunities for fun and interaction -- even indoors!  There are magical pictures, and there is a great scavenger hunt that is perfect for adults and kids alike!

Speaking of kids' areas... oh my goodness!  Kids of all ages have a BLAST here!  Since I'm not under the age of 17, I couldn't go into the clubs for pictures, but I will say that the children we traveled with absolutely loved going to the clubs.  I even witnessed groups of teenagers lunching and exchanging contact info so they could keep in touch after the cruise!

For little ones, the ship featured Nemo's Reef, which is a great splash area for the tiniest of guests.  Older kiddos could enjoy the AquaLab or the Mickey Pool.  The was also an amazing sports deck (complete with mini golf), and even shuffleboard.  Interestingly enough, a lot of kids were playing shuffleboard!

With so much to do, how on earth do you know where to go? Well, there's an app for that! No, seriously, there is! The Disney Cruise Line app has everything you want to know about your day at sea... and it works on the ship's WiFi.  No need to purchase a special WiFi package, either.  As long as you are on the app, you can use as much WiFi as  you need.  One tip: download it before you go! Also, there is a great text message feature embedded in the app, so everyone can communicate easily.  This will require each person to have the app and have a unique email address assigned to their app, however, in order for it to work properly. 

A word about the entertainment -- AMAZING.  Seriously, the best I've seen at sea.  No photos are allowed during the shows, but I would honestly pay to see any one of them on Broadway.  Actually, Aladdin is already on Broadway... 

This is just a quick overview of the fantastic offerings.  I will do another segment featuring the dining aspects of the ship.  As we all know, I am a huge foodie!  Stay tuned!