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Have a magical day!

Shun the Non-Believers!

*Disclaimer: Please don't really shun anybody because they act the way Kristin's co-worker does in the story below. They just don't get it.*

For those of you who may not know, I am in the midst of planning my next trip to Disney.  A few weeks ago, I was using one of my breaks at work to review some of the travel plans I have already made.  A co-worker came up behind me and very condescendingly said “You’re going again?  How many times has that been?  It can’t be that interesting!  You really should go someplace else.”  My first reaction was to defend myself:  I do travel elsewhere.  I have been all over the east coast, have been out to California. I have traveled to various places around the Caribbean, have started my European adventures and am in the midst of planning an extended stay in the Middle East within the next calendar year. 

Then it occurred to me, WHY should I feel the need to defend myself?  I enjoy vacationing in Disney World.  It is fun for me and who cares whether or not SHE finds it interesting, I find it interesting.  To me Disney is more than just a series of theme parks.  The attractions are only a small part of the appeal to me.  I enjoy the food, the environment, the music, and the smells.  I enjoy my time there.  I love to let go and allow the silly part of my personality take over.   I love the new memories I create with my loved ones and I love reliving some of the old.  I love watching the resort evolve over the years and having new and exciting experiences in a place I know and love so well.

To me this is no different than vacationing at the same beach house every summer or going on a bi-annual camping trip.  So what if instead of hiking through Yellowstone or going on a cruise or taking a ski vacation every year, I choose to travel to and stay in Disney?  This is what I enjoy doing, this is a place I LOVE to be.  I intend to travel there with my future husband and the new family we create.  I think about how wonderful it will be to have a complete family vacation there with my parents, sisters, our husbands and any babies that may be running around.    I love that Walt Disney World and the Disney experience has become such a foundation within my family.  In many ways, I grew up in Walt Disney World and it has become a part of me.  

So, to this nosey co-worker and anyone else who may scoff at my vacationing choices, judge all you want.  I love my time at WDW and I will continue to do so.  There are always going to be people out there who judge our choices just because they do not understand them.  As I said earlier, my first reaction was to go on the defense; however, since I have taken a step back from the situation, I realize that being content and excited with my choice to go to WDW again is far better than trying to explain myself to a non-believer.   

Never be embarrassed to say that you’re going back to WDW!  Only those who have already experienced the magic can truly understand why you want to return.

TTFN!

Tonga Toast

Yesterday (August 8, 2012), the Disney Food Blog posted a copy of the recipe for Tonga Toast: a South Pacific take on French toast served at the Polynesian’s Kona Kafe. Well, as luck would have it, I needed a special breakfast recipe for this morning. (My roommate is finishing her job from hell today, and I wanted to make her a congratulatory meal.) I have to admit, I’ve never had the Tonga Toast at the Kona Kafe, so I have no idea how my own version will match up and I won’t try and compare them, as I have nothing to base a comparison on.

Normally, I’m terrible at breakfast foods. I can make a mean omelet, but that’s pretty much it. You hand me pancake mix, they come out dense and tasting decisively not like pancakes. You put me in front of a waffle iron, they all burn or come out with holes in the middle. Despite my dismal past attempts at breakfast time, I thought I would give the Tonga Toast recipe a try. (To get a copy of the recipe, go to the Disney Food Blog. http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2012/08/08/disney-recipe-tonga-toast-from-kona-cafe-in-disney-world/#more-62918)

Preparation for Tonga Toast was surprisingly very easy. It took maybe 10 minutes and smelled just like snickerdoodle cookies. YUM! The most difficult part of the prep was not letting the bananas fall out of the bread while I was dipping it in the batter or flipping it over in the pan; however, overall, I’d say this recipe was a huge success. There were a couple of really great things that I noticed about this recipe that I’d like to share with you.

1.)   You really do want to cut the bread at 3 inches thick, or thicker. The reason being that the batter seeps into the center of the bread and when you put it in the pan to fry, the outside gets toasty (or crispy, depending on how long you fry it) and the inside stays tender and delicious.

2.)   I didn’t need all of the batter or all of the sugar/cinnamon mixture. You could, probably, cut the batter in half and the sugar/cinnamon mixture by a little bit and still have more than enough for what you’re doing.

3.)   I used a slightly under-ripe banana. I was worried about how this was going to work when I woke up and the bananas were still not ripe, but it worked great. The flavor sweetened and the texture softened while the banana cooked. Now I’d be afraid that things would get too mushy if I used a ripened banana.

4.)   This meal cost less than $15 to make and can definitely serve 4 people. Especially if you pair it with a protein like sausage, eggs or bacon, this meal is very filling. Maybe not the best breakfast for a hot morning in August, but definitely one that will fuel you for a few hours.

I’d like to thank the Disney Food Blog for posting this recipe. I feel like a budding breakfast pro now that I know how to make this dish. And I’ve decided that the next opportunity I get to have breakfast at the Kona Kafe, I’m going to give the Tonga Toast a try and see how my own stands up in comparison. I’m pretty proud of this culinary venture, so here’s a photo showing today’s delicious breakfast.

Have a Magical Day!

Park Passes 101

One of the questions I am most often asked by friends or family members vacationing in Disney is: which park pass is the best?  Well, honestly, that depends upon how long you are staying and what extra activities you may want to do. Currently, Disney offers four types of passes: Single Day Passes; Magic Your Way Tickets; Theme Park Annual Passes and the Disney Premier Passport.

Michelle and I have purchased and used both the Magic Your Way tickets and the Annual Passes.  I currently hold an annual pass that I purchased a few years ago and have continued to renew (an annual pass is only good for one year and must be renewed – at a discounted price- every 13 months).  Annual passes can be purchased as either a basic pass, or a premium pass.  In addition to unlimited park-hopper access to all theme parks, the premium pass buys you unlimited access to the water parks, the golf courses, DisneyQuest and the Wide World of Sports complex.  I’m not a big water park person and I don’t play golf, so I didn’t see the point of paying the additional cost for the premium annual pass; however, I do want to try out DisneyQuest.  Maybe I can convince Marco to go when we are down there in November.

Now, for the GREAT stuff!   Besides yearly park hopper admission to all the theme parks owning an annual pass buys you something you wouldn’t imagine- DISCOUNTS!  Being an annual pass holder entitles you to discounts on accommodations, dining and merchandise all over WDW.  These discounts are at the discretion of the Walt Disney Company and can change at any time.  Most of the dining discounts are available at sit-down restaurants for lunch and are only applicable to food and non-alcoholic beverages.  However, some of the discounts are pretty reliable, especially the accommodations discounts.  These discounts, in some cases, can be as high as 35% off deluxe resort rooms.  When we went last September and this past February, Michelle and I were able to score a 20% discount on both rooms with our annual passes.  THAT IS CRAZY!  So, if you’re either planning on staying in Disney for a LONG vacation (10 days or more) or if you are planning on booking more than one Disney vacation in a calendar year, I suggest purchasing an annual pass.

  

The Magic Your Way Tickets are a bit more complicated.  These are essentially length of stay passes which you can alter to accommodate your needs.  The base price ticket entitles you to admission to ONE park PER DAY of your length of stay.  This is VERY important and most often, the most misunderstood feature of this ticket.  If you purchase the MYW base ticket and do NOT purchase the Park Hopper Option along with it, you are limited to attending ONE park in one day.  This means whenever you enter and leave a park, the computer system at Disney counts this as ONE FULL day whether it has been a full day or not.  Then, if you choose to attend another park within the same day, your ticket is deducted ANOTHER day.  This means that if you and your family are attending Disney for a week and decide to go to the MK on Monday, leave at 5 pm to go to dinner in France at EPCOT, each ticket has been docked two days despite the fact that it is still Monday.  So, unless you are either OK with attending only one park per day or purchasing additional tickets at the end of your stay, then pay the extra bit to add the Park Hopper Option to your ticket. 

The Park Hopper Option allows you to enter and exit any park on any day as many times you want for the length of your stay.  So, if you or one of your kids wants to spend Monday walking in and out of the admission gates of the Animal Kingdom, then you’re covered!  Your ticket will not be docked any days and will only run out on the day after your vacation is over.  For an additional cost, you can also add the Water Park Fun and More Option which buys you access to the water parks, golf, mini-golf, DisneyQuest and Wide World of Sports.  The third additional option to the MYW ticket is the No Expiration Option.  Which means your unused theme park days never expire.  WHAT?! WHAT?!  I am fo-shiz here!  If you purchase this option any unused days your have on your ticket at the end of your vacation are still viable and can be used at a later time.  In my opinion, the MYW tickets are great if you plan on going for one Disney vacation within a year.  If you plan on traveling to Disney more than once within a calendar year, even if it is only for a long weekend, I highly recommend investing in an annual pass.  It will be more expensive up-front, but it will save you money in the long run. 

For information, including current prices, on all four passes, you can access the Walt Disney World Site Here:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/tickets-passes/

For annual passholder accommodations discounts, you can either call the reservations line at Disney and ask, OR you can check out www.mousesavers.com This is a great website that deals with all discounts Disney!

TTFN!

Relaxing IN the PARKS? Are you MAD, woman?!

Indeed, I am not mad. Anyway you slice it, family vacations can be stressful and, based on the number of times our family has vacationed in WDW, you’re going to need to take a break every now and then. After one full day of running through the parks, you will understand the necessity of it. No matter how many times you have been to a WDW park, the heat, the crowds, the “go, go, GO!” feeling of it all can get overwhelming. Therefore, don’t feel weak or like you’re going to be missing out on too much if you need to pop a squat for a ten minute break or so. The rides, and the crowds, aren’t going anywhere, so do yourself a favor and take a rest. To make things a little easier, I have separated our favorite chill-out places by park and I’ve included maps of each park with these areas clearly marked for you.

We’re going to start with the Animal Kingdom. Personally, I find the Animal Kingdom the most relaxing park of the four simply by nature. With the large river snaking through the park and the majority of the walkways being heavily shaded by tropical plants, this park has a much less hectic feel to it. Factor in the nature walks and numerous stage shows that you can sit for, the Animal Kingdom is the ultimate park for someone who enjoys some thrills, but also enjoys punctuating their day with time spans of decidedly relaxed activity.

The Oasis (the entrance to the park) is a relative small area and, therefore, does not offer many good locations for relaxing. However, if you need to sit a spell while the rest of the party hits the bathroom, rents a locker or heads to guest relations to make a dinner reservation, there are some low walls and a few benches in the area where you can enjoy the sounds and the smells of the nearby birds.

Discovery Island, the center of the park, boasts a great relaxation area: Discovery Island Trails. This is a winding pathway that takes you past small habitats and in and out of shade. Some of these habitats are adjacent to small patios with tables and chairs. These little areas are absolutely great for a time out.

If you want to sit and chill in Dino-Land USA, steer clear of Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama; this area is modeled after Jersey Shore boardwalks and is quite hectic with all of the bells, whistles and blinking lights. Instead, head towards Dinosaur and walk the Cretaceous trail. It’s cool, it’s lazy and it’s often unfrequented. Or, you could hang out at the shaded tables next to Restaurantosaurus. They’re out of the way and look directly at Dinosaur. They’re not a bad spot to watch the world go by, and the sweet potato fries from the quick-service inside are nothing to turn your nose up at.

Asia always feels crowded because of the popularity of the Kali River Rapids and Expedition Everest, but it is still possible to catch a few minutes of peace and quiet. If you head on over to the Yak & Yeti restaurant and stand with your back facing the front door, you should see a small snack/tea stand. Directly behind that stand is one of those small patios with tables and chairs. From there, you should get a great view of not only Expedition Everest, but of the Tree of Life as well.

Finally, there’s Africa. This area is normally quite crowded as well, but fear not! I have a place. If you look at the white awning just as you enter the village of Harambe, you will notice a lot of crowded tables. Walk all the way to the left and all the way to the back: voila! I give you the Dawa Bar. For some reason, the tables around the bar always seem empty and, added bonus!, the beer at this bar (both draft and bottle) is pretty fairly priced. Sit back, relax and enjoy a nice brew while you watch Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade. You’ll be glad you did.

Rafiki’s Planet Watch and Camp Minnie Mickey do not sport any rides; however, with the petting zoo at Rafiki’s and the character meet and greets in Camp Minnie Mickey, you may run into a different kind of hectic than you’re used to in the rest of the park. I would still seek out a comfortable location to rest, especially in the air conditioned conservation station in RPW. If you find one, let us know!

Disney’s Hollywood Studios can be a bit of a tough place to find a quiet rest, but I’ve got ya’ covered. Unlike the Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios is severely lacking in shade, which is a major bummer. Unfortunately, this means that the small areas of shaded seating are ALWAYS over crowded. One key piece of advice I can give you is this: if you’re looking for a quiet (or relatively so) location to rest, stay away from the Tower of Terror and Rocking Roller Coaster area. These are the two most popular thrill rides at WDW and their waiting areas are always overflowing with other guests. If you are over in that area and don’t mind taking a bit of a stroll, head back towards Hollywood Boulevard. Just behind the times board and right next to the Hollywood Brown Derby is the Starring Rolls Café. This is your final destination. There are outside tables with umbrellas and decreased foot traffic. So, while your friends/kids/family are seeking their thrills, you can enjoy a nice seat and, perhaps, a delicious pastry.

Just on the other side of Hollywood Boulevard, turn on to Vine Street. As you’re walking along Vine, take a look to your left and you’ll see the Tune-In Lounge. This is one of Hollywood Studios’ most overlooked locations, as it actually serves as the welcome area to the 50’s Prime Time Cafe. It’s relaxed and it’s AIR CONDITIONED! There’s no need to order an alcoholic beverage when you’re in here. Want to sit and sip a bottle of water, an iced tea or a coke? Go for it, but utilize this lounge to its fullest. It’s a great place to relax and there may even be a television or two broadcasting a sporting event or the news.

If you’re towards the back of the park near Muppet Vision 3 – D, Lights, Motors, Action, or Star Tours, make your way to the Streets of America. Why, you ask? The Writer’s Stop! It is a coffee shop with real coffee (no Nescafé here!), where you can sit in a comfortable club chair and watch Disney cartoons. This is, by far, my favorite spot in Hollywood Studios. It is easily overlooked and thus always empty. Even if you’re not looking to take a rest, the coffee here is worth it. They use real espresso and concoct your drink right in front of you. You can even browse through some merchandise or purchase some rock candy to stir into your café mocha.

One final location is right by the exit to the Back-lot Tour and within a short walk to Toy Story Mania: The Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground. Granted, if you’re child free you probably will not frequent this location; however, for those with children, this could be great. It allows your kids the opportunity to keep going and running off their sugar/adrenaline highs, while allowing you to rest up and keep a close eye on them all at the same time. 

In EPCOT, most of your rest locations are found in World Showcase where it is less ride-centric. However, there are a couple of quiet zones in Future World that you can take advantage of.

If you are in Future World West (the side of the park where you can find Soarin’), you’re going to want to head towards the Seas with Nemo and Friends. Look straight at the seagulls and then hang a right instead of a left; in moving away from the ride entrance, you’re moving away from the crowds. Round the next corner on your left and you will find yourself outside of the Coral Reef Restaurant. Directly across from the restaurant’s entrance you will find a couple of benches that, although not always shaded, are removed from the main traffic of the park. The only park goers you will really have to deal with are those eating at the restaurant or looking to do the same thing you’re doing.

Future World East boasts 1 worth while rest area. Between Ellen’s Energy Adventure and Mission Space is the Wonders of Life Pavilion. Although this building has been closed since the late 90s, the pathway between the pavilion and Mission space boasts a stretch of delightful shade and small walls to perch upon. I love this brief walk.

If you need a break in EPCOT, but your kids are still “go, go, GO!”, head to Ice Station Cool. This small shop (on the border of Future World West and the main thoroughfare between Spaceship Earth and World Showcase) features multiple tasting stations of Coca Cola products from all over the world. Although the shop does not supply any benches per se, you can take a seat on the stairs and watch as your kids exercise their inner soda critic. (Note for the health conscious: the tasting cups provided can’t be much more than 1 to 2 oz. Although there is no limit to how much soda you can taste, at least you know that each time your kids go to sample, they won’t be filling up on 8 to 10 oz of soda.)

I love strolling around the World Showcase lagoon with a cool margarita, frosty beer, or tasty glass of wine in hand. To me, this is relaxing in and of itself; however, there’s no way that everyone is content with just strolling when there is so much to see, do and taste. My top picks for a quick rest in World Showcase are located in Norway, Africa, America, Morocco and the United Kingdom.

In Norway, you can find an outdoor, covered patio directly between the bathrooms and the Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe. Here, you can indulge in the smells of the bakery while you wait for the small of bladder to relieve themselves. The patio also offers really good views of parts of the pavilion; SO, if your kids (or friends) want to join Team Possible and hunt down the villains of Norway, you will be able to watch them for most of that activity from the bakery patio. Another added bonus: the patio is close to a beer stand.

The African Outpost is not so much a pavilion as it is a drink & snack stand mixed with a souvenir shop. However, it does boast a fairly large collection of covered tables bordering on the lagoon. These tables offer a great view and tend to go quickly.

Although the American Adventure houses a very disappointing quick-service restaurant of McDonald’s fare, it does house a lovely outdoor collection of tables and chairs. They’re relatively close to the American Adventure’s bathrooms and they have the added bonus of being within hearing of the shows at the America Gardens theatre and the fife and drum band performances. Another great place to chill in the American Adventure is the rotunda of the main building. Air conditioned and with benches, the rotunda allows you to marvel at the excellent attention to detail and catch a set of the Voices of Liberty. Of course, you’re encouraged to see the next showing of the American Adventure audio-animatronic stage show, but you’re not required to. The American Adventure is also filled with quite a bit of historical information for any of you who wish to brush up on your American history.

In Morocco, you’re going to want to head all the way to the back of the pavilion. Through all of the shops, right outside the restaurant Marrakesh, you will find an oasis of sorts with stone benches and fountains. Again, very few people outside of diners at Marrakesh venture this far into the pavilion. Also to be found in the Moroccan pavilion is a small anthropological museum. I have only been in this section a few times, as the display does not change very often; however, it is ALWAYS quiet in here. If I remember correctly, I was alone in the exhibit for at least 10 minutes each time I visited. It’s very informative and it allows for some alone time and any needed quiet reflection. The museum is not even marked on the map, which is a clear sign that it will always be quiet.

The United Kingdom boasts three of my all time favorite relaxation zones. The first is pretty obvious: The Rose and Crown Pub. The pub WILL get crowded and, 75% of the time, you will not get a seat, but if all you’re looking for is an air conditioned, relaxed environment where no one will rush you, head on in. Spot number 2 is the garden right outside the pub and just behind the outdoor beer stand. I love this spot for 2 reasons: the views (over the lagoon and of the main thoroughfare) and how removed from all the hustle and bustle of the crowds it feels. It’s shaded, it’s quiet, and it’s perfect. You’re surrounded by trees and flowering shrubs and nothing could be more wonderful. Last, but not least, is the garden around the stage of the British Invasion music show. When the show is not playing, this is probably the quietest area of the park. Without the show, most people see no reason to be back there. The garden marks the furthest point of the pavilion that guests can access and, aside from some shrubs and some benches, does not really offer anything of note to most park goers. 

The park that I’m sure most people are curious about is the Magic Kingdom. There is no question that as the quintessential Disney Park, the Magic Kingdom is the most ride-centric. That being said, it can be hard to find a nice, uncrowded place to rest. It’s very true that there are areas where you will never find a spot to rest up, but I guarantee that there are a handful of wind-down spots just like the other three parks.

Main Street is a tricky section because it is the one thoroughfare that is constantly crowded as people funnel in and out of the park. As Kristin and I discovered on our last trip, take a turn down the “side road” just before the Main Street bakery. At the end of that road, you will find a mini-courtyard of sorts with nothing to do but sit. Then, there is an area just outside of the ice cream shop with yellow and white umbrellas. These tables extend along an off-shoot of Main Street as well as a small platform at the bottom of a flight of 3 or 4 stairs. You will get a great view of the castle, too!

There is only 1 real location in Adventureland where you will find a good spot to unwind. If you’re looking at the Aloha Isle Dole ice cream stand, there are two small recessed areas to either side with some tables and chairs. This location can get crowded later in the day when more and more people are craving some pineapple soft serve, so hit this spot early on.

When walking between Frontierland and Liberty Square, you can choose one of two walkways. If you take the one that is closer to the water as opposed to the path that is closest to the rides and shops, you will stumble upon a couple of great areas. Though small and few, these portions of shaded seating along the underused walkway, offer a great view of Tom Sawyer’s Island and limit the number of times you’re cut off by someone with a stroller.

Fantasyland is just as tricky as Main Street when you’re looking for a quiet location, as the crowds tend to infiltrate every area. Nonetheless, there are 2 places in Fantasyland where you can catch a quick break. For the first location, start with your back facing Cinderella’s Golden Carousel and head towards the castle itself. Just before walking through the Castle, hang a left and head down the bridge to the side, past Cinderella’s wishing fountain and keep your eyes on your left. You should stumble upon a mini-amphitheatre that is used for story telling and character meet and greets. When this section is not in use for these purposes, the stone benches are shaded and welcoming.

Fantasyland location 2: stand with your back to the teacups and looking down the pathway towards the castle and Main Street. Towards your right you will see a smoothie stand and just on the other side of the smoothie stand is a seating area. I love this spot and not just because of the delicious smoothies. Very few people use that pathway, so it’s relaxing and great.

For Tomorrowland, there really is only one worthy place for a relaxing sit-down: the Tomorrowland Transit Authority. Why this ride? You’re removed from the crowds, it’s slow moving and you can (generally) stay on for as many go-rounds as you would like, so long as you ask to remain in your seat before you get off the ride. I find this ride to be so relaxing that I watch videos of it on YouTube when I’m having a particularly stressful day.

You have to remember that it is possible to find relaxation anywhere you are in WDW. You might have to look for the quiet, shaded spots, but they’re there. What area of the parks do you find the most relaxing? Let us know!

To make it even easier, here’s a link to low and high-res park maps on All Ears! Print ‘em out, mark your favorite spots or even plan your route through the park before you leave for vacation! http://allears.net/tp/map.htm

Have a magical day!

Michelle

Puppies and Pastries - Two of Our Favorite Things

Hello All!

So the Disney Parks Blog and the Disney Food Blog both posted some great things this week.

On the Disney Parks Blog, we are introduced to a little dog named Lilly who has some unusual markings that will make any Disney lover melt again after seeing her little face. You should especially watch the video:
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2012/07/lucky-dog-mickey-meets-his-biggest-four-legged-fan/

On the Disney Food Blog, you'll find a review of two pastries at the Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe: Lefse and jam filled waffles. The waffles make me salivate. Go check out the pictures!
http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2012/07/31/review-lefse-and-waffles-at-epcots-kringla-bakeri-og-kafe/

We want to send a big "THANK YOU" to the Disney Parks Blog and the Disney Food Blog for these articles. They definitely brightened up our morning!

TTFN!