Monthly Archives: April 2015

Random Disney Thoughts on Monday

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GeauxFit-Catfish-ClassicI had an awesome weekend.  Being a Disney fan, a runDisney fan, and a Disney food fan – it was a winning lineup for Easter!  Friday, my office was closed, so I got to spend the day working on some projects for this very blog and for The Disney Exchange Podcast (for which I’m a host).  I also worked on designing some new door magnets for our upcoming Disney cruise, which I’ll share with you in another post soon.  Oh, and I also managed to squeeze in some shoe shopping…I love shoe shopping!

On Saturday, I participated in the GeauxFit Catfish Classic 5K.  This race takes place in Franklin Parish, Louisiana and is an enjoyable 20-ish mile drive from home to the heart of downtown Winnsboro for the race.  This time was extra special though.  I got to meet fellow blogger, Disney fan, and running fanatic, Karen Seal from Just Me and My Running Shoes.com.  I love Karen’s blog and I was so excited to meet her in person!!!  Meeting-Karen-SealShe is every bit as friendly and sweet as she seems on her site and we had a good post-race visit.  You know how it is when you find another Disney fan – we had lots to talk about!  We even made plans to meet up again in the future (hopefully) at the 2016 Glass Slipper Challenge.

5K race behind me, I could turn my attention to some other important items on my to-do list.  As some of you know, our Megan is planning a wedding.  The honeymoon will be at Walt Disney World (1-bedroom villa at Disney’s Grand Floridian DVC villas), but the wedding and reception will be closer to home.  Megan wants to tie in a bit of Disney magic to the event and I’m very happy to help her do that!  Mr.-and-Mrs.-Disney-Wedding-PinsTo start, Raymond and I brought back these Disney Mr. and Mrs. pins from our February trip for the happy couple.  Wedding TopperThen Megan selected this particularly adorable wedding cake topper from Better off Wed on Etsy to add to the theme.  She’s also decided her “something blue” will be in the form of a pair of spectacular shoes (a nod to Cinderella).  I’d LOVE to show you, but Megan says I have to wait until after the Wedding.

Jr-EasterFinally, we celebrated Easter Sunday with family, friends, and food – icluding those Maui Scalloped Potatoes formerly served at ‘Ohana.  If you ever had them, you’ll remember how delicious they were.  I’ve made them at home a couple of times before and they make me so rediculously happy – served along side an herb-crusted pork tenderloin and roasted carrots, our Easter dinner was perfect, if I do say so myself.Maui-Scalloped-Potatoes

How was your weekend?  Did you add a little touch of Disney along the way?

 

Mickey Mouse Figurine – Disney’s MGM Studios

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Welcome to Saturdays With Nick!  Since we have all really been enjoying our peeks into Nick’s incredible Disneyana collection, I had to show you this awesome item and the story to go with its discovery.  Enjoy!

Read more about Nick’s collection and his love of Disney vacations:   Disney Musings Blog / Disney Musings on Twitter / Disney Musings on Instagram / Disney Musings on Facebook

Mickey Mouse Figurine – Disney’s MGM Studios

By NickI found this really nice Mickey Mouse figurine at a local yard sale yesterday.

As soon as I saw it, with a price tag of $.75 no less, it was sold. I don’t have any figurines in my collection with Disney MGM Studios on them, in fact, the only item I had from the time Disney’s Hollywood Studios was Disney MGM was a really great Tee Shirt, long since worn to literally tatters, which I bought back in 1992.

As soon as I got this piece home, I washed it off, as it was rather dusty, and for the first time looked at the bottom.

Copyright Disney 1987, Japan. Why I find that very interesting is because Disney MGM Studios didn’t officially open until May 1st, 1989.

If anyone has any idea where this figurine was originally sold, please let me know.

Disney World Dining – Columbia Harbor House

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P-Columbia-Harbor-HouseMagic Kingdom is SUCH a great park!  Fantastic lands, awesome theming, wonderful attractions AND pretty darn good food!  Snacks aplenty, ask any Disney World fan and they’ll tell you that the popcorn on Main Street, the pretzels in Tomorrowland, the churros in Frontierland, and the, dare I say it? Dole Whips in Adventureland make Magic Kingdom the very best park for snacking.  Snacks are all well and good, but when I want a quick meal on the spur of the moment?  I’m choosing Columbia Harbor House in Liberty Square.

Disney World Dining – Columbia Harbor House:

As you may expect, I can share FIVE great things about dining at Columbia Harbor House for you to consider:

1. Location!  You think it doesn’t matter?  Oh, but it does to us!  When Magic Kingdom opens, we head on over to Frontierland to ride the two mountains there first:  Splash and Big Thunder.  What a way to start the day!  Then we have some leisure time (built into our plan, which I highly recommend).  We can see the Country Bears, tour the Haunted Mansion, chillax in the Hall of Presidents and, hungry now, are perfectly poised for an early lunch at Columbia Harbor House!RM-Columbia-Harbor-House-Menu

2. Variety – CHH has an excellent, broad menu – sure to please everyone in your party.  From the Disney website, ” Reel in fried fish, shrimp or chicken baskets, lobster rolls, New England clam chowder, grilled salmon, vegetarian chili and salads. Specialty sandwiches include the Anchors Aweigh, made with white tuna, and the Lighthouse, made with hummus and broccoli slaw. Kids can enjoy macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets and more. Top off your meal with seasonal cobbler, yogurt and fountain drinks.”  Me?  I’m partial to the Anchors Aweigh and will split a sandwich if Megan is with me to save room for snacks or a table service ADR (advance dining reservation) later in the day.  Raymond and Joseph love the fried fish basket.  We’ve never left unhappy.RM-Columbia-Harbor-House-Tuna-SandwichRM-Columbia-Harbor-House-Fish

3. Quality – The food is consistently good.  We’ve enjoyed lunch at Columbia Harbor House many times over the years and have never had an “off” meal.  For an eatery to reliably deliver exactly what we expect, every time we visit, that’s what keeps us coming back!RM-Columbia-Harbor-House-CM

4. Service – Sure it’s counter service restaurant, but the folks are swell!  Friendly staff, clean dining area, and a sense of urgency to keep the line moving – these make for an excellent experience and get us back out into the park pronto!RM-Columbia-Harbor-House-Window-Table RM-Columbia-Harbor-House-View

5. Seating – There’s ample seating both main floor and upstairs.  We always head on up to the second level where it’s usually a little quieter and, if we get there early or are especially lucky, we can find a table with a view!  Yup, window-side seating gives guests an awesome view of Liberty Square’s goings-on.  Except for the inside of Beast’s Castle at Be Our Guest, what other lunch place can boast a better view?RM-Columbia-Harbor-House-Decor

Is Columbia Harbor House one of your must-do’s?  What other Magic Kingdom counter service restaurants do you love?

 

Walt Disney World for Cheese Lovers

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RM-Brown-Derby-Patio-CheeseHow appropriate that it was “all started by a mouse” – Walt Disney World is a great place for cheese lovers.  And we ARE.  Cheese lovers, I mean.  This would include nearly every member of our family.  Joseph’s a little iffy at times with his cheese passion, but when we’re at one of our favorite Disney World table service restaurants, he can scarf down cheeses with the best of us.

We sincerely hope it’s not just a fad or the latest trend for there to be so many interesting artisanal cheese offerings around the World.  We love the unique selections and how nearly every cheese appetizer we’ve tried comes with interesting accompaniments like jams, marmalades, relishes, and more.

Walt Disney World for Cheese Lovers (here are a few of our favorites):

Flying Fish Café at Disney’s Boardwalk:  Hands down our family favorite.  Flying Fish Cafe Artisanal CheesesIf you want a great cheese starter for an equally awesome meal, this is it!  What’s so special?  It’s big (to share), it’s different, and it’s a great way to sample “craft” cheeses of every type along with very carefully selected accompaniments for each cheese.  Just look at the menu and tell me you (if you love cheese) could resist?

Citricos at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa – Maybe not as robust as Flying Fish’s offering, this is still a cheese lover’s delight.  Citricos-Cheese-TrioCurrently $16 in the appetizer section, referred to simply as “Cheese Course” the selection is described as “Wijngaard Chèvre Affiné from Holland, One Year Reypenaer Dutch Gouda, and Cashel from Ireland served with Seasonal Accompaniments” – so, it’s not a huge variety, but I can vouch for the flavors, which were all delicious!

Hollywood Brown Derby (patio dining) at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Need cheese?  In a hurry or just want a leisurely happy hour snack?  You can’t go wrong with a stop in at the Studios’ coolest outdoor eatery – the Brown Derby patio lounge.  When a craving for wine and cheese strikes, this is the place to be.  RM-Brown-Derby-Patio-Artisanal-Cheese-PlateA mini cheese smorgasbord, this is what you get: “Wensleydale Cranberry, VSOP Reypenaer Gouda, Bayley Hazen Blue Cheese with House-made Pickles, Spiced Pecans, and an Apple-Mustard Marmalade“.  Talk about a perfect snack!  Mmmmmm.

On our Next Cheeses to Try:

Jiko at Animal Kingdom Lodge – A family favorite, we’ve eaten at Jiko many times and will return there again.  The menu is so unique, we’ve resisted the cheeses, but next time?  We are eating their artisanal cheeses and seasonal accompaniments!  At least I am and maybe, if I’m lucky, I won’t have to share.  Check out the details here.

Yachtsman Steakhouse at Disney’s Yacht Club – If we can resist the lobster bisque, we are getting the cheese plate!  This will prove much harder than it sounds – the lobster bisque is SO delicious.  Okay, maybe we’ll order the bisque AND the cheeses.  Mmmhumm….sounds like an excellent plan to me!

Are you a cheese lover?  What’s your favorite cheese dish at Walt Disney World?