Category Archives: Disney at Home

What-if Wednesday: The ONE Disney Restaurant Dilemma

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What if WednesdayLadies and Gentlemen!  Once again, it is time for What-If Wednesday!  The game show where we use our Disney imaginations to debate a weekly “What if?” question.  Contestants from Twitter and Facebook go head to head and compete to invent the most popular answers.  Get ready to let your
imagination run wild!  As Drew Carey would say, this is ”the show where
everything’s made up and the points don’t matter.”  Let’s talk about FOOD!

This week’s What-if:  You’re going to spend a week at Walt Disney World!  (YAY!)  What if you had to eat every meal in the same restaurant then entire time?  Which place would you choose?

Holy Guacamole!  I should have known food would really get people talking – and thinking!  So many participants this week – I’ve divided the answers into three categories…

Category 1 – Table Service

In this category, we’ve got the folks with a particularly discerning taste and a BIG budget.  If IMG_5074you’re going to eat in the SAME table service restaurant every day for the duration of your Disney vacation, you have a passion and you don’t care how much it costs to feed it!  I admire that in a foodie!  So who fell into Category 1 and where will they be eating?

-A (@SaratogaSprings) voted quickly and decisively for “‘Ohana…soooo delicious”  Yes, indeed, ‘Ohana (at the Polynesian Resort) has a lot to offer.  Personally, I’m not as enamored with the meat (served Brazilian Barbeque style) as I am with the starters!  Noodles, salad, wings, dumplin’s …oh, MY!  I’ve always been so sad they stopped serving those cheesy potatoes.  Anybody remember those?

Disney Tutor (@Disneytutor) weighed in with “Raglan Road for every meal-great entertainment & food options, could never get sick of the bread&butter pudding” – Having eaten at Raglan Road in Downtown Disney several times myself (with an upcoming ADR there, to boot!) – this is an excellent choice.  Super fun atmosphere, great food, Irish dancers…and what a beer selection!  Yes, Disney Tutor, you do know how to pick ’em!

IMG_5077Raymond (@Southpaw9989) – said, “It would have to be Jiko. Such great food.”  A man near and dear to my heart (I’ve been married to him nearly 25 years) voted for a table service restaurant (at the Animal Kingdom Lodge) with a bit of fancy style, upscale atmosphere, and terrific food – someday we’ll get to eat there alone (without the offspring) and see if it’s as romantic as we think it may be!  In the mean time, the food at Jiko is truly excellent.  As is the service.  Oh, and the wine.  Good choice, Honey!

Bill Maguire (@wfmaguire) played in this week’s What-if round with this response:  “Good Q!  I’ll take Kona Cafe please.  4 reasons:  Tonga Toast, Sushi!!, The rest of the menu, and Kona beer!!”  Okay, Bill – you have a point!  Even though (I must confess), I’ve never had even one bite of Tonga Toast, I can appreciate the huge fan base this breakfast confection has cultivated over the years (at the Polynesian Resort).  I am a huge sushi fan – would not be put off eating it every day, and Bill had to trump it all with the beer!  Certainly a hearty breakfast, raw fish, and BEER! have all the makings for vacation dining perfection.  Well played, Bill, well played.

Disney Sophisticate (@StyleOfDisney) – new Twitter follower (Welcome and Thanks) jumped right on into the game with gusto, “Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria – at Epcot! Authentic, fresh  ingredients and wood-fired pizza to dream about” – way to join the game!  I have to disclose – we are huge Tutto Italia (also table service in Epcot’s Italy pavilion) fans and have never tried Via Napoli in spite of all the rave reviews.  Disney Sophisticate’s enthusiasm is pretty convincing – we’ve got to give this place a chance!

Les Davis (@LesDavis) – is going all out!  It IS vacation, after all.  Here’s what Les had to say: ” V&A, of course . . . Sorry to be so obvious with my answer.”  Way to dream BIG, Les.  Bravely willing to dress for dinner daily, Les would be dining in style and enjoying gourmet meals (hopefully with the appropriate wine pairings) at the Grand Floridian’s Victoria and Albert’s (affectionately referred to in our home as Vicky and Bert’s).

DisneyPrincess83 (@OzGoofyPrincess) – A return player for this week’s game, the Princess chose Epcot’s Teppen Edo (World Showcase, Japan pavilion).  “Love the food and feel of the restaurant.  And family style is a great way to meet other people.”  Food and friendship!  Who could ask for more?  Plus, watching those chefs cook the food ON your table is highly entertaining.

‏Category 2 – Counter Service / BuffetDSCN2611

Wesley Snyder (@365DaysOfDisney) – Would choose Tusker House at the Animal Kingdom Park.  Wesley didn’t say what it was about Tusker House that makes it his choice, but I bet I can guess!  Start of each day with Donald’s Safari Breakfast and enjoy a wide variety of unique dishes at every meal.  The special kids’ station serves food like corn dog nuggets, chicken drumsticks, and mac & cheese + much more.  Let me add: warm banana cinnamon bread pudding.  ‘Nuff said.  Good choice, Wesley!

Rebecca Kelly (rkellyWDW) – Rebecca took her time deciding – thought it over – and settled on Boma at the Animal Kingdom Resort.  This was the first thing that popped into my mind when I first thought of this particular “What-if” question.  Rebecca’s choice of this extraordinarily varied buffet would allow her to eat for a week and try different things everyday.  And eat unlimited Zebra Domes!

IMG_5370BRGUEST (@goodbye7407) – Like Rebecca, BRGUEST chose a great buffet, but this one is over at the Contemporary Resort – Chef Mickey’s!  “Food is great and will be with the characters always.”  Oh, yeah – Chef Mickey’s serves breakfast and dinner so you could start and end the day with the Fab Five entertaining you while you dine.  Also, while it’s a buffet that’s trying to cater to all eaters (even picky ones), the food’s pretty good.  I can’t imagine anyone not being able to find something tasty to enjoy.

Another Character Buffet fan, Amanda Payne (@RavenAven82) is going with “The Crystal Palace. They have the best food and endless Eeyore hugs!”  While we’ve not yet eaten there, Crystal Palace seems to have a lot of fans – Characters from Winnie the Pooh, beautiful location in the Magic Kingdom,

Paul Boudreau (@YoPaulieNJ) – Paul brought to the table (cough, pun intended) the well-thought out, Sunshine Seasons.  This counter service gem in Epcot’s Land pavilion has everything you’d want in a one-stop shop if such a vacation restriction actually existed.  Plus, it has THE chocolate croissant I love so much.

Dennis (@oakmanner) waded right on into the fray with Port Orleans Riverside food court (aka Boatwright’s Dining Hall).  I can vouch for Dennis’s choice.  We’ve stayed and dined at Port Orleans Riverside and the food court was great!  Fun atmosphere (themed as a boat-builders workshop), good variety of food with a Cajun flair.  Need a hearty Southern-style dinner?  This is DSCN2612the place.

Finally, Niki on Facebook had a very difficult time choosing, but in the end said, “my heart tells me Cosmic Rays….my belly tells me Cape May Café”.  Let’s take a quick look at each, shall we?  Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café is located in the Magic Kingdom.  This eatery, specializing in American fare, is a very large and popular cafeteria.  Ray’s is the place to be if you need to satisfy a varied group of eaters with things like burgers, sandwiches, and salads for a reasonable price.  Cape May Café is a buffet within walking distance of Epcot over at the Yacht and Beach Club Resort area.  The addition of many delicious seafood items to this particular smorgasbord is what makes it so special.

Category 3 – Food Item Obsession!

Daniel Grote (@dangrote) wanted to know, “Does the Main Street popcorn cart count? I could live off popcorn for a week…”  This popcorn has its own cult following.  Seriously – people wax poetic about it.  Jump on in and comment if you have absolutely any idea WHY!?! – Other than everything tastes better at Disney World!

David Hodges (@thedislife) – would live off waffles.  No, not Mickey waffles, but the very popular and unique “Sweet and Spicy Chicken Waffle Sandwich at Sleepy Hollow (Magic Kingdom). All day, Every day.”  Waffle obsessed, Dave then added, “while you’re there you need to pick up a Nutella Waffle also. It will be like a meal with dessert”  I cannot resist the idea of these waffle-meals.  So, yes!  I’m going to give them both a try in the very near future.  They sound GREAT!

Honorable Mention: 

Our Hawaiian friend, Dave Tupper (@dstupper) did not choose a restaurant at all.  Dave’s vote was for enjoying each meal in our DVC villa.  Dave’s confidence in my cooking abilities was absolute – he said, “Because I’m sure your cooking is Da Bomb Digity!”  Dave also asked a question of his own, “Can you make Cheesecake?”  Indeed, Dave, I can.  And it’s pretty epic – My Aunt Millie’s recipe, in fact, cranks out what I affectionately refer to as MOAC (the mother of all cheesecakes).  Served with a homemade caramel topping and you’ve got something really special.

That wraps it up for this week, folks!  As always, thanks so much for playing.  Watch Twitter and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/LivingaDisLife) for the next chance to play What-if Wednesday!

 

 

Walt Disney World Resources – On the Web

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LADL Computer picWhile I’m living a Disney life, I spend a great deal of time reading what other people have to say about Disney.  I particularly like online Disney resources for getting the scoop on other Disney fans’ experiences and opinions and for quickly getting official information for planning my own Disney vacations.  Today I wanted to take a minute to share with you just five of my favorite web-based Disney resources and why I love them.  Please be sure to leave me a comment if some of your favorites are not on this list!

1.  https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/ – The official Disney World website.  This is a great “big picture” resource for official information.  You can find out general information, use trip-planning tools, compare resorts, ticket prices, and dining plans, see some fantastic pictures, and a lot more.  This site also offers assistance from the Disney Parks Mom’s Panel where you can find the answers to TONS of questions about all things Disney – and if the answer you’re looking for is not there?  Ask away and a panel expert will be happy to assist.  What you will not find at this official web locale is balanced feedback – there will be no negatives, drawbacks or “cons” – makes for a whole lot of pixie-dusted positivity, but sometimes when you’re deciding between restaurants or resorts, it’s good to know both the good and the not-so-good.

2.  allears.net – The first online unofficial Disney resource I ever used and still one of my favorites.  Why?  Because it offers positive, thorough, well-researched information.  If you want restaurant menus, look here.  If you want honest Walt Disney World resort reviews, check this out.  The folks at allears are great about bringing all the latest news, planning tools, event Computer Piccalendars, and more in a concise, friendly way that has never ever once let me down.  Check out their blog section – there are several to choose from.  A particular favorite of mine has always been The World According to Jack.  His recent article on Disney’s Restroom Evolution was clever and informative and insightful – and about bathrooms!

3.  WDWinfo.com and TheDISboards forums – I’ve mentioned this site several times in the past.  There’s a great deal of information here about Disney and Universal Orlando along with some terrific blog articles and excellent videos.  The Disney cruise boards are a fantastic place for Cruise Meets (find out who else is going with you) and joining Fish Extender groups.  The resort and restaurant reviews can be extremely helpful as can the trip reports.  Plus, DISboards has a handy smartphone app!  What you really need to watch out for, though, are the trolls, haters, and rumor-mongers who love to stir up heaps of unhappiness on these forums.  This site can be a double-edged sword if you’re not prepared to dismiss some of the negativity there – recognize it for what it is:  Some people are negative by nature, hate change, and don’t understand the Disney Bubble.  Don’t let them get you down!

4.  Tips from the Disney Divas and Devos – I don’t just like this site because I’m a contributing Diva Sitewriter (as Darlin’ Diva).  I like it because there are dozens of writers.  Disney experts from all over sharing tips, tricks, and reviews for making the most of your Disney vacation – that’s a LOT of different points of view!  Adult travel?  Check.  Traveling with infants, toddlers, grade-schoolers, tweens, or teens?  Check.  Traveling to Disneyland, Disney World, or on a Disney Cruise – they’ve got you covered.  Special dietary needs?  Yes, even that.  Best thing:  if you don’t find what you need to know – ASK!  The Divas and Devos are ready to assist in any way and make every effort to answer your question quickly and accurately.

5. http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/ – The official site for Disney Cruise Line.  A great resource for finding a cruise, comparing stateroom categories, shopping cruise excursions, and more.  Even if you have a favorite travel agent, the Disney Cruise site has loads of useful information.  Again – being officially Disney – you’ll only get the positives and sometimes fewer details than you’d like.  This is the place to go if you need to know exactly what Disney’s offering in each port activity-wise.  When cruising on vacation, I believe there’s nothing more important than being an informed consumer.

So, are any of your favorites the same as mine?  Which websites do you find the most helpful?

What if Wednesday – Disney Olympics Version

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What if WednesdayLadies and Gentlemen!  It’s time once again for What-If Wednesday!  The game show where we use our Disney imaginations to answer the question “What if?”.  Contestants from Twitter and Facebook go head to head and compete to invent the most popular answers.  Get ready to let your
imagination run wild!  As Drew Carey would say, this is ”the show where
everything’s made up and the points don’t matter.”  Let’s play!

This week’s Question:  What if Walt Disney World held Olympic events?  What would they be?

Amy from Facebook (a huge fan of Disneyland) kicked us off with:  “One time, our Main Street atIMG_2139 DL had a giant pool on it for Michael Phelps. It was so cool! I’d like to see that in person!”  Let’s think….Hmmmmm.  if we move the oh-so-inconveniently-located Magic Carpets of Aladdin over in Adventureland and put in a pool – filled with obstacles that pop up as you swim like Jungle Cruise animals and Pirates from the Caribbean – contestants and spectators alike would have a pretty good time!

Upon A Star Jenn from Twitter (@UponAStarJenn)  Asked “what about park jumping? I definitely qualify!”  Agreed.  This takes skill, perfect timing, keen eyesight (for making your way through crowds of other guests).  Here’s how this event could work – Contestants are assigned 4 rides – one in each of the 4 parks.  The person who completes all the rides in the shortest time takes GOLD!

Jenn had a second suggestion – “How about stroller dodging?”  Now I had already thought a Stroller Slalom event would be fun, but stroller dodging is an actual necessity at all Disney Tower of Terror Collageparks!  What if we combined the two?  A stroller course (with obstacles) through, say, the Magic Kingdom where stroller drivers must race to complete the course in record time while pedestrians are given a course of their own to complete without being mowed down by the stroller drivers.  Oh, yeah – thrills, action, danger – all the makings of great entertainment.

Bill Maguire from Twitter (@wfmaguire) is ready!  He tweeted “sign me up for tower of terror drop freestyle.”  Oh, Bill!  This one’s my absolute favorite.  Points for skill / level of difficulty and points for artistic style.  Think about the types of costumes one could wear to compete in this event!  No doubt about it – this would be a spectator sell-out.

Rebecca Kelly °o° (@rkellyWDW) tweeted her idea for a competition – “consecutive rides on the Mad Teacups? That’s GOT to be considered an endurance sport!” That would take both stamina and strong constitution (if you know what I mean)…which leads us to Rebecca’s other suggestion:   “And now on the Projectile Vomiting Event… ;D”IMG_3298

I was wondering how long it would be before someone suggested a food-related event and Twitter follower 1 Min Disney Dream (@1MinDisneyDream) Didn’t let me down.  His idea?  An event based on this:   “How many Dole Whips can you eat in 20 minutes?”  Now, I know how many Dole Whip enthusiasts there are out there.  Exactly what number of Disney’s famous “popular frozen treat blended in pineapple, orange, vanilla or swirled flavors” do you suppose one can consume in 20 minutes?  How much of a factor would painful brain freeze play in the competition?  If you want to try it at home and let me know, here’s a Dole Whip recipe you can use.

Which of these events do you think You’d like to try?

Thanks for playing!

 

A Valentine’s Day View – Favorite Disney Couples

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DSCN0796I just love Valentine’s Day!  I’ve had 25 super-happy, romantic ones with the same guy.  When I thought about writing a post to mark this special day, I asked Raymond, “Who’s your favorite Disney couple?” – His answer?  “We are.”  Now, do you see why every Valentine’s Day I’ve had for all this time has been so wonderful?  (Oh, stop gagging, I’m moving on to the Disney stuff now).

I want to talk about some of my OTHER favorite Disney couples.  I  felt the need to break them down into two categories – BFF, not-married category – we’ll call that “Group One” and the married, into the happily-ever-after, romantic category – aka “Group Two”.  I’m just, you know, giving my opinion (big surprise there!) about these twosomes and I sure hope you’ll weigh in with comments right here on the blog, on Facebook here, or on twitter (follow me @life_of_green) about your own favorite Disney couples.

So, here we go – oh, and in case I forget later, Happy Valentines Day!IMG_2141

Group One!

Mickey and Minnie – They may not be married, but they certainly share a love that endures.  Perpetually happy and ready for fun, these two create joy with each other that they freely share with all they meet.  Obviously best friends with a lot in common, they’re a Disney power couple with a relationship formula that equals success.

Kermit and Miss Piggy – Maybe they’re not happy all the time – She’s high maintenance (oh, like that’s a bad thing) and he’s a little hesitant to take the relationship to the next level.  They’ve been through a LOT together over the years and never fail to treat each other with understanding and respect (mostly).  Maybe their timing’s off.  Maybe they just have to find the right time in their lives – where everything will fall into place for them and they will get their IMG_4791happily-ever-after with each other.  Yeah, I’m a romantic, hope springs eternal and all that jazz.  I’m pulling for them!

Chip and Dale – Not a romantic couple, maybe, but these besties have been together forever and I admire that in a friendship!  Chip’s the serious thinker and Dale is the slightly goofy sidekick.  Laurel and Hardy with fur!  What is not to love about these two – and isn’t love what Valentine’s Day is all about?

Group Two!

IMG_5225Cinderella and her Prince.  Love at first sight?  Yes, indeed.  She’s faced a lot of challenges growing up – he’s faced a lot of challenges finding a partner.  Both know the pressures of trying to please family.  She can appreciate the love and care-free life he has to offer.  He can appreciate her down-to-earth, low maintenance personality.  Everybody goes home happy.  Except maybe Lady Tremaine, Drizella, and Anastasia – but, really – don’t we love them too?

IMG_5211

Snow and Charming:  Not gonna lie – I am a huge Once Upon a Time fan – even Raymond’s been known to enjoy an episode now and again.  These two really do love each other in a way that endures over time, through changing realms, in spite of any challenges thrown their way via magical spells, mythical creatures, and evil queens – in sickness and in health, richer, poorer, yadda, yadda – these guys know how to make it work.   They will always find each other!

Rapunzel and Flynn/Eugene – Good girl + bad boy = true love.  She’s a princess and doesn’t IMG_5229know it, he’s a goodhearted fellow who hasn’t met his potential.  Combine the two and what a great relationship!  He helps her find her family and she helps him find the man behind the smolder.  I love these two!  They’re both a constant surprise to themselves and to each other.  I think their relationship has got what it takes to endure.

Ellie and Carl Fredrickson – Proof that true love lasts.  These two had a lot in common, were very best friends and faced some serious challenges over the course of their relationship.  Did they give up?  No, never.  I cried so hard during Up‘s opening montage, I almost couldn’t watch the rest of the movie.  A relationship to admire and perfect example of the kind of love Valentine’s Day is all about!

Lisa and Raymond – The reason I believe in love at first sight.  Raymond proposed six weeks DSCN2932after we met and here we are today – getting ready to celebrate our 25th anniversary (with a trip this fall to Disney World for our first Food and Wine Festival).  Couple of kids, a (very few) trials and tribulations, a whole lot of fun and laugher – and still going strong.  So, I’ve got to hand it to Raymond after all.  When thinking about Disney couples – I do have to say…we make a pretty good one.