Category Archives: Walt Disney World

Disney World’s Toy Story Midway Mania – Love it but…

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DSCN2524There’s a reason Toy Story Midway Mania (Disney’s Hollywood Studios) is wildly popular.  It is (in The Fam’s opinion) one of the most action-packed, fun-filled experiences you can have at Disney World – even for people like me with no eye-hand coordination and poor aim!  As the name suggests, this ride simulates carnival midway games.  In 3D!  And the games include all your favorite Toy Story characters.  So what’s the “but…” for in this post’s title?  I’ll tell you, but first the good news… 

The GOOD News – About the Ride:

Once you make it to the front of the line, you board an adorable little ride vehicle – seats for two onDSCN2527 the front and on the back, everyone facing outward.  In front of you is a little toy cannon-looking thing with a pull-string on the back.  This is your “weapon” – a launcher of virtual items you will “throw” during the various midway games you’ll visit during the ride.  3D glasses on, you’re vehicle spins you into position in front of the first game – you get a little practice first – and then?  Game ON!  Pull that string on the back of your cannon as fast and as often as you possibly can and hit as many things as you can before time runs out – rack up points as you move from game to game (breaking plates, popping balloons, shooting ducks, etc.).  I just laugh hysterically while this is all going on – it’s that much fun!  Probably, the laughing hurts my score as much as the poor coordination and aim, but hey – I just love this ride.  You may have a seriously sore arm later from pulling the string to fire that cannon aIMG_3072 gajillion times.

The BAD News – About the Queue:

The fastpasses for TSMWM go fast – like all gone for the entire day by midmorning!  If you don’t get to this ride first thing, you either have to wait in what is usually a very long line (60 minutes or more) or pass altogether.  Lets say you choose to wait in the standby line – let the rest of this post serve as a strong warning against doing that!  The queue for this ride is almost indescribably horrible.  At first you’re like all “wow!” and “cool!” and “this is great!” – but those feelings fade away all too quickly.  Here’s the dealIMG_3071 – yes, there are giant toys and games and a giant talking Mr. Potato Head – but somehow after just a few moments of nostalgia and feeling toy-sized yourself, it gets annoying – really REALLY annoying.  The colors are too bright, Mr. Potato Head won’t be quiet and you are winding back and forth and back and forth for an eternity before you finally get to the 3D glasses.  Surely this means you’re almost to the ride boarding area, right?  HA!  Joke’s on you – still more waiting in line to go!  As much as I love the actual ride, I just cannot endure waiting in line for it – seriously, it could be used as a form of torture to extract top-secret information from international spies or something.  Please!  No more!  I’ll tell you anything!  Cannot take moreIMG_3081 giant toys!  Make Mr. Potato Head stop talking!

Consider this my last official public service announcement for 2013.  DO NOT wait in the standby line for Toy Story Midway Mania.  You’re welcome.

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At Disney? Go to Epcot’s Sunshine Seasons, Eat the Chocolate Croissant

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IMG_5064Today’s post – short, sweet, and to the point!  If you are going to Epcot, go to Sunshine Seasons (restaurant in The Land pavilion) and get a chocolate croissant.  There.  That’s it.  GO!  If you keep reading, you’ll just get the boring details on why I’m telling you this. 

One of the (many) odd things about me is that I don’t really have a sweet tooth…it’s more of a potato, rice or pasta tooth.  If I’m having a food craving, it’s rarely for something sweet.  If I’m eating in Epcot, it’s almost always in the World Showcase.  So how did I end up eating a chocolate croissant at Sunshine Seasons in the first place?  It’s all the fault of the internet and all the Disney blogs and Disney travel sites that talk about good eats at Disney World.  Those rave reviews fuel my curiosity.  Don’t tell me something is to-die-for-delicious if it’s really not.  I will come back and fuss at you – it’s not nice to make me spend money on sweets I’m not even craving if they’re not worth the price and the extra calories. 

So, I’d read about the croissant.  Raymond and I managed to ditch the kids encouraged the young people in our group to venture out on their own for a bit while we were at Epcot.  This left us a big open window to do whatever we wanted! – only at that moment in time we were starving and all we wanted to do was eat.  It was a weird time of the day – too late for breakfast, too early for lunch.  A snack was just the thing we needed.  Since we had just exited Soarin’, we were already in The Land when I remembered some website singing the praises of the chocolate croissant at Sunshine Seasons.  Why not just see what all the hullabaloo was about, hmmmm?

Off we went to the self-service bakery selection section and picked out our snack.  I was skeptical.  Too often when I want some baked good to actually taste as good as it looks, it lets me down.  I end up being disappointed by an attractive bit of dry, tasteless, stale garbage.  Whoa!  Hold on!  In the picture, you will notice there’s a bite missing from the croissant – I wasn’t going to take its picture if it didn’t taste absolutely delicious, but it DID!  It was great!  Fresh and buttery, not too sweet, flaky without being dry – genuine chocolaty goodness!  People, we had a winner!!! 

So, go getcha one next time you’re there.  If you don’t like it, come right back here and fuss at me about it…but I’ll bet you love it as much as I did.

What’s your favorite snack at Disney World? 

 

Disney World’s It’s a Small World!

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IMG_2544It’s a Small World! If you’ve not had the pleasure (maybe pleasure is the wrong word, depends on your taste in Disney rides) of experiencing It’s a Small World, you really need to add it to your bucket list! Okay, okay!  I’m joking. You might not want to add it to your bucket list, but if you happen to be in the neighborhood (Magic Kingdom, Fantasyland), do drop in for this little 11-minute boat trip around the world

The line moves quickly, the boat-boarding area is detailed and
ornate – lots to look at and, if you happen to be there at the right time, the clock opens up and does this clock thing which is kind of cool. There’s no minimum height requirement, soIMG_2543 anybody, any age can ride. And it’s a classic – opened with the park in 1971 but actually dates back to a 1964 New York World’s Fair exhibit. Originally designed by artist Mary Blair (think mural in the Contemporary lobby and the Five Legged Goat!!), the entire ride exhibits an amazing use of shapes and color. If sugary sweet cuteness is your thing, this is your ride.

Warning: It may actually be possible to overdose on adorable. If you’re not into singing children or if, perhaps, you’re hiding a fear of dolls and/or clowns – try to tough it out. Be brave. You only need to ride it once to IMG_2566experience this one irrefutable, undeniable thing as you drift through It’s a Small World in your little boat: Floor to ceiling, there are thousands of moving parts in this tunnel of toys – and they’re all singing.  You cannot deny that a tremendous amount of craftsmanship and attention to detail was required to produce hundreds of small people, animals, vehicles and buildings to represent all the continents and cultures around the world. And if, after you’re through, you catch yourself singing a certain catchy tune for the rest of the day….an added bonus!
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So, what do you think about It’s a Small World.  Is it really “the happiest cruise that ever sailed”?

Character Dining at Disney’s Chef Mickey’s

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I don’t know about you, but when I go to Disney World, I still want to see Disney characters.  I do know how old I am (parts of me are reminding me of it all the time)…I can still be a kid at heart, right?  I love Donald!!!  In this post, I suggested some ways to meet characters on a Disney vacation.  One of them, probably the one I like the best, is character dining – our favorite of which is at Chef Mickey’s.  Why we love it?  It gives children (and adults like me) the chance to meet Disney’s Fab Five:  Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald, and Goofy – while enjoying a meal just a short monorail ride away from the Magic Kingdom.  Let me add:  This is a Princess-Free diningIMG_2651 experience which appeals to many families – especially ones with boys! 

Located inside Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Chef Mickey’s is a buffet serving Breakfast, Lunch (certain times of the year only) and Dinner.  The food, while certainly not of the fancy gourmet variety, is goIMG_2654od and offers a large selection of basic, American fare to appeal to just about everyone – including picky eaters.

A bit about the food:  At breakfast you can expect eggs, potatoes, sausage, bacon, fruit, danish, pancakes, French toast, cereal and the ever popular Mickey waffles.  Dinner items include things like soups, salads, a carving station, pasta, roasted chicken, ribs, mashed potatoes, veggies, chicken tenders, mac & cheese, and several desserts including all the fixin’s for ice cream sundaes and yummy bread pudding. IMG_5370

During your meal, the characters come around to your table for a little one-on-one time.  Not a long time, mind you (the whole no talking thing kinda rules out idle chit-chat), but long enough for some great pictures and memory making.  It’s good to see The Fab Five without waiting in line outside in the hot Florida sun!  It also seems to me that the characters tend to be a bit more playful here than they are in the parks.  There’s a little routine to get everyone excited where guests are encouraged to wave their napkins over their heads to music.  Just go with it, you won’t be alone.  

IMG_5372As you arrive at the restaurant (reservations strongly recommended), you’re given the opportunity for a family photograph before being seated (photo package prices vary).  Have we done that?  Yes, but if I had it to do over, I would have saved the money.  I don’t like those pictures nearly as much as the ones taken table-side by my own camera.  You can decide what’s right for you, but do have your camera ready at all times and I promise you’ll get some excellent photo ops!  Good food, good company – who could ask for more than that?

What’s your favorite Character meal at Disney World?