Lou & Lil’ Joe – Epcot’s Manatees

Posted on January 14, 2016 by greenlisa9989@yahoo.com

My two favorite things about Epcot’s The Seas With Nemo and Friends are riding in a Clam-mobile and checking up on Epcot’s manatees. If I had to choose between the two, watching those big, beautiful, lettuce-munching manatees would be my first choice. I’m fascinated by them!

Lou & Lil’ Joe – Epcot’s Manatees

Recently we had the opportunity to spend quite a while in The Seas and the timing was right! The manatee-specialist was giving her talk about manatees in general and Lou and Lil’ Joe in particular. While she spoke, she tossed heads of (what looked like) Romaine in the pool. Manatees move rather slowly compared to other mammalian water-dwellers like dolphins and seals and that’s part of what makes them so much fun to watch. They take their time passing by, giving guests great opportunities to check out their unusual features and appreciate their undeniable cuteness.

Lil’ Joe was born in the wild about 26 years ago and orphaned soon after. He’s lived in a few other places before moving to Epcot and once even made a short, failed attempt at living in the wild again (he ate unhealthy things and nearly froze to death). It seems an orphaned manatee baby cannot learn from humans what he would have learned from his mom. It’s best for Lil’ Joe to stay at Epcot where his safety can be ensured. He has a climate controlled environment, plentiful healthy food, and a buddy.

Lou has a completely different story. He was living a happy life in the wild until a boat collision cost him his tail. He looks a little rough, but having no tail does not interfere with his ability to get around well. The Cast Member giving the presentation explained that efforts were being made to rehabilitate Lou for an eventual return to the wild. Good news for Lou, but sad for Lil’ Joe when that happens. The look happy together!

The manatee area in The Seas has two observation areas. Downstairs, guests can watch Lou and Lil’ Joe swim around in their habitat through a very large window. Upstairs is the manatee “lab” around an area of the pool’s surface where guests can learn about these wonderful creatures. I recommend setting aside a few minutes of your next day in Epcot to meet Lou and Lil’ Joe and learn about the life of a manatee.

Are YOU a fan of Epcot’s manatees?

Disney Dining – Adventureland’s Skipper Canteen

Posted on January 13, 2016 by greenlisa9989@yahoo.com

“Magic Kingdom’s newest themed table service eatery boasts both excellent service and uniquely delicious fare – in an exotic setting full of humor and whimsy.” – Me (my inner restaurant critic)

We found ourselves in Magic Kingdom with the huge post-Christmas crowds on a gorgeous Monday morning. While we didn’t arrive for the 7:00 am park opening, we had managed to ride Big Thunder Mountain by FastPass, eat breakfast at Be Our Guest, tour Haunted Mansion on standby (less than 30 minutes), and FastPass Seven Dwarfs Mine Train – all by about 10:45…why not wander over to Adventureland? Maybe, by some miracle, we could lunch at the new Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen before our last FastPass of the day (Enchanted Tales With Belle)?

Disney Dining – Adventureland’s Skipper Canteen

Once we located the entrance, it was about 11 o’clock. Two Cast Members were working the podium outside and just a couple of other parties were already waiting in the courtyard. I was quickly told that our wait would be about 20 minutes and if I provided my cell phone number, I’d receive a text when our table was ready. We may have just eaten breakfast about an-hour-and-a-half earlier, but I was not missing this opportunity! Raymond’s pretty flexible and was happy to go along.

While we waited, I wandered around taking pictures and, exactly on time, I got the text to tell us our table was ready. The next step is to go inside to another waiting area. Our name was called right away and the hostess escorted us to our table in the large main dining room called “The Mess Hall”. There are a couple of smaller dining rooms off of the main one – The Falls Family Parlor and the S.E.A. (Society of Explorers and Adventurers) Room. As one would expect, and similar to the much larger layout of Be Our Guest, each room is fantastically themed. There are too many details and Jungle Cruise artifacts to take in during a single visit…very clever! (More on the Canteen’s back story here.)

Bobby was our server and he was excellent! Passionate about his new Skipper position, he delivered our food and those famous Skipper puns with equal skill. That’s where this restaurant sets itself apart – the food and service are much better than typical theme-park fare and the theming and back story are so well done – the overall experience is wonderful! (Seriously – every tiny detail made me happy!)

Bread arrived while we were looking over the menu. The round loaf of Ambasha bread is accompanied by honey seasoned with a healthy dose of Fenugreek (herb with a maple-like flavor commonly used in Middle Eastern cuisine) which made this starter taste exotic and delicious!

Since we had just eaten breakfast, Raymond and I decided to share three courses so we could taste a whole meal without stuffing ourselves or wasting food. We started with the S.E.A. Shu Mai (A legendary blend of Pork, Shrimp, Mung Beans, and Spices wrapped in Gyoza Skin then steamed) $10. This was perfect! The dipping sauce was exactly right – a little spicy and salty and the perfect complement to the dumplings.

Our entrée selection was the Rice Noodle Bowl with Chicken (Pho Broth served with Jalapeños with mix of fresh Herbs) $22. This sounds plain but was spicy and delicious! Everything prepared on site from scratch makes this experience extra special. The flavors and presentation of the food, combined with the atmosphere and service, truly make you forget you’re eating in a theme park.

We wrapped up our little culinary adventure with the Sugar Crusted Congee Pudding (Caramelized Custard with Millet, Almonds, Apricot, Dates, and Honey-Almond Tuile) $8. Normally, we aren’t big on dessert, but this sounded unique and interesting and was absolutely delicious. The combination of flavors and textures was perfect.

We did not take advantage of the specialty (non-alcoholic) drink menu on this visit, but opted for iced tea and water. Our total bill was very reasonable and we walked away completely satisfied. If Skipper Canteen represents the future of in-park dining at Walt Disney World, we cannot WAIT to see what’s next!

Are you adventurous enough to try the new Jungle Cruise Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen? What would keep you from dining there?

Chef Mickey’s Character Dining Review

Posted on January 9, 2016 by greenlisa9989@yahoo.com

Happy Saturday, Disney Friends! Let’s talk character dining today! When our kids were little, Chef Mickey’s was a must-do for every visit to Walt Disney World and I’ve recommended this fun chance to meet the Fab Five many times over the years. Nick’s opinion of Chef Mickey’s is a little different than mine. I welcome all views and opinions here and now you can hear about Chef Mickey’s from someone who prefers to enjoy his character dining experiences elsewhere. What I want to know is this – How about YOU? Are you a fan of Chef Mickey’s or do you favor a different restaurant?

Chef Mickey’s Character Dining Review

By: Nick

I’ve eaten at Chef Mickey’s twice in the last several years. Once with our Godson, Flynn, back in 2009, and just a couple of months ago with our friends Kandi and John and their kids Jazzlyn and Grayson.

Me, Jazzlyn, Barbie, Kandi, Grayson, and John

I’m going to just come out and say it. It’s my least favorite buffet in Walt Disney World.

It’s not bad, but I have some issues.

Let’s look at the good first. The Fab Five, Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald and Goofy, are here, and that is truly awesome!

None of our Minnie Pics came out well!

They come around often and spend quality time with each table. Periodically, there is even an opportunity for kids and adults to cut loose with the characters!

The not so great?
The layout of the restaurant, which is located in the Contemporary Resort, is just odd.

Somehow, both times we’ve eaten here, we have been put up in an upper corner. This past time, it was a very dark corner.

There really shouldn’t be any dark corners in a character buffet, in my opinion.

Then, there is the food. It’s not bad, I just don’t feel it’s on par with other Disney buffets, with the exception of the desserts.

There are a variety of salads and a soup du jour, as well as sushi and pick and peel shrimp.

There is Mac and Cheese, Chicken nuggets, pasta and meatballs.

Some of the better items were the small individual dishes, such as the Braised Beef. The Lemon Pepper Chicken was pretty good also.

There are a few other seafood selections as well as BBQ ribs.

The carving station included turkey and beef.

The desserts include a variety of cakes, cream puffs, and cookies, as well as ice cream.

I can see why this would be a top priority for kids with the Fab Five, but I don’t recommend this buffet when there are so many other better character dining options, such as Crystal Palace and Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Harvest Feast at the Garden Grill.

Don’t miss any of Nick’s Disney adventures! Follow along at the Disney Musings Blog, on Twitter, on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Pinterest. You can listen to Nick, our friend Dave and me on The Disney Exchange Podcast where we talk about…well, you can probably guess.

Headed to Walt Disney World in 2016? The Disney Exchange Podcast will be having a meet-up in February during the Princess Half Marathon Weekend! Details will be available on The Disney Exchange’s Facebook Page and also on Twitter. We’d love to see you there!!!

Animal Kingdom – Africa and Harambe Market

Posted on January 8, 2016 by greenlisa9989@yahoo.com

In case I’ve failed to mention it lately, we love Disney’s Animal Kingdom. I actually waffle between Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom when asked to name my favorite park. There may be more attractions at Magic Kingdom and all the lands are unique and fun, but Animal Kingdom draws me in so much more! Asia and Africa, even Dinoland U.S.A. – all so well-themed and detailed in a way that it’s nearly impossible NOT to spot something new on each and every visit.

Animal Kingdom – Africa and Harambe Market

Recently, we had an afternoon to stroll through Animal Kingdom and soak up not only our usual favorite places – we also visited some new places, like the Harambe Market, for the first time. In spite of the fact that it was December 26th and we expected high crowds and long lines, we found the park easy to navigate. Before, after, and in between our FastPasses for Expedition Everest and Kilimanjaro Safaris, we had time to take things at a leisurely pace and loved every minute.

For today’s Friday Five, I’d like to give you the top five moments of our afternoon at Animal Kingdom.

Gorillas! I never miss an opportunity to visit the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail and this time was no different. I was hoping to check up on the baby gorillas we’d seen on our last visit and was delighted to find mammas, babies, and dad(?) taking a lie-down right in front of the observation window. The area was understandably crowded, but I was willing to wait patiently for an opportunity to move closer to the window for a good look. I was happy to see a roped-off perimeter and cast member on hand to keep guests from getting right up to the glass – It’s good to know that care is taken to make sure the gorilla family has relatively undisturbed time to rest. I watched the babies play and nurse and be adorable for several minutes before moving on to take the safari.
BEST use of a former FastPass distribution area! The new Thirsty River Bar has moved in to the old Expedition Everest FastPass machine location…and what a welcome addition it is! We stopped for a refreshment just after returning from our Yeti-hunting adventure. Thirsty work that Yeti business!
Zuri’s Sweets Shop – After the whole “Poop Candy” controversy, I’d wondered if this place was even worth a visit. I was imagining a very small, limited-offering-type candy shop. I was completely wrong! The place was large with a broad inventory selection that kept me browsing for quite a while. Very cool stuff! The sweets selection was made up of a few animal-themed choices and I was enjoying the cute and clever offerings. I don’t have much of a sweet tooth and was planning to walk away without making a purchase until I noticed the fudge selection included a maple nut choice. Maple flavored candy always reminds me of those Russell Stover Easter Eggs – you know what I’m talking about? They’re chocolate-covered with a flavored cream center. When I was little, the maple ones were my absolute favorite! Feeling nostalgic suddenly, I bought a piece of that fudge and tucked it into my backpack – forgetting all about it until the next day. Oh, boy! That fudge was heavenly – tasted exactly how I wanted it to – and I managed to make it last for several days.
The Perfect Details in Harambe Market! I’d listened to podcasts and read reviews and trip reports about this phenomenally themed addition to Africa. Even after seeing dozens of photos, I was surprised and so pleased by what I experienced first hand. I guess I was worried that the area would not match the incredible details of the rest of the park – that it would be “less” than the rest by virtue of its newness. I love it when I’m wrong at times like this. It’s perfect! It fits seamlessly into the rest of the park and is full of miniscule details impossible to completely discover in one visit.
Excitement is in the Air! There’s a real feeling of anticipation – a collectively held breath, if you will, about what’s coming next. For me it was like the new areas are little teasers for the monumental attractions and experiences currently under construction. When the Sunset Safari and the Rivers of Light open, the park will be completely transformed into a nighttime destination. Then when Pandora – an entire new land – comes to life, Animal Kingdom will, I believe, really come into its own. I cannot WAIT!