Walt Disney World in May – Getting Ready!

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Our house is currently a whirlwind of activity!  Joseph has worked his last day of the Disney College Program and will be headed home today or tomorrow.  Just in time to relax for a week before we head back to Walt Disney World for our family vacation.  I’m packing, tweaking plans, and lining up house and pet-sitters.  No small feat, that, with the dog, cat, tortoise, and seven chickens (one of which is currently attempting to hatch nine eggs!).  But I digress…

Walt Disney World in May – Getting Ready!

I’m extra-excited about this vacation – all my favorite people in the world will be with me in my favorite vacation destination!  Raymond, Megan, Grant, Joseph and his girlfriend, Lyndsey – we’ll all be together for six whole days!  I’m amazed that after nearly 30 years of Disney vacations, I’ve managed to squeeze in quite a few new experiences while also including a bunch of our favorite restaurants and attractions.  I’m hoping that by going in May, before many schools have let out for the summer and also before Toy Story Land opens, means the crowds won’t be too bad.

What’s New?

I’ve ordered breakfast foods and bottled water from Garden Grocer.  A firm believer in NOT cooking on vacation, this is unprecedented!  Eggs, milk, bread, butter, and jelly.  I’m not going crazy here, but it will be nice to head out to the parks and not have eating breakfast as the first thing on the agenda every morning.  That Garden Grocer will deliver our order right to our resort is super convenient…don’t know why I haven’t done this before.

UP! A Great Bird Adventure – Normally, I would never book a FastPass for any show in any park, but this is new and I was looking for some attractions friendly to Megan’s advanced pregnancy condition.  Joseph’s seen it, but I haven’t gotten any feedback yet.  I’ve also got FastPasses for Festival of the Lion King and Epcot’s Living With the Land…I figure anything that will get Meg off her feet for a while is a good idea!  She’ll be missing out on all her favorite rides, but I still want her to have a fun time.  Germany Pavilion in Epcot's World Showcase

We’re going to Biergarten!  Finally!  I’ve made reservations before and cancelled them in favor of other options.  We love Epcot’s Germany pavilion so much, it’s hard to believe we have never eaten at Biergarten.  Buffet, live German music, beer – what’s not to love?

Enzo’s Hideaway – “Inspired by Florida’s secretive “rum-running” past, this watering hole specializes in barrel-aged cocktails and has the largest selection of rums and scotches than any other restaurant at Disney Springs.” – Disney World Website

They had me at “largest selection of rums and scotches”.  The Italian menu also looks like something we would love.  Sometimes, it’s super difficult to try a new place when so many others are proven, tried-and-true favorites…but after an incredibly disappointing visit to a former favorite, Raglan Road, I’m more willing to throw caution to the wind.

Old Favorites…

‘Ohana and Boma are both places we love (for different reasons) and haven’t visited in a couple of years.  Both have enough delicious options and are all-you-care-to-eat, so nobody goes away hungry.

‘Ohana is fun and we’ve never had a bad meal there.  I’ve heard complaints about a decline in both food and service quality, but so far, we have not found that to be the case.  Our last visit was in 2016 (the Hurricane Matthew vacation) and we had a wonderful meal.Exterior Rooftops / Animal Kingdom Lodge

I’ve been especially craving Boma lately…that watermelon rind salad, the soups and stews, the setting at Animal Kingdom Lodge!  The plan is to arrive early, allowing time for a stroll around the savannah overlook and a cocktail at Victoria Falls…family traditions every time we eat at any of Animal Kingdom Lodge’s terrific restaurants.

Other restaurants in our lineup include Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd Skipper Canteen (Magic Kingdom), Rose & Crown (Epcot), and Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ (Disney Springs).

We’ll have time to spend some time at our resort pool, which is also highly unusual for our family.  The last time we did that was around 2006, I think.  We’ve got one morning where we don’t need to be anywhere until lunchtime and two afternoons with big gaps between our last FastPasses and dinner.  I’m excited to see how we actually end up using this free time.

At the end of the day, my hope is that our last family vacation before the baby arrives is a relaxing, fun, and happy one.  Of course, I’ll tell you all about it when we get home.

 

 

 

Vacation Preparation – WDW & 7 Months Pregnant

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Vacation Preparation – WDW & 7 Months Pregnant

by Megan Edwards

I know it’s important, so I have secured permission for everything I’ve wanted to do from the first doctor’s visit until now.  I’ve run two 10K’s, two half-marathons and now?  I’m going to Walt Disney World!  It’s May and that means hot weather.  I’ll be just 7 weeks from having this baby.  Am I worried?  Nope, not a bit.  I feel fantastic and my doctor seems very happy with how easily and comfortably this gestating thing is going for me.  According to my last doctor’s visit, I’ve gained a total of 18 pounds with firm instructions to gain at least 5 or 6 more.  (Disney food, here I come!)  I’m doing everything I can think of to be ready for all the Disney vacation action since this is our last vacation before we become parents.  Here are the details…

Early Prep –

Keeping Fit – I’ve been walking outdoors and at the gym regularly in order to be ready for those Disney miles.  I’ve also tried to keep my weight gain under control so I won’t have anything unnecessary to carry around.  I’ve never had a problem with the walking involved at Walt Disney World and I am on my feet at work most of the day.  So far, I’ve not experienced any swelling in my feet or ankles…fingers crossed!  I honestly feel great and have lots of energy right now.

60 Days Out –

Flexible Touring Plans – Mom always takes care of our FastPasses and touring plans, but she’s kept me in the loop this time so I know there will be plenty of rest time built-in.  I feel sure I’ll spend at least a couple of afternoons relaxing at our resort so I can make it to the fireworks shows at Magic Kingdom and the Studios.  Been putting off purchasing a swimsuit…guess I’d better get on that.

Park Bag Adjustments – Two things I want to avoid are sunburn and indigestion.  Extra sunscreen and Tums are definitely coming with us to the parks.  Since my Disney Vera Bradley cross-body bag is probably out of the question (I can’t see it fitting on or around this baby bump), I’m going to carry a small, lightweight backpack.  I may see if I can put my stuff in Mom’s park bag if we won’t be out long or there’s no rain in the forecast.  I’ll also carry a water bottle to refill as necessary to stay hydrated.  I’ll need healthy snacks handy too.  Nobody needs to be exposed to me when I get hangry…it’s ugly.

Starting to Pack –

Clothes and Shoes – I’m pretty sure by the time the baby gets here, I’ll want to have a bonfire for my maternity clothes.  Let’s be honest – I want to look cute on vacation!  I also want to be comfortable while not spending too much on clothes I’ll only be wearing for a few months.  I’ve had some luck at a maternity store in our local mall by taking advantage of their buy-one-get-one 1/2 off sales.  I’ve shopped Target and Old Navy both in store and on line for shorts that fit well with plenty of room to spare.

I am worried about my feet (which I can still see, btw).  If I’m ever going to have swollen feet and ankles, I feel like the heat and humidity in Orlando will be the most likely triggers. I’ve heard wearing sneakers (versus sandals) helps minimize swelling, so I’m taking three different pairs. As a backup, if there’s rain in the forecast, I’ll carry some extra footwear like my favorite pair of Chacos in my park bag with my poncho. There’s nothing worse to me than wet shoes and socks, especially if you go into a cold restaurant for dinner.

None of those packing plans may matter.  If I have to, I’ll toss in some shorts and tee shirts and be done with it, because my #1, must-have item is a giant body pillow called a Snoogle.  This pillow is nothing short of a miracle and has allowed me to sleep comfortably since I got it for Christmas.  I sincerely hope Grant has some excess space in his suitcase for my shoes because I am not leaving this pillow at home.Hey there, moms!  If you’ve got any suggestions for me or if I’ve forgotten anything, please leave a comment.

Who Would Love Disney’s Contemporary Resort?

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Let’s pretend for a minute that you’ve decided that for your next (or first) Walt Disney World vacation, you want to stay in the Magic Kingdom resort area.  Let’s go a step further and say you want to stay at a monorail resort.  First of all, go YOU!  These are our family’s favorite resorts!  Tough choice though.  All are expensive, all have their pros and cons.  Today, I’m going to try to explain the draw of Disney’s Contemporary Resort.  In future posts, I’ll do the same for the Polynesian Village Resort and the Grand Floridian too, so I’ll be sharing everything I know and have personally experienced.  All three have a lot to offer!

Who Would Love Disney’s Contemporary Resort?

You want to be smack dab in the middle of the Disney action – When you can see Magic Kingdom from your resort, all day and all evening, it feels especially Disney-ish.  You also have (my favorite!) the Electrical Water Pageant cruising by your resort in the evening.  Between the boats, busses and monorail, it feels like every park is just a short ride away.  Resort hopping by boat to Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness is super easy (and relaxing) as is access via monorail to the other Magic Kingdom resorts.

Your family adores Magic Kingdom – From the Contemporary, it’s just a short walk away!  Slightly more than 1/2 mile from door to Park entrance, the Contemporary is the ONLY resort from which you can walk to and from Magic Kingdom.  As an added convenience, the security bag-check/metal detector is right on the walkway, giving your family a straight shot to the entrance!  If you’ve got an early morning ADR (advance dining reservation) in Magic Kingdom, this perk is a plus!

Resort Loop Pub Crawl – Sure, this is a benefit of staying at any of the monorail resorts, but if you’re out for date night or have a party of adults only, this is a fun way to spend an evening.  We love to start at the Contemporary’s Outer Rim and move on to the Poly’s Tambu Lounge (or Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto) and Mizner’s Lounge in the Grand Floridian.  Grab a cocktail and snacks at each stop and make an evening of it.

Amazing Dining Options – Character dining? Check!  Meet the Fab Five at Chef Mickey’s for breakfast or dinner.  Need a quick meal?  Try the Contempo Café (Buffalo Chicken Flatbread is great!).  Fresh, sustainable, and delicious fare is available at The Wave, and if you want one of the best dinners at Walt Disney World, you can’t go wrong with the food, service, and view at the California Grill.

Nostalgia – It’s modern and retro at the same time!  As one of the original Walt Disney World resorts, the Contemporary has maintained that opening-day vibe while boasting updated rooms with a current, modern feel.  The Mary Blair mural (look for the five-legged goat!) and the open atrium where the monorail pulls right on in to the heart of the resort are all classic Walt Disney for geeks like us!  If you love Disney like we do, standing on that monorail platform, watching our ride pull into the station…there’s no feeling in the World exactly like it and fans have been experience that particular thrill since 1971.

 

 

 

 

Disney Cocktails – La Cava del Tequila’s #LaCavaNegroni

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Well aware of Joseph’s distaste for tequila, I hesitated before asking him to try La Cava del Tequila’s limited edition #LaCavaNegroni.  He loves me enough to take one for the team, so to speak, but after that flatbread at Pizzafari, I thought I might be taking advantage of his good nature.  Limited time, though!  So I broached the subject and Joe was surprisingly game.  Off he went to Epcot’s Mexico Pavilion to give it a try…and they were sold out.  Tenacious is our boy, luckily, so the next time he had a chance to visit Epcot…success!

Disney Cocktails – La Cava del Tequila’s #LaCavaNegroni

“#LaCavaNegroni – Limited Edition (Batch No. 13) – 12 week aged negroni in Tequila Avion 44 Barrel.  For details search #LaCavaNegroni on Twitter and Instagram” – Menu, La Cava del Tequila

Let’s talk about what goes into a Negroni: Tequila, Campari, and Vermouth.  Aging in the Tequila Avion 44 barrel turns a few simple ingredients into a specialty cocktail that costs $17.  But how did it taste?

#LaCavaNegroni

-by Joseph Green

I absolutely loved it.  I didn’t think I would, but it was great!  It’s sweet and smoky.  Honestly, it tastes like the cannon fire and burning town smells on Pirates of the Caribbean.  It doesn’t burn, but has a little bit of a bite.  Big flavor.  Just enough to let you know it’s something special.  You can tell you’re having a well-crafted drink.  And it lingers just long enough to savor before you want another sip.

This drink sits on the center top shelf in La Cava, in a round-bottomed flask without a label.  And it’s well-noted by the staff when your order it.  It’s spicy in the best way…not hot, but peppery.  Pricey, yes, but even for this unenthusiastic tequila drinker, this cocktail was worth every penny.

Verdict:  If you’re thinking about giving #LaCaveNegroni a try, grab your $17 and get there soon, before it’s all gone.