Tag Archives: Aloha Isle

Adventureland – Five Great Things

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Sunshine-Tree-TerraceIt’s been a while since we’ve featured a land here!  Today’s tribute is to Magic Kingdom’s Adventureland – There’s lots to love about this particular area.  In such a small, compact space, there’s so much to see, do, and taste.  Today I’ll focus on the very best this land has to offer.

Adventureland – Five Great Things

Bordered by Main Street U.S.A. and Frontierland, Adventureland is a completely unique experience.  Where Main Street takes you back to a simpler life in small town America and Frontierland brings guests the thrills and excitement of the untamed Wild West, Adventureland captures all that is incredible about exploring the exotic and undiscovered.RM-Jungle-Cruise-Skipper

  1. Ridiculous yet classically perfect puns – If you don’t absolutely love Jungle Cruise, at least you’ll admit that as far as “the lowest form of humor” goes, this attraction is amazingly entertaining!  We’re a family of pun-loving people and Jungle Cruise never ceases to delight – especially when our skipper has excellent timing.  It’s an art, people, and should be appreciated as such.  This attraction is a must-do for no other reason than seeing the backside of water!Skipper Canteen Sign
  2. Skipper Canteen (officially The Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen) – The spirit of this very new table service eatery is what makes it awesome.  The premise of the Jungle Cruise Skippers having to make ends meet by waiting tables is clever, the atmosphere perfectly reflects the Adventureland setting, and the menu has heart even though rumor has it, the offerings are currently being overhauled for more main-stream appeal.  Magic Kingdom needs more table service choices, so I’m really pulling for this place’s future success.RM-Adventureland-Shield
  3. Background Music – Setting the mood with upbeat, perky tunes, the Adventureland soundtrack may often be overlooked, but is integral to making sure the land’s experience is fully immersive.  Want to hear what I’m talking about?  Check it out here.Pirates of the Caribbean Ride
  4. We Wants the Redhead!  So many small components make up the whole of Pirates of the Caribbean.  Classic Disney meets modern movie magic and the combination is irresistible.  Sure, purists grumble about the updates and recent changes, but this attraction is nothing short of the perfect example of the best of what Walt Disney World has to offer.  Boat ride / dark ride, scene after scene, animatronics and special effects galore – if you can’t find something to love here, you should spend your vacation dollars elsewhere and leave more room for the rest of us.Aloha Isle - Home of the Dole Whip
  5. Cold, Tropical Snacks – Aloha Isle and Sunshine Tree Terrace (recently these two switched places) are among the most popular snack stops in Magic Kingdom.  Need a world-famous Dole Whip?  Belly up to the counter at Aloha Isle and enjoy!  Want a cool, refreshing Citrus Swirl?  Stop by the Sunshine Tree Terrace (home of Orang Bird!).  Two iconic Disney snacks – both in the heart of Adventureland!Citrus-SwirlI know I said five, but I feel bad not even mentioning the Enchanted Tiki Room.  Now that they’re back to their original form (no longer “under new management”), I love to try to fit them in our touring plans on hot, crowded afternoons.  Kicking it old school, the birds, flowers, and Tiki guys are as much a part of Adventureland’s magic as anything else I’ve mentioned.Tiki-Room-Birds

Are you an Adventureland fan?  What do you think makes this part of Magic Kingdom Special?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walt Disney World – Six Days, Seven Snacks

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Caramel Apples in EpcotI’ve got a small dilemma and I need your help.  My ODPS (Obsessive Disney Planning Syndrome – it’s not a rare condition, I’m told) has kicked into overdrive now that we’re under the 30 day mark.  I’ve been listening to you here in the blog’s comments and out there on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other Disney blogs – everyone has a favorite Disney food…I’ve been meticulously planning my vacation snacks based on all this info-gathering.  I’ve also got an item on my Disney New Years Resolution list I need to cross off.  I’ve allowed myself a $50 snack budget – here’s my problem…I’ve planned out 7 snacks over 6 days and still have a little money left over!  I KNOW, right?  Who would have thought it possible?  Oh, not to worry, I’m planning on splitting these snacks with The Fam so there aren’t any unanticipated consequences which might result in my vacation wardrobe becoming…shall we say ill-fitting.DSCN2519

So, I’m going to list the snacks in my plan, their price, and where they can be purchased.  Your mission, should you choose to accept it, will be to recommend additional snacks I can add to the list with the $13.29 I have left over.

Here we go:

1. Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar $3.75 – can be purchased at any park.  I know, why waste a snack on an ice cream bar – plain old vanilla dipped in chocolate…it’s my favorite snack and I have to have one, that’s why.

2. Sweet and Spicy Chicken Waffle Sandwich $7.19 – Sleepy Hollow in Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square.  Sure, if I count it as a meal (and don’t share!), I can save the 7 bucks for other options…and that might happen, but as of now, we’re all planning on taking a taste and group voting on this highly praised food item.

Dole Whip courtesy of the Disney Dream Girls

Photo Credit: The Disney Dream Girls

3. Dole Whip $3.79 – Aloha Isle in Magic Kingdom’s Adventureland.  Going with the traditional version of this incredibly popular snack food that I have never tasted…shocking, I know.

4. and 5. Side by side, head on comparison of the new and allegedly amazing Cronut (officially called Croissant Doughnut) $4.49 and my beloved Chocolate Croissant $2.99 – both at Epcot.  The Cronut is available at the Refreshment Port and the Croissant at Sunshine Seasons.  Will the new snack on the block be able to hold its own against the tried and true perennial favorite?  We shall see.

6. Churros $3.75 – Magic Kingdom, Frontierland Churro Cart.  Nah, I’ve never had these either – Sunshine Season's Chocolate Croissantgo ahead and set that shocked gasp free!  It’s the missing sweet tooth…but I’m going to give them a try and see if I will join the legions of churro lovers everywhere.

7. Empanadas de Queso $10.75 – La Cantina de San Angel, Epcot’s World Showcase, Mexico Pavilion.  Another meal disguising as a snack, but we can all have a taste and do that group voting thing again.  The Mexico Pavilion will just not get the family’s vote for a meal, but in the interest of research, I’m sure I’ll have no shortage of taste volunteers.  I like Mexican food – the others would rather dine elsewhere.  My friend Heather from over at one of my favorite Disney blogs, Disney for Five+, swears these empanadas are a not-to-be-missed culinary masterpiece and I believe her!

So, here I sit…$36.71 down, $13.29 to spare.  What should I add?  If you’re thinking adult beverage, that’s an entirely different list with a separate budget!

Shout it out, now…don’t leave me hanging.   Tweet me if you have to…. @life_of_green.