Tag Archives: Disney World 2016

Disney Resolutions – 2016 Version

Posted on by

Polynesian-Villa-Fireworks-New-YearIf you’ve been hanging around here a while then you know I’m not big on life-changing New Year’s Resolutions.  I don’t believe in trying to change yourself, your life, or your habits anytime other than when you’re ready to embrace change.  Nike’s motto “Just Do It” perfectly sums up how I feel about change.  If you want to lose weight, quit smoking, relax more, be angry less, do more or less of anything – do it when you’re ready, not because the calendar says January 1.  Since I stared this blog in 2013, I’ve made only Disney resolutions at the beginning of the year and today I’m stoked about 2016 and what’s in store Disney-wise.  I’d also love to hear what your Disney resolutions are, so please leave a comment!

Disney Resolutions – 2016 Version

I’m going to the movies!  Oh, my goodness!  The 2016 Disney movie lineup is simply The Standard Movie Snacksspectacular!  Zootopia, Jungle Book (finally!), Captain America Civil War, Finding Dory, and Moana (those are the ones I’m most excited about).  There are more, but those five are at the top of my must-see list.RM-Sunrise-runDisney-Princess-Half

I’m running alone – again, but hopefully for the last time!  Next month I’m headed to my next couple of runDisney races.  Since Joseph trained for and ran his first 10k and half marathon with me last fall, I have hope that I’ll finally be able to convince at least one or more family members to join me for the 2017 Princess Half Marathon (or Glass Slipper Challenge). Running-Age-Group-Awards-5K Over the past 18 years, I’ve run almost all the races I’ve entered by myself, but I’ve enjoyed having Joseph by my side so much, I’d love to have him with me at Walt Disney World for a race or two.  I know Megan can run (when she wants to) and she would absolutely love a runDisney event…I’ll be working on that.Morimoto-Asia-Lunch-Raymond

I’m learning to share – and resolve to do it more often!  Last week when Raymond and I were at Walt Disney World, we shared food in restaurants big time!  We had a ton of ADRs (Advance Dining Reservations) booked – so many that we could never have experienced each restaurant to the fullest without sharing.  We shared omelets at breakfast (Grand Floridian Café), three-courses at lunch (Skipper Canteen and Morimoto Asia),Morimoto-Asia-Kakuni-Pork-Bao appetizers at dinner (Jiko, Bluezoo, Shula’s, Flying Fish, and Narcoossee’s) and were able to taste so much more – while wasting so much less food than we would have without sharing.  We felt less stuffed and saved money too!  In a few weeks we’ll be back at Disney World before cruising on the Disney Dream…let’s see if we can keep up the culinary cooperation!

I’m going to show my adult children how to be kids again!  There’s no better place to embrace your inner child than at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party!  MM-Magic-Kingdom-MNSSHPWe’ve booked a week in October for Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival, but I’m dying to show ’em how to dress up and totally be a kid again for the night in Magic Kingdom at one of the most special and fun events Disney has to offer.

I vow to find the most perfect shoes ever!  Ugh!  I’m showing my age for sure.  I took five pairs of my most broken-in, tried and true Disney touring shoes last week and my feet still killed me. RM-Running-Shoes In fact, one day we went to Disney Springs in the morning with Epcot planned for the afternoon and I had to stop and buy some sandals at the Sanuk store because I was bleeding in to my sneakers – ones I’d worn comfortably several times in the past.  The problem for me is that all the walking and standing in line causes my feet and ankles to swell.  Maybe the cure is some deluxe compression socks or some extra-special comfort sandals – whatever it is, I’m committed to finding the cure.  I’m old-ish, but I’m not THAT old – I’m not letting my feet keep me from doing all that I want to do.

This year my goals are few and simple.  What are your 2016 Disney resolutions?

 

Walt Disney World 2016 – 6 Things I’ll Miss

Posted on by

Change happens all the time.  While some changes are welcome (bring on Pandora in Animal Kingdom and Star Wars in the Studios!), others take some time to get used to. There have been (or will soon be) a few changes that will leave noticeable holes in our future vacations…

Walt Disney World 2016 – 6 Things I’ll Miss

The Roasted Pork Shank at Gaston’s Tavern – My beloved pork shank is gone!  Somewhere near the end of October it disappeared from the menu at Gaston’s and beef stew took its place. Based on everything I’ve read, the pork shank’s absence is permanent.  I love the area around Gaston’s Tavern, but gone is my reason for entering the restaurant itself.  I’m sure I’m better off without the fat and calories, but that sure was one delicious hunk of meaty goodness.RM-Gaston's-Pork-Shank-and-Lefou's-Brew

Breakfast at Sunshine Seasons (discontinued beginning in January 2016) – It was a thing…you know, a vacation tradition!  Soarin’ early in the morning with a stop for breakfast at Sunshine Seasons afterwards.  Raymond and I always split a breakfast sandwich and potatoes with a chocolate croissant for dessert.  We’ve never eaten at Sunshine Seasons for any meal except breakfast – maybe it’s time to give lunch a try.Sunshine Seasons Breakfast

Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights (Ending after the 2015 holiday season) – It’s hard to see anything go that had a successful 20-year run.  The lights were part of many families’ Christmas traditions and will most definitely leave a gap.  There’s no doubt that new and exciting things are in store for us in the Studios’ future.  Maybe the lights will return in a different venue?  I hope so.

Soarin’, The Original – While we can still see the original Soarin’ through January 3rd, I’m counting it among the losses for this year.  I’m going to say goodbye and I’m going to be enormously sad.  This ride has been one of my favorites since it opened and I’ve got those silly emotional attachments to it fueled by happy memories of many, many family vacations that involved Epcot rope-dropping and bee-lining for the Land.Soarin's Patrick

World Showcase Entertainment – In September of 2014, Epcot lost several acts at once (Off Kilter, Mo’Rockin, World Showcase Players, and the Spirit of America Fife & Drum Corps).  I’m pointing this out, not because they were individually near and dear to my heart, but because I would expect discontinued acts to be replaced with new ones of equal quality.  Such was not the case!  In fact, as of November 24th, 2015 the Canada Pavilion’s Lumberjack show, just a year old, ended for good.  This show was never well-received by the general public and personally I did not care for the act’s county-fair-ish-ness.  This is Walt Disney World!  Much of World Showcase’s charm has always been based on the availability of a variety of quality live performances.  I’m hoping for a return to the days of fun acts and great music!

Duffy!  He no longer appears for a meet-and-greet in Epcot.  Yes, I have referred to him as the “Domestic Dispute Named Duffy”, but as an inside joke in our family, he was priceless!  He might be controversial (like a Kardashian, he’s famous for being famous) but he was one of the cutest and funniest characters we’d ever interacted with.  The kids won’t miss him a bit, but Raymond and I will remember him fondly.RM-Duffy

What about you?  What will you miss the most at Walt Disney World next year?  The Sorcerer’s Hat?  Star Wars Weekends?  Something completely different?  Shout it out now – you’ll feel better.