Tag Archives: Walt Disney World

Random Thoughts – Spaceship Earth

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SSE with NickEvery fan of Spaceship Earth has their favorite parts of the attraction.  What I want to know is if I’m the only one who has the same pattern of random thoughts every time I journey through the past, present, and future of communication technology.  Seriously – it’s like my own little internal dialogue has become tradition for every Disney World vacation.  If I’m alone and this is weird…hmmmm…I’m okay with that.  Surely you’ve thought at least a couple of these thoughts at least once though, right?

Random Thoughts – Spaceship Earth

  1.  How cool would it be to listen to this thing in a different language!  I’m gonna pick something new.  How about….English.  I might miss my favorite “Thank the Phoenicians” if I don’t hear the narration in English.  Would it still be Dame Judy in another language?  If not, I’d miss her too.SSE Language Selection
  2.  Why are the cavemen and wooly mammoths so dark?  I can barely see them.  I want to see them better.  This part’s a disappointment…I wish there were an animatronic mammoth!SSE Caveman
  3. Papyrus pounding guy!  I love you!  You are working so hard every time I see you.
  4. Ahhhh….the smell of Rome burning.  Wait.  I should feel bad about liking this smell.  I mean, Rome! Oh, NO!  How devastating!SSE Garlic Hat Guy
  5. Garlic hats!  How did that even become a thing?  How much do those weigh?  I wonder what they’d look like with Mickey ears on them?
  6. Painting laying down like that must be really hard!
  7. Why is that paperboy facing away from us?  He’s selling papers over there in the corner to nobody.  Why can’t we see him?  Has he been disfigured in some way and now hides in the corner?  What is up with that?
  8. That family watching the lunar landing.  Hey, look!  There’s Mousetrap!  I love that game.RM-SSE6
  9. 1970’s fashion.  Ohhhhhhh….so unfortunate.
  10. Yay!  The going down backwards part.  This is so relaxing.  Is it hot in here or is it just me?  Look at all those mirrors…you can see forever.
  11. We are such dorks.  Wait, that outfit makes me look super skinny though!SSE Our Future
  12. Look we have a dog!  I miss Junior.RM-SSE7

Do you have random thoughts on Space Ship Earth?  What’s your favorite part?

Favorite Options – Disney’s Beaches and Cream

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One of these days, I will finally make my way to Beaches and Cream on Disney World’s Boardwalk.  This super popular eatery is home to some very famous Disney dishes!  Just in time for summer weather, Nick gives us some recipes for ice cream treats we can make at home!

Favorite Options – Disney’s Beaches and Cream

By Nick

On Episode 32 of The Disney Exchange Podcast, Lisa, Dave and I share our choices for a progressive dinner around the Epcot area resorts. For those who don’t know, a progressive dinner is a group meal where each course is served at a different venue.

Both Dave and I chose to have our dessert at Beaches and Cream at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club, and that is because the ice cream and atmosphere is wonderful.

My wife, Barbie and I have eaten here many times through the years. I’m going to share some of our favorites, in no particular order.

The No Way Jose. Below is a photo of me encountering this absolutely delicious (especially if you like peanut butter) dessert for the first time!

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What’s in the No Way Jose?
  1. 2 scoops Chocolate Ice Cream
  2. 2 scoops Vanilla Ice Cream
  3. 1/2 cup Jif Smooth Peanut Butter
  4. 1/2 cup Hot Fudge Sauce
  5. 1-2 tablespoons Peanut Butter Morsels
  6. 1-2 tablespoons Chocolate Morsels
  7. Reddi-Wip (or good quality) Whipped Cream
  8. Cherry

Next, we have The Banana Split. Barbie doesn’t even like bananas, but loves this.

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This “Classic” consists of Vanilla, Chocolate, and Strawberry ice cream, pineapple, strawberry and marshmallow toppings finished off with hot fudge, caramel, toasted almonds, whipped cream and a cherry.

Then there is the famous Kitchen Sink, which is, well…this.

Barbie and I have shared this monstrosity with our friends Kandi and John on a few occasions.

Here’s a listing of what this amazing dessert includes:

  • fudge topping, warmed
  • butterscotch topping, warmed
  •  peanut butter topping, warmed
  • 1 medium banana, sliced in 1/2 –inch slices
  • 1 cinnamon spice cupcake, quartered
  • 1 angel food cupcake, quartered
  • 2 4-oz. scoops vanilla ice cream
  • 2 4-oz. scoops chocolate ice cream
  • 2 4-oz. scoops strawberry ice cream
  • 1 4-oz. scoop mint chocolate chip ice cream
  • 1 4-oz. scoop coffee ice cream
  • 3 tablespoons chocolate syrup
  •  marshmallow crème
  •  strawberry topping
  •  pineapple topping
  • 1 14-oz can dairy whipped topping
  • 1 brownie, quartered
  • 1 regular-sized (2 ounce) candy bar, quartered
  • 4 chocolate cookies (oreos-basically) with cream filling
  • 1 tablespoon sliced toasted almonds
  • 1 tablespoon dark and white chocolate shavings
  • 1 tablespoon chocolate cookies with cream filling, crushed
  • 1 tablespoon chopped jellied orange slice
  • 1 tablespoon milk chocolate chip morsels
  • 1 tablespoon peanut butter chip morsels
  • 1 tablespoon chocolate sprinkles
  • 1 tablespoon rainbow sprinkles
  • 1/2 cup drained maraschino cherries

But Beaches and Cream is more than just ice cream. They also have really tasty burgers, fries and onion rings.

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Have you ever eaten at Beaches and Cream, and what did you have?

 

To read more about Nick’s amazing Disney adventures, visit the Disney Musings Blog and follow him on Twitter, on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Pinterest.  You can also listen to Nick, our friend Dave, and me on The Disney Exchange Podcast where we talk about our love for all things Disney – new episodes every Sunday morning.

Animal Kingdom’s Komodo Dragon

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I’m not certain I can adequately explain my fascination with Animal Kingdom’s Komodo dragon.  I don’t consider myself a person with a general fondness for reptiles (although snakes and lizards don’t bother me like they do some other people).  That dragon though!  I make a point of visiting him every time I’m on the Maharajah Jungle Trek.  He’s even become the official mascot of the Disney Exchange Podcast (although Nick and Dave do NOT understand my adoration for such a “boring” animal).  Today I thought I’d share with you some of the amazing Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) facts that have me so thrilled…Komodo Dragon at Animal Kingdom

  1. Komodo dragons are enormous!  They are the world’s largest living lizard and have been around for nearly 4 million years.  During their approximately 30-year lifespan, Komodo dragons can grow up to 10 feet in length and weigh up to 300 pounds.  If you’re lucky enough to see one move (they do tend to remain very still for long periods of time) – they’re fascinating to watch!  And we don’t have to go all the way to their native islands of Indonesia – we can see a beautiful specimen at Walt Disney World!
  2. Komodo dragons are amazing hunters!  Beyond being carnivores, Komodo dragons are not picky eaters.  They’ll eat just about any kind of meat they come across, dead or alive.  Waiting along game trails, Komodo dragons in the wild will attack live prey (their favorite is deer) and may be lucky enough to use tooth and claw for an instant meal.  If their prey does manage to escape, the dragon will patiently follow…waiting for its poisonous saliva to slowly kill their dinner!  Come on! That is the coolest thing EVER!  Sure it’s gross, but also very amazing.  Also interesting:  Komodo dragons are immune to the poisonous saliva when they bite each other.  See this picture?  He’s not being shy, he’s in stealthy hunter mode!Komodo Dragon Hiding
  3. They have an incredible sense of smell.  Like a snake, the Komodo dragon’s forked tongue gathers scent from the air and processes that information via the Jacobson’s organs on the roof of their mouth.  If the scent being analyzed is stronger on one fork of the tongue, the dragon knows which direction to go.  When Komodo dragons walk, they swing their heads from side to side in order to better pick up smells in the air.
  4. They come from humble beginnings.  Komodo dragon moms lay approximately 30 eggs in September.  The eggs incubate under the female dragon’s protection for 9 months after which the hatchlings are on their own.  At about a foot-and-a-half in length and just 3.5 ounces, the baby dragons must fend for themselves on a diet of snakes, birds, insects, and lizards while avoiding being killed by larger animals including other Komodo Dragons.
  5. The Komodo dragon is a vulnerable species.  Illegal poaching combined with human encroachment into the dragons’ limited natural habitat have taken a toll on wild population numbers.  With only 4000-5000 dragons remaining worldwide, conservation efforts are being made on a variety of fronts.  Unfortunately, Komodo dragons in captivity are easily susceptible to infection and disease.  Indonesia’s Komodo Dragon National Park has been making strides in stabilizing this species’ population and ensuring the dragon’s long term survival.  (You can read about those efforts here.)

Are you still with me?  Thanks for hanging in!  Are you by any chance a fellow Komodo dragon fan?  How about Disney’s Animal Kingdom?  What’s your favorite animal there?

Tangierine Café in Epcot

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This week’s Saturdays With Nick post is a restaurant review of a place our family has yet to try.  We’ve stopped in Epcot’s Morocco Pavilion plenty of times, but have yet to eat at any of the restaurants there – opting instead to shop or enjoy live music.  After reading this review, I’m adding Tangierine Café to my must-try list!  Have you eaten in Morocco?  Which restaurant would you recommend?

Tangierine Café in Epcot

By Nick

Like Flame Tree Barbecue at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, The Tangierine Café, located in Epcot’s Morocco Pavilion, is a quick service eatery that we don’t visit on every trip to Walt Disney World, despite it being one of our favorites.

We’ve visited on several visits to WDW, usually to meet with friends at their request.
The menu is on display outside to help you make a decision before entering.
Orders are made and picked up at the counter.

Seating is somewhat limited inside and out. The larger dining section is to be found in front of the counter.

There is also a smaller, more intimate seating area past the coffee/dessert counter.
October 2013 we ate with our friends Pam and Tom, and this is the section we dined in.

On that trip I had the Mediterranean Lamb Wrap, served with Tangierine couscous salad and lentil salad. Barbie had the Vegetarian Platter which is Tangierine couscous salad, hummus and tabouleh.

Both excellent.

In January 2014 we went with friends Claire, Laurie, and Angelo.

Angelo, Laurie, Claire, Barbie and me.
I look forward to stopping by this wonderful eatery on my next trip!
Tangierine Café’s menu can be found here.

To read more about Nick’s amazing Disney adventures, visit the Disney Musings Blog and follow him on Twitter, on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Pinterest.  You can also listen to Nick, our friend Dave, and me on The Disney Exchange Podcast where we talk about our love for all things Disney.