Tag Archives: WDW

On Ellen’s Energy Adventure

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RM-Universe-of-EnergyBefore I proceed with this post, I must disclose that I do not dislike Ellen DeGeneres.  I wouldn’t want anyone to be confused on that point.  I DO like Ellen.  Her Energy Adventure?  Not so much.  I’ve discussed in the past the Walt Disney World Attractions I could live without.  Today I’m taking that one step further by confessing this:  If there were a SINGLE attraction I would do away with at this very moment and replace it with something (anything!) better, it would be in Epcot’s Future World.  The attraction I find the weakest of all (although it is, undeniably and excellent place to take a nap)…The once-interesting and semi-entertaining Ellen’s Energy Adventure.

The problem?  It’s called FUTURE World.  Ellen and her buddy, Bill Nye (of Science Guy fame) embarked on the current version of their adventure in 1996.  NINETEEN-NINETY-SIX!!!  Let’s look at five good reasons for Disney to consider alternatives to Ellen’s Energy Adventure…RM-Ellen's-Energy-Adventure

1.  1996 was a long time ago.  Technology has come a LONG way since then.  Times were different.  Ellen and Bill Nye were a lot younger, sure, but advances in energy and the way humans think about fossil fuel and the future of energy was as different as the fashions of the time.  As an illustration of how much time has passed, I’ll share with you a picture of our family at Walt Disney World in 1996 and our family last May:RM-Magic-Kingdom-Parade-Watching-1996WDW Bus Stop at Old Key West

If ever there were a reason to update an attraction, it’s 19 years of technological advances.  Ellen’s Energy Adventure, unlike Carousel of Progress and It’s a Small World, is not a timeless classic.RM-Ellen's-EarthRM-Ellen's-Volcano

2.  45 minutes!  Hello!  This is a HUGE time investment during a Disney vacation.  There are practically an infinite number of better ways to spend this time than visiting 1996.RM-Universe-of-Energy-Exterior

3.  Future World as a whole is in dire need of modernization.  It’s not just Ellen’s attraction.  Compared to what Epcot once was, compared to the charm and beauty of the World Showcase…Future World (basically half of Epcot) has undeniably deteriorated to just a few interesting or enjoyable areas/attractions.  So much wasted potential saddens me.RM-EEA-Dinos

4.  It wouldn’t take much to “plus” the attraction (as Walt Disney would have said).  Ellen and Bill Nye could certainly make a return visit for another rousing discussion of energy or the space could be completely reimagined.  Makes no matter to me – Future World needs more “future” and the available real estate is right there in Universe of Energy.RM-Ellen-and-Bill-NyeRM-EEA-Dinosaur

5. The scenes I know nothing about.  Why is there an attraction in Epcot with scenes I haven’t experienced?  I fall asleep!  Every. Single. Time.  I have never, in the past 19 years, ridden Ellen’s Adventure and managed to stay awake for the entire attraction.  I always wake up for the dino part – it’s my favorite.

Are you a fan of Ellen’s Energy Adventure?  What changes would you make to Future World if you could?

 

Underappreciated Epcot – The Seas

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RM-Bruce-and-JosephToday it may be called “The Seas With Nemo and Friends”, but it’ll always be “The Living Seas” to me.  I think this attraction area has a lot to recommend it (as I mentioned in my previous attempts to raise interest here and here).  My fried Nick would call it “Edutainment” for the educational/entertainment factor The Seas offers Epcot guests, but the draw for me is in the entirety of the experience.  Calm, relaxing, fun, and yes, even with a lesson to teach here and there.RM-Epcot-Aquarium-Eel

Maybe I’m aquarium-deprived since I live in rural Louisiana and it’s a pretty long haul to Audubon’s Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans (which is awesome, by the way), but there’s something about Epcot’s version of aquatic-animals-on-display that makes me ridiculously happy and magically transforms this little corner of the World into a must-see for me on every visit.  Seriously, don’t skip it – there are a lot of awesome things to see besides the Nemo ride (cruisin’ in Clammobiles!) and Turtle Talk.RM-Manatee  RM-Manatee-Eating-LettuceI’ve mentioned the Manatees before and how fun it is to watch them eat lettuce (no, I’m not kidding).  But wait!  There’s more!

Underappreciated Epcot – The Seas

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Bob? Sheldon?

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Dory!

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Peach!

RM-Cleaner-Shrimp-Epcot

Jacques the Cleaner Shrimp

Next time you go, give it a try.  I think late morning (before maybe heading to the World Showcase for lunch) or mid-afternoon are great times to visit The Seas.  Our family likes to start in the main building to leisurely make our way to all the fish tanks and animal exhibits before we see Turtle Talk.  Then we wrap up the visit with Nemo and Friends – if we had small children, I would have them look for fish on the ride that we’d seen on display in the exhibits.

Depending on the crowd levels, The Seas could be explored in 60-90 minutes.  Short on time?  Allow 20-30 minutes to see the exhibits, then decide if you can afford to wait for the Nemo and Friends ride and/or Turtle Talk with Crush (FastPasses may be booked in advance).  Pre-school and lower grade-school-age children will appreciate those two attractions the most.RM-Epcot-Aquarium-Fish

Have you explored The Seas in Epcot?  What are your must-do attractions or exhibits?

 

Five Ways to be an Awesome Parent at WDW

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Ready for Toy Story Midway Mania Sure, it’s plenty easy to consider yourself a pretty darn amazing parent for just handling the logistics and footing the bill for a family vacation to Walt Disney World – and you’d be sort of right.  It IS a big deal to plan and pay for a Disney vacation these days, I’ll give you that.  But if you want to get the most out of these trips, you have to keep a few things in mind.  Yeah, I’m showing my age again, but I have been taking my children on Disney vacations for almost 20 years – benefit from my mistakes and pay close attention now.

Five Ways to be an Awesome Parent at Walt Disney World…

1.  Stay out of the shops – Your family will be exposed to a toy, treat, or souvenir buying opportunity about every six feet while visiting each park.  Balloon vendors, Disney pin kiosks, souvenir carts, pre-parade light-up-toy sellers…the temptation to buy is literally everywhere!!!  If you don’t intend to purchase something every ten minutes, try not to expose little ones to so many opportunities for you to say NO!  I’m aware that you cannot exit many rides without passing through a gift shop, but over-exposure to all that merchandise is a meltdown waiting to happen.  Cut down on this by pre-purchasing some sale t-shirts or dollar-store Disney items before you ever leave home & bring those with you as special treats.  If you need to shop, try to do it on your own.Balloon Vendor on Main Street U.S.A.

2. Put your smart phone or tablet away – I know those devices have become an enormous part of everyday life, but if ever there was a time to focus on the little people you’re raising, it’s while you’re away from home.  There is so much to take in at Walt Disney World, so many opportunities to focus on new and exciting (and sometimes scary) things – what a great gift we can give our kids if we stay in the moment, relaxed and happy, soaking it all up with them.  Think for a minute how lonely it might be to be much shorter than those around you all the time (or being confined to a stroller) while the people you love most in the world are constantly texting or filming a parade or show instead of enjoying this time with you, on your level.DSCN3755

3. Make wait times family times – As a lifelong habitual people-watcher, I tend to notice what other people do while waiting in line.  Most of them are doing nothing but looking bored or unhappy or impatient.  We like to talk.  To each other.  We might ask “ice breaker” questions – open-ended queries intended to make us think about or look for particular things.  This is where Disney trivia, Hidden Mickeys, looking up, looking down, and focusing on those magical Disney details will help you raise a new generation of Disney fans.In line at Disney

4. Get drenched – Little ones love those resort pools, water rides and parks, and splash-and-play areas.  These are especially fun and exciting at Walt Disney World.  Stop worrying about how you look and what you’re wearing.  Plan ahead so you have no excuse not to jump right on in there and play!  Nobody cares about your hair or makeup except YOU.  Hats, sunglasses, quick-drying clothing, and water-friendly shoes are invaluable.  Take the time to gear up and be ready to have a soaking good time!  These are the times your kids will remember most.Kali River Rapids / Disney's Animal Kingdom

5. Have fun and don’t be crabby – Part of being the parent sometimes involves the challenge of letting things go.  Let go of worry, stress from home that may have followed you on vacation, irritation from getting less-than-magical service, being hot, bored, lost, hungry – you get the idea.  Fake it ’til you make it if you have to, but put on a happy face, focus on the positives, and remind yourself that your offspring’s childhood is but a fleeting moment in the grand scheme of things.  You don’t get a do-over on these memories – make ’em count.

Let me hear from you!  What are your best tips for being an awesome parent at WDW?

WDW Resortloop Quick Service – Contempo Café

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RM-Mary-Blair-MuralAs I’ve mentioned before, we love the Contemporary Resort!  We love the expansive, soaring Grand Canyon Concourse with the monorail station inside, the shops, the Mary Blair mural (Hello, Five Legged Goat!), and the restaurants.  Chef Mickey’s has always been our favorite character dining experience.  Right next to Chef Mickey is a counter-service restaurant we’d seen and heard of, but had never tried until our most recent visit to Walt Disney World.  We ate there twice – Lunch on our arrival day and breakfast on our last day of vacation.  We were quite pleased with our meals, so I’m sharing this review with you today…

WDW Resortloop Quick Service – Contempo Café

The first impression of this eatery is that it’s both wide open and, in keeping with the theme of the Contemporary, quite modern.  Orders are placed at automated, self-service kiosks that print out a ticket for you to carry to the checkout counter, along with any extras you select from the self-serve sections for bakery items and bottled beverages (I chose beer at lunch).  After you pay for your meal, you then wait for your ticket number to be called so you can pick up your tray(s) and find a seat.RM-Contempo-Cafe-Interior RM-Contempo-Menu RM-Contempo-Cafe-Self-Serve

The bakery items looked good and the menu offered a broad selection.  The beer selection was a bit sparse, but didn’t keep us from enjoying lunch.  We ate right after we arrived and checked in, so I took care of ordering and getting our table, while Raymond took some things to our room.

For Raymond I ordered the Caprese Flatbread ($8.49) and I chose the expensive Lobster Roll  ($16.29).  Normally, I wouldn’t spend that much on lunch, but I was thinking of you.  So in the interest of culinary research, I sprung for it.  Both orders looked tasty and weren’t heavy, which was important since we had a dinner reservation later at the Kona Café (Polynesian Village Resort).  The food was good!  We were both pleased with our lunches (if not the price) and decided the Contempo was convenient with good choices and needed to be added to our list of quick-service favorites.RM-Contempo-Cafe-Flatbread RM-Contempo-Cafe-Lobster-Roll

On the last day of vacation, we had some time to spare before our Fort Wilderness Back Trail Adventure tour, so we decided to see what the Contempo Café had to offer for breakfast.  We already knew about the bakery counter, but ended up ordering off the menu.  I ordered the Breakfast Burrito ($6.49) and Raymond had the Breakfast Sandwich ($6.49), we also decided to share an order of grits ($3.19).  RM-Contempo-Cafe-Breakfast-Sandwich RM-Contempo-Cafe-Breakfast-Burrito-and-GritsIt’s a thing we do, like a test.  See, living in Louisiana, we eat grits just about every weekend.  I make some pretty amazing garlic cheese grits and they’ve become a staple on our weekend breakfast lineup.  We often try grits in restaurants to see if we can find anyplace that does them well.  I’m happy to report that so far, the Contempo Cafe’s grits are the best we’ve had at Walt Disney World!!!  They’re served with white cheddar cheese, which makes them taste great!  We will most definitely be visiting the Contempo Café again.

See the complete Contempo Café Menu here.

Which Resortloop Quick-Service restaurants do you like best?