August 2013 - Page 3 of 4 - On the Go in MCO

Muppets Most Wanted Teaser Trailer!

It’s here! The Muppets Most Wanted Teaser Trailer!

Disney’s “Muppets Most Wanted” takes the entire Muppets gang on a global tour, selling out grand theaters in some of Europe’s most exciting destinations, including Berlin, Madrid and London. But mayhem follows the Muppets overseas, as they find themselves unwittingly entangled in an international crime caper headed by Constantine—the World’s Number One Criminal and a dead ringer for Kermit—and his dastardly sidekick Dominic, aka Number Two, portrayed by Ricky Gervais. The film stars Tina Fey as Nadya, a feisty prison guard, and Ty Burrell as Interpol agent Jean Pierre Napoleon.

Disney’s “Muppets Most Wanted” is directed by James Bobin and produced by David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman. Bobin co-wrote the screenplay with Nicholas Stoller, who is also executive producer with John G. Scotti. Featuring music from Academy Award®-winning songwriter Bret McKenzie, “Muppets Most Wanted” hits the big screen March 21, 2014.

Starring Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell and Tina Fey, Disney’s “Muppets Most Wanted” takes the entire Muppets gang on a global tour where they find themselves unwittingly entangled in an international crime caper.

httpv://youtu.be/Vcw2Aje5KU0

Fun Facts about Muppets Most Wanted:

– Director James Bobin returns to Muppets mania. For his work as Disney’s “The Muppets” director, Bobin was nominated for BAFTA (Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer). He co-created HBO’s “Flight of the Conchords,” which he wrote, directed and exec produced.

– Bret McKenzie, who won an Oscar® for best original song for “Man or Muppet,” returns to the Muppets stage as music supervisor. McKenzie created, co-wrote, executive produced and starred in the hit HBO television series “Flight of the Conchords,”

– Ricky Gervais is the creator of “Derek” and the Golden Globe®- and Emmy®-winning series “The Office” and “Extras.”

– Ty Burrell is an Emmy® Award winner for his role in TV’s “Modern Family.”

– Tina Fey is a Golden Globe®-, Emmy®- and SAG Award®-winning actress and writer Tina Fey (“30 Rock,” “Mean Girls,” “Date Night”).

A 10,000 Foot Review of Planes

After years of bouncing back and forth between plans to release in theaters and other plans for a direct to video release, Planes is finally here. It is, very obviously, a spin-off from the highly successful Cars franchise from Pixar. However, despite the Pixar-like 3D computer animation, don’t think that this movie comes to us from Pixar. Instead, it comes to us from DisneyToon Studios – makers of Disney animated sequels like Cinderella II: Dreams Come True and DuckTales: The Movie (recently discussed on the Disney Film Project Podcast). Despite not being from Pixar, Cars creator John Lasseter, being in charge of animation at Disney, was the movie’s Executive Producer.

The movie is about a cropduster named Dusty Crophopper that has dreams of becoming a world famous race plane. As you might expect, there are several obstacles to his achieving this goal as on top of not being a plane built for racing he’s also used to flying low to the ground and therefore afraid of heights. Unfortunately, despite the buildup of this internal conflict in the movie it doesn’t even really play into the plot at all and is more of a throwaway moment. The most enjoyable part of the film for me was his training for the race and the metaphor of “chasing shadows” being used to represent the main character chasing his dreams.

My biggest problem with the movie is the main character himself. As opposed to Cars, where Lightning McQueen is clearly the main character of the movie, Dusty gets lost in the vast array of other racers and characters in the movie who are simply more interesting than he is. I don’t really find this that surprising considering other characters played by Dane Cook tend to have the same problem. There was a lot of missed opportunity to build this character into something stronger and it just never happens in the film.

After that the movie suffers from the fact that few, if any, people go into the movie understanding what Plane racing even is. And I still question if it’s even a thing outside of military time trials and air shows. Not to compare it to Cars again, but people generally understood what car racing is before going to see Cars. It played off a familiar theme and a passing knowledge of how the core of the story operates, and it did a fantastic job of capturing similar themes from movies like Rocky. At that same feeling, Planes fails.

The movie itself was enjoyable, but it’s not great, and good is debatable. I feel that I enjoyed the snail racing movie Turbo more than I enjoyed planes. Parents however should be prepared to take children to see this movie. They too won’t like it as much as Cars, but all the advertising mentions Cars, so your kids will be clamoring to see it.

In addition to doing the web designer and programming for the On the Go in MCO website, Todd Perlmutter is a host for the Disney Film Project Podcast. You can listen to him and his fellow hosts discuss Planes in an upcoming episode.

Baby Care Center – Disney’s Hollywood Studios

This post is the first in a mini series visiting the Baby Care Centers at the Walt Disney World Resort. There will be four total; one for each theme park. This time we will be exploring Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

For those who don’t travel to Walt Disney World with young children the Baby Care Centers are completely ignored, or, in some cases, are unknown entirely. Being a Cast Member at the parks I have known exactly where each one is and what they offer. Did I know before I started in 2001 and got my park tour? Probably, but being in the 20 and under group, I would have to say I am sure it was ignored. Now being a mom to a newborn, the Baby Care Centers are my (and Cole’s) new favorite stop!

Disney’s Hollywood Studios would have to be my favorite park for getting in and out of with a little one by myself. I have to walk from the car because the stroller, diaper bag and baby in the car seat are just all too much for me to deal with if I don’t have an extra set of hands. Add that to an almost hour drive to the park, and it’s about time for Cole to want a diaper change and some food! Here Baby Care is located just inside the park on the left within Guest Relation, which, in my opinion, is the only downside. It’s the smallest of the Baby Care Centers, but even during Star Wars Weekends over Memorial Day weekend it wasn’t very crowded in the center. It was, however difficult to get in the doors to Guest Relations because *they* were busy.

When you first walk in, you are greeted with a lobby/seating area complete with a TV playing children’s programs (in my experience here it’s usually Little Einsteins), a padded bench, ottoman, two chairs and three high chairs for feeding the bigger little ones.

The lobby/seating area when you walk in.

There is also a mini kitchen, with a sink and microwave in here.

Kitchen

Then off to the left are two private rooms for nursing. It’s a cozy little room with a curtain door, dimmer light, outlets, a rocker with a padded seat, and small bench. They are small, but I can bring either of my strollers (I have a regular Chicco stroller and then a Baby Trend jogging stroller) in there with me and there is plenty of room for me and Cole. I doubt a double, inline or side by side, would fit and the Disney ones are too wide I think to fit in there though. While he was still small, (and not too wiggly) and I’m usually by myself, I would use the small bench to go ahead and change Cole’s diaper using my travel changing pad. I didn’t want to get him all settled back in the stroller just to take him out in the changing area and do it all over again.

One of the nursing rooms

Finally on the right side of the lobby is the changing area. It’s spacious and has two changing tables, a hand washing sink and even a restroom with a child sized toilet.

Changing area.

Of all of the Baby Care Centers, this is our most frequently used one. It’s our second favorite!

Stay tuned for the second part of the series- Epcot!

Kona Cafe dining review

Kona Cafe at Disney’s Polynesian resort is one of my favorite go to table service restaurants at Walt Disney World. You can usually get in pretty easily with little to no wait unless it is a holiday. The restaurant is located on the second floor of the Great Ceremonial House, which is the main building that encompasses the resort’s restaurants, gift shops, arcade, lobby and front desk. Kona Cafe is open on one side to the walkway that circles the second level that is also open to the lobby below.

This restaurant is a great choice for a nice break from the parks if you want an affordable meal that has an Asian/Pacific flare. Many people have heard of the famous Tonga Toast (deep fried sourdough bread stuffed with bananas, dusted in cinnamon sugar and served with a strawberry sauce) that is served here for breakfast. I also love the Macadamia-Pineapple pancakes served with macadamia nut butter and pineapple sauce with a side of ham, bacon or sausage. It is one of my absolute favorite breakfasts on property! Pair that with authentic Kona coffee in a french pressed pot and I am in heaven! Although, this past trip two weeks ago I opted for the awesome Liliko’i Juice (an orange, passionfruit and mango blend)!

In addition to a fantastic breakfast menu, Kona Cafe offers plenty of choices for lunch and dinner too! The menus are very similar for lunch and dinner with some crossover and some unique items on each. Some of my favorite appetizers are the sticky wings, pot stickers and the Kona salad (which I’ve even recreated at home thanks to recipes). Now, full disclosure, I haven’t actually eaten at Kona Cafe for lunch, but I have been plenty of times for dinner.

At dinner, I almost always order a backscratcher (alcoholic drink with tropical juices, Jack Daniels and a dark rum floater, served with an actual backscratcher) to start the meal. The full bar from Tambu Lounge is available to order from if you don’t see anything on the regular menu that suits your fancy. For entrees, I love the Teriyaki-style New York Strip steak served with a fabulous teriyaki pineapple glaze, sticky rice and broccolini, and I don’t even like strip steak usually. My other favorite is the recently discovered Pan-seared duck breast.

I rarely have room for dessert, but the Kilauea Torte is definitely a house favorite with this Polynesian twist on a chocolate lava cake. I have also heard really good things about the pineapple upside down cake, but have not yet tried it myself.

Just adjacent to Kona Cafe is the Kona Island Coffee/Sushi Bar (depending on the time of day). Open for breakfast and dinner, this extension of Kona Cafe offers pastries and coffee to go or sit at the island bar in the morning. At night they offer a great sushi menu and drinks. My favorite rolls are the Volcano roll and the Tuna Poke. It is always fun to sit right at the bar and watch the sushi chefs make the rolls right in front of you!

Kona Cafe is a fun and casual atmosphere with solid choices for any meal if you are looking for an affordable option while taking a break from the Magic Kingdom. It is a good place for large parties, as I’ve been there recently with parties of 10-15 several times in the past few months. Due to it being open to the atrium below as well as sharing common areas with guests waiting for ‘Ohana, Tambu Lounge and those exiting the monorail, this isn’t exactly what I would choose for a quiet romantic meal. However, if you are looking for a good meal with a nice family friendly vibe, this is the place for you. Kona Cafe also takes Tables in Wonderland discounts, which is nice if you are visiting and opt to valet.

Have you been to Kona Cafe? What are some of your favorite dishes? What are you looking forward to trying next time? If you are looking for a more detailed look at Disney’s Polynesian Resort, check out my previous post here.

My Little Pony At Build-A-Bear Workshop

{Sponsored Post}

Zoe and I headed over to the Florida Mall for a Mommy & Zoe day, and to check out Twilight Sparkle at Build-A-Bear Workshop.

Twilight Sparkle is Zoe’s favorite Pony, so she was thrilled when we walked up and saw her and Spike (not included with Twilight Sparkle)!

Zoe chose just the right Twilight Sparkle and Spike for her and we were on our way!

Build-A-Bear Workshop — Filling Twilight Sparkle

Going to Build-A-Bear is always a lot of fun for Zoe, because she really loves brining new friends to ‘life’ and picking our fun clothes for them!

Twilight Sparkle is 16 inches tall, and super adorable. There are a few things that we made sure to do and a few things we noticed.

Zoe opted for the ‘horse’ sound in Twilight Sparkle, but the My Little Pony Theme Song is also available. The theme song is a touch on the louder side of their sounds, but Zoe has the song in her Rainbow Dash My Little Pony from Build-A-Bear Workshop and it really is only barely noticeable & she loves it!

When they are filling Twilight Sparkle, ask them to make the legs a little firmer, because it makes her a little steadier on her hooves! This is really handy if you have roller skates!

Also you may want to grab one of the new brushes they have available, because the older style brushes make the Pony’s hair a little frizzy. If your Pony’s mane does become a little wild, you can use some of their Bear Stuff Cleaner to help tame it!

If you’re nervous about Twilight Sparkle’s cape and crown being difficult to put on, don’t be! There are pre-made slits for her wings in the cape, and her crown fastens around her ears much like the bows so it stays on well.

Also, Spike is already filled with fluff and love so you don’t have to worry about having to schedule time to fill both.

On a side note the Florida Mall Build-A-Bear location is now being renovated, but the Airport and Altamonte Mall locations are still open!

Twilight Sparkle is available now in Build-A-Bear Stores or Online!

Zoe is absolutely thrilled to have her new Friends Twilight Sparkle and Spike, and spending some time at Build-A-Bear Workshop is always a great way for us to spend special time together!

Disclosure: Through a partnership with Build-A-Bear Workshop, I received the products in this post for my time and efforts in creating this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wordless Wednesday: Where The Birds Sing Words

Wordless Wednesday August 7, 2013

Epcot’s Eat To The Beat Concert Series Line-Up

With this year’s Epcot International Food & Wine Festival right around the corner, September 27 – November 11, it’s time to look at the line up for the Eat to the Beat Concert Series!

I am really excited about the new acts that will be joining this year’s lineup! The new bands include the Go-Go’s, Edwin McCain, The Manhattan Transfer, Wilson Phillips, Spin Doctors and Christopher Cross. And I am even more happy to see that so many of my favorites like Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Sugar Ray, and Boyz II Men are returning!!!

Here is the full Eat to the Beat Concert schedule:

Sept. 27-29 – Starship starring Mickey Thomas
Sept. 30-Oct. 1 – Go-Go’s
Oct. 2-4 – Air Supply
Oct. 5-6 – Sister Hazel
Oct. 7-9 – Sugar Ray
Oct. 10-11 – Edwin McCain
Oct. 12-13 – Manhattan Transfer
Oct. 14-15 – Wilson Phillips
Oct. 16-17 – The Pointer Sisters
Oct. 18-20 – Night Ranger
Oct. 21-23 – Boyz II Men
Oct. 24-25 – Survivor
Oct. 26-27 – 38 Special
Oct. 28-30 – Smash Mouth
Oct. 31-Nov. 1 – Spin Doctors
Nov. 2-3 – Christopher Cross
Nov. 4-5 – Hanson
Nov. 6-8 – Dennis DeYoung
Nov. 9-11 – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

The Eat to the Beat Concert Series is free with admission to Epcot, and takes place in the American Gardens Theater in World Showcase nightly at 5:30 pm, 6:45 pm, and 8:00 pm. The concerts are about 30 minutes long, but you will want to be prepared to line up extra early if it is one of your favorite bands!!!

Matisyahu At Hard Rock Live Orlando

This year Matisyahu returns to Orlando, and will be performing on September 17 at the Hard Rock Live Orlando.

Matisyahu puts on an amazing show that is perfect for teenagers, young adults, and all Matisyahu fans. The performance features a full band and highlights songs from Matisyahu’s new record Spark Seeker as well as some fan favorite songs like “One Day”, “King Without a Crown”, “Sunshine”, and “Jerusalem”.

The Hard Rock Live Orlando is located at Universal CityWalk, and is a really great place to see a concert and I love Matisyahu!!!

Tickets are still available, so what are you waiting for???

Disney on Ice Princesses & Heroes At The Amway Center

Enter a world of wonder where heroes and hearts prevail as Disney on Ice presents Princesses and Heroes at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida September 13-15, 2013.

Join Ariel as she yearns to explore the world above the waves and Prince Eric breaks Ursula’s slithering spell to reclaim his one true love. See Prince Philip defeat the evil Maleficent as she transforms herself into a fire-breathing dragon in a race against time to rescue Sleeping Beauty’sAurora. Be there to discover a whole new world with Jasmine and Aladdin. And, watch in awe as the dreams of Cinderella, Belle, Snow White, Rapunzel and Tiana all come true. High flying jumps, daring acrobatics, breathtaking skating and lovable Disney friends are just a wish away!

See Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes where believing is just the beginning!

Disney on Ice Princesses & Heroes Giveaway Coming Soon!

We’ll be sharing a discount code and giving away 4 tickets to see Disney on Ice presents Princesses & Heroes at the Amway Center next Monday, so make sure that you keep an eye out for our post!!!

New Eats And Treats At Animal Kingdom

In addition to the opening of the new Allergy Friendly Dining Kiosk, there were several new menu and dining changes at Animal Kingdom!

Let’s start our food journey in Harambe!

Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery will now be open for breakfast instead of Tamu Tamu.

And as you can see from the Kusafiri menu, they’ve added a few new items!

The Warm Colossal Cinnamon Buns, Elephant Ear Pastry that feature a dark chocolate dip, African Spice Cake, and Danish Chocolate Twist which are very similar to the chocolate croissants that you can find around Walt Disney World are the standouts on the menu additions.

The Cinnamon Buns are still being worked on, so you will need to ask if they are available.

As you walk from Harambe to Asia, you will want to take a stop at Kumal’s Kiosk for some really tasty new eats!

The falafel sandwich is served with lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumber yogurt sauce wrapped in a pita and come with your choice of chips or apple slices. I was excited to find that the falafel patties were deliciously crispy on the outside while still creamy on the inside. I will definitely be ordering this again!

Animal Kingdom — Kumal’s Falafel Sandwich is available with chips or apple slices.

The samosas are a great value!!! In an order you get 5 medium size vegetable samosas, a side of mango chutney, and a carrot & raisin slaw. Samosas are quite possibly one of my most favorite things to eat, and these have a great taste and hint of cinnamon that really takes the flavor up a notch! The mango chutney is tasty, but I wasn’t a fan of the slaw as it made the samosas a little soggy. Next time I order them, I am going to hold the slaw!

The hummus at Kumal’s is more that just a sabra cup that you can find around the park! There is a scoop, probably around a cup, served in a container that has baby carrots and pita triangles. It looked really yummy!

Traveling around Animal Kingdom, and heading over to Animal Kingdom my first stop was to peek at Tril-O-Bites!

Tril-O-Bites is now offering desserts instead of turkey legs. If you are on the lookout for turkey legs, you will want to head over to Flame Tree Barbecue.

There were also a few changes over at Restaurantosaurus!

I hope that you’ve enjoyed this tour of new eats and treats at Animal Kingdom…now if you’ll excuse me I need a snack now!!! 🙂

Allergy Friendly Dining Kiosk At Animal Kingdom

A new Allergy Friendly Dining Kiosk has opened at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and it will greatly improve the experience of guests visiting the parks who have food allergies & intolerances!

The Allergy Friendly Dining kiosk, located on Discovery Island next to Adventurers Outpost, the Disney Parks Blog indicated that it would be called the Gardens kiosk however there is no sign up yet.

The Kiosk is full of absolutely amazing information! Guests can stop and chat about food allergies or intolerances (especially gluten or wheat, lactose or dairy, peanuts and tree nuts, shellfish, soy, fish, eggs and corn) with Cast Members who have been specially trained.

There is also a book that has information about almost every snack and food option offered in the kiosks around the park, and even copies of the wrappers for you to read in most instances, so it really takes a lot of the guesswork and waiting for information out of your day.

You can even pick up a pamphlet that has great information about the quick service restaurant options that are perfect for those looking for allergy friendly dining options.

It’s VERY important to remember that this information will help direct those with allergies to the best restaurants to accommodate your needs, it’s still extremely important to still speak with a manager or chef at the restaurant after you are seated.

If you get hungry from all this talk of food at the Allergy Friendly Dining Kiosk, you can pick up some great snacks. You can pick up items like popcorn, desserts, chips, hummus with vegetables, granola bars, and they even offer a gluten-free beer.

Vegan sweets from BabyCakes can also will be found at the kiosk!!! These all-natural, organic goodies that are made without wheat, gluten, dairy, casein, and eggs are not only kosher but delicious beyond words. I cannot tell you how exciting it is to have Babycakes in Animal Kingdom!!! These cookies are a sweet treat for anyone!!!

The Gardens Kiosk is open daily from 9 am-3 pm, so make sure you drop by! I promise you that their knowledge and care for detail will absolutely blow you away! This is an amazing addition and improvement for those affected by food allergies and intolerances.

Here is some really good info to keep in mind from the Disney Parks Blog…

While this is the only park with a kiosk, guests with food allergy concerns can always speak with a manager or chef at many Walt Disney World Resort restaurants, who will do their best to accommodate. For more information, visit Disneyworld.com to review special dietary requests, or send an email 14 days prior to your visit with specific needs to special.diets@disneyworld.com.

Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream Deals Come To A Dead Stop Soon

13 Days Left for Best Deal for Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream 2013 Tickets

The Best Deals are Available through August 13 for Tampa’s Premier Halloween Event

The start of the haunt season is just eight weeks away, and Busch Gardens Tampa is gearing up for the most terrifying Howl-O-Scream yet. This fall, for 14 select nights, Howl-O-Scream 2013 returns toBusch Gardens with tormenting surprises around every corner and unexpected terrors surrounding thirteen evils.

Get your tickets early and save on a single terrifying night at Howl-O-Scream 2013. Until August 13, any single-dayadmission to Howl-O-Scream 2013 is $47. Or, if you’re scared to go alone, you and three friends can save on a pack of four tickets to Howl-O-Scream on Thursdays for only $30 per person. Busch Gardens Tampa pass members can take advantage of their exclusive discount on any single-day admission to Howl-O-Scream for only $37.

Opening weekend for Howl-O-Scream 2013 is Friday and Saturday, Sept. 27 and 28. The event then runs Thursdaythrough Saturday nights, Oct. 3-5, 10-12, 17-19 and 24-26. Operating hours are 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Busch Gardens’ 335 acres will be overgrown with dark, sinister, adult-targeted fun and the chance to ride adrenaline-fuelled coasters at night, including Florida’s first triple-launch coaster, Cheetah Hunt.

Follow Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to see the reveals of each evil, vote on elements for one of our new houses and learn about promotions first.

Howl-O-Scream is a separate ticketed night event. No costumes are allowed. For guest information, visit HowlOScream.com or call 1-888-800-5447.

MagicBand Video Tutorials: My Disney Experience App

Disney MagicBand: Using the My Disney Experience App at Walt Disney World

Continuing on our YouTube channel, we are starting a very basic look at how to set up and use your MagicBand and during the upcoming days we’ll be adding to this playlist with all sorts of great ways to make sure that you get the most out of your experience.

In this video we talk about setting up and using the My Disney Experience App on your smartphone to really make the most of your MagicBand use and your time in general at Walt Disney World.

I also give you insights into two of my favorite overlooked features of the My Disney Experience App and how to get the whole family involved using it to visit the parks.

httpv://youtu.be/5wIV69A8QT8

We’d love to hear your questions, comments, or things that you would like us to cover in future MagicBand videos, so please leave a comment below or under the video!

Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up to date with all you MagicBand news and use!

And keep up with all our adventures around Orlando by following @onthegoinmco on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest.

MagicBand Video Tutorials: Setting Up Your Account

Disney MagicBand: Setting Up Your My Disney Experience Account Online for Walt Disney World

On our YouTube channel, we are starting a very basic look at how to set up and use your MagicBand and during the upcoming days we’ll be adding to this playlist with all sorts of great ways to make sure that you get the most out of your experience.

In this video we talk about setting up your online My Disney Experience profile on www.disneyworld.com which is the best place to start the use of you MagicBand on your visit to Walt Disney World.

httpv://youtu.be/Cqpka-Z0UVs

We’d love to hear your questions, comments, or things that you would like us to cover in future MagicBand videos, so please leave a comment below or under the video!

Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up to date with all you MagicBand news and use!

And keep up with all our adventures around Orlando by following @onthegoinmco on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest.

Visiting IKEA Orlando, Their Living With Children Priority, And A Great Giveaway

{Sponsored Post}

In conjunction with the release of the 2014 IKEA Catalog, IKEA Orlando hosted a few local bloggers to take a look at their new catalog, try some of their new food options, and most importantly to learn about their long-term priority, Living with Children.

Now you may not exactly think about IKEA and children outside of the realm of furniture, but really IKEA Orlando is taking steps to make sure that kids know that their needs are important both in the store and at home with their products. But IKEA’s goal with the Living with Children priority is to make sure that the long-term needs are met & relationships are fostered to make all moments count. They want to ensure that their products help this by facilitating families to make sharing tasks easier, activities more fun, to make sure time & space aren’t wasted, and to help foster causes at a young age in children.

August at IKEA Orlando is a busy time of year as students get ready to head to college, kids get ready for school, and as the IKEA Catalog are released! Over 210 million print copies of the catalog are distributed in 30 languages, all while there are 62 online versions of the catalog with another 8.5 million people downloading the IKEA App!

Food at IKEA is a lot more than creative menus and Swedish Food Market items; they are really a reflection of the culture and history of Sweden.

IKEA Orlando Sample Platter of Salmon Flatbread, Leek Quiche, and Caprese Salad

A lot of time and care went into creating menus that feature foods that are nutritious and budget friendly! You see a lot of salmon offerings, because the fish is a large staple in the diet of Sweden. You will also notice that there are a lot of desserts featuring almonds, and that is because it is the most popular favor for sweets! It was fun to learn that a lot of the berries used in the jams sold at IKEA are hand-picked!

There has also been a new focus on providing organic and healthy meals for kids that are both delicious and nutritious.

There are tons of Special Events and Weekly Specials at the IKEA Orlando Restaurant and Swedish Food Market!

You can join the Swedish Crayfish Party on Friday, August 16, 2013.

Gather your friends to feast on crayfish during one of the most loved and celebrated Swedish festivals. Enjoy this all-you-can-eat buffet at IKEA!

IKEA FAMILY Member Price: $9.99 for adults; Children 12 & under $2.49
Non-Member Price: $12.99 for adult; Children 12 & under $4.99

Tickets are sold per seating and are on sale now. Ask a Restaurant co-worker for details. Seating is limited at the two seating times (2:00pm – 4:00pm and 5:00pm – 8:00pm) so don’t wait to purchase your tickets!

There are also great weekly specials!

MONDAY
IKEA FAMILY Members receive a FREE cool bag with a purchase of $25 or more in the Swedish Food Market. Reg $5.99 Must show IKEA FAMILY card for offer.

TUESDAY
Kids Eat FREE! Children 12 and under can choose from one combo meal valued at $2.99.

WEDNESDAY in the Restaurant
Feed a family for four for only $9.99! Includes two adult entrees (value $6.99 or less – beverage not included) and two kids meals (value $2.99 each).
WEDNESDAY in the Swedish Food Market
20% off ALL Salmon products in the Swedish Food Market including marinated salmon; smoked salmon, frozen; marinated and smoked salmon; salmon fillet, frozen; PASTEJ LAX, salmon spread.

THURSDAY
Roasted chicken with mashed potatoes only $1.99! Reg $3.99

FRIDAY
Fish and chips only $1.99! Reg $4.99

IKEA Orlando went out into the Orlando community and worked with families to see how they lived to best set up their showrooms and how to best feature products.

They found that families need spaces that are dynamic to the ages of their children that are budget and space friendly, and to reflect these needs they’ve created several different home scenarios in their showroom.

IKEA Orlando Young Child and Smaller Space Showroom Scenario

IKEA Orlando Teen and Tween Showroom Scenario

IKEA Orlando large family Showroom Scenario

I know you may not believe me, but Zoe asks to go to IKEA all the time, and I have a feeling we’ll be going more often as they roll out some great new programs.

IKEA Orlando Living With Children Priority

Småland, is a FREE supervised children’s play area. If your child is between 37″” to 54″” and potty trained, he or she is welcome to play in Småland for 30 minutes while you shop. IKEA Family members get an extra 30 minutes!
Family parking spaces located at the front of the store that are super convenient!
Strollers for use in the store
Playhouses, play towers, and play area are scattered throughout the store.
Restrooms with baby changing facilities that are stocked with free diapers as a service to IKEA Orlando customers
Baby care rooms
Kids dining area that features high chairs, a television with kid friendly shows, play area, bottle warmers, and even free baby food!

IKEA Orlando K.A.M.P is a brand new program that they are rolling out for days where school is out. Children can attend K.A.M.P and learn all about the other countries where you can find IKEA, get a great souvenier passport, a K.A.M.P shirt to wear on their first visit, and on completion of their daily tasks they’ll also receive a free meal. Keep in mind that this is an activity that you and your children do together, and not an experience like Småland where they are dropped off.

Another great thing coming to IKEA Orlando, is a complete redesign of the Children’s area to feature an expanded offering of furniture for kids ages 8-12 and to create an atmosphere that will facilitate play dates and family fun while you’re shopping.

IKEA USA is on Pinterest, and they have a whole team to help celebrate your great ideas for the uses of their products and to provide creative designs that you might find useful for your family!

Also, make sure that you sign up for IKEA Family to get great special offers and extra benefits around the store!

If you haven’t been to IKEA Orlando, you should! It’s a great place to shop and get organized! A good tip for visiting the store is to try to visit during the week in the early morning to avoid the crowds, because the store does get quite busy!

And here is the really fun part! You can enter for the chance to win a $100 IKEA Gift Card! This giveaway will run until August 30, 2013, so good luck!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I can’t finish this post without a huge thank you to SocialInfluenz for setting up this amazing opportunity!

Disclosure: Through a partnership with IKEA, I received compensation for my time and efforts in creating this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.