Betsy, Author at On the Go in MCO

An Evening at Busch Gardens

a28c88f460fb490c88cc35720de26434_summer_130x125 — Image Copyright Busch Gardens

Living and working near the parks in Central Florida affords those of us locals an opportunity to experience the theme parks in a little bit different way than those of you who come here for vacation. We have the luxury and privilege, if you will, to visit the parks for just a few hours at a time since we have access within about 15 minutes from either work or home. Last night was one such evening for me. I work just a short distance from Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and was able to make a quick jaunt over to the park from 7pm until park closing at 9. So how do you spend just a couple hours? What do you do, what do you do?

A practically perfect evening for me consists of a nice balance of seeing some of my favorite animals, riding at least one or two rides, grabbing a bite to eat or drink, and seeing what the special events are that the park has to offer. Right now there is an event running until August 12th called Summer Nights. This was my first time seeing this nighttime spectacular that features a special concert/show called Kinetix. After the show, guests are treated to an awesome fireworks show.

So, this evening started off by making a bee line for my favorite ride, Cheetah Hunt. If you have not yet experienced this roller coaster, what are you waiting for?!?!?!? It is amazing!!! You have three super fast launches at close to 60mph. I love this ride, especially in the evening and it is one of the longer coasters around at almost a mile long lasting about four minutes. This typically has a 45 minute to an hour long wait, so coming in at 7pm, I knew I had to head here first.

After Cheetah Hunt I decided to catch a show. The one I wanted to see I guess is out of rotation for the summer, so I opted to go see Pirates 4D for the first time. On the way there I was able to snap a few pics of some animals including a pretty cool one of the lion up pretty close. The movie was cute, definitely geared toward a younger audience and I guess I chose my seat poorly because the last row I was in didn’t have any of the 4D effects.

About this time I was starting to get hungry and thought it might be a good idea to get a spot for Kinetix in Gwazi Park, which is situated behind Gwazi, the wooden rollercoaster. I wasn’t starving so I opted just for a churro and a frozen coke for dinner. I know this wasn’t the best meal, but it hit the spot and was only about $5 with my passholder discount. Arriving around 8:30, I was able to find a seat on the end of one of the rows of metal benches with backs that are setup in the park. If you are coming with more than one person, I would definitely recommend getting there closer to 8pm if you all want to sit together. Keep in mind I was there on a Monday night and I’m sure it is even more popular on the weekends.

Kinetix is an incredible show featuring current pop music (LMFAO, Pitbull, Nicki Minaj, Adele, Maroon 5, etc.) performed live on stage by singers, a band, dancers, acrobats and includes some crazy stunts from balancing to aerials to trick bikes. I love the energy that this show brings from all of the performers, and it is very appropriately named with all the kinetic energy you feel from the stage. I am going to include videos below since I don’t think pictures will begin to do it justice. Please go see this and the Summer Nights fireworks show that follows. I think this is probably the closest I’ve ever been to fireworks of this magnitude.

All in all it was a great way to spend a few hours in the park. I got my thrills on Cheetah Hunt. I was able to sit and relax in air conditioned comfort, a huge plus in July in Florida, at the Pirate 4D film and was entertained. Dinner could have been much more substantial, but I really wasn’t hungry for more than the churro and frozen coke, which I got to enjoy while seated on a bench with a nice breeze while listening to pop music before the Kinetix show. That was another thing I noticed that I think is new for the summer, or maybe just in the evening, but from the time I arrived at 7pm until I left a little before 10pm the music being played throughout the park was mostly familiar pop music. I thought this really added to the fun summer vibe I felt from the Summer Nights celebration.

How do you like to spend a quick few hours at Busch Gardens? Have you been to Summer Nights? What was your favorite part?

Check out our YouTube page here to see other great videos from around Central Florida parks and activities.

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Videos of the Magic Kingdom and Epcot Fourth of July Fireworks

Last night several of us attended the fireworks show for the Fourth of July at Epcot, called Heartbeat of Freedom. This special tag for Independence Day at Epcot, directly followed Illuminations and was set to patriotic music. It was one of the most amazing fireworks displays I’ve ever seen. The video I took does not begin to do this show justice, but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless. I apologize for the shaky quality as I didn’t have a tripod. Also is video Shalon took from the night before of the Magic Kingdom’s Fourth of July fireworks called Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky. We hope that you too can someday experience these gorgeous nighttime spectaculars for July 4th!

httpv://youtu.be/a2SP55iCF88

httpv://youtu.be/3E3U1yIm7_U

Voices of Liberty Fourth of July Concert

Yesterday was the first time I had ever spent July 4th in any of the Disney parks, and it was only for a few hours, but it was absolutely amazing! Some of you may or may not know that I am a bit of a sap and that I love the Voices of Liberty at Epcot. I knew when I heard that they were going to be performing on Independence Day that I had to go see them! It was one of the most incredibly beautiful and moving shows I’ve ever seen them perform. They sang a variety of patriotic songs including My Country Tis of Thee, This Land Is Your Land, Golden Dream, God Bless the U.S.A., an armed forces medley of The Caissons Go Rolling Along, Anchors Away, Semper Paratus, The Air Force Song, and The Marines’ Hymn, Battle Hymn of the Republic, Taps and the Star Spangled Banner. At first I just teared up a bit, but then moved into full on tears streaming down my face. My family has a long military history and it is days like this that remind me of the sacrifices all who have served have made to keep our country safe and free. I only hope that you get to experience this performance by the Voices of Liberty in person someday, but in the meantime, here are some pictures and video of yesterday’s show.

httpv://youtu.be/QLbKQd3fUYY

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My Favorite Restaurants At Walt Disney World

We haven’t really focused much on food specifically and thought it was about time we explored this huge part of most guest’s Walt Disney World vacations. Dining in the parks and at the resorts ranges from Uncrustables to hot dogs, sandwiches and other typical park fare like burgers and fries to some of the finest dining in the world. Today I wanted to share with you some of my favorite signature restaurants at WDW. If you have a Tables in Wonderland membership you are able to save 20% (with an automatic 18% gratuity added back in) at these restaurants. The other great feature of the TiW card is that it allows you complimentary valet parking at the Disney resorts with validation showing you used your Tables card on your dinner receipt.

5. Todd English’s Bluezoo (Walt Disney World Dolphin) The restaurant sits on the lower level of the Dolphin at the bottom of the escalator. The decor reminds me of an upscale club or bar, but more subdued with subtle lighting and lots of blue accents. I’ve only been here once back in November of 2009, but the food was fabulous. My mom and my brother treated me to dinner for my 30th birthday, and it was amazing. The seafood seemed so fresh and the service was great. We started the night off with the zooberry (a twist on the blueberry martini). They were so fresh the perfect way to begin our meal. We shared the beet salad and the classico flatbread for appetizers. For an entree I had the teppan seared jumbo sea scallops, which were magnificent and perfectly cooked. The dessert was a lemon meringue pavlova and was complimentary for my birthday, which made it taste even better.

4. Flying Fish (Disney’s Boardwalk Inn) Situated on the Boardwalk, Flying Fish is decorated with whimsical fish flying through the air with parachutes. The resort’s atmosphere reflecting early 20th century seaside fun with rollercoasters and ferris wheels is carried through the restaurant as well. The first time I experienced the restaurant it was August of 2009, and more recently I returned in February of this year. So, the two times I’ve been here I ordered the same exact things for appetizer and entree and was so full that I didn’t get dessert. The cheese platter changes in the featured cheeses, but was great both times. I guess I really like the scallops in the Epcot Resort area because I have ordered the oak-grilled Maine diver scallops each time. Scallops aren’t even my favorite seafood, but I absolutely love them from here.

3. Citrico’s (Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa) Featuring a Mediterranean theme, Citrico’s is located on the second floor of the Grand Floridian between Mizner’s and Victoria & Albert’s. The decor and the menu reflect the influences of Italy and Greece and are both aesthetically and gastronomically pleasing. Of the restaurants on my top five list, this is the one I have been to the most, having been more than five times, and most recently in the beginning of March. Each time I have been the food has been absolutely fabulous. One of my favorite seasonal appetizers, which they didn’t have this last time, was the gateau of crab. This past time we had a nice cheese and cracker amuse bouche to start our palates on our dining adventure. I tried something new for my entree and was not the least bit disappointed. The Madeira-braised short ribs were so tender, they were falling apart. Wild mushroom ragout and trofie pasta accompany the short ribs along with a truffle creme fraiche. For dessert I did repeat one of my favorites in the seasonal berry gratin with a champagne – Grand Marnier sabayon. It was just as incredible as when I had first had it in November of 2010.

2. Jiko – The Cooking Place (Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge) This is the restaurant I have honestly been craving the most above all others on property. I love the atmosphere here with the gorgeous blue ceiling, setting sunset and beautiful (fake) birds flying overhead. It is an eclectic menu and I like to try different things each time I go. The first time I went was in July of 2008, when I first stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. I remember having the ostrich filet as an appetizer and the Kenyan coffee barbecue braised short ribs (another favorite of mine apparently). They were both so tender and falling apart in my mouth as I took each bite. On subsequent visits I have had the Taste of Africa bread and dipping sauce service, kalamata olive flatbread, duck and stonefruit salad, oak grilled filet mignon with mac and cheese, and seared barbarie duck breast. I can say that each of the three times I’ve been, the last time being in November of 2010, the service and the quality of the food have been nothing short of fantastic.

1. Victoria & Albert’s (Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa) Ah, la creme de la creme. Victoria & Albert’s is a 13 time AAA Five Diamond award winning restaurant. I’ve only been here once, and would love to go back if someone else is paying. This is not to say that the price isn’t worth it (I want to say it was about $475 for two with the wine pairing and gratuity included AFTER my Tables in Wonderland discount), it is. I’d just prefer to have someone else pay, and I’d like to do chef’s table next time. But I digress. This meal is easily within my top five, if not top three meals I’ve ever eaten. The service was beyond impeccable. Situated on the second floor of the Grand Floridian, Victoria & Albert’s is hidden behind large wooden doors with frosted windows. The decor is a refined elegance not to be found elsewhere at a Disney restaurant. It is one of only a few Five Diamond restaurants in the state of Florida. I went with my mom for my 29th birthday present in 2008 and it was an incredible dining experience. There were amuse bouche, palate cleansers, about seven courses, coffee, dessert, and the aforementioned wine pairing to go with each course. This is most definitely a culinary experience, not simply a meal. You need every bit of the three plus hours they warn you about when you book. One of my favorite aspects of the pre-arrival communications with the restaurant is the conversation about your allergies, likes and dislikes. This is so the restaurant can customize your menu to you so you are not being served something for hundreds of dollars that you do not enjoy. I don’t recall the specific menu items, as there were so many, but there wasn’t one I didn’t like. I’ve included a picture of the general menu for the evening. Each guest also receives a personalized copy of their menu to take home, which I am unable to locate at the moment.

Have you been to any of these restaurants? If so, what were your thoughts? Do you have any favorites?

Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler at My Favorite Moderate Resort

A while back I wrote a post about my favorite value resort, Pop Century. Today I’d like to share with you my favorite moderate resort, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter. The first time I stayed there back in December of 2007, it wasn’t exactly the most magical trip, but that had nothing to do with the resort (you can read more about that horrible/wonderful trip here). Even though it wasn’t the greatest trip, I fell in love with the resort. Part of my attraction to this resort is the fact that I used to live near New Orleans, and if you aren’t aware, this resort is primarily themed after the French Quarter section of that city.

I love the fact that you are greeted by a Cast Member who holds to door open as you enter the lobby. This little touch makes it feel like you are being welcomed home. One of my favorite aspects of the resort is its intimate size. Also a little known fact is that the notes featured by the along the check in area at the front desk are from the song “When the Saints Go Marching In.” Because it is so compact, the resort does not even offer preferred room locations. The standard rooms feature two queen beds, as opposed to two double beds as some of the other moderate and all of the value resorts. It is conveniently situated near Downtown Disney with a complimentary water taxi that ferries guests down the Sassagoula River back and forth from the shopping and dining district to French Quarter and its sister resort, Port Orleans – Riverside.

The resort is very quaint and neatly manicured in its exterior design. It is almost organized like in small neighborhood apartments with courtyards and parks intersected by cleverly named streets. As is to be expected, the decor in the rooms is influenced by French theming, with regal golds and blues, with a fleur-de-lis thrown in here and there with the furnishings matching. This is one of my favorite places to stay because it always feels so peaceful and relaxed. Everything seems to be conveniently within walking distance from just about any location from the boat launch to the pool, gift shop, bus stop, lobby, bars and food court.

Ah, the food court. I absolutely love Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory! Again, I used to live in Louisiana, so my affinity for cajun food may be greater than the average guest. Having said that, they have one of my favorite breakfast/snack/dessert items anywhere on Walt Disney World property: beignets!!! If you have not tried this heavenly treat, get yourself over to French Quarter ASAP! It is essentially a fried dough pillow (hollow inside) covered in powdered sugar. Be warned, it can be very messy, but can make for very fun pictures of friends and family trying to eat them delicately to no avail. My favorite lunch/dinner item is definitely the gumbo, but I always like to add some extra kick to it.

The food court is playfully themed to Mardi Gras with beads, jesters, kings and masks in larger than life form hanging from the walls and ceilings in the majestic golds, greens and purples that are often associated with New Orleans. Attached to Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory, just off the lobby, you will find one of two bars at the resort: Scat Cat’s Club. This great little bar often offers live entertainment with a musician/singer playing some classic oldies, soul music and he also takes requests for Disney songs along with other pop music. It is a fun location with one of my favorite brews on tap in Abita’s Purple Haze, but also features a full bar with drinks like Hurricanes you don’t find many other places on property.

pics 426 — Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory

Port Orleans French Quarter is great for kids and adults alike in activities. There is an awesome pool with a waterslide shaped like a dragon named Scales. A kids water play area and playground are also featured nearby For the grown ups there is Mardi Grogs, the pool bar, and a nice hot tub for a relaxing evening after a day of playing in the parks. In addition to the water taxi to Downtown Disney and Port Orleans Riverside, there is also a nice walking path to Riverside if you want to go catch Yehaa Bob at River Roost. If you are looking for romance, not much beats a private horse drawn carriage ride along the beautifully lit shores of the Sassagoula River. The gift shop at the resort is named Jackson Square after the famous area in the French Quarter if shopping is more your style.

DSCF1418 — Sign along the path to Riverside

Some of my favorite touches at the resort are street signs with the fun names going with the theme of jazz and New Orleans. I love the details at Port Orleans French Quarter and hope that you can experience this gem of a resort in the Downtown Disney area. It is a great moderate resort that offers convenience and fun for a value if you aren’t looking for a deluxe property. Have you stayed at or visited French Quarter? What did you think? What are some of your favorite things?

DSCF1528 — City of Port Orleans manhole cover

Patriotism in the Parks – Hall of Flags

Last month I decided to do a post for Memorial Day about the Victory Gardens in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which you can read about here. I thought it would be fun to turn this into a series called Patriotism in the Parks that visits different areas of the theme parks that focus on Americana for the upcoming holidays that celebrate our great country. Being that today is Flag Day, I thought it appropriate to devote this post to the first place that popped into my head when I thought about flags: the American Adventure in Epcot. More specifically, I will be looking at the Hall of Flags.

If you aren’t familiar with the name the Hall of Flags at first mention, you’re not alone. The Hall of Flags is housed in the American Adventure pavilion. As you ascend from the rotunda downstairs to the upper level where the theater is located, you pass through the Hall of Flags. The Hall features 44 flags that have flown over the United States of America (or the land it now occupies) at some point or another over the past 500 years. The earliest flag recreated for the collection is listed as the Spanish Bourbon Flag adopted in 1513. The most recent is the 50 Star Flag that currently flies over the U.S. and has since 1960 when a star for Hawaii was added.

There are flags mostly from colonial times and the Civil War era, but there are also flags of countries that at one point ruled over a part of the country. In addition to these are flags of formerly independent republics and states like Texas, California and Hawaii. I spent almost an hour taking pictures and enjoying the details of some of the different flags. The Cast Members were very kind and let me take pictures between shows of the Voices of Liberty and the American Adventure so I had the place to myself.

I honestly had no recollection of why Flag Day was on June 14th, but after reading an article from the Smithsonian Institute I learned that it was because that is when the resolution was passed in 1777 that established the flag would have thirteen stripes alternating red and white and thirteen white stars on a blue background. I also never knew that flags have only been released on the Fourth of July as stars were added since 1819. To read more about the flag of the United States, you can find the article here.

Have you taken the time to enjoy the flags on your way to the American Adventure? Do you have a favorite? I think mine is probably the New Hampshire Second Regiment flag from 1777 or the Hawaiian Royal flag from 1800. What is yours?

Hall of Flags

Colonial Jack – 1701, Continental Colors – 1776, King George III’s Flag – 1607

New Sweden – 1638, Betsy Ross Flag – 1777, Dutch West India Company – 1655

French Ensign – 1700, Star-Spangled Banner – 1795, Spanish Bourbon Flag – 1513

Mexico – 1800, Bennington Flag – 1820^, Tricolor – 1789

California Republic – 1846, Old Glory – 1865, Texas Flag – 1836

Stars and Bars – 1861, Fort Sumter Flag – 1865, Appomattox Court House Flag – 1865

Russian-American Company – 1700, Centennial Flag – 1876, Hawaiian Royal Flag – 1800

48 Star Flag – 1896, The 50 Star Flag – 1960, 45 Star Flag – 1896

Thanks to the Walt Disney World Library and Research Center for the listing of the flags featured in the Hall of Flags.

^ The Bennington Flag was not listed, but after some research I verified the name of this flag.

* I believe this to be the Stamp Act Protest Flag from 1774 from the listing, but could not verify the exact name. Thank you to Scarlett Litton for finding the link to verify the image.

Sea World / Busch Gardens App Review

This week I’d like to focus on two great apps for smartphones from Busch Gardens and Sea World. I have often being accused of being attached to my phone while in the parks, but in this case, this is a good thing. These apps are amazing! They have some great features that I will explore a little further with a bit more detail.

First off, the layout for both Busch Gardens is similar as you can see from the pictures below. On the first screen upon opening the app for the first time after downloading it, you will be asked to choose which park location you’d like to choose from to install that specific park’s information on your phone. Seen below are the screen shots for the Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Sea World Orlando. The next screen you will see is the home screen with a built in compass. The screen is broken up into categories of Animals, Search, Shows, Attractions/Rides & Wait Times, Restrooms, Stay Connected, Food and Explore More. I have also taken a picture of the park maps with some of the search options.

Across the bottom of each screen you have the Home, Events, Camera, Map and More options. With the Busch Gardens map above I just zoomed out to see the whole park. For the Sea World map I opted to search for the companion restrooms at the park.

Since the features are practically identical for the two parks, I will focus just on one from this point forward since I went to Sea World most recently and much of the functionality is brought out best while in the park based on GPS location.

For the Animals section you are able to sort alphabetically by name or distance from your current location within the park.

Search allows you to type in a keyword and gives your results in alphabetical order, but also shows your distance and a brief description. If you are wanting more specific information about dolphins, click on the listed links.

One of my favorite things about the app is the show listings. I love all of the shows Sea World to offer and the function of sorting by name, distance or show time is great! I used this to find my way to explore a new show for me: A’Lure. It directed me and kept constantly updating my distance to the show.

Similar to shows, Ride & Wait Times allows you to sort by name, distance or wait time if you are looking for something to ride.

Again with the Restrooms you are able to sort by name or distance. If you want GPS directions, just click on the name of the restroom and the app will direct you with step by step map using GPS.

On the Stay Connected tab, you can get more information on Sea World by following them on Twitter, liking them on Facebook, following the Sea World blog or signing up for the email list.

Much like the other categories, with Food you can sort by name or distance. Once you select a location you can see more like sample menu items and pricing.

Explore More - Adventure Camps - Sleepovers

For the Explore More section of the app you can learn more about Tours, Camps, Animal Interaction programs, the Quick Queue program and the All Day Dining Deal (which I highly recommend).

Events lists upcoming things like concert series and special events for the next few months along with more information and specific dates.

I absolutely loved the Camera function of the app. It was so cool to take pictures in the park and add fun borders right then to save to your phone to upload or send to friends and family. However, this was the only part of the app that I had some issues with it acting a little buggy going back to my phone’s home screen instead of to the app’s home screen when I was done take the picture.

You can see the interactive footsteps on the map once you have selected your destination. Along the top you have options of searching or pre-selected categories of Animal Connections, Shows, Rides, First Aid, Restroom, Nursing Facility, Defibrillator, Drinks, Snacks & Refills, Companion Restrooms, ATM, Amenities, Dining, Lockers, Guest Information, Events, Gifts & Souvenirs, Smoking, and Clear All. You can select multiple options at the same time and can move the map around as well as zoom in and out. Also included is the ability to recenter the GPS to your current position.

If you are wanting to contact Sea World or get more general info about the park, like their address for GPS, you can find this under the More – Contact Us/General Information section.

Park Hours is pretty self explanatory and shows the hours for each day of the month when you click on the calendar.

The directions tab is particularly useful if you don’t have a GPS program. When I went to the Directions my phone verified my current location and calculated distance and time based on GPS.

There is even a built in Weather app to give you the forecast for the day.

If you are wanting to learn more about Sea World’s mission and pledge to environmental education and protection, visit the Commitment section under More.

I think my favorite thing using the GPS was the Car Finder function. When you park your car you drop a pin to mark the GPS location of where you parked. When you are leaving for the day you can revisit the car finder to find your car! No more do you have to try to remember where exactly you parked. I found this to be very reliable and it even recognized when I reached my car.

All in all, I am very impressed with the Sea World and Busch Gardens apps. Even though I know my way around the parks well enough to not need a park map, it is nice to have the GPS to show you the shortest distance or alternate routes to get where you are going. There are tons of great features that these apps offer using the GPS technology and search functions. I use these apps pretty much every time I’m in these parks, especially for the show times to see what I can catch on a whim and also for wait times and exploring what is in the area. Honestly, the only thing I had any issues with was the camera function on occasion. I’d say it worked fine three out of five times I tried it. I think these are some of the nicest apps for parks in the area and wish some of the other parks would adopt some of these features and ease of use. Check them out next time you’re in the area or even if you just want to check to see what is going on in the parks in advance of your trip!

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – Landscape of Flavors Menus and More Food Pics

While we briefly gave an overview of the meals we sampled the other day for breakfast and dinner, I thought we should take a closer look at what I’m sure will become one of my favorite counter service locations on property: Landscape of Flavors at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. There are so many amazing things to share about this great food court. It is like no other value resort in its attention to detail and theming that are prevalent throughout the resort common areas and suites.

One of my favorite details I wanted to share was all of the incredible artwork in the different dining areas themed after the resorts areas of The Lion King, Cars, Finding Nemo and The Little Mermaid. I wish I could take some of this artwork home to decorate my house! It feels like you are immersed in a very cool art gallery while enjoying some truly incredible food. I was trying to describe the menu to a friend the other day and think Sanaa at Animal Kingdom Kidani Village is the closest as far as the world flavors influence, but with some Riverside Mill from Port Orleans Riverside thrown in with the create your own pasta and salad options. Having said that, this food court really doesn’t feel like any other. The ambiance is very relaxed and welcoming. I cannot wait to go back and try some of the incredible offerings that this restaurant has!

Also check out our post from the other day with pictures of what we ordered for dinner and breakfast here.

Landcape of Flavors general pictures and artwork

Breakfast pictures and menus

Snacks and drinks

Dinner pictures and menus

Patriotism in the Parks – V is for Victory

Today, as a way to reflect on Memorial Day and to honor those who gave their lives for our country and also those living who served, I thought I’d do a post focusing on patriotism in the theme parks. While discussing what we were thinking about doing for Memorial Day the other day Shelley suggested that we do a post for with a tribute to the Victory Gardens. If you are not familiar with the area, it is tucked away in a corner of the Sunset Market Ranch at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The garden is situated behind Fairfax Fare and to the right of Rosie’s All American Cafe and Catalina Eddie’s. Not having visited this area specifically for at least a couple years, I thought I’d take a little time to rediscover it. Victory Gardens were started during World War I and World War II for people to grow their own fruits and vegetables in order to decrease demand on suppliers and grocers. You can read more about the history of Victory Gardens here.

While I was aware of the Victory Garden, Shelley brought to my attention something new to me: the toy soldiers in the middle of one of the condiment stations at Rosie’s All American Cafe. I had never noticed these were even there, so I got the best pictures I could given the sunlight and the awkward position I had to get in to reach these. There are counters and slots for napkins and utensils between the toy soldiers and you if you want to get pictures, so good luck.

The entire area of Sunset Market Ranch is loaded with lots of patriotic memorabilia from mostly the WWII era of American history. After I finished photographing the toy soldiers, I noticed signs on the walls of Rosie’s and Catalina Eddie’s, as well as tons more inside these counter service locations. I took this opportunity to take pictures of the awesome things spread out between these two restaurants. I especially loved the Disney characters used for war propaganda.

Happy Memorial Day and thank you to all those who have served!

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Preview – Sketch Wall in Lobby

One of my favorite elements of the lobby at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is the sketch wall in the lobby that runs opposite the front desk in Animation Hall. The sketches are from the four featured themes of the resort: Cars, Finding Nemo, The Lion King and The Little Mermaid. From right to left with your back to the front desk, the sketches progress from very rough black and white sketches to more finished drafts, and then eventually on to full color sketches of the characters we know and love from these great Disney and Disney-Pixar films. Some of the drawings depict the characters as we are familiar with them from the movies while others are concept sketches of earlier incarnations. Enjoy this slide show showing the progression of the beautiful artistry from the animators and imagineers.

httpv://youtu.be/1eQwHryk0i8

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Preview – Landscape of Flavors

Last night a few friends and I were able to experience dinner at the new food court, Landscape of Flavors, at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. We sampled several different menu items from the restaurant and were very pleasantly surprised by both the level of service, quality of food and presentation for a value resort. First off, the food is served on real plates and bowls and with real silverware, as opposed to the paper plates and plastic utensils one finds at other counter service restaurants. I hope you enjoy some of the pictures from our dinner as well as breakfast this morning! We cannot wait to go back and try some more of the items we didn’t get to this visit. I have a feeling this will quickly become one of my go to counter service restaurants.

Tandori Shrimp with Naan bread with choice of 2 sides (Cauliflower and Paneer shown)

Tandori Acorn Squash & Basmati Rice with Naan bread with choice of 2 sides (Cauliflower shown)

Create Your Own Pasta Bowl with Ciabatta Toast . Choice of Pasta, Meat, Sauce and Toppings. ( Bowtie Pasta, Pesto, Cheese and Chicken shown)

Create Your Own Burger with 2 sides. Choice of Toppings and Cheese on a multi grain roll. ( Cheddar and Bacon with Double Fries shown)

Create Your Own Salad with choice of Meat, Dressing and Toppings. ( Shown with Shrimp, Ranch, Tomatoes, Roasted Beans, Cheese, Corn, Chick Peas, Roasted Red Peppers)

Meatball Sandwich on Ciabatta with a Side Caesar Salad

Mickey Mouse Oreo Vanilla Cupcake. Yellow Cake, Butter Cream icing, White Chocolate Mickey Face and Oreo Cookie Mickey Ears. Also Pictured is the Chocolate Croissant

Macaroon Cupcake , Vanilla Cake with Vanilla Buttercream. Candy Pearls around the sides and 3 Macaroons on top

Mini Buckwheat Character Shaped Waffles with Side of Bacon ( not shown side of apples)

American Breakfast Platter. Scrambled Eggs, Breakfast Potatoes, Turkey Bacon, Chicken Sausage and Biscuit.

Create-Your-Own Yogurt Parfait. Vanilla Greek yogurt with choice of toppings. ( Shown are Strawberries, Brown Sugar, Granola, Pistachios, Dried Apricots and Craisins)

Steak and Egg Breakfast Burger topped with a fried Mickey Egg, Pepper jack cheese and Bacon served with Breakfast Potatoes

Create-Your-Own Omelet With your choice of ingredients and served with Breakfast Potatoes ( shown here with Spinach, Feta Cheese, Tomato, Cheddar Cheese and Onions)

Breakfast Chicken Burger topped with Pepper Jack cheese and a green chili omelet served with Breakfast Potatoes

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Preview – Cars Family Suites

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Walt Disney World’s newest value resort, will be opening in just a few short days on May 31, 2012. Here are some pictures of the Cars Family Suites, of which there will be 480, that open on June 18th. I am so excited to be able to experience these highly themed suites in person this summer!

These family suites are approximately the size of two standard rooms at the other value resorts at a little over 500 square feet. The suites are comprised of a queen size bed in the bedroom, a pull out double sofa in the living room and a double murphy bed that comes down over the dining table. There is a full bath off of the living room and it is important to note that the master bathroom does not have a bathtub. Also in the living room is the kitchenette area that includes a compact refrigerator, small microwave, coffeemaker and a bar sink.

The detail of the rooms is nothing short of amazing, but I think I was even more impressed by the exteriors of the buildings. Imagineers have taken an incredible amount of effort in recreating the feel of Radiator Springs. This section of the resort is created to the scale as if the guests were the size of the Cars we all know and love from the Disney-Pixar films. One of my favorite things was on Fillmore, the classic VW van, who is a hippie in the Cars movie. He can be seen just outside the Wheel Well and at first glance only has a few bumper stickers on his side window. However, if you walk all the way around Fillmore, you are able to see the entire back of the van is covered. There are some great inside jokes that the Imagineers threw in there.

All in all, I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I fell in love with the Cars area of the resort in just the short time I was there. The rooms and colors in the Finding Nemo section are more my personal style, but I think I was even more blown away by how amazing Radiator Springs looks! There is so much to see and explore, I can’t wait to see the finished product so I can discover even more.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCXupke6p4Q&feature=g-upl

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Preview – Resort Merchandise

Located inside the Animation Hall at the Art of Animation Resort you can find the Ink and Paint Shop where you can find both resort specific and merchandise that ties into the characters featured at the Art of Animation Resort.

The shop is decorated with large paint bottles, and is really vibrant.

Also this is where package pick-up is located for guests who chose to have their purchases shipped to the resort.

Photo Tour of the Cinderella Castle Suite

A couple years ago I was fortunate enough to attend a D23 event at Walt Disney World that included a tour of the Cinderella Castle Suite in the Magic Kingdom. I thought I’d take this opportunity to share some pictures from that tour. I’ve also included a brief video of the suite so you can get an idea of the size.

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

Image Copyright ABC Family

So the other night on twitter I asked what people’s favorite song was from the Sound of Music when mine came up randomly in iTunes (Something Good, btw). One of my friends answered My Favorite Things. While struggling to come up with a topic for a blog post, I was reminded of this when I saw Do-Re-Mi-Fa trending on twitter and saw it as a sign. Inspiration has to come from somewhere, so why not twitter? I’ll take this opportunity to highlight some of my favorite things at Walt Disney World. Some are obvious choices as E Ticket attractions and others may not be as well known.

At the Magic Kingdom, and probably in all of Walt Disney World, my favorite ride is Pirates of the Caribbean. I guess I’ve been enamored with the idea of pirates in general since we did Peter Pan as our second grade play. Despite the fact that I always tend to get soaked from either the cannon fire or even the drop, this remains my fave. I love the smell of the queue, have a whole soundtrack of the theme song with various remixes (yes, this exists), and the addition of Captain Jack Sparrow certainly didn’t hurt or compromise the integrity or feel of the ride, in my opinion. Two other classic attractions round out my top three in MK: Haunted Mansion and the Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover. I have been fortunate enough to take a walking tour of the Haunted Mansion and it was beyond incredible. The storytelling on this is probably the most complete of any attraction in the Magic Kingdom. TTAP is just a great ride that gives you an overview of Tomorrowland with narration. You can read more about my love of the Peoplemover here.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is not my favorite of the four parks by a long stretch, however there are some things that I completely love about this park. The theming of Harambe and Anandapur are spectacular. I especially love the artwork and details in the Asia section of the park along the Maharajah Jungle Trek. It may also be because the tigers are my favorite animals to visit. As far as rides are concerned, I love the Kilimanjaro Safaris, especially towards the end of the day. I used to think that I’d see more animals first thing in the morning, but the last few times I have ridden in late afternoon I saw way more. My favorite show, possibly in all of WDW, is the Festival of the Lion King. It has great interactivity for the kids, lots of entertainment with singing, dancing, aerial acrobatics, and my absolute favorite part: TUMBLE MONKEYS!!! The quality of this production is always great and is fun for everyone.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is magnificent at night, possibly stealing the show from the other parks with the luster of old Hollywood and the luminescence of neon. While I’m not a huge fan of all of the rides, I do love to experience some of the lesser appreciated attractions. Probably my favorite activity at the Studios is the Animation Academy. I have done this dozens of times, and typically go twice each day I visit that park. You can see some of my attempts at drawing here. Another attraction that I enjoy and try to catch each time is Mulch, Sweat & Shears. If you haven’t seen these guys (and sometimes girls) perform, you are missing out on one of the best live acts in WDW. They cover great rock songs from the 60s through today. Usually found on New York Street, but sometimes by the Sorcerer’s Hat, Mulch is a great way to spend some time rocking out and dancing to some music you don’t often hear in the parks. Last, but certainly not least, is my favorite ride in DHS: the Great Movie Ride. It harkens back to the classic days of Hollywood with nods to some of the greatest films in cinematic history. For more in depth details on some more of my favorite things at the Studios, take a look at my blog post from a few weeks ago here.

Finally, this brings me to my favorite park (actually I go back and forth between MK and Epcot, but most of the time Epcot wins). I am completely fascinated with World Showcase at Epcot, partially because I love to travel, but haven’t outside of the US. This is like a magical journey that transports me to lands both near and far when I set foot in WS. My favorite film in Epcot is definitely Impressions de France. As several of my friends know, I love (j’adore) this attraction to the point where I have practically memorized the script and can recite it almost verbatim, including the parts in French. The scenery all around France is magnificent, the score is beautiful, using classical works from composers like Maurice Ravel, Camille Saint-Saens and Claude Debussy just to name a few. I have even made a cd of the tracks used in the film. You can ask for a copy of track listing from the Cast Members as you exit through the gift shop. Since Test Track is out of commission, my favorite ride is Spaceship Earth. I know some fanboys take issue with Dame Judi Dench’s narration, but being a James Bond fan, I don’t mind. Plus, I don’t have recollection of the Cronkite or Irons versions. Taking the time to “thank the Phoenicians” has become a ritual part of every trip. My third favorite attraction in Epcot goes to the entire American Adventure pavilion. This includes the Fife & Drum Corps, shows like Candlelight Processional, Flower Power Concert Series, Eat to the Beat Concert Series, the Voices of Liberty and the American Adventure attraction itself. Americana is something that is near and dear to me and all of these elements combine to celebrate some of the best things about this great nation of ours.

What are some of your favorite attractions? Hope you enjoyed learning about some of mine.