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.
Backscratcher
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.
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.
Tuna Poke
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.
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!
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!
I have NEVER seen Zoe wish so hard on a heart at Build-A-Bear Workshop
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!
Zoe giving Twilight Sparkle a bath.
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!
Every Princess NEEDS a cape and tiara!
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.
Don’t forget to register your Twilight Sparkle just in case your Pony runs free!
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 and Twilight Sparkle
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.
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!
With our 10th wedding anniversary coming up next year, Dave and I have been tossing around the idea of renewing our vows at Walt Disney World and the indie-designed wedding invitations from Minted definitely caught my eye!
Dave and I got married almost 9 years ago on Litchfield Beach in Pawleys Island, SC, and for our wedding invitations we sent messages in a bottle and we would want these to be just as special!
I can’t believe that this was almost 9 years ago..
They have such unique and fun invitations that would be great for so many wedding venues at Walt Disney World!!!
I am kind of obsessed with this invitation, that I think would be great for Beach Club!A Boardwalk WeddingDoesn’t this scream Grand Floridian???Tell me that this wouldn’t be a great invitation for a ceremony at the Polynesian!I thought this would be a great invitation for Yacht Club.This wedding invitation is just plain beautiful!!!
Another cool thing that they have are Inspiration Boards that give you great ideas based off of their invitations. What a cool idea!
I am REALLY in love with this Enchanted Stars Inspiration Board!
Right now Dave and I aren’t entirely sure if we’ll be able to make the stars align to renew our vows, but it sure is a lot of fun to daydream and look at these gorgeous invitations!!!!
Disclosure:Through a partnership with Minted, I received a compensation for my time and efforts in creating this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
While I know the movie hasn’t gotten the best of reviews, I’m going to just go ahead and say that I enjoyed R.I.P.D. I have never read any of the comics or heck, I didn’t even know what this movie was about when we went into the theater. But guess what, I kind of want to see it again.
Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds headline the 3D supernatural action-adventure R.I.P.D. as two cops dispatched by the otherworldly Rest In Peace Department to protect and serve the living from an increasingly destructive array of souls who refuse to move peacefully to the other side.
Veteran sheriff Roy Pulsifer (Bridges) has spent his career with the legendary police force known as R.I.P.D. tracking monstrous spirits who are cleverly disguised as ordinary people. His mission? To arrest and bring to justice a special brand of criminals trying to escape final judgment by hiding among the unsuspecting on Earth.
Once the wise-cracking Roy is assigned former rising-star detective Nick Walker (Reynolds) as his junior officer, the new partners have to turn grudging respect into top-notch teamwork. When they uncover a plot that could end life as we know it, two of R.I.P.D.’s finest must miraculously restore the cosmic balance…or watch the tunnel to the afterlife begin sending angry souls the very wrong way.
I get pretty anxious when it comes to movie theaters and normally I can’t zone out when I hear other people stirring in their seats or eating their candy or popcorn, but this is one of the few movies that I’ve seen in theaters lately where I feel like I completely zoned out.
The combination of Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds kept the movie having it’s little funny, quirky parts and I don’t know whether it was the actors just ad libbing during filming or if the writers get all the credit, but the side comments and funny things that the characters said back and forth to each other made me (and others) laugh quite a bit during the movie.
I loved seeing Mary Louise Parker in her role as Proctor to keep the boys in line.
Like I said, I didn’t know anything about this movie and had I known it had supernatural elements to it I’m not sure I would have wanted to see it, but I’m so glad I did. All of the special effects looked really good and worked well in the movie.
Oh and you can’t forget about Kevin Bacon…and I’ll leave it at just that when it comes to him.
R.I.P.D. had a very ‘Dead Like Me‘ feel to it. If you haven’t seen that show, you should. And if you like that show and want to see a twist put into it, this is definitely that. I really enjoyed Roy (Jeff Bridges) and how he was from the old west time period and it kept throughout the entire movie.
If you’re looking to get out of the heat (or rain!) and watch a movie that you can just kick back and enjoy, this could be the one for you.
Poster Art of the Disney Parks was a book I knew I must have as soon as I heard it was announced. I have always loved the classic travel posters one used to find in travel agents’ offices and I even have some in my own home. This amazing book is the work of Imagineers Danny Handke and Vanessa Hunt, but includes plenty of history of quotes and artwork from Disney legends to satisfy any Disney history aficionado. You’ll find an introduction from recently retired Imagineer Tony Baxter, as well as artwork from likes of Rolly Crump, X. Atencio and Herb Ryman.
The book features poster art from dozens of attractions starting with concept artwork for Disneyland from the 1950s and going up to the newly refurbished Disney California Adventure in 2012. In addition to the two California Disney parks, included are posters from the Walt Disney World parks here in Florida, Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland as well as Tokyo DisneySea. It is great to read about the history of how the parks started and how Walt Disney wanted to invite guests into the park like he was welcoming them to a theatre show.
Here is an excerpt from Chapter One, Here You Leave Today:
“The Imagineers looked to several different poster styles for inspiration, including national park, military recruitment, magic show, WPA (Works Progress Administration), and World’s Fair posters. The final result was heavily influenced by graphic artist Bjorn Aronson, who had experience designing travel posters before coming to WED Enterprises (WED, the initials for Walter Elias Disney, was the name Walt originally coined for Walt Disney Imagineering in 1952.) Travel posters were large, silk-screened graphics desplayed at train depots, bus stations, and airports that could be read quickly and easily in a fast-paced society. The style involved a well-balanced arrangement of flat colors with an emphasis on light and shadows. Aronson designed several of the original attraction posters in 1955 and 1956 with this approach. These posters were consistent in style and themed to their represented lands and time periods. The silk-screening printing technique helped make these large posters bright, colorful, and more importantly, attention grabbing.”
As I read through the book and admired the poster art, I found myself gravitated to the artwork of Bjorn Aronson more and more. It seems I have seen more of his posters than any of the other artists in the book, and to me they represent the clean aesthetics of mid-century modern. Perhaps you’ve seen his work, and haven’t even known it. Some of his original artwork inspired the recent Churro shirts produced by DesignerLand’s Richard Terpstra. Look at the original poster art and you will see the similarities.
Poster Art that inspired the churro shirtChurro Shirt image copyright DisneyPeoplemoverAlice in Wonderland is one of my favorite attractions in Disneyland
I also love how you can see poster art for attractions through the years and their changes. It is interesting that some of the Matterhorn posters from Disneyland show it in Tomorrowland and others in Fantasyland. The artwork does welcome you to the show in the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland as you enter under the train station. This is to show you, much like coming attraction posters at a movie theater, what lies ahead. It is a great way to whet the appetite of guests and show all the amazing experiences in store.
Several different Matterhorn postersProcess of making a posterSinbad’s Storybook Voyage featuring Chandu the TigerTable of Contents
The book also takes you through the process of making a poster and how you add one color at a time to the silk-screening process. I enjoy how interviews with the artists and Imagineers are interspersed with the incredible, and often full page, color posters throughout the book. The glimpse into the design process is fascinating to me and I appreciate all the work that goes into something that the average guest will only see for a few seconds at most.
Red Car Trolley poster inspiring the shirt
Of the newer artists of poster art, I tend to appreciate the work of Greg Maletic. His newest work can be seen in the fantastic posters for the reimagined Disney California Adventure. In the book Greg talks about how he drew inspiration from each of the corresponding decades that the attractions he was designing posters for came from. The Red Car Trolley poster to the left inspired the shirt I got last summer, which you can see in my collection here. For instance, Grizzly River Run he said was supposed to evoke the feeling of a 1930s National Park Service poster. Cars Land, on the other hand, came straight out of the car culture that was burgeoning across America, and of course Route 66, in the 1950s. I love how his work is reminiscent of Bjorn Aronson’s, but distinct enough to be Maletic’s own style.
Poster Art of the Disney Parks is a great book for anyone who is a fan of Disney art, parks, or history. This is a unique peek behind the curtain to see some of what Imagineering does and their creative process. I could not be happier with this book as it was everything I was hoping for and more. It is so gorgeous at around 150 pages, including many of those full page color posters. Looking through the book again, I realized I had seen some of these original Disneyland attraction posters at One Man’s Dream in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. You can see my previous post about them here. If you haven’t had a chance to pick this book up, I would encourage you to do so. I have seen it for sale in the parks and also on Amazon. Do you have this fantastic book already? What are some of your favorite elements?
Gone are Gru’s days of villainy, and here to stay are days of fathering, running a more respectable business, and tailoring his gadgets and minions to create a lifestyle of fun and ease for the family.
httpv://youtu.be/U5Ou90w5lDc
But as time passes Gru finds himself looking for more, and is recruited in a not so traditional way by Lucy Wilde (Kristen Wiig) of the Anti-Villain League to help crack a tough case.
And while Gru deals with the job of solving the case, he find finds himself facing his fears of the girls growing up, the evil that is boys, his mixed emotions of missing his past life, and falling in love.
Despicable Me 2 has a story that is quick to draw you in, to make you laugh, to reflect, and to even cry.
The new characters that join in the story of Despicable Me 2 blend in seamlessly, and as always the minions are there to keep things super fun and help move the plot along. There are definitely more minions, and they play an even larger part in the movie and that is okay with me!
If you haven’t had the chance to go to see Despicable Me 2 in the theaters, what are you waiting for? This is definitely a movie that you will want (and probably in my case have) to see more than once with a smile on your face!
Bonefish Grill is one of my favorite restaurant chains. I eat at Bonefish Grill at least every other month as they have fantastic seafood and my favorite filet if you like a great steak. With locations in over 30 states across the country, it is likely that there is a Bonefish Grill restaurant near you. If not, there are several locations within a few minutes drive of Walt Disney World property to check out on your next visit to Florida.
I absolutely love the feel of the restaurant as you enter. Outside, most locations offer great seating areas with different sections with inviting couches, benches and chairs to have a drink outside or just enjoy while waiting for your table. Inside, you are greeted with the vibe of an upscale, yet still casual feeling restaurant with a great bar and high top tables as well as regular tables and booths.
Bonefish patioRestaurant interior
Some of my favorite dishes on the Bonefish Grill menu are the Bang Bang Shrimp appetizer, the aforementioned Filet Mignon, Chilean Sea Bass, and the Bonefish Caesar or House salads. This past weekend I took my mom out for dinner after enjoying the new Monsters University movie. We opted to start with some martinis – she with her usual Winter White Cosmo, and I decided to try the new Fresh Watermelon Martini. The martini was so clean and refreshing, with a hint of the cucumber infused vodka balancing out the sweetness of the fresh watermelon. It was a great way to start the meal!
Drink specialsFresh Watermelon MartiniBread with oil and herbsMacadamian Nut Encrusted MahiShrimp and Scallops
Since we had a few snacks at the movie theater, we decided to skip appetizers and just split one of the great house salads with several kinds of lettuce and greens, hearts of palm, tomatoes (no olives for me) and all with a fantastic light citrus dressing. This along with the fresh bread, olive oil and herbs was enough to kick start our appetites. Mom ordered the grilled Sea Scallops and Shrimp with Herbed Jasmine Rice and the seasonal vegetables of tomatoes and zucchini. She asked for all of the different sauces they had that day: lime garlic tomato, lemon butter, asian, mango salsa and chimichurri. I have had this dish before and it is amazing! My favorite dipping sauce for the shrimp and scallops is definitely the lemon butter. I picked one of the specials of the Macadamia Nut Dusted Dorado (mahi) wood grilled with a mango rum sauce. For sides I selected the seasonal vegetables and steamed broccoli. The meal was absolutely perfect, with the mahi mahi being nice white and flaky and was great with the mango sauce.
After our entrees and salad, we were completely satiated. Despite being full, we both ordered dessert to go. My mom got her usual Coconut Rum Pie and I chose to take the special Chocolate Creme Brulee with a hint of Grand Marnier, which I tried for the first time a couple weeks ago. The desserts as always were wonderful even later that night at home.
I absolutely love the fresh food that is mostly grilled and served with incredible side options. Bonefish Grill gives me a great meal with friendly service, unique drink offerings and convenient locations nearby. I highly recommend Bonefish Grill to anyone who enjoys a night out at an affordable price. The restaurant also offers kids and gluten free menus upon request. Wine and beer lists are extensive, but I often find myself trying their various drink specials. If you get the opportunity, try to take advantage of their great happy hour drink and appetizer specials. Have you tried Bonefish Grill before? What are some of your favorites? Next time you can, swing in to the nearest Bonefish Grill for a great dining experience.
Journey to a wondrous land of enchantment and surprises! The classic tale gets a brand-new twist in Minnie’s new full-length adventure: The Wizard Of Dizz.
Minnie’s The Wizard of Dizz available now on Disney DVD
Before you can say “pink tornado,” Minnie and Pluto end up in the silly but spectacular land of Dizz. It’s an amazing place, with rainbow trees, butterfly bows and friendly “Chipmunchkins,” but what Minnie wants most is to get home. Together, Minnie and her new friends Scarecrow Goofy, Mickey the Tin Mouse and Donald the Lion set off to ask the wonderful Wizard of Dizz to make their dreams come true. But look out! Bad Witch Pete wants Minnie’s magical, sparkly green shoes, and he’s got a few tricks up his sleeve.
httpv://youtu.be/7a74xnGqe10
We all really enjoyed The Wizard of Dizz which is absolutely overflowing with fun! In addition to The Wizard of Dizz full length adventure, there are two additional episodes of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, ten Minnie’s Bow-Toons (which Zoe adores), and an app that is easily downloaded using the Disney Rewards Number. Talk about a great value!!!
If you have a Minnie or Wizard of Oz fan in your family you are really going to want to consider picking up this DVD!
The Wizard of Dizz is a celebration of fun and friendship that proves there’s no place like the clubhouse!
I remember the first time I ever heard of WEDWay Radio. Three friends of mine were sitting with me outside a Starbucks in Nashville in January of 2011. We were talking about the Disney community and the subject of podcasts was mentioned. They told me about this great podcast that they all listened to and said I should check it out. The production quality of the show was great and it was produced by two brothers, but they warned me I wouldn’t know they were brothers until several episodes in to the podcast.
Those brothers, Nate and Matt Parrish, started the WEDWay Radio podcast back in February of 2009, releasing episode 5 (the first they’ve decided is good enough for public listening despite my protestations and begging and pleading for episodes 1-4). On their website, Nate explains why they started the podcast: First, we felt that that there were not enough resources available on Disney theme park history. Though we own a lot of books and have lots of memorabilia, there are a lot of stories out there that need to be told about how different attractions came to be and maybe some ideas that never were built.
Honestly, I kind of forgot about that conversation until a few months later when I saw another friend tweet about a new episode of WEDWay Radio about Disney and the Tiki culture of the 1950s (ep 75 from 6/19/11). If I was ever going to check out an episode, this would be it as I love tikis and tropical decorations. I downloaded and listened to the episode and loved it. Shortly after I listened to that episode I started a new job and things were in a bit of flux for a while for me. In January of 2012 I picked it back up at the most recent episode 105, then decided in February to start at the beginning with episode 5 to listen all the way through to the present at over 100 episodes in. It took me about five months and with each subsequent episode, I fell more in love with this podcast.
What makes me appreciate WEDWay Radio so much is that Matt and Nate really do seem to love what they do. It is a labor of love and the effort they put into each show is very evident, from the production quality with clips and background music to the research involved in some of the subjects. As they mention in the intro to most of the episodes, this is a podcast “about exploring the Disney parks, Disney history and the Walt Disney Company.” This can cover such a wide variety of topics like theme park attractions or lands that were never built, to the history of getting the first animated feature film released, to resort reviews and experiences the guys had growing up on family trips.
As time progressed, I spent so much time listening to Matt and Nate, they seemed to become like brothers to me as I often heard their voices more often than that of my own brother. We interact on a pretty regular basis on twitter and/or facebook and seem to have common interests. These are nice, normal guys from Missouri who put out a fantastic show for the most part weekly. Nate and I tried to meet up on one of his trips here to Walt Disney World, but a family illness curtailed that meeting. Matt and I were lucky enough to hang out for a few hours this spring in Epcot while he and his family were here on vacation.
WEDWay Now
The sister podcast to WEDWay Radio is WEDWay Now, which had a reboot of sorts last summer. Previously, the Now show existed in the same iTunes feed as the regular WEDWay Radio shows. In June of 2012 it was put into its own place and became a show to talk more about current news and as a forum to invite on guests from the Disney community. Some shows don’t have guests, but will feature things more like announcements of upcoming changes to the parks or the guys will often talk about new movies in development or recently released. I enjoy this show as well as it is a bit more off the cuff and conversational with Nate and Matt’s opinions more so than the more informational episodes of WEDWay Radio.
On average a WEDWay Radio episode tends to run about an hour to an hour and a half and the Now shows are usually a bit shorter at 30 – 45 minutes on average. I thoroughly enjoy both of these podcasts and highly recommend them to anyone who is interested in learning about the history of the Disney parks or the history of the Company. They often split the topics pretty evenly between Disneyland and Walt Disney World, with occasional episodes covering even the international Disney parks. The guys have just started their latest series which is about Fantasyland and three dimensional reality. If this is anything like any of their previous series (40 Years of Magic at Walt Disney World, Epcot’s 30th Anniversary or Snow White), then we are all in for a treat. I cannot wait to see what else Matt and Nate have in store in the future. WEDWay Radio has deservingly been nominated the last two years consecutively for the Best Travel Podcast by the Podcast Awards.
These are two of the podcasts that I most look forward to each week. Both WEDWay Radio and WEDWay Now can be found on iTunes. Currently they are selling t-shirts with two limited time only designs available at the WEDWay Radio online store here. If you are looking for a new podcast about Disney history of all kinds from the man himself, to how the company has grown over the years, to the movie schedule slated for 2015, check out both WEDWay Radio and WEDWay Now. If you really like what you find, support the guys by buying one of their really cool shirt designs or by checking out some of the books they’ve talked about by clicking through to Amazon from their site. Any way you can, take the time to check out the great offerings produced by the Parrish brothers and share the love if you have already.
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: The Quest for the Crystal Mickey
Arrives on DVD – May 21, 2013
The newest Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: The Quest for the Crystal Mickey adventure come out today on DVD just in time for Summer Break.
The Quest for the Crystal Mickey is over two hours of family friendly fun that will have your kids learning as they join their friends from the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on their wild adventures. I love that these episodes are really focused on problem solving, pattern making, music, and teaching kids all about friendship!
The DVD also comes with a free Adventure Activity Map and Stickers!
Join Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, and all their pals in the newest Clubhouse crusade. When the legendary Crystal Mickey goes missing, Mickey and friends go on an adventure to save the Clubhouse from losing its magic. Grab your hat, buckle your seatbelt, and get ready to embark on a thrilling adventure in Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: The Quest for the Crystal Mickey!
There’s no time to lose after greedy Plunderin’ Pete snatches the legendary Crystal Mickey statue from the Clubhouse. Without this sparkly statue’s magic, the Clubhouse will disappear forever! Can the world’s most extraordinary hero “Kansas City Mickey,” get the magical statue back in time? Only with help from young viewers at home…and the right Mouseketools can Mickey journey across the Sandy Desert, brave the Rushing River and make his way through the Hidden Jungle. But watch out for Pete’s trickiest traps!
The five episodes included on The Quest for the Crystal Mickey are:
1 – Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Quest for the Crystal Mickey
2 – Donald of the Desert
3 – Donald the Genie
4 – Goofy’s Coconutty Monkey
5 – Goofy’s Giant Adventure
The suggested retail price is $19.99, and it is worth every penny!
If you have a fan of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse in your family, they will love The Quest for the Crystal Mickey!
Recently, Disney released a new free app called Story for Apple iOS devices running 5.1 or later. According to the developer notes in the App Store, the Disney Story app is optimized for iPhone 5. Although I have an iPhone 4S, I had no evident issues although the app was not designed for my particular model of phone.
The basic premise behind the app is that the pictures and videos you take tell the stories of your life. You are able to view shared stories on a unique website that is created for each Disney Story created in the app. If you choose to share just keep in mind that those who can see your Facebook or are invited to the email will be able to see the story, so please don’t publish private information like addresses or phone numbers. The information provided by Disney from the App Store indicates that the unique Disney Story websites will not be able to be searched for or found without the unique web address. Any pictures or videos uploaded, but not shared are deleted from the app’s server after seven days.
I found the app to be very user friendly and intuitive for anyone familiar with an Apple device. The Disney Story app accesses your camera roll to organize pictures and videos by date and location. This makes it very easy to see stories of your life appear before you to share with others.
Disney Story in App StoreTech Spec RequirementsGetting StartedBasic InstructionsStory StartedRenamed TitleMickey ThemeStraightforward MenusTheme OptionsUploading to EmailWays to Share and Follow Disney StorySelecting Moments to Start a Story
Once you have downloaded and installed the app, make sure you login to or create a Disney account. This is necessary in order to share your stories. When you have selected what kind of story you want to tell by date and location by choosing pictures to start from in My Moments, you can start creating your Story. The Story is limited to 20 pictures, but allows you some creative latitude in layout and editing the pictures to zoom in and out. It is very easy to add pictures from your camera roll, delete unwanted pictures, rearrange the order of pictures and even take new pictures and video straight from the app. After just a few minutes of playing with Disney Story, I created a story of my own. You can see it here.
Here is a video from the Apple App Store showing the sizzle reel for Disney Story: httpv://youtu.be/FemQuheA4mw
I think this is a fantastic app that will allow people to very easily create and share stories with friends and families while on the go. You don’t have to wait to get back from vacation to share that story about the first time the kids met their favorite characters in the Magic Kingdom. You caught it all on video and in pictures and can email it off to grandma and grandpa while you are right there still in the park. It will be a great way of sharing the magical moments your family and friends experience on a small scale with those who aren’t there or even with all of your Facebook friends. I love the Disney Story app and look forward to using it more to share stories with friends and family that aren’t able to join me on my adventures. Creating these little vignettes is a quick and easy way to share your stories one moment at a time instead of in a large album of your entire vacation. I hope you all will take the time to download this new app and I look forward to seeing your stories!
Do you have the Disney Story app? What do you think? Have you used it yet to share your stories? Tell us about it!
Some of my favorite moments in Epcot over the years have not even been while enjoying attractions. There are times where you just need to sit, or stroll, and take time to relax with your friends or family over and adult beverage or two. Partaking in the drinks from the countries of Epcot’s World Showcase is a great way to spend time with friends while waiting for your Fastpass window for Soarin’ or Test Track to roll around. Today I will share some of my favorite bars, beverages and even a few stories (some tales of caution).
Bars
For me, there are three fantastic bars at Epcot that I tend to frequent. That isn’t to say there aren’t more bars that are great, but these are my three favorites and each for a different reason. On any given day I will find it challenging to rank these in order of preference, so I don’t feel inclined to do so here. They are all winners for drinks in my book.
La Cava Del Tequila – I remember this place back when it was my favorite jewelry shop in the Mexico pavilion. I even have several of the rings I purchased from said shop still. The name says it all, or most of what this place is about. In the immortal words of The Champs, Tequila! (Feel free to jump on the bar and do the Pee Wee Herman dance, but if you do, I am in no way responsible.) This cozy little cave of a bar offers about 10 tables with chairs and bench seating, a sofa and stools as well as a high top table for standing in addition to the bar, also standing room only. If you aren’t there for rope drop (yes, more than once I’ve rope dropped this particular bar), on busier days you may find yourself adding your name to the waiting list or even queuing up outside waiting for a drink.
The margaritas here are great! My favorites currently vacillate between the avocado, blue and if you can get them to make it, the orange mango fire margarita. They also serve some non-alcoholic drinks in addition to beer, wine and sangria. Several pages of the menu are devoted to individual tequila shots, tequila infused cocktails and flights. Do not, I repeat, do not be tempted by the offer of the bartenders to give you a free shot if you eat the scorpion from the bottle. I know from experience it is not worth it. However, it is quite an interesting experience to have dozens of strangers chanting your name to try to encourage you to do so. Friends and I may also be known for holding court and rotating out people hanging there for four hours plus on repeated occasions. Appetizers here are also quite tasty with the guacamole and queso being two of my favorites.
Tequila shotSizing up the scorpionPreparing to eat the scorpionChewing the scorpionDrinkThe scorpionAvocado margarita
Rose & Crown Pub – In the UK Pavilion, this restaurant and bar is situated along the shores of the World Showcase Lagoon. If you are looking for a great location from which to view Illuminations on a nice warm evening, see if you can get a reservation for around 8pm or so and let them know you’re willing to waiting for an outside table facing the water. It is an incredible view! The food here is great, although I still lament the loss of the Sunday Roast off the regular menu. I still love the corned beef sandwich off the pub menu (make sure to get mustard not mayo). This is yet another wonderful place to sit with friends, raise a pint or two, and just talk. They do offer some entertainment in the form of tricks from the bartender Carl (if you ask nicely) and Carol, the Hat Lady, performs most evenings singing songs and getting the pub patrons involved. My favorite drink here is definitely the snakebite and black, which is not on the menu, but I haven’t had a bartender yet who didn’t know immediately how to make it. I’m also a fan of just a nice pint of Guinness or Harp to wash down the fish and chips too. Cheers!
Pints with Tom
Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar – This relatively new locale in Italy is quickly creeping up the list as one of my favorites. They have a really extensive list of wines by the glass and also beer and some cocktails. In addition to beverages, the bar has a great menu of appetizers, small sandwiches and salads, and dessert. I was just there this past week and tried the cannoli for the first time and found myself cheesily exclaiming holy cannoli! I love the prosecco, especially if you like more dry white sparkling wines, but also the espresso martini is a great choice if you’re looking for something with a bit more punch. I really like how there are different sections to the bar and even for being a bit dim as far as the lighting, it still feels kind of light and airy. If you can, try to get the room with the sofas to yourself if you have a large enough party.
Holy cannoli
Drinks
Although not all of the countries around World Showcase necessarily have bars where you can sit and enjoy an adult beverage, pretty much all of them offer unique drinks. In addition to the ones I’ve mentioned above, here are some more of my favorite things to imbibe while strolling around World Showcase at Epcot.
Mexico – I almost always go to La Cava and nowhere else and alternate between margaritas and tequila shots or flights. No Scorpion shots ever again.
Carlsberg and school bread
Norway – If you get a chance, stop in at Kringla Og Bakeri and grab a Carlsberg. While it may seem like an unconventional choice, I enjoy this to pair with one of my favorite desserts: school bread.
China – I go back and forth between the Peach Snap and the Mango Gingerita at the Joy of Tea kiosk. I remember bonding with friends Lori, Becky, Sarah and Tim for the first time over drinks in China several years ago during reunion 2010.
Germany – I have to go with any or all of the beers in Germany from either the carts or Sommerfest stand. Also, if you enjoy wine, check out the wine walk that also includes Italy and France.
Italy – My previous go to for sipping and strolling was the Rosa Regale, but I can get that at my grocery store, so I switched to the Italian margarita after having been introduced to it by my friend Kelly a while back.
America – At the Fife & Drum I will almost always go for the Sam Adams either regular Boston lager or seasonal beer. Occasionally I will partake in the Jim Beam Red Stag Lemonade that stuck around for a while after arriving at the Food & Wine festival a couple years ago.
Japan – I like to try different types of sake, especially when they have ones that are special and less expensive, from the back of the sake bar in the Mitsukoshi store.
Morocco – My usual is a Casa beer at the Tangierine Cafe (my favorite counter service location in Epcot BTW), but I also enjoy an occasional Moroccarita from the stand outside. Then there was that one time where I went to Tangierine Cafe to get a shawarma platter and a glass of wine and ended up with three and a half glasses of wine. Those Moroccan boys said “oops, this bottle’s almost done. Here, finish it up. Oh, I guess there’s more in there than we thought. Drink that and then we will give you some more.” Okay boys. Whatever you say. That was a good day. 😉
Kir Royale and almond croissant
France – Ah, the French. They tend to spoil me by offering a multitude of tasty beverages. My favorite though has to be a Kir Royale. This is followed closely by the Grey Goose and Grand Marnier slushes. Most wines are also quite good if you like dry wines, but I learned my lesson and avoid the beer. Just not a fan. Stick to the grapes or aperitifs.
UK – I almost always get a snakebite and black, but again will not turn down the pints of Harp or Guinness served at the stand outside the Rose & Crown.
Canada – Several years ago my friend Tom told me of his tradition to try to always make the last drink of his trip a Moosehead from the beer cart in Canada, so I have adopted this as my go to drink here. However, if you can find it, which they occasionally have here, try any of the Unibroue beers, especially the Ephemere.
Moosehead while waiting for Off Kilter
So, I hope you have enjoyed this trip around World Showcase with me and some of my favorite drinks. If any of you are wondering, no, I have never done the unofficial drink around the world with one drink in each country in one day. Number one, I don’t have the budget for that, two, I’m usually driving and I am more responsible than that, and three, I think I’m too old for that. What are some of your favorite drinks? Have you any stories you wish to tell of bonding over quaffs? Please do tell.
And guess what…when I got a chance to see Jurassic Park 3D a couple of weeks in advance of the release, it was my FIRST time ever seeing Jurassic Park!
I was terrified and jumped around in my seat more times than I care to EVER admit. Seeing the t-rex torture those poor kids in that car made me freak out. Omg, I’m getting panicky just thinking about it…moving on…
Jurassic Park is definitely one of the biggest movies that has ever been released and as hard as it is to believe, it’s celebrating it’s 20th anniversary this year.
Another first for me was this was the first movie I’ve seen that’s been made into 3D. And it worked!
Steven Spielberg and his team did a great job remastering Jurassic Park into a 3D IMAX movie.
Universal Pictures will release Steven Spielberg’s groundbreaking classic JURASSIC PARK in 3D on April 5, 2013. With his remastering of the epic into a state-of-the-art 3D format, Spielberg introduces the three-time Academy Award®-winning blockbuster to a new generation of moviegoers and allows longtime fans to experience the world he envisioned in a way that was unimaginable during the film’s original release.
Starring Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Samuel L. Jackson and Richard Attenborough, the film based on the novel by Michael Crichton is produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Gerald R. Molen.
Films, for those who aren’t aware, are some of my favorite things in the entire world. My affinity for almost all things Disney mostly stems from my love of Disney movies. From there it grew to parks, music, tv shows, and beyond, but for me, it all comes back to the big screen. Imagine my excitement when a little over two years ago I learned that friends of mine were putting together a podcast revolving around reviewing and critiquing Disney films! I have to admit that I was a tad jealous that I wasn’t involved in the podcast, but that soon dissipated.
The Disney Film Project, from whence the Podcast was born, started as the brainchild of owner and proprietor, Ryan Kilpatrick. He began the project with this as his goal: “This is my attempt to view all the Disney films, both shorts and features. Read along to see what I learn as I embark on this voyage, and see what I discover as we watch the true genius of Walt Disney.” Ryan would often conduct what he called tweetwatches in a FriendFeed chat room where he would live tweet a movie and a bunch of us would all press play and watch along at the same time. We would jump in to the chat with questions and comments in awe of Ryan’s often exhaustive research regarding the film we were watching.
Eventually, the project grew into what quickly became one of my favorite podcasts, the Disney Film Project Podcast. Ryan recruited a fantastic crew of film buffs to be his co-hosts in Briana Alessio, Todd Perlmutter and our very own Cheryl Perlmutter as the glue that holds them all together as the show producer. From the very first episode on Beauty and the Beast back in January of 2011 up to this weeks episode 117 featuring Mulan, it has been entertaining along the entire way.
Disney Film Project Podcast hosts
The podcast typically focuses on one film per episode, whether live action, animated feature, direct to video sequel or even Disney Channel Original Movies. Occasionally there are episodes that cover a theme like Halloween specials or multiple films in one, but for the most part on average a good hour or so is devoted to a single film. Each week it is apparent the effort that goes in to this podcast from the hosts of the show and their amazing research skills (always try to find a Star Wars connection).
I am one of those crazy completionists, so I diligently watch each film a few days prior to listening to the upcoming episode so it is fresh in my mind. This has been an interesting task as some of the films have been downright awful (I’m talking to you Condorman, Inspector Gadget, Beverly Hills Chihuahua 1 & 2 (and I’m sure eventually 3) and Hunchback of Notre Dame II), but even in the movies that are laborious to watch, the podcast episodes still shine. Sometimes it is even more enjoyable to hear a film completely torn apart. Along with those notoriously not good films you of course encounter the gems of classics like Mary Poppins, Darby O’Gill and the Little People (with my personal favorite, Sean Connery!!!), Cinderella, and fan favorites like the Avengers.
One of my favorite things about the Disney Film Project Podcast is that I always learn something new, whether it is a film I’ve never seen before, or one like The Little Mermaid I’ve seen dozens of times. These four take their time and do their homework to bring something fresh and new to each episode they produce. I have been fortunate to be on two episodes of the podcast for Cinderella and Up. If you want to go back and start from the beginning, you can download the mp3s via iTunes. DFPP is also available for streaming via Stitcher radio on smartphones, through the podcast app subscription on ios devices, and also streaming directly from the Disney Film Project website.
If you are looking for a new podcast that will keep you well informed and entertained when it comes to the films of the Walt Disney Company, including subsidiaries like Pixar, Marvel and Touchstone, look no further than the Disney Film Project Podcast. Go listen to what the wonky sluices over there have cooking up on their blog with new movie reviews, for films new to Blu Ray, in theaters or on the Disney Channel. This is one podcast you should definitely give a chance if you are at all a fan of Disney films and desire to learn more or even just to see if you can guess what their ratings are and if they match yours. Head on over and check them out now!
