Old Key West – My Favorite WDW Resort

Sydney Mccarthy5 Comments

If you are looking for a laid-back, relaxing, welcoming, paradise-like resort experience, Old Key West is the place to go.

 

I know I briefly mentioned Old Key West in a blog a few weeks ago when I mentioned Olivia’s (the resort’s main restaurant). However, today I would like to dive into why Old Key West (OKW) is me and my family’s favorite Disney Resort.

 

You know you’re in Old Key West when you hear the steel drum music playing over the speakers everywhere you go. And when you look down to see the colorful, imprinted walkways, with little salamanders scurrying around. Look up and you will see the beautiful, tall, mature palm trees that are all over the resort. They really add to the paradise aesthetic.

 

The resort is themed to be like Key West, FL (as you may have figured out). The resort is super colorful (not in a tacky way), with all the housing complexes having colorful fences, walkways, pool areas, and more.

 

The campus and layout of OKW is different from many of the WDW resorts as it is more spread out and less centralized. It has a main entrance, and main pool and boardwalk area, however, depending on how fast you want to get there, you may have to drive to this area, especially if you live on the outskirts of the resort. While some people may not like this and feel too segregated from the food*, shop, and services offered at the main entrance area, for me, this adds to OKW’s charm. It makes you feel less like you are in a hotel, and more like you are staying at a real, resort. It makes you feel like you are away from all the stress and craziness of life, and can truly relax.

 

*The Turtle Pond pool area (more on this later) does have a snack bar, however, so you have food options closer to you. Also, room service is available.

 

The rooms are a very nice size, something you won’t find in many Disney resorts (particularly the newer ones). This is because Disney has begun constructing resorts with smaller rooms so that more guests can stay in the resorts.

 

 

So, I may have hinted at it in the last paragraph, but Disney’s Old Key West is a relatively older WDW resort. It has a stigma about it that if you stay at Old Key West (and are a Disney Vacation Club Member (DVC) –which my family is) that you’re an old Vacation Club Member, and you aren’t staying at one of the premier, newer Vacation Club Resorts. And this may be true (although my family is not an “old” DVC family as we joined around 2005), but don’t let that scare you away. Old Key West has undergone some major renovations (nothing that change the feel of the resort however) to add new technology, new floors, new pluming, new everything. So, although the resort as a whole is older, the accommodations are new. They were still renovating sections of the resort during my last vacation to WDW in the summer of 2018. Though they are all done now.

 

Also, because OKW is not considered a primer DVC resort, the price for staying at the resort is less than some of the other resorts. And for my family, that means a two-week vacation instead of a one week.

 

It is important to note that even though OKW is considered a DVC resort, anyone can stay there whether they are a member or not. And this applies to all DVC resorts.

 

What makes Old Key West very unique from all the other resorts is its easy access to entertainment (besides the parks) and offers beautiful scenic views (including of the fireworks if you stay in the right area). OKW offers a ferry service to and from Disney Springs (it is one of two resorts that offer this) which means easy access to all the shopping, dining, entertainment, and nightlife that Disney Springs has to offer. OKW also has a golf course on its campus (and it is beautiful!) which adds another exciting activity to try on vacation!

 

My family’s favorite area is the 39-41 area (or the Turtle Pond Area). It is very quiet, has a nice pond outside your back deck (which is really cool to look at early in the morning to see all the wildlife living back there), has a really nice view of the fireworks, and has its own pool area literally 50 feet from your room. There is also a nearby bus stop in case you are using the buses for transportation.

 

And because the area is further away from the main pool/main resort area, the pool is much less crowded than some of the other pool areas you will find in WDW. One of my family’s favorite traditions is to go to the pool area (which is officially called Turtle Pond), at night before it closes, sit in the hot tub, and watch the fireworks going off.

 

 

Old Key West is a quieter, relaxing resort, and somehow it pretty much always maintains this characteristic, even when nearly every room is booked. I’m not sure exactly how they do it, so I like to just chalk it up to Disney Magic. 🙂

 

Old Key West always has, and always will be my favorite WDW resort, if not for all that it has to offer, or for its style, then because of all the wonderful memories I have there, which I will always cherish.

Corona Virus & The Disney Parks

Sydney Mccarthy4 Comments

Many of you commented on my last post that you are interested in what is going on with the Disney Parks in relation to the Corona Virus, so in my post today I hope to explain just that!

 

In mid-March, the Disney Company finally announced the closure of Disneyland, in Anaheim, CA, and Walt Disney World, in Orlando, FL. The closure of these two parks marked the official closing of all Disney theme parks, worldwide. Prior to this announcement, all international theme parks were closed due to the pandemic, however, the US parks remained open. Disney also suspended all Cruise Lines, and on March 17th, all Disney-owned stores in North America (including those in shopping malls) closed due to the virus. 

 

The original plan was for the US parks to remain closed until March 30th, however, Disney recently announced that the parks will now be closing indefinitely.

 

If you have any questions regarding travel concerns or about canceling/rescheduling your Disney vacation you can call the guest service lines which, for Disneyland is (714) 520-5050, or go online to their websites.

 

Disney has automatically refunded all pre-paid dining, they have given guests who have park-tickets an extension on those tickets which will now expire on December 15th, 2020. If the tickets can’t be used before then, guests will get a reduction on tickets the next time they buy them. Disney World Annual Pass-holders will also get an extension on their passes by the amount of days the parks are closed for.

 

The closures are really hurting the Disney company as the theme parks are a HUGE revenue stream for them.

 

The only Disney resort property that has begun to open back up is  Shanghai Disneyland Park. The park itself is not open, however, the on-property resort hotel, the shopping center (Disneytown), and Wishing Star Park are now open. Also, there is a limited number of “shopping, dining, and recreational experiences available in Disneytown.” They are having a phased re-opening, and re-opening these parts of the resort are the first step. They have been taking guests’ temperatures and requiring them to wear masks during their visit.

 

People are now speculating what this phased re-opening means for the rest of the theme parks, as well as how else the corona virus could change the Disney Park operations forever. It is near impossible for any of the Disney Parks to guarantee that guests will remain 6-feet apart, especially with the typical park experience. However, some possible steps Disney could take to help keep these safety measures is through limiting capacity, having a ride cue similar to that of the current Ride of the Resistance online cue. All guests may also get their temperature’s taken and may be required to wear masks.

 

For more detailed answers to all your Disney-Corona Virus questions, I would 10/10 recommend Disney Food Blog’s YouTube and website as they are monitoring the situation very carefully. (I would also recommend following them in general!)

 

If you have any other questions about how Disney World is handling the corona virus, please leave a comment below and I will try to respond!

 

Until next time, I’ll see ya real soon!

Your Day at Animal Kingdom Park

Sydney Mccarthy7 Comments
The Tree of Life

Don’t worry! I didn’t forget about your day at Animal Kingdom!

Animal Kingdom (AK) was never considered (generally) as the most popular WDW theme park, however, in recent years it has really stepped its game up! With the all “new” Pandora: The World of Avatar section of the park (with one of the best rides in all of WDW), their new nighttime spectacular: The Rivers of Light, and more, Animal Kingdom has become a hot stop for new and exciting adventurers!

Harambe Market at Night
Pandora – The World of Avatar
Asia
Dinoland U.S.A. Sign

DinoLand U.S.A.

 

The theme park is constructed of six areas (Africa, Asia, DinoLand U.S.A., Pandora – The World of Avatar, Oasis, and Discovery Island) which all meet at the center of the park, Discovery Island (home to the Tree of Life). It is designed to teleport you into these places and does a pretty incredible job of doing so.

 

AK is a veryyyy unique theme park as it has elements that no other theme park on the planet has. AK brings elements from all over the world (and beyond) and from all over time! The park offers several Broadway-esque shows–such as Finding Nemo – The Musical, Festival of the Lion King (an INCREDIBLE show), and more. It also has street performances such as Bollywood Beats, Winged Encounters – The Kingdom Takes Flight, Pandora Drummers – Swotu Wayä, Tam Tam Drummers of Harambe, Viva Gaia Street Band!, Pandora Rangers, and more. And it offers up close animal encounters with animals from around the world. If you want to take these animal encounters to the next level, you can to the Wild Africa Trek which takes guests around the safari by foot and makes them walk on “old bridges” over the alligator pit (of course it’s 100% safe though).

Festival of the Lion King

Tam Tam Dummers

 

If you have little kids in your group, then I would 100% recommend taking them over to DinoLand U.S.A. which is supposed to be themed as a Dig/Excavation Site-turned-Carnival. When I was younger this was my favorite spot in all of WDW (although I must say that I was a HUGE dinosaur fan) because of the giant dinosaurs (some made out of bones) and the Dig Site in which kids get to “dig” around a large pit in search of giant dinosaur bones.

 

AK has some incredible rides and attractions that often times get overlooked. Here are a few of the best rides AK has to offer:

  • Kilimanjaro Safaris takes guests on a guided tour (in a safari vehicle) through AK’s 110 acre safari where you will see real, live animals (don’t forget your camera because you do NOT want to miss these photo opportunities).
Kilimanjaro Safaris
  • Kali River Rapids is another popular ride which takes riders through a jungle that got “ravaged by illegal logging,” or in other words, guests float in a giant inner-tube through bare-trees, with the occasional burst of fire, and ride down a giant drop which leaves everyone soaked with water. I would not prioritize getting on this ride, however, because the line is always very long (like 1.5 hour wait times) and the ride is very short and doesn’t give an experience worth an hour and a half long wait.
Kali River Rapids
  • Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain is a roller coaster that takes you on a journey through the Himalayan Mountains where you will come “face-to-face with the legendary Yeti.” I 10/10 recommend this ride. It has everything you could want in a rollercoaster (including going backwards, having huge drops, and more!). I am not a big rollercoaster person, but I really enjoy this ride. It typically has about an hour long wait time, but it is definitely worth the wait, especially when considering all the things to look at while in the ride cue.
Expedition Everest
  • The newest ride introduced to the AK is one that puts guests in an INCREDIBLE new experience (think Soarin’ on another level). This ride is Avatar Flight of Passage. The story of this ride is that you go into Pandora inside an Avatar and get to ride on the back of a banshee all around Pandora. Now if you are like me and never have seen Avatar and know nothing about it, you may be thinking that this ride is not for you because you wouldn’t understand anything, you would be totally wrong. The ride makes you feel every movement of the banshee, feel the wind on your face, the spray of water, and makes you smell everything. It is a truly breath-taking experience that everyone should try.
    • One note though, my dad said that his equilibrium got very messed up after riding this ride and is not planning to ride it again, so if you have problems with your equilibrium getting messed up, I would not recommend this ride. Also, the seats can be a little uncomfortable especially when the ride attendants press the restraints in so make sure you speak up about it immediately or else you might have an uncomfortable ride (speaking from experience here)
    • Also, note that the wait time is extremely long for this ride so make sure to get a FastPass if you can.
Flight of Passage

 

Okay, with all that being said, here is your schedule for your day at Animal Kingdom Park:

 

9:00 am – Reservations for Breakfast at the Tusker House

10:15 am – Fastpass for Kilimanjaro Safaris

Visit some of the animal enclosures in the area

12:00 pm – Fastpass for Avatar Flight of Passage

1:00 pm – Eat at Harambe Market or another Quick Service location for lunch

3:00 pm – Expedition Everest Fastpass

6:15 – Yak & Yeti Dinner reservation

Inside of Yak & Yeti

Rivers of Light (times vary)

*I would also recommend trying to make time for the Festival of the Lion King show some time during the day (times vary)

Rivers of Light

 

I hope you enjoyed this post! Let me know what your favorite ride at AK is (if you have one), or which ride/experience you thinks sounds most enjoyable, or what you’d like to see me write about next!

 

Until next time! See ya real soon!

Navigating Disney World with a Nut Allergy

Sydney Mccarthy5 Comments

Navigating new restaurants, let alone vacations, can be extremely challenging (and disappointing at times) when you have an allergy, especially a life threatening one. Something that is not talked enough about is allergies and how they are handled in WDW. And, unfortunately, despite the progress they have made, WDW has a long way to go when dealing with food allergies. So, today I figured I would discuss how to get what you want in restaurants eating with an allergy.

 

I say “get what you want” because, as you will find, the Disney restaurants claim that they are extremely allergy friendly, but don’t exactly tell you what it means… so I will.

 

I get very passionate about this subject because it is something I have had to deal with ever since my siblings were born. Somehow, out of the four of us, I’m the only one without any food allergies (I am the only one with glasses though, so I guess it evened out to an extent -lol). My siblings on the other hand all have severe, life-threatening, peanut allergies, and terrible treenut and seasame allergies.

 

As is often found, when resturants claim that they are allergy friendly it means that back in the depths of the kitchen they have the most repulsive foods (typically breads/carbs) you will ever try. Not only are they peanut/treenut/sesame free, but they are dairy free, egg free, gluten free, sugar free, fat free, wheat free, vegan… I could go on and on. So basically, they are “everything”-free (I seriously do NOT want to know what they are made of). Other than this monstrosity, they state that they “cannot ensure the safety of the other products.” This just isn’t fair to those with only one allergy

 

You may be asking, “okay, so this sucks. But what can I do about it?” Well, Disney is all about hospitality, and giving their customers the experience they desire –and quite frankly, the one they deserve after paying half their college tuition and going into debt just to see Mickey Mouse for a day. The key to getting what you want is using this “against” them. The kitchen staff is more than capable to make you your own, normal Mickey waffle and just keeping it safe from nuts, but a lot of the time, they are lazy about it (we know this because some of the restaurants are easy about requesting the regular foods in a safe location, and most all Disney restaurants are operated the same). By pushing them just a bit by fully explaining your situation, you will be able to get the safe food you want. If you have to fight for this, you are in your complete right to ask for the manager and try to dispute the situation that way.

 

This may sound rude, but Disney is well-known for its obsession with taking short-cuts, making them go one extra step is not unjustifiable. Also, sometimes the servers just don’t understand what you are asking for. Also, you aren’t just helping yourself, but those with allergies who come to Disney World and don’t know of another alternative than the horror bread. Through more and more people demanding that something be changed in the food operations in Disney, Disney will recognize the issue and make it so that people can automatically receive the good, safe foods.

 

The good thing is that now when you book your dining reservations, you can make a note that someone in your party has a food allergy. This will trigger something in your reservation that will automatically notify the chef of the respective restaurant to come to your table and walk you through what can be done to accommodate your allergy.

 

Also, many times I remember sitting down at a Disney restaurant and eating the pre-served, pre-prepared desserts while by siblings were served a massive, special, custom desert made special by the kitchen (they often do this without any request). I may have been a little jealous when they brought out a massive waffle cone filled with ice cream, warm chocolate sauce, whipped cream, freshly made mickey shaped brownie, and more, while I ate my square shaped brownie with a scoop of vanilla next to it. You can always request one of these yourself, but often times they just do it for special cases, such as allergies!

 

I hope this helped at least a little, and if you or someone you know is planning a trip to WDW and doesn’t know what to do for their allergies, don’t hesitate to ask!

 

Until next time! I’ll see ya real soon!

 

Restaurants Outside of the Parks

Sydney Mccarthy3 Comments

So… you want a break from the parks? Well look no further!… 

 

In comparison to the MASSIVE amount of land that Walt Disney World owns, the theme parks don’t take up all that much space. So, what exactly is in the rest of the property?

 

Unlike their theme-park counterparts, the resorts where guests stay have free admission. This is something that may seem obvious to some, but it often gets overlooked. So many of the resorts have such incredible things to offer visitors, and one of my favorite things they have to offer is the delicious food.

 

For this list, I am going to stay away from character themed dining and breakfast locations –as if I were to include those, this blog would be a bit too long! But if you would be interested in a blog about great resort/non-park breakfast locations, let me know in the comments, as there are some great and… different –to say the least– breakfast spots!

 

  1. Olivia’s Café – Disney’s Old Key West Resort
    1. Okay, I will admit that I may be a bit biased in choosing this location as Old Key West is me and my family’s absolute favoriteWDW resort. That being said, I truly believe there is something to be said about this restaurant. They are famous across all Disney foodies for their fried chicken and, above all, their key lime pie.
    2. My favorite meal here is their salmon, served with fresh rice, and black-bean paste. Their key lime pie is heavenly, I can assure you!
    3. Oh! And don’t forget to request extra of their bread (you’ll thank me later)!

 

 

  1. Disney’s Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show
    1. Did you know that you can watch a luau on the beach of a Disney resort while being served fantastic Hawaiian cuisine, and watch the fireworks from the Magic Kingdom right after your meal? Well folks, you can at The Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show at Disney’s Polynesian Resort. The dancing is fantastic, and the performance is jaw dropping. The fire twirlers were insanely talented and would be dancing around with fire on both ends of their torch.
    2. The food it delicious, although beware that picky little kids (I’m looking at my siblings) may not be so inclined to try the food (although I promise it isn’t anything too crazy).
      1. 10/10 recommend this!!!!

  1. Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue
    1. Another dinner and show experience can be found out at the Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. This show is a lot of fun for the whole family. Watch as 6 extremely talented singers and dancers put on a show filled with laughs and wonderful music. All the while, you are enjoying some of the absolute BEST food you can find in Walt Disney World. No joke.
    2. It really is a great show and has become a tradition for my family for years. And when you are booking, don’t forget to request the center table for some extra fun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. The Four Seasons – Capa
    1. Okay, so maybe this isn’t technically a “Disney” restaurant, but for my final restaurant for this blog, I needed to mention Capa. This steakhouse is located on the “rooftop” of the Four Seasons resort on WDW’s campus. Sometimes you need to get away from all the Disney craziness. If so, this is your meal.
    2. The food is good, but the view is even better.
    3. From the balcony of the restaurant, you can see all across WDW (especially since FL’s topography is so flat). This especially comes in handy for the spectacular firework shows at the various parks during the night. My family and I tried Capa for the first time during our last trip and I was blown away by the view. On your right you see the Magic Kingdom fireworks, and on your left, EPCOT.
    4. I would absolutely recommend this restaurant, but make sure you book it at the time the firework shows will happen!

 

I hope you all enjoyed my blog, and hope you will consider trying out some of these places in the future!

What are some of your favorite Disney resort restaurants? Have you ever been to any of these?

Until next blog! I’ll see ya real soon!

 

Your Day in Hollywood Studios

Sydney Mccarthy5 Comments

 

For your third day of your vacation, I am going to take you on a trip to the silver screen!!! Okay, well maybe not for real, but in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, it sure feels real as you get to walk right into some of your favorite Disney movies (such as Star Wars and Toy Story), experience the thrills of Hollywood (like the Tower of Terror or the Rock n’ Roller Coaster), or get to see how the magic of the movies is made (like in the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, or in the Star Wars Launch Bay).

Although it is not quite as big, nor does it have quite as many rides, as the Magic Kingdom, don’t overlook Hollywood Studios, as it has some great attractions to offer, as well as a more laid back, less crowded atmosphere.

 

Hollywood Studios, relative to some of the other parks, has more performance-based attractions than rides. For example, park guests are able to see how incredible movie stunts (such as people jumping out of burning buildings) are performed during the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular. In the performance, guests are able to help the performance and join in on the fun (don’t worry though, you won’t be jumping out windows!). You can also watch a live performance of a shortened theatrical version of Beauty and The Beast. I would highly recommend visiting the show sometime during the day, especially when you need a rest (or if you need to get out of the rain!).

 

Other performances you can watch throughout your day include: For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple, various character “Encounters,” and Voyage of The Little Mermaid, just to name a few.

 

However, if you want a real stunning performance, then look no further than the two nighttime shows at Hollywood Studios: Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular and Fantasmic.

The two shows typically take place at the same time (8:00 pm) so guests have to choose which show they wish to attend during the evening. Fantasmic is my favorite show in WDW as the performance has spectacular stunts, lasers, projections, water works, fire, and fireworks; so, if you are stuck between the two shows, and can’t decide, I would advise choosing Fantasmic!

Disneyland’s Fantasmic – Mickey Batteling Maleficent

Hollywood Studios also has wonderful dining options all with their own different experience and theme. Like Star Tours, I can guarantee that you won’t have the same experience twice at these places.

 

–      Hollywood & Vine is styled as a classic diner with American foods and character dining.  If you want a regular, low-key dining experience, this is the restaurant for you. For breakfast, this is a character breakfast which features a large assortment of breakfast foods. The characters that come around are more for younger children’s enjoyment as they are the characters from several of the Disney Junior shows. However, I would still recommend the breakfast even if you don’t have any young kids in your party as the delicious food and early Hollywood themed décor really gets you ready for your day! Later on in the day, the place becomes Minnie Mouse’s and is decorated with decorations to fit whatever season during the year it is (i.e. Halloween themed for the fall or “Summertime Dine” for the Summer).

·     50’s Prime Time Café (one of my all-time favorite Disney World meals) is unlike any other diner you’ve ever been to as upon walking through the front door, you will have been transported directly back to the 1950s. you will be eating in the kitchen with an old-school television playing some of the classic 50s TV shows. Your “cousin” will be serving you your meal which is American comfort food. But be sure not to put your elbows on the table, don’t take your phone out while eating, and EAT YOUR VEGTABLES!, or your cousin will come over to yell at you for your poor manners!

 

·     Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant is yet another restaurant that transports you back in time to the 1950s. You and your table will be having your meal in a classic-style car while watching clips of some of the most famous movies and shows of the 50s under the stars. Once again, this is American style cuisine.

·     Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano is –like the name implies– Italian themed cuisine. You will be having your deliciousmeal served to you in one of the various Italy-inspired rooms that you are seated in. The décor in the restaurant is spectacular and the food is absolutely delicious.

Now that I’ve given you an introduction to Hollywood Studios, here is how you will be spending your day in the park!

 

Your Day:

 

8:00 am: Arrive to the park at opening and ride Tower of Terror and Rock n’ Roll Roller Coaster before the lines get too long. Also, if Disney is still using the boarding pass system for the Rise of the Resistance attraction, get your boarding pass ASAP!

 

9:00 am: Breakfast reservations at Play ‘n Dine Diner at Hollywood & Vine

 

10:30 am: Toy Story Mania Fastpass

 

1:00 pm: Depending on how hungry you are either eat lunch at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Resturant if you really worked up an appetite (but do note that this dining location has a reputation for slow service, as well as having some entertainment so be prepared for a long meal); or grab a bite to eat at the BaseLine Tap House (I would definitely recommend their pretzels!)

 

3:30 pm: Star Tours Fastpass

 

6:00 pm: Reservations at 50’s Prime Time Café (with the Fantasmic Package –which means you will get ample seating for the show).

 

8:00 pm: Finish off your day with Fantasmic!

 

I hope you enjoy your day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios! I’ll see ya real soon!

Fantasmic

My CLASSIC Disney Snacks!

Sydney Mccarthy5 Comments
Courtesy of Disney Food Blog

Warning: When reading this, you may get VERY hungry… 

This week I decided I would touch upon the delicious, iconic, classic Disney snacks that everyone must try when they visit Walt Disney World. So, without further ado, here are my absolute TOP iconic Disney foods

 

First up is the classic Mickey Waffle. This Mickey-Mouse shaped Belgium waffle is a breakfast classic, and an absolute MUST when you visit WDW. It can be found in almost all buffet styled breakfast locations. You can also get a giant Mickey Waffle at Sleepy Hollow in the Magic Kingdom if you don’t have a reservation to a breakfast.

 

 

Next up we have the Mickey Premium Bar. This snack can be found at almost all snack carts in the parks, and in all resorts. Disney has even begun to make them available in grocery stores all across the country! The bar is a Mickey shaped ice cream coated with delicious milk chocolate.

 

A second option –if you’re not a fan of Mickey Premium Bars– is the Mickey Ice Cream Sandwich. This dessert is available pretty much wherever the Mickey Premium Bars are and are just as delicious! The vanilla ice cream is sandwiched between two soft, chocolate, cookie-like pieces that feature Mickey Mouse!

 

You know how the song goes: “try the gray stuff, it’s delicious!” Well, I can attest that it most definitely is “delicious!” Don’t believe me? Well then, it’s a good thing that you can go and try it for yourself at the Be Our Guest restaurant in the Magic Kingdom! The dessert is pretty much made up of a cookies-n-cream flavored mouse with sugar pearls on top. This dessert is serves one of two ways, depending on what time your reservation is. During lunch, the gray stuff is served on top of a cupcake while at dinner you can get the gray stuff inside of a white chocolate “Chip” cup!

 

Okay, so I don’t think this dessert gets enough credit for how absolutely delicious is really is! This brownie is available at every resort (to my knowledge). It features a moist chocolate cake topped with a fudge-like chocolate frosting with a couple of Mickey shaped sprinkles on top. Although it isn’t the most “exciting” dessert on this list, it is one of my family and I’s favorite dessert in WDW. (Pro tip: I’d highly recommend putting one in the freezer prior to eating it!)

 

Yes, a classic Disney World food/snack list would not be complete without featuring the ever-so-famous Disney Dole Whip. This snack is one of the most famous Disney theme park snacks. It can be found at Aloha Isle in Adventure Land in the Magic Kingdom, as well as several places in the Polynesian Resort. They have been expanding the locations Dole Whips are available, as well as the flavors and variations of the Dole Whips being offered.

 

 

And extra snack just because it’s cool!

Although this snack is not considered a traditional Disney snack, I wanted to include it because of how cool (and delicious!) this dessert is! Introducing the chocolate shaped Mickey!…

Yes, you can get a 3D, Mickey shaped chocolate! This delicacy can only be found in the Grand Floridian Café inside the (you guessed it) Grand Floridian resort. The café is great all around, however, I wanted to showcase a dessert that pretty much always falls under the radar. It’s a dark chocolate that can –in my opinion– hold its own against Hershey’s dark chocolate (yes, even when you got it straight off the Hershey’s World tour).

 

I hope you enjoyed my recommendations, and hope you’re not too hungry!

Until next blog! See ya real soon!

Navigating Transportation at WDW

Sydney Mccarthy5 Comments

For today’s blog, I decided to take a break from planning your vacation to explain some of the modes of transportation around WDW as navigating it can be a bit of a challenge for people who don’t know the ins and outs of getting around!

 

Okay, so let’s be honest, Walt Disney World is HUGE. And who can blame you if you don’t want to pay the outrageous parking prices to keep a car at your resort. Well never fear, Disney has your back for free public transportation!

 

Before I begin going into the specific modes of transportation, I will be discussing a place called the “Ticket and Transportation Center” (otherwise known as your worst nightmare when trying to get into the MK for the opening or exit the MK after closing). The Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC) is a gateway to the MK via bus, ferry, or monorail; or to EPCOT via monorail. The TTC has seemingly never-ending parking lots for guests to park their cars before traveling to their next destinations. It is important to note, though, that if you plan to drive, the TTC is the onlyplace you can park your vehicle for the MK, as there is no parking lot (resort guests aside) near the entrance to the park. Although this can be very inconvenient (especially when running late for a reservation –speaking from experience here), I believe it is designed this way to give more land to potential expansions of the MK, as well as to transport guests away from their hectic lives from the very beginning of the day, and get them excited and anticipated about the fun they have that day.

 

 

Monorails:

I must start with the most recognizable mode of Disney transportation: the monorail system. It is one of my favorite modes of transportation at WDW as you get to see some beautiful views of EPCOT and MK, as well as the surrounding Bay Lake resorts. It is fast, reliable, and really helpful if you are staying a monorail resort. The only drawback to the monorail is the lines of people trying to get into or out of the parks. This is primarily an issue at the Magic Kingdom, as the monorail, bus, and ferry systems are the only ways to exit the Magic Kingdom and return to your car at the Ticket and Transportation center (and the buses and ferries tend to take a long time to arrive).

Ferries:

The ferries are another easy, convenient way to navigate around the various sections of WDW. There are two parks that can be reached via an interconnecting system: Hollywood Studios and EPCOT; and the Magic Kingdom has its own ferry system that boats gets to and from the Ticket and Transportation Center. In addition, some resorts, including Disney’s Old Key West Resort (my family’s all-time favorite resort), Disney’s Boardwalk and Disney’s Yacht Club Resorts, and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort all have ferries as well. Old Key West and Saratoga have transportation via ferry to Disney Springs which is basically a MASSIVE outdoor shopping mall (more on this in a later blog). The ferries are a nice mode of transportation is you have more time and want a nice and relaxing ride.

 

Buses:

OK, so maybe not the most glamorous form of transportation (definitely not as glamorous as the monorail), but hey, they do the job. These buses operate just as any regular public transportation bus would. It is important to mention them, however, because they are some resorts’ only mode of public transportation, so if that is important to you, be sure to book a resort with multiple modes of transport. In addition, the fact that buses get overlooked may be in your favor, particularly for the Magic Kingdom. As I discussed above, the only way to reach the MK with a car is to park in the TTC and transfer to either a monorail, bus, or ferry to ultimately reach the park. However, if you want to cut out the middleman (and who could blame you), then the buses are definitely the way to go. Although, be warned, if something were to happen, such as a freak, super powerful storm, and everyone wants to leave the park immediately (again, speaking from a very unfun experience –it isFlorida after all), then the buses are going to get a bit crammed, and you may not get out very timely (aka you will get soaked while simultaneously getting blown around by freakishly strong wind –its happened).

 

Trams:

While this mode of transportation does not bring you from park to park, nor from a resort to a park, it is a VERY nice tool to have (especially when it is over 100 degrees out and you don’t want to walk across miles of blacktop). Trams are in nearly every parking lot on WDW’s premise. To compensate for their massive size, and make your life a little easier, parking lots are usually divided into sections (such as Heroes and Villains) and different areas have a different character or action associated with them. Most trams specialize in transporting guests to a specific section (i.e. Heroes), so it is very important to know in what section you are parked!

 

Minnie Vans Service:

You’ve heard of Uber, you’ve heard of Lyft, well now we have Minnie Vans! Minnie Vans operate the exact same way as Uber or Lyft but are specific to WDW. The vans can fit up to six guests and come with two car seats for young children. The service can drop you off anywhere on the WDW premise and can be super helpful for getting to reservations on time or getting dropped off at the front of the MK!

The Minnie Van

 

The all new Skyliner System:

While I personally have not had the chance to ride in this new system yet, I’ve heard very good things about it. It has really helped out some of the resorts that are a bit farther from the parks by providing them with a new mode of transportation. Little kids seem to especially enjoy the ride!

Skyliner Map

The Skyliners come in different styles and some even come with a wrap featuring some of your favorite Disney characters which is really cute to see, especially as they go by.

 

Well, I hope this was helpful, and be sure to keep it in mind when planning on your next vacation!

 

See ya real soon!

Your Day at EPCOT

Sydney Mccarthy5 Comments

Continuing on with your Disney vacation, the second day you should visit EPCOT.

 

Have you ever wondered if it would be possible to traveling, and tasting, your way around nine of the great countries of the world in one day? Or if you could pilot your own spaceship on a mission to Mars –or better yet, have a meal amongst the stars, all while orbiting the Earth? How about traveling to the depths of the ocean; or seeing the past, present, and future from a new point of view; or building your own custom vehicle and seeing how it holds up against a variety of different safety and efficiency tests; or… well, I think you get the idea.

 

If any of these piques your interest, then welcome to the Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow– or as most of you may know it, EPCOT.

 

I want to quickly share with you some of the history of EPCOT because I feel that knowing so creates an even more magical, and appreciative experience for you as a visitor.

 

When Walt Disney first started secretly acquiring land to build what would become Walt Disney World (and yes, I did say “secretly”–something I will go into in a later blog), he had plans to use part of his land to create something beyond a theme park, to create a community. Disney’s community would be a city which would push forward innovation.

 

While the city wasn’t quite what Walt was planning for it to be, it would become an incredible place which would encompass many of Walt’s ideas for the original EPCOT.

 

Okay, so now that we’ve established EPCOT’s history, we can dive in to exploring the park, and all it has to offer!

 

Remember all those “theoretical questions” I posed to you in the beginning? Yeah, well get ready to experience all of that, and more! EPCOT is home to the giant “golf ball” which you will see upon entrance to the theme park. It brings to life 9 countries from around the globe (most of which are run by that respective country’s government!), and allows you to explore the culture, cuisine, traditions, and language all for yourself. Many of the cast members who work in any particular pavilion are more than likely from that country so feel free to ask them any questions you may have!

 

One of the most popular ways people explore these countries is through tasting the food, and if you are 21 and up, the drinks. All of the food in the pavilions is completely authentic and is designed to give you the very best the country has to offer. You can also experience some wonderful entertainment unique to each of the countries. You can check the time guide for when these shows will happen.

 

However, if you have little kids in your party, they are able to explore the countries too through building their own “passports” in which they will get stamps and stickers from each land they visit at EPCOT. They can also color in a coloring poster for each country.

 

EPCOT is divided into different areas, similar to Magic Kingdom, however, it is not as seriously themed to those areas like MK is.

 

EPCOT is home to famous rides like Soarin’ (where you board a hang glider which will take you around the world, so much so that you can literally feel and smell the air of each place you visit), Test Track (where you can literally design your dream vehicle and go on a ride as your creation gets put through a bunch of simulated tests, with a finale that includes going from 0 to upwards of 65 mph), Spaceship Earth (where you get to ride through a narrated view of the history of our species –believe me it’s actually really cool), Living with the Land (an attraction that gives you a behind the scenes look at Disney’s innovative gardening techniques –again, it’s actually cool),

Other rides in EPCOT include:

  • Mission space – a “thrill ride” where you get to become the pilot, engineer, navigator, or commander of a space craft. You will have to navigate through your missions, either going up into orbit, or going on a treacherous Mars expedition.
  • Journey Into Imagination with Figment – although this ride has become unpopular for many guests, little kids still really enjoy joining Figment on an adventure to explore your five senses
  • Frozen Ever After – This dark ride takes you through the journey of Anna and Elsa with some of the characters from the movie.
  • The Seas with Nemo and Friends – this is a dark ride attraction that takes you through the story of Finding Nemo. Younger kids really enjoy it, and it is the perfect ride to cool down in. The plus side is that you are brought out into The Living Seas aquarium complex where you can see all kinds of marine life including some massive stingrays, sea turtles, and yes, sharks.

 

Your Day at EPCOT:

*NOTE! *Since this is a theoretical one-dayexploration of EPCOT, it is important to note that exploring the World Showcase is an affair that will take hours, I would recommend exploring the first half of EPCOT (including The Living Seas, The Land, Future World, and other areas in the top half of the park). After the World Showcase opens (at 11:00) then explore that area.

 

9:00 am: Breakfast at Garden Grill

 

10:00 am: Wait in line to ride Soarin’

 

10:30 am: Living with the Land FastPass starts

 

11:30 am: Spaceship Earth FastPass

 

12:30 pm: Start to Explore the World Showcase

 

1:30: Depending on Hunger, eat at either Les Chefs De France (if very hungry), or in one of the many countries (like getting a soft pretzel in Germany!)

5:30 pm: Test Track FastPass

 

7:15 pm: Reservation at La Cellier

 

Finally, you can finish off your night with the EPCOT Forever firework spectacular. Although this is a brand-new show, and I haven’t had the chance to see it in person, I have heard very good things about it. It is supposed to showcase all that Walt wanted EPCOT to be, what it has become, and what it stores in its future. The show uses fireworks, water works, lasers, lightwork, and “choreographed kites” to put on an incredible spectacular.

 

I hope you enjoy your adventure!

 

 

Your Day At The Magic Kingdom

Sydney Mccarthy5 Comments

For my first passion blog of the semester, I will be taking you on a trip by planning your day in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Park.

 

But first, some background on why I chose to start with the theme park I did.

 

When I say, “Disney World,” what is the first thing that comes to mind? Probably Mickey (of course) but pretty soon after, you will probably think of this:

Cinderella’s castle. One of the landmarks Walt Disney World is famous for. It rests at the end of Main Street USA, and is famous for its firework spectaculars it puts on several times a day.

 

Magic Kingdom (MK) is the very best place to start your Disney World vacation, especially if you are a newcomer, because it is a true awakening to the magic that is Disney.

 

The theme park itself is home to 6 lands: Main Street U.S.A., Adventure Land, Frontier Land, Liberty Square, Fantasy Land, and Tomorrow Land.

 

Whatever type of theme, ride, or experience you are looking for is there. If you are more of a thrill seeker, look no further than the MK mountains: Splash Mountain (my personal favorite), Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Space Mountain; there is also the Seven Dwarves Mine Train as an additional coaster, however, this is the least intense of the MK rollercoasters. If you are more into a non-intense, but no less magical ride experience, I would recommend the Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, Astro Orbiter, Ariel’s Grotto, or Enchanted Tales with Belle.

 

If it is an experience you seek, then you can join the Sorcerers Scavenger Hunt which leads you through an interactive experience all throughout the Magic Kingdom. You must collect cards and solve puzzles to complete each of the challenges. This is an all-day affair, though. For a shorter, but somewhat similar scavenger hunt, you can go on a Pirates of the Caribbean Scavenger Hunt which takes you around the Adventure Land portion of the MK to find tokens and treasures with Captain Jack (but be careful of the traps set for you!).

 

The restaurants are very good as well. If you want character dining, Cinderella’s Royal Table and the Crystal Palace are two very good options. For comfort food, look no further than Liberty Tree Tavern, the Diamond Horseshoe, Casey’s Corner, or The Plaza Restaurant. There is an Italian restaurant (Tony’s Town Square), as well as a Restaurant for experimental tasters (Skippers Canteen), and of course, Be Our Guest.

 

There are also lots of Quick Service (Grab-and-Go) options as well; such as, Pinocchios Haus and Cosmic Rays Cafe.

 

Now that I have given you a brief overview of the park, here is a makeshift schedule to ensure that you have hit all of the Magic Kingdom Must-Dos.

 

9:00am: Breakfast Reservation at the Crystal Palace

10:15 am: Ride Pirates of the Caribbean (at this time, there should not be too much wait)

10:45 am: Splash Mountain Fastpass

12:30 pm: Depending on how hungry you will be, I recommend either Liberty Tree Tavern (very hungry), or a quick service restaurant like Cosmic Rays (hungry)

1:30: Big Thunder Mountain Fastpass

3:00 pm: Either watch the Festival of Fantasy Parade or try to go on a popular ride (because the lines will be shorter since people want to watch the parade).

4:00 pm: Ride It’s A Small World (it’s a classic!)

5:30 pm: Be Our Guest Restaurant at the Beast’s Castle.

7:00 pm: Haunted Mansion Fastpass

8:00 pm: Watch Happily Ever After Fireworks Spectacular

After 8:00 pm: If the park is open later (or there are Extra Magic Hours), ride as many rides as you can while the wait times are not as long!

 

Enjoy!