Bob Sehlinger's Blog, page 1156

DAY FOUR: Sunken Treasure on the Disney Cruise Line

DAY NINE: PBR in a Paper Bay at Cabana Bay Beach Resort

DAY TEN: Bay Lake Sunset at Top of the World Lounge

DAY ELEVEN: Tongue Tying Lemon Squash at the Leaky Cauldron

DAY THIRTEEN: Pint of Guinness at Raglan Road

DAY FIFTEEN: Burnt Orange at Todd English’s bluezoo

DAY SIXTEEN: Fishy Green Ale at Fountain of Fair Fortune

DAY SEVENTEEN: Balsamic Grand at Palo

DAY EIGHTEEN: Buffalos and Bacon at The Cowfish

DAY NINETEEN: La Fin du Monde at Epcot

See you tomorrow for the next entry into the 25 Drinks of Christmas Countdown, where we are going to head into Epcot’s World Showcase. If you had fun, be sure to check out The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! and Saturday Six articles, or, for your listening pleasure, check out the Pardon the Pixie Dust podcast. Your humble author can also be seen producing typos at an inhuman rate on Twitter: @derekburgan

Special thanks to crack staff photographer Brandon Glover, elvenage™, and Megan Stump for their invaluable assistance with this article. Be sure to also check out Brandon on The Park Blogger podcast with co-hosts Aengus Mackenzie and Brian Carey.

*That is an absolutely lie. I still buy an advent calendar every year with chocolates in it, and I also buy an annual box of Christmas Crunch, but we’ll keep that between us.

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25 Drinks of Christmas Countdown – Day 20: Dragon Scale and Wizard’s Brew at the Hopping Pot is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

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Published on December 20, 2014 09:00

SATURDAY SIX: Six Disney Gifts Santa Can Bring Back to the North Pole (AKA The Best of the Disney Outlet Stores in 2014)

THANKSGIVING SPECIAL: Six Reasons for Theme Park Fans to Give Thanks in 2014

This week’s SATURDAY SIX takes a look at Six Disney Gifts Santa Can Bring Back to the North Pole (A/K/A The Best of the Disney Outlet Stores in 2014). Some readers of this weekly column may not know that we also have The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! where every single month we brave the insanity of the Orlando Premium Outlet parking lots to cover the two Disney outlet stores (more info on them – including addresses – at the end of the article.) While some Christmas dreams do come true, such as Ralphie Parker getting his official Red Ryder BB gun and Your Humble Author getting a Han Solo blaster back in the day, others deserve to go straight to the Island of Misfit Toys. Today we will take a look at some of those very items, starting with…

# 6 – Luigi’s Flying Tires: The Toy

My eyes lit up like a Christmas tree seeing this toy hit the Outlet shelves. In theory, Luigi’s Flying Tires should have been one of the coolest rides at any Disney park. It used popular characters from the Cars franchise in what amounts to a hovercraft ride mixed with bumper cars. How great is that? Turns out, not that great. For many guests, the degree of difficulty in learning how to control the tires was too much within the short ride span, and that combined with the long wait time (due to the limited capacity) resulted in some very unfavorable reviews. The one part of the attraction that did receive positive reaction – the humongous beach balls on the course which provided a striking visual and the ability to knock them into other guests – was taken away mere weeks after Luigi’s debut. It is rumored that once Flying Tires goes down for refurbishment in early 2015, it will never come back as the ride it currently is and instead will be changed into something different. But, at least we’ll have our Luigi’s Flying Tires toy to remember it by (batteries, and joy, not included.)

Next year we want to see Stitch’s Great Escape: The Board Game.

# 5 – Mickey as Iron Man plush.

In late 2013 I found myself in Downtown Disney at the World of Disney store and saw what I felt to be a hideously ugly Mickey Mouse-as-Iron Man plush. Now I love Mickey, and I love Iron Man, but this combination just did not work. I really think Disney should have used Captain America as the first character for this type of mash-up. Regardless, it was no surprise to see these Iron Man plush show up at the Outlet stores a short while later.

That wasn’t the only weird Mickey plush though. This little bit of nightmare fuel has Mickey in Pluto pajamas along with Pluto slippers. Even Duffy the Disney Bear thinks this is going a bit too far.

# 4 – Lightning McQueen with Santa figurine.

There are no humans in the Cars universe. Period.

Isn’t there a person at Pixar whose sole job is to make sure everything stays in continuity?!

# 3 – The Monthly Supply of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith Merchandise

For some reason, of all the attractions at Walt Disney World, the one which seems to have the most amount of merchandise showing up at the Outlets is Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. That is not just anecdotal as it is the result of an exhaustive counting of every single piece of merchandise at the Outlet stores cross referenced with a complete list of WDW attractions and shows. After months of compiling, the results are in and here are the attractions with the most amount of items represented at the Outlet stores: Bronze medal) Haunted Mansion: 6 items Silver medal) Expedition Everest: 15 items Gold medal) Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith: 346,182 items.

Steven Tyler pictured next to an electric guitar, which we are pretty sure he can’t play.

# 2 – Disney Duck Tape

I have spent a lot of my free time trying to figure out who the market is for Disney branded duct tape. I’ve deduced that it must be a “millennials” thing. Kids today just must use duct tape more than when I was growing up (which was never.) It’s either that or the weirdos demographic is much larger than I ever imagined.

“It puts the lotion on the skin or else it gets the hose again.” Unused ad copy for Disney branded duct tape.

Maybe this was actually an elaborate test by the government and anyone who bought Minnie Mouse duct tape was immediately put on a list and followed. I think we’d all agree that was okay, even with the Constitution.

# 1 – Meet & Greet Mickey Vinylmation

There’s several amazing things about these Meet & Greet Mickey figures. First, both of them were limited to 500, yet for the silver one I found numbers as low as 41/500, and 80/500 for the orange and gold version. That’s pretty scary, but even more terrifying was that they were originally priced at $49.95 each. And would you believe the original figure made its debut at Disney’s 13 Reflections of Evil trading event? You can’t make stuff like that up.

HONORABLE MENTION: Anything trying to make Mickey Mouse look “hip” or “urban.”

Where do you begin?

Sometimes we just have to be happy that Walt didn’t live to see some things.

We want to end this on a positive note, so let’s look at a couple items at the Outlets that we’d love to get in our Christmas stockings in lieu of coal. Starting with this fantastic Donald Duck-in-Carbonite pockitpal by Robert Olszewski.

Even though they are small and don’t hold much, I got them as gifts for almost everyone I know. They are perfect for holding my Xanax, my Pardon the Pixie Dust co-host Brian Michnichol’s Cialis, and Len Testa’s medicinal marijuana.

These long tailed plush for the Cheshire Cat and Marie from The Aristocats are super cute.

This Roger Rabbit shirt may be the greatest Disney produced shirt I have ever seen. The front had a logo for the piano bar as well. Oh what I wouldn’t do for an entire shop filed with merchandise from the world of Roger Rabbit. P-p-p-p-p-please Disney!

And finally, the absolute # 1 thing at the Disney Outlet Stores in 2014… The Walt Disney Mouse-stache.

There are actually two Disney outlet stores in Orlando. Both are in Orlando Premium Outlet shopping complexes, and they are called Disney’s Character Warehouse, presumably because The Land Of Misfit Toys was already trademarked. There is one Character Warehouse located on International Drive close to Universal Studios (4951 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819), and the other is on Vineland Avenue, right across I-4 near the exits to Disney World (8200 Vineland Ave, Orlando, FL 32821).

This Humpty Dumpty was PUSHED off the wall.

So there you have it: Six Disney Gifts Santa Can Bring Back to the North Pole. See you next weekend for the latest installment of the SATURDAY SIX where we take a look ahead at 2015! If you had fun, be sure to check out The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! articles, or, for your listening pleasure, check out the Pardon the Pixie Dust podcast.

If you enjoyed In Memoriam – Six things We Lost from the Theme Park World in 2014, you may also enjoy:

Six Easter Eggs of the Universal Orlando Resort

Six Surprises of the Disney Cruise Line

Six “Secrets” of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.

Special thanks to crack staff photographer Brandon Glover, photo-wunderkind Mike Sperduto, and Megan Stump for their invaluable assistance with this article. Be sure to also check out Brandon on The Park Blogger podcast with co-hosts Aengus Mackenzie and Brian Carey. Also, we’d like to send a thank you to Attractions Magazine, our all time favorite theme park magazine. Did you know that Attractions were the first people CRAZY enough to let me write a theme park based article? It’s true, and here’s the proof!

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SATURDAY SIX: Six Disney Gifts Santa Can Bring Back to the North Pole (AKA The Best of the Disney Outlet Stores in 2014) is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

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Published on December 20, 2014 04:00

In Case You Missed It: Disney News and Rumors – Week of December 19, 2014

By Rikki Niblett

25 Drinks of Christmas Countdown – Day 19: La Fin du Monde Ale in Epcot

The Christmas season is my absolute favorite time of the year. Growing up, one of the little things I loved most was getting an Advent calendar and counting down the days until Santa would be coming down the chimney. As I grew older, I had to leave Advent calendars in the rear view mirror,* but I still miss that daily countdown building anticipation to the big day. So, we’re going to start a virtual Advent calendar here at TouringPlans. For 2014, we are going to countdown our favorite drinks at Walt Disney World and the Universal Orlando Resort.

Criteria: Drinks can be alcoholic or nonalcoholic. Drinks can come from any venue on property as well as the Disney Cruise Line. Bonus points awarded for atmosphere where drink is served. Any drink with glow cubes is immediately disqualified. Ready? Let’s go!

DAY NINETEEN: La Fin du Monde Ale at the Canada Pavilion (Epcot)

A La Fin du Monde in front of the Hotel du Canada in Epcot. (photo by Brandon Glover

La Fin du Monde is a beer for people who enjoy their beer. With a 9% ABV, La Fin du Monde packs a punch, but is light enough and full of flavor so that you are not overwhelmed. It is a Belgian Trappist-style tripel beer, with aeromatic hints of apple and clove. The taste is champagne-like, with flavors of light bananas, pear, cinnamon, and orange peel. While La Fin du Monde is available at several locations on WDW property, there’s only one place for us, the outdoor beer cart at the Canada Pavilion in Epcot. Why? La Fin du Monde is the premier beer from one of Canada’s most famous craft breweries, and is hard to find out draught even outside of Walt Disney World. So what could be better than enjoying one in it’s native county? We love to mix it up when Drinking Around The World, as there are so many unique and interesting options across World Showcase, but trust us when we say to order the La Fin du Monde over the LaBatt Blue in Canada each and every time.

Unibroue beers on tap at the Canada pavilion in Epcot. (photo by Brandon Glover)

Perfection, in beer form. (photo by Branon Glover)

PREVIOUS DRINKS OF CHRISTMAS:

DAY FOUR: Sunken Treasure on the Disney Cruise Line

DAY NINE: PBR in a Paper Bay at Cabana Bay Beach Resort

DAY TEN: Bay Lake Sunset at Top of the World Lounge

DAY ELEVEN: Tongue Tying Lemon Squash at the Leaky Cauldron

DAY THIRTEEN: Pint of Guinness at Raglan Road

DAY FIFTEEN: Burnt Orange at Todd English’s bluezoo

DAY SIXTEEN: Fishy Green Ale at Fountain of Fair Fortune

DAY SEVENTEEN: Balsamic Grand at Palo

DAY EIGHTEEN: Buffalos and Bacon at The Cowfish

See you tomorrow for the next entry into the 25 Drinks of Christmas Countdown, where we are going to head into Epcot’s World Showcase. If you had fun, be sure to check out The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! and Saturday Six articles, or, for your listening pleasure, check out the Pardon the Pixie Dust podcast. Your humble author can also be seen producing typos at an inhuman rate on Twitter: @derekburgan

Special thanks to crack staff photographer Brandon Glover, Parkscope Joe, and Megan Stump for their invaluable assistance with this article. Be sure to also check out Brandon on The Park Blogger podcast with co-hosts Aengus Mackenzie and Brian Carey.

*That is an absolutely lie. I still buy an advent calendar every year with chocolates in it, and I also buy an annual box of Christmas Crunch, but we’ll keep that between us.

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Published on December 19, 2014 09:00

25 Drinks of Christmas Countdown – Day 18: Buffalos and Bacon at The Cowfish

The Christmas season is my absolute favorite time of the year. Growing up, one of the little things I loved most was getting an Advent calendar and counting down the days until Santa would be coming down the chimney. As I grew older, I had to leave Advent calendars in the rear view mirror,* but I still miss that daily countdown building anticipation to the big day. So, we’re going to start a virtual Advent calendar here at TouringPlans. For 2014, we are going to countdown our favorite drinks at Walt Disney World and the Universal Orlando Resort.

Criteria: Drinks can be alcoholic or nonalcoholic. Drinks can come from any venue on property as well as the Disney Cruise Line. Bonus points awarded for atmosphere where drink is served. Any drink with glow cubes is immediately disqualified. Ready? Let’s go!

DAY EIGHTEEN: Buffalos and Bacon at The Cowfish (Universal CityWalk)

Buffalos and Bacon at The Cowfish. (photo by Brandon Glover)

The Cowfish was the final piece of Universal CityWalk’s recent renovation, and it has immediately become the restaurant of choice for many theme park fans. The Cowfish has surprised pretty much everyone with its innovative menu, unique burgers, and their signature Burgushi concept (which includes sushi using burger components, and sandwiches using sushi components.) Come for the food, but stay for the drinks as The Cowfish offers an amazing amount of cocktails, imported beer, and spiked shakes. Our recommendation? Buffalos and Bacon.Why? Because what drink doesn’t get better with bacon? Ingredients: Buffalo Trace bourbon, cherry liqueur, angostura and orange bitters, honey, candied bacon

The Cowfish at Universal CityWalk. (photo by Brandon Glover)

Parmesan truffle fries at The Cowfish. (photo by Brandon Glover)

Crispy calamari “T & T.” (photo by Brandon Glover)

Rice Krispie shake at The Cowfish. (photo by Brandon Glover)

Cowfish decor featuring a certain banana breath facing off against a dinosaur. (photo by Seth Kubersky)

PREVIOUS DRINKS OF CHRISTMAS:

DAY FOUR: Sunken Treasure on the Disney Cruise Line

DAY NINE: PBR in a Paper Bay at Cabana Bay Beach Resort

DAY TEN: Bay Lake Sunset at Top of the World Lounge

DAY ELEVEN: Tongue Tying Lemon Squash at the Leaky Cauldron

DAY THIRTEEN: Pint of Guinness at Raglan Road

DAY FIFTEEN: Burnt Orange at Todd English’s bluezoo

DAY SIXTEEN: Fishy Green Ale at Fountain of Fair Fortune

DAY SEVENTEEN: Balsamic Grand at Palo

See you tomorrow for the next entry into the 25 Drinks of Christmas Countdown, where we are going to head into Epcot’s World Showcase. If you had fun, be sure to check out The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! and Saturday Six articles, or, for your listening pleasure, check out the Pardon the Pixie Dust podcast. Your humble author can also be seen producing typos at an inhuman rate on Twitter: @derekburgan

Special thanks to crack staff photographer Brandon Glover, Billy Hirsch, and Megan Stump for their invaluable assistance with this article. Be sure to also check out Brandon on The Park Blogger podcast with co-hosts Aengus Mackenzie and Brian Carey.

*That is an absolutely lie. I still buy an advent calendar every year with chocolates in it, and I also buy an annual box of Christmas Crunch, but we’ll keep that between us.

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Published on December 18, 2014 09:00

10 Reasons a Cabana on Castaway Cay is Worth Trying to Get

By Tammy Whiting

If you’ve been lucky enough to score a cabana on Castaway Cay when your Disney Cruise Line vacation stops at their little slice of paradise in the Bahamas, you can skip this blog post and go on to the next one. I’m betting you know how amazing they are and already know everything I’m about to say. If, however, you are on the fence about getting one, this post is for you!

First I’ll give you the bad news. The cabanas are expensive! $549 for 6 guests at the family beach and $399 for four guests at the adult beach, Serenity Bay. You can add 4 more guests at the family beach, or two at the adult beach. Each additional guest will cost $50. If that didn’t scare you off, here’s more bad news. They’re almost impossible to get! Concierge guests usually snatch these up before most guests ever get a shot at them. That should tell you something about how awesome they are though! They do show up for everyone else from time to time though! People cancel their cruise, change their minds on cabanas, etc. So if you want one, keep trying! And here are some reasons why you should.

1. Privacy on a Busy Island – A cabana is a private little oasis on a beautiful island. The cabanas are fairly close to each other, but angled in ways that make you feel like you are alone. It’s amazing how secluded you feel when you’re inside. One side of the cabana is open to the beach. There are shutter type doors you can close if you want even more privacy, and a changing curtain you can close to change in and out of your swimsuit if you like.

2. Private Beach for the Cabanas on the Family Beach – The guests in cabanas on the family beach share a private beach. It’s a big enough beach that you’ll pretty much feel like you’ve got the beach to yourself. With a fairly packed beach just a few feet away, it’s heaven to float and swim alone. And no need to stake out the best beach chairs early – you’ve already got the best chairs! We love to pull our chairs down to the water and relax with our toes in the ocean and sit in quiet and peace. I’m telling you, that right there is worth some dough to me.

3. Equipment is Included – If you normally rent any equipment on Castaway Cay, the price of a cabana becomes even more reasonable. The price includes snorkeling equipment, floats and bike rental. Those three things total $49 a person these days. If you have 6 people in your cabana that’s a $294 value. Not bad, right? FYI, currently snorkeling equipment is not included with the Serenity Bay cabanas.

4. Drinks and Snacks – Every cabana also has a refrigerator stocked with cans of Coke products and Evian water. If you’re a soda lover like me who gets tired of slightly watered down tap soda on the ship, a day with cold cans of Coke is heavenly. For those of you that like portable, cold water, well they have that too. And not that there is any shortage of food on a Disney cruise, but each cabana also has fresh fruit and snack bars or bags of chips of some kind.

5. Shelter from Rain – I hate to say it, but Castaway Cay does occasionally experience some bad weather in the form of rain or wind. When those times do happen, having somewhere to “hide out” while it passes is a great thing. I’ve been one of the couple of hundred people huddled under the game pavilion, and trust me, this is better.

6. Shelter from the Sun – My people are a fair-skinned, freckly-skin, skin-cancer prone people. Hanging out in the sun all day is not good for us. The ability to camp out in the shade for part of the day is a huge plus for us, and lets us enjoy the island a lot longer. There’s also a ceiling fan if it gets too hot! Nobody else sitting out on the island has that!

7. Sunscreen – Speaking of skin cancer – each cabana also comes with bottles of sunscreen. #winning

8. Chairs and Hammocks – The chairs in the cabana are cushioned! There’s a sofa, chairs, and chaise lounges in your cabana and on the deck outside. On the family beach there are also plenty of regular beach chairs and loungers down on the beach as I referenced above. All cabanas have a hammock outside to relax and/or take naps in, whatever helps you relax.

9. And More – There are several more extras in your cabana. There’s a safe to store your valuables if you’re concerned about them. There are upgraded towels to use as you please. There are magazines to read if you are lacking in reading material. There’s a fresh water shower outside the cabana to wash off all of that irritating sand. There are even sand toys for the little ones on the family beach!

10. Cabana Boy on Call – There are cabana boys! Okay cabana men. And cabana women. There’s a handy little button inside your cabana to push whenever you need assistance. They can restock anything you run out of in the cabana, bring you drinks from the bar (regular bar prices apply), or give you a ride on a golf cart somewhere if you should need it. Our cabana hosts checked on us a few times during the day to see if there was anything they could do. You really will feel pampered! By the way, if you have food allergies, you’ll get an extra level of service. Your server will usually take your lunch order the night before and a cabana host will deliver it right to your cabana at lunch time!

Although I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad day at Castaway Cay, I can tell you that after having experienced a day with a cabana a couple of times, I truly do miss it when I don’t get one. If you can snag one, do it. If you want one and don’t see it, keep looking!

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Published on December 18, 2014 07:00

Daisy Lauren’s Best Week Ever: December 18, 2014

By Daisy Lauren

Hi, Everyone! Welcome to the Best Week Ever here at Walt Disney World ! This week we’re visiting the Disney’s Art of Animation Resort to check out a Cars suite. Then we’re stopping in the Magic Kingdom to see some parade taping fun, eating at Liberty Tree Tavern, and playing in the park. Lastly, we’re heading to Downtown Disney and even dropping by Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort! Phew – I’m tired already! Let’s get going!

I was really looking forward to checking into our Cars suite. I’d previously stayed in The Lion King section, but since I love Cars Land I thought this would be my new favorite. After a stop by the front desk to switch rooms (we’d been in The Little Mermaid section earlier in the week), we were off to the races. Or were we? You’ll have to read more to find out!

Unfortunately, our first trip to the front desk didn’t result in MagicBands that opened our room door. For anyone keeping track, this was door number three of our trip, and our MagicBands worked without additional trips to the front desk exactly once. I read all the comments last week, and I have to say that I’m jealous! I wish we’d had such a positive experience with the new system. Hopefully, it’s all fixed at this point, as we spent quite a bit of time with guest services and tier two support. Fingers crossed! In the meantime, being locked out gave me lots of time to take photos around the resort.

All your favorite Cars characters are here and bigger than life! If you have a little Cars fan at home, I almost think coming here is more fun than meeting the stars at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It really feels like you’ve stepped into the movie.

About 45 minutes later we were finally in our room, where the excellent themeing continued! You can click on any of the photos below to see a larger photo. While the decor is perfectly Cars, I was surprised that I actually preferred the Lion King room. The Cars rooms seemed a little more sparse and without as many little details.

But that’s just me being picky; the bottom line is that I’d stay in a Cars suite any time! However, it seems like a stretch for this room to fit six adults. You’d have to know those adults really well! If you have kids younger than twelve that might be a bit more realistic. There are a large bed in the bedroom and two pull our sofas in the living area, so I’ll let you be the judge. The suite also boasts two full bathrooms and a kitchenette.

If photos aren’t your thing, here is a full walk though of the room:

One last thing before we head out: check out the image that lives inside this fold down bed! We had a nice little surprise (and a big laugh) when we pulled the bed down that covers the kitchen table.

Now that we’ve checked out the room, let’s head over to the Magic Kingdom for some parade filming! I hadn’t planned to be there for much of the festivities, but when bad weather changed the schedule, I ended up in the middle of it. If you’ve never been there for the parade taping, it’s lots of hurry up and wait. We’d gather into crowds and then nothing would happen for 30 minutes or more. Still, it’s such a cool experience to be a part of it! If you dress right you can even get selected for taping. Below left were the winners of the 3rd season of X Factor singing “Love is an Open Door” from Frozen. Below right is Robin Roberts. There were several more celebrities around, it was just impossible to get close enough for photos!

However, a little more accessible was the actual Christmas Day Parade, or parts of it that were rolling by. It’s always funny to me to see every float Disney has ever had from all the parks crammed into one parade. It must look epic to someone who has never visited! As awesome as our Christmas parade is, even I’d be disappointed if I was expecting the one from TV!

So where did all this cool stuff lead us? Well, to almost being late and missing our lunch reservations! Time sure flies when you’re having fun! On this day we were lucky enough to have a table booked at Liberty Tree Tavern, which is the best LUNCH option in Magic Kingdom for my money. So why do I stress lunch only? Lunch is ordered a la carte, but at dinner the restaurant switches to an all you can eat meal with a hefty price tag. While the food is still great, it’s much more expensive. However, if you can spare the time at lunch, I’d give this one a chance.

I wish I could show you tons of variety here, but nearly everyone at our table wanted the same thing. What was it? Arguably the best thing on the menu! The Pilgrim’s Feast at $16.99 is pictured left, and it’s everything you love about Thanksgiving dinner. While you can see the turkey, gravy, green beans, and mashed potatoes, it’s important to note there is some amazing stuffing hiding under the there too! Pictured right is a fruit plate for the vegetarian in our group. It isn’t actually on the menu, so remember to always ask about dietary restrictions. Disney is great about working with you to get the right meal!

Want to know the biggest benefit of Christmas Day parade taping? The Festival of Fantasy parade doesn’t run until 5pm! After a late lunch our timing was perfect to grab a seat for the parade and enjoy the show. Wow, I’m still impressed with this parade! The floats and music remind me of the quality you find in Tokyo Disneyland! In fact, some of the floats were borrowed from there!

Of course, the highlight is the steam punk dragon that breathes fire. I’m always so mesmerized that I miss getting a photo of the actual fire, but it’s my new year’s resolution to get that photo so stay tuned!

With family visiting, I think I’ve ridden the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train more in the last week than I have since it opened. While I still don’t love the roller coaster parts, I finally figured out the photo settings for the show scene. For any of my photography nerds out there, the secret is to not take your aperture too low. I recommend not going below f3; lower than that, the dwarf faces get overexposed. That certainly isn’t the norm for a dark ride, so I thought I’d share.

Next, I stopped at Downtown Disney to check out the Christmas decor. In front of Earl of Sandwich a big Christmas tree is up with lots of great photo spots all around the base. Especially if you’re there early in the day, this is a great spot for family photos!

At Disney’s Days of Christmas (am I the only one that just call this “The Christmas Store”?) Frozen has found another place to invade. Not only has an entire room been filled to the brim with Frozen merchandise, there are also banners draped all around the building. These are just a couple:

Another popular photo spot is this huge banner on the building. It looks like a great, big postcard stuck on the wall and I lost count of how many people pretended to ice skate along for a photo (including my family!). While I am definitely in Frozen overload mode, this is a really cute addition that I hope sticks around. However, the Frozen soundtrack playing constantly in this area could really go… like yesterday.. no really.

Over at the Co-op I found some really neat oversized coasters that I hadn’t noticed before (below left). They were only $6.95 each and about six inches across. I would have purchased them on the spot if I’d been heading home, but I decided to pass because I’d have to lug them around the parks. I hope they aren’t gone next week! Below right, you can see the Orange Bird cabinet is fully stocked.

At Once Upon a Toy, the inflatable Baymax that had been on display was gone. However, Duffy has been dressed up for the holidays. You can see regular sized Duffy on the right side of that photo to give you an idea of how big this is, with the base I’d estimate it’s six feet tall. Maybe they’ll dress him up for all the holidays! On the below right is my new favorite ornament, Figment was $17.95 and flying off the shelf.

In a previous post I stopped by the Grand Floridian earlier in the season and showed the life size gingerbread house before the Christmas tree was up. Well, I stopped back by this week, and it’s more beautiful than I remembered. Outside the hotel there are bright, white deer glowing in beds of poinsettias. Inside, a huge tree dominates the lobby while piano music plays softly. Even if you never stay at the Grand, it’s worth visiting just to experience the atmosphere!

That’s everything for this week. Now let’s see what you can expect if you’re visiting next week.

Crowd Calendar: We’re quickly approaching the most wonderful (and BUSIEST) times of the year. Be sure to have your touring plan optimized and be ready for anything!

Weather: Highs will be in the 70′s with lows in the 50′s and the occasional shower. Be ready for chilly and wet nights!

Remember: As the holidays approach, Christmas shows will be offered during regular park hours. Take advantage of this perk and skip the long attraction lines.

Here’s my top tip for this week: Never be shy to ask for something off the menu or help with a dietary need at Disney. Splitsville is the only place on property I’ve ever not been accommodated. You’ll be pleasantly surprised how willing everyone is to help you!

Do you have any news I missed or any requests for coverage next week? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below, and thanks so much for reading! I’m wishing all of you the Best Week Ever, until next time!

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Daisy Lauren’s Best Week Ever: December 18, 2014 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

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Published on December 18, 2014 03:00

STK Orlando Announced for Disney Springs

By Rikki Niblett

The rumors were indeed true…a new restaurant, brought to life by The ONE Group, called STK Orlando will be taking residence in the new Disney Springs.

STK Orlando will blend a modern steakhouse with a chic lounge to make for a superior fine dining experience. The restaurant will feature two dining floors, including a main level and the only rooftop dining venue in Disney Springs, plus a lounge that will feature a DJ who is on hand to create an electric vibe.

“We are thrilled to join the Disney Springs family with the launch of STK Orlando,” said Jonathan Segal, CEO of The ONE Group. “The combination of an innovative menu and high-energy atmosphere has driven the success of STK, and we believe it will be an ideal addition to Disney Springs, and will help further cement its status as a place for friends and family to gather for fine dining and entertainment.”

In addition to steak, STK’s other specialties include dishes like Parmesan Truffle Fries, Lil BRG’s, Shrimp Rice Krispies, Sweet Corn Pudding, and Jump Lump Crab Salad.

There are multiple STK locations worldwide, including New York, Atlanta (hmm…a research trip may be in order), Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Washington DC, Miami, and London.

The restaurant will open in The Landing section of the updated shopping and dining complex in Spring 2015.

Two additional restaurants have officially been announced for Disney Springs–Morimoto Asia and The BOATHOUSE. With the first deadline date for Disney Springs rapidly approaching (Spring 2015) I would expect we’ll be hearing details on additional new restaurants and shops slated to open with the first phase of Disney Springs’ re-branding soon.

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Published on December 17, 2014 09:38

25 Drinks of Christmas Countdown – Day 17: Balsamic Grande at Disney Cruise Line’s Palo

The Christmas season is my absolute favorite time of the year. Growing up, one of the little things I loved most was getting an Advent calendar and counting down the days until Santa would be coming down the chimney. As I grew older, I had to leave Advent calendars in the rear view mirror,* but I still miss that daily countdown building anticipation to the big day. So, we’re going to start a virtual Advent calendar here at TouringPlans. For 2014, we are going to countdown our favorite drinks at Walt Disney World and the Universal Orlando Resort.

Criteria: Drinks can be alcoholic or nonalcoholic. Drinks can come from any venue on property as well as the Disney Cruise Line. Bonus points awarded for atmosphere where drink is served. Any drink with glow cubes is immediately disqualified. Ready? Let’s go!

DAY SEVENTEEN: Balsamic Grand at Palo (Disney Cruise Line)

Balsamic Grand at Palo. (photo by William Hirsch)

There were many aspects of the Disney Cruise that I sailed on earlier this year which gave me a better understanding of why so many people become “addicted” to cruising. One of the areas that stood out to me the most was the overall level of service that guests receive while on the ship, and the pinnacle of that service was at the ship’s upscale Italian restaurant Palo. To summarize: an amazing dining experience, one of the best I have had anywhere, land or sea. The signature cocktail of Palo is the Balsamic Grande, and it is the perfect drink to begin the journey you are about to take within this gorgeous restaurant. Ingredients: 5 fresh strawberries, divided, 1 1/2 ounces agave nectar, 1/2 ounce balsamic vinegar (aged 8 years), and 5 ounces Grey Goose Vodka Muddle strawberries with agave and balsamic vinegar in a mixing glass. Add vodka and ice; shake and strain into chilled martini glass.

Balsamic Grand at Palo. (photo by William Hirsch)

Despite the rave reviews of Palo from almost all DCL travelers, I was skeptical going in. Our party also included a vegan, and I was definitely not impressed with how prepared the other restaurants on the ship for that dietary request (which we informed them about months ahead of time and then confirmed once we boarded the ship.) The Palo servers and chefs made a point to let us know they knew about the vegan diet and went above and beyond to deliver an incredible dinner. They asked thoughtful questions about what foods the vegan preferred (unlike questions from the other restaurants, which included, “do you eat fish?“) and then delivered an exceptional meal. Their were many highlights of our week long cruise, but our night at Palo might have been THE highlight, and something we will remember for a long time.

Palo.

Vegan eggplant-based dish at Palo.

PREVIOUS DRINKS OF CHRISTMAS:

DAY FOUR: Sunken Treasure on the Disney Cruise Line

DAY NINE: PBR in a Paper Bay at Cabana Bay Beach Resort

DAY TEN: Bay Lake Sunset at Top of the World Lounge

DAY ELEVEN: Tongue Tying Lemon Squash at the Leaky Cauldron

DAY THIRTEEN: Pint of Guinness at Raglan Road

DAY FIFTEEN: Burnt Orange at Todd English’s bluezoo

DAY SIXTEEN: Fishy Green Ale at Fountain of Fair Fortune

See you tomorrow for the next entry into the 25 Drinks of Christmas Countdown, where we are going to head into Epcot’s World Showcase. If you had fun, be sure to check out The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! and Saturday Six articles, or, for your listening pleasure, check out the Pardon the Pixie Dust podcast. Your humble author can also be seen producing typos at an inhuman rate on Twitter: @derekburgan

Special thanks to crack staff photographer Brandon Glover, Billy Hirsch, and Megan Stump for their invaluable assistance with this article. Be sure to also check out Brandon on The Park Blogger podcast with co-hosts Aengus Mackenzie and Brian Carey.

*That is an absolutely lie. I still buy an advent calendar every year with chocolates in it, and I also buy an annual box of Christmas Crunch, but we’ll keep that between us.

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Holidays Around the World

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Published on December 17, 2014 09:00

My Disney World Christmas Vacation Traditions

By Savannah Sanders

The most magical place on earth gets a little more magical around this time of year when the parks and resorts deck the halls with holiday finery and give Disney fans a reason to take one more Walt Disney World vacation! My family and I love to take a trip to Disney World around the holidays, and we have created a few festive traditions over the years. Check out a few of my Disney World Vacation Christmas Traditions.

Downtown Disney’s Days of Christmas Store

Buying a New Ornament

It just wouldn’t be right to leave Disney World around Christmastime without a new ornament to add to our tree. My favorite place to shop for ornaments is the Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe at the Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square. I love how it feels like we’re walking through an old, colonial home. For a wider variety of Christmas décor, we like to drop by Disney’s Days of Christmas Store at Downtown Disney, where it really does feel like Christmas all year round.

Epcot’s World Showcase is one of my favorite corners of Disney World, and I especially enjoy Holidays Around the World this time of year, where performances educate guests about the different holiday traditions of their respective countries. It’s a lot of fun to hear and see how other countries celebrate the holidays. Our favorites would be Father Christmas at the United Kingdom and the Voices of Liberty Dickens Carolers at the American Adventure. The special holiday treats and the chance to do a little Christmas shopping is pretty great too. After all, there’s no chance that what you’re buying as a gift is something someone already has when you shop at the stores in the Norway or China or Morocco pavilions.

Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights

Dinner at Le Cellier

The holiday season is synonymous with good food; and in my family’s opinion, there are few places on property that compare to the menu at Epcot’s Le Cellier. This delicious restaurant is tucked away in the Canada pavilion and very popular with regular guests. Their Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup is the perfect remedy for the winter chill, and I can’t get enough of the pretzel bread. However, my absolute favorite menu item has to be their filet mignon. Trust me, you’ll never be the same after you have sampled this dish. My family is crazy about this restaurant, and it has become our tradition to enjoy a meal here when we need a little escape from the holiday festivities.

Photo in Front of Cinderella Castle

Cinderella Castle is magical any time of the year, but you really haven’t seen it until you behold it covered in delicate, icy lights during the Christmas season. This year, Elsa from Disney’s Frozen lights up the castle in its icy finery during the Frozen Holiday Wish show at the castle stage at 6:15 PM. Our tradition? A photo of our family at night in front of the castle. It makes a great Christmas card!

Wilderness Lodge

Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights

While the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom is incredible in its own right, my family simply can’t miss the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Hollywood Studios. The thousands upon thousands of lights, gently falling snow, and classic Christmas tunes combine to make this experience a must-do. It’s impossible not to feel the holiday spirit when wandering up and down the display, and did I mention that this experience is free with park admission?

Shopping at the Grand Floridian Gingerbread House

We always have to drop by the Grand Floridian Resort during this festive time of year to see the resort’s annual giant gingerbread house. The house is so big that it’s actual a working store with a Cast Member inside selling chocolate and gingerbread treats. Our favorites? An edible gingerbread shingle, just like what covers this house’s roof, and a mini-gingerbread house ornament to add to our own Christmas tree.

Magic Kingdom Window Display

Visiting the Wilderness Lodge Resort

While all of the resorts around Disney World are decked with holiday decor to put guests into the Christmas spirit, there is probably no other resort on property that puts you into the mood quite like Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort. The log architecture, the pine trees outside, the crackling fireplace, and the giant, towering Christmas tree at the center of the resort makes you feel like you’re in the snowy mountains enjoying a cozy Christmas. It’s a tradition to drop by this resort for a meal and then enjoy a few hours of lounging in the lobby and revisiting a few of our favorite corners of the resort before heading back to the parks in the evening.

©Disney

Appreciating the Magic Kingdom Window Displays

The Magic Kingdom window displays are enchanting all year round, but my family likes to see what kind of scenes Disney has created for the holidays. In addition to the creative arrangements of toys and accessories and more in the windows, there are a few magical displays too. One of my family’s favorites has always been the Mickey’s Christmas Carol windows outside the Emporium on Main Street, U.S.A. Each window has always shown a scene from Mickey’s Christmas Carol and some of the figures even move!

Visiting the Park Trees

Every park at Disney World has its own giant tree to celebrate the holidays, and each reflects the theme of the park. When we arrive at each park during our vacation, it’s a tradition to snap a photo of the park’s tree, as well as taking the time to look at the different ornaments. Animal Kingdom’s ornaments are usually my favorite and so fitting for the park, and Epcot’s tree looks amazing lit up at night.

Next to my own home, there is probably nowhere else on earth I would rather be during the Christmas season than Walt Disney World. It’s the ultimate destination for families to spend time together and to make memories, and all of the holiday extras, treats, decorations, and more make a Disney vacation a whole different experience during this time of year. Have you ever visited Disney World during the holidays? Does your family have any Disney Christmas traditions?

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