Famous Disney Recipes

Okay, my Disney fanatics! If you are a true Walt Disney World connoisseur, you’ll recognize these two popular food items. I have to be honest with you…the Trail’s End cornbread is pretty darn fantastic. Also, the Jungle Juice from Boma reminds me of Costa Rica when we were able to have fresh juice every morning.

I hope you enjoy these recipes! I’ll be sharing more throughout the year.

Jungle Juice – Boma (Animal Kingdom Lodge)

Ingredients:

• 1 part pineapple juice
• 1 part mango juice
• 2 parts orange juice
• 2 parts lemonade.

Directions:

1. Blend until fully incorporated and enjoy!

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Cornbread – Trail’s End (Fort Wilderness)

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup cornmeal
• 1 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1 Tablespoon baking powder
• 1 3/4 cup flour
• 1/2 cup oil
• 1 cup milk
• 2 eggs

Directions:

1. Blend flour, cornmeal, salt, baking powder and sugar in a mixing bowl.
2. In a separate bowl, blend milk, eggs, and oil with a mixer.
3. Using that same mixer, slowly add the blended liquid to the dry ingredients prepared in step 1, mixing just enough to incorporate the wet and dry ingredients.
4. Spray a 9 x 13 baking pan with nonstick food spray and pour the batter into the pan, spreading evenly.
5. Bake in a preheated oven at 375 degrees for 20 – 25 minutes. or until golden brown. Cool and enjoy!

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What is your favorite Disney food item you’d like to recreate?

Have a magical, Disney day!

Amanda

New Things Coming to Walt Disney World

I’ll be honest…I’m not thrilled about all of the changes that are coming to all of the Disney parks. The changes to Epcot was the last straw for me. I can’t believe that they got rid of the fountain and everything that I’ve come to know since my very first trip. However, there are some interesting changes coming in the new year.

What are you most excited about in 2020?

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway (Hollywood Studios; Spring 2020)

I still don’t quite understand the point of this new ride. I, personally, liked the Great Movie Ridge a lot better. Guests will be able to experience a 3D “toon” experience as you join Mickey and Minnie on their out-of-control adventure.

Roundup Rodeo BBQ Restaurant (Hollywood Studios)

This new sit-down restaurant will be located in Toy Story Land where guests will dine with a “kaleidoscope of toys, games, and playsets.”

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure (Epcot; Summer 2020)

This is probably the only thing I’m super excited about. This ride is in Disneyland Paris and it’s finally coming to Walt Disney World in Florida. Put on your 3D glasses and shrink down to the size of a rat to cause trouble in Gustav’s kitchen.

La Crêperie de Paris (Epcot; Summer 2020)

This new restaurant will offer both table and quick-service meals by the celebrity chef, Jérôme Bocuse.

Beauty & the Beast Sing-Along (Epcot; January 2020)

This show will take place in the France pavilion. I was super nervous when I heard about this because my absolute favorite show is Impressions de France. However, I’m happy to report that both shows will run alternately throughout the day.

HarmonioUS (Epcot; Autumn 2020)

I’m still upset about the fact that Illuminations is gone but this replacement show should be interesting.

“HarmonioUS” will debut as the largest nighttime spectacular ever created for a Disney park. It will celebrate how the music of Disney inspires people the world over, carrying them away harmoniously on a stream of familiar Disney tunes reinterpreted by a diverse group of artists from around the globe. “HarmonioUS” will feature massive floating set pieces, custom-built LED panels, choreographed moving fountains, lights, pyrotechnics, lasers and more.

D23

Cirque du Soleil (Disney Springs; Spring 2020)

Set your imagination in motion and get ready for an enlivening collaboration with Cirque du Soleil, Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering, iconic memory makers.
Cirque du Soleil transports you into an inspiring world where Disney animation can be experienced like never before.
Leap into a live acrobatic journey where an animator’s desk becomes the stage and drawings come to life. This love letter to the art of Disney animation is a celebration of life and all of its deliberate and unanticipated movements.

Cirque du Soleil

Have a magical, Disney day!

Amanda

BEST Fall Treats

Disney always has delicious snacks, but each season comes with many new specialized snacks and desserts. I love seeing, and tasting these seasonal goodies, and since it’s Autumn it is the perfect time to share what’s available until the end of October.

Pumpkin Spice Beignets – Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter, Sassagoula Floatworks and Float Factory

Rather than plain powdered sugar on these amazing fried desserts, they add pumpkin spice. I highly recommend that you try these.

Halloween Cinnamon Roll – Magic Kingdom, Main Street Bakery

If you like cinnamon rolls, and lots of frosting, these beautiful desserts are for you.

Zero Waffle Sundae – Magic Kingdom, Sleepy Hollow

This ice cream sundae has two pumpkin waffles and caramel syrup which is the perfect combination of Autumn flavors.

The Maleficent Dessert – Magic Kingdom, Storybook Treats

This beautiful dessert has lime soft-serve in a black waffle cone with purple sugar and chocolate horns.

Candy Corn Milkshakes – Magic Kingdom, Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies

Though this dessert would probably be my first take (because of its super sweetness), there are a lot of people that look forward to this milkshake every year. It basically tastes like liquid candy corn. Good or bad?

Not-So-Poison Apple Cupcake – Magic Kingdom, Main Street Bakery

This spiced, apple cupcake is topped with buttercream and pecan crunch and sounds so delectable. Even Snow White would like this cupcake…maybe.

Pumpkin Cheesecake – Magic Kingdom, Main Street Bakery

Vanilla pecan cake with caramel glaze is one of the most perfect Autumn desserts.

What is your favorite Autumn Disney snack/dessert?

Have a magical Disney day,

Amanda

Autumn in Disney!

Though it may not be my favorite time in Disney, Autumn is certainly a great time to visit the parks. The weather starts to cool off a bit and you can usually find some new (sometimes rare) characters in the parks. This season is especially great because there are quite a few new things happening this Autumn 2019.

#1

The Disney Skyliner Gondola System opened just two days ago! This gondola system travels from Art of Animation, Pop Century, Caribbean Beach, as well as the International Gateway at Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

#2

The International Food and Wine Festival is in full swing until November 23rd. You can check out this year’s menus here.

#3

Epcot Forever, the new (temporary) fireworks show that will be replacing Illuminations will be opening tonight. This show will provide new technology, soundtracks, and fireworks like you’ve never seen before.

#4

A couple new restaurants have joined the ranks including Takumi Tei in Japan and Regal Eagle Smokehouse Craft Beers and Barbecue in America (Epcot).

What are you most looking forward to?

If you’re going to Disney anytime soon, I hope you have a fantastic trip!

Have a magical Disney day,

Amanda

Disney Park Bucket List – Epcot

One of my favorite things to do during the vacation planning process for Disney is to make individual bucket lists for each park and resort. There are so many new things added all the time, not even taking into account the holidays and special occasions. For me, having a bucket list helps me see and check off all of the fun things and foods during my vacation.

Epcot is such a big, awesome park that the bucket list could go on for a really long time. However, I have compiled some of my absolute favorite things to do in Epcot along with some things I have yet to do. Feel free to share some of your favorite bucket list items in the comments below!

Photo by David Buchi on Pexels.com

#1 If there is a festival going on (Food & Wine, Flower & Garden, or Holidays Around the World) be sure to pick up your passport at the front of the park. It will tell you all about the foods and activities offered throughout the World Showcase.

#2 Stop at Club Cool for some free soda samples.

#3 Ride Soarin’ Around the World (once or multiple times…it’s up to you)

#4 Ride the Gran Fiesta Tour featuring the Three Caballeros. It’s the only original ride featured in the World Showcase now that the Maelstrom is gone.

#5 See the Mariachi Band perform outside the Mexico Pavillion.

#6 If you want to do something fun and spend a little more money, sign up for the Dessert Party. You get front-row access to the fireworks show plus a buffet of delicious desserts and drinks.

#7 Watch the Jeweled Dragon Acrobats perform at the China pavilion.

#8 Take a trip to Karamell-Kuche for some of the best caramel ever!

#9 Hear the Voices of Liberty perform at the American Adventure pavilion. They truly are breathtaking!

#10 Explore the trails in Japan behind Katsuri Grill.

#11 Have a meal at the Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie in France. They have the best quick-service food! Otherwise, you can dine at my absolute favorite restaurant, Chefs de France for a divine meal!

#12 Visit the aquarium area above The Seas with Nemo & Friends.

#13 Attend the Candlelight Processional (it costs more, but it is truly amazing!)

#14 Watch Impressions de France at the France pavilion. It’s my favorite show of all the pavilions.

#15 Walk through the Moroccan pavilion to see all the beautiful art and alcoves.

There is so much more that could be added to this list, however, I wanted to just add my favorites.

Is there anything that you would add?

What is your favorite thing to do in Epcot?

Have a magical Disney day,

Amanda

Necessary & Not-So-Necessary Disney Extras

If you’ve ever been to Disney, or have looked at their website, it can be a little daunting how many extra experiences you can add to your regular ticket cost. I want to use some of my experience as a Disney-goer to help you figure out what extras are worth the cost and which ones aren’t.

Dining Packages

Let’s kick it off with dining packages. A lot of people say that having the Disney dining plan is the best way to save money. However, my family has found that since we are always going as a group of 6, it is easier to purchase small meals in the parks as we go. We have also found that eating a late breakfast and packing a few snacks helps us stay full until we have a delicious dinner in a restaurant.

There are different types of dining packages such as the Fantasmic Dining Package and the Candlelight Processional Dining Package which can be a little more worth the money. These are one-time dining events that offer you VIP seating for the show. We did the dining package for the Candlelight Processional and have never regretted that decision. Unless you are thinking about taking precious time out of your vacation to stand in line for hours in order to get a good seat, I recommend trying out the dining packages for these and other shows.

In-Room Extras

Okay, we actually opted out of this one even though we wanted to surprise Adam last time for his birthday. The reason? It was so incredibly expensive. Depending on what you are planning on doing, the packages can range from $60-$150. This oftentimes will include party decorations, small goodies, flowers, cake, etc. As cool as this sounds, we found a lot of what they put in the room at Target for a whole lot cheaper.

If you really want to decorate your room to surprise a family member, pick up a few decorations at your local party store and decorate it yourself before your whole family checks in. Purchasing an individual cake is also cheaper than purchasing an entire package.

However, if you are on your honeymoon, this would be a great time to splurge a bit. Besides, you never know when a Disney employee might give you a discount as newlyweds. You just never know ;).

Backstage Tours

These tours are pretty expensive but some of them are pretty cool. Personally, I don’t want to ruin the magic by taking a behind-the-scenes tour of the Magic Kingdom, however, something like the Wild Africa Trek in the Animal Kingdom is completely worth it. Let me just say that I don’t recommend these tours regularly as they are priced pretty high – around $150-$200 per person. For special occasions such as anniversaries, birthdays, or honeymoons, this would be a wonderful surprise and memorable experience.

Memory Maker

Out of all of the “extras” mentioned in this post, this is the most worth it to me. With the Memory Maker, you are able to keep every single photopass photo that is taken throughout your park stay. You pay one fee for every photo. They are loaded onto your My Disney Experience account where you can download the ones you want to keep before they expire. You end up saving a lot of money by using this handy little card rather than purchasing each individual photo.

Fireworks Cruise

We did this for the first time on our last trip to celebrate Adam’s birthday. We attended Illuminations: Reflections of Earth in our own private boat. I don’t recommend this! We had a nice (very short) tour around the lagoon that connects the Beach Club, Yacht Club, Boardwalk, Magic Kingdom, and Epcot, however, when we stopped at our final location to view the fireworks show, there were 3 or 4 other boats that were tethered to ours. Unfortunately, there was a crying toddler in the next boat that made the experience not so great.

Finally, the smoke from the show blew in our direction and we weren’t able to see the last few minutes of the show very well. It was fun, but we won’t be doing it again.

Overall, you can enjoy your Disney vacation without adding any of these extra experiences to your schedule. Though, I still recommend the Memory Maker, especially if you have little kids, are seeing a lot of characters, and are riding a lot of rides. There are many more extras, however, these were the most popular and most expensive.

What is your favorite extra?

What is your least favorite extra?

Have a magical, Disney day my friends!

Amanda

For the Love of Food!

You all know by now how obsessed our family is with food. Well, in the spirit of being hungry at this very moment, and the fact that we’re currently wishing we could celebrate the International Flower & Garden Festival, here is yet another food-related post.

I’ve done reviews and restaurant suggestions already, so this time, I’m going to focus on quick-service stations that are perfect for quick dining, affordable prices ($14.99 and under), and delicious foods.

Enjoy! Bon appetit! Buon appetito!

Magic Kingdom

Sleepy Hollow

There really aren’t that many good quick-service locations in Magic Kingdom. However, this one is great for a quick snack or breakfast. Josh and Adam love the Nutella and fruit-filled waffles.

Epcot

Yorkshire County Fish Shop

Located in the UK, this quick-service is a family favorite. Their fried fish and chips are delicious!

Electric Umbrella

If you’re looking for healthy options such as sandwiches and salads, this quick-service location is for you.

Katsura Grill

Aside from France, I think our family agrees that Japan has the best food in Epcot. If you like Japanese food; sushi, udon, ramen, etc., this is the place for you.

La Cantina de San Angel

If you can’t eat at the full-service Mexican restaurant than I recommend trying this quick-service. Their tacos are delicious!

Lotus Blossom Cafe

We don’t particularly like Chinese food, but this quick-service is really good. I’d say it’s probably better than the Nine Dragons restaurant.

Les Halles Boulangerie & Patisserie

This one is my personal favorite. They have so many delectable options including sandwiches, soups, salads, and pastries. There’s always a line because it’s so good!

Animal Kingdom

Harambe Market

Located in Africa, we love going to this quick-service station for delicious Indian and African food. We like their gyros.

Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery

For quick sandwiches and cupcakes.

Satu’li Canteen

Another Howard favorite, this quick-service is probably the best one we’ve been to. They offer healthy entrees with both meat and vegetarian options. Their steak is perfectly cooked!

Hollywood Studios

Backlot Express

Perfect for a burger and fries. They give you a lot of food for what you pay. Really good burgers and their chicken nuggets are pretty good, too.

Woody’s Lunch Box

The smoked turkey sandwich and the loaded potato barrels are so delicious! Definitely another favorite.

 

So, the next time you’re in Disney, or if you are planning your first visit, I hope that this post helps you plan for where you’d like to eat. Let me know if you have any questions or comments!

Have a magical Disney day,

Amanda

National Inspire Your Heart with Art Day

Epcot’s Festival of the Arts is one of the most popular festivals held in Epcot. With live Broadway performances, art murals, sidewalk art, and delicious food that is both pleasing to look at and eat, it isn’t hard to see why! Let’s take a look at what is new, and returning, to this year’s Festival of the Arts!

Food

Everyone’s favorite part of any of the Epcot festivals is trying the many, many delicious food items around the World Showcase.

Some returning favorites are:

Red Wine-braised Beef Short Rib with Parsnip Puree, Broccolini, Baby Tomatoes, and Aged Balsamic (Cuisine Classique), Deconstructed Strawberry Cheesecake with Fresh Florida Strawberries, Sugar Cookies, and Micro-basil (The Deconstructed Dish), and Almond Frangipane Cake layered with Raspberry Jam and Callebaut Belgian Chocolate (Pop Eats!)

Deconstructed Strawberry Cheesecake

Almond Frangipane Cake

 Red Wine-braised Beef Short Rib

Some new favorites are:

Crystal Mooncake with Fruit Filling and Garnished with Toasted Coconut (The Painted Panda-China), Orange Honey Mousse with Peaches and Mint Marjoram Cream (L’Arte di Mangiare-Italy), and Chocoflan: a Creamy Mexican Custard and Chocolate Sponge Cake topped with Cajeta and Hazelnuts (The Hungry Artist-Mexico).

Chocoflan

Orange Honey Mousse

Crystal Mooncake

These are just a few of the many delicious food items offered this year.

Entertainment

The Disney on Broadway Concert Series is returning once again, now with performances seven days a week. Some of the performers include Arielle Jacobs, Adam Jacobs, Ashley Brown, Josh Strickland, and many more. So come join these broadway stars for a night of spectacular entertainment!

Also, throughout the whole World Showcase and Future World, you can see art come to life through living statues, sidewalk art, and even some unexpected places. There are art galleries in Japan, Morocco, China, American Adventure, Mexico, and Norway where you will be able to see art representing each culture.

There is also a chalk art gallery where you will be able to see talented artists create amazing art right at your feet!

Don’t forget to stop by the Expression Section: A Paint by Number Mural so you can unleash your inner artist!

I hope you all found this helpful and are now ready to inspire your heart with art at the Festival of the Arts!

See ya real soon!

Julia

National Hot Cocoa Day

For this unofficial, official national holiday, I wanted to share something fun. I found this amazing Mickey hot cocoa recipe on a fellow Disney blog: Disney Family. Enjoy!

You can find the full recipe here.

Have a magical Disney day,

Amanda

Top 5 Things We’ve NEVER Done in Disney

Even though our family has been through two annual passes and various other trips to Walt Disney World, there are still a few things that we haven’t yet experienced. I hope that in the future, we will be able to check these items off our bucket list.

Comment below if you’ve tried any of these experiences/foods/activities. We love to hear from you!

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

I’ve always wanted to participate in this event, but it’s just so expensive. As an adult, I am no longer allowed to dress up in the park…except during this party. I personally dislike Halloween, however, who could say no to candy and costumes in Disney?

Aerophile – Hot Air Balloon in Disney Springs

Again, this is a money issue for such a short ride. We’ve always admired from the ground. Maybe one day…

Chairlift at Blizzard Beach

I have no idea why we didn’t try this when we had the water park addition to our annual pass. These look so neat!

Meet Baymax

I was so bummed that we weren’t able to meet Baymax! We were in a 40-minute line but there was something else that we had to get to, or he was leaving, or something. Either way, we didn’t get to meet him.

1900 Park Fare

This restaurant is famous for its character breakfasts. We’ve never gone because 1. character meals are more expensive and 2. the food isn’t all that great. One day, though…

There are quite a few other restaurants that we haven’t tried and there are fireworks shows that we haven’t seen (seasonal) and there are performances in Disney Springs that we haven’t enjoyed, but I think we’ve done pretty well.

What is your favorite thing to do in Disney?

What do you recommend we try?

Have a magical Disney day,

Amanda

 

Pictures are courtesy of the official Disney website: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com