Thursday, July 30, 2015

Animal Kingdom's Africa - Exploring the "World", One "Land" at a Time



As we cross the bridge from Discovery Island, we enter Africa and the village of Harambe. Food, entertainment and some of the most exotic animals in the world await us in this small African village. 


Head to the Harambe Wildlife Preserve for the most exciting attraction in Africa! Kilimanjaro Safaris take you on an 800 square mile tour of the savanna. You will ride an open-air safari vehicle where over 34 different species of African wildlife seemingly roam free. Your tour guide will provide valuable information on this 18-minute tour and slow whenever possible for great photo opportunities! 

Previous versions of the safari included a scripted story of poachers invading the reserve to capture the elephant Big Red and her young child Little Red. Your vehicle (Simba 1) would cross a dangerous bridge and speed up in time to stop the poachers and save Little Red! A later version removed the danger to Little Red and had him roaming the reserve and asking us to be on the lookout for him. We still encountered a speedy poacher chase at the end. These versions have since been removed and it is now a calm, slow-paced safari with no accompanying storyline. I personally enjoyed the stories very much and found the safari just a little more boring without them. Although the story has been removed, Disney maintains that the safari still has a strong emphasis on conservation. 





After your safari ends, there are still many more animals to be seen. Take a walk through the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail. Here you will get a close-up view of animals such as okapi, hippos, tropical fish, naked mole rats, meerkats and of course, the Lowland Gorillas!











If all this exploring has worked up an appetite, there are plenty of satisfying choices in Africa. You can enjoy a bountiful all-you-can-eat buffet at Tusker House Restaurant. They have many delicious food choices with African flavoring. You can also meet and greet some of your favorite characters at breakfast, lunch and dinner!








If a buffet is too much for you, there are many other choices in Africa. Stop in for a relaxing specialty cocktail at the Dawa Bar. Enjoy some cool drinks and fresh fruit at the Harambe Fruit Market. Enjoy something hot or sweet at Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery. Or, grab a sandwich or salad at Tamu Tamu Refreshments.








You can also now visit the newly-opened Harambe Market. The market is made up of four quick service windows. They include: Kitamu Grill, Famous Sausages, Chef Mwanga's, and Wanjohi Refreshments. Each offers a variety of African inspired dishes. The area also includes 220 seats with viewing of the live entertainment at the Harambe platform. The space also opens up to a new pathway to Bradley Falls and the Asia section. (photo credit: Orlando Sentinel)




At its new home in Africa's Harambe Theater, take a break from the heat to enjoy Festival of the Lion King. Currently the longest running attraction in Animal Kingdom, this spectacular stage show features puppets, stilt-walkers, acrobats and singers. The interactive performance puts the audience in the fun, breaking them into four animal groups. Will you be a giraffe, warthog, elephant or lion? Join Simba, Timon and Pumbaa for this bigger-than-Broadway show!





FUN FACTS:

**50 Cast Members perform at Festival of the Lion King
**The only live baobab tree in Africa stands outside Tusker House restaurant
**Gift shops in Africa have fake business licenses with the official seal of Harambe
**The largest tree replanted in the park is located in Harambe Village. It tips the scales at 90 tons
**Kilimanjaro Safaris covers over 110 acres
**Harambe Village is based on the Kenyan town of Lamu



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Friday, July 24, 2015

Animal Kingdom's Oasis/Discovery Island - Exploring the "World", one "Land" at a time!


With over 40 square miles of magic, Walt Disney World can seem overwhelming. Even frequent visitors can have a hard time "doing it all". It's been more than 2 years since we last explored the resort and, as we know, WDW is ever-changing. The 4 major parks are each broken down into several "lands". So, we will explore Walt Disney "World", one "Land" at a time, featuring all the attractions each land has to offer. We will visit the well-known favorites along with the hidden gems you may have missed and hopefully, discover some new magic to add to your next trip.

We'll begin our tour with WDW's "newest" park. Disney's Animal Kingdom opened on April 22, 1998. It's the largest Disney park in the world, covering 500 acres. The park is themed entirely on animal conservation.



Disney's Animal Kingdom starts your day off right with a fun rope drop welcome by your favorite Disney pals. The Fab 5 will roll in to welcome you and get you ready for your safari adventure!




Accessible from inside or outside Animal Kingdom is Rainforest Cafe. You will be surrounded with the sights and sounds of the jungle as you enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner. Although it is not a Disney-owned restaurant, they do participate in the Disney Dining Plan. They also accept Landry company gift cards which you can get in advance, sometimes at a discount or for free through participation in some online programs. They also have their own gift shop with a large variety of merchandise. 




Upon entering Animal Kingdom, you will first pass through the Oasis exhibits. These shady trails provide lush foliage, gentle waterfalls and amazing wildlife. Among the animals you will find here are the Giant Anteater, Exotic Boar, Spoonbill and more. 











As you explore the foliage around the Oasis, something may just catch your eye. Did that vine just move?!? If so, then you may have found DiVine. This stilt-walking performer is covered in beautiful foliage to blend in with the surroundings and is truly a marvel! You may also find her on the pathway between Africa and Asia. 










At the center of Discovery Island stands the majestic icon of Disney's Animal Kingdom: the Tree of Life. This larger than life tree stands 145 tall and 50 feet wide. It is adorned with more than 103,000 individually placed leaves. The trunk contains carvings of over 325 animals which can be viewed from different areas as you travel through the Tree of Life Garden and Discovery Island Trails. The interior of the structure was crafted using an oil rig which was strong enough to endure Florida's hurricane weather and provide a base large enough to house a theater. A recent expansion includes 11 new                                                                   animal carvings to the tree!



New for 2015, is the addition of Winged Encounters, the Kingdom Takes Flight. This 3 to 8 minute show at the new performance area in front of Tree of Life focuses on the macaws and conservation. 





Another new attraction currently in the works will be the new night-time show, Rivers of Light. This show, featuring live music, floating lanterns, water screens and swirling animal imagery, will be hosted around Discovery River. This change will also involve replacing the leaves on the Tree of Life with new ones that light up. Planned opening for this attraction is Spring of 2016.




Follow the Discovery Island trails in and around the Tree of Life. Not only can you get a close-up view of the wonderful carvings on the tree, but there are also many live animals to spot along these trails as well!! Just some of the live animals you will find here include: Greater Flamingo, Red Kangaroo, Galapagos Tortoise, Ring-tailed Lemur and much more!










Deep beneath the roots of the Tree of Life is It's Tough to Be a Bug! This 9-minute 3D show feature sights, smells, touch and even appearances by some characters of A Bug's Life. The most exciting part of the show is an appearance by Hopper. Hopper is an 8-foot tall audio animatronic figure and one of the most complex in all the parks. Since he brings some loud chaos with him, he may be a bit scary to younger audience members. But a chameleon soon puts him in his place and all's well that ends well.






  
Discovery Island is also home to two great little restaurants. Pizzafari for pizza and sandwiches plus unique specialties. And Flame Tree BBQ (recently reopened after a long refurbishment) for freshly smoked barbequed meats and salads! Another part of the Animal Kingdom expansion will include a yet-to-be-named table service restaurant which will be taking over at least part of the Pizzafari dining area.



Also new for 2015 is the opening of the 4th in-park Starbucks location in the former Creature Comforts shop. This location will also be serving grab and go breakfast items during morning operating hours.









Since the closure of Camp Minnie Mickey to make way for the new Avatar Land, you can now meet Mickey and Minnie in their exploration headquarters at Adventurer's Outpost.










Follow in the footsteps of Russell and Dug as you become a Wilderness Explorer! Complete challenges and earn badges as you work your way around the park. Pick up your official field guide at headquarters to begin! You can also find additional starting points in other lands throughout the park.




If you are a Hidden Mickey hunter, there are quite a few to find in this area. Pictured here (from HiddenMickeyGuy.com) is a fire hydrant near Pizzafari. Here are clues to a few more: Inside Pizzafari, look at the animal drawings on the walls. Look at the bat's noses and fireflies wings. Inside Flame Tree BBQ, look for a drawing of two rhinos. If you are seeing It's Tough to Be a Bug, look just above the handicap entrance before you enter. On the Tree of Life, try to find a Hidden Mickey made of green moss. Look near the buffalo!


FUN FACTS

  • Have you ever noticed the red and green pathways as you head to the entrance? Google Earth to see it or just look at your park map. It's the Tree of Life in pavement!
  • All benches in Animal Kingdom are made from recycled milk jugs.
  • The official greeting of Discovery Island is Viva Gaia, which means live long, Mother Earth.
  • Renowned authority Jane Goodall was invited for a preview of the Tree of Life and it was noticed that chimpanzees were overlooked. So a carving of the chimp she named David Graybeard was added. He is the only named animal on the Tree of Life. 
  • Every room in Pizzafari has it's own theme. Check out the upside-down room.

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Saturday, July 18, 2015

UPDATED: We have a group for that!



Did you know....
Daily Pixie Dust has been spreading pixie dust by spawning a wide range of Facebook groups for all your Disney interests and needs??? Here is a rundown of our groups. Check them out on Facebook today!

1,000,000 Disney SUPER Fans


First up is our fan group for Disney SUPER Fans! Here you can share all kinds of Disney news and interests. Ask questions, play games, get opinions. Get information for your upcoming trip or give a report on your last one. Meet other Disney lovers who "get you" like no other people in your life do! If you are already a SUPER fan or still trying to become one, this is the group for you! No selling, no trolls, no nasty allowed. Just great Disney fun all day long!


Disney Online Yard Sale

One of the largest selling groups on Facebook specializing in Disney merchandise. New, used, and family-friendly Non-Disney allowed!



Disney Pin Trading Pals

Connect with other Disney pin lovers. Learn about pin trading in the parks. Buy and sell pins by mail when you can't get to the parks!


WDW Recylce, Reuse and Regift

If you have a trip to the world coming up, you have to check out this group. WDW guests offer up food, drinks, strollers, coffee pots, ANYTHING that they don't want to pack up and take home. Incoming guests can get these items free of charge and, hopefully, also pay it forward when they leave. New items being donated all the time! We also share money-saving tricks and other ideas for spreading the magic to your fellow Disney guests!


Disney Dining Reservation Cancellations

Are you still trying to score that elusive reservation? Or, have your plans changed and you need to cancel something? Then, this is the group for you! Many Disney fans will announce when they are about to cancel to give someone else a chance to get online and snatch it up. Well, you no longer have to comb through tons of posts on tons of groups hoping to find what you need. Now, we gathered all cancellation posts in one convenient location! Dated files keep posts organized so you can say goodbye to scrolling and find what you need, fast! 




Disney Bargain Basement

Great Disney merchandise, without the Disney prices! Everything for sale $10 or less!





We love Disney All Star and Value Resorts!

Check out what is great about staying in Disney's Value Resorts! Share or ask for information!


We hope you will find all these groups helpful and useful. Check them out and share them with your Disney friends! And, if you have an idea for a group that would be helpful, let us know and we will add it to our Facebook family!

Friday, July 17, 2015

2015 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival Menus Released (finally!)


We've all been anxiously waiting, and here it is!! The full menu list for this year's Food and Wine Festival. Get planning!!

2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Booths and Menus

AFRICA
To eat:
–Berbere-style beef tenderloin tips with onions, jalapeños, tomato and pap
–Buttered chicken with micro cilantro and naan bread
To drink:
–Indaba Chenin Blanc
–DeMorgenzon DMZ Cabernet Róse
–Fairview Pinotage
–Jam Jar Sweet Shiraz
AMERICAN ADVENTURE COFFEE CART
To Drink:
–Frozen Strawberry-Lemon Sunset: Frozen Strawberry and lemon, topped with Grey Goose Vodka®
AUSTRALIA
To eat:
–Grilled sweet and spicy bush berry shrimp with pineapple, peppers, onions, and snap peas
–Grilled lamb chop with mint pesto and potato crunchies
–Lamington: Yellow cake dipped in chocolate and shredded coconut
To drink:
–Coopers Brewery Extra Strong Vintage Ale
–Château Tanunda Grand Barossa Dry Riesling
–Bulletin Place Unoaked Chardonnay
–Yangarra Estate Vineyard Shiraz
BELGIUM
To eat:
–Potato and leek waffle with beer-braised beef and smoked gouda cream
–Belgium waffle with warm chocolate ganache and whipped cream
–Belgium waffle with berry compote and whipped cream
To drink:
–Hoegaarden®
–Leffe® Blonde
–Palm Spéciale Belge Ale
–Stella Artois® Cidre
–Chilled coffee featuring Godiva Chocolate Liqueur
–Beer flight: Hoegaarden®, Palm Amber Ale, Leffe® Blonde and Stella Artois® Cidre
BLOCK & HANS
–Champagne Enchantée Brut, Champagne
–Festival Chardonnay, Napa Valley
–GoGi Goldie Chardonnay, Sta Rita Hills
–Lasseter Family Winery Enjoué Rosé, Sonoma Valley
–Fess Parker Frontier Red, Santa Barbara County
–Festival Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles
–Silverado Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
BRAZIL
To eat:
–Escondidinho de carne, “Little Hidden One”: layered meat pie with mashed yucca
–Crispy pork belly with black beans and tomato
–Pão de queijo: Brazilian cheese bread
–Cocada: Brazilian coconut candy
To drink:
–Kaiser Brewery Xingu Black Beer
–Carnaval Moscato Sparkling White Wine
–Frozen Caipirinha featuring LeBlon Cachaça
BREWER'S COLLECTION
–Radeberger Zwickel Pilsner (Unfiltered)
–Norbertus Special Hefeweizen
–BraufactuM Progusta IPA
–Shöfferhofer Zitrone Weizen-Mix
Bier Flight:
–Radeberger Zwickel Pilsner (Unfiltered)
–Norbertus Special Hefeweizen
–BraufactuM Progusta IPA
–Shöfferhofer Zitrone Weizen-Mix
CANADA
To eat:
–Canadian cheddar cheese soup
–Chicken sausage with creamy polenta and Minus 8 onion jam
–“Le Cellier” wild mushroom beef filet mignon with truffle butter sauce
To drink:
–Moosehead® Lager
–Neige Premiere Apple Ice Wine
–Inniskillin Vidal Icewine
–Tawse Vineyard Cabernet Franc
CHEESE STUDIO
To eat:
–Trio of artisan cheese
–Karst cave-aged cheese served with honey
–La Bonne Vie goat cheese served with Craisin® bread
–Rogue Creamery Oregon Blue Cheese with berry port compote
–Sweet goat cheese panna cotta with guava gellé
–Cheese fondue with sourdough bread
To drink:
–Robert Mondavi FuméBlanc
–Still River Winery Apfel Eis (apple ice wine)
–Sterling Vintner’s Collection Cabernet Sauvignon
CHEW LAB
To eat:
–Olive oil poached salmon with fresh corn, bacon and pepper jam
–New York strip, parsnip silk, balsamic glaze and arugula foam
–Liquid nitro chocolate almond truffle with warm whiskey caramel
To drink:
–Festival Chardonnay, Napa Valley
–Festival Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles
–Smoking Hibiscus featuring Montelobos® Mezcal Joven
CHINA
To eat:
–Beijing roasted duck in steamed bun with hoisin sauce
–Gaoli beef slider
–Black pepper shrimp with Sichuan noodles
–Chicken pot stickers
To drink:
–TSINGTAO Beer
–Francis Ford Coppola Su Yuen Riesling
–Ritzy Lychee with cognac and vodka
–Happy Peach with peach liqueur and dark rum
–Kung Fu Punch with vodka and triple sec
–Mango jasmine tea with popping bubbles
CRAFT BEERS
To drink:
–Brew Hub Keybilly Island Ale, Lakeland, FL
–Two Henrys Blueberry Vanilla American Wheat Ale, Plant City, FL
–Orlando Brewing Grateful Pumpkin, Orlando, FL
–Swamp Head Wild Night® Honey Cream Ale, Gainsville, FL
–3 Daughters St. Pete Beach Blonde Ale, St. Petersburg, FL
–Florida Beer Company Passport 20 Belgian-Style Tripel Ale, Cape Canaveral, FL
–Funky Buddha Vanilla Espresso Porter, Oakland Park, FL
–Shipyard Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout, Clearwater, FL
Flight #1: Florida Harvest
–Brew Hub Keybilly Island Ale, Lakeland, FL
–Two Henrys Blueberry Vanilla American Wheat Ale, Plant City, FL
–Orlando Brewing Grateful Pumpkin, Orlando, FL
–Swamp Head Wild Night® Honey Cream Ale, Gainsville, FL
Flight #2: Craft Beer Lovers
–3 Daughters St. Pete Beach Blonde Ale, St. Petersburg, FL
–Florida Beer Company Passport 20 Belgian-Style Tripel Ale, Cape Canaveral, FL
–Funky Buddha Vanilla Espresso Porter, Oakland Park, FL
–Shipyard Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout, Clearwater, FL
To eat:
–Craft beer snack mix: sweet and savory blend of nuts, fruits, and crackers
–Charcuterie plate: Country pâté, cured meats, and crostini
–Pimento cheese dip with pretzel crisps
–Bloody Mary shrimp cocktail
DESSERTS & CHAMPAGNE
To eat:
–Chocolate cherry explosion
–Strawberry-basil champagne “toast”
–Guylian® Belgian chocolate seashell truffles
To drink:
–Nicholas Feuillatte Blanc de Blancs
–Möet & Chandon Impérial
–Veuve Clicquot® Ponsardin “Yellow Label”
–Dom Pérignon
–Möet & Chandon Nectar Impérial
–Orange Blossom Brewery Toasted Coconut Porter float with caramel ice cream
–Cream soda float with caramel ice cream
–Frozen S’mores featuring Monin® Toasted Marshmallow Syrup
DOMINICAN REOPUBLIC
To eat:
–Lechón asado: Roasted pork with mangú, pickled red onion and avocado
–Soufflé de yuca: Yuca soufflé topped with griddled cheese
–Pescado con coco: Seared grouper, pigeon peas and rice with coconut sauce
–Caramel flan with rum-roasted pineapple
To drink:
–Presidente Pilsner Beer
–Frozen Dominican piña colada featuring Ron Barceló Blanco Rum
–Frozen sugar cane cocktail featuring Ron Barceló Blanco Rum
FARM FRESH
To eat:
–Loaded mac n’ cheese with Nueske’s® pepper bacon, cheddar cheese, peppers and green onions
–Griddled “yard bird” with braised greens
To drink:
–Woodchuck Raspberry Hard Cider
–Wyder’s® Dry Pear Hard Cider
–Two Henrys Elderberry Hard Cider
–ACE Hard Pumpkin Cider
–Florida Orange Groves, Key Limen Wine
–Tom Gore Chardonnay
–Tom Gore Cabernet Sauvignon
Hard cider flight:
–Woodchuck Raspberry Hard Cider
–Wyder’s® Dry Pear Hard Cider
–Two Henrys Elderberry Hard Cider
–ACE Hard Pumpkin Cider
FIFE & DRUM TAVERN
–Ghirardelli Ice Cream Sundae
–Mmmmhops Pale Ale
FRANCE
To eat:
–Croissant aux escargots with garlic and parsley
–Boeuf bourguignon: Braised short ribs in cabernet with mashed potatoes
–Crème brûlée vanille chocolat: Vanilla & chocolate crème brûlée topped with caramelized sugar
To drink:
–Beer, Kronenbourg Blanc 1664
–Chardonnay, Macon-Villages, Vielles Vignes Mommessin
–Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux, Château Bonnet
–Sparkling Pomegranate Kir
–Ice Pop Pomme: Apple juice, vodka, and St. Germain liqueur
–La Passion Martini Slush: vodka, Grey Goose Le Citron, cranberry and passion fruit juice
GERMANY
To eat:
–Schinkennudeln: Pasta gratin with ham and cheese
–Roast bratwurst in a pretzel roll
–Apple strudel with vanilla sauce
To drink:
–J&H Selbach Bernkasteler Kurfürstlay Riesling Kabinett
–Selbach-Oster Mosel Riesling Spätlese
–J&H Selbach Bernkasteler Kurfürstlay Riesling Auslese
–Kallstadter Kobnert Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) Spätlese Dry
German Riesling flight:
–J&H Selbach Bernkasteler Kurfürstlay Riesling Kabinett
–Selbach-Oster Mosel Riesling Spätlese
–J&H Selbach Bernkasteler Kurfürstlay Riesling Auslese
GREECE
To eat:
–Vegetarian moussaka with Gardein™ sausage crumbles
–Greek salad in a cone
–Chicken gyro with tzatziki sauce
–Spanakopita
To drink:
–Domaine Skouras Moscofilero
–Domaine Siglas Assyrtiko/Athiri
–Alpha Estate Axia Syrah Xinomavro
–Tzatziki martini featuring Crop Organic Cucumber Vodka and BOLS® Natural Yoghurt Liqueur
HAWAII
To eat:
–Kālua pork slider with sweet and sour Dole® Pineapple chutney and spicy mayonnaise*
–Tuna poke with seaweed salad and lotus root chips
To drink:
–Kona Brewing Company, Big Wave® Golden Ale
–Kona Brewing Company, Pipeline Porter
–Maui Splash Sweet Pineapple Wine
–Mai Tai featuring Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum
HOPS & BARLEY
To eat:
–New England Lobster Roll
–Florida grass fed beef slider with pimento cheese
–Fresh baked carrot cake with Craisins® and cream cheese icing
To drink:
–SweetWater Take Two Pils
–Goose Island® Honkers Ale
–Samuel Adams® Rebel IPA
–Dogfish Head Sixty-One IPA
–La Crema® Chardonnay
–Cambria Estate Winery Julia’s Vineyard Pinot Noir
–Beer Flight (Includes 4, 4 oz. servings)
–SweetWater Take Two Pils
–Goose Island® Honkers Ale
–Samuel Adams® Rebel IPA
–Dogfish Head Sixty-One IPA
INTERMISSIONS CAFE
To eat:
–Asian Tuna Salad with Noodles
–Southwest Chicken Wrap
–Tuna Salad with Pita
–Cucumber and Tomato Salad
–Crudité of Carrots, Celery and Broccoli with Creamy Pepper Relish
–Fruit & Cheese Plate
–Side Salad
–Grapes
–Key Lime Pie
–Brownie
To drink:
–Festival Chardonnay, Napa Valley
–Festival Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles
–MARTINI® Prosecco
–Caposaldo Peach Moscato Sweet Sparkling Wine
–Iron Horse Vineyards “Fairy Tale Cuvée” Sparkling Wine
–Presidente Pilsner Beer
–Two Henrys Elderberry Hard Cider
–Assorted soft drinks
–Dasani Water
IRELAND
To eat:
–Lobster and seafood fisherman’s pie
–Kerrygold® cheese selection: Reserve cheddar, Dubliner with Irish Stout and Skellig
–Warm chocolate pudding with Kerrygold Irish Cream Liqueur Custard
To drink:
–Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale
–Bunratty Meade Honey Wine
–Chilled Irish Coffee featuring Bunratty Potcheen
–Kerrygold® Irish Cream Liqueur
ITALY
To eat:
–Ravioli alla caprese: Cheese ravioli, tomato sauce, mozzarella, parmesan and basil
–Filetto di pollo, con funghi al marsala: Chicken tenderloin, cremini mushrooms, marsala sauce and ciabatta bread
–Cannoli al cioccolato: Chocolate-covered cannoli filled with sweet ricotta, chocolate and candied fruit
To drink:
–Moretti Lager Beer
–Moretti La Rossa Beer
–Pinot Grigio, Placido
–Corbinello, Montegrande
–Chianti Classico, Placido
–Moscato Fior d’Arancio, Montegrande
–Prosecco, Bosco del Merlo
–Frozen margarita with limoncello and tequila
JAPAN
To eat:
–Spicy hand roll: Tuna and salmon with Kazan Volcano sauce
–Teriyaki gyoza bun: Steamed bun filled with chicken, vegetables and sweet teriyaki sauce
–Miso Udon: steamed shrimp, vegetables, and noodles in a spicy broth
To drink:
–Kirin Draft Beer
–Pineapple Fuzed Sake
–Sake – Komatsu Tateaki Samurai
–Sake – Suigei Drunken Whale
MEXICO
To eat:
–Tacos de camarón: Battered shrimp, pico de gallo, pickled onions, and chipotle mayonnaise
–Chilaquiles de pollo: Corn chips layered with seasoned chicken, queso fresco, sour cream and cilantro
–Pastel de elote con queso: sweet corn cheesecake
To drink:
–Dos Equis Lager Beer with Floater
–Mexican sangria
–Tequila Flight
–Guava margarita
MOROCCO
To eat:
–Kefta pocket: Ground seasoned beef in a pita pocket
–Harissa chicken roll
–Baklava
To drink:
–Casa Beer
–Guerouane White
–Sangria
–Mimosa Royale
NEW ZEALAND
To eat:
–Steamed green lip mussels with garlic butter and toasted bread crumbs
–Seared venison loin with wild mushroom marsala sauce and kumara dumpling
–Lamb meatball with spicy tomato chutney
To drink:
–Kim Crawford Pinot Gris
–Brancott Estate® Flight Song™ Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
–Kim Crawford Chardonnay
–Nobilo Icon Pinot Noir
ODYSSEY COFFEE CART
To drink:
–Tropical Delight Mango Smoothie with Coconut Syrup and Grey Goose Vodka
PATAGONIA
To eat:
–Beef empanada
–Grilled beef skewer with chimichurri sauce and boniato purée
–Roasted Verlasso salmon with quinoa salad and arugula chimichurri
To drink:
–Undurraga Sparkling Wine Brut
–Calle Ocho Chardonnay
–Kaiken Torrontés
–Terrazas Reserva Malbec
POLAND
To eat:
–Kielbasa and potato pierogi with caramelized onions and sour cream
–Sauerkraut pierogi with pork goulash
To drink:
–Okocim Brewery, Okocim O.K. Beer
–Donausonne® Blaufränkisch Hungarian Wine
–Frozen Szarlotka Apple Pie featuring Zubrowka Bison Grass Vodka
REFRESHMENT PORT
To eat:
–Croissant doughnut with cinnamon and sugar
–Dole fruit bowl: choice of pineapple tidbits or mandarin slices
–Fried chicken chunks with Dole pineapple sweet and sour sauce
–Pineapple Dole® Whip soft-serve ice cream
–Pineapple Dole Whip soft-serve ice cream with Bacardí® Coconut Rum
To drink:
–Dragon Berry Refresher featuring Bacardi Dragon Berry Rum
REFRESHMENT COOL POST
To eat:
–spicy hot dogs with kimchi slaw and korean mustard
To drink:
–Mango Star featuring African Starr Rum t
–frozen “Brown Elephant.”
SCOTLAND
To eat:
–Haggis with neeps and tatties: Traditional Haggis with rutabaga and mashed potatoes
–Fresh potato pancake with Scottish smoked salmon and herb sour cream
–Seared sea scallop with spinach-cheddar gratin and crispy bacon
–The Tipsy Laird: Whiskey-soaked cake with lemon cream and toasted oats
To drink:
–Innis & Gunn® CASK OAK Aged Beer*
–Brew Dog Punk Ale
–Citrus Thistle featuring Hendrick’s Gin
–Glenfiddich® Single Malt 12-Year Scotch
–Glenfiddich® Single Malt 15-Year Scotch
–Glenfiddich® Single Malt 18-Year Scotch
–Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch flight (12-, 15- and 18-year)
SHOWCASE COFFEE CART
–Hot, Iced, or Frozen Chai Latte with Grey Goose Vodka or Bailey’s topped with cinnamon and whipped cream
SOUTH KOREA
To eat:
–Korean Barbecue Short Rib with Steamed Rice and Cucumber Kimchi
–Roasted pork lettuce wrap with kimchi slaw
To drink:
–iCing Grapefruit Sparkling Rice Brew
–Myungjak Bokbunja Raspberry Wine
–Soju Banana Milkshake featuring The Ginger People® Ginger Soother®
SUSTAINABLE CHEW
To eat:
–Pork Spareribs with red wine, fennel, and cheesy mascarpone grits
–Ricotta & zucchini ravioli with tomato sauce
–Vanilla panna cotta with fresh figs and pistachio brittle
To drink:
–Founders Spectra Trifecta (Chamomile Kolsch)
–Frozen Chew-tini
–Beso Del Sol White Sangria
TEST TRACK COFFEE CART
–Iced Coffee Dream: bold roast coffee, chilled and iced, with light cream, topped with Bailey’s Irish Crème® and whipped cream. Also available hot.
WINE STUDIO
To eat:
–Trio of artisan cheese
–Karst cave-aged cheese served with honey
–La Bonne Vie goat cheese served with Craisin® bread
–Rogue Creamery Oregon Blue Cheese with berry port compote
To drink:
–Avviato Pinot Grigio, Oregon
–14 Hands Chardonnay, Washington
–Franciscan Equilibrium White Wine, California
–Acacia Pinot Noir, California
–Dry Creek Zinfandel, California
–Spellbound Petite Sirah, California
–Clayhouse Malbec, California
–Line 39 Cabernet Sauvignon, California
For the first time, the Food and Wine Festival will expand into Future World. Be sure to check out these new booths: The Chew Lab and Sustainable Chew inspired by ABC's "The Chew" and also the Wine Studio and Cheese Studio.
Don't forget! Many of these samples are available as part of the Disney Dining Plan as snack credits!
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Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Changes at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Is it too much, too fast?



Some time ago, at the 2015 Walt Disney Company annual shareholders meeting, Bob Iger admitted that Disney's Hollywood Studios would again be undergoing a name change. The proposed name has not yet been disclosed, nor has a date for when the change will take place. At this point, most Disney fans expected that with a new name would come a new look and new attractions. 

And Disney did not disappoint. Announcements have been made, although some remain unconfirmed officially, that Toy Story Mania will undergo an expansion to add a third track along with the possibility of a Pixar Place play area, and that an entire Star Wars "land" will be built in the park. Permits have been filed for a new "flex space" theater between Rockin Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror, and there is still a persistent rumor that Cars Land will be coming to DHS as well. However, many of these changes, some still in the rumor stage, will take years to see completion. 

Whether it's to prepare for these changes, or for some other reason, it seems that Disney Hollywood Studios has seen a rash of attraction closings of late. And, when these closures are announced, they are carried out swiftly with barely any chance for fans to "say goodbye". Plus there are rumors circulating daily that even more attractions are on the chopping block. So, a person has to start to wonder: with all these attractions closing, and replacements seemingly years away, what's left to do in this park? As a favorite park of a few of my family members, we always dedicated 2 days to DHS. However, with this rash of announcements, I've seriously been reconsidering our schedule. If all these rumors come to fruition, you can almost count on one hand the number of attractions remaining, so it seems that 2 days may now be a waste of time here. And for those that always considered it a 1 day park, there is now talk that it can actually be done in a half day! With all this in mind, let's take a look at the attractions that have gone along with those still rumored for closure and see if we can determine if what is left will be enough to sustain this park for the years it will take to see new attractions come to life.

AMERICAN IDOL EXPERIENCE: Although originally announced to close in January 2015, closure of this attraction was moved up to August 30, 2014. It was later replaced by the Frozen Sing-a-long Celebration in Summer 2015.

THE LEGEND OF CAPTAIN JACK SPARROW: This interactive, walkthrough experience was closed on November 6, 2014 (much to the disappointment of this Captain Jack fan who never got a chance to see it!).

STUDIOS BACKLOT TOUR: This was, perhaps, one of the most abrupt closings. While this attraction was a significant part of this park's opening line-up, it's announcement and closure took place in less than a week!

WANDERING OAKEN'S TRADING POST: Closed on January 4, 2015. 



"THE HAT" - This was a biggie. Disney fans were decidedly split on this decision. Over 14 years, the hat had become the unofficial "icon" of Disney's Hollywood Studios park. Many were sad to see it go. On the other side of the coin, many Disney fans were glad to see it go. They believed it to be poorly placed and looked forward to the return of the original landscape with the Chinese Theater as the focal point at the end of Hollywood Blvd. Many felt this was more in line with the "Old Hollywood" theme of the park. Sadly, many of those Disney purists were dismayed to find that no sooner was the hat removed then a stage was erected in it's place for yet ANOTHER Frozen show!! So, alas, those great photos with the Chinese theater backdrop are still NOT to be had. 


THE MAGIC OF DISNEY ANIMATION: This week saw the announced closing of The Magic of Disney Animation building, which is also happening rather quickly. While the Animation Academy seems to be a real fan favorite, this attraction is set to close July 12 with the adjacent Animation Gallery set to close in August.



VILLAINS IN VOGUE - This was more of a "sneaky" closure and a major disappointment for die-hard villains fans who are lobbying for MORE of a villains presence in the parks, and NOT just at Halloween! Villains in Vogue (a favorite store of mine) went down for a quick 2-day refurb and has suddenly reopened under the name "Reel Vogue". Reportedly, aside from Nightmare Before Christmas merchandise, the "villains" are no longer in vogue. All the cool villain merchandise is gone!

In addition to all these closures and removals, persistent rumors continue to swirl that these attractions are also set for closure or have questionable futures within the park:

Walt Disney One Man's Dream
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular
Honey I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure
Lights, Motors, Action Stunt Show and
Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights 

So there you have it. If any of the attractions mentioned above are a favorite of yours, put them on your "must-do" list for your next visit. These closures happen so quickly, the last time you saw something may have really been the "last time"!! What do you think of all this change happening so suddenly? Do you think there is enough left in this park to entertain the masses while awaiting the new changes??

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