Disney Detox: Eating Healthy in the World

I was a pig this weekend. A no holds barred, never ever full, kind of pig. Ever have one of those weekends? It was rainy, so we were stuck inside. We had just stocked up on some chips and dip (never a great idea, even if it is for preseason football), and the temptation was just too much. So while I sit here watching the season finale of Falling Skies, and contemplate how I can get back on the nutrition track this week, I got to thinking of the healthiest ways to eat in Disney World.
There are so many food options throughout the Disney resort: After the first couple of days, it's easy to get sick of the chicken fingers and french fries that you grab on the go (unless you have the power to stay healthy the whole time, in which case I envy you). J and I always end up hitting our limit on the fried foods, and opt for the fresher, cleaner options about halfway through our vacation. Now, if we could just avoid the junk in the first place, we'd be off to a much better start. So my goal for this October (minus the Food and Wine Festival goodies, naturally), is to make a valid attempt at a healthier, fresher Disney diet. And here are some of my favorite food and snack spots that are going to make this goal a heck of a lot easier.

Harambe Fruit Market

Source: flickr.com via b on Pinterest

Aside from the soft pretzels, which are always a favorite snack of ours, Animal Kingdom's Harambe Fruit Market offers trail mix, pineapple, and - one of the most delicious autumn snacks - apples and caramel.

Columbia Harbour House

Source: flickr.com via b on Pinterest

Pleasantly tucked away in Magic Kingdom's Liberty Square, Columbia Harbour House is my favorite spot for a fresh-tasting lunch. You can have your chicken nuggets and eat them too, but I'd recommend opting for the Lighthouse sandwich (hummus and slaw), and the Anchors Aweigh (tuna). Plus, if you can snag a window seat upstairs, you've got a great view of park visitors venturing in and out of the Haunted Mansion.

Anaheim Produce

Another typical fruit strand a la Disney, but this one resides on one of my favorite fictional streets: Sunset Boulevard. Grab a hot soft pretzel if you must, but the gems here are the frozen lemonade and decent selection of fresh fruit. This is a great spot for a mid-afternoon snack in Hollywood Studios.


What are your favorite spots for a fried-free nosh? Do share!

(Hats Off to You)

What is it about an Orlando vacation that drives us to try on all manner of hats? Even as a typical germaphobe, I lose all sense of how many heads each hat has undoubtedly graced, just to get that one photo that will forever live on my Facebook page. I, with the courage that typically only comes with the help of a liquid libation, run straight to the nearest, most wonderful hat and instantly throw it atop my head. It is from that point that I shout to my husband, "look at me, take my photo!" And, if I come to the conclusion that there are too many "hat photos" of yours truly, poor J must step in, and honor those vows that we spoke on our wedding day: "I promise to love and cherish you, and to take ridiculous, embarrassing pictures in Florida." Come to think of it, I wish that had really happened. Vow or not, he does manage to humor me on every trip. So without further ado, take a look at one fabulous hat photo collection:

2006, from left: then-MGM Studios; Epcot's Olympic chapeau; Mickey's Philharmagic; Epcot, again; Rainforest Cafe, Downtown Disney; Stitch's Great Escape! Magic Kingdom 

2007, from left: Team Mickey Athletic Club, Downtown Disney; Rainforest Cafe, Animal Kingdom; "Mexico," Epcot; Raglan Road, Downtown Disney

2008, both at Mickey's Star Traders

2009, from left: Epcot's Mexico; "Morocco," Epcot; Animal Kingdom

2010, top to bottom: World of Disney, Downtown Disney; Brown Derby Hat Shop, Universal Studios Orlando

2011, Disney Cruise Line, Mediterranean 

Do you have any fantastic and/or embarrassing hat photos? Send them on!

Happy chapeau-ing,

(Happy New Year!)

photo courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

It has certainly been a while since I've made my last update, and time seems to have gotten away from me. What with the holiday season taking up more than enough time, there have been parties and travelling back to North Carolina and New York - and I got the most amazing new job, filled with great people and tremendous opportunity. If the first few weeks have been any indication, it's going to keep me busier than I have been in a long time, and I welcome the work. Of course, this doesn't mean that Disney isn't ever at the forefront of my mind. As a matter of fact, when I have a moment to spare, I find my mind drifting off to a special place in the Magic Kingdom, or a memory of our last Disney Cruise. It's a steadfast part of my life, no matter where we end up moving or what we happen to be doing. My moments of Zen will have to be reserved for weekends, when restaurant reviews, style guides and trip updates will be made from now on. But for now, take a look at some of my favorite news updates that happened while I was gone:

•  Some big changes are coming to Downtown Disney
• The renewal of Disney and GM's alliance will bring us a re-imagined Test Track
• 2012 is a leap year, meaning an extra day in the Disney Parks
• Updates on the Disney Fantasy
• The Little Mermaid celebrates 20 years
• Heather Marks wears Mickey ears on the cover of Elle France

Happy New Year!

(My Best Shot: Wishes! & Cinderella Castle)

I love love travel. I would say that it's my favorite thing, but I can't travel anywhere without my camera. So maybe photography is my favorite thing. Either way, travel and photography go hand in hand for me, and one is not complete without the other. Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom is one of the most photographed structures in the world. I'm (clearly) no pro when it comes to photography, but I give it my best shot, and am always learning something new. It has long been a personal goal to get the perfect picture of Cinderella Castle, particularly during the fireworks show, Wishes! The problem is, I don't really have the patience to carry around the required equipment to actually do so. I always feel for those people in the Disney parks carrying around their giant backpacks and tripods, although I know they're getting amazing pictures so I sort of envy them, too. The thing is, it's easy to get really frustrated when snapping away during the fireworks show. On most occasions I spend more time fidgeting with my camera than I do enjoying the show. But every once in a while, I find a hidden gem among the hundreds of blurry shots. It's not perfect or professional by any means, but still, I find something special. Take a look at below at my attempts over the last few years.

2005. Pretty blurry, but look at the colors!

2006. I love the castle draped in shadows paired with the brightness of the fireworks. 

2007. Another where the castle is shrouded in darkness, but look at the sky! 

2009. A bit blurry, but  take a look at the couple bottom center. How sweet!

2010 from Narcoosee's. Blurry, and this is where a better zoom lens would come in handy. 

My 2010 photo isn't anything special, but I thought it was cool to have the show from a different location. This was the first year that I visited Disney World without a point and shoot (I had finally upgraded to a DSLR). For some reason we didn't make it to the park in time to see Wishes! up close, so next year I'll really test it out and hope for some good results.

During PM Extra Magic Hours, 2010.

So, personal goal still not attained, but I'll keep on trying (which means I'll just have to keep going back to Disney, bummer!) Perhaps someday I will acquire the appropriate equipment (and talent) to really get that perfect one. Until then, I'll just give it my best shot and hope for something special!

Send me your castle photos!

Happy Snapping!

(Why Can't Stitch Catch A Break?)

A larger-than-life Stitch at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, 2007.

I recently was reading my AllEars newsletter (something I look forward to weekly), and in passing, the writer expressed her distaste for Stitch's Great Escape (an opinion I vehemently share). That really got me thinking about the little blue alien. Ah, Stitch. You are, without a doubt, one of my all-time favorite Disney characters. Your movie is fantastic, your hometown is enviable, and we both share a deep love of The King. And yet, we just can't seem to find a place for you, can we? Let's review the planet-sized failures (and perhaps some victories) of Experiment 626.

First and foremost, there is Stitch's Great Escape! What is pretty much a fail on its own is made even worse by the fact that it replaced one of the most beloved attractions in the Magic Kingdom. The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter was terrifying, and definitely not for children. But it was one of the best experiences the Magic Kingdom ever had and will ever have. I do understand the need to scrap it, because perhaps the Magic Kingdom really isn't the best place for blood-curdling screams and human-eating aliens to inhabit. Still, I lament the loss and wish that somehow the attraction could have been moved to Hollywood Studios, where it certainly would have been much more at home (and put that alien in the Great Movie Ride to shame). Instead, what replaced the terror, along with my dear friend Skippy, is one of the greatest disappointments in all of Disney's history.

Downtown Disney, 2005.

It started out rather cute. On my visit in the early spring of 2005, Stitch was on the loose in Downtown Disney. He crashed a van into a tree and left the evidence behind. NOTHING TO SEE HERE the signs around the crime scene said, with Wanted posters scattered around the area. It was a fantastic tie-in, in my opinion, to the new attraction in the Magic Kingdom. It showcased Stitch as we all know him, a mischievous little devil, wreaking havoc throughout the resort. I was impressed with the playfulness of it all. Moving into the Magic Kingdom however, is where the issue really begins. I think what Disney really did wrong was not scrapping the entire Alien Encounter attraction. Stitch may have had a better chance of obtaining his due popularity in his own right if the Imagineers had started over and built something just for him. You can't replace one of the greatest attractions in Disney history with something mediocre yet so similar and expect it to work, though it did seem to make sense at the time. Even the Cast Members working there aren't feeling it. Still, Stitch's Great Escape! remains. I'm not sure that it's high on the list of priorities right now, especially with the attraction across the way being so popular (The Laugh Floor Comedy Club is counted among my new favorites). We will just have to wait and see what Stitch's fate in the Magic Kingdom will be - I know I am not the only one who has made my distaste for this attraction apparent, and the lack of wait times tend to say it all.

Stitch's Supersonic Celebration, May 2009.

In the Spring of 2009, Stitch struck again in the Magic Kingdom, and unfortunately his luck wasn't any better. Stitch's Supersonic Celebration was a high-energy dance party featuring technology used in the uber-popular Turtle Talk with Crush over in the Animal Kingdom. The technology has been very successful, also being used in the Laugh Floor Comedy Club and entertaining guests young and old. So why didn't this show work? I'm not sure exactly. For one, this particular area of the Magic Kingdom doesn't seem to be all that high-traffic (like say, the stage in front of the castle). Also, perhaps many of our Disney kids don't like to listen to Elvis (crazy, I know). Perhaps the downfall of it all is that the show was 25 minutes long, which tends to be fairly lengthy when there are no seats and space is extremely limited. Whatever the reason, it just didn't work and Stitch's time dressing in Elvis attire was over soon after it began.

photo courtesy of Flickr

Now here is a place that Stitch can really call home. The 'Ohana restaurant, nestled in the Luxurious Polynesian resort, holds a Best Friends Breakfast every morning featuring Lilo & Stitch. What better place to host a meal than one reflecting your native Hawaii? I have not been to the breakfast myself, but have been told good things - this is a highly successful dining option for the Polynesian. Score one for the Stitchmeister.

Animal Kingdom, May 2010.

Another sunny moment for Stitch are his character outings. People love to see Lilo & Stitch while they are wandering around the parks, and lines to meet them are frequently long. In the above photo, J and I are posing with our friends in the Animal Kingdom. My question is this - what do Lilo & Stitch have to do with the Animal Kingdom? This one puzzles me. Nonetheless, squealing park visitors were delighted to see the duo out and about. Another high note for Stitch.

Downtown Disney, 2010.

Downtown Disney is quite possibly my favorite place for Stitch, and one of the most delightful. Sure, he's not "in the flesh" here, but he's up to his same old tricks. Stitch sits atop one of the entrances to the enormous World of Disney, daring anyone to try and avoid getting wet as they move forward! I have seen many park guests just standing outside, waiting to get a little dose of alien spit in the hot Florida sun. It's fun, it's colorful, and it really plays up to Stitch's character. I mean you wouldn't see Cinderella spitting on guests, now would you? 626 scores again!

So, I guess when you think about it, Stitch doesn't fare well with his own attraction. Maybe he'll land one some day, but I sort of doubt it (I hope to come back here in 5 years and have to correct myself). This doesn't mean that the little alien doesn't have love. He delights park guests in many ways day in and day out. Headlining just isn't his thing, at least for now.


Where do YOU think Stitch's place is in the Disney parks? Do you miss the Alien Encounter as much as I do? Tell me all about it!

Happy Mischief-Making!

(Photo Favorite: Main Street, USA)

The above photo, taken in 2009, is one of my all-time favorites. It's nowhere near perfect and certainly lacks a professional quality, but for me, it's about the feeling that this photo evokes. This is the Fantasyland Woodwind Society, and on this particular morning in the Magic Kingdom they were serenading guests with their saxophones on Main Street, USA. Notice the placement of Mickey Mouse on the back of their overalls - to me it says that you can never be too old to experience the magic. These guys certainly seemed to enjoy entertaining us!

Do you have a favorite photo, old or new? I'd love to see some vintage Disney photos. Send them on!

Happy Memories!

(Happy Halloween!)

It's my favorite holiday of the year, and no one does Halloween better than Disney! Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party is a sweet treat for lovers of this autumn holiday, like myself. It's great for the kids, and you get to dress up in costume if you want - lots of people do, and many go all out!

On the other side of the Florida tourist pond, Universal Studios has the most amazing Halloween event (sorry Disney loyalists, I had to go there)! Universal's Halloween Horror Nights is adults-only fun; it's terrifying, and there are no costumes allowed! They offer many creative (albeit expensive) alcoholic drinks throughout the park - it really is a grown-up Halloween party. I really urge you to give this one a try - the costumes are professionally done by Universal's incredible makeup artists, and the results are realistically horrifying. Every year the theme changes - this year's theme was admittedly lame (Lady Luck, really?!) We will be attending both events next year, and I am really looking forward to what both parks have to offer.

So, it's Halloween...what kind of costume are you getting into today? J and I went to a comic-book themed party; I was Poison Ivy, he was Kick-Ass. We had a blast!

Send me your costume photos! I'd also love to hear your opinions on the best Halloween event in Orlando (or where you live!)

Happy Halloween!

(It's a Tradition: The Crystal Palace)

Like the title says, the Crystal Palace has been a tradition for my family since 2003. Nestled at the end of Main Street USA, and with one of the best views of Cinderella Castle in the house, this is a must for everyone. I know what you're thinking. You don't have kids, so why do a character meal? At least for me, this place isn't about the characters; though the great photos we always seem to come away with don't hurt!

Dinner with friends, March 2006.

The ambiance of the Crystal Palace is light and airy with a major Victorian influence. The exterior of the building is pure white, and the windows seem to go on for miles. It sort of resembles somewhat of a greenhouse, but with much better surprises inside than just plants. 

The photo above was taken during a dinner that we had in 2006. Notice the amount of windows and the gorgeous Victorian structure. During daylight hours, the atmosphere is warm and open. It's really a beautiful, calming place to be. Check out this shot from our breakfast table in 2010...

It was a beautiful sunny morning, and the sunlight filtered into the dimly-lit restaurant providing just the right amount of natural light. You're sitting at your table, enjoying your coffee and orange juice (that's right, order both), and then....the music starts.

A family dinner in 2007.

It's parade time! Excited children throughout the restaurant jump out of their seats to join the parade with their favorite characters from the Hundred Acre Wood. It's a short parade, but gives parents some great photo opportunities. It can be a tear-jerker, too. We saw a child from the Make a Wish Foundation parade hand-in-hand with Piglet throughout the restaurant, and needless to say, we were dabbing at our eyes a bit. It's really a beautiful thing to see so many excited kids have their moment with characters that they so admire, and to do so in the spotlight with all diners' eyes on them!

Breakfast, 2009.

We have been to the Crystal Palace for dinner twice, but our true tradition is to go for breakfast. Based on my experiences (we've gone 5 times so far), I would recommend the breakfast over dinner. The food is better, and there's something about being in the open and airy setting with the morning sunshine peeking in. Favorites from the breakfast buffet include the fresh fruit (pineapple, grapes and strawberries for me), mickey waffles, puffed french toast (located in the children's buffet), and the tastiest dish of all, breakfast lasagna. Delicious layers of waffle, pancake, poundcake and custard, this is definitely not for someone watching their waistline. If you are, grab a little slice anyways. I promise it's worth it! If you can't make it to the Crystal Palace anytime soon, make the breakfast lasagna at home with this recipe.

A playful breakfast in 2010.

While the dinner does have some choice menu items such as shrimp, rotisserie chicken and salmon, I just don't find it quite as enchanting as breakfast. I much prefer to start my day with Crystal Palace than end it there. Be careful though! - Since everything is so yummy, it's easy to get carried away. There's nothing quite like walking around the park with a ton of breakfast lasagna sitting in your stomach. I learned it the hard way, and now I know to dine with restraint! Just do me a favor and wait a few hours before you ride Space Mountain, OK?

The view from the balcony of the Crystal Palace. Not too shabby, right?

It's quite clear how I feel about this restaurant, since we obviously keep going back. The Crystal Palace is a beautiful and nostalgic place to make some memories with the people that you love. Don't worry too much about the characters if you're not interested in them. When they come by your table, simply wave and say hello, and don't make any movement to take photos or anything. They'll get the hint and move on to the next table. The atmosphere and food is really worth dining here, even if you really don't like character meals. It's because of those characters though, that the dining prices are a bit higher than other restaurants. Currently, it'll cost an adult $28.75 for breakfast, and (gasp!) $43.66 for dinner. See? Another reason to visit for breakfast!

Do you have a favorite memory from the Crystal Palace, or perhaps a different family dining tradition! I'd love to hear all about it - leave it in the comments!

Happy Dining!

(Where Are The Sprinkles?)

Appropriately-dressed ice cream cones @ home in NY

I have a love for many things, and a few (OK, more than a few) are food-related. One thing that I simply cannot live without would be the sprinkle. Make that sprinkles, and lots of them, please. Keep your hot fudge, your whipped cream and cherry on top, and just coat me in sprinkles.

How sexy is that?

I used to love going to Auntie Gravity's Galactic Goodies in the Magic Kingdom and get a twist in a cone coated in rainbow sprinkles. I think the last time that I was able to do this was in February of 2005. Imagine my disappointment the next year when I went to order the usual, and was told, "we don't have sprinkles." WHAT WHAT WHAT?! Unacceptable.

I get it, Disney wants to keep the parks clean, and a melting ice cream cone covered in sprinkles is just bad news. We all know that the parks don't sell gum, and I understand why because some people just don't seem to understand how to use a garbage can (my Jiminy Cricket conscience always takes over when I think about tossing my gum outside, even when I'm not in Disney World). So I guess the thought of cleaning up a pile of sticky sprinkles melting on the pavement in the hot sun is just too much to take, and I get it. Alas, I am heartbroken. I mean seriously, how amazing would a Dole Whip taste covered in chocolate sprinkles? Yum. If you need me, I'll be in the kitchen with a spoon and a jar of sprinkles, sending Disney major sprinkle vibes. A girl can dream.

By the way Disney Divas, I found this really cool page all about candy coating your fingernails. Halloween ideas maybe?

Happy Sprinkles!

(Sweet Eats: Quick-Service Desserts in Walt Disney World)

Goofy's Candy Co. in Downtown Disney is a treasure trove of sweets!

One of my favorite things about a trip to Disney World is the anticipation of some great eats. Once the vacation is booked, I immediately move to planning restaurants, and researching counter service dining and food stands that I haven't been to yet. When dining out at home, I rarely ever order dessert. I'm not really all that big on sweets, and for some reason it seems like an unnecessary expense for us (it's not like I'm trying to watch my figure; I count nachos as a major food group). When vacationing though, desserts are fair game. It would be silly to pass up any of the great options that Disney has to offer for satisfying that sweet tooth. Take a look at some of my favorites.

Goofy's candy apple offerings, 2010.

Yum yum yum candy apples. This time of year, I always find myself craving one. I personally don't need it to be quite so fancy, I'm easy to please with just the hard red candy coating on the outside. Disney offers a pretty large variety of flavors though, from apple pie candy apples to ones covered in coconut (yum!) The specialty apples do seem a bit pricey at $8.95 a pop, but if you share it with someone, the cost pretty much equals out. Plus, think of the great photo opportunities you'll get eating one of those beauties!

J chows down on a cinnamon bun (don't forget the frozen latte!), 2009.

Magic Kingdom's Main Street Bakery is the perfect place to go for a quick breakfast, but they sell their giant cinnamon buns all day long. Breakfast or dessert, these things are yummy. They're also HUGE, and I recommend sharing one. Nothing like riding Space Mountain with a belly full of cinnamon bun and a major sugar high from all that icing!

Disney's Hollywood Studios 20 Anniversary Cupcake, 2009.

I regret to inform you that I am not well-read in the language of the Disney World Cupcake. I am aware that guests absolutely love them, and have read a lot about the creative offerings throughout the resort. Mama Melrose's in Disney's Hollywood Studios recently unveiled a spaghetti and meatballs cupcake - read about it here. In the meantime, I will work on my love for cupcakes, as I would love to do a detailed entry about them for you.

Taking a brief intermission from the desserts that I love, let me tell you about a very popular place in Downtown Disney's Marketplace. Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop is hugely popular among guests, and rarely looks empty. Finally, J and I gave in to the hype and gave it a try. I must say, I don't see what all the fuss is about. We waited in line for probably 15 minutes for a sundae that I could have easily made at home. It wasn't gross or anything, but it was just sort of a letdown. We ordered the World Famous - two scoops of vanilla ice cream covered in homemade hot fudge, whipped cream, chopped almonds and a cherry, all in a homemade waffle bowl (my favorite part). To be fair to Ghirardelli, their menu offers a lot of fun options, and if I had my way, we would have been eating a banana split. If that had happened, maybe I'd be raving about this place. I lost that battle for some reason, I must have been off my game that day.

Our yearly serving of Kaki Gori, this photo from 2006.

And now back to your regularly scheduled programming. One of my favorite absolute things about Epcot is Kaki Gori. This treat walks a fine line - it's a dessert because it's like a snowcone, but it's also a refreshment because it's like a slushie. These are the best on hot summer days, and one is just never enough for me. I always get a combination of all three flavors; strawberry, melon and tangerine. The Kaki Gori stand was recently updated and is now called Kabuki Cafe, serving snacks like edamame, plum sake and more. If you haven't taken the opportunity to try some Kaki Gori, I insist that you do. It's so much more refreshing than buying a bottle of soda, and the taste is absolutely rewarding. 

The only photo I could find where our Napoleons weren't half eaten already, 2007.

It's the moment we all (or maybe just me) have been waiting for...the big daddy of all Disney World desserts. Distinction of my favorite dessert goes to....NAPOLEONS!
These little slices of heaven can be found at the Boulangerie Patisserie in Epcot's France pavilion. Talk about a place that lives up to its hype - unlike Ghirardelli's, the Patisserie is 100% worthy of the agonizingly long lines that we can't seem to avoid. Don't worry, lines more very quickly as there are two sides to the small bakery, and the results are worth your time. The offerings are endless, from tarts to turnovers, croissants and even quiches, but the crown jewel for me is the Napoleon. Layers and layers of delicate, crispy phyllo dough paired with a sweet cream and a generous dusting of powdered sugar on top and oh. my. Mickey Mouse. It's really the ultimate dessert experience, and always a priority when visiting the World.

Don't forget the Dole Whip, delish!

Well, that's all for now in my quest for desserts. I have a lot more exploring to do - as do you!
Do you have a favorite dessert in Walt Disney World? Ferociously disagree with my assessment of Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop? Have a distaste for my beloved Napoleon? Please tell me all about it - I want to hear from you!

Happy Sweet Eating!