(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,

(Extracurricular Activities: Water Park Fun & More)

B & MOM, May 2007.

When planning your Disney vacation, you have the glorious opportunity to add the Water Park Fun & More option to your base park ticket. I suggest you take that opportunity. For ages 10+, a 7-day Park Hopper ticket will run you $322 (current Dec 2011 prices). With the aforementioned option, the price increases to $377. That's merely a $55 difference that you have to pay to experience a whole other world of Disney. 

The Water Park Fun & More ticket option allows to to experience two water parks, DisneyQuest and admission to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. It also used to include admission to Pleasure Island (le sigh). That's a whole lot of extra for 55 bucks. If you're planning on staying 7 nights in Disney (or 8 or 10, which is always recommended), it's suitable to say that time will allow you to explore a bit outside of the 4 main theme parks. My suggestion, coming from someone who isn't super crazy about water parks, is to start with DisneyQuest.

With friends, March 2006.

DisneyQuest, billed as an indoor, interactive theme park, is fantastically fun for all ages. We have always enjoyed going at night to coincide with a trip to Pleasure Island, but DisneyQuest opens at 11:30am daily. The fun starts right when you enter - this is probably one of the coolest elevator rides I have ever taken (not counting the Tower of Terror, obviously). No spoilers here - I trust that you will take the opportunity to try it for yourself! 

DisneyQuest's Virtual Jungle Cruise

The most popular attractions here are without a doubt CyberSpace Mountain and Pirates of the Caribbean - Battle for Buccaneer Gold. I will never try CyberSpace Mountain simply because my body just can't take an overload of motion simulators, but the line is always pretty long for this one. Guests get to build their own rollercoaster (make it as scary as you want - they insist!) and then proceed to "ride" their design. I have heard pretty good things about it, but like I said...no way will I ever do this. Pirates of the Caribbean is a different story - this attraction is phenomenal! In a photo above, J and I are wearing some crazy looking goggles - be prepared to do the same when you participate in Pirates. Your team must decide who does what - someone steers the ship, another mans the cannon, and yet another must ward off evil pirates! What I love about DisneyQuest is that this really is a place for families to play together. Working as a team is a big theme here and I really appreciate the underlying values that DisneyQuest promotes (whether intentionally or not). 

Wonderland Cafe, 2007.

Be sure not to miss my two favorite DisneyQuest attractions; Virtual Jungle Cruise and Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters. Remember, if lines appear long, they move just as fast. I've never really had an issue with queue times. If you're looking for something a bit more low-key, DisneyQuest has an entire floor dedicated to some good old-fashioned Arcade Games, including my personal favorite, AIR HOCKEY! If you've played yourself silly until the point of starvation, fear not - Wonderland Cafe and Food Quest are two fantastic dining options that DisneyQuest has for you. OK, enough with the information overload. I could really go on about this place for a very long time. JUST GO! For more information on DisneyQuest and to add the option to your park ticket, visit here.

Blizzard Beach

The next stop on your glorious adventure beyond the Disney theme parks is a just-as-fabulous water park. You have two options: Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon - or both. When I was 7, on my very first trip to Disney World, I was bowled over by a giant wave at Typhoon Lagoon. I required a trip to the park's first aid center, and while I may have been a very dramatic seven-year-old, the park has since been ruined forever. So...that leaves Blizzard Beach for me! How could you not love this place - snow in Florida? In the summer?! Fantastic. The legend of Blizzard Beach is as follows:

      "It was a meteorological phenomenon of the strangest order. One balmy day, a freak winter storm developed 

       over the western end of Walt Disney World Resort and covered the area with a thick blanket of powdery 

       white snow. Before you could say "hot cocoa," plans were underway for Florida's first ski resort.

      Ski lifts were put up, toboggan runs were laid down and an entire resort area blossomed around the mountain 

      of snow. Yet before the first skier could strap on a pair of boots and stick his poles into the snow, the 

     temperatures returned to their normal Florida levels, and the powdery snow quickly turned into slippery 

     slush. The ski resort operators saw their dream melting down the hillside. Yet that's not all they saw.

     As the slush began cascading down and pools of water began to form, an echoing "yahoo" was heard from 

     the summit of the mountain. Everyone looked up to see a playful alligator careening down the melting hillside.

     He slid to the base of the mountain and landed in a pool of water with a thunderous splash. They knew at 

     once that they were back in business.

     Slalom courses, bobsled and toboggan runs became downhill waterslides. The creek of melted snow that 

     formed at the base of the mountain became a relaxing tube ride. The chairlift carried swimmers instead of 

     skiers. The ski jump became the tallest and fastest water slide in the world. The ski resort became known as 

     Disney's Blizzard Beach, the most slushy, slippery, exhilarating water park anywhere!" (All Ears)

And what a delight it is. As water parks go, Blizzard Beach is the cream of the crop. With attractions like Summit Plummet (a living nightmare of a waterslide), Downhill Double Dipper and my personal favorite, Teamboat Springs, you have a whole day's worth of fun. I mean, how many other water parks have chair lifts? There is also a good variety of food options here - nachos (what else?) at the Cooling Hut, a Blizzard Dog at Avalunch, a Grand Margarita from Polar Pub and some mini donuts from a place called..Mini Donuts, the possibilities are endless. All you need is your bathing suit, some sunblock and a waterproof camera for those memories, and you've got yourself a great family day and some fun in the sun.

J says" Spend a day at Blizzard Beach!"

Adult admission for a day at DisneyQuest is $43.67. A day at Blizzard Beach will cost you $52.19. So, you do the math...the solution is clear that it's worth your money to add the Water Park Fun & More option to your ticket. Even if you don't use all of the options, or you don't spend the entire day at one of the water parks, it just makes good sense. Some people don't realize that Disney has so much more to offer than just the four main theme parks. There are even some people who think that the Magic Kingdom IS Disney World. Yikes. We know better than that, don't we? :)

What is your favorite extracurricular activity at Walt Disney World? Your favorite DisneyQuest attraction? Send me your comments!

Happy Exploring!

(T-Rex: It's Dino-mite!)

I'm not going to beat around the bush and make you wait until the end of this review to tell you how I feel about T-Rex. I LOVE it. In the span of our past two trips to Walt Disney World, I have dined there 4 times. I would have gone again if I had time, and definitely plan to go back on our next visit. So, since you already know I'm going to strongly recommend T-Rex, take a look at my favorite ways to enjoy your time in this prehistoric eatery.

Upon entering the Downtown Disney establishment, you're taken back to the age of the Dinosaurs. This is not the place to go if you're looking for a nice, quiet dinner. T-Rex is loud. Every 15 minutes or so, a meteor strikes and the dinos go wild! Expect lots of roaring, squawking and other prehistoric noises. The atmosphere is frequently dark, with flashes of light during the meteor showers. Depending on where you're sitting, there are a variety of lighting changes that make for a really fun, immersive atmosphere.

T-Rex was created by the same folks who brought us Rainforest Cafe, so you can expect the menu to be huge. Unlike Rainforest Cafe however, T-Rex does not serve breakfast. Bring a big appetite for lunch and dinner; T-Rex serves everything from great appetizers and salads to burgers, seafood, pasta, ribs, chicken and so much more.

If you're in the mood to munch, T-Rex offers the Supersaurus Sampler; Spinach & Pepper Jack Queso with tortilla chips, Bracchiosaurus Bruschetta, T-Rexadillas and onion rings round out the filling appetizer ($18.99). Make it a meal and add ribs for an additional $5.99. Everything was very good, and we found ourselves fighting over the queso and chips!

As I'm sure you know by now, what do I always order when it's on the menu? Say it together now...NACHOS! That's right, and T-Rex offers some of the best. One of my favorite experiences to ever come to mind is when J and I spent a memorable night at T-Rex, drinking way too much and munching away on nothing but nachos. After that we took a bus to the Grand Floridian where we proceeded to visit Mizner's Lounge for another liquid concoction, and then monorail-ed to the Magic Kingdom for a showing of Wishes! Now I know they don't serve alcohol in the Magic Kingdom, but if you get the chance to have a few drinks and then watch the fireworks, you're going to have a great time! But I'm getting off topic now...oh yes, nachos. The Colosso Nachos are made up of seasoned beef, pico de gallo, black beans, green onions, cheddar cheese, queso (plastic cheese!) and a hearty dollop of sour cream. Next to Margaritaville, these are probably my favorite nachos in the area. The tri-color chips don't hurt either, I'm a sucker for those.

Speaking of drinking too much, T-Rex has one of the coolest bars around. Surrounded by a giant octopus and littered with glowing fish tanks, this is a great place to have a drink while you're waiting for your table, or maybe just to stop by on your way to the Adventurer's Club (I know what you're going to say, but I'm still in denial that it's gone). I rarely ever see these chairs filled to capacity, so getting a seat shouldn't be a problem. T-Rex offers a variety of wines, beers and mixed drinks. You can get your drink mixed in a souvenir glass, and then top it off - refills are discounted (woohoo!) Drinks are available sans the glass as well.

I'm sure you've pretty much caught on by now; we're not usually very fancy eaters. A couple of drinks and appetizers keep J & I happy as clams. That isn't to say we aren't adventurous in our dining, and that we don't enjoy an expensive, well-prepared meal every now and then. We simply haven't made our millions (yet), and aren't terribly hard to please - especially if nachos or chicken wings are on the menu. Still though, sometimes on vacation you've just had enough of the junk, and you need a nice clean meal. This being the reason why I ordered a salad on one visit to T-Rex.

Pictured above is the Omnivore's Delight - iceberg, romaine and baby greens with goat cheese (one of my favorite things), Craisins, strawberries, red onion and carmelized pecans tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette. I love everything about this salad - with the exception of the frisee. The weird lettuce is like nature's way of saying, "I'm gonna make you choke on your salad." 

I haven't tried any of the entrees at T-Rex, because I'm usually just so satisfied with an appetizer or a salad. J once got a burger, and said it was only OK. The restaurant also serves a good selection of desserts, including the Chocolate Extinction (I think something akin to Rainforest's Volcano! dessert). The restaurant is divided into multiple sections, including the Ice Age, Prehistoric Insects, Under the Sea and more. If you're lucky, you'll be seated inside of the Ice Age cave, which is a show in itself. Request it next time you visit, and you'll see why!

Is T-Rex going to win awards for amazing food? Probably not. But that's not why you go there. If you're looking for a fantastic dining experience in Downtown Disney, go elsewhere. T-Rex is about the atmosphere. Expect loud, raucous fun and you will not leave T-Rex disappointed. Reservations are recommended but not required. Lines can get very long here! Definitely visit Disney's reservations page for the easiest and most convenient way to make sure you get a table.

Have you been to T-Rex? I'd love to hear your opinion on some of their entrees! Leave your comments!

Happy Dining!

(Shopping Spree: Apricot Lane)

Photo courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

There's a new store calling Downtown Disney home. Opened on August 12, Apricot Lane is a fashion-forward boutique featuring "celebrity-inspired branded apparel, affordable fashion jewelry, handbags and accessories." Featuring some of my personal favorites like 7 For All Mankind, Joe's Jeans and Free People, this store is sure to please any Disney fashonista.
According to the company's website, Apricot Lane is currently the only franchised women's fashion and gift boutique. The first franchise was opened in 2007 in California, and there are currently around 90 Apricot Lanes in 28 States throughout the U.S.
Apricot Lane is located in the former Pleasure Island section of Downtown Disney. Vice President of Downtown Disney Keith Bradford said, "We're pleased to add Apricot Lane to our assortment of unique offerings at Downtown Disney. This boutique is another example of our commitment to bring new and compelling experiences to life at Downtown Disney and I'm confident that it will soon become a guest favorite." Could there be a designer-Disney collaboration some time in the future? I hope so!

Have you paid a visit to Apricot Lane? Let me know what you think!

Happy Shopping,

(Exceptional Eats: Earl of Sandwich)

It's very rare to find great-tasting, inexpensive food in Walt Disney World. Earl of Sandwich is one of the best exceptions. Located in the marketplace section of Downtown Disney, Earl of Sandwich is a franchise based out of Orlando, FL. Believe it or not, the Earl of Sandwich is a real person. The original was Edward Montagu, prominent naval commander of Sandwich, Kent. They called him Lord Sandwich - a name that I would happily answer to. (Since his name came before the lunch staple, it obviously didn't have the same connotation at the time).

So, Lord Sandwich went on to have a family, and down the line, we were given the 11th Earl of Sandwich, John Montagu. A British entrepreneur, politician and nobleman, John Montagu - along with his son Orlando and businessman Robert Earl - are directly responsible for the genius that is Earl of Sandwich. (John and Orlando Montagu are direct descendants of the 4th Earl of Sandwich, who actually popularized the sandwich in Great Britain in the 18th century). If you haven't had one of these yet, I urge, even beg you to do so.  Best. Sandwich. Ever.

Before I continue drooling over how delectable these sandwiches are, take a look at the description of the restaurant from the Earl of Sandwich website:

In 1762, John Montagu, the fourth Earl of Sandwich, had his hands full, literally. As First Sea Lord, he commanded the mighty British Navy, was a noted explorer, and also a dedicated gambler with a love of day long card games. This led to little time for food, so he came up with the ingenious idea (some say at the card table) of putting meat between two slices of bread. From then on it did not matter if you were fighting a great sea battle or laying down a Royal Flush, you could eat great food without too much fuss. Thus in 1762, the Sandwich was named after its inventor, John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich. Now 250 years later, the current 11th Earl and the Sandwich family remain passionate about the world’s most popular quick food that carries their name and have developed the sandwich everyone has been waiting for…

The World’s Greatest Hot Sandwich^®

The hot sandwiches are drool-worthy.

I'd say they have something there with the World's greatest hot sandwich. Cast members of Earl of Sandwich work assembly-line-style. The restaurant is usually quite crowded - don't be discouraged, the line does move quickly. While you are standing in line however, please look at the menu and decide what you want in advance. The staff of Earl of Sandwich try to keep things moving as quickly and smoothly as possible, and it's the worst when someone hems and haws over what to order when they get to the register. Don't be that guy. Hungry vacationers can't stand that guy.

The obligatory chow-down shot 

The Earl of Sandwich does serve breakfast, but tends to be the most crowded for lunch and dinner. They offer some great looking salads and cold wraps, but I've never tried them since I'm so in love with one particular menu item. I love to try new things, but have a very hard time not ordering my Hawaiian BBQ sandwich. Served on a freshly toasted Artesian loaf, my beloved sandwich consists of roasted ham, grilled chicken, Hawaiian BBQ sauce, aged Swiss and fresh pineapple. One bite and I am in sandwich Heaven. This is coming from someone who doesn't enjoy eating too much meat. The BBQ and the pineapple are so flavorful, the bread so warm and crispy, there's just no beating it. J loves the Full Montagu: roast beef and turkey with sharp cheddar & Swiss, romaine, roma tomato and mustard sauce. He also loves ordering the Earl's Grey Lemonade: fresh lemonade infused with Earl Grey tea (kind of the British version of the Arnold Palmer). I find it to be a bit strong, but if you love tea, you'll probably love this. The drink is certainly very refreshing. Oh, and I almost forgot the most amazing part - each sandwich is only $5.99! Take a look at the full menu here.

With regards to seating: sometimes the uber-crowded dining room can make it hard to find a seat. Don't panic, you will find one eventually. Most people are very courteous and will alert a waiting diner to their empty table once they are done eating. If you are finished with your table, I recommend directing someone looking for a table your way. It helps out a fellow Disney vacationer, and will make you feel that you have done something nice (which always puts a smile on my face). If the dining room is just too crowded for you, there is always seating outside!  

So, it's clear that I may have a mild obsession with this restaurant. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a hot, freshly-made sandwich, or simply to anyone who is hungry. I would love to hear your opinions on the restaurant! Do you have a favorite sandwich, or maybe a not so stellar experience with the Earl? Leave it in the comments (and please email me your chow-down photos!)  Before I go, I will leave you with one last look at the Holy Grail of yummy...

It's a beautiful thing.

Happy Sandwiching!

(Chow Down: Paradiso 37)

One of the newest additions to the up-and-coming revision of Pleasure Island is Paradiso 37. A large space with plenty of energy to spare, the 37 in its name has two special meanings. First and foremost, there are 37 different cuisines offered on the menu, spanning from North, South, and Central America. The second, and the pride of many who love to drink, are the 37 varieties of tequila offered at Paradiso's fantastic bar. 

The restaurant gives off a feeling of high-energy from the second you walk in the door. Be sure to observe the awesome chandelier, made from tequila bottles and martini glasses.

Dining there on a perfect-weather evening in late May, J and I opted to sit outside on the patio, which wraps around one side of the restaurant with gorgeous views of Village Lake. The inside of the restaurant, which we were led through to the outside patio, had an open, airy feel and a beautiful bar. While I did not slow down to get any pictures, I definitely plan on making a trip back to that bar, even if just for a drink!

I will admit that initially, I was a bit nervous to try this restaurant due to its poor reviews. It had only been open for a few short months before we made it there, and it may have needed to work out the kinks. We ventured on nonetheless, mostly because I'm a sucker for an interesting menu. Our pleasant waiter brought us our water and we started to peruse the menu. Paradiso 37 offers a "Taste of the Americas" in the form of street foods. This includes anything that would find from a street cart, festival, or market throughout the Americas. The menu consists of everything from North American Corn Dogs and Caribbean Crab & Fish Fritters to Colombian Style Crispy Hen and Baja Fish Tacos. 

J started with a Dos Equis (one of his favorites), while I opted for a specialty drink, the Mingled Margarita; Sauza margarita layered with red sangria. By the way, Paradiso claims to have the world's coldest beer; served at 29 degrees F, it's "too cold to hold." J loved his beer, while I found my mingled margarita to be a bit on the sweet side. It was refreshing nonetheless. Our appetizers didn't take too long, and within about 10 minutes we had our Central American Crazy Corn and our P-37 Nachos. You will learn this about me quickly; I have never met a nacho I don't like. If it's on the menu, it's on our table. The descriptions of our appetizers are as follows:

Central American Crazy Corn - Fire roasted corn on the cob topped with a spicy yellow pepper sauce and imported cheeses $8.50

P-37 Nachos (serves 2) - corn tortilla chips, queso fundido, chili, queso fresco, sour cream, pico de gallo, jalapenos $13.99

The nachos were nothing to rave about, but again, any nacho is usually a good nacho to me. If it hadn't been for the spicy yellow pepper sauce, the Crazy Corn probably would have just been corn on the cob covered in cheese and served on a stick. The sauce did make a difference though, and it made for an interesting appetizer. It was nice to have something that wasn't fried, and it felt like a good clean meal.

Since we didn't order any entrees, we just had to try one of the desserts. Immediately catching both of our eyes (and appetites) was the Mini Ice Cream Cones: four mini waffle cones with vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and cookies & cream ice cream, topped with....sprinkles! (Oh yeah, I'm also a HUGE fan of sprinkles - more on that later). Now comes the showdown: who gets the chocolate cone? 

Adorable husband eating adorably-sized ice cream? Check.

I guess I lost that battle. It's a good thing that I actually prefer cookies & cream :) Oh yea, one other thing. While we're enjoying our food & drink, there's a highly-entertaining, lovely man playing cover songs for us. He did everything from Bob Marley to Jason Mraz - the kind of stuff that makes you feel great to be eating outside in the Florida heat. Even after we paid our check, I just had to stay and watch him a little longer, even if J made me leave the table!

So, would I recommend Paradiso 37? Absolutely. While I may not have done enough research (sorry!) to comment on their entrees, I can certainly say that this is the place to come for drinks, a light nosh, and great entertainment. Our next venture into Paradiso will certainly be for some tequila sampling, and maybe some late-night entertainment. Also, the Mac & Cheese Bites. Yum.

Have you been to Paradiso 37? I'd love to hear about it!

Happy Dining!