Our Walt Disney World Family Christmas Adventure may still be over 7 months away, but that doesn’t mean we can’t start planning – especially since our ADR day is only a month away!

First you may wonder – what the heck is an ADR day? It’s that magical day that occurs 180 days before your WDW arrival, where you can either go online and call the fine folks at Disney Dining and make your trip dining selections!

You also might not be entirely sure what an ADR is – it stands for Advance Dining Reservation, and how it works is you select a time to eat at your fave Disney restaurants, and when you arrive at that time, your name will be first called once a table becomes available for your party

Ok, so now that we are all clear on what makes this 180 day mark so special, we can get down to business! For us, a party of 4 adults, we want to make sure we are picking a variety of places – family friendly character meals as well as places that offer new and exciting cuisine, and also places that might be a little more “adult” friendly (aka – have a good wine selection!). Also, since we will be there on Christmas, we want to at least try and have some kind of familiar “holiday” meal, similar to what we would have at home.

So we sat down, talked it out, and utilized some menus to decide what we really wanted to experience when it came to our WDW dining experience

Our Final Choices?

-Via Napoli for Lunch – wood fired pizzas, wine and other Italian treats over in Epcot’s World Showcase

-Raglan Road for Dinner – This has turned into a “must do” – the atmosphere, entertainment, beer selection, and amazing Irish eats have been amazing every time, without fail

-1900 Park Fare for Breakfast – This is a “new” one for us (“new” meaning we haven’t been in about 20 years so none of us remember it!) – we are excited to spend time with the Alice In Wonderland characters and sample some delicious breakfast buffet items over at WDW’s beautiful Grand Floridian Resort

-Liberty Tree Tavern for Christmas Eve Dinner – Turkey and all the fixin’s are a perfect choice for a family holiday meal – and the rustic old American theming of the restaurant located in the Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square is a great place to feel happy and at home!

-Boma for Dinner – This has also become a “must do” for our family – at first I must admit I was hesitant to bring my family here, unsure of how they would react to the authentic African cuisine – but they LOVED it – and we will definitely be back for more unique salads, hummus, and bobotie (my personal fave – an egg based beef and lamb dish that is to die for!)

-Crystal Palace for Breakfast – This has been a “must do” for over 20 years for my family – the delicious food and amazing characters make it the perfect way to start a day at the Magic Kingdom. Pose with Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet as you sample Poohs Breakfast Lasagna, Mickey Waffles, and much much more (bottom line – you won’t leave hungry!)

-Ohana for Dinner – Another “new” addition to our dining agenda, I have been wanting to try this one for a while (pretty much since I heard that they serve warm banana bread pudding for dessert!). This all you care to eat family style restaurant at WDW’s Polynesian Resort serves up Asian inspired meats, veggies, and rice in a relaxed, tropical setting

Now all I need to do is wait a month to make the ADR’s….then just another 6 months until I am back at my favorite place!

What do you think – Do you have any places you have to eat at/want to eat at/want to try while vacationing at WDW?

Breakfast is no exception, they really go above and beyond at the Parks and Resorts to make sure you have plenty of options to choose from so you can start your day off right and fuel up for a day at the Parks!

One of my personal fave breakfast spots is the Crystal Palace – a character breakfast spot in the Magic Kingdom featuring Winnie The Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet. The food is amazing here – especially “Pooh’s Breakfast Lasagna” – which is essentially a warm berry bread pudding, and they also serve anything and everything breakfast-related – my fave are the Mickey waffles!

I tried Tusker House for the first time last year, and I have to say, I was impressed! Hosted by Donald and friends (decked out in their safari gear!), this African inspired meal serves up the classics as well as unique items like their bobotie (a spiced egg based casserole which is also served at Boma!)

If you’re not in the mood for a sit down meal that early in the day, you can always grab something at your WDW Resort, like this freshly made waffle and bacon from the POP Century Resort

If the Magic Kingdom is your early morning Park of choice (it is for me!) then let your nose lead you over to the amazing smells coming from the Main Street Bakery, and grab a coffee and one of these bad boys – a warm, soft, gooey cinnamon roll

….Ok now not only do I miss Disney, but I’m starving. Breakfast time!

TGIF!

You enter the ride through Prince Eric’s Castle, and board a “shell” to take your journey

Where else but WDW can you ride through the sea and see mermaid, a prince, and dancing fish all in one place?

After you are done with your voyage, head over to Ariel’s Grotto and meet the Mermaid herself!

I personally cannot WAIT to check out this area and the ride when I head to WDW in December – The Little Mermaid is a classic from my childhood that I watched over and over – and seeing it come to life would be a dream come true!

TGIF!

So what’s the verdict? Personally, I am a Magic Kingdom girl all the way, which is confirmed with this chart!

(I borrowed this image from the Disney Parks Blog – it was too fun not to share!)

Our vacation was not a Disney Cruise, but it DID get me to thinking – if I love cruises and Disney so much, why haven’t I combined those two and seriously considered booking a Disney Cruise for us?

So, I did some research on Disney’s newest ship, the Disney Fantasy, and here is what I found:

 
It’s breathtaking, even from the outside!

A beautiful grand atrium where you are greeted by none other than Minnie herself

Nautical themed staterooms with that touch of “Mouse” décor

Lots of dining and entertainment options, both for families with kids and adults too

A huge pool complete with Mickey design and a water slide

Disney Cruises can take you to places like Alaska, the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Europe and more! Check it out here to see where they can take you

There are few things better than sipping a fruity drink while sunbathing on the deck of a cruise ship – if you haven’t experienced this, I suggest you get on it, pronto!

TGIF!

Sometimes it’s worthwhile just to step back and take a look at your surroundings – you’ll find there’s really a LOT to see:

If you choose to stay at WDW’s Animal Kingdom Lodge -this could be the view off your balcony of the savannah, where you can watch the animal roam about (yep, those are giraffes out there!)

The Tree Of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is really something – its amazing to gaze at, but I also suggest that you get up close and personal with it and check out all the amazing animal engravings and designs – it’s a real work of art

The view from the balcony at California Grill at the top of the Contemporary Resort – you can really see it all, and it’s quite the spot for firework viewing too!

And my all time personal favorite view – standing at the base of Main Street, where you can get a great view of Cinderella’s Castle. Standing here makes me feel like I have come home

Talk about some great views!

TGIF!

And since Disney has some of the best food in the world, it’s only natural that there are people out there trying to recreate those amazing tastes at home!

One of my personal faves? The Butterfinger Cupcake at Starring Roles Cafe in Disney’s Hollywood Studios – this thing is EPIC – a moist chocolate cake with a gooey fudge center, vanilla frosting, a chocolate shell, and butterfinger pieces – who wouldn’t to make these at home?

You want some of that goodness? Here’s the recipe, give it a try!

Starring Rolls Butterfinger Cupcakes
(Recipe courtesy of Plain Chicken)

Ingredients

1 box Devil’s Food Cake mix, plus ingredients to make cake
1 can fudge frosting

4 cups chocolate chips
6 Tbsp canola oil

3 (3.7 oz) King Size Butterfingers

Quick Buttercream Frosting
18 Tbsp butter, softened
6 Tbsp milk
1 Tbsp vanilla
6 3/4 cups powdered sugar

Directions

Prepare cupcakes according to directions on cake mix package. Let cupcakes cool completely.

Using a sharp knife, cut a circle out on top of the cupcake. Make your cut go about halfway into the cupcake. Remove the cake chunk and fill the hole will fudge frosting (I used two spoons to scoop the frosting into the hole). Invert the cupcake chunk on top of the fudge frosting – you want the extra cake to be sticking up.

Prepare the buttercream frosting. Mix together all the ingredients and beat on medium for 3 minutes, until fluffy. Transfer frosting into a piping bag and pipe frosting on top of the cupcakes, covering the cake chunk. Let the frosting set up for 30 minutes.

While the frosting is setting up, crush the Butterfingers in the food processor until completely pulverized. **I froze the Butterfingers and crushed them frozen.**

Combine chocolate chips and oil in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Heat on HIGH for 1 minute. Stir and continue to heat at 30 second intervals until completely melted. Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before using. (You might want to do this in two batches so the chocolate doesn’t harden while you dip the cupcakes) Dip the frosted cupcakes into the chocolate – I used a spoon to hold the frosting into place to make sure it didn’t fall off the cupcake. Immediately coat the cupcake with the pulverized Butterfingers – just smash it all over the chocolate. Repeat until all cupcakes are dipped and covered. Refrigerate approximately 1 hour to allow the chocolate to set up.

There are plenty of Disney recipes out there, available online or in Disney cookbooks, so check some out and recreate that “Disney Magic” at your dinner table tonight!

One thing that people usually assume is that it will be warm while they are on vacation at Walt Disney World – which is probably true some of the time, but it tends to get cooler at night, and the mornings can be chilly too. I recommend you bring along a hoodie, but if you forget yours, you can always check out some of these great hoodies available at the Parks:

From a classic logo sweatshirt

To a preppy-cute cardigan

Or this foodie favorite

And my personal fave – this bright retro-inspired style

You can shop online for great Disney outerwear too – Check out all the options for women and men

TGIF!

Everyone has their personal favorite Disney food items, and I have compiled a list of ones that I think everyone should try:

1. Butterfinger Cupcake – Moist chocolate cake with a fudge center, piled high with fluffy vanilla frosting, and a chocolate and butterfinger shell – these things are massive, and delicious too – they are available at Starring Roles Cafe over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

 2. Prime Rib at Cinderella’s Royal Table – My husband says this is the best prime rib he has ever had – perfectly cooked and seasoned, and not to mention huge! I will take his word for it, and I also suggest you check out CRT, located in the Castle at the Magic Kingdom – you get to dine with the Princesses and enjoy some royally amazing food. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and this place will definitely bring out your inner prince/princess!

3. Chicken Tenders – Ok, I know what you are thinking, really, chicken nuggets on a top 10 list? Well, call me crazy but i just love the nuggets they serve at various counter service locations around WDW – they are always moist on the inside, crispy and hot on the outside, and there is that little spice of black pepper in the breading that gives it just a bit of a kick. Grab some honey mustard and dip away – you won’t regret it, trust me

4. Mickey Ice Cream Bar – It doesn’t get much more classic than this – creamy vanilla ice cream covered in a layer of chocolate, shaped like a famous Mouse? Count me in – but you better be quick about it, or that Florida sun will melt Mickey all over your hand! Not that eating it fast is an issue – it’s so yummy it will disappear before your very eyes!

5. Zebra Domes – A creamy “adults only” dessert that consists of a kahlua mousse with a hint of chocolate…these are so good! They are only available at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, and can be enjoyed at Boma or at AKL’s counter service restaurant, the Mara

6. Bobotie – It’s an authentic African dish made of spiced ground meat, baked with an egg topping. Think quiche, but more savory and flavorful, with hints of exotic spice and an almost cornbread like topping – you can score some of this winner at AKL’s Boma buffet

7. Pooh’s Breakfast Lasagna  – Head over to the Crystal Palace for a delicious buffet breakfast with Pooh and Friends, and sample this amazing concontion, comprised of pound cake, waffles, pancakes, pastry cream, custard, berries, and bananas. It reminds me of a berry bread pudding, and is amazing. If you’re adventurous, you can attempt this at home – personally, I will wait for Pooh to make it for me

8. Mickey Waffles – A staple of any WDW breakfast, these crispy on the outside soft and hot on the inside gems come in small and large sizes, and can be found all around the World. They have the perfect ratio of crunch to soft, and the best thing about them? They are shaped like a smiling Mickey, and are pretty much the cutest things ever. I like to start with the ears, personally

9. Salted Caramels – I am pretty much obsessed with salted caramels, and am happy to see that Disney has a few ways to feed my obsession – one place caramel lovers need to check out is Karamel Kuche over in the Germany area of Epcot’s World Showcase. They specialize in all things gooey and caramel-y, from fresh caramel corn to caramel drizzled cookies – to my beloved salted caramels, covered in either milk or dark chocolate. I also spotted some bagged Goofy’s Candy Company Salted Caramels at many spots around the World, and picked up some of these to enjoy at home – the caramel was nice and soft and a perfect amount of salt was on each one…needless to say, they didn’t make it all the way home

10. Bread and Butter Pudding at Raglan Road – Raglan Road (LINK) is an amazing place to eat (and drink!) in true Irish fashion. Their Bangers and Mash and Fish and Chips are delightful, and if you have any room after dinner, I suggest you try the Bread and Butter pudding – a bread pudding studded with golden raisins and served hot with vanilla and rum sauces on the side – its huge, and tastes like home – comfort food at it’s finest

Insider Tip: If you’re looking to mix it up, I suggest you attempt the 100 Disney Foods To Try Challenge, it is a great way to expand your dining horizons!

Ok, now I am starving…good thing it’s lunch time!

Cruises are a great way to get away and see some new places and experience new things, and one of the best things about them is that they are usually pretty reasonably priced – so it really makes for a perfect vacation!

Now I know I have mentioned the Disney Cruise Line before, and there are plenty of reasons why you could choose to set sail with Disney, and one of the best ones in my personal opinion is Disney’s Castaway Cay – Disney’s privately owned island getaway in the Bahamas. Guests embarking on Disney’s Bahamas and Caribbean bound cruise ships will get a chance to spend a day here – among the clear water, white sand, and palm trees

You can snorkel, swim, sunbathe, enjoy an “adults only” beach, get a massage, shop for souvenirs, and enjoy some delicious BBQ food while spending the day on Castaway Cay

This private island is just one of the perks of taking a cruise with Disney – Click Here to check out the Disney Cruise Line and to see if it’s right for you!