T.G.I.F. Pic Of The Week – Rainforest Café – Yay Or Nay?

In preparation for our Disney World trip (coming up in a mere 58 days!!!), I have been doing a little “light” reading – The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2018 – and when I say light I really mean anything but – it’s a thick book full of mostly text, 864 pages jam packed full of anything and everything you need to know before heading to WDW (and some things you didn’t know you needed to know, too!)

Knowledge wise – a lot of what’s in the book is stuff I already know, but it’s great to brush up on the things that are new since the last time I went (almost 5 years ago eek!). One thing I came across in my reading that I am hoping to check out in person for the first time is the Rainforest Café

Ok – I know – it’s not exactly a “Disney original” restaurant, and the food is probably nothing special, etc etc – believe me, I have heard it all (mostly from my husband who has thus far refused to go, since there are so many more Disney unique places to dine), BUT – bottom line is, I think our son would LOVE IT:

Even the entrance is fun – all the trees and you can see the Elephant check in desk from outside

The bar is my favorite – I see many photo ops in my future involving these stools

A bar with animal seats, giant trees, animals everywhere – what’s not to love? Oh – and the kid’s menu items go along with the theme too – “Jusassic chicken tidbits”, “Gorilla grilled cheese delight”, “Lava Mud” dessert, and the list goes on

Ok so – maybe it’s a bit tacky, and unoriginal (since it is a chain restaurant), but – who cares? It looks fun, and I figure – we will go by it as we leave Animal Kingdom around lunch time, and if there’s not much of a wait, why not give it a go? It will be fun for the kid, and hey, they serve alcohol, so it will be fun for us adults too (kidding!)

What about you – have you tried either of the Disney World Rainforest Café locations? What did you think?

TGIF!

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T.G.I.F. Pic Of The Week – My Top Fastpass+ Picks – Animal Kingdom

For the past few weeks, I have been talking about my top fastpass+ picks for each of the Disney Parks – So far, I have covered the Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Epcot, and this week I will round out my lists with the final park – Animal Kingdom! Admittedly – Animal Kingdom is not my favorite of the Walt Disney World Theme Parks. BUT – it DOES have some amazing things to offer for animal lovers, and I know that my son will ADORE it – as he is SUPER into the zoo and any and all animals right now. So here they are – our top Animal Kingdom Fastpass picks:

First up on the list HAS to be the Kilimajaro Safari ride – as it will give us all a chance to see some animals, and to learn more about them too! Plus – we don’t have to walk – which is a plus in my book (call me lazy – but it’s really for the kid – better to save his little legs and get him the chance to ride around and see some animals he’s never seen before!)

To say my son is into dinosaurs is an understatement – he loves them so much he even has his own giant T-Rex pool float. So naturally, Dinosaur is on our “must ride” Fastpass+ list – I hope it doesn’t scare him – am hoping he is intrigued more than frightened

Meet & Greet with Mickey & Minnie – might not seem “fastpass” worthy to some – but – again – my son is 3, so – meeting Mickey and Minnie is pretty much top on his Disney wish list, so I want to make sure he gets to do it!

Obviously, these Fastpass+ picks are chosen mainly with my almost 4-year old in mind, since it’s his first trip, I want to make sure he is seeing things tailored to his interests, and I really hope he loves what I picked!

What about you – what are your and your family’s must-do Fastpass rides/attractions at WDW?

TGIF!

T.G.I.F. Pic Of The Week – New Land Means New FOOD!

I recently wrote about the newest expansion opening this week at Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Pandora: The World Of Avatar – an immersive land that includes new rides and attractions, and it of course also includes new FOOD (which, if I’m being honest, is about 75% the reason I would even go anywhere ever – is for the food)

Check out what Pandora has to offer for your palette:

“Pods” – Steamed buns filled with either a cheeseburger mixture or vegetable curry, and served with root veggie chips and a veggie slaw. At breakfast time you can get them filled with eggs, bacon and spinach!

“Build Your Own” Bowls start with a base of quinoa, potato hash, rice, or kale salad, and then topped with a protein – beef, chicken, fish, or tofu, and the sauce of your choice – onion chimichurri, black bean vinaigrette, or herb dressing

This amazingly beautiful dessert is a blueberry cream cheese mousse topped with passionfruit curd

I am a big fan of boba – the little gelatin like balls found in bubble tea – so I will definitely want to try one of these new frozen drinks!

I can’t wait to see and do everything that Pandora has to offer – and I am especially looking forward to all the TASTES it will have to share, too!

TGIF!

T.G.I.F. Pic Of The Week: FINALLY Headed Back To WDW!

My husband and I have been talking for a while now about the best time to bring our son to experience the Magic of Walt Disney World for the first time – and I think we finally landed on Fall 2018 – he will just have turned 4, which is when I went for the first time. To say I am excited is an understatement – not only is a vacation must needed, it’s MUCH wanted too! It’s been a while since I have been to Disney – and while I have been keeping up on the goings-on and such, I know that there will be some BIG changes in store for me – and here are the two I am most excited about:

Star Wars Land – this is the largest ever single-themed land expansion to ever break ground at the Disney Parks, and the opening technically isn’t set to be until sometime in 2019, but I personally am keeping my fingers crossed for an early soft opening, or perhaps portions of it opening up before that so we can check it out while we are there! It will be a totally immersive experience, and you can even have the chance to step aboard the Millennium Falcon and pilot it – eek! How awesome!

Pandora – World of Avatar – This land is slated to open later this month at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and it celebrated the “Magic Of Nature” – with a journey through the rainforest, and much more!

I can’t wait to check these both out – and to experience everything else Disney has to offer – both new and classic!

TGIF!

T.G.I.F. Pic Of The Week – Spotlight On “Pandora: The World Of Avatar”

Fans of the popular 2009 flick Avatar will soon be able to transport themselves into the scenes from the movie – with the upcoming opening of Disney’s biggest Animal Kingdom expansion to date – “Pandora: The World Of Avatar”

As you walk onto the moon of Pandora, you will feel like you’ve truly been transported to another place! A place that features 12 acres of floating mountains, exotic and colorful plants and even a bio-luminescent rainforest!

The area will feature two new rides “Avatar Flight of Passage” and “Na’vi River Journey” (pictured above)

Much of what we have seen up until now is just concept art – but as you can see, the construction is in full swing, as they prep for official opening of the World Of Avatar on May 27th. I know I can’t wait to see the finished product – how about you?

TGIF!

T.G.I.F. Pic Of The Week – 2016 Disney Vacation Must-Do’s

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hope you all had a great time ringing in the new year, and that you are looking forward to starting fresh today and having the best year yet!

If you’re planning on heading to Walt Disney World in 2016, then you will definitely want to add these to your list of “Disney Vacation Resolutions” – as they are ALL Must do’s:

   Epcot’s Norway is being expanded to include the new Frozen meet and greet attraction – where your little princesses will get the chance to hobnob with royalty – none other than Anna and Elsa!

Soarin’ is getting overhauled – a third theater and new ride experience that takes you “around the world” make this one a must-see

Toy Story Midway Mania will be getting a third track in 2016 – which will help cut down on the (sometimes REALLY LONG) waits, so if you haven’t checked this one out yet, 2016 will be a good time to give it a try

Any steak fans in your family? You’ll definitely want to check out the new STK steakhouse in Downtown Disney that’s opening in Spring of 2016

Animal Kingdom will be adding a “Rivers of Light” nighttime show, which will be just one of the many changes aimed at turning the park into an “after dark” destination

There are so many amazing changes coming to the Happiest Place On Earth in 2016 – and I don’ know about you, but I can’t wait to experience them all! Here’s hoping I can stick to my Resolutions this year….

TGIF – and HAPPY 2016!!!