Monday, March 31, 2014

Wordless Wednesday Vintage Disneyana - Polynesian Pizza!

Welcome to this week's Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop hosted by the featured Focused on the Magic!  This week's theme is retro Disney!



My mom found this in her attic the other day.  Back in 1989 you could apparently order special pizza delivery at the Polynesian! The Poly has always been our home resort and I LOVE finding vintage stuff from there.  It takes me right back to my childhood trips.  :)






Focused on the Magic
Now hop on to the next stop!



Thursday, March 27, 2014

Let's Pretend...

I've been thinking about doing this for a while and frankly, I might.  So let's pretend I take a quick (long weekendy) trip to Disney World and do NOT go into the parks.  I have a lot of stuff I always mean to do outside of the parks but I never get around to it because the parks are so compelling when you have tickets.

SO, what if I flew down for a long weekend, stayed at the Poly, and did NOT buy park tickets.  What would I do?

Activities:
- Miniature golf at both locations (I've done Fantasia Gardens before but not the other one) (but would it be weird to do this on a solo trip?)
- There's some kind of key you can get at the Grand Floridian I hear?
- The ladybug release/parasol parade at the Grand Floridian
- check out Jellyrolls

Restaurants (of course there will be a TON of eating):

- Narcoosees
- Citricos for arrancini and dessert
- GF Cafe for tea, strawberries and cream.
- Victoria and Alberts?  Probably not.

- Artist's Point- Whispering Canyon (but would this be weird to do on a solo trip?)

- The Wave for breakfast (breakfast potatoes, cheesy grits, sweet potato pancakes, Key lime eggs bennies, multigrain Mickey waffles? Oh my!)

- Sanaa for butter chicken

- Boardwalk bakery for pull-apart brioche, blackberry macaron, and the chocolate Mickey/Minnie tart

- Hoop De Doo Review

- Raglan Road

What would you do?  Give me tips and ideas in the comments!!

Friday, March 21, 2014

Disney News from Non-Disney Sources *Updated 7.3.14

Here is a post I plan to update periodically.  Of course if you're reading my little ole blog, I'm SURE you read the bigger ones and get most of your Disney news from the Disney community at large.  I thought it might be nice to see what the "outside world" is reporting in terms of Disney news.  I have a feeling this will mostly come from New York Magazine's Culture Vulture blog since that's my main non-Disney entertainment news source.  But you know, whatever.  I don't expect this post will get much traffic anyway.  :)

Tina Fey is making a new witch film for Disney (7.3.14)

R.I.P. Newsies (6.23.14)

What Pixar's next movie might mean to girls (6.23.14)

Check out the original prospectus for Disneyland! (6.20.14)

Some people aren't thrilled that Disney is messing with Into The Woods (6.18.14)

A new live-action Beauty and the Beast movie is in the works (6.5.14)

Who was the last, great, genuinely terrifying Disney villain? (5.30.14)

Check out the sub-headlines of this vintage Ladies Home Journal!  Fashions in Disneyland!  I would love to get a peek at that article.  :) (5.7.14)

Who Framed Roger Rabbit star, Bob Hoskins (who also played Smee in Hook - one of my all time favorite movies), passed away last night.  (4.30.14)

Scarlett Johansson and my second best friend (after Jennifer Lawrence) Lupita Nyong'o are in talks to do Disney's live action Jungle Book movie (4.24.14)

Welp, there's gonna be an It's A Small World movie.  Wake me when the People Mover movie gets greenlighted (greenlit?) (4.23.14)

All three Avatar sequels are underway?  I wonder what other boring stories will be rehashed now that Pocahontas/Fern Gully is out of the way. (4.12.14)

I don't always love Hello Giggles but this breakdown of Beauty and the Beast is pretty great.  Point 4 is my main problem with a lot of the Disney movies! (4.10.14)

How Disney helped a family dealing with autism. (4.1.14)

Of course there's a ton of Disney character's in this pop culture Noah's Arc (which characters can you spot?) (3.28.14)

Review of Aladdin the Musical (light on story?  That's not very Disney-like!) (3.21.14)

Andy Serkis to Direct the WB's Live-Action Jungle Book Movie (but we have Idris Elba in OURS so Disney wins) (3.21.14)











Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Kill/Marry/Refurb Blog Hop: The Muppets!!

I'm joining the mysterious Mouse on the Mind and heavenly This Happy Place Blog for the Kill/Refurb/Marry blog hop!  This week's theme is The Muppets.  

Kill:  Lew Zealand.  Throwing fish at people is disgusting.  (My 6 year old self would want to kill Janice - I wasn't really into the dippy hippie schtick back then).


Refurb: Animal.  I feel he might benefit from a stint in Betty Ford or at least some serious therapy?  


Marry:  Miss Piggy (or Kermit since I personally identify with Miss Piggy).  She is not everyone's favorite, I know.  BUT I LOVE HER.  She is PINK!  She is GLAMOROUS!  She is into fashion!  She is a woman who knows what she wants.  We are one, Miss Piggy and I.  So if that means marry Kermit (who actually I think is kind of a milquetoast, too boring and bland for the fabulous Miss P), then so be it.


ACTUALLY, I might want to be Miss Piggy but marry THIS MAGNIFICENT CREATURE.  (No, not Leo Sayer.  The stunning beauty at 1:20).

If you're smart, you will hop on to all the next stops. 

Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop: CANDY

Welcome to this week's Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop hosted by the fizzy Focused on the Magic!  I'm continuing my recap of my mother/sister October 2012 trip.  You can find earlier posts here and here and here and here and here and here!

Not to brag, but here is the cache of candy we collected at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party.  Nailed it.



I honestly would have eaten most of it (and it did become my plane snacks), but I had to save stomach room for all the Disney food I was going to eat on this trip!



Focused on the Magic
Now hop on to the next stop!

Friday, March 14, 2014

Kill/Marry/Refurb: World Showcase Counter Service!

I'm joining the miraculous Mouse on the Mind and hilarious This Happy Place Blog for the Kill/Refurb/Marryblog hop!  This week's theme is World Showcase Counter Service.  Leggo!

Kill:  Yorkshire County Fish Shop.  Actually, instead of killing the actual shop, can we just kill the birds that VICIOUSLY ATTACK me every time I try to eat near there?  I don't need another Tippi Hedren moment, no matter how pretty those Hitchcock blondes are.  Please, someone, grab a bb gun, slingshot, anything.  Murder those suckers. 


If you don't feel like committing avian murder (avianicide?), kill the Liberty Inn.  Don't we have enough boring old burger/fries/chicken nugget places already?  Enough.  


Refurb:  Canada.  "Refurb what?" you may be asking.  EXACTLY MY POINT.  Refurb that store that no one goes into because it requires climbing stairs and we are all fat American tourists.  Turn it into a place to buy food (and NOT those lame-o prepackaged, buy-them-at-the-supermarket-when-you-get-home-instead snacks they currently offer) and I have a sneaking suspicion we will be more inclined to climb those stairs.  You could even charge outrageous prices for some cheddar cheese soup and pretzel bread to go.  You KNOW we're dumb enough to fall for it, Disney.


Marry:  I love Kringla, but I think everyone is going to want to marry it.  I love the Tangerine Cafe too, but I don't think we're a good fit for long term cohabitation.  So I'm going to propose three-way marriage to L'Artisan Des Glaces and Karamel Kuche.  Just think of the adorable (and sweet) babies we'd have together!!  


If you're smart, you will hop on to all the next stops. 

How to eat like a Disney guest in New York City

As you may have figured out by now, I live in the New York City area.  I suspect that NYC has the highest concentration of Disney restaurants that are not actually in Disney World.  So if you're missing your favorite dish from Orlando and you happen to be in New York, you still might be able to get it (or a close approximation of it).  Let me take you on a brief tour....

If you love Baby Cakes in Downtown Disney, you can always try the original Baby Cakes on the Lower East Side.  Here is Part IV of my epic taste test.

If you love Earl of Sandwich in Downtown Disney, you can hit up Earl of Sandwich in Midtown West.  Here is a post on one of my visits, with links to prior visits!

If you love schoolbread from Kringla Bakeri in Epcot, you can check out Bakeri in Brooklyn.  Here is my recap of their schoolbread!  If you're just in it for the name, there's always Shoolbred's pub in the East Village.

If you love Shula's at the WDW Dolphin resort, you can make a reservation for Shula's in Midtown West.

If you love Il Mulino at the WDW Swan resort, you can call for a table at Il Mulino either uptown or downtown!

If you miss the okonomiyaki they used to serve at Katsura Grill in the Japan Pavilion in Epcot, try Otafuku in the East Village (mine were covered in bonito flakes and came with tako balls but you can get them sans bonito and sans tako (but you'd be crazy then because: delicious)).





What Disney eateries have you found in New York?  Or in your own hometown?

Favorite Food Friday: Earl of Sandwich Caribbean Jerk

Welcome to another Favorite Food Friday hosted by the devilish Disney Day by Day!

You guys may remember my first Earl of Sandwich review of the Full Montagu and the Original 1762 (and the Coronet Cakes): here.  

Well when Sarah of the Eating WDW blog started participating in the Eat Each Sandwich challenge, I knew I had to join in as well!  I also reviewed the Chicken Chipotle Avocado Sandwich (and their chocolate chip cookie), the All American Sandwich (plus oatmeal mini cookies), and the Earl Club Sandwich (plus chocolate and vanilla cupcakes)! 


I also managed to squeeze in the Holiday Turkey Sandwich before I changed jobs and was no longer a mere 10 minute walk from the sole Earl of Sandwich in my area.  And the Hawaiian BBQ Sandwich and the Italian!






This time I tried the Caribbean Jerk Chicken Sandwich on wheat.  I feel like I might prefer their wheat to their white bread maybe?  Even though the bread looks burnt - it was just that the wheat is dark and toasted.  

As usual with Earl (at least the one I go to on 53rd and 6th), the sandwich was oversauced.  Do they do this because they think they can get away with extra sauce due to the bread being toasted?  I don't know.  But I'm considering asking for light sauce or sauce on the side next time. 

The chicken tasted processed.  Like those Perdue Short Cuts packs you get at the supermarket.  And despite what looked like a lot of peppers bringing some color and spice to the sandwich, they didn't provide much kick.  I could barely taste the "jerk" and there was almost no heat at all.




Now hop on to the next stops!

DisneyDayByDay


And don' t forget to link up!


Friday, March 7, 2014

Favorite Food Friday Citrus Swirl!

Welcome back to another Favorite Food Friday hosted by the deleterious Disney Day by Day!

My very first Citrus Swirl!  Magic Kingdom, October, 2012:







Now hop on to the next stops!

DisneyDayByDay


And don' t forget to link up!