Magical Blogorail Green: Favorite Character Dining Experience

Welcome to those of you joining me from Disney Living and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the 2nd stop on our Magical Blogorail.

My favorite character dining experience is Chef Mickey's at Disney's Contemporary Resort. 

Chef Mickey's offers a great character dining experience for both breakfast and dinner with all of the classic Disney characters we all love so much - Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald, Daisy, Goofy & the Chipmunks (at least those were all the characters I met when I was little and used to go for their breakfast). 

When I went most recently for dinner I only saw Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald & Goofy. As an adult at Chef Mickey's I feel like a kid again. I think any character dining experience at the Disney Parks can easily transform any adult back to a kid (I still get giddy when I see them and take a picture with them). My favorite part is watching how the kids at the restaurant react. It brings back my childhood memories in an instant, but then again I haven't grown up all that much thanks to Disney!

The key to enjoying Chef Mickey's is to go hungry! It's an all you care to enjoy buffet style with all the yummy Disney food you can imagine! 

The only downfall to Chef Mickey's is that it is quite a pricey character dining experience. For breakfast adults pay $36 and for dinner it's now gone up to $60. And a new policy as of October 2011 now makes you hold the reservation with a credit card and gives you up to one day prior to cancel. This new policy will probably make getting a reservation much easier than it used to be (it was nearly impossible), but since it was only 2 of us we were able to walk in and be seated. Although pricey, I highly recommend this character dining experience for anyone both young and old! 

Below are some pictures of my most recent trip (I tried to find the ones from when I was 4, but would have had to have gone through hundreds of my mom's photo albums). 

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is A Disney Mom’s Thoughts. 

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ Disney Living

2nd Stop ~ Adventures of a Disney Princess

3rd Stop ~ A Disney Mom’s Thoughts

4th Stop ~ The CanaDisney Blog
Final Stop ~ Your Highway in the Sky

Magical Blogorail: runDisney Expedition Everest Challenge

Welcome to those of you joining me from Disney Babies Blog and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the 2nd stop on our Magical Blogorail.

On my bucket list of runDisney races is the upcoming Expedition Everest Challenge taking place on May 5th. The Expedition Everest Challenge is a short race, a 5K, that runs through Disney's Animal Kingdom. It takes place at night, however the twist is that it is filled with obstacles along the way. It is definitely not your average race. Throughout the 5K trek you must collect clues to help you on a scavenger hunt that takes place at the end of the race. You can choose to take on the challenge alone or in a team (2 people). 

I'm really looking forward to this runDisney race. I've only done one other runDisney race and that was last year's Royal 5K held during Disney's Princess Half Marathon Weekend. 

After this 5K my bucket list of runDisney race events jumps to a much larger race with the Wine and Dine Half Marathon in November! It will be my first "big" race!

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is The Disney FAITHful. 

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ Disney Babies Blog

2nd Stop ~ Adventures of a Disney Princess

3rd Stop ~ The Disney FAITHful

4th Stop ~ A Disney Mom’s Thoughts

5th Stop ~ Growing Up Disney

6th Stop ~ DIStherapy

Final Stop ~ Tips from the Disney Diva 

Magical Blogorail Green - Epcot Flower & Garden Festival

Welcome to the first stop aboard Magical Blogorail Green. Enjoy the ride as we share with you details of Epcot’s Flower & Garden Festival.

I love visiting Epcot's Flower & Garden Festival each year. My favorite thing about the festival is seeing all the gorgeous topiaries that are displayed throughout the park. Each year they bring some new topiaries to the park and you can always count on the classic ones that come back year after year (like "Beauty and the Beast" and "Sleeping Beauty").

You can't really describe just how beautiful the topiaries throughout the park are, so I'll let you enjoy the pictures from last year's festival. 

I'll be sure to post pictures from this year's festival as soon as I get a chance to go back to Disney. 

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is A Disney Mom’s Thoughts.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ Adventures of a Disney Princess

2nd Stop ~ A Disney Mom’s Thoughts

3rd Stop ~ Walt Disney World: Not Just for Kids

4th Stop ~ Your Highway in the Sky
Final Stop ~ Disney Living

Magical Blogorail Green - Hidden Treasures

Welcome to those of you joining me from Disney Living and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the final stop on our Magical Blogorail.

One of the Hidden Treasures that I absolutely love is the Firehouse Gift Station on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom. Not many people may know about it, but when inside it's a nice little hidden treasure with little gifts you wouldn't find anywhere else in the park. 

My favorite thing about the Firehouse Gift Station and why I feel it is truly a little Hidden Treasure inside the park is that over the years Firefighters from various departments around the country have left their patches and the station has them up for display. What started off as a tradition for firefighters however has grown and you can find patches from police departments and even several federal agencies that all work towards keeping us and our country safe on a daily basis. I think it's a nice way to honor all those and remember the many men and women that are fighting for our safety. 

Thank you for joining Magical Blogorail Green this month. We will be back Friday, March 23^rd  with an all new theme. Keep checking in with our blogs in between loops to keep up to date with our Disney info, photos and stories. If you are looking for more Disney magic, you can make your way over to The Magical Blogorail website to see all our members and their blogs, as well as all our previous loops.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ A Disney Mom’s Thoughts

2nd Stop ~ Walt Disney World: Not Just for Kids
3rd Stop ~ Your Highway in the Sky
4th Stop ~ Disney Living
Final Stop ~ Adventures of a Disney Princess

Magical Blogorail Green: My 2012 Disney Resolution

Welcome to those of you joining me from Pursuing The Magic and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the 2nd stop on our Magical Blogorail.

My 2012 Disney resolution is to finally participate in two of the runDisney race events that I’ve been wanting to do, but for one reason or another haven’t gotten around to doing them. The first is the “Expedition Everest Challenge” that takes place in May and the second is the “Wine & Dine Half Marathon” in November (although I might add the a third as I was really excited about the announcement on Wednesday regarding the new “Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10 Miler”).

This coming year however, there will be no excuses. I will finally partake in these two race events (and maybe 3). 

Have you participated in any of runDisney’s race events? Or do you plan to participate in any? My first event was this past year’s “Royal 5k.” Although I was sick with the flu I truly enjoyed the event and loved that feeling of accomplishment when I crossed the finish line and got my medal.  I can’t wait for the next one!

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is A Disney Mom’s Thoughts. 

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ Pursuing the Magic

2nd Stop ~ Adventures of a Disney Princess
3rd Stop ~ A Disney Mom’s Thoughts

Final Stop ~ Walt Disney World: Not Just for Kids

Magical Blogorail Green: Favorite Disney Resort To Visit

Welcome to those of you joining me from Pursuing the Magic and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the 4th stop on our Magical Blogorail.

Welcome to those of you joining me from Pursuing the Magic and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the 4th stop on our Magical Blogorail.

My favorite Walt Disney World resort to visit is Disney's Wilderness Lodge. I think it is a combination of the was it is decorated as well as the fact that it has one of my favorite places to go for breakfast: The Whispering Canyon Cafe - that makes it my favorite resort to visit. 

We always make it a point to stop at the Wilderness Lodge during our trips to Disney World. My favorite part of the hotel itself is the lobby. I love how it makes you feel that you really are out in some big lodge in the mountains. And although we are still a couple of months away from the holidays, this resort looks spectacular when decorated for Christmas. 

At the Whispering Canyon Cafe, I love the way they serve the Mickey Waffles in cast-iron skillets. And of course the service is always a fun experience! 

Although I love simply "visiting" the Wilderness Lodge, I do look forward to one day staying there as well.

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is A Disney Mom’s Thoughts.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:


1st Stop ~ Walt Disney World: Not Just for Kids
2nd Stop ~ Your Highway in the Sky
3rd Stop ~ Pursuing the Magic
4th Stop ~ Adventures of a Disney Princess
Final Stop ~ A Disney Mom’s Thoughts

Magical Blogorail Green: The Disney Attraction I Miss the Most

                                          Welcome to those of you joining me from Magical Days with the Mouse and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the 3rd stop on our Magical Blogorail.

The attraction I miss the most is still at the parks in a sense, but not as it was originally. That attraction is "Journey Into Imagination." You may remember that I blogged about this same attraction back in April during Magical Blogorail's Least Favorite Disney Attraction. Even though I consider the current attraction my least favorite of the parks, the original attraction is also the attraction I miss the most (I'm pretty sure I speak for a lot of Disney fans out there)!

In my opinion, the original attraction was simply perfect! I still don't understand the reasoning behind changing the ride. Dreamfinder and Figment really brought the concept of using your imagination to life in the original attraction.

After Disney's recent reopening of the "Original Enchanted Tiki Room," I have hope that one day they will bring back my beloved "Journey Into Imagination." I loved that ride and figment so much that after 23 years I still have the Figment plush toy that my parents bought for me on one of my trips (and he still looks brand new)!

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is A Disney Mom’s Thoughts.


Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ Your Highway in the Sky
2nd Stop ~ Magical Days with the Mouse
3rd Stop ~ Adventures of a Disney Princess
4th Stop ~ A Disney Mom’s Thoughts
Final Stop ~ Walt Disney World: Not Just for Kids

My Most Memorable Disney Character Experience

Welcome to those of you joining me from Magical Days with the Mouse and those of you who have just hopped aboard. I am 2nd stop on our Magical Blogorail.

My most memorable Disney character experience was when I was when I was about 4 1/2 years old at Chef Mickey's at Disney's Contemporary Resort. I remember it perfectly as if it were yesterday. I was so excited and happy to be meeting and taking pictures with all of my favorite Disney characters that I would wake up to each morning. My little sister was terrified of them, but I was having the time of my life. I kept going after Mickey, Pluto, Goofy and Donald and bringing them back to my table (back then they weren't so strict with them because at one point I had three characters at my table). It really is my most memorable experience and one that I will always cherish.

At Chef Mickey's as an adult! :)

With Goofy

And Donald!

Thank you for joining me today.  Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is Makin' Memories.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail Loop should you happen to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ Magical Days with the Mouse

2nd Stop ~ Adventures of a Disney Princess

3rd Stop ~ Makin' Memories

4th Stop ~ Walt Disney World: Not Just for Kids

Final Stop ~ Your Highway in the Sky

Magical Blogorail - My Favorite World Showcase Pavilion

Welcome to the first stop aboard Magical Blogorail Green. Enjoy the ride as we share with you our favorite World Showcase Pavilion!


I must start off by saying that in general I absolutely love Epcot's World Showcase! One of my favorite things to do is just walk through it "hopping from country to country" in just a couple of hours. And although it is hard to choose a favorite, there is one that to me intrigues me the most and has made me decide that one day I will take a trip to visit the actual country - that World Showcase Pavilion is Norway!


Walking through and experiencing the Norway Pavilion to me is like being in the pages of an old fairy tale storybook. I especially love the details of the Maelstrom Adventure Cruise - my favorite part of the ride comes at the end when you are in what looks like a quaint little Norwegian village. 


And of course how can I forget the fragrances at the store. Although I've never actually purchased the signature perfume at the store (due to how outrageously expensive it is) I fall in love with the smell each and every time. 


The one thing I haven't experienced at the Norway Pavilion is dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall with the Disney Princesses - but it is on my Disney bucket list! 

Photo Courtesy of Walt Disney World

Thank you for joining me today.  Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is A Disney Mom's Thoughts.


Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail Loop should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ Adventures of a Disney Princess
2nd Stop ~ A Disney Mom’s Thoughts
3rd Stop ~ Disney on Wheels
4th Stop ~ Your Highway in the Sky
Final Stop ~ Magical Days with the Mouse

Meeting Mickey at the Town Square Theater

On one of my recent trips to Walt Disney World, I was able to experience the new meet and greet for Mickey and Minnie at the Magic Kingdom's Town Square Theater. I went close to midnight, so the majority of the kids were already gone and that meant no wait time for me. I literally walked right through! It was great!

Overall, I thought the room where you meet and take your picture with Mickey and Minnie is much better than the one in Mickey's Toontown Fair. It has so many intricate details that really bring the whole experience to life. What is lacking is the experience you used to get while waiting in line at Mickey's Toontown Fair. There, your entire surroundings brought the experience to life with giant pumpkins and old Disney cartoons! At the Town Square Theater it is basically just white walls with red carpet and ropes - it makes me glad that I didn't have to wait in line.

Below are pictures of what the experience inside the room with Mickey & Minnie looks like. I think you'll enjoy them.

Gowalla Adds a Disney Summer Challenge

Since Gowalla teamed up with Disney as the official location-based social network for the Parks, new challenges and fun pins and badges are popping up all the time!

The latest Disney Challenge  on Gowalla is for summer and comes with a special Summer 2011 pin upon completion. In order to earn the Summer 2011 pin Gowalla users must check in at each of the following spots on the mobile app: 

• Pirates of the Caribbean at Magic Kingdom
• Star Tours at Disney's Hollywood Studios
• Conservation Station at Disney's Animal Kingdom
• America Gardens Theatre at Epcot during the Sounds Like Summer Concert Series

This isn't the only Disney challenge on Gowalla - there are so many different challenges to complete and badges to earn! 

A couple of months ago I earned my World Traveler badge by checking in to each pavilion at Epcot's World Showcase!

Do you use Gowalla or another location-based social network app when at the Parks? If you don't what ar

Changes to the AMC Theatre in Downtown Disney

 

The AMC Theatre in Downtown Disney recently announced that it was getting quite the makeover and the changes are coming just in time for summer!

Some changes include the addition of new digital technology with the ETX Theatre. They are also adding The Marketplace to the theatre which will be a modern take on your typical concession stand. New to the AMC Theatre will also be Coke Freestyle machines that will have more than 100 flavors of coke for anyone that is interested in experimenting and trying something new. 

My  favorite change and one that I am a very big fan of is the announcement of the addition of the AMC Dine-in Theatres to Downtown Disney. 

The AMC Dine-in Theatre will feature a movie theatre-restaurant experience for guests over the age of 18 (those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult). It will have over-sized,  Love-seat style seating and with personal tray tables so guests may enjoy food off an extensive menu that will feature appetizers, entrées, desserts and even a full bar. Staff will take guests' orders prior to the start of the movie and serve it before the film begins, giving guests the opportunity to fully experience the concept of "dinner and a movie."

Where I'm from we have Cobb's version of the dine-in theatre with their Cobb Cinebistro and I must say that once you've watched a movie at one of these theatres, you will never want to step foot in a regular movie theatre again. 

I for one have never been to the movie theatre in Downtown Disney. My reasoning behind it is that there is so much to do, why waste time in the movie theatre? But with this upgrade that the AMC Theatre has recently received, I'm just going to have to add it to my bucket list of things to do at Disney World!

Anxiously Awaiting the New Race Announcement

With three new clues, I still have no idea...although it's fun to try and guess what the race might be, the fact that the clues are so hard make it more frustrating than exciting!

runDisney is already by clue # 8, so I'm hoping we'll have an announcement by the end of the week...

Below are clues 6-8...has anyone come up with anything yet? I've captioned by random thoughts on each clue.

Clue # 6: This makes me think it may be a WDW race because of its similarity to Florida's flag.

Clue # 7: Tower of Terror perhaps? Maybe it will take place or end at Disney's Hollywood Studios.


Clue # 8: This clue also supports my thoughts of it taking place at Disney's Hollywood Studios...maybe a red carpet/movies theme.

Update on runDisney's Race Announcement Clues

I'm really trying to figure out what the upcoming race announcement is going to be by checking runDisney's Facebook page regularly, but unfortunately the more clues they give, the more lost I feel!

Anyone have any ideas with the latest clues? Not that any of them make any sense to me really, but the latest clue, clue # 5 has me completely stumped!

I'm hoping they will make the official announcement soon, because I honestly have not gotten any closer to figuring out what the new race is going to be!

Clue # 3:


Clue # 4:


Clue # 5:

Magical Blogorail - My Favorite Disney Theme Park

Welcome to those of you joining me from Magical Memory Planners or those of you who have just hopped aboard. I am the 3rd stop on our Magical Blogorail.

Although it’s hard for me to pick a favorite Disney theme park (all of them have something special that I love), I am going to have to go with Epcot.

Epcot is the most “adult” friendly Disney park and for a couple without kids. I especially enjoy all of the special events that Epcot has throughout the year, especially Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival and Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival. Those are two times are year where it is a definite must to make a trip to the parks – if you haven’t been during these events I strongly urge you to go. 

Another thing that makes Epcot my favorite park is the World Showcase – it may seem cliché, but I truly love “experiencing” all of the countries time and time again. I love dining at the different restaurants around the World and the drinks that come with it. My boyfriend and I only have 3 places in the World Showcase where we haven’t sat down to dine: Canada, the UK, and Germany.  

And of course last but not least, two attractions which add to Epcot being my favorite Disney theme park are Spaceship Earth and Soarin’ – I really can’t go to Epcot without riding them.

Thank you for joining me today.  Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is A Disney Mom’s Thoughts.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail Loop should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:



1st Stop ~ Your Highway in the Sky 
2nd Stop ~ Magical Memory Planners
3rd Stop ~ Adventures of a Disney Princess
4th Stop ~ A Disney Mom’s Thoughts
Final Stop ~ Walt Disney World: It’s Not Just For Kids