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Dining with Disney Royalty at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall

4/18/2017 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is located at Epcot's Norway Pavillion. It is a fantastic opportunity to meet and greet with Disney Royalty on your next Walt Disney World vacation.   Join the Disney Princesses for Storybook Dining inside a medieval castle setting in heart of Norway.  When you arrive, guests are immediately greeted by Belle in her gorgeous yellow ballgown.  Don't worry, a Photopass photographer is present! This means you will have a fantastic photo on your Memory Maker photo account. You will be able to enjoy later and send out to family and friends.   After your visit with Belle, guests are are seated in one of two rooms reminiscent of great hall inside a storybook castle.  On my most recent visit, our waiter Paal explained the menu and made suggestions from the menu.  At lunch and dinner, every Guest’s royal feast begins with a “Taste of Norway”. This features Scandinavian seafood, […]

The Ganachery at Disney Springs

4/2/2024 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • You will find all this and more at The Ganachery, located in The Landing at Disney Springs. This fancy chocolatier has a wide variety of sweet in which to indulge. Samples are often given of fillings to entice passersby...much like I was with an amazing peanut butter filling. The display case was filled with the fanciest squares of chocolates I had ever seen. We chose 6 chocolates to sample:  2 peanut butter chocolate, 1 mint, 1 raspberry, and 2 salted caramels.  We then took our delights into Jock Lindsey’s Hangar bar to enjoy with a cocktail.  It was a refreshingly wise choice! Our chocolatier boxed our chocolates in delicate wrapping, within a designer box, which was then wrapped in special Valentine ‘end’.  Expertly crafted chocolates and presentation.  Unboxing our chocolates was almost as fun as eating them!  The loveliest part was discovering an inspirational quote on the back of The […]

Resort Spotlight: Port Orleans – Riverside Resort

3/6/2017 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • Disney’s Port Orleans – Riverside Resort is a moderate level resort with the feel of a deluxe. Once you step foot onto the property, you immediately get the impression you are in a Louisiana port city with southern mansions. The setting is peaceful and convenient. The parks are a short ride via Disney bus service with bus stops located throughout the resort. This makes transportation easy and near the guest rooms. You are also conveniently located to Disney Springs, which can be accessed via boat. It is a wonderful way to end the day with a peaceful boat ride to and from a nice dinner at Disney Springs. The rooms are well appointed and I found they were very quiet. Even with 2 queen size beds, there was ample room and very comfortable. Exploring the property is a must-do while staying at Port Orleans.  You can take a stroll is […]

How to Tackle Sensory Overload at Disney –Part 2

2/13/2017 • Tips, Walt Disney World • Last month, I discussed tips on how to prepare and items to bring to hopefully avoid sensory overload. {You can read about it, here!} As a mom of a son living with Fragile X Syndrome, the leading cause of inherited intellectual impairment and leading known genetic cause of Autism, I feel as if I am always anticipating what could be a potential trigger for overload.  Sometimes, even the best-laid plans don’t work out.  A storm can pop up, a ride can have a temporary closure, or fireworks can suddenly go off from a show that you didn’t even realize was taking place!! I have put together a list of tips/suggestions for managing overload once it has reached near overflow!   Baby Care/First Aid Station: Although you do not “need” any aid, this is often an area with air conditioning, seating and simply a quiet place out of the hustle and bustle. […]

Disney World is More Than Just the Parks

2/6/2017 • Tips, Walt Disney World • Many people associate going to Disney World with visiting the parks, but there is so much to do outside of the parks.  In fact, our family has enjoyed a Disney vacation without ever stepping foot inside a park. It’s also great to build in non-park days to get in a little downtime between park days. There are a variety of activities to experience other than the fabulous pools located at your resort. Take a stroll around Disney Springs and browse the stores to purchase your souvenirs. One of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique locations is right in Disney Springs so you can get your little princess ready for one of your princess dining experiences. Or visit Splittsville and enjoy their fun bowling alley and restaurant.  Take in a round of golf on one of 3 – 18-hole championship courses. If you don’t want to bring your clubs, no problem, clubs and […]

Grand Floridian Café

3/27/2024 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • For our family, having a great breakfast is an essential way to start a busy day in the parks. Our restaurant of choice is the Grand Floridian Café, which is inspired by the seacoast resorts with a Victorian charm. The café has beautiful views of the resort pool and gardens. The café is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner (or a quick dessert or snack), but it is our go-to restaurant for breakfast for a variety of reasons: It is a nice start to a day we plan on spending at Magic Kingdom no matter which resort we are staying. If you are not staying at the Grand Floridian, it has easy access by taking the bus to Magic Kingdom and hopping on either the monorail or a water taxi. The service is friendly The food is plentiful We have found it an easy choice as a last-minute reservation. We […]

Morimoto Asia at Disney Springs

3/12/2024 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • When I first heard Chef Morimoto was opening a restaurant in Disney Springs, I knew immediately that this dining reservation was on the top of my list! The influence of Japanese, Chinese and Korean flavors on the menu pretty much guaranteed Morimoto Asia was sure to become a favorite of mine! This restaurant is located at the Landing in Disney Springs. (It shares an area with Raglan Road that allows you to enjoy the outside entertainment across the way while you wait for your table.) This beautiful restaurant has an amazing menu that anyone should be able to find something they would love. They also have a children’s menu, and there were plenty of families with young ones who all seemed happy. Morimoto has many traditional flavors, House sake, a pretty extensive sushi menu, and several specialty drinks. You’ll need to take some time with the menu. Be sure to […]

A Hidden Gem – La Cava del Tequila

2/5/2024 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • As much as I enjoy the tradition and nostalgia of long-standing attractions at Walt Disney World, I also enjoy trying something new!  Somehow, over the many trips, I missed the opportunity to enjoy, until now! I was planning a girls' weekend at the Food and Wine Festival and stumbled upon information about this hidden gem!  I was instantly intrigued! We knew this would certainly be at the top of our list! The entrance is just inside to the right in the Mexico pavilion in Epcot. When we arrived, there was a lengthy line, but after all of our research, we knew it was worth the wait.  After being in the line for only a minute or two, we realized we were in the line to get a margarita to go!  We then noticed there was a cast member near the entrance, and she was seating guests inside.  We were immediately seated! […]

Jock Lindsey’s Hanger Bar – A Casual Place for Eats and Drinks

3/13/2024 • Reviews, Walt Disney World • After a busy day of exploring the parks, sometimes it’s nice to take a break with a relaxing dinner, unique drinks and great atmosphere.  Jock Lindsey’s Hanger Bar is just the place.  Not only does it not take reservations and has a waterfront view, but the menu of eats and drinks are specially themed as the ex-home of Indiana Jones’ side kick. Located in Disney Springs, the family friendly Hanger Bar is for walk-ups only.  There are no reservations taken and none needed.  While it has a waterfront location, there are plenty of tables inside the building as well as outside on the water.  If you’re lucky, you may be able to sit inside the helmet of a scuba diver or sit in the boat that’s on the side of the Hanger Bar that’s lifted above the water.  If you are sitting outside, you will be able to take in […]