Disney Mediterranean Cruise Trip Report: Day 6, Rhodes, Greece

This is Part 6 of a 10 part series on the Disney Magic Mediterranean/Greek Isles cruise. For links to the rest of the trip report please visit here

Today was another one of my favorite days! I feel like I say that every day of this trip report because, really, it just kept getting better and better. Today is mostly going to be a photo overview. Old Town Rhodes is breathtakingly gorgeous so Brent and I really just wandered around taking photos in awe.

We did not have any excursions planned this day, so we slept in a little! It was probably close to 11:00 by the time we got off the boat, after having our typical breakfast at Cabanas. If I could go back in time I’d have had a sit down breakfast this morning! Not sure why we didn’t think of it before, and I regret that I missed doing so on our trip.

The view from our room, you can see the ship was “parked” right next to an old tower!

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The port security building. I always got a kick out of seeing signs in Greek. Guess I’m easy to please 😉

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Rhodes is a walled and gated city, so we walked along the road until we found a gate to enter:

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The Mediterranean Sea!

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Inside the city, we spotted some Mickey ears!IMG_6547

The view was breathtaking:

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The inside of Rhodes Old Town was a mix of modern and ancient. All modern shops, surrounded by the ancient architecture!

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We decided to climb one of the towers, to get a better view of the sea:IMG_6579 IMG_6582 IMG_6586

These are the stairs we used to get up to and down from the tower. I was terrified! No hand rails.

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We found a small cafe to sit at and enjoy a drink. I got a soda but my husband, well… he got a giant boot of beer. I think it was 2 liters, so a soda bottle’s worth of beer. I don’t know how he did it!

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Following the giant glass of beer I had to gently steer my husband back to the ship. At least the view was still pretty!

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The drink stations were set up inside the ship again:IMG_6623

 

More reading and watching sail away from our balcony on the ship, before dinner:

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Soon it was time to get dressed for dinner! Tonight we ate at Lumiere’s, and the menu was the Mediterranean menu.

Spanish Melon Cup: soaked in a Moscatel Wine and fresh Mint:

 

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Tapas, Taste of the Mediterranean: Proscuitto, Sun-dried Tomatoes, Marinated Olives, and Parmesan Cheese with Grissini Stick:

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Battered Soft Shell Crab: with wilted Spinach and spicy Tomato Basil Vinaigrette:

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“St. Sebastian” Pan-seared Chicken Breast: topped with sliced Tomatoes and Emmentaler Cheese Gratinee on creamy Orichette Pasta

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Sweet Temptations: A trio of Flourless Chocolate Cake, Kahlua Cheesecake, and Black Currant Napoleon:

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Flourless Chocolate Cake with Contreau and Orange Compote:IMG_3778

Another day over! Back to our stateroom and to bed in preparation for our last port day tomorrow, Mykonos Greece!

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Epcot for Adults

Have you ever heard that Disney is for kids or that people are going to Disney for their kids?   We at Dole Whipped could not agree less with this.   Disney vacations are for everyone!  For this article I am going to tell you why Epcot is for adults, what you can enjoy while visiting this amazing park.

Let’s start with the best of the best: Drinking Around the World!  Those over the age of 21 can enjoy beer, wine, liquor and mixed drinks from eleven countries.  Check out our information on this subject: Blog and the Podcast.

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If you drinks aren’t your thing maybe Snacking Around the World is an option!  This is a fantastic option with a group of friends so you all get a little taste of everything!  Check out our articles here for ideas.

Another great option for adults are the movies that play in the pavilions of the World Showcase.  France, Canada, and China all have Circle Vision 360 films featuring landmarks and places of interest in these countries.  The films are fairly short and very well done and perfect for adults to enjoy.

Future World also has many great attractions and I won’t list them all, but those that adults may find most fun are Spaceship Earth, Soarin’, Living with the Land, Test Track, and Mission Space.

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Dining in Epcot is a dream! There are so many choices for the adventurous eaters, French, Italian, German, Chinese, Mexican, Norwegian, seafood, and steakhouse.  There are of course some character dining options but if you are looking to avoid this there are plenty of choices in Epcot.  Just be sure to make your advanced dining reservations.

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Illuminations Sparkling Dessert Party is a great activity for adults!  You get drinks and desserts and a lovely view of Illuminations: Reflections of Earth.  You can read all about it!

Seasonally there is the Flower and Garden Festival.  There are the concerts, gardening seminars, playgrounds for kids, amazing gardens and topiaries, butterfly house, and food booths called Outdoor Kitchens.

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Like Flower & Garden there is the Food & Wine Festival.  Included with this are the Eat to the Beat Concerts, cooking and mixology classes and seminars, as well as food and drink booths from around the world.

Epcot really is a park for everyone!  Check out my articles on Epcot for Kids, Epcot for Preschoolers.

Drinking Around the World: Part IV (Special Events)

We completed our Drinking Around the World adventure with stops in each of the 11 permanent countries around the world showcase. Now, lets talk about a few different special events that can change the way we drink around the world.

Food & Wine Festival

Every year Disney hosts the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival in the fall. An additional 35+ booths are set up around the world showcase for some different countries to display the food and drink of their homeland. With that many booths, a Drinking Around the World: F&W edition isn’t really possibly (or smart!) unless you have an extended stay or are lucky enough to live close to Walt Disney World.  There are far too many amazing drinks to name at the festival, but one “booth” of note is the Craft Beer Marketplace. Located inside the Odyssey Center there is plenty of space for relaxing in the air conditioning while trying craft beers from around the country. The most popular items at the Craft Beer Marketplace are the flights, each with 4 separate tasting sizes of beer allowing you to try more without buying full cups! Pretty smart. One thing that may make drinking around the world easier during Food & Wine is the new for 2015 Food and Wine Tasting Sampler. If you purchase this package you’ll receive 8 credits for a snack or beverage of your choice during food and wine. This package also comes with priority seating for an Eat to the Beat concert during the day you purchase. For $59 per person plus tax that’s not a bad deal!

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Flower & Garden

The Epcot International Flower & Garden festival is gaining on the Food & Wine Festival in terms of popularity! Hosted in the spring, there are 12+ booths featuring fresh food straight from the garden during this festival. From wine to sparking ciders, beer and more, there is plenty to drink at this festival as well. One drink that we here at Dole Whipped agrees will stand above the rest is The Dole Whip with rum (of course)! Available at the Pineapple Promenade booth there is an option to add macadamia nut flavored or coconut flavored rum floaters to your pineapple soft serve. Yum! One thing available at this festival (and also the Food & Wine) that makes drinking around the world a little easier on your budget is the wearable wristband gift card. If you load the card with the amount you’re able to spend on drinks you’ll keep yourself in check, and since you can wear it on your wrist you won’t have to dig around in your pockets for cash or credit cards either! It’s a win win.

Which event would you rather Drink Around the World at, Food & Wine or Flower & Garden?

Drinking Around the World: Part III

In the final installment of our Drinking Around the World series we’ll be stopping by France, the UK and Canada! Make sure you check out Parts I and II for the best drinking around the world options in the rest of the world showcase.

First stop, France. Les Vins de France is the name of the kiosk where you’re going to head for the best alcoholic beverages in France. Unsurprisingly there are many choices available for wine by the glass at this location including reds, whites and at least one blush wine. However, most people actually skip the wine in France and instead opt for one of two of arguably the most popular drinks in all of Epcot: the Grey Goose Citron Lemonade Slush or the Grand Marnier & Grey Goose Orange Slush. Both are the perfect ice cold refreshing drink after a long walk around the world showcase at Epcot!

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Our second to last stop on the Drinking Around the World tour is the UK pavillion. If you’re just looking for a quick stop you’re going to head to the Rose & Crown pub’s outdoor kiosk. There you will find three different types of beer: Bass, Stella Artois, and of course Guiness. There are also three types of hard cider at this location which would be my personal preference. If you want to spend more time you can reserve a seat inside the Rose & Crown for the option to order off their extensive list of beers or one of their mixed liquor drinks including the Welsh dragon which is made of orange and pineapple juices, Peach Schnapps, Melon Liqueur and Crème de Menthe. Yum! One other fun thing that the Rose & Crown pub does is mix beers. You can order pitchers of different beers mixed together including the Bumblebee which is a mix of Boddingtons and Guinness.

And finally, Canada. Now, unfortunately Canada doesn’t have very many choices but hey, by this point you may not care too much right? For the beer enthusiasts you can choose between Moosehead, Labatt or Molson beers. Recently there have been reports of a very highly rater beer called Le Fin du Monde also available in Canada. For the liquor lovers there is the option of a Torontopolitan which is made from vodka, chambord and cranberry and orange juices!

Photo credit: Yelp user Matthew G.

Photo credit: Yelp user Matthew G.

Your journey around the world is now complete! 11 countries down How do you feel? 😉

Drinking Around the World: Part I

Who said Disney World as an adult isn’t as fun? While us Disney fanatics know that Disney World can be magical at absolutely any age, we also know that sometimes adults just need to have a little bit of grown up fun. The drinking around the world showcase challenge is one way to do that! The goal is simple: have one drink at each of the showcase’s 11 countries. In Part I of this 3 part series we’ll discuss the best drinks in the first four countries of the world showcase. Please remember to drink responsibly, no one said the challenge needed to be completed in two hours, or even two days 🙂 Consider starting at 11am and finishing when the park closes, or completing the challenge over the course of your vacation. Share drinks with your friends and family, and know your limits!

If we’re starting our challenge in the most typical location our first drink will be in Mexico. The most popular drink in Mexico is the frozen margarita located at the aptly named Margarita Stand. This location offers 3 flavors of frozen margarita: lime, strawberry or mango, OR you can go all out and get a mix of all three flavors in one cup. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous you can head over to La Cava del Tequila for their uniquely flavored margaritas. With options like jalepeno, avocado, blood orange, pomegranate, passion fruit, cucumber, pineapple and many more, La Cava del Tequila is your opportunity to try something that you might not find at home. This location is also home to an extensive list of straight tequilas, so if you’re an aficionado this is place is an absolute must visit!

Avocado and Blood Orange Margaritas at La Cava del Tequila: Photo courtesy of Yelp user Annie N.

Avocado and Blood Orange Margaritas at La Cava del Tequila: Photo courtesy of Yelp user Annie N.

Unfortunately our next stop in the Norway pavilion is not nearly as exciting as Mexico. You’ll have two options for your drink in Norway at the Kringla Bakeri og Kafe. For an authentic beverage from Norway you’ll have to go with a shot of Linie Aquavit Glacier. We have to warn you though, this drink is pretty much universally regarded as… gross. Sorry! If you’re not too worried about the authentic part you can grab yourself a First is the “Viking Coffee” which is just coffee flavored with Kamora Coffee Liqueur and Baileys Irish Cream or a Carlsburg beer, both sold at the Kringla location. Not related to drinking but maybe if you’re interested in grabbing a little snack to soak up all that alcohol you can try the School Bread. It’s one of the world showcase’s most popular snacks.

Third on our list is China, and luckily we’re back to having lots of options for our drink of choice in this country. The two most popular choices are the Mango Gingerita with vodka and rum and the Green Tea Plum Slush, both located at the Joy of Tea kiosk. For something really special, though, you must try the Tipsy Ducks in Love also from the Joy of Tea. This drink is a combination of iced coffee and tea blended with bourbon whisky and chocolate. Topped with whipped cream. So yummy! This drink is incredibly popular, and has almost reached cult status within the adult Disney fan set. If you’re looking for something more simple you can also grab some chilled plum wine at either the Joy of Tea or the Lotus Blossom Cafe. Both of those locations also carry Tsing Tao beer.

Photo courtesy of Yelp user Art T.

Tipsy Ducks in Love : Photo courtesy of Yelp user Art T.

For this leg of our tour the final stop is Germany. Not at all surprisingly the drink of choice in Germany is going to be beer. Sadly this Dole Whippie has little to no knowledge of beer, but the two most common choices are Altenmunster Oktoberfest and Radeberger Pilsner (with the option for a souvenir mug!) located at several carts throughout this country. In Germany you will also find shots of Jagermeister or the apple Berentzen Apfel if beer isn’t your thing. If you’re hungry for another snack by now the bratwurst or hand twisted pretzel are both good choices.

Stay tuned for Part II of the series where we’ll discuss the best options in Italy, The American Adventure, Japan and Morocco.

Restaurant Review – Leaky Cauldron at Universal Studios Orlando

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I was fortunate enough to dine at this fabulous quick-service restaurant on a recent FAM (familiarization) trip to Universal Studios and I will proudly recommend it to ANY Harry Potter fan I meet who will be visiting Diagon Alley!  The food is truly very good — not your typical theme park fare at all.  I enjoyed a wonderful lunch consisting of Cottage Pie, Sticky Toffee Pudding, and Fishy Green Ale to drink.  Yes, I said fishy when referring to a drink!  Don’t worry, dear reader, I haven’t lost my ever-loving mind…’twas just a cheeky name for bubble tea.  The “bubbles” were blueberry flavored and the drink itself was a super sweet cinnamon-mint concoction.  It was quite tasty but proved WAY too sweet for my liking.  I was only able to drink a tiny bit of it.  The Cottage Pie was incredible.  Large chunks of veggies and tender beef in a delicious gravy were topped with buttery, flaky pastry.  YUM!  The Sticky Toffee Pudding was also wonderful but, again, too sweet for my palate.  I wasn’t able to finish it, even with a child-size portion of the Cottage Pie.  My Cottage Pie (child portion) and Sticky Toffee Pudding both rang in at $6.99, while my Fishy Green Ale was $4.99.  I would absolutely skip the Fishy Green Ale on a return trip, and stick with my absolute favorite, Pumpkin Juice ($3.99).

 

IMG_9253I’ll definitely visit Leaky Cauldron again with my own family.  I have 2 sons who would be absolutely delighted with all of the wonderful details in this restaurant.  I feel they did an excellent job of staying true to the Wizarding World and skimped on no detail!

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Side note:  If you’re a beer lover, be sure to hop around the corner to The Fountain of Fair Fortune and try a Wizard’s Brew or Dragon Scale.  Being a stout fan, I ordered the Wizard’s Brew and cannot wait to return and have another!