We talk a lot about where attractions are located within the parks, but this time we talk about where you should sit while you’re viewing an attraction. Which seat is best on Expedition Everest, the front or back? Listen in this week and find out!
Happy listening!
Disney has three nighttime shows in its regular rotation. Wishes at Magic Kingdom, Illumination at Epcot, and Fantasmic! at Hollywood Studios. On my most recent vacation I watched each of them and in true Disney fashion they are all fantastic.
Illuminations is the story of Earth displayed around the World Showcase Lagoon. It starts with Earth’s fiery beginnings, then moves to the history of humanity showing projections on a spinning Earth. Lastly is the hope for future that ends in fireworks. The entire show is accompanied by awesome music and the pavilions light up all around.
If you have never seen Illuminations I would highly suggest you make the time for it. World Showcase it beautiful to stroll at night and there are plenty of spots to view all around!
Fantasmic! is a show that takes you into the imagination of Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice. The show has projections on water, laser lights, music, dancing, characters, and fireworks! This is a very exciting show. The story is a little mixed bag but that is part of the charm. There are parts form Lion King, Sleeping Beauty and Fantasia. It is also
You can get wet at this show as the water does splash up in some areas. If you don’t want to be wet make sure you don’t sit in the lower 1/3 of the theatre. If there is a second show you should try to make that one since it will be a lot less crowded, you can have your choice of seats no matter when you arrive.
Wishes Nighttime Spectacular is probably the most well-known and popular nighttime show. It is narrated by Jiminy Cricket with music, projections on the castle, lighting effects, and fireworks. If the weather is right you can see Tinker Bell fly from the castle overhead! You will love to ooh and ahh over the show and I promise the soundtrack will be stuck in your head when you leave. However there is a reason it is so popular it is not to be missed, it is a classic!
If I had to rate them I would say Wishes, Fantasmic! and Illuminations in that order. I think adults will enjoy Illuminations more so than kids but it is absolutely enjoyable for everyone. If you only had the time to do one I would have to say make sure it is Wishes.
Do you have a favorite? Let us know below!
Join us this week as we discuss all the nighttime shows offered at Walt Disney World! We chat all about Wishes, IllumiNations, Fantasmic, and even the new Rivers of Light. Find out which we love and which ones make us cry. Don’t miss it!
Happy listening!
Join us as we talk about our recent Disney vacations! We talk about the new things we tried, new shows and attractions, and special events like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party!
We cover Jillian’s and Shannon’s vacations in this part 1 episode, so check back next week for Jamie’s and Tara’s reports in part 2!
Happy listening!
Here is your September 2015 Disney news round up!
The biggest news this week is that this will be the final year for The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. While it will be very sad to see them go the best part is that Disney is giving notice. So if you had wanted to see them one last time or for the first time this will be your last chance. The Osborne Lights start in early November and will conclude on January 3, 2016. This change is due to the upcoming Toy Story Land and Star Wars themed land coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Photo via Disney Parks Blog.
If you are coming to see the lights there are two new seasonal offerings. The first is the Merry & Bright Dessert Party from November 6 to December 30. This will include holiday themed desserts. Next is the Merry & Bright Dinner Reception which is January 1-3, 2016. It will feature a selection of small bites like beef, shrimp, and turkey as well as beer, wine, and specialty beverages. Reservations can be made starting September 16.
Let’s hop over to the west coast with news of a new Frozen inspired stage musical for Disney’s California Adventure Park. This show it due out in summer 2016 at the Hyperion Theater. Which means this show will be replacing the current Disney’s Aladdin- A Musical Spectacular” much to the sadness of many Disney fans. Aladdin will be finished on January 10, 2016.
Photo via Disney Parks Blog.
If you have ever been to Walt Disney World for Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival and enjoy cooking, I have the thing for you! A cookbook for the last 20 years of Food and Wine Festival. Disney has even posted some of the recipes on their blog if you would like to try out a few of them before buying! http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2015/09/new-cookbook-celebrates-20-years-of-epcot-international-food-wine-festival/
Lastly, there is a new special event at Walt Disney World, Ferrytale Wishes: A Fireworks Dessert Cruise. This cruise will take in the Wishes fireworks from a ferry on the Seven Seas Lagoon and feature plenty of sweat treats taken from resorts and the parks with the music piped into the ferry. It finishes with a toast of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in a souvenir glow glass. Prices are $99 for adults and $69 for children 3-9 and reservations are available.
Photo via Disney Parks Blog.
Narcoossee’s is one of my favorite restaurants (again) in all of Disney World. I say again because for a few years I had been disappointed with this favorite of mine and had taken a break…but we will talk about that later. First, I want to set the visual be it to remind you if you are lucky enough to have been or if you have not – I want you to see it in your mind. Why is this important? Because Narcoossee’s is one of the most romantic restaurants on property and aside from that the ambiance in general is appealing to everyone. It is located at the tip of the Grand Floridian’s closest side to Magic Kingdom. It is right on the Seven Seas Lagoon and across from the Floridian’s boat dock, so if you are at Magic Kingdom and have reservations the easiest way is to take the boat over to the Grand Floridian and when you disembark you are right there at Narcoossee’s front door. If you are riding over on the monorail, Disney bus or driving you will walk through the main lobby of the Grand Floridian and out the back doors and keep walking past the pool and the outlying buildings and then you will see the octagonal restaurant right on Seven Seas Lagoon.
The outside of the building has a wonderful waterfront verandah that you can walk
out on and view the lagoon. It is also an excellent place to enjoy Wishes from at night as well as the Electrical Water Pageant with their panoramic lagoon views. They do pipe the music for Wishes into the restaurant as well as on the verandah for your listening pleasure.
Okay, as mentioned I had been on a break from Narcoossee’s because after having enjoyed their signature dining for several years it had started to decline in my experience. The food had not been up to par and the service was not what I had been used to, so I took a break. This last trip I decided to give them another chance and I am so glad I did. Once again the service was top-notch and the food was unbelievable…so I am happy to say Narcoossee’s is back in rotation as a favorite.
The menu at Narcoossee’s focuses on seafood and changes with their “Inspiration from the Sea and Season” choices such as currently they are offering a Columbia River Wild King Salmon served with Herbed Gnocchi, Romanesco, Golden Cauliflower, and Roasted Cipollini Onions with Sauvignon Blanc-Butter Sauce and Marcona Almond Romesco. I started with the Heirloom Tomato salad that is made from Jones Family Farms Sun-ripened Tomatoes, Goat’s Milk Feta Cheese, Red Onions, Crispy Torn Sourdough, Central Valley Extra Virgin Olive Oil, El Majuelo Spanish Reserve Sherry Vinegar, and Micro Basil. How could that not be amazing? The Maine Lobster bisque was also a table favorite.
For entrees I had the Filet Mignon that comes with Smoked Boniato-Idaho Creamed Potatoes, Rainbow Baby Carrots, and Herbed Cabernet-Oxtail Reduction. One of my favorite parts of this meal was the rainbow baby carrots that came in all different colors…I had never seen that before!
Narcoossee’s has some of the best desserts on property in my opinion and you can not go wrong with any of them but I highly recommend the Braeburn Apple Tart which markets itself as Fragrantly Poached Apples and Vanilla Cream with a Calvados-Caramel-Cranberry Sauce and just remembering it is making me hungry.
Narcoossee’s is a great option for any occasion but especially for a date night or special occasion but even just if you want to try something new or have a new favorite.
A very special episode of the Dole Whipped podcast today, we have our very first guest! Former college program Cast Member Christ joins Shannon, Tara, Jillian and Jamie to discuss his time in the program and share some of his favorite things. Happy Listening!
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In our latest podcast, the Dole Whipped ladies discuss all the fun you can have at Disney World after the sun goes down! From the classics like Main Street Electrical Parade to Epcot’s new After Hours Wind Down event, we cover it all.
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Dole Whipped 