Nov 25 2014

Honoring The Disney Turkey Leg

Turkey Leg

In honor of Thanksgiving this week, I thought this would be the perfect time to pay tribute to the famous Disney turkey leg. These Flintstone-like hunks of meat are a fan favorite and even a rite of passage for many park-goers. The Disney turkey leg has such a loyal fan base that Disney even offers turkey leg merchandise such as t-shirts, pins, air fresheners (That’s right folks, you can make your car smell like a turkey leg!), magnets and more. Here’s a little turkey leg trivia for you:

  • Disney Turkey LegThe Disney turkey leg made its debut in the late 1980’s at a kiosk in Frontierland at Magic Kingdom.
  • More than 1.8 million pounds of turkey drumsticks are consumed every year in Disney World’s four theme parks – Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
  • Each drumstick weighs about 1.5 pounds.
  • Despite the persistent rumors that these are emu legs, the drumsticks do in fact come from male turkeys that generally weigh 50 pounds or more.
  • Each turkey leg is approximately 720 calories with about 36 grams of fat.
  • The turkey legs range in price from $10 – $13 depending on the location and if it comes with a side dish.

If you are going to be in Disney World for Thanksgiving (or anytime) and want to try one of these enormous drumsticks, they can be found at:

Anyone hungry for turkey now? Happy Thanksgiving and I hope you have a wonderful holiday!

What do you think of Disney turkey legs? Love ’em or hate ’em? Please leave a comment!

Making a trip to Disneyland, Disney World or both? Need help planning your dining? If so, please check out my book, A Tale of Two Resorts: Comparing Disneyland and Disney World. This reference guide offers a complete listing of every dining location from table service to snack stand available at both resorts plus helpful information about each and every dining spot such as location, atmosphere, cuisine type, meals served, dress code, menu selections, kid’s meal options and more.
Available from Amazon!

 

Nov 24 2014

Disney World News – Unlock It’s A Small World For Disney Infinity 2.0

Small World Infinity

If your kids are like mine, they are big fans of videos games and of Disney Infinity specifically. Now that Infinity 2.0 has been released, it is at the top of my youngest son’s Christmas list. If you happen to already have the latest version or you have someone in the family that receives it for the holidays, Disney has a special surprise available. In the newly released Infinity 2.0 version, anyone with a MagicBand can unlock the “it’s a small world” attraction into their Toy Box. All you have to do is place your MagicBand on your Disney Infinity base, it will detect it and unlock the “it’s a small world” attraction with no internet connectivity required. And that’s not all; you will also be able to enchant other game players with the iconic “it’s a small world” theme song. You will need to create a saved game in order to always have access to this content. I absolutely love this extra little bit of Disney magic and I hope they do more of this in the future!

What do you think of this idea and have you tried it yet? Please leave a comment!

Nov 21 2014

My New Book – A Tale of Two Resorts: Comparing Disneyland and Walt Disney World

A Tale of Two Resorts

Looking for a great gift idea for the Disney fan in your family? Do you know someone who is trying to decide between a trip to Disneyland or Walt Disney World? Maybe you know someone who has visited one resort and is curious about the other? Or maybe that someone is you! My new book, A Tale of Two Resorts: Comparing Disneyland and Walt Disney World, is now available from Amazon just in time for the holidays!

This reference book is loaded with facts and information about all of the hotels, restaurants, attractions, experiences, entertainment choices and resort extras that are available at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Each chapter includes handy side-by-side charts that compare the weather, crowds, events, accommodations, admissions, transportation, and dining that each destination offers. And of course, there’s helpful advice about budgeting, planning your trip, and organizing your day. My favorite feature? As a fellow mom who has experienced the highs and the lows of taking kids on a variety of rides, I have included a Word of Warning for each and every attraction that needs one, giving you a heads up on what you need to be aware of before taking your child on that particular ride.

Whether you, or the person you are purchasing this book for, is going to Disneyland or Disney World and especially if the decision between the two destinations is still being made, A Tale of Two Resorts will give you all of the information you need to make the better choice and plenty of advice for planning that magical vacation!

Please click this link, to purchase your copy today!

Looking for more incredible books for the Disney fans in your life? Please check out Theme Park Press! Theme Park Press is the world’s leading independent publisher of books about the Disney company, its history, its films and animation, and its theme parks. Their catalog includes guidebooks, memoirs, fiction, popular history, scholarly works, family favorites, and many other titles written by Disney Legends, Disney animators and artists, Mouseketeers, Cast Members, historians, academics, executives, prominent bloggers, and talented first-time authors.

Nov 20 2014

Disney World News – Frozen Gingerbread Castle

Frozen Gingerbread Castle

Frozen Gingerbread CastleIt’s that wonderful time of year again when Disney goes all out decorating every square inch of the resort for the holidays. We aren’t just talking Osborne Family Lights and Frozen transformed Cinderella Castle friends, every resort hotel is also included in the festivities. This year at the Contemporary Resort, guests are being treated to an all-new Gingerbread Holiday Ice Castle on the 4th floor Grand Canyon Concourse inspired by Disney’s animated hit Frozen. This 17 foot tall masterpiece is embellished with snowflakes, sugar and chocolate-coated trees. And, of course, it wouldn’t be complete without our favorite characters Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Kristoff and Sven. There is also an Ice Castle Kiosk where you can purchase Frozen themed merchandise, build-your-own snowman marshmallow kits, Frozen ice desserts and gingerbread treats.

Thinking about making your own Frozen Gingerbread Castle? Here’s what they used:

  • 423 lbs. of chocolate
  • 514 lbs. of flour
  • 212 eggs
  • 67 lbs. of spices
  • 35 lbs. of sugar syrup
  • 311 lbs. of honey
  • 222 lbs. of icing
  • 1,500 gingerbread shingles

Check out this fun time-lapse video of the Gingerbread Castle being assembled:

If you get the chance to see this masterpiece in person this year,
be sure to look for the 14 “hidden Olafs” in the display.
Happy Holidays!

(photos and video courtesy of Disney)

Nov 19 2014

Disney World News – What’s Happening With Disney Springs?

Disney Springs

There are always changes happening at Disney World and one of the biggest that is taking place right now is the transformation of Downtown Disney into the newly reimagined Disney Springs. When Downtown Disney’s largest expansion in history is complete in 2016, the dining, shopping and entertainment options will have doubled, Buena Vista Drive will have been expanded to ten lanes (including a dedicated bus lane), an I-4 interchange will have been added to allow for direct access, two pedestrian bridges will have been built as well as two parking garages (the first of which opens tomorrow offering 4,000 guest parking spaces).

Disney Springs will include four areas known as The Landing, Marketplace, West Side and Town Center that will be host to over 150 shopping, dining and entertainment venues. A lot of progress has already been made with the addition of two Starbucks locations, nightly entertainment at the Waterview Stage, the announcements of THE BOATHOUSE and Morimoto Asia, and the recent installation of the Springs Bottling Co. sign. Check out this time-lapse video:

Another soon-to-be-realized change is the walkway between The Landing and the West Side will be fully opened by the end of November.


Later this month, we’ll also see the opening of the Food Trucks at Exposition Park in the West Side which will serve as their new permanent home. If you haven’t tried them yet, here’s the scoop:

Fantasy Fare Food Truck – This truck offers favorite foods from Disney Parks around the world such as hand-dipped corn dogs from Disneyland, chicken & waffles from Magic Kingdom and Croque Monsieur from Disneyland Paris.

 

Namaste Café Food Truck – This truck offers foods from Disney’s Animal Kingdom such as tandoori shrimp, naan with samosas, butter chicken and lamb kefta.

 

Superstar Catering Food Truck  – This truck offers the flavors of Disney’s Hollywood Studios with menu items such as a pot roast sandwich, margarita flatbread and a turkey meatball sub.

 

World Showcase of Flavors Food Truck – This truck features favorites from Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival such as pierogies, beef sliders and a grilled chicken breast gyro.

 

Would you like to know more about the back story of Disney Springs? Check out this interesting video:

I’m so excited to explore all of the changes to Downtown Disney on my next visit and I can’t wait to see the World of Disney Store once it has been expanded. I better start saving souvenir money now!

What are you most looking forward to with the reimagined Disney Springs?
Please leave a comment!

(all photos, concept art and videos courtesy of Disney)

Destinations in Florida - Florida Travel Specialists