Tag Archives: Disney World

Aug 27 2015

Fastpass+ Reservations Now Available For Epcot Eat To The Beat Concerts

Good news for Eat To The Beat Concert fans!

If you plan to visit Disney World this fall for the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, here is some exciting news! Disney has just announced that Fastpass+ reservations are now available for the Epcot Eat To The Beat Concert Series that runs from September 25 – November 16, 2015. Here’s the current lineup (subject to change without notice):

  • David Cook – September 25 – 27, 2015
  • Wilson Phillips – September 28 – 29, 2015
  • Christopher Cross – September 30 – October 1, 2015
  • Starship – October 2 – 4, 2015
  • Smash Mouth – October 5 – 7, 2015
  • The Pointer Sisters – October 8 – 9, 2015
  • 38 Special – October 10 – 11, 2015
  • Rick Springfield – October 12 – 13, 2015
  • Sugar Ray – October 14 – 16, 2015
  • The S.O.S. Band – October 17 – 18, 2015
  • Air Supply – October 19 – 21, 2015
  • Fuel – October 22 – 23, 2015
  • Tiffany – October 24 – 25, 2015
  • Dennis DeYoung – October 26 – 28, 2015
  • Jo Dee Messina – October 29 – 30, 2015
  • Everclear – October 31 – November 1, 2015
  • Boyz II Men – November 2 – 4, 2015
  • Sister Hazel – November 5 – 6, 2015
  • Big Bad Voodoo Daddy – November 7 – 9, 2015
  • Hanson – November 10 – 12, 2015
  • Maxi Priest – November 13 – 14, 2015
  • Chaka Khan – November 15 – 16, 2015

Performances will be at the America Gardens Theatre at 5:30pm, 6:45pm and 8:00pm daily and are included with Epcot admission. Fastpass+ reservations can be booked up to 60 days in advance for resort guests and up to 30 days in advance for all other guests by logging onto your My Disney Experience account. Book now – the Fastpass+ supply is limited. Should you not be able to obtain a Fastpass+, there will be a stand-by line available as well.

501 WaysHeading to Disney World soon?

If you are planning a vacation to Disney World, be sure to check out these valuable resources to help you save time and money:

Have you attended an Eat To The Beat Concert? Are you going this year?
Will you be booking Fastpass+? Please leave a comment!

Aug 26 2015

Disney Family Culinary Adventure

Family Culinary Adventure

Are you someone that looks forward to Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival all year? Are your favorite channels The Food Network and The Cooking Channel? Well, if you consider yourself a foodie or a wannabe chef, you’ve got to check out the newest backstage offering at Disney World – The Disney Family Culinary Adventure! Here’s the scoop courtesy of Disney:

Ever wonder how to make a buttery pasta noodle or fork-tender filet mignon? The new “Disney Family Culinary Adventure” at Disney’s Contemporary Resort whisks guests backstage for a fun, interactive evening that includes plenty of time with the Disney chefs, hands-on cooking and a festive, five-course dinner with beer and wine served in the kitchen by the professional catering staff.

Family Culinary Adventure 2Aimed at guests 9 and older, the evening starts at 5 p.m. with a friendly introduction to the massive catering kitchen. A maximum of 30 guests put on aprons, hats and gloves and are divided into five cooking groups. And every station has a wow technique, from the ease of making homemade butter (equal parts buttermilk and heavy cream) to a fresh pasta with just three ingredients.

“We want to show them the tricks of the trade,” says Chef Frank Brough. “It’s a guided experience but they do everything from making cheese and butter to rolling out pasta and breaking down a whole beef tenderloin.”

Family Culinary Adventure 4The five stations:

  • Garde manger, is the French term for food produced in the cold kitchen, where guests learn how to make farmer cheese, from-scratch butter, and how to plate a gourmet salad.
  • Sushi, with sushi chefs teaching the art of rolling sushi and sashimi. (This station may rotate with other culinary ideas.)
  • Boucherie, or butcher station, where guests learn how to trim a beef tenderloin to make the perfect filet mignon.
  • Pasta, with just three ingredients (semolina, olive oil and egg), guests learn to make tender noodles from scratch, along with fresh basil pesto.
  • Patisserie, or bakery, where guests get to play with chocolate, mousse and other sweet endings.

Once the food prep is complete, guests move freely about the big kitchen to chat with the chefs – no culinary question goes unanswered. It takes about an hour for all the prep work, then everyone is seated at a long table in the center of the kitchen to enjoy the five-course meal they’ve just prepared. (Vegetarian, vegan and selections for guests with allergies are options for dinner.)

Family Culinary Adventure 3Lights are dimmed, background music plays, and a toast begins the special meal, where each course is served with wine and beer. At the meal’s end a special molecular gastronomy demonstration wows guests (we’ll keep that a secret), and they receive a special toque (chef’s hat) to take home, along with a Disney cookbook signed by the chefs. A Disney PhotoPass photographer will be on hand to capture photos of the group during the experience, and the photos will be available to view and purchase on DisneyPhotoPass.com.

“We really want them to leave the kitchen with ideas for a spectacular dinner party that they can do at home without opening a can or reaching for something frozen,” says Chef Brough.

The program is planned two evenings a week (days vary), starting at 5 pm. Cost is $175 plus tax, $125 plus tax for ages 9 to 12. (Younger guests may have their own cooking station.) Complimentary transportation is provided for Walt Disney Resort hotel guests. To book or for more information, call 407-WDW-PLAY.

501 WaysHeading to Disney World soon?

If you are planning a vacation to Disney World, be sure to check out these valuable resources to help you save time and money:

Do you enjoy cooking? Will you try the new adventure?
Please leave a comment!

Aug 25 2015

TouringPlans – Rainforest Café Showdown

My family and I are big fans of the Rainforest Café. During our travels across the country, we always make a point to visit this restaurant every chance we get. In the last few years, we’ve dined at the Rainforest Café in Disneyland, Las Vegas, Dallas, San Antonio, Galveston, and of course, Downtown Disney (Springs) and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

What keeps us going back again and again? We are suckers for a good theme! The more immersive and detailed the environment, the more we love it. This, coincidentally, is one of the main reasons we repeatedly visit Disney World as well. There’s just nothing quite like escaping to another “world” whether it’s for just a meal or for an entire trip. During our summer vacation this year, my family and I had the opportunity to dine at both Disney World locations. Are you considering a visit to the “rainforests” of Downtown Disney and Animal Kingdom? Trying to decide which one is best for you? Then click to read my latest TouringPlans article – Rainforest Café Showdown; your adventure is about to begin!

Are you a fan of the Rainforest Café? Have you dined at either Disney World location? What was your experience like? Please leave a comment!

Aug 24 2015

Flame Tree BBQ Sauce Recipe

Flame Tree BBQ 2

I love barbecue! Growing up in Kansas City, loving barbecue is practically required. Now living in Colorado, I miss all of my favorite BBQ spots like Gates, Joe’s, Haywards, Zarda…the list goes on and on. Believe me, every time I go home, I always try to get my fill and pick up a few bottles of sauce to get me through until my next trip. When I’m vacationing in Disney World and spending the day in Animal Kingdom, Flame Tree Barbecue is a perfect dining location for this KC gal to get her fix! All loyal BBQ fans know that the sauce can “make or break” the meal so imagine my delight when Disney recently released their recipe for the delicious Flame Tree Barbecue sauce. If you are planning an end-of-summer cook out at your house, give it a try!

Ingredients – Makes 1 Cup

1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons molasses
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon paprika
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
2 teaspoons onion powder
2/3 cup water
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

  1. Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low and cook for 25 minutes, stirring frequently.
  3. Use immediately or store in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

501 WaysHeading to Disney World soon?

If you are planning a vacation to Disney World, be sure to check out these valuable resources to help you save time and money:

Do you love BBQ like me? What do you think of Flame Tree BBQ?
Please leave a comment!

Aug 24 2015

Magic YOUR Band Pirate MagicBand Skins Giveaway Winner

Magic YOUR Band

A must-have Disney vacation accessory!

The Winner

Congratulations to Kim who won a set of four “Pirate” MagicBand Skins. Thanks to everyone who took the time to enter and be sure to follow me on Twitter and Facebook to hear about more free giveaways throughout 2015!

Interested in getting your own MagicBand Skins? Please click this link to purchase some today!

The Review

A few months ago, I arranged with Tracy at Magic YOUR Band to review their MagicBand Skins. If you aren’t familiar with this product, these adorable decals attach directly to your Disney World MagicBand creating your own personalized look.

Tracy asked me to pick out a MagicBand Skin that I liked as well as try out their online design tool for this review. My youngest son was excited to test the product with me so he choose the two piece “Slice of Pizza” design to go on his orange MagicBand. I decided to try putting my DisneyWorldEnthusiast.com logo on a skin for my red MagicBand. I was amazed at how easy Magic YOUR Band’s editing system worked. In a matter of minutes, I had a background selected and my logo in place and looking great! Then my son and I eagerly waited for our MagicBand Skins to arrive. Just as promised, they arrived in about a week.

We opened our delivery to find our MagicBand Skins nicely packaged and looking gorgeous! The first thing that struck me was how bright and vibrant the colors appeared. Upon further inspection, the MagicBand Skins looked perfectly cut and well made. Next up was getting them on our MagicBands.

The process was much easier than I thought it would be. I spent a few minutes watching the installation video on their site and then gave it a try. I found the skins to be very forgiving and I was able to lift them and adjust them until they were just right. Once I had the MagicBand Skins where I wanted, I went back over them pressing down firmly to make sure they were in place. It only took a couple of minutes until our MagicBands were looking quite magical!

I continued to wear my MagicBand with the Magic YOUR Band Skin throughout the day. It held up beautifully to a day filled with errands, cleaning, cooking, laundry, rain, and the movies. My son and I can’t wait to wear our new favorite Disney vacation accessory on our upcoming trip!

Here’s all of the important information that you’ll need to get yourself a MagicBand Skin:

  • MagicBand Skins are available for purchase on MagicYOURBand.com.
  • They range in price from $6 to $8 each.
  • They offer special pricing when you purchase multiple MagicBand Skins in one order. Buy two to five and save 15%. Buy six to nine and save 25%. Buy ten or more and save 33%.
  • They come in one piece (that covers the center MagicBand Mickey) or two piece (that shows the center MagicBand Mickey) styles.
  • Halloween MagicYOURBandThey have over 100 ready-made designs available including adorable holiday varieties!
  • You also have the options of personalizing one of their designs or creating your own with their easy-to-use online editing tool.
  • MagicBand Skins are fully waterproof. They hold up in the shower, pool, and a Florida rain storm!
  • The MagicBand Skins are easy to apply and remove if you want to change-up your look. They even have a handy video to show you how!
  • The Skins have no effect on how the MagicBand works. Your band will still be fully functional.
  • Magic YOUR Band is located in the United Kingdom and offers free international shipping on all orders.
  • The average delivery time is 7 days from the date of postage. You can upgrade to 2 business day FedEx International Priority Shipping for an additional fee.

Magic YOUR Band

Please click this link to purchase one today!