Eating Around Disneyland: Part 1

Eating around Disneyland Part 1

Big Thunder Ranch BBQ

This meal is a all you care to eat meal option that is located inside Big Thunder Ranch. I can say by far this was one of the best family meals we had at Disneyland. We loved the entertainment and the service was great. 

Dinner includes-

Smoked Sausage, BBQ Ribs, and Grilled Chicken all served family style in a bucket. 

Side items include Corn on the cob, Baked Beans, Cornbread, and Coleslaw 

You can also choose a meatless option with skewers with tofu, potatoes, and veggies. 

The drinks are served in mason jars and really set the mood of a backyard bbq meal!

 

The Entertainment was great! They let the kids come up to the stage to help sign and dance for a few songs. This really helped keep my kids stay occupied while we waited for the food and gave my husband and I time to chat about our plans for the rest of the evening.

The dining area is outside and the picnic benches are covered to help you give shade in the sun but if it rains this location has to close so keep that in mind when making reservations.

And don't forget to have dessert! This is a warm chocolate chip cookie smothered in ice cream and hot fudge. We all shared and we still could not finish it! 

This was the perfect ending of a great day and a great meal!

Please contact me to help you plan your next Disney World or Disneyland Vacation!

Chelsea May

Mickey's Dream Vacations

(773)954-0567

chelsea@mickeysdreamvacations.com 

www.facebook.com/mickeysdreamvacationsbychelsea 

Mickey and the Magical Map

Mickey and the Magical Map at Disneyland Debuts on May 25, 2013!

Mickey and the Magical Map was announced earlier this Spring as a new offering at Disneyland Theme Park in California. Recently I visited Disneyland for a Travel Agent Education Program and I was able to see the area that is planned for this new show. Mickey's Magical Map will be a Musical Extravaganza that will be featured in the Fantasyland Theater near ToonTown.

Take a look at these picture of the construction of the Fantasyland Theater~

This area is very large and has featured lots of different Princess themed shows and shopping in the past years. When Fantasy Faire was first announce several people speculated that this would be the new areas future home. Bringing a Mickey Mouse themed show is great to add in the neighboring ToonTown!

Check out the new Music Score for the new show that was just released today!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jluIG0I1D8o&feature=player_embedded

 

This show will feature Mickey in a dream following a Magical Map with the help of his friends!

With the help of some theatrical wizardry, we go along for the ride as our hero discovers fantastic worlds of music, color, excitement and beloved Disney Characters. These characters are said to including King Louie, Pocahontas, Rapunzel, Mulan, Tiana and Sebastian the crab, and more! You will visit Adventure Islands, Dream Village, Celebration Peaks, and Friendship Woods. Each new land you will encountering surprises. It's the kind of storytelling experience only Disney could bring to life!

Changes Coming Soon For Downtown Disney

Big changes are coming for the Downtown Disney Shopping, Entertainment, and Dining district. This change is a long time coming and is very much needed. Disney has not officially announced these changes but they have been leaked from many websites that are very creditable. Thank you and credit given to Screamscape-http://www.screamscape.com, WDWNT- http://wdwnt.com, and 

Disney Food Blog-http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/

First WDWNT announced and leaked several photos with tons of info all about the new Downtown Disney renovation, which will change the Dining and Entertainment area into "Disney Springs". This area will offer many new dining experiences, shopping, and entertainment for the whole family. 

Here is some concept art of the new Down Town Disney Shopping area. www.wdwnt.com

Today The Disney Food Blog released several rumored dining experiences that are set to open inside the new Disney Springs are- New Disney Character Dining, Food Network Dining, Wine Bar, The Edison, Walt's Place, Yogorino, Disney Bakery, Trader Sam's Tiki Bar, Shake Shake, Morimoto, 

Temecula Olive Olil Company, Food Truck Row, Disney Burger, and Powell's Sweet Shop.

www.disneyfoodblog.com

I can't wait to find out exactly what Character Dining will come to Disney Springs. I am hoping for something more boy related like Toy Story, Monsters Inc, Cars, and others. Also it will be very interesting to see what Walt's Place is all about. It may possible be a private dining club similar to Club 33, it would be a hug draw from Disney World lovers! Disney Burger sounds great, hopefully with Disney Character inspired burgers! I see a Lilo and Stitch burger coming with a pineapple! Yum! Food Truck Row also sounds great and I think would be a huge success. In Disneyland food is everything, I am glad to see Disney World starting to follow the trend of great fresh food with awesome choices. 

One of the Dining Experiences I am so excited about has to be Trader Sam's Tiki Bar! This location is already featured at the Disneyland Hotel in California. When I visited Disneyland in January, I had the pleasure of dining at this location and meeting some of the funny bartenders. This Enchanted Tiki Bar features special effects that are controlled by the bartenders. They do surprising and funny special effects when people order certain drinks, food, or even when the mood strikes them. This special effects include moving bar stools, erupting volcanoes, and rain storms. And the food was delicious! Hawaiian inspired specialities with great tropical drinks make it a fun night for everyone. 

Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar

WDWNT released this photo with a guide on where things might be located at the new Disney Springs Downtown Disney Area. 

1. A skybridge (overhead walkway) over Buena Vista Drive allows guests to safely cross the street and marks the entrance to “Disney Springs”. As well, Buena Vista Drive will dive under the car and bus entrances to “Disney Springs”.
2. A new, larger bus loop located at the center of the entire complex
3. New parking multi-level structure over what was mostly the second parking lot at Downtown Disney Marketplace
4. Some strange added structure on the AMC 24 on West Side
5. What is currently Planet Hollywood will no longer be surrounded by water an will probably be turned into some other establishment
6. New, larger boat dock possibly built to handle large watercraft such as Friendship Boats
7. New waterside building featured in the first piece of concept art above, replacing Rock ‘N’ Roll Beach Club & Motion
8. Walkway between Portobello and Cookes of Dublin, allowing easier passage through the entire complex
9. The Spring, the new focal point of the entire development
10. The Town Center, a new area constructed on what is mostly now a parking lot. The dark orange structures on the map are all new buildings that will be part of the area.
11. The current site of Pollo Campero/Bodie’s All-American/Babycakes NYC is empty, leading us to believe it will be demolished
12. New bridge crossing the lake in the Village Marketplace
13. New buildings replacing the former bus loop in the Village Marketplace
14. Bridge connecting Village Marketplace to Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort

Credit given to www.wdwnt.com 

Thanks for reading and have a Magical Day!

Written and pictures provided by Chelsea May

Mickey's Dream Vacations

chelsea@mickeysdreamvacations.com

www.wdwnt.com

www.screamscape.com

www.disneyfoodblog.com

On my new journey......

Hello Disney lovers and readers! I have officially started my new journey! It was only a short 3 months ago that I started a new job as a travel specialist with Mickey's Dream Vacations. I have been starting to get the hang of things by quoting and helping people plan their magical vacations. I never really thought that I could love working so much!

In three months I really found my place working with great friends and Disney lovers! We have fun doing a great job that helps people make amazing memories that will last their family a lifetime!

I am already in planning mode, trying to plan our next family vacation to Disney. I am so excited to enjoy Disney with my family now that my children are a little older and seeing my son's face when he sees the Art of Animation Resort for the first time!

It really is a great feeling to be right where I want to be, in a job that I really love!

I know there are some misconceptions about travel agents and what they "really" do. I would love to clear them up. I work for a small, family owned agency that provides services that other larger companies can not even try to compare to. We are normal Disney lovers like most, love talking to people about Disney, love trying new Disney foods and restaurants, and traveling to Disney as much as possible. We try to help families of all sizes, budgets, and time frames. We provide a great service at no cost to our customers, actually most of the time we save our clients even more! I have loved every minute of working with my clients to make their dreams come true.

I have started a new Facebook page for Travel news and specials! Check it out at www.facebook.com/MickeysDreamVacationsByChelsea

What Is Your Favorite Character Meal At Disney World?

I have eaten at so many Character Meals at Disney World that I can almost rattle them off at anytime, to anyone. I still have a few on my list that I would like to try as well. I thought it would be fun to concentrate on Character Meals and ask my blog readers to chime in on their favorite Character Meals and how they measure up. 

We normally eat about 3 or 4 Character Meals on any given trip to the World. Our last trip it was just my husband and myself and we skipped the Characters and I can really say I missed them! Here are a few Character meals with pictures that I have gone to and thought were some of the best.

1900 Park Fare

Located in the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa near Magic Kingdom, this location offers Breakfast and Dinner. You will experience Alice, Mad Hatter, White Rabbit, and Mary Poppins in the morning while enjoying a beautiful breakfast buffet, or you can wait for dinner and meet with Cinderella, Prince Charming, Lady Tremain, and the Step-Sisters. At dinner you will dine on grand buffet with favorites of Prime Rib, Strawberry Soup, and Dessert Buffet.

                                                                 

Chef Mickey's

Chef Mickey's serves Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner and is located in the Contemporary Hotel near Magic Kingdom. Reservations here can be hard to get as it is on most people's list of Character Meals they must do! Chef Mickey's is a served as a buffet with tons of options. You can meet and eat with Minnie, Chef Mickey, Chef Donald, and Chef Goofy. The atmosphere is very opened and you can hear the monorail going in and out of the hotel, but this just adds to the excitement of being in Disney! What is better than eating some Mickey Waffles and meeting Mickey at the same time? 

 Tusker House

 Tusker House only has a Character Breakfast with Donald taking pictures at the entrance. This breakfast buffet has amazing bunch and breakfast assortments that really stand out from the pack. From Chocolate frosted krispy creme donuts to ham and eggs, this breakfast fare will not disappoint. You will have a chance to meet and greet with Minnie, Daisy, Goofy, and Mickey dressed in safari gear. Donald takes pictures outside in his safari gear but does not sign autographs, you will have to head to camp Minnie Mickey for that.

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall

 This Divine Princess Character Meal serves Breakfast, Lunch And Dinner and is located inside Epcot near the Germany Pavilion. This location offers a variety of Princesses including Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine, Aurora, Snow White, and Mulan. These characters switch out so it is not always a given of what princesses you might bump into at this royal gathering. This location serves an all you care to eat menu where you get a pre-selected meal served family style to you table. You can then order more of any certain item. During lunch and dinner there is also a Koldtbord with prepared salads, sliced meats and cheeses. This Character Meal offers a Photograph package, when you arrive you will take a picture with the selected princess and will leave with that picture at the end of the meal and it is included in the price of the meal.

Garden Grill

This Hidden Gem is one of my favorite Character Dinners. It is located inside the Land Pavilion at Epcot and is located next to Soarin. It actually is a slow moving restaurant that moves above the Living With The Land ride. The food offered at this location is also serves all you care to eat. We received a an appetizer, a dinner platter with steak, fish, and chicken. It was one of the best meals we had in 2010 and they pride themselves on using vegetables, spices, and seasonings made and grown in the Living with the Land project. You will meet Mickey, Chip, Dale, and Pluto. 

Hollywood and Vine

This Character Meal is located inside Hollywood Studios and is the only one the park offers. This meal is centered around Disney Junior Characters and has changed since our visit in 2011, it now offers Agent Oso, Handy Manny, Little Einsteins, and Jake from the Neverland Pirates. This location serves Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. 

 What is your favorite Character Meal inside Disney World or Disney Land? I would love to hear your stories and opinions about Disney's best Character Meals.

Thanks for reading please add me to you favorites and follow me.

Contact me today for a free quote

Chelsea May

(773)954-0567

tangledindisney5@gmail.com

www.mickeysdreamvacations.com