Disney Dining Plans
An awesome video from Disney Parks that gives a brief explanation of Disney's 3 Dining Plans!
'Ohana means family...our Disney Side Home Celebration
Whew! What a weekend!! Our Disney Side Party was on Saturday and I think it went really well! Lots of fun and food...especially food! That was the main focus of our party. We didn't do any games since the ages of the kids were pretty divided between toddlers and teens and a few in between. We focused on just having a great time with our family and friends...and sharing some of our favorite food! Not only have guests been asking for the yummy recipes I used, but I wanted to share them with you all as well!! Plus a few sneak peaks of the party!
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
We had a ton of fun decorating the house...even though we kept it pretty simple!
Now on to the menu and the recipes!!
We started out with salad with Honey Lime dressing...this is my favorite and be warned the recipe makes A LOT. I still have some left in the fridge (YAY)!!
1/2 C honey
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp salt
1/2 C cider vinegar
1/4 C lime juice
1/4 C diced onion
1 C canola oil
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp salt
1/2 C cider vinegar
1/4 C lime juice
1/4 C diced onion
1 C canola oil
Mix well and coat the salad....it's that easy!! I left out the raw onion but otherwise I made it with the exact ingredients...it was delicious!
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Next up....Pog Juice. I could literally drink this by the gallon. It's so delicious and easy to make!
21 ounces Passion Fruit Juice21 ounces Guava Juice14 ounces Orange Juice (pulp free)
Mix and enjoy! I found the passion fruit and guava juice in the international aisle with the Mexican food (they were Goya juices).
_________________________________________________________________________________
Now for hubby's favorite part...the chicken wings! I was nervous about doing a large amount of chicken wings until I read that they are BAKED!!! WOOHOO!!! I bought 5 lbs but my guests could have eaten double that! One thing I will note is I think the dry spice on the wings could have easily been skipped...the sauce was plenty sufficient...we can't wait to make it again!
Wing Dry Seasoning
1 tablespoon ground paprika
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Coriander Wing Sauce
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/2 tablespoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
Wings
5 lbs chicken wings and drumettes
2 to 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Mix wing seasoning indredients in a small bowl and using a whisk.
Put the chicken and 2 tablespoons of wing seasoning in a large bowl.
Add enough oil to coat the chicken evenly and mix well.
Spread the seasoned chicken in a single layer on prepared cookie sheet.
Bake for approximately 45 minutes or until the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165 degrees.
Place all wing sauce ingredients in a large saute pan, and bring to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat.
Cook and stir until thickened - the sauce will get sticky and thick within a few minutes.
Transfer the cooked wings into the sauce and serve.
Put the chicken and 2 tablespoons of wing seasoning in a large bowl.
Add enough oil to coat the chicken evenly and mix well.
Spread the seasoned chicken in a single layer on prepared cookie sheet.
Bake for approximately 45 minutes or until the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165 degrees.
Place all wing sauce ingredients in a large saute pan, and bring to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat.
Cook and stir until thickened - the sauce will get sticky and thick within a few minutes.
Transfer the cooked wings into the sauce and serve.
________________________________________________________________________
This next one was a bit trickier and that's only because of the noodles. I wasn't entirely sure WHAT to buy.
I have to say this by far made me feel like I was at 'Ohana...the smell was AMAZING! I will note that the recipe was a bit too sweet...I would cut back the brown sugar by at least a cup and then modify as necesary.
The noodles I bought were called Yoba noodles and they where a Chinese Buckwheat noodle. Pretty darn close if you ask me! I also omitted the cabbage as I'm not a fan!
Dissolve all ingredients, except cornstarch and pineapple juice, in sauce pot.
Bring to a boil.
Make a slurry with the cornstarch and pineapple juice, and slowly add to boiling mixture to thicken.
Simmer for 30 minutes.
Strain through fine mesh strainer.
Saute shredded red and green cabbage and bok choy in wok.
Add Yakisoba noodles and Pineapple glaze and toss.
Ingredients
Pineapple Glaze
2 Cup Brown Sugar
1 3/4 Cup Soy Sauce
3/4 Cup Rice Wine Vinegar
1 1/4Tablespoon Fresh Garlic, minced
1 1/4 Tablespoon Fresh Ginger, minced
2 1/4 Tablespoons Cornstarch
4 Tablespoons Pineapple Juice, frozen concentrate
Yakisoba Noodles
Shredded Red & Green Cabbage
Shredded Bok Cho
Dissolve all ingredients, except cornstarch and pineapple juice, in sauce pot.
Bring to a boil.
Make a slurry with the cornstarch and pineapple juice, and slowly add to boiling mixture to thicken.
Simmer for 30 minutes.
Strain through fine mesh strainer.
Saute shredded red and green cabbage and bok choy in wok.
Add Yakisoba noodles and Pineapple glaze and toss.
____________________________________________________________________
For our last 2 items...I'll admit....I cheated!! Neither one was prepared by me!
And now what you've all been waiting for....which Dole Whip Recipe won? By a landslide...recipe #1!
The first 7 taste testers said #1 so we just gave up and doled out that one instead (get it? Doled....). For fun a few pictures from the party!
Sorry for the clarity of the pics...I was exhausted by this point and just took a few cell phone pictures
Thanks again to everyone who came! We had a great time!
Dole Whip Recipe #2
Today is finally the day of our Disney Side Home Celebration! Today I want to share with you Dole Whip Recipe #2! While I really enjoyed the first recipe, traditionally Dole Whip is a non-dairy dessert. Our home version of Dole Whip came out more like ice cream....delicious, pineapple ice cream. I decided to try my hand one more time and something a bit more authentic.
Here is the recipe
20 oz can of crushed pineapple
2 TB lemon juice
2 TB lime juice
1/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 tubs of Cool Whip
Take the Pineapple and combine with the lemon and lime juice in a blender. Blend until pretty smooth.
Then put in a gallon zip lock bag and lay flat in the freezer. It will take about 90 minutes before it turns to slush.
Pour the pineapple slush into a bowl.
Combine with the cool whip and refreeze until it turns to an ice cream consistency.
So far so good...my taste testers really loved it! I'll update after the party on which recipe won!
Here is the recipe
20 oz can of crushed pineapple
2 TB lemon juice
2 TB lime juice
1/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 tubs of Cool Whip
Take the Pineapple and combine with the lemon and lime juice in a blender. Blend until pretty smooth.
Then put in a gallon zip lock bag and lay flat in the freezer. It will take about 90 minutes before it turns to slush.
Pour the pineapple slush into a bowl.
Combine with the cool whip and refreeze until it turns to an ice cream consistency.
So far so good...my taste testers really loved it! I'll update after the party on which recipe won!
Get Your Kicks on Route 66!
This morning on Facebook I posted this picture and asked "Do you know where I am?"
A few years ago I was lucky enough to take a trip out West with my Dad. My Dad and I have traveled together quite a bit and we had previously made a trip out to Yosemite and Monterey a few years earlier.
This time around, I had a conference in Las Vegas to attend (not my thing!) so we decided to take a trip out to the Grand Canyon. We stayed in a small town (Williams) outside of the Grand Canyon and had a great time!
On our way back home we diverted off of Rt 40 for a bit and hopped on the old Route 66. As we drove along we came to the town of Seligman. Now this was long before I had kids and while I was aware of the movie Cars, I hadn't watched and didn't really know much about it. I was so excited when we arrived to see a few familiar faces!!
Hope you enjoyed a little more of my Disney Side today! And if you didn't catch it early...there is a hidden Mickey in this post!
Princesses in EPCOT
Did you know that you can meet lots of different characters throughout all 4 theme parks? While most people rush to the Magic Kingdom or a character meal to meet the Princesses, my favorite place is to head to World Showcase in EPCOT!
EPCOT also offers a great princess meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner at Akershus in Norway!
Of course there are other fun character meet and Greet's through EPCOT and all 4 parks as well! Check your My Disney Experience App for meeting show times and locations.
Belle & the Beast (from Beauty & the Beast) in France
Jasmine & Aladdin in Morocco
Mulan in China Pavillion.
Snow White in Germany
While not princesses, you can also meet Alice and Mary Poppins!
Of course there are other fun character meet and Greet's through EPCOT and all 4 parks as well! Check your My Disney Experience App for meeting show times and locations.
EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival 2014
Art of Animation Review
When it came to picking a resort I was really struggling with what to pick (Value, Moderate, and Deluxe). I loved the colors and price of the Value but worried I would be forgoing some amenities of the Moderate and Deluxe, especially the proximity to the parks and the bus ride. We decided on the Art and Animation because of the family suites and Big Blue pool. They also have their own dedicated bus (some resorts share).
Upon arriving at the resort, we were immediately greeted by a cast member with an IPad. He immediately completed our check –in (we did the on-line check-in). He was very helpful in answering all of our questions. He even asked about any celebration and gave my son a Happy Birthday pin. Our room was ready but my brother’s family was not (it was around 1:30pm). We decided to drop our carry-ons in our room and grab lunch while we waited for our luggage to be delivered.
We chose the Finding Nemo suites. The finding Nemo section is where the Big Blue pool is and our room was just steps away from the entrance. It also has a very convenient proximity to the main building. The Cars section is off to the right and though very adorable to walk thru, I was glad many days not to have to trek that much further back to my room. The Lion King section is off to the left with no pool and again another hike from the main building. I never took the journey to the Little Mermaid part of the resort.
The rooms themselves are very spacious and perfect for a family. The bedroom is large with a queen bed and its own bathroom and the main living area has a table with a Murphy bed over it and a couch that easily turns into a sleeper. The main bathroom has a tub. There is a refrigerator, microwave and coffee maker in a little kitchenette. We were supplied with plenty of plates, bowls, flatware and cups.
The maid service was wonderful. They even arranged the kid’s toys into funny scenarios every day.
The Big Blue pool was very nice. It has a zero point entry and goes up to 4ft in the middle. There is a splash area at one end with a little playground. The Cars pool was very nice. It is a horseshoe shape and 3-4ft deep. There are nice Cone cabanas to use to stay out of the sun. The Cars pool did not have as many swimmers as Big Blue. There is also a pool side bar at Big Blue and some table games (ping pong, etc.) for the kids. They also have movies every night poolside (but we never managed to make one!).
The dining was at the Landscape of Flavor was surprisingly good. We ate quick service meals there multiple times and everything was very good. There are multiple stations to choose from so even my picky eaters found something to make them happy every time. The portion sizes are pretty big and my husband and I shared some lunches and were both satisfied.
The buses are all out in front of the main building. The signs clearly mark which park each bus is for. We rarely had to wait for a bus and the longest we did was maybe 15 minutes. The bus drivers were very friendly and helpful.
We did have to wait close to 4 hours before our luggage was delivered to our room but it was very nice not to have to handle it from the airport. There was a very long line to check in to our flight home but again it was nice to be able to drop our luggage there and not have to worry about it until we were off the plane.
This resort it perfect for families with younger children. The average age in the pool was probably around 7. The few teenagers we saw were with Dance and Cheer teams that were staying in the Little Mermaid section. There was not a lot of noise in the halls but you also didn’t feel like you had to restrain your child’s excitement as to not to bother others. We did not experience any problems with unruly kids or rudeness. The only problem was when the large dance groups came thru, they took over everything. My kids enjoyed the art work and the colorfulness of the whole resort. I would very much recommend this resort and would stay there again if we were to go back with the kids before they are teenagers.
Want to see more pictures of the Art of Animation Resort? Check out my tour here and here!
Upon arriving at the resort, we were immediately greeted by a cast member with an IPad. He immediately completed our check –in (we did the on-line check-in). He was very helpful in answering all of our questions. He even asked about any celebration and gave my son a Happy Birthday pin. Our room was ready but my brother’s family was not (it was around 1:30pm). We decided to drop our carry-ons in our room and grab lunch while we waited for our luggage to be delivered.
We chose the Finding Nemo suites. The finding Nemo section is where the Big Blue pool is and our room was just steps away from the entrance. It also has a very convenient proximity to the main building. The Cars section is off to the right and though very adorable to walk thru, I was glad many days not to have to trek that much further back to my room. The Lion King section is off to the left with no pool and again another hike from the main building. I never took the journey to the Little Mermaid part of the resort.
The rooms themselves are very spacious and perfect for a family. The bedroom is large with a queen bed and its own bathroom and the main living area has a table with a Murphy bed over it and a couch that easily turns into a sleeper. The main bathroom has a tub. There is a refrigerator, microwave and coffee maker in a little kitchenette. We were supplied with plenty of plates, bowls, flatware and cups.
The maid service was wonderful. They even arranged the kid’s toys into funny scenarios every day.
The Big Blue pool was very nice. It has a zero point entry and goes up to 4ft in the middle. There is a splash area at one end with a little playground. The Cars pool was very nice. It is a horseshoe shape and 3-4ft deep. There are nice Cone cabanas to use to stay out of the sun. The Cars pool did not have as many swimmers as Big Blue. There is also a pool side bar at Big Blue and some table games (ping pong, etc.) for the kids. They also have movies every night poolside (but we never managed to make one!).
The dining was at the Landscape of Flavor was surprisingly good. We ate quick service meals there multiple times and everything was very good. There are multiple stations to choose from so even my picky eaters found something to make them happy every time. The portion sizes are pretty big and my husband and I shared some lunches and were both satisfied.
The buses are all out in front of the main building. The signs clearly mark which park each bus is for. We rarely had to wait for a bus and the longest we did was maybe 15 minutes. The bus drivers were very friendly and helpful.
We did have to wait close to 4 hours before our luggage was delivered to our room but it was very nice not to have to handle it from the airport. There was a very long line to check in to our flight home but again it was nice to be able to drop our luggage there and not have to worry about it until we were off the plane.
This resort it perfect for families with younger children. The average age in the pool was probably around 7. The few teenagers we saw were with Dance and Cheer teams that were staying in the Little Mermaid section. There was not a lot of noise in the halls but you also didn’t feel like you had to restrain your child’s excitement as to not to bother others. We did not experience any problems with unruly kids or rudeness. The only problem was when the large dance groups came thru, they took over everything. My kids enjoyed the art work and the colorfulness of the whole resort. I would very much recommend this resort and would stay there again if we were to go back with the kids before they are teenagers.
Want to see more pictures of the Art of Animation Resort? Check out my tour here and here!
Homemade Dole Whip
As part of our Disney Side Celebration next weekend, I decided to attempt homemade Dole Whip. For those of you that haven't been to Disney yet, or have yet to try Dole Whip, let me just share a little bit about it with you!
Dole Whip is a soft-serve Pineapple dessert similar to ice cream. For many, it's a MUST on their Walt Disney World or Disneyland vacation...as with many things at Disney, it has sort of a cult following.
Dole Whip is a soft-serve Pineapple dessert similar to ice cream. For many, it's a MUST on their Walt Disney World or Disneyland vacation...as with many things at Disney, it has sort of a cult following.
Jedi Training Academy at Hollywood Studios
This was one of the activities my kids (age 7 and 5) had on their “must do” list and it did not disappoint. We got to the park a little early since we hear they usually start letting people in 15 minutes early. As soon as they let us in, we headed straight to the ABC Studios (left at the hat, behind American Idol Experience) and got in line to sign up. We were the first in thru our gate and my husband was speed walking with the stroller and we were still about 10thin line.
We were still able to get the time slot we needed and were able to go to Toy Story Mania (Fastpass) before we had to be back to check in (back at the ABC Studios). At check in the kids were given a Jedi robe to wear as the excitement of fighting Darth Vader built. Once all the kids were checked in, we headed over to the stage (near Startours). Shortly thereafter the show began. All the kids were given a “light saber” and given a place on stage. The Jedi Master led the kids thru their training routine and his commentary was very entertaining to all those watching.
After the kids worked thru their routine a few times, the doors opened and out came 2 Storm Troopers and Darth Vader himself. Darth Vader tried to convince the kids to join him on the Dark side but no one took him up on that. Instead, each child got to battle Darth Vader. Darth Vader was soundly defeated by all the kids and left the stage. There was a quick ceremony for the kids and they all received a diploma. There is a photopass photographer there to capture all the action.
This was a great experience. My nephew who was 11 also did this and enjoyed it but he was on the upper end of the age spectrum. The average age was probably 6. I would recommend it to anyone. The Storm Troopers and Darth Vader have the perfect level of menace and I did not see a single child get scared. I would recommend getting to the sign ups as soon as possible. Our show was at 10:10 and we had to be back at ABC studios at 9:40 to sign in and get the robes. At that time the line was out the doors and they were turning people away. The stage was not in the shade which wasn’t a problem in February but I imagine would be an issue in summer in the afternoon.
Good luck and may the Force be with you!
Disney Side Home Celebration Preparation!
I'm so excited to finally share with you what the theme of our Disney Side Home Celebration is! I've been really anxious since I was selected to pick a theme...and so inspired by all the themes other bloggers, mom's and Disney lovers have selected. Even though our party kit came with TONS of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse party supplies, we decided to go another route...something a little less traditional.
The theme for our party is based on a location that holds a special place in our hearts. It's somewhere we visit every trip, in one way or another. It's a place that holds special memories and a place that we seem to miss quite often!
Our Disney Side party is going to be based on Disney's Polynesian Resort...and more specifically 'OHANA!!
Let me share a bit more with you about our love for Disney's Polynesian Resort. I'm going to work my way slightly backwards! My husband had always planned on proposing during our trip to Disney in June 2009...however he got impatient and actually proposed a few months early. The nice thing about this is our good friend and favorite photographer Lauren Kennedy was able to take some pre-engagement pictures right on the beach!
So now for the party plans!! Since the weather has been so cold and snowy, celebrating Island style is just what we all need! We'll have a variety of Polynesian themed decorations and games, along with....an Ohana style menu! We'll be preparing:
Be sure to follow me on Pinterest. Most of my ideas and recipes are posted there and I'll be sharing party pictures both there and on Facebook!
The theme for our party is based on a location that holds a special place in our hearts. It's somewhere we visit every trip, in one way or another. It's a place that holds special memories and a place that we seem to miss quite often!
Our Disney Side party is going to be based on Disney's Polynesian Resort...and more specifically 'OHANA!!
Let me share a bit more with you about our love for Disney's Polynesian Resort. I'm going to work my way slightly backwards! My husband had always planned on proposing during our trip to Disney in June 2009...however he got impatient and actually proposed a few months early. The nice thing about this is our good friend and favorite photographer Lauren Kennedy was able to take some pre-engagement pictures right on the beach!
Next up was our wedding...since our favorite place to eat is 'Ohana it was a given our rehearsal dinner would be there! We just love the feel, smells and sounds of this resort!
We were also lucky enough to stay in a Theme Park View Club level room on the last night of our honeymoon.
And finally...our pure and simple love of 'Ohana...one of Disney's most popular and sought after restaurants!
So now for the party plans!! Since the weather has been so cold and snowy, celebrating Island style is just what we all need! We'll have a variety of Polynesian themed decorations and games, along with....an Ohana style menu! We'll be preparing:
- Salad with Honey Lime Dressing
- Yakisoba Noodles
- Honey Coriander Chicken
- Steamed Veggies
And by far my favorite part of the day...DOLE WHIP! While I'd love a Lapu Lapu, being 29 weeks pregnant when the party is here, I figure Dole Whip it is!
Be sure to follow me on Pinterest. Most of my ideas and recipes are posted there and I'll be sharing party pictures both there and on Facebook!
My Disney Side - Special Delivery
My original kit got lost in the mail and I did my best to avoid seeing what was in the mystery box...unfortunately unsuccessfully but I was still excited for it to arrive!
Are you still wondering what exactly a Disney Side Home Celebration is?? Check out this link to read more! Anyone can host a Disney Side Home Celebration however select bloggers were chosen to receive a kit. I won't bore you with ALL the details but I do want to share a few things with you!
Are you still wondering what exactly a Disney Side Home Celebration is?? Check out this link to read more! Anyone can host a Disney Side Home Celebration however select bloggers were chosen to receive a kit. I won't bore you with ALL the details but I do want to share a few things with you!
I opened the box and found a brand new suitcase! I think this might belong to the new baby for her first trip!
I opened the suitcase and it was filled with GOODIES!
Here are some of the goodies!
Here is the best part...as much as we love Mickey Mouse we have opted for a slightly different theme to our Disney Side party!! I'll be announcing later this week our big plans but what that means for you is that I'll be giving away some of the awesome stuff that came in our kit!! Stay tuned!!
Updated...want to see what our party is all about? Click HERE!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)