Pangani Forest Exploration Trail

The Pangani Forest Exploration Trail takes you face to face with swimming hippos, climbing monkeys and majestic gorillas. It is located at Disney's Animal Kingdom, in Africa, right next to the Kilimanjaro Safari. This is one of my favorite attractions at the Animal Kingdom because there are no lines to get into since it is a walking tour. However, there may be a bit of a crowd at the hippo and gorilla windows but if you have patience you'll see spectacular sights, so have your camera ready!

The Earl of Sandwich

The Earl of Sandwich is located at Downtown Disney Marketplace, across from Once Upon a Toy. They serve, you guessed it, sandwiches as well as freshly made salads, cookies, brownies, cupcakes, tea, coffee, lemonade and fountain drinks.

This used to be a favorite of ours because the prices were so reasonable and the sandwiches were divine. The bread was freshly baked and the quality of the meats for the sandwiches were excellent. However, we've noticed that on a few later trips that the prices did go up and the quality and service went down. The last time we were there I had a roast beef sandwich (The Full Montagu) and the beef was tough, chewy and inedible. My husband had the Scudetto and thought it was just okay. We haven't been back since.

It does get very busy and the line can go, literally, out the door, so plan on eating off of the conventional eating times. The prices are still reasonable compared to most of the Disney establishments but if your family just wants burgers and fries then go do the McDonald's down the path.

Italy: Photospot

The photo above was taken at the Italian pavilion at Epcot's World Showcase. Although Italy does not have the traditional ride or movie that the other countries have it is very picturesque. The beautiful plaza is a replica of the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Campanile and across the way you can look over a 'canal' and see the gondolas moored to posts.

Around the plaza are shops selling everything from clothing and perfume to wines, sweets and chocolates and handmade masks. There is a fountain with a statue of Neptune, where you can pose for photos or just sit in the shade to rest your legs.

Recently the L'Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante was closed and a new restaurant has was opened in its stead called, Tutto Italia. Haven't been to the new restaurant but I'll let you know how it is when I try it!

Overall the Italian pavilion is a great place to just sit, have a canoli or gelato and enjoy the view.

Big Thunder Mountain

Big Thunder Mountain is located at Frontierland at the Magic Kingdom. It is a roller-coaster in the form of a runaway locomotive barreling through an abandoned mine.

It doesn't have the drops like some of the other thrilling attractions have (even my husband will ride it) but the speed of the twists and turns will send you hurtling around your seat, and there are a few dips.

It is a very popular ride so I suggest that you either get fast passes or hop on as soon as the park opens.

Rainforest Cafe at Downtown Disney Marketplace

There are two Rainforest Cafes located in Disney, one is located at the Animal Kingdom and the other is at Downtown Disney Marketplace. You can catch a glimpse of the rocky facade and blue waterfall of this particular Rainforest Cafe at the corner of the Marketplace.

Inside the restaurant, clusters of vines and low lying branches and leaves house an assortment of creatures from gorillas to elephants and every 30 minutes a thunderstorm starts and the animals move and make noises.

There is a large selection to choose from and the menu does not change for lunch or dinner. Although the ribs are good, the rest of the food is just the same fare you would get at any chain restaurant like Chili's, but a little pricier because of its location.

The Rainforest Cafe is not Disney owned and does not take reservations. They are a first come, first served restaurant so come early for lunch or dinner to miss the wait. A note for parents of young children, I've noticed the few times that we've been there that the simulated thunderstorms and the animals' chest-pounding and hollering can frighten children.

Dinosaur

Located at Dinoland, Dinosaur is one of those rides that scare me...this is one of the newer rides where all the realistic props and effects help me believe that I am going back in time in search of a dinosaur and that I may not get back before the meteor hits.

Don't get me wrong, I love rollercoasters and all things fast, those don't scare me, but this ride is dark and bumpy, loud and well, it has a few surprises...

"it's a small world"

It's a Small World is located in Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom. If you've never heard of this ride, you will need to see it. The beautiful backdrops help to make this ride memorable, as well as the music... Warning! You may not be able to get that song out of your head for a long time but maybe you'll learn how to sing it in other languages...

If not for the music or slow boat ride, check it out for the hundreds of dolls in all the different costumes from around the world.

Disney on a Budget: Fort Wilderness

You don't need to go to the theme parks to enjoy Disney. The resorts have many things to offer without the ticket prices, parking fees or the long lines. One of my favorite resorts to visit is Fort Wilderness. It is a campground that has loops for motorhomes, tents and cozy cabins, all nestled into 750 acres of woods.

Whenever my husband and I need some fresh air we strap our bikes to the car, pack a picnic and head over. We park in the lot across from the kennel and make our way past the horse stables up the road towards the marina, which is at the other end of the resort. The bike ride is not bad at all but if you'd rather save your feet then take one of the buses at the front of the resort, right by the stables.

You can enjoy a quiet, relaxing day at the marina, on the white sand beach, swinging on the hammocks, taking a hike around the woods or hopping on a boat and cruising around Bay Lake to get a glimpse of the Wilderness Lodge and the Contemporary, or even hop off and explore those resorts. In the evenings, Fort Wilderness offers horse-drawn wagon rides at a first come, first served basis. For anyone 10 and over it's $8.00 and between 3-9 it is $5.00. It is a 45 minute ride around the resort.

At the end of the day you'll go home relaxed and at ease!

Sherlock's Of Celebration

Right down the street from Disney is the Disney-planned town of Celebration, which is a tourist destination in itself. One establishment that stands out with its red british phone booth outside, is "Sherlock's". Inside, this quaint shop sells tea, coffees, wine and pastries. It also has a small seating patio where live entertainment performs on the weekends. Whenever we pass by we always take note of the display of cakes and other pastries by the window.

For my birthday, we recently decided that it would be nice to purchase two slices of cake. I went in and bought a slice of layered chocolate cake and a coconut cake. Residents and Disney castmembers enjoy a 10% discount.

After dinner we divided the slices and tried them. My husband, whose has a sweet tooth, pronounced them delicious, leaning towards the chocolate cake. I liked them both, preferring the less sweet coconut slice. We ejoyed our cake and would go back again and sample another dessert. They had a tempting looking napoleon when I was there yesterday...

Also for more info on this place, go to the following website:
http://sherlocksgroup.com

House of Blues

The House of Blues is located at Downtown Disney Westside, right across from Disney Quest and adjacent to Cirque Du Soleil. We went a few days ago for a late lunch/early dinner (the menu does not change for lunch/dinner).

My husband and I shared an appetizer of brick oven pizza with mozzarella, marinara and pepperoni and I tried a cup of 'file gumbo', which had shrimp and okra. Both were very good. My gumbo came with a corn muffin as well. For an entree, I ordered a Creole Jambalaya with shrimp, andouille sausages, chicken and rice. It came in what seemed like a never-ending bowl. It had a nice flavor but too spicy for my taste, the kind of spice that blooms long after you've gobbled down the food. My husband went with a po-boy sandwich which looked like a whole loaf of bread stuffed with fried shrimp. He thought it was just 'ok'.

From the outside the restaurant looks like a weathered roadhouse with folk art strewn about on the lawn. The inside is pretty much the same, with folk art placed along the walls, along with the molded faces of singers. They played a mix of blues from Joss Stone to Hendrix. It was a comfortable atmosphere until the dinner crowd came in, mostly parents with babies, but it's Disney, so what do you expect?

Overall, I'm not sure we were impressed enough to go back but it's worth a try if you've never been before.

Reflections of China

This is a circle-vision 360 film where you stand in the middle of a theater as nine screens give you a full 360 degree view of everything. There are stunning views of the different lands and peoples of China. Visually beautiful and interesting, it lasts 14-minutes and is located within the Temple of Heaven (shown above) at Epcot's China Pavilion. Some days, if you get to the temple early, there is a lovely show called Si Xian, where a musician performs traditional music on a 'zheng' or Chinese harp.

Boulangerie Patisserie

I can't say enough about how tasty the pastries are here. Maybe the line out the door will convince you. Try the napoleon, fruit bavarois, pralineige or chocolate mousse... don't worry I can't pronounce them either. It's a little hard to find a place to sit and enjoy your pastries or beverage, often there is just one spot left located inside the gift shop seating area. If you prefer eating it outside then have a seat by the fountains, where you may be able to catch the Serveur Amusant show.

The Disney-MGM Studios Backlot Tour

The Studios Backlot Tour consists of both walking and tram tours. It can last from 45 minutes to an hour and takes you behind the scenes of how movies are made.

They feature props that were in popular movies, such as Star Wars and Pirates of the Caribbean. They also give you a quick glance of how costumes are designed and made. The 'exciting' parts of the tour are a little more interactive, where they show you how special effects are shot and directed. If you haven't been on it, you'll be in for a surprise!

Although this attraction is somewhat long it is a good reprieve off your feet and out of the sun, and you may learn a thing or two...

Splash Mountain

For me, Splash Mountain, is one of those 'must-ride' attractions. Of course there's the big splash at the end that may discourage a few of the more timid of the crowd, but that's just one, very small, yet exhilirating, portion of the ride. The rest is filled with great music, from 'Song of the South', beautifully designed audio-animatronic sets, and a cooling, longer-than-average, flume ride.

Fulton's Crab House

Fulton's Crab House is situated right where Pleasure Island meets Downtown Disney Marketplace and looks like a docked riverboat. My husband and I recently had dinner here for the first time and were seated on the second floor, overlooking the water, what a nice view. I had the stuffed Gulf Shrimp and he had the Fried Platter. We were very disappointed with the food. His platter wasn't worth the expensive price tag. It consisted of three scallops, three shrimps and a meager helping of lobster on a skewer. My shrimp was stuffed with crab meat, corn and chives and came with a side of broccolini. I expected it to be great but the stuffing had a strong, salty flavor and although the shrimp was good, I only had five, and not worth the $30.00 price.

On a more positive note, the lemonade I ordered was one of the best I've had, and my broccolini was fresh and sauteed perfectly. Also the starter bread was warm and you can't go wrong with warm bread. But, if all you can praise is warm bread and lemonade, we suggest you go to another restaurant and just enjoy the exterior of Fulton's.

Epcot's Maelstrom

This is my favorite boat ride attraction in all of Disney and I still can't fully explain why. Is it the 'epic journey' feel as you step in? Is it that classic Disney water smell or the cooling cave-like atmosphere on a hot day? Is it the seaside village that you eventually dock at?

It's one of those overlooked rides (I've never had to wait in line for it yet) and it is reminiscent of the classic Pirate's ride at the Magic Kingdom with just a hint of danger. Also, my husband loves the movie at the end, but it's always amusing to watch everyone quickly shuffle out before it starts. I've heard that they're replacing that movie with a more up-to-date one though...

Asia at Animal Kingdom

Disney's Animal Kingdom is one of my favorite theme parks because it is so photogenic. There are many hidden spots that lead to great photo opportunities, such as the wildlife trails. It's a safari to far-off lands without leaving the comforts of home, and without malaria. There are also great quick-service restaurants, like Flame Tree Barbeque and Tusker House.

This photo was taken by Asia's entrance way, and you would have missed it if you didn't hang over the side of the bridge and view it from there, but it was worth it. It really evoked that mysterious, not well-traveled feel.