The most beautiful time of the year has finally arrived at Epcot and it is the Flower and Garden Festival 2023. This is one of the longest running festivals at Epcot and it’s my personal favorite besides the obvious drinks and food. The whole Aesthetic of Epcot changes and becomes this immersive botanical garden that comes to life with the buzzing of bees, the silent flap of butterfly wings and the aroma of spring in the air. I want to briefly go over the essence of this whole festival and will follow up this post with another post dedicated to foods and drinks for the festival.
When is it:
This festival runs from March 1st until July 5th 2023.
Know before you go:
This festival is not a special ticketed event with the price of admission to Epcot You can participate in many of these activities for free. If you want to enjoy the special food, merchandise, demonstrations, etc., those come at an extra cost.
I recommend if you can to avoid attending the festival opening weekend and the last weekend those times typically are the most busy.
Flower and Garden is full of activities for everyone to participate in. Just a few to mention are (the ones listed below are free)
Topiary Displays, Exhibits & Gardens
Discover spectacular topiaries of beloved animals and Disney characters, cultivated with care by Disney horticulturists. Fun fact: Disney horticulturalists work for around three months per topiary and they make multiples of the same one so if anything were to happen to one while on display they have one to replace it!
Butterfly Landing Presented by Advent-Health
Observe many species of butterflies up close in a kaleidoscope of color. Located near Imagination! in World Nature.
Family-Friendly Garden Presented by OFF!
Explore a camp-themed garden where little ones are invited to jump, play and climb.
PLAYGROUND LOCATIONS
Outside behind Creation Shop towards Test Track
Outside walkway between the Canada Pavilion towards Figment and Disney & Pixar Short Theatre
Inside Mission: SPACE ride queue
Inside Test Track’s ride exit
Free Concerts:
Move your feet to some of the hottest beats during EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival. Concerts take place at the America Gardens Theatre in the American Adventure Pavilion. Check this link to WDW official site for list of bands and when they are playing. If you want to guarantee yourself a seat check out the WDW site for their concert packages!
Additional Festival fun (Participation may require a purchase)
There is a Garden Graze activity you can participate in by Using your Festival Passport which you can pick up for free at different kiosks throughout the park. This passport will be your guide on this food journey featuring 10 tasty dishes. Once you’ve tried at least 5 Garden Graze items and collected a stamp for each you can bring your Festival Passport to Pineapple Promenade, where you’ll receive a specialty treat! In addition to the Garden Graze Activity there will be festival-exclusive Outdoor Kitchens all around Epcot, each offering a specialty menu of creative cuisine and libations. This year for 2023 is Mango-Lime Dole Whip which you can not get anywhere else and is only available by completing this challenge.
Outdoor Kitchens, a.k.a. food and beverage booths do not open at the same time as Epcot – They open at 11:00 am daily
Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration Spike, the cute little bumble bee and Flower and Garden Festival Mascot–can be found hidden in the Global Gardens during the festival. Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration is a fun scavenger hunt throughout Epcot where once completed, you win a special prize! Searching for Spike is a fun activity for everyone in your party–even if you don’t want to pay $9.99 to receive a completion prize.
And of coarse Disney has Merchandise exclusive to the festival that changes every year.EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival merchandise is Typically features Figment, Mickey and Minnie, Spike the Bee, and Orange Bird.
Conclusion:
This is a festival you won’t want to miss, I promise. It has a little bit of something for everyone in your group! This is a festival that will embrace all 5 of your senses! You can see all the beauty of spring as far as the eye can see, hear the sound of the gardens coming to life with nature, smell all the delicious foods and flowers, taste something grown right in Disney World, touch the world around you and take some of that feeling of prosperity and growth home with you to your own flower pots and gardens!
Meet & greets with characters at Disney World are my absolute favorite things when I visit. The way Ithink about meet & greets is that any amusement park will have thrill rides and roller coasters but nowhere else is going to have Disney characters you get to create one of a kind interactions with and memories you and your family will talk about for years to come!
I can remember the first time I took my husband to Disney world and we met Gaston and Gaston would push my husband out the pictures to get pictures with just me. We laughed and had a great time or when we took my son for his very first trip and he was obsessed with Mickey and he ran to him and Mickey got down to his level and was so patient with him and made us feel like there wasn’t a line of 150 people behind us waiting.
I reflect on these memories often and I encourage everyone toddlers, teens, young adults, adults and the elderly to meet their favorite characters!
Meeting characters can be overwhelming for anyone and especially as an adult, we overthink things way too much! I’m here to help you navigate those feelings, push them out the window and have the best memorable moment you can when meeting your favorite characters!
I’ve compiled a list below of great interaction starters for face characters (typically Princesses) and costume characters (example Mickey Mouse). These little tips will help you relax when you have that anticipation of what to say or how to interact with someone who can’t talk back to me.
First thing let me go over what characters can speak back to you or which ones you need to use your imagination a bit more.
Face character definition is Face characters are those cast members who dress up in costumes that allow you to see their faces. You then have what they refer to as “Fur characters” (the fully costumed characters, i.e. Mickey) these cast members are not allowed to speak as their animated voices are too distinctive. They have character attendants who speak for them (think translate) and can assist interpret what the character is gesturing for ect.
We are going to start off with a visit to see Mickey Mouse! Mickey does not speak verbally but he is the highlight of our trip every time!
A few things to do get great reactions from Mickey are:
Wearing Mickey ears
Wearing anything with him on it!
Play a quick game hide and seek
Asking for his signature
Give high fives
Conversation starters:
Mickey where’s Minnie?
Mickey, did Minnie make your outfit?
Mickey, are you excited for the fireworks?
Mickey, who’s your best friend?
I highly recommend having one of these in mind while you’re waiting in line.. This will help prevent awkward interaction and help make a special memory for you and/or your family!
Face character interactionswere harder for me as an adult but once I always went with a plan they became less awkward and much more fun!
So let’s say you are going to visit Anna and Elsa in Epcot (this is a great meet and greet because you get to meet both individually for the same wait time as one!)
Things to ask Anna:
How’s Olaf doing?
How are the trolls?
What’s your favorite chocolate?
What’s your favorite season?
Things to ask Elsa:
Are you still loving being in the enchanted forest?
Who’s the best at charades? Olaf? Kristoff or Anna?
Do you miss being queen of Arendelle?
When you’re interacting with any face character they will only act as if they know things from their movie or time period. They won’t be up to date in real world problems or politics.
Men meeting princesses please act as if you are a prince. You will be asked to stand beside her. The Princess may lock arms with you or place a hand on your shoulder. Please don’t be that guy who’s inappropriate with Elsa. These are talented young ladies who are doing a phenomenal job and can not break character to protect themselves so as Cinderella says be kind.
*You may be asked to leave the park if you exhibit inappropriate behavior with any of the characters.*
Characters also can not hold your child so please do not ask or try to force them to do so it will just make everyone uncomfortable. Additionally, while their costumes may seem sturdy, they’re not a jungle gym. So, if you notice your little one pulling down too hard on Donald’s bill, yanking on Minnie’s ear or tugging on Pluto’s tongue, tell them to stop – they’re likely hurting the performer.
All that in mind I have a list below with some great to dos and conversation pieces for the rest of the characters you can find around Disney World!
Here’s a list of things to say to a few different characters:
Woody:Act alarmed and tell him there’s a snake in his boot; Jesse: Has Buzz taught you any dance moves? Chip and Dale: Who is the better dancer? Buzz lightyear: ask if he had any run-ins with Zurg lately? Ask Minnie Mouse how many dresses she has (preferably if Mickey or a cast member is nearby, or ask her to strike a pose. Daisy: ask her to Teach you how to walk the catwalk Donald: want to see him get embarrassed? Ask if he’s going to propose to Daisy! Goofy: Ask him to show you some dance moves Call Mushu a lizard Meeko: tell him you saw some good biscuits at (insert a restaurant name) Ask Pocahontas to teach you how she says hello in her native language Cinderella: Are Glass slippers comfortable? Rapunzel: shoes do you love them or hate them? Aurora: say to her first things first do you prefer pink or blue? Snow White: So how do you feel about apples? Tiana: Ask if she is excited for her own themed ride? Ask Tinkerbell if she likes Wendy now Ask Tigger for a bouncing lesson! Ask Ariel how many thingambobs she has Belle: ask what current book she is reading Peter Pan & Wendy: Ask what their happy thoughts are Stitch: Ask him to dance like Elvis Alice and the Mad Hatter: tell them it’s your unbirthday! Ugly Stepsisters: ask them to sing
Posing Ideas:
Curtsying with any lady icon
Saluting or standing with hands on your hips with Buzz Lightyear
Patting your tummy with Winnie the Pooh;
Asking Gaston to show off his muscle, then squeeze his biceps for the photo!
Clasping your hands under your chin with Cinderella’s stepsisters;
pretend to Kiss your favorite character
pretend to tell them a secret.
Conclusion:
Have Fun! Enjoy yourself and your family. We are all kids at heart and this is the perfect place to embrace it! Check out our other blog post for a FREE website that can help you score the most popular Disney World reservations!
I have found the ultimate tool to utilize for my Disney vacations to make sure I get the reservations for the must do things for my family and I am here to share that secret with you, the best part about this secret tool is it is 100% free. You ever wonder how folks get those amazing dining reservations or are able to do some of the experiences that are always unavailable, this tool is how they do that! This is something you can utilize even when you’re staying off Disney World Resorts.
This well kept secret tool isMouse Dining. This website is your ultimate tool to get reservations on anything at Walt Disney World or Disneyland from dining, special experiences and behind the scenes tours. This guide below will walk you through how to best use this tool and pro-tips on getting your reservations.
Mouse Dining is free for anyone to use and you can set up to 6 alerts at a time for different reservations you want to be notified when they become available. You will be notified via email with the free plan. Travel agents who use this site are members and get notifications via text message. My best advice for you to be able to beat the agents to getting your reservations is to turn on notifications for email alerts on your phone so as soon as something is available you are notified. You can also set multiple notifications for the same dining experiences. Example would be you really want to get a rsvp for character dining at Chef Mickeys and you don’t care rather it’s breakfast or dinner so you would go into your alerts tab and type in Chef Mickeys, select date, pick number of guests, and then select breakfast. This will set an alert to notify you whenever a time is available for breakfast at Chef Mickeys. You would then go back in and set another alert but change instead of breakfast for dinner so either way if a time slot becomes available you will know!
Pictured above is a screen grab of what setting your alert will look like.
Not Just Dining
You can also set alerts for other things besides just dining! You could set an alert for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique! If you are browsing through the activities and click onto Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique it will take you to a calendar which shows you dates that there are already openings! This can save you from evening setting an alert!
Pictured above is the different activities you can set alerts for.
Pictured above is an example of the calendar you will see when browsing for openings.
When you set alerts and are made aware of a possible reservation you will open the email you got from Mouse Dining and click the link to “book RSVP” this will take you to Disney’s Official site and you proceed with booking. Pro-Tip checks your emails at random times, say you wake up in the middle of the night, check it! I was able to score a lot of my reservations this way because people were canceling things late in the evening or early morning hours.
If you have multiple alerts set for the same activities or dinning and are able to get a reservation for breakfast instead of dinner you can go in and cancel that dinner alert to free up your allowed alerts so you can set more! Pro-tip if you got a breakfast reservation but truly wanted a dinner reservation for Chef Mickeys leave the alert set for dinner and you can easily switch to a dinner instead of breakfast if one becomes available!
I can not express enough how amazing this tool is. On our family vacation in November of 2022, we stayed offsite and I was worried I wouldn’t be able to get my dad the build a lightsaber experience or my mother in law the 50’s Prime Time Café booking but with this website I was able to do those things and more! We even got a reservation for Hollywood studios capture your moment and a 6 person rsvp for Oga’s Cantina!
Pictured above is from our Capture Your Moment at Hollywood Studios.
When you are going to Disney World it should be a magical time and as stress free as possible, by utilizing this tool and referring to our pro tips you will be prepared and ready to tackle anything Disney World has to throw at you! Be sure to also read our Park Bag Essentials post to prepare you for your park days!
Hollywood Studios hasn’t been a strong contender for great bites at Disney World until truly the last few years with the expansion of the park to include Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story land the park has truly started to make its mark for great bites!
I think Disney knew Hollywood studios was weak among other parks on the good bites front and they really took that into consideration when they expanded the park. I mean 6 out of our 10 favorite bites at Hollywood studios are either in Toy Story land or galaxy’s edge! Our list starts in Andy’s backyard of Toy Story Land, takes a space travel jump to Galaxy’s Edge and rounds out with some hidden bites you won’t want to miss out on.
1.French Toast Pretzel
Before we hit Andy’s backyard running let’s start at The Market located near the entrance to Toy Story land. This is where you can grab a Joffrey’s coffee and a French toast pretzel! It’s served with a side of maple syrup and dusted with powdered sugar. This spot also offers drinks throughout the day and quick snacks like churros and pretzels. But in the early morning hours you can have this tasty bite along with other breakfast morsels!
2.Woody’s lunch box breakfast bowl
Next up at Woody’s lunch box in Toy Story Land you can sink your forky into a delicious Hearty Breakfast Bowl featuring potato barrels (aka tater tots), smothered in Smoked Brisket country gravy, scrambled eggs, and green onions
*Breakfast is served until 11 am. The breakfast menu for Woody’s lunch box is very unique, definitely check it out! pro-tip place a mobile pick up order before you even get to the park so your arrival window will be early.
3. Totchos – Woody’s Lunch Box
Didn’t get breakfast at the lunch box. That’s okay because the Totchos are a great bite which can be found in Woody’s lunch box. This tasty bite is one of, if not the best snack in Hollywood Studios. This bite is everything you want in a snack : crispy tater tots, completely smothered in hearty chili, cheese, and corn chips, then topped off with a dollop of sour cream! On top of that, the portion size is huge and can easily be split with others! However I have never shared mine and wouldn’t not judge if you didn’t!
4. Lunch Box Tarts – Woody’s Lunch Box
We aren’t done over at Woody’s Lunch Box the last bite here I have for you is Lunch Box Tarts these are NOT pop tarts, they are oh so much more! The Lunch Box Tarts come in a variety of flavors, Raspberry, Chocolate-Hazelnut, and also seasonal varieties, and are made fresh in-house. My personal favorite is the chocolate-hazelnut. It’s so warm, buttery and flaky. These Tarts are available throughout the day so you can swing back through for one anytime or to try a different flavor ya know just for research purposes.
5. Outpost Mix Popcorn – Kat Saka’s Kettle
Popcorn is a timeless Disney snack. I personally am not a popcorn person but Outpost Mix Popcorn from Kat Saka’s Kettle in Galaxy’s Edge is another story and you’ve never had anything like popcorn like it. The popcorn jumps out at you immediately with its bright red, pink, and purple colors and is definitely Instagram-worthy. The flavor is a mix of lemon pound cake and chili-lime seasoning. The best way to describe it is that it’s like eating Fruity Pebbles but it’s popcorn! This is a great unique treat I highly recommend!
6. WOOKIE COOKIE – BACKLOT EXPRESS
The Wookie Cookie is basically a huge oatmeal cream pie. Take two soft oatmeal cookies and match them together with a sweet vanilla cream filling. On top is a decorated piece of chocolate-colored like Chewbacca’s belt.
You can find the Wookie Cookie at the Trolley Car Café or Backlot Express but it’s not always available. It’s one of those bites that comes and goes. Hopefully, they have it on your next trip because it’s really incredible!
7. Mustafarian Lava Roll – Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo
The Mustafarian lava roll is one of the more recent entries to the list of Hollywood Studios bites, but don’t take its age lightly, it can play with all the big boys. You can find it in multiple locations throughout Galaxy’s Edge for breakfast.
The pastry dough is very light and flaky, it’s covered with a chocolate crumble, and drizzled with an amazing raspberry sauce. Great bite for breakfast that’s sweet but not overbearing on sugar like a cinnamon roll might be.
8. Oga’s Obsession – Oga’s Cantina
The award for the most unique snack at Hollywood Studios definitely goes to Oga’s Obsession for this bite you can think of this as Star Wars’ version of Jell-O but it’s not your average cafeteria Jell-O, No the gelatin is flavored with lemonade and cotton candy, but it’s the blueberry popping pearls at the bottom of the cup that will take you by surprise as it fizzles the roof of your mouth. I love the contrast in textures in this bite and it’s so visually beautiful! Definitely try this out!
9. PB AND J MILKSHAKE – 50’S PRIME TIME CAFÉ
Technically you can’t get this walking around Hollywood Studios, you have to either get a table at 50’s Prime Time Café or order it at The Tune-In lounge located inside the Café However, the PB&J Milkshake is a quintessential Hollywood Studios treat and perhaps the best milkshake on property at Disney World.
Think of the best peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and then blend it up with ice cream and that’s the flavor going on here! One of the most surprising bites you’ll find in Hollywood studios. Pro-tip add chocolate to your PB&J milkshake to kick it up a notch
10. Milkshakes at Min and Bill’s Dockside Diner (hidden secret)
Min and Bill’s Dockside Diner has a bit of a secret. This restaurant serves a seasonal flavor of milkshake that’s NEVER included on the regular menu.
The only way to discover the flavor on any given day is to show up at the diner and inquire. As an example, some of the past flavors they’ve served include red velvet peppermint, caramel apple, and a cinnamon sweet churro. I can’t even guess what they’ll have next!
Conclusion:
Hollywood studios have really stepped up to the food table and said “hold my beer”. The expansion of this park has really broadened the horizons for the potential of amazing bites, desserts, and drinks they offer here and I can’t wait to try new stuff as they continue to create more unique bites that truly immerse your eyes, ears and taste buds into another universe. Be sure to save our post for your next Hollywood studios trip!
If your like me and treasure your Disney photos and want them to be as aesthetically pleasing as possible then this post is for you! I have a few tricks I’ve learned while trying to get the best Instagram worthy shots in the theme parks. This post will give you the basic outline on 4 Instagram worthy poses, how to over come the “feeling dumb” anxiety, and some must have tools on how to capture those photos at the theme parks!
You are allowed to bring a tripod into the parks as long as it follows these guidelines.(Tripods or monopod stands that cannot fit inside a standard backpack or that extend over 6’ (182 cm) are not allowed) I highly recommend a small tripod like this one. I love this tripod because it comes with a blue tooth remote so you can set it up and walk away and snap your shots! This is a great tool when traveling alone or with friends, family and you want everyone in a shot together!
Bring your patience pants when trying to get good shots in the theme parks. Crowds are everywhere and come in waves. if you wait long enough in one spot you can snap a few shots without a mass of folks in them.
“Feeling Dumb” anxiety is a real thing and I still experience it, when I’m causally hanging in an area waiting on folks to move or a crowd is walking by and I feel the stares as I’m take pictures. My best advice to overcome this is to remind yourself that you paid your own money to be in this magical place and if you want 50 shots in front of the floating rocks or 100 shots with Cinderella’s castle then take those shots. I have came home from trips before and felt so disappointed that I didn’t take more pictures or I missed photo spots I really wanted out of fear of “feeling dumb” and that is something I don’t want anyone else to experience. The folks passing me in the crowds may roll their eyes or look annoyed but hey I paid just like everyone else to be there and by Mickey I’m going to have a great time and I’m going to take all the pictures!
Download a good photoshopping app or editor and mess around with it! I highly recommend these two apps called Lightroom and YouCamPerfect both are free to download with a ton of free editing tools already available, you can pay a fee to unlock all the features for editing photos. I personally thought the $10.99 was worth the purchase to unlock all the features due to how often I use the application and how well it works. Pro-tip take multiple photos of the same pose, I would say 10 at least. Doing this gives you more opportunity to photoshop people out of an image without it looking overly photoshopped. I will show an example below. I removed the people from this picture by using the “cut out method” of taking pictures from the same time frame and using pieces of those picture to cover the people. If you were to see the photo on the right without knowing I had removed anyone would you be able to tell or would you notice?
4 Easy Poses To Try
Kick the camera!
How to achieve: have your tripod or friend lower then you and point your foot towards the camera lens. This pose is a great way to make you look taller, grab peoples attention and show off your whole outfit head to toe! Examples below.
Movement!
How to achieve: Don’t be stagnant in your photos move around. life is fluid and photography should be to! Examples below.
Lean In!
How to achieve: Stand from a distance, lean in towards the camera lens, let the camera focus then snap a few photos. This is a great way to capture a good portrait shot. Examples below.
Candid
How to achieve: This pose gives a more natural unposed look to a photo by fiddling with your necklace, shirt ect. Examples below.
Conclusion:
This is your vacation don’t let other peoples opinions ruin it, honest you wont see them ever again anyways right? taking photos is supposed to be fun and create a way to hold onto lasting memories the first few shots wont be perfect and that’s okay! I mean look at a snip of my cameral roll below. its full of some the most awkward snapshots but all great memories. Remember to enjoy yourself , let your hair down and, eat all the snacks!
Animal Kingdom is not typically the first park you think of when you are thinking of great bites or exotic meals but I’m here to expand your taste buds on that! Animal Kingdom offers an array of tasty treats you truly don’t want to skip out on during your next safari. I will divulge 10 of my absolute best bites and some hidden away places to enjoy those bites!
1. Colossal Disney Cinnamon Roll
Start the day off right with a cup of Starbies (Starbucks) and a Colossal Mickey Cinnamon Roll. Find this in Africa at Creature Comforts. This crowd pleaser is truly colossal and easily shareable for a family of 4, not that I ever share mine but you could. I recommend getting your treat and coffee then head directly across from creature comforts where the Cotton-top Tamarin exhibit is to the left of that there is a trail that leads to the backside of the Tree of Life this is a perfect spot to relax indulge in your coffee away from the morning crowds and catch a Disney Cavalcade which floats right by on the river! I will include a snip of the map so you will know where to go for this secret spot. Pro-tip ask for your Colossal Roll warmed up!
2. Dole Whip- With or Without A Rum Float
My husband’s personal favorite bite, The pineapple Dole Whip is a well-known treat around the Disney parks. But you can order this treat as a rum float exclusively in Animal Kingdom. You can Stop by Tamu Tamu Refreshments in Africa and grab one for yourself. After you grab your Float head over and dance with the Tam Tam Drummers of Harambe. See map to your right for where to find this spot. This is one of my personal favorite things to enjoy here, seeing the whole crowd get together and dance and really embrace the culture of this park. Pro-tip: For the little ones get them an Animal kingdom exclusive “Simba Sunset” which is a Dole Whip Pineapple treat flavored with Watermelon, Strawberry, and Coconut-flavored syrups.
3. Baked Macaroni and Cheese with Pulled Pork
My personal pick is a tasty pulled pork treat from Flame Tree Barbecue located in Discovery Island. This snack is creamy baked macaroni and cheese, topped with barbecued pulled pork. But wait there’s more! All topped with crunchy onion rings and crisp coleslaw this is a delicious lunch or shareable bite! We eat here every time we go! This location also always has seats and is covered so it’s a great place to get away from the sun and/or rain.
4. Night BlossomDrink
Make a Pit stop for some Na’vi-inspired refreshment at Pongu Pongu in Pandora for an otherworldly drink. This fan favorite drink is made of layers of apple and pear limeade, then topped with passion fruit boba balls. Pro-tip Get a glow in the dark ice cube for extra magic!
5. Pongu Lumpia
Also while at the Pongu Pongu to pair with your drink get one of their Pongue Lumpia which is a spring roll with pineapple and cream cheese and a must try snack. It’s so unique and a perfect blend of sweet and fresh. Fun fact: Pongu Pongu Means “Party Party” in the language of the Na’vi.
6. Cheeseburger Steamed Pod
While you’re still in Pandora be sure to grab these tasty bites from Satu’li Canteen. The Pods are a delicious treat and I will never pass up on getting this meal. Steamed Cheeseburger Pod are stuffed with Ground Beef, Ketchup, Mus
tard, Pickle, and Cheddar. This is an exclusive Pandora experience I highly recommend. If this doesn’t sound like your kind of meal I still recommend ordering something off their menu as its got a nice selection of great bites, the restaurant itself it’s super unique and air condition. Pro-tip order the kids meal for the Cheeseburger Steamed Pods and get a side of house chips, tangerine and a bottle of water for only $8.59
6. Mr. Kamal’s Seasoned Fries
Seasoned Fries are topped with tzatziki salad and sriracha ketchup. You can find this at Mr. Kamal’s this is a small kiosk that is not listed on the mobile app, website or paper map. It’s right behind the tree of life and across the river. I found it on the map and highlighted it so you can get an idea where to find it! see below.
7. Chicken Dumplings
Not a fries kind of person, then try the Chickens Dumplings at Mr. Kamal’s in Asia are authentically made and mouth watering and you will wish it came with more then three. This is a great snack to grab on your way from Expedition Everest.
8. Tropical Flavor Shaved Ice
Caravan Road in Asia is the perfect stop for something to cool down with. This Kiosk offers a variety of shaved ice with real fresh fruit and can be ordered with or without alcohol but this treat will definitely do the trick on hot Florida days.
9. Grilled Corn on the Cob
The Harambee Market offers authentic Africans Grilled Corn on the Cob which you can try with or without African Spices. This is a great savory treat for $5.29, also at this kiosk you can also purchase fresh fruit which is a great change of pace from the other vendors which offer sugary treats. Pro-tip First thing in the morning you can grab a sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit – a specialty of the entire park that tends to sell out quickly.
9. Chicken Fried Rice from the Yak and Yeti
The chicken fried rice from the Yak and Yeti is one of the best value snacks in Animal Kingdom and a perfect item to share. It comes in a convenient package which makes it easy to bring with you throughout the park. The rice itself is a huge portion and full of chicken too. You can have it for a snack or a light meal if you wanted to, and it goes great with another item on our list you will also find right here at Yak and Yeti.
10. Buffalo Chicken Chips – Trilo-Bites
This last Bite won’t be in Animal Kingdom for much longer as its located in Dino-Land and will be closing sometime in 2023 which makes me incredibly sad but while it’s still available get these amazing house made chips are incredible, crunchy, and seasoned to perfection, they are piled high with buffalo chicken, diced tomatoes, crumbled bleu cheese, diced celery, and a rich bleu cheese dressing.
Conclusion:
During your next exploration of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, be sure to get yourself at least one if not all of these snacks! i promise you won’t be disappointed be sure to save this post to come back later!
I am extra in the fact that I always have my outfits planned for my Disney trip months in advance. I also pick my Mickey ears out first then I put the rest of the outfit together.
Haley Ever After Co. doesn’t just write about all things Disney but I also create all sorts of Disney inspired stuff from earrings to floral and fabric Mickey Mouse ears! In the outfits idea lays below all the ears were handmade by me and will be linked out to my Etsy shop for purchase. In addition to being a small business myself, I wanted to make these outfit ideas lays a compromise of both small shop items and Amazon finds and I feel I was able to do just that!
Please Note: if any item has become unavailable I have attached a new link to another small shop offering similar items!
A outfit perfect to transport you to another planet
I got this entire outfit from the shops below which are hyperlinked to the listing for your convenience!
This is a perfect outfit for any park day! This is a outfit you change just one piece of and it would be perfect for whatever park day you have in mind or even for Disney springs!
I got this entire outfit from the shops below which are hyperlinked to the listing for your convenience!
Mickey 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐬Pictured from Haley Ever After Co small shop called Beauty and Creation Co
I’m obsessed with all the versatility of these ears! This outfit is inspired by my love for celebrating my birthday in Disney style of coarse!
I got this entire outfit from the shops below which are hyperlinked to the listing for your convenience!
𝙀𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨Pictured are from small shop Superfluous designs this shop has closed but you can find similar earrings with the same amazing quality at small shop called Mommin with the Mouse.
𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙮 𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨From Haley Ever After Co small shop called Beauty and Creation Co
𝙎𝙝𝙞𝙧𝙩Pictured is from Imprinted Dreams on Etsy and is no longer available so I found a similar one which is from another small business J T L Accessories
𝙁𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙮 𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙠Picture is from Blue Bird Supply Co and does not currently stock this item but you can visit Friendly Mousie small shop to find something similar
Outfit lay worthy of royalty this is inspired by our “paint the roses red” Mickey ears (which are available & ready to ship in our shop) I love how this all pieces together!
I got this entire outfit from the shops below which are hyperlinked to the listing for your convenience!
Mickey EarsFrom Haley Ever After Co small shop called Beauty and Creation Co
Let’s talk marvel?! So who’s your favorite!! I can’t have just one favorite so my favorites are iron man, Spider-Man & captain American. I appreciate all the characters but these are definitely my top 3.
Want this marvel look? I got this entire outfit from the shops below which are hyperlinked to the listing for your convenience!
ᴇᴀʀʀɪɴɢꜱ : no longer available with Far Far Away Factory but found similar at Pattys Tea Shop
𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 Haley Ever After Co small shop called Beauty and Creation Co
𝗽𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 From Sew Minnie Style no longer has the small red balloon wristlet bag but does not offer a Mickey waffle bag!
“𝑻𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒌 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒅 𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆”
I love animal Prints and this outfit definitely is made for animal kingdom! I got this entire outfit from the shops below which are hyperlinked to the listing for your convenience!
OkayI wanted to make this list for bites in Magic Kingdom that were under 10$ and also not Mickey shaped. Don’t get me wrong I love a Mickey shaped pretzel but I wanted to show that you could go to the Magic Kingdom Park and find some really good eats for under 10$ that aren’t the traditional ones you always hear about. A few of the items on the little are “secret” items not listed on the Disney app or the Disney map! These are true Disney treats you won’t get anywhere else!
1.Buffalo chicken spring rolls($9.50)
Starting off with a spicy snack Buffalo chicken spring rolls($9.50) and comes with two! These rolls are a secret find because they are actually in a cart and not even on the Disney app map. These are located in Adventureland on a cart right across from the Enchanted Tiki Room. Don’t like Buffalo chicken that’s okay they also have cheeseburger, & Ruben flavored spring rolls!
2. Dole whip pineapple upside down cake($6.99)
The Dole whip pineapple upside down cake($6.99) is pineapple upside-down cake served with Dole Whip pineapple, vanilla, or a swirl of the two! This treat can be found at Aloha isle refreshment right behind the magic carpet ride in Adventureland
3. All Beef hotdog ($10.29)
This snack/meal is over the $10 budget but only by a few cents and I feel you get so much more for your dollar here so it’s an exception to the rule. All Beef hotdog ($10.29) comes with cuties, mandarin or French Fries. Perfect for a light lunch.
4.Loaded Buffalo Chicken Tots($9.99)
I know I already had Buffalo chicken on here once but what can I say I like my Buffalo but the Loaded Buffalo Chicken Tots($9.99) at friar’s nook which is right by the princess hall across from the carousel! These mouth watering crispy tots are made with buffalo chicken, chopped celery, bleu cheese crumbles, and garlic ranch dressing. These are a great lunch or snack if you feel like sharing that is.
Pro-tip friar nook has a variety of menu options for loaded tots so don’t pass over it! They even have gravy tots for breakfast like yall! Oh my gah!
5. Pepperoni flatbread ($7.79)
This one could be either a snack or a light lunch, Pepperoni flatbread ($7.79) found inside Pinocchio village Haus directly behind Cinderella castle on the far side from the carousel. Order this from the kids menu for a small portion flatbread pizza and it comes with your choice of two sides and a small bottle of water or low fat milk! Great option for a light lunch. PRO-TIP: this location has a LARGE selection of diet restriction and allergy free menus!
6. The warm cinnamon roll ($6.79)
Gaston’s tavern is a treasure trove of delicious bites. The warm cinnamon roll ($6.79) is amazing here and something you literally can’t go wrong with. I don’t think it needs more context than that!
7. Lefou’s Brew ($6.29)
While we are taking about Gaston’s Tavern, I recommend getting Lefou’s Brew ($6.29) . It’s a non-alcoholic drink which is made from frozen apple juice with a hint of toasted marshmallow and topped with all natural passion fruit-mango foam! This drink pairs well with the warm cinnamon roll!
PRO-TIP This is a great way for the kids to feel included in getting to try those fun looking drinks that mama and daddy get.
8.Rice Bowl or Quesadilla from the Kid’s Meal for $6.99
Peco’s Bill Tall Tale Café and Inn located in (Frontierland) to the right of splash mountain – I love their menu it’s very inclusive for those with diet restrictions and allergies Definitely Order theRice Bowl or Quesadilla from the Kid’s Meal for $6.99 but if you want something even lighter and cheaper you can order a side of chips for $3.99 and head to the toppings bar for cheese, guacamole, veggies, sour cream, pico de gallo, corn salsa, ect! Can’t beat that price!
9.Fresh fruit Nutella waffle sandwich($8.49)
Sleepy Hollow located in Liberty Square before you get to be haunted mansion this one is definitely my personal favorite Magic Kingdom Snack! Fresh fruit Nutella waffle sandwich($8.49), This is a Nutella-covered waffle with Blueberries, Strawberries and Bananas. This is a hearty snack. I personally always get one for breakfast during my trip! PRO-TIP: This is only available before 11AM
Everyone can make mistakes, but no one wants to make one that is going to affect their wallet or their magical vacation. I however have made many mistakes when visiting/planning my previous Disney World trips, but I have narrowed down a list of ten of the most easily avoidable mistakes made at Disney World. I will dive into each mistake with a pro-tip on how best to avoid making it, so without further ado let’s get to it!
Mistake #1
Not ordering off the kid’s menu, most people go to Disney World not just for the rides but for the diversity of food & snacks they have to offer. (Where are my foodies at?) The Kids menu will always have the basics of chicken tenders and burgers, but most places offer many of the adult options on the kids’ menu in smaller portions which is perfect for someone who wants to enjoy as many different foods as possible without breaking their bank.
In addition, when you order a kids menu item it comes with a drink and a side. The best example as to when I use this tip is at the Satu’li canteen in Animal Kingdoms Pandora. I mobile order a kids Cheeseburger Steamed Pod served with Vegetable Chips and a Cuties® Mandarin with Small DASANI Bottled Water for 8.59$ it’s a great light lunch for under 10$ and I typically keep the mandarin to eat later in the day. The adult portion of this entrée comes with two cheeseburger pods and a side of chips for $13.29 which does not include a drink so by getting off the kids’ menu here you can save $8.75!
This is something you can typically only take advantage of at a quick service or casual dining place but it never hurts to ask when at a table service if you are trying to stay on a specific budget.
Mistake #2
Not bringing a refillable water bottle! I know this sounds like such common knowledge, but this is a mistake I made often! I have spent so much on bottles of water during my trips. My issue was I didn’t want to keep up with the bottle, have it taking up space in my backpack, and I would tell myself I’ll just buy some when I need it. However, purchasing $6 bottles of water 6-7 times a day really adds up! I was determined to find a better solution for my next trip and I did with a collapsible water bottle! I was apprehensive at first but I took this on my last two Disney Trips and it worked so well! When it was empty I could collapse it into an easily storable size and refill it when needed. I will link to the one I usedhere.
PRO-TIP: at all quick service restaurants you can refill your water-bottle for free! Staying hydrated is so important in Disney World. Being dehydrated can truly hinder your trip so please drink the H2O!
Mistake #3
Not bringing in your own snacks. This is a huge one that I feel so many people don’t know they can do. Disney understands many people have food restrictions, allergies and budgets so they do allow people to bring in their own food & drinks. You can even bring in a cooler. The cooler needs to be smaller than 24″ long x 15″ wide x 18” high. I love eating meals at Disney but I still bring myself and family a few snacks, nothing worse than a hangry family, am I right? A few items to bring that I highly recommend are uncrustable sandwiches that are frozen and thaw overtime, cereal bars, nuts, and fruits.
Below is a direct quote on Outside food from the Walt Disney World website.
“Guests are allowed to bring outside food and nonalcoholic beverage items into the park for self-consumption, provided they are not in glass containers and do not require heating, reheating, processing, refrigeration or temperature control and do not have pungent odors.”
Mistake #4
Not buying Disney gift cards before your trip. Did you know you can use a Disney Gift
card anywhere on property in Disney World. Starbucks? Yes! Disney shops? Yes! Dining? Yup! Purchasing Park tickets? Yes! Using Disney gift cards is a brilliant way to keep yourself and the family on a budget! I recommend buying a gift card ranging $50-$100 every time you get paid up until you go on your trip and then you can use those cards for all your purchases. This can truly help keep you on budget instead of using a credit card and not keeping track of speeding.
PRO-TIP: if you have the Target Red Card you can save 5% off your Gift card purchases! Costco and Sam’s also run sales on gift card purchases, but you will need to research when those are to take advantage of the sale.
Mistake #5
Not planning a day off. I know you are in the most magical place on earth, and you want to do it all but schedule a break in the middle of your trip rather it be an entire day just lounging by the pool or taking a midday break from the parks every day, schedule it and stick to it! Your feet and family will thank you! I am an open to close girl but when we went on our most recent trip with family and a toddler, I scheduled two days of leisure in our week and they all thanked me for the time to relax, unwind and be ready for the next park day. This is also a great opportunity, when in a large group for everyone to get some space and do their own thing, which can also really make for a happier family when back in the parks together.
Mistake #6
Not familiarizing yourself with the “My Disney Experience” app & Disney Genie.
My Disney Experience app is an encyclopedia of information that will be useful to you. You can find park maps, park times, bus times, menus, wait times, and much more on this app! This is also where you could make and modify dining reservations and complete your mobile order food. Also within My Disney Experience app this where you can utilize Disney Genie which is a free service and help plan and prep your day. This application is also where you can purchase Genie+ ,which is Disney World’s replacement of the old FastPass system. I highly recommend you take some time to explore the app before you leave for Disney. if you wish to go more in depth with Disney Genie and get some real Pro-tips on using it check out our detailed post about ithere
Mistake #7
Not making rsvp for dining 60 days in advance. You really want to make those must have dining experience reservations as soon as you possibly can! i highly recommend for first time visitors to get a Disney travel agent. They are specially trained on how to get you the best dining experiences and make this part of your stay smooth. If you are not using a travel agent and staying at a Disney World resort you can make your dining reservations up to 60 days in advance for your entire stay at one time. If you are not staying at a Disney resort you can make your reservations 60 days in advance but for each day at a time.
If you’re interested in a travel agent, I am linking to McKenzie Choate, who would be happy to help you in planning your entire trip!
Mistake #8
Not being prepared for the weather. Florida is unpredictable, you can pretty much guarantee it is going to rain at some point during the day and always anticipate it is going to be hot and humid. June 1st through November 30th is hurricane season, some years they see multiple hurricanes and other years such as 2022, hurricane season was oddly quiet with only 8 compared to 2021 which had 37 hurricanes.
Be aware of what time of year you’re planning to go. If you are going in July, bring cooling towels, battery fan, and plan time indoors to cool off. If you’re going in September, be sure you’re aware of any upcoming hurricanes and if there is one approaching during your stay, be alert on park closures. No matter the time of the year, the best rule for Florida is to be prepared. PRO-TIP: always pack the following ponchos, cooling towels, battery operated fan, sunscreen. Bonus tip: BUY A STROLLER PONCHO! it sounds crazy but you will thank me!
Mistake #9
Not using mobile food order for quick service meals. Mobile food ordering was something Disney started in 2017 but it didn’t really blossom until the reopening of the parks after covid 19. I will say I absolutely love this feature! you can Mobile order right from your My Disney Experience app. It’s simple and the app will walk you through the whole process, this truly saves you so much time from waiting in line and you don’t have hangry family members or kids waiting in line either. You can order your breakfast for whatever park you’re going to and pick your arrival window and once you’re there, prepare my order and you pick up from the kiosk window. It’s that simple and then you and your family are off onto your first ride. I will linkhere to Disney World’s official site if you want to see a play-by-play instruction on how to complete this!
Mistake #10
Not thinking about giving yourself “cushion” time for travel between parks/resorts. Getting from your resort to the parks can take a lot of time whether you’re staying on site or offsite. Some days a 15-minute drive can take 45 mins then you have to park, walk or catch a bus to the park, go through security check in then navigate through the park to your first reservation.
If you plan to utilize Disney transportation, give yourself up to 1.5 hours for “cushion” time. I know it sounds insane but rather be early then late. Your dining reservations will hold for 15 mins over, but your Lighting Lane will only hold for up to 5 mins after your arrival window and I don’t want you to miss that! If you plan to drive/uber, still give yourself and hour. Please note this one is a guideline and depending on the time of year of your visit this will change that “cushion” time greatly, say you were visiting during new year’s, I would say give yourself up to 2.5 hours of cushion time for travel.
Conclusion:
I tried to really narrow down this list to the 10 things I truly thought could hinder someone’s visit to Disney World. I want everyone who plans a trip to this magical place to feel that when they enter the gates, they have the knowledge to navigate their trip and make memories that they will cherish for a lifetime. Save this post for your next trip to be sure to avoid these mistakes
Well the name gives some of it away but there is so much more to the festival of arts then just art!
During this festival Epcot has 3 categories they highlight during these festivities which include culinary arts, performing arts and visual arts!
This is one the shortest festivals Epcot holds (January 13th-February 20th 2023) but don’t let the timeframe make you think it’s not as great as the longer running festivals such as food and wine or flower and garden.
Know before you go-
This festival is not a special ticketed event with the price of admission to Epcot You can participate in many of these activities for free. If you want to enjoy the special food, merchandise, demonstrations, etc., those come at an extra cost.
When is it?
January 13-February 20th
I recommend if you can to avoid attending the festival opening weekend and the last weekend those times typically are the most busy.
Festival of the arts is so unique in the fact that it is full of activities for everyone to participate in. Just a few to mention are (the ones listed below are free)
-Paint-by-Number Mural. One of the highlights of the festival is the daily paint-by-number mural. Every guest has the opportunity to paint a few squares of the mural, which comes together throughout the day. The mural is typically scheduled to be completed by 5:00PM.
-Artful Photo Ops. Fun photo ops where you insert yourself into an artistic work.
-Kids’ Chalk Art. Opportunity for kids to engage in some chalk artistry of their very own.
-Chalk Full of Character. Chalk drawings of Disney characters can be found throughout the park.
-Galleries, Art, And Meet The Artists
Around the park. you’ll find new galleries, art for sale, and the opportunity to meet the artists themselves.
Performing arts:
This is the entertainment category which will include but not limited to an acrobatic show, performance artist paints a Disney character as the crowd cheers them on and living statues.
Every day of the festival features a performance at the America Gardens Theatre as part of the “Disney on Broadway” Concert series. This series features live performances from stars of Disney on Broadway shows. The 2023 lineup includes Kara Lindsay (Newsies) and Kevin Massey (Tarzan), Arielle Jacobs (Aladdin) and Adam Jacobs (Aladdin), Patti Murin (Frozen) and Robert Creighton (Frozen), Mandy Gonzalez (Aida) and L. Steven Taylor (The Lion King), Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins) and Michael James Scott (Aladdin), Kissy Simmons (The Lion King) and Josh Strickland (Tarzan)
You can take your entertainment up a level and purchase a DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series Dining Package. This guarantees you a seat for the live show and up to 8 unique eateries the price ranges $74-35$ if you would like more specific information on this package click here.
You also don’t have to purchase this package to enjoy the entertainment, however note that seating for these events will be first come first serve and if you decide last minute to buy a package you CAN the same day! Just use the my Disney experience mobile app to check availability!
Culinary arts:
Take a stroll around the world and delight your taste buds in mouth watering art! This year there are 16 specialty booths with only 15 last year. This year they have added a special booth for everyone’s favorite purple dragon Figment!
If you’re interested in the full details of the food booths click here.
The Festival of the Arts is adding more and more every year. To help you Disney provides a Festival Passport, along with information in the My Disney Experience app. These passports have information on special food, beverages & merchandise which is exclusive to the festival.
Are you a foodie and love trying new stuff? Then here’s a tip for you to do with your festival passport: look for specially notated menu items, then collect a stamp after each eaten item. Once you’ve enjoyed at least 5 of the 7 artistic dishes—and collected the corresponding stamps you can take your passport to the Deco Delights Food Studio to receive a surprise gift! More details on this click here
Conclusion:
This is a fun colorful festival that can really bring the whole family together in Epcot. Epcot is reflected often as the adult park with it being more food, drink and culture orientated but during Epcot’s international festival of the arts there truly is something for even the smallest ones in the group.
2.Woody’s lunch box breakfast bowl
5. Outpost Mix Popcorn – Kat Saka’s Kettle
7. Mustafarian Lava Roll – Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo
Below is a direct quote on Outside food from the Walt Disney World website.
