Turn-of-the-Century Boat Shop

When we start thinking about table service restaurants the main thrust of our interest goes straight to the parks, followed closely thereafter by the incredible restaurants at the deluxe resorts all around property. The moderates also have their own sit down dining options that often get overlooked, but is that with good reason? Today we’ll examine a meal at Boatwright’s Dining Hall found in Port Orleans – Riverside.

While we wait for the main course to show up, let’s chow down on some cornbread and talk about the atmosphere of Boatwright’s. The cornbread is of the sweet variety, almost more cake-like than what I would call a bread, which is fine by me. The sweeter the better with my cornbread, provided that it’s hot and I can melt some butter on it, which the Boatwright’s variety is.

As for the atmosphere, Boatwright’s has several dining halls off of the main internal walkway of the Sassagoula Steamboat Co. lobby. For the most part, guests are buffered from the hustle and bustle of the walkway, and quite a few quiet corners exist in the dining areas. That said, one dining room is right off of the River Roost Lounge, which means that on nights when Yehaa Bob is performing quiet family conversations are going to be a bit difficult to have. Of course, when you have the giant hull of a ship hanging over your head, what more is there really to talk about?

Oh, look our main meal has arrived! The Voodoo Chicken that comes atop red beans, rice, and collard greens. The chicken is tender, with a few crispy corners that I always love on my grilled meats, and has a heat that is slow-building but definitely bites you on the backside of your taste buds. The collard greens are not overcooked and mushy, and they are especially top-notch if you can get a little red wine vinegar to sprinkle on them. The red beans and rice are prepared separately, the traditional way to prepare them, but hard to find in restaurants these days. The rice is buttery and the beans have a terrific flavor. All in all, the Voodoo Chicken is a complete entrée that I would happily order again.

Boatwright’s Dining Hall may not be the first, second, or third place you think of making a reservation for when you’re planning your next trip to Walt Disney World, but that doesn’t mean it should totally slip your mind. After that long day in the parks, when all you want to do is sit down, relax, and have a good meal come to you, remember Boatwright’s, particularly if you are a guest staying in the Port Orleans complex. It’s well worth the walk down the Sassagoula River.

FASA - Fictional Animal Stars of America

Who remembers when the Muppets came to Disney-MGM Studios? No, I don’t mean in Muppet*Vision 3D? I don’t even mean in the stage shows Muppets on Location: Days of Swine and Roses or Here Come the Muppets. I mean when the Muppets went back to their first home, television, for The Muppets at Walt Disney World.

The Muppets at Walt Disney World aired on Sunday, May 6th in 1990 as a part of The Magical World of Disney on NBC. The special, as with most Muppet infused entertainment opportunities, featured a wide array of special guests, including Raven-Symone and Charles Grodin, the latter can be seen here in his role of Quentin Fitzwaller.

For me, the true joy of this photograph, however, comes from actually being able to step away from what was shot and shown on television and witness Jim Henson and Jerry Nelson performing as Kermit and Robin, respectively.

Tinsel Town Treasures

A star has gone out in tinsel town. You will be miss Sid Cahuenga’s One-of-a-Kind.

Okay, so that may seem a bit of an mellow-dramatic, but Sid Cahuenga’s One-of-a-Kind Antiques and Curios being closed for good, it does seem as if something of that old Hollywood feel will be missing in the future of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Sure, the collectibles for sale inside will still be available for purchase at the AFI Showcase Shop, but there was something to be said about this opening day venue.

The Hollywood-style bungalow served up autographs, memorabilia, movie posters, movie press photos, and entertainment books, but I’m not sure I know a single person who ever actually purchased something from the store. Perhaps this is part of the reason that closing the shop makes sense, but to me there was so much more to the shop.

For starters, Sid’s gave us Sid Cahuenga. Sid was a streetmosphere character portrayed by Danny Dillon from 1989 until 2005. His larger than life exuberance welcomed guests to Hollywood day in and day out and, having spent so much time rubbing elbows with the celebrities that signed autographs for his home turned shop, he had a keen ability for impersonations.

One of the hidden gems of magical moments is when you are able to complete a round of Hollywood trivia written out on the chalkboard positioned on Sid’s porch. Some questions were easy, some were truly difficult, but they were always fun to try.

Sid’s fit into that Hollywood that never was and always will be mentality of the park, a theme that has been slowly diminishing in Disney’s Hollywood Studios over the past couple of years. I can understand wanting to put a MyMagic+ service center and shop near the entrance to the park, it makes complete sense. Yet, Disney has to understand that it is going to concern longtime enthusiasts who have a love of that vintage Hollywood feel when you say that the next technological advancement is going to call the 1940’s home. I’d love to say I’m certain the signage and any imagery outside will blend seamlessly into the surroundings, that there may even be some neon that brings the bungalow to life after the sun has set, but I’m having nightmares of swishy modern logos. Then again, Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom seems to have found a nice balance in Main Street, U.S.A.’s fire station.

I’m not a purist by any stretch of the imagination, I understand and want the parks and resorts to continue to grow and change, but Sid’s just seems like a perfect piece of well-loved, well-worn Hollywood that could have and should have been left alone. Merchandise can be moved, and trivia can darken another doorstep, but there will never be another Sid Cahuenga’s, it was one of a kind.

Disney This Week - 17 November 2013

This Week – On the Main Street Gazette

This week we spent time north of Walt Disney World exploring Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort.

 Without a park to funnel guests to, we pondered if there was enough to bring guests back to Hilton Head time after time.

Trudging through the history books, we talked about the brief history of Longview Island .

Dining at Tide Me Over, Signals, and the Endmund's Family Low Country Boil can be a real treat.

How Shadow came to reside at the resort is a truly interesting tail, err... tale!

Silent Saturday found a nice place to relax with a view of the Fishing Pier from a hammock.

This Week – Around the Disney Blogosphere

FoxxFur has spent seven years working away at Passport to Dreams Old & New and I for one cannot wait to see what she finds in the next leg of her journey.

If I say the words "1970s" and "Walt Disney World," do you automatically think of George Taylor and Imaginerding like I do?

AJ Wolfe has the latest on Walt Disney World gingerbread on The Disney Food Blog.

One of the readers of Imagineering Disney is creating a Splash Mountain model that is a true work of art, and thanks to Mitch for sharing it with us!

Sarah Holodick has great look at alternative Thanksgivings in Eating WDW.

Melissa Knight Coulter knows that not every cheese danish is made the same, and puts them together in a throwdown for Disney On Wheels. 

This Week – World News Roundtable

As I am a few weeks behind, so too are the stories from the contributors. They sent some of these in to me weeks ago, and I am just now getting to post their work. Any outdated news is purely my fault, not theirs. Enjoy!

Roundtable Contributors: Estelle Hallick (This Happy Place Blog), Alan Mize, and Blake Taylor (BlakeOnline.com).

Playing it Cool

Alan Mize 

Earlier this week, Club Cool inside Epcot unveiled their newest flavors.  While one “fan favorite” hung around, every other flavor is new to the Club Cool experience.  The new lineup includes: Fanta Pineapple, VegitaBeta, Melon Frosty, Bibo, Sparberry, Guarana Kuat, and Inca Kola.  Last, but definitely not least, the lone holdover is of course, Beverly.

I think it was high time that this change occurred.  Recent trips inside Club Cool showed that many of the flavors were always “out of service” so you were only able to sample one or two flavors.  Personally, I’m looking forward to sampling the Fanta Pineapple and the Bibo.  Also, the Inca Kola apparently tastes like bubblegum which definitely sounds interesting.  By rolling out all new flavors, hopefully guests will be able to experience all eight flavors during their visits and experience a different side of Coca Cola than they’re used to. 

Not the Osborne

Blake Taylor (BlakeOnline.com) 

There's a new surprise hidden within the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights this year at Disney's Hollywood Studios: Baby Sinclair, the eccentric infant from the ABC's extinct sitcom Dinosaurs. Baby Sinclair observes guests from a Streets of America window and is among many of the fun hidden items throughout the Osborne Lights display. It's small touches like this or new music selections that gives the Osborne Lights fresh fun year after year. It's quite possible that the Baby Sinclair figure used here is the same prop used years ago for the Dinosaurs street show that performed at "Disney-MGM Studios" back when the show still aired on ABC. I'm the baby, gotta love me!

Lounging at the Derby

Estelle Hallick (This Happy Place Blog) 

Living in an expensive city and still wanting to go out once in awhile, small bites and drinks are kind of my go-to when it comes to being social. Even though I'd rather see improvements to old attractions, I love that Disney is incorporating these small eateries into the park experience. That being said, I'm very excited about the lounge opening up at the Brown Derby! I haven't been to this restaurant in years (price? not in DHS much at night?) so it would be nice to have a little bit of the experience but without the fluff.

Great move!

Silent Saturday - Hammock and Fishing Pier (November 2013)