Kona Cafe experience

If you’ve been following the culinary adventures of the Gazette for a while, you know I’m prone to wading my way through the set menus at table service restaurants. While these may not include the most glamorous menu items they do contain some of the restaurant’s guest favorites and a fairly accurate slice of the menu offerings. My main reason for continuing to review these options is that fixed menus are regularly selected by guests who want to try some of everything without the muss and fuss of trying to figure out how expensive their meal might be. In this instance, we’ve headed upstairs in the Polynesian to give the dinner menu at Kona Café a whirl.

The Chef’s Choice menu includes an appetizer, entrée, and dessert. Appetizer choices include: Kona Salad, Sweet Potato and Lemon Grass Bisque, or Pot Stickers. Entrée options are: Coconut-Almond Chicken, Chicken Pan-Asian Noodles, Shrimp Pan-Asian Noodles, or Sustainable Fish. The best part of any meal, dessert, offers the following: Kilauea Torte, Pineapple Upside Down Cake, or Kona Coffee Panna Cotta. For my meal I opted for the Pot Stickers, Coconut-Almond Chicken, and Pineapple Upside Down Cake.

Pot Stickers – The menu lists this item as Wok-seared Pork and Vegetable Dumplings with a creamy Ginger-Soy Sauce. The plate comes with four dumplings and a healthy portioning of the ginger-soy sauce on the plate and drizzled on the dumplings. I appreciated this presentation, as opposed to a cup overfilled with sauce to dip into which can overpower the other elements of the dish. The ginger-soy combination digs into the palate with a strong and salty bite, and plays well with the rest of the pot stickers. The dumplings had been seared, but I could have done with a bit more charring to give the shell a chewy-crispy texture that I find so appealing in seared dumplings. As for the filling, it was a spot on mixture of savory with a bit of sweet from the veggies. Overall, I would certainly order the Pot Stickers again.

Coconut-Almond Chicken – Described as Breaded and Baked Chicken Breast served with a Salad of Asian Greens, fresh Fruit, and Almonds. I opted out of the Kona Salad appetizer as I knew there were be a small salad garnishing my chicken, which made this a win-win situation. The Asian greens salad, along with the chicken itself, is a study texture. The sweetness of the fruit weaves back and forth across my tongue with the bitterness of the greens just as the soft qualities of the fruit play against the crispness of the greens. The chicken itself is crunchy and sweet, with the nutty crusting holding in the juices very well while not becoming a mushy exterior. Again, another item I would tuck away in my ‘order again’ file.

Pineapple Upside Down Cake – Pretty self-explanatory, the dish is complimented by a Lemongrass and Caramel Sauce. This may seem like a throw away dessert, after all it’s been around since Dole perfected pineapple canning in 1903, but there is something comforting to knowing what to expect with a sweet ending. The cake here is dense and the sugars from the pineapple have caramelized throughout the single-serving portion, which is just the right size in my opinion. With the lemongrass and caramel sauce streaking on the plate and not covering the cake, you are allowed free reign to choose how much or little you want to use. It does, I will say, add a lubrication element that is nice to have with a dry cake.

My body must have been craving sugar on the day I visited Kona Café as my meal was clearly a study in sweetness. Then again, with pineapple and sugar cane being major exports of Hawaii, is it any wonder that natural sweeteners have found their way into many of the restaurant’s dishes? I am always happy to with my meal at Kona Café, and the dinner menu holds true to the quality I expect from the establishment. There are many options to choose from on the menu, both on and off of the Chef’s Choice, any I’m fairly certain you’ll enjoy any of them.

Horseshoe special

Theme park historians or parkeologists who remember a certain period within the parks (and we know that memory is entirely subjective, but it just simply doesn’t apply to us in that moment) can often be caught ogling an old photograph in a book or staring at a shuttered building. In the Magic Kingdom two big spots for this history gazing tend to be the Adventureland Veranda, currently occupied by Tinker Bell and her associates, and the Diamond Horseshoe. Today, I want to look at the latter, or rather the latter’s menu.

During the recently heavy Spring Break period, the Magic Kingdom has been utilizing the Diamond Horseshoe as a temporary lunch location. The tinny melodies of a self-playing piano waft from the stage and the elegance of the dance hall go, mostly, unnoticed by the guests. The menu includes a pork sandwich, two types of turkey sandwiches, a tuna sandwich, a Portobello sandwich, and two salad offerings. While this may not seem like a particularly inspired menu, let’s take a gander at the Horseshoe’s bill of fare from the 1970’s.

Hmm… a ham and cheese, tuna and egg, a deli sandwich, and a few snacks. Oh, and yes I did notice the misspelling of Slue Foot Sue as Slufoot Sue. The choices were listed on a little triangle card that was placed in the middle of the table and was viewable, or movable, by dining guests. Do we see those soda prices? Oh, and note that both Pepsi and Coke were offered. However, chewing over the offerings, this menu isn’t setting any stomachs a quiver either, is it? The Diamond Horseshoe has never been about food, its legacy is in its ambiance and its Revue.

While the Revue may not be stomping across the stage or setting any hearts a flutter in this day and age, there is still a lot to be enjoyed at the Diamond Horseshoe when its doors are flung open. As for me, I’m thinking about heading out to my local deli and putting my own personal spin on the Horseshoe Special!

Fact... and fable

Sometimes you have to be willing to take that second or third glance or peak around a corner in order to find some truly unique tales in Walt Disney World. Today’s subject matter is one such corner, and it first requires guests at Disney’s Animal Kingdom to take a leap of faith and board the Wildlife Express Train to Conservation Station.

Unlike the Walt Disney World Railroad this line only has two stops, in Harambe and at Conservation Station, and there is no way to venture between the two on foot. This exclusive route is well worth the investment of time, especially if you are willing to dedicate time and attention to truly engaging the exhibits, such as the windowed medical services room where physicals and other procedures are carried out. There are innumerable opportunities to speak with Cast Members about animals and their habitats, behaviors, diets, and conservation initiatives. For the literary crowd, however, they may be no greater source of interest than these cutout figures of three animals.

Okay, from this side they appear as if a trio of creatures have jump off of the wall mural and wandered out into the atrium. Most times, guests only seem to take note of the gorilla, tiger, and rhinoceros figures when their child his hanging from one begging to have their picture taken. If the child is keenly attentive to their surroundings or, as is more likely, extremely curious they may notice that the back is different from the front.

Each animal’s backside includes a story about them and the true life facts about the story. For instance, the rhinoceros’ tale relates why he is so grumpy while another section gives the scientific reasoning for why the White Rhino is perceived as a grump. I’m not going to recite the legends and factoids word for word, but the displays, dubbed Fact… and Fable, discuss the rhinoceros’ grumpiness, the tiger’s hunting prowess, and the gentle nature of the gorilla.

If I haven’t beat the idea into your head with my incessant droning yet, I’m just going to have to keep repeating myself, it is worth looking into every corner of Walt Disney World. There are gems to be found everywhere! In the case of Conservation Station, many guests ignore both the Wildlife Express and the Conservation Station as a whole, which is a terribly tragedy. This area is one of the most critical components to the success of the message of Disney’s Animal Kingdom and is filled with wonderful stories, not only stories that you can read, but stories that you can become a part of and that can become a part of you!

Disney This Week - 8 April 2012

Imagineering Disney has a fantastic look at some of the old signs of Tomorrowland.

Beer + Tiramisu = Biramisu. What else do I need to say to get you over to visit AJ Wolfe and The Disney Food Blog this week?!?! 

Adam and Andrew of the Disney Hipster Blog remind us of one of our favorite early Walt Disney World books, Big Al Moves In.

David Landon gives a couple of True Life Adventures that you could experience in Florida without ever having to use the word Disney at futureprobe.

Dawa Bar is on the menu for Sarah Holodick and Eating WDW.

We can’t let the weekend slip away without a few thoughts and tasty bits from Andy Jackson at Eating (and Drinking) around the World.

Silent Saturday - Animators Courtyard (September 2008)

The ball court

When we think of playing ball on vacation thoughts turn to throwing around a football, playing a match of tennis, playing volleyball in the sand (badly), or perhaps even the bloody-nose inducing rope and ball combo known as tetherball. For the various forms of recreational ball, The Ball Court at Coronado Springs is set up for volleyball and pays tribute to one of the earliest forms of playing ball.

These ruins suggest the ancient sport known generally as the Mesoamerican ballgame was played in various forms in Aztec, Mayan and other Mesoamerican cultures. The narrow courts have been found from Arizona to Nicaragua with the games earliest origins dating back to around 1,400 B.C. Courts consisted of long lanes, approximately a 4-to-1 length-to-width ratio, with stone walls encompassing the court.

The rules for the Mesoamerican ballgame have, sadly, been lost over time, leaving conjectures to be drawn from artwork, including everything from paintings and reliefs to figurines and sculpture, and a modern interpretation of the game, ulama. The ball used for the game, often believed to have been moved about by bouncing off of the players’ hips, was made from natural rubber of indigenous plants and was approximately 10 to 20 inches in diameter. Different records showed different types of garments to be worn during the game, but players generally wore a loincloth and some sort of hip protectors.

The game is believed to have had a ritualistic element to it and could have been utilized as a way to settle disputes and avoid warfare amongst various groups of people. Whatever the true rules, wardrobe, and intent was for the Mesoamerican ballgame, it is nice to see it given its own corner of Coronado Springs. And remember, the court would be a great place for sibling rivalries to be worked out while on vacation!

Ease off on your main thruster

For years I have spouted my undying adoration of the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival as my favorite and not-to-be-missed annual event at Walt Disney World. One event I haven’t expounded upon much is Star Wars Weekends which regularly comes at a time when I cannot get down to Florida. I’d be lying if I didn’t say one reason I haven’t talked about it much was because I was trying to keep my geektitude under cover (umm, hi, I daily write articles about Walt Disney World which regularly feature my fanboy enthusiasm for Muppets, Indiana Jones, and Star Wars). Aside from travel time and my thinly veiled attempts to keep my nerd-level within acceptable parameters, the main reason I don’t speak often about Star Wars Weekends is that, aside from Walt Disney World, there is nothing that can make me a six year old boy again, both in terms of excited geek-outs and drawing my ire at mishandling, like Star Wars.

It was announced earlier this week that James Arnold Taylor, the voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, would be the official host of Star Wars Weekends 2012. Taylor will be joined by fellow Star Wars: The Clone Wars voice artist, Ashley Eckstein, Ahsoka Tano in her Star Wars alter ego, who will take center stage for the Behind the Force showcase. If you haven’t caught on yet, the pair are clearly meant to highlight Star Wars’ current focal point, the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series.

While Star Wars: The Clone Wars is clearly the swankiest starship in the fleet at the moment, and as a child of Ewoks and Droids I’m not afraid to admit that I’ve had multiple viewings of each episode, but animated programs isn’t the foundation upon which the Force was built. Eckstein is a veteran of hosting duties at Star Wars Weekends, and the incredible pieces from her design label, Her Universe, are spectacular. I was hoping she would be tapped for further hosting duties this year, but I was also hoping for a pairing with an actor or actress from the feature films. Not that I believe Taylor cannot host admirably, but it simply feels like the event is being overrun by clones.

There are two demographics that are key to the success of Star Wars Weekends, the young padawans who are to be Jedi like their fathers (and mothers) before them and the holocron toting parents who can recite every Star Wars film verbatim and who are unafraid to call foul when even the most minute details are out of place. Let’s examine what each group is specifically looking for in the event.

Padawans – They want to be in on the adventure. Star Tours, especially with its new multifaceted flight paths, and the Jedi Training Academy are not attractions and shows to them. They are real life missions where they barely escape the clutches of Darth Vader and jump to lightspeed as they bounce around the galaxy. They are in the story, they are the story! Characters they have only seen on their television or movie screens are walking around as if there is nothing out of the ordinary to see a Stormtrooper detachment marching through Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The ability to interact with these heroes and villains is the ultimate Star Wars experience for a child.

The Jedi Council – They want to relive their afternoon daydreams. Children may be the driving force behind Star Wars Weekends, but it takes parents who had similar dreams of a galaxy far, far away a long time ago. They want to believe again, but they also want to dissect and gather as much true life information as they can. Meeting with actors they’ve long admired, gleaming a little bit of the magic behind the Force, and watching their children face down the Dark Side are the elements that pull parents to Star Wars Weekends.

There are also childless adults, young and old, who attend Star Wars Weekends. I don’t want them to feel left out, especially since this is the group I belong to, but I feel like they are drawn to the event for the same reasons parents are, sans the child watching.

With all of this taken into consideration, children aren’t going to recognize Taylor or Eckstein. To younger guests, they are just the people who keep talking and keeping them from battling Sith with their custom lightsaber. The hosts, for all the expertise it takes to carry oneself through such a role, are really the lifeline for adults in the crowds. I am happy to see the animated side of Star Wars getting some love, but I hope that future events consider combining the best of both worlds. Pairing a host from Star Wars: The Clone Wars with a host from Episodes I – VI would truly bring balance to the Force. That said, may the Force be with Eckstein and Taylor, they have certainly earned their place among the stars!

Star Wars Weekends is slated to run from May 18, 2012 through June 10, 2012. Whether you’re strong in the ways of the Force, a scoundrel, or just a short statured collector, there is something for every branch of Star Wars fandom during the festivities.

Enjoy our delicious combination

Food is not a cheap necessity these days, and that is especially true of the meal costs at Walt Disney World. Which means when I find a deal, I jump on it! Such is the case of China’s small drink kiosk, the Joy of Tea. You wouldn’t think that this would be the location to grab a quick, complete meal, more often you would consider it, like I did, as a pit stop for a refreshing beverage. As fate would have it, we would all be wrong.

Known as the Lucky Combo (and how!), the meal comes complete with one each of their snack options, an ice cream, and a can of soda. In the snack department, the three components included are a Chinese BBQ Pork Bun, a Curry Chicken Pocket, and a Pork and Vegetable Egg Roll. The ice cream gives you a choice of two options, either a cup of Strawberry-Red Bean or a cup of Caramel Ginger. As for the can of soda, Coca-Cola products are offered, including Coke, Diet Coke, Spirte, and Orange Fanta.

The first thing that caught my attention with the BBQ Pork Bun is the bun itself. It was a soft pillow of bread that was airy and chewy and wrapped up the diced pork filling nicely. As for the barbequed pork, it was saucy and tangy, leaning a bit to the sweet side which was a surprise, but balanced nicely with the salty flavors found in the other two items.

The Pork and Vegetable Egg Roll featured a shell that was the consistency of jerky (which I mean as the highest form of praise) with a hot filling of vegetable chunks and pieces of seasoned pork. Walt Disney World has learned how to do a lot of foods correctly over the past four decades, and egg rolls are at the top of that list. Are they a culinary sensation? No, but they do their best to be a memorable utilitarian street food.

Lastly, the Curry Chicken Pocket truly piqued my interest. The flaky crust has a great crunch to its outer layers and becomes increasingly soft as you move inward into the meat of the pocket. Oh, and the sesame seeds sprinkled along the top of the pastry add a simple flavor and texture to the dish. Inside, there are healthy hunks of chicken have been combined with a yellow curry and carries a wealth of different tastes.

For dessert I opted for a cup of the Strawberry-Red Bean Ice Cream. The pre-portioned cup of ice cream is an ample portion for a snack or finale to the meal. The strawberry component of the ice cream comes through in the puree that is used for the majority of the ice cream, but there are also pieces of strawberries to be found in the cup. The red bean doesn’t really add a distinct flavor to the strawberries, but it does give the concoction a creamier consistency than you would expect.

The Lucky Combo from the Joy of Tea could serve as a quick repast for two guests or a meal for one. I recommend hauling your stash away from the sun drenched promenade and into the garden area of the China pavilion. The Lucky Combo is one of the true values to be found in the dining arena of Walt Disney World and does so with unique items that are full of flavor.

Treasures of The Forbidden City

The old saying claims that a picture is worth a thousand words. Sometimes, however, the story of a single image is almost as incredible as the picture itself.

Take, for instance, this photo from 1983 EPCOT Center. It features the throne arrangement of Emperor Qianlong, China’s ruler from 1736-1796. It was part of the Treasures of The Forbidden City exhibit that was housed in the China pavilion beginning in on April 1, 1983. Beyond Emperor Qianlong’s throne, the showcase also included over fifty artifacts from the Qing Dynasty, such as music boxes, a three-tier golden clock, gaming saddle and weaponry, silk-padded armor, and the Emperor’s scepter and robes. While their place in history is extraordinary, it is worth noting that the attention to detail, usually accomplished by ornamenting the object with incredibly intricate pieces of jade or gold, is what truly made these objects a sight to behold in 1983.

Stepping back from what the picture is highlighting, how it was used is also an intriguing tale. In 1983, this press photo made its way around to newspapers around the country. The nation was becoming captivated by the history and arts of the Peoples Republic of China, due in part to President and Mrs. Reagan’s visit to the country. During their journey the First Couple were able to view the terra cotta army of Xian, and the reports detailing the trip captured the collective imagination of the United States. The assembled artifacts found in EPCOT Center were the perfect way to tickle that imagination as they had previously been on display in the Palace Museum and had never left Beijing (Peking) prior to their journey to Walt Disney World.

Far and wide, the ability to explore other artifacts of the West was a hot topic, and this photograph was utilized in all corners to announce the upcoming exhibit. One such paper close to Walt Disney World, the Mid-Pinellas Edition of the Evening Independent, ran a terrific article by Jeanette Crane on May 3, 1983. The article claims, however, that the current plans for the exhibit have its run limited to 18 months. But this isn’t where the photograph’s history, nor the story of the exhibit, ends.

In January of 1986, almost a full three years after the Treasures of The Forbidden City showcase had first opened, the Walt Disney World News redeployed this picture for the announcement that the exhibit had been held over. Rather than leave as scheduled in October 1984, the display had been allowed to stay at EPCOT Center until early 1986 and even had a book produced in conjunction with the show. After much success, the exhibit was given another year-long extension to remain housed in the House of the Whispering Willows Gallery within the China pavilion.

It’s only fitting that a showcase featuring three centuries worth of Chinese culture and history would produce a photograph with a unique history all its own.

Secret recruitment center

It seems as if I’ve been overwhelmingly negative with my opinions, particularly when it comes to the Magic Kingdom, as of late. I’m hoping that those critiques came across as critical, with rationale and solutions, but not whiny. However, today I want to talk about something that worried me and was handled with incredible taste.

With the park-wide opening of Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom there would need to be a fixed point for beginning missions. The spot selected sits just inside the park’s front gates, the fire house of Engine Co. 71, in Main Street U.S.A.’s Town Square. When I think of wielding magic and spells, I don’t automatically think of a fire station. Heck, I don’t even think of Main Street! When I heard that this was going to be the hub of the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom, I became a little worried that the simplicity that I love in Main Street U.S.A. would be overrun in an attempt to shoehorn in the latest and greatest. My fears were unfounded.

There may be an a-frame sandwich board out front that proclaims where to find the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom, but every other outward appearance simply screams the turn-of-the-century station. The only other outward signage that came a calling with the game was a banner hanging over the entrance that entices volunteers. The ornateness of the design can be forgiven, this is the Magic Kingdom after all, but otherwise it is no different than any other banner or sign that could be found in front of a fire station. In fact, aside from the modern touch that it was on a back-lit display sign with plastic letters, there is a similar declaration down the street in front of my local fire house.


Now, this does keep guests guessing as to what and where Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom takes place. During my recent trip I had no less than half a dozen other guests ask me what I was doing and where they could start playing. I think making Sorcerers a word of mouth activity is a wonderful idea and embodies the turn-of-the-century gossip party lines and telephone activities. Although, this insight may just be a side effect of the rose shaded glasses I wear on occasion.

Turning back to the station itself, guests have to step inside to really begin to see the spells and sorcery taking place. Listed as a “Secret Recruitment Center” on what is likely an unnoticed banner, the station is buzzing with portal training and a word from the game’s host, Merlin. It also includes the elements that have long made the station a Main Street staple, fire poll, fire buckets and hoses, horse stalls, and the patches from the homes of true heroes, firefighters, which have come to the Magic Kingdom from across the country.

All in all, the park has gained an intriguing and addictive game for guests to engage in while maintaining the standard of time in place that has defined Main Street U.S.A. for the past forty years.

Disney This Week - 1 April 2012

Progress City, U.S.A. and Michael Crawford remind us of The Dream Called EPCOT.

AJ Wolfe talks about our favorite extinct Walt Disney World foods at The Disney Food Blog.

Over at The Disney Blog, John Frost gives us an idea of what the meet-and-greet featuring Merida, from Brave, will look like.

Sarah Holodick goes for some tacos at La Cantina de San Angel for Eating WDW.

The readers of Makin’ Memories are in for a treat when Melissa Loflin takes them to an inspired quick service location.

Jack Spence visits one of my favorite quiet spots in the Magic Kingdom, the Plaza Rose Garden, in The World According to Jack.

Studios Central scribe, Matt Hochberg, unearths an Atlantis detail that still resides in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Lou Mongello sits down with Ridley Pearson to talk all things Kingdom Keepers at WDW Radio.

Silent Saturday - Pride Rock (December 2011)

Brings these movies to life

This little booth, with darkened windows and ornate fixtures, seems like it could fit right into the Magic Kingdom of the 1970’s when A – E ticket booklets were the tender required to experience the park’s incredible attractions. But, that’s not where this little gem can be found. Instead, this booth sits perched just outside of the Great Movie Ride.

The Great Movie Ride is housed within a replica of the Chinese Theater found in Hollywood, CA. And when I say replica, I mean it! The Imagineers decided to utilize actual details of the theater in their version, using archival records and photographs to build it exactly like the 1927 version of the famous movie house. Those plans included the ticket booth that resided in the Chinese Theater’s courtyard. While the ticket booklets had been phased out long before ground even broke on Disney-MGM Studios (known as Disney’s Hollywood Studios today), the project was not only true to the original structure but also gives a nod back to the earliest days of Walt Disney World.

See it to believe it

The eyes of Magic Kingdom gazers have, for the most part, been focus squarely on the expansion of Fantasyland on the former sites of Mickey’s Toontown Fair and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea over the past couple of years. There have been grumblings and misgivings about what has been taking place along border of Fantasyland and Liberty Square, but those whispers have continually been swept under the rug and chalked up to the massive expansion of Fantasyland.

In case you haven’t heard ladies and gentlemen, the alpine lodge and clocktower, previously home to the Skyway, has finally come tumbling down. Is this news or noteworthy? Let’s find out.

Let’s step back over to the massive expansion of Fantasyland that is unfolding before all of our eyes. Granted, short of putting the entire land, either the expansion or current attractions, into a giant bubble that could be used to project background images upon, there are not a whole lot of options for covering up such a massive construction project. We accepted that the vista from Dumbo would have tournament tents and towering castle spires alongside mounds of dusty dirt and monstrous cranes. We accepted that there would be a few pieces of concept art left as our only window into one complete side of Fantasyland that was lined entirely by wooden walls. We accepted that the rat-tat-tatting of the jackhammers and booming thuds drowned out the well-crafted ambient background loop of music. We accepted all of this as common place and then allow the same indifference to be applied to the opposite side of the land that, in all honesty, had no tie to the work that has over taken the rest of Fantasyland.

The Fantasyland station of the Skyway, dormant for the better part of two decades, has finally reached the end of its run as the alpine anchor to the west side of the realm of Fantasy. I had fond memories of this space and felt it served a purpose and created a beautiful nook, even if it was vacant. Yet, that doesn’t mean I don’t understand the reason for its demolition. While I had hope for the station to be repurposed as a restaurant or some other suitable second opportunity, I am happy that the space is going to be put to good use. What I cannot understand is why on earth everything on this side of Fantasyland lays open and exposed, like a gory, festering wound.

If we apply the logic we have adopted from Fantasyland East, then great, this wall that is barely taller than I am serves as the perfect backdrop to hide the construction. Like the Great and Powerful Oz, we should pay no attention to the machinery, earthen mounds, and show buildings exposed just beyond our reach but not outside of our gaze. Sure, there is some sort of screen over the top of it that appears to be vegetation. The problem with that idea is that there is no longer any vegetation back there. But this isn’t the urban sprawl of expansion projects, it is a small corner that is being redeveloped as restrooms and a walkway, or so the reports are proclaiming.Stepping aside momentarily, we have apparently decided that cleverly concealing show buildings or access points is no longer a priority. Painting the backside of Everest brown or the backside of Dumbo’s new queue (the side that butts up against the Tomorrowland Speedway) green is not the same as labeling a door part of the Tommorrowland Light and Power facility for deliveries only. However, allowing the castle court façade to run out and leave the tail-end of it’s a small world hanging out is an even more egregious error.

Back to our regularly scheduled tirade, we learned just half a decade ago how masterfully a job could be done at encouraging imagination and masking intent with a simple wall. In fact, we have to go no further than just around the corner and into Liberty Square. When the Haunted Mansion was reworked in a number of ways, a brown wall appeared near its entrance. Slowly that brown wood took on the appearance of wooden wall and gate with brick pillars between the sections, complete with sculpted planters on top. Pinned to that gate was a letter from Master Gracey about the new spirits he was seeking out in the netherworld. It was a barrier meant to keep guests from seeing the realities of construction, but it was so much more to the eyes and minds that saw it. Even the photo realistic screens covering Main Street U.S.A., along with other lands, are better than a plain wall.

It does not take much to distract guests, and I include myself in this category. There are plenty of other sights, sounds and adventures to sink our teeth into, but that doesn’t mean the little things, like a true barrier, creatively designed to keep the machinery monsters away from the dreams of Never Never Land should be forgotten. The Skyway is dead, the least we could do is give this corner of Fantasyland some dignity while it is refurbished and treat guests to a bit more imagination.

Vinywaji baridi

Tamu Tamu Refreshments in the Harambe district of Disney’s Animal Kingdom has a history of being a nice stopover for guest venturing into the land from Discovery Island or Asia or out of Africa to other ports of adventure. The singular knock against the outdoor quick service location, if there had to be one, has been that it hasn’t offered many daring menu components. Yet, the crumbling fort turned diner now offers a dish certain the tingle the tastebuds, the Slow-roasted Pulled Beef Sandwich.

The menu board in front of Tamu Tamu Refreshments bills the meal as such: Spicy Beef with a Mint Yogurt Cucumber Sauce on a Pita. For a side dish guests have a choice between apple slices or fresh chips.

The exterior of the sandwich, the pita, is soft and works well with the other elements of the sandwich. The pulled beef has a great stewed curry flavor, which means that it is fork tender, not that you need the fork, with a slow burning kick. The mint yogurt cucumber sauce is chock full of fresh goodies, including tomatoes, cucumbers, and diced mint. The use of yogurt as a cooling agent for fiery foods is a time tested formula. When done correctly yogurt trimmings add unique flavors, dampen the heat of the spices, and all while never overpowering or disregarding the main component. The Slow-roasted Pulled Beef Sandwich succeeds in mixing heat and cooling and fresh and flavor in simple fashion.

As for the sides, I opted for the fresh handmade chips that have increasingly been showing up on menus across Walt Disney World. While I would never believe that they had been cut and fried inside of Tamu Tamu Refreshments, they were warm and included a kick I had not gleaned in the chips elsewhere. My assumption, from the red flecks found on my chips, is that these chips were ramp up with a bit of cayenne and black pepper.

It was great to see something new crop up on the quick service side of Harambe. The Slow-roasted Pulled Beef Sandwich made this new discovery even better by being a homerun! For the adventurous eaters descending upon Disney’s Animal Kingdom, trust me when I say this is a dish you just have to try!

The kids next door

Do you recognize the clean-cut bunch of teenagers? Even if you can’t name the group, I’m willing to bet the wardrobe and hairstyles are a dead giveaway for what era they hail from. In order to dispense with some of the mystery, this smiling group of 1970’s youths is collectively known as The Kids Next Door.

The pop ensemble was a part of the Young Americans and performed in Washington, D.C. as a part of the 1976 bicentennial celebration. On the Disney front, The Kids Next Door played everywhere in Walt Disney World, particularly in 1972 when they spent ten days in May performing at the Contemporary’s Top of the World and the summer months putting on five shows a night on the Tomorrowland Space Stage. The group’s dancing and crooning antics focused heavily upon popular songs of the day.

If you didn’t happen to catch the troupe during the early to mid-1970’s, then you still have a chance to see The Kids Next Door. Sort of. On October 29, 1971, NBC aired the ninety minute special entitled The Grand Opening of Walt Disney World. Hosted by Julie Andrews and Glen Campbell, with guests that included Bob Hope, Jonathan Winters, and Buddy Hackett, the special featured an assortment of musical numbers and acts all across the resorts and Magic Kingdom. One of this musical performances included The Kids Next Door. The special can still be seen on You Tube.

The next time you are walking through your resort or one of the parks and see an ensemble performing, remember the long and storied musical history of Walt Disney World that the current selection of performers are living up to. From Bob Jackson to The Kids Next Door, music has always been, and always will be, an intricate part of the Vacation Kingdom experience!

Planting pointers

We’re in high festival time in Epcot, with the blooms of the International Flower and Garden Festival opening to guests. Knowing that guests will be spending a lot of time in Epcot, specifically around World Showcase, the Gazette Roundtable dives headlong into our favorite World Showcase dining options to offer up some suggestions.

Roundtable Topic: Which pavilion in World Showcase do you dine in most often and why?
Roundtable Contributors: Melissa Loflin (Makin’ Memories), AJ Wolfe (The Disney Food Blog), Suzannah DiMarzio (ZannaLand), Andy Jackson (Eating (and Drinking) around the World), and yours truly.

Melissa – Our new no meat diet has changed the way we eat around the World Showcase. We tend to find ourselves snacking around the countries instead of sitting down for a proper meal. One of my favorite places that is a "Must Do" each trip is tucked back in the streets of France, Boulangerie Patisserie. The cramped and fast paced atmosphere inside really makes you feel like you are somewhere in Paris; even though this is rumored to change soon. My favorite options as a non-meat eater include the cheese plate and any number of the delicious pastries that are lined up on display. Enjoying these snacks outside at bistro tables lining the streets and people watching makes the experience even more enjoyable. You will also find food kiosks much like you would imagine on the city streets in France. At the end of the evening enjoy Illuminations in France, and since you are in the country of love, grab some Champagne and a crepe and toast to a romantic night.

AJ – I'll have to answer this several different ways, I'm afraid!

I dine at Le Cellier in the Canada pavilion quite often, because it is a favorite of mine, everyone always wants to go there, and it's fun to keep an eye on what they're doing with the menu. And I dine in Italy at Via Napoli from time to time as well, because it's one of my husband's favorites, and we love trying new menu items there!

I always love heading over to Rose and Crown Pub AND/OR Restaurant for a bite to eat -- especially in the not-too-crowded early afternoon! I can't handle the cut-throat, all-out war for an Illuminations-view table in the evening; but stopping into the pub for a British Bulldog and an Imperial Sampler when they first start serving around noon is just about the most perfect way to spend an Epcot day.

But, honestly, the pavilion I find myself in most often has very little to do with "dining" and much more to do with drinking! I'm always up for a trip to La Cava del Tequila in the Mexico pavilion! I love the innovative margaritas there, and even though I live in Texas and have great queso a stone's throw in any direction, I have yet to find a dip I love more than La Cava's queso blanco con jalapeno. It's everything that's good about cheese...sitting right there next to a giant margarita and a pile of tortilla chips! Heavenly. Worth the price of admission just for that!

Suzannah – This is such a tough question. As a local, we frequently dine in the Parks, and World Showcase definitely has the best variety. About five years ago, my answer would've been Japan's Mitsukoshi Teppanyaki without a doubt. However since the refurb and renaming to Teppan Edo, we noticed a pronounced dip in the quality of food and, to a point, guest service. We used to be able to get upgrade to a filet for my oldest, at a charge of course, but that is now no longer possible. In addition, I recently took my husband to Tokyo Dining for the first time and was shocked to learn that I could not substitute *anything*. This was extremely disappointing as I love sushi, but not sashimi or nigiri, the raw fish variety. Rather than substitute a California Roll, I was just told a flat "no." To me, part of what makes World Showcase dining options so great is that you are able to cater to certain dining needs or issues, while still expanding your palate from burgers and chicken fingers. Our last visit to Japan will most likely be our last, which makes me quite sad.

Negatives out of the way, I have to say our family usually has a grand time at Les Chefs de France and Biergarten. It is our annual Mother's Day tradition to dine in France and we also frequently pop in for lunch. In fact, I was just there on Monday and think the quality is actually improved over my last visit. Similarly, Biergarten in Germany always has something for everyone to enjoy and is a wonderful respite from the heat of the day, while you enjoy a show too. These two countries get our "most dined at" award because quite frankly, they usually have walk-in space available, unless you are there on a ridiculously busy day.

Another new favorite is La Hacienda de San Angel. I've been a fan since it opened and I could just sit in there all day soaking up the ambiance of this beautiful gem on the World Showcase lagoon. If you time it right to Illuminations with a window seat - heaven! I wish we could dine there more often but it is simply so popular, it's been hard to get a reservation recently. Honorable mentions are Rose and Crown, where we always have a wonderful experience, and of course, Le Cellier, which, if you can get in, is still my favorite place for a steak!

Andy – Pretty much anyone that knows me knows that World Showcase is my Happy Place – Epcot is by far my favorite park, and even if the circle of countries around the lagoon were a park unto itself, it would still be my favorite…

So needless to say, I’ve done lots of eating around the pavilions in Epcot…

Now if you, like me, consider tequila one of the major food groups, Mexico would have to be the pavilion I dine in most often…

But if you’re going to insist on the usual food groups be included, Japan tops my list of most frequent dining around the World Showcase.

Teppan Edo is fun if you have a group (even if the food itself is very average), Tokyo Dining is reliable, if not spectacular (be sure to try the sweet potato sushi!), but where I dine most often is the quick-service eatery: Katsura Grill (formerly Yakatori House).

Homey (in an Eastern-way, of course), filling, flavorful dishes are on the menu (and the revamp added several new, and interesting items, to the usual Teriyaki and Udon dishes – even though I still wish they would bring back the Sukiyaki Beef!). On top of that is the atmosphere, especially in the outside seating area.

It’s nothing overly fancy, but the large rocks and water features surround a semi-secluded area with Japanese lanterns crowning all – visit at night and you’ll soon find yourself in another world. Sitting back in the corner, you can almost forget you’re in the middle of a huge theme park – slurp on a bowl of warming Udon, sip on a Kirin, and you can almost believe you’re in a small diner in Japan…

Afterwards you can wander down the hillside to the new Garden House for some specialty sake drinks and then take a gander at the goods in the seemingly endless Mitsukoshi Department Store.

I’ve even been known to come over for just an afternoon, have a bite in Japan, wander a bit, and make my way back to the west coast of Florida…

Japan is relaxing, full of options (did I mention the sake bar inside the store or the Kabuki Café out on the promenade?), and my favorite country, and dining location, in Epcot – even if I do have to stop at La Cava for a Margarita (or at Promenade Refreshments for a Stella) on the way there…

Ryan – World Showcase offers options for every palate, including classic American favorites and progressing all the way along the food spectrum up to exotic options. While there is nothing I won’t try, there are definitely haunts I tend to visit upon more often than not. With all the options, I tend to head to certain World Showcase dining destinations for specific meal components.

In the beverage department, there is no stop finer than the plethora of margaritas available at La Cava del Tequila. My personal favorite is something light and refreshing, such as the Cucumber Margarita. Although, I am the first to admit that any of the offerings will be certain to hit the spot, especially when paired with some of the watering holes fine accompaniments.

For a meal, I prefer something a bit more out of the ordinary. I tend to focus my meals around the savory selections of options available in both the Japan and Morocco pavilions. Though if pressed for a singular entrée, it’d have to be the Shawarma Platters from Tangierine Cafe in Morocco. Between the succulent meats, lamb or chicken, and the sides, which salad, bread, tabouleh, and hummus, this makes for a great meal.

Last, and perhaps most importantly, dessert. When I think about desserts in World Showcase, there is only one place I can think of, Boulangerie Patisserie in France. The wide variety of pastries, along with a couple of heartier options, is enough to satisfy any sweet tooth! If you want my recommendation, I would never turn away from a slice of the Raspberry Schuss.

There you have it, some of Walt Disney World’s expert foodies have weighed in with their favorites from World Showcase. Now, it’s your turn. Let us know where you love to dine in World Showcase and what items really cause your stomach to roar! While you’re at it, send us a photograph of your favorite foods alongside some of the spectacular flowers!

Disney This Week - 25 March 2012

Suzannah DiMarzio gives Zannaland readers a video tour of the new Royal Guest Rooms.

Makin Memories takes a trip over to Saratoga Springs where Melissa Loflin explores the waters of High Rock Spring.

In the wake of the returning Citrus Swirl, C Jeremy Morrison reminds us of another extinct snack at Spins the World, Figaro Fries.

My favorite part of any meal, dessert, is being refurbished at Sanaa, look to AJ Wolfe and The Disney Food Blog to have us covered!

Fritz at Imagineering Disney provides a wonderful photo safari of the Orange Bird.

Speaking of the Orange Bird, Richard Terpstra has come up with two shirt designs that I must have. Head on over to DesignerLand to see the Orange Bird and Citrus Swirl along with the Electrical Water Pageant.

The memories we share and the desire to get back to a park are explored by Matt Hochberg over at Studios Central.

Falafel in a burger, in Walt Disney World? Sarah Holodick and Eating WDW has all the details.

Melissa Sue provides an entrée breakdown between similar meal items and the potential savings between a sit down restaurant and a quick service location at The Affordable Mouse.

There can never be enough said about the potential of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, as Adam and Andrew showcase at the Disney Hipster Blog when they discuss some reasons to love Discovery Island.

Michael Crawford takes us to the top, Broadway at the Top that is! Catch the show in its 1982 incarnation at Progress City, U.S.A.

Silent Saturday - Motor Launch and the Seven Seas Lagoon (January 2011)

Reckless rocketeer

The details that fill the new area known as Storybook Circus are plentiful, and the hits are sure to keep on coming as the sub-land and Fantasyland expansion continue to unfold. Of course, this means that there is no time like the present to explore one of the many nods that pepper the landscape. First up, the Great Goofini’s rocket, Dolores.

The poster promoting this dazzling aerial feat gives a name to the stunt, Reckless Rocketeer, and feature Goofini, chaps and all, holding on for dear life as his saddle saddled projectile zooms across the circus landscape. For time and space’s sake, I’ll assume we all understand the Rocketeer reference presented here. The rocket itself can be seen just a short distance away, bent, banged, and contorted from its earthly collision. What really intrigues me, however, is the name of the rocket.

To my mind, this is an apparent acknowledgement of the circus staple, Dolores. Featured in three shorts between 1945 and 1953, Dolores was a playful elephant that played opposite Chip, Dale, Donald and, most often, Goofy. The 1945 feature, Tiger Trouble, saw Dolores and Goofy, with Goofy riding atop her in a howdah, in search of a tiger. In typical Goofy fashion, clumsy antics ensued. She was again spotted, stateside in a circus this time, in the 1945 short, The Big Wash. In this cartoon, Goofy is the caretaker of Dolores, who wakes him up for her breakfast and tries every trick in the book to avoid her bath. When her trunk fills with suds, Dolores soap sneezes send her and Goofy rocketing off the screen left, right, up, and down. Her final appearance was in 1953’s Working for Peanuts, where she teams up with Donald in order to rid a zoo of the pesky chipmunks, Chip and Dale.

While a grey rocket misfiring across the grounds of a circus may not seem to have a lot to do with this playful pachyderm, Dolores two distinct adventures with Goofy offer up a lot of fodder. From rocketing around a circus to Goofy perched atop Dolores’ back, it is good to see some of the smaller, if not in size than at least in number of featured cartoons anyway, characters are still getting attention in the parks.