Author: queenmouse

COOKING DISNEY AT HOME

WHAT EXACTLY IS IN THE GREY STUFF?

Beauty and the Beast: The Grey Stuff

TAKES ABOUT 20 MINUTES

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups of milk
  • 3.4 ounces of instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 15 cookie and cream sandwiches
  • Food processor
  • 8 ounces of whipped topping
  • 1 tablespoon of instant chocolate pudding mix
  • Scalloped cookies

Directions

  1.  Pour 1 1/2 cups of milk in a mixing bowl. Add 3.4 ounces of instant vanilla pudding mix, and whisk until smooth.
  2.  Take 15 cookie and cream sandwiches and place them in your food processor, puree until cookies are finely ground.
  3.  Add the pureed cookies to the original mix. Stir with a spoon until ingredients are fully mixed.
  4.  Add 8 ounces of whipped topping and 1 tablespoon of instant chocolate pudding mix. Stir all ingredients until fully mixed.
  5.  Take mix and put in refrigerator. Chill to thicken.
  6.  Place your mix (“grey stuff”) into a piping bag. Put aside.
  7.  Take a scalloped cookie and spread grey stuff with piping bag.
  8. BON APPETIT
 
DISNEY RESORTS

THE ROSE AND THE CROWN: NOT OUR “CUP OF TEA”

Looking for a place to have a drink? Stop by the Rose and Crown Pub in London’s Epcot. Looking for a place to have authentic British food like fish and chips? Feel free to try but be prepared to wait.

One more piece of advice? I would not suggest this to be a family friendly atmosphere.

Service is slow and the food is pricey. While I was excited to dine here given the wonderful reviews, my frustration began when there was no real place to park a stroller with convenience.

The walk to the tables is extremely hard to navigate. Maybe that’s how it is in London?

The one bathroom is in the pub, right next to the bar area – which is often filled to capacity with adults doing what adults do at a bar. It’s not the easiest place to bring a toddler who wants to go to the bathroom. What did we have to do multiple times? Go to the bathroom. I chose instead to leave the pub and walk across the road to the public restrooms.

  • Yes they have fish and chips. Let’s face it, we have seen these before. They are easily made.

I was not totally thrilled with the menu, found here.

Long and short of things was that our server took so long that we did not even stay to wait for the dessert that came with our dining plan offering. This restaurant was a total disappointment.

As far as Epcot’s England, however, definitely walk around the tea garden and shops. The country itself is not to be missed.

 
CHARACTER DINING, character meet and greets

THE NEWEST ADDITION TO HOLLYWOOD & VINE.. VAMPIRINA

She always seems to be the new kid in town.. and here she is again, making her debut at Hollywood and Vine for the breakfast buffet.

Even though we could technically be at the Hauntley B& B, the buffet is less than ghoulish, it is one of my favorites. There’s an omelette station, Greek Yogurt station, and the usual breakfast fare.

Here are a few things to know about Vampirina before you go:

  • Vampirina’s full name is Vampirina “Vee” Hauntley.
  • She may look young, and fits in with 6 year olds, but she is actually 200 years old.
  • Be careful while whispering at your table, she has super hearing
  • She loves to dance – see if shell dance with you! she can also be found at the Disney Junior Dance Party.

Who else will you see there? While character experiences can always change, plan to see Princess Sofia and Doc McStuffins – someone else usually stops by as well.

 
DISNEY RESORTS, disney themed fun, Uncategorized

FIVE REASONS NOT TO AVOID THE CHILDREN’S ACTIVITY HOSTS AT DISNEY – YOU CAN HUG THEM INSTEAD
  • Do the cheerful smiles of Disney Activity Hosts creep you out? Don’t let them- they are genuine, and you may want to hug them at the end of your visit. While the Activity Hosts are not babysitters (you must supervise your kids unless you are at the activity center with babysitting for a small fee), they will surely keep your child entertained and give you some breathing room
  • Toasted Marshmallows: Who doesn’t love a campfire? Almost every Disney Resort Hotel holds a family campfire with marshmallows to toast (no smores). And get this: As long as you wear shoes and follow the rules, you are entitled to unlimited marshmallows!
  • Community Hall: Guests of the resort are welcome to do arts and crafts (small fee), play games (ping pong/board games/ video games) and watch movies. We have made and painted pottery, made slime, created a craft bag, and done all sorts of fun things! And the activity reps walk your kids through every step of the way. You can participate or sit back and read a magazine!
  • Poolside activities: Starting at 1pm, the activity reps usually play games with the kids at the pool. It can be a godsend. Often the games have fun prizes. They aren’t lifeguards, though so be sure to keep your eyes on them.
mermaid bank made at community hall
  • Rainy day activities: When it rains, it sometimes pours! And the pool is closed. For those days, the activity reps will usually move the poolside activities into community hall or the Resort lobby.
  • MOVIES: Every evening of the week the Resort usually plays a family friendly Disney movie. The movies are shown on a large blow-up screen in a large area and range from Disney animated classics to Disney Channel Original Movies. They will even show Disney’s newest releases as soon as they’re available to the public. Some of the resorts will also provide an indoor option if it is raining or the movie can’t be shown outdoors for some reason. This activity is a great way to enjoy an old favorite or catch a new movie you’ve been dying to see. Bring snacks!
  • participating in poolside games
  • Halloween craft: painted rocks
  • drums at Animal Kingdom Lodge
  • drums!
  • learning about drums with the activity hosts
  • learning about Africa with the activity hosts
  • activities at Jumbo House and Kidani Village
  • activities at Kidani Village

 
Uncategorized

WONDERING ABOUT PIRATE’S LEAGUE? HERE ARE FIVE THINGS NOT TO DO THERE.
  • DON”T GO to the Bippity Boppity Boutique expecting to be dressed up as a pirate and a mermaid. You won’t find any pirates or mermaids there. The Pirates and Mermaids Experience is located in Adventureland, in the Pirates of the Caribbean area.

  • DON”T go into the pirates and mermaids salon if you are not willing to undergo a transformation. They will use makeup on your face and style your hair.
  • DON”T head to Pirates and Mermaids, or even Adventureland at all, if you are not willing to figure out how to read a map. You may need to use a compass to find your real Pirate Name.

DON”T let your guard down and lose sight of the treasure lurking in corners. You may even be allowed to take it home if you find it. Listen closely as Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Masters teach you the art of navigating the high seas while telling you tall tales of sunken ships and buried treasure. These savvy scallywags will have you talkin’ the talk and walkin’ the walk.

DON’T WORRY – if you choose to be a mermaid you will still leave with your legs – and your voice.

You definitely need to make a reservation, starting 180 days from your trip you can. There are different packages to choose from, from basic to more extravagant. Wondering more about Pirates and Mermaids, feel free to ask us in the comments – or else click here

Uncategorized

FIVE THINGS NOT TO DO WHEN YOU RUN INTO A STORM TROOPER
  1. DON”T Pretend that you are a droid. They are usually looking for Droids. If you pretend that you are a droid they may take you into custody. Do you know where the droids are? Don’t be a snitch, either.
  2. DON’T Forget your identity card at home. Going to Hollywood Studios? You don’t want to forget your identity card because the storm trooper will definitely ask for it. They DO arrest people without identity cards
  3. Don’t go near Hollywood blvd if you want to avoid Captain Phasma, Darth Vader, and the Stormtroopers. They march every hour on the hour and demand total obedience
  4. Don’t forget to walk through the Star Wars Launch Bay features a walk-through exhibit taking a look at memorabilia, costumes and artifacts directly from the set of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Don’t miss Launch Bay Cargo; they’ve got some pretty incredible artwork and collectibles for sale. Worried about getting past the Storm Troopers there? If you run into any of the characters in there they like to trade shiny objects like paperclips and aluminum foil for favors.
  5. Above all, DON’T relax around storm troopers. They will stop you. They will demand that you answer questions. Feel free to ask them some as well, if you are brave.

With Hollywood Studios soon opening up the new Star Worlds World on August 29, 2019, I am sure there will be even more places to encounter Storm Troopers. So be on guard and be on the lookout!

character meet and greets, DISNEY RESORTS, disney themed fun

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE NEW DISNEY JUNIOR DANCE PARTY – AND A FEW THINGS NOT TO DO!

There’s a new dance party in town and I am so glad there is. The old show definitely needed some changing up. Here are a few things to know about the experience.

This is your MC. Her outfit, complete with tablet in hand says it all. Be prepared to be thrust into the world of Generation Z.
Thinking that, in an auditorium it won’t matter when you show up? You’re partly wrong. If you can, try to be the first family in the fast pass line. You will then be either welcomed by all the Disney Junior friends or be assured a front row seat (with much audience participation that really makes the day).
Think about learning the dances before hand: For instance, the Spinechiller:

One thing you can’t do: get on stage. Don’t try it.

Parents, keep in mind that everyone sits on the floor. Kids get up and dance. If you or a member of your party do not want to sit on the floor there is limited seating on benches in the back. See all the crowds? Try and keep you and your family to their dancing zone.

Doc will be faced with someone who needs emergency treatment. Who else will you meet? Vampirina, Timon & Mickey
This is one of the few places you will see Mickey. He is not in the Disney Junior Courtyard anymore.

The dance party is approximately 25 minutes once it starts. Definitely a must see, we went a few times because those dance moves are catchy!

 
BIRTHDAY PARTY IDEAS, DINING

Having a birthday at Disney? Here are 5 ways to make it extra special
  1. Decorate your room. There are two ways you can do this: The pricey way or a reasonable way. To do it the pricey way, visit this website by clicking here. They will really bling out your room in style. What’s the other way? Bring decorations. Cover your kitchen table, bring streamers and party plates. Have the Birthday VIP wake up to a surprise!
  2. Give the Birthday VIP something special to wear all day. Disney has those buttons they like to give out, but in our opinion buttons for little kids can be dangerous. We usually go with a crown.
  3. Did you reserve a character meal? If you tell them that you are celebrating a birthday they will give you a cupcake (yes even at breakfast) as well as a signed card from all of the characters. If you are Lucky they will even sing to you!
  4. Order a specialty cake. If you are dining in the Magic Kingdom, they will have a birthday cake ready for you (for an extra cost, of course). You must have a reservation to order a cake. You can add a Mickey Mouse celebration cake to any future reservation by calling (407) WDW-DINE or (407) 939-3463. Or, order in-person at the restaurant’s host podium, or at the Concierge Desk at your Disney Resort hotel. Guests under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call. Requests for same-day cakes must be made in person upon arrival at the restaurant.
  5. Don’t feel like telling anyone it’s your birthday? Well, you’ll be in Disney World on vacation. So that should be a present enough.
  • A mickey table cloth, some Pez, snap bracelets, some resort lollipops, and some fun coloring pages make a fun morning birthday celebration
  • A little face paint can make the day extra special
  • Birthday Crown
  • A few presents in the room can’t hurt!
  • Mickey Cake (ordered separately and in advance) and a standard Disney birthday cupcake (provided upon request)
 
DINING, DISNEY RESORTS

Monsieur Paul – A signature dining experience

Dinner is the evening. So we headed to Epcot because good food is the foundation of genuine happiness – or so say the French. The menu speaks for itself, as do our pictures:

  • two credits on the dining plan as a signature meal or $$$$
  • Kids menu
  • Main courses
  • optional tasting menu – additional cost on top of dining plan

  • appetizers

When you enter, you are met with a beautiful spiral staircase and reserved hostesses. We chose the tasting menu to experience everything that France had to offer at that particular moment. We started off with this:

Our kids started off with this:

mozarella sticks and cherry tomato salad
  • salad
  • pate appetizer also available
  • kids grilled chicken and FRENCH fries
  • Tuna
  • French service
  • sorbet to clean the pallet
  • Fromage! Bring on the cheese
  • cheese!

What is not pictured is the constant bread service – best bread is from France!

Is the experience worth it? Absolutely. You could tell that every morsel that hit your mouth was well made. We also did not leave feeling disgustingly full.

Keep in mind that this restaurant is 2 points on the dining plan as a signature restaurant. They also have many add on options – but if you are here you may as well enjoy yourselves. The greatest part is that if you want to skip dessert, there is a wonderful ice cream spot with artisanal French flavors (16) and macaroon sandwiches.