He's Everyone's Favorite Guy....Gaston! (A Look at Gaston's Tavern)

And yes, he uses antlers in all of his decorating.

On our most recent Walt Disney World vacation, the Growing Up Disney family, or most of it, attended the Annual Passholder Preview of New Fantasyland.  It was a treat to see the attractions early and with so little crowd.  My husband, Tink, Ridge, and myself went back for more fun during a dress rehearsal the following day.  This is a collection of photos of Gaston's Tavern from the many cameras we haul around on vacation.

Took this during the AP preview.  Knew I'd never see it so open again.

Nicely done exterior courtyard of Gaston's Tavern

Sure to be a popular photo spot

I didn't realize he was a fan.

And if you line up the shot just right....

What a generous gift!

Chris says I totally walked past Gaston without seeing him but you might catch him outside the tavern.  Be more observant than me and say hello.

And on to the food.  Chris tried the pork shank and said it was delicious.  I am the proud owner of one of each of the souvenir cups.  Pricey but cute.  Wish they were dishwasher safe.

The rest of the offerings.  The LeFou's Brew is VERY sweet. I'd  suggest the hummus and pita chips to balance it.  Overall a good selection of quick pick-me-ups and treats.  We also grabbed some ice cream from the cart right outside and brought it in for the girls.

Tink liked the LeFou's Brew, basically fancy frozen apple juice.

A closer look at the souvenir mugs. 

Antlers being used in the smaller seating area.  Occupancy 24 according to the sign on the wall.  The seating in here is just long tables and short stools.

There are darts all over the place.  LeFou must be really bad at this game.  The fact that it's way too high on the wall for him couldn't help.

This is the larger of the two seating areas.  This one holds 50-60 people.

Gaston's huge and hairy chair

A painting about as big as Gaston's ego

The artificial fireplace was a nice touch.

Loved the antler chandelier.

Looked hidden Mickey-ish to me.

Gaston's chair scared the fool out of my girls.  We tried taking pictures of Tink and a friend the next day and she still would only stand beside the chair.  The other preschooler didn't mind the chair at all.

DisneyDad enjoying Gaston's chair.

Photo Flashback! Christmas Tree at Hollywood Studios

Deb over at Focused on the Magic suggested "December Calendar Shot" as today's theme.  I took this a few weeks ago at Disney's Hollywood Studios.  Despite it's size, it is a fairly simple tree and kicks off the holiday season well.  We used it as a meeting spot before going to see the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights.  The Growing Up Disney crew will be sharing photos from those lights and other Christmas decor around Walt Disney World in the weeks leading up to the big day.

~Amy

Ignore the Mom Bloggers and Buy the Light-Up Toy

Planning blogs, including this one, will tell you to look for light-up toys, glow sticks, etc at home where you can often stock up for very little cash.  The idea is to save money buy passing on the expensive toys that appear all around Walt Disney World as soon as the sun begins to dip.  

Well, I did that and had glow bracelets in my backpack and a stash of other glowing treats at home.  My husband, however, just knew that Tink wanted a Minnie Mouse with a skirt that spins and lights up and he bought it on the first night of our recent vacation.  I laughed and told him he was fired but I couldn't be too upset when our oldest daughter was running around Epcot with such joy. 

This turned out to be Tink's main souvenir from this vacation and Minnie went everywhere with us during the week.  She (the doll) met Mickey and princesses, went on attractions, and visited restaurants.    It's even safe for our Baby Minnie (17 months) and she has enjoyed playing with the toy as well.

So as with all rules, sometimes you just have to break them and occasionally you win big.

Minnie joined Tink on the bus to Magic Kingdom

Minnie helped Tink be a part of the show at Enchanted Tales with Belle

Ariel loved Tink's treasure from the human world

Of course, Mickey loved this particular toy

Even Princesses loved Minnie

~Amy

What My Child Truly Loved at WDW & Happy Thanksgiving!

On her first day back at preschool, Tink's teacher asked her several times what was her favorite thing about her Disney trip. Did she say riding Dumbo or the "flying sofas"? Nope. What about meeting her beloved princesses or being a part of Belle's new show? Nah. Surely it was the Minnie Mouse with the light up skirt that she drug all over creation. No. It was these folks. 

Every time the teacher asked Tink's answer to the best thing about Walt Disney World was her grandparents. She calls them Granny and Grandaddy but you know them as DisneyDad and Mom. I asked her at lunch yesterday and the result was still the same. As a follow-up question, I asked her what she did. "Played." Yes, she remembers the trip and can tell you about the rides but the people are what was important. 

It's the friends with us when we ride our favorite coaster that make it so much fun. Scoring the most coveted ADR is a hollow victory without a pal to share the meal. Fireworks over the castle are always gorgeous but sharing an inside joke makes them even more amazing. 

Today I am thankful for many things but among them are the lovely family and sweet friends who make Walt Disney World such a special place to me. I love going into the living room at Old Key West in the morning and having a cup of coffee with my brother. Wish we could meet up more often. It's so nice to share a meal with my parents, even though it's far from relaxed with two small kids along. It's great when my husband gets a big laugh during an attraction and temporarily gets to forget the pressures of the real world. And of course, I love the huge smiles on my daughters' faces when they see Mickey.

Over the last couple of years, I've also been meeting Disney friends at the parks. I'm sure that sounds odd to those who haven't yet connected with the online Disney community but those who have will understand why you run to hug someone you've never seen in person before.

And if you're reading this, I am thankful for you. I've loved sharing our family's stories and lessons learned. It's an honor to connect with other Disney fans.

From the Growing Up Disney family, we wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving. 

~Amy

Photo Flashback!!! Tiger Lily

Tiger Lily!!!

Strickly Speaking this isn't the most 100% Disney post but one year ago today I brought Lily home. Lily is named after Princess Tiger Lily from Peter Pan so it counts.

I didn't tell any family I was getting her just a couple friends that helped me to find her.  

Lily At 7 weeks old

Lily At 1 Year

She has been a blast!

Pumpkin Crisp Recipe

If you are still planning your Thanksgiving menu or deciding what to take to a pot luck, I have a fantastic and super easy recipe to share.  I’ve had to give it to everyone who has tasted this dessert.  Personally, I see recipes as inspiration rather than strict rules and I’d love to hear what variations you try.  The original recipe came from Southern Living but the version below is my take on it.

Pumpkin Crisp

1 (15 oz) can pumpkin
1 cup evaporated milk
¾ cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of ground nutmeg (optional)
1 butter flavored yellow cake mix (I like Duncan Hines)
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup melted butter

Preheat the oven to 350.  In a medium bowl, stir together the pumpkin, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  Pour the mixture into a greased 9×13 baking dish.  Sprinkle cake mix evenly over the pumpkin mixture.  Sprinkle pecans on top of the cake mix.  Drizzle butter over all.  Bake uncovered for about an hour, until golden brown.

I like pumpkin crisp warm with whipped cream but my husband prefers it plain and at room temperature. 

This is a really rich dessert.  As a lighter variation, I’ve made it in an 8×8 pan and used a jiffy cake mix and half of the nuts and butter.  It’s still tasty, but in my house, we’ve decided smaller servings of the rich version are the way to go.

I've shared this recipe before on a friend's fabulous blog, Sippy Cup Mom.  Please check her out.

Five Photos: Disney's Hollywood Studios

Kid's Power Pack, Where Have You Been All My Life?

Last week, the whole Growing Up Disney family went to Walt Disney World.  On Thursday, we had a big lunch at Sanaa (yum! Another post.) and then split up for the afternoon.  That evening most of the crew met up at Disney's Hollywood Studios to see The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights (fabulous! More posts to come.)  After the lights, I needed to feed the kiddos so we headed for the ABC Commissary.  My children don't eat the widest variety of foods and the kid's meals at DHS tend toward chicken nuggets.  I was thrilled to see the Kid's Power Pack on the menu.  For $5.49 we got a small carton of milk (other options are available), strawberry yogurt, a cheese stick, goldfish crackers, carrots with ranch, and a chocolate chip cookie.  These meals have been around for a year or so, but this was my first time to check one out personally.  

For starters, the box was adorable and my husband must have worked some sort of magic to get Tink to let him throw it away when we left the restaurant.  The box alone bought a little time for me to finish my Asian Salad with Salmon, which was pricey at over $11 but tasty.  

The girls like all the foods in the Power Pack so we didn't have to cajole them to eat anything.  They dove right in and since they are 3.5 years and 17 months old, one meal was plenty for the both of them, especially after a good lunch and afternoon snacks.

While it's not nutritional dinner of the year, it made a fabulous, quick, easy, meltdown delaying meal.  They eat their veggies pretty well at home so I'm not too worried if vacation is relaxed.  

~Amy

Pork Shank is a winner.

I like it way better than than the turkey leg. It falls right off the bone. Good job with this one.


- Posted by Ridge using BlogPress from my iPhone

Packing for your next WDW trip?

Time to Pack

Partners

When do you pack for your next trip to Walt Disney World?  Amy starts gathering things up almost a month a head and putting them aside – after all she is my organized child.  Ridge said he starts packing 4 or 5 days before a trip – plenty of time to make sure you have everything.  Mom starts gathering thing up 2-3 weeks as she always wants to make sure there are plenty of food/snacks for the trip, clothes are washed and the dog has a reservation at the kennel.  I checked and cleaned up the car last weekend.  But packing…. That’s different!

Mom and I pull the suitcases out and start packing, not months, weeks, or days ahead, but hours ahead.  We usually pack the suitcases the evening before our trip.  The car gets packed just before we leave.  Mom makes a few lists, and most of the time we remember everything.  Sometimes we forget a few things, but since we drive down, it’s not too much trouble to pick up anything forgotten. 

Main Street Philharmonic

There are a few more things I pack now than I use to.  First, as I write this on Monday before our trip, I still have to put the car seat in.  It may not get used, but Tink likes riding in Granddaddy’s car when she gets the chance, so in it goes.  Next, I have to make sure Mom’s mobility scooter’s battery is charged (as well as my camera batteries).  The first thing to go in the car trunk – the scooter. 

Cinderella Castle

A new item to our family trips is the Keurig.  Guess we are spoiled to the single cup coffee maker.  So in goes the Keurig and boxes of K-Cups.  Also anytime we are seeing Tink and Minnie there is also the gifts for the Granddaughters.  So there are gifts, new story books, and things from the Disney Store that must be packed. 

Where do you find me?

And finally, the clothes go into the car.  The more I think about it, I may need a bigger car.

--DisneyDad

By the way, the pictures have nothing to do with packing, I just like the photos.  - DisneyDad

Guest Post: Enchanted Tales with Belle

I recently got to experience the dress rehearsal for New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom. I literally came across it one late afternoon. Had no idea dress rehearsals would start during our vacation. I was able to ride Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid, drink a LeFou's Brew at Gaston's Tavern, and step inside Be Our Guest restaurant. Another experience I enjoyed was Enchanted Tales with Belle.

Enchanted Tales with Belle is the first attraction you come to as you enter through the new castle walls from Fantasyland. It's quite different than any other meet and greet and it's not exactly a show. It's sort of a combination between the two paired with audience participation. It's definitely geared toward younger children and not the overly shy. 

You will enter a queue in front of Maurice's cottage. You'll then step inside the cottage and will be led to Maurice's workshop which has a magic mirror that a cast member will tell you about. I'm sure you've heard it by now but really, this effect is super cool. Disney does a great job at making the magic mirror turn into a doorway and I'll tell you, I thought it was very realistic looking. I can't imagine what a child would be thinking! Pure Disney magic at it's best! 

 
 You are then led into a room which features Madame Wardrobe, an amazing animatronic. Here's where the interactive part comes in. The cast member starts assigning roles for a surprise for Belle which will be a re-enactment of the night The Beast and Belle fell in love. You can volunteer if you want for a role. They make sure there are plenty for all who want to be involved. Here is the deal though, if you are not involved in the show, you aren't going to meet Belle which may be disappointing to some children so be warned. Once everyone is assigned a role, they are handed a cardboard cutout and then they go through a brief rehearsal of the parts. My son happened to get assigned as the Beast as it turns out. Everyone is then lead into the library and is greeted by the unbelievably real looking Luminere animatronic. I mean, really...he's good! Belle then comes out and they do the re-enactment. For those who are wanting Belle's autograph, it's not going to happen but you can get a quick photo opp as she poses with those in the show and hands them a “signed” bookmark and special Photopass of the whole experience. 

 
 I think this experience is going to be a huge hit much like the previous Storytime with Belle was in the Fairytale Garden. Soft openings begin November 19 with Grand Opening on December 6. I definitely recommend checking it out. It will definitely be an experience your children will remember! For those autograph lovers out there, remember, you can still meet Belle at Epcot as well.

Contributed by Corby C. of Atlanta, Georgia. She is a proud wife and mom to Banks and Henley, a Disney Destination Planner with Travel with the Magic and one of our Minnie Moms.