Caring for Giants

There's a new backstage tour at Animal Kingdom, it's only been operating for one week.  Caring for Giants is all about my favorite animal, elephants!  My husband and I had the opportunity to experience this fantastic new tour the other day.

The check in desk for educational tours at the Animal Kingdom is across from the stand by entrance to Kilimanjaro Safari.  The education staff is energetic, fun, knowledgeable, and you can tell, like most cast members, how much they love their job!  Once everyone has checked in for the tour, you'll be taken backstage to a waiting tour bus.  This is also the area where you'll enter and exit if you are taking advantage of Disney's new Express Transportation option.  Our education guide gave us some behind the scenes information while we make a short walk to our bus.  It's important to note that there is NO photography allowed behind the scenes for anyone, guests or cast members alike.  There is an area of the tour later on that you are allow to take all the photos you want.

During the short drive behind the scenes to the berm we learned all kinds of interesting facts about Animal Kingdom.  One of my favorites is that all three of the other Disney parks, Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Hollywood Studios, would fit inside Animal Kingdom!  It's massive!  You're taken on a short "off road" ride behind the elephants' night barns.  You arrive at the berm where you'll be greeted by an animal specialist.  Shannon was amazing!  She's spent her whole life studying elephants.  We learned so much from her.  Everything from how much each elephant eats and poops every day, to the amount of vegetation that gets digested to my favorite new piece of knowledge, the fact that elephants are actually walking on their tippy toes!  Can you imagine being an elephant's size and always walking en pointe, like a ballerina?!

We were given an opportunity, probably half the tour, to take pictures for the elephants.  They are beautiful!!  From matriarch Rafiki down to sweet little Stella, the new baby.  Animal Kingdom's Kilimanjaro Safari is home to 3.7 elephants, which in zoological terms means they have 3 male elephants and 7 females.  Toward the end of our tour we got to hear from Phophi who is from Africa, she told us a little bit more about elephants in the wild and the conservation efforts they are taking to ensure that these beautiful elephants can thrive in their natural habitats.

Caring for Giants is an hour long tour, packed full of information!!  We never felt rushed though, which goes along with my entire feeling of Animal Kingdom and probably why it's my favorite park! If you're an animal lover of any kind (I kept saying to my husband that we should have brought our youngest giraffe enthusiast.), this is a great experience at Animal Kingdom.  The price, at $30 per person, if definitely worth every penny!

Snacks

Did you know that Disney changed their dining plans this year?  In 2017 instead of receiving a dessert with your quick service meals and one snack credit, you get 2 snack credits!  This is a fantastic change!  Sometimes we don't want dessert with lunch, which is when we usually use our quick service meals.  This change allows you to forgo dessert and use that credit on a snack at some other time.   Quick service locations don't always have the most diverse snack options like the snack carts & kiosks you find all over Disney World.   This Disney Dining Plan logo is posted beside anything that you can use a snack credit on and will help you decide on the best options for you.  If you're unsure, just ask a cast member, they are happy to help!



Not only can you find popcorn, Mickey ice cream bars, Dole Whip, Mickey shaped pretzels, and churros, you'll also find pulled pork loaded fries, chicken fried rice, gourmet cupcakes, fruit & veggies, and funnel cake topped with strawberries.  Snack options can range from a couple of dollars to a whopping $7 or $8.

Epcot is host to several special themed events throughout the year that have some truly amazing food kiosks!  Epcot's International Festival of the Arts, Epcot Flower & Garden Festival and Epcot Food & Wine Festival provide special dining opportunities at different times of the year.  At each of these kiosks you can find snack options such as this super yummy lamb chop or white chocolate peanut butter mousse!

When you take the time to slow down, to really look at your surroundings you find some fantastic things in Disney!  Part of the magic of Disney is in the details, and Disney is amazing at details.

These gigantic gears are in front of an iconic ride that Walt Disney showcased at the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair.

Do you ever take a minute to absorb the details of Disney?  If not, you definitely should!

Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom

Disney has some fun extra activities that we've done with the girls in the past. One of our favorites is Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom! Being the self proclaimed geek that he is my husband wanted to play it on our Adults Only trip in September.

Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom is an interactive card deck building game played all over the Magic Kingdom, that allows you to fight Disney Villains and “take back” control of the Magic Kingdom.  Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom can be found in the Fire Station on the left hand side of Magic Kingdom as you enter, just before you go down Main Street USA.  When you enter this beautifully themed building you’ll be greeted by several cast members who will help you get your game set up, show you how to play and give you a pack of cards for each person playing.  Each day you can return to receive another pack of cards to help you fight off the villains who are causing trouble in Magic Kingdom.  Each pack of cards contains a map that will direct you to each portal in four different lands, Fantasyland, Main Street USA, Adventureland and Liberty Square.  You will start your adventure in one of these lands.

When you arrive at your first portal, you tap your magic band to the portal keyhole.  Animation starts on the screen and Merlin gives you some story and then instructions.  You choose one of your spell cards to play against the villains magic.  You may have to use several spells before Merlin gives you a clue that direct you to the next portal in the land you are currently playing in.  Once you’ve completed the portals in one land and defeated the villain, you may choose to play in another land.

In addition, guests who attend Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party can stop by and pick up a special party exclusive spell card. Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom is a fun way to explore the Magic Kingdom Park!  It’s geared to slightly older kids, but little ones love playing with the cards and helping to defeat those cunning Disney villains.

Where in the World?

My favorite parts of Disney World are the often overlooked parts!  Take the time to slow down.  See if you can spot a Hidden Mickey, stop and talk to a cast member, interact with other guests.  You won't be disappointed!

This fantastic mural features a goat with an extra leg.  Have you ever spotted him?  Do you know where you have to stand to catch a glimpse of this sweet guy?

Next time you're rushing to get to your fast pass or advanced dining reservation, take a minute to stop and look around you!  You might spot something extra special!

The Wave...Of American Flavors

Our first meal was a memorable one and a restaurant we will be sure to visit again, hopefully soon!  We had breakfast at The Wave on the first floor of The Contemporary.  The Wave is tucked in the back left hand corner of the lobby, just beyond the check in desk.  It was quiet, not very busy during our breakfast.  The Wave has a menu of ala carte items as well as an impressive buffet.

 Our server, Debi was fantastic.  She was very personable, and had lots of great tips for us.  She offered us a champagne toast to celebrate our anniversary.  It was a great way to start our vacation.  We opted to try the buffet and were not disappointed at all!  The buffet offers some very different, fresh and unique breakfast items.  I tried a fantastic honey yogurt parfait and some fresh tropical fruit that had lychee, which I had never tried and really liked.   There were several different breakfast meats, an egg souffle, potatoes and cheddar grits that were super yummy, and of course Mickey waffles.  There was a great maple syrup carafe, it was constantly churning and heating the maple syrup and there was a spout on the side that allowed you to pour your own syrup into the little pitchers they provided.

One of the things that Debi mentioned to us was that All Star Sports offers cinnamon Mickey waffles with ice cream in the quick service restaurant.  That sounds so good!  I was getting close to finishing my breakfast and I had not eaten my waffle yet when Debi stopped by our table with a bowl of ice cream for me.  It was the perfect finish to my breakfast, a Mickey waffle with ice cream and warm maple syrup, which being a Vermont girl, I can tell you it's the real deal!

If you haven't tried The Wave yet, it's one of my new can't miss restaurants!

Where in the World?

My favorite parts of Disney World are the often overlooked parts!  Take the time to slow down.  See if you can spot a Hidden Mickey, stop and talk to a cast member, interact with other guests.  You won't be disappointed!

Do you look at the finer details Disney Imagineers have added to everything in Disney World?

Where in the world can you find this super cool light?  It's probably not as hidden as you might think!