The Magic in What You Wear at Disney

By: Beth

Do you or members of your family enjoy wearing Disney themed shirts while touring in the Parks? Our family does. We don't always wear a Disney shirt—I know, gasp—but often times we do. 

Whenever possible, we attempt to wear a Disney shirt that reflects which park we will be visiting for the day or a special character that depicts our unique personality or one we hope to find while touring that day. 

Has anything you've worn ever gotten you any special “perks” or surprises while at Disney? 'Ours has, on more than one occasion. 

We were touring World Showcase during the Year of a Million Dreams back in 2008. Rose was on a mission to find Aurora, her favorite Disney Princess at that time. Before leaving our resort that day, we found out where Aurora might be in World Showcase and what time to expect her. Off we headed to fulfill the girl's wishes. 

Both my girls had a wonderful time talking with Aurora and getting her autograph and pictures. Just before we left, both of the girls were told, by Aurora, that Belle was waiting for them “over in the shaded area near the water in Morocco” with a big surprise. According to Aurora, Belle mentioned specifically that my girls would be visiting today, and Belle was waiting for their arrival.  
My girls were beyond ecstatic. So...off we went in search of Belle. 

A Photo-pass photographer spotted us right away. We learned much later that the handler for Aurora had “radioed ahead” that we were on our way, so they were indeed looking for my girls. After the experience took place we also learned that the photographer was not looking for Abbey's bright yellow wheelchair which is rather hard to miss, but rather for the cute t-shirt that had a funny message regarding Beast printed on the front of it. 

When we arrived in Morocco, the handler assisting Belle came up to us and asked us to get in line for Belle's Meet and Greet. The handler politely asked our family to hang back just a bit, which we agreed to do. Other park guests kept going up for pictures and an autograph. My girls were waiting somewhat patiently for their turn. Once again, the handler working with Belle asked our family to wait “just a moment longer.”  I was getting somewhat annoyed, on the verge or saying something, when the MAGIC happened. 

We heard a rather odd clomping sound along the walkway where we were waiting. Beast was being assisted by his personal handler and was coming out specifically to join Belle for pictures and signatures. I'm not sure whose jaw dropped further as my girls watched Beast join Belle for pictures and signatures. Belle's handler was waiting for just the right moment with this extra special magic for my girls. It was well worth the wait. 

The Photo-pass photographer was able to capture many great shots of my girls interaction with not only Beast but Belle as well. Each of my girls had the opportunity to speak with their favorite character for just a moment. Beast laughed and laughed over my daughter's shirt, almost seeming to prefer our sweet Abbey over Belle if that were possible. 

Rose enjoyed a magical moment with Belle, telling her how much more enjoyable reading books was because of her. Belle went through great pains to make sure that Abbey was posed in such a way that her shirt, along with Beast, were highlighted. Once you see the picture, you will understand what was so magical albeit comical about this shot. Truly a magical moment that was totally unplanned on our part—all because of what Abbey decided she wanted to wear that day. 

Just before our time was finished, Belle knelt down to thank Abbey and Rose for coming to visit her today and making the Beast laugh. This is still a very special memory for my girls. 

Wearing Disney or even non-Disney shirts are fun. Before you say it, our family really doesn't believe it had anything to do specifically with The Year Of A Million Dreams, since we've encountered special photographic opportunities both with a Photo-pass photographer and without since this special moment from 2008. Here is a shot from 2012. 

We stopped to chat with these lovely Citizens of Main Street. We are all laughing so hard in this photograph not only because of the Disney themed t-shirt I was wearing, but something else as well. When I was asked to show the BACK-side of my shirt, well the adults all enjoyed a great laugh at the silly “pun” that was made based on every thing I was wearing at the time. Since I am the photographer for the group shot pictured above, I am including my photograph separately. I am sure if you think about it, you will quickly learn the “pun” that was made and why the adults laughed so hard in the above picture. 

At my “expense” and for a special treat on my special day, we received vouchers for free Mickey ice cream bars. We still laugh about this funny encounter, all due to what we were wearing at the time. Special photographic moments seem to happen, for our family at least, because of what a member of our family chose to wear that day and our willingness to interact with the characters in the Parks. 

What is your favorite Disney shirt to wear while touring the Parks. Do you have any special pictures or experiences as a direct result of wearing a specific article of clothing? Inquiring minds enjoy hearing from you as well.

Fantasyland's Be Our Guest Restaurant

Before I begin my review, I just want to say, if visiting Walt Disney World, you absolutely MUST go to Be Our Guest. It is not about the food, it is about the experience. You ARE in the Ballroom from Beauty and the Beast. You ARE in the West Wing! You'll see your host, the Beast! It is absolutely beautiful inside and out, the theming is a 10 out of 10.
But...

...our experience was sadly not as magical as we would have hoped.
We arrived for our reservation a bit early, a good idea, as there always seems to be a line.

Advanced Dining Reservations at the 6 month mark are a very highly suggested at this very popular establishment. We tried to add another couple 5 months prior to our visit, and we were unable to!

The wait was only a few minutes, and we were escorted in. I'd seen the exterior on our previous trip in October of 2012, but my jaw dropped the moment we entered the castle. None of my photos even come close to doing it justice.

We were seated in the ballroom by the West Wing, which I had to check out. On a future trip, I will request to be seated here for a different experience.

Our host, Beast, makes several appearances throughout the evening.

Our server was very friendly, but, as we'd discover, very inattentive.
For dinner, my wife and friend Kandi had the Layered Ratatouille, oven-baked zucchini, eggplant, mushrooms, tomatoes and caramelized onions sliced and layered with quinoa, served with a bell pepper sauce  for $15.99, which they both described as excellent. My wife actually said it was like the scene in the Pixar film "Ratatouille", where the critic was brought back to his childhood after trying the dish prepared by the "Little Chef", Remy.

 

Our friend John had the Grilled Strip Steak, with garlic-herb butter and pommes frites, $29.99.

 He ordered it medium well. It came out charred on the outside, but cooked fine on the inside, and he said it was okay. I tried his fries and they were excellent.

 

I ordered the Thyme-scented Pork Rack Chop, with au gratin macaroni, seasonal vegetables and red wine au jus, $21.99.

The macaroni is a grown up mac and cheese, and it was very good, a little on the rich side. The pork chop was fine. The problem primarily being just 2 nights earlier, at the Hollywood Brown Derby, I'd had the world's BEST pork chop, as I've come to call it, and this was destined to not live up to that. 

After one bite, I realized I should have ordered something different.

 

As for the service, if we wanted anything, we had to locate and flag down our server. 

Then, there was the Grey Stuff, and dessert. 

I asked about the Grey Stuff, and we were told that it was only served for special occasions. As a friend pointed out, isn't the fact the we are at Walt Disney World a special enough occasion?! 

Luckily, our server took note that Kandi and John were wearing their Anniversary buttons, and brought us 2 dollops of the Grey Stuff...

... it's good, but not as delicious as the song would have us believe.

The desserts we ordered, however, were a let down.

 My wife had the Strawberry Cream Cheese Cupcake, vanilla sponge cake, strawberry mousse filling, and cream cheese icing, which sounds amazing, but was described as bland, all the flavor being on top.

John and I each had the Triple Chocolate Cupcake, chocolate sponge cake, chocolate mousse filling, and chocolate ganache. Again, this sounds much better than it actually was.

At $3.99 each,  at least they didn't break the bank. 

So, a mixed bag here. Lackluster service, good, not outstanding, food, but arguably the best themed restaurant in the World. 

We will certainly be back, and I will give a different entree and dessert a try, because where else can you get a photo op like this one of my wife and me dancing in Beast's Ballroom?!

  

This article was originally posted on the Tips From the Disney Diva Blog where Nick is a contributing writer.