Throwback Thursday: Walt Disney World-September/October 2008 - Part 5

By Nick

Wednesday, October 1st 2008

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4

At Disney's Hollywood Studios for rope drop, made the B-line for Toy Story Midway Mania, then 2 rides on Tower of Terror, a The Great Movie Ride, and then back to TSMM to use our FastPasses (this was the days of the paper FastPass).



By then it was 11:30am, so we headed over to Epcot to hit the Food and Wine kiosks we'd missed previously.





We rode Test Track, and then headed back to swim.



About 6pm we headed over to the Magic Kingdom.



It was October 1st, Walt Disney World's birthday. Cast Members used to get special birthday buttons every year, so I thought I'd try to score one. 

Well, we got to the MK and walked around, and noticed nobody had a pin on. I went to guest services to inquire, and the girl we spoke to said that they didn't get a pin that year. Usually they are handed the pin when they clock in, and for the 1st time in 37 years, no pin!

That was sad.
We drowned our sorrows in Dole Whip Floats. We rode Haunted Mansion, and because I was still sad, I further consoled myself with a burger at Pecos Bill's. About 8, we took the monorail over to the Polynesian, where we met up with Pam, Tom, Kathy, Ron, Dave (owner of David's Vacation Club Rentals) and his wife Cathy.

We all watched Wishes from the beach and talked. Afterwards, Pam and Tom were kind enough to drive us back to the Boardwalk.

Walt Disney World Photo Ops Off the Beaten Path

By Lisa Green

We all want to have Disney World vacation photos taken in front of Magic Kingdom’s Cinderella Castle, Epcot’s Spaceship Earth, Animal Kingdom’s Tree of Life, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Sorcerer’s Hat (maybe).  Those are the quintessential pictures we treasure, of course, and that’s where the Disney Photo Pass photographers are located/easiest to find.  What I want to talk about today is this:  Where else around the World can we snap some photos that’ll make awesome, if a little less iconic, treasures?

When I’m looking at our vacation pics*, I find I really love these off the beaten path, lesser known photo-ops and the funny (some are hilarious) moments captured there.
If you’re planning to go to Disney World, here are some different photo locations you might consider:

The Beanstalk! (Magic Kingdom’s Fantasy Land) and The Snowman (Disney’s Hollywood Studios)




Tiki Man (gift shop at the Polynesian Resort), Toy Soldier (Pixar Place, Studios)



The Great White Shark (Living Seas, Epcot)…give that guy a toothpick!



I found Nemo! – Also at Epcot’s Living Seas (just steps away from the seagulls that yell “MINE!”)



I don’t know if it’s still there, but some custodial-type cast members joined in the fun with us at this giant Coca-Cola bottle (in the Studios).



*Just a note about the picture quality – these are, for the most part, pictures of pictures due to the tragic and unfortunate loss of digital copies our home suffered in the “great computer crash of 2011″.  Sorry they’re not better this time.

If you’ve been to Disney World before, I invite you to look back over some of your most beloved photos from all around the parks – what locations (aside from the big four) were your favorites?

This article was originally posted on the Living a Disney Life Blog.

Favorite Food Friday: Dole Whips and Dole Whip Floats

By Nick

Dole Whip is a soft serve pineapple flavored frozen dessert which can be found at Captain Cook's at the Polynesian, but we mostly get it at Aloha Isle in Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom.

In Disneyland it can be found outside of Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room at the Tiki Juice Bar.

Dole Whips not only come in pineapple, but they also come in orange, and you can get them swirled with vanilla.
And of course, there is the Pineapple Float, which I always refer to as a Dole Whip Float. It is pineapple, vanilla, or orange soft serve with pineapple juice. We always get the classics though, the pineapple Dole Whip and the Dole Whip Float. In fact, we love it so much, we have even made them at home!

 

Favorite Food Friday: Tonga Toast at Disney's Polynesian Resort

by: Nick

Have you ever tried Tonga Toast, which can be found at the Kona Cafe at Disney's Polynesian Resort?

Tonga Toast is a classic, as it has been served at the Polynesian since 1971. It's sourdough bread, stuffed with banana and deep fried.

It's served with a delicious Stawberry Compote.

I first had this delicious entree almost 20 years ago, and I've only had it twice, mostly because it's a bit of a trip to get to the Poly for breakfast, but we may have to put it into regular rotation.

The recipe from Magical Recipes:

Ingredients

Tonga Toast
 
1. 2 or 4 slices sourdough bread, cut 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick
2. 1 banana
3. 1/3 cup sugar
4. 1 teaspoon cinnamon 
5. 1 egg
6. 1/4 cup milk
7. 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
8. oil or shortening for frying
9. whipped butter and/or syrup
Strawberry Compote
10. 10 large strawberries
11. 1/4 cup sugar
12. 1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

Tonga Toast
 
1. Cut a 1-inch pocket in one side of each bread slice.
2. Cut banana in half crosswise, then split each piece lengthwise.
3. Remove peel and stuff 2 pieces of fruit in each pocket of bread; set aside.
4. Mix sugar and cinnamon; set aside.
5. Mix well the egg, milk and vanilla.
6. Heat about 4 inches of oil in a pan to 350 degrees F.
7. Dip stuffed bread into egg/milk mixture and let it soak a few seconds to let penetrate bread.
8. Fry bread on both sides in hot oil until lightly browned, about 3 minutes.
9. Drain on paper towels or wire rack.
10. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and serve.
Strawberry Compote
 
11. Slice 6 strawberries and place in small pot.
12. Add sugar and vanilla, stir.
13. Cook over medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes until mixtures starts to boil.
14. Place 4 sliced strawberries in a blender or food processor.
15. Add cooked strawberry mixture and blend until smooth.
16. Serve warm or cold.

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