Princess Half Marathon Weekend at Walt Disney World; Part: 1

By Nick

Part 1 : Thursday, February 18th

My last trip to Walt Disney World may have been another trip without my wife, but I don't necessarily consider it solo, as I spent a lot of the time with friends and family.

I set out very early and right off the bat ran into a long time friend, Timmy, at the airport!

When I arrived at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, Kidani Village, I was very happy to find my room ready. It was a standard view, but with a nice view of trees at least.

I unpacked my carry on bag, and then headed for Epcot, where my first stop was La Cava del Tequila followed by a ride on Gran Fiesta Tour.

This was followed by lunch at the Tangierine Cafe in the Morocco Pavilion.

I walked around World Showcase enjoying the absolutely gorgeous day before heading back to the room to change.

I was contacted by my wife's cousin Jill and her husband Zach, who were visiting at the same time! This was a happy coincidence. They were visiting to support their friend Amber, who was doing the Princess Half Marathon.

We met at Disney's Hollywood Studios and hit a few rides using our FastPasses, and got a photo with Kylo Ren at Star Wars Launch Bay, who I must say, is more intense and intimidating than Darth Vader!

 Amber and her husband Ryan arrived a little later, and we all were treated to an excellent dinner at The Hollywood Brown Derby by Zach. Thanks Zach!

 Amber, Ryan, Jill, Zach and me.

It was a great start to another great trip. 

Zootopia ; A Spoiler Free Review

By Nick

I openly admit I really didn't pay a whole lot of attention to Zootopia at first. The preview I saw looked funny, but it didn't grab me. I thought perhaps we'd see it in the theater, or maybe just wait until it was released on Blu-ray.

Then, while in Walt Disney World a few weeks ago, I happened to be at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge at the same time as some of the stars of the movie, there to do press for the films release. No, I didn't actually see anyone famous, but for the first time I paid attention to who was actually voice talent in the movie. I really like Ginnifer Goodwin on Once Upon a Time, and I think Jason Bateman is a very good actor, especially enjoying his performance on Arrested Development.

Then I was in our local Disney Store last weekend, and I saw some of the merchandise from Zoo (fans of the movie are okay to call Zootopia "Zoo" for short) and that is when I saw that the character played by Jason Bateman is named Nick.

An animated Disney character named Nick. Finally! (It gets better. More on that in a bit.)

I immediately bought the plush Nick, and started watching all the various videos being released on the Disney Parks Blog.

Suddenly, I couldn't wait to see it!

It's fantastic! Beautiful to look at. Clever dialogue and story. Funny. Heartwarming. Touching. Suspenseful. Inspiring. Insert adjective here.
So many visual site gags it demands repeat viewing. It's appealing to kids while certainly not talking down to them, the very opposite in fact. It manages to be socially conscience while not being preachy.

And a shout out to one of my favorite Christmas specials!

To 3D or not 3D? I'm, not sure it's necessary, honestly.

Oh, and Nick? His full name is indeed Nicholas! Better and better!

Seriously, both my wife and I cannot wait to see it again, and, in fact, contemplated asking if there were any free seats for the next show.

Will you see or have you seen Zootopia, and what'd you think?

Episode 64 of The Disney Exchange: All Together at Walt Disney World

By Nick

Podcast: Play in new window | Download  

The Disney Exchange is David Hodges, Lisa Green and me, Nicholas Maglio.

 Me, Lisa & Dave

Lisa is back this week, and she reveals she has indeed stayed at a Value Resort! Yes, I was shocked also.

Thank you to those who have given us 5 star reviews on iTunes, they are very much appreciated. And we are up to 22 listeners. Lisa wants to know who will be 25?!

We launch into our main topic: The fact that we were all together at Walt Disney World! The brains (Lisa), the brawn (David), and the beauty (hello)!

Lisa, Dave and I met up at the Health and Fitness Expo for The Princess Half Marathon Weekend.

Lisa's husband Raymond, me, Lisa, Dave and Dave's wife Anne

Lisa isn't a big fan of the color pink, unless it's a pink cup filled with beer.

We talk our about our 10K adventures and our get together at the Magic Kingdom which was sadly much too short due to rides being down, and Dave's illness.

Anne, Belle and I 

 Dave's lovely tall family at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Yea, we did the Country Bear Jamboree

After Dave and his family left, Lisa, her husband Raymond and I spent a very entertaining late afternoon and early evening at Epcot.

 Ladies and gentleman; The Princess Pose 

 The Prince and the Princess

Raymond Lisa and I having an adult beverage at the U.K. Pavilion

Thank you so much for coming to see us at the France Pavilion, Rebeca, Patty and Derek.

The next day, Lisa, Raymond, Barbie's cousin Jill, Jill's husband Zach, friends Amber and Ryan and I had a wonderful time at Jock Lindsey's and The BOATHOUSE. It would have been better with Dave and Anne, but Dave was at death's door!

 Ryan, Jill, Raymond, Amber, Lisa, me, and Zach

In a boat at The BOATHOUSE

It was a really fun weekend and I look forward to meeting up with my awesome co-hosts again!

Dave made up for lost time with a visit to Disney Springs and Disney's Hollywood Studios later that week. And he did the Star Wars Dessert Party! 

 

The Wheel of Distiny topic:  One thing in a park we get a photo of every trip to Walt Disney World. (Thank you for submitting this Gaylin.)

Thank you for listening to The Disney Exchange Podcast, where parsnips get confused with parsecs.

You can find us on our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/thedisneyexchange
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneyexchange
Or email us at: info@thedisneyexchange 

5 Random Tips : Disney World Table Service

By Lisa Green

 

Today’s tips are brought to you by my current state of hunger.  Having an empty belly, thinking about our upcoming trip to Walt Disney World, I just started brainstorming important things about selecting table service restaurants…only, here in Louisiana, the brainstorm is more like a brain hurricane!

For us, the selection of Disney dining options begins exactly 180 days from our vacation – as soon as that window opens up for making ADRs (advance dining reservations), we are booking maniacs.  Planning the actual selections begins even sooner than that!  We love the opportunity to sit down together as a family (usually once each day) and enjoy some of the delicious dining options Walt Disney World offers – at a fairly leisurely pace.  We love the number of table service options there are to choose from.  We love trying new things and revisiting old favorites.

Disney World Table Service – 5 Random Tips


Tip #1 – If you’re thinking, “I don’t know what I’ll feel like eating so far in advance!” get over it!  You don’t have to book ALL your ADRs at 180 days, but if you’re even toying with ‘Ohana, Le Cellier, Be Our Guest, and/or a few others in the uber-popular category, book a reservation at the earliest possible moment!  I would be so sad if my family was really counting on eating at one or more of the most popular places and we couldn’t get in.  If what you want is not available when you first try – keep checking!  Cancellations happen all the time.  My cautionary tale:  We were once waiting for our ADR at ‘Ohana when a lady with a very long blond (totally artificial) ponytail (I remember the weirdest details) walked up to the podium and asked for a table.  When told there were none available, she said, “We don’t care about the wait, we’ll take whatever you’ve got!” – she was completely (tragically) shocked when the cast member explained that all available tables for the entire evening had been booked.  Don’t let this happen to you!

Tip #2:  Are you picky?  If you’re more about a particular food than an experience, do some research.  Menus and reviews are available all over the interwebs!  Looking for a good steak?  There are quite a few choices.  Keep in mind that the way steak (or your other favorite food) is prepared where you live may be a bit different than it is at Walt Disney World.  Different regions seem to have different criteria for rare, medium, and well-done.  Be as descriptive as possible!  Say, “Warm and slightly pink in the center” or “No pink in my steak at all” or “Moo-ing gently as I cut into it” – this will get you a lot closer to what you want than the generic beef terminology.

Tip #3:  Are your kids picky?  We feel your pain!  We have yet to find a table service restaurant that wouldn’t help us figure out how to feed our picky eater.  Ask your server for suggestions.  Tell them if your picky one has special dining needs (like no food must touch!)  It’s been our experience that they’re usually more than happy to work with you to make sure your experience is the best it can be.  When in doubt, we’ve gone with one of the many buffets available.  The kid-friendly sections are really great!

Tip #4:  FYI – Walt Disney World typically does not do pizza well.  Don’t count on finding good pizza there.  In fact, I’ll go ahead and just say that the pizza is notoriously awful.  Your best chance is in Epcot’s Italy Pavilion at Via Napoli.  If you can make it a week without a pie, you should try to do that.  Please, oh, please – if you’ve GOT to enter Pizza Planet at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – go for the arcade games!

Tip #5:  Save room!  Nothing makes me madder than when I sit down at a great restaurant (like the Flying Fish Café on the Boardwalk, Raglan Road in Downtown Disney/Disney Springs or ‘Ohana at the Polynesian Village Resort) and I’ve eaten so much earlier in the day that I’m not going to be able to do the meal justice.  That’s the beauty of tip #1 – you’ll know when you need to hold back and make sure you’re good and hungry when you arrive for your ADR!

What is your best table service tip?  What’s your favorite table service restaurant?
Need info?  There’s always helpful information at the Disney Food Blog!

This article was originally posted on Lisa's Living a Disney Life Blog.
She can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LivingaDisLife and on Twitter at @life_of_green

Please be sure to check out Lisa along with me and David Hodges on The Disney Exchange Podcast!

Walt's Time: The Sherman Brothers

By Nick

On March 5th, 2012, the world lost a musical genius and Disney Legend, Robert B. Sherman.
If you are looking at this blog, you are very likely familiar with the works of Robert and his brother, Richard M. Sherman.

To go into detail as to the Sherman Brother’s contribution to Disney, indeed, music in general, would take many, many pages.

There is actually a book that does just that.

A couple of years ago, my wife bought me this book for my birthday. I’m not sure what she payed, but it is out of print, and fairly collectible.
“Walt’s Time: from before to beyond” is from 1998, 252 pages long, and is packed with many wonderful stories of their time with Walt and beyond.



The inside lists just a few of the many songs that have been part of my life from birth.



The book begins with the Sherman Brother’s very first meeting with Walt, their associations at the studio, and many sketches from animators and illustrators at the Walt Disney Studios.








From live action movies, animated films, and the Disney Parks, the Sherman Brother’s have contributed some of the most beloved songs ever written.

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A lovely tribute to Walt Disney, who, along with their father, the brothers considered their biggest influence.



In 1990, the brothers were named Disney Legends.



This book is a wonderful look at 2 musical giants.

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R.I.P. Robert B. Sherman, December 19, 1925 – March 5, 2012.

Wordless Wednesday: Maharajah Jungle Trek in Disney's Animal Kingdom

Photos Nick