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2018 Food and Wine Festival Picks Recapped

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Just 22 days now until my Walt Disney World vacation. Woo hoo! When I last visited WDW in 2015, I spent only one day at EPCOT, and the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. I had a lunch reservation at San Angel Inn Restaurante. Well, once I’d had my lunch, I was too full to enjoy any of the festival booths. Lesson learned. This year I have no meal reservations for my EPCOT day. I am going to enjoy the food booths this year!

Thanks to DFB (Disney Food Blog) Guide to the 2018 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, I was able to make some choices in advance. Listed below are the booths and foods that I will choose from.

  • Wine & Dine Studio-Butternut Squash Ravioli
  • Active Eats-Loaded Mac and Cheese
  • Hawaii-Kahlua Pork Slider
  • Refreshment Port-Beef Brisket Poutine
  • Canada-Canadian Cheddar Cheese and Bacon Soup served with a Pretzel Roll
  • France-Crème Brulee
  • Belgium-Belgian Waffle
  • Hops and Barley-New Brunswick Slider
  • Germany-Roast Bratwurst in a Pretzel Roll
  • Brazil-Crispy Pork Belly with Black Beans, Tomato and Onions
  • Canada-Le Cellier Wild Mushroom Beef Filet Mignon
  • Italy-Cannoli
  • Ireland-Roasted Irish Sausage

That’s a lot of choices, but the portions are small, and Mike and I will split everything. It’ll be just enough to get a taste of each item. This is so exciting! We will eat around the world. 🙂

I also found in the DFB Guide to the 2018 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival a Vegetarian Crawl. We have three vegetarians in the family so I thought it was worth a look. Here’s what they suggest:

  • Chocolate Studio-Sweet Dark Chocolate Raspberry Tart with Whipped Cream
  • Earth Eats-IMPOSSIBLE “Burger” Slider with Wasabi Cream and Spicy Asian Slaw on a Sesame Seed Bun
  • Active Eats-Active Eats Energy Bar Bites: a mixture of Chocolate, Nuts, Dried Fruit and Dates
  • Cheese Studio-Maple Boursin Cheesecake with Maple Bourbon Cream, Caramel and Pecan Crunch
  • India-Warm Indian Bread with Pickled Garlic, Mango Salsa and Coriander Pesto Dips
  • Greece- Vegan Loaded Greek “Nachos”: Pita Chips, Meatless Sausage Crumbles and Vegan Tzatziki
  • Ireland-Warm Irish Cheddar Cheese and Stout Dip with Irish Brown Bread
  • Belgium-Belgian Waffle with Berry Compote and Whipped Cream
  • Africa-Spicy Ethiopian Red Lentil Stew with Vegan Yogurt and Quinoa
  • Brazil-Pao de Queijo: Brazilian Cheese Bread

The featured photo for today is from three years ago. We’ve been through a lot since then, but through God’s grace and blessings, we are more ready than ever to enjoy this vacation/family reunion. Bring it on!

Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

PS. Make sure to check out Disney Food Blog (DFB). It is my absolute favorite Disney blog, and I look forward to every post. If you are at all a Disneyphile, then please look for it online. And special thanks to AJ from DFB for never disappointing!

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Noom Report

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Twenty-three days until we travel to Lake Buena Vista and Walt Disney World.

I have been on Noom now for eleven days, and so far I am eight pounds down. That is phenomenal, because I’ve been kind of stuck for months now. I like the program, but I’m still in the Honeymoon Phase.

The nice thing about being only a little over three weeks until our trip to Florida is that I am making sure to walk every day to be in a bit better shape for the extra walking that I’ll do on vacation. I like the way I feel after my daily walk. Yes, I’m pooped and red-faced and sweaty and panting, but I feel invigorated, too. So bring it on!

Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

 

 

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Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Anticipation

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There are only 24 days now until we leave for WDW.

Today’s featured photo was taken three years ago at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom. Mike was Indiana Jones. I was some strange mix of Skeleton Mickey with Minnie ears. Jake was a writer. And Eliza was Red Riding Hood and the Wolf. We had so much fun that night! Even though we mostly walked around and chatted.

I absolutely loved the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular! And the Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade was so fun, especially when the Headless Horseman led it off. But my absolute favorite event of the evening was the Happy Hallowishes Fireworks Show. It is, hands down, the best fireworks show that I have ever seen.

We have tickets to attend again this year. I will once again be in my Mickey Skeleton shirt, but I have better Minnie ears for this year, and I have some Mickey trousers to wear this year. It will be too much, and I will love it! Mike has decided to be Indiana Jones again. I don’t know how the kids and grandkids will dress, but it doesn’t matter. Just being there with them will be so much fun!

Here’s a bit from Disney about the party:

Halloween Fun Awaits at an After-Dark 
Special Event in Magic Kingdom Park!

The Happiest Haunting on Earth 

Halloween… with a Disney Twist!
The witching hour’s almost here, so get your favorite costume ready for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, a separately ticketed event in Magic Kingdom park!

Back again in 2018, it’s the happiest haunting on Earth! Don’t miss your chance to collect candies, sweets and frightfully delightful treats—all while the park hosts grim grinning ghosts, eerie entertainment and Disney Characters that go bump in the night.

Best of all: since the tone of this event is “not-so-scary,” that means children of every age can enjoy the fun!

Disney Villains perform the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween PartyDisney,

It’s Fun to Be Bad

The mischievous Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus return in 2018 to throw a Halloween party.

With only a few hours to run amuck at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Winifred, Mary and Sarah decide to use their magic to host a decidedly wicked fun fest.

Enlisting the help of the Disney villains, the 3 sisters mix sinister shadows, terrifying nightmares and use the nefarious powers of their frightening colleagues to conjure the ultimate Hocus Pocus Party Potion—and cast a spell on everyone in Magic Kingdom park!

Look for appearances from Dr. Facilier, Oogie Boogie and Maleficent. Combine them and other great Disney villains with amazing dancers, wild visual projections and otherworldly special effects to make Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular a not-to-be-missed Halloween treat!

Separate Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party admission is required. All entertainment is subject to change without notice.

A headless horseman rides a horse and holds a candlelit jack-o’-lantern near Cinderella Castle

A Truly Spooktacular Procession

Party with the grim grandmaster of this eerily awesome parade—he’s literally lost his head!

Returning in 2018 at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, a hair-raising ride by the Headless Horseman himself will begin the festivities, followed by a collection of frightening floats featuring Disney Characters in Halloween costumes.

Prepare for a cauldron of grave-digging delights as the stars of the Haunted Mansion steal the spotlight in this family-friendly parade. Boo-lovers beware—you’re sure to have one scare-tastic time…

And remember: it’s really not so scary; just fiendish fun!

Five kids in different costumes walking into Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Happy HalloWishes

Celebrate the hallowed season with a spider web of pyrotechnic effects and haunting melodies.

During Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in 2018, the Ghost Host from the Haunted Mansion invites you to “drop in” as Disney Villains light up the night with fireworks and a wicked version of melodies from Disney’s past that echo through the night—and creepy colors crawl over Cinderella Castle.

The “scare-abration” gets into full swing when some of the Disney Villains we most love to hate—including Maleficent, Ursula, Cruella de Vil, Jafar and Oogie Boogie—croon their scary tunes and do their best to steal the show.

Happy HalloWishes includes a Disney soundtrack of creepy classics including:

  • “Grim Grinning Ghosts,” from the Haunted Mansion attraction
  • “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” from The Little Mermaid
  • “Never Smile at a Crocodile,“ from Peter Pan
  • “The Skeleton Dance,” from Silly Symphony – The Skeleton Dance
  • “Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad Wolf?” from The Three Little Pigs
  • “Oogie Boogie’s Song,” from The Nightmare Before Christmas
  • “Night on Bald Mountain,” from Fantasia

Can you see why I’m so excited about the party? Plus the Magic Kingdom is decorated in a fall/Halloween theme. It is delightful! Last time my October birthday boy Jake, who loves Halloween, relished the whole experience. Here’s hoping we all enjoy it this year, too.

Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

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School Bread (Skolebrød)

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Twenty-five days from today our Walt Disney World family reunion vacation begins. It’s just over three weeks away now. Wow!

We have been to EPCOT many times now, and every time I have wanted to try School  Bread from Kringla Bakeri og Cafe in the Norway pavilion. This is it, folks. This is the trip where I pick up some School Bread and take it back to Disney’s Old Key West for a treat, or maybe for breakfast the next day.

Here’s what Disney has to say about it:

School Bread

Sweet Roll filled with Custard and dipped in Coconut
Short  and sweet, right? Now check out this fantastic review by  The Disney Food Blog, my favorite Disney blog! Thank you, AJ! Check out her blog. Seriously, it is just the best!
School Bread has long been a beloved snack for many Walt Disney World visitors, and more guests are being introduced to its deliciousness every day. This treat, found in Epcot’s Norway pavilion at Kringla Bakeri og Cafe, is actually pretty simple. A sweet bread roll is injected with vanilla pudding or custard, then covered with sweet icing and toasted coconut. The School Bread recipe comes from a classic Norwegian snack (properly titled “Skolebrød”), which kids took to school in their packed lunches or parents sold at bake sales.
The description aside, this is one of those Disney World snacks that actually isn’t too sweet! Which is possibly why so many people love it. This yummy treat won’t knock you on your kiester for the rest of the day — at least in my experience — so it gives folks a good “rest” snack before moving on with the rest of their Epcot touring!
Regarding taste and texture, the bread here is a cross between a cinnamon roll and a dinner roll. It’s not super moist — more springy. But the sweet vanilla custard is extremely smooth and abundant (my big worry before trying this snack was that there wouldn’t be enough custard — not a problem). And the basic icing and coconut on top give it just enough extra sweetness.
While you can eat this snack while walking, I highly recommend getting a table in the little covered area behind Kringla Bakery and taking a seat while snacking. It’s a great opportunity to relax, and trust me — you’ll want to remember this experience!
Now do you understand why I want to try this? Kringla Bakery og Cafe, here I come!
Meet me at the Kingdom.
Donna
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Magic Band Magic!

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I can hardly believe that there are just 26 days until our Walt Disney World vacation begins! And today our Magic Bands arrived. Me and the grandbabies have purple bands, Emi has red, James has blue, and Mike, Jake and Eliza have gray.

This is a very exciting day! These are our passport around the World. With them we can enter the parks, unlock our room door, and pay for meals and souvenirs. They are so cool!

I chose purple because Disney decorates for Halloween with orange, green, black and purple. It’s a very purple time of the year at Walt Disney World. And if purple doesn’t match my outfit for the day? Too bad! I like purple! I will wear my band proudly. 🙂

Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

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My Noom Life

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Twenty-seven days and counting until we head for Florida and Walt Disney World. As the days creep forward, I become more and more convinced that I have GOT to do something to prepare myself for all the walking at WDW. Even using an Electric Conveyance Vehicle (ECV), I will still need to walk to and from bus stops, and to and from the EVC rental locations. So…I am spurred to make sure I am walking for 15-30 minutes straight each day until we vacay.

Also to that end, I joined Noom this week. Here’s part of what they say about themselves from their Facebook page:

Mission
We help people around the world enjoy healthier lives through better nutrition and exercise.
General Information
Let’s get social!

Noom Blog:
noom.com/blog

Instagram:
http://instagram.com/noom

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/noomcoach

Pinterest: 
http://pinterest.com/noomcoach/

Intro to Noom Weight Loss Coach Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=bDhsyI0qeWY&noredirect=1

Products
Noom Coach, Noom Health, Noom Walk, Noom CardioTrainer
It is a calorie based program broken into three categories: green foods, yellow foods and red foods. The categories are based on calorie density and/or highest concentrations of healthy nutrients. They are quick to explain that “red doesn’t mean bad and green doesn’t mean good. Red foods simply raise a red flag for foods that contain a lot of calories without filling you up.”
There is also an exercise portion of the program which I have been too sedentary to qualify for yet. But I am working (walking) toward qualifying.
Since my stroke a year ago last April I had lost 65+ pounds, but I have been stuck there, and had even gained 5+ pounds back. This is what prompted my choice to sign up for Noom. I really like that it is making me more aware of portion sizes, and of what I’m actually putting into my mouth. I’ve been on the program for a week now and have taken off five pounds. The absolute hardest part for me is weighing myself every day. Gosh! I hate that part! Hopefully, it is teaching me how our weight naturally fluctuates on a daily basis.
More on this as we go. Meet me at the Kingdom.
Donna
P.S. It is a glorious Fall day here in Lake Bluff today. Hooray!
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Electric Conveyance Vehicles at WDW

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Gosh! There are only 28 days until we get to vacation at Walt Disney World Resort. I continue to break in my two pairs of walking shoes, so I will be a bit more prepared for days traveling to and from the Disney Parks. Today’s featured photo is me after my walk today. It sure does poop me out! But I definitely have more energy for the rest of the day.

I will rent an EVC. Here’s some of what Disney has to say about them:

If Guests require assistance, Electric Conveyance Vehicles are available for rent at all Walt Disney World theme and water parks as well as Disney Springs.

Price

Walt Disney World Theme Parks

  • Daily: $50
  • A refundable $20 deposit is required at this location

Daily Rentals are transferable between all locations. You pay just once for the day.

When Leaving Your Location
ECVs may not be removed from the destination where they were rented. When exiting your location, simply return your ECV to the rental counter to receive your deposit. If you’re at Disney Springs, your deposit will be returned at this time. If leaving one theme park and visiting another, present your rental receipt with your deposit to secure another ECV, if available.

Know Before You Go

  • ECVs are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Reservations are not accepted, and quantities are limited. Please plan to arrive early.
  • Guests must be 18 years of age to rent ECVs. A photo ID is required.
  • The maximum weight is 450 pounds. ECVs are not designed to hold more than one person.
  • You are welcome to bring and use your own ECV throughout Walt Disney World Resort.

Pretty straight forward, hey? The kids and Mike can walk rings around me, and an EVC helps me to keep up. Even prepping for vacation is fun. 🙂

Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

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Magical Mail On Its Way

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In just 29 days I will go to Walt Disney World. I’ve been working on this vacation for three years, so I can hardly believe it’s only twenty-nine days away!

Yesterday I received a very exciting email from Disney. My Magic Bands have been shipped! So one day next week I will pick up my mail to discover a lovely, Disney box with eight Magic Bands in it: three purple, three gray, one blue and one red. Be still my heart! Anticipation…anticipa-ya-tion is making wait… Thank you, Carly Simon, for that fantastic song! I’ll make sure to print a photo in my blog when they arrive.

This is getting real now, Folks! Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

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Magical Mail

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Just 30 days now until we stick the bags in the car and head to Walt Disney World. One month!! Wow!

Yesterday our luggage tags arrived for Magical Express. I can’t even explain how exciting it is to receive that letter! I was over the moon, because it makes it feel so real. I have started packing. Matching family tee shirts-check. Swimsuits and beach towels for the grandbabies-check. Trays for EPCOT’s International Food and Wine Festival-check. And on and on.

I will be so happy to check our luggage at the airport, and not have to handle it again until it arrives at our villa at Old Key West. And climbing the steps into that Magical Express Bus is indeed a magical experience. I can just exhale. And I can revel in the sight of palm trees and Disney road signs. So fun! I love the smell of sunscreen in the morning…and in the evening, for that matter. I love the sound of the excited chatter on the bus. I love the feel of that warm, humid Florida air, so different from our Chicagoland air that I can even taste it. When that bus turns the last corner, and I see the Old Key West welcoming booth it will be pure bliss.

It’s real now. It’s on track to happen. Hooray! Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

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Garden Grocer

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Just 31 days, People! A mere 31 days until we head to Walt Disney World. Today I placed our grocery order with Garden Grocer. It’s a bit expensive, but we had such great luck with them three years ago, that we want to stick with them this time.

One of the benefits of staying at a Disney Vacation Club resort is you have a full kitchen, except for in the studios, which means you can save money by eating some meals in your room. We plan to eat one meal out each day, usually lunch, and we have our other eats in the three bedroom grand villa.

Well…when I placed the grocery order, I put in the wrong date! Instead of entering October 20 as our deliver date, I put in September 20. Yup, tomorrow!! Thank the Lord, I got a call from Jose at Garden Grocer double checking my details. After I was done hyperventilating, Jose fixed my delivery date to October 20. Whew! That was a close call. And thank you, thank you, thank you to Jose and Garden Grocer for checking!

That’s it for today, friends. Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna