Of all the salads in Walt Disney World, this one ranks in my top five. Light and cool, yet satisfying, it’s a go-to for those sweltering summer days when one needs delicious food without bloat and big meal blues. It made its debut at the 2013 Epcot Food and Wine Festival, and seems to be a seasonal feature at Animal Kingdom’s Flame Tree BBQ. What makes this recipe shine is its burst of many complex flavors -sweet, tart and tangy – as well as its power punch of nutrition and anti-oxidants. Continue reading “Disney Recipe of the Week: Watermelon Rocket Salad with Pickled Onions”
7 Reasons We’ll Never, Ever Get Another Class A RV
Our very first RV was a gently-used Class A Winnebago, and we named her Stella. My memories of pretty Stella are very fond, as she became our home at many tailgates, woodland-themed birthday parties, and unforgettable excursions across the southeast. As a person who loves to cook (even more so on vacation), Stella was a camping chef’s delight. She proudly boasted long, sweeping countertops, full-sized appliances, and more than enough cabinets to hold every conceivable type of crockpot, rice steamer, and Mickey Waffle Maker imaginable. The king-sized bed provided an extraordinary night’s sleep for Captain Bacon and I. This bed was as comfortable as any I have ever slept in, and I loved how nearly all light could be blocked at night. Continue reading “7 Reasons We’ll Never, Ever Get Another Class A RV”
Disney Recipe of the Week: Boma African Pasta Salad
Tucked neatly into the beautiful Animal Kingdom Lodge at Walt Disney World Resort is Boma, Flavors of Africa. The buffet meal is by far my favorite of any one-priced meal at Disney World. As an adult, I honestly never crave Mickey-shaped waffles or a 1500-calorie purple donut, but exotic food gets me a little bit gung ho. At Boma, my most beloved items are (in order of preference) the oxtail stew, Continue reading “Disney Recipe of the Week: Boma African Pasta Salad”
Mother’s Day Disney Villain Wisdom: 10 Quotes Every Real Mom Uses
Most of us are likely thankful that we didn’t have Lady Tremaine or Cruela de Vil as our mother or stepmother. For those of us that are mothers (or auntie-types), we’d like to hope we are more like Duchess in The Aristocats – full of everlasting patience, beauty, gifts and kindness. Of course, the reality is that even the divas and villains are not pure evil – but rather the shadow personification of their own insecurities. I was raised by a grandmother, who like me and you, loved her children more than the sun and the moon. But these quotes, from the supposed worst of Disney, Continue reading “Mother’s Day Disney Villain Wisdom: 10 Quotes Every Real Mom Uses”
Progress or Peril? The Curious Evolution of Fort Wilderness Junction into Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Resort
Ever since the October 2018 announcement of Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Lodge, Fort Wilderness lovers have been on a roller-coaster ride of emotions regarding the impact of the modern, nature-themed DVC resort on the historic campground. This week’s release of publicly-available permits showing that nine bungalows are planned for the present Clementine Beach and the demolition of Mickey’s Backyard BBQ have once again fueled anxiety across social media. Some are going so far as to fear that the campground itself will end up on the chopping block, but most clues point to a Fort Wilderness Campground that will far outlive most of us. Continue reading “Progress or Peril? The Curious Evolution of Fort Wilderness Junction into Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Resort”
In Defense of the Plain Ol’ Swimming Pools at Fort Wilderness: 7 Things to Know and Love
There’s no volcano slide or underwater music. No zero-entry, waterfalls nor lake views. At the vacation kingdom known for its over-the-top pools, the pools of Fort Wilderness stand in stark contrast. At first glance, they may seem more like well-maintained cooling-off spots found at a nice Holiday Inn. But don’t underestimate them – in some ways they have attributes rarely found at their sister Disney resorts. If you have decided (wisely) on Disney’s Fort Wilderness as your next choice for a Walt Disney World vacation, here are seven ways to see the glass as half-full. Continue reading “In Defense of the Plain Ol’ Swimming Pools at Fort Wilderness: 7 Things to Know and Love”
La Princesa Flojo (The Lazy Princess) Green Chili Dip
This five-ingredient recipe is my go-to when I don’t have a lot of time to prepare for a potluck or party. Or if I’m feeling downright lazy (every day but Tuesday and Friday). It takes all of 15 minutes, and everyone always ravishes it. I recently went to a Mexican-themed work party, where the food was extraordinarily authentic. There were hand-made tortillas, Birria (Mexican goat stew), homemade salsas with imported Continue reading “La Princesa Flojo (The Lazy Princess) Green Chili Dip”
Venus and Mars in Fort Wilderness: Ideal Mother’s Day vs. Father’s Day
Mother’s Day has to be my favorite celebration of the year. It’s clearly a highly selfish one, but there’s little question about whose day it is. I banish all thoughts of cooking and cleaning, and relish that fact that the kids will do whatever I want with me for the entire day. What I have learned over the years is that I need to plan the day myself to some degree, or else we end up doing things that others think I want to do. We too often assume that the ultimate day for us is also the perfect one for another, and I’m amazed how hard it is to learn otherwise. Continue reading “Venus and Mars in Fort Wilderness: Ideal Mother’s Day vs. Father’s Day”
Snow White and the 7 People You Meet in Fort Wilderness
Disney’s Fort Wilderness is a funny place. With more than 800 campsites and a tremendous range of price points, its appeal extends across a broader range of people than most campgrounds do. Amenities and cleanliness of the highest caliber result in its attracting those who might not normally be regular campers, and high-adventure backpackers likely don’t view it as a true camping experience. Like many other campgrounds, it celebrates great outdoors, animals, cookouts, and even the American West. But this is the only campground in America that has Disney theming, and fortunately, it is not overdone and has not been compromised (Chip and Dale are the only cartoon characters to be found). Continue reading “Snow White and the 7 People You Meet in Fort Wilderness”
For Better or Worse: 15 Ways Fort Wilderness Has Changed Since the 1980s
There’s so much to miss about 80s Disney World, including Horizons at Epcot, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, $25 park passes, and an easy day of park hopping between only the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Heck, I even miss the big hair (because it’s so hard for my hair to go straight) and the Jellies shoes. Fort Wilderness feels as though it is a remnant of the way we were in the golden days, but even it has evolved. For starters, the petting farm and pony rides have disappeared from the Settlement Area behind Pioneer Hall. If you haven’t been Continue reading “For Better or Worse: 15 Ways Fort Wilderness Has Changed Since the 1980s”