Something Special

Looking for something out of the ordinary to do at Disney. I reccomend an Illuminations cruise. You depart at sunset from the Beach and Yacht Club and are taken around the waterways that connect Hollywood Stuios and Epcot. Then your boat is parked under the bridge in Epcot between England and France where you sit to watch Illuminations.

As a huge fan of this fireworks show I can tell you that on the water is truly the best place to see it.You can have the boat decorated for an occasion.

We were there for Megan's birthday. The cake was ordered from the Beach and Yacht Club. It tasted as good as it looked.

View of the Boardwalk from the Water

My little sailor

A windblown M.

We rented a pontoon boat, but you can get this too.

Our Fam enjoys the ride.

This is pricey, so it's a good idea to get another family to split the cost if possible.

Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival

Disney's gardens and landscaping are always something to see, but during this time they go all out!

There were even extra playgrounds and activities for the kids!

Caribbean Beach-Pirate Room

Last year we thought it would be a great idea to book one of the pirate rooms at Caribbean beach resort. Our little buccaneers loved it! The theme was carried over really well in the room and made our stay really special. M's stitch takes a ride on the headboard.

The kid's area at the pool.

The fridge is in that barrel.

Flame Tree BBQ

Don't ever eat here. That way the line will be shorter for me.

Okay, I'm joking. This is one of the best counter service restaurants in all of Disney World. Don't let the long line scare you off. It's worth it. Despite having such a long line, they actually keep it moving very quickly. Being southern, I am picky about BBQ, and this was amazing.
The seating area is wonderful and really lets you have a break from the park. It is all outdoors with a few covered areas and a fountain. It might take you a minute to find, as from the front it appears there is no seating. You have to go around the back of the building and follow a short trail. Stands with condiments and silverware are located around the area so you don't need to worry about that until you find your table. We had such a relaxing meal here. I would have sat longer, but we had a fastpass to use. Again, the kids loved the ducks that were wandering everywhere.

Yak and Yeti Counter Service

This place gets great reviews, and maybe my hopes were too high. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. One thing to know is that there are two sets of lines and the menu is slightly different. We ate on the Chinese side and the other side had curry. I will probably return to try the curry, but the Chinese wasn't any better than what you get at the mall.
The seating area was worth a look. It's all outdoors and very well themed. A and M loved it, especially the ducks that were walking around.

Lights, Motor, Action

The car stunt show at Hollywood Studios is something we missed for a long time. Sad for us because it is actually pretty awesome. They do several stunts with various cars showing you how the movie magic is made. It was so much fun. Be sure to check a times guide if you want to see this as there aren't very many shows each day and the last one is done fairly early.

You may want to avoid sitting behind a pole if you want to take pictures!
Also, be prepared to leave early if you have a toddler who's sensitive to loud noises. M couldn't handle it and I had to take her some where quiet.

Ohana-Dinner

We finally got into a dinner at Ohana at the Polynesian. We were so excited and the food was delicious. The meal is served family style and you get to try several kinds of meat grilled in an open kitchen at the center of the restaurant. There are also activities for the kids throughout the meal.

Dipping sauces for the meat. Yum!

Eco-tini

Ice cream for the kids

Pineapple Bread Pudding with vanilla ice cream. I could eat this all day.

Restaurant Marrakesh

I think this is by far the most "foreign" feeling place in Epcot. The flavors of Moroccan food are very different from what we often eat here in America. That said, I loved the food and so did E. The tomato and cucumber salad was amazing. I got a sample platter so I could try several different things, and I was not disappointed. The live music and belly dancer added to the atmosphere.

Osborne Lights

The Osborne Lights are located in the Streets of America section in Hollywood Studios. These are well worth the trip. Periodically the lights dance to Christmas music, and "snow" blows from the roofs. If you are at Disney when the lights are on display, make sure you plan to spend some time there.

Clearly, the children were impressed.

Dinner at Cinderella's Castle

On this last trip we finally got our prince and princess inside the castle. This is one pricey meal, but worth it if you have a princess who thinks the castle belongs to her. M was even excited about being in Cinderella's bathroom.

I would avoid this meal during peak times as the check in was a mess. As character meals go, this one was nice in that you met Cinderella before you ate. Then during the meal they have a little show with the Fairy Godmother and the mice. The food was wonderful as you will see.

Cinderella's friends keep an eye on her

Crab and Salmon Cake
I am picky about seafood, and I loved this

All the girls get a wand and the boys get a sword

Our dinners. E's just looks like a hunk of raw meat to me, but he liked it. I had the pork chop with mashed potatoes and sauteed mushrooms.

Kid's Meal

Our Yummy Ending
From left: Chocolate Buckle, Kid's Sundae, Eggnog Creme Brulee