Walt: The Man Behind the Myth

This DVD is a great addition to any Disney fan's library.  We strongly recommend it to those who are interested in the history of Walt Disney.  It is narrated by Dick Van Dyke.

Read the review by Mark Deming from All Movie Guide:

Few men have had as great an impact on American popular culture as Walt Disney. Starting with a handful of cartoon characters, Disney created an entertainment empire that revolutionized movies and television, and created the theme park industry as we know it today. Disney also created a carefully molded public image as the joyous and fatherly spinner of magic tales, but behind that facade was a shrewd businessman, an artist who knew how to bring out ideas in his collaborators, and a family man who was devoted to his wife and children even though he wasn't always sure how to show it. Walt: The Man Behind the Myth is a made-for-television documentary (produced by the Disney organization) that takes a look at the Walt Disney his friends, family, and co-workers knew, featuring interviews with almost 50 people who share their memories of Disney, illustrated with rare behind-the-scenes footage from the Disney studios and never-before-seen home movies.

Dining In and Around the Park, Part 4

Our first recommendation is Cafe Orlean's in New Orlean's Square.  Since it was the first time eating here we had no idea what to expect. 

Here is their menu:

French-Quarter Thirst Quencher

Tinker Bell and Friends or Lightning McQueen Raceway Punch - Minute Maid Light Lemonade served in a souvenir Fairies or Cars Cup with a glowing Tinker Bell or Lightning McQueen clip-on light. $6.49

Starters
French Onion Soup - Sauteed sweet-onion medley in a traditional broth with melted Gruyere cheese. $7.99

New Orleans Gumbo - A rich, flavorful stew with chicken, andouille sausage and tasso ham, served with Cajun-style "dirty rice". Cup $3.99, Bowl $7.99

Pommes Frites - Traditional French-fried potatoes tossed with Parmesan cheese, garlic and parsley, served with a Cajun spice remoulade $4.99

La Salade de Maison - Our Cafe Orleans signature house salad, featuring tossed baby greens in a raspberry vinaigrette, topped with cherry tomatoes, crumbled goat cheese and caramelized pecans. C'est bon! $3.99

Entrees
Split Plate Charge $4.00

Monte Cristo Sandwich - Sliced turkey, ham and Swiss cheese fried in a light batter and served with berry puree dusted with Powdered Sugar. $15.99

Three-Cheese Monte Cristo - Swiss, mozzarella and Double Creme Brie fried in a light batter and served with Berry Puree dusted with Powdered Sugar. $15.99

Mardi Gras Chicken Sandwich - Blackened Chicken Breast with Cajun Spices and Avocado Relish on a Multigrain Roll served with a tossed Mixed Greens Salad. $15.99

Creole Ratatouille - A N'awlins twist on a French favorite! Vegetable ragout with Eggplat, Red Onions, Bell Peppers, Squash, Zucchini, and fresh Garlic served with Corn Cakes topped with Grana Padano Cheese. $13.99

"Crescent City" Salmon Salad - Pan-seared Atlantic Salmon on top of fresh Spinach and Mixed Baby Greens, tossed with Carmelized Pecans, Red Grapes, Navel Orange Segments, Caramelized Onions, Chopped Green Onions, Roasted Sweet Corn, and Orange-Cilantro Vinaigrette. $15.99

French Quarter Caesar Salad with Blackened Chicken - Romaine Hearts tossed in a traditional Caesar Dressing topped with Blackened Chicken and shaved Grana Padano Cheese. $13.99

Freshly Prepared Crepes
Delicate crepes - made to order. Served with sauteed asparagus and new potatoes.

Chicken Gumbo Crepe - Sauteed chicken, Andouille Sausage, Tasso Ham, and Creole Gumbo Sauce. $15.99

Seafood Herb Crepe - With a traditional Mornay sauce and Mozzarella. $15.99

Desserts
"Mickey" shaped Beignets - Topped with Powdered Sugar served with Raspberry Coulis and vanilla Bean Creme Anglaise $6.99

Royal Street Banana-Bread Pudding - Freshly Baked Bread Pudding with Bananas served with a drizzle of Vanilla Bean Creme Anglaise and Caramel Sauce finished with Whipped Cream. $6.99

St. Charles Mixed-Berry Crepe - Delicate, hand-made Crepe, filled with Raspberries and Blueberries tossed with a Warm Spiced Apple Glaze and topped with a Balsamic-Orange Reduction Sauce. $6.99

Beverages
Coke, diet Coke, Sprite, Lite Lemonade, or Fanta Orange $2.99

Coffee, regular or decaf $2.79

Hot Tea $2.79

Hot Chocolate $2.79

Espresso - $2.99

Cappuccino - $4.19

Caffe Latte - $4.19

Caffe Mocha - $4.29

Here is the French Quarter Caesar Salad with Blackened Chicken.  It was quite a bit of salad and it tasted delicious!

We also got the Mardi Gras Chicken Sandwich, which was also very good.  It is pictures above.  The price for the quality of the food was good.

This restaurant is known primarily for the Monte Cristo Sandwich.  Click here to see a picture and a recipe to make it at home. 

We would definately eat at this restaurant again.  What is not to love about New Orlean's Square

Lucky Fotune Cookery

We were excited to try the newly located and reopened Chinese food in California Adventure.  Here is their menu:

Asian Rice Bowl - Each bowl contains steamed rice and seared asian vegetables - $9.49

Step 1 - Choose Your favorite - Chicken, Beef Tofu
Step 2 - Choose Your Sauce - Mandarin Orange, Spicy Korean, Thai Coconut Curry, Teriyaki
Disney's Munch, Inc.

Teriyaki Chicken and Rice served with fruit cup and choice of drink - $6.49

Sides
Edamame - $2.99
Fresh Mango Slices - $3.49

Beverages

Souvenir Sipper - $8.99

Coke, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Sprite, Minute Maid Lemonade, PEAK Ice Tea - $2.79/$3.29
Bottled Water - $2.79
Minute Maid Apple or Orange Juice - $1.59
Nesquik Chocolate Milk - $2.69
Hot Cocoa - $2.79
Coffee - $2.79

Hot Tea - $2.79

Low-fate Milk - $1.59
Sapporo - $6.50

Here is how the food is served.  Below is a picture of the Manderin Orange Beef.  It is nice that you can carry it out with you if you can't finish.  That is the only good thing we can say about the food.  It was very processed and the flavor was not very good.  We do not recommend this restaurant when eating in the park.

If you do plan on eating at any of the places listed on this website, make sure to check on current prices and make reservations at the nicer restaurants.  This will ensure you can eat when you want to.

Snacking in the Parks

You will find many carts throughout the parks that offer lots of healthy options when you need a good pick me up.  They sell apples, oranges, bananas, waters, and fruit drinks.  In some areas pineapple spears and pickles are also sold. 

Our Favorite Disney Sites

Be sure to check out "Our Favorite Disney Sites" and "Our Favorite Disney Blogs" on the left side of this blog.  Here you will find links to sites we recommend for further reading.  They are organized in alphabetical order but we have broken them down by type here: 

Time Saving
Ridemax (Sign up to receive a daily plan to save you time)

Disney Official Sites
D23 (The Official Disney Fan Club)
Disney Movie Club (Become a member and find hard to find Disney movies)
Disney DVD Official Site (List of all Disney DVD's)
Disney Parks Mobile (See what is going on in the park right now and check out other Travel offers)
Disney Movie Rewards (Receive merchandise by signing up and entering the code from purchased movies)
Disney Parks (The master site for all Disney Parks)
Disney Parks Blog (The Official Disney Blog)
Disney Vacation DVD's (Click here to read our post on these free DVD's)
Disneyland Resorts (Disneyland, Disney World, Paris, Hong Kong, Tokyo)

Cost Saving
Get Away Today (Vacation planning and travel booking)
Mouse Savers (Save on vacation and travel expenses.  Sign up for Email Notifications)

Disney Fan Blogs / Souvenirs
AllEars (News and events at the parks)
Daveland (News and events at the parks)
DISboards (News and events at the parks)
Disney Frontier (News and events at the parks)
Disney Mouse Links (News and events at the parks)
Disney Music Loop (Want to know what music plays in the park?)
Disney Stationary (Want Disney stationary to print from home?)
Disneyland Postcards (See what old postcards were sold at the park)
Hidden Mickeys (See where the hidden Mickey's are hidden throughout the parks)
HV10N90 (Great Youtube site with many great videos from the park)
INTERCOT (Disneyworld Information)
Laughing Place (News and events at the parks)
Miceage (News and events at the parks)
Mickey Avenue (Download Disney fonts on your computer)
Mouseplanet (News and events at the parks)
Name Tag Museum (News and events at the parks)
RU42 Video Production (Purchase top quality videos to remember your trip)
Vintage Disneyland Tickets (See older tickets and programs from years past)
Walt Disney Quotes (Great quotes from Walt Disney)
WDWmagic (Disneyworld News)
Yesterland (See what's changed at the parks)

Check back for updates and changes on the left side of our blog.  As new sites are found we will update.

Disney Parks Online Videos

We found this great channel on YouTube.  This channel has every parade, ride, and firework show.  It even has interactive maps that you can click on and see videos from each section of the parks.  Click here to check it out! 

http://www.youtube.com/user/HV10N90

Unofficial Guides

 

For many Disney travelers The Unofficial Guide To Walt Disney World and The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland by Bob Sehlinger and Len Testa are simply known as the Good Books. For many years the Unofficial Guides has told you everything you ever wanted to know about visiting the Disney theme parks and resorts and a lot more. These are essential books for trip planning and it is no wonder why they remains the best selling Disney books on Amazon.

Last year the books were enhanced with practical color photos. One series compares the crowd levels at different times of the day and another compares a Disney burger to one from McDonalds. You can see examples of the various Disney transportation modes, the Fastpass system, and what the differences are in amenities between a value, moderate, and deluxe resort.

They are “unofficial” for a reason as they pay for everything themselves. While in the parks researchers wear logo shirts and are very talkative with other guests.  They are always asking questions. There is balance and it is refreshing. The authors recognize that these trips are not inexpensive and you want to get the best value possible in these tough economic times.

The books are updated each year and the text does change. I have noticed in these editions they are especially critical about rising ticket prices, the bus transportation systems, and the increase in dining prices. Much of the analysis is quantitative and measurable unlike other travel books. Want to book one of the in-demand dining spots? There is a chart that tells you how many days in advance each place gets filled. They even measure pillow fluffiness.

Another fun feature embedded in the attraction descriptions are side notes from Jim Hill. My impression is that most of the rumors of potential ride upgrades are connected to some sort of Disney property in order to get the greenlight. Synergy.

If you plan on visiting Universal Studio, this book has a very comprehensive section for those parks and resorts as well.

Here are five unofficial ways to prepare for your trip to a Disney Park by the author, Bob Sehlinger:

1. Select the time of year for your visit: The parks are busiest Christmas Day through New Year’s Day. Thanksgiving weekend, the week of Washington’s birthday, the first full week of November, spring break for colleges, and the two weeks around Easter are also times when visitation can peak at 92,000 visitors in a single day. The park is far less crowded during the off season, but be advised that the parks often open late and close early during that time.

2. Shape up: Visiting Disney Parks require levels of industry and stamina more often associated with running marathons. As you plan your time at Disney Parks, consider your physical limitations. It’s exhausting to rise at dawn and run around a theme park for 8 to 12 hours day after day. Every Disney vacation itinerary should include days when you don’t go to a theme park and days when you sleep in and take the morning off. Plan these to follow unusually long and arduous days.  There is also information about hotels in the area.

3. Formulate your park plan: First-time visitors should see Epcot first; you’ll be able to enjoy it without having been preconditioned to think of Disney entertainment as solely fantasy or adventure. See Animal Kingdom second. Like Epcot, it’s educational, but its live animals provide a change of pace. Next, see Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which helps transition from the educational Epcot and Animal Kingdom to the fanciful Magic Kingdom. Also, because DHS is smaller, you won’t walk as much or stay as long. Save the Magic Kingdom for last; it’s the park that epitomizes Disney World for most visitors.

4. Create your touring plan: Which rides and attractions appeal most to you? What are you willing to forgo? Planning your day in advance can save you up to four hours of waiting time in line. We have developed a hierarchy of categories that will help you evaluate each ride and plan the best way to enjoy them all. For example, SUPER-HEADLINERS are the best attractions the theme park has to offer – and they usually have the longest lines. MINOR ATTRACTIONS are midway-type rides, small “dark” rides (cars on a track, zigzagging through the dark) and walk-through attractions—which can be a lot of fun, without the long wait. Remember that bigger and more elaborate doesn’t always mean better. See examples of touring plans (and create your own) in The Unofficial Guides.  Also includes are height requirements, and best times to visit attractions.

5. Getting hungry?: There are three lessons to learn before you dine in the parks. One: Theme-park restaurants rush their customers in order to make room for the next group of diners. If you want to linger over your expensive meal, don’t order your entire dinner at once. Order drinks. Study the menu while you sip, then order appetizers. Tell the waiter you need more time to decide among entrees. Order your main course only after appetizers have been served. Dawdle over dessert. Two: If you’re dining in a theme park and cost is an issue, make lunch your main meal. Entrees are similar to those on the dinner menu, but prices are significantly lower. Three: Disney adds a surcharge of $4 per adult and $2 per child to certain popular restaurants during weeks of peak attendance, including Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, and in 2009 every day from Memorial Day through July 4.  There is also information about eating outside the park.

Check out these books!  They are an amazing addition to your Disney library and are very helpful in planning a successful trip.  If you would like some additional reading by Bob Sehlinger check out the following:

-The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World With Kids

-Beyond Disney

Disney Planning DVD's

If you are planning a trip to a Disney Park or a Disney Cruise click here to order a vacation planning DVD.  They are free of charge and provide you a great look at things to do and places to go.  If you have a small child or it has been many years since your last visit, this is a great way to prepare for your trip.  You will want to order atleast a month before your trip.