Disney Chocolate Milkshake

There are so many unique treats at Disney World - the dole whip, the mickey bar, the carrot cake cookie sandwich, all those cupcakes! - that sometimes you overlook the good, old-fashioned classics...

Like the chocolate milkshake.  Today we're going to take a look at a Disney chocolate milkshake.

You'll find milkshakes all over the place at WDW, but I think they really know how to do a milkshake right at Min & Bill's Dockside Diner in Hollywood Studios.

 

My brothers agree - and they're milkshake experts!  I think Athos may be planning something evil while he sips his milkshake though...lol!  The cast members at the Dockside Diner seem to have made an art of packing the MAXIMUM amount of milkshake into one cup.  They pile it up into these beautiful mountains of chocolate chilly goodness so that it's truly a work of art!

The first time I tried a milkshake here it was the power of suggestion that got me - I was waiting in line to order a sandwich, and the milkshakes going by looked TOO good not to try...

Just be ready to drink it down, cause on a hot day these things melt fast!

MMMMmmm...talk about a tasty lunch!  The chicken salad sandwich here is one of the best sandwiches on the planet, and the milkshake is the perfect way to round off the meal - and if you're on the dining plan, it counts as either your drink or your dessert for the counter service meal!

A Snug Spot (with TWO Fireplaces!) at the Wilderness Lodge

One of my favorite approaches at Walt Disney World is the approach to the Wilderness Lodge.  It's so dramatic.

First you see the resort rising so impressively in the distance that the cars and parking lot just fade away.

As you ascend the steps and follow the bison footprints through the prairie grasses, it's hidden for a moment, and the first strains of Western music reach your ears.

The flowers outside the Wilderness Lodge - especially in the springtime - look like a rainbow exploded.  SO PRETTY.  And you may even find some buffalo wandering amongst the daisies...

Five Fab Friday Finds

Don't you just love alliteration?  I was tempted to title this: "Five Fab Finds for a Fun Frittering away of your Friday," but I resisted. ;)

It's FRIDAY!  That means it's time to share some fun links from around the interwebs for your weekend perusing needs:

1. Is that a new disney cupcake I see over on the Disney Parks blog??  It's themed for the "Monstrous Summer" and I love the Sully-inspired icing - can't wait to try it!

2. The Disney Food Blog did a fun post about assorted Disney merchandise.  I'm totally looking for those princess fascinators the next time I'm in the parks.

3. Confession: my family loves to watch Tobuscus videos.  Tobuscus (aka Toby)  is sometimes off-color but always quirky, and he just makes us laugh.  And I'm kinda impressed that he's carved a career for himself just by playing video games and making hilarious videos.  I liked this song he did about the Vine app.

4. Have you seen the pocket princess fan comics on tumblr?  They are so cute!  I can sympathize with Belle in this one.  I wish my dinnerware could sing and dance!  (I wish the silverware at Be Our Guest did at least!)

5. Last week I did a vlog while I was working on the last pieces of my Magic Kingdom eBook, and now it's out! :)

Where in WDW: Retro Fashion Spot

For this week's #WhereinWDW trivia post, we're going vintage.

I love the stylish ladies in this poster (Can somebody tell me why people don't dress as fabulously as this anymore? ), but do you know where in Walt Disney World to find this retro "fashion spot?"

And the answer to last week's trivia: that arched view is from inside the narrow porch of the Stave Church in the Norway Pavilion at Epcot.  The porch is so tiny you might not realized there's room to squeeze in, but it is a great spot to hide from the rain!

Tartelettes in Tours

I thought we'd head back to France today with some more photos from my recent trip...and since I missed the usual Sweet Treat Monday post, I thought we'd make it a patisserie post. :)  Get ready for some deliciousness!

We left off in the town of Tours in the Loire Valley.  My brother and I were strolling through the streets, killing some time before we had to catch a train to see a castle.  In between the shops, we spotted a very tempting boulangerie:

Naturally, we had to stop in and have a look around...

It was like walking into bread heaven.  All that golden-brown, perfectly-baked, crusty goodness was almost too beautiful to be believed.

And THEN.  There were the tarts.

 

There were SO many tarts, and they all looked SO beautiful!

The question was: which to choose?

Magic Kingdom Scavenger Hunts eBook

The Magic Kingdom Photo Scavenger Hunts eBook HAS ARRIVED!

It has its own bright, shiny page on Amazon right here!  It's $2.99, and you can download it to your kindle - or ipad/iphone/ipod touch or nook as long as you have the kindle app.

The eBook has twelve different scavenger hunt challenges, each composed of ten Disney details and scenes to discover.  That's over a hundred photos of the Magic Kingdom to enjoy!

Every land has its own list, and there are also some special hunts - one dedicated to different views of the castle to find thoughout the park, another just for couples (perfect if you're on your Disneymoon!), one full of not-to-miss details if you're on your first visit to WDW, and finally one for any Disney experts! ;)

To get a preview, click over to Amazon, and you can see the Main Street 
Scavenger Hunt.

If you do buy the book, be sure to leave a review!  I'm thinking of putting up a PDF version on my etsy shop -- if you don't have a kindle and would be interested in that, leave a comment to let me know!

Wishes from Main Street

This very evening at 10pm, Wishes will light up the sky above the Magic Kingdom.

This very evening, for the space of twelve minutes, Disney goers in the park and all around the Seven Seas Lagoon will be caught up by the music and the fireworks and the pixie dust.

There's something kinda comforting to think that the magic of Wishes is happening every single night for somebody, even when you yourself aren't one of that lucky number sending up your own wishes alongside the Disney ones into the night sky.

So if you'll be away from Wishes tonight and are missing it like I am, you're invited to relive it in pictures with another Where to Watch Wishes post!!

The Window Washers of Tomorrowland

Maybe you've heard of the window washers of Fantasyland.  At the windows inside Pinocchio's Village Haus (the ones overlooking It's a Small World), you'll often see cast members writing messages with window washing fluid and a rag for the people setting sail on the happiest cruise that ever sailed.

Well I always thought that was some pretty fun pixie dust, but I have to say it was the window washers of Tomorrowland that really blew me away.

To find these window washers, head to Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe.  That's where I spotted them this past January.

Cosmic Ray's is a fun place.  I actually saw the window washers not in the Sonny Eclipse room (where this pic was taken), but up near the seating area just off of the Sandwich Bays, where there's seating out on the balcony.

OK, how fun would this be?  To just draw on the windows at the Magic Kingdom all day.  So I know from personal experience that that's not actually all you get to do when you're a cast member, but I can dream. ;)  They were doing tic tac toe with the families on the other side of the windows as well.  My favorite was this one:

Tinkerbell!  It was really good too - if that sketch was on a t-shirt I would buy it!

I wonder what other characters that CM does - her Tinkerbell was great!  Maybe they'll make this a thing, the way the water painting on the ground has become a thing.

You've got to love the unexpected pixie dust!!