Expedition Everest Challenge
Jeffswear

Posted on May 18, 2012 by

At race registration, participants had the opportunity to sign this piece of artwork, which was brought to the starting line of the race.

Last weekend, I took part in the fifth annual Expedition Everest Challenge. This is billed by runDisney as a “5K trek including obstacles and challenges” throughout Disney’s Animal Kingdom, concluding with a scavenger hunt. But is it worth it?

The Everest Challenge is another of Walt Disney World’s growing list of nighttime races. Others in this category include the Tower of Terror Ten Miler and the Wine and Dine Half Marathon. A great benefit to these races is that they usually include an after-party, where the entire park is closed off except to runners and those who bought tickets to the after-party. 

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A Little Bit of Disney in My Day
Jenny

Posted on May 17, 2012 by

As a lover of all things Disney and a believer that Disneyland truly is the Happiest Place on Earth, I’m always looking for little touches of Disney in my day. I love hunting for Hidden Mickeys, at the parks and anywhere else I can find them.

After months of thinking about it, I finally got around to hanging some of my kitchen treasures above my cabinets. And, well…I couldn’t help myself.   Continue reading →

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Thrifty Thursday: Eat This, Not That Part V
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Posted on May 17, 2012 by

So far, I’ve found lots of great ways to save money on dining, but I was super surprised by just how much you can save in Animal Kingdom!!


Chicken Caesar Salad
The Expensive Version
The Big Islander Chicken Caesar Salad at the Rainforest Café rings up at $15.99

The Less-Expensive Version
For $7.79, you get pretty much the same salad at Pizzafari (served on a paper plate instead of a fancy one).

Potential Savings: $8.20

Continue reading on The Affordable Mouse →

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Review: Breakfast at Pizzafari
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Posted on May 16, 2012 by

One of the beautiful murals that grace the walls of Pizzafari.

I have to admit, I don’t typically eat breakfast when visiting Walt Disney World–and if I do, it is often not so much ‘breakfast’ as it is ‘a cupcake’.  But one of the many great things about visiting Disney World frequently is that you have the opportunity to do crazy things like arrive at a park and immediately have breakfast–while everyone else rushes towards Kilimanjaro Safari or Expedition Everest.

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Weekly Round Up: May 15
Tracy and Melissa

Posted on May 15, 2012 by
Mexico Pavilion

Our recommended reading takes you inside

Can you believe May is half over already? Time sure seems to be speeding up … but we’re okay with that if it gets us to our next WDW trip sooner!

We’ve got a great week lined up for you. Tomorrow, Tracy starts us off with a review of breakfast in Animal Kingdom. On Thursday, Melissa  also explores food options in Animal Kingdom … through a thrifty lens.

On Friday, Jeff will offer us his take on the Expedition Everest Challenge, a 5k race and obstacle adventure presented by runDisney during the first weekend in May. You’ll also meet our second new contributor, Jenny, who’ll share a cute way to bring The Mouse to your kitchen.

What’s going on in your world this week?

Us … Elsewhere
Last week, Melissa’s review of Dawa Bar in Disney’s Animal Kingdom was featured on Disney Food Blog.

Tracy spent most of this week traveling throughout California, but she still had time to share tips for visiting the Library of Congress and the benefits of frequent travel.

Our Favorites This Week
Let’s start with something completely adorable: this video of the Disney Hipsters‘ trip to Disneyland. Enjoy it!

Deej had an unbelievably magical experience in Walt Disney World. Wait until you see the view he got for Wishes.

If you haven’t seen The Avengers yet (and even if you have), check out this hilarious, illustrated review by Amanda Lapergola from The Mary Sue.

Disney Food Blog guest columnist Catie Hiltz reviewed San Angel Inn. Glad to see this place getting good reviews, especially since it’s become our end of trip tradition.

On This Happy Place Blog, Estelle wrote about The Main Street Trolley Show and its Broadway beginnings.

Sarah Holodick, of Eating WDW fame, loves shawarma. Just like The Avengers! She looked at the deliciousness served at Tangerine Cafe and The Fountain.

 

What are you reading this week?? Let us know in the comments!  

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Boy, Have We Got A Vacation For You
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Posted on May 11, 2012 by
Westworld

Westworld poster by Michael Heilemann

This may come as a surprise to some of you, but Michael Crichton was one of us: a raging Disney fan, likely counting down to his next chance to explore the Parks. You really only have to look at his films and books to see Disney’s influence on Crichton’s work.

Much has been made of how much Crichton was inspired by the adventure stories originated by Verne and Doyle, but the Disney-inspired, all-inclusive, absolutely immersive theme park experience is a reoccurring setting in his storytelling. Jurassic Park is the obvious example, and we’ll get there eventually, but the influence harkens back even further to Crichton’s directorial debut, Westworld.

I’m betting not too many Mouse on the Mind readers are well-versed in the Crichton cannon, so here’s the basic plot of Westworld: guests are welcomed to Delos, a theme park with three lands: Westworld, Medievalworld and Romanworld. Each is populated by androids that guests can interact with: gunslingers and swordsmen to fight and frolicsome maidens to, ehem, enjoy.

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Review: Dawa Bar in Disney’s Animal Kingdom
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Posted on May 11, 2012 by

Dawa Bar

You sure do a lot of walking in Animal Kingdom. The paths are beautiful, but they’re long. And after a morning touring Disney’s most animalriffic theme park, I like to stop for a nice, refreshing drink. Luckily, there’s a perfect place for resting and sipping in Africa’s Harambe Village.

Located just as you cross the bridge into Harambe, Dawa Bar is inside a huge, covered pavilion just next to the line to get into Tusker House and across from Tamu Tamu Refreshments.

It’s a great place to sit, relax and watch Harambe pass you by. If you time your cocktail right, you can even catch a performance by Tam Tam Congo. But even when they’re not performing, there’s a great loop of music playing through the speakers in the pavilion, creating a fun, casual atmosphere.

Continue reading on Disney Food Blog →

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You’re Going to Disney World Again?
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Posted on May 10, 2012 by

Have you ever encountered a friend, relative, or coworker who uttered that dreaded word–again?–upon hearing of your upcoming visit to Walt Disney World?  Fear not–you are not alone.  There are hundreds–nay, thousands–of people who make a trip to Walt Disney world every year.  Or, like yours truly, more than once per year.  And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.  In fact, I’d argue that there are many good things about being a repeat Disney visitor.

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Vision House
Jeffswear

Posted on May 9, 2012 by

Product placement is nothing new in Disneyland and Walt Disney World.  The House of the Future was built by Monsanto in Disneyland’s early Tomorrowland and was fabricated entirely of plastic. Inside, guests could see the upcoming technologies of the 1960s. When the wrecking balls came to knock the House of the Future down, they just bounced right back off! RCA also sponsored a Home of Future Living, which was the original postshow for Space Mountain when it opened at Walt Disney World.

This past weekend, I got to check out Vision House, which is the latest version of the “House of the Future” attraction genre. This new exhibit in Innoventions is sponsored by GreenBuilder Media and highlights green construction techniques that you can use in your own home. But how well does it fare as an exhibit while you are on vacation?

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Weekly Round Up: May 8
Tracy and Melissa

Posted on May 8, 2012 by
Innoventions

Innoventions Entrance

Welcome to the second week of May. This week is going to be pretty epic, as we’re introducing the first of four new columnists! On Wednesday, you’ll meet Jeff, a recent Orlando transplant who’s cutting his Mouse on the Mind teeth with a review of the new Vision House in Epcot.

Later in the week, Tracy’s tackling the Disney fan’s least favorite phrase. (Bet you can guess what it is!) And Melissa Sue will take a look at two films inspired by the screenwriter’s trip to Disney Parks. We hope you’ll join us!

We’d also like to direct your attention to the new menu feature on Touring Plans. They’re quite comprehensive and regularly updated, so we’ve added them to our list of Planning Tools so you can access them whenever you want!

Us … Elsewhere
Tracy is still roaming California, but she wrote this week about low cost souvenirs. You can also follow her as she travels on her live blog, Virtual Passenger.

Melissa Sue hasn’t been doing much guest blogging lately. She’s been busy gearing up for Epcot’s 30th Illuminations Dessert Party. And she’s preparing for some absolutely gluttonous eating around the World Showcase with the The DFB Mini-Guide to Epcot Snacks e-book.

She’s also been helping out with the editing and proof-reading on WDWNT The Magazine’s Issue 14. There’s some great content in this issue, so make sure to check it out.

Our Favorites This Week
With the recent enforcement of FastPass return times, Josh at Easy WDW has put together a primer on using Passes with minimal cross-park walking.

Kristen, also known as DVC Mom, posted a lovely photo series from Harambe Village in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

In Delicious Disney news, Tutto Italia reopened this week along with the new Tutto Gusto, a wine cellar. Of course Disney Food Blog’s AJ was on hand for the ceremony, and we officially can’t wait to visit Gusto!

Estelle has a birthday wish for Hollywood Studios on This Happy Place Blog.

Welcome back, Hipsters! The boys have returned from their inaugural pilgrimage to Disnelyand, and they’re busting myths lefts and write. (Pun!)

Richard Terpstra has done it again: Melissa Sue’s lusting after this rainbow tee. If anyone’s got the UPC number, let us know!!

We are so fully digging this rendition of “I See the Light” performed by Nick Pitera. Why isn’t this man voicing cartoons? And thank you to The Disney Blog for sharing the video with us.

What are you reading this week?? Let us know in the comments!  

 

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