Staying outside as much as possible is important to many Disney fans, myself included, during this time. And while I have mixed emotions about the prospect of returning to Walt Disney World, it helps to think about all the outdoor activities that are in each park. We’ve covered the outdoor activities at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Now, it’s time to go wild!
It should come as no surprise that Disney’s Animal Kingdom has a whole lot of outdoor activities. It is the one theme park that is truly centered around the natural world, and because of this many of its attractions are outside.
From our friends at touringplans.com Filed Under: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Dos and Don’ts, Trip Planning, disney reopening, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, rides at animal kingdom
Ahoy, mateys! I’m Heather, and I’ll be bringing you the up and coming on all things Disney Cruise Line. Welcome back again this week. Let’s see what’s new in the DCL world!
What’s New
Some lucky guests received a survey from DCL in their email last week, and it didn’t take long for the screenshots and speculation to start making the rounds on the internet. This survey was basically a big ol’ game of “what if” – where Disney asked questions like “what if we did XYZ when cruising returns, what you you then do?”. Now the questions are definitely not meant to be taken as gospel on solid restart plans, and definitely not a comprehensive list of everything we may see, but it does seem to give us some insight on ideas that are being thrown around. Take a look at some of the ideas and questions here. Based on some of these parameters, would you still sail?
The fleet may not be sailing but the love keeps on coming in – Travel and Leisure’s World’s Best Awards named Disney Cruise Line #1 in ocean cruise lines. We certainly still haven’t forgotten how magical DCL is!
Weekly Specials
Here’s this week’s special offers. Most every week of the year, Disney Cruise Line releases special offers for Florida Residents and U.S. Military Personnel. There are also frequently IGT/OGT/VGT rates available for all guests to book. These offers are extremely limited in availability, and all come with certain restrictions, but the prices are amazing! You can book these online, on the phone, or with your travel agent. These are the current offers available this week:
The Disney Cruise Line Update is brought to you by Storybook Destinations. Storybook Destinations specializes in Disney travel, is consistently highly rated by our readers, and is owned by our own blogger extraordinaire, Tammy Whiting. Storybook also offers free subscriptions to TouringPlans to clients with qualified bookings.
Coming out of lockdown, the first thing I noticed was that restaurant food tasted better than I remember. And Walt Disney World restaurant food tasted better than regular restaurant food. With that in mind, Laurel and I did a quick cycle of Magic Kingdom resort dining this week. Here are the photos and some thoughts on the meals.
Dinner at Whispering Canyon
First up is dinner at Whispering Canyon at the Wilderness Lodge. Both Laurel and I went with a Signature Skillet choice: Laurel with the Plant-based choice ($34), I with The Traditional ($34).
Both skillets come with cornbread and coleslaw appetizers. At Laurel’s request, hers were vegan, and the vegan coleslaw had a vinegar base, I think with a touch of mustard:
Vegan coleslaw and cornbread at Whispering Canyon, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
I had a bite of each. The coleslaw was delicious – a tangy counterpart to the mayo base of mine. I thought the texture of Laurel’s cornbread was dense and chewy. In contrast, my cornbread had the texture of a medium-light cake, which was just the right consistency.
Cornbread and butter at Whispering Canyon
Here’s my mayo-based coleslaw:
Coleslaw at Whispering Canyon
The beauty of a Whispering Canyon dinner is, of course, the all-you-care-to-eat skillets. These didn’t disappoint. My Traditional skillet came with smoked beef brisket, maple-chipotle pork ribs, smoked pulled pork, citrus-herb chicken, a link of sausage, mashed potatoes, corn, and green beans. As you can imagine, it’s meat-centric. Here it is in all its glory:
“The Traditional” all-you-can-eat skillet, with pulled pork, pork ribs, brisket, sausage, roast chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, and green beans.
The pulled pork and brisket were the two best meats on this plate – smoky, tender, and juicy. Plus, there was plenty of it, and as the kids say, quantity has a quality all its own. I liked less the chicken thigh, because it didn’t have enough flavor to stand up to the bold spices of the meats. Had I eaten it first, I might’ve enjoyed it more, so that might be the way to approach this plate. Also, the “Western-style” sausage was interesting in that the herbs and spices used to season it reminded me more of southern breakfast sausage than, say, kielbasa (which was what I was expecting).
Here’s Laurel’s vegan skillet, which she enjoyed. I had a taste of the grilled carrots and peppers, and both of them were savory and delicious. I would’ve traded a meat from my skillet for a couple of servings of those. The beefless tips and Chic’n are similar (if not exactly) what you can get in grocery stores these days, but here with tangy sauces. The one thing that Laurel didn’t like here was the barbecued jackfruit. Although we live in a perpetually divided country, I think all Americans can agree that equating barbecued jackfruit to barbecued pork is the culinary equivalent of a second-degree felony, and should be prosecuted. Probably somewhere in Italy, I think.
Service at Whispering Canyon was excellent – our friend Gustavo, who’d recommended the chicken to me over at Grand Floridian Cafe, was pulling double duty over at the Lodge, so it was great to see him again.
Plant-based dinner skillet, with jackfruit, potatoes, carrots, green beans, peppers, beefless tips, and Chick’n
Snacks at Geyser Point Bar and Grill
Charcuterie plate at Geyser Point Bar and Grill
Earlier in the day we stopped by Geyser Point for a drink, and shared the charcuterie plate ($14). This came with warm, crusty sourdough bread; cornichons; arugula; a strong, grainy mustard; ham; salami; and a small jar of duck rillette. We really liked the thought that went into pairing these flavors. We had great results in combining any two or three ingredients together with the bread and mustard. It was a lovely way to wait out an afternoon rain storm. In fact, it was so good that I went back and ordered it again this past Saturday. And it was even better – with more ham, and another meat – bresaola – to go along with the salami.
Breakfast and Dinner at Kona Cafe
We had breakfast and dinner over at the Polynesian’s Kona Cafe last week. First up is breakfast. I ordered the Two Eggs-Any Style ($14) and got the eggs scrambled. The main reason I went with this instead of the Tonga Toast ($16) or the Macadamia Nut Pancakes ($14) is that wasn’t in the mood for anything sweet. There was nothing complicated or out of the ordinary with my breakfast, and it was cooked correctly. A lot of times, that’s the best way to start the day.
Kona Cafe – Two eggs breakfast
Laurel ordered the Plant-based Loco Moco ($14), made with plant-based eggs, plant-based sausage, coconut milk, rice, and pico de gallo. It looked delicious, and Laurel loved it. I had a bite of the eggs, and while the flavor told me they weren’t actual eggs, the consistency and texture were spot on.
Kona Cafe – Plant-based Loco Moco
We went back to Kona Cafe for dinner. I started with the Spicy Tuna Roll ($18). This is eight pieces of standard spicy tuna roll, at the right temperature, and with tasty ginger. I could’ve used a bit more flavor from the tuna. Also, this is enough sushi that you might consider it as an entree by itself.
Kona Cafe – Spicy Tuna Roll
Laurel’s appetizer was the Seafood Coconut-Curry Soup ($10), which had a marvelous aroma of crab and shrimp. Laurel said it also had scallops, and it tasted fabulous. I’m not a fan of anything flavored with coconut, but this was outstanding – rich and creamy, with tons of fresh seafood flavor.
Kona Cafe – Seafood Coconut-Curry Soup
Laurel ordered the Vegetable Bowl ($21) for her main course. This is a soup with glass noodles, pineapple-scented tofu, roasted tomatoes, green beans, peppers, peanuts, and other vegetables. Like the sushi, this is a large serving. In tasting the broth, I thought I detected fennel, coriander, and ginger flavors. I could be wrong. The tofu was excellent – fried slightly, and tangy.
Kona Cafe – Vegetable Bowl (dinner)
I went with the Turkey Banh Mi ($16), and it was everything I’ve ever wanted in a turkey sandwich. This one was topped with pepper-crusted bacon, pork pâte, and pickled onions. Like almost all banh mi, it came with cilantro and jalapeño, and Disney added a spicy poblano mayo. I think we should all use Thanksgiving leftovers for these sandwiches annually. Also, the fries here were perfect – crispy on the outside, tender on the inside. Sixteen dollars is a lot of money for a banh mi and some fries in most places, but I came away from this very satisfied. I’d order it again.
Kona Cafe – Turkey Banh Mi
Breakfast at The Wave
We had breakfast at The Wave one morning before the parks opened. Laurel went with the Avocado Toast ($12), which were four medium-size slices of toasted multi-grain bread, with smashed avocado (I think we call that guacamole now), onion jam, radish, a sprinkle of pumpkin seeds, and watercress. It also came with a side of roasted potatoes with onions and peppers. Laurel enjoyed it, and it wasn’t too filling for a day in the parks.
The Wave – Avocado Toast
I went with the custom omelette, and asked the chef to put in a little of everything. In this case, that was cheddar cheese, peppers, onions, tomatoes, ham, and bacon. It came with a side of potatoes roasted with with onion (delicious), and a too-dry biscuit that I suspect was microwaved. Nevertheless,the omelette was perfect, and full of flavor. It was also big enough to share, especially with the potatoes. Service at The Wave was excellent, and we were in and out in under 40 minutes.
The Wave – Custom Omelette
That’s a quick look at our most recent culinary experiences at Walt Disney World. Let me know if there’s anywhere you’re excited to eat at for your next trip – we may check it out for you!
From our friends at touringplans.com Filed Under: Dining, Kona Cafe, Walt Disney World (FL), kona cafe, The Wave… of American Flvaors, Whispering Canyon Cafe
Last week Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom began reopening. It is a strange mix of excitement, relief, trepidation, and concern that myself and many other Disney fans are feeling right now. One of the ways I am working through my concerns is to focus on the attractions and activities that are outdoors. If you prefer to remain outside as much as possible, you may find it helpful to think about the best outdoor activities at Walt Disney World.
We’ve looked at the outdoor activities at Magic Kingdom and at EPCOT (a decidedly not-outdoor-friendly park), so now it is time to head to Hollywood. Because Disney’s Hollywood Studios is focused on show business, most attractions are indoors. Still, there’s lots of outdoor fun to be found. The two areas with the most outdoor activities in Disney’s Hollywood Studios are also the two newest lands.
Best Outdoor Activities in Toy Story Land
Slinky Dog Dash
Alien Swirling Saucers
Explore the details like the giant shoe prints in the pathways–you are the size of a toy here after all
Slinky Dog Dash
Best Outdoor Activities in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge
Sadly the characters like Rey and the Stormtroopers may not roam around in the crowds, but thankfully there are plenty of spots for them to do physically distant appearances
Stroll Black Spire Outpost Marketplace
Play the Star Wars Datapad game inside the Disney Play App to interact with the entire land
Explore all the details and take in the sounds all around you
Best Outdoor Activities Throughout Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Explore the windows and storefronts on Grand Avenue, a few remnants of the former Streets of America area
Explore the details in the Muppets area of Grand Avenue
Check out the celebrity hand prints in front of the Chinese Theater
Explore the windows of Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards – look up and see tributes to movie characters and important Disney Imagineers and other personnel
Although details have not been announced, it stands to reason there will be character cavalcades as we’ve seen in other parks
With a little creativity there is a quite a bit to enjoy outside at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
From our friends at touringplans.com Filed Under: Dos and Don’ts, Hollywood Studios, Trip Planning, disney reopening, Disney trip planning, Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Welcome back! Walt Disney World is open, and that brings me back to the weather desk to keep an eye on the sky around Central Florida. Do you want a quick recap of what’s been going on while the parks have been closed?
Well, it’s been hot. March was hot. April was hot. In mid-May we had rain almost constantly, and then in June it stopped raining for two weeks and we all melted. There was a record high of 97 degrees at Orlando International Airport! Then the rain came back but it stayed hot. In short… things are pretty normal around here. If you’re visiting the theme parks this summer, be ready for heat, humidity, and strong, sometimes sudden thunderstorms with very heavy rainfall and the potential for extreme situations like flooding, hail, and even brief tornados.
You know, the usual. So what’s coming this week?
This Week’s Weather Factors
Central Florida’s rainy summer days are created by hot, humid air and the collisions of competing sea and lake breezes over the peninsula. Ask most Floridians what a “normal” summer day looks like, and you’ll probably get back “hot until about three o’clock, then a twenty-minute thunderstorm, then even more humid, somehow.”
If that’s normal, there are degrees on either side which are affected by outside influences. Some larger weather features dial the rain back and the heat up, and some features increase the rainfall and storms… sometimes, by a lot.
This week, we are looking at both. For the first few days of the week, above-average heat is in control while storms will mostly gather to the south and east of Orlando. This is caused by a trough along the eastern seaboard of the U.S., which has dried out the airmass over Central Florida. Once it departs, we’ll have a day of “normal” weather: moisture-laden air, a midday collision of Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico sea breezes, and afternoon thunderstorms which pass through on their way to the coast.
A tiny difference between Monday and Tuesday’s map: but a crucial one! That dry airmass over Central Florida has got to go.
The second half of the week, though, some weak upper-level disturbances will flit across the Florida peninsula, and the Atlantic ridge will begin to move north, changing our wind flow from west to east. As this happens, rain chances will go up… and up… and up!
This Week’s Weather at Walt Disney World
For the remainder of Sunday, expect a heat index close to 104 degrees by mid-afternoon. Storm activity will probably concentrate on areas east of the theme parks, moving over the Atlantic coast by evening. That will leave a hot, sticky night for Orlando, with a low around 76.
On Monday, dry air will still be keeping rain chances down across Central Florida. There’s just a 20% chance we’ll see some early afternoon storms, although there might be some lightning visible to our south. Heat index values will peak around 101, and the muggy overnight low will be 76.
On Tuesday, our flow becomes more normal, although it will still be very hot with that west wind. Expect a high of 93 degrees. Afternoon sea breeze storms should pop up mid-afternoon to early evening, with a 50% chance of storms in the area.
Wednesday, a new stream of moisture arrives from the southeast. This steady flow of tropical air will keep rain chances as high as 70% through the weekend. We can expect some heavy rainfall and long-lasting storms to affect the interior of Central Florida during this period. Wednesday’s high will be around 94 degrees.
Thursday through Sunday, expect daily highs around 90 degrees, lows around 75 degrees, and a high expectation of storms each day from midday through evening. With this tropical air streaming in, prepare for soaking rains and the possibility of some wash-out afternoons. I’ll have forecast updates mid-week from @WeatheratWDW on Twitter.
Tropical Weather Outlook for Central Florida
While the Northeast just shook off Tropical Storm Fay, things have been quiet on the tropical front here in Florida. There are currently no weather systems being watched for tropical development in the Atlantic, Caribbean, or Gulf of Mexico.
That’s not unusual for July. The Atlantic’s busiest storm season typically doesn’t pick up steam until August. That’s when storms off the coast of Africa often gain strength as they cross the ocean, before threatening the Caribbean and eventually the east coast of the USA.
As meteorologists now expect a La Niña pattern to emerge off the Pacific coast of South America, it’s possible the 2020 late summer and fall hurricane season could ramp up to record-season strength. La Niña affects worldwide weather patterns, and weakens winds at high altitudes over the Atlantic, allowing warm pockets of air which can nurture strong storm development. The 2020 hurricane season is just getting started… watch this space!
