Hoop - Dee - Doo Musical Revue

The Hoop - Dee - Doo Musical Revue is a show you must see! It's an old - fashioned, western style, all-you-can-eat (and drink) dinner show. It's in the Pioneer Hall at Fort Wilderness.

We've been several times over the years and we look forward to the show (and food) every trip. It's a must see for a first visit to WDW. 

No matter where you sit, the Pioneer Hall Players make you feel you have the best seat in the house. While they play, Cast Members serve your dinner in pails family style. It includes fried chicken, BBQ pork ribs, corn on the cob, salad, baked beans, and corn bread. Beverages including beer, wine & sangria are also included!

My son loves this meal because he gets to use his hands. They'll keep bringing more food out until you say you've had enough. Make sure you save room for the strawberry shortcake.
During the show every table gets a washboard to play. So many kids today have never even seen one. It's a good photo op!

This is a great show to see with several generations. There's something for everyone. My mother always gets a kick out of seeing the kids joining in the tribute to Davy Crockett and spinning our dinner napkins in the air.

They offer three dinner shows a night during the peak season. Make your dinner reservations up to 180 days prior to your visit. The early shows fill up fast. Buses run from the Ticket and Transportation center (TTC) to Fort Wilderness, then take an internal bus to Settlement Depot. Boat transportation is available from the Magic Kingdom, Contemporary Resort, and Wilderness Lodge to Fort Wilderness. Then it's just a short walk to Pioneer Hall. I allow 90 minutes from the time we leave our resort to get there. That allows us enough time for our group to have their photos taken outside the Hall.

I hope you enjoy this dinner show as much as we have over the years!

The Yachtsman Steakhouse: The Best Steaks in Walt Disney World

If you are looking for a true fine dining experience, The Yachtsman Steakhouse simply must be on your next Disney itinerary. This restaurant boasts seafood as well as steaks, chicken, and lamb entrees. Being both a mother of four and a self-proclaimed “foodie,” I was also pleased to find that the children’s menu offered the kids to have a steak, cooked to perfection just like Mom and Dad’s.

The atmosphere is very warm and inviting, located inside Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. The décor resembles a cabin in a fine yacht, with lots of wood tones, brass, and shipman’s knots. This is classic New England at its best. The restaurant’s layout boasts an open kitchen, where you can see your meal being prepared, while you kick back in your leather club chair.

This restaurant is on the Disney Dining Plan, and it requires two Table Service credits per person for this exquisite meal. The prices on the menu range from $36 to $59.99. In addition to an excellent wine list, The Yachtsman offers an excellent Artisan Cheese list. Some of the Appetizer offerings include Escargot, Braised Beef Ravioli, and Lobster Bisque. If that doesn’t have your mouth watering like mine is, take a look at this list of entrees: The Yachtsman Filet Mignon, Roasted Free-Range Chicken Breast, Herb-Crusted Rack of Lamb. The temptation isn’t over yet! Samples of the side dishes are: Truffle Mac and Cheese, Rainbow Carrots, and Porcini Mushroom Risotto with aged Gouda. YUM!

Okay, readers….brace yourselves. I’m about to give you a list of just a few of the desserts. Giving you anymore than a few would just be too dangerous! All of those New Year’s resolutions everyone has made to lose weight will suffer! So, please take the necessary precautions before reading forward. Now, back to business. Here’s the good stuff…the desserts! Look at these offerings: Meyer Lemon Meringue, Crème Brulee with Chocolate Rolls and fresh berries, Mango Cheesecake with Raspberry foam and artisan ganache.

Now that all of the serious business is done, we can pay a little attention to the Children’s Menu! This restaurant makes sure that the kids aren’t forgotten with the excellent cuisine that is offered. The kid’s standard chicken fingers can be found here, and is sure to satisfy even the pickiest little eaters. In addition, the kids can sample a sirloin steak, grilled just like yours, or baked fish. There’s even a pasta dish for the kids. The children’s dessert is as fun as it is tasty. In addition to some ice cream or a brownie, children can enjoy a chocolate puzzle, complete with edible sugar paint, and a cupcake.

This fine restaurant is definitely worth a visit on your next trip to Disney World. Whether you take the kids with you, or make it an adults-only night, The Yachtsman Steakhouse will not disappoint. Oh, and by the way, I apologize in advance for wrecking your New Year’s resolutions!

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Nancy Bressler
484-706-3788
Nancy@wdwtravels.com

Jambo everyone!

A few months ago, Disney’s Animal Kingdom celebrated its 10th Anniversary as a theme park. It seems astonishing that Animal Kingdom has reached such a milestone already, since I can still remember a time when it didn’t exist. In recognition, I thought I’d take a few moments to examine the past, present, and my hopes for the future of Animal Kingdom.


Past:
I still remember my first trip to Animal Kingdom; unfortunately, that wasn’t a particularly good experience. My first visit to the park was with my whole family, who preferred sleeping in late. By the time we arrived, we only saw the front half of the park that day and about 3 attractions. Yet, I will always remember my first glimpse of the Tree of Life. Like the other theme parks, Animal Kingdom needed an iconic attraction. Choosing just one animal seemed unfair, so Disney Imagineers carved over 300 animals into the trunk of the tree. The enormous tree stands impressively over the park and is surrounded by the Discovery Island Trails. Walking through this peaceful area of live animals toward the massive tree and admiring each of the intricately engraved animals is one experience you will never forget!



The second aspect that I will always remember is the Festival of Lion King show. This “not-to-be-missed” show rivals Broadway shows in the pure energy and ceremonious spirit of its performers. While the show lasts about 30 minutes, this show is so captivating that Disney fans of all ages will thoroughly treasure it. Both this show and the Tree of Life were here on opening day and will hopefully remain for many years to come!

Present:
Most recently, Animal Kingdom added two new attractions to the theme park. Expedition Everest is also one of the most authentic creations I have ever seen. Disney Imagineers went to Asia and studied the culture and natural wonder of the area and genuinely re-created it in Florida. Getting a FP for Expedition Everest as early as possible is a must, since it remains a popular attraction. Also, if you would like a return visit to Everest’s guardian of the mountain – the Yeti – in the afternoon, ask a cast member if the Single Rider Line is open. This means that your group will be split up, but you will also wait in a much shorter line.

Expedition Everest view from end of the tracks

Mt. Everest (in Florida)

In addition, Finding Nemo: the Musical stage show replaced the old stage show Tarzan Rocks a few years ago. This Broadway-style shows features original songs created just for the re-telling of Disney/Pixar’s Finding Nemo. One of the unique aspects of this show is that the life-like puppets appear alongside their human actors; these actors not only bring the puppets to life, but sing, dance, and perform acrobatics during the show. This show is SO popular, that arriving 45 minutes or more before a performance is a MUST! So grab that FP for Expedition Everest, and then head to see Finding Nemo: the Musical!

Future:
Animal Kingdom continues to evolve as a unique “species” of theme park. Yet, as we look toward its future, there is one main improvement that I would love to see. Animal Kingdom could really use a form of transportation around the theme park. This is Disney’s largest park – in fact, the entire Magic Kingdom theme park can fit inside Kilimanjaro Safaris alone! As a result, it could really use a transportation system that allows people to navigate it easier. This is a park where planning is essential! During my first visit here, we had planned nothing in advance and had a terrible experience. This park will continue to expand and having a good touring plan – preferably one from a Disney travel planner like a WDW Travels agent – is especially necessary with Animal Kingdom!

Disney with Special Needs

If you are anything like me, the first thing you think of when you think of a family vacation, is vacationing at Disney World. But when you are traveling with a special needs child, these thoughts are not as easy to make a reality. Your thoughts turn to: Do they have special accommodations for him? What if he is having a bad day? How do we combat those 90 minute wait lines? How will he handle everything from the rides to the character greetings? Well, with the proper planning everything can go even more smoothly than you could imagine.


First things first, take advantage of Disney's Guest Assistance Pass. These are available at the guest relations stations in the front of the parks and at City Hall in the Magic Kingdom. A cast member is always ready to assist you and all you need is a note from your child's doctor outlining your child's condition. Once you arrive at the guest relations location, hand the cast member the note from your child's doctor and they will give you your GAP. There are several good points with this pass. The cast member will ask you how many days you will be visiting the perks because the pass transfers to each park. So, there is no need to get a new pass at the beginning of each day. The card is about the size of an index card and will need to be viewed by a cast member at each attraction. The pass IS NOT a skip the line ticket. This pass just makes the wait easier for your child, whether it is by means of entry to the attraction by a separate entrance, or waiting in a special holding area. The pass works for your child and up to four other people in your party.



Now it's time to have fun! Once you arrive at the entrance of your first attraction, its time to try out your pass. First, show the cast member your pass. They will, depending on the length of the general admission line, point you in the direction you need to go. The pass works VERY well on most shows and attractions. The character experiences are a bit different. These are at the sole discretion of the character handlers. They ultimately make the decision on whether or not to accept the pass. In most instances they do, however be prepared in case they don't. When it comes to the parks, the guest assistance pass has the best results at the Magic Kingdom. It is by far the most accommodating of the four parks.


This is going to be the first step in having a successful trip with your special needs child. This will also be one of the biggest stress relievers that you will have! Once you know that this is handled the next biggest tip is planning, planning, planning. Be prepared with your child. Know both your expectations and your limitations. Know your parks, know your hours and special events, and make any possible dining reservations. Bottom line, special needs or not, Disney World is the best vacation destination. You have all of this valuable information, so go..... have fun and make some amazing memories!!!