Splash Mountain at the Magic Kingdom will be going down for an almost 3 month long refurbishment this Summer and Fall.
The attraction will be closed August 28th through November 16th, 2017, reopening on the 17th should all go according to plan.
The massive road enhancement project just outside of the Magic Kingdom continues, making for a rather uninviting arrival for any guests driving to the Vacation Kingdom of the World. Well, at least it should be all worth it when the overpass to take guests past the toll plaza and straight to the Magic Kingdom area resorts is completed. For now, one section of steel gives a sign of what’s to come…
Noticeably, the famous Mission: Space and “it’s tough to be a bug” billboards were removed to accommodate this work. No completion date has been given for the project.
Along with a fairly interesting piece on the project, Bloomberg released 4 new images taken inside Pandora: The World of AVATAR at Disney’s Animal Kingdom earlier this week:
Photographer: Stephen Wilkes for Bloomberg Businessweek
Photographer: Stephen Wilkes for Bloomberg Businessweek
Photographer: Stephen Wilkes for Bloomberg Businessweek
Photographer: Stephen Wilkes for Bloomberg Businessweek
Disney also released some new b-roll footage from around the new theme park land this week:
Pandora: The World of AVATAR opens May 27th, 2017 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park.
As the Magic Kingdom’s newest kiss goodnight is approaching and only 22 days away, Disney is trying to promote it as much as possible. Today, Disney has released yet another behind-the-scenes video on the musical score for Happily Ever After. This is a different behind-the-scenes video of the music than the one we previously had shown you. Here is the video below from the Disney Parks Blog.:
Happily Ever After begins May 12th at the Magic Kingdom.
The annual Walt Disney World Resort “free dining package” offering will return in 2017, but not quite as it existed in 2016.
The special package has been quite popular since it was introduced several years ago, but continues to become less and less of a value compared to many special room-only rates guests can find for Walt Disney World Resort hotels.
In 2017, guests booking a Moderate resort stay will now only be receiving free Quick Service Dining, rather than the Disney Dining Plan which includes table service meals. The table service plan will only be “free” to those booking a Deluxe resort.
In order to get the deal, guests must book a minimum 3-night-stay with 2 days of Park Hopper or Park Hopper+ tickets. Booking for the package will not open until tomorrow, Monday, April 24th, 2017. Available travel dates will be between August 21st (beginning August 13th for Disney Visa Cardholders and Canadian guests) and September 30th, 2017, as well as select dates between November 14th through December 23rd.
To book a stay with Free Dining, contact our friends at Magical Travel at 1-866-207-8387 or MagicalTravel.com and tell them you are a reader of WDWNT.
Trilo-bites in Dinoland U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a favorite stop of ours, mostly for the delicious Buffalo Chicken Chips dish you can find at this location (when it is actually open). The stand is located just over the bridge from Discovery Island into the area, right next door to the “Olden-gate Bridge”.
2009 photo I took of the booth, around the time they kicked McDonald’s out and changed the name.
New to the menu as of Sunday is a Smokey Bones Chocolate Shake, a chocolate milkshake made with bourbon and candied bacon.
Trilo-Bites Menu, April 2017
To preface this review, we discovered this item on the menu over 2 weeks ago, but were informed the ingredients were not there yet to make it. When we returned on another day to get it, it was then gone from the menu. Finally, on Sunday night, I happened to find the booth open and with the items in stock, so I decided to order it. Animal Kingdom is dark at night, so I apologize for the pictures, but I have been DYING to try this and I wasn’t going to wait another day for it to possibly disappear again. That being said, I was informed that it should be sticking around for a bit.
Smokey Bones Chocolate Shake ($10.00)
The cast members working at Trilo-Bites were as nice as could be and willing to show off the ingredients for the shake. The bourbon is Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, aged nine years and 120 proof. Not to be outdone, there is also a big bin of candied bacon ready to be be dunked into a shake.
Smokey Bones Chocolate Shake ($10.00)
Disney has rolled out a nice lineup of alcoholic shakes over the last year or so, with the options at Beaches & Cream at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts coming to mind. That being said, the Smokey Bones Chocolate Shake at Trilo-Bites my favorite of any of the alcoholic shakes I have ever had in my entire life. You could taste the bourbon, which is good, and it mixed really well with the chocolate ice cream. The candied bacon was absolutely fantastic with the bourbon-laced ice cream on it, but the drink is still enjoyable even once the bacon has been devoured. The whipped cream was tasty as well, providing for some nice, sweet flavor in the last few sips towards the bottom. The serving size was large enough to be satisfied with, but I expect sharing to be difficult based on just how good this is.
With this milkshake and the Buffalo Chicken Chips offered, Trilo-Bites is a true hidden gem of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. While it doesn’t open on most days until 3pm (no matter what the MyDisneyExperience app will tell you), it’s a nice spot to stop for a quick snack before heading to see Rivers of Light or indulging in the other evening activities at the park.
The Hall of Presidents at Walt Disney World closed for refurbishment over 3 months ago, with little to no announcement from Disney as to what changes were going to be made. The 2016 Presidential election was a controversial one, and that was long before a winner had even been decided. However, the real controversy now is if the current President of the United States will continue to be offered a speaking role in the attraction.
Starting in the early 1990’s, the current President of the United States was not only added to the attraction, but given a speaking role in it, beginning with Bill Clinton. George W. Bush and Barack Obama followed, provided speaking roles and also bringing about considerable rewrites and changes to the existing attraction.
While it has been confirmed that Donald Trump will be added to at the attraction in audio-animatronics form, it is still unknown if he will speak, despite the fact that we are now just 2 months away from the reopening of the Hall of Presidents.
Rumors indicate that Disney may never even release a statement when the attraction reopens (to avoid backlash in either direction), but according to sources, Donald Trump will simply stand in the background with other presidents during the classic attraction’s stirring finale. Speaking roles in the attraction will likely be kept to George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and it is not expected at this time that Morgan Freeman will return as the narrator. This is all unconfirmed at this time, but that’s at least the buzz around cast members in the Magic Kingdom.
I’m sure Disney is hoping that all of the media buzz around Pandora: The World of AVATAR will distract from the Hall of Presidents scheduled reopening in late-June 2017, but whatever may happen, we will continue to bring you updates on the fate of the opening day Magic Kingdom attraction.
The Columbia Harbor House at the Magic Kingdom has always been one of those counter service restaurants to avoid in my book, but I’ve at least made a few visits within the last year to try out the menu and see what good could be found in this Magic Kingdom eatery.
The restaurant sits on the edge of Liberty Square, just steps from Fantasyland and The Haunted Mansion. The highlight of dining here is the second floor, which offers picturesque views of the surrounding area from above, but also a charming atmosphere that is sadly harmed by the fried fish smell that is embedded into every surface.
That being said, I don’t hate Columbia Harbour House and I have even found some dishes that are quite alright there.
The most recent menu changes remove what could have been seen as the one healthy dish for meat eaters and replaces it with a Land and Sea Trio… more on that in a moment.
A board at the registers informs guests of the new offering, as well as some of the more popular dishes.
Fried Shrimp, Chicken, and Fish with Coleslaw and choice of Steamed Fresh Vegetable, Apple Slices or French Fries
Yup, all of the fried foods are in one dish. This is a bit overkill, but it isn’t a bad idea for sharing between two guests, especially if you end up getting a soup and/or a dessert.
The food is what you expect it to be and none of it is too bad. The shrimp are my least favorite, but the chicken and fried fish are perfectly fine. I opted for the fries, but you can get some vegetables or apple slices if this dish is already a little too fried for you.
Battered Fish and Breaded Chicken Breast Nuggets served with Coleslaw and your choice of Steamed Fresh Vegetable, Apple Slices, or French Fries
This is basically the same as above, just minus the shrimp. If you don’t care for shrimp, then just save yourself $3 by ordering this.
Grilled Salmon Filet served with Couscous and Steamed Fresh Vegetable
This is probably my favorite dish at Harbour House. The salmon is well prepared and tastes very fresh, same for the broccoli and the couscous. If you want the opposite of a fried dish that might make you feel bad about yourself for the rest of the day, this is a relatively healthy and quite delicious option to enjoy.
Lobster Roll served with Potato Chips
The lobster roll is solid, but probably not a high recommendation I would make. The chips are much better than the standard Disney counter service french fries, but I’m not sure that makes up for a dish that feels like it was just scooped out of a package and into a bun.
White Tuna served on Toasted Multigrain Bread topped with Lettuce and Tomato served with Potato Chips
Likely my #2 pick at Harbour House, the Anchors Aweigh sandwich is another nice, healthier option. The tuna tasted fresh, as did the vegetables inside of the bread, but the multigrain bread is what pulls the whole thing together for me. It’s a nice escape from the “cardboard” buns offered with most dishes in the parks. The corn on the cob is a nice substitution if you do not want the chips.
Shrimp served over delicious Macaroni and Cheese
Imagine the Disney counter service macaroni and cheese with some shrimp thrown on it. That’s what this is. It’s not terrible, but again, it isn’t something I’m likely to order here or tell someone else to.
Here we substituted the usual sides for fries and apple slices, and also opted for the Nesquick chocolate milk.
It’s sufficient, the lettuce could have been fresher, but the chicken was surprisingly good.
New to the menu, this doesn’t look like Boston Cream Pie because it really isn’t. That being said, it’s pretty good. Think of it as a cake, with the Bottom Cream over it, then topped with chocolate sauce, a white chocolate swash, and the now-ubiquitous candy pearls. As far as chocolate counter service desserts go, this is worth a try, just don’t expect your definition of Boston Cream Pie. That being said, we really enjoyed it.
I’m happy to see a dessert offered that fits the theme, and a good one at that.
Columbia Harbour House won’t be the best meal of your trip to Walt Disney World, but it’s not the worst option for a quick bite. If you are looking for counter service seafood at the Magic Kingdom, this is your only real option and it’s not a bad one.
It is likely the 3rd best counter service in the park behind Be Our Guest Restaurant and Pecos Bill’s in my opinion, just for the variety of options and the quality that some offer.
Just in time for summer, new alcoholic ice cream beverages have arrived at some of the outdoor food and beverage locations inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort!
In this review, we’ll stop at Min and Bill’s Dockside Diner and Oasis Canteen in the Echo Lake area to check out some new offerings that might help you beat the heat (if you’re 21 years or older).
Kahlua and Cream Milkshake ($12.00) – Min and Bill’s Dockside Diner, Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Sadly replacing the Star Wars-themed Blue Milkshake, there is now chocolate and vanilla alcoholic shake offerings at Min and Bill’s. That being said, they now have both vanilla and chocolate regular shakes here as well (as you might guess), which may make some guests happy.
Min and Bill’s Dockside Diner, Disney’s Hollywood Studios
In case you are unfamiliar, Min and Bill’s is the large boat sitting in Echo Lake near Hollywood Boulevard, just steps away from For the First Time in Forever – A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration.
Kahlua and Cream Milkshake ($12.00) – Min and Bill’s Dockside Diner, Disney’s Hollywood Studios
While it may not look like anything special, a Bailey’s Irish Cream milkshake is a pretty wonderful thing. I opted for chocolate as I prefer it to vanilla, and I think I made the right choice (although I can’t imagine it would be bad with vanilla either). It has an alcoholic coffee flavor of sorts, so if you like such things, you really can’t go wrong here.
Dreamsicle Float with Stoli Vanilla Vodka ($11.50) – Oasis Canteen, Disney’s Hollywood Studios
New to the menu, there is also a Barq’s Root Beer Float with the very same Stoli Vanilla Vodka in it.
Dreamsicle Float with Stoli Vanilla Vodka ($11.50) – Oasis Canteen, Disney’s Hollywood Studios
This is basically Stoli Vodka, vanilla ice cream, and orange juice. The Dreamsicle Float is probably the perfect dessert option for summer as it is quite refreshing given the fruit juice and fairly plain ice cream. That being said, it was a particularly hot day when we enjoyed this and it was pretty perfect for such weather. I suspect this will be quite popular as the temperature rises in Central Florida.
It is available non-alcoholic as well, which may be a decent Citrus Swirl substitute for when visiting Hollywood Studios.
As Pandora: The World of Avatar is only 32 days away from its official grand opening, Disney is putting the final touches on the land. As you know by now, Pandora will feature some out-of-this-world unique dining options to satisfy your hunger cravings. With those options will be specialty desserts available for purchase at both the Satuli Canteen and Pongu Pongu. At Satuli Canteen you can find the delicious Nav’i Blueberry Cheesecake, which is featured below.
According to the Disney Pastry chef who was behind this unique dessert, the inspiration came from the movie itself. In his words, he has said, “We watched ‘Avatar’ and noted that the Na’vi are in stellar shape – very lean, with beautiful skin and bright yellow eyes, so the Na’vi colors were the inspiration for the Blueberry Cheesecake with Passion Fruit Curd, a cream cheese and blueberry creation with passion fruit to connect to the film’s tropical environment. The cheesecake tastes as delicious as it looks, with a combination of acidity from the passion fruit with bold blueberry and creamy cheesecake.”
Another delicious dessert you can expect to find at Satuli is the Chocolate Cake (and yes that is what it is called).
The Chocolate Cake as described on the menu is a Chocolate Cake with a Crunchy Cookie Layer and Banana Cream Topping. The same pastry chef who created the blueberry cheesecake created this one as well.
“We used dark chocolate because it’s rich in antioxidants, then add a little crunch with a cookie wafer and the contrast of creamy mousse. The cake is topped with banana cream, made with a few simple (but delicious) ingredients: cream, white chocolate, and bananas, with a little drizzle of lemon. The chocolate-banana is a great flavor combination. Then we added goji berry on top – it tastes a little like a raisin, and we hydrated it with simple syrup. The taste of the goji berry with the banana cream and chocolate is a lovely balance of flavors. We created this as inspiration from what the ‘Healthy Nav’i would eat.”
These 2 desserts are meant to be savored and not meant to be quickly eaten.
If you are looking forward to trying out these 2 delicious desserts from Pandora, the wait is almost over as the opening day is only 32 days away! Pandora: The World of Avatar opens May 27th, at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
