Top Five Quick-Service Restaurants in Walt Disney World | Outside of the Parks

Top Five Quick-Service Restaurants in Walt Disney World | Outside of the Parks

By Jennifer Henry

Still Hungry?

Hey guys! I’m here to bring you what, in my opinion, are the top 5 Quick-Service Restaurants found outside of the parks. When I was younger, my family would go to Orlando every summer for at least a week, sometimes two. When you have the extra time (or when your parents were tired of taking 3 kids into the parks every day and wanted something a little slower pace), exploring the resorts and Disney Springs is a lot of fun and can be nice break!

As I mentioned in my last post, Disney has really focused on adding variety to their menus. This includes adding specialty items, healthier options and having more available for those with dietary restrictions. And one of the best things about the food across the whole Disney property, is consistency. Of course, there are some restaurants that are better than others, but chances are, it’s similar quality no matter where you get your meal. So, with that being said, I will cut to the chase.

5. Landscape of Flavors, Art of Animation

I know what you’re thinking. Don’t all of the value resorts have similar food outlets? Kind of. It is true that All Star, Pop Century and Art of Animation have a similar layout and feel, but the menus differ. When I worked at Disney, I loved coming to the food courts for a meal to people watch and feed off their excitement. It reminded that I got to work at the most magical place on earth. Breakfast is pretty standard at all of the food halls, but still amazing. Breakfast platters, pancakes and waffles, and omelets are always a great way to get the day started. For lunch and dinner they provide a wide variety of options, from Mongolian Grilled Fish to your regular Bacon Cheeseburger, as well as a make your own pasta station and pizzas. I love the Jumbo Stuffed Meatball with the Herb Polenta and the Surf and Surf Burger (minus the shrimp, because I’m allergic...boo!). Also, I never say to no to a side of Naan Bread! This location has a fun and busy atmosphere, and great food options to compliment! Definitely a huge bonus to staying at the Art of Animation!

Full menu here.

4. Riverside Mill, Port Orleans Riverside

Like other resort breakfasts, Riverside Mill does not disappoint with the basics. However, they have a few specialty items, like the Breakfast Burger and a Crispy Fried Chicken Biscuit. Being from the South, chicken biscuits are my favorite, go figure. For lunch and dinner, they offer a Chef’s Carving Table, a Roast Beef Melt, and a Cajun Chicken Sandwich, on top of the create-your-own pasta and salad stations. Many of your food basics, but with a Cajun flare, which is extremely fitting. I love the ambiance of this location, with its slower pace and relaxed atmosphere. The restaurant itself is very themed in its décor, including a working watermill outside. While you are at Port Orleans, you might as well pop into the piano bar, River Roost Lounge. Bob Jackson is a lot of fun!

Full menu here.

3. Gasparilla Island Grill, Grand Floridian

Gasparilla Island Grill is great for many reasons, but one being its location. The outside seating area is my favorite because you have a great view of Seven Seas Lagoon overlooking the castle. During the spring time when the heat hasn’t become unbearable yet, you can get a nice snack, maybe purchase a bottle of wine, and have a lovely afternoon. I’m possibly speaking from experience on this one. Many times. Back to the food. I am a big Brie fan, so the Chicken and Brie sandwich is a win for me! They have a plethora of sandwiches, pizza, mac and cheese, and a Blackened Fish Reuben, which is surprisingly good! This location is open 24 hours, so if you close out Magic Kingdom one night during peak season and just need a pizza at 3am, hop on the monorail because this place has got you covered!

Full menu here.

2. Capt. Cook’s, Polynesian Resort

Capt. Cook’s is hands down by favorite resort quick service restaurant, for two reasons. The first being the Pulled Pork Nachos, which I have an immediate craving for now. The nachos consist of homemade chips, a heap of pulled pork, cheese, tomatoes, onions, spicy mayo and pineapple salsa. Does that not sound like Polynesian heaven? It is. And the

second reason I love this restaurant, is the Tonga Toast during breakfast. In case you are not familiar, it is banana stuffed French toast that is deep fried. I mean, come on. Even though Disney has tried to incorporate more health-conscious items, they still realize they must give the people what they want. Captain Cook’s great because there are many items similar to what you could get at Kona Café, but it’s much quicker and little more cost effective. A few years ago, when they were under going the big renovation, they revealed the self-serve dole whip was going away, and I thought I would have to boycott the whole restaurant. But honestly, the food is so good I was able to overlook that tragedy and continue to frequent this Polynesian paradise. I guess it’s safe to say, I’m a little obsessed with this place.

Check out the full menu here.

1. D-Luxe Burger, Disney Springs

While it is still fairly new, D-Luxe Burger has hit it out of the park. This is my new go-to QSR restaurant at Disney Springs, which says a lot because I have been loyal to Earl of Sandwich for years. Their menu offers breakfast sandwiches, which is nice because there are not that many places open for breakfast at Disney Springs. I personally haven’t had any of their breakfast items yet, however they have a Crispy Chicken Biscuit (a cheddar biscuit at that), so I’m not mad at the menu. Their burgers are legit, the Southern Burger being my favorite, because of the pimento cheese. They are gourmet and cooked to perfection! But, the best part about this restaurant is the dipping sauces for the fries. I am a sauce fien! They have three-mustard and honey, garlic ranch, chipotle mayo, curry ketchup, horseradish, and buffalo blue cheese. Amazing, right? I’ve tried all of them, and there is not a bad sauce. The only downside is that the burgers do not come with fries, so it can get a little pricey. However, their duos (which serves two, given the name) include two burgers, one side of fries and two fountain beverages, and those work out to be a better priced deal. So if you are in the Disney Springs area and want to go a little sauce crazy, this place is a must do for you!

Find their full menu here.

Let me know what your favorite resort or Disney Springs quick service restaurants are or if there are any items you’re obsessed with, like I am with those Pork Nachos!

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Hey fellow Disney fans! My name is Jennifer Henry and I can’t remember a time when I was not obsessed with Disney. I grew up 3 hours from Orlando, so we visited Walt Disney World multiple times a year and it became a happy place to forget about the outside world for my whole family. I did the Disney College Program in the Spring of 2011 and it was absolutely the best time of my life! I got to work in the Magic Kingdom in Tomorrowland and on Main Street, so it was truly a dream come true. After college I moved to Orlando and went full time with the company. I spent 5 wonderful years working for the mouse and is a time of my life I look back on fondly. Now residing in Atlanta, Georgia, I try to visit Disney World as often as possible. When not at Disney, you will more than likely find me listening to Disney Park background music and dreaming my next trip home!  

Making the Most of Your First Trip to Disney World!

Tips and Tricks to Making the Most of Your First Trip to Disney World!

By Karen Goldschmidt

One of the most exciting moments in life is planning your first trip to Disney World! However, with over 25 on-site resort hotels, 4 parks, a downtown entertainment district and countless restaurants, planning can be stressful and confusing. Here are some of my tips and tricks for your first trip to Disney World!

1. DO YOUR RESEARCH

It's no secret that visiting a Disney park is going to cost you a pretty penny so you'll want to make sure you get the most out of your vacation! Knowing details beforehand like park times, the best rides for you and your family and which restaurants you will want to eat at will save you a lot of time once you're in the parks.

2. HAVE A PLAN

Once you have done your research and know the park hours (they vary from day to day), you can decide what days to visit which parks. If you are staying at an on-site resort hotel, you get access to Extra Magic Hours. This means one park each day is either open an hour early or up to 3 hours later than normal hours! (Keep in mind these parks will usually generate bigger crowds due to the extra hours.)

3. DOWNLOAD THE APP

The My Disney Experience app is an essential for your trip to the World. Through the app, you can make your FastPass+ selections, check wait times and even order your meals ahead of time at select Disney restaurants.

4. MAXIMIZE THE FASTPASS+

Waiting in lines is never fun, so having the option to skip the wait times to some of the most popular rides is a no brainer! Reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance when staying in a Walt Disney World resort (30 days in advance when staying off-property), so you will want to make your selections as early as possible (FastPasses do run out!). Here are lists of the rides, by park, with historically long wait times:

Magic Kingdom - Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Peter Pan's Flight, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Space Mountain

Epcot - Soarin' Around the World, Test Track, Mission: SPACE, Frozen Ever After

Hollywood Studios - Tower of Terror, Rock ’n' Roller Coaster, Toy Story Mania, Slinky Dog Dash, Star Tours

Animal Kingdom - Avatar Flight of Passage, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Expedition Everest, Kali River Rapids

5. LET DISNEY KNOW

Whether it's a birthday, anniversary or just your very first visit, Disney has a button for you to wear to showcase your celebrations! Make sure to visit the Guest Relations at the front of the parks, or the front desk of your resort hotel, and share with them what you’re celebrating. Typically when you wear one of these, you get a little extra attention from cast members!

6. MAKE EARLY BREAKFAST RESERVATIONS

Even if a park doesn't open till 9:00am, restaurants inside the parks will take breakfast reservations as early as 8:00am. This means you get to enter the park a little earlier than everyone else, which is pretty neat!

7. RIDER SWITCH

If you are traveling with your children that aren't old enough to ride some of the faster rides, Disney offers a very useful feature that allows one adult to ride while the other adult waits with the little ones. Once the riding adult returns, the waiting adult can then ride without having to wait in line again! Inform the cast members at the front of the ride and they will help you use this perk. Note that not all rides are included in the Rider Switch program. For a list of rides included in the Rider Switch program, click here.

8. KEEP OCCUPIED

Many of the rides have interesting artifacts to look at or an interactive queue while you wait. Pay attention to those and you might be in for some fun surprises! This works as a great way to keep your kids wandering eyes and minds occupied while you wait. You could also play a fun game with your phone (Heads Up) or keep an eye out for the famous "Hidden Mickeys" Disney World has scattered all over the parks.

9. WATCH THE FIREWORKS CROWD-FREE

The Fireworks at Magic Kingdom are a necessity for your trip! Because of this, however, the crowds can really build up in preparation for the show. If you are ready to leave the park, a great viewing location that will keep you away from the crowds is at the California Grill on top of Contemporary Resort. They will even dim the lights and play the music to the fireworks show! After a long day at the park, make your way over to the Contemporary and enjoy a nice relaxing meal with spectacular views of the fireworks. (There is even a viewing deck outside!). Reservations are required.

10. ENJOY EVERY MOMENT

As exciting and thrilling as Disney World can be, it is also exhausting. Mix that with hot temperatures and you can definitely expect some meltdowns (both kids and adults!). In the end however, there are so many amazing memories to be had that you will tell with your children for the rest of your lives. So take it all in and enjoy the ride!

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Hey! My name is Karen and I'm from Texas (even though Disney World has always felt like my real home). My first trip to Walt Disney World was in June of 1989 when I was a mere 3 months old! Although I would love to say I remembered it all, that's obviously not the case. It did, however, engrain in me a love for all things Disney that would carry on for years to come. Whether I'm at home checking wait times or planning my next Disney vacation, Disney is just about always on my mind. I hope that through all of my experiences and what I've learned managing my way through the parks that I can spread a little knowledge and share some tricks of my own with others!

What to Do in Emergencies at Walt Disney World

What to Do in Emergencies at Walt Disney World

By Megan Valentine

I’m sure most anyone who has experienced Disney World knows that it’s basically a world in itself.  If you’re staying on property, you can have most of your needs taken care of without ever leaving the Disney bubble.  On a trip with my mother this spring, I learned how true that really is!

Waiting for the bus as our mother daughter/joint birthday trip began.

On the night that I arrived at Disney World, I fell victim to a kidney stone (I now have anecdotal evidence that roller coasters like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train can dislodge kidney stones!) . Not the first one I’ve had, but having it start hurting me while on It’s a Small World means I’m going to have a really hard time riding that ride again! We managed to get back to our hotel (how we did that I still don’t know) before deciding that I really needed to get care for the situation. My mom contacted the front desk to ask for advice as we had never had to deal with such an emergent issue before and was told we should probably use Disney’s emergency services.

My granddad’s favorite ride is now my definitive least favorite!

I hope no one will ever need to use this, but everyone should store it away if they visit Disney much at all.  If you have any emergency situation, you can call 911 from any Disney phone and it will summon the emergency services providers who work specifically for the company. They will come and care for you in true Disney fashion (and the professional care that you get from paramedics who are usually awesome). All of this costs nothing to you, which is amazing in itself! The manager at Disney’s All-Star Music came to meet us at the ambulance and even told my mother to bring them the receipt from our taxi/rideshare return and they would pay for it.  The only thing on their mind was our comfort and care, which was incredible.

After I finally returned to my resort the next morning, we also learned that Disney works with a concierge pharmacy for those staying at the resorts.  We went to the front desk at All-Star Music where we were staying and told them we needed to fill prescriptions, gave them all of the information, and a few hours later I had my medicine.  The pharmacy does not run insurance, so you will have to pay for the medicines outright, but not having to take an Uber, Lyft, or taxi to a pharmacy, wait for prescriptions, and do the same on the return was invaluable after spending 8 hours in an emergency room!

Throughout the whole experience, Walt Disney World cast members provided every service they possibly could for me and made sure that I was cared for as well as possible, working with us to reschedule reservations at the last minute and creating as much magic as they could for a negative situation. 

Most people know about the care centers for simple issues that are available throughout the parks, but this is definitely something that you don’t learn much about until it’s needed. Thanks to Disney emergency services, I was able to do what I needed to and my mom and I agree that, barring the first night spent in the ER, this was one of our absolute favorite trips!

Commemorating the experience with a celebrating button.

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My name is Megan Valentine.  I'm a travel junkie, a lifelong Disney fan, and a museum curator & registrar.  My granddad was born in 1928, just like Mickey Mouse, so he has worked to instill a love of all things Disney in his kids and grandkids.  He and my grandmother took me to Walt Disney World for the first time when I was four years old, and I have been addicted ever since.  I have now been to WDW seven times and can't get enough! I am the planner for all of my family's Disney trips and consultant for any friends with questions since I am always reading about Disney, listening to podcasts, or watching the movies. In addition to my Disney travels, I love to explore a variety of destinations with an ever-growing list of places to visit.  As a museum professional and art historian, I often seek out fascinating new museum exhibits when I can, particularly if it has anything to do with my other major obsession, Egypt! 

Ghosts of Disney Past: River Country

Ghosts of Disney Past: River Country

By Mason Lawrence

Ever since I started poking around on Wikipedia looking at different pages for the Disney parks when I was 11 (I know, I was a SUPER cool kid), one place within Walt Disney World’s property has always had a certain allure to me: River Country. The idea that Disney built an entire water park only to close it with no real explanation after years of success always stood out to me as fascinating, especially since to this day the joint still stands abandoned. Lucky for those of us who never had the chance to experience it for ourselves, River Country’s past is very well documented online with lots of pictures and video if you know where to look.

Situated on the shore of Bay Lake near Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, Disney’s River Country was Disney’s first water park, adding a whole new experience to the still young Walt Disney World Resort located around 23 miles southwest of Orlando, Florida. In the mid-1970s, the size of Walt Disney World was considerably smaller than the one we know and love today; Magic Kingdom was the only theme park, Contemporary, Polynesian Village, Fort Wilderness Campground and the Golf Resort were the only resort hotels on property, and the Magnolia and Palm Golf Courses served as a getaway for the golfers in the family. Walt Disney World as a whole was performing rather well, but execs struggled with figuring out how to get guests to stay for longer periods – that is, until River Country was born.

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Guide map for Walt Disney World Resort circa 1971 (photo: orlandoweekly.com)

Disney Imagineering knew they had revolutionized the game in theme parks and that if they were going to build a water park, it would be held to the same standard as Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom. To try to go along with the theme of Fort Wilderness next-door, they settled on a rustic theme originally named “Pop Willow’s Grove” modeled after an “old-fashioned swimming hole.” To keep this theme as prominent as possible, Imagineers wanted to make guests feel as if they were actually swimming in Bay Lake. To make this possible, a unique filtering system was developed which used actual lake water and they built a dam between the land and Bay Lake, creating a type of man-made lagoon which would eventually become River Country’s main pool. (Side note: Disney sure does like to put the words “man-made” and “lagoon” together, huh? I’m looking at you Seven Seas Lagoon.) The main focal point of the park would be a man-made mountain which would have slides winding around it. To immerse guests further, Disney brought in pebbles from Georgia and the Carolinas and made the bottom of River Country’s main pool sand.

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Model used by Disney Imagineering to realize the concept of River Country, then known as Pop Willow's Grove. (Photo: Pat Burke via themeparktourist.com)

On June 19, 1976, Disney’s River Country opened its doors for the first time, commemorated by Susan Ford (President Gerald R. Ford’s daughter) sliding down Whoop ‘n Holler Hollow, the park’s main slide duo. Admission was $4 for adults and $3 for children (that’s around $13 and $18 in today’s money), and even though it frequently closed due to reaching capacity, River Country was a hit!

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Advertisement for River Country, 1978. Combination tickets for River Country and Treasure Island (later known as Discovery Island) were also sold. (Photo: Tom Simpson, Flickr)

River Country had a small but mighty repertoire of attractions and fun things to do, so let’s go through them! It boasted two different pools: Bay Cove and Upspring Plunge. Bay Cove was the one with the sand bottom and lake water, was half an acre in size, and had a tire swing, boom swing, rope climb, and T-bar drop, while Upspring Plunge was smaller, used normal water, and was a more relaxing and recreational swimming pool. As far as slides went, Whoop ‘n Holler Hollow was a duo of waterslides which acted as the main attraction of the park and emptied into the Bay Cove pool. Slippery Slide Falls was another pair of slides with a 7-foot drop down into the Upspring Plunge pool. The White Water Rapids was a sort of inner tube slide that started out as a lazy river, then picked up speed going downhill ending with a splash down into Bay Cove. Indian Springs and Kiddie Cove were little areas with slides and spraying fountains for little kids and preteens respectively, and Cypress Point Nature Trail took walkers through trees along the coast of Bay Lake. A popular means of transportation at River Country was a Barrel Bridge á la Tom Sawyer’s Island in Magic Kingdom.

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Bay Cove pool with its dam separating the park from Bay Lake. Bay Cove had a sand bottom and included a tire swing, boom swing, rope climb, and T-bar drop. (Photo: ©Disney)

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Bay Cove pool from the ground taken in October 1978. (Photo: Mike McInnis, Flickr)

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Kiddie Kove in October 1978. Kiddie Kove was a little play area designed for younger children, complete with two slides and spraying fountains. (Photo: Mike MicInnis, Flickr)

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Upspring Plunge pool and Slippery Slide Falls in May 1993. Upspring Plunge was a heated, clear water pool compared to the natural lake water used in Bay Cove. Slippery Slide Falls were two slides with a 7-foot drop to the water below. (Photo: © Scott Hanko, Flickr)

Goofy, believe it or not, was River Country’s mascot and could be seen occasionally sliding down Whoop ‘n Holler Hollow! You could also find him on a variety of park merch and on the logo.

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Goofy taking a ride down Whoop 'n Holler Hollow! Sure do hope his fur is waterproof… (Photo: © Disney)

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Goofy interacting with Guests at River Country. Based off his hat, I'm assuming this was during the "All-American Water Party" which ran from April to September 1997. (Photo: @DesigningDisney on Twitter via themeparktourist.com)

All seemed to be going pretty well in River Country, and on November 2, 2001, the park closed for its annual refurbishment at the end of the warm season with plans to open up the following year as normal. However, when springtime rolled around, River Country remained closed for that season…and the next one…and the next one…and the next one, until Disney announced in 2005 that the “OG” Disney water park would remain closed. But why? There were lots of whispers on the reasons why River Country just never reopened, some reasonable and some far out.

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River Country park map near the end of its run. (Photo: © Disney)

On the far-out side, rumors circulated that River Country had closed because a patron died after being exposed to a brain-eating amoeba in the Bay Cove pool (the one that used water from Bay Lake). And while this did unfortunately happen, that was in the ‘80s and couldn’t possibly be the reason for the park’s closing over a decade later. More likely was the drop in park attendance, new laws, and drop in WDW attendance across the board. Following their openings, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach were very popular, and while this was good for Disney as a corporation, River Country suffered as it was considerably smaller than the other two competitors on property (Typhoon Lagoon was 9-10x bigger). New Florida laws concerning water parks needing to use municipal water also likely played a key role, seeing that one of the most iconic aspects of the park relied on lake water. Finally, following the September 11th attacks Walt Disney World saw an overall decline in attendance, so it was likely more feasible for Disney to close up River Country with its two previously mentioned issues than to cut corners elsewhere. So just like that, River Country closed.

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Aerial view of River Country in April 2002 less than a year after its closing. Plants haven’t yet begun overrunning the property as they would in the near future. Red pins represent each of the park’s attractions. A) Whoop ‘n Holler Hollow; B) White Water Rapids; C) Bay Cove Pool; D) Slippery Slide Falls; E) Upspring Plunge; F) Kiddie Kove; G) Indian Springs; H) Bay Bridge; I) Barrel Bridge; J) Cypress Point Nature Trail. (Photo: Google Earth, labeling by me)

Disney must have been at least considering reopening the park eventually though, because it has stood abandoned since its 2001 season-end closing (as of December 2018). If you do a simple Google search you can find all sorts of photo and video of the abandoned park. I’ll leave that exploring to you since this post is gettin’ pretty long, but I encourage you to do so! This neat article by All That's Interesting and this YouTube video by Dark Exploration Films are good places to start!

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Aerial of River Country in October 2006, nearly five years after closing. Red pins represent each of the park’s attractions. A) Whoop ‘n Holler Hollow; B) White Water Rapids; C) Bay Cove Pool; D) Slippery Slide Falls; E) Upspring Plunge; F) Kiddie Kove; G) Indian Springs; H) Bay Bridge; I) Barrel Bridge; J) Cypress Point Nature Trail (Photo: Google Earth, labeling by me)

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Aerial view of River Country in January 2018. As you can see, vegetation has practically taken over the whole property. Red pins represent each of the park’s attractions. A) Whoop ‘n Holler Hollow; B) White Water Rapids; C) Bay Cove Pool; D) Slippery Slide Falls; E) Upspring Plunge; F) Kiddie Kove; G) Indian Springs; H) Bay Bridge; I) Barrel Bridge; J) Cypress Point Nature Trail (Photo: Google Earth, labeling by me)

For 25 years, River Country entertained guests of all ages and gave Walt Disney World that extra experience outside of the theme parks that executives felt was missing. During those 25 years, Walt Disney World Resort grew to a size very similar to how we see it today: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios (then known as Disney-MGM Studios), and Disney’s Animal Kingdom were all opened by April 1998. Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Parks opened in in 1989 and 1995 respectively. Nineteen of today’s twenty-eight resort hotels were in operation.

Speaking of resorts, Disney recently announced that Reflections—A Disney Lakeside Lodge will be constructed on River Country’s land set to open in 2022. The resort will be a Disney Vacation Club property with 900 rooms and a nature lakeside lodge theme. It will be interesting to watch this project come to fruition and see if and how Disney will make references back to old River Country in the new resort. Maybe the main pool will be called Bay Cove or Upspring Plunge or have a mini version of the park re-created for guests to enjoy? That would be pretty cool, but we’ll just have to wait to find out!

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Concept art for Reflections - A Disney Lakeside Lodge set to open in 2022 on the land previously occupied by River Country. (Photo: © Disney)

Do you have any memories of River Country? I’d love to hear them, so sound off in the comments! I hope you all have enjoyed my first blog post, and if you have any questions or topic ideas, drop them down below too! Until next time, see ya real soon!

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Welcome, foolish mortals, to The Ghosts of Disney Past! My name is Mason Lawrence, and even though I’m just an average almost-20-year-old from Iowa, I’ve been going to the Disney parks pretty much my entire life. By day I study history and social studies education at Iowa State University (go Cyclones!), but in my spare time I love learning about Disney history and trivia.  My goal here is to give you the background and teach you something you might not have known about some of your favorite Disney parks, resorts, and attractions both past and present! Now, as they say, “look alive,” and we’ll continue our little tour. And let’s all stay together, please.

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Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research.

All images and video included are copyright to their respective holders.

Text Sources:

“A Tribute to Disney’s River Country.” Big Florida Country, 2018

            www.bigfloridacountry.com/rivercountry.htm

Russon, Gabrielle. “New Disney Resort Will Open at Former River Country Water Park Site in

2022.” OrlandoSentinel.com, 18 Oct. 2018,

www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-bz-disney-hotel-new-20181018-

story.html

Sim, Nick. “Abandoned: The Rise, Fall, and Decay of Disney’s River Country.” Theme Park Tourist,

            29 Mar. 2015,

            www.themeparktourist.com/features/20150323/30074/abandoned-rise-fall-and-decay-

disney-s-river-country.

Weiss, Werner. “River Country Closed by Brain-Eating Amoeba? (Part 1 of 2).” Yesterland, 21

            Sept. 2012, www.yesterland.com/rivercountry.html

Fantasia Gardens: Miniature Golf at The Happiest Place on Earth

Fantasia Gardens: Miniature Golf at The Happiest Place on Earth

By Rachel Petrosky

My husband and I recently returned from a week of amazing Disney World magic. For our fourth Disney trip as a couple, we decided to try new things outside the normal realm of a typical visit to “The Mouse”. We purposefully only visited the parks for two days out of our time there, opting instead to take the road less traveled…for us anyway. We knew a miniature golf course existed on Disney property, having passed by it before, so this time around we blocked out our schedules for the experience. Allow me to share all that I learned attempting to play my best, in case you were pondering whether it’s an activity worth trying on your next vacation.  Let’s break everything down into categories…

Location

Where is this place anyway? According to the “official Disney website”, (which you can find here https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/recreation/fantasia-gardens-fairways-miniature-golf/) Fantasia Gardens is located in the Epcot Resort area near the Walt Disney World Swan Hotel. We opted taking a bus to Hollywood Studios and walking up to the Boardwalk, then around to the Swan and across the street. It was a hike. If you happen to have access to the boats around boardwalk area, I would suggest taking those. Your feet will thank you.

Price

When paying for a round of golf, it is important to note that you only pay for one side of the course. Because there’s two. They are very different from each other so choose wisely. For a single game, adults are $14 and children are $12. Not too shabby for a Disney experience, I was expecting twenty or more. We paid for the “family friendly adventure” our first go around. The attendants told us to show up the next day with our receipt and we would receive 25% off the next game. And we did just that.

Playing Experience

As mentioned, Fantasia Gardens has two different courses for you to choose from. A family friendly side and a challenging side. My advice is to begin on the family friendly side, unless you’re Tiger Woods. More on that in a second. If you’re bringing the kiddos, I would only opt for family friendly. If you are just a party of adults, I would still opt for that one unless you are very skilled in golf. I am not skilled in golf at all. Your family side is a typical miniature golf experience. Make the shot. Go through the cave. Hit it through the windmill, etc. There are Disney sculptures along your route for nice picture opportunities as well. Take the family, post on Instagram, it’s a pleasant experience.

The challenging course is just what it says it is, very challenging, at least to me. This is not a “putt putt” type of golfing game. This is an actual golf course, shrunk in mini form. Sand traps, bunkers, water hazards and sloping greens are all present. There is also a “rule” posted stating there is a six-par limit on each hole. Basically, you have six chances to get your ball in the hole or you should move on to the next one. This will keep the course from becoming backed up and clogged from someone like me still trying on her twenty-eighth par. (I don’t want to talk about it)

Other Considerations

There are a few more things to keep in mind before agreeing to seek this adventure out. What is the weather like on that day? The only shading offered was a few trees so if you’re one to duck in and get out of the Florida sun and humidity, you may take that into consideration. What amenities are available? As soon as you walk up to the counter, there is a room adjacent with snacks and drinks for purchase. Ice cream, chips, water, sodas, and even beer and hard cider for the grown-ups. The prices for these was typical for any Disney location. I also recommend pocketing a few extra balls. If you “accidentally” lose one, you may find yourself getting lost on the way back to the counter.

To wrap this up, I had a good time and I’m glad we checked it off our bucket list. If I do it again, I’ll go in the winter and I’ll do the family friendly side…unless I practice at the range first. I will also remember what the great Yoda once said, “Do or do not, there is no try”.

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Hi friends! I’m Rachel Petrosky. I’m an educator, military wife, and lifelong Disney fan. My husband and love it so much, we married at Shades of Green near the Magic Kingdom. We try and go every year if we can! You can follow me on Instagram @racheybabebeauty. “Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional.” -Walt Disney

Disney After Mickey’s 90th

Disney After Mickey’s 90th

What Disney Lovers Can Look Forward to in the Next 90 Years

By Lauren Compasso

At a recent press event following Mickey Mouse’s birthday, tons of news was announced concerning everything from new shows, resorts and attractions, to expansions of entire lands in the parks, and even new transportation options between the parks and resorts. Above, Epcot’s Future World, which will soon be receiving a massive makeover.

As the confetti settles from one of the biggest birthday celebrations to ever rock the Disney Parks, many fans are left wondering what the future holds for Walt Disney World. At a recent press event following Mickey Mouse’s birthday, tons of news was announced concerning everything from new shows, resorts and attractions, to expansions of entire lands in the parks, and even new transportation options between the parks and resorts. It seems as if almost every part of the Walt Disney World property will be “plussed” (Walt’s word for ‘made better’) in the near future, leaving nothing untouched. Now, I know what you’re thinking...but these announcements only cover the next few years. What about beyond that? Here’s my take on the recent flood of news Disney fans have been getting. Walt warned us about the future of his beloved parks from the very beginning. Many of us are very familiar with his famous words: “We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” He knew that progress was the true hallmark of his work and in order to keep the magic alive, the parks would always be in a state of change. Let’s break down three main themes of progression that we can expect from the next 90 years: technology, expansion, and nostalgia.

Walt was obsessed with constantly improving his work by combining his fascination with cutting edge technology and imaginative design into his attractions.

One of the driving forces that has always carried change and progress through the Walt Disney World Resort is the introduction of new technology. Walt was obsessed with constantly improving his work by combining his fascination with cutting edge technology and imaginative design into his attractions. The parks have consistently delivered innovative ideas to guests, providing many people with experiences that they have never seen anywhere else. The integration of new technological advances is an inevitable part of the next 90 years, and beyond. The upcoming Tron Light Cycle attraction coming to Tomorrowland is a perfect example, although this ride does already exist in Shanghai Disney. The use of map projection technology that we have seen rise in popularity in recent years with animatronics and nighttime spectaculars will also continue to be perfected and improved upon for the future shows and attractions coming to the parks in new and exciting ways.

(Walt) knew that progress was the true hallmark of his work and in order to keep the magic alive, the parks would always be in a state of change. Above, Walt Disney World’s new Toy Story Land.

Another concept that I believe will shape the next 90 years of Disney is that of expansion. The Walt Disney World Resort spans about 43 square miles, where Disneyland Resort only spans 500 acres. When creating what was then nicknamed “The Florida Project”, Walt stated that Orlando gave them the blessing of size. When you look at how far the Disney company has grown since the first park opening over 60 years ago, you might think “where do we go from here?” In the past 25 years alone we have gained Blizzard Beach, Disney’s Animal Kingdom park, New Fantasyland, Pandora: The World Of Avatar, Toy Story Land, and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opening soon. In recent years, Disney has added almost 20 new hotels to the resort and is planning to add even more in the very near future. With all that growth, Walt Disney World still has so much room for expansion and with many guests begging for a “5th gate”, the possibilities on the horizon are endless. When can we expect the next big development at Walt Disney World? Unfortunately, we just don’t know yet. However, if you look back at how far we have come in the past, the future is closer than we think. It may just be a pipe dream for now, but I think it’s safe to say we could get that 5th park in the next 90 years.

Ever since audiences got a taste of what it was like to see their favorite classic films reimagined, this trend took off like wildfire.

Lastly, I want to mention one of the most prevalent topics that we have seen in recent years at Disney and that is the resurgence of nostalgia. What’s old is new again when it comes to Disney and this is most apparent when it comes to films and merchandise. The drastic increase in the popularity of the Disney from our childhood is undeniable. The first film to kick off this trend was the live action remake of Alice in Wonderland in 2010, with the wildly successful Maleficent following in 2014. Ever since audiences got a taste of what it was like to see their favorite classic films reimagined, this trend took off like wildfire. Disney has since slated seven live action remakes between now and 2020 starting with Mary Poppins Returns later this month. Some have criticized the Disney’ Company’s reliance on these live action films by claiming that they are mass produced money grabs resulting from a lack of new and fresh ideas. What many of those critics underestimate is the hunger Disney fans have for the nostalgia of their youth and the desire to relive it with their children of the new generation. It has served as a recipe for box office success keeping theatres full worldwide, and it doesn’t show signs of slowing down anytime soon.

So much of my favorite memories, my biggest joys, and the foundation of who I am today has been influenced by that indescribable quality of Disney magic. Walt was famously quoted as saying, “I hope that we never lose sight of one thing...that it all started with a mouse,” but I have always believed that we owe everything to Walt. Since the day the world was introduced to Mickey Mouse on November 18th, 1928, Walt’s passion for outgoing himself has laid the groundwork for 90 years of wonder, magic and fantasy. What better way to pay tribute to his trailblazing ideas and the happiness that Walt and Mickey created than to keep moving forward, staying curious, and believing in the impossible? If we follow in the footsteps of the past, the next 90 years will unfold into a bright and enchanting future.

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Hiya pals! Allow me to introduce myself...my name is Lauren and I currently live in Charleston, SC but my real home is Walt Disney World. I became an Annual Passholder for the first time in 2018 and have fallen even more in love with the magic of the parks. I’ve been obsessed with Disney ever since I was a little girl watching Lion King and Little Mermaid on repeat practically every day of my childhood. I actually watched Lion King so much that I wore out the VHS twice! The pure fantasy of the all the music and movies has shaped who I am as an adult and I hope to share some of that passion with others!

To me, the most magical thing about Disney is how it brings people together; families and strangers alike. I've made so many new friends and loved ones through a shared obsession of Disney and for that reason, it will always have a special place in my heart. I guess you can say that making magical memories is my favorite thing to do! I can most commonly be found taking Instagram pictures while eating a Mickey bar and rushing to the next FastPass. I can also be easily spotted by the mouse ears on my head and I am shamelessly excitable around firework shows! You can get to know a little bit more about me and follow along with my Disney adventures by following my on Instagram @girlmeetswalt