Holidays Around the World returns to Epcot for the 2015 Holiday Season

Beginning November 27, 2015, celebrate a world of cheer as Holidays Around the World returns to Epcot® at Walt Disney World® Resort. Amid joyful music and seasonal food favorites, time-honored traditions spring to life as costumed performers present holiday heritage throughout World Showcase.

 

Epcot's Holidays Around the World

This year, enjoy new, live musical performances by American Music Machine. This five-member a cappella group will perform modern and nostalgic holiday hits, including “White Christmas,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “All I Want for Christmas is You.”

“Joyful! A Gospel Celebration of the Season” enlivens the Fountain Stage throughout the day, while the Canadian Holiday Voyageurs take us on a musical exploration of holiday traditions from across the Great White North in the Canada Pavilion. In Mexico, “Feliz Navidad” features colorful dancers and mariachis, who celebrate the holiday customs of Mexico in an interactive, musical performance, and the China Pavilion bursts to life with the vibrant Chinese Lion Dance, bringing good fortune and happiness to all in honor of major holidays such as the Lunar New Year and Lantern Festival.

  

Plus the Candlelight Processional, one of the most beloved holiday traditions at Walt Disney World Resort, takes place at America Gardens Theater at 5, 6:45 and 9 p.m. each evening. Holidays Around the World at Epcot takes place November 27 - December 30, 2015 so there is plenty of time for you to experience this amazing event. 

To start your planning, email lauren@magicaltravel.com and I will help you with booking your vacation package, to securing your restaurant reservations, to helping you pick you’re your daily FastPass+ selections! I will save you not only your money but also your time!

Disney's Baby Care Centers

Most of my trips to Walt Disney World, my sister and I were the youngest kids on the trip.  Even when we were in our 20s - we were still the only kids on the trip.  And then my best friend, one of my Disney cohorts, had her baby daughter, E.  And our Disney trips changed - for the better.  It also opened up a whole new world of places I''ve never visited while at Walt Disney World.  One of these places I had never visited were the Baby Care Centers.  These centers are amazing places for those visiting the Walt Disney World Parks with toddlers, infants and babies.

There is a Baby Care center in all four  Disney theme parks.  The one in Magic Kingdom is located  between Casey's Corner and The Crystal Palace.

The one in Epcot is located near the Odyssey Center (If you are in the World Show Case, walking from Mexico to Canada, take the walkway to the Odyssey right after the Mexico Pavilion.  The  Baby Care Center will be on the right of the Odyssey Center.  If you are heading towards Mexico Pavilion from the Canada Pavilion, the walkway will be on your left right before the Mexico Pavilion).

The Baby Care Center in Disney's Hollywood Studios is located right at the main entrance - once you come through the turnstiles, the Center will be on your left.

And finally, the Disney's Animal Kingdom's Baby Care Center is located on Discovery Island, to the left of the Tree of Life.  The walkway to the Baby Care center is right past Creature Comforts and right before the  Disney Vacation Club booth.

The Baby Care Centers are place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the park for when mom needs to feed the baby in a quiet and private setting, if the child needs a diaper change, or simply a time out from all the excitement.  On my last trip, we found ourselves being the only ones in the Center so I asked the Cast Member working in the Baby Care Center if I could take some pictures so here are some that I snapped.

Private nursing rooms available.

There are plenty of clean, large changing tables with protective paper.  There are also restrooms for the big-kids and adults.

There is also a play area for kids to crawl and play around when they need to get out of the strollers and out of someone's arms.

Baby E. enjoying the play area.

The Baby Care Centers are also very well stocked in case you forgot to bring something with you on your trip or into the park that the baby will need throughout the day.  Some of the items I saw included diapers in various sizes.

Diapers in various sizes.

The Baby Center also stocks baby powder,  diaper cream, wet-wipes, baby food, snacks for bigger kids, Pedialyte, sippy-cups and medicine for babies. There is also a microwave and bottle warmers for those that need them.

Forgot your child's bib or pacifier at home? You've covered.

Cabinets full of baby and children needs. 

There was also another area with some chairs and kid sized tables for coloring and playing.  This area also featured bibs, pacifiers, baby socks, and baby toys.  This area also had children's clothing (shirts, shorts, and undergarments) available for purchase if you have an emergency and need a change of clothing right away. 

In addition to toys, the sell children's clothing in case of an emergency.

These Baby Centers in all four Walt Disney World theme parks, prove once again of how family-friend and baby-friendly Walt Disney World is.  The Baby Centers are truly a great place to get away with baby, mom and dad need a break from all of the excitement that is Walt Disney World.

Thinking a trip to Walt Disney World is something your family needs to do? It is time to start planning now!  Email lauren@magicaltravel.com and I will help you with everything from booking your vacation package, to securing your restaurant reservations,you’re your daily FastPass+ selections! I will save you not only money but also your time! 

Don't forget to follow me on Facebook and Twitter to stay updated on the latest Disney travel news!

California Grill Review

One of my all-time favorite, anywhere-in-the-world restaurants is located in Walt Disney World.  It is located on the 15th floor of the Contemporary Resort.  It is the California Grill.  If you want a delicious meal or are celebrating something special, this will always be my first recommendation.  The California Grill sits atop the Contemporary Resort and all most every seat has an amazing view of the Magic Kingdom park and/or the Magic Kingdom resort area.

View from California Grill's observation deck.

My most recent meal here was on a Friday night in September.  We had reservations at 7:20 that I was able to secure two days before.  We opted to drive there instead of using resort transportation.  It took us 8 minutes to travel from door-to-door of the Walt Disney World Dolphin to the Contemporary resort.  Upon arriving at the Contemporary Resort Gate, all we had to do was let the guard know about our reservation and show ID and we were told where to park. 

Restaurant's menu.

Restaurant's napkin.

   

In order to check in for your meal, you need to head to the 2nd floor of the hotel and follow the signs to the check-in desk.  Our entire party was present (most  Walt Disney World restaurants will not seat you until your entire party arrives) so we were given a pager an were allowed onto the elevator which would take us up to the 15th floor, directly to the restaurant.  As we were stepping off the elevator, our buzzer went off letting us know that our table was ready - perfect timing!  If you have a stroller, like we did, you have the option of taking it to the table, or have the cast members take the stroller hold it in a room for in case you need it.

Our table was near the observation deck, which meant we had a fantastic view of both Magic Kingdom, the castle and the Grand Floridian.

Ferry boat heading to Magic Kingdom.

Our server was quick to approach our table and we placed an order for a bottle of the Bonci Vallerosa Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi for the ladies and a beer for the gentleman.  Our server also recommended the BLT flat bread for starters and we ordered that as well.  The Verdicchio was a crisp and refreshing white wine that tasted similar to a Pinot Grigio. 

The bread service arrived shortly after our drinks.  The bread basket held a whole-grain sourdough roll and lavender focaccia roll served with salted-butter.  The focaccia roll was the table favorite. The flat bread arrived shortly after the bread did.  The flat bread had a crisp and light crust that was topped with slices of tomatoes, bacon pieces, shredded lettuce and a lemon mayonnaise.  The tomatoes provided the most flavor for this flat bread, as they were at-their-peak summer tomatoes.  The bacon provided a nice salty and smokey aspect to it but wasn't the star like the tomatoes.  The lemon mayonnaise went pretty much unnoticed. (We were so excited about both the bread basket and the starter that I forgot to take a picture of both... sorry!)

After finishing our starter, there was a nice break before our entrees arrived. I appreciate this when eating out at a nice restaurant - I don't like being bombarded with the food we ordered, it feels like a restaurant is trying to rush you out the door when this is done.  The California Grill does not do this. 

For my entree, I ordered the pork two ways.  The first way was a grilled tenderloin served medium with a goat cheese polenta and mushrooms.  This was phenomenal and my favorite "way".  The pork was cooked to perfection, if you want your pork cooked more they will do this for you as well.  The second way was a piece of lacquered belly, homemade applesauce and an apple ring.  I really wanted to like this "way" but unfortunately this was a bit dry and overdone to my liking.  Both apple servings were delicious. 

Pork served two ways.

My friend had the oak-fired filet of beef.  The filet was served with a sweet corn risotto, grilled corn relish, spring onion oil, and popcorn shoots.  This was also very good.  The sweet corn risotto was a perfect accompaniment to the smokey filet. 

Oak-Fired Filet of Beef.

Her husband ordered off of the sushi menu.  He ordered a Dragon Roll and the Pork Belly Nigri.  The Dragon roll consisted of spicy and tataki tuna, shrimp tempura, avocado and dragon sauce with Hijiki-Shirataki Salad.  The Pork Belly Nigri  consisted of the house-cured pork belly, bacon atop Yuzu Rice with a spicy Teriyaki sauce drizzled on-top.  He offered me a piece of the Dragon Roll, which I have ordered before, and it is was delicious. Unfortunately I didn't get to try the Pork Belly Nigri, but I am assuming it was good based on how fast it disappeared!

Pork Belly Nigri is on the bottom left.  Dragon roll is on the top right of the plate.

By the time dinner was done, there just wasn't enough room left for dessert so we skipped it. But I have had the dessert before the highly recommend the vanilla creme brulee. 

Now, one of the perks at dining at the California Grill is, as I mentioned, before the view. And many people try to schedule their dinner for when the nightly Magic Kingdom fireworks occur.  The California Grill will dim the lights and play the corresponding music during the show.  If you are unable to secure a reservation at California Grill but not during the fireworks don't despair! Guests who have dined prior in the evening may return to California Grill to view the fireworks, all you need to do is present your receipt from dinner to gain re-entry to the restaurant!

Want to go to Walt Disney World and dine at the California Grill? It is time to start planning now!  Email lauren@magicaltravel.com and I will help you with everything from booking your vacation package, to securing your restaurant reservations,you’re your daily FastPass+ selections! I will save you not only money but also your time! 

Don't forget to follow me on Facebook and Twitter to stay updated on the latest Disney travel news!