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My Three New Fave Drinks at Animal Kingdom

After running a combined 19.3 miles as part of Wine & Dine’s Two Course challenge, you get a little thirsty. Maybe a lot thirsty! The kind of thirsty that Powerade alone just can’t quench. It’s the perfect time to head to a park with adult beverages-and Animal Kingdom is one of my favorites!

A beautiful day at Animal Kingdom!

I met my friend Jess there, too, who just happens to be both my co-blogger at Neverland Press and my running buddy for the Half Marathon! (I don’t remember exactly…but I’m pretty certain this high-five may be after we decided to hit Animal Kingdom for some drinks! LOL!)

Dr. Facilier and Minnie make a plan!

Dole Whip

Dole Whips are hugely popular all over Disney property…but there is only one place you can get them year-round with rum!

A must-do every time!

Tamu Tamu Refreshments is located right in front of Africa, across from the Tusker House restaurant.

Always a short line, but it moves quickly!

We think this drink is a steal! For only $7.00, a few dollars more than a cup of pineapple soft-serve deliciousness, you can have either dark rum or coconut rum added to your drink! We both chose coconut rum…yummmm!

Dark rum or coconut rum? Choices, choices…!

(And if you like posting Instagram shots and tagging #wallsofdisney there are plenty of photo ops here, too!)

Yes, I would love a very cold drink! Thank you!

And if you’re wondering…Where’s the rum?? Don’t worry-they left a nice hollow space in the middle and filled it allllll the way up! Just be careful when you poke your straw in and take your first sip!

How happy are we right now?

Coconut-Lychee Lemonade

This is Jess’ must-do and she quickly got me on board! This drink is sweet, tart and very refreshing! It is made with Parrot Bay coconut rum, lychee and Odwalla lemonade.

Our gorgeous view of Discovery Island!

You can find Anandapur Frozen Beverages in Asia, right in front of the bridge to Discovery Island.

We were the first customers of the day!

This drink was a little more expensive at $8.25, but I still had a $2.oo credit from the Food & Wine Festival, so I put it towards the cost. Either way it was well worth it-this sweet and tangy drink will cool you off on even the hottest days!

The frozen Coca-Cola looks good, too!

There’s even another #wallsofdisney Instagram opportunity, too!

Coca-Cola in Nepalese!

We found an adorable little hut overlooking the bridge and water to sit and enjoy our drinks. They even had butt-shaped stools! LOL! Perfect place to relax, recharge and people watch!

This is being added to my list of must-dos!

Smokey Bones Chocolate Shake

I’m always looking to try new things, and when someone mentioned a chocolate shake with bourbon AND bacon on one of my Disney Facebook pages, I was all ears! Turns out it’s much less elusive than the Yeti-it’s been hiding under my nose this whole time!

It has BACON!!!

You can find this hidden gem at Trilo-Bites, a tiny stand on the path from Discovery Island to DinoLand USA. I can’t tell you how many times my kids have dragged me past here on their way to Primeval Whirl! (I know-I don’t know why anyone would want to ride that, either!!)

This was the steepest price tag at $10.00, but this was more of a meal than a drink! It was big, it was thick, it was delicious! A chocolate shake with bourbon, topped with whipped cream and candied bacon. I mean-how many of your favorite things can be found in a single drink?

The Countdown Lime Margarita looks good, too!

And that piece of candied bacon? If you were thinking it was simply a garnish on top, you’d be wrong! It’s a full size strip of bacon…some floating on top, the rest dangling down all the way to the bottom! I wish we’d taken a pic of us trying to maneuver this into our mouths! LOL!

This photo looks eerily like our Dole Whip photo…! LOL!

The only thing better than turning your friend on to your new favorite drink is recruiting MORE friends to join you! Our running friend Kerry wanted in on the action, and she was a big fan, too! (Even though she tried to sneak in a sip when she thought Jess and I weren’t looking…!)

Three amigas enjoying a liquid lunch!

This was pretty filling, and since it was our third drink before noon we were satisfied with our day so far! (We were even able to squeeze in Flights of Passage, Expedition Everest and Kilimanjaro Safari around our demanding drinking schedule! LOL!)

A final “not-so-hidden” Mickey for you Instagram fans…Fichwa means hidden!

Though this is by no means an exhaustive list (Nomad’s Lounge, Yak & Yeti, Pongu Pongu in Pandora-The World of Avatar all have amazing offerings!) these are some of my new faves paired with old favorites! I’d love to know your favorite Disney drinks…but-do they have bacon??

Jacqueline lives in Southbury, CT with her husband, two children and cat, Rocky Road. She is a runDisney enthusiast, new AP holder and autism mama. You can follow her on Instagram at @neverlandpress and @morphingintominnie.

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Pirates League-Mermaids, Makeovers and More!

Ahoy there, Mateys! Is your child obsessed with all things pirate? Are you? Are you jealous you missed Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow in Disneyland recently? Me, too! Pirates League is a fun-for-all-ages experience found in Adventureland in Magic Kingdom…and will turn any landlubber into a fearsome pirate or mesmerizing mermaid!

Mermaid makeover photo op at the castle!

My daughter loves Princesses and everything sparkly, but after two makeovers at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Cinderella Castle, she was ready for something new! Pirates League offered all kinds of makeovers, for both boys and girls, kids and adults! This was perfect, as we also have a son with autism, and wanted to find an experience that he could participate in, too!

Planning and Preparation

Like many of Disney’s experiences, Pirates League makeovers can be booked 180 days in advance. Since they are only open 9:00-4:00, there is no opportunity to book a pre-park opening appointment, so think about how it will fit into your day. (Right before your Splash Mountain Fastpass may not be ideal! LOL!) At 180 days out, they had no problem accommodating both children at our preferred time, so book early if you want first dibs!

Next, we had to choose a package. For girls, you can choose a Mermaid or Empress (female pirate) package. Boys can choose between First Mate Pirate packages or Captain Hook himself! Younger boys (ages 3 and up) also have the option to be made up as Jake from the popular Neverland Pirates Disney Junior show! Most packages also had a “deluxe” option, where for $15-$55 more you could add a themed costume or costume T-shirt! (Clothes were only provided in “youth” sizes…adults are out of luck!)

For our daughter, Lola, we chose the basic Mermaid package for $39.95. (The packages range from $39.95-$99.95!) It included hair, nails and make-up, and we already had scored an adorable mermaid dress off of zulily, so we didn’t feel we needed to upgrade to the Deluxe Package. (And I think we got off pretty easy…The Captain Hook Deluxe Package will run you just about $100!)

For my son, Luke, we had some different criteria. Being on the spectrum, he had some sensory issues, so we brought a familiar pirate T-shirt from home. Though he agreed to and was excited about the makeover, we also weren’t sure just how long he’d be willing to sit, so we wanted to keep his simple. We ultimately booked the First Mate package. That meant we still had to choose between a Ghosted Pirate, Zombie Pirate, Captain Hook, Blackbeard and Black Eyed Jack! We chose Blackbeard because it had minimal make-up, and we still wanted him to look handsome! (Okay-that’s just me! I wasn’t ready to see my baby looking like a ghostly skull or zombie pirate yet!)

Swearing In Ceremony

As requested, we showed up 15 minutes prior to our appointment time to check in. The location was easy to find…right between Pirates of the Caribbean and the Plaza del Sol Bazaar in Adventureland. The check-in area had awesome theming…ships’ wheels, leather trunks, all kinds of loot and pirate flags flying!

Both kids were checked in, and then my pirate-to-be was asked to spin the ship’s wheel to find out his pirate name.

He spun it twice, once for the first name and once for the last.

Ship’s wheel to determine his pirate name!

It turns out his pirate name was Jamie Barrelwalker! The oath (signed by Captain Jack Sparrow himself!) was read, and Luke…I mean Jamie…was sworn into the Pirate’s League! Within just a few minutes both kids were invited in to start their makeovers!

We got to take this home as an awesome souvenir!

Mermaid Makeover

Lola’s Mermaid Master was very engaging-telling pirate jokes and stories and keeping her at ease! She got right to work painting Lola’s nails after covering her mermaid dress with a cape to stay clean. Just like at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, the unused makeup goes home with you in a little bag!

Next she started right in on her hair. The hairstyle is simple, but very pretty! The hair is twisted around her face and secured with a flower clip that responds to temperature, with a dusting of glitter. (Of course!) In the air-conditioned space, it was white. Once out in the hot Florida sun, you will see it turn purple!

(Much better behaved than when I try to do her hair!)

Now the fun part-makeup! I loved the palette of colors they use, and it matches the nail polish perfectly! (I’m a sucker for matchy-matchy!) I could not wait to see how they added the special “scales” effect for the mermaids-but my timing was off! I looked away for a second to check on my son, and as soon as I turned back her scales had been added…so the mystery remains unsolved!

Once complete, they removed the cape for the big reveal! Lola was so excited to see her reflection! She was also given a Pirate’s League sash and a shell necklace, which I held onto because she was already wearing one from home.

Finally, Lola posed with her awesome Cast Member before she was allowed to enter the hidden chamber…shhhhhh!

First Mate/Blackbeard Makeover

Luke lucked out with the perfect Pirate Master! Knowing Luke had autism, he spent the first few minutes just developing a rapport with him and making sure he felt comfortable. Lots of smiles all around!

The Blackbeard package, like many of the other pirate makeovers, called for eyeliner. Our sensory-sensitive son was a trooper, and allowed it. We were happily surprised!

There was also no fussing when his bandanna was affixed, his eyepatch added and even when a clip-on earring was attached to his ear! He was also given a Pirates League sash and a plastic sword. I don’t know what kind of Disney magic they were dealing in, but it was working!

The only snafu was the facial fair. Blackbeard called for both a beard and a mustache to be added to the face. Luke was going through a phase where no one or nothing was allowed to touch his nose or his upper lip after a nose bleed over the winter. When it was clear this wasn’t an option, I asked about the possibility of just adding the beard. This part turned out to be pretty interesting…since it was a trademarked look, based on Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow, they were not at liberty to modify it! Who knew?? Even so, Luke was pretty taken with his new pirate look!

Secret Chamber

After their makeovers were complete, both kids were invited (separately!) into a hidden chamber they referred to as the Treasure Room! A Photopass photographer was there to capture the moment as they spun the over-sized globe and chose a treasure from the chest!

Though it is confirmed that there is no longer a Photopass photographer available inside Pirates League, there is frequently one stationed just outside by the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. More interestingly, recent guests report some varying experiences inside the Treasure Room. Some have been invited by Cast Members to take pictures and video, while others have been told it is forbidden. I would suggest bringing your own camera and asking very nicely! 🙂

Park Photo Ops

At the time, Pirates League invited all their guests to return each afternoon at 4:00 for a “Pirate Parade”. They would march through Adventureland with a Cast Member holding a pirate flag, showing off their new looks. We declined, as parades aren’t my son’s thing, but we understand they are no longer doing this.

However, we did have a lunch reservation at Be Our Guest, so after we rode Pirates of the Caribbean, we took our time traveling from Adventureland to Fantasyland! Between our camera and Photopass we got some great shots of the kids dressed up by Cinderella Castle and the fountain, as well as Main Street, USA!

The hair clip changed from white to purple in the Florida heat!

Though the Pirates League makeover didn’t last three days like the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique version, it provided a full day of fun for both my little mermaid and pirate! I would even consider joining her myself next time! Yo-ho! Yo-ho! A pirate’s life for me!

Rivers of Light-A Must Do…or One and Done?

My co-blogger Jessica Holmes and I have a lot in common. We are both passionate about family, Disney, runDisney and Dole Whips! We also both love the nighttime entertainment in all the Disney Parks! Jessica loves all the big spectaculars like Fantasmic and Illuminations, and I love Wishes and everything fireworks!

Over the last two months, we were both lucky enough to experience the brand-new nighttime show at Animal Kingdom-Rivers of Light. We both agreed that it was beautiful, and that the park is gorgeous after dark! However, we did disagree about one thing…Jessica believes that Rivers of Light is a “must do” every time, while I think it’s more of a “one and done” experience you can check off your Disney Bucket List! Read on and weigh in!

Getting Tickets

Jacqueline My friend Tiffany and I were literally in the final stages of planning for our upcoming runDisney Princess weekend when we heard that tickets for Rivers of Light were being released during our visit! Even though our spreadsheet had been set for months, we frantically moved our ADRs around in order to reserve a dining package at one of our favorite restaurants, Tusker House. (The other option was to get a Fastpass…but we didn’t want to mess with our Expedition Everest line up!)

After an awesome lunch (and of course photo ops with Safari Daisy and the rest of the gang) we were handed our tickets. At the time of booking, they were only advertising the first show at 7:15, but eventually added a second show (now at 9:15) … due to popular demand!

Jessica As soon as the Rivers of Light dining packages were announced, I booked a breakfast at Tusker House for the morning after the Star Wars 5k. We had been to the restaurant a few times and knew that we enjoyed it, and like Jacqueline, I didn’t want to use a FastPass. I figured this was the best possible way to see the show.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, we were given instructions about what time to return, and we were also given a light-up lotus flower popcorn bucket that could be filled at the show for $1.50. We goofed off (and snuggled) with our pals, and enjoyed a delicious breakfast.

Checking In and Pre-Show

Jacqueline Cast Members told us we needed to check-in no later than 7:00 for our 7:15 performance. Since we were childless and there was only the two of us (we can squeeze!) we really pushed the envelope! We snuck away to Tamu Tamu Refreshments to grab Dole Whips with rum to enjoy during the show. By the time we got back…at 7:00 on the dot…lines for people with Fastpasses were wrapped everywhere, and the lines for people waiting on Stand-By were even longer! The dining package tickets were really the way to go! We walked right up to a Cast Member and were seated immediately. It was tight-we were one of the last to arrive-but our seats and visibility were still great. (And FYI…we did NOT get the very cool lotus flower popcorn bucket at lunch!! LOL!)

Dole Whips with rum enhance every experience!

Jessica We were advised to return an hour early for the show. We did, and we had our choice of seats – the area we were directed to was mostly empty. I enjoyed relaxing and taking pictures as the sun slowly went down. There was no pre-show entertainment, but there was a PhotoPass photographer who came and took pictures of anyone who wanted one. By the time the show started, the seating area was packed.

I loved relaxing and taking in the beautiful surroundings!

Rivers of Light

Jacqueline As the sun went down it was so cool to see the Tree of Life turn into a backdrop for a projection show. Birds migrating, elephants trumpeting…the technology was amazing! The lotus flower floats began moving in harmony, music played and dancers appeared out of nowhere!

Then came all the different water features…animals appearing on a “screen” of water, lotus flowers rotating and spraying fountains, and animal floats that looked as if they were made out of stained glass-gorgeous. It was truly mesmerizing.

A peacock projected on the water screen.

Jessica I can’t wait to see Rivers of Light again! While it didn’t move me the way that IllumiNations does, I thought it was beautiful and so much fun to photograph. I loved that there were projections on the nearby trees, and the finale was breathtaking. I loved the animal floats (especially the turtles!), and I feel like there were probably other details that I missed the first time. The main complaint that I heard was that it didn’t have a cohesive story the way that the other shows do. It has an overarching theme of “we are one” that I thought was great.

I simply love being in Animal Kingdom at night! I’m so glad that there is a nighttime show here now, and I think the amphitheater is gorgeous, too. I love that area of the park. Having a show to go to really adds to the whole nighttime vibe and gives guests a reason to stay (or come to the park later).

The Verdict?

Jacqueline Rivers of Light was gorgeous and packed a lot of imagery in just fifteen minutes. I couldn’t help but marvel at this feast for the eyes…even when I couldn’t follow the storyline. Would I go again? Yes, but only to take my children so they could experience it for themselves. Once. (Assuming we could get a dining package again…I don’t think any of us would be willing to wait in that line! LOL!)

Dancers on a boat tell the story of “We are one.”

And while I appreciate their commitment to keep the show true to Animal Kingdom’s mission of preserving nature, I know my own children would have loved to have seen some Disney favorites like Simba and Rajah incorporated into the show. You know…kind of like Festival of the Lion King on water. 😉 As for me, I’ll take advantage of the empty park to ride Expedition Everest in the dark-my new Animal Kingdom Bucket List item!

No PhotoPass photographer in the show for us, but many were stationed around the Tree of Life!

Jessica I love nighttime shows. Sitting down at the end of a long day with a bucket of popcorn or a Mickey bar and watching a show is something I always look forward to. It has become ingrained as a part of my Disney traditions. IllumiNations is my favorite – I could watch it every night. I connected with it the first time I saw it, and I usually see it more than once if I am on a week-long trip. On most trips, it’s my first night tradition – the thing that makes me feel like I’m finally home. The soundtracks for all of the nighttime spectaculars are regularly played in my car, and my trips aren’t complete without seeing them!

Does Rivers of Light measure up to the others? I don’t think it’s quite as spectacular, but it is beautiful, and it’s one that I will watch again. Not to mention that by being at Animal Kingdom after dark, you get an incredible ride on Everest and you get to see the Tree of Life come alive!

It’s Time for the Great Fastpass Debate!

It’s no secret that Disney fans LOVE “Fastpasses”! I know I do.

We at the Neverland Press would like to announce the very first discussion in the Great Debate series – Fastpasses – electronic or paper?

For some time now, Walt Disney World has utilized the “Fastpass+” program where you can book your fast passes in advance by using the “My Disney Experience” app available for iPhone or Android. Disneyland has continued to utilize the paper Fastpass system that both US parks used many years ago.

It does need to be mentioned that Disneyland announced the new Maxpass program earlier this year where park goers can book their Fastpass options in advance using the Disneyland app for a fee under $20.00. Maxpass is set to begin in late 2017. Walt Disney World does not charge a fee but has restrictions on how many Fastpasses you can choose at a time and you are limited on how far in advance you can book them.

So our questions to you –
Do you prefer the electronic Fastpass option or the original paper Fastpass option?
Would you pay the fee to have the option to choose Fastpasses in advance at Disneyland?

You can participate here by commenting below or on our Neverland Press Facebook page!

Please remember to keep this a friendly discussion. Mickey would prefer it that way and everybody has their own opinion on how they enjoy their Disney vacations.

A Day at the 2017 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival

When I first found out that I would be relocating to Southern California, the first Disney thought that came to my mind was I would finally get to experience the Disneyland version of the Food and Wine festival.

As an experienced Walt Disney World resort visitor, I have visited the Epcot based Food and Wine festival MANY times. What can I say, I’m a fan…

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I knew the Disneyland resort to be smaller and I know what the fall Epcot festival brings to the table (Hehe get it.. to the table?). The food, the concerts… the sometimes comfortable weather! This was going to be tough to beat but I went in with an empty tummy and an open mind.

I should be open and honest and let you all know that I’m not an alcoholic beverage fan. Alcohol puts me to sleep and I don’t think Disney would like for me to take a nap in the park. So I did not taste any of the beer or wine – But I did explore the festival and I found some amazing food options and a different focus on food compared to the Walt Disney World festival.

The Epcot festival is centered about the World Showcase and highlights food from the countries (and then some) that are represented along the showcase lagoon. The California Adventure Food and Wine festival is focused on California dishes and mixes in some of the cultures that make up the state. There were 11 different festival marketplace options and each offers a variety of items. Each option offered three or four choices and some offered a signature non alcoholic beverage. They even offer a tasting passport if you like to collect the stamps of the marketplaces you have visited.

“Nuts about Cheese”
“Olive Us”
“Bacon Twist”
“Seafood… Sustained”
“Off the Cob”
“L.A. Style”
“Sweet and Sourdough”
“I Love Artichokes”
“Lemon Grove”
“The Onion Lair”
“Garlic Kissed”

As much as I love food, I’m not a foodie. I have not experienced all of the menu items but with a few days left in this years festival, I’m going to be making a return trip before the festival ends on April 16.

This year, Disney is offering the “Sip and Savor Pass” for Annual Passholders.

For $45, you get a nicely designed lanyard and laminate with eight coupons which can redeemed for food items and non alcoholic beverages. You also get a personal (and very accessible) laminated menu for quick reference.

It’s no secret that Disneyland loves its AP holders and they even offer decorative collectible buttons when you visit the AP booth at the festival and special festival photo opportunities. I was lucky enough to get a visit from everybody’s favorite chef, Remy! So it wasn’t a decision I thought about for too long. I bought one and it was completely worth it. I’ll have to double-check my math, but I figure the value to the pass to be at about $52.

The first item that I tasted came from “Off the Cob” – Sweet Corn Nuggets with Beef Chili. Loved it. Beautifully presented and each flavor mixed together well. Do I sound like a foodie yet?

I’ll admit, I’m a comfort food girl! It a no brainer that I needed to visit “Bacon Twist” for the Smoked Bacon Mac & Cheese and then “Garlic Kissed” for the Grilled Beef Tenderloin Slider.

Please Don’t tell my running coach about how much I ate or that I did squeeze in dessert! How could I not? One of the most popular items at the 2017 festival is the Milk Chocolate Sourdough Bread Pudding with Vanilla Bean drizzle!!! NOM NOM NOM!

By FAR my favorite item was of the liquid variety. I had the opportunity to have an Orange ice tea with Orange peel and Boba which is essentially Tapioca balls. They are very popular in Bubble tea if you have had one at your local mall. The flavor in this beverage was more than perfect. I wanted orange and that’s what I got. The Boba gave the tea a very distinct texture and it was sooooooooooo good!

The festival is very family friendly and included some local entertainment and culinary seminars as well as wine tastings. The festival tends to get crowded on the weekends – but as a non drinker, it was also nice to see most everybody there to experience the festival and not turn it into an opportunity to get drunk. They did have some nice merchandise options for purchase as well.

It’s obvious that Walt Disney World delivers a bigger product and more value as far as entertainment with the major label concerts but I don’t want to discount Disneyland. Its its own adventure and I definitely think I’ll be back for more in 2018!!