Satu'li Canteen and Pongu Pongu- the Food of Avatar!

Pandora- The World of Avatar is opening Memorial Day Weekend 2017!  Pete and I were lucky enough to journey into this world on three separate occasions and experience not only the brand new attractions, but also the local foods!  Let's take a closer look at the new places offering sustenance to travelers from all over, particularly Earth!

The new quick-serve is called Satu’li Canteen. It offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus with lunch and dinner menus being the same. It has an absolutely lovely themed seating area- both outside and inside- and also features the new mobile ordering from the My Disney Experience App. The setup is that this is the old RDA eatery (corporation from the film) that the natives have now appropriated for travelers to their world- so this means you get a mix of old military commissary with the wicker designs of Pandora.  Just a quick look at the entrance above will show you that the roots of the design are closely related to those of Animal Kingdom Lodge and Aulani- simply beautiful.

Outside eating area- so many light fixtures!

The main eating area inside

The old has been removed, but signs still linger

We were lucky enough to eat at Satu’li Canteen for both breakfast and lunch/dinner. The food overall offers simple options with a twist. Nothing has been too spicy or “weird” to make the meal unenjoyable. In fact, each meal was a complete masterpiece of flavors without over-doing it for those less adventurous palettes.

Breakfast layout

So let's start with breakfast- click here for the menu. I tried the breakfast pods ($8.49)- which are bao pods/buns filled with scrambled eggs, bacon, and spinach all blended together.  The taste was pleasant- it reminded me of a cornmeal or cornbread taste more than anything. There was also the steel cut oatmeal ($7.49) topped with brown sugar, raisins, marcona almonds, and goji berries, which was a large enough portion to sustain you for your adventures through the world.  They also offer a vegetable goat cheese frittata, slow-roasted pork shoulder potato hash, and cinnamon french toast with blueberry cheesecake dollop, passion fruit anglaise, and sausage.  Additionally, you can get tropical Pandora forest fruits with fresh yogurt muesli and vanilla maple syrup; as well as assorted cereals. Overall, this was a perfect way to start the day with typical quick-serve prices.  The portion sizes are decent, particularly on anything in a bowl, so you get a good amount for the price you pay.

Steel cut oats and Breakfast pods!

Moving on to lunch/dinner, we enter the world of bowls.  Click here for the lunch/dinner menu.  If you’ve ever done a bowl at say Chipotle or Moe’s Southwest Grill, you know sort of what you’re in for- pick certain ingredient to blend into one amazing dish.  So the Satu’li Bowl lets you first choose your protein: slow-roasted sliced grilled beef, chopped wood-grilled chicken, sustainable fresh fillet, or chili-spiced crispy fried tofu; then you pick your base: quinoa & vegetable salad, red & sweet potato hash, mixed whole grain & rice, or romaine & kale salad; then you finish with your sauce: charred onion chimichurri, black bean vinaigrette, or creamy herb dressing.  The combinations are vast and offer such an array of options, from truly decadent to healthy options.  The beef or fish bowls are $12.99 and the chicken or tofu bowls are $11.49.  I tried the beef and the chicken, both of which were flavored extremely well- the chicken tasted like it was straight from a proper charcoal grill and the beef was super tender.  My favorite was the potato hash, but the quinoa and vegetable salad was a nice light option for a hot afternoon- nothing too heavy.  I also tried the chimichurri and the creamy herb dressing- the herb dressing was my favorite but the chimichurri was a nice dash of flavor on the quinoa blend.  I just love that you could eat here for a week without repeating the same dish!

Lunch/Dinner layout

They also offer 2 differed steamed “pods” bao buns- either vegetable curry or cheeseburger ($10.99), that also come with your choice of vegetable chips (potato, sweet potato, and blue chips) or crunchy vegetable slaw.  For kids, they also offer cheese quesadilla, teylu all-beef hot dog wrapped in dough, or cheeseburger pods.  To wash it all down, there’s the non-alcoholic Pandora Sunrise ($4.49), along with regular fountain drinks and coffee/tea.  You can also be adventurous with Pandora draft beers- the Hawkes’ Grog Ale (green but like a light beer) or Mo’Ara High Country Ale (darker) ($8.25 for 16 oz., $9.50 for 22 oz.), as well as Bud Light and Stella Artois Lager.  Of course, you can try the Banshee Chardonnay or Banshee Pinot Noir ($9.00), or go a little tropical with Dreamwalker Sangria- a white sangria with a hint of blue curacao ($9.50).  To finish the meal- you have your choice of blueberry cream cheese mousse (personal favorite for hot Florida days) or the chocolate cake with a crunchy cookie layer, banana cream and Goji berries ($5.29 each).  I prefer the blueberry mousse as the chocolate cake was made with a darker chocolate and was definitely not as sweet, but it all depends on what you like!

The menu!

Chicken with Hash

Cheeseburger Pods with Pandora Sunrise and Blueberry Cream Cheese Mousse

Beef and quinoa bowl and Fish and hash bowl plus Pandora Sunrise and Hawkes' Grog Ale

We also were able to try the new little drink/snack spot- Pongu Pongu (which means party party)!  It looks like a perfect Tiki shack- something familiar in this alien world.

Pongu Pongu!

Here, we have a couple of drink options.  The Mo'Ara High Country Ale and the Hawkes' Grog Ale are available here in both the 16 oz. and 22 oz.  There's also a non alcoholic Night Blossom ($4.99) drink, which is layered limeade with apple and desert pear flavors topped with passion fruit boba balls, and a Mo’Ara Margarita ($9.25), a frozen drink with sauza commemorative anejo tequila with strawberry and blood orange flavors topped with strawberry boba balls. The margarita was amazing and didn't taste alcoholic at all- and sucking up the little flavor balls through the gigantic straw was fun.  You can also get either drink in a souvenir Pongu mug with a glowing unadelta seed ($18.50)...the mug was pretty cool looking- watch out for a later pic, I'll probably get one of these soon.

Pongu Pongu also offers a snack- pineapple lumpia ($4.59)- which are pineapple cream cheese spring roll- which counts as a snack credit on the dining plan-and you get 2 of the spring rolls in a serving.

An artful menu

Margarita on the left, Night Blossom on the right

Overall, both of these places were amazing highlights that did not disappoint.  They definitely confirm that this park has the best food offerings,especially for unique snacks and for quick service- from Satu’li Canteen to Harambe Market to Yak & Yeti Local Foods to Flame Tree Barbeque- this park is one to spend all day and now all night in with plenty of fuel to keep you going on all your adventures! So, when’s your next adventure happening?

The Polite Pig

With Disney Springs undergoing many new renovations, it’s sometimes tough to keep up on what is what and what is where.  I’ve been down there quite a bit in the year since we’ve moved down here and have been able to eat at the many new places around.  So, with that, let’s discuss the newest place, The Polite Pig.

The husband and wife duo, James and Julie Petrakis, have some experience with BBQ under their belts as they also have a sister restaurant called the Ravenous Pig over in Winter Park, Florida, which has existed since 2007, as well as Swine & Sons Provisions, Cask & Larder, and DoveCote.  So, these two have an established relationship with food.  

Enter The Polite Pig into Disney Springs- a place I have often indicated has needed a good BBQ place somewhere on property.  The Polite Pig is another in this quick serve/restaurant hybrids.  It makes you order at the counter, but then you are brought your food by a waiter/waitress, and, when we sat outside, we could order other items from these servers as well.  The service was great overall, with the staff being super friendly and helpful despite the heat.

The Southern Pig

Brisket and Mac & Cheese

Ok- food time! What’s on the menu? It has a variety of sandwiches, salads, and combination plates in typical BBQ style- where you can order some meat and it comes with a side.  I ordered The Southern Pig sandwich ($12), which was basically a pulled pork sandwich with apple slaw on top, as well as a side of sweet potato tots (+$4).  The sandwich was excellent- not too large with the bun being solid enough to contain most of the meat and slaw.  I did top the sandwich with some of the sauce on the table- the Hot Honey sauce was good, very honey-like in consistency but not spicy, as well as the Fresno Hot Sauce- this was spicy with a good thick chunk to it, and it was my favorite.  I loved the sweet potato tots, which were topped with parmesan cheese- a perfect side.  We also sampled the Brisket ($16) from the cooker, which had a coffee rub on it, that came with a side, so we ordered the mac and cheese.  The side was good mac and cheese but nothing super fancy.  The brisket was good and was served on the fatter side, which is something you can sometimes request at a BBQ restaurant but this was just served this way.  We also tried the brussel sprouts, which were divine with a whiskey-caramel sauce, as well as the BBQ cauliflower with paprika sour cream.  Honestly, you could go and order a few sides and snacks, the BBQ cracklins were perfect with the spiced vinegar, and have some drinks with friends and it would be perfection.

The menu also has a large variety of drinks, including many bourbon options and local draft beers.  I tried the Red Cypress Spook Hill Pale Ale, which was hoppy, as well as the C & L Working Man Porter, which had a sort of coffee taste to it.  The drinks were good, and decently priced at $9 for a 20 oz glass.

Overall, this was a good BBQ place that Disney was definitely missing.  The fact that it does not require reservations makes it even more appealing to go and grab a quick bite.  It’s definitely a better quick serve place than normal, and the menu gives Flame Tree BBQ a run for it’s money

Epcot's Festival of the Arts: A New Festival to Embrace

This year was the inaugural Festival of the Arts in Epcot, featuring not only your typical painters seen within the many Art of Disney locations, but also the unknown chalk artists, the performers from Disney’s Broadway shows, and food artists (because it’s a festival in Epcot of course).  But all joking aside, the fact that Epcot has become synonymous with food and drink throughout the year was at first a disappointment when this festival was announced and noted to include more food and beverages.  However, I believe this festival has shown that food doesn’t have to be center stage in order to make Epcot a place where fun and learning can continue to take place. So, here are my thoughts and experiences with the Festival of the Arts.

Even before entering World Showcase, you get some live art in the living statues that hang out around the Fountain of Nations.  These are really cool places where different performers come out periodically and guests can take pictures of them or with them. They don't shy away from fun interactions with guests but the attention to detail on their stands is truly above and beyond anything you would see in, say, a city park.  I absolutely love these!

Also, if you head to the Odyssey Center, not only can you nab some food in there, but there's also a great exhibit for Mary Blair's concept art for Three Amigos and Saludos Amigos, as well as Herb Ryman's sketches for EPCOT.  Truly great little exhibits that I would love if they took over Innoventions type space one day. 

The first thing you notice when you enter the World Showcase is the food booths and the lines at them.  Yet, not very far off are more booths/tents featuring artwork from Disney artists.  The artwork ranges from your typical paintings and prints to things such as fairy bird houses, wind spinners, and even Tom’s shoes with special decorations.  Strolling throughout the countries, certain booths feature artists currently working on pieces, who will also personalize and/or sign a piece a guest purchases. This is a great feature not only for the guest who gets a little bit extra from the artist, but also gives the artist a chance to make an impact on their patrons.  Also, watching an artist in action is amazing and allows everyone, from the youngest guest to the oldest, to see how the work comes together.  As a fan of artists who lacks an ability to paint/draw, watching someone make a canvas come to life with an image is truly awe-inspiring.  This is one of my favorite features of the festival- allowing access to the artists and being able to watch their process.  

Another great part of the festival, besides watching the artist, is also learning about some of the art being made.  During a stroll through Germany, we stopped by an artist who was recreating a portion of an image of a royal woman.  The artist, who was replicating a portion of the original work in chalk, explained why she was located in Germany and detailed the history of how this woman in the painting was in the possibilities for a suitor for Napoleon; however, due to politics as they were, this woman eventually married into the German royal family.. It’s those types of stories that I find interesting and enjoy that the artist was able to engage with us and share that little bit of history. And forgive me that I forgot the name of the original work and my retelling of the story was so vague.  

Paint by number mural wall

I also enjoyed how the festival got the guests involved with making the art.  Beyond the seminars that allowed you to learn how to paint and/or draw from a real artist, there was the simple paint by number murals set up along World Showcase and presented by Glidden.  I really thought this was an innovative way to get people involved and allow even adults to journey back to their childhood and leave their own mark on the festival.  

There’s also music and performances to enjoy while at the festival, including highlights performed by Broadway performers from the multiple Disney Broadway musicals (including Beauty and the Beast, Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Tarzan, Mary Poppins, Aladdin, Newsies, Frozen and Aida).  I really enjoyed that these performances were also highlighted as part of the arts, showing that you don’t need to be able to draw a circle to be considered an artist.  These performances took place on the outside stage in the American pavilion and allowed guests who were even just walking by to experience the talent from Broadway.  I would have enjoyed if some of the stage design could have been brought in, or more of the puppetry from plays such as Lion King to display those artistic talents as well, but it was the first year so we can see what next year brings.

Of course the festival wouldn’t be complete without the food.  I loved going to the many booths and seeing what they were interpreting as “new” offerings for this festival.  The creativity of the booth names and their offerings showed the outside the box thinking that most artists do.  The Pop’tArt booth featured some creative ways to have a toasted pastry and the deconstructed offerings of the E=AT2 booth were ingenious.  The best though was the giant chocolate cookie “palette” with the colored frosting. I feel these artful offerings allow even children to get caught up in the theme and bring something a little more than just the feeling of Food & Wine Fest Lite.  

Can you feel the love?

Probably the most fun portion of the festival was the interactivity, from the photo spots where you can place yourself in the artwork, to the paint by numbers mural, the festival really brought more to the table with the ability for guests to interact without having to worry about paying a premium.  I really encourage people to continue to enjoy the last couple of weeks of this festival and, if you didn’t get to come this year, consider doing this next year.  The weather was certainly the coolest it’s been, which makes walking around Epcot enjoyable.  I feel this festival should be celebrated as it truly demonstrates the importance of the arts and encouraging the artistic side in everyone.  

Did you get to enjoy the festival this year?  What did you think or enjoy the most?  Didn’t get to go- what would you love to experience if this comes around next year?

Princess and the Frog-A Think Piece

Someone once asked why Princess and the Frog didn’t do as well as say Tangled or Frozen when it comes to popularity. I thought this was an interesting question due to the wide variety of reasons that seem to entangle themselves into this question. While I believe part of the lack of popularity may come from an obvious reason, I want to dig a little deeper and do some critical thinking on this topic.  Perhaps my perspective as a Disney lover and a female will bring us to another side of the argument.  Before I begin, let me just say that I don’t think there is one clear-cut answer and, by all means, I don’t propose that my theory is better than others.  This is just to make you think about this issue from another point of view.  

Let’s start with some background to the time period that surrounded the world at the time that this movie premiered.  The country had just been through a period where everyone was suspicious of one another, travel was a nightmare, and financials were a mess. The country also made a decision to back change and a positive attitude (mostly) though there were some dissenting voices. Overall, 2009 had more of a positive feel than many years previously.  Despite that, and I believe the most recent time can attest to the heart of the people, there is that underlying issue that may have played a part in why people didn’t run to the theater for this movie. Yet, looking at numbers, this film didn’t do so terribly.  It was the 5th highest grossing animated movie in 2009 (keeping in mind this year also brought us Up, Coraline, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, A Christmas Carol, The Secret of Kells, and Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs-besides the many smaller animated and direct to video releases).  It grossed $104 million in the US and Canada, but earned $267 million worldwide.  It was nominated for 3 Academy Awards, but lost to Up and Crazy Heart, which are wonderful movies in their own right.  

The thing about Princess and the Frog is what it did more for Disney animation than anything else. This was the first traditionally animated film since Home on the Range, one I have not seen yet, and was the first “princess” movie since Pocahontas and Mulan (which may be argued wasn’t a “princess” movie at all).  The animation department at Disney had not been firing on all cylinders with putting out stories that did not hit with the masses as Aladdin or Beauty and the Beast once had.  This was also the first film to bring back the Broadway-style music that captured the attention of audiences like those films in the 1990s.  With all these firsts, it would seem someone finally realized people wanted more than just bland animated stories quickly pumped out on the computer, and it’s clear that Disney forgot that one of the main factors in its major films is the music.  Bringing all these factors together really makes this film hit for me, as so many others who gave it a whirl.  

So, why the disconnect? Where did this movie lose people. Many purport that it’s a race thing, which may be accurate. To put some numbers in perspective, Pocahontas made $346 million worldwide ($141 million by Jan 1996) and Mulan brought in $304 worldwide ($120 million in the US and Canada).  Could these numbers be because of the previous films that were already tops, so another Disney film just brought people to the theater? Maybe.  Could it be people were more willing to watch a movie set farther back in history than say the 1920s? That may also be a thing.  Could it be the internet wasn’t such a big thing and the only way to get a review of a movie was to either read a critic’s write up or just go and hope for the best? Definitely something to consider.  Or is the fact that Tiana was loudly and proudly proclaimed as the first African American princess and hyped up long before the release of the movie, with the election of our first African American President rubbing some people the wrong way, causing many people to do what has now become the “thing” to do and hate something just for the sake of hating it? Super possible.  

What other perspective is there that I could possibly show that would make that last option not the main one to go with?  Well, the fact may lie in the history of other Disney princesses.  As we know, many of the typical Disney stories were fairy tales taken from very early times and set long before the 1800s.  That being the case, many of the roles we once held as “typical” princess/female lead were no longer being portrayed in a story from the 1920s.  We sort of saw this change with the character of Princess Ariel, who rebelled against her father and tried to do her own thing; Princess Jasmine, who, while wanting to rebel, didn’t really go that far as she got married anyway and she had a much kinder father than Ariel; and even Belle and Pocahontas who were far more stronger female leads than say Snow White or Aurora, but were still motivated mostly by love/romance.  Yet, the idea of a woman, no matter her skin color, wanting to do something such as own her own business and be independent is not something that, even today, is very popular.  There are many places and careers that hinder the escalation of women into top roles and some even actively prevent a woman from truly being at the top- even in the 21st century!  So setting this movie in a time when women were not very independent, and adding on top of that the traditional Disney princess mold being broken, it makes the traditionalist in many give it pause.  

Now, what do I mean by the traditional Disney princess mold- it’s not her race if that’s what you’re thinking.  It’s the fact that many of the “traditional” princesses were modeled after the meek woman whose only real drive in life is to find that one true love and get married.  Tiana doesn’t need any of that. She wants to do her own thing since this is where her true happiness is found.  At the end, she realizes that having others around her also can make her happy, she isn’t defined by her significant other or the role she plays in his life.  In fact, he is the one that seems to have lost everything and is only made better through his association with her.  It’s not typical for the woman to be the one that completes the relationship- it was typically the strong, handsome man that “fixed” all the girl’s problems.  This is a bold stance for the story to take, and one that was seemingly repeated, though a little softer in Tangled. While Flynn is the one that gets her out of the tower and shows her the city, Rapunzel was seemingly on her way there- she just needed a push.  And Flynn’s redemption comes via his sacrifice for Rapunzel rather than her making the decision to cut her own hair to spite Mother Gothel’s plan.  Rapunzel leaned a bit more to this traditional princess idea of sacrificing for the guy and finding her happiness in him (as well as reuniting with her family). But the fact that there was a short put out not long after that film about their wedding just goes to prove that people want that “happily ever after” ending.  It wasn’t until Frozen that the typical mold was truly broken and everyone could see that a princess (or queen) didn’t need a man to find her true love and her self worth wasn’t dependent on a man’s acceptance of her.  And word of mouth was really where Frozen shone, so if people aren’t recommending Princess and the Frog, this gem remains somewhat undiscovered.  

Tiana was the first to really test that traditional mold and fight back against the idea of a woman needing a man to complete her story- she completed his in fact.  However, another issue with this movie comes up when we discuss the word of mouth scenario.  We have mentioned many times that marketing for movies has not been a strong point lately for Disney, particularly in regards to their animated movies.  I thought Frozen was going to be a buddy-cop type movie with a snowman and reindeer; Zootopia was just talking animals one of which was snarky and one was a goody-two-shoes.  So, while there was a lot of talk before Princess and the Frog regarding the first African American Disney princess, talk of the movie and proper promotion was somewhat lacking.  Most egregious, though, must be the lack of park presence.  While Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee was a delightful surprise in the parks, this only ran from October 2009 through January 2010 in Walt Disney World and from November 2009 through January 2010 in Disneyland.  In Disneyland, this movie got more love from 2011 through 2013 when Tiana’s Mardi Gras Celebration, which initially ran from January through October 2010, again ran for the “Limited Time Magic” promotion.  Yet, considering that the Move It, Shake It parade is still floating down Main Street, I find the lack of park presence to be aggravating at best, particularly with New Orleans Square in Disneyland and the riverboat in Walt Disney World as the perfect settings for these characters (probably more so in Disneyland, hence the extended Mardi Gras celebration). Though, it does seem some justice is being done with the incorporation of Dr. Facilier in the Halloween party and Tiana is finally representing up on the stage show at Magic Kingdom in Mickey’s Friendship Faire.  But, as someone who has been to the parks since age 3, and who has many friends taking young children, I feel that additional park presence would allow for additional exposure to these characters and perhaps a new found favorite for those children not typically exposed to these movies at home.  The music is surely catchy enough to warrant repeated plays in the car and the colors of the movie are truly captivating.  Plus, there’s a talking alligator who loves to play the trumpet and a cajun firefly- I mean honestly now!  

So, while the very easy answer to the question of the obscurity of this movie may be to blame it on racism, I truly feel there’s more at work here.  I do feel the non-traditional woman role is interesting to tackle, but also the seeming lack of faith parks and resorts have in hiding these characters from park guests.  What do you think?  Could the answer be so basic or is there something more at work here?  Do you love this movie- make sure to recommend it to your friends and get them to recommend it also!  The more love we can garner the better!          

How To Get The Most Out Of Mickey's Parties

Hello and Happy Holidays everyone! After our first year as locals, I wanted to take the time to put together some thoughts and my own list of tips for handling the night time parties that take place from September through December over at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World.  The first is Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party (now noted as MNSSHP) and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (now noted as MVMCP)...these names are seriously too long for us bloggers.  While my list of tips is by no means exhaustive, and we did do these parties mostly sans children in mind, I think what I discuss is good for all ages.  

So, this was the first year we were able to attend both parties in the same year.  Many people have their own favorite for one reason or the other, but there are a few things these parties have in common.  Taking these things into consideration, I’ve come up with some tips and tricks on how to get the most out of these parties, whether you’re a Florida local or coming in from out of town.  

To comment on this year’s parties, I did notice that some decor had made it past Main Street, which is a thing not typically seen in WDW (we don’t get a Haunted Mansion or Space Mountain overlay or even ghosts in ToonTown- though I know that’s not possible anymore).  However, with both parties, WDW has started a small uptick in the decor. An, even though it’s small, it does help to bring the feel of the festivities beyond Main Street.  The decor really just includes lights projected onto buildings (such as pumpkins for MNSSHP or snowflakes for MVMCP), but it did add to the atmosphere.  Also, during MNSSHP, there were the Cadaver Dans in Frontierland performing and the Haunted Mansion is always lit up with fog effects during this time.  For MVMCP, Gaston’s Tavern and the Village Gift Shop had evergreen bunting with white lights to lend a bit more of the holiday spirit.  

These parties, if you’ve never attended, take place at Magic Kingdom after the park closes, and are a hard-ticketed event, meaning you must buy an additional ticket to attend (discounts are applicable for annual passholders and DVC members but the dates are limited and can sell out quickly).  The parties are typically from 7pm to 12am, though you can enter the park typically around 4pm but there will be regular day guests there too, which may cause a bit of a crowd until they shut the park down.  You will get a special wristband to indicate you have bought the ticket to attend the party and cast members will check these throughout the night to ensure the appropriate guests are in the park.  Hopefully these touches will start to grow and help bring the feeling of season throughout the park.  

A spooky City Hall

Toy Soldiers on parade

Ok, basics out of the way.  So what does one do at these parties to fully enjoy the festivities?  While these events are very popular, going during the week can help.  Other things? Well, let’s see….

The parties usually start at 7pm, though your ticket does allow you to enter the park beginning at 4pm.  While this is great for people without tickets to the park that day, it can also create a bit of a congested park prior to the start of the party.  If you’re willing to get to the park early, I would suggest entering between 5:30-6:00 pm in order to get in before the rush of the party goers but hopefully with the day guests leaving, the park will start to feel more empty.  I will say, the amount of people in the park during our MNSSHP made the park feel insanely packed until the park closed and they began checking for wristbands.  However, the good news this year was that, once the parties officially began, the crowd did lessen to the extent that most wait times were between 5-20 minutes (with the exception of Peter Pan’s Flight and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train being about 30 minutes during MVMCP).  A nice way to start your evening is grabbing something to eat before 7pm so you have fuel to go all night and you can eat while the crowd disperses.  Also, many places are not open to serve food during the parties (especially during MVMCP as these places may turn into treat stations), so getting what you want to eat before the park closes is key.  You may not also want to take time out of the party to eat, so getting it over with beforehand is a good idea.  While there are treats being handed out at both parties, sustaining yourself on candy, cookies, and/or cocoa may not be the best idea.  First Tip- get there a little early and have dinner, relax, and take it all in.

Hocus Pocus Villains Spelltacular

Mickey's Most Merriest Celebration

Next, the parties both feature stage shows happening on the castle stage, parades, fireworks, and, for MVMCP, turning the castle to ice.  There are multiple stage shows throughout the night, so never feel that you need to run to the first one.  There are also 2 times that the parade makes its way through the park.  The only show that you can only catch once is the fireworks and the turning of the castle to ice.  Since the fireworks take place in the sky, getting a good spot for these is relatively easy- Main Street, the hub in front of the castle, or even in Frontierland are great places to view the fireworks.  For both parties this year, the hub was not overly crowded, which meant we could walk up to the hub and nab a spot within 20 minutes of the fireworks starting.  This is usually the best way to start your stay in front of the castle.  But, since the fireworks typically take place around 10-10:30pm, there’s plenty of time while the early parade and shows are going on for you to run around the park and hop on as many attractions as possible.  With MNSSHP, there are trick or treat stations in some of the attraction queues that give out candy, which can also be done prior to the fireworks (the lines look long but they move insanely quickly so no worry).  For MVMCP, Pete and I were able to hop onto Mine Train, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Dumbo, and Haunted Mansion with no longer than a 20 minute wait.  So, Tip 2- spend the first half of the night enjoying the rest of the park outside of Main Street- go trick or treating during MNSSHP, ride the attractions, stop for cookies and cocoa during MVMCP, and mosey through the park at a casual pace.

If you’re spending the first half of the parties running around the park, the fireworks are the cue to head over to the castle/Main Street area.  During MVMCP, Main Street features performers and snow that help get guests in the spirit while they await the second half of their night.  This is a great spot to watch the parade from.  Personally, I enjoy watching the fireworks from the hub area, as you can then also catch the stage show that happens between the fireworks and parade.  Plus, the fireworks take place 180 degrees around you, which feels really cool if you’re sitting in the middle of the hub. A great idea may be to head to the hub for the fireworks and, since they take place in the sky, don’t worry about how close to the castle you are- sit and enjoy.  

Headless Horseman Leads the Boo To You Parade

Beware of Hitchhiking Ghosts!

Once Upon A Christmas Time Parade

The Main Mouse!

Once the fireworks are done, take a stroll to Frontierland.  This is where the parade originates and the viewing spots along the first half of the route are great.  Plus, since this is where the parade starts from, it’s over for you long before it is for everyone else and you can move on to something else before the people near the train station and fire house.  There’s also a final stage show at the close of the party- why not watch this before you go?  Most people have already watched and many won’t typically make it till midnight, but if you can push through, you will have a great view of the show with little guests around.  So, Tip 3 watch the second parade and last stage show- this gives you a ton of free time to enjoy more of the park.  

So, there are a few things that you should consider while at these parties.  Typically there are character meet and greets and these are with characters not normally in the park- for instance, during MNSSHP, Jack and Sally are out, while at MVMCP, Jack is dressed as Sandy Claws.  If you want to get a photo with a character not normally out, this should be the first thing you try to do as these lines typically can be crazy long.  Unfortunately, due to packed parties in the past, I never wanted to meet characters because I wanted to enjoy more of the party.  But, if this is something you or someone you’re with wants to do badly enough, just understand that this can take away some of your party time- if you’re good with that, then perfect!  Tip 4- do character meets early- if you get them out of the way, you can still catch the second half of the entertainment.

Another thing that tends to come up is the special event merchandise.  The park maps list where these things are being sold, so if you want to nab a pin set or t-shirt, make sure you check out where these places are and go there- Big Top Souvenirs is a great place that few people check out since it’s back behind Fantasyland, and they sell not only tees and pins, but also special desserts! Tip 5- Big Top Souvenirs is less crowded than Main Street and you can nab some collectibles there.

Finally, remember to have fun!  You can go in with a game plan, but always enjoy the time you have and drink in as much as possible!   Have any tips I missed- let me know!