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Travel Tips by Shannon Lane

2 Posts tagged with the tips tag

These tips aren't just for parents, but anyone seeking out potent libations at the House of Mouse. For more travel tips, check out my blog.

 

Check out Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival that occurs annually each fall. If you can’t make it, there are plenty of adult beverage opportunities throughout Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts.

 

Picture yourself at Walt Disney World, pushing a stroller around, possibly on a multi-generational family trip, and you find nap time is quickly approaching – for everyone. You just want a little Me Time. There’s nothing wrong with that. Parents need to stay sane and take advantage of down time, or even treat themselves to a visit to the parks WITHOUT the kids. Family travel can get crazy, so why not ask a family member to watch the kids, so you and your spouse can have a few moments of adult time.

 

Did you know here are nearly 400 places to dine across Walt Disney World Resort? And that’s not counting the portable food carts. In all, more than 6,000 different food items are available. And chances are, if the restaurants aren’t in the Magic Kingdom, they just might have an adult beverages on the menu for you to enjoy. If wine is your poison of choice, then you’ll want to know that more than 600 sommeliers have been awarded the Court of Master Sommelier Introductory Certificate at Walt Disney World Resort, with more than 300 sommeliers currently in restaurants.

 

With so many restaurants and dining choices, where should you go for that “special” drink? Here are some top choices for a cocktail, beer, or wine while at Walt Disney World.

 

Epcot’s World Showcase

 

United Kingdom – The Rose and Crown Pub and Dining room brings visitors into Victorian England with its etched glass panels, dark mahogany bar and authentic dart board. If you are looking for hearty ale, this place offers specially designed ale warmer can heat your Guinness to 55 degrees, the temperature favored by Brits.

 

Mexico – The pavilion features a festive and colorful celebration of the beauty and culture of Mexico that is fun for guests of all ages. “Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros” is an excursion by tour boat through the vibrant, eye-filling sights and lively music of Mexico. This will get you in the mood to grab a delicious margarita from one of the nearby stands. I’ve heard rumors of a tequila bar in the works for 2010.

 

Japan – In the Matsu-no-ma Lounge, visitors see a majestic view of Future World across the lagoon while sampling sushi, Japanese pickled vegetables, tempura and exotic specialty drinks.

 

Germany – Biergarten, an indoor German “courtyard” featuring a German Oktoberfest buffet. At lunch and dinner time, yodelers, dancers and other lederhosen-clad musicians perform an Oktoberfest dinner show. Guests are invited onstage to join in the musical fun. The wine shop nearby offers samples of Ice Wine for a few bucks. Definitely worth a try.

 

Other Potent Venues at Disney

 

Victoria Falls at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Down a flight of stairs from the lobby, this mezzanine lounge serves wine and spirits imported from Africa, including Windhoek beer from Namibia and Imoya Brandy from South Africa. The specialty drink is a Victoria Falls Mist, with tangerine, melon and banana liqueurs. Animal Kingdom Lodge has the largest offering of South African wines anywhere in the US. Be sure to check out Jiko, The Cooking Place, too!

 

The Wave at Disney’s Contemporary Resort – Trendy cocktails are served for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Start the day with a Pomegranate Splash (vodka, pomegranate liqueur, cranberry juice and soda water) or the Ultimate Bloody Mary (organic vodka, Bloody Mary mix and a dash of red chili sauce). The Pure-tini mixes organic vodka with organic mango and passion fruit liqueur. The Antioxidant Cocktail features wild berry vodka, black raspberry liqueur, açai juice with agave, lychee, aloe juice and freshly squeezed lemon juice.

 

Tune-In at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, next door to 50’s Prime Time Cafe, looks like a family den from the ’50s, with black-and-white TVs and campy retro furniture. You can choose kitschy drinks from “Dad’s Liquor Cabinet” like Uncle Tim’s Melon Margarita, Scooter’s Long Island Iced Tea or an Electric Lemonade. Beer and wine is offered, too.

 

Dawa Bar adjacent to Tusker House Restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Sit in the shade and sip a hard-to-find Tusker Beer from Africa or Safari Amber, brewed just for Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. South African wines are on the drink menu, too, along with cocktails like Lost on Safari with rum and fruit juices.

 

Mizner’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa - A live orchestra plays nostalgic Big Band sounds just outside the doors of this lounge tucked away on the second floor of the hotel. The lounge’s namesake is architect Addison Mizner, whose designs launched a “Florida Renaissance” in the 1920s, so the sophisticated drinks are apropos: champagnes, caipirinhas, mint juleps and cosmopolitans, along with nine vodkas, seven different single malt scotch whiskeys and after-dinner cognacs and ports.

 

There are more than 50 lounges in Walt Disney World hotels and three theme parks (no alcohol in Magic Kingdom. Again I stress. No alcohol in Magic Kingdom), making this list just a sampling of the many great place for big kids like parents to have their own magic time at Walt Disney World. If there’s a place you like others to know about, be sure to leave a comment, helping readers discover new places to sample alcoholic libation.

 

If you find yourself wandering around looking for a place to buy alcohol at Disney, all you have to do is ask one of the friendly cast members, who can point you in the right direction. Be sure to drink plenty of water while you’re in the parks also, as alcohol is dehydrating. Designate a driver or take advantage of Disney’s resort transportation. Cheers!

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Coffee and Travel

Posted by ShannonLane Sep 29, 2009

Did you know today is National Coffee Day in the US?

 

coffee.jpgFor those of us who are addicted to coffee and its many variations, finding a decent cup of java while on the road can present a challenge. I love my hometown Community Coffee, but I’m not adverse to seeking out small coffee shops when I’m traveling. When staying at hotels, I always pack a few days' supply of coffee grounds with me. Here’s my take on the various products offered to help one enjoy coffee while traveling:

 

McDonald’s iced coffee drinks – Two words: Run Away.

 

Burger King’s iced mocha -  It would do in a pinch and is a deal at $2.

 

Sonic’s frozen coffee blend – This was pretty tasty, but I could feel the fat contained in this concoction sliding down my throat and straight to my behind.

 

Starbuck’s – I don’t care for their regular brews, which taste over roasted and burned. However, when in an airport, I will line up for a Cafe Mocha or Frappucino. Beggars can’t be choosers when enroute to a destination. I did sample their new instant coffee, VIA, and was disappointed.

 

McDonald’s iced coffee was the most disgusting thing that has ever passed through my lips with VIA a close second. I usually try to find something redeemable to say in my experiences and to make my opinion a bit more palatable, but there is no other way to word this opinion.

 

Another challenge for getting a great cup of coffee is brewing it while camping or experiencing a lack of electrical power. When my family goes camping, we bring along an old percolator and brew Community Coffee over a campfire. We even used this method during Hurricane Gustav when hubs and I were working nights through the emergency. No power anywhere, but we seriously wanted the comfort of our favorite coffee. I tried using a power inverted to hook up our electric coffee pot, but it was a no-go.

 

After Gustav I found a neat gadget for brewing coffee from a vehicle: Koolatron Travel Coffee Maker – This coffee maker is affordable, portable, and 12 volt. I wouldn’t recommend brewing the entire pot while the car is in motion (wouldn’t want to burn yourself). It would, however, be useful at a rest stop, camp site, or just in case of a power outage.

 

12-volt-coffee-150x150.jpg

 

Here are some tips on finding coffee while traveling:

 

Text: Send a text message to Google (466453) with the subject coffee

 

Web browser: Find the nearest Starbucks at mobile.starbucks.com

 

Phone: If all else fails, in the US call 800-235-2883 and the Starbucks operator will assist you in locating the nearest Starbucks.

 

For more travel gear reviews, check out my Travel Gear Review Blog.

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