Welcome to the show notes for the Disney Dream Girls podcast, episode 088. On today's show we review some of the eateries Michelle tried out on her Christmas Disneyland trip, found out her top ultimate moments were and also what in park Star Wars offerings you should do.
Food
A massive part of a trip to Disneyland is the food. Regardless the size of your budget, it is very easy to find good quality food - healthy or not! Here are a few things we heartedly recommend.
Peppermint ice-cream served in a chocolate waffle cone that has been dipped in crushed candy canes. This delightful treat is only available during the Christmas season and one scoop is a taste of heaven. Available from the Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor.
Another fabulous snack is the Matterhorn Macaroon. Available from the Jolly Holiday Bakery at a around $2 it is a satisfying coconut delight.
What about meals? For steaks you can not go wrong with Steakhouse 55. Michelle had their rib-eye and was suitably impressed. Excellent service (much better than on her last trip) and she managed to squeeze in their 24-layer chocolate cake (oh my!)
Whilst talking fine dining, Michelle ate dinner at both Carthay Circle and Club 33. At Carthay, she decided to go for a serving of their delightful biscuits and then their house salad. This was heirloom apples, roasted walnuts, winter greens, bacon, dates with a creamy citrus vinaigrette. All so far was delicious. However, the peppermint ice dessert was very below par. Not worth the $12 price tag in Michelle opinion. Though other guests tried the Christmas cream puffs and they raved about how delicious they were. Over at Club 33, Michelle ordered the five course dinner with a wine pairing. Coupled with the ability to watch Fantasmic from the balcony made this a big highlight of her trip.
Many friends had recommended the Cove Bar Lobster Nachos to us to try. Well, we can report they were not wrong!
Attractions
No trip review would be complete without mentioning some of the wonderful attractions that you can ride. For the Season of the Force, there were quite a few Star Wars themed additions.
Firstly, Star Tours - The Adventure Continues has had an additional scene added. This was a great link to the Force Awakens film and makes for a fun upgrade. Next, moving through Tomorrowland is the Path of the Jedi. This is a ten minute film and uses addition effects well. It is definitely worth a visit.
Moving on, the next attraction is Hyperspace Mountain. This, in Michelle's opinion, is a great ride enhancement. Luckily for her, it had a temporary stop mid-ride so she luckily got to ride part of the attraction with the lights on!
For character meet and greets, you can not beat the Launch Bay, during Michelle's trip Chewbacca and Darth Vader were in residence and the meet was very interactive. In addition, you are able to enjoy the exhibition with replica props, models, costumes and items from the Star Wars films.
How about a break for something to eat? We have spoken on the show before about the food offerings at the Galactic Grill. However, Michelle tried the 'Chopper' chicken salad and rated it 'meh'. Perhaps, she would have fared better with a burger, but her friend, Stephen Klimosko, said the First Order Speciality Burger was spicy and in his opinion felt the chorizo didn't sit well with him.
Perhaps whilst eating you fancy some entertainment? There is an updated version of the Jedi Training Academy. However, Michelle never seemed to time her visits correctly and missed it!
Must Do Disneyland at Christmas
Full information is available, as always, is available on the podcast but here is Michelle's top tips:
- Visit the Disney hotels! There was additional entertainment in the hotel lobby, as well as wonderful decorations. At the Grand Californian, Michelle really enjoyed avoiding the crowds and enjoying a hot chocolate.
- Watch the entertainment whether it is the parade, fireworks, Fantasmic or any of the many live musical offerings.
- Character meet and greets as they are resplendent in their Christmas attire.
- Arrive early and stay late. The crowds are lighter and the waits are shorter.
- Prepare for the crowds.
Thats about it for this set of show notes, though there is lots more on the podcast.
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