Club Cool - Because when you need a time-out, there's no better place to stop and refuel. The apple soda from Mexico is my favorite; try the Beverly at your own risk.
Wishes - It's the best fireworks display in town, or anywhere else.
Space Mountain is back up and running - It was a sad day in the Magic Kingdom when Space Mountain was benched for refurbishment. Which brings me to ...
The TTA is back up and running - It's got a new soundtrack, but it's the same ol' Wedway People Mover. A perfect place to power down while you wait to use your Space Mountain FastPasses.
Mouse Gear - Thunderstorms are inevitable in Florida, and Mouse Gear is a great place to pass the time (and spend some cash).
The steak at the California Grill - Try it. You're welcome.
Segways - Let's be honest, I'll probably never have the kind of disposable income to own one or the massive property to ride it on. But I love getting my fix via the various Segway tours around WDW property.
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Related Links:
* 10 Signs You Are a Disney Dork
* The Best (And Most Missed) Disney Attractions of Yesterday
* It's Christmastime in WDW!
November 26, 2009
Things to Be Thankful For - Disney Edition
November 25, 2009
November 19, 2009
Honey Sesame Chicken - Nine Dragons, EPCOT
This week's recipe was another first for me - the first time I've ever cooked Asian food. Typically, I let the Chinese/Japanese/Thai food delivery man handle that. But there's a first time for everything, and after making this recipe, I'm hooked. So simple, so inexpensive, and so delicious.
Ingredients:
3/4 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into small strips
Batter:
3/4 cup flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 heaping tablespoon bakng powder
1 egg white, beaten
2/3 cup water
2 tablespoons oil
pinch of salt
Marinade:
Dash of white pepper powderSalt, to taste
Sugar, to taste
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup cooking wine
2 teaspoons sesame oil
Honey Sauce:
3 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon white vinegar
Pinch of salt
The How-To:
1. Let's start with the batter. Mix the flour, cornstarch and baking powder, then add the egg white, water, and oil. Easy peasy.
2. Let stand for 30 minutes. While the batter is doing its thing, let's marinate the chicken and make the sauce.
3. To marinate the chicken, simply stir all the marinade ingredients together and add the chicken. Let stand for 10 minutes.
4. To make the honey sauce, mix all ingredients together in a bowl (see a pattern?). Set aside.
5. Once the batter is ready, pour oil into a saucepan until it's about 2 inches deep. Heat over medium-high heat.
6. Place the chicken into the batter and coat thoroughly.
7. Drop the chicken pieces into the hot oil (use tongs or chopsticks) and fry until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Drain on paper towels. This is what they should look like when they're done.
7. Drop the chicken pieces into the hot oil (use tongs or chopsticks) and fry until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Drain on paper towels. This is what they should look like when they're done.
8. Heat the honey sauce mixture in a pan until the mixture bubbles. Mix the chicken pieces in with a spatula so they get nice and saucy. Then serve - you're done!
November 18, 2009
November 17, 2009
10 Signs You Are a Disney Dork
I'll admit, I'm a Disney dork. If you're reading this, you may be too. But the first step is admitting you have a problem. Here are 10 warning signs you may be a Disney dork:
1. You constantly mispronouce "innovation" as "innovention."
2. You know what Beverly is, and like it.
3. You can recite all of the words to Wishes.
4. You go to Conservation Station in the Animal Kingdom because you need a quick nap in the Grandmother Willow soundproof booths.
5. If you ever met Lou Mongello, Jim Hill, or John Frost, you would turn into a starstruck ball of mess.
6. When someone asks, "what time is it?" you answer in song: "It's summah-time!"
7. Park maps? Pshhh. Those are for tourists.
8. You visit AllEars.net to check out all the WDW menus 3-6 months before your trip to decide what you're going to order.
9. You're still grumbling about the "new" Journey Into Imagination.
10. You refer to the monorails by their respective colors.
Updated: This post is featured on the DisMarks Blog Carnival. Click here for more great Disney reads!
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Related Links:
* Disney Dining: The Best in Quick Service
* Imma Let Kanye Take This One
* The Best (and Most Missed) Disney Attractions of Yesterday
Dancing with the Stars: ... And Then There Were Three
Hoo boy, we've come a long way. Tonight, it's the second most important results show of the season as we find out which couples will be freestylin' in the finals.
After Mya and Dmitry shook up the ballroom with their encore salsa (well deserved), we got right down to business ... only not, because we have a whole bunch of montages to get through.
Um, then there was a performance from Nine, the upcoming film, only not. Because Daniel Day-Lewis performing on Dancing with the Stars would be like Drew Lachey winning an Oscar. So, hey impersonators! Seeing you dance an off-Broadway version of the movie version of the Broadway play makes me want to see your movie? Or something.
Finally, some results. YAY Mya and Dmitry are in the finals! And soon they'll be in the winners' circle. And also YAY Donny and Kym made it too! They should be fun to watch next week. So who's the last one in the finals?
Drumrollllllll ...
It's Kelly and Louis! YESYESYESYESYESYES!
America, you have done it again. Just when I question your judgement for letting Michael Irvin continue for so long, for pushing Gilles and Cheryl through to las season's finals, for voting Drew Lachey the winner of season two, you do something amazing like rightfully ousting Joanna and Derek. I haven't been this proud since you made Mark and Shawn the winners last season. Well done, team.
Next week, I'll be blogging the finals over at The Disney Blog, so please head over there and have a meltdown with me.
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Related Links:
* Dancing with the Stars: Semifinals in the House!
* Dancing with the Stars: Double Trouble
* Dancing with the Stars: ... And Then Bruno Table Danced
November 16, 2009
Dancing with the Stars: Semifinals in the House!
... And then there were four. This week, each couple must perform two routines, and there's a "knockout" round, in which the couples choose their style and their song to pack the knockout punch that will take them to the finals.
Ballroom Round:
Donny and Kym: Oh geez, Gilles is back. Naturally, he is here to be, literally, the sexy instructor. DWTS, what the heck kind of paso doble song is this? I don't know if it was the song or Donny, but there was absolutely no fire in this routine. "Boring" is not a word you want to use for the paso doble. I totally respect that Donny came right out and said he bombed, because at this point, there's not much you can do besides own up to it and hope America pulls you through.
Joanna and Derek: I am so sick of these two. I'm sick of Joanna's crappy feet, I'm sick of Derek being a ham, I'm sick of Brooke Burke and she wasn't even in this season. Joanna's feet are still - still! - a nightmare, but overall this was a pretty enough Viennese Waltz. No surprise, the judges love it. These guys are officially the Gilles/Cheryl and Brooke/Derek of this season - the overrated producers' favorite just because they're pretty.
Kelly and Louis: No lie, I almost started crying when it was revealed that one of Kelly's dogs died last week. It was so tiny and adorable and I can't think about it any more. I was worried when I found out Kelly would be doing the rumba, but she did a great job. I'm so so so proud of what Kelly's accomplished this season, and I don't even know her. She's a truly irresistable dancer, and she finally has the chops to match her personality.
Mya and Dmitry: Why is there a camping tent in their rehearsal room? Oh wait, because they nap there. Of course. As with all of Mya's routines, this waltz was classic, clean, and sophisticated. Doesn't get much better than that, folks. Of course, Carrie Ann mutters some nonsense about something not being right so that this season isn't a total clean sweep.
Latin Round:
Donny and Kym: Vintage Osmond time! And wow, there are a lot of them. And yay, Donny made a genuine comeback from his first routine. This was fun, clean, and entertaining - just as a samba should be. The scores were solid here, so it's really up to America now.
Joanna and Derek: Sigh, Joanna was once a poor immigrant girl with a dream of becoming a dancer. Instead, she got paid to take her clothes off. It's sort of like Fame, only without all the crying. Seriously, more fringe pants? Whyyyy? Joanna was lip-syncing for part of this dance and there were a couple awkward moments, but no matter - because the judges continue to sing her praises.
Kelly and Louis: Wow, I forgot what Kelly looked like during The Osbournes. The footage from her childhood really accentuates just how far she's come. Cute song, cute outfit, cute girl, cute dance. There were a couple of mishaps throughout, but how can you not love this girl?
Mya and Dmitry: Shocker - Mya has always had musicality. And oh em gee this salsa was AMAZING. The choreography was so intense, the dancing was super sexy, and it had that extra bit of raunch that was missing from a lot of this season. Far and away the best dance since week one. I am so excited to see them freestyle their way to victory next week.
Knockout Round:
In the spirit of the knockout round, I'll keep these short:
Donny and Kym: This was their best routine of the night - lots of tricks, glitter, and jazz hands. Pure Donny, and a great way for him to end an otherwise shaky evening.
Joanna and Derek: The good times continue, because this was her best routine of the night, but still overrated.
Kelly and Louis: Adorable, but it seemed a little easy given some of the stuff she's been doing lately. Still, it was clean.
Mya and Dmitry: Not her best, but still better than all the rest.
So there you have it. Tomorrow, we'll have our finalists. It's going to be a close race, methinks.
---
Related Links:
* Dancing with the Stars: Double Trouble
* Dancing with the Stars: ... And Then Bruno Table Danced
* Dancing with the Stars: Everyone Has Germs
November 14, 2009
It's Christmastime in WDW!
Christmas is here! Well, not really. Actually, Thanksgiving isn't even here yet. But no matter, because I'm already in the holiday spirit (as are most of the stores). In fact, I made a huge dent in my Christmas shopping today - bravo, Disney Chick, bravo.
The Magic Kingdom has also got its yule on - check out this awesome time-lapse video from those crazy kids at Disney Parks Blog. Watch as workers take the park from Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, with no time for Thanksgiving turkey in between:
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Related Links:
* Celebrate a Day in the Magic Kingdom!
* It's the Great Disney Pumpkins, Charlie Brown
November 11, 2009
November 10, 2009
Fixing Walt Disney Studios in Five Steps or Less
Let's face it - it's a tough time to be at Walt Disney Studios. First, there was the unexpected departure of Chairman Dick Cook, and now comes news that President Mark Zoradi is also leaving. On top of that, A Christmas Carol had a mediocre opening at the box office despite months and months of hype, and if The Princess and the Frog doesn't deliver, it's going to be a disaster. It's clear that the Studios are going through a rough patch, and they haven't had a blockbuster film for some time now. Here are five steps that the new regime could follow that this blogger thinks would put Walt Disney Studios back on the map in a big way:
1. Enough with the sequels. Congratulations, you've got a hit movie. Your next step is, of course, to make more money. But before you get ready to milk that cash cow for all it's worth, stop and think: does National Treasure really need a sequel? Were there any loose ends the first film didn't cover? No? Well then, instead of going back to the well, let's remember what made that movie great in the first place and apply that to a different idea. Nothing ruins a good movie like a bad sequel (see: The Matrix), and just because you can doesn't mean you should.
2. Turn down the marketing machine. Publicity is a tricky thing. You need to get butts in the theatre come opening day, but if you sell it too much you create unreasonably high expecations in your audience, which leads to disappointment, which leads to bad word of mouth. And bad word of mouth will kill box office sales faster than you can say "Gigli." Walt Disney Studios is learning this lesson with A Christmas Carol right now - guess what? Nobody cares that this movie cost $180 million. What audiences are seeing is a blah retelling of a story everyone already knows and would rather see with Muppets. In a way, the Disney marketing team has put The Princess and the Frog in an impossible place - after all the money spent on marketing and promotions (not to mention the cost of actually making the damn thing), will any opening weekend numbers be high enough?
3. Do not take all your cues from the Disney Channel. Over the past 10 years or so, the Disney Channel has become a force to be reckoned with, becoming home to more than a few franchises and hit series, as well as launching the careers of many of Young Hollywood's brightest stars. But the Disney Channel formula is not applicable to the film industry in general. Contrary to popular opinion, most of America is not interested in the Jonas Brothers. Sure, High School Musical 3 was great, but you know what was even better? 17 Again. Allow young talent to flourish on the Disney Channel while they're still firmly in the demographic, then let those stars mature (along with their audience) into bigger and better roles on the silver screen.
4. Recognize your strengths, then stick with them. Making movies with Dwayne Johnson is not one of those strengths. If you look at two of Walt Disney Studios' most recent hits, Pirates of the Caribbean and National Treasure, they have a lot in common - they're popcorn movies, family-friendly without being pandering, anchored by major stars, and intended to be fun. (They're also both "quest" movies that explore some daddy issues, but that's a seperate post.) Bottom line - before you make a movie, think about your audience, before you end up with another Beverly Hills Chihuahua on your hands. Who's your audience? It's not kids. It's everyone. Remember that, and you'll be golden.
5. Hire Michael Bay. You want to make money? Call Michael Bay. The man could make a movie about a talking trash can and it would win special effects Oscars and make $300+ million at the box office. Oh wait, he did that already. Scoff if you must, film elitists, but Bay knows what audiences want and delivers every time. So the next time you start thinking it's time to adapt another Magic Kingdom ride for the big screen, you better let Bay put the "thunder" in "Big Thunder Mountain." You betch'yo britches it's the wildest ride in the wilderness.
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Related Links:
* The Princess and the Frog Art & Designs
* Do We Really Need a Pirates 4?
* Disney's Real Leading Ladies
November 4, 2009
A Christmas Carol Train Tour - Photos & Early Thoughts on the Film
This past Saturday, I hopped on a train to Grand Central to hop on a different kind of train - the A Christmas Carol train tour. The Christmas choo-choo was making its final stop in NYC, and I thought - what better way to celebrate Halloween than by checking out some behind-the-scenes goodies from a must-see holiday film?
I don't know what I was expecting, but the train tour was in fact, an entire Amtrak train. How many behind-the-scenes goodies can you fit into a train car? Turns out, a lot.
There were costumes.
And artifacts from the Charles Dickens Museum (!!!)
And maquettes.
And 3D models.
And an introduction to motion capture, for those of you who haven't ever watched a Lord of the Rings DVD extra.
And a look at scenes of the film in various stages of rendition.
Once you finish the train tour, guests were invited to visit this giant blow-up theatre to watch some preview scenes from the film. Now, I like my Christmas Carols the old-fashioned way: with Muppets (annnnd .... "It Feels Like Christmas" is in my head, perhaps forever). Since I only got to see selected scenes, I can't fairly critique the film itself, but here's a quick rundown:The Good:
The 3D is gorgeous. I mean it. The scenes look so vivid, so deep, so rich - it's Dickensian London come to life.
The Bad:
The people in this film look ridiculous. Motion capture is fine when you're turning a person into, say, Gollum, but using motion capture to turn people into people just seems strange and superfluous (Also see: The Polar Express). Turning Jim Carrey into Scrooge via motion capture seems like a more expensive way to make him look like his CGI-free Count Olaf in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (great movie):
Filmmakers will tell you that the beauty of motion capture is that "if you can dream it, you can do it," but isn't that true of special effects in general? And just because you can, does that automatically mean you should? I think this movie would have been better served by having real actors in a CGI-enhanced world, a la Harry Potter or the more recent Star Wars films. And I get that it's Jim Carrey and blah blah blah, but why not cast a British actor to play Scrooge? Carrey's accent is, well, you'll see. Let's just say the fact that all the other actors are British doesn't help matters.
I don't mean to humbug the movie - after all, I haven't seen it. Wonky CGI people aside, the film looks beautiful and I'm a sucker for a Christmas movie. Especially the ones with Muppets.
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Related Links:
* The Princess and the Frog Art & Designs
* Do We Really Need a Pirates 4?
November 3, 2009
Dancing with the Stars: Double Trouble
Double elimination night! Mark Ballas singing! I don't think my heart can take any more.
No shocker here, Team Tango got the encore. And also, Lacey's back in action.
Elimination time: Kelly/Louis are safe, and Mark/Lacey are in the bottom three. I blame the flu. Also safe: Donny/Kym (and what on earth are they wearing?). Not safe: Michael/Anna.
And then, Mark Ballas and Derek Hough took to the floor to - oh my - sing. Their "band" is creatively titled Ballas/Hough, and the sound is one part Justin Timberlake-lite, one part George Michael, and one part Backstreets Back Alright! To recap the song: watch your body watch yuor body watch it watch it watch your body watch it watch it watch your body OMG STOP WATCHING MY BODY ITS CREEPY.
Useless montage time! Guess what? Everyone wants to win!
More eliminations: Mya/Dmitry are safe, as are Joanna/Derek (groan), leaving Aaron/Karina in danger. And - called it! - Michael and Anna are going home. Thank heavens.
Dance-off time!t's Mark/Lacey vs Aaron/Karina. I hate that Mark is in this position, because he went through a lot of crap this week and he still as so much potential. Mark and Lacey's samba was solid and the judges seem pleased with it. (Also, Bruno compared Mark to a notorious Hollywood madame. Um.) Aaron and Karina opted to do another jive, and it's going to be a tough draw between these two couples.
Unanimously, the judges choose to keep Aaron and Karina. It's a double elimination week, so someone had to go home, I just wish that Mark had lost fair and square and not on a week when he had three different partners.
Next week, I'll be recapping over at The Disney Blog - stop by for week 8 recaps and results!
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Related Links:
* Dancing with the Stars: ... And Then Bruno Table Danced
* Dancing with the Stars: Everyone Has Germs
November 2, 2009
Dancing with the Stars: ... And Then Bruno Table Danced
It's week seven, and the pressure is building for our stars. As if the team dances weren't bad enough, the flu is running rampant and it's a double elimination week. Hang on tight, because this is where we seperate the men from the Aaron Carters.
Michael and Anna - Foxtrot: Well, it was a little boring, but it wasn't bad. Michael's footwork is improving, and he's finding some semblance of grace in his dancing. The fact that they went first in the lineup is perhaps a sign that they will be going home tomorrow night (you have to work extra hard to be memorable if you're going first), but a solid effort from The Playmaker.
Donny and Kym - Quickstep: Donny continues to be a class act, and Kym continues to be a smart choreographer. It wasn't the strongest quickstep, but he sells it every single time he hits the dance floor. I think his fan base will carry him through to next week, easy peasy.
Mark and Not Lacey - Samba: Lacey took many forms this week, first transforming into Tony, then into Anna. It's amazing what a flu can do! I thought this was a good routine, but the judges hated it. The things they were blaming him for - a disjointed routine, a "mess" - were not really his fault. FAIL, judges. He deserves to stay.
Mya and Dmitry - Foxtrot: AAA WHY IS CLORIS LEACHMAN HERE? GET AWAY FROM THEM! Go rub off on Joanna or someone expendable. And yet, Mya still managed to be lovely and classy. Len still complains there is too much "messing about" - ENOUGH. Memo to Len - Dancing with the Stars is two hours of "messing about." Embrace it. Love it. Respect it.
Aaron and Karina - Jive: Man, I got tired just watching this one. Geez, Karina, was that one fast enough? As much as I don't like Aaron, I will give respect where it's due - and this was a crisp, well-executed, difficult routine. Looks like he'll be sticking around another week.
Kelly and Louis - Salsa: Lesson - you mess with Kelly, you get the fringe pants. This seemed to a tame salsa, and Kelly was scowling through a lot of it, but the judges love it. Kelly still has a long way to go if she wants to make the finals, but any dance that coaxes a table dance out of Bruno should be considered a success.
Derek and Joanna - Rumba: Oh, BARF. Derek is unbelievably nauseating in his fawning over his partner. She's right to ignore him completely. And hey, let's name things that are unnecessary: 1. montages featuring Joanna in a swimsuit. If we're going to have swimsuit montages, let's please include Mark Ballas. Thanks. As usual, Joanna's feet are a mess and she looks more like a mannequin and less like a dancer. And yet, the judges continue to praise them. Sigh.
Team Paso: Oh Aaron, was it really necessary to draw a mustache on? We all know you can't grow facial hair. This was much better than the team dances in past seasons - there were a couple synchronicity issues, but overall it was a strong, aggressive, solid paso doble. Mya and Dmitry were the definite standouts, but all parties did well.
Team Tango: Well, Team Tango won by a mile - mostly because the choreography was so much better. Carrie Ann felt it necessary to run out and spank everyone (awkward), and the judges went crazy over this one. This was an incredibly strong team dance, and all members carried their weight.
So who's going home? I think it's (finally) a lock for Michael and Anna, and the other elimination is gonna be a wild card. Tomorrow's going to be an interesting night for sure ...
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Related Links:
* Dancing with the Stars: Everyone Has Germs
* Dancing with the Stars: Donny and Bruno Sittin in a Tree ...
* Dancing with the Stars: Len is Grumpy Edition
November 1, 2009
Recipe: Garlic and Herb Polenta, California Grill, Contemporary Resort
Emboldened by last week's triumph over the Shrimp with Tomato-Feta Compote from Citricos at the Grand Floridian, I decided to take on a recipe from the grandaddy of WDW fine dining - the California Grill. If you haven't been, this is a must-do on your next trip. And be sure to stick around to watch Wishes from the balcony.
Back to business - this week I made the Garlic and Herb Polenta that is traditionally served with the California Grill's famous pork tenderloin. Polentas require a lot of babysitting, so it's not the easiest dish to prepare, but the results were good. You can serve it as a side dish, California Grill style, or eat it with some Melba Toast and call it dinner, Disney Chick style.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
12 cup finely chopped onion
2 teaspoons Roasted Garlic Puree (more on this below)
1 1/4 cups water
1 1/4 cups milk
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons grated parmesan or asiago cheese
1/4 cup soft, crumbled goat cheese
1 tablespoon minced thyme leaves
1 tablespoon minced fresh sage leaves
1 tablespoon chopped parsley, for garnish
Before You Polenta ...
... you have to make the Roasted Garlic Puree. This takes awhile, but it's worth it and you can use this trick to liven up other dishes as well. You'll need one whole head of garlic, and some olive oil.
1. Preheat over to 400 degrees
2. Cut off the stem and top third of the garlic head.
3. Place the garlic on a sheet of aluminum foil and drizzle with olive oil.
4. Wrap the garlic with foil, seal the edges tightly, and roast for one hour.
From this ...5. Remove the package from the oven, open carefully, and let cool slightly.
... to this. 6. Scrape or squeeze the pulp from the garlic cloves. This is what it should look like when you're done.
Now that that's done, let's get to the polenta.
Polenta, Please!
1. Heat the olive oil in a saucepan until hot, but not smoking. Add the onions and cook, stirring, for three minutes or until soft. Stir in the Roasted Garlic Puree.
2. Add the water, milk, and heavy cream and bring the mixture to a simmer over high heat.
3. Add the cornmeal in a slow, steady stream, whisking constantly. Stir in the salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, for 15-20 minutes, or until thick and bubbling.
4. Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the cheeses, thyme, and sage. Garnish with parsley and serve hot.
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