Thursday, December 27, 2012
Thanks for stopping by!
Monday, May 16, 2011
New Beginnings for Disney Guru
This Blogger blog will continue to stay on this site but I will no longer be posting here. I was able to transfer all of the information from here to the new Disney Guru site.
Our Facebook, Twitter and RSS freed are all attached to the new Disney Guru site. Last, it would be an honor for me to have you visit our new site and bookmark it as a favorite of yours.
I would like to thank all of you for being such awesome followers, I could not have done any of this without you or without the help of the wonderful Guru Girls, Belinda, Theresa, Disney Bird, and Julie. Thank you!
See ya real soon!!
Kelly
Friday, May 13, 2011
A Refreshing Trip Around the World
Today's article is brought to you by Theresa Cook, contributor for Disney Guru and owner of Shutter Expressions . Enjoy!!
A Refreshing Trip Around the World
Ah Epcot!!! The one
place you can travel the world in a matter of hours. We are all familiar with World Showcase, Figment
and his imagination, the “giant golf ball”, and a dancing fountain. But there are little things that tend to get
lost and forgotten. I’ve been to the
park many times and have always passed by one certain attraction until our last
trip in 2010.
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| http://www.flickr.com/photos/lorenjavier/5023032096/ |
I knew it was there, but not its exact location. I made it a goal to finally go and had no
excuse not to. I’m talking about Club Cool.
Located on the right hand side, just past the “giant golf
ball” (AKA Spaceship Earth) and before the fountain is a
plain looking building in Future World.
Here, your taste buds will go on a world tour.
Formally called Ice Station Cool, Club Cool is sponsored by
Coca-Cola and offers not food, but cola from eight different countries.Tasting is free, though there is a gift store located inside
for Coca-Cola related products.
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| http://www.flickr.com/photos/kathika/2541191225/ |
Grab a small tasting cup and make your way to one of the
self-serving centers to start this unique journey. It’s fun to watch people’s reactions too.
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| http://www.flickr.com/photos/inazakira/5178158628/ |
First up is China for a cola they call Smart
Watermelon. It’s surprisingly good and a
favorite amongst my kids as it’s more of a fizzy juice than a pop. It’s light
and refreshing without being overly sweet.
Kinley Lemon from Israel is just like the name states;
citrus tasting. It’s very similar to lemonade
with a hint of honey. Kinley is very
similar to Mountain Dew, if I was to describe it.
Next on our tour is Thailand and Lychee Mello. This very sweet, grape type pop is just what
you would expect it to be. Those with a
sweet tooth will find this to be quite a treat.
Japan takes a healthy approach with what they call
Vegitabeta. It’s not bad, but not
something I would order to drink if I were to be in Japan. If you are used to adding vitamins to
smoothies and other beverages, this would quench your thirst as you do taste
the minerals.
The popular drink of Costa Rican children has a name you
might recognize; Fanta Kolita. This
kid’s favorite is a nice fruity cola that has just the right amount of
sweetness.
Germany is known for beer and even mixes beer into non-alcoholic
beverages to help weaken the alcohol content as in this drink called, Mezzo
Mix.
In Italy, they drink a bitter beverage called an aperitif to
help stimulate the appetite before dinner.
This is one you need to drink with caution. I had fun getting others to drink it and
watching their reaction. You will need
to taste it for yourself to see what I mean.
This cola is called Beverly.
Lastly, we wrap up with Krest Ginger Ale from
Mozambique. In Africa, ginger has been
long used for medical purposes and is a popular drink. It’s even used as a mixer in African
bars. It is by far one of the best
ginger ales I have ever tasted.
Now that I have your mouth salivating and taste buds buzzing,
make sure you add this little stop on your list of things to do. It’s a great way to cool down and escape the
Florida heat while having fun. Besides
that, it's a great way to get your kids to try something new too.
Who can honestly say they drank cola from 8 countries in one
day? Well now you can. And as the slogan says: Enjoy Coke!!
Keep smiling. . .till next month!!!
--
--
Theresa Cook
Shutter Expressions
"capturing the real you"
www.shutterexpressions.net
Shutter Expressions
"capturing the real you"
www.shutterexpressions.net
Thursday, May 12, 2011
World Showcase ~ Germany
World Showcase ~ Germany
Living the Fairytale Life with Belinda!
Are your bags packed? Today I’m taking you on a trip to Germany, located in World Showcase at Epcot! The Germany pavilion is one of my top favorites. As a little girl, we got stationed in Bamberg due to my father being military. I loved it. The food, the architecture and the feeling of being in the midst of a faraway land full of castles and charm. This is definitely the next best thing.
The Germany Pavilion
depicts scenes out of a storybook. With flower boxed window ledges, stair
stepped rooftops, beautiful balconies and arched entryways, this is one country
not to be missed. Here you will find everything from German style shopping to
food, beer and authentic German souvenirs.
Germany is situated
around St. Georgsplatz; this is the center point of this pavilion; its
cobblestoned walkaways center around the statue in the center; St. George.
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| Photo courtesy of wdwinfo.com |
Dining
Biergarten ~ this restaurant is located at the very back of the St. Georgsplatz
center in the Germany pavilion. You can’t miss it. The roof tops of this restaurant are very
much an appeal to the eye, with high pitched roofs that are tiered to the sky;
one can’t miss this jolly restaurant.
If you want a
romantic dinner for two, Biergarten is definitely not the spot to dine in. This
restaurant is a very happy, clap your hands and be jolly type dining
experience. The tables are situated to bring a form of togetherness among
guest; with long tables, one cannot help but strike up a conversation with
fellow diners.
The atmosphere here
is quite the German setting, with scheduled appearances by traditional Bavarian
musicians; you can’t help but think you are in the real country itself. The
host here encourage you get on the dance floor and join in the fun. The musicians
are usually dressed in some form of dirndl or lederhosen. With the sound of
German music and the striking atmosphere, you are definitely guaranteed a jolly
good time at this establishment.
The food here is
presented as an all-you-can-eat buffet. Featuring everything from German
sausages, rotisserie chicken, frankfurters, potato salad, cold dishes of all
kinds, homemade spaetzle and a ton more German specialties. The dessert here is
top notch, including everything from German cheesecake to the famous black forest
cheese cake; you will definitely find something to your liking. Beer drinkers
will love the full size steins they serve the beer in. Spotkan, a dark German
and very popular beer is one to defiantly try. My husband loves it. It is
tradition for us to get one every time we visit. It adds to the whole German
experience.
Reservations at this
restaurant are highly recommended; Book as early as possible, as spots do fill
up quickly. Price ranges from $15 to
$50.00.
 |
| Biergarten Restaurant |
Sommerfest ~ this quick stand type restaurant serves everything from soft
pretzels, apple strudel, beer, wine, and bratwurst sandwiches. This eatery is
located to the rear of the Germany pavilion with seating located nearby. Reservations
are not needed for this quick stop. Prices range from under $15 to $30.00.
New to the Germany Pavilion
I am so excited
about this new snack establishment located in the Germany pavilion!
 |
| Photo courtesy of wdwmagic.com |
This is a brand new
sweet shop that just recently opened in Germany. When visiting this yummy
eatery, you will see Disney Cast members making fresh caramel apples, caramel
corn, marshmallows and strawberries! You
will also find gourmet brownies, cupcakes, cookies and fudge. If you have a
sweet tooth, this is definitely a German spot not to be missed! Check out some
photos! Can you say yummy?
Shopping
The Germany pavilion
has some of the most exquisite shops in World Showcase. You will artificats and
gifts that are sure to please any member of your family. Listed below are the
shops you will find along with some of items they offer.
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| Photos courtesy of wdwmagic.com |
Der Bucherwurm - Here you will find everything from German steins,
glassware, hand-painted eggs, and all kinds of sundries.
Der Teddybar – I love this store! Here they have all kinds of German toys, dolls,
and my favorite, teddy bears.
Die Weihnachts Ecke - Another favorite of mine! Here you will find
all kinds of German Christmas items, such as ornaments and decorations; to
include the all-time famous “green pickle”!
Kunstarbeit In Kristall – This place has some of the most beautiful
German glassware and crystal around.
Weinkeller - Here you will find all kinds of assorted German wines. I love being
able to do the wine tasting here. Remember, the cost includes a souvenir wine
glass! What a perfect way to get a
souvenir; A nice memory too.
Süssigkeiten - Another favorite! This store offers German steins and various wines.
Some of the steins here are truly amazing. Word is that this shop is to be changing
its name soon.
Volkskunst - My husband loves this store. It offers all kinds of cuckoo clocks
and hand –painted eggs. All of the cuckoo-clocks and eggs are truly a work of
art.
 |
Photo courtesy of
wdwmagic.com
|
I hope all of you enjoyed taking this trip with me to Germany in World
Showcase. It is truly a country that
inspires us all, with its food, culture, amazing detail to design and their
exquisite shops. I hope all of your
Disney adventures include a stop at Germanys pavilion, you won’t be
disappointed!
Don’t forget to
visit Snow White at her new character spot in this pavilion. You will find her
located next to her wishing well.
 |
| Photo courtesy of http://unofficialdisneycharacterhuntingguide.blogspot.com |
Remember to make a Wish!
Keep Believeing
Belinda
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
My New Found Love for Epcot!!
Today I’ll
be talking about Epcot and the new-found love I’ve discovered for it over the
last few years! If you ask what my earliest memories of Epcot are (at that
time, it was referred to as ‘Epcot Center’) I’d probably say ‘Figment’ and
leave it at that. I don’t remember being entirely enthralled with this park as
a child, but now I can now proudly say it’s one of my favorites! I guess since
I’m a Magic Kingdom girl, I’m a bit biased- I’ve always found myself comparing
the two.
Now as an
adult, going to WDW each year with my own family, I’ve realized that you simply
cannot compare the two parks. It’s kind
of like comparing apples to oranges, or in Disney terms, ‘Mouse Bars to Dole
Whips’!
There are so
many differences between these two, but Epcot is just as magical in its own
right and has so much to offer. Here
are some of the reasons why I love Epcot.
I love the
futuristic aspect of Epcot, that breathtaking feeling you have when walking
past that great big (silver ball, as my little girls would say) Geosphere would
be the correct word I believe. We usually visit Spaceship Earth multiple times
and I think I see something new each time I’m on it!
Family Favorites
Mission Space is also a fun attraction. I was tricked into going on this last year with
my daughter. She made us get into the more intense line, on purpose, might I
add. Let’s just say it was not a good experience, especially if you suffer from
motion sickness, like I do. My eyes were shut for the entire 5 minutes (which
at the time seemed like it lasted a lifetime!) All of this, before a 9:30
breakfast at Akershus! I still have not decided if I will attempt the ‘less
intense’ version this year, but I still have plenty of time to decide on that
one.
My girls
absolutely adore The Seas with Nemo & friends. This is probably the 1st
attraction we will do. They love ‘Turtle Talk with Crush’; lots of interactive
fun for kids and adults seem to get a kick out of it too! This is a great one
to do because it’s enclosed, so if you’re overheated or there’s an unexpected
Florida downpour, you’re safe for awhile.
Yet another
favorite is ‘Living with the Land’. My family and I love this boat ride! My
little girls are surprisingly fascinated with the way the plants and veggies
are grown. This is just another fabulous Epcot experience. As I’m writing this
I realize I could go on and on about Epcot…there’s just so much to see and
do! Soarin’, the sights and smells of being whisked away to picturesque
landscapes with the feeling that you’re flying!
I love how
there’s such a distinction between Future World & World Showcase. We love
checking out all the different countries, trying out different food and
drinks, the ambience of each country.
One of our favorite rides in World Showcase is ‘Maelstrom’ in Norway; we
always look forward to it!
I was also
fortunate enough to go again during Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival this past
Fall and loved it! As a newbie to this event, I have to say next time will be
much better executed. There was so much
to see and do with this event alone-I have to admit, my best friend and I
were a bit overwhelmed. I’ll want to
make and sure to spend an entire afternoon dedicated to sampling the food and
drinks get the full effect!
But all in
all, my very favorite time to visit Epcot has to be during the Flower &
Garden Festival. This has been an ongoing tradition in my family for so many
years, that I look forward to it! I love seeing the new topiaries on display,
the fragrant aroma of the flowers and Epcot just seems to be ‘in bloom’
during this time! I’m really missing it this year and have been living
vicariously through other friend’s photos that have gone.
These are
just a ‘few’ of the many reasons why I have a renewed love for Epcot!
Magic
Kingdom my always have my heart, but Epcot is a close second!!
What makes
Epcot so special to you? I’d love to hear your thoughts & opinions.
Thanks for
sharing your Wednesday with me… let’s chat soon!!
Julie can be reached
@ nedisneydiva@hotmail.com be sure to “like” Julie’s Facebook Page…New England Disney
Diva’s!!
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Secrets of Epcot
It is no secret that there are many secrets hidden throughout Walt Disney World! Many that are still undiscovered, and many that have been discovered but not revealed. While we are doing a tribute to Epcot here at Disney Guru during the month of May, I thought that it would be fun to share that the magic is not only at Magic Kingdom but at Epcot as well.
Stand
under Spaceship Earth when it rains
The
Future World Water Fountains Talk
Take
a stroll over to Future World and grab a refreshing sip of water from one of
their three water fountains. You may notice that as you drink, there are some
sound effects that come right out of the fountain. You will hear anything from
the clanging of pipes, to a woman shouting, "No doubt about it--I've gotta
move to a drier climate."
The
fountains are located on the west side of Innoventions West, just across from
The Land pavilion, outside the main entrance of MouseGear beside the Fountain
of Nations in Innoventions Plaza, and on the walkway between Future World and
World Showcase alongside the kiddie fountain.
The
Attraction That Never Was
Did
you ever notice that there is an empty building alongside World Showcase that
has never been occupied since Epcot opened in 1982? This building, located in
Germany is rumored to have supposed to have been Rhine River. Rhine River was
supposed to be a cruise attraction which would have taken guests on a boat ride
through the German countryside.
Visit
us next Tuesday as I reveal some more of the many secrets at Epcot.
See
ya real soon!!
Kelly
Monday, May 9, 2011
Photo Plans Save You Time
Money Saver Monday!!
From time to time I share a tip that
follows the saying "time is money." This tip comes straight from me
to you and it has the potential to save you so much time on your Disney
vacation. Keep in mind that successful Disney vacations are well planned. People
that have done their research and know what they want to do, feel that they
have gotten their money's worth and they will make more repeat trips in the
future.
About 95% of Disney travelers will
spend time meeting characters or getting their picture taken using Disney's
Photopass. Waiting in line is a great time to prepare yourself for the 45
seconds of fame you will have once you have reached the front of the line and
get your pictures taken. Here are some tips to get it done efficiently yet
still get your photo/video done.
- Have cameras out of camera bags
- Turn the camera on/take the lens cap off
- Have the autograph books out with the page
open(characters can't flip through pages)
- Have your pen open and ready to go
- Make sure children are out of the stroller and ready to
go before it’s your turn.
One part of planning my Walt Disney
World vacation is actually planning how I want pictures to be taken. Now if you
are a smaller family you may not need to do this as thoroughly. If you are
traveling with a party of 6 or more I recommend having a photo plan.
- Decide what order you want to go up in.
- There may be certain characters that you want the whole
family to be in and some that you only want the kiddos in.
Being prepared can save you a ton of
time on your vacation and can help you have cherished memories that you will
forever love once you get home.
If you have any money saving tips you would like featured on Money Saver Monday, email me at kno2879@gmail.com. Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter....we would love to have you as a fan!!
See ya real soon!!
Kelly
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