World Showcase ~ Germany

World Showcase ~ Germany

                                           Picture courtesy of wdwinfo.com

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.

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.

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.

 Whatever shop you choose to venture to, you are sure to find the perfect German keepsake!

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

An Inspiration of Dreams: Epcot

Living the Fairytale Life with Belinda!

I couldn’t be more excited about the month of May; Celebrating Epcot in all its glory. Many of us have never truly taken the time to delve into this park and really gain an understanding for all of the dreams and inspiration that Walt had for Epcot.  With all of the attractions, technology, restaurants and landscape, their comes a story, a history of Walt that lives within the park every time we visit. My hope is that you all will follow us during this month as we pay tribute to a park and a man that shared his dreams of technology and life with all of us.  Join us as we share some of our favorite attractions, memories and dreams of all things EPCOT.

As a little girl I remember visiting Disney World very clearly. The first park that always came to mind of course was Magic Kingdom. As a kid I loved it. I can remember them taking me to Epcot for the first time as well, and as a child, I was bored. I didn’t feel that spark that I got when I was spending the day around Cinderella’s Castle. As I grew into my teens, I still dreaded the annual Epcot visit each time we visited Disney World. I never dreamed as a child that all that would change. Now, as an adult, Epcot has become my heart and on my top favorite list.

Epcot inspires me, it helps my husband and I to dream for tomorrow and live for today all in one visit. From World Showcase to Innoventions, Test track and Finding Nemo, all of these attractions and sights in Epcot make us feel a sense of Walt within us and our hearts.  Epcot is a celebration of life, of freedom, and of the dreams that live in all of our hearts. Take for example, Illuminations: Reflections of Earth. This mesmerizing show embraces Walt’s vision of humanity and the American dream.

In 1999 Epcot offered the LEAVE A LEGACY. A max of seven-hundred thousand guests could pay a nominal fee to have their photo placed on a square tile and placed on a wall surrounding Spaceship Earth. This program ended in June 2007. My husband and I feel so blessed to have participated in this. Now, every time we visit, we find magic in our hearts knowing that we are a part of Walt’s dream every day.

My husband and I make it a point with every trip to spend at least two full days at Epcot. From dining in World Showcase to embracing some of our most favorite Disney attractions, Epcot has become a part of us and our love for Disney. Join us this month as we celebrate the dreams, the magic and inspirations of life that Walt created for all of us to enjoy….. EPCOT!

Keep Believing

Belinda

Spring Disney Fever

Living the Fairytale Life with Belinda.......

Its spring time, the weather is nice, the sun is shining and you still have several months before your trip “home” to Disney World. If you are like me, you’re finding yourself going crazy with what I call, “Spring Disney Fever”!  As my husband and I go for walks in the neighborhood taking in the sites of houses and trees, my thoughts quickly go to views of Main Street, the castle and the smell of fresh baked goodies. Spring is such a lovely time to visit Disney, with all of the flowers a bloom at the flower and garden festival, the sunshine and the Easter holiday, one can’t help but get into the blues when their trip is still a few months to a few years away. Luckily we are heading home in 4 ½ months, but the withdrawal that one can feel while time is spent waiting can be a bit of an unhappy one.  Over the past few months, I have found ways to bring a little bit of Disney into our home to help make the time of waiting seem less painful.

Bring Goofy’s Candy Co. to your kitchen!

Goofy’s Candy Co. is one of our must do things every time we visit Disney. We had been missing our rich chocolate goodies and needed a fix badly. So, Shawn and I decided to bring Goofy home. This was so much fun to do! It is really easy, inexpensive and will help get you through those waiting blues.

Items Needed:   Box of rice krispies cereal, Bag of marshmallows, big barks of cooking chocolate, any candy coating you prefer, Popsicle sticks, large mickey cookie cutter.

Make the rice krispy treats according to box. Let cool and lay flat on counter. Make sure you cook chocolate exactly according to package. This was the tricky part, cooking with chocolate is very delicate, if you don’t get it at the exact temperature, it won’t work. It took a few tries, but we got it! Press the mickey head cutter into the rice krispy’s to make the heads. Insert sticks into the bottom. Dip the tips of the ears into the chocolate then into your favorite topping. QUICKLY, put on waxed paper topped plate and into very cold freezer for about 15 minutes or so. Keep checking on it. You’re all done! And now you can enjoy a little bit of Disney at home to help get you by :0)

Countdown to Mickey

There are so many things that we try to do to incorporate Disney in our day to help make time go by fast.  The thought of waiting seems endless but with each day that passes, we are a bit closer to the magic and closer to “home”.  Every year we make a countdown and put it on the fridge. We don’t count each number of days like some; instead we count only the Saturdays until our trip arrives. This means a lot less Mickey heads on the fridge and it makes time go by a lot faster, which I love. I would rather say, only 19 more Saturdays than 133 days! We use the same mickey cookie cutter, find different colors and designs of scrapbook paper (this works well if you’re going during a holiday, they have all sorts of designs) cut them out, have them laminated, and slap a magnet on the back. We only have to take them down once a week, so in that time the countdown number of day’s drops drastically. I love it!!

Plan a Disney Game Night

Shawn and I started this Disney tradition several years ago and it has steadily become one of our favorites. Disney game night! Every Friday night Shawn and I spend the evening in our living room battling it out playing nothing but Disney games! I must say, he knows his Disney stuff! It is a lot of fun and helps to keep the magic of Disney going as we wait for our trip to arrive. It also helps build the excitement when you’re in those Disney withdrawal blues. We usually pick one or different Disney games to play and incorporate our snacks to go with it. We make several appetizers baring the Disney title from our Disney cookbook and usually make some sort of Disney desert as well. This makes for a Disney night of magic and fun that everyone will enjoy and look forward to every week. The fun part is deciding what Disney snacks to make beforehand!

Some of our favorite Disney games! Magical Moments Scene it is Awesome!

This cookbook mainly has appetizers in it and is great for game nights!

 

  Dream, Wish and Do!

Disney impacts our life in such an overwhelming way. It gives us a sense of happiness, hope, fulfillment and joy. When waiting out the days of your Disney trip during such a beautiful time as spring, one can’t help but get the Spring Disney Fever blues.  But there is help! Do everything you can to incorporate Disney into your day and make it a part of your plans. Cook a meal from a Disney cookbook, plan a game night, make some Disney crafts, have a Disney movie night. Use your imagination, there are so many things that you can do to help eliminate the springtime blues. Don’t think about doing it, just do it. You will feel so much better at the end of the day and as you keep busy doing all the things that make you happy like Disney, the days till your trip will be flying by and be here in no time. Just keep the magic of Disney alive in your days and in your heart and coping with your Spring Disney Fever will seem much easier!

What do you do to help eliminate the Spring Disney Fever blues?

Keep Believing

Belinda