Monday, December 31, 2012

New Year's Eve at Plus the Magic...

It's New Year's Eve! Have you ever had the pleasure of ringing in the new year with the mouse? How does Disney plus the magic for New Year's Eve? I have yet to spend any holidays in the parks- if you have, please share a special holiday memory with us, or tell us about a way you've seen or heard that Disney plusses the magic for holidays.

As 2012 draws to a close, thank you for helping me get this little magical endeavor off the ground- it's been great hearing your feedback, and it's been lots of fun having a creative outlet for these magical musings.

Monday, December 24, 2012

A special ornament...

I almost didn't buy the ornament that first year; there was something about shopping for Christmas decorations while it was 95 degrees outside that didn't feel quite right to me. I fell in love with this gorgeous piece of glass, though, so I promptly bought it, stashed it in the attic once we were home, and forgot about it.

Fast forward seven months- I'm getting ready to decorate our tree, and I spot the small white box with a Mickey sticker holding it closed. I smile when I pick up the box, and as I open it, I'm instantly transported back to my favorite place.

Hanging that ornament on our tree prompted my family to reminisce about our favorite trip, and made us long for a return visit. We've returned several times since then- and I make sure to buy a new ornament every time. It's one of the ways we plus the magic at home.


My first one... and it remains my favorite.

Friday, December 21, 2012

Favorites on Friday....

Fridays will feature various favorites from Disney Parks- favorite foods, favorite attractions, favorite spots, and more. This time, it's Favorite Foods...

Ah, food. A most important part of any visit to the parks and resorts. Countless things are written every day about the magic of food at WDW. (Be sure to check out www.disneyfoodblog.com for the most amazing array of food-related info you could ever want). For many people, a major part of the magic is planning advanced dining reservations, sampling their favorite treats, or trying out new dishes around the parks and resorts.

First up: my favorite salad. I dream about this salad. It's the Roasted Beets and Goat Cheese Salad with sherry dressing, found at Sunshine Seasons in The Land pavilion at Epcot. This is my perfect salad- often attempted at home, but never quite making it to the level of perfection found at Sunshine Seasons. The tender greens, the perfectly-roasted beets, the creamy herbed cheese, the candied pecans, the sesame-sprinkled flatbread ribbon....



Have you tried this salad? What's your favorite salad in WDW?

Monday, December 3, 2012

Hidden Mickeys

Searching for Hidden Mickeys is one of my favorite WDW pastimes. A Hidden Mickey is a representation of Mickey Mouse that has been subtly inserted into the design of a ride, attraction, or other location in a Disney park or resort. Imagineers and cast members have found ways to plus the magic by hiding Mickey in all sorts of unexpected places throughout Disney properties. A Hidden Mickey can take many forms, but the “Classic Mickey” is three circles, representing the silhouette of Mickey’s head and ears. The circles should be of proper proportion (head larger than ears), and they should have proper placement. For in-depth information on Hidden Mickeys, I recommend Steve Barrett’s books and website, www.hiddenmickeyguy.com.  Here on Plus the Magic, we’ll occasionally post a picture of a Hidden Mickey we’ve discovered. You’re invited to guess the location in the comments, or tell us about your favorite Hidden Mickeys…

Have you spotted this one while strolling through World Showcase?