My Must Do List for Disney

Hey Ya'll!

I have to say coming back to the freezing cold of New England is not easy.
However, I think you can all agree that getting back to your routine and sleeping in your own bed is worth traveling back for...even if I left sunny Florida behind.

The trip to Disney was a trip of a lifetime.

My three year old daughter said to me on the eve of the last night spent at Disney  "Mommy I love it here!" I had to agree, Disney is a place you can fall in love with, even as an adult.

So I am by no means a Disney expert.  However, I did just spend 10 days there...so I figured I would share with you all my top 10 list.  And then I have a favorite list for the toddler age...especially those of you who have little girls, nieces, and granddaughters.

Stylish Mama Must Do List for Disney:

1. Stay on Disney Property - This made traveling back and forth to Disney parks so carefree and took the "stress out of it"  - I saw parents who had to lug their children back and forth from the parking area, and it did not look pleasant.

2. Food and Wine Festival- At Epcot
What an experience for us to be able to partake in the food and wine festival!  I literally felt like I could visit all the countries in one day and not be overwhelmed with the food portions as they give you small portions and they don't hit your wallet as heavily.  And the food - WOW! Tasty!

3. (speaking of Epcot) The Boulangerie-Pâtisserie in France
My word, the pastry...the sandwiches...the baguettes.  I had a raspberry and lime macaroon that I am still dreaming of this morning.  Fresh raspberries filled the macaroon with lime curd with fresh lime peel. Wow! Worth a trip just for that.  (I am not joking)

4. California Grill, Contemporary Resort
As you saw in the post I had left last week, this place is a great date night place.
The menu is fantastic and the views of the firework display are probably one of the best on all of Disney property.

5. The Polynesian Resort
We went there one day and swam in their pools and enjoyed Dole whip pineapple ice-cream - such pretty grounds with all plants and flowers native to Hawaii

6. Downtown Disney - the home of the largest Disney store.  A fun place for the whole family to walk around and check out stores and restaurants that you and your kids would love.

7. Beasts Castle in Fantasy Land
This was a fun experience for us adults - probably more for us than my daughter.  The dining area is just magical - you feel like you are walking on set of the movie - with snow falling outside of the dining hall.  The west wing was neat (not as kid friendly as their was lightening and thunder) and it had the famous red rose under glass!

8. Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom - I know so cliche' of me to say...but it is a Disney must do.

9. Campfire at the Resort ( if staying on Disney property)
Our hotel offered a campfire each night with free and unlimited marshmallows to roast.  This was a lot of fun and very much a bonding activity for our family.

10.  Ohana Restaurant - At the Polynesian Hotel
A Polynesian style menu - if you are traveling in a large group - this is a fun place to dine - there is family style servings of food. The food was AMAZING! Oh and you can get fun cocktails served in real pineapples!

Mini Stylish Mama (three year old daughter) Top 5 List for Disney

1. Dine at Cinderellas Castle
We got to meet Cinderella and 4 other princess - the menu was also great for kids and adults

2. Bippity Boppity Boutique
My daughter loved the whole experience of being made into a princess for the day,  if you have a little girl this is a must do!!!!

3. Character Breakfast
I recommend the Beach Club Resort breakfast - the food is much better quality than Chef Mickey's and the characters are all the same.

4. Ariel Ride at Fantasy Land
My daughter loved this ride the most out of all the rides at Magic Kingdom.
So much so that mom and dad did it a handful of times with her.  Under the Sea is now the only tune in my head all day and night long. ha ha

5. Finding Nemo ride at Epcot
This too was a favorite of my daughters.  She adored the ride and the educational exhibits that were displayed in the Nemo ride building.  The dolphin in the aquarium was just as much of a thrill for her to see!

Well there you have it.
Those are our must do list!

Hope you enjoyed reading a little bit more on what we enjoyed most on our trip.

And last but not least.  I wanted to mention a special thank you to my friend Marilyn (organized chica) for taking care of all the loose ends for the blog while I was away.  She made me feel so at ease to walk away from our "baby" while I was in Disney.  I am left feeling grateful for our friendship and working partnership with the blog.  And she did a wonderful job with her posts...so captivating.  I really want to get going on the asparagus salad recipe she posted. (its a favorite of mine as well!)

Love,  Stylish Mama

Stylish Mama's review of the California Grill at Disney

Well Hello All You Mouseketeers~

I hope you are having a great week.  I know I am!  And I guess being at the happiest place on Earth helps...that being Disney!  And the warm 80+ degree weather certainly helps.  I am such a happy and motivated person when its warm and sunny out.

What brings me to Disney this week is my husband Brian has a training conference he is not only attending but also presenting at.  So we had the opportunity to stay on Disney property at the Contemporary Hotel!  What a beautiful facility.  My favorite part of staying here at the Contemporary is that the monorail is right downstairs on the 4th floor.  Makes life here at Disney so easy!

Monday nite we were given the opportunity to go out as a couple (no kids!) for a date nite.
Thanks to family who also came on the trip they were gracious enough to babysit.

The foodie I am, I did a lot of research as to where we should dine for our special nite out.
I wanted to eat somewhere I know might have more of a sophisticated menu.  In my research I found several places on Disney property that caught my eye.  However, I am a fan of convenience so I chose the Contemporary's high end restaurant - and that was the California Grill.  

California Grill Inside

The inside is beautiful.  The Decor fits the hotel - being Contempoary inside-with sleek lines and modern furnishings.  

One of my favorite features is the open kitchen. We sat in front of the buzzing kitchen - and what a fun experience to watch our food being prepared and cooked right front of us!  

Open Kitchen

As we were seated by the hostess she pointed out that our table was decorated as it was our first visit and Tinkerbell heard we were dining and flew over with Mickey confetti.  Such a cute touch!

Place Setting at California Grill

As much as we loved the ambiance of the restaurant we also enjoyed the food just as much if not more.  We ordered an appetizer, our individual meals, and dessert!  Not sure about you all, but I am a sharer...so I always share my appetizer and dessert.  I wish I could eat my own...but I just never could.

Here is a photo of the delicious food!

First, Second, and Third Course

Top Left: homemade lavender and pepper foccacia bread with lavender butter with sea salt sprinkled on top

Top Right: Three Meat meatballs - (lamb, veal, pork) served with Picholene Olives, Herbed Orzo, Chimichurri, Lavender Mint

Bottom Left: Georges Bank Scallops homemade Gnocchi, Smoked Pork, Grilled Onions, Baby Brussels, Parmesan Foam

Bottom Right: Warm Homemade Fritters that are banana-stuffed, Cinnamon-dusted Fritters with Toasted Caramel Marshmallows complemented with a Trio of Dipping Sauces (Ah-Maze-Ing!)

After Dinner we were told the sun was setting and we could walk out on the balcony to capture all of its beauty.  Not often you catch a sunset living in New England - so we took the opportunity.  The photo below hardly shows the beauty of what we saw in person.

Gorgeous Sunset

Here is a photo of  my OOTD for my date nite.

Maxi dress from The Gap, necklace from Old Navy, bracelet from J-Crew

OOTD for date nite

And lastly, I must talk about the Wishes Fire Work Display.  What a way to end the date!  Anyone who dines with California Grill are invited back if they want to view the fireworks display at the Magic Kingdom from the balcony of the restaurant.  The view is spectacular and they even pipe in coordinating music.  I actually felt like a kid again!  It was simply perfect.

Hope you enjoyed a glimpse into my wonderful family vacation thus far.

I am off to Epcot and Magic Kingdom!!!  Cant wait to share it all with you next week.  Or better yet, hope you are following us on Instagram!

Love, Stylish Mama (aka: Mama Stachowteer)