Anyone Game? 2 Castles and a Road Trip TR! Last Day and TR Wrap Up! #2796; 10/01

[PrincessInOz]

The 5th Park Where Entry is Free and You Pay as You Go




Every so often, there will be a thread raised on the Dis about when Disney will build a new park at WDW. With all the debate about a 5th gate at WDW, it is easy to overlook the fact that there IS another park for Disney guests to play in right now. It's the park where entry is free and you pay as you go. So, on no-Park day, we really did test out this 5th Park theory.


No magic band scanning technology required for this gate.....







.....where it is Christmas every day of the week.








And the decorations here are just amazing.







Almost every building in this park sparkles with attractions. Attractions that say "Come Inside. Buy Me! Buy Me!".







I love strolling about this park. There are just so many Hidden Mickey's to find. (Buy Me! Buy Me!)








And characters are a dime a dozen here. Or is that a dozen of dimes? (Buy Me! Buy Me!)








My main squeeze can be found hanging about everywhere. (Buy Me! Buy Me!)








In all sorts of sizes...... (Buy Me! Buy Me!)







.....and costumes. You just have to pay the correct price and this too could be yours. (Where's my wallet???)







No park is complete without eating establishments. And this one is no different. The thing I like best about this park is the snacking options.








There are heaps to choose from here.







Dining with character, isn't that what everyone wants?







Yes, no doubt about it. This Downtown Disney park is filled with heaps of colour......








and attractions.....








The Disney Marketing really got this one right. Afterall, if you're going to offer a range of shopping and eating selections that range from free to exorbitantly expensive, it's going to be pretty difficult to work out an average park entry fee that is equitable to guests and where Disney can make money.


And Disney Marketing did get it right where thrill rides are concerned. It's definitely a real rollercoaster ride in here. Afterall, with no park entry to pay for, how much you spend here really depends on your nerve and hip pocket. You pay as you go here and gulp down sticker shock. At the end of the day, Disney makes a ton of money at this park!



(Continued in Next Post)




 

 

[PrincessInOz]

(Continued from Previous Post)


My Favourite Kind of Kitchen




Those of you that hang out with me on the Dis will know that one of my passions in life is cooking.


Well......I really enjoy eating but that kinda means that I either spend a excrement-load of money on eating out or I learn how to feed my expensive taste buds by cooking it at home. No prizes for guessing that I also have a miserly bone in my body. So I've learnt how to cook and feed those taste buds of mine. So it's only natural that I would come and check out kitchens wherever I travel.



My favourite kitchen at DTD is this one.







I will admit that this is all about perspective in here.








From my perspective, I can always find the blend of healthy......An apple a day and all that.....







.....and I so subscribe to the importance of getting seasonal produce. Seems like this is highly prized in this kitchen too.







And items that just seem to tick that well-balanced box.







Best of all. This kitchen also understands that every well balanced diet needs to include that most important of all food groups - chocolate!







Yes, the kitchen here really is outstanding.







I really like open kitchens where you can see clear through at what the chef is doing. This one has it in spades!






It truly is an open work place.








Nothing is buried or hidden here.







There is a lot of attention to detail going on behind the glass.







So, with such great food principles, I always place an order in this kitchen and then follow the chef through the entire cooking process. After carefully marinading my prime selection.....






.....the chef careful ensures that the application of my choice of dry rub is well done.







It has to be left for a while so that the flavours can fully develop.







After the appropriate curing period, the chef then carefully lifts my chosen selection without knocking any of that well applied dry rub off.






And then it's time for the finishing off.







The chef knows that after all that cooking effort, the final presentation of my chosen selection is truly important. Afterall, the visual aspect of any dish is the first thing that hits the diner.






After the all-important plating up process is completed, my chosen selection is brought to the table.









This kitchen truly is the best, isn't it?








Enjoy! We did!

 

[zanzibar138]

You really need to start putting warnings on your posts PIO...

Warning: The following post may not be suitable for those who have not eaten recently, or those with a sweet tooth.

 

[mvf-m11c]

It is always fun to go through the Christmas store in DTD during any season.

Very nice pictures from Goofy's Candy Co. store. I can never get tired of seeing all those different treats from the caramel apples, tigger tails, etc.

 

[rentayenta]

Dry rub of MnMs, love it!

 

[dolphingirl47]

I loved the photos from Goofy's Candy Company. We have been in there a number of times to spend surplus snack credits, but I have never really had a roper look around. I have to put that right on the next visit.

Corinna

 

[declansdad]

Pretty quiet looking 5th park.

 

[PrincessInOz]

You really need to start putting warnings on your posts PIO...

Warning: The following post may not be suitable for those who have not eaten recently, or those with a sweet tooth.

Where's the fun in that????

It is always fun to go through the Christmas store in DTD during any season.

Very nice pictures from Goofy's Candy Co. store. I can never get tired of seeing all those different treats from the caramel apples, tigger tails, etc.

I really like that Christmas store. But not as much as Goofy's. We love making those marshmallow treats. And as there is 3 marshmallows on the stick, it splits up evenly between DH, DS and myself.

Dry rub of MnMs, love it!

What's your favourite dry rub?

I loved the photos from Goofy's Candy Company. We have been in there a number of times to spend surplus snack credits, but I have never really had a roper look around. I have to put that right on the next visit.

Corinna

I think that Goofy's seems to be almost everyone's stopgap for picking up surplus snacks.

I'll look forward to reading about your look-see in your next TR.

Pretty quiet looking 5th park.

There's something wrong about having to pay for park entry into a super busy park and have a quiet 5th park where entry is free.

 

[franandaj]

Split the treat three ways???? . Blasphemy!!!!!

Nice day at DTD.

 

[dgbg100106]

My favorite dry-rub is Reese's Pieces....


thanks for the pictures and I tend to agree with zanzibar138, you should have warnings...

 

[jedijill]

where is the drooling smiley???? I should not read this update while eating my salad for lunch.

Jill in CO

 

[PrincessInOz]

Split the treat three ways???? . Blasphemy!!!!!

Nice day at DTD.

I definitely noticed a slow down in my sweet tooth on this trip.

My favorite dry-rub is Reese's Pieces....


thanks for the pictures and I tend to agree with zanzibar138, you should have warnings...

Nice dry rub.


Seems like everyone has forgotten some DISclaimers.



I refer y'all to Page 1, Post 1 of this TR, DISclaimer section, 5th paragraph dot point:

Food porn is usually a feature in my posts. Anyone who feels strongly about food should be eaten and not photographed…please be aware that no correspondence will be entered into on this matter.

where is the drooling smiley???? I should not read this update while eating my salad for lunch.

Jill in CO

Did you enjoy the salad?

 

[knewton64]

Hmmmm...... u r giving me some pretty cool & rather wicked combos to choose from when I hit up the other side of the USA (ANAHEIM, CA) n approx 199 more days.



Like -
Potato soup @ Main Street.....followed by some treats like what I saw pictured above.... YUM!




ANYWHO -
Gettin' caught up - hope all is well down under.







T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS

 

[PrincessInOz]

Hmmmm...... u r giving me some pretty cool & rather wicked combos to choose from when I hit up the other side of the USA (ANAHEIM, CA) n approx 199 more days.



Like -
Potato soup @ Main Street.....followed by some treats like what I saw pictured above.... YUM!




ANYWHO -
Gettin' caught up - hope all is well down under.







T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS

Thanks Kris.

Yes, everything is fine down under. Hope your plans are all coming together and that you and Ladybug are doing well.

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Those marshmallows with everything always look so sickly ... what are they really like?? I can vouch for EoS in Paris. Nice to see Downtown so quiet!

 

[ejud]

Seems like everyone has forgotten some DISclaimers.

I refer y'all to Page 1, Post 1 of this TR, DISclaimer section, 5th paragraph dot point:

Quote: "Food porn is usually a feature in my posts. Anyone who feels strongly about food should be eaten and not photographed…please be aware that no correspondence will be entered into on this matter."

Boy! Some people, eh PIO?



Jud

 

[abhijepansd]

There are good games details. nice games.

 

[zanzibar138]

Seems like everyone has forgotten some DISclaimers.



I refer y'all to Page 1, Post 1 of this TR, DISclaimer section, 5th paragraph dot point:

Ah, but that isn't what my complaint is about... I'm quite happy for you to take pictures of your food

 

[PrincessInOz]

Those marshmallows with everything always look so sickly ... what are they really like?? I can vouch for EoS in Paris. Nice to see Downtown so quiet!

Those marshmallow concoctions are really a lot like rocky road with a LOT more sugar. If you like rocky road, you might like some of the options. If you don't, then perhaps stay clear.

I like to make our own preference because it means I can load up on the chocolate....which is one reason why we split it 3 ways. That is just way too much sugar for one person.

I'll remember your vouch for EoS Paris.

Boy! Some people, eh PIO?



Jud

There are good games details. nice games.

Thank you.

Ah, but that isn't what my complaint is about... I'm quite happy for you to take pictures of your food

I know.

But you know me.....

 

[PrincessInOz]

Enjoying the Ride in the 5th Park



I have to say that meet and greets in that 5th Park is a little wooden. There’s not much interaction here; but at least we get to rest up in the 100 Acre Wood with some friends. I guess that's what you get when entry is free.







By this stage, the main attractions were opened and it was time to take a walk on the wild side. The boys decided to hit Once Upon a Toy but I firmly put my feet down. The last time we went in there, we walked out many dollars lighter. DS was into his monorail obsession and we ended up bringing a monorail set and at least one building home. Given that we'd just eaten, my stomach just wasn't up to that kind of rollercoaster yet.


Instead, I headed on into the Tren-D(y) part of the park. I did indulge in here and managed to limit myself to just one top.







The boys met me at the exit and I was rather surprised to find that the boys did not indulge. Seems like even DS figured the monorail items were too expensive. Either that or our parenting policy of him having to save up HIS spending money and then working out what he wanted to buy for himself was making him think twice about what he really really wanted. Either way, I was really pleased that they came out empty-handed from OUAT.



Our next ride was through here.







This attraction was pretty special inside. It had a miniature castle all to itself! You too could have it.....if the price is right.







It was pretty well lit inside this park. There are no dark rides here.






There was plenty to look at everywhere.








But I do think that there were a couple of spooky looking characters in here, though.







Facial expressions in here leave a LOT to be desired!








I wish I could say that I snapped up a bargain in here.









Sadly, facial expressions and price tags leave a LOT to be desired in here.







There were a number of items that caught my eye in here.







I almost got this one. But it was no sale for me. I had already gotten something in TrenD and I thought I showed remarkable self-restraint.







Who would have thought that this used to be me?








We did spend a bit of time in here. But all good things come to an end eventually and it was time for us to keep going.








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