Overlooked Disney Gems/things to do

[maberlyne]

Can I ask for more info about the port/chocolate tasting? Especially cost! Yum, yum!

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

I am definitely marking this thread so I can take all of these tips with me! It took me years to find the hidden Gems in WDW ... I think this may be our only trip to DL so I want to experience as many of them as I can!

 

[nunzia]

Me too.

I like to drop a few coins in Snow White's wishing well, and see Snow White's grotto (link).

Interesting trivia about the Grotto on Backstage Magic ABD..we like that also..a new favorite has been the Toy Story Zoetrope in the Animation building in DCA..

 

[DizMe]

Can I ask for more info about the port/chocolate tasting? Especially cost! Yum, yum!

I think it's a bargain. It's $12 and you sign up at the wine bar in Wine Country Trattoria. You usually do this at the granite bar but when it wasn't busy, we were able to move to a little table nearby after we'd heard all of the info. I believe the tasting times are noon - 4.

They give you 3 types of port to try, the last being something called tawny port. Those are each paired with a different type of Ghirardelli chocolate, which goes from sweetest to darkest (% cocoa gets higher). Then you are told the history etc and you sip and nip. You're encouraged to then mix and match chocolates with ports and see what you prefer.

You end up getting a lot of port & chocolate, even though it doesn't look like that much to begin with.

Here is a tip: ask about the Magicale wine that is made in Italy exclusively for the Disney resort. Both times we did the port & wine tasting, we asked about it and got to have a little glass of Magicale to taste as well, I think because we were having so much fun! It normally costs $12/glass, $47/bottle. My friend actually got 2 glasses! We did tip very well since the guy was so helpful and nice. He gave us the name of a wine made by the same winery in Italy which I believe is identical to the Magicale but is not allowed to have the same name or bottle. He also told us a couple of places where it can be found and at a much cheaper price than Magicale. I have to say, though, that it IS fun to buy the Disney version for a special occasion.

 

[DizMe]

A couple more things in DCA that I enjoy that aren't really secret but often overlooked/passed up:

*the Boudin sourdough bakery tour. I love it! You get a little piece of sourdough to start you off.

*the tortilla factory right across from Boudin. Free tortilla and fun tour.

Both of those are short and a nice little break IMO.

 

[nunzia]

I think it's a bargain. It's $12 and you sign up at the wine bar in Wine Country Trattoria. You usually do this at the granite bar but when it wasn't busy, we were able to move to a little table nearby after we'd heard all of the info. I believe the tasting times are noon - 4.

They give you 3 types of port to try, the last being something called tawny port. Those are each paired with a different type of Ghirardelli chocolate, which goes from sweetest to darkest (% cocoa gets higher). Then you are told the history etc and you sip and nip. You're encouraged to then mix and match chocolates with ports and see what you prefer.

You end up getting a lot of port & chocolate, even though it doesn't look like that much to begin with.

Here is a tip: ask about the Magicale wine that is made in Italy exclusively for the Disney resort. Both times we did the port & wine tasting, we asked about it and got to have a little glass of Magicale to taste as well, I think because we were having so much fun! It normally costs $12/glass, $47/bottle. My friend actually got 2 glasses! We did tip very well since the guy was so helpful and nice. He gave us the name of a wine made by the same winery in Italy which I believe is identical to the Magicale but is not allowed to have the same name or bottle. He also told us a couple of places where it can be found and at a much cheaper price than Magicale. I have to say, though, that it IS fun to buy the Disney version for a special occasion.

Wow! We have never even heard of this...what a great idea

 

[DizMe]

Wow! We have never even heard of this...what a great idea

I forgot to mention you can do port and cheese (bleu cheese ) instead of chocolate. They have wine tasting as well.

 

[Leshaface]

We ride the entire route on the Disneyland Railroad...it's fun to look at all the lands and people watch...

At DCA, I love going to the Animators building to listen to all the Disney songs and look at all the sketches on the walls...so neat!

 

[Leshaface]

Here is a tip: ask about the Magicale wine that is made in Italy exclusively for the Disney resort. Both times we did the port & wine tasting, we asked about it and got to have a little glass of Magicale to taste as well, I think because we were having so much fun! It normally costs $12/glass, $47/bottle. My friend actually got 2 glasses! We did tip very well since the guy was so helpful and nice. He gave us the name of a wine made by the same winery in Italy which I believe is identical to the Magicale but is not allowed to have the same name or bottle. He also told us a couple of places where it can be found and at a much cheaper price than Magicale. I have to say, though, that it IS fun to buy the Disney version for a special occasion.

Omgosh that Magicale is AH-MAZING!!! My first time having it was a couple weeks ago, and was KICKING myself for not trying it sooner!!!

 

[casiland]

We ride the entire route on the Disneyland Railroad...it's fun to look at all the lands and people watch...

At DCA, I love going to the Animators building to listen to all the Disney songs and look at all the sketches on the walls...so neat!

We do the train thing too. We always ride a full circle and than decide what stop to get off after the full circle.

 

[nunzia]

I forgot to mention you can do port and cheese (bleu cheese ) instead of chocolate. They have wine tasting as well.

I'd like Port and Chocolate and Cheese

 

[lilsprstr]

Musical chairs with the Mad Hatter and Alice (and sometimes Peter Pan) at Coke Corner - my DD loves doing this!

We stumbled upon this the last time we were there. My kids had a blast!

 

[S. S. Columbia]

Enjoy magic tricks being performed up close and for a small number of guests in the Magic Shop.

I truly have spent hours at DL and never left Main Street.

- Dreams

I also like the Magic Shop.

The magic tricks are fun to watch, and they sell "how-to" magic kits for around $20 or so.

If you buy a "how-to" kit, they will take you to the side and teach you the trick.

 

[S. S. Columbia]

Overlooked Disney Gems ...

Riding on the top-deck on the Omnibus.

I like the view of Main Street from up there.

 

[tiggerpoohtoo]

when we went we were able to ride in the lillie belle and pilot mark twain river boat. not for certain these are still available but my kids still talk about it.

 

[Ross3half]

Me too.

I like to drop a few coins in Snow White's wishing well, and see Snow White's grotto (link).

Where is Snow's White's wishing well/grotto?

 

[S. S. Columbia]

Where is Snow's White's wishing well/grotto?

Here's a link to a wikimap:
http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=33.8127849&lon=-117.9186496&z=19&l=0&m=b

On the wikimap, it's listed as "Snow White's Wishing Well" (if you move the cursor over it).

It's located between Sleeping Beauty Castle and Matterhorn Way.

HTH

 

[Had2stopLurking]

when we went we were able to ride in the lillie belle and pilot mark twain river boat. not for certain these are still available but my kids still talk about it.

you can definitely still do both of those things! Tendering on the train is also available. You just have to start at Main Street Station for both the Lilly Belle and the tendering, and there has to be enough staff for someone to ride with you for Lilly Belle (sometimes they will ask people to all come back at the same time and ride together).

For tendering, they just can't be "blowing down" "taking on water" or refueling on that loop to get the OK from the engineers.

I agree with the Omni Bus person! LOVE that view!

 

[jlmarr]

One of our favorite spots was the seating area at the north end of the Hungry Bear Restaurant, between the river and the train tracks. Great view up and down the river, and the train chugging by from time to time. But these days it's almost always roped off, presumably so they don't need to clean as large an area.

 

[PrincessMommyLM]

Musical chairs with the Mad Hatter and Alice (and sometimes Peter Pan) at Coke Corner - my DD loves doing this!
.

Is this done on a daily basis? Is it listed in the times guide? My munchkin would LOVE this!!!!