Our Disney Engagement Story

  This past Sunday, July 28, 2013, will always be a special day for us now. The day started off with a trip to the Magic Kingdom to spend the day with my best friend, Brenna, who was in town for the weekend. Little did I know this was all part of the big plan for later! The morning was spent exploring New Fantasyland, eating at Be Our Guest, and lots of catching up.

After a ride on the Carousel of Progress, Derek joined us in the park. We took a spin on the Tea Cups and then made a round trip on the Train.  

Up to this point we still had not gone on the People Mover, which is always a must do for us at the park! So we made our way onto the highway in the sky.  The ride started as normal, taking our usual fun pictures!

Looking back Derek seems to have something on his mind!

We entered the darkness of Space Mountain as usual. While in the darkness, Derek took the opportunity to get down on one knee. When we made it back into the light, I was surprised to see Derek down on one knee holding a glass slipper with a ring in it! It was a very magical moment. 

As we made our way around the turn Derek said some very sweet words that I don't remember and asked me to marry him. Of course I said yes! 

Brenna was in the car ahead of us to capture the whole thing! I am so glad she was there capture the happiness!

As we exited the ride, the Cast Member there was very excited and surprised to hear what just happened. The People Mover will always be our special ride now!

After the excitement of the proposal, Derek surprised me with cute shirts for us to change into to celebrate! We then headed to the castle to take some pictures.

The Glass Slipper! 

So glad Brenna was there to share in this special day!

After celebrating a little more in the park, we headed over to Kona Cafe for a celebratory dinner! It was our first time eating at Kona Cafe and we had a great experience!

            

     

We had an amazing meal at Kona Cafe. It is a great restaurant with many different choices. And the bread and butter are delicious! We asked for some to take home! After the great meal, we headed home and were greeted with a fun surprise from my family!

It really was a perfect day! I am so glad Derek decided to propose at a place that is so special to us and our relationship. We can't wait to start planning our Disney Wedding! 

Hidden Mickey #9

One of our favorite things to do in the Parks is find hidden Mickeys. Every week we will share a new hidden Mickey from Disney World but won't share where it is till the next week. See if you know where they are!

Can you spot the Hidden Mickey? Do you know where in WDW it can be found?
Share your guesses below!

Did you guess where last weeks hidden Mickey is?

 This Mickey can be found at the Beach Club! See if you can spot him next time.

It's in the Details #8

  In this series, we'll be looking at details that are hidden all around you at the parks. The Imagineers do a great job placing in many hidden gems and things to try that one has to take a moment to notice, or explore. Many of these are obvious and in plain sight, and some are hidden quite well, you just have to know where to look.

  

  In this It's in the Details, we'll highlight a hidden item found in out of the way places. At the Backlot Express quick service restaurant, you'll find so many amazing props and details. While it is an eatery, it's cleverly disguised as a real backlot warehouse, where many items from a studio, or workshops may be located. 

  Among the hidden items is a relic from a past attraction; head to the left half of the restaurant and look up, over the office. There you'll find a fiberglass mold, lying against some pipes. It's the original mold for the famous hoverlift from the Horizons farm scene. Other items from attractions have been found among here as well.

Missed It's in the Details #7? Check it out here!

Disney Memories #4

In this series, we'll highlight some of our memories of Disney past. We hope you enjoy reliving old attractions, shows, and experiences with us!

With the rumors going around about the closing and refurb of the Imagination Pavilion, we thought we would take a look back at an old favorite duo.

Meeting Dreamfinder and Figment!

The original Journey into Imagination attraction opened in 1983 and introduced a duo that quickly touched the hearts of many, Dreamfinder and Figment.  The original attraction revolved around dreams and imagination, taking riders through different rooms revolving around art, literature, performing arts, and science. Courtney and her brother were lucky to get to meet the lovable duo back when they did meet and greets in the pavilion!

Unfortunately, the attraction was closed in 1998, reopening a year later without the loved duo. Figment could still be found in a few cameos, however, his role was greatly diminished. The attraction closed again in 2001, later reopening in 2002 with Figment having a larger role, but still without Dreamfinder. 

It's hard to say what will happen with the attraction if the refurbishment rumors are true. But we can only hope that our lovable Figment is still there.

 "two tiny wings, eyes big and yellow, horns of a steer, but a lovable fellow! From head to tail, he's royal purple pigment, and there, voilà! You've got a Figment!"

What memories do you have of the original attraction? Did you ever get to meet Dreamfinder and Figment? Share below! 

Miss Disney Memories #3? Check it out here!

Dining Review: Contempo Cafe

During a recent visit to the Magic Kingdom, Derek and I found ourselves stuck in the usual summer rainstorm. We decided to use this opportunity to head over to the Contemporary for a break from the rain and very crowded park. At the Contemporary we decided to try the Contempo Cafe for dinner. The Contempo Cafe is the Food Court of the Contemporary and is located on the 4th Floor Concourse. 

The restaurant has many surprising options that are a great break from the usual burgers and chicken found inside the Parks. When you first arrive at the Contempo Cafe you make your order at a touch screen kiosk then make your way to the sweets and drinks area where you can pick up more goodies like cupcakes, bottled drinks, ect. After making all your selections, you pay and receive a beeper for the food you ordered. You can then select your seat as you wait for your food to be prepared.

The Contempo Cafe offers many options including hot and cold sandwiches, pastas, flatbreads, and burgers. Derek and I both tried something different. Derek had the Pot Roast with carrots and potato wedges, while I tried the Chicken Pasta with Cream Sauce. We also ordered an extra helping of garlic bread and a little something for dessert.

Derek's Pot Roast

My Chicken Pasta

 We both really enjoyed our meals and the portions were very filling as well. The Contempo Cafe offers a great variety and delicious options. When looking at the bakery case we couldn't help but get one of the tasty treats! 

We tried the Worms and Dirt Cupcake and it was just as delicious as it looks! It even had gummy worms inside the cake! There were also plenty of other yummy looking cupcakes and baked goods to choose from. We will definitely have to try them in the future.  After our recent visits to Captain Cooks and the Contempo Cafe, Derek and I have decided we need to try more of the resort food courts as they are often surprisingly good finds!

The Contempo Cafe is a great restaurant to try when you need a break from the Magic Kingdom. It's just one short walk or monorail stop away and offers a great variety. After our visit, we headed back to a dry, less busy Magic Kingdom, full and refreshed from our dinner at the Contempo Cafe.

Hidden Mickeys #8

One of our favorite things to do in the Parks is find hidden Mickeys. Every week we will share a new hidden Mickey from Disney World but won't share where it is till the next week. See if you know where they are!

Have you spotted this Hidden Mickey before? 
Share your guesses on where you think it can be found!

Did you guess where last weeks hidden Mickey is?

 This Mickey can be found in the American Adventure at EPCOT!

Hidden Mickeys #7

One of our favorite things to do in the Parks is find hidden Mickeys. Every week we will share a new hidden Mickey from Disney World but won't share where it is till the next week. See if you know where they are!

Have you spotted this Hidden Mickey before? 
Share your guesses on where you think it can be found!

Did you guess where last weeks hidden Mickey is?

 You can spot this Mickey when riding on the monorail from 
the Contemporary to the TTC! 

Try to find it the next time you are on the monorail!

The Little Things #8

In this series we want to take some time to appreciate the Little Things that just make Disney, Disney. These are those moments and experiences that just make you smile and laugh; those moments that create memories to last a lifetime; and those that only Disney magic can create.

Corn Dogs at Casey's

A trip to the Magic Kingdom just isn't complete without a stop at Casey's for some corn dog nuggets topped with a beautiful view of the castle!

Have a favorite Little Thing? Share it below or on Twitter and we will share some in a future post!

Missed The Little Things #7? Check it out here!

It's in the Details #7

  In this series, we'll be looking at details that are hidden all around you at the parks. The Imagineers do a great job placing in many hidden gems and things to try that one has to take a moment to notice, or explore. Many of these are obvious and in plain sight, and some are hidden quite well, you just have to know where to look.

  In this It's in the Details, I'll cover a little tribute hiding in Liberty Square at Magic Kingdom. I had originally intended to post this last week in honor of 4th of July. In an upper level, corner tower window, behind the Hall of Presidents, hides two unsuspecting lanterns. These represent the legendary two lanterns that hung in the old North Church of Boston, that conveyed the message that the British were coming by sea, to Paul Revere, who parleyed the message on his famous ride.

Missed It's in the Details #6? Check it out here!

Limited Time Magic: Mickey's America Streetbeat

  This weeks offering for Limited Time Magic is a pleasant surprise. Until July 14th, guests can enjoy Mickey's America Streetbeat at the America Gardens Theater in Epcot. It's a cute show staring Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and a group of dancers and musicians. It lasts around 25 minutes and showcases dancing, percussion, and acrobatics. Mickey and the gang get in on the action leading to some fun moments. Check out some pictures from the fun:

Goofy on Drums!

Love the expressions the characters can make now!

Donald getting his groove on

If you are in the park this week, definitely check out Mickey's America Streetbeat for a fun, new experience!

Hidden Mickeys #6

One of our favorite things to do in the Parks is find hidden Mickeys. Every week we will share a new hidden Mickey from Disney World but won't share where it is till the next week. See if you know where they are!

This is one of our favorite Mickeys to find! Have you spotted this Hidden Mickey before? 
Share your guesses on where you think it can be found!

Did you guess where last weeks hidden Mickey is?

 You can find this Mickey at Animal Kingdom in the Maharajah Jungle Trek by the tigers. 

Try to find it the next time you are there!

Disney Memories #3

In this series, we'll highlight some of our memories of Disney past. We hope you enjoy reliving old attractions, shows, and experiences with us!

As today is the big race in Daytona, I thought today's memory would focus on the Walt Disney World Speedway. My family was lucky to actually get to see a race at the speedway back in 1996. 

Look how young we are!

The Walt Disney World Speedway is built adjacent to the Transportation and Ticket Center parking lot and hosted its inaugural race on January 27, 1996. It was the home of the Indy 200 race from 1996 to 2000. It also hosted the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Chevy Trucks Challenge in 1997 and 1998. Unfortunately, series officials and Disney were not able to come to an agreement for the race date in 2001, marking the end of professional racing at the track. 

 Fun Fact: There was actually no permanent seating, restrooms or concessions built for the track. It was all brought in every year for the race, starting in November!

  
Even though there are no more races at the track, it is still used today. The Walt Disney World Speedway is now home to the Richard Petty Driving Experience, Indy Racing Experience, and Exotic Driving Experience.  My dad has experienced the RPDE, while my brother and I have done the ride-along! It was fun to go back to the race track we visited many years prior and experience it from a different angle! 

Getting ready to go!

Look how we've grown! But still love racing :)

 We would love to some day be able to experience a race at the track again but until then the driving experiences offered are great opportunities to visit the Walt Disney World Speedway! 

Have you visited the Speedway before? Share below!

Missed Disney Memory #2? Check it out here!