Disney World and EPCOT food and snack review

The Disney World theme parks in Florida have some great offerings when it comes to dining.  Pictured below, is just a fraction of the park fare my family and I enjoyed during our last trip there.  Something that may interest you, is that all of the items pictured, were purchased from counter service restaurants and eateries in the parks.   I must apologize beforehand about the picture quality, as the pictures were taken with an older phone on its last leg.

Lobster Roll and homemade chips

I got this beauty at "Tomorrowland Terrace Cafe" in Disney World.  This cold sandwich really hits the spot when you've got a heat index outside of 105 degrees!

Philly Cheese Steak

To tell you the truth, I wasn't expecting much before I took my first bite of this sandwich.  As you can see however.. I took three more bites before snapping this picture.  Heck, I almost didn't even stop to take a photo at all because it tasted so good!  I ordered this sandwich at  "Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe" in Disney World.  They have a heck of a condiment bar to load your burgers and sandwiches up with, so I was able to get extra cheese and mushrooms on my Philly ( just how I like em' ).

As we ate our lunch, we were serenaded by "Sonny Eclipse", an animatronic alien lounge singer.  If you ever make it to Tomorrowland in Walt Disney World, stop by Cosmic Ray's to catch his show!

 Fish and Chips

Every time I visit EPCOT, I always make a point to get an order of fish and chips from the "Yorkshire County Fish Shop", located in the United Kingdom pavilion at The World Showcase.  On this day, a rainstorm had just passed over, and my wife and daughters were headed towards France to get some sweets from the bakery.  I decided to get an early dinner, and ordered some fish & chips, and an ice cold pint of Bass Ale. 

I got my order, and sat down on a bench by The World Showcase Lagoon.  At that very moment, the clouds parted and a rainbow appeared on the other side of the small lake. (look close and you can see it in the picture above).  I lifted the pint of ale and took a long slow sip.  I took my first bite of the delectable fish and chips, shook my head, and thought to myself..  "It just doesn't get any better than this".

 Fresh waffle with strawberry jam

During my first visit to EPCOT back in 1990, I discovered a little gem called "The Kringla Bakery" at the Norway Pavilion in the World Showcase.  It was back then when I ordered my first freshly cooked waffle filled with strawberry jam.  I was immediately hooked, and have never visited the park since without eating one (or two).  They've always been made the same way over the years, and the quality and taste have never varied.  All waffles are made to order, filled with strawberry jam, and dusted with powdered sugar.

 Candied Apples from "Karamelle-Küche" 

Germany pavilion at EPCOT's World Showcase

Croissant and layered Apple Tart

The France pavilion at EPCOT has a great bakery called the "Boulangerie Patisserie".  The bakery features light sandwiches, quiches, and a huge assortment of French pastries.   My desert taste leans towards items that aren't super sweet, so the warm flaky croissant, and fresh baked apple tart pictured above fit the bill perfectly!  My wife on the other hand, prefers rich, chocolatey deserts like the one below..

By the time I got my camera out to snap a picture, a few bites had mysteriously been taken from this gooey, moist, chocolatey cake.

While the kids opted to go on the STAR TOURS ride for the third time in a row at Disney Studios, my bride and I decided to take a load off, and popped in at the "Writer's Stop" bookstore and coffee shop.  We enjoyed a mocha latte, and split this delicious cupcake, as we thumbed through some books and magazines.  We left 20 minutes later rested, rejuvenated, and ready to take on the rest of the afternoon and evening.

Behold the wonder that is..

The Dole Whip Float

As you pass the entrance to Adventureland, in Disney World.. there is a little shop on the right called "Aloha Aisle Refreshments".  Their specialty.. Dole Whips, and Dole Whip Floats.  Sponsored by, you guessed it.. DOLE!  This little shop sells delicious pineapple, soft serve, frozen sorbet as a stand alone treat, or in float form with pineapple juice.  I've had Dole Whips at fairs before, but hands down.. none of them could even hold a candle to the ones you get at Disney World and Disneyland!  That being said.. it really stinks when I get a craving for one during mid summer, and the closest Disney park is 1100 miles away.

So needless to say, my family enjoyed some great food in the Disney World parks during our visit.  But.. we didn't even scratch the surface on what we could have dined on.  I myself wanted to try the Philly Cheese Steak hot dog and Taco Hot Dog at the "Lunching Pad".  Not to mention the giant smoked turkey legs that they sell in Adventureland.  I won't fret about it too much however.  It just gives me plenty to look forward to until my next trip!

What ever happened to just a Good Ol' fashioned OREO?

Okay kids, here I go again.  Back in my day, we had two types of OREO cookies.  The regular OREO, and the Double Stuff OREO.  I went into the store the other day and had trouble finding a plain honest to goodness package of OREO's, but not for the reasons you might think.  This is why..

I've really got to be in the mood for cookies like this.

 These have never excited me in any way, shape, or form.

I'm Double-y not excited

Still nothing..

Not a big chocolate guy so these do nothing for me.
My bride would beg to differ.

These could be really good.. 
or really bad

These piqued my interest.
Just not enough to buy em'

Getting closer..

Let's flip a coin.. or cookie.

These look fun, and probably have a nice taste to the filling.

I'd rather have ice cream..

Ditto.

 This was unique enough to warrant a taste.

Surprisingly, they were pretty good!

You can read my review here

The only type of mint cookies I ever eat are sold by girl scouts. I just can't see these stacking up against Thin Mints.

These were too sweet for my blood. I'm not sure if they make these any longer, but the bride really used to dig them though.

Golden OREO and Golden Birthday Cake Fudge Cremes

Double Stuff and Coconut Delight Fudge Cremes

DOUBLE Chocolate fudge OREO Fudge Cremes

Now these are cool!  Perfect for Super Bowl parties.

They should make these for every sport.

Trust me when I say that there were more pictures I could have snapped besides these.  I was simply going into OREO overload, and gave up.  I had no clue there were so many OREO varieties on the market at once.  I mean.. this one brand of cookie could rightly fill its very own aisle in the supermarket.  Heck.. I've already seen seasonal and holiday varieties of OREO's popping up on shelves.

I don't mind limited edition runs of food products, but this really seems like overkill to me.   I'm sure there are folks out there that try every single new OREO cookie that's released to market.  I'm not one of those people (anymore).  I used to try anything that was new just for the sake of trying it.  Now I'm more selective and buy based on my personal tastes, with the occasional impulse buy due to sheer curiosity.

What about you?  Have you tried any or all of these cookies pictured above?  If so.. I'd love to hear about your OREO adventures.

Two retro toys you can still find on shelves

It seems like these two toys that I played with during my youth are popping up all over the place..

Remember these little guys that could magically move and come to life?    If you don't quite recall how these things worked, here's a commercial to jog your memory..

I had a love hate relationship with these beady eyed caterpillars.  I loved the way they looked, and thought they were a cool toy.. but hated that I could never master making them look like they were really alive.  My two daughters on the other hand have figured out the secret to bringing them to life, and own a crap load of them!  It says a lot for a simple toy that was popular in the 70's, to be able to entertain the average 21st century kid for any amount of time.

These sticky little octopi are now called Wacky Wally's.. but I remember them as "Wacky Wall Walkers".  I remember being able to get them for a limited time as an inbox prize from Corn Pops cereal, but they were also widely available in stores.

These guys did exactly what they were made to do.. walk down walls.  In fact.. they did a stellar job of walking down just about any surface like doors, refrigerators, mirrors, windows, etc.  During their vertical journeys however, their tentacles would pick up hitchhikers along the way, all the while making them less and less sticky.  Dust, lint, dirt, and animal hair served as these sticky octopus's kryptonite, eventually rendering them useless.  Fortunately, all you had to do was give them a quick bath in soapy water and let them air dry for about ten minutes. They were then good as new and you could carry on freaking out your siblings, and making your Mom mad with the "octopi trails" that would dirty up her mirrors and windows.

If I remember correctly, the Squirmels were originally only available through television offers, but it wasn't long until you could buy them everywhere.  As for those who didn't want to spend as much money, there were an abundant amount of knock-off's available, even in 25 cent bubble gum machines.  It was pretty much the same story with the wall walkers as well.

One things for sure.. I never paid the $2.99 price tag that's on them now.  In this day and age however.. a $2.99 toy that can keep kids entertained for hours is a steal.

The contrast of a retro childhood vs. a 2016 childhood..

by Darrin Vindiola

Being a child of the 70s and 80s, I sometimes sit back and shake my head at just how much times have changed. What really gets me however, is just how much it's transformed childhood for the youth of today. Let me expound..


In the 70s and 80s..
a lot of kids had newspaper delivery routes.

In 2016..
I wouldn't dream of letting any of my children hop on a bike at 4:00 a.m to deliver newspapers.

In the 70s and 80s..
My entire family enjoyed watching television shows together like Sanford & Son, Magnum P.I., The Jeffersons, Trapper John MD, Alice, and Fantasy Island.

In 2016..
I find myself hard pressed to find situation comedies and dramas that are wholesome enough for my whole family to enjoy. For Pete's sake.. how many commercials for that matter, utilize sexual situations and double entendres to pedal their products?


In the 70s and 80s..
I would spend many a day of my summer vacation playing outside all day long. I would usually watch Saturday morning cartoons, and then set off on some kind of mission, adventure, or day of swimming with my friends. Once I left the house on my bike for the day, my Mom usually wouldn't see or hear from me until it got dark.

In 2016..
I can't imagine giving my kids this much freedom. Not because I don't trust them, but because I don't trust who may be out there. For many, this has given way to television and video games becoming electronic babysitters for their kids. These forms of entertainment keep junior safe from the outside world, and keeps kids corralled within the confines of their bedroom walls. Hmm.. do you think it's coincidence that there's an obesity epidemic among the youth of today?


In the 70s and 80s..
Home cooked meals were the norm, while fast food and soda were treats enjoyed only on rare occasions.

In 2016..
Many people practically live off of fast food and soda. If it's not fast food, processed food which requires minimal time to cook can be found in practically every home in America. I'm not sure when we started buying into the notion that our lives are so hectic and busy, that home cooked meals are no longer a feasible option. That's not to say people aren't busy, because I sure as heck am always short on time.  However, with a little forethought and planning, you can easily make an incredibly healthy meal for an entire family in fifteen minutes. As for soda.. I can honestly say that at one time, I drank more soda than water. Wisdom however got the best of me, and I now only drink soda on the rare occasion.

Maybe I'm off base with some of my views. Someone in a small town may very well be able to let their kids play outside until dark, or have a newspaper route with no worries. When you come right down to it however, there have always been sinister people, and those who mean to do others harm. Sex in advertising and entertainment have also always been around, albeit less prevalent or more subtle in years past. Are things really that much worse than back in the day?

Like so many others in society, I now feel the need to be connected at all times to my spouse and family via cell phone just in case of an emergency, or if something bad happens. Are we stifling ourselves and needlessly creating anxiety for us and our children?  One thing is for sure however, and that is.. before technology took such a firm hold on our lives, my life sure felt like it moved a lot slower than it does today.

Feel free to chime in. What did you enjoy during your youth that just isn't an option for kids today? Are parents too careful and overly protective in today's society?   I'd love to hear your thoughts.
     

A Retro Dad's T-shirt collection

by Darrin Vindiola


While nothing would make me happier than wearing a suit for upwards of 16 hours a day, I must admit that I've been a T-Shirt freak since I was a kid. It was probably a couple of years ago when I suddenly realized that the massive stacks of T-shirt's I owned, could rightly be called a "collection".

While recently organizing and thinning out my collection, I decided to snap a few pics of my tees for your viewing pleasure. If your internet connection is lousy God help you.. because there's close to fifty t-shirt images posted below.

TIKI..

Tiki Tee from "Crazy Shirts"
This shirt was actually dyed with rum!

 Tiki Tee from Tommy Bahama

DISNEY..

Disney Tiki Tee

This shirt is about 16 years old.  While it's seen better days, I can't bring myself to throw it out (at least until I somehow find a suitable replacement).

 60's inspired Mickey Tee

Far out man!

Perry The Platypus from the Disney cartoon..

Phineas and Pherb

The perfect shirt to wear to the Disney Parks 

(and I'm not the only Dad to do so)

Shirts for the Geek-Dad..

Hulk/Kool Aid Man tee from "Tee Fury"

Ronald on the down low! Tee from "Glennz Tees"

Rat Fink/Back to the Future Tee from "Tee Fury"

Family Guy 'Drunken Clam' Tee from "Tee Fury"

80's Toyline M.U.S.C.L.E.

Kinnikuman Anime Tee

Miscellaneous Tees..

Hey.. We DO!

Jimmy Buffett Tees..

Beer Tees..

The majority of the shirts pictured below are from Old Chicago restaurant.  The shirts were obtained by finishing Mini Beer tours.  Basically, you drink 8 different beers paired with the current Mini Tour theme, and you in turn score a cool limited edition tee.

 

 Headless Horseman w/beer in hand Glow in the dark tee

Leprechaun with his little mug of gold

So there you have it.. nearly 50 of my favorite t-shirts from my collection. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a hoarder or anything. I go through my shirts on a regular basis and discard or re-purpose any shirt that starts looking shabby. Maybe I'll post some more pictures sometime, because the shirts pictured above are just a portion of my collection.