Tips and Tricks

All posts in the Tips and Tricks category

World Secrets: What’s with the Big Green Dino at Hollywood Studios?

Published May 18, 2013 by Disneyways.com

She’s a lean, not so mean, ice cream serving machine!

gertie2

Perhaps you’ve noticed her on the shore of Echo Lake at Hollywood Studios – keeping her girlish figure by perpetually chewing on some grass.  Is this dinosaur some old Disney character forgotten by everyone?  Nope, she was a creation of someone else actually. Get ready to impress your friends and family with all that you know about Gertie.

Gertie the Dinosaur was the star of an animated film of the same name. Created by Winsor McCay, and released in 1914, Gertie was was credited as being one of the first animated characters with lifelike movements. She was pretty cutting edge for her time – and it took no less than 10,000 hand drawn cells bring her to life. (Winsor must have had strong hands!)

Gertie the Disnosaur’s movie was promoted as the “Greatest Animal Act in the World”, and included tag-lines like “Gertie: she’s a scream.”

gertie paper

In 1989, Walt Disney Imagineers honored Gertie and the role she has played in the history of animated film by constructing her in an over-sized tribute. Of course you will find her at  Hollywood Studios –  a theme park that serves as the ultimate tribute to movie history.

Disney picked up on the tag line of Gertie being a “scream” and because of that, her entire form and belly was re-created to be the perfect place to serve up ice cream to guests. I scream, you scream, we all scream for (Gertie’s) ice cream…you get the picture.

Gertie in the form of an  ice cream shop also pays tribute to the architectural style known as “California Crazy”, which was popular in the 1930’s and was designed to attract the attention of potential customers in a uniquely “BIG” way.

Here’s another secret: the lake and fountain location for Gertie is rumored to be deliberate as well, because one of her tricks in the animated films was to drink an entire lake and then spit it all out! If you have an extra 6 minutes – check out Gertie in her film debut below!

Every single day, on the shore of Echo Lake inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you can see Gertie in all her 1930’s “California Crazy” architectural goodness. I think you will find her to be very photogenic. Unfortunately, she is only open seasonally for the business of selling ice cream and treats. Catching her on one of these days can be tricky. Occasionally we get access to inside information about her hours of operation. Contact me if you need to know about specific dates, and I will do my best to get you the info!

Gertie

Have a magical day!

To read more Disneyways World Secrets, click. HERE

4 Quick Tips for Capturing Great Photos with Disney Characters

Published April 29, 2013 by Disneyways.com

Whether you have kids with you or not, taking photos with the the characters is always a lot of fun. Photopass cast members are always there to help when you are in the parks – which is a great service. But what if you want to take some of your own photos so you can break-in your new camera? Or, maybe you just want to enjoy all the credit and satisfaction of knowing YOU got that perfect shot?

camera

Here are four quick tips to help you capture some of those character memories like a pro.

4. Take your time 
Disney characters are pretty popular. Even if you’ve been in line for a while, once you get to the front, try to slow down and take your time. Out of all your Disney souvenirs –    your photos will most likely be enjoyed the longest. It’s ok to take a few extra moments to get the shot you want. You will be so glad you did.

maggie

3- Figure out your correct camera settings on the guest in front of you

It can be a little nerve wracking  tying to adjust your camera settings when you are on the spot. You may want to practice with some test shots of the character sharing time with the person who is in line before you. If you are in a long line – that just means you have plenty of  time to ask that guest (or their parents) for their permission first. Then you don’t have to feel weird about it. When you see the finished product it will all be worth it!

2.Try out different camera angles

To give some variety in your pictures get a few from different angles. Get down on the child’s level for instance, hold the camera sideways, that sort of thing.

abi

1. If all else fails, you can always try to fix the picture in editing

Sometimes you can be so prepared and know exactly what you’re doing but you still end up with a picture you don’t love. When this happens,  give yourself permission to play around with it in the editing process! Try it in black and white or use some other cool effects! After all, Walt himself got some of his best images in black in white!

walt

 

What are some of your favorite ways to capture character memories? Please leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Related articles

World Secrets ~ Character Signed…Sidewalks?

Published April 27, 2013 by Disneyways.com

This is one of the things I love about Walt Disney World.

I have lived here in Orlando all of my life. I remember visiting the parks when I was so small – my Mom wrote our phone number on my hand in case I got lost. I consider myself to be fairly familiar with the Disney magic.

Then it happens…again.

Just when I think I can’t be surprised by anything Walt Disney World does, just when I think I have seen it all – something new (to me!) comes along that makes my eyes tear up. Once again I have to put my hand to my heart – because I still feel that little Disney Princess inside of me – and she is jumping for joy.

Last night – as we were leaving the ticket and transportation center, I looked down at the sidewalk and saw this:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

When nobody was looking – each character must have taken the time to carefully leave a colorful chalk signature behind. Many guests were in a hurry and walked right over these treasures without even seeing them. Maybe I am missing something but I have NEVER seen this before. That’s why I am considering it a World Secret!

I am left wondering who drew the Disney bus with the directional arrow? Do you have a guess? Please leave a comment below!

Click here to read the Disney Diva’s Sidewalk Chalk Countdown to Walt Disney World.

If you are an art fan, and a sidewalk chalk fan, you won’t want to miss Festival of the Masters. Here is information on the 2012 edition.

World Secrets ~ Snow White’s Biological Mother

Published April 25, 2013 by Disneyways.com

I probably don’t need to tell you this – but we are not talking about this lady…

Evil Queen

The Evil Queen pictured here, is referencing the current TV show Once Upon A Time. She is actually Snow White’s Step-Mother because she married Snow White’s father – the king – after the death of Snow White’s biological mother. The Disney film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs doesn’t reveal what Snow’s Mom actually looked like.

Disney recently posted the image below of a “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” children’s book from 1938.

Snow White

Inside the book you see pages with a drawing of Snow White’s mother and what happened before the film’s “Once upon a time.” Here’s a little bite from the seldom-seen storybook published by Walt Disney Enterprises, where you can read for yourself and get a taste of what the good and kind Queen actually looked like. As a bonus, we also find out how she came up with such an unusual name for her daughter:

20130424-194606.jpg

Pretty interesting, right?

The photo below is not from that book – but it is certainly similar to that one! This is pretty much what I imagined her to look like. How about you?

Snow White's Mother

Click here to read more World Secrets from Disneyways!

 

Kimie G. contacted me on facebook about her cool mug. Pictured here is baby Snow White and her Mom!

Thanks Kimie for sending in the photo!

SWM

World Secrets! Beyond the Birthday Basics: Grown-ups Like to Celebrate at Disney too!

Published April 5, 2013 by Disneyways.com

Alicia is a Disneyways subscriber and avid reader who has a WONDERFUL “predicament”. She is celebrating her 27th birthday in Walt Disney World this year. This is her first time ever to blow out her candles in the most magical place on earth. Alicia was so sweet and persistent in asking me for some tips that might help her to make the day extra wonderful.

So…Alicia…this one’s for you…and everyone else reading this post who has wondered the same thing!

Thanks for your great question!

Alicia

Can you tell Alicia is just a kid at heart?

This is definitely one of our longer posts, and I want to respect your time. If you are too busy to read all this – stop right here and call my friend Ramon from ThemeParkConcierges.com. (407-257-9973)

Ramon has been helping families and individuals create magical Disney birthday moments for years and he is VERY affordable for the amazing value he provides. Like some sort of Disney wish granter – Ramon has access to special meet and greet opportunities, VIP seating, holiday tours, and all sorts of things that he can customize just for you, and that are probably not even listed here. He can save you a ton of time and make your birthday celebrations a breeze!

Now let’s get the ball rolling and think out side the box for a little inspiration! We’ve got free, cheap and pricey ideas for grown-up birthdays!

Drinking or Snacking Around World Showcase

Planning is crucial here – so be sure to check out THIS LINK before you attempting this idea. Now take it a step further. Create something tangible before you leave for yourself or the person who is celebrating their birthday. Look up the drink and food menus at the World Showcase pavilions and think about the items you or they would most prefer. Print a map of Epcot and write your choices on each country to represent your plan of action. Create t-shirts with the countries and all the drinks or snacks listed. Bring a sharpie to mark each one off as you go! You can buy alcohol or non-alcoholic drinks, snacks and food at Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom if you like those parks better – or do a snack crawl around Magic Kingdom!

Wear a HAT!

Any silly or customized hat can also be a great way to celebrate your birthday trip around the world, or any occasion really. Check out this photo my hubby took of Mike from MikeandTheMouse.com (and me!) from our last Disneyways meetup. Nothing beats a fashionable set of Mickey ears.

By the way…if you weren’t at the meetup these are the sort of shenanigans you missed. You need to come to the next one. The details will be revealed soon! 🙂

mike

Watch the Fireworks during Dinner 

Again, some planning ahead is important here. You’re going to need a list of restaurants where this is possible. Stay tuned to Disneyways for those. Better yet subscribe to get updates by email so you’ll never miss a post! Advanced dining reservations are also crucial! The good news is – fireworks viewing won’t cost you any extra if you are lucky enough to be seated for dinner in a good spot.

Take a Specialty Cruise 

Check out the options for specialty cruises at Walt Disney World here. Check out this page for the phone numbers to call. Don’t want to sit on hold? Hire Ramon to do this for you.

Pick the Plan

Here’s one that won’t add any expense at all. You or  the person celebrating their birthday gets to pick the general schedule for the day and maybe even invite a surprise guest.  The attraction and show choices are endless, and giving or having this kind of power is fuel for some wonderful birthday memories.

Set up a Small Private Event

There are a couple of ways to set up a small private event at Walt Disney World.

One is to call Private Dining at the Grand Floridian (407-824-2474) and arrange to have dinner somewhere in the hotel or at the marina during the Wishes fireworks. If you are staying in some other Disney resort – then the way to do a small private event at Walt Disney World is to work with Disney Catered Events (321-939-7278). My recommendation? Use a travel agent or hire Ramon to do all of this for you.

Beyond Birthday Cake

Sure you can get cake at Disney, if you prefer. But I hope you will go to Norway for School Bread. Get Zebra Domes from Boma or Mara in Animal Kingdom Lodge. Order Crepes from Chefs de France, ‘Smores from the ’50s Prime Time Diner, or the Tonga Toast at Kona Cafe. Bring your own birthday candle and your server will bring it out singing. Try to conquer the Kitchen Sink at Beaches & Cream. Have Dole Whip or Mickey Bar at breakfast, lunch AND dinner. Sample every kind of fudge at the Main Street Confectionery. The more off-the-wall your sweet treat is, the more you or your special someone will remember the celebration.

Book some Extra Birthday Fun

Take the Characters in Flight balloon ride at Downtown Disney. Spend a day at the Saratoga Springs Resort spa or the new Senses Spa at the Grand Floridian. Take a backstage tour at the Magic Kingdom. Book a suite or stay in a different or nicer resort than usual. Plan a shopping spree. Stay at the park until it closes. Go parasailing or waterskiing at the Contemporary. Get tickets to Cirque du Soleil’s La Nouba at Downtown Disney.

Decorate Your Room

A great way to add oomph to your celebration is to decorate your hotel room. You can do this with streamers and balloons brought from home. Don’t want to do it yourself? Enlist the help of the Disney Floral and Gift Basket team. Find them online or give them a call at 407-WDW-GIFT. They have a bunch of room decorating packages available. They can also customize a basket for you. If you have something very specific in mind, get on the phone and speak to someone directly. OR save time and money by…you guessed it…hiring Ramon to do it all for you. Do I sound like a broken record yet?

Another Freebie

Grab a blanket or extra towels and watch the Wishes fireworks presentation from the beach at the Polynesian.

Do the “Usual” but still Pretty Fantastic Disney Celebration Stuff

Of course Disney has their own official ways to make birthdays a little more magical in the World. Click here for more on that. Just don’t forget to come back to this page to reference all the cool extra stuff we’ve mentioned already.

I hope one or more of these ideas will help you get started. Let’s face it, you actually may not need to jump through any magical hoops to make a Disney celebration special. A trip to Walt Disney World is pretty special all by itself. Life really can’t get much better than feeling the wind in your hair on Test Track –  or getting a hug from Mickey Mouse. I promise, you aren’t the only one who gets sentimental at Disney.

Please send me your ideas, dreams and memories of your favorite Disney birthdays! We would LOVE to hear from you!

World Secrets – Wild and FREE – Nights at Animal Kingdom Lodge

Published April 4, 2013 by Disneyways.com

Are you ready for a wild time? Zebra, Kudu, and Uzimas – oh my!  Altogether, more than 200 mammals and birds of nearly three dozen species can be found roaming the savannas of Animal Kingdom Lodge, 24 hours a day.

So we’ve covered the WILD part of this edition of World Secrets. But what about the FREE part? Well, as gorgeous and unique as the Lodge is during the day – it truly comes to life in the evening with some unusual (and FREE!) nocturnal activities that you just can’t find any where else. Activities that create a perfect way to cap off a (not free!) romantic dinner at Boma, Sanaa, or to unwind with the family after a long day at the parks.

The secrets begin with sunset.

sunset

As the sun goes down, you can make your way to the Sunset Savanna Overlook viewing area. It’s secret? THIS savanna is designed specifically for viewing at sunset. Giraffes, zebra, impalas and more will be active at this time of day, increasing your chances of seeing them up close. It’s free to take all the photos you want, and even tripods are welcome.

Next on the list of free night time viewing fun – check out the Arusha and Uzima savannas. Each has its own unique look and feel, and not all savannas have all the animals. For instance, ostrich are unique to the Sunset savanna, zebras to the Arusha savanna, and kudu will only be found spending their wild nights on t the Uzima savanna. Giraffes are the only animal found on all three savannas.

The next World Secret is pretty well-kept! Once you’ve gotten your fill of picture-taking at the Sunset Savanna – nightfall brings the opportunity to view animals with night vision goggles! A cast member will be on hand to teach you how to use the goggles to identify the animals, or you can also pick up a  FREE guide at the front desk. This activity is currently offered at the Uzima Savanna Overlook…the price of this activity? Believe it or not, absolutely FREE.

Giraffe through night vision goggles at AKL

Usually night vision viewing is available  from 9-11 p.m., but be sure to check with a cast member, as times may change through the seasons. At night, all the savannas are illuminated by artificial moonlight as if a full moon were ever present.

How about  some FREE African story-telling while you cozy up to the warmth and crackle of a camp fire? African cast members will regale you with a story each night around the fire pit in the beautiful lobby area, or at the outdoor fire pit under the stars – usually right around 7:30PM each night. Location and times may be subject to change so be sure to double check with a cast member.

Random fact for you – Victoria Falls (or Mosi-oa-Tunya (Tokaleya Tonga:the Smoke that Thunders) is the world’s largest waterfall. You can find it in southern Africa on the Zambezi River at the border of Zambiaand Zimbabwe.

Victoria Falls LOUNGE  is a relaxing, oasis perched above Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Boma restaurant. Here you will enjoy the sounds of a gorgeous indoor trickling waterfall that is 2 stories high. Every now and then you will also hear a duo of African drummers walking down the steps. Relaxing in the beautiful atmosphere in this  quiet lounge will make you feel like you have discovered a wonderful, FREE World Secret. You may just forget you’re at Disney World.

My son found the lounge to be the perfect place to practice his latest card tricks for my nephew!

Maybe your wallet is feeling heavy from saving all that money on these free activities – and you are ready to spend some dough? Here at Victoria Falls Lounge, you can buy yourself a glass of South African wine, or indulge in your favorite martini, beer or mixed drink. (I highly recommend the Victoria Falls Mist!)

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this Wild and FREE version of World Secrets. What do you love most about Animal Kingdom Lodge in the evenings?

 

 

World Secret – How to get a free sandwich in Downtown Disney

Published March 19, 2013 by Disneyways.com

UPDATE DECEMBER 21ST 2015…THIS YEAR FOR MY BIRTHDAY I WAS SENT A COUPON FOR A FREE BROWNIE – WITH PURCHASE! BOO EARL OF SANDWICH!!! BRING BACK THE FREE SANDWICH PROMOS!!!

 

Who says there is no such thing as a free lunch? ME. I am one of those people who looks for the fine print and thinks there always has to be a catch.

There are some great posts and articles all over the internet about cheap eats at Walt Disney World – but how often do you hear about anything being completely free?

Today I found a World Secret that I thought was pretty special – an offer for a FREE sandwich. The catch – it’s only good during the month of your birthday.

earl-of-sandwich

Earl of Sandwich is located in Downtown Disney Marketplace. The very first store was opened here in Orlando by a direct descendant of the actual guy who invented what we now know as sandwiches – back in 1762. Carrying on the family tradition, The Earl of Sandwich in Downtown Disney is dedicated to bringing you “the world’s greatest hot sandwich.”

You may have heard the sound of rejoicing when Disney food lovers every where got the news that the Earl in Downtown Disney began offering the Holiday Turkey Sandwich year round. Some have said it really is the “world’s greatest” or more specifically as holiday heaven on a bun. To us rookies who haven’t yet tried it, it is basically turkey, stuffing, cranberry, and a little mayo served toasted on a freshly baked roll.

Sounds AWESOME to me, but maybe it doesn’t sound like your favorite?

No problem, Earl of Sandwich in Downtown Disney’s Marketplace offers a variety of hot and cold sandwiches, salads, ice cream, smoothies, lemonade, boxed lunches, and prepared “Grab & Go” items. Breakfast offerings include several cold items as well as hot breakfast sandwiches.

Already a pretty great value, most sandwiches here are right around $6.99. But enough of that – let’s get on with the FREE part!

All you need to do to get your FREE sandwich from Earl is sign up for The eClub. Once you do that, you get a printable voucher a few weeks before your birthday. You have your entire birthday month to print and use it. Just like all of their sandwiches, your birthday sandwich will come wrapped in gold foil – like some sort of wonderful smelling currency.

Here is the fine print, in case you are little skeptical like me, and don’t want to have to squint later:

“We (Earl of Sandwich) respect your privacy and will not rent or sell your information. By providing your email address you are opting-in to receive emails from Earl of Sandwich and all other restaurant concepts under the Earl of Sandwich (USA), LLC brand of companies. You may opt out of this list at any time.”

Click HERE to sign up for your free birthday sandwich!

Oh, and if you can’t come to Downtown Disney during your birthday month – Earl has places all over the country where you can get your free birthday sandwich. Hopefully there is one near you.

My friend Heidi is celebrating her birthday today and she just so happened to post about Earl too! You can read her blog here!
Hers has lots of yummy food descriptions and photos. Mmmmm….I am hungry.

So what are your thoughts? Have you gotten a free sandwich from Earl or was this the first time you heard about this particular World Secret?

 

World Secrets – Best Burgers and More Near Raglan Road

Published March 17, 2013 by Disneyways.com

First – the food part of today’s World Secret. Raglan Road is THE place to go for Irish food and entertainment in the Downtown Disney area. The menu comes complete with Bangers and Mash (that’s a fancy Irish name for sausage and mashed potatoes) – but did you know you will also find some of the absolute BEST burgers on property here? It’s true.

burger

Photo credit: nutfreefam.blogspot.com

You can enjoy all that Raglan Road offers from a comfy table – or if you prefer – belly up to their 130 year old bar. It’s imported all the way from Ireland!

Cooke’s of Dublin is a quick service restaurant located right next to Raglan Road, and it offers a selection of the exact same food that Raglan Road serves – at a much lower price! The secret (inside the secret) of Cooke’s – is the “Doh-Bars” which are donut battered Snickers and Mars bars.

Yeah.

It’s enough to make me want to move to Ireland. But, don’t worry, one can cancel out the calories from your Doh-Bar with a healthy salad, because Cooke’s has those too.

Before you enter Raglan Road, look for a replica bronze statue of the famous Irish poet, Patrick Kavanagh, sitting on his bronze park bench.

Regarded as one of the foremost poets of the 20th century, Patrick Kavanagh’s best known works include the novel Tarry Flynn and of course the poem Raglan Road.

Folks in Dublin often saw Patrick relaxing alone on a park bench by the Grand canal. When he passed away in 1967 after a long struggle with lung cancer, he was commemorated with the original statue in Ireland. To this day, after every St. Patrick’s Day parade you’ll find his friends gathering at that bench.

irelandstatue

Here is the actual statue in Ireland. Photo credit Flickr.com

Raglan Road pub’s replica of this statue is the only one you will find outside of Ireland. This version has a shorter bench, so there is no room to sit next to poor old Patrick, and perhaps he would prefer it that way.  I think it is rather fitting, and symbolic of his original poem. I have added a copy here so you can decide for yourself.

Read carefully and you will see that he explains how, despite his best judgement, he fell for a girl that he knew would break his heart.

On Raglan Road

“On Raglan Road on an autumn day I met her first and knew

That her dark hair would weave a snare that I might one day rue;

I saw the danger, yet I walked along the enchanted way,

And I said, let grief be a fallen leaf at the dawning of the day.

On Grafton Street in November we tripped lightly along the ledge

Of the deep ravine where can be seen the worth of passion’s pledge,

The Queen of Hearts still making tarts and I not making hay –

O I loved too much and by such and such is happiness thrown away.

I gave her gifts of the mind I gave her the secret sign that’s known

To the artists who have known the true gods of sound and stone

And word and tint. I did not stint for I gave her poems to say.

With her own name there and her own dark hair like clouds over fields of May

On a quiet street where old ghosts meet I see her walking now

Away from me so hurriedly my reason must allow

That I had wooed not as I should a creature made of clay –

When the angel woos the clay he’d lose his wings at the dawn of day.”

~Patrick Kavanagh

World Secrets – The Blue Fairy Wish Book

Published March 16, 2013 by Disneyways.com

March 12th 2013 I was walking through Fantasyland in Walt Disney World. You might be familiar with Pinocchio’s Village Haus, it can be found near the “It’s a Small World” attraction. It is a lovely, newly refurbished counter service restaurant. Ever since the updates have been completed – I tend to walk by this place and stare. It is really, really cool. I like everything about it, including the rainy day activities they have there…but that’s a blog post for another day.

This particular evening though, it was already dark out, and as my friend and I walked by we noticed a strange glow coming from the inside. If you are familiar with the portals that you interact with while playing Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom – this is the sort of glow we saw. In fact we thought maybe it WAS a new portal – but we just couldn’t tell from where we were standing.

good

We decided we HAD to make our way inside to investigate. Once inside…this is what we saw:

good3

If you have read the Disneyways post about The Blue Fairy – you are up to speed on my feelings about her. I am definitely a fan, so I was pretty thrilled to find this little hidden gem.

I know it’s a bit hard to tell from the photos, but this is a wish book. It appears to be available to all guests who would like to write down a wish for The Blue Fairy.

I hope to have more photos for you soon if you are interested in seeing them.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I guess because most families are probably in a hurry to eat their flat bread pizza and move on to the next ride, there wasn’t much written down, as you can see. When my friend and I flipped through the pages however, we doubled over laughing at this particular wish.

not alive

Look carefully and you will see that a child has written “I wish parents were not alive.”

Which in itself is awful, and not really funny.

Once the child wrote it however, you can see he or she changed his or her mind quickly – and did a pretty good job of scribbling it out!! That is what was funny to us, just picturing this probably over-tired, grumpy kid scratching that out so nobody would see it. I don’t think he or she really meant it. Perhaps the child took a look around and realized how such a terrible thought really didn’t belong in the middle of the happiest place on earth? Maybe.

I am just glad the child changed his or her mind about the whole thing! I’m a parent who is obviously alive and well – so I now have a renewed belief that scribbling out your Blue Fairy wish makes it null and void. No litigation is required.

Have you seen this book before? As this post goes to publish – there doesn’t seem to be information on The Blue Fairy wish book anywhere.

I don’t know if it’s new or if I just never noticed it before. Anyway – kind of a cool little secret – don’t you think?

World Secrets – The Lucky Combo!

Published March 15, 2013 by Disneyways.com

What comes to mind when you think of the gorgeous China Pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase?

Sure, China has lots to offer. The pavilion is decorated with serene ponds, crossed by fantastic bridges, and is dominated by a replica of the Temple of Heaven. Here you will also find Reflections of China, a Circle-Vision 360° movie – and  there is a museum containing several ancient Chinese artifacts. You don’t see that every day.

China’s Nine Dragons is one of the most beautiful restaurants in all of World Showcase, and the Lotus Blossom Cafe has some of the best orange chicken in town. Shopping at Good Fortune Gifts and House of Good Fortune is a wonderful air-conditioned past time in the hot Florida summers.

Agent P World Showcase Adventure? Check. Dragon Legend Acrobats? Yep – China has those too – and what visit to China would be complete without actually meeting Mulan and Mushu? Speaking of Mulan, did you know Epcot’s China Pavilion served as a backdrop for the music video “Reflection,” performed by Christina Aguilera? You may recall that “Reflection” was from Mulan’s 1998 film – and nobody knew who Christina Aguilera was back then.

But what is China’s BEST kept secret?

To me, it is a wonderful little thing called the Lucky Combo – located right here at the Joy of Tea kiosk – only found at Epcot’s China pavilion.

joyoftea

It’s not new – it’s just that the The Lucky Combo has been hiding from me

(in plain sight).

For just $9.98, The Lucky Combo includes a Chinese BBQ Pork Bun, a Curry Chicken Pocket and an Egg Roll with your choice of a canned soft drink and a pretty generous serving of ice cream.

No…for real…this is an actual thing.

I had to take a picture because I couldn’t believe my own eyes. 

DSC04577

The extra ice cream you see pictured here belonged to my dining companion. We got one of each option – Strawberry Red Bean and Caramel Ginger.

Trust me – you need to try them BOTH.

But wait – there’s more!

Tea here comes in all forms – hot, iced, spiked or slushie –  and it is the only location in Epcot that carries real brewed tea instead of pre-made tea beverages. 

Not a fan of hot tea? Here’s another little secret:

The extremely friendly cast members that staff this location will gladly provide you a cup of ice to make your own iced version. They will also offer you a tasting of any (non-spiked) beverage, if you want to try before you buy.

Even though it’s hard for me to look past the Lucky Combo, here are more details on the menu, in case you want to plan ahead:

Sweetened Iced Teas: Peach Oolong and Mango Green (both $4.25 or one snack credit)
Hot Teas: Ginseng Oolong, Jasmine, Dragon Well, Green (all $3.19 or one snack credit)
Soft Drinks: Soda ($1.59 or one snack credit); Bottled Water ($2.50 or one snack credit)
Alcoholic Beverages: Mango Gingerita w/vodka and rum ($7.50); Canto Loopy w/vodka and cantaloupe juice ($7.50); Peach Snap w/Schnapps ($7.50); Green Tea Plum Slush w/plum wine ($7.50); Tsing Tao Beer and Tsing Tao Pure Draft Beer (both $5.75); Plum Wine ($4.99); Tipsy Ducks in Love ($8.50 or non-alcoholic $5.50)
Ice Cream: Strawberry Red Bean or Caramel Ginger (both $3.25 or one snack credit)
Snacks: Chinese BBQ Pork Buns ($4.50); Curry Chicken Pockets ($3.99 or one snack credit); Pork and Vegetable Egg Rolls ($3.99 or one snack credit)

So what are your thoughts? Do you agree that the Lucky Combo might be one of Epcot’s best kept secrets?