Laughing Lindsay

Travel Reviews, Giveaways, & More!

The Best Things in Animal Kingdom at Disney World

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Seeing as how it’s Earth Day today, I thought it would be neat to take a look at the best things in Animal Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World!

best things in Animal Kingdom

The Best Things in Animal Kingdom

Similar to my best things in Magic Kingdom post, I wanted to move over to Animal Kingdom in honor of Earth Day! Did you know that Animal Kingdom opened on Earth Day in 1998? So, today is also the park’s birthday/anniversary! Given the large number of animals that live here, it makes sense to think of the earth and its resources so we can take care of these animals.

Without further ado, here’s my own personal list of favorite things to enjoy at Animal Kingdom theme park!

The Best Ride

It’s entirely possible the best ride in this park will change in a few years. However, for now, I’m going to say Avatar Flight of Passage. It’s such a beautiful ride and a unique experience! It can make some folks motion sick though. I also really like the Na’vi River Journey as it’s peaceful and pretty too.

Best Place for a Break

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Kilimanjaro Safaris as another favorite attraction in this park. It’s always different as you never know which animals will be out or what they will be doing. Although, I highly recommend catching a showing of the Festival of the Lion King too. It’s a great show in a dark, cool place!

Best Quick Service Restaurant

Personally, I really enjoy two quick service restaurants here: Satu’li Canteen and Flametree BBQ. I say go with the one that has a better menu for your mood and crew. My family is always happy with BBQ. Plus, it’s a great use of dining credit. So, we’ve eaten Flametree several times. Although, Satu’li is a great option for healthier and more unique meals.

Best Table Service Restaurant

It’s sad that I’ve been to my favorite table service in this park only once and it wasn’t recent. Nonetheless, my favorite table service restaurant here is Yak & Yeti. My husband and I ate here one trip and we still talk about it from time to time. Those Fried Wontons were tasty! Although, I think the Rainforest Cafe Breakfast is fun too as is the Tusker House Character meal.

What are the best things in Animal Kingdom?

So, those are my favorite things in Animal Kingdom. What are some of yours?

My Grandma’s Broccoli Casserole Recipe

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It’s been a while since I’ve shared a recipe, so I thought I would share my grandma’s Broccoli Casserole recipe!

Broccoli Casserole

Broccoli Casserole

Just like my grandma’s rhubarb pie recipe, this recipe comes from my dad’s mom. She was a great cook. In fact, my dad’s side of the family loves to host get togethers and loves to have casseroles each time! I’m not entirely sure what it is about casseroles they enjoy so much, but there’s two in particular that are a staple of our meals: potato and broccoli! So, today I thought I would share my grandma’s super easy broccoli casserole recipe!

My aunt carried on the tradition of making this at the holidays after my grandma died. Now, I’m happy to report that I continue making it at my Christmas lunch that we host. It’s a super easy recipe to follow. The hardest part is making sure you have enough open oven space and time to cook it! Plus, it’s not too expensive to make. So, it’s the ideal side dish for any get together!

Broccoli Casserole

Broccoli Casserole

A cheap and easy recipe for broccoli casserole.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • 20 Oz Frozen Chopped Broccoli Cooked and drained
  • 1 Cup Mayonnaise Optional
  • 1 Cup Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese
  • 1 Can Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
  • 2 Eggs Lightly beaten
  • 2 Cups Buttery Crackers Crushed
  • 2 Tbsp Butter Melted

Instructions
 

  • Cook and drain the broccoli according to the package’s directions
    20 Oz Frozen Chopped Broccoli
  • Crush the buttery crackers.
    2 Cups Buttery Crackers
  • Beat the eggs.
    2 Eggs
  • Preheat the oven to 350 °F.
  • Spray a 13 by 9 inch baking dish with vegetable oil cooking spray.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine broccoli, mayo, cheese, soup and eggs. Mix well with a metal spoon.
    20 Oz Frozen Chopped Broccoli, 1 Cup Mayonnaise, 1 Cup Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese, 2 Eggs, 1 Can Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
  • Place the mixture in the prepared baking dish.
  • Top the dish with the crushed crackers.
    2 Cups Buttery Crackers
  • Melt the butter and pour over the crackers/dish.
    2 Tbsp Butter
  • Bake for 35 minutes or until set and browned.
Keyword Easy

Tips

Once again, this is a recipe that’s been passed down over the course of several years. So, somethings maybe different. For instance, the original recipe calls for two 10 ounce packages of broccoli. However, I can’t find that. So, I typically grab two packages of the 12.6 ounces Birds Eye Baby Broccoli Florets (NOT an ad). It ends up making a lot of casserole, but it never goes to waste. Also, I prefer to get name brand broccoli because the store brand often has more stems than florets. However, feel free to grab whichever brand you can find and afford.

Additionally, I don’t know why the original recipe specified using a metal spoon. However, I still use one. Ha.

Please let me know if you decide to make this dish!

Top of the Rock Observation Deck New York City Review

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Back in early January, my husband and I took a quick 48 hour trip to New York City. While there, we visited the Top of the Rock observation deck. Today, I want to give a little review of that experience.

Top of the Rock

Top of the Rock

As I mentioned in my Rockefeller Center Tour review, we purchased the Rock Pass for $56/each. The Rock Pass included the tour as well as entry to Top of the Rock. However, you can also purchase tickets to just the observation deck for $34-61 depending on the day and time you select. The tour costs $27 alone, so $56 is a bargain if you are interested in both things!

Prior to booking this experience, I attempted to find reviews and saw they were mixed. Lots of folks loved the views but felt it was touristy and crowded. Having visited myself, I think both of those things are true.

The Crowds

We spent just shy of 48 hours in NYC. Without hesitation I can say this was the most crowded place we visited. We waited in the Welcome Gallery prior to being herded in like cattle to the theater for a 5 minute film on the history of the location. Next up, we waited even longer to board an elevator ride up to the 67th floor. Once there, there’s three levels to explore. However, there were people everywhere! I had to wait for people to get out of the way to take pictures. Then, we had to wait to take the escalators/stairs up to the next levels. If you get overwhelmed with crowds, then don’t go in the afternoon or maybe just skip this place altogether. The crowds were starting to thin a little by the time we left, but it was still pretty busy.

The Views

I will admit, the views from here are magnificent! It was wonderful for us rural folks to see the city from this angle. I also enjoyed seeing the city light up when the sun went down. It was also cool to see landmarks that I’ve seen on TV my whole life from there. It was a once in a lifetime sort of experience.

Is Top of the Rock worth it?

My husband and I loved the views of the city from Top of the Rock. However, I believe it was a one and done for us. It’s just not worth the time suck of waiting and dealing with the crowds to go again. Although, I can see why it’s a popular tourist experience with the gorgeous views. I’m glad we went, but don’t need to visit it again.

I Will Always Love You Tour at Dollywood Review

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On my recent quick trip to Dollywood, I took the I Will Always Love You Tour to experience the seasonal festival with a guide. Since I wasn’t able to find any reviews of the experience prior to booking, I thought I would share my thoughts on it for others considering booking it.

I Will Always Love You Tour

I Will Always Love You Tour

In recent years (since 2022), Dollywood has begun offering guided tours. It appears they offer a special one for each festival. Since this was my first solo trip to the park and my first time experiencing this festival, I was interested in taking one of the tours. However, the description online is pretty vague as to what the tour entails. Also, I couldn’t find a single review for the I Will Always Love You Tour. So, I thought I would share what I got to experience on my tour and what I thought of it.

The Tour Itself

The tour began with reserved seating for the festival exclusive show “From the Heart – The Life and Music of Dolly Parton”. The website says the tour begins at 2 PM. However, we saw the 1:00 PM show. So, I think it’s important to point out that difference for planning purposes. Immediately following the show, the group came together for a meet and greet with a few people from the cast. It was kind of neat, but also awkward as no one knew each other or knew to prepare questions. That portion of the tour ended with photos with the people from the show.

Then, we had a restroom break before meeting up at the big pink “LOVE” sign. The online description said we would “Sample some of Dollywood’s limited-time festival snacks”. However, all we got was the Cherry-Lime Spritzer on the tour. I was sad that there wasn’t any food included after it mentioned sampling some snacks. We sipped on the drink while we were led over to the Showstreet Gazebo to catch the last few minutes of a show of the Wild Roots Band. Then, we were ushered over for a meet and greet with the band. Again, it was awkward. We hadn’t seen the whole performance and didn’t know each other.

Next, we walked around The Dolly Parton Experience and learned a little bit about that area of the park. It was a bit of a repeat for me since I had taken the Dolly Parton Experience tour earlier that day. However, it was nice for others to learn about the park’s history.

Then we looked at Dolly’s Tennessee Mountain Home. It’s a re-creation of the cabin Dolly grew up in. Finally, we headed up to the Robert F. Thomas Chapel to end the tour. We were given our tour keepsake, which was a festival pin.

Tips

  • You can’t book the tour online for one person – Currently, you have to book the tour in person the day of if you are alone. This way, they know if they have enough people to form a tour group.
  • Make sure you get your passholder discount – It’s not a big discount, but every little bit helps. The day I went they had trouble applying the discount, but they ended up making it right.
  • Wear comfortable shoes – You sit for a show and in the chapel at the end. However, the main part of the tour is walking and/or standing.
  • Eat lunch before the tour – As I mentioned above, we received only a beverage on the tour. So, fill up on lunch beforehand.
  • Allow the afternoon for the tour – It’s listed as a 1.5 hour walking tour. The show was at 1 and lasted almost a full hour. The walking tour started around 2 PM and ended a little after 3. In all, it took up a little over 2 hours.

Is the I Will Always Love You Tour worth it?

This tour is currently priced at $79/person, before any discounts. Personally, I was hoping the tour would focus more on the specific festival itself. Instead, it was more of a Dollywood in general tour. I think the price is a little steep for what it entails. The Dolly Parton Experience tour is only $59/person. It doesn’t come with any meet and greets or a beverage though. I may try another festival tour or two to get a better feel for them, but I don’t know that they are a good use of time or money for most folks. I enjoyed the reserved seating and learning about the park. However, I wanted more festival specific offerings, especially the festival snacks that were promised and not delivered.

So, have you taken this tour or another festival tour? What was your experience like?

DoubleTree by Hilton New York Midtown Fifth Avenue Review

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Back when my husband and I visited NYC in January we stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton New York Midtown Fifth Avenue. Since it’s a recently refurbished and re-branded hotel, there aren’t many reviews available. I thought I would give anyone considering a stay here an overall review.

DoubleTree by Hilton New York Midtown

DoubleTree by Hilton New York Midtown

I had a really hard time picking a hotel for the NYC trip. Between high prices, not knowing the area, and lackluster reviews, it can be difficult to find the right hotel in NYC. Given its proximity to the things we wanted to visit, the recent refurbishment, and pricing we selected the DoubleTree by Hilton New York Midtown for our two night stay. I will admit that this was nowhere near a perfect stay. In fact, I will probably choose to stay elsewhere if I ever return to the city.

Room Options

Given that the hotel is centrally located and basically crammed in (like much of the rest of the city), there are loads of different room configurations available here. I booked a 1 King Bed in mid-October for early January using a Hilton Honors discount. Unfortunately, we received a queen. So, this review will be on a queen size bedroom.

I will say that the recent refurbishment is nice. The room looks sleek and clean when you first enter it. There’s also a good amount of plug ins here since they recently remodeled it. The bed was reasonably comfortable as well. Unfortunately, that’s where the good stuff ends.

It was a tiny room. I know that’s par for the course for a room in NYC though, so I can’t fault them too much for that. However, the heat was turned off when we arrived and we had to get someone to come to the room to turn it on. That took multiple trips down to the front desk to get fixed. I also was surprised to see people right outside our window doing construction. The construction crew got an early start each day. So, make sure you pull the blinds here.

The bathroom had several little issues. The shower door doesn’t properly latch close. The cabinet doors don’t have a hinge to keep them from slamming into the wall/picture. There’s no fan in the bathroom (which makes sharing a room a little awkward if nothing else). Lastly, the faucet was installed backwards. You have to turn it to the right for hot water, instead of the traditional left.

Pros

  • Location – This hotel is right beside Radio City Music Hall. It was perfect for seeing the Rockettes and walking over to Rockefeller Center for the NBC Studios Tour.
  • Recently refurbished – Rooms were remodeled in 2024.
  • Good number of plugins – Older hotels tend to have an inadequate amount, so it’s nice to find a hotel with an ample amount.
  • Italian restaurant – There’s an Italian restaurant housed in the top of the hotel. We had dessert here one night and it was good. The ambiance was nice and romantic. However, the menu was over-priced.
  • Free cookie – Every DoubleTree by Hilton gives out free cookies upon checking in. We enjoyed ours immediately.

Cons

  • Check in was a disaster – There’s no other way to say this. This was the worst check in experience I’ve ever had. The lobby is small with no seating. Plus, they store guest luggage here. To add insult to injury, we were told at check in that if our room wasn’t ready by check in time, we would receive an upgrade. A queen is certainly not an upgrade from a king. We ended up taking whatever we could get as we had dinner and show plans to get to. We (along with several others) waited 1.5 hours for a room.
  • No real luggage storage – This is one of the biggest reasons I won’t be returning here. They appear to have one room for storing guest luggage (maybe?) that gets full immediately. We checked out of the room a little after 8 AM on a Saturday and we still had to stow our luggage in the lobby. They give out a luggage tag to retrieve your luggage. My husband ended up losing ours, but it didn’t matter since we were able to walk right up to take our luggage without anyone noticing or caring! Maybe if you travel light or don’t need luggage storage, this will be ok for you. However, you can expect to walk by lots of luggage in the lobby everyday of your stay.
  • Room is small and wonky – As I noted above, there were lots of little mistakes in the bathroom.
  • Long elevator waits – There’s definitely not enough elevators for a hotel with this many people.
  • Fragrance in lobby – There’s a fragrance dispenser in the lobby of the hotel and of the restaurant. It puts out fragrance every few minutes. If you are sensitive to fragrance (I have a strong sense of smell) then this is a problem to walk by everyday.

Is the DoubleTree by Hilton New York Midtown worth it?

We paid $487.52 for two nights in early January here. I think that’s a cheap room in NYC. However, if I return to NYC I will probably look for something a little further away for better accommodations. It’s probably acceptable for a quick trip to see a show though.