Laughing Lindsay

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Goofy’s Kitchen Character Dinner Review

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Much to the surprise of any Walt Disney World frequent visitor, Disneyland has only one character dinner option. So, on my most recent trip with my mom, we had to check out Goofy’s Kitchen character dinner!

Goofy's Kitchen Character Dinner

Goofy’s Kitchen Character Dinner

On my previous trip, I dined at Goofy’s Kitchen for breakfast and enjoyed it. On this trip, we decided to try the restaurant for dinner. As with breakfast, it’s a buffet meal featuring fun pizzas! It’s currently priced at $55/adult and $32/child.

The Characters

You meet the exact same characters at dinner and breakfast here. My mom and I got a picture with Goofy prior to entering the restaurant. Then, while we were eating we also met Minnie Mouse, Chip, Dale, and Pluto! We had a great time meeting the characters and enjoyed taking photos with each of them. My mom loves Pluto, so it was a hit with her. We also enjoyed the little dance around the restaurant when everyone holds their napkin up in the air.

The Food

I will start by saying if you want to try something fancy or high class, this probably isn’t the restaurant for you. However, if you are looking for some good classics, this is a good place. I was surprised to find BBQ ribs on the buffet. They weren’t the best I’ve ever had, but they were pretty good. I also enjoyed a creme brulee cornbread. It was sweeter than traditional cornbread and a nice surprise. They also had a good turkey pot pie.

If you eat here, you have to check out the variety of pizzas available. I liked the buffalo chicken one as well as the peanut butter and jelly one. The s’mores pizza was pretty good too.

Unfortunately, the desserts weren’t that good. I took a bite out of several things, but didn’t care for much. They tasted really sweet and artificial to me. I liked the lemon bars that they also had at breakfast previously though.

My Mom’s Birthday

This trip was a few days out from my mom’s birthday. I had noted that on every reservation and this was the only place to acknowledge it. Our waiter brought out a special cupcake with a candle on it just for her. Then, they sang happy birthday to her and gave her a celebration button. My mom was over the moon with this little celebration. So, I recommend eating here if you want a little extra something for someone’s birthday!

Is Goofy’s Kitchen Character Dinner worth it?

As with all character meals, this is a pricey experience. However, it is really nice to have characters come to your table to meet you. Plus, the food wasn’t bad and they had a good amount of selections for picky eaters to enjoy. I mentioned in my breakfast review that this restaurant is located away from the parks a good pace. I think this is a good option for folks staying at the Disneyland Hotel since it’s right there. However, I don’t know that it’s a good fit for people staying off-site due to its location. It’s also hard to recommend a character meal to someone on a tight budget.

Have you ever eaten here? What was your experience like?

Behind the Seeds Tour at Epcot Review

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When my husband and I visited Walt Disney World last month, we booked a new to us experience, the Behind the Seeds Tour at Epcot! Today I will review it and let you know who I think it’s good for and who should maybe skip it.

Behind the Seeds Tour

Behind the Seeds Tour

For those who don’t know, the Behind the Seeds Tour at Epcot is a backstage look at The Land Pavilion! The Land Pavilion is where the Living with the Land ride and Garden Grill Restaurant is located. Having eaten at Garden Grill a few times and ridden the ride even more times, I was excited for a walking tour to see how Disney grows its own food!

I booked this tour 60 days out when I made our advance dining reservations. We paid $35/each. Thankfully, this was prior to Disney’s most recent resort wide price hikes. As of this writing, this tour has gone up in price and varies from day to day. It now starts at $39 and goes up to $45, depending on which day you select. There doesn’t appear to be a discount for children.

Very Informative

This one-hour walking tour is information heavy. The tour started out with a look at how Disney is fighting pests. Then, we moved on to the actual greenhouses. It was neat to see the ride from the other side. Boats rode by as we looked at squash and tried some cucumbers grown there! It was neat to see all of the different varieties of plants being grown, from coffee to vanilla beans! We even saw a picture of some Mickey shaped cucumbers they are working on.

Our guide was very knowledgeable about plants in general as well as what was in the greenhouses currently. We got to see the last of the pumpkins being grown and they were beginning to hang up the Christmas lights. The guide explained that the tours vary a little bit depending on the time of the year since they grow some food for the Epcot festivals here. So, it has a repeatability factor if you enjoy learning about different seasons.

Hands On Learning

There were a few other interactive aspects to the tour. The tour not only includes the four greenhouses, but also the fish farm. We learned about the fish and then got to feed them. They gathered everyone around the tank and we all put the food in at the same time. The fish went wild to get the food! It was neat.

We also got to pass around some spices to smell. It was fun to try and guess which spice we were smelling. The tour ended with a little picture session in front of the Mickey shaped tree.

Is the Behind the Seeds Tour worth it?

For $35, it was a neat experience. The new price hike gives me pause on value. $45 sounds a little steep to me, but I would probably still do it at least once. That being said I do not recommend this tour for children. It was a lot of information and I don’t think people with short attention spans would enjoy it. I suppose that’s why there’s not a discount for children.

Our group was mostly adult couples (think late twenties and up). It’s a good time for anyone interested in plants or seeing how Disney grows its own food. For thrill seekers, it’s best to spend time riding the rides. I also must point out that’s an hour long walking tour with most of that time spent standing or walking. So, if standing and walking for an hour doesn’t sound doable, it maybe best to avoid this one. Although, it is wheelchair accessible if that is of concern to you.

Have you done the Behind the Seeds tour at Epcot? What did you think of it?

Tony’s Town Square Restaurant Review

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Last December, when my mom and I attended Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, we had dinner at Tony’s Town Square. Today I thought I would provide a review of that experience.

Tony's Town Square

Tony’s Town Square

For those who don’t know, Tony’s Town Square is an Italian restaurant in the Magic Kingdom. In fact, the restaurant is one of the first things you encounter upon entering the park, after going under the train station! I had passed by this place countless times, but had never eaten here. So, I decided that it was time to change that. Plus, the location of it was super convenient for attending the party directly afterwards.

Lady and the Tramp Theme

This is not an ordinary Italian restaurant. No, it’s the restaurant from Lady and the Tramp where the dogs have their first kiss! So, this restaurant has pictures of the dogs on the walls. Plus, there’s an adorable water fountain featuring the dogs. They even play the classic movie in the waiting area!

My mom is a dog lover, so I knew she would appreciate the theme here. She enjoyed watching some of the movie while we waited to be seated. She also enjoyed seeing some of the pictures on the walls.

We were seated in the front of the restaurant, near the windows. That meant that we didn’t really get to enjoy the movie theme during the meal. However, we did get an excellent view of the park and its Christmas tree! I loved that more than seeing the pictures. It was nice to walk by and see the pictures and fountain. I loved being able to sit inside comfortably while gazing at the Magic Kingdom tree during our meal. I highly recommend doing that sometime.

The Food

I’ll be honest, I had read bad reviews of this place before eating here. So, I was nervous. We started the meal with Tony’s Garlic Bread for the Table. It had a great garlic flavor. Unfortunately, it was bit over toasted and was a little too hard for our liking. Next, came our entrees.

I selected the Fettuccine Alfredo with shrimp. While it wasn’t a bad dish, it didn’t really wow me either. I’d say it was just ok. I could have used a little more flavor or spice. My mom got the Chicken Parmigiana. She seemed to enjoy this. She ate all of the chicken, but left behind a good amount of sauce. There again, I think it could have benefitted from some seasoning.

Is Tony’s Town Square worth it?

While I enjoyed the view of Main Street/the tree and it was a convenient meal, I don’t know that I will be returning. It’s not a bad restaurant. However, I think there’s much better food in the area (particularly at the Magic Kingdom resorts). This year, my mom and I are planning to eat some quick service prior to the party instead of eating here. I definitely wouldn’t recommend using a table service dining credit to eat here. Although, I could see it being a good sit-down meal for a family with picky eaters and people who like the movie/dogs. Have you ever eaten here?

Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort Review

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Having covered each of the Walt Disney World Value Resorts, I am finally beginning my reviews of the moderates today! I’m kicking it off with my favorite one in this category, Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter!

Port Orleans French Quarter

Port Orleans French Quarter

Disney’s Port Orleans – French Quarter is technically a sister resort to the larger Port Orleans – Riverside Resort. Both resorts celebrate the rich history and ornate decor found in New Orleans. As the name implies, this one feels like you are visiting a highly sanitized version of the French Quarter with wrought-iron balconies and a cobblestone street. The other resort celebrates the stately mansions found in the bayou. I will be staying at it in December, so stay tuned for a future review of it soon!

Both of these resorts are considered moderate resorts as they are more expensive than a value resort, but they also tend to have better themes and amenities. The values rely on big statues and bright colors for their themes. The moderates tend to have a classier vibe with nice touches around every corner. The food at the moderates tends to be a touch nicer as well.

Port Orleans French Quarter Room

In February 2023, I stayed in a standard two queen room with my mom. Having stayed primarily at value resorts in recent years, my mom was very impressed with POFQ. She noticed that the theme was a touch classier here. Plus, she realized the beds were a little more comfortable (no fighting over the pull down bed here). We were both happy with the quietness of the resort.

Now, I will do a pros and cons list to help you decide if this resort is a good fit for you.

Pros

  • Beignets – As I stated above, the food at the moderates tends to be a little more diverse than what is found at a value food court. Here, you can get Mickey-shaped beignets! They are an absolute must get if you visit here and I consider them a pro of staying here!
  • Compact layout – I love how small this resort is. Most of the moderate resorts are large, but this one has just one bus stop! That’s very handy when you are tired at the end of a busy park day.
  • Relaxing vibe – The whole vibe of this resort is smooth and calm. There’s even a jazz band on select nights at the Scat Cat’s Club!
  • Cool pool – I’ve actually never swam in this pool, but the Mardi Gras themed pool is in the middle of the resort and hard to miss.
  • Boat transportation – Yes, you can actually take a boat over to Disney Springs when you stay here! Talk about a relaxing mode of transportation!
  • On-site perks – Just like at the value resorts, staying on-site gives you certain perks like free park transportation (just buses here) and 60 day advanced dining reservations.

Cons

  • More expensive – The moderates are more expensive than value resorts, so it may be hard to swing it on a tight budget.
  • No table service restaurant – Riverside has a table service restaurant, but there isn’t one here. However, many table service restaurants are just a boat ride away at Disney Springs.
  • Not necessarily kid-friendly theme – Kids who aren’t familiar with New Orleans may not find the theme here appealing.
  • Bus only transportation to parks – Staying here costs more than staying at Pop Century (which has the Skyliner) but only offers bus transportation to the parks.

Overall

I love the French Quarter Resort. Prior to the Skyliner being installed, it was one of my husband and I’s go-to resorts. However, it’s a good bit more expensive than it was a few years ago. In my opinion, the value of staying here really depends on your budget and needs. This is a great resort for a couples only stay due to somewhat romantic vibes, but you pay for those nice touches too. Have you ever stayed at POFQ?

Grandma’s Zucchini Bread Recipe

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I tend to share recipes from time to time, like my Pumpkin Fluff Pie Recipe. Today, I thought I would share my grandma’s zucchini bread recipe!

Zucchini Bread

Zucchini Bread

It’s a tradition in my family to make this zucchini bread around the holidays. I believe its use of cinnamon along with a brown sugar/nuts topping make it the perfect addition to our Christmas spread! Now that we host the holidays, I know that it’s Christmas-time when I make the bread! It makes the whole house smell delicious!

I initially made two big loaves of this bread. However, after hosting a few years, I moved to making several smaller loaves. This allows our guests to take one home with them to enjoy later. Plus, it gives me a chance to make some with the topping and some without nuts. Personally, I prefer the bread with the topping as I think it gives it more flavor and texture with the nuts. However, I know that not everyone can enjoy nuts.

Additionally, I found these adorable holiday themed mini loaf pans at our local Walmart (not a sponsored link, just trying to help). So, if you intend to make mini loaves for gifts or want an extra holiday touch, keep an eye out at Walmart and Target for special loaf pans.

Note: my grandmother’s recipe didn’t specify which type of nuts. However, I use chopped pecans. You are free to experiment as you wish.

Zucchini Bread

Zucchini Bread

My grandma's recipe for zucchini bread.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 2 Loaves

Ingredients
  

  • 3 Eggs, beaten
  • 2 Cups Grated Zucchini
  • 2 Cups Granulated Sugar
  • 3 Cups Flour
  • 1 Tsp Baking Soda
  • 1/2 Tsp Baking Powder
  • 2.5 Tsp Cinnamon
  • 1 Tsp Salt
  • 1 Cup Oil
  • 2 Tsp Vanilla
  • 1/2 Cup Raisins

Optional Topping

  • 1/2 Cup Nuts
  • 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease two loaf pans.
  • Sift flour, sugar, salt, baking soda and powder, and cinnamon into a bowl.
    2 Cups Granulated Sugar, 3 Cups Flour, 1 Tsp Baking Soda, 1/2 Tsp Baking Powder, 2.5 Tsp Cinnamon, 1 Tsp Salt
  • Add beaten eggs and oil. Beat.
    3 Eggs, beaten, 1 Cup Oil
  • Add zucchini, vanilla, and raisins. Mix well.
    2 Cups Grated Zucchini, 2 Tsp Vanilla, 1/2 Cup Raisins
  • Pour batter into two greased pans.
  • Optional: Combine nuts and brown sugar. Sprinkle over top of the loaves.
    1/2 Cup Nuts, 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
  • Bake for 1 hour.

Notes

This makes 2 regular loaves or 4-5 small loaves. Smaller loaves should bake around 40-50 minutes, but check on the bread as you know your oven. 
Keyword Bread

Please leave a comment below if you decide to try my grandma’s zucchini bread recipe! Do you have a family recipe that you make every Christmas?