Lindsay, Author at Laughing Lindsay

Summer in the Great Smoky Mountains

May 30, 2023 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

Memorial Day is typically seen as the end of spring. So, if you are planning to spend summer in the Great Smoky Mountains, then here are some fun things you can add to your to-do list!

Summer in the Great Smoky Mountains

Some people prefer to spend the warmer months outdoors. Some of us prefer to cool off in the water or indoors. Ha! So, I will try to highlight a few options to suit everyone for their summer in the Great Smoky Mountains vacation in this post.

Summer at Dollywood

My return to blogging last year was all about summer at Dollywood. While that’s a review of last year’s event, I fully expect this year’s event to be roughly the same. This year, the festival kicks-off on June 17th and ends on August 6th. So, you have about 2 months to experience it this year! You can check out the event page on Dollywood’s website for the latest info. However, suffice it to say that my husband and I really enjoyed this festival, particularly the drone show! Plus, this year you can ride the new Big Bear Mountain ride!

Visit a Smoky Mountain Waterpark

What better way to cool off on a hot day then with a water park? Technically, you have two options for a waterpark in the Smokies. First up, you have Dollywood’s Splash Country. I’ve never been there, but I know people on social media seem to like it. If you are staying at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort, it’s especially convenient to visit (although, the resort has its own pool too).

Additionally, there is the Soaky Mountain Waterpark in Sevierville. I haven’t been there in years, but I did visit their indoor slides when I stayed at the Wilderness at the Smokies for a review about a decade ago. If you stay at Wilderness at the Smokies, then admission to the waterpark is included. However, I add caution because I haven’t visited in 10 years and some recent online reviews claim the rooms need some updating. This does look like an economical vacation though.

Head to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Summer

I have to admit, I’m not much of an outdoor activity type of girl. However, I know that the National Park draws lots of visitors every year, particularly during the warmer months. That link will take you to a page listing various things you can do in the park, including fishing, hiking, looking at flowers, and camping!

Be a Pirate

Technically, you can act like a pirate anytime of the year when you visit the Pirates Voyage dinner show. However, I think it’s more fun to act like a pirate during the warmer months! You can read my review of the Pirates dinner show to see what to expect.

Celebrate the 4th of July

If you are looking to spend the holiday weekend in the Smokies, you should know that the area has some exciting annual events. Gatlinburg has the first Independence Day Parade in the country, with it starting at midnight every year! Not to be outdone, Pigeon Forge hosts the Patriot Festival every year with music and fireworks!

Celebrate Christmas in July

If, like me, you prefer the chill of Christmas to the heat of summer, might I suggest celebrating Christmas in July with a stay at the Inn at Christmas Place? They have special activities all month long to celebrate Christmas in July! You can read my The Inn at Christmas Place Review to see what it’s like to stay here. I’ve been fortunate enough to stay here twice and loved it both times! According to their social media, they did some updating at the beginning of 2023, so it should be even nicer there now!

So Much to See and Do in the Great Smoky Mountains

As you can see, there’s lots to do during summer in the Great Smoky Mountains. Did I miss your favorite thing? This concludes my seasonal look at the area series. You can view my other posts with seasonal suggestions here:

Disney100 at Disneyland Resort Review

May 24, 2023 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

Just last week I was lucky enough to experience the Disney100 at Disneyland Resort. That’s the limited time celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Walt Disney Company taking place at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California! Take a look at all of the things I was able to experience during this celebration!

Disney100 at Disneyland

If you have plans to visit the Disneyland Resort anytime soon, you can witness a few special limited time entertainment and food options celebrating 100 years of the Walt Disney Company. Here’s a look at what I experienced and my thoughts on the offerings.

Special Decor

Around the resort, you can find several platinum medallions, statues, and banners celebrating Disney100 at Disneyland. The medallions and statues interact with a MagicBand+! The beautiful banners make for unique photos in front of the castle. I also enjoyed seeing the Fab Five in their special outfits with the Disneyland Band on Main Street, U.S.A. Personally, I could have gone for more decor around the parks, but maybe that’s me. I loved seeing the special decor at the Disneyland Hotel and Grand Californian.

Disney100 Fireworks

At the Disneyland park, you can catch the special Disney100 fireworks show on weekends or the special projection show during the week! It’s called Wondrous Journeys and it showcases the past 100 years of films from the Walt Disney Company. I knew I had to see this show when I learned (spoiler alert!) that it featured Baymax flying through the air! He’s faster than you think! My pictures of him are a little blurry, but you can tell what’s happening. I really enjoyed this show. Seeing Baymax along with the blue fairy was the highlight of this day.

World of Color – One

World of Color – One is the special nighttime entertainment at Disney California Adventure park for the 100th. The park’s standard show is World of Color and this has a special twist to celebrate. I booked the World of Color – One dessert party and posted my review of the pricey ($89) experience last week. Click that link to see if I think it’s worth it.

Magic Happens Parade

Technically, the Magic Happens parade premiered right before the pandemic. However, they brought it back to celebrate! I loved this parade! There are so many amazing small details on the floats and on the characters’ costumes! If you have a trip planned, you must catch the parade!

Special Food

A good amount of restaurants have a special dessert or treat just for the celebration. The only one I had the time and stomach space to sample was the lemon chiffon pie from Plaza Inn. I really enjoyed it and would eat it again! It was tart and tasty! It was great for a warm day dessert after the somewhat heavy chicken they serve.

Is It Worth Visiting?

I think it’s a great time to visit the Disneyland Resort. The addition of the decor, entertainment, and food makes for a memorable trip. Plus, you will always know how you celebrated 100 years of the company!

Colonial Williamsburg Food Guide

May 18, 2023 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

One of my favorite parts of a trip is eating! So, here’s my guide to Colonial Williamsburg food! I will provide you with a look at where you should dine and what you should order!

Colonial Williamsburg Food

Having visited Williamsburg twice now, I’ve been able to enjoy some tasty meals. So, I thought I would share them here as a guide and I will update this post after any future trips. I have to say, I was very impressed with Colonial Williamsburg food and I would go back just to eat there again. Without further ado, here’s my list of places you should eat when you visit!

King’s Arms Tavern

My husband and I had an amazing dinner at King’s Arms Tavern the first night of our trip. We ate by candlelight near a window. It was romantic and had great ambiance. There was even live colonial music being played. Then, we received our delicious food!

The meal starts with some bread and relishes. The ham relish reminded me of a ham salad and was tasty. The corn relish was pretty much just corn. However, they were all a unique way to begin our meal. I had heard many good things about the peanut soup here, so I had to try it. I’m happy to report that it lived up to the hype! It was so good! It was almost like drinking peanuts, but in the best way possible!

For our entrees, I ordered the hunter’s game pie and was pleasantly surprised by how good it tasted. The crust was perfection! The jam added a bit of sweetness to the dish. The different meats went together well. My husband got the smoked golden yard bird, which had a tasty raspberry mustard sauce. My husband really liked it, but he’s a huge fan of mustard sauces. I thought the chicken was juicy and the mustard was tart but not too tart.

We finished dinner with desserts! I got the Jefferson bread pudding with a bourbon custard sauce. It was a really dense piece of bread covered in a creamy sauce! My husband got a slice of the southern pecan pie. I imagine it was more akin to what they had back in colonial times as it wasn’t overly sweet, like most pecan pies. It was more of a spicy pecan pie with a bit of a cinnamon like flavor. It was neat.

Overall, this was a delightful meal and a great way to begin our trip.

Chowning’s Tavern

Technically, we ate this meal at King’s Arms Tavern. However, during the slower season, lunch at King’s Arms is from Chowning’s. This was an equally good meal, albeit a little cheaper with a little less colonial ambiance due to the lack of candle light and music. However, the meal was just as good!

I ordered the onion pie as my entrée here. I wasn’t sure what to expect from it, but I was very pleasantly surprised as it was tasty! The combination of onions, potatoes, and apples made for a slightly sweet meal. The addition of the egg and flaky crust kept it from getting boring.

My husband got the Virginia pork BBQ. Being from southwestern Virginia, we’ve had lots of pork BBQ. This was similar to others we’ve had, but it was still really good. He was happy with his decision and I would consider getting it next time.

Thankfully, after all of that we still had room for dessert! My husband ordered the American Heritage Chocolate Cobbler and it was fantastic! It was sort of like an underbaked brownie. Very chocolatey yet not overly sweet. It was a real treat. However, the main star of this meal for me was the peanut butter pie! I loved the addition of a chocolate ganache and berries on top! I sometimes find myself thinking about this pie and wanting it again. That’s how good it is! I highly recommend trying a piece if you get the chance.

Obviously, this was a fantastic meal. You can see pictures of our food in my Instagram post below.

Christiana Campbell’s Tavern

On a return visit in 2024, my husband and I enjoyed a dinner at Christiana Campbell’s Tavern. Similar to King’s Arms, there’s live colonial music here as well. You also eat by candlelight and it’s very nice. Here, we splurged and started the meal with a bowl of fruit punch. It was tasty. They also brought us a basket of mini sweet potato muffins that were warm and soft. We also got to try spoon bread, which was ok.

Continuing with my pie theme at CW, I ordered more pie here! For my entree, I selected the seafood pie. I was a touch disappointed to discover that they are now taking the shortcut of simply placing a circle of puff pastry on top of things and calling it pie! While it was tasty, I don’t think it qualifies as pie. My husband selected the fried fish and was surprised to discover that it was not de-boned. So, be careful if you pick this one.

For dessert, I got the apple pie. Again, a puff pastry is simply placed on top of the filling. It was an interesting pie as they added something tart to the mix and it’s not a typical apple pie. I preferred and ended up swapping with my husband for his dessert – the trifle of the season.

Overall, this was a very expensive meal. The history and ambiance of the meal made it special. I don’t think I would order the same items again if I were to return. In fact, I think we preferred King’s Arms to this one. That’s not to say it’s bad, the other one just suits our tastes better.

Breakfast

The taverns aren’t open for breakfast. However, if you stay in the area, I recommend walking over to the Williamsburg Inn for a fancy meal at the Terrace and Goodwin’s Rooms. They serve a three course breakfast as well as a Sunday brunch. On the day we dined here in 2023, they had a divine banana smoothie for the amuse-bouche. On a return visit in 2024, they served mini bread puddings for the amuse-bouche.

For the starter course, I selected the bacon and corn griddle cakes. It was a sweet and savory start to the meal. It was unlike any other griddle cakes I’ve ever had. My husband went with the seasonal fruit and was served a variety of berries, grapes, and apple slices.

For the main course, we both ordered the special of the day: biscuits and gravy! The gravy was made with an amazing sausage that provided a unique flavor to the gravy. Again, this was unlike any other breakfast I’ve eaten, but in a good way. Everything was fresh and tasted great!

This was an amazing way to start the day and I wish we had eaten here both mornings of our trip! We tried the breakfast buffet at Traditions at Williamsburg Lodge the other morning of our trip. While it was a more grown-up or classy breakfast buffet, it was still a pretty typical spread of breakfast fare. I don’t even have pictures to share of it. If you are staying at the Lodge, it’s a really convenient option. Otherwise, I recommend going over to the Inn for a much better and unique meal.

2024 Update: My mom and I visited Traditions for breakfast in December 2024, but ordered from the menu this time. I was much more impressed with these items. The pumpkin swirl pancakes were tasty! I also appreciated the option of chicken sausage. I recommend ordering breakfast from the menu here and skipping the buffet.

Colonial Williamsburg Snacks

We stopped at the Raleigh Tavern Bakery one day to see what kind of food the colonists ate. It’s a very quaint, dimly-lit place with plenty of muffins and some grab and go options. We tried the queen’s cake as we had seen it being made at the palace. It was a very dense, dry bread with some currants. We also tried two muffins. They were tasty but not overly sweet or exciting. It was a neat way to feel old-fashioned but not necessarily the best thing we ate there.

Conclusion

Most of the Colonial Williamsburg food we had was amazing! If you are curious about where to stay when visiting, I recommend staying in a colonial house or tavern room to be as close to the good food as possible!

World of Color – One Dessert Party Review

May 16, 2023 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

I just returned from my first visit to Disneyland in 9 years. While there, I was lucky enough to do the World of Color – One dessert party at Disney California Adventure. So, I thought I would do my very first Disneyland post on this expensive, but possibly worthwhile add-on experience.

World of Color – One

The last time I visited DCA, I watched the original WoC show. Now, in celebration of 100 years of the Walt Disney Company, they have premiered the World of Color – One show. Both are beautiful light, laser, and water fountains shows. I think both shows are definitely worth seeing, if you happen to be visiting when either of them are playing. However, it tends to be a very popular show, especially the first (or only) showing of the night.

World of Color Viewing Options

As of May 2023, you can view the show with a few different options. First off, you can join the virtual queue (for free) at 12 PM. You simply need to ensure your tickets and park reservations are linked to your account ahead of time. You must also have scanned into the park prior to joining the queue. Either a blue or yellow section will be assigned to you when you join the queue.

Another way to view the show is with a dining package. You simply have to book an advance dining reservation for lunch or dinner at Wine Country Trattoria or dinner at Storytellers Cafe. Unfortunately, you can’t book a dining package in advance. Rather, you will have to let your server or host know that you would like the package when you arrive or pay the bill. If there are two showings, then dining reservations between 5 and 6 PM at Storytellers will be given passes to the first showing. Reservations between 6 and 7 PM at Storytellers Cafe will be assigned the second showing. The package costs $59 for an adult (aged 10+) and $35 for children ages 3 to 9.

It should be noted that technically there is a free walk-up option. However, this is not guaranteed as they will pull from the walk up line only if there is room and people don’t show up from the queue.

Dessert Party

When I visited DCA on May 4, 2023, I booked the World of Color – One dessert party! This is the only guaranteed seated viewing option available. For $89, you get a plate of goodies, a few beverages, and a great seated view of the show! During my party, I received a selection of cheeses, crackers, grapes, a riced cereal treat, raspberry filled shortbread cookie, mini bundt cake, triple chocolate layer cheesecake, and a birthday macaron. I enjoyed the cheese and crackers, grapes, cereal treat, bundt cake, and macaron. However, the cheesecake was really dry as was the shortbread cookie.

Unlike the dessert parties at Walt Disney World, this wasn’t unlimited food. Rather, I received just one plate of goodies. However, there really wasn’t time to visit a buffet and this was plenty of food for me personally. I also received a non-alcoholic blue cherry breeze drink, water, and a hot chocolate due to the unseasonably cool weather. I could have had some alcohol, but I don’t feel comfortable drinking alone. So, if you drink alcohol, you can count the costs of it towards the price of the party.

Tips

If you decide to book the dessert party, I highly recommend arriving early to check in and to be seated. I was able to choose my table at check in, so the earlier you check in, the better your selection. Then, when you are seated early, you have time to enjoy your treats as well as ask for more beverages. You are seated with other parties, so it’s also nice to get to know your tablemates during this time as well. Additionally, you have to pre-pay for this reservation, so keep that in mind when you register. Also, I noticed that the party came and went with availability. So, keep checking back if you want it.

High vs Low Table

Update: In May 2023, I selected a high table. When I returned with my mom in September 2023, she chose the low table view. She is short and thought it would be easier for her to sit down on a lower chair than to get out of a higher chair. While it was still a great view of the show, personally I prefer the high table now. Here are some pictures from the lower view for comparison.

Is it worth it?

At $89 a person, it’s a very pricey add-on to an already expensive trip. However, it was so nice to be able to sit down at the end of a long day. Plus, it made it easier to take pictures/video of the show since I was seated. I think it’s worth it if you can afford it. However, if you don’t want the food or to pay $89, the virtual queue would also work.

You can view my other post on the Disney100 at Disneyland Guide to see all of the other fun limited time celebratory events happening at the resort in 2023!

Disney’s All Star Resorts Overview

May 10, 2023 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

In the years that I wasn’t blogging, I visited Walt Disney World many times. So, I have a lot of content I can put out on those experiences. I figured that I would start with reviewing the resorts since there are so many options available. Over the years, I have stayed at most of the on-site resorts. To kick-off my coverage of the resorts, I’m starting with the most affordable, Disney’s All Star Resorts!

Disney’s All Star Resorts

There are three Disney’s All Star Resorts: Music, Movies, and Sports! Each of them is considered a “value” resort at WDW. That simply means these rooms will be the cheapest on-site rooms available. Personally, I’m a fan of staying on-site due to the included transportation to the parks. Often times, that makes it worth the higher prices to stay at an official Walt Disney World resort. So, here’s a look at the three cheapest hotels.

Disney’s All Star Movies

Of the three resorts, All Star Movies has my favorite theming. I guess it feels more Disney-like to wander around seeing big statues of movie characters. The sections here include: Toy Story, Fantasia, Love Bug, 101 Dalmatians, and Mighty Ducks. I have stayed here a couple of times, but I think I prefer the Toy Story section the most. It reminds me of my childhood and gets me in the mood to visit Toy Story Land in Hollywood Studios. Plus, it’s considered a preferred section as it’s closer to transportation and the lobby, which is worth a lot after a long day in the parks.

Disney’s All Star Music

I’ve stayed here only once and it was a great solo trip. In fact, it was my last trip before the pandemic and my last as a WDW Annual Passholder. All Star Music has sections themed after popular music genres including: country, jazz, rock ‘n’ roll, calypso, and Broadway. I paid extra to stay in the preferred section or calypso section and it was worth the few extra dollars to be close to everything.

Disney’s All Star Sports

Lastly, there’s Sports. I finally stayed at this Disney’s All Star Resort in December 2024! I guess it’s because I’m not super into sports. Also, this is a super popular one for guests competing at ESPN Wide World of Sports to stay at. So, it can sometimes be easier to get a room at the other two. Sports themed sections here include: baseball, basketball, football, surfing, and tennis. I stayed in the tennis section, which was great because I’m a Donald Duck fan.

Pros

Cheaper rates. This is compared to other on-site hotels and not necessarily off-site ones.
Family Suites at Music are usually the cheapest suites on property and great for a larger family.
On-site perks, including transportation, early entry, and booking dining length of stay 60 days out.
Fun theming to suit your tastes.
Newly refurbished rooms.

Cons

Noise. There are outside corridors, which leads to more noise. Additionally, the walls and floors tend to be thin. I’ve heard all kinds of things while staying in a value resort. In fact, I find the All Stars to be comparable to the Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites and Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites at Universal Orlando in terms of room quality and noise.
All three are popular with sports/tour groups. My advice: avoid them during competitions or school breaks.
One bed is a pull down bed. With the refurbishment, one of the beds became a pull-down bed/table. It’s just not as comfortable as a regular bed. It’s definitely not optimal for longer stays or older folks.
Buses are crowded. In fact, during slower times of the year, a bus will be shared between all three resorts.

Overall, I find Disney’s All Star Resorts to be great for a short trip on a budget. However, I think it’s worth it to spend a little extra for a longer trip or one when you need two actual beds.