Finding Nemo-The Musical: Attraction Review

Name: Finding Nemo-The Musical
Type: Live Show
Location: Animal Kingdom, in the Dinoland, U.S.A. area
The Gist: A live onstage 30-minute musical based on the Disney-Pixar film "Finding Nemo", using fancy puppets and special effects.
A Must-Do For: "Finding Nemo" fans; people who would like to get out of the heat for a half-an-hour.
Avoid If: You find the idea of having to watch a performance along with an audience of a hundred sometimes badly behaving children completely unbearable.
Lines & Other Tips: This show plays at several set times throughout the day, so pick up a times guide when you get to the park and check. Be sure to get there early if you want to get a good seat, it is a big theater, but it does fill up.

This is a pretty cute show to see with children, especially. I mean, it is not exactly Broadway, but the effects are pretty cool.

Oh, and speaking of Broadway, did you know that the songs for this show were co-written by composer/lyricist Robert Lopez; who helped write Avenue Q and The Book of Mormon? If you are familiar with either of those two musicals, you will understand why my mind was blown when I found this out. Bit of an unexpected choice by Disney. I suppose Alan Menken must have been busy.

xoxo, Lily

Tamu Tamu Refreshments: Restaurant Review

Name: Tamu Tamu Refreshments
Location: Animal Kingdom, in the Africa area
Cuisine: Vaguely ethnic-inspired
Type: Counter Service
Good For Those: Who want to have a comparatively unique quick-service experience
Price Range: In the $ range, which means less than $14 per person. Everything here is $8 or $9, really.
Times: Lunch and dinner, hours vary
Reservations: None, since this is counter service
My Recommendation: The beef pita sandwich, served with the homemade chips. My new favorite at Animal Kingdom.
Healthier Option: You could go with the chicken salad if you didn't want the carbs.

This is not the place to go if you want variety; all they have is the said beef wrap, the chicken salad, and a turkey sandwich, milkshakes, and a few other desserts, and drinks. There is no indoor seating, so that could sway your decision, depending on whether the weather is really shitty or just regular shitty (Florida really only has two settings...).

But, seriously, the beef pita sandwich is the best. Very yummy. That alone makes this my new favorite Animal Kingdom quickservice.

xoxo, Lily

*Note: Food prices and menu options are subject to change at any time, so I can't guarantee my information will always be accurate.

**Also, the "healthier options" I give are simply based on my knowledge of healthy eating and nutrition. I am not a doctor! For specific information regarding calories and such, I suggest contacting the individual restaurants via the Disney World website.

Restaurantosaurus: Restaurant Review

Name: Restaurantosaurus
Location: Animal Kingdom, in the Dinoland, U.S.A. area
Cuisine: American, standard hamburgers, chicken nuggets, etc.
Type: Quick-service, counter
Good For Those: Who are looking for quick, relatively cheap standards like burgers and fries
Price Range: In the $ range, which means $14.99 and under. Items here are $8 or $9, typically.
Times: Lunch and Dinner
Reservations: None, since this is quick-service
My Recommendation: Don't really have one. The one time I went here, I got the Angus Bacon Cheeseburger (without the bacon and cheese... they are assembled to order) which was good, but not exactly life-changing.
Healthier Option: Try the vegetable sub (-osaurus). It comes with sweet potato fries, too.

Not a bad place to have a quick lunch, especially if you have picky eaters. A lot of traditional favorites here.

xoxo, Lily

*Note: Food prices and menu options are subject to change at any time, so I can't guarantee my information will always be accurate.

**Also, the "healthier options" I give are simply based on my knowledge of healthy eating and nutrition. I am not a doctor! For specific information regarding calories and such, I suggest contacting the individual restaurants via the Disney World website.

Kusafiri Coffee Shop: Snack Review

Name: Kusafiri Coffee Shop
Location: Animal Kingdom, in the Africa area
Cusine: Pastries, coffee, snacks, etc.
Type: Quick-Service counter
Good For Those: Looking for coffee or a sweet treat in the park
Price Range: In the $ range, which is $14.99 or less. Items here are usually $5 or less, though.
Times: Usually open during all park hours
Reservations: This is counter service, so no.
My Recommendation: The "African" donuts.
Healthier Option: Here, probably none. All they carry is sweets. There is a stand across the way that sells fresh fruit if you'd rather.

I had never ordered anything from here before, until last time I was at the park, two or three weeks ago. Before, all the really had was standard stuff like cinnamon rolls and probably-stale danishes, and I was never too interested. They didn't have anything unique or special, which is what I prefer to get.

But last time, they had a sign up : "New Item- African Donuts". And we were like, well obviously  we have to try. I mean, I don't know how authentic donuts are in Africa, but they were something a little different. Basically like balls of not very sweet (which for me, is a good thing) dough fried and smothered with powdered sugar. Not too bad. A good choice if you can't bring yourself to order a boring old cinnamon roll.

xoxo, Lily

*Note: Food prices and menu options are subject to change at any time, so I can't guarantee my information will always be accurate.

**Also, the "healthier options" I give are simply based on my knowledge of healthy eating and nutrition. I am not a doctor! For specific information regarding calories and such, I suggest contacting the individual restaurants via the Disney World website.

Yak & Yeti: Restaurant Review

Name: Yak & Yeti
Location: Animal Kingdom, in the Asia section
Cuisine: Asian
Type: Table Service
Good For Those Who: Like Asian food, in particular, delicious lo mein noodles.
Price Range: Listed in the $$ range, which is $15 to $35.99 per person. Entrees here average at about lower-middle end of that range, let's say about $15 to $25-y.
Times: Opens at 11:00am, closing time varies, usually dependent on how late the park is open that night.
Reservations: Recommended, but if you go at a late/lunch early dinner time, you might be able to get a table without one- don't plan on it though. Reservations can be made online at the official Walt Disney World  website.
My Recommendation: I had the chicken lo mein and loved it. That is all I will say. Next time I go, it will be a difficult choice for me, whether or not I get that again or try one of the many other delicious sounding things on their menu.
Healthier Option: There are many things here which seem (relatively, of course) healthy- a lot of fish and vegetarian options, and like everything is served with a bunch of veggies, so it is hard to go too wrong here.

My boyfriend took me here, finally, after listening to me whining about wanting to go here for months, and let me say, it was worth the wait. I loved it. I wake up in the morning craving that dang lo mein (they import their noodles from actual Asia- I mean, really??!). I've had lo mein at like every restaurant I've been to since that carries it, but it is never the same. I need to go back. Needless to say, this gets a BIG recommendation from me.

xoxo, Lily

*Note: Food prices and menu options are subject to change at any time, so I can't guarantee my information will always be accurate.

**Also, the "healthier options" I give are simply based on my knowledge of healthy eating and nutrition. I am not a doctor! For specific information regarding calories and such, I suggest contacting the individual restaurants via the Disney World website.

Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater: Restaurant Review

Name: Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater
Location: Hollywood Studios, in the Backlot Area
Cuisine: American, sandwiches, burgers & such
Type: Table Service
Good For Those: Who like old, terrible science fiction movies from the 50's and 60's; miss drive-in movie theaters
Price Range: Listed in the $$ Range, which means $15 to $35.99 per person. Most things here are on the lower end of that range, some are even less than $15. Lunch and dinner prices are about the same.
Times: Lunch is 11:00am to 3:55pm, dinner is from 4:00pm to 9:00pm.
Reservations: I strongly recommend them. Seating is pretty limited in this place, especially if you have a larger party. Make one in advance if you can; reservations can be made at the WDW official website.
My Recommendation: I've only been here once, and I had the veggie burger with sweet potato fries, which was good, if you are into that sort of thing. If I go again, I will probably try something different, though. The milkshakes, however, are definitely worth trying.
Healthier Option: Said veggie burger is pretty good, I'd say. They also have a salad and some tofu dish if that is more your thing.

This is a very fun place to eat- the atmosphere is one of the most unique at Hollywood Studios. If you are a fan of old, cheesy horror flicks, you must go here.

Basically, what they do is seat you in  booths that look like old-school convertible cars (most only seat 4, which is why I think it is more difficult for larger parties to get a spot), all facing a big movie screen, on which they play trailers and clips of these old movies (they have them on a continuing loop lasting about an hour- around the time it would take for a party to finish a meal without sitting through a bunch of repeats).

An example:

They just don't make'm like they used to.

xoxo, Lily

*Note: Food prices and menu options are subject to change at any time, so I can't guarantee my information will always be accurate.

**Also, the "healthier options" I give are simply based on my knowledge of healthy eating and nutrition. I am not a doctor! For specific information regarding calories and such, I suggest contacting the individual restaurants via the Disney World website.