This is another guest post by my friend Alexia.  Alexia is a Disney Vacation Specialist with Destinations in Florida.   Click here to contact her and she’ll help you find the best rates for your magical vacation!  

We discussed Disney cupcakes on both the Top 10 Walt Disney World Snacks list and the Top 10 Walt Disney World Desserts list, so it’s only natural that we needed a Top 10 Walt Disney World cupcakes list too, right? Seriously, cupcakes are something that Disney does well! One thing to note, Disney cupcakes are huge! Plan on sharing!

1. Butterfinger Cupcake: I honestly have yet to meet someone who said that they do not like this cupcake. This deliciousness consists of chocolate cake, vanilla frosting, chocolate shell coating, and real Butterfinger crumbles. The Butterfinger Cupcake can be found at Starring Rolls at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
2. The King Cupcake: A tribute to Elvis Presley, this cupcake features all of the flavors from The King’s favorite sandwich: a chocolate cupcake with banana custard filling and topped with peanut butter frosting, chocolate drizzle, and candied bacon. Yep, you read that correctly, candied bacon. The King Cupcake can be found at Everything Pop food court at Pop Century.
3. Zebra Cupcake: This goodie features a vanilla cake piled high with sweet buttercream frosting and white and dark chocolate striped shavings. The Zebra Cupcake can be found at Kusafiri Bakery at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
4. Red Velvet Cupcake: There is something about taking a plain chocolate cupcake and adding red food coloring that makes it extra delicious. Add a cheesecake center, and you have absolute heaven. Red sugar crystals are also incorporated into the vanilla frosting, and there’s a border of red sprinkles around the edge. The Red Velvet Cupcake can be found at Contempo Cafe in Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
5. Oreo Bon Bon Cupcake: A yellow vanilla cake thick, rich cookies and cream filling topped with vanilla frosting. A ribbon of Oreo crumbs coats the bottom of the frosting, and two little Oreos make a Mickey Mouse out of the whole thing. The Oreo Bon Bon Cupcake can be found at the Boardwalk Bakery at Disney’s Boardwalk.
6. S’mores Cupcake: A chocolate cake base is filled with chocolate chunk filling, topped with a vanilla buttercream and marshmallow frosting, dusted with graham cracker crumbs, and topped with a few toasted marshmallows. The S’mores cupcake can be found at Roaring Fork at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.
7. Chocolate Cappuccino Cupcake: A moist chocolate cake topped with coffee flavored frosting and crumbled toffee and chocolate bits. This cupcake is a must for any coffee fan. The Chocolate Cappuccino Cupcake can be found at the Boardwalk Bakery at Disney’s Boardwalk.
8. Carrot Cake Cupcake: A moist carrot cake topped with sweet can creamy cream cheese frosting, a true treat for any carrot cake fan! The Carrot Cake Cupcake can be found at Roaring Fork at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.
9. Pineapple Coconut Cupcake: Pineapple Upside Down Cake fans will love this cupcake! A vanilla cupcake with pineapple bits topped with a pineapple buttercream frosting and toasted coconut. The Pineapple Coconut Cupcake can be found at Sunshine Seasons at Epcot.
10. Triple Chocolate Cupcake: A chocolate sponge cake with a chocolate mousse filling and topped with chocolate ganache. This dessert is very rich, but a must for any chocoholic. The Triple Chocolate Cupcake can be found at Be Our Guest Restaurant at the Magic Kingdom.

What are your favorite Disney cupcakes?

Well we like to keep things lively around here.  Yesterday I got a phone call that my mom was on her way to urgent care.  She had gotten tripped up walking her dog and took a great fall.  She ended up fracturing her right wrist and her left elbow, took a shiner to her eye, and lots of scrapes and scratches.  Needless to say, she needs all the king’s horses and all the king’s men to put her back together again.

So the kids and I are going to be helping out Grandma some since everyday things such as teeth brushing, cooking, and walking the dog will be a little more difficult to do.  She is scheduled to see a surgeon on Monday and then we will see if she needs surgery.  Prayers for little pain and a quick recovery would be appreciated!

 

Below is another article by my friend Alexia.  If you are planning on taking a Disney vacation or just want to dream, contact her for some awesome rates and maybe a few little pixie dust surprises along the way.  There are also some current great free Disney dining deals that she can hook you up with!  They are ending SOON!  P.S – My favorite things to do at Downtown Disney are Rainforest or T-Rex Cafe.  We also really love Wolfgang Puck!  The LEGO store is absolutely amazing!  You can fill a cup of legos for a set price.  That’s a ton of fun!

As much as I love the Disney theme parks, sometimes you need a break from them.  Downtown Disney is a waterfront property divided into three sections:  Downtown Disney Westside, Downtown Disney Marketplace, and Pleasure Island.  Parking and admission is free.  Here is an overview of the three sections:

Downtown Disney Westside:  

Things to do:  Disney Quest (an indoor interactive theme park where price varies between $33 to $46 per person), Cirque du Soleil – La Nouba (price varies between $60 to $134 per person), Splitsville Bowling Alley (price varies between $15 to $20 per person), Characters in Flight Hot Air Balloon Ride (price varies between $12 to $18 per person), and AMC Downtown Disney 24 movie theater (price varies between $6 to $13 per person).

Where to shop:  Blink by Wet Seal, Candy Cauldron, Cirque du Soleil Boutique, Curl by Sammy Duvall, D Street, Disney Quest Emporium, Harley-Davidson Motorcycles, House of Blues Company Store, Hoypoloi, Pop Gallery, Something Silver, Sosa Family Cigars, and Sunglass Icon by Sunglass Hut

Where to eat:

• Quick Service: Bongo’s Cuban Café Window, FoodQuest and Wolfgang Puck Express – West Side
• Table Service:  Bongo’s Cuban Café, Crossroads at House of Blues, Splitsville, Planet Hollywood, and Wolfgang Puck Grand Café (first floor only)

Downtown Disney Marketplace:

Things to do:  Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique (Price varies between $55 to $190 per child.  Side note:  This location also has a Sofia the First package available for $65 that is currently not available at the Magic Kingdom location), Boat Rentals, and Classic Carousel

Where to shop:  Disney’s Days of Christmas, Disney Design-A-Tee, Disney’s Pin Traders, Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop, Goofy’s Candy Company, Lefty’s, LEGO Imagination Center (Side note: Do not miss this LEGO store!  The Disney LEGO statues are amazing!), little miss matched, Marketplace Fun Finds, Mickey’s Pantry, Once Upon a Toy Store, Rainforest Cafe Shop, RIDEMAKERZ, Team Mickey Athletic Club, Tren-D, Wonderful World of Memories, World of Disney (the world’s largest Disney store), and World of Disney KIDS

Where to eat:

• Quick Service:  Marketplace Snacks, Pollo Campero, Wolfgang Puck Express Marketplace, and Earl of Sandwich
• Table Service:  Rainforest Café

Pleasure Island:

Things to do:  Several bands perform at multiple locations on Pleasure Island.  Guests can now pick up a Times Guide to see which bands are performing and where.  You can also take your picture with one of several human statues, located on Pleasure Island at the West End Plaza.

Where to shop:  Fuego by Sosa Cigars

Where to eat:

• Quick Service:  Cookes of Dublin
• Table Service:  Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant, T-Rex Cafe, Portobello, and Paradiso 37 (Fulton’s Crab House is also a table service restaurant; however, it counts as two credits per person)

A few additional notes:  Downtown Disney becomes very crowded at night, especially after the parks close.  It is best to visit during the day or early evening.  Downtown Disney is also in the process of becoming Disney Springs.  Disney Springs will expand from 75 to more than 150 shopping, dining and entertainment venues, featuring some of the world’s most iconic brands and restaurants.  Disney Springs will be divided into three neighborhoods: The Landing, Marketplace and West Side.  There will also be a Town Center.  The Town Center will offer a sophisticated mix of shopping and dining along with a promenade where guests can relax, refresh and reconnect.  The Landing will be a colorful and thriving commercial district with inspired dining and beautiful waterfront views.  The Marketplace will continue to be family-friendly and delight guests of all ages by combining new experiences, such as an over-the-water pedestrian causeway, along with classic Disney favorites, including an expanded World of Disney store.  The West Side will provide an exuberant atmosphere with lively entertainment, along with a series of new elevated spaces that provide both shade and an overlook to the activity below.  Each neighborhood will open in phases and is expected to be completed in 2016.  Please keep in mind that certain restaurants, stores, and attractions may be closed due to renovation.  I have left out all currently closed restaurants, stores, and attractions from this list; however, renovations are always subject to change.

What are your favorites at Downtown Disney?  Are you looking forward to Disney Springs?  I would love to hear your thoughts!

Alexia is a Disney Vacation Specialist with Destinations in Florida.  

Last weekend, we were invited by Funopolis to bring the family and give them a try.  We were happy to check it out!  Having kids ranging from 2-10, I was eager to see if we could keep everyone entertained.

It definitely was worth the trip.  While the big kids rode the Tornado, the littles were able to ride the pirate ship.  While the bigs were in doing laser tag, the littles could jump in the bouncy houses.  There was plenty for everyone to do.  And everyone had fun, including myself.

Funopolis Family Fun center offers an arcade, bumper boats, bumper cars, rock wall, go karts, inflatables, laser tag, max flight, mini bowling, mini golf, mini carousel, pirate ship, roller racers, spider zone, water wars, and tornado.   We had an absolute blast and can’t wait to go back!

I was very pleased at how friendly and well trained their employees were.  We have visited other similar fun places this summer and none of them could compare with Funopolis as far as their employees.  Anytime there wasn’t someone at an attraction, they would immediately call for someone to come let us on the ride.  It was a great experience!

To make it affordable, be sure and checkout the little gray coupon books that you find around town.  Currently in this month’s, there is a buy one get one free wristband coupon.  This worked out great since the kids were able to ride everything they wanted to ride.  The only problem?  Time flies when you’re having fun!! 🙂

For the most value, I’d recommend getting the wristbands and then if the kids want to play in the arcade, getting a play card.  Really, you could do a ton of playing with just the wristbands.

For deals and offers, also check out their coupon page.

 

I was just reading this article about Tooth Fairy Inflation.  I was quite shocked at how much people are paying per tooth now.  Average of $4??? As much as $20?  Wow!

When I was growing up, I remember receiving $.25.  And one time when the tooth fairy didn’t have a quarter left for me, I got $1.  I do remember friends getting higher amounts and I always thought it was strange.  But then again Santa always brought different things as well.

With my children, the tooth fairy skips our house, but my hubby and I pay $1 per tooth and the kids are happy with that.

What is the standard rate at your house?  Is $4 the norm?

This week we celebrated the fact that it had been 13 years since our first date and he brought me a sweet rose.  I still remember the dorky guy that I worked with that got up the courage to ask me out.  And I still am madly in love.  He is still my dork but I couldn’t be happier.

I hate being that person that always brings the cheese and cracker platter to a party (come on, we all have done it)! But you don’t have to be!  Here are some ideas that are sure to get you invited to all the parties and is as easy as arranging all the cheese and cracker assortments onto a platter.

DIPS and SPREADS

• Sour cream and onion dip—my sister passed this down to me—sour cream, beef bouillon granules and finely chopped green onion, mix and you are ready to eat!
• Marshmallow Fluff Fruit Dip—I just add a little yogurt to this and it is perfect!
• Baked Brie in Puff Pastry with Apricot or Raspberry Preserves—if you want a finger food option, you can make bites out of these and cut the pastry into small squares and stuff with the cheese and preserves
• Marinated Olives and Feta

FINGER FOODS

• Pigs in a blanket with cranberry-mustard sauce- We all know how to make pigs in a blanket—but add this quick cranberry-mustard sauce and it creates a more grown-up version! All you do is add cranberry sauce and mustard of choice and a couple dashes of water, VIOLA! You can also use this sauce on a pork tenderloin so make extra!
• Bacon wrapped water chestnuts—if you don’t want to make the sauce and are really in a time crunch, just use soy sauce!
• Cucumber sandwiches
• Mini grilled cheese sandwiches with chutney
• Stuffed and bacon-wrapped jalapenos
• Bacon-wrapped figs stuffed with blue cheese—just try it! How can you go wrong with anything wrapped in bacon?

CROCK POT SNACKS

• We all know the classic meatballs, grape jelly and chili sauce—always a hit! (Also, try using sausage links instead of meatballs for a little kick!)
• Rueben Dip—Can somebody say St. Patrick’s Day all year?
• Broccoli Cheese Dip
• Artichoke-Crab Dip
• Nacho Dip

What are your favorite quick and easy party snack ideas?