What I love about WDW

This blog is quite the work in progress. Although I created it months ago, I've been hesitant to begin regular posting. I want to make sure that I do WDW justice.

I've had a very fortunate life. The only daughter of a Civil Engineer and a stay at home mother, I grew up in a happy, loving household. I was born and raised in South Florida, which not only boasted warm weather and beautiful beaches, but it was also a short trip to WDW. My parents would take my brother and me to visit WDW at least once a year. By the time I hit middle school, we were making multiple trips a year. Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall...we went to WDW. And we loved it. One of my favorite memories is when we spent a week at The Contemporary following a conference my father was attending there. It was perfect. We leisurely visited the parks, swam, and even rented a pontoon boat one day to discover Bay Lake.

As I grew older, I continued to visit frequently. Even though I would go up with my friends, I still looked forward to my family trips. I started to visit Disney with my then boyfriend (now husband). He quickly caught D-fever as well. One night, right before Wishes! began, he proposed at Cinderella's Castle, in front of my family and thousands of strangers. It was only fitting that we married nearly a year later at the Wedding Pavilion, overlooking that same castle.

Now, four years later, we still go to WDW once every other month. We bring our daughter, Abigail, to all of our special spots. At just over a year old, she is just starting to recognize the characters, and it brings her so much happiness. I hope my Disney story never ends.

So, why do I love WDW so much? It's my happy place. Yes, this may sound like the product of a generation pumped with effective marketing, but it's true. It is the Happiest Place on Earth.

When I'm in WDW, nothing else matters. Work, finances, relationship troubles- they are all left at thome. I actually feel the Magic there. It is tangible. I can remember being 10 years old, walking down Main Street, U.S.A, tugging at my father's hand out of excitement. 20 years later, that same little girl comes out. I still squeeze my father's hand and I become his little girl all over again. When I watch the parades, I still feel the urge to waive to the characters and sing along to the words I know so well. And I simply cannot watch Wishes! without tearing up. I guess one of the reasons I love WDW so much is that it's not just my 'happy' place, it's also my 'family' place. My parents, brother, and I- and now my husband and daughter- it brings us closer together.

Another reason I love WDW is for its complexity. People always wonder how I am able to visit as often as I do without being bored. These people simply do not understand. When I was little, WDW was pixie dust, Minnie Mouse, and fairy tales. By my adolescent years, it was all about the rides. And now, as an adult, I would walk the World Showcase forever, taking in the sights and smells from each country. The experience of WDW is never the same; it has the perfect mix of evolving while still being warm and familiar. We try new restaurants and hotels. We play miniature golf or go on horse-drawn carriages. But we will always get dessert from Boulangerie Patisserie before posting up to watch Illuminations. It's perfect harmony.

Lastly, I am very appreciative of the setup and design of the physical space. Every square inch of space has meaning and purpose. Take the building that houses the Hall of Presidents, in the Magic Kingdom. At first glance, it simply fits in with the colonial look of Liberty Square. But if you do some homework, you learn that every single detail is period specific. Its amazing to see how much thought has been put into WDW. I appreciate the history, architecture, and design that together provide the sense of place. And this is done with each pavilion, attraction, building, etc! And that it all works together- I am blown away at the capabilities of the Imagineers.

So, there you have it: all the ways and reasons I love WDW. I love it as a little girl, an adult, a daughter, a wife, a mother and as a professional.

°o° Natalie

The Wave... of American Flavors

Tucked in the corner of Disney’s Contemporary Resort’s lobby since 2008, The Wave… of American Flavors has, in a few short years, established a reputation for serving fresh, creative and healthy meals that are packed with flavor.

Upon approaching the reception area for the restaurant, one must first walk down an entrance ramp that is lined on the right side with lit, semicircular adornments that reach overhead giving the whimsical illusion of riding into a crashing wave’s barrel.  The cast members who greet you at the end of “the barrel” are, like most cast members around WDW, very friendly and accommodating. (Being in a wheelchair, I often have special needs or requests that have been fulfilled every time.)

Behind the wall of the reception area is a lovely bar that feels modern but very warm because of the wooden floors, chairs and bar top. Dozens of small lights dot the ceiling in the barroom which gives an outdoor, starry feel to the area. Continuing into the dining room, dimmed but sufficient lighting along with all of the brown and orange color tones in the carpet and tapestries keep the warmth throughout the entire restaurant. Tables are spaced nicely allowing for nice walking aisles. I like the look of the chairs that have three vertical wavy lines as back support. I’ve been told the chairs are comfortable so it’s neat to see the wave theme continue. Also keeping within the theme are wavy metallic pieces of artwork on the ceiling.

Now for the nitty-gritty; the food! My last visit to The Wave happened to be for lunch. For my entrée I ordered “Today’s Sustainable Fish [Striped Bass] with Edamame Stew and Cilantro Chutney.” My first impression of the dish when it arrived was “Wow! It’s so colorful!” The striped bass was served in the middle of a white plate on a bed of  lime-green edamame (soy beans) and  yellow corn with the colorful chutney topping the fish. Surrounding the food was a light moat of deliciousness that had the consistency of a consommé. The fork-tender bass had a beautiful, medium brown sear with bits of white flesh visible through its crispy striations.  The fish was so light it practically melted on my tongue. The edamame was nicely al dente and had an amazing sweet flavor which as it turns out came from the previously mentioned “moat of deliciousness.” The sweetness was so subtle that it taunted my sweet tooth far more than a stack of milk chocolate candy bars could ever do (and that’s a big statement coming from a chocoholic!).  But don’t let me calling it “sweet” give the wrong impression; this is definitely a savory dish. After lapping up the last bits, I moved on to dessert.

Luckily I was there with two other people so I was able to sample from three different desserts! The desserts we chose were under the “Sweet Temptations” part of the dessert menu. In this section, each dessert is actually a taster size of three different preparations. The “Creamy Indulgence” dessert included New York cheesecake with house-maid seasonal fruit compote, Coffee crème brûlée with chocolate biscotti and Olive oil-infused chocolate mousse. The "American Flavors” dessert included Mississippi mud pie with vanilla bean ice cream, Key lime cube with fresh citrus whipped cream and Boston cream pie. The “Freshly Made Gelato” dessert included Popcorn gelato, Rocky road chocolate gelato and Peanut butter and jelly gelato. The star of the show was the olive oil-infused chocolate truffle mousse! “Creamy indulgence” only barely describes this luscious dessert; light, fluffy, airy, pillowy…  none of these words does this dessert justice. The flavor was chocolatey without being overwhelmed by sugar. I would have traded the other eight for this one after my first bite. My next favorite also came from the “Creamy Indulgence” preparations, New York cheesecake with House-made seasonal fruit compote. The cheesecake itself was very good but the blueberry and raspberry compote tasted so refreshing and again did not taste overly sweet. "American Flavors" was my second favorite dessert threesome. Generally speaking, all of the desserts were outstanding, it just comes down to personal preferences.

 I've been to The Wave between five and seven times total now. I've been for breakfast, lunch and dinner -- though not on the same day -- and I have yet to be disappointed. Having only recently been introduced to the joys of fresh and organic foods, I was thrilled to have made the acquaintance of golden beets, edamame, pork tenderloin and the best grits I've ever had! (If you're on the fence about grits or if you've recently considered your first attempt at eating grits, this long time grit eater highly recommends making these your first.)

In fact the only negative I could see in my trips to The Wave were the cumbersome looking and uncomfortable looking cast member uniforms (white, long-sleeve, collared shirt; orange-brown colored vest; light colored khaki pants; white, waist-tied apron)! But I can hardly deduct points since I wasn't forced, or even asked, to wear the uniform.

Being my very first restaurant review, I have not decided on a permanent rating scale but for now suffice it to say that The Wave... of American Flavors receives my highest rating, 5 Remys out of 5!

(Apologies for the lack of photos. They'll be added later.)

Just Joe

Welcome

Hello, and welcome to my blog! My name is Natalie. I'm a wife, mother, and a professional. During the day, I work as a Transportation Planner, but during my free time I'm a Disney Fan. You know the type: I have an annual pass, have been to WDW countless times and continue to visit very regularly. I collect all sorts of Disneyania. My husband proposed in the Kingdom and we even had a Disney Fairytale Wedding.

Thesis:
To document every attraction, show, accomodation and dining service WDW has to offer. I hope to not only provide helpful reviews, but to also delve into the theory and background that true Disney fans enjoy.

Please feel free to stop by and say hello!

I hope you enjoy my Project Disney.

Natalie  °o°