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Category: Restaurants

Disney Parks Reopening Restaurants

11 Ways Walt Disney World Dining Has Changed

by AllysonSeptember 14, 2020May 17, 2021

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Disney Parks Restaurants

A Tribute To Kona Cafe’s Breakfast

by AllysonApril 23, 2018July 2, 2018

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Welcome to Magic-Ally Main Street! I’m Allyson: Disney lover, parks enthusiast, and your go-to Disney guide. Here you’ll find news, information, travel tips, and all of my favorite Disney things. I hope you enjoy following my journey to the most magical place on earth!

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Let’s talk the Beacons of Magic projected on eac

Let’s talk the Beacons of Magic projected on each park icon for the 50th anniversary. ✨

They happen each night at a designated time. You can search for “Beacon of Magic” or find times under “Entertainment” in the My Disney Experience app.

The Beacons consist of projections and mini-transformations that are supposed to run every 15 minutes. Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios’ are very short compared to Spaceship Earth’s Points of Light and Beacon of Magic show (it’s 3 minutes long!). While all pretty, there’s no topping SSE. 🌐

Something to keep in mind ➡️ If there’s a special event (like Boo Bash at Magic Kingdom) or a holiday celebration, the Beacon of Magic might only run once, be cut short, or impacted in some way.

For example: During evenings when Disney Very Merriest After Hours ISN’T being held, Cinderella Castle will have holiday-themed projections that will alternate between the Beacon of Magic.

The Beacon at both Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom will also alternate during Sunset Seasons Greetings at DHS and the Holiday Tree Awakenings at DAK.

What’s your favorite of Beacon?

ChEARs to me because I’m now a “Genie+ Whiz”

ChEARs to me because I’m now a “Genie+ Whiz”. 🍹 Not really. I don’t know everything about the new service, but after spending 15 hours today writing and researching, I have absorbed A LOT.

Now, this only just launched, so there’s still so much to learn and many kinks to work out. Plus, it will be awhile until I can actually test it out in the parks for myself.

BUT — there is one thing that does concern me. This is just way too overwhelming for Disney newbies and people who aren’t tech-savvy.

Just think about someone who isn’t familiar with Disney or any kind of digital FastPass service having to book a Genie+ selection, two individual Lightning Lane selections (gosh, I hate this name), and join a virtual queue all at 7 a.m. because they’re staying on property and have an Epcot park reservation.

🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

NOPE. It hurts MY brain just thinking about it.

The Genie is going to require much learning and practicing before heading to the parks. Thank goodness there’s material out there for people to read and watch, but that doesn’t make it any less stressful for those who have zero clue about Disney and technology.

I wish I had some Disney popcorn to get me through

She is grand. She is miraculous. She is the best B

She is grand. She is miraculous. She is the best Beacon of Magic. She is unbeatable. We are not worthy. 🌐🤩

This is a petition to bring back the Lighthouse Sa

This is a petition to bring back the Lighthouse Sandwich at Harbour House. 🍞🌱

Currently, “The Doom Burger” is being served as the only Plant-Based option. This is a Plant-Based Crab Cake Sandwich topped with Red Onion and Cabbage Slaw served with French Fries (or you can choose Hush Puppies or Green Beans).

While this is a decent sandwich (not the greatest I’ve ever had), it’s not worth $12.99. I mean, it’s fine (could use a sauce or condiment). I also love the Pumpernickel bun. It’s something different and I’m always excited to see a new Plant-Based option, but it does not beat the Lighthouse Sandwich.

I really hope this isn’t a permanent replacement and just a limited-time 50th offering. Or at least put the Lighthouse Sandwich back on the menu with it. Why can’t we have TWO Plant-Based options?

How the week started vs. how the week ended (SWIPE

How the week started vs. how the week ended (SWIPE) 🤣💁‍♀️🙃

But, for real, let’s talk the now hugely popular (and probably not for the best reasons) Disney KiteTails that’s held daily at Animal Kingdom’s Discovery River Amphitheater.

P.S. You can find showtimes in the My Disney Experience app.

Keep in mind there are TWO versions: one for The Lion King and another for The Jungle Book. I believe they alternate between them.

This is a very cute show. I think little ones will truly enjoy it. Now is it the best show Disney has ever produced? Obviously not. And the seating area? The direct sunlight is a killer, especially in that Florida heat. There’s plenty of seating, so enter right before it starts and you’ll be fine. Or, you can try to grab a shaded seat with food at Flame Tree Barbecue (not a super close view, but still a good one!)

As for the show, I think the kites are so creative with fantastic detail. I also don’t know how you ride a jet ski backwards to maneuver these massive kites, but that’s why I’m not in the show. Now for the way the kites crash, I mean land, well, it’s definitely entertaining. But I feel like there could be a better way to do this and out of the audience eye? I don’t know. I’m not a show producer and director so I know nothing. But, it’s just odd and also super amusing.

Is KiteTails worth the 10 minutes? I wouldn’t go out of my way, but if you need a time filler or want something new to do, give it a try! I mean, it is fun! And you’ll get a good laugh.

🪁 How do you feel about KiteTails?

Now that @brookegmcdonald shared the exciting news

Now that @brookegmcdonald shared the exciting news that a plant-based burger is coming to Steakhouse 71 at the Contemporary beginning today (Oct. 14), I wanted to briefly share my Oct. 2 lunch experience at this new Table Service spot.

First of all, the restaurant oozes nostalgia and history. It fits so well in the Contemporary! Each dish and beverage has some significance behind it, whether it be a small tribute to Walt or Mary Blair. Our server was awesome in telling us the meaning behind what we had ordered.

I ordered the plant-based onion rings, the gourmet grilled cheese (minus the pork belly) with parmesan fries, and the raspberry gin sour. All of it was fantastic!

You get a lot for what you’re paying for and I felt like everything was reasonably priced. I can’t recommend Steakhouse 71 enough. I will definitely make another reservation here.

Have you tried Steakhouse 71 yet?

💫 It’s time to share some thoughts about Walt

💫 It’s time to share some thoughts about Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary.

As I’ve stated multiple times, I had a blast at the 50th thanks to everyone I was able to hang out with and meet during my trip. I never thought I would make so many friends in the Disney community.

I was also able to try certain experiences that I normally wouldn’t get to do thanks to the amazing opportunities @wdwprepschool continues to provide me. My 50th trip is certainly one for the books. But, I've been talking a lot with my co-workers and friends about whether or not Disney nailed the kick-off.

In my opinion? It was a miss. I did not visit Magic Kingdom on Oct. 1, but after chatting with several people who did, well, they weren't impressed and really hoped there would've been something special. None of the execs even spoke or gave a rededication speech. Besides a special map and free poster, the nostalgia and a bit of that 50th magic seemed to be lost.

I did, however, visit Epcot on Oct. 1 and it was a fantastic day. But, it just felt like any other day. There wasn't that "spark" that I thought there would be. And if I'm being honest, I felt like there was a lot of focus on the media and influencers, rather than the actual guests.

(BTW, Serena from @livingbydisney also touched upon this in a past newsletter and I thank her for being open and honest. She really hit the nail on the head when it came to my own feelings.)

It's not that the 50th wasn't special or fun or that the new experiences aren't enjoyable (there’s so much I loved!), it's just that the guests themselves seemed to get lost in the shuffle. As someone whose job not only surrounds Disney, but as a Disney fan who gives the parks a lot of her time and money outside of work, I wish there would've been more focus on us as guests.

I'm sorry for this being longwinded and if you made it this far, thank you for reading! I'm not here to bash Disney, but I know many asked my own thoughts and feelings about the 50th, so I wanted to share because I haven't yet. I love Disney and the magic is very much still there for me, but sometimes they do get it wrong.

If you attended the 50th, how did you feel?

Have you seen Mickey’s Celebration Cavalcade at

Have you seen Mickey’s Celebration Cavalcade at Magic Kingdom? 💜💙💖 These special 50th floats are super cute, play the new celebration anthem titled “The Magic is Calling”, run multiple times daily (check the My Disney Experience app for times), and feature characters (Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Donald, Daisy, and Chip and Dale) and Cast Members in new EARidescent costumes.

What else can you see at MK for the 50th?

💎 The nightly Beacon of Magic on Cinderella Castle, which runs about every 15 minutes or so for 60 seconds (check MDE for the start time).

💎 The new nighttime spectacular Disney Enchantment. It’s about 20 minutes long and you definitely want to grab a spot early, because Hub and Main Street space fill up fast. For the latest showtime, MDE has you covered.

💎 The Fab 50 statues (19 total), which you can find in the main Hub area, near the flag pole, by Tomorrowland Terrace, near Pinocchio’s Village Haus, by the tea cups, and in Adventureland (be sure to look UP at the entrance sign for one statue).

💎 Of course, there’s specialty food and merchandise (browse the Emporium and Main Street Cinema) across the park, along with decor.

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