Seven Dwarfs Seven Shots

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With the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train being officially opened to the public today (May 28!), I thought it was only necessary to celebrate with a themed cocktail!  And what better way to commemorate the opening of the last piece of New Fantasyland than a shot representing each of the seven dwarfs!

Seven shots for the seven dwarfs means a lot of alcohol, so I've made each with only half a shot of vodka.  However, feel free to add more vodka and less of the "mixer" if sharing with friends.  In other words, just be careful!  (This has been a public service announcement from YADisney;) )

Anyway, here is what you'll need:

• Total of about 5 1/2 oz. vodka (3/4 oz., or half a shot, per drink)
• 3/4 oz. apple juice
• 3/4 oz. Coco Real
• 3/4 oz. lemon juice
• 1/2 oz. lime juice (not pictured)
• Splash of hot sauce
• About 2 1/2 oz. lemon lime soda
• Strawberries
• Apple slice
• Whipped cream
• Pepper
• Sugar

To begin, rim two of the shot glasses, one with pepper (for Sneezy!) and one with sugar.

Next, fill each of the shot glasses halfway full with vodka, carefully pouring into the two glasses that were rimmed with the pepper and sugar.

Bashful: Uses vodka and strawberries.

Take about 3-4 strawberries and blend until smooth.  Add the strawberry puree to a shot glass and stir slightly to mix the two together.  (If making multiple of this shot, it would be easier to mix in a shaker.)  Add a small strawberry slice to the edge for garnish.

The drink ends up pink, just like Bashful's cheeks when he gets shy!

Doc: Uses vodka, apple juice, and an apple slice.

Top off a shot glass that is half full with vodka with the apple juice.  Add an apple slice for garnish.

Because you know, and apple a day keeps the Doctor away!

Dopey: Uses vodka and lemon lime soda.

Fill the shot glass that is half full with vodka with the lemon lime soda.

You can't see in the picture, but it's nice and bubbly, like Dopey's personality!

Grumpy: Uses vodka, hot sauce, and lemon lime soda.

Add a little bit of hot sauce to the vodka in the glass.  Add lemon lime soda to fill the shot.

Though not the tastiest shot, the hot sauce represents Grumpy's hot-headedness!

Happy: Uses vodka, lemon juice, and sugar.

Use the shot glass that is rimmed with sugar.  Carefully add lemon juice to fill the shot glass.  Though the lemon is a little sour, the sugar on the rim helps counteract that for a yummy, happy shot.

Nothing is happier than yellow, especially a sweet ending to this shot!

Sleepy: Uses vodka, Coco Real, and whipped cream.

Add Coco Real to a shot glass.  Top it off with whipped cream, trying to make it fluffy.

This white and fluffy shot looks like a cloud from dream-land for this Sleepy dwarf!

Sneezy: Uses vodka, pepper, lime juice, and lemon lime soda.

Carefully add a splash of lime juice and lemon lime soda to the shot glass that is already rimmed in pepper.

The pepper on the rim might not be the tastiest, but it will make you Sneezy!

Would you have made any of these shots differently?  What would you like to see next?  Let me know in the comments!

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Quick Service Picks at Magic Kingdom

There's an abundance of quick service restaurants (Disney's version of "fast food") in Magic Kingdom.  During lunch especially, these restaurants can get really busy, and it can be hard to choose exactly where you want to eat.  Having some knowledge about these quick service restaurants before going to the park can help you pick the best quick service place for you to eat!

However, even if you don't pre-plan where to go, you can't go wrong with Disney food!


Planner vs. Impulsive
Though the planner and the impulsive individual might be happy with any choice, it's nice to have a clue what might be best suited for you before going to the parks!

Planner

• Location: New Fantasyland (in Beast's Castle)
• Menu: Lunch Only
• Why: Be Our Guest is one of the newest and most popular restaurants in Magic Kingdom.  A quick service option only during lunch, the lines can be up to an hour long just to get in.  It takes planning to get into this restaurant, whether it be the time that you get there, or trying to secure a Fastpass+ (not included in your 3 for the day) at this site.
• Note: The automated ordering system can be a bit confusing, especially for those on the dining plan, so be sure to ask the many cast members standing by for help if you need it!
• Be sure to order the Master's Cupcake here.  It is topped with the "grey stuff" that you'll remember is in the song, Be Our Guest!

Impulsive

• Location: Tomorrowland
• Menu: Lunch/Dinner
• Why: With multiple "bays," meaning multiple places for various different food options, and lots of indoor and outdoor seating, and an extensive toppings bar, this location has options for a lot of different tastes and is able to hold and serve a large capacity of people.  It's perfect for those with a last minute pick to make, for a large group of people with different tastes, and those who was a classic Disney experience.

Saver vs. Spender

Whether you have a seemingly endless budget, or are pinching the pennies as much as possible, there is a quick service stop in Magic Kingdom that's just right for you!

Saver

(The Lunching Pad)

• Location: Tomorrowland
• Menu: Lunch/Dinner
• Why: Though the Lunching Pad might be listed at as "snack" option, the Coney Island Hotdog and the Philly Cheesesteak Hotdog are some of the most reasonably priced entrees (and served with chips) in the park.  There are also some specialty (non-alcoholic) frozen beverages, and delicious pretzels that are great for a quick stop in the day!

Spender

(Pecos Bills Tall Tale Inn and Cafe)

• Location: Between Adventureland and Frontierland
• Menu: Lunch/Dinner
• Why: The menu features some burgers and some taco-type items, which are the priciest of the quick service options.  However, the extensive toppings bar, bigger portions, and generally tasty fare makes this food worth it!  The theming here is also really well done, blending seamlessly from one "land" to the other.
• Note: Like Be Our Guest Restaurant, Pecos Bill has the option of automated ordering, though it seems to be easier than that at Be Our Guest.
• A guest favorite tends to be the Taco Salad.

Romantic vs. Fun

Even quick service stops can embody the feel of the Walt Disney World visit you want to have! 

Romantic

(Columbia Harbour House)

• Location: Liberty Square
• Menu: Lunch/Dinner
• Why: Columbia Harbour House has delicious food that is higher quality than you would expect from a quick service restaurant, even in Disney!  But, with a quiet and quaint dining area upstairs that has window views of Fantasyland, this is a great place for couples to go relax and get away from the craziness of the park for a little while.
• Though all of their food (especially seafood) is delicious, their specialty is obviously the fish and chips.

Fun

(Casey's Corner)

• Location: Main Street U.S.A.
• Menu: Lunch/Dinner
• Why: Casey's Corner is a great and nostalgic end to Main Street.  With classic baseball stadium fare and a fun and old-fashioned atmosphere, Casey's is a great place to visit for those that want to have fun!  (It's personally one of my favorites, a most-stop for every vacation.)
• Note: The outside seating here provides really great views of Cinderella Castle.
• The hot dogs here are the obvious star, and because there is almost always a little bit of a line here, the turnover for the food is fast so everything is hot and fresh!

Fun Alternative: The Waffle sandwiches at Sleepy Hollow are awesome and really interesting, definitely a must try!!

Location: Liberty Square

Menu: All Day Menu

Note: The Waffle Sandwiches are only served from 11am - 5pm, so make sure you get yours earlier in the day!

There were some other quick service option left out...what do you YOU think of the places that were left out?  Would you pick a different option for any category (snack only stops not included)?  Let me know in the comments!

Want a piece of Disney-inspired jewelry for your Disney trip?

Check out my page on Etsy!

Also, follow Young Adult Disney on Pinterest for updates from the blog, and tips and tricks for planning from some of my favorite sources!

And check out YADisney out on Twitter for your daily dose of Disney from the young adult mind!

Norway's Rice Cream Recipe

When the trio of desserts that comes at the end of the meal at Akershus arrived at our table, fiancé and I were leery of the "rice cream."  The first bite or two we were both a bit perturbed, but the more and more I ate the more and more interesting I found the dessert to be.  Though it isn't something I would want all the time, I knew it would definitely be something that I would get a random craving for.

And boy did I!

I found a recipe on Disney Food Blog (one of my favorite Disney blogs!), but decided to tweak it a bit in order to make it lactose-intolerant friendly.  This basically meant that I used Cool Whip instead of making my own whip cream and using a milk-alternative, but you could easily use normal milk and still use Cool Whip for an easier and quicker version.

To make my version of Norway's Rice Cream (makes 4-6 servings), you will need:

• 1 1/2 cups water (for the rice cream)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup short-grain rice (I used long grain, but I think the short grain would be better)
• 2 cups milk (I used almond milk)
• 2 cups Cool Whip*
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• About 1 cup strawberries
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup water (for the strawberry sauce)

For the Rice Cream:
To begin, boil the water with the teaspoon of salt in a medium sized saucepan.  Add the rice once the water is boiling and reduce the heat to medium-low.  Cook for about 15 minutes, or until the rice absorbs all of the water.

Once the water has been absorbed, add the 2 cups of milk and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until all the water has been absorbed.  The rice should stick together in clumps just a little bit, but be easily stirred.

Add the 2 cups of Cool Whip and the vanilla extract and refrigerate until chilled.  Store covered in refrigerator.

*If you want a more authentic version, make whipped cream yourself!  This will give the dessert a creamier texture.  Just take 1 cup heavy cream, 1/2 cup of sugar, and the listed 1 tsp vanilla extract and whip together until stiff peaks form.  Mix this into the rice and milk combination.


For the Strawberry Sauce:

Puree 1 cup of strawberries.  Add the strawberry puree, water, and sugar to a saucepan and allow to simmer until thickened to a syrupy consistency.  Allow to cool to room temperature, and refrigerate to store.






Pour (or drizzle) some strawberry sauce on top of a serving of rice cream, and that's it!  You've made Norway's Rice Cream at home!

In the parks: Rice cream is available both as a dessert at Akershus and at the Kringla Bakeri, both located in Norway's plaza in World Showcase.

What's your favorite food from Disney that you would like to see a recipe for?  What would you like to see next on YADisney?  Let me know in the comments!



Also...
Have you checked out my Etsy page?  I'm selling Disney-inspired crystal pieces!
Check it out HERE!

Follow Young Adult Disney on Pinterest!
And on Twitter!

Kiss the Girl Cocktail

Sha-la-la-la-la-la-my-oh-my!

I can't stop singing that song while making this drink and while making the post for this drink!

As per request in the comments, I made a Little Mermaid themed drink, based on the blue lagoon scene during the song Kiss the Girl!

Here's what you'll need:

• 1 1/2 oz. (1 shot) rum
• 3/4 oz. (1/2 shot) blue curaçao*
• Approx. 1 cup lemonade (You can use an alcoholic lemonade like Mike's Hard if you like)
• Raspberries

*I didn't have blue curaçao, but I did have triple sec.  Since blue curaçao is basically the same flavor as triple sec, just blue, I added about 5 drops of blue food dye to the recipe.

To make this drink, add the rum, blue curaçao, and about 5 or so raspberries to a shaker full of ice.  Mix these ingredients well and add to a glass.  Top the glass off with lemonade.  Add a raspberry "kiss" to the side of the glass as a garnish.  And that's it!  Simple!

I had a few friends from work over who helped me make, and drink, this one!

Elisa, shaking things up!

Does anyone have any idea for what they'd like to see next?  I have some plans for about the next month, but I'd love to work in what you would like to see!


Like this cocktail?  Check out some other recipes! 101 Dalmatians: Seeing Spots, Wall-e and Eve: Starstruck Love, I Just Can't Wait to Be Lion King, and The Enchanted Rose






Check out the Young Adult Disney Pinterest page for updates from me, Disney at home ideas, and planning tips and tricks!

And follow Young Adult Disney on Twitter for a daily dose of YADisney and updates from the blog!

New Ventures and Young Adult Disney Updates!

Hey fellow Disney-lovers!

I'm finally done with final exams (with only one more year to go!), which means that, at least for the next two weeks, I'll be doing a lot of things to feature on the blog.

For example:

• The Little Mermaid Kiss the Girl Cocktail
• Recipe for Rice Cream with Strawberry Sauce from Epcot's Norway
• Recipe for Magic Kingdom's Sleepy Hollow Chicken Waffle Sandwich
• Drink around World Showcase (at home) for less than $50
• A cocktail to celebrate the opening of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

These will all likely be posted within the next month, but I'm going to spread them out, because at the beginning of June, I will be starting an internship for the summer.

Also, I wanted to let you know that I am starting an Etsy page!

My page will feature bracelets, earrings, and necklaces based on Disney movies, characters, and parks!

Check out some examples:

1. Aladdin and the Magic Lamp

2. Elsa from Frozen

3. Iconic Mickey Mouse

4. Ariel from the Little Mermaid

5. Custom Order! (Work with me to come up with a design, children's size in all bracelets available)

Other characters currently listed in the shop include: Belle, Tinker Bell, Rapunzel, Pocahontas, Cinderella, and Minnie Mouse

Once again, check out the entire shop here!: Main Street Crystal

And that's it for now, everyone!

In the meantime, be sure to add Young Adult Disney on Pinterest for updates from the blog and other Disney sites!

And follow Young Adult Disney Twitter!

Choosing Your Value Resort

You know that during your vacation you won't be spending much time in your room, so why spend a lot of money on one?  You've come to the conclusion that a moderate resort is right for you, but which one should you chose?  I've got you covered.

The way I've organized these resorts doesn't really adhere to the "Saver vs. Spender, Romantic vs. Fun, and Planner vs. Impulsive" format, so instead, I'm going to highlight each resort.

First, for the Saver:

If you are really pinching pennies and need to stay at the least expensive resort possible, but still want to stay in Disney, then the cheapest option is one of the All Star Resorts (All Star Movies, All Star Sports, and All Star Music).

• Average cost per night: $98 (for all three)
• Located in Disney's Animal Kingdom resort area
• Each resort has a food court
• Bus transportation (often the shuttle stops at all three before going to the parks)

If you are going to stay at one of these resorts (unless you have a huge love of sports or music), I would recommend staying at the All Star Movies Resort.  This resort offers larger than life models of various Disney movies (Fantasia, 101 Dalmatians, Mighty Ducks, and Herbie).  It will provide the most "Disney" feel for your vacation.

However, if your budget can just be a little bit more flexible, I highly suggest the next option instead.

For the Planner, Impulsive, and Romantic:

I think that the Pop Century Resort is one of the best picks in the value category for just about everyone.  Though it is slightly more expensive than the All Star Resorts, I think that the pros for this resort make the extra cost worth it.

• Average per night: $108
• Located in the Wide World of Sports Area (closest to Hollywood Studios)
• Food court
• The thing that makes this the best pick: the buses stop only here before transporting to the parks.  There are no intermediate stops in either direction, you get picked up out front, dropped off out front, and that's it!  It's a time saver and less of a hassle than stopping at other resorts or internal shuttles, if you ask me.

If you can afford it, I also suggest upgrading to the Premium rooms.  For just a few dollars extra a night, you'll be places in a room closer to the front of the resort, where the shuttle buses leave you off.  After a few days of non-stop walking in the parks, your feet will thank you for having a short walk at the end of the night (I promise).

And lastly, for the Fun and Spenders:

The best pick for those that want to have a lot of fun and those willing to spend a little bit extra is the newest resort, the Art of Animation Resort.  The resort is beautifully designed with character replicas that are supposed to make you feel like you've become part of the movie yourself.

• Average per night: $110
• Located in the Wide World of Sports Area
• Newly conceptualized food court with some really delicious quick service food
• Really great artwork based on favorite Disney films inside and outside of the resort, including in the rooms.
• The main pool, based on Finding Nemo, plays music that can only be heard underwater, the only resort pool to do such a thing.
• Some things to know:
• The room themes are Cars, Finding Nemo, Lion King, and Little Mermaid.  Little Mermaid is the only room that is a standard hotel room set up.  The other three are Family Suites (sleep a total of 6 people, most with one bed per room).
• The Little Mermaid rooms are located the furthest from the main lobby, and often don't apply for discounts such as free dining.
• Bonus Tip:  If you are looking to save money and are going to Disney with a group of 6 (meaning you can't fit in a standard hotel room), then the Family Suites might be cheaper than having to purchase 2 separate rooms, plus you can then save money by preparing food in the kitchenettes (fridge and microwave) included.

Which value resort would you chose for your vacation?  What planning tip would you like to learn about next?  Let me know in the comments!

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And on Twitter! (@YADisney20)

101 Dalmatians Seeing Spots

If you're in college or pursuing some type of higher education, there is a good chance that you are about the enter the finals period of the spring semester.  *cringe*

Now, though I don't condone drinking and studying...sometimes a little spike to that evening coffee can help keep you relaxed enough to learn more information than if you're totally freaking out.

Maybe?

I don't know.

But if you decide you want to try (and you want to do it in a Disney themed way), try the 101 Dalmatians Seeing Spots!

This drink in pretty simple, you'll just need:

• 1 1/2 oz. (1 shot) Bailey's Irish Cream
• Milk (Whatever you have in the fridge.  I just used Almond milk because of the lactose issue.)
• Coffee
• 1 tbs. Cocoa Powder (optional, and also not pictured)

Mini ice cube tray!

To make your drink, you're going to want to start by brewing some coffee.  Add about 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, if you want.  I found that it darkened my coffee a bit (added to the 'spots' effect), and added some chocolatey flavor as the drink.  Once your coffee cools to room temperature, freeze the mixture in an ice cube tray.

Once the coffee is frozen, get a small glass and put the ice cubes in.  Pour the Bailey's over the ice cubes slowly to keep them from mixing too much.  You want to try and keep the colors (brown and white) separate, at least at first.  Then, pour in milk until the ice cubes are just covered.

And that's about all there is to it!  If you pour just the amount of milk in, the ice cubes will show through to the side of the class a little better, and look like dalmatians spots.  You can see the effect a little better in the main picture, from the top view.

Two things I want to apologize for:

1. This drink/post should have totally been Star Wars themed.  May the Fourth be with you all!
2. The lightening in these pictures is awful.  I also forgot to put the cocoa powder IN the picture.  Like I mentioned, it's finals. I've started to pack up (my normal lighting set-up is gone) and I was trying to hurry and make the drink so that I could get back to this:
   
   I don't want you sympathy, just your forgiveness. :)

Next cocktail will most likely be Little Mermaid themed, as requested.

...if you have any requests, feel free to comment below!

Also:

I finally caved.  I started a Young Adult Disney specific Pinterest page.

It has links for trip planning advice, ways to bring Disney into your life at home, funny posts from online, and more.

Click here to follow Young Adult Disney on Pinterest!

Until next time <3

Follow Young Adult Disney on Twitter (@YADisney20)