Disney Magic At Home

We know that everyone has been missing Disney while the parks have been closed, so we have compiled a list of ideas for you to be able to bring the magic to you. Our Disney Magic At Home list ranges from home movie nights to some Disney knick-knacks and much more. Keep reading to get some great ideas for you and your family.

Disney+

We love us some Disney+ at my house! You can watch all of your Disney favorites through this streaming service. Disney has all kinds of added shows on there as well, such as The Imagineering Story which takes you on a behind the scenes look with some Disney Imagineers. Of course it also has the classics, such as The Lion King and some of the newer movies like Frozen II. I’d be embarrassed for y’all to know just how many times we’ve watched Frozen II already LOL. During our movie time, we use our Disney Popcorn Buckets that we purchased while we were at the parks. I feel like this just adds a little extra magic to the experience. Honestly one of the best ways of Enjoying Disney Magic At Home!

Disney Coffee Mugs and Tumblers

Something that I use every single day is some kind of Disney Coffee Mug. I am a HUGE coffee lover, so I combine my two favorite things together.. Disney and Coffee! I typically end up purchasing a new coffee mug each trip, so I have plenty to choose from. I also use the refillable mugs that you get if you stay on property at a Disney resort. They have different prints on them according to what time of the year you’re there.

Another good option for some Disney Coffee is to order some coffee from Expedition Roasters. They incorporate Disney into the names of their coffee according to what the flavor is! This company has stolen my coffee loving heart! I also have a love for water! So I use my Disney Tumblers throughout the day to keep my water in it. The Disney Tervis Tumblers are the best!

Disney Knick-Knacks

Having little keepsakes from my Disney trips as little memory reminders is a huge thing for me. I use my Disney Knick Knacks all throughout the year, and I switch them out according to what season it is! I have way too many to talk about all of mine so I’m just going to give you a couple of examples of how I use some of mine. I LOVE the Disney Sippers that you can find at the parks and I use them in my house as decorations. I also have a small ceramic bowl that has little Mickey heads on it, and it sits on my nightstand and it holds my everyday jewelry. Having subtle touches of Disney in my house just makes me happy.

Disney Scentsy

My family loves some of the smells that are iconic to Disney, such as: the resorts, The Confectionery, some of the rides, and even some of the snacks. Disney and Scentsy have teamed up to recreate some of these smells and they are heavenly! Scentsy also has put a smell to some of the characters, and they have some wax-warmers that look like some of the characters and/or landmarks at Disney! If you didn’t know about this collaboration then you definitely need to look into this! I love when my house smells like some of my favorite Disney smells!

Disney Puzzles

Who doesn’t love puzzles!? Puzzles are a great way to keep yourself busy and include the family as well! And what better puzzle than a Disney puzzle! You can find them practically anywhere, and they have all kinds. Our newest one that we have is a Star Wars puzzle that we found at Walmart. My favorite ones are the Disney Thomas Kinkade prints!

Disney Plushies

Shop Disney is my favorite place to grab some of the cutest Disney Plushies. I love how they have specific ones for the upcoming holidays that you can order. I also find myself getting them while I’m at the parks too. They make great decorations and they are so easy to change them out in your house!

Disney Books

Another favorite thing to do is sit down with a good book and zone out! And I love when I can find a book that I love that’s about Disney or incorporates the author’s own spin on something Disney related. One of the series that I like to read is the Disney Villains by Serena Valentino. This series is the story through that particular Villain’s point of view. These books are so good. Another series that I just purchased is A Twisted Tale. This is a “What if..” book. What if Aladdin had never found the lamp, Sleeping Beauty had never woken up or the Sea Witch had never defeated the Little Mermaid? I can’t wait to read these!

Disney Recipes

Disney Food is a big thing at our house! I’m a huge foodie so when we find something we like to eat at Disney then sometimes we recreate the dish at home. The Mickey Waffle maker that we use for breakfast and brunch brings so much joy to us. Another Disney Dish that we like to make at home is Sanaa’s Butter Chicken. Check out my recipe by clicking that link. If you can’t have it at Disney right now then you might as well enjoy it at home.

Enjoying Disney Magic At Home

Even if you don’t live near Disney World there are some awesome ways that you can incorporate it into your everyday life. The ideas that I mentioned above are some easy ways to add some Disney touches to your home without it being too much! Let’s see yours! Head over to our Facebook Group, DISNEY EXPRESS LANE, and show us how you bring a little Disney Magic At Home.

The post A Guide To Enjoying Disney Magic While Staying At Home appeared first on WaltExpress.com.

Copycat Recipes: Butter Chicken

In one of my previous blogs I told you all about one of the restaurants at Disney World that I consider a Hidden Gem: Sanaa! In the blog I told you all about the ambiance, as well as the food. Sanaa is a table-service restaurant located at the Animal Kingdom Lodge in the Kidani Village. The cuisine there is an African/Indian inspired, and it is sooo tasty! I also talked about how this restaurant is sitting on the Sunset Savanna, so that you can enjoy the amazing views while you dine. One of the tips I shared was to consider a lunch or an earlier dinner reservation so that you’ll have enough light to be able to see some of the animals while you eat! Oh, and you’ll want to request a Savanna view when you check in. But enough about that. Here’s the real reason of this blog. I enjoyed my meal so much that I came home and found a recipe to recreate their famous Butter Chicken.

Butter Chicken from Animal Kingdom’s Sanaa

This Butter Chicken recipe has become one of my favorites to make at home! It’s very simple and easy to follow. I would say the most difficult aspect would be buying all of the ingredients, but once that’s done it’s a piece of cake! In my opinion, if you don’t have a lot of experience with African inspired food then this is a good recipe to start with. It’s a great introduction to the African/Indian spices. And like I mentioned earlier, it’s very simple to prepare and cook.

Ingredients

• Chicken (boneless cut into cubes) – 2 pounds

• Butter – 2 tbsp

• Medium sized onion – thinly sliced

• Fresh Breakfast Cream

• Boiling Water – 1 cup

• Chili – 2, split lengthwise

• Marinade Peppercorn – 1 tsp

• Black Cumin – 1 tsp

• Yogurt – 1/4 cup

• Chili Powder – 1 tsp

• Coriander Powder – 1 tsp

• Garam Masala – 1 tsp

• Clove – 3 whole

• Tomato Paste – 2 tbsp

• Salt – to taste

Instructions

1. Grind peppercorn and black cumin till powder.

2. Add remaining dry ingredients of the marinade, including cloves, and grind again.

3. In a bowl, add the yogurt,tomato paste and ground powders and mix well.

4. Add boneless chicken and salt, making sure the marinade coats the chicken completely. Keep in the refrigerator overnight.

5. An hour before making the curry base, take the bowl outside from the refrigerator to bring to room temperature.

6. Heat a saucepan and add butter when it is hot.

7. Once the butter melts completely, add the sliced onions.

8. Ensure the flame is not too high which would then burn the onions.

9. Fry the onions till they are reduced to a dark brown color.

10. Add the chicken and the remaining marination sauce.

11. Cook the chicken till the sauce reduces and the oil clears (5-10 minutes).

12. Add boiling water, stirring it well.

13. Cover the saucepan and allow the chicken to cook completely until it is tender (15-20 minutes).

14. When chicken is cooked through, stir in the fresh cream and stir gently till it dissolves.

15. Add slit chili or extra cream on top to garnish.

Once you complete these steps and finish your dish, you can serve it over basmati rice, and sometimes I serve it over white sticky rice. I also serve a small side salad with mine to incorporate some greens into the meal. If you’re not at Disney World enjoying one of your favorite meals, then do the next best thing and recreate the dish at home!

We would love to see your finished dish! Join our Facebook Group, DISNEY EXPRESS LANE, and let us know how it turned out!

The post Disney World Copycat Recipes: Butter Chicken From Sanaa appeared first on WaltExpress.com.

! Why is it so unique you might ask? Many people are quick to say “No!” when they learn that Sanaa serves “African or Indian cuisine.” I’m sure most people glance at the menu and think, “Oh this is going to be weird and spicy!” Luckily that is not the case at all. Yes, the food does have an authentic African/Indian flare to it, but most people find it delicious and unique. Join me as we talk about Disney World Dining: Sanaa, to find out why I love it!

Disney World Dining: Sanaa

There are two main reasons I love Sanaa: Ambiance and Cuisine.

Ambiance

Sanaa is a table-service restaurant located at the Animal Kingdom Lodge in the Kidani Village. Quite frankly, its location is a hot minute from the rest of Disney World, so some people don’t give Sanaa a chance simply because of where it is. Fortunately, once you arrive and see the scenery and eat the food, it definitely makes the trip worth it! As you make your way downstairs where the restaurant is located you’ll see that the entrance features some beautiful, handcrafted African artwork. The beads that line the podium are simply gorgeous. You might even be able to spy a Hidden Mickey on the mats behind the counter where the “Sanaa” Sign is displayed. The waiting area outside of the restaurant features large windows that look out onto Sunset Savanna, the same view that you’ll enjoy once you’re seated inside. This plays into the ambiance that I mentioned earlier! Be sure to keep your eyes open to see some amazing hand-crafted decorations.

In the main dining room, the view above changes to resemble a tree canopy with rustic lanterns hanging from the branches overhead. One of the reasons I wanted to eat at this restaurant was the view! I requested a Savanna view before I was seated and it was so neat! Chances are great that you’ll have an opportunity to see a variety of animals as you dine.

Walt Express Tip

If seeing animals is important to you, here’s a TIP: be sure to book your Advanced Dining Reservation for earlier in the day. Choose either lunch or an early dinner. Later reservations might fall after dark, and you won’t be able to see much except your reflection in the glass at that point. With all of that being said, now it’s time to take a look at the menu!

Cuisine

I had no idea what to order but our waitress was amazing! She walked me through all of the drink options and the entire menu. She suggested the Bread Service for an appetizer, so that’s where the meal began.

The Famous Bread Service

If you’re dining at Sanaa for the very first time, you should know that bread service here is not complimentary. However, it is very much worth the price of $17.00. It came with some incredible breads and accompanying nine sauces and spreads. My favorite sauces were Roasted Red Pepper Hummus, Mango Chutney and Tamarind Chutney. The Bread Service was so unique and it was a great way to start the dinner.

Main Course

When it came to the entree part of the meal I decided to choose the Potjie Inspired option. This is where I got to choose one meat and one vegetable dish from several options and it was also served with rice. Overall the Butter Chicken was my favorite! The Butter Chicken I ate was so tender and flavorful, my fork would glide right through it. I loved it so much I now have created my own recipe and make it at home pretty often.

Dessert

Dessert was nothing short of amazing also. I had the Caramel N’dizi, which was Banana Financier with Caramelized Milk Chocolate Crémeux, Hazelnut Crunch, Banana-White Chocolate Chantilly, and Ginger Raspberries.

Disney Dining Plan

Sanaa is one table service credit per person on the Disney Dining Plan. The Bread Service is not included and will need to be purchased separately. The price for the bread service is $17.00.

Why I Love Sanaa

Sanaa remains one of my absolute top picks for dining at Disney World. Sure, it’s a little inconvenient, with its waaaaaaay off the beaten path location in Kidani Village. It’s true: you will likely need to mark off a few hours if you dine here. But it’s so worth it! The food is phenomenal. In addition to that, the care that Imagineers took in creating this restaurant is apparent everywhere. The view of the Sunset Savanna — free with a meal!! — is unparalleled. Usually, you would pay big bucks to see animals like this.

And don’t forget, once you’re at Animal Kingdom Lodge, there’s plenty to look at and see there as well. Even if you aren’t staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge, this restaurant is worth the trip.  It is definitely a hidden gem and reservations aren’t too hard to get here!

If you plan to head back to Animal Kingdom Park, be sure to check out these snacks that are available! ANIMAL KINGDOM SNACKS!

Looking for more Disney Dining reviews? We have lots of great information in our Facebook Group, DISNEY EXPRESS LANE! Join us today!

The post Disney World Dining: Sanaa At Animal Kingdom Lodge appeared first on WaltExpress.com.

A Complete Review of Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom

Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom is an interactive game that can be played within Magic Kingdom. The story of the game is that Merlin is recruiting guests as new apprentices to help him fight off Hades and his villains as they try to take over Magic Kingdom.

Getting Started

New recruits can sign up at the Main Street Firehouse, which is located beside City Hall. Once you’re inside, cast members will walk you through the process of signing you up and linking your game to your Magic Band or park ticket. The cast member will then give you instructions, a map, and a pack that contains 5 random spell cards. Before you leave the Fire Station, the cast members will guide you through a demonstration at one of the practice portals. Now that you have taken care of that aspect, your training is complete and you are ready to play.

Game Play

As the apprentice, each land inside of Magic Kingdom (except Tomorrowland) has magic portals hidden throughout them. After an introduction from Merlin you are sent to one of the symbols. The map show symbols where all of the portals can be found. You’ll also need to be on the lookout for golden discs that are located on the ground, these are referred to as the Circle of Power. Once you are there, you’ll need to place your magic band on the key hole and stand on the Circle in order to use your spell cards. This is where your adventure begins and you team up with Merlin and help him save Magic Kingdom from the villains.

The Spell Cards

The spell cards are used to defeat Hades and his villains. Each spell card has a different Disney character on it that can perform unique spells. They are numbered 1-70. There are also party cards you can pick up at parties that have special numbers. These are specially themed and pretty rare. They are sometimes referred to as “Seasonal Cards”, because they are only available to guests who attend Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Each card also contains a certain symbol on the lower left corner that determines its rarity. Stars (1-22), Moons (23-40), Planets (41-60), and Lightning Bolts (61-70). Each day that a Sorcerer enters Magic Kingdom they can obtain a new pack of spell cards. You may also obtain another pack of cards when you defeat all 9 villains, but this will take some time.

Tips

• Something neat that you’ll want to remember is that Sorcerers have the option to use 1 spell card or several spell cards when fighting the villains.
• You can use multiple cards at once, which casts multiple spells. That gives you a better shot at defeating that particular villain.
• Sorcerers can also choose between 3 different difficulty levels when you begin your level at the Fire Station.
• If you’ve never played before, then I definitely recommend the Easy level as a good starting point. If you or your kids enjoy Pokemon, then you’re sure to love this interactive quest to save the Kingdom!

Do you play Sorcerer’s of the Magic Kingdom? If so, have you completed your spell card collection? Share your tips with us and discuss this and anything and everything Disney in the Disney Express Lane Facebook Group.

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