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You are here: Home / Blog / Pinocchio Village Haus Shrimp Alfredo Review, Harbour House Fish, and Magic Kingdom Construction – 5/22/16

Pinocchio Village Haus Shrimp Alfredo Review, Harbour House Fish, and Magic Kingdom Construction – 5/22/16

May 26, 2016 ~ 11 minutes read75 Comments

Does anybody remember the time when if you saw somebody holding up their phone or tablet or camera or what have you that they were probably taking a picture of what’s in front of them and it might be polite to step out of their way? And now there’s a 95% chance that they’re using the front camera to take a picture of themselves and you can just continue about your business?

After spending 2,000+ words and 50+ pictures strutting around Main Street, we head into Adventureland just before 6pm on Sunday May 22nd. As I’ve mentioned in the last couple of updates, May crowds have been lean for the most part. Here’s a look at posted waits over the course of this particular day:

Larger: https://i2.wp.com/easywdw.com/reports13/mk52216.jpg

These wait times are below average for the first five months of the year and stretching into the last seven months of last year. Still, by 11am, you’re waiting an average of 30 minutes at attractions that post wait times. I used to point out how strange it was to see Pirates of the Caribbean posting a higher wait time than Big Thunder Mountain Railroad or Space Mountain and the same wait as Buzz Lightyear or Peter Pan’s Flight, but that’s exactly what we see here at 11am. It hasn’t been strange for a couple of years now.

#blessed

25 minutes at Big Thunder just before 6pm is a little longer than perhaps we’d like to wait, but it’s indicative of relatively low overall crowds, which makes doing everything else that much more pleasant.

I had spent the afternoon at Hollywood Studios (no I don’t know why either) and used a Great Movie Ride FastPass+ there, but secured a Splash Mountain FastPass+ while riding over to Magic Kingdom on the bus around 5pm. That in turn allows me to skip this 40-minute wait:











The total experience time was 35 minutes after I got stuck outside for a good six or seven minutes as it looked more and more likely that we’d be evacuated. You might remember how surprised I was at the 18-minute total experience time from a couple of weeks ago.

That update, including a ride on the Liberty Square Riverboat, is located here in case you missed it.

A look at Frontierland.

Facade refurbishments continue on the Hall of Presidents and Heritage House, though the scrims are so realistic that you might not even notice walking by.

The less picky you are about what additional FastPass+ you’re looking for, the happier you’ll be when you find something convenient that will save you at least 15 minutes in line. If you’re standing in front of Splash Mountain, that might mean Big Thunder Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion, it’s a small world, or Peter Pan’s Flight are viable. If you’re dead set on Jungle Cruise then you might find no availability or a return time far in the distant future. Or you might get lucky. I managed to secure Haunted Mansion for 6:25pm – 7:25pm after getting in the FP+ line for Splash just before 6pm. Remember that you can start incessantly refreshing for an additional FastPass+ experience the moment after you scan your MagicBand at the attraction entrance for your last scheduled FP+ of the day. In most cases, you’ll want to schedule three FP+ in advance and then schedule the 4th and subsequent after that. Remember that at Epcot and Hollywood Studios, that you have to use three FastPass+ before the system will allow you to schedule a second Tier 1 FastPass+. So you can’t just schedule one FastPass+ at Toy Story, use it right at 9am, and then try to immediately scheduled another Tier 1 FP+.

There was a thread in the forum concerning the loading area after the stretching room and how unpleasant it can get as it’s packed with people heading towards their doom buggies. You’ll have a better time in this room if you move all the way over to the left and just continue heading forward. Everyone will have to merge into your lane as you’ll be on the side where the loading walkway is.

The door to this room also opens below the painting of the woman holding the umbrella. Instead of standing underneath it and hurrying through, I usually just let everyone else go first. Even if everybody boards before you, we’re talking about waiting an extra two minutes, if that.

are u spooked

With FastPass+, the total experience time was 20 minutes with some brief delays on-ride here and there. The website’s conservative estimate with FP+ is 20 minutes, so we’re right in line with that. Standby would have taken 40 to 50.

Columbia Harbour House Magic Kingdom

Matt and family were nice enough to invite me out to dinner and after debating between joining them at ‘Ohana, Biergarten, or Be Our Guest Restaurant, I opted for Columbia Harbour House for some fish sticks. #bloggability

With the installation of digital menu boards a few years ago, Disney began offering different lunch/dinner menus at a variety of theme park restaurants:

While many resort quick service menus continue to change over from lunch offerings to dinner offerings at 4pm, it’s rarer at the theme parks now – probably due to guest confusion when they expect to see something on the menu only for it to have disappeared eight minutes prior to their arrival.

For a while, this “Seafood Macaroni and Cheese” was dinner-only at Harbour House before glowing away for good.

Columbia Harbour House Chicken Pot Pie Review

The”Chicken Pot Pie” used to only be available after 4pm before it became available all day.

Lobster Roll Disney Columbia Harbour House Magic Kingdom

The Lobster Roll on the other hand used to be lunch only, disappearing from the menu at 4pm.

But separate lunch/dinner menus is a thing of the past at Harbour House, at least at the moment.

And the menu above should be served all day. The “Corn Cobbette” is a somewhat new addition as a side. Remember that you can substitute any snack credit item for your beverage and dessert on the Disney Dining Plan, so theoretically you could order the $13.29 Salmon or Lobster Roll along with a $6.29 Vegetarian Chili and $6.29 New England Clam Chowder and probably have enough food to feed two people.

This is not a great picture of Matt’s now-$13.29 Lobster Roll with Potato Chips (which you can substitute out for one of the other less expensive sides if you so desire). While the roll here is not going to win #1 at any competitions up north, it’s a nice cold sandwich with a decent amount of lobster on a fresh-baked roll. There is too much mayo and too much filler, but only purists should really be turned off. Call it a “Lobster Salad Sandwich” if you like. I’ve had a lot of luck with it and don’t-not-recommend-it, which is basically the highest award that this website gives out.

The $10.29 Battered Fish Platter with Coleslaw and choice of Corn Cobbette, Apple Slices, or French Fries. This is the exact same fish that Disney has served for years and years. They do a decent job of frying it up so the exterior has a nice crunch, but the fish isn’t much better than you’d find in a box of Gorton’s at the grocery store. The fact that the tartar sauce is some off-brand served at room temperature doesn’t help. With several fresher sandwich options available, I’m not sure what would cause someone to beeline to the fried fish, but it’s edible if you’re in the mood for deep fried.

But you know I do love the Fried Shrimp here for whatever reason – fried to a golden brown and meaty served alongside a zesty cocktail sauce.

The Clam Chowder and Vegetarian Chili are very good also.

So while this is not perhaps the most glowing review of Harbour House (WHAT IS ON THIS WEBSITE), it is my favorite of Magic Kingdom’s quick services for the money and convenience, serving a variety of mostly unique entrees in a relatively calm setting, particularly if you go upstairs and find a table overlooking the Tangled Tower area.

Thanks to Matt and family for the invite. He mentioned that he’s a high school teacher that sometimes employs Disney vacation planning to teach concepts. I suppose that the struggle to secure Frozen Ever After FastPass+ is not unlike the plight facing George Washington and company as they attempted to cross the Delaware. I said that I would be happy to beam the website’s presence into the classroom via Skype and yell at the kids for a while if he had interest, pending that doesn’t interfere with one of my restraining orders.

Speaking of corn, and really when aren’t we, Liberty Square Market is offering a Zellwood Cob for $4.29 accompanied by a variety of seasonings, including Jamaican Jerk, BBQ, and Lemon Pepper. You could probably make a fortune selling American Jerk seasoning with a picture of Donald Trump on it even if it was just repackaged Old Bay. I’ll give you that million dollar idea for free.

As the website has tried to point out, evenings are your friend, particularly at Magic Kingdom. This is just before 8pm on Sunday the 22nd and you could basically walk on small world.

Compared to this scene at 2pm on the 19th.

Or on the Saturday afternoon of our last rope drop earlier this month.

Not everything is a walk-on, of course, but 50 minutes at Peter Pan is down considerably from the usual 65- to 90-minute peak waits.

I suppose that this is as good of a time as any to review the $13.49 Shrimp Alfredo from The Pinocchio Village Haus.

I noticed the addition to the online menu a couple of months ago, but was somewhat horrified to find that the shrimp in the picture were fried.

Most of us probably have a good bit of nostalgia for something Walt Disney World that doesn’t really make a lot of sense if you can somehow remove the emotion. The Chicken Parmesan was one of the first menu items that I reviewed after moving to Orlando just over five years ago now. And it’s not so much the food that I remember but the feeling of accomplishing something by moving across the country by myself with a single suitcase and a box of computer equipment. Moving into a townhouse in a city that I had never visited. Starting something when I had no idea where it would take me. And I remember cutting into this piece of frozen chicken topped with jarred tomato sauce and cheese of questionable origin and thinking, “this might just work.” And I will never forget it.

And that is probably what draws so many of us back to Walt Disney World time and time again. It’s not about the concrete castle or a 30-cent price increase on soda or pork glop platters. It’s about returning to a place that makes us happy where we’ve shared so many memories with the people that we love and cherish. And you never know where exactly you’re going to make those memories. It could be biting into your first Jalapeno Cheese Pretzel at Epcot just before the 4th of July Fireworks erupt overhead or hearing Mickey Mouse greet your kids for the first time inside Town Square Theater. But whatever and wherever it is, it’s something so special and so rare that there is no substitute. And so we return.

The Shrimp Alfredo on the other hand might not be the thing that you want to commit to memory as the fried shrimp look a little radioactive on top of the pasta and spinach.

There’s nothing positive to say about what we were served. The thin, flavorless alfredo sauce causes the shrimp, which are the exact same as what’s served at Harbour House, to lose their crunch. The pasta was both overcooked and limp and the spinach was just kind of there. I like the Flatbread Pizzas here and the Chicken Parmesan Sandwich for lunch, but I’m not sure I’d risk the Alfredo, which wouldn’t be much better with a sad piece of chicken considering the thin consistency of the sauce.

At least you can take it up to the Village Haus Balcony, which is one of the most pleasant places in Magic Kingdom with a nice panoramic view of Old Fantasyland down below.

Marching through a quiet Tomorrowland just after 8pm on the 22nd.

20 minutes at Speedway with the likelihood that a canceled FastPass+ would be available should you wish to bypass what is likely an actual wait around 15 minutes.

Maybe three minutes at People Mover with Space at 40.

With nobody in the extended queue at Buzz or waiting outside in FP+, the 30-minute posted wait is likely closer to ten actual minutes.

Carousel of Progress remains open but is receiving a paint job with some tarps to hide the scaffolding.

A few shots as the sun sets:






As previously discussed, Disney started offering a “Same Day Dessert Party” at a $10/adult and $5/child premium to the one that’s bookable in advance. Same-Day partiers are walked out to a reserved viewing area area in the New Hub Grass on the Tomorrowland side shortly before the fireworks start. With Wishes FastPass+ no longer available, that leaves the Casey’s Corner/Adventureland side completely open for the taking, though it does fill early.

But like other such offerings, it hasn’t sold well with advertisements up all around the Park trying to inform guests of the party’s existence. On one hand, it may be nice that Disney is offering some “spontaneity” by introducing same-day reservations here and at Skipper Canteen. But unsurprisingly, it’s the people that plan in advance that book these kinds of upcharge events. Here for the “Fireworks Dessert Party,” the cost is $59/adult and $35/child. So a family of two adults, one 12-year old, and one 6-year old would cost $212 for cupcakes and a similar view that you could get by standing just outside the reserved area or in the Hub grass area opposite that’s open to everyone. That may be more than most people are spontaneously willing to spend.

A few more on the way out:













That’s four or five Magic Kingdom updates in a row before we get going on Animal Kingdom this weekend and then Epcot in the coming weeks, plus fitting in some Tommy Bahama store pictures from time to time.

Last modified: May 26, 2016 Filed Under: Blog

Comments

  1. Carl says

    May 26, 2016 at 9:47 am

    “…But whatever and wherever it is, it’s something so special and so rare that there is no substitute. And so we return.”

    You feeling OK dude?

    Reply
    • josh says

      May 26, 2016 at 9:52 am

      Guest blogger.

      Reply
    • Pat says

      May 26, 2016 at 11:26 am

      Deep thoughts with Josh Handey

      Reply
      • krikiter says

        May 26, 2016 at 12:28 pm

        I really enjoyed the abrupt shift back to form afterwards.

        Reply
  2. Elizabeth says

    May 26, 2016 at 10:17 am

    I actually started crying, Josh. This was beautiful, because it is so true.

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      May 27, 2016 at 3:58 pm

      I am glad I am not the only one that felt weepy at reading that section.

      Reply
  3. BeckyW says

    May 26, 2016 at 10:18 am

    “It’s about returning to a place that makes us happy where we’ve shared so many memories with the people that we love and cherish.”

    So true. Yet so often forgotten… as we “count the smiles” 😉

    Thanks for keeping it real Josh! Even if this is a departure from your normal hatred of everything. LOLZ #yourock

    Reply
    • Alex says

      May 28, 2016 at 9:33 pm

      I was five the first time my parents took us to MK in 1975.. as a perk of my dad’s job in Orlando. Yeah, there’s a whole lot of “Once Upon A Time” that leads me to budget a vacation there. Still, haven’t been disappointed by it and want to go back with my husband/kids and other family members who like rides. Eyes open and nostalgia goggles in position. Engage!

      Reply
  4. SevenSeasGoonie says

    May 26, 2016 at 10:20 am

    Was at Epcot Saturday and it was not that bad overall… Using the additional FP’s (> 3) we were able to do everything in ‘Future World’ with minimal waiting, a lovely walkaround Showcase, Biergarten for dinner, and ROE at a lovely viewing location…

    Now, MK on Sunday the 22nd from 10 AM through abour 3 PM was… Whew… Thank goodness for the 4th FP+ availability…

    Reply
  5. Brent says

    May 26, 2016 at 10:25 am

    Profound. Must have been your own answer to “Why do I keep coming back?”

    Reply
  6. Laura says

    May 26, 2016 at 10:29 am

    Wow, you moved to Orlando and started a WDW site without ever having been to Orlando? That takes balls, sir.

    Reply
  7. TomH says

    May 26, 2016 at 10:34 am

    “The Chicken Parmesan was one of the first menu items that I reviewed ”

    Do you have a link to that blog post handy?

    Reply
  8. J. Golden says

    May 26, 2016 at 10:42 am

    Gorgeous pictures!

    Reply
  9. Wendy says

    May 26, 2016 at 10:51 am

    Probably my favorite post ever. I laughed (American Jerk seasoning), I cried (ahh, memories)… And you topped it all off with some really beautiful nighttime photos of the Magic Kingdom.

    Reply
    • Robin says

      May 26, 2016 at 11:41 pm

      Agreed!!!

      Reply
      • End The Fed says

        May 27, 2016 at 11:42 am

        Stupendous post indeed!

        Reply
    • Carol O says

      May 27, 2016 at 9:42 pm

      Just exactly what I was going to say. Perfect. I’m going to save this and show it to everyone at work who says, “You’re going to Disney AGAIN??” #NumberOneInOurHearts #FavoriteBlogger

      Reply
  10. John says

    May 26, 2016 at 10:51 am

    “And as I sat there brooding on the old, unknown world, I thought of Josh’s wonder when he first picked out the castle from the end of the TTC dock. He had come a long way to this brown lake, and his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it. He did not know that it was already behind him, somewhere back in that vast obscurity beyond the theme parks, where the dark swamps of Florida rolled on under the night.

    “Josh believed in Epcot, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch our arms further . . . And one fine morning—

    “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne ceaselessly into the Rivers of America”

    Reply
    • Lee says

      May 26, 2016 at 4:29 pm

      Well played, sir. Who can’t appreciate a little nod to Fitzgerald in the comments of a Disney blog?

      Reply
      • Rod Handler says

        May 26, 2016 at 7:35 pm

        Larry FItzgerald?

        Reply
    • Jennn says

      May 27, 2016 at 12:41 am

      LOL well done

      Reply
    • Jaimie says

      May 28, 2016 at 6:58 pm

      This is the best thing of today.

      Reply
  11. Emily says

    May 26, 2016 at 10:55 am

    This is great!! Thank you Josh for your updates #bestdisneybloggereva 🙂

    Reply
  12. Mary H. says

    May 26, 2016 at 10:58 am

    WOW! You really nailed the reasons for returning and yet you also nailed why that pasta would suck. This is why I return to read here daily. You’re not in Disney’s pocket and you tell it like it is. But, confession, you totally made me tear up!

    Reply
  13. Dana says

    May 26, 2016 at 11:03 am

    lol. restraining order. both funny and seriously emotional in the same new short post format – are you pregnant?

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      May 26, 2016 at 12:01 pm

      lol!!

      Reply
  14. Mireille says

    May 26, 2016 at 11:05 am

    Man, that memories bit was deep. I felt a little bit of feelings there, not gonna lie.

    Reply
  15. Beth says

    May 26, 2016 at 11:11 am

    Especially beautiful sunset photos. You captured the walk out of MK perfectly. Almost transported me there. Take a few steps, look back…. a little further and look back. =)

    Reply
  16. Beth says

    May 26, 2016 at 11:12 am

    Especially beautiful sunset photos. You captured the walk out of MK perfectly. Almost transported me there. Take a few steps, look back…. a little further and look back.

    Reply
  17. Rob says

    May 26, 2016 at 11:50 am

    Geez…hit right in the feels over a 5 yr old pic of Chicken Parm.. Though I might add that was quite a sizeable portion – considerable “heft”. And those old plates…..

    Nice work, Thanks as always – can’t wait to return next week!

    Reply
  18. Heather says

    May 26, 2016 at 11:56 am

    Remember that you can substitute any snack credit item for your beverage and dessert on the Disney Dining Plan, so theoretically you could order the $13.29 Salmon or Lobster Roll along with a $6.29 Vegetarian Chili and $6.29 New England Clam Chowder and probably have enough food to feed two people.

    ^We bought DDP for our April trip. We were able to do the above at a few places, but were disallowed at Flametree in AK when trying to order the Pulled Pork FF side along with the Ribs entree. They told us these FF were a higher tier snack, and we needed to use a regular snack credit to purchase. BOG also wouldn’t let us order a soup in place of the drink at lunchtime. Backlot Express (HS) did allow us 2 snacks and an entree for 1 QS credit, though.
    We have free food for Sept trip, I’ll try to push the boundaries again, lol.

    Reply
    • Rob says

      May 26, 2016 at 12:33 pm

      So If I read this correct you can substitute a snack for each item, meaning 1 snack for beverage and 1 for dessert? Did not realize that – don’t usually do DDP but am for next trip. Thanks

      Reply
      • Heather says

        May 27, 2016 at 12:38 pm

        A couple of places let us swap out the drink & dessert for 2 other snack symbol items. Most places forced us to get something in the drink category, but let us swap out the dessert for any snack symbol item.

        Reply
  19. Dan Young says

    May 26, 2016 at 12:05 pm

    I don’t think I’ve ever seen a photo collection that continued outside the park gates and onto the ferry. Very nicely done, Josh!

    Reply
  20. Ashley says

    May 26, 2016 at 12:05 pm

    “Speaking of corn, and really when aren’t we” had me rolling! I laughed out loud in study hall numerous times (teacher here as well!) Fantastic post as always. And I do love that chicken pot pie at CHH!

    Reply
  21. CB says

    May 26, 2016 at 12:12 pm

    Josh, great soliloquy as to why we return to WDW over and over again. #positiveblog

    Reply
  22. Mary Ann says

    May 26, 2016 at 12:22 pm

    I understand exactly what you mean about the food. In 1972, we went to the Magic Kingdom for my 9th birthday. Sometime during that trip, my dad bought us all fresh pineapple spears a the aloha isles (Don’t think they were serving Dole Whips then). It was the first time I’d ever had fresh pineapple. Before that we had only had canned. It was such an amazing experience that Ive never forgotten it. I think about it every time we walk through Adventureland.

    Reply
    • April says

      May 27, 2016 at 2:25 pm

      Similar experience here–I still remember having fresh pineapple for the first time at Disneyland in 1987. To this day, every time I have fresh (ripe) pineapple, it takes me back to that moment.

      Reply
  23. Lynne says

    May 26, 2016 at 12:40 pm

    “But whatever and wherever it is, it’s something so special and so rare that there is no substitute. And so we return.”

    Ah! Absolutely!

    Great post, especially the dusk pictures. Lovely!

    Reply
    • Cindy says

      May 26, 2016 at 12:50 pm

      Add that quote to your picture of the castle at dusk and I’ll be your first buyer!

      Reply
  24. Rachel says

    May 26, 2016 at 12:50 pm

    Loved the glimpse into your back story! Would love to know more about what made you move to Orlando 5 years ago!

    You nailed it with why we return again and again…and then made me laugh out loud with your abrupt transition back to your usual tone. Keep it comin’!

    Reply
  25. MKS says

    May 26, 2016 at 12:56 pm

    Fabulous post. I laughed. I cried. I loved the pictures.

    Reply
  26. Denise25 says

    May 26, 2016 at 12:56 pm

    Wow, this has to absolutely be my all time favorite post, and I’ve been reading for almost all of those 5 years. Literally laughed out loud for some time over the American Jerk comment, that was priceless. And there were so many other great comments as well! Then teared up remembering the memories made. And I loved the photos. Something about the photos today, they just made it feel like we were right there with you. I’m glad you moved to Orlando. Awesome job!

    Reply
    • Sue says

      May 26, 2016 at 2:10 pm

      Perfectly stated, Denise. Thanks for summing it all up so well. Great post and beautiful pictures, Josh.

      Reply
      • Denise25 says

        May 26, 2016 at 8:39 pm

        Thank you ?

        Reply
  27. Brandon says

    May 26, 2016 at 1:52 pm

    “But whatever and wherever it is, it’s something so special and so rare that there is no substitute. And so we return.”

    That is exactly it. My wife and I are constantly saying to each other, “Why is that we keep going back again?,” and “Why did we renew our annual passes again?,” when we aren’t there. We read about the price increases and the items we love being dropped, or we are in the car heading home with aching ankles and knees (over 40 is a terrible disease) and we say, “Maybe we won’t go back for a while.”

    But of course we do. And you summed up the reason perfectly. We don’t feel that stuff when we are there. We just enjoy it.

    Reply
  28. Pam says

    May 26, 2016 at 2:00 pm

    This post=perfection. Well done, Josh!

    Reply
  29. D3 says

    May 26, 2016 at 2:00 pm

    “Remember that you can start incessantly refreshing for an additional FastPass+ experience the moment after you scan your MagicBand at the attraction entrance for your last scheduled FP+ of the day.”

    If I made the mistake of getting at 10pm FP+ instead of the 10am FP+, i can’t FP til after 10pm?

    Reply
    • Heather says

      May 26, 2016 at 9:40 pm

      Right, you need to use your first 3 FPs before you can use the app to secure another. You can try “modifying” that 10pm FP to an earlier time.

      Magic Kingdom has the best availability for 4th+ FPs because many more FP rides equals greater amount of allotments.

      Reply
  30. Heidi says

    May 26, 2016 at 2:12 pm

    Love this whole post.

    Reply
  31. Claytonia says

    May 26, 2016 at 2:29 pm

    I CAME HERE FOR SNARK AND NOW I’M ALL VERKLEMPT, HOW DARE YOU

    #thanksjosh #butseriously #thankyoujosh

    Reply
  32. Joel says

    May 26, 2016 at 5:50 pm

    Remember in the movie “Old School” when Will Ferrell’s character, Frank the Tank, was on the debate team. He blacked out for a minute and went on to answer the debate question like a PHD economist in which the other team had no rebuttle for. He comes back to reality and has no idea what happened. I think Josh had his Frank the Tank moment earlier in this post. Way to go Big Cat!!!!!!

    Reply
  33. DwarfPlanet says

    May 26, 2016 at 5:50 pm

    Great pictures and started laughing when you had done both tilt directions, especially after reading comments in your last blog.

    Reply
  34. JulieHFJ says

    May 26, 2016 at 6:15 pm

    Damn, Josh, my trip was a month ago, I’m supposed to be tapering off…

    Reply
  35. Rod Handler says

    May 26, 2016 at 7:42 pm

    “I suppose that the struggle to secure Frozen Ever After FastPass+ is not unlike the plight facing George Washington and company as they attempted to cross the Delaware. ”

    I think you mean Christopher Columbus and he crossed the Atlantic, not the Delaware.

    And I skipped most of the food portion so I totally missed Sentimental Josh. I had to go re-read it. Now i gotta go…I got something in my eye….

    Reply
  36. Kim says

    May 26, 2016 at 8:32 pm

    Best post ever, for all of the reasons mentioned above. I also enjoyed hearing a bit about how you got started. The shot of the castle over the water as the sun was setting is one of my favorite WDW shots ever. Giving Tom Bricker a run for his money!

    Reply
  37. Vickie says

    May 26, 2016 at 10:47 pm

    Your best post ever. Your statement why we keep going back was perfect. Disney magic can’t be explained to people, you have to experience it with loved ones. Memories really to last a lifetime. Thanks for all you do. So enjoy your posts. Seeing Disney between trips thanks to you is awesome. Love your honesty. You are so appreciated!!!

    Reply
  38. momof2boys says

    May 27, 2016 at 8:06 am

    Snark and sentimental all in 1 post. That’s why we love you Josh! Great pics of Splash Mountain and the castle sunset.

    Reply
  39. Joel says

    May 27, 2016 at 9:53 am

    Josh,

    All kidding aside, you hit the nail right on the head about why we return to Disney World. We have a gap of 9 years between my oldest and 2nd oldest. We waited 11 years before returning to Disney World in 2011. That Chicken Parm was the 1st thing we ate when we got to Magic kingdom after all those years. Looking at my kids excited faces while eating my chicken parm, I thought, “Wow, this is going to be a GREAT trip!”. It must be the power of that chicken Parmesan or something, but we were hooked ever since and now visit 4-5 times a year from Texas. We are AP holders and DVC members. The great thing is that there is a new family experience every trip and we always leave wishing we could stay longer. I could never explain to other people why we never get bored or we never want to vacation anywhere else. I just cut and pasted your paragraph about why we all come back to Disney World and now I can explain it. Thanks again for all your great posts.

    Reply
  40. Lance says

    May 27, 2016 at 10:07 am

    I can think of so many other Disney fan/planning Web sites I frequent everyday that could benefit from your “nostalgia” segment, Josh. You summed it up so perfectly! I just don’t get all the hate disguised as “we-don’t-hate-Disney-we’re-just-super-fans-who-hold-Disney-to-the-standard-they-set-for-themselves” crap. It’s childishness any way you slice it.

    Columbia Harbor House is my favorite counter service restaurant in all of the Magic Kingdom, but I have to fess up that I order the fish sticks because I enjoy them.

    Great pictures, too, by the way!

    Reply
  41. Andrea says

    May 27, 2016 at 12:02 pm

    Josh – seriously…this post was THE BEST. Right in the feels. The pictures were ASTOUNDING at the end. The best parts of Florida are in its sunrises and sunsets…I try to never miss either one when I am visiting.

    Thank you for this post today – I am so torn with all that WDW has changed since my last visit there…we are 18 days out and I am remembering why it is I do love it so..

    Reply
  42. Kimann says

    May 27, 2016 at 1:20 pm

    Excellent Post and Beautiful Pictures. So nice to hear you perfectly capture why we all keep coming back.

    Reply
  43. Melissa C. says

    May 27, 2016 at 2:01 pm

    Outstanding job….

    Reply
  44. Ronnie says

    May 27, 2016 at 3:44 pm

    Nice job. I’m nominating this for a Bloggy. Is there such an award?? There should be!

    Reply
  45. BuffaloJim says

    May 27, 2016 at 4:20 pm

    “For a while, this “Seafood Macaroni and Cheese” was dinner-only at Harbour House before glowing away for good.”

    Why have so many things been “glowing away” lately?

    Reply
  46. Sara says

    May 28, 2016 at 2:49 am

    Informative and entertaining post, with a few (good) tears thrown in. Thank you. You boiled down why my family keeps throwing money at Disney for our vacations: the memories. It’s our time to press “pause” on the real world and its worries and to-do lists, and spend time together just enjoying.

    Reply
  47. dusty cheatham says

    May 28, 2016 at 10:31 am

    josh …. indeed sir. being blessed to live so close to our happy place , I have over 100 visits. the castmember friends I have met are all part of my planning. pam brody , carl schutt , gavin webber, holly @ the rose & crown , bob Jackson @ river roost lounge @ port Orleans these people are all part of my Disney family & MUST be visited to catch up even if for just a few minutes . you can only ride space mountain so much but it is the castmembers listed & so many more that make each visit so special to me & my wife . my special time of year is Christmas . Disney does that very well indeed . you put into words what Disney means very well . but that is why you are a # 1 new York times bestselling author & all around classy guy

    Reply
  48. Shanan says

    May 29, 2016 at 6:48 am

    Absolutely loved your comment as to why we return! Thanks for all your updates and info

    Reply
  49. Dawn says

    May 29, 2016 at 5:39 pm

    Love the sentiment, although it is there in most of your posts (somewhat subliminal) !! Your photos are glorious, could you crop out that flag pole on Main street, it is interfering with perfection!! I have a question, am I understanding that you can book a fourth FP+ at a different park than the one you are currently in. OR did you mean that since you had left HS you could book Splash at MK? Just trying to keep things straight. Do you think there is a fix for the mess that is FP+ with regard to stand by times?

    Reply
  50. Alan says

    May 31, 2016 at 3:54 pm

    I ate at Harbour House 2 weeks ago and had the worst/best experience.

    This lady in front of me was with her I’m assuming husband, child, and looked to be her father. I of course get placed in line directly behind her. She takes no joke about 7-8 minutes to order. The cashier finishes taking her order and it doesn’t go through because this lady is out of dining credits. She explains to this lady that she can’t use dining credits if she doesn’t have any and this lady goes off for some reason. People behind me start yelling at this lady like “Why can’t you understand this? If you have $10 and you spend it all, you can’t buy anything else.”

    Anyways about another 5-10 minutes later, the manager diffuses the situation and gives all of us behind this lady free meals. My girlfriend is saving a table upstairs and I told the counter lady that took my order that I also had 2 kids waiting upstairs (i have no kids, just pissed I had to wait 20 minutes to order)

    I ended up with 2 fish/chicken nugget meals, a pot pie, a 2 kids meals for the “kids” and dessert for all.

    Disney could have handled this better by moving me to another lane or pulling this lady aside well before it got out of hand. I still enjoy the heck out of Harbour House and I’ll probably head back there next trip.

    Also on the way out, 2 grown men literally elbowed each other while going for our open table. Best part, the table right next to us opened up right after. That must have been an awkward lunch.

    Reply
    • dusty cheatham says

      June 5, 2016 at 9:14 am

      the sheer ignorance one sees at Disney is one the one hand scary on the other hand frightening because they vote & have children .

      Reply
  51. Boma Steve says

    June 1, 2016 at 11:41 am

    After Marching on memorial day to 13 different cemetery’s for our Veterans and getting choked up at most of them. To read this post you did it to me again. Great post thanks

    Reply
    • dusty cheatham says

      June 5, 2016 at 9:10 am

      thank you boma steve

      Reply
  52. Kristina says

    June 16, 2016 at 10:48 am

    I think this is my favourite blog post I’ve ever read on this site. I love the wit, and snark, but I also love how real this was. I often find myself wondering why I keep going back. There are so many other places I want to see. But to put it simply, being at Disney feels like home. And I will continue going back 🙂

    Reply

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  1. Magic Kingdom Project Update, Pinocchio Village Haus Sausage and Pepper Flatbread Review, As The Sun Sets – 7/20/16 – easyWDW says:
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