The Wandering Disciple

Lake Buena Vista, Florida: From the creators of the popular Rainforest Café, a new dining attraction has come to Downtown Disney. Ripped right out of the Crustaceous Period, T-Rex Café combines great food with life-sized animatronics dinosaurs to create a one of a kind experience. Construction began in 2007 and the restaurant opened to the public in fall 2008. It features dinosaur themes with animatronics dinosaurs that come to life every twenty minutes during a meteor shower. There is even a large dinosaur gift shop which houses a Build-A-Dino Workshop. The menu features American dishes such as: Burgers Country Fried Steak Rotissare Chicken Steak Seafood Salads The restaurant can become quite crowded during peak hours; you can make reservation through Walt Disney Dining. T-Rex Café is located in Downtown Disney, nestled between the Marketplace and Pleasure Island near parking lot E.

Lake Buena Vista, Florida: Downtown Disney is the entertainment complex of the Walt Disney World resort and features a collection of shopping, dining and nightlife to help enhance the theme park experience. One thing that continues to draw visitors to Downtown Disney is its large collections of restaurants. Downtown Disney features a diverse selection of dining options. From quick snacks to formal meals, there is something for everyone in the family. Many of the restaurants located here feature excellent food combined with great theming, making them attractions themselves. The restaurants can be broken down into two categories; counter service and full service. Counter service is where you order your food and seat yourself, similar to a fast food restaurant. Full service is a traditional style restaurant where a waiter or waitress serves your party. You will find the following counter service restaurants at Downtown Disney: Candy Cauldron: snacks and candy. Cooke’s of Dublin: fish and...

Lake Buena Vista, Florida: Tucked away in the dense forest of Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the rustic camp that is home to many of the famous Disney characters. Camp Minnie-Mickey is the best place in the park to meet your favorite character or to catch the high flying action of the Lion King. This portion of the park was originally planned to be the Beastly Kingdom part of Animal Kingdom. Beastly Kingdom was to be the home of mythical animals and creatures such as unicorns, dragons and more. There were plenty of thrill rides planned for this expansion, however budget problems kept the vision from becoming reality and Camp Minnie-Mickey was opened in its place. Although Camp Minnie-Mickey does not have any major ride attractions, it is home to the park’s longest running attraction and one of its most popular shows, Festival of the Lion King. The Broadway style musical features a musical score produced by Elton John and combines acrobatics to produce a one of a kind performance. The show...

Lake Buena Vista, Florida: Sunday morning marked the final day of our weekend trip to Disney. We began the morning by packing the car and getting it ready for our departure this afternoon. The park on today's agenda was Animal Kingdom. My parents and sister joined us for breakfast this morning at the Whispering Canyon. I learned from yesterday's experience and did not order soda, this time I chose a glass of OJ. My mom and sister did order a Coke but they were not surprised with a large glass like I was yesterday. I was looking forward to seeing their reaction. My wife chose the omelet again and this time I went with the Breakfast Skillet. The all-you-can-eat skillet contains eggs, waffles, bacon, sausage, potatoes and biscuits with gravy. Great choice and with all the food, one time through was enough for me. After breakfast, we hit the park. We got to the park an hour after opening and it was starting to get crowded. We headed straight to Kilimanjaro Safari. The animals did ...

Lake Buena Vista, Florida: The Whispering Canyon Café is a table service restaurant located in the lobby of the Wilderness Lodge Resort at Walt Disney World. The café is known for its rowdy atmosphere, obnoxiously funny wait staff and more than you can eat skillets. The café serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is famous for it’s skillets, an all-you-can-eat family style meal served in a cast iron skillet. The breakfast skillet contains scrambled eggs, potatoes, biscuits and gravy, bacon, sausage and waffles. The lunch and dinner skillet contains ribs, pulled pork, chicken, mashed potatoes, baked beans, corn on the cob, coleslaw and mixed greens. In addition to the skillets, the café also has a full menu that includes: Eggs Benedict (breakfast) Belgian Waffle (breakfast) Pancakes (breakfast) Omelets (breakfast) Bacon Cheeseburger (lunch) Pulled Pork Sandwich (lunch) Chicken Sandwich (lunch) Turkey Sandwich (lunch) Rib-eye Steak (dinner) Meatloaf (dinner) Ribs (dinner) Trout (dinner)...

Lake Buena Vista, Florida: The Tangierine Café is a quick service restaurant located in the Morocco pavilion of Epcot’s World Showcase. It highlights traditional Moroccan cuisine for lunch and dinner. It is located near the entrance to the Morocco pavilion in a reproduction of a Moroccan market café. Shawarma Sandwiches Wraps Meatball Platter Mediterranean Sliders Tabouleh Couscous Salad Desserts The Tangierine Café participates in the Disney Dining Plan and as a quick service credit.

Lake Buena Vista, Florida: Across the World Showcase Lagoon lies a quaint neighborhood filled with fountains and French shops. Although it might feel like a busy Paris neighborhood, it is actually the France Pavilion at Epcot’s World Showcase. Opened in 1982 with the grand opening of World Showcase, the France pavilion is a authentic replica of a Paris neighborhood. There are luxurious French boutiques, bistros and the Eiffel Tower in the background. The staff of the pavilion even have a French influence, helping to authenticate the experience, it doesn’t take long to forget you are in Central Florida. The only attraction of the pavilion is the film Impressions de France. The 18 minute film takes you on a tour of France from the major cities to the country with all the major attraction in between. The film features close to fifty French landmarks. Since the main goal of World Showcase is to allow you to experience the culture of other countries, it is only fitting that the pavilion be...

Lake Buena Vista, Florida: As the sun rose over the Wilderness Lodge, my family and I awoke to begin the second day of our Disney World trip. I sat on the balcony of our room in the morning and watched the sun rise over Bay Lake with the sound of the Walt Disney Railroad train in the distance. Today’s plan called for us to visit Epcot. We began the day with breakfast in the hotel at the Whispering Canyon Café. The restaurant had good ratings and was known for their rowdy atmosphere. Our waitress, Hickory, was fantastic. My wife had a Western Omelet and I chose a bagel with cream cheese and bacon. The biggest mistake was ordering a Diet Coke with breakfast. After the playful joking from the waitress, the drink arrived and was in a quart sized canning jar. A laugh was had by all and the meal was great. After breakfast, we boarded the bus and headed to Epcot to meet my parents and begin our day at the park. The Wilderness Lodge shares the Epcot route with Fort Wilderness, bu...

Lake Buena Vista, Florida: Trails End Restaurant is a full-service restaurant located at the Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground at Walt Disney World. This eatery serves breakfast lunch and dinner with a buffet meal available for breakfast and dinner. The breakfast menu consist of a buffet which includes: fruit, cereal, oatmeal, sausage, bacon, eggs, omelets, grits, hash, biscuits and gravy, waffles, pasties and more. For lunch, the menu changes to a traditional table service menu that consists of: Salads Cheeseburgers Chicken and Waffles Fried Green Tomatoes Pork Chops Catfish Desserts The menu returns to buffet style for dinner starting at 4:30. The dinner buffet contains all-you-can-ear: soups, chili, shrimp, salad, smoked rib, fried chicken, carved meats, fish, pizza, pasta, veggies and more. There is even a dessert and ice cream bar included in the meal. The Trails End also has a dinner to-go menu that contains salads, chicken strips, pizza and more to take out and eat at your ...

Lake Buena Vista, Florida: Columbia Harbour House is a quick service restaurant located in the Magic Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World. It is located in the Liberty Square portion of the park, near the Haunted Mansion. The restaurant features a menu of New England style seafood. The two story restaurant is a great place to take a break from your feet and enjoy a good meal. They are open for lunch and dinner and serves: Chicken Nuggets Fish Shrimp Clam Chowder Sandwiches Salads The Columbia Harbour House participates in the Disney Dining Plan as a quick service option.

Lake Buena Vista, Florida: Looking for thrills and excitement at the Magic Kingdom? Then take a trip back in time to the wild, wild west at Frontierland where you can hop aboard the wildest ride in the wilderness or splash down into the briar patch or just sit back and sip some lemonade and play checkers on Tom Sawyer Island. There is something here for every member of the family. Frontierland is also home to two of the Magic Kingdom’s three famous mountains. Frontierland at Magic Kingdom debut with the park for opening day in 1971. However the 1971 Frontierland is much different then today’s Frontierland. The original Frontierland opened with three attractions; the train station, Country Bear Jamboree and the Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes (which no longer operates). The Country Bear Jamboree that opened in 1971 was the world premier of the Country Bear franchise which currently runs at three of the Disney parks worldwide. The show continues to run pretty much in its original state,...

Lake Buena Vista, Florida: On the banks of Bay Lake in the Walt Disney World resort, sits a rustic lodge that seems to be straight from the forests of Yellowstone. While the Wilderness Lodge may look and feel like a true national park icon, it is in fact a deluxe Walt Disney World hotel. Opened in 1994, the Wilderness Lodge is designed to resemble the Old Faithful Inn found in Yellowstone National Park. The focus of the lobby in the main building is an eight story fireplace that towers over the lobby. Everything in the lodge helps tell the story of the Pacific Northwest. A close attention to detail will help enhance the story. From the stones in the fireplace that depict the layers of the Grand Canyon to Silver Creek which begins as a spring in the lobby, flows into a stream and then crashes over a waterfall before reaching the pool. There is even a geyser that spouts water hourly throughout the day. The Wilderness Lodge is a member of the deluxe class of the Disney hotels. It...

Lake Buena Vista, Florida: It has been almost three years since our last trip to Disney and now that our son is old enough to ride most of the attractions, we figured it was time to go again. We began planning the trip a few weeks ago, nothing fancy, just a long weekend trip. We booked a room at the Caribbean Beach Resort and invited my parents to join us. They agreed and booked a room at the All-Star Movies Resort. The more thought we put into the trip, the more things changed and the more complicated the planning got. By one week out, we had dinner reservations and tickets picked out. Then two days before we left, I changed the hotel and really put a spin on things, moving our stay to the Wilderness Lodge, a resort my wife had always wanted to stay at. So with the car packed and everyone ready, we hit the highway and headed north to Walt Disney World. We arrived at the Wilderness Lodge just before seven. The resort sat on top of a hill and with the brisk weather, made you f...

Bradenton, Florida: On a tiny stretch of land where the Tampa Bay meets the Manatee River sits a National Memorial dedicated to the Spanish conquistador Hernando De Soto and his expedition for riches in La Florida. De Soto National Memorial is a 25 acre park that helps tell the story of De Soto and his landing here on what is today referred to as De Soto Point. In May of 1539, De Soto and his crew of over 600 soldiers sailed their nine ships into the mouth of Tampa Bay. The arrived in the new world to settle a colony for Spain and look for the riches the new world had to offer. When they arrived, their ship was loaded with 200 horses, pigs and dogs to help conquer the Indian tribes. De Soto left a crew of 100 to set up a colony here on the point while the rest of his party ventured further inland in search of gold and other riches. The journey would eventually take them over 4,000 miles thorough the Southeastern United States. The journey was rough, fighting with the Indians eve...

Bradenton, Florida: Take a trip back in time to the beginnings of Manatee County. Here amongst the large oak trees is the Manatee Village Historic Park, a collection of buildings that helped shape early Manatee County. The park brings significant buildings of the county’s history and puts them on one parcel, making it easy to explore and learn about life in early Manatee County. From the first courthouse to the general store, it is all here to visit. There are fifteen historical sites located within the park, these sites include: Old Cabbage Head: This steam locomotive was built in 1913 and was moved to Manatee County in 1948 where it worked at Manatee Noccatee Crate Mill. The locomotive was in service until 1952 when the company went out of business and the train was left to deteriorate. In 2002, it was relocated to the historic park and restored. Wiggins Store: The only building that remains in its original location, it was the lifeline to the early settlement. The two story build...

Palmetto, Florida: At the mouth of the Manatee River where it flows into the Tampa Bay, lies a haven for humans and wildlife to enjoy. Located on the tip of Snead Island, Emerson Point Preserve is a 365 acre preserve that is home to many native species of plants and animals. This peninsula in northern Manatee county is surrounded by three bodies of water; the Manatee River, Tampa Bay and Terra Ceia Bay. The abundance of water and the think native vegetation is home to many species of birds and mammals including hawks, osprey, herons and more. The preserve is also rich in history. Its ideal location made it a popular choice for early Native American tribe. The Portavant Temple Mound is an example of a Native American midden complex. The mound is made up fossilized fish bones, pottery and other discarded items from the tribes. The mound located here is the largest in the region. Also located within the boundaries of the park are remnants of another past resident. The ruins of a pioneer ...

Manatee County, Florida: My wife had in-service training today for a few hours, so I decided to travel along and visit some of the sites in Manatee County that have been on my list of things to do. Too many times we look to get far away to see attractions in new cities and often forget about the ones in our own backyard, today I took the time to visit some of these places. Our first stop of the day was Emerson Point Preserve in Palmetto. The preserve is located on Snead Island and is surrounded by Tampa Bay, Terra Ceia Bay and the Manatee River. We started our tour of the preserve from the point parking lot. We hiked the Beach Walk Trail which was a .36 mile trail that went along the coast of the Tampa Bay and offers great views of the Sunshine Skyway and the City of St. Petersburg across the bay. Next we walked the adjacent Point Replica Mound Trail which had an overlook on top of the mound that gave great views of the Manatee River and Tampa Bay. We began to run short on time, ...

Venice, Florida: Located in the Shark’s Tooth Capital of the World, it is only fitting that fishermen are drawn to Venice to try and hook one of these predators of the sea. The abundance of sharks in the region and their close proximity to the beach make fishing popular here and the Venice Fishing Pier is one of the hot spots where thousands flock each year to try and bring in the big one. Built 1966, the Venice Fishing Pier extends 700 feet into the Gulf of Mexico. Located on the south end of the island near Venice Municipal Airport, the pier is part of the City of Venice’s park system. The pier was almost lost for good in 2000 when rough seas caused by Hurricane Gordon tore off the end of the pier. Repairs were made to the pier and the newly renovated pier later reopened to the public. There is a small bait shop located on the pier. They offer live and frozen bait, limited tackle, equipment rental, drinks and snacks. For a full meal, Sharky’s on the Pier is located at the base...

A New Year means new deals from Dick Gothner of Skyscraper Tours. The featured deal of this week's Tuesday sale is a 9-night cruise onboard the Celebrity Mercury. The cruise departs from Baltimore on 1/15/11 and visits Key West, Nassau and the private island Cococay. This is the same itinerary that RCI's Majesty of the Seas out of Miami offers, but leaving from Baltimore allows cruisers from the Northeast the opportunity to enjoy the trip without having to combine airfare into the equation. Rates for this cruise start at $349 for an inside cabin. To read more about this and other deals that are part of the Tuesday's sales event, click here . These rates are part of Royal Caribbean's Tuesday Sale Event on 1/4/11. As with all cruise rates, these rates are subject to change and availability. For more information on these or other cruise options, contact Dick Gothner with Skyscraper Tours .