Who can resist this delicious Disney dessert? The Dole Whip! Once you had one your body will crave it..

Here is how to make your own Dole Whip’s at home. All you need is the mix from Unified Enterprises and a ice cream maker. I would use one that allows you to make soft serve ice cream.

Quick Tip – I found a nice Cuisinart that I am going to order from here. It’s $74 new or $60 used. Will be good for making regular ice cream after I make some Dole Whips!

Check out the video below from Inside the Magic where they use a regular ice cream maker and whip up some yummy treats!

What is it? Potato Stack Au Gratin

Where can you get it? Steakhouse 55, Disneyland Hotel

Photo Credit: by Disney

If you have a Disney Food Confession email chip@chipandco.com or let us know on the Disney Food Confessions Facebook page.. He is accepting Food ideas or Photos if you have them!

Do you remember the double rainbow guy? Here is a funny Disney spoof with the towers from Tangled.

Double Tower all the way… What does it mean? It’s so beautiful.

Building on a legacy of support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Walt Disney World Resort will continue as sponsor of the MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney through 2013. Walt Disney World Resort and ESPN made the joint announcement today.

“As a company that values diversity and supports education, we are proud to renew our commitment to the MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney,” said Eugene Campbell, vice president of minority business development for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “The MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney is more than a game – it’s a weekend long celebration for our community filled with events that encourage young people to achieve their dreams.”

“We are truly pleased to extend our agreement with Walt Disney World Resort as our presenting sponsor of the MEAC/SWAC Challenge,” said Nikki Godfrey, executive director, MEAC/SWAC Challenge. “Their ongoing support will contribute to the continued growth and success of this event and ESPN’s commitment to HBCU football.”

The MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney, an ESPN Regional Television (ERT) owned-and-operated event, features football teams from two prominent Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) conferences – the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).  This year, the event showcases a match-up between the MEAC’s Delaware State University Hornets and the SWAC’s Southern University Jaguars on Sunday, Sept. 5, live at 12 p.m. ET on the networks of ESPN from Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium.

Each year thousands of fans travel from across the country to the game, staying in local hotel rooms and dining in restaurants across Central Florida, creating a positive economic impact for the region.

Walt Disney World Resort also sponsors numerous events associated with the annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney:

• ESPN 101 High School Career Panel – This year more than 300 high school juniors and seniors discovered how to take their passion for sports and entertainment and apply it to real-life careers. The Walt Disney World Clubhouse of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida hosted students from Jones, Oak Ridge and Timber Creek high schools.

• MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney Legends Reception – This year, NFL Hall of Famer Mel Blount and Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams led a group of six honorees from Historically Black Colleges and Universities in a celebration of academics and athletics.

It’s not the most thrilling attraction at Walt Disney World and yes, parts of it can be a little bit hokey. For some unexplained reason I am drawn to the Haunted Mansion time after time on each and every visit. I ride this attraction more than any other whether I am at Walt Disney World or the Disneyland Resort. I’m absolutely hooked on it and I always have been!! Why – it’s pure Disney.

I was a little bit concerned that the major overhaul in 2007 might destroy what I had come to know and love. I initially felt that by expanding the story of the bride, which had never been planned for the attraction, the whole attraction might become a confused mess with an incoherent back story. Boy, was I ever wrong. The imagineers did an amazing job fitting it in and tying everything together.

Also, some of the new effects they added i.e. Madame Leota’s head floating in space and the footsteps on the staircase were spectacular. There are a lot of us who consider ourselves “old school” Haunted Mansion purists who think that the attraction is now better than it ever was. There is definitely not 100% agreement on that but everyone is absolutely entitled to their opinion. If all the major changes to Disney attractions were/are done as well as this one the concern generally expressed by purists (me included) to changes will diminish. Bravo Imagineers!!!

Ken

Over the past few months, our Disney Community Relations team in conjunction with Downtown Disney has been working on something BIG – something that not only gives you, our Disney Parks Guests a way to save big on Disney Theme Park Merchandise, but also offers you a way to give back to the local community. A way for us all to make a difference together.

So what’s the big idea? It’s called The Benefit Sale. The Benefit Sale is a one day shopping event that will take place on Saturday, November 6 from 5:30am – 9:30am at Downtown Disney at the Walt Disney World Resort that engages the local community and generates much needed funding for the Heart of Florida United Way and its local community agencies.

So how exactly does The Benefit Sale work? It’s very easy. All it takes is $5! To participate in The Benefit Sale,

Click Here to Read more...

If there was ever an undiscovered treasure in Walt Disney World, it’s Tom Sawyer Island and Ft. Langhorn, located in the Magic Kingdom.   Really, I should know:  I’ve been going to the parks for over 20 years and I never visited this attraction until my trip last December.   The day I finally visited was basically by default.   Frontierland was so crowded we could barely get around when my husband and I noticed that the raft  over to the island was empty, so we grabbed the kids and decided to give it a try.  It only took a few minutes to realize that we’d been overlooking a truly amazing experience.  Based on Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, the island is Walt Disney’s favorite boyhood book come to life.   Featuring caves, a fort, winding trails, a playground, windmill, barrel and suspension bridges,  and a refreshment area,  the tree-filled island seems cooler and is certainly quieter than anywhere else  in the park.  It’s a great place to spend an hour or even an afternoon.

To get to Tom Sawyer island, you’ll take one of four small rafts from Tom’s Landing located across from Big Thunder Rail Road. The rafts are all named  for characters in the book:  Injun Joe, Huck Finn, Becky Thatcher and Tom Sawyer.  Each raft carries about 55 people and contrary to popular belief, they do not run on rails or tracks but are free floating vessels.

Here’s the thing about Tom Sawyer Island:  It’s what you used to imagine playing in when you were a kid, regardless of where you’re  from or who you are.  Remember running around your imaginary fort, hiding in the trees and chasing bad guys?  Or maybe you pretended to be a princess dancing around your castle?  Well that’s the essence of Tom Sawyer Island, the old-fashioned yet timeless kid fantasy, a place that can be anything, really.  Space Mountain may be fast.  Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin may loud and bright.  But  Tom Sawyer lets a kid engage in the entire experience and use his imagination in a way that few other attractions do.

Early in the morning, cast members hide several paintbrushes for guests to find.  If you find one, let a cast member know and you’ll be rewarded with a small prize, such as a soft drink or a pass to get to the front of the line of an attraction,  for your entire group.  The island is a great place for kids to stretch their legs and for parents to relax and since it’s Disney, it’s all very safe.  Kids will love climbing up and down the stairs at Fort Langhorn and exploring all the rooms.  From the lookout towers, they can fire popguns at imaginary targets.

One interesting aspect of Tom Sawyer Island is the perspective you get of other attractions on the “mainland.”  I really enjoyed seeing the Haunted Mansion from the island, as well as the riverboat going past with Princess Tiana and the cast from Princess and the Frog.

Tom Sawyer Island usually opens at 10:00 a.m. and closes at Dusk.  If you want to get a snack, Aunt Polly’s Place sells sandwiches and refreshments. It’s open seasonally.  Even when it’s closed, Aunt Polly’s makes a great place to sit and relax; consider bringing a sack lunch and eating it there.

Finally, Tom Sawyer Island is a great place for kids (or adults) with sensory issues who need a little bit of time away from all the excitement and noise of the Magic Kingdom, however, make sure they’re okay with the ride over. It’s very smooth, relatively quiet, and only takes a few minutes once everyone is loaded, but you’ll want to explain to your child  what she should expect.  Try watching from the docks if you’re worried about how your child will react.  Unfortunately, the island is not accessible by wheelchair or scooter.  You’ll need to take children out of strollers before you board the raft.

Chris is on a quest for the ever-elusive pin code from Disney.  When she’s not indiscriminately pool-hopping or blogging here, you can find her at Everything Walt Disney World.

But wait! We are also looking for folks who have mastered the art of magical Disney vacation planning outside of our theme parks. As in previous years, we are looking for a few applicants in this massive search to be specialists for our Adventures By Disney and Disney Cruise Line vacations. If you are someone who has a ginormous knowledge and burning passion to share what you know, then you might be Walt Disney World Moms Panel material.

If you think you have the right stuff to join our now famous crew of panelists, visit www.disneyworldmoms.com September 13 to September 17 to apply!

Muppets News Flash The Muppets Kitchen with Cat Cora is coming to the World Wide Web. I hope her insurance is paid up..Stay Tuned for more details…