Travel with the Whitakers

World Showcase at Epcot is a great spot to learn about culture – especially through food. Each of the 11 countries has at least one place to find cultural culinary delights. The Germany Pavilion is located between the Italy Pavilion and the African Outpost. Biergarten is a German buffet that serves lunch and dinner in a unique setting. The restaurant is located in the very back of the pavilion and is easy to overlook if you don’t know what you’re looking for.   The check-in desk is just under the left arch and once you check in enjoy the mural on the back wall while you wait to be seated.    When your pager goes off a cultural ambassador will transport you to their native land. The inside of the restaurant is themed as a Bavarian town at night. Throughout the day Oktoberfest type entertainment is performed live. A band in lederhosen plays water glasses, alpenhorns, and traditional polka music. Guests are welcome and invited to show off their polka moves on

Magicbands and Fastpass+ go hand in hand and are now both a big part of at least most Disney World vacations now. There are a lot of concerns out there in regards to both and we'll try to address them here. Magicbands have been around for our last two trips, but we have only used them on this last trip in January. In September 2013 Magicbands were finishing up their testing phase and were not yet included for those at All-Star Resorts. When we first learned about Magicbands and Fastpass+ we had some concerns and didn't really know what to think about them. Having experience with them both now we like them. What are Magicbands? Magicbands are RFID bracelets that are customizable and adjustable that are used for park entrance, hotel room access, charging for purchases, Fastpasses, and Photopass. Who can get a Magicband? In the past all Disney World Resort guests were given a Key to the World card. Magicbands have replaced these cards. If you ate staying at a

One of the great things about Disney is that there are so much variety in terms of food. You can find something to satisfy just about anyone. While there a so many options that are not your standard theme park food, sometimes it is nice to go back to that for a meal or a snack, though. So, if you're looking for a place to get some classic theme park fare in Magic Kingdom Casey's Corner may just be the place for you. You'll find it located at the end of Main Street. It is the last thing on Main Street on your left, if you are facing the Castle, before you can make the left towards Crystal Palace. Casey's is themed after Casey at the Bat which is an 1888 poem by Ernest Thayer. There is also a 1946 Walt Disney video. If you haven't seen it, check it out on Youtube. Both the poem and video are about a baseball player named Casey and his baseball team. Casey's Corner is themed as an old time baseball stadium with a statue of a baseball player greeting you ou