Starbucks at Disney

If you're anything like us, next to your Disney trip planning stuff right now is a cup of coffee.  Coffee makes the world go 'round.  From Ethiopia to France to Orlando, coffee is everywhere.

And until just recently, drinking coffee in the Disney Parks wasn't as enjoyable as it should be.  Because, let's face it: Disney doesn't have great coffee.

So let us together thank heaven that Starbucks are opening inside the parks.

But where exactly?  Below are the answers you seek.

The Downtown Disney District on the Florida side has been experiencing quite the bit of remodeling as Imagineers turn it into Disney Springs.  Among the many new additions are not one, but two new Starbucks!  One is near the largest Disney store in the world: The World of Disney.  The other Starbucks is in the West Side part of Downtown Disney.  And it has two floors!

In Magic Kingdom, you will find the Starbucks cleverly designed to blend into the rest of turn-of-the-century Main Street, USA.  It's on the right in the Main Street Bakery.

Epcot's Starbucks is located in Future World across from the Fountain of Nations, next to Club Cool in Fountain View.  So you can sip your latte and send the kids next door to sample (for free) Coca Cola products from around the world.  We were pleasantly surprised to find how much we liked Zimbabwe's version of a cherry soda!

More Starbucks are planned to open in Disney's Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom.

Above is one of us taking a five-second break from running the Disney Princess Half Marathon to take a selfie with the Fountain View Starbucks cast members.

Park Hoppers

One of the most common questions we are asked here at the Pixie Dust Posse is "Is the park hopper option worth it?"  And the answer isn't always simple.  It really depends on your family and what you are looking for in your vacation.

It currently costs $60.00 to add the park hopper option to any park ticket (adult or child) of 4 days or more in length.  For a family of 5, with four day park tickets, this will cost you an additional $300, or $75 per day.

To be honest, our family rarely purchases the hopper option.

Why?  Well, park hopping is not very time efficient.  Exiting a park, taking resort transportation (or even getting in your vehicle and driving to a second park), and then entering another park (including going through security) can be quite time consuming.  You should allow at least an hour.  That's an hour that could've been spent riding Space Mountain for the fifth time, watching Mickey's Philharmagic, or meeting talking Mickey in Town Square.

You're already on your feet a lot in the parks, but add on walking to the car in the gigantic WDW parking lot - again?  Park hopping is exhausting.  If you're staying on-property, you can take the Disney buses which skips parking lot hunting altogether, but it takes more time.  Overall, as you can see, we don't find Park Hopping worth the extra $500+ it would cost our family of 8.

But that's just us.

If you enjoy spontaneity - and the hopper option is in your budget - it is definitely nice to have the option.  Want to have lunch at the Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom and dinner at the Brown Derby in Disney's Hollywood Studios?  You're going to need a park hopper.  Crowds too much for you at Epcot today and you want to head over to Magic Kingdom?  The park hopper is a must.  Animal Kingdom closed at 5pm today, but you've still got several hours of magic left in you?  Park hopper is the way to go.

Do you add on the park hoppers?  Why or why not?  Tell us in the comments!

*Photo from Disney PhotoPass+ Gallery Disc

The Pizza Planet Truck

The Pizza Planet Truck made its first appearance in Toy Story and has been in every Pixar movie since (with one exception - The Incredibles).  But the real question is, where is this famous "Easter-egg" in each film?  The Pixie Dust Posse would like to answer that for you right now...

Toy Story (1995)

The Pizza Planet truck makes its debut at the Dinoco gas station when Woody and Buzz first leave Andy.  They proceed to ride it to Pizza Planet in an attempt to reunite with Andy.  You know what happens next.  (If not, go watch it now.)

A Bug's Life (1998)

The truck makes its second appearance beside the trailer which sits next to the bug-city Flick travels to.

Toy Story 2 (1999)

Stinky Pete reveals himself to be the "bad guy". He forces Woody, Bullseye, and Jessie into the briefcases on their way to the airport for Japan. Andy's gang needs a mode of transportation to rescue them.  And our Buzz chose none other than the Pizza Planet Truck.

Monsters, Inc. (2001)

Recognize this trailer?  These people must love pizza (Don't worry, we don't judge. We could eat pizza everyday, too.).  We see this trailer - and the Pizza Planet truck next to it - toward the end of the film when Sully and Mike send Randall through one of the doors and then drop it, so Randall can't come back.  Where did the door send Randal?  You got it.

Finding Nemo (2003)

This is Gill's imagination when he first shares his latest plan of getting into the ocean with the tank gang.  In this shot specifically, they're rolling their bags out the dentist's window and into the street, which is why the image appears blurry.

Cars (2006)

This is at the Piston Cup tie-breaker toward the end of the movie.  See our truck on the left?  We also just want to send a shout out to the crazy excited blue car on the bottom left.  He looks like us when we walk down Main Street and see Cinderella's Castle.

Ratatouille (2007)

It's very, very hard to see.  The truck on the left, driving across the bridge.  This is during the scene where Remy takes the papers proving Linguini's heritage, and Chef Skinner chases him throughout Paris to stop him from sharing.

WALL-E (2008)

We see the truck here as Eve is searching through the junk.  She may have not found what she was looking for.  But we did. :)

Up (2009)

Here we are at the closing scene of the movie. Carl, Russell, and Dug are sitting at the curb in front of the ice cream shop (that's Charles Muntz's former zeppelin above them).  You can find the truck sitting in the far left of the parking lot.

Toy Story 3 (2010)

Chuckles the clown is telling Woody the story of Lotso as we see it play out on-screen.  Daisy's family accidentally leaves Lotso, Chuckles, and Big Baby behind, so the toys hitch a ride on the back of the Pizza Planet Truck.

Cars 2 (2011)

The Pizza Planet Truck actually makes a couple of appearances in Cars 2.  Here's our truck getting interviewed on TV (notice the screen above the bar).

And here he is watching the race in Radiator Springs at the end of the movie.

Brave (2012)

Where do you place a truck in a movie that takes place in the tenth century Europe?  You put it in as a wood carving by the witch, of course.

Monsters University (2013)

Mike is riding Archie the scare pig past the fraternity JOX house. The Pizza Planet Truck is parked on the left.

There you have it!  But don't worry, our Easter egg hunt isn't over.  We'll be back with more!

*We apologize for the low-quality.  Some of our Pixar movies are in VHS-form. :)

**Photo of the Pizza Planet Truck in WALL-E from disneypixar.tumblr.com/post/35998897828/the-pizza-planet-truck-walloe-2008

Disney 30 Day Challenge, Day 30

Day 30- Favorite happy ending

And our agonizing, unfair, yet really really FUN Disney challenge has come to an end.  Favorite happy ending?  All happy endings are our favorite, but the most classic is this scene pictured above from Cinderella (1950).  Prince Charming and Cinderella's story is a sweet one, but really, this scene is only the beginning for them.  Onto their new life together... to live happily ever after.

Disney 30 Day Challenge, Day 29

Day 29- Most magical moment

"Mmmm... it gonna be good!"  Mama Odie (Mama Whoodie?) exclaims as Tiana and Naveen turn from frogs back into humans.  It's so perfect.  They had accepted the fact that they may stay amphibians forever.  Yet, once Tiana married Prince Naveen, well, let's just say true love is a very powerful thing. <3

Disney 30 Day Challenge, Day 28

Day 28- Scariest moment

This picture says it all.  Mordu from Brave (2012) is everything scary wrapped up in one being.  However, the challenge requires us to pick one moment, so we'd have to say it's when Merida first sees the broken stone and Mordu sneaks up and scares the pee out of everybody in the theater.  Not to mention that the Pixie Dust Posse had front row seats.  So without further ado, have pleasant dreams tonight.

Disney 30 Day Challenge, Day 27

Day 27- Funniest moment

That time when Tarzan was a kid in Tarzan II (2005) having an identity crisis and Terk comes on up to impersonate what Tarzan's parents, Kala and Kerchack would do.  And, of course, Terk was spot-on.  "Oooh, I can just hear Kerchack: You almost killed someone. (acting as Kala now) He's only a child, he'll learn. (Back to Kerchack) He'll never survive in the jungle.  He can't run, he can't climb, he's a danger to us all. Now, I think I'll grunt impressively. Hrgm."  We all need a friend like Terk to lift our spirits.  Who's your "Terk"?

Disney 30 Day Challenge, Day 26

Day 26- Saddest moment

Pretty much the entire first half-hour of Up (2009) is the saddest "moment" in any Disney or Pixar film ever made.  Oh sure, Mufasa's death, Jessie's rejection song, and Toy Story 3 made Kleenex rich, but those don't compare to poor Carl's story.  There were happy moments, but they made the sad ones all the more sadder. We cry because it was the end of an adventure, but really, it was the beginning of a new one.

Disney 30 Day Challenge, Day 25

Day 25- Favorite parent(s)

Nemo's dad, Marlin, from Finding Nemo (2003) loves his son to the ends of the earth, almost literally.  Though he really, really doesn't like the unknown and dangerous, Marlin shows true courage when Nemo is taken.  Facing sharks, vast ocean, sea turtles, and whales, nothing will stop Marlin from being united with his son.

Disney 30 Day Challenge, Day 24

Day 24- Favorite eyes

Disney has many characters with big eyes, but Ariel's eyes are our favorite.  Her eyes are as blue as the ocean and as big as her dreams.  Ariel can show many different expressions and feelings with nothing but her eyes.  We can see why Eric fell for her. ;)

Disney 30 Day Challenge, Day 23

Day 23- Favorite quote

"Ohana means family.  And family means nobody get left behind or forgotten."  This quote from Lilo & Stitch (2002) means a lot to us, the Pixie Dust Posse.  Family isn't necessarily blood or who looks alike, it's who you love and care for.  And once they're family, they're never left behind or forgotten. Nani and Lilo learned that for sure, and so did we.

Disney 30 Day Challenge, Day 22

Day 22- Favorite non-romantic duo

Mike and Sully from Monsters, Inc. (2001) and Monsters University (2013) make the perfect team.  They got off to a rocky start in college, but they each learned their lesson and made amends.  Together they started at the bottom (in the mail room, to be exact), and together they made their way on top, scarers.  Even when Boo came in, their friendship remained (but it was close!).  Sully and Mike are truly an example of a great friendship.

Disney 30 Day Challenge, Day 21

Day 21- Favorite castle

Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom is straight from a fairytale, yet it's right before our eyes.  No castle has stirred so such emotion in us.  We cry when we see it for the first time on Main Street.  We may cry some more seeing the fireworks go off behind it during Wishes.  And then we cry again when it's time to leave.  Cinderella Castle beckons us to a world where dreams come true.  And that's where we left our hearts.

Disney 30 Day Challenge, Day 20

Day 20- Favorite pet

Pascal from Tangled (2010) is the perfect pet for any situation.  The Pixie Dust Posse has had many different pets: hermit crabs, goldfish, frogs, even a kitty.  However, none of them have stood still for us to sew a dress for them.  None of our pets have played hide-and-seek with us.  None of them have traveled with us on an adventure to see the floating lights.  We wish we had a pet like Pascal, don't you?

Disney 30 Day Challenge, Day 19

Day 19- Favorite sidekick/henchman

When Mulan (1998) leaves home to take her father's place in the war, the ancestors deem she needs a guardian.  None other than Mushu is up for the job (especially now since the supposed "great stone dragon" is in pieces).  As Mushu said himself, he's travel-sized for Mulan's convenience.  He's helpful to Mulan in many ways.  For one, his fire power lit the cannon that brought the avalanche down upon the huns.  Also, he ties the fireworks to himself on the roof of the palace when Mulan is fighting Shan Yu.  Mushu is the perfect companion for Mulan, even though the ancestors didn't think so.

Disclaimer: Despite his lizard-like appearance on the picture above, he's a DRA-GON.  He doesn't do that tongue thing. :)

Disney 30 Day Challenge, Day 18

Day 18- Favorite villain

Mother Gothel from Tangled (2010) is downright selfish.  Her motivation?  Herself.  Her goal? Herself.  Mother Gothel just wants to be young forever - and she'll do whatever it takes to do it.  Hide the magic golden flower from the world even though it's the queen's only hope?  Pshhhh... of course!  Steal the princess and raise her secretly away from any other human contact?  Duh.  Act like she loves the child when the only love she has is for herself?  Oh yes.  Mother Gothel will cross any line and break any rule to keep herself young forever.  And that's what makes her our favorite villain.  And the villain song.  That too.

Disney 30 Day Challenge, Day 17

Favorite heroine

Bianca from The Rescuers (1970) and The Rescuers Down Under (1990) may be small, but she is the ideal choice as a rescuer for Penny and Cody.  She is brave, prissy, and a perfect match for her partner Bernard.  Bianca herself is certainly a statement that no matter how small and insignificant you may seem in others' eyes, you can still do BIG things.

Disney 30 Day Challenge, Day 16

Day 16- Favorite hero

Simba from The Lion King (1994) wasn't always a hero.  He ran away as a kid, grew up, and then tried to ignore his past.  However, thanks to Rafiki and Nala, he decides to step up and become who he's destined to be.  Some movie heroes appear to be perfect (when we all know he's not) and some heroes continue to be jerks (and somehow save the day anyway), but Simba learns his lesson and acts on it.  He is an example to follow, even though he's not the same species as us.

Disney 30 Day Challenge, Day 15

Day 15- Favorite dance scene

The final scene of Beauty and the Beast (1991) when Belle and the Prince (formerly the Beast) dance in the newly un-enchanted castle is our favorite dance scene.  This isn't just the happy ever after for the couple, but also for Mrs. Potts, Chip, Lumiere, and the rest of the castle residents.  This is what they have all been waiting for, and this scene ties our hearts in with theirs.

Disney 30 Day Challenge, Day 14

Day 14- Favorite lyrics

"Let it Go" from Frozen (2013) is one of our favorite songs (it almost got yesterday's article).  "Let it Go" not only fits Elsa's journey, but many people today can relate to it in their own way.  Every lyric of the song has a double meaning, which leads us to our bottom-line favorite lyric from the second verse of Demi Lovato's version: "I know I left a life behind, but I'm too relieved to grieve".  What's your favorite "Let it Go" lyric?