My top five Walt Disney World Florida resort hotels

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Some lovely friends of mine were in Florida recently, staying at the gorgeous Animal Kingdom Lodge and I happened to comment on one of their Facebook pictures ‘oh, that’s my FAVOURITE Walt Disney World resort!’. I love the African styling, and the fact that you can see giraffes wandering outside your window. But then I thought about the glorious Grand Floridian, and the quite incredible Contemporary Resort, and I realised, I can’t have just one. I have to have at least five!

So here they are, in no particular order, my top five Walt Disney World resort hotels:

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

The Grand Floridian

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (c) wdwnews.com

This absolute beauty oozes luxury and sophistication. It’s said to be designed in the style of the grand old Florida beach resorts of the 1800s/early 1900s. Someone once told me it was based on Hollywood’s famous Chateau Marmont, but though it possibly shares a Disney castle-shaped pointy roof and maybe a gable or two, it’s actually inspired by the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, California. The Grand Floridian is nestled on the shores of its very own lagoon (where you can hire boats - but be careful not to incur the wrath of the river police, who take their job - rightly - very seriously) and boasts the most amazing spa.

It also has my favourite, favourite Disney World restaurant, Citrico’s, and has the best Christmas decorations ever, including a life size gingerbread house that is constructed in the lobby every Christmas.

The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa decorated for Christmas

The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa decorated for Christmas (c) englishmum.com

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

One step inside the breathtaking lobby of this amazing resort and you’re transported straight to Africa. If you’re lucky enough to stay at this incredible hotel, make sure you bag yourself a room with a balcony overlooking the savanna (actually four separate savannas) - over 40 acres of African wildlife reserve, so you can wake up and watch the giraffes ambling about below you.

The lobby area at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

The lobby area at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (c) wdwnews.com

The pool area, complete with water slide is amazing, and the rooms have breathtaking styling, straight out of an African game reserve. Carrying on the theme, Jiko, the signature dining experience, creates wonderful African food too.

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Opened in 1971, the Contemporary was one of the two hotels originally opened at Walt Disney World (the other was the Polynesian Resort) and sits right next to the Magic Kingdom. I love everything about the Contemporary, from being whizzed in to the A-framed hotel on the monorail, to the rooms (the rooms are said to be the biggest of all the Disney resort hotels) and the incredible modern cuisine at The Wave, the resort’s very modern restaurant (they do a stonking breakfast in there too.) One of my favourite places is The Contempo Café, where they do the most AMAZING cupcakes. The chocolate peanut butter cupcake there was possibly the most heavenly cupcake I’ve ever eaten.

Disney's Contemporary Resort

Disney’s Contemporary Resort (c) wdwnews.com

Talking of cupcakes, my gorgeous friend Dave was at Hollywood Studios recently and took this picture of the new blueberry cupcake with lemon cream cheese icing. NOM!

Blueberry Cupcake with Lemon Cream Cheese Icing at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Blueberry Cupcake with Lemon Cream Cheese Icing at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (c) D J Coombs

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

The Yacht Club is a slice of New England, walking distance from one of the most unique and beautiful Disney areas, the Boardwalk (where the Flying Fish, another of my favourite Disney restaurants, can be found, and my spiritual home, the Boardwalk Bakery - droolworthy cupcakes here too). This is a fabulously situated resort - you can walk into Epcot too - brilliant for when you want to watch the fireworks. The Yachtsman Steakhouse serves top notch steaks and has an incredible wine list and if you need to relax (or work off all that steak and wine) it has over 3 acres of beautiful pool areas and artificial beaches. Plus, it’s absolutely BEAUTIFUL when it’s all lit up in the evening with all the twinkling lights reflected in the water. Just incredible.

Disney's Yacht Club Resort at night

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort at night (c) wdwnews.com

Disney's Boardwalk

Disney’s Boardwalk (c) englishmum.com

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

But hey, it’s not ALL about pomp and ceremony, y’know, Disney World Florida is well known for the FUN FUN FUN! And there is no better place to stay than the incredible Art of Animation Resort. The whole resort is a riot of colour and fun, with HUGE Disney characters dotted about. And in true Disney style, there’ll be nobody telling you ‘look but don’t touch’! The resort is split into four main wings: there are three family suite wings: a Finding Nemo themed wing, my favourite Cars-themed wing, and a Lion King wing, plus there is also a wing with standard rooms with a Little Mermaid theme. The suites are cleverly styled with amazing attention to detail and I just love everything about it. The pool even plays Disney songs under water!

Giant Crush at Disney's Art of Animation

Giant Crush at Disney’s Art of Animation (c) englishmum.com

So there’s my top five. Which is your favourite?

A great cause: signing up to the RSPCA Animal Champion scheme

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Animal Champion LogoSnuggling up with a furry friend or two is the perfect antidote to a cold, crisp evening and for those of us with a family pet we’ll often do anything to ensure their safety and happiness.

Unfortunately, not all animals are lucky enough to receive such care and affection but charities such as the RSPCA help prevent cruelty to animals. More than that, they ensure everyone knows how to care for animals correctly – highlighting common risks and areas for improvement. Those who want to train others to care for animals in the correct way should think about showing their support to the charity now – and there are plenty of ways to do it.

One particularly easy option, which also happens to be a great way to get the kids involved over February half-term, is to encourage your little ones to become an RSPCA Animal Champion.

It’s important to teach our children the differences between right and wrong from a very young age and allowing them to become a champion is certainly one way to educate them in the importance of caring for animals.

Becoming a champion

This new and exciting scheme is run by the and is open to children between the ages of 6 and 12 years of age. It comprises a series of action-packed activities and is the perfect way to keep the kids entertained throughout February half-term.

From animal themed sleepovers to conducting a little detective work in the back garden, there are a number of adventures to choose from.

What do they get?

Applying to become a champion will entitle the kids to their very own toolkit which comes in the shape of an activity pack comprising a challenge checklist poster and a series of video updates from the RSPCA inspectors. These activities can be completed with both friends and family and once your little ones have completed five, they’ll receive a special award and a certificate.

A majority of the challenges can be completed at home, such as baking animal cakes, whilst others can be completed with fellow animal enthusiasts in the local area.

There’s even one small fundraising challenge included for those who really want to show their commitment to the cause?

How do I sign up?

This brand new scheme is running for the first time during February half-term and signing up couldn’t be easier. It costs just £15 with more information on what’s involved and what you can stand to gain found at www.rspca.org.uk/animalchampion.

Visit the RSPCA website for more information on the work of this great charity and for details on how to help your kids become an Animal Champion. The Animal Champion scheme is open to children between the ages of 6 and 12 years and costs £15 per pack/child. The closing date for applications is February 12.

EMGP

 

 

New small logo

A new look English Mum!

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So here it is, then. The new look English Mum. I hope you’ll agree it’s brighter, fresher and cleaner than the old one. My lovely web designer, the endlessly patient Andy from ADD Creative, has worked really hard transforming my ideas, mood board and general ramblings into this beautiful new design. The logo, split into four pieces, cleverly represents all four of my favourite things and I hope, like me, you’ll love the new pastel colours and easier to navigate layout.

There are lots of new bits and pieces to discover, including easy to read recipes, and the whole layout is a lot more user friendly. It’s mobile-friendly too so you can take me with you wherever you go!

Keep popping in as there are loads of exciting things afoot this year - more fabulous travel, more amazing food, competitions, reviews and much more. And whether you’ve been reading English Mum for years, or you’re a first time visitor, I’d like to thank you from the bottom of my bottom. I’m nothing without you!

 

Cheerleaders

Cheerleaders. And the story of the tomato sauce swear.

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I wonder if it’s a symptom of being self employed, but every so often I get such a feeling of impending panic, of everything being overwhelming and worrying and out of control. This stressy feeling seems to build up gradually (much like my ironing pile) until something trivial will completely tip me over the edge and I’ll end up having a total meltdown. This time a very minor disagreement about how much of their wages the boys are saving turned into tears, door slamming and sulking in my bedroom while the male members of the house rolled their eyes and went about their business. For my friend Laura it was a row about soup that tipped her over the edge. It seems to be a bit of a ‘straw that broke the camel’s back’ situation.

Anyone else?

Or maybe it’s just me.

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Gunmakers Arms menu

The Gunmakers Arms, Clerkenwell

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Yesterday I had a proper greedy day starting with lunch, moving on to afternoon tea with a client and then an evening at one of our favourite local hangouts, No 2 Pound Street for a couple of glasses of wine and one of their lovely sharing boards of cheeses and meats.

I was up in London to meet a lovely friend (we work together, but this has become secondary) to discuss travel plans and catch up on our news. She was bringing a colleague and they suggested The Gunmakers Arms in Clerkenwell, close to my second meeting. I arrived hideously early (typical ‘country mouse comes to the city’ type thing) but took my chance to wander slowly up Leather Lane, sniffing all the delicious smells from the food vendors and pressing my nose up against the window of Pieminister. The Gunmakers is just off Clerkenwell Road and I loitered a bit awkwardly outside, wondering what to do for 20 minutes in the drizzle before deciding to head inside. Good decision. I was warmly welcomed (the staff put me in mind of when Jay Rayner described the staff at Hawksmoor as ‘bed headed and tattooed’ - seriously cool), provided with a drink and a warm spot by a radiator, and spent the rest of the time before my lunch mates arrived studying the chalkboard menu.

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