Exciting news! Red Rose Taverne, a Beauty & the Beast-inspired eatery is now open at Disneyland! Located in Fantasyland, inside the space that’s normally Village Haus, this quick-service restaurant offers a variety of delicious dishes that make you feel like you’re a guest in Beauty & the Beast.
As you enter the restaurant, you’ll find subtle,decorative changes inside that vibe with the movie’s theme. I was there before it was fully finished so I only saw a few of the touches. (I can’t wait to visit again now that it’s all done.)
On my visit, I didn’t have the chance to eat a full meal, although I did try the desserts. (see below) I cannot wait to go back and sample some of these other menu offerings:
The Beast’s Burger – A 1/3 pound Angus beef patty, slow-cooked beef, Gruyere cheese, caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato and horseradish aioli on a toasted roll.
Class Angus 1/3 lb Cheeseburger – An Angus beef patty with cheese, lettuce, tomato and signature sauce on a toasted roll.
Enchanted Cauli-Flower Sandwich – A grilled cauliflower steak, spicy lime aioli, tempura-battered green beans, lettuce and tomato on a toasted roll.
Slow-Cooked Beef Poutine – Slow-cooked beef and gravy over seasoned waffle-cut fries, pickled onions and cheese curds.
Chicken Sandwich à la Lumière – Grilled chicken breast, apple slaw, onion-bacon jam and fried cherry peppers on a toasted roll.
Chef’s Chopped Salad – Cabbage, Romaine and iceberg lettuce, smoked bacon, apple, hard-cooked eggs, blue cheese crumbles, garlic croutons and apple vinaigrette.
Poutine Flatbread – Topped with slow-cooked beef, pomme frites, roasted garlic aioli, cheese curds, gravy and herb oil.
Garden Mozzarella Flatbread – Topped with marinated tomatoes, fresh Mozzarella, basil and tomato sauce.
Pulled Pork Flatbread – Topped with pulled pork, roasted corn, sweet and spicy barbecue sauce, pickled onions and cilantro
Red Rose Taverne also offers Kids’ Meals, referred to as “Chip’s Dishes”, and a Toddler Meal.
In addition to regular beverages, you can also order Gaston’s Famous Brew at Red Rose Taverne, which is an apple-mango punch topped with passion fruit foam. Guests have the option to order it in a souvenir mug for an additional $8.00.
Now let’s talk about the desserts because that seems to be the most important part. I promise that you’ll want to stop by and enjoy one of each for yourself on your next visit to the Park!
I started off by trying some of “the Grey Stuff” They named it Grey Stuff Gateau. It’s a white chocolate mousse and red velvet cake with a sweet raspberry center and was delicious!
Next, I tried the Lemon Rose Cake, which is a lemon mousse cake with strawberry-rose filling. This one was bright, colorful and oh-so-tasty.
I also took home one of the Mrs. Potts Krispy treats so I could enjoy it the next day.
I’m really excited about everything going on right now at Disneyland Resort surrounding the upcoming release of Disney’s “Beauty & the Beast” in theaters on March 17th! Did you know that you can catch a special 8-minute sneak peek of the film right now in Disney’s California Adventure Park through March 26th?
Stop by the Sunset Showcase Theater in Hollywood Land to get an advance look of a scene from the movie, presented in 3D with special in-theater effects, presented continuously throughout the day. While you’re there, be sure to check out the special lobby display featuring a few costumes and props used in the production, too!
The Pizza Press offers a variety of delicious new creations and old classics. Guests also have the choice to create their very own pizza, which is prepared right in front of you, using the day’s freshest ingredients! The Pizza Press is revolutionizing America’s favorite food.the chance to “publish” their pizza to their liking.
Guests at The Pizza Press get to start building their custom pizza with “a blank slate”, a.k.a. their dough. They then get to select their choice of sauce, then cheese, and finally the toppings from the day’s freshest ingredients.
Once this is all done, their pizza is “published” as it goes into the 475 degree pizza oven for about 4 minutes. What comes out is a delicious pie!
The Pizza Press also offers fresh salads. You can start with greens and add your choice of toppings to customize your salad. Caesar and Bow Tie Pasta salads available.
We opted to add some Garlic Cheesy Bread to our meal which is made with extra virgin olive oil, minced garlic, mozzarella, aged parmesan, Italian herbs and comes with a side of red sauce. Yum!
The theme and decor inside The Pizza Press is modern twist on the Roaring Twenties, complete with quirky newspapers from yesteryear. It’s such a fun atmosphere and the food is outstanding. You’ll want to visit Pizza Press soon so you can “publish” your own meal!
To learn more about The Pizza Press and see their full menu, go
With celebrity chefs, winemaker dinners, beer tasting seminars and irresistible cuisine, this year’s Food & Wine Festival is going to be better than ever, with experiences for guests of all ages! There’ll be more than a dozen marketplaces open every day for guests to enjoy, as well as an entire menu of daily culinary demonstrations and tastings, including beer, wine and spirits seminars (for those 21 of years and older.)
The festival will feature music everywhere, delicious food, and fun crafts created specifically with younger guests in mind. The Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival will have experiences for the entire family to enjoy. More than a dozen Festival Marketplaces will offer delectable fare, an ideal complement to the Festival-inspired menus at the theme park’s restaurants and eateries.
Dozens of food and beverage professionals will share their expertise during the Festival. Each day during the festival, guests will be invited to learn cooking techniques from master chefs, participate in wine,beer and spirit seminars, and discover some of the best California cuisine in dishes served throughout Disney California Adventure. Celebrity chefs scheduled to appear during the Festival include:
Many of the Festival events are included with admission to Disney California Adventure. Guests who want to add the Signature Events may purchase separate tickets at an additional fee for the following events:

I had the honor of attending the premiere night of the parade and just sitting there on the curb, watching all of the twinkling, lighted floats go by, really brought out the little kid in me . There’s just something about the sound of the synthesized “Baroque Hoedown” played throughout Main Street, U.S.A. that will bring happy tears to your eyes, especially if you remember it from way back when! By the looks of the crowd lined up to watch it on the night I was there, it must hold special meaning for a ton of others as well!
Here are 8 fun facts about the Main Street Electrical Parade: 






First of all, guests will (finally) encounter the thrilling Guardians of the Galaxy–Mission: BREAKOUT!, which I’ve been so excited about since its announcement! This new adventure blasts guests straight into the “Guardians of the Galaxy” story for the first time, alongside characters from the blockbuster films and comics.
As guests join Rocket in his attempt to bust his pals out of the Collector’s Fortress, they’ll experience randomized ride experiences complete with all-new visual and audio effects and music inspired by the popular film soundtracks. We cannot wait!
Guests at will also be able to answer the call to join legendary Super Heroes in all-new experiences for Summer of Heroes, which will inaugurate an ever-expanding universe of Super Hero stories at Disney California Adventure.
This summer will also bring more excitement at Disneyland Park with the return of the Disneyland Railroad and Rivers of America attractions, including the return of “Fantasmic!” nighttime spectacular. Keep your eye on the
If you haven’t had a chance to catch a performance of the
For more information about all of the exciting things going on at Disneyland Resort, please visit their site
The all-star cast includes Lewis Black and Luke Wilson. ROCK DOG hits theaters February 24 and is sure to be a family favorite!
I was invited to spend a relaxing afternoon at Burke Williams Spa in Mission Viejo. From the moment I opened the front door, I felt hypnotized by the aromatherapy scents inside. It’s like a dream when you check in and are led back to the women’s spa. Guests are assigned a secure locker where they can store their personal belongings. Inside the locker you’ll find a super soft, comfy robe to borrow and some spa slippers to use. I didn’t hesitate to change into my bathing suit to take advantage of all the spa area has to offer, before my treatment appointment time.
Inside of the women’s spa, complimentary amenities include a whirlpool, steam room, sauna, showers and fully appointed vanity area. After I spent some time enjoying the whirlpool and steam room, I relaxed in the beautiful lounge area. I loved sitting there and enjoying some fruit-infused iced water while I read magazines. When it was my appointment time, I was greeted by my masseuse and led back to the treatment room for a 50 minute Pure Relaxation Massage. It was so wonderful and I felt like all my worries melted away. (Per spa policies, I don’t have any photos of my own from inside the spa, as cell phone use isn’t allowed in this area) I felt like all of my worries melted away!
What I realized afterward my visit to Burke Williams Spa was that I need to do it more often! Did you know that you can also purchase a “Day Pass” for spa use without a booked service? It’s available for a $45 entrance fee, Monday through Thursday (excluding holidays) and reservations are required. which entitles you to visit and utilize all of the spa amenities when you aren’t visiting for a treatment. Reservations are required for spa use without service.

The human bat-signal will officially kickoff the Family Theme Park’s The LEGO® Batman Movie Days, February 18-19 and 25-26. Guests will get to meet the LEGO super hero during this celebration of the Warner Bros. Pictures’ feature film, which also includes photo opportunities with the scene-stealing star, a themed scavenger hunt and LEGO Batman-inspired LEGO build activities.
One way I encourage my daughter to lead a healthy lifestyle is by modeling it for her. There are also some things our family does to stay active together and have fun doing so. We enjoy going on family walks together. We also love to enjoy other outdoor activities such as a hike in the foothills or a jog along the beach. Being active together a perfect opportunity to bond as a family.
We also allow my daughter to make choices of physical activities that she enjoys doing to maintain that active lifestyle. She is pretty athletic and has participated in a variety of activities ranging from dance & cheer to swimming & martial arts.
It’s also very important to teach children about the importance of making healthy food choices, whether they are eating at home with you or our somewhere on their own. Our family spends time together on Sundays doing meal planning and grocery shopping for the upcoming week.
Since our work, school, homework, and extra-curricular activity schedule are somewhat busy ones, we try our best to prepare meals together in the kitchen about 4 times a week. Dinnertime is when we share about our day and talk about anything else we’re excited about.
It’s also important to teach your children to give back to the community. I believe that giving back is one of the most important things you can do for others. Also, by doing so, you are modeling the importance of thinking about others’ needs and serving others for your child(ren). We seek out different ways to give back including volunteering with the homeless and bringing necessary supplies to the animal shelter.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of America has a great resource for families trying to live an overall healthy lifestyle called Triple Play. The program is the leading comprehensive health and wellness program and serves young people at Boys & Girls Clubs. Triple Play gives kids the tools and awareness necessary to put them on the path to a great future. This is exactly what we want for our children.
In our own family, we do a few different things to promote a healthy lifestyle. I feel better when…we model an active lifestyle, make healthy food choices, and give back. What about you and your family? What can you do to support this mantra?