In honor of the national holiday, we’re revisiting an unforgettable night of magic at the Walt Disney World Resort for a special virtual viewing of our spectacular Fourth of July fireworks.
For tonight’s #DisneyMagicMoments viewing, prepare for patriotism at its finest as we take you back to 2018 to experience a night of breathtaking fireworks orchestrated to festive, toe-tapping melodies. Watch as the sky above the iconic Cinderella Castle illuminates with colorful, bright and sparkling fireworks.
Keep checking back for more #DisneyMagicMoments like this coming to the Disney Parks Blog.
From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com Filed Under: Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort, MK, Video, WDW
Apple pie is iconic. For many of us, it represents comfort and a feeling of home so it is no wonder this popular dessert is truly a slice of Americana – perfect for a 4th of July celebration!
How popular? According to the American Pie Council, pie is the preferred dessert for holidays and apple pie gets the top nod with 1 out of 5 Americans naming it as their favorite.
In honor of 4th of July, we are serving up America’s favorite pie with our recipe from Whispering Canyon Café at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Their version is layered with tart Granny Smith apples and has a cake-like top crust that is simply delicious.
And you know what else 1 out of 5 Americans confess to, according to the American Pie Council? Eating an entire pie by themselves. Hey – no judgement here!
Apple Pie from Whispering Canyon Café at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Makes one 9-inch pie
PIE CRUST
4 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces
1/4 cup shortening
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons sugar
1/8 teaspoon coarse salt
1/3 cup 2% milk
APPLES
1 cup water
6 Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced
2 teaspoons apple pie spice
APPLE PIE BATTER
1/2 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar
2 egg
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup heavy cream
FOR PIE CRUST:
Combine butter, shortening, flour, sugar, and salt in bowl of electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix at medium speed until crumbly.
Add milk and mix until incorporated.
Wrap dough in plastic wrap and rest in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Roll to 1/4-inch thickness and place in 9-inch pie plate.
Set aside.
FOR APPLES:
Bring water to simmer in large pot.
Place apples in a steamer basket and add to pot. Steam for 10 minutes. Remove from water.
Cool to room temperature and toss with apple pie spice.
FOR APPLE PIE BATTER:
Cream butter and sugar in bowl of stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment until fluffy. Add eggs and mix until just incorporated.
Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in small bowl. Slowly add to mixer and beat on medium speed until combined.
Add cream and mix until smooth.
Set aside until ready to bake.
FOR APPLE PIE:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Place 1/2 cup apple pie batter on top of pie crust, spread until smooth. Top with apples and remaining apple pie batter.
Cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes. Remove foil and bake 20 more minutes, until golden brown.
Cool to room temperature before serving. If desired, top pie with sliced almonds and dust with confectioners’ sugar once cooled.
Note: This recipe has been converted from a larger quantity in the restaurant kitchens. The flavor profile may vary from the restaurant’s version. As a reminder while preparing this recipe, please supervise children who are helping or nearby.
Ava, a 13-year-old junior chef and daughter of Disney photographer Matt Stroshane, made this recipe in her home kitchen with the help of her personal sous chefs (mom and dad) and official taste tester (her 11-year-old brother, Adam). Check out Ava’s video below.
Stay connected with Disney Parks Blog for more delicious Disney recipes and be sure to share the magic with other Disney fans using the hashtag #DisneyMagicMoments. Happy cooking!
From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com Filed Under: Disney Dining, Hotels & Resorts, Walt Disney World Resort, Recipe, WDW
With just eight days until we reopen our first theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort, tens of thousands of cast members have been straightening up our nametags (and grabbing our face coverings!) as we begin to return to work. As we count down to the phased reopening of our theme parks, we’re looking forward to welcoming our fellow cast members home to begin training in preparation for reopening.
And this week, that special moment finally arrived for a group of our theme park cast members as they put on their nametags, reunited with their work locations and fellow cast, and began their first days of training to learn new health and safety protocols. With the return of every cast member, and at the conclusion of every training session, you can feel how passionate and ready the team is as we get one step closer to the first theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort welcoming guests home.
Many of us are returning to places that look and feel a little different, and collectively, we’re dedicating thousands of hours to health and safety training because we know that it will take all of us working together to responsibly create the magic once again.
Though our world may look a little different as we return to familiar and cherished places, we’re eager to open the gates and navigate this new world together with health and safety top of mind. Take a look at some of the first special moments as cast returned to their favorite parks and began prepping to welcome guests home with a smile in their eyes.
Prepare to set sail along the Rhône river with Adventures by Disney to discovery the rich history, charming culture, inspired art and delectable cuisine of the south of France. Just play this virtual tour on your computer or smart device to experience the architectural landmarks of Lyon, the vineyards of Tournon, the medieval monuments of Avignon and more.
2. Adventures by Disney Presents: Qui est le Personnage? (Who is the Character?)
On select nights, our river cruises feature a series of special activities hosted by the ever-entertaining Adventure Guides. To keep this tradition going, here is a fun family game that will put your Disney knowledge to the test… in French! The rules of the game are simple, we are going to show you the French names of various Disney characters and you have to guess them in English. Every correct guess gets you a point and the person with the most points wins!
TIP:Many streaming devices and smart TVs allow you to mirror your smart device/computer and play videos directly on the big screen.
3. Prêt à Manger (Ready to Eat)
Today’s “Adventure at Home” invites you to prepare a treat that has become the ambassador of French confections, the macaron. These sweet, meringue-based pastries are available in a rainbow of colors and a symphony of flavors. Our friends at Disney Family shared the recipe to create Mickey Mouse French Macarons.
4. Vues Impressionnantes (Impressive Views)
If you want to add some French flair to your next video conference, here is a downloadable background to showcase your worldly side when chatting with co-workers, classmates, friends and family. This picture-perfect sunset features Gordes, one of the most beautiful hilltop villages in France.
To use the background, just right-click on the image and save it to your computer. Be sure to check out the terms of use about using the background before you download it. Then, follow the conferencing platform’s instructions to add some Adventures by Disney magic to your video conferencing.
We’ve seen so many great examples of guests creating fun experiences at home inspired by Disney parks. It’s been incredibly fun and rewarding to see so many fantastic reactions to favorite theme parks, attractions, characters—you name it!
The Disney Parks Blog asked two of the architects and designers from the Walt Disney Imagineering Design + Planning Studio to contribute their talents to help more guests bring a piece of the Disney parks to life in your own homes.
Bob Weis, president of Walt Disney Imagineering, recently shared, “We have always been inspired by the incredible passion of our Disney park fans. Seeing your creativity and shared love for the experiences Imagineers create has really lifted our spirits.”
The sheets, created for the Disney Parks Blog by talented Imagineers Stephanie Jazmines and Amy Young, require the use of scissors or glue and folding along dotted lines in specific directions. For best results, we recommend printing the sheets at their actual size, not scaling them to fit the page.
We also recommend adult participation or supervision for those with little ones to help make this great activity even more enjoyable. Have fun and stay tuned for more Disney Paper Parks activity sheets!
By downloading Disney Paper Parks, you acknowledge and agree that these materials are being provided to you for personal, non-commercial use.
