#999: Open Condiment Bars

My favorite place to eat on property, if I'm just getting some Quick Service, is good ol' Pecos Bill's Cafe in Frontierland.

They have an eclectic menu, and lots of self-checkout computer screens, so the experience is always pretty speedy and low stress no matter what time of day.

But I'll be honest...I think what brings me back time and time again to Pecos Bill's is that gigantic open condiment bar.

You're gonna drop at least 15 bucks a plate on a burger, fries and a drink. Walking away from a Disney cash register after buying lunch with change from a $20 is actually a feat in it's own category. But I can do you one better.

Spend that 15 bucks at Pecos Bill's or Cosmic Ray's in Tomorrowland, and you'll be sure to get your money's worth and here's why.

Open Condiment Bars in Disney go all out. You don't just have your regular ketchup, mustard and relish, oh no. You've also got pumps of tangy BBQ sauce and not to mention Hot Cheese. Now, these are not your everyday dipping sauces for french fries, so if you're eating here for lunch? Skip the bagged apple slices and go for the fries.

But that's not all. 

There are never ending platters of lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles and the coup de gras sauteed mushrooms. 

These are no longer condiments in my eyes...these, my friend, are free sides.

This is the point where the burger and fries are strategically pushed to one side of the tiny plate (that's right, they're served on baby plates now, no more cardboard boats. I think Pecos Bill was catching on), and I scoop those sauteed mushrooms into the vacant spot. And if I get the stink eye from an observant castmember?

I tell them how much I love extra sauteed mushrooms, while I simaltaneously grab a fork to eat them, with absolutely zero intention of placing them on my burger.

So seek out a seat on the backside of the Tortuga restaurant and eat up. Those mushrooms will taste especially delicious knowing that this extra side you just scavenged was once a measly member of the Condiment Bar.

AWESOME!

#1000: Having a Monorail car to yourself

Maybe it's your day off, or you're just letting off some steam after work, or maybe you've been playing Tour Guide all day to some friends and family in town. Fireworks were over an hour ago, the shops on Main Street are starting to clear out, and the "Closing Time" announcement (complete with pixie dust tinkling), is playing overhead.

It's time to call it a night.

No matter how long you've actually been out and about in the park, when it reaches that point in the night where you're one of the last to leave the Magic Kingdom, you take on a sluggish stride as you head toward the turnstiles.

Castmembers are waving goodbye to you, Monorail Pilots are waiting to help direct you to either the Express or Resort...you take whichever is closest.

You make your way up the cement ramp and wait the few minutes for one of the twelve Monorails to greet you with open doors. While you wait for that moment to come, you survey all the corrals that are provided to enter each car.

And that's when you see it.

An empty corral.

You and your party, all of a sudden, riden with a sense of adrenaline, book it to the vacant corral.

And then...you wait for the Monorail to arrive. Hoping that it will get there soon enough, and more importantly leave soon enough for the most alleviating experience of the day.

The Monorail arrives (if it's your favorite monorail, you know magic is about to be made. Teal is my light at the end of the tunnel), the doors open, you pile inside. Moving all the way across the car to make room for everybody and sliding across the bench (you know the drill).

Now...the overhead automated spiel is going...and the "bing-bong" chime plays which you know means the doors are closing. 

And then...it happens:

You have your very own Monorail car. 

So, do whatever you like. 

Take in a deep breath of that horse barn smell. 

Sprawl all over the benches.

Do some sweet flips or crazy moves on the silver railings. 

Relish in the AC that is all yours for the taking. 

Because tonight?

For the next 5-7 minutes?

That Monorail car belongs to you. 

AWESOME!

"I hope we never lose sight of one thing: that it was all started by a mouse." -Walt Disney

In this case, on this Blog, I hope we never lose sight of one thing: That it was all started by a book. 

This book will change your life. If you don't have the means to read the book, then please educate yourself with his blog:

http://1000awesomethings.com/

The beauty of the Book of Awesome is plain and simple. 

Finding the simple and wonderful things in life and recognizing them for what they truly are: AWESOME. And if finding awesome things in everyday life isn't fun enough, some friends and I started to look for the little "awesomes" in our Disney life. Then it hit us:

Castmembers. Annual Passholders. First time visitors. People watchers. Kids. Grandparents. Everyone, from every line of business, from every walk of life and for whatever reason they're in Walt Disney World, we've all experienced Awesome Disney things. So, I decided that there should be a place where we can document said Awesome things. 

Anytime that we wonder why we're here. Why we do what we do. Anytime we're down or just need to smile, we'll have this blog to refer to. 

So, let's sit back and revel in the magic that Awesome Disney things truly have to offer. Enjoy!