Wordless Wednesday Challenge - Favorite Disney Sidekicks

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Hi there Disney photography fans. Welcome to The Disney Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop here at Focused on the Magic where each week we get together to share our #DisneySide vacation photos.

So, come along and join the fun and share your favorite Disney pictures. 

The theme this week is: Disney Sidekicks
Disney stories are well known for their heroes and heroines, princesses and princes. An important part of any good Disney tale are the supporting characters, the sidekicks.

Do you have a favorite Disney Sidekick?

Time to link up your Wordless Wednesday ...

#DisneySide Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop: Disney Sidekicks

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Welcome friends and thanks for stopping by The Disney Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop here at Focused on the Magic.com where each week we gather with other Disney Bloggers to link up and share our #DisneySide Wordless Wednesday vacation picture posts.
The theme this week is: Disney Sidekicks  
Disney stories are well known for their heroes and heroines, princesses and princes. An important part of any good Disney tale are the supporting characters, the sidekicks.
So, come along and join the fun and share your favorite Disney pictures.

Time to link up your Wordless Wednesday...

Our Favorite Restaurants Outside the Parks

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Garden Grove 

When it comes to dining outside of our usual Walt Disney World favorite locations my first choice is The Garden Grove Restaurant located in the Swan & Dolphin Resort Hotel.
I've dined at the Garden Grove quite a few times with my husband and two sons, with just one son and as a large multi-generational family group. 

I have never had a problem getting a last minute Advanced Dining Reservation ( ADR), even during the busiest of times, they have always found openings for us. It is my "go to" dining spot when the parks are crowded for festivals or holidays or when I haven't an ADR in my plan at all. It's so difficult to plan where we are going to have dinner months in advance. I like knowing I can go here at almost the last minute and have a wonderful dining experience.

The decor is reminiscent of a tranquil Central Park with a paper lantern decorated 25 foot oak tree as the focal point of the large circular dining room surrounded by tremendous windows. At night the lights in the tree twinkle creating a lovely atmosphere. It is casual table service dining experience. The food is great and the servers are always very attentive and friendly.

The Garden Grove manages to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters in our family with nightly themed all-you-can-eat dinner buffets.

• Friday night the theme is called "Seafood Sensation" with seafood offerings from lobster to shrimp. There is even beef on the menu which is a welcome sight for my husband who doesn't care for seafood. The Garden Grove prides itself in being gluten free too but you will have to mention any other dietary restrictions to your server. They are very accomodating. I find there is always some great choices for my lactose free son.

• Sunday, Monday and Wednesday the theme is "Southern Barbeque". Examples of dinner offerings are Smoked Beef Brisket to North Carolina Pulled Pork. I'm not a big barbeque person and even I enjoy those nights.

• Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday is "Mediterranean Night" and my favorite menu with Lemon Herb Roasted Chicken, Beef Bourguignon and Mrs Cibs Meatballs to name a few.

Favorite Places to Meet Characters

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Meeting characters in Walt Disney World is always a fun part of our trips and with a bit of advance planning we usually see the characters that we want. 

Just as you arrive in the Magic Kingdom you are greeted by characters in meet and greet roped off areas. Magic Kingdom's Town Square is a perfect place to start the day with a hug and a snapshot of some of Disney's favorite characters. We've seen many of Mickey’s pals there, Pluto, Daisy, Pinnochio, Gepetto, Daisy, Goofy, AristoCat, Marie. The lines can get long but move quickly and because it's all outside you can quickly spot the shortest line to jump on.