Thanks to Walt Disney World Resorts for inviting me to broadcast live on site.  They provided me with accommodations, park passes and dining cards during the broadcast.

One of the many cool things about my job at Sunny 106.3 is broadcasting from remote locations. Last week it was at Walt Disney World Resorts. The Disney folks turned a ballroom in the Contemporary Hotel’s convention center into a massive broadcast center with stations from all around the country lining the floor’s perimeter. Each day featured new displays, characters and more. You have to check out this character video and turn the sound on if you can. There is alot going on at Disney, more than I realized or knew about until now. Here are some of the cool things from Disney that I discovered while broadcasting with Sunny 106.3.

Thrilling rides top the list of cool things from Disney

I remember when Space Mountain was the hottest roller coaster in the nation. Its twists and turns in the dark leaving you full of anticipation and surprises. This time I rode Tron and thought I had lost my mind. I could barely open my eyes at one point because it was moving so fast and with a crazy G-Force. Consider investing in Lighting Lane passes to bypass some of the lines.

In Hollywood Studios, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance was perhaps the best ride experience I’ve ever had. The attention to detail and the journey it takes you on is impressive even if you are not a Star Wars fan. Finally, there is Avatar Flight of Passage in Animal Kingdom. You hop on a banshee simulator and soar through the Valley of Mo’ara in Pandora, It’s gorgeous and exhilarating.

Elevated dining options

When you go to theme parks you expect burgers, fries and pizza all of which are available. However, there are some fantastic restaurants in the hotels as well as the theme parks. Cick here for a video from Tiffins in Animal Kingdom. It is best if you can make a reservation although there are walk up opportunities. Check out a few photos here.

• Grilled Romaine

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  This salad was so simple yet so good at Flying Fish. The romaine is oak-grilled for a great flavor. But it was the buttermilk-cream fraîche that made me salivate. It also had, Pecorino Romano and some marinated tomatoes. The bread it came with is made by a local baker and it was fantastic.

• Pork Belly

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  This slow roasted pork belly is on the starter menu at Flying Fish on the boardwalk. It has a spiced apple, cherry gastrique for something different. It's just the right amount to share but also OK to keep for yourself.

• Whole Fish

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  I was so excited to dine at Tiffins which is in the Animal Kingdom. The cuisine is African, South American and Indian so you know it was bursting with flavor. This whole sea bass was one of the best I've ever had. It was fried to perfection and wrapped around a mound of coconut fried rice. The rice was topped with green papaya slaw and peanuts. The sauce was a delicious green and red curry. Wow.
• Charred Octopus

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  This on the starter menu at Tiffins. It's different from most preparations you've likely seen. This one comes with sweet corn salsa and chorizo in a tequila, mole rojo sauce. It is brightened up with pickled onions and cilantro.

• Gnocchi

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  This gnocchi is on the appetizer menu at Topolino's Terrace in the Riviera Resort. It has tender braised lamb shoulder and sliced mushrooms. The sauce is a red wine jus with some carrots. The gnocchi was light and creamy but the dish was hearty.

• Boulliabaise

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  When the server at Topolino's said the French chef makes a great Bouillabaisse, I said yes. This one was Provençal style. It's like a fish stew with red snapper, branzino, clams, shrimp, squid, and mussels. The broth is a saffron rouille and it was perfect with a red wine from the Rhone Valley.
• Escargot

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  I could not go to a French and Italian themed restaurant without ordering the escargot. It is another appetizer on the menu at Topolino's. This had lots of garlic and butter. Each escargot was topped with a savory pastry.

• Tuna Tataki

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  This is one of four bar snacks offered in the AbracadaBar at BoardWalk Inn. Slices of tuna are seared for this dish then plated with savory, marinated rice noodles. The sauce is chili oil, ponzu, and petite cilantro. It's nice for sharing.

Cool Disney resorts

There are so many amazing resorts on property. For this broadcast, Disney provided accommodations at BoardWalk Inn. The location is ideal for visiting Epcot and Hollywood Studios. It took about 10 minutes to walk to Epcot and the studios were a short boat ride from the hotel dock. The boardwalk itself was lined with restaurants, bars, clubs, games and more. It was a gorgeous hotel with carousel pool bar and lots of activities at night.

We did a monorail bar crawl checking out the newly redesigned Polynesian Resort along with the Contemporary and Grand Floridian. In addition, we tried the same thing riding the Skyliner. It took us to Art of Animation which was fun and carefree and the Riviera which was posh and beautiful. Each resort has a theme that carries through to every little detail. When you stay on property you get park entry 30 minutes early. Here are a few photos.

• BoardWalk Inn At Night

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  BoardWalk Inn is on the water and has a real boardwalk full of shops, restaurants, games and more. This is a view from across the water as we were walking back from Epcot. There is also a ferry to take you to other resorts as well as Hollywood Studios.

• Polynesian Resort

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  The iconic Polynesian Resort has had a facelift and is now Moana themed. There is a cool new bar that is inspired by the Jungle Boat Cruise. It is small and dark and the bartenders have small bull horns to get patrons attention. It is so much fun with tiki drinks and good bar bites.

• Contemporary Mural

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  This mural is a signature of the iconic Contemporary Hotel. It's the first thing you see as the monorail pulls into the hotel itself. More art is on display here along with gift shops and restaurants.
• Contemporary Hotel

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  The Contemporary Hotel is one of the original resorts at Walt Disney World. The lobby has been updated and features a new collection of modern artwork.

• Topolino’s at Riviera Resort

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  The Riviera transports you to Europe in the design and the cuisine. The grounds have fountains and columns. This is the signature restaurant and it is fantastic. I love the lighting.

• Art Hotel

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  The pool area of Art Hotel is full of animal sculptures like this turtle. It is bright and fun. Great for families.
• Art Hotel Lobby

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  This is what the reception desk looks like at Disney's Art Hotel. It is a colorful resort with lots of whimsical art and a fun pool bar. It is also massive.

• Grand Floridian

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  The Grand Floridian is a stately, romantic hotel and there is a monorail stop here. The Enchanted Rose is a popular bar.

Cool ways to save money

We live so close to Disney and there is more to see and do than you can possibly knock out in just one weekend. New Florida residents deals available now offer significant savings. Then there is the Annual Pass program. There are four options and each grants discounts on things such as merchandise and dining, in addition to other perks. It covers parking too.

Healthcare help

I know people who have special healthcare needs that often keep them from traveling. Disney now has a partnership with AdventHealth to take care of you if you are sick or injured while you are visiting. But even better, they can arrange services for you in advance, say if you need oxygen in your hotel room. There is even an ER which has a water theme complete with soothing sounds and light to keep you calm. Would you expect anything less?

Here are a few more photos of cool things from Disney. And be sure to follow Sunny 106.3 as well as Gina Birch on Instagram and Facebook for even more.

• Photo Pass

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  The PhotoPass is so cool. There are photographers all over the parks and at all of the best locations taking shots that are uploaded to your My Disney Ap. In addition, they add these little touches like this Orange Bird on top of my basket of fruit. How cute.

• Mickey

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  Fantasmic! is the nighttime show at Hollywood Studios and it is fantastic. Sit close and you might get spritzed with water.

• Characters In Fantasmic!

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  So many characters make cameo's in Fantasmic! at Hollywood Studios. They float along the waterway in front of the amphitheater where guests sit. It is quite an elaborate show.
• Epcot Fireworks

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• Together We Are Magia

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  People travel from around the globe to experience Disney. This is a platform designed to celebrate Latin and Hispanic heritage through food, music and more. Like my new ears to match?

• New Swag

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  Every year Epcot introduces new swag to celebrate the International Flower and Garden Festival. It kicks off February 28th and is one of my favorite festivals at the park. Here is your sneak peak including a new Dooney and Bourke bag with matching Mickey Mouse ears.
• Cinderella’s Castle

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  You can't go to the Magic Kingdom without a photo in front of the castle. It has been updated since the last time I was there. The top is a Champagne color which looks magical at sunset.

• Run Disney

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  I always wanted to participate in one of the Princess Runs through the parks. Disney has several races from 5k to marathons but they also have a cool virtual program. You can create your own run course and still get the medals. Love this idea.

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