Disney Desserts

Here's a small sampling of desserts discovered during last month's stay in Walt Disney World. The first two may be described as desserts with character. The remaining confections are from a birthday dinner celebration at Cítricos in the Grand Floridian resort some of which may possibly contain hidden Mickey's.

Olaf cupcake, Studio Catering Co. (and elsewhere), Disney's Hollywood Studios

Chocolate “Moose,” Chocolate mousse rolled in toasted chocolate crumbs with maple leaf antlers
Le Cellier Steakhouse, Canada Pavilion, Epcot

The birthday "card" is made of chocolate.

Cítricos, The Grand Floridian Resort

Death-by-chocolate chocolate torte, Cítricos, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort

Tiramisù with Italian Galbani mascarpone and chocolate sauce, Cítricos, The Grand Floridian Resort

Note:  Are we up to dessert already? See more from earlier in our Walt Disney World vacation.

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Disney in Pietra Dura

There is much to admire in the soaring lobby of the Grand Floridian, Disney World's outsized hotel that conjures up visions of the palatial architecture of Florida's golden age. Take a look up and you'll get a sense of the scale of this grand hotel. Take a look down and a different sort of treat awaits you.

The lobby of the Grand Floridian

The lobby floor of the Grand Floridian has several remarkable examples of pietra dura. The term, which translates as hard stone, is the art of taking thin slices of colored stone such as marble and arranging them in mosaic designs. It was practiced in the Renaissance in Rome and reached its fruition in Florence, where the Medici Chapels offer perhaps the most dazzling examples. Today pietra dura is crafted primarily in Italy and India. The designs in the Grand Floridian look Italian to my eye, but of course they're more Walt Disney than Lorenzo de Medici.

Grand Floridian monogram

One could almost miss Tinkerbell amid all the flowing design elements.

Tinkerbell

Peter Pan

The Rose from "Beauty and the Beast" outside the tea room

Mrs. Potts

Chip

The Prince and Cinderella

Hidden Mickey

Mickey Mouse (in plain sight)

The same Mickey up close

Minnie Mouse

Donald Duck

Gawrsh, it's Goofy

Pluto

One last round:

Oh, you know who he is!

Note:  There's lots to see in Disney World and some of it is here on the blog.

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Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Hidden Mickeys

"I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing—that it all started with a mouse."

--Walt Disney

The geometric shorthand for Mickey Mouse--a large circle representing the head and two smaller ones for the ears--may be found throughout the Disney theme parks. During our stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge in Walt Disney World, a hand towel and two wash cloths appeared in a familiar arrangement each day on the bed. The same arrangement had greeted us at Disney's All-Star Sports Resort a few years earlier and may be present in most or possibly all of the resort hotels.

Hidden Mickeys are worked into the design of the shower curtains in the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

The carpeting appears to have an African tribal design.

On closer inspection, the pattern to each of the four colored sections includes some hidden Mickeys.

The above carpet design alternates with a diagonal geometric pattern:

A trio of hidden Mickeys is readily visible in each rectangle.

Note:  Aw, shucks! More Disney World posts are available at no extra charge.

Gaudeamus Igitur! As the new academic year begins, here's everything you need to know about the world's most famous student song.

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