Magical Blogorail Meets Sorcerer Radio!

Welcome to those of you joining me from Return to Disney and those of you who have just hopped aboard. I am the 4^th stop on our Magical Blogorail.

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I was so excited to be offered the opportunity to interview Kristen from Sorcerer Radio and Cooking with Mickey!  I knew we had a lot in common, so it was really fun to get to know her a little bit better.  I’m sure YOU will enjoy learning more about Kristen also.  So, here goes . . .

Heidi: Hi, Kristen! I’m so excited to have you here at Reviews & Reflections today. I’ve just recently been introduced to Sorcerer Radio through the Magical Blogorail. But, seriously, what can be better than all Disney music, all the time?! Please tell us a little about Sorcerer Radio.

Kristen: Sorcerer Radio has been around for 10 years and has several live DJed  shows (all DJs are volunteers). Monday through Friday there are 5 different morning shows that cover everything from Disney news to Community information to all things Disney. There are also 3 afternoon shows on Monday, Thursday and Friday. In addition, Sorcerer Radio, which plays all Disney music, all Day long (with lots of park music) has included to its network separate programs – Character Breakfast Podcast, Cooking with Mickey and WDW After Dark. It has a website and forum that people can check out. You can listen to it on your computer or mobile device, so you can take the music with you. If you like Disney, want Disney music and some entertainment, including the latest news… Sorcerer Radio is the station for you.

Heidi: By reading your profile on the Sorcerer Radio website, I can see that you and I have much in common. First of all, you love music! Besides Disney music, what is your favorite style of music? How did you get started in the music industry?

Kristen: I really have quite an eclectic music selection. However, if I have to pick one genre to be my favorite, it would have to be rock. I really like the fact that rock has so many different styles all rolled up into one genre. Of those styles, I’d probably go with alternative.

I got started in the music industry while dating my husband. He was in a band and they were always promoting their shows with flyers. Of course, this is before MySpace, Facebook and Twitter so you had to really work to get your name out there. I started with helping him out and then moved on to helping out other artists. I’ve done some graphic design for CD covers, press releases, bios and put together and promoted a few rock shows over the years. For a short time I worked for a start-up record label doing everything. When I say everything, I mean everything. He had me doing everything that a record label and a management company would be doing. I still do contract work on occasion, when asked.

Heidi: You must also love cooking, since you have your own Disney cooking blog – Cooking with Mickey. What prompted your passion for cooking? And what was the inspiration behind Cooking with Mickey?

Kristen: After the first year of college, I had no money and needed a job that I could make more than $4.25 an hour so I got a job working at a restaurant as a server to pay for school. I worked for a few different restaurants before I found one that had an incredible menu. There was nothing on the menu that I didn’t like. Lucky for me, I was part of the opening staff and we had to try everything that was on the menu. It was a chain restaurant that served Cajun and Creole food. This food sparked my interest in other cuisines than your everyday American fare.

Cooking with Mickey came about because one thing that everyone in the Disney Community talks about is food. I came up with the idea to make videos to teach people how to make their favorite Disney dishes. It was my way to share two things that I love – Disney and food.

Heidi: I see that you, too, have a large collection of cookbooks (me too – I’m a cookbook addict). Do you have a favorite cookbook that you turn to over and over again? Is there a particular Disney cookbook that you would recommend?

Kristen: I have a few cookbooks that I really enjoy. I frequently flip through Tyler's Ultimate: Brilliant Simple Food to Make Any Time, Bobby Flay's Grill It!, and a few German cookbooks that I’ve picked up at Disney. If someone wanted to pick up a Disney cookbook I’d say to go with Delicious Disney (WDW custom pub). It has many of the same recipes as the others do but some unique ones as well. One of my favorites, Curry Butternut Soup is in that book.

Heidi: Tell us about your first trip to Walt Disney World and how many times you’ve visited since. Do you have a single favorite Disney moment?

Kristen: My first trip was a couple of days after Christmas in 1991. It was an amazing trip! It was a high school trip and so I got to visit the park for the first time with friends who had already been and some of them many times. Since that trip I’ve been 18 times and will hit 20 by the end of the year. I don’t really have a single favorite Disney moment because I’ve taken trips with friends, family, my husband and solo; so they’ve all been different. However, one moment that does stand out would have to be when my husband and I were selected to be Grand Marshalls in the “Celebrate Dreams Come True Parade”. It was a lot of fun to wave to people and wish them Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary, whatever.

Heidi: I noticed that World Showcase at EPCOT is your favorite park area. What a coincidence – mine too! I could spend days just browsing around the countries. Do you have a favorite thing to do in World Showcase?

Kristen: I love to walk around and meet people. I find other cultures to be so interesting. I’ve been fortunate to have traveled outside of the country to other places, which makes for a nice ice breaker. I also try different foods and drinks from the counter service locations and carts. I love to take pictures so when I’m alone I just walk around with my camera taking pictures of whatever catches my eye.

Heidi: We’ve done several character meals in the past. Do you have a favorite character meal experience that you’d recommend?

Kristen: I’ve tried several but I’m always drawn back to 1900 Park Fare for breakfast. The characters take their time when talking to you and they are more than happy to pose for pictures and sign autographs. Also, the food is great! You have traditional breakfast items mixed with some unusual items like Strawberry Soup and my favorite, Lobster Eggs Benedict. It’s heavenly! They also have an omelet station so you can have an omelet made just the way you like it.

Heidi: I love helping people to plan their Disney vacations. As an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, are there any specific tips or tricks you’d like to share?

Kristen: LOL! This one isn’t going to surprise anyone… get the Disney Dining Plan! There is an option for everyone. If your family loves to eat on the go and not worry about reservations, then the Quick Service Plan is for you. If you like to have a few table services meals, either once a day or try a signature restaurant one night, then the Basic Plan is perfect. If you are like me and ALWAYS want to try new places but keep a few of your favorites, eat at the signature restaurants and be able to dine twice a day; then the 3 credits (which can be used at both quick service locations and table service) are exactly what you want! An additional tip: make your Advanced Dining Reservations at 180 days out so you get exactly what you want. Also, don’t ever hesitate to ask your travel agent for advice on dining! If you contact me, there is a really good chance I’ve been to the restaurant (been to 80%+ of the table service restaurants and working on the rest) and can help you out with what’s right for you and your family.

Heidi: Kristen, thank you so much for your time and for sharing a bit about yourself and your passions! It’s been so much fun getting to know you better. Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Kristen: I’d love people to come by and check out my personal site CookingwithMickey.info; they can also follow me on Twitter @CookingwMickey and Facebook – CookingWithMickey. I co-host two shows that people can tune in for – Castaway Midday with Natalie and we are on Thursdays at 1 pm/EST (tropical themed show) and WDW Tiki Room with Aljon and we are on Fridays at 8 am/EST for a 2 hour show (it’s about everything Disney and includes interviews).

The shows can be followed on Twitter @CastawayMidday and Facebook – CastawayMidday and Twitter @WDWTikiRoom and Facebook – WDWTikiRoom. I also co-host a vidcast with Jeff Davis and Aljon Go on Friday nights at 9 pm/EST called WDW After Dark and I do a live segment during the show called “The Disney Drink Special” which you can follow along and make. I post the ingredients on srsounds.com/forum.

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I was hoping for the opportunity to meet Kristen, as our trips to WDW overlapped in May.  However, that didn’t work out.  So, instead of a picture of the two of us, I thought I’d leave you with a Cooking with Mickey video.  This one features Kristen making one of my favorite Disney dishes – the Strawberry Soup from 1900 Park Fare in the Grand Floridian.  ENJOY! 

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Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is Your Highway in the Sky.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1^st Stop ~ Disney Go To Girl

2^nd Stop ~ Disney Babies Blog

3^rd Stop ~ Return to Disney

4^th Stop ~ Reviews & Reflections

5^th Stop ~ Your Highway in the Sky

6^th Stop ~ Growing Up Disney

Final Stop ~ A Disney Mom’s Thoughts