Cooking in Disney Vacation Club Villas: Island Style Grilled Cheese

Staying at Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas, Ko Olina, Hawai'i, means you'll enjoy many of the comforts of home, including a full kitchen in the 1- and 2-bedroom Villas, as well as the breathtaking Grand Villas. Inspired by these special accommodations, and the beauty of Aulani, food blogger Jenny Flake recently created several delicious dishes that are perfect for family vacations at this magnificent resort.

Among her Aulani-inspired culinary creations is a sweet and savory island style grilled cheese that's sure to be a crowd pleaser!

Below is the recipe, which you can recreate at home. Or, if you're a Disney Vacation Club Member, this is the perfect meal to make part of your annual tradition while staying in your own Villa!

Island Style Grilled Cheese

Ingredients

• 8 slices sourdough bread

• 1⁄2 stick softened butter

• 8 slices ham

• 1 cup crushed pineapple, drained
• 4 slices Swiss Cheese
• 4 slices cheddar cheese

Directions

• Place bread slices onto parchment paper and spread butter on tops of each. 

• Heat large skillet over medium heat.
• In batches, place a buttered side piece of bread face down into skillet then layer with 2 slices of ham, 2 tablespoons of crushed pineapple, a slice of Swiss cheese and a slice of cheddar cheese.
• Place another slice of bread on top buttered side up.
• Grill each side of bread until golden brown and cheese melted.
• Continue until all sandwiches have been made.
• Slice each sandwich in half and serve warm with a green salad.

Makes 4 servings.

Disney Doodle: ‘Aristocats’ Thomas O’Malley & Duchess Visit World Showcase

In our Disney Doodles series, different Disney artists take turns imaging what different Disney characters would do or see first if they had the chance to visit the Walt Disney World Resort.

In today's Doodle, artist Ashley Taylor imagines what Thomas O'Malley and Duchess from the 1970 film "Aristocats" would do if they had the chance to prowl around Epcot.

"I love the scene in Aristocats where Thomas O'Malley and Duchess are sitting on the rooftops!" Ashley said. "I can easily imagine them having a romantic night in the France Pavilion gazing at stars and waiting for Illuminations to begin!"

Epcot Back in Blooms: The 25th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Starts Today

Some say Florida doesn't have an official "Spring" season, but I beg to differ.

Spring most definitely begins in Florida when the more-than-30-million blooms come alive at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival.

This year is the Festival's 25th year, and the park again will be overflowing with the brightest plants, flowers, trees and topiaries adorning both Future World and World Showcase.

Here are some of the top things you shouldn't miss at the Festival:

• Gardens, Gardens and More Gardens: In addition to all the natural flora throughout the park, the Walt Disney World horticulture squad has curated some truly breathtaking gardens for our guests this year. New garden destinations this year include "The How-To Garden" and "The Imagination Play Garden" which are perfect for adults and kids to enjoy together. Returning favorites include "The Goodness Garden Butterfly House" and "The Water Wise Garden," which showcase environmental responsibility as well as just being fun!
• Outdoor Kitchens: What would an Epcot Festival be without fun food and drinks? 15 Outdoor Kitchens this year grace World Showcase, with the newest being "The Honey Bee-Stro," which features Roasted Cauliflower with Buckwheat Honey Carrot Purée; Honey Tandoori Chicken Flatbread with White Cheddar Cheese; and Local Wildflower Honey-Mascarpone Cheesecake with Orange Blossom Honey Ice Cream garnished with Fennel Pollen Meringue Kisses. These dishes were created to showcase multiple honey varietals in creative and exciting ways. Returning Outdoor Kitchen favorites include "The Berry Basket" (featuring a lamb chop with quinoa salad and blackberry gastrique) and "THE SMOKEHOUSE: Barbecue and Brew" (featuring a pulled-pork slider and warm chocolate cake with Bourbon-salted caramel sauce and spiced pecans). YUM!
• Spike's Pollen Nation Exploration: One of the beloved characters from Disney animated short cartoons, Spike the honeybee, has been "pollen-nating" throughout the Festival. In this springtime scavenger hunt, gardeners of all ages can follow Spike on his pollination trail around World Showcase, where he will "bee" busy collecting nectar and pollinating gardens at Epcot. To get started, purchase your map and stickers at Port of Entry. Available while supplies last.
• Garden Rocks Concert Series: Each Friday through Monday of the Festival (what we like to call a "Disney Weekend"), favorite artists from the '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s and 2000s will rock out at the America Gardens Theatre. Night Ranger kicks off the series March 2-5, and Rick Springfield, Survivor and Lonestar are just some of the popular rock and rollers in the lineup. Each night, there will be three performances – 5:30, 6:45 and 8 p.m. – and guests can pair a wonderful meal at several of our Epcot restaurants with reserved concert seating in a nice package. Click here for Garden Rocks dining package availability or call 407-WDW-DINE.
• Character Topiaries: Locations throughout the park feature some of the most beloved Disney and Disney•Pixar characters including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Lady and The Tramp and Buzz Lightyear.
• Merchandise: Guests will find a wealth of hats, T-shirts, mugs and other fun Festival merchandise throughout Future World and World Showcase. I can't resist anything with Figment on it; so you KNOW I'll be buying some.
• Tours: One of the great ways to get the "inside track" on the Festival or the latest in gardening techniques is to take one of the tours offered during the Festival. There are tours of The Land pavilion greenhouses and the "Gardens of the World – Spring Edition." There is also the daily Royal Tea Garden Tour at the United Kingdom pavilion that includes a tea tasting. Guests can find out more about the tours here or call 407-WDW-TOUR.

If you're coming out to this year's festival, plan on more than one day to see, smell, hear, touch and taste everything. You surely can't do it all in one!

For more information about the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, check out epcotinspring.com or call 407-W-DISNEY.

And continue to check back to the Disney Parks Blog for updates throughout the Festival!

Happy gardening!