Family, travel, mom blog | Theme Park Mom (Leigh Caldwell)

The most popular Theme Park Mom photo on Flickr this year: "After" pictures from The Pirates League makeovers at Walt Disney World.

Happy New Year, everyone! Here’s a look at the most popular posts here on ThemeParkMom.com during 2009:

1. Walt Disney World fans were eager for news about The Pirates League, a new makeover experience inside the Magic Kingdom. Here’s my visit behind-the-scenes before The Pirates League opened: Ahoy me hearties! The Pirates League be openin’ soon. And here’s a look at my own transformation into a member of Capt. Jack Sparrow’s crew: Disney World’s The Pirates League, or just call me Kate Darkgrin.
2. Continuing the pirate theme, many Theme Park Mom readers were interested in my tour of the pirate rooms at Walt Disney World’s Caribbean Beach Resort: Live like a pirate in Pirates of the Caribbean rooms at Walt Disney World.
3. Is Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party appropriate for younger children? That’s a question many readers asked, so I went to check it out and gave all the scary (and not-so-scary) details: Is Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party…scary? This Mom’s take.
4. A look at Princess Tiana was also high on the list of popular topics this year. What would Tiana look like in the Disney Parks? That answer was revealed this summer, when Disney showed off Tiana at a journalism convention in Tampa: Disney’s newest Princess Tiana character unveiled. And when Tyra Banks came to Florida to meet Tiana, my daughter and I had a front-row seat: A Fairytale Friday Night.
5. Theme Park Mom readers also like to eat, so news about two new restaurants at Walt Disney World was also high on the list. There was a new restaurant at Disney’s Boardwalk: Celebrity chef Cat Cora opens Kouzzina restaurant at Disney’s Boardwalk. And at the Kidani Village section of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge: Disney restaurant Sanaa offers ethnic fare for kids, too.

What would you like to see next year on Theme Park Mom?

As part of the Kidani Village expansion of Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, diners are treated to a new restaurant - Sanaa.

The newest restaurant at Walt Disney World resort opens Friday, May 1. Disney says Sanaa (pronounced Sah-NAH) reflects “the art of African cooking with Indian flavors.”

Orlando food blogger Scott Joseph has the menus for the new dining experience. I’m excited to try some of the appetizers, including pulled duck with red curry sauce and potato and pea samosas. And my first entree will be from the Tandoor oven. The Sanaa kids menu also features ethnic flavors, including tandoori chicken breast or a grilled fish of the day over whole-grain pilaf. But kids can also choose old stand-bys, such as  cheeseburgers and cheese pizza. Which would your kids order? (more…)