Ready to plan some amazing summer celebrations and family fun this June?
School’s out for the summer, masking ordinances are slowly being lifted, and everyone can feel the summer spirit bubbling up! June is full of so many reasons to celebrate and play hard, so we put together a few ideas for you as you begin to plan your family’s summer fun.
Let’s get outside!
We all have our favorite memories of family time outdoors and it is even more important than ever to get outside.
With today’s technology it can be hard for kids to put their screens aside. But research shows that taking breaks from screen time and getting outside helps kids deepen their friendships, learn to problem solve, and even sleep better. And what better time to take a break than summer. Our FashionEarsta team found some great outdoor games for all ages!
Get a Little Corny!
Cornhole is the perfect outdoor game for all ages; you can even find cornhole by the pools of many Disney Resorts! Whether it is a neighborhood tournament or a friendly battle between family members, count on this simple game for hours of entertainment.
Pick up Pickleball
One of the trendiest outdoor sports right now is pickleball. While dedicated pickleball courts are popping up in towns all across America, you can get started in your own driveway! Kids and adults alike are jumping in to learn how to play with the smaller paddles and court. Plus, it definitely gets those inter-family competitive juices flowing!
Rent a Bike
Did you know that you can rent bikes at some Disney resorts? And while you probably won’t be riding the Boardwalk’s Surrey bikes at home, bike riding is still a great family activity!
The best thing about today’s bike rides is that there are so many options for families to use as their “bike.” Motorized vespas, scooters, electronic cars and traditional bikes are all hot items for summer so everybody in the family can pick their “bike”, hit the road and make some memories.
Create Camp Disney at home.
Don’t have a Disney vacation booked for this summer? Are your littles begging to fly to Florida but it’s just not in your budget? With a little imagination (and a liberal sprinkling of pixie dust) you can have a magical Disney summer “trip” in your own backyard!
We checked in with one of our favorite magical moms, Linda (@kizel), who organized a DIY Disney Day for her kids and was kind enough to lend us some inspiration for Camp Disney, a virtual visit to Disney World that incorporates crafts, exercise, and some other summer camp staples for kids (and parents) to get their Disney fix this summer.
Learn Spanish on the Monorail.
Start your day at Camp Disney with your journey to the parks! You might “hike” from the Animal Kingdom parking lot to the park entrance, or take a trip on Disney’s “highway in the sky” – the monorail!
Linda and her family set up their four wheeler as the monorail, but you could use bikes, a wagon, or even the family car for this purpose! Make sure to put on this Monorail Audio Track for the full experience!
And for a little learning, why not work on learning Disney’s famous monorail announcement in Spanish? It’s not too long, but will be a lot of fun to recite on the monorail during your next Disney trip! More advanced learners might enjoy the challenge of trying to translate other parts of the monorail announcements by themselves!
Go on an Animal Kingdom-Inspired Safari.
June is prime time to enjoy the great outdoors, and there’s no way to get kids excited about a hike like modeling it after a Disney ride! Pay homage to Animal Kingdom’s Kilimanjaro Safaris and their efforts at animal conservation by taking your campers on a nature safari.
You can start by outfitting your wilderness explorers with DIY Paper Bag Safari Vests (and make sure they bring a water bottle)!
Linda set up the full Kilimanjaro Safaris experience by pre-placing stuffed animals to go along with the ride audio from Disney World (complete with learning fun animal facts)!
You can also focus on the wildlife of your own ecosystem by doing a photo safari in the backyard or playing safari bingo on your nature hike. Let your imagination go wild!
Refuel at Pizzafari.
The only thing kids like more than eating pizza is getting to make their own crazy pizza creations. Refuel after your safari hike with a DIY lunch inspired by Animal Kingdom’s Pizzafari restaurant.
Break out some pizza dough and give the toppings fun Animal Kingdom names (asante sana squash banana peppers, anyone?) Then let your littles go wild creating their own pizzas!
We love Linda’s idea to let hers design their own halves of the pie!
Dress up at the “Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique”.
Some of our kids’ favorite experiences at the Disney Parks have been at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and Pirates’ League! These dress-up/makeover experiences let your littles feel like a princess or a pirate, and if your house already has a dress-up closet all you really need to purchase is hairspray and body glitter (or some costume face paint for the pirate experience).
You can play the part of the Fairy Godmother, transforming your littles into Disney characters. Or if you’re feeling brave, let an older sibling be a “fairy godmother in training” and try their hand at glitter eyeshadow or pirate stubble!
Move It and Shake It With Mickey’s Dance Party.
Now that they’re dressed up, let the littles be a part of a Disney World parade! Little Mouseketeers can learn the “Mouse Bounce” along with Mickey and Minnie (and adults might find it’s pretty good cardio, too!)
Then put on this “Mickey’s Move It! Shake It! Dance Party” parade video and put those new moves to work! Older dancers can learn more intricate choreography from Disneyland’s new Magic Happens Parade if they really want a workout!
Imagineer (and Ride) a Disney Attraction.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that cats and kids love cardboard boxes. So why not let your littles’ creative minds take over as they design a “ride” vehicle to experience their favorite attraction?
Disney World and Disneyland have so many adorably-themed rides that you’ll have no trouble finding one that your kiddo wants to ride. All you need is a large box, some markers and scissors and you’re good to go. Then it’s just a matter of finding a ride-along video to play while your little Imagineers sit in their designs. Bonus points if, like Linda and Mike, you provide a full 4D experience by lifting and shaking the box or even splashing your kids on water rides like Splash Mountain!
…and Much, Much More!
Crafty and imaginative parents have come up with so many more ideas that you can mix and match to make your own Camp Disney experience! We’ve collected dozens of activities, crafts, and videos (like yoga with Elsa and a DIY Midway Mania game) over on our Pinterest. Check out our Camp Disney Board and feel free to suggest your own ideas!
a huge thank you to Linda and her family for sharing ideas and photos with us! Check out her Disney homeschooling and exercise ideas on Instagram!
Fire up the grill for a backyard barbecue.
No matter how you slice and dice it, barbecue is a key food at many of the Disney restaurants. With dozens of different places you can grab a tasty pulled pork, ribs, or brisket, Disney definitely knows their BBQ! Sadly, one of the greatest, Mickey’s Backyard BBQ at Fort Wilderness, was discontinued in 2018, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have foodie fun at home! So this summer, why not fire up that new grill you got for Father’s Day and try some of these dishes for your own backyard full of characters?
There is a long list of scrumptious food to throw on the grill, including some of these time-tested, well-loved meals:
- Smokehouse Chicken Sandwich (Disney World Splitsville Luxury Lanes): chicken breast, pepper jack cheese, bacon, crispy onions, pickles, tomato, slaw, and barbeque sauce inside a warm brioche bun.
- St. Louis BBQ Ribs (Disney World Flame Tree Barbecue): Take your usual ribs up a notch with our Flame Tree Barbecue recipe below.
- Pulled Pork Sandwiches (House of Blues Smokehouse): If you don’t have three days and a smoker, we recommend the insta-pot approach here. Check out our recipe below.
- Barbecue Rubbed Salmon (FashionEarsta Recipes): One of our favorites just for you!
- Big Thunder Ribs (Disneyland Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue): Check out the recipe below, featuring Citrus Roundup BBQ Rub.
Recipes to make your mouth water.
FashionEarsta’s Insta-Pot Pulled Pork
INGREDIENTS
4lb Pork Butt Roast, preferably boneless and brined if you can find it!
3 tbs light brown sugar
2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground mustard
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 tbs Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp liquid smoke
2 tbs olive oil
1/2 – 1 cup of Flaming Tree Barbecue Sauce (see below)
INSTRUCTIONS
Trim fat from pork roast and cut into 4 same size chunks.
Add all dry ingredients to a large bowl and whisk together. Add pork roast chunks to rub mix and coat well.
Add 2 tbs olive oil to Instant Pot and set to saute. Once it indicates hot, add 2 pieces of the pork. Sear on each side for about 2 minutes each. Remove pork and set aside on a plate. Repeat with remaining pork pieces.
Once pork is seared and removed from pot, press cancel and add ½ cup chicken broth. Use a wooden spoon and deglaze the bottom of the pot. Make sure to scrape up all the bits. Then add remaining chicken broth. Worcestershire sauce and liquid smoke.
Place pork chunks directly into the liquid in the pot, spacing out as best possible. Secure lid and make sure vent is set to sealing. Pressure cook/manual on high pressure for 60 minutes.Then let pressure release naturally for 20 minutes or until pin drops.
Remove pork to a large bowl and shred with 2 forks. Add your favorite BBQ sauce as desired. Or use the juice from the Instant Pot – it’s loaded with awesome flavor!
FashionEarsta’s Barbecue Rubbed Salmon
You definitely can create mouthwatering salmon using the Disney Barbecue Rub recipe below, but here’s a fun alternative that we love!
INGREDIENTS
1 – 1 1/2 pounds salmon
Juice of 1/2 lemon
salt, to taste
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon granulated onion
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 tablespoon brown sugar
INSTRUCTIONS
Create a foil envelope and drizzle olive oil inside. Lay a handful of lemon slices inside. Lay skinless salmon on top.
Squeeze lemon juice on top of salmon and sprinkle salmon with salt. Combine the cumin, granulated onion, chili powder and brown sugar and sprinkle evenly over salmon.
Close foil packet and slide onto a 375 degrees grill.
Close the grill and grill the salmon for 14-18 minutes, until the salmon is almost completely cooked through at the thickest part. The cooking time will vary based on the thickness of your salmon side. If your piece is thinner (around 1-inch thick) check several minutes early to ensure your salmon does not overcook. If your piece is very thick (1 ½ inches or more), it may need longer.
Flaming Tree Barbecue Sauce (from D23 Official website)
Want to make your own authentic Flame Tree Barbecue Sauce? Here’s D23’s small quantity recipe modified from the BIG kitchen recipe! Be sure to use all of it or refrigerate it and use within two weeks (as if there will be any left)!
INGREDIENTS
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons molasses
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon paprika
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
2 teaspoons onion powder
2/3 cup water
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
INSTRUCTIONS
Bring all to a simmer in a large saucepan, reduce the heat to low, and cook for 25 minutes, stirring frequently.
BBQ Rub Recipe (from The Ultimate Disney World Cookbook)
INGREDIENTS
2 lbs sugar
8 ozs season salt
2 ozs paprika
2 ozs chili powder
2 ozs ground black pepper
1/2 ozs garlic salt
1/2 ozs onion powder
1 oz cumin
INSTRUCTIONS
Combine all, then use to coat your favorite grill food.
Big Thunder Ribs (from D23 Official website)
INGREDIENTS
Citrus Roundup BBQ Rub
2 1/2 tablespoons lemon pepper
2 tablespoons seasoning salt
2 tablespoons paprika
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
1/4 tablespoon cayenne pepper
Ribs
1 1/2 cups Citrus Roundup BBQ rub (recipe above)
1 (4-pound) rack pork spareribs, trimmed of excess fat
1/2 cup water
1 cup favorite barbecue sauce
INSTRUCTIONS
Citrus Roundup BBQ Rub
Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Stir to combine.
Ribs
Sprinkle Citrus BBQ rub on both sides of ribs, rubbing the meat to adhere. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for eight hours or overnight. Preheat oven to 350º F. Place ribs in a roasting pan or on a baking sheet and pour water into pan. Cover with foil and roast for one hour. Remove the pan from the oven and uncover. Pour off any excess water. Evenly coat top of ribs with barbecue sauce. Return pan to oven and roast for 30 more minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and cover lightly with foil. Let ribs rest for 10 minutes. Slice the ribs between each bone with a serrated knife. Serve immediately.
Don’t forget your grilled corn salad, jalepeno cornbread, and strawberry shortcake, and be sure to wash it down with a Mandarin Orange Vodka Lemonade or a non-alcoholic Pineapple Mint Iced Tea! Looking for more recipes? Check out The Unofficial Disney Parks Cookbook,
Celebrate Dad the Disney way this Father’s Day.
It’s time to applaud and remember the Dads this Father’s Day! And if you are looking for some fun ways to celebrate the father or father figures in your life, Disney provides some great ideas.
Next time you go to the Disney Parks, take a look at all the Dads getting their Disney fashion on! Golf shirts and visors are no longer the Disney Dad standard.
Dads are proving to be good sports and joining their families in coordinating t-shirts with a smile and a good sense of humor.
Whether Dad prefers the traditional choices of Mickey, Donald, Goofy or Pluto, characters from the Star Wars universe, or even the Marvel superheroes, there are plenty of t-shirt options.
This sense of togetherness in family fashion extends to the time we spend together celebrating each other. Weekend breakfasts are a wonderful way to spend time together and a great way to celebrate Dad this Father’s Day.
One of my family’s favorite things to do in Disney is a character breakfast with our favorite characters. Somehow a waffle just tastes better when it looks like Mickey!
There are some great options for making your own Mickey waffles at home to celebrate Dad. Not only will it just taste better since it’s in the shape of Mickey, but it will also taste a little bit sweeter since the family made it together. Don’t forget the coffee with your waffles. Coffee is that morning caffeine fix that most Dads need to get their day going and once you fuel up you will want to make the most of your day celebrating together.
Once you have enjoyed a delicious breakfast of Mickey waffles, there are some great ways to spend the day together – take a hike, plan a trip to see a favorite team, go swimming, and play games in the backyard.
A unique way to spend the afternoon is building a Disney LEGO set. Not only do you work together as a family, but you have a lasting memento of your creative genius.
Here is one of our favorite gift suggestions – let the dad in your life take a trip to the Dark Side with film’s most infamous father (in LEGO form)!
There’s no better way to end the special day than watching a new Disney series, movie or familiar classic. Just let Dad pick his favorite on his special day!
Happy June!
So that’s our June summer fun roundup. Let us know what you think here, on Instagram and Facebook (@fashionearsta) and our brand new YouTube channel! Be sure to follow us so that you’re always in the loop and can follow along with our adventures!
Pixie dust and glamour!
The Fancy Floridian, Belle of the Ball, and EarGoddess 
