Disney — By Jenni Ingersoll on February 2, 2010 at 8:46 am
Filed under: California Grill, cocktails, Disney-Dining, Epcot, featuredarticle, Groundhog's Day, Walt Disney World

Groundhog’s Day The Disney Way

Growing up in a wintry, northern climate, by the time February rolls around, there is one character’s arrival that you anticipate almost as much as Santa Claus and that would be the Groundhog! Groundhog’s Day can be a day of sheer joy, or pure disappointment all based on a little guy named Phil and his famous shadow!

It is on Groundhog’s Day, that a chubby little groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil emerges from his Pennsylvania burrow in Gobbler’s Knob (map) each February 2nd to forecast the arrival of spring. Just as he has done for the past 120 years, in front of thousands of onlookers, Phil awakens from his winter sleep to either see his shadow or hopefully not.

As legend has it no shadow means spring is just around the corner, but, observing his shadow, Phil returns to his burrow to wait out the dreaded six more weeks of winter. It seems this Groundhog’s Day, not only Northerners will be hoping for a “no shadow” outcome as even the Southern states have been visited by old man winter this year.

After 120 years on the job, Phil attributes his longevity to drinking the “elixir of life”. For those lucky enough to celebrate Groundhog’s Day at Walt Disney World, may I make a suggestion you sip a little “elixir” and toast to the coming of spring, be it around the corner or six weeks away.

In case winter will be with us a little longer, keep warm:

Viking Coffee- Columbian Coffee with Kamora Coffee Liqueur, Baileys Irish Cream at Akershus Royal Banquet in Norway Pavilion
Charbay Black Walnut Liqueur – sip and stay awhile at California Grill in Contemporary Resort (map)
Starbucks Soother – warm and comforting even as winter trudges onward at Coral Reef in Epcot

Light and refreshing with a hint of tropical, celebrate the coming of spring:

Big Bamboo – Malibu Coconut Rum, Bacardi Light Rum, Banana Liqueur and tropical fruit juice at Yak & Yeti in Animal Kingdom
Grandma’s Picnic Punch- Vodka, Peach Schnapps, Creme deCassi, pink lemonade and pineapple juice at ’50’s Prime Time Cafe in Hollywood Studios
Sangria – tastes like a spring day in Italy from Mama Melrose’s Diner in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

If you would like to learn more about Phil and his forecasting shadow, visit his official website.

Photo Selection: flickr