A new Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique location is set to open at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa this summer in order to provide more royal transformations than ever before.
The new boutique – the third of its kind at Walt Disney World – will be located inside what’s currently the Ivy Trellis Salon, which will relocate into Senses – A Disney Spa.
Also based on the popularity of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Magic Kingdom Park, work will begin this spring to expand the location, adding more chairs, a very special magic mirror, and a transformation experience that will help guests choose the perfect outfits and accessories. The Magic Kingdom Park location will remain open during these enhancements and existing reservations will not be affected.
In case you aren’t familiar, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique locations currently exist at Magic Kingdom Park and Disney Springs, and pair up young guests age 3-12 with Fairy Godmothers-in-Training, who give them magical makeovers beyond their wildest Disney dreams, turning them into princesses or gallant knights.
A variety of royal transformations are available and may include hairstyling, nail polish, accessories, gowns and more, depending on the package guests choose.
Stay tuned to the Disney Dorks for future updates on the new location’s opening.
Disney is always coming up with the tastiest new treats and now they’ve come up with a new Little Mermaid inspired cupcake that you’ll definitely want to be part of your world!
This vanilla cupcake is filled with pineapple compote and topped with coconut buttercream, crispy pearls, graham cracker crumbs, edible glitter, and a white chocolate mermaid tail.
If you want to try the mermaid-inspired cupcake, splash on over to Landscape of Flavors at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort to try this ADORABLE Mermaid Tail Cupcake.
The magic never ends at Walt Disney World. The new Riviera Resort—opening in Fall 2019—has announced that a new travel-themed lounge known as Voyageurs’ Lounge, will be a part of the fun to be at the newest Vacation Club hotel.
Inspired by Walt’s love of traveling through Europe, this spot will showcase Walt Disney’s worldwide expeditions and the literary works he brought home as souvenirs. The Voyageurs’ Lounge will be located next to the Le Petit Cafe and will serve as a fun, comfortable place for families and friends to gather and share travel memories.
Much like the rest of the resort, the decor in the Voyageurs’ Lounge will represent the book collection of Walt Disney and will exhibit Disney’s unique connections to Europe. Modern design meets family tradition in this artfully-inspired resort.
Few things were as important to Walt Disney as family and travel. The Voyageurs ‘s Lounge inside the brand-new Riviera Resort is the perfect combination of the two.
Disney’s Riviera Resort is coming to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida as the 15th Disney Vacation Club property and it will immerse guests in the grandeur and enchantment of the European Riviera. Today, Disney announced this all-new resort is now accepting guest reservations for stays beginning in December 2019.
“Disney’s Riviera Resort is inspired by Walt and Lillian Disney’s travels throughout Europe and the Mediterranean coastline —from France to Italy,” said Terri Schultz, senior vice president and general manager of Disney Vacation Club. “Walt fell in love with European art, architecture, food and stories, and his extended tours of the region continue to influence Disney storytelling and theming. We look forward to welcoming our members and guests later this year to this new resort inspired by Europe and imagined by Disney.”
Disney’s Riviera Resort brings the elegance of a modern European retreat blended with a touch of old-world glamour and Disney charm to the Disney Vacation Club portfolio and Walt Disney World Resort. With an elegant early-20th-century design, Disney’s Riviera Resort will welcome guests with a palm tree-lined boulevard and a striking façade featuring grand archways, porticos, cascading water features, towers and terraces. In the grand oval lobby that will provide stunning views of the resort lawn and lakefront, guests will encounter a mix of modern and classic furnishings. Throughout the resort and inside the accommodations, a unique art collection will celebrate beloved Disney characters and icons with one-of-a-kind pieces influenced by the works of master artists who also found inspiration along the European Riviera. This eclectic mix of art will blend Disney artistry and European storytelling with a nod to the Riviera region’s renowned art heritage.
The deluxe Disney Vacation Club resort is slated to offer approximately 300 family-friendly vacation homes, including deluxe studios, one- and two-bedroom villas, and grand villas that sleep up to 12 guests each. Disney Vacation Club continues to offer the widest range of accommodations found at Walt Disney World, and adding to these unique accommodations will be an all-new room category — tower studios, which sleep two guests each. Each charming, bright tower studio will include a private balcony with scenic views and seating for two, offering a more intimate setting. The deluxe studios, which sleep five, will also feature kitchenettes. One-bedroom, two-bedroom and grand villas will feature large, fully equipped kitchens with dining space open to a living area. Villas will also feature an en-suite luxury bathroom, including a freestanding soaking tub and walk-in shower, as well as a private porch or balcony and a laundry area with a washer and dryer.
Topolino is the Italian name for Mickey Mouse, and the new, signature table-service restaurant perched on the rooftop of Disney’s Riviera Resort will be aptly called Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera. The restaurant, featuring authentic dishes infused with French and Italian flavors, is set to become one of the most stunning dining experiences at Walt Disney World, offering picturesque vistas of the nighttime spectaculars of nearby Epcot or Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Inside, guests can watch with wonder as their meal is prepared just for them at the exclusive expo kitchen or wood burning grill. Guests looking to pair their meal with a glass of wine can choose from an impressive collection of wines sourced from the Mediterranean coast. Throughout the restaurant, a stunning visual aesthetic is created through modern interpretations of textures, colors, carved details, and stonework found in ancient villages along the Riviera. Plus, families looking to start their morning off with a breakfast experience can visit Topolino’s Terrace for exclusive Disney character dining inspired by the Riviera.
Other dining options at the resort include Le Petit Café, an inviting lobby locale with fresh-brewed coffee aromas by day and a bustling wine bar by night. The new quick-service location, Primo Piatto, reminiscent of chic dining venues found along Riviera promenades, will be conveniently located near the feature pool, and Bar Riva, an open-air pool bar with a seaside vibe featuring crisp white tiles and cool blue accents, will offer guests a place to relax as they enjoy a cold beverage and poolside views.
Guests at Disney’s Riviera Resort will also have a new way to travel to Epcot or on to Disney’s Hollywood Studios via Disney Skyliner, a state-of-the-art gondola system that will begin operating this fall. In addition to a dedicated Disney Skyliner station at Disney’s Riviera Resort, the system will conveniently connect Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot to Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.
Offering the flexibility, value and world-class service families expect, Disney’s Riviera Resort will be the first all-new, stand-alone Disney Vacation Club property at Walt Disney World since 2004. The grand opening date of the resort will be announced at a later date, as will the start of Disney Vacation Club sales and the date when Disney Vacation Club members can begin booking the resort with vacation points using an exclusive, protected member inventory. Current Disney Vacation Club members will also have an exclusive window to purchase Disney’s Riviera Resort.
Staying at a Disney resort hotel like Disney’s Riviera Resort, or any other Walt Disney World vacation ownership accommodation, puts guests inside the magic for the entirety of their vacation. Guests staying at any of the Disney resort hotels experience special features including legendary guest service and unique theming, along with other benefits such as access to FastPass+ selections up to 60-days prior to arrival and the Extra Magic Hours at the theme parks (both FastPass+ and Extra Magic Hours require valid theme park admission). In addition, Disney resort hotel guests receive complimentary transportation around Walt Disney World, complimentary theme park parking, complimentary airport transportation via Disney’s Magical Express service, the convenience of MagicBands, and the ability to purchase Disney Dining Plan packages.
Now, more than ever is the perfect time to experience all of the fun and magic of a Walt Disney World vacation, as Disney’s Riviera Resort is part of the largest expansion period at Walt Disney World in the past two decades. Recent additions include the wildly popular Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the fun-filled Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. In January 2019, Walt Disney World will unveil a collection of new shows, parties and Disney character experiences in all four parks, giving guests more ways to enjoy cherished time with family and friends. Later in the year, guests will be able to visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where they can live out their own adventures in a galaxy far, far away.
If you need help booking your magical vacation, contact Enchanted Kingdom Vacations with Vikki for help. My services are completely free and I will always find you the lowest rates. Let me do all the work so you don’t have to!
Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii boasts an impressive number of pools and water features and a certain level of maintenance is required to keep the amenities and offerings updated and in line with Disney standards. Guests traveling there this year should be aware of some temporary closures and a special “Pardon Our Pixie Dust Offer” that Disney is giving guests.
The Waikolohe Pool and Stream, as well as several other features in the Waikolohe Valley at Aulani, will be undergoing necessary maintenance in 2019.
Guests staying from August 19 to December 17, 2019 will receive a resort credit of $50 per night for every night of their stay. The credit can be used toward any offering at Aulani Resort including dining, merchandise, a visit to Laniwai Spa, an island excursion, and more. Take a look at the specific closures below:
Here’s the schedule for closures:
August 19 to October 11, 2019 Closed: Waikolohe Stream Tubestone Curl Waterslide Menehune Bridge Waikolohe Stream Whirlpool Spa
October 14 to December 17, 2019 Closed: Waikolohe Pool Volcanic Vertical Waterslide Aulani Pool Parties Rainbow Reef Waikolohe Pool Whirlpool Spa Both ‘Alohi Point Whirlpool Spas
There are also plenty of other water activities that will be staying open during the updates, including these:
Aulani Resort Beach at Ko Olina Lagoon— white-sand beach featuring an abundance of fun-in-the sun activities
Ka Maka Grotto— the infinity pool with sweeping ocean views
Ka Maka Grotto Whirlpool Spa
Keiki Cove Splash Zone— the kids’ delightful interactive splash zone
Wailana Pool— will include Guests of all ages during pool refurbishment
A new family-friendly Disney hotel based on the Disney·Pixar “Toy Story” films is coming soon to Tokyo Disney Resort!
From the hotel exterior to the spacious gardens, guests will enjoy a world where everything looks like it’s made of toys. The guest rooms are inspired by Andy’s bedroom, including Woody, Buzz Lightyear and their friends, with colorful furniture and other immersive features inspired by the world of “Toy Story.” The hotel will also include dining and shopping.
This comes on the heels of major upcoming development plans at both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea over the next few years. The approximately 600-room hotel is projected to open during the resort’s fiscal year 2021.
Stay tuned as we share more details about the exciting developments underway at Tokyo Disney Resort.
Last year, Disney announced a massive expansion of Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort and today, Disney Parks, Experiences and Consumer Products Chairman Bob Chapek unveiled more about the reimagining, including the name of the new 15-story centerpiece of the resort, the Gran Destino Tower.
The tower, which will be completed in July 2019, will serve as the new main entrance point for guests visiting the resort, and will add a total of 545 new guest rooms (including 50 suites) to the resort, as well as feature a gorgeous two-story lobby. A themed table-service restaurant is also planned for the top of Gran Destino Tower, which will serve up delicious food and incredible views of the Walt Disney World Resort.
An oasis set on the shore of Lago Dorado, the reimagined Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort celebrates the daring spirit of the great Spanish explorers, artists, writers and architects. Throughout the resort, guests will discover a blend of classic Spanish influences, imaginative Disney touches and modern comforts both inside and out. The resort’s more than 1,800 existing rooms have also been fully updated with new fixtures, furnishings and lighting. A second new restaurant is planned to open on an island in the middle of the resort’s 14-acre lake, Lago Dorado, with new walkways stretching across the water, making it convenient no matter where guests stay at the resort. And a fresh color palette will tie the entire resort experience together, blending the new and the newly reimagined.
Guests will soon be able to make reservations for Gran Destino Tower for stays beginning in July 2019.
If you need help booking your magical vacation, contact Enchanted Kingdom Vacations with Vikki for help. My services are completely free and I will always find you the lowest rates. Let me do all the work so you don’t have to!
A newborn baby was abandoned at Animal Kingdom Lodge early Sunday morning and according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the woman who walked into the Disney World resort claiming she’d been handed a baby by a fleeing stranger was in fact the child’s mother.
Orange County Sheriff’s deputies responded to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge around 2:30 a.m. after a female guest reported that a woman approached her in the lobby, handed her the infant and then walked away.
Reedy Creek Fire Rescue responded to the resort and transported the newborn to Celebration Hospital, where the baby is reportedly in good health, according officials.
Sheriff’s office spokesman Jeff Williamson said police later determined that the woman who came into the resort’s lobby carrying the newborn was, in fact, the baby’s mom. Detectives located the woman and she was transported to a facility for evaluation and treatment.
The Florida Department of Children and Families was notified. The agency is “actively assessing and working with the family,” a DCF spokeswoman said. “The child is safe and receiving medical care.”
Florida has a Safe Haven law that allows a parent to drop off a newborn at any fire station or hospital in the state, no questions asked.
An abandoned newborn baby was found at Walt Disney World early Sunday morning, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
Around 2 a.m. an unknown person walked up to a guest at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and handed them a newborn while they were outside. The guest then brought it into the lobby, deputies said.
Reedy Creek firefighters were able to take the newborn baby to Celebration Hospital and the baby is in good health.
Investigators with the Department of Children and Families and the Sheriff’s Office are investigating.
There is no word if any surveillance video of the woman was recovered or if they have identified the newborn’s parents.
Florida’s Safe Haven law allows a parent to drop off a newborn at any fire station or hospital in the state, no questions asked
As we reported earlier this year, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort has been undergoing major transformations. Their newest table-service restaurant, Sebastian’s Bistro, is now open and as Sebastian would say, Jumpin’ Jellyfish! We predict it’s going to be a hit with guests.
As you’re seated your host will welcome you to Sebastian’s beach house, and that’s exactly how the décor feels. Light and airy, with honey colored wood floors, and lots of crisp white and sky blue décor, it feels like you’ve stepped away from a hectic life ‘under the sea’ to a breezy Caribbean hideaway.
This restaurant features Caribbean and Latin inspired fare, with different menus for lunch and dinner. We stopped in for some appetizers, drinks, and dessert. I would have to say that my favorite appetizer was the Jamaican Meat Pies; they are a generous size and came with a Guajillo Chili Sauce that had just the right amount of heat. For dessert we tried the Banoffee Tart, which has banana custard, chocolate ganache, and caramel sauce, all in a graham cracker crust.
The Bistro is located on the waterfront of Old Port Royale promenade, with large windows filling the walls that overlook the water, and open shutters that allow sunlight to fill the space.
Pretty much every table at Sebastian’s has a waterfront view. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit, and we can’t wait to dive into their dinner menu!
Sebastian’s Bistro takes the Disney Dining Plan (1 Table Service Credit), and Passholders receive a discount.
