Category: Resorts

  • Grand Floridian Greeter Richard Gerth Has Passed Away

    Grand Floridian Greeter Richard Gerth Has Passed Away

    Some very saddening news is hitting the Disney Community today that will break the hearts of countless Cast Members and guest alike. Richard Gerth, the Grand Floridian Greeter, passed away at the age of 92 last night due to complications from pneumonia.

    On Tuesday morning reports that Richard had fallen ill surfaced. He had been taken to hospice and according to a Facebook page that has contact with the family, Richard passed in the early morning hours.

    Starting his career at Walt Disney World in 1991, Richard Gerth, has been welcoming guests with his smile and happy disposition for generations. Gerth had become so well-known that many families make getting a picture with him an annual tradition.

    Guests loved Richard and he loved meeting them too. “I think just about every day is a good day…To be acknowledged by another person is the greatest feeling that anyone could get out of a job,” Gerth said during a 2014 interview.

    Gerth was recognized in 2013 by Disney when they awarded him the Walt Disney Legacy Award. This is the highest honor that Cast Members can achieve at Disney Parks and Resorts and those who have been honored with it wear a blue name tag rather than the traditional white name tag.

    Richard was everything you would want a cast member to be.  He was warm and friendly and it is a great loss for the Disney community.  Our thoughts, prayers and condolences and thoughts go out to his family. He was a Disney Legend and he will be greatly missed.

  • Newest Disney Vacation Club Resort Named ‘Best of the Best’

    Newest Disney Vacation Club Resort Named ‘Best of the Best’

    Sometimes, what happens in Vegas shouldn’t stay in Vegas. I’m pleased to report that Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge took home the biggest prize at the recent ARDY Awards at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.

    Presented by the American Resort Development Association, the annual ARDY Awards honor outstanding achievements in the resort industry. Chief among those honors are ACE (ARDA Circle of Excellence) Awards recognizing those who “have attained the very highest level of excellence in the resort industry, and whose accomplishments and dedication spur the industry to new heights.”

    Copper Creek Villas & Cabins took home the prestigious ACE Project of Excellence Award, recognizing the newest Disney Vacation Club Resort as the “best of the best” in a variety of disciplines, from resort design and sustainability to community impact, to sales and marketing (the resort also took home an ARDY Award for best Multimedia Marketing Campaign) to day-to-day operations.

    Aside from being a matter of pride for the Disney Vacation Club Cast and every Disney Vacation Club Member who calls this rustically elegant resort “home,” the award demonstrates an unexpected power of Disney magic…allowing one to leave Las Vegas feeling like a winner.

  • Minnie Van Service Now Open to all Visiting Walt Disney World Resort

    Minnie Van Service Now Open to all Visiting Walt Disney World Resort

    Last summer Walt Disney World Resort started it’s new Minnie Van transportation service, but it was only available to select resorts. Throughout the year it has opened up to more resorts and today Disney has officially announced that the service is now available for everyone at Walt Disney World Resort, through the Lyft app.

    The service offers a comfy and convenient way for guests to travel to and from our theme parks, to dining reservations at our resort hotels, family gatherings, shopping sprees at Disney Springs and much more in a jiffy.

    The private vans are roomy, comfortable and usually only minutes away. Each driver is a friendly Disney Cast Member trained to take you where you need to be—safely and with a smile.

    How does it work? Just download the Lyft app on your mobile device, open it from anywhere at Walt Disney World Resort and select the Minnie Van service option. Then, follow the steps below:

    • Confirm your current pickup location.
    • Enter your Walt Disney World Resort destination and tap “Request.”
    • The app will display a map tracking the vehicle en route and give you an identifying vehicle number to help you spot your car.

    With Lyft, you can request your ride from your smartphone and pay right through the app. The new Minnie Van service is an easy and friendly way to whisk your family off to the magic!

    The service is available between 6:30 a.m. and 12:30 a.m. (Hours subject to change.)

  • Disney Announces Location For Star Wars Resort at Walt Disney World Resort

    Disney Announces Location For Star Wars Resort at Walt Disney World Resort

    Plans for an immersive Star Wars-inspired resort at Walt Disney World Resort were unveiled at the D23 Expo last summer and today Disney has announced the location of this exciting addition.

    The project is currently under development on the south side of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, just east of World Drive. This location will allow the experience to be seamlessly connected to the highly-anticipated Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, enabling guests to fully immerse themselves in the story of Star Wars.

    Star Wars Resort

    This first-of-its-kind resort will combine luxury with complete immersion into an authentic Star Wars story. Guests’ journey through space will start when everyone departs together for a multiday Stars Wars adventure by boarding a starship alive with characters and stories that unfold all around them during a voyage through the galaxy.

    At the resort, guests immediately become active citizens of the galaxy and can dress up in the proper attire. Every resort window will also have a view into space. The opportunity for immersion at this resort will also stand out among all Disney resorts around the globe, as it will be seamlessly connected to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, allowing guests a total Star Wars experience.

  • No More Ketchup? Disney Putting a Stop To Sassy Antics at Whispering Canyon Cafe

    No More Ketchup? Disney Putting a Stop To Sassy Antics at Whispering Canyon Cafe

    Some of the usual entertaining antics you’ve come to expect from Whispering Canyon Cafe could be a thing of the past. Folks have been whispering about the changes on social media in recent days and it appears a response from Disney on Twitter confirms some of the changes.

    Whispering Canyon Cafe surrounds you with log-cabin atmosphere, and serving you will be, in the company’s own words, “colorfully named Cast Members who have a reputation for sassing customers.” Whispering Canyon is a lively dining spot known for loud whoops and songs.

    Among some of the popular antics is the surprise guests get when they ask for ketchup the and the staff brings them out a ton bottles basically filling up their whole table with them.

    As you can see in the tweet below these are some of the shenanigans that guests are upset about losing. This tweet also is the one that contains Disney’s apparent response to the changes.

    It’s not an outright conformation of specific changes but it definitely not a denial to any part of the twitter users questions. The decision has many guest a little upset and you can see in some of the posts below.

    Other than the slightly vague and rather canned response its not exactly clear what the official changes are except for what guest have reported. We will keep you updated if Disney makes any further clarification.  For now we’ll hope that too much hasn’t changed and maybe they will listen to guests to keep the funny antics part of the ambiance.

  • Save 20% or More at Walt Disney World Resort Hotels this Spring and Summer

    Save 20% or More at Walt Disney World Resort Hotels this Spring and Summer

    If thinking about heading to Walt Disney World this spring or summer then we have some great news with you!  You can save 20% or more on select Walt Disney World Resort hotel stays this spring and summer.

    The spring resort offer has been extended for select Disney Resort bookings for stays through May 12.

    Then, during our Incredible Summer, guests can save up to 25% at select Disney Resorts for rooms booked between now and May 12. This offer is good for stays most nights from June 11 through August 1, 2018. If you need a little more time to make a decision, book by August 1, 2018 to save 20% at select Disney Resorts.

    You can also call about great rates for stays most nights May 28-June 10 and August 2-30, 2018.

    With new shows, first-of-their-kind character interactions, and the highly anticipated debut of Toy Story Land opening June 30, summer at the Walt Disney World Resort is shaping up to be absolutely “incredible!”

    Some of the experiences coming to Walt Disney World Resort include An Incredible Tomorrowland Expo at Magic Kingdom, The Guardians of the Galaxy – Awesome Mix Live! concert series at Epcot, UP! A Great Bird Adventure and Donald’s Dino-Bash! celebration at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney H2O Glow Nights at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park.

    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!

    Check out the stories below for more:

  • New Character Experience Coming To Walt Disney World

    New Character Experience Coming To Walt Disney World

    If you love meeting characters then you probably already know that meeting them during your dining experience is not only more convenient than waiting in line, but it also comes with food!  Well now there is a new character coming to the party over at Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast at Cape May Café.

    Located at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast will be welcoming a new friend! Daisy Duck has now joined Minnie and her friends for this fun character dining experience.

    This character dining experience includes a full breakfast buffet complete with Mickey waffles, scrambled eggs, seasoned potatoes, and much more.

    So be sure to make a reservation to see your favorite sassy duck in her beachy best and to indulge in a delicious New England-style beachside buffet. Create unforgettable memories, get autographs, photos and so much more!

  • Disney World Introduces New Digital Key Feature For Keyless Room Entry

    Disney World Introduces New Digital Key Feature For Keyless Room Entry

    Entering your resort room on Walt Disney World property is about to get even easier. Coming soon, Disney will be implementing a new “Digital Key” feature to the My Disney Experience app that will allow guests to quickly unlock their hotel room using a digital key on their mobile devices.

    Guests staying at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge will get to test the new technology first, providing them with another seamless room entry option that brings added ease and flexibility to their experience.

    Guests can also use their digital key to unlock the hotel entrance gate and common area doors requiring a key, which may include pools, fitness centers, elevators and club level lounges. Arriving travel parties that have checked in online may even use their digital key to bypass the need to visit the front desk, giving them the opportunity to go directly to their room when it is ready and start their vacation even faster.

    The feature represents the latest evolution of keyless room entry, which we began offering with the MagicBand, the unique all-in-one device that effortlessly connects the vacation choices guests make in My Disney Experience. Guests may use either or both options to enter their room during their stay.

    So how does it work? To use their digital key, guests can opt in and activate the feature on their check-in day through a brief set up process in the app. To enter their room, guests tap the “Unlock Door” button and then simply hold their phone against the door lock. Check out the video below to see a sneak peek of the feature in action.

    At Walt Disney World Resort, they are always looking for ways to wow their guests with new technology that enhances the experience. The My Disney Experience app is a perfect example, with recently introduced features like mobile order and online check-in that are providing families and friends with additional choices to make their vacation even more enjoyable and convenient.

    Bluetooth-enabled mobile devices with the latest version of the My Disney Experience app are required to take advantage of a digital key for room entry. And don’t forget to wear your MagicBand for all other uses including park entry, FastPass+ redemption, room charges and more.

  • New Four Diamond Luxury Hotel Coming to the Disneyland Resort in 2021

    New Four Diamond Luxury Hotel Coming to the Disneyland Resort in 2021

    Construction is set to begin soon on the upcoming New Four Diamond luxury hotel at Disneyland Resort! It will be the first new resort in almost two decades and will transform the west end of the Downtown Disney District and anchor a new gateway to the Disneyland Resort.

    Disneyland New Resort Hotel

     

    The stunning 700-room hotel will feature a sophisticated design and be a game-changer for Anaheim, creating a dynamic dining, entertainment and hotel experience for resort visitors and local residents. Extensive landscaping and water elements will create a resort oasis, showcasing nature on every level of the hotel. The hotel’s location embraces the iconic Disneyland Monorail with a dedicated platform inside the hotel for direct transport into Disneyland park.

    Guest rooms, public spaces and gardens will provide views of the Downtown Disney District. In addition, an upper-level restaurant and lounge will give guests a view of the popular Disneyland park fireworks.

    Disneyland New Resort Hotel

    The ground level of the hotel will include shops and restaurants opening onto an expansive landscaped plaza complete with playful water features, creating a gathering place for guests and visitors. The new hotel also connects all four Hotels of the Disneyland Resort through lush gardens and beautifully landscaped walkways, transforming the gateway on the west side and creating a welcoming entry for our Disneyland Resort guests.

    And that’s not all. This new hotel creates great benefits for the community, generating approximately $25 million in new taxes in its first five years of operation that go directly to Anaheim’s general fund. It also will create thousands of additional construction and permanent jobs and attract new hotel guests to the resort area.

    Construction is scheduled to start in summer 2018, with a grand opening slated for 2021.

  • Reunion Station Reservations Begin April 4

    Reunion Station Reservations Begin April 4

    Reservations will begin on April 4 for workshops and private-lounge access at Reunion Station, a new gathering space for Members opening April 30 at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge as part of Membership Magic.

    Presented as a “Membership Extra” for eligible Members and located in what appears to be a repurposed railroad station at the edge of Bay Lake, Reunion Station is flexibly designed to serve as a private lounge with foods and beverages by morning and evening, a center for paid workshops by midday, and a relaxing (complimentary!) retreat for Members by night.

    Reunion Station’s evolving roster of workshops at the time of this post include the “Disney Vacation Club Beverage Tasting Series,” “Phone Photography” and “Animation 101.”

    The “Disney Vacation Club Beverage Tasting Series,” taking place on Mondays from 1:30-3 p.m. beginning May 7, is an interactive series of beverage-tasting seminars focusing on a different beverage type each week, from “Speak Easy Craft Cocktails” to “New World Wines.” Each session includes small-plate food pairings to complement the beverages served. (Other arrangements should be made for those under 21.)

    During “Phone Photography,” presented on Tuesdays from 1:30-3 p.m. beginning May 8, participants learn to expertly capture vacation photos on their phones, including the best approaches to photographing fireworks, characters, family poses and more.

    “Animation 101,” presented on Thursdays from 1:30-3 p.m. beginning May 10, is led by noted Disney animator Todd Bright, whose credits include work on The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mulan, Tarzan, Lilo & Stitch and Brother Bear. Each week’s class explores Disney-animation history and focuses on a different animation topic, with participants learning how to apply basic animation principles to creating their own flip book, learning to draw action poses through a study of basic gesture drawing or learning the art of character design.

    Each workshop is priced at $40 a person (inclusive of tax and gratuity) and limits party sizes to a maximum of four people, including the Member. Participants younger than 18 must be accompanied by a paying, participating parent or guardian.

    Beyond the workshops, Reunion Station will serve as a food-and-beverage-inclusive lounge available as an add-on option for Members staying in any Disney Vacation Club accommodation type at Boulder Ridge Villas or Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Members who add this option (priced at $50 a night for adults and $33 a night for kids ages 3-9) to their vacation will enjoy pastries, fruits, cereals, juices and more from 7-10 a.m. daily, and wine, beer, cheeses, salads, soups, desserts, crudité and more from 4-6 p.m. Note that this option is available only for the entire length of stay and for every member of the traveling party.

    And from 7-10 p.m. daily, Reunion Station will open its doors to all eligible Members (including those not staying at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge) for mixing and mingling. A lounge host will be on hand during these nighttime hours to answer questions and offer assistance.

    Call Member Services beginning April 4 to add Reunion Station workshops or food-and-beverage lounge access to your vacation plans. While the food-and-beverage-inclusive lounge-access option is available only to Members staying at Boulder Ridge Villas or Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Reunion Station workshops are open to all eligible Members.