Tag: disney resorts

  • Strawberry Hibiscus Mimosa is All the Buzz at Disney World

    Strawberry Hibiscus Mimosa is All the Buzz at Disney World

    If you like a good mimosa with breakfast then you’ll love the Strawberry Hibiscus Mimosa available at Ale & Compass Restaurant located in Disney’s Yacht Club Resort at Disney World.

    On the menu its known as Agua Fresca Libation and it’s made with Paul Cheneau Cava with Agua Fresca Strawberry and Hibiscus and costs $12.

    This hidden gem has been on the menu since Ale & Compass Restaurant opened in 2017 and it goes great with the amazing breakfast buffet offered at the restaurant. Take a look below for a break down of the ingredients and a close look at the buffet:

    Agua Fresca: A sweet and refreshing fruit drink made with only 4 ingredients. A refreshing blend of strawberries, water, sugar, and lime juice is a great light alternative to the traditional orange juice made mimosa.

    Paul Cheneau Cava: The sparkling Cava actually comes from Spain, however, the name fits, as it is surprisingly champagne-like. A fine pale yellow in color, with golden highlights, it offers complex yellow and spice fruit, along with pinpoint bubbles and subtle biscuity notes. For the money, Paul Cheneau can’t be beat.

    The New England-inspired eatery boasts a seafood-focused menu however, guests can find a number of additional non-seafood options as you can see below:

    At Ale & Compass Restaurant you can drop anchor for Eastern Seaboard eats that the whole crew will love and start the day with hearty breakfast dishes—including omelets, dark chocolate waffle, salted caramel-apple French toast or a protein bowl. Or, enjoy lighter fare, like fruit smoothies.

  • Gran Destino Tower Opens at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

    Gran Destino Tower Opens at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

    The new Gran Destino Tower officially opened to guests Tuesday morning with a festive celebration, completing a multiyear re-imagining of Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort that also includes new restaurants, a new arrival experience and more.

    Celebrating the rich cultures and vibrant landscapes of Spain, Mexico and the American Southwest through contemporary design and Old World traditions, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort shines with renewed luster.

    The new Gran Destino Tower rises dramatically on the southeastern shores of Lago Dorado (“Golden Lake”), the resort’s 22-acre lake. The tower – opening to the public July 9 – offers 545 modern guest rooms (including 50 suites and club-level services), a grand two-story lobby, new meeting venues, and a rooftop restaurant and lounge with spectacular views.The distinctive tower becomes the stylish new gateway to the 2,385-room resort.

    Gran Destino Tower takes its name from the classic Disney film “Destino.” Drawing inspiration from the surrealist animated short, the tower is a whimsical, magnificent visual feast, diverse in its design and execution. The tower’s outdoor Destino Plaza are also ideal for weddings, business receptions or other special events.

    Past its grand entrance and signature ribbon-patterned design that climbs up the side of Gran Destino Tower, guests step into a stunning lobby – an homage to the Catalan Modernism style. On their way to check in, new arrivals pass intricate wooden screens with rows of beautiful Moorish hanging lanterns, while decorative bronze screens inspired by Spanish tile patterns accent the rear wall of the lobby.

    The warm colors and patterns of Barcelona inspire the sun-filled Barcelona Lounge on the lobby’s lower level, offering plenty of casual seating and lake views. Beneath a magnificent chandelier framed by sculpted plaster columns, guests can enjoy coffee in the morning and cocktails as the day progresses.

    The Catalan theme extends to the tower’s stylish new guest rooms and suites. A wall covering in each room is inspired by Spanish tile medallions, adding an Old World touch to a contemporary design. The new tower also offers club-access rooms for guests who want to enjoy the benefits of the Chronos Club. The club boasts commanding views of Walt Disney World Resort and cast members who can assist with vacation planning. Light refreshments are available throughout the day.

    Each tower guest room also offers a new interactive television system that provides a more customized and Disney differentiated in-room experience. This new television system will enhance the guest experience with Disney-quality services, content and personalization. For example, guests can view their Disney PhotoPass images on the large screen and stream their entertainment services from their personal devices to the in-room television.

    Gran Destino Tower is crowned by dramatic rooftop dining locations, Tolédo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood and Dahlia Lounge, offering breathtaking views of Walt Disney World from the tower’s 16thfloor. Named for the storied Spanish city home to avant-garde writers and artists of the 1920s and ’30s, Tolédo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood is a table-service dining experience. The Spanish-inspired menu features entrees like chuletón, a 32-ounce, Spanish-style ribeye for two, as well as sustainable seafood and classic Spanish sides. It’s all served in a setting that features live olive trees, vibrant colors and an intricate vaulted ceiling with stained-glass accents. There’s also an onstage tapas kitchen inspired by the flavors of Spain, specializing in small plates, charcuteríá and cheeses.

    The adjacent Dahlia Lounge takes its mesmerizing shapes and swirling patterns from Spanish Modernism, inviting guests into an intimate, artful space where they can enjoy signature cocktails and panoramic views.

    As part of the broader re-imagining of Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, three new pedestrian bridges now extend across Lago Dorado, allowing for quick and convenient passage to and from all parts of the resort. In the middle of the lake at the nexus of these new pathways is Villa del Lago (“Lake Villa”), home to a new outdoor restaurant, Three Bridges Bar & Grill. The open-air, waterfront dining location offers delicious entrees and shareables, along with refreshing cocktails and signature sangria pitchers. Three Bridges Bar & Grill features a rustic, Old World charm anchored by a large stone hearth behind the central bar.

    These new experiences complement the wide array of amenities and experiences at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, including floating gardens, scenic nature trails and palm-shaped courtyards. Throughout the resort, guests can enjoy a diverse collection of dining options, including:

    • Maya Grill – A grand Mexican dining room featuring ancient-modern styling and Nuevo Latino cuisines.
    • Rix Sports Bar & Grill – A stylish establishment with a unique spin on classic bar food.
    • El Mercado de Coronado – A food court filled with kitchens serving made-to-order breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a wide array of options so there’s something for everyone.
    • Café Rix – A charming grab-and-go location offering pastries, coffee and tasty snacks.
    • Laguna Bar – A breezy lakeside lounge boasting signature cocktails.
    • Siestas Cantina – A poolside hideaway to unwind with refreshing beverages and snacks.

    Shoppers can delight in an updated Panchito’s merchandise location. Named after one of the main characters from the Disney film “The Three Caballeros,” Panchito’s resembles an open-air Mexican market.

    The Dig Site – a sprawling pool complex with a Mayan-ruins theme – is fed by water cascading dramatically down a Mayan pyramid and features a water slide that evokes the spirit animal of a jaguar. The Dig Site can be accessed via the new bridges over Lago Dorado.

    All existing guest rooms at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort were updated with new fixtures, furnishings and lighting. Guest feedback helped shape the room remodel that introduced an expansive desk space, hard-surface floors, platform beds and more. In addition, a fresh, sophisticated new color palette ties together the entire resort experience.

    Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is now a celebration of Spanish, Mexican and American Southwest cultures, infused with a profound respect for the natural world – most notably water. These design motifs span centuries to form a common thread that connects the new with the newly re-imagined.

  • Disney’s Aulani Resort Guests Receive $50 Per Night Credit During Pool Refurbishment

    Disney’s Aulani Resort Guests Receive $50 Per Night Credit During Pool Refurbishment

    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

    Make sure to contact Kimberly at Enchanted Kingdom Vacations with Kimberly for an Aulani vacation quote!

  • Disney Staff Can Enter Your Room At Any Time With New Security Measures

    Disney Staff Can Enter Your Room At Any Time With New Security Measures

    Do you enjoy your privacy and not being disturbed when staying on Walt Disney World Property? Well those ‘Do Not Disturb’ signs that don many guests room doors to let the resort staff know that you want a little peace and quiet may be a thing of the past.

    According to a report by WDW News Today the ‘Do Not Disturb’ signs will be replaced with ‘Room Occupied’ signs.  The new signs are expected to show up at monorail resorts first and only serve to let cast members know that guest are in the room, but will not keep them from entering your room.

    Guests WILL be disturbed at some point because Disney will now require that your room be entered by resort staff at least once a day to “ensure guest safety”.  Even if you elect not to have Mousekeeping clean your room, they are still coming in.  In the most polite Disney way a cast member can of course…  Disney states that cast members will give reasonable notice prior to entering by knocking and announcing that they will enter according to the article.

    The is most likely a result of the recent security issues that have arisen in response to the incident that happened in a Las Vegas Hotel earlier in the year.  Like the Vegas Hotel, the Monorail resorts are quite tall and it makes sense to start with those resorts first.

    There is no public statement from Disney about the changes, but guests at Disney’s Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian Resorts should find notification of the changes in their room possibly as early as today.

    It shouldn’t be that much of a disruption as many guests will probably be off in the parks enjoying their day anyway and won’t even be in their rooms when they are checked. I’m also assuming this would be during reasonable hours. It’s really just a sign of the times we live in.