Tag: disney world

Three Disney PhotoPass Studios Now Open at Walt Disney World Resort

When you think of photo opportunities at Disney World, your first thought is probably of iconic photo spots like in front of Cinderella Castle, but now you can also commemorate your visit with professional studio photography offered by Disney PhotoPass Service.

There are actually three Disney PhotoPass Studios you can visit: at the Marketplace at Disney Springs, Sir Mickey’s at Magic Kingdom Park, and on the second floor of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

The studios at Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa offer you the opportunity to capture photos in front of a standard backdrop, while the studio at Disney Springs offers both a standard backdrop and a wide variety of Disney-themed virtual backdrops.

While these studios are a favorite among princesses and knights who have been transformed at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, all Guests are welcome to take photos at these locations! No reservations are required.

With a standard backdrop, photographers snap classic portrait photos that just beg to be framed! While you never need an excuse to visit, this is also a great way to mark special occasions like a birthday or graduation.

The virtual backdrops available exclusively at the Disney Springs studio provide a unique experience to capture family photos with a fun Disney twist. There are even festive virtual backdrops that make for excellent Christmas card photos! Let your imagination run wild, and the photographers will do the rest.

Whether you include the whole family or have a solo photoshoot, Disney PhotoPass photographers will make sure you capture the picture-perfect snap you’ll want to share with family and friends.

If you need any help booking your vacation contact me today at Enchanted Kingdom Vacations with Deanna. My services are free, so let me take away the stress of planning so you have more time to experience the Magic.

September 5, 2019
A Baby Eland Was Born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Yesterday
The family at Disney Animal Kingdom just got a little bit bigger. A baby Eland was born on Sept. 4 as the park returned to normal activities after being spared from the affects of Hurricane Dorian.

Early yesterday morning, an eland in Disney’s care gave birth to a healthy calf named Doppler in honor of its post-storm arrival. Gender is not known as of yet.

The photos below were taken in the first few hours after the birth, and the calf has already taken its first steps.
The calf was born as part of a species survival plan in partnership with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Mom and baby are bonding well, and the team will conduct a neonatal exam in the coming days to get a gauge on the calf’s weight, height and gender. The pair will remain backstage for the next several weeks before venturing out onto the savanna with the rest of the herd at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
September 5, 2019
Disney World Parks Closing Early Tuesday Due to Hurricane Dorian
Although it has happened before, Disney World closing is rare and now due to possible affects from Hurricane Dorian Disney will be closing it’s Florida parks early on Tuesday.

Disney World will remain open for part of Tuesday, however the hours will be cut short because of the storm.

Take a look below for the various parks’ hours for Tuesday:
- Magic Kingdom Park: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (opening at 7 a.m. for Extra Magic Hours)
- EPCOT: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Opening at 6 a.m. for Extra Magic Hours)
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (opening at 7 a.m. for Extra Magic Hours)
- Disney Springs: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- ESPN Wide World of Sports: closed
- Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park: closed
- Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Winter Summerland Miniature Golf: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Disney Resort hotels remain open, but the Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground will be closed starting September 3 at 3 p.m. and will reopen after the storm when it is safe.

Hurricane Irma shut down Disney World for two days in 2017. That was only the sixth time in the resort’s 45-year history that severe weather has forced the theme park to close.

Hurricanes Floyd and Charley prompted closures in 1999 and 2004, respectively. Hurricane Matthew forced a closure in October of 2016. Disney was also closed on September 11, 2001.
September 2, 2019
Disney World Prepares For Hurricane Dorian as it Strengthens to Category Five

Ahead of Hurricane Dorian, Walt Disney World is operating as normal for now, but they are monitoring the storm closely as it approaches the state.

Disney said they are taking precautions by canceling weekend sporting events and closing Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park on Sunday.

The path for Hurricane Dorian has shifted several times this week and had Orlando in its crosshairs on Friday, but the latest path may see the hurricane skirt Florida’s coast, although Central Florida isn’t out of harm’s way.

The storm grew into a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane Sunday with 180 mph wind and gusts of 200 mph as it’s set to slam into the northwestern Bahamas today and through Monday. It will then head closer to Florida and be parked off West Palm Beach by Monday night.

Guests at the following resorts have been contacted to plan for anticipated weather: Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa, and the Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.

Hurricane Irma shut down Disney World for two days in 2017. That was only the sixth time in the resort’s 45-year history that severe weather has forced the theme park to close.

Hurricanes Floyd and Charley prompted closures in 1999 and 2004, respectively. Hurricane Matthew forced a closure in October of 2016. Disney was also closed on September 11, 2001.

September 1, 2019
24th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Now Open Through Nov. 23

The Walt Disney World Resort global dine-around – the 24th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival – kicked off Thursday and runs through Nov. 23 with irresistible bites, sips and non-stop family fun.

That’s 87 delicious days of Festival-exclusive edibles and entertainment, such as a Candy Sushi-making experience, Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak Scavenger Hunt, the rockin’ Eat to the Beat Concert Series and Disney du Jour Dance Party.

Opening week is set to thrill foodies at more than 30 global marketplaces, filled with eats like the warm raclette Swiss cheese debuting at The Alps Global Marketplace, a brand-new location for this year’s event. Follow your nose to the jerk-spiced chicken grilled on site for all to savor at the Islands of the Caribbean Global Marketplace. And get ready for a taste of autumn at the Appleseed Orchard Global Marketplace near Le Cellier Steakhouse, where a chill vibe plus charcuterie and cheese nibbles pair well with fresh apple-enhanced libations plus fanciful flights with spice and kick.

Toast the Festival kickoff with us at Shimmering Sips Mimosa Bar, where mimosas will be served individually or as a flight for those who can’t choose between vibrant fruity flavors like key lime and blood orange.

August 31, 2019
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Officially Opens at Walt Disney World Resort

This will be a day long remembered at Disney World, as the grand opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is finally here!

Fireworks exploded overhead during the land’s dedication ceremony on Wednesday morning as Bob Chapek, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, was flanked by the mighty Chewbacca and other Star Wars characters and today it’s officially open to the public..

“With the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, we’ve set a new standard for the most immersive storytelling in the galaxy,” said Chapek. “Every experience in Batuu – from piloting the Millennium Falcon to building your own droid – puts guests deeper into their own Star Wars story.”

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which opened at Disneyland Park in California on May 31, 2019, is the largest and most technologically advanced single-themed land expansion ever in a Disney park. The 14-acre land transports guests to the remote planet of Batuu, full of unique sights, sounds, smells and tastes.

Guests become part of their own Star Warsstories as they experience galactic food and beverages, such as iconic Blue Milk and Green Milk. They can craft their own lightsabers or build their own droids in immersive, interactive retail experiences. They can explore an intriguing collection of merchant shops and may even come across iconic Star Wars characters.

In one of the land’s signature attractions, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, guests take the controls of the most famous ship in the galaxy as pilots, gunners or flight engineers in an exhilarating experience that responds in real time to the actions they take. A second anchor attraction, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, will debut Dec. 5, 2019, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Jan. 17, 2020, at Disneyland. In the most ambitious, immersive and advanced attraction ever imagined, guests will become part of the action during a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance in an experience that will blur the lines between fantasy and reality.

The new land builds off decades of collaboration between Walt Disney Imagineering and Lucasfilm Ltd., a global leader in film, television and digital entertainment production, including the Star Wars franchise. The work on Star Wars between these two creative powerhouses dates back to 1987, when the groundbreaking Star Tours attraction opened at Disneyland Park in California.

August 29, 2019
BREAKING: First Ever ‘Mary Poppins’ Inspired Attraction Coming to Disney World

At the D23 Expo 2019 today, Disney announced plans for its first-ever attraction inspired by Walt Disney’s 1960 classic Mary Poppins, part of the Walt Disney World Resort’s extensive Epcot transformation.

In World Showcase, Epcot will welcome the attraction inspired by Mary Poppins in Cherry Tree Lane, which will join the United Kingdom pavilion as an entirely new neighborhood!

To help make the announcement, several dancers came out and performed a “Step In Time” dance number on stage – including Disney legend Dick Van Dyke, who is 93 years young and still has moves.

Very few details were offered, but a description released by Disney says guests will “step in time down Cherry Tree Lane past Admiral Boom’s house, then enter Number 17, home of the Banks family, where your adventure will begin.”

August 25, 2019
BREAKING: ‘Moana’ Inspired Attraction Coming to Disney World

D23 Expo 2019 officially kicks off tomorrow at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California, but Disney Parks has already made some major announcements including a “Moana” inspired attraction coming to Epcot at Walt Disney World.

The reinvention of Epcot will include Journey of Water, Inspired by “Moana.” This would be the first-ever attraction based on the Walt Disney Animation Studios hit film, “Moana.”

Very few details have been offered at this point, but Executive Producer of Walt Disney Imagineering, Jodi McLaughlin described the experience as one where “Guest can actually interact and play with magic living water.”

August 23, 2019
‘Hocus Pocus’ Spirit Jersey Returns to Disney World

The Sanderson sisters are the muses for many merchandise items during this year’s Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and they also have a “Hocus Pocus” inspired Spirit Jersey retuning to the park that will have you running amuck amuck amuck!

The villainous new Spirt Jersey is purple and has the words “Hocus Pocus Villainous” Spectacular on the back with characters drawings of Winifred, Sarah and Mary Sanderson.

The mischievous Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus return in 2019 to throw a other Halloween party. Take a look at the details below:

With only a few hours to run amuck at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Winifred, Mary and Sarah use their magic to host a decidedly wicked fun fest.

Enlisting the help of the Disney villains, the 3 sisters mix sinister shadows, terrifying nightmares and use the nefarious powers of their frightening colleagues to conjure the ultimate Hocus Pocus Party Potion—and cast a spell on everyone in Magic Kingdom park!

Look for appearances from Dr. Facilier, Oogie Boogie and Maleficent. Combine them and other great Disney villains with amazing dancers, wild visual projections and otherworldly special effects to make Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular a not-to-be-missed Halloween treat!

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party tickets start at $79 for select nights (after $10 advance-purchase savings!). If you need any help booking your vacation contact me today at Enchanted Kingdom Vacations with Deanna. My services are free, so let me take away the stress of planning so you have more time to experience the Magic.

August 20, 2019
Disney Releases Madame Leota-Inspired Tutorial Perfect for Halloween

As part of the “Let’s Boo This” campaign, Disney has partnered with a popular makeup content creator to help create a Madame Leota makeup tutorial that is perfect for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.

Disney went straight to Kay-lani (@viva_glam_kay) to come up with the tutorial as well as two other character looks from the party that are still to come.

Over the course of two days of filming, Kay-Lani created three “hair-raising” Mickey’s Not-So-Scary looks with Madame Leota being the first to be rolled out. Take a look at the tutorial below:

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party takes place August 16 – November 1, 2019 at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World.

Don’t forget about the newly released “Party Pass” that allows entrance into 35 out of the 36 Halloween partys this year. And if you need any help booking your vacation contact me today at Enchanted Kingdom Vacations with Deanna. My services are free, so let me take away the stress of planning so you have more time to experience the Magic.

August 20, 2019