Tag: disney world

  • Alcohol-Infused Push Pops Are Now Available At Disney Springs

    Alcohol-Infused Push Pops Are Now Available At Disney Springs

    Have you heard the Buzz? Now you can end your day the perfect way with Alcohol Infused Push Pops at Disney Springs.

    The Paddlefish restaurant in Disney Springs now offers the viral-sensation Buzz Pop Cocktails, a mature take on the nostalgic treats of our childhood. These alcoholic push-pops come in eight flavors, made with fresh fruit and rum, and they contain an impressive 15 percent ABV. They’re also vegan, gluten and fat-free, net 5 carbs and under 100 calories each?

    “If you’re lucky enough to make your way to the park, grab one of these Italian sorbet sweets and enjoy it from Paddlefish’s rooftop bar,” says CEO, Joseph Isaacs. You’ll cool down and stay buzzed during your next Disney getaway — what could be better? Take a look below for a list of flavors:

    • Southern Belle – Bourbon
    • Caribbean Breeze – Organic Rum
    • Mango Passion – Organic Rum
    • Pink Paradise – Tequila
    • Blueberry Mania – Tequila
    • Watermelon – Vodka
    • Moscow Mule – Organic Vodka
    • Lemon Drop – Organic Vodka

    Buzz Pop Cocktails are a chef-inspired, gastro-innovation that meets the discriminating tastes of cocktail aficionados and people of all ages from coast to coast. Buzz Pop’s alcoholic popsicles (Adult Push-Pops) are fresh, vibrant and wildly delicious seasonal fruit whipped into an Italian-style 5 star restaurant quality gourmet sorbet made with 15% top shelf liquors offered in a ready-to-serve push-pop that makes for a guilt-free indulgence.

  • Be Our Guest Restaurant Now Serving Alcohol During Breakfast and Lunch At Magic Kingdom

    Be Our Guest Restaurant Now Serving Alcohol During Breakfast and Lunch At Magic Kingdom

    Since opening day, Magic Kingdom was the only park that did not serve alcohol, but that all changed when Be Our Guest Restaurant opened in 2012. Originally the restaurant only offered alcohol during their table service dinner times, but now Be Our Guest is expanding its alcohol service to Breakfast and Lunch.

    With the opening of New Fantasyland’s signature restaurant, beer and wine were introduced into the Magic Kingdom. Since that time, alcohol service has been expanded to all table service restaurants in the park

    The breakfast beverage menu is still limited, but it now includes Mimosas and Bellinis!! Take a look at the full offerings below:

    BREAKFAST

    • Mimosa – $10
    • Be Our Guest Peach Bellini – $10
    • Be Our Guest House Made Red Sangria – $10
    • Scofferhofer Pink Grapefruit Hefeweizen – $10
    Mimosa Be Our Guest Bellinis

     

    LUNCH

    • Mimosa – $10
    • Be Our Guest Peach Bellini – $10
    • Be Our Guest House Made Red Sangria – $10
    • Scofferhofer Pink Grapefruit Hefeweizen – $10
    • Kronenbourg 1664 – $8.50
    • Stella Artois – $10
    • Charles de Fere Cuvee Jea-Louis Blanc de Blancs Brut – $9
    • Dr. Loosen Dr. L Riseling – $10
    • Cambria Katherine’s Vineyard Chardonnay – $11
    • Georges Dubouef Beaujolais-Villages – $9
    • Simi Cabernet Sauvignon – $16

    When it comes to breakfast and lunch, the Guests rule! You order from a touch-screen terminal and soon your food will magically appear at your table. For cash orders or special dietary requests, Cast Members are also available to assist you.

  • Prices Increase For Churros, Pretzels, Popcorn, Sodas and More at Disney World

    Prices Increase For Churros, Pretzels, Popcorn, Sodas and More at Disney World

    Disney recently introduced a new pricing system for tickets, but it seems that’s not the only pricing changes the company has made.  Starting today prices on a wide variety of snacks, including popcorn, churros, pretzels, sodas and more, are seeing an increase in price.

    Small fountain drinks have increased from $3.00 to $3.50 while large fountain drinks are also up fifty cents at $4.50.  Mickey pretzels have increased a whole dollar, going from $6.00 up to $7.00.

    Price hikes have been spotted all over the parks today on all sorts of items. Take a look below at some of the increases on many of your favorite Disney goodies, including the guest favorite churro which saw an increase of $1.75, making it $6.25.

    • Mickey Bar, Mickey Ice Cream Sandwich – Up from $5.00 to $5.75
    • Mickey Pretzel – Up from $6.00 to $7.00
    • Churro – Up from$4.50 to $6.25
    • Popcorn – Up from $4.25 to $5.00
    • Souvenir bucket popcorn refills – Up from $1.75 to $2.00
    • Bottled Sodas – Up from $4.00 to $4.50
    • Bottled Water – Up from $3.00 to $3.50
    • Small Fountain Drink – Up from $3.29 to $3.99
    • Large Fountain Drink – Up from $3.79 to $4.49
    • Frozen Bananas – Up from $5.25 to $5.75
    • Strawberry Fruit Bars – Up from $4.50 to $5.25

    While tickets have a new system that allows for more flexible prices, don’t count on any type for date based snack prices.  These prices are here to stay year round.

  • Disney Dreamers Academy Application Deadline Approaching Soon

    Disney Dreamers Academy Application Deadline Approaching Soon

    The Disney Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and Essence magazine helps 100 select high school students, ages 13-19, from across the United States jump-start their life goals and pursue their dreams. If you are interested in joining the program its time to get your applications in as the deadline is fast approaching.

    Oct. 31, 2018, will be last day to apply for this annual outside-the-classroom mentoring program, which is scheduled for March 21-24, 2019, at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

    Disney Dreamers Academy turns the entire magical setting of Walt Disney World into a vibrant classroom. Students participate in a series of sessions and workshops designed to help them imagine bright futures, make exciting discoveries and learn how to put their goals into action. Disney Dreamers engage in a wide variety of experiences at Walt Disney World while working side by side with celebrities, community and industry leaders and Disney cast members.

    For more than a decade, Disney Dreamers Academy has inspired young people from across the country by fueling their dreams and showing them a world of possibilities as they prepare for the future. Each year, students participate in hands-on, immersive career seminars in a wide range of disciplines found at Walt Disney World. Participants learn how to improve their communication skills, what it means to be a leader and networking strategies, among other skills. They are also inspired by celebrity speakers and other special guests who share their stories and provide insights on how to achieve their life goals.

    Dreamers Academy

    The second decade of Disney Dreamers Academy is focused on challenging young people to relentlessly pursue their dreams through the “Be 100” campaign. This promotional push is inspired by the powerful impact Disney Dreamers Academy has made on graduates, who have gone on to become doctors, nurses, engineers, pilots, journalists and more. Some have started their own public relations firms, while others have worked with national political leaders.

    Applicants must answer essay questions about their personal journeys and dreams for the future. Students are selected based on a combination of attributes, including strong character, positive attitude and determination to achieve their dreams. A parent or guardian accompanies each student on the trip.

    This four-day, all-expenses-paid experience at Walt Disney World will continue to help change the lives of young people in 2019. For more information or to apply, visit DisneyDreamersAcademy.com.

  • This Day in History: Walt Disney World Resort Officially Opens – 1971

    This Day in History: Walt Disney World Resort Officially Opens – 1971

    On October 1, 1971, the Walt Disney World Resort officially opened, including Magic Kingdom Park, Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Resort. And 47 years later it’s still bringing magical memories to guests from all over the world.

    The cost of admission to the Magic Kingdom in 1971 was $3.50 for adults and $1 for children, but that didn’t include ride tickets, including the pricey E-Ticket for the best rides. Those ran $0.90 for adults nearly 50 years ago.

    The Resort officially opened its doors to guests on Oct. 1, 1971, however the official grand opening and dedication took place on Oct. 25, 1971. The dedication plaque was read aloud by Roy O. Disney with Mickey Mouse at his side.

    Disney World Opening Day roy disney

    “May Walt Disney World bring joy and inspiration and new knowledge to all who come to this happy place … a Magic Kingdom where the young at heart of all ages can laugh and play and learn together.”

    Disney World Opening Day parade

    The official dedication parade, called Walt Disney World on Parade, traveled through Magic Kingdom Park that day. It included 5,000 performers lead by Mickey Mouse playing the world’s largest bass drum at the time. The pinnacle of the parade was a performance by a 1,076 piece ceremonial marching band.

    On May 30, 1967, the first ground was broken for the construction of the Walt Disney World Resort. In 1969, Disney announced five “theme resorts” for the project’s first phase. Two opened along with Magic Kingdom on opening day – we know them today as Disney’s Polynesian Resort and Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

    Disney World Opening Day contemporary

    An early concept for Disney’s Polynesian Resort featured a 12-story tower, a bold design that might have looked more at home among the luxury hotels on Honolulu’s Waikiki Beach.

    By about 1970, the site plan had evolved to a more architecturally authentic “village” layout, much of which remains today. Incredibly, construction began in February 1971, less than eight months before the first guests were scheduled to arrive.

    Disney World Opening Day poly

    Disney’s Polynesian Resort and Disney’s Contemporary Resort were designed by WED Enterprises (now Walt Disney Imagineering), the California architectural firm of Welton Becket & Associates and United States Steel Corp. Each was built with a unique process called “unitized modular construction.”

    Take a look at this early photo of Disney’s Contemporary Resort:

    Disney World Opening Day contemporary

    Once the central elevator shaft went up, crews assembled 13 steel-trussed A-frames around it, forming a 150-foot-high skeleton. A few miles away, assembly-line workers built rooms for both resorts at a rate of around 40 per week. When finished, each was a free-standing unit complete with air conditioning, bathroom fixtures, sliding-glass doors and groovy decor.

    Disney World Opening Day contemporary

    After being trucked to the construction sites, the nearly nine-ton rooms were slid into the building frames by crane, like dresser drawers. Despite a widely believed legend, they were never meant to be removable for future refurbishments, though.

    To help learn the hotel business, Disney leased the Hilton Inn South in Orlando, Fla., which opened in May 1970, and used the 140-room hotel as a kind of living laboratory, developing everything from training manuals to restaurant menus later used in its own resorts.

    The remaining “Phase One” resorts, inspired by Asian, Venetian and Persian motifs, never made it off Imagineers’ drawing boards. Four decades later, they remain tantalizing examples of what might have been.

    Today, Walt Disney World is the most visited vacation resort in the world, with an average annual attendance of over 52 million. The resort is the flagship destination of Disney’s worldwide corporate enterprise, and has become a popular staple in American culture. Magic Kingdom’s 50th and Epcot’s 40th birthdays are right around the corner and you can expect the celebrations will be bigger than ever before.

  • Disney Announces New Play, Stay, Dine Offer at Disney World For 2019

    Disney Announces New Play, Stay, Dine Offer at Disney World For 2019

    Kick off 2019 by getting the most value and excitement out of your Disney vacation! Disney has announced a new Play, Stay, Dine Offer now for 2019 and now more than ever is the time to book a getaway at your favorite Walt Disney World Resort hotel

    With this offer, a family of 4 can play, stay, dine and save up to $500 on a 5-night/6-day room, Magic Your Way ticket and dining plan package at a select Disney Resort hotel most nights January 1 through March 9, 2019.

    View sample rates based on a 5-night stay in a standard room or studio with 6-day Magic Your Way base tickets for a family of 4—based on 2 adults, 1 junior (ages 10 to 17) and 1 child (ages 3 to 9)—within the chart below.
     
    Resort Category Save on Stays Most Nights

    Select Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts

    Save Up to $500 USD
    Arrivals most nights 1/1/19 – 3/9/19
    Sample 5-Night/6-Day Package Savings Includes
    Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows – Studios Only Save up to $500 USD Room, Multi-Day Base Ticket and the Disney Dining Plan
    Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
    Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
    Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
    Disney’s Beach Club Villas
    Disney’s Old Key West Resort
    Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
    Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
    Copper Creek Villas & Cabins – Villas only

    Select Disney Deluxe Resorts

    Save Up to $600 USD
    Arrivals most nights 1/1/19 – 3/9/19
    Sample 5-Night/6-Day Package Savings Includes
    Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
    Save up to $600 USD
    Room, Multi-Day Base Ticket and the Disney Dining Plan
    Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Save up to $500 USD
    Disney’s Beach Club Resort
    Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
    Disney’s Contemporary Resort
    Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
    Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
    Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

    Select Disney Moderate Resorts

    Save Up to $500 USD
    Arrivals most nights 1/1/19 – 3/9/19
    Sample 5-Night/6-Day Package Savings Includes
    The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort Save up to $500 USD Room, Multi-Day Base Ticket and the Disney Dining Plan
    Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
    Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
    Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
    Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

    Select Disney Value Resorts

    Save Up to $300 USD
    Arrivals most nights 1/1/19 – 3/9/19
    Sample 5-Night/6-Day Package Savings Includes
    Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort Save up to $300 USD Room, Mulit-Day Base Ticket and the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan
    Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
    Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
    Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – Family Suites Only
    Disney’s Pop Century Resort
    The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Savings based on the non-discounted price for the same package. Everyone in the same room must be on the same package. Base tickets are valid at one park per day and all tickets and options must be used within 14 days of first use. First use must occur on or before December 31, 2019. Some table-service restaurants may have limited or no availability at time of package purchase. 
    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!
  • Play Disney Parks’ App Has New Spooky Experiences For Halloween Time

    Play Disney Parks’ App Has New Spooky Experiences For Halloween Time

    Disney Parks have recently undergone their annual Halloween makeover and the new Play Disney Parks app has gotten the Halloween treatment as well.

    Halloween spirits have cast a spell on the new app, giving it a frightfully fun look for the Halloween season along with some new treats and tunes!  Special themed gameboards feature playful pumpkins and spooky surprises across Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort for guests to discover on the app, now through October 31.

    Look closely at the Disneyland park and Disney California Adventure park maps and you just might spot Jack Skellington and Zero or Oogie Boogie! And these festive Play Disney Parks app gameboards are now available for download, allowing you to enjoy these ghoulish designs on your desktop and mobile device!

    Don’t miss a chance to collect all-new achievements on your next visit to Disney parks! Guests at the Disneyland Resort can earn new ride achievements at Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy and Haunted Mansion Holiday for a limited time throughout the Halloween season. Visitors to Walt Disney World Resort can also find a special Halloween achievement at the Haunted Mansion!

    Play Disney Parks

    And what’s Halloween without some terror-iffic tunes? Guests have been enjoying special Apple Music playlists since Play Disney Parks’ official debut in June, and now our ghostly friends have curated brand new playlists to bring the Halloween festivities to life. Guests visiting Sandy Claws at Haunted Mansion Holiday at Disneyland park can access Apple Music from within the app to listen to a devilishly delightful “Disney Villains” playlist, while visitors at the Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom Park may find a “Halloween Trick or Treat Tunes” playlist featuring classic Halloween songs like “Grim Grinning Ghosts” and newer favorites like “Everybody Scream, Everybody Howl” from the hit Disney Junior series “Vampirina.”

    Apple Music subscribers will be able to add these eerily exciting new playlists direct to their Apple Music library. Many new users can sign up for a free three-month trial within the app and listen to the playlists in full!

    Be sure to read the terms of use before you download a wallpaper, and download the Play Disney Parks app from the App store or Google Play to check out these all-new Halloween experiences – before they vanish!

  • Walt Disney World Introduces New Date-Based Pricing System For Tickets

    Walt Disney World Introduces New Date-Based Pricing System For Tickets

    Walt Disney World announced on Monday that it’s launching a new date-based pricing system for theme park tickets. Beginning Oct. 16, guests will be able to access our Disney’s new online vacation-planning destination and purchase tickets priced by the date of visit.

    When guests are ready to purchase tickets online, they may use an interactive online calendar, which displays different prices based on the dates guests choose to visit and states tickets will need to be used during a specific time period. The calendar also allows guests to quickly see the lowest-priced days within a month. For example, prices may be lower during off-peak travel periods.

    These changes are designed to simplify the booking experience, give guests an enhanced way to purchase theme park tickets and help them more easily plan the Disney vacation of their dreams.

    The new online vacation-planning destination features park offering overviews, travel tips from Disney Parks Moms Panelists and customized suggestions based on each guest’s personal preferences – helping guests make more informed decisions.

    Under the new plan, prices will vary based on the particular day. Single-day tickets will range from $109 to $129, depending on how popular the day is expected to be. Disney states that this will help them “better distribute attendance throughout the year.”  The prices are preset for each day and will not change, the company says.

     

  • Joy Through the World! Holidays at Walt Disney World Resort Return Nov. 8

    Joy Through the World! Holidays at Walt Disney World Resort Return Nov. 8

    Before we know it the Halloween decorations will vanish just as quickly as they materialized. Starting November 8, you will be able to celebrate all the holiday magic at Walt Disney World Resort and this my most favorite time of the year begins!

    The whimsy and magic that comes with Christmas at Walt Disney World is like no other! From the Candle Light Processional in Epcot to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, there is something for all ages. Even the Walt Disney World resorts get into the holiday spirit with resort themed Christmas trees and in select resorts larger than life gingerbread displays. 

    On select nights in the Magic Kingdom you and your family can experience snow on Main Street, U.S.A. during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.  During this event you can enjoy hot cocoa, snickerdoodles, and a variety of complimentary treats while you listen to the joyful sounds that transform the Magic Kingdom.  There are special meet and greets with limited time characters including one very busy Santa Claus, you might even get a glimpse of Sandy Claws.  Mickey invites you to join him in front of Cinderella’s castle for the night time firework spectacular Holiday Wishes! Followed by Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parade featuring your beloved Disney Characters and the world famous Toy Soldiers!

    Tickets for this exclusive event start at $94.00(usd). 

    Epcot’s International Festival of the Holidays is just what everyone needs to get into the Holiday spirit. Make sure to visit each country’s storyteller that will whisk you away to their homeland with stories of how they celebrate the Yuletide holiday. Plan a stop at each country’s Festival booth for a sweet treat and strong drink in celebration of their holiday traditions.

    As the sun sets the choir warms up! The world famous Candlelight Processional is the retelling of the Christmas story narrated by a new celebrity every few days. This 50 piece orchestra begins on November 22nd and runs through December 31st! It is a must see that will remind you what the season is truly about.  

    At Hollywood Studios one of the newest holiday attractions is the Sunset Seasons Greetings.  This turns the Hollywood Tower of Terror into a winter wonderland. With snow and your favorite Christmas carols, let the Disney Magic get you in the Holiday mood! 

    Don’t forget to head over to Toy Story Land where the yet to be revealed “Holiday Cheer” will turn Andy’s backyard into a winter wonderland. End the night with Jingle Bell Jingle Bam! A night time spectacular that mixes fire works with state of the art projections and lasers!

    New this year at Disney’s Animal Kingdom you and the character from UP! can learn about Diwali, India’s festival of lights starting November 8th running through January 1st.

    The Holiday season at Walt Disney World is a can’t miss. There are so many special touches and fine details that you will only get at Disney. Visit this winter and you will see why it’s my most favorite time of the year!

     

     

  • 19 Magical New and Limited-Time Experiences Coming to Walt Disney World Resort in 2019

    19 Magical New and Limited-Time Experiences Coming to Walt Disney World Resort in 2019

    It’s never hard to find a reason to go to Walt Disney World and in 2019 there will be more to see, do, taste and experience in the parks next year than ever before!

    Here’s a list of 19 new and limited-time experiences to look forward to in next year at Walt Disney World Resort!

    1. In honor of the true originals, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Mickey & Minnie’s Surprise Celebration will bring new music, dancing and all sorts of other fun to Magic Kingdom Park.

    2. For starters, the new “Move It! Shake It! MousekeDance It! Street Party” at Magic Kingdom Park will invite you to dance with Mickey, Minnie and their pals in front of Cinderella Castle. Shake it along with live singers belting out new arrangements of classic “Mickey Mouse Club” songs.

    Move It! Shake It! MousekeDance It! Street Party

    3. The Dapper Dans and other entertainers on Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom Park will sing songs in honor of Mickey and Minnie.

    4. Look for special Mickey- and Minnie-themed merchandise and food at Magic Kingdom Park to make this party complete.

    5. And this is a Surprise Celebration, after all, so you can expect more Limited-Time Magic entertainment and other experiences to pop up periodically around Magic Kingdom Park.

    The Incredibles

    6. The Incredibles are coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, as Pixar Place will transform into a Municiberg city block.

    7. At the end of the block, a party will be held in honor of Mr. Incredible, Mrs. Incredible and Frozone to celebrate their Super deeds.

    8. Meet the one and only Edna Mode – the greatest super suit designer! She will set up a special location on Pixar Place showcasing some of her best creations (no capes!).

    9. Also on Pixar Place, look for clues to the whereabouts of the youngest Incredible, the mischievous and multi-powered Jack-Jack.

    10. Elsewhere at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, a door to the monster world will open inside Walt Disney Presents, where you’ll have a chance to meet Mike and Sulley from Pixar’s Monsters, Inc.

    11. Celebrate the 25th anniversary of Walt Disney Pictures’ “The Lion King” at Disney’s Animal Kingdom along with Timon and Rafiki in the “Hakuna Matata Time Dance Party” on Discovery Island. Let your inner animal roam free on the dance floor in this raucous party!

    12. Also at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, have fun posing in front of special three-dimensional photo opportunities re-creating scenes from the animated classic.

    Epcot International Festival of the Arts

    13. The Epcot International Festival of the Arts is back! This year’s special event takes place Jan. 18 – Feb.25, allowing you to indulge in world-class culinary, visual and performing arts.

    14. The Disney on Broadway Concert Series is expanding to seven days a week during the Festival of the Arts, so you’ll have even more opportunities to experience some Disney musical magic live on stage.

    And later in the year…

    15. Welcome spring’s arrival with the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, returning March 6 – June 3 with its wide selection of delectable bites at outdoor kitchens and dozens of Disney-themed topiaries blooming around the park.

    16. Even better, this year’s Garden Rocks Concert Series expands, as well, to seven days a week during the Flower & Garden Festival, which means a total of 270 concerts over the course of the 90-day event.

    17. Ka-Chow! Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy rolls into Disney’s Hollywood Studios in spring 2019. In this new show experience, you’ll come face to face with Lightning and learn from his years of experience on the track.

    18. Outside the Racing Academy, you’ll get to meet Lightning McQueen’s speedy pal, Cruz Ramirez.

    And finally…

    19. If you haven’t visited Walt Disney World Resort recently, then there’s even more for you to explore and experience. Become an honorary toy at Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, travel to the bioluminescent planet of Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom or wish a fond farewell to “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” – the nighttime spectacular at Epcot– before its conclusion scheduled for the second half of 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!