Tag: disney world

  • A Dozen “Must-Do’s” This Holiday Season at Walt Disney World Resort

    A Dozen “Must-Do’s” This Holiday Season at Walt Disney World Resort

    The most wonderful time of the year is here, and it’s even more magical at Walt Disney World Resort! Delicious treats, joyous holiday spectaculars and all-around merriment bring the spirit of the season to life across all four theme parks, Disney resort hotels and Disney Springs.

    Here’s a list of 12 “must-do’s” during your Christmas vacation at Walt Disney World Resort.

    1. Sunset Seasons Greetings at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Guests can enjoy all-new spectacular holiday projections displayed on the famous Hollywood Tower Hotel! This new holiday experience runs continuously throughout the night and features animated scenes of Mickey, Minnie and other beloved Disney characters sharing their favorite Christmas stories. Keep an eye out for the billboards that come to life and the falling snow on Sunset Boulevard. Talk about magical!
    2. New Holiday Kitchens at the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays: Experience the flavors of the holidays, as you meander through World Showcase stopping at each of the festival’s many Holiday Kitchens. These kiosks serve up food and drinks that take the words “warm and cozy” to a whole new level. There’s even a Holiday Kitchen that’s all about sweet treats like snowflake sugar cookies and warm apple fritters with cinnamon ice cream and caramel sauce.
    3. S’mores, Hot Cocoa and Christmas Carols at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground: Immerse yourself in the yuletide grandeur of the Pacific Northwest at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge where a majestic Christmas tree towers over the resort lobby. Cozy up to the fire and relax with a cup of hot cider or cocoa and holiday treats. For more frontier-style holiday happenings head over to Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground where carolers arrive by hay wagon spreading the sounds of the season.
    4. Winter Summerland Miniature GolfJoin Santa and his elves at their off-season retreat for two 18-hole adventures available all year-round! The indecisive elves built two courses, one that showcases the warm Florida weather and another that represents the arctic North Pole. What better way to create a new holiday tradition than with family games, Christmas melodies and festive décor?
    5. Exciting New Holiday Merchandise: Unwrap another holiday tradition – shopping! Disney Springs has almost as many gift options as Santa’s bag. Shoppers will find everything from top-name brands to one-of-a-kind specialty stores. Popular new merchandise items include three new holiday-themed headbands that, much like the highly popular rose gold Minnie Mouse ears, promise to be a holiday hit!
    6. Jolly Décor: Take in the glistening holiday décor that brightens all four Theme Parks, the Disney resort hotels and Disney Springs! Wreaths, garlands and more surround you with holiday cheer. Giant floating ornaments, sky-high Christmas trees and magical snow flurries create a winter wonderland all around the vacation kingdom.
    7. Holiday Entertainment at Disney Springs: Every corner of Disney Springs is wrapped and ready for the season with festive holiday décor and seasonal entertainment. This year an expanded Christmas Tree Trail features ten new trees inspired by Disney classics such as Sleeping BeautyPeter PanSnow White and Dumbo.
    8. Tasty Treats: Taste the newest Flurry of Fun confections at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. From red velvet whoopee pies decorated with icing garland, ornament pearls, and holiday sprinkles to Olaf Cake Pops and apple cranberry cobblers, these holiday sweets will have you smiling from ear-to-ear!
    9. Candlelight Processional at Epcot: One of the most beloved Epcot traditions returns with new celebrity narrators. Disney legend Kurt Russell is among the newcomers, along with Pat Sajak, Matt Bomer and CCH Pounder who will join returning favorites Neil Patrick Harris, Whoopi Goldberg, Jaci Velasquez and others. The Candlelight Processional is a retelling of the Christmas story as told by a celebrity narrator accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and mass choir. The show takes place at the America Gardens Theatre nightly at 5:00 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., Nov. 24-Dec. 30.
    10. Gingerbread Houses: Explore stunning edible creations at select Walt Disney World resort hotels, like the life-size holiday gingerbread house at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. A giant edible spinning carousel is a holiday tradition at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, while a holiday village with a miniature train takes center stage at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. New this year, Disney’s Contemporary Resort will be home to an 18-foot-tall Cinderella Castle, crafted with thousands of gingerbread blocks, rolled fondant and modeling chocolate.
    11. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party: It’s a Christmas party like no other! Each special ticket, limited-attendance event features an exclusive performance of Holiday Wishes fireworks, and the very first performances of other spectaculars like Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, the Frozen Holiday Wish castle-lighting ceremony and Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration stage show. The special party, complete with cookies, cocoa and snow flurries, begins at 7 p.m., after regular park hours. Parties will be held on November 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 17, 26 and 28, and December 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21 and 22.
    12. Meet Santa Claus: A cozy conversation with Father Christmas, himself, makes the holiday season complete. Santa Claus will park hop to greet guests at Disney Springs and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. He’ll even make an appearance during Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade at Magic Kingdom Park.
  • Passholder Gift: Holiday Magnet at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

    Passholder Gift: Holiday Magnet at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

    Celebrate this holiday season at Walt Disney World and Jingle All the Way to Disney’s Hollywood Studios to pick up your special holiday magnet.

    This passholder freebie is available December 1 through December 17, 2017 at the following merchandise locations while supplies last:

    • Mickey’s of Hollywood
    • Celebrity 5 & 10
    • Once Upon a Time

    While you’re at Hollywood Studios make sure to check out Flurry of Fun featuring the brand-new Sunset Seasons Greetings! Enjoy a holly, jolly celebration with festive shows, enchanting “snows,” holiday decor and much more.

    If you aren’t able to participate in this offering, don’t worry! They are excited to bring more great Passholder offerings next month with the Epcot International Festival of the Arts and more throughout the new year!

    Walt Disney World looks forward to providing a flurry of Passholder fun this holiday season!

  • Starbucks Now Offering Delivery Service at Disney Springs

    Starbucks Now Offering Delivery Service at Disney Springs

    On the go and no time to stop for that cup of joe? For anyone shopping at Disney Springs in Walt Disney World there’s now no need to stop or take a break if you fancy a Starbucks! The Starbucks (Market Place) is now offering a new service where they will deliver your Starbucks order to you wherever you are in Disney Springs.

     

    Starbucks at Disney Springs

    Here’s how it works:
    Download the Starbucks App, connect a debit/credit card to the account, select the order tab, and select location.

    Starbucks starbucks

    Starbucks drinksDelivery service is available daily between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
    It’s not been revealed if the service is temporary just for the busy holiday season or if it will be a permanent offering.

  • This Bathroom Captures the Spirit Disney’s Haunted Mansion

    This Bathroom Captures the Spirit Disney’s Haunted Mansion

    Whenever candlelights flicker where the air is deathly still, you just might be in this couples bathroom. Measuring in at about 28 square feet, this bathroom is located in Los Angeles and replicates with great detail the Foyer from Disney’s Haunted Mansion with ghoulish delight.

    The apartment belongs to Carrie Hayward, author of PassPorter’s Disney Weddings & Honeymoons, and husband Patrick Johnson, puppeteer and co-owner of Swazzle and the haunted bathroom was designed by Hayward and an assist from interior decorator Leslie Landis. Take a look at all the pictures below.

    When Hayward was a child, her family would visit Disneyland, in Anaheim. As a life long Disneyland fan she dreamed of meeting her prince charming one day.

    As she got older, Hayward kept her passion mostly under wraps. Then one day while she was waiting to board Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, she threw a nickel in the fountain and wished to meet a man who shared her love of Disneyland. Later that night she met Patrick and on their first date he casually mentioned that he had a Disneyland annual pass and the rest as they say is history.

    For Hayward and Johnson, redecorating to capture the spirit of the foyer in Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion was a thrilling ride. With all the work they put into the bathroom, they don’t envision redecorating—or moving—anytime soon.
    [metaslider id=1107]

    “we will probably be in this place a long time,”

    says Hayward and they don’t plan on moving anytime soon.

    Hayward’s philosophy is that you should make your home comfortable no matter how long you intend to live there, regardless of whether you rent or own. They invested in some things that they cannot take with them when we leave, but for them, it’s worth it to be able to enjoy them while they live there, no matter how long that is.

  • RUMOR: Donald Trump’s Hall of Presidents Debut at Disney World to be Before Christmas

    RUMOR: Donald Trump’s Hall of Presidents Debut at Disney World to be Before Christmas

    Reports at Disney World have surfaced stating that Donald Trump’s expected debut in he newly refurbished Hall of Presidents may happen before Christmas. The Hall of Presidents was set to reopen on June 29, but has remained closed since January 17.

    In past years, the Disney theme park attraction would close for a short period of time to include the newest president. However, Trump’s inclusion has taken much longer than expected, especially as he was elected over a year ago.

    The Hall of Presidents is expected to open by Christmas of this year according to WDWMagic sources . We should point out that relying on unnamed sources surrounding this particular attraction has been in the fake news category in the past, but if you consider that back in June, Disney did say in a tweet that the attraction would open by “late 2017,” then this date does make a lot of sense.

    Perhaps the biggest controversy surrounding the attraction came from a report from Vice, which, cited an anonymous source at Disney who stated that there was an internal struggle amongst Imagineers on whether or not to completely retool the attraction so that the 45th president wouldn’t have a speaking role.

    Only time will tell if these current reports prove true or if Disney plans to keep it on the back burned a little longer.

    Below is a look at the most recent version of the attraction before it closed in it’s entirety.

  • 15 Freebies from Disney Parks

    15 Freebies from Disney Parks

    Who doesn’t want FREE stuff!? Disney World vacations aren’t cheap experience that’s for sure. When you factor in travel, hotels, tickets, etc., the cost of a family visiting Disney World it can add up quick. However, while there are many costs associated with a trip to visit Mickey, there are many things at Disney World that can be done for free. That’s right…FREEBIES from Disney Parks!

    There are numerous free items and experiences offered at Disney World – you just have to know where to look and who to ask. Out of various freebies available at Disney World, here are what we feel are the 15 most amazing ones!

    15 –  MagicBands

    Magic Bands
    We’ve been to Disney World time and time again, and have never once had the need to purchase a MagicBand. Save on the MagicBand expense by receiving complementary MagicBands as Disney Resort guests or as Annual Passholders. Plus, use the same MagicBand visit after visit!

    14 – FastPasses

    fast pass magic band
    The FastPass+ system at Disney World is one of our favorite freebies! Saving us SO much time, we try to take full advantage of the three initial FastPasses available to each guest, followed by additional FastPasses after that.

    13 – Free App and Wi-Fi

    MyDisneyExperience

    Disney’s MyDisneyExperience App is completely free and incredibly helpful when visiting the parks. Maps, dining reservations, FastPasses – all managed right from your phone. Plus, the free Disney World Wi-Fi makes saving data a breeze.

    12 – Free Vacation Planning

    Fairy Godmother
    You can either request a Vacation Planning video directly from Disney, or better yet, have someone plan the vacation for you (with your specific requests of course)! This opportunity seems too good to be true, just like having a Fairy Godmother, but it’s not. Contact travel time with Vikki for your free quote today.

    11 – Transportation

    Disney Transportation
    For Disney World Resort guests and for park guests, Disney’s transportation is a freebie essential! Park hoping is made easy with the bus system. Or maybe you want to catch the monorail from Magic Kingdom to dine at a resort restaurant. Wherever your plans take you on Disney property, chances are there is an easy way to get there for free.

    10 – Celebration Buttons

    Celebration Buttons
    You’ll see them throughout Disney World parks as people wear the bright buttons to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, first visits, and more! We still have people ask us how much they cost. They are FREE – just ask a Cast Member where you can snag one (usually Guest Services or a merchandise shop).

    9 – Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom

    Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom
    This is a fun activity for young and old alike! Disney provides each guests 5 free Sorcerer cards per admittance. Trek your way around Disney’s Magic Kingdom, defeating the evil Villains that are trying to take over! Each visit equals 5 new cards.

    8 – Soda Tasting

    Club Cool
    Check out Club Cool while visiting Disney’s Epcot. It’s the perfect place for a middle of the day refreshment – for free. Little sample cups are available to park guests. Taste all the different Coke products from around the world!

    7 – Jedi Training Academy

    Storm Trooper
    We absolutely love that Disney World has included Jedi Training in park admission to Hollywood Studios. Your young Jedi (4 to 12-years-old) can fight against Darth Vader or Seventh Sister after some Jedi training practice.

    6 – Scavenger Hunts

    Remy Scavenger Hunt
    Disney World knows how to keep us (and kids) entertained. Check out Kidcot at Epcot where children can color a Duffy souvenir and have it stamped at each of the 11 countries. Animal Kingdom’s Wilderness Explorers is another fun scavenger hunt throughout the park as you collect “badges” (stickers) in your Wilderness Explorer booklet.

    5 – Pin Trading

    Pin Trading
    Purchase a few Disney trading pins online before arriving at Disney World to save some money, then begin trading at Disney for free! Anytime you see a Cast Member with a pin, they are happy to trade. It doesn’t matter what pins you trade for what. Before you know it, you’ll have so super awesome pins.

    4 – Pirate Contract

    Pirates of the Caribbean
    Located just outside of Disney’s Magic Kingdom’s Pirates of the Caribbean, you may time it right to watch Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Tutorial. This fun stage show is great for all ages. Watch out as Cpt. Jack recruits your young ones to join his scurvy crew as he provides them with a rolled scroll stating they are now one of his!

    3 – Pixie Dust

    Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
    Visit one of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique locations at either Magic Kingdom or Disney Springs. Ask one of the Fairy Godmothers in Training if they will sprinkle you with pixie dust and they will for no cost! You can also get some sparkly dust from the Barber Shop on Main Street USA.

    2 – Driver’s License

    Sci Fi Dine In
    Dine at Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater located in Disney’s Hollywood Studios and have your young one sit in the driver’s seat location in your vehicle. A Cast Member may just provide him or her with a Sci-Fi Driver’s License! Transportation Cards are also available from bus driving Cast Members. We’ve caught on that these Transportation Cards aren’t available as often as they used to be.

    1 – Sundry Items

    Disney Soap
    When staying at a Disney World Resort you’ll spot Disney’s shampoo, condition, soap, and shower gel available for purchase in the gift shop. Folks love it so much they purchase the full bottles. But, keep in mind that you can get free sundry items like this from Mousekeeping. Save your money and ask for a couple of extra bottles in your room for free!

  • Braves set to begin final spring training at Disney

    Braves set to begin final spring training at Disney

    The Atlanta Braves will return to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World Resort for Spring Training from February 26-March 24, 2018.

    Your can enjoy the thrill of Major League Baseball combined with a family friendly Disney atmosphere as they watch the Braves take on the Houston Astros, New York Yankees, Washington Nationals and more.

    Baseball MickeyDisney character appearances and special moments such as kids running the bases after every game are just some of the many in-game entertainment opportunities that make Braves spring training at Disney a grand slam.

    Spring training game tickets go on sale Dec. 11 at www.espnwwos.com/braves, through Ticketmaster outlets 800-745-3000 and at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Box Office.

     

    The Braves’ first home game comes Feb. 26 against the Nationals. The Braves will play their final home game at the Disney facility on March 24 against the Yankees. They will conclude spring training in Florida against the Tigers in Lakeland on March 25, four days before opening day.

    Braves-Home-Schedule

    Atlanta wraps up its exhibition schedule with two games at SunTrust Park on March 26-27. The Yankees visit on Monday, while the Braves Future Stars game is Tuesday.

  • Top 10 Best Kept Secrets at Disney Parks

    Top 10 Best Kept Secrets at Disney Parks

    You could go to Disneyland or Disney World and never do the same thing twice.  One reason is how much fun it is to investigate all of the hidden secrets within the parks. Disney World is the most magical place on earth and is so vast yet detailed that is holds many fun secrets that delight and entertain. Below is a list of the Top 10 Best Kept Secrets Disney Parks.

    Number 10: The Bench Where Walt Disney First Envisioned Disneyland Is Now in Disneyland

    Griffith_Park_Bench Walt
    Photo: Bethcourtneysimmons, Griffith Park Bench, CC BY-SA 3.0

    He originally considered building Disneyland in Griffith Park, near Disney Studios, but the space didn’t turn out to be large enough. The bench from the park is now located in the foyer of “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.”

    Number 9: The FAA Put a Flight Restriction on Disney World Airspace After 9/11

    Disney World Main Street

    Due to security concerns, a no-fly zone was put into effect within a three mile radius of Cinderella’s Castle after the 9/11 attacks in 2001.

    Number 8: Disney World Is Second Only to the US Military as the Nation’s Largest Consumer of Explosives

    Disney World FireWorks

    Thankfully, it’s only because of the frequency of their knock-out fireworks displays.

    Number 7: Disneyland Has Feral Cats Living in the Park.

    Cat_of_Disneyland
    Photo: Sam Howzit, Cat of Disneyland (27825807731), CC BY 2.0

    Though knowledge of their existence has been carefully guarded from reaching the ears of Mickey for decades, Disneyland actually has a number of feral cats who roam the park at night in order to help control the… mouse population. In exchange, the kitties are all spayed/neutered, given regular shots, fed, and even have their own website at disneylandcats.com.

    Number 6: The Skull on the Pirates of the Caribbean Ride Is Real

    Prates of the Caribbean Disneyland

    When the ride first opened at Disneyland in 1967, its designers found that the fake skeletons available were too flimsy. Despite the creepiness factor, they discovered that actual human skeletons worked much more to their liking and originally used several that the UCLA Medical School had lying around. Though have since been replaced by fakes, the skull and cross bones seen above are among the few genuine human remains left inside the ride.

    Number 5: Walt Disney Once Ordered Trash Cans Be Placed Exactly 25 Steps From the Hot Dog Booth at Disneyland

    Mickey Mouse Hot Dog
    He chose this super specific distance because that’s exactly how long it took him to eat a hot dog.

    Number 4: CInderella’s fountain may have some details you haven’t noticed
    Cinderella crowned

    As you pass through the castle from Main St. and emerge into Fantasyland you will see a water fountain right in front of a statue of Cinderella. From the right vantage point it looks as though the crown behind her is on her head.

    Number 3: Disney Parks Are Designed to Enchant Your Sense of SmellMain Street

    Disney Parks use “Smellitizers” to ensure that various areas are equipped with the appropriate smells. They produce everything from the amazing “baked goods” smell on Main Street to the musky sea smell on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

    Number 2: The Window Above the Fire Station on Disneyland’s Main Street Looks out From Walt Disney’s Private Apartment

    Walt's Apartment

    You can still see a light in the window that used to be lit in order to announce that Disney himself was on the property. After he passed away, it was lit permanently and is now never extinguished in order to symbolize his constant presence in the world he created.

    Number 1:  There’s a Secret Suite in Cinderella’s Castle

    Cinderellas Castle Suite

    Cinderella’s castle at Walt Disney World houses a secret suite. At Disneyland, the so-called Dream Suite is located above the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in New Orleans Square. It was originally intended to be an apartment for Walt Disney and his family, but he passed away before it was finished being built. It rocks 24 karat gold floor tiles, stained glass windows, and a magic mirror that doubles as a television. Disney now occasionally allows families who win a competition to stay in the suite for the night.

    This is just a few of the many secrets from the Disney Parks. Leave us some comments on your favorite secrets.

  • New Tron Coaster Permits at Disney’s Magic Kingdom

    New Tron Coaster Permits at Disney’s Magic Kingdom

    Walt Disney World is always moving forward and recently filed permit applications show they are doing just that with their Tron Coaster plans for the Magic Kingdom. The Park will get its version of the “Tron” ride next to Space Mountain, said Bob Chapek, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, during D23, the official Disney fan club, in July in Anaheim, Calif.

    Days after filing permits for a Ratatouille ride, Disney has some more attraction plans on the books. New permit documents filed Nov. 20 show the location of a planned Tron coaster in Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland.

    A concept map for MK2 — the working title for Walt Disney World’s Tron coaster — shows it will be adjacent Space Mountain on its north side.

    The coaster will be modeled after Tron Lightcycle Power Run at Shanghai Disneyland. The coaster-style attraction invites guests to board a train of two-wheeled Lightcycles for a ride through Tron’s high-tech universe.

    Tron Lightcycle Power Run

    Orlando-based design firm Heery International Inc. is listed on the designs. Illinois-based engineering firm Professional Service Industries Inc. is conducting geotechnical work on the site.

    In a letter to Walt Disney Imagineering, an engineer from Professional Service Industries noted,

    “At this time, we have no information on the building size and column/foundation loads. Additionally, there is no information on the finished grades of the floor slab. We would expect foundation loads to be moderately heavy and similar to other attractions in the area.”

    The permit for the Tron coaster is bundled into a permit for The Main Street Theater (labeled “MK1”) that will occupy most of what is now a parking lot southwest of the Carousel of Progress and behind the shuttered Galaxy Palace Theater.

    This falls in with Walt Disney Co.’s plans to invest in more projects around its Orlando theme parks in the coming year.

  • Frozen, Avatar attractions win Thea Awards

    Frozen, Avatar attractions win Thea Awards

    Three Walt Disney World attractions inspired by the films “Avatar” and “Frozen” have won TEA Thea Awards.

    Pandora — The World of Avatar, which opened in May at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park, was recognized for outstanding achievement in “theme-park area development” and the Pandora ride called Flight of Passage was also recognized for its achievement.

    Frozen, Avatar attractions win Thea Awards

    Frozen Ever After, an Epcot ride in the Norway pavilion, won for outstanding achievement in “attraction reimagining.” The water ride, featuring the latest in animatronics, is a refurbishment of the old Maelstrom ride.

    The announcement, made Tuesday by the Themed Entertainment Association, called Pandora “a tour de force in placemaking” and said that Flight was “flawlessly executed.”

    Guardians of the Galaxy Ride

    Disney also had a winner out west. Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: Breakout, a revamp of Disney California Adventure’s Tower of Terror ride, also was recognized in the “attraction reimagining” category.