As you’re planning your next Walt Disney World vacation, Disney has added a new tool to help make your decision a little easier. These new Animated Video Tours will take you through a virtual flyover and visit to some of the most popular resorts. So… Read More »Walt Disney World Resorts Add Animated Video Tours
Southwest Airlines and SeaWorld recently mutually agreed to end their multi-year marketing partnership. No more airship Shamu. Disney currently has similar partnerships with WESTJET (see Sorcerer Mickey), but what if SWA wants to move in on that deal? It could happen, one of my anony-“mouse”… Read More »Could Southwest Airlines Turn to Disney After Leaving SeaWorld?
At Walt Disney World one of the best ways to beat the heat is to wait until the sun goes down. There’s a whole new world of fun and entertainment available, and this summer there are new and premium events to enjoy.
Here’s what Walt Disney World fun looks like after dark:
Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
Frozen Summer Fun Live! – Fans of the beloved Disney film “Frozen” can journey to Arendelle all summer long with Frozen Summer Fun Live! activities taking place at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. After welcoming Anna and Elsa every morning, then ice skating at Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post, and dancing with Olaf at the Coolest Summer Ever Dance Party all afternoon, guests can end their day with a grand fireworks show that soars above the Sorcerer Mickey Hat on Hollywood Blvd.
Frozen Summer Fun Live! takes place daily now through September 1 beginning at 11 a.m. Frozen-themed fireworks, set to popular tunes from the film, light up the sky at 9:45 p.m. each evening, weather permitting.
“The Frozen Summer Fun Premium Package,” which offers special viewing for three of the new experiences, includes an exclusive dessert party in a reserved area while viewing the Frozen fireworks. Packages cost $59 for adults and $34 for children (including tax and gratuity).
Fantasmic! – Mickey Mouse’s imagination comes to life during this nighttime show featuring favorite Disney heroes and villains at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Fantasmic! immerses spectators in Sorcerer Mickey’s dreams by using stunning pyrotechnics, laser lights and dramatic effects. This show plays nightly, weather permitting.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom:
Harambe Nights – To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Disney’s Academy Award-winning film, “The Lion King,” the streets of Harambe Village at Disney’s Animal Kingdom are bursting with excitement and after-hours fun with the all-new summer series, Harambe Nights.
Read More »Options for fun expand when the sun goes down at Walt Disney World
The other day we wrote about a Norwegian newscast lamenting the fact that the Norway Pavilion at EPCOT was at risk for being handed over to rules of Arendelle. As it turns out, that may not be a bad thing for Norway’s coffers. Disney’s Frozen… Read More »How Disney’s Frozen is filling Norwegian Hotels
Did you know the Fleur de Lis is the icon of New Orleans? When you follow Princess Tiana’s magic trip through the bayou, you could win a “Princess and the Frog”-inspired trip to the crescent city itself. The friendly folks in NOLA have even created… Read More »Follow The Princess and the Frog to New Orleans in Disney Contest
EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios are currently the only two Disney parks where you have tiered selection of Fastpass+. This forces the guest to make choices for the first three attractions they experience via Fastpass+ and makes sure the very limited number of e-Ticket style attractions are enjoyable by everyone via the system.
Disney has decided to tweak the system slightly starting June 16 2014. At Disney’s Hollywood Studios Great Movie Ride becomes a tier 1 selection while at EPCOT Living with the Land moves to tier 1 and Character Spot and Maelstrom drop to tier 2. That last one makes the most sense to me. I’m not sure The Great Movie Ride needed the move though, it’s a pretty high capacity attraction.
All previous selections you’ve made will be maintained, but going forward Fastpass+ for the 16th and beyond will conform to this new system. And once you use your three Fastpass+ you can select from any attraction with availability for your 4th, 5th, etc. Fastpass+.
The full updated line-up for the tiered parks is below the jump:
Read More »Fastpass+ Tiers Shifting Slightly at EPCOT and DHS
This post brought to you by Christina Wood of Pixie Vacations, the preferred Disney vacation travel planner of The Disney Blog.
Planning an adult-only trip to the World? Some may scoff at the location for grown up guests, but Disney World is actually the number one honeymoon destination in the country, and with good reason: Gorgeous hotels, plenty of activities in the parks and the surrounding areas, and amazing food for every palate. For adults who like a vacation that mixes the ability to relax and indulge with just plain old-fashioned fun, Disney World is ideal. But what about the resorts? Some resorts just scream “kid-friendly” but others cater more to adult tastes. Here’s my top five.
5. Port Orleans French Quarter.
Ask a Disney travel agent what her go-to resort is and she’ll probably tell you French Quarter and for good reason: It’s small enough that you can get around easily, so you don’t have to book a preferred room to ensure you’re close to dining and the buses, and it’s got plenty for kids to do, but it looks like a grown up resort. Couple that with affordability and you have a budget-friendly , grown up choice.
Beds with Fiber Optics
4. The Polynesian.
When the rooms at the Poly were refurbished last year, my opinion of this resort changed completely. I always loved the grounds, the pools, the beach, and romantic lighting at night, but the rooms left a lot to be desired. In fact, they looked like something the Brady Bunch would have stayed in circa 1972. The refurb changed all that. Now the rooms are brighter and more elegant, with a more modern take on the Hawaiian theme. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of construction going on here for the next year so I can’t recommend that you travel there for the next year or so, but I think it’s going to be amazing when it’s compete. If you still want a little bit of that Polynesian romance, stop by for a drink–the lapu lapu comes in a pineapple–at night and go down to the beach and watch the fireworks.
3. Animal Kingdom Lodge/Wilderness Lodge.
The lighting, the animals, the dining: this is simply a beautifully themed resort. In fact, I would say it’s the most well-themed resort on property. Make sure you check out the large fire pit out on the savanna viewing area at Jambo House or eat at Jiko, one of Disney’s best signature restaurants. One thing that sets this resort apart from others is the landscaping around the pools. Most Disney resorts are a bit short on poolside foliage, but Animal Kingdom lodge is green and shady. The result is that you’ll find quiet places to read and nap, away from the hustle and bustle of families enjoying their day at the pool.Read More »Top Five Disney Hotels for Adults.
This post brought to you by Christina Wood of Pixie Vacations, the preferred Disney vacation travel planner of The Disney Blog.
One of the fun things about my job is that I usually learn something from each person I send to Disney World. Maybe it’s something odd, like the best parts of the alligator to eat (yes, this happened), but more often than not, I learn something useful I can pass onto the next client. You’d be surprised how different each client’s approach to their trip can be and what can happen on your average Disney vacation. Here are a few of my favorite lessons:
5. Plan carefully. And then plan some more.
Walt Disney World covers 47 square miles. There are four parks, two water parks, Downtown Disney, golf courses, 26 hotels, and more than 200 restaurants. It’s going to take some planning to ensure that you see and do everything you want. Make your dining reservations as far out as possible. If you’re staying on property, get those fastpasses chosen at 60 days out. I’m not an over-planner by any means, but the new system under MyDisneyExperience means you really need to put some thought into your trip; fortunately, it’s also very easy to do and doesn’t take that much time.
The corollary to this, of course, is that if you over plan you’re going to lose your mind, especially if you’re traveling with a larger group. So make that spreadsheet, use your MDE account, but take it all with a grain of salt. Sometimes you just have to let the magic happen.Read More »Five things my clients have taught me about traveling to Walt Disney World