A few big announcement at the presentation formerly known as What’s New, What’s Next, now called “Around Our World.” Among the recap of recent changes at the resort including DCL, DVC, and Adventures by Disney, a sprinkling of new news was released. First news from… Read More »Walt Disney World Resort – What’s New Announcements
After years of work, the last piece of New Fantasyland is about to fall into place with the ribbon cutting ceremony for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train roller coaster later this week. Workers are still buzzing around the track taking care of minor details during the… Read More »Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Clearance Rig On Track As Media Event Nears
Yesterday in part one of this update we looked at some fresh concept art and changes on the Westside of Downtown Disney as it transforms into Disney Springs. Today we’ll take glimpse at the area that will become the “Waterfront District” and the Marketplace Marina area.
Up first is a little video highlighting a few of the changes going on near the water front and marina areas.
Below the jump we have more updates in our photo gallery
Read More »Disney Springs Construction Update – April 2014 – Part II
Universal Orlando opened the next chapter in their quest to grow their share of the vacation market. Cabana Bay Beach Resort, the first value hotel at Universal, celebrated its very first guests to check-in today, March 31. The Hicks family of St. Petersburg, Fla. received… Read More »Universal Orlando’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort Welcomes First Guests
Annual Passholders who pre-ordered online are now receiving their MagicBands in the mail. I just received mine and you can watch my Instagram unboxing video below. All APs can now go through the My Disney Experience website to connect their admissions media with the My Disney Experience App and make Fastpass+ reservations as far as 30 days ahead. You may have any 7 days booked in that rolling 30 day window.
The latest rumor, although there’s no official word from Disney, is that beginning March 31st, just like Annual Passholders, off-site guests will be able to book their Fastpass+ 30 days ahead of time. Guests will be able to enter their ticket information via the My Disney Experience website and have access to the same booking window as APs.
Disney resort guests can book 60-days out. Which is Disney’s big incentive to get you to stay on property (although I always thought that being enveloped in the Magic was enough incentive).
As a local and an annual passholder, I never really know which park I’m going to be at until a few day ahead. If off-site guests and APs share the same booking window, it means I will have to plan at least 30 days ahead to make sure I’m not letting the 10’s of thousands of off-site guests ahead of me in line to reserve their Fastpass times. So far, with only resort guests having an earlier booking window, there have been good options to making FP just a few days out, but with everyone in the pool, it might get more difficult to secure that E-ticket FP+. Making plans 30 days ahead is definitely a change to how I do things now, but I guess I’ll get used to it or I just won’t get many FP+ for popular attractions.
Off-site guests will be able to use their RFID enabled tickets or upgrade to a MagicBand for an, as yet, unannounced price. If you plan to do this on your day of arrival, you might want to allow some extra time in the morning to configure your wristbands. A better strategy might be to head in and enjoy the park in the morning, then get your bands when the park is experiencing mid-day crowds.
Keep in mind that the system is still technically in testing (although as was pointed out to me, when everyone is forced to use it to the exclusion of the old system, it’s not really testing, it’s experimentation). So everything is subject to change.
More details on the MagicBand and Fastpass+ below the jump:
Read More »Online Fastpass+ Reservations To Roll Out To All Guests Very Soon
Designer costumes from the parade’s finale.
The old saying goes, don’t judge a book by its cover, but when the coverings are amazing designer costumes for the Magic Kingdom’s next parade, I feel okay getting a little excited. Today the media was treated to a sneak peek at a few of the most extravagant and elaborate costume designs in Disney Parks history. Guests will get their first view when the cast of Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade dance through the streets of Magic Kingdom. We were lucky enough to be invited and have a special preview for you today. There is nearly 5 minutes of video and over 15 photos in this update. So strap in and hang on, here we go…
The new daytime parade, Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade, is a celebration of Fantasyland. The parade will bring the characters found in this enchanting land to America’s runway – Main Street, U.S.A.. Packed with innovative parade floats; a new soundtrack featuring classic favorites from Disney films and an original theme song; and an impressive array of stunning costumes, Festival of Fantasy is the parade the Magic Kingdom has deserved for well over a decade.
Two costumes from the Steampunk inspired Maleficent float.
Costume designer Mirena Rada is no stranger to Disney Parks, as her body of work includes design projects for Disneyland Resort, Tokyo Disney Resort and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. But when she was brought on to create costumes for Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade, Rada reached a new milestone – designing for a Walt Disney World Resort theme park.
“This was a personal first and it turned out to be a very different experience from other projects,” said Rada. “Everything here at Magic Kingdom is done on a considerably bigger scale and the resources are aplenty. I took every opportunity to avail myself of these specialties.”
Video of costumes on the runway is best viewed in 720HD on full screen so you can see all the details.
Lots more to see below the jump, including over 15 more photos of Rada’s designer costumes:
Read More »Festival of Fantasy Parade Designer Costumes Preview
Taking a trip to Walt Disney World? Have all your dining reservations booked, a list of your must-see attractions and shows, and Fastpass+ planned out? Whoa there partner. You’ve left out one of the most crucial parts of your vacation, the relaxation. You certainly can spend your Disney trip in commando-mode bouncing from location to location, but I recommend setting aside a little downtime where you can be pampered and find that relaxing moment you know you need. Afterwards, you’ll feel renewed and ready to take on the rest of Walt Disney World.
If that sounds like a good idea to you, two newly reimagined full-service spas at Walt Disney World Resort are set to take guests on a sensory journey designed to renew, relax and energize. Senses – A Disney Spa at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Senses – A Disney Spa at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort both feature unique looks and feel and have slightly different selections when it comes to treatments.
However, guests visiting either location between now and Feb 28 can usher in the new year with a seasonal menu of rejuvenating treatments that include a Chocolate and Strawberry Facial to tone, tighten and detoxify and a Mimosa Champagne Scrub and Body Wrap that hydrates and refines.
Here is more about the refreshing offerings that await guests at both spa locations:
Read More »Inside Disney World’s New Day Spas
Of all the things I wish I’d known about fifteen or so years ago, is how affordable DVC is to those who plan a trip to Disney World every year or so. I had a friend who was a member, but never thought about taking the leap ourselves. The point is pretty moot now that we live in central Florida. But the parental units would have enjoyed having a yearly vacation to see the grand kid essentially paid for in advance.
Everybody has to discover and come to their own conclusion about the cost benefit of joining the Disney Vacation Club on their own. The numbers make sense for some people and just never line up for others. But now the DVC is sweetening the pot with even more magic for its members with the launch of Membership Magic.
Membership Magic is a new program designed to introduce numerous enhancements for members, create exclusive vacation options across multiple Disney experiences and provide special, money-saving discounts for members to enjoy. The first wave of experiences has officially rolled out, but members can expect to see several ongoing enhancements in the months to come.
“With Membership Magic, we are giving families even more to love about Disney Vacation Club,” said Ken Potrock, senior vice president and general manager, Disney Vacation Club. “We are introducing great new perks, exclusive experiences and other service enhancements that only members and their guests can access. It’s our special way of thanking our members for being such a valued part of the Disney Vacation Club family.”Read More »Disney Vacation Club Rolls Out New Benefits in Membership Magic