Alan’s 4 Park Pin Challenge

In Celebration of Alan’s Birthday on June 23rd we have announced a 4 Park Pin Challenge for Walt Disney World.  For $15 we are offering you a pin, acrylic case, a postcard with the challenges that you will need to complete. The price with shipping will be $15. Proceeds will go to Give Kids the World in Alan’s name.

We hope to make this a yearly tradition to help keep Alan’s love for Walt Disney World alive in all of us.

Thank you to all who have or will participate!

You may order here…

 

Not so Scary and Very Merry Ticket Prices

Thanks to WDW News Today here are the prices for the Halloween and Christmas Party Tickets.

 

MICKEY’S NOT-SO-SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY 2016

• September 2, 8, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 29, 30
• October 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30, 31

September 2, 8, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 25 – $72.00 plus tax age 10+, $67.00 plus tax age 3-9 in advance, $79.00/$74 same-day

September 29, 30 – $79.00 plus tax age 10+, $74.00 plus tax age 3-9 in advance, $88/$83.00 same-day

October 2, 6 – $86.00 plus tax age 10+, $81.00 plus tax age 3-9 in advance, $95.00/$90 same-day

October 4, 10, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 27 – $91.00 plus tax age 10+, $86.00 plus tax age 3-9 in advance, $95.00/$90 same-day

September 23 – $85.00 plus tax age 10+, $80.00 plus tax age 3-9

October 7, 14, 21, 28, 30 – $95.00 plus tax age 10+, $90.00 plus tax age 3-9

October 31– $105.00 plus tax age 10+, $100.00 plus tax age 3-9

Passholder Rates available 9/2, 8, 11, 13, 16, 18, 23, 25, 29, 30; 10/2, 6 – Rates are $67-80 (depends on night) plus tax. Disney Vacation Club members also have discounts on additional nights (including all dates APs already get) 10/4, 10, 11, 13, 16, 18, & 20 ranging between $62-83.

MICKEY’S VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS PARTY 2015

• November 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 18, 27, 29
• December 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, 22

 

November 10, 13 – $86.00 plus tax age 10+, $81.00 plus tax age 3-9 in advance, $91.00/$86 same-day

November 18, 27, 29, December 2, 4, 6, 8, 11, 13 – $92.00 plus tax age 10+, $97.00 plus tax age 3-9 in advance, $96/$91.00 same-day

November 7, 8, 11, 15, December 1 – $91.00 plus tax age 10+, $86.00 plus tax age 3-9

December 9, 15 – $96.00 plus tax age 10+, $91.00 plus tax age 3-9

December 16, 18, 22 – $99.00 plus tax age 10+, $94.00 plus tax age 3-9

Passholder Rates available 11/7, 8, 11, 15; 12/1, 10, & 13 – Rates are $74-$84 plus tax depending on night. DVC members also have discounts on additional nights (including all dates APs are entitled to) 11/10, 13, 18, 27, 29, & 12/6 ranging between $74-89 plus tax.

Walt Disney World adds Early Morning Magic at the Magic Kingdom.

Disney has once again added another premium event at the Magic Kingdom but this time it is has been added to the mornings. It certainly appears that Extra Magic Hours will soon be going bye bye.

Make your Walt Disney World mornings more magical than ever with a first-access experience in the park!

 

Rising with the sun on select mornings, Disney Early Morning Magic gives you the chance to be among the first to enter Magic Kingdom park and experience a trio of Fantasyland attractions:

 

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Peter Pan’s Flight.

Plus, in addition to the early-morning fun, you can get your fill of a fantastic continental breakfast at Pinocchio Village Haus—featuring such scrumptious breakfast fare as:

 

Chilled juices, coffee and teas

Seasonal fruit and berries

Freshly baked pastries

Cheese and cured meats

Scrambled eggs with assorted toppings

Vegetable frittata

Smoked bacon

Pork and turkey sausages

Fried potatoes with caramelized onions

Mickey Waffles

Available with the purchase of a separate ticket, Disney Early Morning Magic takes place on select dates from 7:45 AM to 10:00 AM. However, admission is limited—be sure to buy your tickets before it’s too late!

 

Admission to Disney Early Morning Magic is available $69 per adult and $49 per child (tax not included).

Magic Kingdom After Hours Premium Ticketed Event ( select nights $149)

The Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World will have some Premium ticketed events available to allow you an extra 3 hours in the park for a whopping $149.99 per person this Spring

This will allow you to experience an extra 3 hours after normal park closing on select nights. The price is $149.99 plus tax and this price is for adult and kids alike. The dates are listed below. Some ice cream and cold beverages are included in the price. Most not all attractions will be available on those nights as well as some characters.

• April 28 and May 5, 2016 from 10pm to 1am
• April 14 and 21, and May 8, 12 and 19, 2016 from 11pm to 2am

MyMagic+ enhancements coming

Tags

magic band, magic kingdom, magicbands, talking mickey, Walt Disney World

According to WDWMagic who are pretty accurate with their information, they are saying that coming later this Spring you will be able to add additional Fastpasses once you complete using your 3 via the App instead of going to a Kiosk in the parks.

Also worth noting that originally when Disney first announced MyMagic+ they mentioned MyMagic+ Storymaker. Storymaker will allow guests to interact with attractions and possibly even characters with use of the Magic Band. Certain possibilities are Mickey knowing your name when you approach him in the Magic Kingdom. Also the most well known example is at the end of It’s a Small World where they might say your name and goodbye in your native tongue.

This is a great news for enhancements to a great experience in the parks. Let’s just hope that they also plan to allow Fastpass+ selections to happen in multiple parks on the same day in the future.

 

Top 5 Countries to explore in Epcot’s World Showcase

Epcot’s World Showcase has a total of 11 countries or pavilions featured inside the park. Each country is staffed by castmembers from their respective country so its like taking a mini vacation around the world. But here is a list of the top 5 countries I feel you should spend more time exploring.

5. Morocco

Morocco is probably the most accurate country in World Showcase. Back when Morocco was being built King Hassan II send Moroccan artists to design and create all the mosaics that can be seen in the pavilion. Interesting fact about Morocco is that the pavilion does not light up during illuminations because of religious reasons.  Take a walk around the pavilion and see the small maze of shops located on the side and rear. Be sure to stop at the Tangierine Cafe and grab some Baklava.

4. Japan

The beauty of Japan is the small things that you need to get up close to see.  First stop listen to the Taiko drummers and then take a walk along the left side of the pavilion to explore the koi ponds and the monkey puzzle trees. When your done visiting the fish take a walk into Mitsukoshi Department Store and you will see many interesting Japanese Souvenirs for sale. Be sure to try some of the snacks like Shrimp Chocolate or if that’s not your style head to the back and visit the Sake Tasting Bar.

3. China

Fans of Mulan will be able to find Mulan available for meet and greet here, but take some time walking the grounds and especially visiting the Terracotta Army. These replica figures are from around 210 BC but only discovered in 1974. The foot bridges, water features and bambo groves give you a sense of calm on the right side of the pavilion. You can also check out the Reflections of China film which is 360 degrees showing your the beauty and wonders of China.

2. France

Before you explore France you should grab yourself a Grey Goose Grand Marnier Slush. This will quench your thirst while you explore the romanticized version of Paris.  For those who love ice cream be sure to visit L’Artisan des Glaces for 16 flavors of ice cream and sorbet. France has some beautiful gardens and you can meet Belle and the Beast from Beauty and the Beast there as well.

1. Mexico

Mexico is number 1 for many reasons. First of all once you step inside the pyramid it is always nighttime. The first thing you will notice is the street vendors located in the middle of the building. Here you can grab some souvenirs from Mexico and even try on a sombrero. Next on the left hand side in the back you will notice a boat attraction you can ride. It’s called the Grand Fiesta Tour starring the 3 Caballeros. While on this journey through Mexico you will notice people eating dinner on the banks of the indoor river. That’s the San Angel Inn restaurant which features authentic Mexican cuisine. Before you leave be sure to visit La Cava Del Tequila for incredible tasting Margaritas or some shots of Tequila.

Honorable Mention?

This actually goes to Germany. To be honest I spend more time in Germany than any other pavilion. Eating at the Biergarten is a must do for me on every trip. I love to listen to the Oompah band and throw back and yard of beer while devouring German sausage. The pavilion itself has some great shops to explorer from the Wine tastings to the room with all the expensive German Christmas ornaments. And last to mention is the great Werther sweet shop to grab one of my favorite snacks,  the caramel popcorn with Werthers.

So in conclusion While I have Mexico at number 1 I think personally I would make Germany and Mexico a tie in my book.

What are your favorites or what stands out at these countries that I missed?

Rediscovering my love of Star Wars

Tags

Disney, han solo, luke skywalker, princess leia, star wars, Walt Disney World

It’s been almost 10 years since I watched a Star Wars movie.  The last time I watched a film it was when I purchase Revenge of The Sith on DVD in 2005 and that film I only watched once.

I have been a lifelong Star Wars fan but to be honest after the prequel trilogy ended I felt I was too overloaded with It. I did watch the Clone Wars cartoon and now Rebels but it has a different feel than to the movies. To me I always connected with Luke, Leai, Han and Chewie. Heck I played with their action figures when I was 5. But then again this was my generations film.

So last night after I watched The Hobbit the battle of the 5 armies I felt something I haven’t felt since: well you get the point.

So I decided to throw in Star Wars. That’s A New Hope for all you newer Star Wars fans. As I started to watch the film and for the first 15 minutes or so I was distracted and I was fiddling with my phone. But then something magical happened. I was engrossed in the Star Wars Universe without touching my phone again for the remainder of the film. In this day in age with all the distractions for a brief hour or so I felt like that 8 year old kid watching Star Wars and playing with his action figures. To be honest when The Millennium Falcon got sucked into the tractor beam i actually paused the movie to get some of my action figures which haven’t seen the light of day in 12 years.  

After I finished the film I remember why I loved the movies so much. As a kid Star Wars was something fresh and new to a young kid. The universe that they lived in was dirty, full of characters you wanted to know more about. And a universe you want to explore with a lightsaber you actually want to hold and play with. Star Wars let your imagination fly to places it has never been before.

I am really looking forward to the new set of films that are coming. The one thing I am truly looking forward to is my 4 year old son seeing this universe for the first time. What will his reaction be with Darth Vader’s revelation and then Princess Leia? Will he fall in love with this universe that George Lucas created? Only time will tell. But I am looking forward to exploring that universe once again with my son. For a time I can relive my memories with Star Wars through him.

May The Force Be With You, Always!

Wilderness Lodge my Favorite Resort.

I have been asked many times what my favorite Disney resort is or why is it the Wilderness Lodge. The simple answer to this for me is well this is the first Deluxe resort my wife and I stayed at.

Back in 2002 my then finance and I took our first vacation together. It was such a magical trip. It was the first time we actually had time to ourselves as we had just recently gotten engaged.

So while staying at the Wilderness Lodge we fell in love with the beauty and rustic feel of the resort. When you first enter the lobby the first thing you notice is how immense this feels. You notice four large tepee chandeliers floating above your head and 2 extremely large totem poles guarding the entrance. Take a walk to the left hand side and you will see an 82 foot tall fireplace that is an re-creation of the layers of the Grand Canyon.

As you walk deeper into the lobby you will notice a bubbling hot spring that starts inside and flows outside along the grounds and feeds into the swimming pool. From there the water then flows further out into the grounds into some beautifully kept landscaping. Next to this landscaping you will find the Fire Rock Geyser that shoots water up to 120 feet into the air. This erupts on the hour from 7am to 10pm daily.

After you finish watching the Geyser erupt you can take a walk along the boardwalk that takes you to the boat launch to the Magic Kingdom or the Contemporary and Fort Wilderness Resort. This is a great spot to just take in the quiet and beauty of Bay Lake. This is one of the best selling points for us. With 2 young kids in tow we can easily wheel the stroller onto the boat to and from the Wilderness Lodge without having them wake up.

Staying at the Wilderness Lodge I personally don’t even feel like I am staying at a resort in Florida, except for the 90 degree heat and 100% humidity. But that is what the pool is for to cool you off and to grab a drink by the Trout Pass Pool Bar. What more could you want?

Besides walking the grounds there are 2 restaurants you may choose to eat at. Artist Point is a signature restaurant and then you have the Whispering Canyon which is more family friendly with some hootin and hollerin thrown in. Or you can stop at the Territory Lounge for some drinks and appetizers to pass the time.

My favorite thing to see in the lodge is actually located in front of the Mercantile which is the gift shop at the lodge. At the entrance you have a beautiful totem pole with Mickey, Donald, Goofy and Humphrey the bear who is the mascot for the Wilderness Lodge Resort.

The Wilderness Lodge truly feels like a home away from home for us. From the air blasting us when we walk into the lobby or the smells emanating from Whispering Canyon. That’s why when we hear “Welcome Home” we literally take that to heart.

To get a better view of the mornings at the Wilderness Lodge please check out my Video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0P0yx8QfAA

My experience with Pocahontas Premier in the Park event June 1995.

Tags

Disney, disney store, eisner, pocahontas, pocahontas 20th anniversary, pocahontas premiere in the park, roy e disney

With the 20th anniversary of Pocahontas this month I just wanted to write about some of my experiences of the world premiere for the film.

Back in June of 2005 I worked as a Castmember at the Disney Store in Rockaway NJ. I enjoyed working at the store, because at the time I got my Disney fix as well as some free tickets to the Disney Parks. But luckily because of my college class schedule I was fortunate enough to be asked to participate in the Premiere in the Park event for Pocahontas on June 10^th and 11^th  in New York City.

It is funny to think back 20 years and remembering things like they were yesterday. I remember being in awe of the setup for the premier. They had 4 giant screens to watch the film and in the middle they had a stage with an orchestra which played music before the show. This truly was an event like no other.  I remember on June 10^th we had our training to work the Pocahontas souvenir gift store. Unfortunately I don’t remember what was on sale.  Afterwards we got to see the movie in its entirety. It was so exiting watching the movie before everyone else got to see it and just taking in the whole experience of what was around us was what made it special.

On June 11^th I remember it was a chaotic day preparing for the craziness that was to ensue during the showing of the film. Seeing 100 thousand people fill into the park was something I could never forget. You seeing a sea of people in front of you is something you don’t see every day. Before the film started to play I had to run backstage to hit the bathroom. This next 10 or so minutes was the craziness and some of the most exciting moments of my young life. Before I get into the details that was to come I should state that we were told not to ask celebs for autographs or anything like that. Well as I was walking towards the bathrooms I bumped right into Macaulay Culkin, who at the time was a pretty big deal. We both apologized to one another. After that I headed into the bathroom. As I am about to step up to the urinal on my right,  Roy E Disney steps up and to my left Jon Secada. This moment was totally crazy. I said hello to Jon Secada first and then Roy. Yes I said “Hi Roy” I ended up speaking with him for a few minutes and even shook his hand after we both washed our hands. He thanked me for working the event and asked how sales were going. I thanked him and his family for all the joy that his family has brought to so many lives. He was such a nice guy and a moment I will never forget. (Just wish I had a damn picture)

After walking back to the stand that I was working I ran into Rudy Giuliani the former Mayor of NYC and his family. I was asked to escort his son to the souvenir stand along with the security team. Once I got back to work I got to meet Michael Eisner for about 3 seconds and got on with my duties. Once the movie ended the stand got really crazy. I was asked to stop selling merchandise and work security for the flow of people leaving the premiere.

During this time I had people offering me $100’s of dollars for the shirt I was wearing. It was crazy to think that people wanted to buy the shirt of my back because of the historic event that took place that June night in Central Park.

Attraction quotes that I just love to hear!

Tags

epcot, fireworks, Haunted Mansion, magic kingdom, ride quotes, soarin

As Disney fans attractions are a big part of our trips to Walt Disney World. But its not only the excitement and Adrenalin rush that we get from these attractions but sometimes its just a quote that resonates with us. Here are some of my favorite quotes to hear in Walt Disney World when riding an attraction.

Haunted Mansion

“Do not pull down on the safety bar please, I will lower it for you.”When the ghost host says that you know you are in for a great ride.

Soarin

“Hello, Welcome to Soarin. My name is Patrick and I will be your chief flight attendant today.”  That is such a great introduction to Soarin. But you have to also love “When the doors to your flight open, please take a seat and store all carry on items in the under seat compartment. This includes: Cameras, purses, hats, and of course… these little beauties.”

Illuminations

“We’ve gathered here tonight around the fire, as people of all lands have gathered for thousands of years before us, to share the light and share the story” While Illuminations isn’t my favorite fireworks show, when he blows out the fire you can’t help but get goosebumps.

Monorail

“Por favor mantengase alejado de las puertas.” No explanation needed!

Tower of Terror

“We invite you, if you dare, to step aboard because in tonight’s episode you are the star, and this elevator travels directly to – The Twilight Zone.” I just love hearing this as the door opens to the boiler room. This is one of the best pre-shows on any attraction.

Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room

“Buenas dias senorita, my siestas are getting shorter and shorter.” Oh Jose how much we love the music to this show and not too mention the opening to Enchanted Tiki Talk Podcast!

Pirates of the Caribbean

“We wants the redhead!” Pirates has so many great one liners and not too mention “Here Kitty Kitty Kitty”

Big Thunder Mountain 

“Hang onto your hats and glasses, folks, cause this here’s the wildest ride in the wilderness!” Probably one of my most favorite lines of all time in the parks.

You heard some of mine so please tell me some of yours!!