Category: Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disney Dates Announced

Well…surprise, surprise!  We have some date that people have been waiting for, in some cases, years to hear!

rivers-of-lightRivers Of Light

First, the Rivers Of Light at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will begin floating past the crowd on February 17, 2017!  This nighttime experience has had a few setbacks along the way, but I have faith that WDI has solved the mysteries that have eluded them and will bring a spectacular show!  Related to this event, Disney has also announced that there will be dinner packages available to get preferred seating for Rivers Of Light. Eligible restaurants include Tusker House, where you can choose to eat Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner for $37 for adults and $23 ages 3 – 9, tax and gratuity not included.  And Tiffin’s, where you get appetizer, entree, dessert and a non-alcoholic beverage at a cost of $67 per adult and 32 for ages 3 – 9, with tax and gratuity not included.

happily-ever-afterHappily Ever After

Next, say goodbye to Wishes!  Beginning on May 12 a new fireworks spectacular will be taking place in the Magic Kingdom! This new show will include music and clips from some of Disney’s newer films.  Look for Zootopia, Moana, Brave, Big Hero 6, and many others! The Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert Party will continue to be offered and will offer some of the better views of the new fireworks!  Take a look at the video that Disney released!  This is going to excite you!!

Thanks for reading, my friends!

Keeping the Magic Alive!!

magical_matthew

Weekly WDW #2

Greetings my friends!  I hope this day finds you filled with Disney Magic!

Moonlight Magic After Hours events have been announced for 2017.

As a part of your DVC Membership, Disney will be hosting several After Hours events in every park throughout The Vacation Kingdom!  You evenings will begin at 7pm.  The park schedule is: <!– –>

  • Magic Kingdom – February 24 and March 3
  • Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park – June 22, 28, July 5, 13
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom – September 6, 13
  • Disneyland Park – November 15
  • Epcot – December 4, 11

Sounds like fun!!

After Hours at Magic Kingdom Park

If you are not a DVC member, fear not, you are not totally forgotten!  There are some Disney After Hours events at Magic Kingdom Park scheduled over the next few months.  Dates for this event are January 20, 27, February 2, 9, 16, and March 2, 9.  The benefits of this package include: Little to no wait times for popular attractions, 7PM entry for the ability to see “Wishes!”, and Snacks like ice cream, popcorn, and select beverages are included!

Watch this video from Disney Parks Blog to see what it’s like!

The cost of this event is $119 plus tax for ALL in attendance!

Paint The Night

I don’t normally dabble in rumor, but this one I hope is true!  It is rumored that the Paint The Night parade may find it’s way to Magic Kingdom Park for the Summer of 2017.  According to WDW News Today with the lighter than expected attendance of 2016 and the fact that, Pandora, The World Of Avatar is the only ‘new’ opening this year at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, it may be the best choice to bring this wonderful parade to help draw guests to WDW.

I hope I get to see it, if it comes to the park!

Thanks for reading and remember…

Let’s Keep The Magic Alive!!

Disney Quick Hits for August 3, 2015

IMG_14881. Be Our Guest Restaurant has made the Breakfast option a permanent addition for visitors.  However, the price has gone up a bit.  Adult meals are now $21.99 while Kids 3 – 9 will cost $13.99.  Booking for October 4 and beyond will begin on August 5, 2015.

DAK Sign2. Pizzafari in Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be closed for refurbishment beginning August 24, 2015 and going through October 19, 2015.  The closure is believed to be a part of an addition of a Full-Service portion to the restaurant.  We will try to keep an eye on this one for you.  You can follow my refurbishment listing for WDW at: https://wordpress.com/page/30334162/1120.

disneyland3. Packages for the Disneyland Resort are now available through 2016!  You can now book for any of the Disneyland Resort Hotels, or the Good Neighbor Hotels through December 31, 2016.  Packages will include souvenir tickets with Magic Morning Entry, Magical Extras Savings Card, Disneyland Photo Memory, ESPN Game Card and Burger, as well as a collectible pin, lanyard, and luggage tag. Booking one of these packages is limited to 499 days before arrival.

That’s your Quick Hit for August 3, 2015. Have a Blessed and Magical Day!!

Changes In Ticket Prices at WDW

WDW2015

It has happened, my friends.  The annual, sometime semi-annual, ticket price increase has taken place overnight!  The biggest impact is to the one-day ticket price, but all prices have increased!  Here’s what it will cost you now.

One-day Adult Ticket to Magic Kingdom…………$105.00 plus tax for a total of $111.83 each.

One-day ages 3 – 9 Ticket to Magic Kingdom…….$99.00 plus tax for a total of $105.44 each.

One-day Adult Ticket to EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom  …………………….$97.00 plus tax for a total of $103.31 each.

One-Day ages 3 – 9 EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom………………..$91.00 plus tax for a total of $96.92 each.

3- day Adult Magic Your Way Tickets………………$275.00 plus tax for a total of $292.88 each.

3 – Day Age 3 – 9 MYW Tickets………………………..$256.00 plus tax for a total of $272.64 each.

You get the idea!  Most of the daily changes are only a few dollars, but those add up with larger families.  Multiple day tickets are still the best way to go as the daily average decreases considerably with the more days you plan to be in the parks.

If you want to add the Park Hopper Option, you will pay an extra $64.00 per ticket, and it doesn’t matter how many days are on your ticket!  So, let’s look at an example of the Adult Ticket portion of a vacation package.

A 5-day Magic Your Way ticket……………………$315.00

Park Hopper Add-On…………………………………….64.00

Tax………………………………………………………………24.64

Total…………………………………………………………$403.64

You can add Water Park and More for an additional $64.00, as well. Or, combine Park Hopper and Water Park and More for a combined package of $90.00.  And, Memory Maker can also be added for $169.00 if done at least 4 days ahead of your arrival.

Thanks for reading, my friends, and have a Blessed, Magical, and hopefully warm day, today!

Measuring Up At WDW

Many of the rides at Walt Disney World have minimal height requirements for safety reasons.  It is one of the most asked questions we get.  I will attempt to give you an accurate idea of how to measure up in the parks.

Magic Kingdom…

Space Mountain®…44″  Splash Mountain®…40″  Big Thunder Mountain Railroad®…40″  Stitch’s Great Escape…38″  Tomorrowland Indy Speedway…52″ to ride alone

EPCOT Center

2013-12-07 09.34.01Test Track®…40″  Soarin’®…40″  Mission: Space®…44″

Disney’s Hollywood StudiosDSCF5665

Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster®…48″  Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™…40″  Star Tours® – The Adventure Continues…40″

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Expedition EverestExpedition Everest – Legend of The Forbidden Mountain®…44″  Kali River Rapids®…38″  Dinosaur…40″  Primeval Whirl®…48″

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon

Humunga Kowabunga…48″

Disney’s Blizzard Beach

Slush Gusher…48″  Downhill Double Dipper…48″  Summit Plummet…48″

Keep in mind that Disney Cast Members are not very forgiving for an inch or two!  So, I would recommend following these guidelines very closely to avoid any issues.

Thanks for reading and have a Blessed and Magical Day, my friends!!

Disney Dining Plan…Snack Time at WDW!

DDP

We all keep our eyes open for it! We hope and pray it happens! Sometimes it comes in time! And, sometime it doesn’t! Some pay for it! Some catch a break and get it when it is offered free! What is it, you ask? The Disney Dining Plan offered with your Walt Disney World Vacation Package!

One of the most popular plans is the Plus Dining option! With this plan you get one quick service meal, one sit-down meal, and one snack per night, for the entire length of your stay. We’ll talk about quick service and sit-down meals another time. For this article, let’s look at the Snack portion of the deal!

Did you know that there are many snacks that can be a meal? And, some are even large enough to share between two our three people. Let’s look a a few ideas, shall we?

Toluca Legs Turkey Company Sunset Blvd. Disney's Hollywood Studio
Toluca Legs Turkey Company
Sunset Blvd.
Disney’s Hollywood Studio

Turkey Legs are popular at The Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios! They are considered a snack when on DDP, and easily shared by more than one person. They can be messy, but also filling.

Another idea are Chili Cheese Fries at Pecos Bills in The Magic Kingdom! And, talk about YUMMY!! Well worth it, if you are in the area!

Many of the items on the Yak and Yeti Counter in Disney’s Animal Kingdom are considered snacks. Try the Egg Roll or Chicken Fried Rice to keep you going!

If you are attending the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival, many of the samplings at the World Showcase kiosks are able to be purchased as a snack. So, you can give your mouth an international experience all in one day!

And, finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t mentioning a very wise use of snack credits might be to get a taste of the world famous Walt Disney World Popcorn!! It’s filling, satisfying, and the smell fills up the parks! Easily shared, and delicious, too!

Magic Kingdom Popcorn Cart
Magic Kingdom
Popcorn Cart

These are just a few ideas, I’m sure there are many other! Please add your thoughts below in the Comments section! And, as always, have a Blessed and Magical weekend, my friends!

DDP – Quick-Service Dining

DDP

We hear about it all the time! Is it free? Do I pay extra? What does it include? In this short series, we will look at each dining plan that is offered at Walt Disney World. We will attempt to get into the details about what is included and how it affects your costs, if you pay to include it on your Magic Your Way package.

Today, we look at Quick-Service Dining!

Quick-Service (or Counter) Service locations are generally places you can eat at on the run, without an Advanced Dining Reservation (ADR), and there may or may not be seating areas provided. The Disney Dining Plan offers a package that includes two quick-service meals and one snack per night of your stay. It also includes a resort-refillable mug usable at your resort food court and can be refilled as often as you like! One thing to remember about the mug is that it is RFID equipped, just sit it under the spout of the drink you desire and press the button, the display will tell you everything you need to know after that.

Your quick-service breakfast is one entree or complete combo meal and a single-serving, non-alcoholic beverage. For lunch and dinner just add a dessert! You also get one snack credit that can be used for Mickey Bars, Ice Cream, bottles of soda or water, or anything that has the official DDP logo next to it (see above).

When you check into your Walt Disney World Resort, you will receive a total number of entitlements according to the length of stay and type of meal package in which you are participating. Keep an eye on those entitlements, your receipts will show your balance, because many people end up with extras at the end of a trip, and it can be a bit overwhelming to use them all in a few short hours before your vacation ends!

A few examples of quick-service (counter-service) restaurants in the parks are: Flame Tree BBQ in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Sunshine Seasons or Tangerine Cafe in EPCOT, Starring Rolls at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Pecos Bills at The Magic Kingdom. Downtown Disney, soon to be Disney Springs, has some good offerings in this area, as well. You can try Wolfgang Puck’s Express, or (my fav) Earl Of Sandwich!

The added cost to your package, if you purchase the Quick-Service Dining Plan is $41.99 per adult per night and $16.03 per child per night ages 3 – 9. Look at the eating habits of your family, and check the menus out online at http://www.disneyworld.com to see if this would be a benefit to your trip.

The Quick-Service Dining package is often giving at Value level resorts, if a free dining or special package rate is announced by Disney. These meals are really good for those who don’t want to be strapped to a dining schedule and just want to grab on the run. And, many of these locations do offer significant seating areas in shade or air conditioning, if you need time to just chill and recover before moving on to the next attraction.

One more thing, your entitlements are connected to your MagicBands, so make sure all is well before you leave the check-in desk at your resort.

I hope this is helpful for you all, and I’ll be back soon with a look at the Plus Dining Package! For now, have a Blessed and Magical evening, my friend!

WDW In Summer!

Tips, Refurbs, and other stuff!!

Disney-Where-Dreams-Come-True

While I am sure many of you know these tips, but it never hurts to put together a few reminders. When traveling to WDW during the summer months is hot, humid, and pretty darned uncomfortable if you don’t prepare for the weather in Central Florida. For starters, pack light colored clothes to help with the sun and you may also want lightweight to help. Also, don’t forget to take sunscreen with you! The sun can be very strong through the summer around Orlando and it doesn’t take long to get a sunburn. Hats would be a good idea to help keep the sun off of your face, as well. Take a break if needed and head back to your resort pool. One tip to consider is making use of early morning and later evening hours. The temperatures are typically cooler and the lack of sunshine means that the parks take on a different personality. Also, you can buy cases of water before you get to your resort to carry into the parks, or just ask at any counter service location for a cup of ice water, it’s free!!

As for scheduled refurbs, WDW is actually doing a couple of major projects this summer. Here is the list as of this time…

Magic Kingdom

Carousel of Progress – May 16 – 22, 2014
Tomorrowland Transit Authority – Peoplemover – Jun. 2 – Aug. 4, 2014
Astro Orbiter – Jun. 2 – Sep. 19, 2014
Liberty Square Riverboat – Aug. 4 – 8, 2014

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Festival of the Lion King – Jan. 6, 2014 – June 2014
It’s Tough to be a Bug – Jul. 7 – Aug. 11, 2014

And, don’t forget, Disney’s Polynesian Resort is undergoing refurbishments that include the DVC addition and changes to the Great Ceremonial House as they prepare for the return of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.

Finally, expect crowds to be heavy, especially on the weekends! There will be people everywhere! But, with a good plan and enough Fastpasses, you can do all you desire and have a fabulous vacation!

I hope you are having a Blessed and Magical week, my friends!!

A Night In Harambe

DAK Sign

At this week’s press event, Disney Parks and Resorts announced a new night time experience at Disney’s Animal Kingdom entitled Harambe Nights that will offer appetizers, as well as some African-inspired beer and wine. The feature of this activity is the “Mane” event (their term, not mine), The Lion King – Concert In The Wind.

This event will be the story-telling of the classic Disney feature with the assistance of some guest narrators, an orchestra and choir, dancers, projected movie pieces, and new lighting and scenes. This will all be followed with the Harambe Nights Street Party that has an all-inclusive buffet featuring an African cuisine and gourmet desserts. Sounds tasty!!

The lineup of celebrity narrators features stars from stage and screen. Scheduled to appear are:

June 7 – Viola Davis
June 14 – TBD
June 21 – Montego Glover
June 28 – David Alan Grier
July 5 – Michael Beach
July 12 – Harry Lennix
July 19 – Joe Morton
July 26 – Alfre Woodard
Aug. 2 – Patina Miller
Aug. 9 – Brian Stokes Mitchell

This event will occur on Saturday evenings from June 7 – August 9, 2014. Be aware that this is a separately ticketed event that has a cost of $119 per adult and $79 per child ages 3 – 9 plus applicable taxes. Capacity is limited for each experience and it is advised to make reservations quickly. You may wish to have your Authorized Disney Vacation Planner add this to your package quickly, if you desire to attend!

Personally, I’m not sold on the event, simply for monetary reasons. As a Family of Five, it adds up quickly, and this is an event that I would not want to leave unattended by my kids. While it looks to be entertaining and appetizing, it’s not enough for me to commit that kind of money to attend. What do you think? Let me know!

I’m going over all of the information from the press event and will share things through the week as I get a better understanding of all of the offerings. Until then, have a Blessed and Magical weekend, my friends!

2014 Vacation Video

I have gotten the Vacation Planning Video every year for several years, and when I ordered this year’s version, I wasn’t expecting much. Was I every surprised!

2014 Disney Vacation Planner Video
2014 Disney Vacation Planner Video

The 2014 Vacation Planning Video has been completely reimagined, to use Disney terminology. A lot of good visuals showcasing everything from Theme Park overviews to more specific looks at rides, dining options, and entertainment all around the resort.

This video is an excellent tool to use, in conjunction with your Authorized Disney Travel Planner, to help put together the most magical experience you could ever design, and even introduce you to some different ideas to make that possible. And, it even gives you a very brief look at each resort available on the WDW property. I only wish there had been a bit more said about each resort to give us a better idea of what they have to offer.

You can view both Walt Disney World in Florida AND Disneyland in California on this presentation. So, you can plan your vacation to either destination, or get a quick Disney fix if you are something of a Disney Parks Addict, like me!

So, order your copy today by going to https://www.disneyvacations.com/dv/en_US/VacationPlanningDVD/index to request your copy! Then, contact your favorite Authorized Disney Vacation Planner to begin dreaming! If you don’t know anyone, message me at threestrandswdw@outlook.com, and I’ll be happy to connect you with one of my friends!!

I hope this puts a little touch of magic into your lives! Blessings…Mr ThreestrandsWDW