Walt Disney World News – threestrandswdw

Disney Dates Announced

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

Rivers 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 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!!

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WDW Fave GONE!

As of today, one of my favorite places to hit is closed! I can’t believe it! I am hoping, beyond hope, that it may return after all of the construction in some form or another! Oh, what am I writing about? The famed Disney’s Hollywood Studio quick service goodie shop, Starring Rolls, has closed it’s doors!

I don’t know about any of you, but I loved this place! They had good sized sandwiches, tasty treats of all kinds, and specialties only found at this spot in all of WDW! Can you say, Butterfinger Cupcake?

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With all it had to offer and a nice outdoor sitting area with a view of folks headed down Sunset Blvd. toward Rock N Rollercoaster or Tower of Terror, this will be a strongly missed venue!

A moment of silence, please?

Thanks for reading and remember…

Let’s Keep The Magic Alive!!

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!!

Weekly WDW Wind Up #1

Magic Kingdom Park will say good-bye to the Kingdom Cabanas beginning on February 17, 2017! It would appear that there was little interest in making use of this ‘perk’ even at a discounted price!
Miss Adventure Falls will debut at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon in the Spring of 2017. Climb aboard a 4 person raft for a quick paced adventure. All aboard!!
The 1st Annual EPCOT International Festival Of The Arts began this weekend offering interactive workshops, Broadway music, and Food! There are limited Dining experiences available. Call 407-WDW-DINE for information and reservations!
Walt Disney’s Carousel Of Progress has been lit up for Disney After Dark! With the new color scheme and recent exterior updates, it’s a beautiful piece of art in Tomorrowland!!

Thanks for reading, my friends!!

Let’s Keep The Magic Alive!

Security Change for Magic Kingdom

A new security checkpoint has been established at the walkway leading from Disney’s Contemporary Resort to Magic Kingdom Park. A single access point is located as you exit the walkway. This should make clearing security a bit easier for some headed into the Magic Kingdom.

I can’t help but wonder how the rest of the secured area may change now that the Welcome Show is now located inside the park at Cinderella’s Castle. Could it be that each entry point will have it’s own set of security checkpoints? Would that lighten up the congestion?

What about the other parks?

Security is certainly at the forefront of everyone’s minds these days. And, personally, I have no problems with additional checkpoints. Anything that allows the flow to keep moving without compromising on security is okay by me!

Thanks for reading and Let’s Keep The Magic Alive!

New Festival at EPCOT, With Food?

January 13 through February 30, 2017 brings a new festival to EPCOT that is sure to bring fun, frolic, and yes FOOD for guests to enjoy!

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At the EPCOT International Festival Of The Arts, you will find Fun in the form of the artists, or their works that are scheduled to attend. From the works of Mary Blair and Herb Ryman to current Disney artists. You can just have a look around or watch some creative juices flow live during the Festival!

Frolic might be had by attending concerts from some of Disney’s best Broadway stars from Aladdin, The Lion King, and Newsies(my personal favorite). These concerts will be presented on the weekends of the festival and will take place on the America Gardens Theater stage. Show times are 5:30pm, 6:45pm, and 8:00pm.

2017 Appearance Schedule

January 13-16 and 20-23
Ashley Brown & Josh Strickland perform songs from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Frozen, Mary Poppins, Tarzan and The Little Mermaid.

January 27-30 and February 3-6
Kerry Butler & Kevin Massey perform songs from Disney’s Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Newsies and Tarzan.

February 10-13 and 17-20
Kissy Simmons & Alton Fitzgerald White perform songs from Disney’s Aida, Aladdin, The Lion King and The Little Mermaid.

As for Food, there will be Food Studios place around the World Showcase Promenade where you can try a vast array of foods. This is similar to, but completely different, compared to Food And Wine. To learn more about the offerings go to The Disney Food Blog page for information!

This sounds like a lot of fun!! Enjoy and remember…

Let’s Keep The Magic Alive!

Worth The Change At WDW!

Walt Disney World is testing a new dining option at Magic Kingdom Park®. Beginning on January 12 and running through February 22, several of the Quick Service venues will begin participating in Disney Dine-on-the-Go! The menu includes one Lunch Quick Service entree and one non-alcoholic beverage until 4pm and one Dinner Quick Service entree and non-alcoholic beverage good after 4pm. Desserts will be an out-of-pocket expense, if you desire.

CHH

The participating Quick Service venues are:

Casey’s Corner
Colombia Harbour House
Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe
Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe
Pinocchio Village Haus

Valid Park Admission Required!

The cost is $29 for adults and $12 for kids 3 – 9 and can be purchased at Magic Kingdom Park Vacation Planning booth. Is it worth it? You tell me!!

Let’s Keep The Magic Alive!

Drinking Around The Magic Kingdom

Walt Disney World has announced that there will be four additional restaurants that will have beer and wine available inside The Magic Kingdom! The restaurants adding the booze are: Tony’s Town Square, Cinderella’s Royal Table, Liberty Tree Tavern, and Skipper Canteen.

I’m not sure how I feel about this! But, I knew that once it was introduced at Be Our Guest, it was only a matter of time before the ability to consume alcohol came to other venues within Magic Kingdom Park! And, while I am hoping that most will only consume a little to go with their meal, there is that possibility that a few may overindulge.

Personally, I am not a big drinker! Maybe one or two a year. So, at this point, I am taking a wait and see attitude about all of this. I am sure it will generate a bit of revenue! I am thinking it may bolster the guest experience at Tony’s Town Square. And, I am sure that the prices will live up to WDW standards!

But, how popular will it really be? Does the addition of alcohol at Magic Kingdom take something out of the feel of the park? One can’t help but wonder!

Thank you for reading, my friends!

Let’s Keep The Magic Alive!!

Changes At Magic Kingdom…

I want to start this out by stating that I really love Walt Disney World! I have been a fan for over 30 years. However, much of what is coming out these days makes me wonder where Walt’s dream ends, and the Disney Company greed begins!

It has been revealed that the Fastpass Plus system is no longer offering the parades and fireworks as a selection. I don’t know if that means that the roped off areas will be treated like open season, or if there is something else in the works. My guess, get ready to pay cold hard cash for this privilege!

Recently Disney announced that there will be a premium event offered called Disney After Hours. For a mere $150 each, plus applicable tax, you can enjoy The Magic Kingdom with fewer people and shorter waits.

Currently, the dates for this are:

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

Many of the attractions and Meet and Greets are expected to be available during this ‘special’ event. But, it makes one wonder if this is spelling the end to Extra Magic Hours! Time will tell!

Change For WDW

You know how you keep putting your loose change in that jar to help save for your trip to Walt Disney World? Well, start saving more! It looks like the new theme is make money however we can, as WDW begins charging for things that were previously complimentary.

A $15 a day resort fee is being considered to help ‘defray’ the cost of using the pools, Magical Express, and other amenities. So, the question I have is: Is it better to just increase the resort cost to cover these expenses, OR do we prefer the resort fee structure? I’m not sold either way, at this time.

It looks like there may be a Preferred Parking structure at the parks beginning with The Magic Kingdom. I have heard the initial cost will start at and additional $10. I prefer using Disney Transport for this particular park. Now, as it may move to the other parks, I guess it depends on how far from the entrance, and how frequent the trams are running.

The next thing we know, there will be a cost to FastPass Plus, meals won’t include soft drinks, or even the use of Disney Transport may cost an extra fee to use!

Let me be clear! I LOVE WALT DISNEY WORLD! But, I am having to continually put off the next trip as I try to save all the money I will need to go! I am hoping that the ladies and gentlemen making these decisions will consider how this might impact the overall Guest Experience.

Thanks for reading! Please let me know your thoughts, as well! Have a Blessed and Magical day!