It has been rumored, and now confirmed by Walt Disney World, that the popular attraction Soarin’ will be closing on January 4, 2016, for an extended refurbishment. The closure could be six months or more. So, what is expected to be done?
Many of us already know that a third theater is being added to the attraction. And, it is expected that this theater will be a DIGITAL theater. This allows for the probability that the original theaters will be updated with the same technology. Imagine, watching something on a screen that isn’t stained! That’s an upgrade right there!
The conclusion of this refurbishment is expected to coincide with the release of the NEW Soarin’ Around The World film. And, while I know it will be a pain to have to miss this attraction during this time, I believe the outcome will be more than worth it for one of EPCOT’s most loved attractions!
I can’t want to see it! Can you? In the meantime, I hope you have a Blessed and Magical week, my Disney Lovin’ Friends!!
There are many returning narrators for this year’s Candlelight Processional at the America Gardens Theater in EPCOT. Gary Sinise, Whoopi Goldburg, and Neil Patrick Harris are on the schedule, again! The are four NEWBIES on the list are: Meredith Vieira, America Ferrera, Chandra Wilson, and Daniel Dae Kim. The schedule is posted below!
I would suggest making use of the Dining Packages that allow you to have guaranteed seating for these presentations. Lunch starts at $35 and dinners begin at $50. These packages are NOT available for the December 6 performances.
Thanks for reading, my friends. May you have a Blessed and Magical weekend!
11/27 – 11/29 — Gary Sinise
11/30 – 12/3 — Neil Patrick Harris
12/4 – 12/5 — Whoopi Goldberg
12/6 – 12/8 — Joe Morton
12/9 – 12/11 — Ana Gasteyer
12/12 – 12/14 — Meredith Vieira – NEW
12/15 – 12/17— America Ferrera – NEW
12/18 – 12/20 — Chandra Wilson – NEW
12/21 – 12/23 — Daniel Dae Kim – NEW
12/24 – 12/26 — Edward James Olmos
12/27 – 12/28 – Blair Underwood
12/29 – 12/30 — Amy Grant
Showtimes are 5 p.m., 6:45 p.m and 8:15 p.m. nightly. Showtimes on Dec. 6 are 6:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.
It has been reported that some minor changes are occurring with the Disney Transport Bus Service. So, let me tell you what appears to be going on!
The most significant change I can see is that the All-Star Resorts will now be serviced by separate buses going to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Let’s hope that this means they are looking at the possibility of having separate buses to all of the parks soon!
The Boardwalk will now have it’s own transportation. That means that there will be no stops at the Swan and Dolphin resorts on your way to the Boardwalk. This should help to make your commute a bit easier. The Swan and Dolphin will continue to share bus rides.
If you are traveling from Caribbean Beach, you can now make use of two sides of the resort grounds to get to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. this appears to be during peak travel times to and from these parks. During the afternoons, the routes will again be combined.
And finally, when traveling to Winter Summerland Golf, you will need to ride to EPCOT and transfer to a Coronado Springs bus which will make the trip to the miniature golf course. FOUR!!
Well, that’s it for now! Have a blessed and magical day, friends!
Walt Disney World announced that the Nights Of Joy concerts will change venue for the concerts beginning in 2016. Nights Of Joy has a history of selling out with large crowds, some too large to handle. As a result, the Concert portion of Nights of Joy will be moved to the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex and be set up on indoor stages. This will accommodate larger crowds, and allow the music to go on regardless of what the weather.
Admission to Nights Of Joy will INCLUDE access to The Magic Kingdom to allow attenders to enjoy some of their favorite attractions. And, Disney Transport will provide dedicated transportation to and from ESPN for the event.
No dates, or artists, have been announced, as yet. I will pass that on when I have the information.
Other WDW Tidbits:
Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar opened this week at Disney Springs,
Official rebranding to Disney Springs this Tuesday, September 30
Dock to Port Orleans have opened at Disney Springs
A new special pricing program has been introduced for current U.S. Military check the Walt Disney World website for information.
Blizzard Beach announces lengthy closure of Summit Plummet and Slush Gusher due to technical issues for the remainder of the season. The water park is scheduled for it’s annual refurb beginning on October 4, 2015.
Thanks for reading, my friends. Have a Blessed and Magical day!!
Once you arrive at your resort, the next adventure is choosing which park to go to first. So, I was thinking about what we go through to get it to the parks, once we decide.
Leaving from your resort is the first issue that must be decided upon. If you drove, I would suggest driving to all of the parks except The Magic Kingdom. It is quicker than the buses and parking is free if you are staying at a Walt Disney World Resort. If you are going for Rope Drop, you should be able to walk to the gates in most cases.
No matter which park you choose to attend, the entry procedure is the same. As you walk up toward the gates, there will be a security area for checking any bags you may be bringing in with you. Security Cast Members will want to inspect your bags completely before clearing you into the queue area just ahead of the gates. This is usually painless and, unless very crowded, only a minor delay.
When you are ready to queue the gates, make sure you have your Magicband, or Key Card, ready to scan. It doesn’t really matter which media you use for entry, it’s more of a personal choice. The bands add a bit of magic to the process, though. As you enter, a Cast Member will direct you to hold the Mickey on your band up to the Mickey on the post. Then put your finger on the scanner on top (make sure you use the same finger each time). And, that’s all there is to getting into a park for the day.
Thanks for reading! Have a Blessed and Magical Day, my friends!
Beginning November 1 2015, breakfast will be served at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant. There will be a variety of breakfast entrees available in an all-inclusive menu. Entree offerings include:
Puff Pastry filled with Scrambled Eggs, Crab, Asparagus and Gruyère Cheese with Roasted Tomatoes
Grilled Beef Tenderloin on Baby Spinach, with Bacon and Cheddar Custard on a Roasted Tomato and Cheesy Horseradish Potatoes
Scrambled Eggs, Crispy Bacon, Sausage Links and Breakfast Potatoes
Macadamia Crusted Brioche French Toast with Mascarpone and Fresh Berries
The cost for this breakfast will be $23.99 for adults and $12.99 for children ages 3 – 9. This cost does not include taxes and gratuities. And, if you are on the Disney Dining Plan it is a ONE Table Service Entitlement for this meal.
A pre-rope drop reservation is available beginning at 8:00am.
This meal is currently being offered through January 23, 2016.
This week was a sad week for those of us who grew up with movies like: That Darn Cat, Blackbeard’s Ghost, or The Love Bug. Actor, and Disney Legend, Dean Jones passed away at the age of 84 from complications related to Parkinson’s Disease.
He was hand-picked by Walt Disney to come aboard and become an actor for Disney Studios. I remember how much I enjoyed seeing him in each Disney film he was a part of. And, I especially remember his role as Jim Douglas in Disney’s The Love Bug. He appeared with Buddy Hackett, Michelle Lee, and of course Herbie, The Love Bug himself. It was a fun movie with plenty of comedy and drama, and a clear message of right versus wrong.
The most important thing about Dean Jones, to me, was his faith. He took roles in things like; The Visual Bible: Acts in which he played Luke, one of Jesus’ Disciples. And, he played Abraham in a video entitled God Provides. He was serious about his faith and he worked to find roles that had positive messages and would leave a legacy that his children and grandchildren would be proud to watch over and over.
Thank you, Dean Jones, for bringing us all many years of enjoyment and happiness!
As usual, the entertainment for this year’s EPCOT Food and Wine Festival looks really good. There are a few changes to keep in mind. First, The Eat To The Beat Concert Series has been designated as a Tier 1 Fastpass+. There will be a separate queue line at the American Garden’s Theater that will open up 20 minutes before each concert.
Here is this year’s line up:
David Cook – September 25-27, 2015
Wilson Phillips – September 28-29, 2015
Christopher Cross – September 30-October 1, 2015
Starship – October 2-4, 2015
Smash Mouth – October 5-7, 2015
The Pointer Sisters – October 8-9, 2015
38 Special – October 10-11, 2015
Rick Springfield – October 12-13, 2015
Sugar Ray – October 14-16, 2015
The S.O.S. Band – October 17-18, 2015
Air Supply – October 19-21, 2015
Fuel – October 22-23, 2015
Tiffany (NEW!) – October 24-25, 2015
Dennis DeYoung – October 26-28, 2015
Jo Dee Messina – October 29-30, 2015
Everclear (NEW!) – October 31-November 1, 2015
Boyz II Men – November 2-4, 2015
Sister Hazel – November 5-6, 2015
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy – November 7-9, 2015
Hanson – November 10-12, 2015
Maxi Priest (NEW!) – November 13-14, 2015
Chaka Khan (NEW!) – November 15-16, 2015
With three shows daily,at 5:30p, 6:45p, and 8;00p, there should be ample time to see your favorites!
For now, I’d like to wish you all a Blessed and Magical rest of your weekend! Bye, now!
When going to Walt Disney World, there are some little things to remember, and a few to be ‘warned’ about. Today, we’ll look at a few of these things. Here we Go!
If you are traveling to WDW with little ones, remember that there are Baby Care Centers in all of the parks. These are great places to go to feed and change your baby, as well as a good place to take a bit of quiet time if you, or you baby, need it. Just ask any Cast Member where to find the Baby Care Center in the park you are visiting.
Photo from wdwprepschool.com
There are Stroller and Wheelchair or ECV rentals available just inside each park entrance. There are also rentals available at Downtown Disney (Disney Springs). There is a daily fee for the use of these items. And, if you leave the park to go to another park, you will need to drop at the park you are leaving and pick up another one at the second park. If you have a need for a longer stay, you may want to consider an off-site provider as they are typically more affordable.
Whether you are staying at Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, or visiting while at WDW, consider going to see Yehaa Bob at the River Roost Lounge. But, be warned that this is an AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION live show. Yehaa Bob is
Yeehaa Bob
usually playing Wednesday – Saturday evenings beginning at 7:30pm. But, get there early as seating is limited, and Bob comes around to visit before each show to say hello! Go to http://www.yehaabob.com for more information and to check the schedule.
Considering going to EPCOT for Food and Wine, or Flower and Garden? You might want to limit your visits to weekdays. There are a lot of locals that come out on the weekends and the crowds are larger and sometimes more obnoxious.
Pack some patience! There is no quicker spoiler to a vacation then a bad attitude. If you have kids, think about keeping their schedule the same as when you are at home. Taking a midday break can save the good memories to be made while you are visiting Walt Disney World. And, sometimes, it’s not a bad idea for us parents! Or, schedule an in park ADR and take advantage of the down time to recharge while you enjoy a meal together.
Well, that’s it for today! Feel free to add your comments about some of the Little Things that can come in handy on a WDW vacation. For now, I hope you all have a Blessed and Magical Weekend, my friends!
Star Wars experiences were announced for Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World, Florida at the D23 Expo this weekend. Here are a few of the highlights…
Star Wars Launch Bay will open later this year and allow you to experience exhibits, behind-the-scenes action, visit some new characters, food, and new merchandise from the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens. This experience will be located in the current Animation Courtyard portion of DHS.
Season Of The Force will debut in early 2016 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This will be a new fireworks show set to the score penned by the brilliant composer, John Williams. This will be a seasonal event and will take place on the weekends. Dates have not been announced, as yet. And, I’m not sure if this is a replacement for Star Wars Weekends, or in addition to SWW.
Star Tours – the Adventure Continues will be getting an update. But, it doesn’t seem like there will be a need for much refurb time. There will be new scenes added to the current ride from the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens. This should ad a bit more variety to this random experiential attraction.
Disney VISA Cardholders will be able to order new cards with Star Wars characters on them. And, there will be the Star Wars Imperial Meet and Greet for Disney VISA holders, as well.
The Star Wars Land experience will take us to a new, never before seen planet near the outer rim. It will include two new ride experiences, and the much anticipated Cantina will be quite a draw. This 14 acre additions is being considered the MOST ambitious undertaking in Disney Company History. There will be a mirrored experience built at Disneyland Park in California, too. No time line has been announced for completion of these projects, but I hope progress will be seen quickly!
Thanks for reading, sharing, or commenting! Have a Blessed and Magical Day, my friends!
threestrandswdw 