Friday, January 10, 2014

What's Happening at the Walt Disney World Resort


What's New at the
Walt Disney World Resort


New! New Walt Disney World Discount Offer for Spring 2014:

Save up to 30% on rooms at select Walt Disney World(R) Resort hotels. Upgrade to a room and ticket package and get one more ticket day FREE! (Minimum 4 day Magic Your Way ticket required.) Offer Valid for stays most nights March 14 April 12 and April 20 June 15. Other great rates may be available February 24 to March 5, 2014. Contact me for more details.

New! MagicBand Updates:

photo: Disney Parks Blog
 

As part of our the test process for MyMagic+, the MagicBand only test is expanding to all Walt Disney World Resort hotels by late January. As a result, all resort Guests
will be using Disney FastPass+ service exclusively. Testing will begin on the following dates (dates for resorts listed include any Disney Vacation Club accommodations located at those properties):

Monday, Jan. 6 -Disney's Art of Animation Resort
Tuesday, Jan. 7Disney’s Port Orleans Resort
Wednesday, Jan. 8Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Thursday, Jan. 9Disney’s Old Key West Resort and Disney’s Saratoga Spring Resort & Spa
Friday, Jan. 10Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Monday, Jan. 13Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts
Tuesday, Jan. 14Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Wednesday, Jan. 15Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
Thursday, Jan. 16Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Friday, Jan. 17Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Disney’s Polynesian Resort
Monday, Jan. 20Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground

New! Camp MinnieMickey and Festival of the Lion King Close at Disney's Animal Kingdom:

 
photo: Disney Parks Blog

Camp MinnieMickey has forever closed it's doors at Disney's Animal Kingdom. This area is being refurbished as a new land themed to James Cameron's Avatar. Avatarland, as it's being called, will not be ready for several years. The only date given by Disney is early 2017! Festival of the Lion King on the other hand will reopen this summer in a new theater location at Disney's Animal Kingdom. The last show of Festival of the Lion King was held on January 5th, 2014.

New! New Character Greeting Locations at Disney's Animal Kingdom:

Since Camp MinnieMickey closed permanently on January 6, 2014 at Disney's Animal Kingdom, you can now find your favorite characters in other locations: Chip and Dale will “meet and play” at Rafiki’s Planet Watch as Guests make their way from the Wildlife Express Train station to Conservation Station. In this playful setting, children of all ages can pose for photos with the chipmunks and hear music by GiTar Dan.  Say“Wingapo” to Pocahontas as she joins porcupines, colorful exotic birds and other animal friends along the Discovery Island Trail.  Donald Duck will welcome friends to join him for a photo with Cory the dinosaur along Cretaceous Trail in DinoLand U.S.A.  King Louie and Baloo have found a home in Upcountry Landing along Bradley Falls.  Remember, Mickey and Minnie moved to a new home at the Adventurers Outpost on Discovery Island early last year, so they will continue to meet Guests there.

New! Completion Badge Added for Wilderness Explorers at Disney's Animal Kingdom:

photo: Disney Parks Blog

Beginning Jan. 5, Guests who complete all 31 Wilderness Explorers badge activities can receive a Senior Wilderness Explorer badge. This badge can be given out at any of the six Troop Leader locations throughout the park.  These locations are indicated on the guidemap.

New! The “Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade” Concludes:

photo: wdwlive.com via google search


This parade made its final run on Saturday, January 4.  Now, there will be a period of time when a traditional 3:00pm parade is not presented at Magic Kingdom until the new daytime parade “Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade” debuts in Spring 2014.

New! Lemon Blueberry Cupcake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting!

photo: disneyfoodblog.com via google search

 
Beginning Monday, Jan. 6 a brand new cupcake arrived at Disney's Hollywood Studios! It is a Lemon Blueberry cupcake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting for $5.19 at select quick service locations, including Rosie's All-American Cafe, Starring Rolls Cafe, Backlot Express, Pizza Planet, ABC Commissary, Fairfax Fare and Studio Catering Co. . This sweet treat is part of the Disney Dining Plan and will be available Jan. 6 - March 6.

New! "Frozen" Characters at Epcot through Jan. 31:

source: Disney Parks Blog

Anna and Elsa, from Disney’s hit comedy adventure, “Frozen,” are delighting audiences in theaters and drawing legions of fans to Prinsesse Plas in the Norway pavilion. With the growing popularity of these royal visitors from Arendelle, their stay at Epcot has been extended. Guests will continue to be able to greet Elsa and Anna in Norway, through Jan. 31.  Nearby, Guests can also continue to discover a new gallery exhibit exploring how the culture and beauty of Norway inspired the creators of "Frozen."

New! Dates Announced for Epcot Flower and Garden Festival:

source: Disney Parks Blog
 

Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival returns to the park March 5 – May 18.  This annual festival, with its floral displays, topiaries, and food fun, will showcase Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy as this year’s lead topiary.

New! Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Refurbishment:

Guest rooms and buildings throughout Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa will be refurbished starting in early January and scheduled to complete in August. Guest buildings will be taken out of inventory and will not occupied by Guests while work is being performed. Room enhancements include all new drapery, carpeting, headboards and more!

New! Winter Promotions Available at Locations Serving Starbucks Specialty Beverages:

Beginning Jan. 7, 2014, Main Street Bakery at Magic Kingdom and Fountain View at Epcot will offer a variety of new winter items as part of the Starbucks Winter Promotions.

New! Holiday Decor Removal Begins:

The Holiday Services team will be removing holiday decor at parks this week. In some cases, it's already begun. Removal of holiday decor at Magic Kingdom began after park close on Monday, Jan. 6. Removal at Disney's Hollywood Studios begins at approximately 10 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 9. Removal at Disney's Animal Kingdom, beginning at approximately 10 p.m. on Jan. 8.

New! Wyland Gallery Closed at Disney's Polynesian Resort:

The last day of operation for Wyland Galleries at Disney's Polynesian Resort was Tuesday, Dec. 31. Guests interested in Wyland Galleries may continue to visit the location at Disney's BoardWalk Resort.

New! 2014 Promotion Begins Disney Family Time Resolutions:

Disney launched Resolutions, where Disney celebrities are sharing how they plan to resolve to spend more time with family in 2014. A new video will be uploaded everyday in January. They are also awarding a vacation-a-day from December 31, 2013 through January 31, 2014! So enter every day for your chance to win because this is the year to spend more quality time with the people you love most. Good luck!

New! Merchandise Events:

On January 17: Be among the first to pick up Cutesters Series 6 at D-Street in Downtown Disney West Side. Artists Maria Clapsis and Caley Hicks will be on hand for a special appearance and signing from 5 – 6 p.m., so don’t miss out!

New! Delectable Spa Treatments at Disney Spas:

The flavors of the season – Champagne, strawberries and chocolate mousse — are just a few of decadent ingredients in the new spa offerings at Senses – a Disney Spa at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort. From January 1-February 28, these tasty treatments debut just in time for the new year at both Senses spa locations. There’s Chocolate and Strawberry Facial to tone, tighten and detoxify, a Mimosa Champagne Scrub and Body Wrap that hydrates and refines and a Mimosa Champagne and Chocolate Pedicure to give your tootsies some pampering, plus a Chocolate Truffle Body Wrap, created to reduce wrinkles and hydrate with rich chocolate. Call or visit the spas for more info: 407WDWSPAS.

So much is happening at the Walt Disney World Resort...today and everyday!  What are you waiting for?  Contact me today for your free, no obligation vacation quote!  I love putting together a big Disney Vacation Puzzle, and can help you every step of the way!

Have a most magical day! 

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