Walt Disney World Trip Planning and Disney Information

Friday, May 17, 2013

Our Favorite Ways to Keep Cool at Walt Disney World

Welcome to those of you joining me from COLORADO MOUNTAIN MOM and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the 4th stop on our Magical Blogorail.

It would be easy to say the easiest way to keep cool at Walt Disney World is to stay inside air-conditioned buildings! There is no doubt on the hot days (and there are plenty of those), it is where people will migrate; even to the attractions they like the least. Actually I think the retail stores are busiest during that time.

Kids! There was a time BEFORE air conditioning!

I think the favorite way that Mary Ann and I keep cool at the World is by visiting in early December. Normally the weather is more reasonable, but still warm. And the evenings are often much cooler, but not the type of low temperatures we find in Upstate New York during the same time of year. We've been to the parks during the summer months and the early fall. Hey, it's hot, very hot. Clearly it's not our first choice for several days of walking miles and miles.

But if you are out in the hot summer sun making your way around the many, many walkways, you can moderate the uncomfortable weather of what has more recently been a year-round warm-fest in Florida.

Beach Club Stormalong Bay... the best pool on property.

The most common recommendation is to take a mid-day break. Be at rope-drop and enjoy the parks until about Noon. Then back to the hotel for a dip in the pool, a tall cold one, and for a few winks in your air-conditioned room (or napping in a comfortable lobby chair... with that tall cold one to wake up to every few minutes). Then go back to the parks around 5:00 pm and finish the day.

When it's really sunny out, it will be really hot out; and even worse is the seasonal humidity. So stay cool by remaining hydrated. One of the the best ways is to freeze a water bottle and sip the defrosting ice cold water. Another is to simply wear a hat, preferably one with a wide brim.

I also carry an extra tee-shirt (in my walk-around back-pack), so I can feel fresher after a few hours of inevitable perspiration. Some people carry a fan; I haven't found that to be too helpful. But a spray bottle (filled with free ice water you can normally get at foodie places around the parks) is fine to enjoy a regular spritz for an entire party.

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is THE MAGICAL MOUSE PAD.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ My Dreams Of Disney
2nd Stop ~ Disney Donna Kay
3rd Stop ~ Colorado Mountain Mom
4th Stop ~ A World View
Final Stop ~ The Magical Mouse Pad

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Saturday, May 11, 2013

Yummy Confection Goes to the ‘Dark Side’ for Star Wars Weekends at Walt Disney World Resort

DISNEY PARKS BLOG... Just in time for Star Wars Weekends, this designer cupcake is back – rich chocolate-peanut butter filling and chocolate frosting with Darth Vader and a kitschy saber (actually a plastic pick) topping the confection.

You’ll only find it May 17-June 9 at ABC Commissary, Pizza Planet, Backlot Express, Studio Catering Company, Starring Rolls, Rosie’s All-American Cafe and Fairfax Faire. Cost is $4.99 and the cupcake is on the Disney Dining Plan.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Princess Half Marathon Weekend Adds New Race, New Challenge and New Medals

Women-focused event to offer 10K, new challenge and special-edition medals fit for a Princess; Special Princess and Tinker Bell half marathon registration available June 11

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA (April 26, 2013) – Building on the success of its women-focused events, runDisney is broadening the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend at Walt Disney World Resort next year by adding a 10K and a new two-race challenge.

The Princess 10K gives runners of various levels more opportunities to run through Disney theme parks and receive a specially-designed finisher medal. And runners looking for an even bigger challenge can sign up for the 10K on Saturday and the Half Marathon on Sunday (19.3 miles total) to earn the inaugural Disney Glass Slipper Challenge Medal to go along with medals from each individual race.

The Princess Half Marathon Weekend, scheduled for Feb. 20-23, is one of two women-focused runDisney events. The other is the Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend in January at Disneyland Resort in California. Both races are among the largest women-specific running events in the country and focus on healthy active lifestyles for women and girls. For instance, after nearly 7,500 runners ran in the inaugural Princess Half Marathon event in 2009, the popularity of the race has grown considerably with more than 26,000 registered runners for last year’s race.

Also new in 2014 is a special edition runDisney Coast-to-Coast Race Challenge Medal for runners participating in the 2014 Tinker Bell Half Marathon at Disneyland in January and the 2014 Princess Half Marathon five weeks later at Walt Disney World. Finishers receive the coveted medal featuring the likeness of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse with a pink overlay and lanyard.

Registration for the 2014 Princess Half Marathon opens June 11 at www.runDisney.com. A limited number of runners will have the opportunity to register for both the Princess and Tinker Bell Half Marathon at that time. Those not securing an early registration for the Tinker Bell Half Marathon will have a second chance when on-line registration officially opens on July 9.

Both the Princess and Tinker Bell Half Marathon weekends include signature runDisney events including a health and fitness expo geared towards women, kids races, a family fun run 5K, as well as featured half marathons for both weekend.

For more information and to register for runDisney events, visit www.runDisney.com.

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Walt Disney World Resort to Host a Royal Celebration Honoring Princess Merida

On May 11, 2013, Magic Kingdom will play host to a joyous, regal celebration to officially welcome Merida into the Disney Princess Royal Court. As a part of the ‘Limited Time Magic,’ all 10 Disney Princesses will come together at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday at Cinderella Castle in honor of their newest member, the brave and independent Merida from Disney•Pixar’s film “Brave.” ‘Limited Time Magic’ features 52 weeks of magical experiences big and small in 2013 that appear, then disappear as the next special surprise debuts at Disney Parks. Click to learn more about Limited Time Magic. (Mark Ashman, photographer)

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Monday, April 29, 2013

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow debuted at Disney's Hollywood Studios, immersing Walt Disney World Resort guests in all the action and adventure of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" film series. Aspiring pirates experience the story of Captain Jack Sparrow like never before to discover if they have what it takes to join his jolly crew. State-of-the-art technology brings the swashbuckling world of Captain Jack, from an eerie treasure cove to an epic ship-to-ship battle. The attraction is included with theme park admission, located in Soundstage 4.

[Photos by Bruce Brodsky]

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade Coming to Magic Kingdom in 2014

A new daytime parade, the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade, will march into Magic Kingdom in spring 2014. The Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade will bring the magical stories of New Fantasyland to Main Street, U.S.A., through fantastic and innovative new parade floats, vibrant costumes, and an original soundtrack that will feature beloved songs from favorite Disney films, plus a new parade theme song.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Disney Parks to Kick Off a ‘Monstrous Summer’ With 24 Hours of Magic on Both Coasts

Disney Parks to Kick Off a ‘Monstrous Summer’ With…
Spaceship Earth Transforms into “Monsters University” Star Mike Wazowski To Announce All-Night Parties for Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resorts

ANAHEIM, Calif. and LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (April 25, 2013) – Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort will kick off a Monstrous Summer by keeping three theme parks open for 24 hours nonstop on Memorial Day Weekend, the traditional start of the family travel season.

The Magic Kingdom Park in Florida and Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park in California will stay open from 6 a.m., May 24 to 6 a.m., May 25, 2013, local time* marking the beginning of a summer of fun inspired by the upcoming Disney•Pixar comedy adventure Monsters University.

The oversized fun of a 24-hour Disney park “All-Nighter” called for an equally epic announcement, and the huge sphere of Spaceship Earth was transformed from Disney Parks icon to Disney●Pixar “Eye-con,” becoming a 180-foot-tall, fully animated Mike Wazowski, the loveable green-bodied, one-eyed monster who joins best pal James P. Sullivan (“Sulley”) in the prequel to Monsters, Inc., this summer as college students with hopes of becoming Scarers.

Walt Disney World President George Kalogridis joined Mike to share the news of the first-ever, three-park All-Nighter.

“This summer, Disney Parks are bursting with a monstrous lineup of new thrills, shows and happenings,” said Kalogridis. “Guests can start Memorial Day Weekend with a 24-hour-marathon of memory-making as three Parks stay open all day and all night to celebrate the bi-coastal kick-off of a Monstrous Summer at Disney Parks.”

Mike and Sulley will take a break from collegiate life and their Scare studies at Monsters University to host the All-Nighter, dropping in to scare up some school spirit. Guests will scream and giggle with delight at the lineup of thrills and entertainment that promises to make this a day and night to be remembered for a lifetime.

In Florida, the Magic Kingdom will feature a Monsters University theme where Mike and Sulley will be the Grand Marshals of the “Celebrate a Dream Come True” day parade – complete with pomp and circumstance – and make appearances in Tomorrowland. Guests also will find extra entertainment throughout the day and night, including characters in their pajamas in Town Square during the late night and early morning, and late-night dance parties in and around the courtyard of Cinderella Castle.

In California, guests can party the night away at both parks with special entertainment, including a Monsters University “TLT Monstrous” Dance Club and Star Wars characters in Tomorrowland, and late-night Character Pajama Party in Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland. The new Fantasy

Faire Royal Theatre at Disneyland will become a Royal Dance Hall late at night with a live band and dancing, and guests of Disney California Adventure will find Monstrous photo opportunities with new Monsters University “Dorms” in Hollywood Land and a new Monsters University float leading the Pixar Play Parade.

All three parks will feature limited-edition specialty merchandise and food and beverage offerings plus other surprises throughout the entire day.

The All-Nighter is just the beginning of the fun. In California, vacationers at “The Happiest Place on Earth” will see how Disneyland Resort “Just Got Happier” with great new attractions such as the “Mickey and the Magical Map” stage show. It is also the first summer for guests to experience the new Fantasy Faire with Disney Princesses at Disneyland, and they continue to enjoy the exciting new offerings of Cars Land and Buena Vista Street at Disney California Adventure.

Walt Disney World Monstrous Summer includes new offerings and popular favorites in all four parks. This is the first summer for New Fantasyland, which has received rave reviews from guests since its December grand opening as the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history. Guests also will find new, engaging offerings for the entire family throughout the Walt Disney World Resort this summer such as an interactive “Pirates Adventure” game at Magic Kingdom, the newly re-imagined Test Track at Epcot, the new Disney Junior show, featuring Sofia The First and Doc McStuffins, as new additions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, plus Wilderness Explorers at Disney’s Animal Kingdom that will bring families together in exciting new ways.

‘Star Wars’ Weekends Returns to the Disney’s Hollywood Studios Galaxy in May and June

WALT DISNEY WORLD NEWS – Star Wars Weekends, the Force-filled fun-fest that takes place annually at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, returns to the Walt Disney World Resort galaxy every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May 17-June 9, 2013.

A celebration of all-things-Star Wars, the special event is included in regular park admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Among the features: special Star Wars-themed parades, appearances by Star Wars celebrities, special additions to Jedi Training Academy, Star Wars-themed talk shows, behind-the-scenes presentations, limited-edition merchandise, a nightly dance celebration and more. The centerpiece of the celebration is Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, the immersive 3-D attraction that speeds guests through worlds featured in the Star Wars saga.

This year’s event includes a nod to the 30^th anniversary of Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, which debuted in theaters in May 1983.

Two Star Wars film legends – one who portrayed a villain and one who portrayed a hero – will double the fun in two consecutive weekends. Action star Ray Park, who portrayed the Sith warrior Darth Maul on the silver screen, is one of the celebrity guests in Weekends I and II. Actor Warwick Davis, known to Star Wars fans as everyone’s favorite Ewok, Wicket W. Warrick, is one of the guests during Weekends II and III.

Also showcased at the event: the largest collection of official Star Wars characters gathered at any theme park in the world, roaming the areas and posing for meet-and-greet and autograph opportunities in front of themed scenery.