Monthly Archives: August 2016

Christmas
Aug 4 2016

Helpful Information For Your December 2016 Disney World Vacation

So you are planning a vacation to Disney World in December 2016?
December is a wonderful time to visit Walt Disney World!

Weather

The weather in Disney World during December is cool and fairly dry. The average high is about 72 degrees, the average low is about 51 degrees and the average rainfall is about 2.89 inches. It can sometimes get chilly especially during the evenings, so be sure to pack a few clothes for cooler weather, too.

Crowds

The crowds in December normally start out light and become extreme by Christmas week often causing temporary park closures due to reaching capacity especially at Magic Kingdom.

Magic Kingdom Welcome ShowDecember 1 – December 3
Average Crowd Level 4.3 out of 10
December 6 – December 10
Average Crowd Level 4.3 out of 10
December 11 – December 17
Average Crowd Level 5.1 out of 10
December 18 – December 24
Average Crowd Level 8.3 out of 10
December 25 – December 31
Average Crowd Level 10 out of 10

Magic Kingdom ClockPark Hours

Magic Kingdom
Open most days from 9am – 10pm (plus Extra Magic Hours)
Epcot
Open most days from 9am – 9:30pm (plus Extra Magic Hours)
Hollywood Studios
Open most days from 9am – 7pm (plus Extra Magic Hours)
Animal Kingdom
Open most days from 9am – 5pm (plus Extra Magic Hours)

For specific hours on each day during December, please click this link. Remember that park hours are subject to change and are often adjusted two weeks prior.

Events

Very Merry Christmas Party Gingerbread MenRunning through December 22, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will be held on select nights at Magic Kingdom. This party is a festive and heart warming experience for the entire family. There is a special holiday parade, entertaining shows, spectacular fireworks, hot chocolate and cookies, character dance parties, and even snow on Main Street! For more information including dates and pricing, please click here.

Disney World Holiday DecorationsEvery year at Epcot, the holiday season is celebrated with a special event called Holidays Around The World. This year the festive happening will be held through December 30. It is filled with yummy food, joyful music and wonderful traditions from countries around the globe. For more information and reservations, please click here!

Candlelight ProcessionalThe Candlelight Processional at Epcot is one of the most beloved holiday traditions at Disney World, with the joyous retelling of the Christmas story by a celebrity narrator, accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and glorious mass choir. Performances are held three times nightly throughout the holiday season at the America Gardens Theatre. For more information and reservations, please click here.

Christmas Tree CupcakeOn Christmas Day, several Disney World restaurants serve a special holiday meal. No details have been released for 2016 yet, but check back often as I will update this post as soon as any new information becomes available. If you have your heart set on eating at a particular restaurant for Christmas, be sure to make your dining reservation right away, because holidays do fill up quickly. Disney World dining reservations can be made by clicking here.

New Years 3If you’ll be visiting Disney World for the ringing in of 2016 there are plenty of fun-filled options available to celebrate the holiday including special entertainment and dining. For more information about celebrating New Year’s in Walt Disney World, please click here.

Refurbishments

Periodically throughout the year, Disney closes attractions for refurbishments and enhancements. Here are the currently scheduled closures during December (subject to change without notice):

Magic Kingdom
No Scheduled Refurbishments At This Time

Epcot
No Scheduled Refurbishments At This Time

Hollywood Studios
Star Wars Land: Opening in 2018
Toy Story Land: Opening in 2018

Animal Kingdom
Pandora – The World of AVATAR: Opening in 2017

Water Parks
Blizzard Beach: October 23 – December 24, 2016

Disney Springs
Fulton’s Crab House: May 1 – December 31, 2016

Resort Hotels
Walt Disney World Dolphin: Guest Room Refurbishments To Be Completed In 2017
Wilderness Lodge: Hidden Springs Quiet Pool, Resort Beach, Playground and Fire Pit To Be Completed In 2017

Planning Tips

If you are traveling to Disney World in December 2016, your planning is probably well under way at this point. Here’s a checklist to make sure you are on track:

  • Make sure you have created your My Disney Experience account. If you haven’t, click here to sign up now.
  • If you haven’t already made your dining reservations, be sure to make them now by clicking here.
  • If you are staying on site, be sure to customize your MagicBand on your My Disney Experience account by picking the color and adding your name. And if you really want to make your MagicBand special, personalize it with your own custom designed MagicBand Skin from Magic YOUR Band. Click here to get started!
  • Now is a great time to research what attractions you and your family would like to see at the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. Because Walt Disney World is so large, it is very difficult to see everything during one trip, so be sure to get everyone’s top priorities. This is also a great time to begin looking at menus for counter service restaurants so that you have an idea of which locations serve foods that your entire family will enjoy.
  • Whether you are staying on site or off-property, be sure to purchase your admission tickets and link them to your My Disney Experience account.
  • 501 WaysOnce your tickets are linked and at exactly 60 days in advance of your check in date (midnight EST time) if you are staying on site or 30 days in advance for all other guests, login to your My Disney Experience account and book your Fastpass+ reservations.
  • If you are staying on site, be sure to check in online at 60 days out from your arrival date.
  • Double check your flight times and if you will be using Disney’s Magical Express for your airport transportation make your reservation at least 60 days in advance by clicking here.
  • It’s never too early to start creating a packing list so that you don’t forget anything.
  • Need more help planning? Please check out my new book 501 Ways to Make the Most of Your Walt Disney World Vacation, for hundreds of insider tips and secrets for having the most magical Disney World vacation possible!

Special Offers

If you haven’t already made your December 2016 reservations, be sure to check out these valuable resources to help you save money:

Join The Fun

Next Disney VacationDisney Vacation Planner Jennifer Hardy and I have teamed up to create a new Facebook Group called Next Disney Vacation! It is the perfect place to talk about your next Disney vacation, ask your questions, get them answered, and share the magic. Everyday you’ll find posts, photos, trivia, tips, and more that we find all throughout the Disney Universe. If you’re counting the days until your next Disney vacation or just dreaming of one, we would love to have you join in the fun! Please click here to be a part of our group!

Have a magical vacation!

Aug 3 2016

Disney Early Morning Magic At Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Star Tours

During August and September this year, Disney is offering a new ticketed event called “Disney Early Morning Magic”. For $69 per adult and $59 per child (ages 3 – 9) plus tax in addition to regular theme park admission, a limited number of guests will be granted exclusive early entry to Disney’s Hollywood Studios for breakfast and quick access on select experiences including Star Tours – The Adventures Continues, Toy Story Mania!, Pixar Place character greetings (with Woody and Buzz), Mickey and Minnie on Commissary Lane, and Olaf at Celebrity Spotlight.

“Disney Early Morning Magic” will take place on:

August 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29 and 31
September 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, and 28

The hours of this event will be from 8:00am to 10:00am each event day.

Your ticket will grant you access to the park beginning at 8:00am on your event day; an hour prior to the regular park opening to all other guests at 9:00am. Check in will begin at the left most turnstiles at 7:45am. At 8:00am, guests will be allowed entrance to experience the select attractions and to enjoy breakfast. The attractions will be open to event guests from 8:00am – 9:00am only at which time event-only attraction access will end as the park opens to all guests. Breakfast will be served at ABC Commissary from 8:00am – 10:00am and will include seasonal fruit and berries, freshly baked pastries, scrambled eggs, spinach and mushroom frittata, smoked bacon, pork sausage, cheesy potatoes, puffed French toast, Muesli with assorted toppings, chilled juices, coffee and teas.

Remember tickets to this special event are very limited and are now on sale! To purchase or for more information, please click here or call 407-827-7350. Keep in mind, “Disney Early Morning Magic” is a separate experience than Extra Magic Hours, which are held on different dates

501 WaysHeading to Disney World soon?

If you are planning a vacation to Disney World, be sure to check out these valuable resources to help you save time and money:

Will you be attending Disney Early Morning Magic?
Please leave a comment; we would love to hear from you!

Aug 2 2016

Celebrating Halloween At Club Villain In Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Good news for Disney villain fans out there! Disney is reopening Club Villain at Disney’s Hollywood Studios to celebrate the Halloween season. This entertaining dining experience is hosted by the spooky Dr. Facilier from Disney’s animated hit “The Princess and the Frog” and takes place in Sunset Showcase located at the end of Sunset Boulevard near Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Dine and dance the night away with favorite villains such as Maleficent, Evil Queen, Cruella De Vil, and Queen of Hearts. Feast on New Orleans specialties like herb crusted tender beef strip loin, sticky wings with citrus gremolata, and spicy shrimp sautéed with Andouille sausage, tomato, okra and onions over creamy polenta. Of course, the desserts are not to be missed! Specialty cocktails, beer, wine as well as non-alcoholic beverages are complimentary from the Potions Bar. While you dance, dine, drink, and mingle with the villains, be entertained with hilarious musical numbers and an energetic dance mix from the house DJ.

Club Villain takes place on Friday and Saturday nights September 2 – October 29 plus October 31 and tickets can be purchased for $129 per person including tax and gratuity. Two “Club Villain” experiences will be held each Friday and Saturday evening, with starting times at 5:15pm and 8:30pm. Separate admission to Hollywood Studios is required and is not included in the price of the ticket. Reservations are recommended and can be made up to 90 days in advance by calling 407-939-3463 or by clicking here.

501 WaysHeading to Disney World soon?

If you are planning a vacation to Disney World, be sure to check out these valuable resources to help you save time and money:

Will you be celebrating at Club Villain? Please leave a comment!

Aug 1 2016

Booking Of 2016 Epcot International Food And Wine Festival Premium Events Now Available

Food & Wine 2016

Every day it seems Disney is releasing exciting new details about what we can expect during this year’s Epcot International Food & Wine Festival running 62 days from September 14 through November 14, 2016. With more celebrity chefs, dining options and resort cooking experiences, this year’s festival is destined to be one of the best. Guests are now able to book reservations for the popular premium events by calling 407-WDW-FEST (939-3378). Here’s a sneak peek at some of the returning favorites as well as some fantastic new opportunities courtesy of Disney:

Food & Wine 2016 aA new lineup of popular celebrity chefs and a series of first-time Disney resort cooking and dining experiences will add fresh culinary appeal to the 21st Epcot International Food & Wine Festival presented by Chase at Walt Disney World Resort.

The annual Disney tour of tastes from six continents has become one of America’s top food festivals and features inspired flavors at more than 30 global marketplaces.

Culinary notables Geoffrey Zakarian, Maneet Chauhan, Duff Goldman, Elliott Farmer, Masaharu Morimoto and Graham Elliot will step up to the stove to host their first festival special events such as seminars and culinary demonstrations. Other chef icons like Robert Irvine, Cat Cora, Norman Van Aken, Elizabeth Falkner, Buddy Valastro and Jamie Deen will return in 2016 to entertain foodies and inspire their palates at premium events.

Food & Wine 2016 cFirst-time festival resort experiences include Brunch with a Twist at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa; Culinary Adventures with a Master Chef for a hands-on chef’s table experience in a professional working kitchen; The Secret of Flavor three-course lunch that gives guests a “sensory-food connection” at Yachtsman Steakhouse; and a tropical “Zombie” encounter during Behind the Scenes at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.

“Mix It, Make It, Celebrate It!” hands-on workshops at the Festival Center will offer guests a chance to learn a variety of culinary skills from chefs, bakers, mixologists and other pros.

Food & Wine 2016 gCelebrities ranging from Rock Harper to master sommelier Andrea Robinson will share their food and beverage know-how during culinary demos, beverage seminars and a variety of other events spanning the festival’s 62 days.

Rockin’ Burger Block Party and Party for the Senses grand tasting events will showcase creative bites and palate-pleasing sips from eminent chefs and beverage experts plus new live entertainment.

Intimate dining and tasting events will include the “Umami” Tokyo Pairing and other Epcot restaurant experiences as well as multi-course lunches and dinners at Disney Springs and resort restaurants.

Food & Wine 2016 dThe always-popular Cheese Seminars return. Learn “the wheys of the world” paired with wine, beer and other beverages with Max McCalman along with other experts.

You’ll want to masquerade in chic yellow and black for the Yelloween Masquerade Party for the Senses October 28 and 29, an elegant, dance-the-night-away, gourmet tasting party with Champagne, wine, craft beers and specialty cocktails paired with food.

Food & Wine 2016 fWhat’s Cookin’ With … some of the country’s top celebrity chefs will begin the morning with a delightful plated brunch and sparkling wine toast. The fun starts with a demo, and the chefs answer questions from the audience and share secrets of their successes. The brunch is on select Fridays and Sundays at 10 a.m.

Guests include:

  • Friday, September 16 – Elizabeth Falkner
  • Sunday, September 18 – Bryan Voltaggio
  • Friday, September 23 – Andrea Robinson
  • Sunday, September 25 – Robert Irvine
  • Friday, September 30 – Graham Elliot
  • Sunday, October 2 – Buddy Valastro
  • Friday, October 7 – Jamie Deen
  • Sunday, October 9 – Cat Cora
  • Friday, October 14 – Emily Ellyn
  • Friday, October 21 – Andrew Zimmern
  • Sunday, October 23 – Rock Harper
  • Sunday, October 30 – Geoffrey Zakarian
  • Friday, November 4 – Alex Guarnaschelli
  • Sunday, November 6 – David Guas
  • Friday, November 11 – Sarah Fioroni
  • Sunday, November 13 – Jehangir Mehta

For even more details and information about this year’s premium events, please click here!

501 WaysHeading to Disney World soon?

If you are planning a vacation to Disney World, be sure to check out these valuable resources to help you save time and money:

Will you be attending the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival?
Please leave a comment; we would love to hear from you!