“Frozen” Games Coming To Blizzard Beach This Summer

Frozen Games 2

Hey water park fans, exciting news! For a limited time, a brand new event known as the “Frozen” Games will be held each day this summer at Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park. Here’s everything you need to know about this fun happening courtesy of Disney:


For the first time in forever, Olaf’s wish to experience summer fun with his friends will come true when he and Kristoff, stars of the hit Disney animated film “Frozen,” host the inaugural “Frozen” Games this summer at Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park.

The “Winter Games Committee” has decided to take advantage of the magical snowstorm over Blizzard Beach and host daily activities this summer. The committee members have even invited Kristoff and Olaf to lead teams of guests in a fun day of “Frozen” activities.

From May 27 to August 21, 2016, guests of all ages visiting Blizzard Beach may choose to join Team Kristoff or Team Olaf to participate in a variety of winter-themed activities throughout each day, including:

  • Frozen Games 1Ice Pail Relays – teams will line up and pass pails of water quickly from one person to the next, trying to fill a container. The team that fills their container first is the winner.
  • Snowball Toss – pairs compete in a snow-themed water balloon toss from progressively greater distance. The pair that gets the farthest apart without breaking its water balloon is the winner.
  • Ski Pole Limbo – guests play limbo, using a ski pole as the limbo stick.
  • Slide Races – teams race down one of the signature water slides at Blizzard Beach, and much more!

Olaf and Kristoff will take part in the “Frozen” Games’ opening and closing ceremonies by appearing on the Observation Deck near the Summit Plummet attraction each day, accompanied by trumpet fanfare, banners and music. Additionally, one lucky guest will be chosen each morning to be the Ski Captain and thus the first guest to take the plunge down Summit Plummet, signaling the start of the “Frozen” Games.

From the observation deck, Olaf and Kristoff will give regular updates throughout the day on their teams’ progress and achievements, as well as announce the winning team of the “Frozen” Games.

The “Frozen” Games are an all-day event at Blizzard Beach, beginning shortly after the park opens. Guests can sign up at the park entrance, and all activities are included with regular park admission.


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 on Team Olaf or Team Kristoff?
Please leave a comment; I would love to hear from you!

First Phase Of Town Center Opens At Disney Springs

Town Center

There are so many changes happening all around Walt Disney World right now, from Pandora – The World of Avatar and Rivers in Light in Disney’s Animal Kingdom to Star Wars Land and Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but the one place that has received the biggest transformation recently has to be the newly reimagined Disney Springs. Dozens of new shops and restaurants opened this weekend, and believe it or not even more are coming very soon. Here’s everything you need to know about the ever growing Disney Springs, courtesy of Disney:


Eager with anticipation, guests flocked to Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort this past weekend with the hopes of being among the first to experience its newest retail neighborhood – Town Center.

Town Center 5Opening in phases last Sunday and throughout the summer, Town Center will be home to some of the most recognizable names in retail such as Anthropologie, ZARA, LACOSTE and Lucky Brand, as well as some brands that are new to the Central Florida market, such as UNIQLO, Melissa Shoes and UNOde50. Within Town Center, Guests will find exceptional shopping and dining experiences along with breathtaking vistas overlooking The Spring, the heart and soul of the property.

Town Center features Spanish-revival style architecture, drawing from a rich history of explorers that landed in Florida centuries ago, and a promenade where guests can relax, refresh and reconnect with each other. Town Center, like the rest of Disney Springs, is brought to life with the same focus on storytelling and attention to detail that goes into Disney’s theme parks, resorts and cruise ships – resulting in a welcoming space that only Disney could create.

On Sunday, a total of 23 exciting new retail tenants opened their doors in Town Center, including kate spade new york, Tommy Bahama, Under Armour Brand House and Sephora. The following venues are now open:

  • Town CenterALEX AND ANI
  • American Threads
  • Edward Beiner
  • Everything But Water
  • francesca’s
  • Johnston & Murphy
  • kate spade new york
  • Kipling
  • L’Occitane en Provence
  • Lucky Brand
  • MAC Cosmetics
  • Melissa Shoes
  • Na Hoku
  • PANDORA
  • Sephora
  • Sperry
  • Tommy Bahama
  • UGG
  • Under Armour Brand House
  • UNOde50
  • Vera Bradley
  • Volcom
  • ZARA

In addition to these venues, seven new specialty-dining locations are now open at Disney Springs:

  • Amorette’s Patisserie
  • B. Wolf’s Sausage Co.
  • D-Luxe Burger
  • Morimoto Asia Street Food
  • Sprinkles
  • The Daily Poutine
  • YeSake

Town Center 4As guests enter Town Center around The Spring area, they will be warmly greeted at the Welcome Center, a new home for Guest Relations at Disney Springs that will offer a wealth of services including theme park and Cirque du Soleil ticket sales, Disney dining and resort reservations, information for guests with disabilities, foreign currency exchanges, and other general assistance items. Themed to early Florida settlements, the architecture around The Spring is based on timber frame structures that were once used in the citrus and ranching industries.

Access to Disney Springs is about to become even easier. Roadway improvements on Buena Vista Drive are nearly complete, with additional car lanes and dedicated bus lanes now operational. Also, now open, the Lime Garage offers Guests convenient parking access to Disney Springs Town Center and the Marketplace. This new garage, similar to the Orange Garage on the West Side, uses smart technology to identify open parking spaces.

Disney Springs 2MORE OPENINGS COMING SOON

More shops and restaurants will open soon at Disney Springs. By the end of this month, the following venues will open:

  • Aristocrepes
  • Lilly Pulitzer
  • TROPHY ROOM
  • STK Orlando

Other locations expected to open in Town Center at Disney Springs this summer include:

  • Anthropologie
  • Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza
  • Coca-Cola Store and Rooftop Beverage Bar
  • Columbia Sportswear
  • Free People
  • Frontera Cocina
  • Homecoming – Florida Kitchen and Shine Bar
  • Johnny Was
  • LACOSTE
  • Luxury of Time by Diamonds International
  • Oakley
  • Origins
  • Shore
  • Sugarboo & Co.
  • Superdry
  • TUMI
  • UNIQLO
  • Vince Camuto

JUST ANNOUNCED

Disney Springs 3The following new brands were announced Sunday as coming to Disney Springs and are expected to open locations in Town Center this summer:

  • Origins: A high-performance skincare retailer featuring products formulated with certified organic ingredients and 100 percent natural essential oils. The socially-conscious brand employs earth-friendly practices, including a Plant-A-Tree program.
  • Sugarboo & Co.: With products featuring creative and whimsical designs, this family-run business offers artful prints, home goods, paper products, accessories and more.
  • Superdry: Focusing on clothing with designs that fuse vintage Americana and Japanese-inspired graphics with a British style, Superdry offers a variety of products ranging from outerwear and knitwear to leather goods and leisurewear.
  • TUMI: A leading global brand of premium travel, business and lifestyle accessories.

Nearing completion on the largest expansion in its history, Disney Springs is emerging as an exciting new waterfront district for world-class shopping, unique dining, and high-quality entertainment. Inspired by Florida’s waterfront towns and natural beauty, Disney Springs has four distinct outdoor neighborhoods including The Landing, Marketplace, West Side and the new Town Center.

When completed, Disney Springs will have doubled the number of shops, restaurants and other venues for guests to explore, resulting in more than 150 establishments.


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:

What are you most looking forward to at Disney Springs?
Please leave a comment; I would love to hear from you!

B.B. Wolf’s Sausage Co. In Disney Springs

Even more food choices are coming our way this year as several new dining options open in Disney Springs. As the Town Center is unveiled look for many exciting locations including B.B. Wolf’s Sausage Co. Here’s everything you need to know about this new kiosk courtesy of Disney:


Disney Springs 1B.B. Wolf’s Sausage Co. features artisan sausages—The Three Little Pigs features a trio of sausages each with different toppings: Reuben, bacon-wrapped with black bean salsa and chili cheese; Portuguese sausage with pickled vegetable slaw and chili mustard; sweet hot sausage with peppers, onions and marinara; Bavarian sausage sandwich with a mini-meterwurst, braised red cabbage and spicy brown mustard on a pretzel roll; and Italian veggie sausage with peppers, onions and marinara. Cool off with a draft beer or fountain soda.


Opened on May 15, 2016, B.B. Wolf’s Sausage Co. is located in Town Center at Disney Springs. I plan to check this place out during my next trip, and I’ll be sure to let you know what I thought!

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:

Are you excited to try B.B. Wolf’s Sausage Co.?
Please leave a comment; I would love to hear from you!

Disney World Enthusiast Weekly Round Up May 15, 2016

Here’s the Disney World Enthusiast Weekly Round Up for May 15, 2016!

Latest Disney World Enthusiast Articles

All Star Music 1Tip Of The Week

If you need extra living space while in Walt Disney World, but the family suites and multiple bedroom villas are too expensive, check into reserving two adjoining hotel rooms instead. Often you will be able to book two standard hotel rooms at a value resort for a fraction of the cost of one of the larger family suites or villas.

Looking for more tips like this? Click here!

Cinderella CastleDisney Did You Know

Cinderella Castle is 189 feet or 57.6 meters tall which is more than double the size of Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland. Cinderella Castle has 27 towers numbered 1 through 29. Interestingly, towers 13 and 17 were never built and not because of any superstition. They were left off when it was determined that they would not be able to be seen from anywhere in the park.

Walt Disney 6Walt’s Words

“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirates’ loot on Treasure Island and best of all, you can enjoy these riches every day of your life.”

Tomorrowland PinDisney World Enthusiast Giveaway

Look for a brand new giveaway beginning Friday, May 20, 2016! Good luck, everyone!

Behind The Magic Podcast

Be sure to catch up this week’s episodes when Zeek, Rachel, Jerry, and I discuss Disney news, rumors, and so much more.

This week’s episodes include:

  • Tuesday ~ Behind Disney Dining
  • Thursday ~ Behind Pirates Adventure and Pirates League
  • Friday ~ Behind Captain America: Civil War

For more details about our podcast and to listen, please click here!

Featured Advertiser

BitbeltHave you heard of this incredible gadget – Bitbelt? If you aren’t familiar, this handy creation secures your MagicBand so that it doesn’t accidentally become lost. Anyone that carries a child, a backpack, or wears a jacket at Disney World knows how easily a MagicBand can become unclasped. That’s where this little beauty comes in! Simply place a Bitbelt on your MagicBand and save yourself the trouble of having to search for a lost band or take the time to get a replacement. Bitbelts come in a dozen different colors and in two sizes – adult and junior. They are only $4.99 each plus they offer discounted pricing when you purchase multiple Bitbelts in one order. And if you think Bitbelts are great for MagicBands, they are also available for your fitness trackers. Never lose a pricey Fitbit again! For more information about Bitbelt, please click here!

501 WaysFeatured Book

The difference between an average and an outstanding Walt Disney World trip is in the details. Kristi Fredericks helps make your dream vacation a reality with her numerous tips and tricks to save money, time, and sanity while at the happiest place on earth in her new book “501 Ways To Make The Most Of Your Walt Disney World Vacation”. For more information, to read an excerpt, or to purchase, please click here.

Considering A Disney World Vacation

Book Your Disney VacationJennifer Hardy, a Disney Vacation Planner with Destinations in Florida, is the official travel partner of Disney World Enthusiast. She can help you book your next Disney vacation whether it is to Disney World, Disneyland, or aboard the Disney Cruise Line. Currently Jennifer has some incredible deals for discounted travel to Disney World. For more information about Jennifer’s amazing and absolutely free services or to get a free no-obligation quote, please click here!

You’re Invited

Next Disney VacationJennifer Hardy, from Destinations in Florida, and I have teamed up to create a brand new Facebook Group called Next Disney Vacation! It is the perfect place to talk about your next Disney vacation, voice your opinions, ask your questions, get them answered, and share the magic. Whether it’s Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World, or the Disney Cruise Line, Jennifer and I are ready to help. 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 and conversation! Please click here to be a part of our group!

dwe logo small size white bkgdComing Up Next Week

Next week I’ll have some dining and planning information plus all of the latest Disney World news!

Have a wonderful week!

Behind The Magic Podcast Recap May 9 – May 13, 2016

Welcome to Season 5 of Behind The Magic Podcast!

This “snack credit” of podcasts is a unique 15-minute Disney podcast hosted by Zeek, Rachel, Jerry and myself. Every day Monday through Friday you can join us for entertaining Disney information, discussions, guests, games, and more. We’ll be surprising you each and every day with our funny stories and Disney insider knowledge. And of course, we’ll also keep you up-to-date on all of the latest Disney news and gossip.

Here’s a quick peek at what you can expect each day:

  • Monday ~ Mouse Whispers Mondays with all of the latest Disney gossip and rumors!
  • Tuesday ~ Topical Tuesdays with exciting Disney discussions!
  • Wednesday ~ With Us Wednesdays with celebrity guests from around the Disney Universe!
  • Thursday ~ Theme Park Thursdays with fun information, facts, and stories about the parks!
  • Friday ~ Feature Film Fridays with fun information, facts, and reviews of Disney films!

This Week’s Episodes

This week’s episodes include:

  • Tuesday ~ Behind Disney Dining
  • Thursday ~ Behind Pirates Adventure and Pirates League
  • Friday ~ Behind Captain America: Civil War

For more details about each episode and to listen, please click here!

We hope you enjoy our show!