Nov 11 2014

Disney World News – Jungle Cruise Transformed To Jingle Cruise

If you are a fan of the Disneyland Resort you are probably already familiar with the special overlays like Jingle Cruise, The Haunted Mansion Holiday and “it’s a small world” Holiday that the Disneyland Park receives during the holiday season every year. Taking a page out of Disneyland’s book last year, Disney World finally joined in on the fun by transforming their version of the legendary Jungle Cruise into the “Jingle Cruise” as well. Due to its popularity, the Jungle Cruise has made the switch once again this year beginning Friday, November 7. Here’s the scoop from Disney Parks Blog:

The popular Magic Kingdom Park attraction, Jungle Cruise, has gone “Jingle Cruise” again for the second holiday season in a row! The additions, which debuted in the park on Friday, November 7, offer guests the chance to experience a holiday transformation of this fan-favorite Disney attraction. Jingle Cruise is again themed as if the Skippers are once again homesick for the holidays and decorated the attraction queue and boathouse with homemade decorations, gifts and items from back home. (If you listen carefully, you may also hear a holiday-themed radio broadcast playing in the background in the queue). The boats have been renamed to receive holiday names and the skippers are getting guests laughing with additional holiday jokes. The jungle has also received new seasonal supplies. Unfortunately, some missed their final destination falling deeper into the jungle. In addition to being open during daily park hours, Jingle Cruise will also be in operation during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parties.

Happy Holidays!

Nov 10 2014

Disney World Decorates For The Holidays

Throughout Walt Disney World last week, everything was quickly changed over from Halloween to the holidays just in time for Friday’s first Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party of the season. Have you started decorating your home yet? It always takes me a few days to get all of the decorations up at my house and Disney does it practically overnight. In honor of the upcoming holiday season and the fact that it is going to be below freezing and snowing all week at my house, look for lots of festive posts from me this week to help get you in the spirit!

Please check out this video below for more details about the transformation of Main Street, U.S.A.!

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Nov 10 2014

Disney Discounts For The Week Of November 10, 2014

Please check out this week’s amazing Disney discounts!

Walt Disney World® Resort

Stay Play & Dine: Save up to 30% off your hotel accommodations for a 2015 Disney World vacation. Select dates from January 5 – March 28, 2015.
Save Up to 30% Off Hotels: Book your family vacation from January 5 – March 28 and save up to 30% off Disney Resort Hotels.
Free Dining Bounce Back Specials: During your Disney vacation, you can book your next Disney vacation at huge savings! The current bounce back special includes the Disney Dining Plan for free. Book your Disney package before you check out and then contact Jennifer Hardy at Destinations in Florida for details on transferring your reservation.
Active/Retired Military Rates: For US active and retired military, save money on tickets and resort accommodations through October 2015.
Florida Resident & Annual Passholder Rates: Florida Residents and Annual Passholders can take advantage of great rates on rooms at select Disney Resort Hotels up to 35% off.
RunDisney Group Rates: Are you a runner? Do you want to run a race with Mickey Mouse? Join our VIP runners at Destinations in Florida for some of the favorite races including Disney Marathon and Disney Princess Run. These exclusive rates are only with Destinations in Florida.

Click the banner below and fill out the quote form to take advantage of these great offers!

Disneyland® Resort

Save up to 25% Off Spring 2015 Vacations: Save up to 25% on Disneyland® Resort Hotel stays January 4 – February 12, 2015 and save up to 20% on stays February 13 – March 26, 2015.
Save up 20% on Premium Rooms Sunday-Thursday: If you always wanted to try a premium room at the Disneyland® Resort hotels, now is the time. Save up to 20% off the room rates, when you visit during the week days!
Active/Retired Military Rates: For US active and retired military, save money on tickets and resort accommodations through October 2015.
Book a Package for as Little as $89 Per Person/Per Day: Stay right down the road from the Disney Magic at a Good Neighbor Hotel from now through November 21 for as little as $89 per person/per day.
3rd, 4th or 5th Night Free at Disneyland Good Neighbor Hotels: Visit Anaheim during select nights through December 2014. Stay at a select Disney Good Neighbor Hotels and enjoy a 3rd night, 4th night or 5th night free. Contact Jennifer Hardy at Destinations in Florida for details.

Click the banner below and fill out the quote form to take advantage of these great offers!

Disney Cruise Line®

Canadian Residents Save up to 20% Off: From November 2014 – January 2015, Canadian Residents can save up to 20% off Disney Cruise prices on select cruises.
Special Rates for Florida Residents and US Military: Take advantage of special deals for Florida Residents and active/retired United States Military.

Click the banner below and fill out the quote form to take advantage of these great offers!

Nov 7 2014

Disney Movie Review – Big Hero 6

Last night my boys and I decided it was time to hit the movies again. This time, we ventured out to the theatre to see the newest Disney release, Big Hero 6. We have been seeing the preview for this film for months, and we’ve been eagerly awaiting its release. From the trailers, it looked like we would be in for an action-packed ride with a healthy dose of emotion. It proved to be quite the roller coaster ride and we were not disappointed!

WARNING – SPOILERS FOLLOWING THE PHOTO!!

This film is inspired by the Marvel comic book of the same name and follows the story of 14 year old genius, Hiro Hamada. Hiro enjoys spending his time fighting robots until his brother, Tadashi, shows him the robotics lab at his university. Hiro immediately decides that he would like to be a part of the program and sets out to design an invention to win admission. He creates impressive microbots that can be controlled telepathically and is awarded a place at the university on the spot. Before they can enjoy working together, a fire break outs at the university killing Hiro’s brother, Tadashi. This is just the beginning of what is an hour and a half emotional roller coaster as we watch Hiro and Tadashi’s friends deal with the loss and at the same time battle the evil forces that were responsible for the fire and ultimately the death of Hiro’s beloved brother. Tadishi leaves behind his legacy, Baymax, an adorable personal health companion and the true heart of the film.

Overall, my boys and I truly enjoyed Big Hero 6. This movie was definitely more emotional than most Disney films where you have an isolated death at the beginning of the story like Frozen or Finding Nemo. The film begins with Tadishi and Hiro having already lost their parents, the entire plot of the film is driven by the passing of Tadishi and the peril in which we find another beloved character is gut-wrenching. But as you find with most Disney movies, all of the emotional upheaval is purposeful and creates a meaningful and touching story. I would definitely recommend this film to families with kids of all ages, but you may need to prepare more sensitive children in advance. I’ve included the trailer below and for more details, reviews, ratings and for help determining if it might be right for your family, please check out this link.

Have you seen Big Hero 6?
Did you enjoy it? Please leave a comment!

Nov 6 2014

Disney World News – Celebrate Thanksgiving At Disney World

If you are fortunate enough to be in Disney World on Thanksgiving Day this year, you have several places to choose from for your special Thanksgiving meal. Here’s the scoop from Disney:

Walt Disney World Resort guests can indulge in a fresh take on an American tradition by enjoying their Thanksgiving feast November 27, 2014 with a bounty of Disney tastes. With more than 30 different dining choices at Disney theme parks and resorts, families and friends can come together for a variety of Thanksgiving lunch and dinner offerings.

Special holiday menus include roasted turkey breast with all the trimmings plus traditional Norwegian meatballs and pan-seared salmon at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, poppy seed lavash, house-made naan, and apple-cranberry achar at Sanaa, roasted heirloom beets with candied walnuts and mulled apple cider at Artist Point, and other unique dishes to enjoy with the holiday classics.

At Epcot, guests can dine on Thanksgiving menus during lunch and dinner seatings at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Biergarten Restaurant, Coral Reef Restaurant, Le Cellier Steakhouse, and Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room, as well as quick service at Sunshine Seasons.

Holiday menus also are offered at Be Our Guest Restaurant and Tony’s Town Square Restaurant in Magic Kingdom, Hollywood & Vine and The Hollywood Brown Derby in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Tusker House Restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Within the Walt Disney World Resort hotels, special Thanksgiving dining options are available at:

Artist Point and Whispering Canyon Café at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
California Grill and The Wave… of American Flavors at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Cape May Café at Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Captain’s Grille and Yachtsman Steakhouse at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
End Zone Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
Flying Fish Café at Disney’s BoardWalk
Mickey’s Backyard Thanksgiving Feast and Trail’s End Restaurant at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
Grand Floridian Café, Narcoossee’s and Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Jiko – The Cooking Place at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Kona Café at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Olivia’s Café at Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Sanaa at Disney’s Kidani Village Resort
Shutters at Old Port Royale at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
The Turf Club Bar and Grill at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa