Nov 21 2016

Black Friday Shopping And More At Disney Springs

If you’ll be in Walt Disney World this weekend and plan to do some holiday shopping, be sure to head over to Disney Springs for some incredible Black Friday deals! Here’s everything you need to know courtesy of Disney:

With the emergence of Disney Springs as a world-class shopping destination, merchants throughout the retail, dining and entertainment district are taking part in that great American tradition of holiday shopping: Black Friday on November 25, 2016.

In fact, the fun is being extended to a second day, Saturday, November 26.

More than 60 stores are planning special Black Friday sales and promotions. And children of all ages will have a chance to meet Santa as early as 8:00am.

While supplies last, World of Disney and other Marketplace favorites will offer special savings on popular items, such as Vera Bradley “Midnight with Mickey” hipster bags for $24.99 at Marketplace Co-Op. Star Wars fans will find Storm Trooper Action Figures for $14.99 at Star Wars Galactic Outpost, and a holiday wreath with lights is available at Disney’s Days of Christmas for $16.99.

Other deals include savings of up to 40 percent on select merchandise at Curl by Sammy Duval, a free bangle with $125 purchase at Pandora Jewelry, 40 percent off all merchandise, excluding “rare finds,” at Lucky Brand and up to 60 percent off original prices of select styles at APEX by Sunglass Hut.

All stores will open at 8am – two hours earlier than normal – on Black Friday, November 25, and Saturday, November 26. Adding to the festivities, the Disney Springs waterfront promenade will feature bars offering mimosas for purchase, while Bloody Marys will be available for purchase at nearby Dockside Margaritas.

For a full list of participating locations, please click here.

Beyond the Black Friday specials offered by merchants, a whole world of entertainment awaits shoppers at Disney Springs to make for a most unique day of fun for the entire family. Here’s a dozen diversions for shoppers to Disney Springs:

Take a break and go bowling — but not just any bowling. Splitsville Luxury Lanes elevates bowling to a new level with upscale food and live music. Located in the heart of West Side.
Rise high above the panorama of Disney Springs aboard the Characters in Flight Balloon, operated by Aerophile. The world’s largest tethered helium balloon rises 400 feet for breathtaking views. West Side.
Hit the pause button from shopping and relax in comfort by taking in a box office hit at AMC Movies at Disney Springs. Includes the Fork & Screen Dine-In Theatre. West Side.
On-the-go guests can grab a quick bite or shop merchandise at the many kiosks strung around Disney Springs.
Where else can families have a theme park experience while making the shopping rounds? DisneyQuest Interactive Theme Park lets guests choose their own high-tech adventure among five floors of gaming awesomeness – from classic arcade favorites to immersive virtual worlds. West Side.
Head for Paradiso 37, a waterfront emporium for dining, dancing, live Latin music and a tequila menu boasting more than 75 choices. The Landing.
Take the kiddies for a spin on a charming Venetian carousel, lavishly hand-painted and crafted by skilled artisans in Italy. Marketplace.
Unwind lakeside at the open-air Waterside Stage where special events, activities and live performances – from full concerts to a DJ Kids Dance Party – take place every day and night. The Landing.
Take a break at Raglan Road, an Irish pub, over a cold pint, hearty cuisine, live music and high-stepping Irish Dancers. The Landing.
Remember the slogan “The Pause that Refreshes”? From the rooftop bar of the Coca-Cola Store shoppers can pause, enjoy classic and exotic flavors while they take in the panorama of Disney Springs. Town Center.
How about a lake cruise to add spice to your shopping day? Vintage American Amphicars and romantic Italian water taxis depart regularly from The BOATHOUSE, an upscale dining location on Lake Buena Vista. The Landing.
Put on a happy face – or any other face. At the Face Painting by Enjoy Your Face booth, you can choose from a whimsical or animal-inspired design or have a face-painting professional create a custom look.

Heading 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:

Check out my book 501 Ways to Make the Most of Your Walt Disney World Vacation for secret insider tips and tricks that you won’t find anywhere else!
View the latest Disney World discounts currently available!
Guarantee the best vacation price by clicking here for more information!

Will you be shopping at Disney Springs this holiday season?
Please leave a comment; I would love to hear from you!

Nov 16 2016

Walt Disney World Sparkles With Holiday Season Magic Throughout The Resort

Disney guests will have a happy holiday experience wherever they play, dine, relax or celebrate at Walt Disney World theme parks, entertainment venues and resort hotels as the festive season begins. Here’s everything you need to know, courtesy of Disney:

Deck the halls! Walt Disney World Resort does that and plenty more this holiday season – turning up the yuletide magic with new shows, thrilling spectaculars, beloved characters to create lasting memories, yummy and festive holiday treats, and theme parks and resort hotels all aglitter with holly, jolly decorations.

Here’s a sampling of the holiday fun in store for guests:

Magic Kingdom

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party: It’s a Christmas party like no other, with joyful music, a shimmering Cinderella Castle, characters in their festive finery and the Magic Kingdom decked out and even more magical for merry-making guests of all ages. Disney princes join princesses at Princess Fairytale Hall. Guests can meet Nick and Judy from “Zootopia” in Tomorrowland. The special party – complete with cookies, cocoa and snow flurries – begins at 7 p.m., after regular park hours. Dates for this year:

November 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 18, 27, 29

December 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, 22

For more information and to purchase tickets for this after-hours spectacular, please click here.

All new! Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration: New to the Cinderella Castle Forecourt Stage during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Mickey and his pals host some of their friends for an unforgettable Christmas soiree filled with medleys of delightful classic and contemporary holiday songs, and magical holiday projections on Cinderella Castle building to a sensational, snowy finale. (Also available December 23 – 31 during regular park operating hours).

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade: The enchanting holiday parade during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party transforms Main Street, U.S.A. Santa Claus, gingerbread men, elves, reindeer, toy soldiers and other friends from the North Pole join Mickey and his pals. Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and Olaf from “Frozen” join in the fun.

A Frozen Holiday Wish (Castle Dream Lights): This season, the wintry wonder and magic of Disney’s “Frozen” enchants park guests as Queen Elsa transforms Cinderella Castle into a glimmering, shimmering ice palace for the holidays.

Holiday Wishes – Celebrate the Spirit of the Season: The night sky bursts with color high above Cinderella Castle with a holiday fireworks spectacular.

Jingle Cruise: The Jungle Cruise transforms during the holiday season to the Jingle Cruise—with the skippers cracking holiday jokes and jolly decorations all around. This offering is available for day guests and guests visiting during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.

Epcot

New Holidays Around the World Marketplaces – Explore what the holidays taste like around the globe at five new marketplaces November 25 – December 30. : indulge in duck confit and dumplings from the Alpine Haus Marketplace, celebrate with the shredded beef tamale from the Three Kings Feast Marketplace (open until January 6), toast with Williams Punch from the Germany Marketplace, and more.

Holidays Around the World entertainment – Enjoy the sights and sounds of the nations of World Showcase, as each country’s holiday heritage comes to life amid joyful music and time-honored traditions.

A cherished Epcot tradition, the Candlelight Processional captures the spirit of the season in the retelling of the Christmas story by celebrity narrators, accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and choir. The Candlelight Processional is performed three times each evening, 5:00, 6:45 and 8pm at America Gardens Theatre from November 25 – December 30. Narrators in 2016 include Neil Patrick Harris, Whoopi Goldberg, Stephen Curtis Chapman, Meredith Vieira, and Cal. Ripken, Jr. For more information about Candlelight dinner packages, please click here.

In the spirit of the holidays, the sky-filling spectacle IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth adds a special seasonal finale November 25 – December 30. Holiday greetings in native languages from the countries of World Showcase join with the classic song “Let There be Peace on Earth” to add a heartwarming finish to IllumiNations.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

An all-new nighttime spectacular, “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!,” premieres at Disney’s Hollywood Studios November 14 – December 31, sending beloved Disney animated characters on a spirited yuletide adventure to get Santa back to the North Pole in time for Christmas Eve. “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” combines state-of-the-art projections, fireworks, special effects and Christmas music to create a dazzling, one-of-a-kind holiday experience for guests – capped by a special message from Santa himself.

A new dessert party themed to the show will be offered nightly, one hour prior to each performance, in the courtyard of the Chinese Theater. Guests who book the “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” Holiday Party enjoy holiday-inspired snacks, decadent desserts and specialty beverages. Guests can call 407-WDW-DINE to reserve their spot (November 14 – December 17, $69 adults, $39 children, including taxes and gratuities; December 18 – 31 $79 adults, $45 children, including taxes and gratuities).

New for 2016 is the opportunity to meet Santa Claus at the Once Upon a Time shop starting November 14. The beautiful and vintage setting reflects the bygone days of Santa’s visits to the great department stores across the country.

During the holiday season, “Tinsel Town” takes on a new meaning at the theme park celebrating the magic of movies and television. A giant Christmas tree towers over the main entrance, holiday displays capture the imagination, shops along Hollywood Boulevard welcome holiday shoppers and colorful garlands and lights sparkle throughout the park.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disney’s Animal Kingdom presents holiday themes in a whole new “dark,” with new daytime-into-night experiences, including Tree of Life transformations, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Kali Rivers Rapids and Expedition Everest. For the holidays:

Guests will be greeted, at the park’s entrance, by a dramatic, animal-themed holiday tree.
Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse don their holiday best to meet and greet guests at Adventurers Outpost. Their friends Goofy, Baloo, King Louie, Donald Duck, Chip and Dale also show off their holiday finest.

Disney Springs

Every corner of the expanded Disney Springs is wrapped and ready for its first full season of holiday cheer. “The place to be,” Disney Springs is transformed through festive décor, entertainment and holiday shopping at exciting new retail locations that include name brands, cozy boutiques and everything in between.

A sampling of what’s on tap:

“Stitch’s Holiday Gift Hunt” – Beginning Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, this scavenger hunt-style activity is fun for the whole family. Guests who complete the hunt can visit participating locations to receive a limited-edition completer button.

Once Upon a Toy Town Fountain – The fountain plaza is home to a nightly interactive Christmas dance party. There’s also pin trading, a nightly tree-lighting ceremony and more.

As in years past, guests can share their requests with the Big Guy at Santa’s Chalet across from Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop. Santa Goofy will greet guests December 25 – 30, so Santa can tend to his time-sensitive work.

The Marketplace will be a holiday shopper’s delight. Seasonal offerings will fill shelves at Disney’s Days of Christmas, Art of Disney, Wonderful World of Memories, Marketplace Fun Finds and Marketplace Co-Op, along with World of Disney – the world’s largest Disney merchandise store. Goofy’s Candy Co. is the place for yummy holiday treats. At Art of Disney, guests can find sketch artists doing holiday artwork. Meantime, some of the most recognizable names in retailing have opened their doors at Town Center, alongside venues unique to central Florida.

At Every Corner of Our World: Holiday Displays

Disney bakers and magic-makers transform Disney resort hotels and theme parks for the holidays. Just a few of the festive sights to greet guests:

Tusker House Restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will feature an African Marketplace – made of gingerbread.
Guests of Disney’s Contemporary Resort (Grand Canyon Concourse) will marvel at a world of majestic mountains and fjords anchored by a 17-foot-tall Gingerbread Holiday Ice Castle, inspired by Frozen and adorned with sugar snowflakes, gingerbread shingles and chocolate-coated trees.
An annual treat, a life-sized holiday gingerbread house, is an eye-filling (and aroma-savoring) sight in the lobby of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. The Bake Shop uses a classic gingerbread recipe from Austria for its cookies and ornaments.
A life-sized, edible spinning carousel is a holiday tradition at Disney’s Beach Club Resort while a holiday village with miniature train holds forth at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort.