Category News

Sep 20 2015

Disney World Enthusiast Weekly Round Up September 20, 2015

Here’s the Disney World Enthusiast Weekly Round Up for September 20, 2015!

Latest Disney World Enthusiast Articles

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!

Free WaterTip Of The Week

Instead of paying the high prices for bottled water or soda while touring the Disney parks, ask for a free cup of ice water at any counter service restaurant instead.

Halloween Party 7Disney Did You Know

More than 245 tons of candy will be handed out to party guests during the Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Parties.

Walt DisneyWalt’s Words

“Happiness is a state of mind. It’s just according to the way you look at things.”  

Red Polka Dot MagicBand SkinsDisney World Enthusiast Giveaway

From now through Friday, October 2, 2015 at midnight, please enter daily to win a set of four Red Polka Dot MagicBand skins. Just click here and follow the instructions to be entered into the giveaway. Be sure to take advantage of the bonus entries, and please feel free to share with your friends and family!

Icon S3Behind The Magic Podcast

Be sure to catch up on this week’s episodes when Zeek, Rachel, Tim, Richard, Sarah and I discuss Disney news, rumors, and so much more. For more information about this week’s podcasts or 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.

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 runDisney, dining, and holiday information plus all of the latest Disney World news!

Do you have a question or article idea?
Please leave a comment!

Sep 19 2015

Behind The Magic Podcast Recap September 14 – September 18, 2015

Icon S3

Welcome to Season 3 of Behind The Magic Podcast!

This “snack credit” of podcasts is a unique 15-minute daily Disney podcast hosted by Zeek, Rachel, Tim, Sarah, Richard, and me. Every day Monday through Friday you can join us for entertaining Disney information, discussions, guests, games, and more. Zeek and Rachel will be surprising you each and every day with all of their fabulous humor and Disney insider knowledge. And of course, Tim will keep you up-to-date on Disney news with his daily “Mouse News Minute” segment.

Here’s a quick peek at what you can expect each day during Season 3:

  • Monday ~ Magical Mondays with fun and games featuring Zeek’s “DisKids Reactions” segment!
  • Tuesday ~ Topical Tuesdays with Top Ten lists and discussions featuring Richard’s “2 Cents To The Scoop” segment!
  • 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 featuring my “Mouse Whispers” segment!
  • Friday ~ Field Trip Fridays with information and discussions helpful to your park visit featuring Sarah’s “2 Minute Table Service” segment!

This Week’s Episodes

This week’s episodes include:

  • Monday ~ Tournament of Podcasts
  • Tuesday ~ Behind Our Thoughts About DizDiningAgent
  • Wednesday ~ Behind Koalipops!
  • Thursday ~ Behind Spaceship Earth
  • Friday ~ Behind Your Stay Last Minute Changes

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

This Week’s Mouse Whispers

In my Thursday, September 17 “Mouse Whispers”, I shared the latest Disney gossip and rumors about the Season of the Force coming to Hollywood Studios! Check out Thursday’s full episode here!

We hope you enjoy our show!

Sep 18 2015

Magic YOUR Band Red Polka Dot MagicBand Skins Giveaway

Red Polka Dot MagicBand Skins

A must-have Disney World vacation accessory!

A few months ago, I arranged with Tracy at Magic YOUR Band to review their MagicBand Skins. If you aren’t familiar with this product, these adorable decals attach directly to your Disney World MagicBand creating your own personalized look.

The Review

Magic YOUR BandTracy asked me to pick out a MagicBand Skin that I liked as well as try out their online design tool for this review. My youngest son was excited to test the product with me so he choose the two piece “Slice of Pizza” design to go on his orange MagicBand. I decided to try putting my DisneyWorldEnthusiast.com logo on a skin for my red MagicBand. I was amazed at how easy Magic YOUR Band’s editing system worked. In a matter of minutes, I had a background selected and my logo in place and looking great! Then my son and I eagerly waited for our MagicBand Skins to arrive. Just as promised, they arrived in about a week.

We opened our delivery to find our MagicBand Skins nicely packaged and looking gorgeous! The first thing that struck me was how bright and vibrant the colors appeared. Upon further inspection, the MagicBand Skins looked perfectly cut and well made. Next up was getting them on our MagicBands.

The process was much easier than I thought it would be. I spent a few minutes watching the installation video on their site and then gave it a try. I found the skins to be very forgiving and I was able to lift them and adjust them until they were just right. Once I had the MagicBand Skins where I wanted, I went back over them pressing down firmly to make sure they were in place. It only took a couple of minutes until our MagicBands were looking quite magical!

I continued to wear my MagicBand with the Magic YOUR Band Skin throughout the day. It held up beautifully to a day filled with errands, cleaning, cooking, laundry, rain, and the movies. My son and I can’t wait to wear our new favorite Disney vacation accessory on our upcoming trip!

Here’s all of the important information that you’ll need to get yourself a MagicBand Skin:

  • MagicBand Skins are available for purchase on MagicYOURBand.com.
  • They range in price from $6 to $8 each.
  • They offer special pricing when you purchase multiple MagicBand Skins in one order. Buy two to five and save 15%. Buy six to nine and save 25%. Buy ten or more and save 33%.
  • They come in one piece (that covers the center MagicBand Mickey) or two piece (that shows the center MagicBand Mickey) styles.
  • Halloween MagicYOURBandThey have over 100 ready-made designs available including adorable holiday varieties!
  • You also have the options of personalizing one of their designs or creating your own with their easy-to-use online editing tool.
  • MagicBand Skins are fully waterproof. They hold up in the shower, pool, and a Florida rain storm!
  • The MagicBand Skins are easy to apply and remove if you want to change-up your look. They even have a handy video to show you how!
  • The Skins have no effect on how the MagicBand works. Your band will still be fully functional.
  • Magic YOUR Band is located in the United Kingdom and offers free international shipping on all orders.
  • The average delivery time is 7 days from the date of postage. You can upgrade to 2 business day FedEx International Priority Shipping for an additional fee.

The Giveaway

Interested in getting a MagicBand Skin of your own? Well, you’re in luck! From now through Friday, October 2, 2015 at midnight, please enter daily to win a set of four “Red Polka Dot” MagicBand Skins. Just click the image below and follow the instructions to be entered into the giveaway. Be sure to take advantage of the bonus entries, and please feel free to share with your friends and family!

Red Polka Dot MagicBand Skins

Click image to enter!

Can’t wait and need a MagicBand Skin right away?
Please click this link to purchase one today!

Sep 17 2015

Adorable Disney World Halloween Souvenirs Now Available

It’s officially Halloween time in Walt Disney World! The holiday decorations are up, tasty treats are for sale, and Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is now being celebrated on select nights at Magic Kingdom. With all of the fun fall festivities underway, you know what that means; Halloween themed merchandise is now available! Check out some of the adorable Disney World Halloween souvenirs that you can purchase.

I still love stuffed animals and this year they have this cute Figaro plush in a Mickey Mouse Jack O’Lantern.Halloween Merchandise 1

Another easy-to-get-home souvenir is an antenna topper. Check out Minnie Mouse dressed as a witch.Halloween Merchandise 10

Perfect for cold fall nights in my home state of Colorado; I love this festive loungewear!Halloween Merchandise 9

Want to dress up for Halloween when you take the kids treat-or-treating, but don’t want to go to the trouble of a costume? How about a cute Disney Halloween shirt?Halloween Merchandise 3

I love this light-up pumpkin necklace, another super easy way to add a little Halloween spirit to your outfit on the big night!Halloween Merchandise 2

Halloween is all about the candy, right? Check out these cute mini-Halloween candy bags filled with candy corn, candy pumpkins, or chocolate. Yum!Halloween Merchandise 4

I love decorating for Halloween, and I would love to add one of these fun Halloween lanterns to my collection!Halloween Merchandise 5

Pins are another super easy and fun souvenir to collect. How cute are these?Halloween Merchandise 8

Just what I need…more mouse ears!Halloween Merchandise 6

Perfect for that mug collector in your life – Mickey Mouse and Friends Halloween Mug!Halloween Merchandise 7

This Poison Apple Stein comes filled with a beverage and is available at Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.Halloween Merchandise 11

This cute mug will also be available throughout the parks.Halloween Merchandise 13

One of my all-time favorite Disney World snacks? Popcorn in a souvenir bucket, and it looks like I’ll have a couple to choose from this Halloween season!

I can’t wait to do some souvenir shopping on my upcoming trip!

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 visiting Disney World during the Halloween season?
Which souvenir are you most excited about? Please leave a comment!

Sep 16 2015

20 Fascinating Facts About Epcot’s 20th International Food And Wine Festival

In just a few days, Epcot will kick off its 20th International Food & Wine Festival. In honor of the exciting occasion, here are 20 fascinating facts about this fabulous annual event courtesy of Disney:

Epcot Food and Wine FestivalWalt Disney World Resort guests will join the 20-year celebration of Epcot International Food & Wine Festival presented by Chase from September 25-November 16, 2015, as they taste global and specialty cuisine, sip new beverages and eat to the beat of live entertainment.

The 53-day festival at Disney’s Epcot theme park will expand with new Future World marketplaces featuring fresh culinary concepts to pair with select wines, beers, cocktails and other beverages. ABC’s Emmy Award-winning lifestyle series, “The Chew,” will broadcast from the festival for the first time and will participate in two of the new Future World festival marketplaces: Sustainable Chew and Chew Lab. The festival is believed to be the largest food and wine event of its kind in the world.

Here are 20 fun facts about the 20th festival celebration.

  1. Now 53 days long, the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival began in 1996 with a first run of 30 days.
  2. At the 2015 festival, a record 30 global marketplaces will include the new Sustainable Chew, Chew Lab and Artistry of Wine & Cheese marketplaces.
  3. The ChewProducers of ABC’s “The Chew” will tape 5 episodes of the show before 5 festival guest audiences numbering in the hundreds for each show.
  4. The 20th festival will feature 32 new marketplace dishes and 75 new cocktails, beers, wines and ciders.
  5. In 1998, 200 domestic and international wines were poured at the festival. This year, at marketplaces and premium events, more than 300 domestic and international wines will be offered.
  6. More than 60 wineries and more than 40 breweries from around the world, including local craft beer operations, will be represented at festival marketplaces.
  7. The 20th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Cookbook by Pam Brandon and the Disney Chefs features 75 recipes from the global marketplaces that span the entire 20 years of the festival.
  8. 3 Rockin’ Burger Block Parties and 5 Party for the Senses grand tastings will take place at World Showplace during the festival run. In all, the festival will feature 193 premium events ranging from Signature Dinners and Food & Wine Pairings to Beverage Boot Camps and Festival Events in World Showcase pavilions.
  9. Guest chefs and Disney chefs numbering 250 will present culinary demonstrations and will cook for festival events.
  10. Celebrity chefs and visiting culinarians from 6 countries and 26 U.S. states will participate in the festival at culinary demos, book signings, and special tasting events and dinners.
  11. Nearly 400 culinary demos, beverage and mixology seminars will take place during the 53-day festival.
  12. RemyDuring the new Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak festival scavenger hunt, guests can help Remy scour the park for the ingredients to make his signature dish, ratatouille. Along the way, they’ll find 12 Remy statuettes hidden in each of 11 countries of the World Showcase and at the African Outpost location. Guests can redeem the 12 stickers they’ve collected for one of 6 special pins at Port of Entry.
  13. 159 Eat to the Beat concerts will be performed; 4 musical acts will appear for the first time at this year’s festival featuring entertainment ranging from rock and soul to funk and blues.
  14. The Marketplace Discovery Passport was introduced in 2010 for the 15th annual festival; today, the free passport will feature pages with all 30 festival marketplaces that guests can have stamped during their dine-around-the-world culinary adventure .
  15. IllumiNationsMore than 1,200 fireworks will explode each night over World Showcase Lagoon in IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth nightime spectacular.
  16. Chase is the festival’s presenting sponsor for the 4th year; its Chase Lounge at American Adventure Parlor features guest amenities that include complimentary beverages and comfy furniture where guests can chill out and recharge.
  17. The Ocean Spray Cranberry Bog, back for a fourth year, is filled with 900 pounds of the tart red fruit and is accessible to cast members who wear waterproof waders.
  18. 100,000-plus desserts, including the Chocolate Cherry Explosion and Strawberry Basil Champagne “Toast” at Desserts & Champagne Marketplace, are expected to be served.
  19. In 1997, during the festival’s second year, festival planners introduced the first Grand Tasting culinary extravaganza; in 2002, the event was renamed and moved to World Showplace as Party for the Senses, now featuring up to 50 food and beverage stations and breathtaking entertainment by Cirque du Soleil’s “La Nouba” performers.
  20. At the new Artistry of Wine & Cheese, each keg of premium wine on tap will hold the equivalent of 26 wine bottles, eliminating bottle, cork, cardboard and paper waste from labels. Recycling and repurposing of glass bottles and corks from other marketplace locations will be part of the 20th-year festival story.

Need more information?

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival ©DisneyIf you will be attending the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival this year, be sure to check out these articles for more information:

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?
What are you most excited about? Please leave a comment!