Tag Archives: Animal Kingdom

Aug 6 2015

Sneak Peek At Holiday Season 2015 In Disney World

Christmas

One of the most magical times of year at Walt Disney World is during the holiday season. The entire resort is brimming with dazzling decorations and special celebrations. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s in store for us this year, courtesy of Disney:

Magic Kingdom

Add some very to your merry at the veriest, merriest Christmas party of the season. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom hosts 20 nights of yuletide cheer from November 8 – December 18, 2015. From 7pm to 12am during select nights at Magic Kingdom park, this annual ticket event will bring Christmas joy to guests of all ages with festive decorations, towering Christmas trees, and wintry wonderful entertainment.

Beginning at 7pm (after regular park hours), guests with special event tickets can enjoy the spectacular holiday splendor, along with complimentary cookies and hot cocoa, and snow flurries on Main Street, U.S.A. Special holiday entertainment during the event includes Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas! Dance Party, “Celebrate the Season” musical stage show starring favorite Disney characters, and “Holiday Wishes: Celebrate the Spirit of the Season” fireworks spectacular.

Disney characters dressed in their Christmas best will be available for meet and greets throughout the park. In addition, don’t miss Queen Elsa from “Frozen” as she uses her incredible powers to transform Cinderella Castle nightly into a glistening ice palace for the holidays during “A Frozen Holiday Wish” castle lighting show. (Please click here for additional party information or to purchase tickets.)

Also for the holiday season, the iconic Jungle Cruise will temporarily transform into “Jingle Cruise” for Magic Kingdom guests. Festive decor in the attraction queue and boathouse gives guests a bit of Christmas cheer. The Jingle Cruise boats each are given a unique holiday name, and the Skippers share a slew of seasonal holiday jokes throughout the tour.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

A spectacular light display boasting millions of glittering lights, the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights is perfectly synchronized to a high-energy holiday symphony. This magical display of Christmas lights can be seen on the Streets of America at Disney’s Hollywood Studios from November 6, 2015 through January 3, 2016.

Epcot

One of the most beloved holiday traditions at Epcot, the Candlelight Processional inspires guests and instills the Christmas spirit through the retelling of the Christmas story by celebrity narrators, accompanied by a masterful orchestra and choir. The Candlelight Processional is performed three times each evening, 5:00pm, 6:45pm and 8pm, from November 27 to December 30.

Guests become immersed in holiday festivities while experiencing holiday traditions from various countries throughout World Showcase during Holidays Around the World November 27 – December 30. Share in the sights and sounds of the nations of World Showcase as each country’s holiday heritage comes to life amid joyful music, interactive storytelling and time-honored traditions.

Epcot features special holiday merchandise perfect for every shopper’s Christmas list. Santa’s Village in American Adventure and Christkindlmarkt in Germany feature extra special shopping experiences with unique Christmas ornaments and holiday items.

While shopping, guests can stop by the Future World Fountain Stage for a joy-filled performance by “Joyful!” This spirited ensemble uniquely blends the soulful expressiveness of gospel and inspirational music with the sounds of jazz, R&B and urban music. This holiday performance features classic Christmas tunes with a soulful spin.

The merriment continues with meet and greets with Santa and Mrs. Claus, plus the nightly “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth – Holiday Edition,” a laser, light, fireworks display capped with a seasonal finale.

This spectacular light display boasting millions of glittering lights is perfectly synchronized to a high-energy holiday symphony and is capped off with a flurry of snow.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Meet Mickey and Minnie at Adventurers Outpost in Disney’s Animal Kingdom during the holiday season for a special photo opportunity. Mickey and Minnie dress in their holiday best, which makes for the perfect Christmas card photo.

Downtown Disney

Downtown Disney will be decked with holiday décor to bring Christmas cheer to holiday shoppers and guests. Santa will be available for a special meet and greet, along with jolly holiday entertainment throughout the season.

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

All of Walt Disney World shines brightly with merry décor during the holiday season, including Walt Disney World Resort Hotels. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort is a favorite holiday stop with its 16-foot-high Victorian gingerbread house located in the lobby. Disney’s Beach Club Resort hosts an incredible gingerbread carousel display, accompanied by the sweet smell of Christmas treats wafting through the entryway. Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Disney’s Boardwalk Resort have their own festive gingerbread holiday displays for guests’ delight. Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge showcase breathtaking Christmas trees towering inside the resorts. With so many splendid sights to see, Christmas joy radiates to every corner of Walt Disney World Resort.

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:

Are you visiting Disney World during the holidays?
What are you most excited about? Please leave a comment!

Aug 5 2015

Celebrating Thanksgiving In Disney World

Disney World Thanksgiving

Are you planning on spending the Thanksgiving holiday in Disney World? If so, you have lots of delicious options for your Thanksgiving Day feast. Here’s the scoop courtesy of Disney:

Walt Disney World Resort guests can join together for a joyous and delicious Thanksgiving Day dinner. With a variety of dining options at the theme parks and resorts, there is a cornucopia of exciting lunch and dinner offerings inspired by this American tradition.

Guests can enjoy menu options for Thanksgiving Day meals at Walt Disney World Resort featuring a classic turkey dinner, such as the hearty all-American eats and traditional family- style Thanksgiving feast at Liberty Tree Tavern in Magic Kingdom Park. For guests looking for a special spin on the traditional turkey dinner, try some of the more unique options, such as traditional Norwegian meatballs and pan-seared salmon at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall or roasted heirloom beets with candied walnuts and mulled apple cider at Artist Point.

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, Tutto Itlalia Ristorante, Restaurant Marrakesh, Rose & Crown Dining Room, and Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria, as well as quick service at Sunshine Seasons.

Holiday menus also are offered at Liberty Tree Tavern in Magic Kingdom; Hollywood & Vine, 50’s Prime Time Café and The Hollywood Brown Derby in Disney’s Hollywood Studios; Tusker House Restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom; Planet Hollywood, Portobello Country Italian Tattoria, Wolfgang Puck Grand Café, Fulton’s Crab House and Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant in Downtown Disney; and in resort hotels throughout Walt Disney World Resort.

Be sure to make your dining reservations as soon as possible, because availability is limited. For more information or to make reservations, please click here or call 407-WDW-DINE.

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:

Have you celebrated Thanksgiving in Disney World before?
What was it like? Please leave a comment!

Jul 16 2015

Celebrating National Ice Cream Month At Disney World

Ice Cream

Did you know that July is National Ice Cream Month? If you happen to be visiting Disney World this month, there are plenty of places to grab a frozen treat to cool off and celebrate! Here are a few of the favorites being served at Disney World this summer courtesy of WDW News:

Magic Kingdom

Dole WhipWhile strolling down Main Street U.S.A., the smell of freshly baked waffle cones wafts through the air. Follow the delicious scent and you will find the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor. This is the home of many delectable ice cream delicacies, but one in particular takes the top scoop – the ice cream cookie sandwich. Two freshly baked chocolate chip cookies served with your choice of hand-scooped ice cream in the middle, creating the sweetest sandwich you will ever taste!

The other must-stop shop at Magic Kingdom is Aloha Isle, home of the legendary Dole Whip. This scrumptious soft-serve delight is a refreshing frozen treat blended in pineapple, vanilla or swirled flavors. For the more exotic palettes, try the Pineapple Dole Whip Float with Dole Pineapple Juice, as it will surely make you dole out a smile! Dole Whip also can be found at Pineapple Lanai at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.

Epcot

L'artisan Des GlacesCiao, gelato! Experience the sweet indulgence of Italian gelato at Gelati, the delectable dessert kiosk at the Epcot World Showcase Italy Pavilion. With a variety of tempting gelato flavors and ice cream specialties, the possibilities are endless. One of the fanciful “Gelato Creations” is the Coppa Amicizia, a blend of cookies and cream, strawberry, Fior di Latte (milk-flavored gelato), strawberry sauce, whole strawberries and whipped cream.

Fresh brioche bread and chilled ice cream – two of the world’s most delightful delicacies. L’Artisan des Glaces at Epcot’s France Pavilion combines these two treats into a heavenly combination with its Croque Glacé. Choose any one of this authentic French ice cream shop’s unique flavors, perhaps the coco-white chocolate ice cream, before it is sealed in a warm brioche with rich chocolate or raspberry sauce. This ice cream pastry is inspired by the tastes of Paris and will have guests saying “Bonjour!”

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Still have a passion for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? Have no shame because this special Peanut Butter and Jelly Milkshake at 50’s Prime Time Café will help rekindle that passion for peanut butter and relive those tasty childhood memories. The ingredients are simple – peanut butter and jelly with milk and ice cream – but the flavor is indescribably bold and indulgently satisfying.

What is the last shop seen before and the first thing thought of after falling down an elevator shaft? That would be the delicious treats at Hollywood Scoops, the ice cream kiosk near The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. But not just any ice cream treat will do – Apple Crisp à la Mode is the must-try delight. This cinnamon apple dessert topped with old-fashioned vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce and streusel is a perfect way to conclude a haunted stay at The Hollywood Hotel.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

In the heart of Harambe Village is the home of Tamu Tamu Refreshments, where hungry travelers can find unique frozen treats and refreshments for even the wildest of safaris. The most popular treat is the Pineapple Whip Soft-serve with Coconut or Dark Rum, a truly tantalizing tropical treat.

An old-fashioned root beer float is a classic ice cream novelty and a fantastic way to beat the heat. Try one of the soft-serve soda floats from the Anandapur Ice Cream Truck while trekking through Asia at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Downtown Disney

Boathouse SmoresStrike gold with the Gold Rush ice cream sundae at the Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop. It starts with a fresh waffle cone hand-dipped in rich Ghirardelli chocolate, filled with vanilla ice cream, and then covered in homemade hot fudge and peanut butter, whipped cream, chopped almonds, a cherry, and a Ghirardelli SQUARES Milk Chocolate. For those with a taste for milkshakes, the Sea Salt Caramel Banana Quake Shake is also an enticing option at this amazing ice cream haven.

For a photo-worthy, gargantuan treat, nothing tops the Gibsons S’mores Baked Alaska at The BOATHOUSE. This unbelievably sweet and visually breathtaking dessert is made with Häagan-Dazs rocky road ice cream, cascaded in marshmallow, then toasted with pieces of rich dark chocolate surrounding the outside. This is a four-person dessert, so be prepared for a larger-than-life serving.

Ever dreamed of traveling to Italy? Good news – there is no need to venture across the globe to taste the delicious flavors of Florence thanks to the new Vivoli Gelateria in Downtown Disney. This family-run shop was founded in 1932 in Florence, which means the flavors have been mastered to perfection. One of the guest favorites is the Caramello Salato, or salted caramel. Made with fresh, top-quality ingredients, this flavorful treat is adorned with a soft ribbon of caramel flavor, complete with crunchy salted caramel bits. For chocolate enthusiasts, the classic Cioccolato chocolate gelato will certainly satisfy any sweet tooth!

Disney’s Water Parks

Imagine a bright green sand pail and try to keep from smiling. Now picture a bright green sand pail filled to the brim with chocolate and vanilla soft-serve ice cream, waffle cone pieces, cookie pieces, hot fudge, caramel, strawberry sauce, whipped cream, nuts, and a cherry. And don’t forget the sprinkles! This sunny snack can be found at Happy Landings Ice Cream at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park and at I.C. Expeditions at Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park.

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

Kitchen Sink“Everything but the kitchen sink.” Well this massive ice cream treat includes that, too. The Kitchen Sink at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop at Disney’s Beach Club Resort is a one-of-a-kind ice cream challenge with eight scoops of ice cream, every topping in the house, and a whole can of whipped cream. This dessert serves four people with an appetite, so bring family and friends and get those spoons in the air – it’s going to get a little sticky!

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 is your favorite Disney World ice cream treat?
Please leave a comment!

Jun 26 2015

Disney World Reality Versus Rumor – June 2015 Edition

Welcome to the June 2015 edition of Disney World Reality vs. Rumor where we’ll take a look at the stories that are currently circulating to see which ones are confirmed and which ones are purely speculation.

Disney World Reality

  • It has been confirmed that the former Walt Disney World Speedway site will be repurposed to expand the Magic Kingdom parking lot.
  • Disney has announced more new additions to Disney Springs including two new restaurants The Edison and STK Orlando.
  • Disney recently unveiled plans to add a new location to Disney Springs called the “NBA Experience”. The plans include a retail store, restaurant, and interactive activities.
  • The Orlando Sentinel confirmed this week that Disney has filed plans to build 26 new cabins along the shore of Bay Lake in addition to a boardwalk, bar grill, and pool at its Wilderness Lodge Resort. These cabins are expected to be similar to the new bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.
  • Work is well under way on the additional Soarin’ theatre. It has been confirmed that the attraction will also receive a redesigned and themed queue that will make use of some of the old Kitchen Kabaret space.
  • Disney has filed plans to build a new theatre between Rock ‘n Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror at the end of Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood Studios.

Disney World Rumor

  • Rumors abound that DisneyQuest will be closed and replaced by the new “NBA Experience” in Disney Springs.
  • Speaking of closing places; a new rumor says that Bongos in Downtown Disney may be closing soon to make way for a new Mexican restaurant operated by Splitsville.
  • Some people are speculating that Hollywood Studios may be reimagined with an adventure and heroes theme to better encompass the existing attractions plus Star Wars and Marvel.
  • It is being reported that the Magic of Disney Animation at Hollywood Studios will soon undergo a refurbishment that would expand the Animation Academy.
  • Rumors are flying about the complete redesign of Hollywood Studios. The latest is that in addition to a Star Wars Land, a new Toy Story/Pixar themed land may be in the works to take over the long closed Backlot Tour attraction space. There are said to be three attractions planned for the area including a Toy Story themed car ride similar to the one replacing Luigi’s Flying Tires at Disney’s California Adventure.
  • There are rumors that Animal Kingdom may be adding a new interactive camel experience to the park. Word on the street is that said camels are currently being walked through the park at night to get them acclimated to the surroundings.
  • Recently travel agents received their Disney World operations schedule for January 2016 and it did not show any Extra Magic Hours listed for any of the parks. Rumors are flying that this could mean an end to one of the best perks of being an on-site guest. Another take is that Disney may be considering adjusting the schedule like they did back in 2013 when they reduced the nighttime Extra Magic Hours from three to two. Sources think they may reduce the number of days each week that the Extra Magic Hours are available or only have them offered at one park per day. Here’s hoping this rumor is NOT true!
  • Another rumor that I would hate to see become a reality is the new admission ticket scenario. Disney recently sent out a survey to guests to get feedback on offering tiered-ticket prices based on seasons and days of the week similar to the way their hotel rooms are currently priced. In other words, if you plan to visit Disney World for the winter holidays, you’ll need a second mortgage or to sell a kidney!

Look for another edition of Disney World Reality vs. Rumor in August 2015!

Behind The Magic LogoNeed more Disney gossip?

Remember I’ll be joining the Behind The Magic Podcast beginning on Friday, July 3 and every Friday after that as the resident Disney “Gossip Girl” dishing on all of the latest dirt on my weekly “Mouse Whispers” segment. Please check us out here!

Heading to Disney World soon?

501 WaysIf 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 about any of these changes – real or rumored?
Please leave a comment!

Jun 24 2015

Zuri’s Sweets Shop Now Open And The New Poop Treats

Zuri's Sweets Shop

Updated June 27, 2015: It is being reported that Disney has removed the new poop treats from Zuri’s Sweets Shop as of today.

Have you heard the news? Zuri’s Sweets Shop is now open in the new Harambe Marketplace of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Here are the latest details courtesy of Disney:

Guests can take their taste buds on a mouth-watering safari with a visit to Zuri’s Sweets Shop at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This new merchandise location at Harambe Market in the Africa section of the park offers an assortment of wild new treats and eats.

Zuri's Sweets ShopZuri’s Sweets Shop features 80 exclusive food items inspired by the sights, sounds and flavors of Africa. Guests can purchase themed decorative candy apples, assorted bulk trail mixes, uniquely flavored chocolate bars and delectable popcorn with a touch of African spices. Guests with a taste for barbeque also can find the signature sweet and spicy sauce from the park’s popular Flame Tree Barbecue.

This unique location also includes a colorful confectionary case filled with a variety of candies and baked treats. Guests with a sweet tooth will be thrilled to find tiger-shaped sugar cookies, elephant-shaped caramel apples and colorful giraffe marshmallow pops alongside Disney confectionary classics, such as Mickey Mouse chocolate chip cookies and tasty chocolate fudge.

In addition to the festive themed food items, Zuri’s Sweets Shop also offers items for the home, such as decorative “Blessing Baskets” and African-inspired dinnerware and décor.

Now what Disney’s press release doesn’t happen to mention is that Zuri’s Sweets Shop is home to the new poop treats. That’s right folks, if you haven’t already heard this unbelievable news, Disney is selling treats that look like animal poop! The official name is “Match The Species Treats” and they come in elephant, giraffe, hippo, and cotton top tamarin varieties. From what I hear, if you can get past what they look like they are all tasty chocolate desserts. Here are the descriptions:

  • Zuri's Sweets ShopElephant Poop – Chocolate peanut butter fudge with sweet rolled oats and coconut flakes.
  • Giraffe Poop – Rolled chocolate fudgy brownie and freshly made caramel.
  • Hippo Poop – Chocolate fudge caramel brownie with peanut butter and rolled oats.
  • Cotton Top Tamarin Poop – Pretzel pearls coated in chocolate peanut butter fudge with sweet rolled oak flakes.

Zuri's Sweets ShopThese treats are just $3.99 a poop (I mean, a pop 😉 ) or one Disney Dining Plan Snack Credit. My money is on the giraffe variety. I think it is the only one I could get myself to actually try!

Will you be trying Zuri’s Sweets Shop on your next visit?
What do you think about the poop treats? Please leave a comment!