Tag Archives: Disney World

Disney World Valentine's Day
Feb 6 2020

Celebrating Valentine’s Day 2020 In Walt Disney World

If you are one of those lucky people who will be celebrating your love in Walt Disney World this year on Valentine’s Day, you have lots of romantic options available. Here are just some of the many possibilities available courtesy of Disney:

Valentine’s Day is the time to celebrate being together with loved ones, and Walt Disney World Resort is the perfect destination for those seeking memorable moments to share with someone special. Couples and friends alike can commemorate the occasion with spectacular dining options and unforgettable experiences throughout the theme parks, resort hotels and Disney Springs at The Most Magical Place on Earth.

Special Valentine’s Day Offerings

Dining is the quintessential way for couples to spend quality time together, and Walt Disney World Resort has an unmatched selection of restaurants with special menus for Valentine’s Day.

  • Le Cellier Steakhouse in the Canada pavilion at Epcot provides plenty of romantic ambiance with a cozy wine cellar setting and a mouthwatering menu of savory steaks and seafood. This signature dining experience will be serving a Valentine’s Day special, Chateaubriand for Two, for lunch and dinner on February 14.
  • Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort features two new restaurants perfect for couples seeking an intimate dining atmosphere. Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood in the new Gran Destino Tower is offering a special menu for the holiday. Here, rooftop views of Walt Disney World Resort complement a menu of delectable dishes and small plates inspired by the flavors of Spain. For a charming waterside experience, guests can visit Three Bridges Bar & Grill and indulge in a delicious three-course Valentine’s Day meal in an idyllic open-air setting.
  • Jiko – The Cooking Place is a signature restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge that offers guests an upscale dining experience featuring an authentic blend of traditional African, Indian and Mediterranean cuisine. On Valentine’s Day, in addition to the normal menu, guests will have the option to enjoy a special appetizer, entrée and featured dessert for a fixed price.
  • Narcoossee’s, a fine-dining location nestled along the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, is offering a select three-course, prix-fixe menu alongside their normal menu on Valentine’s Day. This romantic waterside eatery boasts panoramic views, delectable seafood and steaks, and an ambiance perfect for couples celebrating love.

Select quick-service locations at Walt Disney World are serving an array of heartfelt confections for a limited time:

  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom is serving a decadent array of Valentine-themed sweets during the month of February. For a cool treat, guests can find a double chocolate strawberry ice cream sandwich at Dino Bites or strawberry soft-serve ice cream at Anadapur Bus. Kusafiri classics including the Mickey Cinnamon Buns and Elephant Ears are dressed up in their Valentine’s Day best, with special sprinkles and colored icing fit for the occasion.
  • Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa offers heart-shaped crispy treats, an “Enchanted Rose” strawberry milkshake topped with chocolate sauce, whipped cream and heart sprinkles, and a chocolate-dipped strawberry latte.
  • Disney’s Wilderness Lodge will be the perfect place for guests to find a specialty cupcake for their Valentine. Starting February 9, Roaring Fork will serve a delightful chocolate cupcake with strawberry filling, topped with ganache icing, a lattice chocolate heart and crispy pearls.

Throughout February, Disney Springs is an excellent source for Valentine’s Day goodies that make sweet surprises for loved ones. Classic Disney romance-inspired desserts from Amorette’s Patisserie include a Bella Notte Petite Cake and sour cherry ganache macaron, while The Ganachery offers a Conversation Heart Piñata.

Throughout Disney parks, resort hotels and Disney Springs, guests will already find an adorable selection of themed merchandise perfect for a celebration of love. Couples planning a Walt Disney World Valentine’s Day date can step into the parks in style with matching couples’ t-shirts and a limited-edition, heart-adorned MagicBand. New pin sets featuring favorite Disney couples will be the perfect gift for pin traders, and a selection of precious plushes will be available as an excellent way to commemorate Valentine’s Day 2020.

A special Valentine’s Day activity at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort is the perfect date night for crafty couples. Significant others will be guided in painting two halves of one whole picture that features a classic Disney couple. The evening also includes light appetizers and a beverage. To book a reservation for this experience, guests may call 407-WDW-PLAY.

Valentine’s Day turns into “Villaintine’s Day” at Magic Kingdom Park the night of February 14. Couples and friends can have a wonderfully wicked time at Disney Villains After Hours, a separately ticketed event at Magic Kingdom filled with villain-themed fun and entertainment. This fan-favorite experience is returning this year for 24 select nights February 7 – July 10, including a sinister celebration on Valentine’s Day.

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 celebrating Valentine’s Day in Disney World?
Please leave a comment; I would love to hear from you!

Feb 4 2020

First Look At Drawn To Life In Disney Springs

If you are a fan of Cirque du Soleil and Disney, I have some exciting news for you. In March, previews for the eagerly awaited, Drawn to Life, will open at Disney Springs in Walt Disney World. Tickets are on sale now. Here’s a first look at what guests can expect from this unique show, courtesy of Disney:

Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group and Disney Parks, Experiences and Products are thrilled to announce Drawn to Life, the highly anticipated, new family friendly show coming to Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Written and directed by Michel Laprise and with Fabrice Becker as Director of creation, this collaboration between Cirque du Soleil, Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering will open for previews March 20, 2020, and officially premiere April 17, 2020. The show will take residency at Disney Springs. 

Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group President and CEO Daniel Lamarre, says, “For Cirque du Soleil, this is a beautiful way of celebrating Disney’s legacy in the art of animation. This new and exciting production is most certainly the best way to highlight the privileged relationship we have with our colleagues at Walt Disney World and our joint commitment to continually bring audiences new experiences that surpass their expectations.”

The show is a result of years of research and extraordinary collaboration that included extensive visits to Disney theme parks, Walt Disney Archives, Walt Disney Imagineering, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, The Walt Disney Family Museum, as well as hands-on work between Disney animators and Cirque du Soleil. In fact, the Cirque du Soleil teams collaborated extensively with legacy animators to create the show.

‘’What fascinates us is that moment when life appears in drawings. Just like in an acrobat’s body, the visceral physicality of animation. The way they perform, the way they create the illusion of life,’’ says Michel Laprise Writer and Show Director.

”In creating this show, we’ve brought to life an extraordinary new entertainment experience for the whole family,” said Josh, D’Amaro, president, Walt Disney World Resort, “It blends all the heart, humor and joy of Disney storytelling with new acrobatic performances and effects never before seen in a Cirque du Soleil production.”

This new show follows the story of Julie, a courageous and determined girl who discovers an unexpected gift left by her late father: an unfinished animation piece. Guided by a surprising pencil, she embarks on an inspiring quest sprinkled with her Disney childhood memories. Through this journey, she learns to imagine new possibilities and animate the story of her future.

Drawn to Life will transport guests of all ages into the world of Disney animation in Cirque du Soleil’s signature style. This entirely new experience will wow Walt Disney World guests and Cirque du Soleil fans, while bringing timeless Disney stories to life in an unforgettable new way.

‘’It has been a fantastic collaboration between Cirque du Soleil, Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering. We had the chance to work with some of the animators that have worked on iconic Disney movies. You’ll get to meet some of your favourite characters, but maybe in a very different way,’’ says Fabrice Becker, Creation Director.

With an international cast of more than 65 artists, the Cirque du Soleil theater located in Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort, will welcome up to 1,580 spectators for each show, five days a week.

Tickets are on sale now, please click here for more information.

Heading to Disney World soon?

501 WaysIf you are planning a vacation to Disney World during the holiday season, be sure to check out these valuable resources to help you save time and money:

Are you excited to see Drawn To Life?
Please leave a comment; I would love to hear from you!

Feb 2 2020

Disney World Enthusiast Weekly Round Up February 2, 2020

Here’s the Disney World Enthusiast Weekly Round Up for February 2, 2020!

Latest Disney World Enthusiast Articles

Disney Did You Know

Walt Disney Imagineers viewed 156 episodes of “The Twilight Zone” for inspiration when creating The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

Spaceship EarthTip Of The Week

When starting your day at Epcot, don’t make a beeline for Spaceship Earth. Many guests enter the park and just get in the first line they see. As a result, the wait for Spaceship Earth can be very long in the morning. Make a Fastpass+ reservation for later in the day or hop in line on your way out of the park in the evening instead.

Looking for more tips like this? Click here!

Walt DisneyWalt’s Words

“Fantasy, if it’s really convincing, can’t become dated, for the simple reason that it represents a flight into a dimension that lies beyond the reach of time.” 

Featured Advertiser

Create your own unique look with a personalized Disney MagicBand Skin. Magic YOUR Band has a range of designs to choose from that you can use as-is or customize with your own text. And if you want to take it to the next level, you can even upload your own photos or images to fully personalize, customize, and decorate your MagicBand. With great discounts for multi-buys, why not create one for the whole family? For more information or to start customizing your own Magic YOUR Band Skin now, please click here.

501 WaysFeatured Book

UPDATED for 2020! 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.

dwe logo small size white bkgdComing Up Next Week

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

Have a wonderful week!

Jan 30 2020

First Look At Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

So many changes have happened recently at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, it almost doesn’t feel like the same park anymore, and even more exciting offerings are on the way! On March 4, 2020, the highly anticipated Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway will debut. This unique addition to the park will be the first ride-through attraction featuring Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse at any Disney park.

Here’s what we can expect according to Disney as we “burst into Mickey and Minnie’s world”:

The darling duo are taking a leisurely drive to a picnic in their sporty roadster—with Engineer Goofy’s train following merrily along. Plot twist—you get to go, too! Climb aboard a runaway railway and embark on a whirlwind ride through a world where the rules of physics don’t apply. Prepare for unexpected twists, slapstick gags and mind-boggling transformations at every turn, as Mickey and Minnie try to save the day.

Also opening in Disney’s Hollywood Studios in March is the Mickey Shorts Theater. This location will show an original short film in the style of the popular Disney Channel animated series “Mickey Mouse,” and will feature photo-opportunity locations for guests.

For any Mickey and Minnie fans that are going to be at Disney’s Hollywood Studios this spring to check out the new Mickey Shorts Theater and to take a ride on Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, I hope to see ya’ there real soon!

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 ride Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway?
Please leave a comment; we would love to hear from you!

Jan 28 2020

Three New Films At Epcot

With Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary right around the corner in 2021, we are already getting to enjoy some of the many changes heading to Epcot in the near future. First to debut are three exciting new films throughout the park. Here’s everything you need to know courtesy of Disney:

As part of the ongoing transformation of Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort, three new films recently debuted at the Florida theme park. These new films provide more ways for guests to experience Disney magic and celebrate the world around them during a day at Epcot.

“Awesome Planet” in The Land pavilion explores the spectacular beauty, diversity and dynamic story of Earth. In collaboration with the Disney Conservation Fund, the 10-minute film uses in-theater effects (including wind, scents and water) to tell the story of life on this planet and why it’s vitally important to care for it. “Awesome Planet” features narration by Ty Burrell, star of ABC’s “Modern Family,” and an original musical score from Academy Award-winning® composer Steven Price.

“Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360” in the Canada pavilion is an update to the previous “O Canada!” film with new scenes, a new musical score by Canadian composer Andrew Lockington and new narration by award-winning actors Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy.

“Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along” in the France pavilion’s Palais du Cinémais directed and produced by Don Hahn, producer of the animated and live-action “Beauty and the Beast” films, and invites guests to participate in a twist on a tale as old as time. It also features narration from Angela Lansbury, who played Mrs. Potts in the original film. The new sing-along will run in rotation with “Impressions de France,” which will receive an upgrade to 4K projection.

Heading to Disney World soon?

501 WaysIf you are planning a vacation to Disney World during the holiday season, be sure to check out these valuable resources to help you save time and money:

Which new film are you most excited about?
Please leave a comment; I would love to hear from you!