Epcot 2016 Sounds Like Summer Concert Series Bands Announced

Sounds Like Summer 2

Sounds Like Summer Concert Series Returns To Epcot!

If you plan to visit Disney World this summer, here is some exciting news! Disney has just released the information about which bands will be appearing in the Epcot Sounds Like Summer Concert Series that runs from June 5 – July 23, 2016. Three new acts will make their Sounds Like Summer concert series debut this summer. Bands paying tribute to the music of Fleetwood Mac, Tina Turner and Bruce Springsteen are part of the seven-week event in World Showcase for the first time. Here’s the current lineup (subject to change without notice):

  • June 5 – 11: Don’t Look Back – A Tribute to Boston
  • June 12 – 18: Hotel California – A Salute to the Eagles
  • June 19 – 24: New! Rumours – A Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band
  • June 25 – July 1: New! Simply Tina – A Tribute to Tina Turner
  • July 2 – 9: Stayin’ Alive – A Tribute to the Bee Gees
  • July 10 – 16: New! Bruce in the USA – A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen
  • July 17 – 23: DSB – A Tribute to Journey

Performances will be at the America Gardens Theatre in World Showcase at 5:30pm, 6:45pm and 8:00pm daily and are included with Epcot admission.

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 attended a Sounds Like Summer Concert? Are you going this year?
Who are you most excited to see? Please leave a comment!

Cinderella Castle

Helpful Information For Your August 2016 Disney World Vacation

So you are planning a vacation to Disney World in August 2016?
August is a wonderful time to visit Walt Disney World!

Mickey on the BeachWeather

The weather in Disney World during August is hot and rainy. The average high is about 92 degrees, the average low is about 73 degrees and the average rainfall is about 7.71 inches. You can expect some rain most afternoons or evenings, so be sure to bring your poncho!

Crowds

The crowds in August are high at the beginning of the month as families enjoy vacationing during the last few weeks of summer break. By the end of the month, the crowds drop off dramatically as kids head back to school.

Magic Kingdom Welcome ShowAugust 1 – August 6
Average Crowd Level 8.0 out of 10
August 7 – August 13
Average Crowd Level 8.3 out of 10
August 14 – August 20
Average Crowd Level 7.9 out of 10
August 21 – August 27
Average Crowd Level 5.6 out of 10
August 28 – August 31
Average Crowd Level 3.8 out of 10

Magic Kingdom ClockPark Hours

Magic Kingdom
Open most days from 9am – 10pm (plus Extra Magic Hours)
Epcot
Open most days from 9am – 9pm (plus Extra Magic Hours)
Hollywood Studios
Open most days from 9am – 8:30pm (plus Extra Magic Hours)
Animal Kingdom
Open most days from 9am – 5pm (plus Extra Magic Hours)

For specific hours on each day during August, please click this link. Remember that park hours are subject to change and are often adjusted two weeks prior.

Events

There are currently no special events scheduled for August in Disney World. Check back often as I will update this post if anything new is announced.

Refurbishments

Periodically throughout the year, Disney closes attractions for refurbishments and enhancements. Here are the currently scheduled closures during August (subject to change without notice):

Magic Kingdom
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: August 8 – November 19, 2016
“it’s a small world”: August 22 – September 15, 2016
Liberty Square Riverboat: August 15 – August 21, 2016
Swiss Family Treehouse: July 7 – September 24, 2016

Epcot
No Scheduled Refurbishments At This Time

Space MountainHollywood Studios
Pizza Planet: January 11 – November 2016
Star Wars Land: Opening in 2018
Toy Story Land: Opening in 2018

Animal Kingdom
Pandora – The World of AVATAR: Opening in 2017

Water Parks
No Scheduled Refurbishments At This Time

Disney Springs
Fulton’s Crab House: May 1 – December 31, 2016

Resort Hotels
Boardwalk Inn: Flying Fish Café February 1, 2016 – September 30, 2016
Walt Disney World Dolphin: Guest Room Refurbishments To Be Completed In 2017
Wilderness Lodge: Hidden Springs Quiet Pool, Resort Beach, Playground and Fire Pit To Be Completed In 2017

Planning Tips

If you are traveling to Disney World in August 2016, your planning is probably well under way at this point. Here’s a checklist to make sure you are on track:

  • Make sure you have created your My Disney Experience account. If you haven’t, click here to sign up now.
  • If you haven’t already made your dining reservations, be sure to make them now by clicking here.
  • If you are staying on site, be sure to customize your MagicBand on your My Disney Experience account by picking the color and adding your name. And if you really want to make your MagicBand special, personalize it with your own custom designed MagicBand Skin from Magic YOUR Band. Click here to get started!
  • Now is a great time to research what attractions you and your family would like to see at the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. Because Walt Disney World is so large, it is very difficult to see everything during one trip, so be sure to get everyone’s top priorities. This is also a great time to begin looking at menus for counter service restaurants so that you have an idea of which locations serve foods that your entire family will enjoy.
  • Whether you are staying on site or off-property, be sure to purchase your admission tickets and link them to your My Disney Experience account.
  • 501 WaysOnce your tickets are linked and at exactly 60 days in advance of your check in date (midnight EST time) if you are staying on site or 30 days in advance for all other guests, login to your My Disney Experience account and book your Fastpass+ reservations.
  • If you are staying on site, be sure to check in online at 60 days out from your arrival date.
  • Double check your flight times and if you will be using Disney’s Magical Express for your airport transportation make your reservation at least 60 days in advance by clicking here.
  • It’s never too early to start creating a packing list so that you don’t forget anything.
  • Need more help planning? Please check out my new book 501 Ways to Make the Most of Your Walt Disney World Vacation, for hundreds of insider tips and secrets for having the most magical Disney World vacation possible!

Special Offers

If you haven’t already made your August 2016 reservations, be sure to check out these valuable resources to help you save money:

Join The Fun

Next Disney VacationDisney Vacation Planner Jennifer Hardy and I have teamed up to create a new Facebook Group called Next Disney Vacation! It is the perfect place to talk about your next Disney vacation, ask your questions, get them answered, and share the magic. 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! Please click here to be a part of our group!

Have a magical vacation!

“Finding Dory” Characters Join Turtle Talk This Summer

Turtle Talk

Finding Dory

Exciting news for Dory fans…this summer, Dory and a few of her new pals from Disney•Pixar’s “Finding Dory” will be joining Crush in Epcot’s Turtle Talk attraction. For the first time, you’ll be able to meet Bailey the beluga whale, Hank the septopus, and Destiny the whale shark. Also joining in the fun will be, Squirt, Nemo, and his dad Marlin.

Disney•Pixar’s “Finding Dory” reunites everyone’s favorite forgetful blue tang, Dory, with her friends Nemo and Marlin on a search for answers about her past. What can she remember? Who are her parents? And where did she learn to speak Whale? Directed by Andrew Stanton (“Finding Nemo,” “WALL•E”) and produced by Lindsey Collins (co-producer “WALL•E”), the film features the voices of Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Ed O’Neill, Kaitlin Olson, Ty Burrell, Eugene Levy and Diane Keaton. “Finding Dory” swims into theaters June 17, 2016.

The additions to Turtle Talk with Crush will be in place beginning in early May.

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 about the additions to Turtle Talk?
Please leave a comment; I would love to hear from you!

Joy And Sadness Joining Epcot Character Spot

Joy and Sadness

If you’re a fan of the Disney-Pixar Film “Inside Out” do I have some good news for you! At the beginning of April, the Epcot Character Spot will welcome Joy and Sadness from this favorite animated hit.

The original part of Epcot Character Spot will continue to offer meet and greets with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Goofy. Fastpass+ is available to meet these classic characters.

Across on the other side, guests will still be able queue up for a visit with Baymax, everyone’s favorite personal healthcare companion from “Big Hero 6”.

And beginning early in April, guests can visit Headquarters, by traveling through Riley’s long-term memory past her Islands of Personality, on the way to meet two of the emotions – Joy and Sadness.

Epcot Character Spot is a terrific place to meet some of the classic as well as new favorite characters!

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 meeting Joy and Sadness?
Please leave a comment; I would love to hear from you!

Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Themed Gift Card

Flower & Garden 4

Will you be visiting the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival this spring? If so, here’s a helpful tip for you; when making purchases at the Outdoor Kitchens rather than using cash, credit card, or MagicBand, why not use a Disney Gift Card? When I vacation during Flower & Garden in the spring or Food & Wine Festival in the fall, I always find it easier to load a Disney Gift Card and make my food and drink purchases with it. Not only does it help set a budget for my spending, it is also more convenient especially when using the mini gift cards that are designed with a wrist band.

For this year’s event, Disney is offering a brand new orange-scented (think Soarin’) mini gift card with an exclusive Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival design and wrist strap. You can activate this Disney Gift Card with as little as $15 and reload it as many times as you would like.

Currently the Epcot International Flower & Garden Design gift card is available at Boardwalk Inn, Beach Club, Yacht Club, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin as well as locations throughout Epcot while supplies last.

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:

Do you use a gift card during the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival?
Please leave a comment; I would love to hear from you!