Disney World News – Holiday Happenings At Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios Holidays

It’s that time of year again when each of the Walt Disney World theme parks goes all out for the holidays! Let’s check out some of the holiday happenings being offered at Hollywood Studios:

Osborne Family SpectacleOne of the most beloved traditions at Hollywood Studios is The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights which features millions of dancing lights, plus animated displays and 3-D effects perfectly synchronized to electrifying holiday tunes amidst snowfall. This dazzling show is running from now until January 4, 2015. This year there are over 80 hidden Mickeys to be found throughout the display. Here’s a video giving a behind-the-scenes peek:

Frozen Summer Fun

Frozen Holiday Premium Package is available from now until January 4, 2015. This package includes reserved seating for a performance of For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration at the Premiere Theatre, reserved Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights viewing with a Frozen-themed dessert party (which will feature mini Anna cupcakes and mini Elsa cupcakes among other delicious treats) in the evening, a holiday themed lithograph and a Frozen pin. The package costs $89 per adult and $59 per child (ages 3 – 9) plus tax (gratuity is included). Valid theme park admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios is required and is not included in this package price. For more information or to purchase tickets, please click here.

Comedy WarehouseBeginning December 20 through January 4, 2015, the Comedy Warehouse Holiday Special will return. Here’s the scoop from Disney: Back by popular demand, it’s the Comedy Warehouse Holiday Special—an interactive improv extravaganza where anyone in the audience could find themselves reigned in as part of the funny. Come join in the hoots as holiday-seasoned comedians field suggestions from the crowd to compose knee-slapping Christmas songs, put their own spin on classic stories and poems, and invent absurdly hilarious scenarios—all festive, all on the fly and all family-friendly, of course. The show is 20 minutes in duration and takes place in the Superstar Television Theater. Show times are scheduled at 12:45pm, 1:45pm, 2:45pm, 5:00pm, 6:00pm and 7:00pm daily (subject to change) and Fastpass+ is available.

Gingerbread CupcakeAnd what holiday celebration would be complete without some festive food and drink? You might want to try a delicious gingerbread cupcake or maybe a specialty Christmas cocktail. There’s the Gumdrop with Stoli Razberi vodka, Chambord, Sprite, pineapple and cranberry juices garnished with candy gumdrops. Plus other favorites such as a Winter Berry and Torched Holiday Cider, the Very Merry Cherry, and the Holiday Delight – a tasty combination of Bacardi Razz rum, blue curacao, orange juice and a splash of Sprite with a souvenir glow cube.

(all photos & video courtesy of Disney)
Happy Holidays!

Star Wars Weekends 2015

Star Wars Weekends

Have you heard the exciting news? Disney just released the dates for Star Wars Weekends in 2015. Here’s the schedule:

Star Wars Weekends will be held every weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) from May 15 – June 14, 2015.

  • Weekend I: May 15 – 17, 2015
  • Weekend II: May 22 – 24, 2015
  • Weekend III: May 29 – 31, 2015
  • Weekend IV: June 5 – 7, 2015
  • Weekend V: June 12 – 14, 2015

More details will be coming over the next few weeks and months, but we know there will be yummy treats, special shows, parades, presentations, autograph sessions and chances to meet the characters and celebrities. There are already three dining experiences available for booking. They are:

  • Star Wars Dine-In Galactic Breakfast – This breakfast is being served at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theatre restaurant and includes characters such as Darth Vader, Boba Fett, Greedo, Jawas and Stormtroopers. The meal is offered from 8:00am to 11:00am and the price is $49.99 for adults and $31.99 for children ages 3 to 9 years old.
  • Jedi Mickey’s Star Wars Dine at Hollywood and Vine – This dinner is being served at the Hollywood and Vine restaurant and includes characters such as Jedi Mickey, Princess Leia Minnie, Darth Vader Goofy, Storm Trooper Donald and Ewoks Chip ‘n’ Dale. The meal is offered from 4:15pm to 8:00pm and is complete with special music, décor and a themed menu. The price is $57.99 for adults and $34.99 for children ages 3 to 9 years old.
  • Jedi Mickey’s Star Wars Dine at Hollywood and Vine Including Fantasmic! Dining Package – This package includes the dinner at Hollywood and Vine as well as reserved seating at the first Fantasmic! show. The price is $63.99 for adults and $38.99 for children ages 3 to 9 years old.

These dining opportunities will book up quickly, so be sure to make your reservations right away by clicking the links above or by calling 407-WDW-DINE.

I’m most looking forward to all of the yummy Star Wars themed cupcakes that they offer like this year’s Darth Vader and Yoda. Have you seen this adorable video from this past summer?

A Tale of Two Resorts

Anyone else excited for Star Wars Weekends? Please leave a comment!
(all photos and video courtesy of Disney)

Honoring The Disney Turkey Leg

Turkey Leg

In honor of Thanksgiving this week, I thought this would be the perfect time to pay tribute to the famous Disney turkey leg. These Flintstone-like hunks of meat are a fan favorite and even a rite of passage for many park-goers. The Disney turkey leg has such a loyal fan base that Disney even offers turkey leg merchandise such as t-shirts, pins, air fresheners (That’s right folks, you can make your car smell like a turkey leg!), magnets and more. Here’s a little turkey leg trivia for you:

  • Disney Turkey LegThe Disney turkey leg made its debut in the late 1980’s at a kiosk in Frontierland at Magic Kingdom.
  • More than 1.8 million pounds of turkey drumsticks are consumed every year in Disney World’s four theme parks – Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
  • Each drumstick weighs about 1.5 pounds.
  • Despite the persistent rumors that these are emu legs, the drumsticks do in fact come from male turkeys that generally weigh 50 pounds or more.
  • Each turkey leg is approximately 720 calories with about 36 grams of fat.
  • The turkey legs range in price from $10 – $13 depending on the location and if it comes with a side dish.

If you are going to be in Disney World for Thanksgiving (or anytime) and want to try one of these enormous drumsticks, they can be found at:

Anyone hungry for turkey now? Happy Thanksgiving and I hope you have a wonderful holiday!

What do you think of Disney turkey legs? Love ’em or hate ’em? Please leave a comment!

Making a trip to Disneyland, Disney World or both? Need help planning your dining? If so, please check out my book, A Tale of Two Resorts: Comparing Disneyland and Disney World. This reference guide offers a complete listing of every dining location from table service to snack stand available at both resorts plus helpful information about each and every dining spot such as location, atmosphere, cuisine type, meals served, dress code, menu selections, kid’s meal options and more.
Available from Amazon!

 

Disney World News – What’s Happening With Disney Springs?

Disney Springs

There are always changes happening at Disney World and one of the biggest that is taking place right now is the transformation of Downtown Disney into the newly reimagined Disney Springs. When Downtown Disney’s largest expansion in history is complete in 2016, the dining, shopping and entertainment options will have doubled, Buena Vista Drive will have been expanded to ten lanes (including a dedicated bus lane), an I-4 interchange will have been added to allow for direct access, two pedestrian bridges will have been built as well as two parking garages (the first of which opens tomorrow offering 4,000 guest parking spaces).

Disney Springs will include four areas known as The Landing, Marketplace, West Side and Town Center that will be host to over 150 shopping, dining and entertainment venues. A lot of progress has already been made with the addition of two Starbucks locations, nightly entertainment at the Waterview Stage, the announcements of THE BOATHOUSE and Morimoto Asia, and the recent installation of the Springs Bottling Co. sign. Check out this time-lapse video:

Another soon-to-be-realized change is the walkway between The Landing and the West Side will be fully opened by the end of November.


Later this month, we’ll also see the opening of the Food Trucks at Exposition Park in the West Side which will serve as their new permanent home. If you haven’t tried them yet, here’s the scoop:

Fantasy Fare Food Truck – This truck offers favorite foods from Disney Parks around the world such as hand-dipped corn dogs from Disneyland, chicken & waffles from Magic Kingdom and Croque Monsieur from Disneyland Paris.

 

Namaste Café Food Truck – This truck offers foods from Disney’s Animal Kingdom such as tandoori shrimp, naan with samosas, butter chicken and lamb kefta.

 

Superstar Catering Food Truck  – This truck offers the flavors of Disney’s Hollywood Studios with menu items such as a pot roast sandwich, margarita flatbread and a turkey meatball sub.

 

World Showcase of Flavors Food Truck – This truck features favorites from Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival such as pierogies, beef sliders and a grilled chicken breast gyro.

 

Would you like to know more about the back story of Disney Springs? Check out this interesting video:

I’m so excited to explore all of the changes to Downtown Disney on my next visit and I can’t wait to see the World of Disney Store once it has been expanded. I better start saving souvenir money now!

What are you most looking forward to with the reimagined Disney Springs?
Please leave a comment!

(all photos, concept art and videos courtesy of Disney)

Destinations in Florida - Florida Travel Specialists

Disney World News – Celebrating New Year’s At Disney World

Disney World New Years

If you will be in Disney World for New Year’s this holiday season, several dining options are being offered. Here’s the scoop from WDW News:

Guests visiting Walt Disney World Resort can ring in the new year with special holiday meals at more than a dozen spots within the theme parks and resorts.

At Epcot World Showcase, Biergarten Restaurant in Germany is offering both lunch and dinner celebrations; La Hacienda de San Angel in Mexico is offering a New Year’s Eve dinner; Le Cellier Steakhouse in Canada has three seatings, and Monsieur Paul in France starts celebrating at 11:45 a.m. with seatings throughout the day and evening.  The World ShowPlace pavilion also will host a custom dinner package.

In the Magic Kingdom, Tomorrowland Terrace will feature a New Year’s Eve fireworks dessert party twice nightly on December 30-31. At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Hollywood & Vine will host a special holiday dinner buffet.

In the resorts, special dining for ringing in the New Year is planned at Flying Fish Café at Disney’s BoardWalk; Victoria & Albert’s and Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa; The Wave…of American Flavors and California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort; and Trail’s End Restaurant at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground (lunch and dinner).

For information and reservations, please call 407-WDW-DINE .

Be sure to call right away, seating is limited and fills up quickly!

Happy Holidays!