Nov 12 2014

Disney World News – The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights Returns

A favorite Disney World holiday tradition returns to Hollywood Studios again this year! Here’s the scoop from Disney:

The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights features millions of dancing lights, plus animated displays and 3-D effects perfectly synchronized to electrifying holiday tunes amidst snowfall. The rich tradition takes place on the Streets of America, dazzling guests from November 7, 2014 – January 4, 2015.

If you aren’t going to be able to see the lights in person this year, please enjoy this video from 2011 that gives the history of the display as well as a sample of the Dancing Lights!

Happy Holidays!

Nov 11 2014

Do You Want To Build A Snowman? How To Draw Olaf

As I am writing this, the temperature outside my window has plummeted and the snow has begun to fall. By tomorrow, I might actually be able to go outside and build a snowman. However, I am not a fan of cold weather so I think I would much rather stay inside my warm and cozy house and try my hand at drawing a snowman instead. I love the Animation Academy at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. On every trip, my family and I go there to attempt to draw one of Disney’s beloved characters. Sometimes our creations are true works of art and other times they are just hilarious souvenirs. If you get the chance, I highly recommend trying it the next time you are in Disney World. In the meantime, please check out this video on how to draw everyone’s favorite snowman, Olaf, right in the comfort of your own home! And if you are like me and wishing for a just little more summer, please check out Olaf singing “In Summer.”

Happy Holidays!

Nov 6 2014

Disney World News – Celebrate Thanksgiving At Disney World

If you are fortunate enough to be in Disney World on Thanksgiving Day this year, you have several places to choose from for your special Thanksgiving meal. Here’s the scoop from Disney:

Walt Disney World Resort guests can indulge in a fresh take on an American tradition by enjoying their Thanksgiving feast November 27, 2014 with a bounty of Disney tastes. With more than 30 different dining choices at Disney theme parks and resorts, families and friends can come together for a variety of Thanksgiving lunch and dinner offerings.

Special holiday menus include roasted turkey breast with all the trimmings plus traditional Norwegian meatballs and pan-seared salmon at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, poppy seed lavash, house-made naan, and apple-cranberry achar at Sanaa, roasted heirloom beets with candied walnuts and mulled apple cider at Artist Point, and other unique dishes to enjoy with the holiday classics.

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, and Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room, as well as quick service at Sunshine Seasons.

Holiday menus also are offered at Be Our Guest Restaurant and Tony’s Town Square Restaurant in Magic Kingdom, Hollywood & Vine and The Hollywood Brown Derby in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Tusker House Restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Within the Walt Disney World Resort hotels, special Thanksgiving dining options are available at:

Artist Point and Whispering Canyon Café at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
California Grill and The Wave… of American Flavors at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Cape May Café at Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Captain’s Grille and Yachtsman Steakhouse at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
End Zone Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
Flying Fish Café at Disney’s BoardWalk
Mickey’s Backyard Thanksgiving Feast and Trail’s End Restaurant at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
Grand Floridian Café, Narcoossee’s and Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Jiko – The Cooking Place at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Kona Café at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Olivia’s Café at Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Sanaa at Disney’s Kidani Village Resort
Shutters at Old Port Royale at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
The Turf Club Bar and Grill at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

Availability is limited and dining events are subject to change. For information and reservations, please call 407-WDW-DINE.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Nov 5 2014

Disney World News – Big Hero 6 Arrives At Hollywood Studios

Anyone else excited for this Friday’s release of the new Disney film, Big Hero 6? My boys and I have been watching the preview of this movie for months and can’t wait to see it. Disney is preparing for its release as well by readying a new Meet & Greet and creating lots of great Big Hero 6 merchandise. Here’s the scoop from Disney Parks Blog:

Big Hero 6 Meet & Greet

After Disney’s new animated feature Big Hero 6 hits theaters in November, the stars of the film are heading to Disney Parks to greet their fans. At Walt Disney World Resort, Disney’s Hollywood Studios guests can step inside The Magic of Disney Animation attraction to tour the lab from the San Fransokyo Institute of Technology, and then meet Hiro Hamada and his huggable buddy Baymax in Hiro’s garage workshop.

Big Hero 6 Merchandise

There are merchandise items that were developed specifically for Disney Parks. They include some apparel items and a six-pin, open edition pin set. In select merchandise locations in Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort, guests will also find a limited release, graphic MagicBand. In order to purchase this retail MagicBand, guests must present one of the following for the MagicBand to be linked to at the time of purchase: valid theme park admission, Memory Maker card or an active MagicBand. A D-Tech on Demand case for the iPhone 5/5S will be released at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. In the D-Tech on Demand boutique at the Marketplace Co-Op in Downtown Disney Marketplace, guests will soon find six new art designs with characters from the film. The cases shown above are for the iPhone 6, but they are also offered for iPhone 4/4S, iPhone 5/5S, iPhone 5C, Samsung Galaxy SIII and Samsung Galaxy S4 at the boutique. We will begin offering cases for iPhone 6+ and Samsung Galaxy S5 later in November at D-Tech on Demand. Finally, there will be a limited release Vinylmation mystery series coming to Disney Parks in early November.

Please look for my review of Big Hero 6 this Friday, November 7!

Oct 28 2014

Disney World News – Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post Returns

Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post, one of the most popular parts of last summer’s Frozen Summer Fun event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, is back and staying put through the holidays! Oaken’s has reopened in a new space on Streets of America near Studio Catering Co. and the Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show. The new Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post and Frozen Snowground feature a larger-than-ever play area with real snow, plenty of Frozen merchandise, and those yummy Frozen-inspired cupcakes and other treats. Plus every 30 minutes or so, you may even catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights shimmering in the night sky!