Tag Archives: Magic Kingdom

Jul 3 2015

New Show Added To Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular

I’ve got some spooktacular news for you! This year Disney is adding an all new villain themed show to their Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party line up. The “Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular” will be presented exclusively during the party on the Castle Forecourt Stage. Here are the details courtesy of Disney Parks Blog:

In “Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular,” the mischievous Sanderson Sisters from Disney’s “Hocus Pocus” return to the mortal world for one night during the Halloween season. With only a few hours to run amuck, the three sisters decide to use their magic to throw the best, evil Halloween party this side of the graveyard!

With the help of the Disney villains, Winifred, Mary and Sarah gather together sinister shadows, nefarious nightmares and the power of their frightful friends to conjure the ultimate Hocus Pocus Party Potion and cast a spell on everyone in the Magic Kingdom Park. “Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular” features appearances by Dr. Facilier, Oogie Boogie, Maleficent and other great Disney villains, along with dancers, projections and special effects that combine to make this new show a not-to-be-missed Halloween treat.

HalloweenIf you aren’t familiar with this holiday celebration, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a lively and light-hearted experience and it is truly a family friendly event. There are special parades, exciting dance parties, stunning fireworks and tons of trick-or-treating stations filled with candy for everyone! My kids and I have such a great time every time we go. Adults and children alike really get into the spirit of the event by dressing in costume, trick-or-treating and dancing the night away with all of the characters. You’ll want to purchase your tickets as soon as possible if you plan to attend, because they do sell out. Please click here to purchase now!

Dates for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party include:

  • HalloweenSeptember 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27; October 1 – Advance: $68 (plus tax) for adults; $63 (plus tax) for children (ages 3-9); Day of the Event: $74 (plus tax) for adults; $69 (plus tax) for children (ages 3-9)
  • October 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, November 1 – Advance: $74 (plus tax) for adults; $69 (plus tax) for children (ages 3-9); Day of the Event: $79 (plus tax) for adults; $74 (plus tax) for children (ages 3-9)
  • Halloween – $87 (plus tax) for adults; $82 (plus tax) for children (ages 3-9)

The party is held at Magic Kingdom from 7pm to 12am.

Traveling to Disney World this fall?

Here’s a little video from last year’s party to get you in the spirit!

Have you got your tickets for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party?
Are you excited for the new show? Please leave a comment!

Jul 2 2015

Helpful Information For Your December 2015 Disney World Vacation

Christmas

So you are planning a vacation to Disney World in December 2015? December is a wonderful time of year to visit Walt Disney World. There is nothing quite like Disney World during the holidays!

Weather

The weather in Disney World during December is cool and fairly dry. The average high is about 72 degrees, the average low is about 51 degrees and the average rainfall is about 2.89 inches. It can sometimes get chilly especially during the evenings, so be sure to pack a few clothes for cooler weather, too.

Crowds

The crowds in December normally start out light and become extreme by Christmas week often causing temporary park closures due to reaching capacity especially at Magic Kingdom.

December 1 – December 5 – Average Crowd Level 3.0 out of 10
December 6 – December 12 – Average Crowd Level 3.7 out of 10
December 13 – December 19 – Average Crowd Level 5.6 out of 10
December 20 – December 26 – Average Crowd Level 9.4 out of 10
December 27 – December 31 – Average Crowd Level 10 out of 10

Park Hours

Magic Kingdom ClockThe Parks continue to be open several hours per day during the holiday season.

  • Magic Kingdom: Open most days from 9am – 10pm (plus Extra Magic Hours)
  • Epcot: Open from 9am – 9:30pm (plus Extra Magic Hours)
  • Hollywood Studios: Open most days from 9am – 8pm (plus Extra Magic Hours)
  • Animal Kingdom: Open most days from 9am – 6pm (plus Extra Magic Hours)

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

Events

ChristmasRunning through December 18, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will be held on select nights at Magic Kingdom. This party is a festive and heart warming experience for the entire family. There is a special holiday parade, entertaining shows, spectacular fireworks, hot chocolate and cookies, character dance parties, and even snow on Main Street! For more information including dates and pricing, please click here.

Disney World Holiday DecorationsEvery year at Epcot, the holiday season is celebrated with a special event called Holidays Around The World. This year the festive happening will be held through December 30. It is filled with yummy food, joyful music and wonderful traditions from countries around the globe. For more information and reservations, please click here!

Osborne Family SpectacleOn display throughout the holidays, 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 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Candlelight ProcessionalThe Candlelight Processional at Epcot is one of the most beloved holiday traditions at Disney World, with the joyous retelling of the Christmas story by a celebrity narrator, accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and glorious mass choir. Performances are held three times nightly throughout the holiday season at the America Gardens Theatre. For more information and reservations, please click here.

Christmas Tree CupcakeOn Christmas Day, several Disney World restaurants serve a special holiday meal. No details have been released for 2015 yet, but check back often as I will update this post as soon as any new information becomes available. If you have your heart set on eating at a particular restaurant for Christmas, be sure to make your dining reservation right away, because holidays do fill up quickly. Disney World dining reservations can be made by clicking here.

New Years 3If you’ll be visiting Disney World for the ringing in of 2016 there are plenty of fun-filled options available to celebrate the holiday including special entertainment and dining. For more information about celebrating New Year’s in Walt Disney World, please click here.

Refurbishments

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

Magic Kingdom

  • Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover: December 7 – December 10, 2015

Epcot

  • Frozen Ever After: October 5 – May 1, 2016
  • Sum of All Thrills: November 30 – December 4, 2015

Hollywood Studios

Animal Kingdom

Water Parks

  • Blizzard Beach: Park Closed October 4 – January 2, 2016

Downtown Disney

  • Downtown Disney is undergoing a major transformation to become the reimagined Disney Springs. Construction will be finished in phases with the final completion date set for Fall 2016.

Resort Hotels

  • All Star Sports: Grand Slam Pool October 26 – December 18, 2015
  • Animal Kingdom Lodge: Uzima Pool December 14 – 16, 2015
  • Boardwalk Inn: Exterior Painting August 17, 2015 – May 5, 2016
  • Polynesian Resort: Polynesian East Pool To Be Completed In 2016
  • Pop Century: Computer Pool November 30 – December 3, 2015, Bowling Pin Pool December 7 – 10, 2015
  • Port Orleans French Quarter: Kiddie Pool September 8 – December 23, 2015
  • Walt Disney World Swan: Ongoing Guest Room Refurbishments To Be Completed In 2015
  • 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 December 2015, 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, especially if you are trying to book a special dinner for Christmas.
  • Christmas Magic YOUR BandIf 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 December 2015 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!

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 23 2015

The Adventures Of Flat Mickey – June 2015

Flat Mickey

Are you missing Disney World? Be sure to follow “The Adventures of Flat Mickey” all week-long on Twitter to get your Disney World fix!

Heading to Disney World?

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:

Jun 23 2015

Celebrating The 4th Of July In Disney World

Independence Day

If you are one of the lucky ones who are headed to Disney World for the 4th of July, you are in luck. As usual Disney has lots of fun planned. Here are all of the latest details courtesy of Disney:

Guests can rock their patriotic Disney Side at Walt Disney World Resort on July 3 and 4 to celebrate Independence Day. With themed souvenirs, characters adorned in festive attire and breathtaking fireworks bursting in air, it is a magical two-day celebration to honor America’s birthday.

Independence DayPatriotic firework displays light up the sky the evenings of July 3 and 4:

  • A 14-minute fireworks spectacular rockets into the air above Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom both nights at 10 p.m. with “Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky.”
  • At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the “Coolest Summer Ever” Dance Party leads up to a “Rockin’ Fourth of July Celebration” fireworks show, a pyrotechnic, rock ‘n roll trip across America, where the DJ kicks things off at 5:45 p.m. and keeps the party going until fireworks time at 10:15 p.m.
  • Epcot’s awe-inspiring nighttime spectacular “Illuminations: Reflections of Earth” features a special finale with a bit of red, white and blue flare at 9 p.m. on July 3 and 4.

Epcot features a few additional fanfare festivities on July 4 to add to the flag-waving spirit of the holiday. The Voices of Liberty perform a Fourth of July concert at the America Gardens Theatre at 12:30, 1:45, and 3 p.m., and in the American Adventure pavilion at 4:15 and 5 p.m. The celebration proceeds on a high note with the Sounds Like Summer concert series onstage at the America Gardens Theatre featuring “Don’t Look Back – A Boston Tribute Band,” with performances at 5:15, 6:30, 7:45 and 9 p.m. Special patriotic character greetings also are available at various times throughout the day.

Independence DayIndependence Day festivities cannot be complete without a few star-spangled souvenirs, including USA shirts, trading pins and red, white and blue socks. A few festive treats also will be available in various merchandise locations.

The Fourth of July fun continues at the Walt Disney World resort hotels. They will host patriotic poolside activities throughout the day for resort guests, including Fourth of July-themed crafts and games, pool parties and movies under the stars at select resorts.

501 WaysHeading to Disney World?

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 4th of July in Disney World?
Are you going this year? Please leave a comment!