Tag Archives: News

Nov 29 2015

Disney World Enthusiast Weekly Round Up November 29, 2015

Here’s the Disney World Enthusiast Weekly Round Up for November 29, 2015!

Latest Disney World Enthusiast Articles

ChristmasTip Of The Week

If you will be attending one of the hard ticket events in Magic Kingdom such as Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, keep in mind that your ticket will allow entry to the park as early as 4pm. To make the most of your party time, get some rest in the afternoon so that you will be able to stay all the way until the end. Also, by eating an early dinner before you arrive, you can spend your time on one-of-a-kind party experiences rather than at a meal.

Looking for more tips like this? Click here!

Disney Springs Christmas 6Disney Did You Know

There are 1,300 decorated trees throughout the Walt Disney World Resort.

Walt DisneyWalt’s Words

 “I would rather entertain and hope that people learned something than educate people and hope they were entertained.”

Creative Countdown 1Disney World Enthusiast Giveaway

From now through Thursday, December 3, 2015 at midnight, please enter daily to win a Countdown To Disney. Just click here and follow the instructions to be entered into the giveaway. Be sure to take advantage of the bonus entries, and please tell your friends and family to enter as well!

Icon S3Behind The Magic Podcast

Be sure to catch up on this week’s episodes when Zeek, Rachel, Tim, Richard, Sarah and I discuss Disney news, rumors, and so much more. For more information about this week’s podcasts or to listen, please click here.

Featured Advertiser

BitbeltHave you heard of this incredible gadget – Bitbelt? If you aren’t familiar, this handy creation secures your MagicBand so that it doesn’t accidentally become lost. Anyone that carries a child, a backpack, or wears a jacket at Disney World knows how easily a MagicBand can become unclasped. That’s where this little beauty comes in! Simply place a Bitbelt on your MagicBand and save yourself the trouble of having to search for a lost band or take the time to get a replacement. Bitbelts come in a dozen different colors and in two sizes – adult and junior. They are only $4.99 each plus they offer discounted pricing when you purchase multiple Bitbelts in one order. And if you think Bitbelts are great for MagicBands, they are also available for your fitness trackers. Never lose a pricey Fitbit again! For more information about Bitbelt, please click here!

501 WaysFeatured Book

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.

Considering A Disney World Vacation

Book Your Disney VacationJennifer Hardy, a Disney Vacation Planner with Destinations in Florida, is the official travel partner of Disney World Enthusiast. She can help you book your next Disney vacation whether it is to Disney World, Disneyland, or aboard the Disney Cruise Line. Currently Jennifer has some incredible deals for discounted travel to Disney World. For more information about Jennifer’s amazing and absolutely free services or to get a free no-obligation quote, please click here!

You’re Invited

Next Disney VacationJennifer Hardy, from Destinations in Florida, and I have teamed up to create a brand new Facebook Group called Next Disney Vacation! It is the perfect place to talk about your next Disney vacation, voice your opinions, ask your questions, get them answered, and share the magic. Whether it’s Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World, or the Disney Cruise Line, Jennifer and I are ready to help. 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 and conversation! Please click here to be a part of our group!

dwe logo small size white bkgdComing Up Next Week

Next week I’ll have more holiday and dining information plus all of the latest Disney World news!

Have a wonderful week!

Nov 28 2015

Behind The Magic Podcast Recap November 23 – November 27, 2015

Icon S3

Welcome to Season 3 of Behind The Magic Podcast!

This “snack credit” of podcasts is a unique 15-minute daily Disney podcast hosted by Zeek, Rachel, Tim, Sarah, Richard, and me. Every day Monday through Friday you can join us for entertaining Disney information, discussions, guests, games, and more. Zeek and Rachel will be surprising you each and every day with all of their fabulous humor and Disney insider knowledge. And of course, Tim will keep you up-to-date on Disney news with his daily “Mouse News Minute” segment.

Here’s a quick peek at what you can expect each day during Season 3:

  • Monday ~ Magical Mondays with fun and games!
  • Tuesday ~ Topical Tuesdays with Top Ten lists and discussions featuring Richard’s “2 Cents To The Scoop” segment!
  • Wednesday ~ With Us Wednesdays with celebrity guests from around the Disney Universe!
  • Thursday ~ Theme Park Thursdays with fun information, facts, and stories about the parks featuring my “Mouse Whispers” segment!
  • Friday ~ Field Trip Fridays with information and discussions helpful to your park visit featuring Sarah’s “2 Minute Table Service” segment!

This Week’s Episodes

This week’s episodes include:

  • Monday ~ Tournament of Podcasts
  • Tuesday ~ Topical Tuesday Multiball
  • Wednesday ~ Behind DisDads Aaron’s Revenge

For more details about each episode and to listen, please click here!

We hope you enjoy our show!

Nov 27 2015

Remember Creative Countdown’s Countdown To Disney Giveaway

Creative Countdown 1

Savor the Suspense!

Remember To Enter Daily To Win

Remember to enter daily to win a Countdown To Disney from now through Thursday, December 3 at midnight. Good luck, everyone!

Review

Recently I had the pleasure of reviewing Creative Countdown’s Countdown To Disney. If you aren’t familiar with this product, this fabulous countdown allows you to “Savor the Suspense” as you tear off a page each day getting just a little bit closer to that wonderful Disney magic!

Creative CountdownCreative Countdown is the incredible company launched in 2012 by two entrepreneurial moms – Amy Gamber and Joanie Hickey. Their company gives people a fun and unique way to countdown to some of the most memorable moments of their lives such as a graduation, a wedding, the birth of a child, or a magical Walt Disney World vacation.

Through their website, Creative Countdown allows customers the ability to customize one of their many countdown designs with daily personalized messages. For my review, I was able to go on to the Creative Countdown site and customize one of the countdowns for my Summer 2016 Walt Disney World Family Vacation. I added messages to remind my family to book advanced dining reservations, to create our touring plans, to book Fastpass+ reservations, to customize our MagicBands, to check in online, and more. For a planner like myself, Creative Countdown is a dream come true!

When my personalized Countdown To Disney arrived, it was even better that I had hoped. The quality in both the printing and the binding is outstanding. My family and I will love having this daily reminder of how close we are getting to our magical Walt Disney World vacation!

Here’s all of the important information that you’ll need to get yourself a Creative Countdown:

  • Creative Countdowns are available for purchase on CreativeCountdown.com.
  • They offer a variety of styles of countdowns including standard tear-off, personalized tear off, personalized flip stand, and personalized email.
  • The standard tear-off 60 day Countdown To Disney is $9.95.
  • The personalized tear-off countdown starts at $19.95 for 30 pages and additional pages can be added for $0.25 each.
  • The personalized tear-off countdowns can hold up to 400 pages.
  • There are 29 different designs available including options for holidays, weddings, births, graduations, vacations, and more.
  • If you need help personalizing your countdown, they have hundreds of quick-fill entries available that you can use and edit.
  • Creative Countdowns are a wonderful gift idea for friends and family!

The Giveaway

Interested in getting a Creative Countdown of your own? Well, you’re in luck! From now through Thursday, December 3 , 2015 at midnight, please enter daily to win a Countdown To Disney. Just click the image below and follow the instructions to be entered into the giveaway. Be sure to take advantage of the bonus entries, and please feel free to share with your friends and family!

Click image to enter!

Can’t wait and need a Creative Countdown right away?
Please click this link to purchase one today!

Nov 26 2015

What I’m Thankful For At Disney World

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Is your turkey in the oven? Are you watching the parade or maybe one of the big games? I hope you have a wonderful day planned with family and friends. There are so many things to be thankful for this year, I thought it would be fun to create a list of what I’m most thankful for at Walt Disney World.

The Memories

I am thankful for all of the memories I’ve enjoyed with my family and friends throughout the years on our Disney World vacations. I’ve been visiting the resort since I was a baby and so have my kids. The special times that I have shared with my loved ones are priceless.

IMG_8789The Cast Members

It is the cast members that are really what makes Disney World unique. Without their smiling faces, hard work, and exceptional hospitality, Disney World would just be like any other theme park.

Magic Kingdom Holiday FireworksOther Guests

Sure, you might come across a few guests that drive you nuts, but for the most part, I find most of the people at Disney World to be friendly and just enjoying the magic. My family and I have had lots of fun talking with other visitors in line and while waiting for shows. Part of what makes Disney so magical is the shared experience. Imagine watching Wishes all by yourself with no other guests in the park…it wouldn’t feel the same, would it?

Pirates 1The Attractions

The Disney Imagineers have poured their hearts and souls into these attractions and it shows. Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Big Thunder Mountain, Tower of Terror, Everest…the list goes on and on. These are not just “rides”.

The Treats

I am thankful for all of the Disney treats. I could spend my entire vacation eating nothing but desserts!

Epcot's World Fellowship FountainWhat It Represents

Lastly, I am also thankful for what Walt Disney World represents. To me, this resort is more than just attractions, food, and fun, at its heart Disney World embodies all that is good in the world. It is a symbol of family, fun, friendship, goodwill, charity, hospitality, love, peace, education, acceptance, hard work, determination, imagination, and dreams. During the holiday season and throughout the year, Disney World and Walt’s legacy demonstrate a “world” that we should strive to become.

What about Disney World are you most thankful for?
Please leave a comment; I would love to hear from you!
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
Nov 25 2015

Helpful Information For Your April 2016 Disney World Vacation

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

Weather

Minnie with Flowers 2The weather in Disney World during April is the best of the year. The average high is about 83 degrees, the average low is about 59 degrees and the average rainfall is only about 2.28 inches. April is the second driest month of the year behind November. Don’t forget that even though it reaches the 80’s by afternoon, the early mornings, late evenings and heavily air-conditioned attractions are still chilly.

Crowds

April begins with high crowd levels as we wrap up Easter week and the Spring Break season. The remainder of the month will see moderate crowds throughout the resort. Crowds will feel larger in Magic Kingdom and Epcot as many travelers skip Hollywood Studios completely due to construction and only spend limited time in Animal Kingdom. Epcot will also see slightly higher crowd levels during the weekends as many locals enjoy visiting the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival.

Magic Kingdom Welcome ShowApril 1 – April 2
Average Crowd Level 8.5 out of 10
April 3 – April 9
Average Crowd Level 5.9 out of 10
April 10 – April 16
Average Crowd Level 6.0 out of 10
April 17 – April 23
Average Crowd Level 5.7 out of 10
April 23 – April 30
Average Crowd Level 5.7 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 – 8pm (plus Extra Magic Hours)
Animal Kingdom
Open most days from 9am – 5pm (plus Extra Magic Hours)

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

Events

Epcot International Flower And Garden FestivalA wonderful part about visiting Disney World in April is the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. In 2016, the event will run from March 2 – May 30 and features over 100 topiaries, interesting gardening demonstrations, beautiful flowers, weekend music concerts and several outdoor kitchens serving delicious foods and beverages. For more information about the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, please click here.

Star Wars Marathon 2From April 14 – 17, 2016, the Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend will be held. This fantastic event includes kids races, a 5K, a 10K, and a half marathon. For more information, please click here.

And of course, every year on Earth Day, Animal Kingdom hosts the Party for the Planet which usually includes interesting animal and conservation presentations, crafts and games for the kids, and specialty merchandise and snacks.

Refurbishments

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

Magic Kingdom
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: April 4 – July 15, 2016
Walt Disney World Railroad: April 11 – April 22, 2016

Epcot Flower & Garden FestivalEpcot
Frozen Ever After: October 5 – June 1, 2016
Soarin’: January 4 – June 16, 2016
The Circle of Life: February 7 – April 2, 2016

Hollywood Studios
Pizza Planet: January 11 – TBD
Star Wars Land: Opening TBD
Toy Story Land: Opening TBD

Animal Kingdom
Pandora – The World of AVATAR: Opening TBD
Rivers of Light: Opening in 2016

Water Parks
No Scheduled Refurbishments At This Time

Disney Springs
Planet Hollywood: January 1 – June 1, 2016

Resort Hotels
Boardwalk Inn: Flying Fish Café February 1, 2016 – September 30, 2016
Caribbean Beach Resort: Aruba Pool February 22 – April 15, 2016
Polynesian Village Resort: Polynesian East Pool To Be Completed In 2016
Walt Disney World Dolphin: Guest Room Refurbishments 2016 – 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 April 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 April 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!