Tag Archives: Walt Disney World

Spaceship Earth at Night
May 14 2018

Helpful Information For Your June 2018 Disney World Vacation

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

Weather

The weather in Disney World during June is hot and rainy. The average high is about 91 degrees, the average low is about 71 degrees, and the average rainfall is about 8.32 inches. You can expect some rain every afternoon or evening, so be sure to bring your poncho!

Crowds

You can anticipate the crowd levels throughout the month of June to be moderate to high as many families enjoy a summer vacation to the most magical place on earth. Unlike Spring Break or Christmas, summer travelers are spread out over a three month time frame making this a much more manageable time of year to visit.

Magic Kingdom Welcome ShowJune 1 – June 2
Average Crowd Level 8.0 out of 10
June 3 – June 9
Average Crowd Level 8.0 out of 10
June 10 – June 16
Average Crowd Level 6.4 out of 10
June 17 – June 23
Average Crowd Level 6.0 out of 10
June 24 – June 30
Average Crowd Level 6.1 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 – 9:30pm (plus Extra Magic Hours)
Animal Kingdom
Open most days from 9am – 9pm (plus Extra Magic Hours)

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

Events

On Thursday and Saturday evenings beginning June 21, Disney will be throwing a glowing pool party at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon. For more information or to purchase tickets, please click here.

On June 30, get ready for the long awaited opening of Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. For more information about this new area of the park, please click here.

Refurbishments

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

Magic Kingdom
Liberty Square Riverboat: January 8, 2018 – July 19, 2018
Tron Themed Attraction: Opening in 2021

Cinderella CastleEpcot
Guardians of the Galaxy Themed Attraction: Opening in 2021
Kringla Bakeri og Kafe: February 4, 2018 – Summer 2018
Ratatouille Attraction: Opening in 2021
Space Themed Table Service Restaurant: TBD

Hollywood Studios
Alien Swirling Saucers: Opening June 30, 2018
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway: Opening in 2019
Slinky Dog Dash: Opening June 30, 2018
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge: Opening in 2019
Toy Story Mania: June 11, 2018 – June 18, 2018

Animal Kingdom
No Scheduled Refurbishments At This Time

Water Parks
No Scheduled Refurbishments At This Time

Disney Springs
No Scheduled Refurbishments At This Time

Planning Tips

If you are traveling to Disney World in June 2018, 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 (7:00am 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 June 2018 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 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!

May 13 2018

Disney World Enthusiast Weekly Round Up May 13, 2018

Here’s the Disney World Enthusiast Weekly Round Up for May 13, 2018!

Latest Disney World Enthusiast Articles

Club CoolTip Of The Week

In Epcot’s Future World near the Fountain View Café is a fantastic spot to explore called Club Cool. This location has lots of fun Coca-Cola merchandise, plus it offers free unlimited self-serve samples of Coke flavors from around the world. The tastes range from awesome to awful which adds to the entertainment value. I have a hilarious photo from the first time my son tried the Beverly. Beware – that flavor is only for the adventurous! So when you get hot and thirsty, be sure to stop in.

Looking for more tips like this? Click here!

Star Wars WeekendsDisney Did You Know

Mickey Mouse has more than 136 different sets of duds, ranging from a scuba suit to a tuxedo. Minnie Mouse’s wardrobe contains more than 100 outfits, including everything from a cheerleader ensemble to evening gowns.

Walt’s Words

“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”

Featured Advertiser

Create your own unique look with a personalized Disney MagicBand Skin. Magic YOUR Band has a range of designs to choose from that you can use as-is or customize with your own text. And if you want to take it to the next level, you can even upload your own photos or images to fully personalize, customize, and decorate your MagicBand. With great discounts for multi-buys, why not create one for the whole family? For more information or to start customizing your own Magic YOUR Band Skin now, please click here.

501 WaysFeatured Book

UPDATED FOR 2018! 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 Walt 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 some planning information plus all of the latest Disney World news!

Have a wonderful week!

May 11 2018

Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante In Disney Springs

Looking for a new place to get your Italian food fix during your Walt Disney World vacation? Head on over to Disney Springs to dine at the warm and friendly Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante. Here’s everything you need to know courtesy of Disney:

Patina Restaurant Group recently opened the doors of the stunning new Italian restaurant located at the reimagined Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort — Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante.

The new dining destination brings to Disney Springs the warmth of Italy and the dreamiest Italian cuisine this side of the Atlantic, courtesy of Executive Chef Theo Schoenegger. 

Disney restaurants often have a backstory, part of the company’s tradition of immersive storytelling. Mirroring that tradition, Patina Restaurant Group collaborated with Walt Disney Imagineering to create the story for Maria & Enzo’s.

“The story behind Maria and Enzo is one of travel, food, love and friendship, all steeped in Italian tradition,” said Valenti, referring to the backstory of Maria and Enzo, an Italian couple that immigrated to Central Florida in the 1920s. “Their story is set in a long-forgotten sea-plane air terminal that became the setting for the restaurant.

“We couldn’t be happier to have a chef as talented as Theo Schoenegger,” Valenti continued. “A native Italian with an incredible repertoire, his cooking has a delicious authenticity that brings the story to life.”

Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante

An intimate Italian trattoria set in the once-abandoned Disney Springs airline terminal from the 1930s, now transformed into a restaurant. The dining room is open and airy, featuring 50-foot ceilings with views of Lake Buena Vista. The restaurant interiors showcase artifacts that recall air travel of the time, with brightly illustrated pictographs, reimagined air terminal boarding gates and a First Class Lounge where randomly selected guests are upgraded upon arrival. The menu, created by Michelin star-rated Chef Theo Schoenegger, features a variety of handmade pastas including Busiate con Granchio (spiral pasta with crab), Rigatoni all Norma (eggplant, chile, tomato, ricotta salata) and ‘Ncasciata al Forno(Sicilian baked pasta) – served tableside. Other highlights include Braciola di Maiale (Berkshire pork chop, plum mostarda), Nodino di Vitello (grilled veal chop) and Tonno (grilled ahi tuna steak, pistachio pesto) all served with rosemary potatoes and tempura fried vegetables. The spectacular wine list of more than 100 bottles is – lovingly — primarily Italian.

The backstory is that the restaurant was the dream of Maria and Enzo who met in Italy before moving to Florida and wanted to introduce Italian cuisine to the townfolk of the bustling Disney Springs. An airline pilot, Enzo was drawn to an abandoned airline terminal, which became the spacious setting for the restaurant.

For full menus, current hours, and to make reservations, please click here.

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 tried Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante yet?
Please leave a comment; I would love to hear from you!

May 10 2018

Disney H2O Glow Nights At Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon

If you are a fan of the Walt Disney World water park, Typhoon Lagoon, Disney is offering an exciting new event this summer. Here’s everything you need to know about Disney H2O Glow Nights courtesy of Disney:

Guests can start making plans to join some of their favorite “Toy Story” characters during Disney H2O Glow Nights, the splashy new, nighttime pool party coming to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park this summer.

Tickets are on sale now for this after-dark event, which is part of an Incredible Summer coming to Walt Disney World Resort. Tickets are $55 plus tax for guests ages 10 and up, and $50 plus tax for children ages 3-9.

On Thursday and Saturday evenings, from June 21 to August 11, Rex and his “Toy Story” pals will transform Typhoon Lagoon like never before by throwing a glow party in the surf pool and throughout the park. Rex, a.k.a. Partysaurus Rex, will serve as host and invite guests of all ages to join the festivities. All attractions will be open for guest enjoyment and, as part of the fun, there will be special food and beverage offerings, “Toy Story” character greetings, a DJ dance party on the beach and more. Disney H2O Glow Nights also will feature The Wharf, a unique, adults-only area with a private bar, entertainment and additional seating. To purchase tickets and learn more about Disney H2O Glow Nights, please click here or call (407) 939-1872.

Disney H2O Glow Nights is one of many new and exciting experiences coming to Walt Disney World Resort as part of an Incredible Summer. 

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon is a 60-acre themed water park – inspired by the legend of a typhoon, earthquake and volcanic eruption. As the story goes, those events combined to create an inland sea with break waves (Typhoon Lagoon) and a towering watershed mountain (Mt. Mayday) with a stranded shrimp boat (the Miss Tilly) on top. The park offers water activities for all ages, including signature attractions such as the water-coaster Crush ‘n’ Gusher; the water playground, Ketchakiddee Creek; and the popular Castaway Creek, a meandering lazy river.

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 attending Disney H2O Glow Nights this summer?
Please leave a comment; I would love to hear from you!

May 9 2018

Pixar Play Zone At Disney’s Contemporary Resort

If you’re hoping to enjoy a night out during your Walt Disney World vacation at a romantic signature restaurant, but not sure what to do with the kiddos, Disney has the answer for you. Look no further than the fantastic new Pixar Play Zone at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Here’s everything you need to know courtesy of Disney:

Kids, ages 4–12, can now star in an adventure-packed evening filled with interactive fun, arcade games and dinner. It’s all part of the new Pixar Play Zone at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

While the kids play, parents can enjoy their own getaway throughout Walt Disney World Resort.

The new Walt Disney World entertainment experience is a pilot program that takes place nightly from 6-10:30 pm. It transports young guests to a world full of excitement and adventure with their favorite characters from Disney•Pixar animated films “Toy Story” and “The Incredibles!”

Pixar Play Zone encompasses several elaborately themed spaces.

Big time fun awaits in The Living Room. There’s Space Ranger Training where kids learn what it takes to become a Jr. Space Ranger of Star Command, including how to master the call of the Space Ranger, “To infinity and beyond!”

Then, Woody and Jessie will show them the ropes of the Wild West during Woody’s Roundup – complete with a sing along for a rootin’ tootin’ good time.

Around the corner, toys of all kinds are waiting to play in Bonnie’s Play Room.

Radiator Springs Racetrack is where youngsters can build their own racecars and send them down a soapbox derby racetrack in the Piston Cup Derby Races.

The evening builds to an Incredibles Super Dance Party where kids learn super sweet moves with Mr. Incredible and Mrs. Incredible.

Doors open for registration at 5pm nightly. Children must be toilet-trained. Activities and entertainment are subject to change.

The immersive Pixar Play Zone experience costs $65 plus tax per child. Availability is limited and reservations are strongly recommended, by calling 407-824-KIDS (5437).

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 your kids be checking out the Pixar Play Zone?
Please leave a comment; I would love to hear from you!