Disney News

By Magic Maker® Brenda Wenk

So you’ve decided you are going to make your first trip to Walt Disney World® Resort – how exciting!   At Walt Disney World® Resort you will experience a vacation unlike any other.  The unique, immersive experience is a result of Walt Disney’s genius and his quest to create a place where parents and children would equally enjoy their time together.

The size of Walt Disney World® Resort alone is daunting – more than 25,000 acres!  Throw in four theme parks, two water parks, over twenty resorts, a campground, a sports complex, golf courses, a shopping and dining district and it is overwhelming as to how you should start planning.  That is why we are here! We want to be sure you are able to experience all that you can within Walt Disney World® Resort’s 40 square miles!

As a first-timer, we know there is a lot to learn, so we wanted to introduce you to the four cornerstones of Walt Disney World® Resort, the theme parks.

Magic Kingdom® Park – This is where the “world” began, opening in 1971.  As you approach the entrance, you will pass under the railroad tracks and leave reality behind! Welcome to Main Street, U.S.A.® Area!  This street is lined with shops and eateries and leads to Cinderella Castle beckoning at its end.  Note that the shop windows are lowered so that children can view the displays easily.  This park is laid out in a hub and spoke pattern.  The central hub is located in front of the castle.  From this hub, you access Adventureland® Area, Frontierland® Area, Liberty Square Area, Fantasyland® Area and Tomorrowland® Area.  Each land is packed with rides, attractions, restaurants, and shops.  Parades, live entertainment, character meet and greets and fireworks are daily happenings.  Pick up a Times Guide and map as you enter to help plan your day. The Magic Kingdom® Park can be accessed by monorail, bus, boat or car.

Epcot® – Epcot® opened in 1982, and celebrates world cultures, the past and the future.  It is divided into two areas.  Future World is anchored by Spaceship Earth (the huge golf ball looking structure) and boasts Innoventions® Pavilion, The Seas with Nemo and Friends® Attraction, The Land, Imagination!, Universe of Energy, Mission: SPACE® Attraction, and Test Track® Presented by Chevrolet.  Shopping, eating, rides and live entertainment take place throughout Future World.  The second area in Epcot® is World Showcase which is positioned around World Showcase Lagoon.  The countries represented include Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, America, Japan, Morocco, France, Great Britain and Canada.  Cast members in each country’s pavilion are from the host country.  Shops contain items from the nation, the cuisine is typical of the area, and native entertainment can be viewed as well.  Children’s activities are available throughout World Showcase at the Kidcot stations.  You can visit multiple countries in one day without ever going through customs!  The park closes with the nightly fireworks and laser spectacular, IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.  Be prepared for lots of walking.  Epcot® can be reached by monorail, bus, boat or car.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios® – Opening in 1989, as Disney-MGM Studios, this park harkens back to Hollywood of the 1930s.  It is divided into streets and can be a little trickier to navigate.  You enter the park via Hollywood Boulevard with Sorcerer Mickey’s hat as its showpiece.  Directly behind the hat is a replica of Graumann’s Chinese Theater.  Off of Hollywood Boulevard you will find Sunset Boulevard which boasts two of the most popular attractions in any of the parks – Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster® Starring Aerosmith and Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™.  Animation Courtyard, Mickey Avenue, Pixar Place, Streets of America and Echo Lake are the studios featured areas.  Other major attractions and rides include Toy Story Mania!® Attraction, The American Idol Experience, Star Tours® – The Adventures Continue Attraction, Muppet Vision 3-D and Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular.  Parades, live entertainment, and character meet and greets occur daily.   Fantasmic! Show is Hollywood Studios after dark show filled with Disney characters and special effects. You can get to the studios by bus, boat or car.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park- This newest park opened in 1998.  Creating this 403 acre theme park was a huge step for Disney Imagineers.  How to combine and maintain an entertainment venue that has traditional rides and attractions with live animals was quite a challenge.  But they were up to the task!    You enter the park through the Oasis with a rain forest like atmosphere.  The hub of Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park is the Tree of Life® Attraction positioned in the middle of Discovery Island® Area.   From this hub you can go to Dinoland USA® Area, Asia® Land, Africa, Camp Minnie-Mickey or Rafiki’s Planet Watch® Land.  This park also has live shows, thrill rides, a safari, live animals, eateries and shopping.  Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade takes place daily.  Access to this park is by bus or car only.

All four parks have tours and tour guides available, guest services, baby care centers, first aid stations, lost and found (for things and people,)  package pickup, locker, wheelchair and stroller rentals, as well as services for guests with disabilities.

This brief overview will hopefully spark an interest to learn more about the “happiest place on earth” that you are to visit soon.   Walt Disney once said, “I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing – that this was all started by a mouse.”  We are here to help create a lasting, memorable experience as you head off to meet that mouse!

Walt Disney World® Resort may be large, and feel overwhelming, but our Magic Makers® are here to help you navigate through the planning so that you don’t miss a thing!

Senses, A Disney Spa at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort has planned to reopen its doors tomorrow, Jul. 25, 2013, after an extensive refresh and rebranding. Its sister spa opened this past Dec. at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Both locations are now owned and operated by the Walt Disney World® Resort.

For centuries, the healing properties of natural springs have attracted people to Saratoga Springs in upstate New York. Senses incorporates this draw into its design and theming of the two-story, full service spa.

All of the treatments available at Senses will revolve around one of three core themes – relax, renew, or imagine. Inside one the ten treatment rooms you can indulge in an array of services from massage and facials to water therapy. Other services at Senses include manicures, pedicures, and a wet area with a whirlpool and steam room.

Advance reservations are suggested, so contact your Magic Maker® today to start planning your bit of rejuvenation during your upcoming Walt Disney World® Resort vacation!

When Walt Disney opened Disneyland® Park 58 years ago today, he introduced a new concept in family entertainment and launched the theme park industry. With five themed lands, Disneyland® Park had 18 major attractions on that opening day.

One of those opening day attractions was King Arthur Carrousel. Salvaged from Sunnyside Park in Toronto, Canada, Walt purchased the carrousel for $22,000 and moved it to Anaheim where it has served Disneyland® Park guests since 1955.

Enjoy these fun facts about King Arthur Carrousel:

• Walt only wanted jumping horses on his carrousel, so some of the original animals found on Sunnyside Park’s version were not used. The additional horses were sourced from other old carrousels, including one at Coney Island.
• Each horse is checked every night for chips and cracks and will receive touch ups as needed.
• Almost once per year, each horse will come off the ride for a complete refurbishment – a process that costs Disneyland® Parks far more annually than Walt’s original $22,000 investment! About 40 hours are spent refurbishing each horse.
• King Arthur Carrousel has a 85-steed herd.
• About one-in-five Disneyland® Park visitor takes a spin on King Arthur Carrousel.
• Changes about 10 years ago gave King Arthur Carrousel an all white herd, but still no two horses are the same.

When it comes to the Disneyland® Resort, many have heard of Club 33 – Disneyland® Park’s exclusive membership-only location inside New Orleans Square. But have you heard of Club 55?

Club 55 was started in 1970 and contains members with one chief qualification – they all received a paycheck from Walt Disney back in 1955! Over the years, it has provided a way for some of Disneyland® Park’s earliest Cast Members to stay connected.

With tomorrow’s 58th Anniversary of Disneyland® Park, enjoy this video as three “Club 55ers” reflect on their Disney history.

Earlier this Summer, the Trolley Show on Main Street, U.S.A.® inside Magic Kingdom® Park was revamped to celebrate the season. Available as part of Disney Parks “Limited Time Magic,” the show puts the citizens of Main Street, U.S.A.® in the red, white, and blue spirit – with summertime fun that is likely contagious! Earlier this year, the show received a Spring refresh as well.

Watch as Tara Anderson, show director with Creative Entertainment at the Walt Disney World® Resort, talks about the changes.

Although an end date has not been announced, this version of the show is expected to run throughout the summer. For more information, see your Daily Times Guide.

We’re sorry, this offer has expired.

Say “Aloha” to savings at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa!

Inspired by the wonders of Hawai‘i and built with the perfect touch of Disney magic, Aulani is a beautiful beachfront escape that is designed for families. A Resort like no other, Aulani is perfectly placed just far enough from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki, but close enough for families to enjoy O‘ahu’s world-class entertainment. But with so many all-inclusive vacation experiences available with your stay at Aulani, you may find yourself not even wanting to leave the resort!

There’s no better time for your family to experience Aulani! For a limited time, when you book a minimum 4-night stay on select nights, you’ll receive your 5th consecutive night FREE! That means more time for you and your ʻohana in paradise enjoying all the Resort has to offer! Plus, you will receive a $100 Aulani Resort Credit to use during your stay!

Booking Window:

• Book now – Sep. 3, 2013

Travel Window:

• Offer available for most stays Aug. 26, 2013 – Nov. 23, 2013 and Dec. 1, 2013 – Dec. 15, 2013

Rooms allocated for this offer are limited, so contact your Magic Maker® today!

Eligibility for this offer is based on a five consecutive night stay between Aug. 26 – Nov. 23 or Dec. 1-15, 2013. Book by Sep. 3, 2013. The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Offer excludes Resort fees and taxes. Not valid in combination with any other discounts or offers. Offer excludes suites, 3-Bedroom Grand Villas and ocean view rooms. Additional per adult charges may apply if more than 2 adults per room. Offer applied once per reservation. Advance reservations required. Subject to restrictions and change without notice. Limit 2 rooms per reservation. The free night savings is distributed across total room nights and is reflected in a reduced nightly rate, as compared to the non-discounted rate.

With over 21,000 runners participating in this year’s Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend, a 10K has been added to the lineup for 2014!

The third Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend will take place Jan. 16-19, 2014, at the Disneyland® Resort. As one of runDisney’s two women-focused events, the Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend consists of:

• Tinker Bell Half Marathon – Sun., Jan. 19, 2014 5:00a
• Tinker Bell 10K – Sat., Jan. 18, 2014 6:00a
• Never Land Family Fun Run 5K – Fri., Jan. 17, 2014  5:45a
• runDisney Kids Races – Sat. Jan. 18, 2014 10:00a
• Pasta in the Park Party and Weekend Expos

Registration just opened this past Tue., Jul. 9, but the races are filling quickly. The Tinker Bell Half Marathon is already at capacity and the Tinker Bell 10K is over half full! Act fast if you are interested in participating!

For more information on accommodations and tickets during the Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend, contact your Magic Maker®.

Updated Wed. July 10, 2013 – 5:00pm EDT:

Tropical Storm Chantal has degenerated into a wave producing heavy rains and gusty winds. As safely is always the number one concern, the remnants of Chantal will continued to be monitored and this article will be updated if travel advisories are issued for Walt Disney World® Resort or Disney Cruise Line®.

You’ve been asking about them for several months now, and the time has finally come! As of today, our Magic Makers® are able to quote and book 2014 vacation packages for Walt Disney World® Resort, Disneyland® Resort, and Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa! 

One important thing to note: these vacation packages are valid for travel commencing Jan. 1, 2014 – Dec. 31, 2014. However, due to system limitations, bookings can only be made 499 days into the future. So as of today, we can book through Nov. 21, 2014. Guests wanting to travel over the Christmas Holiday 2014 will be able to book in mid-August.

New for 2014 Walt Disney Travel Company – Walt Disney World® Resort Vacation Packages:

• Magical Extra – Voucher for 10% discount on bowling at Splitsville Luxury Lanes™ Mon.-Fri. 10a-4p
• Magical Extra – Spa discount expanded to now include select Salon services
• Magic Your Way Premium Package now includes Richard Petty Junior Ride Along Experience
• Magic Your Way Platinum Package now includes Richard Petty Junior Ride Along Experience and Characters in Flight experience. Spa treatment options have been expanded to include facials. Reserved seating at Fantasmic! show is no longer available.

New for 2014 Walt Disney Travel Company – Disneyland® Resort Vacation Packages:

• Magical Extra –One ESPN® Zone $10 Game Card plus an additional $10 Game Card for each adult entrée (priced $10.99+) purchased

Today is the day to start planning your next Disney Vacation! Contact your Magic Maker® today!

All offers subject to change without notice.

During the recent Disney Magic® Transatlantic sailing from Galveston to Barcelona, over 300 guests and Disney Cruise Line® crew members participated in “PaintFest at Sea.” The project, coordinated with Foundation for Hospital Art, brought to life a mural measuring 9 feet high by 24 feet long! Over 500 hours were given by guests and crew members to paint the mural featuring characters from Disney’s The Little Mermaid. The completed masterpiece was donated and is now on display in the Hospital General de Catalunya in Barcelona.