Disney News

Registration for the 2014 Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend races opened today at noon! Taking place Jan. 8-12, 2014, the weekend has been expanded to include five days of fun and events! Click here for more details.

Magic Your Way® Packages for Marathon participants are now available to book, so contact your Magic Maker® today to start planning! In addition to all the typical Magical Extras you will receive with your package, you can also include your registration for the following races in with your package:

• Walt Disney World® Marathon
• Walt Disney World® Half Marathon
• Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge
• Walt Disney World® 10K
• Disney Family Fun Run 5K
• Dopey Challenge

A few weeks ago, we told you about the opening of Re-Discovering America: Family Treasures from the Kinsey Collection located in the American Heritage Gallery in Epcot®. This exhibit is just one of many around the World Showcase.

Galleries are something art lovers have been able to find throughout World Showcase since the ’80s. Once limited to the Japan and Morocco pavilion, galleries are now also present in Norway, China, and Mexico Pavilions.

In Norway’s Gol Stave Church Gallery is The Vikings: Conquerors of the Seas. This exhibit contains a rare collection of Viking artifacts – some dating back more than 1,000 years. Also displayed is a detailed scale model of the 9th century Viking ship Oseberg.

Adjacent to Reflections of China in the China pavilion, Tomb Warriors exhibit gives you a glimpse inside a miniature recreation of the tomb of China’s first emperor. Also on display inside The Gallery of the Whispering Willow are tomb sculptures that are over 2,000 years old.

Tucked inside the castle in the Japan pavilion, Spirited Beasts: From Ancient Stories to Anime Stars displays the connection between ancient Japanese magical creatures and anime of the 21st century. A mix of traditional art and modern media makes for a unique experience.

Brightly colored representatives of Ancient Mexican culture are on display at La Vida Antigua: Life in Ancient Mexico. Discover the daily lives of some of the Western Hemisphere’s largest and most sophisticated civilizations – Maya, Aztec, and Toltec. The exhibit is located inside the pyramid’s Mayan Ceremonial Hall.

And in the Morocco Pavilion, the Gallery of Arts and History displays mosaic art created by Maalems (Moroccan artisans) who traveled to Epcot® to complete the work. Also on display is various ceramic pottery, artisan-crafted jewelry, and ancient musical instruments.

These art exhibits are one of the many details that we often miss in our race from attraction to attraction. On your next trip to the Walt Disney World® Resort, plan a day to to enjoy the architecture, flavors, and art of Epcot® World Showcase.

Next week’s “Limited Time Magic” pays tribute to “Vintage Disney” with some special merchandise and a visit from some long lost friends!

Walt Disney World® Resort

• Go Vintage at the Disney Truck Shop – From Apr. 8-14, 2013, the Disney Truck Shop will be visiting the Downtown Disney® Westside selling a selection of souvenirs – including a limited release vintage-style t-shirt. Be sure to catch this “Limited Time Magic” before Disney’s newest shop on wheels packs up and heads on down the road!
• Spring Trolley Show on Main Street, U.S.A.® – Spring is in the air and the citizens of Main Street, U.S.A.® inside Magic Kingdom® Park are beyond excited! Join them daily through May 12, 2013 as they celebrate with a Spring Trolley Show. Arriving on a horse-drawn trolley decorated for the season, their performance of a few new songs will be as bright as their colorful pastel outfits! Please refer to your Times Guide for show information.

Disneyland® Resort

• Long Lost Friends Week – From Apr. 8-14, some of your favorite Disney friends will return to Disneyland Park® to meet and greet their guests at the Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree. While it is hard to tell exactly which rarely seen Characters will make an appearance, the following have confirmed their attendance:
  • Esmeralda, Clopin, and Frollo from The Hunchback of Notre Dame
  • Pocahontas, John Smith, Meeko, and Governor Ratcliffe from Pocahontas
  • Robin Hood, Friar Tuck, Prince John and Sheriff of Nottingham from Robin Hood
  • Scrooge McDuck and Ludwig Von Drake

  Valid theme park admission is required.
  

And the Year of the Ear continues with special Strawberry Ear Hats available at select locations in Epcot® and new “Cozy Cone” hats at Disney California Adventure® Park while supplies last!

Keep checking back as Off to Neverland Travel® will continue to bring you details on future ”Limited Time Magic” events as they become available!

Since opening last fall, our guests have raved about their experiences at the Be Our Guest Restaurant. Located inside the New Fantasyland™ area of the Magic Kingdom® Park, the restaurant is themed to tell the story of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Its French-inspired cuisine is served as a quick service meal for lunch and a table service meal for dinner.

Still not sure what all the “fuss” is about? After watching this video and taking a step into the new Be Our Guest Restaurant, we think you’ll understand why getting Advance Dining Reservations for this location has become so difficult!

Disney Parks has announced that a new eatery and other enhancements are planned for the Morocco Pavilion at Epcot®.

Spice Road Table will be a new waterfront eatery serving various Mediterranean small plates and refreshments. Plans call for the location to feature both indoor and outdoor seating with views overlooking the beautiful World Showcase Lagoon.

At this time, no further details are available on the menu items or the other enhancements coming to the pavilion, but we will keep your updated. Spice Road Table is scheduled to open by the end of 2013.

FamilyFun Magazine has announced the results of their recent survey asking mothers about best vacation spots for families in America. The survey polled 2,000 mothers with children ranging in ages 3-12.

Congratulations to these Disney Destinations honored in this year’s awards:

Top 10 Favorite Family Destinations

• Magic Kingdom® Park

Top 10 Amusement Parks

• Magic Kingdom® Park
• Disneyland® Park
• Disney California Adventure® Park
• Epcot®
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park
• Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park

Top 10 Family Resorts

• Walt Disney World® Resort

As we mentioned in our article last week, families are relying more and more on vacations to provide the “family time” needed to balance out their busy lives. Allow our Magic Makers® to help you experience the “Disney Difference” on your next family vacation!

A complete list of results can be seen in the April 2013 issue of FamilyFun Magazine.

At the mere mention of the word ‘cruise’ most of us can smell the sun tan lotion, feel the ocean mist and visualize the swimwear diet. Cruises have long had the tropical stigma associated with them, conjuring images of palm trees, pristine beaches and exotic shopping locales; yet there is another side to cruising that is also worth experiencing.

Apart from the tropical destinations that many cruise to, there are a wide variety of destinations and itineraries that cater to the adventure seeker in all of us, even if we aren’t interested in hitting the beach.

Exciting, often overlooked, cruises include Disney Cruise Line’s® Alaskan itineraries. From Alaska’s breathtaking glaciers and waterfalls to their exotic wildlife like bald eagles and bears to sea otters and whales, an Alaskan cruise aboard Disney Cruise Line® immerses you in the adventure of a lifetime.

Set sail for 7 or 9 nights aboard Disney Wonder® as you experience adventure in ports including Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan. Along the way you’ll find adventure while taking in the unbelievable service and world-class amenities of Disney Cruise Line®.

This year, Disney Cruise Line® has added new tours in Juneau that will give you one of the best looks at the Inside Passage’s marine and coastal wildlife. With the new Wilderness Safari & Beach Exploration tour you may catch a glimpse of whales, sea lions and brown bears, to name a few. In addition, you’ll have the opportunity to explore Admiralty Island as you take in the beauty of the area.

In Juneau you’ll also have the opportunity to ‘go coastal’ with the Private Whales, Fishing and Wildlife Adventure where you can experience whale watching and fishing with your own captain and private vessel.

Another favorite of Disney Cruise Line® guests is the White Pass Scenic Railway Featuring Exclusive Youth Activity in Skagway. On your vintage rail car ride through the Pass summit, you can take in the scenery together as a family as you head north, then when returning south you can unwind and relax while your kids hang out in the youth car themselves under the supervision of Disney Cruise Line® youth counselors and local staff.

While cruise vacations will always be a fantastic way to experience tropical destinations, don’t overlook the awesome opportunities to set sail for adventure aboard Disney Cruise Line®.

Contact your Magic Maker® today to discuss itineraries and options for Disney Cruise Line’s® Alaskan itinerary, as well as other adventurous, tropical or exotic cruise destinations!

Nearly a year after announcing that they would add a Starbucks® location to each of their domestic parks, Disney Parks has released plans for their next location on Main Street, U.S.A.® inside Disneyland® Park.

This fall, Starbucks® will debut inside the Market House. Closing in April for a refurbishment, the Market House will be expanded into the neighboring space currently occupied by Disneyana. The new location will still carry the theme of a turn-of-the-century general store, but will serve Starbucks® products and a selection of pastries.  While the Market House will no longer serve their current Disney branded coffee or offer free refills like they do now, there’s no need to say “farewell!” Guests will still be able to purchase it in select retail locations to make at home.

The current offerings of Disneyana will be combined with the Disney Gallery inside the Bank of Main Street building. At this time, no exact dates have been announced for the closing or reopening. The new Market House location will be the second Starbucks® inside the parks of the Disneyland® Resort – the first opened as the Fiddler, Fifer and Practical Café last June inside Disney California Adventure® Park.

runDisney has announced that the 2014 Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend will be bigger and better than ever!

The weekend will expand to five days – Jan. 8-12, 2014. A new 10K race will join the existing Family Fun Run 5K, the Disney Half Marathon, and the Disney Marathon. In past years,  runners could participate in the Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge by completing the Walt Disney World® Half Marathon on Saturday and the Walt Disney World® Marathon on Sunday. Now, runners can add on the 5K race on Thursday and the new 10K race on Friday to accept The Dopey Challenge – a total of 48.6 miles run in four timed events in successive days! Those successfully completing the challenge will receive 6 medals!

Other events throughout the weekend include runDisney Kids Races, the Mickey Mile, and Disney’s Health and Fitness Expo at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Special ticketed events will include Character Breakfasts, Pasta in the Park parties at Epcot®, and a Cool Down Party at Downtown Disney®.

Registration for all Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend events opens at noon on April 9th. Contact your Magic Maker® today to discuss accommodation options for the weekend!

To celebrate Easter, Disney Parks has planned some special “Limited Time Magic” events that everybunny is going to find really egg-citing!

Walt Disney World® Resort

• Spring Fling – From Mar. 25-31, take part in an array of seasonal experiences around the Walt Disney World® Resort. Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny will be greeting guests and posing for photos inside Town Square at Magic Kingdom® Park. And just before the daily performances of the Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade, Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny will be the stars of a special springtime processional with some fellow Disney rabbits along the parade route. Over at Epcot®, Mr. and Mrs. Bunny will be hosting some fun activities in the United Kingdom pavilion like relay races and Easter egg hunts. A second Easter Egg hunt will be held in Future World East. Valid theme park admission is required.
• Spring Trolley Show on Main Street, U.S.A.® – It has been a long winter for us all, and the citizens of Main Street, U.S.A.® inside Magic Kingdom® Park are beyond excited that spring is in the air. Join them daily through May 12, 2013 as they celebrate with a Spring Trolley Show. Arriving on a horse-drawn trolley decorated for the season, their performance of a few new songs will be as bright as their colorful pastel outfits! Please refer to your Times Guide for show information.

Disneyland® Resort

• Spring Fling – From Mar. 25-31, the Easter Bunny will be greeting guests in Town Square at Disneyland® Park. Main Street U.S.A.® will be hoppin’ when the Easter Bunny, the Dapper Dans, and some Disney Friends perform the Bunny Hop! At Disney California Adventure® Park, Russel and Dug have hidden oversized Easter eggs throughout the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. Complete the Wilderness Explorer Egg Hunt and receive a Spring Egg-tivity Badge! Valid theme park admission is required.
  
• Oz The Great and Powerful Sneak Peek – Catch a special sneak peek of Walt Disney Studios newest movie, Oz The Great and Powerful, which opened in theaters Mar. 8. The extended preview will be shown in 3D with a few special 4D effects thrown in the mix! The preview will be held daily thru Mar. 31 in the Muppet*Vision 3D Theater at Disney California Adventure® Park.

And the Year of the Ear continues with miniature MousekeEars! These adorable, mini versions of popular ear designs are only available while supplies last! Also, you can purchase an Oswald The Lucky Rabbit ear hat, available at MouseGear in Epcot® and Oswald’s Service Station in Disney California Adventure® Park while supplies last!

Keep checking back as Off to Neverland Travel® will continue to bring you details on future ”Limited Time Magic” events as they become available!