Walt Disney World News

Disney Destinations and Dietary Needs

By Magic Maker® Melissa Ludwig

Vacations are a way of escaping from everyday life, leaving stress behind, and spending quality time with those you care about. However, there are many points during the planning process that can cause stress, and your Magic Maker® is here to take that off your shoulders. One of the common causes of stress for traveling families is in accommodating special dietary needs. Disney Destinations, as usual, have pulled out all the stops to make sure that you do not have to worry about what you will be eating during your magical getaway.

Whether it is a dairy intolerance, sensitivity to gluten, or a specific food such as almonds that you must avoid in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, Disney Destinations will to their best to cater to any special requests. When you and your Magic Maker® are ready to make advance dining reservations, notify your Magic Maker® of your special dietary needs and they will make sure to include this in your reservations. Often, chefs can substitute different ingredients in meals, so that you don’t even have to choose an alternate meal, but actually have the one you want! The following is a list of common allergies that most Disney Parks restaurants can accommodate/substitute:

  • Gluten or wheat
  • Lactose or dairy
  • Peanuts and tree nuts
  • Shellfish
  • Soy
  • Fish
  • Eggs
  • Corn

When you arrive at a Disney Park restaurant, it is always a good idea to remind your server of your dietary needs as well (though the server will often check with you first, since it will be in your reservation notes). If you have a metabolic disorder or multiple allergies, you will want to be sure to notify your Magic Maker® so that it can be factored in to all dining arrangements.

For many people, food allergies are not necessarily a worry, but some may still have strong preferences about what to include or not include in a daily diet. Many Disney Park restaurants will offer no-sugar-added, low-fat, low-sodium, Kosher and vegetarian options for meals to take care of these dietary needs as well.

Vacation time means time to relax and unwind. A large part of that is being able to enjoy your dining experiences while away… especially at Disney Destinations, where food is extra-fun! What you are going to eat on your trip should never be a worry, and your Magic Maker® will help to ensure that you will have all of the dining information that you need before you even pack your bags.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Guests Receive Exclusive Holiday ‘Sorcerers’ Card

Elsa's Icy Shield SOMK CardFriday night, Magic Kingdom® Park at the Walt Disney World® Resort will hold their first Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party of the year. Guests who attend this year’s special-ticketed event are able to once again receive an exclusive holiday Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom card.

This year’s event-exclusive card will be will be “Elsa’s Icy Shield” featuring Queen Elsa from Disney Frozen. Past years’ cards have included “Huey, Dewey, and Louie’s Snowfort Barricade” and “Wayne and Lanny’s Ornament Barrage.”

Guests with paid admission to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party may pick up their cards at the Firehouse on Main Street, U.S.A.® by present their party ticket and event wristband. Quantities are limited, so we suggest picking them up early in the evening!

Frozen Holiday Premium Package at Walt Disney World® Resort

This holiday season there is an all new way to experience the magic of “Frozen” at Disney’s Hollywood Studiowith the new Frozen Holiday Premium Package.

As a part of the Frozen Holiday Premium Package you will receive reserved seating for “For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration”. You’ll join Anna and Elsa, along with the Royal Historians of Arendelle for a fun retelling of the history of their Kingdom, filled with fun sing-along moments from “Frozen”.

You will also be a part of a special viewing of The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights with a Frozen Themed Dessert Party. You’ll be able to enjoy the millions of sparkling holiday lights from a reserved location at the end of Streets of America with special Frozen themed deserts and speciality alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

To commemorate this special event you will also receive a holiday lithograph and frozen pin to remember to remember this special experience.

The Frozen Holiday Premium Package is now available to book on select days Nov. 7-19, Nov. 21-Dec. 9, 2014 and Dec. 11, 2014-Jan. 4, 2015.

The Frozen Holiday Premium Package is $89 per adult and $59 per child (ages 3-9) plus tax (gratuity included). Valid theme park admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios® is required and is not included in this package price.  Advance purchase is highly recommended.

Contact your Magic Maker® to begin planning the magic today!

Limited Time Offer: ‘Dinner & A Show’ at La Nouba™

The Walt Disney World® Resort has announced a limited time package that is sure to stimulate your senses and your appetite!

On select dates through Nov. 22, 2014, enjoy a magical evening at Downtown Disney® that includes dinner and a performance of La Nouba™ by Cirque du Soleil®. This special “Dinner & A Show” package includes:

  • Category 1 or 2 seating at that evening’s 6p performance of La Nouba™
  • Dinner (one entrée, dessert and a non-alcoholic beverage per person) before or after the show at one of three popular Downtown Disney® restaurants:
    • Wolfgang Puck® Grand Cafe
    • Splitsville Luxury Lanes™
    • Planet Hollywood®

The “Dinner & A Show” package is available for Tue. through Sat. nights 6p performances from Sep. 30 – Nov. 1 and Nov. 6 – Nov. 22. Pricing is $99 +tax for a Category 2 tickets ($89 +tax for ages 3-9) and $119 +tax for a Category 1 tickets ($109 +tax for ages 3-9).

Contact your Magic Maker® for additional information or to book your “Dinner & A Show” package!

 

Package is valid for one Category 1 or Category 2 seat to La Nouba’s™ 6:00 PM performance and a meal at a participating restaurant. Meal includes an entrée, a dessert and a non-alcoholic beverage. Meal coupon must be redeemed on the same day of performance and must be presented to the restaurant upon seating. The cost of gratuity is not included. Tickets and seating are subject to availability. Advance purchase is recommended. Tickets can be purchased up to 30 days in advance of show date and will be available for pickup at the La Nouba™ Box Office Will Call window. Not valid for previously purchased tickets, gift certificates or with any other discount. The meal coupon includes priority seating at dinner. Guests should be seated for dinner by 4:30p to dine before the 6:00p show. If you wish to eat after the show, priority seating at the restaurants begin at 8:00p. Please arrive at the theater a minimum of 30 minutes prior to show time.

Memory Maker Adds Additional Attraction Video

Walt Disney World® Resort guests utilizing a MagicBand who have also purchased a Memory Maker package will now find video proof of two of their ride experiences in the parks.

Last month, Disney PhotoPass™ Service launched a video memento of the onride experience of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®. This attraction video is available exclusively to guests (and linked Family & Friends) who have purchased Memory Maker and have linked that and their MagicBand to their My Disney Experience account. Now, these guests will receive a similar video from their ride on the Seven Drawfs Mine Train in Magic Kingdom® Park.

At this time, video capture is only available on these two rides, but it is expected that the service will continue to grow over the coming months.

Here are a few FAQs on this new service:

  • I have a MagicBand but did not purchase Memory Maker. Will my attraction video still be associated to my My Disney Experience account?
    No, only guests with a linked Memory Maker entitlement and a MagicBand will be able to view and download their Attraction video via their My Disney Experience account. A Guest with a MagicBand who wishes to view and download their attraction video may still purchase Memory Maker after riding the attraction to receive their video.
  • I do not have a MagicBand. Can I still get an attraction video?
    No, you must be wearing an active MagicBand attached to a valid My Disney Experience account when you experience the attraction.
  • What about attraction videos association for guests with Family and Friends Connections?
    Memory Maker guests with MagicBands who have active Family and Friends connections via their My Disney Experience account will be able to view all attraction videos, which are captured automatically. However, only the Memory Maker Guest will have access to view and download the video.

Check out these sample attraction videos:

‘Frozen’ Offerings Continue to Grow at Walt Disney World® Resort

Disney Animation’s blockbuster hit Frozen already provides several guest experiences for guests in Disney Parks. And now, we have news from the Walt Disney World® Resort that every Frozen fan will love to hear! This news comes in the form of new Frozen-themed experiences and the expansion of some that you can currently enjoy!

These new plans call for:

  • New Frozen Attraction – A new Frozen-themed attraction will replace Maelstrom inside the Norway Pavilion in Epcot®. The last day of operation for Maelstrom is scheduled for Oct. 5, 2014 with opening of the new attraction slated for early 2016.
  • New Greeting Location – A new meet and greet location will be built for Anna and Elsa near the attraction in the Norway Pavilion
  • Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party – Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf will appear in this year’s “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas Time Parade” showing during the party select nights Nov. 7 – Dec. 19 and daily Dec. 20-31.
  • Castle Dream Lights – Each night starting in Nov. 5, Elsa will use her powers to transform Cinderella Castle into an ice palace.
  • Frozen Summer of Fun LIVE – Some favorite elements of Frozen Summer of Fun at Disney’s Hollywood Studios® such as the For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration and Oaken’s Frozen Funland will be continued past their scheduled end date of Sep. 28th to allow more guests the opportunity to experience them.

Check back here for more details as they are announced!

Play ‘Mayhem at the Mansion’ at Magic Kingdom® Park

UPDATE: It appears there has been a delay in the launch of Mayhem at the Mansion. We will update this post as soon as additional details become available!

Mayhem at the Mansion GameStarting tonight, guests attending Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Parties are in for an extra interactive treat!

Three of the 999 “happy haunts” have left the Haunted Mansion® and are making their rounds at the party. Using the new augmented reality Mayhem at the Mansion app, you can help catch and return the hitchhiking ghosts to their home.

Playing the game is easy:

  1. Download the Mayhem at the Mansion app onto your smartphone from the App Store or Google play™.
  2. Be sure to pick up an event map when you arrive as you will use it to help you find special locations.
  3. Use the Spectre Collector built into the app to hover over specific targets.
  4. Capture ghosts as you find them. Once you have returned all the ghosts back to the Haunted Mansion®, you will be recognized for your services by unlocking Mayhem at the Mansion rewards!

 

Entertainment offerings subject to change without notice. Admission to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party requires a separately priced ticket. Ticket valid only during specific event dates and hours. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Google Play is a trademarks of Google, Inc. Availability subject to device limitations and features may vary by device or service provider. Message and data rates may apply. Coverage and app stores not available everywhere.

Live Streaming of ‘Night of Joy’ from Magic Kingdom® Park

Tonight and tomorrow night, Magic Kingdom® Park will host the 32nd annual Night of Joy! During this after-hours event, the sounds of Christian rock, pop, and gospel will fill the park from a mix of new and returning performers.

It’s not too late for you to enjoy Night of Joy even though the event is completely sold out. Both night’s entertainment will be streamed over the internet beginning at 7 p. EDT each night.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER/VIEW THE WEBCAST

This year’s line-up includes:

Friday, September 5, 2014:

  • Building 429
  • Matthew West
  • Matt Maher
  • Building 429
  • Chris Tomlin
  • The Neverclaim
  • Mandisa
  • Hillsong United
  • for KING & COUNTRY
Saturday, September 6, 2014:

  • Colton Dixon
  • MercyMe
  • 1 Girl Nation
  • Colton Dixon
  • Gospel Music Association Winner Phil Perry
  • We As Human
  • Casting Crowns
  • Britt Nicole
  • Rhett Walker Band
  • Skillet
  • Israel Houghton and New Breed
Artist lineup subject to change without notice.

Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue: 40 Years Of Foot-Stompin’ Fun

Today, the Walt Disney World® Resort celebrates the 40th Anniversary of one of the country’s longest-running dinner shows, the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue! Starting its permanent run on Sep. 5, 1974, the show has performed inside Pioneer Hall more than 37,000 times to over 10.5 million guests!

If you’ve never seen the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, the easiest way to describe it is corny jokes, finger-lickin’ food, and lots of fun! During the 90 minute show, heaping helpings of old-fashioned family entertainment is served by the show’s six energetic characters: Six Bits Slocum, Dolly Drew, Jim Handy, Flora Long, Johnny Ringo, and Claire de Lune.

In honor of the 40th Anniversary of Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, here are some fun facts about the show that you may not know:

  • Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical RevueAlthough the Anniversary of Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue is celebrated on Sep. 5, the show actually launched on Jun. 30 with a summer cast from Disney World Fine Arts College Workshop program. Due to popularity, auditions for a full time cast were held and the rest is history!
  • Marilyn Kay Magness, who played the part of Dolly Drew in the original cast from the college program, still works for Disney as an Executive Creative Director for Disney Parks Creative Entertainment.
  • The home for Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, Pioneer Hall, was constructed using 1,283 hand-fitted pine logs from Montana and 70 tons of stones from North Carolina.
  • Early drafts of the script had the show titled “We’re With You, Mother McCree” and “Whoop-Dee-Doo Revue”
  • Over the past 40 years, the show has received some small revisions to song and dance numbers. One of those changes came in 1979 when the song “Apple Pie Hoedown” was replaced with “Strawberry Short Cake Walk.”
  • Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue also played at Tokyo Disneyland® from 1983 to 1995.
  • The food at Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue plays a starring role, too.
    • Over 900 pounds of fried chicken is served each evening! Chefs spend about 6 hours each day breading the chicken
    • At 11am, 400 pounds of pork ribs are put on an outdoor smoker to be slow cooked
    • 120 pounds of corn, 400 pounds of potatoes, and 30 gallons of baked beans are prepared as sides
    • 15 gallons of strawberries and 12 gallons of whipped cream are used to make that incredible Strawberry Shortcake served as dessert
    • Beer, wine, sangria and soft drinks are all part of the menu and included in your cost

The Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue is a show you won’t want to miss. It currently plays three times nightly (4p, 6:15p, and 8:30p) with different seating options available. Pricing starts at $56.99 (ages 10+) and $29.99 (ages 3-9) and that includes all taxes and gratuity. For additional information on this high-spirited hootenanny, please contact your Magic Maker®!

 

New Live Entertainment Options Coming to Epcot®

Later this fall, the entertainment options at Epcot® World Showcase will receive a refresh. This update will not only enhance some of the existing performances enjoyed daily at Epcot®, but will also replace a few of the current offerings with new acts.

New experiences coming soon include:

  • Italy Pavilion – dynamic flag-waving performers
  • Canada Pavilion – thrilling lumberjack-inspired show
  • Morocco Pavilion – traditional Berber music and dance troupe
  • UK Pavilion – Celtic folk music ensemble

To make room for these new experiences, the following acts are slated to be retired:

  • Mo’Rockin’ (last performance Sep. 27)
  • Spirit of America Fife & Drum Corps (last performance Sep. 27)
  • World Showcase Players (last performance Sep. 25)
  • Off Kilter (last performance Sep. 27)
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