Disney News

by Magic Maker® Jennifer Lennox

In September, our family had the opportunity to save the World.  World Showcase, that is! This was our first experience with Disney’s Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure at Epcot®, and we had been looking forward to it for weeks.  We were excited to be traveling with two other families, and since all ages are invited to fight evil, our whole group answered the call.  We had five little girls, ages 3,4,5,7 and 9.  This activity played right into my nine-year-old daughter’s plans to be a spy when she is grown up!  It was a lot more productive than hiding behind the sofa at home, hoping to hear classified information in her parents’ conversations.

To begin the adventure, we located a kiosk and were given a ticket with a return time, much like a FASTPASS®.  The recruitment center was located near the bridge connecting World Showcase and Future World and there is one in each of the Innoventions buildings.  A Cast Member would be happy to direct you.  If this is a must-do with your family, I suggest picking up your ticket as soon as possible.  It is not related to your other FASTPASS® tickets so it will not disrupt your planning for other attractions.  The first mission each day begins at 11:00, but you can start at any point after your posted assignment time.

When it was time to embark on our adventure, we approached a kiosk located in the Norway Pavilion, near the Mexico Pavilion.  There are two others throughout the World Showcase, one in the Italy Pavilion and another in the United Kingdom Pavilion.  We were given a choice of starting points, and because there were so many in our party, we received more than one “Kimmunicator”.  The Kimmunicator, works much like a cell phone.  The tiniest in our group would have been satisfied with just that!  We were given visual cues as well as verbal instructions.  When we arrived at our destinations, we were treated to surprises and rewarded with hidden displays.   To be controlling happenings within a Walt Disney World® Theme Park?  What power we had!  With cutting edge technology and characteristic imagination, this project was a hit!

There are missions to be completed in seven of the World Showcase Pavilions.  Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Japan, France and United Kingdom are each in need of help, but you can choose to complete one mission, or make a day of it and save them all!  If your dining reservations or another attraction is calling you, you can take a break, and return to your mission at a later time.  In fact, you can stop and re-start as you like!  There are several different missions in each country, so you may find yourself returning to a previously visited pavilion to discover new surprises!  When you are finished, you return your Kimmunicator to one of the kiosks as you pass or drop it in a secret location at the end of one of the missions.

I don’t want to spoil the fun, so I am keeping the secret discoveries to myself.  This attraction would be appreciated by those who have explored the World Showcase in the past, and are interested in discovering new hidden delights there.  If you are new to the World Showcase, you might find it more challenging, but it is a fun way to see more of what Epcot® has to offer.

 Are you up for the challenge?

This offer is no longer valid. Please click here to view all current Walt Disney World® Resort specials.

Disney is celebrating Leap Year by making the most of One More Disney Day! Not only will you have extra time in select Disney Parks, but you can also take advantage of special savings.

One More Disney Day and Night of Disney Magic Free!

Offer Details:

For arrivals most nights Feb. 26 – Mar. 10, 2012:

When purchasing a 3-night / 3-day non-discounted Walt Disney Travel Co. room and ticket package at select Walt Disney World® Resort or Disneyland® Resort hotels, receive one more day and night for FREE^*

Booking Window:

Now – Jan. 31, 2012

Disney’s Castaway Cay Cabanas – A Getaway Within a Getaway

by Magic Maker® Leilani Wagner

Walking off the Disney Dream™ early on a Saturday morning is easy when you are headed for their private island, Castaway Cay, and one of their private beach cabanas. Our morning on Castaway Cay was a bit cloudy and rainy but the rain did little to dampen our spirits as we headed down the gangway and onto the pier. It’s a bit of a walk so we recommend taking the tram – you’ll catch this just past the Post Office. After checking in at the Palm Central Tram stop (be sure you wear the wristband given to you on the ship), a golf cart whisked us off to our cabana on the private beach. The landscaping was very tropical with palm trees and lush plants and bushes lining the path to the cabanas.

At the cabana, we were greeted by our host. The cabana host introduced us to all the amenities available to us for the day. We had a small changing room that was created when you pulled a curtain around you in a corner of the cabana. A refrigerator was well stocked with bottled water, soft drinks and fruit. There were chips and granola bars on the counter. The cabana host showed us a button we could press that would call for services “automagically”. We could call for more drinks or snacks, order cocktails, or even request a ride back to the tram stop. The cabana was well furnished inside and out. There was a ceiling fan inside to keep the sea breezes moving. Sit or lie? Numerous cushioned chairs and loungers plus a hammock made for a comfortable day for all.

The cabana faced a private beach and was open only to those who were guests of the cabanas. It is a beautiful location. The tide was coming in as we arrived, but there were tons of shells to look at and admire. The water was plenty warm and with the cooler temperatures and slight drizzle, it was perfect. The damp sand was perfect for building sand castles with the sand toys provided in our cabana. The outside shower at the cabana was wonderful for getting the sand off!  Beach chairs and floats were available on our private beach. Oh, and when the sun came out and warmed up the day…we applied the sunscreen provided for us and the cool, wet hand-towels kept in the refrigerator were very refreshing.

These private cabanas are located on both the family beach and Serenity Bay (the adult only beach).  Also included with cabana are bike rentals, float and tube rentals, and snorkeling equipment. They list of included benefits just goes on and on!

Our impression was the cabanas are ideal for families but, really anyone would enjoy and find value in them. You can sit in the sun or seek shelter from it and still be cool and relaxed. You can also sit in relative privacy to sunbathe or just nap. All the guests we spoke to about the truly enjoyed all the amenities and felt the cabanas added to a relaxing day on Disney’s Castaway Cay.

Your Magic Maker can help you reserve your own private cabana on Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.  The Disney ships only stop at Castaway Cay on select Bahamian and Caribbean cruise itineraries.  Click below to start planning your Disney Cruise Line® vacation!

Newly imagined Disney Story Rooms offer you and your family the kind of fantasy and adventure that lasts throughout your entire vacation. You can stay and play in a vibrant environment inspired by beloved Disney films.

Pirate Rooms at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
At Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, your crew can choose to stay in a Pirate Room! These rooms are designed to make you feel as if you’ve “set sail”, with ship-themed beds and other swashbuckling touches-from the light fixtures to the special artwork on the walls.

Royal Guest Rooms at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
Opening in mid-February 2012—and now welcoming reservations—the Royal Guest Rooms at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside are quarters befitting the Kings and Queens of the family—as well as the Princes and Princesses. Here, the remarkable décor and rich details will place your family right in the middle of classic Disney stories. Brought to life by celebrated Disney Characters, each room is fit for royalty. Enjoy magnificent touches and magical surprises, including custom drapes and linens, ornately decorated beds-and headboards that glitter with a fiber optic “fireworks” display. Here you’ll enjoy majesty and fun, all rolled into one!

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
Opening in phases beginning in Summer 2012—and now welcoming reservations—Disney’s Art of Animation Resort invites your family to become a part of beloved Walt Disney Pictures and Disney·Pixar animated films. With 1,120 suites designed after Disney·Pixar’s Finding Nemo and Cars and Walt Disney Pictures’ The Lion King, plus 864 standard rooms inspired by Walt Disney Pictures’ The Little Mermaid, your family will be surrounded by some of your favorite stories throughout your entire Walt Disney World Resort vacation. Standard rooms sleep up to 4, while suites sleep up to 6 and provide just the right amount of extra room that many families need to spread out in comfort. From the magically themed family suites and rooms to the spectacular courtyards, this new Walt Disney World Value Resort will immerse families in one of four wonderful “worlds”—for a colorful journey through the story of each film.

Discover an array of spacious accommodations for parties with 5 or more people at the Walt Disney World® Resort. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, planning a family reunion, enjoying a special occasion or just want some extra room and privacy for your children, you can find a Walt Disney World® Resort Hotel with just the size and space that’s right for you.

Value Resort Hotel – Sleeps Up to 6 Guests
Jazz it up at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, a Resort Hotel located near Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park. This Disney Resort Hotel’s family suites, which sleep up to six Guests, have a separate bedroom, pull-out sofas in the living room, 2 bathrooms and a kitchenette.

Opening in the summer of 2012, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort invites you to step into the story with spacious suites inspired by classic Walt Disney and Disney·Pixar animated films. Each suite sleeps up to six Guests and features 2 separate bathrooms and 3 separate sleeping areas, including a private master bedroom.

Moderate Resort Hotel – Sleeps Up to 6 Guests
Spread out and relax in the home-style comfort at The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort! The spacious, secluded wilderness cabins sleep up to 6 Guests and feature more than 500 square feet of living, dining and sleeping area, as well as a private patio with BBQ grill and picnic table. The kitchen is fully equipped, but don’t worry about the dishes—housekeeping will do them for you!

Deluxe Villa Resort Hotels – Sleeps Up to 8 Guests
Relish the roominess of Disney Deluxe Villa Resort Hotels, which include one and two-bedroom villas. Each two-bedroom villa sleeps up to 8 Guests and includes home-like amenities such as a full kitchen, a whirlpool tub, DVD player, washer and dryer. Choose from locations in eight delightful Deluxe Villa Resort Hotels:

Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort
Disney’s Beach Club Villas
Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas
The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa – Sleeps Up to 9
The Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa are stand-alone Disney Deluxe Villas nestled in natural forest glens just around the river bend from the bustling Downtown Disney® Area. The 60 three-bedroom vacation homes-elevated 10 feet off the ground on pedestals and beams designed to blend into the lush wilderness environment-sleep 9 Guests and feature modern luxuries such as cathedral ceilings, granite countertops and flat-panel TVs.