Disney News

Have you seen the artist renderings* for the newest resort at the Walt Disney World® Resort?  It is called Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and it will feature beautiful themes from four favorite movies. It’ll have themed room interiors in the nearly 2,000 new units — 1,120 family suites in The Lion King, Cars and Finding Nemo wings and 864 themed rooms in The Little Mermaid wings. Suites will have both a living room and a bedroom, offering added space. The resort will be located adjacent to Disney’s Pop Century Resort.

The new resort is scheduled to open in 2012.  Check back for information on when you can book your reservation.

*Walt Disney Imagineering Concept Art, actual construction may vary

All Domestic Airlines charge different fees for baggage based off of quantity, size, and other special handling requirements. Below is a listing of standard fees charged by many Domestic Airlines. Pricing may differ for members of rewards clubs, if prepaid online, by departure/arrival city, etc. Please click in the “Additional Information” column to be directed to the airlines site for full details. If you airline is not listed, please contact your Magic Maker® for pricing.

Updated: 3/15/2013

From Magic Maker® Kevin Gallagher

WELCOME HOME

That’s what the sign says as you enter Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort.  After about five minutes on site that’s exactly how you feel – like you’re at home!!  Nestled among the Spanish moss laden Oaks and the gorgeous scenic marshes, one can easily get swept away into a magnificent world laced with history and in communion with nature.

The rooms reflect the beautiful Carolina architecture and recall the fishing and hunting resorts of the 1940’s.  Whether enjoying a Grand Villa, a two or one-bedroom villa, or simply staying in the studio, all of the accommodations continue the story and provide a warm and relaxing environment from which the guests can enjoy all of the wonders the resort has to offer.  All of the rooms have a balcony from which to enjoy either an inland view or a marsh view.  All of the rooms except for the studios have a full kitchen, a washer and dryer, and a whirlpool tub providing all the comforts of home.

Activities are abundant at the resort as well.  With a large pool, a giant water slide, a toddler pool, and a hot tub there is no shortage of places to just get your feet wet.  Add in the 12-miles of beach and additional pool at the beach-house and hours of watery enjoyment are to be had.  If that’s not enough, guests can also enjoy a variety of wonderful nature excursions – including dolphin tours along Broad Creek – by both boat and kayak!!  Bike rentals and kayak rentals are also available.  As for the kids, the recreation department is just amazing.  With a plethora of classes, crafts, and adventures, the recreation staff keep the kids busy and make them feel as special as can be.  There are also campfires and a night of bedtime reading with milk and cookies!  From the first moment there, the Cast Members throughout the resort not only call the kids by name, but also engage the guests and the kids in more than just exchanging pleasantries, but in conversation – enhancing both the child’s experience and making him feel special, but also showing that extra little magic guests come to expect from Disney.

And what would a Disney resort be without a good story – or a good story-teller!   While this is a Disney resort, you won’t find Mickey and Goofy.  That doesn’t mean the resort is not without its own story and its own characters.  As the story goes, when Longview Island was being transformed into Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort, the Imagineers kept coming across a beautiful – and mischievous – little golden retriever pup.  By the time the resort opened in 1996, the pup had worked her way into not only the hearts of the Cast Members, but also into the story as told throughout the resort.  Upon entry to the villas, note the paw prints embedded in the floor.  Guests also take note of the dog house on the deck in front of the entry where guests who check in on Sunday afternoons may have the chance to get a glimpse of the resort’s Shadow.  The resort also has its very own banjo playin’ story-tellin’ entertainer and conjurer by the name of B’Lou Crabbe.  Guests should not miss the opportunity to sit and listen to him spin a yarn about old Shadow and her adventures in the marsh.  He gives guests the chance to take a stroll with Shadow in search of bunnies and enjoy some brilliantly crafted and fantastically delivered stories.

While the resort has “TIDE ME OVER” – a delightful little outdoor café, there are no restaurants on-site.  Not to worry however, for there are a wide variety of fine dining and restaurants nearby with ocean and marsh views available.  There is also an abundance of shopping – both big chain and small boutique.  The island provides a little something for everyone.  Add in the fact that Historic Savannah, GA is only a 45 minute drive away and you have access to both pop-culture and historical adventures.

So if you are looking for a relaxing, reserved, and incredible vacation getaway, look no further than Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort.  You will enjoy all the comforts of a relaxing vacation with all of the adventures that you can handle – and maybe come up with some of your own stories along the way.

Have you ever visited Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort?  Tell us about your experience in the comments below.

Make plans to see some of your favorite characters that are difficult to find in the parks! For the first time ever, the Disneyland® Resort gave Guests achance to decide which rarely seen Disney characters they wanted to see in Disneyland® park. The selections will be included in the entertainment for the Character Fan Days, which are part of “Family Fun Weekends” – eight weekends of fun, January 14 through March 6, at Disneyland® park.

The votes from the polls have been tallied and your choices are:

Poll 1 Results
Captain Hook, Wendy, Mr. Smee
Doc, Happy, Grumpy, Sleepy, Sneezy, Bashful, Dopey

Poll 2 Results
King Louie, Baloo
Donald Duck, Daisy Duck

Poll 3 Results
Clarabelle Cow, Horace Horsecollar
Esmeralda, Clopin

You can expect to see King Louie and Baloo, Captain Hook and Mr. Smee, Happy, Dopey and many more, so get your cameras and autograph books ready for Character Fan Days, January 28-30.

These characters will appear during the day at Festival Arena, located next to the Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue restaurant in Disneyland® park. (Check for specific character locations on the board on Main Street, U.S.A.)

Family Fun Weekends at the Disneyland® Resort

Do you like fiestas, hoedowns, Mardi Gras, Lunar New Year and Disney Characters? Then you won’t want to miss the next seven weekends at Disneyland® park.  Families know they can find magic and excitement whenever they visit Disneyland® Resort, and the next few weekends will offer a special reason to play at Disneyland® park.

“Family Fun Weekends” are themed events that invite guests to enjoy music, dancing, and special food and merchandise, along with a chance to meet and take photos with some Disney characters in specially themed attire. Last weekend, for example, Fiesta Mickey and Minnie Mouse greeted guests at Festival Arena in colorful, folklorico attire.

These events take place weekend days from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The first five weekends will be held at Festival Arena (at the back of Frontierland), and the final three weekends will move to New Orleans Square.

Fiesta Disneyland – Jan. 14-16:
The first weekend celebrates the Hispanic culture and experience in a colorful, lively event, featuring performance groups such as award-winning Mariachi Divas.

Disney’s Kickin’ Country Weekend – Jan. 21-23:
This weekend will feature live music – including band Forth Worth West – and a Disney hoedown with Cowboy Mickey and Cowgirl Minnie Mouse.

Character Fan Days – Jan. 28-30:
This is your chance to meet and take photos with some rarely seen characters. Think of this as the ultimate Disney character reunion – featuring the characters that you told us you would most like to meet. Stay tuned to see which characters will be available to see.

Lunar New Year Festival – Feb. 4-6 and Feb. 11-13:
Two weekends will be devoted to Lunar New Year, when time-honored traditions and family celebrations are observed within the Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese cultures as the sun and moon begin their journeys for another year.

Mardi Gras – Feb. 18-20, Feb. 25-27 and March 4-6:
Three weekends will be devoted to a lively, New Orleans-style Mardi Gras event, with vibrant excitement, jazzy music and sensational food of New Orleans. Where else? At New Orleans Square. Princess Tiana, along with a cavalcade of some Disney characters in their Mardi Gras finery, will appear at a photo location in the Court of Angels, staffed by Disney PhotoPass photographers.

Which of the weekends are you looking forward to most?