Disney News

We’re sorry, this offer has expired. Please CLICK HERE for current Disney Cruise Line® Specials

This fall will be your last opportunity to set sail with Disney Cruise Line® from Galveston, TX. Now’s the time to book and SAVE on your fall getaway aboard the Disney Wonder®. For a limited time, you can take advantage of some amazing lead rates, onboard credits, and half-off deposits!

Offer Details:

Book a 7-night sailing most nights Sep. 28 – Nov. 16 and Nov. 30 – Dec. 7, 2013 aboard the Disney Wonder®  and receive an onboard credit (OBC) for you to use during your cruise – $100 OBC for an Inside stateroom, $150 OBC for an Oceanview Stateroom, and a $200 OBC for a Verandah stateroom. You’ll also pay less now with half-off deposits due at the time of booking!

Booking Window:

Through Jul. 31, 2013

Travel Window:

Most 7-night sailings from Sep. 28 – Nov. 16 and Nov. 30 – Dec. 7, 2013

All promotions are subject to availability, so contact your Magic Maker® today for your free no-obligation quote!

Government Taxes and Fees and Port Adventures not included. Per person government taxes and fees are approximately $80 per person for 7-night Bahamas and Western Caribbean cruises (all amounts subject to change). Excludes categories with restrictions (IGT, OGT and VGT). Half-off deposit is valid only for categories 00T – 11C. The deferred deposit amount is due at final payment. This offer cannot be combined with any other offers, discounts or onboard credits. Subject to all applicable Terms and Conditions of Disney Cruise Line®. All Shipboard credits are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Walt Disney World® Resort is a world of indulgences. Around every corner there is a sight, aroma, sound or experience beckoning you to come and enjoy. It is a world in which you can let go and lose yourself in the fantasies and imaginations left behind by Walt Disney. It is an escape.

Personally, I love indulging at Walt Disney World® Resort. From tasting unique treats that I would never dare try at home to getting a haircut on Main Street, U.S.A® Area there are plenty of ways to indulge.

However, to those of us who are attempting to maintain a healthy diet, a world of indulgences can be a frightening thing! Beyond the obvious, passing up what we know we shouldn’t eat, the bigger fear for many of us is that, is there such a thing as healthy eating at such a magical place?

The answer is YES.

Even a midst the indulgences we all love on vacation, from exciting resorts to unique dining and entertainment, it is possible to maintain the healthy diets we work so hard on when we aren’t on vacation.

Thankfully, we can put our minds at ease that Walt Disney World® Resort has plenty of tasty options for even the healthy eating aficionado!

Many locations throughout the resorts offer grilled and rotisserie chicken meals accompanied with vegetables, they are a great alternative to burgers and hot dogs! Should you choose to indulge in a burger, don’t worry, they are offered with multi-grain buns and you can even substitute apples or grapes for fries at many locations! And about those fries and other fried foods, you won’t find trans-fats anywhere on property!

In Magic Kingdom® Park at Columbia Harbor House you’ll find a delectable grilled salmon or a Lighthouse Sandwich (hummus and broccoli slaw on whole grain bread). You can head over to Cosmic Ray’s and pick up a rotisserie chicken, veggie burger, veggie wrap or Greek salad! Let’s not forget the eggplant stack or gnocchi with goat cheese and spinach at Tony’s Town Square Restaurant! If you head over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios®, you’ll find a grilled vegetable sandwich at Backlot Express or for a leisurely sit down meal you can visit Hollywood Brown Derby Restaurant for a Cobb Salad or noodle bowl.

Epcot® has an abundance of options as you journey around World Showcase. Tangierine Café’ in the Morocco Pavilion offers a delicious vegetarian platter with hummus, falafel, lentils, olives and more. At the Japan Pavilion you can experience grilled veggie tacos, or the lemon chicken in the China Pavilion. For something a little different you can try the jumbo shrimp and cannellini beans in at Via Napoli in the Italy Pavilion.

At Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park, you’ll find the house-smoked half chicken at Flame Tree Barbecue, one of my favorite counter services eats in all of Walt Disney World® Resort! If you are craving more, you can always swing by Tusker House Restaurant for tandoori tofu, couscous with veggies, curry chicken or salmon.

Snacks? No problem! Be sure to look for the fresh fruit cart in each park where you can find pineapple spears, watermelon chunks, carrots, celery with dip, dill pickles and more! Even at the ice cream carts you can find sugar free options or fruit bars! Of course, no visit in Magic Kingdom® Park is complete without a Dole Whip from Aloha Isle.

As  you can see, there is more to the parks that hamburgers and french fries, and these options mentioned are just skimming the surface! There are plenty of ways for health conscious guests to indulge…and not feel guilty afterwards! For more information on any of these options, or to discover more about healthy eating at Walt Disney World® Resort contact your Magic Maker® today!

Storytelling is one of the things The Walt Disney Company has been widely known for since Walt’s beginnings in the 1920s. And that tradition continues at Disney Parks where every aspect of your experience has a story. From the attractions to the restaurants and even the resorts, each has their own storyline being told to the guest.

At the Walt Disney World® Resort, one of our favorite forms of storytelling is the stage shows inside the parks. These shows are 15-40 minute Broadway-style productions telling some favorite Disney tales. In a hectic race to get from “Attraction A” to “Attraction B,” it seems these shows are often overlooked by our guests. So, we asked our expert Magic Makers® to rate the current stage shows at the Walt Disney World® Resort to help you choose which ones you should fit in to your hectic schedule. While a listing like this is subjective and ultimately a matter of personal taste, we think guests of all ages and interest will enjoy these top 3 shows.

And now, we proudly present:

Magic Maker’s® Top 3 Walt Disney World® Resort Stage Shows

1. Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage (Disney’s Hollywood Studios®)
   This elegant musical production recreates the “tale as old as time” several times daily inside the Theater of the Stars on Sunset Boulevard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®. The show has been running (with some minor changes) at the park since Nov. 22, 1991, the same day the animated film opened in U.S. theaters!
2. Finding Nemo – The Musical (Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park)
   Larger-than-life puppets are used to help tell the story of Disney-Pixar’s Finding Nemo inside the Theater in the Wild at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park. After seeing the sheer talent of the puppeteers and hearing the 14 songs written to transform this non-musical animated feature into a musical production, you’ll understand why it was honored with a Thea Award for “Best Live Show.” Finding Nemo – The Musical is the longest of the shows appearing on our listing at 40 minutes.
3. Festival of the Lion King (Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park)
   Our number one show can also been found at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park inside the Camp Minnie-Mickey area. Festival of the Lion King combines puppetry, acrobatics, and dancers into a WILD revue of Disney’s The Lion King. The show is interactive featuring guest participation throughout and is likely to have you humming “Hakuna Matata” for the rest of your day!

These are 3 great stage shows you won’t want to miss! But keep in mind, they are just a small sample of the various entertainment options available at the Walt Disney World® Resort!

This morning, the Main Street Bakery reopened inside the Magic Kingdom® Park. A mainstay on Main Street, U.S.A.®, the bakery now serves famous Starbucks® products. Some of those products include iced and regular coffees and teas, frappuccino, espresso, smoothies, and refreshers.  You will also find a wide variety of both Starbucks® and Main Street Bakery pastries and breakfast sandwiches as well as a grab-and-go case with standard fruits and juices. Guests utilizing one of the Disney Dining Plans will be able to use a snack entitlement to purchase most of your favorite Starbucks® drinks. A quick service breakfast is also an option for Disney Dining Plan participants.

The opening of the Main Street Bakery marks the first Starbucks® location at the Walt Disney World® Resort. Additional themed locations are planned for inside Epcot®, Disney’s Hollywood Studios®, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park.

This year, Disney Parks will be celebrating our nation’s birthday for an entire week! Independence Week, part of Disney Parks’ “Limited Time Magic,” will run July 1-7, 2013. Whether celebrating at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida or at the Disneyland® Resort in California, there is one guarantee – no shortage of fireworks!

Here is a look at planned Independence Week events:

Walt Disney World® Resort

Magic Kingdom® Park

• “Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky” – A 15-minute nighttime fireworks spectacular featuring special perimeter fireworks giving you 360-degrees of sparkles in the sky! The show will take place at 9pm on July 3rd and 4th and at 10p July 1st-2nd and 5th-7th
• Special Preparade Processional – Goofy, Donald, and Pluto will be joined by the Main Street Philharmonic and the Citizens of Main Street for a special patriotic processional down Main Street, U.S.A.® right before the Celebrate a Dream Come True parade. July 1st-7th, 2013
• Patriotic treats – Special patriotic treats will be available throughout the Walt Disney World® Resort including a Red, White, and Blue Strawberry Shortcake at Storybook Treats

Epcot® – July 4th only

• Patriotic Character Meet & Greet – Meet with Disney’s characters adorned in their patriotic dress from 11:30a-2:30p and 3:30p-6:00p near Kidcot at American Adventure on July 4th
• Voices of Liberty Fourth of July Concert – Located in America Gardens Theatre, this special show will feature the amazingly talented a capella Voices of Liberty, the Spirit of America Fife and Drum Corps, and maybe even a special appearance by some of your favorite Disney characters. Showtimes are 12:30p, 1:45p, and 3:00p on July 4th
• “The Heartbeat of Freedom” – A special tribute to America titled “The Heartbeat of Freedom” will take place after IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth at 10:00p on July 4th
• Slippery When Wet – As part of the Sounds Like Summer Concert Series, Slippery When Wet – The Ultimate Bon Jovi Tribute will play at America Gardens Theatre at 5:15p, 6:30p, 7:45p, and 9:00p on July 4th. Click here for details on performances throughout the rest of the week
• Patriotic treats – Special patriotic treats will be available throughout the Walt Disney World® Resort. Epcot® will feature a Red, White, and Blue “Baked Alaska” Mousse and Skillet-Baked Peach Cobbler

Disney’s Hollywood Studios® – July 4th only

• “Rockin’ 4th of July Celebration” – An all-new celebration in front of the Sorcerers Hat! The Party starts at 6p with a DJ followed by performances by “Mulch, Sweat & Shears” at 7p, 8p, 9p, and 10p. It all leads up for an amazing rock ‘n roll fireworks display at 10:15p!
• Patriotic treats – Be sure to purchase a special 4th of July Cupcake with apple pie filling, caramel buttercream and apple crisp topping.

Disneyland® Resort

Disneyland® Park

• “Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky” – The skies above Sleeping Beauty Castle will light up during this special patriotic fireworks spectacular. Don’t forget to bring your “Glow with the Show” Ears! Show begins at 9:30p July 1st-7th
• Patriotic Character Meet & Greet – Mickey Mouse will greet guests in his patriotic attire every evening July 1st-7th in Town Square
• Patriotic treats – Be on the lookout for special patriotic treats – Red, White & Blue Mason Jar Desserts, patriotic cotton candy, 4th of July cupcakes, and Apple Pie Pockets

Disney California Adventure® Park

• World of Color Preshow – A special patriotic preshow will be show prior to World of Color. Be sure to purchase your “Glow with the Show” Ears to show your colors

Other patriotic activities will be taking place around the Parks and Resorts as well. Consult your Daily Times Guide for more information. All events and characters are subject to change. Theme park admission is required for all events listed above.

There’s a new “sweet spot” at Epcot®, and this is one you won’t want to miss!

L’Artisan des Glaces – Artisan Ice Cream & Sorbet is now open inside the France Pavilion at Epcot® World Showcase! Offering 16 different flavors, the traditional French ice cream is made throughout the day on location from basic fresh ingredients. Current flavors include:

Ice Cream

• Vanilla
• Chocolate
• Pistachio
• Cherry
• Coconut White Chocolate
• Mint Chocolate (from fresh mint)
• Hazelnut
• Caramel de sel
• Coffee
• Profiterole

Sorbets

• Strawberry
• Mixed Berry
• Lemon
• Mango
• Melon
• Pomegranate

Both the Ice Cream and Sorbet at La Glace is served in your choice of a cup or waffle cone. For a fun twist, grown ups can choose to have two scoops of ice cream served in a martini glass with a shot of Grand Marnier, rum, or whipped cream flavored vodka over it. Guests utilizing the Disney Dining Plan may receive a single scoop cup or cone for (1) snack entitlement.

In April, Disney Cruise Line® announced a major refurbishment to their original ship, the Disney Magic®. From stem to stern, the ship will be reimagined for guests to enjoy. Click here for a summary of all the changes that will take place this fall.

One of the major changes will be inside the staterooms of the Disney Magic®. When Disney Cruise Line® launched, they revolutionized the cruise industry by designing staterooms specifically for families. With larger staterooms and the introduction of split-bathrooms, cruising became much more family-friendly. Because the original room designs are still very functional almost 15 years later, the enhancements inside the staterooms consist mostly of a refresh of color palette and linens as well as the elevation of the bed frames to allow suitcase storage underneath them!

Here’s a glimpse at the enhancements coming this fall to the staterooms aboard the Disney Magic®

Concept art – actual construction may vary.

Contact your Magic Maker today to experience the reimagined Disney Magic®!

Earlier today, registration for the 2014 Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend opened to the public! Taking place Feb. 20-23, 2014, runDisney has added a new race next year – the Disney Enchanted 10K! Click here for more details on next year’s events.

Our Magic Makers® are already busy helping race participants book their Magic Your Way® Packages for Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend! In addition to all the typical Magical Extras you receive with every Walt Disney Travel Company package you book with Off to Neverland Travel®, you also have the option to include your registration for the following races in with your package:

• Disney’s Princess Half Marathon
• Disney Enchanted 10K
• Glass Slipper Challenge
• Cinderella Royal Family 5K
• runDisney Kids Races
• Race Retreat

For best rates and availability, contact your Magic Maker® today!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park has added two new experiences that you won’t want to miss during your next visit – Adventurers Outpost and Wilderness Explorers!

Mickey and Minnie Mouse have moved from their old meet and greet location at Camp Minnie-Mickey to the new Adventurers Outpost inside the Discovery Island® area. Adventurers Outpost is the new exploration headquarters of our two favorite World travelers. Here, you’ll be able to see mementos of all their travels while you wait to meet them for yourself. This indoor location provides a great way for your little adventurers to get a break from the Florida weather!

Wilderness Explorers is a fun and engaging way for kids to experience Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park. Inspired by Russell from Disney-Pixar’s Up, the experience aims to deepen the understanding of animals and nature. Joining the Wilderness Explorers is easy! Just stop by the Wilderness Explorers Headquarters near the Oasis bridge where you will receive your Wilderness Explorer Handbook. Then as you are exploring Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park, look for Wilderness Explorer badge locations where you will complete an activity to earn your next badge. With over 30 badges to collect, your quest to become a Senior Explorer is a fun mix of entertainment and education!

Kick on the thumbnails below to explore photos of Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park’s newest experiences.