There are a lot of great tips for visiting Disney World floating around that everyone should investigate, but there are some extra special tips that only come with experience — and who has more experience than the mamas who go all the time?
Keep your drinks and space pirates cold with this Han Solo mini-fridge. Wal-Mart
Unlike Darth Vader, most of us don’t have access to a carbonite freezing-chamber to keep our drinks and space pirates ice cold.
Since the removal of the Sorcerer’s Hat icon from the center of the park, “The Great Movie Ride” is once again the centerpiece of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Disney’s 20th annual Cross Country Classic, presented by New Balance, attracts colleges, high schools and middle schools from around the country each year. The fast 5K and 8K courses provide athletes a variety of terrain. The event will take place from Oct. 9 – 10.
The three-park nighttime event, Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend, will feature Mickey’s Jingle Jungle 5K and runDisney Kids Races, offering something special for runners of all ages. Participants can expect on-course Disney entertainment. To top off the evening, runners are invited to the exclusive Finish Line Party at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon will take place Nov. 6 – 7.
Eight men’s college basketball teams, including Alabama, Southern California and Notre Dame, will compete in the 2015 AdvoCare Invitational on Nov. 26, 27 and 29 at HP Field House at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The event will feature 12 games over the three days. Each team will compete in one game per day, advancing through a bracket-tournament format. The two teams that remain undefeated throughout will face off in the championship game on Sunday, Nov. 29.
The prestigious Disney Junior Soccer Showcase event will give younger age groups the chance to experience the same great national competition and top-notch tournament organization as their older counterparts in the original Disney Soccer Showcase in December. The Disney Junior Soccer Showcase will take place from Nov. 27 to Nov. 29.
This fall, the Magic Kingdom will be transformed into a home for happy haunts at “Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.” This special ticket event returns this year for 25 nights of boo-tiful festivities at Magic Kingdom park. Guests are invited to dress up in favorite Halloween costumes for this “not-so-scary” occasion, where there is an assortment of trick-or-treat sweets waiting to be found.
Entertainment features the twice-nightly “Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade,” a bone-rattling spectacle featuring Disney characters donning Halloween costumes. Also, for the first time ever, the mischievous Sanderson Sisters from Disney’s Hocus Pocus will throw an evil Halloween party for the “Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular.” This new show is a not-to-be-missed Halloween production and features appearances by Dr. Facilier, Oogie Boogie, Maleficent and other great Disney villains, along with dancers, projections and special effects. For the fiendish finale, “Happy HalloWishes,” a green and orange fireworks display complete with Disney villains, will creep across the sky.
In addition to trick-or-treating, meet and greets with Disney characters in their festive Halloween costumes and Halloween treats and eats unique to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party are available throughout the evening. For guests’ ghostly pleasure, a barbershop quartet of dead cowboys also will be serenading Frontierland with their chilling musical arrangements. Listen if you dare!
Party dates are September: 15, 18, 20, 22, 25 and 27; October: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31; November: 1. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party webpage.
Holy bullwhip Indy. Disney this week released details about its new Indiana Jones-themed restaurant at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
With the popularity of the recent PBS documentary about Walt Disney, there’s a growing curiosity about the man behind Mickey Mouse.
For as long as ‘Star Wars’ movies have been released to the home entertainment market, changes have been made to them. Now Disney finally looks to set things straight With the release of the original theatrical cuts of the first three ‘Star Wars’ movies.
tWO new seasonal experiences are coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios® at Walt Disney World® Resort this year. The Merry & Bright Dessert Party and Dinner Reception will light up the season with special reserved viewing of over 5 million legendary lights during the finale of The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights.
During the Merry & Bright Dinner Reception, Guests can enjoy a holiday buffet including shrimp, beef, turkey and more, as well as specialty alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, beer and wine. Each Guest in the party will receive a custom keepsake shadow box featuring their own Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights bulb. The Dinner Reception will take place from 8:30-10 p.m. on Jan. 1, 2016 and from 7-8:30 p.m. on Jan. 2-3, 2016. The price is $99 per adult and $54 per child (ages 3-9). Tax and gratuity are included.
During both events, Guests can enjoy the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights from a reserved location at the end of the Streets of America near the entrance to Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show. Guests can check in at the location beginning one hour prior to the event.
Bookings can be made by calling 407-WDW-DINE or online at Disneyworld.com/dine. Advance reservations are recommended as availability is limited.
| Magic Kingdom® Park | |
| Monorail The Walt Disney World® Resort Monorail System is undergoing refurbishment and may be on modified service and/or routes. If Guests plan to use this form of transportation during their visit they should check to be sure of the best option available on their day of travel, as alternative transportation options will be available. |
Now – December 2015 |
| Pirates of the Caribbean® Liberty Tree Tavern The Diamond Horseshoe Walt Disney World® Railroad Disney’s The Magic Behind Our Steam Trains Tour Peter Pan’s Flight |
Jun. 8 – Sep. 25, 2015 Jul. 6 – Nov. 19, 2015 Aug. 2 – Nov. 19, 2015 Oct. 12 – Nov. 20, 2015 Oct. 12 – Nov. 20, 2015 Nov. 2 – 7, 2015 |
| Epcot® | |
| Re-Imagination of Maelstrom Living with the Land |
Oct. 15, 2014 – Apr. 30, 2016 Sep. 8 – 17, 2015 |
| Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park | |
| Primeval Whirl Pizzafari Flights of Wonder |
Aug. 17 – Nov. 12, 2015 Aug. 23 – Nov. 14, 2015 Oct. 5 – Nov. 5, 2015 |
| Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park | |
| Annual Refurbishment | Jan. 3 – Mar. 12, 2016 |
| Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park | |
| Annual Refurbishment | Oct. 4, 2015 – Jan. 2, 2016 |
| Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort | |
| Grand Slam Pool | Oct. 26 – Dec. 18, 2015 |
| Disney’s Boardwalk Inn | |
| Exterior Repair and Painting | Aug. 17, 2015 – May 5, 2016 |
| Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort | |
| Bridge Closure The main bridge going from Aruba and Jamaica to Old Port Royale will be closed. Guests may take a shuttle, internal van, or boat from Aruba to Bike Works. |
Aug. 3 – Nov. 26, 2015 |
| Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort | |
| Fitness Center, Salon and Casitas Leisure Pool Closed for maintenance. During this time, Guests can continue to visit the feature pool and the other two leisure pools at the resort. Additionally, a temporary fitness center will be set up for Guests in the Casitas area. |
Jul. 5 – Oct. 30, 2015 |
| Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort | |
| Tide Me Over Food Court | Aug. 1 – Sep. 20, 2015 |
| Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter | |
| French Quarter Kiddie Pool | Sep. 8 – Dec. 23, 2015 |
| Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort | |
| General Construction During this time, Guests will observe construction taking place and certain pathways and buildings may be unavailable. |
Through Early 2016 |
| East Pool Closed for enhancement. Guests may see or hear work in progress. |
Now – Early 2016 |
| Disney’s Wilderness Lodge & Villas | |
| General Resort Refurbishments Due to multiple resort refurbishment projects, Guests will notice construction work in various areas. Noise may be overheard while this work is being completed, but construction will not begin until after 9 a.m. Certain pathways, including the nature trail, will be unavailable. The Hidden Springs leisure pool area (the leisure pool at The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge), resort beach, playground and Recreation fire pit will be unavailable. |
Oct. 2, 2015 – 2017 Oct. 26, 2015 – 2017 |
| Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel | |
| Guest Room Renovations Renovation work is scheduled to take place between 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily. No guests will be accommodated in the renovation area as to minimize impact on the guest experience. |
Oct. 2015 – Mid-Dec. 2015 June 2016 – September 2016 |
| Walt Disney World Swan Hotel | |
| Guest Room Renovations Renovation work is scheduled to take place between 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily. No guests will be accommodated in the renovation area as to minimize impact on the guest experience. |
Now – September 2015 |
| Downtown Disney® Area | |
| Roadwork on Buena Vista Drive Due to heavy roadwork, expect delays on Buena Vista Drive. It is recommended that Guests use complimentary Walt Disney World Resort transportation from Parks and Resorts to Downtown Disney and plan to arrive early for reserved dining and entertainment experiences. |
Through March 2016 |
| Parking Lots – Entrance 2 – Lots A-G Loss of parking lot Entrance 2 to Guest/Cast traffic and associated lots A-G in preparation for the construction of Town Center and the East Garage. |
Dec. 1, 2014 – Aug. 1, 2016 |
| Fulton’s Crab House | Jan. 1 – Apr. 1, 2016 |
| Planet Hollywood | Jan. 1 – Jun. 1, 2016 |
| Golf Courses/Miniature Golf | |
| None | |
