A huge transformation is underway now at Disney California Adventure park, as The Collector’s Fortress takes shape at the site of what is now the Hollywood Tower Hotel. It will be home to a new adventure, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, and today the Disneyland Resort provide a detailed look at what the fortress will look like when the attraction opens summer 2017.
Archive for
PLAY, STAY, DINE AND SAVE UP TO $500* AT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT
Our Clients can Play, Stay, Dine and save up to $500* on a 5-night 6-day Walt Disney Travel Company room, ticket and dining plan package for a family of four at select Walt Disney World® Resort hotels for stays most nights Jan. 1-March 7, 2017 when you book Oct. 3-Dec. 21, 2016.
Contact Travel Agents, Scott and Becky Donahue, of Wish Upon a Star With Us to plan and book your vacation.
*The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Savings based on the non-discounted price for the same package for 2 adults, 1 junior, 1 child in the same room. Tickets valid for one Theme Park per day and must be used within 14 days of first use. Cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion. Advance reservations required. Offer excludes campsites, 3-bedroom villas, Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort—The Little Mermaid Standard Rooms.
Excludes alcoholic beverages and gratuities, Children ages 3-9 must order from children’s menu, if available. Some Table-Service restaurants may have limited or no availability at time of package purchase.
Tropical Weather Update for Disney Cruise Line Guests
Tropical Weather Update
October 3, 2016
Disney Cruise Line is monitoring the weather conditions and predicted path of Hurricane Matthew closely.
The October 3, 2016, Disney Dream sailing will now sail to the western Caribbean and feature a stop in Cozumel, Mexico. The revised itinerary is below:
• October 3 – Port Canaveral
• October 4 – Day at Sea
• October 5 – Cozumel, Mexico
• October 6 – Day at Sea
• October 7 – Port Canaveral Florida
While it’s still too early to tell if any future itineraries will need to be adjusted due to Hurricane Matthew, we are always prepared to visit alternate ports or spend days at sea to ensure the safety and comfort of our Guests. We will continue to provide updates as they are available.
Watch – Teaser Trailer: ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales’
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is in theaters May 2017 in 3D, RealD 3D and IMAX 3D! Watch first look. #APiratesDeathForMe
Puerto Rico Tip-Off Moving Venue for 2016 Tournament Event to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
The Puerto Rico Tip-Off – to be held Thursday, Nov. 17, Friday, Nov. 18 and Sunday, Nov. 20 – will move its site for the 2016 event to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla. Previously held at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the tournament has been moved due to concerns over the Zika virus.
Now branded the Tire Pros Invitational, the tournament’s field will remain as originally announced with Arizona State, Clemson, Davidson, Missouri, Northern Iowa, Oklahoma, Tulane and Xavier.
“We enjoy the beauty and accommodations that are afforded in Puerto Rico and wanted to make every effort in playing the event in San Juan, but the concern for student-athlete and spectator welfare became the primary driver in the decision,” said Pete Derzis, senior vice president, ESPN Events. “We intend to return to Puerto Rico in the future.”
The bracket consists of 12 games over three days with each team competing in one game per day, advancing through the bracket. The two teams that remain undefeated throughout will face off in a championship game on the final day of competition. The previously announced times and networks of each game will remain the same.
Past winners include Miami (2015 & 2007), West Virginia (2014), Charlotte (2013), Oklahoma State (2012), Alabama (2011), Minnesota (2010), Villanova (2009) and Xavier (2007).
The Tire Pros Invitational is one of two premier men’s college basketball tournaments that will be hosted at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex this season, as the 2016 AdvoCare Invitational takes place over Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 24-27. This year’s field features Gonzaga, Iowa State and Miami, Seton Hall, Florida, Indiana State, Quinnipiac and Stanford.
The Tire Pros Invitational and AdvoCare Invitational are owned and operated by ESPN Events, a division of ESPN.
Previously announce schedule
| Date | Time | Game | Network |
| Thu, Nov 17 | 11 a.m. | Clemson vs. Davidson | ESPNU |
| 1 p.m. | Xavier vs. Missouri | ESPNU | |
| 4:30 p.m. | Northern Iowa vs. Arizona State | ESPNU | |
| 7 p.m. | Tulane vs. Oklahoma | ESPN2 or ESPNU | |
| Fri, Nov 18 | 11:30 a.m. | Consolation #1 | ESPNU |
| 1:30 p.m. | Semifinal #1 | ESPNU | |
| 5 p.m. | Consolation #2 | ESPNU | |
| 7 p.m. | Semifinal #2 | ESPNU | |
| Sun, Nov 20 | Noon | 7th Place Game | ESPN3 |
| 2:30 p.m. | 5th Place Game | ESPNU | |
| 5 p.m. | 3rd Place Game | ESPNU | |
| 7:30 p.m. | Championship Game | ESPN2 | |
| Sat, Nov 26 | Noon | Northern Iowa at Xavier^ | Locally televised |
^ – Non-bracketed game
– See more at: http://disneysportsnews.com/releases/2016/09/26/puerto-rico-tip-off-moving-venue-for-2016-tournament-event-to-espn-wide-world-of-sports-complex/#sthash.HXJbJBRJ.dpuf
Walt Disney World Refurbishments – Fall 2016
| Magic Kingdom® Park | |
| Swiss Family Treehouse Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Liberty Square Riverboat Walt Disney World Railroad Hall of Presidents |
Jul. 6 – Sep. 29, 2016 Aug. 8 – Nov. 18, 2016 Jan. 3 – 12, 2017 Jan. 9 – Feb. 16, 2017 Jan. 17 – Jun. 29, 2017 |
| Epcot® | |
| None | |
| Disney’s Hollywood Studios® | |
| Pizza Planet Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster |
Jan. 19 – Late 2016 Oct. 27 – Nov. 9, 2016 |
| Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park | |
| DINOSAUR Dino Institute Shop |
Jul. 25 – Oct. 16, 2016 Jul. 25 – Oct. 16, 2016 |
| Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park | |
| Shark Reef – Closing Permanently | Oct. 3, 2016 |
| Annual Refurbishment | Dec. 25, 2016 – Mar. 11, 2017 |
| Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park | |
| Annual Refurbishment | Oct. 23 – Dec. 24, 2016 |
| Disney’s All-Star Music Resort | |
| Piano Pool During this time Guests may use the Calypso Pool located near Melody Hall. |
Dec. 12, 2016 – Feb. 3, 2017 |
| Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort | |
| Grand Slam Pool During this time Guests may use the Surfboard Bay Pool, located near the main lobby. |
Oct. 10 – Dec. 13, 2016 |
| Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village | |
| Soft Goods Refurbishment This work will be conducted between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. During this time, Guests may see or hear work in progress and certain pathways may be unavailable. |
Jul. 15, 2016 – January 2017 |
| Disney’s BoardWalk Villas | |
| Room Refurbishments Guests may see or hear work in progress. Additionally, Guests may have an interruption to water service during the overnight hours. |
May 16 – Oct. 31, 2016 |
| Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort | |
| Hard Goods Refurbishment Guests may see or hear construction taking place, or encounter alternative paths of travel throughout the Resort hotel. To minimize any possible disruptions, all work with the most potential for noise will be limited each day between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. |
Beginning November 2016 |
| Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort | |
| Beach Renourishment Project | May 1 – Fall 2016 |
| Disney’s Old Key West Resort | |
| Sandcastle Pool The leisure pools located at Old Turtle Pond, South Point and Miller’s Road will remain available |
Jan. 3 – Feb. 24, 2017 |
| Disney’s Pop Century Resort | |
| Computer Pool During this time Guests may use the Hippy Dippy Pool or Bowling Pool. |
Oct. 31, 2016 – Jan. 3, 2017 |
| Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter | |
| Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory Refurbishment | Jul. 11 – Late Fall 2016 |
| Disney’s Vero Beach Resort | |
| General Resort Refurbishments Due to several refurbishment projects, Guests will very likely see and hear construction work throughout the villas, spa and dining areas. We will attempt to limit any work most likely to cause a noise impact to the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Sonya’s restaurant and Bleachers Bar & Grill have permanently closed to make way for exciting new experiences. In the meantime, the table-service restaurant, Shutters, will be temporarily relocated to the nearby SeaGrape Room. |
Now through Oct. 2016 |
| Disney’s Wilderness Lodge & Villas | |
| General Resort Refurbishments Due to extensive refurbishment projects, Guests will very likely see and hear construction work in various areas throughout their stay. To minimize disruptions, we will attempt to limit work until after 9:00 a.m. At this time, many popular areas will remained closed – including the Hidden Springs Pool (the leisure pool at The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge), beach, marina, playground and more. In addition, certain pathways, like our nature trail, will be unavailable, and surrounding views may be altered. However, the recently renovated Silver Creek Springs Pool will remain open and boat transportation to Magic Kingdom park will continue to be offered. |
Through 2017 |
| Cub’s Den (Children’s Activity Center) – unavailable | Through 2017 |
| Disney’s Yacht Club Resort | |
| Room Refurbishments During this time, Guests may see or hear work in progress and certain pathways may be unavailable. To minimize any disruptions, we will attempt to limit work to 9:00 a.m – 5:00 p.m. |
Oct. 29, 2016 – Jun. 23, 2017 |
| Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Convention Center | |
| Expansion Work During this time, Guests may see or hear work in progress and certain pathways may be unavailable. To minimize any disruptions, we will attempt to limit work to 9:00 a.m – 9:00 p.m. |
Aug. 4, 2016 – Feb. 1, 2018 |
| 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. |
June – September 2016 |
| Disney Springs™ | |
| Planet Hollywood | Jan. 6 – Fall 2016 |
| Fulton’s Crab House – reopening as Paddlefish | Apr. 4 – Fall 2016 |
| Golf Courses/Miniature Golf | |
| None | |
Information and dates subject to change without notice.
Last Updated September 28, 2016
Walt Disney World Resort Celebrates 45th Anniversary to Colorful Fanfare
Walt Disney World Resort marked its 45th anniversary Saturday with a flurry of 45 beloved Disney characters in a colorful celebration at Magic Kingdom Park.
The crowds cheered as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald, Pluto and all of their pals flooded the Cinderella Castle stage to the classic tune of “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.”
It was 45 years ago – Oct. 1, 1971 — when Walt Disney World officially opened, rising from the marshy landscape southwest of Orlando, Florida. The much ballyhooed “Florida project” was the dream of visionary Walt Disney.
“I was here on that day,” Walt Disney World President George A. Kalogridis told guests gathered in front of Cinderella Castle Saturday. “I can tell you that, for all of us Cast Members, in the resorts and the theme park, both, it was a day of excitement, anticipation, and considerable butterflies in the stomach. But mostly it was a day of joy, because we had the privilege of knowing that we were about to create Disney memories that our Guests could cherish for a lifetime.”
The celebration hit a high note with a special live arrangement of “When You Wish Upon a Star,” underscored by a burst of pyro magic and colorful streamers shot high above the Kingdom.
Though he never lived to see opening day, Walt Disney’s legacy of family entertainment lives on in four Florida theme parks (including Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom), two water parks, more than two dozen resort hotels, the Disney Springs retail-dining-entertainment complex, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and other venues.
Walt Disney once said that Disneyland (and by extension all Disney parks) would never be completed. It will continue to grow so long as there is imagination left in the world.
In keeping with Walt’s wish, in 2016, Disney World welcomed a number of attractions throughout all four parks and new shopping and dining experiences at Disney Springs. In 2017, the Most Magical Place on Earth, in collaboration with filmmaker James Cameron and Lightstorm Entertainment will bring to life the mythical world of Pandora, inspired by Cameron’s AVATAR, at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. The awe-inspiring land of floating mountains, bioluminescent rainforests and soaring Banshees will give guests a transformational experience they will never forget.
New Benefits Coming to Walt Disney World Passholders During Resort’s 45th Anniversary Year
Wrapped in exciting fall events, the merriest of holiday happenings and a 2017 filled with spectacular openings, Walt Disney World Resort is marking its 45th anniversary — and unwrapping three special offers for passholders.
Popular Walt Disney World passes, good for theme park admission, valuable Disney savings and other perks throughout the year, gets even sweeter to mark the anniversary:
- New dining and merchandise benefits – Passholders will receive 10 percent off food and nonalcoholic beverages at selecttable-service restaurants at theme parks and Disney resort hotels and 20 percent off purchases at Disney owned-and-operated merchandise locations. These new benefits will continue even after the anniversary comes to an end on Sept. 30, 2017.
- Even more savings exclusively during the 45th anniversary – In addition to the ongoing benefits, passholders can save up to 20 percent off the price of food and non-alcoholic beverages at select restaurants in the theme parks, resort hotels and Disney Springs, as well as dinner shows. Passholders can choose from 45 restaurants participating in this special offerduring the 45th anniversary year that runs now through Sept. 30, 2017. Among the great restaurant choices: Signature Dining (Flying Fish, Artist Point, Citricos) and Family Dining (Jungle Skipper Canteen, Wave of American Flavors). And, for the first time in forever, savings are available at select quick-service locations.
- Get 13 months for the price of 12 – Guests who purchase a 12-month pass will enjoy 13 months of unsurpassed passholder magic filled with seasonal events, unique attractions and stellar entertainment. New passes must be purchased between Oct. 2, 2016 and Jan. 3, 2017. Prices vary depending on pass type selected – Weekday Select, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Platinum Plus.
Celebrate the 45th Anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort with New Special Offers for Passholders
In addition to offering theme park admission, passes include special savings on resort hotel rooms, merchandise, recreation, sports, tours and spa treatments. Passholders will find still more savings on admission to special events and entertainment. Passes also add value and convenience with benefits like standard parking, park-hopping privileges and a Magic Band.
With all the magic happening now and coming soon to Walt Disney World Resort, there’s never been a better time to be a passholder. Here’s just a sampling of events and happenings:
- The 21st Annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, on now through Nov. 14, features celebrated chefs, more than 30 marketplaces, wine seminars, workshops, dining and tasting events, and the Eat to the Beat Concerts.
- Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, on select dates now through Oct. 31, brings spooktacular fun to the Magic Kingdom with a Halloween parade, themed fireworks, trick or treating, and a stage show featuring Disney villains.
- Holidays at Walt Disney World Resort means enchanting fun with dazzling lights, spirited song and snow flurries. Events include Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and an all-new stage show at Magic Kingdom, Candlelight Processional at Epcot, plus caroling, tree-lighting ceremonies and visits by Santa himself.
- Pandora – The World of Avatar (2017) – The awe-inspiring land envisioned by filmmaker James Cameron comes to life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, with floating mountains and bioluminescent rainforests.
- Disney Springs completes its build out, reimagined from Downtown Disney. There’s more shopping, dining and entertainment than ever before all set among beautiful open-air promenades, meandering springs and waterfront charm. With more than 150 establishments, Disney Springs include trendsetting brands like UNIQLO, kate spade new york and Zara along with and one-of-a-kind boutiques. Foodies can savor everything from tasty food-truck treats to celebrity-chef restaurants.
For more information on either offer or to sign up for a pass, guests can visit disneyworld.com/passholders
SHARING THE MAGIC WITH ROY AND MINNIE BY SAM ALLEN
This October, Magic Kingdom will celebrate the 45th anniversary of the park’s opening and, by extension, the opening of the entire Walt Disney World Resort. Although the “Florida Project,” as it was called in the early planning stages, was Walt Disney’s last great dream, it was another Disney who saw it to its opening day.
This Is The Single Best Time Of Year To Visit Disney World
With more than 20 million guests walking through its doors in 2015, Disney’s Magic Kingdom is the most popular theme park in the world. Of course, with great popularity comes great crowds, and visitors during the park’s peak seasons of summer and Christmas are likely to become as familiar with long lines as they are with Mickey and Princess Elsa.
