WDW Daily News

Disney World in Orlando is loaded with tons of magical photo ops. Who doesn’t come back after a day at the parks with millions of snapshots of Cinderella Castle? When does someone not take the opportunity to pose in front of the Tree of Life? Did we mention there are also tons of characters to smile alongside?

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Today, our Clients can enjoy two exciting Walt Disney World® offers, including the popular “Free Dining” offer! This is a great opportunity for our Clients to come explore all that’s new across the Walt Disney World resort, including Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, opening Aug. 29, 2019. Plus, they can enjoy fantastic seasonal events like Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival returning Aug. 29-Nov. 23, 2019 and EpcotInternational Festival of the Holidays taking place Nov. 29-Dec. 30, 2019.

Contact Travel Agents, Scott and Becky Donahue, of Wish Upon a Star With Us to plan and book your vacation. Full details & offers here

As a Guest of a Disney Resort hotel, our Clients can enjoy extra, Extra Magic Hours*! From Sept. 1 to Nov. 2, 2019, Guests will have more opportunities to take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours benefit. With extra, Extra Magic Hours, Guests can spend more time at a select theme park – before the park’s regular operating hours – enjoying select attractions and experiences (Valid theme park admission and hotel ID required. To see when and where the Extra Magic Hours benefit is offered, view Walt Disney World Resort Park hours. 

*Valid Theme Park admission and hotel ID required. Guests without the Park HopperOption or Park Hopper Plus Option must spend the day at the same Park where they’d like to enjoy the “extra” Extra Magic Hours benefit. Not all Walt Disney World® attractions are available with the Extra Magic Hours benefit. The Extra Magic Hours schedule and available attractions are subject to change without notice. Applicable Theme Park, days and times of operation, attraction and service availability may vary and are subject to change without notice. Subject to capacity and cancellation. The Extra Magic Hours benefit will continue to be available on select days at Epcot®. The Extra Magic Hoursbenefit is also available to Guests of Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels, Shades of Green® Resort, Disney Springs® Resort Area Hotels, Four Seasons Resort Orlando, Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek and Waldorf Astoria Orlando.

Contact Travel Agents, Scott and Becky Donahue, of Wish Upon a Star With Us to plan and book your vacation. Full details & offers here

Offers available today include:Enjoy a Tasty Offer at Walt Disney World Resort
Our Clients can get a FREE dining plan when they purchase a non-discounted 5-night/6-Day Walt Disney Travel Company package that includes a room at a select Disney Resorthotel and a ticket with a Park Hopper® Option. Book through Sept. 29, 2019 for arrivals most nights Sept. 1-18, Nov. 17-27 and Dec. 8-23, 2019.

When our Clients stay at a select Disney Deluxe Resort or Disney Deluxe Villa Resort, they get the Disney Dining Plan with a variety of delicious dining options! When our Clients stay at a select Disney Value Resort or Disney Moderate Resort, they get the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan that allows them to enjoy a quick bite!

The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Length of stay requirements may apply. Everyone in the same room must be on the same package. Ticket valid for admission beginning date of check-in and must be used by the date of check-out or within 9 days of check-in, whichever period is longer. Visit disneydestinationstickets.com/usage for more details. Cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion. Advance reservations required. Offer excludes the following room types: campsites, 3-bedroom Grand Villas, Cabins at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort—The Little Mermaid standard rooms. Dining plan excludes gratuities. Some Table-Service restaurants may have limited or no availability at time of package purchase. Children ages 3–9 must order from children’s menu, if available.

Contact Travel Agents, Scott and Becky Donahue, of Wish Upon a Star With Us to plan and book your vacation. Full details & offers here

Save up to 20% on Rooms at Select Disney Resort Hotels This Fall and Holiday Season!  
Our Clients can stay in the middle of the magic with this great offer – and stay close to all that’s festive and fun at Walt Disney World Resort this fall and holiday season! 

Save up to 20% on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels. Book through Sept. 29, 2019 for stays most nights Sept. 1-Sept. 28 and stays most Sunday through Thursday nights Sept. 29-Nov. 7, 2019. Book through Dec. 24, 2019 for stays most nights Nov. 10-Dec. 24, 2019. 

The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Savings based on the non-discounted price for the same room. Length of stay requirements may apply. Additional per-adult charges may apply if more than 2 adults per room at Disney Value, Moderate and Deluxe Resorts and Studios at Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts. Cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion. Advance reservations required. Offer excludes the following room types: campsites, 3-bedroom Grand Villas, Cabins at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows. Displayed savings for select Disney Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts; lower savings may be available for other select Disney Resort hotels. 

Florida Residents Enjoy Savings at Select Walt Disney World Resort Hotels
Florida Residents can save up to 25% at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels for stays most nights Sept. 1-Dec. 24, 2019 when you book through Dec. 24, 2019.

The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Length-of-stay requirements may apply. Savings based on the non-discounted price for the same room. Additional per-adult charges may apply if more than two adults per room at Disney Value, Moderate, Deluxe and Studios at Deluxe Villa Resorts. Cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion. Advance reservations required. Offer excludes the following room types: campsites, 3-bedroom Grand Villas, Cabins at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows. Displayed room savings are for select Disney Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts; lower savings may be available at other select Resorts. Proof of Florida residency required at check-in.

Contact Travel Agents, Scott and Becky Donahue, of Wish Upon a Star With Us to plan and book your vacation. Full details & offers here

Take a look at some Photos from the NBA Experience at Disney Springs of Disney Spirit Jerseys, Mickey Ears, & More

On September 29, Disney Skyliner gondolas will take flight and officially begin transporting guests around Walt Disney World Resort.

This state-of-the-art transportation system offers a new way to experience the resort with amazing views only available from the sky. Disney Skyliner connects Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot to four resort hotels – Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and the new Disney’s Riviera Resort scheduled to open in December 2019.

Some Disney Skyliner cabins feature graphics based on Disney films, attractions and characters. Disney stories taking flight with guests include:

• Mickey Mouse
• Minnie Mouse
• Pluto
• Chip & Dale
• “Coco”
• Goofy, Pete, Horace Horsecollar and Clarabelle Cow
• “Finding Dory”
• Haunted Mansion
• “Monsters, Inc.”
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• “Ratatouille”

Even though the Disney parks have quite a reputation for being a place where Disney fans can go meet their favorite Disney characters and enjoy some unique foods, that’s not the only thing that fans can do at the Disney parks. There are some things that visitors of one of the many Disney parks around the world simply aren’t allowed to do, but there are also some things that not many fans know that you can do at the parks.

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The opportunities for adventures with Disney are endless! As a leader in family travel, Disney provides immersive experiences in incredible destinations around the world.

Whether you visit the stunning tropical paradise of Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii, board a Disney Cruise to Alaska or Europe, or take an Adventures by Disney European vacation, they’ll receive the same legendary service they’ve come to expect in our theme parks.

In this video, travel expert Jeanenne Tornatore showcases five Disney vacation options beyond the parks you can take this summer.

There are 52 movies from Walt Disney Animation Studios from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to Ralph Breaks the Internet. All you need to do to beat the quiz is name one character from each film.

– NAMES THAT ARE IN THE ACTUAL MOVIE TITLES DON’T COUNT. That would make it too easy. For movies like Cinderella, you’ll have to think of another character in the movie besides Cinderella.

– If you want help, there is a list under the quiz of the movies, but if you want an additional challenge, try completing the quiz without it. Good luck!

Take quiz

The planet of Batuu is bustling with creatures and aliens that serve integral roles within Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Find exotic creatures in the merchant stall or encounter aliens running their own businesses. Here are some of the creatures and aliens your Clients may come across:



Dok-Ondar
In Batuu, Dok-Ondar is the proprietor of a unique intergalactic curiosities shop, Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities. He is an alien hailing from the planet Ithor. When visiting his collection, be prepared to see a variety of oddities, from taxidermic creatures to holocrons and more. Some travelers know him as the “gatekeeper” of the black market in Black Spire Outpost, so try not to cross him! While taking inventory, he is known to order his assistants around between incoming calls.



Ollopom
Sometimes mistaken for plants, ollopoms are gentle aquatic rodents found in the Gungan swamps of the planet Naboo. Naboo is the home planet of Padmé Amidala, as well as the Gungan Jar Jar Binks from “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.” You can find one of these fascinating creatures of disguise, Ollie the ollopom, bobbing in the water when visiting Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities. Ollie was a gift from Hondo, who found it in an unmarked cargo.

Sarlacc
An infant sarlacc, named Simpi, may seem adorable to some, but this creature is the same type of carnivorous giant seen in the sand pit in “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.” Growing up to 100 meters long, the massive mouth of these sarlaccs can turn someone’s good day to bad if swallowed whole! Dok-Ondar keeps this little sarlacc (procured by none other than Han Solo and Chewbacca as told in the Marvel Star Wars comic series Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge) in a special tank that simulates arid atmospheric conditions.



Hondo Ohnaka
For visitors that remember “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and “Star Wars Rebels” animated series, Hondo Ohnaka is the infamous Weequay pirate turned “legitimate” businessman that may or may not serve as a smuggler now on Batuu. When boarding the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Guests will encounter Hondo instructing new recruits on his mission to deliver coaxium, which is of importance to both the First Order and the Resistance. 



Wampa
Wampas are accustomed to the cold weather on the planet Hoth. These carnivorous creatures are covered in white fur, horns and claws for survival. You may remember seeing an encounter with one during Luke Skywalker’s Hoth adventure in “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.” Thankfully on Batuu, Dok-Ondar has secured a taxidermic wampa for spectators to admire, as well as other taxidermic creatures on the wall. This prized possession is worth a look when visiting Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities.

Dianoga
Dianogas are slimy, tentacled carnivores that thrive in dark hiding places. For visitors that remember “Star Wars: A New Hope,” a Dianoga attacked Luke Skywalker in the Death Star trash compactor. Now, Guests can spot two hiding on Batuu. When stopping to drink at the water fountain in the Black Spire Outpost marketplace, check to see if the eye of “Tiny” pops out of the water tank above. 



Worrt
An adoptable creature is the frog-like worrt found at the Creature Stall in the Black Spire Outpost Marketplace. This carnivorous amphibian is a native to the planet of Tatooine, famously seen outside Jabba the Hutt’s palace in “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.” Be careful of its powerful tongue, as it snatches unsuspecting rodents and insects on the way! At Oga’s Cantina Guests can also spot a worrt in one of the amphibian tanks.

There is a plethora of other fascinating inhabitants to be found on Batuu, so tell your Clients to keep an eye out during their visit to Batuu.

In this age of reboots and sequels dominating the box office, it was just a matter of time before Disney began adapting their greatest hits for the big screen again. With the upcoming release of The Lion King, Disney will have remade nine of their animated classics, not including Pete’s Dragon or Mary Poppins Returns.

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The beloved Main Street Electrical Parade is returning to Disneyland Park Aug. 2, 2019, to bring guests of multiple generations a sense of wonder, joy and – for some – warm nostalgia. The iconic parade will travel down Main Street, U.S.A., for a limited-time engagement, through Sept. 30.

Main Street Electrical Parade made its world debut at Disneyland June 17, 1972, and later appeared at Disney Parks around the world. This spectacular pageant of nighttime magic and imagination entertained guests at Disneyland until it “glowed away” on Nov. 25, 1996. Most recently, the dazzling after-dark parade ran for a limited-time at Disneyland in 2017, and prior to that, it illuminated Disney California Adventure Park from 2001-2010. Here’s a closer look at the legacy of the Main Street Electrical Parade, by the numbers.

• 600,000 lights sparkle in the parade’s nighttime journey from Small World Mall in Fantasyland to Town Square on Main Street, U.S.A. (approximate number).
• 22 floats illuminate the parade route at Disneyland, nearly doubling the number of floats from the parade’s debut (12) in 1972.
• 7 films are represented in the parade: “Alice in Wonderland,” “Cinderella,” “Peter Pan,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Pinocchio,” “Dumbo” and “Pete’s Dragon.”
• 27 beloved Disney characters perform throughout the show including Goofy, Mickey Mouse, Cinderella, Captain Hook and Tinker Bell.
• 80 parade performers (estimated number per night) bring the magic to light including 10 To Honor America patriots, 16 royal court dancers and the Seven Dwarfs.
• 35 dazzling, lighted costumes are worn by the parade performers.
• 8 jittering insect floats spin and dance for guests during the “Alice in Wonderland” sequence.
• At 18 1/2 feet high, the Clock Tower in the “Cinderella” sequence of the parade, is the tallest float.
• At 118 feet long, the To Honor America float is the longest float in the parade. It was added in 1979 after the success of the bicentennial tribute parade “America on Parade.”
• At 5,600 pounds, the massive Elliot float, added in 1977 for the release of “Pete’s Dragon,” measures 16 feet tall, 10 feet wide and 38 feet long.
• 2 composers, Jean-Jacques Perrey and Gershon Kingsley, wrote the iconic synthesizer piece known as “Baroque Hoedown” in 1967, and the song was adapted for the Main Street Electrical Parade in 1972, interwoven with classic Disney themes to create the now iconic parade soundtrack.
• 6 different colors of light bulbs flash throughout the parade, in amber, blue, green, chartreuse, red and pink.
• 150,000 glowing amber lights are used in the production, the most of any color.
• 80 highly skilled cast members were involved in the creation of Main Street Electrical Parade, including 20 designers and 60 craftspeople.
• 5 Disney Parks have presented versions of the Main Street Electrical Parade including Disneyland, Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom Park, Disney California Adventure Park, Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris.

Historical:

• Nearly 3,600 performances entertained guests at Disneyland from June 17, 1972 to Nov. 25, 1996.
• 900 miles is the approximate distance traveled by the Main Street Electrical parade during its original run at Disneyland, nearly the distance from Anaheim, Calif., to Seattle, Wash.
• In 2005, Main Street Electrical Parade creator and former director of entertainment Robert Jani was inducted as a Disney Legend.
• June 17, 1972, marked the debut of the Main Street Electrical Parade, and it returned for its encore performance at Disneyland 45 years later – Jan. 20-June 18, 2017.
• 500,000 hand-tinted white miniature bulbs twinkled each night in the early versions of the parade.
• 500 miles of wiring were used to light the floats during early years of the parade, enough to travel to the top of the Matterhorn and back nearly 9,000 times.
• Approximately 75 million guests viewed the Main Street Electrical Parade during its original run at Disneyland.