Do you love the Disney theme parks? I mean, really love them? Have you ever thought how cool it would be to move into the Magic Kingdom? Don’t break your lease just yet.
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Archive for Disney Parks
Disney Really Wants You To Stop Using Selfie Sticks On Its Rides
Disney is cracking down on the use of selfie sticks on rides at the company’s theme parks, with reports of new signs being put into place at certain attractions in both the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in Anaheim.
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How Disney Parks Are Using Familiar Technology To Shape The Future
Disney’s theme parks, with their obsessive attention to detail and experience, have always been the most interesting in the industry. In many ways, they resemble miniature world’s fairs—assuming we lived in a fantastical universe where countries had names like “Frontierland” and “Tomorrowland”.
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Every Disney Fan Should Complete This Incredible Bucket List
Upon entering a Disney park, every visitor has their own personal to-do list: ride this attraction, meet that character, eat thattreat. On top of everybody’s list, however, is having fun!
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Top Ten Tips for Summer Vacation Planning at Disney Parks
Summer vacation creates so much excitement in kids that parents sometimes become overwhelmed with expectations.
After 12 unforgettable summers as a mom, I’ve learned quite a few things to ensure we have fun, reconnect and recharge as much as possible during our family vacation.
The first step is to plan. Make a wish list of your top destinations, research them online and price them out. Book airfare first, since tickets get more expensive the closer you get to your departure date. If you will be visiting a busy destination, make dining reservations, too. OpenTable is a great, free resource and if you’re visiting Walt Disney World Resort, they also have free online dining reservations. Just make sure you take note of any cancellation policies, especially if there’s a credit card guarantee.
Once you set your vacation’s dates and destination, organize your trip with these 10 tips:
1. Find out what each family member loves and include at least one activity that centers on that passion. That way everybody will feel included.
2. Don’t plan every second. Allow for unexpected adventures, and remember: It’s okay to not do everything on your list.
3. Find out about typical weather at your vacation destination but always pack a sweater, sweatshirt or hoodie. For rainy and stormy weather, Ponchos are also a great idea and remember to pack appropriate footwear.
4. Check out travel sites with reviews for any tips about the hotel rooms, nearby restaurants and activities off the beaten path.
5. For extra savings, search for special promotions, coupons or codes. Not only can you save money on your hotel room, you can also learn about packages that might include meal plans. Remember that teachers and military families can also qualify for special rates.
6. If anybody in your family has food allergies, mobility challenges or other needs, call in advance to alert the hotel where you will stay or the restaurants where you plan to dine.
7. Keep track of everything you have booked on your smartphone to remind you of any deadlines or reservations, and you can even share calendars with other family members. If you’re traveling to Disney World, the My Disney Experience app can help you manage hotel, dining and FastPass+
8. Spend more time creating memories than posting them on social media. Every time you look down at your phone, you’re giving permission to your kids to disconnect from you.
9. Be in the picture. Moms many times come back from their vacation with great shots of their kids, but they aren’t in the actual photos. Some vacation destinations, like Walt Disney World, have professional photographers on site and even offer bulk plans such as Memory Maker so you can access all your pictures digitally.
10. Give older kids some financial independence by giving them a gift card so they can buy souvenirs. Not only will you teach them about smart spending, but you can also avoid going over budget when your child passes through a store and wants everything in sight.
Reliving your memories once you get back home
Re-entry into your everyday life can be tough after a wonderful vacation.
What really helps get over that letdown is to realize how amazing those days together really were. If you have all your pictures on your smartphone, use an app such as Flipagram or iMovie to create brief clips that you can share or to bring a smile to your face when you need one.
Another great idea is to make a photo book. There are so many services for different budgets and needs. Some offer beautiful layouts so your photo book looks like a scrapbook.
When your child goes back to school, many teachers ask their students to write about their summer break. I’ve found that my kids’ words convince me even more that the best investment I have ever made was creating lifetime memories while having fun together.
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Disney Vacation Account: Savings Program Lets Guests Plan and Save Now for Future Dream Trips With Disney
A magical way for aspiring guests to make their Disney vacation dreams a reality is Disney Vacation Account, a savings program that allows participants to plan and save for their dream Disney vacation.
Disney Vacation Account provides easy to use online tools to help participants estimate the cost of their Disney vacation based on current prices (prices are subject to change) and manage a savings plan that is right for them and their budget. As excitement builds toward the Big Day, participants save at their own pace – a little at a time — toward the goal of their dream Disney trip, making contributions using their debit, credit or Disney gift card.
There are no fees to create or maintain an account. There’s even the incentive of Disney Gift Cards. Open a Disney Vacation Account and use it to pay for a vacation before Dec. 31, 2017 (date subject to extension) and you’ll be eligible for a $20 Disney Gift Card for every $1,000 spent on qualified Disney vacation purchases. Certain limitations apply.* Participants must request the cards 4-6 weeks in advance of their vacation to allow time for delivery to their mailing addresses.
Disney Vacation Account contributions may be used to pay for pre-arrival vacation packages, cruise fare and hotel reservations at Disney-owned and operated resorts in the following destinations:
- Disneyland Resort in California
- Walt Disney World Resort in Florida
- Disney Cruise Line
- Adventures by Disney
- Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Hawai’i
At any time, participants can manage their accounts by visiting www.disneyvacationaccount.com and track their savings progress on their very own webpage.
In order to create a Disney Vacation Account, you must be a resident of one of the 50 states, District of Columbia or Puerto Rico, and you must be at least the age of majority. Participants can set up automatic ongoing contributions every week, every other week or monthly or make one-time contributions from their debit or credit card.
What savings they build may be used at any time to pay for a Disney vacation. Users can start the process as far as five years in advance of their vacation. The minimum savings to open an account is $10.
Disney Vacation Account may be used again and again, too. Once guests apply their savings towards their vacation, guests can use their account to begin planning their next Disney getaway and start saving toward it. Disney does not impose an expiration date on account savings and leftover or unused savings are completely refundable at any time.
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32 Fun Disney Facts From a Former Cast Member
Despite the fact that the Disney company employs thousands of people, there really aren’t that many who can say they worked at one of its amazing theme parks. And if you’re lucky enough to be one of those people, you know how closely guarded Disney’s secrets are and how little you are actually allowed to share.
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PANDORA Jewelry Opens Custom Retail Locations in Disney Parks
PANDORA Jewelry is now available for guests in two of the most magical places on earth. The fine jeweler, in collaboration with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts has opened dedicated PANDORA Jewelry boutiques within two Disney merchandise locations: Uptown Jewelers in Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and La Mascarade d’Orleans in Disneyland park in California. Both locations carry PANDORA’s newly released spring 2015 Disney jewelry collection and the Disney Parks collection, as well as the full assortment of PANDORA jewelry.
The redesigned Uptown Jewelers is reminiscent of a Victorian era collectibles shop, echoing the nostalgic style of Main Street U.S.A., the first themed land within Magic Kingdom Park. With classic decor and ornamental touches, Uptown Jewelers reflects the prosperity and optimism of early 20th century America.
The newly renovated La Mascarade d’Orleans, located in the heart of New Orleans Square in Disneyland park, brings the festivities of the French Quarter to life. Fantastical masks, rich fabrics and vibrant colors complement fixtures displaying PANDORA rings, necklaces, earrings, charms and bracelets.
PANDORA’s new Disney jewelry collections of hand finished silver and 14K gold charms feature inspirations from some of Disney’s most beloved characters, and include more than 101 different styles for Disney Parks guests to choose from. “These beautiful new boutiques allow us to be part of the magic that’s created in Disney’s theme parks and resorts every day,” said Beth Moeri, Chief Merchandising Officer, PANDORA, Americas. “Our PANDORA boutiques offer a unique jewelry destination within the Parks and give guests a stylish way to treasure their Disney experiences for years to come.”
The Disney owned and operated stores are staffed with PANDORA jewelry specialists and feature PANDORA retail fixtures and displays within exterior shop windows.
The Disney jewelry collection is sold at PANDORA concept stores throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Central America and the Caribbean, as well as through select Disney merchandise locations, including DisneyStore.com. For a complete list of PANDORA retailers visit PANDORA.net.
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It’s Not Only U.S. Disney Theme Parks Setting Records
The Walt Disney Co. grew income 20% last year in its theme park segment, which already makes up about a third of the company’s total revenue. Even though Disney opened its first U.S. theme park in 1955….
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49 International Disney Park Differences Only Hardcore Fans Will Notice
If you’re a Disney fan, you’ve undoubtedly made the pilgrimage to Disneyland or Walt Disney World at some point in your life. Upon opening Disneyland (the original Disney park in Anaheim, CA) in 1955, the wildly successful mass-media corporation became a staple in more than just family movies — its theme park topped the bucket lists of travelers worldwide.
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