Archive for Walt Disney World

Top 12 Ways to Have Cinderella-Inspired Fun at Walt Disney World Resort

As this weekend’s No. 1 box office smash “Cinderella” enchants audiences nationwide, the magic of Cinderella plays out on a grand scale each day at Walt Disney World Resort.

Here are 12 ways to have a Cinderella-inspired stay at Walt Disney World Resort.

1. Dine like Royalty at Cinderella’s Royal Table
Meeting Cinderella in her royal castle is a dream come true at Cinderella’s Royal Table, where you can dine with Cinderella and her royal friends. Specializing in feasts fit for royalty, this one-of-a kind dining experience will make you feel like you’re living a fairytale. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are offered daily. Reservations can be made up to 180 days in advance by calling 407-WDW-DINE (407-939-3463) or by visiting DisneyWorld.com/dining.

2. Feel Regal and Meet Cinderella at Princess Fairytale Hall
Elegantly finished rooms welcome you to the home for visiting royalty in the Magic Kingdom at Princess Fairytale Hall where you can meet Cinderella and other princesses. Here you can take photos, get royal autographs and hear stories from Disney princesses many adventures in a spacious gallery adorned with portraits of the princesses, and even catch a glimpse of Cinderella’s infamous glass slipper.

3. Snap a Selfie in front of the Golden Carriage from Disney’s live-action film “Cinderella”
Step in front of the exquisite golden carriage used in the production of Walt Disney Studios’ all-new, live-action “Cinderella” to capture a memorable photo at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The Streets of America movie theater façade has rolled out the blue carpet for this special photo opportunity for theme park guests. Decked out in gold leaf and measuring 10 feet tall and 17 feet long, the carriage will be on display through April 11.

4. Stay in a Royal Guest Room at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort Riverside
Marvel at the magical details in one of the Royal Guest Rooms at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort. Fit for a prince or princess, the themed rooms immerse you in favorite Disney fairytales with touches of gold and elegant crystals in the décor, as well as special headboards that create a magical “fireworks” display and special mementos left behind by Disney princesses. Reservations can be made by calling 407-939-5277 or by visiting DisneyWorld.com/resorts.

5. Get Magical Makeovers at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
A Fairy Godmother-in-training will transform the little princess in your life with a wave of her magic wand. Girls ages 3-12 can select their hairstyle, make-up, nail color accessories and a Disney princess costume, if they wish, in this enchanted beauty salon. Little princes can even join in on the fun too, as Fairy Godmothers-in-training can transform them into heroic knights. There are two boutique locations to choose from, one inside Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom and one at Downtown Disney inside the World of Disney retail store. Reservations can be made by calling 407-WDW-STYLE (407-939-7895).

6. Pick up Your Favorite Cinderella-themed Merchandise
Pick up some favorite items to tell your Cinderella story, including costume dresses and accessories, a Cinderella Castle play set, dolls and mugs as well as unique items such as a custom phone case at D-Tech on Demand in the Marketplace Co-Op at Downtown Disney Marketplace, a new premium popcorn bucket shaped like Cinderella’s carriage, and a Cinderella-themed retail MagicBand that is coming to Walt Disney World stores this spring.

7. Kick Off the Glass Slippers and Enjoy a Pedicure at Senses Spa
Sit back, relax and choose from signature pedicures such as a 50-minute pedicure that uses organic oils to ease stress and tension at one of the Senses – A Disney Spa locations: either Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort or Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort. You can enhance the rejuvenation session with add-ons such as aromatherapy oil and firming leg treatments, or go big and add on a facial or full body massage. Reservations can be made by calling 407-WDW-SPAS (407-939-7727).

8. Take a Stroll Through the New Central Plaza area at Magic Kingdom
Feel like a prince or princess yourself by taking a relaxing stroll or a selfie in the new Magic Kingdom Central Plaza area designed to be reminiscent of castle gardens. The sculpted gardens, charming fountains and new pathways are part of the ongoing transformation surrounding Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom.

9. Find Fabulously Fashionable Footwear at Downtown Disney
If a glass slipper isn’t quite your thing, head to Downtown Disney where the shoe options are unlimited. Find stylish flip flops for men, women and kids made with the highest quality rubber at Havaianas, with hundreds of styles to choose from. There’s even “Make Your Own Havaianas,” where you can customize the casual footwear. Or stop in Sanuk, with more than 175 fun and comfortable designs that are funky and functional. Favorite styles including Yoga Mat Sandal Collection are available for purchase.

 10. Getting Married? Have Your Fairy Tale Wedding at Walt Disney World
Couples looking for a truly magical wedding venue can look to Disney Fairytale Weddings for the perfect backdrop to their special day. From arriving in Cinderella’s Coach to taking wedding photos in front of Cinderella Castle, the options are endless for brides looking to live out the fairy tale. Brides-to-be also can channel Cinderella’s timeless elegance in a new Cinderella-inspired gown from America’s foremost bridal company, Alfred Angelo. The new limited-edition gown is in honor of Walt Disney Studios’ live-action feature “Cinderella,” and joins the 2015 Disney Fairytale Weddings bridal collection. Brides can find the Cinderella gown starting Mid-April at Alfred Angelo stores across the U.S. and specialty retailers worldwide. 

11. Spend Supper with Cinderella at Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner
You’re the honored guest of Cinderella and Prince Charming at this enchanting dinner buffet at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa’s 1900 Park Fare restaurant. The Princess’ storybook friends join in the festivities as you choose from delectable seafood, salad, pasta and beef dishes, representing several “kingdoms” from around the globe, plus kid-friendly options as well. Reservations are available by calling 407-WDW-DINE (407-939-3463) or by visiting DisneyWorld.com/dining.

 12. ‘Wishes’ Come True Every Night at Cinderella Castle
Well before the clock strikes midnight, you can watch the nightly dazzling “Wishes” fireworks display at Magic Kingdom. The night sky plays host to a wish-granting fireworks spectacular synchronized to an unforgettable musical score. Brilliant colors wash over Cinderella Castle as bursts of light and pyrotechnic effects take center stage high above the castle.

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Paradiso 37 and Planet Hollywood To Expand at Downtown Disney

As Disney Springs continues to take shape at Walt Disney World® Resort, exciting changes are in store for Planet Hollywood and Paradiso 37 at Downtown Disney®.

Paradiso 37 will nearly double its seating capacity with the addition of more terrace dining and a new outdoor performance stage. The menu, “Taste of Americas,” will continue to offer a culinary tour of North, Central and South America, with popular dishes including ceviche, jalapeño burgers, Argentinian skirt steak and more. Paradiso 37 will remain open during its expansion, which will be complete in summer 2015.

Planet Hollywood will receive a full makeover as it transforms into a four-story stargazing observatory to match the design and aesthetic of Disney Springs. Inside, fans will still have an opportunity to view movie memorabilia as they celebrate a new generation of superstar entertainers. Plus, a new outdoor terrace and bar space, Stargazers, will feature live entertainment, while music in the main dining room will include a DJ. And, the menu will include popular favorites, new tastes, as well as a trendy beverage menu. This exciting expansion will be complete in spring 2016.

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Why The Walt Disney Co.’s Theme Parks Are Worth the Higher Price

Visitors to The Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) theme parks in the U.S. this year will have to pay as much as $105 for a single-entry adult ticket.

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Disney’s Hollywood Studios Theme Park to Get New Name

Disney plans to give its Hollywood Studios theme park a new name — which would become the park’s third since it opened in 1989.

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24-Hours of Fun Kicks Off “Coolest Summer Ever” at Walt Disney World Resort

Walt Disney World® Resort will kick off the “Coolest Summer Ever” with 24 hours of nonstop fun during a special event May 22-23 at the Magic Kingdom®, hosted by Olaf, the summer-loving snowman from Disney’s blockbuster animated hit “Frozen.”

disney-coolest-summer-ever

Magic Kingdom Park will be open 24 hours from 6 a.m. to 6 a.m., Friday May 22, 2015 to Saturday, May 23, 2015*. Guests will be invited to come in costume** to show their Disney Side while a selection of favorite attractions, entertainment, special event merchandise, plus food and beverage are on tap all night long to celebrate the start of the “Coolest Summer Ever” at Walt Disney World Resort.

During the “Coolest Summer Ever,” Guests can get their cool on all summer long at four theme parks and two water parks. Highlights include:

  • Frozen Fun – “Frozen” Summer Fun LIVE will return to Disney’s Hollywood Studios® June 17-Sept. 7, 2015 as it brings together Princess Anna, Queen Elsa, Kristoff, Olaf and the citizens of Arendelle, all appearing daily in shows and experiences at Disney’s Hollywood Studios® – including a royal processional, a sing-along show, Frozen-themed treats and merchandise, plus a Frozen fireworks display above Hollywood Boulevard.
  • Cool Thrill Rides – Guests will also find thrills from mild to wild to out of this world in all four Walt Disney World Resort theme parks.  Don’t-miss attractions include Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom Park; Test Track presented by Chevrolet and Soarin’ at Epcot; Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park; Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith and Twilight Zone™ Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
  • Star Wars Weekends – Guests will find stars from another galaxy during Star Wars Weekends May 15-June 14, 2015 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
  • New Restaurants and Shopping – Throughout the summer, new waterfront dining and boutique shops flow into the Downtown Disney® shopping/dining/entertainment district as its transformation into Disney Springs continues.
  • Epcot Entertainment – New entertainment acts will appear throughout World Showcase at Epcot, which also brings a fresh summery twist on a fan favorite, Voices of Liberty.
  • A Splash at Water Parks – A cool new deal doubles the fun at Disney’s two iconic water parks – Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Blizzard Beach. Guests can purchase a one-day water park ticket and park-hop between the two water parks in the same day that both are open.

*Hours of operation: 6 a.m. on 5/22/15 to 6 a.m. on 5/23/15, subject to capacity restrictions. Only select attractions, entertainment and services will be available. Valid theme park admission required. Subject to restrictions and change without notice.

**Disney characters will be in the parks throughout the day and all night, inviting guests to dress up for the occasion, too. Guests may join the party dressed in costume. Costumes should be child-friendly and adhere to any guidelines determined by Disney.  

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How to Eat Gluten-Free at Disney World Resorts

At Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC’s brand new digs in Downtown Disney, trays of frosted cupcakes lounge near chocolate-draped “Thin Mint” cookies.

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New Parade and Fireworks Viewing Area Now Open at Magic Kingdom Park

When guests visit Walt Disney World® Resort they can now enjoy new sections of the Central Plaza area between Main Street U.S.A. and Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom® Park.

The completion of these new sections marks the first milestone in a multi-phase project that includes the addition of sculpted gardens, new pathways and expanded restaurant seating.

Tthe Disney Fastpass+ viewing location for Magic Kingdom Park fireworks, which has been relocated from the Rose Garden Fireworks viewing area to the Main Street Plaza Gardens.

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Doing Disney World on the Cheap

If you’re planning a trip to Walt Disney World and are worried about burning a hole in your pocket, it’s time to de-stress. Just about every child dreams of a family vacation at Walt Disney World and just about every parent wants to make those dreams come true — but the cost can be prohibitive.

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Downtown Disney Welcomes Pedestrian Causeway

The new Village Causeway at Downtown Disney provides guests with another path of travel through the Marketplace, connecting the area near The LEGO Store across the water to Rainforest Café. With beautiful brickwork and handsome arches, the bridge houses four new freestanding retail locations: Flour & Sugar, Icon Jewellery by Bico, Kate & Leo and Florida Bath Co. Downtown Disney is currently undergoing the largest expansion in its history, to be renamed and re-imagined as Disney Springs, an exciting new waterfront district for exceptional dining, shopping and entertainment at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (David Roark, photographer)
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Disney Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and ESSENCE Magazine Fact Sheet

Description
Created by Walt Disney World in 2007, Disney Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and ESSENCE Magazine is an annual four-day educational and mentoring program for U.S. high school students, ages 13 to 19. The 2015 event takes place March 5-8 at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Designed to inspire students to dream big, discover a world of possibilities and prepare for their future, the program allows participants – also identified as “Dreamers” – to work alongside established professionals and celebrities in hands-on, full-immersion workshops related to diverse career paths. Dreamers also participate in motivational presentations and workshops for learning important personal and professional skills, such as communication techniques and networking strategies.

Students compete for participation in the program by submitting an application and answers to a series of essay questions about their personal stories, the people who are most influential in their lives and their dreams for the future. Only 100 participants are selected each year by a panel of judges.

By the Numbers

  • 10,000 Disney Dreamers Academy applications received this year
  • 1,000 Disney Cast Members involved in planning this year’s program
  • 900 Dreamers who have been selected for the program since its launch in 2007
  • 27 States represented at this year’s event
  • 13 Students from Georgia, the state with the highest representation this year, followed by 10 from Texas and 9 from Florida
  • 21 Dreamers interested in starting a career in the medical field, the most popular career path amongst the students, followed by 17 Dreamers who want to start a career in business or as an entrepreneur, and 10 Dreamers who are interested in becoming an engineer
  • 2 Dreamers started a non-profit organization
  • 5 Dreamers run their own businesses
  • 2 Dreamers, Jalia C. and Raven S., are authors who have each self-published two books for teens
  • 3,100 Miles Samaria H. will travel from Tacoma, Wash., to Lake Buena Vista, Fla., to attend Disney Dreamers Academy, making her the farthest-traveling Dreamer
  • 18 Miles or less Orlando-area Dreamer, Lionell W., will travel to attend Disney Dreamers Academy
  • 1 Dreamer has been accepted to Harvard University
  • 1 Dreamer is in final rounds of auditions to attend Juilliard

Speakers Resource Group (SRG)
The Speakers Resource Group (SRG) consists of celebrities and noted professionals who serve as year-round ambassadors for Disney Dreamers Academy, help lead workshops throughout the weekend event and serve as panel judges for the applications:

  • Mikki Taylor, ESSENCE magazine editor-at-large
  • Terrence J, E! News host
  • Jeff Henderson, celebrity chef
  • Stephen A. Smith, sports journalist
  • Yolanda Adams, gospel singer
  • Sonia Jackson Myles, author
  • Steve Perry, CNN education contributor
  • Karli Harvey, Steve Harvey Products creative director
  • Brandi Harvey, Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation executive director
  • Alex Ellis, Simply Ellis Custom Clothier CEO
  • Jonathan Sprinkles, motivational speaker
  • Princeton Parker, Disney Dreamers Academy alumnus

Additional Past and Present Celebrity Participants

  • Earvin “Magic” Johnson, NBA legend
  • Derrick Brooks and Warrick Dunn, NFL players
  • Sean Kingston and Mary J. Blige, recording artists
  • Jordin Sparks, Kimberley Locke, Ruben Studdard and Fantasia Barrino, American Idol contestants
  • Sherri Shepherd, TV personality
  • Star Jones, TV personality
  • Rocsi Diaz, HLN correspondent
  • Carla Hall, The Chew co-host
  • Soledad O’Brien, CNN newscaster
  • Will Packer, Hollywood film producer/director
  • Roshon Fegan, Kyle Massey and CoCo Jones, Disney Channel actors
  • Raven-Symoné, actress
  • Lamman Rucker, actor
  • Lance Gross, actor
  • Laz Alonso, actor
  • David and Tamela Mann, actors
  • Bishop T.D. Jakes, TDJ Enterprises CEO

For more information, visit www.disneydreamersacademy.com. Regular updates about Disney Dreamers Academy are also available on social media at www.facebook.com/disneydreamersacademy or www.twitter.com/dreamersacademy.

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