Archive for Walt Disney World

Magic Bands and FastPass+ Coming for Disney Annual Passholders

For the first time ever, Disney FastPass+ service enables you to reserve access to select attractions, shows, Character Greetings and parade and firework viewing areas. All theme park Guests—including Annual Passholders—can now make same-day, same-park FastPass+ selections at our in-park FastPass+ kiosks.

If you are an Annual Passholder, you are also invited to plan 7 days of FastPass+ selections within any 30-day period—for 1 park per day. You can make your selections up to 30 days in advance of your visit—so you can relax and enjoy the moment with your family and friends, knowing that some of your must-do attractions and entertainment are all set.

If you are staying at a Disney Resort hotel, you can make your FastPass+ selections up to 60 days prior to check-in—for the entire length of your hotel stay.

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A New After-Dark Experience Treats Epcot Guests to One More Bite of Fun

The magic doesn’t end once the sun sets during the 21st Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. A new after-dark experience gives guests one more taste of World Showcase excitement like never before.

After a day of blooms and bulbs, the IllumiNations Sparkling Dessert Party bursts with color in the sky, and bubbles in the glass. Guests can sample decadent desserts from around the world, paired with the perfect international sparkling wines in an intimate and exclusive environment – all while watching Epcot’s nightly fireworks spectacular, IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. Reservations begin March 12. The first IllumiNations Sparkling Dessert Party is March 15.

Here are details:
IllumiNations Sparkling Dessert Party

Dates: Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays

Time: 7:45 p.m. to 9:20 p.m.

Location: Showcase Plaza

Prices (including tax and gratuity): Adults $49, Children $29

Menu (subject to change):
• Italy: Tiramisu
• France: Vanilla Pot de Crème
• United Kingdom: Shortbread Cookies
• Morocco: Traditional Baklava
• American Adventure: Sugar Dusted Cronis with Strawberry Sauce and Whipped Cream
• Disney Parks ice cream novelties
• Lemonade, coffee, teas
• Sparkling wine from Washington State and Prosecco from Italy

How to Book: Disneyworld.com/Spring or call 407-WDW-PLAY

For more information: Disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/epcot

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Sneak Peak: Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade: Maleficent from “Sleeping Beauty”

Festival of fantasy maleficent- dragon
Enchanting stories and characters from Fantasyland come to life for Magic Kingdom guests in Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade. The daily spectacular showcases fantastic and innovative parade floats, vibrant costumes, and an original soundtrack that features beloved songs from favorite Disney films, plus a new parade theme song. Magic Kingdom is located at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Matt Stroshane, photographer)
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Starbucks Opens First Store in Downtown Disney District

Starbucks Coffee Company and the Disneyland Resort announced the opening of a new company owned Starbucks location at Downtown Disney in Anaheim, Calif., for the millions of guests visiting Disneyland Resort from all over the world each year. This store will be the first of four to be operated by Starbucks across Disney properties in the United States and will serve as a destination for guests looking to relax and recharge as part of their visit.

“This store is a reflection of two iconic brands coming together to offer their customers the kind of high quality experience they expect in a way that embodies the unique passion of each”

“This store is a reflection of two iconic brands coming together to offer their customers the kind of high quality experience they expect in a way that embodies the unique passion of each,” said Arthur Rubinfeld, chief creative officer and president, global innovation for Starbucks. “Collaborating with Disney offered us the opportunity to create a unique moment of connection for our customers in a way that evokes the magic that their guests expect.”

The new Downtown Disney location will bring one of Starbucks most engaging experiences to customers with technology and content designed specifically for this store. This includes introducing customers to the story behind Starbucks coffee projected across a 10-foot video installation in addition to a first-of-its-kind interactive touch screen that will inspire moments of playful creativity for even the youngest visitors.

The store will also offer some of the rarest coffees available as part of the Starbucks Reserve® coffee line and Clover® brewing system. This sustainably built to LEED standards location will include an outdoor patio designed around a native tree, reclaimed wood siding and a living, green wall with more than 1,000 plants in the shape of a coffee cup that serves as a backdrop to capturing memories for visiting guests.

“Guests visit Disney parks and resorts around the world to share experiences with their friends and families and to create memories that will last a lifetime,” said Daniel Delcourt, vice president of Disneyland Resort Hotels and Downtown Disney. “This new location at Downtown Disney will appeal to their love of Starbucks, and provide yet another memorable experience at the Disneyland Resort.”

Starbucks opened its first location at a Disney resort in 2009 in Disney Village at Disneyland Paris with an innovative concept store that earned LEED platinum certification. The company also has worked with Disney to offer Starbucks signature beverages and pastries at locations inside the theme parks including Disneyland Resort’s Fiddler, Fifer and Practical Café at Disney California Adventure park and Market House at Disneyland park; as well as two locations at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida – Main Street Bakery at Magic Kingdom park and Fountain View at Epcot.

Starbucks and Disney will bring five more Starbucks locations to guests, including: one additional Starbucks-operated location in Downtown Disney at Disneyland Resort, two Starbucks-operated locations at Downtown Disney at the Walt Disney World Resort and two Disney-operated locations at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney Hollywood Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort.

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B-Roll: Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade

Enchanting stories and characters from Fantasyland come to life for Magic Kingdom guests in a new, daily spectacular – Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade.

The fanciful tribute to Fantasyland highlights several new and classic Disney and Pixar stories on a grand scale. There’s nearly 100 performers – on stilts, swings and flying rigs – donning vibrant costumes in this lively mini-Broadway cavalcade soaring to new heights on Main Street, U.S.A.

The parade, which began Sunday, March 9, is already thrilling park guests with eye-filling scenes: a fire-breathing dragon, a pirate ship with smoking cannons, a music box that’s a seashell, sassy Bubble Girls with cotton-candy hair, a mega-sized bagpipe, and more.

Disney Festival of Fantasy parade is the first of a new generation of parades for Disney Parks featuring never-before-used technology on eye-popping floats adorned with Disney characters from more than a dozen fairytales. Set to an all-new musical score, the dazzling parade floats will soar up to three stories tall with spirited performers donning dramatic costumes crafted at ten different design houses across the country.

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Sneak Peak: Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade: “The Princess Garden”

Festival of fantasy the princess garden
Enchanting stories and characters from Fantasyland come to life for Magic Kingdom guests in Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade. The daily spectacular showcases fantastic and innovative parade floats, vibrant costumes, and an original soundtrack that features beloved songs from favorite Disney films, plus a new parade theme song. Magic Kingdom is located at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (David Roark, photographer)
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Sneak Peak: Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade: “Peter Pan” Float

Festival of fantasy peter pan
Enchanting stories and characters from Fantasyland come to life for Magic Kingdom guests in Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade. The daily spectacular showcases fantastic and innovative parade floats, vibrant costumes, and an original soundtrack that features beloved songs from favorite Disney films, plus a new parade theme song. Magic Kingdom is located at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Matt Stroshane, photographer)
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Students Culminate Exclusive Weekend at Walt Disney World with Steve Harvey

Walt Disney World Resort concluded a 4-day exclusive weekend for a group of select students at the Disney Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and ESSENCE Magazine.  A high-impact graduation ceremony deemed the students official Dreamers, making them one of only 700 students nationwide to hold the honor.

The students were among 100 teens selected from more than 10,000 applicants to participate in a once-in-lifetime mentoring program this weekend at the Walt Disney World Resort. The teens, along with a parent or guardian, received an all-expense-paid trip to participate in an innovative, outside-the-classroom, educational experience and learn tips from noted professionals and celebrities including: Magic Johnson, E! News’ Terrence J, Entertainment Tonight’s Rocsi Diaz and 15-year old CEO, Jaylen Bledsoe, Bledsoe Technologies.

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Blooming Bites and Savory Sips Return for 21st Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival

Set among millions of blossoms, classic topiaries and live entertainment, garden-themed food and beverage offerings are returning for the 21st Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival March 5-May 18, 2014 at Walt Disney World Resort.

Back for a second festival year, the 11 food and beverage marketplaces have been dubbed Outdoor Kitchens, where chefs will be cooking a variety of new and popular returning menu items, including vegetarian and gluten-free dishes. At The Smokehouse: Barbecue and Brews Outdoor Kitchen, Piggylicious Bacon Cupcakes and Smoked Turkey Ribs are on tap with a lineup of great brews. Last year’s top menu picks like the Watermelon Salad with local baby arugula, feta cheese, pickled red onions and balsamic reduction will return for an encore at the Florida Fresh Outdoor Kitchen.

Urban Farm Eats will be the new Outdoor Kitchen on the promenade with a sustainable garden featuring tilapia, eggplant and other farm-raised treats. Guests can try new menu items including The Land pavilion-Grown Eggplant “Scallop” with Romesco Sauce, Ghost Pepper Dusted Tilapia with Winter Melon Salad and Mango Chutney, plus red and white vegan wines and gluten-free beer.

Outdoor Kitchens, including location and food and beverage offerings are below. Menu items noted with ** are part of TRYit, Disney’s campaign that encourages children to try something new.

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Magic Kingdom: First look at Disney Festival of Fantasy parade

The Orlando Sentinel takes at detailed look at the brand new Magic Kingdom parade.

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