WDW Daily News

Staying safe on any vacation is of prime importance and it isn’t any different with a Disney vacation.  Safety tips abound on the internet, drink plenty of water, use sunscreen, get plenty of rest and so on.  But with this article I would like to explore weather safety.  At this time of year the weather in Florida can change and spring and eventually summer showers can pop up and be more than a nuisance, they can become dangerous.

First and foremost pay attention to any and all Cast Member warnings and directions.  Rest assured that Walt Disney World has safety plans and protocols in place.  As with all service oriented establishments, safety of Guests comes first.  But it never hurts to do a little pre-planning.

It is important to discuss what your travel party will do in case of an emergency, any emergency.  For example, where will you meet up if separated?  How will you stay in contact?  A little forethought on these subjects might just help a stressful situation be a little less stressful.

Another important detail is to know the layout of the area so you can pay attention to any weather warnings that might be broadcast.  It doesn’t help to pay attention to them if you don’t know if they apply to where you are. Parts of Walt Disney World are located in Orange and Osceola Counties.  That information should help if weather warnings are announced.  The surrounding counties are Lake and Polk to the west and Brevard to the east, on the Atlantic Coast.  The counties on the Gulf Coast are Hillsborough and Pinellas.  This information should be enough to interpret any weather warnings.  Please pay attention as you plan your days.

Look for the Weather Channel on the television in your accommodations as well as a local channel to monitor any weather situations.  Besides it might help you decide if a rain coat is necessary!  Many of the local weather/television channels have apps for smart phones so does the Weather Channel. Many even have weather push alerts if conditions warrant.  Download one to use while on vacation.  This will  help put things in perspective…..you will get a warning if anything is approaching and can just enjoy the sights.  Look for MYNEWS13, WESH 2, or WFTV channel 9 for examples.  All cover the Orlando area.

Be prepared and stay safe so you can share the magic!

Easter is just around the corner, and Walt Disney World is a wonderful place to celebrate your Spring Break! Now, you might be concerned about the crowds, but if you plan out your vacation, you can enjoy beautiful weather as well as some special events that only occur during this time of the year.

First, the parks are filled with lovely flowers during the spring. The Flower and Garden Festival is in full bloom at Epcot, and many special events take place during this festival. For example, there are concerts in the evening, demonstrations of various gardening techniques, a Monsters University playground, a butterfly habitat, and even various food offerings that celebrate both organic and natural ingredients. The Flower and Garden Festival is also home to many creative topiaries as well as various flower arrangements throughout Epcot.

Epcot is not the only park that is filled with flowers; Magic Kingdom is also decked out with bouquets of spring flowers. Every flowerbed is filled with bright colors that add to the beauty of this park. In addition to flowers, Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny will be out and about visiting with guests in the coming weeks. Every morning the citizens of Main Street welcome a new day with the Spring Time Trolley Car Show. While this show does occur all throughout the year, the Spring edition is filled with bright colors, and it is a wonderful way to say goodbye to winter and hello to Spring! During Easter weekend, Daisy Duck leads a cavalcade of beautifully adorned ladies with pastel colored gowns in an Easter parade. This hidden gem was a wonderful surprise to discover on one of our trips a few years ago.
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f you take the monorail around to the various Magic Kingdom resorts, you will also find lots of hints that Spring has begun. For example, the Grand Floridian is home to a yearly display of beautifully crafted and decorated Easter eggs. These eggs portray scenes from different Disney Animated features as well as Disney characters. The level of detail in these eggs is amazing! They are completely decorated 360 degrees around. If you enjoy hunting for hidden Mickeys, there are many of them hidden in this display. Not only is the Grand Floridian home to this art display, it is also another place to find beautiful flowers. Even the garbage cans are adorned with Easter Lilies!

If you have the opportunity to spend some time at Walt Disney World this spring, definitely make the trip to both Epcot and Magic Kingdom. Both of these parks are gorgeous during this time of year, and you can enjoy all of the special offerings that are available. Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!

Going to Disney as a kid is the best. Everything is pure and magical… and your parents carry all your stuff. I’ve only recently started going to the parks without my family and I quickly realized the perks of having a day bag. This week I’m going to share some of my essential items for the parks.  We currently pack for two adults to go into the park, so this list will not cover kids’ needs (sorry!)

First things first, you need a bag. Ours is a medium sized, cross body bag (we specifically have a Maxpedition Kodiak S-Type Gearslinger.) It’s perfect for two people. It has a large inner compartment and lots of external pockets, a place to stick a bottle of water, and the option to also carry a water bag (like a Camel bag.)

Now, what do you fill your bag with? The first thing we put in the bag is water. We start our day with four bottles and refill them throughout the day. It’s not uncommon for us to throw in some fruit and crackers. Park treats are delicious, but they can add up after a few days. The next necessary item in our bag is sun screen. I’m pale and tattooed; sunburn is something I work hard to avoid. The next layer in our bag are disposable ponchos (we’ve never used them, but they’re nice to have in case of a torrential downpour) and depending on the time of year a light jacket.  The outside pockets contain some medicine (like my inhaler, Advil, and TUMS), our camera, and a handful of trading pins.

This may sound like a lot to lug around, but there’s still plenty of room for us to store souvenirs we pick up.  Carrying a bag can be a hassle. It’s just another thing to keep up with and you always have long lines at security checks, but we like to be prepared and save a little money where we can in Disney.

What are your bag essentials for a trip to the park? Tell me on Twitter @hoodie_life.

If you don’t know me I’m a HUGE princess movie fan! I LOVE LOVE LOVE all things princess. So needless to say I’ve been counting down the days for the new Cinderella movie coming out since it was announced last year. Well today I finally got to see it and it was PERFECT! I absolutely loved the film! Perhaps the experience was a little more special because my dad happened to be in town and we went to see it together- but we both really enjoyed the film and the movie viewing experience!

We decided to go to the Fork and Screen showing at the AMC theater in Downtown Disney! If you’ve never done it you should definitely give it a try its such fun! You book your seats (you have an assigned row and seats), and you are able to order from the menu before the film starts and your meal is brought to you right before the actual movie begins. You also are able to call your server when you need to so they don’t bother you at crucial parts of the film. The menu options are pretty expansive, ranging from pasta dishes, burgers and fries, and they have kid standards like chicken fingers and grilled cheese. We got a BLT flat bread and the blackened chicken alfredo. Our meal was delicious and while it was a hint pricey it made for a nice experience.

Now on to the important things…THE MOVIE! But before I dive into Cinderella I can’t skip out talking about the anticipated Frozen Fever short before the film started. First let me preface this by saying I really enjoyed Frozen, but I feel it has oversaturated everything- so at present moment I’m not a huge fan of Frozen. So please know when I say this its true- IT IS ADORABLE!! I won’t give any spoilers, but it is just the cutest little film. I loved the tiny snow men that show up and Olaf, Kristoff and Sven were funny as ever. Even Hans made a memorable appearance and Elsa and Anna were sweet as always. If the short was putting you off seeing Cinderella, don’t let it. It’s just the right amount of Frozen and the new story is really cute and rather refreshing.

Finally to Cinderella! So if you’ve seen the cartoon or basically any film adaptation of Cinderella you already know the story of the film and what happens. This new adaptation doesn’t deviate from the story very much. It does however shed a little more light on Cinderella’s background and how she became the sweet and loving young woman we are all so familiar with. The introduction of Lady Tremaine and her two daughters is hilarious and memorable, and I have to say Cate Blanchett was AMAZING as the villainess in this film. In fact while watching I kept thinking if they ever do a re-remake of 101 Dalmations she would be amazing as Cruella. She’s got evil villain down to a tee! When we finally meet Prince Charming, aside from swooning, he was funny to watch and it was nice to get to see his personality more so than in other films.

I don’t want to give too many spoilers to this version because of course its not the same film we’ve seen before, but I will say this version of the story is beautifully told. The film itself it just breathtaking to watch. The colors are just so beautiful! I’ve never seen a prettier shade of blue than the one in her dress. And the locations are to die for! I’d LOVE to live in Cinderella’s house, even if it is in the attic. The palace looks like it should be in the Magic Kingdom and I think even “Wishes” made an appearance. It was just a dream to watch and along with a beautiful score I was a very happy camper walking out of the film.

Leaving this film you can’t help be leave it feeling magical and warm and fuzzy and happy at the end. So I would strongly recommend you go see it. It’s an old story with a new twist. And as always remember Have Courage, and Be Kind <3

Frequent Walt Disney World travelers are used to friends and coworkers commenting, “You’re going to Disney again!” Some will never understand a Disney Parks fanatic’s love of visiting the house of mouse, but one of the reasons I explain is that there is always something new and special about each and every vacation. We measure milestones in our family based on when children eat their first Mickey Bar, go down the waterside independently, or reach a new height requirement! There is always something to celebrate at Walt Disney World.

If you have a little one who is getting close to that special “First Haircut,” did you know you can make that occasion extra magical by having it done at Walt Disney World? The Harmony Barbershop on Main Street, USA, is actually a working barbershop, and they do more “First Haircuts” than anywhere else in the world! The stylists are very accustomed to working with little ones, and armed with small toys and Mickey stickers they do a great job of keeping children happy while getting their trim.

For around $20, your young Mouseketeer can receive their first haircut, complete with a certificate to commemorate the day. They even package up a little snippet of that first cut for you to keep or put in your baby book. My favorite part of this experience is that once your little one’s haircut is complete, they receive a pair of special Mickey Ears with “My First Haircut” embroidered on the back. You didn’t even know your kid could be any more adorable than they already were, but this hat takes it to a new level of cuteness! My daughter got quite a few “awww, how adorable!” comments from other vacationers while wearing her ears.

Walk-in appointments are scheduled on a first come, first serve basis, but you can make a reservation for this special occasion by calling 1-407-WDW-PLAY. I was unable to get an appointment for my daughter’s first haircut, but we arrived just as the park opened and we were the first customers of the day. We had no problem getting her haircut right then. Currently, Harmony Barbershop is closed for enhancement, but will be reopening on March 30, 2015, for more magical haircuts. Make your child’s first haircut a special family memory by having it done at Disney’s Harmony Barbershop!

This summer will prove to be another exciting time at Disney Parks. Recently, Walt Disney World announced the return of Frozen Summer Fun to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This event was wildly popular last year, and it is no surprise that it is returning this year. This event will last from June 17th through September 7th . For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing Along Celebration is still going strong, and it will continue to delight guests this summer. Here, guests can sing along with their favorite tunes from Frozen as well as listen to a comedic telling of Arendelle’s history with historians from Arendelle. Princess Anna, Queen Elsa, and Kristoff all join in the fun.

In addition to the Sing Along, the Frozen fireworks will be returning nightly, and DJ Chill will thrill crowds with a dance party. Also during the day, Olaf will cool things down with appearances on the main stage. Of course, there will be a multitude of merchandise too. Don’t forget about the Frozen Processional where guests can see their favorite stars from Frozen while they are enjoying their visit to Hollywoodland.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios will not only welcome Frozen Summer Fun this summer; the yearly Star Wars Weekends event will return from May 15th -June 14th . James Arnold Taylor will host the event again this year, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be filled with representatives of the Dark Side as well as the Rebels. Guests will have a chance to interact with these special Star Wars characters as well as see the daily Star Wars motorcade. All of the special guest celebrities have not been confirmed yet. However, this event is always very popular, and there is always a multitude of special merchandise for guests to purchase. Darth’s Maul will have a new location in the former AFI showcase that was located near the exit for the Studio Backlot Tour. Each evening will conclude with the Star Wars fireworks that were introduced during last years Star Wars Weekends.

Finally, one other exciting event that has become a yearly happening is the 24 hour Disney Day that takes place at Disneyland and Walt Disney World in order to kick off the summer season on both coasts. This event will last from 6:00am to 6:00 am on May 22nd -May 23rd . The 24 hour Disney Day was announced during Good Morning America with Olaf and a 20-foot wide beach and sand sculpture in Boston Massachusetts. This event is called the “Coolest Summer Ever,” and Olaf will be the host on the East Coast, which will have a Frozen theme. On the West Coast, Disneyland will celebrate the beginning of their Diamond Celebration for Disneyland’s 60th anniversary.

All of these summer activities sound like a blast, and I cannot wait to experience them first hand when we visit WDW. Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!

When considering table service dining options at Magic Kingdom Park, most folks’ thoughts go immediately to Be Our Guest Restaurant, Cinderella’s Royal Table, or The Crystal Palace. While those are fantastic options, their popularity can make obtaining an Advance Dining Reservation very difficult. If you are searching for a relaxing place to cool off and enjoy a meal while touring the park and are having trouble obtaining an ADR at your first choice restaurant, consider dining at Liberty Tree Tavern. This centrally located restaurant’s food offerings will appeal to young and old alike, and will frequently have last minute ADRs available.

The Liberty Tee Tavern is located in my favorite land of Liberty Square and the colonial period theming of the restaurant is perfectly placed. Each room is themed after famous people from the United States’ Revolutionary Period, such as Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson. The artwork on the walls and placed about the restaurant is fascinating to check out, especially for history buffs.

Many fans of Liberty Tree Tavern love the family style dinner offered. The food is enjoyed by most everyone, with such American classics of turkey, carved beef, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and stuffing being offered. Although I do enjoy the dinner, I prefer lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern for 1 reason: Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake. This dessert is to die for, and it one of my favorite indulgences in all of Walt Disney World. The varied lunch entrees ensure that everyone will find something that they will like (I love the Colony salad myself).

While Liberty Tree Tavern does not offer a character meal, it is still an outstanding table service restaurant and should not be overlooked. My suggestion is to have a later lunch at about 1:00 before strolling out to snag a perfect viewing spot for the 3:00 Festival of Fantasy parade, either in front of the restaurant or in nearby Frontierland. If you haven’t had a chance to check out the Liberty Tree Tavern, give it a try! I guarantee you will not regret your decision to dine in this relaxing, unique, and well-themed dining establishment right in the middle of the magic!

Can you believe the dates for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Part7 2015 have been announced?! I get excited just thinking about attending.

What? You’ve never been to one of the Holiday Parties at Magic Kingdom? Well, we need to talk. I’ve been to both, and I definitely recommend…….either one. They’re both so different, but they do both require purchasing a party ticket for each member of your family.
Let’s start with (MNSSHP). If you plan a Walt Disney World vacation between certain dates in Sept and Oct, you can attend MMNSSHP on select nights in Magic Kingdom. (As a bonus, EPCOT is also hosting the International Food and Wine Festival during this time). The parks and resorts are all dressed up in fall finery to add to the festive feeling. The Party events begin at 7:00 p.m. and last until 12. Kids of all ages can come in costume, and collect Halloween goodies from different locations in Magic Kingdom . The Boo to You Parade gives Disney’s Villain’s a chance to party in the streets with The Headless Horseman leading the way. Then hang onto your spot for Hallowishes Fireworks. That’s a treat in itself. This party is scary good fun.

Now, do you prefer the sights and sounds of Christmas? Then Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (MVMCP) might be just what you need. Around the second week of November, Walt Disney World transforms, almost overnight, from fall fun to winter wonderland. (Another highlight of this season is Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios). Like MNSSHP, the fun begins at 7:00 p.m. and lasts until 12:00 a.m. Snow in Florida? Well, it does on Main Street during MVMCP. Grab a cup of hot chocolate and some warm cookies from select locations and enjoy watching the snowfall. Disney Characters are decked out in their Christmas finest for Mickey’s Once Upon a Time Christmas Parade. Since it is Christmas, you know Santa’s bound to show up, too. It’s hard to find a time when Cinderella Castle looks more beautiful than when she’s dressed up for Holiday Wishes Fireworks Show.

You just can’t go wrong with either choice you make. However, just to make sure, why don’t you try Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party this year, and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party next year. I’m sure the folks at Disney won’t mind.

I know we all experience it and I think we all handle it a little differently. I have a bad case of the “Disney Blues” or some people like to say “Disney withdrawal”. What’re some of the ways you like to get through these hard times? Here I’d like to share some of mine!

It’s been exactly a month since I have returned from my Walt Disney World Trip in January to run the Half Marathon. It was actually freezing there but it is Disney so no matter what it is AMAZING. I got to see the Festival of Fantasy Parade for the first time and it did not disappoint! I’m finding myself dreaming of Disney days more and more. So I find myself doing all of these things below!

1. Tumblr – Tumblr is a blogging website where you can either share text, photos or videos and as a Disney lover I follow mainly all Disney blogs! My feed is constantly filled of Disney photos and graphics and if I look really hard it feels like I’m at Disney! (Kind of).
2. Pandora Radio – Listening to the Disney station on Pandora is an absolute lifesaver! As I do my homework I’ll blast some “Under the Sea” or “I’ll make a man out of you” and suddenly my mood is lifted! I truly cannot get enough of that station.
3. Disney memorabilia searching – occasionally visiting the Disney Store website never hurt anybody! Picking out which Alex and Ani or t-shirt I can’t wait to have next helps me keeping looking forward to my next vacation. Even trying to start planning your next visit if we are lucky enough!
4. Mickey shaped foods – Eating food in the shape of Mickey just tastes better, am I right?! Pancakes, waffles, and fruit I try and put anything I eat into the shape of a mickey head. It just makes me feel better.

Some of these are a little more realistic then others but I am always trying to find new ways to make me less homesick! What about you? I’d love some suggestions. Tweet me @lauraweyand!

Have a magical day!
Laura 

This week marked a very special occasion for me! I ran my very first runDisney Race!! I signed up last July for the Disney Princess Half Marathon. I picked it because…I love the princesses and I’d heard it was a lot of fun. Running a half marathon was on my bucket list and I figured why not do it at my favorite place in the whole world! Though before I even ran my first race I signed up to do the Tinkerbell Half Marathon as well, so later on this year you’ll get to hear all about my first Disneyland trip and my fancy smacy coast to coast medal. In preparation for my race I actually started regularly running. Prior to today I wouldn’t have classified myself as runner at all. But I got my Jeff Galloway App on my phone and away I went.

I trained on and off for the year sometimes using the app, sometimes just running on my own up until this weekend. Thursday came and I set my sights on preparing for the expo! It was my very first runDisney expo so I wasn’t sure what to expect other than a lot of people buy a lot of merchandise first day so go early. I took that literally and showed up at 6:45 am. It was really cold that day so after standing in the cold for 2 hours I ran to the runDisney merchandise spot to buy up EVERYTHING! I was lucky and able to get everything I wanted a few gifts for some friends too! I wandered around for a little bit trying to take in everything. There were so many different stalls to choose from. My personal favorites were Raw Threads and New Balance. I walked away with a cute running shirt and my brand new Cinderella Run Disney shoes!
I took Friday off to just relax and hang out and try to process that I was going to be running a half marathon on Sunday. So I watched a lot of Disney movies and was lazy. I had the same plan for Saturday but I learned that there was another cute pair of RunDisney shoes out and I had to go look at them. As a future note- NEVER GO BACK TO THE EXPO TWICE! Only because you’ll end up with way more stuff than you planned haha. I got my second set of shoes and ran back home happily! I love my new shoes and I stared at them until I went to bed that night!

The morning of the race I was a little sluggish so I let myself sleep in until 3:30 am before I headed over to the parks. I wasn’t overly bad traffic but it was a little more difficult to maneuver around than a normal park day. As soon as I parked I went through bag check, then checked my bag in, and I was off to my corral. I started in Corral O. It was my first race with Disney and also my first race period so I was in the latter half of the Corrals. There was a lot going on. There was music and DJs and all sorts of things. But even though there were things going on I was still nervous as all get out to get started and I had a whole 55 minutes to wait from the time the first group went through to when I did!

Once I got started I was pumped and excited and ready! There’s just something about running towards the Magic Kingdom that is usually motivating. It was so cool once we got to the road going under the MK gates, the Black Pearl was there along with Captain Jack and Captain Barbossa. All of the heroes were out and about meeting and of course getting a selfie under the Magic Kingdom sign was a must! From there I ran on past a few villainous ladies (cruella, the queen of hearts, and the evil queen) and motored onwards to my favorite park. It took a little bit of time but I finally made into the Magic Kingdom and I ran full out up Main Street USA because…I could! It was awesome!

Running through the castle probably should’ve been really cool but it was literally a wall of people taking pictures of Anna, Elsa and Kristoff who were up top and selifies through the castle. It slowed me down a fair bit but I made it through to Frontierland where the train was staged! I had to stop there because the trains are very special to me and of course say hi to a few friends! After that I motored on. It was around mile 8 that I started to lose momentum! So what did I do? Text some friends and listen to “Almost There” on repeat! I made it through to mile 10 and I started to feel good again! And for the rest of the race I had a steady pace. I got to the mile 12 marker and I was so excited! There were so many people cheering around and running through Epcot was amazing! I finished my race at 3 hours and 15 minutes which isn’t too shabby for a first race ever! I loved every moment of my experience and I can’t wait to do it again in May!