Guests can save up to 30%* on rooms at select Walt Disney World® Resort hotels for stays most nights Oct. 4-Nov. 25 and Nov. 29-Dec. 23, 2014, when they book by Oct. 3, 2014.
Contact Travel Agents, Scott and Becky Donahue, of Once Upon a Vacation to plan and book your vacation.
Booking Window:
July 23-Oct. 3, 2014
Travel Window:
Oct. 4-Nov. 25 and Nov. 29-Dec. 23, 2014
Contact Travel Agents, Scott and Becky Donahue, of Once Upon a Vacation to plan and book your vacation.
Depending on the time of year and the location I’m staying I have developed several “morning routines” when visiting Disney World. Sometimes a visit to the Polynesian for Tonga Toast gets my day started. The waffle bar at Wilderness Lodge is always a winner, not to mention a cup of coffee at Pixar Place to watch the morning guests arrive.
But one of my favorite things to do is hit the Hole in the Wall! For those of you that don’t know, the Hole in the Wall is one of the exterior bars at Raglan Road, Downtown Disney. This is a great place to start out a day with a bloody Mary and even a light lunch from Cookes of Dublin.
They open the bar at 11am and there is usually no one around but the bartender. This is a great opportunity to chat them up and make a connection while they are getting set up for their day. This is one of the best locations to get the “inside scoop” on what is happening at Downtown Disney. It’s also a good source for information on other events going on in the area, restaurant recommendations, and a spot for great people watching!
This spot has a great selection of domestic and imported beers and ciders, and is one of the only locations on Disney property that has happy hour! You will also notice a lot of “dads” here that like to rest a bit while the family hits the shops.
Check it out the next time you’re wandering around Downtown Disney. It really is a great spot to take a break or in my case, start your day. And if you don’t have time to stop and chat, they can make you a beverage to take with you! Slainte! 
Take a look at some photos from around Walt Disney World from the month of July.
Backstage at Magic Kingdom for 4th of July Fireworks. This area is opened up on major holidays to help alleviate the crowds around the Castle hub.
Bathrooms that were open at Epcot’s World Showcase between the Canada & UK Pavilions.
Bathrooms were to the right of this building.
Nice running sign at Beach Club
Creating Oswald Cells at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Magic of Animation Building.
Walt Disney World even sells the name Coke bottles. Plus our dog’s nickname is Buddy!!
This was a welcome sight as there were plenty of tour groups around the parks.
Planters help break up the concrete at Magic Kingdom’s bus stop
Another Running Trail sign, this one at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
And lets end with my favorite photo from July. A look from our doorway at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort at Dusk.
Take a look at Mater talking as he leaves Radiator Springs at Cars Land at Disney California Adventure.
Take a look at the displays for ‘Planes: Fire & Rescue’ at Disney’s Hollywood Studios inside the Magic of Disney Animation Building.
Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and the Disneyland Resort in California are bursting with new attractions and entertainment for the entire family – and America’s military personnel can experience the fun through special theme park tickets and special pricing for accommodations.
At Walt Disney World Resort – from Aug. 25, 2014, through Sept. 30, 2015, active and retired U.S. military personnel (including active and retired members of the United States Coast Guard, National Guard and Reservists) or their spouses can purchase:
Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets with Park Hopper Option for $177 each, plus tax
Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets with Water Park Fun and More Option for $177 each, plus tax
Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets with Park Hopper and Water Park Fun and More Options for $207 each, plus tax
Walt Disney World tickets may be used Sept. 28, 2014, through Oct. 3, 2015, except that the tickets may not be used Dec. 22, 2014 through Jan. 2, 2015 and Mar. 29 through April 9, 2015.
At the Disneyland Resort – from Aug. 25, 2014, through Oct. 1, 2015, active and retired U.S. military personnel (including active and retired members of the United States Coast Guard, National Guard and Reservists) or their spouses can purchase:
Disney Military Promotional 3-Day Park Hopper Tickets for $132 each
Disneyland tickets may be used Sept. 28, 2014, through Oct. 3, 2015, except that the tickets may not be used Dec. 25, 2014 through Jan. 4, 2015 and Mar. 29 through April 9, 2015.
Active and retired U.S. military personnel can purchase Disney Military Promotional Tickets for themselves and up to five additional family members or friends. No more than six Disney Military Promotional Tickets may be purchased by any eligible member of the U.S. military (or spouse) pursuant to this offer. All tickets and options are non-transferable and must be used by Oct. 3, 2015.
Active and retired U.S. military personnel can also take advantage of specially priced rooms at select Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort hotels.* This offer is valid for stays most nights from Sept. 28, 2014, through Oct. 3, 2015, except for:
Nov. 27 – Nov. 29, 2014
Dec. 24 – Dec. 31, 2014
Mar. 30 – April 4, 2015
For information regarding Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets for admission to the Walt Disney World Resort, or to make room reservations at the Walt Disney World Resort, military personnel may call 407-939-7830 or participating U.S. military base ticket offices. For information regarding Disney 3-Day Military Promotional Tickets for admission to the Disneyland Resort, or to make room reservations at the Disneyland Resort, military personnel may call 714-520-7088 or participating U.S. military base ticket offices. Information is also available at disneymilitaryoffers.com.
Offer Details:
Disney Military Promotional Tickets may be purchased at participating U.S. military sales outlets ONLY by Eligible Service Members (defined below) or their spouses (but not both), for use by themselves and other family members and friends, as provided herein. These Tickets may not be otherwise transferred, distributed or resold.
“Eligible Service Members” are active or retired members of the U.S. military, including the National Guard, Reservists and the U.S. Coast Guard.
The actual prices charged at the individual U.S. military base ticket offices for Disney Military Promotional Tickets may be less than the prices set forth above.
Participating military sales outlets must require that Eligible Service Members (or their spouses) present valid military identification to purchase Disney Military Promotional Tickets.
Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets for admission to the Walt Disney World Resort are not valid until activated by the Eligible Service Members (or their spouses) at Walt Disney World theme park ticket windows. Tickets and options expire and may not be used after Oct. 3, 2015. Valid military identification will be required for purchase and use.
Disney 3-Day Military Promotional Tickets for admission to the Disneyland Resort expire and may not be used after Oct. 3, 2015. Valid military identification will be required for purchase and use.
No more than six (6) Disney Military Promotional Tickets may be purchased and (if applicable) activated by any Eligible Service Member or spouse (regardless of the place of purchase and whether purchased by that person or that person’s spouse). In addition, one of the six (6) Tickets purchased must be used by the Eligible Service Member or his/her spouse.
Each Disney Military Promotional Ticket must be used by the same person on any and all days.
When planning vacations, my friends always ask me what my favorite attractions are in each park, so I figured I could start making some top five lists of things that I enjoy! First, I must begin with Magic Kingdom because it is my favorite park at WDW. One of my favorite attractions at this park is Pirates of the Caribbean. A trip to the World is not complete without riding this attraction many, many times. I just love the ambiance of the area as well as the fantastic music that fills the queue. The attention to detail on this ride is unbelievable, and the smell of the water reminds me that I have come home to WDW. Pirates of the Caribbean is everything that a Disney ride should be. It has laughs, thrills, a catchy song, and it fully immerses the guests in a whole other world.
I would be remiss if I did not list the Haunted Mansion as another must-see attraction at the Magic Kingdom. Again, this ride is a classic; it also immerses guests in an experience that can only be had at a Disney park. There is no one storyline for the Haunted Mansion but rather little vignettes that draw the guests further and further into the experience of really feeling like they are becoming part of a ghostly jamboree. Again, this ride does not have to be terrifying; it does a wonderful job of walking the line between the comedic and the slightly frightening. The ghosts are very playful and friendly for the most part, and they just want to enjoy themselves. Haunted Mansion, like Pirates, is timeless and doesn’t have to worry about staying contemporary with any type of trend. Both of these attractions withstand the test of time.
Next, a trip to the Magic Kingdom would not be complete without taking the grand circle tour on the Walt Disney World steam train. This ride is not just a means of transportation; it is a relaxing journey through the entire park. You are able to get just a taste of all of the lands and take a break from the hustle and bustle of the park. Guests can actually sit down and enjoy all of the themed entertainment that is surrounding them.
Another means of transportation that is a must-do is the Wedway Peoplemover in Tomorrowland. We ride the Peoplemover multiple times throughout the day when we visit the Magic Kingdom. This attraction is the height of relaxation, and like the steam train, gives you an overview of a part of Magic Kingdom. In this case, you are able to explore Tomorrowland and experience some beautiful views of Cinderella Castle as well as see the inside of Space Mountain. If you are very lucky, the lights will be on, and then you can actually see the track for this roller coaster.
Finally, I would be remiss if I did not add a true thrill attraction to this list. I have a hard time narrowing all of my favorite rides down to five, but I really do love Splash Mountain. This thrill ride combines a dark ride with animatronics as well as some thrilling drops in order to be a truly exciting experience. Just seeing Splash Mountain from a distance adds a certain kinetic energy to Frontierland. It is usually hot in Florida, so a little splash is definitely welcome, so I do not mind getting wet on this ride. I remember when I was younger, we were able to participate in an early version of extra magic hours called E-Ride Night. My brother and I rode Splash Mountain at least six times in a row. We just could not get enough!
I could honestly list every attraction in Magic Kingdom as my favorite, but I always recommend the aforementioned five rides to other folks, just because I think they represent some of the best that WDW has to offer. I am a huge fan of animatronics because I think that they really represent the origins of the Disney theme parks. So, what are some of your favorite attractions at MK? Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!
How many Magic Bands do you have? I happen to have one in every available color now! And I keep getting new ones each time I make a reservation. I asked at my hotel recently about how to manage them and if I can STOP getting them. On this trip we were able to use the bands we already had our Annual Passes linked to and were used to wearing/using.
I was told that you can manage your Magic Bands on you’re my Disney Experience Account. I went home and looked at my account to see if I could figure it out. I could see all my bands by color. From this screen I was able to activate or deactivate any of my bands. It is also possible to report a band that has been lost and customize bands before they are shipped. If you activate a new MagicBand or card it does not mean that you must deactivate an existing MagicBand or card. All active MagicBands or cards assigned to a Guest have access to the benefits and entitlements for that Guest. And just because you add new MagicBand or card, it does not add new entitlements, such as additional theme park admissions or additional FP+. I am hoping to link my next reservation number to existing Magic Bands before my next trip in order to ward off getting another one!
My next question for the Cast Member was what to do with any MagicBands a Guest does not need or want. I was told that unwanted MagicBands can be returned to Guest Relations at the Resorts. They will be deactivated, wiped clean of all data and recycled. Something to keep in mind if you have extras! Remember that you must have ID with you to confirm that you have an Annual Pass or are a DVC Member………..MagicBand slider alone is not enough!
I will have to admit having multiple bands has been one of my biggest issues with the program. I am glad to know that I might be able to manage all my Bands with a little effort. For the most part I haven’t other issues with them. I do know that Cast Members are still getting used to them but think they are great for Guests. I believe they are still a work in progress and will get better and better. Look for more articles from WDW Daily News as we cover any updates or enhancements.
Now if they can just help me figure out how to keep from sweating so bad under that band!!! Let me know if you have any magic to share on that topic!!!
