Recent News - 3/160 - TouringPlans.com Blog

The Disney Magic, Disney’s first cruise ship, is going to see a little pixie dust with the re-imagining of quite a few areas, along with quite a few new exciting additions.

Disney

Atrium Lobby

The first thing guests will notice is a change in the atrium lobby. It will be redesigned to elegant art deco with elements of the sea. It will feature a new coral, blue, and aquamarine carpet with seashell inspiration. The chandelier will be inspired by the rays of the sun and the glisten of the surface of the ocean. A grand piano, beautiful furnishings and giant portholes will finish the look.

Kids Areas

Another area where changes will be afoot are the kids ares, the Oceaneer Club, which is open to 3 – 12 year olds. For the first time ever, Marvel will make its presence known in Marvel’s Avenger Academy. Here young crime fighters will be transported to a high tech command post used for special missions and operations training.

Disney

In addition, guests will find another new area, the Mickey Mouse Club, where kids will be able to create crafts and play games on mouse ear shaped tables. It will also feature an activity with magnetic, spinning gears called Goofy Gears. (Gawsh!)

In the Oceaneer Lab, a brand new pirate themed area will encourage kids to create, play, and explore.

For the littlest ones, geared for ages three months to 3 years old, the Small World Nursery, which is inspired by the attraction and will be filled with whimsy and discovery perfect for that age group.

Read the rest of this entry »

I love a parade!!! And if you do, too, a brand new parade is coming down the pipeline for 2014.

A new daytime parade called the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade will debut next spring at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.

The parade is slated to bring the tales of New Fantasyland through new floats, vibrant costumes, and an original soundtrack which features both a new parade theme song, mixed with classic Disney songs. It will feature the stories of Sleeping Beauty, Dumbo, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, the Little Mermaid, Tangled, Brave and a few more.

Here is a glimpse of what a few of the floats will look like when they roll down Main Street, U.S.A.

We’ll keep you posted as more information comes out.

Disney

Next year, for 2014, the Princess Half Marathon Weekend will include a brand new 10k. This new 10k will take place on Saturday, February 23. Runners who compete in this new race will receive a brand new special medal.

In addition, a brand new two-race challenge will be included. If guests want to participate in both the 10k and the Half Marathon, they will earn the Disney Glass Slipper Challenge Medal, which will be in addition to the individual race medals. (This will be a total of 19.3 miles run and 3 medals total!)

The Princess Half Marathon Weekend will take place February 20 – 23, 2014.

Also new this year will be the chance for a runDisney coast to coast challenge medal. This will be for those who complete the 2014 Tinker Bell Marathon at Disneyland Resort in January and then the Princess Half Marathon just a few weeks later.

Registration for the 2014 Princess Half Marathon opens on June 11 at www.runDisney.com

It’s happening again!

Due to the massive success of last year’s One More Disney Day, where guests spent Leap Day in the Magic Kingdom and at Disneyland, getting a full 24 hours of park time, Disney is doing it again!

Guests will be able to take part in the Monstrous Summer All Nighter from May 24-25 (during Memorial Day Weekend). This event will be taking place on both coasts yet again. This time the event will happen at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World and both Disneyland AND Disney California Adventure at Disneyland Resort. The parks will stay open from 6 am on Friday, May 24, to 6 am on Saturday, May 25, 2013, local time.

During the event, at the Magic Kingdom, a Monsters University theme will take place where Mike Wazowski and Sulley will be the grand marshal’s of the Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade. They will also make appearances in Tomorrowland. In addition, there will be extra entertainment throughout the day and night, including characters found in their pajamas in Town Square during the late night and early morning, along with late-night dance parties in and around the courtyard of Cinderella Castle.

Over at Disneyland, a Monsters University TLT Monstrous Dance Club, plus Star Wars characters will be found in Tomorrowland. In addition, a late-night Character Pajama Party will be held in Mickey’s Toontown. The new Fantasy Faire Royal Theatre will become a Royal Dance Hall late at night with a live band and dancing. Guests of Disney California Adventure park will find photo opportunities with new Monsters University “Dorms” in Hollywood Land and a new Monsters University float leading the Pixar Play Parade.

In addition, on both coasts, special food and drink options will be available, as well as specialty merchandise.

This is set to be the kick off for a great summer with Disney.

Who’s ready to celebrate the Summer with Mike and Sulley?

In preparation of the upcoming movie, Monsters University, Walt Disney World is getting its doors ready for its monster friends.

As was mentioned yesterday, Disney has debuted a brand new monorail wrap, lovingly called the Monsterail.  But the parks are going to get in on the fun, too!

At Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor, found in Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom, new jokes are being concocted by the gang all to celebrate their alma mater.

In addition, over in the Backlot area of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, guests will find themselves in the Monsters University student union, where they will have an opportunity to meet the lovable duo.

It looks to be a scary good summer at the Walt Disney World Resort!

Frozone Counts Down to Fun for the Last Time

On April 6, 2013, Disney’s Hollywood Studios ended its two Hollywood Boulevard parades, Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun! and Disney Channel Rocks!, after almost two years. Both shows were met with contention since their debuts – the first very short and not meeting guest expectations in comparison to its predecessor, Block Party Bash, and the second not very popular with Disney fanboys and guests above the age of Disney Channel’s tweenage audience.

All that being said, I really enjoyed Disney Channel Rocks. Not because of the content, but because of the energy these performers bring to the show. In the 4 years I’ve lived in Florida, to quote Henry Higgins, I’ve grown accustomed to their smiling faces, whether it was in one of the main parades or these pep rally block parties the Studios throws in front of the Hat, and I will miss not seeing them anymore in my visits. And as you can see from these videos and photos, many others showed up to show their appreciation on the final day, even managers and coworkers from around the Studios.

At this time, nothing has been announced to replace these two parades in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Rumor has it that Disney is clearing off Hollywood Boulevard to make way for construction of a new project, perhaps Disney California Adventure’s Red Car Trolleys or even removing the other infamous Studios eyesore – the big blue Sorcerer’s Hat. What do you think? What would you like to see in a potential new addition to the Studios, or would you like to see something old come back? Personally, I miss Block Party Bash and would love to see something that interactive come back.

Read the rest of this entry »

It’s going to be a a Monsterous Summer, and this is just the beginning!

Disney

Coming to the Walt Disney World Resort will be the new Monsterail.  This monorail wrap will features some of the fun characters from the upcoming movie Monsters University, which debuts in theaters on June 21.

This is the second monorail wrap for the summer, the first one being a wrap themed to the upcoming movie Iron Man 3, lovingly known as the Iron Manorail.

For those who want to hitch a ride, the Monsterail will run on the Magic Kingdom Resort loop.

It’s going to be a Monstrously good time this summer at Walt Disney World!

Starting May 9 for reservations on or after June 24, 2013, Disneyland Resort will charge a $10 per person fee to no-shows for dining reservations. We confirmed with Disney that this rule will apply to all Table Service restaurants in Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, Downtown Disney, and the three resort hotels. The fee will also apply to cancellations at Bibbidi Bobbidi  Boutique in Fantasyland.

A valid credit card will be required when making reservations. Guests must cancel at least 24 hours in advance of their reservations to avoid the new fee. Disneyland Dining may be reached at 714-781-3463 or dine@disneyland.com.

Disney

Starting tomorrow, April 22, through April 27, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will hold a test of FASTPASS for Fantasmic!.

During the test, Cast Members will be found at the Hollywood Studios Tip Board (at the intersection of Sunset and Hollywood Boulevards) distributing tickets beginning at noon until they run out each day.

These FASTPASS tickets will not be tied to the regular FASTPASS system, so if a guest obtains a ticket for Fantasmic!, he will still be able to obtain another ticket for a different attraction.

Fantasmic! is expected to be a part of the new FastPass+ system when it officially rolls out.

Guests of both California parks will be the chance to tantalize their taste buds during this week’s Limited Time Magic.

The “Worm and Dirt” tart dessert can be found at the Plaza Inn and French Market at Disneyland and at Wine Country Trattoria at Disney California Adventure.

It sounds like a delicious treat that guests will enjoy digging into!