Observations From Magic Kingdom: April 25, 2013
by Scarlett Litton on April 26, 2013 6 Comments
Today was a beautiful, sunny, 70 degree day in Central Florida…too pretty a day to not be at Magic Kingdom.
I started my trip as I always do, walking through the Emporium to see if there was any new merchandise. Much to my surprise, an entire wall of Monsters University merchandise had just arrived. From what I have seen so far, it’s all really cute and well done. Based on how many guests I saw grabbing items today, you may want to pick up whatever you want next time you’re in the park. I especially like the blue Monsters University adult shirt and the iPhone cases (available for iPhone 4/4S and iPhone 5). They also have plush and other toys featuring characters from the movie, hats, children’s shirts, and monster light-up headbands.
After leaving the store I headed to Adventureland to see if the new Pirate’s Adventure: Treasure of the Seven Seas game was play testing like it had earlier in the week. Unfortunately it was closed for the day, so I instead headed to Splash Mountain. Splash Mountain reopened just over a month ago from a much-needed refurbishment and I wanted to see how it was holding up. Read the rest of this entry »
Limited Time Magic For Disneyland Resort – May The Fourth Be With You
by Rikki Niblett on April 26, 2013 5 Comments
Disney
May The Fourth Be With You…Star Wars…Disneyland Resort…
The west coast resort will also be taking part in the awesome Star Wars fun.
On Saturday, May 4, Disneyland Resort will offer special edition Star Wars themed pins and t-shirts. These merchandise pieces will be emblazoned with two different logos: “May the Fourth Be with You” and “Revenge of the Fifth.”
Guests who want to get their hands on this merchandise will have two different locations to do so: Disney Pin Traders in Downtown Disney or Little Green Men Store Command in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. Keep in mind, supplies are limited.
The Force is strong with this one.
Limited Time Magic For Walt Disney World – May The Fourth Be With You
by Rikki Niblett on April 26, 2013 2 Comments
Disney
Disney and its guests will celebrate a very special day in the Star Wars Universe…May 4, which is also known as May the Fourth Be With You Day!
This week’s Limited Time Magic will take place just that one day only at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and will be a completely separate event from Star Wars Weekends.
Activities on Saturday, May 4, will include a special Jedi Training Academy. For this day, and this day only, adults will get to do what they have always wanted to: join their children on stage, appearing alongside them as they train and complete the final showdown with the Empire. Do keep in mind that this will be on a first come basis and that children who can participate must be ages 4 – 12. The sign-up area is typically around Echo Lake outside ABC Sound Studio (former home to Sounds Dangerous) or the theater for Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. Blogger’s Note: This will go quickly. This will be the first time ever that adults can participate, and I know many who have wanted to for years. If you want to participate in this event, do not pass go, do not collect $200. Head straight to the sign up area for the day and do so. Again…I cannot stress this enough…I suspect this event will fill up very, very quickly.
Big Changes On Board For the Disney Magic
by Rikki Niblett on April 26, 2013 1 Comment
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.
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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.
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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.
10 Ways to Countdown the Days until Your Next Disneyland Vacation
by Tammy Whiting on April 26, 2013 5 Comments
So you’ve planned a trip to Disneyland! What’s the hardest thing now? The waiting of course. Haven’t you heard the song? Well, trust me it is. So I thought it would be fun to share some ways to pass the time. Some fun ways for your kids to visualize how long they have to wait, some fun ways for adults to rub it in their friends noses I mean celebrate how quick it’s coming!
Heather’s Countdown Chain
1. Chains – No, not the metal kind. I’m talking about the kind your children made in elementary school with construction paper. Yes, construction paper probably clued you in that this one is for kids. I’ve seen some really cute ones with a Disney theme. The idea is pretty simple. Take a bunch of paper strips (red, black and yellow?) and staple the first one into a circle. Then staple the next one into a circle that interlocks with the first one. Do this until you’ve arrived at your desired countdown number. Every day, take one off! Your kids will know, the shorter that chain gets, the closer they are to the Happiest Place on Earth!
2. Advent Calendar – This is my favorite way to countdown! Do your kids get these at Christmas? The kind where every day they open a little window and get something like a piece of chocolate. Or, if you’re a really cool parent, a little Lego Star Wars Figure! Well, these work for Disney too! I wouldn’t necessarily save one from Christmas though. That chocolate may be a little scary in September. I’d recommend finding an empty Advent calendar and filling it with fun Disney type things. I saw quite a few this year at Christmas, so grab one during an after-Christmas sale and have fun filling it! Or buy a shadow box! Or, if you’re a scrapbooker, you’ve probably found something similar to this set of drawers or this one. It’s great to decorate (or leave plain) and fill. If you’re pin traders, my suggestion is to fill those calendars or drawers with pins! Buy an inexpensive lot of them on eBay and plus up your collection for trading before you go.
New Magic Kingdom Parade Coming in 2014
by Rikki Niblett on April 26, 2013
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.
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We’ll keep you posted as more information comes out.
Princess Half Marathon Weekend to Add New 10k Race
by Rikki Niblett on April 26, 2013
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
Disney’s Monstrous 24 Hour Event
by Rikki Niblett on April 25, 2013 9 Comments
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.
Top Five Ways to End Your Day at Disneyland Park
by Seth Kubersky on April 25, 2013 1 Comment
In recent weeks, I’ve shared some my favorite ways to begin my day at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, as well as top picks for finishing a DCA visit, and even places to pause at mid-day around the Resort.
Today, I’m concluding this series with a look at the best options for ending your evening at Disneyland Park. While Disneyland is magical at any time of day, there is something particularly special about those final hours before closing at the original Magic Kingdom. Any one of the following activities (or combination thereof) should guarantee a fitting finale to your day at the Happiest Place on Earth.
Fireworks and Fantasmic!
No one does explosive spectaculars better than Disney, and there is no better one-two punch among theme park pageants than Disneyland’s fireworks and Fantasmic! Whether the show is Remeber…Dreams Come True, Magical, or one of the special seasonal displays, Disneyland’s pyrotechnics are not-to-be-missed. And Disneyland’s Fantasmic! is the ultimate assemblage of animated characters, action stunts, and enormous animatronics. On nights when both shows are performed,first watch the fireworks from the hub near Frontierland, the head immediately towards the river for a seat. Alternatively, stake out a spot early for Fantasmic and you’ll still have a fine view of the overhead sky bursts (though not effects on the castle or Tinker Bell’s flight).
It’s Going To Be A Monsterously Good Time This Summer at Walt Disney World
by Rikki Niblett on April 25, 2013 1 Comment
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!
