LOTS OF DISNEY, ORLANDO AND PLACES THEREABOUTS !!

Tag archive

celebration

UP! A Great Bird Adventure at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park

in Orlando/Walt Disney World by

The newest attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, ‘UP! A Great Bird Adventure’, is located at the Caravan Stage in Asia, former home of Flights of Wonder, and debuted April 22nd for the 20th Anniversary celebration.

Similar to Flights of Wonder, this new show entertains with bird species from South America, North America, India, Africa, and other locations around the globe, but now also features Russell and Dug from ‘UP’.

During this 25-minute show you will join Senior Wilderness Explorer Russell and his furry friend Dug for an all-new adventure as they discover bird species from around the world.

More than 15 different species of birds make an appearance, including parrots, toucans, macaws, and a marabou stork that flaunts a magnificent 10-foot wingspan!

‘UP! A Great Bird Adventure’ is now performing daily at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park and you can experience the show as standby or with FastPass+ access.

After the show, head on over to Discovery Island for a meet & greet with Russell and Dug!

*Park tickets required to experience this show.

Stay up to date with all Disney Destinations as well as other travel destinations!
Like my Facebook Page | Follow me on Pinterest | Follow me on Instagram

Disneyland Resort | Walt Disney World Resort | Disney Cruise Line | Aulani ~ Disney Hawaii Resort & Spa | Adventures by Disney | Other Destination Vacations

The Disney Wonder

in Disney Cruise Line by

I recently returned from my first experience on the Disney Wonder, this was my final new Disney Cruise ship experience until the new ships debut in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

There are so many things that I enjoy about sailing with Disney Cruise Line… large staterooms with under-bed space, exceptional dining experiences, friendly and accommodating crew, brilliant Broadway-like entertainment, Castaway Cay and I can’t forget the Towel Art – a fun treat when you return to your stateroom each evening!
On a Disney Cruise, you experience rotational dining. I enjoy getting to know the dining team while also being able to experience different dining options. As this was my first experience on the Disney Wonder, I also enjoyed 2 new dining experiences – Triton’s and Tiana’s Place. While Animator’s Palette is still my favorite of the rotational dining options, Triton’s and Tiana’s Place did not disappoint. I dined at Animator’s Palette on my final night so breakfast on disembark day was also at Animator’s Palette.
While I have toured the other stateroom types, we have always chosen a Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah and we prefer the starboard side so that we have a great view of the island when we arrive at Castaway Cay. The staterooms are good sized with under-bed storage for your luggage. We have never felt crowded in our stateroom when cruising with Disney – and the Disney Wonder was no exception. This was a 3-night cruise, but I still enjoyed 2 ports of call – Nassau and Castaway Cay. Castaway Cay is always my favorite port of call and I especially love the “double-dip” sailings that offer 2 full days at Castaway Cay – I will need to get back on one of those sailings soon! And, if you have read some of my other blogs, fireworks are a big deal to me, Disney is the only cruise line that is granted permission to display fireworks at sea.


While I did not have a day at sea during this cruise, I was still able to enjoy the ship – character meet & greets that you often cannot find at the parks, recently released movies, pools, water slides, walk up dining, entertainment, deck parties, dance clubs, karaoke, trivia, unlimited room service – it’s all included!! The onboard Pub even offers a buffet of light snacks early evening with another buffet for late night snacks later each night. There is definitely enough to keep you busy on a Disney Cruise if you aren’t the lounging at the pool or beach type and you won’t go hungry!

As I mentioned, Castaway Cay is my favorite port of call when cruising with Disney and it was a perfect island day – not too hot, sunny skies and low wind!! The tide even washed out a bit to create a sand bar that was easily reachable by walking into the ocean and we were able to see beautiful starfish and stingray there!
Castaway Cay is Disney’s private island and is consistently rated by Disney Guests as their favorite port of call and it’s reserved exclusively for Disney cruisers. The ships will dock right at the island to allow you to come and go as you please while enjoying experiences such as snorkeling, boating, swimming and sunbathing. Bicycles can also be rented if you want to explore the island’s nature trails. While all areas of the island can be reached by walking, an island tram offers four stops to help you easily get where you want to go. Dining is also included at Castaway Cay as part of your cruise package with covered outdoor restaurants serving burgers, BBQ chicken and ribs and alcoholic beverages are available for purchase. And there are even some special character meet & greets on the island too!
I am a runner and, weather permitting, Disney Cruise Line offers a 5K on every stop at Castaway Cay. It’s very informal but you do get race bibs and a medal at the finish line. If you want to participate in the 5K on Castaway Cay, you can register at Guest Services once onboard your cruise. Your registration ticket, “Key to the World” and photo ID are required the day of your event to participate. The 3.1-mile out-and-back event is free and family friendly; it’s open to walkers and runners ages 10 and older. The race takes place first thing in the morning on the island, typically with a meeting time onboard of 8 am, and participants are the first Guests off the ship at Castaway Cay This is a very casual fun experience worth the early wake-up!
Families can have fun together at the Castaway Family Beach and, if you are traveling without children, Disney offers a secluded beach exclusively for adults – Serenity Bay. Your “Key to the World” card works for all purchases on Castaway Cay except at the local post office where you can send mail to your loved ones back home with a Bahamian postage stamp; the post card postage rate is approximately $0.65 USD each.

Cruising with Disney is a very casual experience – I wear sun dresses and flip flops while my husband wears shorts and polos – we do dress up a bit for dinner but “cruise casual” attire is appropriate for dinner. The only exceptions are if you reserve adult only dining experiences at Palo or Remy which both have dress codes.

Are you ready for YOUR Disney Cruise experience?

Stay up to date with all Disney Destinations as well as other travel destinations!
Like my Facebook Page | Follow me on Pinterest | Follow me on Instagram

Disneyland Resort | Walt Disney World Resort | Disney Cruise Line | Aulani ~ Disney Hawaii Resort & Spa | Adventures by Disney | Other Destination Vacations

Disney Cruise Line – Holiday Cruises

in Disney Cruise Line by

It’s never too early for holiday shopping and I can help you give the perfect gift this year!

Now is the time to book YOUR holiday cruise with Disney!

Itineraries now available through January 2019.

Stay up to date with all Disney Destinations as well as other travel destinations!
Like my Facebook Page | Follow me on Pinterest | Follow me on Instagram

Disneyland Resort | Walt Disney World Resort | Disney Cruise Line | Aulani ~ Disney Hawaii Resort & Spa | Adventures by Disney | Other Destination Vacations

Pandora – The World of Avatar – My Nighttime Experience

in Walt Disney World by

Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park opened May 27, 2017 bringing a flight simulator based-banshee attraction and boat ride through the landscape of Pandora. I experienced a preview of this amazing new land earlier in May and was there on opening day to experience the new entertainment and nighttime Pandora.

Entertainment on Pandora – The World of Avatar is focused around a Na’vi-built drum circle, containing instruments you can play, Na’vi totems and other cultural items found throughout the land. Swotu Wayä – which means “Sacred Place of Song” – is located in the heart of Mo’ara Valley and has the most beautiful backdrop of any stage at Walt Disney World! Performances are fun and interactive with a message of peace and can be seen every hour on the half starting at 10:30 am until 30 minutes before Pandora closes.
*Please check Time Guides for updated performance times.


Once darkness falls, the many unique and exotic plants of Pandora come to life with their beautiful bioluminescence in many different shades and patterns – even the ground you walk on is full of beautiful color!

Look for interactive experiences throughout the land too – floating plants that respond to your arm movements and more. And it’s not only the colors that will surprise you, even the sounds of this amazing land change after sunset. As you move through Pandora at night you can occasionally hear the calls and footsteps of the many fantastic beasts that populate the nearby mountains.

On opening day, Walt Disney World also introduced mobile ordering – only available at Satu’li Canteen. Simply find a table at the canteen area and, using your My Disney Experience Mobile App, you can easily place your order for food and beverage and will be notified via your app when your order is ready. You will only need to know your order number for pick-up. Currently, to use Mobile Order, your MDE account must have a credit card linked and all charges will be applied to the linked credit card – Disney Dining Plans and Gift Cards are not accepted. Mobile Order will expand to other quick service locations at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park this summer – and hopefully property-wide soon after!

For a limited time, now thru July 4, 2017, Disney’s Animal Kingdom park will be open from 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM, giving you more time than ever to explore Pandora – The World of Avatar.
And for Guests staying at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels there will be “Extra” Extra Magic Hours—available exclusively in Pandora – The World of Avatar from 11:00 PM to 1:00 AM, May 27 to July 4, 2017 AND July 4 to August 19, 2017 from 10:00 PM to Midnight! There’s still time to book your summer vacation and experience Pandora – The World of Avatar for these special resort Guest benefits!

Be sure to read about my preview experience on Pandora – The World of Avatar too!

Stay up to date with all Disney Destinations as well as other travel destinations!
Like my Facebook Page | Follow me on Pinterest | Follow me on Instagram

Disneyland Resort | Walt Disney World Resort | Disney Cruise Line | Aulani ~ Disney Hawaii Resort & Spa | Adventures by Disney | Other Destination Vacations

Rivers of Light – Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park

in Orlando/Stay on Property/Walt Disney World by

The long awaited ‘Rivers of Light’ at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park has finally made it’s debut!

Rivers of Light is located in the park’s Discovery River lagoon between Discovery Island and Expedition Everest. It features water fountains, mist screens, floating lanterns, fire effects, lasers, lights, fog, projection mapping as well as live performers and incorporates the park’s Tree of Life into the show too.

This new nighttime experience celebrates the beauty of all living things. With a brilliant fusion of water, sound and light, it’s a unique experience that will entertain the whole family!

Rivers of Light is staged in the middle of the Discovery River, with seating split in two sections: on the shores of Asia in front of Expedition Everest, and along the banks of DinoLand U.S.A. in front of Finding Nemo—The Musical. All of the seats in Asia – half of the show’s 5,000 seats – are reserved for Guests with FastPass+. The other half of the seats, on the DinoLand side, are for those booking the Rivers of Light dining packages (available at Tusker House or Tiffins) and for standby Guests. There are also very limited, partially obstructed viewing areas around the river. I have viewed from all 3 areas and I highly recommend the dining package viewing area if you plan to see this new experience!

As sunlight fades, the ‘stars’ begin to twinkle in the trees surrounding Discovery River. A vibrant awakening of flitting fireflies leading to a ceremonious procession across the water of floating lotus blossoms that morph into colorful dancing fountains and over-sized animal sculptures – tiger, turtle, elephant, and owl – that light up in various colors.

The show begins with four flickering, lotus flower lanterns floating on the lagoon. They’re soon joined by shamans. The shamans conjure the forces of fire and water to reveal the majesty of the natural world, mostly as video projections on a huge water screen projected at the back of the lagoon.

In the final moments, the largest lotus sprouts a blazing tower. This magnetic display culminates in a triumphant blend of song, light, color and earthly elements. We are all bound together by earth and spirit — past, present and future.

Rivers of Light joins other nighttime experiences recently added to Animal Kingdom, including the sunset Kilimanjaro Safaris, Discovery Island Carnivale, Harambe Wildlife Parti and the Tree of Life awakening. Be sure to watch the video posted above, my photos do not do this show proper justice!

Stay up to date with all Disney Destinations as well as other travel destinations!
Like my Facebook Page | Follow me on Pinterest | Follow me on Instagram

Disneyland Resort | Walt Disney World Resort | Disney Cruise Line | Aulani ~ Disney Hawaii Resort & Spa | Adventures by Disney | Other Destination Vacations

Independence Day Celebration – Walt Disney World Resort

in Walt Disney World by

As with any Disney experience, Independence Day celebrations throughout Walt Disney World Resort parks will not disappoint! And if you are thinking about celebrating the Independence Day holiday at Walt Disney World Resort, now is the time to confirm your resort reservation.

If you plan to experience the holiday celebrations I highly recommend planning for both July 3 and July 4 to be sure to see it all!

“Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky” is a special fireworks display above Cinderella’s Castle at Magic Kingdom Park presented on both July 3 and 4 at 9 p.m while Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios celebrate only on July 4.

At Magic Kingdom Park, in my opinion, the best spot to view the fireworks from is the hub in front of Cinderella’s Castle. “Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky” is a spectacular celebration of freedom with a dazzling stage show and an astonishing fireworks display choreographed to music! The park stays open late so after fireworks you can plan to enjoy dinner at Be Our Guest Restaurant or Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen – remember to make your advance dining reservations!

Just a quick note about viewing areas – when viewing from the hub area in front of the castle, you can see the stage show as well as the fireworks above. You can also experience the spectacular fireworks show from all around Magic Kingdom Park as well as from the resorts around the Magic Kingdom Park area. If you happen to be close to the Fantasyland area, you can get a great view of the fireworks overhead, the Beast’s Enchanted Castle is a good location to view from too. These areas are less crowded and you can hear the music and see the fireworks show, you just won’t be able to see the stage show.

Both Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot will also offer Independence Day fireworks and celebrations only on July 4th. Each park will display their normal “Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Fireworks” and “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” and each will include the addition of an all-American grand finale celebrating the United States of America. Epcot’s Independence Day fireworks display is typically at 10 pm and Disney’s Hollywood Studios is typically at 10:15 pm so you would not be able to experience both… In my opinion, the all-American grand finale at Epcot is simply AMAZING (I may have even cried a little)!! And, – if you are lucky enough to experience a little bonus pixie dust – once the Epcot fireworks end, depending on where you are viewing from, stick around for a bit because you just might be able to clearly see Disney’s Hollywood Studios fireworks display, which is also spectacular!

And even though Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park does not offer any special Independence Day festivities, don’t skip a visit to this park – it also offers exciting experiences to explore. Many store and restaurant fronts have been refurbished and you can enjoy a quick service lunch at Harambe Market. Harambe Market is an outdoor marketplace with African-inspired street food at four walk-up windows and plenty of shaded seating. Offerings include Grilled Chicken Skewer and Sausage Fried in Curried Corn Batter, both come with a light Roasted Broccoli and Tomato Salad. Also offered are ribs and a beef kabob flatbread.

An Independence Day celebration at Walt Disney World Resort is definitely a magical experience. Crowd levels are typically higher, but my experience has been lighter than anticipated. And while it is hot during the day, it is bearable. Just remember to take breaks often, drink water and look for inside experiences available at all parks. I highly recommend the July 4th holiday as a good time to visit Walt Disney World Resort!

Stay up to date with all Disney Destinations as well as other travel destinations!
Like my Facebook Page | Follow me on Pinterest | Follow me on Instagram

Disneyland Resort | Walt Disney World Resort | Disney Cruise Line | Aulani ~ Disney Hawaii Resort & Spa | Adventures by Disney | Other Destination Vacations

Disneyland Resort ~ California

in Disneyland by
Are you thinking about a Disneyland Resort vacation? I recently experienced the Disneyland Resort in California where I participated in the runDisney Disneyland Half Marathon and took part in the final days of the Diamond Celebration, celebrating 60 years of Disneyland. This was my first half marathon and I wanted to do it with Disney! runDisneyThe Disneyland Resort has 2 parks; the original Disneyland and California Adventure Park, the Downtown Disney District and 3 resorts on property – Paradise Pier Hotel, Disneyland Hotel and Disneyland’s Grand Californian. It is an easy resort to walk and explore and the weather is always beautiful in Southern California. And both Disneyland Park and California Adventure Park still use the paper FastPass system for “skip the line” access to many attractions. FastPass Disneyland, the original Disney park, offers many magical attractions and experiences – some of which you can also find at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida (such as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Peter Pan’s Flight and Pirates of the Caribbean) and some experiences only offered at Disneyland (such as Alice in Wonderland, Chip ‘n Dale Treehouse, Finding Nemo Submarine voyage and Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride). The castle at Disneyland is Sleeping Beauty’s Castle and, of course, there are many Character Meet & Greets as well as nighttime fireworks, including select nights for Fantasmic!, and the Disneyland Monorail which will transport you around the parks and Downtown Disney District area. Monorail And don’t miss Star Wars Launch Bay if you have a Star Wars fan in your party! Star Wars Launch Bay There are many great dining venues at Disneyland too, both quick service and table service. We chose table service dining at Blue Bayou where your experience includes a view of the boats passing through on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Blue Bayou was a magical dining experience with delicious food and exceptional service. Walt Disney California Adventure Park was added as a second park at Disneyland in 2001. This park is a little more spacious, also offering many magical attractions and experiences – some of which you can also find at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida (such as It’s Tough to be a Bug, Monster’s Inc., Soarin’ Around the World and Toy Story Midway Mania!) and some experiences only offered at California Adventure (such as Radiator Springs Racers, Mickey’s Fun Wheel, Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree and California Screamin’). You can also find a statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse. Radiator Racers The highlight of your experience at California Adventure Park is Cars Land! In Cars Land you will find meet & greets with Tow Mater and Lightning McQueen and you can dine at Flo’s V8 Café. In addition to Flo’s v8 Café, there are many quick service and table service dining experiences at California Adventure Park, all with a little something different to offer. World of Color We reserved the World of Color Dining Package. I highly recommend the dining package for World of Color and you can choose from three restaurants for this experience; Wine Country Trattoria, Carthay Circle Restaurant – both offer lunch or dinner for the World of Color Dining Package – and Ariel’s Grotto for dinner only. Ariel’s Grotto also offers breakfast and lunch but both dining times are character dining experiences and do not include the World of Color Dining Package. Alfresco Tasting Terrace And if you want a quiet place to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the parks, but still enjoy the magic of Disney, be sure to check out the Alfresco Tasting Terrace at California Adventure Park, where you can relax on the patio overlooking Radiator Springs as you tour the wine country with an expertly chosen flight. Or pair a glass with an assortment of delicious Italian-inspired appetizers. They also offer beer tastings for those who prefer beer over wine – or try both! World of Disney During our Disneyland Resort vacation, we also explored the Downtown Disney District area which offers shopping and dining as well as fun entertainment. The Downtown Disney District is free to enter with a parking fee, but if you dine at one of the participating restaurants you can get your parking pass validated for free parking. Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen There are many dining experiences and it was hard to choose but we narrowed it down and experienced lunch at ESPN Zone with dinner at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen where we dined New Orleans style on the balcony. The food was delicious and I would recommend both for your visit. If you are planning to experience Disneyland Resort in California for your next vacation I recommend at least 3 days so that you can experience all of the magic!!

Follow me…
Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Cruise With Your Travel Agent

LET’S TRAVEL!

SPECIALIZING IN LAND AND SEA TRAVEL
An Authorized Disney Vacation Planner Travel Agency – EarMarked GoldProducer
Beach Vacations | Cruise Vacations | Theme Park Vacations | Babymoons
Tours & Experiences – Choose Your Destination | U.S. Destinations
Disney Area Vacation Homes | All-Inclusive Destinations
Sandals Resorts [Adults Only] | Beaches Resorts [Family Friendly]
Virgin Voyages | Royal Caribbean Cruises | Viking River Cruises | Viking Ocean Cruises

New Year’s Eve at Walt Disney World Resort

in Walt Disney World by

If you are thinking about kicking off the New Year with a New Year’s Eve celebration experience at Walt Disney World Resort, know that your celebration will be a Disney experience to remember! Following are some planning tips and information about a Walt Disney World Resort New Year’s Eve celebration…

The first and most important planning tip I would offer is to definitely stay on property during this time of celebration and to choose a resort that is closest to your New Year’s Eve Disney park of choice. For example, if you would like to experience the New Year’s Eve celebration at Epcot, choose to stay at one of Disney’s Resorts located in the Epcot Resort Area – Boardwalk Inn & Villas, Yacht Club or Beach Club. New Year’s Eve is a very busy time at Walt Disney World Resort. Parking venues fill up early and getting in and out with your own vehicle can be a challenge, but even if you let Disney do the driving the wait times can still be long. Staying close to the park you want to experience on that very busy night will allow you the ability to walk to and from Epcot.

The second planning tip I would offer is to book your dining and FastPass+ reservations as soon as your booking window opens. As I mentioned, this is a very busy time at Walt Disney World Resort and wait times are long for everything, including the restrooms! If you want to experience the rides, FastPass+ is a MUST. For dining, you can choose to experience Table Service options which require advance reservations or Quick Service options which are walk-up with no advance reservations required.

Something to also consider is that the New Year’s Eve fireworks is both December 30 and December 31 at Magic Kingdom Park. Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios also offer a New Year’s Eve fireworks show but only on December 31, so if one of these is your park of choice you will need to choose…

And if you are typically park hoppers, during this busy holiday you want to plan to arrive early and stay in one park for the day. The New Year holiday is one of the most crowded times at Walt Disney World Resort and it’s not uncommon for some of the parks to reach capacity early in the day.

Epcot will host DJ dance parties throughout the World Showcase and in the center court, the entertainment starts around 7 pm following a special holiday fireworks display. Don’t worry, there will be more fireworks at Epcot once the clock strikes midnight and the party continues until 1 am.

A Walt Disney World Resort New Year’s Eve celebration is an experience to definitely add to your bucket list! Just plan to set realistic expectations, approach each day with patience and take pleasure in the fact that you are celebrating at the most magical place on earth!

Stay up to date with all Disney Destinations as well as other travel destinations!
Like my Facebook Page | Follow me on Pinterest | Follow me on Instagram

Disneyland Resort | Walt Disney World Resort | Disney Cruise Line | Aulani ~ Disney Hawaii Resort & Spa | Adventures by Disney | Other Destination Vacations

Go to Top