Disney100 Sugar Sculpture Going Up at the Grand Californian Resort
The Disney100 Celebration is in full swing at the Disneyland Resort. As part of the celebration, a new Disney100 sugar sculpture is going up at Disney’s Grand Californian Resort!
The sculpture features Sleeping Beauty Castle in the background with four of the main Disney characters in front. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Pluto are all in front of the castle in their new Disney100 outfits.
The sculpture is made of sugar and hand-crafted by Disney’s pastry team. The sign next to the sculpture says “Crafting in Progress”. There could be more added to the sculpture later, so keep an eye out!
If you’d like to visit the Disneyland Resort during the Disney100 Celebration, contact me today! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel, my services are free, and I’d love to help you plan a magical vacation!
New Owl Stand Installed in Hogsmeade at Wizarding World of Harry Potter
A new owl stand has been installed in Hogsmeade at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal’s Islands of Adventure. This Owl Post stand has received a little bit of an upgrade.
You’ll find the Owl Post stand outside of Dervish and Banges in the covered owlery in Hogsmeade. A stand has been added to the space and the counters have been rearranged around the Dervish & Banges window.
Guests can purchase smaller merchandise at the stand like keychains, notebooks, and postcards. You can also purchase a plush owl (some are puppets) at this post stand. There is also an Owl Post box where guests can mail their own postcards and letters from Hogsmeade. There’s even a special postmark you can get!
If you’d like to experience the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando, contact me today! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel, my services are complimentary, and I’d love to help you plan an epic vacation!
2023 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival Marketplaces
The Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival is returning to the Disneyland Resort from March 3 to April 25, 2023. We now know what Festival Marketplaces will be available for guests to enjoy a varied and vibrant smorgasbord of palate-pleasing cuisine.
Here’s a quick glimpse of the Marketplaces available.
Avocado Time – Indulge in flavorful medleys that make your mouth sing.
Berry Patch – Hail the big berry for top billing!
California Craft Brews – Cheers to a round from California’s best local breweries.
Cluck-a-Doodle-Moo – Rally for these sliders, wings ‘n’ beer—a sports fan’s dream!
D•Lish – Enjoy delicious sweet and savory dishes sure to delight!
Garlic Kissed – Stop by to savor mouthwatering dishes and specialty beverages.
Golden Dreams – Tempt taste buds with well-seasoned eats and nectarous drinks.
I Heart Artichokes – Partake in the thistle—prepared in 2 different ways!
LA Style – Feast on favorite southland food-truck flavors.
Nuts About Cheese – Let us introduce you to wine’s best friends.
Peppers Cali-Ente – Snack on hot ‘n’ spicy fare with a Cali twist!
Uncork California – Sip vino by the glass or try a flight.
These Festival Marketplaces have been at the Festival in the past but the offerings will most likely be different this year. We can’t wait to see what the menus will be!
Also, don’t forget to grab a Sip & Savor Pass during the Festival! The pass provides a commemorative credential, lanyard and 8 convenient entitlement tabs that you can redeem for select food and nonalcoholic beverages at participating locations. Redeem entitlement tabs throughout the 2023 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival and revel in more opportunities to savor the flavors.
If you’d like to experience the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival this year, contact me today! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel, my services are complimentary, and I’d love to help you plan a magical vacation.
Disney World President Jeff Vahle Releases a Statement on Reedy Creek Bill. The Bill that is set to restructure Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District has just been filed with the House of Representatives in Florida. Without trying to add any spin to this, we will just give you the statement from Jeff Vahle. This is an ongoing news story and the Florida House Bill is 189 pages. We will have time to dissect it all over the coming days.
“We are monitoring the progression of the draft legislation, which is complex given the long history of the Reedy Creek Improvement District. Disney works under a number of different models and jurisdictions around the world, and regardless of the outcome, we remain committed to providing the highest quality experience for the millions of guests who visit each year.” Jeff Vahle, President, Walt Disney World Resort
This is what was on the Docket today for a Special Session: Notice is hereby given of intent to seek legislation before the Florida Legislature, during a regular, extended, or special session, of an act relating to the Reedy Creek Improvement District, Orange, and Osceola Counties; amending, reenacting, and repealing Chapter 67-764, Laws of Florida, and decree in chancery no. 66-1061 (May 13, 1966).
Removing and revising powers of the District; increasing state oversight, accountability, and transparency of the District; revising the selection process, membership qualifications, and compensation for the governing body of the District; ensuring debts and bond obligations held by the District remain with the District and are not transferred to other governments by retaining the District’s authority related to indebtedness and taxation; revising the District’s authority over local permitting and regulation.
Revising the District’s regulatory framework and structure; instituting reporting requirements, including a review of the District’s remaining powers; describing the District boundaries and name; revising exceptions to general law and certain special acts; removing duplicative provisions; making conforming changes; creating an exception to general law; providing an effective date.
AMC Will be Charging More for Prime Seats. Looks like the movie-going experience is about to change to a model used for concerts and theater for years. Better seats will now cost you more, but not all is bad in this new concept, the average seat will not change in price, and front-row or value seats will now cost less. Disney Springs AMC24 will change to this new model at some point during the 2023 year.
AMC Theatres the largest theatrical exhibitor in the United States and the world, today announced Sightline at AMC – a ticket pricing initiative based on seat location within each auditorium, which provides AMC moviegoers with multiple options to meet their viewing preferences. With Sightline at AMC, moviegoers now have the option to pay less, or more, for a movie ticket based on their seat selection. The initiative has already rolled out to select AMC locations and will be expanded to all domestic AMC and AMC DINE-IN locations by the end of the year.
Sightline at AMC more closely aligns AMC’s approach to seat pricing with the experience-based options offered by other entertainment and event venues, and offers three different seat-pricing options:
Standard Sightline – these seats are the most common in auditoriums and are available for the traditional cost of a ticket
Value Sightline – these seats are in the front row of the auditorium, as well as select ADA seats in each auditorium, and are available at a lower price than Standard Sightline seats. Value Sightline pricing is only available to AMC Stubs members, including the free tier membership – AMC Insider.
Preferred Sightline – these seats are typically in the middle of the auditorium and are priced at a slight premium to Standard Sightline seats. As an added benefit to AMC’s most loyal moviegoers, AMC Stubs A-List members may make reservations in the Preferred Sightline Section at no additional cost.
Theatres that offer Sightline at AMC will provide a detailed seat map that clearly outlines each seating option during the ticket purchase process online, on the AMC app, and at the box office. Sightline at AMC is applied to all showtimes that begin after 4 p.m. at participating locations and is not applicable on Discount Tuesdays.
“Sightline at AMC more closely aligns AMC’s seat pricing approach to that of many other entertainment venues, offering experienced-based pricing and another way for moviegoers to find value at the movies,” said Eliot Hamlisch, EVP, and CMO, of AMC Theatres. “While every seat at AMC delivers an amazing moviegoing experience, we know there are some moviegoers who prioritize their specific seat and others who prioritize value moviegoing. Sightline at AMC accommodates both sentiments to help ensure that our guests have more control over their experience so that every trip to an AMC is a great one.”
Disney Changes the Recipe for The Walking Taco from Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe. Let us get one thing straight, this is going to be a silly rant over something serious, but silly non the less. Let me set the ground rules. The walking taco from Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe is delicious. Corn Chips are on the menu, corn chips make this a taco. I say again, Corn Chips make this a taco!
Seasoned Ground Beef, Yellow Rice, Black Beans, Cheddar, Jalapeño, Tomato, Sour Cream, and Corn Chips served in a Bag all for the low price of $10.99 makes it a perfect meal while at Disney’s Magic Kingdom. (Ask for the cheese on the side). For the price, it might be the best meal in the Park.
Here is the issue I have now. They are now served in a weird blue bag with the word Tostitos bite-sized, in the zany font. Just below the name, it has two words Tortilla Chips! Yes folks, Tortilla Chips! This is no longer The Walking Taco. This is The Walking Nachos! Where the heck is my brown and black bag with the words Fritos? You know Corn Chips!
You cannot argue that this is now false advertising! If I wanted The Walking Nachos, or nachos in general at Disney World, I certainly am not going to Pecos Bills! I will go to Cap’t Cooks at the Polynesian and get myself some.
If you are serving all those ingredients with a tortilla chip that distinctly makes it a nacho! NOT a TACO! Truly it makes it a Nacho salad, and who wants a nacho salad? That just sounds like some evil creation that a tex-mex restaurant came up with as a sales pitch.
We went to some experts and this is how it is described: There is some debate on whether or not nachos and taco salad are the same, as they share some similarities but also have some significant differences. Both are typically made with tortilla chips, cheese, and various toppings, but a taco salad will also usually contain meat, beans, and lettuce, while nachos are more likely to just have cheese and salsa. Ultimately, it depends on how you make them, but generally speaking, a taco salad is a bit more hearty and filling than nachos.
Difference Between Nachos And Tacos
There are a few key differences between nachos and tacos. First, nachos are typically served as a snack or appetizer, while tacos are usually a main dish. Second, nachos are made with tortilla chips, while tacos are made with soft or hard tortillas. Third, nachos are usually topped with cheese and other ingredients, while tacos are typically filled with meat and other fillings. Finally, nachos are typically served with a dipping sauce, while tacos are often eaten plain.
So, people of the jury, are we crazy? Wait before you answer that… maybe crazy isn’t the right adjective. Are we wrong in our thinking? Can we just be upset by something that happens at Disney World once in a while? We are always so positive with our coverage of Disney, that we needed to show we can take the other side once in a while. Okay, so maybe this is two days in a row we are upset by a food issue, but I digress… I should probably stop writing. okay anyway, enjoy the buffet.
Expanded Housekeeping Services Returning to Walt Disney World Resort by the end of February
We are excited to share that Disney has been ramping up housekeeping service back up across Walt Disney World Resort hotels! By the end of February, full housekeeping room cleanings will once again be available at all of our Resort hotel rooms, with services provided daily or every other day depending on where you are staying.
These full cleanings include everything you’d expect – from replacing towels and amenities to cleaning the bathrooms, making the beds, emptying trash and recycling, tidying the room, and vacuuming.
Guests may also sometimes come across some extra magical touches — like coming back to your room to find your new Mickey ear hat on display or your Disney plushes posing playfully — that make your room feel that much more like a home away from home.
I know many of us are sharing in the excitement of this much-anticipated update, and it’s all possible thanks to the cast members who make it happen behind the scenes.
“I love making those special little touches — that’s what it’s about,” said Duckky, a housekeeping cast member at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort. “If I can make somebody smile every day just by walking past and saying ‘have a magical day,’ that warms my heart. Everything I do here warms my heart.”
Like Duckky, our hearts are warmed knowing how much you all love our housekeepers and the magic they make! We hope this makes your next Walt Disney World Resort hotel stay that much more special. You may have also recently seen that we reintroduced complimentary overnight self-parking at Walt Disney World Resort hotels – it’s been wonderful to see how excited our guests have been for this update.
Orange Bird Crossbody Bag To Bring The Sunshine With You Everywhere You Go!
We found our must have accessory for when Spring and Summer comes, an adorable Orange Bird Crossbody Bag created by CharmedAndCozy on Etsy for $70. You can order yours here!
This faux leather bag features the Orange Bird inside a basket that says “Oranges Florida Fresh”! Inside it features a zipper pocket, as well as, an open lightly padded pocket. A must have!
The 189 Page Bill aims to change the name of Reedy Creek Improvement District to Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.
The bill also states that “Notwithstanding s. 189.0311(2), Florida Statutes, the Reedy Creek Improvement District will not be dissolved as of June 1st, 2023, but continues in effect under its new name.”
“For a transitional period of no longer than 2 years from the effective date of this act, the district may continue doing business using “Reedy Creek Improvement District” as a fictitious name in order to provide sufficient time for the district to make the necessary name change on or to records, contracts, bonds, accounts, physical assets, and wherever else the district’s name is used.”
Also in the bill, the State of Florida will create a board of supervisors to govern the district and those individuals who have worked for Disney within the past 3 years are unable to sit on the board. Governor Ron DeSantis would be responsible for appointing all five board members, with confirmation from the Senate.
It should also be noted that the outstanding debt, contracts, and tax collection would not be affected, according to the bill, backing Gov. Ron DeSantis’ statements that Orange and Osceola counties would not be responsible for Reedy Creek’s $1 billion in debt.
With the Bill being 189 pages long we are certain more information will be coming out of this Bill for Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District.
New 2023 Graduation Mickey Ear Hat And Headband To Celebrate Your Special Day!
Add a touch of magic to your special day with this 2023 Graduation Mickey ear hat and headband available now at Magic Kingdom and online at shopDisney! So if you are celebrating finishing school this year, wether is high school, college or something else and you love Disney, you definitely need any of these hats to celebrate!
This ear hat is based on the traditional mortar board complete with a tassel! It also features “Class of 2023” embroidered on the front, Mickey Mouse ears on top and can also be personalized with your name if you get it at the parks.
If you prefer a headband, don’t worry! There is also a headband version for those graduating soon featuring a small mortar board and tassel in the middle, Mickey ears and “Class of 2023” embroidered in yellow on a side.
You can take a closer look at them in our Instagram post:
Adorable Figment Spaceship Earth Jumbo Pin Spotted At Magic Kingdom!
We found a super cute Figment Spaceship Earth jumbo pin at Magic Kingdom that we need in our collection! It can be yours for $44.99, a bit on the pricy side for sure but it is limited edition with only 2,000 available.
New Walt Disney Studios Collection Spotted At Hollywood Studios!
Celebrate 100 years of wonder with this Walt Disney Studios Collection filled with magic and nostalgia! We spotted it at Celebrity 5 & 10 in Hollywood Studios but they are also available online at shopDisney so you can order your favorite pieces from the comfort of your own home, take a look:
This crewneck is a must have for any Disney fan, it features a cozy gray color with the Walt Disney Studios with Mickey Mouse logo embroidered on the front. Nostalgic and simple!
Roll cameras! You will be ready for your close up when you’re wearing these Walt Disney Studios shorts with the logo embroidered on the soft cotton French terry fabric.
Mickey Mouse leads a parade of favorite Walt Disney character friends as featured in 1930’s Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphony cartoons in the vintage artwork screened on a soft jersey tee.
Celebrate the earliest era of The Walt Disney Company with this baseball cap with the studios logo and “2719 Hyperion, Hollywood” embroidered on the front.
Join the Disney100 celebration with this Mickey’s movieland ear headband with a vintage style Walt Disney Studios clipboard topper, printed production flow chart on confetti filled ears and embroidered Walt Disney signature on band.
WALT DISNEY STUDIOS TYPEWRITER STICKY NOTE HOLDER
Make your desk a Mouse Factory with this vintage typewriter shaped sticky note pad holder featuring 1930’s Walt Disney Studios logo.
Mickey will wave at you everyday you sit on your desk from this pencil cup featuring the Walt Disney Studios Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphony Sound Cartoons logo in a red tinted glass and metal base.
Mickey’s fully sculpted phone holder is inspired by the historic “Mousecar” statuette, an in house award presented by those who have given special service to The Walt Disney Company!
Make a nifty note to yourself or others on this light-up memo board in the form of the traditional animator’s drawing desk as found at the Walt Disney Studios!
