New Camera Center Opens At Epcot

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December 9, 2019

It’s time to capture all of your magical moments and get everyone in the picture!

Because the new Camera Center just reopened at Epcot! And is located just underneath Spaceship Earth.

The reimagined store has a more sleek design with new floors that go perfectly with the retro Epcot style Disney is going for now.

Here you will be able to buy memory maker, look at your pictures, or get help with any DisneyPhotoPass question you might have.

This location is now also home of Pin Traders, so if you are looking for that special pin this is the place to go. They have every single style!

But DisneyPhotoPass and pins are not the only things you will be able to find here, they also have a section of souvenirs and even some beverages to help you beat that humid Florida weather.

What do you think of the new location? We think it looks great!

Drury Hotels is opening a new hotel in the Disney Springs Area

By

Chip

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December 9, 2019

Drury Hotels Company is bringing a bit of magic to its guests. The company is developing its largest property to date, the Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista, and will begin to welcome guests by spring 2021. The new property, located in the DISNEY SPRINGS® Resort Area in Orlando, Florida, is the company’s first Official Walt Disney World® Hotel and the fourth Drury Hotel in the state. The entire project – which includes 604 rooms and more than 12,000 square feet of meeting space – will be completed by the end of 2021, with the first 264 rooms available by spring 2021. The new hotel will feature a host of amenities and is in close proximity to the Walt Disney World® Theme Parks.

The new property is located just steps away from DISNEY SPRINGS®: a walkable, 120-acre outdoor complex outside of the theme parks featuring an eclectic mix of unique boutiques, one-of-a-kind eateries and entertainment. The hotel will be able to be booked as part of a Walt Disney World® Resort vacation package. Drury also will offer transportation to and from the theme parks, as well as to other surrounding attractions.

“This property has been a long time in the making, and we are delighted to see it take shape,” said Chuck Drury, president and CEO of Drury Hotels. “We’ll be able to give our guests an unforgettable experience as they visit the Walt Disney World® Resort and everything the colorful community has to offer. Being named an official Walt Disney World® Hotel means we have been entrusted to adhere to exceptional service standards. Given our track record of providing award-winning guest service, I know our top-notch team will make our new property a magical experience for our guests and visitors.”

Mike Weihs, a 19-year veteran in the hotel and hospitality industry, has been named the property’s general manager. Drury team member Melissa Linkugel will serve as the hotel director of sales. Once open, the hotel will employ 150 full- and part-time team members.

The hotel will feature a resort-style pool, splash pad, and poolside cantina bar and grill; an extensive marketplace for grab-and-go food items and sundries; and a kitchen and bar concept, in addition to a wide range of complimentary amenities, including:

Wi-Fi throughout the hotel
Hot breakfast, including pancakes, biscuits and gravy, eggs, yogurt and more
5:30 Kickback® reception including appetizers and beverages
24-hour business and fitness centers

Outside of the hotel, guests will be able to enjoy exciting new additions to the Walt Disney World® Resort including Star Wars®: Galaxy’s Edge – where guests can live out their own Star Wars story – and Toy Story Land – where kids and grown-ups alike can experience all-new adventures – only found at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®. Experience storybook wonder as favorite Disney classics come to life at Magic Kingdom® Park. For some big-time enchantment, take a ride into the mine “where a million diamonds shine” aboard Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Discover big fun and cultures from around the globe at Epcot®. And while there, take a sail through Arendelle on Frozen Ever After. Explore the realm of creatures that inhabit the world…and the imagination…and create a unique adventure at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park. Celebrate the magic of nature by soaring on banshees through the exhilarating Avatar Flight of Passage. From fantasy and discovery to spotlights and adventure, the magic of Walt Disney World® Theme Parks comes alive around all who visit.

Drury Hotels has been family-owned and operated since 1973. For a complete listing of all Drury hotels or for reservations, visit www.druryhotels.com or call 1-800-DRURYINN. For information about career opportunities at Drury Hotels, please apply online at www.drurycareers.com.

Chef Louis from the Little Mermaid ‘Rene Auberjonois’ dies at 79

By

Chip

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December 9, 2019

Rene Auberjonois is known for his roles in “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” and also Chef Louis from Disney’s The Little Mermaid has died at age 79.

Auberjonois’ son, Rèmy-Luc Auberjonois, told The Associated Press that his father died on Sunday, December 8th at his home in Los Angeles from metastatic lung cancer.

You can see the clip here:

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

Final Disney Wisdom Collection Features The Fairy Godmother

By

Danielle

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December 9, 2019

The final instalment of the Disney Wisdom Collection has arrived. December’s collection stars the Fairy Godmother, and is also the last of the Wisdom designs. With the ending of one collection however, comes the sneak peek at the next!

As always the wisdom collection stars a character from a beloved Disney film, and is centered around an inspiring quote. This collection features the quote “Even miracles take a little time”. That’s right Fairy Godmother, they do! You’ll find a plush, journal, pin set, and mug available at both shopDisney and Disney Stores. While a t-shirt and wall art design will be available online online at shopDisney.

Fairy Godmother Plush – $26.95

The Fairy Godmother’s reassuring quote is embroidered on this special edition plush.

Fairy Godmother Journal – $16.95

Jot down hopes and wishes in this limited release Disney Wisdom journal featuring an inspirational quote from Cinderella.

Fairy Godmother Mug – $18.95

The Fairy Godmother’s golden quote is also immortalized on this limited edition mug.

Fairy Godmother Pin Set – $16.95

Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother and also mouse friend Gus materialize on this dazzling collectible pin set that advises ”Even miracles take a little time.”

Last but not least is the online only t-shirt for $26.95, and wall art for $24.95.

I also promised a sneak peek at next year’s collectible series! Next year we can look forward to a new monthly series, called Yoo Hoo! A new character arrives on the third Saturday of every month, beginning in January. Is that a Minnie Mouse flower I spy?

Did you collect this year’s Disney Wisdom Collection? Will you be collecting next year’s Yoo Hoo collection too?

Celebrate The Season With The Christmas Celebration At SeaWorld Orlando

By

Susan Wilson

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December 8, 2019

Christmas season is here! We got to experience SeaWorld Orlando’s Christmas Celebration and it was so amazing. They really went big for the holiday with an incredible selection of seasonal beverages and snacks, special holiday shows, and the most beautiful decorations throughout the park. There was so much to do and experience and SeaWorld Christmas is definitely a must-do.

The Decorations

SeaWorld went all out with their holiday decorations! My favorite part was the Sea of Trees. There were a bunch of Christmas trees filled with lights in the center of the water. At night they had all fun holiday themed visuals and they went synchronized to music. The décor is amazing all throughout the park though. They a cozy spot by the food stands to sit and enjoy music and lots of photo opportunities for the whole family. It was really magical to see it all put together.

Seasonal Shows

Some of SeaWorld’s most beloved shows also got holiday makeovers. One of the cutest shows, “Pets Ahoy” was transformed into the North Pole. This fun animal stunt show has animal rescues and some fun antics. They were all getting ready for Santa’s big night. Another show to see is Miracle which is the Christmas themed whale show over at Shamu Stadium. Make sure to check out all the fun holiday shows while the Christmas Celebration is going on through December 31st.

Special Holiday Food and Beverage

SeaWorld has an area called the Christmas Market that is a pathway which opens at 5pm. It’s filled with fun photo spots and booths filled with delicious holiday food and beverage options. We got to try some of these fun festive treats and they were incredible! The loaded donuts had to be our favorite with the Tachos coming in a close second. Make sure to pick up a guide of all the festive treats throughout the park.

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You can also purchase a Tasting and Brew sampler lanyard to save money. The punch lanyard has 10 or 5 food or beverage punch cards. The 10 sampler card is $42.00 and lets you try 10 different samples of the food or drinks listed. You can find more information on purchasing a lanyard here.

Sesame Street Christmas

Make sure to also get over to the new Sesame Street area to see it all decked out for Christmas. They have gone all out with the decorations. The giant character nutcrackers are so adorable! They also have a really fun Christmas parade at night. The parade features your Sesame Street favorites with Christmas songs and costumes.

Meet Rudolph and his Friends

Rudolph has also made a stop over to SeaWorld to greet guests. You can find him and some of his friends over at the Christmas Market pathway. There’s a couple different scenes around for photo spots and even Yukon Cornelius roaming around. There’s a lot of fun Rudolph Christmas merchandise available as well. The bubble wands were just so cute.

SeaWorld has so much to offer during their Christmas Celebration. It’s definitely something I’d love to be able to see a couple more times to get to do it all. Thank you to SeaWorld for inviting us to this amazing holiday experience. SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration is going on now until December 31st. It’s fun for the entire family.

Monorail Black Makes Its Debut at Walt Disney World

By

Rebekah

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December 8, 2019

A sleek new addition to the monorail transportation system has made its debut at the Walt Disney World Resort- Monorail Black! Thanks to the awesome photos that Thomas Radzak (@tradzak) took for his Instagram, we get a sneak peek of the monorail before even stepping foot inside.

With comfortable seating, a fully functioning A.C. unit (…because FL winter…), and the new design, this monorail mixes comfort and style in the best way possible.

Even the exterior design keeps Disney guests traveling in style with red and black detailing. Let us know in the comments if you’d love to try out this sweet ride the next time you’re in the parks!

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Photo source Thomas Radzack (Instagram//@tradzak).

Candy Cane Beignets Return to the Disneyland Resort

By

Monique Lopez

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December 8, 2019

Candy Cane Beignets Return to the Disneyland Resort

One of our favorite things about the holidays at a Disney Park is the food! This year, the Disneyland Resort has brought back a fan favorite and we are so glad they did!

The Mint Julep Bar, located in New Orleans Square is home to the famed Mint Julep. This refreshing beverage is usually on everyone’s must try list. However, a Mint Julep just isn’t the same without a Disneyland Beignet!

This holiday season, the Mint Julep Bar has brought back the ever so festive Candy Cane Beignets! This seasonal favorite is a sweet beignet topped with a candy cane powdered sugar. Yum! Just like the original, these treats come for sale in a pack of three or six. If you can’t decide between original or Candy Cane, get both! Guests can now get a six pack of mixed beignets. It really is the best of both worlds!

While enjoying your holiday beignets, don’t forget to pair them with their new Cranberry Julep. This delightful beverage is a cranberry-infused mint julep. This twist on a traditional favorite is refreshing, delicious, and the cranberry makes it a beautiful color.

Don’t forget to use the Mobile Order selection on the Disneyland App for fast and easy ordering or to take your Mint Julep treats on the go to your next park destination!

Are you going to try the Candy Cane Beignets at the Disneyland Resort this season? Let us know in the comments!

Source: Disneyland Today

Frozen II Water Spirit Cupcake

By

Melissa Welt

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December 8, 2019

If you are a fan of Frozen II and sweet treats we found something for you! There is a brand new Frozen II Water Spirit Cupcake at the Caribbean Beach Resort. It features the images of Elsa and The Nokk which is the horse water spirit from the movie! It also has the color palette Elsa portrays in the new movie with whites, blues, and purples.

We found this cupcake in the grab and go area of Centertown Market. This is located in the main hub area of the resort where other dining and shopping are also located. The Water Spirit Cupcake itself is a chocolate cupcake with a filling of white chocolate mousse. Its also topped with loads of vanilla buttercream and fun silver and lavender crisp pearls. There wasn’t a lot of filling in this one so expect more chocolate cake than the mousse filling. It retails for $5.99 before tax and it is eligible as a snack credit on the Disney Dining Plan.

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Whether you are staying at the Caribbean Beach Resort or decide to hop onto the Skyliner to visit, this Frozen II Water Spirit Cupcake should be on your list!

Thank you to our friend always_holliday for the photos.

Boeing Confirms Joining the Force to Build Flying X-Wings

By

Jessica Jones

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December 8, 2019

Stormtroopers in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge — Fifty menacing First Order Stormtroopers await guests as they arrive in the hangar bay of a Star Destroyer as part of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, the groundbreaking new attraction opening Dec. 5, 2019, inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida and Jan. 17, 2020, at Disneyland Park in California that takes guests into a climactic battle between the Resistance and the First Order. (Matt Stroshane, photographer)

On the opening day of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance the X-Wings appeared in front of a huge crowd. Guests were in awe of the X-wings and recently Boeing confirmed their hand in building the flying X-Wings.

Recently after shots of the X-Wings surfaced, media started to speculate. The media felt the X-Wings, which are roughly the size of a family van, appeared to be based on Boeing’s Cargo Air Vehicle (CAV) drone. After reaching out for clarification, Alison Sheridan, a communications official for Boeing’s future-technology NeXt initiative, stated the following: “We can confirm that those were Boeing aircraft that flew last night at the Rise Of The Resistance dedication, and we were excited to be part of their event, but that’s all we’re sharing right now.”

Although we are unsure how the collaboration between Disney’s Imagineering team and Boeing came to be, we are grateful for it nonetheless. This collaboration also showcases a very novel application of one of Boeing’s still experimental future-facing aerospace technologies. Flying a pair of CAVs in a highly modified form. Showcasing this technology at a very high-profile event in association with one of the world’s largest brands and entertainment franchises speaks to the stability and maturity of the CAV design.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is open officially open in Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World and is set to open at Disneyland on January 17, 2020.

Check out our Sneak-Peek of the attraction below.

Take a look at the X-Wings in action during the opening ceremony of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance below.

Source: The Drive

Peppermint Cannoli Brings Wintery Flavors to Disney Springs

By

Allison Luna

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December 8, 2019

There’s something beautiful about Disney Springs at Christmastime. The decorations, people wearing holiday sweaters, fantastic shopping, and of course delicious food! One of the trends sweeping across Walt Disney World this December is peppermint: Peppermint Chocolate Shakes, Peppermint Soft Serve ice cream, Peppermint Bark, Peppermint Cheesecake, and even Peppermint Cookie Dough! It’s almost enough to have us asking “What’s next?”

The answer to that would be Peppermint Cannoli! Vivoli Il Gelato in Disney Springs has introduced a wintery new flavor just in time for your holiday shopping. They’ll start by asking you whether you’d like a regular cannoli shell or a chocolate one (try the chocolate and thank us later!). The filling is a pink peppermint sweet cream that tastes mostly of vanilla. You’ll also be asked whether you want crushed peppermint on the ends of your cannoli or not. Honestly, this is the only place a taste of peppermint came through, so if you hate peppermint you can still order this and just forgo the crushed candy ends! Otherwise, the answer needs to be yes!

Overall, this cannoli has a great flavor. The shell is crunchy (and messy!), while the chocolate mixed with peppermint brings both sweetness and a fresh after-taste. While it was surprising that the cream had no real mintiness to it, it actually helped the cannoli to be balanced and not overly taste of peppermint. A great little treat that both adults and children can enjoy.

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Each cannoli costs $6 before tax, regardless of which flavor shell you choose. They aren’t too big, so if you’re planning on sharing you may want to order more than one! But whether you choose chocolate or not, peppermint or not, cannoli are a deliciously portable snack and go great with a hot chocolate and Christmas shopping at Disney Springs. Enjoy!

Artist Draws Baby Yoda as Disney Princesses

By

Allison Luna

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December 8, 2019

Rising in popularity faster than any character in recent memory, Baby Yoda has become a cultural phenomenon. Suddenly, anyone who doesn’t have Disney+, the streaming service that is home to The Mandalorian, is getting a serious case of FOMO. Baby Yoda has spawned memes, T-shirts, stickers, and tumblers; he’s been the star of many GIF-exclusive conversations, and let’s face it, just about everybody is obsessed with him, even more so than the titular Mandalorian.

In case you still doubt the popularity of Baby Yoda, artist and BuzzFeed Senior Editor Crystal Ro has seen fit to immortalize him as a Disney Princess. Wait, strike that. He is now immortalized as almost every Disney Princess and we have the artwork to prove it. Enjoy the hilarity (and cuteness) of Princess Baby Yoda!

Baby Yoda Mulan wonders when his reflection will show who he is inside (above).

Baby Yoda Ariel actually looks like a character we might see on Star Wars.

Baby Yoda Snow White has switched from frogs to apples. Still not that edible though.

Baby Yoda Pocahontas follows the spinning arrow straight to adventure!

Baby Yoda Tiana is dangerously close to Prince Naveen. Hopefully, he’s not too hungry.

Baby Yoda Aurora is finally getting that well-deserved nap.

Baby Yoda Jasmine is not a prize to be won!

Baby Yoda Belle is part beauty and part beast. But mostly cute.

And Baby Yoda Cinderella will certainly be the hit of the ball!

We love the humor and creativity in these pieces. Hopefully, they will also serve to inspire other artists to use Baby Yoda in their own artwork!

Photos courtesy of Crystal Ro/Buzzfeed

PANDORA Jewelry Showcase Event Happening Soon at Magic Kingdom

By

Rebekah

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December 8, 2019

Shining, glimmering, and all things splendid at the PANDORA Jewelry Showcase Event at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. The event, happening on Dec. 13 and 14 from 11a.m. to 7p.m., will feature the launch of the new ‘2020 charm.’

Just head over to Uptown Jewelers on Main Street where the event is taking place to shop and even meet the very talented calligrapher, Singling Lee!

The event is just in time for the Holidays! You can get your Christmas shopping done and even receive a complimentary gift tag with qualifying purchases. Have fun shopping, Chip and Co. fans!

Photo source Walt Disney World Website.