PHOTO: Tour Of Coronado Springs Construction Progress

By

-

September 5, 2017

Coronado Springs

The Coronado Springs Resort is currently undergoing a major expansion. Disney has announced that a new 15-story tower is being built that will add an additional 500 room with suites and concierge level services. A new over the water table service dining location will also be added in the middle of Lago Dorado. All of these construction projects are expected to be completed in Summer of 2019.

With all of these projects underway, what does that mean for guests staying at the resort right now? We took a photo tour this weekend to give you an idea of what to expect.

PHOTO: Tour Of Coronado Springs Construction Progress

Currently Casitas 1, 2, and half of 3 are closed for refurbishment.

PHOTO: Tour Of Coronado Springs Construction Progress

Rooms are receiving upgrades like granite counter tops on multiple surfaces, laminate wood flooring, and lots of upgraded amenities.

PHOTO: Tour Of Coronado Springs Construction Progress

Looks like construction on the tower is in full swing. There doesn’t seem to be any movement yet on the over-the-water restaurant planned for the middle of the lake.

PHOTO: Tour Of Coronado Springs Construction Progress

Disney has set up a preview center inside the Coronado Springs Convention Center. Concept art on display shows what we can expect once construction is complete. The Preview center is open to anyone who is interested. You don’t have to stay at the resort to walk through it.

Take a look at our Preview Center video for more details…

Most of the resort is functioning as normal with the construction causing minimal impact on resort guests. It seems like the work being done is being contained to one side of the resort and shouldn’t have an affect on Disney World Vacationers.

Are you ready to start planning your amazing Disney Cruise Line vacation? Our friends at MickeyTravels (designated with Platinum Earmarked status by Disney) can help! Click Here for your FREE No Obligation Quote from one of their Authorized Disney Vacation Planners.

Click Here for your FREE no obligation quote!

Ready to experience Disney for yourself? There are still fantastic 2017 Summer and Fall packages to be had. Click here or send an email for a FREE, no obligation quote with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner.

Want more help planning your next Disney vacation? As an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, my goal is to help you plan the Magic your way. I create customized itineraries, book advanced dining and FastPass+ reservations, monitor for discounts for your vacation, and much much more! And did I mention that my services are FREE? Get in touch toll-free at 1-800-454-4501, via email at [email protected] or follow along on Facebook.

Culinary Director Eddie Thomas And Top Disney Springs Chefs Host September 23rd Party for the Senses at Epcot

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

September 5, 2017

Disney Springs Culinary Director Eddie Thomas hosts an amazing night of food, music and fun when some of Disney Springs’ top culinary talents show off their skills at Epcot’s Party for the Senses on September 23rd as part of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.

The event will take place at the World Showcase Events Pavilion from 7:15pm -10:00pm for the Wine View Lounge ticket holders and 7:30pm – 10:00pm for Reserved Seating and Guaranteed Seating ticket holders.

Check out this amazing list of Chef’s who will be participating in the dazzling evening event:

Yuhi Fujinaga, Morimoto Asia
James O’Donnell, STK Orlando
Chad Cyr, The BOATHOUSE®
David Springett, Planet Hollywood Observatory
Michael Durbin, House of Blues® Restaurant & Bar
Steven Richard, Paddlefish
Art Smith, Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’
James Petrakis, The Polite Pig
Heberto Segura, Raglan Road™ Irish Pub and Restaurant
Christian Torres, Frontera Cocina
Sebastian Amico, Bongos Cuban Café™
Anthony Thorpe, Splitsville™ Dining Room
Mo Lakmichi, Paradiso 37, Taste of the Americas
Jennifer Jones, Disney Springs™ Food Trucks
Paul Latkowski, Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar
Oscar Prieto, D-Luxe Burger
Rick Legary, Rainforest Café®
Team Members at Sprinkles, Sprinkles
Team Members at Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC, Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC
Yoly Colon and Joseph Lodato, Amorette’s Patisserie
Michele Huyke, AristoCrêpes
Amanda Lauder, The Ganachery

Other culinary and beverage offerings during the event include:

Featured beverages from visiting wineries and breweries
Artisanal Cheese Selection from Gourmet Foods International
Douce France Bakery
Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company®
Melissa’s Produce
Twinings of London®
Valrhona Inc.

Party for the Senses is one of the culinary highlights at Food & Wine each year with tickets selling out quickly. For guests looking to attend you have 3 different seating options to choose from:

Category 1: Wine View Lounge – Comes with a private reserved table, artisanal cheeses and a specialty cocktail toast.

$329 per Guest—plus tax, gratuity included
Limited availability
7:15 PM check-in at Main Entrance Guest Relations or the podium located at the World ShowPlace Events Pavilion
Transportation will be provided to and from the Main Entrance at the start and end of the event

Category 2: Reserved Seating – Comes with private table seating on the main floor.

$199 per Guest—plus tax, gratuity included
Limited availability
7:30 PM check-in at the podium located at the World ShowPlace Events Pavilion

Category 3: Guaranteed Seating – Open seating on Main Floor

$179 per Guest—plus tax, gratuity included
Limited availability
Guaranteed seating may have obstructed or distant view
Please note that you will be seated with other Guests
7:30 PM check-in at the World ShowPlace Events Pavilion

Bookings can be made via phone. For guaranteed seating guests should call: 407.939.3378. For Wine View bookings or Reserved Seating, the number to call is 407.939.3378. Guests should note that a valid Epcot theme park ticket is required for admission.

Click here for your FREE no obligation quote!

Thinking about a visit to Disney World? There are still great 2017 packages to be had and 2018 packages are now on sale! Fill out our form below to receive your FREE quote!

Find articles like this helpful? Then why not consider working with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner? As an agent with MickeyTravels, I’ll be on hand to help you with everything from finding your perfect package to nabbing those hard-to-get Fastpass and dining reservations and sharing tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your time at the parks. Best of all my services are absolutely FREE. Get in touch at 1.800.801.4025 via email at [email protected] or follow along on Facebook

Images copyright Disney

Hurricane Irma And Your Disney Cruise Line Vacation

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

September 5, 2017

Hurricane Irma has now been upgraded to a Category 5 hurricane. Category 5 designation is given to hurricanes with winds 157+ mph which means catastrophic damage is likely to occur. Currently Irma is heading towards the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas and Cuba. Analysts are saying that it will then pose a serious threat to Florida and parts of the Southeast beginning this weekend.

Governor Scott has issued a state of emergency for the state of Florida. A state of emergency is typically issued as a storm approaches as this make it easier for state government officials to request aide from the federal government once the storm is underway.

Disney Cruise Line has already made itinerary changes to two sailings Disney Fantasy on 09/02 and Disney Dream on 09/04, re-ordering their ports of call to stay as far away from any tropical weather patterns.

So, with that said, what does that mean for you if you have an upcoming Disney Cruise booked? As of right now Disney Cruise Line has not announced any changes in their upcoming sailings. If they do make a change then all guests booked aboard that voyage will be updated by email and a notification will be posted on the Disney Cruise Line website. If you did decide to cancel your cruise vacation on your own then all penalties and fees would apply.

Disney Cruise Line’s Statement Regarding Hurricanes:

The safety of our Guests and Crew Members is our top priority. Our goal is to always provide a first-class vacation experience while remaining at a secure distance away from any approaching, potentially hazardous weather system. In the event severe weather poses a threat to Guests on board the ship, the itinerary may change and/or the ship may be re-routed in order to avoid the storm. Additionally, when severe weather is on the horizon, both the Disney Cruise Line website (for those with upcoming cruises) and the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app (for those on board the ship) will keep Guests up to date with the latest weather information and itinerary changes.

It is possible that we will be seeing itinerary modifications announced soon for both the Dream and the Fantasy (Wonder and Magic are not impacted). It is likely that their voyages could end up being all At-Sea days with no visits to scheduled ports. We will just need to wait and see what Disney Cruise Line decides.

Disney Dream Current Schedule

Monday September 4, 2017 – Port Canaveral
Tuesday September 5, 2017 – Castaway Cay
Wednesday September 6, 2017 – Nassau
Thursday September 7, 2017 – At Sea
Friday September 8, 2017 – Port Canaveral

New Sailing

Friday September 8, 2017 – Port Canaveral
Saturday September 9, 2017 – Nassau
Sunday September 10, 2017 – Castaway Cay
Monday September 11, 2017 – Port Canaveral

Disney Fantasy Current Schedule

Saturday September 2, 2017 Port Canaveral
Sunday September 3, 2017 At Sea
Monday September 4, 2017 Falmouth
Tuesday September 5, 2017 Grand Cayman
Wednesday September 6, 2017 Cozumel
Thursday September 7, 2017 At Sea
Friday September 8, 2017 Castaway Cay
Saturday September 9, 2017 Port Canaveral

New Sailing

Saturday September 9, 2017 Port Canaveral
Sunday September 10, 2017 At Sea
Monday September 11, 2017 At Sea
Tuesday September 12, 2017 Tortola
Wednesday September 13, 2017 St. Thomas (St. John)
Thursday September 14, 2017 At Sea
Friday September 15, 2017 Castaway Cay
Saturday September 16, 2017 Port Canaveral

Stay tuned to Chip and Company for all the latest Disney updates on Hurricane Irma potential impacts.

Are you ready to start planning your amazing Disney vacation? Our friends at MickeyTravels (designated with Platinum Earmarked status by Disney) can help! Click Here for your FREE No Obligation Quote from one of their Authorized Disney Vacation Planners.

Hurricane Irma And Your Disney Cruise Line Vacation

Click Here for your FREE no obligation quote!

Ready to experience Disney for yourself? There are still fantastic special offers on 2017 packages to be had. Click here or send an email for a FREE, no obligation quote with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner.

Want more help planning your next Disney vacation? As an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, my goal is to help you plan the Magic your way. I create customized itineraries, book advanced dining and FastPass+ reservations, monitor for discounts for your vacation, and much much more! And did I mention that my services are FREE? Get in touch toll-free at 1-800-454-4501, via email at [email protected] or follow along on Facebook.

Cars 3 Coming to Blu-Ray and DVD November 7

By

Danielle

-

September 5, 2017

Cars 3 Coming to Blu-Ray and DVD November 7

Get ready to rev-up the DVD and Blu-Ray players because Cars 3 is racing to home video on November 7! Cars 3 will be available on DVD, Blu-Ray, Digital, with an array of different editions available. Cars 3

Blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast racers, the legendary Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) is suddenly pushed out of the sport he loves. To get back in the game, he will need the help of an eager young race technician, Cruz Ramirez, with her own plan to win, plus inspiration from the late Fabulous Hudson Hornet and a few unexpected turns. Proving that #95 isn’t through yet will test the heart of a champion on Piston Cup Racing’s biggest stage!

Best Buy will be getting a special Steel Book edition and Target will be getting a special Storybook Edition. Each will include a digital copy of the movie as well. The cover art will feature McQueen and Ramirez on most covers. Some covers will have a peek of Storm in the background too.

Which collector’s edition of the Cars 3 movie are you most excited about? Pre-order on Amazon Digital now, and Disney Movies Anywhere for the DVD and Blu Ray!

Queso Blanco at Pecos Bill Undergoes a Delicious Upgrade!

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

September 5, 2017

Cheese! My favorite 6-letter-word. It just goes well with everything….wine, veggies, pizza, pasta, etc. You name it, cheese just makes it better. When the folks over at Disney Food Blog shared their latest cheesey discovery from Walt Disney World, you can say I was a bit excited and couldn’t wait to share it with all of our readers!

Today’s discovery comes form Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn in Frontierland at the Magic Kingdom. Previously, Pecos Bill recently re-introduced liquid cheese to their menu. Specifically, queso blanco. However, it was in a prepackaged container and just wasn’t all that magical. It was good but definitely not great.

Well, Pecos Bill himself must have been upset about the cheesy-dip as they have just introduced an enhanced queso blanco that is dispensed to order. This means better cheese and more of it! While it might not be the freshest cheese on the block, it’s definitely an upgrade from the old, prepackaged variety.

Here is the old prepackaged queso:

And, here is the new creamy queso:

And as Disney Food Blog mentions, the Mini Corn Dogs or Corn Dog Nuggets are begging to be dunked into the new and improved tasty goodness!

Let’s start planning your visit to Disney World! CLICK HERE , fill out the form below, or send an email for a FREE, no obligation quote with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. I offer rate monitoring to ensure you are receiving the best available rate offered by Disney and my services are 100% FREE!

Queso Blanco at Pecos Bill Undergoes a Delicious Upgrade!

Click here for your FREE no obligation quote!

As an agent with MickeyTravels, I’ll be on hand to help you with everything from finding your perfect package to nabbing those hard-to-get dining and FastPass reservations. I work with all Disney Destinations. Best of all, my services are absolutely FREE. Get in touch at 1.954.401.9577, via email at [email protected], or follow along on Facebook.

Source: Disney Food Blog

The Cheese Studio at Epcot’s 2017 Food and Wine Festival

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

September 5, 2017

The Cheese Studio at Epcot's 2017 Food and Wine Festival

Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival is in full swing, and back for 2017 is the festival’s Cheese Studio. I really enjoy a nice glass of wine, and even more so when paired with a delicious cheese. The Cheese Studio is hosted by Boursin Cheese, with a menu of three dishes that will pair perfectly with their wine options.

The Cheese Trio (pictured above) offers both sweet and savory options:

Profiterole topped with Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs Cheese and Orange Apricot Jam.
Smoked Salmon Pinwheel with Boursin Shallot & Chive Cheese and Everything Seasoning.
Strawberry Macaroon with Boursin Pepper Cheese.

Cheese Studio

The tart pictured above is comprised of a Savory Caramelized Onion Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs Cheese Tart, topped with Cold Arugula Salad and Aged Balsamic.

Cheese Studio

The menu also features this delicious dish, a Braised Beef “Stroganoff” with Tiny Egg Noodles, Wild Mushroom, and Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs Cheese Sauce.

I love the different ways they have presented the Boursin cheese options, these selections are a step above your classic cheese tray. The studio also has two wine options available:

Leth Steinagrund Gruner Veltliner, Austria
Liberated Pinot Noir, California

Are you headed to the 2107 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival? Which food and wine pairing from the Cheese Studio would you choose? If you are planning on eating your way through the festival be sure to check out the Tasting Sampler!

Cheese Studio

Click here for your FREE, no obligation quote!

Ready to start planning your 2018 Disney vacation? Fill out our form below to receive your FREE quote from one of our Authorized Disney Vacation Planners.

As an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner with MickeyTravels, LLC, I can save you money and time planning your MAGICAL vacation! My planning services are always 100% FREE! Contact me today for your FREE, no obligation quote,[email protected] or follow me on Facebook for the latest Disney updates, deals, and travel tips!

Source: Disney Parks Blog

The Lip Smacker Halloween Tsum Tsum Collection is Wickedly Cute

By

Danielle

-

September 5, 2017

Lip Smacker Halloween Tsum Tsum Collection

It’s Halloween time, and the spooky Disney goodies just keep coming! The new Lip Smacker Halloween Tsum Tsum Collection has arrived, and it’s spook-tacular! The range offers not just lip balms, but nail polishes too! There are 5 new Halloween lip balms, with 2 returning favorites, and 5 new polishes.