The Walt’s Inspirations Contest is your chance to relive Disney movie magic!
Lovers of the art and magic of Disney are in for a treat this holiday season since “The Boys: The Sherman Brothers’ Story,” “Waking Sleeping Beauty” and “Walt & El Grupo” all debuted on DVD. Fans can recapture Disney history with rare glimpses of Walt and the Studio in three amazing documentaries that showcase some of Walt Disney’s spectacular movies and music and give us a peak behind the magic.
Now you can bring home all this Disney lore for your every own! Just submit a 500-750-word story outlining how Walt Disney’s movies or songs have inspired you (see official rules below for full details) no later than April 10, 2011. One winner will be chosen to receive all three signed DVDs from the titles mentioned above. No more than one (1) essay may be submitted by each Guest. Work will be judged by a panel of Disney Cast Members.
Story Submission Prize package includes:
(1) Signed copy of “The Boys: The Sherman Brothers’ Story” by Richard, Gregg and Jeff Sherman.
(1) Signed copy of “Waking Sleeping Beauty” by Don Hahn.
(1) Signed copy of “Walt & El Grupo” by Ted Thomas.
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Jasper and Vail may sound like two western United States vacation spots, but they’re actually the names of two manatees at Walt Disney World Resort. Both male manatees were brought to Epcot for rehabilitative care provided by marine mammal experts at The Seas with Nemo & Friends.
With approximately 5,000 endangered manatees in Florida, Disney’s Animal Programs has emerged as a leader in the rehabilitation of endangered marine species, including sea turtles and manatees. Since 2001, Disney Animal Programs has been involved with the Manatee Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP). The MRP is a cooperative group of nonprofit, private, state and federal entities that monitors the health and survival of rehabilitated and released manatees.
“Typically, The Seas serves as a ‘halfway house’ for manatees after they are out of ‘intensive care,’” according to Jane Davis, curator at The Seas. “The team of veterinarians and husbandry cast members works with manatees to ensure they are healthy, resume a normal diet and are ready to return to the wild.”
After receiving care for the past year, Jasper was released back to his natural habitat in the warm waters of the Indian River Lagoon on the Atlantic Coast of Florida. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Jasper has been adapting well and has reportedly integrated well with a group of 30 other manatees.
Not coincidentally, Jasper’s release opened up a spot for another rescued manatee in need of care. Disney’s marine mammal team is currently working to rehabilitate Vail, who was injured nearly 15 years ago from a watercraft strike. As a result of the accident, the male manatee is missing a portion of his tail paddle. Vail apparently wasted no time in getting comfortable in his new setting. Within a few hours of his arrival, he had eaten 10 heads of lettuce – a healthy meal for a manatee.
While the care associated with manatee rehabilitation at The Seas with Nemo & Friends was provided by Disney, Epcot guests have also helped other manatees in the wild by supporting the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund (DWCF). The DWCF has contributed more than $348,000 for manatee research and awareness around the globe. Since its inception in 1995, the DWCF has supported manatee research and community conservation in countries including the United States, Belize, Guatemala and Gabon, and worked with organizations including Mote Marine Laboratory, University of Florida and the Wildlife Trust.
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What you all have been waiting for is here! Save $5 off Tangled on Bluray Combo Pack.
Click the picture above to print your coupon today.
*Available and good in the U.S.A., its territories and Canada only. Limit two printed coupons per computer. Void where prohibited, taxed or restricted by law. Coupon expires 4/3/11. While supplies last. See coupon for complete details.
Plus don’t forget the rebates from our friend Kristin @ Couponing to Disney….
Success Rice is offering $5 back via rebate on Tangled on Blu-ray or DVD when you buy 2 packages of Success Rice. Purchase must be made between March 1st and June 30th, 2011. This rebate only requires the proof of purchase tab from the Tangled movie (there are 2) and they also accept photocopies of the receipt. You do not have to purchase the Success Rice and Tangled on the same receipt.
There is a coupon for $1/2 Success Rice products in the April All You magazine.
There is also a rebate for $5 back via rebate on Tangled on Blu-ray or DVD when you get a kid’s hair cut at your local Cost Cutters. This rebate also accepts photocopies and only requires the proof of purchase tab. You could do both rebates if you wanted!
Currently refreshing its facade, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is getting its most environmentally friendly treatment ever thanks to a touch up with special “green” paints.
Standing at 199-feet-tall, the Tower of Terror attraction is being covered from top to bottom using a special low volatile organic compound paint, also known as low VOC paint.
In Florida, Walt Disney World Resort is a leader in the use of low VOC paint. Until Walt Disney World Resort began using the paint just two or so years ago, low VOC paints were not widely available at most large paint distributors in Florida. Previously, distributors and painters considered VOCs essential to the durability and performance of paint, both in how well the paint withstood outdoor weather conditions and how quickly it dried.
Low VOC paint significantly reduces environmental emissions that can react with other elements to produce ozone and cause air pollution.
“Here at Disney, the use of low VOC paint extends from our longstanding commitment to conservation and is part of our environmental journey,” said Don Weschler, director of engineering services for Walt Disney World Resort. “Since our switch to low VOC paints just two years ago, we have reduced the amount of VOC emissions from our property by more than two-thirds.”
Weschler says once paint suppliers developed the low VOC paint formulas, they were tested at an independent laboratory to ensure they would provide the same durability during Central Florida’s warm and rainy seasons as the paints used across Disney Parks since 1971.
Walt Disney World Resort then developed a conversion matrix in-house that allows for a low VOC substitute for almost any type of paint in use.
The Blizzard Beach rehab project is another example of a large-scale project using low VOC paints. As Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park reopens this spring, the bright colors – from the showcase “snow” on Summit Plummet to the smallest details at Lottawatta Lodge – will all be thanks to the environmentally-friendly paints.
Last year, Walt Disney World Resort and its many contractors used more than 110,000 gallons of paint. That’s enough paint to cover 7,000 standard-sized homes.
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We all enjoy the “biggies” when we visit Walt Disney World. There is Space Mountain and Splash Mountain at the Magic Kingdom, Soarin’ and Test Track at Epcot, Toy Story Midway Mania and the Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Stidios, and Expedition Everest and Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. These are just a very few of them but most folks consider it a rewarding vacation to Walt Disney World if they can hit all of the E-Ticket (to use an older description of the biggies) attractions as often as they want. That used to be my goal too but there are so many “minor” attractions at Disney that deserve attention that most of us just walk on by.
There are just too many to outline in detail so I’ll just mention a couple at each park that I think are worth your time. You can find information on virtually every attraction on your own by using one of the more detailed guide books like Passporter or the Unofficial Guide. Both of these books have all of the attractions listed and described.
Magic Kingdom – So many people ignore the Walt Disney World Railroad but it’s a wonderful and relaxing way to get an overview of the park. Another wonderful way to get views of the park that one would not ordinarily see is to take a ride on the Liberty Square Riverboat.
Epcot – Both of the Innoventions Pavilions (East and West) are at least worth a walk through. You never know what little bit of fun and excitement (and knowledge too) you might come across. Over in the World Showcase you might give Maelstrom a try. It’s relaxing, it’s somewhat educational, and you might want to try to find the Viking Hidden Mickey on the wall mural as you wait for the doors to the short movie to open after you have finished the ride itself.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios – I may be somewhat biased here but Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream presented by D23 is one of my favorite attractions, Major or Minor, it’s a very rewarding experience. The Studios Backlot Tour is another that most folks pass up. It’s good fun and after the tour is finished you get to explore the warehouse that houses some of the most famous props seen in Disney movies.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Don’t just run through The Oasis, or if you do, come back before you leave for the day. There are lots of delightful shady paths (great because it’s hot at this park) leading to several small animal exhibits. Take a walk through the Maharajah Jungle Trek to enjoy a wonderful Asian setting and some of the more exotic animals in the park.
Take a bit of time from your visit to see some of these “lesser” attractions. You will be rewarded with some very pleasant experiences as well as a bit of very painless education not generally available anywhere else. As always, enjoy your visit to Walt Disney World!!
As you may have read in my previous post, Skipping the Bag Check, I really enjoy not having to carry anything in the parks. Most days require carrying at least a few items, though, so I usually carry a light-weight back pack with my essentials. This is a way to make sure I have whatever I need on hand at any given time. A great alternative to carrying a bag is renting a locker. Granted it is not quite as convenient, but it does enable more freedom, especially on days that require jackets and maybe extra (dry) socks or shoes for the kids. Additionally, some of the lockers are large enough to hold a soft-side cooler, thus enabling you to pack a picnic lunch and save some money.
For our convenience, each park and waterpark has lockers available for rent. The policy for renting lockers at the four theme parks is:
Must pay per-day fee plus a $5.00 key deposit which is refunded when the key is returned
Key must be turned in within an hour of the park closing
The key operated lockers can be accessed as often as desired
If you are visiting more than one theme park on the same day, you can save money this way:
Return the key for the $5.00 deposit and get a receipt
Take the receipt to the next theme park
Present the receipt, pay the $5.00 key deposit and you’ll have a locker for the remainder of the day
The locker locations, sizes and costs for each park is shown below:
Magic Kingdom
Location: Inside the park, under the Train Station
Size: Small – 11″H x 9″W x 16″ D; Large – 17″H x 12″W x 22″ D
Cost: Small – $7.00 per day plus deposit; $9.00 per day plus deposit
EPCOT
Location: To the right of the base of Spaceship Earth, near the restrooms; and at International Gateway
Sizes: Small – 11″H x 9″W x 16″ D; Large – 17″H x 12″W x 22″ D
Cost: Small – $7.00 per day plus deposit; Large – $9.00 per day plus deposit
Hollywood Studios
Location: Crossroad’s of the World – Lockers located next to Oscar’s Super Service
Sizes: Small – 11″H x 9″W x 16″ D; Large – 17″H x 12″W x 22″ D
Cost: Small – $7.00 per day plus deposit; Large – $9.00 per day plus deposit
Animal Kingdom
Location: Expedition Storage lockers by Guest Services inside the park; and outside the park near the Kennel (rent at the Kennel)
Sizes: Small – 11″H x 9″W x 16″ D; Large – 17″H x 9″W x 16″ D; Extra Large – 17″H x 12″W x 16″ D (Kennel location only)
Cost: Small – $7.00 per day plus deposit; Large – $9.00 per day plus deposit; Extra Large – $9.00 per day plus deposit
Blizzard Beach
Location: Near the park entrance
Sizes: Small – 11″H x 9″W x 16″ D; Large: 17″H x 9″W x 16″ D
Cost: Small – $8.00 rental per day for plus deposit; Large – $10.00 rental per day plus deposit
Typhoon Lagoon
Location: Near the entrance to the park
Sizes: Small – 12″H x 12″ W x 16″ D; Large – 18″H x 18″W x 16″ D
Cost: Small – $8.00 rental per day for plus deposit; Large – $10.00 rental per day plus deposit
Downtown Disney
Location: At the Marketplace, near Cap’n Jack’s Restaurant and the Marina Rental Window
Sizes: 17″H x 9″W x 16″ D
Cost: Coin operated and require 4 quarters each time they are accessed.
There are luggage lockers at Epcot and at the Ticket and Transportation Center. The Epcot luggage lockers are located behind the bus information booth. The TTC lockers are located next to the bus information booth. The dimensions of these lockers are: 23″H x 16″W x 29″ D. They are coin operated and require 4 quarters each time they are used.
I hope this information will be helpful to you when planning your trip to the most magical place on earth! Disney has really looked out for all of our anticipated needs and I think I have taken advantage of just about every offering at one time or another. Happy travels!
I’ve tried finding this on the Disney website, with no luck. We’re considering an Annual Pass (either purchasing or through getting married there), and I was wondering how it works with the DDP. I tried playing around the reservations on the website, but I could only get it to come up by booking a package, a 6-night stay with a one-day park ticket. Seeing as you wonderful folks know the ins and outs more than I do, I figured you’d be my best place to ask. Thank you! 🙂
Kristen, thanks your your kind words and for reading the site. From now until the end of the year, AP holders can add the dining package to their room reservation with no need to buy additional tickets. This is a change from previous years when AP holders had to add tickets (usually one to two days), which they could apply later to their AP renewal. Simply call your travel agent or Disney directly and tell them you need to add dining with your AP; it’s not possible to do this online. You can do this with just an AP voucher, by the way.
These packages are limited so book as soon as possible as only a certain number of AP dining plans are put aside. Keep in mind that if you’re trying to book free dining you will still need to purchase tickets. Depending on the promotion, Disney will require one to two day tickets. These tickets, as noted above, can later be applied to your AP renewel or given to someone else. They are good indefinitely and as an additional bonus, are worth that day’s value (in other words, the day you actually use them, not when you recevied them), so they’re actually worth more the longer you keep them!
Chris writes here and at Everything Walt Disney World. She’s also a member of the Mouse Chat Podcast and a travel agent with Pixie Vacations. Email her at [email protected] to find out how to get a free $50 Disney gift card in addition to current Disney discounts.
It’s one of the age-old questions asked about a Disney vacation: Which is better, to eat breakfast at one of the resorts, or to eat breakfast at one of the parks? As is so often the case when you are talking about this or that with regard to Disney, the answer is an unequivocal “It Depends!”
However, a case can be made for both of these scenarios, and for this post, I’m going to show both sides of the equation with my real-life experiences so that you can understand that when it comes to dining at Disney, all of your options are prime spots!
Typically, when we go to Disney, I like to take one of our table service meals and book it for breakfast. Last June, during our trip with my niece Stephanie, we looked at the options, and decided to try out the Cape May Café for breakfast. We had never eaten there before, and looking at the Disney website, it really looked like it would be a good place to try out. Well, we tried it, and we loved it! Cape May is a Character breakfast, and for this location, we had Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy showering Sophie with all sorts of attention because it was her birthday week! We got some really great pictures, and the costumes for the characters, particularly for Minnie, were really cool. The food at Cape May Café is your typical Disney Buffet (which isn’t a problem in my book, I love the breakfast buffets that you can get on Disney property); delicious Mickey waffles, excellent sausage and bacon, eggs (which I don’t care for), great pastries, and good juices and milk. Suffice it to say that I ate my share of food for breakfast, and did not leave the place hungry!
The atmosphere at the Beach Club resort (the home of the Café) was really relaxed for our breakfast. I think that many people don’t think of eating at places like Cape May Café because it’s over at the Boardwalk area, and the crowd at the Café was quite sparse. I will definitely eat there again! We elected to drive over because we had an early morning reservation time, and afterwards we walked on over to Epcot and entered via the International Gateway entrance.
I really enjoyed our breakfast at Cape May Café, and will do it again in the future.
Another location that we ate outside of the parks was breakfast at ‘Ohana over at the Polynesian Resort. The difference between the two locations was night and day – being so much closer to the Magic Kingdom, our ‘Ohana breakfast was much busier, but the food and service were still excellent. As I remember, the ‘Ohana breakfast was served as a family style all you can eat breakfast; the sausage was extremely good, as were all of the other things. I even at a bite of eggs here, and it wasn’t terrible! The characters at ‘Ohana were Lilo and Stitch and Mickey and Pluto, and it was a lot of fun seeing them, because Lilo and Stitch are characters that we don’t see very often.
On the flip side of the coin, we have had breakfast at Restaurantosaurus in 2007 (our first trip where we stayed on property), and had a good breakfast with Mickey, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto. At that time, the breakfast was located in DinoLand, U.S.A., but that was the only part of the park we could go to because the park itself wasn’t open yet for the day. When we finished breakfast, though, the park was open and we were free to go to our favorite locations. For breakfast, that one was good, but not great. The food was the same selection, but there was something off about it; I really think in the end the theming of the location was what kind of made me not so interested in it as much. I don’t think that they do breakfast here anymore; now it is Donald’s Safari Breakfast over at Tusker House.
The last place that my family ate at for breakfast was the Princess Storybook Dining over at Akershus. For this trip, in 2005, there were only four reservations; two for my wife and daughter, and two for our friend and her daughter. As a result, I wasn’t able to eat at that breakfast; however, I wasn’t all that upset about that. I was able to take in some of the World Showcase at a time that I had never experienced before – before it was open for business. When you dine at Norway before the park opens, you are allowed access to part of the Showcase – not all of it, but enough that you can take a nice stroll. Additionally, some of the food carts are also open, so I was able to purchase a nice breakfast cinnamon roll and a juice to enjoy. It was nice because of one of the biggest things about enjoying breakfast in the parks is that you are able to avoid the crowds. If you are really interested in taking in the parks before rope drop, especially Magic Kingdom, plan ahead and schedule breakfast at Cinderella Castle for a time before the park opens. You will be able to walk to the Castle, and get some absolutely incredible shots that you wouldn’t be able to do otherwise – shots of the buildings without people in them.
In the end, it is important to realize that there are some really great breakfast locations, both inside the parks and at the resorts. My suggestion is that you try them both out, and enjoy what each one has to offer. What tips do you have to share on your favorite locations to eat breakfast?
Before boarding the Disney Dream, my son and I had just (finally) gotten over having the flu. I was a bit apprehensive about sending him (age 5) to the Oceaneer’s Club in fear that he may come down with some other child’s illness while we were on vacation. This is not to say that I thought that the facilities would not be clean! However, my son does not quite understand yet that he should not put his hands on objects, then into his mouth. So much to teach him, so little time!
So, when we got aboard the Disney Dream, my son was very excited to go see the Oceaneer’s Club in person. He and I had long studied the online information and photos, but he was ready to play! When we first arrived, we were told that he was required to wash his hands. Instead of a sink, they had these turbo charged, timed hand washing systems! They were AMAZING! The children would put both of their hands in the washer, water would swirl around and up and down the arms and hands of the child for a set amount of time, then automatically shut off! On his first experience with the hand washing system, my son squealed with glee and then insisted that I try it! And he was so right, this washing system felt great! My hands felt so clean after using the contraption!
Once inside, the cast members explained that the toys and items are regularly cleaned and that the children are required to wash their hands before snacks, before meals and after using the restroom. They also explained that the dining tables are wrapped in saran wrap during meals to ensure that the children are eating on a clean space. (I am sure it helps a bit with clean up too! I may just consider doing the same!)
The review of the Oceaneer’s Club and discussions with the cast members really made me feel much better about the cleanliness of the space. My son’s time in the Oceaneer’s Club was every bit as wonderful as he had hoped! He spent quite a bit of time there throughout our time aboard the Disney Dream. He made many friends and had an amazing experience all his own away from his parent in a safe, clean environment!
When not with fever from the flu, Natalie can be found at Meet the Magic for great tips on saving money for traveling to Disney!
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I have been blessed during much of my adult life to be able to visit Walt Disney World pretty often. I have ridden every ride, seen every show, enjoyed lots of great food, shopped at nearly every store, and have been lucky enough to have met wonderful people from all over the world. Still, there is one thing I dream of doing at Walt Disney World. I REALLY want to stay in Cinderella Castle Suite.
I have read the awe-inspiring descriptions of each part of the suite. From the elevator with its arched ceiling, intricate woodwork, and lustrous gold fabrics; a lucky princess would certainly feel like royalty on the way up to the suite.
Exiting the elevator into the luxurious foyer, I would be able to actually see the crystal case housing some of Cinderella’s most precious treasures, such as the famous glass slipper, and her crown and scepter.
Stepping into the suite would be like entering a 17th Century world. The royal bed chamber is said to include a fireplace with embers that regularly burst into fireworks – a spectacle fit for a princess for sure. Above the fireplace, an ornately framed portrait of Cinderella herself magically changes into a mirror or, if I preferred, a 21st Century flat-screen television.
I would have the opportunity to relax comfortably in the royal sitting room, which would also serve as a second bedroom. It would be a place to enjoy a cup of coffee, take a million pictures and then sit quietly and write with new inspiration.
Later, I would enjoy a bath in the ultra-modern Jacuzzi as I watched the water in the tub change colors. Looking up I would see a dazzling dome of twinkling stars, and attempt to find the hidden Mickey shining amidst the other constellations.
When heading off to bed, I would be greeted by a white-chocolate horse-drawn carriage, provided with turn-down service, of course. Did I mention that the concierge staff follows the motto, “No request is too extreme?” What exactly does that mean? Well, hot cocoa at 2 a.m. would be no problem. Freshly baked muffins at 5 a.m. wouldn’t be either. In fact, they would consider it their pleasure.
Doesn’t this all sound like a suite dream to you as well? Wouldn’t you love to be a guest of Cinderella Castle Suite? Well, the only way to even have a chance to stay there is to win a chance; and the only current contest I found is the AAA Travel Spring Sweepstakes. I have entered, and I hope you will too. You have until April 15, so click here to enter.
It would be such a dream come true to be able to stay at the castle. I would be very happy for you if you won also, so I wish you the very best of luck! Suite Dreams!
If you haven’t seen this guy’s videos, it’s time you do. He has an amazing voice with fantastic range. If you watch the videos, you’ll see what I mean. At first, I thought it was kind of creepy, but now, I find it incredible.
He has a few videos on YouTube of him singing Disney songs, but for the most part, they are covers of other songs. The Disney ones, though, are spectacular. He has been featured on the Ellen DeGeneres show after his video for “A Whole New World” blew up all over the internet.
Aside from the fact that he sings Disney songs from time to time, he actually works for Pixar Animation Studios! Disney nut, through and through. That’s what I like to see.
Be sure to check out his Disney videos below. They’re really good!
