Affordable Disney Vacations: Should I get the Disney Dining Plan?

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October 16, 2010

Affordable Disney Vacations: Should I get the Disney Dining Plan? One of the most hotly-discussed topics on any Disney blog, podcast or message board is the Disney Dining Plan…or to be more correct, the Disney Dining Plans, because there are several of them. Those who have purchased one, discuss the pros and cons, and try to decide which is the *best* deal. Those who have not want to know if they should get the Dining Plan. And those who are considering a Free Dining Plan want to know if it is worth it, which level they should get, and if they will save more money with room discounts instead.

Wow. Lots of questions out there about the Disney Dining Plans.

Today let’s talk about the most common thread running through most of these questions: Should I get the Dining Plan? And the answer….as with most Disney vacation planning….is a resounding and definitive…………it depends. 🙂

Sorry, but it does. It depends on a lot of variables, and I think that to really know if any of the Dining Plans are right for your family, you need to look at a number of things. Disney vacation planning is NOT one-size-fits-all: what is best for my family will not necessarily be best for yours. There are a lot of things to consider, whether paying for a Dining Plan or getting it for Free.

So to help you decide, I think it is important to honestly, and realistically, think about the following as they relate to your family:

Consider what everyone likes to eat, especially your children: Do your children (or you) have limited “likes” when it comes to food options? Would elaborate menu options be a waste if everyone is happiest with burgers, fries, and chicken nuggets? Do your family members enjoy trying new foods? Will your family want to try multiple character meals or some dinner shows? Or do you anticipate wanting to eat many meals off-site completely?
Consider if your little ones will want to sit for long meals: Many toddlers or preschoolers are just not going to be happy sitting for an hour at a table service meal. Thinking character meals or buffets? Then think about how your child is likely to feel with characters coming to visit them throughout a meal: some kids think this is fantastic, but others are completely overwhelmed by the procession of characters invading their dinner space. I have seen children spend an entire breakfast at Chef Mickey’s in tears because they are just not comfortable with the character interaction, which is NOT a magical way to spend your dining dollars.
Consider if you will want to take the time to sit for long meals: Will you be commando touring from sunrise to sunset, with only the briefest of breaks? Do you want to squeeze as many attractions and rides out of each Disney day as you possibly can? If so, then don’t get a Dining Plan that includes table service meals, as you may not want to take the time to eat them!
Do you consider food to be an attraction all by itself? Are you a “foodie”? Do you get hungry just looking at pictures of different Disney dishes, mentally adding different choices to your “must eat” list? You know who you are…..and at least the basic Disney Dining Plan may be for you.
Consider how much you typically eat, including your children: If you had to pay out of pocket, would you buy this much food? Really? Most of the Dining Plans offer a lot of food…and some of them offer vast quantities of food. Significant quantities of food not eaten…and thrown away….is not, in my book at least, a great use of my money. There are lots of ways to make those food choices work best for you, but you need to honestly think about how much you really like to eat. If this is clearly more food than your family is comfortable with, the Dining Plans are not for you.

OK, now having said all of that, what about the Free Dining promotions…since Disney has decided that this is going to be an option for a good portion of 2011? To decide if Free Dining is right for you, consider all of the above plus:

Which Dining Plan will be offered for your accommodation choice? For example, if you will be staying at a Value resort, but want the Basic Plan, you will need to pay the difference: is it still cost effective for you? Does the Free Plan that comes with your accommodations “match” the Plan that is best for you?
Are there any other promotions that could potentially save you dollars instead? Any room discounts that might end up costing you less than Free Dining, even if you have to pay for food? This is clearly a job for you and your calculator. You will need to do the math and make comparisons. Budget Planning Worksheets can help you figure it all out.

I think the most important part of this is to make sure that the Dining Plan you are planning to buy (or get for Free) truly matches your family’s eating personality. I know when there are Free Dining promotions being offered all over the place, it can be tempting to just jump on it. And it might be best for you! But it might not too. Before you book, consider some of the other expenses/aspects of your Disney trip, such as airfare, crowds, school vacations etc. to see if, all things being considered, it is just better for you to go at another time. Yes, you may pay more for food….but if you are paying less for airfare, who knows, that may just be more of a savings. Do the math to see!

Now having said all of that, *for our family* of 3 foodie adults, the basic Disney Dining Plan is absolutely the most affordable choice for us. Since we enjoy a table service meal each night, our family has purchased the basic Dining Plan on each of our last several trips and it is a huge saving for us. We use the counter service meal for lunch, the table service meal for dinner, and we use the snack credits for either breakfast…or eat light in our room. For us, it is usually way more food than we can usually eat, and so we often get our dessert at dinner “to go” since we are so full. Other times we choose fruit and/or muffins for our lunch or dinner desserts and use these for snacks later or breakfast. We have experimented with the plan a number of different ways, and no matter how we do it, we eat very well, have food left over to bring home (snack credits purchase great edible “souvenirs”), and we spend less money/day buying the Basic Plan than we would if we were paying out of pocket for the same meals. For us, it’s a no brainer.

But that will not necessarily be the case for you, and for many, many folks, there are other, better ways to spend…and save…their Disney Dining dollars.

So, take an honest and realistic look at what your family will truly enjoy when it comes to food at Disney, use that calculator to compare your options, and then make the right choice for you.

Nancy, her husband and college-age daughter live in the Baltimore MD area, but consider Walt Disney World their second “home”. She started her site, The Affordable Mouse, as a way to share ideas about how to plan affordable Disney vacations. Her favorite things at Disney World (in no particular order) are Soarin’, most of the food in World Showcase, Illuminations…and that special “Disney magic” found in the most unexpected places.

Duffy the Disney Bear makes his debut at Epcot

By

Chip

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October 15, 2010

Duffy the Disney Bear made his debut with a ribbon cutting at Walt Disney World on Oct. 14, 2010. He can be seen daily at Epcot. This video also presents a look at some of the Duffy merchandise available.

For more information on Duffy, visit http://AttractionsMagazine.com

Video shot and edited by Jimmy Strater.

TimeStream Software Releases New “Disneyland Secrets Gold!” Notescast App for Android

By

Chip

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October 15, 2010

Now discover the secrets of Disneyland Park on your Android device in this exciting Notescast app from TimeStream Software. Over 110 magical secrets, complete with more than 100 colorful photos, allow guests to experience Disneyland in an all new way as they spend hours touring throughout the park discovering one new secret after another.

TimeStream Software announces the release of the new “Disneyland Secrets Gold!” Notescast app for Android powered devices. Over 110 secrets about Disneyland are revealed in a fun self-guided tour. Complete with more than 100 photos, Guests can now tour with their Droid in-hand throughout Main Street, U.S.A., Adventureland, Frontierland, New Orleans Square, Tomorrowland, Mickey’s Toontown and more discovering one new secret after another for hours and hours of all new Disneyland magic.

“We’re excited to bring this fun tour of the secrets of Disneyland to Android powered devices.” said Mike Westby of TimeStream Software. “Now Guests can spend hours touring the secrets of Disneyland, as well as discover all new ways to experience the park.”

The new “Disneyland Secrets Gold!” Notescast is an all new way for the entire family to discover the little known secrets of Disneyland, including:

– How to get V.I.P. seating for two right behind the engine on the E.P. Ripley

– How to get V.I.P. seating in the beautiful Lilly Belle railcar

– Where to find the actual park bench Walt Disney sat upon when he first dreamed of Disneyland

– Where to find Walt Disney’s baby photo

– Which Disney executive was born at Disneyland

– The story behind “Trader Sam” on the Jungle Cruise

– What’s so different about City Hall

– Where to find the second secret pet cemetery at the Haunted Mansion

– Where to find the original models of Sleeping Beauty Castle, Splash Mountain and all of Disneyland

– Where to find Walt Disney’s window – And it’s not on Main Street, U.S.A.!

– How to get your very own Mark Twain Riverboat Pilot’s Certificate

– Where to find the abandoned remains of the old “Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland” attraction

– Where to find a huge pile of thousands of horseshoes

– How to make lighting flash on Snow White’s Scary Adventure

– The story behind the basketball court inside the Matterhorn

– And so much more!

Brought to you by the same team who developed the Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Walt Disney World Secrets Gold!, Walt Disney World Hidden Mickeys and other Disney Notescasts, the new “Disneyland Secrets Gold!” Notescast includes:

– Over 110 Disneyland Park Secrets

– More than 100 Colorful Photos

– Bookmark Your Favorite Pages

– NO INTERNET OR WI-FI ACCESS REQUIRED

– Works Everywhere in Disneyland Resort or at Home

Also available for the iPhone, iPod Classic, iPod nano and iPod Video at www.Notescasts.com

Note: If you’re a Disneyland aficionado or been to the park many times, then perhaps these secrets are already familiar to you.

Walt Disney construction debate continues in Glendale

By

Chip

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October 15, 2010

This article comes to us from the Glendale News Press.

Angry residents told Walt Disney Co. executives Wednesday they want to be compensated for the construction impacts of a childcare center on the studio’s massive campus.

About 20 residents Wednesday night met with a half-dozen Disney representatives and an equal number of city officials at the Glendale Environmental Management Center, a short distance from the recently completed childcare center for 236 children on Flower Street between Paula and Davis avenues.

Residents aired concerns about damage to their homes, noise, traffic and what they said was the unresponsiveness on the part of Disney, Whiting-Turner Construction Co. and city officials during months of construction.

“You failed,” said Jennifer Pinkerton, president of the newly-formed Grand Central Neighborhood Assn. “It was Construction 101, and you failed.”

Ed Chuchla, Disney’s senior vice president for corporate real estate, generally declined to go over what happened in the past, but said his company would address every concern.

“I promise that the Walt Disney Company wants nothing more than to have world-class experts look into every claim you’ve made,” Chuchla said. “If there is a problem we caused, we’ll repair it, you bet.”

Click here to keep reading.

What do you think about this construction? I think its a good sign that there is even construction cause with it comes jobs for many Americans who are out of work..

Photo Raul Roa/Glendale News Press Staff Photographer / August 26, 2010

Disney FamilyFun Announces 34 Toy of the Year Award Winners & ToyHopper App

By

Chip

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October 15, 2010

Disney FamilyFun today announced their 19th annual Toy of the Year (T.O.Y.) Award winners, published in FamilyFun’s November issue. More than 500 new toys were narrowed down by parent and kid testers from across the country, who evaluated quality, value, and of course, fun. Using FamilyFun’s new ToyHopper App, available now on the App Store for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, it’s now easier than ever for busy parents to find the perfect gift, including this year’s T.O.Y. Award winners and hundreds of other toys, books, DVDs, and video games. Each item has been family-tested and hand-picked by FamilyFun editors and can be sorted into shopping lists, shared with friends, and filtered by age, price, type, or theme.

Top 10 FamilyFun T.O.Y. Award Winners for 2010:

Sing-a-Ma-Jigs! – Six cute critters who sing, harmonize, and chatter with just a squeeze of their plush bodies. $13 each from Mattel
Creationary – A new take on Legos, the game has players draw cards and build objects while other players race to guess what he/she is building. $35 from Lego
Plastic Bag Monsters – With this kit, kids can build two cool marionette monsters from recycled bags, beads, bottle caps, and more. $9 from 4M
iXL Learning System – An on-the-go smart device for the preschool crowd allows tiny tikes to upload music and photos as well as practice critical skills, including math, reading, and writing. $80 from Fisher-Price
Squap – Play catch with a twist: each player uses a mitt that snaps open and closed to launch and catch the ball (and to store the ball after playing). $25 from Diggin Active
B. Meowsic – With keys in the shape of a cat’s grin, this electric keyboard lets kids hit the high notes and the meow notes. The meow feature is what truly sets this instrument apart. $30 from B.
HEXBUG Nano Habitat Set – Stimulating creativity, this set allows kids to custom-build a variety of playgrounds for the insect-like micro robots to traverse. $30 from Innovation First
Glossy Bands – Think lanyard for the next generation. Kids can create beautiful bracelets and rings from the colorful gel in this kit. $20 from Klutz
Dance Star Mickey – Mickey moves, grooves, and shakes to six different songs and will challenge any playmate to a game of Mickey says or freeze dance. $70 from Fisher-Price
Paper Jamz Drums – This musical set will make both parents and kids happy – aspiring rock stars can practice their solos while keeping the noise level down. Plus, it’s small enough to stash almost anywhere. $25 from WowWee

“For nearly twenty years, we’ve served as a trusted resource for parents when they’re making their annual holiday shopping list and checking it twice, so it’s important that each toy undergoes an intensive assessment by FamilyFun toy testers for function, design, durability, safety, and play value,” said Ann Hallock, editorial director at FamilyFun.

FamilyFun ToyHopper App:

FamilyFun’s new ToyHopper App allows parents to complete all of their holiday and birthday shopping from the convenience of their iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. The app filters more than 280 toys by age, price, type of product, and even theme — from pirates and princesses to bikes for tikes — and allows users to purchase products through Amazon.com. All the products recommended in the ToyHopper App were selected by FamilyFun editors as well as parent and kid testers, who evaluated quality, value, and fun.

“The ToyHopper App is an ideal way to find hundreds of family-tested products organized in smart and helpful ways, including a carousel to browse a fun mix of toys and collections that present hand-picked groups of toys for a variety of interests. The app also features video demos and personalized wish lists that moms and kids can select and share with family and friends,” said Hallock.

The ToyHopper App features the 34 T.O.Y. Award winners from 2010 and past years’ winners. To view all 2010 T.O.Y. Award winners, pick up the November issue of FamilyFun magazine or visit FamilyFun.com. Disney FamilyFun can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.

The ToyHopper App is available for $1.99 from the App Store on iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, or at www.itunes.com/appstore/.

Dreams Come True for the 2011-2012 Walt Disney World Ambassador Team

By

Chip

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October 15, 2010

Before an audience of their peers, family and friends, the next chapter in a true-life Cinderella story unfolded this morning at Magic Kingdom Park as two Walt Disney World Cast Members were chosen to step into the time-honored role of Walt Disney World Ambassador. During a special ceremony in front of Cinderella Castle prior to park open, Norman Vossschulte and Jennifer Mason were named as the 40th Walt Disney World Ambassador Team and will serve from Jan. 1, 2011 – Dec. 31, 2012.

“Our Walt Disney World Ambassadors represent our resort, their fellow cast members, and the heritage, tradition and values of Walt Disney. It is a role filled with great significance… and great responsibilities,” said Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney World Resort. “Those chosen as Ambassadors are truly talented individuals who represent Disney Cast Members with purpose and grace, and bring the magic of Walt Disney World to the world at large.”

The 45-year tradition of the Disney Ambassador program is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for those selected. Individuals named as Ambassadors accept a two-year-long assignment representing Walt Disney World Resort’s approximately 58,000 Cast Members and share the magic of Disney throughout the community and the world. Typical Ambassador responsibilities include making hospital visits and appearances with Disney characters, participating in community outreach events and recognizing Cast Members’ milestones and special achievements.

Every two years, thousands of Cast Members are invited to participate in the Ambassador recruitment process that starts with information sessions and ends with a ceremony announcing the new Ambassador team.

Following a two-month training, the 2011-2012 Ambassador team will start their year with a full schedule and can expect to participate in more than 3,500 events for various occasions.

Norman Vossschulte steps into the Ambassador role from Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where he currently is a Jedi Master at the Jedi Training Academy. Born in Berlin, Germany, Vossschulte has lived all over the world, holds baccalaureate degrees in physical science and biology and trained as an actor in New York City. His Disney career began in 2008 when he became a safari driver at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park. Vossschulte went on to join the Guest Relations team at Epcot and eventually Entertainment.

Jennifer Mason currently oversees the Magic Kingdom Custodial team and ensures the place where dreams come true is kept clean. Born in Alabama, Mason grew up in Clearwater, Fla. and spent countless days at the Walt Disney World Resort with her family. After graduating from Florida State University, she became a member of the opening team of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park in 1998. Throughout her Disney career, she has served as a leader for several Operations teams at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot.

The great honor of being selected as a Disney Ambassador began during the 10th anniversary of Disneyland, when Walt Disney himself was overwhelmed with requests for appearances and media interviews. As a result, he selected the very first Ambassador in 1964 and the tradition has continued ever since.

Releasing for the First Time in Over a Decade To Astound the Eyes and Ears of a New Generation!

By

Chip

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October 15, 2010

Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 — the magical, animated musical masterpiece and the contemporary classic inspired by it — debut in highly anticipated Blu-ray High Definition and DVD 2-Movie Collection Special Editions on November 30. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment is opening the Disney vault to be able to present these two films that broke the boundaries of imagination in the highest quality possible.

The Fantasia and Fantasia 2000: 2-Movie Collection Special Edition will be available in a 4-disc Blu-ray Combo Pack ($45.99 SRP) and a 2-Disc DVD ($39.99 SRP) for a very limited time only. The Blu-ray transformation of Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 will reveal the magic, music and majesty of both films as never before experienced, with state- of-the-art picture restoration of the original Fantasia and pristine 7.1 Digital Theater System Hi-Def Surround Sound. The Blu-ray combo pack is a tremendous value featuring, in addition to the two films in two different formats, a wealth of bonus features.

Among those Blu-ray special features is the highly requested Academy Award® nominated short Destino. Available for the first time ever on Blu-ray, the seven minute film is the result of a unique collaboration between Walt Disney and Salvador Dali begun in 1946, but put on hold due to studio financial concerns. In 2003, Roy E. Disney worked with a team of modern day animators to complete the film as a tribute to Walt’s pioneering artistic vision. Accompanying the highly anticipated short is an all-new feature length documentary entitled “Dali & Disney: A Date With Destino,” which explores the origins of the relationship between Disney and Dali, their collaboration on Destino, and ultimately how the film came to fruition so many years after its inception.

Fantasia, an unprecedented and magnificent feast of music and animated images, was initially released by the Studio in 1940 as a “road show” release. The following year, at the 14th Annual Academy Awards, Fantasia earned two Special Awards. The first was given to Walt Disney and associates for their outstanding contribution to the advancement of the use of sound in motion pictures, being the first commercial film released in multi-channel sound using a process called Fantasound, and the second to conductor Leopold Stokowski and his associates “for…unique achievement in the creation of a new form of visualized music…thereby widening the scope of the motion picture as entertainment and as an art form.”

Considered avant-garde during its time, Fantasia has gone on to become one of the most popular movies of all time and today is considered a classic. In 1990, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” Featuring the Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by Stokowski, this groundbreaking film, which consists of animation set to eight musical pieces, is narrated by Deems Taylor and includes an appearance by Mickey Mouse (voiced by Disney himself).

Equally impressive is Fantasia 2000, the awe-inspiring extravaganza of sight and sound, executive produced by the late Roy E. Disney. Featuring an array of celebrity hosts including Steve Martin, Bette Midler, James Earl Jones, Penn and Teller, Angela Lansbury, Itzhak Perlman and Quincy Jones, the film, like its predecessor, expertly visualizes classical music compositions with various forms of animation and live-action introductions. Fantasia 2000 is primarily performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and conducted by James Levine.

Synopsis: The dreams and visions of Walt Disney come to life in Fantasia, which blends music and film magic into an exhilarating movie-going experience. Unforgettable images are brought to life by some of the world’s best music, and highlighted by the comedy of Mickey Mouse as a troublemaking sorcerer’s apprentice, along with the beauty of winged fairies and cascading snowflakes, the majesty of Noah’s ark and even plump hippos performing ballet in tutus.

Motivated by his uncle’s foresight, Roy Disney continued the magic with Fantasia 2000 which begins where its predecessor left off. There are seven completely new segments, and viewers watch a bustling Depression-era metropolis in the style of Al Hirschfeld’s famous cartoons, a flock of flamingos with slapstick yo-yo talents, an ark full of animals gathered by Donald Duck as Noah’s first mate, and musical life breathed into a family of flying humpback whales.

Fantasia DVD Bonus Features:

New Audio Commentary with Disney historian Brian Sibley
Disney Family Museum (running time: approx. 5 minutes) – Walt’s daughter Diane Disney-Miller takes viewers on a tour of the new Disney Family Museum in San Francisco, California featuring a very large exhibit on Fantasia and most importantly, the Schultheis notebook with long lost Fantasia production notes found in more recent years in the walls of a convent.

Fantasia Blu-ray Bonus Features: Everything on the DVD plus:

Disney View – This viewing mode maximizes the Blu-ray viewing experience with a 16 x 9 aspect ratio. Original artwork created by a Disney artist, in a style that complements the beauty of the film.
The Shultheis Notebook: A Disney Treasure (running time: approx. 14 minutes) –An in depth look at the recently discovered Schultheis Notebook. The detailed log was created by Herman Schultheis, an effects man on Fantasia, and intricately breaks down the film from a technical view. Many of the special effects used in Fantasia were a mystery to modern day animators until this notebook was recovered.
Interactive Art Gallery and Screensavers – Viewers can explore the artwork of Fantasia as never before, in HD resolution with unique Blu-ray interactivity and programming.
Audio Commentaries from Fantasia Legacy Collection o With executive producer Roy E. Disney, conductor James Levine, animation historian
John Canemaker, and Scott McQueen, manager of film restoration.
Audio commentary with interviews and story note recreations by Walt Disney, hosted by John Canemaker.

Fantasia 2000 DVD Bonus Features:

Musicana – Walt’s Inspiration for a Sequel (running time: approx. 10 minutes) – This documentary reveals rarely-seen art created for Musicana, a late 1970’s project intended as a Fantasia sequel with a focus on exploring other cultures via their greatest musical compositions. Viewers are offered a look at the origins of pieces that were started by Walt, such as “The Emperor and the Nightingale” which was then taken over by a very young John Lasseter. Ultimately, Musicana was stopped to begin production on “Mickey’s Christmas Carol,” but the memories of this piece still live on with the animators who conceived it.

Fantasia 2000 Blu-ray Bonus Features: Everything on the DVD plus:

Dali & Disney: A Date With Destino (running time: 82 minutes) – This feature length documentary explores the collaborative relationship between Walt Disney and Salvador Dali, revealing how and why the Destino short came to fruition under the lead of Roy E. Disney in 2003 so many years after its inception in 1946.
Destino (running time: approx. 7 minutes) – The legacy of Walt Disney and Salvador Dali lives on in this highly anticipated short film.
Disney’s Virtual Vault — BD-Live Feature Original DVD Bonus Features from Legacy Collection
Audio Commentaries from Fantasia Legacy Collection (total running time: 84 minutes) With executive producer Roy E. Disney, conductor James Levine, and producer Don Ernst. Audio commentary with the directors and art directors for each segment.

Pop Century- a value resort at WDW

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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October 15, 2010

Click here to view these pictures larger

The Pop Century Resort celebrates the last half of the 20th century by decade: 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. It is currently the newest of the value resorts, until the Art of Animation resort opens nearby in 2012. This resort offers 3 pools- Hippy Dippy, Bowling Pin and Computer pool.

It is in the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex area but also near EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and the BoardWalk area.

The central building, Classic Hall, contains the check in area, arcade and a shop/food court area called Everything Pop. There is also a playground and spray area nearby.

Most rooms have 2 double beds and a single sink. Value resorts have access to mini-fridges for a daily fee, as well as wireless internet for a fee.

All transportation around Walt Disney World from this resort is by bus system.

Other value resorts are All-Star Sports, All-Star Music and All-Star Movies. All-Star Music will be featured in another article because of their suites feature.

Linds is a Disney vacation specialist with Pixie Vacations

Contact: [email protected] or 1-678-3PIXIE9

Follow: Twitter or Facebook or her blog: Deals to Disney

‘Wild Africa Trek’ at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Brings Thrills of Faraway Adventure to Walt Disney World Resort

By

Chip

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October 15, 2010

Navigating a rickety footbridge over a river chasm can be dicey enough for explorers. In an all-new Disney adventure, what lurks below that bridge may quicken their step to get to the other side: Crocodiles!

A ravine of menacing-looking crocs, pools of hippos, bushwalks along untracked terrain and other thrills await guests on Wild Africa Trek, a unique wildlife experience scheduled to launch in early 2011 into the deepest, most-remote reaches of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Reservations can be booked beginning Oct. 15, 2010, for the three-hour, expert-led adventure that will immerse guests in the realms and wildlife thrills of far-off Africa – without leaving Walt Disney World Resort. In small groups, guests on the Wild Africa Trek will enjoy an “up-close-and-personal” experience with African wildlife species that make their home in Pangani Forest as well as other areas of the park’s Harambe Wildlife Reserve.

As part of the adventure, guests will clip onto a lifeline as they step to the very edge of a cliff to get amazingly close to the hippos and crocs waiting just below. Talk about cliff-hangers!

Adventure-minded guests will have the experience of a lifetime as they get immersed in an authentic African safari experience that only Disney can deliver,” said Michael Colglazier, vice president of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. “We are thrilled to be offering this unique outdoor adventure aimed at active vacationers, taking interactions with the incredible animals that inhabit the Harambe Reserve to the next level and literally blazing new trails in our park.”

Highlights of what’s in store for guests on this add-on adventure:

Trekking with experienced guides through areas of Harambe Wildlife Reserve that aren’t explored during regular Disney’s Animal Kingdom experiences.
Navigating through fern and vine forests on a bushwalk that sets a course for adventure.
Clipping into a harness attached to a safety line, crossing a seemingly precarious rope bridge over the Safi River and cliff-hanging at the edge of gullies that are home to hippos and crocodiles.
Experiencing the thrill of “over-landing” in customized open-air vehicles following the edge of a magnificent, wide-open savanna.
Unwinding from an unforgettable adventure at a private safari camp for wildlife viewing. At this station elevated above the savanna, guests savor sample tastes of Africa as their adventure draws to a relaxing and satisfying close.

Wild Africa Trek will be offered several times daily at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Groups will be kept small, consisting of no more than 12 trekkers per safari.

Reservations for Wild Africa Trek can be arranged by calling 407-WDW-TOUR (939-8687). Pricing for this unique adventure will vary seasonally. Guests who reserve a booking from Jan. 16-Feb. 26, 2011, may take advantage of an introductory offer starting at $129. Park admission is required for participants.

Disney Food Confession – Spanakopita

By

Chip

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October 15, 2010

What is it? The version of this savory pie has a flaky phyllo crust and a filling of spinach, feta, leeks and dill.

Where you can get it?Kouzzina by Cat Cora at Disney’s BoardWalk, Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Photo Credit: by Disney

If you have a Disney Food Confession email [email protected] or let us know on the Disney Food Confessions Facebook page.. He is accepting Food ideas or Photos if you have them!

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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October 15, 2010

I’m a veteran of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, but this was my first visit to MNSSHP. For those who are new to Disney’s after-hours parties, MNSSHP is a special ticket event held in the Magic Kingdom from early September through November 1st. For the cost of admission, you’ll see an event only parade, a villain-themed show in front of the castle, enjoy dance parties, and trick or treating. There’s also lots of little surprises, like different music, special decorations, and your favorite characters in Halloween-themed costumes. There’s even an actress in the Haunted Mansion queue, Lady Renata, who interacts with guests and teases them. She was hilarious.

Lady Renata, looking ghostly.

For me, the highlight of the party is the parade. Just about everything gets the Halloween treatment, starting out with a ride down Main Street by the Headless Horseman. A special treat is Snow White dancing with the Dwarves; you rarely see them together. You’ll also see lesser-known villains, such as Frollo. One of the best parts of the parade is the Haunted Mansion portion. Gravediggers come out and dance and make their shovels spark on the ground and the ballroom scene from the attraction comes to life with dancers in elaborate costumes and makeup.

The whole thing is incredibly creative and beautifully done and it shows off what Disney Imagineers can do. Overall, the Halloween parade is a little less G-rated than the daytime parade–a dancing girl gives a cowboy a playful smack across the face which took some parents near me by surprise–but not too scary for most kids.

As soon as you get to the Magic Kingdom, pick up a schedule. The parade starts in Frontierland at 8:15 and 10:30. Hallowishes, a slightly spookier version of the usual nightly fireworks display, begins at 9:30. The Disney villains show, which includes an opportunity to mingle with the characters afterwards, takes place four times a night in front of the castle. There are also character meet and greets throughout the park, so for character fans, this is a great opportunity to meet your favorites, as well as some new ones. Finally, you can catch character dance parties in Tomorrowland and in Liberty Square.

There are two schools of thought on how you should approach the party. Some say it’s best to use it mainly as an opportunity to ride attractions with shorter wait times with a little bit of Halloween thrown in. Others are more interested in seeing the shows, parade, trick or treating, and interacting with the characters. It’s true that if you focus on everything extra there is to do during the party, you won’t have much time for rides, but I tend to take a hybrid approach. I’m mainly interested in the rides, but since it’s so easy to catch the parade and shows later in the night after the crowds die down, I tend to put off the special party activities until later in the night. The only thing I missed out on at this party were the dance parties, which sound fun, but I also rode many rides, some multiple times.

There’s a lot of discussion regarding whether or not special events are worth it. I believe they are, but at around $60 per person, you really have to weigh the costs. Unless you’re on a very short trip (three days or less), you aren’t saving much money by skipping a day at the parks and buying a party ticket for that night because your park tickets are more expensive on the front end. This means that after the fourth day, you’ll only spend a few dollars each day to add more days, as opposed to an expensive party ticket. If you’re on a budget, as most of us are these days, you may find yourself having to choose between party tickets and park hoppers, which cost around the same amount per ticket. It depends on how you tour the parks, but personally if faced with this choice, it wouldn’t be a contest: I’d go with the park hoppers.

If your children are very young, they may not last throughout the entire party. If you’re okay with potentially leaving the party a few hours after it starts, that’s fine, but many people are not. A good nap earlier in the day helps. So can a relaxing, low-key day at the resort. But even then, your child may not be up for an entire evening of fun, so be prepared for that to happen. We had to leave one of the Christmas parties only a couple of hours after it opened and I was disappointed, but I prepared myself that that might happen ahead of time, so it made leaving a little easier. In addition, some kids will be afraid of the characters, shows, and spooky sounds. While the Halloween party is truly “not so scary,” every kid is different. While there were plenty of young children at the party having a wonderful time, I wouldn’t take my children just yet because they’re the type that gets scared and that’s fine; it’s something we’ll do in the future when they’re a little older.

Like the Christmas party, Halloween parties are busier on weekend nights and closer to the holiday itself. As the night wears on, crowds tend to thin after Hallowishes as parents of younger children leave. If you are looking for the least busy nights, you should be fine on non-school nights right up until the week before Halloween, when crowds will gradually increase. Some parties are slightly discounted if you buy tickets ahead of time. There are also discounts for annual passholders and cast members; incidentally, these discounts are also offered on nights that have historically been the least crowded, so if you’re looking for for lower crowds, try these nights.

A closing few thoughts:

Some guests don’t celebrate Halloween. Don’t worry about visiting the Magic Kingdom during the day of the party. You’ll find mostly seasonal type decorations and very little that’s “scary.”
The party runs from 7:00 p.m. until midnight, but you’ll be allowed in at 4:00 that afternoon.
There are multiple places to trick or treat throughout the park, but the most popular, candy-rich spot is the trail that runs behind Toontown.
Early in the night you’ll be asked to show your wristband as proof that you’ve paid for the party.
Most nights the shops on Main Street are open for about an hour after park closing to allow guests to shop. During the Halloween party we attended, the shops closed at midnight; those inside were allowed to finish, but no other guests were allowed in. If this is your last night for souvenir shopping, make sure you do it earlier.
Everyone is encouraged to come in costume. This is the one night an adult can dress up like Minnie or a princess and be admitted into the park, so if you’ve always wanted to be Belle, this is your chance to do it.

Legend Lives on at Disney Channel Origianal Movie – Avalon High

By

Chip

-

October 14, 2010

“Avalon High,” a new Disney Channel Original Movie that puts a contemporary twist on Arthurian legend, premieres FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12 (8:00 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney Channel and Disney Mobile for Sprint TV, MobiTV and Flo TV. Starring Britt Robertson (“Life Unexpected”) and Gregg Sulkin (“Wizards of Waverly Place,” Disney Channel UK’s “As the Bell Rings”), the movie is based upon the award-winning novel by best-selling author Meg Cabot (“The Princess Diaries”). It follows Allie, a transfer student to Avalon High, who discovers that her new classmates are reincarnations of King Arthur and his Court.

Beginning Friday, October 15, DisneyChannel.com invites users to participate in a weekly “Trivia Challenge” on Arthurian legend. Each week a new set of questions will be released leading up to the premiere. Players must complete all five weeks of trivia to earn virtual gems that will unlock a mystery game.

An exclusive preview of “Avalon High” will be available beginning Friday, November 5, on Disney Channel on Demand to a variety of affiliates including Cablevision, Time Warner and Verizon FiOS TV customers.

In “Avalon High,” Allie Pennington is ecstatic when her parents, traveling professors, tell her she will be staying at Avalon High until she graduates. She can finally join the track team, make new friends and be a normal high school student. But shortly after arriving, Allie discovers that something strange may be afoot. While researching a term paper on King Arthur’s legacy, she begins to notice some interesting parallels between the past and the present – from handsome quarterback Will, his cheerleader girlfriend, Jen, and their best friend, Lance, to Will’s brooding step-brother, Marco, a quirky kid named Miles and football players who act like knights of the roundtable. The deeper Allie searches, the more convinced she is that her school is a contemporary Camelot, and it’s up to her to solve the mystery of Avalon High before notorious traitor Mordred wins again.

The movie stars Britt Robertson as Allie Pennington, Gregg Sulkin as Will Wagner, Joey Pollari (Disney XD’s “Skyrunners”) as Miles, Devon Graye (“Dexter”) as Marco, Molly Quinn (“Castle”) as Jen, Chris Tavarez (“Big Momma’s House 2”) as Lance, Don Lake (“The Bonnie Hunt Show”) as Allie’s Dad and Steve Valentine (“I’m In The Band,” “Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie,” “Crossing Jordan”) as Mr. Moore.

The teleplay, based upon the book written by Meg Cabot, was written by Julie Sherman Wolfe (“JONAS,” “Phil of the Future”) and Amy Talkington (“Confessions”). “Avalon High” was directed and co-produced by Stuart Gillard (Disney Channel’s “Hatching Pete,” “90210”); executive produced by Michael Jaffe (“The Informant!”) and Howard Braunstein (“The Informant!”) and produced by Janine Dickins (“Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior,” “Power Rangers Operation Overdrive”). “Avalon High” is a production of Sudden Motion Productions, Inc. and Ranger Productions Ltd.