Walt Disney World Donating $100,000 to Hurricane Idalia Relief Efforts
Hurricane Idalia has made it through Florida but it left some damage and destruction in its wake. Disney is donating $100,000 to Hurricane Idalia relief efforts.
Walt Disney World posted to both Instagram and Facebook yesterday sharing that the company is donating $100,000 to aid in Hurricane Idalia relief efforts.
“Our hearts are with the communities who are beginning to rebuild in the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia. To help support these relief and recovery efforts, @WaltDisneyWorld is donating $100,000 to Second Harvest of the Big Bend. We continue to be inspired by the way so many people across Florida are showing up for each other and are sending our love and support to all those impacted. ❤️”
Second Harvest of the Big Bend is a charity organization that serves Florida’s Big Bend region, providing nutritious food for those in need. The organization will be hosting multiple food distributions in impacted communities.
New Mural Painted on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Barn at Magic Kingdom
A new colorful mural is being painted on the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Barn in Magic Kingdom! The attraction is still under construction taking over the former Splash Mountain ride. The barn has been painted yellow and we were able to see a new mural going up on one side.
In Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Tiana, Naveen, and Louis embark on a journey into the bayou in search of animal companions as they get ready for an enchanting Mardi Gras festivity. The attraction will introduce 17 fresh characters, among them Prince Naveen’s younger brother, Ralphie. Expect to encounter numerous audio-animatronic versions of Tiana, who will be sporting a brand-new adventurous outfit.
Are you looking forward to the new attraction opening next year?
If you’d like to plan your next Disney World vacation, contact me for a free vacation quote! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel, my services are complimentary, and I’d love to help you plan a magical vacation.
Halloween Time and Plaza de la Familia Begin Today at the Disneyland Resort
Halloween Time and Plaza de la Familia are back at the Disneyland Resort starting today! Both offerings feature limited-time fun and fare for guests of all ages.
Materializing Sept. 1-Oct. 31, 2023, Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort debuts bewitching new outfits for Mickey Mouse and his pals at Disneyland Park and, for the first time, seasonal enhancements at Goofy’s Kitchen in the Disneyland Hotel. This year, the annual bespoke gingerbread house at Haunted Mansion Holiday takes the form of a mansion mausoleum that stands 9 feet, 13 inches tall.
Celebrating the spirit of Día de los Muertos, eternal love and the everlasting bonds of family, Plaza de la Familia at Disney California Adventure Park, Sept. 1-Nov. 2, 2023, offers delectable Mexican cuisine and beloved entertainment featuring the story and songs from Disney and Pixar’s Academy Award®-winning “Coco.” New this year, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa pays tribute to the celebration with a detailed confectionery display.
Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort
Spirited seasonal décor and characters dressed in Halloween looks are appearing in both theme parks from Sept. 1 through Oct. 31, presenting countless photo opportunities. The Main Street Pumpkin Festival brings a horde of hand-carved gourds to Main Street, U.S.A., at Disneyland Park, including the giant Mickey Mouse Pumpkin. At Disney California Adventure Park, Halloween decorations and projections evoke an air of eeriness in Buena Vista Street. Plus, Cars Land becomes Radiator Screams, where the residents and establishments are decked out in their Haul-O-Ween best.
At Disneyland Park, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and some of their pals cast a ghostly glow with new outfits made with luminescent fabrics and bat details. Jack Skellington and his friends from “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” wreck the halls of Haunted Mansion Holiday once again. This year’s rendition of the attraction’s annual bespoke gingerbread house – a merrily macabre mausoleum – employs two new creative techniques: it’s the first to feature cotton candy decorations that take the form of a frightfully fun food ghost and masterfully molded gingerbread chains that trap a haunted apparition inside.
Each night during Halloween Time, the supernatural “Halloween Screams” nighttime spectacular summons projections, special effects and music on Main Street, U.S.A., Sleeping Beauty Castle, Rivers of America and in front of “it’s a small world.” MagicBand+ adds another devious dimension to the show with ominous illuminations and shivering vibrations.* On select nights, fireworks will conjure in the skies above.
Featuring Halloween history and chilling tales, Disney’s Happiest Haunts Guided Tour returns to Disneyland Park this year with reserved viewing for “Halloween Screams,” expedited access to Pirates of the Caribbean, a themed treat and more.
At Disney California Adventure Park, three attractions have taken on seasonal transformations with Halloween spins – and drops. The family-friendly Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree in Cars Land opts for a happily hair-raising soundtrack to become Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree. The nearby Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters takes guests on a wicked whirl as Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween. For the first time, the resident “car-acter” Guido sports a ghoulish “car-stume” as he welcomes guests to the Casa Della Tires.
As the afternoon winds down each day, the thrills go up at Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! in Avengers Campus. Unique to Halloween Time, the attraction transforms into Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark, a scream-worthy adventure to save Groot from creatures running amok in The Collector’s Fortress.
From Sept. 8 through Nov. 1, Disney character-themed pumpkins are hidden around the Downtown Disney District for Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit; with the purchase of a map from participating locations, guests can commemorate their search with a collectible keepsake. Downtown Disney District also features fall décor, entertainment and special offerings from select locations.
For the first time, Goofy’s Kitchen will feature characters dressed in Halloween outfits, seasonal décor and themed desserts from Sept. 21 through Oct. 31. The spirited celebration continues at the Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa with pumpkin carving demonstrations and live entertainment on select afternoons in October.
Dining locations across the Disneyland Resort are serving up more than 50 frightfully flavorful food and beverages, such as a pumpkin bundt cake and a Halloween cake. This year’s array of Halloween merchandise includes apparel, home décor and collectibles with in-trend designs.
There’s still time to plan your Halloween Disneyland trip! Contact me for a free vacation quote. I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel and my services are complimentary.
New Star Wars Ahsoka Products For Fans Across The Galaxy!
These new Star Wars Ahsoka Products will help you showcase your love for Star Wars: Ahsoka streaming now on Disney+! You can get must have collectibles, toys, accessories and apparel from shopDisney, Lego, RockLove and many more. Take a look at some of the products you can get:
Let’s start with shopDisney! It has plenty of Ahsoka products like an Ahsoka Plush and Ahsoka Tano Legacy Lightsaber Hilts that you can also get at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney World and Disneyland.
These products are available online at shopDisney and Disney Parks.
Showcase your fandom with the new Ahsoka Tano, Hera Syndulla, Huyang, Chopper bubbleheads from Funko! Plus they can make a great home decor piece in your home.
Want more collectibles? What about these 6 inch Star Wars Black Series figures from Hasbro! They will be available this fall so keep checking back for more information.
Now for the fashionistas out there, you can treat yourself with the Star Wars Ahsoka Tano Crystal Collection from RockLove with necklaces, earrings and ring you will love.
Girls Crew also has a cute collection featuring Ahsoka Tano Studs, a matching ring and necklace perfect for those who are into a more subtle style.
The design features a lightbulb with Figment inside against an orange background with “One Little Spark Lights Up For You” text around in yellow. Definitely a very cute piece to take home!
There’s also an ornament with the same design so you can add a spark of imagination to your tree this year.
Universal Orlando team members were treated to a special preview of Halloween Horror Nights 32
Halloween Horror Nights officially kicks off tonight. Universal Orlando team members were treated to an early preview of the events 10 terrifying haunted houses and 5 sinister scare zones, as well as food and beverage offerings, during an early preview that was held on August 30th.
Despite the threat of Hurricane Idalia, the team member preview was able to run as scheduled. As a follow-up to the event Karen Irwin, President & COO, of Universal Orlando Resort, sent the following message via email to Universal Orlando team members:
Dear team,
Halloween Horror Nights started as a three-night event and has since become an award-winning, global, pop culture phenomenon. I feel so much pride for our brand during this time of year because no one does horror better than Universal. By offering a mix of the biggest names in horror like Stranger Things, The Last of Us, and The Exorcist alongside sensational original content like Dr. Oddfellow’s Twisted Origins, Dueling Dragons: Choose Thy Fate, and more, we give Guests plenty of reasons to shiver in excitement.
HHN has enduring appeal because of the fresh, immersive experiences and spellbinding surprises that our teams execute every year. Who else brings the thrills during the day and delivers the chills at night, for nearly two months? You all do! Transitioning from our daytime operation to make way for the scares at night and then back again is an awe-inspiring undertaking. It’s no wonder that Halloween Horror Nights is beloved by fans and a real point of pride for Team Members: it’s all thanks to the teamwork that you exhibit in preparation for and throughout the Halloween season.
I am grateful that we were able to put on this week’s Team Member Preview of Halloween Horror Nights as scheduled. More than 11,000 of us were able to enjoy it! I want to thank all of the Team Members who worked during Preview so that we could all experience it together and get ready for tonight. Now, it’s our turn to remind the world why Universal Orlando delivers the best Halloween event in the world.
I wish you all a successful and thrilling Halloween season!
Karen Irwin, President & COO, Universal Orlando Resort
Halloween Horror Nights opens tonight for guests, and this year’s event is shaping up to be the best one yet! Are you planning on attending Halloween Horror Nights? Leave us a comment to let us know.
See you in the fog!
Ready to book your next epic vacation, but don’t know where to start? Want to enjoy a Universal Orlando vacation without the stress of planning, booking, and tracking trip changes and promotions? Contact me today! As an agent with Destinations To Travel specializing in Universal destinations, I can help you stress less and enjoy your vacation more! The best part? My services are provided at NO ADDITIONAL COST when you book your Universal vacation package through me!
Disney Lorcana is now available at retailers nationwide
If you were to draw a Ven diagram to determine where Trading Card Game fans and Disney fans intersect, you would arrive at Lorcana, an all-new trading card game that is now available for purchase at retailers nationwide! Featuring more than 200 original pieces of Disney art, this game is a must-purchase for all collectors and Disney aficionados.
For those of you who may be new to the scene, allow me to shed some light on the Disney Lorcana Trading Card game (TCG). This exciting trading card game whisks players away to the mesmerizing realm of Lorcana. Here, you step into the shoes of Illumineers, harnessing magical ink to conjure a team of beloved Disney characters known as glimmers, who appear in both familiar and fantastical forms.
If you have never delved into the trading card game world before, Disney Lorcana has your back. The game has been crafted with beginners in mind, offering a gentle learning curve while still providing ample strategic depth for the seasoned pros. The game is available for purchase in the following formats:
Starter Decks: Choose from three Disney Lorcana TCG starter decks, each bundled with a pre-constructed game deck, quick start rules, a lore counter, game tokens, and a randomized booster pack.
Booster Packs: Delight in the excitement of Disney Lorcana TCG booster packs, each containing 12 randomized game cards, including one dazzling foil card and two cards with rarities ranging from rare to super rare, even legendary!
Gift Sets: Disney Lorcana TCG’s gift set is a treasure trove, featuring two collectible oversized foil cards and two playable foil game cards. And it doesn’t stop there – you’ll also find game tokens and four booster packs in this delightful package.
The Illumineer’s Trove: The Illumineer’s Trove boasts a full-art storage box, two full-art deck boxes, eight booster packs, a premium player’s guide, and damage counters. This is the ultimate treasure trove of Disney Lorcana goodness.
But wait, there’s more to enhance your gaming experience! Disney Lorcana offers a range of accessories:
Themed Playmats: Keep your cards safe and sound during gameplay with these themed playmats. Plus, they double as desk mats or mouse pads for your daily adventures!
Card Sleeves: Preserve your cards in style with these matte-finish card sleeves. Each pack includes 65 sleeves, adorned with Disney Lorcana glimmers.
Portable Card Portfolios: Safeguard your precious collection with these card portfolios, capable of holding 64 standard cards and 8 oversized cards.
To help bring the entire game together you will want to pick up one additional item – the official Disney Lorcana Companion mobile app, which comes equipped with a complete card catalog, perfect for tracking the cards in your collection and maintaining a “wish list” of cards you’re eager to add to your deck. Whether you’re a TCG rookie or a seasoned pro, you’ll appreciate the app’s deck-building feature, which allows you to craft and manage your custom deck right from your smartphone. Additional highlights include easy access to how-to-play information and videos, lore points counter tool, and the latest news straight from the Disney Lorcana universe. You can snag the app now from the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or by visiting DisneyLorcana.com.
Ready to book your next magical vacation, but don’t know where to start? Want to enjoy a Walt Disney World vacation without the stress of planning, booking, and tracking trip changes and promotions? Contact me today! As an agent with Destinations To Travel who specializes in Disney destinations, I can help you stress less and enjoy your vacation more! The best part? My services are provided at NO ADDITIONAL COST when you book your Disney vacation package through me!
New Authentic Original Disney World Hoodie Available In Epcot!
We are obsessed with this new Authentic Original Disney World Hoodie we found at Epcot for $69.99! Perfect for those chilly days this fall, plus the design is super cool.
It features the retro Mickey Disney World logo on the front and “Authentic Original Est. 1971” text the back with a little Cinderella Castle plus the Walt Disney World logo across the sleeves and back in black that stands out against the light gray color that makes this hoodie look extra cozy!
You can take a closer look at this Disney World hoodie in our Instagram post:
Groundbreaking has occurred on a new themed hotel at Shanghai Disneyland
A new themed hotel is coming to Shanghai Disneyland that, when complete, will add 400 guest rooms to the resort. The new resort, which has yet to be named, will be the third at Shanghai Disneyland, joining the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel (420 guest rooms) and the Toy Story Hotel (795 guest rooms).
Shanghai Disney Resort was quoted in the South China Morning Post as stating “The new hotel will immerse guests in spaces and activities which showcase Disney characters and stories, introduce new dining, shopping and entertainment experiences, and provide more options for guests planning multi-day visits to the resort.”
The theming of the resort will reportedly combine early-1900’s era Shanghai architecture with Disney’s touch, maintaining the Shanghai Disney Resort mantra of being “authentically Disney and distinctly Chinese.” There was no estimated completion date for the construction included in the groundbreaking announcement.
Ready to book your next magical vacation, but don’t know where to start? Want to enjoy a Walt Disney World vacation without the stress of planning, booking, and tracking trip changes and promotions? Contact me today! As an agent with Destinations To Travel who specializes in Disney destinations, I can help you stress less and enjoy your vacation more! The best part? My services are provided at NO ADDITIONAL COST when you book your Disney vacation package through me!
New Disney100 Celebration Cake Collection By Loungefly Available Now!
Get ready to party in style with this Disney100 Celebration Cake Collection by Loungefly! Inspired by the celebration of the lifetime, this collection features beloved Disney characters, platinum details and of course a big cake that will add an extra sweet touch to this magical celebration.
A confectionary wonder takes shape as this 3D bag forms a tiered anniversary cake. Sprinkled icing covers the cake’s layers, which unzip to store your essentials, it features beloved Disney characters all around like Simba, Mirabel, Miguel, Alice, Mickey, Snow White, Woody and many more! Up above, a 100-year cake topper doubles as the bag’s handle and it also comes with an adjustable strap.
Some people might find this bag a bit difficult to carry around but we think it can also make a great decor piece to remember this magical celebration forever!
This fun backpack features a cake rising from the front zipper pocket with Jiminy Cricket peeking out behind the Loungefly plaque and Pluto, Goofy, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Chip & Dale on top of the cake. Debossed confetti pieces appear behind them, and iced cake details continue onto the bag’s side pockets, turn the bag around to see Carl Frederickson appear near the Disney100 logo.
Match your backpack or bag with this wallet featuring Mickey & Minnie hiding behind the 100 logo on the front and Tinker Bell, Genie and Carl on the back. Once you open the wallet, you will find the phrase “Years of Wonder” plus Mickey and Minnie as they celebrate with other beloved Disney characters, so cute!
This fun ear headband features platinum ears with cake icing with sprinkles dripping on each ears and a white bow with the 100 charm in the middle. You can actually remove this bow and wear the ears by themselves!
The back features the “100” logo on one ear and “Years of Wonder” on the other. A must have pair of Minnie ears for sure.
Guests attending Destination D23 are eligible for special offers at Disney Springs
If you are attending Destination D23 this year, you may want to consider working a stop at Disney Springs into your itinerary. D23 attendees are being offered a LONG list of discounts from September 8 through September 10, 2023.
The following discounts are available to Destination D23 Attendees this year. Attendees will need to show their Destination D23 credentials in order to receive the discount:
Dining
Chicken Guy!:10% off food purchases (excludes alcohol).
STK Orlando:20% off purchase of food or non-alcoholic beverages (excluding tax & gratuity). Not valid on happy hour, discounted items, other promotions/offers, or on holidays. One offer per table. No cash value.
Wine Bar George:“Buy one, get one” complimentary glass of wine on tap. Choice of Moscato, Vezzi, or Sabine. One per person per visit, per badge. Valid with food purchase. Not valid on holidays or at The Basket.
Shopping
Basin:15% off the entire purchase (exclusions apply).
Ready to book your next magical vacation, but don’t know where to start? Want to enjoy a Walt Disney World vacation without the stress of planning, booking, and tracking trip changes and promotions? Contact me today! As an agent with Destinations To Travel who specializes in Disney destinations, I can help you stress less and enjoy your vacation more! The best part? My services are provided at NO ADDITIONAL COST when you book your Disney vacation package through me!
Lemon Poppy Crumb Cookie AKA Bonnie’s Cookie! An updated version of Bonnie’s Original, this Cookie is a muffin lover’s dream! We start with the OG Lemon Poppyseed Cookie filled with Poppyseeds and pockets of White Chocolate. Then we top things with a new covering of Lemon Butter Crumbs covered in a thin Sugar Glaze!
Orange Pecan Chocolate Chip AKA Stuart’s Cookie Returns! This popular flavor is a Vanilla Bean Chocolate Chip Cookie infused with Orange magic and topped with our favorite Dark Chocolates, delightful South Florida Pecan Pralines, and a very special Candied Orange Peel given to us by Stuart himself. We don’t know where he gets them, but he assures us they’re organic! This month’s Limited Edition Cookies are available while supplies last daily at both locations throughout September. Limit two per person.
To match the big Cookie releases for the month, we’ve got Cake Slices for you! Every Wednesday & Saturday throughout September, you’ll enjoy the decedent Orange Pecan Chocolate Cake and/or Bonnie’s Lemon Crumb Cake! These are available by the slice only on their listed days while supplies last!
I’m extremely saddened that Gideon’s at Disney Springs is closed today as they scramble to replace a brand-new AC unit. Click here to learn more about Gideon’s Bakehouse temporarily closing.
For more on the September Flavors, Merch, and More check out Gideon’s post below.
