Get a Closer Look at Disney's Elephants With This New Tour
Now you can get a closer look at the African elephants at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park and learn what it takes to care for them during Caring for Giants – a unique family-friendly backstage viewing experience at Walt Disney World Resort.
During this 60-minute tour, you can meet with animal care specialists who provide for the care and wellness of Disney's elephant herd. African cultural representatives will also be on hand to share stories of Disney’s conservation efforts. Throughout this experience, you will be able to observe the elephants from approximately 80 to 100 feet away!
Caring for Giants will be offered several times daily beginning March 12, 2017. Groups depart throughout the day between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Guests must be 4 years of age or older to participate. Reservations can be made by calling 407-WDW-PLAY (939-7529). Cost is $30 per person (tax included).
A New Way to View Magic Kingdom Fireworks
Celebration at the Top, a new dining event coming to California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World Resort, allows you enjoy the Magic Kingdom Park fireworks from an intimate and private observation deck.
Celebration at the Top Guests can check in at California Grill an hour before fireworks. After being whisked up to the California Grill, which sits on the 15th floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, you'll be taken to a banquet room to enjoy a selection of sushi rolled by the expert California Grill sushi chefs, a selection of flatbreads and other small plates. A complimentary bar offering craft beers, California wines, cordials and coffee will also be available.
Just before the fireworks begin, you will be lead to a private observation deck on the roof of the Contemporary Resort, which offers stunning views of Magic Kingdom Park and the fireworks. After you can return to the private room for dessert including decadent chocolate confections and fruit tarts.
Reservations for Celebration at the Top are now open for select Sunday evenings from Feb. 26-April 16, 2017. Cost is $99 per person, plus tax and gratuity.
Disney Now Charging for Mail Received at Resort Hotels
If you stayed at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel recently you may have noticed an increase in the number of discarded cardboard boxes lining the hotel hallways. Savvy travelers have learned that they can save money by shipping their vacation-clothes to their hotel rather than pay high baggage fees with the airlines. The same is true with groceries - I've been seeing a lot of Amazon Prime boxes as well.
If you wish to receive mail at your Disney Resort hotel, your letter or package must:
- Include the mailing address of your Disney Resort hotel
- Clearly feature the word “Guest” on the front and the date of your arrival
For example:
Guest Mary Sims - Arrival July 4, 2018
Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
1600 Seven Seas Drive
Orlando, FL 32830
Recently Disney announced it will be charging a $5 per package handling fee to all envelopes and packages that are received through the Front Desk or are delivered to a Disney Resort hotel room at the following Disney Resort hotels:
Disney’s All-Star Resorts
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
Disney's Wilderness Lodge
Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts
Darren Wittko - Specializes in Disney Destinations with Magical Vacations Travel. He is rated a Best of the Best Disney Travel Agent by readers of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World
First Look: New Restaurant at Disney's Wilderness Lodge
Opening today at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is the new Geyser Point Bar & Grill. Located along the water’s edge, Geyser Point is designed with cedar beams and natural stone to fit into theme of the rest of the resort.
GEYSER POINT BAR & GRILL OPENS AT DISNEY’S WILDERNESS LODGE AT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT
At the Bar
At the bar, serves specialty drinks which feature Pacific Northwest brewers and distilleries, and wines focusing on heritage varietals grown in Oregon and Washington. Small plates include crispy fried oysters with miso tartar sauce; edamame with chili salt; cheesy barbecue brisket with house-made chips; “Shrimp on a Wire” with miso-lime vinaigrette, togarashi (Japanese spice mixture), shishito peppers and chili-aioli; salmon rillettes with sourdough crisps, and handcrafted charcuterie.
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, a quick-service walk-up window next to the bar makes it easy to order and dine alfresco.
Breakfast
Breakfast includes scrambled eggs with sausage and bacon, crab cakes Benedict, maple-cinnamon pancakes and more. For a lighter bite, seasonal fruit is served with lavender honey-yogurt, and steel-cut oatmeal is topped with dried fruit and nuts. For kids, scrambled eggs, buttermilk pancakes and granola with apples, strawberries and honey-yogurt dip is on the menu.
Lunch & Dinner
The quick-service lunch and dinner menu, available at the walk-up window includes:
Bison burger with Tillamook Cheddar, sweet onion straws and marionberry barbecue sauce
Classic bacon burger with Tillamook Cheddar
House-smoked turkey sandwich with cranberry mayonnaise
Lump crab cake sandwich with house-made Canadian bacon and spicy cabbage-carrot slaw
Grilled salmon BLT with lemon-caper mayonnaise
Salad with grilled Portobello, zucchini, roasted red peppers, tomato and multi-grain salad with goat cheese dressing
Grilled chicken or salmon with arugula and romaine, apples, seasonal berries, hazelnuts and red wine vinaigrette
Seasonal fruit plate with lavender honey yogurt
For dessert there’s seasonal pie and a chocolate brownie mousse with caramel popcorn and toasted meringue
Kids’ All-Day Menu
- Grilled chicken strips with dipping sauces, apple or veggie sticks
- Finger Food Sampler with sliced smoked turkey, Tillamook Cheddar, spiced apple jam, grape tomatoes and sourdough crisps.
Please note, Movies Under the Stars and the campfire experience have resumed. Roaring Fork and Trout Pass Bar are temporarily closed for refurbishment.
Darren Wittko - Specializes in Disney Destinations with Magical Vacations Travel. He is rated a Best of the Best Disney Travel Agent by readers of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World
See What's Coming to Magic Kingdom on May 12, 2017
“Happily Ever After,” a new nighttime spectacular that will combine the magic of Disney storytelling, beloved Disney characters, fireworks and so much more, will debut at Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort on May 12, 2017.
The Fireworks Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace will continue to be offered during “Happily Ever After.”
The spectacular will inspire you to seek out and find your own “Happily Ever After” by showcasing some of the greatest adventures Disney characters have taken to achieve their dreams. The show will feature the latest fireworks and pyrotechnics and original animation, plus a heart-tugging original score. And thanks to the inclusion of state-of-the-art projection mapping technology, more Disney characters than ever before will be featured in the show, including moments from “Moana,” “Brave,” “Big Hero 6,” “Zootopia,” “The Princess & The Frog,” “Aladdin” and many others.
VIDEO:
Darren Wittko - Specializes in Disney Destinations with Magical Vacations Travel. He is rated a Best of the Best Disney Travel Agent by readers of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World
Rivers of Light Opening Date Set for February 2017
For more than a year, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park at Walt Disney World Resort has continued its evolution to a day-to-night park by introducing new nighttime experiences. And today, I'm happy to announce one of the park’s newest nighttime experiences, “Rivers of Light,” will make its official debut on Feb 17, 2017.
“Rivers of Light” combines live performance, floating set pieces, a soaring musical score, fountains and more in a celebration of animals and nature. The story unfolds on the broad natural stage of the Discovery River, conveying the uplifting spirit of an ancient and timeless lantern ceremony and filled with symbolism, storytelling and plenty of heart.
Dining and FastPass+ reservations for this new show are now available.
And don’t forget that the next step in the expansion of Disney’s Animal Kingdom – the grand debut of Pandora – The World of Avatar – will take place on May 27, 2017.
Darren Wittko - Specializes in Disney Destinations with Magical Vacations Travel. He is rated a Best of the Best Disney Travel Agent by readers of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World
Pandora - World of Avatar Opening Date Announced!
Today I'm excited to share that Pandora – The World of Avatar will open at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park on May 27, 2017!
This new land will transport you to the visually stunning world of Pandora. Here, you will wonder at floating mountains and bioluminescent plants, and can join the Na’vi on two attractions that take adventure to the next level.
Related Offers
Check out the Late May Exclusive Offer for select Walt Disney World Resort Hotels
Related:
Video: Pandora - World of Avatar at Disney's Animal Kingdom Park
Darren Wittko - Specializes in Disney Destinations with Magical Vacations Travel. He is rated a Best of the Best Disney Travel Agent by readers of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World
This Tour Celebrates Magic Kingdom Classics
Recently I had an opportunity to take the Ultimate Disney Classics VIP Tour, a brand new tour at Magic Kingdom Park designed to highlight the classic attractions You may also want to read my article at The Best of Walt Disney World on Magic Kingdom Classics.
My four hour tour was led by an extensively trained and courteous Disney VIP Tour Guide. These are the ones you see in the plaid uniforms escorting guests and celebrities through the parks. Of course they know how to navigating the park but the focus here is to show you the attractions that we all think about when we think of Magic Kingdom.
During the Ultimate Disney Classics VIP Tour, we were able to experience 10 of the most beloved Magic Kingdom Park attractions, including everything from Pirates of the Caribbean and the Jungle Cruise, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, “it’s a small world,” Peter Pan’s Flight, and a few more attractions throughout the park. We also saw Under the Sea Voyage - which in my opinion is not quite a "classic" when compared to oldies but goodies like Carousel of Progress and Haunted Mansion.
Plus, no Magic Kingdom Park tour would be complete without saying hello to the mouse that started it all. As part of my tour, I also got to meet Mickey Mouse at the Town Square Theater!
This tour is especially great for kids. You can ask your tour guide to avoid the attractions that have height restrictions.
The Ultimate Disney Classics VIP Tour ($199 plus tax)* is offered Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, and is subject to availability.
Related:
New Experience Offers Backstage Access at Disney World
This Limited TIme Magic Kingdom Experience Offers VIP Treatment
Darren Wittko - Specializes in Disney Destinations with Magical Vacations Travel. He is rated a Best of the Best Disney Travel Agent by readers of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World
Re-Imagined Planet Hollywood Observatory Opens at Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort
Planet Hollywood Observatory has opened its flagship location in the heart of Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort, transforming its iconic globe into a four-story stargazing observatory with new spaces including an outdoor terrace, a new menu and an exciting new look and feel.
Inside it’s an immersive theatrical dining experience, with each floor providing a different ambience, including the fabulous curated collection of film-making memorabilia and a 4,500-square-foot video wall the uses trompe l’oeil 3D technology – images with such realism that they appear to be in three dimensions.
Classic Planet Hollywood dishes, including the World Famous Chicken Crunch, are on the new menu, as well as a selection of over-the-top burgers and sandwiches by celebrity Chef Guy Fieri. Desserts are a hallmark of the restaurant, like the hand-dipped milkshakes.
The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner. The new 5,000 square-foot Stargazers Lounge that will let you relax under the stars will be opening soon.
Darren Wittko - Specializes in Disney Destinations with Magical Vacations Travel. He is rated a Best of the Best Disney Travel Agent by readers of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World
DisneyQuest is Closing (This Time it's for Real - Most Likely)
DisneyQuest to Close July 3, 2017
Disney continues to bring new experiences to the West Side Neighborhood, including The NBA Experience at Walt Disney World Resort. To make way for this basketball-themed experience, the West Side area will be undergoing changes – beginning with the closure of DisneyQuest on July 3, 2017.
The NBA Experience at Walt Disney World Resort will be a one-of-a-kind basketball-themed experience featuring hands-on activities that put guests of all ages right in the middle of NBA game action. There will be immersive NBA video productions and numerous interactive experiences, as well as a restaurant and a retail store.
Stay tuned to SaveAtWDW for more updates on The NBA Experience at Walt Disney World Resort and the continuing transformation of Disney Springs.
Darren Wittko - Specializes in Disney Destinations with Magical Vacations Travel. He is rated a Best of the Best Disney Travel Agent by readers of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World
FLORIDA RESIDENTS ENJOY 3 DAYS OF THEME PARK FUN FOR $139 PLUS TAX WITH THE DISCOVER DISNEY TICKET
New Florida Resident Offer Available
Now for a limited time, Florida Residents can purchase the Discover Disney Ticket for $139, plus tax. Visit one Theme Park per day now through June 9, 2017 and save big on this special ticket offer. Ticket is valid 1/4 – 6/9/17. Note there is a blockout period: Not valid 5/27 – 6/9/17 at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
This ticket limits you to one Theme Park per day. Proof of Florida residency required. Ticket is nontransferable and excludes activities/events separately priced. Must be purchased by 6/5/17.
To purchase this ticket contact your travel agent or visit the Florida Residents section on the Walt Disney World website.