Bob Sehlinger's Blog, page 1161

Disneyland Paris Wrap Up #Everywhere

By Brad Huber

TouringPlans #Everywhere wrapped up a month ago, but as the lucky person chosen to head to Disneyland Paris, I just returned home 2 weeks ago. (Ed. – yes, I’m late running this.) Since it was my first trip to Europe, I was able to spend 3 weeks visiting Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, London, and Dublin. There aren’t enough adjectives to describe this trip, but the two best are probably “Amazing” and “Exhausting.” It’s a weird dichotomy, in that I dont think I would ever suggest that anyone ever take a 3 week vacation to 6 cities in 5 countries, but I also can’t think of anything I would have willingly removed from our itinerary – it was such a great trip and I wouldn’t change a thing.

What I learned about Disneyland Paris – The Good

I thought Disneyland Park in Paris was beautiful. Excellently themed, with great attractions. The level of detail in this park equaled that of the Magic Kingdom in my opinion, as it felt like each land and each attraction would have fit perfectly in Orlando. The roller coasters in Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios were also the best Disney roller coasters I’ve been on. Space Mountain: Mission 2, Crush’s Coaster, and Indiana Jones were all more intense and more fun than anything at Walt Disney World. The Paris versions of Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion (called Phantom Manor) and Pirates were different enough to warrant several rides without ever feeling like you were just wasting time by re-hashing Disney World copies. There are attractions unique to Disneyland Paris’s two parks that at the very least could be considered interesting (The Alice in Wonderland Hedge Maze, a Snow White-style Pinocchio ride, The Dragon under the castle, Cinemagique), or at the very best, superior to attractions we have in Orlando (Crush’s Coaster, Ratatouille).

Outside of Pirates

And speaking of Ratatouille, the new ride in Walt Disney Studios is incredibly fun. I’ve heard it compared to Spider-Man at Universal Orlando, but I think it’s more like Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. I suppose both Spider-Man and Harry Potter are similar in that they move you through physically themed areas before depositing you in front of a 3-D screen utilizing motion simulation, but the story and level of detail in Harry Potter is far superior to Spider-Man, which is why I say Ratatouille more resembles that ride. You can tell a lot of thought and detail went into  creating this ride so that it wouldn’t feel like just another motion simulator. If Pixar land ever materializes at Hollywood Studios, I really hope they bring this ride along. It’s almost not fair that the Europeans get this one all to themselves.

Also, Disney Dreams!, the night time show utilizing 3D mapped projections on the castle, is great. While in Paris, I tweeted that I thought it was great, but that I still preferred Wishes, and you would have thought I just said Disney Dreams was garbage based on the replies I got. Far from it. From a technical standpoint, Disney Dreams is probably the best nighttime show I’ve seen (granted my experience is limited to WDW and Disneyland Paris). The music, fireworks, and castle-mapping 3D projection are top notch and work perfectly together. And they also use several characters that don’t get a lot of attention in the American parks. (I just prefer Wishes by a slim margin, what’s so wrong about that?)

What I learned about Disneyland Paris – The Bad

For everything Disneyland Paris does right, it still just has this feeling like something is off. We noticed very few people were wearing anything Disney-related, including any of the little kids. And everyone smoked. All the time. Everywhere. There were even people smoking in the outdoor queue for Crush’s Coaster. You’re technically not allowed to smoke except in assigned places, but it didn’t matter. And these two things were a bit jarring. It kind of killed the Disney magic for us, because the majority of people there were treating it like some random, generic theme park. Maybe I’ve just over-sentamentalized Disney World, and how everyone there gets caught up in the Disney atmosphere.

The view of a parade from Walt’s Restaurant

Also, Walt Disney Studios is very small. Ridiculously small, even. The Toy Story themed rides like the Slinky Dog Zig Zag Spin, Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop, or the RC Racers were just standard, generic carnival rides re-themed. The Backlot Tour is somehow even worse than the one at Hollywood Studios. The Armageddon Special Effects show is super cheesy. If you thought Animal Kingdom or Hollywood Studios were half day parks, you obviously haven’t been to Walt Disney Studios. The only thing that might keep you there longer than half a day are the ridiculously long lines for Crush (which doesn’t even have fastpass) and Ratatouille.

And while the food isn’t terrible, it wasn’t spectacular. I would put the food on par with any in-park restaurant from Disney World, except since the average main plate costs 25-30 euros, instead of 25-30 dollars, it means the same quality of food is now 1.3 times more expensive. There is one exception though: Walt’s American Restaurant. It’s a restaurant that overlooks Main Street, which is worth the price of food alone if you can grab a seat by the window. People watching from above Main Street is great. We also managed to catch a parade from up there, too! And it was probably the best food we had in the park.

Final Verdict

Disneyland Paris is a must visit if you’re already in Paris. I wouldn’t take any trips to Europe specifically for Disneyland though. I do feel like it’s 100% worth seeing if you can spare a day or two from an existing Parisian or European vacation.

But Wait, There’s More

Speaking of that European vacation, I’ll now talk a little bit about the rest of the trip; how traveling went, favorite sites, etc. There won’t be any more Disneyland Paris talk, so if that’s all you wanted, you can bow out now.

We used a combination of trains and budget airlines to move from city to city, and neither method proved too difficult. Probably the easiest way to get around in each city we visited was to buy a multi-day public transport pass. Being able to use this on the metro, trams, buses, etc, of each city saved us tons of time worrying about tickets, or trying to find and pay for taxis. One of the bad things about visiting so many different countries is that as soon as you get used to one public transit system, you’re off to the next place which is mostly the same, but just different enough to take a day or two to get used to. In Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam we stuck mainly to the subway, and in Dublin we only used the buses (which had free wi-fi!), while in London we used a combination of the two. Coming from a city without reliable (or safe, sometimes) public transit, I have to say Europe was great in this aspect. Also, in Paris and London, we used the CityMapper app which often proved more reliable and faster in finding directions from one place to another (through walking and public transit) than Google Maps or even talking to locals.

As for the places we visited, Paris was amazing. So many historical buildings, monuments, and museums. You could spend a month there and not see everything. The Louvre and Orsay museums were breathtaking and I wanted to spend days in each one. Notre Dame cathedral was beautiful. The food was excellent, and since a glass of wine costs as much as a glass of soda, why not drink wine with every meal? And perhaps most importantly, we found a Canadian sports bar on the Seine River across from Notre Dame that was showing the weekend’s NFL games! The city was huge, but when combined with the subway it was very walkable. I suggest getting the 2 day museum pass, because not only does it give you access to tons of museums, but you get to skip the lines to get in to them. At the Louvre, our 35 minute wait was still much better than what looked like at least a 90-120 minute wait for people who needed tickets. We stayed in a hotel in Vincennes, on the outskirts of the city. It was a block from a metro stop on the M1 line, and much cheaper and larger than hotel rooms inside the city. However, in retrospect, I think I would have rather paid the money to stay inside one of the main arrondissements in Paris proper.

Brussels, by comparison, is a very small city. The only time we even needed a bus or subway was to get to the Cantillon Brewery and to visit some bookstores in the areas outside the city. Other than that, you can walk everywhere. We stayed in a guest house called the Carmelites, which was a block from the Mannekin Pis, which is in the middle of everything. The owner of the guest house was incredibly friendly and we enjoyed talking with him each morning over breakfast (which he prepared for us). As a beer nerd, Brussels was probably my favorite city on the trip. So many bars with such cheap Belgian beer that is usually so costly in the US if you can even get it. And we actually enjoyed the food more in Brussels than in Paris, and found the people much more friendly and laid back.

If we could combine the wine, architecture, and museums of Paris, with the people, food, and beer of Brussels, it would probably be the perfect city.

As for Amsterdam, I had come down with a pretty bad cold, and didnt get to see much. I made it a point to drag myself out of bed to visit the Anne Frank museum, and it was well worth it. Sadly, I had to skip out on what I heard were other excellent museums like the Van Gogh museum and the Rijksmuseum, but I spent the majority of the 2 days in bed. And again, this was a city like Paris where we stayed in a cheaper hotel outside of the city, with a metro stop a few blocks away, where I wish we had just paid more money to stay in the city itself.

London we had mixed feelings about. The city is huge. Like, ridiculously big. Bigger in size than NYC or Paris, and it certainly feels like it. The buses and subway worked exceptionally well, but the city is so huge it still felt like it took forever to get anywhere. But the museums here were incredible, and most of them were free. The National Gallery, the British Museum, and the British Library were our favorites, housing things like the original Magna Carta, the Rosetta Stone, and pieces of the Parthenon. But outside of a few buildings like the Tower of London, it feels like the city has torn down most of its past in favor of building for the future. Whereas Paris seems more likely to retrofit centuries old buildings for new purposes, it seems like London hasn’t been as sentimental. We had a lot of fun here, but to me it felt like a British version of NYC.

Dublin, was great, and was my wife’s favorite city. There is plenty of literary history here, which is my wife’s favorite type of history. We took a half day trip out to a castle, drove along the coastline, saw one of the oldest illuminated manuscripts of the Gospels at Trinity College, went to the Irish Writers Museum, saw Oscar Wilde’s house, and visited the Guinness Brewery. Not bad for two days in Dublin. Dublin doesn’t have a subway, so the buses were the only way to get around. Whereas the buses in London had signs in each bus announcing the next stop, as well as a voice telling you the next stop, buses in Dublin usually didn’t, so it’s important to know where you’re going. Google maps was decent for the most part, and there are a few apps in the iOS App Store, but nothing worked exceptionally well like CityMapper did. We still never missed any stops, but there were times where we needed to find a cafe with wifi and spend a few minutes figuring out how to get somewhere. Once you get the hang of it though, the Dublin bus system isn’t too bad.

Overall, it was a great trip. The feeling of constantly traveling wore us out pretty quickly though, and by the middle of Week #2 we were tired of it. Luckily, every place we went was so much fun, and kept us so busy, that it was easy to push aside any feelings of travel fatigue. We never had any issues with money (we carried about 50-100 euros or pounds with us at all times, but only a few places in Paris and London didnt take our credit cards). Our power converter worked great for laptops and cell phones (and comes with plug adapters for every outlet style), and the plan to use a dual voltage travel hair dryer with plug adapters was also a pretty good one, as a few hotels didnt have hair dryers in them. But there were very few language issues. Most people in Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam spoke decent English. In Paris, no one was ever rude to us for not being able to speak French, though a few times it did seem like a waiter was merely tolerating us. In Brussels, however, everyone seemed genuinely friendly and happy to serve tourists who couldn’t speak French. It was also a great experience to visit so many countries, with histories that are centuries older than our own country.

Here’s a photo dump of some cool things we saw on our trip!

 

 

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Walt Disney: The Humble Beginnings of the Man Who Started It All

By Amy Farkas

So many ideas, memories, and feelings come to mind when you think about Disney. But before Disney was synonymous with fun and laughter, princesses and pirates, movies or even a mouse, Disney was just a man. Walter Elias Disney, the man who started it all. And to celebrate what would have been the 113th birthday of the Disney empire’s founder, we are taking a look back at the humble beginnings.

Chicago

Walt’s parents: Elias & Flora. Courtesy of Yesterland

Walt’s father, Elias (1859-1941), was a Canadian born son of Irish immigrants. He married Flora Call (1868-1938) January 1, 1888 and they soon after moved to Chicago, IL. Elias, a carpenter among other professions, built the family home on a 25’ x 125’ lot at 1249 Tripp Avenue in Chicago. Here their family grew to include sons Herbert, Raymond, and Roy.

The church tied to Walt’s name. Courtesy of Yesterland

In 1900, Elias built another structure one block East and one block North of the family home at 2255 N. Keeler Avenue. This was the home of St. Paul’s Congregational Church (now Iglesia Evangelica Bautistat Betania). Elias’s close friend, Walter Parr was pastor. When Parr was away, Elias would lead the church services, and Flora worked at St. Paul’s as the treasurer.

A year later, on December 5th, 1901 Flora gave birth to their fourth son, Walter Elias, in a second story bedroom of their family home. The famous Disney was named for Elias’s close friend Pastor Walter Parr and himself. Elias and Flora would have one more child, a daughter Ruth, in the Chicago house.

The family moved from this house when Walt was just four. Sometime after the family left, the city of Chicago developed a more structured street numbering system and the family home, although it did not move, came to have the address of 2156 Tripp Avenue. Currently there are fundraising efforts to restore the home where Walt was born to be historically accurate for the time period of Walt’s birth. The Walt Disney Birthplace envisions “The home will be “A Living Source of Joy and Inspiration” and will promote the importance of family to nurture creativity, collaboration and innovation in children.”

Marceline

It is speculated that Elias began to become worried about the rising crime in his neighborhood, so he decided to relocate to a more rural setting. In April of 1906 he moved his family to a 45 acre farm in Marceline, MO. The farm had orchards of apples, peaches, and plums, fields of grain, and farm animals including pigs, chickens, horses, and cows. It was quite a difference from life in Chicago, and Walt loved it.

It is here in Marceline that Walt sold his first artwork (to a neighbor), acted in plays, saw his first motion picture, spent a lot of time around the railroad with his uncle, Mike Martin, who was an engineer for the Santa Fe, and first received formal schooling.  In fact the tagline of the Walt Disney Hometown Museum in the city of Marceline is, “Where Walt Found the Magic”.  Perhpas no one can better sum up these early experiences better than Walt himself.

 

THE MARCELINE I KNEW

by Walt Disney

I was extremely glad to receive your letter asking me to write some impressions of Marceline as I remember it from my childhood days.

To tell the truth more things of importance happened to me in Marceline than have happened since—or are likely to in the future. Things I mean, like seeing my first circus parade, attending my first school, seeing my first motion picture. I know you’ll agree with me that such childhood “first” as those are of utmost importance in any human being’s life.

I went with my family to live in Marceline when I was five years old and I stayed there until I was nine. I clearly remember the day we arrived there on the train. A Mr. Coffman met us in his wagon and we rode out to our house in the country just outside the city limits. I believe it was called the Crane Farm. My first impression of it was that it had a beautiful front yard with lots of weeping willow trees.

The Taylors lived on one side of us and Doc Sherwood on the other. One of my fondest childhood memories is of Doc Sherwood. He used to encourage me in my drawing and gave me little presents for my efforts.

One time I think he must have held a horse of his nearly all day so that I could draw it. Needless to say, the drawing wasn’t so hot, but Doc made me think it was tops.

My brother Roy reminds me of another flyer I took in the line of art at that time. I painted one side of our house with pitch. The outcome must have been slightly frightening to say the least and I wasn’t thanked for my efforts by the family.

I can remember the big red brick school house as if it were yesterday. Maybe if I saw it today it wouldn’t look so immense but it did to my young eyes. My first teacher’s name was Miss Brown.

And what fun used to have on winter days going down the hillsides lickety-split on a sled.

Everything connected with Marceline was a thrill to us, coming as we did from Chicago. The cows, pigs, chickens gave me a big thrill, and perhaps that’s the reason we use so many barnyard animals in the Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphony pictures today — who knows. You know what the psychologists say about the importance of childhood impressions.

An especial event in connection with my life in Marceline was the day I got to go down in the old No. 1 coal mine which was just a short distance from our place.

Before we left Marceline, we moved from the farm into town for awhile where we lived between the Wheelers and the Moormans. Mr. Moorman was the high school principal and Mrs. Moorman, I must confess, was my first “dream girl”. Of course, I was all of eight or nine at the time, but I can remember what pretty red hair she had.

Other random remembrances include the fact that one of the prides of my life was my uncle Mike Martin, who was an engineer on a train running from Marceline to Ft. Madison, Iowa. After all if you can’t be an engineer yourself, the next best thing is to have a relative who is one.

I’m glad I’m a small town boy and I’m glad Marceline was my town. Thanks a lot for letting me write my impressions, and say hello to all the folks. In addition, here is wishing you all congratulations and success in connection with your Golden Jubilee.

Best regards,

/s/ Walt Disney

Reprinted from the Marceline News September 2, 1938

Kansas City

The original Newsie. Courtesy of Wikipedia

In 1911, Elias picked up the family again (minus Herbert and Ray who ran away back to Chicago) and moved them to Kansas City. Walt entered the second grade and soon became friends with Walter Pfeiffer. Pfeiffer and his family were utter theater buffs and Walt spent any free time he had enjoying their company. Unfortunately though, during the next six years Walt would not have much free time. He attended the Kansas City Art Institute on Saturdays for classes in drawing. Every other day, Walt was kept busy as a delivery boy for his father’s Kansas City Star delivery route. The route was large and had two daily editions plus a Sunday paper. Walt’s normal routine was to wake about 4:30am, deliver papers until school started, and then resume immediately after school let out for the day and continued until supper time. Walt kept up the routine for six years. He was often exhausted and received poor grades in school.

Chicago and beyond

Walt and his ambulance after WWI. Courtesy of Wikipedia

In 1917 Elias, Flora, Walt & Ruth returned to Chicago and resided at 1523 W. Ogden Avenue after Elias invested in the O-Zell Company, which produced jelly and juice. Walt, age 15, worked that summer on the railroad selling candy. He entered McKinley High School that fall for what would be his final year of formal education. He also took evening cartooning classes at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts that year. In the fall of 1918, when Walt was just 16 years old, he tried to join his brother Roy in the Army, fighting in WWI. He was denied entry because of his age, but this did not dishearten him. He instead joined the Red Cross after he convinced his mother to change the birth date on his Christening certificate. He was an ambulance driver in France for the next year.

Adulthood

What follows next in the story of Walt are many of his achievements and even some failures over the years.  The Laugh-O-Grams Co., his marriage to Lillian, the creation of Mickey Mouse, the many shining achievements in film and television, and the creation of Disneyland.  If it was not for these humble beginnings would Walt have been such a success?  Would there have been a Mickey or Disneyland?  Would we all be able to conjur up memories of family vacations, favorite princesses, or a beloved childhood movie just by hearing the word Disney?  I venture not.  And so, Happy Birthday Walt.  Thank you for your childhood that made you the man we all grew to love in ours and beyond into adulthood.

 

To read more about Marceline and a guest TouringPlans blogger’s experience visiting there, read Marceline:  Where Walt’s Memories Were Made.

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25 Drinks of Christmas Countdown – Day 4: Sunken Treasure on the Disney Cruise Line

By Derek Burgan

The Christmas season is my absolute favorite time of the year. Growing up, one of the little things I loved most was getting an Advent calendar and counting down the days until Santa would be coming down the chimney. As I grew older, I had to leave Advent calendars in the rear view mirror,* but I still miss that daily countdown building anticipation to the big day. So, we’re going to start a virtual Advent calendar here at TouringPlans. For 2014, we are going to countdown our favorite drinks at Walt Disney World and the Universal Orlando Resort.

Criteria: Drinks can be alcoholic or nonalcoholic. Drinks can come from any venue on property as well as the Disney Cruise Line. Bonus points awarded for atmosphere where drink is served. Any drink with glow cubes is immediately disqualified. Ready? Let’s go!

DAY FOUR: Sunken Treasure on the Disney Cruise Line

Sunken Treasure on the Disney Wonder.

 

One of the fun surprises on our first Disney Cruise sailing was experiencing Pirate Night. We were not prepared for how many guests onboard the ship got into the occasion, many with costumes rivaling the quality of Disney itself, and I was completely blown away by the fireworks show on the sea. The “drink of the day” for Pirate Night is the Sunken Treasure, and it was one that stood out, both visually and in taste. The green/yellow appearance makes the drink pop with color, and the tropical look completely fits with the Caribbean theme for the entire day at sea.

For me personally, drinking is an important element to a Disney Cruise. Soda is free, which means you can literally drink your weight in Coke Zero like I did (although 4 out of 5 doctors would stress that you do not do that, and the 5th already has adult-onset diabetes.) The wonderful DCL Navigator App lets you know what every single drink of the day is going to be, and you’re never far away from one of the numerous bars and lounges both inside the ship and on the pool deck.

Disney Cruise Line app.

Sunken Treasure at the Quiet Cove Pool. (photo by Billy Hirsch)

Sunken Treasure, enjoying Deck 10 on the Disney Wonder. (photo by Billy Hirsch)

 

Each day of the sailing had a different “drink of the day” including Paradise, Stingray, and Key Lime Margarita.  We tried them all.

Paradise, the drink of the day for the first day of our sailing.

 

Beer enthusiasts will also enjoy the refillable mug program on the DCL. As a fan of souvenir and refillable mug offers, I loved that I didn’t have to actually carry the glass mug with me throughout the cruise. After I was finished with a beer, I could exchange the glass mug at any bar or lounge and get a card to carry around instead.  The card would then be exchanged for another mug later.

A refillable mug for beer lovers. As if you needed another reason to book a Disney Cruise.

 

PREVIOUS DRINKS OF CHRISTMAS:

DAY ONE: Shark Attack at Chez Alcatraz

DAY TWO: Grand Marnier Slush at Epcot

DAY THREE: Flaming Moe at Moe’s Tavern

See you tomorrow for the next entry into the 25 Drinks of Christmas Countdown, where we are going to head over to Universal and into the Royal Pacific Resort. If you had fun, be sure to check out The Magic, The Memories, and Merch!  and Saturday Six articles, or, for your listening pleasure, check out the Pardon the Pixie Dust podcast. Your humble author can also be seen producing typos at an inhuman rate on Twitter: @derekburgan

Interested in theme park drinks? Then do we have a eBook for you! The Walt Disney World Bars and Lounges eGuide by Brian McNichols. Over 250 pages and containing well over 400 photos, this eGuide takes you through EVERY bar and lounge on WDW property (trust me, Brian has the kidneys problems to prove it!) Also included? Recipes for some of your favorite WDW drinks. Ratings, descriptions, and photos for each of the 70+ bars and lounges. Talk about the perfect Christmas present!

Special thanks to crack staff photographer Brandon Glover, Billy Hirsch, and Megan Stump for their invaluable assistance with this article. Be sure to also check out Brandon on The Park Blogger podcast with co-hosts Aengus Mackenzie and Brian Carey.

*That is an absolutely lie. I still buy an Advent calendar every year with chocolates in it, and I also buy an annual box of Christmas Crunch, but we’ll keep that between us.

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25 Drinks of Christmas Countdown – Day 4: Sunken Treasure on the Disney Cruise Line is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Review of a Disney’s Beach Club One Bedroom DVC Villa

By Savannah Sanders

While Disney World offers a vast variety of different resorts to choose from for guests staying on property, the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Villas offer even more options and experiences, particularly when it comes to room sizes! During my last few trips to Disney World, I had the opportunity to enjoy stays at several different DVC Villas; but today, I’m zeroing in on Disney’s Beach Club Villas in this review of a Disney’s Beach Club One Bedroom DVC Villa. 

Disney’s Beach Club Resort

First of all, the Disney Vacation Club is Disney’s own timeshare program where members purchase and use points for their vacation experiences. It can be difficult to understand, but Disney Vacation Club (DVC) 101: What is DVC? can help fill in the gaps. If you are not a Disney Vacation Club Member, the good news is that you can still stay at a DVC Resort! You can do so by booking through Disney, just as you would any other resort; however, other guests like to rent points or even buy points from other members, but you definitely want to make sure that the seller is legitimate and reliable.

Earlier this year, my family and I booked a stay at one bedroom DVC Villa at Disney’s Beach Club. This resort is very popular and has one of the best locations at Disney World in that it’s next door to its sister resort, the Yacht Club, as well as the Swan and Dolphin Resort. Across the water, there is the Boardwalk Inn Resort and the Boardwalk itself with it’s dining, shopping, and live entertainment to take advantage of. But wait! It’s get even better! The Beach Club is also a short walk from Epcot, and a somewhat longer walk, or boat ride, to Hollywood Studios. In fact, during my stay, I could see the fireworks from Epcot’s Illuminations from the Beach Club grounds.

The Beach Club features a light and airy, beach theme with a vintage flair. Pastels and little seaside details can be found all throughout the resort, from the carpets to the light fixtures; but one of the things the Beach Club is most known for is it’s pool, Stormalong Bay. Many say it is the best pool on Disney World property and I would agree!

The smallest villa offered at the Beach Club Villas is a Deluxe Villa, which sleeps up to four adults. It’s similar to a standard resort room, just with more amenities. The next size villa is a one bedroom, which is what I’m focusing on today. This villa can also sleep up to four adults, but it offers more space than a Deluxe Villa. Finally, the largest villa offered at the Beach Club is a two bedroom villa, which can sleep up to eight adults.

My family and I had stayed at the Beach Club before, but never in a villa so we were excited to enjoy a whole new experience at this gorgeous resort.

Location

Disney’s Beach Club Villas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first thing I discovered upon arriving at the Beach Club is that the Beach Club Villas are located in a separate building. I wasn’t so sure if I would like the idea of being separate from the main lobby, restaurants, and gift shop; but the villas were connected to the main building by a very short, covered walkway. I can honestly say that throughout our week-long stay, I never felt removed or isolated at all.

Also, this separate building that housed the villas was like a whole other hotel. There was a mini-lobby, plus a beautiful sitting room, and a pool, all with the Beach Club’s trademark style. I felt like I had two Beach Club Resorts to enjoy with this set-up instead of one!

In order to get to the paved paths or boat launch to Hollywood Studios or Epcot, we would have to take the path connecting the villas to the main resort, walk through the lobby, and then out the back door facing the Boardwalk. My family and I enjoyed being greeted by Cast Members in the main building, and the view of the lake and Boardwalk as we came out the door was like something from postcard. The scenery and convenience really sets the Beach Club apart from other Disney Resorts and is one of the many reasons why I love staying here!

However, if we wanted to hop on a bus, we had to go through the resort’s main door, pass the bell hops, and down the covered walkway. That route proved to a little bit of a hike, but definitely better than some of the treks we’ve taken at moderate or value resorts. There may have been a shorter route, but this is what we could find. Fortunately, during our stay, we didn’t have to rely upon the bus transportation much.

Beach Club Villas Ariel Statue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Right outside the villa entrance we found this statue of Ariel, from The Little Mermaid, which was quite appropriate since the Beach Club is a seaside resort. I appreciate when Disney weaves Disney characters and films into the resorts in a subtle way so that both kids and adults appreciate their resort. This is also a great spot for a photo-op!

Let’s head inside for the tour…

Beach Club Villa Door

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don’t you just love the doors to each villa? I want one of these doors for my house.

Beach Club Villa Entry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just inside the door to our one bedroom villa was this little entry table and mirror. This is where we kept our MagicBands and sunglasses so we wouldn’t forget them before heading out the door.

Living Space

Disney’s Beach Club One Bedroom Living Space

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The living space of our one bedroom villa consisted of a full kitchen and living room, plus a bench seat and table. This floor plan is typical of most Disney Villas. The couch folds out into a bed and the balcony had space for a small table and two chairs.My favorite detail was the cute lighthouse lamp on the far table and the rustic trunk which served as a coffee table.

Disney’s Beach Club One Bedroom Villa Living Space

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The entertainment center in the living room featured a flat screen television and a DVD player. Most standard rooms at Disney World resorts do not have DVD players, so this was a fun extra for our villa experience and something we didn’t have during our previous stay in the main resort building.

Unfolding the couch proved to be a bit of a chore; and while it wasn’t the most luxurious, spacious bed we’ve ever had, it was pretty comfortable all things considered. The biggest problem we had with it was the hassle of folding it back up in the morning and deciding who should do it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As there is no dining room table or chairs, this little breakfast bar came in handy. It’s a bit of a tight squeeze but did offer extra work space and seating for meals.

Beach Club One Bedroom Villa Kitchen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s a look at our villa’s full kitchen. I personally didn’t care for the tile or the shade of green on the cabinets, but it was spacious and came with everything you could need, minus the groceries.

Beach Club One Bedroom Villa Stove

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All villas that feature a full kitchen have a stove, oven, microwave, and toaster, as well as silverware, utensils, pots and pans, plates, cups, glasses, and more! The only kitchen luxury we wished our villa kitchen would’ve had would be an ice maker. Disney did provide an ice cube tray in the freezer; but with the four of us, and seeing how it was summertime, it just wasn’t enough!

Take a look at the tile work above the stove. They’re seahorses! I loved all the little touches of the ocean throughout our villa. I never felt like I wasn’t in the Beach Club Resort, which was a priority for my family.

Amenities

Every DVC Villa at Disney World offers a washer and dryer, except for Deluxe Studios. This was a big perk after considering all the times we have hauled bags of dirty laundry to one of the resort’s laundromats and then spending valuable vacation time switching loads. But during our stay at our Beach Club Villa, we would often toss in a load before heading off to the parks or before bed at night.

The only problem we had when it came to our villa washer and dryer is that the box of detergent Disney provided was very small; and with four people needing to do laundry, it didn’t go far. Also, our dryer made a loud, squeaky noise when running, which became very annoying. Looking back, I should have informed the Beach Club about it, but complaining to the front desk is something I always dread doing. Fortunately, this is the first time we had encountered a problem like this while staying at a DVC Villa, so I doubt it’s a common problem.

It’s also important to note that DVC Villas do not offer housekeeping every day while standard Disney Resort rooms do. Let me explain. If you are staying seven nights or less, you will receive towel and trash service on the fourth day. So this means you won’t get clean towels every night like you would in a standard resort room. If you’re like us, you probably will want to wash towels a time or two before that fourth day rolls around.

For us, not having housekeeping was somewhat of a downside, even though this policy is universal for all DVC Villas. It’s definitely something to be aware of if you are planning to book a stay at a DVC Resort.  (Ed. – this applies to guests staying on points only – your own or rented – cash guests who book through Disney get daily housekeeping.)

Bathroom

Beach Club One Bedroom Villa Bathroom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Okay, I’m a huge fan of the bathrooms at Disney’s DVC Villas. My family and I have stayed at moderate and value resorts during past trips and there are four of us in total. While Disney’s value and moderate resort rooms are incredible in their own right, things can get a little tight when it comes to the bathroom situation. But this was most certainly not the case at our one bedroom DVC Villa at the Beach Club.

Our villa bathroom was kind of like two small bathrooms in one, shut off in sections by different doors. For example, one section contained a shower and pedestal sink while the other had another large sink and storage, plus a jetted tub, but both sections were shut off from one another by a door. The toilet was in a little section of its own behind another closed door for privacy. This means that three people can be in the villa bathroom at once without having to see one another!

The shower was huge compared to most resort room showers and the tile showcased little dolphins. My only complaint? The shower door didn’t close all the way, as if it was out of alignment or something. I’m sure this isn’t true of every Beach Club Villa, but it was a slight annoyance throughout our stay.

Beach Club Villa Bathroom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the other section of the bathroom. The sink offered lots of space and how could you not like that tub?

Beach Club Villa Jacuzzi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s another view of the tub. The shutters complimented the light and airy feel of the villa and could be opened up into the master bedroom or closed for privacy.

View into Beach Club Villa Bathroom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a view of the bathroom through the open shutters. You can see into the other half of the bathroom from this viewpoint, as well as into some of the villa’s closet space, which was very spacious and contained the room’s safe for your valuables.

Bedroom

Beach Club Villa Bedroom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the villa’s bedroom! The bed was very comfortable and just look at all those pillows! I must admit, I’m not a fan of the small strip of comforter that Disney uses on their beds. Some DVC guests prefer to use their own blankets, which I would recommend since, in my own experience, there are few to be found in the DVC Villas; but I must admit, I love the full Disney bedspreads that pull together the resort’s theme and hide little characters and Hidden Mickeys. While these strips do have some Disney touches in the pattern, they do next to nothing and just get in the way.

Beach Club Villa Bedroom Writing Desk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The bedroom also offered a comfy chair, this writing desk, and a dresser and television. The artwork consisted of framed watercolor paintings of seaside scenes and ocean retreats. While some resort artwork can be less than enchanting, I would’ve taken these pieces home if I could!

Beach Club Curtains

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take a look at the curtains hanging in the bedroom window. They are covered with a fun, yet subtle, beach print and were hiding several Disney characters, plus a sandcastle that looks very familiar… There’s a Hidden Mickey too!

This is a fun detail for kids, and maybe even for “grown-up” kids too who enjoy a little magic here and there too.

View from our Villa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The balcony off our master bedroom was one of our favorite features! Our villa’s view was of the front entrance to the Beach Club Resort; and the white building and gazebo directly in front of us was the Solarium, a sunny lounge with tables and sofas and a television. It leads directly to the Beach Club’s Marketplace. From this vantage point, you can see just how close the Beach Club Villas truly are to the main resort building.

When we had the balcony doors open, we could hear some of the traffic at the entrance, which could be irritating to some guests. However, when we had the doors shut, we could barely hear anything at all and traffic was lighter at night.

While our villa didn’t face the Boardwalk or the Beach Club’s famous Stormalong Bay Pool, it still was one of the better views that we have ever had in all our resort stays at Disney World.

Out of all our DVC Villa experiences, our stay at the Beach Club Villa was most definitely one of our favorites. Our villa offered us an even more luxurious stay than actually staying in the main building, but without losing any of the flavor, theme, and convenience of the resort itself. Also, while a standard resort room, Deluxe Studio Villa, and a one bedroom villa all only accommodate up to four adults, consider how much more space and extras you get choosing the one bedroom villa. The only downside would be the lack of housekeeping and that there is only one bed, which, while a slight hindrance, didn’t outweigh the full kitchen, laundry, and bathroom space. In short, we can’t wait to go back to stay here again!

Have you ever stayed in one bedroom villa at the Beach Club? If not, would you?

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Daisy Lauren’s Best Week Ever: December 4, 2014

By Daisy Lauren

Hi, Everyone! Welcome to the Best Week Ever here at Walt Disney World! This week we’re popping into the Magic Kingdom and Downtown Disney for quick updates, exploring the Christmas decorations at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort and Disney’s Beach Club Resort, then wrapping up with some holidays around the world at Epcot. Sounds like fun, right? Well then let’s get started!

About five years ago I decided to have Thanksgiving lunch in the Magic Kingdom. After spending almost an hour fighting to park and catch the monorail over, I vowed never to visit on the holiday again. Well, with the park open until 1am that night I broke down and decided to give it a try this weekend. I was pleasantly surprised, it was crowded but not too bad. We were able to hop on a couple rides with FastPass+ and noticed the Totally Tomorrowland Christmas show was already playing during regular park hours! This show is always offered during the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, but it was nice to see it without paying for the additional ticket. It’s a cute show that I recommend! Want to see what else is new this week? Be sure to click below the photo to read more.

Without much other news happening at Magic Kingdom, I headed over the Downtown Disney to see what had changed. The new parking garage now has the first few floors open and we were able to park without any trouble. It’s worth noting that starting on the second floor there are lights above each parking spot to mark if they are occupied (red), available (green), or handicapped (blue). They weren’t working yet but it should make parking even easier once these are operational. In the meantime I’m just glad to be able to park without a fight!

The new Food Truck Park finally opened (below left). The area is very pretty but at the moment it only has Disney food trucks. I hope they’ll be bringing in some outside vendors from time to time. Below right, you can see the bridge has reopened leading you right into the heart of what once was Pleasure Island. I used to spend tons of time here so I was delighted to walk over this bridge again.

 

Continuing down memory lane, the Adventurer’s Club is still standing behind walls (below left). To my eye, it even looked like it might have gotten a new coat of paint. Maybe there is hope for the building to at least live on. Across the street where you used to be able to find 8 Trax and the Comedy Warehouse, you’ll now find new buildings that are currently empty (below right). The decor is gorgeous, I can’t wait for things to open!

 

As you know, I try to keep it mostly to Disney in these posts. However, this weekend we visited the Central Florida Auto Show and it was a really great time! Not only were there cars on display that aren’t for sale yet (like the mustang convertible below) there were also tons of cars available to test drive. We were even able to go on a the Jeep Test Track, which was wild! Tickets were less than $10 so if you’re in the area next Thanksgiving you might want to consider this as a fun detour from the parks. Despite the holiday it wasn’t too busy.

But enough of that side trip, let’s head over to the Beach Club to check out their holiday decorations! This first photo could be from any resort or park, but I wanted to make sure I mention all the flowers that are changed out this time of year. I can’t imagine how many poinsettias Disney must go through. There must be thousands all over Walt Disney World! Then in early January they will all magically disappear for another year!

Just inside the Beach Club lobby is their annual display of a gingerbread carousel. While you can’t tell from the photo, the horses rotate around the base. You can get an idea of how large this display is from the people standing around. To give you an idea how mesmerizing it is, I completely forgot to take a photo of the actual Christmas tree in the lobby even though I stood there for a good 15 minutes. Oops! You can see it in the background of this shot, though.

Also at the Beach Club, you can purchase gingerbread houses right in the gift shop. You just have to figure out if you’d prefer it assembled for $38 or unassembled for $20. Personally, I like the challenge of putting it together myself and I’m tempted to pick one up. Not to mention I love that gold box. What do you think? Would you tackle something like this yourself or leave it to the professionals?

 

All through the Beach Club there are additional trees, garland, and decorations. More so than other resorts it just feels like they went “all out” here! I don’t know about you but I was ready to just spend my day curled up on the below couch with a good book.

Over at the Yacht Club it was much the same with beautiful decorations everywhere. I bet that boat ornament on the front of the tree was four feet tall! Also, there was certainly no room for a star on top of this tree. The top of the tree looked like it maybe cleared the roof by 6 inches. Of course, I think that is by design so they can securely bolt it to the roof.

Another annual tradition is this chocolate ski village in the Yacht Club lobby. This is another one that I could write an entire post about. There’s so much detail in all the little buildings and characters. Most people we saw just casually walked by, but if you’ll be visiting this year I encourage you to take a little time to explore this display.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the World Gateway entrance to Epcot. Can you believe this was my first holiday visit to Epcot this year? It certainly won’t be the last as there are so many new things at Holidays Around the World. Plus, lots of your old favorites are back at this annual event!

Speaking of new things, while I was waiting for my first Holidays Around the World presentation I heard some amazing music coming from somewhere in England. I started hunting and found The Paul McKenna Band. Wow these guys were good! They weren’t on the daily schedule so it was just a fluke that I happened to see them. Online it says showtimes are at 11am, 11:50am, 12:45pm, 1:40pm, 2:35pm, 3:35pm and 4:50pm so I’ll be looking for them in the future! Here is a little taste of what you can expect:

After my chance encounter with the band, it was almost time to see Father Christmas. He’s the Holidays Around the World presentation in England and always a favorite of mine. Below you can see the entire show!

Moving on around the World Showcase, here is my first view of the Christmas tree this year! The ornaments all reflect different flags around the world and seasonal greetings in many different languages. I know they’ve had the same tree for ages but I still love it!

So I’ve been talking about the “reasonable” crowds over the holiday weekend, but I wanted to include the below photo to give you an idea of what I’m talking about. Was it crowded for a normal day? Yes, very much so! Was it crowded for Thanksgiving weekend? Well, not as much as I would have expected. You could tell that Disney was prepared for the parks to close to capacity, so it just being quite crowded was a relief. I just wanted to make sure I was clear before everyone decided they were going to come visit next year.

Next we’re heading over to Mexico for a show that’s all new this year. Spoiler alert: so far this is my favorite Holiday Around the World! Below is a video from the beginning of the show, but I wish I had gotten there sooner and had a better spot so I could have filed the entire show for you. After the singing at the beginning a beautiful dancer comes out and, if you can believe it, they end with a pinata and singing Feliz Navidad! All that was missing was fireworks!

Here’s a photo of the dancer that was part of the show. Please check back because I’m sure I’ll be watching this several times before Christmas and I’ll share a full video.

New to Canada this year are the Holiday Voyageurs. Below is a quick clip of this band, but looking back at it I’m not sure that it does them justice. They put on a solid 20 minute show and the female performer is an excellent singer! I didn’t realize I didn’t take video of her singing. It also brings back that feel of Off Kilter because you can hear their music all over the park. However, they still only have three benches out front, so get there early or plan to stand. Also, the lumberjacks aren’t performing while this show is in place.

Lastly, and also new for this year, is the Chinese Lion Dance. I was so excited to see this that I arrived 40 minutes early to be very sure I was right in front. However, like most Holidays Around the World events, a crowd only started to form about 10 minutes in advance of the show. But once it started all bets were off! It was so popular it was hard for people to walk by the area. I can understand why, if you never click on videos you should totally check this one out. (Psst – the lion falls asleep at 3:30, so cute.)

While I didn’t have time to explore more Holidays Around the World shows, I stopped by Germany to check out their glass ornaments. The area is marked with a topiary snowman and more of those beautiful, bright red poinsettias.

Inside, you’ll find lots of handmade ornaments that range in price from $20 – $32. They’re also making custom ornaments while you watch this year! There was quite a crowd, but I watched a few blown glass ornaments be made by request right in front of my eyes. They were also custom engraving the ornaments while people waited. All this was only $20, I can see why it’s so popular. I’ll be checking back on this for sure! Would anyone be interested in a blog about these custom ornaments from start to finish? Let me know in the comments below.

 

Over in America, an entire Christmas village has sprouted up! You can meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, learn about Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, and taste a myriad or holiday treats. I’ll be exploring this area more in the next few week. Any requests from anyone out there playing at home?

 

Well, if you were thinking about requesting a gingerbread man, you’re too late! This was our one delicious detour in America last weekend. Of course, I’m sure it won’t be the last so just let us know what you’re interested in hearing about and we’ll check it out!

That’s everything for this week. Now let’s see what you can expect if you’re visiting next week.

Crowd Calendar: After last week, this week will seem downright sleepy! It’s the calm before the storm. Enjoy it before Christmas and New Year’s Eve bring the largest crowds all year.

Weather: While temperatures will be mild, it’s looking like we’ll get some rain this week. Be prepared for wet weather but nice temperatures.

Remember: Splash Mountain will be closed nearly the entire month of January. Get your rides in now.

Here’s my top tip for this week: However much time you’re planning for Holidays Around the World at Epcot, double it! We spent a day and couldn’t get to half of these presentations. The entire World Showcase is really at it’s best this time of year. Try to see it all.

Do you have any news I missed or any requests for coverage next week? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below, and thanks so much for reading! I’m wishing all of you the Best Week Ever, until next time!

 

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Walt Disney World Newsworthy Notes – 12/3/14

By Rikki Niblett

It’s been a while since I’ve brought you the Newsworthy Notes, but now I have a whole bundle of new small Walt Disney World news pieces to share with you all! So, let’s jump right in and get to it.

For those who will be in the Magic Kingdom during the beginning of next week, you’ll be able to catch the taping of the Disney Christmas Day Parade. (I mean the Disney Parks Frozen Christmas Celebration.) The parade will be filmed on Monday, December 8 and Tuesday, December 9.
Guests can now make Advanced Dining Reservations for the Morocco Pavilion’s Spice Road Table. In addition, the restaurant has seen an updated menu; while most of the tapas options are still offered, now as appetizers, the restaurant is also serving full entrees as well. The new entrees include: Mix Grill Skewers – Beef and Chicken skewers; Coriander-crusted Rack of Lamb; Yellowfin Tuna; All Natural Roasted Chicken; and Mediterranean Vegetable Platter. Hopefully these changes will cause more guests to visit this fledgling Epcot restaurant.

Food Truck Park at Downtown Disney’s West Side has officially opened. The four Walt Disney World Food Trucks can be found here, which include include Namaste Cafe (dishes inspired by Animal Kingdom), Fantasy Fare (themed after Magic Kingdom), World Showcase of Flavors (foods from Epcot), and Superstar Catering (Disney’s Hollywood Studios delicacies). In addition, as a nice perk, there may be the occasional outside company’s food truck for guests to enjoy.
Speaking of Downtown Disney, the area recently became a non-smoking location. Because of that, there are now four designated smoking areas for guests to visit throughout property. They are: near the restrooms behind Cirque du Soleil, near the water between Wolfgang Puck Grand Cafe and Bongos Cuban Cafe, near T-REX, and near the Marketplace restrooms by stroller and wheelchair rentals. Guests wishing to smoke both traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes must now do so in the designated smoking locations only. One exception is that select restaurants with outdoor patio seating will also offer the option of outdoor smoking for those dining at those locations.
Flame Tree Barbeque at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be seeing a large scale refurbishment. In the refurb, the restaurant will be adding additional covered seating areas, covering some guest walkways to pavilion seating areas, and extending the roof over the main building for guests who are waiting in line to order their food. This refurbishment will take place beginning January 5 and will last until early April 2015. During the downtime, guests will be able to get many of their favorite dishes at other locations throughout the theme park.
Speaking of refurbishments, two attractions in the Magic Kingdom will see very brief closures. Pirates of the Caribbean will be closed for one day in December, 17, reopening on December 18. In addition, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will be closed from March 4-7, reopening on March 8, 2015.
The recently re-opened Club Disney, the kids club at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, has been renamed again. The new name is Lilo’s Playhouse. The children’s activity center’s new theme brings Lilo’s favorite Golden Book stories of classic Disney tales to life.

That’s it for this edition! Thoughts?

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25 Drinks of Christmas Countdown – Day 3: Flaming Moe at Moe’s Tavern

By Derek Burgan

The Christmas season is my absolute favorite time of the year. Growing up, one of the little things I loved most was getting an Advent calendar and counting down the days until Santa would be coming down the chimney. As I grew older, I had to leave Advent calendars in the rear view mirror,* but I still miss that daily countdown building anticipation to the big day. So, we’re going to start a virtual Advent calendar here at TouringPlans. For 2014, we are going to countdown our favorite drinks at Walt Disney World and the Universal Orlando Resort.

Criteria: Drinks can be alcoholic or nonalcoholic. Drinks can come from any venue on property as well as the Disney Cruise Line. Bonus points awarded for atmosphere where drink is served. Any drink with glow cubes is immediately disqualified. Ready? Let’s go!

DAY THREE: Flaming Moe at Moe’s Tavern (Universal Studios Florida)

“Hey, Homer came up with the drink, but I came up with the idea of charging $6.95 for it.” – Moe Szyslak, The Simpsons (photo by Brandon Glover)

 

Available in Springfield USA, the Flaming Moe became the first signature drink in Universal history that guests wanted to watch before they drank. Based on an iconic episode of The Simpsons, the Flaming Moe uses a unique dry ice effect to simulate the drink being on fire. While the Flaming Moe itself is little more than orange soda, the overall experience of seeing the Flaming Moe in action is more than enough to include it on the list.

You can purchase a Flaming Moe at Duff Gardens, the Flaming Moe’s stand in Fast Food Blvd., and of course Moe’s Tavern. We prefer to get our Flaming Moe inside Moe’s and just soak in all the little details throughout the bar. Incredible details referring to a slew of Simpsons episodes are everywhere you look.

Moe’s Tavern. (photo by Brandon Glover)

It’s 5 o’clock somewhere Moe! (photo by Brandon Glover)

“People today are healthier and drinking less. You know, if it wasn’t for the junior high school next door, no one would even use the cigarette machine.” – Moe Szyslak. (photo by Brandon Glover)

The jukebox at Moe’s Tavern. (photo by Brandon Glover)

PREVIOUS DRINKS OF CHRISTMAS:

DAY ONE: Shark Attack at Chez Alcatraz

DAY TWO: Grand Marnier Slush at Epcot

See you tomorrow for the next entry into the 25 Drinks of Christmas Countdown, where we are going to set sail on the high seas and board the Disney Cruise Line.. If you had fun, be sure to check out The Magic, The Memories, and Merch!  and Saturday Six articles, or, for your listening pleasure, check out the Pardon the Pixie Dust podcast. Your humble author can also be seen producing typos at an inhuman rate on Twitter: @derekburgan

Interested in theme park drinks? Then do we have a eBook for you! The Walt Disney World Bars and Lounges eGuide by Brian McNichols. Over 250 pages and containing well over 400 photos, this eGuide takes you through EVERY bar and lounge on WDW property (trust me, Brian has the kidneys problems to prove it!) Also included? Recipes for some of your favorite WDW drinks. Ratings, descriptions, and photos for each of the 70+ bars and lounges. Talk about the perfect Christmas present!

Special thanks to crack staff photographer Brandon Glover and Megan Stump for their invaluable assistance with this article. Be sure to also check out Brandon on The Park Blogger podcast with co-hosts Aengus Mackenzie and Brian Carey.

*That is an absolutely lie. I still buy an Advent calendar every year with chocolates in it, and I also buy an annual box of Christmas Crunch, but we’ll keep that between us.

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Star Wars Weekends Dates and More Announced for 2015

By Rikki Niblett

©Disney

Star Wars fans – Star Wars Weekends dates have officially been announced. The good news is that once again, for the second year in a row, this fantastic Disney’s Hollywood Studios special event will take place five weekends between the months of May and June. The special event is scheduled to take place on weekends (Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays) from May 15 through June 14. Actual dates are:

Weekend I: May 15-17
Weekend II: May 22-24
Weekend III: May 29-31
Weekend IV: June 5-7
Weekend V: June 12-14

In addition, also returning this year are the special Star Wars character meals that was introduced last year. The first is the Jedi Mickey’s Star Wars Dine at Hollywood and Vine, which is available daily from May 4 through June 14. At this character meal, guests can meet Disney characters dressed as those from the Star Wars universe, such as, Jedi Mickey, Princess Leia Minnie, Darth Vader Goofy, Storm Trooper Donald, and Ewoks Chip ‘n’ Dale. The cost for this meal is $57.99 per adult (ages 10 and up) and $34.99 per child (ages 3 to 9). (Tax is included, but gratuity is not). The Jedi Mickey’s Star Wars Dine is only available for dinner.

Guests can also choose to participate in the Jedi Mickey’s Star Wars Dine at Hollywood and Vine that also includes the Fantasmic! Dining Package and it will be available for $57.99 per adult (ages 10 and up) and $34.99 per child (ages 3 to 9). (Tax is included, but gratuity is not).

The second character meal that will also be returning is the Star Wars Dine-In Galactic Breakfast at Sci Fi Dine-In Theater. Again, this meal will be offered daily from May 4 through June 14 and here guests can meet characters from the Star Wars universe. Characters include Darth Vader, Boba Fett, Greedo, Jawas, and Stormtroopers. The cost for this breakfast is $49.99 per adult (ages 10 and up) and $31.99 per child (ages 3 to 9). (Again, tax is included, but gratuity is not).

Guests who wish to take part in these character meals should act fast. They are available for booking now. Call (407) WDW-DINE or book online.

Star Wars Weekends is held each year and is so much fun for both fans of the franchise, as well as for those who (like me) are not completely immersed in the lore, but just enjoy the atmosphere and fun of the event. During the event, guests can take part in special meet-and-greet opportunities with Star Wars celebrities, meet with characters from the Star Wars universe, purchase one of a kind merchandise, plus take in special shows and presentations. For guests who would like to have the force be with them, the actual event is included in theme park admission.

There have been no other further announcements about next year’s event, like information about the theme or any of the celebrities who will be appearing, however, more details about Star Wars Weekends will be posted to the blog as soon as they are known.

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Disney Merchandise: Shopping at Orlando International Airport (MCO)

By Derek Burgan

While I live in Florida now, I grew up in New Hampshire and San Diego, California, two places which couldn’t be farther away from the Sunshine State. However, I always loved flying in because of the Orlando International Airport (MCO.) I always felt that the monorail, from the gate area to the main terminal, was my first official “ride” of the trip. Now I love MCO for different reasons, as I often find myself there picking up friends and family who are coming down for their Disney or Universal vacation. As a person who has been covering the Disney Outlet Stores for over a year and have the walls of my Man Cave covered in Universal merchandise, I enjoy going to MCO because they have SIX theme park gift shops (two each for Disney, Universal, and SeaWorld. Seven, if you include the NASA Kennedy Space Center.) Today we are going to do a photo report of the two Disney shops, EarPort and The Magic of Disney.

First, let’s take a look at Disney’s EarPort.

In the scale of airport gift shops, both of Disney’s stores are rather large, so there is a huge variety of items to choose from (making them fantastic opportunities to pick up last minute souvenirs or gifts for people back home.) They also both have several unique photo-ops, allowing your family to have one last chance for a “magical” memory before getting on the plane back to Boringville (population: you.)

This might be one of the few representation of DHS’ Sorcerer’s Hat icon that stays around for awhile.

 

This Snow White photo-op outside EarPort is just fantastic, and I love the “magic mirror” next to it which has rotating pictures of several Disney princesses.

Snow White photo-op.

Little Mermaid.

Sleeping Beauty.

Cinderella.

 

I also really enjoy this Goofy photo-op by the other entrance to the store.

Goofy.

 

Sticking with the theme of Goofy, EarPort has a good selection of treats from Goofy’s Candy Co., as well as other assorted Disney snacks. While both of the Disney’s stores at MCO carry a lot of the same items, there is some variation between the two and EarPort has a larger variety of food and kitchen items.

Candy and snacks.

Candy.

Cookies.

Kitchen supplies.

Kitchen supplies.

 

Both stores have a ton of coffee mugs to choose from. I imagine because they make a good souvenir for adult family members/coworkers as they are small, relatively inexpensive, and everyone uses one.

Coffee mugs.

Donald Duck coffee mug. I have absolutely no idea why Donald would autograph the INSIDE of the mug, but what do I know?

 

The next two mugs feature artwork Disney is using for a decent amount of its 2015 merchandise. I happen to love both pieces and hope to buy prints of them.

Coffee mug with new artwork on it.

Coffe mug with even more new artwork.

 

I probably haven’t been paying attention in the parks, but I haven’t run across these Disney charm items before.

Disney charms. Trying to figure out why a little girl would want “dice” on her charm bracelet.

Disney photo frames.

Disney stuff.

 

Of course the mainstays of Disney plush, t-shirts and pins are available.

Disney plush.

Disney pins.

Disney apparel.

Disney apparel.

 

Here is a variety of Disney CDs and DVDs at prices which make SkyMall blush.

Disney media.

MagicBands.

MagicBand accessories.

 

You didn’t think we were going to leave without a look at some Frozen merchandise, did you?

Frozen merchandise and other toys.

 

Next stop is The Magic of Disney store, the other Disney related gift shop in MCO.

The Magic of Disney at MCO.

 

There is a great Sorcerer Mickey photo-op at the front of the story.

Sorcerer’s Apprentice photo-op.

 

The Magic of Disney contains a lot more toys than EarPort.

Toys.

 

Including my new favorite piece of Disney merchandise, the Tagalongs.

Disney Tagalongs.

 

When I first saw Tagalongs at Downtown Disney this summer, I thought the idea was fantastic but felt there was no way they would stay on a person’s shoulder while they walked. So I conducted a double blind scientific study at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and filmed my results:

 

Disney transportation toys.

 

I think this set of toys based on Disney Buses is really sharp looking.

Disney buses.

Cars toys.

Cars playset.

 

The Magic of Disney featured a decent amount of Christmas related items, whereas EarPort didn’t have any.

Christmas items at The Magic of Disney.

Christmas pins.

Jack Skellington an the boys from Prep & Landing.

Disney clothes and media items.

Disney plush and pillow pals.

Disney plush.

Park icon toothpick holders.

Coffee mugs designed to make you want to take a drink from your toothpick holders.

iPhone cases.

Disney apparel.

 

There is nothing at either EarPort or The Magic of Disney that you can’t get at the parks or Downtown Disney, but they are the perfect places to go if your vacation is over and you forgot to pick up a gift for someone. Since Magical Express is going to drop you off at MCO ridiculously early, it may be worth your time to at least walk through the stores and take advantage of getting some last minute fun photos.

If you enjoyed this post you may also enjoy:

Merchandise Photo Report of the Disney Cruise Line

Merchandise Photo Report of Castaway Cay

A 3,000 word review of the EVAC figure from Transformers: The Ride 3-D

Or check out the 25 Drinks of Christmas Countdown, starting with Day One: Shark Attack and Day Two: Grand Marnier Slush.

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Disney Merchandise: Shopping at Orlando International Airport (MCO) is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

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Memory Maker Price to Increase

By Rikki Niblett

©Disney

Attention Memory Maker fans! For guests wishing to pre-purchase the photo package, be aware that it will be increasing in price by $20 tomorrow, December 3, 2014.  This will increase the Advance Purchase option from $149 to $169 (plus tax). The non-advanced purchase price will continue to cost $199.

For those who are unaware, Memory Maker is a special photo package, sold by Disney, that allows for everyone to be in the photos. Guests can accomplish this by having their family pictures taken by Disney PhotoPass photographers at various locations throughout the resort that guests can then download when they return home. In addition, as part of the Memory Maker package, guests will be able to download on-ride photos too.

In addition, Memory Maker has seen many changes over the past few months. Recent additions to the package have included on-ride videos of certain attractions (like Tower of Terror and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train) and special enhanced Animated Magic Shots. Both of these options are available for guests who purchased the special package to easily download when they return home. One would suspect that these new additions are part of the reason behind the price increase.

For guests who would like to purchase Memory Maker, but at the cheaper price, you can still purchase the package today for the price of $149, plus tax.

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Memory Maker Price to Increase is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

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