Only 9 days left on my Walt Disney World countdown. Then, I’m going to board a plane and set off for sunny Orlando and my happy place. It’s just me and my best friend and we’re ready to experience Walt Disney World in a whole new way!
Today, over on my blog, I’m sharing 8 things that I’m really looking forward to on this next visit. I’d love to hear your thoughts on these things or anything else you think we need to add to our must-do list.
Click here to read my post and please leave a comment!
Magic Bands are the do-it-all accessory for your Walt Disney World vacation. These versatile wrist gadgets are your park tickets, room keys, fast passes, Photopass, dining plan access and can even double as your credit card if you choose to link them to your bands. But it seems that Disney has added a new trick or two to this magical wrist gear in the past few months.
We already knew that each individual’s band was linked to the profile of the person that it belonged to. What this means is that every time you tap your wrist to those Mickey Mouse gates, the Magic Band system knows which ride you are on, which restaurant you are eating at, or which shop you just purchased your new Mickey Mouse ears from. So it wasn’t much of a stretch for Disney to start using that information to personalize your ride experiences.
The first way they are doing this is exciting and just plain fun. Disney has come up with a way to make the rides recognize and interact with guests via Magic Band tech. Two rides in particular are standing out with their use of this new innovation.
The Haunted Mansion is using this tech to increase the creepy factor in the ending scenes of the ride. The hitchhiking ghosts now know who you are, and where you live! So while they still hop into your vehicle, and mess with your head (sometimes literally) the ghosts are also adding your names to the tombstones you pass and will even hold up a sign with your home state written on it. To be honest, that addition is a little bit too scary for me!
On a happier note, ‘It’s A Small World’ now says good-bye to you by name. In the last room with the salutations, new screens have been put up and, as you pass by, your names are shown on screen in beautiful Mary Blair style. There is something truly magical about becoming part of a beloved ride like that. Suddenly you go from being a spectator enjoying an experience to an active participant, all with just a touch of Disney Magic.
There is another new addition to the Magic Bands arsenal. This time it has to do with Photopass and Memory Maker. Now, for those of you who don’t know, Memory Maker is a Photopass program that allows you to purchase any Photopass photos you will have taken in advance. The best part is that, whether you take 20 photos or 200, its still the same flat rate before hand. In the past, when you had Memory Maker linked to your Magic Bands, you had to go and tap the Mickey Mouse under your photo to claim it. That isn’t the case any more. Now your Magic Band recognizes if you’re on a Photopass ride and automatically downloads your photo right to your Magic Band. It can take about 24 hours for your photo to show up, but it’s pretty impressive to have a ride know which row you are in and which photo is yours.
So that’s the latest in the Magic Band tech. I cannot wait to see what Disney comes up with next!
Kate K. is the author of DisneyKate.com.
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*disclaimer: “I am a Feld Entertainment Blogger Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows and other exclusive opportunities.”
Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” is a live-action re-telling of the studio’s animated classic which refashions the classic characters from the tale as old as time for a contemporary audience, staying true to the original music while updating the score with several new songs. “Beauty and the Beast” is the fantastic journey of Belle, a bright, beautiful and independent young woman who is taken prisoner by a beast in his castle. Despite her fears, she befriends the castle’s enchanted staff and learns to look beyond the Beast’s hideous exterior and realize the kind heart and soul of the true Prince within. The film stars: Emma Watson as Belle; Dan Stevens as the Beast; Luke Evans as Gaston, the handsome, but shallow villager who woos Belle; Oscar® winner Kevin Kline as Maurice, Belle’s eccentric, but lovable father; Josh Gad as Lefou, Gaston’s long-suffering aide-de-camp; Golden Globe® nominee Ewan McGregor as Lumiere, the candelabra; Oscar nominee Stanley Tucci as Maestro Cadenza, the harpsichord; Oscar nominee Ian McKellen as Cogsworth, the mantel clock; and two-time Academy Award® winner Emma Thompson as the teapot, Mrs. Potts.
Directed by Oscar® winner Bill Condon based on the 1991 animated film, “Beauty and the Beast” is produced by Mandeville Films’ David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman, with eight-time Oscar-winning composer Alan Menken, who won two Academy Awards® (Best Original Score and Best Song) for the 1991 animated film, providing the score, which will include new recordings of the original songs written by Menken and Howard Ashman, as well as several new songs written by Menken and three-time Oscar winner Tim Rice. “Beauty and the Beast” will be released in U.S. theaters on March 17, 2017.
REPLAY! Join me for a tour of Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter Lobby …Disney news and more!!
Facebook Live chat on location at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort, including Disney News and more from Krista Joy Enterprises and Peter Alden Entertainment.
Recorded June 28, 2016
Pete’s Birthday Celebration!!: https://www.facebook.com/events/1205735412804041/
July 10th Mount Dora: https://www.facebook.com/events/515316415320012/
In Disney’s “Alice Through the Looking Glass,” an all-new spectacular adventure featuring the unforgettable characters from Lewis Carroll’s beloved stories, Alice returns to the whimsical world of Underland to save her friend the Mad Hatter. Directed by James Bobin, who brings a unique vision to the spectacular world Tim Burton created on screen in “Alice in Wonderland,” the film is written by Linda Woolverton based on characters created by Lewis Carroll and produced by Joe Roth, Suzanne Todd and Jennifer Todd and Tim Burton with John G. Scotti serving as executive producer. “Alice Through the Looking Glass” reunites the all-star cast from the worldwide blockbuster phenomenon, including: Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Mia Wasikowska, Matt Lucas and Helena Bonham Carter along with the voices of Alan Rickman, Stephen Fry, Michael Sheen and Timothy Spall. We are also introduced to several new characters: Zanik Hightopp (Rhys Ifans), the Mad Hatter’s father and Time himself (Sacha Baron Cohen), a peculiar creature who is part human, part clock.
Alice Kingsleigh (Wasikowska) has spent the past three years sailing the high seas. Upon her return to London, she comes across a magical looking glass and returns to the fantastical realm of Underland. Reuniting with her friends the White Rabbit, Absolem, the White Queen and the Cheshire Cat, Alice must save the Hatter and Underland itself, before time runs out. Presented in Digital 3D™, Real D 3D and IMAX® 3D, Disney’s “Alice Through the Looking Glass” opened in U.S. theaters on May 27, 2016.
Awesome Disney news provided by WDW Hints a $25 Disney gift card giveaway PLUS Disney at your fingertips with Tina!
It’s a Small World: The Joy of Mary Blair
Due to her use of vibrant color combinations and bold, simple shapes, Disney Legend Mary Blair is best known for her work as the designer of Disneyland attraction It’s A Small World and for her creative impact on the classic Disney features Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and Cinderella. The World of Mary Blair dish ware collection from Gaia Group takes its inspiration from the whimsical, innovative, electric drawings in Blair’s archive. It is meant to appeal to children and to the child in everyone.
Share your feedback on Gaia Group’s ‘World of Mary Blair’ tableware designs and you could win an exclusive set from their licensed Mary Blair collection later this year! I’ve already entered and I’m forwarding the survey to every Mary Blair™ fan I know.
World of Mary Blair™ Give Away
Check out our interview with Maggie Richardson (niece of Mary Blair) on Living the Dream Podcast HERE.
Special thanks to Ana Clark for notifying us about this giveaway! Please visit and “Like” Recent Portraits by Ana Clark
March 15, 2016 at 7pm Eastern we did a live facebook broadcast that included Animal Kingdom after dark, a new WDW discount club, details and menu regarding table service at the Diamond Horseshoe! I had someone ask me about my history of working with disney dining – from home – so we covered that too. Click HERE to see the video with all the links and comments attached. Thanks to everyone who tuned in live. See you next Tuesday at 7pm Eastern on Facebook!
Catch Jerry on the Sweep Spot Podcast HERE
Get your Kingdom Classics CD and so much more cool Disney stuff at this website – with a discount!!
Details on the CD Launch Party and dinner with Peter Alden can be found HERE.
Here’s what I’m doing on St. Patrick’s Day if you want to come.
Menu for the new Table Service lunch and dinner at the Diamond Horseshoe is HERE.
Click here to learn my secrets on how to get last minute dining reservations at Be Our Guest!
Ladies this one is for you! Just for a minute, imagine running away to Disney World with your best girlfriends – some you may not have even met yet! Doesn’t that sound like a dream? Well now, thanks to Amanda and her team at Living With The Magic, YOU can make this dream a reality in 2016! Curious to know more? Check out the beautiful article they have posted for you with all of the details by clicking on any of these graphics below! I just might see you at one or more of the events during Girls Getaway Weekend! Woo hoo!! Can’t wait!!
***Disclosure: Living With the Magic has given a small financial donation to help support Disneyways in exchange for sponsored social media posts. This blog post was not sponsored. This donation did not influence me. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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