Watch the Moana clip here!
MOANA Sneak Peek – First Footage (2016) Dwayne Johnson, Disney Animated Movie
Skipper Canteen Photo Tour Including Menus!
Published December 14, 2015 by Disneyways.comThe Jungle Navigation Co., Ltd. Skipper Canteen is now in soft openings!! Located in the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, right across from the Pirates attraction, guests are now being seated in one of three rooms. The official opening is set for Wednesday December 16, 2015! No word yet on if advance dining reservations will be accepted. Our thanks to Erin at Mad Hatter Adventures for these photos so we could bring you this first look!
There is no alcohol on the menu at this time!
There is also a kid’s menu available! You can check out a photo of that over at Disney Food Blog!
Goodies and Prizes at the Ganachery in Disney Springs ~ by Guest Author Kimberlee Thompson
Published December 8, 2015 by Disneyways.comGoodies and Prizes (brought to you in part by MouseMingle.com) at our Disneyways meetup at the Ganachery in Disney Springs
~ by Guest Author Kimberlee Thompson
I’ve always thought there was something classy, and even romantic sounding about the word “ganache”. Maybe that’s why hanging out at Disney Spring’s new “Ganachery” during their upcoming Grand Opening Tuesday with all the other “cool kids” from Disneyways sounds like the really swanky thing to do.
If you have never experienced the heavenly mixture of melted gourmet chocolate and cream you don’t know what you are missing. Thankfully, The Ganachery will showcase SIXTEEN in-house made varieties of this decadent treat, so you can quickly acquaint yourself by sampling flavors like their signature Florida orange dark chocolate. In addition to their unique array of ganache flavors, The Ganachery will feature other house-made chocolate confections for the discriminating palate which will be wrapped in fanciful little packages, as well as nine unique flavors of chocolate bars designed to pay homage to Disney Icons and Destinations. Disney Pastry Chef, Stefan Riemer, who has passionately searched for the best chocolate worldwide, has professed that the quality of chocolate will be akin to that of fine wine. To this end, a knowledgeable chocolatier will greet guests and an expert will be on stage fashioning the edible works of art as visitors observe.
This sounds like the makings of a fabulous date-locale…which may be why MouseMingle.com, has sponsored door prizes and goody bags for this much anticipated Disneyways Opening Day Meet Up. MouseMingle.com is the ingenious online site that has combined the merits of online dating with the Magic of Disney, aspiring to help Disney fans near and far make romantic connections through their mutual love of all things Disney.
You won’t want to miss this event, which has all of the elements of both class and romance, just like it’s name would suggest. Anyone wanting to join should arrive at 2pm on Tuesday, December 15th 2015. Goody-bags are limited, so don’t be late. The Ganachery is located in the Landing Section of Disney Springs near favorites like the Boat House and Joffrey’s Tea Traders.
A note from Krista: Please be advised that prizes and goody bags are available only while supplies last and you must be present at the meetup to win. MouseMingle.com has provided a donation to help offset the cost of these prizes but this is NOT a singles meetup. Everyone is welcome! Please visit the event facebook page or contact me (Krista) with any questions. Comments left on this blog post may not be seen in time. Thank you!!
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Kimberlee Thompson is a Central Florida Native who has grown up “Living the Dream”. She has completely lost count of the number of times she has visited Disney Destinations and she considers herself very blessed to be able to say that. Kimberlee continues to reside in Central Florida with her husband, also a Florida native, and her two children.
Top 5 Special Things To Do At Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2015
Published November 14, 2015 by ltdjosh
We’ve all seen pictures and video of Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom done up for the holidays…the sights, the sounds, the merriment. But, sometimes the holidays can be a bit overwhelming, especially if you’re a first time visitor. So here are my top 5 special things to do at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in the Magic Kingdom. These are in no particular order, but I hope they help you to get the most out of your Christmas Party trip.
- Special Character Interactions – Most of us know that Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party are special times for character interactions, and this year is no different. In addition to all 7 dwarfs (whom you will only see during parties) and the princes with their princesses, you also will have the chance to see Sandy Claws, Reindeer & Elf, and even the jolly man himself, Santa! Obviously these characters are never guaranteed, but it’s a good chance to try to catch them in between parades. You can also catch special character interactions at the Totally Tomorrowland Christmas party at Rockettower Plaza Stage in Tomorrowland and the Character Dance Party at Club Tinsel (Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe in Tomorrowland). You can also join in the fun at Celebrate The Season – a special holiday stage show held three times an evening in front of Cinderella Castle.
- Complimentary Holiday Treats – Don’t say Disney never gives anything away for free! At several locations throughout the Magic Kingdom, you can stop in for complimentary hot cocoa and cookies (there are healthy options available too). These treats make for an extra magical time, especially if you stand on Main Street and enjoy them during the parade (it will snow during parts of the parade to add even more magic).
- Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade – this holiday favorite is back and better than ever this year. Join Mickey and Minnie and all the gang as they welcome the holidays in a super festive and fun parade. This is another chance to see some of the more rare characters, such as Clarabelle Cow and Horace. The parade ends, like any good holiday parade, with a special appearance by the man of the hour, Santa Claus!
- A Frozen Holiday Wish – Join Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf as they bring in the holidays with a little bit of twinkling ice on Cinderella Castle. Held twice an evening, this special castle lighting ceremony is NOT to be missed.
- Celebrate The Magic & Holiday Wishes – Be amazed as Cinderella Castle is transformed into a dazzling display of color and magic, showcasing breath-taking lighting effects and a brilliant musical score incorporating some of your most beloved Disney tunes. Then stick around as the skies above Cinderella Castle come to life with the most magical holiday fireworks presentation ever. You might even catch a glimpse of Jolly Old St. Nicholas and his team of reindeer as they fly high over Magic Kingdom.
- BONUS – VoicePlay – new to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party this year is VoicePlay – an amazing and astounding acoustic marvel. Bringing together beautiful harmonies and classic Christmas songs, this a cappella holiday concert is sure to delight guests of all ages.
These are just a few of the many things that you can enjoy during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party this year. For more information, check out the following park maps, which will tell you all of the locations for everything during the party.
Joshua Snyder is an avid Disney fanatic. He recently moved back to Indiana after spending 2 years living his dream in Orlando, FL. When Josh isn’t dreaming about the parks, he’s helping people plan their dream vacations. As a Dream Designer with My Mickey Vacation, Josh loves helping people make their Disney dreams come true. He is also the senior writer and head of the writing team at Living The Dream Podcast. Josh can be reached at joshua.snyder@mymickeyvacation.com for travel agent inquiries, or at joshua.livingthedreampodcast@gmail.com for all other inquiries.
Spray On The Glitter…So Much Fun!
Published November 7, 2015 by ltdjosh
The newest craze has finally arrived…Spray On The Glitter Custom Bows! Spray On The Glitter Boutique creates handmade and custom bows for any occasion, and even has amazing bows specially made to fit Disney MagicBands. Yes, you heard that right: You can now get a handmade bow for your MagicBand! Naturally, being a guy, I was a little skeptical about this, but the fun side of me jumped in and said “Think of your daughter someday strolling along Main Street with a cute custom handmade bow on her MagicBand, and one in her hair, and….on and on”.
Sofia does an amazing job putting just the right combinations together to create the perfect bow every time. You never know what she’ll come up with next, but it’s guaranteed to be a smash hit. Be sure to check her out on Instagram and check out her Etsy store. Use coupon code “disneyways15” (no spaces) to get 15% off your purchase – NO MINIMUM REQUIRED!!!
Joshua Snyder is an avid Disney fanatic. He recently moved back to Indiana after spending 2 years living his dream in Orlando, FL. When Josh isn’t dreaming about the parks, he’s helping people plan their dream vacations. As a Dream Designer with My Mickey Vacation, Josh loves helping people make their Disney dreams come true. He is also the senior writer and head of the writing team at Living The Dream Podcast. Josh can be reached at joshua.snyder@mymickeyvacation.com for travel agent inquiries, or at joshua.livingthedreampodcast@gmail.com for all other inquiries.
Tis The Season To Be…Jolly?
Published October 31, 2015 by ltdjosh
Most people that know me know that I’m a Christmas nut, as well as a Disney nut. So it’s no surprise that I’m a huge fan of the holidays at Disney. However, even I am a little shocked by the recent announcement made by Disney about the taping of the annual Christmas Parade, to be shown on Christmas Day on ABC. Typically, this parade is filmed the first week of December at Walt Disney World, and in November at Disneyland. However, this year they decided to reverse the roles and scheduled the taping of Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Christmas Parade for November 10 – 13, 2015. This is the earliest that the parade has been taped. While there is no “official” statement from Disney execs on the reasoning behind this change, it is rumored that the change was made due to crowd levels. The parks are typically slower at the beginning of November as opposed to December, so there will be less congestion to deal with during the parade taping. I have been to a parade taping (2013) and it can get VERY crowded, especially if you’re in the park to enjoy a normal day and not participate in the parade taping. Whatever the reasoning will be, it is sure to be a blast. The theme for this year’s Christmas Parade is “Disney Parks Unforgettable Christmas Celebration”. Thankfully, they are ditching the Frozen theme from last year and going with a more traditional theme. Parade taping will begin each day around 9am and continue until approximately 5pm (could begin later and could end later) and will focus on Main Street USA and the Castle Forecourt Stage. This is not a ticketed event, so anyone with access to Magic Kingdom can be a part. There is no official schedule of what will be filmed when, either, so your best bet is to be there all day each day to see everything.
Joshua Snyder is an avid Disney fanatic. He recently moved back to Indiana after spending 2 years living his dream in Orlando, FL. When Josh isn’t dreaming about the parks, he’s helping people plan their dream vacations. As a Dream Designer with My Mickey Vacation, Josh loves helping people make their Disney dreams come true. He is also the senior writer and head of the writing team at Living The Dream Podcast. Josh can be reached at joshua.snyder@mymickeyvacation.com for travel agent inquiries, or at joshua.livingthedreampodcast@gmail.com for all other inquiries.
Disney’s “Moana” Finds Her Voice
Published October 15, 2015 by ltdjosh
WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS’ “MOANA” FINDS HER VOICE
14-Year-Old Native Hawaiian Newcomer Auli’i Cravalho
Cast as the Voice of Film’s Title Character
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Moana” has found her voice following a worldwide search to cast the film’s title character. Native Hawaiian newcomer Auli’i Cravalho, 14, joins Dwayne Johnson in the big-screen adventure about a spirited and fearless teenager named Moana (voice of Cravalho) who, with help from demi-god Maui (voice of Johnson), sets out on a daring mission to prove herself a master wayfinder.
While hundreds of talented people from across the Pacific Islands were eager to try out for the role, Cravalho set her sights firmly on her sophomore year of high school. “I didn’t think I would have a chance,” she said. “When I was little, I used to dance around the house singing at the top of my lungs. In my mind, that was performing and I loved the feeling of it. But I never imagined being in a Disney movie, being Moana—representing my culture in that way.”
Fortunately, the film’s Hawai’i casting director remembered an unrelated audition Cravalho did as part of an a cappella group, which had been submitted for a talent showcase for a charity. Feeling the local teen would be perfect for the Disney role, she tracked her and her mother down and invited Cravalho to audition. “Her audition was fantastic – she was such a raw talent,” said producer Osnat Shurer. “Auli’i was among a small number of girls we brought back for a second round of auditions. Then we flew her and her mom over to audition at our studios in Burbank.”
“Auli’i demonstrated a certain fearlessness in her auditions and call-backs,” said director John Musker. “She has a playful, mischievous wit. She can project vulnerability, she doesn’t seem intimidated at all by the challenges ahead, and her Polynesian background has helped shape her connection to family, hard work and music. These are all qualities she shares with Moana.”
“Moana is a vibrant, tenacious 16-year-old growing up on an island where voyaging is forbidden,” added director Ron Clements. “But Moana has been drawn to the ocean since she can remember and is desperate to find out what’s beyond the confines of her island.”
Cravalho has already started recording for the role.
“Moana” sails into U.S. theaters on Nov. 23, 2016.
ABOUT THE MOVIE
Three thousand years ago, the greatest sailors in the world voyaged across the vast South Pacific, discovering the many islands of Oceania. But then, for a millennium, their voyages stopped – and no one today knows why. From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes “Moana,” a sweeping, CG-animated adventure about a spirited teenager who sails out on a daring mission to prove herself a master wayfinder and fulfill her ancestors’ unfinished quest. During her journey, Moana (voice of Auli’i Cravalho) meets the once-mighty demi-god Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), and together, they traverse the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous fiery creatures and impossible odds. Directed by the renowned filmmaking team of Ron Clements and John Musker (“The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” “The Princess & the Frog”), and produced by Osnat Shurer (“Lifted,” “One Man Band”), “Moana” sails into U.S. theaters on Nov. 23, 2016.
Like ‘Moana’ on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/disneymoana
MagicBands in Colors and Characters ~ An Awesome Photo and Video Tour
Published October 15, 2015 by ltdjoshHere it is – your fully comprehensive guide to Disney World MagicBands from the past and present!
If you are following along here on Disneyways, you have definitely heard about MagicBands. We published a sneak peek for you back in 2013! These convenient little bands are your everything inside the resort: your room key (if staying on property), your park tickets, your payment method (if you have a credit card on file to charge to your room), your dining plan holder, etc. Since rolling out the original MagicBands a couple of years ago, the Walt Disney company has added some unique and limited edition MagicBands among Disney Parks guests. As these became more and more popular, Disney decided to start making Limited Edition MagicBands for special events and such. The last year saw an increase in the number of limited edition MagicBands, especially during Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. I’ve included a good portion of the Limited Edition MagicBands that have been produced by Disney this year. Since we are still a few months away from Food & Wine Festival, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2015, I’ve included pictures and videos of the bands from previous years. Hopefully Disney will delight us with even better bands this year for all of these events. If something you were looking for is no longer in stock – or if you require something even MORE customized – be sure to check out out friends at MagicYourBand.com and MyFantasyBands.com. I hope you enjoy our little tour of the Disney Parks Limited Edition MagicBands. Special thanks goes out to Disneyways reader Brandon Wolgast for providing so many wonderful photos!
To start our tour, I’ll choose the first big event of the year, EPCOT’s International Flower & Garden Festival. Held each spring, the Flower & Garden Festival really brings EPCOT to life in breathtaking beauty. The theme this year was, of course, Frozen and the MagicBands matched the frozen theme. The band has a picture of Anna & Elsa on one side and a nice floral pattern on the other. This was a limited edition of 5,000.
The following video shows what the band does when touched to a touch-point in the park.
Next up we have the MagicBands from the Frozen Summer Fun event held at Disney’s Hollywood Studios last year. I have not seen or heard of any from this year, but that could be a mistake of my own. These bands sold out fairly fast and were very cute. These had a picture of Olaf on one side with the words “Chilling in the sunshine” above him and “Frozen” on the the other side. Limited edition of 5,000 as well.
The following video shows what this band does when touched to a touch-point in the park.
Next we have a generic Olaf MagicBand that, suprisingly, is still in circulation and available in the parks (as of a month ago – found in Animal Kingdom for sale). These MagicBands aren’t for any particular celebration other than celebrating the awesomeness that is Olaf. On one side they have a picture of Olaf in a Santa hat and on the other side it has snowflakes. This is a limited edition of 4,000.
The following video shows what this band does when touched to a touch-point in the park.
Next comes the magic that is Star Wars Weekends. As the force descends upon Disney’s Hollywood Studios for weekends throughout May, MagicBands of all sorts and star systems show up. This year had a fairly impressive line-up, including Mickey, Donald and a couple of lightsabers for Galactic Gathering guests. First up is the Donald MagicBand. On one side you have Donald holding a purple lightsaber (I thought only Mace Windu had a purple saber, but that’s me). On the other side, you have the Star Wars Weekends logo. These were a limited edition of only 2,500 and sold out very quickly.
The following video shows what this band does when touched to a touch-point in the park.
Next we have the Jedi Mickey band. This band has Jedi Mickey on one side holding a non-impressive (in my opinion) light blue lightsaber. On the other side there is the Star Wars Weekends logo. These were also a limited edition of 2,500 and sold out quickly as well.
The following video shows what this band does when touched to a touch-point in the park.
Next up you have the two most limited edition bands found in the park this year: the red lightsaber and green lightsaber from the Galactic Gathering. These were only available to Galactic Gathering guests and were an extremely limited edition of only 350 for the red and 330 for the green. These awesome bands look like a lightsaber from one side to the other. I only have pictures available of the green, but they are identical in everything but the color.
The following video shows what the red band (first video) and green band (second video) does when touched to a touch-point in the park.
Next up we have the bands from last year’s Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. These bands have the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party logo on one side and a cool Halloween themed design on the other. These were a limited edition of 5,000 and were originally only available during the Halloween Party. However, they did not sell out so they were later released as general sale items.
The following video shows what this band does when touched to a touch-point in the park.
Finally, we have the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party bands. These are candy cane colored and have the party logo on one side and Mickey & Minnie on the other. These were again a limited edition of 5,000 and originally only sold during the Christmas party, but never sold out at the party so were released later.
The following video shows what this band does when touched to a touch-point in the park.
I hope you enjoy our little tour through the MagicBands. This is in no way a comprehensive list of every available MagicBand (that would take a very long time to compile and would be out of date as soon as it was posted) but a list for you to enjoy and know about. Have a happy day and we’ll see you with your MagicBand very soon! AND for great ways to spruce up your ordinary MagicBands, visit our friends at MagicYourBand.com and MyFantasyBands.com.
The Wisdom Of Walt Book Review
Published October 13, 2015 by ltdjosh
Anyone that knows me knows that I’m very skeptical about “self-help” things. Anything proclaiming to help you achieve a greater level of success, wealth, fame, etc makes me want to cringe. So anytime I get a book to review that I define as a self-help type of book, I go at it with a raised eyebrow and, unfairly, a biased mind. However, this is the second book that I have reviewed in this category that has truly blown me away. The first was Joe Pardo’s “31 Life Changing Concepts” book (see my review here). The second is an amazing book by author Dr. Jeffrey A. Barnes entitled “The Wisdom Of Walt: Leadership Lessons From the Happiest Place on Earth”.
Obviously since I’m writing on a website titled Disneyways, I love all things Disney. This book really stood out to me simply based on the title. However, I had no idea just how amazing and life-changing it could really be. I’ve spent years learning and reading about Walt Disney’s life: how this determined young man from Kansas (and Missouri and Chicago and California) wouldn’t let anything stand in his way; how he fought through many obstacles to get where he was; how he turned hardships into life lessons. I honestly thought I had a pretty good impression of who Walt was until I read this book. Dr. Barnes delves so much deeper into Walt’s life and uncovers just some of what made Walt into Walt Disney. For instance, how he took his personal tragedies and turned them into professional successes. Each chapter of this book uncovers another little nugget of pure gold that can really help the reader accomplish his or her goals in a very realistic and easy to understand way.
The format of this book is very different from any other book I have read. In the introduction, Dr. Barnes lays out what he calls his “guidemap” explaining how the book works. Under the chapter title you will find a quote from Walt Disney, going back to the original source for the inspiration of that chapter. Second, you’ll find a story about Disneyland, taking it all back to where everything really began (and alluding to what Dr. Barnes was doing when he came up with the concept of this book: teaching a course on the History of Disneyland). Third, you have the actual lesson to be learned in that chapter. Fourth, you have what Dr. Barnes calls a “Souvenir Stop”. Much like leaving at the end of a long day at Disneyland, this is a time for you to gather a treasure to take home with you, always to remind you of your journey. And last, you have the hand stamp. Much like when you are visiting Disneyland and decide to head out for a bit, only to come back a the end of the day, the hand stamp shows where you have been and where you are going. Obviously, I don’t explain it nearly as well as Dr. Barnes does, but these are the essences of “The Wisdom of Walt”. The book isn’t simply a random collection of thoughts and principals, but something with great order and civility, something to inspire each and every person that enters into it, similar to Disneyland Park itself.
Some of the amazing life lessons that can be taken from this book and, indeed, from Walt’s life include: Sitting on a park bench, telling stories, building a berm, using forced perspective (my absolute favorite), creating e-ticket experiences, waiting in line, and having a next, always. No matter where you turn in this text, you are guaranteed to come away with something. And at the end of each chapter there are exercises designed to really make you think, rather than just simply reading and being complacent. These thoughts can be compiled in a list and set to the side to be browsed at your leisure and to remind you of your journey. This is definitely a book I will reference for years to come as I continue to ‘listen to your “walter” ego’. Thank you Dr. Barnes. And thank YOU Walt. For everything.
To purchase your copy of “The Wisdom Of Walt: Leadership Lessons From the Happiest Place on Earth”, click here.
To learn more about Dr. Jeffrey A. Barnes, author and speaker extraordinaire, click here.
Joshua Snyder is an avid Disney fanatic. He recently moved back to Indiana after spending 2 years living his dream in Orlando, FL. When Josh isn’t dreaming about the parks, he’s helping people plan their dream vacations. As a Dream Designer with My Mickey Vacation, Josh loves helping people make their Disney dreams come true. He is also the senior writer and head of the writing team at Living The Dream Podcast. Josh can be reached at joshua.snyder@mymickeyvacation.com for travel agent inquiries, or at joshua.livingthedreampodcast@gmail.com for all other inquiries.
Krista Joy Featured on Stories of the Magic Podcast
Published October 9, 2015 by Disneyways.com
In October of 2015, Randy Crane invited me to be interviewed on Stories of the Magic Podcast. It was a true honor for me, and I got to go in depth about my history with Disney, my time as a cast member, and some other fun things that I have not shared any place else. Here are the links to these two episodes – and be sure to check out Randy each and every week over at Stories of the Magic on iTunes and Stitcher Radio. Stories of the Magic can also be found on Facebook, and Twitter. In addition to hosting this great show, Randy is a life coach and author! Check out his video at the bottom of this post for more information! Thank you Randy, for making me feel so special, and worthy of two whole episodes on your fantastic show.
The following text is courtesy of StoriesOfTheMagic.com
In this episode, we begin a 2-part interview with Krista Joy. Krista is a former Walt Disney World Cast Member, and a current blogger, podcaster, and lover of all things Disney, especially Walt Disney World. She is so genuinely excited and passionate about Disney that I know you’ll enjoy this.
In this episode, Krista talks about…
How and why she started working at Walt Disney World;
Her memories of her Traditions class;
What she did at the Garden Grill;
A funny story about her time as a hostess;
Working the Disney Dining Line;
How her experiences have worked together to enhance each successive one;
Why she started DisneyWays.com;
Whether working at Walt Disney World “ruins the magic”;
Why she stopped working at the Garden Grill and the Disney Dining Line;
The effect on her of meeting Lou Mongello from WDW Radio;
Talking to Disney people that she never imagined she’d ever meet;
How she felt about travel agents who called the Disney Dining Line;
Hidden gem restaurants at Walt Disney World;
When she felt like, “I’m really a part of this!;
One of my stories about a character meal;
Her suggestion for a special dessert location for a celebration.
In this episode, we conclude a 2-part interview with Krista Joy. Krista is a former Walt Disney World Cast Member, and a current blogger, podcaster, and lover of all things Disney, especially Walt Disney World. In part 1 we talked about what she did while working for Disney, whether working for Disney ruined the magic for her, why she started Disneyways.com, some insider tips on dining locations, and more!
In this episode, Krista talks about…
Being part of a marriage proposal at the Magic Kingdom, set up by Theme Park Concierges;
Her original plan for Disneyways and what it’s turned into;
A bit about our shared history;
Some of the people in the Disney community she’s met that stand out to her;
Her new podcast, Living the Dream;
If she could have any job working for the Walt Disney Company, what it would be and why;
What she never gets asked that she wishes people would ask her;
What inspires her;
Her advice to you for following your dreams; and so much more!
Disneyways 