New Starbucks on Main Street! What to expect and on-scene photos!

Published June 16, 2013 by Disneyways.com

starbucks

Disney’s California adventure already has a Starbucks.

Beginning this Tuesday – we will officially be able to enjoy Starbucks here at Walt Disney World! There have been some soft openings this week and as usual – our man-on-the-scene reporter Ramon Rodriguez was there to get you some photos!

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Here are some more details on all the things we have to look forward to:

  • All drinks are offered under the Disney Dining Plan as a SNACK CREDIT!!  Yahoo!!
  • The bakery will be staffed by Disney Cast Members – not Starbucks employees.
  • Starbucks items will be sold until 11am. 11am and later,  we can get both Starbucks and Disney treats. This will include cupcakes, cookies and brownies.
  • The cinnamon rolls are not available at this time, but take heart, they will continue to be offered at Gaston’s Tavern in the New Fantasyland.
  • Unfortunately, there is no longer any indoor seating at the bakery, but at least there will be more room to stand inside.
  • The full Starbucks drink menu is on offer, beginning at park opening each day. There is a photo above but here is a link to the official menu from Starbucks in case you want to see more details.
  • There are four hot breakfast options until 11am. Three are sandwiches and one is a vegetarian wrap. There are also grab and go cold sandwiches available.
  • You CAN  use your Starbucks gift cards and mobile apps for purchases.
  • The cups are branded with both Disney and Starbucks artwork – see photo above.
  • It is not possible to redeem My Starbucks Rewards, but your purchases do earn you My Starbucks Rewards.

Exciting stuff right?! It is so exciting to know we will have this convenient and delicious new option for our cup of joe in the Magic Kingdom.

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How to get a Princess Makeover when the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is fully booked!

Published June 13, 2013 by Disneyways.com

Here is an awesome World Secret I learned from Ramon at Theme Park Concierges! Have you ever tried to get your little Princess an appointment at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique – only to find out that they are completely booked? It’s happened to many guests I am sure – but there IS an alternative that can be just as magical and fun – with a location that can’t be beat if you are enjoying a Princess Tea or maybe dinner with Cinderella at 1900 Park Fare! By the way, did you know 1900 Park Fare dinner is the only character meal at Walt Disney World where you can meet Prince Charming? It’s true, and now, even if the Boutique is booked…you have another option to get your little Princess all dressed up to meet him.

***Update – January 2015!! The salon is now offering Perfectly Prepared Princess packages that include crowns!***

Prices start at $50 for princess hairdo, glitter and a tiara; add a little princess glow make-up for $25 more. Option three includes hair, and a  light nail polishing for $90. Kids ages 4-12 can get The Perfectly Prepared Princess Package! This is available at Ivy Trellis, Coronado Springs Casa de Belleza Beauty Salon and at the Yacht and Beach Club Resort Ship Shape Salon. Don’t forget that a 20% gratuity is added to every service. Call Ivy Trellis at 407-824-1679 for more information.

Here is the secret place!

Ivy Trellis Beauty and Barber Shop – located inside the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa at Walt Disney World! It is truly a hidden gem! As a bonus, it is even possible that your Princess will enjoy more special attention and a quieter atmosphere than she would at the Boutique. Be sure to scroll all the way down to the bottom of this post to see examples of the finished product.

You will find Ivy Trellis on the 2nd floor – in the main building, near the the Monorail. They have been known to take walk-ins but appointments are strongly encouraged. The hours of operation are normally 9:00AM-6:00PM.

Ivy Trellis

I stopped in and spoke to Robin McKenna – Master Cosmetologist at the salon for these tips on how you can make this appointment extra magical for your Princess.

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First give them a call at the salon at 407-824-1679 or 407-824-3000 (for the Grand Floridian) and ask for the Flower Girl Bundle plus makeup – and explain you are scheduling a Princess makeover for you little one. This will cost about $50 and they will add a 20% gratuity. Payment will be due after the service is provided.

Second, go to your local beauty supply store or website and order a hair extension if you would like. The salon will not have these available – you must bring your own if you want one to be used. Click HERE to see an example of styles and pricing on the hair pieces to give you an idea. The salon has makeup but you will need to bring your own glitter if you want your Princess to really sparkle.  If you don’t have time to plan ahead, you may be able to find hair extensions, ties and hair clips at Downtown Disney Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. They also have the means to do over-all pixie dusting at the Downtown Disney boutique (for free) after the makeover is complete. The Harmony Barbershop on Main Street inside the Magic Kingdom also may have pixie dust available to sprinkle.

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Last is taking care of attire, shoes and accessories. You can get wonderful home-made gowns from Etsy.com, or even make your own if you plan ahead. Upon arrival at Walt Disney World, you can try Hollywood Studios Character Warehouse, Downtown Disney’s World of Disney Store, Mouse Gear in Epcot, or the gift shop in the Contemporary resort. Animal Kingdom’s Island Mercantile has been know to carry some Princess attire as well – including Pocahontas!

The most simple solution however is M. Mouse Mercantile. This is the gift shop located right there across from Ivy Trellis Salon inside the Grand Floridian!

I found the cast members inside the gift shop to be VERY helpful!

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The selection may vary but here is what I found inside M. Mouse Mercantile on the day I visited:

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RAPUNZEL

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AURORA (SLEEPING BEAUTY)

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BELLE

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JASMINE

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MERIDA

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AND CINDERELLA

Take a look at these little beauties! They had their hair styled at Ivy Trellis and all to the attire was purchased at M. Mouse Mercantile!

TWINS TWINS2 TWINS3

Ivy Trellis also has services for any adults that might accompany Princesses if you are interested.

Services may include things such as:

  • Lady’s Hair Cut
  • Gentleman’s Hair Cut
  • Child’s Hair Cut
  • Bang Trim
  • Color Touch Up
  • Full Color
  • Partial Foil
  • Full Foil
  • Scalp Massage with Conditioning Treatment
  • Shampoo & Blow Dry
  • Shampoo & Set
  • Up-Do’s
  • Make-up

Just call 407-824-1679 for the salon or 407-824-3000 for the Grand Floridian to book your appointment! So what are your thoughts? Do you think you might use Ivy Trellis as a preferred stop for your little Princess’s makeover, or have you already?

If you enjoyed this post be sure to check out more royal world secrets: SNOW WHITE’S BIOLOGICAL MOTHER AND HOW TO STAY DINE AND PLAY LIKE A PRINCESS AT DISNEY WORLD!

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2013 Epcot “Sounds Like Summer” Dates, Times and Duration!

Published June 12, 2013 by Disneyways.com

Yeah originals are great – and there’s nothing like the real thing (Baby!). Still, I’m always looking for a great value – and for the price of nosebleed seats to see some of the acts that come to town – we can enjoy a day at Epcot and a pretty good tribute band!  Let’s get excited – the Sounds Like Summer Concert Series is HERE!

Dates are  June 9 – July 27 2013. Come on out – and if you look closely – you might find a chubby white girl covered in sunblock getting her groove on…(that’s me!)…somewhere near the American Gardens Theater.

•June 9-15: Stayin’ Alive — A Tribute to the Bee Gees

•June 16-22: Hotel California — A Salute to the Eagles

•June 23-29: Mike DelGuidice & Big Shot — The Ultimate Billy Joel Tribute Show

•June 30-July 6: Slippery When Wet — The Ultimate Bon Jovi Tribute

•July 7-13: SouthBound and Company — A Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd

•July 14-20: The Police Experience — A Tribute to the Police

•July 21- 27: 2U — A Tribute to U2

Guests can catch the shows each night at Epcot’s America Gardens Theater with showtimes being  5:30pm, 6:45pm, and 8:00pm.

NOTE! July 4th – showtimes are a little different and will be 5:15pm, 6:30pm, 7:45pm and 9:00pm.

The concerts are free with paid admission into Epcot. I don’t know why, but Disney never seems to mention the duration of each concert – so I’ll let you in on a secret.

Each set is usually about 20 minutes long.

So what do you think? Are you excited about the lineup? Have you seen any of these bands before? Please let me know your thoughts! Now if you’ll excuse me – I’ve gotta go buy some Aqua Net and start teasing my hair into place!

Big Hair

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FREE Video Game Demos at Disney Now Until June 23rd 2013!

Published June 11, 2013 by Disneyways.com
Jen Jefferson is a travel agent with Glass Slipper Concierge. Jen spent some time in the parks recently and got to check out the Wii U Demos first hand! Thank you Jen for the info!
Wii U Demos at Disney – going on now through June 23rd! ~ By: Jen Jefferson
Video Gamers rejoice!  Just when you thought you had to leave your controllers at home, Disney and Nintendo have brought the living room to your vacation! Nintendo is in the Downtown Disney Marketplace to showcase their newest Wii U console and give guests the chance to test out some of their most popular games – for FREE!
The experience is  open 10am – 10pm daily, weather permitting.
Photo Credit Disney

PHOTO CREDIT: DISNEY

Now through June 23rd, Downtown Disney at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort, is hosting these Wii U demonstrations.  Temporary living room pods are on hand, with Wii Gurus encouraging visitors to have a seat on the couch or bean bag, and try out the new U system and games like New Super Mario Bros. and Nintendo Land.  Photo ops with your favorite Nintendo character decor also abound.  The living room pods are located in front of Once Upon a Toy (Walt Disney World), and Earl of Sandwich (Disneyland).
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The excitement will ramp up during Car Masters Weekend, June 15th and 16th, with a preview of the new game Disney Infinity (Downtown Disney West Side, Walt Disney World).
Game On!
wii
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World Secrets: What is in the Tunnels?

Published June 10, 2013 by Disneyways.com

Did you know that when you walk around the Magic Kingdom you are lifted one story off the ground…literally and figuratively? According to modern legend, Walt Disney was bothered by the sight of a cowboy walking through California Disneyland’s Tomorrowland en route to his post in Frontierland. He felt that such a sight was jarring, and detracted from the guest experience. When the new “Florida Project” was being planned, imagineers designed utilidors (or underground tunnels) to keep park operations out of guests’ sight. Pretty brilliant if you ask me!

utilidor

Smaller utilidor systems are built under the central section of Epcot’s Future World, primarily beneath Spaceship Earth and Innoventions, and at Pleasure Island.
Parts of Fantasyland, including the Cinderella Castle, are at third-story-level (this is why the Castle seems to loom so large as you approach it via Main Street, USA). The ground’s incline is so gradual that guests do not realize they are ascending to the second and third stories. Here’s another bit of trivia: the Magic Kingdom is built upon soil which was removed from what is now the Seven Seas Lagoon.

I was taken through the tunnels as part of my training at Disney University. I think this is pretty normal as part of orientation for all new Cast Members. So why are pictures and video so hard to find on the internet? Check out this post from Kate at YoHo YoHo A Blogger’s Life for Me to get your answer to that and more! Kate shares with you pretty candidly about her personal take on the tunnels, and what’s in them, as she worked as a Walt Disney World Cast Member!

You can read it all on her blog right here! Thank you so much Kate for sharing!

You can find a link to all of our Disneyways World Secrets here.

VIDEO! Trying the New L’Artisan des Glaces Sorbet and Ice Cream Shop in France

Published June 9, 2013 by Disneyways.com

By now you know all about my friend Sarah, (Sensational Sarah as I like to call her!) her awesome website for folks with food allergies at Walt Disney World – and her spectacular event coming up in October at Disney. There are still a few tickets left for the event by the way – and all of the profits are going to charity.

The famous Chip of the Chip and Company website asked Sarah and I to team up and do a review of  the highly anticipated–  L’Artisan des Glaces Sorbet and Ice Cream Shop over in the France Pavilion at Epcot!

How could I NOT be completely excited about this? First of all, I love Sarah and I treasure her friendship very much so just getting to hang out with her is fun. Second of all, writing for Chip and Company is like a dream come true for me – and third – well it’s ice cream – which in itself is something I consider to be the 5th food group.

Here is a photo that Chip made – and I think you can see the excitement on my face over this whole ordeal. It reminds me of an opening scene from Laverne and Shirley or some other comedic sitcom, and it just might be one of my favorite pictures of all-time. Thank you Chip!

chip picture

On my way to meet Sarah that day, I thought about asking her to film a quick video of my very first visit to this shop. It was just a last minute decision. I had no script and no idea what I was going to say – as you can clearly tell. Just for laughs though, I posted it on facebook…and I actually got a really great reaction!

I have always had a dream in my heart to make videos like this at Disney. Short, and hopefully helpful and fun to anyone who love Disney as much as I do. Sarah and my facebook friends have really encouraged me to go for my dream – so you can expect to see more stuff like this coming to my YouTube channel. My team and I will film everything live and on-location inside the Disney parks! Ideas and suggestions on the kind of Disney magic you are interested in seeing is highly encouraged and welcomed! You can reach me in a number of ways, and I would really love to hear from you.

Please click this link to see Sarah’s article that came from our visit on this day. She did an awesome job and I felt so very proud to be a small part of this project!

L’Artisan des Glaces Sorbet and Ice Cream Shop Opens in France Pavilion at Epcot

Here is a link to more information on Sarah’s Fireworks Dessert Party in October. Any profits she makes from this event will go to charity.

World Secrets: A “Backstage” Interview With a Tokyo Disney Performer

Published June 8, 2013 by Disneyways.com

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Recently I was very lucky to be introduced to an amazing Tokyo Disney Cast Member. Of course, I could not resist interviewing them for you here on the blog! I am so touched that this person took time out of their busy schedule to share with us. The Cast Member asked to remain “anonyMouse” due to the fact that they play several different Disney characters in the shows. I very much respect, and hold in high regard, that they are truly “keeping the Disney magic alive” by hiding their identity. I hope you will agree with me that the secrecy does not decrease the value from the interview in any way. This is exclusive information you just won’t find any where else!

Tokyo Disney

1. What do you think gives Disney and it’s characters such global appeal? 

Disney offers a sense of belonging and happiness, expressed through its characters. Each Disney story has a happy ending, but also shows the struggles and sacrifices each character has to make in order to find their happiness. It teaches lessons to its viewers and gives them something to smile and be happy about. The parks themselves, bring the Disney magic alive, through shows, greetings and parades, presenting Disney in the way it should be presented, through spectacular displays. No matter how down or depleted you feel, Disney will always put a smile on your face.

disney smile

 

2.What do you wish Disney lovers in the US knew about being a dancer at Tokyo Disney? 

I don’t think people realize the effect Disney has over the world – and I can definitely tell you that Disney lovers in the US are not alone. The Japanese go above and beyond to express their adoration for Disney and we definitely get appreciated for working here. There’s not anything new to reveal to Disney lovers in the US about being a dancer in Tokyo Disney, other than the overwhelming support we receive from our fans who watch us daily. They send us constant gifts, photos, letters, and it definitely brightens our day.

letters

Photo Source Joyce Huang

3. What has been your favorite magical moment so far in your career?

I think it would have to be the kids. Every day in the audience, there are children dressed up as either Minnie mouse or a Disney princess. Japanese children are literally the cutest things I have ever seen, and when their parents dress them in Disney attire, it makes me melt every time.

4. What do you like best about your job?

The constant support and appreciation we receive from the Japanese audiences is surreal. Among many new faces I see watch us every day, we have our avid fans of the shows, who watch religiously everyday and take amazing photos, which I will forever be grateful for. Being able to have these moments captured, is definitely something that makes me smile. I’ve never met a culture who loves Disney as much as the Japanese do and performing to these people every day is definitely a joyous thing.

Tokyo Disney

5. What advice would you give to someone who would like to become a dancer at Tokyo Disney?

Definitely do it! Its a once in a lifetime experience, that I’m never going to forget. Not only do I love working for Disney and bringing magic to peoples lives everyday, but the Japanese culture is amazing also. They are so considerate and loyal to everyone, it makes me wish the whole world were the same way.

How to Type the Classic Mickey Symbol for iPhone, iPad, PC or Mac

Published June 6, 2013 by Disneyways.com

Classic Mickey Symbol °o°

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Have you ever seen one of these °o° and wondered how to do it? It’s pretty simple and comes in handy when you are a Disney fan!

First you make the ear on the left side. On a PC, press and hold the ALT key – and on the number pad press 1 6 7 and then release all the keys. You should now see the left ear.

Then you can use a lowercase o

a zero

or a capital O for the head.

It’s just a personal preference.

I like the lowercase o.

Then just repeat the ALT 1 6 7 to create the ear on the right. °o°

For Mac users, press and hold the ALT + 0 (zero) release, then the small letter o as in open, and ALT + 0 again. °o°

You can make Mickey on an iPhone and iPad too!

Press and hold the zero in the number keyboard and the ° will appear as a choice next to it.

Keep your finger on the screen and slide it to the left over the degree symbol to type it in.

°o° YAY Mickey!

°o°

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Hot Potato!! Here’s A Money Saving Disney Tip for Fans of Mr. Potato Head!

Published June 6, 2013 by Disneyways.com

We would like to thank Aunesty Janssen for this awesome post! Please see Aunesty’s bio below – and if you are interested in guest blogging – please let us know HERE.

Hot Potato ~ by Aunesty Janssen

Did you know there is a place to create a Mr. Potato Head on Disney property? It’s true! What a great way for parents to get a break from the heat while the kids play! Aunesty from TemporaryTourist.com has a pretty cool secret to share about how to get the most out of your Mr. Potato Head purchase! Thank you Aunesty for this awesome tip!

mr. potato

Mr. Potato Head post by Aunesty ~

Since moving from the Omaha, NE to Kissimmee to be closer to Walt Disney World we have kept a close eye on the cost of souvenirs and toys. It is amazing how much you can collect in such a short time with two toddlers! With one of our favorite outings being a trip to Down Town Disney for an afternoon or evening of walking around and shopping all things Disney. We especially love stopping in the Once Upon a Toy store there and letting the kids play. Of particular interest to our two year old is the build your own Mr Potato Head area.

once-upon-toy

There is a great big table set up where kids can go get various pieces of Mr Potato Heads anatomy and play and play. I understand why Disney does this, I mean what child wants to leave behind their creation after playing around for 15 minutes making it perfect? And what parent wants to take a screaming toddler out of the a toy shop in the middle of Walt Disney World? Good plan Disney…

mrpotatohead1So after a few times of going through the melt down as we leave without our Mr Potato head creation, I finally asked a cast member how it works and how much it costs. Well for $19.95 you are given a decent sized box to fill with as many pieces as you can, the box has to be able to close though. Now here is the kicker, if you purchase your Potato head with your pieces, it takes up a lot of space in your box. So it is recommended that you either purchase it elsewhere (we just picked one up for $5 at Target on clearance) or buy it separately for $7 or if you want to buy it as part of the box, then stuff the inside of full of accessories as well. Yes that is allowed.

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I have noticed that the accessories seem to change out about every other month. For instance in April they didn’t have the entire Buzz Light Year set but the did have all the Disney Snacks. It seems like they are not carrying quite as many different pieces right now as they did in December, but that could just be me not seeing something. Regardless of which items they have displayed at the time, there are plenty to choose from. I would estimate that you should be able to put together roughly two full costumes sets and five or six additional accessories in one box without a potato head in with them. mrpotatohead2

Author Bio: Aunesty Janssen (of Temporary Tourist Travel) and her family moved from Omaha, NE to Kissimmee, FL so they could pursue their dream of doing Disney Daily. She photo blogs their daily adventures and enjoys finding hidden secrets of Walt Disney World. You Can follow their adventures on their Site or via their Facebook Page where they post Walt Disney World photos daily.

aunesty

Aunesty Janssen
Temporary Tourist °o° Homeketeers °o° Aunesty Janssen
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Disney Inspired Accessories that Do Double Duty – with a Discount!

Published June 5, 2013 by Disneyways.com

Here at Disneyways our mission includes introducing you to only the finest Disney related products and services. Just as a reminder, I do not receive any commission from the sales of these items, so you know my recommendations come truly from the heart.

Today we have some exciting things to show you! These fun items are great for your days at the Disney parks – but – as I was looking at my friend Amanda’s MCDesigns store – I noticed many of these items could really brighten up  your day at work as well. Disney inspired accessories that do double duty. Now how can you wrong with that?

MCDesigns Balloon Pen

Anyone could write a thank you note or sign a co-workers birthday card and smile – if they are using this bright and colorful pen. It also doubles as a great autograph pen for your next trip to the parks, or even marking down your dining reservation numbers!

Ladies! This next one is for you. Getting ready for casual Friday at work might be just a little more fun if you accessorize your hair with one of these!

MM_20Headbands_202_original

They come in different colors AND for those fun evenings you are in the Disney parks after dark…these little Mickeys actually glow!!

MM_20Headbands_203_original

I can not WAIT to order one of these for myself – how about you?

Hey and if you are tired of the same old lunch routine at work – why not pack your lunch in this festive bag?

Cruise_20Tote_20Bag_original

It’s sure to make your work day just a little more magical. This bag does double duty as a tote for sunscreen or other essentials on your next Disney cruise! Amanda can customize these for you in an endless amount of designs – so be sure and let her know if you are looking for something special for yourself or as a gift!

Right now as a bonus – MC Designs is having a special for Disneyways readers! All you do is type in the coupon code DISNEYWAYS at checkout and you will get 10% off your entire purchase!! Check out the store and please let me know what some of your favorite items are – I’d love to hear from you!

Everything featured on Disneyways is very special and  impossible to find in stores. That is just another reason why I am committed to bringing them to  you. Your Disney inspired items will stand out from the crowd because they are completely unique and original! When your friends and family ask where you got them – I hope you will remember that you heard about them on Disneyways.com.