What You Might Have Missed in The Seas with Nemo and Friends Pavilion

Published January 14, 2013 by Disneyways.com

One of our favorite Future World pavilions in Epcot is the Seas with Nemo and Friends. Usually when we think of this pavilion our minds go right to it’s most famous attractions.

The Seas with Nemo and Friends Attraction (click here for a ride-through video from Attractions Magazine.)
Turtle Talk with Crush (click here to see video of this interactive experience.)

Perhaps you have dined at the FABULOUS Coral Reef restaurant where fish can be friends OR food. Check out the link here for more on the Coral Reef!

At any given moment you will find folks waiting to pose with Bruce the shark over at “Bruce’s Shark World”.

Yep…that’s really me in there!

It’s very easy for us to take part in the popular Nemo attraction, see Crush…even eat at the Coral Reef…and then be on our way. But there is more to check out while we are here!

You can discover sea turtles, angelfish, dolphins, rays, sharks and more in the 5.7-million-gallon aquarium. Did you know this is one of the largest man-made ocean environments in the world? The Caribbean Coral Reef Aquarium is home to over 4,000 sea creatures representing over 60 species.

Here’s a fun tip. Anyone with park admission can catch the fish feedings at 10:00 AM and 3:30 PM. They even throw in a little educational value because a Cast Member will describe the rays, sea turtles and fish you see before you. Another favorite activity is ascending to the second floor’s Observation Deck—a circular, window-lined room in the middle of the aquarium. Here you will find yourself almost completely surrounded by marine life.

Next time you visit this wonderful pavilion you may want to slow down to enjoy all the wonderful tanks and creatures there are to see.

Here are just a few examples:

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I love this video from Destinations Florida. It features even more of the often overlooked areas and exhibits.

Want an even more “immersive” experience? Don’t just stay on shore – why not book a tour? Click each experience for more information.

Browsing around the Seas with Nemo and Friends pavilion, especially on a quiet day in Epcot, can be particularly relaxing and an all-around great experience. Every day is a great day to visit this pavilion, because cool temperatures can be enjoyed here year-round.

Do you have any fun photos or stories to share from the Seas With Nemo and Friends Pavilion? Please leave a comment here or email me at Disneyways@Disneyways.com

Solving the Mystery Surrounding the Rapunzel Tower in New Fantasyland: January 2013 Edition

Published January 13, 2013 by Disneyways.com

Updated March 2013! Click HERE to see a video of the grand opening of the Rapunzel Tower!

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January 10, 2013 I had a chance to check on the progress of the Rapunzel tower. The photos above are from my visit that day.

Attempting to Solve the Mystery of the Rapunzel Tower rising from New Fantasyland has been fun. The latest from our Disneyways sources have speculated that besides bathrooms, we will see charging stations for our cell phones, ECV’s, as well as a gift shop. The entire area is being built up very fast, which leads me to believe the other bit of gossip I heard, that the area is expected to completed this spring.

DaMouse.com has posted some wonderful, detailed pictures. Click this link to see what is going on behind the construction wall.

Just for fun, I thought you might like to see this picture of the Rapunzel meet and greet area in Disneyland – California. Photo credit mintcrocodile.blogspot.com

Please share your thoughts and any information you have heard about this area! We’d love to hear from you. Have a magical day!

Published January 12, 2013 by Disneyways.com

The next time that you are strolling around Disney’s Pop Century Resort, try counting the 65-foot high bowling pins.

Can you only find nine?

That’s because the tenth pin of the “set” is actually the bowling pin shaped “Bowling Pool” in the courtyard. 🙂

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Limited Time Magic Announced for January 14th – 20th 2013

Published January 11, 2013 by Disneyways.com

Florida snow falling in Canada – and a chance to meet up with some of your favorite characters!

Details Here!

Important New Dapper Day Information Released (Part 3 in our Dapper Day series!)

Published January 10, 2013 by Disneyways.com

Photo Credit: DapperDay.com

This is part 3 in our series about Dapper Day in Walt Disney World.

Please click here to read more about Dapper Day, it’s history and purpose.

Please click here to read more about what to wear and to see video from last year’s event at Disneyland.

The official Dapper Day site has been updated with some more details, so I wanted to share those with you today. This information is in reference to the Dapper Day event taking place at Walt Disney World. Just as a reminder “Dapper Day” events are independently organized social gatherings neither operated by nor associated with The Walt Disney Company. I am not involved in any of the planning and I do not know the organizer personally. I am just hoping to serve my friends, (that’s you!) the Disneyways.com readers, by sharing the new information.

Join the fashionable crowd SUNDAY FEBRUARY 24, for DAPPER DAY Spring 2013, and the 3rd annual spring outing at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World.

3pm THE LIBERTY BELLE BON VOYAGE – Meet at the boat landing in Liberty Square and we’ll all board the first departure at 3pm or after for an elegant trip (or two) around The Rivers of America on this original attraction from 1971.

4-5pm ISLAND ESCAPADES – Explore jewel filled caverns, frontier forts, and other prime photo-op locations on Tom Sawyer Island. (Board the rafts near the Big Thunder Mountain. Island closes at dusk.)

7pm THE DAPPER DERBY – Meet at Prince Charming’s Regal Carousel for a most elegant group ride!

8pm-Midnight AFTER DAPPER DRINKS at the tiki-themed Tambu Lounge in the Polynesian Resort, main building, Monorail level.

Dapper Day organizers stress that event hours and schedules are merely suggestions and they highly encourage you and your party to enjoy the park at your leisure.

The Magic Kingdom will close at 8pm, (10p Extra Magic Hours for resort guests). Fireworks at 8pm (Disney park hours and schedules may change.)

Another note about dress – Dapper Day events celebrate the tradition of stepping out in style. Any elegant fashions, from vintage-inspired looks to the latest haute couture, are encouraged. Active and retired service members, please consider wearing your dress blues or service uniform to Dapper Day!

Please click HERE to visit the official website for Dapper Day.

How to Make Your Own Character Autograph Books

Published January 9, 2013 by Disneyways.com

Photo credit Heidi and Mouskejournals.com

My son is all grown up now so I don’t think he would have a problem with me telling you his secret. He was TERRIFIED of any sort of character. Disney or otherwise. Just to make it even though- here is a deep dark secret of mine. Who’s got two thumbs and makes some of the ugliest crafts you’ve ever seen? This girl. I failed cutting in kindergarten and things haven’t really gotten any better since then.

I know there are many families out there who do not suffer the same misfortune – and this post is for you! Straight from Heidi – one of my new friends over at Mouskejournals.com, here are some great ideas for making your very own autograph books for you or a loved one’s favorite Disney characters to sign.

If you end up with an extra book- will you send it to me? Mine is probably going to come out looking more like one of those snowflakes we used to have to cut out of paper in kindergarten.

CLICK HERE FOR DO-IT-YOURSELF AUTOGRAPH KEEPSAKE IDEAS!

Dapper Day 2013 – What to wear, and What is it really like? (Part 2 in our Dapper Day Series!)

Published January 8, 2013 by Disneyways.com

dapper

Recently we shared preliminary details about Dapper Day coming to Walt Disney World and Disneyland.

As promised, today we want to share some videos from last year, and some ideas on what to wear. DapperDay.com has a beautiful inspiration wall full of attire, hair style, and makeup ideas. Check out this Pinterest board from my friend Sarah Norris for even more great ideas.

Sarah Katz-Scher has a public album of photos from last year that you can check out here.

ThisFloridaLife.com posted an awesome blog about her feelings before the event, and some great photos of her adventures from the day of. I loved seeing photos and reading her take on the Walt Disney World version of the event.

Check out this video we made from a previous Dapper Day at Walt Disney World!

You will notice there are people of all ages attending. It’s not just for the young – but also the young-at-heart!

Star Wars Droid Factory at Hollywood Studios

Published January 7, 2013 by Disneyways.com

If you feel a tremor in the Force, it might be because of a new merchandise feature at Disney’s Hollywood Studios opening in time for Star Wars Weekends.

The new Droid Factory is a build-your-own toy experience within the Tatooine Traders store near the Star Tours ride. For those not familiar with the intracacies of the Star Wars universe, it’s basically R2-D2 and his pals. R2-D2 is an astromech droid, and R2 is just one of a slew of said droids.

Disney Parks released a video showing details of the new feature. In the video, Disney Parks toy designer Brad Schoeneberg said, “One of the problems I had when I was a child was that in my droid playset, I never had enough droids. You need a droid army.”

“Now with the Droid Factory, you can actually build and name your very own action figure.”

It’s similar to the build-your-own light saber or even the build-your-own Mr. Potato Head shopping options found at Disney stores.

According to the Disney Parks blog, the idea for the Droid Factory has been around since 2009. At launch, there are 71 different pieces available from which fans can build literally thousands of permutations of the 3 3/4-inch toys. You can read more details about what’s available on their blog.

Epcot’s UK and Canada Paviion Phone Booths are Ringing in the Magic!

Published January 5, 2013 by Disneyways.com

Do you remember seeing these on your last visit to Epcot’s World Showcase? Perhaps you or your family members have climbed inside and posed for photos?

Even if you’ve never been to Epcot at all, you may have heard about the phone booths. So where exactly are they? You will find them in the United Kingdom pavilion located close to the restrooms. These restrooms are on the right as you come into the pavilion from the Canadian side. There is also a lesser-known Canadian phone booth.

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Here’s how to find that one:

On the way up the stairs at the Canada pavilion, you can see the coat of arms of the “Canadian National Hotels.” Just a few more steps and you’ll see that elusive Canadian phone booth. It looks very similar to the ones in the UK.

Did you know they are working phone booths? They really are! Some sources say you can make outbound calls from them and some say you can not. One thing is for sure…you can make an inbound call to the phone booths when ever you’d like.

Are you missing Disney and need to add a little magic to your day? Give the phone booths a call! Sometimes you will hear a busy signal or a fax machine. Other times a Disney guest will pick up and be so shocked to hear your voice on the other end that they just hang up. However, there are lots of great stories about Epcot visitors who will talk to you about everything from the Florida weather, the restaurants, crazy drivers, and maybe even local places to find great frozen yogurt. If you reach ME – I promise to talk your ear off.

Locals and other guests taking a day trip to Epcot sometimes enjoy using their cell phones to play jokes on their friends. Tales abound about calling other members of their own party to surprise them with their best Goofy or Donald impression! Give it a try! You know you want to.

I just met you, and this is crazy, but here‘s the numbers – call them maybe?

(Sorry — I couldn’t resist! Here’s the video if you don’t get the joke.)

Have you called before? How did it go? Do you plan on calling?

Please share your story!

My Disney Experience App for Android

Published January 4, 2013 by Disneyways.com

The new official Walt Disney World app My Disney Experience is now available on Android smartphones for download from Google Play. Amazon Android Marketplace downloads are also available.

The app has been available for iPhone and iPad since early August 2012.

My Disney Experience – Walt Disney World can help you plan your visit, find your way around the park and maximize the magic while enjoying all that Walt Disney World has to offer!

What can you do with it?

You can check out brand new Walt Disney World maps, official attraction wait times provided for you by Disney, look up FASTPASS® return times, book dining reservations, get details about nearby characters, attractions, entertainment, park hours and schedules, and more!

• New Here & Now feature, which instantly shows attractions and events closest to your current location
• Explore Walt Disney World attractions, including descriptions, images, and height requirements

• Locate nearest restrooms, baby care centers, concierge, and other Guest Services
• Browse dining options including Table Service and Quick Service restaurant locations

• Check availability and sign in to make dining reservations and
• Sign in to manage your personal profile