Disney announces weekly park surprises for 2013

Published October 18, 2012 by Disneyways.com

Social media will be a big component of a new program announced by Disney Wednesday in which the company’s parks in California and Florida will feature weekly surprise themes and events.

The “Limited Time Magic” program will include impromptu concerts, dance parties, colored lighting, character meet-and-greets, new menu and merchandise items and other events at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., and Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., near Orlando.

Disney will use Twitter, blogs, websites and other online activity to let park visitors know what’s happening. Guests might also be asked to vote on which characters they’d like to see or be sent on scavenger hunts with hints to figure out what’s new or different.

“It’s a fun, lighthearted, new way to get people engaged,” Leslie Ferraro, executive vice president of global marketing and sales for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, said at a news conference in Manhattan.

Disney erected a 25-foot-tall castle made of ice in Times Square to symbolize the fleeting nature of the weekly surprises, and water ran down the turrets as the ice melted Wednesday morning. Blase New Yorkers hurried past without giving it a second glance but some fans and tourists donned mouse ears and took pictures.

Each “Limited Time Magic” theme will last a week. Plans include celebrations of July Fourth, “Pirate Week,” 3-D chalk art, “Long Lost Friends Week” featuring lesser-known Disney characters. A Valentine’s Day celebration will feature pink and red lighting on Disney castles and romantic candlelit dinners in park restaurants.

Other Disney park news this year includes the June opening of Cars Land at California Adventure at Disneyland, and the continuing expansion of Fantasyland at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. The Fantasyland project, which is the largest expansion in the park’s 41-year history, began in March with the first of two Dumbo rides taking flight and is expected to be completed in 2014. Click on the ice castle to read more about this announcement!!

An Imagineer Tour of Be Our Guest Restaurant

Published October 15, 2012 by Disneyways.com

Click here to see the Video!!

We want our MTV – I mean – ECV!

Published October 15, 2012 by Disneyways.com

 

 

Photo credit: Disneyworldbasics.com

The following is an update to the information in this post.  Update posted October 26, 2012:

Walt Disney World Resort has selected five featured vendors that have agreed to rent resort Guests only those Electric Conveyance Vehicles (ECVs) that, based on size and speed, have been determined safest for use in the theme parks, resort hotels and transportation system.

Disney will recommend the featured vendors to our Guests and allow them to drop off and pick up their devices at our resort hotels, without the need for Guests to be present. All other vendors will have to arrange drop off and pick up directly with Guests and will not be able to leave the devices unattended.
This process will be implemented across all resort hotels beginning on November 1, 2012.

Begin previous post:

I adore my father-in-law. He smiles when I call him my FAVORITE father-in-law, since he’s the only one I’ve ever had. He really is one of the most terrific people I have ever known. Brilliant business man, cigar aficionado,Yankees fan, lover of all great music – (including Sinatra AND disco!), husband to his wife for over 60 years, embracer of laughter and life…and my favorite thing of all…he is a wonderful adviser and best friend to my husband.

Just like some other seasoned, mature folks however, my favorite father-in-law also happens to have mobility issues.  I love his company and I have wanted to take him to Disney World with me for years. I keep hoping to talk him into it one day. Out of curiosity – I started looking into the options Disney has regarding electric convenience vehicles – or scooters as we locals like to call them. Not that he’d really need or want one – but I thought it would be nice to give him the option.

I am hoping maybe you can benefit from some of my research on the subject. I threw in some wheelchair and stroller information too.

According to Disney,

“ECVs are available only on a same-day basis and may only be used in the Park where they are rented.  ECVs will be held if Guests wish to leave and return to the same Park.  Guests planning to visit more than one Park on the same day should retain their deposit ticket from the first Park they visit.  This will enable them to obtain a replacement wheelchair or ECV on the same day, if available, at the next Park with no additional charge.  NOTE: Wheelchairs or ECVs may not be available at the second Park. NOTE:  Guests must be 18 years of age or older to rent ECVs.  Devices are to be single-rider only. Guest Relations, located inside the Theme parks, provides a variety of services including: general information, priority seating for restaurants, ticket media information, Park guidemaps and entertainment schedules, and information on services for Guests with Disabilities.The Guide for Guests with Disabilities  provides a detailed overview of services and facilities available for Guests with disabilities and is available at Guest Relations locations within all four Parks as well as Guest Services locations at the WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resorts. Requests for brochures prior to a vacation should be sent to the Disney Reservation Center at (407) 934-7639.”

While you wait for your brochure to arrive however, here are some tips to help you start planning. Please keep in mind that in all of these locations – Disney REALLY stresses that vehicles are available on a first come first serve basis and of course – they are not free. For more information, ask for the Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities at any of these locations.

Magic Kingdom 
Wheelchair and ECV rentals are available at the Stroller Shop inside the Magic Kingdom theme park entrance.

Epcot

Wheelchair and ECV rentals are available on the east side of the Epcot theme park Entrance Plaza and at the International Gateway. For more information, ask for the Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities at Guest Relations on the east side of Spaceship Earth.

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

At HS you will want to check with Oscar’s Super Service near the main entrance. Guests visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios are able to rent strollers (single or double), manual wheelchairs, or electric scooters in this location. Replacement wheelchairs are available at the In Character Costume Shop.

Animal Kingdom

AK has ECV Rentals located  in Garden Gate Gifts near the main entrance. Guests visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park are able to rent strollers (single or double), manual wheelchairs, or electric scooters. Rentals are subject to availability.

Downtown Disney Marketplace Strollers and Wheelchairs

There is information to suggest there may be ECVs to rent, as well as strollers, and wheelchairs, located between Tren-D and Once Upon a Toy near the restrooms. However, when I called Disney, the operator on the line told me they do not rent them there. Not that I doubt – her but I am still curious and want to find out the whole story. I guess I will have to make a research trip myself to find out for sure. Anything for my Disneyways readers! Aw, who am I kidding. It’s all about feeling the wind in my hair on the new Dumbo ride.

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach Water Parks

Wheelchairs are welcome at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park and Blizzard Beach; however, they are not available for rent. No ECVs available at either.

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels
A limited number of wheelchairs (not ECV’s) are available at each Disney Resort Hotel.  A $315 USD deposit will be held on the Guest room account—charged only if the wheelchair is not returned.

Something to keep in mind:

Each of these locations have opening and closing hours that tend to vary, as well as an additional cost for rentals. You will want to check with Disney directly for details.

But what if you are staying at Disney for a whole week or even longer? Well first of all the first call you should make is to ME so I can come along.  LOL

On your next call perhaps, Disney will refer you to the area rental companies such as those listed below.

Apple Scooter

  • Best Price Mobility
  • bpmobility.com
  • 866-866-3434
  • ECVs, powerchairs, wheelchairs
  • Buena Vista Scooter Rentals
  • buenavistascooters.com
  • 866-484-4797 / 407-938-0349
  • ECVs, strollers, wheelchairs, and more
  • CARE Medical Equipment
  • caremedicalequipment.com
  • 1-800-741-2282 / 407-856-2273
  • ECVs, medical equipment, wheelchairs, and more

Another GREAT source of info (and the first place I thought of in my search) is  www.disneyonwheelsblog.com.

You can find a WEALTH of information here, including;

Walt Disney World Guest Assistance Card info

Parade viewing from a wheelchair

Tips for when you make dining reservations

Companion restrooms

And from theinfomouse.com – here are tips on your first visit.

Do you or a loved one have experiences you’d like to share regarding strollers, wheelchairs or ECV rentals at Walt Disney World?

Tour the new Fantasyland in pictures!

Published October 14, 2012 by Disneyways.com

If you are like me – and can’t wait to see the new Fantasyland – this is your lucky day!

Click here to see beautiful, full color, close up pictures of Gaston’s Tavern and the new Be Our Guest Restaurant.

Disney Food Blog calls it the Epic Mega post!

I love that! 

It’s almost as good as being there.

Well…not really…but at least we will know what to look forward to when we actually do!

What do you think? 

English: Logo for New Fantasyland -- the expan...

English: Logo for New Fantasyland — the expansion of Fantasyland at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

New Fantasyland feature you might not have heard about…

Published October 13, 2012 by Disneyways.com
English: Logo for New Fantasyland -- the expan...

English: Logo for New Fantasyland — the expansion of Fantasyland at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Thank you Disney World – for paying attention. Today there is yet another reason that I think the new Fantasyland will be worth the wait! It looks like the folks at  Walt Disney Imagineering have read our minds and maybe monitored our tweets and facebook requests.  So far we have seen the indoor air-conditioned Dumbo queue, FASTPASS for most attractions, shade trees, wider walkways, and lots of wall-seating throughout Storybook Circus.

That’s all great but what am I MOST excited about?
It seems though that Disney is not quite done yet, and have another trick up their sleeve. The third Big Top in Storybook Circus (the yellow one), along with the new restroom area being built in the former skyway station area, (remember those??)  is expected to feature something known as a ‘D-Zone’. These areas are designed to allow people to relax, take a seat, and to have access to things like ECV charging stations….and a place to -wait for it – CHARGE OUR CELL PHONES. Thank you Imagineers…thank you!!
No longer will I have to be the crazy lady in the park looking everywhere for outlets.  My legs going to sleep from sitting on the ground will be just a memory. October 23rd I get to go to Fantasyland for a sneak preview, and I am so excited I may explode. Blogging and sending you photos from the park will be a breeze if the new D-Zones are ready. Stay tuned to Disneyways!
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New at the Grand Floridian!

Published October 12, 2012 by Disneyways.com
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, seen ...

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, seen from the monorail station at the Magic Kingdom. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

New offerings at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

It’s really hard to pick – but the Grand Floridian may just be my favorite resort. Sure I may look ridiculous, red-faced and sweaty…wearing Mickey ears over my wild blonde hair that’s been frizzed out by the humidity. It really doesn’t matter. When I walk in to the Grand Floridian – I am welcomed by the waft of refreshing A/C, and maybe my friend Christine the harpist playing a beautiful tune. All of a sudden I become a classy, refined, lovely lady from the Victorian Era…well…in my own mind that is.

Could they really make this place any better?

Walt used to say he wanted to “plus” things. He loved taking his work just a step further to really delight Disney guests.  I think it may be in that tradition that the Grand Floridian has added some enhancements recently.

The new Beaches Pool Bar and Grill is an outdoor quick-service location with style. After you place your order at the window, a Cast Member will deliver your made-to-order meal to you. This added convenience allows you to lounge by the pool or watch your children splash in the new water activity play area instead of waiting in line for food. Take THAT Tomorrowland Terrace.

Not just your average pool bar, everything at Beaches is made fresh, completed after you place your order. Looking for an adult beverage? Let’s go visit the pool bar, equipped with a TV, signature drink selections and the option to order food from the grill. Soon, the bar also will offer local and micro brews. Beaches Pool Bar and Grill is open 7 a.m.-11 p.m., offering breakfast, lunch and dinner. Times and offerings are subject to change.

Nearby, our kids (48 inches or less) can splash in the new “Alice in Wonderland”–themed water activity play area. This zone, with lifeguards, features a metallic green dump bucket fashioned after the Mad Hatter’s top hat; it pours gallons of water over the jungle-gym structure and children playing on and around it. Two slides, three pull-string sprayers and a shallow pool complete the water wonderland. This area is open 10 a.m.-8 p.m., with operation times changing seasonally.

Perhaps Alice and Wonderland with all her fanciness and Tea over in the Garden View Tea Room (also located in the Grand Floridian) is the one that inspired things to  continue to get “curiouser and curiouser” all through the fall and winter seasons. Soon we will see additional refurbishment of Sandy Cove Gifts & Sundries merchandise location, Gasparilla Grill & Games quick service spot, and the Courtyard Pool.

Pinkies up ladies!! Now if you’ll excuse me – I’ve got to take my refined self to the ladies room and straighten my Mickey ears.

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Dates Pricing and Tips for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

Published October 11, 2012 by Disneyways.com

I know it seems wrong to even mention this so soon but would you believe we’re only one month away from the beginning of the holiday season Walt Disney World Resort 2012?

Yes we are very close (believe it or not!) to the night where the elves will come in and transform the park from the fall theme – to the Christmas theme.

Today we will look a – just a bit into the future – at the return of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.

In case you haven’t been to a party before, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a special event that takes place on select nights at Magic Kingdom Park throughout the holiday season. The parties promise holiday fun, including snow flurries on Main Street, U.S.A., Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade, Disney characters in holiday attire, Holiday Wishes’ Celebrate the Spirit of the Season fireworks, and – my personal favorite – Cinderella Castle Dream Lights. How can you tell they are my favorite? The Dream Lights are the ones that  decorate the castle and are featured on the Disneyways blog year-round!

This year’s parties will take place on the following dates:

November 9, 12, 15, 16, 25, 27, 29, 30;
December 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21.

Tickets have been on sale since May 1, 2012.

The festivities begin at 7 p.m.  and the purchase of an additional event ticket is required. Party attendees are welcome to enter the park as early as 4 p.m. on party nights, which is a great tip to follow if you’re attending with young children. If you aren’t attending the party and have only one day to go to the Magic Kingdom – AVOID the Christmas party dates – unless you don’t mind being kicked out (ever so gently and magically!) at 7pm.

The number one question people ask is if it’s worth the money to attend Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. If you are on a budget, I personally feel that you can skip it. Pretty much all the decorations inside the parks are displayed all season long. What you will end up missing without a MVMCP ticket (during the first half of December) is the Christmas parade and special fireworks.

DISNEYWAYS TIP: If you are really into Christmas decorations like I am – you can take a gander at all the beautiful decorations placed in the resorts – with no park admission required! But that’s a whole other blog…

Advance Purchase Prices for MVMCP:

  •  November 9, 12, 15, 25, 27, 29 and December 2, 4, 6, 9, 11, 13, 16, 18 — Ages 10+: $58.95+tax / Ages 3-9 $53.95+tax

Day of Event Prices:

  •  November 9 – 30, December 2 – 20 — Ages 10+ $64.95+tax / ages 3-9 $59.95+tax
  •  December 21: Ages 10+ $67.95+tax / ages 3-9 $62.95+tax

Passholder/DVC Discounted Prices:

  •  November 9, 12, 15, 25, 27, 29; December 2, 4, 6, 11 — Ages 10+ $54.95+tax / ages 3-9 $49.95+tax
  • No advance purchase discounts November 16, 30; December 7, 14, 20, 21
  • Children under 3 are admitted free.

Buy your tickets early! A number of MVMCP events SELL OUT! For more information, call 407-W-DISNEY.

In previous years, the park would close and then reopen. Now the park stays open through regular closing time. But, be sure to get a special MVMCP wristband before 7 p.m. Again, cast members will direct guests without the bands to leave the park sharply at 7pm.

Call 407-WDISNEY (407-934-7639) to purchase tickets, or visit disneyworld.com. Disney Vacation Club members must call Member Services.

Active and Retired U.S. Military, including members of the U.S. Coast Guard and active members of the National Guard or Reservists, may purchase discounted Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party tickets to select event nights. They may also purchase additional tickets for up to five (5) family members and/or friends. ID requirements are the same as the 2011/2012 Military Promotion. NOTE: Permanently Disabled Veterans are also eligible for this offer. These military personnel will have a Military ID with a DAVPRM status.

Discounted military tickets are available at all Vacation Planning and Guest Relations locations. (Not available at Shades of Green, military bases, disneyworld.com or at 407-WDISNEY.)

What do you get for the extra cost of the party? 

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party features:

– Castle Dream Lights on Cinderella Castle
– Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade
– Holiday Wishes Fireworks
– A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas Show
– Celebrate The Season Show
– Meet and greet opportunities with Disney Characters
– Character Dance Parties
– Complimentary cookies and hot cocoa
– Magical snow fall on Main Street
– Many of the most popular Magic Kingdom attractions (see below for specifics!)

Times of MVMCP shows, parade and fireworks:

Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade: 8:15 and 10:30 PM

Holiday Wishes Fireworks: 9:30 PM

“A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas” Show: 7:45, 8:45, 9:55, 10:50 & 11:45 PM

“Celebrate The Season” Show: 7:45, 10:05 & 11:20 PM

Character Meet & Greets: 7:00 – 11:30 PM

Magic Kingdom attractions that will be in operation:

Adventureland:
Pirates of the Caribbean
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Swiss Family Treehouse

Frontierland:
Splash Mountain
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Country Bear Jamboree

Liberty Square:
The Haunted Mansion

Fantasyland:
Peter Pan’s Flight
Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Snow White’s Scary Adventures
It’s A Small World

Tomorrowland:
Astro Orbiter
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
Space Mountain
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Stitch’s Great Escape
Tomorrowland Speedway
Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor

Where to purchase something to eat:

Main Street:
Casey’s Corner
Main Street Sweets

Frontierland:
Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe (closes at 10:00 PM)
Westward Ho
Turkey Leg Cart
Frontierland Churros & Pretzels

Liberty Square:
Sleepy Hollow

Fantasyland:
Storybook Treats

Tomorrowland:
Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe
The Lunching Pat at Rockettower Plaza

DISNEYWAYS CHRISTMAS PARTY TIPS:

Santa Hats with Mickey Ears and Reindeer Horns with Mickey Ears are available for purchase (if you are in to that sort of thing!).

Short lines for all the fast rides are during the first parade if you want to feel the holiday wind in your hair. Make time to attend the second parade instead.

Check out the special shows and leave some time to see the Florida “snow” on Main Street.

Visit the characters in Fantasyland later in the evening – after the little ones have nestled all snug in their beds.

DO NOT miss the special holiday fireworks!

Unless you fear turning into a pumpkin like Cinderella’s coach – the park empties quite a bit by midnight – and you may have most attractions to yourself!

I’d love to hear from you if you’ve been to the party, dream of going, or maybe have some more tips for first-timers! Have a magical day!

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Quick Tips for Saving time at Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival

Published October 9, 2012 by Disneyways.com

Food and Wine is here and if you’re like me, you want to make the most of every precious minute you have to spend in Epcot!

To help you with your Food and Wine plans here is a link to the Disney Food Blog’s page. This will show  you where each World Showcase tasting station is located, the menu items from each one, prices, and some even with pictures and reviews of the food and libations! Click HERE to check out all of their guides.

Before you head to World Showcase, I want to recommend that you find the top 5 items that you really have your heart set on trying. Sometimes the lines are long and people are blocking the menu boards – so just knowing where you want to go and what you want to get when you get there can save you a ton of time!

Another time saver is to get a Disney gift card before you go. You don’t even have to wait until you get here, you can get them online! It’s fun just to check out all the different designs there are! This will help you stick to your budget and there’s no fumbling with cash or change at the kiosks. They do have special gift cards at the festival that you can attach to your wrist with a rubber band – but other then that – they don’t do anything that a regular old Disney gift card can’t do. You can reload them as many times as you want. Below is a video showing the gift cards that attach to your wrist – only these were at the Flower and Garden Festival.

If you do have extra time (and money) however, you will want to read up on the special events and possibly make a reservation or two for those. There are wonderful low cost seminars and food demos too!

One other tip. If you can spare the time, take a minute to find the festival welcome center and grab a free passport. It’s a wonderful (FREE!) souvenir and you can get each country stamped by a cast member when you visit the kiosks! These have menus but not pricing, so doing your homework if your on a budget is still a good idea.  If you take just a few minutes to check out the festival welcome center while you’re there – you could meet a TV star from HGTV, get a free chocolate or wine sample, do some shopping, and definitely enjoy the air-conditioning.

Do a little planning before you go and you will find there is so much more to the festival that you may not have gotten a chance to experience otherwise. If you have any questions or maybe your own tips for saving time at food and wine please post them in the comments section.

Have a magical day and CHEERS everyone!

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My 2012 Experience with “3D” – Disney’s Dessert Discovery Party

Published October 8, 2012 by Disneyways.com

Even though I was born and raised in Orlando, I didn’t know about 3D Disney’s Dessert Discovery Party until I actually took a job booking Disney dining for guests. Most of us that are born here have heard of the Epcot Food and Wine Festival but really don’t know much about it, we only think we do. When I excitedly tell my friends and family that the Epcot food and wine festival is coming – I usually get a raised eyebrow and the same question, “Isn’t that the thing where you get to try food and wine from all the countries?”

Well… yes… but it’s also the chance to book some wonderful experiences, demos, and tastings – the way only Disney could do them. You just might even meet some TV stars, and you’ll definitely get  a chance to rock out to some tunes courtesy of some of  the best bands of the 80’s, 90’s, and 2000’s. But these are just the Food and Wine Festival opportunities that Disney tends to focus their advertising on. There is so much more to enjoy!

You may want to book early for the Dessert Party, although there still seem to be seats available for this year.  If you are planning ahead – and you enjoy this sort of thing – you will want to start studying up on what’s new, what’s popular and what’s changed…beginning in early August, and even July 2013.

Events like this one are VERY popular and sometimes sell out on the first day we can book them.

I had been reading about Epcot’s “3D” Dessert Discovery Party for years. It sounded like a wonderful experience – and being the dessert lover that I am, I thought, how could I go wrong?

“Join us for a dessert lover’s dream at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival 2012! Indulge in decadent desserts and cordials, then enjoy a V.I.P. viewing of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.

Where: World ShowPlace Events Pavilion, located between the Canada Pavilion and the United Kingdom Pavilion in World Showcase.

When: Fridays, October 5, 12 and 26 and November 2 from 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Cost: $55 per person, plus tax. Gratuity included. Epcot Theme Park admission required.

For General Admission reservations, please book online or call (407) WDW-FEST or (407) 939-3378. Space is limited, so be sure to book in advance.:”

You read that right — FIFTY FIVE DOLLARS plus tax. Whew!! Pretty steep for me. I justified it as a “research” expense for my readers and busted out my credit card on the very first day of bookings. After months of waiting, the occasion  finally arrived. October 5th fell on a Friday this year. All this time I thought I would be going by myself, but I was pleasantly surprised to have my neighbor Tristan express interest in coming along. Luckily she was able to book a seat just in time – and we were off on our quest to discover wonderful Disney desserts.

We were headed to The World Showplace Events Pavilion. It is located between the Canada and UK pavilions in World Showcase at Epcot. This is where they hold many of these type of special events. I think it looks so pretty at night. This photo belongs to http://www.disneytravelbabble.com – the rest are from Disneyways.

The party didn’t start until 8PM, so Tristan and I decided to sample some of the best and most popular eats that the Food and Wine Festival had to offer.  Before taking off though, I double checked with a cast member who told us we would be given a wrist band upon entrance – and they can usually just look up the reservation by last name. People were already lining up by 7pm – but Tristan and I were hungry – and we are not much for lines. At $55 a seat we figured it wasn’t a big rush, Epcot could afford to save 2 seats and some desserts for us. This proved to be a smart decision. There were a lot of people – but the pavilion is BIG, and the dessert stations are plentiful – so there was no shortage of food or seats when we got in.

After our snacks from the kiosks of the “world” we checked in at the podium and were handed some pretty cool 3D glasses.  There is just no way to describe what you see through these things unless you look at these chandeliers and imagine Mickey icons being all around them. 

From here we were treated to the sounds of a live band singing all your typical “sweet” and “candy” themed songs…Sugar Sugar…Lollipop…Candy…you get the idea.

I loved the music and thought the band was great. But that’s no surprise – I’m pretty cheesy like that.

The very end of this blog contains a link where you can learn more about the details, dates, and how to book the 3D Disney’s Dessert Discovery Party.

Today I wanted to take you on pictorial and video tour of my personal experience – but first – here’s a few Disneyways tips:

  1. Don’t sweat the long line -unless you really want to be one of the first ones inside! There are plenty of food and seats for everyone – and you won’t have to be in the serving lines nearly as long if everyone else has gotten their desserts already.
  2. Have a snack before you go – something substantial. I recommend the Coq Au Vin from the French Kiosk! There is a “Savory” station but of course that is the longest line during the first hour of the party. This is really a time where you can eat dessert first! Pace yourself and go back for the savory stuff later – you’ll be glad you did!!
  3. Do NOT miss the donuts flambé! They are bathed in sugar are cooked in a pan of rum – right in front of you! 

4. I am not much for alcohol but even I had to try the flavored vodka!  

5. I mixed it with some of the blue lemon-aid and Tristan suggested I call it the Krista Cocktail. Feel free to try it OR you could mix some flavored vodka with the Chocolate or Cranberry Water they had available and create your own signature drink!

Overall, the event was fabulous, and more than I expected. One of the best parts of the party however, is the special fireworks viewing area.

We were literally right on by the water – and I got some cool video.

Watching the fireworks through the special 3D glasses they had given us earlier was pretty much the coolest thing I had ever seen. There was no way to film it through the glasses – but believe me I tried! In fact, much to my embarrassment, you can hear my reaction and see how I turned the video camera sideways – without even realizing it. Listen closely before that… and you’ll hear the Dad behind me telling his son “I SEE MICKEYS!” Awesome.

  SO – if you are big on sweets, booze, fireworks, and feeling like you are getting VIP treatment – you may want to look in to the “3D Dessert Discovery Party” as I like to call it! In closing, here are some pictures of the food stations, atmosphere, and fun!

To learn more about booking your own 3D Party – including Sweet Seats click here.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

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Epcot 30 Fireworks “Tag”

Published October 2, 2012 by Disneyways.com

October 1, 2012 we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the opening day at Epcot! It was HOT, humid, and somewhat crowded but I am chalking it up to one of my favorite Disney days in history.

The IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth firewo...

The IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth fireworks show at Epcot at Walt Disney World. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Please enjoy this video that my wonderful, tall husband took of the special Epcot 30 Illuminations “tag”. Illuminations is always awesome but the tag really added something amazing, and to me, the show was truly a once in a lifetime experience.  I almost cried about 5 times while watching it.

Feel free to play it over and over just to enjoy the sounds while you work. That’s what I have been doing.

One other thing…there was soot literally raining down after the show from the multiple pyrotechnics! INCREDIBLE!