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Disney Things June 3

5 Disney Things You Should Know This Week – June 3, 2016

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Each Friday, I provide 5 Disney things all Disney fans should know from this past week, just in case you missed them. This week was a very, very slow Disney news week. Here are the super important Disney news items for this week:

Disney Wonder Enhancements

Disney Wonder Upgrades

Something that should have happened years ago, the Disney Wonder is finally going to get a major upgrade! Upgrades include a new water slide, new water play areas, two new restaurants, a new adults only area complete with an English Pub and a Marvel Super Hero Academy for the kids, plus many, many more.

For more information on the Disney Wonder upgrades: Disney Wonder to be Updated

Star Wars D-Tech On Demand

star wars phone case

Walt Disney World is constantly adding new designs to their D-Tech, on demand service. With this service, you can create custom cell phone and other cases and more recently, Magic Bands. Are you sick of your boring purple magic band? Customize a new one with D-Tech, and choose from hundreds of designs, and even put your name right on the outside of the Magic Band. This month, Disney is adding new Star Wars designs into the system, and some are down right desirable.

Personally, I think the red x-wing fighter Magic Band is calling my name.

For more information: D-Tech on Demand Awakens This Summer with Limited Release Star Wars Artwork

China Stamps

Disney Stamps China

With the opening of Shanghai Disneyland just a few days away, China has announced two super cute stamps in commemoration of the grand opening. The stamps features Mickey and Minnie in one stamp and Cinderella’s Castle with Tinker Bell on the second. No word on whether the stamps will be made available to purchase outside of China.

Savor the Savanna Experience

savor savanna

Today, Walt Disney World announced a new evening experience at the Animal Kingdom called Savor the Savanna: Evening Safari Experience. This new event takes you on a private safari ride through Kilimanjaro Safaris, finally stopping at the best overlook in all the savanna. Once there, you will be treated to drinks and tapas while you over look the savanna.

For more information: Savor the Savanna: Evening Safari Experience

Frozen Games

frozen summer games

This week marks the grand opening of the Summer Frozen Games at Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park. Kristoff and Olaf from Disney’s hit animated film “Frozen” are on their way from Arendelle to help host the inaugural “Frozen” Games at Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park this summer.

Starting May 27 and running through Aug. 21, our “Frozen” friends will invite guests visiting Blizzard Beach to join Team Kristoff or Team Olaf each day to participate in a variety of winter-themed activities including:

  • Ice Pail Relays where teams line up and pass pails of water to one another, trying to be the first to fill a container at the end.
  • A “Snowball” Toss where pairs compete in a snow-themed water balloon toss.
  • Ski Pole Limbo, a snowy twist on traditional limbo—using a ski pole as the limbo bar!
  • Slide Races that allow teams to race down one of the signature water slides at Blizzard Beach.

Olaf and Kristoff will be on hand, appearing on the Observation Deck near Summit Plummet to take part in the opening and closing ceremonies, and giving updates on their teams’ progress throughout the day.

The “Frozen” Games will be an all-day event that guests can sign up for when they arrive at the park entrance. All activities are included with regular admission to Blizzard Beach.

Did I miss any Disney news this week that should have been included?

Port Orleans Riverside

3 Reasons to stay at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort

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Walt Disney World offers some fantastic resort options for their guests, but one of my favorite resorts is Port Orleans Riverside. In fact, Riverside was the very first resort I stayed at on my first trip to Disney World back in the early 90’s, and back when it was called Dixie Landings. My family still loves to stay here and is our moderate resort of choice while visiting Walt Disney World. While I know it is a fantastic resort, I offer you three reasons why you should consider staying at Port Orleans Riverside on your next Disney vacation:

  • Royal Guest Rooms – If you have a princess or prince at home, and want to treat them to a special room while at Disney, consider a Royal Guest Room at Port Orleans Riverside. These rooms are over the top special, and feature ornately decorated beds that include a special fireworks display in the headboard, custom bed coverings and drapes to give the room that royal feel, unique art featuring Tiana and friends as well as other special touches including a flying carpet in each room! While there is a little extra cost for these rooms, they are totally worth it, and the only place like it on property.
  • Sassagoula River Cruise – Yes, Sassgoula is as much fun to say as it is to cruise. The Sassagoula River stretches from Port Orleans Riverside down to Port Orleans French Quarter and then onto Disney Springs. Board a boat for a leisurely 2 1/2 mile cruise, there isn’t anything quite like it at Disney. Take the boat one way or round trip, totally up to you, as there is also bus service between Disney Springs and Riverside.
  • Pool Hopping – My family loves to swim while on vacation, and we often return home from the parks for a few hours after lunch to relax and swim on a daily basis. If you are staying at Port Orleans Riverside, you have access to not only Ol’ Man Island at Riverside and the Swimmin’ Hole, but you also have access to Doubloon Lagoon at Port Orleans French Quarter as well, so your resort comes with two of the best pools on Disney property. Doubloon Lagoon is a short walk or boat ride down the river from Riverside. Nothing quite like giving the kids two great swimming options to choose from.

Of course, there are many more reasons to stay at Port Orleans Riverside. Why do you stay there?

magic kingdom flag retreat

Magic Kingdom Flag Retreat Ceremony

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Happy Memorial Day everyone! Since the opening day of the Magic Kingdom on October 1, 1971, Disney has held a flag retreat ceremony for the flag on Main Street every single day. While many people do not notice the flag pole at all, since they are in a hurry to get past the entrance and well into the park, there is a fairly large flag pole in Town Square, and the US flag is flying high before the park opens. Well, that flag has to come down each day, and Disney isn’t going to pass up a great opportunity, so they have a Flag Retreat Ceremony every single day.

The Flag Retreat Ceremony is just one of the reason that Disney is so wonderful. It is the small things that make the parks special. I would guess that most people visiting the parks are completely unaware of the daily ceremony, and that is just fine. But, during your next trip, take some time to be in Town Square at 5PM one day in the Magic Kingdom, and you will be pleasantly surprised, and may shed a tear or two (don’t say I didn’t warn you).

flag retreat ceremony

Plus, if you happen to be a veteran, you may be able to participate. In the past, you were able to head to City Hall first things and “volunteer”. A few years ago, they altered the process and now select someone from the Disney crowds that looks as though they are military. This usually happens early in the day, though no one knows for sure exactly how one is chosen. If you are interested in being part of the Flag Retreat, wear something that might indicate you are a veteran (or active duty), be at the park early, at the rope drop, and ask around, it never hurts to ask. From what I know, it seems as though Disney security typically is in charge of choosing a volunteer, so feel free to talk to as many as you can to see if you may be able to volunteer. If you are chosen, you will get to participate in the program, walk the flag down Main Street and even receive a certificate and pin. From everyone that I have talked to that has ever participated, they have to a man stated that it was the most special “thank you” they had ever received for serving in the military. Even if you aren’t chosen, make sure to be there.

The Flag Retreat Ceremony typically includes the Dapper Dans, the Main Street Philharmonic as well as Disney security personnel. Several songs will be played, everyone will get to say the Pledge of Allegiance, the flag is then lowered while the band plays the Star Spangled Banner and then while the flag is being folded, the Dapper Dans lead everyone in a verse of God Bless America. The band then plays a few military songs, followed by a procession down main street and the final ceremony thanking the daily volunteer and their family.

The entire ceremony is only about 15 minutes long, but well worth your time.