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5 disney things

5 Disney Things You Should Know This Week – September 9, 2016

Welcome to another week of Disney things you should know. Not everyone can keep up with all of the Disney news (not even me, and I do this stuff full time), so we provide you with 5 Disney Things you should know from this week to help you keep up to date. This week features a new Disneyland discount, Disney Cruise spotify list to keep you happy between cruises, a new afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian and a few halloween tidbits.

Fall 2016 Disneyland Discount

Disneyland Discount

This week brings us a new Disneyland Discount for 2016 Fall dates. This is the same discount that was released last week for Disney VISA cardholders. It is now available to everyone, a Disney VISA is no longer required.

  • Save 20% on premium rooms at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and the Disneyland Hotel.
  • Save 15% on standard rooms at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and the Disneyland Hotel.
  • Save 10% on standard and premium rooms at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel.

For more information: 2016 Disneyland Fall Savings

Disney Cruise Spotify Playlist

disney cruise spotify

Do you have days when you wish you were on a Disney Cruise? I have them all the time (ok, every single day if you must know). Well, while I can’t really solve that problem for you, I can help a little bit. Disney Cruise has launched a Spotify playlist complete with all your DCL favorites. It includes both timeless tunes and modern reworkings of old favorites by contemporary artists. There’s no doubt you heard many of these songs on your Disney cruise in our stage shows and deck parties – or just walking down the hallway!

Listening to this playlist is sure to put a smile on your face—and keep you whistling while you work. You just need to have or create a Spotify account to enjoy it. I hope you like it as much as I do!

For more information: Disney Cruise Line Spotify Playlist

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is back

not so scary halloween

If you are a fan of Disney, Halloween, Mickey Mouse or having fun, get yourself to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party this year.

This year’s event will feature many spectacular returning guest favorites, including “Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade,” “Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular,” and “Happy HalloWishes” fireworks. But there are a few new additions to keep an eye out for.

  • “Zootopia” Clawhauser Stars In This Year’s Exclusive Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom Card – This year’s exclusive card is “Clawhauser’s Tricky Treat,” and when an “apprentice” uses this card to cast a spell in the game, dozens of magical donuts appear. (Learn how you can pick up your game card in this previous blog post).
  • “Zootopia” Nick and Judy Join The Creepa Crew – The Creepa Crew, which entertains guests waiting on Main Street, U.S.A. will be led by two of the Zootopia PD’s finest, BFFs Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps.
  • The “Boo to You” Parade Will Give You A Sugar Rush – Vanellope von Schweetz from “Wreck It Ralph” will bring in the candy this year during the “Boo To You” parade. Spy her and her squad of dancers toward the end of the parade.

As a reminder, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party requires a separate ticket (a party specific ticket) that can be purchased here and is available for the following dates.

  • September – 2, 8, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 29, 30
  • October – 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30, 31

Haunted Mansion Holiday Gingerbread Houses

haunted mansion holiday

Sticking with the halloween theme, have you ever been to the Haunted Mansion Holiday in Disneyland? One of my favorite all time Disney “attractions”. Well, this years is the 15th year of the makeover, and with that, we can now celebrate 15 years of Haunted Mansion Holiday Gingerbread Houses. If you haven’t been, get there. In the mean time, enjoy the video of 15 years of gingerbread houses.

Haunted Mansion Holiday Gingerbread House Fun Facts:

  • Heights have ranged from five feet (the smallest) to 15 feet (the tallest – almost touching the chandelier)
  • It takes 16 days to build and decorate the gingerbread house, on average
  • A team of 4 pastry chefs works together to create each masterpiece
  • Many of the pastry chefs have been part of this kooky tradition since 2001

This year’s house is made of:

  • 200 pounds gingerbread
  • 200 pounds powdered sugar
  • 4 gallons egg whites
  • 1 gallon lemon juice
  • 50 pounds fondant
  • 1/3 pound glitter

Do you have a favorite Haunted Mansion Holiday gingerbread house?

New Afternoon Tea available at the Grand Floridian

grand floridian afternoon tea

Recently, Afternoon Tea at Garden View Tea Room received a menu makeover, and now features the largest selection of Twinings loose-leaf teas, all of which are exclusive to Walt Disney World Resort. The stars of the new tea menu are the Twinings Signature Blends – served exclusively in the United States at the Garden View Tea Room – whether you select Perfect Afternoon, Garden Party or After Dinner Mint, you can’t go wrong. Pure Black and Flavored Black Teas, Oolong, Green and White Teas and caffeine-free Herbal Infusions are also available.

Teas are available in several ‘shires’ or packages, including The Bedfordshire Tea, The Derbyshire Tea, The Cheshire Tea, The Berkshire Tea and The Yorkshire Tea. Of course, there is a special tea available for guests age 3-9, Mrs. Potts includes tea sandwiches, a jam tart, delicate house-made pastries and a special ‘dark tea’ (chocolate milk).

Reservations can be made by visiting DisneyWorld.com/dine, or by calling 407-WDW-DINE. How will you celebrate afternoon tea?

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

best walt disney world character meal in magic kingdom

Best Walt Disney World Character Meal in Magic Kingdom

Everyone loves a character meal at Disney. Even if you have teens, you know deep down they love it when a princess comes over to your table, regardless of the look on their face. A Disney World character meal can be one of the memories you are your kids may think back on for years. In the Magic Kingdom, you would think there would be a lot of character meal options, but there are only 2. Now, there are a places that used to have characters (Liberty Tree Tavern), places that should have characters (Tony’s Town Square) and places that people think have characters but do not (Be our Guest). So, of the 2 options, what is the best Walt Disney World character meal in Magic Kingdom?

Current Magic Kingdom Character Meals

  • Cinderella’s Royal Table (Fantasyland) – Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Located inside of Cinderella’s Castle on the second floor, this is the ultimate Disney character meal if you have little (or big) princesses. Not only is the location perfect for a princess meal, but you also get to dine with Cinderella herself, as well as other Disney princesses such as Ariel, Aurora and Snow White, though her visiting friends can change. Watch out for Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother who hangs out in the lobby. Look around the restaurant and find some of Cinderella’s other friends such as Gus and Jaq.
  • The Crystal Palace (Main Street USA) – Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Basically the only place on property to find your favorite friends from the 100 acre woods. Pooh Bear, Eeyore, Tigger and Piglet visit your table while you dine on buffet selections in one of the most beautiful buildings in any Disney theme park.

That is it in the Magic Kingdom, 2 options!

The Dis/dom choice for best Character Meal in Magic Kingdom?

cinderellas royal table

While Cinderella’s Royal Table isn’t my favorite character meal at Walt Disney World, it does have quite a few special things you can’t get anywhere else on property, and it is definitely head and shoulders above the Crystal Palace. A great option for families, especially if you have any princesses in your family.

  1. You get to dine in Cinderella’s Castle!!!
  2. The restaurant is stunning inside, with huge windows looking out over Fantasyland. It really feels like you are dining in Cinderella’s Castle.
  3. Princesses come to your table! What could be better than having Snow White or Cinderella come to your table to talk to you? You get plenty of photo opportunities with all the princesses.
  4. I am not a fan of buffets, and Cinderella’s Royal Table is not a buffet. The food is for the most part very, very good. While there aren’t as many options on the menu as a normal Disney restaurant, the options they do have are quite good. I am a fan of the Caramel Apple Stuffed French Toast at breakfast. Not quite Tonga Toast, but not a bad alternative.
  5. The one negative thing with Cinderella’s Royal Table is the cost. If you happen to be on the Disney dining plan, the cost is double every other character meal at Disney World, 2 table service credits. Paying for cash it can run you as much as $60 per person for a character meal. This is still one of the hardest Disney Dining reservations to get, so apparently the cost isn’t too big of a deal for quite a few people.

Bonus Best Character Meal in Magic Kingdom

  • Be Our Guest – Dinner only. While not considered a character meal, the Beast is in the house during dinner hours. Since he is so large, he does not go from table to table, so he has a designated area near the front of the restaurant where anyone can come and see him and take photos. This isn’t a bad option, as I love Be Our Guest, the building is fantastic as is the food, plus you get a bit of an added bonus of a Disney character.

What is your favorite Disney World character meal in Epcot?

 

5 Disney Things

5 Disney Things You Should Know This Week – July 8, 2016

Each Friday, I provide 5 Disney things all Disney fans should know from this past week, just in case you missed them. This week, we feature news from Disneyland, where we finally get a discount, new popcorn flavors abound in the Disney parks and a new home for Anna and Elsa in Epcot.

Late Summer Disneyland Discount

2016 disneyland discount

It has been a little while, but Disneyland has released a new discount. Disney VISA cardholders can save up to 25% at Disneyland between August 14 – September 29, 2016. This is a great way to stay in one of the three Disneyland Resort Hotels and save a little money. While currently for Disney VISA cardholders only, this same discount will be released to everyone on July 19, 2016.

For more information: 2016 Disneyland Late Summer Savings – Disney VISA

Main Street Popcorn

disney popcorn

Who loves Disney popcorn? Me! Now, the Main Street Popcorn company is filling Disney parks with new flavored popcorn. Flavors include caramel, kettle corn, cheddar, confetti, Sriracha kettle corn, parmesan garlic, kettle corn with red alaea salt, truffle, churro and maple bacon. Churro popcorn? I am on my way Mickey, don’t eat it all without me!

Anna and Elsa Find a Home

Anna and Elsa, currently Disney’s two most popular princesses, have finally found a home in Epcot. The Royal Sommerhus in the Norway Pavilion is now the only place to find Anna and Elsa. Check out this awesome video that shows just how cool their new home is. Oh, they also have their very own ride next door, if you didn’t know.

Watch Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire Live

Mickey freindship faire

The Magic Kingdom has a brand new stage show, Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire. While it debuted a few weeks ago in the parks, you can now catch it live on July 11. The show will start at 4:10 PM EST on July 11, 2016. While a link has not been provided yet, check back with the Disney Parks Blog on July 11 for a link. BTW, I have seen it, it is wonderful!

For live link on July 11: Disney Parks Blog

‘Inside Disney Parks’ Newscast #4

There is a lot going on this Summer at Disney Parks around the world, and this new Inside Disney Parks Newscast features a look at all the new attractions at Disney Parks. The video looks at the new Shanghai Disneyland attractions (please bring the Tron Coaster to Disney World!), Frozen Ever After and the new Soarin’.

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