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5 disney things July 1

5 Disney Things You Should Know This Week – July 1, 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, we feature news from Walt Disney World including information on the Candlelight Procesional packages, the Epcot Food & Wine Festival and other additional to Walt Disney World.

2016 Candlelight Processional Packages Now Available

If you are interested in booking a Candlelight Processional package at Epcot this year, bookings are now open for all restaurants. As a part of Holidays Around the World at Epcot, this favorite Walt Disney World Resort holiday tradition presents the story of Christmas in truly spectacular fashion – with a celebrity narrator, a 50-piece orchestra and a mass choir.

Celebrity narrators this year include some returning favorites like contemporary Christian music singer Steven Curtis Chapman, actors Whoopi Goldberg and Neil Patrick Harris and newcomers like legendary baseball player Cal Ripken, Jr. Here’s the list of confirmations we have so far:

  • 11/25-27 – Steven Curtis Chapman
  • 11/28-12/1 – Neil Patrick Harris
  • 12/2-12/3 – Whoopi Goldberg
  • 12/4-12/12 – TBA
  • 12/13-12/15 – Meredith Vieira
  • 12/16-12/18 – TBA
  • 12/19-12/21 – Joe Morton
  • 12/22-12/27 – TBA
  • 12/28-12/30 – Cal Ripken, Jr.

The processional is performed three times per night (5:00, 6:45 and 8:15 p.m.) during the holiday season at the American Gardens Theatre. These packages, available on select nights, include a delicious meal and a guaranteed seat for one of the Candlelight Processional performances. Availability is limited.

Magic Kingdom PinQuest

pinquest

Check it out, Walt Disney World has announced a new Disney pin trading scavenger hunt is coming to Magic Kingdom Park on June 30. 2016. The first step for this PinQuest is to purchase an adventure kit which contains a lanyard to showcase your pins; a decoder medal for use with PinQuest pins; and a lanyard pouch to hold the map included in the adventure kit. The lanyard pouch also holds PinQuest clue cards which are sold separately.

There are six different PinQuest clue cards. Each clue card has a question that needs answered and shared with a NavigatEAR Cast Member in a particular location. Once solved, you can redeem the clue card for a PinQuest pin using the perforated ticket on the bottom of the clue card.

For more information: New Disney PinQuest Coming to Magic Kingdom

2016 Epcot Food & Wine Festival

epcot food wine festival

Information and dates have finally been released for the 2016 Epcot Food & Wine Festival. This year includes additonal food booths, more classes and celebrity chefs and of course teh Eat to the Beat concert series. Did I mention it is the longest Food & Wine Festival in the history of Epcot? 62 days!

For more information: 2016 Epcot Food & Wine Festival

Frontera Cocina now open at Disney Springs

frontera cocina

More Disney World restaurants are always welcome. This week, Frontera Cocina, the newest dining experience to join the lineup at Disney Springs, is now open! Located in Town Center, Frontera Cocina features exciting flavors and a contemporary Mexican experience developed by renowned Chef Rick Bayless.

Chef Bayless offers his award-winning taste of dishes such as Oaxacan Red Chile Chicken, Salsa Verde Shrimp Enchiladas Suizas and freshly made salsas and guacamole. There’s also a quick-service taco counter.

Chef Bayless created his Frontera franchise in Chicago in 1981. His other notable restaurants include Xoco, Frontera Grill, Toplobampo, Leña Brava and Cruz Blanca. He may be best known for winning the title of Bravo TV’s “Top Chef Masters,” but his national Public Television Series, “Mexico–One Plate at a Time,” is in its 10th season. He’s won multiple awards from the James Beard Foundation, including the foundation’s highest award, Outstanding Restaurant, for Frontera Grill in 2007. He also won two for his cookbooks, Midwest Chef of the Year, National Chef of the Year, Humanitarian of the Year and Who’s Who of Food and Beverage in America.

‘Inside Disney Parks’ Newscast #4

Episode 4 of the Inside Disney Parks newscast is now available, and includes all the information you need to enjoy the 4th of July at Walt Disney World. Enjoy!

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

5 disney things

5 Disney Things You Should Know This Week – June 24, 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, we feature news from Walt Disney World, Disneyland as well as other Disney parks around the world. See what I did there?

Frozen – Live at the Hyperion Dining Packages

frozen live packages

A few weeks ago, a new Frozen stage show opened at the Hyperion theater in Disney California Adventure. It replaced the long running and super popular Aladdin stage show. Early reviews of Frozen Live have been off the charts fantastic, and the show has been extremely popular and seats have been hard to come by. Well, now you can get reserved seats, along with some yummy treats. Disneyland has launched three new Frozen dining packages, everything from just snacks to a complete dinner are available. Booking is open now, the first packages are available for dates starting next week.

For more information: Frozen Live Dining Packages

Magic Kingdom Holiday Dessert Parties

boo to you

Every year, the Magic Kingdom comes to life with the holiday parties, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. While these parties offer plenty to do, Disney has just introduced new dessert parties during the parties if you want to add a little more to your night in the Magic Kingdom.

There are no tricks, just treats during the HalloWishes Fireworks Dessert Premium Package, available during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, select nights from September 2 to October 31. This frightfully fun package begins with reserved viewing of Mickey’s “Boo-To-You” Halloween Parade on Main Street U.S.A. and is followed by a private fireworks dessert party at Tomorrowland Terrace. Enjoy Halloween-themed confections while you take in the spectacular Happy HalloWishes fireworks.

If you’re planning on attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, have a holly jolly time at theWishes Fireworks Dessert Party, select nights from November 7 to December 22. Take in Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade with reserved viewing on Main Street U.S.A., afterwards, take in fa-la-la-fantastic views of Holiday Wishes: Celebrate the Spirit of the Season fireworks while enjoying festive treats at a private dessert party at Tomorrowland Terrace.

Dinner reservations for The Crystal Palace Restaurant, Be Our Guest Restaurant and Cinderella’s Royal Table are also now available for party nights.

Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire now open

mickey friendship faire

The Magic Kingdom finally has a new stage show, presented daily right in front of Cinderella’s Castle. Mickey’s Friendship Faire replaces the long running Dream Along with Mickey, and features magic, music and merriment. Against the majestic backdrop of Cinderella Castle, Mickey Mouse and his friends welcome favorite characters from some of Disney’s newest classics: “The Princess and the Frog,” “Tangled” and “Frozen.” The show celebrates the unique stories of the citizens who make up this magical kingdom and the wonderful moments that can happen when we try new things, go to new places and get to know new friends.

“Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire” features fifteen Disney characters, a musical score recorded by the London Symphony, the original song “On This Day” by composers Brendan Milburn and Valerie Vigoda (“Tinker Bell: Secret of the Wings”), elaborate costumes, special effects, a dazzling display of daytime fireworks and more!

Soarin’ Around the World now open

soarin around the world

Soarin’ Over California has been one of the most popular attractions at Disney since it’s launch. This week, Disney replaced the long running Soarin’ film with a new version, Soarin’ Around the World. Soarin’ Around the World elevates guests up to 40 feet into an 80-foot projection screen dome that fill’s a guest’s entire field of vision that gives them the sense of flight. During their journey, guests can expect to spy jaw-dropping natural and man-made landmarks like the Great Wall of China, Sydney Harbor in Australia, and the Matterhorn in Switzerland. Not only that, but a guest may find that their other senses are engaged, feeling, smelling and hearing the new world around them.

‘Inside Disney Parks’ Newscast #3

Episode 3 of the Inside Disney Parks newscast is now available, and includes Frozen Games at Disney’s Blizzard Beach, Animal Kingdom at night (hint, it is awesome!), Frozen Live, a Duffy Monorail in Tokyo and a cool POV video of Big Thunder Mountain. Enjoy!

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

do not miss magic kingdom

3 Do Not Miss Things in the Magic Kingdom

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When you visit the Magic Kingdom, everyone knows the things you must do. All of the important rides, parades, fireworks and shows are listed on the schedule and park maps, and are pretty easy to find. It’s not like you are going to visit the Magic Kingdom and forget to ride Space Mountain. However, there are 3 things located in the Magic Kingdom that you should definitely be aware of, and should not miss.

3 Do Not Miss Things in the Magic Kingdom

  1. Harmony Barbershop – Did you know the Magic Kingdom has a barber shop? They do! Located in Town Square at the start of Main Street, the Harmony Barbershop is a real, old-fashioned barbershop, and part time home to the local barbershop quartet, the Dapper Dans. Get it? Barbershop + Dapper Dans = Harmony! The Harmony Barbershop will cut anyones hair, from little kids to adults, boy and girls, men and women. The Harmony Barbershop is most known for “my first haircut”, and it is a tradition among many Disney families to have all of their kid’s hair cut there for the very first time. Some families I know have been doing this for generations! The My First Haircut package runs $25, and includes special Mickey Ears as part of the package. Regular haircuts are available too, $19 for adults and $18 for kids (prices subject to change of course). BTW, reservations are highly encouraged, though if you don’t have one, they will put you on the list and you can come back.
  2. Kiss Goodnight  – About 30 – 40 minutes after the closing time of the Magic Kingdom, a mini-show happens on and around Cinderella’s Castle. The castle starts to sparkle and then transforms into several different lighting overlays, it is just beautiful. An announcer then thanks everyone for coming to the Magic Kingdom and quotes a Walt Disney line about the reason the Magic Kingdom exists:

    Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, on behalf of everyone here at the Magic Kingdom, we thank you for joining us today for a magic gathering of family, friends, fun, and fantasy. We hope your magical journey with us has created wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. Walt Disney said that the Magic Kingdom is a world of imagination, hopes, and dreams. In this timeless land of enchantment, magic and make believe are reborn, and fairy tales come true. The Magic Kingdom is a place for the young and the young at heart. A special place where when you wish upon a star, your dreams can come true. Until we see you again, have a safe trip home. Thank you, and goodnight.

    For many, the Kiss Goodnight is the only way they will end their day in the Magic Kingdom. Personally, there isn’t anything I like more than the parks at night, and especially after they have emptied out. It is a great way to end your day.

  3. Electrical Water Pageant – OK, while technically not in the Magic Kingdom, you can see it from parts of the Magic Kingdom as well as from just outside. The Electrical Water Pageant first set sail in 1971 around Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon, and is basically unchanged to this day. It has been sailing nightly for 45+ years. For our family, we do not miss it on any of our trips. It reminds us of our first trip 25+ years ago. The water pageant can be seen from the Magic Kingdom or any resort that sits on Bay Lake or Seven Seas Lagoon as it passes by all of them nightly.

Of course, there are many, many things in the Magic Kingdom you MUST do on each trip, but one of these days, take it slow and enjoy all of the little things in the parks. It will help you appreciate the Magic Kingdom even more