Noelle

Big changes are coming to Universal Orlando Resort – in the form of a new Water Park – Volcano Bay. Universal will close Wet-n-Wild to make room for this new park.  Opening in 1977, Wet ‘n Wild, Orlando was one of America’s first water parks.  It will close down permanently Dec 31, 2016. […]

“Be Our Guest, Be Our Guest, Put our service to the test…”  Well this November I did just that for the new Be Our Guest restaurant in the Beast’s Castle.   I was extremely fortunate and was able to get a table on a night they were doing “dress rehearsals” for the new Fantasy Land.  I was just a little excited about the opportunity!    I was given a pager and was told it would be just a few minutes wait time.  In less than 5 minutes I was taken inside the restaurant.  The hostess seating me offered to take my picture in front of the gorgeous mural in the entry way.  As she led me to my table she encouraged me to walk around after I ate to take pictures and see the other eating areas.  From the walkway into the restaurant to the eating areas themselves, the attention to detail is stunning. I was thrilled to be seated in the Grand Ballroom.  The room itself is stunning, an the attention to detail is carried through here as well.  The tables look like marble, the napkins are folded into roses, and of course the waiters and waitresses costumes are fantastic.  [...]

It is the “Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and nowhere is this more accurate than at the Walt Disney World® Resort.  On select nights throughout Nov-Dec you can add even more festivity to your Disney Vacation by attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.  The Christmas party is a separate ticketed event, and is held after the Magic Kingdom® Park closes.  The event takes place from 7pm- midnight.  Fewer guests, special Character appearances, FREE hot cocoa, cider and cookies (or apple slices) are just a few of the fun perks of attending this Very Merry Party! The Christmas Parade is also a fun highlight, and on some nights – it even snows on Main Street, U.S.A.®!  Santa makes an appearance as well.  In late December this parade can be seen in the parks without going to the party. This extra ticketed event is well worth it in my opinion.  I have so many fun memories from the ones I have been able to attend.  Although the party starts at 7:00 guests can typically enter the park at 4:00 with your party tickets. (This is subject to change so be sure to check with a cast member before you go). For more information on this [...]

It is that time of year again – The International Food and Wine Festival has begun at Epcot®.  This year marks the 18th anniversary of this 46 day festival.  The International Food and Wine Festival runs Sept 27 – Nov 11, 2013.  With Food and Wine available from 30 different kiosks, this festival is a food and wine lovers dream come true!  There are also many seminars, classes and demonstrations throughout the festival First let’s talk food!  Last year’s most popular offering was Canada’s “Le Cellier” Wild Mushroom Beef Filet Mignon with Truffle Butter Sauce.  They served up more than 80,000 servings of this dish.  It is returning this year at the Canada Kiosk, along with the Canadian Beer Cheese Soup, another very popular dish.  Each Kiosk has multiple choices of food and beverages, many of the food Items are eligible for the Snack Credits on the Disney Dining Plan – for instance – the Lobster Roll or Grilled Lobster Tail at the Hops and Barley Kiosk – they would be $7.50 out of pocket – or 1 Snack Credit on the DDP. Besides browsing your way around the “World” at the Kiosks, there are many seminars and events available, at [...]

On select dates, usually Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, in September and October, the Magic Kingdom® Park closes down early for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.  This Party is the ONLY time adults are allowed to wear costumes inside the Parks.  Magic Kingdom® Park is decorated in seasonal finery all day long, but at night, the decorations come alive.  The Mickey-O-Lanterns glow and the fun and slightly spooky music begins to flow.  All non-ticketed guests are required to leave at the regularly scheduled closing time.  Those who have purchased tickets to the party are given special wristbands.  The wristbands must be shown to get onto rides, and after a certain hour, even to purchase things at the shops!  Special “party only” merchandise is available once the party is in full swing.  Pins and other items that cannot be purchased during the day will be available at certain stores.  These stores are also marked on the event map. Not only are adults allowed – even encouraged to wear costumes at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, but on party nights, some of the characters come in their Halloween costumes too!  Special characters are also available on party nights, such as Snow White and [...]

Every few years, Disney implements a new system.  Set to debut by the beginning of 2014 is Disney's MyMagic+.  Part of this new system is Disney’s newest technology – MagicBands!  It is currently in the testing phase.  Selected Guests from several resorts are being chosen to try out the new MagicBands. If you are going to the Walt Disney World® Resort soon, make sure to sign up for My Disney Experience .  That is where you will get to customize your MagicBands if you are chosen for testing. Guests may customize bands for each member of their party.  There are several different colors to choose from! Once you have customized your MagicBands, which you must do a certain number of days prior to your trip, or they will choose the color for you, Disney will send out your colorful bands by mail. This can take up to 10 days.  MagicBands are one size fits all – there are instructions inside the box on how to make the bands smaller for little arms.  MagicBands can be re-used on future trips to the Walt Disney World® Resort The MagicBands are free, but just in case you want to add a personal touch to your MagicBand [...]

One of the biggest decisions when making reservations for a trip to the Walt Disney World® Resort is where to stay.  Value, Moderate, or Deluxe?  Budget may decide for you, but if you have a little wiggle room in the budget how do you decide?  There are so many perks for each level of hotels how do you choose? I highly recommend staying on Disney Property, the perks for staying on property are phenomenal.  The Extra Magic Hours benefit at the parks, FREE parking if you have your own vehicle, FREE transportation to and from the airport, and to the parks if you do not have your own vehicle. and extraordinary customer service are just a few of the many reasons!  When staying at one of onsite Disney resorts you have the option of purchasing a Magic Your Way® Package Plus Dining to save money on food.   All of the resorts have pools, many have waterslides and hot tubs.  Each resort also has pool games and activities, an arcade, laundry facilities and much, much more. One of the options on Disney property are the Value resorts.   Disney's All Star Music, Disney's All Star Movies, Disney's All Star Sports, Disney's Art of Animation and [...]

If I HAD to choose my favorite restaurant at the Walt Disney World® Resort, it would have to be the Yachtsman Steak House!  I have been there twice now, and have had excellent service and food both times.   The Yachtsman Steak House is a Signature  Dining restaurant.  That means that if you are on the Disney Dining Plan, it will take 2 table service credits.   If you are not on the dining plan, the entrees run anywhere from $32 - $65.   They are worth it!  Of the top five steaks I have EVER had in my life – two were here!   One of the unique things about the Yachtsman is that they age their steaks right on site.  When you enter the restaurant, you can see the aging room. Frequently, there is a chef in the room, hand cutting the steaks.  This means that if you decide you want a 3 inch thick NY Strip – they can do that for you.  The décor of the restaurant is not too heavily themed, nice warm woods, and good white linens abound.  Being a signature restaurant, the Yachtsman does have a dress code, but you will see people in everything from evening wear, to [...]

I don’t know about you but I love to make people happy.  Going to Walt Disney World® always makes me happy and I like to try and pay that forward.  The Cast members always go above and beyond to make every guest feel special, so I try and make sure that the Cast Members who interact with me get the recognition they deserve. One of the simplest ways to pay it forward for any Disney Employee is to simply go to guest services at the front of the park, and tell one of the workers there about  your experience, making sure to mention the cast member by name.  For instance “I just wanted to let someone know that ‘Patrick’, working at the Fastpass Return for Thunder Mountain RailRoad, made our day special by …..”  Another way I try to make things more special for those who are working hard to make my vacation a success, is to print up little business cards that say “Thank you for the extra Pixie Dust”  or something similar.  I take a picture of something that matches the theme of my card (for instance a Tinkerbelle ornament) and use a fun font.  Then I just [...]

Ok, I admit it, I am a photography nut.  I love to take pictures, especially at Disney!  There is so much to see and enjoy and I love to be able to go through my photos weeks or months after my vacation and remember those little details.  Some of my Favorite photos have been take at Disney World and I thought I would share just a few tips on how I have been able to capture some great pictures! First – You don’t need a fancy expensive camera to get some fun shots!  My little camera is just a decent digital camera, with a few different features that are very common among cameras.  The main settings I use on my camera are my Macro setting for close ups (looks like a little flower)  the Sports setting for fireworks and night time lights (looks like a little running man)  and of course my default setting.   The only other things you need are a little imagination, and if you want – photo editing software or  a photo editing site - there are several good free sites out on the web! For some really fantastic shots, try changing your perspective.  Give a camera [...]

Just as Disney World is expanding with the New Fantasyland, Disneyland is also expanding to include the new Fantasy Faire! Opening March 12th Fantasy Faire will be a natural extension of Fantasyland.  The quaint storybook village addition will contain the Royal Theater and the Royal Hall.  Disney Imagineers took inspiration from Sleeping Beauty’s castle, Pinocchio, and the existing Fantasyland.  According to the Director of Walt Disney Imagineering,  “My goal,” he said, “was that the new Fantasy Faire would meld over into the existing Fantasyland naturally.” He said that his intention would be for first-time visitors to never suspect that this addition came later than the rest of Fantasyland.”  The Royal Theater will house a couple of Renaissance story tellers, Mr. Smythe and Mr. Jones.  These two will tell the stories of Beauty and the Beast, and Rapunzel, with some help from fellow villagers. Belle, Flynn Rider and Rapunzel themselves will even appear to help tell their stories  These unique vaudevillian style shows will be fast paced, and whimsical, and all accompanied by the music of Sir Samuel from Morocco.  Show Director Chris Utley remarked “The storytellers will play a variety of roles, filling in as the other characters. They may [...]

What could be more fun than going to Disney World or Disneyland? Disney’s newest promotion – Limited time Magic!  Every week in 2013 Disney is rolling out special treats for its guests, for just that week!  Both Parks are also Celebrating the Year of the Ear, with special Ear hats coming out each month!    Disney World and Disneyland will be having separate Limited Time Magic Celebrations although a few of the celebrations will be the same.  So far in January, Disney World has celebrated with Snow in Epcot and appropriately dressed Characters, and This week – appearances by Long lost Friends – such as the Three Little Pigs, Robin Hood, and Clarabelle Cow!  Disney Land has been celebrating with a Mardi Gras and Bayou Bash, as well as the Salute to the Golden Horseshoe Revue.   Each new celebration is announced on Friday the week before, keeping the news fresh and exciting.  I am super excited to see what they come up with!   Some of the Scheduled Celebrations are :   True Love: Celebrate romance and enchantment throughout Valentine’s Week with special moments and entertainment geared to lovebirds. Disney Princes join their Princesses to meet park guests in [...]

There are so many things to do in EPCOT I couldn’t possibly list them all, but here are a few hidden or overlooked things that I personally have had a blast with! One of the things I have enjoyed the most are the live entertainment bits here and there in the World Showcase, from the Ziti Sisters, to the drummers in Japan, to the Mariachi Band in Mexico, there is something for everyone.  Many of the acts, like the Ziti Sisters, are very interactive by including willing audience members to take part in their skits.  I just happened upon the end of the Ziti Sisters act and liked it so much I had to come back at their next scheduled time to see the entire show.       Another fun thing to do is hidden inside the Japan pavilion.  The "choose your own pearl" counter is a blast.  The cast members behind the counter are so fun and friendly, and they turn the entire thing into a lovely little production, complete with a drum roll for the presentation of your particular pearl. For me, it was a fun and relatively inexpensive way to spend a few moments out of the heat and get a [...]