NEW Character Dining Option at Walt Disney World during Star Wars Weekends!

by Katie Miller

Do you have Jedis in-training who would love to dine with the Star Wars characters?  Well, now you can!  During Star Wars Weekends, being held May 16 - June 15th, 2014 at the Walt Disney World Resort, you and the Star Wars fans in your life can enjoy two brand-new dining options featuring some of your favorite Star Wars characters.

©Disney

Star Wars dining is available for dates May 4-June 15.  The Star Wars Galactic Dine-In Breakfast will be available at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater, and will feature Stormtroopers, Boba Fett, Jawa, Darth Vader, and Greedo.  The movie screen at Sci-Fi will also be playing Star Wars movie clips, trailers and music!  Reservations will be available from 8AM - Noon and is $47.99 for adults, and $29.99 for children.  Also included in your meal is a digital photo of your family on a commemorative Photopass card.

The dinner option, Jedi Mickey’s Star Wars Dine at Hollywood and Vine, will feature some of your favorite Disney characters as their Star Wars counterparts!  You’ll be able to meet Ewok Chip & Dale, Jedi Mickey, Leia Minnie, Darth Goofy and Stormtrooper Donald Duck. There is a Fantasmic dinner package available with this option; a commemorative family photo with Chip & Dale, via digital download, is also included.  Seating for dinner is available from 4:15 - 9:30PM and will correspond with park hours.  The Fantasmic dinner package is $59.99 for adults, and $36.99 for children.  To enjoy just the character dinner is $55.99 for adults, and $33.99 for children.

These Star Wars character meals are also available as part of the Disney Dining Plan, and can be redeemed for 2 Table Service Credits per person.

To learn more, and to book your family’s out-of-this-world vacation to Walt Disney World, contact your Mouse World Travel agent! 

Meeting Elsa & Ana from Disney's Frozen

Character meet & greets at Walt Disney World are wildly popular, but when Disney places a new character in the parks, getting to meet that character without a giant wait can take some serious thought and planning.

Such is the case with Disney's newest characters, Elsa and Ana from Disney's Frozen.  You can find Elsa and Ana in the Norway Pavilion of EPCOT.

Disney allows guests to start lining up at park opening, generally 9 AM, and the meets start at 11 AM when the World Showcase officially opens.

Yes, people are happily waiting 2 hours to get a bit of face time with these two lovely ladies!

One thing many people may not know is that Disney is allowing one person to wait for the whole family.  That means one parent can take one for the team and stand in line, while the rest enjoy Soarin' or Test Track.  This is ideal if possible, but what if it's not?  Our suggestion is to head back right at park opening, or by 10:30 AM and your wait time should be manageable.  In the afternoon the wait time can soar up to four hours.

We've heard many rave reviews about the character interaction with Elsa and Ana and people say the wait is worth the time.

Thanks to MWT Agent Jeanne Simons for the advice and pictures!

Two Disney Vacations in One!

Now you can enjoy a Disney Cruise and Walt Disney World® Resort stay – all in one vacation.

Package components include:
• 3-Night Disney Magic® sailings from Jan. 17 – Feb. 7, 2014
• 3-Night resort stay at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort (other Resorts are bookable but will affect the price per person)
• 3-Day Park Hopper® Theme Park Ticket
• Transfers between Orlando International Airport, Walt Disney World Resort and Disney Cruise Line® terminal

Packages start at $789 per person for a family of 4 (total package price $3,156).

To book this offer contact us by Dec. 31, 2013!

Additional Details:
• Offer valid for most Disney Magic 3-Night sailings, category 11B Stateroom, Jan. 17 to Feb. 7, 2014 and for most nights Jan. 17 to Feb 10, 2014 at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort in a standard room
• The number of staterooms and rooms allocated for this offer is limited.
• Cruise fare excludes Government Taxes and Fees of approximately $63 per person (subject to change), Gratuities and Port Adventures.
• Price based on 2 adults and 2 children ages 3-9.
• Theme Park tickets must be used within 14 Days from first use.
• No group rates or other discounts apply.
• Offer subject to Disney Cruise Line Terms and Conditions.

Disney's Earmarked Conference 2013

Mouse World Travel owner, Michelle Adams, and manager/agent Brook Wozniak, recently attended Disney's Earmarked Conference held at Walt Disney World from September 16 to 19, 2013.  During this conference they were able to hear from and speak with Disney Executives and use Disney's newest tech, MyMagic+ and the MagicBands first-hand.

If you haven't yet heard of MyMagic+ or MagicBands, the bulk of this technology allows you to make FastPass reservations from home without having to dart to the rides first thing in the morning to obtain FastPasses.  The MagicBands are a colorful wristband that basically replace the blue Key to the World card and hold all the data for your reservations.  The MyDisneyExperience website and smartphone app let you create, see, and make changes to all your plans and reservations.

Follow me, Brook, along in this blog for a recap of the conference!

September 16 - Check-in to the conference
This day was a 'free day' and not an actual conference day, there were some optional resort tours scheduled and check-in was being held all day at the Contemporary Resort Convention Center and then you were free to enjoy the resort and/or the parks.

The conference center was decorated with large banners in the conference theme "Mission: Incredible"

Conference goodies - bag with water bottle, lanyard with credentials, PhotoPass+ CD, notebook with pen, and an "I am Incredible" t-shirt

We also received some 'bling' for our MagicBands:

The top two items on the Band are called Sliders, the Mickey Incredible Slider was for the conference, the other was given to guests at check-in.  The bottom item is called a Bandit and is much like Jibbetz for Crocs, they just pop right into the holes on the Band. This was for conference attendees. You can purchase Sliders and Banditz and more in all the resort gift shops that are participating in the MagicBand testing and in the World of Disney in Downtown Disney.

After relaxing in the room for a bit, I ran off to the Magic Kingdom for a quick lunch at Casey's Corner (anyone who knows me knows I cannot resist those Corn Dog Nuggets!) and for a spin around Tomorrowland on the Peoplemover.  Later I joined up with Michelle for some time at Epcot.  We walked around the World Showcase, sipped on American Dreams (have you had that delicious treat?) and enjoyed the American Adventure and Living with the Land.

I stayed in the park for a while longer to ride Soarin' while Michelle returned to the hotel.  Later that evening Michelle, her husband, and I all stuffed ourselves silly at Whispering Canyon Cafe.  All in all, a fun day at Walt Disney World and we were both very excited for the conference to begin!

September 17 - the conference begins!
In true Disney fashion the conference began with entertainment!  The theme was Mission: Incredible and we were all "Super Agents".

Mr & Mrs Incredible along with Ivanna Dream

Today we heard from many Disney executives, Ed Fouché, Senior Vice President, Travel Industry Sales, Americas and Craig Parsons, Vice President, Travel Agency Sales and National Accounts welcomed us.

We covered the 2014 campaign, of which we were told was TOP SECRET and was just launched yesterday!  The ads are very fun (check one out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK64XOtDw4Y) and Disney has some great interactive elements in store for the rest of the year.


Nick Franklin, Executive Vice President, Next Generation Experience spoke about how MyMagic+ works, the goals, and partnering with us as travel agents in using this new technology.  He also reviewed some interesting statistics showing that Walt Disney World guests that have booked through a  travel agent are prepared upon arrival with their MagicBands customized and their FastPasses selected.  Versus guests who book on their own generally not being aware of MyMagic+.  Nick Franklin also gave us a peek into what is coming down the line with MyMagic+, but again - we were asked to keep quiet about this!  One very important piece is that the MyMagic+ test will be expanded to all Walt Disney World Resorts in October.


After lunch we were let loose in the parks to test and explore MyMagic+ and the MagicBands.  Since both Michelle and I had used them the previous day (and Michelle for a few days prior as well), we were pros by now!  We easily made on the fly changes to our FastPasses both online and on the MyDisneyExperience app and highly enjoyed our time in the Magic Kingdom.  That evening we attended Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party.

Hilarious entertainer at the Haunted Mansion during Mickey's Not so Scary Halloween Party

HalloWishes - the unique fireworks show for the Halloween Party

September 18 - full conference day
The next day started bright and early.  After breakfast we almost immediately went into breakout sessions.

My favorite of the three breakout sessions was "Building 21st Century Relationships" by Terry Jones.  Terry Jones created Travelocity and Kyak.  He prepped us by telling us he knows we despise him.  Ha!  However, Terry is one very, very smart man.  His session was motivating, full of great ideas and it ended with him giving each of us a copy of his book On Innovation.  He also explained that he uses travel agents!  And his daughter IS a travel agent!  He loves to use a travel agent, a specialist, a destination pro, for many of his trips because they know tips and hints that would take him mounds of research to learn.  He cheered us on and was incredibly encouraging.

One session was also focused on MyMagic+.  This covered a few items coming down the line, including a booklet that will be sent to guests and the new "Thank You" postcards Disney will be sending that will interact with your smartphone/tablet.  Very cool.

I was able to sneak in a few "hot" questions about MyMagic+ after this session and while I did get a deeper understanding of things, quite a few things were still in testing and being worked on at this point.  However, if you are one who has encountered problems, be assured Disney is still working on the MyMagic+ program and making many, many tweaks.  We are all learning as we are going.  Your travel agent at Mouse World Travel is here to assist you every step of the way!  We are all plugged in to the latest news regarding MyMagic+ and working with the technology to make the best possible experience for your vacation!

After the breakout sessions we moved back into the main conference room for a review on Disney Cruise Line and the Disneyland Resort.  And our last session was “Disney Parks: A Look Ahead" with Scott Trowbridge, Vice President Research & Development, Walt Disney Imagineering.  This session was fantastic - it was so much fun to see what Disney has in store and get a peek into their ideas!  The conference ended with 600 travel agents donning "Glow with the Show Ears" and them dancing away to the music.  Unfortunately Fantasmic! wasn't quite ready to have the Ears (debuts on October 15), but it was still a thrill to experience it for a few moments!

That evening Disney took us to Hollywood Studios for a closing event.  We had dinner with a DJ on the set of Lights! Motors! Action! followed by dessert on the Streets of America with the Pointer Sisters live!  And they finished the conference with a bang with a personal fireworks show over Mickey's Sorcerer Hat at the front of the park.

All in all, it was a very fun conference.  We learned, we networked, we were encouraged.  Disney has a lot in store for us that will change how we work with our clients, and how we tour the parks; however, we are excited for this change and face it head-on.

Both Michelle and I found the MagicBands to be an excellent tool!  We were able to make and adjust our FastPasses on the fly using both the website and the smartphone app.  There are still a few kinks to be worked out; however, we are both confident this will greatly enhance your next next Walt Disney World vacation.  For a couple days after the conference I spent time with my family and it was pure bliss not having to run for FastPasses, we slept in and strolled through the park knowing we already had reservations for our favorite rides.

Leave a comment below or contact your Mouse World Travel Agent if you have any questions, otherwise stay tuned to our Facebook page for updates on MyMagic+!

Michelle & Brook enjoying the conference

Epcot Food & Wine Festival Special Events

Phone lines will open at 7 a.m. Eastern on August. 13 to book reservations for premium events for the 18th annual Epcot®International Food & Wine Festival, Sept. 27-Nov. 11, at the Walt Disney World® Resort!

©Disney

From the over-the-top Party for the Senses grand tasting experience on select Saturday nights to a new taste of Scottish cuisine, there are lots of opportunities. Price per ticket:

• New Scotland, Land of Food And Drink (Sept. 28), $95 or $115
• New Spirits Confidential (Nov. 1), $80 or $95
• New Parisian Breakfast (Saturdays), $37
• New Hibachi Experience (Oct. 8, 15, 22, 29, Nov. 5), $120
• “3D” Disney’s Dessert Discovery (Oct. 4, 11 and 25), $55 or $90
• Epcot Wine Schools (Sept. 29, Oct. 27, Nov. 3), $135 per person
• Culinary Adventures in Signature Dining (more than 25 dinners throughout the festival; prices vary)
• Mixology Series: Taste, Shake and Indulge Like the French (Saturdays), $65
• Kitchen Memories (Sept. 27, Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25, Nov. 1, 8), from $110-$170
• Cheese Seminars (Sept. 28, Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26, Nov. 2, 9), $80
• Party for the Senses (Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26 and Nov. 2), $145, $180 or $285
• Food & Wine Pairings (Tuesdays, Thursdays), $55
• Sweet Sundays (Sept. 29, Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27, Nov. 3, 10), $99
• The Discovery of Chocolate (Oct. 13 and 27), $75

Additional events include Italian and French pairings and lunches, and a Mexican tequila lunch. You can book special festival experiences including daily Culinary Demonstrations ($14), Mixology Seminars ($15) and Wine, Beer or Spirit Seminars ($14). Inside-the-park festival dining experiences, as well as culinary and beverage programs, require Park admission.

Contact Mouse World Travel today for more information if you are interested in booking any of these wonderful events!

Disney Discount Round-Up

Looking for a great deal?  Check out these rates and contact us today for a quote or more information!  Be sure to mention the discount you are interested in!

WALT DISNEY WORLD

• Save up to 30% on your Walt Disney World Resort hotel room. For most nights June 13-August 14.  Book by June 14.  Add a minimum of 4-day park tickets and get discounted tickets too!
• Free Dining Plan Offer: now through July 31, but a non-dicounted room and tickets for arrivals most nights September 2-25 and get a Disney Dining Plan FREE.
• Save up to 30% on your Walt Disney World Resort hotel room.  For most nights August 15-September 28.  Book by July 31.

⇒ Contact us to book your Walt Disney World Vacation ⇐

DISNEY CRUISE LINE

• Sailings from Galveston, TX start at $699 per person (based on double occupancy).
• Onboard Credit + 50% off deposit: book a Disney Wonder 7-night sailing from September 28-November 16 and receive an onboard credit from Disney.  $100 per Inside Stateroom, $150 per Oceanview stateroom, $200 per Verandah stateroom.  Plus receive half-off your deposit if booked by June 30.

⇒ Contact us to book your Disney Cruise Line Vacation ⇐

FLORIDA RESIDENTS

• Spring Discount: As low as $56 per person, per day for a 3-night, 4-day package for most nights through June 3 (based on a family of 4 at All Star Music Resort).  Includes a Discover Disney Ticket.
• Summer Discount: Discounted resort hotel room rates for most nights June 4-August 15.  Book by June 19 for the best rates. Add a minimum 2-day ticket and receive a discount on your tickets too!
• 3-Night Bahamas, departing from Port Canaveral, Disney Dream, June 6, Verandah Stateroom.  Rates from $175 per person, per night.
• 3-Night Bahamas, departing from Port Canaveral, Disney Dream, June 13, Verandah Stateroom.  Rates from $175 per person, per night.

⇒ Contact us to book your Florida Resident Discount Walt Disney World Vacation ⇐

⇒ Contact us to book your Florida Resident Discount Disney Cruise Line Vacation ⇐

CANADIAN RESIDENTS

• 25% off prevailing rates on June 3, June 10, August 26 and September 2 Disney Wonder sailings departing from Vancouver, Canada. 

⇒ Contact us to book your Canadian Resident Disney Cruise Line Discount Vacation ⇐

U.S. MILITARY

• Special pricing on the 14-night Panama Canal Cruise (Los Angeles departure), September 14, 2013.  Contact us for pricing.

⇒ Contact us to book your U.S. Military Disney Cruise Line Discount Vacation ⇐

2013 Epcot Food & Wine Festival Details

Disney has started to release some details on the ever-popular Epcot Food & Wine Festival including a few of the food booths to expect and the line-up for the Eat to the Beat Concert series.

This year the festival will take place from September 27-November 11, 2013.

Food
New this year is a Scotland booth! Enjoy classic Scottish dishes and the "Rusty Nail", a popular Scottish whiskey martini that is simply Scotch and Drambuie.

Also back this year are the Brazil and Hawaii (with the mouth-watering pork slider) booths, the Terra booth with vegan bites, and the Florida booth featuring the Sunshine State's wonderful produce.

And while it's not a booth - it is food!  The Ocean Spray Cranberry Bog will be back!

Music - Eat to the Beat

While food and drink are the highlight of the festival, the music helps set the atmosphere!  Three times each night, at 5:30, 6:45 and 8 PM, the American Garden Theater in Epcot features live music.  The concerts are free with park admission.  Here is the line-up for 2013 (subject to change):

September 27-29: Starship featuring Mickey Thomas

September 30-October 1: Go-Go's -- new this year!

October 2-4: Air Supply

October 5-6: Sister Hazel

October 7-9: Sugar Ray

October 10-11: Edwin McCain -- new this year!

October 12-13: The Manhattan Transfer -- new this year!

October 14-15: Wilson Phillips

October 16-17: Pointer Sisters

October 18-20: Night Ranger

October 21-23: Boyz II Men

October 24-25: Survivor

October 26-27: 38 Special

October 28-30: Smash Mouth

October 31-November 1: Spin Doctors -- new this year!

November 2-3: Christopher Cross -- new this year!

November 4-5: Hanson

November 6-8: Dennis DeYoung

November 9-11: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

Celebrity Chefs

In addition to the food and music, some of your favorite chefs are doing demonstrations and sharing their favorite tips.  Some of the chefs you'll be able to see this year are: Warren Brown, Paula DaSilva, Gale Gand, Jamie Deen, Robert Irvine, Dean Max, Rock Harper, Jeff Anderson, Art Smith, Buddy Valastro, Allen Susser, "Cake Boy" Eric Lanlard, Duskie Estes and John Stewart, Donald Link, Bryan Voltaggio and Emily Ellyn.

Special Events

There are are a variety of special events happening throughout the festival.  The Party for the Senses returns this year and are currently scheduled for October 5, 12, 19, 26 and November 2.  The 3D Disney's Dessert Discovery will be happening on select Fridays, Cheese Seminars on Saturdays and Sweet Sundays on Sundays.  These events do require park admission and carry an additional charge, booking for these events will open in August.

How do I get a Pin Code from Walt Disney World?

First things first, what is a Pin Code?

A Pin Code is an exclusive discount from Walt Disney World, sent directly to a specific person - hopefully you!  They are meant only for the person they are addressed to and cannot be shared.  They are sent via email or regular mail and often have an expiration date, or "book by" date on them.  They are often GREAT offers, some of the best you can find!

Sounds great, right?  So, how do you get a Pin?

Well...that's easier said that done.  There is no exact method, rhyme or reason to guarantee you will get a Pin, but here are a few things to try:

1) Disney needs your contact information to send you anything - so go create an account at www.waltdisneyworld.com.  Enter in all your current information and price a few trips out, just for fun!

2) While on the Walt Disney World site, if you are prompted to take a survey - take it.

3) Request a Planning DVD.  (they are really fun to watch anyway!  Great for kids!)

4) Make personalized planning maps here: http://customizedmaps.disney.go.com/

All these items show Disney you are interested in taking a trip to Walt Disney World and what better than a discount to reel in a potential guest?

Again, none of these are surefire ways to get a Pin Code, but it will get your name into the Disney databases and certainly can't hurt your odds!

Once you get your Pin Code contact your Mouse World Travel Agent, book your trip and have a BLAST!!!

Dine for FREE at Walt Disney World!

Earlier this week Disney released two wonderful offers for Disney VISA card holders - these deals are now open for ALL guests!

Free Dining is one of the most popular offers of the year - contact us today to take advantage of this amazing offer!

OFFER #1
Travel Dates: September 2-25, 2013
Book a minimum 3-night stay, plus 2-day Base theme park tickets and receive the Disney Dining Plan FREE! 

Guests who book a Disney Value Resort will receive the Quick Service Dining Plan. Guests who book a Disney Moderate or Deluxe Resort will receive the Plus Dining Plan. The Dining Plans can be upgraded. Tickets can also be upgraded, a 2-day Base Ticket is the minimum.

The Package can be booked for a maximum of 14 days. Everyone in your resort room must purchase the same package and tickets.

Children ages 3-9 must order from the children's menu. Children under the age of 3 are not entitled to the Dining Plan.

Book by July 31st, 2013

Contact us for your FREE Dining quote!

OFFER #2
Travel Dates: August 15-September 28, 2013
Save up to 30% on your Room Reservation. Add on a minimum of 4-day park tickets for additional savings!

Value Resorts:

• Save 5% at All Star Movies
• Save 15% at Disney's Art of Animation (Family Suites only)
• Save 20% at All Star Music, All Star Sports & Pop Century

Moderate Resorts:

• Save 5% at Port Orleans French Quarter & Coronado Springs (Suites)
• Save 25% at Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs (non-Suites), Port Orleans Riverside, the Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness

Deluxe Resorts:

• Save 5% at Animal Kingdom Lodge (Club & Savannah View Rooms)
• Save 20% at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Polynesian Resort
• Save 30% at Beach & Yacht Club, Boardwalk Inn, Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge (Standard & Pool View Rooms), Contemporary Resort (Garden & Bay Lake View Rooms)

Deluxe Villa Resorts

• Save 5% at Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas & Bay Lake Tower
• Save 30% at Beach Club Villas, Boardwalk Villas, Old Key West, Villas at Wilderness Lodge, Saratoga Springs Resort

Book by July 31st, 2013

Contact us for your Late Summer Room Savings quote!

Attention Disney Visa Cardholders, two GREAT offers at Walt Disney World® Resort!

©Disney

➡ Contact us for your no-obligation quote or more information 

OFFER #1
September 2-25, 2013
Book a minimum 3-night stay, plus 2-day Base theme park tickets and receive the Disney Dining Plan FREE!

Guests who book a Disney Value Resort will receive the Quick Service Dining Plan. Guests who book a Disney Moderate or Deluxe Resort will receive the Plus Dining Plan. The Dining Plans can be upgraded. Tickets can also be upgraded, a 2-day Base Ticket is the minimum.

A $200 deposit using your Disney Visa card is required at the time of booking. The Package can be booked for a maximum of 14 days. Everyone in your resort room must purchase the same package and tickets.

Children ages 3-9 must order from the children's menu. Children under the age of 3 are not entitled to the Dining Plan.

Book by July 31st, 2013

OFFER #2
August 15-September 28, 2013
Save up to 30% on your Room Reservation. Add on a minimum of 4-day park tickets for additional savings!

• Save 5% at Disney's All Star Movies, Disney's Port Orleans French Quarter, Disney's Coronado Springs (Suites only), Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge (Club & Savannah View Rooms), Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas, Disney's Contemporary Resort (Club & Theme Park View Rooms), Disney's Bay Lake Tower, Deluxe Suites at all resorts
• Save 15% at Disney's Art of Animation (Family Suites only)
• Save 20% at Disney's All Star Music, Disney's All Star Sports, Disney's Grand Floridian, Disney's Pop Century, and Disney's Polynesian Resort.
• Save 25% at Disney's Caribbean Beach, Disney's Coronado Springs (except Suites), Disney's Port Orleans Riverside, and the Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness.
• Save 30% at at Disney's Beach & Yacht Club, Disney's Beach Club Villas, Disney's Boardwalk Inn & Villas, Disney's Old Key West Villas, Disney's Wilderness Lodge & Villas, Disney's Saratoga Springs, Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge (Standard & Pool View Rooms), Disney's Contemporary Resort (Garden & Bay Lake View Rooms).

Book by July 31st, 2013

Spotlight on the Wishes! Dessert Party

by Brook Wozniak

brook@mouseworldtravel.com

My family has done the Wishes! Dessert Party twice and we very much enjoyed it both times!  It's an excellent way to end a day at the Magic Kingdom and since we have a young child, it was pure bliss not having to face the crowds to find a good spot to view the fireworks.  

The Wishes! Fireworks Dessert Party at the Magic Kingdom gives you an exclusive viewing area for the nightly fireworks and a self-service dessert buffet.

Held most nights throughout the year, the Wishes! Dessert Party is held in the Tomorrowland Terrace.  The Party starts one hour prior to the showing of the fireworks and ends about 30 minutes after the fireworks.  There is generally a PhotoPass photographer at the party to capture some pictures of your traveling party with the iconic Cinderella's Castle.

Advance reservations are highly recommended; however, the time frame for when the dining window opens varies from month to month.  Just today part of July was opened, it is generally around 90 days in advance.

There are no discounts for this party and the Disney Dining Plan is not accepted.  Park admission to the Magic Kingdom is required.  The price ranges from $21.99-$25.99/adult and $11.99-$13.99/child (ages 3-9) and it can be booked online.

Enough with the details!  Let's get on to the GOOD stuff!  The FOOD!  

Banana Creme Pie

Fresh fruit, brownie, peanut butter chocolate dessert, raspberry sipper

Mini-creme brulees!

Chocolate covered strawberry, fresh fruit, cannoli, donut holes and...and...and!!!

Fruit Tart

Fruit Tart

Chocolate Mousse

Mini Tiramisu! 

Chocolate Raspberry Pistachio 

The view! It's not perfectly straight-on, but still a good view.

PhotoPass Photographer at the Party to capture family pictures

Contact your Mouse World Travel Agent to book this delicious Magical Add-On!

Tickets for Night of Joy, Halloween Party and Christmas Party Now on Sale!

Today tickets for Night of Joy (contemporary Christian music festival), Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party go on sale.  Your Mouse World Travel Agent can assist you with purchasing these tickets!

Night of Joy

Held on September 6 and 7 from 7:30 PM to 1 AM.  Prices are $55 for one night, $99 for two nights in advance.  $65 each night if purchased the day of the event.

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party

Held from 7 PM - 12 AM on the following dates:

September 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27, and 29
October 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 14, 17, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25, 27, 29, and 31
November 1

Tickets vary in price, starting at $59/adult (ages 10+) and $54 child (ages 3-9) for advance purchase.  Active and retired members of the military, Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members can receive a discount on select nights.  Including themselves, Military members can purchase up to 6 tickets, Annual Passholders up to 4 tickets, Disney Vacation Club Members up to 6 tickets.

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

Held from 7 PM - 12 AM on the following dates:

November 8, 11, 14, 15, 17, 21, and 22
December 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, and 20

Tickets vary in price, starting at $62/adult (ages 10+), $57/child (ages 3-9).  Active and retired members of the military, Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members can receive a discount on select nights.  Including themselves, Military members can purchase up to 6 tickets, Annual Passholders up to 4 tickets, Disney Vacation Club Members up to 6 tickets.

Contact us today to purchase the tickets or plan your trip around these seasonal events!

Bounce Back Discounts at Walt Disney World

When you check-in at your Walt Disney World resort the Cast Member will give you a packet full of information: a resort map, a Times Guide for the week, an activity schedule for the resort, and a booklet.

Most people would glance at a few items and then disregard the rest for their stay, eager to start their vacation versus sitting and reading through the papers.  However, be sure to open that booklet!

In the middle of the booklet you might find a "bounce back" discount.  These are exclusive discounts for current Walt Disney World Resort guests and only bookable while you are still on vacation.  You can call the number listed on the documents (explain you want the booking under your travel agent) or contact your Mouse World Travel agent to book it!

Monstrous Summer Savings at Walt Disney World!

This summer, save up to 30% on accommodations at select Disney Resort hotels.  Add minimum 4-Day Magic Your Way Tickets to make it a package for additional savings!

Contact us for a no-obligation quote!

Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts

• Save 30%: Saratoga Springs Resorts & Spa, Old Key West Resort, Boardwalk Villas, Beach Club Villas, Bay Lake Tower
• Save 20%: Villas at Wilderness Lodge

Disney Deluxe Resort

• Save 30%: Polynesian Resort, Contemporary Resort, Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Yacht & Beach Club Resorts, Boardwalk Inn, Animal Kingdom Lodge (standard view rooms)
• Save 20%: Wilderness Lodge

Moderate Resorts

• Save 20%: Coronado Springs Resort, Caribbean Beach Resort, Port Orleans Riverside, Cabins at Fort Wilderness Resort

Disney Value Resorts

• Save 15%: All Star Sports Resort, All Star Music Resort, Pop Century Resort, Art of Animation Family Suites

This offer is valid for stays most nights June 13 through August 14, 2013. Book through June 14, 2013.

Contact Mouse World Travel for a quote!

Downtown Disney Expansion

Starting next month, Walt Disney World® Resort begin construction on the transformation of Downtown Disney.  The newly named area, Disney Springs, will feature more shopping, dining and entertainment.  

Disney Springs will double the number of shops, restaurants and other venues, there will be a total of more than 150 establishments.

The inspiration comes from Florida’s waterfront towns and natural beauty, Disney Springs will include four outdoor districts interconnected by a flowing spring and vibrant lakefront.

• The Town Center, with shopping and dining and a promenade
• The Landing, dining with waterfront views
• West Side, lively atmosphere with entertainment and elevated spaces that provide shade and a view to the activity below
• Marketplace, new shopping will be mixed with the current Disney favorites and an expanded World of Disney store.  There will also be a pedestrian walk-way connecting the two ends of the Marketplace

Construction is expected to be complete by 2016.

Agent Education

Here at Mouse World Travel our agents are continuously learning.  There are literally hundreds of courses for a travel agent to take with various suppliers like Disney, Universal, Royal Caribbean, Legoland and more.  Quite often various suppliers offer hands-on training, which many of us find the most beneficial...and enjoyable!

Next week three Mouse World Travel agents will be attending an Agent Eduction Program at Walt Disney World!  They will have the opportunity to tour many of the resorts, experience the New Fantasyland, tour the Disney Dream, experience Splitsville in Downtown Disney - and more!

Many of our agents have already been through a similar program, and it's always very exciting for the entire agency when the group reports back with pictures and Disney news.

Keep watch on our Mouse World Travel Facebook Page, Twitter and Pinterest accounts as we add news and pictures from this program!

Epcot's Flower & Garden Festival 2013

It's almost that time of year again! March 6 - May 19, 2013 brings us the 20th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival presented by HGTV at Walt Disney World Resort!

In all, more than 100 topiaries, 240 floating mini-gardens, dozens of flower towers and sweeping beds of multi-colored blooms will add floral splendor to the park landscape.

New this year:

• Garden Marketplace culinary creations ranging from smokehouse barbecue and shrimp with grits and Zellwood corn to sweet “frushi” made with fresh fruits and coconut rice. Chefs are perfecting menus for marketplaces that will include Florida Fresh at World Showcase Promenade, Smokehouse Barbecue and Brew at American Adventure courtyard, Primavera Kitchen at Italy showcase, Hanami at Japan showcase and eight others. Around the World Showcase promenade
• Garden Marketplace refreshing libations with a kick like Hot Sun Tomato Wine from Florida Orange Groves Winery and Dole Whip with Spiced Rum, as well as non-alcoholic drinks like Frozen Desert Violet Lemonade and Wild Berry Slush. Beverage specialists will feature brews and beverages at food marketplaces and at Fruits by the Glass and Pineapple Promenade. Around the World Showcase promenade
• A new, circus-like “Land of Oz” play area based on the Disney fantastical film adventure “Oz: The Great and Powerful” to be released March 8, 2013. The interactive children’s play zone will feature play systems adorned with giant flowers and designed to stretch kids’ imaginations and muscles. Midway-style games, red-and-white circus-themed tents and the “Oz Movie Garden” of intriguing plants will capture the spirit of the upcoming film. Also on tap: photo opportunities and the “great and powerful Oz’s” crashed hot-air balloon. Imagination Walkway
• Larger-than-life Fab Five Disney character topiary. Floral versions of Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Pluto and Donald Duck (with Daisy Duck in a cameo) star in a celebratory cookout scene in living topiary color. The 14-foot-tall Goofy topiary will bobble an anniversary cake while Donald and Daisy play badminton, Mickey fires up the grill, Pluto swipes a link of hot dogs and Minnie chills out on a colorful blanket of blossoms. Epcot Front Entrance
• Illuminated Gardens in the park’s Future World and World Showcase will twinkle and glow over the festival’s world-famous Disney gardens and topiaries each festival evening. Epcot Future World and World Showcase

More festival highlights include:

• “Monsters University” topiary: Floral representations of Mike and Sully from the hit Disney-Pixar film “Monsters, Inc.” and stars of Disney-Pixar’s June 2013 release, “Monsters University,” will join the festivities as new topiary family members. On the Future World Walkway
• Phineas and Ferb topiary: The popular Disney Channel animated celebs limit their shenanigans to go green for a family photo-op. Behind Spaceship Earth
• “Radiator Springs” interactive play zone: Race car Lightning McQueen and tow truck “Mater” of the Disney-Pixar film “Cars 2″ will be the well-maintained topiary stars of this play area. On the Test Track Walkway
• Flower Power Firsts: 1970s top disco band The Village People (April 19-21) and 1960s singer-songwriter Tommy Roe (May 3-5) bring on the Flower Power beat when they take the concert stage. At America Gardens Theatre
• Tinker Bell’s Butterfly House: Eight fanciful fairy topiaries of Pixie Hollow, including Tinker Bell, Fawn, Vidia and Terrence, take over the Butterfly House this year where hundreds of colorful winged beauties flit to life. On the Imagination Walkway

Every Friday through Sunday, HGTV design celebrities will host Festival Center seminars.

March 8-10: Chris Lambton, Going Yard 

March 15-17: Chris Grundy, DIY Network’s Cool Tools
March 22-24: Egypt Sherrod, host of Property Virgins 

March 29-31: Brandon Johnson, My Yard Goes Disney
April 5-7: Meg Caswell, Meg’s Great Rooms
April 12-14: Jason Cameron, DIY Network’s Desperate Landscapes and Man Caves
April 19-21: Sara Peterson, Editor-in-Chief, HGTV Magazine
April 26-28: Carter Oosterhouse, Million Dollar Rooms
May 3-5: Casey Noble, Design on a Dime
May 10-12: Dan Faires, HGTV.com, DanMade
May 17-19: David Bromstad, HGTV Design Star, ColorSplash, Design Star All-Stars

In addition to the HGTV design celebrities, the Flower Power concert series will also be happened every weekend

March 8-10: Micky Dolenz
March 15-17: Chubby Checker & The Wildcats
March 22-24: The Guess Who
March 29-31: Nelson
April 5-7: The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie
April 12-14: Paul Revere & the Raiders
April 19-21: The Village People (new!)
April 26-28: The Orchestra, Featuring Former Members of ELO and ELO II
May 3-5: Tommy Roe (new!)
May 10-12: Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone
May 17-19: Starship starring Mickey Thomas

The festival, including all gardening programs and exhibits, is included in regular Epcot admission.

Right now there is a fantastic discount for most dates right over the festival!  You can save up to 30% on your Walt Disney World Resort hotel room, plus when you had at least 4-day Magic Your Way tickets, you'll receive a ticket discount as well!  Contact us today for a no-obligation quote

Interactive Games at Walt Disney World

Last year we told you all about the Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure, which has now been re-themed into Agent P's World Showcase Adventure (from Phineas & Ferb).

Building on it's popularity Disney recently launched Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom where you join Merlin's elite squadron of apprentice sorcerers to defeat the Disney villains. Using Merlin's map you embark on missions throughout the various lands of Magic Kingdom, unlocking Magic Portals using your Sorcerer Key card, and then challenging Hades and other villains using your Spell Cards.

And now another game, called "A Pirate's Adventure: Treasure of the Seven Seas" will be debuting this spring in Adventureland at the Magic Kingdom!

All of these games are included in your theme park admission.

What do you think of these interactive games? Have you played Agent P's or Sorcerers?

MyMagic+ - coming soon to Walt Disney World!

Tom Staggs, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, explains more details on MyMagic+ and how it will enhance the Guest experience:

At Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, we continually push the boundaries of creativity and innovation to deliver the best possible experience for our Guests. We're always looking for ways to take what we do and do it even better. Over the past few years, we've devoted considerable time and resources to create a more immersive, more seamless and more personal experience for each and every Guest who spends time with us. I know there's been significant speculation about these efforts among our fans, so we're pleased to give you a glimpse into the work we are doing to take the entire Disney Guest experience to the next level.

Some of these initiatives are more apparent and can already be seen by our Guests - like our interactive queues at Walt Disney World Resort and the Enchanted Art on our cruise ships - while others are more behind-the-scenes and are focused on "how" visitors plan, access and enjoy their experiences with us. Over the next several months, we'll be rolling out a collection of tools at the Walt Disney World Resort called MyMagic+ that will give Guests more opportunities to customize and personalize their entire visit.

Like most people who visit Walt Disney World Resort, my family and I have our "must-do" attractions, and as the father of three boys, those attractions often end with the word "mountain." Now, rather than dashing as a group, or even splitting up to gather FastPasses, imagine booking guaranteed ride times for your favorite shows and attractions even before setting foot in the park. With MyMagic+, Guests will be able to do that and more, enabling them to spend more time together and creating an experience that's better for everyone.

A major component of MyMagic+ is the new My Disney Experience website and mobile app, which gives Guests planning their trip the latest information on all Walt Disney World Resort has to offer. We know that some people like to plan every aspect of their Disney vacation in advance while others like to plan very little, letting their day unfold spontaneously. No matter where Guests fall in that spectrum, My Disney Experience gives them the flexibility to plan as much or as little as they'd like to create the exact Disney experience they want. They can book dining and other experiences and reserve times for their favorite attractions, shows and more through an enhanced FastPass system,FastPass+. Once they arrive, they can use their smart phones to spontaneously change their plans in the moment, exploring our parks at their own pace and getting the most out of their visit.

Linking the entire MyMagic+ experience together is an innovative piece of technology we developed called the MagicBand. Worn on the wrist, it will serve as a Guest's room key, theme park ticket, access to FastPass+ selections, PhotoPasscard and optional payment account all rolled into one. We've began testing certain aspects of MyMagic+ in Florida last month and the early reactions we've gotten have been fantastic.

This collection of tools is another step forward in the ongoing evolution of our Guest experience, giving us even more ways to help friends and family create the unforgettable Disney memories that they want most. We'll be testing, adjusting and adding features to MyMagic+ and My Disney Experience over time and will continue to make improvements based on our Guests' feedback. We look forward to sharing more with you in the months ahead!

We will share more news as we hear it!  Be sure to subscribe to our blog, or Like us on Facebook to stay on top of the latest Disney news!

Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue

by Jennifer Dowling

jen@mouseworldtravel.com

The Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue is a dinner show located in Pioneer Hall at Fort Wilderness in Walt Disney World.

We have been able to experience this fun show 3 times now, with our most recent being this past March. It has become a favorite for our family. The show has catchy tunes....though the ever popular "Hoop Dee Doo" song has now been replaced by another song that is similar....decent food, and corny jokes.

When you arrive at Pioneer Hall, you will check-in outside and you have the option to have your picture taken as well. We always pass on this, as it is an extra cost to purchase the picture package.
Often they choose a child to be the bell ringer to open the doors. My daughter, Claire, had that privilege in 2008.

Everyone is then let in and seated. There is no need to rush to the doors to be the first one in. Your table has been pre-assigned prior to you even arriving.

Once seated, you are able to start with the first course of the meal, which consists of cornbread and butter and a salad with a vinaigrette dressing. Drink orders are taken as well. Several soft drink options are included as well as beer,wine, and sangria.

Soon the show starts and the Pioneer players arrive and come in through the back door singing. They perform for a bit and include the audience as well. They come right out into the dining room and will talk to tables and include them in their songs...often asking what state your are from or if you are celebrating something. Again, we have been picked for this a few times as well, and it's great fun. My daughter sometimes is embarrassed by it at the moment, but then grins ear to ear after.

Dinner is then served after the first show segment. Dinner consist of chicken, ribs, corn, cowboy beans, and mashed potatoes. We enjoy the food. It's not the best on property, but still a good meal. I will say, our family is NOT a fan of the cowboy beans. They are not your average baked beans and seem to have an off taste to us.

After the main course is close to being done, the Pioneer Players once again come out and sing and dance some more. They also pick a few guests out of the audience to help them perform a skit. It is usually quite comical.

Dessert is delivered by all the servers coming out on stage with a tray of strawberry shortcake and they sing a song called "Strawberry Shortcake". This is the best part of the meal for me! I am not a huge fan of strawberry shortcake in the real world, but something about this version is so tasty. Even though I am extremely full at this point I usually try to get a little bit of this down because it tastes so heavenly.

The show ends with everyone getting a washboard to rub a spoon on while the Pioneer Players sing and exit out the back where they had arrived from in the beginning.

A few things to note: the restrooms are not located in the same building. You need to exit out the back side door and the restrooms are off to the side in a connecting building.  There are 3 shows performed nightly, check with your Mouse World Travel Agent to find what the exact times are for your vacation.  There are 3 tiers of seating, each tier slightly different in pricing.  Your servers tip is included with this meal.  This meal takes 2 Table-Service Credits from the Dining Plan and often you are placed in Tier 2 or 3, though for the late show you can be placed in Tier 1.  Pricing ranges from $29.99 to $34.99 on average for children 3 to 9. For adults, $58.99 to $67.99 on average.  Your tickets will be available to pick up at your Disney resort prior to the show or at the will call window located next to Pioneer Hall.  Disney transportation (buses) will be waiting to take you back to your on-site resorts after the last 2 shows. Be forewarned that the buses get extremely crowded. If you drove to Ft. Wilderness, you will have to park at the front of the campground and internal buses will take you back to Pioneer Hall. If you are confused, just ask any bus driver where you should get off. They will then shuttle you back to the front after the show as well.