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With dozens of unique shops that stretch from the Marketplace to the West Side, there’s no need to hit the mall during the bustling holiday season.  Downtown Disney is a 120 acre shopper’s delight with stylish boutiques such as Cherry Tree Lane and TrenD, a shop for sports enthusiasts in the Trophy Room , plus enough toys, games and princess costumes to fill Santa’s sleigh at Once Upon a Toy and World of Disney . Strolling through the shopping mecca, sweet aromas of the season fill the air at Ghirardelli Chocolates , while scented custom soaps and fragrant bath products invite shoppers into Basin. There’s the new Marketplace Co-Op (a collection of six unique boutiques), LEGO Imagination Center , plus an entire room at Disney’s Days of Christmas —where it’s the holidays 365 days a year – that has transformed into a “Frozen” wonderland overflowing with Anna, Elsa and Olaf merchandise. To enhance the shopping wonderland there’s strolling musicians, yuletide caroler...

The long-anticipated Tranquilo Golf Club at Four Seasons Resort Orlando has officially opened, enabling resort guests and locals the opportunity to play on the stunning 18-hole championship course. Unique to Central Florida for its varying elevation, abundant wildlife and protected wetlands, the name Tranquilo pays homage to the resort’s Spanish Revival design and tranquil setting, featuring many Southern Live Oak trees with delicate Spanish moss. Course Design Originally built in 1992 and designed by Tom Fazio as Disney’s Osprey Ridge, Fazio re-designed the course for its launch as Tranquilo Golf Club.  Enhancements included creating a completely new hole and renovated bunkers, plus improved visibility and airflow by enhancing the landscape design, in addition to a fully renovated clubhouse.  The course is a Par 71, with a yardage of 6,901 and four sets of tees to accommodate all skill levels. “I am very proud of the transformation of the Tranquilo Golf Club go...

Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy and dozens of their other Disney pals help ring in the festive spirit of the holiday season during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom. On select nights from Nov. 7 – Dec. 19, guests with tickets to this special, after-hours event can enjoy an evening filled with all the magic and wintry wonderment of the season, complete with complimentary hot cocoa and cookies, snow flurries falling on Main Street, U.S.A., as well as a jolly parade and breathtaking fireworks show. New this year, Queen Elsa from “Frozen” uses her incredible powers to transform Cinderella Castle into a glistening ice palace for the holidays in the “Castle Dream Lights Celebration” and “A Frozen Holiday Wish” stage show. The castle, draped in 200,000 shimmering white lights, will be transformed nightly by Elsa with Anna, Kristoff and Olaf cheering her on. Twice during party nights, guests can enjoy “Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade” a...

Pastry chefs throughout Walt Disney World Resort are making things a little sweeter with deliciously decorative holiday displays and sugar shacks made of edible ingredients. These candy-decked dwellings adorn the lobbies at various Walt Disney World Resort hotels. On the menu this holiday season at Walt Disney World Resort: Disney’s Contemporary Resort Inspired by Disney’s “Frozen” guests can enjoy an all-new Gingerbread Holiday Ice Castle on the 4th floor Grand Canyon Concourse. This culinary concoction is adorned with sugar, snowflakes, gingerbread shingles and chocolate-coated trees. Plus, favorite characters from the film including Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Kristoff will be showcased on this 17-foot-tall ice castle. “Frozen” ice desserts, build-your-own snowman marshmallow kits, plus classic gingerbread treats are available for purchase. Ingredient fun facts: 423 lbs. of chocolate 514 lbs. flour 212 eggs 67 lbs. spices 35 lbs. sugar syrup 311 lbs. of honey 222 lbs. i...

Spring 2015 will bloom with a fresh take on lush gardens, inspired flavors and lively entertainment during the 75-day Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival March 4-May 17 at Walt Disney World Resort. New Disney character topiaries, including a nod to the blockbuster animated film, “Frozen,” will offer colorful selfie and family photo ops. Outdoor Kitchens will serve a fresh take on sweet and savory noshes. And guests can get “hands-on” with festival fun during Disney-led gardening seminars. “Frozen” will melt hearts in the park’s World Showcase: Disney’s first Anna and Elsa topiaries will appear in a scene from the Oscar-winning film’s finale. Other brand-new Disney character topiaries will be Chip and Dale taking a star turn in two whimsical front-entrance “Goofy About Spring” floral vignettes. Topiary Goofy and friends will be in on the fun. Fresh new menu items will debut at the festival’s Outdoor Kitchens where, for the third festival year running, guests can ta...

New in 2014, Queen Elsa from “Frozen” uses her incredible powers to transform Cinderella Castle into a glistening ice palace for the holidays. Joined on the Forecourt stage by Princess Anna, rugged mountain man Kristoff and Olaf, the summer-loving snowman, Elsa bestows this gift onto the people of Magic Kingdom with colorful snowflakes, fireworks and a special effects spectacle bathing the castle in 200,000 shimmering white lights. Magic Kingdom guests are treated nightly to the dramatic “A Frozen Holiday Wish” stage show. The Pumpkin King himself, Jack Skellington, joins the holiday celebration at Walt Disney World Resort during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Dressed as “Sandy Claws,” Jack is greeting party guests and bringing Christmastown to Storybook Circus at Magic Kingdom. The special-ticket event takes place on select nights in November and December at Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Hiro Hamada and his huggable companion Baymax, from Disney’s n...

Hiro Hamada and his buddy, a huggable robot named Baymax, are flying into theaters in 3D on Friday in Disney’s new comedy adventure, “Big Hero 6.” And starting this weekend, you’ll be able to see them in person at Disney Parks! At Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort, look for Hiro and Baymax inside The Magic of Disney Animation attraction, where you’ll find recreations of Hiro’s garage workshop and the San Fransokyo Institute of Technology labs seen in the film. When Hiro and his robot companion head west to the Disneyland Resort, you’ll find them in Tomorrowland near the Starcade and Magic Eye Theater, where you can also catch a special exclusive sneak peek of “Big Hero 6.” Triniti and I caught a preview of the film this past weekend (thank you Disney Parks Blog) and I have to say that the film was like a great Disney thrill ride! Lots of fun, great action, dips and spins! Kids and adults will enjoy this one for sure!

Fresh off the presses of the Disney Parks Blog! Fans of “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” have even more to grin about this holiday season. The Pumpkin King himself, Jack Skellington, has decided to join the holiday celebration at Walt Disney World Resort by dropping in on Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom Park. Head back to Storybook Circus during the party, and you’ll find Jack making Christmas as “Sandy Claws” – just don’t count on any gifts from him turning out quite right. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, which is separate from regular Magic Kingdom Park admission, starts tonight and continues on select nights through December 19. Meanwhile over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, there’s color everywhere and white things in the air as the 2014 season of The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights returns to the park’s Streets of America tonight. This year, the song “What’s This?” from “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Chri...

Frozen fans prepare! Queen Elsa and friends are taking over the Magic Kingdom Holiday Season in a grand style and frozen fractals are sure to abound! "A Frozen Holiday Wish" premieres this evening at the Magic Kingdom Park as Elsa is joined by Anna, Kristoff and Olaf! Yes, OLAF!  The show will feature the traditional castle dream lights with a "Frozen" flair and the show culminates with Queen Elsa and everyone else in her "kingdom" transforming Cinderella Castle into a glimmering and shimmering ice castle! The show runs twice nightly through the new year.

Here's a sneak peek at the new maps for this years Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party! Always my favorite special event, this years offering will not disappoint; especially if you are a "Frozen" fan! "A Frozen Holiday Wish" will be performed twice nightly and Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade will take place nightly at 8:15pm and 10:30pm from Frontierland. Celebrate the Magic will also include special holiday fun at 9:15pm. Of course, that's just a bit of the magic - guests can also purchase a Limited Edition MagicBand and there will be a special Elsa "Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom" card made available. Tickets can be purchased online HERE

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party returns to Magic Kingdom Park on November 7, and this year’s event-exclusive Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom card will be “Elsa’s Icy Shield” and will let players harness some of Queen Elsa’s special “Frozen” powers. In case you haven’t played Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom yet, this interactive game allows you to join Merlin’s quest to defeat Disney Villains who are trying to take over Magic Kingdom Park. You use maps to find villain hideouts throughout the park, visit magic portals and use spell cards (like this one) to spoil a villain’s plan. Cards feature different Disney characters with unique powers. You can also use multiple cards to enhance your attack on the villains. The Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom quest begins at the Firehouse on Main Street, U.S.A., where you can pick up complimentary key cards, spell cards and maps (additional cards can be purchased at select merchandise locations). The “Elsa’s Icy Shield” card will be dist...