Skip to main content

NewsBriefs from Around Walt Disney World Resort


MyMagic+ Reaches a Milestone – 10 million MagicBands!

The MyMagic+ guest experience has hit a milestone: 10 million MagicBands have tapped their way into the parks and hotels, attractions, shops, parades and shows of Walt Disney World Resort.

Since its debut, the colorful and innovative MagicBand has placed guests’ vacation choices right on their wrist. The MagicBand is the key to unlocking the magic of Disney, connecting guests to all the vacation choices they make – serving as their resort room key, park admission, access to FastPass+ selections, PhotoPass photos and — for guests of Walt Disney World resort hotels – optional payment method for food and merchandise purchases.

The MagicBand helps guests customize their visit to Walt Disney World Resort, creating a vacation that is uniquely theirs. Guests can create and customize their MagicBands before leaving home when they book their Walt Disney World vacation on MyDisneyExperience.com

MagicBands are not only a hit with Disney guests. The MagicBand was singled out among the “26 Coolest Gadgets of 2014” by Fortune Magazine. Fast Company awarded MyMagic+ a coveted “Innovation by Design” honor in 2014.

Contactless payments now accepted at many Disney-operated locations

As part of the ongoing efforts to improve the guest experience, a new form of electronic payment is now being accepted at many Disney-operated merchandise, quick-service food and beverage, outdoor vending, spa and recreation, as well as ticket sales locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort using stationary touch-to-pay devices (stations also used for payments made with MagicBands).

Known as contactless payment, this new form of electronic payment is most commonly associated with mobile apps including Apple Pay, Google Wallet or Softcard, as well as Near Field Communication-enabled (NFC) credit cards. Purchases using contactless payment are made by holding a mobile device or NFC-enabled credit card near the touch point (Mickey head) on stationary touch-to-pay devices.

Contactless payments are planned to be accepted at additional locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort in the future.

New Character Dinner Coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom March 2015

Beginning March 8, 2015, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck and their friends will welcome guests for a fun-filled character dinner at Tusker House Restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. “Donald’s Safari Dinner” will offer guests the opportunity to meet some of their favorite characters, including Donald and Daisy* while enjoying a delicious selection of all-you-care-to-enjoy spit-roasted carved meats, unique salads, creative vegetarian offerings, hearty stews, and delicious desserts – all with an African touch.

Guests can make reservations by calling 407-WDW-DINE (3463) or by visiting Guest Relations at any of the Disney theme parks or a Guest Services/Concierge desk at any Walt Disney World Resort hotel. “Donald’s Safari Dinner” at Tusker House Restaurant will be offered beginning at 4 p.m. daily. In addition to the new character dinner, Tusker House Restaurant will continue to feature Disney characters at breakfast and lunch.

*Characters are subject to change.

Cítricos Welcomes Princesses For Breakfast and Brunch at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

On Jan. 8, 2015, Disney princesses started to welcome guests to Cítricos at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa while Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom Park gets a refresh. Reservations are required.

Cinderella will greet guests as they arrive, and the Disney princesses will visit each table for photos and autographs during the dining experience.  Diners also can participate in an interactive “Magical Wishing Ceremony” with Cinderella and the Disney Princesses, with “wishing wands” and “wishing swords” for little ones.

Breakfast and brunch hours are 8 a.m.-2:20 p.m., and cost is $49.99; $31.99 ages 3-9. The experience is on the Disney Dining Plan (2 entitlements). For reservations call 407-WDW-DINE. Online reservations and information will be available at a later date.  Cinderella’s Royal Table is expected to reopen in March, 2015.

Dates Announced for 2015 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival launches Sept. 25 and runs through Nov. 16 this year – 53 days of sweet and savory tapas-sized dishes and beverages, plus tasting seminars, culinary demos, signature dining experiences, live entertainment and more.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Please feel free to comment and thank you for taking the time to read my blog!

Popular posts from this blog

PIXAR Place Expansion Coming Soon??

I'm going against everything I believe in when it comes to rumors, specifically DISNEY rumors, but I find this one way too juicy (and likely accurate) to pass up. According to a few reputable WDW fan websites, it seems that the Studio Backlot Tour is poised to close down at Disney's Hollywood Studios. We know that since Oaken's Trading Post and Frozen Funland are moving out of the Soundstage 1 area, work should soon begin on the rumored (and much needed) third track for Toy Story Mania.  Why close the Backlot Tour? It appears that area is destined to be home to a rather extensive PIXAR Place expansion. According to WDW News Today, we will likely see smaller, flat-rides developed for Toy Story Playland at Disneyland Resort in Paris and Toy Story Land at Hong Kong Disneyland including RC Racer, Slinky Dog Zigzag Spin, and the Toy Soldier Parachute Drop. Attractions in this area don't take us much real estate as these rides would require, so WDW News Today specula...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Art of Topiary Gardening from Walt Disney World Resort

Topiary gardening, the art of fashioning living plan into ornamental shapes, has been practiced for centuries. Found throughout the gardens of the Walt Disney World Resort are hundreds of topiary figures, ranging from traditional hedges and sheared trees to fanciful shapes and a whole menagerie of "chlorophyll" Disney characters. Types of Topiary Four different types of topiary at the Walt Disney World resort have developed out of our desire to put on an award-winning horticultural show. Free-form topiary and standard form topiary require your imagination and some sharp shears - the other two utilize a frame specially suited to their needs. A lightweight frame is used for shrub topiary, while sphagnum topiary require a much stronger frame specially designed to support the weight of the figure. Standard Form Topiary The world standard is used to describe a plant that is grown to a designated height and then encouraged to bush or form a "head" at t...
2 comments
Read more

Disney's Animal Kingdom Entertainment Changes

T here have been several entertainment changes taking place at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park in preparation for spring break. Those changes include DiVine meeting Guests in the Oasis area and Viva Gaia returning to the park. - Tam Tam Drummers of Harambe March 25-27: Earlier show-times in the day: 8:45 a.m., 9:15 a.m., 9:45 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 11:15 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. - Burudika March 25-27: Later show-times in the day: 4:20 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. - Viva Gaia Street Band! March 24 - April 6: Returning to Discovery Island. Set times are: 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. - DJ Anaan Beginning March 31: Schedule ending at 7 p.m. - DiVine (DON'T MISS!!) March 11-13 and March 24 - April 6: Meet-and-greet location change to Oasis.
Post a Comment
Read more