ABC News has hired Brooke Bower to serve as executive producer of its Sunday public affairs show This Week with George Stephanopoulos. What’s Happening: ABC News has hired Brooke Bower as executive producer of the program. This was announced by ABC News president Kim Godwin in a memo Wednesday morning. Godwin also announced that Kendall Heath […]
The post ABC News Hires Brooke Bower as Executive Producer of “This Week” appeared first on LaughingPlace.com.
When planning your trip to Walt Disney World, there are so many questions to ask to ensure your family has the best experience possible. One of the most difficult ones that change everything from your time off work to your overall budget is how long you should plan to spend at Walt Disney World. Today, we are going to break that question down into pieces so that you can work out exactly what will best suit your family.
Before we start, let’s just put out there that no singular period of time is required for Walt Disney World. However, there are a few things to consider to help discover the best plan for your and your traveling family. Here are a few approaches you can take to planning your time:
If you are passing through a nearby area and would like to add a taste of Disney to your trip, a day or two is absolutely enough time to enjoy some of the magic. I don’t recommend trying to see everything in that time; by cutting down your park time to half a day here or there, you will miss the beautiful details that make Disney so enjoyable. Try spending one day in Magic Kingdom and the other in the park that best suits your family. You can find a One-Day Guide to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT here.
Are you looking for a little bit of everything? Allowing four full days to explore the major parks one at a time is the best way to enjoy the best of each one. You still won’t have time to experience everything that the parks have to over, but that is often the beauty of Disney, always having something that draws you back. Be sure to allow four full days for this, not including any travel days.
More time in the resort will allow you to see more of the surrounding areas, like Disney Springs, the Resorts, and fit in some recreational activities. Keep your four park days or expand to add in a return visit to your favorite one as well. You can add a resort day and even another to explore the region. A week is a significant amount of time to enjoy Disney and also spend some time unwinding on your vacation; Disney is fun but can be hectic!
If this is your once-in-a-lifetime trip to Disney, ten days will be a fantastic way to tick off everything on your to-do list. Two days in each of the parks will leave you with the Disney glow, allowing plenty of time to spend some afternoons enjoying activities like miniature golf and not feeling rushed. This way, you can take time out of your days to enjoy character meet & greets or table service meals, things that you skip on a shorter trip to pack in as much action as possible.
If you are visiting in the warmer months, you might like to visit the Disney Water Parks or spend more time in the surrounding area. Disney provides a wonderful central location to do a few day trips further afield and still have a base where you can return to the magic of Disney in the evenings.
When it comes to your budget, consider if you would prefer to spend less time at Disney utilizing more expensive resorts and options or if you can expand your visit by taking advantage of more cost-effective accommodations.
Don’t plan on doing too much on the day you arrive or the day you leave. Your travel days are best left clear if possible in case last-minute hassles arrive. Late flights, road delays, and so many other things can prevent your arrival day plans from going ahead. When leaving the resort, packing to go home can be stressful, and I find it to be most helpful to enjoy a leisurely morning before heading off.
Those are just a few of the basic options available to help you choose the right timeframe for your Walt Disney World Vacation. If you are a Disney Pro, be sure to share your favorite itinerary down below and help our first-time planners!
The post How Many Days Should You Plan for Walt Disney World? first appeared on DIS.
“Guardians of the Galaxy” Zarg Nuts are available as a complimentary snack in the temporary Walt Disney World Annual Passholder lounge at EPCOT.
Zarg nuts may ring a familiar bell for fans of the popular “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies. In the franchise, the characters can be seen munching on Zarg nuts in several scenes. Zarg nuts add a touch of humor and eccentricity to the franchise. The recurring reference to Zarg nuts in the movies has made them somewhat of a pop culture icon, making fans curious about their origin and taste outside of the fictional universe. If you are curious what they taste like, find an Annual Passholder and head to the lounge.
The Annual Passholder lounge will be available at Sunshine Seasons in The Land Pavilion through June 30, from park open to close each day.
Walt Disney World Annual Pass Program
Walt Disney World Annual Passes were sold continuously from September 1982 until March 2020. Since then, the price had increased dramatically, multiple tiers were introduced with various blackout dates and benefits to match. At times, the resort even encouraged guests to become Passholders through advertising at the parks, around Central Florida, and through benefits like discounts on merchandise and food.
Of course, at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, that all changed. While Walt Disney World did not go the route of Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Resort by canceling every Annual Pass and issuing refunds, nor did they resume sales immediately as the Paris, Hong Kong, and Shanghai resorts did upon reopening. Passes remained valid and renewable after the COVID-19 closure concluded in July 2020, although new sales were halted almost immediately upon reopening. At the time, Disney assured guests it was a “temporary” measure due to capacity restrictions at Walt Disney World.
In August 2021, Walt Disney World announced an overhaul of their pass system, replacing the four tiers introduced in 2015 with a more confusing character-based system. New passes then went on sale in September 2021, and remained on sale for nearly three months before being suspended in late November. The two middle tiers were briefly on sale last June for a single day before halting again. All four Walt Disney World Annual Passes went on sale again this year.
Beginning in April 2023, Walt Disney World Annual Passholders can visit the theme parks after 2:00 p.m. on most days without a park pass reservation. This perk does not include Magic Kingdom on Saturdays and Sundays, when a reservation will still be required.
Beginning next year, Walt Disney World Annual Passholders will no longer need park pass reservations for select “good-to-go” dates.
For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
The post ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Zarg Nuts Available at Annual Passholder Lounge in EPCOT appeared first on WDW News Today.
The Disney Dining Plan can be a great deal for vacationing families. With a bit of extra planning, however, you can ensure you get the most out of your Disney culinary experience. Today we will look at some of the top things you should and shouldn’t do when vacationing on the Disney Dining Plan.
The Dining Plan has made Advanced Reservations an absolute must for your table service restaurants. To be sure you get the restaurant you want at a reasonable time, you need to be prepared to start making reservations 90 days prior to your trip. For those who loathe the thought of planning what they will eat three months ahead of time – tough – do it anyway. It’s much better to have a reservation that you can later cancel if your plans change than to realize two weeks out from your trip that the only reservation you can find for your romantic anniversary dinner is a 4:00 p.m. seating at Chef Mickey’s. Always plan ahead.
Just because you can’t make a reservation for quick service meals, doesn’t mean they don’t need a little planning. This is especially true when traveling with a large group or family. Nothing takes away your park time like a dozen people huddled in a circle trying to decide where to eat.
“Where do you want to eat?”
“I don’t know. Where do you want to eat?”
“I don’t know. What’s close to us?”
After a 20-minute discussion and an examination of a park map, you end up at a quick service restaurant on the other side of the park where only half the group really wants to eat anyway. Plan your quick service meals ahead of time.
There are so many quick service locations throughout Disney World that deciding on one can sometimes be challenging. However, some options give you a little more bang for your Disney Dining buck. Here are a few that should be at the top of your quick service list.
Columbia Harbour House
Columbia Harbour House in Liberty Square at Magic Kingdom may not have a table service feel, but if you want a break from the typical burger, nugget, and sandwich selections, this is the place. With a menu featuring fried shrimp, grilled salmon, and New England clam chowder, the food is definitely a step up from many counter service restaurants. The famous Harbour House Lobster Roll is a favorite of seasoned Disney fans.
Another one of our favorites is Satu’li Canteen inside Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This restaurant serves international-inspired cuisine, vegetarian options, and specialty libations and offers indoor and outdoor seating. There are endless possibilities with their combination bowls and the Cheeseburger Steamed Pods are out of this world!
Learn the value of your snack credits and use them to their most significant advantage. Don’t spend what is essentially a $5.00 snack credit on bottled water or soda. Bring extra bottled water with you, or pay cash for a drink. Save your snack credit for something like a Ham and Cheese Croissant in France or Norwegian School Bread in Norway, or even for the ever-popular Dole Whip. There are too many excellent snack choices out there to be wasting a credit on a drink. You can even use any leftover credits to bring snack items home at the end of your trip! That being said, the exception to this rule is at any Starbucks on Disney property. This includes the Main Street Bakery in Magic Kingdom. At these locations, a snack credit will get you any size of drink your heart desires. So grab a Venti White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino and enjoy!
We are a typical family of four. Many days we will end up gorging ourselves on a table service lunch, and by dinner time, we still aren’t really too hungry. Rather than spending 4 quick service credits on 4 meals that only get half eaten, we will get 2 quick service meals and share. This works exceptionally well if you are somewhere like EPCOT and are planning on some really good snacks as you tour the World Showcase. It is also worth noting here that while the table service credits are differentiated as adult or child credits, the quick service credits were not when the dining plan was last available. Just because you have two small children with you doesn’t mean they can’t share one adult-sized meal between them. By saving a credit here and there, we can collect enough to cover an extra meal on our last day on property. On an average trip, we will spend 5 nights and get 5 days of dining credits, but we are actually on property for 6 days. So, the extra credits come in handy for that 6th day.
Make sure, after each purchase, that you double-check your receipt to see that your credits are correct. This helps to avoid simple mistakes, and it helps you keep track of your credits. There’s nothing worse than ending up on the fourth day of your five-day trip and realizing that you have used all of your credits and you have no idea how.
A nice sit-down meal is an excellent break from a long Disney park day. The mere thought of spending an entire day at Magic Kingdom can be exhausting. Plan your table service meals to split up your day. If the park closes early at 8:00 p.m. or 9:00 p.m., consider a late lunch table service to relax after a long morning. If the park is open late and you plan on staying till closer to midnight, you might want to make your table service for dinner later in the day. As exciting as Disney is, dragging from one attraction to another for a full day can leave kids tired and cranky. Use your meal times to break your day up and relax as much as possible.
This isn’t too much of an issue with meal credits, but with a family of four, we start the week with 20-30 snack credits. Sometimes we are so full from our meals that we don’t think to use them. If you are at the end of your trip and find that you have a few snack credits left over, hit the resort gift shop or Disney Springs and pick up some snacks for the road. It also helps with the sadness of leaving Disney if you are munching on some Mickey popcorn or cinnamon pecans on the way home.
As much emphasis as we put on planning ahead and being prepared, it is also essential to recognize when plans need to change. Countless unpredictable variables in a Disney trip could require changing your planned dining options. Perhaps the weather changed your scheduled park days, or crowds changed which rides you went on, and now you are nowhere near your planned counter service. Go with the plan when you can and adjust when necessary. If you have to make last-minute dining changes, check with the concierge at your resort. Disney will hold out a certain number of restaurant reservations for VIP guests, and if they aren’t used, they release those reservations first thing in the morning. Don’t let a change of plans derail your entire trip. Just be flexible.
The Disney Dining Plan has revolutionized the Disney experience. With a little extra planning and effort, it can be what makes your next Disney trip the magical vacation it should be.
The post The DO’s and DON’Ts of the Disney Dining Plan first appeared on DIS.
2023 Walt Disney World Packages are now available to book!
Walt Disney World has announced and released 2024 room rates and packages, which are now available to book. A few things have changed from the 2023 Walt Disney World packages, highlighted below:
Please note: Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts are available for bookings 11 months out. Walt Disney World announced that the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will be closing in 2023, and will not be made available in 2024.
Even though Walt Disney World has announced these 2024 packages today, the regular booking window still applies. You can only book your Walt Disney World reservation 500 days in advance. As of today, that is October 12, 2024. So, if you want to make your 2024 Walt Disney World reservation by checking in on October 12 or before, you can do that today. If you want to make it later in the year, you will need to wait until you are within 500 days of your check-in date.
Walt Disney World theme park reservation system will stay in place for most guests through January 8, 2024. If you have dated tickets (any tickets that are part of a Mouseketrips package will be dated), then you will no longer need park reservations starting January 9, 2024. If you travel with an Annual Pass or some group ticket for students or conventions, you will still need to make park reservations through all of 2024.
If you have any questions or problems with making park reservations, your Mouseketrips agent can help.
Walt Disney World dining plans are returning for 2024!!!
For 2024, Walt Disney World will offer two different dining plans. Disney has decided, for the time being, not to offer the Disney Dining Plan Plus nor the Disney Deluxe Dining Plan for 2024. Currently, you will be able to choose from the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan or the Disney Dining Plan, available with all 2024 packages (for arrivals starting January 9, 2024).
The Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan includes the following:
It looks like the Quick-Service dining plan will cost $23.83 per child and $57.01 per adult per night of your stay. More information and details are available on the Walt Disney World Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan website.
The Disney Dining Plan includes the following:
It looks like the Disney Dining Plan will cost $29.69 per child and $94.28 per adult per night of your stay. More information and details are available on the Walt Disney World Disney Dining Plan website.
Please note that all guests on your reservation must purchase the same dining plan for all nights of your stay, you are not able to mix dining plans or only purchase the plans for a portion of your stay.
Walt Disney World no longer mails complimentary MagicBands to Walt Disney World Resort guests. MagicBands will be available to purchase at a discounted rate prior to your arrival. Guests who prefer not to purchase a discounted MagicBand will be able to use the My Disney Experience app or a Key to the World card (free once you arrive at Disney) during their visit. Walt Disney World will still offer MagicBands in retail locations and on shopDisney.com, and guests will be able to continue using the wearables throughout Walt Disney World Resort.
Walt Disney World no longer offers Disney’s Magical Express airport transportation. Several paid options are now available, your Mouseketrips agent will be able to find the best option for you.
It is no longer an option to purchase Genie + in advance as part of your stay. Genie + must be purchased on a daily basis each morning during your stay. So, Genie + is currently not a ticket option on any 2024 Walt Disney World package or advance ticket purchase.
If you would like to get a quote or more information about 2024 Walt Disney World Packages, please feel free to contact us for a free, no-obligation quote on your 2024 Walt Disney World Vacation.
The post 2024 Walt Disney World Vacations appeared first on Mouseketrips.
There are many factors that go into deciding when to plan your Disney World trip, from weather to avoiding crowds during the busiest times of the year. While there is a healthy mix of pros and cons to any month, the best months to visit Walt Disney World offer an ideal mix of lower crowd […]
The post What is the Best Time to Visit Walt Disney World? appeared first on LaughingPlace.com.
The limited-time Walt Disney World Annual Passholder lounge has opened in The Land Pavilion at EPCOT as part of V.I.PASSHOLDER Days.
A purple mural featuring Spaceship Earth, Figment, and the Annual Passholder logo is on a wall in The Land, perfect for photo ops.
There are free Figment stickers. They have the same design as the new Annual Passholder Figment magnet, which is also available at EPCOT.
There are also free M&M’s and nuts.
There are also self-serve water stations.
The tables have decals with familiar art of Orange Bird, Mickey, Minnie, and Figment.
This artwork has all been featured on previous Annual Passholder magnets.
There are charging stations for your phone and other electronics.
The Annual Passholder lounge will be available at Sunshine Seasons through June 30, from park open to close each day.
The following Passholder-exclusive treats are also available for purchase at Sunshine Seasons during V.I.PASSHOLDER Days:
Stay tuned for our reviews of these special snacks.
Walt Disney World Annual Passes were sold continuously from September 1982 until March 2020. Since then, the price had increased dramatically, multiple tiers were introduced with various blackout dates and benefits to match. At times, the resort even encouraged guests to become Passholders through advertising at the parks, around Central Florida, and through benefits like discounts on merchandise and food.
Of course, at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, that all changed. While Walt Disney World did not go the route of Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Resort by canceling every Annual Pass and issuing refunds, nor did they resume sales immediately as the Paris, Hong Kong, and Shanghai resorts did upon reopening. Passes remained valid and renewable after the COVID-19 closure concluded in July 2020, although new sales were halted almost immediately upon reopening. At the time, Disney assured guests it was a “temporary” measure due to capacity restrictions at Walt Disney World.
In August 2021, Walt Disney World announced an overhaul of their pass system, replacing the four tiers introduced in 2015 with a more confusing character-based system. New passes then went on sale in September 2021, and remained on sale for nearly three months before being suspended in late November. The two middle tiers were briefly on sale last June for a single day before halting again. All four Walt Disney World Annual Passes went on sale again this year.
Beginning in April 2023, Walt Disney World Annual Passholders can visit the theme parks after 2:00 p.m. on most days without a park pass reservation. This perk does not include Magic Kingdom on Saturdays and Sundays, when a reservation will still be required.
Beginning next year, Walt Disney World Annual Passholders will no longer need park pass reservations for select “good-to-go” dates.
For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
The post Annual Passholder Lounge Opens at EPCOT for a Limited Time appeared first on WDW News Today.
Many guests who will be traveling to the Walt Disney World Resort are excited for the return of the Disney Dining Plan in 2024. If you’re wondering how much this will cost, the question has now been answered. What’s Happening: The Disney Dining Plan will be back in 2024, and bookings are open for trips after […]
The post The Disney Dining Plan Prices Announced for Walt Disney World appeared first on LaughingPlace.com.
The new Walt Disney World Annual Passholder Figment magnet is now available for pick-up at EPCOT.
The complimentary magnet is available at Creations Shop.
The queue is set up at this side entrance facing construction walls.
There was a long line to pick up the Figment magnet this morning.
Guests must present their Annual Pass, in card form or in the My Disney Experience app, and a photo ID.
The magnet features Figment holding a paintbrush in a dark purple Walt Disney World “D.” “Walt Disney World Annual Passholder” is around the edge.
The Figment Annual Passholder Magnet will be available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. until June 30 or while supplies last. There will be no virtual queue for picking up this magnet.
A Figment Annual Passholder magnet was also previously released for the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts in 2019. But the look of the Walt Disney World Annual Pass program has since been re-designed, an update that extends to the magnets.
Walt Disney World Annual Passes were sold continuously from September 1982 until March 2020. Since then, the price had increased dramatically, multiple tiers were introduced with various blackout dates and benefits to match. At times, the resort even encouraged guests to become Passholders through advertising at the parks, around Central Florida, and through benefits like discounts on merchandise and food.
Of course, at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, that all changed. While Walt Disney World did not go the route of Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Resort by canceling every Annual Pass and issuing refunds, nor did they resume sales immediately as the Paris, Hong Kong, and Shanghai resorts did upon reopening. Passes remained valid and renewable after the COVID-19 closure concluded in July 2020, although new sales were halted almost immediately upon reopening. At the time, Disney assured guests it was a “temporary” measure due to capacity restrictions at Walt Disney World.
In August 2021, Walt Disney World announced an overhaul of their pass system, replacing the four tiers introduced in 2015 with a more confusing character-based system. New passes then went on sale in September 2021, and remained on sale for nearly three months before being suspended in late November. The two middle tiers were briefly on sale last June for a single day before halting again. All four Walt Disney World Annual Passes went on sale again this year.
Beginning in April 2023, Walt Disney World Annual Passholders can visit the theme parks after 2:00 p.m. on most days without a park pass reservation. This perk does not include Magic Kingdom on Saturdays and Sundays, when a reservation will still be required.
It was recently announced that beginning next year, Walt Disney World Annual Passholders would no longer need park pass reservations for select “good-to-go” dates.
Will you be stopping by EPCOT to pick up this Annual Passholder magnet? We’d like to see your opinions in the comments below.
For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
The post New Walt Disney World Annual Passholder Figment Magnet Now Available at EPCOT appeared first on WDW News Today.
