This week, Kristin from Couponing to Disney, offers her favorite tip on saving money during a Disney World vacation.

The resorts will accept packages on your behalf starting 2 weeks before you arrive. You can use this amenity to ship items to the resort including food, a stroller, a case of water, souvenirs, etc. Go ahead and pack up some items for your Disney World vacation and ship them to your Disney Resort hotel.

Stay tuned next week for another Disney World tip from the queen of couponing to Disney!

Watch the video for a tour of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida!

Pirates of the Caribbean is a Disney-made log flume themed dark ride at Disneyland Park, Walt Disney World Resort Magic Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris. This was the last attraction which Walt Disney himself participated in designing; it opened three months after his death, in the spring of 1967. It was originally envisioned to be a walk-through wax museum attraction.

During the course of the indoor boat ride, guests float through an immersive, larger-than-life pirate adventure featuring gunshots, cannon blasts, burning buildings, and carousing and pillaging pirates, all accompanied by the now-iconic song “Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me)” written by George Bruns and Xavier Atencio.

The Magic Kingdom attraction, guarded by the Caribbean watchtower Torre del Sol, is housed in a golden Spanish fort called Castillo Del Morro, inspired by Castillo de San Felipe del Morro in theOld San Juan in San Juan.
Inside, the Disneyland Blue Bayou has been replaced by Pirate’s Cove and into a short grotto with Blackbeard, skeletons of dead pirates, the hurricane lagoon, and an echoing “Dead men tell no tales”. There is no treasure room sequence as found in other Disney parks. Following the plunge down one waterfall, the remainder of the ride is similar to Tokyo and California. Unlike in California, however, riders do not return to ground level in their boat; instead, they exit the boat immediately after the Jack Sparrow in the treasure room scene, then take a speed ramp up to the ground floor gift shop. The Florida Magic Kingdom version also does not include the scene past the powder room with the intoxicated pirates firing cannons.

The exterior of the Magic Kingdom attraction was slightly altered during the 2006 modifications. Included in the changes were the removal of the barker bird and original attraction sign. A new sign was placed on the outside corner of the fort facing toward the entrance of Adventureland. The design of the new sign is a ship’s mast with the attraction name written in its black sails, and a skeleton of a pirate up in its crow’s nest. The barker bird was eventually moved to the Pirates of the Caribbean section of the World of Disney store at Downtown Disney.

Splash into fun in AquaLab!
This new addition to the Disney Fantasy is located on Deck 12, Aft on the Disney Fantasy near the entrance to the AquaDuck water coaster. This 1,800-square-foot water play area is designed to delight young Guests and their families, and features:
* Unique design details depicting Donald Duck’s nephews
* Pop jets, geysers, bubblers and other interactive elements

Take a look at the Aqua Lab on the Disney Fantasy Cruise Ship.

The Story of the AquaLab
As the story goes, AquaLab was created by Donald Duck’s nephews—Huey, Dewey and Louie—and features a variety of water “experiments” designed to drench the entire family. Children entering the AquaLab will see that the nephews are away for the time being, leaving the young cruise Guests in charge of AquaLab!

Interactive Experiences in AquaLabAquaLab features exciting, interactive touches at every turn, including:
* Moving wheels and levers at 3 wacky aqua stations, which allow kids to “control” the speed and temperature of the AquaDuck water coaster
* Pop jets and geysers, which offer hands-on fun for little ones
* Pipes that can be used to manually control the water supply—and stop Uncle Donald’s row boat from filling with water

The excitement is seemingly endless during this splashtacular experience!

 

New to the Disney Fantasy, the Shutters digital photo store is themed as if passengers are stepping inside a camera, providing touch screen access to all photos taken by Disney photographers on the ship and on shore, allowing guests to browse and buy their favorites.

Disney photographs are available to snap family photos throughout vacations on the on the Disney Fantasy, important for many passengers to remember their trips by. Somewhat reminiscent of the Mighty Microscope from the extinct Disneyland attraction Adventures Thru Inner Space, the ship’s new themed Shutters store takes passengers inside a camera, allowing them to view and purchase those photos while on the Disney Cruise Line vacation.

This Shutters store is new to the Disney Fantasy, adding round-the-clock convenience over the photo print binders also available on board and allowing passengers to avoid the last-day rush to buy photos. The store’s glossy white appearance is accented by lines of colored lights and blown-up images of the inner workings of a camera, providing a futuristic look to the digital shop, connected to the ship’s art gallery. Take a tour and see how the photo purchasing system works in the video below.

Feel the thunderous sound of Matsuriza as they perform Taiko—a time-honored form of drumming. Catch this stirring, 15-minute Japanese drum show on the main stage at the Japan Pavilion’s 5-story pagoda at Epcot theme park.

Founded by Takemasa Ishikura in 1998, this percussion troupe performs both traditional arrangements and its own compositions at locales around the world. Using handmade drums that range in height from 6 inches to 6 feet, the drummers create a unique synchronized booming rhythm that can be heard—and enjoyed—by Guests from quite a distance away.

Performances occur at different times throughout the day, so be sure to check the Times Guide at Epcot.

About Taiko — Traditional Japanese Drumming
“Taiko” is Japanese for “great drum.” The history of the great drum can be traced back centuries to religious ceremonies, harvest festivals and battlefield performances. It is widely agreed that Taiko reflects the spirit and essence of the Japanese people. Taiko drumming is more popular now than ever; its distinctive sounds can be heard in everything from western pop music to blockbuster Hollywood films.

 

Disney’s BoardWalk area contains more than 90,000 square feet of shops, restaurants and nightclubs. It encompasses Crescent Lake and is “a village on the water” near many Disney Resort hotels in Walt Disney World Resort. This quarter-mile entertainment, dining and shopping area is also conveniently close to 2 Disney Theme Parks.

With sherbet-colored building facades, striped awnings, rising columns and archways, Disney’s BoardWalk is designed after the boardwalks that were famous during the turn of the 20th century along such coastal cities as Coney Island, New York and Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Stroll along Disney’s BoardWalk during the day to explore the unusual shops and restaurants. When the sun cools down, the nightlife heats up with street performers, food vendors, midway games and lots of live entertainment.

Take a look at Disney’s BoardWalk:

Guest Services
Guest Services at Disney’s Boardwalk addresses such topics as what to wear, where to find certain merchandise and how to make a special dietary request at a Walt Disney World Resort restaurant.

Entertainment
Entertainment at Disney’s Boardwalk ranges from a dance hall to piano bar to sports-themed club Specialty Cruises. There is no admission to Disney’s BoardWalk area—where live evening entertainment can usually be found— but some venues may have a cover charge.

Dining
Dining at Disney’s Boardwalk covers a wide spectrum: bakeries, a sports bar, an upscale restaurant. Disney’s BoardWalk also has coffee carts, funnel cake kiosks and hot dog stands. Dinner ranges from $15 to $60 per person; breakfast, lunch and snacks can be from $15 USD and less per person. Ranges based on average Guest check, not including alcohol, tax and tip.

Shopping
Shopping at Disney’s Boardwalk includes stores that specialize in Disney character merchandise, ESPN and sport-themed apparel, souvenirs, swim wear and Wyland art.

Transportation
Transportation to and from Disney’s BoardWalk is available via bus and boat throughout Walt Disney World Resort, and is complimentary for Walt Disney World Resort hotel Guests. For Park Guests choosing to drive, complimentary self-parking is also available. Disney’s BoardWalk is walking distance to the International Gateway to Epcot theme park.

Inside New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom, you’ll find an old time circus with big tops and big appeal! Visit Storybook Circus and step inside Pete’s Silly Sideshow to meet some beloved Disney characters who are now circus stars.  They are are excited to show off their special talents too. Located inside one of the big-top tents in the Storybook Circus area of New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom park, this is a great place to meet new friends and pose for photos with some familiar faces.

At Pete’s Silly Sideshow in the Magic Kingdom, the custom-designed character greeting location created exclusively for Storybook Circus, you are invited to choose a path to meet either Donald Duck and Goofy or Minnie Mouse and Daisy, each playing their own unique role at the circus. At Pete’s Silly Sideshow, Donald is The Astounding Donaldo, the most charming of snake charmers. Goofy, of course, is The Great Goofini, circus stuntman extraordinaire. Daisy Duck plays the part of Madame Daisy Fortuna, a mysterious gypsy fortuneteller, and Minnie Mouse is the “Siren of the Seine,” that Parisian poodle trainer Minnie Magnifique. Detailed props and settings help reinforce each of their stories and fully immerse you in the world of the circus sideshow.

Here, you might spot one of the following Disney Characters:

Minnie Magnifique—Minnie Mouse as a circus performer
Madame Daisy Fortuna—Daisy Duck as a fortuneteller
The Great Goofini—Goofy as a daredevil stunt pilot
The Astounding Donaldo—Donald Duck as a snake charmer

Pete’s Silly Sideshow is the only place in the Magic Kingdom where you can meet these characters. Mickey Mouse can be found in Town Square Theater.

Take a look at Pete’s Silly Sideshow Meet & Greet at Magic Kingdom in Storybook Circus within New Fantasyland.

When planning a Disney magical vacation, there are two types of people.  There are those that have no reservation whatsoever about staying on property, and those contemplating whether or not to stay.  If you have any doubts, hopefully after reading this article, you will be one of those people that from now on, will never question whether to stay on Disney property or not.

 

Let me first start by saying that most of this article will be about the glorious and magnificent Disney properties that await those who wish to make their next Disney vacation magical.  Yes, you can stay off Disney property, but let me assure you, that you pay for what you get.  Disney has so much to offer their guest when staying on their property.  If you sat down and made a list of the pros and cons about staying on property, I guarantee your pro list will be twice as long as your con lists.

 

The excitement alone is unbelievable.  From the moment you step off your plan or park your car, you automatically feel the magic.  There is a sense of pixie dust in the air no matter where you go or what you do.  You are always running into Disney characters, cast members are decked out in their beautiful costumes, the decorations in every Disney building you enter is incredible and the keeping of the grounds are exceptional.

 

There are many benefits to staying on Disney property.  You receive complimentary Disney transportation on the Disney Magical Express.  So there is no need for a car.  Just hop on a monorail, boat or Magical Express bus and they will take you anywhere you want to go on Disney property.  You also will receive extrordinary hospitality from every cast member that you encounter.  The service you receive is none like you have every received before.  You, the guest, are top priority.  You will receive the highest quality of everything, because Disney spares no expense for your happiness.

 

Another benefit is Disney Dining.  You’re on vacation, right, so who wants to cook.  When a Disney Dining Package is purchased, you bet you will be getting high quality, delicious food.  If you are a family on the go, Disney’s Quick Service is the way to go.  If you are a family that likes to relax a bit and have a nice sit down dinner, the deluxe plan is for you.

 

One of the best benefits to staying on Disney property is the extended hours into the parks.  If you are a guest in one of Disney’s resorts, you have the privilege of entering the parks before the other guest arrive and staying late after the other guest leave.  This is AWESOME.  Lines are shorter and sometimes there is no wait at all.

 

Yes, you can stay in hotels in the Orlando area, but there is nothing like staying on Disney property.  If you stay somewhere else, it’s like leaving the magic behind and entering into a world of emptiness where no magic exists.  When you vacation on Disney property, and stay your whole visit, it’s like the magic never stops.  You go to sleep in magic and wake up refreshed and ready to jump right into the pixie dust for another day.

 

The next time you are considering whether or not to stay on Disney property, please hesitate no longer.  It will be one of the best decisions you will make.  I guarantee you will have the time of your life.   Let the magic continue day after day.  Disney Resorts are dwelling places where the magic never ends.

 

Savor the classic flavors of France at Be Our Guest Restaurant, now open in New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom park. Located at the base of the mountain below Beast castle, this themed venue transports diners to the magical world of the popular Disney film Beauty and the Beast.

By day, Be Our Guest Restaurant serves up quick-service cuisine, so you can enjoy a short break from your park festivities. By night, it becomes a traditional table-service restaurant where you can reconnect with family and friends over satisfying fare.

Take a look at Be Our Guest Restaurant at Magic Kingdom in New Fantasyland

Dining Areas:

Be Our Guest Restaurant at Magic Kingdom in New Fantasyland features 3 uniquely themed dining rooms:

• The mysterious West Wing, featuring an enchanted rose
• The Rose Gallery with twirling, larger-than-life figures of Belle and Beast (this dining room available at lunch only)
• The Ballroom, elegantly styled with a domed ceiling, twinkling chandeliers and views of softly falling snow
• Menus

Delight in French-inspired cuisine served at lunch and dinner daily. Sample menu items may include:

• Sandwiches and salads at lunchtime, including the classic croque monsieur (ham and cheese sandwich), tuna Niçoise salad and grilled steak sandwich with garlic butter spread—plus, of course, pommes frites (French fries)
• Heartier fare at dinner, including braised pork, grilled strip steak with pommes frites, French onion soup and vegetable quiche, accompanied by a selection of wine and beer that complements the French-inspired cuisine
• For a sweet ending to a memorable meal, be sure to try a castle-made cupcake or cream puff!

Reservations: Make dinner reservations at Be Our Guest Restaurant—and get ready for an exciting, new dining experience. Reservations are not needed for lunch.

We highly recommend you visit Be Our Guest when you go to New Fantasyland!

Is it time to renovate the retro working studio theme at Disney World’s Hollywood Studios? With numerous expansions in store and floating around through rumors, one of the most profound discussion topic is the possibility of Cars Land being introduced to Disney’s Hollywood Studios within the next few years. While still just a rumor, there have been several reliable reports over the last few months that Team Disney Orlando (TDO) has been looking deeply into this project. Recently, Kathy Mangum, the show producer for Cars Land at Disneyland California Adventure (DCA) has been moved to Walt Disney World (WDW) for unknown reasons. Coincidence? I think not.

If the rumors stay true, their entailments could mean huge refurbishments to be implemented. It is proposed that Lights, Motors, Action (LMA) and presumably the Backlot Tour will be torn down and leveled out to make way for the newest addition to Hollywood Studios. Although this seems like somewhat of a big change considering Lights, Motors, Action is still one of the newer attractions at Hollywood Studios, these are only rumors and are still in the “Blue Sky” of development. Therefore, only exploration and ideas have been turned out and tossed around within the boardrooms. Both a budget and hard blueprints are still yet to be released, and there is no evidence to prove that they will ever be.

Even if the rumors are true, and let’s say for a moment that they are, would WDW be replicating the entire Cars Land or just Radiator Springs Racers (RSR)? The rumors have not detailed as to which of these is more likely, although DHS is apparently enough to tolerate the massive scale project of completing the entire cloning of Cars Land straight from California, with minor adjustments to the configuration of the present main street located directly in front of LMA and the Backlot Tour entrances.

Would Team Disney Orlando cut the rope a bit short and only include the main attraction or the entire experience? And even with the main attraction, would they also go as far as to include the man-made mountain range that captures the attention of thousands of guests a day in California? Many would find it ridiculous not to include the mountains that make the ride unique and exciting. Without them, the ride would be nothing more than a carnival ride with colored slot cars racing on a flat track. This would completely obliterate the point of adding this attraction as there would be little to no theming to Radiator Springs, which is littered with tall mountains in an old western landscape. As of right now it is hard to tell which route they will take, if one at all. Perhaps this entire scenario is only figurative, and the project will be tossed into the trash just like many others in the Disney Park’s 57 years of existence.

There is another major difference between California and Florida: weather. More often than not, Test Track is shut down and closed for hours at a time to avoid technical difficulties due to lightning. Although a mountain range could possibly withstand hurricanes using the same mechanics as Mount Everest, could an outdoor track be capable of withstanding the terrors of Florida thunderstorms? The only solution would be to completely enclose the ride in a large arena sort of deal, but yet again this would ruin the experience of being in an outdoor landscape in the middle of nowhere.

Another area that people have to take into consideration is the sponsorship of Lights, Motors, Action with Brawny. If the attraction is demolished entirely, would Disney have to make some sort of deal with Brawny or pay back the sponsorship money? This could be another reason for the idea not going into full blast anytime soon.

Let’s take a step back for a moment. Why would WDW even consider this expansion when money could be spent much more efficiently elsewhere in DCA? That’s the big questions isn’t it. In comparison to Universal Studios, WDW looks like a pebble in the ocean. Universal has recently opened a Harry Potter section that has attracted more guests than at first was estimated, resulting in Disney being thrown under the bus. Furthermore, Universal is planning to continue expanding their Harry Potter section to nearly double its size. Even with the Fantasyland expansion, Disney still can’t hold its own weight against its leading competitor. However, the light on the horizon for WDW could be Cars Land. Due to its immediate success in DCA, Cars Land could be the boost that Disney needs.

Not everyone feels this way, however. John Lasseter and other Disneyland Resort executives are against this replication in WDW because they feel as if Cars Land in California would then lose its appeal nationwide. Many people travel thousands of miles just to see Cars Land in DCA. If one was created in WDW, then many people would go to the one that is closest to them, which in most cases would be WDW. Even if it isn’t closer, many would still choose WDW over DCA primarily because WDW has many more attractions and parks while DCA only has one. Finally, DCA caught a break with the establishment of Cars Land and now it might be taken away just as quickly. Disney needs a way to overthrow Universal, but maybe Cars Land just isn’t it.

Written by Miranda Suhrbier, Teen Writer.