How to Experience Beauty and the Beast at Disney World

On March 17, the much anticipated live-action film “Beauty and the Beast” will premiere in theaters nationwide. Fans looking to celebrate the classic fairy tale before the new film’s release need look no further than Walt Disney World Resort, where there are a multitude of unique “Beauty and the Beast” experiences just waiting to say “bonjour.”

Here are a few options:

Tale as Old as Time

Guests are invited to be a part of the story at Enchanted Tales with Belle in Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park. Guests are transported through an enchanted mirror to Beast’s castle. They’re just in time to help Lumiere and Madame Wardrobe host a very special surprise for Belle. The audience gets to play various characters from the film to re-tell the story of how Belle and Beast met just before she has dinner with Beast.

Song as old as Rhyme

Guests can also interact with the story and the music from “Beauty and the Beast” with several entertainment options at both Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom Park.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios:

• Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage! immerses guests in a Broadway-style show where Belle, Gaston, Beast, Mrs. Potts and other characters perform songs and scenes from the classic film. The 25-minute performance takes place daily at the Theater of the Stars.

Magic Kingdom Park:

• Belle and Beast at Disney World lead off the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade as it loops from Frontierland to Main Street, U.S.A. This sight-and-sound spectacular celebrates the magic of Fantasyland with several Disney friends and colorful floats. Parade kick off is 3 p.m. daily.

Put Our Service to the Test

Soup du jour, hot hors d’oeuvres, Walt Disney World restaurants only live to serve. Guests can find several “Beauty and the Beast” dining opportunities throughout the theme parks and Disney Springs.

• Be Our Guest Restaurant: This one-of-a-kind dining experience can be found inside Beast’s castle in Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park. Be Our Guest brings the story of “Beauty and the Beast” to life with atmospheric and culinary delights. It features an elegant ballroom, a Rose Gallery and the infamous West Wing for diners, with snowy views of the French countryside. Guests can even try the Grey Stuff, which is sure to be delicious. Beast, the master of the castle, meets with diners in his study after their meal. The French-style restaurant serves quick-service breakfast and lunch, and full-service dining for dinner.

• Gaston’s Tavern: This French-style lodge is decorated with hunting trophies and other keepsakes dedicated to Gaston. Guests can sit in his fireside chair, complete with signature antler décor, and sip on LeFou’s brew, a frozen apple juice beverage infused with a hint of toasted marshmallow and topped with mango foam. The Tavern, located in Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park, also serves a variety of pastries, including the signature giant cinnamon roll. The strapping Gaston himself can be found meeting adoring fans outside the Tavern as well.
• Akershus Royal Banquet Hall: Guests can dine with several Disney Princesses, including Belle, in the Norway Pavilion at Epcot. Guests of all ages can visit for breakfast, lunch or dinner in this medieval castle setting, mingling with the princesses who pose for photos and sign autographs.
• Guests also can find unique pastries inspired by the Beauty and the Beast story at several locations, including the Enchanted Rose cake at Amorette’s Patisserie at Disney Springs and a Belle-inspired vanilla cupcake at Main Street Confectionary at Magic Kingdom Park.

A Beauty but a Funny Girl

Belle meets her fans in the France Pavilion at Epcot. Topiaries in France shaped like Belle, Beast and other “Beauty and the Beast” characters are showcased during the International Flower and Garden Festival, which runs now until May 29.

Little princesses also can get the royal Belle treatment at Bibbidi Bobbiidi Boutique, located at both Disney Springs and inside Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park. Fairy Godmothers-in-Training transform young guests with princess costumes, hairstyles, nails and more.

For brides-to-be, there are endless ways to include “Beauty and the Beast”-inspired touches to their big day thanks to Disney’s Fairytale Weddings and Honeymoons. Brides can customize everything from their wedding decorations to the menu to wearing a Belle-inspired gown.

Do you like to travel with your pets?

Check out the Insider Guide to Traveling with Pets.

This guide will help you decide if you should travel by car, plane, cruise ship, or even train with your furry friends.  You will learn about pet friendly hotels/resorts, pet traveling tips, and so much more.

What pets do you travel with on your vacation?

Rivers of Light, an all-new nighttime show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, will begin delighting Walt Disney World Resort guests Feb. 17. Rich in symbolism and storytelling, the elaborate theatrical production takes guests on a breathtaking emotional journey – a visual mix of water, fire, nature and light all choreographed to an original musical score.

The new 15-minute show is the latest addition to the lineup of nighttime experiences at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Celebrating the majesty of nature and the connection between animals and humans in the world, the performance combines live performers, beautiful floating lanterns, glistening fountains, special effects and authentic animal imagery projected on giant water screens.

“Disney’s Animal Kingdom is built around the lives of animals, built around the rules of nature, and those rules dictate that as you move between day and night everything changes…and you’re going to want to see that,” said Joe Rohde, Creative Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering. “It all really is summed up by Rivers of Light. In the show, we take this combination of light and water which create life, and out of that comes this fantastically rich explosion of animal life that ultimately rises up and joins the stars.”

As the sun sets, guests gather along the picturesque edge of the Discovery River at the site of a fabled age-old ritual. A new 5,000-seat amphitheater welcomes guests to two distinct “villages” separated by a bridge and the river. Sounds of animals are heard from a nearby forest, and magical fireflies descend from the Tree of Life toward the lagoon, creating a sense of wonder as four beautifully illuminated Lotus flowers float across the water.

The ceremony begins with a stirring musical overture signaling the arrival of a pair of mystical Storytellers, two complementary forces who come to the river bearing gifts of light. They set out from the shore aboard elaborate lantern vessels. Adorned in intricately designed costumes, the hosts engage in a dramatic dance of water and light to summon the animal spirits – an Asian Tiger, Tropical Turtle, African Elephant and Great Horned Owl – and take guests on a wondrous journey across Asian jungles and African savannahs.

Disney challenged renowned Broadway production designer Michael Curry to create vessels that were artistic and stimulating, yet innovative. The commanding lanterns stand 15 feet tall and are 30 feet long, illuminated from within by innovative LED technology.

As the mesmerizing show progresses, Rivers of Light continues to unfold with a powerful musical score created by songwriter and composer Don L. Harper and recorded at the renowned Abbey Road Studio in London. The signature song “We Are One” was written by Mark Mancina, who created the score and was a key collaborator on the music for Disney’s hit animated feature film “Moana.”

A collaboration with Disneynature to incorporate rare nature cinematography showcasing tender animal moments adds rich authenticity to the storyline. Many are never-before-seen moments from Disneynature films.

The crescendo of the evening finale blends triumphant music and a waterfall of colors celebrating the circle of life.

“At the show’s finale, we hope guests will feel like they have been on a tremendous ceremonial and visual journey,” said Michael Jung, Walt Disney Imagineering creative director. “Rivers of Light really provides an affirmation of life and reminds us of the beauty and fragility of the natural world we all share – with animals and one another.”

Technology and attention to detail play starring roles in the new show. The 11 show floats are independent of each other and programmed to follow a choreographed “dance” across the lagoon. More than 50,000 programmable, color-changing LED lights are found in the four Animal Spirit Guide floats alone. Each Lotus float produces its own water screen. Costumes for the storytellers and their acolytes include fabrics using 5,000-year-old dye and weaving techniques.

Following its Feb. 17 premiere, Rivers of Light will be performed on select nights.

Special dining packages are available to park guests that include reserved seating at the new show. Packages are offered at the buffet-style Tusker House or the new signature restaurant Tiffins (lunch and dinner). Reservations can be made by visiting DisneyWorld.com/dining or by calling 407 WDW-DINE.

Rivers of Light joins a rich variety of new nighttime experiences and family adventures designed to offer up Disney’s Animal Kingdom in a whole new light. These include:

• Post-sunset adventures on Kilimanjaro Safaris, allowing guests to travel through the African savannah amid the artfully created orange glow of the setting sun during evening hours of operation.
• After-dark hours allowing guests to experience nighttime on popular park attractions including Expedition Everest, Kali River Rapids and more.
• Fine dining at Tiffins, newest signature restaurant at Walt Disney World Resort, with innovative dishes that take diners to Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas amid travel-inspired artwork.
• Exuberant song-and-dance gathering nightly in the center of the park, Discovery Island Carnivale. Includes lively music and dance, vibrant costumes, delectable food and beverage, face painting and more.
• Tree of Life awakening after dark. Through projections and special effects, the animal spirits of the Tree are brought to life like never before, revealing moments of wonder and enchantment.
• Harambe Wildlife Parti. This safari after-party crisscrosses Harambe, from its theatre district to its bustling marketplace with the sights and sounds of local street musicians and entertainers, inviting guests to join them in dance and song, partake in exotic foods and libations and explore the diverse wares of village artisans and merchants.

All are part of the largest expansion in the history of Disney’s Animal Kingdom which will culminate this summer with the opening of Pandora – The World of Avatar.

Guests visiting the new Universal’s Aventura Hotel will arrive at a sleek and stylish space designed to create an affordable-chic experience in the heart of a vibrant and relaxing resort atmosphere.

The hotel will feature the destination’s first-ever rooftop bar and grill, where guests will enjoy small plates and craft cocktails while taking in incredible panoramic views of Universal Orlando and the surrounding tropical landscape. Hotel guests can also dine at a modern food hall offering five unique cuisine options in a marketplace setting just off the lobby. Amenities exclusive to guests staying on-site will include Early Park Admission to Universal’s theme parks, complimentary on-site transportation, a relaxing pool with a hot tub, kids’ splash pad area and fire pit, a state-of-the-art fitness center, gift shop and car rental facilities.

Universal’s Aventura Hotel will offer guests yet another value priced option when choosing from the wide range of on-site hotels at Universal Orlando Resort. The new hotel will neighbor Loews Sapphire Falls Resort and will be just steps away from Universal Orlando’s theme parks, including Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure, and Universal’s Volcano Bay – a first-of-its-kind water theme park opening in early summer 2017. Universal CityWalk, the destination’s dining and entertainment complex, will be accessible via walking paths or shuttle service from Universal’s Aventura Hotel.

Away from the energy of the hotel’s public spaces, the guest room experience embraces a serene, modern environment with refreshing, natural colors such as sea blue and rose, and floor-to-ceiling windows offering sweeping views of the destination.

New Baby Dolphins at Discovery Cove

Five baby dolphins were born at Discovery Cove within one month of each other:

• Kona, a girl, was born August 3 to mom Roxy;
• Titan, a boy, was born August 6 to mom Calypso;
• Nero, a boy, was born August 7 to mom Nueces;
• Star, a girl, was born August 14 to mom Stella; and
• Storm, born September 2 to mom Hailey.

Storm’s gender has not yet been determined.

At birth, each bottlenose baby dolphin calf weighed approximately 35 pounds and measured about 43 inches in length.  The baby dolphins each nurse for several minutes every hour and get 100% of their nutrition from their mothers’ milk.

“An animal birth is a very special time for our team, and having five babies at once is remarkable,” said Discovery Cove Animal Trainer Gina McDaniel.  “The last time we had this many new babies was 2009, so this is an exciting time for our dolphins and our animal care team.”

The new moms are attentive, keeping their babies close and swimming constantly to create a “slip stream,” or wake, in which the calves can swim easily, exerting as little energy as possible. Within hours of their arrival, the calves’ tails and dorsal fins — soft and pliable at birth — gradually stiffen, which helps them learn to swim on their own.

“Calypso, Nueces, Stella, and Hailey are all first-time moms, so Roxy has been a great role model for them,” said McDaniel.  “Dolphins are highly social animals, so it’s common for new moms to get assistance from experienced moms, who are known in the dolphin world as ‘aunties.’”

The baby dolphins will stay close to their mothers for some time and will soon have the opportunity to interact and play with one another, meet the other moms and eventually be introduced to social groups within the park.

A team of trainers and veterinarians are watching over the moms and baby dolphins around the clock, carefully monitoring and recording their respiration rates, nursing, and overall progress.  The data and observations gathered by Discovery Cove will be shared with zoological facilities all over the world.

“We are in a unique position to be able to document dolphins’ physiological and behavioral traits up-close, which adds to the collective body of knowledge regarding their calving, nursing, and care-taking habits,” McDaniel said.  “This information is especially valuable to researchers and rescue organizations working with them in the wild.  For instance, it is difficult to understand or determine why the dolphin population has suddenly decreased, or a dolphin has stranded itself on the beach.  Through our research, observation, and information, we help establish that baseline for what is normal.”

Guests to Discovery Cove may catch a glimpse of the new baby dolphins in the coming weeks, but the park has not yet announced when they will be seen on a regular basis. 

Fun Wizarding World Scavenger Hunt at Universal Orlando

Celebrate the upcoming release of “Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them” with a new photo scavenger hunt that takes you throughout The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade at Universal Orlando Resort.

From cute and cuddly Pygmy Puffs to majestic Hippogriffs, there is an abundance of magical creatures to discover, follow the steps below and join the quest to find them all.

1. Locate all the magical creatures in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
2. Snap a photo with them and don’t be afraid to get creative.
3. Share your photos with #WizardingWorldOrlando and #FantasticBeasts on Twitter or Instagram.