Chef Mickey's Opening For Brunch

One of the most popular (and most fun, in my opinion) character dining experiences is about to open up for mid-day meals! Chef Mickey's at Disney's Contemporary Resort currently serves breakfast from 7-11:30am and dinner from 5-9:30pm. Beginning on May 31, 2015, they will begin offering brunch to guests, from 11:30am-2:30pm.

While characters are always subject to change, Chef Mickey's most often features Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto, and Goofy. Like I mentioned, it's super conveniently located at the Contemporary Resort, which is down a 5/10 minute walking path from the Magic Kingdom. It is also on the monorail line. Not just "on the line," actually; the monorail runs right through the middle of the Contemporary Resort! If you're using the Disney Dining Plan to cover you meal costs, the brunch buffet, like breakfast and dinner, will use 1 Table Service entitlement.

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Atlanta Braves Spring Training Coming Back To Disney World!

Great news! Atlanta Braves Spring Training will be returning, once again, to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World Resort, from March 4-April 4, 2015! And they will be taking on some of the best that MLB has to offer, including four reigning division champions! Here's the full schedule:

3/4/15: vs. Mets at 1:05pm
3/6/15: vs. Nationals at 1:05pm
3/7/15: vs. Tigers at 1:05pm
3/10/15: vs. Mets at 1:05pm
3/11/15: vs. Cardinals at 1:05pm
3/13/15: vs. Tigers at 1:05pm
3/14/15: vs. Astros at 6:05pm
3/15/15: vs. Blue Jays at 1:05pm
3/18/15: vs. Yankees at 6:05pm
3/19/15: vs. Marlins at 1:05pm
3/21/15: vs. Nationals at 1:05pm
3/22/15: vs. Tigers at 1:05pm
3/24/15: vs. Phillies at 1:05pm
3/27/15: vs. Red Sox at 1:05pm
3/29/15: vs. Pirates at 1:05pm
3/31/15: vs. Astros at 6:05pm
4/2/15: vs. Orioles at 6:05pm
4/4/15: vs Orioles at 3:05pm

Parking is free for the games. Tickets are on sale at $14 for general admission lawn seats and $54 for lower level reserved seats. If you're interested in seeing some great baseball in action, at a fabulous, facility, feel free to send me a message, and I'll help to make it happen for you!

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Hidden Mickey Hunt At Disney's Wilderness Lodge

Did you know that you can go on a Hidden Mickey Hunt at Disney's Wilderness Lodge? It's one of many great fun (and free) activities just waiting for you at Walt Disney World Resort hotels and you can check it out, even if you're not a guest at the Wilderness Lodge! If you're staying at another Walt Disney World Resort Hotel, you'll be able to drive right into the parking lot, without any worries at all. Not staying on the Disney Property? Typically, you won't have any difficulties here, either. The only time that you won't be able to park in the lot is if it is simply too crowded to fit non-Resort guests. You can, of course, also take Disney Transportation to get to the Wilderness Lodge. Hop aboard the Disney Motor Coach from any of the Theme Parks or Downtown Disney or take the boat over from the Magic Kingdom, the Contemporary Resort, or Fort Wilderness. However you get there, make your way up to the Concierge Desk and let them know that you'd like to hunt for the Hidden Mickey's. The Cast Member will give you a sheet filled with clues to help you on your quest to find the Hidden Mickey's at both the Wilderness Lodge as well and it's Villas!

Wait a minute! Just what are these "Hidden Mickeys?" A Hidden Mickey is a depiction of Mickey Mouse that has been subtly added into the design of a Disney attraction, product, resort, etc. It can take the famous, tri-circle form of Mickey's head and ears, a profile of his head in silhouette, his entire body, or any other form under the sun, so long as it's recognizable as Mickey Mouse.

The Wilderness Lodge Hidden Mickey Hunt will take you all around the resort, from it's dining areas, to the pool, and so much in between. It's truly a super fun way to spend a couple of hours. Plus, when you finish your search, you can bring your completed clue sheet back to the Lodge Desk for a special prize! My kids had an absolute blast. I do have to admit that I did some searching around on the internet for pictures of some of the Mickey's that we were having trouble finding, so I could guide my kiddos in the right direction and keep things moving along at a speed that was fitting for a 9-year-old, a 5-year-old, and a 3-year-old. In that same vein, I'd love to share some of the pictures that we took with you! They're not all the best pictures, and they'll still require you to do a whole lot of hunting on your own, but they are a good jumping off place (and the best I could do with all of my own kiddos in tow!)

In the Lobby, above the giant fireplace, on the right hand side.

Behind the Concierge Desk in the Lobby.

You can see Mickey driving the bus in the front window!

The tri-circle Hidden Mickey is on the bottom right of the white rock at Firerock Geyser.

The frontmost horse's bottom has this Hidden Mickey, located on the ceiling of the Territory Lounge.

Check out the pot in this map outside the Territory Lounge.

The fireplace in the back room of Whispering Canyon Cafe.

They just love hiding in stone at the Villas!

This profile Hidden Mickey is along the ceiling "calendar" in the rotunda at the Villas.

The corner of a picture frame in that same rotunda.

We found 4 of these guys (one was behind a tapestry) on the walls, by the elevators, in the Villas.

The ol' hallway baseboard, on the righthand side, just past the laundry room.

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Great Trick To Skip The Fantasmic! Crowds

Fantasmic!, the nighttime show at Hollywood Studios, can hold a little less than 10,000 Guests in its Hollywood Hills Amphitheater. And when 10,000 people try to leave the same place at the same time, it can get a little crowded. The funny thing is that, at the end of the show, most Guests head straight up the aisles to the main walkway and then across, heading for the exit. Because of this, there is usually a whole lot of congestion, making it very slow going to leave the amphitheater. So, instead of heading straight up the aisle, try moving across the row, all the way until you are directly down the aisle from the exit. Now, you can head up the aisle and you'll skip right past the largest portion of the crowd.

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A Great Way To Start Your Disney Day!

Mickey and the gang arrive at the Magic Kingdom to open the park each day, about 15 minutes before the officially scheduled opening. The Magic Kingdom Welcome Show, which takes place up on the landing just inside the park gates, has plenty of music, fun, and laughter and is a great way to start your day at The Most Magical Place on Earth!

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Au Revoir, Chef Remy: Disney-Pixar's Ratatouille Star Leaving Epcot

For years, Remy, the rat who loves to cook from Disney-Pixar's Ratatouille, has spent some of his day greeting Guests at Chef de France in Epcot as the head cook. Sadly, Chef Remy, a rat-sized animatronic figure who moves, sqeaks, squeals, and "chats" with Guests when brought to their tables, on a cheese tray, by a member of the wait staff, will be making his last appearance on October 24. Here's what the Walt Disney World Resort had to say about it:

"At the Walt Disney World Resort, we regularly evaluate our offerings and make appropriate adjustments based on creative and operational needs. A a result, the Dining with Chef Remy offering at Chefs de France will have its final performance October 24, 2013. The character will officially leave the park on Friday, October 25, 2013."

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Big Changes Coming To Disney's Animal Kingdom: AVATAR and More!

One thing is for certain - Disney certainly knows how to keep us excited, every single trip we take. And lately, it seems that this excitement isn't simply for that nostalgic, child-like feeling we get we ride old favorites like Peter Pan's Flight or Small World. And it's not just for that feeling of family, joy, peace, and hapiness when we walk down Main Street USA, surounded by smiling Guests and Cast Members waving to us with oversized Mickey hands. Lately, Disney has upped the ante. We have been treated to grand scale excitement, like traveling through an enchanted mirror to the Beast's castle. We have even been able to eat in the Beast's ballroom or the mysterious West Wing. We anxiously await our mid to late 2014 Disney World vacations, when we will get to experience the brand new, state of the art, roller coaster type ride, smack in the middle of the Enchanted Forest section of Fantasyland - the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train! And now, for the first time, we have some seriously incredible details about what is coming a little further down the line and, let me tell you, it's going to change the face of Disney's Animal Kingdom Park forever, creating a caliber or excitement and entertainment that will easily rival the other 3 main Disney Parks. And it will be coming in the form of AVATAR.

The movie, AVATAR, takes place in the fictional, and breathtakingly beautiful land of Pandora. That land is what is going to be brought to life, for Guests to explore and enjoy. And while they are enjoying those astounding landscapes and reveling in the beauty of the a world painstakingly brought to life by the team of James Cameron, Lightstorm Entertainment, and Disney Imagineering, Guests will be treated to several new attractions, as well. Tom Staggs, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, has helped us to picture a scene in which "guests will encounter awe-inspiring floating mountains and wander through a nighttime jungle of bioluminescent plants that are alive with light and sound.

Guests will also discover what it feels like to soar into the sky riding a Banshee."

The new AVATAR expansion of Animal Kingdom has given Disney the opportunity to really take a look at the rest of the park and make those changes that will put it on par with its other properties, if not surpass some.

Tom Staggs goes on to explain that, "As part of the largest expansion in the history of the park, we'll be adding all-new entertainment experiences, including a new nighttime spectacular where live music, floating lanterns, water screens and swirling animal imagery all combine to bring a show to Discovery River that will delight out guests and truly cap off their day at Disney's Animal Kingdom. The park will introduce more nighttime entertainment as well, including live performers on Discovery Island and a new nighttime version of the Kilimanjaro Safaris."

Quick disclaimer here, not about the expansion, but in regard to the movie, AVATAR, itself. The movie has an PG-13 rating for its violence, language, and adult themes. So, while all parents obviously get to make their own choices about what TV shows and movies they allow their children to watch, I wouldn't feel right about getting everyone all jazzed up for this new area without at least mentioning that. Because, as parents, we are going to make whatever decisions that we are going to make, but we certainly always try to make them "informed" decisions.

With that being said - Disney has done it again! I had better start planning my, what do you think 2016? 2017? vacation now!

UPDATE:

Here's the video that was shown at the D23 Expo in Tokyo,

when these announcements were made.

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Meet Anna & Elsa From Disney's Frozen

Here's some cool news... or should I say cold, or even Frozen? Beginning in early November and lasting through, at least, early January, the stars of Disney's upcoming theatrical release, Frozen, will be available to meet with Guests at both the Disneyland Resort in California as well as the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

At Disneyland, Elsa and Anna will be ready to meet their eager fans in a newly designed, snow-capped section of Fantasyland designed by their pal, Olaf the Snowman. Also on the West Coast, look for the re-imagined World of Color - Winter Dreams, hosted by... who else? Olaf.

In Disney World, the royal sisters will be chatting with Guests, taking pictures, and signing autographs at Epcot, in the Norway Pavilion, along with a beautiful new exhibit, exploring how the beauty of Norway influenced the creators of Disney's Frozen. And, in the evenings, the Magic Kingdom will play host to an updated Celebrate the Magic projection show at Cinderella Castle, featuring an all new Frozen sequence.

Frozen itself arrives in theaters on November 27.

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Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade Ending

We've known that it was coming for a while, but now the date is officially set. The "Celebrate A Dream Come True" Parade at the Magic Kindgom Park in Walt Disney World is coming to an end on December 20, 2013, with special farewell performances from January 1-January 4, 2014. From 12/20-12/31, Guests can enjoy the "Mickey's Once Upon A Christmastime" Parade. Then, in Spring 2014, the "Festival of Fantasy" parade,  highlighting the stories of Peter Pan, Pinocchio, Dumbo, Sleeping Beauty, Tangled, and more will begin. In the meantime, the "Move It, Shake It, Celebrate It" Street Party will continue to run daily. Guests will also be able to enjoy the "Main Street Electrical Parade."

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Follow Me In Disney World!

My family and I are currently visiting the Most Magical Place on Earth. I'm be posting pictures throughout our week here so that some can live vicariously, while others who haven't been for a while (or not at all), can get an idea of what adventures might await them on their own vacation! For more and to join the Disney conversation, find me on Facebook!

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Princess Fairytale Hall Is Almost Here!

The finishing touches are just being put on Princess Fairytale Hall at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World and it's set to open this fall! This all new area, taking the place of the old Snow White's Scary Adventures ride, provides a setting fit for royalty where you will be able to meet some of your favorite Disney Princesses. Princess Fairytale Hall will be set up with two different queues. One will take you to meet Cinderella and the other will take you to Rapunzel. Both princesses will be joined by a fellow Disney princesses.

UPDATE: Princess Fairytale Hall will officially open on September 18, 2013 and will have both a standby line as well as traditional Disney FASTPASS and Disney FastPass+ options.

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Unleash The Villains

Friday the 13th is going to bring some Classic Disney Villains to the Disney parks in a big way! The Unleash The Villains event will take place at both Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disneyland on Friday, September 13 from 8pm all the way until the 13th hour (1am). And it's going to be packed with plenty of mischief and mayhem. After all, when you get characters like Captain Hook, Malificent, Dr. Facilier, and the Evil Queen from Snow White together, there is no predicting the trouble that Disney Guests might find themselves in! Plus, Hades will be hosting a villainous dance party and, of course, plenty of baddies will be on hand to sign autographs and take pictures!

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Tarzan and Jane Coming To Animal Kingdom

Great news for anyone in the Walt Disney World Area next week, August 18-24: Tarzan and Jane are planning on stopping by Disney's Animal Kingdom! They'll be there to meet, sign autographs, and take pictures with guests in the Oasis area, just inside the main gates of the park. No word if they are just stopping by or if they are going to be staying for a while, just yet.

UPDATE: These guys were just passing through. Word is that, since it's been a while since they've left the jungle, they were just taking some time to get ready to meet some even bigger crowds during the upcoming Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party!

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Changes In Animal Kingdom Opening

Disney's Animal Kingdom has changed its opening experience from the old rope-drop to one that includes early entry. Previously, Guests had been welcomed through the turnstiles shortly before park opening, but stopped just a little farther in, where they awaited the actual park opening. There was a short show, during which Mickey, Rafiki, and friends arrived at the park for the day, the rope dropped, and the park was officially opened.

Guests are now being welcomed straight into Animal Kingdom 15 minutes prior to the official park opening. During this time some favorite attractions will be open, including Kilimanjaro Safari, TriceraTop Spin, and Expedition Everest. There will be some snack kiosks open on Discovery Island, as well.

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Lost Friends Returning Next Week!

Going to be in the Walt Disney World area between July 15 and July 21, 2013? Then make sure to stop by the Magic Kingdom because some Long Lost Disney Friends are coming back to the parks, thanks to some Limited Time Magic!

The characters that will be available for Meet and Greets are:

• Robin Hood: Robin Hood, Friar Tuck, Sherrif of Nottingham, and Prince John.

• The Princess and the Frog: Louis and Dr. Facilier (Tiana and Naveen will continue to be available for their regular meet and greets under the forest gazebo in the Liberty Square area)

• Song of the South: Br'er Bear, Br'er Rabbit, and Br'er Fox

• Chicken Little: Chicken Little and Abby Mallard

We'll be sure to keep you posted if any more friends are announced!

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Starbucks Now Available At Magic Kingdom

We are now just days away from the official opening of the reimagined Main Street Bakery at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom park. And, as many people already know, it is opening up as the first of two Starbucks locations at Disney World. The other location is at the former Fountain View in Epcot. The grand opening for the former is slated to be on June 18. Today, however, was the soft opening, or preview. Magic Tickets were handed out to lucky guests, inviting them to sample what the new bakery had to offer. Here, finally, are the answers to the questions that many have been asking since the announcement about this change was made, starting with the drinks and food:

Starbucks entire drink menu is being offered. Disney Dining Plan is accepted at this location and 1 snack allotment can be used for any drink. Only Starbucks items will be sold until 11am. Included in these are several hot breakfast sandwiches. Cold, grab and go sandwiches will be available all day long. After 11am, both Starbucks and Disney products will be available. The cinnamon rolls that the Main Street Bakery has become  famous for are now available at Gaston's Tavern in New Fantasyland. Indoor seating at the bakery has been removed in order to make room for an expanded bakery, allowing for a larger number of guests to be served in the shop at a time. Those doing the serving, by the way, are all Disney Cast Members, not Starbucks employees. You can use your mobile app to pay and Starbucks gift cards are accepted. My Starbucks Rewards, however, cannot be redeemed at this location, though they are earned through your purchases.

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Become A Wilderness Explorer!

Disney continues to delight it's guests with it's focus on immersive experiences, bringing you into the movies, rather than simply showing them to you. The newest of these adventures is at Disney's Animal Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. And what adventure would be more apropos to the Animal Kingdom than a quest to earn Wilderness Explorer badges, just like Russell from the Disney/Pixar movie, Up? The Wilderness Explorer experience will guide your family in earning up to 30 badges as you learn about animals, the wild, conservation, and more. Disney Cast Members are located at many, many locations around the park, ready to guide you on your journey. Don't take my word for it. Check it our for yourself:

The Wilderness Must Be Explored!

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Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Track Completed

If you have been anxiously awaiting a new ride based on, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," you'll probably be very pleased to read this next bit of news: construction has just been completed on the tracks of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride. This family coaster will take riders through the mines that Happy, Sleepy, Grumpy, Sneezy, Bashful, Dopey, and Doc work in, with tons of music and magic from the original movie itself. The experience, a part of New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom park in Walt Disney World, is scheduled to open in 2014.

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