Disney Chocolate Shop Coming To Disney Springs

There are so many incredible ships and restaurants that have been coming together to make Disney Springs, the completely reimagined Downtown Disney, a reality. Coming later this year, a new chocolate shop, The Ganachery, will be officially added to that list.

Located in The Landing, The Ganachery will specialize in custom-blended chocolates with the finest beans. Hand-crafted onstage by a chocolatier, the shop will feature fresh batches daily, including dark (65% custom blend), hazelnut, chipotle and a custom blend flavored with the world's finest spices.

Beautiful custom packaging will make elegant take-home gifts. And there may even be some chocolate bars inspired by Disney characters.

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Breakfast Coming To Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater!

Here's some pretty cool news - the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant at Hollywood Studios will begin testing a breakfast menu, beginning November 1, 2015. Currently, they are only open for lunch and dinner with breakfast only offered as a Sith-Themed dining during Disney's annual Star Wars Weekends. The test will last until January 23, 2016 (unless extended or made a permanent offering). Reservations for this drive-in "under the stars" experience are now open for booking with breakfast meals including breakfast pastries, a choice of an appetizer, and entrée and a non-alcoholic beverage. Those entrée options include

• Puff Pastry filled with Scrambled Eggs, Crab, Asparagus and Gruyére Cheese with Roasted Tomatoes
• Grilled Beef Tenderloin on Baby Spinach, with Bacon and Cheddar Custard on a Roased Tomato and Cheesy Horseradish Potatoes
• Scrambled Eggs, Crispy Bacon, Sausage Links and Breakfast Potatoes
• Macadamia Crusted Brioche French Toast with Mascarpone and Fresh Berries

The price for breakfast is $23.99/adult and $12.99/child age 3-9 (tax and gratuity not included). If you're using the Disney Dining Plan, meals with use one table-service credit. Okay, so to make those reservations, you can call 407-WDW-DINE, head to Disneyworld.com/dine or just Get In Touch with me!

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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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New Allergy Friendly Menus Ready To Debut At Disney Parks

If you or a member of your family has a food allergy, you probably already know how amazingly accommodating both Walt Disney World and Disneyland already are in terms of making sure you are safe, happy, and healthy when it comes to your food choices.  But beginning April 14, 2015, eating at the Disney Parks is about to get even more convenient! That's because Disney will be introducing new allergy-friendly menus across their parks, at about 120 quick-service and table-service locations! This concept was initially tested last fall, and is now ready to go full scale! Here's what Disney Parks and Resorts chef and culinary dietary specialist has to say about it:

"Over the years, the number of guests with food allergies and intolerances has continued to grow. In 2013 alone, our cast members assisted with more than 650,000 special dietary requests. These new allergy menus are another way in which we can provide high-quality, safe and more accessible alternatives, and the best possible dining experience for guests with specific dietary needs."

"The new allergy-friendly menus provide allergen content for each menu item, making informed choices easier. Menu selection includes appetizers (where applicable), entrées, side items, desserts and kids'  meals  and focuses on the most common allergens: gluten/wheat, milk, peanut, tree nut and fish.

"Guests are still able to consult directly with a restaurant chef or special diets trained cast member. We also encourage guests to continue to communicate special dietary needs to our restaurant cast members, as this allows our culinary team to take extra measures during preparation to prevent the introduction of the allergen.

"Walt Disney Parks and Resorts is the recipient of a FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education) Award for dedication to providing a safe and enjoyable dining experience for vacationing families and our chefs have been recognized for their commitment to food allergy awareness, education and management." 

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The BOATHOUSE Now Open At Downtown Disney

As you may know, Walt Disney World's Downtown Disney has been in the process of a complete and amazing overhaul. From the roads that will take you there to the experiences that you will have once you have arrived, there is going to be nothing like it. Even the name will be changing, to reflect the new theming that is being developed. Disney Springs, as it will be called when the transformation is complete, will be set up with several different neighborhoods providing dining, entertainment, and shopping experiences. The first restaurant to come to The Landing neighborhood is now open!

The BOATHOUSE: Great Food, Waterfront Dining, Dream Boats, described as an upscale dining experience will give you the chance to enjoy steaks and chops, fresh seafood, and a raw bar while checking out an impressive display of dream boats from the early to mid-1900s. Oh, but there is so much more to this place! You can also purchase tickets for guided tours on The BOATHOUSE Amphicars, which launch from lands and enter water with a splash, or The Venezia, a breathtaking 40-foot wooden Italian Water Taxi.

And, all day long, there will be entertainment, flag ceremonies, and amazing musical performances both inside and out of the restaurant!

If you haven't been to Downtown Disney in a while... maybe now's the time?

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Breakfast Coming To "Be Our Guest!"

UPDATE: Disney has officially announced this new breakfast option. For now, it will be in a testing phase and is only available from March 20-June 18, 2015.

Well, it's looking like breakfast is coming to Be Our Guest, the Beauty and the Beast themed restaurant at Magic Kingdom! While an official announcement has yet to be made, Disney has been getting the info. ready to add to the My Disney Experience app and website and, from time to time, it  pops up:

If that's not a clear indication that breakfast is just around the corner...

And, while I don't have a screen shot to share with you here, I did catch a glimpse of what is potentially going to be the breakfast menu. Some of what I saw on there includes:

• Crepes du Cogsworth
• Philippe's Toasted Oats
• Warm Oatmeal with Soy Milk
• Fifi's French Toast
• Frech Toast Sticks
• Scrambled Eggs du Maurice

Pretty cool, right!?

Be Our Guest is an incredibly unique restaurant in that it is both a Table Service and a Quick-Service location. Currently, the Table Service option occurs for dinner, from 4-10pm and is the only location at Walt Disney World where Guests can meet the Beast. Lunch and, soon, breakfast will be Quick-Service meals, with breakfast lasting from 8-10am and lunch from 10:30am-2:30pm. Yet another cool thing about this meal is that it is the only Quick-Service location that allows Guests to make reservations. Just as with Table Service reservations, Quick-Service meals can be booked 180 days prior to your visit. Then, once Guests are 30 days from their experience, they can even go ahead and pre-select their entrées, drinks, and desserts, all from the comfort of the My Disney Experience app or website.

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Starbucks Now Open At Hollywood Studios

Looking for great coffee at Hollywood Studios? Well, look no further! The new Starbucks location at the Walt Disney World Resort theme park is now open. The Trolly Car Cafe, located on the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard (just down the main street after you enter the park, on the right hand side), is currently serving coffee and various other beverage options, as well as sandwiches, wraps, pastries, etc. You know, like a Starbucks! This store joins the other Starbucks locations around the Disney World property, including stores at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, & Downtown Disney. An Animal Kingdom location is expected to open mid-year.

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Character Dining Expands At Animal Kingdom!

Meeting Donald

outside Tusker House

The Tusker House Restaurant at Disney's Animal Kingdom is currently home to the character dining experience, Donald's Safari Breakfast and Lunch. Guests have also been able to enjoy a delicious African-themed buffet dinner. Beginning March 8, 2015, Donald and his Friends will begin joining Guests for their dinner meal, as well.

"Donald's Safari Dinner will offer you the opportunity to meet some of your favorite characters, including Donald and Daisy Duck, while enjoying a delicious selection of an all-you-care-to-enjoy dinner buffet with flavorful African influences. You can feast on spit-roasted carved meats, unique salads, creative vegetarian offerings, hearty stews, delicious desserts and more!"

Currently, breakfast and lunch feature Donald, Daisy, Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy. As always, characters are subject to change.

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Citricos To Host Princess Breakfast & Brunch

Cinderella's Royal Table

With the Cinderella's Royal Table restaurant in Cinderella Castle slated for refurbishment from January 5-March 6, 2015, the Disney Princesses will be heading on over to Disney's Grand Floridan Resort & Spa, so that they can continue to dine with Guests in a location that is still super convenient to the Magic Kingdom. Scheduled to last from January 8-March 2015, Citricos at the Grand Floridan will be hosting a Disney Princess Breakfast and Brunch. Similarly to the setup at Cinderella's Royal Table, Guests of this new dining will be greeted by Cinderella when they arrive. Once Guests have been seated, Disney Princesses will proceed to visit their tables, throughout the course of their meal. In additional to the meal, Guests will also be presented with either a Wand or a Sword. The dining experience will also include a "Magical Wishing Ceremony."

Breakfast and Brunch hours are 8am-2:20pm at a cost of $49.99/adult; $31.99/child (ages 3-9). Two Table Service dining entitlements/Guest can also be used to cover the cost of the experience.

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Allergy Friendly Menu Trial Run At Select Locations!

World Premiere Food Court at All-Star Movies

Disney has always been known as incredibly friendly to folks with food allergies and restrictions. Guests can personally talk to the chef at individual dining locations I discuss their personal needs and restaurants will often put together meals, designed specifically for these guests. Even at buffets, you might catch a glimpse of a Disney Chef, walking around the buffet with a guest, talking about all of the different foods, as they relate to that guest's needs. 

Going on right now, and lasting until October 20, 2014, Disney is trying something new. Select Disney World eateries have debuted new, allergy friendly menus. While the option to chat with a chef remains, the new menus have been designed to give guests even more options, with even greater ease. The dining locations that are involved in this trial are:

• Flying Fish Café at Disney's BoardWalk
• Multiple location at Hollywood Studios
• ABC Commissary
• Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant
• The Hollywood Brown Derby
• Kona Cafe and Captain Cooks at the Polynesian Resort
• World Premiere Food Court at All-Star Movies Resort

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Top 10 Things You Should Know About Disney Dining

There are so many options for you to choose from, when you're heading to Disney World, as far as where and what you are going to eat. Here are my Top 10 Things You Should Know about Disney Dining, to make the most of your time at the Most Magical Place On Earth.

10. You can use Disney Gift Cards to pay for food.
Snacks, Drinks, Quick Service meals, Table Service meals; You name it, it's fair game. Heck, you can even leave a tip for your server at a Table Service restaurant with your Gift Card!

9. You don't have to wait until the park opens to get into a Table Service restaurant for breakfast.
If you have an early morning dining reservation, there's a line set up at the park gates, just for you! Simply head right up to the Cast Member with the clipboard, standing under the sign that says, "Dining," and let them know you're there! This is also a great time to get some really nice pictures inside the park, since the masses of people aren't allowed in just yet. Imagine - a picture in front of Cinderella Castle, without thousands of other people covering up all of the amazing details all around you!

8. If you want to eat at a restaurant in the park, make sure you have a park ticket.
This one's pretty self-explanatory. A reservation alone won't get you through the gates.

7. You do not need to be staying at a particular Disney Resort Hotel to eat at that hotel's restaurants.
This goes for the Quick Service locations as well as the Table Service locations. If you're going to be using Disney Transportation, just hop aboard and head on over. If you're going to be driving yourself, know that, as long as you have a reservation, you'll be allowed in to park. If you don't have a reservation or if you're heading to the Quick Service location, parking is allowed at the discretion of the resort - which pretty much means, as long as the lot isn't full, you'll be allowed in without a problem.

6. Consider a dinner show.
Meals at Disney World don't just always mean just sitting down and eating. There are actually some fantastic dinner show experiences that you can enjoy - Disney's Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show, Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Review, and Mickey's Backyard BBQ.

5. Quick Service meals can be more than just burgers and fries.
There is a huge range of so many delicious options from Giant Turkey Legs to Steak to Japanese Curry Udon, so definitely take the time to explore all that there is to offer. You can also plan ahead - Disney has posted the individual restaurants' menus (along with prices) at DisneyWorld.com/dining.

4. Tailor the menu options to your own liking.
This one is also a good money saving tip: If you don't want something on or included with your food at a Quick Service restaurant, just go ahead and ask the Cast Member taking your order to note that for you. For example, if the menu lists a Bacon Cheeseburger, but you just want a plain hamburger, let them know, as opposed to simply removing the extras on your own. You'll actually be charged less money, since you won't have to pay for the bacon or the cheese.

3. Consider sharing a meal.
Here's another good tip for your pocket book: Disney portions are usually quite generous and, I don't know about you, but I'm not necessarily in the mood for a really big, heavy meal in 90º weather. If you feel the same way, go ahead and share a meal at a restaurant. Whether you're at an A La Carte Table Service restaurant or a Quick Service location, not only is sharing a meal totally fine, but you can feel free to ask for extra plates, bowls, silverware, or what have you. Maybe you share a meal now, share a snack later, share another meal sometime after that... Your belly never gets too uncomfortably stuffed and you get to try more types of food!

2. Understand The Deal With "Be Our Guest" Restaurant Reservations.
Be Our Guest is one of the tougher restaurants to get into. At dinner time, it is a Table Service restaurant. You are going to want to book those reservations immediately! SPOILER ALERT: Number 1, below, will give you more information about booking those Table Service Reservations. If you aren't able to get a reservation, don't be discouraged. Keep on trying. Often, as a date gets closer, other people may cancel, allowing those reservations to open up. In the meantime, the food is equally delicious, and the atmosphere equally amazing at the Quick Service lunch time. Whereas, with most Quick Service restaurants, you can simply walk up, order, and eat, the lines for Be Our Guest can get pretty long. There is, though, an option to book a FastPass+ reservation for lunch here, which I highly, highly recommend. I've got details right here: How To Get A FastPass+ Reservation At "Be Our Guest" Restaurant.

And the Number 1 thing you should know about Disney Dining is...

1. Make Advance Dining Reservations.
If you want to guarantee that you will be able to eat at a particular restaurant, dining reservations are a must! Anyone, whether they are staying at at Disney Resort Hotel or not, can begin making their reservations at 6am (online) or 7am (telephone) 180 days prior to the reservation date. Disney Resort Guests, however, can book their reservations for the length of their stay (technically, up to 10 days of their stay), beginning 180 days prior to their arrival. So, the best shot that you have to get a reservation for a hard-to-get location, such as Be Our Guest or even Cinderella's Royal Table, is to plan on heading to those restaurants toward the end of your trip. Example: If I'm heading to Disney from November 1-November 10, I'll be able to book dining for my whole trip beginning May 5 (180 days prior to November 1). However, while it might be my first opportunity to book for November 1, other Disney Resort Guests, the ones getting to Disney World before me, have been able to make reservations for that date since as early as April 25. Those popular dinings might very well be gone already. I've got a much better shot to get into someplace like Be Our Guest if I try to book it (online, at 6am) for November 10, since my "dining date" would be the first chance that anybody has to book for that date.

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How To Get A FastPass+ Reservation At "Be Our Guest" Restaurant

Be Our Guest is the brand new restaurant inside the Beast's Castle in Magic Kingdom's New Fantasyland expansion. One of the cool things about this particular restaurant is, while it's a Table Service restaurant for dinner, it's a Quick Service restaurant at lunch. Dinner reservations fill up pretty quickly here, and the lines for lunch can get pretty long, too. While my best advice for dinner is to book as early as possible, there is a way, that I'd like to pass along to you, for you to grab up a FastPass+ Reservation for lunch, and avoiding that line all together. Plus, it won't even use up one of your initial 3, pre-trip FastPass Reservation slots. Here's what to do:

1. Log on to http://BeOurGuestLunch.disney.go.com using your Disney.com account.

2. Enter your Resort Reservation Number when prompted.

• If you have a Room Only Reservation, this is simply your Confirmation Number. You can find this number in the "My Reservations" section of StartYourDisneyExperience.com.
• If you have a Magic Your Way Package, please note that your Confirmation Number is different than your Resort Reservation Number. While your Confirmation Number includes letters, the number you're looking for does not. The way to find this number has been changing, as of late.
• Previously, it has been available in guests' My Disney Experience accounts. Its looks like that has been removed and Online Support Cast Members have confirmed as such.
• Give the Cast Members at 407-W-DISNEY a call and simply ask them for your Reservation ID Number. Again, this is different than your Confirmation Number, as it contain all numbers, and be 12 digits long.
• The Resort Reservation Number may be found once you are able to check-in to your resort online, 60 days prior to your arrival. Head to the "My Reservations" section of your My Disney Experience account and clink on the link that says, "Check-In Online." The ID Number may be the 12-digit string of numbers at the very end of the page URL. I will check on this as soon as my own reservation hit that 60 days out mark.
• Look for an email invitation to be sent to you, by Disney, approximately 28 days prior to check-in.
• If you are flying, your Resort Reservation Number will be listed inside your the booklet you receive in the mail, with your Magical Express information.

3. From here, simply follow the on-screen prompts and you'll be fine! First, choose to Select a Reservation.

4. Select a date and then confirm that all the people in your party whom you would like to make reservations for are listed. If they aren't, you may need to link the missing people to the reservation on your My Disney Experience account or by calling 407-939-5277.

5. Decide if you would like to head Direct to Table, by making your menu selections now, or if you would rather select your food when you arrive at the restaurant (Expedited Arrival). On the same page, choose an arrival time.

• If you chose Expedited Arrival, your are all set! Just show up at Be Our Guest at your appointed time, with your Magic Band on, and head to the FastPass+ queue!
• If you chose Direct to Table, you'll be presented with options to go ahead and select meals for the members of your party first. There are even filters available to automatically remove options from the menu that contain certain allergens.

So, there you go! This system has gone through some changes since it was first put into place, though the main changes have revolved around how to go about getting that pesky Resort Reservation Number. Let me know if things work differently then I have talked about here when you go through the process and I'll make sure to update this post. I'll do the same on my end!

Bon appétit!

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Celebrate Your Birthday At Disney

Today is my daughter's third birthday. Sadly, we were not in Disney World. We did have a fantastic day, though. Everywhere we went, people seemed to go out of their way to do something special for her. Our waitress gave her a milkshake at lunch and organized the restaurant in singing my daughter, "Happy Birthday;" the Cast Members at the Disney store gave her a special birthday pin (similar to those they have in the parks); and at dinner, the manager of the restaurant helped her make a special birthday pizza to take home. Birthdays are so fun as a kid because everyone goes out of their way to make your day special. That got me thinking about how celebrating your birthday at Disney as an adult is like being a kid again. 

When celebrating at Disney, they give you a special birthday pin to wear everywhere you go (if you are a resort guest, they will give it to you at check-in; otherwise, just head to any of the park Guest Service areas and ask for one). When you wear your pin, every Cast Member you walk by will wish you a Happy Birthday. Not only that, but other guests will notice and offer birthday greetings as well - Which is awesome! All day long, someone you don't even know is wishing you a Happy Birthday, as if the entire Resort is full of your closest friends. 

When you go to a restaurant with your pin on (or mention your birthday, if you aren't wearing it or just want to be extra sure) your waiter or waitress will bring you a cupcake and birthday card signed by some special Disney friends. And that's not just for kids - They even did this for my husband at breakfast the year we celebrated his birthday at the parks. So cool!! 

Throughout the day, Cast Members may even go out of their way to do extra nice things for you. I've heard people say that they received resort room upgrades when checking in on their birthday; others have been sent straight to the FastPass line when a Cast Member noticed their button and the Stand By line was particularly long; and, one year, my daughter was given a small Donald Duck plush. Cast Members will do whatever they can to make your day special - Probably because we are all kids at Disney. :)

As adults, it can be hard to recapture that birthday awesomeness of childhood. We go to work on our birthdays (and rarely does someone bring cupcakes for an afternoon snack), we do laundry, we run errands. Personally, I have spent a quite a few birthdays in the car, driving long distances home from my son's hockey tournaments. As adults, we just don't get the same special treatment that children do. So, treat yourself! And head to Disney for your next birthday. 

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Magical Cast Members: The Soda Situation

Dear Manager of Intermission Food Court,

My family visited Disney World and stayed at the All-Star Music Resort in September of 2013. During the twelve days that we were there, we walked through the Intermission Food Court, at least, once every day. We are there a few times and stopped to refill out Rapid Fill mugs on the way to and from the parks, daily. Each time we went into the Food Court, we were greeting with a friendly smile and a "hello." From clean up crew to management, everyone was great. The food was always good and the atmosphere was friendly, clean, and inviting.

On our third or fourth day, we stopped at the soda machine to get drinks and, upon filling mine, I found that the Coke Zero was flat. It has been that way for two days and, when I noticed you standing at the checkout line, I decided to go and tell you.

I told you that I wasn't upset, not was I complaining, but that the Coke Zero was flat and had been for a while. I decided to mention it, figuring that the machine just needed a slight tweaking, because if no one told you, you couldn't possibly know. You informed me that the ice maker on the machine was broken and that was causing the issues. I said it was no big deal and was about to walk away when you walked around to the machine on the other side of the beverage island, and then said that the problem was the the other machine didn't have Coke Zero as a drink option at all. I, again, said that it was just fine and that I could just drink something else. I didn't really mind and thanked you for your time.

However, it wasn't just fine with you. You insisted upon giving me a bottle of Coke Zero out of the fridge and told me that, until the machine was fixed, whenever I came through the food court, if I wanted a soda, to simply let you or another manager know, and you would gladly give me a bottle. I tried to tell you that was completely unnecessary, but you insisted. I said, "thank you," and honestly walked out feeling really nice.

I did not ask for another bottle of soda because, while I prefer Coke Zero, I will also drink Diet Coke. Two dates later, my family had dinner at the Intermission Food Court and my husband pointed out that the Coke Zero was not in the other, working, machine.

This whole thing was minor. I wouldn't even call it a complaint. Had the machine been broken and that been the end of it, I probably wouldn't even remember it. However, you took the situation seriously and went out of your way for me and, I have to admit, it truly enhanced my trip. So, thank you for being so kind and guest-friendly. Without fail, when someone talks about Disney's excellent customer service, I always tell them about you.

Thank you!

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2014 Eat To The Beat Concert Lineup

©Disney

Each fall, Epcot hosts the International Food & Wine Festival, where they feature an enormous variety of delicious food and drink from around the world. Due to its sheer popularity, this year's festival will take place from September 19 - November 10, 2014, a longer stretch of time than ever before! Aside from all there is to eat and drink, another amazing component of this special event, is the Eat To The Beat concert series. Well, now it's time to check out who we will get to rock out to this year:

• Sept. 19-21: Joe Dee Messina
• Sept. 22-23: The Pointer Sisters
• Sept. 24-25: Rick Springfield
• Sept. 26-27: Christopher Cross
• Sept. 28-29: Hanson
• Sept. 30-Oct. 2: Air Supply
• Oct. 3-5: STARSHIP starring Mickey Thomas
• Oct. 6-8: Sugar Ray
• Oct. 9-10: Fuel
• Oct. 11-12: Sister Hazel
• Oct. 13-14: TBD
• Oct. 15-16: Billy Ocean
• Oct. 17-19: Night Ranger
• Oct. 20-22: Smash Mouth
• Oct. 23-24: Jim Brickman
• Oct. 25-26: Los Lonely Boys
• Oct. 27-28: Wilson Phillips
• Oct. 29-31: Dennis DeYoung, original member of STYX
• Nov. 1-2: 38 Special
• Nov. 3-5: Boyz II Men
• Nov. 6-7: David Cook
• Nov. 8-10: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy 

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The Ice Cream Sundae To Top All Ice Cream Sundaes!

©Disney

If you're looking for something super fun to do at Disney World without needing a theme park ticket, here's a really delicious option that includes everything AND the kitchen sink!

The "Kitchen Sink" is an ice cream sundae, available at the Beaches and Cream restaurant at Disney's Beach Club Resort. But, this is not your typical ice cream sundae. For starters, it comes served in a large, kitchen sink shaped, bowl. And then, there's all of the sweet treats packed into the sundae:

• 1/2 cup fudge topping, warmed
• 1/2 cup butterscotch topping, warmed
• 1/2 cup peanut butter topping, warmed
• 1 medium banana, sliced in 1/2-inch slices
• 1 cinnamon spice cupcake (2 1/2 x 1 1/4-inch, quartered)
• 1 angel food cupcake (3 x 1 1/2-inch), quartered
• 2, 4-oz. scoops vanilla ice cream
• 2, 4-oz. scoops chocolate ice cream
• 2, 4-oz. scoops strawberry ice cream
• 1, 4-oz. scoop mint chocolate chip ice cream
• 1, 4-oz. scoop coffee ice cream
• 3 tablespoons chocolate syrup
• 1/4 cup marshmallow crème
• 1/4 cup strawberry topping
• 1/4 cup pineapple topping
• 1, 14-oz. can dairy whipped topping
• 1 brownie (6-inch x 6-inch), quartered
• 1 regular-sized (2 ounce) candy bar, quartered
• 4 chocolate cookies with cream filling
• 1 tablespoon sliced toasted almonds
• 1 tablespoon dark and white chocolate shavings
• 1 tablespoon chocolate cookies with cream filling, crushed
• 1 tablespoon chopped jellied orange slices (approximately 2 large slices)
• 1 tablespoon milk chocolate chip morsels
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter chip morsels
• 1 tablespoon chocolate sprinkles
• 1 tablespoon rainbow sprinkles
• 1/2 cup drained maraschino cherries

Bon appétit!

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Free Disney Dining Is Back!

This offer is expired. Send me a quick note here to find out what new offers are available for you right now or visit the Latest Offers page.

Lots of my Disney Families have been anxiously waiting for quite a long time now, to see if Disney would Free Dining for this fall... and Disney has! Why? Well, for my family personally, this offer has been what has made the difference for us being able to afford a Disney Vacation! For another of my Disney Families, this offer is going to make it possible for them to stay at their Dream Resort Hotel (The Wilderness Lodge). So, without further ado, let's check out the details so you can see just how this offer will work for you and your family!

FREE Quick-Service Dining Plan is available when you stay at a Disney Value Resort and includes 2 Quick-Service Meals & 1 Snack per person, per day. Each guest will also receive a Resort Refillable Drink Mug, free! Based on a 6-Night/7-Day stay, a family of 4 can easily save $852!!

or

FREE Disney Dining Plan is available when you stay at a Disney Moderate, Deluxe, or Deluxe Villa Resort and includes 1 Table-Service Meal, 1 Quick-Service Meal, & 1 Snack per person, per day. Each guest will also receive a Resort Refillable Drink Mug, free! Based on a 6-Night/7-Day stay, a family of 4 can easily save $1,206!!

In both cases, we need to book this offer by August 8, 2014!

This Free Dining offer is valid at ALL WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT HOTELS with the exception of the following: The Campsites at Fort Wilderness, Disney's All-Star Movies, Disney's Port Orleans Resort, Disney's Art of Animation Resort - Little Mermaid standard view, The Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort, and 3-Bedroom Villas.

To take advantage of this offer you simply get in touch with me and I'll get you all set up and then some! There are lots of great ways you can reach me:

• Email: vacations@ofmiceandfamily.com
• This Website: Start Planning Your Vacation!
• Facebook: Get In Touch on Facebook!
• Phone / Text: 315-450-2869

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Free Disney Dining Through December! - UPDATED

This offer is expired. Send me a quick note here to find out what new offers are available for you right now or visit the Latest Offers page.

As anticipated by some, prayed for by others a Free Disney Dining Deal for 2014 has be opened up and it's going to save one of my Disney Families $2,300!!! The Free Dining Offer is now available for both Disney Visa Card holders as well as the General Public. The deals are slightly different, however. What follows are the details for the Disney Visa Deal. To check out the offer that is now open and waiting for everyone else, just head to this Free Disney Dining Is Back! post.

FREE Quick-Service Dining Plan: Is available when you stay at a Disney Value Resort*, and include  and includes 2 Quick-Service Meals and 1 Snack per person, per day. Each guest will also receive a Resort Refillable Drink Mug, free!

FREE Disney Dining Plan: Is available when you stay at a Disney Moderate, Deluxe, or Deluxe Villa Resort* and includes 1 Table-Service Meal, 1 Quick-Service Meal, and 1 Snack per person, per day. Each guest will also receive a Resort Refillable Drink Mug, free!

There are some important things to note about this offer:

• Offer dates include:
• August 31 - October 3, 2014
• October 26 - November 1, 2014
• November 9 - November 20, 2014
• December 12 - December 23
• 3-night minimum stay (14 night maximum) is required.
• 2-day minimum park ticket is required for each person in the party.
• Some resorts are excluded from this offer, such as All-Star Movies, The Little Mermaid Rooms at Art of Animation, Port Orleans French Quarter and Riverside, Campsites at Fort Wilderness, 3-Bedroom Villas, and the Villas at the Grand Floridian.
• Offer can be booked through August 8.

You can book this offer through by calling 407-WDISNEY or Get In Touch With Me Via Email (or at 315-450-2869) and you'll have me by your side to offer help, tips, thoughts, ideas, and worry-free Disney-ing!

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Warm Pastries And Baked Goods Coming To Main Street Bakery And More

©Disney

Many Disney Parks fans were quite skeptical when they first heard that Starbucks would be coming to Disney World... and replacing the Main Street Bakery, at that. However, once the coffee shop was in place, it became clear that Disney had no intention of changing the theming or the "feel" of the location. Still called the Main Street Bakery, guests can now enjoy Starbucks quality coffee while at the Magic Kingdom (and in its Epcot location, a soon-to-come Downtown Disney location, and its Downtown Disney Anaheim store). One of the things that I did hear that guests were dissapointed about was the lack of baked goods available. Well, all that is about to change!

La Boulange, a San Francisco bakery and café, has partnered with Starbucks to bring their artisanal pastries to Starbucks locations across the country - Disney Parks included. Guests can soon expect to find delicious, warm items like Croissants, Sticky Buns, Brownies, and Cookies at the Disney Starbucks locations.

Once again, it is apparant just how much Disney listens to the thoughts, comments, and ideas of its guests. If there is ever anything that you really love or would like to see more of, make sure to let the great folks at Disney know. Thanks to the guests who made their wonderful thoughts known in this case, we will all be able to enjoy delicious pastries with our morning coffee!

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A Great New Way To End Your Epcot Day!

As if the "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth," fireworks spectacular wasn't an amazing enough way to end a perfect day at Epcot, Disney has introduced the, "Epcot After-Hours Wind Down." Beginning April 17, 2014 and lasting until September 15, 2014, from 9:20pm-11:00pm, guests will be able enjoy small bites paired with a beverage flight (with additional beverages being available for purchase) at either La Cava del Tequila at the Mexico Pavilion, Spice Road Table in the Morocco Pavilion, Tutto Gusto in the Italy Pavilion, or Rose & Crown Pub in the United Kingdom Pavilion. The cost for this event is $35/person, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations can be made at www.disneyworld.com/spring or by calling 407-WDW-DINE. Guests can also check in with Epcot Guest Relations to see if space is available.

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