Day 3 of WDW Trip: Reviewing Hollywood Studios

Day 3 took us over to Hollywood Studios! Now we knew going in that a ton of the attractions and restaurants are currently shut down (Backlot Tour, Mike and Sully meet and greet, Streets of America, Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground.). I was surprised to see how much of the park was hidden behind walls. It is a pretty significant amount of the park at this point just FYI. 

As we all know, Hollywood Studios is undergoing so major changes in that they are expanding the park to include a new Star Wars land and Toy Story land. Within that they are also adding a third track to Toy Story Midway Mania to cut down on wait times which pretty regularly exceed 2 hours. 

Fret not though, all of the projected completion dates for these new lands will be December 2018 with Toy Story land opening possibly sooner. Take a look at the projected look of the new lands. 

Alright so with that out of the way let's talk about our day at Hollywood Studios. We set off immediately for the Rock N Roller Coaster only to be met with a 60 minute wait at park opening. We should have stood in line because as they day went on it did not get better but we didn't. We set off to one of my favorite attractions The Great Movie Ride. I could do this one over and over again, I just love it. We did not make it to the Tower of Terror or Rock N Roller Coaster on our first Hollywood Studios day as they exceeded hour wait times all day long. I don't believe I ever saw either below 70 minutes. 

Some of our favorite attractions and shows of the day were: 

Toy Story Midway Mania (of course!!)

Star Tours

The Great Movie Ride

Frozen Sing A Long

Fantasmic

We also met the ever dark Kylo Ren and he scared my little Princess pretty good, even following her out the door when she said he was scary. :) We met the lovable Chewbacca too to make up for all the scary. 

Now I have to backtrack a bit and tell you about the amazing lunch we had. I swear, I'm going to do a whole week of posts just to the delicious food we ate on vacation. Maybe that will be next weeks adventure. 

We also watched the Voyage of the Little Mermaid and Indiana Jones stunt show spectacular. As well as watched my little princess' favorite Princess Belle in The Beauty and Beast show. 

We took advantage of the Fantasmic dining package and had lunch at Mama Melrose's Italian Restaurante. 

So the way the Fantasmic Dining Package works is you eat at semi off peak hours. Our lunch reservations was for 11:30am. After you get finished with your meal you are given vouchers for the first seating of Fantasmic. This way you aren't stuck waiting in line for 90 minutes like the others who did not fastpass or use the dining package. 

I have to tell you I wouldn't have it any other way. We had a delicious meal and even had appetizers and desert included with the package. We received the vouchers and had amazing seats for the show that night. It was truly a great experience all the way around. 

The other experience we did on Hollywood Studios day was go to Club Villain. However, I am dedicating a full post to this one as well so I will not delve into details here other than to say it was totally worth it and awesome. Especially if you are a big lover of villains which the Traveling Through Disney family certainly is. 

We loved watching the Fantasmic show it was fully entertaining and a great water, light, and fire show. While we were waiting on the bus we watched the Star Wars Spectacular Firework Show. It was really cool and beautifully themed to Star Wars soundtracks of the past and present.

So there you have it. A glimpse at our full and wonderful day at Hollywood Studios. Now tell us below in the comments what is your favorite thing to do at Hollywood Studios? We can't wait to hear from you!!

Club Villain Dates Extended at Walt Disney World

Villain lovers rejoice!! Back by very popular demand is the special ticketed event Club Villain inside Disney's Hollywood Studios. Situated inside the Sunset Showcase you will find a great party known as Club Villain. This special ticketed event features 4 villains, 5 if you count your evil host Dr. Facillier. The villains include: Evil Queen, Cruelle DeVil, Maleficient, and the Red Queen. 



As you enter the event you are handed a glass of champagne or a bottled water and a card with your table number and meet and greet times for the villains. You are welcome to find your table and have a seat or mingle around. 


Once you have located your table make your way to the all you can eat buffet featuring delicious "voodoo sticky pig wings", herb-rubbed beef tenderloin, cajun chicken gumbo, and more! You will also find a bar filled with villain inspired drinks and also beer and wine if you choose. 



The deserts are on a whole other level and are also themed to match their villain of choice. Take delight in red velvet cupcakes, cheesecake pushups, macaroons, and green apple mousse. All of the deserts are truly sinful in their own rights. 

Now let's talk about the added shows. Club Villain used to only be offered on Saturday nights but because this intimate event has been such a hit they are now offering the show on Tuesdays and Saturday's throughout the month of March. 

For our family's March trip we were able to snag reservations for the Tuesday night 4:15pm show. There is also a 7:15pm show as well. 

Be advised, this party does offer alcoholic beverages and features burlesque dancers so it is not for your younger children. Also, there is not a child's rate so children pay the same as adults. This ticketed event will set you back $129 per person. 

The event lasts roughly 2 hours and as mentioned above you get personal meet and greets with the villains with little to no wait, a full all you can eat buffet featuring gourmet food, and all you can drink alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, plus desert. Need I say more! 

You will need a park ticket to get into this special ticketed event. If you are ready for this event and more magical fun, let's chat! I'm an authorized earmarked Disney Vacation Planner and my services are 100% free. 

A Review: Epcot Flower and Garden Festival

Every spring Walt Disney World showers the Epcot park with flowers and gardens and wows all of us visitors. But did you know this festival is way more than just flowers and gardens? Read below for some great tips if you are visiting in the spring months. 

The year marks the first in 23 years that Epcot will offer the Flower and Garden Festival for a full 90 days! Usually the event is a shorter time frame of 75 days so this year we are in for a special treat. 

This year the front entry will feature none other than Donald Duck's nephews: Huey, Dewey, and Louie. They will be featured alongside Donald and Daisy and the Disney Gardeners will draw inspiration from a 1943 comic book entitled "The Victory Garden."

Of course what is a Flower and Garden Festival without Mickey, Anna, and Elsa? They will be there too, no worries. Mickey will be featured as Ranger Mickey celebrating the 100th anniversary of the National Parks Service. Anna and Elsa will be moving to the Norway Pavilion this year as well. 

A very exciting addition this year is the 13 food offerings to choose from! Two outdoor kitchens that will feature kiosks where you can sample the food from. These kitchens will produce delicious foods such as: Jerk Spiced Grouper or Chicken with Mango Salsa, and Jamaican Braised Beef. The other outdoor kitchen will feature a field greens salad with lots of  fruits and vegetables. They will pair this with a blueberry hard cider brewed right in Florida. There will also be another 11 booths to choose your favorite flower and garden plates as well as new beverage options. I'm hungry just thinking about it!! 

And finally, the ever popular Garden Rocks Concerts will make a return and be offered even longer this year. Some of the standouts being the Village People, The Spinners, and The Guess Who. The concerts are every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 5:30, 6:45, and 8pm. 

A valid admission ticket is required to attend this event. It is one of the most fun events at Disney though so be sure to check it out if you are down in Mouseland during this time. 

As always I'm here to help plan your perfect vacation for you and your family when you are ready. Contact me today for your free quote. My services are always 100% free and I provide you with the Disney customer service you know and love!

QUOTE TUESDAY!!! 3 Night Bahamian Cruise on Disney Cruise Line

How many of my readers have ever wanted to go on a Disney cruise with their family? Or better yet how many of my readers are avid cruises and love the Disney Cruise Line? 

Whether you are just starting to look or are an avid cruiser this quote today is especially for you! I'm always amazed at how Disney Cruises just keep getting more and more affordable! These magical ships have been voted the best cruise line year after year and it's no wonder why. Take a look at the quote below and see if it's something you'd be interested in. If it is then shoot me an email and let's start planning your vacation today!! 

QUOTE TUESDAY featuring Disney Cruise Line!!
2 adults + 2 Children ages 9 & 7
3 Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral

Standard Inside Stateroom - Upgrade to an Oceanview Stateroom for just $3 per person
Second Seating Dining - all meals are included
Access to pools, on board activities, and kids activity centers
Character interactions and nightly entertainment

Disney Premier Service and Excellence that no one else has! 

Access to Castaway Cay - Disney's exclusive island only for DCL cruisers. 

Total Package Cost: $3,445.48

Contact me today to book your trip or for a free quote!
s.marx@magicalvacationplanner.com

Inside Look: Newly Renovated Polynesian Resort Expansion

I know there are some Polynesian Resort fans among us and maybe you've never even been to mouseland and are just interested in seeing the inside of each hotel. Well you are in for a treat no matter which side of the fence you fall on. Each week I'm going to be delving into a different resort on Disney property and giving you the inside look at the resort. In this new series, we will talk about all the rooms available, restaurants on-site, fun things to do on the resort, and much more! We will focus in on the Walt Disney World resorts first and then make our way to Disneyland. 

For our 2nd week we are looking at the newly renovated Disney's Polynesian Resort at Walt Disney World. In fact, some renovations are still currently going on, but should be finished by early 2016. Read on below to find out more!

Disney's Polynesian Resort was one of the two very first resorts on Disney World property. The resort opened with Magic Kingdom on October 1, 1971 and has been a fan favorite ever since. As you can imagine from the name the theme is tropical with Southern Pacific flair. The resort has undergone many renovations and changes since it first opened and that still rings true today. 



The resort is situated on Seven Seas Lagoons and features 218 Villas and the newly added 20 Bungalows. The bungalows are situated right on the lake giving guests an experience unlike anything else on Walt Disney World property. There are also several "longhouses" that feature standard rooms, club level rooms, and suites. The main building on the property is call The Great Ceremonial House and is very colorful and tropical looking. It is three stories and greets guests when they arrive for check-in. Let's look at the rooms shall we? 

Standard Rooms:
Sleeps 5 Adults
331 Garden View Rooms
19 Lagoon View Rooms
26 Magic Kingdom View Rooms

Club Level Rooms: 

Most rooms sleep 5 adults except the Honeymoon suite which is 2

57 Garden View 
20 Lagoon View
25 Theme Park View 
1 Honeymoon Room
1 1 Bedroom Suite
1 Princess Suite 

Waterside Bungalows:

Sleeps up to 8 Guests

20 Waterside Bungalows

Dining at Polynesian Village Resort

Some of the most delicious restaurants are here at the Polynesian. When the renovation took place some new restaurants were added and they have seen an outpouring of guests lined up at opening just to get a seat inside. 

Character Dining

O'Hana's Best Friends Breakfast - Breakfast with Lilo & Stitch

Dinner Show: 

Disney's Spirit of Aloha Show - a nightly family feast style buffet with fire and hula dancing. 

Unique Dining:

Kona Cafe - A relaxed cafe with American fare but also featuring an onstage sushi kitchen. 

Lounge:

Trader Sam's Grog Grotto - This new restaurant is all the rage right now. It opens daily at 4 and people start lining up at 2 just to get a seat inside. Take a look at the video below for an inside look. 

What are your thoughts about this amazing resort? Would you like to stay here? Or maybe just visit? 

If you are ready to book your Disney World vacation contact me today for your free quote! As always, my services are 100% free to utilize and you will receive excellent Disney service and all the benefits of having a personal concierge with you from booking to your trip. 

A View from The Contemporary Resort

Today we are taking an in-depth look at Walt Disney World's Contemporary Resort. This resort is a deluxe property situated on the monorail line at Walt Disney World. It is most easily accessible to Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Disney's Contemporary Resort was one of the first two resorts on Disney property. It was built as a futuristic hotel as you will easily notice once inside. The monorail sails directly through the middle of the hotel which is pretty neat!

A fun fact about the Contemporary Resort is that the rooms were actually all built offsite and then put in place once the infrastructure was built. 

This deluxe hotel boasts many amenities including Chef Mickey's restaurant which features a character breakfast, lunch, and dinner with Mickey and his friends. A popular venue for anyone coming to visit mouseland. 

Another personal favorite of mine on any Disney visit is dinner at The California Grill where you can schedule your dinner to have a front row seat of the Wishes fireworks extravaganza. It truly is an amazing view while indulging in some of the best food at Walt Disney World. Look at this amazing video below to see for yourself. 

These amazing restaurants are just the tip of the iceberg at the fabulous resort though. The resort also features a pool with a poolside bar, valet parking, free wifi, gift shops, valet service cleaning, and so much more!

Where is your favorite place to stay when you come down to Walt Disney World? Comment below and let me know. 

Planning a trip to Disney soon? Contact me today for a FREE quote and to book your magical vacation! As always my services are absolutely free and you will receive the excellent Disney customer service you know and love! I can't wait to hear from you.

s.marx@magicalvacationplanner.com

Quote Tuesday - Featuring the Disney Cruise Line

Ever wanted to hop aboard the Disney Cruise Line but thought it was too much money? Take a look at the below quote and see how surprisingly affordable a Disney Cruise really is.

4 Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral - Nassau, Castaway Cay
2 Adults + 2 Children
Cruise fare includes:
Shipboard accommodations
Dining
Entertainment
Character experiences and select onboard activities

Total: $5,200.28

A small deposit holds your spot today! Contact me for a customized quote to meet your family needs!! s.marx@magicalvacationplanner.com

Walt Disney Resort with Toddlers

Heading down to Walt Disney World soon? Have small kiddos in tow? You'll want to check out this post regarding the best things to do with your toddlers and how to make the most of your trip. 

1. Stay Close to the Magic - Disney's Art of Animation Resort is the ideal resort for preschoolers and their families. This resort offers special kid size packages so little ones can experience all of the characters, stories, and magic for a discounted price. 
2. New Disney Junior themed Magic Bands - Disney has recently released three new Magic Bands that are sure to delight your little prince or princess. These three new bands feature Jake, Sofia the First, or Doc McStuffins. Be sure to get these ahead of time online at disney.com or in stores.
3. Pool Parties - Are the parks too much for your little one? Relax poolside each day at your resort and let the little ones take part in sing alongs and games inspired by their favorite TV shows. 
4. Disney Junior Meet and Greet Lunch - At Hollywood & Vine inside Hollywood Studios your little ones will be so excited to meet their life size TV heroes. Everyday at lunch these characters come to life and visit with your child at your table. Characters include: Doc McStuffins, Jake, Sofia the First, and more. This is a great way to beat the lines and let the characters come to you. 
5. Disney Junior Live on Stage - Make extra magic with your little ones by making sure to check out the Disney Junior Live on Stage show. This show is full of music and dancing all with your child's favorite characters. They will love interacting with them. 

Don't be discouraged by thinking you can't do Disney with young ones. In fact, this is the perfect time to get a relaxing vacation in and slowly immerse yourself in all things Disney. Give your family the gift of Disney today by contacting me for a free quote!

s.marx@magicalvacationplanner.com

Disney Cruise Line HyperLapse

A busy day today has gotten me off to a late start with blogging so please excuse my late posting today. Have you ever wondered what a typical day on a Disney Cruise would be? You're in luck today because Disney released a hyperlapse video showing everyone what a typical day looks like. If you are an avid cruiser and have not vacationed on the Disney Cruise line I highly recommend it. Gone are the days of thinking this cruise line is only for kids. Adults let out their inner kid as well aboard this fun cruise! Families can also let loose while taking full advantage of all of the pools, great cuisine, and kids clubs throughout the ship. 

One of my favorite parts of the cruise line is that in your stateroom boats an interactive porthole. Each day you can look out of your porthole and you just may be surprised to see a character or two pop up right on the window. 

Take a look at the video below for an in depth look into Disney Cruise Line. If this seems like a vacation you or someone you know would love to explore then contact me today for a free quote and planning guide. 

s.marx@magicalvacationplanner.com

Paint the Night Parade Dining Packages at Disneyland

If you love Disneyland then you are familiar with the ever popular 'Paint the Night' Electrical Parade that goes on most nights at Disneyland. This parade lights up the parks with its whimsical lights and festive floats. Adults and kids rave about this parade! As Disney is always trying to improve they have now added a 'Paint the Night' parade dining package at Blue Bayou Restaurant and Aladdin's Oasis. 

Blue Bayou Restaurant is offering a table service option complete with an appetizer, entree, and choice of desert. Kids' meals are available for ages 3 to 9. Starting at 4pm to close you can take advantage of this dining package and get a voucher for priority seating for the parade later that evening. This is a great way to get a dinner and a show package! 

Aladdin's Oasis is offering "grab and go" meals that include 'Paint the Night' viewing. Meals can be picked up beginning at noon each day and they include salad with choice of dressing, dinner roll, marbled cheesecake, and a beverage of your choice as well as your choice of chicken and veggies or lasagna. Kids' meals are available for ages 3 to 9. 

Add this dining package to any vacation package today by contacting me for a free quote and package planning from start to finish. s.marx@magicalvacationplanner.com 

Play, Stay, Dine, and Save up to $500 on Disney World Vacations!

Disney World is offering up a great promotion for those of you who love Disney or are on the fence about taking a vacation to the world of Mouse! I promise once you visit you will want to go back over and over again! Book by 12/23/15 to take advantage of $500 in savings. Valid for arrivals now through 12/23/15 and also 1/2/16-3/7/16. 

Contact me today if you need a FREE QUOTE on your vacation! s.marx@magicalvacationplanner.com