Florida Vacation Blog

Archive for the ‘Disney’ Category

Orlando’s theme parks are full of Halloween entertainment. From the very scary at Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights to the kid’s fun at SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular, there’s something for everyone.

At Disney’s Magic Kingdom, you’ll find Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party already in full swing. The annual, separate ticket event allows guests an opportunity to dress up in their costumes and trick-or-treat alongside favorite Disney Characters and Villains.

The Villians Mix and Mingle show has been restyled for this year and now features Dr. Facilier, the voodoo doctor from Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog” movie. The main musical number for this highly choreographed show is “Friends on the Other Side” from the same movie. The song offers up visual highlights like black-light effects and illuminations. As in the past, the show is followed by a fun meet-and-greet with the Disney Villains.

This year’s event at Magic Kingdom also offers a new trick-or-treat zone, Br’er Rabbit’s Laughin’ Place Candy Patch. The new candy patch area is located adjacent to Splash Mountain in Frontierland and replaces the former Alice & Mad Hatter’s Treat Trail that was formerly located in the old Mickey’s Toontown Fair.

For information on discount Disney tickets and discount Orlando family vacation packages, please visit www.westgatereservations.com.

This is it. After four decades, a popular Disney World tradition is coming to an end this spring - the Grad Night celebrations.

Disney has announced that the last of its annual Grad Night celebrations at Magic Kingdom will take place April 29-30 and May 6-7. This separate ticket event is designed for high school seniors across the country to come celebrate with music, dancing, rides and long lasting memories.

Live performances have long been a focal point of the event, and participating musical guests have included the likes of Britney Spears, Miami Sound Machine, Katy Perry, Ne-Yo, New Kids on the Block, Backstreet Boys, and others. This year’s final event is set to feature live performances by Taio, Pete Wentz and 3OH!3.

The Grad Night event first started at Disney World in 1972 and has been held continuously at the Magic Kingdom ever since other than a move to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2009.

The musical acts scheduled to appear at the 2011 and final version of Grad Nite are Pete Wentz, Taio Cruz, and 3OH!3.

A similar event for high-school seniors called Grad Bash, will continue to be held at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure theme parks in Orlando. This spring’s Universal Grad Bash events are scheduled for April 15 & 30 as well as May 6-7. Musical guests are Jason Derulo, B.o.B., Pitbull and DJ Khaled.

The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year in Orlando and that popularity is reflected in the crowds at Walt Disney World Resort and other area theme parks and attractions.

As you might expect, those big Disney crowds will also be out to celebrate the New Year. If you plan on visiting a Disney World theme park on New Year’s Eve, it’s best to plan ahead and get an early start.

First off, you should try to arrive early in the morning at the park of your choice and be prepared to spend your entire day in that park. All of the Disney parks will reach capacity on Dec. 31 and no further admittance will be allowed. As a result, Park hopping on New Year’s Eve is not recommended.

After arriving, get Fastpasses for the rides and attractions you most want to see. Fastpasses will also run out quickly and it’s likely the most popular attractions could have waits up to two hours or longer.

The Disney parks will be filled with live entertainment throughout the day, in addition to a special fireworks show around midnight. So be sure to find a park map and event schedule when entering the park of your choice.

Visitors to sunny Orlando, FL can enjoy a little extra Disney fun and magic during the Christmas holiday season as Walt Disney World Resort offers its guests some extended theme park hours.

Disney’s Magic Kingdom will remain open til midnight Dec. 22-24 and til 1 am on Christmas Day.

The park will also be open til midnight on Dec. 26; 1 am on Dec. 27-29; midnight on Dec. 30; and on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, the park will be open until 2 am.

On select days during the holidays, the Magic Kingdom will also offer Extra Magic Hours until 3 am for guests staying at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels.

Fans of Mickey’s Toontown Fair at Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando beware. The children’s area at the theme park is getting ready to close in February to make way for the under-construction expansion of Fantasyland in the theme park.

Toontown Fair, home to Mickey Mouse and other Disney Character meet-and-greets, among other attractions, is slated to remain open through Feb. 11, 2011.  At that time, the area will be closed off for the next phase of the Fantasyland expansion project that includes a new Little Mermaid themed ride, interactive Disney princess areas and more.

 Those looking to visit with Mickey will still have their opportunities as Mickey, Minnie and other Characters will be moved from Toontown to other areas within Magic Kingdom. Eventually, they will have a new permanent home in the building currently known as Town Square Exhibition Hall, located along Main Street, U.S.A.

Fantasyland’s expansion will be opened in phases with most of the new experiences scheduled to be complete by 2013.

Check out the latest in Orlando discount vacation packages and resort accommodations at www.WestgateReservations.com.

Christmas is just around the corner. If you are visiting Disney and looking to find a place to visit Santa, there’s still time to find the jolly one. Santa is extra busy this time of year but he’s finding time to make the rounds at Walt Disney World Resort.

For starters, you can find Santa at Downtown Disney Marketplace from noon to 9:30 p.m. daily now through Dec. 24 at Santa’s Chalet in front of World of Disney. Santa Goofy will also be on hand there from Dec. 25 through Jan. 3 - from 3-9:30 p.m.

At Epcot, each country in the World Showcase celebrates Christmas with storytellers describing local holiday traditions. Many of the countries feature a representation of Santa, for example, Pere Noel in France and Father Christmas in England. Santa himself can be found at the American Adventure from 1:30-9 p.m. through Dec. 24.

 At Magic Kingdom, Santa makes an appearance in Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Remaining dates include Dec. 12, 14, 16, 17 and 19.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a special extra ticket, after-hours event at Disney’s Magic Kingdom on select nights from Sept. 14 through Nov. 1, 2010.

Perfect for children of all ages, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party runs from 7 pm til midnight and guests of all ages are encouraged to dress up in their favorite Halloween costumes and collect candy while trick-or-treating around the Magic Kingdom theme park.

In addition to many favorite Disney attractions, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is filled with special entertainment such as Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade featuring Disney Characters and the stars of the park’s Haunted Mansion attraction. The parade begins with a spooktacular ride by the Headless Horseman.

Throughout the park, you’ll find a wide variety of your favorite Disney characters and Disney Villains in special Halloween costumes. In addition, the park will offer special lighting, music and themed effects to transform some areas of the Magic Kingdom into happy haunted hallows.

There’s also a special Happy HalloWishes fireworks spectacular show featuring Disney Villains trick-or-treating in the sky.

2010 EVENT DATES:  September 14, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30  October 1, 3, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29, 31  November 1

For details on this and other fun-filled Halloween events in Orlando as well as Disney tickets and vacation packages, visit www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com or www.WestgateReservations.com

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando has received some summer fun enhancements including new lighting effects, new sound effects, new voices and a newly developed drop sequence.

The new single drop sequence replaces the current random drop sequence that and will be in effect for all Tower of Terror rides throughout Disney’s Summer Nightastic celebration from June 6 through August 14.

ESPN’s annual fan-fest continues this weekend (Feb. 26-27-28) at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando, FL.

 With 35 superstar athletes, two dozen sportscasters, live shows, special motorcades, interactive sports zone and more, it’s sure to be a fun-filled weekend for sports fans of all ages.

Don’t miss your chance to get up close and personal with stars from the NBA, NFL, major league baseball, golf and more. Plus look for all of your favorite ESPN personalities.

Of course, you’ll also enjoy a full day of fun at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park which offers a wide range of thrill rides, shows and other attractions.

For information on Disney’s Hollywood Studios, discount Orlando vacation packages and discount Orlando theme park tickets, visit www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com. Or for discount Orlando resort and hotel accommodations, go to www.WestgateReservations.com/sweepstakes.cfm.

The classic Main Street Electrical Parade is slated to return to Disney’s Magic Kingdom in June and run throughout the summer as part of a Summertime Nightastic! promotion.

The longtime favorite originally found its way down Main Street U.S.A. back in 1977 and ran until 1991 when Disney introduced the SpectroMagic parade. The Electrical Parade returned again from 1999-2001 but has been part of the fun at Disney’s California Adventure Park in Anaheim the last few years.

As part of the return to Disney World, the classic parade will feature a new Tinker Bell presentation at the start of the parade. Also new to the Main Street Electrical Parade will be Snow White and Pinocchio floats.

In Disney’s ongoing effort to “go green,” the thousands of lights in the parade have all been replaced with LED bulbs.

Visit www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com for information on all the Disney parks as well as discount Orlando vacation packages and discount theme park tickets. Or visit www.WestgateReservations.com for discount Orlando hotels, resorts and accommodations for the entire family.