Disney Springs Gets New Theme Park Transportation

Getting to Disney Springs at Walt Disney World just got a whole lot easier!  Starting at 4:00 p.m. daily, Disney Springs buses are now available to transport Theme Park Guests to Disney Springs from Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  

The new Disney Resort Transportation drop-off location is located in the middle of Disney Springs - putting you in the middle of Town Center which is the newest neighborhood filled with world-class brands, one-of-a-kind eateries and high-quality entertainment. 

This means you can ride theme park attractions attractions through the afternoon, then head over to Disney Springs to indulge in one of the 30+ food and beverage options by night. Whether you want to end their evening with La Nouba™ by Cirque du Soleil® experience; a movie at AMC Dine-In Theatres; bowling at Splitstville Luxury Lanes; or shopping at the wide-array of retailers (there are over 50 new stores!), there’s plenty to enjoy once you've had your fill of theme park fun. 

While the service from the Parks is intended to be one-way, Disney transportation will continue to be available from Disney Springs back to Disney Resort hotels. And for Guests with their own vehicles, the arrival experience is more convenient than ever with complimentary self-parking, which includes two new parking garages that utilize “smart technology,” making finding a spot a breeze.

If you're interested in visiting the Walt Disney World Resort, email me - lauren@magicaltravel.com - for a FREE, no obligation vacation quote!  Or simply fill out the Disney Vacation Quote form found below or click here to open it in a new window!  As a Disney vacation specialist, I’ll use my expert knowledge to help you plan a magical vacation! Plus my services are FREE to all of my clients - you won't pay more for my services but you will get more!

New Experiences coming to Aulani!

Hawaii’s top family beach resort is celebrating their 5th anniversary! With the anniversary comes an exciting announcement: they will be adding new Guest experiences that will debut later this year at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa!

Starting in November, KA WA‘A, a luau at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa will bring epicurean dining and imaginative entertainment to guests.  Luau Guests can feast on a sumptuous, local island buffet and enjoy lively music and traditional Hawaiian dance, including hula kahiko and modern hula ‘auana. Before the luau, you will have the opportunity to enjoy special pre-show entertainment, family activities, traditional crafts and more.

Also in November, Moana, from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ film “Moana,” will arrive at Aulani to meet with Guests and recount tales of adventure. The animated feature film is about an adventurous teenager who, with help from demigod Maui, sails out on a canoe for a daring mission to prove herself a master wayfinder and save her people. 

Both new experiences are inspired by Hawaii’s deep cultural roots in canoe exploration—a voyage which brought Hawaiian ancestors to the beautiful ‘Ewa Loa plains surrounding Aulani. 

If you're interested visiting Aulani in Hawaii, email me - lauren@magicaltravel.com - for a FREE, no obligation vacation quote!  Or simply fill out the Disney Vacation Quote form found below or click here to open in a new window! s a Disney vacation specialist, I’ll use my expert knowledge to help you plan a magical vacation! Plus my services are FREE to all of my clients - you won't pay more for my services but you will get more!

New Parade comes to Mickey's Halloween Party

Beginning this year, you are invited to gather for chills and thrills when the all-new “Frightfully Fun Parade” takes to the streets at Disneyland® Park, featuring a spectacle of spooky spirits from the deepest bayous of New Orleans to Halloweentown and beyond! Want some of the details that have been released about this new, spooky parade? Well, the parade will include The Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow who will set the mood as he arrives on his ghostly black steed just ahead of the parade itself, carrying a flickering jack-o-lantern as a warning to everyone along the parade route! Jack Skellington the Pumpkin King, from “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas,” brings greetings from Halloweentown, as residents arrive to celebrate their favorite time of year.  Grim, grinning ghosts come out to socialize when Disney’s iconic Haunted Mansion attraction comes to “afterlife,” with swirling ballroom dancers, ominous gravediggers and a trio of hitchhiking ghosts. Inspired by Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog,” Dr. Facilier calls on mystical powers, summoning his Shadow Men from the bayou to loom large over his strange and twisted Voodoo parlor, and the mischievous Disney Villains appear out of the darkness, ready to stir up some trouble. A dark and dungeon-like lair takes over the parade route, bringing with it a wicked gathering of villainy from Hades and the Evil Queen to Jafar, Cruella and more! The “Frightfully Fun Parade” will be presented exclusively during Mickey’s Halloween Party, a separately ticketed event at Disneyland Park hosted over 17 nights from September 23 - October 31, 2016.  Email me, lauren@magicaltravel.com, to book your Disneyland vacation and to book tickets to the Halloween Party so you can see this brand new parade! Mickey’s Halloween Party tickets are subject to availability and are valid only for specific event dates and hours. Space is limited and event dates may sell out. Limit eight (8) tickets per person, per event date. Tickets are nonrefundable and may not be resold. Tickets are not required for Guests ages 2 and under. Costumes subject to Disney guidelines and should not be obstructive or offensive. Parking is not included. Subject to restrictions and change without notice. Entertainment may be cancelled due to inclement weather or otherwise.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Premium Events

The Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival is just around the corner! The 21st festival returns to Walt Disney World® Resort in just a few weeks - September 14th to be exact. There are many festival events are included with Epcot admission, there are plenty of don't-miss “premium events” this year.  And you still have plenty of time to book your spot at these events too! 

Here’s just a peek at what’s available:

Rockin’ Burger Block Party 

(3 event dates: September 30, October 14, and November 11)

Amidst this rock-till-you-drop setting, you can bust a move to the ultimate playlist while chowing down on a mouthwatering menu, featuring a selection of specialty sliders and potables – from a new celebrity chef each week. General admission starts at $99 per person, plus tax (gratuity included).

Beverage Boot Camp 

(2 dates: September 18 and October 30)

Join a master sommelier or distiller for a crash course on the country’s best-loved libations. These 2-hour seminars discover the delicate nuances to evaluating fine wines and bourbons from top industry experts. Information ranges from appearance, aromas and complexity to production processes, trends and more. The price is $129 per person, plus tax (gratuity included).

What’s Cooking With … 

(Select Fridays and Sundays throughout the Festival)

Celebrity chefs and industry experts share their favorite dish, as well as tips, tricks and insights into what makes it so extraordinary. Dates are still available, including Sept. 16 (Elizabeth Falkner); Oct. 14 (Emily Ellyn); Oct. 23 (Rock Harper); Nov. 6 (David Guas); Nov. 11 (Sarah Fioroni) and Nov. 13 (Jehangir Mehta). The price is $129 per person, plus tax (gratuity included).

The Secrets of Flavor 

(September 22, October 20, and November 3)

Discover how the science of sensory memory affects the way we perceive our favorite foods. Through a 60-minute tasting session, engage your palate and build upon their wine knowledge. This epicurean adventure concludes with a signature 3-course luncheon that will reinforce a newly discovered connection between the 5 senses and food. The price is $129 per person, plus tax (gratuity included).

Party for the Senses Yelloween Masquerade 

(October 28 & 29)

In celebration of Halloween, this elegant masquerade soiree features unique entertainment, décor and more. Feast on themed menu items perfectly paired with champagne, wine, craft beer and specialty cocktails. With a yellow-and-black chic dress code, it’s a charming party sure to make spirits soar! General admission starts at $169 per person, plus tax (gratuity included).

If you book your Food & Wine vacation before 8/31 you'll save with this awesome Fall Discount! Email me - lauren@magicaltravel.com - for a FREE, no obligation vacation quote!  Or simply fill out the Disney Vacation Quote form found below or click here to open it in a new window!  As a Disney vacation specialist, I’ll use my expert knowledge to help you plan a magical vacation! Plus my services are FREE to all of my clients - you won't pay more for my services but you will get more!

Escape to Hawaii this Winter and Save!

At Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawai‘i, you can experience a whole new world of relaxation and escape. Set ocean-side along a tranquil lagoon on the island of O‘ahu, the Resort is an unforgettable way to experience the islands in a whole new way.

To celebrate its 5th anniversary, you are invited to escape the winter cold and go to the warmth and aloha of Aulani Resort with an exciting offer. 

When you stay 5+ consecutive nights, you’ll save 35% on your stay.* This offer is good when you book select nights in an Ocean View Room now through February. 13, 2017 for stays most nights January 2 through March 24, 2017.

And, if they book early, now through Oct. 3, 2016, you’ll receive a free meal at Ulu Cafe per person, per night of their stay!** 

If you're interested in an Aulani vacation in Hawaii, email me - lauren@magicaltravel.com - for a FREE, no obligation vacation quote!  Or simply fill out the Disney Vacation Quote form found below or click here to open in a new window! s a Disney vacation specialist, I’ll use my expert knowledge to help you plan a magical vacation! Plus my services are FREE to all of my clients - you won't pay more for my services but you will get more!

*Savings based on the non-discounted rate for the same room. The number of rooms allocated for this offer may be limited. Limit 2 rooms per reservation. Excludes suites and 3-bedroom Grand Villas. Additional charges may apply if more than 2 adults per room. Cannot be combined with other discounts or promotions. Advance reservations required.

**Savings based on the non-discounted rate for the same room. The number of rooms allocated for this offer may be limited. Includes one daily meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner) for each Guest (ages 3+) on the reservation per night of your package stay. Meal is redeemable only at Ulu Cafe during normal operating hours and includes one entrée and one non- specialty beverage. Meal entitlements may not be redeemed for cash in whole or in part, sold separately, transferred or refunded, and expire at 11:59 p.m. on package departure date. Limit 2 rooms per reservation. Excludes suites and 3- bedroom Grand Villas. Additional charges may apply if more than 2 adults per room. Cannot be combined with other discounts or promotions. Advance reservations required. 

What will you do at Disney Springs?

Over the last several months, Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort has doubled in size, growing from about 75 locations to over 150.   Disney Springs has stepped up dining-game as there are now five James Beard-Award Wining Chefs represented on property: Chefs Art Smith, Rick Bayless, Masaharu Morimoto, Wolfgang Puck and Tony Mantuano.  With the addition of these chef's and their restaurants, they have made Disney Springs an unparalleled destination for dining. 

The addition of over 50 total retailers has made the area a shopper’s delight. The waterfront property is a vibrant mix of stores, restaurants and entertainment spread through four distinct neighborhoods. 

The Town Center is the newest addition to Disney Springs.  It is a shopping mecca that has recently welcomed over 30 new brands, including UNIQLO, Anthropologie, UNDER ARMOUR BRAND HOUSE and ZARA.  In addition to shops, the Town Center has new eateries like Sprinkles Cupcakes, Blaze Pizza, Amorette’s Patisserie and Frontera Cocina making it easily to spend a few hours in this neighborhood alone.  

At The Landing you will find a diverse array of restaurants including Paradiso 37, The BOATHOUSE, Raglan Road, Morimoto Asia, STK Orlando and Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming.  There are also retailers such as The Art of Shaving, Havaianas and Chapel Hats, to name just a few.

The Marketplace is the family-friendly spot for Disney lovers.  Here you'll find World of Disney, the world’s largest Disney Merchandise store, plus other familiar favorites like The LEGO Store, Rainforest Café and Disney’s Days of Christmas. It’s a must-see destination for Guests visiting with little ones, thanks to the Marketplace Carousel and Train and the new Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.

The lively entertainment hub, West Side, has something for everyone. You can bowl at Splitsville Luxury Lanes to watching a movie at AMC Dine-In Theatres.  See the unique talent perform at “La Nouba” by Cirque du Soleil or spend the night gaming at DisneyQuest. That’s in addition to some of the staples you’ll continue to find here: Fit2Run, Curl by Sammy Duvall, House of Blues, Wolfgang Puck and Bongos Cuban Café, for example.

And, whether you have a set itinerary for your visit or prefer to meander along and discover its charms as you stroll, Disney Springs is not-to-be-missed!

Remember, transportation is available from all Disney Resort hotels, and self-parking is complimentary on the surface lots and both parking garages, making the arrival experience easier and more convenient than ever.

If you're interested in visiting the Walt Disney World Resort, email me - lauren@magicaltravel.com - for a FREE, no obligation vacation quote!  Or simply fill out the Disney Vacation Quote form found below or click here to open it in a new window!  As a Disney vacation specialist, I’ll use my expert knowledge to help you plan a magical vacation! Plus my services are FREE to all of my clients - you won't pay more for my services but you will get more!