Digital Key Expands to Additional Disney Resort Hotels

Over the last several months, Guests have been giving great feedback on the recently launched vacation tools in the My Disney Experience app – from shopping for merchandise and mobile ordering food to checking into Disney Resort hotels on-the-go and viewing bus times.

One of these exciting new features includes the ability for Guests to use their Bluetooth®-enabled mobile phone to unlock their hotel room door. This represents another seamless room-entry option for you to use, in addition to MagicBands. This technology made its initial debut at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge earlier this year, and this week, it is completing its rollout to Disney Resort hotels at Walt Disney World® Resort, including Disney Vacation Club properties!

Using a digital key can help add convenience and flexibility to your stay, whether you simply prefer the mobile phone access, or if you need a backup option after accidentally locking yourself out of your room (it happens to the best of us). The feature was designed with a distinctly Disney touch, and if you listen closely, you’ll hear the sound of pixie dust filling the air as the hotel door opens.

Guests can also use the digital key to unlock the hotel entrance gate and common area doors requiring a key, which may include fitness centers, elevators and club level lounges. And arriving travel parties that have checked in online may even use their digital key to bypass the front desk, similar to what they are able to do with the MagicBand, giving them the opportunity to go directly to their room when it is ready and start their vacation even faster.

Each Guest staying in the room with a My Disney Experience account may opt-in and activate the feature on their check-in day through a brief set up process in the app. To enter their room, guests tap the “Unlock Door” button and then simply hold their phone against the door lock.

When you book your Walt Disney World vacation with me, a Disney vacation professional planner, I'll find your the Disney Resort that fits your family's budget and vacation needs - at no extra cost to you! Just email me at lauren@magicaltravel.com! Or you can use this fast and easy form to request a free, no obligation quote! As a Disney Vacation Planner, I'll help you plan the most magical vacation - all for free! You won't pay one penny more by booking with me but you'll get personalized help and advice from someone that will get to know you, your wants and your travel plans (which you’re not going to get if you book on your own or direct with Disney)!  

Just a few of the few things I'll do for FREE:

• Help to find you the perfect Walt Disney World Resort; 
• I'll make your Advance Dining Reservations (no early mornings for you!);
• I'll make your Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Reservations; 
• I'll make your FastPass+ selections (once gain no early mornings for you!); 
• Book any tours or unique experiences; 
• Send you tips and tricks to get the most out of your vacation investment; AND
• Plus my clients that book a vacation package get a FREE DISNEY GIFT CARD and more! 

With all of these perks from me, you're bound to have a magical vacation!

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Digital Key at Select Walt Disney World Resorts

Digital Key is now live in the My Disney Experience app for Guests staying at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.

With Digital Key, you can use the My Disney Experience app to quickly unlock their hotel room, as well as the hotel entrance gate and doors to common areas like pools, fitness centers, elevators and lounges. Plus, Guests who have completed online check-in may be able to bypass the front desk and use Digital Key to go directly to their room upon arrival.

You will be able to unlock the door to your room and other common areas that require a MagicBand or Key to the World Card at your Disney Resort hotel. Common areas may include pools, arcades, fitness centers, elevators and Club Level lounges.

The unlock door feature may be available at additional Disney Resort hotels in the coming months.

Email me at lauren@magicaltravel.com to book your Walt Disney World vacation with me, Lauren Gonding - A Disney Vacation Planner. Or, use this fast and easy form to request a free, no obligation Disney Vacation quote! As a Disney Vacation Planner, I'll help you plan the most magical vacation - all for free! Just a few of the few things I'll do for FREE:

• Help to find you the perfect Walt Disney World Resort; 
• I'll make your Advance Dining Reservations (no early mornings for you!);
• I'll make your Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Reservations; 
• I'll make your FastPass+ selections (once gain no early mornings for you!); 
• Book any tours or unique experiences; 
• Send you tips and tricks to get the most out of your vacation investment; AND
• Plus my clients that book a vacation package get a FREE DISNEY GIFT CARD and more! 

With all of these perks from me, you're bound to have a magical vacation!

Mobile Order Now Available for Disney Dining Plan!

Since launching last spring, Mobile Order in the My Disney Experience mobile app has been a popular service. Currently offered at 23 locations throughout the theme parks and Disney Springs®, this convenient service allows you to order meals and snacks on demand, pay in advance and skip the line at select quick-service food and beverage locations.

With the recent (1/31/18) update for the My Disney Experience update launching later today, Guests with Disney dining plans can redeem meals and snacks in Mobile Order, providing them with more free time to enjoy all of the attractions and entertainment experiences throughout Walt Disney World® Resort.

Mobile Order will accept any of the three Disney dining plans: the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan, the Disney Dining Plan and the Disney Deluxe Dining Plan. To access Mobile Order, Guests can tap the “Order Food” button under “My Plans” in the app.

If a party has a Disney dining plan included in a package and linked to their reservation, it will automatically appear as a payment option during the ordering process. Please note that Disney gift cards and discounts are not accepted through Mobile Order at this time.

This latest app update builds on other new features, like room charge viewing, Online Check-In Service and wayfinding, that are helping to improve the overall vacation experience for Guests.

To book your vacation to experience this exclusive event, email me (a trained and experienced Disney Vacation Planner) at lauren@magicaltravel.com. Or you can use this fast and easy form to request a free, no obligation quote!

As a Disney Vacation Planner, I'll help you plan the most magical vacation - all for free! You won't pay one penny more by booking with me but you'll get personalized help and advice from someone that will get to know you, your wants and your travel plans (which you’re not going to get if you book on your own or direct with Disney)!  

Just a few of the few things I'll do for FREE: help to find you the perfect Walt Disney World Resort; I'll make your Advance Dining Reservations and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Reservations; make your FastPass+ selections; book any tours or unique experiences; and send you tips and tricks to get the most out of your vacation investment!  

Plus my clients that book a vacation package get a FREE DISNEY GIFT CARD and more! With all of these perks from me, you're bound to have a magical vacation!

New and Improved My Disney Experience App!

A new version of the My Disney Experience (MDE) app just launched with new features that further enhances the Guest experience by offering added convenience and flexibility for those on the go.

When you stay at a Disney Resort hotel, you can now use the app to keep track of your Disney dining plan and see the remaining dining plan meals and snack credits right from your mobile device! No need to stop at the front desk before you head into the parks to check! 

Keep track of your Disney Dining Plan credits on the newly updated MDE app!

Another cool feature that was added to the My Disney Experience (MDE) app - you can now keep track of purchases charged to your Disney Resort hotel account! However, if you shop like I do - this may not be the most welcome feature...

The MDE app now lets you know how much has been charged to the room!

Another feature that was added, for Disney Annual Passholders - you can now renew your pass right on the app! Previously, before this update, AP's had to call in or use the website to renew. 

AP's - renew right on the MDE app!

This recent update to My Disney Experience builds on recently introduced features, including Mobile Order and Online Check-In, to provide Guests with more choices in how they wish to spend their time and manage personal preferences during their Walt Disney World® Resort vacation!

To book your Walt Disney World Resort vacation, email me - lauren@magicaltravel.com. Or use this fast and easy form to request a free quote!

I'm a Disney Vacation Planner with hundreds of satisfied clients and I want to help you plan a magical vacation for your family at no extra charge! You won't pay one penny more to book with me but you'll get personalized help, tips, advice and much more (which you're not going to get if you booked on your own).  

Just a few of the few things I'll do for you for FREE: help to find you the perfect Walt Disney World Resort; I'll make your Advance Dining Reservations and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Reservations; make your FastPass+ selections; and send you tips and tricks!  

Online Check-In on My Disney Experience App!

It’s been incredible to see the Guest experience transform at Walt Disney World Resort over the past four years since My Disney Experience was launched in 2013. From the FastPass+ service to MagicBand 2 and Mobile Ordering!

Earlier this year, a redesigned My Disney Experience app was unveiled with new features that spoke to Guests’ desire for an easier way to access all of their vacation plans. Now there is another feature to the app: Online Check-In.

When you stay at a Disney Resort hotel, you will be able to use Disney’s Online Check-In service on the My Disney Experience mobile app, expediting your arrival while providing additional convenience, flexibility and customization of their experience. The feature enables you to start the check-in process up to 60 days before your arrival, bypassing the need to visit the front desk and giving you the opportunity to begin your vacation as soon as you set foot in Walt Disney World Resort. Guests complete their check-in by unlocking their room, when it is ready, using the MagicBands sent to them prior to their arrival.

With just a few taps of the screen, you can make room requests, add credit card information and authorize charges, submit an estimated arrival time to help prompt room access, receive a notification when your room is ready and more. Please note that room requests are not guaranteed and Guests must provide consent to receive notifications.

The best part? You can begin the check-in process at any point up to 60 days prior to your arrival date – even minutes beforehand as you're transported on Disney’s Magical Express to your resort hotel. 

As always, world-class Guest service is part of the magic of a Walt Disney World Resort vacation, and front desk and concierge Cast Members are available at all of our resort hotels to assist you at their leisure for the duration of their stay. 

To take advantage of the Online Check-In service and other features, be sure you download the latest version of My Disney Experience, now available in the App Store for iOS devices and Google Play for Android devices.

Get a closer look at Disney's Online Check-In in this video!

 To book your Walt Disney World Resort vacation, email me - lauren@magicaltravel.com. Or use this fast and easy form!

I'm a Disney Vacation Planner with hundreds of satisfied clients and I want to help you plan a magical vacation for your family at no extra charge! You won't pay one penny more to book with me but you'll get personalized help, tips, advice and much more (which you're not going to get if you booked on your own).  

Just a few of the few things I'll do for you for FREE: help to find you the perfect Walt Disney World Resort; I'll make your Advance Dining Reservations and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Reservations; make your FastPass+ selections; and send you tips and tricks!  

Disney's Animal Kingdom's New Quick Service Location

With an entire new land taking shape to open on May 27, 2017, Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park will transport you to the visually stunning land of floating mountains and bioluminescent plants. And of course there’s a culinary chapter to the story of the Na’vi. 

Enjoy creative, flavorful dishes based on the healthful bounty of Pandora, with wholesome grains, fresh vegetables and hearty proteins at Satu’li Canteen, where an on-stage grill is a prominent feature in the colorful dining room.

The Satu’li Canteen was once the main mess hall of the Resources Development Administration (RDA) base located in the Valley of Mo’ara. Now the canteen is owned and operated by Alpha Centauri Expeditions (ACE) tour company and has been redesigned into a beautiful museum-like dining room.

The interior has been transformed with colorful Na’vi items filling the walls and hanging from the ceiling — hand-woven tapestries, natural Pandoran elements and even cooking tools decorate the restaurant.

In this fast-casual restaurant, you'll find familiar dishes with a twist, including bowls that allow diners to customize their lunch or dinner. Diners start with a base of quinoa and vegetable salad; red and sweet potato hash; mixed whole-grain and rice or romaine and kale salad. Next is either with wood-grilled chicken, slow-roasted beef, sustainable fish or chili-spiced fried tofu. And the bowl is finished with charred onion chimichurri, black bean vinaigrette or creamy herb dressing. 

The menu also offers steamed “pods” – bao buns with either cheeseburger or vegetable curry and served with root vegetable chips and crunchy vegetable slaw.

For little ones, there’s an option of grilled chicken or beef, fish or tofu with greens or rice; a hot dog wrapped in Parker House dough; cheese quesadilla, or a steamed “pod” (cheeseburger bao bun). 

The fast-casual restaurant will also be the first to offer Mobile Order, a new convenient option to order and pay for meals on-the-go within the My Disney Experience app, allowing you to bypass the queue to order when you arrive at the restaurant. Using the app, select menu items, customize your order and pre-pay for the meal. When you arrive at the restaurant you will tap an “I’m here” button in the app, which will notify the kitchen to prepare the meal. When ready, you will be alerted through the app to pick up their meal at a designated window. Additional fast-casual and quick-service restaurants will begin to offer Mobile Order later this year.

Disney Dining Plan will be accepted at Satu’li Canteen but, at this time, Mobile Order will only accept credit cards.

To book your Walt Disney World Resort vacation, email me - lauren@magicaltravel.com - a Disney Vacation Planner. 

As a Disney Vacation Planner, I'll help you plan the most magical vacation - all for FREE! You won't pay one penny more by booking with me but you'll get more help and advice than you would if you booked on your own.  

Just a few of the few things I'll do for FREE: help to find you the perfect Walt Disney World Resort; I'll make your Advance Dining Reservations and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Reservations; make your FastPass+ selections; and free tips and tricks!  

Plus my clients that book a vacation package get a free Disney Gift card and more! With all of these things from me, and all of the great things happening at Walt Disney World in 2017 - you're bound to have a magical vacation!