FREE DINING at Walt Disney World is Here!

UPDATE: Book by August 1, 2018 to get free dining!

Savor the chance to experience an unforgettable stay in the middle of the magic! Enjoy a FREE dining plan when you purchase a non-discounted 5-night/6-day Magic Your Way package that includes a room at a select Disney Resort hotel and a ticket with a Park Hopper® Option.

Hurry because these rooms are going FAST!  For more details, email me at lauren@magicaltravel.com to book your Free Dining 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! Book now through July 7, 2018 for arrivals most nights August 20 through September 29, November 24 through November 27 and December 7 through December 23, 2018.

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!

Play, Stay and Dine Walt Disney World Savings Promotion for 2018!

Play, Stay, Dine and save up to $500* on a 5-night/6-day Walt Disney Travel Company room, ticket and dining plan package for a family of four at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels for arrivals most nights January 1- March 10, 2018 when booked by December 22, 2017.

When you purchase this package and stay at a Disney Moderate, Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resort, you’ll enjoy the Disney Dining Plan, which allows you to savor a variety of delicious dining options. When you purchase this package and stay at a select Disney Value Resort, you'll get the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan that offers convenient meals and snacks throughout the Walt Disney World Resort. 

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!  

*The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Savings based on the non-discounted price for the same package for 2 adults, 1 junior, 1 child in the same room. Tickets valid for one Theme Park per day and must be used within 14 days of first use. First use must be by December 31, 2018. Cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion. Advance reservations required. Offer excludes campsites, 3-bedroom villas, Cabins at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – The Little Mermaid standard rooms.

Dining plan excludes gratuities. Children ages 3-9 must order from children’s menu, if available. Some Table-Service restaurants may have limited or no availability at time of package purchase. Locations subject to change without notice or liability. Theme Park admission is required for some dining locations. 

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!  

Changes to 2017 Walt Disney World Dining Plans

As of this week, I am now able to book 2017 Walt Disney World Vacation Packages!  Part of a Walt Disney World Vacation Package is electing to add a Disney Dining Plan option.  Adding one of the Disney dining plans allows a family to budget the food expense of their vacation before they even leave for their vacation.  This means no surprise costs once you're on vacation, i.e. less worry and stress about vacation costs!  The Disney Dining Plans allow you to indulge and order the most expensive thing on every menu because you opted for the Dining Plan and you've already paid for that expensive steak option!  With the release of the 2017 Walt Disney World vacation packages, we noticed some changes to the 2017 Disney Dining Plan options!

Add the Disney Dining Plan to your Walt Disney World vacation to get the most out of your vacation!

Quick-Service meals (for any of the Disney Dining plans) will no longer get a dessert served with lunch and dinner meals.  Instead of the Quick-Service dessert, guests will get an extra snack each day of the dining plan! This means if you elect the Disney Quick Service Dining Plan or the Disney Dining Plan you'll get two snacks instead of just one for each night of your stay. (The Disney Deluxe Dining Plan originally had two snacks included). 

In 2017 Disney Dining Plan participants will get two snacks per day!

I am in love with this change.  I really didn't like any of the quick-service dessert options.  Except for a handful of locations (Sunshine Seasons or when there was a specialty cupcake offered), the Quick-Service desserts left little to be desired. I'm looking at you chocolate-brownie cake with your super sweet icing with some Mickey Mouse sprinkles.  I would much rather have a Dole Whip!

Dole Whips are a great snack option!

Another change is that guests will no longer be able to book the Disney Dining Premium nor the Disney Disney Platinum packages.  There will only be three Dining Plan choices for 2017:

1. Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan. Included with this dining plan is two (2) Quick-Service meals, two (2) snacks and one (1) refillable drink mug eligible for refills at Disney resort quick-service locations per person booked on the package.
2. Disney Dining Plan. Included with this dining plan is one (1) Table-Service meal; one (1) Quick-Service meal, two (2) snacks and one (1) refillable drink mug eligible for refills at Disney resort quick-service locations per person booked on the package.
3. Disney Deluxe Dining Plan. Included with this option is three (3) meals of any combination of Quick-Service or Table-Service locations, two (2) snacks and one (1) refillable drink mug eligible for refills at Disney resort quick-service locations per person booked on the package.

A change we didn't see was the rumor floating around that certain Character Dining experiences would go from 1 Table-Service credit to 2 Table-Service credits.  Didn't hear the rumor? I'll fill you in!  It was rumored that Chef Mickey's, Tusker House and Akershus would be 2-Table Service credits.  But no worries, with the release of the 2017 Walt Disney World Vacation plans, that rumor proved to be false! YAY!

Fairytale Dining at Cinderella's Royal Table is the only 2 Table-Service character dining experience. 

That is all for now! Since 2017 is still a ways away, it is possible that more changes, restaurant additions are to occur so when that happens I'll let you guys know!

Want to go to Walt Disney World and get a Dole Whip, have lunch with Mickey Mouse or eat dinner with Cinderella? Email me, lauren@magicaltravel.com, and I'll be more than happy to help you book your vacation and help you have a magical Walt Disney World experience by booking your Advance Dining Reservations and FastPass+ selection!

Dig In Before This Offer is Gone!

You can get a FREE Dining Plan when they buy a non-discounted 5-night/6-day package that includes a room at a select Walt Disney World® Resort hotel and ticket with the Park Hopper® or Water Park Fun & More Option for arrivals most nights Aug. 23-Oct. 1, 2016, Nov. 15-21, Nov. 26-28 and Dec. 10-Dec. 21, 2016 when you book by July 8, 2016! But I wouldn't wait that long as the availability for this offer is extremely limited! Email me - lauren@magicaltravel.com - today!

Purple Magic Bands!

The Purple Magic Band has been used in the Magic Band promotional advertising for quite some time. There was only one small hiccup about that promotional advertising - guests couldn't actually choose the purple color for their Magic Band when it came to customizing your band.  This lead to many questions of why was it shown and when would it be available.  There was some hope last fall when it became available for purchase at Walt Disney World and various locations and you could even customize it too.  However, just recently has the Purple Band become available on the My Disney Experience page for guest to choose for their upcoming trips!

Walt Disney World Resort guests can now pick the color purple for their Magic Band

Like the other colors, you can also customize your Purple Magic Band to show a name (or something else as long as it is under 9 characters) on the inside of the band.  Will you be choosing the Purple Magic Band for your next Walt Disney World vacation?

Don't know what a Magic Band is?  Well the Magic Band is free for resorts guests at Walt Disney World.  The band is worn on your wrist and is an all-in-one wonder that contains your theme park tickets, FastPass+ selections, Dining Plan, room key and a credit card for food and merchandise purchases at select locations via an RDF chip. Everything you would need for a day at the parks is conveniently located on your wrist! Thus minimizing the things you need to take with you to the park!  And if you're like me, it also minimizes the things you might forget behind in your Walt Disney World resort room!

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 in a new window!  As a Disney vacation specialist, let me put my expert knowledge to your benefit and help you plan a magical vacation!

Nine Dragons Restaurant Celebrates ‘Year of the Monkey’

This year, 2016, is the Chinese “Year of the Monkey.”  In celebration, Nine Dragons in China Pavilion at Epcot in Walt Disney World will be offering some new items on their menu plus a price fixe lunch menu!

New Menu Items at Nine Dragons Restaurant in Epcot to Celebrate the Year of the Monkey

The price fix lunch special will be 3 courses (appetizer, entree and dessert) for $17.98 - which is a great deal!  Guests will have a choice of spring rolls or pot stickers for their appetizer.  For their lunch entrees guests will have three choices: Happily Family, with sliced chicken breast, beef and shrimp stir fry; Moo Goo Gai Pan with stir-fried chicken breast, mushrooms and snow peas; and General Tso’s Chicken Buns Lunch Box with three steamed buns and hot-and-sour soup.  The third course offered on the price fixe menu is dessert with a choice of strawberry-red bean ice cream or ginger-caramel ice cream. 

The special addition item to Nine Dragons' menu, just for Year of the Monkey, are three steamed buns: braised pork belly served with chili aioli; sweet-and-sour, batter-fried fish buns topped with pork floss (pork floss is dry, fluffy shredded pork seasoned with soy sauce and sugar); and General Tso’s Chicken buns with batter-fried chicken breast.  

These menu additions will remain on the menu until January 27, 2017.  Nine Dragons Restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner and accepts the Disney Dining Plan. Various discount programs are also accepted at Nine Dragons including: Annual Passholder, Disney Vacation Club, Tables in Wonderland and Golden Oak (all these discounts are 20% for the month of February to celebrate the Chinese New Year). 

Source:  Disney Parks Blog

Early 2016 Walt Disney World Discount

Two discounts were just released for Disney Visa® Cardmembers!  The good news for nonmembers? These discounts will be available to the general public come Monday! So book with me now to ensure you can take advantage of this special deal! Email me lauren@magicaltravel.com and be sure to follow me on Facebook to stay updated on the latest Disney offers, news and tips! 

Disney Visa® Play, Stay, Dine Offer

Valid for most nights December 13 through December 19, 2015, and January 2 through March 7, 2016 at select Walt Disney World® Resort hotels.  There is length of stay requirement.  The Play, Stay, Dine Offer includes:

• Resort Hotel room
• Theme park tickets
• Dining Plan (Disney Quick Service Dining Plan with Value Resort packages.  Disney Dining Plan with Moderate, Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resort hotel packages).

Disney Visa® Room Discount

Save up to 25% on rooms at select Walt Disney World® Resort hotels for stays most nights from 1/2/2016 – 4/13/2016.  There are restrictions that apply and the amount of rooms that are available is limited so be sure to contact me today!

Not a Disney Visa® Cardmember  but interested in becoming one? I can help you with that too and help you on your way to earning Disney rewards towards your trip!