Special New Halloween Event at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom ~ By Guest Author Crystal from Wish Upon A Star Travel

September 7, 2014 By Tony Caselnova

Following is a new blog post from Wish Upon A Star With Crystal.

If you love Halloween, you won’t want to miss the ‘Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party’ in Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World!
And, new this year, you can add even more treats with “The Villains’ Sinister Soiree: A Wicked Takeover of Cinderella Castle.”

This special event includes preferred Mickey’s ‘Boo-to-You’ Halloween parade and ‘HalloWishes’ fireworks viewing, plus a villainous dessert party at Cinderella’s Royal Table and villainous character meet and greets! Enjoy themed desserts, specialty non-alcoholic beverages, entertainment and visits from some of your favorite Disney Villains. Plus, each guest will receive an autograph card and souvenir Maleficent dragon cup! Learn more HERE! “Like” Wish Upon A Star With Crystal to learn more about ALL things Disney!

The Adventures of Dapper Dannyelle

September 7, 2014 By Tony Caselnova

Visiting Disneyland with Diabetes ~ By Linda Myers of Up and Up Travel

September 6, 2014 By Tony Caselnova

Visiting Disneyland with Diabetes ~ By Linda Myers

Linda Myers is a writer for Up and Up Travel, a Disney travel agency for families and groups of disabilities and special needs.

Traveling with diabetes is much like living with diabetes on a daily basis: It requires common sense and sufficient planning.
The most important factor in optimizing your experience at Disneyland while coping with your diabetes, as well as that of a child or companion, is to adjust your itinerary to fit the demands of your routine — and not the other way around.
From making sure you have all the supplies you’ll need for any contingency to knowing where to go if your blood sugar does get to low, there are steps you can take to make your trip a breeze. Your planning, combined with the services offered by Disneyland, will ensure that you’ll have all of your bases covered before you hit your first attraction.

Diabetes and Disneyland: Tips for Your Trip

1. Do your best to stick to your routine. When it comes to traveling, it’s critical to expect the unexpected. From delayed flights to lost luggage and taxis that never arrive, the plain truth is that anything can and does happen. As such, you’ll need to keep your basic necessities with you at all times. If your travel takes you across time zones, make sure that medications, including insulin pumps, are adjusted accordingly.

2. Lack of activity can affect blood sugar, so if your trip requires that you sit or walk around for extended periods, be sure that you are able to test your blood sugar and adjust accordingly. Sitting for long periods can raise blood glucose levels, while a lot of walking can do the opposite.

3. One of the most difficult aspects of travel for all of us is managing what we eat. We simply have much less control of our dietary options while on the road, so it’s essential to check blood glucose levels before and after you eat. Additionally, a little research into at least some of the dining options you’ll have at your destination could both provide insight and increase your comfort level.

4. Have a discussion with your doctor about your trip to Disneyland, as he or she can help you devise a plan for what to do if your blood sugar becomes too high or too low. Having a doctor’s note on hand is also a good idea, especially if you’re traveling by plane and need to carry your supplies, which may include syringes, onboard.

5. Bring some snacks and backup supplies in case an insulin pump fails, or some of your medication is compromised. Be sure that your lodgings offer a refrigerator for insulin and other supplies that may need to be kept cool.

How Disneyland Can Help

1. Disneyland offers a lot in the way of dietary accommodations, and it allows guests with allergies and, or, special dietary needs to bring food into the park.

2. Disneyland offers First-Aid stations that you can easily utilize if you need to make changes or adjustments to an insulin pump, use or dispose of syringes, or get some help in the case of an emergency.

3. If your diabetes prevents you from standing in lines for long periods of time, consider using the FASTPASS option, which allows you to schedule a time to ride an attraction. In extreme cases, you may also be eligible for a Disability Access Service Card, though this is typically reserved for the cognitively disabled. Eligibility is determined by staff on site at the Guest Relations station.

Like living with diabetes, traveling with diabetes can be a wonderful and rewarding adventure. With practical foresight and planning that encompasses potential requirements, Disneyland can be exciting for you and for your whole group. The park goes a long way in accommodation a vast array of visitors, which includes those with health challenges that might otherwise keep them at home. If visiting Disneyland is on your to-do list, take advantage of all of the wonderful tools at your disposal and start planning your big adventure today.

Linda Myers is a writer for Up and Up Travel, a Disney travel agency for families and groups of disabilities and special needs.

As to Disney artwork, logos and properties: © – Disney

Five things that you need to know in preparation of running your first RunDisney marathon ~ By Jason Rowe

September 6, 2014 By Tony Caselnova

Five things that you need to know in preparation of running your first RunDisney marathon By Jason Rowe of Man of the Mouse

Before I decided to run in my first RunDisney marathon, I made a decision to do a little fact finding for myself. I have done several marathons before, so a lot of the information that I gathered was the same. The one message that rang clear from everyone was that it’s exciting and you will love it.

You hopefully will have plenty of time to prepare and stress about your run. When the excitement of your first RunDisney event settles down, make sure that during your preparation, you focus on these five key specifics.

rundisney 1. Think about your activities prior to the marathon

I have often felt fatigued after a long day of travel, in and out of airports, be aware of what your body is telling you and the affect that travel may have. You may want to think twice about heading straight to a park and standing in lines all day can be very tiresome. Give yourself a day to adjust, there will be plenty of time for fun after your marathon. This leads me to nutrition. Eating Mickey Bars or Dole Whips could lead you to a bad outcome on race day. Celebrate your accomplishment with a tasty treat afterwards.

2. Plan for the weather

Know that the climate is going to be different in Florida or California than in your home state. Humidity differences are the silent demise for a lot of runners. This could prevent you from reaching the finish line and collecting that precious piece of hardware. Try varying your runs in different temperatures depending on the month of your marathon.

3. Take a moment to enjoy your surroundings

One thing that I have been told to prepare for and that is the many photo opportunities along the route of the marathon. Unlike most marathons around the country, you will be running through the parks, where you are sure to see characters and back lot items. You will have opportunities to take pictures with characters. Remember you paid a considerable amount of money to participate, sometimes it is not all about making your personal best time, but more about the experience. Enjoy Yourself!

4. Start Lines and Wake Up Times

There is a considerable difference in locations for this one. Disneyland is much smaller unlike Walt Disney World. Keep this in mind when determining which events to pick. This is also a good thing to keep in mind when determining how much sleep to get the night before. You do not want to get to the start line after the start of the race. Plan accordingly, you will need to plan on getting up early, taking a shuttle to the start line, and preparing for the big moment. At Disneyland, everything is close and within walking distance, whereas as Walt Disney World, you will need to shuttle between your resort and whatever park the race starts at.

5. Bring your smartphone

This is an area where I have done a bit more research. There are photographers positioned on parts of the course. They will take your picture, but there may be a wait time to get those pictures. There is almost always a cost associated with these professional photos as well. I have waited as long as 2-3 weeks for a professional photo to arrive, due to the number of racers in attendance.
Take your smartphone with you. Get that selfie with Goofy so that you can send to all of your friends after the race.
This should be a given if you are using a smartphone app to keep track of your run or if you are listening to music along the run. This is often times discouraged during most marathons, but not forbidden. The reason most marathons say no to headphones, is so that you can hear directions along the course.

I look forward to completing my first RunDisney event. If you are training now for a future event, I wish you nothing but the best of luck in you’re training for your magical race(s).

Guest blog post written by Jason Rowe of Man of the Mouse

Disney Parks Podcast Show #148 – Disney News for the Week of 9/1/2014 & Top Breakfast Places in WDW

September 5, 2014 By Tony Caselnova

We have a GREAT show for you this week as Tony and Krista discuss Disney News for the Week of 9/1/2014 & Top Breakfast Places in WDW

Listen to the Episode Below (0:42:09)

0:00

0:42:09

Disney Parks Podcast Show #148 – Disney News for the Week of 9/1/2014 & Top Breakfast Places in WDW

Contact Us

Email us at DisneyParksPodcast.com

Call The Crew at 407-476-8898

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Please click here to Rate & Review the show in iTunes

Show Notes, Links & Information

Villains’ Sinister Soiree: A Wicked Takeover of Cinderella Castle with VIP Parade Viewing, Fireworks and Delicious Sweets at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

First you enjoy preferred viewing for Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade and the HalloWishes Fireworks Spectacular. Then head to Cinderella’s Royal Table for devilish desserts and wicked entertainment in celebration of the villains’ favorite time of year.
Lady Tremaine takes over Cinderella’s Royal Table after everyone has gone to bed, and she’s invited some of the most evil friends and special guests for a decadent dessert party (maybe you’ll see the Evil Queen,Maleficent, Cruella de Vil or Dr. Facilier?).

Cost is $99 ages 3 and older, plus tax (gratuity included). Admission to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is required – this is a separate ticketed event not included in Magic Kingdom Park admission. Tickets for the soiree are limited and reservations recommended! Call 407-939-5262 – no online reservations.

Your ticket includes:
Lady Tremaine will welcome guests, and her personal piano player provides live music. (She’ll sing a few haunting solos while guests enjoy the delicious desserts inspired by the villains.)
Preferred Viewing for the 8:15 p.m. Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade
Preferred Viewing for HalloWishes Fireworks Spectacular
Dessert Soiree at Cinderella’s Royal Table
Lady Tremaine shares her musical talents while you enjoy themed desserts, specialty non-alcoholic drinks, entertainment and visits from some of your favorite Disney villains. Each guest gets an autograph card and souvenir Maleficent dragon cup.
There’s a new Starbucks location coming to Walt Disney World Resort. Guests visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be able to enjoy a new Starbucks location inside the park beginning in February of 2015. The new store, The Trolley Car Café, will be themed to a classic trolley car station along Hollywood Boulevard and offer a unique experience for coffee lovers visiting the park.

Monorail service hours are being adjusted

Beginning September 1 through September 26, monorail service will run from:
8:30am – 11:00pm (midnight on special event nights) on the Magic Kingdom Resort beam.
9:30am – 1 hour after Magic Kingdom fireworks on the Magic Kingdom Express beam.
9:00am – 11:00pm on the Epcot beam.
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Disney announced changes to World Showcase at Epcot. Beginning this fall, they will be refreshing the atmosphere entertainment around World Showcase with the addition of new acts and enhancements to some existing performances. Soon we will be enjoying a traditional Berber music and dance troupe in Morocco, a corps of dynamic flag-waving performers in Italy, a thrilling lumberjack-inspired show in Canada, a Celtic folk music ensemble at the United Kingdom, and more.
We bid a fond farewell to Mo’Rockin’, Off Kilter, Spirit of America Fife & Drum Corps and World Showcase Players – farewell performances over the next few weeks.

“Frozen” fun is continuing this winter at Tokyo Disneyland Resort with a new special event called “Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Fantasy.” “Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Fantasy” will run from January 13 through March 20, 2015 at Tokyo Disneyland Park. The event will be themed to the hit film “Frozen” and offer opportunities to experience the world of ice and snow created by Elsa’s magical power.
During the event, the nighttime entertainment “Once Upon a Time” will be presented in a special version that features new scenes based on Disney’s “Frozen.” And during the day, Anna and Elsa will make appearances and greet guests along the parade route to the music of “Let It Go,” the theme song from the film.
This special winter event will be presented only at Tokyo Disneyland Park.

And now we have Disneyland news from California sent to us by Randy at Faith and the magic kingdom dot com …. Have you checked out the new Disneyland.com on your mobile phone? This all-new mobile experience puts your entire Disneyland Resort visit right in the palm of your hand with features like dining reservations, attraction information and – my favorite new features – the new Disney eTicket and even prepaid parking. This complete planning tool is accessible through your device’s web browser; there are no apps to download.

Also at Disneyland California “Legends of Frontierland” has been extended at Disneyland park! Originally scheduled to ride off into the sunset on September 1, this guest favorite will be around a bit longer—so if you haven’t chosen sides in the struggle for Frontierland, now is the time!

@thatDisneyLover – Laura Loves the pretzel stand in Fantasyland near the Pinocchio ride and near the carousel, it serves the best pretzels and also more snack items to keep you going throughout your trip without having to get into the long queues at the restaurants! Also you can pick up some chips and chocolate bars in some of the boutiques and make sure to keep an eye out for the stalls around the park selling various candies and treats!

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My Commitment to Walt’s Dream ~ By Marlene Patrick

August 31, 2014 By Tony Caselnova

My commitment is to fulfill on Walt Disney’s dream — that all families that walk through the gates of his theme parks or board his ships have what’s needed to share an amazing experience as a family. I work with you to plan your stay, your dining, your itineraries, and am available to answer questions before/during and after your vacation. Whatever your Disney dream destination is, I will make it a reality. Please contact me at Marlene@GlassSlipperConcierge.com or call 407-559-1096 Facebook Website

Who Needs To Plan For a Trip to WDW? ~ By Guest Author Matthew Wallace

August 30, 2014 By Tony Caselnova

Who Needs To Plan For a Trip to WDW? ~ By Guest Author Matthew Wallace

One of the most asked questions I get from people is “do I really need to plan for a trip to Walt Disney World?” In a quick answer, yes! Let’s explore this a little deeper, because while the answer is ‘yes’, there are different levels of planning.

The first type of planner to look at is the Uber-Planner! This is the person who has to have EVERYTHING planned to the second! They may begin their initial planning anywhere between one and two years in advance of their trip. They begin looking at dates, figuring out potential resorts, looking at crowd calendars just to get an ‘idea’ of what the next trip could look like. They will probably even make the initial resort reservation to make it real! At the one year mark, they will refine their crowd numbers, and begin planning meals, parks, and attractions for each day. There will be little room for changes, as long as Disney World doesn’t mess things up with their scheduling.

The second type is what I like to call the thumbnail sketch planner! This person just wants to know a few of the basics! They will look at when to travel, where to stay, and basic days in parks. They may book the three allowed Fastpass+s they are allowed per day, but not really go much beyond that stage in their planning. Meals will likely be just quick service, or a potential walk up, on the fly. And, the remainder of each day will be relaxed, and allow time to take in some of the detail. They may even take some time to search out a Hidden Mickey or two!

Finally, we have the ”I don’t need a plan” planner! They may book a room three months out, put together one or two special meals, if they want them. But, otherwise, there is no specific plan to their trip. This planner may choose to not use Fastpass in any form! They may choose to just walk-on as many rides and attractions as they can in a completely open daytime schedule. They will catch a meal if they are hungry, with no plans as to where or when! And, there may even be days when they choose NOT to go to a park and just make use of the resort amenities.

So, what kind of planner do YOU need to be? It really depends on the needs of you and your family! Special events at WDW require advanced planning. And, the farther out, the better chances you have of making that event special! Remember, Advanced Dining Reservations (including tours, dessert parties, etc.) open up at or about the 180 day point. If you are wanting to do any Character Dining in the parks, this is very important to remember! And, as a reminder, if you are staying at a Disney-Owned Resort, you can make your dining reservations at 180 plus 10 days into your vacation.

There are a lot of online tools that can help you, regardless of the type of planner you might be. And, we will explore those tools next time!

About the Author:

Matthew Wallace is a Disney World fan from Ohio, and has been crazy about the place since his first visit on October 2, 1982! In the four years following, he made a total of eight visits, and deepened his love for The Magic Kingdom and EPCOT Center parks. The years that followed brought challenges to making too many more visits for awhile. Then, in February 2012, he returned with his family for a new first, seeing the wonders of Walt Disney World through the eyes of his children, and wife.

During that visit, two of his daughters have caught the bug and want to visit The Vacation Kingdom, as often as possible! As a family, they made another trip in December 2013. And, there is currently a trip planned for September 2015! (Hoping for some Food and Wine!)

Matthew is also the owner of the threestrandswdw online blog that can be found at: www.threestrandswdw.com.