News & Rumors 8/24/09 - 8/30/09

News

• Wishes Dessert Parties at the Magic Kingdom have been extended until Oct. 31.
• Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show will not be shown Sept. 11th and 12th.
• The Halloween decor is now going up on Main Street at the Magic Kingdom.
• It appears as if there will be a new lighting scheme for the TTA when it reopens where the lights will change colors. The reopening date has now been pushed back, yet again to Sept. 12th.
• The new tequila bar (La Cava del Tequila) at the Mexico Pavilion in World Showcase at Epcot is now open. Drinks and appetizer type food will be served.
• It's being said that the stage that formerly held Stitch's SuperSonic Celebration will hold the new show titled a Totally Tomorrow Christmas set to debut for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Parties. Stitch is said to still be the star of the show.
• Two of the annual Fall races will not be returning next year. The Race for the Taste and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror races are apparently being retired.
  

Rumors

• It's rumored that the bricks that are located in the Walk Around The World may possibly be removed.
• It has been suggested that the Fantasyland budget has been slashed...no word on how much though.
• The rumor that won't die, but is getting legs again...Soarin may be getting a new film.
• It's being rumored that Remy the Rat will not be leaving his post, greeting guests at Les Chefs De France. Word is that Remy will continue to be a permanent fixture at the restaurant.
• It's being rumored that there may be a graveyard float now in the Boo To You Parade during Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Parties.

Top 30 Must Sees Part 3

Hello and welcome back to this week's installment of the Top 30 Must Sees.



This week, I thought I'd put you all in a little more suspense...(and I counted wrong! lol!!!)...today, we're only going to look at numbers 10-6...leading up to next week's grand reveal of numbers 5-1! :)



So, without further adieu:



10. Disney Transportation. There's just something so exciting about using Disney transportation, at least to me. It makes me feel like I'm there...like I really am on vacation, even though I'm just sitting on a standard bus. But when you add the music and the "Disney Spiel" to it...even a plain old bus can be magical. (Plus, who can forget the monorail and the boats!)

9. Blizzard Beach. This is the quintessential water park for my hubby and I. It has tons of rides we love, a theme that is amazing, and yes, it is a relaxing place. It is our favorite water park, bar none and it's been too long since we've been.

8. Eating ice cream at our favorite spot on Main Street USA. This has become a tradition for us. It's basically one of the few traditions that my hubby and I have. We love getting the delicious ice cream they serve and getting a table in that little alcove just off of Main Street. It is the perfect place to let the crowds pass on through and soak up more of that great Disney atmosphere.

7. The Pool. This one is all my hubby's. While I love the pool, it's not typically why I take a vacation. But for him...his vacation must include a pool day. So, I send him to the pool and go visit the park he hates the most, Animal Kingdom.

6. Riding the TTA with a snack. This right here is one of our absolute favorite ways to kick back in the parks. It's so relaxing just soaking up the atmosphere of Tomorrowland on the TTA and (sneakily) eating a Mickey's Premium Ice Cream Bar...or a thing of popcorn. It's just a great way to really be in the moment.

So, that's gonna do it for this week, but come back next when when we'll finish up this list! What will be the final 5? Only time will tell. :)

News & Rumors 8/17/09 - 8/23/09

News and Rumors are gathered from various different websites. One particular website is not favored over another. All rumors are rumors and are to be taken with a grain of salt.

News

• At Epcot, there will be some different character meet and greet options. First, Donald Duck will be getting a more permanent meet and greet area in Mexico (like the new one that Snow White received in Germany) It's expected to open in the Fall. Also, Marie from the AristoCats will be appearing in France starting sometime in October.
• At the Magic Kingdom, they are also seeing some characters shifting. Stitch will be removed from Tomorrowland and instead will be found with Lilo in Adventureland. Also, Buzz Lightyear is expected to receive a more permanent meet and greet location in Tomorrowland.
• The Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights' start date has been pushed up to Nov. 10th from Nov. 30th.
• If you are attending one of the Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Parties, you will be able to get your pirate on. The Pirate's League in Adventureland at the Magic Kingdom will remain open until 8:00 pm to help those who maybe wanted to dress up, but didn't have a previous costume.
• Luxo Jr. which is the famous Pixar lamp that is to be doing shows at DHS is currently being looked at and tweaked. His show is expected to reopen soon.

My Top 30 Must Sees (Part 2)

Alright, here we go again...we're counting down from number 20 to 11...the further we get down on the list, the harder it is to pick the order! But let's see what other things I'm most looking forward to when we go down to WDW.

20. Being away from our worries. This one, is a no brainer. Or at least it should be. And the past few months have left me with a lot of worries, but by the time this trip comes up, the majority of our worries should be behind us. (At least for the time being. :) )
19. Seeing the Halloween Decorations. I can't tell you all how cool it is to see the Magic Kingdom all decorated for the fall festivities. The decorations are second only to Christmas time. They always look great.
18. Going to rope drop--at least one. This is certainly not my pick...this one is all my husband. He has never seen rope drop and he wants to try it. We'll see if we make it.
17. Splash Mountain. We don't typically have many rides listed on here...but Splash is an all time favorite. And since Space is down...well, it will have to do.
16. Meeting with some of the podcast listeners. The Be Our Guest Podcast has some great listeners and I'm looking forward to meeting those of you who I will get to meet on this trip!
15. Low crowds/short waits. This is such a perk for this time of year. I love when I can walk right onto things or having to wait only about 15 minutes max for attractions. (With the exception of some of the biggies). This is why we go in September. Low crowds and well, the next thing...
14. Not having to pay for food. Along with that last one, this is the other real reason why we go in September. Free Dining. Who can pass up the opportunity to gorge yourself with food, oh and not pay a dime for said food. It's a wonderful thing...and it's how we try some of those restaurants we aren't sure we'd try if we were paying for it.
13. Seeing Other Resorts. This trip, we have a lot of Table Service meals scheduled for the resorts. We did this so we'd get the opportunity to explore places we've never stayed. Really get to know some of these areas. And dream about the day when we can afford to stay there.
12. 3 words....No Way Jose. It was hard placing this one here...as this is one of the best desserts on property. How can you go wrong with chocolate, peanut butter, ice cream, and whipped cream? Answer: you cannot!
11. Experiencing the parks at night. This is my favorite time in the parks. From Tomorrowland with it's neon, to World Showcase being all lit up, to the eeriness of seeing the TOT all spooky...the night time lighting in the parks is phenomenal and one of my favorite parts about going to the parks.

So, that's gonna do it for this week. Get ready, because next week, we're gonna count down to number 1!

News & Rumors 8/10/09 - 8/16/09

News and Rumors are gathered from various different websites. One particular website is not favored over another. All rumors are rumors and are to be taken with a grain of salt.

News

• The Free Dining period officially started today! Enjoy all the free grub! (Me...I still have 25 days until I get to eat free!)
• In preparation of free dining, Disney is opening up some previously seasonal restaurants. First, the Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station is going to be open on Sundays during Free Dining. It is expected to serve an all you can eat buffet dinner. (No word on the menu selection.) Dates it will be open are: the 16, 23, and 30th of Aug and Sept. 6, 13, 20, 27. The cost is $35 for adults, $18 for kids and it will be open from 6 pm - 9 pm
• Another restaurant that will be open for the Free Dining period is the Diamond Horseshoe, serving a family style dinner from 5 pm - 9 pm.
• Chef Mickey's is also adding a lunch offering for part of the Free Dining period. Lunch will be served from Aug. 16 - 29 and Sept. 20-Oct. 3. Lunch will be served from 12:30 pm until 2:30 pm.
• Mickey's Backyard BBQ will also have additional seatings. Extra nights have been added on Aug. 18 and 25th and Sept. 1, 11, 15, 22, and 29th.
• The new tequila bar in the Mexico Pavilion in Epcot (La Cava del Tequila) is expected to open Aug. 28th
• The TTA's reopening has been pushed back and is expected to reopen on Sept. 1st.
• Kat Cora's new restaurant Kouzzina is now officially open.
• The Cinderella Castle Dreamlights are now being installed once again for this year's holiday season, as has beginning work on the Osbourne Spectacle of Lights at DHS.
• Some of the hours in sections of DAK have been extended through the rest of the month. (This is due to an error with the new dining system that occurred.) From Aug. 16 - 22, the areas of Asia and Africa will remain open until 6 pm. From Aug. 23 - 31, Africa and Asia will remain open until 7 pm.
• For those of you worried with the Living With the Land boat ride being down about the Behind the Seeds tour also being down, fear not! The tour is still being given as normal.

Rumors

• It appears even more so that the 180 day window for making dining reservations may indeed be coming back. If it does, expect it to return around Oct. 27th or so.

My Top 30 Must Sees!

As many of you know...I have a trip to WDW scheduled soon. Very soon, in fact. Matter of fact, I am officially less than one month away. And let me tell you, I am BURSTING at the seams! I want to go so badly it hurts.

So, in preparation of my upcoming trip, my wonderful husband indulged me and we together came up with our Top 30. The 30 things we're most excited about for this upcoming trip and are counting down each day to number one. Each one of us gave our own takes, so we have a little bit of both of us in our countdown.

I thought I would share with you...10 each week, with the final week before the trip talking about the trip in more detail. (Of course, if regular stuff crops up, I'll definitely include that in my weekly update as well. Not to worry.)

So, without further adieu, numbers 30-21!

30: 30 minutes of arcade time. Now this one, obviously isn't from me. lol! But, despite that, the 30 minutes of free play we get for our vacation package will definitely be fun for the two of us!
29: Palm Trees. I LOVE palm trees. You have to understand...to me, palm trees are what make a vacation feel like a vacation. They make me happy to no end. Therefore, every time I see my first palm tree...I squeal just a little bit inside. :)
28: Going along with that one...we have the thick Florida grass. Once again, this is not from me. This one is totally my hubby's choice. He mows grass on the side as kinda a hobby. Therefore, this grass makes him excited. I don't know. Can't explain it. lol...he picked it.
27: Taking a Picture in the 90 Hole at Pop Century: This is a tradition for us. Each year, we take one picture in the huge structures that stand outside Pop Century, showing one of the decades the hotel features. This year, will be our 5th stay at Pop...therefore, we have finally made it to the 1990 zero. After this, I have no idea if we'll start over or if we'll do something else, but this is a must do for us.
26: Stacey's Must Dos: While I know they change the format for the resort TV (which is what this list's origins came from...well that and a poster on wdwmagic who did something similar.) I love getting to watch Stacey. And this year, a new program for me to get sucked into. Yay!
25: Whooping me at TSMM. Again, one of my hubby's. He thinks he's got a chance to beat me at this game. Not a chance at all my friend...not a chance at all. He hasn't done it yet and he's not going to get to.
24: Jellyrolls. This one, surprisingly enough did not come from me. Instead, it came from Brian. He actually wants to try to go to the dueling piano bar...I can't tell you how shocked I am.
23: Characters in Flight: This one is mine...and I am super excited about this one. I think it's going to be really cool. Definitely something I want to try out.
22: People Watching: as we move up our list, this gets more and more difficult. But people watching falls in here. This is one of the most entertaining things. Whether you are just waiting for something or you want to stop and relax a bit, this is one of the best activities to do.
21: Kona. I have never tried this restaurant and I've heard such great things about it. I'm very anxious to do so.

News & Rumors 8/3/09 - 8/9/09

News and Rumors are gathered from various different websites. One particular website is not favored over another. All rumors are rumors and are to be taken with a grain of salt.

News

• The list for the Candlelight Processional has been updated, taking away To Be Arranged for the date of Dec 6-8 and replacing it with Anika Noni Rose.
• Starabilias at DTD has now closed. No word on what is replace it at the current time.
• The Living With the Land boat ride is expected to be back up from it's refurb on Nov. 1st.
• Kouzzina, which is the new Cat Cora restaurant that will be replacing Spoodles is expected to open on Aug. 15th.
• Disney's newest Princess, Princess Tiana is apparently going to have a show/meet and greet of some sort. It's going to begin with a Mardi Gras style musical parade called Tiana's Showboat Jubilee with musicians and performers parading in Frontierland. As the procession reaches the Liberty Belle dock, guests will be able to board the riverboat and meet some of the characters from the movie. The explanation of this is quite unclear as it is not certain whether the boat will move from the dock while the meet and greet (and another type or performance) takes place or whether it will be stationary. Look for more details when they are released, but this is expected to start on Oct. 26th.
• In the 2010 Vacation Packages, there have been some interesting additons included. (Much like the mini golf coupon and the Planet Hollywood one.) Some of these include 15% off the regular price of a body treatment or water therapy at the Grand Floridian or Saratoga Springs, 10% off the regular price of all activities at Sammy Duvall’s Water Sports Centre at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, additional discounts at Walt Disney World marinas and fishing excursions
  

Rumors

• The Tin Toys exhibit in the Japan Pavilion at Epcot's World Showcase is apparently closed, possibly for good.
• It is rumored that the Free sessions that were included with the Food & Wine Festival at Epcot now may have an additional charge placed on them, if you are wanting to attend.

Disney Dining Plan Price Increase

Disney has increased not just the price of the park tickets for 2010...they have also increased the price of the dining plan for 2010. And they have made a few changes along the way.

Let's take a look at how the dining plans will now shake out for the 2010 year.

First off, Disney will still be offering the Quick Service Dining Plan. This plan will still include 2 Quick Service meal options per night, per guest. (The meal options will still offer one entrée or entrée combo, dessert, and non-alcoholic drink.) Plus guests will still be allowed 2 snacks per guest, per night. Also, guests will be given refillable mugs (per person) valid at your hotel. This dining plan has increased in price to $31.99. (Less than $10 for kids)

Disney will also still be offering the Deluxe Dining Plan as well, which costs $69.99 (less than $20 for kids) and includes 3 meal entitlements for either Table Service or Counter Service restaurants. (In which meals will include appetizer, entrée, dessert, and non-alcoholic beverage...gratuity not included). Guests will also receive a refillable mug (per person) valid at your hotel. Also, this dining plan will afford guests with 2 snacks per person, per day.

The dining plan that has changed the most though is the regular Disney Dining Plan. This year, the plan will have 2 different prices, depending on what time of year you go.

During these travel dates: 1/01/10 – 2/11/10 ; 4/11/10 – 6/03/10 ; 8/15/10 – 12/16/10 the dining plan will cost $41.99 for adults. (Less than $12 for kids) However, it will cost $46.99 during these time periods: 2/12/10 – 4/10/10 ; 6/04/10 – 8/14/10 ; 12/17/10 – 12/31/10. (Less than $13 for kids)

The dining plan itself has not changed. You will still be allowed 1 Table Service meal per Guest, per night, which includes: entrée, dessert, and non-alcoholic beverage OR full buffet and non-alcoholic beverage, gratuity not included. You'll also still receive 1 Quick Service meal per guest, per night, which includes: entrée or entrée combo, dessert, and non-alcoholic beverage. And of course, you will still receive 1 Snack per guest per night.

This Friday's podcast will delve into our opinions on the price increase of the dining plan, as well as the ticket price increase. Check it out at www.beourguestpodcast.com And Happy Dining! :)

News & Rumors 7/27/09 - 8/2/09

News and Rumors are gathered from various different websites. One particular website is not favored over another. All rumors are rumors and are to be taken with a grain of salt.

News

• Ticket prices are indeed going up. Click here for the new pricing structure.
• The list of narrators for this year's Candlelight Processional is out. (Well, it's a start of list, the final list should be out later this year.) Here is what you may expect to see this year: Nov 27-29 Isabella Rossellini (New) Nov 30, Dec 1-2 John O’Hurley Dec 3-5 Steven Curtis Chapman Dec 6-8 Not Yet Available Dec 9-11 Andy Garcia Dec 12-14 Vanesa Williams (New) Dec 15-17 Abigail Breslin Dec 18-20 Whoopi Goldberg(New) Dec 21-23 Brian Dennehy Dec 24-26 Edward James Olmos Dec 27-30 Angela Bassett & Courtney B Vance
• The new Mexico Tequila Bar will be named La Cava del Tequila and is expected to be open for the Food and Wine Festival.
• Living with the Land is now closed for refurb. The refurb length is unknown.
• Free Dining has been extended until Dec. 17. If you book a Value Resort, you receive the Quick Service Dining Plan and if you book and Moderate or Deluxe, you receive the regular Dining Plan.
• Bay Lake Towers is set to open on the 4th of August.
• In kind of unprecidented news...WDW is having APs now last 15 months, instead of 12. To qualify for this though, you must renew your AP 30 days before or after it expires.

Rumors

• It's being rumored that the Disney Dining Plan could increase in price in 2010.