Ears the News: June 14, 2019 Edition

Welcome to the latest edition of Ears the News

Brought to you by our friends at WDWMagic.com

Restaurantosaurus at Disney's Animal Kingdom will be offering a fixed price Burgers and Sundaes menu later this summer.

You’ll get to choose between gourmet burgers, a chicken sandwich, veggie burger and salad. Side dishes included French fries and onion rings with a house-made dipping sauce. Then you have access to a build-your-own sundae bar. 

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com

Beginning August 18 2019 during dinner, Restaurantosaurus Burgers and Sundaes will be priced at $22.99 + tax for adults and $14.99 + tax for children ages 3-9. It is on the Disney Dining Plan and will count as one quick service entitlement. Reservations begin today by calling 407-WDW-DINE (407-939-3463) or online. Walk-ups will also be available.

Restaurantosaurus will continue to operate as a regular quick service restaurant at both lunch and dinner alongside the Burgers and Sundaes guests who will be using a designated part of the restaurant.

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com

The mini-golf courses at Walt Disney World are now available for advance reservations.

Both Winter Summerland and Fantasia Gardens are available to book, and are available through the usual Walt Disney World recreation booking number 407-WDW-PLAY.

Walk-ups will continue to be available as normal.

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com

Disney has announced that Rafiki's Planet Watch at Disney's Animal Kingdom will reopen to guests July 11, 2019.

New at Planet Watch will be The Animation Experience at Conservation Station, offering guests the opportunity to learn how live animals have inspired some of the most iconic characters. 

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com

Inside you'll have the chance to create a personalized piece of Disney art through an instructor-led animation class. Each session will be different, and will include characters such as Simba, Zazu, Pumbaa and Timon. Disney FastPass+ Service will be offered for the experience, and you can make those selections starting later today.

Rafiki’s Planet Watch, the Affection Section and the Wildlife Express will all return to operation, along with other enhancements in celebration of The Lion King.

Passholders can save 20% on lunch at select Walt Disney World locations in the parks and resort hotels June 11 through July 2, 2019 with a special promotion.

Magic Kingdom

• Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen 
• Liberty Tree Tavern 
• The Crystal Palace 
• The Diamond Horseshoe 
• Tony's Town Square Restaurant 

Epcot

• Akershus Royal Banquet Hall 
• Biergarten Restaurant 
• Coral Reef Restaurant 
• Rose & Crown Dining Room 
• The Garden Grill Restaurant 
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios 
• Hollywood & Vine 
• Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano 
• The Hollywood Brown Derby 
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park 
• Tiffins Restaurant 
• Tusker House Restaurant 

Resort Hotels

• Ale & Compass Restaurant at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort 
• ESPN Club at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn 
• Grand Floridian Cafe at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa 
• Kona Cafe at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort 
• Olivia's Cafe at Disney’s Old Key West Resort 
• Sanaa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge 
• The Wave... of American Flavors at Disney’s Contemporary Resort 
• Whispering Canyon Cafe at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge 

Discount applies to the non-discounted price of food and non-alcoholic beverages—excluding applicable tax and gratuity. The lunch meal period is offered from 11:30 AM through 4:00 PM. Special events and dining packages excluded. Passholder must present their valid Annual Pass card and photo ID to receive discount. Valid for the Passholder and up to 3 Guests.


Looking to plan your next trip to Walt Disney World? Contact the agents at Kingdom Konsultant Travel to help you plan your dream vacation. Email vacations@kingdomkonsultant.com for a free quote today.

Ears the News: June 7, 2019 Edition

Welcome to the latest edition of Ears the News

Brought to you by our friends at WDWMagic.com

The new Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party entertainment will include a new fireworks show called Minnie's Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks show.

Hosted by Minnie Mouse, Minnie's Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks show will celebrate the magic of Christmas with medleys of beloved holiday songs, from “Joy to the World” and “Deck the Halls” to “Up on the House Top” and “We Wish You A Merry Christmas.” 

You'll be able to see the fireworks show during the 23 nights of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party on select nights November 8 – December 22, 2019. See the full schedule and pricing for 2019 Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.

Disney has announced the first of its narrators for the 2019 Candlelight Processional, part of the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays.

Here is the line-up so far:

• Whoopi Goldberg – 12/6-12/7 
• Pat Sajak – 12/16-12/18 
• Steven Curtis Chapman – 12/22-12/24 
• Edward James Olmos – 12/25-12/26 

Candlelight Processional Dining Packages became available on July 3, 2019.

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com

Disney's Hollywood Studios will continue with its holiday entertainment from last year in 2019, with a return of both Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! and Sunset Seasons Greetings. Olaf will also return to the Frozen Sing Along finale.

The holiday season gets underway November 8, 2019 across the Walt Disney World resort.

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com

The Rosewalk walkway in Epcot's Future World is now closed for construction.

Work begins today on widening the shortcut walkway between Future World to World Showcase, and is planned to be completed prior to the start of the Epcot Food and Wine Festival on August 29, 2019.

Disney is now selling a new limited time Florida Resident ticket. The 'Get Your Ears On' ticket provides 3 and 4 day options for as low as $55 per day (plus tax) for the 4-day ticket (total price $219 plus tax.)

3-Day Get Your Ears On Ticket
$199 (plus tax) – Less than $67 per day (plus tax)

4-Day Get Your Ears On Ticket
$219 (plus tax) – Less than $55 per day (plus tax)

The Get Your Ears On Ticket is available now through August 25 2019, and can be used any three or four days, depending on ticket purchased, through August 28 2019 with no blockout dates.

The all new rooftop Toledo - Tapas, Steak & Seafood restaurant at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort will be offering a series of special events for Annual Passholders and DVC Members this summer.

Taking place on Thursday, July 25; Thursday, August 1 and Thursday, August 8, 2019, this special event features highlights of the menu – specially selected by the chef – accompanied by signature cocktails. 

Image courtesy of WDWMagic.com

Menu highlights include delectable options such as Rioja-braised Chorizo, Chilled Marinated Mussels ‘Escabèche,’ Savory Churros, Scallops, Hangar Steak, House Boards and ‘Café con Leche’ Profiterole.

Passholders and Members will be able to choose from a selection of cocktails – from gin tonic and sangria tastings, to samplings of Tempranillo (Rioja).

The event is priced at $84 plus tax and gratuity per person. Passholders can call (407) WDW-DINE, and Disney Vacation Club Members can call Member Services at (800) 800-9800 to register for this event.


Looking to plan your next trip to Walt Disney World? Contact the agents at Kingdom Konsultant Travel to help you plan your dream vacation. Email vacations@kingdomkonsultant.com for a free quote today.

ALL NEW! 5 New Magic Kingdom Treats

Hey there, hi there, ho there, Disney Foodies!

Who's ready to check out some new sweets and treats from the Magic Kingdom? The fam and I hit up the park the other night to enjoy some rides and fun before summer officially kicks off and school is out. (Yes, our kids last day of school is THIS WEEK!) While we were there, we of course, had to try out some of the newer items that are being served up in the parks. What kind of Disney fans would we be if we didn't? I'm happy to share that we experienced some tasty new items and would love to share them with you now. Let's check 'em out!

~~~~~~~~~

1. Minnie's Cookie Dough Sundae

Celebrating Mickey's favorite gal, this sundae is available at Storybook Treats in Fantasyland. It starts with vanilla soft-serve ice cream and is topped with hot fudge, two balls of edible chocolate chip cookie dough as ears, a white chocolate Minnie bow and whipped cream. 

It's super cute and the chocolate chip cookie dough is a unique twist on a basic sundae. The edible cookie dough has been popping up all over property, including at the value resort's food courts. It's an egg-free version of cookie dough, made with treated flour, so no pesky salmonella for enjoying this dough! The consistency is a bit gritty, but that's really the only noticeable difference between this and regular cookie dough. 

As for the sundae, it was good. Not great, but good. The ice cream would have melted quickly anyway, but with the hot fudge on it, it didn't have a prayer. We had ice cream soup in about two minutes. It didn't stop the kids from eating/drinking it. Good one for ice cream lovers, but not something I'll get again. 

2. The Lost Princess Cone

Also from Storybook Treats, this refreshing ice cream cone is super cute and honors the "lost princess" herself, Rapunzel. 

The twisty yellow soft serve resembles her long braid, complete with flowers to decorate it, and the purple cone is reminiscent of her dress. It even has some sparkle to make it more 'princess-y'. The cone is really just a regular, dyed cake cone but the ice cream part is something special. Meet Dole Whip's new cousin, Lemon Whip. It's a light, tangy, refreshing lemon soft serve that's more like sherbet than ice cream. SO YUMMY! Yes, the flowers are edible but I do not care for them. To me, they taste like... well, plants. The sparkly topping I could have done without too. It looked pretty, but it didn't have any sweetness to it so it was more like flour had been dusted on top. I would totally get this one again, but next time I'll ask for no glitter and I'll toss the flowers. 

3. Mickey Celebration Push-Pop

Right next door in Fantasyland, The Friar's Nook is celebrating the Big Cheese with this fun cake pop. It comes in a clear tube, lined with this adorable Mickey paper. The pop is advertised as a confetti cake with buttercream. Now, as you can see from the side of the tube, it was not packed very tightly, and there was some empty space inside the tube, lowering its value to me. The "cake" was more like cake batter or cookie dough. It was very, very moist, and in fact, mushy. The buttercream was very tasty and the sprinkle topping was super fun. 

I also liked that the hole at the top was Mickey-shaped and made the pop come out in a Mickey shape!

Overall, though it had a nice vanilla flavor and was a fun treat, I would not recommend this one. For $5 the pop was small and was basically a tube of frosting. Not that a tube of frosting is a bad thing... just not worth price. 

4. Celebration Brownie

Casey's Corner on Main Street USA is also celebrating Mickey with a tasty treat: a buttercream-topped brownie! This brownie-in-a-cup is topped with a generous layer of vanilla buttercream and a white chocolate disc with the main man himself on it. 

Though not terribly exciting, it was a nice, moist brownie and my daughter (a self-proclaimed brownie connoisseur) loved it. 

5. The "Wish Granted" Donut

In honor of the arrival of Disney's live-action "Aladdin" into theaters, the Sunshine Tree Terrace in Adventureland is selling this amazing confection. The base is a fried, yeast donut, coated in gold sugar, and topped with a chocolate disc, printed with a magic lamp, and a tuft of blue cotton candy coming out the top of it.

Now, the picture that advertises the donut at Sunshine Tree Terrace shows a considerably larger amount of cotton candy coming from the top, but it worked out fine, since the already extreme heat and humidity of Central Florida made the cotton candy melt and evaporate into a sticky mess almost immediately. More cotton candy would have just meant more mess. 

The donut itself was fresh and more like a beignet or fried dough than a yeast donut. And bonus: it was egg-free! We were psyched to hear that, since my little guy is allergic to eggs, so he was able to enjoy this treat with us. The gold sugar didn't make the donut overly sweet, though it was kind of a weird texture, since it was large grains of sanding sugar. Kind of crunchy for a donut. The chocolate square was rich, delicious milk chocolate. The cotton candy was Disney's standard blue raspberry cotton candy. 

Overall, we really liked this one. The price tag was a little high, at over $5, but since we liked it a lot, it was worth it. 

~~~~~~~~

Which one do YOU think sounds best? Need help planning a trip to get yourself down here to try them out? Contact the agents at Kingdom Konsultant Travel and they will help you plan the trip of your foodie dreams!

Until next time, Disney Friends, have a magical week!

                                                   - Jenn

Ears the News: June 1, 2019 Edition

Welcome to the latest edition of Ears the News

Brought to you by our friends at WDWMagic.com

The ABC Commissary at Disney's Hollywood Studios has reopened this week with new decor and other enhancements.

photo courtesy of wdwmagic.com 

Along with an interior update, the restaurant has also transitioned to a fast-casual dinner service that includes reservations. Each night starting at 4pm, guests with reservations will be able to place an order, take a pager and find a seat. Then, when the order is ready, the food will be brought to your table as before. The menu remains largely unchanged, although there is a new Pot Roast served over mashed potatoes and root vegetables with beef gravy and onion straws on the dinner menu.

Walk-ups will still be available, although wait times may be longer. Mobile Order will no longer be available for dinner, for guests with or without reservations. Lunch service is unaffected and remains walk-up only as a counter-service offering.

Reservations are available now for dinner beginning Sunday June 2 2019.

D23 Expo 2019 is just under three months away, and Disney has today confirmed that more Epcot announcements will be front and center.

photo courtesy of wdwmagic.com 

According to a post on the Disney Parks Blog, new information will be shared on the changes coming to the central spine of the park behind Spaceship Earth, new logos, and more about "What makes Epcot, Epcot."

The 2019 D23 Expo takes place in Anaheim August 23-25 2019.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened at Disneyland in California this week. 

photo courtesy of wdwmagic.com 

On hand for the grand opening were none other than George Lucas, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Billy Dee Williams. In a Star Wars legend-packed event last night at Disneyland, Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger unveiled Star Wars Galaxy's Edge, opened to the general public at Disneyland Park on May 31, and will open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida on Aug. 29.

“Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is absolutely amazing and we are thrilled to finally share it with the world,” said Bob Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company. “Now, for the first time, fans will be able to immerse themselves in the iconic stories that have captured audiences’ imaginations for decades and live their own Star Wars adventures in the most creative, innovative and ambitious land we’ve ever built.”

In a ceremony set to the soaring John Williams score composed especially for the land, global media and invited guests were the very first to see the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy roar to life.

Video from WDWMagic: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=11&v=sHjfFlhiwMQ

More acts have been added to the 2019 Eat to the Beat concert series line-up at this year's Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.

photo courtesy of wdwmagic.com 

India, Taylor Dayne and Kenny G are among the new additions.

Here is the provisional Eat to the Beat performer schedule for 2019:

·         Plain White T’s - August 29 through 31

·         Sawyer Brown – NEW! - September 1 through 2

·         MercyMe - September 3 through 4

·         Grace Kelly – NEW! - September 5 through 6

·         Zach Williams – NEW! - September 7 through 8

·         Lauren Daigle – NEW! - September 9 through 10

·         Jimmie Allen – NEW! - September 11 through 12

·         TBD - September 13 through 15

·         The Allman Betts Band - September 16 through 17

·         Everclear - September 18 through 19

·         STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas - September 20 through 22

·         Post Modern Jukebox - September 23 through 24

·         Blue October - September 25 through 26

·         Mark Wills - September 27 through 29

·         Sugar Ray - September 30 through October 2

·         Taylor Dane - October 3 through 4

·         India - October 5 through 6

·         TBD - October 7 through 9

·         Boyce Avenue – NEW! - October 10 through 11

·         Southern Avenue – NEW! - October 12 through 13

·         Kenny G - October 14 through 15

·         38 Special - October 16 through 17

·         Baha Men - October 18 through 20

·         Billy Ocean - October 21 through 22

·         Sheila E - October 23 through 25

·         High Valley - October 26 through 27

·         Hanson - October 28 through 30

·         Sheena Easton - October 31 through November 1

·         Kris Allen – NEW! - November 2 through 3

·         Boyz II Men - November 4 through 6

·         The Hooters - November 7 through 8

·         Big Bad Voo Doo Daddy - November 9 through 11

·         TBD - November 12 through 18

·         D’Capella – NEW! - November 19

Eat to the Beat concerts are performed three times per night and entry is included with your Epcot admission. Dining packages are also available which give you reserved seating.

Showtimes – Sundays to Thursdays: 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM and 8:00 PM

Showtimes – Fridays and Saturdays: 6:30 PM, 7:45 PM and 9:00 PM

Wine Bar George, a Review

Hello all!  Agent Maci here with a review of dinner at Wine Bar George at Disney Springs.

With so many new restaurants opening in Disney Springs lately, it can be hard to choose a place to have dinner for a Disney Springs night out.  However, for us it was easy for our date night amidst a family vacation.  We love a good wine bar and Wine Bar George opened to rave reviews so we had to give it a try!

The sign for the restaurant at Disney Springs

The atmosphere inside the restaurant is pretty casual with a nice bar in the entrance and a few rooms of tables covering two stories.  There are also tables outside on the balcony which can have great views of Disney Springs on a nice day or night.  We had made a reservation and were taken upstairs and sat at a lovely two top on the balcony for our dinner.  I will make note that both the inside and outside areas were quite loud, so not exactly a romantic atmosphere but a fun one for sure.

The view of Disney Springs from our table

Our first adventure to the menu was wine, which we were surprised to see no flights with so many wine options.  Our server was quick to help us out and let us know that they could make any wines into a flight completely customized to us!  We talked through our preferences with her and she helped us pick four wines each taking into considerations our budget, wine preferences, and even the order they should be tasted in.  I picked two whites and two reds while my date picked four reds (his preference).

The wine glasses display the logo

They bring all the bottles to the table and were so nice about letting us get pictures of them so we could remember the ones we liked for later!  I liked that there was a variety of familiar, easy to find wines and some more unique ones.

Next up was the food menu - there are three ways to go about ordering.  The first is tapas style.  They have a lot of choices for small plates to mix and match a nice tasting for the evening.  The second is boards.  If you aren't up for a big meal the cheese/charcuterie/combo boards are a great choice and very wine-bar-esque in my opinion.  The third are their family style plates, which serve 2-4 each.  We chose to do tapas style since there were only two of us and we love trying several things!

Again with the help of our server and her insider knowledge of the menu, we picked a few small plates to make up our dinner.  We went with Crispy Mac and Cheese Bites ($12), Chicken Skewers ($13), House Made Meatballs ($14), Porchetta Spiced Pork Cheeks ($16) and a side of Grilled Asparagus.  All prices are as of March 2019 when we dined.

All of our choices, bon appetit!

Mac and Cheese Bites

Can you really go wrong with fried mac and cheese bites?  Nope? We agree!  These were so tasty and a nice treat for the evening. 

Side Asparagus

A side of asparagus so we'd fill our green quota for the evening.  This was surprisingly DELISH!  Simple asparagus but with such nice flavor and perfectly cooked.

Meatballs

Chicken Skewers

The meatballs were unfortunately my least favorite of the choices (and meatballs are usually my go-to!) The sauce was great though and went great with the polenta underneath!

Pork Cheeks

The chicken skewers are a great lighter option here but again don't skimp on flavor at all.  The Asain slaw underneath added a great touch as well.











The pork cheeks were the hidden gem of the evening.  I didn't really know what to expect with them but they were so tasty and the texture was wonderful.  The polenta is the same as was served with the meatballs.










Overall the 5 plates between the two of us was the perfect amount of food for a dinner (saving room for a little dessert which we got at another Disney Springs location later that evening) and we had a great time trying the different wines and pairing them with the different dishes we'd gotten. Would I pick this place again for a romantic date night? Probably not due to the noise, but I would definitely come back again for a girls night out, afternoon wine and cheese tastings, or with a big group to try some more of the tapas or the big family style plates! The food and wine was fantastic and I think it's a great addition to Disney Springs!

Have you given it a try? Want to try it out? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!


- Agent Maci

How to “Eat Keto” at Disney World

Chances are by now you’ve heard of the keto diet, which has been my husband’s preferred way to eat for the last six months or so. It was important to us to find dining options for our upcoming Disney World vacation that he could enjoy while maintaining his diet.


Our most recent visit took place over seven nights at the Yacht and Beach Club resorts (two nights at Yacht Club, and five nights in a one-bedroom villa at the Beach Club Villas). While there may be an exhaustive list that details every keto-friendly option available on property, here are my overall five tips for “eating keto” or following a similarly low-carb diet at Disney World:

1. Substitute carbs for veggies 


• Most menu items, whether quick- or table-service, come with a starchy side-item like French fries, chips or potatoes. In our experience, requesting to change that item to a vegetable was almost always accommodated. Some of the substitutions were broccolini, coleslaw, asparagus, and side salad.
  
  

  

  Get veggies as a side item instead of carbs



2. Make special requests (if they aren’t too complicated) 



• The number-one request my husband made was simply “no bun.” The table- and quick-service restaurants were happy to accommodate this request, and often the food looked even better without the bun – like at Hurricane Hanna’s when my husband skipped the bun and added bacon to the grilled chicken sandwich! Even the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival booths were able to accommodate his requests, such as leaving off the rice on the Szechuan Spicy Red-braised Beef Shank at Lotus House in China and skipping the roll on the Beef Torta at Jardin de Fiestas in Mexico (though I did make sure neither kiosk was busy before making the special request).
  
  
  

  

  Bun-less burger from Hurricane Hanna's



3. Cook in a villa


• This isn’t always an option, but if “eating keto” is extremely important to you, look into booking a one-bedroom or larger villa which comes equipped with a full-size kitchen. We used a local grocery delivery service for a few items so that we could cook breakfast in our villa a few times during our stay, which made for a relaxing start to those days and took the question out of what my husband would find to eat those mornings. I would imagine it’s also possible to cook a full keto-friendly lunch and/or dinner with some thought and planning as well!


4. Eat at a buffet


• At most Disney World all-you-care-to-eat restaurants, chances are there is something on the buffet to please everyone. We dined at Cape May for breakfast where my husband was able to assemble his own keto-friendly plate of eggs, meats, vegetables, an omelet and cheese. We also enjoyed 'Ohana where – though a set menu of food is brought to your table for the whole family to enjoy – he was able to pick and choose which items he wanted on his plate. There he enjoyed the salad, vegetables, and lots and lots of meat (which then left more potstickers and noodles for me!)
  
  

  

  Dining keto at 'Ohana



5. Use snack credits wisely


• The one area we had a little trouble finding keto-friendly options was when using dining plan snack credits in the parks. It took some looking, but he was able to use snack credits for Chip & Dale Snack Company Roasted Nut Mix in many of the resort and parks' gift shops; boiled eggs in the resort quick-service restaurant; and coffee from various places including Starbucks in the parks, which is always a treat!
  
  

  

  You can use your snack credits for coffee!

Disclaimer: We’re not dieticians or experts at the keto diet; this is simply what I found to work for us on our most recent vacation while trying helping my husband maintain his usual way of eating.

- Agent Katie

Ears the News: May 24, 2019 Edition

Welcome to the latest edition of Ears the News

Brought to you by our friends at WDWMagic.com

The Tomorrowland Speedway at the Magic Kingdom has reopened following a closure for the re-routing of track to make way for the addition of the Tron coaster.

Changes to the ride are minor, with new paint and refreshed landscaping, along with a slight re-routing of the track.

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com

Disney has given us a few more details on how your smart phone will become your Star Wars Datapad when you are in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

From Scott Trowbridge:

Use the “hacking” feature to interact with certain door panels or droids to see their memories, or open your “scanning” tool to peek inside of cargo crates you may spot while walking around. The handy “translation” tool will help you understand Aurebesh (the written language of the Star Wars galaxy) signs throughout Black Spire Outpost, and you can even tap into and decrypt signals from antennas or communications devices and listen to secret messages with the “tuning” feature.

Throughout Black Spire Outpost, the First Order is trying to install surveillance devices in door panels to spy on the Resistance. Use your Datapad to join in “Outpost Control,” a landwide game, and choose to support either side as they vie for a hold on the land. Winners may even find themselves rewarded with galactic credits for their efforts. 

Photo courtesy of Disney

Your Star Wars adventure continues when you make your way to get in line at Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. While getting ready to board the most famous ship in the galaxy, you can even take on a job for Hondo Ohnaka, the pirate turned “legitimate” businessman operating Ohnaka Transport Solutions out of Black Spire Outpost. Reroute misplaced cargo, learn how to keep your cover under pressure and prep the Falcon for your flight in this in-queue game!

The new Disney resort hotel guest MagicBand upgrade options are now live.

Disney Resort hotel guests and new and renewing Annual Passholders now have the option to upgrade from the regular free-of-charge solid MagicBand to a special design MagicBand at a reduced price. 

Photo courtesy of Disney

More than 30 new MagicBand options are available for pre-arrival purchase at a special price of $14.99 off retail cost through the My Disney Experience website. Most of the bands will cost around $10 after the discount.

The regular solid bands are still be available at no cost, and these new design options can also be shipped to homes (U.S. addresses only) if ordered 11 or more days ahead of arrival and can be personalized if done so at least 6 or more days ahead of arrival.

The holiday season at Disney's Animal Kingdom looks set to be a whole lot bigger this year as holiday decor and entertainment expands to every land in the park.

Here is the full news release from Disney about what you can expect to see.

It all begins when you cross the bridge to Discovery Island, finding yourself in the midst of a celebration of winter, hand-crafted by the eclectic community of artists who make the island their home. The village is filled with sparkling white holiday decorations. Colorful, animal-inspired luminaries line the rooftops, and wireframe lanterns in the shape of beautiful birds can be found perched throughout the area. And during the day, Discovery Island springs to life with a holiday gathering of winter animals, realized in the form of life-size, artisan-sculpted puppets. Reindeer, foxes, polar bears, penguins and more interact with guests, accompanied by serenading musicians as they create a playful atmosphere of festive fun.

As day becomes night, the rooftop luminaries and bird lanterns all around Discovery Island bring a warm and festive glow to the entire village. At the center of everything, the Tree of Life awakens with a series of wintry tales, complemented by a familiar and heartwarming holiday-inspired musical score. Between awakening moments, the Tree of Life continues to shimmer and sparkle throughout the night, alive with the magic of nature and the spirit of the holidays. 

Photo courtesy of Disney

Over in Dinoland, U.S.A., all the Disney character friends gathered for Donald’s Dino-Bash! get into the spirit with colorful holiday decorations in the style of Donald Duck and each of his pals, and at night, you’re invited to gather ‘round Truck-O-Saurus for the Holiday Hoopla Dance Party with Chip ‘n Dale and plenty of interactive fun and games.

In Asia, the residents of Anandapur have decorated the theatre district in celebration of Diwali, the holiday festival of lights in India. Glowing flowers, lanterns and more illuminate the square between Anandapur Theater and the waterfront stage, home to authentic cultural performances.

The village of Harambe in Africa welcomes visitors with a unique holiday presentation, blending the inspiration and style of western traditions with the colors and textiles of authentic African celebrations. The various groups appearing throughout Harambe introduce holiday-inspired enhancements, including costume additions and new music, to their performances. The holiday fun continues inside Tusker House for dining with Disney friends, where Mickey and his pals spread holiday cheer throughout the meal.

The holiday spirit even reaches Pandora – The World of Avatar, where the ex-pats living and working on the moon of Pandora bring a little Christmastime fun to their alien home, with a display at Pongu Pongu of kitschy holiday décor, combining vintage pieces from Earth with items handcrafted from materials indigenous to Pandora.

It’s going to be an extra magical holiday season at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and across Walt Disney World Resort, filled with wonder and delight in all four parks! Make plans to join us, starting November 8, 2019.

The app-based restaurant ordering system, Mobile Order, is expanding to include Walt Disney World Resort hotel restaurants.

Mobile Order will be available soon at Everything POP Shopping & Dining at Disney’s Pop Century Resort, The Mara at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Contempo Café at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

These new locations will be in addition to more than 20 other quick service restaurants located in the theme parks and Disney Springs.

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com

Mobile Order allows you to pay for meals on-the-go within the My Disney Experience app, bypassing the queue to order at the restaurant. Using the app, you can select menu items, customize an order and pre-pay for a meal.

Arriving at the restaurant, you tap an “I’m here” button in the app, which will notify the kitchen to prepare the meal. When ready, you'll be alerted through the app to pick up the meal at a designated window. Credit card payments are accepted via Mobile Order along with the Disney Dining Plan.

Walt Disney World will soon being selling a new Summer One World Ticket, with six admissions for $74 per admission (plus tax) – a total price of $444 (plus tax).

Starting June 4, you will be able to purchase the Summer One World Ticket at Disneyworld.com, through the Disney Reservation Center or travel agents, and ticket sellers. For a total price of $444 (plus tax), this ticket includes one admission to each of the Walt Disney World theme parks and water parks. Ticket details:

• Summer One World Tickets must be purchased between Jun 4, 2019, and Aug. 23, 2019. 
• Each Summer One World Ticket includes six admissions – one admission to each of the four Walt Disney World theme parks and each of the two water parks. 
• Guests have flexibility in how they use these tickets, including visiting more than one park per day. 
• Tickets must be used June 4, 2019 – Aug. 28, 2019. 

Ticket valid 6/4/19 – 8/28/19 for one admission to Magic Kingdom Park, one admission to Epcot, one admission to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, one admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, one admission to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, and one admission to Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park. Each park may be visited only once. Tickets are nonrefundable, nontransferable and exclude activities/events separately priced. Admission is subject to capacity closures and other restrictions. Water parks are subject to rehabilitation, seasonal and weather closures. After expiration date, the price paid for a wholly unused ticket can be applied to the purchase of a new ticket with an equal or higher price.

Walt Disney presents at Disney's Hollywood Studios is now showing a sneak peek of Disney•Pixar’s “Toy Story 4”.

When Bonnie adds a reluctant new toy called “Forky” to her room, a road trip adventure alongside old and new friends will show Woody how big the world can be for a toy. Directed by Josh Cooley (“Riley’s First Date?”) and produced by Jonas Rivera (“Inside Out,” “Up”) and Mark Nielsen (associate producer “Inside Out”), Disney•Pixar’s “Toy Story 4” arrives in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2019.

More dates have just been added to the Disney After Hours events at all three participating theme parks, extending the event through to September 2019.

The new dates are listed below for each park, and all go on sale May 30 2019.

All Disney After Hours event tickets cost $125 + tax for advance purchase and $129 + tax for day-of purchases. Disney Vacation Club members and Annual Passholders do receive a discounted price $95 + tax.

The event gives you access to the park for three hours after regular park hours, which means nearly no wait for attractions, and you can enter the park early – at 7pm on your event night – before Disney After Hours begins. Ice cream, popcorn and non-alcoholic beverages are also included in your Disney After Hours admission, which is a separately priced ticket from daytime park admission.

Magic Kingdom Park

• Thursday, May 2, 2019

  

  Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com

• Thursday, May 9, 2019
• Thursday, May 16, 2019
• Thursday, May 23, 2019
• Thursday, May 30, 2019

On sale from May 30:

• Thursday, August 22, 2019
• Thursday, August 29, 2019
• Thursday, September 5, 2019
• Thursday, September 12, 2019
• Thursday, September 19, 2019
• Thursday, September 26, 2019

Tickets are currently available for Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom Park at DisneyWorld.com/DisneyAfterHours.

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Attractions available include Slinky Dog Dash, Alien Swirling Saucers and Toy Story Mania! Rockin’ Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror . Select quick-service food & beverage locations will also stay open for purchases throughout the night.

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com

• Friday, May 24, 2019
• Friday, May 31, 2019
• Friday, June 14, 2019
• Friday, June 21, 2019
• Friday, June 28, 2019

On sale May 30:

• Friday, July 5, 2019
• Friday, July 12, 2019
• Friday, July 19, 2019
• Friday, July 26, 2019

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Includes the Tree of Life Awakenings, the adventures within Pandora – The World of Avatar and more. Select quick-service food & beverage locations will remain open throughout the night for purchases.

9pm to midnight

• Tuesday, June 4, 2019
• Tuesday, June 11, 2019
• Tuesday, June 18, 2019

On sale May 30:

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com

• Tuesday, July 2, 2019
• Monday, July 8, 2019
• Monday, July 15, 2019
• Monday, July 22, 2019
• Monday, July 29, 2019
• Monday, August 5, 2019
• Monday, August 12, 2019
• Monday, August 19, 2019
• Monday, August 26, 2019
• Tuesday, September 3, 2019
• Monday, September 9, 2019
• Monday, September 16, 2019
• Monday, September 23, 2019

Looking to plan your next trip to Walt Disney World? Contact the agents at Kingdom Konsultant Travel to help you plan your dream vacation. Email vacations@kingdomkonsultant.com for a free quote today.