Ears the News: June 15, 2018 Edition

Welcome to the latest edition of Ears the News

Brought to you by our friends at WDWMagic.com.

Guardians of the Galaxy Awesome Mix Live! made its debut earlier this week at Epcot's America Gardens Theater.

The show features Star-Lord and Gamora in person as a 7-piece alien band brings many of your favorite hits from Awesome Mix Volumes 1 & 2 to life. Showtimes are at 1:30pm, 2:30pm, 5:30pm, 6:45pm and 8pm daily through August 19, 2018.

Reserved seating is now available for Annual Passholders at Epcot's new "Guardians of the Galaxy - Awesome Mix Live!" show.

To take advantage of the special seating, passholders should visit The American Adventure to pick up a wristband for one of the five daily shows. An Annual Pass along with Photo ID is required.

Video courtesy of WDWMagic.com.

Having trouble viewing the video? Click here to watch on YouTube.

Disney is offering the ultimate "glamping" experience at Disney's Animal Kingdom for one lucky winner..

Along with the night in Pandora, the winner will receive round-trip airfare, two 4-Day park tickets, CIP Tour Guides and a $250 gift card.

Entries are to be made online at D-Camp.

Video courtesy of Disney Parks.

Having trouble viewing the video? Click here to watch on YouTube.

Disney has revealed a few more details on its upcoming Play Disney Parks app, which is now available for pre-order on the App Store and Google Play.

According to Disney, "The Play Disney Parks app will allow guests to play with family and friends while waiting in line for some favorite attractions. There’s something for everyone to enjoy, from activities that interact with select attraction queues to games that bring favorite Disney stories to life in immersive new ways. 

Play Disney Parks App screenshot

Guests can also earn and share digital collectibles when they receive themed achievements, earned for experiences both in the app and across the Disney parks. And with the Disney trivia feature, family and friends can band together to see if they have what it takes to become Disney trivia masters as they discover fun facts about their favorite theme parks."

Play Disney Parks will be free, and available for both iOS and Android this summer. The in-queue games in the app will require a minimum of two players, and the trivia games can be played with a single player.

This new app will not be part of the My Disney Experience app, which will continue to be the vacation planning and management tool for visitors.

You can see more details on Play Disney Parks on the App Store and Google Play.

Fourth of July is always a fireworks bonanza at Walt Disney World, and here is the line-up for 2018.

Magic Kingdom
Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky - Show starts at 9:15pm on July 3 and July 4

Epcot
llumiNations: Reflections of Earth with special July 4 finale - 9pm on July 4

Disney's Hollywood StudiosStar Wars: A Galactic Spectacular - 10pm on July 4

Patriotic Treats
Select theme parks and resorts will offer exclusive dessert items in honor of Independence Day. 

Examples include:

• A Fourth of July cupcake featuring an apple-pie filling at Creature Comforts and Isles of Java at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
• A sparkly red-white-and-blue coconut macaroon dipped in white chocolate at BoardWalk Bakery at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort.
• Patriotic dipped strawberries and Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse mini-domes at Amorette’s at Disney Springs.

The Fourth at the Fort
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground will offer several special events around the Fourth of July holiday:

• The Fourth of July 5K Run will take place Tuesday, July 3. Pre-registration is available June 24-30 from 9am-5pm at the Fort Wilderness Bike Barn. On-site registration begins at 7am in the field next to Mickey’s Backyard BBQ; the run begins from that location at 7:30am.
• The Fourth of July Golf Cart Parade begins at 4pm on July 4. Registration will be open June 24-30 from 9am-5pm. at the Fort Wilderness Bike Barn.
• The Fourth of July Beach Bash at Clementine’s Beach will take place from 6-11pm on July 4. Guests will enjoy a live DJ, dancing, games, contests, a movie, and more. In addition, the Fort Wilderness food truck will be available in the settlement area with delicious items for purchase.

Disney Springs will be marking the release of the Incredibles 2 with special activities throughout this weekend.

Early screening of the movie will begin at the AMC Disney Springs 24 on June 14, and throughout the weekend there will be a DJ Dance Party. At Exposition park on the West Side, special Incredibles craft projects for kids will take place midday to 5pm on June 16 and 17.

Amorettes Pattiserie in the Town Center will be offering a special Jack-Jack chocolate chip cookie.

Finally, beginning June 15, you can pick up a special Incredibles button at the entrance to the theme parks, Disney operated retail locations at Disney Springs, and at the exit of Blizzard Beach water park.

Annual Passholders can now pickup a complimentary passholder magnet at Mouse Gear in Epcot's Future World.

Stop by Mouse Gear from park open to park close to get your Donald Duck pass holder magnet by showing your Annual Passholder card and photo ID.

The magnet distribution will be available until June 29, 2018.


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.

Review: "Walt Life," Disney Magic on Your Doorstep!

Hey Howdy Hey, Disney Fans!!!

Let's face it, as adults, going to the mailbox isn't very fun. Bills. Junk advertisements. Random catalog. (Who still bothers to order from catalogs?) More bills. Coupons for the pizza place that you heard had a roach issue. Even more bills. Womp-womp. Pretty depressing. Well, what if I told you that once a month, going to your mailbox could bring all the magic and excitement of walking into World of Disney at Disney Springs? It could bring the tastes of Main Street USA, or the comforts of a Walt Disney World Resort? I bet you just got a whole lot more excited about that trip to mailbox, huh?

Well, dreams DO come true, guys and gals! All of the magic and wonder of shopping at Walt
Disney World can arrive right at your doorstep, via one of several different Disney-themed subscription box services. Subscription box, you say? What, pray-tell, is this amazing thing you speak of? Subscription boxes are all the rage right now. For a monthly fee, consumers can get mystery boxes delivered to their door, filled with themed items, gifts and surprises like Japanese candy, beauty products, healthy snacks, etc. And of course it didn't take long for Disney fans to start demanding boxes themed around the Mouse, and suppliers started sprouting up.

 

One of the best known Disney subscription boxes is by a company called "Walt Life." This company is run by Disney fans, for Disney fans. When I asked Sarah of Walt Life what they love about running this mail-order merchandise company, she said, "More than anything, we love the smiles that Walt Life brings into our lives. Whether it's here at work where we get to laugh, love, and enjoy the Disney Magic every single day, or it's seeing the bright faces of our subscribers when they get to open their boxes. It's the smiles that make Walt Life such a Magical experience for all of us." Sounds pretty great, huh? And I can tell you all first hand, that everyone on the team is a delight to interact with! You can tell they really love their jobs. 

Walt Life offers several different subscriptions, that cater to various budgets and likes.

Subscriptions can be cancelled at any time, so when you sign up, you don't have to commit for a year, unlike some other services. There are boxes with general merchandise, of varying sizes and prices, (starting at $20), boxes of all snacks from Disney Parks and even a box of just pins. (The pin boxes start at just $8 a month!) The box I got was the "Magic Plus", which runs $48 a month. When you order your subscription, you'll not only get to select the type and size of box, you'll also select male, female or neutral and an age range of who it's for. (All Ages, 0-4, 5-9, 10-17 or 18+) I got the neutral, all ages box. Would you like to see what kind of magical treats were inside? Let's check it out together!

First, let me say that Walt Life has a super user-friendly website, which you can check out by clicking HERE. Aside from the fact that they make it simple to select your desired subscription, they also have a great "chat" feature, allowing you to interact with the staff at any time, and get your questions and concerns addressed. It's evident that the customer experience is important to them, as I received surveys from them rating my experience using the chat and the site. I was very impressed by this!

About a week after I ordered my box, on a gloomy, rainy day here in Orlando (the fifth in a row!), I was delighted to open my mailbox and find this gorgeous, magical, exciting package inside! I mean, just LOOK at this box! They put so much effort into selecting the artwork, characters and quotes.

The box was packed to the brim with awesome Disney surprises, starting with this super cute Rapunzel pillow. I love the artwork on the pillow and the little included pocket on the back makes it a perfect tooth fairy pillow for my daughter!

There was also a matching Rapunzel PVC figure that my daughter immediately claimed as her own.

She also claimed this little Cinderella notebook, that closes with a magnet. She said she needs it to "write down her appointments." She's 9. I don't know what "appointments" she has to keep track of, but hey, it made her happy.

My five year old son claimed the Mickey and the Roadster Racers beach ball for himself, as well as the Cars reusable bag.

When I opened the little Magic Bandits, that are for decorating your Magic Band, there were three in the pack, so I figured finally I'd get something I could keep. My son said, "Hey, one for me, one for Sissy and one for Dada!" What the...

Hey, what about me? "Mamma, you can have this postcard.", said my daughter. Well, thanks.

I was also told I could keep the little Walt Life postcard puzzle in the box... after the kids play with it, of course.

I think next time, I'll order the Adult box so that I can actually keep some stuff myself. But kids being kids, they'll find a use for anything that comes in the box and claim that too! I honestly don't mind sharing, though. It was fun to get something in the mail that we all got enjoyment out of. And who knows, maybe they'll let me borrow some of their new stuff!

The Walt Life box was fun to open, right to the very bottom, where I found a description of the items I had received, printed on a piece of paper that also included a hand-written note thanking me for being part of the Walt Life family. (Nice touch!)

There was even a contest where you collect tokens from the monthly boxes and can win a trip to Walt Disney World! How cool is that?

Overall, I found the box to be a blast. It was fun to open, and really seemed like a great value, considering how costly some of these items would have been if I had purchased them individually in the parks. Obviously, I live near Disney and can get there anytime, but most folks can't, so having access to this kind of fun and magic in your mailbox is incredible! I had an awesome experience with the staff and would not hesitate to order again, gift it to someone else, or to recommend it to friends.

If you are interested in looking into the Walt Life boxes for yourself or a friend or family member, check out their site at https://waltlife.com. You can even get 5% off your first box, using the promo code WALTLIFE.

Has all this Disney merchandise got you jonesing for an actual trip to see the mouse? Contact an agent at Kingdom Konsultants Travel to help with all of your vacation planning needs!

In the meantime, have a magical week, Disney Fans!

Jenn

* Neither myself, nor Kingdom Konsultants is affiliated with Walt Life, nor did we receive any compensation for this review. The opinions in here are my own and Kingdom Konsultants has no responsibility for any purchases that you make through Walt Life.*

Ears the News: June 8, 2018 Edition

Welcome to the latest edition of Ears the News

Brought to you by our friends at WDWMagic.com.

Disney has announced a new Disney Junior live show coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios this fall. 

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com 

"Disney Junior Dance Party!" is a high-energy, live show featuring characters from Disney Junior shows on TV, including "Mickey and the Roadster Racers," "Doc McStuffins," "The Lion Guard" and the newest hit series "Vampirina."

According to the announcement, the new "Disney Junior Dance Party!" is a musically infused, interactive concert, hosted by Finn Fiesta and a DJ – named Deejay, of course – who involve you in all the fun, including live appearances from some of your favorite characters, fun music from Disney Junior and much more.

We first mentioned Vampirina being developed for park appearances earlier this year, and it seems this new show may mark her debut at Walt Disney World.

The new show will take over the existing "Disney Junior - Live on Stage!" space in the Animation Courtyard, which will have its final performance on September 1 2018.

Walt Disney's World's Minnie Van Service is now available to all guests and no longer restricted to resort hotels. 

Photo Courtesy of WDWMagic.com 

Using the Lyft app, you can request a Minnie Van to travel to and from any location at Walt Disney World for $25 per trip per vehicle.

Minnie Van service is also available to and from Orlando International Airport for Guests staying at Walt Disney World Resort hotels. For service from a Walt Disney World Resort hotel to Orlando International Airport, speak with a Concierge Cast Member to book service at least 24 hours in advance of travel time.

For airport service for Club-level Guests traveling to and from a Walt Disney World Resort hotel and Orlando International Airport, you can book ahead of your trip through Disney Signature Services at 407-939-7777.

Beginning June 13, the Canada Pavilion will welcome the Blueberry Grass Band to the Mill Stage, an accomplished group from Quebec who transform French and English Canadian hits into their own festive sound.

Every member of this six-person band has a different musical background, resulting in a group that uses a variety of instruments – string bass, guitar, violin, drums, banjo and of course, voice

Blueberry Grass Band will be performing for a limited engagement, June 13 to August 26 2018. Showtimes will typically be 2:15pm, 3:30pm, 5pm, 6:15pm, 7:30pm, Wednesday through Sunday.

Guardians of the Galaxy – Awesome Mix Live! will open this weekend, performing June 9 to August 19 2018 at the America Gardens Theatre in Epcot's World Showcase. 

Concept art courtesy of Disney

The show will feature Star-Lord and Gamora in person as a 7-piece alien band brings many of your favorite hits from Awesome Mix Volumes 1 & 2 to life. You may even catch a glimpse of Little Groot. Showtimes are at 1:30pm, 2:30pm, 5:30pm, 6:45pm and 8pm daily.

The reserved viewing areas for IlliumiNations Reflections are being adjusted to bring them all into World Showcase Plaza. 

Theme Park Extra guests will now be located near to the Canada boat dock on the right side of Showcase Plaza. Learn more about Theme Park Extra.

FastPass+ viewing remains in the large area the front of World Showcase Plaza between the two gift shops.

Frozen Ever After Dessert Party guests will continue to use the area near the Disney Traders gift store on the left side of Showcase Plaza.

On the second Saturday of each month, Passholders are invited to an exclusive, early bird shopping experience at World of Disney, DisneyStyle, The Disney Corner and Ever After Jewelry from 9am to 10am.

During this time, passholders can enjoy one full hour to explore the store before anyone else, and take advantage of 20% Passholder discount.

This is what will be happening inside the World of Disney store during the June 9 2018 event.

Photopass

Keep an eye out for Disney PhotoPass Photographers during the event—they’ll be traveling between World of Disney, DisneyStyle, The Disney Corner and Ever After Jewelry Co.

Ghiradelli

Chocolate square samples from 9am to 10am—and get 20% off your Ghirardelli purchases.

Kiehl's

Receive a complimentary consultation and samples from skincare experts.

Live Entertainment

Enjoy a performance by Bryan Malpass.

Paddlefish

Complimentary samples of crab ceviche—and receive a coupon for 20% off food and nonalcoholic beverages (valid for the month of June).

Starbucks

Complimentary beverage samples.

Sugarboo & Co.

Complimentary “Mr. Fabulous” notepad when you make a purchase of $50 or more (while supplies last). Plus, check out their special display featuring popular gift picks just in time for Father’s Day—and take advantage of 10% Passholder discount.

Vera Bradley

Passholder discount—$30 off a purchase of $125 or more. Plus, FREE monograming all day long (valid only on June 9, 2018; exclusions apply).

The Uzima Springs Pool and Uzima Springs Pool Bar at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House will be closing for refurbishment later this year. 

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com 

The work is planned to begin on September 4, reopening to guests on December 5 2018.

During the refurbishment at Jambo House, the Samawati Springs Pool and Maji Pool Bar at Kidani Village will be available.

2018 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival events, including celebrity chef demonstrations, Eat to the Beat dining packages, Party for the Senses grand tasting experiences, beverage and cheese seminars go on sale June 14 2018. 

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com 

You can view all of the offerings available to book on the official festival site.

New events to the 2018 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival include:

Sunday Brunch with the Chef: Start your day in the most delicious way at a two-hour event including a brunch buffet and featuring a distinguished culinary television personality. While enjoying a meal inspired by some of our VIP guest’s favorite dishes, attendees will be part of an in-depth question-and-answer session featuring kitchen tips, tricks and insights. Finally, foodies are in for a fabulous pièce de résistance: a sparkling wine toast and an exclusive meet-and-greet photo opportunity with our celebrated gourmet guest.

Celebrity Chefs include Richard Blais, Jamie Deen, Tiffani Thiessen, Masaharu Morimoto, Buddy Valastro, Art Smith, Geoffrey Zakarian and Carla Hall.

Food & Beverage Pairing: Learn from the pros at these 45-minute sessions, held each Friday to Sunday. Enjoy a collaboration between the featured chef and beverage presenter, pick up a few tips and best of all – taste the demonstrated dish and beverage pairing.

The festival this year runs from August 30 to November 12 2018.

More acts have been added to the line-up for the 2018 Eat to the Beat concert series at this year's Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.

Canadian country artist High Valley (“She’s With Me”) and pop artist Vertical Horizon (“Everything You Want”) are among the additions.

Here is the updated 2018 Eat to the Beat performer schedule:
August 30 to 31: Blue October
September 1 to 3: Tiffany
September 4 to 5: NEW! MercyMe
September 6 to 7: NEW! Glass Tiger
September 8 to 9: NEW! Tauren Wells
September 10 to 11: Postmodern Jukebox
September 12 to 13: NEW! Vertical Horizon
September 14 to 16: Baha Men
September 17 to 19: Plain White T’s
September 20 to 21: Living Colour
September 22 to 23: NEW! Sheila E
September 24 to 26: Sugar Ray
September 27 to 28: David Cook
September 29 to 30: Jeffrey Osborne
October 1 to 2: NEW! Jim Belushi & The Sacred Hearts
October 3 to 4: Everclear
October 5 to 7: Mark Wills
October 8 to 10: Air Supply
October 11 to 12: To Be Announced
October 13 to 14: To Be Announced
October 15 to 16: NEW! 98 Degrees
October 17 to 18: 38 Special
October 19 to 21: The Devon Allman Project
October 22 to 23: Kenny G
October 24 to 25: Billy Ocean
October 26 to 28: Starship featuring Mickey Thomas
October 29 to 31: Hanson
November 1 to 2: NEW! High Valley
November 3 to 4: Taylor Dayne
November 5 to 7: Boyz II Men
November 8 to 9: The Hooters
November 10 to 12: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

Disney has modified the blockout dates on the lower level Annual Pass tickets.

The Silver Pass and Weekday Select Pass for Florida residents is now good for entry through June 29 2018. The summer blockout was originally set to begin on June 4 2018.

Following the summer blockout, both tickets are then good for entry beginning August 10 2018.

Disney has announced that Annual Passholders will get exclusive access to Toy Story Land on select dates in September. 

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com 

The opportunity will be available to Gold, Platinum, Platinum Plus and Premier Passholders, and attendees will get exclusive access to Slinky Dog Dash, Alien Swirling Saucers and Toy Story Mania!

Advance registration will be required—so be on the lookout for an event invitation with registration details in your email. If an eligible Passholder would like to register a Guest to accompany them, that Guest must also have a valid Gold, Platinum, Platinum Plus or Premier annual pass, be listed on your Family & Friends list and have opted to share “All My Plans” with you. Event capacity is limited and is subject to availability.

Gold, Platinum, Platinum Plus and Premier Passholders must pre-register by making an online reservation for ONE event. There is no additional charge for this event. Valid annual pass and photo ID required at check-in. Activities and attractions are subject to change without notice.

It is with a sad heart that I report the passing of a legendary Walt Disney World Castmember. Richard Gerth passed away earlier this week after a battle with pneumonia. 

Photo courtesy of  Richard Gerth - Grand Floridian Greeter Facebook page and Chapman Photography

Richard has been the greeter and the Grand Floridian since 1991. If you have so much as walked into the Grand Floridian over the last 27 years, odds are you welcomed by Richard’s smile and a tip of his straw hat.

To many, myself included, Richard was as much a part of Walt Disney World as Mickey mouse. Words can not express how much he will be missed.

Video from Walt Disney World Secrets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuJdF9_72Ac&t=5s

Ears the News: June 1, 2018 Edition

Welcome to the latest edition of Ears the News

Brought to you by our friends at WDWMagic.com.

Disney has revealed some new concept art and a name for the village in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge - Black Spire Outpost.

The largest settlement on the planet Batuu, Black Spire Outpost is an infamous stop for traders, adventurers, and smugglers traveling around the Outer Rim and Wild Space. Off the beaten path, this outpost has become a haven for the galaxy’s most colorful — and notorious — characters. Widely known for the petrified remains of its once towering ancient trees, the spires now stand guard across the river valleys and plains and have long captured the imagination of travelers to this planet. To the first settlers, these petrified spires became more than just landmarks; they became the heart of the outpost itself. 

Concept art courtesy of Disney

The closure of the FriendShip boat service at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin has been extended into early June 2018.

Originally expected to reopen to guests on May 26, it is now planned to reopen on June 2, 2018.

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com

During the refurbishment of the dock, bus service will be available to Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios, and the walkway will remain open.

This boat dock refurbishment is in addition to the work taking place on the nearby bridge that has suspended boat service to Disney's Hollywood Studios.

The Kylo Ren meet and greet experience at Disney's Hollywood Studios for Disney Visa card is now available to more members.

Previously only available to Disney Visa credit card holders, those with Disney Visa debit cards can now also take part in the exclusive experience.

You can find the meet and greet at the Star Wars Launch Bay in the Animation Courtyard.

Disney has officially confirmed that the upcoming Star Wars Resort will be located on the south side of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, just east of World Drive.

According to a post on the official Disney Parks Blog, "This location will allow the experience to be seamlessly connected to the highly-anticipated Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, enabling guests to fully immerse themselves in the story of Star Wars."

Concept art courtesy of Disney

Information on the new resort is scarce, but Disney says "Families visiting this destination will board a starship that comes alive with characters and stories that unfold all around them during their voyage through the galaxy – and every cabin window has views of space! Guests visiting the multi-day adventure will also be welcome to participate as a resident of the Galaxy by dressing in Star Wars-inspired attire."

Disney's Animal Kingdom will begin testing a new stroller parking system from June 1, 2018, aimed at improving the experience for guests.

When arriving at specific shows and rides, guests will receive a colored tag which corresponds to one of three stroller parking areas. Tags can be reused at other attractions, or a new tag picked up at each location.

Participating attractions in the test include:

• Kilimanjaro Safaris 
• It’s Tough to be a Bug 
• Kali River Rapids 
• Finding Nemo – The Musical 
• Festival of the Lion King 
• Wildlife Express Train 
• Rivers of Light

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: May 25, 2018 Edition

Welcome to the latest edition of Ears the News

Brought to you by our friends at WDWMagic.com.

The Magic Kingdom's firework dessert party offering is expanding to include a new 'After the Fireworks' party.

Priced at $69 for adults and $41 for children, the party offers viewing of the fireworks from the Plaza Gardens, followed by a dessert party in the Tomorrowland Terrace. 

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com. 

Reservations can be made on 407-WDW-DINE for nights beginning May 28, 2018.

May 28 will also see a new menu, including more savory snacks such as spinach dip and house-made mini eggrolls, as well as the Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake from Liberty Tree Tavern.

The original pre-fireworks dessert party will continue to be offered, but will see a price increase from May 28.

Walt Disney Presents at Disney's Hollywood Studios is now showing a sneak peek of the upcoming Disney•Pixar's "Incredibles 2".

The sneak peek will show the first 10 minutes of the movie, which is set for its debut in theaters on June 15, 2018.

Through June 29, Annual Passholders can see a passholder-only showing between 9am and 10am.

Disney's Hollywood Studios is offering a couple of Annual Passholder exclusive offerings May 18 through June 29, 2018.

First up is a double discount at Hollywood & Vine, which means 20% off breakfast, lunch or dinner.

At Walt Disney Presents, there is a passholder exclusive viewing of the Incredibles 2 sneak peek from 9am to 10am.

Mickey's of Hollywood, Celebrity 5 & 10, Keystone Clothiers, and Once Upon a Time will all be selling the Toy Story Land MagicBand to passholders before it goes on sale to all guests June 30.

Finally, passholders can get a Donald Duck summer magnet gift at Mickey's of Hollywood, Celebrity 5 & 10, Keystone Clothiers, Once Upon a Time or Walt Disney Presents.

Walt Disney World lost and found service has now moved online - powered by Chargerback, which provides lost and found services for airlines and other tourism and entertainment companies.

Instead of needing to visit or phone the Lost and Found center, you'll be able to report a lost item on https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/en_CA/guest-services/lost-and-found/.

The page will direct you to Chargerback, where you will complete a form. Once you fill out the online form you will receive an email notification with your Lost Item claim number. Disney will then continue to look for your item and provide you with an email update within 48 hours.

Favorite Disney•Pixar super heroes will take over Tomorrowland – celebrating all things super from May 25, 2018.

Guests will party with Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, and Frozone from Disney•Pixar's 'The Incredibles' and upcoming 'Incredibles 2.' 

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com.

For the first time ever, guests will get to see Edna Mode, the greatest superhero costume designer.

The super heroes will interact with guests throughout the land. And the festivities culminate with a 'SUPER' dance party on the Rocket Tower Stage.

Here is the lineup for the Incredible Tomorrowland Expo:

• Super Party Time 2-7pm daily – A dance party at the Rockettower Plaza Stage featuring characters, variety acts and your favorite tunes. Party with Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, and Frozone from Disney•Pixar's 'The Incredibles' and upcoming 'Incredibles 2, ' and for the first time ever, guests will get to see Edna Mode, the greatest superhero costume designer. 
• Super Super Fans intermittently from 10am-6:30pm
• Jack-Jack Diaper Dash 12pm daily - Register to participate in the babies crawling race at the stage starting at 10:30am. Space is limited.
• Moments in Super History – Photo backdrops near Carousel of Progress, Space Mountain and Cool Ship.

Special Incredibles Food and Drink Specials:

• Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies
• Edna Mode’s “No Capes, Just Crepes” Sundaes
• Nutella Crêpe topped with ice cream and berries
• Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café
• Super Food Salad - Kale and spinach salad with quinoa, avocado, blueberries, and pico de gallo
• Super Stretchy Burger inspired by Mrs. Incredible - Flame grilled angus burger piled high with deep fried mozzarella sticks, American cheese, slow roasted bacon and garlic ranch sauce on a fresh baked brioche bun
• Lunching Pad
• Mrs. Incredible Pretzel Mask – soft pretzel topped with black salt
• Jack-Jack Cookies – freshly baked mini-cookies to take on the go
• Tomorrowland Terrace
• Dash Pizza - Pepperoni and cheese Sicilian-style pizza

The 2018 Epcot International Festival of the Holidays will take place November 18 to December 30, 2018. 

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com.

The Candlelight Processional also returns this year and for the first time, will open for Thanksgiving on November 22 and run through December 30.

Celebrity narrators are yet to be announced.






Disney has announced that Star Wars Galaxy's Edge will officially open in Walt Disney World late fall 2019.

The new land is currently under construction at Disney's Hollywood Studios, and will boast two E-ticket attractions - a battle escape, and a flight aboard the Millennium Falcon.

The Disneyland Resort version of the land will open first, in summer 2019.

Video courtesy of Disney Parks

Having trouble viewing the video? Click here to watch on YouTube. 

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: May 12, 2018 Edition

Welcome to the latest edition of Ears the News

Brought to you by our friends at WDWMagic.com.

The Star Wars race weekend at Walt Disney World Resort will celebrate Star Wars rivalries in 2019 with a new theme and name - 'Star Wars Rival Run Weekend presented by OtterBox.'

Beginning 2019, runners will be able to choose which side of the Force they will run for during the race weekend April 4-7, 2019.

Races will include a 5K, 10K, half marathon and the runDisney Kids Races, and in addition there will again be two challenges for runners to tackle. There’s the Star Wars Rival Run Challenge, which involves running the 10K and the half marathon during the race weekend, and the runDisney Kessel Run Challenge – completing the Star Wars Rival Run Half Marathon at Walt Disney World Resort and running the Star Wars Virtual Half Marathon at home.

Walt Disney World's lost and found service is about to get more convenient.

Starting later this month, instead of needing to visit or phone the Lost and Found center, you'll be able to report a lost item on DisneyWorld.com.

After you have reported a lost item, Cast Members will attempt to locate the item, and will keep you updated on progress via the website.

Roadster Goofy will soon be joining the characters at the Disney Junior Play 'n' Dine breakfast at Hollywood & Vine.

Beginning May 13, 2018, Roadster Racers Goofy will replace Handy Manny.

Breakfast is typically served at Hollywood & Vine from 8am to 10:20am daily, and along with Roadster Goofy will be Jake, Sofia the First, and Doc McStuffins.

Walt Disney World now offers 1 day park tickets with 3 pre-linked FastPass+ experiences.
With this new ticket, 3 FastPass+ experiences are selected for you to use the next day—and will be automatically linked to your ticket. Tickets are sold with FastPass + selections for next day use only, and the FastPass windows are pre-determined.

There are variety of FastPass+ groupings to choose from at each park, although some of the headliners - such as Avatar Flight of Passage are not included.

The pre-selected groups are as follows:

Magic Kingdom Park 1-Day Ticket with Linked FastPass+ Experiences

• Fantasyland Classics:“it’s a small world,” Dumbo the Flying Elephant and Mad Tea Party
• Futuristic and Frightful Fun: Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Haunted Mansion and Tomorrowland Speedway
• Pint-Size Adventures: The Barnstormer, The Magic Carpets of Aladdin and Pirates of the Caribbean
• Whimsical Escapades: Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor

Epcot 1-Day Ticket with Linked FastPass+ Experiences

• Immersive Explorations: Spaceship Earth, Living with the Land, and The Seas with Nemo & Friends
• Delightful Encounters: The Seas with Nemo & Friends, Turtle Talk With Crush and Journey Into Imagination With Figment

Disney’s Hollywood Studios 1-Day Ticket with Linked FastPass+ Experiences

• Sensational Stage Shows: Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage, For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration and Voyage of the Little Mermaid
• Movie-Inspired Excitement: Muppet*Vision 3D, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue and the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park 1-Day Ticket with Linked FastPass+ Experiences

• Prehistoric and Whitewater Thrills: DINOSAUR, Kali River Rapids and Primeval Whirl
• Wild Performances: Festival of the Lion King, Finding Nemo – The Musical and It's Tough to be a Bug!

Disney's Minnie Van service is now available at all Walt Disney World Resort hotels.

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com.

In addition, Minnie Vans can also be used for guests staying at the independently operated Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, and the Four Seasons Resort.

Minnie Van service costs $25 per trip, per vehicle, and can be requested via the Lyft app between 6:30am and 12:30am daily.

Disney has confirmed the location for the new Space themed restaurant in Epcot. As expected, be built on a newly developed area between Mission: SPACE and Test Track. 

Concept Art courtesy of Disney

Toy Story Mania at Disney's Hollywood Studios is scheduled to be closed for a week to allow work to progress on the main entrance reconfiguration.

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com.

The closure begins June 11 through to June 18, with a reopening to guests on June 19, 2018. When it reopens, the entrance will remain in Pixar Place until it permanently moves to Toy Story Land on June 30, 2018. 


Toy Story Mania will also return to full capacity on May 20, 2018, with all three tracks becoming available following queue reconfiguration work. FastPass+ reservations should be available from as early as today for rides beginning May 20.

The FriendShip boat service at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin will be closing for refurbishment next week due to work on the boat dock.

Closure is expected from May 14 to May 25, reopening to guests on May 26, 2018.

During the refurbishment of the dock, bus service will be available to Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios, and the walkway will remain open.

This boat dock refurbishment is in addition to the work taking place on the nearby bridge that has suspended boat service to Disney's Hollywood Studios.


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.

BRAND NEW! Millennial Pink Snack Review!

Hey there, Disney Guys and Gals!

     In case you didn't know it, Rose Gold is so over. The color du jour is "Millennial Pink", (aka baby pink, bubble gum pink, cotton candy pink, or just plain old light pink). Disney Parks have hopped on board with the trend, and are offering various snacks adorned in the hue. Just this past week I was able to try out a couple of these treats, so allow me to share with you these pinkalicious wonders!

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Millennial Pink Raspberry Cream Puff  (The Market at Ale and Compass @ Beach Club Resort)

     This little lady was super unique and interesting. Found in the chilled display case in the Market; it looked more like a doughnut than a cream puff. The mouse-shaped pastry had a millennial pink icing over the whole thing, a white chocolate bow on top, and a few pink sanding sugar sprinkles for decoration. It was made up of three separate cream puffs, stuck together. As you can see, the sticker called it a "raspberry cream cheese puff." What does that mean? Was it going to be like cheesecake inside? A sweet cream cheese with pureed raspberries? Well, wonder no more...

      The choux pastry was really nice. It wasn't dry at all and had a nice sweetness to it. The icing was just a basic royal icing, with no real flavor. The bow went to the hubs, because I do not enjoy white chocolate. Now, the filling... It was a sweetened, raspberry flavored cream cheese mixture. At first, I wasn't really sure what to think of it. It was sweet and creamy, but even more tart and tangy than cream cheese filling would usually be. I was struggling to decide if I liked it or not, so I kept eating it. Turns out, I did like it, because next thing I knew, I had eaten the whole thing! There was tons of filling inside each of the three puffs and I really ended up loving it. The sugary sweet icing balanced out the tangy filling and the pastry was some of the best puff pastry I have ever had. I highly recommend you give this one a shot, but only if you like cream cheese filling... like, A LOT. I know I'll be going back for another!

Millennial Pink Cupcake  (Fountain View @ Epcot)

     Found in the pre-packed case at Epcot's Starbuck's location, this beauty was MADE for picture-taking! I mean, come on! SO cute! It was a vanilla cake, filled with a strawberry pastry cream. The top had vanilla buttercream frosting, pink sugar sprinkles and a fondant set of Minnie ears and bow. I liked this cupcake a lot. The strawberry cream was light, refreshing and not overly sweet. The buttercream was a perfect amount and it was coated in sprinkles. Personally, I would prefer some other type of sprinkles over straight sugar, as I find sugar crystals to be an oddly crunchy topping, but that's just me. The ears were also quite yummy. I love fondant and prefer it to white chocolate any day. I'd get this cupcake again, for sure. 

Yummy strawberry pastry cream!

Millennial Pink Raspberry Chocolate Cupcake  (The Mara @ Animal Kingdom Lodge)

     Compared to the cupcake above, from the Fountain View, this cupcake was a little more ornate, but kind of gaudy looking to me. Don't get me wrong, I love glitter, but this one was kind of like Tinkerbell exploded on it. And, I don't think I'd classify this as "Millennial Pink." To me, this confection was more hot pink than anything. Still pretty to look at, but a little extra. 

     This cupcake was located in the refrigerated case at The Mara, (Jambo House's counter service location, at Animal Kingdom Lodge), pre-packaged in a plastic case. The cake was chocolate and filled with an airy raspberry mousse. The frosting was a pink vanilla buttercream, and then it was topped with (lots of) edible glitter, a fresh raspberry and white chocolate Minnie ears. Because these cupcakes are kept in a refrigerated case, it was cold, and therefore the frosting was a solid blob and the cake was a little stiff. I'd recommend letting it sit out for a bit before eating it. Flavor-wise, it was very nice. The mousse was light and creamy. I could easily eat just a cup of that! The buttercream was very good too. I tossed the ears since, again, I don't do white chocolate. (It isn't even chocolate! It only calls itself that!) Overall I'd say it was enjoyable, but I much preferred the vanilla/strawberry combo from the Fountain View. 

The raspberry mousse was the best part!

Millennial Pink Milkshake  (Auntie Gravity's @ Magic Kingdom)

     Ok, so I will admit, I made a special trip to The Magic Kingdom for this shake. I mean, it looks like a candy-covered dream come true! Here's the Disney promo pic: 

Phoro Credit: DisneyParks.com

I am sad to report that it didn't look quite as impressive in person. Here's mine:

It seems that they don't give you nearly as much cotton candy as appears in the promo picture, and I get why: as soon as the cotton candy hits the moisture of the shake, it dissolves into a gooey mess. In fact, if you look closely at the promo shot, they kind of cheated and put a lid on the shake, before putting the candy floss, (old timey name for cotton candy), on top. 

     Speaking of lids.... I really wish this shake included one. Wanna know why???? 

Oh nooooooo.....

I don't usually use pictures that show my kiddo's faces, but this one is pretty fuzzy and timed PERFECTLY. Don't worry, we didn't lose the whole thing! We were still able to try it out. 

     The shake itself was strawberry flavored and I'd say it was more similar to the flavor of strawberry milk than to that of actual strawberry ice cream. It was super sweet and kind of a weird, goopey consistency, which I believe was due to the dissolved cotton candy. The marshmallow was pretty amazing, though. It was clearly a handmade marshmallow, with a light fruity flavor and sparkly edible glitter on it. We enjoyed that more than the shake itself. In fact, after a couple of sips each, we were kind of all done with the shake and ended up tossing it in a trashcan. 

     Overall, this pink treat was pretty to look at, and I'm glad we tried it, but I wouldn't get it again. It was my least favorite of my Millennial Pink dining experience. 

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     What sounds good to you? Will you be trying some Millennial Pink treats for yourself? Oh, don't worry, Rose Gold fans, there' still plenty of that pinky-gold sparkle to be found in the parks!

     If you need help planning your next trip to any of the incredible Disney Parks, the crew over at Kingdom Konsultant Travel would be tickled pink to help you! (See what I did there?) Contact an agent today!

     Until next time, you trendy Disney snackers, have a MAGICAL week!

                                                                  - Jenn