Building Batuu: New Details Released about 

 

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will be the largest single-themed land expansion at both Disneyland park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios when they open this summer and fall, respectively. While the land is epic in size, every detail in the land has been designed to have an authentic Star Wars feel. We have previously shared teasers of our two anchor attractions – Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, where your Guests will find themselves in the middle of an epic battle between the Resistance and the First Order, and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, which allows your Guests and their flight crew to take the controls of the fastest ship in the galaxy on a special mission. We’ve also previously announced that Oga’s Cantina will be a great place for your Guests to grab a beverage, catch up on the latest gossip while R-3X, formerly the Starspeeder pilot on the original Star Tours, DJ’s a collection of new music.

Today we’d like to introduce a new series called “Building Batuu.” Batuu is the home of Black Spire Outpost, the location your Guests will visit when they arrive at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which has become a haven for the galaxy’s most colorful — and notorious — characters. Over the next several months, we will be sharing more details about this entire new land, the offerings and attractions and how your Guests can live their own Star Wars adventure in a galaxy far, far away.

Your Guests can dive deeper into Star Wars storytelling by engaging with the land through the Play Disney Parks app, if they desire a deeper level of immersion. But there is also plenty to see and do (and taste!) throughout Black Spire Outpost that we haven’t previously shared.

While we’re on the subject of taste, there will be several locations in the land to satisfy the appetites of most rogue adventurers:

Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo – Chef Strono “Cookie” Tuggs has traveled throughout the galaxy following his longtime gig as the chef at Maz Kanata’s castle on Takodana and brings exotic flavors and unusual dishes to his traveling diner “Tuggs’ Grub.”

Ronto Roasters – A recycled podracing engine fires up a spit of exotic meats, meticulously turned by a former smelter droid, 8D-J8. Guests can even sample some of the tasty Ronto fare.

Milk Stand – The place to go to get your farm-fresh blue milk or green milk, direct from Bubo Wamba Family Farms.

Kat Saka’s Kettle – One of the many street market stalls, this grain vendor sells the ever-popular Outpost Mix (blend of sweet, savory and spicy popcorn).

For those looking to purchase in-story Star Wars merchandise and rare finds from across the galaxy, look no further than our many different Outpost stores and market stalls.

Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities – For those in the know, Dok-Ondar is the Ithorian you seek for selling and buying rare and uniquely-valued items from across the galaxy and spanning all eras.

Savi’s Workshop – Handbuilt Lightsabers – Guests come to the workshop to meet with the Gatherers – a secretive group of people who have dedicated their lives to restoring balance in the galaxy by passing on their knowledge of Jedi lore and the Force. The workshop Master guides guests to customize and build their own unique lightsabers, and instructs them on the ways of the Jedi.

Droid Depot – Visitors to Mubo’s workshop can choose parts and construct their own individual astromech droids to accompany them on their journey, and then take them home with them.

First Order Cargo – A spaceport hangar bay serves as the temporary base and landing spot for the First Order. First Order officers have brought in crates of gear, uniforms and other supplies to win the hearts and minds of locals and visitors to Black Spire Outpost. 

Resistance Supply – Resistance members and local sympathizers oversee a makeshift stall that supplies Resistance uniforms, pins, badges, hats, helmets, jackets, maps, tools, training supplies, food rations and other items.

There are also several market stalls which sell a variety of merchandise such as:

  • Toydarian Toymaker (toys)
  • Creature Stall (interesting critters that you can take home with you)
  • Black Spire Outfitters (clothing)
  • The Jewels of Bith (accessories and other trinkets to treasure)

We look forward to sharing additional details about these and much more through our “Building Batuu” series, with some additional news coming later on some of the food and beverage offerings that will be served in Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo and how the Disney Cast Members’ costumes will play a big part in bringing the inhabitants of this outpost to life.

If you are planning a vacation and need Disney World tickets, please visit our website at www.officialticketcenter.com to book your adventure today.

Initial Testing Underway for Disney Skyliner Gondolas – More Details Revealed!

Sharp-eyed visitors to Walt Disney World Resort this week may have spotted something new up in the sky while Disney Skyliner began its initial testing.

Scheduled to open this fall, Disney Skyliner will be a new, state-of-the-art gondola system that will conveniently connect Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot to four resort hotels – Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and the proposed Disney’s Riviera Resort, which is now accepting guest reservations for stays beginning December 2019. The official Resort opening date will be announced at a later time.

The Skyliner’s towers have been under construction for about a year, so to have a gondola up on its cables is an exciting milestone! Check out this video to hear more about the project from Jordan Matthews at Walt Disney Imagineering:

Several gondolas will be adorned with graphics based on Disney films, attractions and characters. So for example, you may jump into a gondola where from the ground it will look like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pluto or Chip & Dale are riding along with you. Several Disney animated films will be represented, including “Beauty & the Beast,” “Frozen,” “Lilo & Stitch,” “Moana,” “Peter Pan,” “The Princess and the Frog,” “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and “Zootopia.”

Here’s a sneak peek at what a few of these special gondolas will look like:

Disney Skyliner Gondolas rendering

The other themed gondolas that will be part of the system include:

  • “Coco”
  • Goofy, Pete, Horace Horsecollar and Clarabelle Cow
  • “Finding Dory”
  • The Haunted Mansion
  • “Monsters, Inc.”
  • Pirates of the Caribbean
  • “Ratatouille”

These gorgeous gondolas will be gliding across Walt Disney World before we know it. If you are looking for discount Disney World tickets, make sure to check out The Official Ticket Center for the best prices and specials.

 

Article written by by Jeremy Schoolfield, Managing Editor, Walt Disney World Resort Public Relations

Disney to put the Kibosh on Pet Friendly Families

 

It would seem that the policy that allowed families to bring their furry little family member to the Happiest Place on Earth is coming to an end. The rule I guess had been just a pilot program and was not in place as a permanent thing. Many families have a hard time leaving their pets at home or at a boarding shelter while traveling to Disney or anywhere else for that matter while on vacation.

Not only can it be scary for the pet but can be quite expensive for mom and dad. Sources say that come October 2018 that pet friendly program is coming to a screeching halt! When asked if the program would be extended the official answer was that they did not see that happening. Maybe if enough people call and voice their concern, they might change their minds, but that is probably not going to happen.

Disney is in the process of getting as much money as they can and if I’m a betting man this latest hatchet job is to make the owners put their animals up at their on property kennel Best Friends Pet Care. I have personally put my dogs up there and it was great. Downside is that it is very expensive as you would expect from Disney. However knowing that my family members are close and taken care of is a piece of mind situation that I was willing to pay at that time.

Disney has said though that if you check-in before October 15, 2018 you can still bring your pets and they can stay for the whole duration while visiting at the Walt Disney World Resort. This is going to be a huge issue and people have the right to be a little peeved. But hay, when Disney sees a way to make more money…look out! If you are in the market for minimizing you overall cost of your Disney vacation and need discount Disney tickets, check out a local ticket broker like “The Official Ticket Center” in Kissimmee.

Below is a screenshot of their new policy:

 

 

 

Orlando Vacation - Save Money on Tickets

How to Save Money on an Orlando Theme Park Vacation in 2018

Airfare, Hotel, Car-Rental, foods, Tickets and more, prices just pile up to a shocking reality when it comes to the planning of a trip to the world famous Walt Disney World or the Universal parks in Orlando, Florida. In fact for many it’s the Park admission or entrance cost itself comes to you at a much higher price than expected. Given the $100 plus price slab for just a one-day ticket to either Disney World or Universal Orlando, the Orlando parks are definitely expensive options for guests and families on a tight vacation budget. But it’s also true that there are ways and options available to get rid of vacation expenses as well. There are ways and options that enable you to experience the dream vacation at a price much less than the inevitable $100 per person, per day.

For returning visitors this is not new and probably many of them know how to deal with a bulky budget. However, there are others, including first timers who are still in the look-out for better and more reasonable and reliable money saving tips and tricks. And if you are one of them then I suppose reading this article would definitely assists you in your quests for saving more on you theme park tickets.

There exists many deals and discounts on tickets online. But don’t just get lost in the myriad. One of the most recommend and sought-after money saving tips is to go for advance booking online. Visit the official websites of respective theme parks and compare the prices on dates you are planning to visit. The parks offer different prices on different dates and they give away discounts on advance booking of tickets from their websites. But wait, don’t booked them yet. Marked the official discounted price and compare it with other discount ticket sources, such as the authorized re-sellers, including OfficialTicketCenter.com that offers you real discounted disney tickets, passes, universal studios tickets and tickets to other Orlando area attractions.

Authorized Reseller - The Official Ticket Center

Authorized Reseller – The Official Ticket Center


As the name suggest the authorized re-sellers are authorized to offer legitimate park tickets. Also along with the official websites and re-sellers, you may also want to follow the parks on social media, such as Twitter and Facebook. Who knows you may stumble upon an even better deal there. At times Disney and Universal may surprise you with event deals and vacation packages that you won’t be able to resist. However, it’s to be noted that you should stay away from getting cheated with all those fake or invalid tickets on sale online by various un-authorized sources at a price that seems too good to be true.

The Annual Pass is another great money saving tool. If you are interested in spending more days, week or more on each visit then better go for one instead. You will enjoy the best of benefits at the lowest possible costs on theme park admission per person, per day. Annual passes also come with in-park benefits such as free parking, dinning offers and souvenirs, including multiple park access. One of to pay extra to include multi-park access with a single day or multi-day ticket. However, it’s to be noted that annual passes are subject to block-out dates. Either you need to match your vacation timings with dates with the passes are valid, or go for an expensive or premium annual pass instead.

Epcot Back in Blooms: The 25th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Returns

Walt Disney World Resort

Some say Florida doesn’t have an official “Spring” season, but I beg to differ.

Spring most definitely begins in Florida when the more-than-30-million blooms come alive at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival.

This year is the Festival’s 25th year, and the park again is overflowing with the brightest plants, flowers, trees and topiaries adorning both Future World and World Showcase.

Here are some of the top things you shouldn’t miss at the Festival:

  • Gardens, Gardens and More Gardens: In addition to all the natural flora throughout the park, the Walt Disney World horticulture squad has curated some truly breathtaking gardens for our guests this year. New garden destinations this year include “The How-To Garden” and “The Imagination Play Garden” which are perfect for adults and kids to enjoy together. Returning favorites include “The Goodness Garden Butterfly House” and “The Water Wise Garden,” which showcase environmental responsibility as well as just being fun!
  • Outdoor Kitchens: What would an Epcot Festival be without fun food and drinks? 15 Outdoor Kitchens this year grace World Showcase, with the newest being “The Honey Bee-Stro,” which features Roasted Cauliflower with Buckwheat Honey Carrot Purée; Honey Tandoori Chicken Flatbread with White Cheddar Cheese; and Local Wildflower Honey-Mascarpone Cheesecake with Orange Blossom Honey Ice Cream garnished with Fennel Pollen Meringue Kisses. These dishes were created to showcase multiple honey varietals in creative and exciting ways. Returning Outdoor Kitchen favorites include “The Berry Basket” (featuring a lamb chop with quinoa salad and blackberry gastrique) and “THE SMOKEHOUSE: Barbecue and Brew” (featuring a pulled-pork slider and warm chocolate cake with Bourbon-salted caramel sauce and spiced pecans). YUM!
  • Spike’s Pollen Nation Exploration: One of the beloved characters from Disney animated short cartoons, Spike the honeybee, has been “pollen-nating” throughout the Festival. In this springtime scavenger hunt, gardeners of all ages can follow Spike on his pollination trail around World Showcase, where he will “bee” busy collecting nectar and pollinating gardens at Epcot. To get started, purchase your map and stickers at Port of Entry. Available while supplies last.
  • Garden Rocks Concert Series: Each Friday through Monday of the Festival (what we like to call a “Disney Weekend”), favorite artists from the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s and 2000s will rock out at the America Gardens Theatre. Night Ranger kicks off the series March 2-5, and Rick Springfield, Survivor and Lonestar are just some of the popular rock and rollers in the lineup. Each night, there will be three performances – 5:30, 6:45 and 8 p.m. – and guests can pair a wonderful meal at several of our Epcot restaurants with reserved concert seating in a nice package. Click here for Garden Rocks dining package availability or call 407-WDW-DINE.
  • Character Topiaries: Locations throughout the park feature some of the most beloved Disney and Disney•Pixar characters including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Lady and The Tramp and Buzz Lightyear.
  • Merchandise: Guests will find a wealth of hats, T-shirts, mugs and other fun Festival merchandise throughout Future World and World Showcase. I can’t resist anything with Figment on it; so you KNOW I’ll be buying some.
  • Tours: One of the great ways to get the “inside track” on the Festival or the latest in gardening techniques is to take one of the tours offered during the Festival. There are tours of The Land pavilion greenhouses and the “Gardens of the World – Spring Edition.” There is also the daily Royal Tea Garden Tour at the United Kingdom pavilion that includes a tea tasting. Guests can find out more about the tours here or call 407-WDW-TOUR.

If you’re coming out to this year’s festival, plan on more than one day to see, smell, hear, touch and taste everything. You surely can’t do it all in one!

For more information about the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, call us at 1-877-406-4836 or for discount Disney tickets to this event.

 

Happy gardening!

Fast & Furious – Supercharged ride - universal orlando

Upcoming Orlando Theme Park Attractions 2018

For Orlando theme park guests it’s a whole new list of anticipations in 2018. At SeaWorld Orlando the upcoming Infinity Falls promises to take guests on a never before river ride adventure. Come spring, guests at Universal Studios Florida Park will be hijacked for a high-octane experience with the likes of Dom, Letty, Hobbs and the rest of Fast & Furious crew. Again Legoland Florida is offering the first V-R coaster for kids, featuring the wildest Lego race ever imagined. Last but not the least Disney World is all set to shrink guests to the size of a toy with its blockbuster 2018 project – Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios park.

The new Fast & Furious – Supercharged ride attraction is opening at the Universal Studios Florida section of the popular Resort. The ride will take you on a pulse pounding action where you will meet up with the Fast & Furious gang. During the adventure you have to stay with the unbreakable team that will help you escape dangers during the wild chase. The new standalone attraction promises a longer and more furious and immersive ride experience, featuring vehicles with 120 mph ride speed, and high definition 3-D projections.

The Infinity Falls river raft ride at SeaWorld Orlando promises a thrilling journey of discovery. Amidst soaking fountains and waterfalls, roaring rapids and tallest drop, the newest ride will put you through the wildest wet experiences ever. Guests will board a round shape, eight-seater blue and green ride vehicle as they navigate through turbulent waters of Infinity Falls that ends with a pulse pounding 40 foot drop. At LEGOLAND Florida it’s another wildest Lego race waiting to take your kid’s V-R coaster experience to next level. The Great Lego Race is seen as the first V-R roller coaster initiative with the kids in mind. The wild virtual race pits guests against Lego speedsters.

When it comes to Walt Disney World – the Toy Story Land is one of the most anticipated 2018 attractions to look for at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. A great opportunity for fans to experience the world of toys. The new land will shrink guests down to the size of a toy and put you in Andy’s backyard. The new attraction features the Slinky Dog Dash roller coaster and the spinning ride – Alien Swirling Saucers ride. Toy Story Land also include a quick-food restaurant and the popular Toy Story Mania 4-D shooting ride.

You can book your discount Sea world, Disney World or universal studios tickets from Officialticketcenter.com in advance and save more on upcoming trips to your favorite theme parks in Orlando, Florida.

Epccot Candlelight Processional

Experience The Christmas Story At Epcot’s Candlelight Processional 2017

Every winter Disney World celebrates the holiday tradition in its most impressive and entertaining fashion. This is also the time when the four magical parks transform into winter wonderlands with festive decors and events. Guests are greeted with an amazing array of seasonal shows, festivities and specialty food offerings. One of the most visited holiday trends the Resort offers during Christmas is the spectacular Candlelight Processional at Epcot. The guest – favorite show is a true Christmas delight. No other offering of its kind presents the traditional story of Christmas in such exciting and spectacular form.

Candlelight Processional 2017

Candlelight Processional 2017


The Candlelight Processional is a wonderful Disney tradition, started by Walt Disney himself and the same continues – running for its 47 th year now, featuring celebrity narrators, including a full 50 piece orchestra and a mass choir. The 2017 version of the presentation has Laurie Hernandez, Matt Bomer, Pat Sajak, Kurt Russel, Warwick Davis, and CCH Pounder as new comers in the list of narrators while Ana Gasteyer, Whoopi Goldberg, Jodi Benson, Trace Adkins, Neil Patrick Harris, Jaci valasquez and Chandra Wilson are the returning favorites.

Epcot’s Candlelight Processional 2017 begins November 24 and runs through December 30. Every evening it presents three shows of about 40 minutes with show-times 5, 6:45 and 8:15 pm. The show is held outdoor in the America Gardens Theater in World Showcase. No extra fee required for the show. It’s included with the regular admission. Seating is on a first come, first serve basis for the shows. One can make the show extra special by adding a dining package with reserved seats, which is available for purchase.

The dining package for the 2017 show comes with lunch or dinner at a select Epcot restaurant and guaranteed seating at the show. Among the various participating restaurants include Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Chefs de France, The Garden Grill, Biergarten Restaurant, Coral Reef Restaurant, Spice Road Table. Restaurant Marrakesh, San Angel Inn Restaurante and others. Prices for each special package starts at $44 + taxes per adult and $15.50 + taxes per child. To book dining packages call (407) WDW-Dine (939-3463) or you can have it online by logging on to the official Disney site. In case you need to save more on your tickets, you can check the Official Ticket Center website for offers on your discount Disney tickets.

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party 2017

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2017 Returns with Extended 32 Nights of Devilish Delights

It’s time to meet the Disney villains once again. The Orlando Resort starts celebrating its fun-filled spooky nights already. This year the Disney Halloween event is even bigger with four extra days of fun and eerie entertainments. With special attractions such as world-class Halloween parades, and firework displays, largest gatherings of Disney characters and villains, plenty of candies and much more, it’s truly the world’s most magical collection of devilish delights out there. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2017 begins August 25, 2017 through November 1, 2017 on select dates, from 7 in the evening till midnight.

The one-of-a-kind after-hour ticketed event brings to life the best ever family-friendly Halloween experiences. Unlike the Universal Halloween, guest visiting the Disney Event are encouraged to come and attend the parties with their favorite Halloween costumes. But there are some restrictions as well. Interested guests are requested to go through the Disney Halloween Party costume policy to avoid costumes and dresses that are considered inappropriate for the Event. For costume guidelines, you can visit the Disney Halloween site.

When it comes to trick or treating at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, the experience is quite unique and exciting. The treat stations are located throughout the Park and are loaded with varieties of candies, sweets and snacks for guests of all ages. Even guests with food allergies will not be left out from having their share of the fun. The Event offers special allergy-friendly trick or treat experiences. All you have to do is – pick up the teal treat bag instead and you are all set to collect those teal tokens as much as you can. And don’t worry – you can redeem your teal tokens anytime by visiting the nearest Allergy-Friendly Center that provides you with your special treats in return.

Among the most favorite spooky entertainments at the 2017 Disney Halloween Event include Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular, where you have the most thrilling gatherings of Disney villains ever. Also don’t forget to meet the Sanderson Sisters and you must attend their mischievous Halloween party too. Again, the Mickey’s ‘Boo-to-You’ Halloween Parade, is one of the premier attraction of its kind the Event has to offer. The Parade is the only attraction where you will find such unique mix of ghostly sights and sounds. The appearance of favorite Disney characters in Halloween costumes, colorful floats and more, including the famous headless horseman in the lead, it’s truly one of the most magical Halloween moments. The fireworks show – Happy HalloWishes is another bewitching spectacle that transforms the entire Castle and surrounding ambiance. Also the encounters with the ghostly quartet in Frontierland at Cadaver Dans Barbershop Quartet is quite an exciting choice to spice up the eerie experience even more.

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party Tickets

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Tickets


If you haven’t collect the tickets yet then please visit the official Disney World Halloween site for latest updates and reservations. Or you can also call toll free at 1-877-406-4836 for available discounts and offers on the event tickets.