Countdown to Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios

 

 

 

If you have been paying attention lately, you would notice a great disturbance in Walt Disney World’s Force. If one would look for a minute over at Hollywood Studios, you would see a major Pixie Dusting taking place in the form of a huge expansion of Toy Story Land. For the past few years Hollywood Studios has been going to the extreme of updating this once not so popular theme park. Guests have been waiting patiently for this and Disney is guaranteeing a home run with this newest addition!

Over the past few weeks guests have been privy to a soft open of this new land. You won’t hear about it but you can sure read about it as Disney has been slowly and quietly bringing in media and bloggers to start building the excitement for what it hopes to be a big winner for their park. I have seen pictures and videos of the rides and food stands, but I have yet to go myself. Next week will be their official media event and yours truly will be there reporting on everything.

I am a huge Disney fan and I hope to be able to see all of my favourite characters as well as shrink down to what is the end idea of being one of Andy’s toys. The whole gist of their new land is to be one of Andy’s toys and for the guest to be able to enjoy a day in Andy’s backyard. I have seen the a few of the rides like Slink Dogs rollercoaster as well as a few walk up eateries and I can’t wait. It has been long overdue and I hope that Disney hits a homerun with this much needed addition!

Disney has great visions for all of their theme parks but Hollywood Studios I have a feeling will be a new diamond on Mickey’s crown especially after they add the much anticipated Star Wars Land. Once they have these two new additions they will be a Force to reckon with no pun intended…lol The only thing that I would have added if I were Disney is possibly a Toy Story Resort. Could you imagine how cool that would be for the kids? Hopefully they read this and make it happen. Stay tuned for after party reports and if you should every need discount Disney tickets to any of the parks, please visit The Official Ticket Center for all of your ticketing needs.

 

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.

Toy Story at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Set to Amaze Guests in 2018

Here in the U.S., Toy Story Land is set to open to guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on June 30, 2018. This land will bring with it all the fun, imagination and beloved characters from the “Toy Story” films.

Slinky Dog Dash in Toy Story Land at Disney's Hollywood Studios Slinky Dog Dash in Toy Story Land at Disney's Hollywood Studios

When it opens, guests visiting the land will “shrink” to the size of a toy and join in on the fun Woody, Jessie, Buzz, and Andy’s other favorite pals are having in Andy’s backyard. Here, guests can take a ride on Slinky Dog Dash, a roller coaster Andy has assembled from his Mega Coaster Play Kit and topped off with Rex and Jessie, while Slinky serves as the coaster vehicle. (See photo above for a new look at the track).

Families will also be able to take a spin on Alien Swirling Saucers, a galactic play set that Andy won from Pizza Planet. Here, adorable little green aliens swirl about in their flying saucers with guests in tow in their rocket ship toys, while “The Claw” hangs overhead.

Guests can also walk through a new carnival game box to experience Toy Story Mania!, which has been a guest-favorite attraction at the park since it opened in 2008. Now expanded with a third track, the popular attraction will put even more guests in the action taking aim at 3D objects – using everything from baseballs to cream pies – in a variety of whimsical, fast-paced games.

Woody’s Lunch Box will serve up tasty meals and old-fashioned soda floats from a walk-up window setting. The entire land will serve as a visual celebration of toys, with Crayons, Cooties, Green Army Men, Rubik’s Cubes, Tinkertoys, and other familiar toys and game pieces incorporated into the land’s design.

Bob also shared this amazing behind-the-scenes video that shows the progress that’s being made on Toy Story Lands at both Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Shanghai Disneyland. (Toy Story Land at Shanghai Disneyland will include three attractions – Rex’s Racer, Slinky Dog Spin and Woody’s Round-Up – and is on track to open on April 26, 2018). Take a peek at both in the video above.

Which attraction are you most looking forward to experiencing when Toy Story Land opens this summer at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – or will you make the trip to Shanghai Disneyland? Tell us in the “Comments” section below! To purchase your discount Disney tickets, please call our office at 1-877-406-4836.

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!

Pardon the Pixie Dust While Visiting Islands of Adventure

As you may know by now, Universal Studios in Orlando has a sister park called Islands of Adventure. It sits about 100 yards away from Universal Studios and is the home of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. As you know, all theme parks need a little down time to get things fixed and a new coat of paint. This is exactly what’s happening at Islands of Adventure at the moment. Not to be alarmed, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is up and running! They would be out of their minds if they closed this down, but not to worry Harry Potter fans, all is well in the wizard world.

The biggest closure has to be the Hulk Roller Coaster. This was dismantled and removed for refurbishment and is set to be back terrifying travelers by the first part of spring. This was a huge letdown for me last weekend as this is my favorite ride in Islands of Adventure! I try to start my day on this adrenaline inducing ride as it will set my energy level for the remainder of the day. Dr. Doom’s was still dropping guests and The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man was whisking guests through the streets of New York in 3-D. Many guests were wandering around wondering what to do as Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls was out of commission as well as Popeye’s Bilge Rat Barges was down for the count too!

It would seem that all of the water rides were not operational either for repair reasons or for the fact that it was 50 degrees outside on the day I went. Dudley Do Right’s had a wall up around it, so I would guess that they were working on it rather than it being closed for the weather. The next sight on the way around the park was the walls surrounding the all new Skull Island: Reign of Kong attraction that is set to open in the summer of 2016. This will definitely be another star attraction to Universal’s arsenal and is sure to have travelers raving about it once it opens! The next big bummer of the day had to be Jurassic Park! It was running but no one was riding as it was freezing outside. Sure, there were a few not so smart souls who decided to ride this get soaked water ride and were not so happy afterwards trying to dry off in the 50 degree air with the rest of the day in front of them. Not me!

Then there was the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It looked like everyone in the park was there. Everywhere you looked, people were huddled together trying to stay warm like cattle, while Mug As you may know by now, Universal Studios in Orlando has a sister park called Islands of Adventure. It sits about 100 yards away from Universal Studios and is the home of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. As you know, all theme parks need a little down time to get things fixed and a new coat of paint. This is exactly what’s happening at Islands of Adventure at the moment. Not to be alarmed, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is up and running! They would be out of their minds if they closed this down, but not to worry Harry Potter fans, all is well in the wizard world.

The biggest closure has to be the Hulk Roller Coaster. This was dismantled and removed for refurbishment and is set to be back terrifying travelers by the first part of spring. This was a huge letdown for me last weekend as this is my favorite ride in Islands of Adventure! I try to start my day on this adrenaline inducing ride as it will set my energy level for the remainder of the day. Dr. Doom’s was still dropping guests and The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man was whisking guests through the streets of New York in 3-D. Many guests were wandering around wondering what to do as Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls was out of commission as well as Popeye’s Bilge Rat Barges was down for the count too!

It would seem that all of the water rides were not operational either for repair reasons or for the fact that it was 50 degrees outside on the day I went. Dudley Do Right’s had a wall up around it, so I would guess that they were working on it rather than it being closed for the weather. The next sight on the way around the park was the walls surrounding the all new Skull Island: Reign of Kong attraction that is set to open in the summer of 2016. This will definitely be another star attraction to Universal’s arsenal and is sure to have travelers raving about it once it opens! The next big bummer of the day had to be Jurassic Park! It was running but no one was riding as it was freezing outside. Sure, there were a few not so smart souls who decided to ride this get soaked water ride and were not so happy afterwards trying to dry off in the 50 degree air with the rest of the day in front of them. Not me!

Then there was the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It looked like everyone in the park was there. Everywhere you looked, people were huddled together trying to stay warm like cattle, while Muggles wandered around the streets drinking their Butterbeer and waving their wands at interactive activities. Inside the Three Broomsticks Inn and Pub, people were gathered at the bar ordering drinks while diners dined on warm dishes to warm themselves for the rest of the day to come. Most people were just taking shelter from the cold by the fire and others were busy taking photos to remember their adventures!

For the most part the rest of the park was still operational and Dr, Seuss’s was busy entertaining children as well as adults who wanted to take a ride with The Cat and the Hat. The park seemed to be busy, but I really don’t think people got their money’s worth on this day as many of the rides were either shut down for refurbishment or were to cold to ride at all. It was still a very beautiful adventure, but one that would have been better if the weather had been 25 degrees warmer.

On a good note, we did save quite a bit of money by purchasing our tickets through a discount tickets provider, “The Official Ticket Center” located over in Kissimmee and were able to buy discounted Disney tickets as well as discounted Universal Studios tickets. I recommend that you look them up if you are traveling to Orlando to visit the parks! Muggles wandered around the streets drinking their Butterbeer and waving their wands at interactive activities. Inside the Three Broomsticks Inn and Pub, people were gathered at the bar ordering drinks while diners dined on warm dishes to warm themselves for the rest of the day to come. Most people were just taking shelter from the cold by the fire and others were busy taking photos to remember their adventures!

For the most part the rest of the park was still operational and Dr, Seuss’s was busy entertaining children as well as adults who wanted to take a ride with The Cat and the Hat. The park seemed to be busy, but I really don’t think people got their money’s worth on this day as many of the rides were either shut down for refurbishment or were to cold to ride at all. It was still a very beautiful adventure, but one that would have been better if the weather had been 25 degrees warmer.

On a good note, we did save quite a bit of money by purchasing our tickets through a discount tickets provider, “The Official Ticket Center” located over in Kissimmee and were able to buy discount Disney tickets as well as discount Universal Studios tickets. I recommend that you look them up if you are traveling to Orlando to visit the parks!

Chasing the Big Discounts on Your Orlando Theme Park Tickets

With every major theme park in Orlando at or above the $100 level, travelers are taking to discount websites and travel forums for the best discount available. You might get lucky here and there at the Official park pages, but their discounts pretty much are for when you buy their products in a package. Yes, it would be nice to stay on property with a all inclusive deal, but at the end of the day, there really is no discount after everything is broken down to their bare ellement. This is why the savvy traveler will dissect everything down and start from there.The best way to get the deepest discounts is to first look at the lodging.

Many people will look at sites like Trivago or Priceline for accommodations, but many are finding that staying with a Vacation Rental Home works out best for pricing and amenities. Why pay big money for a small resort room when you can have a fully furnished home with private pool, hot tub and many with game rooms? A local company who has been around for almost 20 years may be able to help on your next visit. Magical Memories is a full service vacation rental home agency in Kissimmee, Florida and is just minutes from all of central Florida’s world famous theme parks.  With most of their homes within minutes from Disney, a smart traveler who wants the biggest bang for their buck might try this avenue on their next trip. This is especially affordable when traveling with family or friends who can share in the cost!

The next biggest cost would have to be the the park tickets to the attractions. This is probably the single most brain wracking thing a traveler has to think about for their vacation. With so many things to see and do while in Florida, one must take this chore very seriously. The biggest theme park in Orlando would have to be Walt Disney World. With four theme parks, two water parks and various other smaller attractions, Disney is the largest adventure one could take if that is the only thing on the itinerary. But we can’t stop there as there is the second largest destination, Universal Orlando Resort. With their two parks, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. One could also make this destination a one stop vacation if one doesn’t want to visit Disney. And lastly, we have SeaWorld Orlando. SeaWorld Orlando also owns Busch Gardens in Tampa as well as Discovery Cove in Orlando. So as you can see, if you want to see everything, you are going to need about a week to do these theme parks justice!

I can see the money just adding up with a week long vacation, so the next step is to find someone who can help out with the costs of these pesky little high priced theme park tickets. The first step is to find a reputable authorized ticket wholesaler. Now this is where it can get a little risky and especially if you do not know what you are doing. Normally you can search around online and visit a few chat forums and see who they recommend for discount theme park tickets. A few that have stood the test of time and are trust worthy site are www.intercot.com, www.dadsguidetowdw.com, www.getdowntodisness.com and www.wdwinfo.com. These are very informative sites that shed light on how to save time and money when booking your Disney vacation. The most important thing with these site is that they can give you a trust stamp of approval on everyone they work with and that goes a very long way! For discount Disney tickets and discount Universal Studios tickets, look at Kissimmee’s wholesaler, The Official Ticket Center. They are a authorized discount theme park ticket seller and are local.

Now that you know where to look for discounts, please take the time to plan accordingly and not buy more than you need for you vacation. Ask questions and most of all, pay attention to any hidden costs or if a company is not local. Most web sites are just that, a site and have no knowledge of local perks or are just a referral person! Call these people and see if you get a actual person. Ask if they sell the actual product. I have called a few places online to ask if they sell actual tickets for instance, only to be confronted by a recording and having to communicate by email or text. Watch out for companies like these or companies that only deal in vouchers. When you are able to speak with a company representative, you know they are legit and have skin in the game! It only takes one mistake to ruin a vacation, so trust in what other people have used and had good experiences with and shop local!

A Special Disney Tour Can Change Our Life as a Theme Park Fan For Sure

See firsthand how thousands of dedicated Cast Members make magic happen every day at Walt Disney World Resort.

See firsthand how thousands of dedicated Cast Members make magic happen every day at Walt Disney World Resort.

Visiting the WDW (Walt Disney World) Parks in Florida is a dream come true experience for many. But what if the world-famous rides, attractions and shows are just not enough for you? You might have seen most of them already in your earlier trips. And now as a returning visitor you will be looking for something new, something more special and unique. Never mind! The excitement at WDW is always new and refreshing. In fact the fun takes the most unusual leap whenever you set onboard a special WDW trip. Truly, the unique Disney World Tours or Behind-the-Scene Tours are just the right alternatives in taking your Disney Experience to the next level. It seems as if you are in a different Disney World altogether. And after you have taken a tour, your views about the Parks will never be the same any more.

Whether it’s all about discovering the secrets behind the Magic or getting more friendly and intimate with the favorite attractions, joining the crew and cast members right on the sets or learning the truth about the various surprising aspects, the Special Tours are meant to experience the Mouse in a completely different format. There are tours that are very specific such as The Magic Behind Our Steam Trains Tour or something broad, such as the Backstage Magic Tour that takes you all across the Disney property and enlightens you about the Company’s rich heritage and cast-member roles. There are some that give rare access, such as the Wild Africa Trek Tour that enables you to explore the most remote reaches of the Animal Kingdom Park and more.

I think it’s worth spending a little extra for your favorite Disney Tour. All that you need to do is a little research before choosing the right one for your family. It’s to be noted that specific Tour has specific requirements, including age restrictions and more. Also reservation is mandatory to avail most of the Tours and the same can be done by a phone call to 1-407-WDW-TOUR (1-407-939-8687).

The Special Tours are also seen as great marketing opportunities by many theme park businesses today, especially in spreading the message with a more personal touch. And indeed how inspiring it’s to hear such wonderful things straight from the mouth of those passionate and knowledgeable keepers (from Imaginneers to Disney Historians to Animal Experts) of the Magic. Thanks to all the exclusive WDW undertakings in making our life as a theme-park visitor so special.

Orlando vacations are always expensive. And tickets play a major role in influencing the same. But there are many other options available to help you stay on budget. And I suggest you to visit the authorized agents and brokers for some real savings. If you are looking for discounts on your Disney Tickets and passes to exclusive Orlando attractions and events, including discount Sea World and Universal Studios tickets and other special theme park packages you can also consult WDW recommended Kissimmee based ticket Re-Seller – The Official Ticket Center.