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Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa: Telephone: 407-827-2727; reservations:
866-397-6516
Disney's Festival of Masters Welcomes Artist Graham Knuttel
Disney World ends free trick-or-treating event at Downtown Disney
Downtown Disney's Levy Restaurants plan fall signature dinners and cooking
demos
Apricot Lane Boutique at Downtown Disney Now Open
Changes slow to appear at Disney's Pleasure Island
Downtown Disney Brings New Experiences to Life for Guests with Splitsville
and Others
Disney's Pleasure Island makeover delayed indefinitely
Disney World passholders invited to summer sale
AMC Dine-In Theatres Takes Center Stage at AMC Downtown Disney 24
Fun Revs up at Downtown Disney During Car Masters Weekend May
13-15
Stars of ‘Cars 2' to rev engines at new Downtown Disney event
Renovated LEGO Imagination Center opens at Downtown Disney
Downtown Disney eatery hosts celebrity chef Tony Mantuano - sign up
today for his cooking class!
Pleasure Island: Construction work finally gives hope for Hyperion Wharf
future
Build-A-Dino store inside Downtown Disney’s T-Rex is rare
find
Love is in the Air at Downtown Disney - video
Families can ring in new year at DisneyQuest party
Vibrant Waterfront District Among Plans for Downtown Disney
First Look: Waterfront District ‘Hyperion Wharf’ Among Plans
for Downtown Disney
Pollo Campero and Babycakes NYC bakery open at Walt Disney World’s
Downtown Disney, replacing McDonald’s
Play Disney Epic Mickey at Festival of the Masters at Downtown
Disney
Early birds: Mark your calendar for Downtown Disney sale
Calling Disney DS and Wii gamers: Once Upon a Toy to debut media
room
Signs of life at Disney World's Pleasure Island
Disney May Make Over Pleasure Island - Disney Says To Expect Big Announcement
In 2 Weeks
Review: Cirque du Soleil’s ‘La Nouba’
'La Nouba' jumps into a new rope act
International Dragon Boat Festiva at Walt Disney World
Marvel superheroes for sale at Downtown Disney
Urban Pop Culture Meets Disney Product at D Street Now Open at Downtown
Disney West Side
Last Gooding’s supermarket in Chapter 11, faces eviction |
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Ridemakerz® Revs Into Downtown Disney Orlando With Over 649 Million
Ways to Trick-Out Radio Control Cars
New ‘La Nouba’ juggler deals in volume at Downtown Disney's
Cirque du Soleil
Downtown Disney Expands Retail, Dining and Entertainment Offerings with
Two New Stores, 3D Theater Technology and Restaurant Set to Open in
2010
Pocahontas was once envisioned for the Rivers of America and
Disney to keep DisneyQuest open!
Downtown Disney McDonald's to close
La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil Adds ‘Happy Hour’ to the
Party
Finding the fun at Disney Quest
Happy Haunting returns to Downtown Disney
Disney exhibit gives Diana royal treatment
Review of Paradiso 37 at Downtown Disney's Pleasure Island
Now at Downtown Disney: A peek into Princess Diana's world
Princess Diana exhibit opens at Disney
Princess Diana's dresses to be displayed at Downtown Disney - in the
old Virgin Records store. Tickets: $14.50; $5 for kids 3-9.
Revamped Holiday Inn Slated for Walt Disney World
Downtown Disney's new balloon ride offers the high life - with videoDisney's
new balloon ride offers the high life - with video
Gonna fly now: Balloon nearly ready for guests at Downtown Disney
Debut of Downtown Disney balloon rides pushed back
Cirque du Soleil and today's economy
Fashion boutique TrenD to open March 19 at Downtown Disney
Virgin Megastores, including Disney location, will shut down this
summer
Four stores close in Downtown Disney
A Harley-Davidson restaurant at the former Mannequins at Pleasure
Island?
Disney building new practice stage for youth groups at Downtown
Disney
Cirque du Soleil La Nouba at Downtown Disney photos
Downtown Disney and Hanes team up on T's
Club Libby Lu at Downtown Disney to close
Disney's new dinosaur-themed restaurant opens
Pleasure Island's grand finale
"The final night for all six [Pleasure Island] clubs -- Motion,
Mannequins, 8Trax, BET Soundstage Club, Comedy Warehouse and the Adventurers
Club -- will be next Saturday."
Downtown Disney's Portobello Yacht Club will close September 27 and
reopen October 13 as an Italian trattoria with a shorter name: "Portobello."
"The menu will shift from traditional Italian fare to food inspired by regional
Italian destinations such as Milan, Tuscany and Rome."
Beth, our travel agent, writes: Adult evening entertainment... "Don't forget about the Boardwalk area. There are several things going on over there in the evening that are a lot of fun and very much geared towards the adult crowd. The only down side is that there isn't any way to get back to your hotel late at night if you're not staying right in that area. You'd have to call a cab if you don't have a car with you. (It would be a cheap taxi ride, though.) And as John suggests, the deluxe resorts as well as Coronado Springs have lounges that get fun in the evenings. (Actually, all the moderate resorts have lounges, but Coronado's is a lot more interesting thanks to recent renovations as well as the fact that they have a convention center there that draws more of an adult crowd to that resort.)" (I think that might be a fun way to spend several evenings - visiting a different lounge every night! I just might have to write the "Walt Disney World Lounge Tour!")
"Walt Disney World is shutting down the six nightclubs at Pleasure
Island [September 27] to make its party district at Downtown Disney more
family friendly." Disney is also updating MarketPlace and Westside and plans
to add a tethered balloon that will take visitors 300 feet in to the air!
Beth, our travel agent, recently visited Walt Disney World: "June is the month for my 10-year-old daughter's annual solo trip to Grandma's house. Unfortunately, there are currently no airlines flying nonstop to Raleigh or Greensboro so we had to choose another departure point. For Disney lovers, the choice between Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando is an easy one. We drove to Orlando the day prior to her flight. Despite a short 'leg stretch' break, we still made it to Downtown Disney in an uneventful 3.5 hours and arrived at the Earl of Sandwich just in time for lunch. We were pleased to see that the line was short and seating was still ample - which was not the case a very short time later. The line, however, does move really fast even during peak meal time. Two thumbs up on both the food and the pricing. In fact, the yummy sandwiches are large enough that we could have shared one. Along with our shared dessert and beverage it would have been plenty and we could have come in under $10. As it was, with two drinks, a giant cupcake, and two sandwiches, we were just under $18 and we each had half a sandwich left for later. They were promptly tossed in my thermal lunch bag in the trunk of the car before we headed to Disney Quest on the other side of Downtown Disney. I'll readily admit this was our first time to DisneyQuest. It's true! We've been to Disney World more times than we can count and have just never made it over there. Honestly, I was having a hard time imagining that it was going to be worth $40 a person admission so I always seemed to come up with about 300 other things that had higher priority. This time, though, we were just at WDW for one night and I thought it was a good time to try it out. The fact that I had one admission usable from an old ticket helped, too. As you enter the lobby and pass through the turnstiles you're asked if you've ever been there before. If not, you're given a brief explanation of the elevators and told that the Genie will appear on the wall during your short trip up. I'm a tad claustrophobic and I didn't like being shut in that elevator at all... even in the dark when it's easier to pretend the thing is huge. Fortunately, there was no one else in there with us so I could move about a little and it really was a pretty short presentation. Out we popped on the third floor. A cast member greeted us and asked if we had any questions. I requested a map, but was told that there were none available to hand out. We were, however, led to a wall map and that helped. We quickly realized we needed to be on the ground level, but aside from the fact that the elevators were slow I wasn't anxious to get back in one so we took the stairs down. Amazingly, there was no line at all for the Jungle Cruise attraction so we had a very short wait. We were led to a four-man raft where my daughter seated herself in the front and I climbed in the back. We were each given a paddle, and then the raft lifted up as a giant air pillow inflated below us and the screen ahead came alive with animation. The idea is that you 'control' your raft with the sensor-embedded paddles, maneuvering your way through caverns and down white-water rapids in the quest for... well, I'm not exactly sure what - but it was fun! We even got splashed (just a little) each time we went over a drop. This attraction is entertaining and probably won't bother you even if you have a tendency towards motion sickness. It's fine even for the younger set. Then we checked out Pirates of the Caribbean. Long line, long wait. Was it worth it? Well, maybe once. After placing a 3-D apparatus over your head you're led onto the deck of your 'ship.' It really does feel like you're on a boat! One person is the designated captain and takes the wheel while the others man the canons. The captain 'steers' towards virtual pirate ships so that the gunners can fire at them, sink the ships, and take all the gold. It was amusing, I'll give it that. Our next stop was upstairs where we entered a song booth and created our own country western ditty. It was a fun thing to do together, good for all ages, and it's sort of cool to hear how the same lyrics can sound so different when the style of music is changed. We had the option of purchasing a CD of our masterpiece, but we declined and moved on. The animation drawing lessons start periodically and we didn't want to wait for the next class so we passed that one up. The line for the Astroblaster bumper cars was a long one so we just watched. It looked sort of fun, but as soon as my daughter discovered that the video games along the wall didn't require money to play she lost all interest in the bumper cars. I admit that I, too, got sucked into the idea that I could try to get high score on Galaga without digging for quarters. We played for a good 20 minutes or so before setting out to find Aladdin and check out those flying carpets. Sadly, an ill-fitting 3-D helmet made that experience rather uncomfortable for me. If you wear glasses, you might want to take them off (if you can still see well enough) or wear contacts. The attraction doesn't take too long, but I got an amazingly strong case of motion sickness from it and needed a break (and some aspirin) after that one. I think it was a combination of my glasses being smashed against my face, having to hold the front of the viewing thing up with one hand, and then the apparent motion of the virtual reality experience. No more flying carpets for me! Our next stop was the one my daughter had been waiting for: Virtual Space Mountain. There was no line at all for the creation part of the ride. We were shown to a control panel where you are able to design your own coaster. You can make it as scary or tame as you want to. At the end, your coaster is rated for intensity and you are given an idea of what the ride would be like. Then you take your credit card-like ID and head to part 2 of the attraction - and there was a rather lengthy line for this part. Eventually, it was our turn and we were led up a short flight of stairs and down to pod #8 where a cast member swiped my daughter's card and verified the name of her coaster. She was told to empty her pockets into a locker and was given the key on a wrist band. Then she was led into the pod itself and was harnessed in just like a real coaster. (I sat this one out. My tummy was still upset over the flying carpet adventure.) I stood outside the pod and watched my daughter's face on camera as she "rode" her coaster. I could also see what she was seeing on the screen ahead of her, so it was fun. Hers was a tame ride indeed, but I saw a few kids emerging with a distinctive green hue to their faces - no doubt a result of several high-speed drops and inversions. This is a fabulous attraction for serious coaster lovers, and you can purchase a DVD or tape of your ride afterwards if you care to. It can be intense, though, if you design it that way. We didn't get around to Ride the Comix, Alien Encounter, or Pinball Slam, but they all sounded equally fun. We both agreed that this is a really cool and entertaining thing to do on a hot afternoon - or a rainy one, although I hear the placed is packed when it rains. Allow at least 3-4 hours to play. (Yes, you can come back later the same day as long as you have your ticket with you.) The drive up from Naples was long and the virtual flying carpet experience took a lot out of me, so we decided to head to the hotel, Caribbean Beach Resort. Again, this was a first. I've visited, but never stayed there. We parked at the Custom House and found that the line at 4:00 was non-existent so it took mere minutes to check in and get back to the car. NOTE that if you don't have a car you are not allowed to take luggage on the internal bus (or any Disney bus, for that matter) so you'd have to give your baggage to the handlers to take to your room. It's probably going to be too far away for you to lug it by foot. We were in the Aruba section which is one of the closer ones to the check-in building and I was thankful to be driving rather than walking. All buildings are 2-story and there are no elevators. We trudged up the steps with our overnight bag and small cooler of bottled water and leftover lunch sandwiches, quickly found the room, and settled in. As I've said a million times before, the rooms are pretty much the same as in all the moderate resorts. I've heard they are technically slightly larger, but it's surely not enough to be noticeable. The water was tossed into the frig and we plopped down at the table to polish off the lunch leftovers. Yum. We then discussed our options and ultimately decided to drive over to the Winter Summerland miniature golf course. Those that buy a vacation package will find that they receive one pass per person to miniature golf when they arrive at their hotel and it's a nice savings. My daughter chose the winter course and it seemed odd to hear Christmas carols as we played our way through 18 fun holes in the 90 degree heat. Most of the course is shaded, though, and the sun had dropped a bit in the sky so it was really pretty pleasant. On the way out, we were each given a collectable golf ball, a tiny candy cane, and a small Sharpie marker. I have no idea what that was about, but it's always nice to get unexpected presents! Then off we went to Coronado Springs, just a short drive down the street. We started with the gift shop. My daughter was nearly desperate for one of those lollipops in the shape of Winnie the Pooh's head, but it seems Pooh pops are scarce these days so we gave up the search and headed for the Pepper Market, one of our favorite quick service locations on Disney property. After being seated by the hostess we were greeted by our server who quickly took our drink order, but was very slow to return with the drinks. My daughter waited at the table while I wandered over to the food stations to get our dinner. This time, we wised up and shared. We went with the bourbon chicken which is served with a mountain of stir-fried veggies and a great big bowl of rice (or noodles). That and two iced teas filled us both up. Total tab with tax and gratuity: $20 and change. (The food is great here, but pricey - which is what makes it such a good deal if you have the Disney dining plan.) Two changes I noted at Coronado since my last visit: a new (and VERY cool looking) cocktail lounge (Cafe Rix) which is adults only at night, but kids are permitted earlier; and Cafe Rix Cafe which replaced the grab-n-go spot near the Pepper Market entry. It's still grab-n-go, but with a much-expanded menu that includes some made-to-order hot items. Then back to the hotel we went. We changed into our bathing suits and walked to the closest pool. The main pool (with the water slide) continues to be closed while being completely replaced with what will probably end up being the best moderate resort pool area when done. We were fine with the regular pool, though. I'm pretty much always cold so even though the pool is heated it was too chilly for me to be comfortable. My daughter and the 10 or so other people in the large pool looked happy enough, though. After getting our exercise and drying off adequately, we donned our cover-ups and strolled across the bridge to Old Port Royale for the gift shop and food court. We started with dessert - a cupcake each and some iced tea to share (about $6 total) and then a bit of shopping. Still no Pooh pop, so we settled on a different lolly and grabbed some Mickey pretzels to take to Grandma (a real pretzel fan). At under $3 for a good sized bag, those pretzels are a bargain! Warning to parents with Webkinz addicted children: seemingly all the Disney gift shops now carry them so beware! Back to the room for showers and a good night's sleep before pulling out bright and early for the airport. We left at 7:35, and still no express check-out bill under the door. (That's the first time that's happened.) The drive to the airport is an easy one - as long as you have a big pocket of change for all the tolls. The line to check in an unaccompanied minor with Southwest held us up for about 30 minutes, but the lines at security weren't bad at all (which isn't always the case). We had an airport-quality breakfast near the gate (meaning over priced and not real tasty), but the flight was off right on time and I trudged back to the car to shell out my parking fee ($1 per 20 minutes) and start home. Many more tolls and about 4 hours later I was back home in front of my computer, another trip to WDW complete - albeit a brief one. Next scheduled trip: December '08 - but knowing us there will be another visit squeezed in before then."
"A man accused of helping supply makers of a pipe bomb that exploded
in a trash can near Downtown Disney last summer was arrested Wednesday by
federal firearms agents."
New restaurant to debut at Downtown Disney: "The 5,000-square-foot,
two-story facility will have a tequila bar and outdoor seating along Village
Lake."
"The Cheesecake Factory is closing its restaurant at DisneyQuest in
Downtown Disney [in May]... The restaurant will be replaced with FoodQuest,
a counter-service eatery owned and operated by Disney."
"Disney announced today that starting Feb. 24 Hannah Montana makeovers
will be offered at the Downtown Disney Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, Disney's
high-end fantasy spa for kids." Prices start at $110 + tax.
"A couple walking along the waterfront in Downtown Disney Thursday morning
said a gun-totting clown and another man, whose face was hidden behind a
dark hoodie, stole their cash."
Heavy Metal at Downtown Disney's House of Blues: "As local headbangers
might have noticed, metal shows (at least some of them) are getting the cold
shoulder at HOB lately."
"Two life-size dinosaurs will grace the outside and dozens more robotic dinosaurs
will decorate the interior of the T-Rex restaurant and store under
construction at Downtown Disney."
"Work has begun on Walt Disney World's latest full-service, themed restaurant,
the T-Rex, to be opened at Downtown Disney in a partnership with Landry's
Restaurants out of Houston... T-Rex is to become a full-menu, full-service
family-oriented restaurant, a genre that's oddly scarce at Downtown Disney."
Disney is no longer running buses from the Transportation and Ticket Center or the parks to Downtown Disney. Beth, our travel agent, writes: "There is no transportation of any sort between the Transportation and Ticket Center and Downtown Disney/Pleasure Island, nor is there apparently any transportation from Downtown Disney to any of the parks: too many people parking at Downtown Disney to get out of paying the parking fees. There IS, however, still transportation between Downtown Disney and all the resorts."
Except for the Hilton, the Downtown Disney Resort Hotels are no longer participating in or early entry. However, guests are guaranteed admission to the four Disney Theme Parks with a ticket or pass, even when the parks are full.
Discount for DisneyQuest: Guests have reported that occasionally there is someone at the kiosk across the street from the Ghiradelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop at Downtown Disney Marketplace who hands out 20% off coupons. Worth a look.
The AMC Theaters at Downtown Disney's Pleasure Island provide a state of the art movie-going experience. To buy AMC movie tickets online, see their movie schedule, view previews, and read reviews of current films, click here.
Look for a seating chart and other information on the Cirque du Soleil at their web site.
The Rainforest Cafe Safari Club offers discounts and priority seating. They have two locations at WDW (Animal Kingdom and Downtown Disney) and their food is excellent. You can apply for a membership at any Rainforest Cafe. Membership costs $10. To apply, stop by the restaurant the day before you plan to dine since the benefits are not available immediately. Other benefits include a $10 discount on your next meal (that makes the membership free) and 10% off merchandise at the gift shop. They will also send you discount offers on your anniversary and birthday. It's worth joining for priority seating as lines at WDW can be pretty long. You can't join the club at their web site, but they have lots of other information there. Click here.
WDW with teens! Send them to Downtown Disney. Teens can take in a movie at the AMC theaters and they'll really enjoy the video and virtual reality games at DisneyQuest.
FastPass is available to any visitor in the theme park and is free to use. Extra Magic Hours are for resort guests only. For more information about FastPass, click here. For more info about Extra Magic Hours, click here.
Where to buy a $3 cooler... The most convenient store near Walt Disney World is Goodings Supermarket (sells almost everything) at the Crossroads shopping center, just across from the Downtown Disney Resort Hotels. It's open 24 hours a day. Call 407/827-1200. ALL moderate and deluxe hotel rooms on Disney property now have dorm-sized refrigerators at no extra charge in them. Guests at the Value Resorts continue to pay $10 + tax to rent a small refrigerator. Disney doesn't charge for a refrigerator if the guest can demonstrate a medical need for one: to keep medicine cold, for example.
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