Today we’re going to head over to Universal Studios Orlando Resort and check out the brand new resort Cabana Bay Beach Resort.
A few nights at Universal Studios Orlando is a great add on to any Walt Disney World or cruise vacation and especially will appeal to families with slightly older children, tweens and teens.
The new Cabana Bay offers some fabulous unique features in a moderate price range making it a great choice for families. It has a fantastic multi-pool area with lazy river, family suites and is within walking distance to the Universal Parks with 1 hour early entry included for onsite guests.
Take a look at a few of these short videos highlighting all the property has to offer.
The annual EpcotÂź International Flower & Garden Festival is designed with something for everyone in the family: hands-on activities for all ages; how-to seminars from expert gardeners and Disney’s own team of master horticulturists and an exciting lineup of pop hit makers from the 1960s and ’70s appear every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Event Dates: March 4 – May 17, 2015 Event Tickets: Admission to EpcotÂź required.
It’s more than just Flowers though, as posted yesterday, a concert series takes place and of course there is FOOD!!!
Sample Kitchens from the 2014 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
Take your pick from gardenâgrown treats, savory meats and spring-inspired flavorsâincluding tempting TRYit! selections, featuring fun foods made with fresh ingredientsâthis year at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival!
Florida Fresh – Experience a taste of several fresh Florida ingredients, each grown and produced locally. It’s a perfect opportunity to treat your senses to some of the most delightful fruit and drink the Sunshine State has to offer! Florida Fresh can be found next to the Germany Pavilion.
Hanami – Journey near the Japan Pavilion where the annual ritual of admiring springtime flowers is in full bloom. From delectable bites to refreshing beverages, uncover how Hanami’s flavors reflect the season.
Jardin de Fiestas – Make your way near the Mexico Pavilion where the tapas are spring light and cooked just right. Don’t miss your chance to take part in this festival of flavors, complete with savory tacos and mouthwatering cocktails.
Fleur de Lys – Indulge your senses in extravagance at this tasty milieu influenced by the “flower of the lily.” Once a royal emblem used by the French monarchy, the symbol now serves as inspiration for this decadent stop where you can refine your palate with some of the France Pavilion’s most magnificent culinary masterpieces!
Lotus House – Hit the pavement near the China Pavilion for a garden-fresh take on springâinfluenced flavors. Appease your cravings with a wide variety of Chinese cuisine, including popular street foods and bubble tea!
Pineapple Promenade – Enjoy the Great White North with a tropical twist at the Canada side of World Showcase promenade. Then, get ready to hear your sweet tooth say, “thank you!” as you bite into all kinds of treats featuring this popular golden fruit.
Primavera Kitchen – Say, “Ciao!” to spring as you set sail for a land of gardenâfresh foods near the Italy Pavilion. On your stop, be sure to explore the countryside’s many flavorsâcaprese, manicotti, torte di ricotta and fine Italian wines.
Taste of Marrakesh – Embark on a trek near the Morocco Pavilion and educate your tastes on North African spices. Each unique flavor has been paired with fresh ingredients and can be sampled with Moroccan beer and wine at this garden oasis.
New! Urban Farm Eats – Honor the earth and all it grows with a refreshing selection from this location’s allânatural menu. Choose from a hearty array of foods and beverages, many of which have been cultivated entirely from the soil!
The Smokehouse: Barbecue and Brews – Celebrate the truly American tradition of slowâcooked flavors near The American Adventure Pavilion. Sink your teeth into savory barbecue meats and then pair each one off with craft brews from across the country.
The Buttercup Cottage – Delight in elegant afternoonâtea offerings and fresh garden flavors near the United Kingdom Pavilion. Drop by this charming locale to sample scrumptious treats, British teas and beverages inspired by lovely English fruits and fragrances.
Garden Rocks Concert Series To Debut at Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
A new concert series is among one of the many things you will encounter as the 22ndEpcotÂź International Flower & Garden Festival: A Spring Tradition returns to Walt Disney WorldÂź Resort March 4-May 17, 2015.
The new Garden Rocksâą Concert Series features 11 pop acts, including En Vogue, Little River Band, Jon Secada, Pablo Cruise and Taylor Dayne. Performances are at America Gardens Theatre at 5:30, 6:45 and 8 p.m. ever Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the festival. Check out this yearâs lineup (subject to change without notice):
March 6-8: Gin Blossoms
March 13-15: Pablo Cruise
March 20-22: En Vogue
March 27-29: Starship
April 3-5: The Orchestra starring former members of ELO
April 10-12: Village People
April 17-19: Jon Secada
April 24-26: The Guess Who
May 1-3: Taylor Dayne
May 8-10: Little River Band
May 15-17: Hermanâs Hermits starring Peter Noone
This concert series coincides with several promotions running right now for this time period including a fabulous “A Time to Treasure Travel Agency Exclusive” special. Let’s get planning!
In summer 2015, Disney Cruise Line Guests can immerse themselves in the animated hit âFrozenâ with brand-new experiences inspired by the film, including a spectacular deck party, a three-song stage show production number, new character meet and greets, storybook adventures ashore and more.
Debuting this summer, on select Disney Magic and Disney Wonder sailings to Europe and Alaska, you will be transported to the land of âFrozenâ when the ship is transformed into a winter wonderland for one day of frozen fun.
Experience family fun throughout the day with all-new meet and greets and themed experiences, including:
Memorable moments with Anna, Elsa, and for the first time in forever, Kristoff and Olaf
âAnnaâs Chase for the Chocolateâ scavenger hunt for those who share Annaâs sense of adventure, with a special surprise for finishing the game
âDo You Want to Build a Snowmanâ activity where kids take on Elsaâs magical powers to make snow and ice
âThe Maypole Swirl and Twirlâ for families to learn a traditional Scandinavian dance spinning and braiding giant ribbons
âFrozenâ themed dining experience, including a menu inspired by traditional Nordic fare and special dishes inspired by the film
 âFreezing the Night Away with Anna, Elsa and Friends,â a family-friendly interactive deck party featuring the famous royal sisters of Arendelle and their fun-loving Nordic companions.
Also on the Disney Magic this summer, friends from âFrozenâ will make their stage show debut at sea in the Walt Disney Theatre aboard the Disney Magic. In the Disney Cruise Line original production, âDisney Dreams … An Enchanted Classic,â Anna, Elsa and Olaf join the line up of beloved Disney characters who together teach a young girl the power of her dreams.
Guests who travel aboard the Disney Magic to Norway will have the opportunity to join exciting new Port Adventures that bring the fairytale setting of Arendelle to life. One signature adventure ashore in Ă lesund, Norway, created exclusively for Disney Cruise Line, will immerse Guests in the splendor and charm of Norway, with the help of Anna and Elsa, in an enchanting storybook village.
On the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy this summer, Olaf will be giving warm hugs when he joins Anna and Elsa on their royal tour of the Disney Cruise Line ships. Guests should check their Personal Navigator on the first day of their cruise for special Meet & Greet ticket distribution locations.
And, with the help of everyoneâs favorite snowman, Disney Cruise Line is cooling down Disney Castaway Cay with the addition of Olafâs Summertime Freeze bar. Serving non-alcoholic specialty frozen drinks, Olafâs Summertime Freeze opens summer 2015 near the Pelican Point tram stop by Disney Castaway Cay Family Beach.
So much Frozen Fun this summer. Don’t miss it! Contact me for a no obligation Disney Cruise Line quote today.
Head to Disneyâs Hollywood StudiosÂź at the Walt Disney WorldÂź Resort for an exclusive preview of the new live-action Disney feature âCinderella,â in theaters on March 13, 2015. This special speak peek will be presented at the parkâs ABC Sound Studio through March, 21, 2015.
In addition, get an up-close look at the original golden coach from the film. This stunning set piece will be on display in front of the movie theater façade on Streets of America at Disneyâs Hollywood Studios Feb. 1-April 11, 2015.
Disneyâs Polynesian Village Resort at the Walt Disney WorldÂź Resort is currently undergoing an exciting transformation!
The resort will include the largest Deluxe Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort. The 360 Deluxe Studios will sleep up to five Guests each and have the ability to connect to another Deluxe Studio. These rooms will feature a kitchenette, enhanced storage space, two separate bathroom areas â one a full bathroom with a tub/shower and one with a shower and sink. Plus, a pull-down armoire bed showcases painted artwork from the popular Disney film, âLilo and Stitch.â
The new Disney Vacation Club bungalows are the first of their kind on any Disney property. The 20 bungalows will sleep up to eight Guests each in a home-like setting reminiscent of the South Pacific.
Booking for non DVC members as regular room rentals begins February 11th, 2015, there will be very limited availability for the bungalows.
Beginning January 2015, add a little âcharacterâ to your Walt Disney WorldÂź Resort vacation experience with a variety of new graphic MagicBands.
Choose from the following options:
Ariel and Cinderella Castle (available Jan. 16, 2015)
Belle (available Jan. 23, 2015)
Tinkerbell and Toy Story (available Jan. 30, 2015)
 Ariel, Cinderella Castle, Belle, Tinker Bell and Buzz and Woody Retail MagicBand Coming to Walt Disney World Resort
These open edition MagicBands will be available at select merchandise locations at Walt Disney World Theme Parks, as well as at Downtown DisneyÂź. The MagicBands retail for $19.95 and will be sold in the new, standard retail packaging.
Ringing in the New Year at the Walt Disney WorldÂź Resort? Hereâs a reminder of some of the magical ways to welcome in 2015!
Countdown at Magic KingdomÂźPark
The new year kicks off with fireworks galore at Magic Kingdom Park. Along with âHoliday Wishes: Celebrate the Spirit of the Season,â enjoy âFantasy in the Skyâ fireworks, capped off with a breathtaking musical show. This special fireworks display will be presented on Dec. 30 and Dec. 31, 2014 at 11:50 p.m.
New Yearâs Around the Globe at EpcotÂź
All across World Showcase at Epcot, explore each countriesâ traditions at participating pavilions â including Morocco, Italy, China, France, the United Kingdom and the USA â soak up the sounds of favorite bands and DJs.
Plus, World Showcase promenade is the place to be as IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth lights up the sky with a message of peace and goodwill. Two showings of this nighttime spectacular will take place on New Yearâs Eve, at 6 p.m. and 11:40 p.m.
Celebrate at Disneyâs Hollywood StudiosÂź
Guests of all ages will enjoy the fabulous family-style fun and entertainment that New Yearâs Eve unreels at Disneyâs Hollywood Studios. Come nightfall on Dec. 31, 2014, the ârake and rollâ cover band Mulch, Sweat and Shears takes the stage for a set of iconic songs.
And, as midnight approaches, the evening ignites into an amazing shower of shimmering light. Watch in wonder as majestic fireworks glitter, glisten and inspire awe in one and all.
Dining and Entertainment at Downtown DisneyÂź
If you wish to enjoy New Yearâs Eve at Downtown Disney, please remember, as in previous years, there are no fireworks displays.
However, there are a variety of exciting offerings to enjoy this year at Downtown Disney, including special New Yearâs Eve food and beverage tents, merchandise stands and entertainment. Guests can also enjoy dining experiences, movies, bowling, Cirque du Soleil, shopping and more. Or, they can explore some of the newest offerings including the Food Trucks at Exposition Park and the flagship Starbucks location at Downtown Disney West Side, as well as the Marketplace Co-Op at the Downtown Disney Marketplace.
Great news from Disney World today announcing enhancements to their Photopass product. These changes make it so much easier to take advantage of photopass and eliminate the waiting in line to have the ride photos added to your account.
All Guests wearing active MagicBands will now have their attraction photos automatically associated to their My Disney Experience accounts. All unexpired photos are visible, so attraction photos taken within the previous 45 days will be included.
In addition, Guests without MagicBands can now associate attraction photos with RF-enabled media (e.g., park ticket, Memory Maker card) via new touch points at the photo preview walls. This functionality is currently available at:
Magic KingdomÂź Park (Buzz Lightyearâs Space Ranger SpinÂź, Space MountainÂź, Splash MountainÂź)
Disneyâs Hollywood StudiosŸ (Rock ân Roller CoasterŸ Staring Aerosmith, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terrorâą)
Implementation is scheduled to be complete at EpcotŸ (Test TrackŸ Presented by Chevrolet) and Disneyâs Animal KingdomŸ Theme Park (Dinosaur and Expedition EverestÂź) by mid-November.
Guests can also now see videos in their accounts that previously only Memory Maker Guests could access. All Guests wearing active MagicBands will have attraction videos automatically associated to their accounts. Attraction videos are currently available for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.
And, all Guests are eligible to have animated magic shots automatically associated to their accounts. Animated magic shots are special videos that appear in the Guestâs account after having their photo taken by a Disney PhotoPass photographer in select locations (locations and content subject to change). They feature a still photo of the travel party overlaid with a video appearance by an animated character.Â
All unexpired videos will be visible. Therefore, attraction videos and animated magic shots taken within the previous 45 days are included. All Guests are able to view their videos via their My Disney Experience account, but a Memory Maker entitlement is required to download them.
Memory Maker is well worth the cost with the ease of use now, especially with the ride photos and now even some videos included.