Tag Archives: Disney Experience

Garden Rocks Concert Series

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 22nd Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival: A Spring Tradition returns to Walt Disney World® Resort March 4-May 17, 2015.

The new Garden Rocks 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 year’s 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: Herman’s 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!

Cinderella Sneak Peek and Golden Coach

Head to Disney’s Hollywood Studios® at the Walt Disney dtnemail-Cinderella-Coach_Film-613x915-5e390World® Resort for an exclusive preview of the new live-action Disney feature “Cinderella,” in theaters on March 13, 2015. This special speak peek will be presented at the park’s 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 Disney’s Hollywood Studios Feb. 1-April 11, 2015.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Update

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort at the Walt Disney World® Resort is currently undergoing an exciting transformation!

The resort will include the largest Deluxe Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort. The 360 Deluxdtnemail-Polynesian_Villas-12860e 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 – 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, “Lilo and Stitch.”

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.

MyMagic+ and FastPass+

If you haven’t been to Walt Disney World in the last year, things…they are a changing! A new system has finally been completely rolled out although it’s still being tweaked and kinks are still being worked out.

MyMagic+ is a complete system of keeping all data together and simplifying the experience for guests. The My Disney Experience tool, MagicBands, FastPass+, all work together.

What is FastPass+

One of the big changes is to Disney’s FastPass system. The old familiar FastPass Ticket system is gone. All the ticket machines have been removed. FastPass+ is in full effect. Guests can book their Fastpass+ selections 60 days in advance for Resort guests and 30 days for non-resort guests. This gives an advantage to buying your tickets in advance and not waiting to get them at the park.

MagicBand

Guests can choose 3 FastPass+ selections limited to one park. Then, once they have used up those 3 experiences, they can book additional Fastpass+ attractions, one at a time at kiosks  in the parks. They are not limited to one park for the additional ones. So a guest could schedule their 3 for a morning in one park, then hop to another park and book at the kiosks there based on what is available.

Booking FastPass+

So how do you book these FassPass+ attractions? Using the My Disney Experience website or app on a smartphone or tablet. You sign up for an account and set everything up linking your reservation and ticket numbers. Have the lead person set it up, add your family and friends and then you can book the FastPass+ for everyone in your traveling party. You can use the app in the parks to check wait times and maps, and of course change your FastPass+ selections on the fly if you need/want to.

How does it work:

The system works by using an RFID (radio frequency identification) chip embedded on the tickets or in the Magic Band. Ticket media are now like credit cards with the chip embedded with your My Disney Experience profile and information. Magic Bands are a band/bracelet you wear embedded with the chip. Non resort guests can buy Magic Bands if they wish.

Magic Bands

Magic Bands are free to resort guests and can be customized by choosing colors and names printed on the inside of the band.  They ship out before your trip (or can be picked up at your resort at check in) and can be used right from your arrival at Orlando Airport for Disney’s Magical Express if you are using that option. You Magic Band is your Key to the World card. It will open your hotel room door, it is your park ticket and FastPass+ ticket, and it can be used with a pin number to make purchases and charge to your room. Your ADR’s (Advanced Dining Reservations) can also be stored booked through your My Disney Experience account and they will be listed there for you. The bands are comfortable to wear and waterproof.

MagicBands

If it all seems complicated and overwhelming, no worries. It’s not too bad once you get the hang of it and experience it and of course, a good Disney Travel Planner, like myself,  will do a lot of the set up and booking for you or with you, free of charge!