You can watch a trailer for the new movie Saving Mr. Banks, starring Tom Hanks as Walt Disney, here. The movie is about the process of Walt Disney securing the rights to make Mary Poppins from the protective author, P.L. Travers, played by Emma Thompson.
Early buzz is a bit mixed--let's face it, no one is ever going to play Walt as well as Walt did--but I'm excited to see a glimpse into Walt's world in the late 1950s and early 1960s...even if it is somewhat fictionalized.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
2014 Vacation Packages and Dining Plans Released
Walt Disney World has just released their vacation packages and dining plans for 2014. There are no major changes to the dining plans themselves, although there are--as expected--rate increases. Here are the prices for the various plans:
As for the vacation packages, Disney offers a Magic Your Way Premium Package and a MYW Platinum Package. You can contact the reservation line for more information. I only recommend purchasing a Disney package when there is some sort of discount or free offer (dining, gift card, etc.). Otherwise, these are not typically the best deal.
- Quick Service Dining Plan, per day (includes 2 quick service meals, 1 snack, and a refillable resort mug): $39.64 for adults (ages 10 and over); $15.75 for children (ages 3-9)
- Disney Dining Plan, per day (includes 1 table service meal, 1 quick service meal, 1 snack, and a refillable resort mug): $58.66 for adults; $18.88 for children
- Disney Deluxe Dining Plan, per day (includes 3 meals that can be used for table service or quick service, 2 snacks, and a refillable resort mug): $104.94 for adults; $29.51 for children
As for the vacation packages, Disney offers a Magic Your Way Premium Package and a MYW Platinum Package. You can contact the reservation line for more information. I only recommend purchasing a Disney package when there is some sort of discount or free offer (dining, gift card, etc.). Otherwise, these are not typically the best deal.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Refillable Mugs Just Got More Complicated
We've all seen it coming--the crackdown on those refillable mugs that are available at all the Walt Disney World resorts. Many years ago, you could walk into just about any of the Disney resorts with a mug from just about any other Disney resort from just about any year, and no one would even look at you sideways. (Sure, they were meant to be used for the length of your stay, but no one was really policing the process.) Not so today.
The evolution of the mug had some positives: various different resort mugs became one standardized resort mug, allowing guests to refill their mugs at any of the Disney resorts. But the negatives started creeping in. First, guests were limited on which drinks were included--sorry, parents of tots, but milk is no longer a refillable beverage. Then, Disney started getting all tech-savvy on us, creating the RFID chip mug that would allow guests to fill mugs only during the length of their stay--with a ten-minute delay between refills, presumably to ensure that only one individual was drinking one beverage at a time and NOT refilling another larger decanter to take into the Disney Parks for the day. (Not that I would ever try this...but I assure you that others would have.) Finally, we've come to the most radical and complicated version of the mug wars: the "Rapid Fill" program. Here are the rules:
Rapid Fill offers guests the option to use a refillable mug for a specific number of days (calendar days, not 24-hours from time of purchase). Prices are $8.99 for 1 day, $11.99 for 2 days, $14.99 for 3 days, and $17.99 for length of stay. (Yes, yet another price increase.) As with the current refillable mug program, these are included in the Disney Dining Plan. And, of course, you will not be permitted to use an old mug--you will need a new one for each stay. Drink stations will include LCD displays that let you know how many days of refills are left for your mug. Expect to see this program begin this month at the All-Star Value Resorts first, then expand to the other resorts.
As a very limited soda drinker, I haven't been a fan of the refillable mugs for some time now. (We thought they were a decent value when we could use them for milk for our toddler years ago.) These new tougher stipulations only strengthen my resolve to skip the mug purchase on future trips. I mean, really, based on those prices, can you drink your money's worth in soda during your stay? This Disney-loving family will continue packing our own beverages and carrying our own refillable, filtering water bottles.
The evolution of the mug had some positives: various different resort mugs became one standardized resort mug, allowing guests to refill their mugs at any of the Disney resorts. But the negatives started creeping in. First, guests were limited on which drinks were included--sorry, parents of tots, but milk is no longer a refillable beverage. Then, Disney started getting all tech-savvy on us, creating the RFID chip mug that would allow guests to fill mugs only during the length of their stay--with a ten-minute delay between refills, presumably to ensure that only one individual was drinking one beverage at a time and NOT refilling another larger decanter to take into the Disney Parks for the day. (Not that I would ever try this...but I assure you that others would have.) Finally, we've come to the most radical and complicated version of the mug wars: the "Rapid Fill" program. Here are the rules:
Rapid Fill offers guests the option to use a refillable mug for a specific number of days (calendar days, not 24-hours from time of purchase). Prices are $8.99 for 1 day, $11.99 for 2 days, $14.99 for 3 days, and $17.99 for length of stay. (Yes, yet another price increase.) As with the current refillable mug program, these are included in the Disney Dining Plan. And, of course, you will not be permitted to use an old mug--you will need a new one for each stay. Drink stations will include LCD displays that let you know how many days of refills are left for your mug. Expect to see this program begin this month at the All-Star Value Resorts first, then expand to the other resorts.
As a very limited soda drinker, I haven't been a fan of the refillable mugs for some time now. (We thought they were a decent value when we could use them for milk for our toddler years ago.) These new tougher stipulations only strengthen my resolve to skip the mug purchase on future trips. I mean, really, based on those prices, can you drink your money's worth in soda during your stay? This Disney-loving family will continue packing our own beverages and carrying our own refillable, filtering water bottles.
Friday, July 5, 2013
The Latest Limited Time Magic
The next installment of Limited Time Magic will be "Mickey's America Streetbeat." Here's the description straight from Disney's website:
This LTM will run from July 8 through July 14.
Soak up the sounds of a little Limited Time Magic as America Gardens Theatre comes alive at Epcot, thanks to the musical performances of "Mickey's America Streetbeat." For a limited time, join Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Donald as they come together with an energetic troupe of young performers—watch the fun unfold as they take part in an over-the-top display of hip hop, percussion and acrobatics. From the rhythm and tunes to the tap-dancing of their shoes, it's set to be one incredible jam you won't want to miss!
This LTM will run from July 8 through July 14.
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
WDW Railroad to Undergo Fall Refurbishment
Another bummer for us: the Walt Disney World Railroad will not be operating when we're next at the Parks. We're not really lamenting the loss of the ride experience but rather the transportation aspect. The railroad makes it easy to hop from one part of the Magic Kingdom to another quickly, all while giving your tired feet a rest and cooling you off in the breeze. We're definitely going to miss that! The train will be shut down from September 30 through October 20, reopening on October 21.
Monday, July 1, 2013
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