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Downtown Disney to Expand into Disney Springs

A few years after it announced and then scrapped plans to reformat Pleasure Island, the official Disney Parks blog has revealed that Downtown Disney is getting an upgrade.  A years-long project will transform Downtown Disney into Disney Springs, an even larger shopping and entertainment district. Downtown Disney is so popular with Florida residents and Disney World guests alike that it was time to expand.  Don’t worry about suddenly needing a ticket to get into the area: just like before, Disney Springs will be open to the public (though individual entertainment venues still might require tickets for entrance). Tom Staggs, the … Continue reading →

Best Western Lake Buena Vista

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The Best Western Lake Buena Vista hotel is one of the Downtown Disney hotels that are not owned by Walt Disney World but part of an arrangement that considers them Disney World resorts. Reservations for these resorts can be made through the Disney Reservations office at (407) W-Disney like every other Disney resort and guests have the luxury of being able to take advantage of the Disney World transportation system from the doorstep of these hotels. Downtown Disney hotels offer the following to all of their guests: * Free transportation to all Disney World parks * Disney admission tickets available … Continue reading →

The Disney Blog Week in Review for April 7-13

It’s been a really interesting week here in the Disney blog between Valorie’s details from her vacation to what’s going on behind the scenes and much, much more. Did you read the Disney Blog this week? If you missed out on anything, here’s your chance to see our Disney Week in Review: Saturday, April 7 In what may seem like a controversial move, Disney Allows Same Sex Couples ‘Fairy Tale Wedding’ discusses what is being lauded in some corners and frowned on in others. This is not a first for Disney as they have long offered benefits to their employees … Continue reading →

Entertainment in Downtown Disney!

Yesterday, I wrote about how Downtown Disney is a fantastic place for the whole family but is not that well known yet. The family crowd tends to stick to the other four major theme parks leaving Downtown Disney unexplored. Don’t get me wrong. . .it can get pretty crowded on any given afternoon. But because it has been touted as the place to experience nightlife ‘Disney style’, it is often overlooked by the family set. I do have to say that since it is the place to experience Disney nightlife, not every thing is appropriate for the family with young … Continue reading →

Why We Love Downtown Disney!

It seems to me that everyone knows to do the four major theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Disney-MGM Studios and Epcot. Actually if you do all four parks your week will be filled. If you have time left you can check out one of Disney’s water parks to satisfy your swimming aficionados not to mention a whole slew of other attractions near Disney World; like Sea World to name one. But Downtown Disney is one of the ‘hidden’ gems of the Disney World experience. I say ‘hidden’ because it’s not entirely unknown, but it’s not nearly as popular as … Continue reading →

Pleasure Island Converting to Hyperion Wharf

Many of Pleasure Island’s restaurants will likely remain Change abounds at Disney World. In addition to all the other construction happening around the park, plans are underway for Downtown Disney. Soon Pleasure Island will be replaced with Hyperion Wharf. Those who love Pleasure Island shouldn’t fret: the language used by the announcement post on the official Disney Parks blog says that Pleasure Island will “evolve.” That could just be fancy PR talk to soothe any upset over the change, or it could mean that elements of Pleasure Island will remain. The Disney Parks blog doesn’t have much information about the … Continue reading →

Benefit Sale for the United Way

In some ways working as a Disney blogger has hurt my love of the company. Researching Disney in order to write more about it has clued me in to some corporate practices that I just don’t like. But I try not to talk about that too often; for all that I don’t want to just blindly praise everything Disney does, I don’t want to be a downer all the time. I’m really excited, then, about a post I just saw on the official Disney Parks blog. On November 6, Downtown Disney will host a benefit sale to support the United … Continue reading →

Family Travel—Taking a Trip to View Amazing Holiday Light Displays

There are those who complain about people who festoon their homes with Christmas decorations well before Thanksgiving. Not me. I love seeing holiday lights twinkling on cold, gloomy days when the sun is already setting at 4 in the afternoon. Our neighborhood, nay, the entire downtown area is sparkling with seasonal wattage. (It could be because our local holiday parade takes place tomorrow night.) And we’re not the only ones. Cities from coast to coast have their holiday light displays up and running. From Florida to Denver, Chicago to California, America is wired to host holiday travelers who love viewing … Continue reading →

Reservations Available for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

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Would your little one enjoy being transformed into a prince or a princess? Most of our little ones would enjoy that. Inside Cinderella’s Castle in the Magic Kingdom at Disney World, you will find a second Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique opening this September. There’s already one opened in Downtown Disney’s Marketplace. Featuring a magical garden setting, The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Magic Kingdom is based on the scene in the Cinderella film where Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother transforms her outfit into the brilliant silver and white ball gown. The shop is run by Fairy Godmothers-in-Training and at the end of each princess … Continue reading →

Zagat Names Soarin’ Best Attraction

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You know the Zagat guides? These great travel guides that give us access to all the interesting and charming things a city or location has to offer. This year, they’ve published their first ever Walt Disney World’s Insider Guide and named Epcot’s Soarin’ as the best overall attraction to visit. Having been on Soarin’, I have to agree wholeheartedly with Zagat on this. Soarin’ The Soarin’ attraction invites you to be strapped securely in your seats and then to experience the wonder of special effects and a screen that send you soaring across the countryside, beaches and mountains of California. … Continue reading →