Category: Other

Since Walt Disney World’s opening year in 1971, the Electrical Water Pageant has dazzled guests. As it floats along the Seven Seas Lagoon, it visits each of the resorts on the monorail loop, as well as Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness. When Walt Disney World shut down in March these sparkling lights and whimsical music shut down with it, and did not return in July. But now, to end 2020 on a good note, it’s back.

Ivonne on our team went to Disney’s Polynesian Resort last night to catch the return of this beloved Disney tradition. Although The Great Ceremonial House is under major construction right now, it was nice to visit. Technically Disney’s policy states that only guests with confirmed dining reservations can park at the resort. But we’ve been able to visit resorts when having a mobile order placed on the MyDisneyExperience app, even if it is just a quick service meal.

Last night Ivonne placed a mobile order with Kona Café. We love the ability to order takeout from some of Disney’s resort hotel table service restaurants. Kona Cafe was one of the first to roll out this service. Speaking of roll, Kona Café is also one of the only table service restaurants to include their bread in your takeout order.

Ivonne order the Crispy Pork-Vegetable Pot Stickers and the Spicy Tuna Roll. The Pot Stickers are just $10.00. Served with a Soy-Vinaigrette Dressing they are bright and flavorful. These pot stickers got stuck together in the takeout container, but they were still tasty and had a nice crispy outside, and tender inside.

The Spicy Tuna Roll contained fresh, high quality tuna. A refreshing roll! At $18.00 it is priced higher than most sushi elsewhere, but the quality is there. Ivonne did not want the spicy mayo that normally comes on it, and surprisingly there was not a way for her to customize the order in the MyDisneyExperience app. So before checking in on the app to have her order prepared, she stopped at the podium to let the Cast Member know of her request, and it worked out great.

What a way to welcome back the Electrical Water Pageant, right? After mobile ordering takeout food from Kona Café and Ivonne was able to enjoy the show from a bench on the boat dock to watch the Pageant’s triumphant return.

If you want to watch the Electrical Water Pageant this is the best way to do so. You don’t have to head to the Polynesian either. Each of the resorts on the route of the Pageant have mobile order takeout options so you can grab a meal to-go and have dinner with a show. Make it even better and grab a drink to enjoy while watching the Pageant too.

Here’s the Electrical Water Pageant Schedule (All times are approximate and may vary by several minutes)

• Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort – beginning at 8:45 PM
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (including Narcoossee’s) – beginning at 9:00 PM
• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge – beginning at 9:30 PM
• Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground – beginning at 9:45 PM
• Disney’s Contemporary Resort – beginning at 10:00 PM

Everything we love about this little flotilla of fun is back. The quirky music, the Americana finale, it’s all there. As Ivonne waited for the Pageant to begin, she noticed the bridge of the new Grand Floridian walkway was up, to let the floats out of their holding area. And one of the “pilots” of the pageant gave her a little wave just before the show started. It seems the Cast Members are just as excited as we are to have this classic back on the Seven Seas Lagoon.

Have you ever watched the Electrical Water Pageant from one of the resorts? Are you excited for its return?

The post The Best Way to Welcome Back Disney’s Electrical Water Pageant appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com

Filed Under: Dining, Dos and Don’ts, Kona Cafe, News, Trip Planning, disney entertainment, Disney Polynesian, disney reopening, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, electrical water pageant

Although it doesn’t have large amounts of shopping compared to some Disney resort hotels, Disney’s Vero Beach Resort certainly wouldn’t feel complete without at least some ways for you to spend your money. Recently, our own Outlet Influencer Derek Burgan stopped by Vero Beach to do some window shopping. (And I’m sure he didn’t by aaaaanything at all…..)

With its proximity to sea turtle nesting grounds along the beach, it is not surprising that a lot of the Vero Beach merchandise has a sea turtle theme.

This includes Olu, the sea turtle friend of Duffy.

You can also find a small assortment of park merchandise as well.

And, for this time of year, there’s also some holiday-specific DVC- and Disney-themed items.

Are you a fan of the merchandise at Vero Beach? Let us know what you think in the comments.

The post Merchandise Finds at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com

Filed Under: Resorts, Walt Disney World (FL), Vero Beach

A small bit of DCL news dropped today with dates for sailings in late April and May 2022 for the Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream. No huge surprises for these — the Dream will be bouncing between 3-night and 4-night sailings to Nassau and Castaway Cay, and the Fantasy will be alternating on 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises.

In addition, guests booked on the June 28, 2021 9-night Alaska Disney Wonder sailing are eligible for a 10% discount when booking the a 7-night replacement cruise from June 28-July 5, 2021. Guests booked on the July 22, 2021 9-night Southern Caribbean on the Fantasy can book with a 10% discount for a 3-night Bahamas cruise (July 22-25, 2021), a 6-night Western Caribbean (July 25-July 31) or both.

For more information, contact your Disney travel agent. Need a Disney travel agent? May we suggest the TouringPlans travel agency.

The post Disney Cruise Line Itineraries for April and May 2022 appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com

Filed Under: Disney Cruise Line, disney cruise line

Sometimes it is fun to just take it all in while you’re at Walt Disney World. Recently, we spent an afternoon wandering around Magic Kingdom, and it was simply beautiful. Here’s some of what we saw to brighten your day.

The post Marvelous Magic Kingdom Afternoon appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com

Filed Under: Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World (FL), in the parks

The Morocco Pavilion at EPCOT has a special history, and has always offered an in-depth look at Moroccan culture. Now, things are changing, and we are hoping that culture immersion is not lost. This weekend we witnessed some changes now in place, and if you’re familiar with this pavilion, things are noticeably different.

The Morocco Pavilion was originally funded by the Kingdom of Morocco, and its design was managed by the kingdom. Each World Showcase pavilion received funding or at least approval from the respective country, particularly their tourism board, council, or other similar organization. The Morocco Pavilion, however, was the only one to have such a deal in which the country itself funded the entire pavilion and was so heavily involved in its development. This also meant that the entire pavilion was operated by a third party, and not Walt Disney World. In October a joint statement was released by Jacquee Wahler, VP Communications Walt Disney World Resort, and Rashid Choufani and Rachid Lyazidi, Operating Participants Morocco Pavilion:

“After many years of working together, we have a mutually agreed arrangement to begin the process of transitioning operations of the Morocco pavilion to Disney. By the end of the year, Disney will assume operations of this important part of EPCOT and under Disney’s operation, the pavilion will continue to honor the rich traditions and legacy it has since it opened.”

That last sentence is pretty important. Now that some changes have been implemented we can see, and judge, for ourselves as to if the “rich traditions and legacy” are being maintained. Let’s take a look at photos we captured this weekend. The big, noticeable difference so far is the merchandise.

The amount of merchandise in the shop at the front of the pavilion, as well as the marketplace, is now reduced. Although there is a good amount of merchandise that is culturally inspired, there is now Disney character merchandise, namely featuring characters from Aladdin. This issue with this is the animated film takes place in the fictional kingdom of Agrabah. Then again, looking over at the Norway Pavilion, Arendelle isn’t a real place either. At this point anything goes. Maybe we’ll soon see pavilion themed merchandise designed by Disney similar to what many of the other pavilions like Germany, Italy, and France have for sale.

One of the great features in many of the World Showcase pavilions is the ability to explore a museum. These museums have great exhibits that change fairly often. The Morocco Pavilion has such a museum, and it currently remains open. Here’s hoping it stays that way. It is important to note that the Moroccan Embassy and Morocco Tourism Board are still involved in the Morocco Pavilion, similar to other World Showcase pavilions.

Disney has assumed management of the food and beverage operations in this pavilion. Spice Road Table reopened with a new menu, with small plates only and specialty beverages. Stay tuned for a review about the new menu. Currently Spice Road Table is the only food and beverage restaurant open in the pavilion. Tangerine Café and Restaurant Marrakesh remain temporarily closed.

Have you ever explored the Morocco Pavilion? What do you think of these changes?

 

The post PHOTOS – Changes Have Arrived to EPCOT’s Morocco Pavilion appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com

Filed Under: Attractions, Epcot, News, Observations, epcot attractions, Epcot World Showcase