Building on the legacy of Pirates of the Caribbean attractions at Disney theme parks around the world, this new iteration reinvents the experience through a seamless blend of Disney storytelling and jaw-dropping technology. In this swashbuckling adventure, you embark on a thrilling journey with Captain Jack Sparrow as he attempts to steal a priceless treasure from the foreboding Davy Jones.
As you’ll discover in this new “Ride & Learn” video, Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure broke all kinds of new ground when it debuted with Shanghai Disneyland in 2016. Perhaps most astonishing among this attraction’s many innovations is its new, highly controlled ride system that allows your boat to spin, travel sideways and even move backward – it’s unlike anything you’ve ever encountered in Pirates of the Caribbean before!
Along this virtual ride, you’ll also learn much more about how Walt Disney Imagineering created the attraction, dive deeper into its story and gain insight into how this new version pays homage to its predecessors.
So avast, me hearties! Let’s set sail with Captain Jack!
If you’d like to learn even more about Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure, click here to visit its official webpage, which has all sorts of bounty about the attraction’s story and its inspiration. And be sure to keep checking back with us here at the Disney Parks Blog for more #DisneyMagicMoments!
The days of late nights in the parks are currently on pause. With a few exceptions, mainly on weekends, the Walt Disney World theme parks close around dinner time or shortly thereafter. If you’re used to spending your time enjoying the evening in the parks you may be looking for other ways to spend your evening. Here are some ideas for how to have an enjoyable evening at Walt Disney World even when the parks close a little early.
Head to Disney Springs
Stroll around Disney’s Boardwalk Resort area
Order dinner to-go from a resort restaurant
Make the latest dining reservation available
Browse the park’s merchandise shops at the front of the park
Enjoy your resort’s pool
Venture beyond Walt Disney World property
The obvious and most popular way to spend an evening at Disney would be at Disney Springs. If you’re staying at a Disney hotel there will be complimentary bus transportation to this incredible dining and shopping destination. Most of the restaurants and shops are open until 10:00 p.m. Do some browsing, have a delicious dinner, or do a little bar hopping. Our readers have submitted over 500,000 surveys and our site have ratings and information for every restaurant at Walt Disney World. Some of the highest ranked options at Disney Springs are: Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’, The BOATHOUSE, and Wine Bar George. For something casual, but still delicious, The Polite Pig and D-Luxe Burger are both highly rated.
Homecomin’ 1981 SaladDisney Springs as evening begins
Another great dining destination is Disney’s Boardwalk Resort area. If you’re spending time at EPCOT or Disney’s Hollywood Studios then you can easily walk to the Boardwalk area. This resort area has multiple deluxe hotels that surround the sparkling Crescent Lake. There are several restaurants here, a bakery, and a few merchandise shops. It’s even worth a trip just to enjoy the atmosphere and stroll around the hotels. Some locations are still temporarily closed, but there is still a good amount of dining options to enjoy. At Disney’s Beach Club the classic Beaches and Cream is perfect for an evening treat. Or grab a nightcap at the Crew’s Cup Lounge at the Yacht Club.
If you prefer not to dine at a restaurant right now, a great option is to order food to-go from participating resort restaurants, such as Sanaa at Animal Kingdom Lodge, Kona Cafe at the Polynesian, The Wave at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and Ale & Compass Restaurant at the Yacht Club. You can place your order via the MyDisneyExperience app and the app will notify you when your order is ready for pick up. Enjoy something from Kona Cafe and make your own picnic on the shores of the Seven Seas Lagoon at the resort’s beach area.
Seared Gnocci and Chocolate Flight To Go at The Wave
If are comfortable dining at a restaurant right now then consider making the latest available dining reservation in the park. Our team secured a 6:15 p.m. reservation at Liberty Tree Tavern at Magic Kingdom one evening and was treated to a nice, quiet evening stroll out of the park after enjoying a scrumptious meal. If you struggle to find the exact time and location you want for a reservation then use our free Reservation Finder tool.
Although the attractions no longer admit guests after closing time, the park’s large merchandise shops at the front of the park often remain open up to an hour after the published closing time. This is a great way to wind down, browse, and gain a little extra time in the park while the crowds clear out. For a more relaxing way to spend the evening, head back to your hotel and enjoy the pool.
Finally, if you’re truly a night owl and want to get out and explore, consider venturing beyond the magical bubble of Walt Disney World. If you’re near the West side of property, such as near Animal Kingdom, head our to US Highway 192. There’s lots of spots along this major road, but one of the best and newest destinations is Sunset Walk. This shopping and dining destination at the Margaritaville Orlando Resort has free parking and often has live entertainment in the evenings. If you’re towards the East side of property, near Disney Springs or Magic Kingdom, it’s a 10 -15 minute trip to International Drive. Two great destinations here with dining, shopping and entertainment are ICON Park (home of the ICON Wheel) and Pointe Orlando.
How do you like to spend the evening at Walt Disney World?
From our friends at touringplans.com Filed Under: Disney Springs, Dos and Don’ts, Drinking, Trip Planning, disney dining, disney drinks, Disney Tips, walt disney world hours
Disneyland is closed, but fans in Southern California can still get a small taste of the park at the Inside the Walt Disney Archives exhibit at Bowers Museum in Santa Ana. The exhibit celebrates 50 years of the Disney Archives with over 400 items. In this post we’ll walk you through the exhibit and take a look at some of the items.
Dumbo greets visitors as they enter the exhibition hall.
In the first room you’ll find a re-creation of the windows on the outside of the actual Disney Archives in Burbank.
This isn’t Walt Disney’s actual desk, but it is a recreation that was used in the movie, Saving Mr. Banks.
Many Disney theme park artifacts are on display, including these hitchhiking ghosts and tombstones that were retired from Haunted Mansion in Magic Kingdom.
Opening day tickets from each Disneyland-style park.
Here’s an animatronic Abraham Lincoln head from the 1964 New York World’s Fair. Not creepy at all!
R3X from Star Tours, before his current gig as a DJ in Oga’s Cantina.
Costumes from the theme parks and various Disney movies, including TRON Legacy, Dick Tracy, The Rocketeer, and many more are on display.
Besides Disney theme park artifacts, there’s many props and memorabilia from Disney and Fox films. Here’s the shrinking machine from Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.
Wilson from Cast Away. I can’t believe this movie is already 20 years old.
The actual storybook from the beginning of Cinderella. How cool is that?
The Inside the Walt Disney Archives exhibit wraps up with a re-creation of Legends Plaza from the Walt Disney Studios lot. Replicas of the famous Disney Legend handprints are on display, which was clearly planned in a pre-COVID-19 world. A large sign has been placed asking people to please not put their hands in the handprints.
The Bowers Museum is open every day except for Mondays. The cost is $23 for weekdays, and $25 on weekends, and tickets can be purchased in advance on their website. Bowers Museum is located around 6 miles away from Disneyland, so if you’ve got a craving to see theme park items on display, be sure to check it out.
Whether you are a long-time Walt Disney World guest looking to switch theme parks on your next trip or you are visiting Orlando for the first time, planning a visit to Universal Orlando Resort poses a lot of questions. In this article, we will cover each hotel in depth and help you choose the best hotel for your needs and budget.
Note: Universal uses the term “resort” and “hotel” almost interchangeably in the names of their hotels. We will be using the term “hotel” for each property and “resort” for the whole Universal Orlando Resort.
Loews Portofino Bay Resort – recreates Italian ambiance in the middle of Central Florida. Modeled after the seaside fishing town of Portofino in Northern Italy, the resort includes two pools, high-end dining, quiet stone-paved courtyards, and a gorgeous waterfront piazza. Portofino also is home to the only spa on Universal property. The two sit-down restaurants are Bice (high-end dining at a high-end price) and Mama Della’s (family-friendly Italian dining). Harbor Nights, a quarterly event, brings live entertainment, food, and drinks to the Portofino Bay marina courtyard.
Hard Rock Hotel brings attitude with rock memorabilia, contemporary music, and live shows in a Southern California-inspired hotel. Music permeates every aspect of the hotel – the resort pool features an underwater sound system and guests can rent guitars to play in their rooms, for free! The Velvet Lounge inside the lobby frequently hosts music sessions with bands. Sit-down dining includes the Palm Restaurant (a New York steakhouse) and The Kitchen (casual American fare). Hard Rock Hotel is the closest hotel to Universal Studios Florida.
Photo copyright Universal Orlando.
Loews Royal Pacific Resort takes inspiration from the South Pacific islands with lush foliage and bright decorations. The lobby features a large, exposed wood beam ceiling that leads to a central elephant fountain and the pool is anchored by part of a steamliner. Dining options include The Island Dining Room (featuring pan-Asian cuisine), Wantilan Luau, and Jake’s American Bar (a large beer selection with ex-pat American food). Jake’s American Bar also hosts frequent beer tastings throughout the year. Royal Pacific is the closest hotel to Islands of Adventure.
Loews Sapphire Falls Resortis inspired by Jamaica’s waterfalls and rum production and offers the feel of a relaxed Caribbean beach resort. Sapphire Falls offers unique features: Universal’s largest pool and the best resort bar, Strong Water Tavern. Sit-down dining is available at Amatista Cookhouse which features Caribbean cuisine, burgers, and flatbreads.
Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort takes the kitschy mid-century design of Atlantic seaboard motels and adds modern hotel luxuries. Cabana Bay features the most family friendly resort options with two pools, a water slide, a lazy river, a bowling alley, and movie nights. Bayline Diner is the resort’s primary food court and features a wide array of dining options from burgers to pizza to stir-fry. The tower rooms at Cabana Bay are the closest rooms to Volcano Bay.
Photograph courtesy Michael Carelli.
Universal’s Aventura Hotel is a sleek, modern high-rise hotel inspired by Miami skyscrapers. Hotel rooms are tablet controlled and allow guests to log in to their streaming media accounts to watch on the TVs. On top of the resort is Bar 17 Bistro which offers small plates, handmade cocktails, and spectacular 360-degree views of the resort. The Urban Pantry food hall is built around food stations serving Mexican, Asian, fresh pizzas, and burgers. Sometimes the “modern” design ends up being “plain”–think large white spaces with polished concrete flooring.
Universal’s Endless Summer Resort Surfside and Dockside offers a laid-back California beach vibe with surf- and pie- inspired design. The lobbies are airy and bright, with accents of waves, driftwood, and sunsets. Rooms are modern and functional with hooks for bags, under-bed storage, and modern TV entertainment systems. Each resort’s food courts offer the usual staples plus sandwiches, protein bowls, and lighter entrees. There are trade-offs; what you save in price you lose in room textiles, bedding, and amenities.
Okay, okay! Successfully touring the Universal parks does not require Express Pass (insert the shameless plug to our customized Touring Plans here) but they are still a nice perk to have. Universal’s Express Passes usually cost around $90 per person per day; we suggest pricing out a stay on-site versus another hotel and Express Passes for each day of your visit. A family of four staying at Loews Royal Pacific will often end up spending less than if they bought Express Passes and stayed at another hotel of similar quality.
Check out Universal’s Endless Summer’s two-bedroom suites, which give parents their own room. For slightly more per night, Cabana Bay’s Family Suites offer larger rooms and a more robust hotel experience.
Splurge Vacation
Loews Portofino Bay Resort or Hard Rock Hotel offers the best amenities, resort experience, and luxurious accommodations on property. Each also offers Club Level and suite options.
Quickest Walk to the Parks
Loews Royal Pacific Resort is the closest to Islands of Adventure and Hard Rock Hotel is the closest to Universal Studios Florida. Both Universal’s Aventura Hotel and Cabana Bay’s American wing are the closest to Volcano Bay.
A Cheap Place to Sleep (The HHN Hotel)
A standard room at Universal’s Endless Summer Resort is hard to beat.
Photograph courtesy Universal Orlando.
Quickest Access to I-4 and Walt Disney World
For pure speed, Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort is one right-hand turn onto Adventure Way that leads directly onto I-4 West towards Walt Disney World.
I Want a Hip, Modern Hotel
If you have the money we suggest Hard Rock Hotel with its modern amenities, recently updated rooms, and a rock’n’roll attitude. If you are on more of a budget then consider Aventura Hotel which features high-tech rooms and modern design.
A Romantic Get Away
Nothing beats a stay at Portofino Bay for romance and elegance.
Author’s Favorite Resorts
Royal Pacific and Cabana Bay – the hotel cluster there offers lots of options for pool hopping, checking out new restaurants, and visiting Strong Water Tavern. Royal Pacific includes Express and Cabana Bay’s value cannot be beaten.
Do you have questions about which Universal hotel to stay at? Leave your questions and comments below!
Halloween is only a few days away and Freeform has been serving up shivers and screams all month long with their “31 Nights of Halloween.” As the season turns towards the holidays, there is no better film to lift your spirits than Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Tomorrow, Oct. 29, at 5:00p/4:00c on Freeform we invite you to have your own watch party of this Halloween and Christmas crossover classic. So come take a sleigh ride with Jack Skellington, Sally, and Zero!
“What’s this? What’s This?”– Jack Skellington Sugar Cookies
If you are looking for a sweet treat to fill the empty place in your bones during this presentation of Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” we invite you to try this Sandy Claws-inspired snack. This fun and easy recipe comes direct from the kitchens at Disney Parks!
Dumbo greets visitors as they enter the exhibition hall.
In the first room you’ll find a re-creation of the windows on the outside of the actual Disney Archives in Burbank.
This isn’t Walt Disney’s actual desk, but it is a recreation that was used in the movie, Saving Mr. Banks.
Many Disney theme park artifacts are on display, including these hitchhiking ghosts and tombstones that were retired from Haunted Mansion in Magic Kingdom.
Opening day tickets from each Disneyland-style park.
Here’s an animatronic Abraham Lincoln head from the 1964 New York World’s Fair. Not creepy at all!
R3X from Star Tours, before his current gig as a DJ in Oga’s Cantina.
Costumes from the theme parks and various Disney movies, including TRON Legacy, Dick Tracy, The Rocketeer, and many more are on display.
Besides Disney theme park artifacts, there’s many props and memorabilia from Disney and Fox films. Here’s the shrinking machine from Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.
Wilson from Cast Away. I can’t believe this movie is already 20 years old.
The actual storybook from the beginning of Cinderella. How cool is that?
The Inside the Walt Disney Archives exhibit wraps up with a re-creation of Legends Plaza from the Walt Disney Studios lot. Replicas of the famous Disney Legend handprints are on display, which was clearly planned in a pre-COVID-19 world. A large sign has been placed asking people to please not put their hands in the handprints.
The Bowers Museum is open every day except for Mondays. The cost is $23 for weekdays, and $25 on weekends, and tickets can be 
