Would it be worth the time and money to plan two trips; One to ride Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run and a later trip to ride Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance? It seems many fans chose to wait until both rides were open to visit Disneyland. The summer attendance there has been much lower than predicted.

Walt Disney World’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will be opening phase one with Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run will be opening on August 29, 2019. It was recently announced that phase two will be opening sooner than many expected, December 5, 2019, just over 3 months after phase one, on Walt Disney’s birthday. Disneyland’s phase two is set to open January 17, 2020.

We still do not know how Walt Disney World will handle the crowds at the opening in August or now again in December. We do know that there will be Extra, Extra Magic Hours for guests staying in a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel September 1-November 2. We also know there will not be Fastpasses available for either of these rides for the foreseeable future.

What I do know is this is going to mess up my December Walt Disney World vacation. We will be there December 5-8. We are not Star Wars fans, but we were hoping to check out the new land during our visit. With Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance opening on the day we arrive, I’m not sure what that is going to do for our plans to be in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. I am pretty sure we will avoid Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge but we may have to plan less time in that park on that trip.

If you are a Star Wars fan who has been waiting for the announcement for the phase 2 opening, now is the time to book your visit to Galaxy’s Edge. Email me and we will start planning!

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Minnie Van Service

photo courtesy of Disney David Roark, photographer

Starting later this month at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort and Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts, the Minnie Van service is a whimsical, point-to-point transportation service that will help guests get around Walt Disney World Resort in a jiffy. Guests can order their own private Disney vehicle right from their smartphone and a Disney Cast Member will drive them wherever they want to go around Walt Disney World Resort Resort. Reports say that this service is a $20 flat fee for up to 8 guests. This would be a great option for guests needing to get to a dining reservation!

Toy Story Land

photo courtesy of Disney

While we have known that Toy Story Land is in the works at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World, we didn’t have an opening date. We still don’t have a specific date but we do know it will open in the summer of 2018! This new land will include two new attractions Slinky Dog Dash, a family coaster, and Alien Swirling Saucers.

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway

photo courtesy of Disney

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway will be replacing The Great Movie Ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This will be the first ever Mickey Mouse themed ride through attraction. It is being created in what Disney is calling 2 1/2 D No Glasses Required. On Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, you’ll step through the movie screen and join Mickey and his friends like never before. The attraction will put you inside the wacky and unpredictable world of a Mickey Mouse Cartoon Short where you’re the star and anything can happen. This zany out-of-control adventure features surprising twists and turns, dazzling visual effects and mind-boggling transformations that happen before your very eyes.

While I enjoy The Great Movie Ride, it doesn’t fit in with the new vision for this park so I guess it is time to let it go. The Great Movie Ride is the last original, opening day attraction from the then Disney MGM Studios. The last ride will take place August 13, 2017.

Star Wars Land

The area that has been affectionately called Star Wars Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disneyland now has a name and an opening year. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will open sometime in 2019, with Disneyland opening first and Disney World opening later that year. Check out this video of this new out of this world land.

Other D23 Announcements

Other exciting announcements from D23 include:

• A new Space themed restaurant in Epcot.
• Guardians of the Galaxy E-Ticket attraction replacing Ellen’s Energy Adventure in Epcot.
• A Ratatouille attraction coming to France in Epcot.
• A Star Wars themed hotel.
• A new theater on Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom.
• A Tron themed attraction in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom.
• A new DVC resort-Disney Riviera Resort
• Disney Skyliner Transportation System at Walt Disney World

What we still don’t know…What will the new name of Disney’s Hollywood Studios be? What new country will be added to Epcot’s World Showcase and when will it open? If you have ideas, please share them in the comments/

Which announcements have you the most excited? For me it is the Tron attraction, Toy Story Land, the Ratatouille attraction, and the Space restaurant. If you are ready to plan your 2017 or 2018 Walt Disney World or Disneyland vacation just Email Me and we can get started.

The post Walt Disney World Coming Attractions appeared first on The Mom Maven.

photo courtesy of Disney

How Does Disney’s New Tiered Ticketing Seasons Work?

For years Disney has used Seasonal Pricing on their resort accommodations. The prices were based on seasons with rooms costing the least in Value season and the most in Holiday season. Now Disney is translating those seasons to their 1-day ticket prices as well. In Value season a 1-day ticket to the Magic Kingdom will cost $105, in Regular season it will cost $110 and in Peak season it will cost $124. Prices for the other 3 Walt Disney World Resort parks are slightly less at Value $97, Regular $102 and Peak $114.

In addition, although in the past 1-Day tickets for Walt Disney World Resort did not expire, 1-Day tickets sold on or after Sunday, Feb. 28 for Walt Disney World Resort will expire at the end of the next calendar year. For example, 1-day tickets sold in 2016 will expire on Dec. 31, 2017. The amount paid for an unused, expired ticket may be applied towards the purchase of a new ticket at the current price.

Each month is divided into value, regular and peak days with an 8-11 month calendar available for viewing online. Here’s an example, if you plan a visit for March, you’ll have a variety of options, including March 1-3 in the Value season, March 4-10 in the Regular season and March 11-31 in the Peak season. If you plan to visit during a peak period, like the spring break, you will pay more. Purchasing a 1-Day ticket in a non-peak period, or choosing multi-day ticket and annual passes, will provide additional flexibility and value.

How Does the New Disney Ticket Pricing Effect My Vacation?

Right now, it probably doesn’t. Currently, this price change only effects 1-day tickets not multi-day tickets. If you are coming to the parks for a 2+ day vacation, you will probably have a multi-day ticket and that isn’t included in this change. The 1-day Disney ticket has been the most expensive Disney ticket to buy for a few years now and it is one I never recommend to my travel clients.

Why is Disney Doing This?

In a nutshell, they are doing this to spread out visitation. Disney doesn’t want you to wait 2+ hours in line for an attraction. Unfortunately that is a regular occurrence during peak season. By offering a more expensive 1-day ticket during Peak season, Disney hopes to deter some of those guests into coming when the tickets are most expensive, theoretically helping to reduce crowds and shorten wait times. I am rather confident that in the future we will see tiered pricing on multi-day tickets as well and that is when I feel it will truly impact crowds.

I hope this helps clear up the muddy waters of Disney Parks new tiered 1-day ticket pricing structure. If you have any questions please leave me a comment or if you want to start planning your magical Disney vacation, fill out my travel quote request form.

The post New Pricing Structure for 1-Day Disney Tickets Announced appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Memorial Day weekend is the traditional start of family vacation time, and Walt Disney World Resort will launch into the season full force. The Magic Kingdom will be open 24 hours to guests from 6 a.m. to 6 a.m., Friday May 22 to Saturday, May 23*. Guests will be invited to come in costume to show their Disney Side while a selection of favorite attractions, entertainment, special event merchandise, plus food and beverage are on tap all night long to celebrate the start of the “Coolest Summer Ever” at Walt Disney World Resort. The around-the-clock celebration features Disney character greetings, dance parties and surprises into the wee hours of the night.

Photo courtesy of Disney Preston Mack, photographer

Our gang is already gearing up,and praying for cooler weather than last year. Unfortunately Disney didn’t move this event to a cooler time of the year so we need to prepare better. One thing we are planning to do this year is to park hop. Last year the Magic Kingdom was wall-to-wall people, especially from 10am-10pm. WE will still be spending about 12 hours in the Magic Kingdom but we will also hop to Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom in an attempt to miss some of the crazy crowds.

After the Memorial Day weekend kick-off, the Coolest Summer Ever continues with Olaf as the official host, Walt Disney World guests can get their cool on all summer long at four theme parks and two water parks.

Some of the highlights:

• Frozen Fun – “Frozen” Summer Fun LIVE will bring together Princess Anna, Queen Elsa, Kristoff and Olaf with citizens of Arendelle, all appearing daily in shows and experiences at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, June 17-Sept. 7. Guests will find cool thrills this summer including a royal processional, a sing-along show, Frozen-themed treats and merchandise, plus a Frozen fireworks display above Hollywood Blvd.
• Cool Thrill Rides – Guests will find thrills from mild to wild to out of this world in all four Walt Disney World theme parks. Don’t-miss attractions include Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom; Test Track presented by Chevrolet and Soarin’ at Epcot; Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom; Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith and Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
• Star Wars Weekends – Guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will find stars from another galaxy during Star Wars Weekends May 15-June 14.
• New Restaurants and Shopping – Throughout the summer, new waterfront dining and boutique shops flow into the Downtown Disney shopping/dining/entertainment district as its transformation into Disney Springs continues.
• Epcot Entertainment – New entertainment acts will appear throughout Epcot World Showcase, which also brings a fresh summery twist on a fan favorite, Voices of Liberty.
• A Splash at Water Parks – A cool new deal doubles the fun at Disney’s two iconic water parks – Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Blizzard Beach. Purchase a one-day water park ticket and park-hop between the two water parks in the same day that both are open.

For more information, visit Disneyworld.com/CoolestSummerEver and subscribe to The Mom Maven for all of the latest updates! Will you be at this year’s 24 hour party? Let me know, I’d love to meet up! Do you think we are crazy for going again, let me know that too!

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Disney Parks is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its iconic “it’s a small world” attraction with a global celebration that benefits UNICEF. Capturing the happy, peaceful spirit of children everywhere, the attraction, which debuted at the 1964 World’s Fair, now entertains guests at five Disney theme parks worldwide. Fans around the world are invited to join the celebration at SmallWorld50.com where they may record videos of themselves singing “it’s a small world” and create virtual dolls in the style of those from the attraction.  The celebration continues April 10, when hundreds of voices from the Disneyland Resort in California, Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, Tokyo Disney Resort in Japan, Disneyland Paris in France and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort will be united in a global sing-along.

photo courtesy of Disney Parks

I have already visited SmallWorld50.com and recorded myself singing and created my virtual doll. I hope you will take a few minutes and record yourself and/or your children singing this classic Disney tune.

It’s a Small World Fun Facts

• The “It’s a Small World” song was composed by Richard M. and Robert S. Sherman, the Academy Award®-winning composers of “Mary Poppins,” at the request of Walt Disney. Arranged and orchestrated with instruments from all over the world – bagpipes in the attraction’s Scotland scene, Peruvian reed flutes, Tahitian drums, etc. – the music not only provides accents to each scene, it underscores the attraction’s theme of unity.
• During a 16-hour operating day in the parks, the “It’s a Small World” song is played, on average, 1,200 times.
• After two hit seasons at the New York World’s Fair in 1964 and ’65, “it’s a small world” moved to Disneyland in California, where it was expanded and then reopened as a major attraction in 1966. Shipping stickers with 1965 dates can still be found on the back of some set pieces.
• During extensive refurbishments in 2004-2005, the clown piloting a hot air balloon in the “it’s a small world” Finale at Walt Disney World changed his demeanor. He now smiles and carries a balloon in his hand. Formerly, he frowned and carried a sign saying, “Help.”
• A team of 18 seamstresses, tailors and milliners worked for two years in the Creative Costuming shop at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World to create the dolls’ traditional costumes for Disneyland Paris. Authentic materials were used for each region, including silks for the Indian saris and fine wool for the Scottish bagpiper.
• Disneyland in California, Disneyland Paris and Tokyo Disneyland all have a holiday version of the attraction.
• Disneyland in California and Hong Kong Disneyland include “it’s a small world” dolls dressed as classic Disney Characters, including Ariel and Flounder (“The Little Mermaid”) in the Pacific Island scene; Mulan and Mushu (“Mulan”) in Asia; Aladdin and Jasmine (“Aladdin”) in the Middle East; and Donald Duck, Panchito and Jose Carioca (“The Three Caballeros”) in Latin America.
• With the 1992 opening of “it’s a small world” at Disneyland Paris, the cheerful “it’s a small world” anthem may be heard somewhere on the planet every hour of the day.

I know the song is stuck in your head now, so smile as you sing it all day long!

“It’s a Small World (After All)” Lyrics

It’s a world of laughter
A world of tears;
It’s a world of hopes
And a world of fears.
There’s so much that we share
That it’s time we’re aware

It’s a small world after all.
It’s a small world after all,
It’s a small world after all,
It’s a small world after all,
It’s a small, small world.

There is just one moon
And one golden sun
And a smile means
Friendship to ev’ry one.
Though the mountains divide
And the oceans are wide,
It’s a small world after all.

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Disney’s Ultimate Tweet

140 Disney characters gathered at Walt Disney World Resort today creating the Ultimate Tweet to announce the latest Disney Parks bi-coastal, all-night extravaganza; and guests are invited to show their “Disney Side” by dressing as their favorite Disney hero or villain. *

Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto and 135 of their friends came together to trumpet the countdown to “Rock Your Disney Side: 24-Hours” this Memorial Day Weekend, the traditional start of the family travel season, when guests of Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California can enjoy select parks for 24 hours nonstop.

The whole picture:

photo courtesy of Disney (David Roark, photographer)

The list of all 140 Disney Characters involved can be found on the Disney Parks Blog.

About the Rock Your Disney Side Party

The Magic Kingdom Park in Florida and Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park in California will be filled with great Disney heroes and villains from 6 a.m., May 23 to 6 a.m., May 24, 2014, local time** marking the beginning of a summer of fun at Disney Parks. The celebration on both coasts will feature a cavalcade of events showcasing the good-vs.-evil of classic Disney stories including character meet-and-greets throughout the parks, special entertainment, event merchandise, and food and beverage offerings. Along with the entertainment guests have grown to love every day, they’ll discover surprise additions and special events throughout the 24 hours.

What is Your Disney Side?

Everybody has two sides. There’s your normal, everyday side that goes to work, studies for school and doesn’t do anything crazy. But you also have another more fun side—your Disney side. That’s the side you simply can’t wait to share as a family. It’s the side of you that laughs more, screams more, says “yes” more and just plain lives life to the fullest. It’s the side of you that comes out to play the moment your family steps through the gates of a Disney Theme Park. So why wait? Share the magic right now and come show your Disney side!

The Disney Side of Summer Sweepstakes

Guests also can tweet how they plan to “Rock” their Disney Side this summer along with #DisneySideSweepsEntry for a chance to win a coast-to-coast 7-day / 6-night Disney Parks vacation for 4 and attend the Rock Your Disney Side 24-Hour event! One winner and three guests can enjoy a back-to-back stay at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida followed by Disneyland® Resort in California to join us for the “Rock Your Disney Side: 24-Hours.”

For more information on other ways to Show Your Disney Side, check out www.RockYourDisneySide.com

Why I am so Excited!

1. The party is being held May 23-24, 2014. May 25th is my birthday soooo I can spend my last days as a 49 year old celebrating with Mickey Mouse!!
2. Disney 24-hour events are epic!
3. I’ve been showing my Disney Side since my first visit to Walt Disney World in 1972 and I plan to show my Disney Side until long after I am gone because I have passed my love of all things Disney down to my children!
4. Spending 24-hours in a Disney park with friends and family creates memories that last forever!
5. I’ll be entering the sweepstakes everyday because a trip to Disneyland is on my bucket list but not in my budget and winning that contest would be an epic 50th birthday present.

So, do you think I’m crazy or do you want to join me at the Rock Your Disney Side event? I’d really love to know what you think about this event so please leave me a comment.

The post Rock Your Disney Side appeared first on The Mom Maven.

I have been hosting the weekly Mouse House Memories Monday Disney linky for about 2 years here at TheMomMaven. Each year we have tweaked the format a bit to meet the needs of both my readers and the other bloggers who link up. Today I would love YOUR feedback. As we move into the new year I’d love to know what you want from Mouse House Memories. To accomplish this I have created a brief survey that I would love for you to complete. It will take less than 5 minutes of your time and the input will help me decide how to move forward with Mouse House Memories in 2014.

Thanks for your input! Please share this page with your friends so that we can get a good cross section of the online community involved in the survey.

Happy New Year!!

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Happy Memorial Day! I am still celebrating my birthday weekend but I still wanted to share a bit of the magic from this weekend’s Monstrous Summer All-Nighter with you. I’ll be posting more about this event and the Disney Parks Blog Monstrous Meet-Up that we attended on Friday, but for now I want to share a video with you.

One of my favorite things about being part of the online Disney community is getting to spend time in the parks with my online friends. This weekend I got to spend time with John (BigFatPanda) Saccheri aka DisneyWorlds. John is a great guy and a lot of fun, he hit it off with my kids too and he had to edit out a lot of video of Jordan photo bombing his shots! John made this great video  overview of the Monstrous Summer All-Nighter and my family appears in it a few times so…enjoy the video.

Join Mouse House Memories

1. Write a post about Disney and add it to the Linky. Make sure you link to the actual post and not to your home page. Links that go to a home page will be deleted. Linky will be open Monday-Sunday of each week.
2. In your post mention that you are linking up to Mouse House Memories at TheMomMaven.com.
3. Optional but appreciated. Use the “Mouse House Memories Badge” at the top of this post  in your post, sidebar or blogroll and link back to the main Mouse House Memories post http://themommaven.com/2013/01/mouse-house-memories-2013/.

The post Mouse House Memories-Disney’s Monstrous Summer All-Nighter appeared first on The Mom Maven.

The production is performed several times a day in the Theater of the Stars on Sunset Blvd. Check your times guide for show times. The theater is a 1,500 seat covered amphitheater.

The stage show highlights all of the key moments and musical numbers from the movie. One of my favorites is the huge production number, “Be Our Guest”.

Is Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage a must-do for your family? Why or why not? Leave me a comment and let me know.

Join Mouse House Memories

1. Write a post about Disney and add it to the Linky. Make sure you link to the actual post and not to your home page. Links that go to a home page will be deleted. Linky will be open Monday-Sunday of each week.
2. In your post mention that you are linking up to Mouse House Memories at TheMomMaven.com.
3. Optional but appreciated. Use the “Mouse House Memories Badge” at the top of this post  in your post, sidebar or blogroll and link back to the main Mouse House Memories post http://themommaven.com/2013/01/mouse-house-memories-2013/.

The post Mouse House Memories: Beauty and the Beast Live On Stage appeared first on The Mom Maven.

On January 6, 2012 Disney announced that Test Track would be renovated and would re-open before the busy holiday season of 2012. The renovation would include a new skin on the current ride vehicles, now called “SimCars”, a much updated queue where guests can try their hand at designing a vehicle and then later virtually testing their vehicle’s ratings in efficiency, power, capability and responsiveness.

All of your car design data is stored on an RFID card which you carry with you through the line. When you arrive at the boarding area you tap your card on an RFID reader before entering your SimCar. Now the vehicle you designed is attached to your ride vehicle and at times during the ride, you will see whose vehicle creation fared best in certain categories.

As huge Test Track fans we were excited and very much looking forward to the upgraded Test Track 2.0. The new Test Track opened on December 6, 2012 and Jordan and I were there December 8, 2012 to ride. That day we waited almost 2 hours in line because the ride kept breaking down. When we got in line it was all the way back in the breezeway between the Electric Umbrella and Mouse Gears and there was a cast member telling us the ride had yet to come online for the day (the park had been open for about 30 minutes) and he didn’t know if or when it would. Since riding this particular ride was one of the 2 reasons we were there this particular day, we got in line and waited. Eventually we entered the clean, new queue and our adventure began. The design phase is fun and entertaining, a nice upgrade. Unfortunately for us, the ride was a bust. The same ride track as always but instead of all the cool test facilities everything looks like you are in a game of Tron. There is tons of cool neon and every so often there is a screen that ranks how your vehicles are faring in the different tests. Jordan and I got off the ride very disappointed. In January Ron and I rode the ride in the single rider line which has a much shorter wait, but you also only get to do a small portion of the car design. Ron was also underwhelmed with the new ride. Two weeks ago all of us except for Aaron and Summer waited in the long line to experience the full queue and ride the ride. Finally yesterday, Aaron and Summer waited 80 minutes in line and this is our text conversation about the ride.

I am sad to say that in our opinion…Test Track 2.0 is a huge disappointment. The queue is fun but not worth waiting 60 minutes plus for. Since Summer refuses to ride single rider, due to some social anxiety issues, we won’t be riding Test Track 2.0 very often in the future.

Is Test Track a family favorite of yours? Have you ridden Test Track 2.0 yet? What are your thoughts? Please leave me a comment and let me know your thoughts on this ride.

Join Mouse House Memories

1. Write a post about Disney and add it to the Linky. Make sure you link to the actual post and not to your home page. Links that go to a home page will be deleted. Linky will be open Monday-Sunday of each week.
2. In your post mention that you are linking up to Mouse House Memories at TheMomMaven.com.
3. Optional but appreciated. Use the “Mouse House Memories Badge” at the top of this post  in your post, sidebar or blogroll and link back to the main Mouse House Memories post http://themommaven.com/2013/01/mouse-house-memories-2013/.

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