Blog Posts Tagged activities

Introduction to the World of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

7/17/2020 • Blog, Walt Disney World • The Star Wars saga spans decades of storytelling. Having a brief background on the films helps when exploring Batuu at the Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. Timeline A long time ago, in a galaxy far away, the Galactic Republic maintained peace and order in the galaxy with Jedi knights and elected senators. *During the prequel trilogy (Episodes I - III), the Sith ( the “dark side”) gain control of the Republic and form the Galactic Empire. *In the original trilogy (Episodes IV-VI), the Rebellion fights against the empire and forms the New Republic. *In the final trilogy (Episodes VII-IX), remnants of the Galactic Empire return as the First Order and attempt to gain back control of the galaxy. The Resistance rises up for a final battle. Backstory The Galaxy’s Edge storyline takes place between the events of Episodes VIII and IX. Batuu is located in the Outer Rim of […]

Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along

6/25/2020 • Walt Disney World • One thing that we have learned over the past few months is that everyone loves joining a sing-along. It doesn’t matter your age nor your singing ability, the chance to join your voice with the lyrics of some of your favorite tunes resonates with all of us. The new Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along is located at the back of France in Epcot. This is another treasure that Disney has in the World Showcase that you won’t want to miss. Located indoors, it has the added benefits of the perfect place to cool off in the heat, warm up in the winter cold, relax your feet in comfortable seating, and a darker room for kids that need to slow down a bit and reenergize. You will want to enter the building well before the start of a show so that you can enjoy the memorabilia of French classic stories that […]

The Boardwalk Entertainment District

6/5/2020 • Walt Disney World • If you are looking for evening activities, head over to the Boardwalk resort area where you can experience shopping, restaurants, and entertainment. The Boardwalk is a short boat ride or walk from both Epcot and Hollywood Studios. It is a quarter of a mile-long promenade created around Crescent Lake and designed to look like a quaint Mid-Atlantic seaside village from the early 1900s. Crescent Lake is surrounded by 3 Deluxe category resorts (Yacht Club, Beach Club, and Boardwalk), restaurants, and a variety of entertainment venues.  You can stroll the Boardwalk any time of the day and enjoy the extras that are only a few steps out of your resort door. If you are a sports fan and want to watch your favorite NFL team on a Sunday or take in a big sporting event, you can stop in the ESPN Club which hosts live. Schedules vary so check out ESPN […]

Rise of the Resistance – Will You Escape?

5/26/2020 • Disneyland, Walt Disney World • For any Star Wars fan, visiting the planet Batuu on the outskirts of the galaxy is a dream come true and the ultimate ride is Disney’s Rise of the Resistance. This combines new technologies for a multi-layered experience. As a hugely popular ride, you will need to arrive before park opening to make sure you can get into their virtual queue called a Boarding Pass, the moment the park officially opens. Boarding passes allow you to enjoy the rest of Batuu and the parks until your turn to join the line. This can only be obtained through the My Disney Experience app on your smartphone. You can set your phone to alert you when your boarding group is called or watch My Status to find out when it’s time to get in line. If you are in the middle of an Oga’s reservation or building your own lightsaber or droid […]

Droid Building at Droid Depot in Galaxy’s Edge

4/14/2020 • Disneyland, Walt Disney World • One of the newer and most unique souvenir opportunities is building a custom droid at the Droid Depot in Galaxy’s Edge, in both Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Because this is such a unique and highly sought-after activity, I highly recommend having a reservation, as you may not be able to secure a spot as a walk-up. Another thing to keep in mind is what to do with your droid once you’ve made it. This location did not offer resort delivery or front of park pick up. We took advantage of our hopper passes and had my husband return them to the room. If you are cruising after your trip, you may want to check their guidelines for these as well as lightsabers prior to making reservations. As with any other Disney reservation, we recommend you check-in 15 minutes early. Upon entering the Droid Depot you are […]

The Animation Experience at the Conservation Station-Disney’s Animal Kingdom

3/20/2020 • Walt Disney World • Our love for Disney started with animation, and the first Disney films we enjoyed as a family, so it’s no wonder that animation classes at Disney parks have been “our thing” for years! Although Disney has closed the Animation Academy at Hollywood Studios, you can now draw with a Disney animator at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It’s an experience that artists of all ages can enjoy! Your adventure begins when you board a train headed for the Conservation Station. It’s a fun ride to get you to a remote area of the park to explore. You can choose to walk around and look at the conservation and educational stations set up, venture into the petting zoo, or enter the main building where you can try your hand at drawing a popular Disney animal character! As with all Disney animation classes, you are provided with a board, paper, and a pencil. They […]

Why runDisney for Beginner Runners?

3/13/2020 • Tips, Walt Disney World • I’ve never really considered myself a runner.  Athlete, sure. But runner? Not really. It was 3 years ago that my husband challenged me to a bucket list item that he had which was to run a half marathon.  A few glasses of wine later and a little thinking, I accepted...and quickly regretted it as all 13.1 miles slowly sank it.  It’s easy for me to say that now - with several runDisney races under my belt and knowing that with the proper training, the 13.1 miles were not only doable for a novice runner, but it was actually, dare I say it, FUN!  And I mean it, from looking around and seeing where you are running, to just feeling that extra pixie dust. It’s also magical!  So, why runDisney?  I write this for novice runners but also for experienced runners because the races are truly for everyone. I just […]

Navigating a Disney Split Day

2/8/2024 • Tips, Walt Disney World • A Disney vacation is such a thrill and getting started with your planning begins with the resort hotel you select for your stay. But what if you can’t decide on just one resort? Don’t worry; you aren’t alone! Many families are torn between two or more resorts for their trip. Fortunately for you, there is an option that will allow you to try multiple resorts— a Disney split stay! What is a split stay? A split stay is a change from one resort to another during the course of your uninterrupted trip. Want that amazing pool at Disney’s Beach Club resort, but also would love to give your child the experience of a room overlooking the African animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge? What about the ease of the monorail access at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, but also wanting the theming of a Cars suite at the Art of Animation […]

Libations and Disney Theme Parks

12/20/2019 • Walt Disney World • “Disney is just for kids” …at least that is what “they,” say. Ask any adult Disney lover and they will tell you, you’re wrong for so many reasons! Over the past few years, Disney World has changed to appeal even more to the adult crowd. With the offering of alcoholic drinks in the last few years at select restaurants, it has many guests giving a sigh and big “thank you”. Having only been available in one park in the past, the recent introduction of these adult drinks has been welcome for guests looking for additional options with their meal. If you are worried about the use of alcohol overtaking the feeling of magic in these reputable family-friendly parks, in my personal experience, I haven’t seen this be the case, especially in Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios. The reason I single out Epcot is because of the availability of […]