Kingdom Konsultant Travel Blog

It looks like Disney's Coronado Springs will be the latest resort to get the new RFID room keys. The new locks do not require you to insert and remove your Key to the World card into the lock to open the door. With the new RFID tags you simply touch your Key to the World card to the lock and the door will unlock.  Installation is expected to be completed by the end of September 2012. Epcot is now the second of Walt Disney World's theme parks to officially have free wi-fi for guests.  As you might remember Magic Kingdom and Typhoon Lagoon added the service not too long ago. Disney has said that Wi-Fi will ultimately be available in all parks, resorts and at Downtown Disney. . Looks like Disney is going full steam ahead with getting the entire WDW back in tip top condition. Sir Mickey's is going behind the scrims for an exterior refurbishment and will remain open while the work is being done. The Yachtsman Steakhouse at Disney's Yacht Club Resort will be temporar...

Thanks to everyone who participated in our first ever trivia contest yesterday! Here are the answers to the questions: 1. Approximately how many cast members are employed at Walt Disney World?      65,000! 2. In Walt Disney World, where can you find a Dole Whip?       Aloha Isle at the Magic Kingdom and Captain Cook's at Disney's Polynesian Resort 3. What are the names of the two new themed areas in the New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom?       Storybook Circus and the Enchanted Forest 4. Which attraction did Mission: SPACE replace?         Horizons 5. What is the name of the sea serpent who also serves as a water slide at Port Orleans French Quarter's Doubloon Lagoon pool ?         Scales 6. What is the single largest Disney attraction ever created?     ...

The most beautiful fountain, and it's on the Disney Fantasy!  Where's the prettiest fountain you've seen at Disney?

      Calling all Walt Disney World experts!  Let’s have some fun and test your  Walt Disney World knowledge!     Email your answers to the questions below to vacations@kingdomkonsultant.com  with the word "TRIVIA" as the subject. Please be sure to include your name in the email as well.  Those who have the most answers correct will be entered into a drawing for a Disney photo album from Kingdom Konsultants. Winner will be chosen at random and announced tomorrow!   1.      Approximately how many cast members are employed at Walt Disney World? 2.      In Walt Disney World, where can you find a Dole Whip? 3.      What are the names of the two new themed areas in the New Fantasyland at Magic      Kingdom? 4.      Which attraction did Mission: SPACE replace? 5.      Wh...

Characters in Flight at Downtown Disney.  Has anyone ever done it?

You’ve booked your package, you’ve made all of your Advanced Dining Reservations and maybe you’ve even started packing.   A Disney vacation is on the horizon and now comes the difficult task of waiting for it to begin.   While the planning is a lot of the fun, many Disney guests hit that point before their trip where there is simply nothing left to do, but wait.   And a wait for a Disney vacation to begin can feel like an eternity!   To help pass the time until the magic begins, take a look at some great ways to make the waiting game so much more fun!  Growing up we’ve all made the paper chains that we draped from the walls. Whether for a holiday or a birthday, or maybe a countdown to the last day of school, we can all relate with that joyous feeling of taking that last chain link down.   Why not make one for an upcoming Disney trip?   You can use the famous black, yellow and red colors to represent everyone’s favorite mouse. And if you’re feeling extr...

Photo from Disney Travel Professionals Reservations for the new Be Our Guest Restaurant opened up at 7:00 AM on 8/20/2012.  Phone lines became instantly jammed with hold times exceeding one hour, if you could even get through at all.  Many people reported redialing in excess of 100 times before getting through.  Even after all that effort, there were a number of people reporting that their call was dropped.  To make matters worse, the automated system was not asking for the credit card needed to make the reservation.  Cast members then stated that all reservations lacking a credit card would be automatically cancelled at midnight.  A few hours later they had figured out a way to add this information to an existing reservation without cancelling and rebooking.  This of course caused the phone lines to be jammed beyond capacity yet again.  In the end, Disney decided to waive the credit card guarantee.  Disney Cast Members are now t...

The best dessert at Disney World!  Oreo Bon Bons from Beach Club Concierge!  Where's your favorite dessert at Disney?

For those of you not familiar with Instagram, it’s a free app for Android camera phones, iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touch.  You can subscribe to someone’s photo stream and keep up with their updates. Every time we have an agent on a Disney Vacation, they’ll be posting live picture updates!  This week we’ve got 4 agents at Disneyland who are already posting pictures!   We've got another one on a 7 night Caribbean cruise on the Fantasy who will post when she gets back!  We've got more vacations and training coming up all the time! So follow us on your instagram account!  You can also see our photos online here: http://followgram.me/kingdomkonsultants

Surfing at Typhoon Lagoon!  Has anyone else ever tried it?

There are many benefits to staying on Disney Property. One of these benefits includes the option to add one of Disney’s Dining Plans to your package! Purchasing a dining package can save your family up to 30% on dining! When sitting down for dinner, my concern usually turns to how much the meal will cost. When purchasing the Disney Dining Plan, I can go into a restaurant without looking at the cost and just order according to what we love. If my husband wants the large steak meal for $30.00, I don’t need to think, “We only have $40.00 for dinner, what can I order to make this work.”   Other than paying for gratuities and alcohol, I would never need to reach into my wallet for food. Disney has 3 Dining Plans – Disney’s Quick-Service Dining Plan, Disney’s Dining Plan and Disney’s Deluxe Dining Plan. It really depends on your eating habits and how you conquer the parks as to which plan is perfect for your family! Does your family wake up at dawn to be at rope drop? Do your "...

The official Disney Parks Blog has filled in more details about the upcoming changes to Epcot's Boulangerie Pâtisserie as well as Bistro de Paris in the France Pavilion. The new bakery, currently under construction near the back of the pavilion will offer salads and sandwiches, along with the current baked goods selection.  They will also be adding a total of 90 seats to the dining area. The former Boulangerie Pâtisserie building will become home to a new Glacier ice cream parlor. Construction should be complete on Boulangerie Pâtisserie by late fall in 2012.   Bistro de Paris in Epcot's France Pavilion is currently closed for a three month refurbishment.  The refurbishment will reveal all new decor as well as a brand new menu. The official Disney Parks Blog today released an interview with Jermoe Bocuse, owner of the three France Pavilion restaurants, where he discusses the upcoming changes. "What’s the biggest change guests will see in ...

Look at this beautiful restaurant on the Disney Fantasy!  Which Disney restaurant on the cruise ships, Disneyland or Disney World do you think is the prettiest?

My favorite Disney resort on either coast!  What's yours?

Pirates of the Caribbean is scheduled to be closed for a one day refurbishment on October 9, 2012. There has been a good deal of work going on in the queue over the last few weeks and it is suspected that this one day closure will be used to complete this work. The official Disney Parks Blog  released some great concept art for Pete's Silly Sideshow in the new Fantasyland. Pete's Silly Sideshow will be located in Storybook Circus, and will be a meet and greet will include Minnie Magnifique, Madame Daisy Fortuna, The Great Goofini, and The Astounding Donaldo.  The queue will be split into two sides, one for Minnie and Daisy, and the other for Goofy and Donald. Picture from the Disney Parks Blog Disney has announced the official opening dates for the rest of the Fantasyland expansion. Under the Sea: Journey of The Little Mermaid, Be Our Guest Restaurant, Enchanted Tales with Belle, Ariel’s Grotto, Gaston’s Tavern and Bonjour! Village Gifts, Pete's Sill...

You never know where you're going to find Stitch!  What's the funniest encounter you've had with a character?

Yep, there's a flower in your snack on Disney's Wild Africa Trek!  What's the craziest food you've eaten at Disney?

There is increasing speculation around Epcot that the Garden Grill character lunch may return later this year. The Garden Grill stopped offering lunch a few years ago leaving dinner as the only meal served.  A series of recent tests have been undertaken, including some with tour groups, pointing to lunch making a return to this location.  Disney will be launching a new NextGen mobile app in August of 2012 for visitors to the Walt Disney World Resort.   “ My Disney Experience” will be available for iPhone, iPad, and Android, and will ultimately replace the existing   Disney Parks mobile app “Mobile Magic”  in early 2013.  The app will be free on each platform's app store. It is expected that the new app will include features that will be part of the   Next Generation FASTPASS RFID system , along with other enhancements.  The existing information available in Mobile Magic, such as wait times and maps, will continue to be part of the new app. Bl...