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Ears the News: July 28, 2017 Edition


Welcome to the latest edition of Ears the News

Brought to you by our friends at WDWMagic.com. 


Disney is upping the discount for Walt Disney World Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members from now through to September 30, 2017.

There is now a 30 percent discount (up from 20%) on regular price food and non-alcoholic beverages when dining during the dinner meal period before 6:30pm or after 8:30pm at the following locations:
  • Jiko at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge 
  • Flying Fish at Disney's BoardWalk Resort 
  • The Wave...of American Flavors at Disney's Contemporary Resort 
  • Citricos at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa 
  • The Grand Floridian Café at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa 
  • Olivia's Cafe at Disney's Old Key West Resort 
  • Boatwright's Dining Hall at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort Riverside 
  • The Turf Club Bar & Grill at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa 
  • Artist Point at Disney's Wilderness Lodge 
  • Captain's Grill at Disney's Yacht Club Resort 

Reservations are now open for the special premium events that take place during the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.

The festival runs this year from August 31 to November 13, with special ticketed events taking place most days.

Note that the Culinary Demonstrations and Beverage Seminars have increased in price this year from $15 including tax to $17 plus tax.

The Culinary Demonstrations will focus more on enhanced dishes and will no longer be paired with a wine sample and Beverage Seminars will receive larger sample pours.

Here are the links to book online:

Fun Finds in the Marketplace at Disney Springs is now closed for refurbishment. When it reopens, the store will have a new name and will sell Star wars merchandise.

The Star Wars section of Once Upon a Toy will close on July 31, 2017 to make way for a new experience.

Disney has announced that a new pub will debut alongside the new Grand Avenue area at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Capturing the spirit of present-day Downtown Los Angeles, the new Grand Avenue area will take the place of what is left of the Streets of America, and will showcase vintage office buildings and warehouses representing the different vibrant districts and cultures of the city. One prominent hot spot to spring up is the Baseline Tap House, a cheerful corner pub specializing in beer and wines from California.
Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com. 

In a quaint brick building, Baseline Tap House celebrates the revitalization of Downtown Los Angeles by paying homage to the building’s former life as the Figueroa Printing Company, a mom-and-pop print house that had ties to the Disney studios in nearby Burbank. The space retains many of its cool architectural and mechanical details with exposed walls and old printing equipment and artifacts, blending the past and present in an inviting space. Outside is a charming tree-shaded terrace, perfect for a relaxing break in the day.California craft ales, lagers and cider are the stars of the drink menu. California wines on tap along with specialty cocktails are not to be missed either. A gourmet non-alcoholic lemonade and soda on tap round out the drink selection.

Small bites will be on offer, including a Bavarian pretzel with mustard and beer-cheese fondue, spiced almonds or a charcuterie board featuring California cheeses.

An opening date in the fall of 2017 is planned.

A new version of the My Disney Experience brings full online check-in to the Walt Disney World Resort hotels.

The new check-in feature enables you to start the check-in process up to 60 days before arrival, bypassing the need to visit the front desk and giving you the opportunity to begin the vacation as soon as you set foot in Walt Disney World Resort.

You can make room requests, add credit card information and authorize charges, submit an estimated arrival time to help prompt room access, receive a notification when your room is ready and more.

You complete the check-in by unlocking your hotel room, when it is ready, using the MagicBands sent prior to arrival. The new version of My Disney Experience is available on iOS and Android. Check out the video below from the Disney Parks Blog to learn more about the update. 



Trouble viewing the video? Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Mission: SPACE will reopen August 13, 2017 with a brand new family friendly mission and a reduced height requirement.
Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com.

The Orange Mission will continue to offer an intense experience that lets you feel the force of an actual space launch en route to Mars. On this mission, you’ll dodge meteoroids, slingshot around the moon and attempt a precision landing on the Red Planet’s alien surface. This “mission” has been enhanced with new, HD video to make it even clearer. Height requirement remains at 44". 

The new family-friendly Green Mission takes you on an exciting orbit around Earth. On this new adventure, you’ll take in sites like the Hawaiian Islands, Italy’s “boot” and the Northern Lights—as seen from space, of course—before finally landing at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Younger astronauts can now ride – the height restriction will be changed for the Green Mission side with the addition of new X-2 booster seats allowing children 40" to ride.

A couple of changes are coming to the character meet and greet line-up at Disney's Animal Kingdom. 

First, Tarzan will be having his final appearance at the park on September 30, 2017. Second, Timon will begin appearing each day on Discovery Island from October 1, 2017.

Disney has modified the blackout dates for Silver and Weekday Select Annual Passes.

Silver Annual Passes are no longer blocked out August 1-10 and Weekday Select Annual Passes are no longer blocked out August 1-4 and August 7-10, 2017.

These changes will gives those passholders the opportunity to ride the soon-to-close Great Movie Ride and Universe of Energy.

Looking to plan your next trip to Walt Disney World? Contact the agents at Kingdom Konsultant Travel to help you plan your dream vacation. Email vacations@kingdomkonsultant.com for a free quote today.
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