With more than 5,000 restaurants, Orlando’s dining options read like a
world map. Visitors from all over the world can find a taste of home here, with
international cuisines ranging from African to Vietnamese. All flavors of
American fare are represented as well, from Southern/Creole comfort foods and
entertaining dinner theatres to trendy wine bars and restaurants owned by
celebrity chefs.

Written by Stacy Gaffney, “Sorcerer Stacy” — Stacy is an expert in planning an affordable Disney and Orlando vacation.  Watch out for the magic, as Sorcerer Stacy plans your vacation!  Book your next Disney & Orlando vacation with Stacy at 877-918-8941 or stacy@destinationsinflorida.com.

Disney offers vacations all over the world with Adventures by Disney. These guided tours are offered on six continents- North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. These are great for adventurous couples looking to see the world! Adventures by Disney honeymoons are sure not to disappoint!

Europe- These are probably the most romantic destinations of the Adventures by Disney vacations. Some of the most romantic cities in the world such as Paris and Rome are included on these itineraries. You can even add a Mediterranean cruise to some of these itineraries. The destinations you can choose from include Tuscany, England & France, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, the Alps, Italy, and Scotland. Some of the romantic activities include cooking lessons in Tuscany or seeing the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

North America- These itineraries are perfect for adventurous and on-the-go couples and even winter-loving couples. The North American destinations include Alaska, Canada, Arizona & Utah, Mid-Atlantic, Southern California, and Wyoming. These trips are great ways to see parts of the United States you’ve never seen and not have to worry about anything because Disney has taken care of it all for you!

Central & South America- Couples wanting to head south can travel to Peru, the Galapagos Islands, or Costa Rica with Adventures by Disney. Couples on these itineraries can go zip-lining, see volcanoes, hike ancient ruins, or take in the natural beauty all around them.

Asia- There are two Adventures by Disney itineraries in Asia- China or Cambodia, Vietnam, & Laos. You can see pandas in China or climb the Great Wall of China. Couples can enjoy cooking lessons in Vietnam or practice Tai Chi in a park.

Africa- Africa has two countries with Adventures by Disney itineraries- Egypt and South Africa. See the pyramids in Egypt and cruise down the Nile River or get up close and personal at a wild game reserve in South Africa.

Australia- An Adventures by Disney is a great way to see The Land Down Under with a tour guide and all your arrangements made for you. Couples can snorkel the Great Barrier Reef and hike Ayers Rock. You can even see a koala bear up close!

One of the best parts of an Adventures by Disney is that everything is taken care of for you. Your hotel accommodations, food, and tour guide are all included which means you can just relax and enjoy your time celebrating your new life together.

Are you ready to plan your Adventures by Disney honeymoon? Email siera at siera@destinationsinflorida.com today!

Written by Siera Duiser, “Disney BridalEars” — Siera has grown up loving all things Disney!  She even had her very own Disney Fairytale Wedding in 2011. Now Siera enjoys Disney World with her own family.  Siera specializes in Disney weddings, honeymoons, and traveling with younger children.  Book your next vacation with Siera at siera@destinationsinflorida.com.

When approaching Pop Century, you might just say “WOW”!  This value priced resort is bright and colorful.  Each section has a theme that represents a decade from the 1950’s through the 1990’s.  All ten buildings have a huge nostalgic icon that’s perfect for taking pictures.  The lobby features big shadow boxes that contain memorabilia from different decades.  It’s fun to look and possibly recognize an item that your parents or grandparents had!  There is also a cute little lounge with a TV showing Disney Cartoons.  Pop Century features a huge game room and three swimming pools.

The check in desk located in Classic Hall is friendly and efficient.  The buildings are T shaped with an elevator at the center.  Ice and drink machines are centrally located.  You can take a short walk to the Art of Animation Resort by following the Generation Gap Bridge over Hourglass Lake.

Everything Pop food court area features a great selection of fresh, delicious meals.  Favorites are the “Mom’s night out” TV dinner, the POP waffles and the tie dyed cheesecake.  The food court can become congested, particularly during breakfast hours.  The large gift shop has a great assortment of Disney merchandise.

The rooms at Pop Century are fairly small but adequate.  They are clean and cheery, featuring a bath with a separate vanity/dressing area and privacy curtain. The resort was recently renovated with carpet, linens and color schemes.  Modern LCD televisions and small refrigerators were added as well!  Wi Fi is complimentary.  The housekeeping staff is great.  They sometimes leave cute towel animals for your kids!

Park transportation at Pop Century is one of the best.  Many other resorts have several bus stops but this one has one centrally located stop.  It works very well, especially with small children.

Although Pop Century lacks some of the amenities of Disney’s more expensive resorts, it is a fun resort experience.  Families will love all of the Disney magic and the convenience of staying onsite at a price that won’t break the bank!

Written by Sheri Morris, “Main Street Morris”    Sheri is proud grandmother with a keen eye for detail.  She specializes in Disney Travel for adults and RV travel.  Book your next vacation with Sheri at (804)405 5005 or at sheri@destinationsinflorida.com.

Harry Potter Park Shops

Check out the inside of Honeydukes, Zonkos, Owl Post, Dervish & Banges, and Filch’s Emporium at the new Harry Potter Park!

Honeydukes:
A must-stop for visitors to Hogsmeade, at Honeydukes the shelves are lined with all manner of colorful sweets, including Acid Pops, exploding bonbons, Cauldron Cakes, treacle fudge, Fizzing Whizzbees, and Chocolate Frogs, which contain a wizard trading card in each box. Inside the shop you can fill up a bag of Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavour Beans… who knows what tasty (or not so tasty) flavors you’ll discover! The shop also offers other classic favorites such as chocolates and fudge.

Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods:
Here you can see confiscated items and purchase Hogwarts and Quidditch clothing, house crest banners, movie prop replicas, chess sets, magical creature toys and other assorted treasures.

Purchase souvenirs such as Hogwarts clothing including jackets, t-shirts, sweatshirts, shoulder bags, caps and scarves; plus house crest banners, stationery and other gifts. There are authentic movie prop replicas including character walking sticks, Death Eater masks and film-based chess sets; assorted Quidditch clothing; magical creature toys and clothing; plus a variety of assorted toys and other souvenirs. It is also here, at the attraction’s exit, that guests can purchase a photo of their ride experience on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.

Zonko’s:
Zonko’s is your destination for novelty items, jokes and toys. At Zonko’s Joke Shop you can take home such items as a Sneakoscope, Extendable Ears, Screaming Yo-yos, a Boxing Telescope, Fanged Flyer, Pygmy Puff, Shrunken Heads, and more. There are sweets including Fainting Fancies, Fever Fudge, Nosebleed Nougat, and U-No-Poo. The shop also offers Zonko’s t-shirts, mugs, and other assorted souvenirs.

Dervish & Banges:
Be sure to stop at Dervish and Banges for such magical items as Sneakoscopes, Spectrespecs, Omnioculars, and The Monster Book of Monsters. Dervish and Banges carries all your Quidditch needs including t-shirts, Quaffles, Golden Snitches and brooms including the Nimbus 2001 and the Firebolt. You’ll find Hogwarts school uniforms and clothing including robes, scarves, ties, t-shirts and sweatshirts. The store offers an assortment of other merchandise such as journals and stationery items.

Be sure to stop at Dervish and Banges™ for such magical items as Sneakoscopes, Spectrespecs, Omnioculars, and The Monster Book of Monsters. Dervish and Banges carries all your Quidditch™ needs including t-shirts, Quaffles, Golden Snitches™ and brooms including the Nimbus 2001™ and the Firebolt. You’ll find Hogwarts™ school uniforms and clothing including robes, scarves, ties, t-shirts and sweatshirts. The store offers an assortment of other merchandise such as journals and stationery items.

Dumbo Ride at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World

Guests of all ages are invited to fly high in the sky with Dumbo The Flying Elephant in this classic attraction at Storybook Circus in New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom theme park.

Dumbo The Flying Elephant is inspired by the title character from the 1941 Disney animated motion picture. And now, you can fly like Dumbo, too! On this ride, you’ll take to the skies with Dumbo as he practices his newfound abilities.

During your aerial adventure around the circus, maneuver the easy-to-handle joystick inside your Dumbo gondola up or down to control just how high—or how low—you want to go. Guests of all ages are sure to love this magical, fantastical flight that offers great views of the vibrant Storybook Circus.

After the initial opening, this classic ride doubled in size—and fun—when Dumbo was joined by his twin in summer 2012 for a ride that features 2 squadrons of airborne pachyderms!

Here’s a short video of the Dumbo Ride at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World:

Magic Kingdom theme park, one of 4 Theme Parks in Walt Disney World Resort, captures the enchantment of fairy tales with exciting entertainment, classic attractions, backstage tours and beloved Disney Characters.
Designed like a wheel with the hub in front of Cinderella Castle, pathways spoke out across the 107 acres of Magic Kingdom theme park and lead to 6 whimsical lands of family fun!

Disney’s Vibe is the teen hangout on board each of the Disney ships.   Vibe is designated for youth ages 14-17.  Vibe can open as early as 10am and stay open until 2am.  Vibe includes multiple flat-screen televisions, videogames, board games, music listening stations, and DVD players.  Vibe even has its own pool deck on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.

    

Here are some of the activities available in Vibe:

• Dive into DJing- Hop on the turn tables and learn to scratch with Guest DJ Streak.
• ESPN Dream Team Draft Day- Join the “commissioner” and engage in this interactive fantasy basketball draft unlike anything you’ve ever seen.  Can you draft the basketball team of a lifetime?
• Gender Wars- Join your Vibe counselors as we see who reigns supreme in this ultimate battle of the sexes!
• Super Sloppy Science- Join Professor Make-O-Mess in some of the most extreme experiments you will ever see!
• Anyone Can Cook Pizza- Join our chef as he shows you how to make pizza.
• Zombified- A big shot Hollywood producer is putting the final touches on his latest big picture,      Zombified! Teens are invited to pitch in by performing as zombies in several scenes, as well as some of the speaking roles.
• That’s Hilarious- Do you friends all say you should be a stand up comedian?  Then come be a part of the cast of this wild improv show.
• Teen Dance Parties: Dance the night away to the hottest pop hits in an exclusive teen-only dance party!
• Teen Download- What does your Disney cruise have in store for you? Through the use of the latest media technology such as interactive web pages and videos, interact with other teens and counselors and design your very own dream vacation filled with activities, games, Port Adventures and down time.
• Ghost Voyagers- The ship is passing through mysterious waters of history and legend. Strange      occurrences have happened to several passengers in the past. Were these circumstances actual ghosts or just the imaginations of the people who witnessed them? Equipped with state-of-the-art ghost-hunting gear, it’s up to the “Ghost Voyagers” to find out.

Written by Shante Carson — Shante is a Disney Cruise Expert with over eight cruises taken on the Disney Dream, Disney Wonder, and Disney Fantasy.  Bon Voyage!  Shante is ready to help you plan your magical Disney Cruise vacation. Book your next vacation with Shante at 252-917-0497 or shante@destinationsinflorida.com.

Bonjour! Welcome to Paris, the city of love, and the location of the next stop on our tour of most romantic dining spots in Walt Disney World. Ok, you got me, we’re not actually in Paris, but the food and the atmosphere of Monsieur Paul will surely make you feel like you are dining in a quintessential French Bistro. Located in the France pavilion in Epcot, the entrance to Monsieur Paul can be a little tricky to find. Once you enter the pavilion you must walk all the way around Chefs de France, the other restaurant in the pavilion, before you reach a small, residential door adorned with a Bistro sign and menu. Then, you enter into a deep red-carpeted lobby with an art nouveau staircase that will lead you up to the restaurant. The dining room truly captures the romance and sophistication of classic French architecture with bright colors and a touch of modern design. The low ceilings and quiet ambiance create the perfect spot for an elegant and intimate dinner for two.

Monsieur Paul offers the traditions of French classical cuisine, created with the freshest ingredients, served at the perfect temperature, and prepared with just the right seasonings.

Menu items at Monsieur Paul may include such decadent items as black truffle soup, Lobster a l’Americaine, Herb-crusted rack of lamb, Grand Marnier soufflé, and Triple chocolate cake. At Monsieur Paul you will be sure to enjoy the classic dishes and techniques of French fare, all while being made with the freshest local ingredients.

Monsieur Paul is the perfect place to indulge in a glass of wine, they boast a superb wine list that features French wines from some of the most celebrated wine regions, like Southern France, Bourgogne and Bordeaux.

As being one of the few Epcot restaurants located on the second floor, Monsieur Paul offers you a unique vantage point of Epcot. As is true with all restaurants in Disney window-side tables are based on a first-come, first-served basis. If you schedule your dinner around 9pm and are lucky enough to get a window-side table that faces the World Showcase Lagoon then, you will be able to enjoy your meal while experiencing Epcot’s nightly fireworks show, Illuminations, Reflections of Earth.

Dinner at Monsieur Paul ranges in price from $36 to $59.99 and they do accept the Disney dining plan. To ensure you get a table, remember to make reservations up to 180 days in advance.

Only one more restaurant on my list of the most romantic dining spots in Walt Disney World! Any guesses of what will be number one on the list!?!

Written by Meghan Blair, the “Disney Foodie” — As a Florida Resident, Meghan combines her love of Disney and her love of food! She will give you the best restaurant and dining tips and suggestions to make your meals, just as magical as the rest of your vacation! Book your next vacation with Meghan at 954-328 7090 or meghan@destinationsinflorida.com.

Ready to discover the pyramids and ancient Egypt but not sure you want to make this trip on your own?

Adventures by Disney is definitely the way to go– your every detail will be taken care of for you as you discover this ancient land.

Adventures by Disney will take your family on a 10 day/9 night tour of Egypt.

Your family will join an Egyptologist for a privately guided tour of the treasures from King Tutankhamen’s tomb in the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities.  While your Junior Adventurers play an art detective activity. You’ll also visit the Citadel of Salah Al-Din and the Mosque of Muhammad.

Another day, join an Egyptologist for an unforgettable tour of the Great Pyramid and the Sphinx. Next, ride on camelback through the Giza plateau with a view of the pyramids. Then enter the Khufu Boat Museum and see the pharaoh’s ancient “sun boat.”

Then fly to magical Abu Simbel, which features a UNESCO World Heritage Site with two of the most magnificent temples in the world—the twin monuments of Nubia! Then, take the 3-night Nile cruise ship Tamr Henna from Aswan to Luxor while viewing the Temples of Philae and Edfu.

At the Temple of Luxor, you will view pharaohs and gods. Wander down the Avenue of the Sphinxes, the royal processional path that connects Luxor and Karnak temples.

Finally, your family will join another Egyptologist who will guide you into the famed location of over 60 tombs for pharaohs and nobles on the West Bank of the Nile. Get a premium ticket that includes two top tours: the tombs of both King Tutankhamen and Ramses VI! There’s also a private tour of the monumental Karnak temple complex.

These are just some of the highlights of your trip to Egypt with Adventures by Disney!  For more information and to book your Adventure by Disney, contact Diana at diana@destinationsinflorida.com today!

Written by Diana Edgar — Diana is an Adventures by Disney Expert on United States trips and around the world.  Are you ready for that once-in-a-lifetime vacation?  Diana is ready to help you plan your magical Disney vacation. Book your next vacation with Diana at diana@destinationsinflorida.com.

 

Casey’s Corner Pianist

This playful pianist bedazzles you with his impressive repertoire. Go ahead—make a request! He can play all sorts of Disney and ragtime tunes. The piano is located right outside the Casey’s Corner establishment and there are tables with umbrellas all around.  Watch him tickle the old ivories.  There is no wait for this experience. This is just another free live entertainment experience at Walt Disney World.

The ragtime piano sound can be heard as you round the corner from Main Street and it’s a treat for your ears that should not be missed. The talented musicians who play here have an amazing list of songs they can play and several of them have been at it for many years.

The piano is a professional upright with the hammers having been specially treated with liquid plastic for the honky-tonk style of play, allowing them to bounce of the strings more quickly. Be sure to stop by, listen and say hi to the piano players, some of whom have been there for more than 20 years.

Show times vary, so make sure you pick up a times guide from a Cast Member and don’t miss this great performance! Grab a coke, hot dog or popcorn, take a seat and enjoy!

Here’s a short video of the Casey’s Corner Pianist at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World:

Book your Disney & Orlando vacation with a local travel agency. World famous services, free gifts, guaranteed lowest prices, and all at no cost to you! Book your vacation with the local experts – we live where you’re traveling! Call 877-918-8941 or visit us online

Spring has hit Disneyland and there are some new Limited Time Magic. Disneyland Spring Fling begins today through March 31st.

Time to get hoppin’ when a well known floppy-eared friend arrives. You can visit the Easter Bunny in the Town Square on Main Street, U.S.A.  Of course you’ll be able to pose for pictures when visiting.

Head over to Disney California Adventure park for an Easter Egg Hunt. Russell and Dug have hidden oversized Easter eggs throughout Redwood Creek Challenge trail. There are clues to follow and puzzles to solve all to help you earn your very own Spring Egg-tivity Badge!

With all the Limited Time Magic at Disneyland this year, it’s the Year of the Ear. During the Disneyland Spring fling you can find and get your own Oswald The Lucky Rabbit ear hat. Check into Oswald’s Service Station in Disney California Adventure Park. Get there early so you can get yours!

Lastly, make sure you keep an eye out for a special bunny hop dance on Main Street, U.S.A. starring the Easter Bunny and friends, including the Dapper Dans, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse!

I hope this information has been helpful and fun. Contact me to plan your own trip to Disneyland Spring Fling, or any time you’re ready to visit!