Update 6:35pm – Cleanup crews are beginning to move the fallen signage (photo from Brandon Langley)
Update 9:44pm – South bound Lane is open on World Drive. The sign has been moved to the side of the road.
Update 7:27pm – Monorails are also shut down at the moment and they are busing people to Epcot from the TTC.
We have an update on the current conditions on World Drive following a car accident earlier today which downed a large road sign.
According to News13.com, it appears one person was injured and taken to Celebration Hospital with with non-life-threatening injuries.
All southbound traffic on World Drive is being directed onto the Epcot off ramp. Traffic going north it’s down to 2 lanes to give emergency responders some space to deal with the scene.
Disney is also using busses to block a clear view of the incident.
In a story we broke to you last week, Sanaa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Kidani Village began a breakfast service just a few days ago. Sanaa has offered table service lunch and dinner since it opened in 2009, but never any sort of breakfast service. Kidani Village does not have its own counter service location, as guests staying there would have to find a way over to The Mara at Jambo House if they were looking for such fare.
Sanaa Breakfast
Here’s the menu, offered daily from 7AM to 10AM:
Grab ‘N’ Go Menu
Choice of freshly baked muffins, pastries, and croissants
Warm ceylon cinnamon rolls
Banana Bread with house made chocolate hazelnut spread
African breakfast cereal with brown sugar and raisins
Boerewors sausage and egg bobotie pie
Yogurt parfaits
Whole Fruit
Assorted cereal
Coffee and hot tea
Juice and milk
Casual Dining – Quick Service Menu
Savannah Platter – Two farm fresh eggs any sale, tomato chutney, Tanzanian hash browns and bacon
Boere Breakfast – Two farm fresh eggs any style, tomato chutney, Tanzanian hash browns, Boerewors sausage and bacon
Safari Waffle – Waffle topped with seasonal berries and chai whipped cream
Sunrise Sandwich – Egg, ham, and cheddar cheese served on a croissant
Fruit Sosatie – With Quinoa and dried fruit salad
Kids Explorer Platter – One farm fresh egg any style, hash browns, and bacon
Kids Mickey Waffle – Two Mickey waffles and bacon
Below you can see the menu that is handed to guests upon entering Sanaa for breakfast:
Sanaa Breakfast Menu
Sanaa Breakfast
One section of the seating area is converted into the checkout area for the counter service breakfast. Grab ‘N’ Go options are readily available, but otherwise guests can order food items, pay, and then have a seat and wait for the food to be delivered to their table.
Sanaa Breakfast
Sanaa Breakfast
Sanaa Breakfast
More on this banana bread with chocolate hazelnut spread shortly…
Guests are given an animal with a number to take to their table while they wait for their food. The Sanaa seating area is pretty much wide open for guest seating.
Banana Bread with Chocolate Hazelnut Spread – $3.79
Banana Bread with Chocolate Hazelnut Spread – $3.79
For $3.79, this is a great deal. It includes four pieces of banana bread (which is baked to perfection) and a house made hazelnut spread. The flavors compliment each other nicely and this is a great morning snack option for guests.
Banana Bread with Chocolate Hazelnut Spread – $3.79
Boere Breakfast – $8.99
Boere Breakfast – $8.99
The Boere Breakfast includes two eggs any style, tomato chutney, Tanzanian hash browns, Boerewors sausage and bacon. Disney counter service eggs are all the same, but I was a really big fan of everything else on this plate. The Tanzanian hash browns were near perfection when paired with the tomato chutney. The sausage was a little dry, but overall, everything was really good.
Boere Breakfast – $8.99
Fruit Sosatie with Quinoa and dried fruit salad – $8.99
Fruit Sosatie with Quinoa and dried fruit salad – $8.99
The Fruit Sosatie is generally not something I would order, but for the sake of “blogability”, we went for it here. I will say I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this. The Quinoa and dried fruit salad was a highlight, but all of the fruit was fresh and enjoyable as well. If you are looking for a vegetarian option, or just something light before you meander around a theme park for hours, this is a great choice.
Fruit Sosatie with Quinoa and dried fruit salad – $8.99
OVERALL
Sanaa breakfast was a delight, and I would expect nothing less based on my experiences here for lunch and dinner. Breakfast service was a little slow, but as to be expected during the first week of a new offering. The most pleasant part was sitting at a savannah window while enjoying breakfast, something you can’t do elsewhere at the resort surprisingly.
Sanaa Breakfast
Sanaa offers up one of the better, if not the best resort breakfasts around Walt Disney World. The value also felt pretty solid, and they even accepted the Tables in Wonderland discount which was unexpected. If you are looking for a good breakfast in a quiet and serene environment at Walt Disney World, those are few and far between, but Sanaa is currently excelling at it.
Our latest photo report takes us to the Magic Kingdom to see the latest goings on. The 45th anniversary is looming, with several attractions in the park being refurbished, or in some cases preparing to close for a while. Oh, and there’s refillable popcorn still…
The Magic Kingdom 45th Anniversary Merchandise
On Thursday, stores around the Magic Kingdom began carrying 45th Anniversary merchandise ahead of the October 1st celebration coming up this weekend. We have a full guide available to the dozens of new items in a separate post, but there is also a video walkthrough of the entire line available:
Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse Refurbishment Extended
Since it is probably the most extensive refurbishment in the history of the attraction, the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse will not be open for its 45th birthday on October 1st. The new date Disney is telling cast members is simply “late October”.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Refurbishment
The refurbishment of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at the Magic Kingdom rolls on, set to reopen November 19th, 2016.
Who Wants Popcorn?
A new Halloween popcorn bucket on sale around the resort.
The refillable popcorn bucket promotion was indefinitely extended, buckets are now good for $1.50 refills for length of stay. This means that as long as you have a bucket and they continue this promotion, you can get a $1.50 refill of popcorn.
This and That
After many months out of stock, the Magic Kingdom ornament is finally back!
The repainting of the castle and installation of the holiday lights continues.
Some tarps are still up at the Haunted Mansion.
I’m happy to report that “it’s a small world” was doing much better this week, with many effects fixed, including the South American sun which has been broken for almost a year.
Color Return to Storybook Circus
The Florida sun fades things fast, so it was sad to see the banners in Storybook Circus fading away so quickly. Disney has started to replace the banners again, making the area look fresh and vibrant.
This larger banner hasn’t been replaced yet.
There are still many left to go…
Chip and Dale have moved to a new home in Storybook Circus during the day. The space is already set up for meet and greets for the Halloween Party.
iPhone 7 and 7 Plus Cases
D-Tech on Demand at the Tomorrowland Light and Power Co. has rolled out cases for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus.
There was also one new design we spotted on our most recent visit.
There was absolutely no one waiting for the show when we went in.
The place is kind of falling apart, a staple of seasonal attractions at the end of their lifespan. I recall Horizons at Epcot being mostly broken in my later experiences riding it after it had gone seasonal.
A few people did show up before showtime.
While I am happy to see Stitch on its way out, I am sad to see the remnants of Alien Encounter do the same.
Tomorrowland Rocks
The rock painting at the entrance of Tomorrowland continues. The small rocks on the shoreline have been painted a normal grey rock color.
The island in front of Tomorrowland has been turned to dirt. It should be interesting to see what they do here.
Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland Park kicked off on Friday night, bringing with it a new parade, updated fireworks, and more to the Disneyland Resort for the Halloween Time season. Our own Conner Purzycki was on the scene to bring you a look at some of the new offerings for this year.
Mickey’s Halloween Party
Frightfully Fun Parade
New for 2016 is the Frightfully Fun Parade, replacing the rather lackluster cavalcade that has been presented at the party over the last several years.
While a nice addition, the Headless Horseman still moved painstakingly slow, just as it has been at Walt Disney World over the last several years since one of the horses fell while performing. At Disneyland, the Horseman did have 4 escorts, which definitely took away some of the coolness from the Florida version.
The parade is a clear improvement over the former offering, but hopefully will be expanded upon year to year with new floats. It is a solid start to what could be a really fantastic parade at the park.
Halloween Screams Fireworks
Halloween Screams fireworks have returned for the 2016 parties, upgraded with new projection and lighting effects that really add to the show.
Treat Trails
Treat trails are plentiful at this years party, although many are bunched very close together.
The coolest Treat Trails in our opinion are those that go through the Golden Horseshoe and Pinocchio’s Village Haus. The quality of the candy is the same as it has been, offering a number of respected name brand candies.
There is an Annual Passholder exclusive treat trail where APs can get a free tote bag and lots of treats as well.
This and Bat… I Mean, That
The atmosphere around the park for the party is pretty fantastic, enhanced this year with some new effects.
Much of the infrastructure installed for the now-defunct Disneyland Forever fireworks show was utilized to decorate the Main Street facades, Sleeping Beauty Castle, and the facade of “it’s a small world” even.
A few weeks ago, we told you that Disney is developing a new version of Fantasmic! for when it returns to Disneyland Park in the Summer of 2017. Well, the revolutionary projectors for the Pirates of the Caribbean sequence in this updated show have already been installed along the Rivers of America.
New projectors in stalled for Updated Fantasmic at Disneyland Park
If you are unfamiliar with the rumor, here is some information from our previous post:
When Fantasmic returns to Disneyland Park in 2017, guests will find a number of upgrades to the show on the technical side. A brand new HD projection system, lighting upgrades, and a completely new sound system (which wasn’t replaced in the 2009 overhaul) are expected in the change-over.
In addition, the show will be sporting a few new segments, including one for Pirates of the Caribbean, which would replace the Peter Pan segment which has been in the show since it debuted in 1992. Using projection mapping technology, the plan will be to turn the Sailing Ship Columbia into the Black Pearl. The ship will host a large fight between Jack Sparrow’s crew and that of Captain Barbossa. Of course, The Columbia will be re-rigged for all new stunt work featuring Captain Jack Sparrow and his pirate friends. The truly amazing part (if true) is that the projection mapping technology will follow the ship around the river, also projecting onto the performers on the boat. This effect would allow performers to change in appearance, jumping between a skeleton and human form just like the characters in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.
Our latest photo report brings us to Disney Springs for a look at lots of new merchandise, the addition of complimentary mosquito repellent stations, but mostly just for pizza…
Complimentary Mosquito Repellent
Disney Springs is home to several kiosks touting the complimentary mosquito repellent for guests to use.
An additional kiosk inside what was guest relations, between Arribas Bros. and Marketplace Co-Op.
Odds & Ends
It isn’t a trip to Disney Springs without a stop at Blaze Pizza these days. I honestly think I’ve been there about 5 times already. Please check out our review for more info and to find out why I like so much.
The billboard on the back of the T-Rex Cafe is finally finished.
Balloon peddlers have been a more common sight at Disney Springs as of late.
I hadn’t seen the Finding Dory balloon before this encounter.
World of Disney now carries the new Bambi line from Disney Baby (mixed in with some random Disney Parks Bambi plush).
More New Pirates of the Caribbean Toys
More and more Pirates of the Caribbean/Fab 5 merchandise keeps popping up.
Beginning September 12th, Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will offer a temporary menu to accommodate a refurbishment of equipment in the kitchen.
The flatbreads typically on the menu at Mama Melrose’s will not be available during this time. The project will take 4 weeks to complete.
Less than a week after introducing complimentary insect repellent to combat mosquitos and the Zika virus, Walt Disney World has changed the brand and the composition of the repellent they are providing to guests.
Complimentary mosquito repellent at Disney World is now a lotion
The repellent is now a lotion that comes in industrial size containers. The repellent replaces the small bottles of “Cutter” brand spray Disney has been using since last week and been distributing to resort guest rooms. The large bottles are simply placed on top of these tables around the parks and Disney Springs for guests to use, but there is a cast member at each kiosk to assist with any questions or concerns guests may have.
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort to “Elect” a Candidate for a “Presidential” Vacation One contest winner will be awarded a stay in the resort’s luxurious presidential suite
Lake Buena Vista, Fla. – August 31, 2016 – As the nation prepares for the next race to the White House, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort is making its own headlines by giving one lucky guest and his or her family the opportunity to be treated to their own presidential vacation at this iconic Walt Disney World resort by signing up at www.swandolphin.com/offers/presidential by Nov. 8.
In honor of the 2016 presidential election, the resort will select a “candidate” (guest) to stay in one of its spacious and luxuriously appointed presidential suites on a vacation fit for a true leader! The resort’s presidential suites have hosted the likes of President H.W. Bush and President Bill Clinton.
As the presidential guest, the winning candidate will be invited to bring up to four “cabinet members” on a 3-day/2-night term. He or she will arrive via complimentary transport from the airport and be treated to a red carpet welcome with a personal escort to the suite. A special welcome amenity created by the resort’s two-time world champion pastry Chef Laurent Branlard will await the winner in the suite and the entire group can celebrate the victory with a “state” dinner using a $250 dining certificate at any of the resort’s 17 restaurants and lounges, which include Shula’s Steak House, celebrity chef Todd English’s bluezoo and Il Mulino New York Trattoria.
The “elected” candidate (chosen by random drawing) along with his or her guests will receive complimentary Walt Disney World theme park two-day Park Hopper passes (up to four) as well as access to all the other amenities offered by the resort. No caucuses, campaigning or debates are required – guests simply nominate themselves by visiting www.swandolphin.com/offers/presidential and signing up for the resort’s email newsletter before the polls close on Nov. 8.
The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort offers 12 presidential suites featuring elegant bathroom and bedroom appointments richly designed in residential-style décor. Presidential suite amenities include multiple flat-screen TVs, deluxe private bathrooms, Westin Heavenly Beds, kitchens with a private bar and dining room table and extraordinary views of Walt Disney World Resort.
You know how that new launch site for fireworks at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is located just across World Drive? Well, that means the launch site is a little closer to many major roadways at Walt Disney World than any other at the resort, so things like this can happen:
In the above video, it seems a firework landed and exploded on a Walt Disney World roadway. According to the video description, the bus was travelling from Magic Kingdom to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and caught this incident while passing Disney Hollywood Studios during the nightly fireworks. The incident supposedly happened a few weeks ago and clearly no one was injured.
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