The wait is over! Purple MagicBands are now available to resort guests and annual passholders when choosing their complimentary MagicBand that can be mailed to them.
The option is now available and appears alongside the pre-existing colors.
A WDWNT reader sent the following tweet our way yesterday…
Disney survey asks guests how they would feel about $15/night resort fee to cover DME, MagicBands, FastPass+, EMH pic.twitter.com/KYteMjQGD0
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) March 9, 2016
Apparently, Disney is surveying guests to see what they think of a nightly fee that would “cover” resort guest amenities such as MagicBands, Magical Express, Extra Magic Hours, etc. Of course, these are all things that have always been complimentary with your resort stay, so it would be interesting to see Disney market these items as a $15 charge every night in addition to what you are being charged for your hotel room.
I personally doubt any guest surveyed was OK with this, but Disney is at least thinking about implementing this charge in the future.
In what seems to be a reoccurring theme as of late, Walt Disney World is now raising prices of the Disney Dining Plan. The changes go into effect beginning today, March 9, bringing about roughly a 3% price increase.
The Quick Service Plan previously cost $42.84 for adults and $17.47 for children (ages 3-9), the new cost will be $44.13 for adults and $19.04 for children.
The Regular Dining Plan originally cost $61.84 for adults and $20.96 for children (ages 3-9); the new cost will be $63.70 for adults and $22.85 for children.
The Deluxe Dining Plan previously cost $111.73 for adults and $32.56 for children (ages 3-9); the new cost will be $115.08 for adults and $35.49 for children.
Don’t worry, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at the Magic Kingdom is still getting that exciting new ending scene filled with projection mapping, we just have to wait a little longer to get it.
The refurbishment to change the scene was rescheduled this week, now taking place from August 8th through November 18th, 2016. The refurbishment was originally set to take place from April through July, but was moved due to heavy crowds expected during the early summer months this year.
In the earliest days of speculation about MyMagic+, we reported about the installation of various interactive features in attractions that would allow guests to interact with the environment via RFID technology in MagicBands and ticket media.
In January of 2013, the finale scene of “it’s a small world” at the Magic Kingdom was completely rebuilt. In October of 2013, we were the first to bring you video of a series of screens installed in that new finale scene of “it’s a small world”. The scene included new screens that we reported would eventually give personalized farewells to guests as they reached the end of the ride.
Well, 3 years after work on the scene initially began, it is finally functioning…
It seems Disney may finally be ready to roll out these “StoryMaker” elements that were installed years ago when MyMagic+ was initially rolled out. These elements include this finale scene, but also interactive elements installed but not activated inside Star Tours, the Hollywood Brown Derby, MuppetVision 3-D, and Expedition Everest, just to name a few.
The elements will use information read from the RFID media the guests are carrying, such as their names or park photos, to create personalized moments. This technology will also allow characters at meet and greets to know the names of the guests they are meeting or cast members at various locations to know when a guest is celebrating a special occasion.
We will have more on these new elements as they continue to roll out.
A new limited time special event is being added to Narcoossee’s every Friday in March, “The Narcoossee’s Wishes Dessert Party at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa”.
Guests can enjoy signature desserts and beverages beginning 30 minutes prior to the fireworks and up until 15 minutes after Wishes concludes. The party includes desserts such as canals, cheesecake, fruit tarts, brownie bites, and more.
Guests can book this experience by calling 407-824-1400 and leaving a message of their interest. The cost is $59 plus tax (gratuity included) per guest. There is no word yet on if this will be extended past March 2016.
I’ve always been surprised that Walt Disney World never offered any sort of premium parking at their theme parks for those interested, but it looks like they will finally at least test the concept next week.
Beginning March 15th and lasting for just a few days, guests parking at the Magic Kingdom or Epcot will have the option of paying for a premium parking space closer to the park entrance (or at least a monorail or ferryboat). The charge for the premium parking is $15 above the regular $20 charge. There is no word yet on what the charge will be for resort guests or annual passholders, but we would assume that they would pay just $15 since they are already offered complimentary regular parking.
The exact locations of the premium spaces are unknown at this time.
On March 13th, the Diamond Horseshoe in Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom began a table service dining offering. For $33.00 for adults and $19.00 each for children ages 3-9 (plus tax), guests can enjoy all-you-care-to eat portions.
Pick one, but you can get more of anything and everything anyway.
There is no live entertainment offered, just music playing from the machine on stage.
The location offers one unique drink offering for $5.50 extra, a “prairie punch” which is a frozen watermelon lemonade. It was way too sweet, not very good.
The upstairs is sadly not being used, but there is about 100 seats downstairs in use.
The tableware matches those found at Liberty Tree Tavern and Skipper Canteens since the kitchen is being shared for this venue as well.
To start, the table is brought cornbread and a “frontier salad”…
I actually really enjoyed the salad with the cornbread croutons, the dressing had a nice kick to it as well.
You can’t beat cornbread, but this was not as good or as fresh as it is at say Trail’s End or Boatwright’s.
Then there is the entrees…
The turkey was the best of the entrees, but it still wasn’t all that good. Its placed on top of cornbread, but it did little to enhance the flavor.
I liked the ham even though it was over-salted, but the beans were not all that tasty.
The beef was quite possibly the worst entree I’ve ever had in a theme park (outside of Lombard’s at Universal probably). I wish I could more adequately describe how bad it was, but I’m not even sure what it tasted like. The mashed potatoes were fine, just nothing special.
For dessert, they offer a brownie and an apple tart with Craisins…
This was OK, but nothing extraordinary about it.
The brownies were horrendous. They had been sitting out for a while, but there was almost zero taste. It was like eating moist cardboard.
If you couldn’t tell by this review, Diamond Horseshoe is bad, very bad. Under no circumstances should you waste your time and/or money here. You will be much better off indulging in the new menu nearby at Pecos Bill’s or even eating the mediocre BBQ sandwiches from Tortuga Tavern. Luckily, this offering is temporary and concludes May 30th, but honestly, the effort to make this worth any amount of money was minimal. It’s pretty much all-you-care-to-eat counter service swill.
Most of the food was cold, none of the entrees were very good, and the specialty drink was just awful. Outside of the exceptional service from the wait staff, this was one of the worst dining experiences I have ever had.
This is only being used to handle the abundance of guests who need to eat in the park during this busier season, but if they ever plan to bring this back, I would hope they revamp the menu.
I visited Disney Springs over the weekend to see the new TAG store in the Marketplace Co-Op, so here are some newsworthy photos of what’s new and exciting around what once was Downtown Disney:
The Town Center bus loop should open by April
Looking towards the Coca-Cola store and Planet Hollywood
More glass installed on the facade of the Coca-Cola store
The Planet Hollywood sign was removed recently
The sign was installed for STK
Morimoto Asia now has a check-in desk near Jock Lindsey’s to help guests find the restaurant
A look at the construction of the Town Center
Work continues on the two small kiosks and new fountain near Fulton’s
We found out what the two food kiosks on the Village Causeway will be…
B.B. Wolf’s Sausage Co. features a brick chimney…
Then across the causeway…
ARISTOCREPES
The new paint scheme on many of the Marketplace buildings is now complete
Inside Marketplace Co-Op, Disney Cruise Line Dry Dock is now located in the center of the store
TAG also has opened in the former space of Zoey and Pickles
The store is beautifully themed
Another look at Dry Dock, which has exclusive Cruise Line merchandise you won’t find elsewhere
World of Disney has a new paint scheme as well
The LEGO store is currently being painted
I took a quick trip to the Magic Kingdom over the weekend, so here’s a shirt update of what’s new and exciting around the park and beyond:
Much like MouseGear, the Emporium is now separated (for the most part) by brands
What started as 4 specialty waffle fries is now a menu featuring just chicken breast nuggets at Golden Oak Outpost… you can still get plain waffle fries though
New limited release MagicBand featuring Zootopia on sale
A smaller version of the classic Mickey Mouse big fig was released recently, just $125 and a more manageable size
The Town Square popcorn cart now has two registers to serve guests faster
Over at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, the new quiet pool has opened
