A Look at the the MyMagic+ Touch-To-Pay System at Table Service Restaurants

WDWNT on August 7, 2013

Since MyMagic+ and MagicBands were announced (and even when they were just rumored), many of us have wondered exactly how they would work in every aspect of a Walt Disney World vacation. Over the last few months, we have seen the system operate with FastPass+ for attractions, order ahead dining at counter service locations, and even touch-to-pay at stores. One thing we are now just seeing for the first time is exactly how the system will work at the many table service restaurants around WDW.

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Last night I saw one of these devices in action at Olivia’s at Old Key West. I can only assume with the current MyMagic+ testing going on, this is at most, if not all of the table service restaurants at Disney World right now. It is essentially an iPod touch with a giant device hooked onto the back of it.

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So, this is the device that will be used at every restaurant to utilize touch-to-pay with hard tickets and MagicBand ticket media. How will the process work? Well, here is what your server should say when you show up with your MagicBand and are using the Disney Dining Plan:

Hello! Welcome to ___________! My name is ____________ and I will be taking great care of you this evening. I see you are on the dining plan. That’s Wonderful! If you’ll kindly touch your MagicBand and enter your PIN, I’ll be able to preview your plan information. This will help me to better guide you through your dining experience.

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This will be done to avoid guest and server confusion regarding the dining plan. The server will then need to touch your MagicBand again at the end of the meal. That might go something like this:

I see some MagicBands at the table this evening. If you plan to use your band for payment this evening, I can capture the touch now if you like. Thank you! I will bring back your receipt for signature.

If the guest enters an invalid pin, a blue Mickey icon will appear on the screen for the cast member. Three invalid pin entries may require you to use alternative payment.

The process seems like it may simplify the process a little bit for those on the dining plan at least… split checks are a whole other story for another post…

If you don’t have the dining plan, you will only have to tap your band should your credit card be attached to your account and you choose to use that as a payment method. There has been no word yet on if Tables in Wonderland or Annual Pass dining discounts will use this system or still have to entered manually. If you are paying with cash or a card not attached to your MagicBand, this process will not apply to you.

So, what do you think? Would this make it easier or harder for you to pay at a table service restaurant?

Dessert Menu Revealed for the Revamped California Grill

WDWNT on August 7, 2013

Parting is such sweet sorrow, but the California Grill’s grand reopening will be much sweeter! Guests have been missing the California Grill for months now, but the re-opening date is close approaching (rumored to be around August 25th).

Pastry Chef Jeff Barnes gave a preview of a few of the new desserts for the California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. The new dessert menu will feature several new additions that Chef Barnes and his artistic team have been creating.

“You’re going to see a big change with some new concepts. This is our chance to create a new menu with a fresh infusion of California, and it’s coming together nicely,” says Chef Jeff, stating that the new theme of the menu is “artful and playful.”

New to the California Grill menu is a dessert trio with a Coke float, strawberry sundae and caramel corn sundae, “too good and tempting to have such great flavors on one plate,” Chef Barnes says.

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The chocolate pudding cake is made with a 70% Dark Chocolate from Belgium

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Banana fritters, dusted with sugar, are served with chocolate and marshmallows

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And don’t forget the Lemon Meringue Cheesecake! Served with fresh fruit, it’s light and refreshing

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Keep checking with wdwnt.com for more details about the California Grill’s grand reopening date; we will be sure to update you as more information becomes available.

Disney Fine Art Portraits Add Some Character To Your Family!

WDWNT on August 7, 2013

Looking for a totally unique way to capture your next Walt Disney World vacation? Check out the all-new portrait experience available with Disney’s Fine Art Photography and Video department; they will capture the memories of your visit and enable you to bring some Disney magic home with you.

Taken by a Disney photography artist, the exclusive portrait session places you and your family inside the artwork itself!

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Within the artwork, the letters spell out “DISNEY” or a beloved character’s name, while whimsical photos of your family are placed inside the letters.

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Finally, a chosen Disney character poses with your family, completing your Disney family art portrait, creating a memory that will last a lifetime.

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The mounting, packaging, prints, a double matte, acrylic glass and a wire frame hanger are all included in the price of the art portrait.

For more information on this new Disney experience visit disneyeventphotography.com or to book a session, call 407.934.4004.

VIDEO: A Look Back at Long-Lost Friends Week at the Magic Kingdom

WDWNT on August 7, 2013

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Last week as part of Limited Time Magic, the Magic Kingdom hosted Long Lost Friends Week, bringing back characters from Robin Hood, Chicken Little, Song of the South, and The Princess and the Frog to the park.In case you missed it, we have some video of all of the characters to share with you:

AT&T Becomes Official Mobile Provider For Domestic Disney Parks

WDWNT on August 7, 2013

ATT-MAGICLets take a step back for a second though, back in 2009 Disney partnered with Verizon Wireless to bring us the “Mobile Magic” app which allowed us to see Wait Times, FASTPASS return times, and information on where to meet and greet with characters. This was an exclusive service for Verizon customers only leaving out everyone else. In early 2012 Disney released Mobile Magic for iOS users on AT&T and Verizon. Even though the app was still branded for Verizon, you could use it with AT&T as well. In mid 2012, Disney launched “My Disney Experience” which wasn’t branded to any carrier and could be used on any iOS/Android device. Today, Disney announced a new partnership with AT&T.

Disney Parks has just signed an exclusive contract with AT&T to make them the official mobile provider for U.S. Disney Parks. With this new agreement, AT&T will have the opportunity to sponsor Disney-created soccer and runDisney events at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at The Walt Disney World Resort. In addition to this, Disney will join AT&T to educate Cast Members and guests about the “It Can Wait” campaign to educate consumers about the dangers of texting while driving.

AT&T and Disney will also collaborate to enhance the experience for the growing number of Disney guests using smartphones and tablets during their visit.  Furthermore, Cast Members will use new mobile devices on AT&T’s network to help deliver Disney’s legendary guest service. President of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Operations, United States and France had this to say about the new partnership “This alliance joins two companies that share a commitment to providing quality experiences, and we look forward to the collaboration as we continue to leverage technology to enhance the experience for our guests.”ATT-logo

Included in this new partnership is the ability to enhance a variety of AT&T technologies in use at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. More than 25 new antenna systems will be installed to increase the wireless capacity in areas with high mobile traffic (i.e. The Magic Kingdom and Epcot), more than 350 small cells will be installed to extend network connectivity throughout, and more than 40 repeaters to further enhance the mobile experience for both guests and Cast Members.

As someone who has AT&T and visits Walt Disney World often, I can speak with experience that LTE service is really terrible at most of the theme parks and at times completely absent. If all the above is true, then I’m beyond excited to have excellent service while at the parks to continue to offer new updates, photos, and videos in the moment. With Disney now focusing so much on the MyMagic+ experience which relies so much of your smart phone, AT&T users will be able to experience it better with the new antennas.

Getting in the Holiday Spirit with New Merchandise at Disney Parks

WDWNT on August 7, 2013

In conjunction with the Limited Time Magic’s “Christmas in July” celebration last week at Walt Disney World, let’s check out some of the new Holiday Merchandise being offered this upcoming holiday season:

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Pins are such a huge collectible at the Disney Parks, and the same holds true for holiday-themed pins. The holiday light bulb with Mouse ears featured above will be available everywhere, while the Hawaiian-themed “Mele Kalikimaka” pin will have an limited-edition size of only 2,000.

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Who wants another loud holiday sweater with a reindeer on it? No one! Why not choose one of these holiday t-shirts instead? Mike Wazowski  from “Monsters University” adorns the youth shirt, while Grumpy from Walt Disney’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” impersonated Santa Claus on the adult shirt. Both shirts will be released at the Walt Disney World  Resort and the Disneyland Resort.

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While Grumpy may not be Santa Claus, you’ll wish Santa leaves this limited edition Ear Hat ornament set under the tree for you; this set contains a Snow White ornament, and seven dwarf hat ornaments. This ornament set will have a limited-edition size of only 600, and will have a price tag of $175 + tax. You’ll find these in select locations starting in August.

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Along with Grumpy, Duffy the Disney bear will also get a holiday-themed makeover. Duffy will get an elf costume!  Pictured above, the 17-inch bear will include the elf outfit and the smaller Mickey Mouse plush.

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Finally, for those Vinylmation fans this holiday season, you’ll find ice-skating Mickey and Minnie figures, designed by Maria Clapsis.

What’s on your holiday wish list?

New Star Wars Attractions, AVATAR Land, and Disney Springs To Be Previewed at D23 Expo 2013

WDWNT on August 7, 2013

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This week’s Disney Insider had an interesting tidbit about the parks and resorts area the the 2013 D23 Expo:

We’re also going to be doing sneak peeks at upcoming projects – including Disney Springs, the reimagining of Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World Resort. There will be teasers for new attractions based on Avatar and Star Wars that we’re working on now for the Disney Parks. We’ll have a play test for a project called Adventure Trading Company, and there will be an outlet of Mickey’s of Glendale, the Imagineering Cast Member store, because like all great attractions we end with a gift shop!

So it doesn’t seem there will be any major announcements, but there at least will be some sort of preview of AVATAR Land for Disney’s Animal Kingdom and possibly a reveal of some new Star Wars attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. At the very least, we will have more solid details on the Disney Springs project to talk about.

WDWNT Will be there on the scene at the D23 Expo, so stay tuned for coverage coming August 9th-11th, 2013.

Joe Hogarty’s 7/25/13 Disney Springs Construction Photo Report

WDWNT on August 7, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Joe Hogarty headed to Downtown Disney to check out the latest progress on the Disney Springs project and found quite a bit going on, so let’s take a look:

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Heading into what is now still Pleasure Island

We expect concept art to go on these walls soon, but for now it is just Downtown Disney artwork

The Comedy Warehouse is now currently being demolished

Reminds me of DCA during the overhaul

Plenty of construction materials out on the Rock ‘N’ Roll Beach Clob/Motion plot

Walls up around what was Curl and Apricot Lane

The Mannequins building will remain

Walls up on the back of the building

Not much to see yet

The Adventurer’s Club building will remain as part of The Landing

A look across at what was Comedy Warehouse

They are also working on the shoreline on the West Side right now

There might be a new bridge coming…

A look at the wreckage of Comedy Warehouse

Goodbye…

They may keep the large building back there, but it is unknown at this time

We All Scream for Limited Time Magic Monstrous Sundaes at WDW & DLR

WDWNT on August 7, 2013

Starting July 28th through August 4th, the Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort are offering up some monstrously-sweet treats for part of their “Limited Time Magic.”

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With two scoops of delicious mint chip ice cream, gooey hot fudge, whipped cream, sprinkles, candy eyeball and horns in a crunchy waffle cup,  the Disneyland sundae will be sure to scare up some yummy fun.  This colossal treat at be found at Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor in Disneyland Park and Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream at Disney California Adventure. ($6.99 plus tax)

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At the Plaza Restaurant at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, you can try a parfait-glass sundae that comes in either mint chocolate chip or vanilla-strawberry ($6.99 plus tax). For a smaller appetite, you can try a mini version of these sundaes at the Plaza Ice Cream Shop ($5.29 plus tax).

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Now instead of using spoons to dig tunnels under the city, you can use the spoons to try out these cool sundaes!

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Will you be trying these monstrously-delicious sundaes at the Parks this week?

Festival of the Lion King Moves and AVATAR Land Construction Begin 2014

WDWNT on August 7, 2013

Disney today officially confirmed that Festival of the Lion King at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park will be moving to that new theater in Africa we recently posted about and stated that the new theater will open sometime in 2014.

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This announcement confirms that AVATAR Land construction that was supposed to break ground in 2013 will instead be starting in 2014. This also means that we will probably not be visiting Pandora anytime before 2017. While this is another delay, the moving of Festival of the Lion King does in fact dispels all rumors that AVATAR Land is in trouble or might be cancelled. It is coming… just a little later than we thought.

So, what do you think?