Do the chilly winter days have you wishing for warmer weather?  What better way to escape than by taking a Disney cruise to warm, tropical destinations?  Disney Cruise Line has a variety of weekend and week long getaways to tropical ports in the Bahamas and Caribbean that make for the perfect sun and fun-filled escape.

Castaway Cay
Experience tropical paradise at one of my favorite places, Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.  A day at Castaway Cay includes a touch of Disney magic, of course!  Take advantage of Disney character greetings, including a dance party with Lilo and Stitch!  There's Scuttle's Cove, an on-island kids club for children ages 3 through 12 supervised by Disney counselors.  Go sailing, paddle boarding, or kayaking followed by a delicious lunch at Cookie’s BBQ.  You can also relax at Serenity Bay (adults only) while admiring the crystal blue waters of the Bahamas. 

Cozumel
Cozumel is one of Mexico’s most popular destinations.  The thick green jungles and tranquil lagoons offer a unique setting for this unforgettable destination.  Explore ancient Mayan ruins, taste your way through the island’s delectable cuisine, and encounter marine life as you snorkel and scuba dive. 

St. Thomas
​In St. Thomas, experience stunning beaches, lush landscapes and scenic views. This beautiful island destination is perfect for relaxation, but there are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy – including golf, snorkeling and shopping.

There are even more ways to enjoy fun in the sun aboard a Disney Cruise!  You can delight in the warm weather as you watch your favorite Disney movies poolside or take an exhilarating ride in the AquaDunk or AquaDuck!  Once you’ve worked up an appetite, the open air of the upper deck is the perfect place to soak up some rays and enjoy a midday snack. 

Aboard a Disney cruise, there are countless ways to relax and bid those “winter blues” goodbye! So it’s time to say, “Goodbye, Winter … Hello, Disney Cruise!” 

The announcement came yesterday that the Pirates League at the Magic Kingdom will close on July 27, 2020.  Located next to Pirates of the Caribbean in Adventureland,  Pirates League offers makeover packages that transform young guests into a pirate captain, first mate, or mermaid.   Packages range from $18.95 to $99.95 and can be booked online or by your Magic Family Travel Advisor through July 26, 2020.  

All of our Travel Advisors have completed Disney's College of Knowledge and are available to assist you with your magical vacation!  Our planning services are free of charge and can include booking dining reservations and Fastpasses.  We can get online at 7am so you don't have to!!

Epcot is in the midst of an historic, multi-year transformation that is bringing a wide variety of exciting new attractions and experiences to the park. Among these is “Harmonious,” set to debut later this year, which will be one of the largest nighttime spectaculars ever created for a Disney Park. Walt Disney Imagineering and Disney Parks Live Entertainment teams recently passed a major milestone in the development of the show, with the delivery of several floating platforms that will provide a base for the technology used to create “Harmonious.”  

“Harmonious” will bring to World Showcase Lagoon an innovative toolkit of massive floating set pieces that house a variety of show effects, including custom-built LED panels, choreographed moving fountains, colorful lights, lasers, pyrotechnics, and more. 
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The show is a beautifully crafted nighttime dreamscape of Disney music and images, reimagined by diverse cultural musicians and artists from around the world. It’s a transformative experience, where we can discover how Disney music has the power to inspire and unite us all. You can catch an early glimpse of concepts for the show now by visiting Walt Disney Imagineering Presents the Epcot Experience, located in the Odyssey Events Pavilion. 

Over the coming months, with development and infrastructure work for “Harmonious” ramping up both behind the scenes and in the center of the lagoon, we’re pleased to present the limited-time spectacular “Epcot Forever.”  
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“Epcot Forever” has been described as a “love letter” to the park. The show tells the story of Epcot, beginning with the first spark of inspiration and the opening day anthem, “We’ve Just Begun to Dream,” and continuing through chapters dedicated to the thematic pillars of innovation, exploration, imagination and celebration. It concludes with an all-new verse of the classic song, “One Little Spark,” leading into a spectacular grand finale promising “A Whole New World” of magical possibilities to come.  

FastPass+ reservations for Millennium Falcon:  Smugglers Run now available in My Disney Experience app for visits on or after February 19th!  This will be a Tier 1 FastPass along with Slinky Dog Dash.

Alien Swirling Saucers, Toy Story Mania, Rock 'n" Roller Coaster, and Twilight Zone Tower of Terror are all Tier 2.

The virtual queue system will continue for Star Wars:  Rise of the Resistance which will be added to FastPass+ sometime in the near future.

The fourth annual Epcot International Festival of the Arts opened Friday, January 17th, and runs through February 24, 2020.  This festival celebrates the visual, culinary, and performing arts.  This year, there are new life-sized frames of Van Gogh's famous Cafe Terrace at Night or Sunflowers paintings to step into for photo ops; 12 festival food studios; talented artists at work; and the Disney on Broadway Concert Series.  Exercise your own artistic talent at multiple interactive exhibits and workshops.  Enjoy activities like Figments' Brush with the Masters scavenger hunt, Animation Academy at America Gardens Theatre, and the Expression Section:  Paint-by-Number wall mural in Future World.  Interact with the Epcot Living Statues in Future World East, and marvel at acrobatic performances of the Art defying Gravity troupe at the World Showcase Plaza stage.

One of the festival's most popular activities is the photo ops in life-sized versions of famous paintings from Van Gogh, Edvard Munch, and Leonardo da Vinci, along with the Peter Pan Storybook photo op and Washington Crossing the Delaware.

There are 12 Food Studios around World Showcase offering creative bites and refreshing sips like Rose Water and Pistachio Panna Cotta at The Masterpiece Kitchen; Sous Vide Chicken Roulade at Pop Eats!; and the Sipping Chocolate Flight of white, milk, and dark chocolate!

​There are also brand new permanent films debuting around the park:  "Awesome Planet" at The Land pavilion and "Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360" in the Canada Pavilion. ​

Don't miss the "Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along" in the France pavilion!  At the theater's entrance, you can explore a new exhibit, "Tales as Old as Time:  French Storytelling on Stage and Screen," featuring a stunning display of ornate costumes, music, and artwork dedicated to the adaptation of French literature in cinema, theater, ballet, and opera.  

​There are also creative workshops like Ink & Paint Animation, 3D Paper Crafting, and a premium experience - Paint with a Disney Artist.

Disney H2O Glow Nights are returning to Disney's Typhoon Lagoon for a third season!  This exclusive after-hours party could make a perfect addition to your Walt Disney World Vacation this summer.  Tickets for 2020 dates are on sale now!

From meeting all of your favorite Toy Story 4 characters to trying specially themed food and beverage menu items, there is so much to do and see at Disney H2O Glow Nights.  Show off your dance moves during a high-energy DJ-hosted dance party, shop for exclusive event merchandise, enjoy Typhoon Lagoon’s attractions with shorter wait times and more.  You will also receive a festive glow wristband upon your arrival! 

There is also a special area just for adult party-goers called The Wharf with entertainment and a bar!

Disney H2O Glow Nights will take place between 8 – 11 p.m. on select nights from May 27 to August 29, 2020. Guests attending thsi specially ticketed event can enter Typhoon Lagoon as early as 6 p.m. on event nights.  Get your tickets early for a special discounted price of $65.  Passholders and DVC members also get a discount.  Same day tickets are $75 for ages 10+ and $70 for ages 3 to 9.

 Event Dates

• May 27, 30
• June 3, 6, 10, 17, 20, 24, 27
• July 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29
• August 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26, 29​

The sign for Gusteau's restaurant has been installed above the expanding France pavilion in World Showcase!  You can see it If you’re soaring to or from Epcot aboard Disney Skyliner!!

Gusteau’s is the famed Parisian establishment that is home to Chef Remy from Disney and Pixar’s “Ratatouille.”  It’s also the soon-to-be setting for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, the delicious new attraction opening this summer at Epcot. This family-friendly experience will invite you on a super-sized adventure with Chef Remy, where you’ll race through Gusteau’s kitchen in special trackless ride vehicles. 

The Epcot International Festival of the Arts, held Jan. 17 – Feb. 24, 2020, at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, celebrates the very best in visual, culinary, and performing arts by bringing in professional artists to share their talent and expertise. Returning to the festival this year is the Disney on Broadway Concert Series, with three daily performances headlined by Broadway stars who reprise favorite songs from past performances in award-winning shows. 

Heidi Blickenstaff and Gavin Lee will be among the first performers to grace the stage of America Gardens Theater for this fan-favorite concert series. Heidi is best known for her starring role as Ursula in Disney on Broadway’s “The Little Mermaid.” Gavin received a Tony Award nomination for his Broadway performance as Bert in Disney’s “Mary Poppins” and most recently played Lumière in the 25th-anniversary production of “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.”
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The duo will perform five nights of shows beginning January 18, including a special performance alongside fellow Broadway legends Alton Fitzgerald White and Kissy Simmons. Check out this video to learn more about their upcoming performances at Epcot!

Here’s the full lineup of show-stopping talent for the Disney on Broadway Concert Series: 

• Jan. 17, 20, 21 and 24 – Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald White (“THE LION KING”) 
• Jan. 18, 19, 22 and 23 – Heidi Blickenstaff (“The Little Mermaid”) and Gavin Lee (“Mary Poppins”)
• Jan. 25 – Special performance featuring Simmons, White, Blickenstaff and Lee 
• Jan. 26, 28, 29; Feb. 1, 2, 5 and 6 – Kara Lindsay (“Newsies”) and Kevin Massey (“Tarzan”)
• Jan. 27, 30, 31, Feb. 3, 4, 7 and 8 – Liana Hunt (“Newsies”) and Adam Jacobs (“Aladdin”)
• Feb. 9 – Special performance featuring Lindsay, Massey, Hunt and Jacobs
• Feb. 10, 12, 13, 18, 19, 22 and 23 – Ashley Brown (“Mary Poppins”) and Josh Strickland (“Tarzan”)
• Feb. 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20 and 21 – Syndee Winters (“The Lion King”) and Michael James Scott (“Aladdin”)
• Feb. 24 – Special performance featuring Brown, Strickland, Winters and Scott.

All shows are performed at America Gardens Theatre and are included with theme park admission. The best way to experience a performance is by reserving a Disney on Broadway Dining Package, which guarantees seating for one show on the day of the dining experience. Packages at participating Epcot restaurants are now booking!