Disney World Opens Mickey Mouse Meet & Greet at New Town Square Theater

Jen R
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Disney World Opens Mickey Mouse Meet & Greet at New Town Square Theater
Families planning a trip to Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Florida will be happy to know that Mickey Mouse and the Disney Princesses have a new home at the Town Square Theater. The Town Square Theater, which replaces the Judges Tent, officially opened April 1st as a new space for the Disney Storybook Princesses and Mickey Mouse meet and greet. The new theater is equipped with FASTPASS, a Disney feature that allows visitors to save a place for themselves in line rather than wait it out in person.  FASTPASS frees guests to enjoy more of the park in a single day and waste less time standing in lines. Disney pulled out all the stops when they designed the decor for the Town Square Theater.  When you enter, Backstage Magic with Mickey Mouse is to your right and the princesses Aurora, Belle and Cinderella are to your left.  The indoor queuing area is spacious and beautifully appointed.  Don’t be shocked when the wall posters jump to life, they are actually animated. Mickey’s dressing room is a masterpiece, with every detail imaginable.  It really feels as though you’re getting the inside scoop, backstage at Mickey’s magic show.  Photopass photos taken with this beautiful new backdrop will make treasured souvenirs for years to come. In addition to being home to the world’s most sought after mouse and three princesses, you’ll find Tony’s Restaurant, in the lobby and Curtain Call Collectibles at the exit to the meet and greet.  So you can grab some lunch, have your picture taken with Mickey Mouse, rub shoulders with Princess Aurora and buy your Mini Mouse ears, all in one fell swoop. Convenience, a fantastic atmosphere, and a celebrity mouse; the Magic Kingdom has ticked all the boxes with the Town Square Theater. – Jen R, Staff Writer PHOTOS via SOURCE

Family Travel in Alaska: Answer the Call of the Wild

Jen R
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Family Travel in Alaska: Answer the Call of the Wild
The Call of the Wild:  an insatiable lust for rugged landscapes and untouched wilderness.  Those who answer the call, look to Alaska as a Mecca, a place that draws in the most adventurous of us, like a tractor beam. That nagging urge to leave suburbia behind is not silenced when we have young children, but practicality makes it difficult to head its beck and call.  Thankfully, there are ways to partake in Alaska’s unbridled splendour without asking your two-year-old to help you portage the canoe. Cruises are a very popular way to experience Alaska.  From the comfort of a floating hotel you can soak in the scenery along the rugged coastline.  Shore excursions, to popular locations, punctuate the journey. Cruises are a relaxing way to travel with the whole family.  They accommodate all ages and abilities and offer shipboard activities to keep everybody busy.  Investigate the different cruise lines to discover which ship will suite your family best. If you would prefer a self-directed travel itinerary, there is a wide array of family friendly adventures to be had. You can go sightseeing anywhere, but in Alaska you can go flightseeing.  Throughout the state, air services offer tourists the opportunity to soar above the landscape in small, propeller driven planes.  Don’t be scared, small planes are way more fun than jets.  Drink in the sights from high above and enjoy a new prospective on the glaciers, mountains and fjords. Once your family has taken in the overhead view, you can get up close and personal by spending a day on a wildlife cruise.  A number of companies offer these excursions.  You’ll undoubtedly be able to connect with one that fits into your itinerary. One company, Kenai Fjords Tours, offers full and half day wildlife cruises departing from Seward.  Float through the fjords and pass stunning glaciers.  Wildlife abounds and cruisers are likely to spot whales, harbour seals, sea lions, otters, puffins, bald eagles and a variety of other birds, relaxed and at home in their natural habitat.  Cruises are available from the beginning of June through the end of August. But Alaska isn’t just an expanse of unsettled wilderness; there are cities to explore too.  If your trip takes you to Fairbanks, the whole family will enjoy a day at the Pioneer Park (formerly Alaskaland). Pioneer Park is a theme park where guests can be entertained while immersing themselves in the history and culture of the state.  Park attractions include a riverboat, native village, gold rush town, and three museums.  Take a spin on the 40 foot antique carousel.  Savour the flavours of an old-school salmon bake.  Pioneer Park has something for everyone. The sun never sets on Alaska, in the summer, and Anchorage has plenty to keep the family busy on those long, long summer days. -The Anchorage Museum is a fantastic facility that includes an interactive science center for children and the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center, for a dose of art and culture. – If you’re interested in learning about the first peoples of the area, plan to spend some time at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. -The Alaska Zoo is sure to go over well with the kids and provide a fun day for all ages. -Anchorage is also home to the Alaska Botanical Garden.    We don’t often associate green thumbs with such a harsh climate, but amid the facility’s 110 acres of boreal forest is 11 acres of beautifully cultivated gardens and trails.  Take a family stroll and discover the flora of the state. The state of Alaska does not impose any sales tax but keep your eyes peeled, as you travel around, for municipal taxes.  Some cities impose their own sales taxes, though others remain tax free, so plan your souvenir shopping wisely.  Anchorage and Fairbanks fall into the tax free category. Beautiful scenery, quirky little towns and fantastic fishing spots make road tripping a great way to see the best of Alaska.  The two main highways through the state, the Glenn Highway and the Parks Highway, make travel and navigation easy.  Take the time to plan a route that will allow you to meander through the small towns, checkout the larger cities and see the sights and spot the wildlife in between. The desire to visit Alaska comes with a sense of urgency.  There is a palpable risk that the unspoiled may become spoiled and the pristine will, literally, melt away.  The state is a vast bastion of natural beauty but stands to be hard hit by the effects of climate change and the degradation that goes along with the acquisition and sale of natural commodities. Alaska has a lot to offer the whole family.  Don’t hesitate, let this be the summer you answer the call. – Jen R, Staff Writer

Featured Resort Review: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Lisa Arneill
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Featured Resort Review: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
While in Orlando for a cruise a few weeks ago, we decided to extend our stay and enjoy Disney with the kids for a few days. Because we hadn’t been in about 10 years I pooled my friends for tips and decided to stay at one of Disney’s properties. Not knowing where to start I called the Disney line and spoke with one of their reps, who helped me chose the right resort for our family. On the day of our arrival we traveled from Port Canaveral by taxi($115) to the Animal Kingdom Lodge.  Not knowing what to expect, we were pleasantly surprised when we arrived.  Disney excels at details and that was evident everywhere we looked. From the unbelievably gorgeous thatched roof to the gazelles that adorn the balconies, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is a beautiful resort that feels like it was dropped in the middle of a game reserve.  Entering the 4 story lobby is awe-inspiring.  The wide-open space is filled with authentic artifacts including hand-carved furnishings, rich wood and a mud fireplace. We opted for a Savannah view room so that the kids could enjoy the wildlife from our balcony and it was a hit with both my boys.  To their excitement Zebras and giraffes milled about outside of our room unaware of the frenzy they put my two into.  In our room Disney provided us with a checklist so that we could keep track of all of the mammals and birds we spotted. The room itself had 2 double beds, a big TV, a desk and for our youngest, a pack and play playpen.  While the layout is similar to rooms we have stayed at in at many hotels, Disney, once again, excelled at the details.  The beds had curtains overhead, the light covers looked like wooden tiki’s and the massive wooden headboard resembled a piece of art that had been carved by an artist. Families who choose a standard room shouldn’t worry about not being able to see the animals.  The resort has quite a few lookout balconies complete with wooden rockers.  There is also a walk out area that features the Arusha Firepit and a full view of the Savannah. The pool area at the Animal Kingdom Lodge is great for kids of all ages.  We liked that there was a large walk in area for our toddler to play in while my oldest enjoyed the waterside. Because we visited in January the weather was a little chilly but the pool was still heated to the perfect temperature (82 degrees, a standard across all of Disney’s hotels). To make the trip easier I purchased the meal plan – 1 snack, 1 fast dine option and 1 sit down meal/ per person per day.  The ‘meals’ include a drink, entree and dessert.  The snacks can be purchased throughout Disney’s parks and hotels and are items like popcorn, ice cream, a 20 ounce bottled beverage or 22 ounce fountain drink. While traveling with our boys I don’t like to have to go far for dinner so it was nice that The Animal Kingdom Lodge had 4 dining options.  For lunch on our first day we chose the Mara.  Located close to the pool, this Fast Casual dining restaurant has a good selection of quick food choices for those of all diets.  We had the burger, a pita and chicken fingers.  Dessert choices are plentiful – we chose a brownie, chocolate chip cookies and carrot cake. For dinner we decided on BOMA.  This African marketplace is served buffet style with many authentic dishes .  As a rule, I am a very simple diner.  I love classic food but don’t dine outside of my ‘box’ very often because there are so many foods I don’t like. I was pleasantly surprised that there were quite a few items that I really enjoyed.  A couple dishes that I loved were the salmon, the Durban-spiced roasted chicken and the cilantro chicken salad.  My husband was very fond of the prime rib, hummus dips and stew.  Also on the menu were kid friendly options like mac & cheese, chicken fingers and pizza.  Not to be missed is the dessert table.  Homemade cookies, tarts, tiny cheesecakes and their signature Zebra Domes are a nice way to end a good dinner.   After wards our boys and some of the other guests danced along with the staff to the live African drum music.

Located just across from BOMA is an a la carte restaurant – JIKO – The Cooking Place.  This premium dining option fuses the bold flavors of traditional African, Indian and Mediterranean cuisine. We had initially made plans to eat at JIKO until we realized that it was 2 sit down dining credits per person.  While I am sure that it is a fabulous restaurant, I had hoped that our credits would last us for our whole visit so we chose to stay with the buffet. A shop that shouldn’t be overlooked is the Zawadi Marketplace.  This general store, which located just to the right of the front entrance, stocks necessities like diapers, sunscreen, toiletries and refrigerated items.  It also sells a large amount of unique Disney souvenirs including clothing, toys and other interesting finds.  I could have shopped in this store for hours, had my suitcase not been overweight already. One of the things we loved about staying on property was the convenience of being able to use Disney’s transportation system to get around.  The bus from our hotel went directly to the Magic Kingdom(20 minutes ride) and dropped us off right outside the entrance.  On the day we were leaving, the Magic express coach picked us up at the front door of the Animal Kingdom Lodge and shuttled our family to the airport(1 hour ride) for no additional charge.  I did, however, need to pre-arrange the trip to the airport with the concierge, but that took just a few minutes after dinner on our first night. Because we were only visiting for 2 nights we didn’t have a chance to take advantage of Simba’s Clubhouse kids’ club(for kids aged 4 to 12) or the storytelling at night.  This gives us a reason to come back soon. Before we arrived at the Animal Kingdom Lodge we were just a family looking to relax and experience something new.  We left loving all that Disney has to offer and look forward to visiting again!

Featured Review: Chicco Liteway

Lisa Arneill
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Featured Review: Chicco Liteway
While on vacation recently we saw lots of parents using the Chicco Liteway as their travel stroller.  After testing it out for a couple weeks, I can see why.  Designed for use from birth to 40lbs, the Liteway has some great features that I haven’t seen in other strollers. Out of the box all that was needed to get started was to pop on the front wheels and canopy.  Literally within 5 minutes the stroller was open and ready to go! The Liteway offers lots of great features for traveling parents.  For comfort the seat has a padded head disc, an adjustable 5-point harness and 5 height adjustments.  A latch on the back of the stroller allows you to easily adjust the seat to your desired height with the lowest position sitting near to flat for a newborn.  To prevent your little one for breaking free Chicco has designed the middle strap to go over the belt release, which I LOVE. The seat also has a hideaway boot that attaches over the bottom section of the seat to keep your infant protected from the elements when reclined during a stroll. After installing the canopy I was surprised at it’s coverage.  Even though it appeared to be a bit small, it covered most of my son when upright.  When fully reclined it also offers great protection and will cover 3/4 of your child’s body.  I also like that a shaded window gives a clear view of what’s happening in the stroller without the bright light that comes from a clear panel. For storage Chicco uses a bag as a basket that can be unsnapped to take with you.  This is great for parents because it can be used 2 ways; traditionally with your gear in the basket or you can put your snacks and extra in the pouch if bad weather hits.  Additionally, It is big enough to hold a medium diaper bag and is fully accessible from the back of the stroller. Four  7″ wheels at the back and two – 5″ wheels at the front give the Liteway a really nice ride.  This stroller pushes easily and keeps up when I am whipping through the mall. Easy to engage brakes at the back are ‘flip-flop friendly’ and a good rear suspension smoothes out bumpy rides. For a travel stroller, the Chicco Liteway offers lots of great full sized features that gives it an edge over it’s competition.  It’s ability to accommodate a newborn is a great feature for new parents. If asked, the only change I would make to this stroller is to add a zippered pocket to the back of the canopy for keys or money.  Other than that it is one of our top choices for traveling.  The Liteway has a convenient 3D fold that latches when collapsed and can be carried easily with the side handle.

Specs:
  • Stroller Weight: 17 lbs.
  • Maximum Child Weight: 40 lbs.
  • Dimensions: 40.5″ x 19″ x 36 “

Top 10 New Rides & Attractions at U.S. Theme Parks for 2011

Lisa Arneill
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Top 10 New Rides & Attractions at U.S. Theme Parks for 2011
Thrill seeking families looking for adventure may want to check out this list of new rides and attractions at U.S. theme parks for 2011.  The Orlando Sentinel has listed their top 10 and it looks like it will be a great Summer for vacationers! 10.  Mach Tower at Busch Gardens Williamsburg – When Busch Gardens Williamsburg opens this Spring visitors will be able to experience it’s newest ride – Mach Tower. “The massive spire will lift you 240-feet into the stratosphere, offering a spectacular view of the park and surrounding countryside. But don’t get too caught up in the scenery before, amidst a rush of wind and screams, you’ll experience a sudden, pulse-pounding drop.” 9.  Wooden Warrior at Quassy – Dubbed the Wooden Warrior, this 12 person coaster has a T-shaped layout, with twists and turns and airtime hills for everyone.  After boarding the train dips and turns slightly to the left before immediately starting its climb up the 35 foot tall lift hill. Cresting the lift hill, the track banks to the right and drops down through a horseshoe shaped turnaround, before rising up for the rides big drop. Plummeting to the ground, the tiny trains will hit their top speed of 35 mph as they fly over 1200ft of track. 8.  Alabama Adventure – Opening this Spring, Buzzsaw Falls is sure to keep guests both cool and thrilled, as riders plunge down a five story, heart pounding chute for a massive splash. Enormous sheets of water will shoot in the air as riders make their final descent splashing into a pool of water soaking both riders and on lookers. 7.  SkyScreamer and Windseeker – The tower swing will be the most popular new ride of the year by a landslide, debuting at six North American theme parks in 2011. Ranging in height from 150- to 300-feet-tall, the ride will be called SkyScreamer at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom ( California) and Six Flags St. Louis and will be known as Windseeker at Knott’s Berry Farm, Cedar Point ( Ohio), Kings Island (Ohio) and Canada’s Wonderland ( Ontario). 6.  Barnstormer at Dollywood – The Barnstormer giant swing debuting at Tennessee’s Dollywood in 2011 will soar 80 feet in the air at speeds reaching 45 mph. 5.  Dare Devil at Six Flags Over Georgia – Dare Devil Dive’s mission begins as you’re pulled straight up to the sky on a special vertical chain lift, then slowly roll to the top of the tower nearly 100-feet in the air. After an agonizing pause at the crest of the summit, you plummet downward at an angle that is beyond straight down — it actually angles inward at a blistering 52 mph. It is the country’s first PAUSE element before the beyond vertical drop.  Then you careen through a thrilling combination of diving loops while executing three inversions before you catch air on a zero gravity hill and swoop across the dreaded Immelman vertical U turn stretched high above the ground. The crescendo builds as the car dives toward the ground and up into a Heartline roll before being slowed by the magnetic brakes. 4.  Cheetah Hunt at Busch Gardens Tampa – The Cheetah Hunt triple-launch coaster debuting in 2011 at Busch Gardens Tampa in Florida will feature a 130-foot drop into an underground trench. 3.  Green Lantern at Six Flags Magic Mountain – Debuting at Six Flags Magic Mountain this Spring The Green Lantern vertical coaster features a never-been-done-before completely vertical zigzag pattern track, this new spinning coaster takes coaster riding to another galaxy.  Fearless riders will brave the ride sitting in eight-person vehicles — four abreast and back-to-back, each rotating independently. The two minute thrill begins with riders going up the 107-foot left hill before spinning their way down through 828-feet of twisted vertical track, featuring three, 360-degree head-over-hill spins. 2.  Star Tours at Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Riders aboard the reboot of the Star Tours attraction coming to Disneyland in California and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida in 2011 will have the power to change the storyline throughout the simulator ride, resulting in a different beginning, middle and end for virtually every journey. 1.  Voyage of the Little Mermaid at Disney California Adventure – Scheduled to debut on June 3, the $100-million Voyage of the Little Mermaid at Disney California Adventure will take riders in 2011 on a family-friendly musical underwater journey themed to “The Little Mermaid” animated movie. A similar version of the ride will open in 2012 at the Magic Kingdom in Florida.

New Travel APP – Travel + Leisure Family

Lisa Arneill
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New Travel APP – Travel + Leisure Family
I love magazines, which is a problem because I don’t throw them away.  I keep them in a nice pile for future reference – to my husband’s dismay. For this reason I have been thankful that many publishers are now making their publications available for the iPad.  The bonus here is this often, many of these iMags are issues that you can’t purchase on newstands. New for traveling families is Travel +Leisure‘s  Family Travel App. This downloadable magazine is a great FREE resource for families who love to travel or those who are planning a trip in the future. Filled with tips, gear suggestions and destination reviews, this iMag  is at the top of my list for resources for travel. The premier issue lists 9 great family escapes, vacationing at Yosemite Park 3 ways and some useful tips for roadtripping. Plus, in true iPad fashion, the content is interactive as well scrollable from side to side like a book. As families rely more on digital technology for their information, I like that long standing media publications are stepping up to meet that demand in a creative yet relevant way. If you have an iPad, I highly recommend this Free Application and I look forward to the next installment!

Airport Travelers Plagued By Luggage Problems

Jen R
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Airport Travelers Plagued By Luggage Problems
Packing for a family vacation can be a challenge, but when you stop and think about it, luggage is the bane of a traveler’s existence from start to finish. It’s one thing to cart around and keep track of your own belongings, but when you have little ones, the problems start to escalate and so does Mommy’s blood pressure.  Small children require a lot of gear and are completely dependent on Mom and Dad to carry it all for them, somehow. So we cart the suitcases and the backpacks and the diaper bags and the car seat and the stroller and the baby and our own luggage, through the airport. We offload the big cases at check in, we gate check the odds and ends and we carry the rest onto the plane with us.  We do our best to drop everything off at the right place, at the right time and then we do our best to collect it all again, at the right place, at the right time. A report, released this week by Amadeus, found that 34% of air travelers reported being inconvenienced, during their last airline experience, by baggage woes at some point in the journey; be it at check in, drop off or luggage pick up. The unpleasantness is deepened by the $15-$40 fee, per checked bag, charged by most American air carriers.  Since 2005 U.S. airlines, excluding JetBlue and Southwest, have been charging customers to the tune of $6 billion in added revenue. The result – passengers carry on anything and everything they can, swamping the security screeners and increasing wait times.  The increase in the amount of luggage, in need of screening, has not resulted in an increase in staff or X-ray machines. Geoff Freeman, executive vice president of the U.S. Travel Association says, “You have the same number of machines (X-rays) and 50 percent greater traffic coming through them.” Freeman is concerned that the increase in traffic is compromising security efforts, “It’s just common sense, the more traffic coming through the same system, the less people are able to focus on each specific piece.” T.S.A. spokesperson, Greg Soule, defends the state of airport security, “The number of bags brought to the checkpoint may affect passenger wait times, but not the level of security that we provide, which is our priority.” So, what’s to be done to rectify the situation?  Implement a fee increase, of course. The Department of Homeland Security has proposed that, as early as 2012, the passenger security fee should be increased from $2.50 to $4.  The proposed fee hike would bring in an estimated $600 million a year. As travelers, there isn’t much we can do.  Grumble as we might (and do) these are just the hassles and costs of air travel in the 21st century.  If we were going to give up flying because of luggage problems and long lines at security, most planes would be half empty, but they’re not.  They’re full, and that’s because the payoffs of travel far out way the headaches. So, take a deep breath and a long dreamy look at your vacation brochure; then run the airport gauntlet like the gladiator you are, because it’s not likely to improve any time soon. – Jen R, Staff Writer SOURCE

Harry Potter: The Exhibition at Discovery Times Square Opens April 5th

Lisa Arneill
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Harry Potter: The Exhibition at Discovery Times Square Opens April 5th
If you are planning a trip to NYC this Summer, you may want to add Harry Potter: The Exhibition at Discovery Times Square to your list of must-do’s! The magic of Harry Potter swoops into New York City early with a special “sneak peek” weekend for Harry Potter: The Exhibition at Discovery Times Square on Friday, April 1 through Sunday, April 3. In partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Global Experience Specialists, Inc. (GES) created the 14,000-square-foot experiential exhibition, where visitors will be able to visit dramatic displays inspired by the Hogwarts™ film sets and see the amazing craftsmanship behind authentic costumes and props from the films.  Original artifacts from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 and the highly anticipated finale, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows- Part 2, will be on display along with hundreds of original props and costumes from all of the previous Harry Potter films.
“This very special sneak peek provides Harry Potter fans with the opportunity to experience the magic of the exhibition prior to the official opening,” said Eddie Newquist, chief creative officer for GES.
Harry Potter: The Exhibition offers fans a firsthand view of hundreds of authentic artifacts displayed in settings inspired by the film sets—including the Great Hall, Hagrid’s hut, the Gryffindor™ common room—and more. General public admission to Harry Potter: The Exhibition is $25 for adults; $22.50 for seniors (65 and over) and $19.50 for children (4-12); children under 4 years of age are free. This is the exhibition’s final North American destination before traveling internationally.   The grand opening is slated for Tuesday, April 5 and the exhibit will run through September 5, 2011. Tickets for this magical exhibit are available now and can be purchased online at DiscoveryTS.com, at the Discovery Times Square box office (226 West 44th Street) or by calling (866) 987-9692. SOURCE

Hotels are Getting Back in the Game With New Amenities

Jen R
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Hotels are Getting Back in the Game With New Amenities
If you had the means to continue traveling through the recession, you probably noticed the dwindling selection of amenities, supplied in hotel rooms. The lotions and potions that were once supplied for every possible need, were replaced, for a time, by a lonely little bottle of inexpensive goo; meant to wash your hair and body from top to bottom.  And once you’d dried your skin with cheap soap, you would discover that moisturiser had become a casualty of the hotel’s cost cutting measures. As the economy has started its recovery, people have emerged to travel again and, in turn, hotels have started to return to a higher level of service.  But, the form of the services and amenities has evolved and has, in many ways, changed the face of the 21st century hotel experience. The hotel vanity is once again stocked with the essentials of travel.  Gone, however, are the shoe horns, polishing mitts and sewing kits.  These have disappeared in favour of higher quality basics.  Shampoo, conditioner, bar soaps, shower gels and moisturisers are back in ample supply; all with sophisticated and luxurious fragrances.  The higher end the hotel, the higher end the toiletries, with establishments often forgoing their own labelling in favour of showing off the expensive spa lines they have purchased for their guests.
Outside the bathroom, things have changed too.  Gone are the clunky CRT TVS of yesteryear.  As hotels renovate they bring in flat panel televisions.  The most recent trend is to install TVs that are compatible with smart phones and tablets, to make it easier for patrons to stream video.  That makes it easy to entertain kids who are unsettled in a strange room.
The modern hotel room is all about gadgets.  New, in room safes have holes bored in the side so customers can charge their devices while keeping them secure.   Work stations have been redesigned to accommodate all the latest technology.  Even the old clock radio is an i-pod docking station now.  Hotels, across the board, are out to prove that they are ready for the modern traveler. Even the beds have had a techno-makeover.  Radisson hotels offer a selection of rooms with Sleep Number Beds, so visitors can have a custom night’s sleep. While we’re on the subject of beds, a change that I have been pleased to see is the elimination of the multi-coloured (read: stain hiding) Petri dish bed spreads as more and more hotels opt for clean white duvets.  As a mom, it makes me feel a lot better when I walk into a hotel room and I don’t have to peel a layer of bedding off and toss it in the corner. As hotels clamber for patrons, some are offering a more personal experience.  The ‘personal pantry’ has replaced the old-school mini bar, in many hotels that continue to offer a mini bar at all.  As patrons arrive, they are asked to select items that they would like to have stocked in their room.  They still charge mini bar prices, but as parents, we know that sometimes the price of convenience is worth paying. Life has changed a lot since we were kids, and the hotel industry is keeping pace.  Imagine the changes are kids will see in their lifetimes. – Jen R, Staff Writer. Photo via Interior and Exterior Design & hotelthehouse.com SOURCE

Report: Disney Planning Addition to Grand Floridian Resort

Lisa Arneill
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Report: Disney Planning Addition to Grand Floridian Resort
If rumors are true, Disney World’s lavish Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, is about to become bigger! The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that the entertainment giant submitted a permit application to the South Florida Water Management District describing a six- to seven-story, T-shaped building that will be connected via a covered walkway to the existing Grand Floridian. The Victorian-themed hotel, which is located next to the Magic Kingdom, has standard room rates that begin at $440 a night. While no construction timetable was provided, Disney spokesperson Bryan Malenius said,
“At any given time, we have numerous projects in various stages of development across our resort.  If a project comes to fruition, we will share details when it makes sense to do so for our business.”
Tim Krasniewski, publisher of DVCNews.com, a news website for Disney time-share owners believes the new addition may be used for Disney Vacation Club time shares.  “It has all the markings of it.” In 2009, the 15-story Bay Lake Tower, was built as an addition to Disney’s Contemporary Resort, another high-priced Disney hotel by the Magic Kingdom.

It has also been noted that Disney has a history of keeping its time-share projects quiet for as long as possible, so they don’t weaken sales at already-open properties. Talk about the Bay Lake Tower plans didn’t happen until nearly two years after breaking ground on the project.
Disney is currently peddling units in three open time shares at Disney World — Bay Lake Tower, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas, and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa — as well in an under-construction resort in Hawaii dubbed “Aulani.” That project, the first major resort Disney has built that isn’t tied to a theme park, is scheduled to open in phases beginning this fall.
While we look forward to hearing what the plans will be for the expansion, if Disney is true to form, that may not happen for years to come! Photos VIA Mickey Extreme
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