Marvelous Mouse Travels

Now More than Ever! D23 Recap

By Leave a Comment

A big thank you to Molly Davis for putting together this awesome information and Suzanne Sevier for the pictures!

Now More than Ever. That is the phrase used to describe all things Disney and how NOW more than EVER is going to be the time to visit all of the Disney theme parks! Marvelous Mouse Travels had the great opportunity to visit the D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, and learned about all of the latest and greatest updates and what is to come in the next couple of years for all things Disney.

Special thanks to Suzanne Sevier for sharing her pictures from the D23 Expo!

Disneyland: Anaheim, California

Disneyland will be getting a new parade called, “Magic Happens,” featuring new floats, an all-new musical soundtrack, characters than have never been in parades before (including Moana, Cocoa, which are just to name a few!) This will debut in Spring of 2020!

Disney California Adventure: Anaheim, California

The Avengers Campus will feature the first Spiderman attraction. Guests will be able to slink webs just like Spiderman. The Pym Test Kitchen as well as Ant Man and the Wasp will also be part of Avengers Campus and guests will have the opportunity to meet characters along with Black Panther, Thor, Ironman, and others as part of their meet and greet! The WEB (World Wide Engineering Brigade) will allows guests to play and create new inventions including the web slinger vehicle.  These features will also be available at Disneyland in Paris, France!

Disney’s California Adventure will also be getting an all new E-ticket attraction where guests will be able to fly to Wakanda!

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort

Disneyland’s castle in Hong Kong will not be inspired by any of the princesses, rather instead they will be inspired by the heroines. This castle will be called Castle of Magical Dreams.

Hong Kong will also get 2 new Frozen themed attractions! One of these will be a near clone of Maelstrom at Walt Disney World’s Epcot.

Walt Disney World: Orlando, Florida

Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort has announced that Cirque du Soleil is back with a live action show inspired by Disney animation. The classic Disney characters will interact with live performers of Cirque du Soleil. This show will also feature a soundtrack that will compliment the acrobatics and stunts being performed. This show begins previews on March 20, 2020 and will open to the public on April 17, 2020.

The Disney Skyliner will open on September 29th.

The 50th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort will take place in all 4 parks in 2021.

Disney Genie is a new digital offering coming to Walt Disney World. This feature will suggest options and attractions based on your likes and preferences and can be changed on demand. This will debut in late 2020.

Reflections: A Lakeside Lodge and Resort will open as a reimagined classic country lodge. It will feature various hotel rooms like A-Framed villas and tree houses, and the first of its kind “Princess and the Frog” themed restaurant.

Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser Hotel will be available for 2 days and 2 nights. It will immerse adults and children in the world of Star Wars and include a new attraction where guests will face a training robot that fires lasers while guests wield lightsabers. Guests will also be able to access the bridge of Halcyon and pilot it.

Epcot will receive its biggest reconstruction EVER attempted for a Disney park! Epcot will be divided into 4 new neighborhoods including World Discovery, World Celebration, World Nature, and World Showcase.

World Showcase: Celebrates culture, cuisine, and traditions.

  • In the China pavilion, a new film called “Wondrous China” will take guests on a journey across the country filmed and presented in a 360-degree digital format.
  • “Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360” will debut in 2020 in the Canada pavilion featuring a new story.
  • France will now have two films called “Impressions de France” and a “Beauty and the Beast” sing along that will debut in January 2020. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure will open in Summer of 2020, where you will shrink to the size of Chef Remy and race through Gusteau’s restaurant. A new restaurant will also open in the France pavilion called La Creperie de Paris, which will offer both table and quick service options.
  • The United Kingdom pavilion will feature its first attraction inspired by Mary Poppins. You will go back in time and walk down Cherry Tree Lane and enter Number 17, which is the home of the Banks family, where you will begin your adventure.
  • In 2020, “HarmonioUS” will debut as the largest nighttime show in Disney’s history. This will follow the limited time run of “Epcot Forever.”

World Celebration: World Celebration will offer new experiences that connect us to one another and the world around us.

  • A new 3-tiered festival pavilion will be added. The pavilion will be the perfect place for live events and the home base for Epcot’s signature festivals. It will provide a stunning elevated view of the entire park and an ideal spot to witness Epcot’s nighttime spectacular. This three-level structure will have amazing designs featuring a plaza level, a middle expo level, and a park that sits in the sky on the top level.
  • Spaceship Earth will remain in its iconic location, but will be reconstructed to include new scenes, different narrations, a new guide, and different exit locations. Dreamers Point will also host a new statue of Walt Disney as you exit Spaceship Earth. This will also feature a garden, wishing tree, and an interactive fountain.

World Discovery: Stories about science, technology, and intergalactic adventure are brought to life.

  • Guardians of the Galaxy coaster  which is currently under construction at Epcot, will be called “Cosmic Rewind” featuring the first backwards launch coaster for any Disney park!
  • Mission Space will add a new restaurant called Space 2020. This restaurant is currently already under construction and expected to open Winter 2019.
  • The Play Pavilion will feature Huey, Dewey, and Louis in a water balloon fight attraction. This will open in 2021.

World Nature:  Dedicated to understanding and preserving the beauty of the natural world. This will include the Land and The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilion.

  • Awesome Planet will open in January 2020 to showcase the beauty, diversity, and story of Earth.
  • The Moana attraction called “Journey of Water” will open and teach guests about the water cycle and why it is important to be saving our water resources.

Disney Stores: Nationwide

The Disney Store will be coming to 25 different Target stores! Various Disney products will now be available at select Target stores and will also be available on Target’s website.

Disney Cruise Lines

Disney Cruise Line’s new second private island will be called Lighthouse Point on Eluthera in the Bahamas. Disney will create a new experience that preserves the natural environment and culture. Disney will work with local artists on the island to create the artwork. It will be a place unlike any other!

Disney Cruise Line’s new ship will be called Disney Wish. The 3-story atrium will be inspired by Disney fairytales and will sail in January 2022. The character on the stern will be Rapunzel. Disney has helped grant over 150,000 wishes, which coincides with the name of the new Disney ship. Nearly 1 in 3 wishes are Make a Wish grants for Disney!

Ready to book your next trip to a Disney destination? Now more than ever is the time to visit, especially in the next coming years! Make sure to e-mail Contactus@marvelousmousetravels.com for a free quote!  

Disney is NOT just for kids!

By

Thank you Brittany Lapicki for this great post highlighting some of the adult fun at Walt Disney World Parks & Resorts!

 I so often hear the typical stereotype that Disney is a place just for kids and families. Well I am here to tell you, how untrue that it is! While I traveled to Disney frequently with my family as a child, I have taken more trips than I count with my significant other. Disney is not just a theme park; it is its own world. No matter where you go or what you do on property, there is this special feeling in the air. Even if you or your significant other is not a believer in Disney Magic, you still can’t help but feel that inner joy! Disney has done an amazing job of catering to all ages. You absolutely do not need to get up before the sun comes up and head to the park and start waiting in line in the 100-degree weather. It comes down to what you are looking for out of your vacation!

 Looking to relax in the morning? Disney has amazing pools at every resort, avoid the hot parks and hang by the pool all day and head to the park at dusk. Are you more into thrill rides and want to skip It’s a Small World and Peter Pan’s Flight? That is easy! With the availability of Fast Passes, you can book your thrill rides, skip the lines and move on to the next fun thing!

 Depending on the time of year, there are some events that are made for adults! In the fall, you can experience Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival where you can drink and taste all the flavors of several different countries including over 40 booths! In the Spring, Epcot has the beautiful Flower & Garden Festival where you can see stunning flower displays throughout Epcot! There are close to 20 different booths for more food and drink samplings!

 Maybe you are looking for more of the night life experience? Well you can head over to Disney Springs! Newly renovated, Disney Springs is FULL of amazing restaurants, bars and upscale stores. Stop over at Splitsville for yummy food and drinks while you bowl! Or catch the newest movie at AMC Movies at Disney Springs 24 which also has Dine-In theaters!

 Whether you are an avid or novice golfer, Disney has 4 beautiful golf courses where you can play 18 or 9 holes! Not a fan of using the driver? Play a round of Mini Golf at Winter Summerland. This is an easy but fun Christmas themed course! Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf Course is a bit more challenging but another fun option!

 Disney certainly is a special place for families and children, but there is nothing stopping adults of all ages from having just as much fun! No matter your age, you are guaranteed to have a magical time when on Disney Property!

Resort Spotlight: Disney’s Beach Club Resort

By

Thank you to Stephanie Novarro for this great post on Disney’s Beach Club resort!

Disney’s Beach Club Resort is a deluxe resort in the Epcot resort area and the sister resort to Disney’s Yacht Club. This resort is by far my favorite on property. I have 2 small children, ages 3 and 1, with a soon to be 3rd child on the way. I love the convenience of being able to walk to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. If I don’t feel like walking they are both a quick boat ride away. What is great about the boats is that if your kids are in a stroller, there is no need to take them out and fold it up; you can leave them in the stroller while on the boat. This is a mom win for sure! I also love walking over to Epcot and hopping on the monorail to the Magic Kingdom instead of using the busses. Right across Crescent Lake is Disney’s Boardwalk. On our most recent trip, we had a daily routine of walking around the lake to the Boardwalk. This was one of my daughter’s favorite things to do. I absolutely love the pool area, Stormalong Bay! It has a lazy river, water slide, and a sand beach.

The best part of the pool area has to be Beaches and Cream! This is quite the hidden gem, offering classic diner food but also ice cream! Every night we would swing by the take out window and grab some ice cream and bring it up to our room and the best part is that you can use a snack credit. There is a Character breakfast right in the lobby at Cape May Café. Not having to get up early and rush to another resort for a character meal is a big win in my book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another great thing about being so close to Epcot is being able to watch the fireworks without having to go back into the park. If you haven’t checked out the Beach club yet, I highly recommend it. You wont be disappointed!

Tree House Hotels – Costa Rica

By

A big thank you to Nicole Martinez for this great post on Costa Rica!

Tree House Hotels Costa Rica has 7 private tree houses situated on 12 beautiful gated acres.  Surrounded by a 76 acre wildlife refuge, this is a dream come true for adventurers and animal enthusiasts alike!  Each unique tree house comes with A/C, hot shower, refrigerator, and a wraparound porch furnished with wood carved rockers, and a table and chairs to sit out and enjoy the sights and sounds of the jungle.

Just before sunrise, magical employees tip toe up the steps to your deck and leave you hot coffee/tea and delicious fresh squeezed fruit juice!  They also put fresh fruit in the bird feeders for your viewing enjoyment! A full and delicious breakfast is served each morning in our rancho.  Hummingbirds abound at breakfast time as they too are enjoying fresh fruit.  After breakfast, you can (and should) take a stroll through the rain forest down to the small waterfall. 

Along the way, keep your eyes and ears open for wildlife.  Howling monkeys are in the trees above and very visible!  Sloths are present too, but harder to find since they move slowly and without much sound.  Clues on the forest floor will offer hints as to where they may be!  Poison dart frogs are in abundance as well, look down on the large green leaves or you’ll miss them! 

 

 

While at the Tree House Hotels, enjoy a night hike with Rolando free of charge. He will point out things you missed on your own!  Tree House hotels also partners with the best companies in the area and will set up your tours and excursions for you. Journey into town for local cuisine during the day and evening.  Travel a little further (45 minutes or so) to enjoy some natural hot springs!  If you are looking for a unique get away – don’t miss this wonderful location!

Tips for Traveling with Kids

By

Thank you so much to Stephanie Novarro for this great information on traveling with littles!

Anyone who know me knows that I love to travel. I have been traveling with my kids since my daughter was 4 months old. Some people look at you like you are crazy and wasting money on trips that the kids will never remember. But others, like me, understand why traveling is so important and they do it to.

 

Traveling with little ones, whether driving or flying, is different than traveling alone. The first trip we took with our daughter was supposed to be a quick 3-hour car ride down to Galveston for a long weekend. Well at 4 months old you can imagine that the car ride took closer to 6 hours with stops to feed and change her. If you are worried about the travel part of the trip, don’t be and just go with the flow and you will have a great time.  Make sure you plan ahead for extra travel time for feedings or potty breaks for the little ones. I will forever remember our daughters first time at the beach.

When you are flying with small kids it is important to make sure you have enough supplies in your carry on to keep the kids fed and entertained. On a recent trip back home to NY we had our two kiddos with us. At the time, our daughter was 2 and still in diapers and our son was only 4 months and still drinking formula. Our flight was diverted to Pittsburgh because of bad weather in the tri state area and eventually a couple of hours later the flight crew timed out. You can imagine what happened next; there we are with 2 small kids, 2 car seats, a double stroller and luggage boarding a bus to a hotel for the night in Pittsburgh. Had I not packed enough supplies in my carry on being stuck in Pittsburgh could have been a disaster.

How we react as adults in these situations will have an impact on our kids. Were we upset that we were stuck in the airport with 2 kids, sure we were but we never let our kids see our frustrations. While we were in the airport my husband and daughter rode the moveable sidewalks back and forth for what seemed like hours. She LOVED it; she thought it was the best thing. They even stopped and got some Hershey Kisses at one of the newsstands.

Some of the things I always keep in my bag for my kids are SNACKS, lots and lots of SNACKS! I like to have more diapers and wipes than I think I would actually need because who knows how many blowouts your kid will decide to have on the plane. I also take crayons and a coloring book, and of course the iPad.

My advice to you is not to be afraid to travel with your kids when they are babies or even young kids. In most cases, the kids are better travelers than some adults. Make the memories with your kids. My daughter loves to fly and loves to talk about all of our past adventures. 

Authorized Disney Vacation Planner
Sandals Preferred Agency
Univeral Orlando Authorized Travel Planner
FTAF Selected Travel Advisor
CLIA
Mark Travel

Connect With Us

Marvelous Mouse Travels
2153 Grist Mill Drive
Concord, NC 28025

Phone: 704-746-1924

Join Our Team

Want to join the Marvelous Mouse Travels team? Visit this page to learn more.