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Category Archives: Attractions
2013 Dates Revealed for Star Wars Weekends at Disney Hollywood Studios
Gear up fanboys and fangirls for the triumphant return of Star Wars Weekends! Disney Parks just released the dates for set for every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May 17 – June 9 2013!
The celebrity guests who make appearances in parades, special programs and autograph signings have not been announced at press time however Disney has named two stars who will be there during the event’s duration. “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” voice actors James Arnold Taylor (Obi-Wan Kenobi) and Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka Tano) are scheduled to return as celebrity hosts. Taylor will be the official emcee while Eckstein will reprise her role as host of “Behind the Force,” a live show that takes fans behind-the-scenes in the Star Wars universe.
2013′s Star Wars Weekends may be the biggest one yet with Disney’s recent acquisition of Lucasfilm and the announcement of new Star Wars Episode VII. Be sure to check back for more announcements regarding the various stars and special events taking place at this year’s Star Wars Weekends! May the Force be with you!
Related articles
- Star Wars Weekends 2013 Dates Announced (chipandco.com)
- Star Wars’ Weekends 2013 Dates Announced (jedimouseketeer.com)
Do Cheap Souvenirs exist at the Disney Parks?
I know the words cheap and Disney do not go together usually but if you search hard enough there is such a thing as a cheap souvenir. I am always on a strict budget no matter what I do, so I have found ways to get the most from my money. Here are a few Ideas that I think you will appreciate.
- My number one cheap souvenir is Pressed Pennies. They are often overlooked but adorable and a great way to keep a magical memory. You can find pressed penny machines all over the parks, in the stores, and in the resorts. They are the cheapest souvenir you will ever find at Disney World and probably one of the cutest. My daughter collects them and she is already filling up her second book. You can find the books to keep them in usually either on top of the pressed penny machine or somewhere nearby. I believe they are around $7.00 to $10.00. Each machine usually has 3 designs to pick from and now most of the machines are computerized so you just pick your design and hit a button and there it is. I remember when all the machines were the crank style machines where you had to put in the elbow grease to press your own penny. Each pressed penny will cost 50 cents, there are some that cost a dollar but those are usually the pressed quarters. I think these are a cute idea for small children because they are very affordable and they can control what they get and what design they get most children will love that.
Chip’s Tips: Some of the more expensive resorts have the higher priced machines.
- Resort Soap and Shampoo. I know many people consider these free souvenirs but I don’t only because I am paying for the room and those things are included in the price. I do love the soap that the resorts give, it usually smells really good and is high quality. I always try to keep it and not use it but sometimes they are just calling my name and I want to be reminded of the resort so I just have to use a bar. I like the new shampoo bottles because the top is Mickey ears and when I first saw that I thought it was the cutest thing ever, I love mini versions of everything.
Comedy Warehouse Returns For the Holidays
If you are at Hollywood Studios for the holiday week we have great news for you. The once popular Comedy Warehouse at Pleasure Island in Walt Disney World is making a comeback-but it’s moving to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and for one week only. Comedy Warehouse was one of the many nightclubs inside Pleasure Island that closed years ago. It featured a handful of comedians performing improv skits based on audience suggestions. The Comedy Warehouse Holiday Special at Hollywood Studio will be running the same way but with shorter shows, a holiday theme, and of course, all family friendly.
All of the comedians in the revived show are former Warehouse actors and current cast members. The cast includes MArk Daniel, Lisa Glaze, Joy Anderson Bowes, Krista Miller, Mary Thompson Hunt, Philip Nolen, Steve Purnick, Jake Lockwood, and John Cameron Telfer. The musicians include John B. deHass, Randy Morris, Jamal Gureay and Carol Stein.
The 22-minute show will take place at 11:30a.m., 12:30p.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 4:45p.m. and 5:45p.m drom Dec 25th to Dec 31st at the ABC Sound Studio (formerly Sounds Dangerous Theater) at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The shows are included with admission to the theme park.
If you remember the old Comedy Warehouse we would love to hear about your memories. If you lucky enough to attend one of these new shows in the upcoming week, please share your experiences with us.
Related articles
- Comedy Warehouse show returning to Hollywood Studios for 14-day run (orlandosentinel.com)
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When is the best time to visit Walt Disney World?
We all know the crowds at Disney World can be horrible, especially in those hot summer months. So I wanted to share with you some tips to help you avoid the crowds which can definitely make for a more magical experience.
Try to avoid the summer - The parks are most crowded in the summer June thru August. This is the absolute worst time to visit the parks. The weather is disgustingly hot, I don’t know how anyone can enjoy the parks just from the heat alone. The resort prices go way up. I have seen the cheapest value resort room go for double the price then it was in the off-season, to me that is crazy for a small room. I live in Orlando and I have gone in the summer and I will never do it again.
The holidays are also a bad time to visit. However that can be a double edge sword because the holidays at Disney World are incredible but that also comes with higher prices and larger crowds. The holiday resort prices can go even higher during Christmas and New Years then in the summer. If you are brave and can put up with crowds I would definitely recommend experiencing the parks during the holidays. If you are not ok with very large crowds or have a phobia then I would say stay away. If you have to come I would do it the first 2 weeks of December before Christmas which is the worst week to go!
Having a Walt Disney World Plan of Attack
Most guests visiting the Walt Disney World resort go into their vacations without a game plan. I think this is a big mistake. Disney World, as we all know and love, is huge and crowded! A little bit of planning can make all the difference in the amount of time you spend waiting in lines on your vacation. (And, let’s be honest, for me, this “little bit of planning” is months and months of obsessive planning.) Here are my suggestions for your early morning attack of each park.
Magic Kingdom
We start by arriving at the Magic Kingdom well before the park opens. If you’re driving, you’ll need to allow at least 20 minutes to park at the Transportation and Ticket Center and take a monorail or ferry to the Magic Kingdom. 30 minutes may be better. Then you’ll need time for bag checks and getting through the turnstiles. Plan on being done with all of this at least 15 minutes before the park opens and snag a spot to see the morning opening show.
Once inside the park, you should head to the most popular location first. These days, that is going to be New Fantasyland. Check out the attractions over there before the masses of people start arriving in the next few hours. If you’re more of a thrill seeker, head to Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad first. You can get a lot done in the first hour the parks are open, so use that time to hit the most popular attractions.
