Link to Article: 10 Sensational Benefits to Staying On Property at Walt Disney World

Disney's Grand Floridian - the Mother of all Disney hotels
Photo: dadsguidetowdw.com

Recently posted on disneyfanatic.com, this article raises some very good points:

Be Our Guest!

If you're going to make a trip to Disney World, why not totally immerse yourself in all things Disney?  It is great fun, and the convenience factors are worth it if nothing else is: no renting a car, paying for parking, etc.  Sure, you might be paying a higher price for a Moderate or Deluxe resort if you want to, but the money you save on transportation, parking and toll fees - as well as the headaches that can come along with any and all of those things - are worth it.  

Shades of Green - for military families and veterans
Photo: hotelodat.blogspot.com

There are over 30 Disney properties to choose from, and all of them are uniquely themed and will carry you away to another time and/or place.  

Wilderness Lodge interior, decorated for Christmas
Photo: disneytouristblog.com

Do it for yourself, AND your family!

Pirate themed room at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort
Photo: familyvacationcritic.com

Link to Article: 12 Overlooked Attractions at Walt Disney World

Railroad station - Magic Kingdom
Photo: wdwfacts.com

This article on disneyfanatic.com lists some great stuff that is usually overlooked:

Don't Miss It!

At one time or another I have enjoyed most of these, but I will say that I have not been on Magic Kingdom's PeopleMover or the Carousel of Progress (although I have them on my "to do" list for October).  I have also recently learned about the Animation Academy at Hollywood Studios - that is something I would find interesting, because I can't draw ANYTHING!

Animation Academy at Hollywood Studios
Photo: themeparkinsider.com

Some of my favorite missed items are at Epcot; every one of the eleven countries has so many hidden goodies, including shows, street performers, shops and museums, as well as some really great restaurants that are not crowded at all.  

Epcot has become my new favorite park for all-around entertainment.  Magic Kingdom is a close second - there is so much to see and do at both of them that I could spend days at each of them and not see or do everything in a single trip.

Voices of Liberty - Epcot's American Pavilion
Photo: landallears.net, Scott Thomas Photography

Look for the out-of-the-way stuff when you're there.  It's always worth the extra effort, and you'll be glad you did.

Link to article: The 13 BIG Changes That Are Coming to Walt Disney World

An artist rendering of what a ride in the new Avatar World at Animal Kingdom will look like - cool!  Credit: themeparktourist.com

I knew about some of these, but there are some very interesting things going on in WDW right now.  A list of the 13 biggest changes coming in the next year are listed here on themeparktourist.com:

Something BIG!

I am looking forward to most of these, especially making Animal Kingdom more of a "full day" park with the addition of a nighttime show, an expansion of Africa, and the whole new Avatar World.  These are things I would love to see.

The addition of Star Wars to all things Disney has been a great success, and I think even more families will go to what is currently Hollywood Studios (although it will change, but to what is anyone's guess) to see an entire Star Wars WORLD.

I've not been completely smitten with Toy Story at Hollywood Studios, but some of the new rides might draw me in.  I can see a whole new theme for the park going in when they "officially" change the name to...whatever it's going to be.  I'm just glad I have both an MGM Studios AND Hollywood Studios pin in my collection already!

Disney Springs is about 60% complete and should be done before Christmas.  I will be taking lots of photos around Halloween, so I hope most of it is done by then.

I am REALLY glad they are adding a third section to Soarin' at Epcot - the wait for this ride is always extremely long, unless you have a FastPass.  Even after all this time, it never gets old, and I love it.

I also think that the addition of the Frozen-themed ride in Epcot's Norway pavilion is going to create a LOT more traffic where people with small kids probably avoided that whole area before, sadly.  I tend to think of Epcot as a whole a more "grown-up" park, especially the pavilions 
in the World Showcase at the back.  The front of the park currently has all of the rides, and I haven't seen as many families spending too much time wandering through the 11 pavilions as I have, with many of them indulging in an adult beverage, or two, or three.

Still, this is why WDW never gets old - there is always something new going on!

Link to DisneyDining.com article: Top 8 Amazing Special Effects in the Parks

I really must be a big kid at heart.

DisneyDining.com's article about the top 8 special effects at WDW parks is right on - and I actually have NOT seen #1 (Fantasmic! at Hollywood Studios) or #7 (Maurice's Workshop in the Magic Kingdom).  Fantasmic! has been on my list, and Maurice's Workshop will be on it now.

Fantasmic!
Photo: disney.wikia.com

Here's a link to the whole article:
WOW!

If you have small kids, be sure to take them to see #3 on the list: Turtle Talk with Crush in Epcot's The Seas pavilion.  It is the best interactive "show" for little kids, because Crush will ask them questions.  It's not a super-long show, either, so it will hold their attention.  It is cute, funny, endearing and entertaining.

Photo: land.allears.net

My personal favorite: the Hitchhiking Ghosts of the Haunted Mansion in the Magic Kingdom.  But that's not really a surprise since it's my favorite ride.

Photo: cl-evolved.com

Link to Article: Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar to Open this Fall at Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World Resort

Photo: io9.com - ADORBS!

I am a fan of the Indiana Jones movies.

I adore Harrison Ford (in pretty much everything).

When I saw that WDW would be opening Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar in Downtown Disney this Fall, it made me very, very excited because I will BE THERE this Fall!

More information and artist renderings on the Disney Parks blog here - it looks like it will be a neat place to visit:  

Indiana Jones

They will serve tapas-style plates (small plates) and alcohol, so this is the sort of place for the adults to visit.

The article doesn't give an exact date, but I hope it's open by October 22nd when I arrive, because I want to pay a visit!

Link to Article: Top 10 Places to Meet Mickey Mouse at Disney World

Photo: WDWLive.com

Character meet and greets are not a big deal for me and my family because we don't have any small children in the family.  That being said, we DID take Hayley's photo with Mickey at the Country Fair in Magic Kingdom on our first trip because the line was not very long at all.

Here's a list from Disneyfanatic.com that lists the best places to meet THE mouse himself.  I think I would actually like to do #1 - meet a talking Mickey!

Mickey Mouse Meet and Greets

On another note, there are now far more character meet and greets for all of the princesses and beloved characters like Chip and Dale (they show up in several places in each park), and the Jungle Book characters are always wandering around Animal Kingdom.  Some of the princess lines are long, but some of them also have FastPass+ if you really, really want to meet them.  Plan your day accordingly.

Link to article: 12 Things You Might Not Know You Can Do At Disney

A recent article on Disneyfanatic.com - some things that most people don't realize you can do at Disney World:

12 Things

We discovered # 2 on our last trip to Disney - we had no idea you could send packages back to your Disney resort so you don't have to carry everything around all day, and we used it.  We picked up our packages the next morning so we didn't have to carry a Haunted Mansion throw and Disney trading pins from one ride to the next.  You juts fill out a package pick up ticket at the time of purchase and take your copy back to your resort.  The Cast Member making the sale should let you know where to pick up your items at that time, but if they don't know the exact location just ask any Cast Member back at your resort.

The only caveat here is that you can't be checking out the next day.  Otherwise, you can also ask to have your packages delivered to a location at the front of the park (with a reasonable amount of time before you are leaving for the day - more than 3 hours), and they will be available to pick up.  Each park has a couple of locations for package pick up near the entrance.

I also didn't know about the free water.  Bottled water costs $2.50 each time you buy it, but a cup of cold ice water for anyone - or everyone - in your party is available at all quick service and counter locations.  Plus you can pour it into your own container once you get it if you have a refillable water bottle or some other container you are reusing.

Link to article: My 5 Favorite Walt Disney World Resorts

Don't just take my word for it - here's a Disney expert who has stayed at many Disney World resorts.  

Article on DisDining.com: 
Stay with me!

Number 5 on this list is the only one that is not a Deluxe resort and is my personal favorite Moderate resort: Port Orleans - Riverside.  That says something for the beauty and comfort of this resort.

Port Orleans - Riverside's main entrance, river access, restaurant and food court

Link to article: And they lived happily ever after

I can only imagine a Disney themed wedding in the Happiest Place on Earth.

When I saw this article on the World of Walt blog, I found that the prices aren't quite as steep as I thought they'd be.

Happily Ever After

It's something little girls dream about, especially if they were raised on the classic Disney movies.  And, according to the website, you can have any theme you want, or no theme at all.  What an invitation!

Photo from Pinterest

Link to article: Top 7 Mickey Shaped Foods

Some of the best Disney stuff is Disney FOOD!

DisneyDining.com has an article about their choices for the 7 best Mickey-shaped foods in WDW:

Hey, Mickey!

I enjoyed Mickey waffles so much on our first couple of Disney trips that I bought a Mickey waffle maker as soon as they were available!  They had them at our local grocery store, and I couldn't resist getting one.  It was only $16 - that's about the cost of two Mickey waffle breakfasts at a resort!

Mmmmm...Mickey ice cream and Mickey candied apples...