Month: December 2018

(Dec. 29, 2018) – With the new year comes a new tiered, discounted ticket offer for the four theme parks at Walt Disney World. 

Starting Jan. 18, guests can purchase a four-day, 4-Park Magic Value Ticket for $85 per day (plus tax) for a total price of $340 (plus tax). The 4-Park Magic Tickets include one day of admission to Magic Kingdom Park, one day of admission to Epcot, one day of admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and one day of admission to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, for a total of four admissions over four separate days.

4-Park Magic Tickets will be available for purchase beginning Jan. 18, 2019, at Disneyworld.com/parkmagic, through the Disney Reservation Center or authorized travel professionals and ticket sellers. 4-Park Magic Tickets are seasonally priced for varied usage between Jan. 18 and Sept. 30, 2019, as follows:

• 4-Park Magic Value Ticket: Valid for admission Jan. 18-March 1, 2019; must be used within seven days from first use, or by March 1, 2019, whichever comes first
  • Adult: $85 per day, plus tax ($340 total, plus tax)
  • Child: $80 per day, plus tax ($320 total, plus tax)
• 4-Park Magic Select Ticket: Valid for admission March 2-March 14; March 27-April 9; April 27-May 27; and Aug. 19-Sept. 30, 2019; must be used within seven days from first use, or by Sept. 30, 2019, whichever comes first
  • Adult: $89 per day, plus tax ($356 total, plus tax)
  • Child: $84 per day, plus tax ($336 total, plus tax)
• 4-Park Magic Summer Ticket: Valid for admission May 28-Aug. 18, 2019; must be used within seven days from first use or by Sept. 30, 2019, whichever comes first
  • Adult: $95 per day, plus tax ($380 total, plus tax)
  • Child: $90 per day, plus tax ($360 total, plus tax)

Note: 4-Park Magic Tickets are valid for one theme park per day; tickets can be used to enter each theme park only once. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable and exclude activities/events separately priced. Higher-priced tickets are valid for use on dates with a lower price. For more information about the 4-Park Magic Tickets, visit Disneyworld.com/parkmagic. 

Remember, when planning for your next Disney Vacation, Griswold’s Magical Memoriesoffers the lowest prices available on rental of Deluxe Disney Vacation Club Villas at savings that are often more than 50% less than booking directly through Disney Central Reservations. Take a look at examples of actual savings our Vacationers have enjoyed, and then submit your Free, No Obligation Reservation Request Formtoday!

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (December 21, 2018) – Disney has announced plans for a new dining and fireworks package for Disney Vacation Club members. It includes reserved seating for a party of up to 6 at The Wave at the Contemporary Resort. After dinner you are escorted to the Top of the World Lounge at the adjoining Bay Lake Tower for drinks, desert, and a reserved seat for the nightly Magic Kingdom fireworks.

The price is $59 person for a prix-fixe menu at the Wave that starts one and one-half hours before the nightly fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom. The new dining package begins January 14 and is slated to run nightly through June 30. There are some blackouts around Easter and Mother’s Day.

The news has some DVC Members concerned that this means the end of a highly-valued Member benefit, and it appears there is good cause to be concerned. For at least the past half-dozen years, access to the Top of the World Lounge to view the Magic Kingdom fireworks has been a benefit that could be enjoyed at no added cost by any DVC Member staying at WDW resorts. Those days appear to be ending.

The DVC Member website list the free access as ending on December 29. There is no information on the website regarding extending the benefit into 2019. The smart bet is this benefit is going away – at least until next July

Remember, when planning for your next Disney Vacation, Griswold’s Magical Memoriesoffers the lowest prices available on rental of Deluxe Disney Vacation Club Villas at savings that are often more than 50% less than booking directly through Disney Central Reservations. Take a look at examples of actual savings our Vacationers have enjoyed, and then submit your Free, No Obligation Reservation Request Formtoday!

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (December 5, 2018)– Disney promises “Wide-eyed wonderment will wash over guests this holiday season when they see gingerbread displays at select Disney theme parks and Disney resort hotels, as well as the ships of Disney Cruise Line.”

In the spirit of the season, Disney chefs decked the halls (roofs, doorways and windows, too) to create life-sized, gingerbread houses yummy enough to eat.

Here’s a look at storybook houses, carousels and other confections baked with love by Disney chefs, with savory sweets for sale in most locations:

• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – This year marks the 20^th anniversary of this resort hotel’s gingerbread house. A classic recipe from Austria inspires the ornaments, cookies and a house standing 14 feet tall in the lobby. Home to The Bake Shop, the gingerbread house is the perfect place to pick up holiday treats. Gingerbread house decorating demonstrations occur daily Dec. 1-25.
• Disney’s Contemporary Resort – Cinderella Castle is re-created with an “it’s a small world” backdrop depicting Cinderella and Prince Charming greeting guests in the castle forecourt. The 18-foot display is crafted from thousands of gingerbread blocks. A life-sized spinning carousel highlights the display.
• Disney’s Beach Club Resort – Donald Duck- and Daisy Duck-themed horses are decorated with chocolate, sugar and fondant in this scrumptious classic carousel.
• Disney’s BoardWalk Resort – A delightful gingerbread version of the resort’s BoardWalk features iconic locales such as BoardWalk Bakery, Flying Fish, Trattoria al Forno and more.
• The American Adventure – Patriotic flair meets pastry magic at Epcot, where gingerbread renditions of the U.S. Capitol, Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument (topped with golden Mickey ears!) are on display
• Amorette’s Patisserie – This sophisticated pastry shop at Disney Springs dresses up its front window with a miniature gingerbread replica of itself – right down to the gingerbread trees!
• The Haunted Mansion – Disneyland Resort turns to Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” to create a wonderfully spooky gingerbread display inside this classic attraction. A giant spider with glowing eyes hangs over the Grand Hall Table, attempting to pry the edible gingerbread mansion from its foundation as gingerbread zombies watch in amazement.
• Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa – Disney artists, engineers and bakers teamed up on a gingerbread house that adds to the resort hotel’s festive lobby. With over 600 pounds of gingerbread and adorned with Hidden Mickeys, this grandly Californian gingerbread house is on display all season long.
• Disney Cruise Line – Aboard the four Disney Cruise Line ships, the chef competition is on! Bakery teams are challenged to create their own individual gingerbread houses for display throughout the holiday season in the atrium lobby of each ship. Taking weeks to conceptualize and construct, each features more than 600 pounds of gingerbread dough, 200-plus pounds of sugar and 5,000 gingerbread bricks.
• Aulani – A Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii gets its gingerbread on with “A Kakamora Holiday.” This festive display includes a chocolate tree, a Moana-inspired gingerbread hut, chocolate sleigh and merrymaking Kakamoras celebrating with a tropical twist.

Remember, when planning for your next Disney Vacation, Griswold’s Magical Memoriesoffers the lowest prices available on rental of Deluxe Disney Vacation Club Villas at savings that are often more than 50% less than booking directly through Disney Central Reservations. Take a look at examples of actual savings our Vacationers have enjoyed, and then submit your Free, No Obligation Reservation Request Formtoday!

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (December 2, 2018) – Once again, Moonlight Magic events, among the most enjoyed Disney Vacation Club Member Benefits each year, will be held on several dates at each park in 2019.

Thus far, Disney has announced only two Moonlight Magic nights, bot at Epcot (May 13, 2019 and May 20, 2019) but it seems clear date for added nights in other WDW Theme Parks will be announced soon.

In the meantime, now is the time to starting planning for the Epcot event. Here’s what you need to know about these evenings, which are complimentary to DVC Members and special guests:

Event Details 

Enjoy an evening of thrills, entertainment and more as the park becomes your playground.

Event highlights include:

• Access to select attractions throughout the park, with shorter-than-usual wait times
• Meet-and-greets with Disney Characters
• A DJ dance party
• Complimentary refreshments

Note: Activities and offerings are subject to change without notice.

When & Where
Get details about event dates, times and location:

• Dates:Monday, May 13, 2019 and Monday, May 20, 2019
• Times: TBD
• Location:Epcot

Know Before You Register 

Before registering for this event, be sure to review important information.

Initial Registration Window
This initial registration window for this event is open to Members with existing Resort reservations—booked prior to Monday, April 1, 2019—at the Walt Disney World Resort or at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort.

The initial registration window opens on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 at 9:00 AM Eastern Time. Event registration opens to all Members on Wednesday, April 10, 2019 at 9:00 AM Eastern Time.

Party Size Limits
A Member can register themselves and up to 3 additional guests (total of 4 per Membership)—or up to the number of guests on his or her Resort reservation. Children younger than 3 years old do not need to be registered for this event.

Members With Multiple Resort Reservations
If Members have multiple Resort reservations, additional party size guidelines apply depending on how the reservation was booked:

• When staying using Vacation Points, Members can register themselves and up to the number of individuals on their Resort reservation(s).
• When staying using cash or RCI® points, Members can register themselves and up to the number of individuals staying in the same room as the Member.

Modifications & Cancellations
This event cannot be booked or modified through Member Services. If a Member wishes to change their party size or the date that they are attending Moonlight Magic, they may modify their event registration through the link found in their confirmation email.

Please note:

• If you cancel your Resort reservation, your event registration will be cancelled automatically.
• Cancelling and rebooking an event registration increases the risk of losing one’s registration.
• Modifications or cancellations of an event registration cannot be made the same day as booking.

Registering for Another Member on Your Membership
If the primary Member is not registering for the event, another Member with the same Member ID number may be added as an alternate to check in at the event. Valid Disney Vacation Club Membership Card and photo ID are required at check-in.

Event Date Limits
In order to allow as many Members as possible to enjoy Moonlight Magic, only one event date for each participating park will be available per Membership.

Other Important Information

• Registration is required and limited. Unfortunately, walk-ins will not be permitted.
• Valid Disney Vacation Club Membership Card and photo ID required at check-in. Member listed on the Membership Card must be in attendance.
• Complimentary admission to the after-hours event at Epcot is valid for the duration of the event. If you wish to enter Epcot before the event, valid theme park admission is required.
• This offer is complimentary, non-transferable and cannot be sold. It is subject to availability, change or termination without notice.
• Attendees under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a participating parent or guardian.
• This is a rain-or-shine event; some experiences may be cancelled due to inclement weather.
• We request that Members cancel at least 48 hours in advance.
• FastPass+ selections may only be reserved using valid theme park admission linked to a My Disney Experience account. Theme park admission must be used at the Main Entrance touchpoints for FastPass+ selections to be valid.

How to Register

Register online when your registration window opens. Event registration is required in order to attend this event.

Members with Disney Resort hotel reservations during the event can register online beginning Wednesday, April 3, 2019 at 9:00 AM Eastern Time. Event registration opens to all Members on Wednesday, April 10, 2019 at 9:00 AM Eastern Time.

Remember, when planning for your next Disney Vacation, Griswold’s Magical Memoriesoffers the lowest prices available on rental of Deluxe Disney Vacation Club Villas at savings that are often more than 50% less than booking directly through Disney Central Reservations. Take a look at examples of actual savings our Vacationers have enjoyed, and then submit your Free, No Obligation Reservation Request Formtoday!