For the first time, Disney+ subscribers can save up to 25% on rooms at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels!
This deal is for current Disney+ subscribers for most visits between July 8 through September 30, 2022. 
Savings include:
Some restrictions apply. Contact me for details. If you're a current Disney+ subscriber, and would like to take advantage of this offer, click here to get started!
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It's the news that so many of us have been waiting for! For the first time in forever (or since March 2020) you'll be able to hug or get an autograph from your favorite characters again!
Beginning Monday, April 18, traditional character interactions will begin to return to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and Aulani! This post may include affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. 
Me and Mickey at Garden Grill - 2019
While not all character locations will be available immediately, more will become available throughout the spring and early summer!
Who are you the most excited to hug first? To book your 2022 stay, start here!
Get your appetite ready, because the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival returns to Walt Disney World Resort July 14th through Nov. 19th!
This is my favorite festival, and it's going to last a whopping 129 days this year! 
Last year's festival passport at the Food & Wine Festival
In addition to the incredible food booths, the Eat to the Beat Concert Series returns this year with both internationally known artists and local bands on the America Gardens stage. The lineup of musicians will be released at a later date.
The family-friendly Remy's Ratatouille Hide & Squeak scavenger hung will return again. Emile's Fromage Montage will also return as a fun way to try delicious cheeses! Stay tuned for more information about this popular festival as it's released! The Food & Wine Festival is one of the most popular festivals that Walt Disney World offers every year. To be among the first to get information, join my newsletter! (Linked below!) To book your Walt Disney World vacation during this festival, click here.
If you're traveling to Walt Disney World in 2022 and beyond, you've probably heard of Genie+. But what is it?
Genie+ is Walt Disney World's paid replacement of the old FastPass+ system. It arrived in late fall 2021 and completely changes everything when it comes to Disney travel. This system can feel overwhelming. Below, you'll find 10 tips for navigating Genie+ like a pro. This list is a labor of love between myself and many of my colleagues. (It's important to note that these tips are only for Genie+, and do not pertain to the paid Individual Lightning Lanes for headliner attractions.) This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. 
1) Call Me, Beep Me, Genie+ Me
You'll be on your phone all day long. I suggest planning some downtime activities to give yourself a break from the app. I offer my recommendations for easy "anytime" activities to my clients. Regardless of how much you use your phone, you're going to need a portable phone charger. Amazon has tons of great portable phone chargers, including my personal favorite and an extra slim option. (Pro tip: keep your phone on battery save mode to help it charge faster and keep its charge longer.)
2) Practice Makes Perfect
Before you use Genie+ for the first time, go into the My Disney Experience app and get familiar. Like I mentioned above, you'll be on your phone a lot in the parks. Having a little experience with the Genie section will help the process feel less overwhelming. When that early alarm goes off for your 7 am selection, the whole Lightning Lane process will seem much less intimidating and you can hit the ground running in the parks. (Pro tip: make sure you're using the most updated version of the My Disney Experience app.) 3) The limit does not exist. There's no way of knowing how many folks will purchase Genie+ on any given day, because there's no limit to the number of guests who can add this feature. What does this mean for you? Book your top selections before they’re gone. Genie+ won't sell out, but Lightning Lane queues can only physically hold a certain number of people for the day. If Slinky Dog Dash is your top must-do, choose that first before selecting something that won't fill up, like MuppetVision 3D. (Note: MuppetVision is a personal favorite, but it's not a good use of a Lightning Lane.) 4) If at first you don't succeed, refresh and refresh again. If you don’t like the times that are offered for a particular ride, and you haven't made your selection yet, refresh that screen! Occasionally, you'll see options that were previously unavailable. DO NOT do this for top priority rides, as these can run out of return times. (See #3 and #9)
5) Watch the Clock
Booking a Lightning Lane "blocks" your account for 2 hours. The only way to "clear the block" is to wait 2 hours from when you made your last reservation OR use the last selection you booked, whichever comes first. After that, you can continue to reserve Lightning Lanes every 2 hours. Use your phone alarm to help keep track. Remember, the 2 hour clock starts at park opening time. (ex: park opens at 9, book your next selection at 11) 6) The Stacking Trick Typically, you’ll have one Lightning Lane at a time. That's how the system is designed. But there IS a way to stack them and have your return times overlap. This happens when you schedule multiple return times for later in the afternoon/evening. How does this work if you can only book every 2 hours? At 7 am, you can make your first selection, and let's say your return time is for 2:50-3:50. At 11 am, you can select another attraction, again at 1 pm, 3 pm, and so on. If you keep choosing later return times, they can overlap, meaning you can hop from attraction to attraction with no waits!
7) Park Hop 'til You Drop
You can reserve Lightning Lanes for parks that you're not physically in. That means that if you're at one park in the morning, but know you’ll hop to another park later, you can make selections before you hop. Just make sure that your return time is late enough to accommodate the travel time between parks after hopping begins at 2 pm. This, of course, requires a park hopper ticket. 8) Head of the Party Planning Committee If you have several parties traveling together, designate ONE person to handle Genie+ for everyone. Otherwise, with multiple people on the app making changes, things get messy quickly. To make things easier for your designated Genie+ booker, make sure that everyone is linked via friends & family and that everyone has valid park admission and reservations.
9) Set in Stone
Once you book a Genie+ Lightning Lane, you cannot modify your return time. But you can cancel that Lightning Lane and rebook another. Please note that by doing this, you do risk that attraction booking up for the day. Lightning Lanes can, and do, fill quickly. Pro tip: If you do cancel and rebook, the 2 hour window restarts. 10) Time is Money The time has come to head to your attraction! You have a 1 hour window to return. There is a grace period of 5 minutes before and 15 minutes after your hour-long window. That's it. If, for whatever reason, you'll miss your return time completely, don't panic! First, try to cancel that Lightning Lane in the app. Easy peasy. Missed Lightning Lanes can result in you not being able to book more Lightning Lanes later. (It can cause issues with the system, essentially tying up your account.) The best option is to find a Guest Services Cast Member (look for the blue umbrellas) and explain the situation. Usually, they'll simply remove the missed Lightning Lane from your account! (This should go without saying, but remember to be kind to all Cast Members!) My clients all get a detailed Genie+ guide, as well as personalized park touring recommendations and tips. To learn more about my client package inclusions, click here. 
Three major attractions are temporarily joining Genie+ as of today!
Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom, Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway at Hollywood Studios, and Frozen Ever After will all leave the Individual Lightning Lane (headliner) tier and join the Genie+ program.
This change is temporary and will last until August 7, 2022. This will help to give guests more options heading into the very busy spring and summer season. For more information on adding Genie+ to your travel package, email me. To get more information on becoming a concierge-level client, click here. *Attractions with Lightning Lane entrances that are Disney Genie+ and individual purchases are limited in availability, subject to change or closure, may vary by date, are not guaranteed and may not be available at all on the date of visit or at the time you make a selection. BIG changes are coming to Walt Disney World! Beginning Thursday, February 17, 2022, face coverings will become optional for fully vaccinated guests. Face coverings will still be required for anyone ages 2+ on Disney transportation, including buses, Monorail, and Skyliner transportation.
Universal Orlando removed the face covering requirements for fully vaccinated guests on February 12, 2022. Refer to the Operations and Safety updates from both Disney and Universal for the most updated information. Contact me with any questions!
Private airport transportation is once again available for Walt Disney World!
While Magical Express is still gone, there are several paid options available through the Walt Disney Travel Company. Private ground transportation to and from Walt Disney World Resort is now available as a package add-on. As part of this offering, there are several options available, including exclusive vans, sedans, SUVs, executive limousines and stretch limousines. Private, direct ground transportation can be booked up to five days prior to arrival. 
Ground transportation can also be added for flights arriving at Tampa International Airport and/or Sanford International Airport. Transportation can also be coordinated to Orlando Amtrak Station, Kissimmee Amtrak Station, Cape Canaveral, Vero Beach, Daytona. Both one-way and round-trip fares are available for all destinations.
Up to one complimentary car seat will be available for children five years old and under, with additional car seats subject to availability. For more information about how to add this to your package, contact me!
What a great day for Disney entertainment news! Walt Disney World has released exciting updates about when some fan-favorite entertainment will return, and has also announced a few new offerings at Magic Kingdom. This makes The World’s Most Magical Celebration even more magical!
Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade! (NEW)
Kicking off on February 11th is the brand-new “Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade!” Starring nearly thirty (!!!!) Disney and Pixar friends, this super-sized cavalcade features characters from “Zootopia,” “The Jungle Book,” “The Three Caballeros,” Merida, Moana, The Incredibles, and more – including the Magic Kingdom debut of Miguel from “Coco” in his mariachi best. What a cool lineup! 
Festival of Fantasy Returning! (TWICE A DAY!)
The beloved Disney “Festival of Fantasy” Parade returns to Magic Kingdom beginning March 9th! March 9th also marks the anniversary of the debut of the parade in 2014. When it returns, it will wind its way through the park not once, but twice each day!! Don't worry, the fire-breathing Maleficent Dragon float will also return, just as menacing as ever! 
Mickey's Magical Friendship Faire Returning! (With New Elements!)
“Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire” will return to the Cinderella Castle Forecourt Stage February 25th! The show, newly enhanced for the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary celebration, will incorporate your favorite scenes, plus a new opening and a new finale! Presented multiple times a day, the show will also include an all-new, original song entitled “Where the Magic Feels Like Home.”
These new and returning experiences add to the all-new entertainment that debuted with the launch of the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary celebration, including “Disney Enchantment,” “Mickey’s Celebration Cavalcade,” and “Harmonious”.
More entertainment news is to come when “Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!” and “Fantasmic!” open later this year!
It's been a big week for Disney travel news! We've heard multiple announcements from Walt Disney World and have even heard a big announcement from Disney Cruise Line. Check it all out below!
Artist rendering of Roundup Rodeo BBQ
Changes Coming to Toy Story Land in 2022
Attention all honorary toys! After enjoying Toy Story Mania!, guests will soon be treated to a new experience. Jessie’s Trading Post will be full of the coolest toys and finest souvenirs. That's not all! Also coming in 2022 is the previously announced Roundup Rodeo BBQ restaurant! This family-friendly dining experience will offer barbecue fare. It will also offer some fan-favorite Pixar characters! Stay tuned for more details! 
New offerings for Guests with Genie+
New Character Sightings Available on Genie+
The latest update to theDisney Genie+ service has extra...character! Starting Jan. 26, guests who have purchased Genie+ will find select Character Sightings have been added as an option for Lightning Lane entry. Character Sightings will include:
*Attractions with Lightning Lane entrances that are Disney Genie+ and individual purchases are limited in availability, subject to change or closure, may vary by date, are not guaranteed and may not be available at all on the date of visit or at the time you make a selection. 
Pixar Day at Sea coming to Disney Cruise Line
Pixar Day at Sea - Coming in 2023
Disney Cruise Line Guests will be immersed in the stories of their favorite toys, monsters and heroes during the all-new Pixar Day at Sea aboard special sailings on the Disney Fantasy in early 2023. This day-long celebration on select seven-night voyages will bring beloved Pixar tales exclusively for Disney Cruise Line Guests. These experiences will include themed dining, character encounters, dance parties and a theatrical musical experience. Contact me for more information about Pixar Day at Sea sailings. 
It’s a good day to be a Disney Foodie! Three fan-favorite dining locations are reopening in Walt Disney World, while two more will be expanding their offerings! All of these dining options are available for booking now.
Flying Fish, at Disney’s BoardWalk, will welcome guests back on January 27th. This restaurant is known for their signature seafood dishes, but don't sleep on the steaks! This dining location is just a walk or boat ride away from Epcot.
Flying Fish will reopen on January 27, 2022.
Reopening February 3rd is The Turf Club Bar and Grill. The Turf Club is located at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. Here, you'll find delicious American flavors in every dish!
The Turf Club Bar and Grill will reopen February 3, 2022.
Beginning on February 17th, Jiko - The Cooking Place will finally reopen at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge! Here, you can savor the tastes and flavors of African, Indian, and Mediterranean cuisine. This is one of the best places for a fancy date night! (The wine selection is phenomenal!!)
Jiko - The Cooking Place will reopen February 17, 2022.
 Cape May Cafe will once again offer its breakfast and dinner buffets beginning February 15, 2022.
Beginning February 15th at Cape May Cafe, guests can once again feast upon an all-you-care-to-enjoy, buffet breakfast! Complete with Mickey AND Minnie waffles! The buffet will continue for dinner, where it will offer seafood favorites. Cape May Cafe is located at Disney's Beach Club Resort.
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