Travisma

Newest info from Inside The Magic pages
 
New custom made “On Demand” MagicBands coming to Walt Disney World, purple MagicBand finally here
 
http://www.insidethemagic.net/merchandise/new-custom-made-on-demand-magicbands-coming-to-walt-disney-world-purple-magicband-finally-here/
 
 
 
 
In Walt Disney World, the MagicBand is an important accessory for guests and now a new option has premiered to personalize your MagicBand even more.
A new MagicBand On Demand location has opened inside the Tomorrowland Power & Light Co. location near Space Mountain in Magic Kingdom Park. This system takes its roots from the D-Tech On Demand system were you can custom-make your own phone case.
 
For the new On Demand MagicBand. Disney will offer your choice of eight different MagicBand colors including, for the first time ever, the color purple.
 
There are also approximately 40 graphics to apply to your custom MagicBand. Some graphics will be specific to the location like the classic Magic Kingdom Park attractions and icons graphics seen below.
 
In addition to artwork, the retail MagicBand can be personalized with a name printed on the outside.
Once designed, the retail MagicBand is printed on location quickly and efficiently.
 
For the final step, the custom retail MagicBand can be either associated to your My Disney Experience account, or you can give it as a gift to friends or family who may be visiting Walt Disney World Resort soon.
Retail for a custom retail MagicBand is $21.95 while a personalized retail MagicBand is $29.95.
 

 

Just booked a partial site 10/28 - 11/1.
 
When I was clicking on the calendar at the bottom it said minimum stay 1 night 2 days, maximum stay 30 nights 31 days.
 
So being inquisitive, I tried booking another trip just for one night.
 
It allowed me to book just a Friday night, and another one just a Saturday night and I even tried Labor Day weekend for 1 night on Friday and again on Saturday and it allowed those also.
 
I cancelled them before the final click.
 
So have they done away with the 3/5 day weekend minimums?
 
 

Continuing my report from late last night.
 
I stopped at the Dominican Republic  booth and got the Pescado con coco: Seared grouper, pigeon peas and rice with coconut sauce – $4.75, but when I went to try it, it had an odd texture.. it's because they gave me the Lechón asado: Roasted pork with mangú, pickled red onion and avocado – $4.50.  I took it back, and they gave me the grouper and told me to keep the pork.
 
The grouper was good, shared it with the granddaughter.  My wife liked the pork, and the pickled onion was good.
 
Next stop was the Sustainable Chew.  My granddaughter got the Ricotta & zucchini ravioli with tomato sauce – $4.75 which she sucked down.  It was one large ravioli.
 
My wife and I shared the Frozen Chew-tini.  It was made with lemon vodka and was bright orange.  It was really good, so I wandered over and asked what it was made out of besides the vodka.  The mixer was V-8 Carrot/Mango blend!  Will be hitting the liquor store and fruit juice aisle this weekend!
 
Next stop was to get Day 2 stamps for our wine glasses.  Walked right in, they didn't have a screener checking AP's at the entrance, just at the table. 
 
One thing to note, you have to have an ID besides your AP card when it comes time to pick up your glass.
 
We went to Nemo... walked right in, then did Turtle Talk with no wait.
 
While my GD was playing in Innoventions, I went to the Test Track Coffee Cart and got the Iced Coffee Dream: bold roast coffee, chilled and iced, with light cream, topped with Bailey’s Irish Crème® and whipped cream.  We split that while she finished up playing.
 
Then over to Festival Center.  There was a large wine shop, marketplace to purchase different items, 2 or 3 seminar locations, a café, and then this...
 
The Chocolate Experience: From Bean to the Bar - Hosted by Ghirardelli® Chocolate Company.  They had 6 displays made out of pastry and chocolate, including Up, Avengers, Star Wars, and for TCD, Frozen.
 
They gave out candy samples and coupons for their ice cream shop at Downtown Disney   Disney Springs.
 
We got my GD the Liquid Chocolate drink billed as "like drinking a chocolate bar".  It was in a small cup, like one for a kids tea party, but it was so rich and strong it was enough for 3 of us to try.  Needed a quart of milk afterwards.
 
We ate dinner at the Electric Umbrella, and it was less than impressive. 
 
Afterwards my GD got a Dole Whip, they didn't have swirls, and we headed out.
 
It was much more enjoyable than the previous visit on a Saturday. Cooler, less crowded.  None of the booths had lines to get served (except Electric).
 
Next trip we get our glasses!

We headed over Monday afternoon after my granddaughter got out of school. We got there a little after 3. It was surprisingly hot compared to Sunday in Tampa.
I will do a longer update starting tomorrow, but the one thing I wanted to mention is that the Passholder pins have been sold out, and they will proably not be getting anymore, since they were released as a limited edition of 4000.
It was crowded walking around, but there were no lines for the food vendors that we visited.
And the liquid chocolate drink was crazy!

We have a large electric skillet for home but we don't take it camping. I just remembered, I bought a brand new 5 qt. Crock pot from Goodwill that I added to the camper stock.

We have a tiny pup, so storage is an issue.
We have gotten a lot of stay in the camper items from Goodwill. Just takes patience to find what you want.
Got a microwave, Coleman camp kitchen, heavy reusable plastic utensils, dinnerware, Keurig French press coffee maker, smaller coffee maker with a stainless steel pot, all in one coffee cups with lids that are also measuring cups and bowls (Stanley Brand).
Some items we took from the house, extra knives, cutting board, etc.
Bought some new pots from k-mart to work on an induction cooking plate which I bought off woot.
Wife found a like new Coleman Road Trip grill with griddle and grill plates, pot plate and large tank conversion kit for $75. It also had the fold out stand.
I had extra grilling tools so they are packed also.
these are all dedicated camper items.
We also have 3 heavy duty totes wit assorted items that get tossed in the pick up bed when it's time to camp along with the ice chests.

Mo posted this in the MNSSHP Thread also
 
 
New ‘Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular’ Items Coming to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in October
 
I loved seeing the “Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular” a few weeks ago during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Park. If you plan on attending an event in October, I invite you to look for a few commemorative items inspired by this new show.
We have an event T-shirt featuring the Sanderson Sisters and Disney Villains from the show such as Dr. Facilier and Maleficent.
Guests attending the events may also find artwork for select mobile phones at the new D-Tech on Demand area inside Tomorrowland Power and Light Co. at the exit of Space Mountain. We offer cases for iPhone 4/4S, iPhone 5/5S, iPhone 5C, iPhone 6/6+ as well as Samsung Galaxy SIII, Samsung Galaxy 4, Samsung Galaxy 5 and Samsung Galaxy 6.
Finally, we will offer a limited release retail MagicBand starting October 9.
The best place to look for the event shirt and retail MagicBand is Emporium on Main Street, U.S.A.
The retail MagicBand may be found in additional locations such as Box Office Gifts on Main Street, U.S.A., Big Al’s in Frontierland and Tomorrowland Power and Light Co. in Tomorrowland

I hear they barely clear "The Mountains" on the flyover.

'We are so relieved': Missing king cobra snake found under dryer near Orlando
 
An 8-foot king cobra snake that had been missing for more than a month was found under a dryer in a garage not far from its reality TV star owner's home near Orlando.
 
Officials say a woman contacted Orange County Animal Services on Wednesday night after she heard hissing sounds while putting clothes in her dryer.
Valerie Kennedy, the wife of "Airplane Repo" star Mike Kennedy, told FOX411 the snake "was found last night at 11p.m. The poor thing was in pretty bad shape. His eyes are fogged over. He hasn’t eaten a thing since he was captured. "
They had been searching for it since Sept. 2, the day after Mike Kennedy returned home from a trip and discovered it gone.
"We are so relieved," Valerie Kennedy said. "This has been so difficult to go through as a family, and it has really taken a toll."
Kennedy said the snake made it about a half mile from the Dragon Ranch Sanctuary, where it had been kept until it escaped after a storm damaged its enclosure.
 Following its escape, students at a nearby elementary school weren't allowed outside for recess.
Mike Kennedy told FOX411 in September that the snake would be in big trouble if it wasn't found.
"Winter comes along and they die," he said. "I’m not going to say it’s a 100 percent, nothing is 100 percent, but chances are he can’t survive if he doesn’t turn up."
King Cobras, which can reach a length of 18 feet, are among the most deadly snakes in the world. The venom in a single bite can kill 20 people, or one elephant.
 
 

Sort of...
 

 
 
Retail MagicBands for Haunted Mansion and Disney Villains
Two new retail MagicBands are coming to Walt Disney World Resort on October 9. The Disney Villains MagicBand is open edition while the Haunted Mansion-themed MagicBand is limited release. You may notice that both MagicBands are printed on a much requested purple-colored MagicBand.

Update...
 
NBC sports bar ready for launch
By Sharon Kennedy Wynne
[email protected]
NBC on Tuesday appeared set to open its first sports bar, the NBC Sports Grill & Brew at Universal City-Walk, with a massive HD stadium screen more than 100 feet wide at the entrance.
 
Steven Jayson, executive chef at Universal Orlando, posted 'We are ready!' on his Twitter account Monday, saying it would be open at 5 p.m. Tuesday, although Universal has not released the news. The tweet was later taken down.
 
The Orlando Sentinel reported that Tuesday's activity was the start of the restaurant's 'preview mode,' to be followed by an Oct. 23 grand opening.
 
Taking the place of the former NASCAR Sports Grille before it closed in November, the eatery will be stocked with more than 100 beers and food prepared on open kettle grills, Universal has said. One-hundred HD TV screens will play a constant stream of live sports content.
 
Those visiting should note Universal Orlando raised the price of parking at its resort this week from $17 to $20. The increase comes on the heels of Disney's similar increase in parking fees Sunday along with increases for annual and seasonal passes.
 
The restaurant addition is one more flourish in the major revamp Universal CityWalk has undergone in the last year, bringing in eight new shops and restaurants including beef and sushi restaurant Cowfish, upscale Vivo Italian Kitchen, the Hot Dog Hall of Fame and Antojitos, a Mexican restaurant with 200 tequilas.
 
I like how they slipped the Disney price increases into the article.

My 10 year old granddaughter had this from the Chew Labs
 
Olive Oil-Poached Salmon with Fresh Corn, Bacon, and Pepper Jam, $5.75
 
I'm pretty sure she liked, it, she inhaled it and gave it a thumbs up.  No taste for me, but I did get to eat the pepper jam which had a nice balance of sweet and spicy.
 
 
My oldest daughter and I had this from Australia
Grilled sweet and spicy bush berry shrimp with pineapple, peppers, onions, and snap peas – $4.75
 
It had a good kick to it, but it was only 3 medium sized shrimp, and I lost one to my granddaughter who discovered it was pretty spicy.  There were maybe 3 pea pods, 1 piece of pineapple and some overcooked pepper and onion pieces.
 
My other daughter got this
 
Coopers Brewery Extra Strong Vintage Ale – $3.75 
 
I got a sip, kind of like an IPA, very small cup.
 
This looked good, still at Australia, and they grill to order.  I'm going to try that next time
 
Grilled lamb chop with mint pesto and potato crunchies – $6.00
 
One or both daughters got this from Hawaii
 
Kālua pork slider with sweet and sour Dole® Pineapple chutney and spicy mayonnaise* – $4.00
 
They didn't say much about it, and they had it while we were at the Chew, so I don't know how big it was or what it looked like
 
This site has the menus and the prices which is pretty handy...
http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2015-epcot-food-and-wine-festival-booths-menus-and-food-photos/
 
I would've liked to try the New England Lobster Roll – $7.50 from Hops and Barley, or the Pescado con coco: Seared grouper, pigeon peas and rice with coconut sauce – $4.75 from the Dominican Republic, mainly because my wife doesn't like seafood, so we never have it at home.  They will be my stops next time.
 
The food lines were all long, you could easily spend 20 minutes or more getting each sample.
 
If you want to get the stamp for the wine glass, the place in Innoventions was hard to find.
 
There was a door labeled something about photos.  It was facing The Land Pavilion and around the corner from the FP kiosk area.

This is an email my wife received yesterday.
 
I didn't get one, we purchased both passes at the same time, and my credit card is paying the monthly payment on both cards.
 
 
 
October 4, 2015

Dear xxxx Family:

Thank you for being a Walt Disney World® Passholder!

Today we are introducing a new portfolio of Passes that has been designed to offer a wider variety of options and entitlements to best fit the needs of our Passholders. As a valued Guest and frequent visitor to Walt Disney World Resort, we want you to be among the first to know about these program enhancements.

Rest assured that your current Pass has not changed and your existing benefits will remain valid through your Pass's expiration date. When it is time for you to renew, you will have a new set of Pass options that offer great flexibility and value to enjoy our Walt Disney World Theme Parks, and even some new benefits!

Please remember, your current Pass has not changed and your existing benefits remain valid through your Pass's expiration date. And because you're an existing Passholder, when your Pass does expire, you will be able to purchase any of these new Pass options at a special Passholder renewal rate – of up to 15% savings†!

The upcoming year will be an exciting one at Walt Disney World Resort, with new Star Wars™ experiences at Disney's Hollywood Studios® and new nighttime entertainment debuting at Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park this spring. We sincerely hope you are enjoying your current experience, and will continue to join us for another year as a valued Walt Disney World Passholder.

Sincerely,
Your Walt Disney World Passholder Program Friends
 
 
It has links to the new passes and discount programs.
 
This is the email account that sent it to her
 
[email protected]
 
I wrote to them asking why I didn't get the notification also.

Great picture.
 
No wonder Disney is jacking up the prices on the passes.
 
You just cost them $14.99! :siren:

They have those at a stand across from Country Bear.

Everybody sing!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VsifANR96s

I feel the same way. It used to be with a pass, at least for us locals, you,could just go to the parks, wander around and go on whatever rides didn't have a long line. Sooner or later you would get on everything. But now everything is booked up by people 6 months out. Last time we went camping and had passes, everything felt rushed and not nearly as enjoyable as just hanging out at the Fort.

When it's at the Aulani Resort
 
 
By now, I’m sure it’s no surprise to our Disney Parks Blog readers that I love treats – especially at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa.
 
Not too long ago, we added a little more tropical magic to The Lava Shack in the Waikolohe Valley: the Pineapple Soft Serve!
 
If you have been to the Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort, you have probably tasted this popular frozen treat.
 
And at Aulani, it’s self-serve. Enjoy the video below as I try my hand at “swirling” up some pineapple perfection.
 
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2015/09/discover-with-me-pineapple-soft-serve-at-aulani-a-disney-resort-spa/
 
 
 
Wonder if they are breaking away from Dole and going with a generic?
 
If you have a GFS nearby, they have bags of Pineapple soft serve mix.  Mix it, toss it in an ice cream freezer, and pretend you're at the Poly!
 
We've purchased the vanilla mix from GFS and it's good.
 
We've also gotten the Dole Whip mix off of Amazon.

You experts, or West Coast Disneyphiles might have heard about these.
 
There are a couple from WDW, but most seem to be at Disneyland.
 
http://noodlenuke.com/failed-attractions-at-disney-parks/9337/2

My wife has been talking to me about an Instant Pot. With our Colorado plans, I was all for it.
 
Imagine my disappointment when it turned out to be a kitchen appliance.

So we finally got into the Hall Of Presidents. 

 
They were running late they said because of traffic issues. 
 
Once they got started, they had the choreographer and costume designer for Hocus Pocus discuss the new show. 
 
Then they announced the winners of the costume contest.
 

 

 
After the contest they announced they had some surprises for us.  We got a set of 3 exclusive posters, one of Oogie Boogie, one of Hocus Pocus, and one of Disney Villains that glowed in the dark with different poses.
 
They also gave us a giant marshmallow treat, a bag of candy, and this exclusive (up until today) Magic Band.
 

 
 
After the party, they told us to enjoy the park and meet back in  the reserved area in front of the castle at 6:45.
 
We headed over to the Columbia to have dinner.  They gave us vouchers for an entrée, drink and dessert.  All the years we've been going to the MK and this was our first time eating there.
 
One granddaughter and I got the seafood mac and cheese, my wife got the pot pie and the other granddaughter got the fish and chicken.
 
I was surprised at the generous portions, and the mac and cheese was great.
 
All in all, the dinner would have come out to about $90.
 
Afterwards we did some trick or treating.  The lines were long and the amount and type of candy given out were so so.
 

 

 
Zombie barbershop quartet
 

 
Gator in the canal by Splash Mountain
 

 

 
 
Then a trip over to our viewing area.
 
By now you've seen better pictures but I was able to get a few semi decent ones.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
On the ferry back to the parking lot I saw the pageant
 

 
 
I headed back to get the truck, and my wife and granddaughters caught the monorail to the Contemporary.  I took the truck over there and we met up to watch the fireworks from the end balcony of the hotel.
 
We had a great time even though it was really crowded.
 
The Hocus Pocus show was outstanding, the party was fun, and the food was great.
 
My granddaughter fell asleep before we left the property and when we woke her up in the driveway she said we couldn't be home, we had just left Disney!

Yeah, but they will probably make a new type of billing, PREMIUM PARTIAL, pay as much as the big boys but get less!

Soon to be in book form, "Swindler's List"... :smug:

When we first moved to FL, I was one of the maintenance men at an apartment complex.
 
We were probably the only complex that didn't have golf carts for us to get around in.
 
Yup, they gave us the granny trikes to haul our tools and supplies around in.
 
I went from 150 pounds down to 125, a 32 waist to 27/28 riding around in the FL heat!
 
Never felt better.

Yeah, I can see it not working out too well at the Fort.
 
You go to a hotel, and one room is pretty much the same as the next.
 
Maybe you want a particular one because something memorable happened to you in a certain room (like your first Meth Lab).
 
But the Fort has too many variables with people wanting specific sites, they will get an assigned site, and if it's not want they wanted they are going to want to go and try to change it and tie up the lines.