May 2014 - Page 4 of 5 - On the Go in MCO

Disney’s Old Key West Resort – Welcome Home with Kelly Christine

I have been a Disney Vacation Club member since 2008, and as I continue to explore the resorts on trips to Walt Disney World, I keep coming back to Disney’s Old Key West Resort. Old Key West is the original DVC resort, which opened in 1991. It is decently sized with almost 800 rooms and the rooms vary in size from studios, one, two and even up to three bedroom two story grand villas. It isn’t the number or type of rooms that makes this my favorite resort.

I love the way I feel when I’m at this resort. I’ve stayed at 90% of the DVC resorts in the continental U.S., and I never feel so relaxed and comfortable at any other resort as I do when I’m at Old Key West. The excitement of a Disney vacation seems to disappear at this resort. It feels like I’m in a beach town, relaxing in my home away from home. The staff at OKW add to this atmosphere by treating guests like members of the family and welcoming us home. In some areas of the Hospitality House (where check in and the restaurant/gift shop are located), there are pictures of DVC members with their families enjoying their vacations at the WDW resort. Their Community Hall has been the most “homelike” to me, the cast members there are welcoming and have always been up for a good conversation. I enjoy this resort top to bottom.

That being said, I’d like to offer some tips for your stay at OKW:

Tip 1:

When booking on DVC points, I recommend choosing the “near Hospitality House” option. While you may not end up at the front of the resort, you will end up within a 5 minute walk of the hospitality house. I prefer to stay at Old Key West for runDisney race weekends and staying up front helps save your feet for the race and not for the trip to the race buses.

Tip 2:

There is a drink that you can only get at Old Key West that is delicious and one of my favorites: the Turtle Krawl. It reminds me of something I have had wandering Duval Street in Key West. This drink can be found inside Olivia’s and Gurgling Suitcase, the restaurant and bar located next to each other at the Hospitality House. I also believe Gurgling Suitcase is home to the best rum runner on property.

Tip 3:

Have a meal at Olivia’s! It’s a cozy and comforting atmosphere that reminds me of the family owned small restaurants in resort towns I’ve visited. Their menu has a decent range of food but there’s a secret menu item available daily for DVC members that is always comfort food. The most popular is the fried chicken, it’s known to sell out quickly! I would also recommend the pork chop.

Have you ever stayed at Old Key West? Have you ever done any of these tips? What tips of your own do you have for this resort?

2014 D23 Fanniversary Details

D23 hits the road, bringing beloved memories to life with the Disney Fanniversary Celebration

Rarely Seen Film Clips, Photos, and Art Highlight the Roadshow Event, Which Will Tour the U.S. this Fall.

For the third year in a row, D23: The Official Disney Fan Club will hit the road with D23 Disney Fanniversary Celebration presented by Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection. The live event will visit 11 cities across the U.S. to commemorate dozens of magical Disney milestones celebrating landmark anniversaries this year.

Hosted by Disney archivists and the D23 Team, Fanniversary 2014 will revisit beloved theme park attractions, animated and live-action films, characters, TV series, and more than 90 years of Disney history including Donald Duck, the 1964–65 New York World’s Fair, Sleeping Beauty, Haunted Mansion, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, The Little Mermaid, and many more. The event, which runs approximately 105 minutes, will also feature the never-before-heard track “Evil Evil” fromWalt Disney Records The Legacy Collection Sleeping Beauty and a demo recording from Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection The Little Mermaid.Fanniversary events will be open to the public, with special admission prices for D23 Members.

D23 Fanniversary — A hat worn by Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins, recently discovered by the Walt Disney Archives. This black straw hat with faux cherries and flower blossoms was featured in the film as part of Mary’s instantly recognizable “traveling costume.” (Photo Disney)

In addition, following each show, two rare items from the Walt Disney Archives will be on display for guests to see and photograph: a hat worn by Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins and a “Duckster” award. Created in 1952, this bronze-colored award in the image of Donald Duck honored those who made significant contributions to Disney over the years. Both Walt Disney and Donald Duck himself were among the recipients of this unique prize.

D23 Gold and Silver Members will have the first opportunity to purchase tickets on May 21 for $23 each. Tickets will be available to D23 Free Members on June 11 for $33 each, and remaining tickets will go on sale to the general public on July 9 for $40 each. Tickets will be available at D23.com/Events. The touring schedule is as follows:

August 9: Burbank, Calif.
August 10: San Diego
August 16 & 17: San Francisco
September 6: Chicago
September 13: Seattle
September 20: Atlanta
September 21: Philadelphia
September 26: Washington, D.C.
September 28: New York City
October 4: Boston
October 25: Orlando

For times and locations, please visit D23.com.

Fanniversaries that guests can look forward to celebrating at each stop include:

Donald Duck (80th anniversary)
Disneyland TV show (60)
Sleeping Beauty (55)
Darby O’Gill and the Little People (55)
Disneyland’s Monorail, Matterhorn Bobsleds and Submarine Voyage (50)
Disney’s contributions to the 1964–65 New York World’s Fair (50)
Mary Poppins (50)
Haunted Mansion (45)
The Love Bug (45)
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (35)
Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park (now Disney’s Hollywood Studios) (25)
Splash Mountain (25)
The Little Mermaid (25)
Pleasure Island (25)
The Lion King (20)
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ (20)

…and many more!

More details about D23 Disney Fanniversary Celebration presented by Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection can be found at D23.com/Events.

About D23

The name “D23” pays homage to the exciting journey that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his fledgling studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official club for fans in Disney’s 90-plus-year history. D23 gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic through its quarterly publication, Disney twenty-three; a rich website at D23.com with members-only content; member-exclusive discounts and special events for D23 Members throughout the year.

Fans can join D23 at Gold, Silver, and Free Membership levels at D23.com and at www.DisneyStore.com/D23. To keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, follow us @DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube.

Disney Junior: Give A Book, Get A Book Program

Disney Junior announced the kick off of their Give a Book, Get a Book Program at Disney Social Media Moms Celebration with a morning filled with family activities and celebrity guests.

Through the Give a Book, Get a Book Program, Disney will partner with First Book to provide for the donation of up to 1 million books to U.S. communities in need, and also present families with free digital books from Disney Publishing Worldwide.

The program includes a redemption code offering a free Disney Digital book and a way for families to experience giving back by donating books to the community of their choice after purchasing a specially-marked Disney Junior book or product.

We got to see the new Give a Book, Get a Book spot with Genevieve Goings that is airing on Disney Junior, which you can watch here.

Then we were absolutely treated with a visit from Lavar Burton, who spoke about his passion and dedication to continuing the legacy of storytelling and instilling the love of reading in children.

After breakfast, we were then surprise when Disney Junior stars Ariel Winter and Tim Gunn (of “Sofia the First“) and David Arquette (of “Jake and the Never Land Pirates“) performed a storybook reading.

Earlier during the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, I won a surprise meet and greet with David Arquette, Tim Gunn, and Lavar Burton.

Everyone was so amazing, and it was beyond wonderful to get to spend time with people so dedicated to this initiative!

Storytelling is the foundation of Give a Book, Get a Book, designed to inspire parents and caregivers to spend time each day sharing stories that help develop the critical thinking, vocabulary and language skills a preschooler needs.

The initiative includes public service announcements, interactive Radio Disney events, and free story time events at Boys & Girls Clubs of America Disney Store locations, starting April 21.

Details about the Give a Book, Get a Book Program are available at www.giveabookgetabook.com, and also on the site families can find online activities there and also access resources that promote the value of storytelling.

Disney Social Media Moms Celebration Takeaways

Having the chance to attend the 2014 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration in Disneyland was a truly amazing and humbling experience.

The 2014 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration was full of unique experiences, but the biggest takeaway for me was the inspiring speakers we had the opportunity to learn from during our General Session.

Each one brought a perspective that was truly enlightening, and I would love to share with you some of my favorite quotes from that session.

Tom Staggs: Teamwork

The key to success is supporting one another.

Jay Ward: Consistency

Decisions should be made on how they enrich your brand.

Kathy Mangum: The creative process

Don’t limit where you look during the creative process.

Thomas Smith: Connecting with your audience

People connect with people, not logos.

Donald Driver: Be passionate

We have all been blessed with purpose. Be passionate about what you do. What do you want to accomplish?

Maxine Clark: Listen to yourself

If you listen to your heart, you can find your true calling.

Doug Bowman: How technology brings us together

Twitter is a series of moments.

Gary Jerry: Creativity

Whatever you do creatively, be authentic.

I cannot thank Leanne Jakubowski and her amazing team enough for all of their hard work and dedication to creating such a memorable, inspiring, and exciting event.

Also thank you to Alamo, who sponsored the General Session, for bringing all of these great people together.

Disclaimer: I was invited to the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration at Disneyland, and was offered a special discounted rate that was offered to all attendees. I also received products during the celebration for review. These are my own personal thoughts and opinions, not those of the Walt Disney Company.

Wordless Wednesday – Matterhorn Climbers

Wordless Wednesday – May 6, 2014

#RockYourDisneySide 24 Hour Event Survival Tips

RockYourDisneySide 24 Hour Party Ultimate Hashtag — 140 characters formed a hashtag at Magic Kingdom Park in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., to officially announce the Disney Parks bicoastal, All-Night Extravaganza on Memorial Day Weekend, May 23-24, 2014. (David Roark, photographer)

The #RockYourDisneySide 24 Hour Party will kick off the summer at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom from 6 a.m., May 23 to 6 a.m., May 24, 2014, EST.

The #RockYourDisneySide Party marks the third year in a row that the Magic Kingdom will be open for 24 hours straight, and this year guests are encouraged to show their #DisneySide by choosing Good or Evil!

I am already thinking of who I will be Disneybounding as!!! It was really fun to dress up as Elsa for the #RockYourDisneySide Party at the Summer Media Preview, and I think I want to give it another go!

Throughout the 24 hours, there will be special events showcasing the good-vs.-evil of classic Disney stories including character meet-and-greets throughout the parks, special entertainment, event merchandise, and food & beverage offerings. And mixed into the fun are sure to be some really great surprises.

The Disney Parks Blog has also said that they would be hosting another awesome Meet-Up! Make sure you keep an eye on their blog and Twitter accounts for announcements. I like to get their tweets sent to my phone, it is super easy to do, so I can find out as soon as it is announced so I can sign up!

Having survived the first two, at more than 28 hours awake and in the Magic Kingdom, I thought I would share some of my favorite tips for spending 24 Hours in the Magic Kingdom!

Pick Six: Tips for Spending 24+ Hours in the Magic Kingdom

1. Pack your bag ahead of time

Be like the Boy Scouts and always be prepared!!! I am usually an advocate of packing as little as possible for your Theme Park trips, but this is the exception to the rule. Try to think of what you will want the most, and pack it with you! For me, my ‘must pack’ list for 24 hour day included adding a travel sized facial cleanser, deodorant, a change of clothes, extra snacks, and playing cards to my normal all-day park bag.

httpv://youtu.be/xEhmt0aiChA

2. Late dinner

I get hANGRY so as I was snacking throughout the day, but I also I pushed all of my meals to a later time than usual. The first 24 Hour Day, we ate dinner at 11:00 at Liberty Tree Tavern and it was a lifesaver! We got to relax, sit down with air conditioning, have a good meal, and spend longer than usual eating to take up more time. It was great!

3. Look for activities, meet-up, and people around you in the Park

While I don’t advocate stalking people on Twitter around the park, it is a good idea to keep an eye on Social Media to see who you talk to that you would like to meet in real life, to look for spontaneous meet-ups, and to get ideas about what other people are doing so you can avoid particularly crowded areas of the Magic Kingdom.

4. Plan on wasting time

You are going to be in the park for a looooooooooooong time, so make sure that you pace yourself. Don’t go all YOLO and try to ride and see absolutely everything on a crazy schedule, because you will tire yourself out. You will have plenty of time, so relax and have fun! Some of my favorite time wasters and things to do that I usually don’t do were playing cards on Tom Sawyer’s Island and going to the shooting range in Frontierland.

httpv://youtu.be/0fXeI0ybzcU

5. Go to sleep early

Think 4:00 pm dinner and 7:00 pm bedtime if you can! You will be getting up crazy early for 24 hour day, and in addition to that you will be awake longer and will be more active than you would be during your usual day. So grab the Early Bird dinner and hit the hay!

6. Have a recovery plan

While a lot of people can get up and get going after staying out, I am not one of them! So I made sure that I had the next day to rest, organize photos, and commiserate with others who took the challenge!

I hope that these tips helped, and that I see you at the #RockYourDisneySide 24 Hour Party at the Magic Kingdom!!!

Make sure you keep up with us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for all the #RockYourDisneySide pictures, updates, and more!

Favorite Boat Rides at Walt Disney World

Summer is just around the corner and I thought I’d take a look at some of the boat and water rides at Walt Disney World. These may help cool you down by splashing you or even just with a cool breeze on the water. To borrow a phrase from my friends over at Wedway Radio, everything is better on a boat.

Resort Boats

In the Magic Kingdom Resort area, each of the resorts features boat transportation to the Magic Kingdom and to the neighboring resorts. From Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge as well as the Contemporary on Bay Lake to the Polynesian and Grand Floridian on the Seven Seas Lagoon, boats are constantly crisscrossing the waters around the Magic Kingdom. Also on the Seven Seas Lagoon from the Transportation and Ticket Center, guests can take the Ferry Boats to the Magic Kingdom. Different sizes of boats and launches are found at these resorts for transportation purposes, but guests are also able to rent personal watercrafts, larger pontoon boats and can even rent (with a captain) the Grand One Yacht.

Between Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Friendship Boats run back and forth, making stops at the Swan and Dolphin, Boardwalk and Yacht and Beach Club. There are also pontoons and some smaller boats available for rent at the Yacht Club.

Downtown Disney also offers boats along the Sassagoula River to and from Saratoga Springs, Old Key West, Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter.

Attraction Water Rides

Magic Kingdom

My favorite boat or water based attraction at Walt Disney World is Pirates of the Caribbean in Adventureland. It is true that I love the Disneyland version even more, but I still appreciate this one as it was my first.

Also in Adventureland, the Jungle Cruise takes guests on several rivers including the Nile and the Congo. The campy jokes from the skippers make or break this attraction. If you’ve got a good skipper, it completely makes the ride fantastic.

Frontierland has one of the most thrilling water attractions in Splash Mountain with its five story drop. This classic is also one of the best themed rides with a lot of different elements including tons of audio animatronics.

The Liberty Belle in Liberty Square is another great boat ride. This turn of the century paddle wheeler takes guests on a nice slow ride around Tom Sawyer Island on the Rivers of America.

Just around the corner in Fantasyland is one of the quintessential boat rides of all time, It’s A Small World. This journey through the world just celebrated its 50th Anniversary from when it was first created for the 1964 World’s Fair in New York.

Epcot

In Future World’s the Land Pavilion, Livin’ With The Land (previously Listen to the Land) is my favorite boat ride. This slow moving boat ride takes guests through different ecosystems and talks about aquaculture, farming and fishing. This is one of my ways to cool off from the warm days we have here in Florida and there hardly ever seems to be a wait of more than a few minutes.

As guests make their way into World Showcase, they have a few more options for rides on the water. On World Showcase Lagoon, Friendship Boats traverse the waterway to transport guests between Mexico and Germany, and Canada and Morocco.

Mexico is host to the Grand Fiesta Tour featuring the Three Caballeros. Previously called El Rio de Tiempo, this slow moving boat ride takes a trip through Mexico and some of its cultural offerings. It is fun seeing the Jose and Panchito on a search for the missing Donald across different Mexican locales.

Right next door in Norway, the Maelstrom is a bit more thrilling. There are some lifts and drops, as well as a surprise or two before you go back, back, over the falls. It is still pretty tame as I’ve ridden it with infants without any trouble or fear for their safety without lap bars or any restraints.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

The only current water ride at Animal Kingdom is the Kali River Rapids. Granted, I’ve only done this attraction once, but it wasn’t my favorite. I don’t know if it was the feeling of the message of clear cutting being pushed a bit too much or that I simply didn’t find it as fun as Grizzly River Rapids at Disney California Adventure. At least it has a water attraction, which is more than Disney’s Hollywood Studios can say.

To be honest, I could spend hours just riding the resort boats to relax. Don’t get me wrong, I love Pirates and Splash and Livin’ With The Land, but there’s something to be said just chilling on a boat. It’s been said before and I will continue to say it, it’s better on a boat. What’s your favorite way to spend time on the water at Walt Disney World?

LEGOLAND Florida: DUPLO Valley Update And Preschool Pass

LEGOLAND Florida Marks Final DUPLO Valley Construction Milestone Ahead of

May 23 Opening

The park also announces ‘Preschool Pass’ granting annual admission for a toddler and a parent

LEGOLAND ® Florida completed installation of an iconic archway to the site of the DUPLO ® Valley expansion, marking the final major construction milestone ahead of the area’s May 23 opening. DUPLO Valley brings the LEGO® DUPLO line of preschool building toys to life with new farm-themed attractions, an air-conditioned indoor play area, and a water play area all geared to toddlers ages 2 to 5.

LEGOLAND Florida also announced its first-ever Preschool Pass, now available for purchase at the park. The Preschool Pass includes weekday admission to LEGOLAND Florida and standard parking for both one child under five and one adult for a full year at $90, plus tax. Assigned to the child, the pass allows an adult parent or guardian to attend the park with the toddler. The pass is transferrable to multiple adults in the family, allowing, for example, a mother to visit one day, and a grandparent the next, making it ideal for families to bring their little ones to LEGOLAND Florida during the week.

No blackout days apply, with the Preschool Pass valid Monday-Friday only. The Preschool Pass is available at the LEGOLAND Florida ticket office located at park entry or on Florida.Legoland.com later this week.

“We are excited that the final stages of DUPLO Valley are coming into place,” said LEGOLAND Florida General Manager Adrian Jones. “This new expansion, along with the introduction of the Preschool Pass, improves our offering to families with toddlers ages 2-5, giving them a whole new experience only available at LEGOLAND Florida.”

DUPLO Valley will be the ideal place for park guests to play and relax with their toddlers. New attractions coming to DUPLO Valley include the new DUPLO Train, DUPLO Tractor and DUPLO Splash & Play. Another key element will be the reopening of the DUPLO Barn, which will feature significant enhancements to allow kids to play indoors in the comfort of air conditioning.

The new DUPLO Valley adds excitement to LEGOLAND Florida’s line-up of more than 50 rides, shows and attractions dedicated to children of ages 2 to 12.

We will be at the Media Event opening the DUPLO Valley at LEGOLAND Florida on May 22nd! Make sure you follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for all the fun!

LEGOLAND Florida:

LEGOLAND Florida is a 150-acre interactive theme park with more than 50 rides, shows and attractions, a Water Park and The LEGO® World of Chima presented by Cartoon Network all geared to families with children ages 2 to 12. Recently announced, The LEGOLAND Hotel will open in 2015 featuring 152 highly themed rooms and suites, LEGO décor, interactive play areas, a pool and a restaurant. There are currently five other LEGOLAND Parks in the world – LEGOLAND California in Carlsbad, LEGOLAND Billund in Denmark, LEGOLAND Deutschland near Günzburg, Germany and LEGOLAND Windsor outside of London and just opened LEGOLAND Malaysia —the sixth LEGOLAND Park and first in Asia. The LEGOLAND theme parks are a part of Merlin Entertainments Group, the second largest attractions operator in the world. For the most current information, log on towww.LEGOLAND.com.

Summer 2014 Issue of Disney Twenty-Three Will Have You Spellbound

Angelina Jolie casts a spell as Maleficent on the cover of the Summer 2014 Issue of Disney Twenty-Three

Disney’s Official Fan Club talks with the iconic actress and the creative team to learn the secrets behind making the film; the issue also takes a fascinating look at the creation of Walt Disney’s classic Sleeping Beauty.

Plus, D23.com journeys to galaxies from a long time ago—and into the future—with a deep dive into the Star Wars universe and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy.

D23: The Official Disney Fan Club celebrates the upcoming release of the eagerly anticipated Maleficent in the summer publication Disney twenty-three. Angelina Jolie and the creative team pull back the curtain on the surprising tale behind one of Disney’s most iconic villains. “I was afraid of her, and I loved her,” Jolie confesses in the cover story. Accompanying the piece is an in-depth look by animation historian Charles Solomon at the development of Walt Disney’s 1959 creative masterpiece, Sleeping Beauty, with rarely seen concept art and drawings.

Disney twenty-three’s Summer issue, available exclusively to Gold Members of D23, also includes a behind-the-engine look at Walt Disney World’s newest theme park attraction, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, featuring striking images and interviews with the team responsible for creating the experience, which is based on the world’s first animated feature. Disney twenty-three also explores the Marvel universe, talking to star Chris Pratt about his wild and wacky Super Hero adventureGuardians of the Galaxy.

Also included in the Summer issue of Disney twenty-three:

Star Wars 101: A fascinating look at the creation of the landmark films—and what’s to come
Disney Villains: The comprehensive list—from the mild to the wild—of Disney’s best baddies
A tour of Walt Disney’s Hollywood, with rarely seen photos and stories about his favorite spots
A behind-the-scenes look at Dusty Crophopper’s latest thrilling adventure in the new Planes: Fire & Rescue
Regular columns including A Walk with Walt, PHOTOfiles, D Society, and more

All D23 Members are invited to visit www.D23.com for additional members-only content, including a talk with producer Don Hahn (The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast) about how Disney turned the animated Sleeping Beauty into the vibrant, live-action Maleficent.

Other features coming to D23.com include:

A deeper journey into a galaxy far, far away with Star Wars mega fan Steve Sansweet
The story behind Marvel’s selection of one of its lesser-known comic stories—Guardians of the Galaxy—to become its next mega-feature
A virtual map of Walt Disney’s Los Angeles with rarely seen photos

Disney twenty-three, which is delivered directly to fans’ doorsteps, is offered exclusively to D23 Gold Members as a benefit of their membership. The publication will begin arriving mid-May.

About D23

Orlando City SC Wins Again!

Orlando City SC Wins Fifth

Straight League Match

Lions defeat OKC 3-1, remain unbeaten in USL PRO

Continuing their winning ways, Orlando City SC (5-0-2, 17 points) defeated Oklahoma City Energy FC (2-4-0, 6 points) 3-1 at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on Sunday night. The win marks the fifth straight for City, as the Lions remain unbeaten in USL PRO.

Head Coach Adrian Heath was heavily critical of his side earlier this week, despite the Lions securing a 3-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rowdies of NASL in the opening match of the I-4 Derby presented by United World Soccer.

Directly after the Rowdies match, the English manager stressed that the result wasn’t enough and demanded a better performance from his side.

Although City didn’t quite get off to the quick start that Heath would’ve liked, the Lions settled in nicely as the first half progressed.

“I’m pleased with the performance,” said Heath after the 3-1 win. “They’ve worked hard and responded to a lot of the things that we’ve been talking about. There are a few areas of our game that are still worrying me but I thought that we did more than enough to win the game.”

The majority of the first-half featured both sides exchanging opportunities, with neither side able to breakthrough until Orlando’s first Major League Soccer (MLS) signing Kevin Molino created two quality chances towards the end of the first-half.

In the 32^nd minute, Molino received the ball on the right-hand side and floated a lovely ball in the area to Dennis Chin, who out-jumped the OKC center-halves to nod the ball past his former teammate, Jon Kempin.

Chin’s finish was the final product of an efficient counter-attack, as City only needed three passes to find the back of the net.

Less than two minutes later, Molino would get free on the right side again, after a poor giveaway from the Energy, and played a driven ball across the six-yard box for former Real Salt Lake City Midfielder Yordany Alvarez who had a comfortable finish for the second goal of the match.

The consecutive assists puts the Trinidadian tally at four for the season, as the midfielder inches closer to the club record, which stands at seven in one season.

Despite the Lions’ strong play, OKC also managed to create dangerous chances themselves and came close to converting on multiple occasions.

The majority of the Energy’s looks at the City goal came from set-pieces that forced two tough saves from Gallardo and a goal-line clearance from Adama Mbengue.

However, OKC would pull one back in the 41^st minute when Philip Lund scored from 12 yards away. The goal was the result of a dangerous ball that was played into the box and redirected by Midfielder Steve Perry to Lund, who fired it passed Gallardo.

To begin the second half, Orlando City would find the score-sheet much more quickly when Chin outran the Energy defense to score his fourth goal in the past five USL PRO matches.

The speedy striker went on a forty yard run with the ball before slotting home the final goal of the match in the 47^th minute.

The Lions will now begin preparing for an upcoming two game road-trip, that includes back-to-back matches against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (5/9) and the Rochester Rhinos (5/10).

Both matches will be live streamed via the Riverhounds’ and Rhinos’ YouTube channels.

For more information, visit www.OrlandoCitySC.com.

Orlando City SC Match Recap

Team 1 2 Final

Orlando City SC 2 1 3

OKC Energy FC 1 0 1

Scoring Summary:

ORL- Dennis Chin (Kevin Molino) 32’

ORL- Yordany Alvarez (Kevin Molino) 33’

OKC- Philip Lund (Steven Perry) 41’

ORL- Dennis Chin (unassisted) 47’

Lineups/Substitutions:

Orlando City SC- GK Miguel Gallardo, D Tyler Turner (Bitielo Jean-Jacques 62’), Justin Clark, Brad Rusin, Luke Boden, M Yordany Alvarez, Darwin Ceren, Adama Mbengue, Kevin Molino (Mikey Lopez 88’), Brian Span (Anthony Pulis 70’) F Dennis Chin (Corey Hertzog 76’)

OKC Energy FC- GK Jonathan Kempin, D Kyle Miller, Kevin Ellis, Tark Morad, Gareth Evans, M Philip Lund (David Leichty 74’), Christian Duke (Nate Shiffman 74’), Michael Thomas, Adda Djeziri, Steven Perry (Adnan Gabeljic 63’), F Kyle Greig

Penalty Summary:

ORL- Tyler Turner (Yellow Card) 47’

OKC- Michael Thomas (Yellow Card) 65’

ORL- Anthony Pulis (Yellow Card) 86’

Match Facts:

Time of Match: 7:30 p.m. EST

Weather: — Clear

Attendance: 4,532

Tickets On Sale Today For Magic Kingdom Special Events

Tickets for two highly anticipated Magic Kingdom special events, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, go on sale today!

These Magic Kingdom special events take place respectively on select nights in September and October, and November and December.

Special events start at 7pm and run until 12am each day the party occurs.

Tickets can be purchased either online here or over the phone at (407) 934-7639 from 7am – 11pm EST.

Always remember that all tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable. Tickets must be paid in full at the time of purchase. As always, all information is subject to change.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

September 2014: 1, 9, 12, 14, 16,19, 21, 23, 26, & 28

October 2014: 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 13, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 24, 26, 27, 30, & 31

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Prices (Prices Before Tax)
	Advanced		Same Day		Premium
	September	October	September	October	October 31, 2014
Guests Ages 10 & Up	$62	$67	$68	$71	$77
Guests Ages 3-9	$57	$62	$63	$68	$72

Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Members will have discounted ticket opportunities on the following nights:

September 2014: 1, 9, 12, 14,16,19, 21, 23, 26, & 28

October 2014: 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 13, 16, 17, 19, & 21

All Passholder and DVC discount tickets must be bought in advance.

Passholders eligible for the discount are those with Premiere Annual Passport, Premium Annual Pass, Annual Pass, Seasonal Annual Pass, Weekday Select Pass, and Epcot after 4pm Annual Pass.

Annual Passholders may purchase discounted tickets for themselves and three guests, while Disney Vacation Club (DVC) members may purchase discounted tickets for themselves and five guests.

Passholders may buy their tickets online on the Passholder site or by calling 407-560-PASS.

Disney Vacation Club Members can buy their tickets by calling Member Services at 1-800-800-9800.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Prices – AP & DVC Discount (Prices Before Tax)
	September	October
Guests Ages 10 & Up	$58	$64
Guests Ages 3-9	$53	$59

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

November 2014: 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, 20, 21, & 30

December 2014: 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, & 19

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Prices (Prices Before Tax)
	Advanced	Same Day	Premium
			December 19, 2014
Guests Ages 10 & Up	$67	$71	$74
Guests Ages 3-9	$62	$66	$69

Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members will have discounted ticket opportunities on the following nights:

November 2014: 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, & 20

December 2014: 2, 4, & 9

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Prices – AP & DVC Discount (Prices Before Tax)
Guests Ages 10 & Up	$62
Guests Ages 3-9	$57

All Passholder and DVC discount tickets must be bought in advance.

Passholders eligible for the discount are those with Premiere Annual Passport, Premium Annual Pass, Annual Pass, Seasonal Annual Pass, Weekday Select Pass, and Epcot after 4pm Annual Pass.

Annual Passholders may purchase discounted tickets for themselves and three guests, while Disney Vacation Club (DVC) members may purchase discounted tickets for themselves and five guests.

Passholders may buy their tickets online on the Passholder site or by calling 407-560-PASS.

Disney Vacation Club Members can buy their tickets by calling Member Services at 1-800-800-9800.

There are Military Discounted tickets available on the following Dates:

November 2014: 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, & 20

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Prices – Military Discount (Prices Before Tax)
Guests Ages 10 & Up	$46.90
Guests Ages 3-9	$43.40

These discounted tickets are only available at Walt Disney World.

Girl Meets World Debuts on Disney Channel June 27

I don’t know that many of you are as excited as I am about the debut of the new Disney Channel show Girl Meets World. The show is a spinoff of the ABC show Boy Meets World, which aired from 1993 – 2000. It takes place about ten years after we left our protagonist Cory Matthews, and the love of his life and eventual wife, Topanga. I remember being so invested in the show, I even got an email invitation to Cory and Topanga’s wedding. Yes, I was that dork.

So, fast forward to now, and the new Girl Meets World show focuses on Cory and Topanga’s daughter Riley, her friend Maya (who I imagine will be the Shawn to her Cory), and the Matthews’ son Auggie. Cory is Riley’s teacher at school, so the adventures the may ensue are endless. I am already excited about the pictures I’ve seen tweeted from the cast of the Thanksgiving episode they filmed with Cory’s family in attendance. Shawn and the beloved Mr. Feeny will also make appearances at some point during the season.

I hope Girl Meets World is a fun, coming of age story that lives up to its predecessor. Since the original cast for the most part is all back I also hope that we will get some fun flashbacks to the original Boy Meets World episodes. These would be great fodder for Cory and Topanga to teach their kids lessons from what they learned growing up. I also love that Cory followed in his mentor’s footsteps and became a teacher.

Are you looking forward to the new Girl Meets World on Disney Channel starting this summer? Did you watch Boy Meets World? If so, what would you like to see happen in the new series? Are there any other characters you’d like to see make a comeback? Who will be watching with me on June 27th? Check out the trailer below!

httpv://youtu.be/EYZhGgc63II

Disney Horses for Derby Day

I don’t know how many of you knew I used to live in Kentucky, or that I grew up riding my cousin’s horses. Even, as a child, I would always watch the Kentucky Derby, hailed as the most exciting two minutes in sports. This weekend, the 140th running of the Kentucky Derby will be held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. I always try to pick out my favorite based on the names, not the odds, and I’ve done pretty well in the last few years. While I would love to make it to the Derby at some point in my life, this is not the year. However, I will partake in a mint julep, if I can get together the ingredients, or if I can make it over to the Turf Club at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. This all got me thinking about the horses that can be found in Disney animation. So, if you will indulge me once again, I’ll take you back to visit some of the horses in Disney movies.

Melody Time (1948)

In the Pecos Bill short, Bill’s horse Widowmaker is his sidekick. He accompanies Pecos Bill on his adventures and his love story with Slue Foot Sue.

The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)

For anyone who has seen this short package film before, you may have noticed in the Legend of Sleepy Hollow story that two horses have prominent roles. One, unnamed in the short, but named Gunpowder in the Washington Irving short story, is the horse Ichabod Crane borrows to travel to go to the Van Tassel farm and back home. The second, is the horse ridden by the Headless Horseman. This horse can be seen in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World before the beginning of the Boo To You Parade during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party on select nights in September and October.

Cinderella (1950)

In Cinderella, she has a horse named Major who was given to her as a gift from her father before he died. During the scene with the Fairy Godmother, Major is turned into a footman who drives Cinderella to and from the ball to meet Prince Charming. The four mice, Bert, Luke, Jaq and Gus, are turned into horses who draw the carriage for Cinderella.

Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Prince Phillip’s trusty steed, Samson, helps him get around the forest where he first meets Briar Rose/Princess Aurora. Samson is also integral in transporting Phillip to fight Maleficent. Samson seems to emote quite a bit, which to me is a precursor to some of his later counterparts in Hercules, Mulan and Tangled in particular.

101 Dalmatians (1961)

In the Twilight Bark sequence, a horse named Captain helps out along with Colonel, a dog, and Sergeant Tibbs, a cat, in passing along the message to help find the missing puppies.

The Aristocats (1970)

Frou-Frou is the horse belonging to Madame Bonfamille, who is friends with Duchess and her kittens. When Edgar the butler confesses to Frou-Frou that he was the one who catnapped Duchess, Berlioz, Toulouse and Marie, the horse teams up with Roquefort the mouse to help get the kittens home and capture Edgar.

Beauty and the Beast (1991)

In Beauty and the Beast, Maurice and Belle’s horse Philippe plays an important part in bringing them into the Beast’s world. If Philippe had not been frightened by wolves, Maurice never would have stumbled upon the castle. It was also Philippe who brought Belle to the castle to find Maurice. Later Philippe also helps Belle return to Beast when the villagers are attacking the castle.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)

Captain Phoebus’ horse’s name is Achilles, but at times the equine seems to act more like a canine. Phoebus, on more than one occasion, commands Achilles to sit, which the horse does obligingly.

Hercules (1997)

Pegasus is one of my favorite “horses” in Disney animated films. He is especially adorable as a baby, and is always found right by Herc’s side. These two buddies grew up together and nothing can tear apart their bond and loyalty to each other.

Mulan (1998)

Khan is one of Mulan’s sidekicks, along with Mushu and Cri-kee, that helps her as she goes off to battle in her father’s place to defeat the Huns. Khan is definitely one of the most expressive of all of the Disney horses in my opinion.

Toy Story 2 (1999) and Toy Story 3 (2010)

Bullseye is probably one of the most loyal horses on the list. He is definitely up there as one of my favorites, and the Roundup Gang with Woody and Jessie wouldn’t be the same without him.

Home on the Range (2004)

This movie is about a trio of cows who are in danger of losing their farm to the highest bidder if they can’t raise money to save it. The cows team up with a horse named Buck to help capture a cattle thief named Alameda Slim, and the reward money is just enough to save the farm, literally.

Tangled (2010)

Now we come to my favorite horse on the list, and one of my favorite non-speaking Disney sidekicks of all time, Maximus. This horse of the Royal Guard appears to be part bloodhound, and only out for Flynn Rider’s blood … at first. Eventually, the two pair up to save Rapunzel and the kingdom can live happily ever after with Maximus wielding his frying pan. Who knew?

Brave (2012)

Angus is Merida’s horse who acts almost like her confidante. He tries to help lead her to the right decision when it comes to the strife between Merida and Queen Eleanor. Angus always seems happy to take Merida on her ride when she doesn’t have her princess lessons.

Frozen (2013)

Two horses play important catalysts in the plot of Frozen. First, the horse belonging to Prince Hans of the Southern Isles is there to save Anna from falling into the fjord when she bumps into him. This provides the meet cute for Anna and Hans and later plot developments (grr). The second horse belongs to Anna. The princess follows after her sister on horseback, Queen Elsa, after the whole freezing the town thing. Anna’s horse is startled and throws Anna, who then falls into a creek and snow falls on her. This causes her to find Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post … and Sauna, where she meets Kristoff (yeah!).

I know that this is not a complete list, but it is fairly comprehensive. How many of these horses do you remember? Do you have any favorites? This was a lot of fun revisiting some of the lesser known horses especially. I hope you all have a great Derby Day tomorrow!

Kentucky Derby Day at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort

This Saturday, May 3rd, Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa will be hosting activities to celebrate the Kentucky Derby.

Most of the crafts and games will take place around the High Rock Spring Pool, with some also occurring at the Paddock Pool or in Community Hall.

The first activity is at 1pm at both pools with Make Your Own Derby Hat.

At 2pm the High Rock Spring Pool (main pool) will have Disney Horse Trivia and the Paddock Pool will start their pool party.

High Rock Springs will have a Dance Party at 3pm, followed directly by their pool party at 3:15pm.

The Paddock Pool is having Paper Bag Horses at 3pm, then Color a Jockey Jacket at 3:30pm. At 4pm they will have the Race for the Roses.

Over at the main pool at 4:15pm guests can make their own mint julep ice cream.

At 7:30pm there will be s’mores at the High Rock Spring Pool, and the movie under the stars at 9pm will be Secretariat.

Community Hall will have an activity where guests can make their own burlap wreath for an additional cost.

As always, times and activities are subject to change. We hope you get to check out some of these special activities just for Kentucky Derby Day. Saratoga Springs seems like the perfect place to celebrate Derby Day at Walt Disney World.

Harambe Nights Special Hard Ticket Event – UPDATED 5/2/14

UPDATED 5/2/14

New details have been released regarding the Harambe Nights special event that will be starting on June 7th. Tickets may be purchased online here. There will be a welcome reception from 7 – 7:30pm. After that, from 7:30 – 8:25pm in honor of the 20th Anniversary is the new The Lion King: Concert in the Wild with a celebrity narrator and live orchestra. Celebrity narrators include:

June 7 – Viola Davis

June 15 – To Be Determined

June 22 – Montego Glover

June 29 – David Alan Grier

July 5 – Michael Beach

July 12 – Harry Lennix

July 19 – Joe Morton

July 26 – Alfre Woodard

August 2 – Brian Stokes Mitchell

August 9 – Patina Miller

From 8:25 – 10:30pm guests can enjoy the Harambe Street Party with a live band, dancing, food and drinks. Characters will be available for meet and greets, special artist signings will take place for exclusive artwork and merchandise. Some of the merchandise that will only be able to be purchased during the party include limited edition iPhone 4 and 5 cases featuring artwork from artist Randy Noble of the Lion King, a 20th Anniversary puzzle of the Lion King, and artwork, collectibles and clothing specific to the event.

All food and drinks are included in the ticket admission price. Guests are able to use their ticket to show for complimentary parking as early as 4pm, with park admission as early as 6pm for the party beginning at 7pm. It is recommended that you arrive at Disney’s Animal Kingdom at least 45 minutes prior to the start of the party in order to secure parking and go through security and to get to Harambe.

Starting June 7th at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, a special hard ticket event called Harambe Nights will take place Saturdays through the summer until August 9th. This separately purchased ticketed event takes place in the evening from 7pm until around 10:30pm, primarily in the Africa section of the park. Guests will be able to enjoy African themed tapas, beers and wines included in the ticket price. Also included will be a new telling of the Lion King show in the new Harambe Theater, including a celebrity host.

The evening will start off with a reception with food and beverages, then guests will be ushered into the theater where they will be served a snack before the new Lion King show lasting about 55 minutes. After the show concludes, an African Street Party with more snacks and drinks, music and dancing as well as character interactions will take place in Harambe Village. Around 10pm the party will move to just near the Tree of Life for a dessert party and farewell ceremony.

Celebrity hosts are subject to change, but include Viola Davis for the opening weekend. Ticket prices are $119 for adults and $79 for children plus tax for general admission and for premium floor seats for the show tickets are $134 and $94 plus tax. Parking for guests with tickets to Harambe Nights is complimentary. Tickets can be purchased starting today, May 1st, by calling 407-934-7639. A limited number of tickets are being sold for this event, so book early if you are interesting in purchasing tickets. As always, information is subject to change. Here is a link to the video some annual passholders received yesterday teasing the event. Tickets may be purchased online as well as over the phone. Either way, tickets may be linked to the guest’s My Disney Experience account for admission to this special event.