Times Guides for August 28-September 3

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Map & Schedule

Internal Bus coming to Saratoga Springs

Beginning August 29 2016, a dedicated bus will run internally, stopping at the seven bus stops approximately every 20 minutes.

A new route will also run directly from the Congress Park stop to the Typhoon Lagoon water park.

Bus service to Disney Springs is being discontinued, with guests being able to choose to take the Sassagoula River Cruise water taxi from the boat dock, or take the walkway from Congress Park.

Disney Buses to offer routes TO Disney Springs from Parks

Beginning August 28th, Disney Buses will start routes TO Disney Springs FROM the four parks.  They will NOT offer transport from Disney Springs to the parks.

These routes will run from 4pm to 11pm daily. 

Disney Water Park Wheelchair Changes

Effective today, Monday, August 22, Disney’s Water Parks will start offering wheelchair rentals at Singapore Sal’s at Typhoon Lagoon and the Beach Haus at Blizzard Beach.

Wheelchair rentals will be $12 with a $100 refundable deposit, and they will be transferable across the two water parks and the four theme parks with a receipt (upon availability). In addition to wheelchairs, a limited number of ECV rentals will continue to be available to Guests for $50 with a $100 refundable deposit.

The $100 deposit is required to ensure that the wheelchairs and ECVs are returned. The deposit is fully refundable upon return of the rental. Strollers will not be available for rental.

The Walt Disney World Resort stated that the shift from complimentary wheelchairs to wheelchair rentals was done to “better align the Guest services and operations at Disney’s Water Parks with those at Disney Parks, Disney Springs and the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.”

Times Guides for August 21-27

Black•ish Filming in Animal Kingdom

ABC’s hit series “Black-ish” will film on location at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. In the episode, titled “VIP,” Dre decides to take his entire family on the magical, first-class vacation experience he was never able to have as a kid.

On Aug. 23 and 25, cast and crew will be at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park; as a result, on Aug. 25, Dawa Bar and Tamu Tamu Refreshments (located in the Africa themed area) will not open to park Guests until late afternoon.

Additionally, several Entertainment sets will be moved to allow for filming in the area. These include:

Tam Tam Drummers of Harambe will have relocated sets at 10:55 a.m, 11:55 a.m., 12:55 p.m.

Muziki will have relocated sets at 10:25 a.m., 11:25 a.m., 12:45 p.m.

Harambe Soccer Meerkats will have a relocated set at 3:40 p.m.

The “Black-ish” episode that will be filmed in the park is expected to air on September 21, 2016.

Planet Hollywood Refurb News

 

 

Planet Hollywood’s New “Guy” to Develop A Specialty Sandwich Menu for America’s Iconic Celebrity-Themed Restaurant.

Planet Hollywood, America’s preeminent restaurant destination dedicated to celebrating the entertainment industry, announced today that dynamic chef, restaurateur and television personality Guy Fieri will introduce a flavor-packed burger and sandwich menu as part of their larger menu offerings for the transformed Orlando flagship location, set to reopen this fall as the Planet Hollywood Observatory at Disney Springs.

Repeatedly at the forefront of industry trends, Robert Earl, the entrepreneur, restaurateur and star of the Cooking Channel’s “Robert Earl’s Be My Guest®,” reached out to Fieri because of their shared passion for food. In addition to the section designed by Fieri, the Planet Hollywood Observatory will soon reveal the entire new menu featuring a wide variety of offerings and bold flavors.

“Guy Fieri has created an impressive culinary empire and has built an incredible TV following with several food-themed shows, so it was a no-brainer to invite him to create a special menu for Planet Hollywood Observatory. This partnership only furthers our commitment to refresh our guest experience while continuing to offer freshly-prepared, pleasing dishes,” said Planet Hollywood International Founder and Chairman Robert Earl.

Fieri, a chef, entrepreneur and New York Times bestselling author, has brought his signature blend of authentic-meets-surprising flavors to new dishes such as the Prime Time American Kobe-Inspired Burger and the Turkey Pic-a-nic Sandwich, a perfect accompaniment to Planet Hollywood’s creamy hand-dipped milkshakes. The menu will also feature new over-the-top creations that will have guests craving more after the first bite.

“It’s awesome to be working with Robert Earl and the Planet Hollywood Team,” states Fieri. “For the Planet Hollywood Observatory, I’m bringing a big time burger and sandwich menu with real deal flavors for everyone.”

Opening this fall, the Planet Hollywood Observatory is centrally located and will overlook the heart of Disney Springs with a newly expanded outdoor terrace and bar. Within the sophisticated entertainment emporium, patrons of all ages will be invited to “Dine Amongst the Stars” through distinctive indoor and outdoor bar and lounge options, an imaginative new merchandise line, and a host of all-star celebrity collaborations.

New dining options will highlight Planet Hollywood’s timeless classics and introduce Fieri’s updated creations. A curated beverage program will feature a variety of milkshakes, smoothies, wines, bottled and draft beers, as well as cocktails served in specialty glassware to cater to the needs of all guests, from groups with small children to young adults and seniors. Spacious dining rooms ensure comfort for family meals while various bar spaces set the mood for a perfect date.

The exterior will be reminiscent of a turn-of-the-century observatory with a modern design aesthetic, while the interior’s refurbished upholstery, spherical planet-shaped lighting fixtures and stylish finishing will create a welcoming atmosphere for fans to celebrate a new generation of superstar entertainers.

Times Guides for August 14-20

Monorail Station Work at Grand Floridian

Beginning Friday, August 12, maintenance teams will be working nightly on third shift to re-coat the monorail Guest platform and stairs for the next 5-6 weeks.

During this time, some portions of the monorail platform at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa will be temporarily inaccessible to Guests, but all monorails will operate as normal. Guests staying overnight at the resort may see the monorails parked at the station for an extended period of time and hear some noise.