Here is a list of some of the new fun things that await us when this is completed.

• Mickey and Minnie meet & greets will not be eliminated, but their houses that are in Toontown will be taken out.
• Mickey’s Toontown Fair is closing, but the actual date is not known. Rumors floating around are that it will close in September 2010.
• The actual Theming for the Barnstormer ride has not been decided.
• The Train Station will see a refurbishment, and will be re-themed, as well.
• Pixie Hollow is still in development, so there is not a lot of information available on this area.
• There have been rumors that there will be some type of water feature on Dumbo, but that has yet to be decided.
• The design of Cinderella’s attraction has been pretty much completed. Cinderella will greet her guests in her rags and then guests will help the Fairy Godmother transform her rags into her ball gown right before your eyes.
• Each princess attraction will take 30 to 40 guests at a time, with up to 10 minutes of interaction time with the princesses.
• In Enchanted Tales with Belle you will enter through Maurice’s cottage. You will learn about the magic mirror, and that mirror transports you to the Beast’s castle where you reenact some of Belle’s favorite stories.
• Under the Sea: Ariel’s Adventures has the most advanced and difficult animatronics to have in an attraction, because they made her so realistic, and animated her. Since she is underwater they had to create the illusion that her hair is floating underwater.
• The Ursula in Ariel’s Adventures stands 8 feet tall.

Here are some photos of the concept art that was just released.

Maurice’s Cottage will be part of Enchanted Tales with Belle.

The Dumbo Attraction is one of the main attractions in the new Fantasyland.

The Beast’s Castle looks pretty amazing

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This is going to be an exciting renovation, and I will be watching for updates, and reporting here on anything I find out. Certainly, when this expansion is completed, Fantasyland will be spectacular. I think Walt Disney would be happy with it.

I don’t expect very much of this work being done will impact trips to Walt Disney World, and Magic Kingdom, while the work is being done. Disney is making sure the magic is still alive and well, and I know that a trip to Walt Disney World will thrill any family.

You contact an OLP Travel agent today for help planning your Walt Disney World vacation, or contact me personally, and I will be happy to help you plan your trip

Let’s start with the planning stages. Do you want to see where you are going on the internet? Check out Google Earth: WDW, and you will be amazed at how close to be there it will make you feel. During the project’s first phase, eight photographers worked for 10 days to shoot all the visible surfaces of Walt Disney World, including every building façade. A total 100,000 photos were taken in all; these became the start for some 1,500 3D models that populate the virtual tour.  Walt Disney World Resort in 3D creates a new level of usability for travel agents and makes detailed information about one of the world’s foremost destinations available to Google Earth’s 350 million users, furthering the Google Earth team’s goal of recreating the world as it really is.

A few other tools that Disney released in the last year, to help make the planning process more fun, and definitely easier, are:

Online Check-In Service: A new Online Check-In service is now available to Guests staying at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels. Online Check-In enables Guests the ability to simplify and streamline their arrival by allowing them to go online and provide information about their stay. Within ten days of a Guests arrival, they may enter check-in information, advise the resort of their travel times and request room preferences.

Online Dining Reservations:
Dining reservations can now be made online, offered up to 180 days before the arrival date. Information is also readily available for Guests that have booked a package with the Disney Dining Plan, further clarifying the number of meal entitlements required per dining location. The site will even alert users if their dining location requires separate theme park admission or is during a special-ticket event.

Celebration Advisor: Guests celebrating a magical milestone can make their experience even more spectacular. They may inform Walt Disney World Resort of their celebration or special occasion prior to their visit, and order a variety of products or services – from cakes to firework voyages – to create a customizable “wish list” before they even set foot in the Vacation Kingdom.

Mobile Room Ready Notification: Guests staying at both Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort now have greater flexibility to begin their vacation the moment they reach their Disney Resort hotel. With this new service, Guests can choose to receive a phone call or text message sent directly to their mobile device that will alert them when their room is ready. Guests need merely to drop off their luggage and pick up their room key, which will be activated the moment they receive their automated message.

Disney also offers a mobile option for touring help in the Disney theme parks, while you are at Walt Disney World and Disneyland California. If you have Verizon Wireless you can take advantage of Mobile Magic. With either a swipe of their fingers or the touch of a few keys, guests can access an array of park features on their Verizon Wireless phones, including:

• Updated attraction wait times and FASTPASS return times for the park they are in
• Locations of their favorite attractions, characters and restaurants, with GPS-enabled maps
• Restaurants for breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacks
• Tips on what’s happening in the parks
• Trivia games to play against other parks guests

New content will continue to be added to the Mobile Magic application as the attractions and opportunities at the Disney parks and resorts continue to evolve.

Exclusive to Verizon Wireless customers, Mobile Magic is available for download and purchase for $9.99 for a 180-day subscription*. Verizon Wireless customers can also text MAGIC to 2777 to purchase the application on a wide variety of feature phones. Download and message charges may apply. Airtime or megabyte data charges may apply when browsing, downloading and using certain applications.

Mobile Magic, marking a first in both the travel and mobile industries, is the outgrowth of a new multi-year relationship between Disney Parks and Verizon Wireless aimed at enhancing the park experience. Verizon Wireless continues to invest in its nationwide wireless network, and the relationship with Disney means Verizon Wireless users will benefit from further enhancements to the Verizon Wireless network in the parks.

Guests are currently using Verizon Wireless’ technology with Disney’s Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure, an ultra-interactive attraction at Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort.

With all the fun planned for the Summer of 2010, in particular Summer Nightastic! Which starts on June 6, 2010, start planning a Disney vacation now, and you will soon be in the middle of all the fun. You contact an OLP Travel agent today for help planning your Walt Disney World vacation, or contact me personally, and I will be happy to help you plan your trip

Learn about gardening at home. You can meet Disney gardening experts and they will share tips and secrets with you about planting your own garden. Each demonstration will include hands–on discoveries, and you get to take home what you create. Plan to arrive 10-15 minutes prior to start of the presentation; seating is based on a first come, first served basis and seating is limited.

You can meet some of the better known All American Gardeners every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, during the festival. Here is who you can expect to meet.

Let’s not forget the Flower Power Concert Series. Turn back the clock while you groove and rock at the Flower Power Concert Series. Feel the vibes of some of the biggest names in music from the 60’s and 70’s under the skies of the open-air American Gardens Theatre at Epcot theme park.

The Flower Power Concerts are every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 5:15 p.m., 6:30 p.m. & 7:45 p.m.

Concerts included in Epcot theme park admission. Entertainment is subject to change without notice. Songs listed are for artist recognition only, and may not be on play list.

There is so much more going on at the Flower and Garden Festival! You can find more information and a link to an informational brochure that Disney has released, at Franniepoppins.com. Don’t miss this year’s celebration, because Disney is kicking it up a notch.

You contact an OLP Travel agent today for help planning your Walt Disney World vacation, or contact me personally, and I will be happy to help you plan your trip. The Flower and Garden Festival is the perfect time to visit Orlando.

So, where is the next work going to be done? Disney is not saying where exactly. They are saying that they plan to use this idea in their hotels around the world, not just Orlando. There are at least three hotels that are being considered right now. Disney will work with existing rehab schedules, which usually means a resort gets a full renovation to rooms every twelve years. Will it be at Port Orleans Riverside? Maybe they will have a Tom Sawyer area way in the back of the resort? At Disneyland, The Disneyland Hotel in California is being rehabbed now; a multimillion dollar rehab that will go into 2012, and started in August 2009. Rooms are being demolished, right down to the studs. Maybe Disney has some of this new storytelling style of theming planned for the Disneyland Hotel?

I am excited to see how this plays out. Disney is always amazing me.

Visit my website, Franniepoppins.com, or become a fan of Franniepoppins or Our Laughing Place, on Facebook. If you would like help planning your next Disney vacation, and OLP Travel agent will be happy to help you. You contact an OLP Travel agent today for help, or contact me personally, and I will be happy to help you plan your trip.

This means that there are two different discount offers out for Walt Disney World, and they both stretch into the Summer of 2010.

If you are interested in this offer, and would like more information, contact an OLP Travel agent today for help, or contact me personally, and I will be happy to help you plan your trip.

Let’s start with Walt Disney World. Here is what you would find for discounts now, depending on your travel dates.

• There is the Disney Gift Card Offer. This deal is available for bookings through mid-April, and has to be booked by March 27, 2010. You can get up to a $75.00 Disney Gift Card for qualified stays at a Walt Disney World Resort.
• An offer that gives discounts all the way into August 2010 is the Winter-Summer offer. This deal offers a percentage off of your Walt Disney World Resort room, up to 45% off! It is a room only discount, with a twist. You can turn it into a Magic Your Way Package.
• If you are a Florida Resident, you can get a discount on a room only stay.
• If you are an Annual Passholder, you can get a discount off of a room only stay, and, as an added perk for Annual Passholders, Disney allows these guests to book a dining plan without purchasing theme park tickets.
• Disney also offers spectacular deals for the military, and they also are allowed to add a dining plan without purchasing tickets.
• There are also discounts available for AAA members.

Disneyland has several offers as well.

• There is a Winter Room Only Offer, and you can add tickets and other features to this offer. Travel must be completed by May 4, 2010, and booked by April 1, 2010.
• Disneyland also has a deal if you buy a three-night, five-day package, you will get two more nights free! This offer is available for travel through April 29, 2010, and must be booked by April 1, 2010.
• For selected arrivals, through April 30, 2010, kids can fly free, one per adult paid fare, on select airlines, when airfare is purchased with a qualified Disneyland package.
• AAA members also get discounts at Disneyland.
• Military personnel can find good deals at Disneyland hotels.

The offers at Disney Cruise Line aren’t as plentiful, but there are very good rates available for the Mediterranean Sailings, and Florida Residents and active military can find good deals as well. Your best bet, when booking a Disney Cruise Line vacation, is to book as early as you can. The best rates are always the rates that are first released. Disney ships book up, because they are the highest quality cruise. You get so much with a Disney cruise. Book early and you get your best deal.

Adventures by Disney vacation rates fluctuate, and this is another example of the earlier you book, the better your rate.

What is the bottom line, and when is the best time to book your Disney Vacation? I’d say you best bet is to book your Disney vacation as soon as you can. This insures you the best deal. Book through Disney Specialist, in particular an Earmarked agency and you will be sure you have someone working with you who Disney recognizes as an authorized Disney vacation planner. Specifically, book through an Our Laughing Place Travel agent, and you will be sure of the best deal. We pride ourselves in the fact that we watch for deals, and even if you already have a discounted rate, we still watch, and make sure you have the best deal. Disney has it all! You can find your perfect family vacation at a Disney destination, and find a vacation that fits in your budget.

Visit my website, Franniepoppins.com, or become a fan of Franniepoppins or Our Laughing Place, on Facebook.

Disney really goes the extra mile to keep the character interactions fresh and new. Of course, there are the old stand bys, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, all of the friends, Winnie the Pooh, and all his friends. I can’t leave out all the Princesses; Disney knows how much we love the Princesses. What I think is really cool is the new characters that have come on board, and Disney has set up lots of new Character Meet and Greet opportunities for their guests. Along with the many character meals at Walt Disney World and Disneyland, Disney has special areas they created for us to meet our favorite characters. In fact, they are going to great lengths to create new, and more true to life, Meet and Greet areas. There is a big focus on this with the upcoming Fantasyland Expansion. Disney plans to have lots of new areas, where we can meet our favorite princesses.

We don’t have to wait until the new Fantasyland is opened, to see new characters.

The Meet & Greet locations for Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse will move from Towntown Fair to the Exposition Hall in Town Square at the Magic Kingdom by Late Spring 2010.   Meet & Greet locations will be set up in the Exposition Hall for the Fairy and Princess Meet & Greets while Fantasyland construction progresses.  These new Meet & Greet areas will replace the existing movie theaters. I am sure this is in preparation for the removal of Toon Town Fair, and a sure sign that the work will be getting started real soon on the new Fantasyland.

The UP Character Meet & Greet in the Magic of Disney Animation building at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will end in Early May 2010. Carl and Dug will begin new Meet & Greet appearance at Disney’s Animal Kingdom once the Studios location closes.   Currently it is planned for Russel to be retired when the UP Meet & Greet ends its Studios run.

The new character, Lotso, is scheduled to start daily Meet & Greet appearances, in early May 2010, in the Disney of Animation building.  Lotso will replace the spot vacated by the UP characters.  He is a purple teddy bear who will be introduced in the third chapter of the Toy Story trilogy.

Last, but certainly far from least is this news, which I already reported on. As of February 7, 2010, Cinderella’s Royal Table, at the Magic Kingdom, in Walt Disney World, has been presenting the Royal Family at every meal! Yes, this means that the princesses are back!! How exciting! The Fairy Godmother will no longer be appearing at all. The dining experience at Cinderella’s Royal Table is called Fairytale Dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table.

Disney keeps it fresh, always. Part of the Disney Difference is providing the guests with new vacation experiences, and Disney scores big on that. Even Disney Cruise Line has a new character offering; a brand new show focusing on the villains. It is called “Villains Tonight!”.

If you are planning a visit to Walt Disney World, contact an OLP Travel agent today for help, or contact me personally, and I will be happy to help you plan your trip.

Let’s start with Walt Disney World. I already reported about the new summer celebration at Walt Disney World, Summer Nightastic! This celebration will bring lots of fun options to Walt Disney World, and Disney has released a few more details about this.

What is the first change in Walt Disney World? It is a huge change! The groundbreaking for the new Fantasyland at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom will be happening very soon. The results of this three year construction project will be the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history.  It will be the first time that guests will be able to truly immerse themselves into their favorite Disney fairy tales. They will have more magical and immersive encounters with Disney princesses.  There will be a themed village for each princess. These villages will be within Fantasyland Forest. For instance, Cinderella will have a chateau in her village called Dreams Come True with Cinderella. Guests can meet Cinderella face to face in her country chateau, share a dance or train to be one of her Royal Knights.  Sleeping Beauty’s area will be called At A Birthday Surprise for Sleeping Beauty. It will be party time inside the Briar Rose Cottage, nestled in a lush, forest setting, where the three good fairies give Aurora the Sweet 16 party she never received, and everyone’s invited to join in the surprise celebration. Belle’s special place will still feature story telling.  An enchanted mirror will transport guests from Belle’s father’s cottage to Beast’s castle for an enchanting the storytelling performance during Enchanted Tales with Belle.

 Children of all ages have always loved Dumbo’s Flying Circus. The big top comes to Dumbo’s Flying Circus with a magical flight high above brand-new circus grounds. The improved ride will be twice the size of the classic attraction.  Inside a stylized tent, guests enjoy midway games and other fun-filled experiences.  

There will be three new restaurants in the new Fantasyland. The Be Our Guest Restaurant, one of three enchanted dining rooms inside Beast’s castle, is one of the new dining areas, and just outside the castle in Belle’s Village will be Gaston’s Tavern, another themed eatery.  Meanwhile, in the new Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid attraction, Ariel and all her friends will entertain in a ride-through adventure featuring favorite songs from the popular animated feature. 

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, an all-new 3-D version of the popular Star Tours attraction launches in 2011 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, featuring immersive new elements that will take guests to many familiar places in the “Star Wars” galaxy.

ESPN Wide World of Sports is also being relaunched in 2010. A re-imagining project involving ESPN and the Disney sports complex, the leading multi-sport venue in the nation, aims to create immersive and entertaining sports experiences for athletes, coaches and fans by incorporating signature elements of ESPN in ways that will connect athletes and coaches with their favorite ESPN programs, personalities and elements.  Guests will discover a new welcome center, a digital center where video captured by 56 high-definition robotic and handheld cameras across the 220-acre sports campus is edited for display on 40 video screens and two “jumbotrons” throughout the complex as part of a veritable Wide World of SportsCenter, and the new ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill.  Meanwhile, behind the scenes, technical staff will continue work in the Innovation Lab to develop ground-breaking ESPN on-air products – using the action throughout the complex as a real-world testing environment.

Disney Cruise Line has lots of changes happening, too. The newest ship, the Disney Dream, is being built right now, and will have her maiden voyage on January 26, 2011. The Walt Disney Company is expanding its successful cruise vacation business by adding two new ships. After the Disney Dream, the Disney Fantasy will set sail in 2012.  Two decks taller than the existing Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, the new 1,250-passenger liners will more than double the passenger capacity for Disney Cruise Line.  These new ships will offer magical innovations, engaging children’s spaces, family entertainment and immersive experiences for which Disney Cruise Line is renowned. I will be sailing on the new Disney Dream, on March 6, 2011. I can’t wait to experience it! Visit Franniepoppins on Facebook.

To make room for the big new ships, Disney Cruise Line is making big changes at Castaway Cay, perfecting it. Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island paradise in the tropical waters of the Bahamas, is getting an extra dose of pixie dust.  The enhancements include an expanded family beach, a floating water platform featuring two twisting water slides, two fresh-water play areas for guests to cool off, a new teen retreat and 20 new private rental cabanas offering the ultimate in beachside luxury.  The additional island amenities are scheduled to be complete by summer 2010. 

There will be new sailings for the Disney Wonder and the Disney Magic. In 2010, the Disney Magic will sail to Europe for an unprecedented five-month season of Northern European and Mediterranean cruises.  Book-ending the summer season of 12-night Northern European Capitals cruises, the Disney Magic will once again return to the Mediterranean for 10- and 11-night cruises, with three new ports of call – Tunis in northern Africa, the island nation of Marta, and Ajaccio, Corsica.  In the summer of 2010, the Disney Wonder will sail four- and five-night cruises to Nassau, Key West and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.  In the summer of 2011, the Disney Wonder will sail for the first time to Alaska, with seven-night cruises calling on Tracy Arm, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan.

As you can see, Disney is going to be very busy creating more vacation experiences for us to enjoy. If you are planning a visit to Walt Disney World, contact an OLP Travel agent today for help, or contact me personally, and I will be happy to help you plan your trip. Visit Franniepoppins on Facebook. Or, visit me on my webpage, Franniepoppins!

Here are the discount details.

Now you can keep your New Year’s resolution to spend more time with family at the Walt Disney World® Resort with these special room rates.

Offer Details:
You can save up to 45% off of your room rate with this great room discount! This offer is good for stays most nights through AUGUST 14, 2010, and must be booked by March 27, 2010.

Sample Pricing:

For a 5-night stay or longer:

• 30% savings at Disney Value Resorts – Book for as little as $74 per night, plus tax in a standard room
• 35% savings at Disney Moderate Resorts – Book for as little as $111 per night, plus tax in a standard room
• 40% savings at Disney Deluxe Resorts – Book for as little as $180 per night, plus tax in a standard room
• 45% savings at Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts – Book for as little as $182 per night, plus tax in a studio room

For a 1 to 4-night stay:

• 25% savings at Disney Value Resorts – Book for as little as $79 per night, plus tax in a standard room
• 30% savings at Disney Moderate Resorts – Book for as little as $119 per night, plus tax in a standard room
• 35% savings at Disney Deluxe Resorts – Book for as little as $195 per night, plus tax in a standard room
• 40% savings at Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts – Book for as little as $198 per night, plus tax in a studio room

If you are planning a visit to Walt Disney World, contact an OLP Travel agent today for help, or contact me personally, and I will be happy to help you plan your trip.

Tower of Terror, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, will have a new drop sequence, along with some new affects. There will also be new fireworks at Magic Kingdom. This new display will be called Magic, Music and Mayhem. I wonder if Disney will have another party event, like the Pirate and Princess Party they used to have. I loved that party.

The biggest news about Summer Nightastic coming to Walt Disney World is the return of The Main Street Electrical Parade! Yes, it is returning to Magic Kingdom on early June, 2010, for a limited time. There will be a new float in the parade, and my favorite Pixie, Tinkerbell, will be featured in it. Isn’t it beautiful?

I think a Summer 2010 trip to Walt Disney World is going to be a part of my vacation plans. I don’t want to miss any of the fun! If you are planning a visit to Walt Disney World, contact an OLP Travel agent today for help, or contact me personally, and I will be happy to help you plan your trip.