With the holidays quickly approaching, guests of Disney hotels will certainly want to plan how to spend their vacation time. Luckily, there are always lots of events that take place around hotels near Walt Disney World, so your family will have no trouble enjoying some holiday cheer while traveling around Downtown Disney!

First, be sure to check out Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party from November 10-December 19. Guests of Orlando hotels must have tickets to this event, but the holiday cheer is well worth it. The Party features a holiday fireworks display, parades, live shows, cookies and hot chocolate – even snow! Plus guests of Downtown Disney hotels who attend the party can still enjoy all of their favorite Disney rides and attractions.

Next, guests staying in hotels near Walt Disney World will want to see the Osborne Family’s Spectacle of Lights. Located at the Streets of America, Disney hotel guests, young and old alike, will marvel at the millions of lights dancing to holiday music. This event is free with park admission and runs from November 28-January 4.

Guests of Orlando hotels should also spend some time this holiday season in Disney’s Magic Kingdom. From November 12-January 6, everyone in the family will delight over Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade. The Disney Safari is alive with the sounds of the season, and everyone is dressed up in their holiday best. No guests of hotels near Walt Disney World will be disappointed with this event!

A favorite among Downtown Disney hotel guests, the Candlelight Procession runs this year from November 28-December 30. An Epcot tradition, this nightly performance features a full choir and live orchestra, along with celebrity narrators, all telling the story of Christmas. The performances are held in the America Gardens Theatre. Families staying in hotels near Walt Disney World will have a night to remember with this performance.

This is just a sampling of holiday events available to guests of Downtown Disney resort area hotels. The holidays are a magical time for guests staying at hotels near Walt Disney World, and a wonderful way to spend some time with your family this year.

By: Mark Goldhaber
Editor, Mouseplanet.com

If it’s early November, it must be time to think of the holiday season! It’s that most wonderful time of the year when all of Walt Disney World transforms into a magical holiday wonderland.

Walt Disney World celebrates the holidays in many ways all around the resort. With 150 tractor-trailer truckloads of decorations spread around the property, including 65-foot-tall, 14-ton Christmas trees in each theme park, Disney’s Holiday Services department has a year-round job setting up, fixing up, taking down, repairing and preparing the décor. On top of that are loads of special holiday events for all to enjoy. Let’s take a look at the various events and entertainment.

Magic Kingdom

The park takes on a special holiday feel with garlands across Main Street, U.S.A and decorative touches around the park. The park’s Christmas tree is first erected in the upper Rose Garden, where it sits until after the filming of the Very Merry Christmas Parade with Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa (to take place from December 5 and 6 this year), at which point it moves to Town Square. Of course, the Holiday Dreamlights will light Cinderella Castle with an amazing display of LED lights that will dazzle your eyes.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

The very popular Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a hard-ticketed event (it requires separate admission and takes place after park hours) that has a great deal of entertainment and activities going on. It includes special stage shows and character appearances, a parade, special fireworks and free refreshments.  (The free refreshments usually include hot cocoa, cookies, juice and apple slices. Additional refreshments may be purchased at select locations.) The most popular events here include Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade, the Holiday Wishes fireworks, and the Mickey’s ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and Celebrate the Season shows. And don’t forget to pause and enjoy the magical “snow” that falls on Main Street, U.S.A. each night.

This year, the party runs on November 10, 11, 14, 16, 20, 21, 30, December 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 19. Tickets cost $55.95 plus tax (Ages 10 and up) and $49.95 plus tax (Ages 3-9). For parties on November 10, 11, 16, 20, 30, December 2, 7, 9, and 16, purchasing tickets in advance will get you a $7 discount on both adult and child tickets. Disney Vacation Club member and Annual Passholder discounts are also available to select nights.

After the Party Ends

From mid-November until a few days before Christmas, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is the only time to see the special holiday entertainment in the Magic Kingdom. On the day following the last Christmas Party, though, the entertainment becomes available to all park guests. If you’re going to be in the Magic Kingdom on December 20 or later, you’d probably be better served to skip attending the Christmas Party in the earlier days of your visit and to see the special entertainment for free later on.

Live Entertainment

During the holiday season, various bands from around the country perform at the Magic Kingdom, most often as pre-parade entertainment, with as many as three marching bands preceding each afternoon parade. Other special performance locations include Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe, the Galaxy Palace Theater and in front of the Hall of Presidents.

New Year’s Eve

The Magic Kingdom is open from 8 a.m. until 1 a.m. on December 30 and 31, with Holiday Wishes fireworks in the evening and a special showing of the old Fantasy in the Sky fireworks at midnight. There are also two showings each of Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade and SpectroMagic. There is no extra charge for the special events.  The park also has Extra Magic Hour mornings each day from December 21 through January 3 and Extra Magic Hour evenings on December 21, 26, 28 and 30. This means that you could be in the park from 7 a.m. through 4 a.m. on December 30, then come back from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. on December 31 and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m on January 1, if you think that you could handle all of those hours. Because the special New Year’s Eve fireworks are shown on both December 30 and 31, many guests opt to see the holiday show on December 30 and then spend New Year’s Eve at either Disney’s Hollywood Studios or Epcot, so that they get to see two of the three special New Year’s Eve shows.

Epcot

Each year, Epcot’s special holiday events all run from the night after Thanksgiving (November 28 this year) through December 30 (unless otherwise noted), with a special New Year’s Eve celebration the following night.

Decorations around World Showcase are themed to match each country’s local traditions and native flora. In addition, the Liberty Inn at the American Adventure features Santa’s Gingerbread Bake Shop, a giant gingerbread structure out of which you can buy Christmas cookies, hot and cold beverages and souvenir gingerbread recipe cards.

Mickey’s Tree Lighting Treat

Each night at 6 p.m. in World Showcase Plaza, Mickey and his friends host a special ceremony to light the park’s 65-foot Christmas tree. The 10-minute show features Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, and Chip & Dale, along with other cast members, and ends with the lighting of the tree and the Lights of Winter arch.

Lights of Winter

The Lights of Winter are a series of lit arches along the walkway from Future World to World Showcase Plaza, ending just before the Epcot Christmas tree. Every 15 minutes, the arches dance in synchronization with holiday music. Between the choreographed shows, the lights slowly change color. The arches are lit from the conclusion of Mickey’s Tree Lighting Treat until the beginning of Illuminations, and again while guests are exiting the park. The lights will continue to run through January 4 this year.

Holidays Around the World

Each of the international pavilions in World Showcase features special holiday storytellers, with each relating holiday tales from their country. Storytellers include Nowell the lumberjack in Canada, Father Christmas in the United Kingdom, Pere Noël in France, La Befana in Italy and Julenissen in Norway. The Three Kings tell the story of La Posada in Mexico, while the stories of the first Christmas tree, the first Nutcracker and the Christmas pickle are told in Germany.

Countries that do not generally celebrate Christmas tell tales of that country’s myths, such as The Monkey King in China, the Daruma Vendor in Japan and the Taarji telling the story of the Festival of Ashura in Morocco. At the American Adventure, multiculturalism is the order of the day, as a meet-and-greet with Santa and Mrs. Claus is supplemented by Hanukkah and Kwanzaa storytellers. The Hanukkah and Kwanzaa storytellers are often scheduled to perform at the same time or nearly the same time, making it difficult to schedule seeing them both.

Candlelight Processional

One of the most popular holiday events at Epcot, and perhaps the most overtly religious, is the Candlelight Processional. Three times each night at the America Gardens Theater, backed by a 50-piece orchestra and a massed choir of over 350 participating choirs and cast members, as well as members of the Voices of Liberty, a guest narrator tells the story of the Nativity.

A popular way to get guaranteed seating at this event is by use of the Candlelight Dining Package (available by calling 407-939-3463), where a reservation for a price fixe dinner at one of the Epcot restaurants will get you a ticket for a guaranteed seat at the event (as long as you’re there by a certain time).

All meal times are during set windows based on the time of the performance to be seen. All seating times are prior to showtime.

Those viewing the 5:00 p.m. performance will actually have their meal during “lunch” hours, with seatings between 1:45 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. This seating will carry a lower price tag than the two “dinner” seatings (see pricing below).

Those wishing to attend the 6:45 p.m. performance will need to be willing to eat dinner with seating times between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. The 8:15 p.m. performance is the only one with close to “normal” meal times, with reservations between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

• Tier 1 seatings at the Biergarten and Garden Grill restaurants (full buffet, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage) runs $27.99 for adults and $12.99 for children at lunch, and $32.99 for adults and $14.99 for children at dinner.
• Tier 2 seatings at Nine Dragons, Rose & Crown, Restaurant Marrakesh and San Angel Inn (appetizer, entree, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage) runs $36.99 for adults and $12.99 for children at lunch, and $42.99 for adults and $14.99 for children at dinner.
• Tier 3 seatings at Chefs de France, Coral Reef, Le Cellier Steakhouse, Mitsukoshi Teppanyaki Dining Room and Tutto Italia (appetizer, entree, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage) runs $41.99 for adults and $12.99 for children at lunch, and $47.99 for adults and $14.99 for children at dinner. Lobster entrees are specifically not included.

This year’s narrators are as follows:

• Nov. 28 – 30: John O’Hurley
• Dec. 1 – 3: Neil Patrick Harris
• Dec. 4 – 6: Brian Stokes Mitchell
• Dec. 7 – 9: Virginia Madsen
• Dec. 10 – 12: Marlee Matlin
• Dec. 13 – 15: Monique Coleman
• Dec. 16 – 18: Chita Rivera
• Dec. 19 – 21: Abigain Breslin
• Dec. 22 – 24: Stephen Curtis Chapman
• Dec. 25 – 27: Edward James Olmos
• Dec. 28 – 30: Angela Bassett & Courtney Vance

Illuminations Holiday Tag

The ever-popular Illuminations: Reflections of Earth will feature the “holiday tag,” a special ending taken from the finale of the old Holiday Illuminations show, which features the song “Let There Be Peace On Earth,” with narration by Walter Cronkite and 800 fireworks shells launched in four minutes. In actuality, the first three and a half minutes feature about 150 shells, allowing the narration and song to be heard. The final 25-30 seconds of music are drowned out by the remaining 650 shells, a finale amazing enough to astound even the most jaded of pyrotechnics fans, with the concussions tangibly beating against the spectators’ bodies, even when viewed from as far away as the bridge between the Beach Club and BoardWalk Resorts.

The tag is so well done that, despite the sheer number of the blasts, it all still works together. Of course, only Disney could get away with blasting that much gunpowder and creating that much light and noise to the tune of “Let There Be Peace On Earth.”

Live Entertainment

With all of those events, you’d think that it would be enough, but there are other live performances, including handbell ringers and choirs in the American Adventure rotunda.

New Year’s Eve

Epcot is open from 8 a.m. until 1 a.m. on New Year’s Eve, with an early evening showing of Illuminations and another showing at 11:40pm with a special midnight finale. Dance parties will also be held at various locations around World Showcase. There is no extra charge for the special events.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Aside from the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights and some décor, there is much less of a holiday feel at the Studios than at the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, the resorts or even Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights

Originally installed on property owned by Arkansas businessman Jennings Osborne as a way to delight his daughter, the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights was moved to Walt Disney World in 1995 after the display proved too disruptive for his residential neighborhood. Installed on the Residential Street portion of the Backlot Tour, the lights were a popular seasonal attraction for park guests. When Residential Street was torn down to make way for the new Lights, Motors, Action! stunt show in 2003, the lights sat in storage for a year while work was underway to transform that area of the park. In 2004, they returned, this time on the Streets of America Backlot, installed on all of the building facades of all of the cities represented.

That first year in the new location, lights were packed so closely that street-level standing displays were almost invisible against the bright backdrop. In 2005, the displays were spread beyond the main streets and into the back alleys behind the MuppetVision theater, making it a bit more palatable, though still very overwhelming. Each year, the lights seem to spread over a slightly larger area, yet lose none of their ability to impress.

Perhaps inspired by all of the dancing Christmas light videos making the rounds of the Internet the previous year, the 2006 incarnation of the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights became the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, with the addition of 400 computerized dimmers that allow groups of lights to turn on, turn off and dim in synchronization with Christmas music by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. In 2007, other holiday music was added to the show in rotation with the TSO songs. A tremendous crowd-pleaser that brings roars of approval after each show, the lights are on nightly November 28 through January 4, from “dark” until park close (8 p.m., except for December 31).

New Year’s Eve

Disney’s Hollywood Studios are open until midnight on New Year’s Eve, with two showings of Fantasmic! and the Lights! Camera! Happy New Year! fireworks at 11:50 p.m. The Osborne Lights will be on from “dark” until the fireworks start. There is no extra charge for the special events.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

The park celebrates the season with a special holiday version of The Awakening park opening show, plus some holiday-themed entertainment.

Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade

The popular Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade gets a holiday overlay and special seasonal music with an international beat to become Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade. The overlay will run from November 28 through January 4.

Live Entertainment

Carolers perform thoughout the day on a stage near the character greeting trails in Camp Minnie-Mickey. They also make appearances in the Oasis. Santa Goofy’s Wild Wonderland lets you visit with the big dog in his holiday garb. Other acts around the park perform holiday sets as well, including the Beatniks on Discovery Island.

Around the Resort

The parks aren’t the only place dressed up for the holidays. The resorts and Downtown Disney get into the act, as well. With 11.3 miles of garland, 7 million lights, 300,000 yards of ribbons and bows and 1,360 Christmas trees across the property, it takes quite a long time to get it all set up.

And yes, all of the Christmas trees (except for those that are planted there year-round) are artificial. With the need to pre-decorate all of them, plus the need for them to be standing in locations without true planters for upwards of seven weeks, there is really no way to use live trees without them becoming bare of their needles well before they are taken down at the beginning of January.

Festival of the Seasons

Special holiday décor lights up the Downtown Disney Marketplace from November 28 through December 24. Santa will be available for meet-and-greets and photo opportunities from noon to 10 p.m. daily, starting November 15. (Follow the red-and-green reindeer hoofprints from Santa’s location to Guest Relations, where you can get your photos.) Of course, since the holidays are approaching and this is a shopping district, it’s a perfect time and place to do your holiday shopping. (And it just happens to be within walking distance from the Downtown Disney Resort Area Hotels.)

Holiday Decorations

In addition to themed trees at each resort (such as sailing-themed ornaments on the Yacht Club tree), there are other holiday decorations at the resorts, and many Deluxe resorts get even more to display. Thanks to Disney pastry chefs, gingerbread architecture springs up to decorate many resorts.

The largest and most noticeable of the resort gingerbread structures is the 16-foot-tall Victorian mansion in the lobby of the Grand Floridian Resort, which serves as a point of sale for gingerbread cookies, miniature gingerbread houses and other fresh-baked goodness.

Other edible resort décor includes a working toddler-sized carousel at the Beach Club (but don’t try to ride it), a candy-coated model village on a sugary rock mountain surrounded by a model train at the Yacht Club, a chocolate and candy toy shop at the Contemporary Resort (tended by an edible Pinocchio) and Santa’s Workshop at the BoardWalk Resort (with a special BoardWalk train).

Live Entertainment

School bands, choirs and handbell choruses perform in resort lobby areas throughout the holiday season, with the Grand Floridian having the most extensive schedule from late November through Christmas Eve. Other resorts have performances beginning in mid-December, while others may only see a handful or even one performance.

In addition, more bands, choirs and choruses perform at the Dock Stage at Downtown Disney Marketplace.

New Year’s Eve

While the closure of Pleasure Island’s clubs has spelled the end of the special hard-ticketed New Year’s Eve festivities there, there will still be special events at Cirque du Soleil’s La Nouba and Atlantic Dance.

Cirque du Soleil will again hold two performances on New Year’s Eve, at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. From tuxedo-wearing ushers to special programs with limited-edition inserts to a special finalé with all audience members lighting glow sticks, the Cirque will present a special experience for guests.

“Dueling Video DJs” will entertain patrons at Atlantic Dance at the BoardWalk Resort. The limited-hours event includes a champagne toast at midnight, though the entire celebration will only last from 11 p.m. until 2 a.m. The $10 tickets go on sale on New Year’s Eve.

So all in all, there are plenty of ways for you to celebrate the season at Walt Disney World. Remember that there are more hotels than you think as you make your holiday plans. Check out the Downtown Disney Hotels Association Web site for more information about any or all of the holiday events and how you can get great deals on lodging!

www.MousePlanet.com

The team of Disney experts at MousePlanet.com bring you the benefit of their hundreds of days at Walt Disney World® Resort to provide one of the most comprehensive trip-planning sites on the Internet, including news, features, reviews, trip reports, podcasts, discussion boards and more!

By: Mark Goldhaber
Editor, Mouseplanet.com

The 13th annual fall event will run for forty-five days, or nearly eight weeks, from September 26 - November 9, 2008. All festival events are included with regular Epcot admission. The theme of this year’s festival is “Cities in Wonderland,” and the featured food pavilions are Louisiana and Melbourne, Australia.

The festival features such returning activities as the wine and beer seminars, cooking demonstrations, special book signings at the Festival Center, Eat to the Beat! concerts, culinary and cultural exhibits.

Kiosks around the World Showcase Lagoon serve up authentic cuisine, wine, entertainment and cultures of more than 25 international regions. Marketplaces from South Africa to Mexico offer tasting-size entrées with specially selected wine pairings, and many offer desserts, as well. The festival is the largest food and wine event of its kind in the world, beginning at the Festival Welcome Center in the Wonders of Life pavilion in Future World East and spreading around the promenade encircling World Showcase Lagoon.

Did you know?

More than 76 kinds of international foods are available, with each appetizer-sized portion priced $2-$5.

Here’s a rundown on what’s going on at the Festival in 2008:

Seminars and special dining experiences

Many free events occur daily at the Festival Center, located in the Wonders of Life pavilion. 30-minute culinary demonstrations allow you to meet the chef and sample the demonstrated dish. 45-minute wine seminars teach you about the beverage and allow you to sample the selected wine. “Authentic tastes” seminars explore single ingredients. Authors from the food & wine industry talk about their books and sign them. Vintners also will sign bottles of their wines.

There are many events that require paid admission, as well. Epcot wine schools, vertical wine tastings and Master wine classes teach about the bottled beverage. Signature dining, sweet Sundays, kitchen conversations, cheese tastings, food & wine pairings, regional feasts, city tastes, “The Cook, The Book & The Bottle” and the highly rated Party for the Senses are available for prices ranging from $75-$375 per person.

Eat to the Beat! Concert Series

This series features artists from various eras. New to the lineup this year are Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, En Vogue, Spyro Gyra and Boyz II Men. Concerts take place three times nightly at the America Gardens Theatre, at 5:15, 6:30 and 7:45 p.m.

Note that, as always, entertainment is subject to change without notice.

More information:

For more information, you can go to the official Food & Wine Festival page on Walt Disney World’s web site

(http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/special/foodAndWine/index?id=FoodAndWinePage).

With Disney’s Year of a Million Dreams, visitors to Downtown Disney Resort area hotels now through December 2008 have a chance to see more than a million dreams come true for guests at Disney hotels this year.

As part of the celebration, Disney cast members become part of the Dream Squad. Visitors of Disney hotels might get a tap on the shoulder from one of these dream makers, which could lead to one of many dreams of the Disney Dreams Giveaway, such as an overnight stay in a royal suite inside one of the best Orlando hotels, Disney Cruise Line trips, Adventures by Disney vacations, a private shopping spree, FASTPASS badges, special after-hour events, and a tour around the world as a parade grand marshal in each Disney park.

Meanwhile, thousands more cast members will be creating millions of Magical Moments by personally inviting guests of Orlando hotels to enjoy special surprises, such as helping to open the park in the morning, or to joining performers on a float in Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle parade.

Even more guests of Downtown Disney hotels will be drawn into the action at Disney with an all-new lineup of immersive entertainment, including the Pirate’s Oath, the Happily Ever After Party, Woody’s Cowboy Camp, the High School Musical Pep Rally, and the parade down Main Street alongside Disney characters.

Guests at Orlando hotels can also experience new shows and attractions, including “The Seas with Nemo & Friends,” “Finding Nemo—The Musical,” and the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor Comedy Club.

Your dreams can only come true by visiting some hotels near Disney!

(Note: information derived from an original article written by Nicole Naser, www.orlandoescape.com)

With access to five Disney golf courses, those who select a Downtown Disney® Resort Area Hotel can tee off on the award-winning challenge of their choice. During a vacation at any one of these fine Orlando hotels near Disney, great golf is easy to come by. Exclusive for guests from this premier collection of Orlando hotels, advance tee times and special discounts make each round that much sweeter.

Four out of the five Disney golf courses available to guests from Orlando hotels feature 18 holes of championship golf, with the course count capped off by a relaxing nine-hole experience. An 18-hole favorite among golf connoisseurs and people from Orlando hotels playing for pleasure, Disney’s breathtaking Tom Fazio-designed Osprey Ridge course received 4.5 out of five stars according to Golf Digest magazine.

The equally inspiring Lake Buena Vista course wows guests from Orlando hotels, who can tee off next to boats and canals on this classic Disney course – the recipient of an impressive four out of five stars from Golf Digest. The Magnolia course, named for an abundance of fragrant Magnolias, received the same rating from Golf Digest, making it a magnificent option for those enjoying hotels near Disney.

Disney’s Palm course was awarded four stars by Golf Digest and is a must-play for golfers from Orlando hotels as well. Perhaps the toughest of the courses, this Joe Lee design is highlighted by sparkling lakes, tropical sand and a variety of strategically placed palms. As the venue for the Children’s Miracle Network Classic presented by Wal-Mart, Disney’s Palm offers exciting challenges for pros and novices alike.

Players from Orlando hotels can further enhance the on-course experience by using the latest GPS Technology. All carts are equipped with this state-of-the-art service, which provides realistic images of course fairways, greens and hazards to add a new dimension to the Disney golf experience. This is just one of the many ways Downtown Disney® Resort Area Hotel guests can get the most out of their stay while vacationing at these preferred Orlando hotels.

Experience a world of benefits when you stay at a Downtown Disney® Resort Area Hotel. As a guest at any one of these eight Disney hotels, you will enjoy special perks and privileges that contribute to making your Disney vacation all the more fantastic.

So you don’t have to worry about driving or parking during your Disney hotel stay, the Downtown Disney® Resort Area Hotels provide complimentary shuttle service to Walt Disney World® theme parks, water parks and other attractions. There are also Disney tickets available for purchase at each of these Disney hotels, where friendly staff people are happy to answer questions and offer recommendations.

An additional privilege the Disney hotels provide is priority seating for Walt Disney World® Resort dinner shows and theme park restaurants. That way you can easily schedule something exciting for the whole family to enjoy for the evening. No matter which of the hotels near Disney you choose, you can get advance tee times and discounts at five great Disney golf courses as well.

What better way to recall the fun you had on your Disney hotel vacation than with a special souvenir? Another perk: Every one of these exceptional Disney hotels features a Disney gift store showcasing an array of items with varying themes. If you buy a souvenir at one of the Disney parks, you can have it delivered to your hotel as well – in order to avoid having to carry your purchase around for the whole day.

Last but certainly not least, you’ll receive a “Passport to Savings” as a guest at a Downtown Disney® Resort Area Hotel. This booklet allows you to take advantage of exclusive discounts and specials on dining, shopping and entertainment during your stay. Such benefits are among the many ways this collection of hotels near Disney ensures a memorable and rewarding Disney vacation.

By: Mark Goldhaber
Editor, Mouseplanet.com

Special events are really starting to get rolling as we enter September at Walt Disney World! The month starts off with Disney’s Royal Quinceañera Weekend, which is really more like a week, August 29th through September 5th. The event celebrates a Hispanic coming-of-age tradition with lavish parties and other events.

The first weekend in September will be very busy as three events take the spotlight. The 26th annual Night of Joy takes on a new spin, as the Christian music festival moves from its traditional home at the Magic Kingdom to its new location at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The event, which takes place on September 5th and 6th, features performances by 16 artists (eight each night), including tobyMac, Chris Tomlin, Casting Crowns, Brandon Heath, MercyMe, Rebecca St. James, Barlow Girl, Mandisa and more. For more information about the event, go to disneyworld.com/nightofjoy.

Also taking place during the first weekend of September is Disney’s Pin Trading Celebration, themed this year at Pin Trading University. The event, which takes place at Epcot’s World Showplace pavilion September 5-7, features availability of new and special event-only limited-edition pins, pin trading activites, a live auction and more. For more information go to disneygallery.com.

The move of the Night of Joy from the Magic Kingdom to Disney’s Hollywood Studios means that the original Florida park is now free to start Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party earlier than ever before. The party’s first night is September 5, a week earlier than ever before. Once again, Mickey and his friends are dressing up and you’re invited to dress up too! Wear your favorite Halloween costume or even have your family wear matching outfits! Mickey and the gang have new outfits, as well. Mickey and Minnie have traded in their scarecrow and witch costumes for purple and orange eveningwear, with Mickey in a top hat and tails and Minnie in a party dress with a hat and ribbon. The fun includes trick-or-treating locations throughout the park, the Boo-To-You parade (led off by the ride of the Headless Horseman and featuring some of the catchiest parade music that Disney’s come up with) and the Happy HalloWishes fireworks. The event will be held September 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 28, 30, October 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 13, 16, 19, 21, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31. For more information go to disneyworld.com/halloween.

But that’s not all that’s going on in September. At the end of the month, the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival kicks off with the prestigious Bocuse d’Or USA competition and Grand Gala on September 26 and 27 and Eat to the Beat Concert Series performances by New Swing artists Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. The Festival continues through November 9, with booths set up throughout Epcot featuring foods of different coutries, states and regions, special seminars, meals and demonstrations.

September also marks your last chance to see some of favorite shows and clubs. The High School Musical 2: School’s Out! traveling stage show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the first to complete its run, as it holds its last performance on September 13 before leaving to make way for a High School Musical 3-themed show that will debut in late October. September 27 marks the demise of several favorites. Pocahontas and her Forest Friends at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, plus Woody’s Cowboy Camp and the Main Street Family Fun Day Parade at the Magic Kingdom will hold their farewell performances on that date. Most noticed, however, will likely be the end of the remaining nightclubs at Pleasure Island. Motion, Mannequins, 8-Trax, BET Club, Comedy Warehouse and Adventurer’s Club will all close their doors forever on September 27.

As a Downtown Disney Resort Hotel guest, you’ll have easy access to the Pleasure Island clubs for as long as they’re still welcoming guests. In fact, you’re within walking distance to the clubs. So come to Walt Disney World and say goodbye to your favorite Pleasure Island nightclubs.

By: Mark Goldhaber
Editor, Mouseplanet.com

Summer is – by definition – hot, but summer in Florida is even more so. But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t visit Central Florida during the heat of summer. With dropping prices and dropping crowd levels, you can have a great vacation and make lots of memories before it’s time for the kids to go back to school! You just have to be prepared for the heat and humidity and have a plan for your days. To avoid having the heat take the fun out of your vacation, here are some great ideas to keep you healthy and refreshed during your trip.

Clothing tips
Snug clothing doesn’t give your skin room to breathe and get rid of the heat building up in your body. Wear loose clothing so that your sweat can evaporate and take the heat with it. Moisture-wicking shirts, shorts and socks (available in many brands) also helps to pull the sweat and heat away from your body. If you feel sweat sticking to you, that’s a sign that the moisture isn’t evaporating and you need to go somewhere to dry off and cool off.

Hats keep the sun out of your eyes and help to protect part of your face from the sun. Sunglasses with UV protection are also helpful. (If you wear prescription glasses and they do not have UV protection, consider getting either clip-on sunglasses or those large sunglasses that will fit over your glasses.

Stay hydrated
Drink water or other beverage with electrolytes, and keep drinking all day. Colas and alcohol may make you feel cooler, but they actually dehydrate you more. Water, sports drinks and the like are what you need to keep hydrated.

If you feel any of the following symptoms, get into the shade and drink a lot of water:
* Feeling grumpy
* Feeling tired
* Feeling dizzy and light-headed
* Feeling nauseous or having a headache
* Having muscle cramps

One rule of thumb that some MousePlanet staffers use is: if you’re not going to the bathroom regularly, you’re not drinking enough.

Avoid the heat
A great way to beat the heat is to get out of it occasionally. It’s a great idea for any vacation at Walt Disney World, but especially in the summer heat, you should consider taking a mid-day break. If you’re staying at a Downtown Disney Resort Area Hotel, you’ve got frequent bus service that makes it easy to get back and forth between the parks and your hotel without too much delay. Get to the park early and get a lot done before the crowds build. When it starts getting hot and busy around mid-day or so, hop a bus back to the hotel and either take a nap or spend some time cooling off in the pool. Toward late afternoon, grab another bus back to the parks and enjoy them as the hot and tired people who spend the afternoon there start trudging back to their hotels.

If you want to stay at the park during the hot afternoons, set up your plan so that you do outside activities during the morning while it’s cool, and during the day head for indoor attractions, especially those that will let you stay inside for a while such as Ellen’s Energy Adventure at Epcot, the Carousel of Progress at the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream and the Magic of Disney Animation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Finding Nemo: The Musical and the Festival of the Lion King at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Try to plan your visits to Disney’s Animal Kingdom for the mornings and leave before it gets too hot. While there are many great attractions in the park, it’s also the hottest of the Walt Disney World parks by a few degrees. Besides, the animals on the Kilimanjaro Safaris and the two walking trails are most active when it’s cooler early in the morning.

Be ready for the storms
Another “feature” of Central Florida summers are the mid-afternoon rainstorms. If you are in the parks during the afternoon and it start raining, expect it to continue for a half-hour or so, maybe a little longer. While everyone else is making a beeline for the exits, find someplace dry to wait it out. One of the cool attractions listed above would work, or even just a shop or counter-service dining location will keep you dry. The afternoon storms generally don’t last all that long, and when they’re done the park will be much emptier. Enjoy the extra room and see more attractions while everyone else is busy heading back to their resorts.

And it goes without saying

Wear sunscreen. Whether you burn easily or rarely, the Florida sun is strong. If you’re going to be out in it, you need protection. One thing to remember is that sunscreen will usually need to be reapplied during the day. Many people (including this author) have made the mistake of forgetting that fact and got burned – literally.

If you pay attention to these tips, you should be able to have yourself a great trip at the lower late-summer prices and with the smaller late-summer crowds. It’s a great way to have a memorable end to your summer!

TIP OF THE MONTH:
If you’re looking for your favorite character but you’re not sure where they are that day, or even if they’re out and about at all, there’s an easy solution. You can ask any cast member (or visit guest relations) and ask where that character is that day. They can call the “Chip-and-Dale hot line” to find out where any character will be that day and what time they will be there. Find out at the beginning of the day, and you can easily work it into your schedule.

Guests from Orlando hotels can’t get enough of Downtown Disney® Marketplace. This exciting entertainment complex is home to the largest Disney character store in the world and Downtown Disney West Side, which features top-notch restaurants, theaters, shows and amusement.

When you’re deciding on a vacation spot, you’ll definitely want to stay at one of the Orlando hotels near Disney – one that’s within the Walt Disney World® Resort. For maximum convenience, there are seven Downtown Disney® Resort Area Hotels. With amenities like pools, spa, dining and spacious accommodations, these Official Walt Disney World® hotels are preferred among travelers seeking hotels near Disney.

Not only does Downtown Disney offer guests from Orlando hotels a 24-theatre AMC® Movie Complex, but it also boasts the DisneyQuest® Indoor Interactive Theme Park; food and live music at the House of Blues®; and performances of Cirque du Soleil® La Nouba™. Well-known restaurants like Planet Hollywood® and Rainforest Café® make a trip to Downtown Disney ideal for those in search of great cuisine, professional service and a unique ambiance. Light fare, great restaurants and casual dining are available at Orlando hotels in Downtown Disney as well.

Much like its restaurants, Downtown Disney’s shopping appeals to guests from Orlando hotels because it is both enticing and engaging. The LEGO Imagination Center® and the Virgin™ Megastore are among your entertaining shopping options. The unforgettable World of Disney® Store will dazzle you with interactive experiences and a vast display of Disney merchandise. For visitors from Orlando hotels, the shopping opportunities do not end there. Downtown Disney also features dozens of unique and imaginative chain and specialty stores stocked with must-have merchandise.

When it’s time to plan a Disney vacation, stay surrounded by the finest shopping, dining and entertainment in Orlando. No matter which of the Downtown Disney area’s handful of Orlando hotels you pick, Downtown Disney® Marketplace and Walt Disney World® theme parks are never more than a short walk or complimentary shuttle ride away!

The Downtown Disney® Resort Area Hotels in Lake Buena Vista, Florida are comprised of a group of seven family-friendly Official Disney hotels. Right near the dining and entertainment of Downtown Disney® Marketplace and Disney’s West Side, these popular Disney hotels ensure families, couples and individuals are always part of the action.

Each Disney hotel within the Downtown Disney collection provides complimentary transportation to and from the nearby Walt Disney World® theme parks. The theme parks available to you when you stay at one of these hotels near Disney include Disney’s Magic Kingdom®, Epcot®, Disney’s Hollywood StudiosTM, Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Park and two fantastic water parks – Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon.

A prime location, convenient transportation, and great amenities like onsite pools, spa and dining contribute to the overall sense of relaxation guests at these Disney hotels observe. And with offerings for people of all ages – whether you prefer theme park rides, live entertainment, magical meetings, or breakfasts with Disney characters – this collection of hotels near Disney offers access to attractions, facilities and activities to suit everyone’s tastes.

The seven Downtown Disney® Resort Area Hotels are the Best Western Lake Buena Vista; Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa; Doubletree Guest Suites; Hilton Orlando Resort; Holiday Inn; Regal Sun Resort; and Royal Plaza Resort. With so many different Disney hotels, you’ll never need to look anywhere else when it’s time to plan your vacation.

The Downtown Disney® Resort Area Hotels’ variety of accommodation options means you’ll find plenty of rooms and suites designed for family vacations and romantic escapes, as well as weddings, group trips and executive meetings. No matter what brings you to Central Florida, Walt Disney World, and the Downtown Disney area, these Disney hotels can’t wait to welcome you.