Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom - Introduction

Well hello there Disney fans! A lot of you may already know about Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom (referred to as SOTMK for the rest of this post) but I have been asked by more than one person to explain this new(ish) attraction in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.
Since I just returned from a very productive trip where I made it a mission to complete the main part of my deck, I figured this would be the perfect time to introduce everyone to my newest Disney obsession. I will be discussing SOTMK in a series of posts because there is  A LOT of information to cover. This is post number one, the introduction.

What is Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom?
SOTMK is an interactive attraction at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom that debuted in February of 2012. Hades is trying to take over the land and Merlin recruits you to help him put a stop to the evil villain. While you are helping Merlin, Hades has recruited the other villains to help him take over the Magic Kingdom. You need to stop him by recovering the four missing crystals that Hades henchmen, Pain and Panic have lost.

That sounds exciting! How do I get started?
You will need to visit one of two kiosk stations.
The main kiosk station is the Fire House next to Guest Relations on Main Street at City Hall.
The second kiosk is behind Old Ye Christmas Shoppe in Liberty Square. It is next to the character greeting area for The Princess and the Frog.
When you go to the kiosk you must present your park ticket and the cast member will give you a portal key that is matched up with your park ticket. You will also be given a pack of randomly sorted cards and a map of all of the portal locations with their corresponding symbols.
If this sounds a bit overwhelming, don't worry. The cast member will train you at a training portal located near the kiosk.

Cards, Maps, Training... sounds great, but how much is this going to cost me?
Believe it or not, the experience is almost completely free. There are 60 cards that you can get for free. The remaining 10 cards (Lightning Bolts) can only be obtained by purchasing a SOTMK booster pack. This is not necessary for general game play. I will discuss the booster packs further in a future SOTMK post.

How often can I get a new pack of cards?
Everyone with a park ticket can pick up one pack between official park opening and one hour before official park closing. Sorcerers can also pick up an additional pack when you beat Hades and Merlin congratulates you.

How long does it take to complete the attraction?
It takes about 2.5 hours to complete on the first level. This can vary based on what location you are given, where you are starting out for the day, what you choose to do between portals, and how many other sorcerers you come across at your portals.

2.5 Hours?!? That's longer than the wait for Peter Pan or the New Test Track! Is it worth it?
YES. It is. It is a great adventure for both the young and the young at heart. It's awesome for those guests like myself who visit Walt Disney World frequently and feel as though they've "done everything". It's also fun for those guests who are not so frequent or even first time visitors because it is completely interactive and it lets you see different areas of the Magic Kingdom.
The best part is that it does not have to be 2.5 hours straight through in one day. You can start your missions and then return to the designated portal the following day/week/etc. This attraction works for people who like to have something to do every minute of their trip as well as for people who like to simply go with the flow.

Even if you don't decide to PLAY the game. The cards are awesome, make for a fun collection, and best of all, are FREE. How often does anyone, let alone Disney, give us something so awesome for FREE?!?

So, now that you've gotten the basics, get out there and save the Magic Kingdom!!

Walt Disney World's New Fantasyland

Full review of New Fantasyland and Be Our Guest restaurant coming soon!
For now please enjoy this sneak peak!

Goodbye Main Street Bakery

Okay, so I know that I'm a little late to the party on this one. It isn't that I didn't know it was happening or wasn't aware of the story, it's just that I was so upset about it I honestly didn't want to talk about it.
However, as with everything in life, ignoring it won't make it not happen so here it goes...

In January the Main Street Bakery in the Magic Kingdom will close for a major refurbishment. The beloved bakery is becoming a Starbucks. Yup, a Starbucks.

The good news is that at least you'll be able to get a decent cup of coffee at Walt Disney World come the summer. The bad news is that well, the Main Street Bakery is becoming a Starbucks.

There are a LOT of angry and upset people right now. It's understandable. As adults we love Walt Disney World because of how it makes us feel like kids again. We don't like change. Even if the change is a good thing.

People are complaining about the price of Starbucks. Have you seen how much it costs to get a cup of dare I say crappy coffee at Walt Disney World today? At least with Starbucks you know you'll get a decent cup of coffee and you'll get a LOT more choices. The coffee aspect of this change is a great thing. I'm excited about it. The thought of enjoying a nice cold caramel frappacinno while walking around a hot theme park makes me a happy little Lady. The thought of seeing a Starbucks logo on Main Street... not so much.

Then I think about all of the other logos on Main Street and I sort of get over it. I mean, Edy's has giant logos over the ice cream shop and Coca Cola has giant signs over Casey's. It really isn't such a big deal when you think about it.
I was so excited when I came up with a fabulous idea for a logo and then felt silly because apparently everyone had the same idea. I didn't create this image I found it on Google but I love it and would embrace it if Disney actually used it instead of the actual Starbucks logo.

I think it's only fair to mention that I was once a Starbucks employee. I am not a Starbucks lover. I don't live for a cup of coffee and personally I'd choose Dunkin Donunts coffee over any other brand any day of the week... but I can say that as a former employee I think it's actually a good match. Keep in mind that the people who will be working at the Disney locations will be DISNEY Cast Members and not Starbucks employees. They'll be in costume and not the horrible green aprons everyone is used to seeing.

Also, keep in mind that Starbucks already exists in Disneyland and the world hasn't come to a horrible end just yet.

What do you think? Are you excited about having a good cup of coffee or are you upset and angry about the change? I'd love to hear your thoughts here and on Facebook!

Disney Announces December 6th is the Grand Opening of the Fantasyland Expansion in Magic Kingdom

You can't possibly imagine my excitement when I heard that the official grand opening of Walt Disney World's Fantasyland Expansion is set for December 6, 2012.



Why am I so excited? Because I will be there!! I am going to Walt Disney World to celebrate my 30th birthday in style and I will be there the 5th-14th. I have tickets for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party on the 6th which means lower crowds that evening. I know that the low crowds won't be as low as we had hoped and expected since this news became public but it will be amazing regardless.

I promise to take a TON of photos for all of you. Be sure to follow me on Twitter for real time updates and photos.

Attractions included in the opening are Under the Sea - Journey of The Little Mermaid, Be Our Guest Restaurant, Enchanted Tales with Belle, Ariel's Grotto, Gaston's Tavern, and Bonjour! Village Gifts.

Princess Fairytale Hall is schedule to open in 2013 and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is scheduled to open in 2014.

What aspect of the Fantasyland Expansion are you most excited about?

Disney Announces Fantasyland Expansion Preview for Passholders

Exciting news from Disney today:

"Be among the first to experience the enchantment of New Fantasyland during a special Passholder Preview in November 2012! Upon completion, Fantasyland will nearly double in size – for the largest expansion in the history of Magic Kingdom Park.
Registration details are coming soon and will be communicated via email and here on the Passholder website. Event capacity is limited, so be sure to watch for these updates! Valid Magic Kingdom Theme Park admission is required to attend this event."

Please let me know if you get the invite!

Preview of the new Dumbo Storybook Circus Attraction

The "new and improved" Dumbo attraction is going to have something that guests of Walt Disney World have never seen before... a "no line" queue! According to the Disney Parks blog, Disney will be issuing pagers like you would get at a restaurant rather than waiting on line to ride the classic attraction. While waiting guests will be able to enjoy the circus themed "queue lounge" where there will be interactive elements for the guests to enjoy.

Here are some sneak peek photos for you to enjoy  as well as a video from Inside the Magic of the current ride in action at night. The new colored lights and fountain really make a nice impact at night.

The Storybook Circus part of the Fantasyland expansion project is scheduled to open this July!

Magical Memory Wednesday

Do you prefer to photograph the Castle in daylight or at night?

Big Thunder Mountain Reopens Monday May 28th!

After being closed for 5 months for a major refurbishment, I am happy to say that Big Thunder Mountain has started it's soft opening and will officially today, Monday May 28th!

There was extensive work done on the track, the show scenes, and the queue.
The best part is that all of the show/ride elements are now working including the geysers!

If you have any photos of the newly refurbished queue and/or ride, please let me know. I'd love to share them with my readers.

Brave Character Meet & Greet Opening at Magic Kingdom

Rumor has it that Merida from Disney's new movie Brave will start appearing in front of Fairytale Castle tomorrow, May 11. Her new home inside Fairytale Gardens is rumored to be opening on May 18, 2012.

To find her head over to the area to the right of the front of Cinderella's Castle look for the entrance right before the bathrooms on your way to the tea cups and raceway. It used to be Rapunzel's meet and greet area. I won't lie. I'm sad to see that go.  I am excited about the possibilities for this experience though. The movie looks great and the interactions they have mentioned seem really cool for boys and girls alike.

Here is a sneak peak at what the area is supposedly going to look like when it's finished:

After some quick investigating I've come across a few videos from EPCOT where Merida has already been making an appearance. I must say, and I mean this in the nicest way possible, Disney needs to have higher standards when it comes to their face characters. There is one very animated lass who seems like she'd be perfect, except she just looks too old. I know the girl is probably in like her early 20's or something, but honestly, she just doesn't look like the character at all other than her crazy hair. I do enjoy her personality, but everything else just rubs me the wrong way. Lord Hill agrees. SO After seeing photos of her and some quick videos of her I went on a google search to see what I could find and I am so glad I did b/c I came across this gem of a video. I am so happy she exists and I desparately hope I get to meet HER specifically.
She looks like a cartoon character with her fabulous big eyes and her voice is perfect and she looks to be the perfect age. LOVE HER. Can't wait to check out this meet and greet experience when it finally debuts in the Magic Kingdom.

Many fhanks to Chelsea a fellow Mickey's Dream Vacations agent and blogger for the info that the meet and greet was opening. Be sure to check out her blog!

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party Tickets On Sale Now!

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a special event that takes place on select nights at Magic Kingdom Park throughout the holiday season.

Don’t miss Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade, a very special holiday fireworks display, live entertainment with your favorite characters, snow on Main Street, U.S.A., free hot cocoa and cookies, and so much more! Purchase of an additional event admission ticket is required to attend.

Parties will take place:

• November 9, 12, 15, 16, 25, 27, 29 and 30
• December 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 21

TIP: Purchasing tickets ahead of event dates may get you a discount of $10 per ticket!

Contact me for more information: Kerri@MickeysDreamVacations.com

Fantasyland Expansion Opening Dates

Meg Crofton, President of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Operations for U.S. and France, announced opening dates today, April 27, for several attractions in the Magic Kingdom's New Fantasyland project. --

The second half of the Dumbo the Flying Elephant attraction will open in July 2012, along with the Casey Jr. Splash ‘n’ Soak Station.

-- Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid, Enchanted Tales with Belle, Be Our Guest Restaurant, Gaston’s Tavern, and Ariel’s Grotto will open this fall, in time for the holidays.

 - The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train will debut in 2014.

News Alert! - Re: Monorail Service at Magic Kingdom

Due to scheduled construction at the Grand Floridan Resort Monorail Service on the Magic Kingdom line will be suspended daily between 11:30 am - 6:00 pm until March 17, 2012.

Disney will be providing additional bus and boat transportation to and from the Magic Kingdom during these times.

 

The Magic The Memories and You - Valentine's Day Changes

Click Here to see some of the romantic new changes coming to "The Magic, The Memories, and You" show at Disney!

Have you or your family ever been featured during the show?

Disney Wordless Wednesday - Photo Spot

I noticed that DisneyBlueFairy and Deb over at Focused on the Magic both posted about this awesome photo spot today. So, in honor of the hop I decided to post one of my photos from this great spot as well.
I was shocked to hear Roy confess his love for Minnie that night. I can't help but wonder if he had a few too many Turtle Krawls over at the Old Key West Resort. If Mickey had heard the conversation these two were having... oh my! *wink*

Roy and Minnie Statue - Magic Kingdom

What is one of your favorite photo spots in Disney?

Disney Blog Hop - Shared Experiences

This week's theme over at the Disney Blog Hop is shared experiences.





I didn't even have to think about what I wanted to write about. Since I had already written about my experience with my mother on the Characters in Flight balloon, I decided to write about my "first" visit to Disney World.
Now, by all means this was not really my first visit to the World. I have been going to Disney since I was an "itty bitty" girl. This was however, my first visit to Disney World as 1. - a married woman and 2.- with my husband who had never been to Disney, heck, he'd never been further south than New Jersey!

The full tale of this trip is too long to share in one post, but as a brief summary this is how it went...

This trip was a surprise. Hubby had no idea we were going. On Christmas morning he opened the gift and asked when we were going. I said "On New Year's Eve! For your birthday!" YAY!!!

And off we went.These are a few of my favorite photos from that trip and some of my favorite memories in general.
Clockwise from left to right...
Our first trip to the Magic Kingdom -Midnight on New Year's Eve behind Cinderella's castle.
Our first trip to Down Town Disney.
Our first ride on The Seas with Nemo and Friends.
Our first trip to EPCOT.

This trip is what started it all... I am so happy I was able to share my husband's first Disney World experience with him and that he wound up loving Disney just as much as I do.


Do you remember your first trip to Disney World? I'd love to hear about it!

Celebrating Walt Disney World's 40th Anniversary

HAPPY 40TH ANNIVERSARY 

WALT DISNEY WORLD!!!

Events and special happenings at the Magic Kingdom include:  

• Artist signings through out the day 
• 40th anniversary cupcakes located at the Main Street Bakery - (I heard they ran out of these quite fast)
• 40th anniversary merchandise located at Mickey's Gift Station, Island Supply, Newsstand, Sir Mickey's, Uptown Jewlers and Diamond Horseshoe - (I heard that the tshirts were sold out by 11:00AM)
• 40th anniversary presentation in front of Cinderella's Castle
• Special "Wishes" fireworks display
• and I'm sure there are other surprises as well

You can bet that today's celebration is going to be a very big deal.

 I wish I could be there to celebrate! Instead I think I will bake some cupcakes in honor of Mr. Mickey Mouse and his Florida home.

Disney World Trip Report Coming Soon

I'm at Walt Disney World right now, and we just got back from Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. I can't wait to show you all the photos. Here's a teaser from Hallowishes!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.2

Disney Trip September 15th-22nd Itinerary

Please be sure to say hi if you see me! I will be tweeting about our adventures in Disney throughout the trip as well as taking photo requests. Please follow along @ladynwonderland

Date: Friday, September 16, 2011

Outlets and Food Shopping

Date: Friday, September 16, 2011

Tony's Town Square
Magic Kingdom® Park

Time: 5:25 p.m.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party – 7:00PM

Date: Saturday, September 17, 2011

Fulton's Crab House
Downtown Disney® Area

Time: 2:00 p.m.
 

Date: Sunday, September 18, 2011

50's Prime Time Café
Disney's Hollywood Studios®

Time: 5:30 p.m.
 

Date: Monday, September 19, 2011

Les Chefs de France
Epcot®

Time: 5:00 p.m.
 

Date: Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Raglan Road™ Irish Pub and Restaurant
Downtown Disney® Area

Time: 8:15 p.m.
 

Date: Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Cap'n Jack's Restaurant
Downtown Disney® Area

Time: 5:00 p.m.

Date: Wednesday, September 22, 2011
Check out. 

DTD or Magic Kingdom 

Flight Home

Walt Disney World's Enchanted Tiki Room Update

It turns out that the rumors are true! 

It was confirmed at a D23 event that the Walt Disney World Enchanted Tiki Room will be changed when it reopens this summer. The Enchanted Tiki Room has been closed since a fire in January.

The Enchanged Tiki Room (Under New Management) is said to be returning to a version similar to the original which debuted in 1971. Guests have not responded as enthusiastically to the new management featuring Zazu and Iago that opened in 1998 as Disney had hoped.

While I like the new version, I can't say that I am sad to hear of this change. I like my classic Disney and I am not a huge fan of Iago and Zazu's role in the new version. I am looking forward to the new, old version.

I will be sure to stop by and catch the show when I am there is September so I can report about the changes.
 
How do you feel about this announcement? Are you glad to see the new management get the boot or will you miss Iago and Zazu?