If your family is planning their first Disney World Vacation, you picked the right time to go. Even die hard Disney fanatics will be amazed at all the new attractions and features opening in Summer 2014. Let's get started with our tour - Best part is we can do this without a lot of walking!
Our first stop will be in the Magic Kindgom at the NEW Fantasyland. This 10 acre park expansion began back in 2012 and should be wrapping up by Summer 2014. It is one of the largest and most imaginative projects that Disney has ever done. If it's been a while since you visited the park, you may not even recongnize all the changes as you step thru Cinderella's Castle.
The Enchanted Forest area includes several new attractions like Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid ride, Enchanted Tales with Belle interactive meet & greet along with Be Our Guest Restaurant both themed after Beauty and the Beast and Rapunzel's Tower. In the Storybook Circus area guests will find not one but two Dumbo Flying Elephant rides, Goofy's Barnstormer Coaster for the little ones, Pete's Silly Side show meet & greet area for Minnie, Daisy, Goofy & Donald along with a splash park where kids can cool off on hot days.
The pinnacle and centerpiece to the new Fantastyland will be the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Rumor has it that is it scheduled to open in late June 2014 but stay tuned. This family style, steel coaster will be based on the 1937 annimated classic Snow White. Guests will be taken on a wild ride thru the diamond mine where the 7 Dwarfs work and will be treated to the beloved music and glimpses of their favorite annimated characters. This coaster was designed with brand new, state of the art technology bringing this old story into the 21st century. Guests will be seated in mine cars that will tilt back and forth while speeding up, down, around and thru the mine shafts. Supposedly there will be a height restriction of 40 inches, there will be fast passes for this attraction as well as a parent swap area.
Summer 2014 will see Disney's new Magic bands being used in a very big way. This innovative program has been tested during 2013. It combines mobile tools and wearable technology that allows guests to customize their family's Disney experience before ever leaving home. Instead of tickets, all guests can now wear their magic bands. They have complete access to a magical vacation with a simple tap of the wrist. Magic bands contain your fast passes, dining reservations, character greetings, park admission, purchasing power and even act as a key to your Walt Disney World resort room. All of our staff here at Vacationkids has used them and we are huge fans of this program. Not only will is it convenient but it saves wait times, especially for the most popular, "must see" attractions.
Downtown Disney continues to transform. Changes here will continue into 2016. This is Disney' shopping/dining/entertainment area. Visitors don't need any tickets to go here so it's a popular spot. Eventually it will have over 150 venues and will double it's current size. New retail spots include Fit2Run and Starbucks. Of course, Downtown Disney is home to the incredible cirque du soleil show - La Nouba. Definitely a MUST SEE!
What else?...
- The new Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade will wind it's way through the new Fantasyland and up Main Street U.S.A. With new, innovative floats it will showcase beloved characters like Peter Pan and showcase many of Disney's princesses like Merida, Ariel and Rapunzel.
- The Spice Road Table Restuarant is now open in Epcot's Morroccco Pavilion. It features exotic small plates and specialty drinks with both indoor and outdoor tables.
- Disney's Grand Floridian will be offering Vacation club Villas this summer with Deluxe studios that sleep up to 5 and huge grand villas that will accommodate up to 12 guests.
- Luxury Clients can look forward to the new Four Seasons Orlando Resort opening August 2014. It is located 5 miles from the Magic Kingdom in the new Golden Oaks residential community. Guests can relax in 444 high end rooms and 68 suites (up to 9 bedrooms). Ammenities include spa, golf, 3 pools and lazy river and 3 restaurants including a 17th floor rooftop steak house complete with dinner firework views.
WHEW!!! - And that's just what's new at Disney World. Actually attractions all over Orlando will be bursting at the seems with new features and attractions. No worries about being overwhelmed with all these new features. Our Vacationkids staff is up to date and in the know. We're here to help and be your travel guide and step you through all the travel planning. We know all the ins and outs to help you get the most value and most importantly, make your 2014 Disney Vacation the most memorable!
