In a previous article, we talked about mobile ordering from several locations at Walt Disney World. There have now been more available locations at select Disney Resort hotels added to the service! This service allows guests to skip the line when ordering their food at participating quick service dining locations.
Here is the list of new locations:
Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory: Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
World Premiere Food Court: Disney’s All Star Movies Resort
End Zone Food Court: Disney’s All Star Sports Resort
Intermission Food Court: Disney’s All Star Music Resort
Everything POP Shopping & Dining: Disney’s Pop Century Resort
The Mara: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Contempo Cafe: Disney’s Contemporary Resort
The mobile order service offers the convenience and flexibility of ordering, paying for and picking up fresh meals and snacks directly from the pick-up counter where Cast Members deliver the food – saving you time to enjoy all there is to see and do at Walt Disney World Resort. To see the full list of participating locations, tap “order food” in the My Disney Experience app. And don’t forget, if you have a Disney dining plan you can now redeem your meals and snacks through the service.
There are more than 20 other quick service dining locations who already leverage the Mobile Order service throughout Walt Disney World. Per Disney Parks Blog, there will be more locations on the way with the service expected to expand to additional Disney Resort hotel locations!
A brand new attraction is open at Disney Springs. The NBA Experience held its Grand Opening on August 12. There were plenty of NBA and WNBA superstars on hand to celebrate the day, including Grant Hill and Kareen Abdul-Jabbar. Also in attendance were CEO of The Walt Disney Company, Bob Iger, and Adam Silver, who is the current NBA Commissioner. Mickey and Minnie were there as well to get the party started.
The NBA Experience is broken up into different activities. Some of these are physical, to make you feel like you are a star player. Others do not require you to try to make a basket. There are activities for all skill levels and all ages.
Dunk – Allows you to dunk like a pro. If you don’t think that you can reach the basket, that isn’t a problem. The basket is adjustable, so you can set it to your perfect height. You’ll be able to make the shot every time without breaking a sweat. If you want the challenge, move the basket higher.
Shoot – Requires a little bit of skill, but anyone can have fun with it. You’ll play on a court that feels real, and shoot against the clock. There is a virtual crowd there to cheer you on. It tests players to see how many shots they can make from different areas of the court in just 15 seconds.
Dribble – Teaches you a skill. You will warm up, and then learn the basics of dribbling. It has guests work with an interactive coach to show the drills and skills they need to become the next great point guard
Slingshot – Puts a ball into a slingshot, and then release it and hope that it goes into the basket.
Arcade – Has a couple of different activities. You can race the clock and try to score as many points as possible. You can play Pop-A-Shot, which is perfect for guests of all ages. You can also try your hand at some NBA related video games.
Combine – Measures visitors’ wingspan, reach and vertical leap. Once the results are in, the interactive screen will show how guests compare to today’s most popular NBA stars like Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis and more. If you get discouraged after your combine results, have no fear: There are plenty of interactive basketball activities to help guests sharpen their skills on the court.
Trivia – An NBA and WNBA trivia game. You’ll play against the others in the room. The questions are random, so you can’t learn the answers and then go back and beat everyone else in the room.
Champions – A great way to learn more about the NBA and the WNBA. There are screens where you can look up past championships, learn stats from the games, watch videos, and more.
Replay – Let’s you become the ref! You will watch a clip from a game and then decide whether or not the ref made the right call.
Theaters – Allows you to watch two different ten minute films. You will be able to be part of a player’s world, or experience pro basketball through the eyes of a fan.
There are also activities that are designed to make you feel like an NBA or WNBA player.
Draft – Allows you to be the number one draft pick! You will learn which team has drafted you, and then there’s a picture opportunity with Adam Silver (he’s wax). You’ll then see your picture, “wearing” the team’s hat, in the My Disney Experience App.
Players – Takes you inside a locker room. You will then see what one looks like. During the season, you will also be able to see real time stats of current games.
Trophy Moments – Offers great picture opportunities. You can feel like an MVP when you have your picture taken with both the NBA MVP Trophy and the NBA Championship Trophy.
The NBA Experience is also filled with other things that you will want to check out. You can measure your hand against the size of a basketball great’s hand. You can literally measure up against a couple of players.
The NBA Store is located right next to the NBA Experience. You’ll find plenty of team related items, as well as Disney’s take on things. One thing to keep in mind, you will not find food or beverages for sale inside the NBA Experience. You can leave and purchase something to eat elsewhere, and then return.
Tickets for The NBA Experience cost $29 for those three through nine, and $34 for ten and older, plus tax. All activities are included with your ticket. If you’re looking for a break from the theme parks or something to do on a rainy day, this could be the answer. Remember, you don’t have to be a basketball expert in order to have a great time.
High school students can apply now for the 2020 Disney Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and Essence magazine. This annual life-changing mentoring program will take place March 12-15, 2020, at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. The application window is open now through October 31, 2019. With celebrity speakers, out-of-the-classroom learning and countless emotional moments, the program helps 100 select students, ages 13-19, from across the United States jump-start their life goals and pursue their dreams.
Disney Dreamers Academy turns the entire magical setting of Walt Disney World into a vibrant classroom. Students participate in a series of sessions and workshops designed to help them imagine bright futures, make exciting discoveries and learn how to put their goals into action. Disney Dreamers engage in a wide variety of experiences at Walt Disney World while working side by side with celebrities, community and industry leaders and Disney cast members.
For more than a decade, Disney Dreamers Academy has inspired young people from across the country by fueling their dreams and showing them a world of possibilities as they prepare for the future. Each year, students participate in hands-on, immersive career seminars in a wide range of disciplines found at Walt Disney World. Students learn how to improve their communication skills, discover what it means to be a leader and acquire networking strategies, among other skills. They are also inspired by celebrity speakers and other special guests who share their stories and provide insights on how to achieve their life goals.
Disney Dreamers Academy is focused on challenging young people to relentlessly pursue their dreams through the “Be 100” campaign. This aspirational initiative is inspired by the powerful impact Disney Dreamers Academy has made on graduates, who have gone on to become doctors, nurses, engineers, pilots, journalists and more. Some have started their own public relations firms, while others have worked with national political leaders.
Applicants must answer essay questions about their personal journeys and dreams for the future. Students are selected based on a combination of attributes, including strong character, positive attitude and determination to achieve their dreams. A parent or guardian accompanies each student on the trip.
This four-day, all-expenses-paid experience at Walt Disney World will continue to help change the lives of young people in 2020. For more information or to apply, visit DisneyDreamersAcademy.com.
One of the best parts of the Epcot Food and Wine Festival is the Eat to the Beat Concert Series. This year there are so many amazing acts making their way to Epcot. Lauren Daigle will make her first appearance at Epcot. Recently Disney chatted with her.
Disney Cast member Charles Stovall lays out the details;
“It seems everywhere one turns around the pop music scene these days, you will see Lauren Daigle.
Billboard Hot 100Chart – check!
Daytime Talk Shows – been there!
Nighttime Talk Shows – done that!
Lauren even won two Grammy Awards this year!
And we are so thrilled to have her performing at this year’s Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. As a part of the Eat to the Beat Concert Series, Lauren is scheduled to perform Sept. 9 and 10.
Coming onto the music scene in 2013, Lauren has slowly taken the industry and pop music fans by storm with power vocals and empowering lyrics on songs such as “How Can It Be?,” “You Say” and “Oh, Lord.” Her latest record, “Look Up Child,” debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100Charts and has since been certified Gold! The new single “Rescue,” just came out and is already making waves.
We caught up with Lauren before a recent appearance in Central Florida where she talked about her musical journey, the excitement of the last two years and her love of eating around Walt Disney World.”
The 24th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival runs from August 29 to November 23, 2019. A culinary mashup of global cultures and gourmet innovation, the Festival brings irresistible bites, sips, entertainment and family fun to Walt Disney World Resort. This year’s Festival will add a dozen extra days, expanding the foodie celebration to a delicious 87 days.
Epcot guests can begin with the aromas and flavors of 30 festive global food and wine marketplaces that extend from Future World to encircle the World Showcase promenade. Guests also can explore opportunities for special tastings and pairings, plus premium dining events featuring chef personalities.
More than 1,000 local students from the Central Florida Boys and Girls Club had the opportunity for a special community preview of the new land.
Disney has a 50-year partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida to help provide experiences and imagination to local children and their families. The students got to experience the land, taste blue milk and other treats, meet and greet with characters and experience the new Millennium Falcon attraction.
This is not the only of the community experiences that are planned for the new land. Disney will also bring over 140 Wish families staying at Give Kids the World Village into the land for a preview.
Check out the video below for highlights of their experience.
