Disney Makes a Major Announcement about Guest-Favorite Resort

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Disney Parks, Disney Resorts

Disney World has just made a major announcement about one of its most popular Resort Hotels, and Disney’s hoping this time around is better than the last.

An exciting part of planning a vacation at the Walt Disney World Resort is choosing and booking a stay at one of the magical Disney Resort Hotels, but it can be difficult, as there are so many to choose from, and each one has a theme, a feel, a magic, all its own.

Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge features a railroad theme from the 1860s. Disney’s Boardwalk Inn is themed to look like an East Coast Boardwalk hotel from the early 1900s. Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter transports Guests back to New Orleans at the turn of the century.

The beautiful Grand Floridian Resort features turn-of-the-century Victorian decor. Disney’s Art of Animation Resort commemorates Disney and PIXAR animated films, and Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort was inspired by northern Mexico and the American Southwest.

And that’s just the beginning.

Caribbean Beach

One of Disney’s most popular resorts, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, gives off a magical island vibe the minute Guests arrive at the hotel. Guests are definitely on island time during their stay at this Disney moderate resort that captures the atmosphere of each individual Caribbean Island: Jamaica, Barbados, Martinique, Aruba, and Trinidad.

The resort offers Guests an escape from it all, complete with swaying hammocks, colonial forts, vibrant marketplaces, beautiful beaches, and the resort‘s Barefoot Bay. Disney takes it a step further at the Caribbean Beach Resort with exciting themed guestrooms, and in an effort to continually enhance the Guest experience–and that island vibe–Disney has announced a complete overhaul and retheming at the Resort hotel.

On Monday, the Disney World Resort announced that the former “Pirates”-themed rooms at the hotel will be given a fresh new retheming, inspired somewhat by Disney’s The Little Mermaid.

When Disney first announced the addition of its new Pirate-room plans at the resort hotel, it seemed like a given: fans love Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean, so who wouldn’t love a hotel room at Disney, themed after the swashbuckling film? But each scurvy room was located in the Trinidad north and Trinidad south building of the Resort hotel, far from the main lobby and the Guest pool areas, and the dining venue Sebastian’s Bistro, and it could be for these reasons that the rooms never attained the popularity Disney had hoped for.

Earlier this year, Disney filed for permits to complete work on the “Pirates” rooms, but there was no official announcement about the rooms or about when they might become a thing of the past. Everything changed on Monday with Disney’s announcement that the old rooms will be retired in December, making way for the revamp of this section of the Caribbean Beach Resort.

One of the Resort‘s pools will also undergo construction work. Disney previously stated that the Fuentes del Morro Pool at the Caribbean Beach Resort will be closed for maintenance from January 2024 to April 2024 to allow for this work to be completed.

Refurbishment Update: Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Resorts

In an effort to continually enhance the guest experience, some of the resort rooms in the Trinidad area of Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort will be receiving a brand-new look and feel. These new rooms, which will include subtle nods to fan-favorite characters from under the sea, will accommodate more guests and feature updated finishings that can’t be found anywhere else at the resort.

As we prepare these new rooms, guests will be able to see and hear refurbishment work in and around Trinidad beginning October 3. We look forward to welcoming guests into these new rooms in 2023.

Aulani Resort’s Signature Dining Experience, ‘AMA‘AMA, Returns

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Disney Resorts

‘AMA‘AMA, the signature oceanside restaurant at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, will welcome guests back beginning Oct. 14.

The newly reimagined fine-dining experience features a delicious four-course, prix fixe dinner menu. Each course pays homage to the spirit of Hawai‘i, with unique flavors, high-quality ingredients and locally sourced fish and produce. The menu, created by the talented Chef De Cuisine Nicholas Amoriello, is almost completely gluten-free, with a plant-based option available for every course to ensure every type of dietary need can experience the very best of Hawai‘i’s flavors!

The new menu offers an array of contemporary island cuisine, including dishes like the “lox” opakapaka with greens, citrus, and raw and pickled vegetables; and the savory Pork Belly with “scanlan sauce,” onion, kiawe honey and Okinawan sweet potato. 

Pastry Chef Carolyn Portuondo has prepared a decadent selection of desserts, incorporating iconic local flavors such as lilikoʻi, calamansi, coconut, mango, macadamia and Kona coffee.  ‘AMA‘AMA has also unveiled a globally curated wine list to enhance your dining experience.

With an elevated menu, enhanced décor, live music and breathtaking views of Ko Olina Beach, ‘AMA‘AMA is the perfect setting for guests to relax, celebrate their vacation and make memories with their loved ones. 

Disney Issues Statement in Hurricane’s Aftermath

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Disney Resorts, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

When the sun rose this morning in Orlando, it was a very different world than when it had set the night before. Hurricane Ian battered the area relentlessly over Wednesday and Thursday. Millions were without power, at least 12 people Western and Central Florida had died and many more faced uncertainties about their homes.

Walt Disney World closed its parks on both Wednesday and Thursday as the storm raged overhead. This morning the storm was gone, it was on its way to the Carolinas for round 3 (having already wrecked havoc in Florida and Cuba). The central Florida area awoke to calm skies once again. Calm skies do not mean all is well though. There is much work to do as historical flood levels recede and people begin to assess the damage and rebuild. 

Disney has released a statement today expressing their concern for the victims. The statement which was posted to The Walt Disney Company Twitter page read, “Our hearts go out to those impacted by Hurricanes Ian and Fiona. We are grateful for all first responders who are doing heroic work, and to our employees who helped keep our guests safe. In addition to providing impacted employees with assistance through our relief fund, we are providing support to the American Red Cross, Feeding America, Heart of Florida United Way, and others working on local relief efforts.”

Recently we reported on how you can help victims of the deadly storm. We are pleased to see Disney has joined in that effort as well. The American Red Cross is accepting not only financial donations to benefit victims, but also good donations to help those who have been injured as well.

Hurricane Ian damage

Our thoughts are also with the victims tonight and we hope for the safety and rapid recovery of all who were in the hurricane’s path. 

Disney Characters Bring Magic to Stranded Hotel Guests

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Disney Resorts

On September 28, Hurricane Ian hit Central Florida as a Category 1 hurricane. There were strong winds, flash flooding, and power outages across the area — including at the Walt Disney World Resort. While some Guests had managed to get out of town before the storm hit, other Guests decided to stay and ride out the storm, while others found themselves stranded at the Most Magical Place on Earth because all Orlando airports were closed.

Because of Hurricane Ian, Disney shut down its theme parks on September 28 and September 29 — and may extend it to September 30 — so Guests staying on property were stuck in their hotels. However, Disney still wanted to make sure they had the most magical time possible.

Enter some classic Disney characters.

Multiple Guests took to social media to share pictures and videos of the characters that came out to interact with Guests in the lobby area of various Disney World hotels.

Wilderness Lodge was not the only place Disney characters were spotted. Disney’s All-Star Sports saw Goofy, Max, Chip, and Dale sitting down with Guests to enjoy a movie.

Minnie Mouse and Donald Duck were seen hosting another dance party at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, much to the delight of Guests.

In addition to closing the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom, Disney also closed Typhoon Lagoon Water Park and Disney Springs. Disney Springs was originally scheduled to reopen on September 29, but Disney chose to keep it closed.