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Good afternoon, Tinkers and I hope you are enjoying this lovely weekend!

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Extra! Extra! Tink All About It!: The Making of Disney's Newest Album, Now at Hollywood Studios!

Goof afternoon, Tinkers!

     To those of you lucky enough to get Columbus Day off, HAPPY HOLIDAY WEEKEND! And to those of you, like us in Orlando, who do not, HAPPY WEEKEND!!!

     There's a new (temporary) attraction over at Disney's Hollywood Studios today! In the old ABC Sound Studio, Guests can relax in a cool theater and enjoy an inside look at how Disney created their latest music compilation, "We Love Disney". The album comes out October 30th, and it will feature remakes of classic Disney tunes, by some of today's most popular artists, and biggest Disney fans, like Ariana Grande, Fall Out Boy, Rascal Flatts and Jason Derulo.

Photo Credit: Disney Parks Blog

     The film presentation has behind the scenes footage and special interviews with the artists. Check the attraction out this month, and them look for the album in stores and on digital download, at the end of the month! I know I LOVE when a new Disney album comes out. It gives me a break from Frozen for a while. Although, The Rascal Flatts DO cover "Let It Go", but I'll at least get a little variety.

  Here's the full track list:

- Friend Like Me from Aladdin: NE-YO
- Part of Your World from The Little Mermaid: Jessie J
- Can You Feel the Love Tonight/Nants Ingonyama from The Lion King: Jason Derulo
- The Rainbow Connection from The Muppet Movie: Gwen Stefani
- Zero to Hero from Hercules: Ariana Grande
- In a World of My Own/Very Good Advice from Alice in Wonderland: Jhene Aiko
- I Wanna Be Like You from The Jungle Book: Fall Out Boy
- Colors of the Wind from Pocahontas: Tori Kelly
- A Spoon Full of Sugar from Mary Poppins: Kasey Musgraves
- Ev'rybody Wants To Be a Cat from The Artisocats: Charles Perry
- A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes from Cinderella: Jessie Ware
- Let It Go from Frozen: Lucy Hale and Rascal Flatts
- It's a Small World from Disney Parks: Various Artists

Extra! Extra! Tink All About It!: New Restaurant Announced for Disney Springs!

Good morning, Tinkers!

     Happy FRIDAY! Congrats! You made it to the weekend!

Photo Credit: DisneyWorld.com

     This morning, there's some fun news out of Disney Springs! In Summer of 2016, Chef Art Smith will bring us Homecoming: Florida Kitchen and Southern Shine. The award-winning chef has appeared on many cooking shows, and has been preparing food for celebrities and politicians for years. Being a native Floridian, he has a special love for down-home Southern cuisine, with a Florida twist, and that's just what Homecoming will be about. The menu will feature items like Shrimp and Grits, Deviled Eggs and Mockingbird Cake, and I am sure the atmosphere will be fun and welcoming, though details have not been revealed yet, other than the setting being described as "rustic-chic". The Southern Shine Bar will surely have some outstanding summer punches, cocktails and elixirs.

     Disney Springs is sounding more and more awesome every time something new is announced! What do you think? What are you the most excited about experiencing at the all new Disney Springs?

Extra! Extra! Tink All About It!: New Tiered Annual Passes and Parking Price Increase

Good morning, Tinkers!

     So the big news today is about the changes that have been made to the Annual Passes. As of October 4th, Walt Disney World's Annual Passes will be sold on a tier system, with varying options and varying price points. Before I get into the new passes and a full breakdown of them, I'll mention some other news...

     Disney parking prices have gone up, from $17 to an even $20. This applies to the four theme parks, for Day Guests only. If you are staying on Disney property, parking fees are waived with your resort tag in your window. All Annual passes will also waive parking fees, which is a new feature for some of the passes.

     Now let's get into the Annual Passes. I'm not going to sugar coat it. There's been a large price jump, if you compare apples to apples, but there are some positives too. Namely, flexibility. There are more options for those that don't want the commitment, or price tag, of a full Annual Pass, but don't want to be blocked out for the whole summer. There's also a fun new feature for the top three tiers of passholders: Free PhotoPass Downloads! That means that whenever you are in a park and you get a photo taken by a PhotoPass photographer and they scan your Magic Band, you can then log into your My Disney Experience Ap on your phone, or the web version on your computer, and download all of those awesome photos for free! That includes photos taken in front of the Castle, photos taken at certain character meals, and Magic Shots, where characters are digitally added into your picture. When you consider that unlimited digital downloads run $199* on the Memory Maker package, this is a NICE perk to have as an Annual Passholder.

     So, if we look at the most commonly purchased pass, the standard Annual Pass, which has no blackout days, that pass is now called The Platinum Pass. It still includes unlimited entry to the 4 Walt Disney World theme parks, with no block out days, complimentary parking, special discounts on food and beverages and merchandise, and the new PhotoPass Digital Download feature. The price has increased about $100, to make the pass almost $650* for a year, ($750* if you're not a Florida Resident or DVC Member). If you usually purchase the Premium Annual, giving you access to the waterparks, Oak Trail, ESPN and DisneyQuest, (while it's still open), your pass is now called the Platinum Plus Pass, and you can expect to pay about $730* for it, ($830* if you're not a Florida Resident or DVC Member). If you find those price points to be too high, and you don't mind being blocked out of the parks for Christmas Vacation and Spring Break, (two of the busiest times of year anyway), AND if you're a Florida Resident or DVC Member, you can go with the Gold Pass, at $550*.

     If you don't mind giving up the PhotoPass feature and are a Florida Resident, there are even more options. The Silver Pass, at $390*, is just like the old "Seasonal" Pass, blocking out Christmas Vacation, Spring Break AND the whole Summer. There's a Week Day Select, which doesn't have black out days, but only allows admittance Monday thru Friday. The one is $260* Are you the Guests that really only wants to visit Disney for evenings in Epcot? Then you can go the most economic route and get the Epcot After 4pm Annual for only $250*.

     Have I confused you? No problem! Check out the full list of passes, benefits and pricing at DisneyWorld.com.

     Oh, and don't worry... If you already are an Annual Pass Holder, your pricing and benefits do not change until you renew. And yes, there is still a discount for renewing. You'll save 15% and can switch to whichever pass you choose. Plus monthly payment plans are still an option.

     There you have it! Questions? Comments? Let me know! tinkinaboutdisney@gmail.com

* All pricing is listed without tax. 

Ask Tink: Is Food and Wine Festival Kid-Friendly?

"We have a trip scheduled during Food and Wine Festival. Is that a kid-friendly event?"

     I LOVE the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, (if you haven't already heard me say it a whole bunch of times), and many, many Guests plan their whole vacation around being here to attend the event. With sample-size portions of drinks and eats for purchase, seminars, demonstrations, cookbook signings, and even live concerts, it's easy to fall in love with the festival. But is it the type of thing you should take your kids to?

     There's really two ways to answer this. Firstly, let me say that the event IS child-friendly, in that kids are welcome to attend any of the events that are offered, (though, obviously, they can't consume alcohol). Luckily, D is a kid who will try ANYTHING, so she really enjoys the marketplace booths. Both of my kids LOVE the Eat to the Beat Concerts! It may be artists and songs they have never heard of, but both D and K will rock out to anything with a beat. Depending on the age and interest level of your kids when it comes to cooking, they may love the cooking demonstrations and seminars. Mine are still a little too young to sit still for these. If you have kids that tune into the Food Network, they may be psyched to see some of the celebrity chefs that visit the festival, like Buddy Valastro from 'Cake Boss', or Cat Cora from 'Iron Chef'. And this year, to help celebrate the 20th year of the festival, Disney is introducing Remy's Ratatouille Hide and Squeak scavenger hunt, where they can look for small statues of Remy the rat in each country, and earn stickers and prizes. They did something similar to this for Easter and my kids loved it! There's plenty at the festival to keep kids happy and engaged, especially the older lot. 

     With that being said, no, it's not like The Magic Kingdom, where there will be all kinds of attractions and rides for your kids to enjoy. The little ones could easily get bored and since it does get rather crowded around the promenade, especially in the evenings, it could be a little uncomfortable to navigate with a stroller or with small kids on foot. Also, (and this could just be a personal experience that I have had in the past, but it's important to be aware of), Food and Wine certainly doesn't discourage Guests from enjoying multiple alcoholic beverages, and it's not uncommon to run into one or two, (or many), intoxicated folks. The majority of the time, I would say this is harmless, but alcohol consumption can certainly cause some Guests to have a hard time keeping it "Disney". Language gets a little less "G-rated". PDA's can become a little less "Disney Prince and Princess" and a little more "Jersey Shore". I have even witnessed an occasional Guest releasing their alcohol back into nature, (aka, puking in the bushes). Of course it's still Disney, and of course, Disney security is on top of any issues, but it's definitely a slightly rowdier atmosphere on a Food and Wine evening than it would be during other times of the year. 

     We do plan on attending the festival with our 3 and 6 year olds this year, and will probably visit many times throughout the weeks that the event runs. We know the kids will only tolerate a couple of hours or so away from the rides and attractions, so we will break it up into smaller pieces. 

     I hope that helps you and I hope you have a magical Disney visit!

Do YOU have a Disney question? If so, e-mail me at: tinkinaboutdisney@gmail.com! 

Ask Tink: Is a Park Hopper Necessary?

"Is a Park Hopper necessary? It really ups the price of a ticket and I'm  wondering if we could save some money by NOT getting that feature."

                                 

Thank you to the Tinker that submitted the above question! Going to the parks isn't exactly cheap, so saving money where you can is important. Unfortunately, the answer for this one isn't really a simple yes or no. It depends on how much is on your "Must Do" list and how well you plan.      Firstly, regular Disney park tickets allow you to access one park per day. So if you buy a standard Magic Your Way 4 Day ticket, on the first day of your trip, you decide which park you're going into that day and once you enter the gate, that is the ticket your park is good for on that date. You can select a different park each day, and you may leave, and return to the same park on the same day, but you cannot switch parks in the middle of the day. THAT is what a Park Hopper does for you. Adding the Park Hopping feature to your ticket allows you to say, have breakfast at Crystal Palace in The Magic Kingdom, then hop a bus so that the kiddos can sing-a-long with Elsa and Anna at The Studios. You can switch parks, throughout the day, as many times as you want. It's a very convenient and useful feature. Very rarely would you ever NOT find an occasion to use it. But the big question is, can you get by without it?      Park Hoppers are most useful for two scenarios. One, you're only in town for a short visit, (4 days or less), and you want to pack in as much as you can. A Park Hopper will help you because when Animal Kingdom closes as early as 5pm, you'll be able to go over to Epcot or The Magic Kingdom and still get in some rides and fireworks. Two, you're at Disney for more than 4 days and will be repeating parks. Chances are, you're not going to need to go to Animal Kingdom or The Studios for more than one full day, (or maybe you won't even need a full day), but you want the option to go back and ride Everest again, or see Fantasmic! You'll be glad you have the Park Hopper in that case.      "But, Tink," you're thinking, "do I NEED it?" My response to you is this... you can absolutely go without it, but you're going to need to plan very carefully. Do some research in advance on which parks are slowest on which days, and what the projected park attendance is like during your stay. There are several websites that offer this feature. I personally like this one from Undercover Tourist. Of course, this isn't anything that is guaranteed to be accurate, but it can help you in deciding where to go on which days. You may also want to look at DisneyWorld.com so you can also take into consideration things like park hours, special events and if you're staying on property, Extra Magic Hours. Then, once you have decided on where to go on each day, take advantage of the tools that Disney gives you. Book your FastPass+ reservations as early as you can. (60 days out for Disney Resort Guests and 30 days out for regular ticket or Annual Pass Holders.) And when you book your FastPasses, look at a park map and make sure that you aren't crisscrossing all over the park and wasting a bunch of time. Make sure your dining reservations are booked for the park you'll be in on that day. If you know that you aren't going to be able to handle doing open to close in the park, plan to be there for open, leave for a break mid-afternoon, when it is hottest and the most crowded, and then return in the evening, and stay as late as you can. That way you'll maximize the opportunities you have to wait in the shortest lines, and you won't miss out on the awesome nighttime entertainment.      No matter how planned out you are, though, don't rush past things like live entertainment and character appearances. Almost all of my very best Disney memories are spur-of-the-moment things that happened when we stopped to catch our breath. Park Hopper or not, you're in a place where magical things truly happen all the time, where ever you are. So enjoy!    Got a question? E-mail me at tinkinaboutdisney@gmail.com, or leave it in the comments. Thanks!

Extra! Extra! Tink All About It!: New Shop Disney Parks App!

Good morning, Tinkers!

     Hope you're all having a good day! I am at home, watching "Tinkerbell and the Neverbeast" for about the 300th time, since it is currently one of K's very favorite movies. But when he says in his tiny voice, "Ne-vor Beast, Mamma?", it's hard to resist. Plus, I'm pretty much always good with a Disney movie.

     Anyway, do you ever find yourself at home thinking, 'I really wish I could go shopping at Disney right now?' I know the feeling well. When I lived I Boston, I constantly wished the I could buy a new antenna topper, enjoy a bag of my favorite Disney lollipops, or replace a broken Disney mug. Well... Now you can do all of that from HOME!

     A new app was just launched, for both Apple and Android, called Shop Disney Parks. It's a free app and once installed it will do a few different things for you. If you are onsite here at Disney, you can use the app to search for a particular item, and then have the app locate it for you in the closest merchandise location. You can also use the app to scan barcodes of items when you are in the Disney Parks merchandise shops, and find out details about the item, or even purchase it and have it shipped to either the front gate of the park, or to your resort! No more waiting in long line to check out! Pretty cool, huh? One bummer, they do not ship overseas as of yet, but I'm sure that will change soon.

     But how does it help you folks who are not here in Disney? You too can shop on the app and find a vast majority of the items available in Disney Parks merchandise shops, look up information, purchase the item, and have it shipped to your home! Crazy, right??? I love that you'll ever have to go home feeling disappointed that you didn't buy that Mickey watch that you really liked in The Emporium. You can just go to the app and buy it and have it sent to your house! So cool!

So here's an example. In the "Candy" section, not only can you buy packaged candies, but also the items you would find in the case of the Confectionary, like cookies, caramel apples and brownies. How much is your kid going to LOVE the birthday surprise of a Disney caramel apple delivered to your house in Michigan????

And in this one, under "Men's T-Shirts", you see t-shirts you would find in the UK and Germany pavilions of Epcot, as well as sports t-shirts you would find in the ESPN Club gift shop!

     Happy Shopping, Everyone! I sense there may be some credit card maxing out today!