Over The Top Mommy

{Giveaway} Support CHOC Walk Wednesdays at Chick-fil-A + Enter to Win

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. 

There’s a whole new reason to be excited about Wednesdays this August – CHOC Walk Wednesdays at Chick-fil-A!  In honor of the upcoming CHOC Walk in the Park, being held this year on Sunday, August 27 at Disneyland Resort, Chick-fil-A has teamed up with CHOC Walk for CHOC Walk Wednesdays. Chick-fil-A cookie fans can stop by their closest Orange County Chick-fil-A for a cookie on CHOC Walk Wednesdays in August and 100% of the proceeds will go directly to CHOC Children’s Hospital.Choc-Cookie-Fundraiser To join in and support this great cause, just stop by any Orange County Chick-fil-A location on the four Wednesdays leading up to the CHOC Walk and purchase a Chocolate Chunk Cookie, a six pack or a catering tray of 12 or 24 and 100% of the proceeds will go directly to CHOC Children’s Hospital. 

  • Wednesday, August 2nd
  • Wednesday, August 9th
  • Wednesday, August 16th
  • Wednesday, August 23rd

giveaway

I’m also hosting a great giveaway where one (1) of my lucky readers will win Free Chick-fil-A for a Year! Prize includes 52 Meal cards valued at $380.00! What a great prize to win!
The giveaway is sponsored by the Orange County Chick-fil-A locations, but redeemable at any Chick-fil-A location in Southern California. You can enter the giveaway on the Rafflecopter below. Good luck everyone!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

To find a participating Chick-fil-A location near you, visit here. For more information about CHOC Walk in the Park or to register, go here.

Images are property of CHOC Children’s Hospital and used with permission. 

Orange County Great Park to Host Grand Opening Celebration for New Sports Park on 8/5

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. 

In celebration of the new sports park, Orange County Great Park will host a grand opening celebration with a free“community open house” on Saturday, August 5 from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. orange-county-great-park-sports-park-grand-openingHosted by Irvine City Officials and FivePoint, the development manager of Great Park Neighborhoods, the event will offer a first-hand look at the 53-acre first phase of the Sports Park, a world-class youth sports facility that complements the award-winning schools, vibrant economy and well-planned neighborhoods that help Irvine rank consistently as one of the best places to live. Built on the site of the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, the Sports Park is ultimately planned to be nearly twice the size of Disneyland.orange-county-great-park-sports-park-grand-opening-1orange-county-great-park-sports-park-grand-opening-2Attendees at the grand opening celebration will be treated to a day long festival of family-friendly games, including sneak peeks at the world-class amenities, demonstrations and sports clinics with well-known athletes, including Landon Donovan, Amy Rodriguez and Brad Friedel; and savory eating at 14 food and dessert trucks. The grand-opening celebration will culminate in a free concert featuring Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi of the Blues Brothers.

Here is a schedule of the event:

  • 2 – 5:30 p.m. – Exhibitions, clinics, competition, games at Tennis Courts, Soccer Fields & Volleyball Venue
  • 3:30 p.m. — Opening Ceremony, FivePoint/City of Irvine (Soccer Stadium)
  • 4 – 5:30 p.m. – Soccer Exhibition Game (Soccer Stadium)
  • 7:00 p.m. – Welcome / Free Concert featuring The Blues Brothers

This event is free and open to the public so if you’re looking for some free family fun next weekend, come out to the Orange County Great Park! Seating for the concert will be first come first served, so guests are encouraged to bring a blanket or law-chairs to enjoy the free Blues Brothers concert. It’s going to be a fun day! Hope to see you there!

You can find more information about the Orange County Great Park here.

Images are property of Orange County Great Park. 

 

{Giveaway} Summer Self Care with Burke Williams Day Spa and H2V Skincare

I received spa services in exchange for writing this post. All opinions are my own. 

Summer is a great time to relax and enjoy the beautiful weather outside, especially here in Southern California. For me, it’s also an opportunity to put more effort into my own self care and give myself some extra TLC and pampering. I’ve learned that the better I take care of myself, the happier I am and more able I am to care for those I love. (a.k.a my family)burke-williams-entryBurke Williams Day Spa is one of my favorite places to get pampered. Whether it’s with one of their amazing massages, a facial, or a pedicure, I live for my special trips there because in addition to the services I’ve booked for myself, I can also spend as much time as I’d like, relaxing in the spa area, which includes the whirlpool, sauna, steam room, cool misting room and a vanity area. It’s amazing!
burke-williams-jacuzziDid you know that Burke Williams has its own, exclusive skincare line called H2V? This signature skin care line proves lasting beauty is a marriage of art and science. H2V products combine natural herbs and botanicals with tested scientific ingredients. Burke Williams’ team of experienced scientists, estheticians, and industry professionals have created an effective, results-oriented line of products designed to repair and enhance your skin. Constantly evolving to incorporate the most advanced technology, H2V is a custom-formulated professional skin care line that is designed to enhance your natural beauty.burke-williams-facial One of the line’s best selling products is Buff, which is a refining exfoliant with microdermabrasion crystals and cornmeal, that provides even and complete exfoliation. Bentonite clay assists with detoxifying to maintain fresh looking and healthy skin. Buff is great for teens, men and women. It’s a fantastic product that could be an ideal (and affordable) gift for yourself or special someone in your life. burke-williams-buff

I’m so excited about this product that I’m hosting a giveaway for one (1) of my lucky readers to be able to win their own jar of Buff, one of Burke Williams’ top selling products, and a 3 Day Spa Pass. (spa pass good for three trips to Burke Williams to use the amenities and receive 20% off services). im-having-a-giveawayTo enter my giveaway, just go to my Instagram. look for the photo above, showing a girl receiving a relaxing facial, and leave a comment telling me what your favorite spa service at Burke Williams is. I will accept comments as entries on the Instagram post until 11:59 p.m. on 8/27/17, when I will close the giveaway. I will then draw a winner using Random Number Generator. Winner will be contacted via DM on Instagram. Good luck everyone! Thanks for reading!

All of Burke Williams H2V products are available for purchase in their online store. You can check them out here.

Some images are property of Burke Williams Day Spa. 

Holiday Inn® “Summer of Smiles” Program Promotes Reading for Young Guests

I was invited to attend a special media event in order to write this post. All opinions are my own. 

This summer, Holiday Inn® hotels kicked off the “Summer of Smiles”, a series of on-property events, made possible with their partnership with Scholastic. The main goal of the program is to help keep kids reading all summer long. The “Summer of Smiles” is the Holiday Inn brand’s new program full of in-hotel experiences, including character breakfasts, a lending library, and a total eclipse viewing party, were especially crafted to make both parents and kids smile.holiday-inn-summer-of-smiles-clifford-1As I mentioned, the Holiday Inn brand has partnered up with Scholastic, the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books, for this program. We were invited to attend a special character breakfast with the popular Scholastic book characters Clifford the Big Red Dog® and Geronimo Stiltonholiday-inn-summer-of-smiles-geronimo-stiltonholiday-inn-summer-of-smiles-activities-1Young guests at the hotel were able to meet and take pictures with the characters. They also received a take-home frame to displaying their character photo and took part in fun craft activities during the breakfast. holiday-inn-summer-of-smiles-activities-2Attendees were also gifted a Scholastic book, which will also remain available for young guests at check-in, at participating locations, through the end of August.holiday-inn-summer-of-smiles-breakfastholiday-inn-summer-of-smiles-breakfast-2Another great component of the program is the lending library. Select Holiday Inn hotels will offer a Scholastic lending library, through the end of August, where kids can borrow a book to read during their stay. Parents who are away from home on business can also borrow a book to read their kids a virtual bedtime story. Participating hotels will lend traveling parents a stand for their smartphone or tablet so they can read hands-free to their little ones at home. For a list of participating Holiday Inn hotels, please visit HolidayInn.com/smilesahead.

“Nothing puts a smile on kids’ faces like summertime, and we want all of our guests to feel that same sense of joy when they visit our hotels this summer. We’re going above and beyond to celebrate even more of those unforgettable moments that truly put the joy in travel and leave a positive lasting impact on our guests.” – Eric Lent, Vice President, Full Service Hotels & Food and Beverage Solutions, The Americas

holiday-inn-eclipse-imageOn August 21st, the Holiday Inn Nashville-Vanderbilt hotel and Scholastic will host a Total Solar Eclipse Viewing Party. Hotel guests will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch the first total solar eclipse in America in nearly 100 years. The hotel is along the eclipse totality line, providing families with the optimal view of this rare celestial occurrence. Kids and parents alike will learn about space with the “Magic School Bus Presents: Our Solar System” book while cherishing this unforgettable moment together. Guests will also receive a special pair of eclipse-viewing glasses and have the opportunity to meet two Scholastic characters. The solar eclipse viewing party is complimentary for hotel guests. For bookings, please go here.holiday-inn-summer-of-smiles-outsideAs a mom, and an elementary teacher, I really appreciate the efforts of the Holiday Inn brand in encouraging reading, even when on vacation. It’s one of the most important things we need to instill in our children, beginning at a young age! holiday-inn-smiles-ahead-follow-alongJoin in on the conversation by using and following along with the hashtag #SmilesAhead.

Some images property of Holiday Inn. 

Back to School Savings with Groupon

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

Summer time is such a great time to enjoy doing things together as a family and is just so relaxing. However, as it starts to wind down, moms like me can’t help but to have “Back-to-School” on their minds. Aside from the holidays, this time of year must be one of the busiest for shopping.back-to-school-with-groupon-2This year, I’m all about saving as much as I can on my back-to-school expenses so I”ll be hitting up Groupon. Have you heard of Groupon before? Groupon works with over 9000 national retailers with the goal of passing savings to you. It offers 1000s of FREE coupons, exclusive promo codes, and deals to shoppers to save you money on things like restaurants, travel, shopping, entertainment and more! I love shopping with Groupon because I can use the money I saved towards something else. It’s a win-win!back-to-school-shopping-with-groupon-1There are so many things to buy for the upcoming school year. Whether your children wear a school uniform or regular clothes to school, outfitting them can cost a pretty penny, especially as most of them have sprouted over the summer and can longer wear much from last school year. Then there are school shoes to buy, new backpacks & lunchboxes, and a ton of school supplies. This year I also need to purchase a laptop for my daughter. It seems like the list goes on and on. Here’s just an example of some of the stores I’ll be back-to-school shopping at with Groupon:

  • Nordstrom
  • Macy’s
  • Finish Line
  • Sears
  • Forever 21
  • Nike
  • Walmart
  • Best Buy
  • Amazon

groupon-envelopeGroupon offers savings at tons of the stores and sites I shop at.  You can check out their site and search for the best deals, even from your mobile device. Why wouldn’t you want to save money on things you’re already purchasing?

 

CHOC Children’s Opens New Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with All Private Rooms

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. 

CHOC Children’s Hospital opened its new neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with 36 all private rooms, a feature that will allow parents the opportunity to stay close to their newborns receiving intensive care. This is such wonderful news and will be of service to so many families in need.choc-childrens-nicu-birdseyeThe 25,000-square-foot unit nearly triples the size of the hospital’s previous Level 4 NICU, which included an open layout that grouped patients in pod-style beds.choc-childrens-nicu-level-4The new unit, located on the fourth floor of CHOC’s Bill Holmes Tower, creates a homey atmosphere with sleeping quarters and storage space outfitted in warm colors and wooden accents to help parents feel more comfortable while their infants receive highly specialized care for extended periods of time.choc-childrens-nicu-private-room

“CHOC is proud to offer private rooms to our smallest patients and their parents. No one’s vision of parenthood includes a NICU stay, but our new unit will provide parents with the space and privacy to get to know their new baby, and reassurance that they’ll be nearby while their newborn receives the highest level of care.” – Dr. Vijay Dhar, medical director of CHOC’s NICU.

Private NICU rooms are a new standard for improved patient outcomes. Benefits for babies cared for in single-family rooms include higher weight at discharge and more rapid weight gain. Also, they require fewer medical procedures and experience less stress, lethargy and pain. Researchers have attributed these findings to increased maternal involvement. A private-room setting provides space and privacy sought by parents to breastfeed, practice skin-to-skin bonding, and be more intimately involved in their baby’s care. Further, individual rooms allow parents to stay overnight with their newborn, and give staff more access and interaction with the family and patient.choc-childrens-nicu-room2In addition to private rooms, the new space includes other features that will enhance patient care. Should an infant need a sudden surgical procedure, three rooms within the unit can quickly be converted into space for surgeries. The unit will also include a life-saving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) unit. Rooms that adjoin can be used to accommodate triplets.choc-childrens-nicu-same-handedSafety features include same-handed rooms, wherein equipment is positioned in the same location among all rooms to reduce human error; room-adjacent nursing alcoves; and an in-unit nutrition lab for the preparation of breast milk and formula.choc-childrens-nicu-family-dining-areaCHOC’s new unit also features a family dining space, a room dedicated for siblings, a lactation room and other amenities to ensure the comfort of the entire family.
choc-childrens-nicu-family-play-areaFor several decades, CHOC has served infants requiring the highest level of care. With the unit’s opening, CHOC’s neonatal services now include 72 beds at CHOC Orange and the CHOC Children’s NICU at St. Joseph Hospital, and 22 beds at CHOC Children’s at Mission Hospital. In addition, a team of premier CHOC neonatologists care for babies at hospitals throughout Southern California.choc-childrens-nicu-receptionA suite of specialized services comprises the CHOC NICU: the Surgical NICU, which provides dedicated care to babies needing or recovering from surgery; the Small Baby Unit, where infants with extremely low birth weights receive coordinated care; the Neurocritical NICU, where babies with neurological problems are cohorted; and the Cardiac NICU, which provides comprehensive care for neonates with congenital heart defects.choc-childrens-nicu-wall-of-hopePlease visit http://www.choc.org/nicu to learn more about CHOC’s neonatal services.

Images are property of CHOC Children’s and used with permission. 

{Giveaway} Miguel’s Jr. Has a Delicious Breakfast Menu

I was invited to a media tasting. All opinions are my own.

Miguel’s Jr. is one of my favorite places to go when I’m looking for fresh, quick, homestyle Mexican food. I can’t get enough of their burritos and chicken taquitos, which are my two favorite menu items.miguels-jr-breakfast-burrito-1Somehow, I guess I completely overlooked their breakfast menu. Breakfast burritos are like my love language!  The breakfast menu includes these 7 different breakfast burritos, all made with farm fresh cracked eggs:

  • ChorizoMexican style sausage, eggs, refried beans & chile verde marinated potatoes. (add cheese for an additional charge.)
  • MachacaShredded beef seasoned with tomatoes, bell peppers and onions, eggs & refried beans (add cheese for an additional charge.)
  • The Green Pig (A House Favorite) – Marinated pork, eggs, cheddar cheese & chile verde marinated potatoes
  • SunrisePremium bacon, eggs, cheddar cheese & chile verde marinated potatoes
  • Spud Eggs, chile verde marinated potatoes & cheddar cheese
  • BRC con HuevosThis is Miguel’s Jr.’s famous bean, rice and cheese burrito with eggs
  • Carne AsadaPremium grilled steak, eggs, cheddar cheese & chile verde marinated potatoes

miguels-jr-burrito-2Other breakfast entrees on the menu are these 3 plates:

Americano – Scrambled eggs, chile verde marinated potatoes, refried beans, tortillas & choice of meat (bacon, chile verde pork, or carne asada)

Chorizo,- Scrambled eggs served with Spanish rice, refried beans & tortillas

Machaca – Scrambled eggs served with Spanish rice, refried beans & tortillasmiguels-jr-breakfast-platterI was invited to a special morning at the Miguel’s Jr.at their Costa Mesa location, to sample the items on the breakfast menu and I highly recommend the breakfast burrito they refer to as “The House Favorite”, aka The Green Pig. Everything on the breakfast menu was delicious though, in my opinion, even the freshly brewed coffee!miguels-jr-coffeeMiguel’s Jr serves offers their breakfast menu daily until 11 a.m. and Saturdays and Sundays until 1 p.m. for those late risers. It’s delicious and something you’ll want to get in to our nearest location and try it ASAP!

More exciting Miguel’s Jr. news is the latest location opening soon in Huntington Beach! For the latest updates and more information visit Miguel’s Jr. here giveaway-enter-to-win

You can also enter a giveaway to win 1 of 3 $10 Miguel’s Jr. giftcards on my Instagram page. Good luck everyone! miguels-jr-outside

About Miguel’s Jr. 
The legend began in 1973 when Mike and Mary Vasquez took over an existing restaurant in Corona, CA and renamed it “Miguel’s” in honor of Mike’s grandfather. They struggled to make a go of it. Mike kept his day job and worked the restaurant at night while Mary developed dishes and recipes. Over the next 2 years, business improved to the point that they decided to lease a fast food restaurant just 2 miles down the road and named it “Miguel’s Jr. This became an instant favorite with locals and travelers along interstate 91 between Orange County and the Inland Empire.

 

2017 Dates Announced for Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own,

It’s almost Halloween time at Disneyland Resort and Mickey’s Halloween Party dates and details are here! If you’ve never been to Mickey’s Halloween Party, i’t a magical experience won’t want to miss out on. This event sells out quickly every year so keep reading for dates and ticket information.mickeys-halloween-party-mickey-and-minnieMickey’s Halloween Party is a separate-ticket event, offered on 14 different nights in September and October. The event features special entertainment, Disney characters in their Halloween attire, and trick or treating at locations throughout Disneyland for candy and healthy snacks. Guests have the option of dressing up in costumes for the party. (Please review the costume guidelines before selecting your costumes.) halloween-time-at-disneyland-resort-haunted-mansion-holiday-facadeIn addition to seasonal Halloween attractions Ghost Galaxy and Haunted Mansion Holiday from “A Nightmare Before Christmas” in Disneyland Park, guests will enjoy fun, exclusive events to the party. One extra-special treat is the “Halloween Screams” fireworks spectacular, a Mickey’s Halloween Party tradition presented exclusively for party guests and hosted by “Master of Scare-omonies” Jack Skellington.mickeys-halloween-party-halloween-screamsAlso exclusive to Mickey’s Halloween Party is the “Frightfully Fun Parade” led by The 
Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow
(from the Disney animated classic “The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad”). The Horseman rides through the park on his ghostly black steed with a flickering jack-o’-lantern to usher in the parade featuring Jack Skellington followed by a procession of grim, grinning (and hitchhiking) ghosts from the iconic Haunted Mansion
attraction.mickeys-halloween-party-headless-horsemanThe creepy Dr. Facilier from Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog” calls on mystical powers, summoning his Shadow Men from the bayou to loom large over his strange and twisted Voodoo parlor. The mischievous Disney villains appear out of the darkness, ready to stir up some trouble. The wicked gathering includes the Evil Queen, Jafar and Cruella.
mickeys-halloween-party-paradeDisney characters–villains as well as Mickey Mouse and friends–will appear at locations
throughout the park, and the Cadaver Dans ghostly quartet will perform on the Rivers of
America in New Orleans Square and Frontierland.halloween-time-at-the-disneyland-resort-dansnew-for-2017 Another popular feature of the party is the opportunity for guests to “mix in” with regular park guests for three hours prior to the party’s opening time. This year’s ticket to Mickey’s Halloween Party has even greater value as guests will be able to visit Disney California Adventure as well as Disneyland during those three hours prior to the beginning of the party in Disneyland.

DCA_entrance_halloweenAlso, new for 2017….guests who have admission to Mickey’s Halloween Party will enjoy the added bonus of unlimited Disney PhotoPass. What a great way to capture those special memories without having to worry about taking your own photos so you can just be in the moment with your family. You can download your images to share online or even print out at home as souvenir keepsakes. It’s a great offering and so exciting that guests will now have this included in their party ticket. 2017-mickeys-halloween-party-dates

  • Wednesday, Sept. 20
  • Friday, Sept. 22
  • Monday, Sept. 25
  • Wednesday, Sept. 27
  • Friday, Sept. 29
  • Tuesday, Oct. 3
  • Friday, Oct. 6
  • Tuesday, Oct. 10
  • Friday, Oct. 13
  • Tuesday, Oct. 17
  • Friday, Oct. 20
  • Tuesday, Oct. 24
  • Friday, Oct. 27
  • Tuesday, Oct. 31, Halloween night.

mickeys-halloween-party-ticketsTickets for Mickey’s Halloween Party, purchased in advance, are available at a discount on select nights. Prices start range from $85-$120 for Annual Passholders and $95-$120 for the general public. (The price depends on the selected party date)

Tickets for Mickey’s Halloween Party went on sale Monday, July 17 for Annual Passholders, Disney Vacation Club members and Disney Visa Card holdersBeginning July 24, Mickey’s Halloween Party Tickets* may be purchased by the public online and on mobile devices at http://Disneyland.com/party, as well as at the Disneyland Resort main gate and by phone at 714-781-4400.

Other important things to know about Mickey’s Halloween Party:

  • Online and mobile purchases are not available the day of the event.
  • Parking is not included in the ticket price, and parking fees will apply.
  • All guests 3 and over must have a ticket.
  •  Mickey’s Halloween Party is a non-smoking event.
  • All attractions and entertainment are subject to change.

Have you attended Mickey’s Halloween Party before or will this be your first year attending? What are you most excited for? Don’t forget to keep an eye on the Disney Parks Blog for more updates!

Images and rendering are property of Disney. 

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Announces Exciting Additions at D23 Expo

Oh my goodness, so many exciting announcements came out at this year’s D23 Expo!  Walt Disney Parks and Resorts announced an extraordinary line-up of brand new attractions and experiences coming to its parks and resorts around the world as it continues to revolutionize the guest experience! disneyland-resort-bob-chapekWalt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek  unveiled more than a dozen new experiences coming to Disney parks and resorts and gave a sneak peek at much-anticipated projects in development and I’m excited to share them with you! D23-expo-bob-chapek-speaks-to-fansSeveral Imagineers joined the presentation by providing details of the creativity, imagination and innovation in development around the world. Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios John Lasseter also shared his enthusiasm for plans to include a larger Pixar presence at Disneyland Resort. In addition, there was an announcement that Fantasmic! returned to Disneyland Park last night, two nights earlier than it’s original date of  July 17th, in honor of the Expo. fantasmic-mickey

“On the heels of the many new and incredibly popular experiences that just debuted this year, the best is yet to come. We have ambitious plans for our parks and resorts around the world. We’re investing in the guest experience like never before, and we’re doing it all in way that is only possible at Disney!” Bob Chapek, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

From new lodging and transportation options that make getting around more fun, to original
storytelling and immersive experiences based on guests’ favorites, Disney continues to provide unparalleled vacation destinations for guests across the globe in even more exciting ways than ever before.

The big D23 Expo announcements included:

  • An Unprecedented First Look at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
    Fans were elated to hear their Star Wars stories will come to life in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the newly announced name for the Star Wars-themed lands. Chapek shared exciting new details and a glimpse inside the two anchor attractions, including one that puts guests right in the middle of a battle between the First Order and the Resistance where guests will feel like they are inside a hangar bay on a Star Destroyer. Guests will also have the chance to fly the Millennium Falcon, where each guest is critical to the mission’s success. milleninum-falcon-attractionChapek also revealed many characters that guests will meet, including BB-8, Chewbacca, Rex and Kylo Ren. Representing the largest single-themed land expansion at 14 acres each, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will open in 2019, with the first land debuting at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, then at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando.star-wars-battle-attraction
  • Timeless Transformation of Epcot Revealed
    Looking ahead to the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World, there are grand plans to complete the transformation that started with the debut of New Fantasyland in 2014. There are plans across Epcot to realize the original vision of the park while making it more timeless and relevant than ever before. Patterned after the number one family attraction at Disneyland Paris, Ratatouille will be added in an all-new space in the France pavilion at World Showcase. Walt-Disney-World-Epcot-RatatouilleEpcot will also see the addition of a brand new E-ticket attraction based on the rockin’ and action-packed world of Guardians of the Galaxy, the next step in how guests can encounter these characters at Walt Disney World Resort.Walt-Disney-World-Epcot-Guardians-ExteriorWalt-Disney-World-Epcot-Guardians-Interior In Future World, a new Green Mission at Mission: SPACE will take guests on a stunning tour around the Earth, and an updated Orange Mission will make the trip to Mars even more spectacular. Walt-Disney-World-Epcot-Mission-SpaceAdjacent to Mission: Space will be a new restaurant that will invite guests to travel high above the earth for an unforgettable dining experience.Walt-Disney-World-Epcot-Space-Restaurant
  • More Thrills than Ever Planned for Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom
    Disney remains at the cutting edge of deeply immersive, creative storytelling that draws guests into new worlds, and it is a legacy that lives on in every new Disney Parks experience. The first ever Mickey-themed ride-through attraction, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, will come to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Walt-Disney-World-Mickey-attractionWith a new original story and lovable attraction theme song, this new state-of-the-art ride-through attraction will take guests on a journey inside the wacky and unpredictable world of Disney Channel’s Emmy Award-winning “Mickey Mouse” cartoon shorts using new technologies that transform the flat cartoon world into an incredible dimensional experience.
    Chapek also announced that the highest rated attraction at Shanghai Disneyland is coming to Walt Disney World Resort. A thrilling, Tron-themed attraction will be added in a new area near Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom.Walt-Disney-World-Magic-Kingdom-TronWalt-Disney-World-Magic-Kingdom-TRON-2Additionally, a new live entertainment theater coming to Main Street, U.S.A., based on the iconic Willis Theater in 1920s Kansas City, will bring world-class entertainment to the world’s most popular park.Walt-Disney-World-Magic-Kingdom-Theatre
  • Pixar Fun at the Happiest Place on Earth
    In addition to announcing the summer 2018 opening of Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Chapek was joined by Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios John Lasseter to unveil plans for Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure, where the pier will take on a brand new look as more favorite Pixar characters and stories come to life, from The Incredibles, to Inside Out to even more Toy Story. Chapek also announced there is more Pixar in store during Pixar Fest at Disneyland Resort. Starting in 2018, this limited-time offering will include a new fireworks spectacular as well as special characters and entertainment moments.As part of the celebration, the Pixar Play Parade will return to Disneyland Resort, this time at Disneyland Park and the fan favorite Paint the Night Parade will move to Disney California Adventure, one of Disney’s longest parade routes.Disneyland-Pixar-Pier
  • Disney Cruise Line to Double the Size of its Fleet by 2023
    Chapek surprised the crowd by announcing that Disney Cruise Line will add one more ship in its expansion to take family cruise vacations to a whole new level. Joining the other two new ships that were announced just last year, all three ships will be powered by one of the cleanest-burning fuels available, liquefied natural gas. When all three ships are completed by 2023, Disney Cruise Line will have nearly doubled the size of the fleet.Disney-Cruise-line-seventh-ship
  • Immersive Hotel Concepts
    Among the announcements were projects that infuse even more exciting experiences for resort hotel guests in ways that are only possible at Disney. To the delight of fans, Chapek confirmed ambitious plans to create the most experiential concept ever in an immersive Star Wars-themed hotel at Walt Disney World Resort. Dedicated entirely to the galaxy of Star Wars, it will be a one-of-a-kind experience where a luxury resort meets a multi-day adventure in a galaxy far, far away.Walt-Disney-World-Star-Wars-Themed-ResortWalt-Disney-World-Star-Wars-Themed-Resort-2Adding to the immersive resort hotel slate, Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel at Disneyland Paris will transport guests to the action-packed world of Super Heroes, including Iron Man, The Avengers, Spider-Man and more. Guests will be able to explore the Marvel Universe through its comic art, films, Super Hero costumes and more, displayed in the style of a contemporary art galleryDisneyland-Paris-Hotel-New-York-LobbyDisneyland-Paris-New-York-HotelLeading up to the July 17 opening of Copper Creek Villas & Cabins, Chapek also announced the proposed 15th Disney Vacation Club property, Disney Riviera Resort, coming to Walt Disney World Resort near Epcot.Disney-Vacation-Club-Riviera-Resort
  • Seamless Transportation Options
    Completing the immersion so guests never have to leave the story while on a Disney vacation, Chapek announced plans that will make getting around Walt Disney World Resort even more fun. An all-new Minnie Van service will provide a point-to-point transportation service in a way that only Disney can do, giving guests an even more seamless resort vacation from start to finish.Walt-Disney-World-Minnie-Van-ServiceAdditionally, a whole new transportation system called Disney Skyliner will give guests a birdseye view of Walt Disney World Resort. This brand new system will connect Disney’s Art of Animation, Pop Century and Caribbean Beach resorts, as well as the proposed new Disney Riviera Resort, with Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the International Gateway at Epcot.Walt-Disney-World-Skylinerwalt-disney-world-skyline-2
  • Honoring the Heritage of Disney Parks
    In a memorable tribute to the legacy of beloved attractions, entertainment and characters, fans enjoyed a special one-time-only performance of entertainment numbers from Disney Parks through the years. Following the return of the Main Street Electrical Parade, Chapek hinted there are even more fan favorites in store from Disney Parks’ storied past.

I’m so overwhelmed, in a good way, by all of these amazing announcements and can’t wait to see it all come to fruition at Disney Parks and Resorts! What are you most excited for?

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