OrlandoVacationHotels.com

If there is one character that can be considered the enduring face of an Orlando vacation, it is Mickey Mouse. In the last year, Disney World has offered more ways than ever to meet the main mouse himself, including a recently announced talking, interactive Mickey theme park character.

Mickey Mouse Fastpass:

If you’ve visited one of the Disney World theme parks in recent years, you ‘ve probably met Mickey — after waiting in a hefty line. The first change in the “Mickey Meet and Greet” offers guests the option to use Disney’s Fastpass program to avoid waiting in a long line to visit with Mickey Mouse. If getting Mickey’s autograph without delay interests you, then head to the Magic Kingdom theme park.

Just inside the park gates, adjacent to the railway station and Tony’s Town Square restaurant, is a Fastpass greeting location. You can pick up a pass to meet with Mickey later in the day; you can expect to wait a few minutes for your meeting — instead of an hour or more. You can also meet the Disney princesses in this location using the Fastpass program. If you are traveling with small children, being able to meet the characters without waiting in a huge line is a great way to add some magic to your Orlando vacation. The Fastpass program is free and included with your theme park admission, so you won’t pay any extra for your timely meeting.

Mickey Mouse has traditionally interacted with guests via pantomime and gestures — he doesn’t normally speak. While Mickey usually gets his point across just fine, a talking Mickey encounter is at the top of the wishlist for many fans.

The wait to talk to Mickey Mouse is over — Disney World just announced a pilot program featuring in interactive, vocal Mickey Mouse. This program is currently being tested in the Disney World theme parks–so if you are coming to Orlando this fall, stop in and say hi to Mickey Mouse–you may just get a verbal answer in return!

Ride refurbishments and closures happen throughout the year at the Orlando theme parks. Disney World has seen more temporary closures than usual in 2011, thanks to the Fantasyland makeover scheduled to be completed in 2012.

What refurbishments mean to you:

Knowing about ride closures in advance can help you plan your Orlando vacation. If you have your heart set on a Typhoon Lagoon day, the time to find out about the park’s 3 month refurbishment is before you leave home, not on the day you want to visit. You can also plan your trip to substitute rides and experiences for closed attractions–the upcoming closure of Dumbo, a Fantasyland staple, will be easier to handle if you know about it in advance, particularly if you are visiting with small kids, the ride’s target fan base. (Tip: If you are visiting Disney World when Dumbo is closed, head to the Magic Carpets of Aladdin in Adventureland for the same toddler-friendly ride experience).

As of mid-October, the following rides and attractions are closed for maintenance or repair. Depending on the extent of the work needed, a few of the attractions will not be open again during the fall season. A few guest favorites  have been temporarily relocated in the parks — Mickey, the Disney Princesses and the Tinkerbell fairies have all been moved to new homes during construction.

Closed for Refurbishment:

• Blizzard Beach water park, closed for seasonal refurbishment, 10/30/2011-12/3/2011
• Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, Magic Kingdom, reopening 11/17/2011
• Yakatori House, Epcot’s Japan Pavilion, reopening 11/15/2011

Moved:

• Mickey Mouse and the Disney Princesses Greeting Areas: Moved from Toontown to the Town Square Theater.
• Tinkerbell and friends, moved to Adventureland Terrace in the Magic Kingdom

Upcoming closures:

• Typhoon Lagoon: Closing for seasonal refurbishment 12/4/2011-3/17/2012
  
• Dumbo: Closing 1/9/2012-2/17/2012, as part of the Fantasyland Reboot
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: Closing for an extended 4 month period beginning 1/9/2012

Checking your email, downloading music and uploading your Orlando vacation photos just got a little easier if you are staying at a Disney World hotel. Disney announced a free WiFi perk for guests staying at select onsite resorts beginning this week. While Disney has long offered in-room internet connections via a data cable, the WiFi option offer guests more flexibility and freedom.

Free WiFi is now available in each of Disney’s deluxe resorts, including the Contemporary, Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wilderness Lodge. Other popular resorts offering free WiFi are convention-friendly destinations and Disney Vacation Club villas, including Disney’s Yacht and Beach Clubs and BoardWalk. Free in-room WiFi begins this week at the covered resorts.

The remaining Disney resorts still offer in room internet connections, complete with data cable, for a small daily fee ($10 per day). Each resort offers free WiFi in select lobby areas and public zones as well. While you won’t likely want to bring your laptop to the Disney theme parks, you can find free WiFi in select areas as well, including Epcot’s Innoventions area and near Town Hall in the Magic Kingdom.

While free WiFi isn’t likely to make or break your trip,  it is a nice perk. If you need to be able to get online during your Orlando vacation,check with your resort or rental home to see if Internet access of any type is provided. Most destinations have some form of Internet access in place, but if it is important to you to stay in touch online as you travel, confirm internet accessibility before you book your trip.

If you are heading to Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival this month, consider attending some of the events at the Orlando Waldorf Astoria as well. Designed to complement the offerings of Disney World’s popular food festival, the Food and Wine Weekends at the Waldorf Astoria offer plenty of foodie and gourmet fun in one of the most luxurious settings Orlando has to offer.

Each weekend in October, the Waldorf Astoria will host different wine and food themed events, including a session of “Adults only” trick or treating featuring a selection of tempting cocktails ($50 per couple). The Bull & Bear is hosting weekly gourmet meals with perfectly paired wine selections each Friday evening this month, while representatives from Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and Glenlivet Scotch pair with Ashton Cigars to present several Wine and Cigar themed events this month.

Sweet-toothed visitors won’t want to miss presentations on chocolate and other confections, presented each Friday and Saturday evening this month at the Waldorf Astoria Chocolate Shop. Expect a variety of demonstrations and sampling at this sweet event.

You do not have to be a guest of the Waldorf Astoria to indulge in the Food and Wine Weekend events, and reservations are required for most scheduled programs. While the Food and Wine Weekends are luxury events aimed at adults, the resort offers a childcare program complete with dinner options, so parents don’t have to miss out on the gourmet fun.

The Waldorf Astoria is one of Orlando’s premier luxury resorts, offering complimentary transportation daily to the Disney World theme parks, including Epcot, home of the International Food and Wine Festival.

Happy Birthday, Disney World! If you are planning a visit to the Magic Kingdom as part of your Orlando vacation, you’ll become part of 40 years of history in the making. Disney is marking the occasion all year long with special “celebration” themed parades and shows, including the new night time “The Magic, the Memories and You” castle projection show, which premiered earlier this year.

The Magic Kingdom has been entertaining families for 40 years; long enough for people who visited the park as children to return to share the magic with their own families.  Part of the Magic Kingdom’s attraction for family groups is the longevity of some of the most popular rides and attractions. From Space Mountain to Dumbo, this park offers some of the world’s most enduring and popular rides.

Mark the occasion by visiting one of the parks original rides, including the Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion and “it’s a small world”, or pick up some special 40th anniversary themed merchandise at the theme parks and resorts. Some of the park’s initial offerings are still some of its best; all are included with your theme park admission.

If you haven’t been to the Magic Kingdom in a while, check out some of the park’s newest offerings, including character greeting areas for Tinkerbell and her fairy friends and Rapunzel, newly crowned star of Tangled. Other recent offerings include the return of the Main Street Electrical Parade and for October travelers, the extravagantly themed Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.

Make a visit to the Magic Kingdom part of your next Orlando vacation, and catch up on 40 years of magic; you’ll be glad you did.