Jaunted

Theme Parks / Amusement Parks / Disney / Walt Disney World / Vacation Homes / → All Tags

Disney's Newest Project? Multi-Million Dollar Homes at the Magic Kingdom

If your dream has always been to grow old with Mickey Mouse and his pals down in Florida, you may just be in luck. Regardless, you better start saving towards that retirement dream ASAP, as it doesn’t come cheap to move in next door to the Magic Kingdom.

Disney’s latest money maker isn’t a theme park and it’s way more than just shilling some new timeshares, as now they’re offering actual housing options just minutes away from the magic. We realize this could be heaven on earth for some, but at the same time understand that it could be hell for others. We’re just giving you the facts, and you can decide for yourself. However, those in the market for a new home might want to take a look at Golden Oak at Walt Disney World Resort.

more ›

Theme Parks / Amusement Parks / Disney / Disney World / Florida Travel / Orlando Travel / Food Travel / → All Tags

Where to Find True Italian Pizza in the Middle of Walt Disney World

Don’t get us wrong, we love hot dogs, chicken fingers, and other fried delicacies when visiting theme parks, but sometimes we want a little more than that. Of course Disney World has plenty of alternative dining options—some we can’t even afford—but a new Epcot restaurant fits the bill between fancy and affordable.

Within the Italy pavilion around the World Showcase at Epcot sits a brand new restaurant dedicated to all things pizza; however, this isn’t your usual greasy concession stand slice. Via Napoli features wood burning ovens that reach temperatures of 700°F to create flatbreads just like they do back in the old country, or at least that's the idea. The restaurant gets its mozzarella from Italy and they're sure to keep plenty of San Marzano tomatoes around for the sauce.

more ›

Theme Park Travel / Amusement Parks / Disney / Disney World / Safaris / → All Tags

Disney to Add Private Safaris for its Animal Kingdom Park

If you’ve ever visited the zoo, and wished that you could get a little more up close and personal with the critters you’re in luck. Disney is planning to offer a more personalized experience at their Animal Kingdom theme park, so maybe this will stop crazy people from jumping into the animal enclosures.

The details are sketchy at this point, but the people behind the Mickey-magic are figuring out how to work in private safaris into the theme park. There will be guided hikes through some of the areas seen during the Kilimanjaro Safaris Expedition, and we’ll assume that involves staying a safe distance from the lions.

more ›

Theme Parks / Disney World / Amusement Parks / Disney / Travel Ads / → All Tags

Walt Disney World Uses Their Monorail For More Than Just Transportation

Disney is spending some of their cash to promote one of their latest films—but don’t get too excited—this is nothing when compared to Harry Potter’s new home just down the street.

The media giant is releasing an advertising campaign plastered along the side of one their famous monorails in Florida for the film Tron: Legacy—it’s scheduled to be released in December. Initially some theme park fans were a little concerned about using part of the park to advertise, and they were upset that this flying advertisement would put a damper on the magic of the Magic Kingdom. This is the first time that Disney has used the monorail as a moving billboard, so we do kind of understand some of the concern.

more ›

2009-Halloween-Theme-Park-Map / 2009 Halloween Theme Park Scare Guide / Halloween Travel / Scary Travel / Theme Parks / Disney / Disney World / Family Travel / → All Tags

2009 Halloween Theme Park Scare Guide: Mickey's Not So Scary Party

You know Disney has some deep pockets when it comes to their theme parks, so visitors looking to celebrate Halloween have nothing to worry about if they make Walt Disney World their spooky holiday headquarters. For many years the Magic Kingdom has been shutting things down early and welcoming families to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.

It’s a Halloween bash that encourages both parents and their kids to dress up; however, some of the adults get a little carried away and that’s always slightly frightened us. As you take in all the seasonal decorations be sure to stop and fill your bags with candy. There’s plenty of trick or treat spots throughout the park and they are usually pretty generous. The best part of the party is that the crowds are manageable. Disney only sells a certain amount of tickets to the shindig, so it’s a great chance to ride Space Mountain like five times in a row without waiting.

more ›

Theme Parks / Disney / Walt Disney World / Amusement Parks / Barack Obama / → All Tags

Disney Imagineers Welcome Obama Robot Into Presidential Roll Call

Of must-see things to visit at Walt Disney World, the Hall of Presidents is certainly not as exciting as Space Mountain, but it continues to draw visitors in for a little history with a side of air conditioning. However, starting Independence Day weekend, the show becomes a little more interesting. You see, it'll reopen for the first time since the 2008 election, as President Obama takes the stage in audio-animatronic form.

To craft the figure, Disney folks traveled to the White House in March to make sure every little part of the Obama robot was correct, right down to his braided wedding ring. The President shared his busy schedule with park designers to lend his voice and measurements, so that the new figurine could be practically perfect in every way.

more ›

Worlds-Coolest-Pools / Disney World / Pools / Disney / Pirates / → All Tags

Indulge Your Inner Amphibian At Disney's Stormalong Bay

Last one in's a rotten egg! We're finding the best places in the world to stick our toes in this summer (or next winter) for our World's Coolest Pools map. Know of any pools we must check out? Let us know.

Without a cutesy shape or a benevolent aura, you'd never recognize this mega-pool as the domain of the Mouse. But we had to check out the Yacht and Beach Club combined pools after a tipster promised not only a sandy bottom but "a slide from a pirate ship." And you all know we have a weakness for pirate travel.

more ›

Strange Scuba Spots / SCUBA / Scuba Dives / Disney / Walt Disney World / Theme Parks / → All Tags

Keep Nemo Company in Disney's Epcot Aquarium

With the economy in the toilet, you might not have the funds to head out on once in a lifetime diving trip, and with that Swine Flu constantly lurking around every corner the only safe place is under the sea. That’s why we’ve compiled some strange SCUBA spots right here at home. If you’ve got a better one (or a worse one), please let us know!

Although Walt Disney World seems like a never-ending sea of tourists, there is at least one awesome way to escape from all the strollers and crowds.

Go where it's quiet and cool by strapping on that air tank and those fins for DiveQuest, an experience within The Seas with Nemo and Friends at Epcot. As long as you are open water scuba certified, promise not to touch the fishies and stay on your best behavior, you’ll be free to dive around inside of their 5.7-million-gallon saltwater tank.

more ›

Walt Disney World / Cat Cora / Theme Parks / Disney / Restaurants / Food Travel / → All Tags

An Iron Chef Is Joining The Disney Restaurant Line-Up

During this gloomy recession, coughing up the dough for a family vacation at Walt Disney World might not seem possible. But if you can't stand to see your kids bereft at the thought of not meeting any of the Disney Princess, traveling to Orlando in the summertime is quite a bit cheaper. The Disney Resorts are running a promotion where you get three nights free (and tickets) when you buy four. Just hurry up, you only have a few more days to book.

Even though discounts abound in hopes of selling more and more churros and t-shirts, officials keep moving forward with new offerings. Iron Chef Cat Cora is building a new restaurant on the Disney Boardwalk—it’s right by Epcot. She’s kicking out the former tenant, Spoodles, and setting up shop with her own place that will focus on food with a Mediterranean flare. It’s safe to say we’ll get something better than gyros and stuffed grape leaves. The new place will be known as Kouzzina by Cat Cora—roughly Greek for kitchen.

more ›

Theme Parks / Walt Disney World / American Idol / Disney / → All Tags

Disney Gets A Piece Of The American Idol Pie

Things over at Mickey’s house have been less than stellar lately. They just had to show a bunch of management the door, and we’re thinking that the budget for the next great ride has already been cut. Luckily, The American Idol Experience snuck in under the wire, and recently welcomed the masses to its home in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Contestants will try out in the park, and if they’re good enough, will be promoted one of the several shows that run throughout the day. Once making to Disney’s version of Hollywood they’ll have to do their best to impress the judges who take on the personalities of the usual Idol crew—except we’re at Disney so even the meanest comment is going to be nice. They probably don’t want to make anyone cry on their vacation with their parents.

more ›

Disney World / Disney / Restaurants / Chris Elliott / → All Tags

Adventures of Link: Disney Restaurant Bans Kids, Thrills Parents

Tired of kids ruining your Disney World vacations? You're in luck! Tireless consumer advocate Chris Elliott, who visits Disney, like, all the time, says Victoria & Albert's restaurant will stop letting in tots under 10.

But rather than give knee-jerk criticism, Elliott realizes that this is actually a great move by Disney, which gets plenty of adult guests along with all those kids:

I've been to Victoria & Albert's, and it's a first-rate, five-diamond establishment where men are required to wear jackets and women must wear dresses or pantsuits...Saying "no" to kiddies isn't such a bad idea. After all, the adults need their own playground, too.

Related Stories:
· Victoria & Albert's [Official Site]
· WDW's Swankiest Restaurant Bans Kids [Orlando Sentinel]
· Kiddies Verboten at Disney World Restaurant [Elliott.org]
· Disney World Restaurant Bans Children [AP, via Google]
· Disney Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Vortech]

Outdoor Travel / Active Travel / Disney World / → All Tags

Escape Disney To The Lakes Of Orlando

When Walt Disney first looked across the vast swampland of Central Florida, he envisioned building a world of endless joy, fantasy and revenue. While we enjoy venturing through Epcot when we can't afford overseas travel, there's also merit in the marshes Disney left untouched.

As an alternative to the screaming kids and crowded lines of Disney World, the lakes surrounding Orlando offer pristine beauty and some fun water sports. At Lake Bryan in the Orlando suburb of Lake Buena Vista, Buena Vista Watersports has jet ski rentals and boat charters with water skiing and tubing equipment. For a bit more than the price of entry to one of Disney's parks, visitors can rent equipment for an hour: Jet skis cost $90 and a boat with a driver is $130.

Related Stories:
· Buena Vista Watersports [Official Site]
· Active Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· Orlando Hotels [HotelChatter]

[Photo: Freeborn]