walt disney world | amotherworld

Have you been thinking about taking the family to Disney this year? Well, this year is THE year to visit Walt Disney parks! What’s new at Disney World in 2016? There are new attractions and experiences to discover and enjoy.

What’s New at Disney World in 2016

Hollywood Studios

Disney’s Hollywood Studios has a new Star Wars-inspired experience with the addition of the “Symphony in the Stars: A Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party.” As the enthralling fireworks show lights up the sky, guests can enjoy out-of-this-world desserts and specialty drinks in this separate ticket offering until March 19. This experience complements all of the other new ways to experience Star Wars in the park, including Star Wars Launch Bay, which takes guests into the Star Wars saga, including the newest movie adventure, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, with special exhibits and peeks behind-the-scenes, special merchandise and opportunities to encounter Chewbacca and Darth Vader.

Grown-up guests can party with the Disney Villains in a soiree led by Dr. Facilier from Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog” at the new Club Villain at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Animal Kingdom

Disney’s Animal Kingdom will come alive at night with new nighttime entertainment and experiences, the most spectacular being the “Rivers of Light” show debuting this spring. With a waterway as its stage, the innovative new show will feature entertainers, floating lanterns, water screens and swirling animal imagery in a performance that truly brings the animal kingdom to life at night.

Also starting in spring, guests will get to experience the African savanna in a whole new light: amid the orange glow of the setting sun. During the nighttime adventure, guests can extend their travels on the safaris into the evening with the Sunset Kilimanjaro Safaris.

The parks’ newest eatery will open its doors this spring to offer a menu inspired by the places the Imagineers traveled to when developing Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Open for both lunch and dinner, Tiffin’s will celebrate the art of traveling and include waterfront views from both indoor and outdoor seating areas.

Epcot

The new “Frozen”-inspired attraction will open its doors in the Norway pavilion at Epcot in spring. In it, guests will be transported to the Winter in Summer Celebration where Queen Elsa creates a special day for the kingdom. Guests also will travel to Elsa’s Ice Palace, the ice-blue world of the North Mountain, and the Bay of Arendelle.

Guests can meet the royal sisters Anna and Elsa at Epcot at a new character greeting location in the Royal Sommerhus at the Norway pavilion starting in spring.

Guests onboard the popular Soarin’ attraction will journey to far-flung lands and fly above some of the world’s most unique natural landscapes and man-made wonders when the new Soarin’ Around the World makes its debut at Epcot in 2016.

Epcot will be in full bloom this spring when the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, with its colorful topiaries and dozens of Outdoor Kitchens, returns for 90 days starting March 2 through May 15, the longest the festival has ever run.

Magic Kingdom Park

Experience “World Famous Jungle Cuisine” at the Jungle Navigation Co., Ltd. Skipper Canteen in one of several unique dining rooms, including a crew mess hall and a once-hidden secret meeting room of the famed Society of Explorers and Adventurers. The restaurant is staffed by friendly Jungle Cruise Skippers, known for their clever jokes.

Disney Springs

Disney Springs will continue to grow in 2016, with plans to add new eateries including STK steakhouse, The Edison, Sprinkles, Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizza, as well as two new restaurant concepts by chefs Art Smith and Rick Bayless.

As Disney Springs nears completion with the opening of Town Center, 2016 will bring some new, must-do retail shops to Disney Springs, including Edward Beiner, Lilly Pulitzer, L’Occitane en Provence, PANDORA, Tommy Bahama, UGG, UNIQLO and Zara.

Save at Walt Disney World Resort Hotels
Guests visiting early in 2016 can take advantage of a special Disney resort hotels offer for stays most nights untilApril 13 and save up to 25% on rooms at select Disney resort hotels. Visit DisneyWorld.com/special-offers for more information.

Are you planning a trip to Disney anytime soon?

Once upon a time, I visited Disney World in Florida.

I was about 10 (or 11?) years old at the time – it was an awkward age, okay? Just look at my photo and you’ll understand why.

I remember how much it rained that day so we were wearing those thin plastic covers that we bought at the park. We were visiting just for the day so we toured the park non-stop, seeing as many attractions and going on as many rides as humanly possible.

Fast forward many years later (not going to say how many!), and now my kids want to go to Walt Disney World.

Surprisingly, they are asking to go now – at the ages of 5 and 7. I have been waiting for the time to come for them to ask about Disney World and have been keeping “the secret” quiet.

I’ve been putting off a trip until the boys were older, so that they could walk the park themselves and actually remember it!

I’ve always associated Disney with the Magic Kingdom – pure fantasy. Cinderella, Snow White and the Little Mermaid, stories that my boys just wouldn’t be interested in hearing about or watching.

They’re into superheros and aliens and ninjas. Now imagine if there was a Marvel theme park! (I just so happened to Google it and there it is – a Marvel Superheros theme park is expected to pen this year in Dubailand!)

The boys love the Looney Tunes but they are Warner Bros. characters. doh! So I’ve always thought, why bother going to Disney if they only Toy Story and Cars (and now that they’re older, they don’t really as much anymore).

Well, they are now asking to go! All the time. Yup. My kids want to go to Disney World.

What kid wouldn’t, right?!

I have to admit, I’ve been sorta itching to go myself too. We’ve been visiting Florida every year and haven’t made the short drive to Orlando but it’s definitely on the radar. Lately, it’s been on my mind more often and I’m sort of blaming the hashtag on Twitter called #DisneySMMoms. Damn you Twitter!

So it looks like planning a trip to Disney World on our next visit to Florida is an absolute must… or else I’ll never hear the end of it.