Dapper Days 2018 at Disney World

Celebrating Spring 2018 Dapper Days!

What:  Dapper Days Disney World!

When:  Saturday, April 28 & 29, 2018 at 9:00am

Where:  Magic Kingdom (April 28th) and Epcot (April 29th)

Details:  Come dressed in your absolute best!  It’s Dapper Day!

Join us worldwide for Dapper Day Spring 2018! 

Dapper Days 2018 at the Disney Parks this spring.

Official link to planned events worldwide:  www.DapperDay.com

So many opportunities to wear something cool!

A very Dapper Mickey & Minnie out and about at Mickey’s Retreat last year.

Hat’s off to this family at the Magic Kingdom on Dapper Day!!!

If you’re looking for a pretty outfit to wear on Dapper Days, The Dress Shop on Cherry Tree Lane at Disney Springs has you covered!

Check out these pretty dresses!

Just say yes to the dress!!! (Feb 2018)

Orange Bird dress

Casey’s Train

Melanie’s dress from the Haunted Mansion’s Stretching Room.

Haunted Mansion

Tiki Room

Cinderella dress (note the silver slippers on the collar).

Snow White and 7 Dwarfs dress

The teacups skirts

And don’t forget to pick up a new Dapper Days mug!

Minnie’s Dapper Days mug

There’s a special pin available too!

Some photos from Dapper Days at WDW (photo credit:  DCP Blog)

Sweet Dapper Days treats will be available this weekend on Main Street USA.

Specialty Cupcakes at the Magic Kingdom

Guests will love these specialty sweet treats, which look almost too good to eat!

April 2, 2018 – Look at this new springtime cupcake from the Main Street Bakery!

“Hats off to Spring” Cupcakes – Vanilla cupcake with vanilla buttercream, or chocolate cupcake with mocha buttercream. Each cupcake is topped with a sugar cookie sandwich filled with raspberry jam and coated in white chocolate.

Dapper Quartet Cupcakes (four small cupcakes served together) – Two vanilla and two chocolate cupcakes with vanilla buttercream and fondant bowties, with colors matching the Dapper Dans on Main Street, U.S.A.

Enjoy a picnic lunch

Picnic in the Park

Guests may enjoy a Saturday afternoon picnic in the park on Saturday, April 29th. Boxed lunches available at Tomorrowland Terrace, 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., with a special reserved picnic area in the East Plaza Garden.  ($14.99)

Lunch comes with house-made chips, fruit cup, Dapper Rose cupcake, fountain beverage, and a choice of:

Fried Chicken

Chicken Caesar Salad

Greek Salad Wrap

BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich

A special Dapper Day rose for your date.  How pretty!

Floral offerings on Main Street, U.S.A.

A variety of corsages and rose wands from Disney Floral & Gifts will be available for purchase on Main Street, U.S.A. near Uptown Jewelers.

For more information go to:  Special Things to Do for Dapper Days 2018.

The perfect Mickey & Minnie dress for Dapper Days!

Hahahaha! 🙂

Dapper Day 2018 pin.

Mickey and Minnie looking very dapper!

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Two Disney Sisters

Two Girls and a Mouse Tale

   by Elly Collins & Caroline Collins

Ever wonder what it’s like to work for Disney???

We worked at WDW for a year in the Disney College Program and have written a book about what it’s like to be a cast member working for Disney.

We’ve included advice on how to successfully get into the DCP program, including some of the actual phone interview questions, how to have a successful internship, and how not self-term before your program ends. Our book is filled with lots of behind-the-scene stories of the magic of Disney. Available now at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle formats. Published by Theme Park Press.

Book link on Amazon.com:  Two Girls and a Mouse Tale

Two Girls and a Mouse Tale

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2018 Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day at Disney Springs

This week!

The mightiest of mighty Irish festivals, Raglan Road’s Mighty Festival, kicks off on Friday, March 16, 2018 and runs thru Sunday, March 18, 2018.

Experience a rollicking party in March during a uniquely Disney and authentically Irish tribute to St. Patrick’s Day! Enjoy festive encounters of all kinds with entertainment and merchandise inspired by the Emerald Isle.

Raglan Road at Disney Springs

They’re after me Lucky Charms!

Irish Sights, Shopping and More: Just follow the shamrocks as they take you on an Irish history lesson—from the Cliffs of Moher and Blarney Castle to the Rock of Cashel. It’s a perfect opportunity to pick up fun facts about several famous landmarks!

Be sure to stop by Raglan Road’s Shop which will have a wide selection of St. Patrick’s Day merchandise available, including Raglan Road t-shirts and souvenirs, Celtic jewelry and much more.

Irish Mickey and Minnie

Mickey and Minnie get to wear their Irish costumes only 1 day a year….

Music and Merriment: Kick up your heels for family-friendly festivities filled with singing, dancing and more! Whether you’re looking for high-energy sets showcasing authentic live music or a step-by-step workshop teaching you how to dance like the Irish, you’ll find it all during the Mighty St. Patrick’s Festival at Disney Springs’ Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant.

Try the lamb and potatoes!

Irish Food & Beverage: Savor traditional Irish fare and refreshment, from the flavors of the countryside to classic pub favorites. You’re invited to sink your teeth into some corned beef specials and quench your thirst with specialty drinks at a variety of locations.

Irish Mickey & Minnie celebrating on St. Patrick’s Day

Don’t forget to wear a bit of the green on March 17th!

The team at Raglan Road Irish Pub takes the holiday seriously and recently shared their top tips on how to “celebrate like the Irish”:

• Please don’t call the holiday “St. Patty’s.” It’s either “St. Patrick’s Day” or “St. Paddy’s.”
• A shamrock has three leaves…not four – that would be a clover.
• Americans invented the St. Patrick’s Day parade in 1737 in Boston.
• Most Irish pubs do a full month’s business on St. Patrick’s Day.
• Guinness sells 13 million pints on St. Patrick’s Day versus the usual 5 million daily.
• Green beer is an American invention. Raglan Road does not serve green beer, that would be sacrilege!

Though green beer isn’t on the menu, a full line-up of entertainment is on tap, along with a mighty selection of beers, spirits and craft cocktails served alongside exceptional Irish fare.

Try a flight of Irish beers this weekend! 🙂

March 17, 2018

Everyone is Irish on March 17th!

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Two Disney Sisters

Two Girls and a Mouse Tale

   by Elly Collins & Caroline Collins

Ever wonder what it’s like to work for Disney???

We worked at WDW for a year in the Disney College Program and have written a book about what it’s like to be a cast member working for Disney.

We’ve included advice on how to successfully get into the DCP program, including some of the actual phone interview questions, how to have a successful internship, and how not self-term before your program ends. Our book is filled with lots of behind-the-scene stories of the magic of Disney. Available now at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle formats. Published by Theme Park Press.

Book link on Amazon.com:  Two Girls and a Mouse Tale

Two Girls and a Mouse Tale

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March 17th!

 

Welcome new Cast Members to Disney Casting!

Disney Casting building at Disney Springs.

First Day:

After check-in at Vista Way, it’s off to Disney Casting for new CPs.  Dress is casual.

New program arrivals with their free DCP blue bags (perfect for that Walmart run!).

The golden statues welcoming you to Disney Casting.

Caroline’s 1st Day at DCP Program: At Disney Casting for check-in

Disney Casting is where you get fingerprinted and for some safety critical roles (lifeguarding, attractions) a simple drug test of peeing in a cup.  We were both merchandise and could skip that step.

Plan on being there 2-3 hours as you move from room to room, getting in lines and more lines.  Definitely bring a water bottle and some snacks!

At Disney Casting, Elly finding Hidden Mickeys in the sparkles on the wall!

Caroline’s off to be fingerprinted!

The doorknobs of the big door at casting! Welcome new Cast Member!

You can buy the phone case too!

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Two Disney Sisters

Two Girls and a Mouse Tale

   by Elly Collins & Caroline Collins

Ever wonder what it’s like to work for Disney???

We worked at WDW for a year in the Disney College Program and have written a book about what it’s like to be a cast member working for Disney.

We’ve included advice on how to successfully get into the DCP program, including some of the actual phone interview questions, how to have a successful internship, and how not self-term before your program ends. Our book is filled with lots of behind-the-scene stories of the magic of Disney. Available now at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle formats. Published by Theme Park Press.

Book link on Amazon.com:  Two Girls and a Mouse Tale

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Starbright Holidays at Disney Springs

300 drones flying in synchronized formation to holiday music!

11/16/16:  Three hundred (300!) drones took to the skies over Disney Springs on Wednesday night in the first drone performance of this scale in the United States.

“Starbright Holidays” is a choreographed nighttime drone performance set to holiday music.

Watch 300 drones form a whirling Christmas Tree:  Christmas Tree in the Sky

Accompanied by an original Disney arrangement of classic holiday songs recorded by a full orchestra, the sparkling experience invites guests to look up to sky and wish upon a holiday star. This is the first time a drone show of this scale has ever been performed in the U.S.

Disney World secured permission from the Federal Aviation Administration earlier this month to use drones on its properties.

The brightly lit drones flew in formation over a restricted area of the park, in view of Disney Springs, the shopping district, and entertainment zone formerly known as Downtown Disney.

Technology giant Intel said it was the first public performance in the United States of the company’s 300 Shooting Star drones. The drones feature built-in LED lights that can create more than four billion color combinations.

Blue dove of peace.

The drones dance in formation, creating a huge floating, rotating Christmas tree and other holiday symbols like doves and angels.  Using the sky as the stage for an aerial ballet, the “Starbright Holidays” show will run nightly through Jan. 8, 2017.

The drones have plastic foam bodies and weigh about 10 ounces, about the same as an ultralight running shoe.  “They are going to be flying them over the water and they will almost certainly have some kind of geo-fence built into the software,” Waite said, describing it as similar to an invisible dog fence that won’t let the drones operate beyond a certain point.  And even in the unlikely event a 10-ounce drone falls 150 feet from the sky, “It may not feel great,” Waite said, “but it’s not going to injure you very much.”

“Starbright Holidays – An Intel Collaboration” will join other holiday enhancements at Disney Springs, including a brand-new Christmas Tree Trail, special seasonal entertainment, meet and greets with Santa, and festive decor throughout all four neighborhoods – Town Center, The Landing, West Side and Marketplace.

Full video of the 5 minute holiday show:  Starbright Holidays 2016

Drones fly every evening through January 8, 2017, weather permitting.

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Two Disney sisters.

Two Girls and a Mouse Tale

   by Elly Collins & Caroline Collins

Ever wonder what it’s like to work for Disney???

We worked at WDW for a year in the Disney College Program and have written a book about what it’s like to be a cast member working for Disney.

We’ve included advice on how to successfully get into the DCP program, including some of the actual phone interview questions, how to have a successful internship, and how not self-term before your program ends. Our book is filled with lots of behind-the-scene stories of the magic of Disney. Available now at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle formats. Published by Theme Park Press.

Book link on Amazon.com:  Two Girls and a Mouse Tale

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Sprinkles is Open at Disney Springs

Sprinkles at Disney Springs

The new cupcake shop – Sprinkles – opened up at Disney Springs Town Center a few weeks ago, and the crowds went wild!

The Sprinkles cupcake ATM.

You don’t even have to go into the shop.  There’s a cupcake ATM right outside!  The cupcake ATM, which is open even when the bakery is closed, can hold up to 400 cupcakes.  It’s constantly restocked throughout the day to ensure freshness. Note:  The cupcake ATM  also carries dog-friendly cupcakes!

How to chose just one???

Cupcakes are $4.95 each or $52 for a dozen.

They also carry ice cream, cookies, sodas, juices, and coffee drinks.

And they carry mini cupcakes too!  $3.50 each

You can sign up here for perks like getting your first cupcake for free and getting a free cupcake on your birthday:  Sprinkles Perks.

Disney cast members get a 10% discount.

Sprinkles menu, June 2016

Sprinkles Disney Springs

1676 East Buena Vista Drive
Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830

(407) 560-9192

Store Hours:  Monday – Sunday, 10am – 12am

Click here on Sprinkles Cupcakes for our daily Disney menu!

Yes, please!

Now open!!!  Stop on by!!

Sprinkles Cupcakes!

September 2016 Update!

Breaking News!!  A new Sprinkles Cupcakes location is planned at Downtown Disney Anaheim in California, right next to Disneyland!  The shop will be next door to the first Starbucks in Downtown Disney, in a portion of the space recently vacated by Quiksilver.

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Working together at DAK.

Two Girls and a Mouse Tale

   by Elly Collins & Caroline Collins

Ever wonder what it’s like to work for Disney???

We worked at WDW for a year in the Disney College Program (Fall 2013/Spring 2014) and have written a book about what it’s like to be a cast member working for Disney.

We’ve included advice on how to successfully get into the DCP program, including some of the actual phone interview questions, how to have a successful internship, and how not self-term before your program ends. Our book is filled with lots of behind-the-scene stories of the magic of Disney. Available now at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle formats. Published by Theme Park Press.

Book link on Amazon.com:  Two Girls and a Mouse Tale

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Disney Springs Cast Member Discounts!

Welcome to Disney Springs!!!

There’s more than 150 shopping, dining and entertainment experiences at Disney Springs now and most offer cast member discounts!

Covered shopping!!!

But, wait, what are the Cast Member discounts you ask??

Well, here they are:

Town Center discounts:  10%-20%

The Landing discounts

West Side discounts.

The very popular Sprinkles offers Cast Members a 10% discount on their cupcakes!  Yum!

So many places to eat and shop now!!!

 

Want more discount info?

Dining Discounts for Cast Members

Perks of Being a Disney Cast Member

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Two Disney Sisters

Two Girls and a Mouse Tale

   by Elly Collins & Caroline Collins

Ever wonder what it’s like to work for Disney???

We worked at WDW for a year in the Disney College Program and have written a book about what it’s like to be a cast member working for Disney.

We’ve included advice on how to successfully get into the DCP program, including some of the actual phone interview questions, how to have a successful internship, and how not self-term before your program ends. Our book is filled with lots of behind-the-scene stories of the magic of Disney.

Available now at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle formats. Published by Theme Park Press.

Book link on Amazon.com:  Two Girls and a Mouse Tale

Two Girls and a Mouse Tale

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Working together at DAK.

Two Girls and a Mouse Tale

            by Elly Collins & Caroline Collins

Ever wonder what it’s like to work for Disney???

We worked at WDW for a year in the Disney College Program (Fall 2013/Spring 2014) and have written a book about what it’s like to be a cast member working for Disney.

We’ve included advice on how to successfully get into the DCP program, including some of the actual phone interview questions, how to have a successful internship, and how not self-term before your program ends. Our book is filled with lots of behind-the-scene stories of the magic of Disney.

http://www.amazon.com/Girls-Mouse-Tale-Elly-Collins/dp/1941500110/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1430687055&sr=1-1&keywords=two+girls+and+a+mouse+tale

Available now at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle formats. Published by Theme Park Press.

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Welcome to Disney Springs!

It’s official, Disney held a renaming christening party today for Disney Springs, the shopping and dining district formerly known as Downtown Disney!

9/29/15: Lunchtime crowd gathers at DTD for the name changing ceremony.

New signage went up at WDW last week for Disney Springs. They no longer say ‘Downtown Disney’.

Major construction continues at a fast pace from one end of Disney Springs to the other, and on all the roadways in-between!

Some concept art of what Disney Springs will look like in Spring 2016:

Morimoto Asia at Disney Springs.  Opened today.

9/29/15: Mickey at the grand opening of Morimoto Asia today.

Disney Springs Town Center (opening in 2016).

Marketplace, West Side

The Landing (formerly Pleasure Island).

Official Disney Springs logo

Video of the backstory of Disney Springs:  Disney Springs 2016  

What DTD will look like as Disney Springs in Spring 2016 (lake view).

We’re less than a year away from the final transformation of Downtown Disney into Disney Springs by Spring 2016. The construction works continues at a fast pace, with new shops and restaurants opening weekly!

Personally, we’re very glad to see all the work being done to expand Buena Vista Blvd. and the opening of the two new parking garages (finally!).

Disney Springs is being expanded to include more than 150 shopping, dining and entertainment experiences.

It’s a 3 year construction project (2013-2016).

New Disney Springs signage everywhere.

Disney Springs logo.

They should have begun this expansion – especially the two new parking garages – back in 2000.  Parking’s been terrible at Downtown Disney for 10+ years and Lake Buena Vista hasn’t been able to handle the daily traffic loads for years.

Every CP we know, including us!, has sat on a bus in stopped traffic on Lake Buena Vista Drive going to and from work.

2016:  New I-4 interchange that will offer guests direct access to Disney Springs.

Summer 2016:  Widening Lake Buena Vista Drive from seven to ten lanes will finally be complete.

We can’t wait until it’s all finished!  We are definitely planning a trip in 2016 to see it all done!

Ariel view:  The Landing at Disney Springs shopping and dining district, Spring 2016

Disney Springs after dark.  Almost double the restaurants and shops are planned.

The official Disney Springs, Florida logo

Disney Springs Construction Work:

• Roadwork on Buena Vista Drive  Through Mar. 2016
  Due to heavy roadwork, expect delays on Buena Vista Drive. It is recommended that Guests use complimentary Walt Disney World Resort transportation from Parks and Resorts to Disney Springs and plan to arrive early for reserved dining and entertainment experiences.

• Parking Lots – Entrance 2 – Lots A-G  Dec. 1, 2014 – Aug. 1, 2016
  Loss of parking lot Entrance 2 to Guest/Cast traffic and associated lots A-G in preparation for the construction of Town Center and the East Garage.

***************************************

Two Girls and a Mouse Tale

            by Elly Collins & Caroline Collins

Ever wonder what it’s like to work for Disney???

We worked at WDW for a year in the Disney College Program (Fall 2013/Spring 2014) and have written a book about what it’s like to be a cast member working for Disney.

We’ve included advice on how to successfully get into the DCP program, including some of the actual phone interview questions, how to have a successful internship, and how not self-term before your program ends. Our book is filled with lots of behind-the-scene stories of the magic of Disney.

http://www.amazon.com/Girls-Mouse-Tale-Elly-Collins/dp/1941500110/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1430687055&sr=1-1&keywords=two+girls+and+a+mouse+tale

Available now at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle formats. Published by Theme Park Press.

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