Category: The Kingdom Insider

Get ready to embrace your soulful side with some delicious treats and excitement coming to Disneyland Resort this summer. Throughout the month of June, we are continuing our festivities for Celebrate Soulfully with the introduction of some tasty treats, eats, and sips honoring Black heritage and culture. Multiple locations at Disneyland Resort are serving up selections to highlight Black Music Month with not-to-be-missed experiences filled with food, entertainment, art, and, of course, music! For foodie fun, you can taste test the Chicken-coconut Curry Sweet Potato at Troubadour Tavern hosted by Dreyer’s or the delicious Peaches and Cream Funnel Cake Fries from Award Wieners, but that’s not all to take part in. From “Tale of the Lion King” debuting at Disneyland park on May 28 to live entertainment showing the sweet sounds of classic Black music genres like Doo-Wop and Motown, there’s so much to enjoy at the resort to help you “celebrate soulfully”! Did I mention we’ve got a new recipe for you to try? I’ve included how to make the Pride Rock Punch from Troubadour Tavern hosted by Dreyer’s from the comfort of your own home so you can enjoy this refreshing drink anywhere, anytime! Now, let’s get to the food! Starting May 28, Troubadour Tavern hosted by Dreyer’s at Disneyland park will be filled with special items that join the excitement, many of which can be found on Mobile Order on the Disneyland app. For tasty snacks, try the Salted Plantain Chips or the Berbere-spice Popcorn tossed with a warming blend of spices. The Chicken-coconut Curry Sweet Potato features a baked sweet potato topped with a Malawian chicken-coconut curry – yum! For

Did you know that Aulani Resort in O‘ahu has its own man-made lagoon you can snorkel in called Rainbow Reef? This saltwater lagoon is home to thousands of tropical fish and features many wondrous and whimsical sights. Guests staying at Aulani Resort can snorkel without worrying about unpredictable waves and currents—and get a clear view of local marine life. How magical does that sound?! Source: AulaniSnorkeling is my favorite excursion when going on a tropical vacation, and it’s one of those things you definitely can’t miss while in Hawaii! The cost for one-day access is $25 per adult (ages 10 and up) and $20 per child (ages 9 and under. For guests wanting length-of-stay access, the cost is $45 per adult (ages 10 and up) and $35 per child (ages 9 and under). Guests will be equipped with a life vest, mask, and snorkel set (included items with the entrance fee). If you’re interested in snorkeling, or any other added excursion, during your next vacation to Aulani, let your Academy Travel Agent know. The Resort also offers Supplied-Air Snorkeling (SAS); guests ages 8 and up can embark on an underwater tour with a knowledgeable aquarist who will share fascinating facts about the fish. Guests are equipped with a regulator and gear to help them float. Advance registration is required at Rainbow Reef Rentals, and the cost is $45 per person. The SAS option is temporarily paused. Another option, which is also temporarily on pause, is the Underwater Explorers, a 2-hour

Disney balloons have grown to be more and more of a highlight for everyone of all ages over the past few years while visiting the parks. The designs, of course, started very basic in 1955, and now they are more detailed with so many different designs. Now balloons are lighting up (these come out around evening time) and some are even a balloon within a ballon (aka Glasshouse balloons, if you didn’t know)! These have become a huge hit with kids and now they are even becoming popular amongst adults, especially social media influencers, for photo shoots and pictures. If you’ve ever wondered how these magical balloons are made and the process of bunching them all together to create one magical and amazing balloon bouquet, check out the fun Instagram video below shared by Disney Parks! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Disney Parks (@disneyparks) Kind of amazing, right?! At Disneyland, balloons can be found throughout the park, but they are mainly found on Main Street, USA at Disneyland, and Buena Vista Street in Disney California Adventure. Over at Walt Disney World, Mickey Mouse “Glasshouse” balloons are exclusively sold at Disney theme parks (excluding Animal Kingdom Park, as they could be dangerous to the animals).

I hope you brought your appetite because the Eat to the Beat Concert Series presented by Florida Blue Medicare is ready to serve up some piping hot tunes at the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival presented by CORKCICLE starting this July! This year, we’re following the same recipe you’ve come to love at our recent festivals, with internationally recognized artists as well as local bands bringing their sizzling sounds to the America Gardens Theatre stage. Our five-star menu has something for every taste – from house favorites like Baha Men, Tiffany, and Air Supply, to fresh-to-the-festival acts like Hoobastank, Los Amigos Invisibles and Stokley. Get a taste of the announced artists below and keep checking back at TasteEPCOT.com as more acts are revealed. July 14-15 – Baha Men July 16-18 – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy July 29-30 – Taylor Dayne July 31-Aug. 1 – Tiffany Aug. 5-8 – Joey Fatone & Friends Aug. 12-13 – The Devon Allman Project Aug. 14-15 – Christopher Cross Aug. 19-20 – Journey former Lead Vocalist Steve Augeri Aug. 21-22 – Air Supply Sept. 2-3 – Southern Avenue Sept. 4-5 – Kris Allen & David Cook Sept. 9-10 – Hoobastank (NEW) Sept. 16-17 – Los Amigos Invisibles (NEW) Sept. 23-24 – BBMak Sept. 30-Oct. 1 – Stokley (NEW) Oct. 2-3 – Sheila E. Oct. 7-8 – Mark Wills Oct. 9-10 – 38 Special Oct. 23-24 – Billy Ocean Oct. 28-31 – Hanson Nov. 4-7 – Boyz II Men Beginning May 24, you can secure your spot at the show by

Calling all “Star Wars” fans! The “Star Wars” celebration will be taking place in Anaheim on May 26-29, and now there’s another event to get excited about–the Galactic Disco Night Dance Party! This will be a D23 Gold Member event, and it will kickoff party of interplanetary proportions right next door at the House of Blues Anaheim. This Galactic Disco Night Dance Party will feature cosmic boogie and funky beats with an epic DJ set from Grammy-nominated artist Mayer Hawthorne. Guests are invited to party like an ecstatic Ewok with special photo backdrops, surprise character appearances, and more. Source: D23Of course with this kind of event, there’s a dress code! D23 Gold Members attending this event are invited to not be casual and dress in their galactic finest. Included bounties for this interstellar experience include admission, access to the Taco Bar (open until 9 p.m.), and a commemorative keepsake upon departure. There is also a D23 Gold Member Exclusive – Premium VIP Ticket option that includes include private access to the upstairs balcony, to party at a higher altitude! This ticket includes exclusive reserved upstairs access to D23 Galactic Disco Night, access to the Taco Bar until 9 p.m. with a special VIP location, one beer or wine drink voucher, and a commemorative keepsake upon departure PLUS bonus Star Tours 35th Anniversary Pin. May the Force be with you! Are You Ready to Book Your Next Vacation Today? Be sure to call your Academy Travel agent today for more information and help

Universal Studios Hollywood has announced they are hosting an exclusive Pass Member Park Takeover Event on Thursday, June 9! This special evening, just for pass holders, will go from 8:00 pm to midnight. Pass Members can RSVP starting May 24 starting at 1:30 pm PST; admission is free with an online reservation, but space will be limited! There will be so much fun in store for the evening, and it’s definitely not something to miss if you are a Universal Studios Hollywood Pass Member! Guests can enjoy their favorite rides and attractions, character appearances, photo ops, a Coca-Cola Party Zone with dueling DJs, an outdoor lounge, and more! Attention: USH Pass Members June 9th from 8PM-12AM, the night is all about you! Take over the park and enjoy rides and attractions, character appearances, dueling DJs in the @CocaCola Party Zone, and more! Admission is free with a reservation but space is limited. pic.twitter.com/fFoE6mKGWA — Universal Studios Hollywood (@UniStudios) May 18, 2022 The fun doesn’t stop there! Throughout the month of June, Mel’s Diner (a Graffiti-inspired 50s restaurant featuring golden oldies on the jukebox and a fleet of shiny vintage cars out front) will be serving a limited-time Chocolate Coca-Cola Float exclusively for Pass Members. This sweet treat won’t be on the menu, so be sure to ask for it when you order and be ready to show your pass. Is anyone else drooling just looking at the picture of this float?! Source: UniversalAre You Ready to Book

National Geographic Expeditions announces more ways to experience the world in its Signature Land offerings with the launch of 2023 itineraries! Most notable is the expansion of the Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia: Ancient Temples and Natural Wonders expedition, offering explorers an even deeper dive into the wonder of Southeast Asia. Reservations for the 2023 season of travel will open to the public on May 26th, 2022. More details can be found HERE! The brand new itinerary for “Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia: Ancient Temples and Natural Wonders”, offers two new location stops, providing travelers with a behind-the-scenes look at several Southeast Asian projects funded by the National Geographic Society. Explorers will embark on a 17-day, 16-night excursion across Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, Hue, Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Luang Prabang, and Siem Reap, accompanied by local experts. Highlights of this newly developed expedition include: Brand new experiences, such as a sampan tour along the peaceful canals of Tan Phong Islet followed by a cycle excursion through charming villages and a visit to Cai Rang Floating Market ­— the most famous market of Mekong Delta. Tried-and-true traveler favorite visits to the Angkor Conservation Center — a site rarely open to the general public — to discover thousands of protected statues recovered from the archaeological site, and the Golden Silk Pheach Preservation Center — one of the last silk producers in the world where the silk-making process (raising silkworms to weave) is fully integrated into one place. An array of bold flavors, as

Can’t make the interstellar trip through space to visit Pandora? No problem! We earthlings can now embrace the lush flora, fauna, and culture of Pandora like never before with four new merchandise collections inspired by Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Originally exclusive to Walt Disney World Resort, these unique merchandise assortments are now available on shopDisney! ”Experience Pandora – a world like no other” in this bomber jacket. The bioluminescence found on Pandora, as well as the Na’vi’s connection to nature and animals, inspire the fantastical artwork that decorates this item and more from the Biomapping Collection. There’s no doubt you’ll look good whether lounging on earth or adventuring on an extrasolar moon! Ready for your next eco tour on Pandora? The Eco Travel Collection has all the gear you’ll need as you trek through lush landscapes and floating mountains. Featuring artwork inspired by the Valley of Mo’ara, this colorful backpack is built with spacious compartments and top carry handles to make your adventures more convenient. It’s also the perfect size for your plush baby Na’vi in a blanket, which you can find during your journey at Walt Disney World Resort. If you’re less the adventurer and more the artist, look no further than The Land Collection, inspired by unique artwork of locations, creatures, and vegetation from Pandora. This vibrant tee features one of these designs along with a green tie-dye wash that evokes Pandora’s natural beauty. The tee is available now at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and

Disney has made yet another big update to the way you book your theme park ticket packages! Beginning June 8th, Disney Genie+ Service will no longer be available for advance purchase for dates remaining in 2022 and 2023. Guests will need to purchase Genie+ service via the My Disney Experience app on the morning of each day they plan to use it. This means you will no longer be able to add the Genie+ service to your theme park ticket packages in advance when initially booking your reservation. If you have already made this purchase in advance, your reservation will NOT be affected. The Disney Parks Blog claims this change comes from developing the guest’s overall experience, as they are quoted here: “We’re focused on delivering the best possible guest experience, and this adjustment will help manage the incredibly strong demand our guests have shown for Disney Genie+.” Source: Inside the Magic The service is relatively quick and easy to purchase on the My Disney Experience app, which we recommend familiarizing yourself with prior to your Disney vacation. If you’re using Genie+ Service for the very first time, check out this post here to learn how to use it after purchasing.The post Disney Genie+ Service Will No Longer be Available for Advance Purchase appeared first on The Kingdom Insider. Visit The Kingdom Insider for Orlando Travel News and Disney information.