Before you say anything, we already know what you’re probably thinking. A 2020 WDW vacation? That doesn’t even seem possible! Well, my fellow magical readers, the wonderful magic of Disney is a lot closer than you think. With all 4 Orlando theme parks re-opening their doors this past July operating on enhanced procedures and experiences, the Disney theme parks have made it possible for guests to re-discover the magic in newer and safer ways.
What we also know is that you do have to dive deeper into planning out your days. Park tickets are now requiring reservations and the Disney FastPass+ service is on hiatus until further notice. But don’t let this deter you from strolling down Main Street U.S.A, and don’t think you’re in this completely alone, either! We recently discovered a truly magical way to plan your visit to Walt Disney World® with the awesome WDW Park Planners and we wanted to give you the inside scoop as to why this MAY be the best way to say hello to the mouse!
Book a Galaxy Themed Home Here!
Book a Rental with Themed Rooms Here!
Book a Luxury Rental Home near Disney Here! In her words to us, she stated that “this is a once in a lifetime trip, so we want you to get the most out of it…” and we couldn’t agree more! As a vacation home business ourselves, we understand the importance of making the most out of your vacation experience. With all of the stressors of 2020, adding that touch of magic from a personal concierge can truly make a difference in your much needed Orlando vacation.
If you’re ready to make your magical Disney dreams a reality, book your Magical Vacation Home and head over to WDW Park Planners website to begin your Disney planning journey! You can also find WDW Park Planners on their Instagram and Facebook for the best theme park content.
And as always, see you in the next blog post and have a magical vacation planning day!
*All photos courtesy of WDW Park Planners*BRIGHT SUNS! Welcome to blog three of our countdown to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, opening August 29th at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®! During our visit to the preview event on August 17th, we were lucky enough to find characters throughout our journey through Batuu.
Today, we’re going to show you WHO we saw and WHERE you may spot some of your favorite’s from the movies, here in real life!
(Haven’t read our last blog yet? Make sure you check that out here! Hint: Blue and Green Milk and a galactic bar, anyone?)
Looking around the depot, we noticed much detail that was put into it. From the conveyor belt at the back of location to the droid parts hanging from the ceiling, the theming is genuinely “out of this world”.
And there you have it! Droid, complete. Experience, worth every penny. We loved the atmosphere and the concept behind creating your own droid, and we definitely plan on returning in the future to create our own. But for now, we will reminisce on what we saw and what we learned. Now for you all, it’s time to prepare for your future build. How you will make the droid your own? We can’t wait for everyone to experience this journey!
What is WDW Park Planners?
So what exactly is WDW Park Planners? Well, we’re glad you asked! WDW Park Planners is the stress-free way to plan your entire WDW vacation, minus the hassle of planning. You’ll connect with your own full-service concierge and receive super exciting perks like customized itineraries that feature day by day, line by line, the BEST order to follow throughout your park visit, tailored to your family’s requests.Your Custom Itinerary (Parks, Food, Stroller Rentals, and More!)
These customized itineraries also help optimize your time in the parks so you can get the most out of your vacation experience (with corresponding parks maps for added convenience). Your personal concierge will even put together the tiniest of details, like your daily stroller rentals for the little ones. At the moment, Disney FastPass+ service is unavailable, but once these are back in action you can trust WDW Park Planners to get these together for you as well! And what’s a visit to Walt Disney World® without chowing down on their infamous meals and desserts? WDW Park Planners generates a reservation schedule for your favorite food stops to tie into your daily park visits, giving you peace of mind all the way down to the scrumptious meals you’ll feast on. Whether you’re ready to enjoy endless options at one of the many on-site character buffets, or you’re leaning toward a romantic dinner for two, your personal concierge will have it completely covered. And with plenty of adjustments we’ve seen at the parks, there’s always a possibility that new policies or rules may arise. WDW Park Planners promises to constantly update you and your family with any changes the parks may have, keeping you in the loop at all times.Meet the Owner and Founder
We were delighted to have an opportunity to chat with Colleen, the owner and founder of WDW Park Planners! An Annual Passholder and DVC Member herself, Colleen always finds time to venture from her Chicago home to our sunny Orlando. Colleen, who has recently visited the parks after their reopening, takes her personal theme park experience to create the most beneficial plans for your family.The Stormtroopers
Credit: Nicolette / Magical Vacation Homes Roaming around Batuu, you may bump into a Stormtrooper, or two, or five. During our visit, we noticed them throughout the land both walking and on rooftops. You have to make sure to look everywhere because they pop up from every nook and cranny. And don’t be alarmed if they question you about your allegiance, just, make sure you have an answer for them.Chewbacca
Credit: Nicolette / Magical Vacation Homes Well, it DEFINITELY wouldn’t be Batuu if you didn’t see Chewbacca around, and we saw a lot of him. Keep an eye out when you enter Batuu because you may find him most often at the entrance area. We noticed him around the Rebel Outpost interacting with travelers while checking on his landed ship.Kylo Ren
Credit: Nicolette / Magical Vacation Homes Kylo Ren has arrived in Batuu in search of the Resistance. He’s entirely intimidating but we were in awe watching him walk with the Stormtroopers. When we spotted him, he was walking through the Black Spire Outpost just past Savi’s Workshop.Rey
Famous for being in Episodes VII through IX, Rey makes many appearances throughout Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. One of our Magical members noticed her roaming around just as you enter Batuu, probably planning her recruitment efforts for the Resistance.Vi Moradi
Now we didn’t spot this character until the sun was set, but Vi Moradi is one you’ll want to keep an eye out for. A newer character to most, Vi Moradi was introduced to us in 2017 in the novel, Star Wars: Phasma, and can now be found in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. We were caught by surprise as she found us instead of the other way around. Usually, when wanting to meet characters you will go to them. This time around, we were unexpectedly approached, which was a one-of-a-kind experience. When Vi Moradi found us, she was debating if we were those she could trust as she hid from the Stormtroopers, just before darting off. By the looks of it, you may bump into her just about anywhere as she keeps her guard up and presence hidden (or if you have our experience, she may just bump into you).Til The Spire!
Ready to spot these characters? Get your Disney Theme Park tickets and get ready for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge! With exactly one week away until the grand opening, we’re thrilled for you all to experience what we witnessed in Batuu. There’s still time to book your stay with Magical Vacation Homes. We have plenty of villas that are perfect for any party on your future galactic getaway. We’ll be back tomorrow with our exciting experience on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. Until next time, Til the Spire, and have a Magical day!*As to Disney artwork, logos, and properties: ©Disney*
BRIGHT SUNS! It’s blog two on our countdown to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. This past weekend we were lucky enough to attend an exclusive preview of Batuu. We learned SO much about what this park extension will offer! Oga’s Cantina and the Milk Stand were definite stand-outs! So we’re here today to tell you what we saw, tasted, and loved about these two VERY important places! (Haven’t read the first blog yet? Make sure you check that out here! Hint: We talked about building some really cool stuff!)Oga’s Cantina
We’ve got to admit, seeing Oga’s Cantina in person felt entirely surreal. We’ve read about it online and browsed through many photos of it for sure. But to actually stand there, ready to walk in, we felt like we won the grand prize. Oga’s Cantina is the “It” spot for bounty hunters, smugglers, and others (now, including you). Take a moment to break away from the walkways of Batuu and refuel on an assortment of food and drink. Gather around with others at the bar or in your own private booth before heading out to take on your next journey through the galaxy. When we walked in, we were greeted by dim lighting, upbeat music, and a very lighthearted atmosphere. For those who are always in search of the next great bar, this hangout spot takes the cake.Unusual(ly Good) Drinks and Eats
At the time of our preview, we were not able to purchase anything. However, that didn’t stop us from sneaking a peek at the menus. We took a look at what galactic offerings will be featured on the grand opening and we think you’re all going to like the selection. As you can see, there’s really something for everyone. From hot to cold beverages, to even non-alcoholic drinks and snacks, everyone in your party will leave Oga’s Cantina satisfied. Pricing per item varies, with the low-end looking at $4 for a double espresso, up to $85 for the Rancor Beer Flight. But regardless of pricing, each concoction on the menu looks very promising. And, food for thought, we did have the opportunity to sample the Jedi Mind Trick. This drink sells at $16 and is created with grapefruit & rose vodka, velvet falernum bols blue curacao, white grape and lime juice, and grapefruit bitters. We found it to be the PERFECT combination and a definite buy when you decide to visit. Get ready for your intergalactic travel at Oga’s Cantina! Reservations are now available, so go ahead and reserve your spot at this must-visit bar.The Milk Stand
How could we talk about one drink location without diving into the Milk Stand? The go-to beverage for all of Batuu (and Luke Skywalker) has to be the blue and green milk (and it’s all vegan). We tried both of these delicious options and were very surprised by the flavor! With the consistency of an icy smoothie (PERFECT for those hot, Florida days), the blue milk’s (left) rice and coconut milk-based drink is sweet and fruity. The green milk (right) tasted like a cup full of springtime with a dash of citrus. If we HAD to pick, we’d go blue, but for citrus, fans should definitely aim for green! It’s the summer beverage we’ve been needing! If you’re over 21, try either milk with a dash of rum (for blue) or tequila (for green). Non-alcoholic milk runs at $7.99 and $14 with alcohol. And if you’re one to collect souvenir items, you can ask for your (non-alcoholic) milk of choice in the Bubo Wampa Family Farms Sipper! These can be purchased for $24.99 at the Milk Stand.Til The Spire…
So, what are you waiting for? Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge may not open until August 29th, however, it’s never too early to purchase your Disney Theme Park tickets! Get them early and get prepared to travel to Batuu for an out of this world galactic journey. And after your journey back from Batuu, look no further than Magical Vacation Homes for your magical galaxy villa. Our homes are perfect for the Orlando vacation and close by to all things Star Wars. We’ll see you tomorrow when we talk about Chewbacca, Stormtroopers and other galactic friends. Until next time, Til the Spire, and have a Magical day!*As to Disney artwork, logos, and properties: ©Disney*
*Oga’s Cantina may require a reservation. For Milk Stand and Oga’s Cantina, prices subject to change. Food and drinks subject to availability. We can all hear the beep-beep-boop sounds in our heads when we think of the infamous BB-8. But, what if those sounds were even closer? What if you could choose the beeps and the boops and build it from the bottom up? Looks like the Droid Depot is here to fulfill your wildest dreams of droid-building and imaginative creation. BRIGHT SUNS! We are VERY excited to share with you the first blog in our countdown to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, opening August 29th at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®. And we know, you’re probably wondering “The first blog? How much could there be to talk about?” A lot, fellow readers. This remarkable land has many sights to see and MANY things to do, just like our first topic of many, the Droid Depot!