Planning to spend the Easter Holiday in Orlando?  Then check out our special webpage filled with special hints to help make your holiday trip more enjoyable!

www.sborlando.com/easter                                                                                                                                                                            

The Magic Kingdom® Park is scheduled to have a Super Bowl Motorcade down Main Street U.S.A., complete with a player from the winning team, on Monday, February 6th*.

If you are a big Giants or Patriots fan, this is a great way to see one of your favourite players!

*Subject to change at anytime, please check with Walt Disney World® for most current information.

Beginning on February 1st look for a new seasonal twist, just in time for Valentine’s Day, to Disney’s popular The Magic, the Memories, and You digital projection show.  The Valentine’s Day version will feature scenes centered on romance and the Disney Princesses.  The Magic, the Memories, and You Show is projected on Cinderella Castle most nights at the Magic Kingdom® Park, usually right before the showing of theme park’s ever popular nighttime spectacular, Wishes™.

Previous seasonal updates to The Magic, Memories, and You have included versions to coincide with the Christmas Holiday Season.  Disney has also hinted that we can also expect to see a new sand castle version of the show lighting up Cinderella Castle and the Magic Kingdom® Park sky this summer!

If you’re looking for something extra special way to celebrate Leap Year, the Walt Disney World® Resort has made your search very easy.

For the first time ever, the Magic Kingdom® Park will be open for 24 consecutive hours to celebrate Leap Year!  The Theme Park will be open from 6 a.m. on February 29th through 6 a.m. on March 1st. Truly giving you a whole a additional day to experience the fun at the Walt Disney World® in 2012!  (As a note, the fun is not just relegated to the east coast: Disneyland® Park in California will also be joining the fun by staying open for 24 consecutive hours)

Staybridge Suites has some great special offers which are valid over this time period to allow you to experience all of the fun

For guests from outside of Florida:

We offer Disney Theme Park Packages, which combines your Disney Magic Your Way® Tickets with a suite at one of our hotels.  During this time period we have 3 special package offers, you can take advantage of all 3!:

• 7th Night FREE on qualifying packages*
• An extra days admission to the Walt Disney World® Theme Parks FREE*
• A Free $100 Gift Card for stays of 4 Nights or Longer*

CLICK HERE for more information on our Disney Theme Park Packages

For Florida Residents

We offer the Disney Wild for 3 Pass, which offers 3 days admission to Walt Disney World® Theme Parks for just $99*.  Along with special Florida Resident Discounts on our suites.

CLICK HERE for more information about the Florida Resident Specials

*Restrictions apply. See offer page for more details

Looking for great shopping deals on just about everything, well look no further!  Take a trip to Orlando and visit some of the best shopping outlets in the country

The Orlando area is home to two Orlando Premium Outlets locations, Vineland Rd-Lake Buena Vista Area and International Drive, as well as the Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores.

Both Staybridge Suites Hotels in Orlando are conveniently located to all 3 centers,  so you will be never be more than a few minutes from great shopping.

• From our Lake Buena Vista Hotel: We offer complimentary shuttle to the Orlando Premium Outlets-Vineland Road and the Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores
• From our International Drive Hotel:  The I-Ride Trolley stops right in front of the hotel.  The trolley provides transportation to the Orlando Premium Outlets-Vineland Road and the Orlando Premium Outlets-International Drive (for a fee)

Staybridge Suites has a promotion with both the Orlando Premium Outlets and the Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores which includes a free gift card when you book the respective special rate code and stay 2 more nights*.

To Reserve the Orlando Premium Outlets Promotion: CLICK HERE

To Reserve the Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores Promotion: CLICK HERE

* Restrictions apply

Get a FREE $100 Disney Gift Card, when you book a qualifying Disney Theme Park Package from Staybridge Suites in Orlando during select periods through April 30th.

This is in addition to any applicable 7th Night Free Savings or additional days free admission promotions.

As a Walt Disney World Good Neighbor® Hotel, Staybridge Suites offers money saving packages which combine your spacious suite accommodations with Disney Magic Your Way® Tickets to create the perfect Orlando Vacation.

CLICK HERE for More Information 

Walt Disney World® has just announced a new special deal for Florida Residents!

Its the Wild for Disney Pass!

It offers 3-Days admission for just $99, and 4-Days for just $129!

The Wild for Disney Pass includes admission to Magic Kingdom® Park, Epcot®, Disney’s Hollywood Studios®, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park (One Theme Park Per Day)

The pass is valid from Jan 4, 2012 through May 24, 2012 (excluding Feb 18-20 and Apr 1-13, 2012)

You can purchase them directly from Walt Disney World® through this online link, CLICK HERE

*Proof Florida Residency is required.  All information regarding the Wild for Disney Pass is subject to change by Walt Disney World® Resort

New Year’s Eve Illuminations at Epcot®

So if you are heading to Walt Disney World® for New Year’s Eve here are some tips so you can choose the theme park which best suits your needs!

Do all of the Disney Theme Parks have special events planned to ring in the New Year? 3 of the 4 theme parks do.  Magic Kingdom® Park, Epcot®, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios® all have special events for New Year’s Eve, with Disney’s Animal Kingdom® being the exception. 

What type of Special Events are offered at the Theme Parks? The entertainment schedule at the theme parks for New Year’s Eve is very extensive.  At the Magic Kingdom® Park there will be 2 runnings of the Main Street Electrical Parade, a showing of the Holiday Wishes™ Nighttime Fireworks Show earlier in the evening, and then the New Year’s Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks near midnight.  At Disney’s Hollywood Studios® there will be several showings of Fantasmic, special entertainment throughout the park, along with a Hollywood inspired New Year’s Eve Show at midnight.  Epcot® has numerous specials events to make the night festive, including special Dance Parties, bands, an early showing of Illuminations, and then the worldwide countdown to the New Years Show right before midnight.

Will the Theme Parks be crowded on New Year’s Eve?  YES.  New Year’s Eve is typically the busiest day of the year at the Walt Disney World® Resort.  While it’s impossible to predict attendance patterns for each year, during prior years some or all of the Disney Theme Parks have reached capacity on New Year’s Eve.  My advice is to pick which Theme Park you want to visit, and then to plan on getting there early in the day!

If we get to one of the parks early in the day, can we leave and come back later in the evening for the New Year’s entertainment? NOT NECESSARILY.  It really depends on how crowded the parks get.  Walt Disney World® has several different phases of capacity, some of the more crowded phases do not allow for re entry into the theme park.  If you really want to be sure of seeing the New Year’s Entertainment you should plan on spending the full day at the theme park.

Which Theme Park is the most crowded on New Year’s Eve?  Walt Disney World® does not publicise their attendance figures, so it impossible to know for sure.  However we do know from prior years that  the Magic Kingdom® Park typically is the first park to reach capacity, often fairly early in the day.  Epcot® is much larger than the Magic Kingdom® Park or Disney’s Hollywood Studios® and therefore has a larger capacity, so it most likely has the largest attendance on New Year’s Eve.  However since Epcot® has much larger walkways and public spaces, it allows for crowds to move more freely and it may not seem as crowded as the other two parks.  This is a big advantage for a busy night like New Year’s Eve.  But in the end since it’s such a fun place to ring in the new year, all of the parks are crowded for New Year’s Eve!

We want to celebrate the New Year, but our children will never be able to stay up until midnight?  Disney has taken this into account.  This year they offer an early running of the Holiday Wishes™ Fireworks Show in the Magic Kingdom® Park at 8 p.m. as well as an early running of Illuminations at Epcot® at 7 p.m.  This is a great way for families with younger children to celebrate the New Year (albeit a few hours early!) 

Is Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park open on New Year’s Eve? YES, however the park closes at 8 p.m. and does not offer a fireworks show to celebrate the New Year.  However, past reports have indicated that the park is less crowded on New Year’s Eve than the other 3 parks, so Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a good choice if you are looking to minimise your wait time for some of the attractions.

Do you need a special ticket to visit a Walt Disney World® Theme Park on New Year’s Eve? NO, a regular Disney Magic Your Way Ticket allows for admission into the Disney Theme Parks for New Year’s Eve (excluding tours and specially ticketed adventures).

If our party is consisted mostly of adults, is one theme park better suited for us than the other?  That depends on what type of entertainment you are looking for.  All of the parks have entertainment that appeal to guests of all ages, each with their own theme.  By it’s own nature Epcot®, with its International World Showcase, offers a large amount of entertainment and restaurants that many adults find appealing.  One important difference to note is that both Epcot® and Disney’s Hollywood Studios® both sell alcoholic beverages, while the Magic Kingdom® Park is completely alcohol free. 

Is it possible to see the New Year’s Eve show for 2 of the Theme Parks?  YES.  Due to enormous popularity of the Magic Kingdom® Park’s New Year’s Eve Fantasy in the Sky Show, Disney also presents this show at midnight on December 30th.  So if you plan correctly you can see the Magic Kingdom® Park’s show on the 30th and then visit Epcot® or Disney’s Hollywood Studios® for December 31st. 

Are there fireworks at Downtown Disney® for New Year’s Eve? NO.  There are no fireworks displays planned for New Year’s Eve at Downtown Disney®, however, many of the restaurants and bars have special entertainment and menus for the evening. Downtown Disney® is always a popular place to spend New Year’s Eve

I hope the above helps you choose which Disney Theme Park is best for your family this New Year’s Eve. 

Happy 2012!!!

*All of the above information is subject to change at anytime.

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade at the Magic Kingdom® Park

Have you made the big decision to spend Christmas in Orlando’s warm weather this year?  If so, then you are for a treat as the holiday season the merriest season of all to visit!

The entire Walt Disney World® Resort is decked out to the nines in holiday fare, so matter which theme park you choose to spend the day in, you are sure to have a great holiday.

Here are some answers to the most popular questions about Christmas at the Walt Disney World® Theme Parks that should help you plan your day:

Do all four Disney Theme Parks have special holiday events?  YES.  All 4 Theme Parks have special holiday events, and these events also take place on Christmas Day.  The events range from Holiday Wishes Fireworks in the Magic Kingdom® Park, Holidays Around the World at Epcot®, and the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios™.  For a complete lisiting, visit our Seasonal Events section. Also as note, most of these special events take place throughout the holiday season, so you can plan to see them all during your visit.

Which Theme Park is the most crowded on Christmas Day?  The Magic Kingdom® Park is the most popular choice for guests on Christmas Day.  While it’s impossible to predict attendance patterns each year, historically the Magic Kingdom® Park has reached capacity several times throughout the day on Christmas Day.

Do I need a specially priced ticket to visit a Walt Disney World® Theme Park on Christmas?  NO.  Regular Disney Magic Your Way® Tickets allow for admission into all four Disney Theme Parks on Christmas.  Special tickets are only required for extra adventures and tours.

What is the weather like on Christmas in central Florida? That one can be tricky.  While the normal high for December 25th in Orlando is 72 degrees and weather is usually comfortably warm, there are occasional cold snaps which occur in Orlando.  However they normally only last a couple of days.  My best advice is pack for warmer and cooler weather and to check the weather forecast when you get here.  No matter however, if you are coming from the north it will be a whole lot warmer then where you are coming from!

What are some special places to have Christmas dinner at the Walt Disney World® Resort?  There are many, many great places to enjoy a spectacular Christmas dinner at Walt Disney World®.  I’m sure each family has their own favourite place.   As for some suggestions: If visiting Epcot® enjoy some International customs by choosing your favourite country in the World Showcase section of the park and enjoy dinner at its restuarant.  In the Magic Kingdom® Park many families have a holiday tradition of enjoying Christmas dinner at Cinderella’s Royal Table inside of Cinderella Castle.  Or if you are in the mood for a California style holiday, try the Brown Derby at Disney’s Hollywood Studios™.  Many of the Walt Disney World® Resort Hotels also have very special dining options which are great for Christmas, such as the California Grille at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.  At the Downtown Disney® Area a holiday celebration aboard a real steamboat at Fulton’s Crab House is always a special treat. Make advance reservations by calling (407) WDW-DINE.

Do the restaurants have special holiday themed menu items for Christmas?  Many of them do.  While each restaurant has its own policy and they can vary from year to year, in the past many of the restaurants have offer a special entree or two themed for the holiday along with their regular menu.  My advice would be to ask before making reservations.

If you have any other questions regarding Walt Disney World® or any of the other attractions in central Florida, be sure to visit our Guest Services desk located in the main lobby area of hotel.  We’d be happy to assist you further!

And above all, Have a Merry Christmas!!!!

*All of the above information is subject to change at any time

The Holiday Season is when Orlando truly comes to life!  No December is complete without a trip to enjoy some special time with family and friends

Here is a listing of some of the special events for holidays taking place at the Walt Disney World® Resort

Magic Kingdom® Park

• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
• Disney’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade
• Holiday Wishes Nighttime Spectacular

Epcot®

• Holiday Around the World
• Disney’s Candlelight Processional

Disney’s Hollywood Studios®

• Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights

Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park

• Jingle Jungle Parade

Downtown Disney® Area

• Festival of the Seasons

Staybridge Suites makes visiting Orlando for the holiday easier than ever with extra specials deals.  Take a look around our website and fit the special offer than suits your families need best.  We look forward to seeing you this holiday season!