<<Introduction>>

Here comes Peter Cottontail ... and another edition of the INTERCOT Insider.  In this egg-cellent edition we round-up the latest ways to save, roll out the newsreel, learn about the back-story of the S.E.A. that spans multiple Disney Theme Parks, and dish out the changes at Walt Disney World restaurants.  Hang on to them hats and glasses, cause this here's the most informative ride on the internet!

<<Disney Deals>>

with Magical Journeys Travel Agency

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Offer Details : Book Through July 14, 2017
Valid Travel Dates: May 28 through August 31, 2017

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Offer Details: Book through July 14, 2017
Valid Travel Dates: Stays most Sunday through Thursday nights from June 11 through August 31, 2017

Enjoy a package that includes a 4-night stay in a standard room at a select Disney's All-Star Resort and 4-day Magic Your Way base tickets for as low as $1,962. Sample package price is valid for a family of 4 for stays most Sunday through Thursday nights from June 11 through August 31, 2017.

--Kid-Size Summer Vacation Package--

Offer Details: Book Through July 14, 2017
Valid Travel Dates: Stays most Sunday through Thursday nights from June 11 through August 31, 2017

Explore a package that includes a 3-night stay in a standard room at a select Disney's All-Star Resort and 2-day Magic Your Way base tickets for as low as $993*. Sample package price is valid for a family of 3 for stays most Sunday through Thursday nights from June 11 through August 31, 2017, when you book from now through July 14, 2017.

>>Details on INTERCOT Discussion Boards
>>Contact Magical Journeys Today!

<< INTERCOT Newsreel>>

We're rolling out the Newsreel for Early Spring to cover all the new happenings at the Walt Disney World resort:

>> Disney’s Animal Kingdom has added a new Character Meet & Greet. Effective February 19, 2017; Guests can now meet Doc McStuffins at Rafiki’s Planet Watch. The Meet and Greet is currently operating daily between 10:00 am-12:45 pm & 1:55 pm-4:30 pm, intermittently.

>> The mainstay parking lot trams at the Walt Disney World resort are in transit of a significant change. The resort has internally announced to Cast Members that the trams are in-process of being replaced with more modern, quieter Trams. The Trams will also begin to share a similar designation to its Highway in the Sky sibling by being identified with individual colors, for example “Tram Green”. No specific dates were shared in the announcement, but the changes were described to be imminent.

>> La Nouba has been seen by over 10 million guests and will continue to dazzle audiences with its breathtaking blend of daring acrobatics and dazzling choreography through 2017, with a final performance scheduled to take place on December 31, 2017.

>> Disney’s Animal Kingdom has recently added a new animal show in the Dinoland USA section of the park. The prehistoric themed area is now offering a “Bird Experience” daily at 3:30 pm & 4:30 pm that shares the connections between birds and dinosaurs.

>> Just beyond the pineapple fields of Crush ‘n’ Gusher awaits an all-new, family-raft attraction owned by Captain Mary Oceaneer—a sea-faring treasure hunter whose haul was caught in a rogue typhoon… and scattered across this tropical paradise years ago. Miss Adventure Falls opened on March 12, inviting Guests to board a 4-person raft and feel a rush of excitement with family and friends as an aquatic conveyor belt chutes you into action. While aboard, Guests also meet the captain’s old diving partner— parrot who’s still hunting for treasures at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park to this day!

>> The Epcot International Festival of the Arts will return to Epcot in early 2018! Run dates have yet to be announced, however it appears that the festival will run again in the January/February time frame.

>> Heritage House in the Liberty Square section of the Magic Kingdom has been repurposed again after several changes from its retail roots. The once MyMagic+ Service Center and Meet & Greet spot is now the Liberty Square Ticket Office offering in-park Walt Disney World ticket sales and services.

>> The Darkroom and Cover Story re-opened from their multi-month rehab with several changes. Due to internal renovations, Guests can now pass through The Darkroom, Cover Story, and Celebrity 5 & 10 to avoid potential crowds on Hollywood Blvd. (or have easier access to other shopping needs). Both stores received new layouts with new focuses on Magic Bands, Disney Phone Cases, and Disney Pins.

>> New stores and dining spots aren’t the only things still springing up at Disney Springs; there’s still more infrastructure work to come. Construction has begun for the Third Parking Garage for the shopping, dining, and entertainment area. The Walt Disney World Casting parking lot closed on April 1st as part of the project commencement. The third garage will be connected via a pedestrian bridge across Buena Vista Drive. The new garage will reportedly be mixed use for both Guests and Cast Members.

>> This summer, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will present “The Music of Pixar LIVE! A Symphony of Characters.” This limited-time concert event will showcase memorable music from Pixar Animation Studios films, complete with a live orchestra and appearances by beloved Disney•Pixar characters. Starting May 26, “The Music of Pixar LIVE!” will be presented three times nightly at Theater of the Stars at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (following the regular daily performances of “Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage”).

>> Mission: SPACE is currently scheduled to be closed for refurbishment from June 5th through July 31st, 2017. Although not confirmed, it is rumoured among attraction Cast that the ride may feature new missions or updates to the existing mission as part of the refurbishment.

>> Stay Tuned to the INTERCOT News Forum for the Latest Updates and Announcements

<< So Just What is the S.E.A.? >>

After the recent inclusion of the new Typhoon Lagoon raft ride into this multi-park backstory, an inquisitive @INTERCOT Twitter reader asked for more information on the S.E.A.

The S.E.A. (the Society of Explorers and Adventurers) is the spiritual continuation of the Adventurers Club, although thematically it is the Adventurers Club predecessor.

The backstory originated at Tokyo Disney Sea and has since spread to Hong Kong Disneyland, The Magic Kingdom Park, The Disney Cruise Line; and now Typhoon Lagoon.

The S.E.A. was originally developed as part of the theme for Fortress Explorations attraction and Magellan’s restaurant at Tokyo Disney Sea. Magellan’s could be considered the epicenter for this multi-park lore with its multiple S.E.A. logos spread throughout the restaurant and secret meeting (dining) room actually concealed behind a fully functioning faux-bookcase passageway. When Tokyo Disney Sea opened their Tower of Terror attraction, it introduced the first attraction with a S.E.A. member to be central to its theme with Harrison Hightower III.

A letter on S.E.A. letterhead (and multiple S.E.A. references) in the queue of the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at the Magic Kingdom helped tie the new backstory into the multi-park lore after the ride’s 2012 refurbishment.

The opening of Mystic Manor at Hong Kong Disneyland further incorporated the backstory of S.E.A. and provided a group portrait that has helped establish canon for the prominent S.E.A. members: Harrison Hightower III (Tower of Terror), Lord Henry Mystic (Mystic Manor), Barnabas T. Bullion (Big Thunder Mountain Railroad), and Mary Oceaneer (Oceaneer’s Lab and Miss Adventure Falls).

The Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen has continued to integrate the backstory at the Magic Kingdom with the one of the three dining rooms being a former secret S.E.A meeting room and numbers of artifacts spread through-out the restaurant.

Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar in Disney Springs was recognized as part of the story in one of the location's first publicity releases:

"... As a member of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers, Jock often welcomed his globetrotting friends to his hangar for a drink and fun times."

The introduction of Miss Adventure Falls has continued the inclusion of the S.E.A. lore primarily in the attraction’s marque, some queue items, and the first physical appearance of Salty the Parrot (Mary Oceaneer’s feathered companion).

The S.E.A. storylines are primarily set in the late 1800’s making its members approximately one generation prior to the eccentric explorers that Guests once found in the 1930’s era Adventurers Club.

While Disney has yet to widely publicize the S.E.A. stories it has interwoven through multiple theme park attractions and restaurants; it has helped add that level of detail and richness that has kept a devoted set of Disney Travelers to keep coming back.

<< The Dish on Disney Dining>>

The Dining scene at the Walt Disney World resort is constantly serving up new offerings and changes.  Here's the dish on the latest news bites:

>> A new flavor of popcorn has recently popped up in the Magic Kingdom. The Frontierland Popcorn Cart has added Maple Popcorn to its menu priced at $5.25 per box or $11.00 in a souvenir bucket.

>> The new Joffrey’s Coffee brand Kiosk has opened as "Revive" in Magic Kingdom's Tommorowland. The new spot offers a signature beverage, the Mission to S'mores Latte is a decadent homage to Mission to Mars comprised of espresso mixed with chocolate sauce and marshmallow syrup, topped with whipped cream, graham crackers and marshmallow. The drink is offered hot or cold priced at $5.39.

>> A popular Yacht Club restaurant will be making a move for the second half of the year. The Captain’s Grille restaurant will be operating through a refurbishment of its location by temporarily moving to a shuttered restaurant location at Disney’s Beach Club. From Mid-May through Fall 2017, Captain’s Grille will operate out of the former Ariel’s location.

>> Disney’s Hollywood Studios has postponed the extension to Minnie’s Seasonal dining to Lunch seatings until later in the year. The park has announced that the Lunch Seatings will begin on September 4th with the start of the 2017 run of the Minnie’s Halloween Dine. With this change, Guests will continue to have only Dinner options for Minnie’s Springtime Dine (now through June 4, 2017) and Minnie’s Summertime Dine (June 5 – September 3, 2017).

>> Terra Treats, located in the Discovery Island section of the park, added Chirps Chips to its menu earlier this calendar year. The snack is packaged chips in a variety of flavors that are made from Cricket Flour. The theme park size serving is priced at $6.69.

>> The last original Pleasure Island venue has announced the beginning of its Disney Springs transformation. Portobello Country Italian Trattoria (opening as the Portobello Yacht Club in 1989) has announced it will close for refurbishment on April 24, 2017 for major renovations. The location is slated to re-open in Fall 2017 keeping the Italian cuisine, but enhancing the experience with a new family style menu, craft beers, and Italian wines developed by James Beard Award-winner Chef Tony Mantuano.

>> Fans of Dole Whips and Rum have another reason to be happy at Walt Disney World as a popular hotel has combined these two into a new treat. Guests at Art of Animation Resort can now enjoy the Captain’s Pineapple cocktail at the Drop Off Pool Bar. The frozen concoction is simply described as a Dole Whip with Captain's Morgan and is priced at $10.00. The drink has been described as Seasonal, but no indication on its tenure has been reported.

>>Grab a bite of Dining Reviews & Disney Food News in the INTERCOT Dining Forum

<<Conclusion >>

It's time for this edition to hippity-hop away. We hope its basket of discount, planning, and dining news have helped you plan your next Walt Disney World vacation. We'll be back in a few weeks with more great tips, news, and deals.  See ya real soon!

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