Walt Disney World will livestream its fireworks from the Magic Kingdom on New Year’s Eve. Folks who don’t want to brave the theme parks (and the holiday throngs) will be able to see the “Fantasy in the Sky” show at 11:45 p.m. The broadcast will be available at disneyparksblog.com. “Fantasy in the Sky” includes songs from the it’s a small world and Haunted Mansion attractions, plus Disney...
December 2018
The rides, attractions, and restaurants at Walt Disney World are maintained on a regular basis. This keeps guests safe. Sometimes, though, extra work is needed. A ride, attraction, store, or restaurant might close for refurbishment. It could be that the closure is just for a few days so that the elements of the area can be deep-cleaned, and maybe a fresh coat of paint added. Other times the...
Less is best. Grass, that is. That summed up one attendee’s learning experience at a Florida Friendly Landscaping workshop recently at Venice City Hall. Around 60 residents attended. Members of the University of Florida’s Extension Office described the nine basic principles of Florida Friendly Landscapes and imparted sage advice that left some scratching their heads. For example,...
The 2019 housing market will see modest inventory gains, but with mortgage rates expected to hit 5.5 percent by the end of the year, monthly mortgage payments will rise 8 percent putting home ownership more out of reach especially for younger Gen-Z, Millennial, and other first-time home buyers. Upscale homes in high-growth markets, however, will provide more opportunities for...
But certain restaurants go to infinity and beyond in that department. There are hundreds of fantastic restaurants on property, but these are nine fine/signature restaurants in WDW that are a cut above. 1. Victoria and Albert’s This exclusive restaurant is the cream of the crop. The waitlist for reservations can be insane if you’re not proactive about it. Seated regally in...
Foreclosure activity is on the rise in 15 states, which bucks the national trend from the past few years. While U.S. foreclosures spiked during the recession, they dropped to historically low levels later as tight lending standards banned all but the most worthy creditors from getting a loan. In October, foreclosure activity rose 55 percent in Florida, 50 percent in Georgia, 28 percent in...
The new tax law is adding a wrinkle to traditional end-of-year money moves. The higher standard deduction – $18,000 for individuals and $24,000 for married couples – means many more Americans will ditch itemizing their 2018 federal tax returns. TurboTax estimates that 90 percent of returns will take the standard deduction, up from 70 percent before the changes took place. That means...
Luxury home prices saw their smallest increases in nearly two years, and those in the luxury market are blaming a culprit familiar to other sectors of the market for slowing sales and prices: higher mortgage rates. This week, luxury homebuilder Toll Brothers reported a 13 percent drop year-to-year in the number of signed contracts for homes in its fiscal fourth quarter, along with a 9 percent...
December 15 looks set to be a very busy day at the Magic Kingdom. Operating hours for that day are 8am to midnight, and Disney has taken the unusual step of adding a second performance of the Festival of Fantasy parade. The first parade steps off at 11am, followed by the usual 2pm parade. Double day parades typically only occur during the Christmas week, with Once Upon A Christmastime Parade...
May the Force be with Disney There are lots of new attractions and fun in store over the next year. “We are currently in the midst of one of the most extraordinary periods of expansion in our history,” said Bob Chapek, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Consumer Products. “We are always pushing the boundaries of what’s possible as we deliver world-class experiences and attractions,...