Disney World Night of Joy Performers Announced

Photo Credit: Disney

Disney has announced the full schedule for this year's Night of Joy, complete with the full performer line-up and locations.

Night of Joy 2015 takes place this year at the Magic Kingdom on September 11th and 12th, 7:30pm to 1am each evening. Tickets are $65 plus tax in advance for one night and $115 plus tax in advance for two nights.

Friday, September 11th, 2015

CASTLE FORECOURT STAGE
7:40 p.m. – Jeremy Camp
9:45 p.m. – MercyMe
11:55 p.m. – TobyMac

GALAXY STAGE
7:30 p.m. – Francesca Battistelli
8:50 p.m. – Francesca Battistelli
10:25 p.m. – Colton Dixon
12:05 a.m. – Big Daddy Weave

ROCKETTOWER PLAZA STAGE
8:10 p.m. – Josh Wilson
9:40 p.m. – I Am They
11:15 p.m. – Rend Collective

Saturday, September 12th, 2015

CASTLE FORECOURT STAGE
7:40 p.m. – for King & Country
9:40 p.m. – LeCrae
11:50 p.m. – Skillet

GALAXY STAGE
7:30 p.m. – Jamie Grace
8:50 p.m. – Jamie Grace
10:25 p.m. – Matt Maher
12 a.m. – Mandisa

ROCKETTOWER PLAZA STAGE
8:10 p.m. – Veridia
9:40 p.m. – 7eventh Time Down
11:15 p.m. – 7eventh Time Down


For more information and to purchase event tickets, visit NightofJoy.com or contact your Snapshot Getaways agent to get more details and your tickets.

Amanda Hansel is a self proclaimed Disney nerd who has 2 boys. She is also a travel agent with Snapshot Getaways. You can find her on Facebook and on Twitter. She would love to hear from you or chat about Disney with you.

Flower & Garden Festival: Garden Rocks Music Line Up

Disney has announced the line-up for this year’s concert series at the 2015 International Flower & Garden Festival. The theme is Garden Rocks and there is a nice line-up for this year. 

There is something for every music fan at the festival. However, if you are a fan of the 70’s get ready to get your vacation on!
Check out who will be appearing at Epcot this year and the dates you can see them.

§  March 6-8: Gin Blossoms “Hey Jealousy”

§  March 13-15: Pablo Cruise “Love Will Find a Way”

§  March 20-22: En Vogue “Free Your Mind”

§  March 27-29: Starship “We Built This City”

§  April 3-5: The Orchestra starring former members of ELO “Evil Woman”

§  April 10-12: Village People “Y.M.C.A.”

§  April 17-19: Jon Secada “Just Another Day”

§  April 24-26: The Guess Who “These Eyes”

§  May 1-3: Taylor Dayne “Tell It to My Heart”

§  May 8-10: Little River Band “Lady”

§  May 15-17: Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone “I’m Henry the VIII, I Am”

Performances are at America Gardens Theatre at 5:30, 6:45 and 8:00 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and are included with Epcot admission. The line-up for the Garden Rocks Concert Series is subject to change without notice.

Which are you most excited to see? I think I would like to see En Vouge and of course the Village People. I mean who would not want to be doing the Y.M.C.A. in a crowd with many other people while holding a yummy treat or beverage. If you go please feel free to share your pictures and thoughts with the Snapshot Getaways Team.

Amanda is a self-proclaimed Disney nerds who is raising two boys. Amanda loves to help plan Disney trips for others as an agent of Snapshot Getaways. You can follow her on Facebook or Twitter.

Mickey & the Magical Map

Mickey & the Magical Map

So you’re going to Disneyland, and you know that you’ll need some time to rest, but don’t want to go back to your room, only to make the trek back to the park? Well, I have a suggestion that will not only save you plenty of time from trekking back and forth, but will allow you to rest in a shaded area and catch a GREAT show.

In the Fantasyland Theatre (open air theatre) at Disneyland Park, there is a show that takes place only a few times a day, BUT, not every day of the week. It’s called Mickey & the Magical Map. I can honestly say that it is magical. This 45 minute show is definitely worth your time. I recommend that you don’t miss it.

Basically, it’s a live show that showcases some of Disney’s most memorable songs. You’ll see performances of songs from: Jungle Book, Little Mermaid, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tangled, Lilo & Stitch, and even Princess & the Frog. The performers are lively and entertaining. You’ll also see Mickey earn his magic paint brush along the way. Tiana and Mickey bring the show to an end, and colorful streamers come flowing down over the audience from above.

 



 The Fantasyland Theatre can be found across from It’s a Small World, and just down from the Train Station stop (in other words, near Toon Town). I highly recommend that you arrive early, as the best seats in the house are in the middle section and if you want good pics, I suggest either as close to the front as possible, or in the second section (middle portion). The seating is standard metal benches, and there are restrooms just outside the open air theatre. Before the show starts, a Cast Member will be walking around selling beverages. So no need to wait in line in the sun outside the theatre.

Frank grew up in South Florida, and as such, has been to WDW many times as a child.  The trips stopped when he went to college in Texas (his current residence).  He visited Disneyland in Cali while living there for a few years.  Fast forward to 2005, when he was once again living in TX, and decided that it was past time to return.  Since then he’s been to the parks approximately every 12-18 months, including Disneyland.  He has recently decided to join the Snapshot Getaways team as an affiliate agent, and enjoys assisting families plan their magical memories. He can be reached at:  frank@osomagical.com

Five Ways to Get Your Disney Fix at Home

Are you like me?  Do you start going through withdrawal a few months after that last Disney trip?  What to do? I am a lover of all things Disney.  My first trip to Disney World was as an adult with my husband.  All subsequent trips have included my children.  I love the family time we spend there!  If I could I would live in Cinderella’s Castle and stroll up and down Main Street USA on a daily basis.  But since I don’t have the means to do that, here are a few things I do to keep the Disney Crazy at bay.  Some of these I’ve only “heard” from other people and have never tried myself of course.  Don’t judge, cause I know there are more of you out there worse off than I!

1. Book an imaginary trip to Disney.  Admit it, you've done this too!  You price your hotel, pick a dining plan and maybe even look into some dining reservations.  Then you realize Disney does not accept Monopoly money and you close out your computer.  Or maybe you sit and think, “Wow, that’s not a bad deal” and you convince your family that you MUST go back to Disney even though you said you would wait 2 years.  You only need REAL help if you order, and WATCH the planning DVD with no plans to go to Disney.  If that happens contact us at Snapshot Getaways and we'll fix you right up!
2. Go to the Disney Store.  This is a small help if you are just having “one of those days”.  The smell, the music, the twinkling floor tiles.  Not sure what it is, but I feel better afterward.  I watch the vintage Mickey shorts on the TV, sniff the Disney air fresheners, talk myself out of another Mickey Mouse coffee cup.  The usual.  Or so I hear.
3. Immerse yourself in Disney.  Have your Travel Mugs from the Dining Plan?  Drink out of them and close your eyes and pretend you are at your resort.  Not working?  Got your Mickey PJ’s on and have a Disney Film Festival on a Saturday morning.  I hope if you are a true Disney fan, your iPod holds some Disney Music.  Turn it on and get your day going!  Don't forget the Magic Bands.
4. Cook like Disney.  OK, I’ve really never done this.  However there are recipes there for Tonga Toast and Dole Whip Floats.  If you don’t already have a Mickey Waffle Maker...trying not to judge, but why?  Whip up some Disney Magic in your kitchen for breakfast!
5. Get Crafty!  Craft stores and Department stores have Disney Craft kits galore!  Pick up a few and sit down with the kids for some family fun.  Is it the same as riding Splash Mountain?  Nope, but maybe you can get enough of a Disney fix to keep you going.

Sadly, none of these will permanently keep away the wish to go to Disney World every few months.  Unfortunately, my kids do need to go to college, to eat, and they insist on needing bigger clothes.  These are my crazy, fun ways to get my Disney fix.  What are yours?  Please share…I need more ideas before I get out the Disney Visa!

Maria is a travel planner for Snapshot Getaways and one of her personal "fixes" is to help others plan their Disney trips.  Contact her at maria@snapshotgetaways.com or visit her Facebook page if you need help with your Disney Addiction.