Last week, we attempted to ride Disney World’s newest attraction, the Characters In Flight balloon ride at Downtown Disney - Westside.  The ride takes you up in a tethered hot air balloon to as high as 400 feet above Downtown Disney!

Unfortunately, due to Florida’s spring storms, the testing phase had not been completed and the ride had not yet opened.  One of the pilot’s said he expected it to open sometime this week, however the storms and wind have continued this week.

The ride will cost per child and per adult and the number of passengers and height will depend on the wind speed, as you can see in the photo, below.

The “weather permitting” portion of the sign really says a lot about this ride.  I would expect availability of the ride to vary GREATLY.  With Florida’s finicky weather patterns, this ride will likely experience sudden and frequent down times, as demonstrated in the testing phase, already.

The ride looks like a lot of fun and probably provides some amazing views of Downtown Disney, as well as the nearby resorts and probably the parks, at it’s apex.

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Last Friday, Downtown Disney’s newest store, Tren D, had their grand opening.  The store has trendy fashions for women, all with that slight Disney touch.

As you walk in, you notice the amazing chandeliers hanging from the central ceiling that seem to go on, forever!

There are 85 of these beauties hanging from the ceiling!

I also noticed a LOT of hidden Mickey’s in the store.  I was only able to make a quick search, so I’m sure there’s more to be found, but here’s just a small sampling.

First Hidden Mickey I Found In Tren D

This One’s Questionable - Can You Spot It?

These, Too Are A Bit Shaky - Still Cool, Nonetheless

My Favorite One - Do You See Him?

The store also had some great art on the ceiling, including my personal favorite.

..and some Tren D ladies…

The store was very popular with the wife, so I’m sure we’ll be spending a lot of our Downtown Disney time in this new shop.

Have you had the opportunity to visit Downtown Disney’s newest store?  What did you think?

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The King has come to Orlando. No, we’re not talking about the King of Sweden or Saudi Arabia or even Elvis; we mean the Burger King, which has brought its Whopper goodness to Universal Orlando CityWalk in a new restaurant that’s the first of its kind anywhere. This week saw the opening of three new restaurants in the Universal Studios entertainment district, giving guests new options for great dining and casual fun.

Panda Express, Moe’s Southwest Grill, and the world’s first Burger King Whopper Bar are the new additions, housed together in one connected dining area on the second level of CityWalk. Open for lunch and dinner, each of the three new restaurants offers guests delicious food prepared right before your eyes. After placing and picking up their order, guests can then make their way into a new modern and trendy dining room outfitted with posh booths and tables.

Part of the family-owned national chain, Panda Express will serve up fresh, high quality Chinese food served hot; Panda’s highly-skilled chefs use the ancient Chinese art of wok cooking to prepare crisp and tangy favorites like Orange Chicken and Beijing Beef. Moe’s Southwestern Grill, meanwhile, will serve fresh, made-to-order southwest flare, with signature items such as the Homewrecker Burrito and Joe Coctostan Quesadilla. Complimentary chips and salsa come with every meal, as well as warm, exceptional service.

The Whopper Bar, however, will really make a unique mark on CityWalk’s dining with a new restaurant concept that takes Burger King’s “Have It Your Way” philosophy to new heights. There, guests will be able to enjoy premium and customizable selections off a new Whopper-based menu with interesting variations of the original Whopper. And when they say “have it your way,” they mean any way – guests will be able to dress their burger with unique toppings like jalapenos, Parmesan peppercorn sauce, sautéed mushrooms, and onion rings. They’ll even be able to opt for “extra thick” burgers.

Though the restaurant’s name may suggest otherwise, there’s no alcohol served at the Whopper Bar – just juicy whoppers, and in the morning, breakfast items like Croissan’wiches, French toast sticks, and hash browns. The restaurant has a sign indicating that the Orlando location is the world’s first.

A 30-acre complex filled with nightclubs, premier restaurants, and live entertainment, Universal CityWalk is one of Orlando’s hottest nightspots. When it came to dining, however, Universal CityWalk big wigs saw something missing in the area’s offerings.

“We saw a desire for quick, casual meals among our guests,” said Ric Florell, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Resort Revenue Operations. The three new restaurants were their answer to the void.

Great for fueling up in the morning before hitting Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure, Whopper Bar, Panda Express, and Moe’s Southwest Grill are sure to be popular spots at CityWalk. Be sure to check these eateries out next time you pass through Universal Studios, and remember to get your Universal Orlando tickets at DWTickets.com before you go so you’ll have more money left over for noshing.

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Tourists visiting Orlando, Florida, who are looking for great dining, entertainment, and shopping generally don’t have to think very hard about where to go. Universal CityWalk offers all that in spades, of course, as does Downtown Disney. However, one place that doesn’t get as much attention for all it offers is Walt Disney World’s BoardWalk area. Offering more than 9,000 square feet of retail, food, and fun, Disney’s Boardwalk is a great place to stroll and hang out when your day at the theme parks is over. And while Downtown Disney’s Pleasure Island is getting a makeover, it’s definitely worth paying a visit to this scenic lakeside area full of sights, sounds, and even tantalizing smells.

One of the prettiest and most photogenic spots in Walt Disney World, the BoardWalk surrounds Disney’s Crescent Lake and resembles a little village on the water. You’ll love walking along it and taking in the sherbet-colored building facades, striped awnings, pristine waters, and strung lights of the BoardWalk, which is modeled after the Boardwalks of New England coastal cities like Coney Island and Atlantic City.

Craving some shopping or looking to browse? You’ll find a collection of unusual and unique shops at the BoardWalk, from the ESPN Club Store to the Screen Door General Store. Wyland Galleries features a selection of marine life art from internationally renowned artist Wyland and others. And Disney’s Character Carnival and Thimbles and Threads offer apparel and Disney merchandise and accessories for all ages.

Hungry? BoardWalk has no shortage of tasty treats, including fresh seafood at the Flying Fish Café and sugary delights at Seashore Sweets. Big River Grille & Brewing Works is definitely a must-stop, the only working microbrewery in Disney and a purveyor of sandwiches, salads, and of course, award-winning beer. Spoodles is also a great family place, with delicious flatbreads and Mediterranean dinners that are perfect for sharing with loved ones. And for dessert, be sure to stop by the BoardWalk Bakery for one of their fantastic cupcakes.

The nightlife department, however, is where the BoardWalk really shines, especially now with the closure of Pleasure Island’s nightclubs. Guests can have fun shaking it at Atlantic Dance Hall, where hot DJs and cool bands make it a great place to while away the evening hours. And Jellyrolls is a sheer blast, a quirky piano bar with dueling pianos and audience sing-alongs. We dare you to find a song the pianists don’t know!

Around sunset is definitely our favorite time to go to the BoardWalk; in the evening, the area comes to life with street performers, food vendors, midway games, and lots of live entertainment. And since the BoardWalk is within walking distance of Epcot, going there after a rousing day at the parks is easy and convenient.

If you haven’t paid a visit to the BoardWalk, check it out – you’ll have fun exploring this miniature shopping, dining, and nightlife district at Walt Disney World. Make it a stop on your Disney vacation, which you can start planning after you get your Walt Disney World tickets at DWTickets.com.