In this week’s Disney Parks After Dark, we’re taking a look at Disneyland Hotel at Disneyland Paris.

Take a Tilt-Shift Trip to Disneyland Paris

Tagged: Disneyland Paris, Disneyland Park Paris, Gallery, Photography

Filed: Disneyland Paris, Hotels & Resorts

If a cold and snowy winter has you thinking about a spring getaway at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawai`i, a new offer will help you spend extra time in the Hawaiian sunshine. For a limited time, you can stay four nights for the price of three when you purchase a minimum three-night stay April 7 through May 23 and May 27 through June 8, 2013.

That means a total of four nights and five days to enjoy all there is to do at Aulani – pools and waterslides, restaurants and lounges, the relaxing beach and cove, entertainment, excursions, Aunty’s Beach House kids club, visits with Disney characters, Laniwai spa and more.

You can book this offer now through April 6, 2013. To book, call toll-free (866) 309-2384, or your travel agent, and mention offer code AVW. You can also find it online at DisneyAulani.com. This offer is available for stays April 7 through May 23, 2013 and May 27 through June 8, 2013.

As you may know, expansion of Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, is in progress through the summer. You may notice this work during your stay, but there will be even more amazing water activities and dining options coming when the work is completed in late September.

And, as always, here’s some useful supporting information:

4 Nights for the Price of 3 Nights promotion for guests who stay four consecutive nights all between April 7th 2013, through May 23 2013, and May 27th through June 8th, 2013. Book from now through April 6, 2013. The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited and room availability may vary by dates of stay. Excludes Resort fees and taxes. Not valid in combination with any other discounts or offers. Offer excludes suites and 3-Bedroom Grand Villas. Additional per adult charges may apply if more than 2 adults per room. Offer applied once per reservation. Advance reservations required. Subject to additional restrictions and change without notice. Limit 2 rooms per reservation.

Tagged: Aulani, DVC

Filed: Aulani, Disney Vacation Club, Hotels & Resorts, Vacation Planning

Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is making headlines this week with nominations in two categories for a James Beard Foundation Award, and an upcoming feature on “Emeril Florida,” Emeril Lagasse’s new show on the Cooking Channel.

“What an honor to be nominated,” says Chef Scott Hunnel. Hunnel is up for Best Chef South, and the restaurant is nominated for Outstanding Service. Considered the “Oscars” of the food world, the Beard Awards are the highest honor for food and beverage professionals working in North America.

Chef Scott and his team source the freshest ingredients from around the world, highlighting seasonal finds from Florida. Servers and sommeliers cater to guests’ every need, delivering on the legendary service for which Disney is known.

Finalists will be announced on March 18, determined by a panel of more than 600 judges from across the country. Winners will be announced on May 6 at an awards ceremony held in New York’s Lincoln Center.

In the meantime, watch for Chef Scott on “Emeril Florida,” the new Florida-based television show on the Cooking Channel. The segment airs at 10:30 a.m. on March 10 (and will be repeated several times) and features Emeril and Chef Scott in the beautiful Queen Victoria Room at Victoria & Albert’s.

“We talk about the three dining options at the restaurant [the main dining room, Queen Victoria’s Room and Chef’s Table in the kitchen] and about how we source rare products, both globally and locally,” says Chef Scott. “And I show how to make a dish featuring both global and local ingredients: bison and Florida oranges.”

Congrats to Chef Scott and his team for making Disney a leader in the culinary world.

Tagged: Dining, WDW

Filed: Disney Dining, Hotels & Resorts, Walt Disney World Resort

Thankfully, both my dad and husband are huge NASCAR fans, which served me well when I met race car driver Kurt Busch earlier this week at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. Kurt Busch stepped out of the driver’s seat to take part in a different kind of race – a remote control car race – at the “Cars”-themed wing of the resort. Young NASCAR fans staying at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort were over the moon as Busch offered the kids some racing tips, as his girlfriend Patricia Driscoll and her son Houston joined in the fun.

Kurt was a good sport during his stay at the resort, and even joked, when he saw Tow Mater from “Cars,” that he was no stranger to tow trucks following the weekend’s series of practice sessions and races in Daytona Beach, Fla., in which he was involved in some wrecks. He seem to feel right at home in the setting and posed for pictures with some of the high-octane pals like Lightning McQueen, parked throughout Radiator Springs. The “Cars”-themed wing of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort features 480 family suites, while the other wings at the new resort are devoted to “The Lion King,” “The Little Mermaid” and “Finding Nemo.”

Here are a few photos and a funny video that reveal Kurt’s competitive spirit as he takes on some guests off the track at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. So now you know who I will be cheering for at this weekend’s Daytona 500; Busch and his #78 Furniture Row Chevrolet, of course.

Tagged: Gallery, Video, WDW

Filed: Celebrity Visits, Hotels & Resorts, Walt Disney World Resort

In a tribute to True Love Week, we’re showcasing 13 romantic places at the Disneyland Resort, hoping you’ll discover them this week for a special date, and enjoy them all year long. Some are classics and some may surprise you.

At Disney California Adventure park:

1. Two seats in the balcony of Hyperion Theatre: Great for holding hands and watching “Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular,” starring Jasmine and Prince Ali.
2. A booth at Flo’s V8 Café: Arrive just before dusk and watch the fun on Radiator Springs Racers as you sip a soda, with two straws.
3. Carthay Circle Restaurant and Lounge: A terrace table overlooking Buena Vista Street at dusk captures the romance of a bygone era, a perfect match for a delicious meal with wine pairings.
4. “World of Color”: Many a kiss has occurred during the “Love” sequence of this nighttime water show on Paradise Bay. The sequence features some of Disney’s romantic film couples.

At Disneyland park:

5. Sleeping Beauty Castle: Day in and day out, this one of the most popular places for a future groom to drop to one knee and ask for the hand of his fair princess.
6. Hungry Bear Restaurant: A table by the water offers a quiet spot for an important question or a sweetheart photo.
7. Blue Bayou: Be sure to reserve your table early at this popular restaurant inside Pirates of the Caribbean, and speak with a manager to assist in coordinating a special moment or table-service dinner proposal. (Cast members are a great resource at any of the Disneyland Resort table service restaurants.)
8. Snow White Grotto (next to Sleeping Beauty Castle): Making a wish is a romantic notion, and it’s even dreamier at this special wishing well.
9. Mark Twain Riverboat: How could your true love resist a nighttime ride on a riverboat, with twinkling lights, the splash of a paddle wheel, and a view that stretches across Frontierland and New Orleans Square?
10. Court des Anges, New Orleans Square: One of the most beautiful places at the Disneyland Resort, the “Court of Angels” is a secluded courtyard with a winding staircase – an ideal spot for photos.

At Disneyland Resort hotels:

11. Napa Rose patio: Dinner at Napa Rose can be romantic from any seat. Grab two spots around the firepit, on the patio just outside the lobby, and enjoy appetizers with a glass of wine on a starry evening.
12. Fairy Tale Suite at the Disneyland Hotel: The décor and magical touches, fit for royalty, are a dream come true for your special occasion.
13. Disneyland Hotel Rose Court Garden: Often the site of weddings, the garden is also alluring for a romantic stroll, with more than 800 lovely rose bushes.

What’s your favorite romantic place at Disneyland Resort?

Tagged: DCA, Dining, DL, DLR

Filed: Disney California Adventure Park, Disney Dining, Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort, Hotels & Resorts

Happy Monday, everyone!

Let’s kick this week off with a fun “Caption This.” Today’s photo was taken in 1984 at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. Sure looks like Donald is doing a good job directing his flock of fans.

What is he telling them the keep them following in line? You tell us. Go ahead and “Caption This.”

Look below for more chances to “Caption This”:

• Caption This: Mickey’s ‘Fantasmic!’ Conversation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Caption This: A Day on the Golf Course With Mickey & Goofy
• Caption This: A Day on the Dock at Magic Kingdom Park

Tagged: WDW

Filed: Hotels & Resorts, Walt Disney World Resort

As they were getting ready to face off in the Pro Bowl game at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu last week, NFL players stopped for a bit of fun and relaxation with their families at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, in Ko Olina, Hawai`i. On Friday, Jan. 25, the NFL Players Association hosted a special reception at the resort, which featured hula dancing, ukulele lessons, visits with Disney characters and more.

Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings was there with his family and posed for photos with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Stitch.

Matt Schaub of the Houston Texans was there with his family, who stopped to take a photo with Goofy.

Get a peek inside the event in the video below, and keep an eye out for more NFL stars such as Jason Witten of the Dallas Cowboys (who plays a mean ukulele) and Antonio Cromartie of the New York Jets.

Tagged: Aulani, DVC, Video

Filed: Celebrity Visits, Disney Vacation Club, Hotels & Resorts