Mix, Mingle, and Master Sangria!

Sangria Tower with snacks!

Sangria University is held on select weekend days at Walt Disney World’s Coronado Springs Resort inside the Three Bridges Bar & Grill.  It starts about 1:30pm and runs for 2-2.5 hours.  The cost is $50-55 per person.  

During our visit on Sunday, December 8, we had Cast Member Gray as our Sangria University instructor.  Gray was a phenomenal instructor- funny, knowledgeable, and engaging.  You could really tell he had a passion for Sangria and loved sharing. 

While this would be a fun event to do with a group, for this day it was just my wife and I. They sat just the two of us together.  There were also tables of 2, 4, and 6.  The Three Bridges is the perfect setting for this as it overlooks Coronado Springs Resort grounds and water features.  The total number of people at the event was 30, but they can hold up to 60.

When you first sit down, they bring you a tree of four different Sangrias.  You are also served chips and guacamole.

The instructor then goes through each of the Sangrias and what they consist of.  Your Sangria tree includes one white, one rose, one red, and one sparkling! You can sample them at your own pace.  After an overview of what you are drinking, Gray then gave a full history on Sangria, where it began, and how it has evolved to the present day. 

About an hour or so into the "course," it’s time to make your own sangria.  The instructor comes around to each table and takes your order for your own creation helping make sure you pair flavors that would compliment each other.  Each party at your table can make their own with almost limitless possibilities.  There is a slight up-charge for certain liquors.

I made an Old Fashioned-style Sangria that had Spanish Red Wine, Makers Mark Bourbon, Triple Sec, and Orange Blossom Honey.  My wife made one using Cava sparkling Spanish white wine, Gin, Elderflower Liqueur, and blackberry puree. 

After you "graduate" from the class, they provide you with a diploma! So fancy! On the back of that diploma is a recipe with all the Sangrias you had for the event. I highly recommend this event if you are adventurous in your day drinking or even if you just love learning about history and want to enjoy a beautiful setting with friends. 

25 Reasons for Disney World in 2025!

If you can believe it, January is almost over! Less than a week remains in this first month of 2025… but that still leaves an entire year for YOU to make some memories at the Most Magical Place on Earth — Walt Disney World, with its four theme parks, two water parks, massive Disney Springs shopping and entertainment district, over 30 resort options and there is even mini-golf, regular golf, a sports area, and specialty corn dogs to boot!

So, if you need a reason or two to get your trip going, how about I give you 25?

Walt Disney World is known for it’s iconic attractions, from Magic Kingdom’s “…it’s a Small World” to the looming Tower of Terror in Hollywood Studios, but if you haven’t taken a coaster ride in the dark, your first reason to visit Disney World is enjoying (1) Space Mountain as it celebrates 50 years of space magic!

Taking (2) Disney’s classic thrill rides on attractions like Tron, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Rise of the Resistance make the journey worth it. And coming later this year, a (3) completely reimagined Test Track opens in Epcot, with homage to the original, legendary World of Motion.

If thrill rides and coasters aren’t your cup of tea, though, don’t worry - there is plenty to do elsewhere, and plenty to be excited about… including (4) The Little Mermaid - A Musical Adventure has Ariel finally returning to Hollywood Studios! After many years of an empty stage, Ariel, Ursula, Prince Eric and more will take the stage via a new array of puppetry and special effects, starting later in 2025!

And if your ears perked up when I said “URSULA”, you may be a fan of the villains - which means you’ll love the upcoming (5) “Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After”, a stage show featuring the aforementioned Sea Witch, along with Captain Hook, Maleficent, Gaston and many more of your favorite Evil’doers. Finally, over in Animal Kingdom, if you choose to make your WDW trip during the Holiday season, you can check out (6) Zootopia: Better Zoogether!, a 3D show premiering in the Tree of Life during Winter 2025!

Don’t forget, after many years of missing The Main Street Electrical Parade and SpectroMagic (RIP), Magic Kingdom will have a BRAND NEW nighttime parade in 2025!
(7) ”Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away” will feature your favorite Disney friends on vibrant new floats, coming Summer 2025!

Make sure to see Dinosaur and The Boneyard before it’s THE END!

Of course with new attractions coming, we must (8) say goodbye to a few of our favorites — 2025 will be your last chance to experience some beloved attractions, including DINOSAUR (closing to make way for Tropical Americas), It’s Tough to be a Bug (giving way to Zootopia), MuppetVision3D (leading to Monsters Inc Land) and make sure you ride the (9) Rivers of America and visit Tom Sawyer Island one more time, as it will disappear for a new Cars themed area (MuppetVision*3D’s final day will be June 7th… no closing dates announced for any of the rest mentioned, but 2025 is expected for most, if not all)

If events and parties are your reasons for visiting, 2025 is better than ever! (10) The Epcot Festival of the Arts just kicked off and is running through February, your chance to see everything from the painted and sculpted art to Broadway style concerts… and of course, the food booths.

If the next few weeks are too soon, (11) Epcot’s Flower & Garden Festival kicks off in March, running through the Spring, with incredible topiary displays, floral decor, warmer weather, the Eat to the Beat concert series… and of course, the food booths.

The fall will bring us (12) Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival, a celebration of the culinary arts with cooking demonstrations, fantastic concerts from your favorite artists, cool decor.. and not just food booths, but beverage booths as well!

And of course, (13) Epcot’s Festival of the Holidays, as the Christmas season covers Epcot (and Disney World as a whole), which is not to be missed. Don’t worry. Lots and lots of food booths.

The Holidays bring so much to enjoy at Disney World, including (14) Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, the annual Holiday party in Magic Kingdom, and (15) all of the resort holiday displays, like Grand Floridian’s Gingerbread House, the chocolate display in Contemporary, the chocolate carousel at Beach Club and a whole lot more.

Here’s to hoping that Jollywood Nights makes it’s return next Christmas!!!

And while we won’t know for sure, we all expect (16) Jollywood Nights to make it’s 3rd annual return to Hollywood Studios, which makes for one heck of a great Christmas party!

For the spookier Disney fans, back up a little bit in the year, and (17) Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party will return, running from select nights in August through Halloween night.

One of the appeals of going to the extra event parties like Very Merry Christmas, Jollywood Nights, or Not So Scary is the fact they are extra ticketed events - meaning they only sell a certain number of tickets to keep crowds low. Another opportunity for these low crowds throughout the year is (18) After Hours Events happening in Epcot, Magic Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios on select nights throughout the year. Enjoy access to the most popular rides and attractions AFTER the parks close, with minimal to no wait on just about everything!

For the runners out there, (19) runDisney events happen throughout 2025 as well — Mushu, Mulan, Olaf, Lady & the Tramp, and Sleeping Beauty’s three fairies adorn the recently announced Wine & Dine 1/2 Marathon medals - registration begins soon for the fall event!

Other things to look forward to in 2025 is the (20) Spaceship Earth Lounge opening up later this spring, as well as Magic Kingdom’s new spot, a (21) Pirates of the Caribbean Lounge opening up next to the famous ride!

And let’s be real, the (22) Disney merchandise is unbeatable, updating all the time, from spirit jerseys to Ear bands — for much of our Upon a Star team, its Loungeflys, though for me personally, it’s all the Disney button up shirts!) and every time we turn around, there is a (23) new popcorn bucket MUST HAVE.

So, let’s chat about your trip! Through much of 2025, your qualifying package will give you not only your first day of your trip at (24) Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach for FREE, with many of the dates through the Spring, you can get (25) FREE DINING with your package!

And do you want one more reason to visit Walt Disney World in 2025? (26) Working with your favorite Upon a Star Travel Advisor! Everyone on this team gives you personal service (“ConciEARge” service if you will… see what we did there?) with all the knowledge and skills to make your vacation package the most magical it could be - from a few days at Pop Century to a week or more at the Poly, and everything in between!

Upon a Star Travel & Concierge Receives Disney's Earmarked Gold Status Again!

At Upon a Star Travel & Concierge, we are thrilled to announce that Upon a Star Travel & Concierge has once again been named a Disney Earmarked Gold Agency! 🏆✨

Disney Earmarked Gold status is awarded to travel agencies that have demonstrated superior knowledge, commitment, and excellence in booking Disney vacations. Earning this status means that our team has consistently gone above and beyond to help our clients plan the most seamless, stress-free, and unforgettable Disney experiences possible.

For our clients, this status means you are working with a trusted, highly-qualified Disney vacation expert — someone who understands the magic of Disney and can provide personalized recommendations tailored to their needs and dreams. Whether you're dreaming of a trip to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, or Aulani in Hawaii, sailing on Disney Cruise Line, or any other Disney destination, we have the insider knowledge, exclusive benefits, and personalized attention to make your experience truly unforgettable.

We couldn’t be more excited to continue bringing the magic of Disney to life for our amazing clients, and we can’t wait to help you plan your next Disney adventure! 🌟

Contact us today to start making your Disney dreams come true! 

Summer 2025 Walt Disney World Offers Available Now... Including FREE Dining!

What a great way to start out 2025 with a FREE Dining offer OR a room discount for summer 2025.

FIRST, FREE Dining!

Enjoy a FREE dining plan when you purchase a non-discounted minimum 3-night, 3-day Walt Disney Travel Company package that includes a room at a select Disney Resorts Collection hotel and a theme park ticket with a Park Hopper option—for arrivals most nights from:

  • May 27 to June 26, 2025

  • July 7 to August 6, 2025

What does that mean for you?

You may be eligible for FREE dining:

If you are visiting Walt Disney World beginning May 27 to June 26, 2025, and July 7-August 6, 2025, you have a regular package with at least a 3-night stay, AND you have at least 3-day park hopper tickets, you may be eligible for a free dining package.

Note that this package does require park hopper tickets. Guests staying at a Disney Deluxe Resort or at a Disney Deluxe Villa will receive the Disney Dining Plan for each guest. Those staying at a Moderate or Value Resort will receive the Quick Service Dining Plan for each guest.

SECOND, save up to 30% off rooms!

If you prefer not to have a dining plan or if you prefer to have base tickets, perhaps the better offer is the room only discount. Save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels when you stay 5 consecutive nights or longer this summer. Plus, enjoy other savings for shorter stays.

This offer is valid for stays most nights from May 1 to September 30, 2025.

THIRD, Florida residents Book Early Discount to save up to 35%!

Florida residents, this is a great offer for you! Book by February 24, 2025, and save up to 35% on rooms for stays most nights from May 1 to July 31, 2025. Lower savings are available for bookings made after February 24.

Packages available per resort are limited. Everyone in room must be on same package. Cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion. Offer excludes the following room types: 3-Bedroom Grand Villas, Cabins at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Bungalows and 2-Bedroom Penthouses at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows, and Suites at Disney Deluxe Resort hotels.

Please contact your favorite Upon a Star Travel advisor for details, quotes, and more information!

Saratoga Springs Resort Review

Entrance to Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

Invoking the ideals of horse racing in upstate New York, Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa at Walt Disney World is a lovely villa property, part of the Disney Vacation Club. Consisting of studios as well as 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom villas, these are great options for larger parties or even those who just want an option that feels less like a hotel room and more like a home!

Stay in a Disney Deluxe Villa with just-like-home amenities like a kitchen, washer, dryer and separate bedrooms. 1- and 2-Bedroom Villas—as well as 3-Bedroom Treehouse Villas—have the following features:

  • A full kitchen, so you can prepare meals and snacks from the comfort of your villa

  • Spacious living and dining areas where your family can share quality time together, play games, and chill out,

  • Separate bedrooms that offer space, privacy and tranquility – so it’s easy to rest, relax and recharge your spirit after each exhilarating vacation day

  • A washer and dryer, so you can pack lightly and avoid airline baggage fees or just travel home with clean laundry!

Treehouse Villas also feature private decks and charcoal grills. These unique accommodations are elevated 10 feet off the ground and nestled amid lush forest—so you’ll be surrounded by the beauty of nature. Want to know more about Saratoga Springs Resort? Click here: Saratoga Springs Resort

On a recent trip, as a party of six, we stayed at Saratoga Springs in a 2-bedroom villa. This was only my second time staying here and my first time in a 2-bedroom villa at any property! We were in the Paddock area which was very convenient to Disney Springs and not too far to Congress Park where you can find the main pool, front desk, and dining. Paddock has its own lovely pool and a nearby bus stop.

We were on the fourth floor, and it was very quiet. We made use of the washer and dryer, and our party even spread out a bit to use the two Murphy bed options in the living room.

As with any Disney World property, there are some definitely pros and cons to this property. Remember these are just my personal opinion, so what I don’t love may not be a big deal to you at all!

I want to talk through a few of aspects I didn’t love first before ending with things I DID love! So, first, what I found to be the drawbacks of this property: 

Bus Stops… there’s a lot of bus stops! This wasn’t a big deal for us when going to the parks, but i was when returning from the parks. If I was to stay here again, I would likely rent a car or simply rely more on Uber or Lyft. After one trip where it took us nearly an hour to get to our villa from Magic Kingdom, I only used Lyft to return to the room! 

(Pro Tip: Use Lyft over Uber at this property! You can enter your specific section, and the driver will drop you right at the entrance to your building!)

Large Footprint: It’s a really spread out property. We were fortunate to be fairly near The Springs with the dining, front desk, shop and main pool, but some of the other sections would not have been at all convenient for dining purposes.

Buses only to the parks. That’s not really a negative, but with multiple bus stops, your bus could arrive at your stop already full or take a long time before even leaving the property to head to the parks.

OK…that’s not bad for negatives, huh? Next some pros!

Proximity to Disney Springs: This is a huge pro in my opinion. If you enjoy spending time at Disney Springs, you can’t get much closer! There’s a boat that will take you to the dock near Rainforest Cafe, but it’s also easy to walk if you’re in the Paddock or Congress Hall areas.

Villa Size & Amenities: If you enjoy cooking on your vacation, like to do breakfast in the room, or have a member of your part with allergies where you might need to store or prep some food, this is a great option. With a fully equipped kitchen, you can cook to your heart’s content—or simply store cold foods in your fridge, make a full pot of coffee, etc. There’s even a dishwasher! If you’re traveling with little people who are messy (or adults who are messy!) or like to travel home with clean laundry, the in room washer and dryer are lovely. These are small stackable units, so you can’t do huge loads, but laundry detergent and a laundry basket is included!

Dining: There are both a quick service restaurant, Artist Palette, and a table service restaurant, Turf Club, here. We only had an opportunity to eat at Artist Palette one day for lunch, but I was very impressed with the meal quality. Unlike some other locations, you order your meal at the register and it’s prepared fresh. A Cast Member brought the meal to our table. My chicken and rice dish was absolutely delicious!

Pools: There are so many pools here! The main feature pool is in The Springs area near the dining and front desk. This is where you’ll find the pool entertainment like games and such. The other pools are considered quiet pools, but they were still rather sizable lovely pools—some with slides!

Would I stay here again? Absolutely! One member of our party had a car, and it made a huge difference to our days so I’d absolutely suggest a car or utilizing ride share (Lyft in particular). Even from the check in area to your villa could be a long-haul; they do have some golf carts, and they will happily deliver your luggage for you if you arrive without a personal or rental vehicle.

Memory Maker

Don’t you love those silly pictures taken on the rides, or can you stare of that precious picture
over and over of your kids meeting Mickey for the first time?

Disney offers a magical addition to your package called “Memory Maker” that captures all of
those moments to relive over and over again.

One question that all Upon A Star Agents get asked about often is, “What is Memory Maker
and is it worth it?” For those of you who have never been, or who haven't been in sometime,
Memory Maker is essentially an enhanced version of the PhotoPass service.

Memory Maker includes every picture that is taken in the park as a digital download. This is
much more convenient than the old PhotoPass CD -- especially since many newer computers
don't even have CD/DVD drives as a standard option. Now when we say every picture, we mean
every picture -- even the on-ride photos! We know where every on-ride camera is, and usually
plan to do something funny when we know a photo is going to be snapped.

Normally, we would never buy these photos after stepping off of the ride, though, opting to
spend our money on other souvenirs; but with Memory Maker, we have the luxury of reliving
each and every funny moment.

There are also lots of photo opportunities as you walk around each park. Go ahead snap that
picture in front of Cinderella Castle, or over by the Epcot Spaceship Earth icon, even below the
Hollywood Tower of Terror, or in front of the Tree of Life. There are so many photo ops to be
had.

Don’t forget to ask about extra magic shots! The fun shows up when you look at the photos on
your My Disney Experience account. There are also amazing on-ride videos!

When you pre-purchase Memory Maker at least 3 days before you arrive, you only pay $169 (as of the date of this post) and you could end up with 100s of photos to share. What a great way to create memories with your family!

Contact your Upon A Star Agent for more information about Memory Maker and how to add it to your Walt Disney World Resort package!

Co-authored by Valerie Robbins & Patti Stewart

Dining at Maria and Enzo's

If you've followed along on any Upon A Star adventures or social media accounts, you probably know that Disney Springs is a rapidly changing and rapidly growing place! In fact, it was recently listed in a travel blog as one of the top 20 places to visit -- and I couldn't agree more!

On our recent trip in January, Brady & I ventured with our friends down to Disney Springs several times - after all, a foodie's gotta eat!

Maria and Enzo's is one of the newest eateries. It's themed - stick with me here - like an airport! The back story is that Maria and Enzo had a small bakery in the airport, but when it closed, they converted the whole thing into a dream restaurant (with the help of the owner of the Edison next door - but that's another blog post!). 

As you might imagine, this restaurant serves Italian food. The views are fantastic -- overlooking the water -- and the food I had was wonderful.  I loved the whole look and feel. There were travel & aviation posters lining the walls, and the room had an open and airy feel.

In addition to the main seating area, there is also a "First Class Lounge". There are no outside views, but it does have tablecloths! Due to the diners, i couldn't snag a picture of those tables.

But let's talk about the real star here - the FOOD.  I love Italian food! And I really enjoyed everything! The menu is somewhat limited, but very good. The first picture was our appetizer, the Arancini di Carne (fried rice stuffed with meat ragù, peas and mozzerella).  For my entree, I had the Busiate con Granchio (spiral pasta with lump crab meat) -- it tasted fresh and was so delicious! Brady had the Rigatoni, and our friends had the Spaghetti. Desserts were the Cannoli and the Sicilian Ricotta layered sponge cake.

All four of us were impressed with our food - and with our server! Martina was amazing - be sure to request her table when you go!

In terms of pricing, you are definitely going to pay over $20 per entree. Disney Dining Plans are not yet accepted; but for me, I don't mind paying for a great meal every now and again.

Want to try it for yourself? Let your Upon A Star agent know that Maria and Enzo's is a must on your next trip -- we will set it all up for you. 

Buon Apetito! 

12 Days of Christmas: Day 11! ✨Frozen Ever After Sparkling Dessert Party✨

Reserve VIP seating for your family with a super fun way to experience Epcot’s Illuminations: Reflections of Earth nightly spectacular! 

First, you’ll have special seating with perfect views of the fireworks. Second, indulge in “Frozen” themed desserts & drinks while surrounded by a wonderland of themed decorations. Nibble on Living Rock Crispy Bonbons, Anna’s Blue Velvet Cupcakes, Duke of Weselton’s Cheese Fondue & much more! Sip on lemonade, punch or “melted snow” and then after the grand finale, you’ll be led to the Norway pavilion for a ride on the Frozen Ever After attraction!

Contact your Upon a Star Agent to add this special event to your Disney package!