Double the Fun While Double Dipping at Castaway Cay

What's better than a day at Castaway Cay on your Disney cruise? Two days at Castaway Cay! This summer, we're offering nine special voyages that give you double the fun at our island paradise in the Bahamas.

These 4- and 5-night cruises aboard the Disney Dream depart from Port Canaveral, Fla., in June and July. In addition to two days at Castaway Cay, they also include a stop at Nassau, making for the perfect Bahamian getaway.

When you double dip at Castaway Cay this summer, here are just some of the ways to take advantage of more time at this little slice of heaven:

1) Hang out at both the family and adult-only beaches. Swimming, snorkeling and building sand castles makes for the perfect day at Castaway Cay Family Beach. But your kids also won't want to miss the water play area and games at Scuttle's Cove, where they'll hang out with counselors and friends they met on the ship, giving you the chance for hammock time at the adult-only Serenity Bay. For an extra indulgence, schedule a couple's massage in a cabana on the beach.

2) Explore the island. When you see the crystal clear waters and step foot on the warm sand, it's easy to stay put on the beach all day long. But Castaway Cay has more to offer than just the perfect beach day. There are a number of paths to the island's interior, including to an observation tower with an incredible view of the entire island and the ship, which can be explored either on foot or bicycle.

3) Get out on the water. There's no shortage of ways you can enjoy the view of Castaway Cay from the tropical waters of the Bahamas, with water cycles, paddleboats, sea kayaks, sailboats and stand-up paddle boards for rent. You can also join a Port Adventure that takes you further out in the turquoise waters, such as a banana boat thrill ride, a glass bottom boat scenic voyage or a backcountry fishing excursion.

4) Find the Disney magic. Throughout the island, you'll be treated to surprises from Disney characters, including special meet-and-greets and dance parties. Get your photo taken with the Fab Five, Jack Sparrow, Olaf and others, and then grab your snorkel to explore the 12-acre underwater trail dotted with sunken treasures, including a submarine from the classic Disney attraction 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and a statue of a certain familiar mouse.

5) Run the 5K and do yoga on the beach. On your first morning at Castaway Cay, explore the island and take in the lush tropical landscape with your family by running, jogging or walking the Castaway Cay 5K. Then on your second day, start your morning with a relaxing session of yoga at Serenity Bay. Both activities help you stay in shape and maximize your time by getting you out on the island early.

Those of you who have double dipped at Castaway Cay before, what are your suggestions for first-time double dippers?

Countdown to Pandora – The World of Avatar: Cast Members Prepare to Bring Pandora to Life

As Walt Disney once said, "You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality."

Decades later, it's no different for Pandora – The World of Avatar, which will come alive on May 27 thanks to the enthusiasm and talent of our 700 cast members who were selected to open this epic new land. Cast members are in training now to help guests soar through the skies on the back of a banshee in the attraction Avatar Flight of Passage, sail through a bioluminescent rainforest in the family-friendly attraction Na'vi River Journey and walk beneath towering floating mountains.

In addition to training for these new roles, cast members will be immersed in the Na'vi culture, by learning about their language, environment and way of life. One example is the way cast members will be able to welcome guests to this awe-inspiring land with the common Na'vi word for hello – Kaltxi (kahl-T'IH). In fact, each cast member on Pandora has received a handbook with some common Na'vi phrases, such as Oel ngati kameie [well NGAH-tee KAH-mey-yeh]. In the native language of Pandora, this means, "I see you."

Here's a first look at the special nametags for cast members representing Alpha Centauri Expeditions (ACE), a futuristic travel company that prepares visitors from Earth for their exciting adventure to Pandora. You might also notice that cast members who are "Earning their Ears" may be wearing a ribbon that features the Na'vi word for student: Numeyu.

The multi-year expansion at Disney's Animal Kingdom has created 1,500 jobs since construction began, including about 800 construction jobs and the 700 operational roles specifically for Pandora, ranging from engineers, attraction hosts, food and beverage and more.

To the Disney cast members joining us to help create unforgettable memories for guests as they visit Pandora, welcome … or as the Na'vi say, Zola'u nìprrte'!

22nd Annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Stretches to 75 Days – With Record 35 Marketplaces

There are many special numbers to celebrate as we announce the 22nd annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, opening Aug. 31 and running through Nov. 13 – that's 75 days to sip, savor and enjoy one of America's top food festivals (13 more than last year).

And to celebrate the park's opening 35 years ago in 1982, there will be a record number of Marketplaces – 35 in all – stretching around World Showcase and into Future World.

While the Marketplaces play a starring role, we recommend planning ahead so you don't miss your favorite celebrity chefs, hands-on culinary workshops and demonstrations at the Festival Center, Party for the Senses, or your favorite artists at one of the nightly Eat to the Beat concerts. Stay tuned. We'll let you know when schedules are in place and bookings for specialty festival events open this summer.

Chefs are busy at work on new dishes for the Marketplaces, paired with wines, beers and ciders. We got a taste of the new crispy chicken with griddled cornbread and red-eye gravy for the Farm Fresh Marketplace and the spicy Korma Chicken with cucumber-tomato salad, almonds, cashews and warm naan bread from the India Marketplace– just two of the intriguing and delectable new tastes that will be in the 2017 cookbook. Another favorite was the charcuterie in a cone from the Spain Marketplace, perfect for strolling and tasting. For a favorite sweet, it's back to India with the pistachio cardamom cake with a dollop of chocolate coconut mousse. And these are just a sampling of dozens of new tastes.

This year there are more family favorites, too, with the Ratatouille-inspired scavenger hunt back for another year as well as culinary demos and dishes geared toward kids' palates.

Along with Party for the Senses, the festival includes specialty dining and pairing events at World Showcase restaurants and events at the resort hotels such as Brunch with a Twist at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

Keep an eye out for details this summer at epcotfoodfestival.com.