Just “checking-in” to Disney theme parks and resorts with your smart phone is a thing of the past.  In addition, visitors to Disney’s theme parks in the U.S. can now use their smart phones to earn digital versions of the parks’ popular pins and go on custom-designed tours.  This new technological initiative is part of a recent partnership between the Walt Disney Co. and Gowalla, one of a growing number of startups that lets users broadcast their location to friends and strangers using a phone application. By far the biggest among them is Facebook, whose Places feature lets users share where they are and get special deals and coupons from businesses for doing so.

As part of the Disney promotion, Gowalla has created custom trips its users can take as they make their way through Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California.  An example of how this benefits you the traveler is; families with kids “under 44 inches” at the Magic Kingdom in Florida are guided to “Mickey’s PhilharMagic,” Dumbo the Flying Elephant and Peter Pan’s Flight, among other attractions.  Trip advice, along with the ability to share photos, recommendations and trips you went on with friends, make Gowalla locations and places application great for graciously finding the right Disney accommodations.  Visitors will also be able to get more than 100 virtual passport stamps and pins using Gowalla when they visit the parks.

Staying at a Timeshare is a great option to save money while enjoying Disney

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts is set to open the full-service, 626-room Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort, an official Walt Disney World hotel located inside the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

Formerly the Regal Sun Resort, the new facilities will include the Oasis Aquatic Playground, offering a large pool with gradual ‘zero’ entry, interactive water features for kids, a lap pool and a hot tub.  Dining options are the Lakeview Restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the Sundial 24-7 for all day self-serve food and beverages, the poolside-Oasis Bar & Grill, offering lunch and dinner daily, and the Eclipse Bar and Horizons Bar.

The new resort-premises include 19,000 square feet of event space, which includes a 12,000 square-foot ballroom and 15 banquet rooms.  Additional amenities include a children’s game area and a business centre.

The hotel joins two other Wyndham properties in the area, the Wyndham Orlando Resort and the Reunion Resort and Club Wyndham Grand Resort.