Category: News

FIRST LOOK: Reimagined Guest Rooms at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
As Walt Disney World prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary this October, Walt Disney Imagineering is reimagining the guest rooms at Disney’s Contemporary Resort and now Disney has given us a first look at the new décor debuting this fall.

Walt Disney Imagineering is continuing to build on the optimistic spirit of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, enhancing the retro-modern aesthetic evoking Tomorrowland … with a dash of something Incredible, too.

Currently all nine floors of guest rooms in the tower are being completely refurbished and these rooms will blend a sleek Monorail motif with some favorite characters from Pixar Animation Studios’ Incredibles films, including Jack-Jack, Frozone and Edna Mode as you can see below:
New custom artwork in guest rooms and along guest corridors will be modern, futuristic and oh so stylish, dahling, complementing the resort’s architecture while putting the Supers’ powers on display.
In the lobby, you’ll soon see a collection of modern art pieces as well as historical, behind-the-scenes photographs of Disney’s Contemporary Resort in development and under construction. The resort’s lobby restaurant, The Wave… of American Flavors, will also soon close to make way for a reimagined dining experience in time for the Walt Disney World 50th anniversary celebration. And once the tower guest rooms are complete, work will begin on the rooms inside the Garden Wing out on the shore of Bay Lake.

All the excitement at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is part of the ongoing evolution of the Disney Resorts Collection at Walt Disney World, where the magic you find in our theme parks extends to every moment of your vacation.
June 24, 2021
Disney Parks and Delish Launch New Magazine Featuring Recipes From Around the World

Disney fans LOVE a good recipe so Delish and Disney have teamed up to create a special magazine featuring iconic Disney recipes!

Available only on Amazon, Delish Loves Disney is 100 glossy pages specifically created and curated by the editors at Delish, who have been writing and producing content about Disney Parks Food & Beverage for almost a decade.

Delish Loves Disney features more than 50 recipes from our parks and resorts around the world – including 15 never-before-published – with a mix of scrumptious entrees, iconic Disney Parks’ snacks and some of our most beloved items that feature a variety of healthful ingredients.

It showcases how food and beverage is an integral part of the experience at our parks and resorts and we constantly strive to surprise and delight our guests with food and beverages that celebrate a variety of nutritious ingredients – such as seafood, legumes, and veggies – in a delicious way.

Disney chefs and Disney Parks Food & Beverage professionals around the world chose all the best dishes to spotlight, including Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup from Le Cellier at EPCOT at Walt Disney World, Ratatouille from Bistrot Chez Remy at Disneyland Paris and Filmore’s Pot Pie from Disney California Adventure at Disneyland Resort.

The editors of Delish filled Delish Loves Disney with memories, anecdotes and feature stories about their experiences visiting and reporting on Disney Parks. There are pages featuring home-inspired Disney products that readers can use to make their favorite recipes from the book and a ton of “fun facts” about the recipes.

To accompany the book, the Delish team also has created a special landing page on their website which provides a sneak peek at the book, with links to videos and articles from their years covering yummy food & beverage offerings at Disney parks around the world.

June 21, 2021
Disneyland Replacing Annual Passes With Membership Program

Disneyland canceled it’s annual pass program back in January and now details on what will replace it are coming out.

Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products told the Los Angeles Times a replacement membership program was coming “relatively soon.”

More specifically, in regard to replacing the annual pass program, Disneyland President Ken Potrock recently told the official D23 Inside Disney podcast that the park would “clearly be launching something by the end of the year.”

Potrock indicated that the new membership program will be heavily informed by guest demand and experience. To that end, he said park officials were parsing results from research conducted earlier this year.

That lines up with D’Amaro’s comment to the L.A. Times that the new program “will reflect the behavior of our superfans.”

During the yearlong closure of park executives have been able to reimagine the park with a vision to what guests will want going forward. The reimagining of the annual pass program is part of that.

June 21, 2021
New Darth Vader Minnie Ears now Avaiable at Disney World
Disney has released a new Darth Vader Minnie Ear headband and this is the accessory you’re looking for!

Join the fashionable dark side and you’ll ”Rule the Galaxy” in this Minnie Ear Headband inspired by the Dark Lord of the Sith.

Inspired by the signature Minnie headwear, it features a PVC bow with the Dark Lord at its center, while the domed ears have a raised Galactic Empire symbol. Take closer look below:

Darth Vader Ear Headband – $34.99
You can find the new Minnie Ears on shopDisney and at retail locations at Disney World.

Magic in the details
- Padded ears
- Faux leather back with embroidered ”Rule the Galaxy”
- Molded front with raised Galactic Empire symbol
- PVC bow with 3D Darth Vader helmet
- Faux leather headband with contrasting non-slip fabric interior
June 20, 2021
Single Rider Lines Returning to Disney World

Disney World continues relaxing restrictions at the parks and now single riders lines are returning to for attractions.

The single rider line is designed for solo riders. Cast members will place those riders with other parties to fill in all the space on designated rides.

According to the Walt Disney World website, the single rider is no longer listed under the paused Attractions and Entertainment section of the website, as you can see below:

Disney World has already ended the mask requirement for guest and cast members who are vaccinated and has removed social distancing markers from some queue lines for rides.

June 20, 2021
Holiday Cruises Return to Disney Cruise Line Fall 2022

Disney has announce that the magic of the holidays returns to Disney Cruise Line in the fall of 2022 with Halloween on the High Seas and Very Merrytime Cruises across the fleet.

The return also marks the first fall season on the all-new Disney Wish.

With five ships sailing from Florida, New York, Texas and California, more guests than ever before will be able to experience holidays at sea with Disney Cruise Line.

Halloween on the High Seas returns to Disney Cruise Line in mid-September through October 2022. On select sailings across the fleet, guests can dress up and join Disney characters in their Halloween costumes at Mickey’s Mouse-querade Party; enjoy themed food, beverages and crafts; and immerse themselves in a ghostly ship takeover with elaborate decor and a magical Pumpkin Tree.

From early November through December, the Disney Cruise Line fleet is decked from bow-to-stern with holiday cheer and entertainment during Very Merrytime Cruises. Holiday magic is unwrapped for the whole family with festive holiday decor, favorite characters in their finest holiday attire and a special visit from none other than Santa Claus.

Bookings open to the public June 24, 2021.

If you need help booking your magical vacation, contact Enchanted Kingdom Vacations with Vikki for help. My services are completely free and I will always find you the lowest rates. Let me do all the work so you don’t have to!

June 18, 2021
OFFICIAL: Fireworks Spectaculars Returning to Disney Parks This Summer

As more communities adjust and ease COVID-19 guidelines, Disney theme parks has been gradually bringing back more park experiences and now Disney has officially announced the return of fireworks this summer!

At Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, July 1 marks the start of nightly fireworks performances at Magic Kingdom Park and EPCOT.

A Disney tradition since 1957, fireworks shows are what Walt Disney called the perfect “kiss goodnight” at the close of a magical day, and this summer the skies above Disney theme parks will sparkle with color once more. Disney made the announcement in a video as you can see below:

“Happily Ever After” will transform Cinderella Castle with lights, projections and pyrotechnics, as moments from favorite Disney stories encourage you to grab hold of your dreams and make them come true. And as part of the ongoing transformation of EPCOT, “EPCOT Forever” will produce a spectacle of fireworks, music and lighting effects over World Showcase Lagoon, highlighting the themes of innovation, exploration, imagination and celebration at the core of the park’s past, present and future.

As Disneyland park in California welcomes back all guests, the fun starts July 4 with “Mickey’s Mix Magic” presented nightly throughout the summer. State-of-the-art projections, show lighting and lasers will transform Main Street, U.S.A., Sleeping Beauty Castle and the façade of “it’s a small world” into a dazzling, family fun dance party that goes sky high with fireworks to celebrate the leader of the club, Mickey Mouse.

June 15, 2021
Disney World Drops Indoor Mask Policy for Vaccinated Guests

As of Tuesday, fully vaccinated guests at Disney World are no longer required to wear face coverings in most areas of the park. according to its website.

Masks are still required for Disney transportation, including buses, monorails and the Disney Skyliner gondolas.

No proof of vaccination will be required and the Resort will be relying solely on the honor system. Orange County, Florida lifted all local face mask recommendations on June 5.

“We’re not quite ready to bring back everything yet,” the website reads, “but we are optimistic and look forward to the day when Disney pals and princesses are able to hug once again.”

Disney World is also easing its physical distancing guidelines, and will update its terms in visibile locations throughout the park.

June 12, 2021
Fireworks Could Be Returning to Disney World in July

Fireworks will return to Disney World during the first week of July just in time for the 4th of July according to several online reports.

Reportedly, Happily Ever After and EPCOT Forever will be returning to their respective parks. It is unlikely that Harmonious would debut at EPCOT, but considering the pyro tests that have been seen from EPCOT area resorts, its debut may be sooner than we think, according to MonorailNews.com.

This would make since Disney Parks has been relaxing covid saftey measures and has also recently begun to hire new pyrotechnic and special effects designers as well as bringing back former cast members to the job according to reports.

Happily Ever After takes you on a dazzling journey of color, light and song that captures the heart, humor and heroism of favorite Disney animated films. Cinderella Castle becomes part of the story by magically transforming through amazing state-of-the art projection technology you have to see to believe.

This astounding 18-minute fireworks extravaganza uses more lights, lasers and special effects than any other fireworks spectacular in the history of Magic Kingdom park, plus a soaring score featuring contemporary versions of beloved Disney songs.

During EPCOT Forever you’ll witness the wonder as the story of Epcot and its next incredible chapter come to life in this new nighttime spectacular. Behold the single “spark of imagination” that started it all. Watch it grow, evolve and transform into an epic nighttime extravaganza that stirs the senses and captures all you love about Epcot—and all that’s to come—with dazzling fireworks, stunning laser effects and choreographed kites set to tunes that have become theme park favorites.

Hopefully the rumors prove true! We’ll keep you updated so stay tuned to Disney Dorks for the latest updates.

June 10, 2021
2021 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Begins July 15
The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival returns to Walt Disney World Resort this fall with 129 days of entertainment, events, and, of course, a veritable cornucopia of wonderful food and tasty beverages.

Starting July 15th and running through November 20th, marketplaces across the park will feature dishes from Hawaii, Australia, Germany, Canada, Greece, and more!

Take a look below at a full list of the global marketplaces that there will be:
- The Alps – Opening October 1
- Australia
- Appleseed Orchard
- Belgium – Opening October 1
- Brazil – Opening October 1
- Brew-Wing at the Epcot Experience – NEW!
- Canada
- China
- The Donut Box
- Earth Eats hosted by Impossible™
- Flavors from Fire hosted by The NFL on ESPN
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hawaiʻi
- Hops & Barley
- India – Opening October 1
- Ireland – Opening October 1
- Italy
- Japan
- Kenya – NEW! Opening October 1
- Lobster Landing – NEW! Opening October 1
- Mac & Eats – NEW! Opening October 1
- Mexico
- The Noodle Exchange – NEW!
- Refreshment Outpost
- Refreshment Port hosted by Boursin® Cheese
- Rotunda Bistro – NEW!
- Shimmering Sips hosted by CORKCICLE®
- Spain – Opening October 1
- The Swanky Saucy Swine – NEW!
- Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina – NEW!
There will also be entertainment throughout the park, including performances by Voices of Liberty, Mariachi Cobre, and Jammin’ Chefs and a live-music concert series performed Friday through Monday evenings. In addition, bands from Central Florida play on the America Gardens Theatre stage.

Finally, there will also be a Ratatouille-themed scavenger hunt for families to enjoy.
June 9, 2021