Category: Walt Disney World

First Look: ‘Moana’ Inspired Re-Themed Rooms at Polynesian Resort in Disney World
As we previously reported, Reimagining is underway at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort at Disney World Resort! And now these new photos released by Disney take you inside a newly reimagined guest room at the resort.

These reimagined spaces feature a new color palette inspired by the Pacific Ocean and its many islands, including details, patterns and textures from the hit Walt Disney Animation Studios film “Moana” – look closely and you might even spot some characters from the story!

You’ll also see all-new furnishings and fixtures. In the bathrooms, for instance, Disney Imagineers took inspiration from the sandy ocean floor for the tiles and carved details in the vanity. The colorful patterns found throughout the room bring a whole new energy to the space, evoking undulating ocean waves and tropical flowers. Take a closer look below:
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is now accepting bookings for late July 2021, and the next time guests pull up to the Great Ceremonial House, they’ll notice even more exciting changes we’re currently working on. The porte cochere is in the midst of a dramatic overhaul that will feature a high-pitched, open-truss roof covered in a thatch style with pops of color. Above the porte cochere, the Monorail station is receiving new wooden screens with tropical colors, adding to the open and airy vibe befitting of the South Seas.

This popular locale joins the other Disney Resort hotels of Walt Disney World in creating the Disney Resorts Collection, where the magic found in the theme parks extends to every moment of a guest’s vacation. Disney Resort hotels offer a wide selection of fantastic settings to choose from, inspired by worlds both real and imagined. Guests are fully immersed in our legendary storytelling and guest service that extend beyond our theme parks to every moment of a stay, whether visiting an African savanna, strolling a seaside boardwalk, seeing a favorite Disney character or so much more – there’s magic seemingly around every corner.

We’ll have more to share about the developments happening at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort in the weeks and months to come. This exciting progress is part of the overall evolution of our Disney Resort hotels, as they infuse even more Disney touches across their collection – just in time for “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” beginning Oct. 1, 2021, in honor of Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary.
March 5, 2021
Disney World Workers Spat on & Harassed by Guests While Enforcing COVID Safety Rules According to Report

While trying to enforce safety protocols at Disney World durring the COVID-19 pandemic, Disney World cast members have reported being spat on, yelled at, and pushed by guests.

In a report published by the Orlando Sentinel, a Disney security guard that was stationed at Disney’s Contemporary Resort hotel detailed the incident when they reminded a guest to put their mask on before walking into the building.

The male guest — who was not identified by name by the publication — reportedly told the guard, “I’m a guest,” and asked to be left alone, before he allegedly spat at the guard with some of his saliva landing on the guard’s forehead.

The outlet added that the man then “hurried inside the hotel” where he entered an elevator bank and disappeared. He was unable to be identified following the incident.

“There’s never a day when I don’t have a story,” another employee, who took on a new role enforcing mask rules in the Disney Springs parking garages after her previous job was terminated, told the Sentinel. “I cried the first week I started. It was not a good time at all. Imagine going to work every single day where people ridicule you.”

“I’ve had a guest literally get right up in my face and literally curse me out,” she added to the publication. “If I honestly didn’t have good coworkers, I would have already quit by now.”

At the Walt Disney World resort in Orlando, guests need to comply with a series of safety protocols during their stay, including wearing an approved face mask at the resort’s four theme parks — Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom — as well as its resort hotels and Disney Springs.

Since reopening, the resort has instituted strict new health and safety protocol, including mandatory mask-wearing, temperature checks upon entry, cashless payments, remote ordering at restaurants, limited capacity at parks and socially distanced lines, shopping and dining. They’ve also enacted an “enhanced” cleaning and sanitation regimen.

Since then, some restrictions have been reduced, such as not spacing out guests on certain rides, while others have been tightened, namely, the required wearing of masks when not actively eating or drinking, even when seated in a dining location.

March 5, 2021
Six Story Icon Ring Moved into ECOT Lagoon for New Nighttime Spectacular

Disney has not yet determined when “Harmonious”, EPCOT’s next spectacular will debut, but they have given us an update of the progress of the project.

“Early in our plans for the transformation of EPCOT, we recognized the power and potential this new show has to tell a story of global connection and celebration,” Disney said in a post. “This grand, original spectacular is a tribute to the power of story and song that unite us, leveraging music and visuals from across Disney and artists around the world.”

Walt Disney Imagineering and Disney Live Entertainment teams are hard at work building on that legacy with “Harmonious,” and while the show is still in the early stages of development with more finishing details to come, you can still take a look at some recent progress in the video below:

“Harmonious” is a global effort, truly embracing the magic of possibility. In recent weeks, Disney Live Entertainment technical designers across the country have been programming various elements of the show, from media and fountains to lighting and pyrotechnics, working in a completely virtual environment. Music producers at Walt Disney Imagineering have been remotely directing recording sessions with an incredibly diverse array of musical artists, performing in studios around the world.

Once complete, “Harmonious” will be one of the largest nighttime spectaculars ever produced. They’re busy setting the stage of this innovative toolkit, preparing each of the show’s five floating platforms to take its place on World Showcase Lagoon. Positioned like a compass, these platforms house the primary show equipment for “Harmonious,” and on the recently-placed center platform stands an iconic six-story-tall central ring structure, supporting a high-density water curtain, moving lights, fountains and more.

February 27, 2021
New Baby Rhino Calf Joins the Herd at Animal Kingdom
A monumental rite of passage was marked yesterday as a new baby rhino, joined by his mom Kendi, made his big savanna debut and joined the crash (a rhino herd) at Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.

Ranger, the four our-month-old white rhino calf, is the first for the herd in five years and he’s now grown to be more than four times his birth weight, weighing in at nearly 600 pounds.

Ever since his arrival was announced at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park this past October, guests have been wondering about the baby boy rhino and his mom Kendi, since many of them followed Kendi’s pregnancy story on the Disney+ original series “Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom,” produced by National Geographic.
Ranger was eager to explore his new environment with his head high and ears up – plunging right into the mud alongside Kendi for a good wallow before running around to see all the new savanna sights. This rambunctious rhino calf made fast friends with his “aunties” Lola and Jao, and mom Kendi kept close by to make sure Ranger stayed out of trouble. Of course, such an adventurous morning requires lots of energy, so there was plenty of nursing and napping going on, too.

Collectively, Disney’s Animal Care team has hundreds of years of experience, and their teamwork and expertise are crucial to ensuring Ranger’s successful transition to the savanna. But each animal is unique with their own personalities, development and family dynamics, so each onstage introduction is something special.

Kendi was paired with dad Dugan through one of the Species Survival Plans, which are overseen by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to ensure the responsible breeding of endangered species. White rhinos are an endangered species with a near-threatened status.
February 24, 2021
50th Anniversary Crest to Adorn Cinderella’s Castle in 18 Month Celebration
As part of Disney World’s 50th anniversary celebration, Cinderella’s Castle will feature golden bunting and a 50th anniversary crest as part of its festive new look.

“The entire castle will shimmer with pearls and jewels, and the turrets and towers will be wrapped in iridescent gold and royal blue ribbons,” said George Adams, Walt Disney Imagineering. “Above the castle gate, a 50th-anniversary crest will warmly welcome guests to join the festivities.”

As part of the celebration, Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park will add to its royal makeover from last year as you can see in this new artist rendering below:

When night falls, the castle and the landmarks of the other three parks will transform into “Beacons of Magic,” adding a shimmering optical element to each, like “pixie dust on Cinderella Castle” and “magical fireflies inhabiting the Tree of Life.”
Beginning Oct. 1, Walt Disney World Resort will throw “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” in honor of our 50th anniversary of the Resort.
February 20, 2021
New Enhanced Lighting Design Coming to Spaceship Earth will be Permanent at EPCOT
In honor of Disney World’s 50th anniversary, Spaceship Earth — the parks icon — is recieving an “EARidescence” lighting design that will be a permanent fixture of the park long after the celebration ends.

“This permanent new lighting will continue beyond ‘The World’s Most Magical Celebration’ as a defining feature of the park,” according to Disney Parks.

As we previously reported, a multi-year transformation of EPCOT is underway that will reimagine the park while keeping true to the original vision and the new lights will shine across the reflective panels of Spaceship Earth, connecting to one another and resembling stars in a nighttime sky as you can see below:
At the 2019 D23 Expo, Imagineer Zach Riddley discussed a new and enhanced lighting package will soon be installed on the exterior of Spaceship Earth, EPCOT’s icon.

Take a look below at all of the transformations underway at EPCOT:
Beginning Oct. 1, Walt Disney World Resort will throw “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” in honor of our 50^th anniversary of the Resort.
February 20, 2021
Disney World Unveils Plans for 50th Anniversary Celebration
The Walt Disney World Resort opened its gates nearly fifty years ago, and beginning October 1, 2021 the resort will begin celebrating it’s 50th anniversary with an 18-month long celebration.

This celebratory event, called “The World’s Most Magical Celebration”, will feature new experiences at the resort’s four theme parks and beyond, where shimmering “EARidescent” décor will appear as if by magic. Shining at the center of it all will be Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park, which will add to its royal makeover from 2020 with new gold bunting, sparkling golden embellishments and other new enhancements, including a 50^th anniversary crest warmly welcoming guests to the join the festivities.

Beacons of Magic at All Four Walt Disney World Theme Parks
As part of “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” icons at each Walt Disney World theme park will transform into magnificent Beacons of Magic at night, coming to life with their own EARidescent glow. Take a closer look below:
- Cinderella Castle will illuminate Magic Kingdom with a dazzling radiance that sparkles with pixie dust.
- At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, a warm light will emanate from the Tree of Life as magical fireflies gather to usher in the magic of nature.
- The Hollywood Tower Hotel at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be awash in a brilliance evoking the golden age of imagination and adventure.
- And at EPCOT, new lights will shine across the reflective panels of Spaceship Earth, connecting to one another in a symbol of optimism resembling stars in a nighttime sky. The iconic structure’s permanent new lighting will continue beyond “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” as a defining feature of the park.
Mickey and Minnie: Dressed for the Occasion
As hosts of “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse will be dressed in sparkling new looks, custom-made for this special occasion. Highlights of these celebratory designs include beautifully embroidered impressions of Cinderella Castle backed by fireworks, as well as a brocade in multi-toned, EARidescent fabric – all punctuated with pops of gold.

Joining Mickey and Minnie, Walt Disney World cast members will be at the heart of this event. They will demonstrate yet again why they are renowned for their commitment to service, consistently exceeding guests’ expectations by going above and beyond to make visits to The Most Magical Place on Earth special.

And at EPCOT, new lights will shine across the reflective panels of Spaceship Earth, connecting to one another and resembling stars in a nighttime sky. This permanent new lighting will continue beyond “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” as a defining feature of the park.
February 19, 2021
Disney World Extending Park Hours in March

Disney World has extended its park hours of for the first week of March.

Each of Disney World’s four theme parks will reportedly be open for an extra hour than what was previously scheduled.

The Magic Kingdom will open at 9 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Epcot will be open from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. during this time period as well. Both parks are reportedly closing one hour later than previously scheduled, according to the Disney World website.

Hollywood Studios will operate from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. and the Animal Kingdom will open at 8 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. (except for Saturday, March 6th, when it will close at 6 p.m.) Both parks are reportedly opening an hour earlier than previously scheduled.

It’s been almost a full year since Disney World in Florida was forced to temporarily close down due to the coronavirus pandemic. While the park eventually reopened in July, it has continued to enforce extra safety standards and altered hours of operation due to the pandemic.

February 15, 2021
Leave A Legacy Wall Returns to Epcot with a New Look and Location

Disney World has announced that Leave A Legacy is returning to EPCOT!

As part of the multi-year transformation EPCOT, the original Legacy sculpture (previously in front of Spaceship Earth) was removed, but Leave A Legacy now lives on in a beautiful new setting just outside the park.

These newly designed panels are the first of many that will be installed outside the EPCOT touch points, featuring vibrant hues from the park’s new color palette. Along with the fresh look for Leave A Legacy, the beautiful fountain and gleaming pylons further illustrate the park’s transformation and the magic of possibility.

For anyone ewho wants to search for a tile at the new location, guests can use their smart device to scan the QR code at the Leave a Legacy display. This opens up the tile finder search feature, which can provide the coordinates for a tile’s location. Guests can also visit the EPCOT guest Relations team for assistance.

The former home of the Leave a Legacy monuments now features additional flower beds, followed by a reimaged water fountain that harkens back to Epcot’s opening in 1982.

February 9, 2021
Buccaneers MVP Tom Brady Is “Going To Disney World”

After the Tamba Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl victory Sunday, the game’s most valuable player, Tom Brady, and longtime teammate Rob Gronkowski turned to the TV cameras and both announced to the world that they’re “going to Disney World!’’

That iconic phrase is part of Disney’s popular Super Bowl commercial, which annually features heroes of the big game in a nationally televised TV spot airing on social media sites and major TV networks across the country.

For the first time, this year’s commercial features an additional honor with footage of Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park illuminated in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ colors and then alternately in blue in recognition of the nation’s health care heroes who’ve been courageously battling the global pandemic. Take a look at the new commercial below:

The magic will continue Monday for Gronkowski during a thrilling afternoon at Walt Disney World Resort, where he will experience some of Disney’s most popular attractions.

Meanwhile, the celebratory planning is already underway for Brady’s highly anticipated visit to Walt Disney World Resort, likely in the coming months. It will be Brady’s fourth visit to The Most Magical Place on Earth following a Super Bowl victory, the most of any player in history.

Brady and Gronkowski delivered remarkable performances in the Buccaneers’ 31-9 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night in Tampa. They added another chapter to their storied history together by connecting for two touchdowns in the first half, propelling the Buccaneers to an early lead they would never relinquish. In winning the seventh Super Bowl of his illustrious career, Brady completed 21 of 29 passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns on his way to being named Super Bowl LV MVP. Gronkowski, who came out of retirement this season to join Brady on the Buccaneers, led the team in receiving with six catches for 67 yards and the two crucial scores.

They join some of the biggest names in the NFL who have appeared in Disney’s popular Super Bowl commercial, which has become woven into the fabric of the game since 1987 when New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms first appeared in the spot following his team’s Super Bowl victory. This marks the ninth time Disney has featured two Super Bowl stars in the same commercial.

February 8, 2021