Disney News

Category: Walt Disney World

  • Disney World Annual Passholders Accidentally Charged for Multiple Months

    Disney World Annual Passholders Accidentally Charged for Multiple Months

    Disney World is reopening later this month so it was expected that annual pass holders would start seeing charges resume on thier monthly payment plans, but some have reported being overcharged for the past three months while the theme parks were closed due to the coronavirus.

    Disney World has already confirmed that they are aware of the mistake and are working to resolve the issue.

    “Passholders on the monthly payment program were incorrectly charged today. We are in the process of reversing these charges and apologize for the inconvenience this caused,” a Disney spokesperson said in an email.

    Disney World has been closed since mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic. An email was sent to passholders in April stating that monthly payments were placed on hold through the closures. The company said it would refund payments made March 14 through April 5 for passholders who pay monthly.

    Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme parks will reopen July 11 and Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios will reopen July 15. Disney has announced a phased reopening with limited capacity, new reservation protocols and health measures due to the coronavirus.

  • PHOTOS: Baby Zebra Born at Walt Disney World Resort

    PHOTOS: Baby Zebra Born at Walt Disney World Resort

    The folks over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom are seeing stripes today! On May 6, the animal care team at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge welcomed a new female Hartmann’s mountain zebra foal to the herd.

    The name Phoenix was chosen by our team as a symbol of strength and renewal. Phoenix was born to mom Peebles, and she’s already quite active and enjoying bonding time with her mother. This is the second Hartmann’s foal born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge this year.

    Monday, Disney shared photos of little Phoenix as she recently made her first appearance on the resort’s Sunset Savanna. Take a look at a few of the amazing photos below:

    Phoenix was born as part of the Species Survival Plan program, overseen by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The program ensures responsible breeding and genetic diversity of thousands of animal species. As part of this program, Phoenix is the fourth zebra born at Walt Disney World this year, and 13th overall since we began participating in the breeding program.

    The zebra birth marks another success for Disney’s animal care experts and the Species Survival Plan, a program through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums that helps ensure a diverse, healthy population of threatened and endangered species.

  • Disney World Annual Passholders Reservations All Claimed within 30 Minutes

    Disney World Annual Passholders Reservations All Claimed within 30 Minutes

    On Friday, Disney World opened its new Park Pass Reservation System to passholders and those coveted spots were booked up faster than you can say Mickey Mouse by all those eagerly waiting to be among the first guests to visit the parks when they reopen.

    The new Disney Park Pass system went live for passholders sometime around 6 a.m. By 6:30 a.m., the availability calendar showed that reservations were no longer available for passholders on July 11, the day Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom reopen.

    Later in the morning, the same calendar showed that reservations were no longer available for July 12-15. Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot reopen on July 15.

    Passholders are able to book three reservation days at a time.

    With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Disney World will be limiting capacity at its parks when they reopen. To help manage attendance, all visitors will need to secure a park reservation for specific days.

    The system first opened to Disney Resort Hotel guests on Monday, with many users reported technical issues and glitches.

  • Disney World Releases List of Attractions Reopening With Its Parks

    Disney World Releases List of Attractions Reopening With Its Parks

    Disney World is set to begin its phased reopening next month and Disney has since released a list of the attractions, shows and entertainment offerings that will be available when the parks reopen.

    Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom will open first, on July 11. Then, Epcot and Hollywood Studios will follow on July 15.

    Take a look below at the attractions that will be available:

    A majority of Magic Kingdom’s attractions will be available, including it’s a small world, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Haunted Mansion, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Space Mountain. At Animal Kingdom, Avatar Flight of Passage, Dinosaur, Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safaris and more will be available. The two newest attractions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios—Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance—will also be available. A full list of available attractions for each park can be found on the Disney World website.

    When visitors return to the parks, they’ll encounter a number of changes. All visitors, even annual passholders, will need to make a reservation for specific park visits. For the time being, they will only be able to visit one park per day—no park-hopping.

    Visitors ages 2 and older will be required to wear face masks and have their temperatures checked before entering the parks. Anyone with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher will not be allowed entry. Social distancing markers will be placed throughout the parks. In order to maintain distancing, Disney will temporarily suspend fireworks, nighttime spectaculars and character meet-and-greets.

  • Disney World Workers Petition to Delay Reopening Parks Amid Rise in Coronavirus Cases

    Disney World Workers Petition to Delay Reopening Parks Amid Rise in Coronavirus Cases

    Due to concern over the recent surge of coronavirus cases in Florida, Disney World employees are urging park executives and state and local officials to consider delaying the reopening of the parks in a petition posted to moveon.org.

    The petition, which had more than 3,800 signatures as of Monday evening, says the Florida theme parks “should not be planning to operate until the cases have gone down again” and that “retreating back to an earlier Phase in re-opening is our best option at not exposing the virus to thousands and thousands of theme park employees and their families.”

    Disney is set to open the Magic Kingdom and the Animal Kingdom on July 11, and reopen Epcot and Hollywood Studios on July 15.

    All visitors will have to pass a temperature check and wear masks while visiting.

    Disney is limiting attendance through a new theme-park reservation system that will require all guests to obtain a reservation for park entry in advance.

    Coronavirus cases in Florida surpassed 100,000 Monday, according to the latest update by the state’s health department.

    “This virus is not gone, unfortunately, it’s only become worse in this state,” cast members wrote. “While theme parks are a great way to relax and enjoy free time, it is a non-essential business; it is not fair to the people who work there to risk their lives, especially if they are at risk or have family members who are at risk. People are more important than making a profit. Mayors, theme park executives, government officials — please hear what we are saying.”

  • CONFIRMED: Disney World Discontinuing Complimentary MagicBands

    CONFIRMED: Disney World Discontinuing Complimentary MagicBands

    Disney World has confirmed they will be retiring the complimentary MagicBand distribution to Disney World Resort hotel guests for new reservations with arrivals beginning Jan. 1, 2021.

    “As you begin planning your upcoming visits, we’re also exploring engaging ways for guests to use their mobile tech to experience the magic – particularly now as the use of phones and apps continues to evolve,” Disney stated. “In 2021, we plan to unveil an innovative new offering as part of the My Disney Experience app that will bring features of a MagicBand to your smart devices, building on the app’s existing digital key feature.”

    Disney Resort hotel guests will continue to have the option to purchase new MagicBands at a discount, and they’ll be introducing even more colors and designs featuring favorite Disney characters in the future.

    Guests who prefer not to purchase a discounted MagicBand will be able to use the My Disney Experience app or a Key to the World card during their visit.

    “We understand these updates may change the way you plan your visits to the Walt Disney World Resort theme parks and Disney Resort hotels for the time being. We are focused on making your Walt Disney World Resort experience magical, convenient and enjoyable,” Disney said.

    Disney will still offer MagicBands in retail locations and on shopDisney.com, and guests will be able to continue using the wearables throughout Walt Disney World Resort.

  • BREAKING: New Theme Park Reservation System for Walt Disney World Announced

    BREAKING: New Theme Park Reservation System for Walt Disney World Announced

    It’s almost time for magic as Disney World begins reopening plans and to manage attendance during this reopening period they are introducing a new reservation system.

    Disney is preparing for the reopening of Walt Disney World Resort theme parks, starting July 11 with Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom and followed July 15 by EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

    All guests with a ticket or Annual Pass will be required to make a reservation in advance for each park entry, using this new online tool on DisneyWorld.com. Take a look below at a few important details to know about this new system: 

    • You’ll need a My Disney Experience account, as this is where your Walt Disney World Resort plans are stored and managed.
    • You’ll also need a valid theme park ticket or Annual Pass that’s linked to your My Disney Experience account. 
    • If you have a Disney Resort hotel reservation, be sure to link it to your My Disney Experience account beforehand, as well. 

    Once you’ve logged into your My Disney Experience account and linked your ticket, you’ll have access to a calendar of available reservation dates for each theme park. If you have a multi-day ticket, you will be required to make a park reservation for each date of your visit. Families and friends can link their tickets together and look to arrange theme park entries at the same time. 

    “We’re taking a deliberate approach that includes limits on attendance and controlled guest density to align with guidance from health and government authorities on physical distancing. We’re also using technology to power creative solutions as we develop new ways for guests to visit The Most Magical Place on Earth in this unique environment,” Disney said.

    Please note, park reservations are limited in number and subject to availability. Availability can change until the reservation is finalized. At this time, guests will be able to select one park per day; visiting more than one park per day will be temporarily unavailable upon the reopening of the theme parks due to attendance limitations. Guests with existing tickets that include the Park Hopper Option or Park Hopper Plus Option have options available to them for ticket modifications and cancellations, and can visit DisneyWorld.com/Updates for more information. We hope to bring back the ability to visit more than one park per day soon and will continue to offer these add-ons for 2021 ticket purchases.

  • Coca-Cola Brownie Adult Beverage Now Available at Disney World

    Coca-Cola Brownie Adult Beverage Now Available at Disney World

    Have a coke and a smile… and a brownie… and some alcohol… all in one! Now you can find the Coca-Cola Brownie Masher at Disney Springs and it’s The Real Thing.

    The drink is made up of Fairlife Chocolate Milk, Stoli Vodka, Kahlúa Rum, Ice Cream and though you may want to share a coke with a friend, you’re not going to want to share this!

    The adult beverage will set you back about $15.00 and can be found at the recently re-opened Coca-Cola Beverage Bar in Disney Springs.

  • Petition Calls for Splash Mountain to be Re-themed to ‘Princess and the Frog’

    Petition Calls for Splash Mountain to be Re-themed to ‘Princess and the Frog’

    Fans are calling on Disney parks to re-theme its popular Splash Mountain ride based on a nearly 75-year-old movie that has long been criticized for racist themes.

    A petition posted on Change.org asks Disney to remove all references to its 1946 film “Song of the South” from Splash Mountain.

    The petition says the movie “steeped in extremely problematic and stereotypical racist tropes.” The petition suggests Disney should re-theme the ride around “Princess and the Frog.” Tiana, the main character in the film, is recognized for being Disney’s first African-American princess.

    The petition had more than 8,000 signatures as of Thursday morning. The petition’s current goal is set at 10,000 signatures.

    Disney has been distancing themselves from the movie for quite sometime now. The movie, set on a plantation after the Civil War, is not included on the new streaming service Disney Plus. And former Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger, now executive chairman, says it won’t ever be.

    “I’ve felt as long as I’ve been CEO that ‘Song of the South’ — even with a disclaimer — was just not appropriate in today’s world,” Iger said in March during a shareholder meeting. “It’s just hard, given the depictions in some of those films, to bring them out today without in some form or another offending people, so we’ve decided not to do that.”

    The call for change comes as the country continues to hold discussions surrounding racial injustice in the wake of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis police custody.

  • Disney’s ‘Once Upon A Vine’ Wines are Now Available Online are Making a Buzz

    Disney’s ‘Once Upon A Vine’ Wines are Now Available Online are Making a Buzz

    If your jonesing for a Taste of Disney before the big reopening date then we have great new for you. Once Upon A Vine is a line of wines you can typically find on property at Disney World and now they are available to be purchased online!

    You can typically buy at Mickey’s Pantry in Disney Springs and you can now find them online at TheBestWineStore.com.

    There are three different types of Once Upon A Vine wines available online. Take a look at the options below:

    First up is The Lost Slipper Sauvignon Blanc, which is flavored with tropical fruits in mind. Each sip gives way to passion fruit, guava, and pineapple, the description reads. This wine is best paired with white meats like chicken or poultry and fish. If you prefer red wine, The Big Bad Red Blend has berry and plum in the flavor profile and is great for pairing with beef or lamb. Finally, A Charming Pinot is the ideal medium-bodied bottle to go with herby roasted meats.

    All three bottles are typically around $13, but The Best Wine Store is currently offering them at just $11. That means a bundle of all three comes out to right around $33 before tax or shipping.

    Each bottle’s label depicts its name perfectly, with a glass slipper falling off a foot, a wolf hiding behind trees, or a vibrant crown. These wines are a sophisticated way to show off how much you love Disney, and paired with Mickey-shaped cheese boards and princess dishes, an entire themed dinner seems inevitable.