Disney News

Category: Walt Disney World

  • Drew Barrymore Visits with Minnie Mouse at Walt Disney World Resort

    Drew Barrymore Visits with Minnie Mouse at Walt Disney World Resort

    Actress Drew Barrymore recently vacationed with her family at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

    During her visit to Magic Kingdom Park, she posed for a photo with our very own Minnie Mouse!

    For Disney, she voiced Chloe in the 2008 Disney comedy film, Beverly Hills Chihuahua. She has also cohosted some Disney TV specials in the 1980s, including Epcot Center: The Opening Celebration (alongside Danny Kaye) and Disneyland’s 30th Anniversary Celebration (alongside John Forsythe). She also played Casey Roberts in the 1995 Touchstone Pictures film, Mad Love and appeared in the Bill Nye the Science Guy episodes about flowers and life cycles.

    Now is a fantastic time to visit Walt Disney World Resort, as the Most Magical Place on Earth experiences its most significant period of growth in the past two decades, including spectacular new attractions and returning seasonal favorites planned throughout 2020.

    Magic Kingdom Park offers your family unlimited enchantment with classic, fan-favorite attractions and spectacular entertainment, such as the must-see fireworks-and-projection show “Happily Ever After” or the “Move It! Shake It! MouskeDance It! Street Party.”

  • Strawberry Hibiscus Mimosa is All the Buzz at Disney World

    Strawberry Hibiscus Mimosa is All the Buzz at Disney World

    If you like a good mimosa with breakfast then you’ll love the Strawberry Hibiscus Mimosa available at Ale & Compass Restaurant located in Disney’s Yacht Club Resort at Disney World.

    On the menu its known as Agua Fresca Libation and it’s made with Paul Cheneau Cava with Agua Fresca Strawberry and Hibiscus and costs $12.

    This hidden gem has been on the menu since Ale & Compass Restaurant opened in 2017 and it goes great with the amazing breakfast buffet offered at the restaurant. Take a look below for a break down of the ingredients and a close look at the buffet:

    Agua Fresca: A sweet and refreshing fruit drink made with only 4 ingredients. A refreshing blend of strawberries, water, sugar, and lime juice is a great light alternative to the traditional orange juice made mimosa.

    Paul Cheneau Cava: The sparkling Cava actually comes from Spain, however, the name fits, as it is surprisingly champagne-like. A fine pale yellow in color, with golden highlights, it offers complex yellow and spice fruit, along with pinpoint bubbles and subtle biscuity notes. For the money, Paul Cheneau can’t be beat.

    The New England-inspired eatery boasts a seafood-focused menu however, guests can find a number of additional non-seafood options as you can see below:

    At Ale & Compass Restaurant you can drop anchor for Eastern Seaboard eats that the whole crew will love and start the day with hearty breakfast dishes—including omelets, dark chocolate waffle, salted caramel-apple French toast or a protein bowl. Or, enjoy lighter fare, like fruit smoothies.

  • FastPass+ Finally Coming to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Disney World

    FastPass+ Finally Coming to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Disney World

    Been waiting to fly the “fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy?” Guests can now reserve Fastpasses for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios! 

    FastPass+ reservations for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run are available in the My Disney Experience app for those planning visits on or after Feb. 19.

    Similar to other theme park offerings, when making FastPass+ plans for Disney’s Hollywood Studios, guests can select between either Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run or Slinky Dog Dash (pending availability). Then, they can add additional experiences to plans, including Toy Story Mania, Alien Swirling Saucers, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Fantasmic! and more.  

    Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run combines immersive storytelling with interactive gameplay and makes guests the protagonist of their own Star Wars adventure! When it’s time for the mission to begin, guests will be assigned one of three critical roles: Pilots, Gunners and Flight Engineers. The goal is to smuggle goods while avoiding any unnecessary entanglements. 

    Also, please note that during this grand opening period of Disney’s popular new attraction, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, they will continue to operate a virtual queue, but they may transition to FastPass+ in the future. 

  • VIDEO: Show Barges for Epcot’s New Nighttime Spectacular Arrive at Disney World

    VIDEO: Show Barges for Epcot’s New Nighttime Spectacular Arrive at Disney World

    As part of Epcot’s historic, multi-year transformation, “Harmonious” — one of the largest nighttime spectaculars ever created for a Disney Park — is set to debut later this year and several barges for the show have just arrived.

    Walt Disney Imagineering and Disney Parks Live Entertainment teams recently passed a major milestone in the development of the show, with the delivery of several floating platforms that will provide a base for the technology used to create “Harmonious.”

    Take a look at the arrival of the massive barges in the video below:

    “Harmonious” will bring to World Showcase Lagoon an innovative toolkit of massive floating set pieces that house a variety of show effects, including custom-built LED panels, choreographed moving fountains, colorful lights, lasers, pyrotechnics and more.

    The show is a beautifully crafted nighttime dreamscape of Disney music and images, reimagined by diverse cultural musicians and artists from around the world. It’s a transformative experience, where we can discover how Disney music has the power to inspire and unite us all. You can catch an early glimpse of concepts for the show now by visiting Walt Disney Imagineering Presents the Epcot Experience, located in the Odyssey Events Pavilion.

    Over the coming months, with development and infrastructure work for “Harmonious” ramping up both behind the scenes and in the center of the lagoon, we’re pleased to present the limited-time spectacular “Epcot Forever.”

    “Epcot Forever” has been described as a “love letter” to the park. The show tells the story of Epcot, beginning with the first spark of inspiration and the opening day anthem, “We’ve Just Begun to Dream,” and continuing through chapters dedicated to the thematic pillars of innovation, exploration, imagination and celebration. It concludes with an all-new verse of the classic song, “One Little Spark,” leading into a spectacular grand finale promising “A Whole New World” of magical possibilities to come.

  • NEW Limited-Release Designer Minnie Ears Coming to Disney World

    NEW Limited-Release Designer Minnie Ears Coming to Disney World

    On Jan. 24, Disney is releasing the newest set of Minnie ears from the Disney Parks Designer Collection, this time created by John Coulter and they are being released exclusively at Epcot International Festival of the Arts where you can meet the artist who designed the ears.

    Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse aficionados will love John Coulter’s floral, elegant, turn of the century Minnie Mouse ear headband design, launching exclusively at the Epcot International Festival of the Arts ahead of its March release.

    The design will be released exclusively at the Epcot International Festival of the Arts WonderGround Gallery tent and then will come to Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort and online at shopDisney.com in March. Take a look below for meeting times:

    Fans of John Coulter can meet him at the Epcot International Festival of the Arts in the WonderGround Gallery tent from Jan. 24 through 26. John will be signing on Jan. 24 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. then again on Jan. 25 and 26 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

    Once released broadly in March, the headband will be available to purchase at the following locations:

    Walt Disney World Resort:

    • Art of Disney (Epcot)
    • Ever After Jewelry Co. & Accessories (Disney Springs)
    • Legends of Hollywood (Disney’s Hollywood Studios)
    • Uptown Jewelers (Magic Kingdom Park)
    • Discovery Trading Company (Disney’s Animal Kingdom)

    Disneyland Resort:

    • Disneyana (Disneyland park)
    • Off the Page (Disney California Adventure park)
    • The Disney Dress Shop (Downtown Disney District)
  • New Disney Skyliner Popcorn Bucket Flying into Disney World

    New Disney Skyliner Popcorn Bucket Flying into Disney World

    It’s national pop corn day and Disney has released a new Disney Skyliner pop corn bucket that is sure to by flying of the popcorn carts!

    The front of the Skyliner inspired popcorn bucket shows Mickey and Minnie flying high and it features Pluto enjoying the view on one side and the other has Chip and Dale.

    It comes with a detachable strap that says Inaugural Year and has the Disney Skyliner logo on it as you can see in the pics below:

    You can pick one up for $17 at Fife & Drum Tavern in The America Pavilion at Epcot.

  • Historic Transformation of Epcot Continues with Debut of Three Cinematic Adventures

    Historic Transformation of Epcot Continues with Debut of Three Cinematic Adventures

    The 2020 Epcot International Festival of the Arts began on Friday and on the same day, as part of the ongoing transformation of Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort, three new films debuted as well.

    These new films provide more ways for guests to experience Disney magic and celebrate the world around them during a day at Epcot.

    • “Awesome Planet” in The Land pavilion explores the spectacular beauty, diversity and dynamic story of Earth.In collaboration with the Disney Conservation Fund, the 10-minute film uses in-theater effects (including wind, scents and water) to tell the story of life on this planet and why it’s vitally important to care for it. “Awesome Planet” features narration by Ty Burrell, star of ABC’s “Modern Family,” andan original musical score from Academy Award-winning® composerSteven
    • “Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360” in the Canada pavilion is an update to the previous “O Canada!” film with new scenes, a new musical score by Canadian composer Andrew Lockington and new narration by award-winning actors Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy.
    • “Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along” in the France pavilion’s Palais du Cinémais directed and produced by Don Hahn, producer of the animated and live-action “Beauty and the Beast” films, and invites guests to participate in a twist on a tale as old as time. It also features narration from Angela Lansbury, who played Mrs. Potts in the original film. The new sing-along will run in rotation with “Impressions de France,” which will receive an upgrade to 4K projection.
      • Along with the sing-along is a new exhibit inside Palais du Cinéma. “Tales as Old as Time: French Storytelling on Stage and Screen” invites guests to explore six distinct gallery cases featuring a collection of costumes, music, artwork and more, all dedicated to the adaptation of French literature in cinema, theater, ballet and opera. The exhibit reinforces how French literature has inspired artists from around the globe, including those who created timeless Disney classics such as “Sleeping Beauty,” “Cinderella” and, of course, “Beauty and the Beast.” Items on display from the Walt Disney Archives include a glass slipper from the live-action “Cinderella” film and Belle’s costume from the live-action “Beauty and the Beast.” Community arts organizations from Florida also contributed pieces to the exhibit.
  • Earn Special Pins by Unlocking Achievements at Galaxy’s Edge with the Play Disney Parks App

    Earn Special Pins by Unlocking Achievements at Galaxy’s Edge with the Play Disney Parks App

    Through the Play Disney Parks app you can use your Star Wars: Datapad to interact with droids, scan cargo crates, or choose to support the Resistance or First Order when taking on jobs in Galaxy’s Edge, but did you know your datapad can also help you experience your own Star Wars story by collecting rankings and digital achievements.

    You can commemorate your achievements with three new trading pins that will be available for purchase! Featuring Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and lovable astromech BB-8, these pins are perfect for decorating your backpack, lanyards and more while showing off your achievements from your Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge adventure!

    Beginning January 17, these new pins can be purchased at select locations at both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort, while supplies last. To earn the digital achievements in the Play Disney Parks app, guests simply need to be logged in, and opted into Bluetooth and Location Services. Then, enter Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to earn the “Black Spire Explorer” achievement, ride Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run to earn the “Flight of the Falcon” achievement and ride Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance to earn the “Hero of the Resistance” achievement. Once the qualifying achievement has been earned and unlocked in the Play Disney Parks app, guests simply need to show the digital achievement screen to a cast member to purchase the applicable commemorative pin. Take a look below at where you can find the pins:

    Guests at the Disneyland park can purchase these pins at:

    • Little Green Men Store Command in Tomorrowland
    • Westward Ho Trading Company in Frontierland

    Guests visiting Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios can find the pins at:

    • Keystone Clothiers
    • Celebrity 5 & 10

    And if you haven’t already, don’t forget to download the Play Disney Parks app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store before your visit to explore your Star Wars: Datapad in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. In the app, you can also check out specially curated playlists on Apple Music, interactive experiences, Disney trivia and uniquely themed achievements across Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort with the Play Disney Parks app and discover fun for all to enjoy together.

  • New Figment ‘Reversible Sequin’ Minnie Ears Coming to Disney World

    New Figment ‘Reversible Sequin’ Minnie Ears Coming to Disney World

    Epcot International Festival of the Arts at Disney World will be returning Jan. 17 and today we are getting a first look at some of the amazing merch coming out of the festival including these new Minnie Ears inspired by Figment.

    A spark of imagination was used in designing these ears for sure as they are the first set of ears to be made with reversible sequins. The sequins are purple when swiped down and rainbow when swiped up.

    Where there would normally be a bow there is some signage on the headband showing figment and his very own paint and color company as you can see in the pictures below:

    Typically, ears like these retail for $29.99 and they will be available at Epcot in Disney World when the Festival of the Arts begins on Jan. 17.

  • New Figment Dooney & Bourke MagicBand now Available at Disney World

    New Figment Dooney & Bourke MagicBand now Available at Disney World

    A new Dooney & Bourke MagicBand featuring Figment has been released as part of the Disney Park Life Collection and it’s a spark of imagination!

    This exclusive Dooney & Bourke limited release MagicBand is dark imagination pink and features Figment along with a variety of park icons.

    It also comes with a special Dooney & Bourke gold colored MagicSlider as you can see below:

    Those visiting Walt Disney World Resort can find the new MagicBand along with the rest of the Disney Park Life Collection at the following locations:

    • Emporium (Magic Kingdom Park)
    • Once Upon a Time (Disney’s Hollywood Studios)
    • Island Mercantile (Disney’s Animal Kingdom)
    • Mouse Gear (Epcot)
    • World of Disney (Disney Springs)

    MagicBands are a secure device which allows you to effortlessly engage, through the My Disney Experience mobile app, the plans and vacation choices you’ve made for the Walt Disney World Resort. With a simple touch, you can redeem Disney FastPass+ selections, enter any one of the theme parks, unlock your Disney Resort Hotel room door, connect Disney PhotoPass images to your account, charge food and merchandise purchases to your room, and more!