As we previously reported, Walt Disney World has introduced new buses adorned with your favorite Disney characters and USB ports, but now Disney has added complementary Wi-Fi that you can use while riding to and from the parks.
The new service is currently available on select Disney buses that are marked with a Wi-Fi enabled sticker near the front.
All you have to do is log in to the Wi-fi network named “Disney Ttansport Guest” and you’ll be able to save yourself some data and continue using the My Disney Experience app, making changes to your FastPass+ or dining reservations.
In celebration of the 30th anniversary of Disney’s animated classic, “The Little Mermaid” Epcot’s Coral Reef Restaurant will be offering a commemorative menu to celebrate the occasion.
With menu items like the Dinglehopper Shrimp Cocktail, Chef Louis’ Lobster Seafood Boil, and King Triton’s Key Lime Tart, this is a menu you’ll definitely want to dive right into!
If you’re looking to go under the sea, Coral Reef Restuarant is the place to do it! At Coral Reef Restaurant you can watch fish, sharks, turtles and rays swim in The Seas with Nemo & Friends aquarium while you eat.
When you dine here, you’ll also be able to take home a beautiful commemorative menu (only available while supplies last). This limited-time menu will be available starting Oct. 19. To make reservations, visit the Walt Disney World Resort website or check out the My Disney Experience mobile app.
In a statement, Disney said that its new aerial cable car system would be closed indefinitely after it experienced “unexpected downtime” late Saturday night.
The transport system, which was created to move guests between Disney’s hotels and resorts to Hollywood Studios and Epcot, opened just a week ago.
“One of the three Disney Skyliner routes experienced an unexpected downtime Saturday evening,” Disney said in a release. “As a result, the Skyliner will be closed while we look into the details surrounding the downtime.”
A Disney spokeswoman said there were no injuries in the incident. Disney didn’t say in its release how guests who were stuck would be compensated, but said it was looking into how the incident “impacts their visit with us.”
Disney did not announce a timetable for the gondolas return to service.
Riders on the recently opened Skyliner gondola ride at Walt Disney World were stranded for hours late Saturday night after an apparent malfunction, according to witnesses and social media posts.
A Walt Disney World spokeswoman confirmed there was an issue and said there are no reported injuries. There was “unexpected downtime” on the Skyliner, the spokeswoman said.
Riders were starting to be evacuated from the ride after 11 p.m.
As of midnight, Disney offered no new details on what happened and did not confirm that riders had been taken off the gondolas.
Reedy Creek officials are on the scene on Epcot Resorts Drive, along with fire trucks from Orange and Osceola counties. That is adjacent to the system’s line that connects Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort with Epcot. It also runs through a station for Disney’s Riviera Resort, a Disney Vacation Club offering scheduled to debut in December. It is the longest line on the system, which opened last week.
Guests who purchase the Memory Maker option at Walt Disney World Resort can now purchase a Disney PhotoPass Archive USB Drive.
With this new product, all of your Disney PhotoPass photos and videos viewable in your Disney account at the time of purchase are loaded onto a USB drive that’s easy to store and share.
So when you get home from vacation, you won’t have to worry about downloading your photos before they expire or trying to figure out where to store them. No copying and pasting or dragging and dropping! All you have to do is plug in your USB and relive the magic. There’s no easier way to preserve and enjoy your treasured Disney PhotoPass memories.
Unless you have a Disney World Annual Pass you should make final arrangements to purchase Memory Maker at least three days prior to your vacation at the advance purchase price of $169 or you can purchase Memory Maker after your vacation for $199.
The Disney PhotoPass Archive USB is available for $34.95, plus applicable taxes and shipping fees, only at Disneyworld.com/PhotoPass and only for guests with Memory Maker or a Walt Disney World Resort Annual Pass with a Disney PhotoPass download benefit.
Did you know there’s a room hidden away at the back of the United Kingdom Pavilion in Epcot? It’s Christopher Robin’s room! And you’ll also find that a silly, willy, nilly old bear named Winnie-the-Pooh is now back to meet guests!
If you happen to stumble upon this room, which has been closed for about three years, you’ll find it filled with all kinds of items that might come in handy for fun adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood. It’s in the back of “The Toy Soldier,” which is filled with toys, and also serves as the Kidcot Fun Stop in the UK.
When we were there on October 2nd, Pooh was meeting twice a day from 1:30 – 3:30pm, and 5:30 – 7:30pm, but make sure you check the current Epcot ‘Times Guide’ on your visit to plan accordingly, as times can change.
Here’s a look at some of the merchandise Disney has released to commemorate the brand new nighttime spectacular now showing at Epcot.
‘Epcot Forever‘ is filled with fun elements like color changing kites that celebrate the fun-loving personality of everyone’s favorite purple dragon – Figment! He’s featured on most of the new items, reminding us that all it takes is One Little Spark of Imagination!
Youth Shirt
Adult Shirt
There are two shirts available to all guests.
Passholder Hoodie
A raglan style hoodie only available to Passholders.
There’s an insulated coffee mug so you can take Figment with you on your commute, and an ornament so he can brighten your Christmas tree. All these items are available exclusively at Epcot, and ‘Epcot Forever’ won’t be around forever, so make sure you get yours soon!
$19.99. That’s right, your favorite Walt Disney World Resort Rapid Fill refillable mug has just gone up in price… Again. Okay, so it only went up a dollar, but it’s a pretty steep price at nearly twenty bucks.
Originally they had pricing tiers depending on how many days you were staying, which was nice for guest who were only staying a day or two, but since May 2015 only a “length of stay” option has been available. The price has been set at $18.99 since December 2017.
As the name implies, the Length of Stay price is the same regardless of whether your Resort stay is one night, two weeks, or any length of time in between. Guests are entitled to unlimited free refills on fountain drinks, coffee, and tea from self-service beverage locations at Disney resorts for their length of stay.
Refillable mugs are provided to guests that have purchased one of the Disney Dining Plans, but for other guests the price for a refillable mug is now $19.99 for the length of stay.
The mugs can be refilled with fountain beverages, coffee, and tea at any resort self-service beverage location. The refillable mugs are purchased or redeemed at the quick service location at each Disney resort. You will find different colors to choose from. The cast member will activate the mug and then you are able to use it at the Rapid Fill location, which is also usually also located inside the quick service location, or in some cases the resort gift shop. You hold your cup under your drink selection of choice and it will fill up the cup.
Leave us a comment if you remember the days before the RFID chip when people would just bring their favorite mug and fill it up as they pleased?
These are the Minnie Ears you’re looking for! This Princess Leia Bun-inspired design from Ashley Eckstein is the newest edition to the Disney Parks Designer Collection and it’s landing in a galaxy near you on October 4.
As if that wasn’t exciting enough, Eckstein will be on hand at Launch Bay Cargo in Disney’s Hollywood Studios to sign the newest Minnie ear headband on October 4 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Known to Star Wars fans as the voice of Ahsoka Tano on Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels, actress and entrepreneur, Ashley Eckstein, also founded Her Universe – the groundbreaking fangirl fashion company and lifestyle brand.
Wristbands will be distributed to guests at store open on the day of the signing with the purchase of the ear headband designed by Ashley. A wristband from the appearance location is required to meet Ashley Eckstein and allows the guest to get two items signed. A limited number of wristbands will be available the day of the signing. Once the wristbands have been distributed, the line to meet Ashley Eckstein will close.
Merchandise available while supplies last. Only two (2) items will be signed per guest, per time in line. No personal items will be signed. Valid Walt Disney World Resort receipt may be required. Artist signing is subject to space and time availability and is not guaranteed. Theme park admission is required. Event information subject to change without notice.
Epcot is going to be seeing some out of this world changes in the next couple years! So, to help showcase these changes, the Odyssey building has been transformed into ‘Walt Disney Imagineering presents The Epcot Experience,’ which opened October 1st.
This new space is a must-see! Inside the Epcot Experience, which is on your left as you enter the World Showcase from Future World, you’ll find a 360 degree screen that plays a 12 minute movie that will completely immerse you in all the details – such as swirling cherry blossoms, a night sky full of floating lanterns, and booming fireworks. In the middle of this space is a 3-D model of all the areas in Epcot that will be effected. As the movie progresses thru all the changes that area of the map lights up and the entire model changes depending on what attraction they’re focusing on. For example, during the Ratatouille portion the whole map reflects that theme. The glass pyramid and Spaceship Earth both look like giant pieces of cheese, and little mouse shaped ride vehicles move through the map.
The movie begins with vintage footage of Walt reminding us that “the heart of everything we’ll be doing at Disneyworld will be…” Epcot. EPCOT will soon be labeled with four new neighborhoods. Each one will speak to important aspects of the world and it’s people: World Showcase, World Celebration, World Nature and World Discovery.
World Nature: Dedicated to understanding and preserving the beauty and balance of Nature
This is the area that includes The Land and The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilions.
Journey of Water, Inspired by “Moana” will be the first experience inspired by the hit Walt Disney Animation Studios film. This lush exploration trail will invite you to meet and play with magical, living water. The water will have a life of its own – just like Moana’s friend, the ocean – and you’ll learn about the importance of the natural water cycle.
World Discovery: Where Science , technology, and Space come to life
This is the area that includes Test Track
The PLAY! pavilion will open in time for the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World. In this digital metropolis, you’ll discover an interactive city bursting with games, activities and experiences that connect you with friends, family and beloved Disney characters – both real and virtual – like never before. As part of this new pavilion, you’ll have the chance to help legendary fashion icon Edna Mode on her quest to rid the world of uninspired style, or make a splash competing in a water-balloon fight hosted by Huey, Dewey, and Louie.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewindwill be the first “other-world” showcase pavilion at Epcot. The adventure starts in the “Galaxarium,” a planetarium-like exhibition that explores the similarities and mysteries of the formation of Earth’s galaxy and Xandar. You will be invited to learn more about the treasures Xandar has to share – until the moment when the Guardians of the Galaxy arrive, and adventures across the cosmos ensue. The attraction will feature a new innovation from Walt Disney Imagineering – a storytelling coaster that rotates 360 degrees to focus your attention on the action, including the first reverse launch on a Disney coaster.
World Celebration: Will offer new experiences that connect us to one another and the world around us
The iconic Spaceship Earth will remain a voyage through time as the journey transforms to reflect the power of storytelling to unite the human experience. New narration and an entirely new musical score will focus on the moments and ideas that define our story. You will follow a magical “story light” that brings the entire experience to life in dynamic ways, giving each scene energy and beauty that ties the entire journey together.
The narration during this part of the show is very vague, only saying it’s “A journey you may know well.” The only imagery during this portion is a night sky full of lanterns and floating faces of different ethnicities. The music and faces made me feel like I was riding through the ending of ‘Living With The Land.” All of this leads me to believe that Spaceship Earth is certainly going to be completely re-themed – so die hard Spaceship Earth fans should start preparing themselves for that now.
World Showcase: Will remain a celebration of culture, cuisine, and traditions – infused with new magic
In the China pavilion, “Wondrous China” will take guests on a spectacular journey across the country, filmed and presented in a completely seamless 360-degree digital format.
In summer 2020, the France pavilion will offer even more for you to discover, including the much-anticipated attraction Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, where you’ll shrink to the size of Chef Remy and race through Gusteau’s restaurant on a wild adventure.
The United Kingdom pavilion will welcome the first attraction inspired by Mary Poppins. You will step in time down Cherry Tree Lane past Admiral Boom’s house, then enter Number 17, home of the Banks family, where your adventure will begin.
In 2020, following the limited-time run of “Epcot Forever,” the new “HarmonioUS” will debut as the largest nighttime spectacular ever created for a Disney park. It will celebrate how the music of Disney inspires people the world over, carrying you away harmoniously on a stream of familiar Disney tunes reinterpreted by a diverse group of artists from around the globe. “HarmonioUS” will feature massive floating set pieces, custom-built LED panels, choreographed moving fountains, lights, pyrotechnics, lasers and more.
Watching this part of the show gave me goosebumps. I am SO excited for HarmonioUS! Expect a change from the message of Illuminations, as it seems like the new show will be centered around Disney movie music.
Before you leave the Epcot Experience make sure that you check out all the ride posters and Photo Ops! There are old attractions that aren’t around any more, current, and upcoming attractions to see. The Photo Ops put you in the middle of all four new rides – Ratatouille, Guardian’s of the Galaxy, Mary Poppins, and the re-imagined Spaceship Earth.
If you want to check out all the new experiences coming to Epcot make sure you contact me at Enchanted Kingdom Vacations with Kimberly to book your next Disney trip!
