Disney News

Category: Walt Disney World

  • First Look: Disney Parks’ Millennium Falcon Ride

    First Look: Disney Parks’ Millennium Falcon Ride

    And there it is… She’s the fastest ship in the fleet! You know, the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs! Disney took to their twitter feed today to give small glimpse of the inside of the Millennium Falcon flight simulator ride coming to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

    Construction on both lands at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort are well under way, but we are still a good two years away from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opening.

    Going by the tweet we should learn more this Saturday at Star Wars: Galactic Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Until then take a look at this fly-through video of a model of the new land.

  • New Sumatran Tiger Cubs Make an Appearance at Animal Kingdom

    New Sumatran Tiger Cubs Make an Appearance at Animal Kingdom

    Starting this week, guests at Disney’s Animal Kingdom may get a glimpse of Anala and Jeda, the first Sumatran tiger cubs to be born at the park. The nearly four-month-old cubs are slowly being introduced into their habitat on Maharajah Jungle Trek. The sister and brother pair will be visible periodically as they acclimate to their new area.

    Below is an amazing first look of these adorable tigers in their new habitat.

    Disney plays an important role in the worldwide conservation and understanding of Sumatran tigers, a critically endangered species whose worldwide population has grown by two with the birth of Anala and Jeda. As part of these efforts, Disney participates in the Species Survival Plan, a breeding program through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums which helps ensure a diverse, healthy population of threatened and endangered species for years to come.

    Their dedicated and highly trained team of animal care experts and veterinarians spent three years preparing for the birth of these Sumatran tigers and have worked tirelessly to provide them with the best possible care so they can grow and thrive. Part of this work included creating a special new backstage play area where the tiger cubs could learn to swim and climb before venturing into their habitat at Maharajah Jungle Trek.

    As you may remember from our previous updates, Sumatran tigers are a critically endangered species with fewer than 500 left in the wild. The Disney Conservation Fund (DCF) is working with groups like the Wildlife Conservation Society on its Reverse the Decline initiative to develop strategies for saving these majestic animals.

  • New Year’s Eve at Walt Disney World

    New Year’s Eve at Walt Disney World

    Walt Disney World Resort is the place to countdown to 2018 with dining extravaganzas, sparkling toasts, luminous fireworks and rocking New Year’s Eve parties throughout the vacation kingdom. These unforgettable events are filling up quickly and include special ticketed dinner galas, dance parties and more. Here’s the lineup of ways to ring in the New Year:

    Magic Kingdom Park

    • Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks ­– Guests will ring in the New Year in front of Cinderella Castle with the cherished fan-favorite fireworks show that will take place Dec. 30 and 31, 2017, beginning at 11:50 p.m. Additional showings will light up the sky both nights at 6:30 p.m.
    • Frontierland and Tomorrowland New Year’s Celebration Dance Parties – Put on your dancing shoes and boot-scoot with a hoppin’ beat ‘til midnight in Frontierland. Or jump start the New Year with an upbeat get-together in Tomorrowland, blasting into 2018 with futuristic tunes.

    Park hours on Dec. 30 and 31, 2017 are 8 a.m. to 1 a.m.

    Epcot

    • New Year’s Countdown Fireworks – Say “au revoir” to 2017 around World Showcase as dazzling fireworks light up the sky to welcome 2018 in a booming big way! This one-night spectacular starts at 11:40 p.m.
    • New Year’s Eve Parties – A DJ dance party will have guests dancing and grooving “around the world” with special entertainment at the America Garden Stage, Future World Fountain Stage and other areas throughout the park. Just for New Year’s Eve, you can move to your own beat with music playing in your headphones at the “Silent Groove” dance party that will take place at Future World Center.
    • New Year’s Eve Buffet Dinner – Sip and dip your way into 2018 by indulging in a lavish buffet of savory foods and decadent desserts at this ticketed event in World Showplace. For reservations, visit disneyworld.com/holidays or call (407) WDW-DINE (3463).

    Park hours on Dec. 31, 2017 are 9 a.m. to 1 a.m.

    Disney’s Hollywood Studios

    • New Year’s Eve Dance Party – Revelers will get the party started with a DJ dance party all around Center Stage in front of the Chinese Theatre with special projections on the theatre. The fun starts at 7 p.m. on Dec. 31. Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!, the nighttime holiday show will take place at 8 p.m. wrapping fireworks, state-of-the-art projections, special effects and music into one grand spectacle. The elaborate nightly themed firework show, Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular, will bring in the New Year with a special twist at midnight!

    Park hours on Dec. 31, 2017 are 9 a.m. to midnight.

    Resorts
    Disney’s Contemporary Resort

    • Disney Countdown to Midnight – Guests will clink glasses at midnight after an unforgettable evening of live music and dancing in the Fantasia Ballroom. Taste buds will be celebrating, too, with savory bites and wine pairings from the California Grill, Flying Fish, Citrico’s and other signature Walt Disney World restaurants. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and friends will also join in the fun! Festivities begin at 8 p.m. on Dec. 31. Guests must be 18 years of age or older to attend. For reservations, visit disneyworld.com/holidays or call (407) WDW-DINE (3463).
    • Down in New Orleans: A Disney New Year’s Eve Dining Experience – This dining extravaganza brings New Orleans to Walt Disney World on New Year’s Eve. It’s a night filled with exquisite dishes, champagne toasts, and the ultimate viewing location for Magic Kingdom fireworks. Exclusive for guests 21 years of age or older. For reservations, visit disneyworld.com/holidays or call (407) WDW-DINE (3463).
    • Pixar Party: A New Year’s Eve Celebration (SOLD OUT) – A family-friendly celebration, Pixar Party immerses guests in the beloved Disney-Pixar films with lively music, a mouthwatering buffet, Magic Kingdom fireworks viewing, character meet-and-greet opportunities and more. For reservations, visit disneyworld.com/holidays or call (407) WDW-DINE (3463).
    • California Grill New Year’s Eve Hollywood Hideaway (SOLD OUT) – Swing in the New Year with “stars and starlets” high in the sky at this cool and classy California Grill get-together. Schmooze the last hours of 2017 away at this “Rat Pack” inspired shindig where favorite Disney characters make a guest appearance and the evening caps off with spectacular views of Magic Kingdom fireworks.

    Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground 

    • Mickey’s New Year’s Eve BBQ (SOLD OUT) – Mickey and friends invite guests to join in a rootin’ tootin’ celebration that includes a scrumptious unlimited BBQ feast. Bluegrass music and a DJ are sure to have everyone on their feet to ring in the New Year. The celebration begins at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 31.
  • New ‘Up’ show to Replace Flights of Wonder at Disney World

    New ‘Up’ show to Replace Flights of Wonder at Disney World

    There is an all-new experience coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom slated to start in Spring 2018. The new show features Russell and Dug from Disney•Pixar’s “UP” and will take the place of ‘Flights of Wonder’ in the Caravan Theater in the Anandapur village section of the park’s Asia land.

    If you love the bird show don’t worry.  The still untitled Up production will also be a bird centric.

    This new experience will offer guests the chance to see Senior Wilderness Explorer Russell and his furry friend Dug as they discover species of birds from around the world in their newest adventure in Animal Kingdom. There will be “UP” close encounters each day with amazing winged creatures!

    In order to begin to prepare for the new show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, ‘Flights of Wonder’ will plays its final performances on December 31st. So until the end of this month, you can still experience Flights of Wonder at the park.

  • Coach Store at Disney Springs Opens Today

    Coach Store at Disney Springs Opens Today

    Coach fans have been patiently awaiting the opening of a new retail location at Walt Disney World and today that patience paid off. That’s right! The Coach store at Disney Springs is now open.

    Disney Springs took to their twitter account today to announce their newest retail addition.

    Coach is a leading New York design house of modern luxury accessories and lifestyle collections for women and men. Product offerings include bags, small leather goods, footwear, ready-to-wear, outerwear, watches, weekend and travel accessories, scarves, sunwear, fragrance, jewelry, and related accessories.

    Coach will offer a selection of accessories and leather goods for both women and men, presumably including their very popular Disney collection. Coach and Disney have worked together in the past to create various lines of bags and accessories, so many Disney enthusiasts are extremely excited to see the new store showing up at Disney Springs.

    The store is located in Town Center, where the recently closed Vince Camuto store was near MAC Cosmetics. Hours are Sunday through Thursday from 10am to 11pm and on Friday and Saturday from 10am to 11:30pm.

  • Refillable Mug Price Increases at Disney World

    Refillable Mug Price Increases at Disney World

    $18.99. 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.

    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 $18.99 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.

    Comment below if you remember the days before the RFID chip when people would just bring their favorite mug and fill it up as they pleased?

  • ‘Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings: Holiday Magic’ Airs December 11 on Freeform

    ‘Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings: Holiday Magic’ Airs December 11 on Freeform

    Freeform’s “25 Days of Christmas” is in full swing and if you love wedding your going to want to ‘save the date’ for this special. Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings is returning to Freeform for a brand new TV special highlighting gorgeous holiday weddings at Disney Parks.

    Tune in to see unforgettable celebrations during the most spirited time of the year. Hosted by Stephen “tWitch” Boss, resident DJ for “The Ellen Show” and Allison Holker, “Dancing With the Stars” pro, this one-hour special follows two couples as they plan their dream weddings and make their way down the aisle.

    Disney Wedding

    New York couple, Dominique and Joe say “I Do” with a winter wonderland wedding at Walt Disney World Resort.

    Their large Italian families are coming together to watch as the couple begins their happily ever after. Be a guest at their heartfelt ceremony at Disney’s Wedding Pavilion followed by a Frozen-inspired reception at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Ballrooms. You won’t want to miss their surprise musical performance in the Italy Pavilion in Epcot!

    Airing during Freeform’s “25 Days of Christmas” event, you’ll see holiday wedding magic come to life. Mark your calendar for December 11th at 8/7c

  • Disney on Broadway Line-Up Announced for 2018 Epcot International Festival of the Arts

    Disney on Broadway Line-Up Announced for 2018 Epcot International Festival of the Arts

    The Epcot International Festival of the Arts will returns for the second year in a row.  Celebrating all things art – performing, visual and culinary – from January 12 – February 19 – with festivities running seven days a week and Disney On Broadway performances happening each weekend (Fridays through Mondays) in 2018.

    Last year, the Disney On Broadway series was a highlight of the festival for many guests. We’re happy to share a first look at the lineup of Broadway artists set to take the America Gardens Theatre stage this year.

    • January 12-15 and 19-22: Kara Lindsay (NEW!) and Kevin Massey, who will perform songs from “Tarzan,” “Aladdin,” “Newsies” and “Frozen.”
    • January 26-29 and February 2-5: Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald White, who will perform songs from “Tarzan,” “The Lion King,” “Aida,” “Aladdin,” and “The Little Mermaid.”
    • February 9-12 and 16-19: Ashley Brown and Josh Strickland, who will perform songs from “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Tarzan,” “Mary Poppins,” “Newsies” and “Frozen.”

    All Disney on Broadway shows are included in theme park admission and will take place Fridays through Mondays at 5:30, 6:45 and 8 p.m.

    One of the best ways to experience Disney on Broadway is through a dining package. Guests can book a delicious breakfast, lunch or dinner, and later enjoy priority seating at the show.

    After a successful year one in 2017, the festival is coming back better than ever.

    In addition to the broadway line up the festival will have so much more.  This year guests will experience world-class cuisine, remarkable visual art and an extraordinary lineup of live entertainment. Introduce your inner aficionado to an exciting extravaganza brimming with phenomenal artists, gourmet fare, musical performances, stage productions and other amazing acts. We’ve rolled everything you love about the arts into one spectacular festival.

    The festival features:

    • Seminars and workshops from top Disney, local and nationally-renowned artists including classes on drawing animation, photography and the art of making topiaries – just to name a few
    • More than a half a dozen specially-created food studios offering a wealth of “artistic” culinary delights
    • A host of performing artists that build on Epcot’s already stellar lineup of authentic performers
    • And, my favorite, the Disney on Broadway series featuring performers from some of the best Disney Theatrical productions

    Dinner and a Show
    Another returning favorite is our Disney on Broadway Dining Packages, where you can maximize your experience at the Festival with a meal at one of the participating Epcot restaurants and priority seating for our Disney on Broadway concert series.

    Guests can book a delicious breakfast, lunch or dinner, and later be followed by a phenomenal Disney on Broadway inspired concert – select dates from January 12 – February 19, 2018. The concert series will feature pairings of Disney on Broadway stars, singing favorite songs from award-winning Broadway shows. When you reserve a Disney on Broadway Dining Package, you’ll be able to relax at your meal with friends and family and rest assured that your priority seats are waiting for you for the 5:30, 6:45 or 8 p.m. concert.

    If you need help booking your magical vacation, contact Travel Time 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!

  • AERIAL PHOTOS: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Construction Update at Hollywood Studios

    AERIAL PHOTOS: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Construction Update at Hollywood Studios

    Construction is forcefully underway on Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in the Back Lot area of Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World. The now demolished area that used to make up the Streets of America, the Back Lot Tour, and the Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt show which was closed to make way for Star Wars.

    Most of the construction can’t be seen by guests, so aerial pics really give some perspective on what progress is being made on the transformation of Batuu, a planet on the edge of the Star Wars galaxy.

    Cast members were excited to see the new land coming to life recently celebrated a major construction milestone with the signing of a support beam that’ll top out the new land. The beam that’ll eventually be part of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – a 14-acre remote outpost that will transport guests to a galaxy far, far away.

    Galaxy's Edge Construction
    Photo: @bioreconstruct

    Here we can see some rock forms at the new hillside isolating Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. Note also dirt piled up and inside the section next to the concrete of the Grand Avenue tunnel.

    Galaxy's Edge Construction
    Photo: @bioreconstruct

    Here is the current state of the separation and tunnel between Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge and Grand Avenue. At right, note that construction walls are down at the new backstage gate.

    Galaxy's Edge Construction
    Photo: @bioreconstruct

    Peering into the Millennium Falcon ride. There are two more turntables under the roof at left.

    The land will be split into two sections; one for the First Order and one for the Resistance/Rebels. The First Order side is the side closest to the newly renamed Grand Avenue area that many believe will be used as a holding area for those waiting to enter Galaxy’s Edge.

    After crossing through a tunnel into the new land guests will encounter the more urban decay style First Order area with a large, possibly multi-level restaurant, in the middle of it. The central feature of the First Order area will be a massive trackless ride, currently known as “Battle Escape.”

    Coming out of the merchant’s alley area guests enter into the Rebel side of the land. This more lushly landscaped area will feature the 100-foot wide Millennium Falcon that will be near the entrance of the Millennium Falcon ride where groups of six guests can pilot the Falcon in a simulator experience.

    Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will be opening at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disneyland park in 2019. The new land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is just one element of the multi-year transformation of the park, which also includes Toy Story Land, set to open in the summer of 2018.

  • Walt Disney World Cast Members VoluntEAR with Toys for Tots

    Walt Disney World Cast Members VoluntEAR with Toys for Tots

    Walt Disney World doesn’t just provide entertainment to countless guests in the park and resorts, but they also give back to the community. Cast Members went to infinity and beyond to help some 26,000 children in the community this holiday season through the U.S. Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots program.

    Saturday, they packed up a few distinctly Disney vehicles from their Minnie Van service and delivered THOUSANDS of toys to help pack the shelves of the Toys for Tots distribution warehouse. They brought donated games, dolls, plush animals and other surprises. During the past month, Cast Members have donated more than 25,000 toys—that’s more than three tons!—to this program.

    And in the coming weeks, Disney VoluntEARS will help the Marines sort and distribute the toys to deserving families, a continuation of nearly seven decades of support to the program that dates back to Walt Disney himself.