Disney News

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  • Disney Ends Free FastPass in Favor of New Paid “Lightning Lane” System

    Disney Ends Free FastPass in Favor of New Paid “Lightning Lane” System

    Disney revealed on Wednesday the retirement of it’s FastPass program in favor of a new service calle Disney Genie+ and will cost $15 per ticket per day at Walt Disney World and $20 per ticket per day at Disneyland Resort.

    Guests will be able to choose one attraction at a time and select the next available arrival window for the Lightning Lane entrance.

    Disney Genie is intended to make planning easier and add more flexibility to those who visit parks and resorts by reducing time in lines and helping you “discover magic around every corner.” Take a look below at a few more features:

    • Get Itinerary Updates from Morning to Night: Disney Genie will continue to update your itinerary throughout your day, so you can be more spontaneous and go with the flow.
    • Find Your Favorites at a Glance: Create your very own personal tip board to instantly see your favorites. It will display current AND forecasted future wait times, helping you predict when you might experience quicker entry to attractions.
    • Enjoy More Flexibility and Fun: Disney Genie brings existing planning features together in one place. Join a virtual queue at certain attractions, make dining and experience reservations, mobile order food at many locations, get help from a virtual assistant and more.

    For even more convenience and flexibility, there are two other options for enjoying our theme parks, through a queue we are introducing called the Lightning Lane entrance that also saves you time in line:

    • Disney Genie+ service (available for purchase): For the price of $15 per ticket per day at Walt Disney World Resort and $20 per ticket per day at Disneyland Resort, choose the next available time to arrive at a variety of attractions and experiences using the Lightning Lane entrance. You can make one selection at a time, throughout the day – from classics like Haunted Mansion to thrill rides like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and newer favorites like Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (attractions subject to limited availability). This convenient option is the next evolution of the fan-favorite Disney MaxPass service from Disneyland Resort. Disney Genie+ will also include Disney parks-themed audio experiences and photo features to capture your memories – augmented reality lenses for those visiting Walt Disney World Resort and unlimited Disney PhotoPass downloads from your day if you are visiting Disneyland Resort.
    • Individual attraction selections (available for purchase): Schedule a time to arrive at up to two highly demanded attractions each day using the Lightning Lane entrance – like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom Park and Radiator Springs Racers at Disney California Adventure park (subject to limited availability; attractions not included with Disney Genie+). Pricing for this option will vary by date, attraction and park and will be announced closer to launch.

    Lightning Lane selections will be made on the same day of your visit and can be used across multiple theme parks, great for those who love the Park Hopper option. Attractions continue to offer a traditional standby queue, or a virtual queue at certain attractions like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance – to maximize flexibility.

    “While the FASTPASS, FastPass+ and Disney MaxPass services will be retired, we’re incredibly excited about the flexibility and choices Disney Genie service provides. You can choose from all of our new options, a mix of them or none at all, and continue to have a great experience no matter how you decide to plan your best Disney day,” Disney said.

  • VIDEO: Space-Themed Restaurant Coming to EPCOT gets September Opening Date

    VIDEO: Space-Themed Restaurant Coming to EPCOT gets September Opening Date

    Prepare for liftoff, because Space 220 restaurant at EPCOT is scheduled to begin service in mid-September as part of the transformation of EPCOT underway at Walt Disney World Resort.

    The Space 220 restaurant is located adjacent to the Mission: SPACE attraction, and takes fine dining to a whole new level.  Your immersive experience begins as you check in to the Space 220 Departure Lounge in Future World.  From here, you’ll board one of two “Space Elevators” that will transport you in what seems like 220 miles above Earth to Centauri Space Station.  As you begin your ascent, you’ll look down through a viewport to see EPCOT shrink away; looking up you’ll see the Space Station come into view.

    Once you’ve docked, you’ll head through the Centauri Space Station-themed dining area. Inside the dining area, you’ll experience a panoramic view of Earth below, and a variety of work and leisure activities taking place beyond the windows of the Space Station-themed restaurant.

    @disneyparks

    🚨SNEAK PEEK!🚨 Here’s your first look at Space 220 coming soon! ##DisneyWorld50 ##Disney ##DisneyParks ##DisneyWorld ##EPCOT ##Space ##Restaurant

    ♬ original sound – Disney Parks

    And the views are just part of the experience. Our Disney Imagineers are excited to have created this experience for Executive Chef Marc Kusche to showcase his culinary wonders. The Space 220 restaurant menu will feature stellar dishes and gourmet recipes, with a two-course prix fixe menu for lunch, and a three-course prix fixe menu for dinner. The upscale, contemporary fare will bring new meaning to “the height of dining!” Rounding out the meal will be unique beverages – from fine wine to atmospheric cocktails and more.

    EPCOT is defined by original stories that inspire. The Space 220 restaurant is another big milestone in the ongoing and historic transformation happening now at EPCOT, and will be a part of the celebration of the Walt Disney World Resort 50th Anniversary.

  • New Apple Orchard Minnie Ears Now at Disney World

    New Apple Orchard Minnie Ears Now at Disney World

    The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is in full swing at Walt Disney World and Disney has released a delicious new pair of Minnie ears from the Apple Orchard Collection.

    This set of Minnie Mouse ears look like an apple crate and the bow has red apples and green polka dots on it.

    The ears have an embroidered headband that says “EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival 2021”.

    These new Apple Orchard Minnie Ears are exclusive to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival.

  • Indoor Mask Requirement Returning to Disney World

    Indoor Mask Requirement Returning to Disney World

    Guest at Disney World will once again be required to wear face masks as precaution against the spread of the highly infectious Delta variant of the coronavirus.

    The new policy will be effective beginning Friday at Disney World in Orlando, Fla., and Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. It includes a requirement for masks “in Disney buses, monorail and Disney Skyliner, regardless of vaccination status. This includes upon entering and throughout all attractions,” the company says.

    Face coverings in outdoor common areas remain optional, Disney says.

    The policy says “Costume masks are not considered appropriate and are prohibited from being worn, in alignment with our existing rules.”

    The change comes weeks after Disney lifted a similar mandate and follows a change in guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this week. The CDC called on even fully vaccinated people to wear masks indoors if they live in places with “substantial” or “high” coronavirus transmission.

    Since about the start of the month, both Florida and California have seen increases in coronavirus infections, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

    Disney theme parks closed in March 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in the U.S., but Disney World reopened last July with social distancing and mask requirements. California’s Disneyland was reopened earlier this year, on April 30.

  • 50th Anniversary Crest Installed on Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom

    50th Anniversary Crest Installed on Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom

    Overnight, Disney Imagineers installed the much-anticipated golden 50th crest to Cinderella Castle as part of the park’s 50th anniversary 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 50th anniversary crest warmly welcoming guests to the join the festivities.

    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.

  • Happily Ever After Fireworks Show at Magic Kingdom Ending Permanently

    Happily Ever After Fireworks Show at Magic Kingdom Ending Permanently

    Disney has confirmed that the Magic Kingdom’s current nighttime spectacular, Happily Ever After, which replaced Wishes back in 2017, will have its final performance on September 29.

    A new nighttime spectacular, “Disney Enchantment,” will help kick off the 50th anniversary festivities when it debuts Oct. 1 at Magic Kingdom Park.

    Created to launch with “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” this evening extravaganza will take you on a journey filled with adventure, wonder and empowerment. Inspiring everyone to believe in magic, “Disney Enchantment” will feature music, enhanced lighting, stunning fireworks and, for the first time, immersive projection effects that extend from Cinderella Castle down Main Street, U.S.A.

  • New ‘Moana’-DOLE Whip Debuts at Walt Disney World

    New ‘Moana’-DOLE Whip Debuts at Walt Disney World

    To celebrate the reopening of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and DOLE Whip Day, Disney has whipped up a new Moana Themed Dole Whip!

    Pineapple Lanai is offering an exclusive “Tamatoa-inspired” Dipped Cone – Dole Whip raspberry swirled with Dole Whip orange in a white chocolate-dipped waffle cone coated with “shiny” gold sugar.

    This super glittery Dole Whip – a must-try for fans of “Moana”- is available at the resort today, for Dole Whip Day, through July 21.

    Today’s reopening of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort also includes new, beautifully reimagined guest rooms inspired by the Pacific Ocean and its many islands. Reimagined rooms include details, patterns and textures from the hit Walt Disney Animation Studios film “Moana.” We recently shared a look inside. 

  • ‘Mickey’s PhilharMagic’ New ‘Coco’ Scene Coming Soon to Disney World Resort for 50th Anniversary Celebration

    ‘Mickey’s PhilharMagic’ New ‘Coco’ Scene Coming Soon to Disney World Resort for 50th Anniversary Celebration

    Disney World is adding a new “Coco” scene in “Mickey’s PhilharMagic” in Magic Kingdom at Disney World later this year during the Walt Disney World Resort 50th anniversary celebration. 

    One of the original composers of “Coco” – Germaine Franco – produced a score unique to “Mickey’s PhilharMagic,” bringing the musical number “Un Poco Loco,” from Disney and Pixar’s “Coco” to the fan favorite attraction.

    The 3D, animated scene extends Donald Duck’s musical journey, bringing the fantasy adventure to new heights alongside all the attraction’s fan-favorite musical numbers. Take a closer look below:

    In addition to Germaine Franco, Walt Disney Imagineering collaborated with Pixar and Disney Animation Studios to add the scene to the attraction’s other classic musical sequences. Learn more about the collaboration in this video!

    The addition of the new scene can already be seen at Disneyland Resort and Disneyland Paris.

  • Flag Retreat Ceremony Returns to Walt Disney World Resort

    Flag Retreat Ceremony Returns to Walt Disney World Resort

    Magic Kingdom Park welcomed back their daily flag retreat July 1, resuming the tradition of selecting an active-duty military member or veteran from among that park’s daily visitors.

    In the late afternoon in Town Square, many watched silently as a guest U.S. Air Force veteran joined members of Magic Kingdom’s security team to respectfully lower the flag and carry it in a processional down Main Street, U.S.A.

    The ceremony included the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, and the singing of “God Bless America” and the “Star Spangled Banner,” accompanied by the Main Street Philharmonic marching band.

    “It has been an honor for our security cast to keep our flag flying every day over Magic Kingdom since the park first opened in 1971,” said Army veteran Eileen Underwood, Magic Kingdom’s senior security manager. “We were thrilled to resume our daily flag retreat ceremonies to honor our country and those who serve around the world in defense of our freedoms. It’s a special moment for all our guests that really reaffirms the feeling that this is truly a magical place.”

    Disneyland park resumed their Flag Retreat Ceremony when the resort reopened on April 30, and is thrilled to continue thanking veterans for their service, sacrifice and dedication to protecting our country.

  • Disney World Updates Fireworks Show Greeting to be More Inclusive Removing Mention of Gender

    Disney World Updates Fireworks Show Greeting to be More Inclusive Removing Mention of Gender

    The Magic Kingdom’s fireworks show, which returned July 1 for the first time since the COVID pandemic began, has modified their “Happy Ever After” fireworks greeting to be more inclusive.

    Instead of the longstanding “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls,” greeting, shows are now prefaced with one that swaps the gender specificity, subbing in “Dreamers of all ages.”

    The change was first inttoduced at a Wednesday preview of the Orlando, Florida theme park’s “Happily Ever After” fireworks display. But the switch apparently extends throughout the Disney empire and is used in more than fireworks displays, as confirmed by a spokesperson for Tokyo Disneyland.

    The announcement received mixed reactions on social media. One Twitter user wrote, “I HATE THAT. BRING IT BACK NOW!!!”

    However, others welcomed the change. Another tweeted, “I love “Dreamers of all ages” because it really makes that super snuggly and more magical. It’s so heartwarming.”

    In April, Disney announced they would be working towards “including everyone.”

    “Inclusion is essential to our culture and leads us forward as we continue to realize our rich legacy of engaging storytelling, exceptional service, and Disney magic,” they wrote.

    “We’re bringing the spirit of the Inclusion Key to life across our business. We’re reimagining our attractions to be more inclusive.”

    As word of the change circulated on social media, knee-jerk reactions condemning the move surfaced from those who apparently feel the embrace of diversity and inclusion has gone too far.

    There has been no official confirmation of the fireworks announcement or other changes by Disney. However, a spokesperson for Tokyo Disneyland’s licensee, Oriental Land Company, acknowledged the changes that company has implemented that are similar. In Japan, gender specificity is changed to “everyone.”