Disney News

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  • Disney Employee Killed in Accident Near Pop Century Resort Gondola Construction

    Disney Employee Killed in Accident Near Pop Century Resort Gondola Construction

    An employee at Walt Disney World died in an apparent industrial accident today near Pop Century Resort.

    The accident happened in an industrial area near the Pop Century Resort and Waldorf Astoria golf course. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call around 9:15 a.m. to respond to a guard gate next to the Pop Century Resort at Disney, officials said.

    The man who was in his late 30s was found unconscious, deputies said. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Reedy Creek Fire Department.

    “All of us at Walt Disney World Resort are deeply saddened today by the loss of one of our Cast Members. Our thoughts and concerns are with his family, friends, and fellow co-workers. This is a tragic accident, and we are providing resources and care for those impacted and working closely with the proper authorities to understand how this happened,” George A. Kalogridis, president of Walt Disney World Resort said in a release.

    Officials have not identified the employee and no other information was immediately available. What we do know is that crews have been working in the area on a Skyliner gondola transit system meant to link the theme park Epcot to a slew of Disney resorts, including Pop Century.

  • 2018 Candlelight Processional Dining Packages on Sale July 11

    2018 Candlelight Processional Dining Packages on Sale July 11

    Part of the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays, the Candlelight Processional is one of the most beloved events at Walt Disney World. Many of our guests plan their holiday vacations around their favorite celebrity narrators. This year’s event starts on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, for the first time ever.

    The Candlelight Processional presents the traditional story of Christmas in truly spectacular fashion – with a 50-piece orchestra, a massed choir and a celebrity narrator. The processional is performed three times per night (5:00, 6:45 and 8:15 p.m.) during the holiday season at the America Gardens Theatre. Also available, on select days and evenings, Candlelight Processional Dining Packages which include a delicious meal and a guaranteed seat for one of the Candlelight Processional performances. Availability is limited.

    Candlelight Processional Dining Packages go on sale Wednesday July 11.

    We have a couple of names to share on the celebrity narrator front. Returning favorites include actress/host Whoopi Goldberg; entertainer Pat Sajak; actors Neil Patrick Harris, Chita Rivera, Gary Sinise, Blair Underwood and Edward James Olmos; and Jodi Benson, who voices Ariel in Disney’s animated classic “The Little Mermaid.”

    Here is the lineup so far. We hope to share more names soon.*

    • 11/22 – 11/23 – Chita Rivera
    • 11/24 – 12/2 – TBD
    • 12/3 – 12/6 – Neil Patrick Harris
    • 12/7 – 12/9 – Whoopi Goldberg
    • 12/10 – 12/12 – TBD
    • 12/13 – 12/14 – Blair Underwood
    • 12/15 – 12/17 – Gary Sinise
    • 12/18 – 12/20 – Pat Sajak
    • 12/21 – 12/23 – TBD
    • 12/24 – 12/25 – Edward James Olmos
    • 12/26 – 12/27 – Jodi Benson
    • 12/28 – 12/30 – TBD

    Lunch and dinner packages are available at some favorite Epcot restaurants like Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (Norway pavilion); Biergarten Restaurant (Germany pavilion); Chefs de France (France pavilion); Coral Reef Restaurant (The Seas pavilion); The Garden Grill Restaurant (The Land pavilion); La Hacienda de San Angel** and San Angel Inn Restaurante (Mexico pavilion); Nine Dragons Restaurant (China pavilion); Restaurant Marrakesh and Spice Road Table (Morocco pavilion); Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room (United Kingdom pavilion); Teppan Edo and Tokyo Dining (Japan pavilion); and Tutto Italia Ristorante and Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria (Italy pavilion).

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner options are also available this year at Epcot-area resort restaurants at Ale & Compass at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, with breakfast and dinner options being offered at Trattoria Al Forno at Disney’s BoardWalk.

    Candlelight Processional Dining Packages start at:

    • For Breakfast: $38 plus tax per person for adults and $22 plus tax per person for children, ages 3-9.
    • For Lunch: $50 plus tax per person for adults and $16.99 plus tax per person for children, ages 3.
    • For Dinner: $55 plus tax per person for adults and $16.99 plus tax per person for children, ages 3-9.

    Epcot provides an extravaganza of holiday entertainment, merchandise, food, beverages and festivities where guests can celebrate at Epcot throughout the holiday season. Time-honored traditions come alive through the sights and sounds of the countries of World Showcase, and live performances enliven the park throughout the day.

    To book a Candlelight Processional dining package or find out more information contact me today. If fact, if you need any help booking your magical vacation, contact me at Enchanted Kingdom Vacations 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!

  • Complete Guide To Fall Season Experiences This Year at Walt Disney World Resort

    Complete Guide To Fall Season Experiences This Year at Walt Disney World Resort

    Fall into the magic this year with parties, races, culinary delights and more during the upcoming fall season. Tastes, toys, treats and more are all on the menu this fall at Walt Disney World Resort. Here’s your complete guide to all the Fall Season Experiences this year, both in the theme parks and all across the resort.

    23rd Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Offers New Tastes

    The aromas and flavors of more than 30 global food and beverage marketplaces, plus a full menu of new offerings such as “Sunday Brunch with the Chef,” welcome guests during the 23rd Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, Aug. 30-Nov. 12. One of America’s top food festivals since 1996, the 75-day Epcot dine-around extravaganza will surprise guests with new and inspiring sips and bites throughout the park’s World Showcase and several Future World venues. Highlights include:

    • The grandest of the festival’s don’t-miss tasting events, Party for the Senses in World ShowPlace, will welcome acclaimed chefs and vintners Sept. 22, Oct. 6, 13, 20 and Nov. 10. They will showcase creative bites and palate-pleasing sips with sensational live entertainment.
    • “Eat to the Beat” concerts – 225 in all – will rev up the America Gardens Theatre stage three times nightly with new musical acts including Vertical Horizon, 98 Degrees, Sheila E. and others. Selections span a broad range of eras and genres from rock and pop to rhythm and blues.
    • “Mix It, Make It, Celebrate It!” hands-on workshops Wednesdays and Thursdays provide new opportunities for guests to interact with visiting chefs, mixologists and other pros.

    Throughout the festival, guests will find something for everyone in the family:

    • A Ratatouille-inspired adventure is back as Chef Remy encourages families to play together during Remy’s Ratatouille Hid ‘n’ Squeak scavenger hunt.
    • On Friday and Saturday evenings, enjoy an interactive Character Dance Party.
    • In the new Junior Chef Kitchen, children become the chefs and eat what they make in this complimentary experience each Sunday in the Festival Center.

    This is just an appetizer for what’s to come this fall. The 23rd Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is included with theme park admission, but certain programs require a separate ticket and/or reservation; for full details, visit TasteEpcot.com.

    Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Starts Sooner than Ever

    Let’s boo this! There are even more nights to celebrate the spooky season this year during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. This special-ticket event runs select nights Aug. 17-Oct. 31 at Magic Kingdom Park – the earliest in the calendar year it’s ever started. It’s also the 25th anniversary of Walt Disney Pictures’ “Hocus Pocus,” so what better way to celebrate the film than the spellbinding Hocus Pocus Villain Spectacular at Cinderella Castle, where the Sanderson Sisters take “stage fright” to another level.

    Guests should keep their eyes open for dancing ghosts, the Headless Horseman, plus Mickey Mouse, Peter Pan and many more beloved Disney Characters in the Mickey’s “Boo-To-You” Halloween Parade. There will also be plenty of sweets for all trick-or-treaters around the park, including allergy-friendly options. And each night during the party, the skies above an eerily lit Cinderella Castle come alive during Happy HalloWishes, a magical fireworks extravaganza that definitely goes bump in the night!

    Advance tickets start at $75 for adults and $70 for ages 3-9 (plus tax). For a full list of event dates, visit MickeyHalloween.com. Guests are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance, as space each night is limited. For more information, call (407) WDISNEY (934-7639).

    New Toy Story Land: A Perfect Place for Fall Fun

    Where better to spend a beautiful fall day than playing in Andy’s backyard, the young toy owner from Pixar Animation Studios’ Toy Storyfilms. In this extraordinary new land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, guests are “honorary toys” surrounded by Andy’s favorites – Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie and many more.

    Across 11 fun-filled acres, guests can hop on the all-new Slinky Dog Dash for a family-friendly roller coaster ride, take a spin and enjoy some interstellar beats on Alien Swirling Saucers and go for the high score playing midway games inside the 4D world of Toy Story Mania! When toys get hungry, there’s no better place to grab a bite than Woody’s Lunch Box, a walk-up window featuring a bevy of nostalgic delights – from a grilled three-cheese sandwich to a Lunch Box Tart and much more.

    Toy Story Land also offers a collection of new merchandise items, allowing guests to take their special memories home with them. Among the many highlights: a Buzz Lightyear Bubble Blower and a Slinky Dog headband.

    Disney Junior Dance Party Shimmies into Disney’s Hollywood Studios

    Later in fall, the new Disney Junior Dance Party premieres at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This live performance will feature high-energy music, a vibrant party atmosphere, special effects and characters from popular Disney Junior TV shows. Guests are invited to join all the fun with the stars of “Mickey and the Roadster Racers,” “Doc McStuffins,” “The Lion Guard” and the newest hit series, “Vampirina.”

    Two New Restaurants, Reimagined World of Disney Opening at Disney Springs

    • James Beard Award-winning Chef José Andrés – one of “The 100 Most Influential People of 2018” according to Time.com – will open a new location of his popular Jaleo this fall. It will offer an extensive menu of tapas that reflects the rich regional diversity of traditional and contemporary Spanish cuisine. Designed by renowned Spanish designer Juli Capella, the new multi-level restaurant will feature breathtaking exterior architecture and a vibrant, theatrical décor representing the colorful, dynamic culture of Spain. Andrés’ Disney Springs venue will be his largest and most ambitious location to date.
    • A new restaurant by James Beard Award-winning Chef Wolfgang Puck will also open this fall. Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill will modernize the traditional “bar and grill” concept in a setting inspired by traditional farmhouses – with a touch of elegance. The restaurant will capture the essence of laid-back California dining made popular by Puck’s Spago, his flagship restaurant in Los Angeles.
    • In late fall, Disney Springs will reveal the newly reimagined World of Disney store, where guests will discover the products they love from Disney Parks in a dynamic and distinctly Disney environment. The flagship store remains open throughout the enhancement process.

    Ready, Set, Go for Wine & Dine Half Marathon

    The runDisney race season begins Nov. 1-4 with the Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend, featuring a 5K, 10K, half marathon and kids’ races. It includes the Disney Two Course Challenge – a 10K and half marathon on consecutive days. This is one of five runDisney events scheduled for this race season, which stretches into early 2019. Register at www.runDisney.com.

    New Hotel and Ticket Package Available Labor Day Week

    The “Ultimate Disney Fall into Magic Package” is available this year for the week of Labor Day. The limited-time offer, available for booking through Aug. 19, includes a five-night stay at a select Disney Moderate, Deluxe or Deluxe Villa resort hotel for arrival Sept. 3 and departure Sept. 8, 2018. The package also features four-day Magic Your Way tickets and an itinerary full of special experiences in all four parks – including access to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and two hours of exclusive evening access to Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

    Packages start at $149 per person, per night for a family of four in a standard room at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. If you need help booking your magical vacation, contact Enchanted Kingdom Vacations 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!

  • ‘Ultimate Disney Fall Into Magic Package’ Now Available for Booking

    ‘Ultimate Disney Fall Into Magic Package’ Now Available for Booking

    Fall is considered by many to be the best time of the year to go to Walt Disney World and you can kick off fall this year in the most exciting way of all with the ‘Ultimate Disney Fall Into Magic Package’.

    The limited-time deal, available for booking through Aug. 19, includes a five-night stay at a select Disney Moderate, Deluxe or Deluxe Villa resort hotel for guest arrival on Sept. 3 and departure on Sept. 8, plus four-day Magic Your Way tickets and an itinerary full of magical experiences in all four Theme Parks.

    Here’s a peek at what your incredible itinerary includes:

    • Tuesday, September 4, 2018: an exclusive “Welcome to Fall” dinner at Epcot inspired by the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
    • Wednesday, September 5, 2018: a nighttime Kilimanjaro Safaris tour followed by an exclusive showing of Rivers of Light at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park after park closing
    • Thursday, September 6, 2018: two hours of exclusive evening access to Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
    • Friday, September 7, 2018: tickets to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom park

    Packages start at $149 per person, per night for a family of four in a standard room at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, for a total package price of $2,980.

    If you need help booking your magical vacation, contact Enchanted Kingdom Vacations 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!

  • Passholders With Blackout Dates Can Purchase Summer Add-On Option

    Passholders With Blackout Dates Can Purchase Summer Add-On Option

    If you’re a Walt Disney World Annual Passholder with summer blackout dates and were wishing you could find a way to get to the parks this summer, then this news is the Disney magic you’ve been waiting for. Disney World will be offering a special summer add-on for select Annual Passholders with Blackout Dates.

    For an additional fee you’ll receive admission to Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom for the entire summer! The offer does not include access to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

    Details have not yet been released as of yet and the offer isn’t available to guests until July 9. The add-on ticket is available for Silver, Weekday Select and Theme Park Select Passholders.

    For those Passholders with summer blackout dates this is really exciting news!  For less than the prices of a one day ticket you can go all summer long. The add-on costs $89 and will give guest access the three parks any day of the week from July 9 through August 9, 2018. And yes you can park hop!

    This summer is an amazing time to go with Disney World with their ‘Incredible Summer‘ in full swing and this offer will give Passholders with summer black out days a chance to check out many of the new experiences.

    If you need help booking your magical vacation, contact Enchanted Kingdom Vacations 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!

  • Walt Disney World Surprises U.S. Military Families with Magical Toy Story Land Visit

    Walt Disney World Surprises U.S. Military Families with Magical Toy Story Land Visit

    Support for the military is a longstanding tradition that dates back to Disney’s earliest days. And that legacy continued when Walt Disney World Resort surprised some special military families with the chance to be among the first guests at Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

    During the visit, Sarge and his Green Army Patrol joined Disney Parks leaders to welcome the group and share the day’s “top mission” – to have a magical time at Toy Story Land!

    “Our military keeps us safe, keeps up our ideals and we in turn have a responsibility to them and their families, who often times are separated, to make sure they can have a magical time whenever they come through our gates,” Bob Chapek, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Consumer Products said.

    Many of the U.S. military service men and women who were among the first to “play big” at Toy Story Land had been separated from their families for months and spent the day reuniting in Andy’s backyard.

  • Couples Can Now Get Married In Front of The Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom

    Couples Can Now Get Married In Front of The Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom

    The Tree of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the newest romantic venue available to happy couples looking to “tie the knot” at Walt Disney World Resort. With magical locations inside theme parks and across the resort, Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings and Honeymoons make that special day truly unforgettable.

    New and Exciting Venues for Incredible Weddings

    • Tree of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom – The iconic centerpiece of Disney’s Animal
      Kingdom serves as the picture-perfect backdrop for a memorable wedding. Lush trees and exotic flowers surround the space, creating an enchanted setting.
    • Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground – The resort’s 750 acres of pine
      forest make for a rustic, yet elegant location for a fun and adventurous wedding. Couplesmcan enjoy the timeless beauty of nature in an open-air space with breathtaking views of Seven Seas Lagoon.
    • The Chinese Theatre at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – The glitz of Hollywood Boulevard helps set the stage for a glamorous wedding. The Chinese Theatre makes an elegant and unique backdrop when couples exchange vows.

    Limitless Venue Options

    Disney’s Wedding Pavilion, located steps away from Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, is the crown jewel of Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings ceremony locations. Guests are treated to enchanting views of Cinderella Castle while the couple exchanges their vows in a fairy-tale setting. Inside this picturesque venue, couples will find white pews, vaulted ceilings and a wall of arched windows with seating for up to 250 guests.

    Other locations include unique areas at all four theme parks, as well as ballrooms, restaurants and more at many of the luxurious resort hotels on property.

    Options Beyond Walt Disney World Abound

    Walt Disney World Resort is just one of the destinations that offers Disney’s Fairy Tale
    Weddings and Honeymoons. Other options include:

    • Disneyland Resort in California
    • Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii
    • Disney Cruise Line ships, or at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay
  • New Permits Reveal Star Wars Hotel Scope and Connection to Hollywood Studios

    New Permits Reveal Star Wars Hotel Scope and Connection to Hollywood Studios

    Disney recently filed permits with the South Florida Water Management District that reveal new details about the size and scope of the Star Wars Hotel as well as how guests will be entering Hollywood Studios directly from the resort.

    Walt Disney World confirmed back in may that the hotel will be located just east of World Drive, on the south side of Hollywood Studios, but now with these construction plans we get real sense of exactly how the hotel will fit in to the surrounding area.

    Star Wars Resort Permits

    Disney has said that hotel will be “seamlessly connected” to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. According to the recently filed permits, guests staying at Walt Disney World’s Star Wars hotel will drive from Hollywood Studios’ parking lot over a drainage canal to get to the main hotel entrance.

    Star Wars Resort Permits

    Guests staying at the resort will use a special pathway to enter the theme park that will take them between the two attractions in the new land.

    This first-of-its-kind resort will combine luxury with complete immersion into an authentic Star Wars story. Guests’ journey through space will start when everyone departs together for a multiday Stars Wars adventure by boarding a starship alive with characters and stories that unfold all around them during a voyage through the galaxy.

    “It’s unlike anything that exists today.” Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek said. “From the second you arrive, you will become a part of a Star Wars story! You’ll immediately become a citizen of the galaxy and experience all that entails, including dressing up in the proper attire. Once you leave Earth, you will discover a starship alive with characters, stories, and adventures that unfold all around you. It is 100% immersive, and the story will touch every single minute of your day, and it will culminate in a unique journey for every person who visits.”

    Disney has not released details on the new resort will open, but we do know the Star Wars-themed land at Hollywood Studios will open in late fall 2019.

  • New Loungefly Disney World Annual Passholder Backpack Is Finally Here

    New Loungefly Disney World Annual Passholder Backpack Is Finally Here

    If you’re looking for some new Disney back bling then look no further, Loungefly has released an adorable new exclusive Walt Disney World Annual PassholderMini Backpack and they are totes adorbs!

    Now you can bring a cast of Disney characters with you on your back and it’s perfect for the parks or anywhere you want to sport it. These beauties will set you back $75 and guests have spotted them at the Emporium on Main Street U.S.A in the Magic Kingdom as well as Tomorrowland, but reports are they are selling out fast.

    This Disney World AP exclusive features an AP passholder tag attached on the zipper pull with a ball chain and can be taken on and off. Characters featured include Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and Pluto! Perfect for a day in the parks.

    This cute backpack is also covered with icons from Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, including Cinderella’s Castle.

    Loungefly Backpacks are always a quick sell out, but they usually restock at some point, however if you don’t feel like anticipating when the next shipment will arrive, then you can already find them on EBay for anywhere between $100 to $200. Shocking right?

    Disneyland recently released its Loungefly Annual Passholder backpack and not to be out done, Walt Disney World drops us this beauty! Are you picking up one of these stunning new backpacks?  Let us know what you think of them in the comments below.

  • Baby Groot Sipper Cup Available At Epcot And It’s The Cutest Thing Ever

    Baby Groot Sipper Cup Available At Epcot And It’s The Cutest Thing Ever

    The dancing is underway at “Guardians of the Galaxy – Awesome Mix Live”, but the party doesn’t start until Groot walks in and now you can sip on a refreshing fountain or frozen drink in this adorable Baby Groot Sipper Cup from Liberty Inn in Epcot.

    Nothing is more adorable than watching baby Groot dance and he can be yours for just $12.75.

    Guests can catch “Guardians of the Galaxy – Awesome Mix Live!” five times a day, now through August 19, where you’ll join Star-Lord and Gamora in a galactic journey—accompanied by a stellar soundtrack.

    Guardians of the Galaxy Epcot

    It is included with theme park admission and is part of Walt Disney World’s lineup of “Incredible Summer” offerings. Check out the list of blog posts below for more Incredible Summer fun.

    If you need help booking your magical vacation, contact Enchanted Kingdom Vacations 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!