Disney News

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  • Mobile Order Adds Apple Pay and Arrival Times at Disney World Ahead of Reopening

    Mobile Order Adds Apple Pay and Arrival Times at Disney World Ahead of Reopening

    Disney World received approval from the state of Florida to reopen its theme parks and now they are adding some new changes to mobile ordering that you may want to hear.

    Previously guests would place a Mobile Order and you would receive a notification when the order was ready to be picked up, but now guests will have to select an arrival time and pick up their orders within a thirty minute window.

    Another new feature added to Mobile Order is the addition of new payment method options. You can now pay for your order with Apple Pay and Disney Gift Cards and well as with Disney Dining Catds and Disney Reward Redemption cards.

    Disney World is making a number of changes to make reopening safe for it’s guests and the new additions to the Mobile Order service will make cashless transactions even easier.

    Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom will open first, on July 11. Then, Epcot and Hollywood Studios will follow on July 15.

  • Passholder Preview Announced for Disney World Reopening

    Passholder Preview Announced for Disney World Reopening

    Disney World unveiled it’s reopening plans and now an email has gone out to Annual Passholders about a Passholder Preview for the occasion.

    Take a look at the details of the email below:

    Dear Valued Passholder,

    In case you missed it, this week we shared some big news about Walt Disney World Resort, including plans to welcome Guests back to the Theme Parks as part of a phased reopening beginning July 11.

    We truly can’t wait to welcome our Passholders back! And we will do it with a great deal of thought. As we reopen, our phased approach will be a deliberate one with limits on attendance and density controls that align with expert guidance.

    And so, to foster recommended physical distancing during this unprecedented time, we will soon be introducing a new Park reservation system and requiring all our Guests to make advance reservations for their Park visits.

    We’ve put together some of the details of what this new system will mean to Passholders on our website. So please take the time to read this important update.

    We truly value the role our Passholders play in making the Walt Disney World Resort experience so magical. And as our re-opening progresses, we are planning a special Passholder preview opportunity to access the magic.

    Walt Disney World has gotten the go-ahead from the state of Florida to open its four Orlando theme parks starting July 11 along the lines of plan executives presented to Orange County officials on Wednesday.

    The phased reopening starts with the Magic Kingdom and Disney Animal Kingdom on Saturday, July 11 and Epcott and Disney Hollywood Studios on Wednesday, July 15.

    The plans were reportedly approved Friday by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation in a memo sent to Orange County officials, according to multiple news reports.

  • Disney World Reopening Only Available to Passholders and Exsiting Ticket Holders

    Disney World Reopening Only Available to Passholders and Exsiting Ticket Holders

    Now that Disney World has announced a reopening date, theme park reservations will be limited due to attendance limitations and will only be available to Annual Passholders and those with existing tickets.

    “At this time, we are temporarily pausing new ticket sales and Disney Resort hotel reservations so we can focus on guests with existing tickets and reservations,” Disney said on it’s website.

    Existing ticket holders and Annual Passholders will be able to make a theme park reservation before new tickets are sold; they will be reaching out to these guests soon to provide additional details.

    Disney World will resume new sales of tickets and Disney Resort hotel reservations after that period of time. 

    After Walt Disney World presented it’s reopening plan to the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force this week and the company is now preparing for that reopening by canceling all of its dining reservations for the rest of the year and suspending its FastPass+ reservation system as well.

    Pending approval from government agencies, Magic Kingdom park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park will begin a phased reopening on July 11—with Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios reopening on July 15, but advance reservations will be required to visit.

  • Disney World Cancels Dining Reservations and Suspends FastPasses as part of Reopening Plans

    Disney World Cancels Dining Reservations and Suspends FastPasses as part of Reopening Plans

    Walt Disney World presented it’s reopening plan to the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force this week and the company is now preparing for that reopening by canceling all of its dining reservations for the rest of the year and suspending its FastPass+ reservation system.

    Pending approval from government agencies, Magic Kingdom park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park will begin a phased reopening on July 11—with Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios reopening on July 1, but advance reservations will be required to visit.

    The parks will reopen with some important updates to promote physical distancing, including. Take a look below:

    • Park Reservations: Initially, park attendance will be managed through a new park reservation system. To enter a park, both a park reservation and valid admission for the same park on the same date is required.
    • New Ticket Sales: At this time, new ticket sales are temporarily paused. Existing ticket holders and Annual Passholders will be able to make reservation requests in phases before new tickets are sold. Additional details will be shared with these Guests soon. New ticket sales will resume after that period of time.
    • New Disney Resort Hotel Reservations: At this time, new reservations at Disney Resort hotels are temporarily paused so we can focus on Guests with existing reservations (Disney Vacation Club Members can still make new reservations). Reservations will resume after that period of time.

    All existing dining reservations and experience bookings, including Disney dining plans included in packages, are canceled through the end of 2020. New ones will be able to made closer to when the parks reopen, and the booking window will shift from 180 days to 60 days.

    The company has established a new “Know Before You Go” web page at DisneyWorld.com/Updates for the latest news on operations, including details on how to change plans.

  • VIDEO: Stormtroopers Patrolling Disney Springs to Help Enforce New Safety Procedures

    VIDEO: Stormtroopers Patrolling Disney Springs to Help Enforce New Safety Procedures

    Disney Springs began it’s phased reopening last week and with the many new saftey procedures put in place due to the coronavirus crisis, Disney has brought in First Order Stormtroopers to help enforce the new protocols.

    They’re stationed on some of the balconies and if you do see them, it’s probably best to snap a photo from afar and “move along,” as Stormtroopers may not appreciate you getting too close.

    Check out a video from ITM of the Stormtroopers in action below:

    The World of Disney store opened its doors Wednesday, along with other Disney-owned and -operated venues D-Luxe Burger (mobile order) and the Marketplace Co-Op.

  • BREAKING: Disney World Announces Reopening Date After Months-Long Coronavirus Closure

    BREAKING: Disney World Announces Reopening Date After Months-Long Coronavirus Closure

    Walt Disney World has announced a phased re-open plan and date for its Florida theme parks.

    Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom Park are targeting July 11, 2020 as an opening date. Epcot and Hollywood Studios are targeting July 15, 2020.

    The Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force met May 27 to hear the plans put forth by Walt Disney World and SeaWorld.

    The plans were approved by the task force. Now they need approval from Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and Gov. Ron DeSantis.

    Jim MacPhee, Senior Vice President of Operations at Walt Disney World Resort made the virtual presentation on behalf of Disney. The proposed opening will take place in phases and will require a reservation for park entry to limit park capacity. There will be physical distancing; guests and cast members will be required to wear face masks; and plexiglass at registers and other places where distancing is difficult will be installed.

    Parades and fireworks will temporarily suspended to enable distancing. Character meet and greets as well as playgrounds are also temporarily suspended. Temperature checks will be conducted for both staff and guests.

    There will be more options for mobile food ordering and cashless payment will be encouraged.

  • Walt Disney World Parks Reportedly to Reopen at Only 20-30 Percent Capacity

    Walt Disney World Parks Reportedly to Reopen at Only 20-30 Percent Capacity

    Disney Springs began it’s phased reopening last week, but when Disney World’s theme parks will reopen is still a mystery. Once they do reopen, you can expect substantially lower crowds than you are accustomed to seeing, according to recent reports.

    Disney World could reopen with crowd sizes somewhere between 20 to 30-percent of regular capacity, according to a recent report from WESH.

    Following the coronavirus crisis, Florida has become one of the first states in the nation to reopen its economy. Resorts like Disney World can reopen to the public if they submit a plan to the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force and it is approved.

    Disney World has yet to submit a reopening plan to the Task Force. News has since surfaced suggesting Disney will submit the report this week, according to Flordia Governor Ron DeSantis.

    “Disney has given an indication that next week, they will submit their plans, and once they do, then we will schedule that for a full briefing before our Economic Recovery Task Force as well,” he explained. “So at this point, it’s an undefined time or date, but we do look forward to seeing that sometime next week.”

    Disney World – and Disneyland, for that matter – have been closed since March 15th when the company issued the following statement.

  • DIY Kitchen Sink Sundae Recipe Released by Disney Parks

    DIY Kitchen Sink Sundae Recipe Released by Disney Parks

    The Kitchen Sink sundae from Beaches & Cream Soda Shop at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts is a Disney classic and now they have released the original recipe for it and how to make it at home!  

    If you’ve never tackled it before, be warned, this over-the-top indulgence includes everything and the kitchen sink – enough for your entire family to share! 

    Take a look at the ingredients and instructions below:

    Kitchen Sink from Beaches & Cream Soda Shop at Disney’s Beach Club Resort
    Serves 4 to 6

    Ingredients: 

    • 1/2 cup warm fudge topping 
    • 1/2 cup warm butterscotch topping
    • 1/2 cup warm peanut butter topping
    • 1 medium banana, sliced in 1/2-inch slices
    • 1 cinnamon spice cupcake (2 ½ x 1 1/4-inch), quartered
    • 1 angel food cupcake (3 x 1 1/2-inch), quartered
    • 2 generous scoops vanilla ice cream
    • 2 generous scoops chocolate ice cream
    • 2 generous scoops strawberry ice cream
    • 1 generous scoop mint chocolate chip ice cream
    • 1 generous scoop coffee ice cream
    • 3 tablespoons chocolate syrup 
    • 1/4 cup marshmallow cream
    • 1/4 cup strawberry topping
    • 1/4 cup pineapple topping 
    • 14-ounce can dairy whipped topping 
    • 1 large brownie (6-inch x 6-inch), quartered  
    • 1 regular-sized candy bar, quartered
    • 4 chocolate cookies with cream filling
    • 1 tablespoon sliced toasted almonds 
    • 1 tablespoon dark and white chocolate shavings
    • 1 tablespoon crushed chocolate cookies with cream filling 
    • 1 tablespoon chopped jellied orange slices, about 2 large slices
    • 1 tablespoon milk chocolate chip morsels
    • 1 tablespoon peanut butter chip morsels
    • 1 tablespoon chocolate sprinkles
    • 1 tablespoon rainbow sprinkles 
    • 1/2 cup drained maraschino cherries 

    To Serve:

    1. Pour hot fudge, butterscotch, and peanut butter toppings into bottom of large bowl.  
    2. Layer banana slices and cupcake pieces over toppings. Top with all ice creams.  
    3. As quickly as possible, spoon chocolate syrup, marshmallow cream, strawberry, and pineapple toppings over ice cream.
    4. Cover completely with dairy whipped topping. Tuck brownie pieces, candy bar pieces, and cookies in whipped topping.
    5. Sprinkle with toasted almonds, dark and white chocolate shavings, crushed cookies, jellied orange slices, milk chocolate chip morsels, peanut butter morsels, chocolate sprinkles, and rainbow sprinkles. Top with cherries.
  • Walt Disney’s ‘Dream House’ in Palm Springs Sells for $1.1 Million Asking Price

    Walt Disney’s ‘Dream House’ in Palm Springs Sells for $1.1 Million Asking Price

    The updated atomic ranch marketed as “Walt Disney’s Technicolor Dream House” has sold for the asking price of $1.095 million.

    The four-bedroom, three-bathroom residence on a quarter-acre lot in Indian Canyons was built for Walt and Lillian Disney in 1962, and it remained in the family until 2015.

    Features of the 2,443-square-foot house include an open floor plan with living and dining areas that flow into the kitchen, mirror surfaces and some “hidden Mickeys.” Take a look at the interior below:

    Sliding glass doors open to a covered patio, swimming pool, spa and lawn area at the rear of the property, which overlooks the second fairway at Indian Canyons Golf Resort North Course.

    Michael Erives and Darcey Deetz of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate shared the listing, and Erives represented the buyer.

  • Tokyo Disney Resort to Begin Selling Merchandise Online for a Limited Time Due to Closure

    Tokyo Disney Resort to Begin Selling Merchandise Online for a Limited Time Due to Closure

    Tokyo Disney Resort has been closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic since late February, but for those looking to get their park merch fix, the Resort has announced they’ll be selling merchandise through the official Tokyo Disney Resort app starting May 26.

    “During the temporary holiday period, we will sell goods online at the Tokyo Disney Resort app so that you can purchase goods sold at the park at home,” Tokyo Disneyland said on it’s website.

    Tokyo Disney Resort has really had an full online shopping option before. In recent years the resort has started offering online purchases through their official app, but you had to have visited the park on that day and your items must have been bought before 11:00pm that same day.

    To purchase goods you must download the Tokyo Disney Resort app on your smartphone and be logged in with a Disney account. Only up to 3 items can be purchased per person per day and unfortunately shipping is only available within Japan.

    Goods that were sold at the park before the temporary closure will be eligible.
    However, “Berry Berry Minnie!”, “Pixar Playtime” and Duffy & Friends related goods are not eligible.

    The end date for online shopping will be announced as soon as the park restart date is decided However, they advise that it may be suspended or terminated without notice depending on the situation.