Disney News

Storytelling is one of the things The Walt Disney Company has been widely known for since Walt’s beginnings in the 1920s. And that tradition continues at Disney Parks where every aspect of your experience has a story. From the attractions to the restaurants and even the resorts, each has their own storyline being told to the guest.

At the Walt Disney World® Resort, one of our favorite forms of storytelling is the stage shows inside the parks. These shows are 15-40 minute Broadway-style productions telling some favorite Disney tales. In a hectic race to get from “Attraction A” to “Attraction B,” it seems these shows are often overlooked by our guests. So, we asked our expert Magic Makers® to rate the current stage shows at the Walt Disney World® Resort to help you choose which ones you should fit in to your hectic schedule. While a listing like this is subjective and ultimately a matter of personal taste, we think guests of all ages and interest will enjoy these top 3 shows.

And now, we proudly present:

Magic Maker’s® Top 3 Walt Disney World® Resort Stage Shows

1. Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage (Disney’s Hollywood Studios®)
   This elegant musical production recreates the “tale as old as time” several times daily inside the Theater of the Stars on Sunset Boulevard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®. The show has been running (with some minor changes) at the park since Nov. 22, 1991, the same day the animated film opened in U.S. theaters!
2. Finding Nemo – The Musical (Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park)
   Larger-than-life puppets are used to help tell the story of Disney-Pixar’s Finding Nemo inside the Theater in the Wild at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park. After seeing the sheer talent of the puppeteers and hearing the 14 songs written to transform this non-musical animated feature into a musical production, you’ll understand why it was honored with a Thea Award for “Best Live Show.” Finding Nemo – The Musical is the longest of the shows appearing on our listing at 40 minutes.
3. Festival of the Lion King (Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park)
   Our number one show can also been found at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park inside the Camp Minnie-Mickey area. Festival of the Lion King combines puppetry, acrobatics, and dancers into a WILD revue of Disney’s The Lion King. The show is interactive featuring guest participation throughout and is likely to have you humming “Hakuna Matata” for the rest of your day!

These are 3 great stage shows you won’t want to miss! But keep in mind, they are just a small sample of the various entertainment options available at the Walt Disney World® Resort!

This morning, the Main Street Bakery reopened inside the Magic Kingdom® Park. A mainstay on Main Street, U.S.A.®, the bakery now serves famous Starbucks® products. Some of those products include iced and regular coffees and teas, frappuccino, espresso, smoothies, and refreshers.  You will also find a wide variety of both Starbucks® and Main Street Bakery pastries and breakfast sandwiches as well as a grab-and-go case with standard fruits and juices. Guests utilizing one of the Disney Dining Plans will be able to use a snack entitlement to purchase most of your favorite Starbucks® drinks. A quick service breakfast is also an option for Disney Dining Plan participants.

The opening of the Main Street Bakery marks the first Starbucks® location at the Walt Disney World® Resort. Additional themed locations are planned for inside Epcot®, Disney’s Hollywood Studios®, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park.

This year, Disney Parks will be celebrating our nation’s birthday for an entire week! Independence Week, part of Disney Parks’ “Limited Time Magic,” will run July 1-7, 2013. Whether celebrating at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida or at the Disneyland® Resort in California, there is one guarantee – no shortage of fireworks!

Here is a look at planned Independence Week events:

Walt Disney World® Resort

Magic Kingdom® Park

• “Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky” – A 15-minute nighttime fireworks spectacular featuring special perimeter fireworks giving you 360-degrees of sparkles in the sky! The show will take place at 9pm on July 3rd and 4th and at 10p July 1st-2nd and 5th-7th
• Special Preparade Processional – Goofy, Donald, and Pluto will be joined by the Main Street Philharmonic and the Citizens of Main Street for a special patriotic processional down Main Street, U.S.A.® right before the Celebrate a Dream Come True parade. July 1st-7th, 2013
• Patriotic treats – Special patriotic treats will be available throughout the Walt Disney World® Resort including a Red, White, and Blue Strawberry Shortcake at Storybook Treats

Epcot® – July 4th only

• Patriotic Character Meet & Greet – Meet with Disney’s characters adorned in their patriotic dress from 11:30a-2:30p and 3:30p-6:00p near Kidcot at American Adventure on July 4th
• Voices of Liberty Fourth of July Concert – Located in America Gardens Theatre, this special show will feature the amazingly talented a capella Voices of Liberty, the Spirit of America Fife and Drum Corps, and maybe even a special appearance by some of your favorite Disney characters. Showtimes are 12:30p, 1:45p, and 3:00p on July 4th
• “The Heartbeat of Freedom” – A special tribute to America titled “The Heartbeat of Freedom” will take place after IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth at 10:00p on July 4th
• Slippery When Wet – As part of the Sounds Like Summer Concert Series, Slippery When Wet – The Ultimate Bon Jovi Tribute will play at America Gardens Theatre at 5:15p, 6:30p, 7:45p, and 9:00p on July 4th. Click here for details on performances throughout the rest of the week
• Patriotic treats – Special patriotic treats will be available throughout the Walt Disney World® Resort. Epcot® will feature a Red, White, and Blue “Baked Alaska” Mousse and Skillet-Baked Peach Cobbler

Disney’s Hollywood Studios® – July 4th only

• “Rockin’ 4th of July Celebration” – An all-new celebration in front of the Sorcerers Hat! The Party starts at 6p with a DJ followed by performances by “Mulch, Sweat & Shears” at 7p, 8p, 9p, and 10p. It all leads up for an amazing rock ‘n roll fireworks display at 10:15p!
• Patriotic treats – Be sure to purchase a special 4th of July Cupcake with apple pie filling, caramel buttercream and apple crisp topping.

Disneyland® Resort

Disneyland® Park

• “Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky” – The skies above Sleeping Beauty Castle will light up during this special patriotic fireworks spectacular. Don’t forget to bring your “Glow with the Show” Ears! Show begins at 9:30p July 1st-7th
• Patriotic Character Meet & Greet – Mickey Mouse will greet guests in his patriotic attire every evening July 1st-7th in Town Square
• Patriotic treats – Be on the lookout for special patriotic treats – Red, White & Blue Mason Jar Desserts, patriotic cotton candy, 4th of July cupcakes, and Apple Pie Pockets

Disney California Adventure® Park

• World of Color Preshow – A special patriotic preshow will be show prior to World of Color. Be sure to purchase your “Glow with the Show” Ears to show your colors

Other patriotic activities will be taking place around the Parks and Resorts as well. Consult your Daily Times Guide for more information. All events and characters are subject to change. Theme park admission is required for all events listed above.

There’s a new “sweet spot” at Epcot®, and this is one you won’t want to miss!

L’Artisan des Glaces – Artisan Ice Cream & Sorbet is now open inside the France Pavilion at Epcot® World Showcase! Offering 16 different flavors, the traditional French ice cream is made throughout the day on location from basic fresh ingredients. Current flavors include:

Ice Cream

• Vanilla
• Chocolate
• Pistachio
• Cherry
• Coconut White Chocolate
• Mint Chocolate (from fresh mint)
• Hazelnut
• Caramel de sel
• Coffee
• Profiterole

Sorbets

• Strawberry
• Mixed Berry
• Lemon
• Mango
• Melon
• Pomegranate

Both the Ice Cream and Sorbet at La Glace is served in your choice of a cup or waffle cone. For a fun twist, grown ups can choose to have two scoops of ice cream served in a martini glass with a shot of Grand Marnier, rum, or whipped cream flavored vodka over it. Guests utilizing the Disney Dining Plan may receive a single scoop cup or cone for (1) snack entitlement.

In April, Disney Cruise Line® announced a major refurbishment to their original ship, the Disney Magic®. From stem to stern, the ship will be reimagined for guests to enjoy. Click here for a summary of all the changes that will take place this fall.

One of the major changes will be inside the staterooms of the Disney Magic®. When Disney Cruise Line® launched, they revolutionized the cruise industry by designing staterooms specifically for families. With larger staterooms and the introduction of split-bathrooms, cruising became much more family-friendly. Because the original room designs are still very functional almost 15 years later, the enhancements inside the staterooms consist mostly of a refresh of color palette and linens as well as the elevation of the bed frames to allow suitcase storage underneath them!

Here’s a glimpse at the enhancements coming this fall to the staterooms aboard the Disney Magic®

Concept art – actual construction may vary.

Contact your Magic Maker today to experience the reimagined Disney Magic®!

Earlier today, registration for the 2014 Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend opened to the public! Taking place Feb. 20-23, 2014, runDisney has added a new race next year – the Disney Enchanted 10K! Click here for more details on next year’s events.

Our Magic Makers® are already busy helping race participants book their Magic Your Way® Packages for Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend! In addition to all the typical Magical Extras you receive with every Walt Disney Travel Company package you book with Off to Neverland Travel®, you also have the option to include your registration for the following races in with your package:

• Disney’s Princess Half Marathon
• Disney Enchanted 10K
• Glass Slipper Challenge
• Cinderella Royal Family 5K
• runDisney Kids Races
• Race Retreat

For best rates and availability, contact your Magic Maker® today!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park has added two new experiences that you won’t want to miss during your next visit – Adventurers Outpost and Wilderness Explorers!

Mickey and Minnie Mouse have moved from their old meet and greet location at Camp Minnie-Mickey to the new Adventurers Outpost inside the Discovery Island® area. Adventurers Outpost is the new exploration headquarters of our two favorite World travelers. Here, you’ll be able to see mementos of all their travels while you wait to meet them for yourself. This indoor location provides a great way for your little adventurers to get a break from the Florida weather!

Wilderness Explorers is a fun and engaging way for kids to experience Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park. Inspired by Russell from Disney-Pixar’s Up, the experience aims to deepen the understanding of animals and nature. Joining the Wilderness Explorers is easy! Just stop by the Wilderness Explorers Headquarters near the Oasis bridge where you will receive your Wilderness Explorer Handbook. Then as you are exploring Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park, look for Wilderness Explorer badge locations where you will complete an activity to earn your next badge. With over 30 badges to collect, your quest to become a Senior Explorer is a fun mix of entertainment and education!

Kick on the thumbnails below to explore photos of Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park’s newest experiences.

Next week’s “Limited Time Magic” introduces two new celebrations at Disney Parks – a celebration of Dad on the west coast and a Monsters U Homecoming party on the east coast!

Walt Disney World® Resort

• Monsters University Homecoming – Starting Jun. 14, 2013, Monsters University will hold a nightly Homecoming bash at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®. The celebration will consist of DJs, a band “Scare Supply,” the Monsters U Cheerleaders, and of course Mike & Sulley. The celebration runs through summer from 6p-10p at the main stage. Valid theme park admission is required.
• Summer Trolley Show– Join the citizens of Main Street, U.S.A.® in a summer trolley show filled with red, white, and blue spirit. See your Times Guide for more information on this special show of old-fashioned summertime fun! Valid theme park admission is required.

Disneyland® Resort

• Incredible Father’s Day – To celebrate Father’s Day, Mr. Incredible and Frozone will be stopping by Disney California Adventure® Park to greet guests from Jun. 10-16, 2013. Reference your Daily Times Guide to see when the supers from Disney-Pixar’s The Incredibles will be hosting their meet & greets. Valid theme park admission is required.

Off to Neverland Travel® will continue to bring you details on future ”Limited Time Magic” events as they become available, so be sure to keep checking back with us!

All events and characters are subject to change. Theme park admission may be required for some events.

Walt Disney World® Resort has given us plenty of reasons to want to visit central Florida late this summer.

As if Free Dining and Resort Room Savings were not enough, this September brings another lure, as Magic Kingdom® Park welcomes some of the biggest names in Christian music to the park for Disney’s Night of Joy music festival on September 6^th and 7^th. For two spirited nights, you can experience the music and the message that these powerful acts will be bringing to the stage!

As a special ticketed event, you’ll have access to a musical line-up like no other! Featuring the top acts of CCM, rarely can you see all of your favorite artists coming together for an epic music festival of these proportions! In fact, you will even get to experience two legends taking the stage together, as Michael W. Smith and Steve Curtis Chapman perform together following their solo sets!

Taking the Stage on September 6^th will be:

• Skillet
• MercyMe
• Michael W. Smith
• Steven Curtis Chapman
• Audio Adrenaline
• Mandisa
• for KING & COUNTRY
• Moriah Peters
• We As Human
• City Harbor

Taking the Stage on September 7^th will be:

• Newsboys
• TobyMac
• Francesca Battistelli
• Building 429
• Group 1 Crew
• Matthew West
• PLUMB
• Jamie Grace

Contact your Magic Maker® today about ‘praising’ the night away in Magic Kingdom® Park during Disney’s Night of Joy this September! With the extraordinary savings already in place, there is no reason not to make the trip!