Walt Disney World News

Wow! Is it just us, or did 2015 fly by?

From new dining locations to reimagined spaces, there’s been no shortage of exciting changes at Disney Destinations throughout 2015. Once again this year, we tasked our Magic Makers® with deciding their favorite highlights from Disney Cruise Line, Walt Disney World® and Disneyland® Resorts. It wasn’t easy, but here they are:

Top 15 Favorite Highlights from 2015

1. There’s no questioning the popularity of Chef Mickey’s restaurant inside Disney’s Contemporary Resort! Last May, Brunch was added to the location’s offerings giving our guests a greater opportunity to dine with Mickey and his pals.
2. Every little girl dreams of being a princess. A recent refresh of the Disney Dream has made room for a brand new Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique providing royal makeovers for girls ages 3-12 and swashbuckling transformations for all on Pirate Night.
3. The former Downtown Disney® area of the Walt Disney World® Resort is full of excitement as it transforms to the new Disney Springs™. After construction is complete later in 2016, the amount of shopping, dining and entertainment venues will double! The first of the new dining locations, The BOATHOUSE®, opened in April 2015 and offers upscale waterfront dining and rides on some awesome dream boats from the 1930s, ’40s, and ’50s.
4. Garden Grill Restaurant at Epcot® is often referred to as the “rotating restaurant” that hosted Chip ‘n Dale’s Harvest Feast for dinner. Now, those nutty pals have extended hours to include both Breakfast and Lunch! There’s no better way to start you Epcot® day than with a helping of Chip’s Sticky Bun Bake!
5. One of the most popular shows at Disney’s Hollywood Studios® received a refresh and recently reopened as Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple. Just like before, the stage show teaches young Padawans (ages 4-12) how to use the Force to challenge the Dark Side. After training, Knights will come face-to-face with Darth Vader or a new villain, the Seventh Sister Inquisitor from the popular Disney XD series Star Wars™ Rebels.
6. Also part of the recent refresh of the Disney Dream was the addition of a new Force-filled area in Disney’s Oceaneer Club (ages 3-12). Kids are transported to a far away galaxy at Star Wars™: Millennium Falcon, where the legendary spacecraft becomes an out-of-this-galaxy play area inspired by the Star Wars™ saga.
7. MagicBands were introduced several years ago at the Walt Disney World® Resort as an integral part of the MyMagic+ system. Since then, on property guests have been able to choose from standard colored MagicBands that were included complimentary in their package or purchase some specialty ones from various retail locations. Now, guests are able to design their own MagicBands at one of the MagicBand on Demand stations. With the launch of this program, the often-requested band color purple was introduced as a retail option.
8. A brand new stage show debuted just last month aboard the Disney Magic. “Tangled: The Musical” immerses its audience in Rapunzel’s fairytale world through lavish production numbers and spellbinding music. This is the first time this beloved Disney tale has been adapted for the stage and has received great reviews from our guests.
9. As part of its recent renovation, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort added Villas and Bungalows to their accommodation options. Built as part of the Disney Vacation Club portfolio, the 360 Deluxe Studio accommodations (sleeps up to 5 guests) and 20 over-the-water Bungalows (sleeps up to 8 guests) deliver the spirit of the South Pacific along with some fun Disney touches to guests staying on a cash basis as well.
10. Our guests are going WILD over the newest dining option at Magic Kingdom® Park! At the Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen, you’ll experience “World Famous Jungle Cuisine” in one of several unique dining rooms, including a crew mess hall and a once-hidden secret meeting room of the famed Society of Explorers and Adventurers. Staffed by infamous Jungle Cruise® Skippers, this is a meal you won’t soon forget!
11. Not been to Disney Parks in a while or wish you would have picked up that souvenir you saw on your last trip? The new Shop Disney Parks Mobile App lets you choose from thousands of popular Disney Parks products and have it delivered right to your door! You’ll find the Shop Disney Parks Mobile App available for download in the Apple App Store℠ or Google Play™.
12. To celebrate the latest Star Wars™ movie, Disney’s Hollywood Studios® has introduced “Symphony in the Stars: A Galactic Spectacular” fireworks. The night sky above the park erupts with impressive fireworks that are set to the most dramatic and memorable Star Wars themes of all time, including selections from Star Wars™: The Force Awakens.
13. As part of the Disneyland® Resort 60th Diamond Celebration, Disneyland® Park introduced a new nighttime parade called “Paint the Night.” This after-dark spectacular was inspired by the iconic ‘Main Street Electrical Parade.’ Full of vibrant color and more than 1.5 million brilliant LED lights, the parade features special effects, unforgettable music, and energetic performances that bring beloved Disney and Disney●Pixar stories to life.
14. Last March, the Be Our Guest Restaurant inside Magic Kingdom® Park started offering breakfast service. With the popularity of the location, this quick-service breakfast can be a great way to get inside and check it out.
15. Both Disney’s Hollywood Studios® and Disneyland® Park have added new ways for you to experience Star Wars™! Star Wars™ Launch Bay takes guests into the Star Wars™ saga with special exhibits and peeks behind-the-scenes, special food and merchandise, and even opportunities to encounter Chewbacca and Darth Vader! It’s stellar fun in a galaxy not-so-far away!

Now that we’ve told you our favorites of 2015, what are yours?