Walt Disney World News

In Early 2019, Walt Disney World® Resort  will offer you more to see, do, taste, and experience than ever before! With new and limited-time shows, parties, character experiences and more being added across all four parks, now, more than ever, is the time to plan a trip to “The Most Magical Place on Earth!”

So what’s in store for Early 2019? Here’s just a sampling:

Magic Kingdom® Park

• Mickey & Minnie’s Surprise Celebration – celebrating 90 years of the true originals, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse! Highlights include:
  • A reimagined “Move It! Shake It! MousekeDance It! Street Party” (Jan. 18 – ongoing)
  • New songs for entertainers on Main Street, U.S.A.® (Jan. 18 – Sept. 30)
  • Limited-time magical moments across the park (Jan. 18 – Sept. 30)
  • Specialty merchandise and food & beverage offerings

Epcot®

• Two of our client’s favorite festivals at Epcot® are returning for Spring of 2019!
  • The Epcot® International Festival of the Arts will expanded their “Disney on Broadway Concert Series” to seven days a week! (Jan. 18 – Feb. 25)
  • The Garden Rocks Concert Series at Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival will also be expanded to seven days a week! (March 6 – June 3)
• In the second half of 2019, we’ll bid a fond farewell to IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth as the park prepares for an all-new nighttime spectacular. (No Dates Announced)

Disney’s Hollywood Studios®

• Party with Pixar Pals and More as Disney’s Hollywood Studios Marks 30 Years
  • Celebrate the Incredibles at Pixar Place – Pixar Place will be transformed into a Metroville city block where you can meet super suit designer Edna Mode, search for Jack-Jack, and celebrate the heroic deeds of Mr. Incredible, Mrs. Incredible and Frozone during a special party! (Jan. 18 – Sept. 30)
  • You’ll have a chance to Meet Mike and Sulley from Pixar’s Monsters, Inc. at Walt Disney Presents (Jan. 18 – ongoing)
  • Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy will open as a new show experience giving the generation of rookie racers an opportunity to learn from Lightning’s years of experience on the track. (spring 2019 – ongoing)

Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park

• Celebrate 25 Years of ‘The Lion King’
  • “Hakuna Matata Time Dance Party” – Party with Timon and Rafiki with music, dancing and games inspired by “The Lion King.” (Jan. 18 – Sept. 30)
  • “The Lion King” three-dimensional photo opportunities re-creating iconic moments from the movie. (Jan. 18 – Sept. 30)

And if you’ve not visited recently, you’ll enjoy two lands that have debuted over the past two years – Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios® and Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom®.

Contact your Magic Maker® today to start planning!

By Magic Maker® Robert Blaszkiewicz

You may have noticed recent news coverage on the increase in ticket prices for Disney Destinations.

It’s one of those annual occasions when news organizations that don’t typically cover theme parks chime in with their take on whether Disney Parks are too expensive for the average family. Much of this coverage, however, fails to tell the whole story on ticket prices, due to the focus on the cost of a single-day ticket.

Looking at ticket prices from this one perspective is misleading, since the majority of families that travel to Walt Disney World® Resort purchase multi-day tickets. A family on a weeklong vacation is not going to buy seven single-day tickets for each person.

It’s no secret that Walt Disney World® Resort would rather have visitors spend multiple days enjoying the parks and resorts. With that in mind, they’ve priced their Magic Your Way tickets to encourage longer stays. The increase from a four-day ticket to a five-day ticket is $15, and each additional day after that is $10 more, up to 10 days. An adult seven-day ticket is less than $60 per day (before taxes).

This brings us to a common question: What is the ideal number of days for a Walt Disney World® Resort vacation?

A full week is a good starting point for a family visiting for the first time. With so much to see in the four parks, you’ll find yourself lucky to make it to half the attractions in a week-long trip. The Magic Kingdom® Park and Epcot® are considered “multiple-day parks,” meaning you will want to spend more than one day in each park to enjoy all the highlights within. A longer trip also allows for a more relaxing pace, rather than a frenetic rush to fit everything into a short timeframe.

What about Park Hopper® and Park Hopper® Plus options?

This is very much a personal choice based on your touring preference. Park Hopper®’s are most beneficial for guests staying on a Monorail loop resort near the Magic Kingdom® Park or a Crescent Lake resort near Epcot®. Because it’s so easy for guests nearby to “hop” over to these parks, the Park Hopper option can be worth the extra expense. And if you’re planning on spending two or more days at the water parks, the Park Hopper-Plus option will more than pay for itself. Park Hopper® Plus also provides a round of golf at Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course, admission to ESPN Wide World of Sports and admission to Walt Disney World® Resort’s mini golf courses before 4 p.m. The number of admissions is equal to the number of days on your ticket.

One last note on increases: you may not be aware that parking fees at Walt Disney World® Resort also increased to $22 per day for standard parking. If you’re weighing staying off-property vs. a Walt Disney World® Resort resort, it’s important to factor this additional expense into your calculations. Resort guests still park for free at all the theme parks.

Our Magic Makers® have the knowledge to help your family pick the tickets and options that are the best value for your vacation needs. And remember, for a very limited time ticket prices inside a Magic Your Way Vacation Package are still at the previous pricing, so contact us today to book your next Walt Disney World® Resort getaway!