Disney News

Disney Cruise Line® has announced new Port Adventures for guests sailing on the 8-night Bahamian sailings out of New York City aboard the Disney Magic®. These optional Port Adventures will help guests make the most of their day at the Walt Disney World® Resort – VIP style.

The “Best of Walt Disney World® Resort for Young Families, a VIP Tour” package was created with the little ones in mind. Some of the highlights of this adventure include:

• A Walt Disney World® VIP Tour Guide that will show you around the park while exploring some of the most beloved attractions, including The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan’s Flight®, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin®, “it’s a small world”®, Mickey’s PhilharMagic® and The Magic Carpets of Aladdin. Your Guide will help you maximize your time by using FASTPASS® entrances at available attractions.
• A quick-service lunch and beverage (included in your tour.)
• Transfers in a private van to Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ theme park, where your family fun continues. Watch the Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun! parade from the comfort of a specially reserved VIP viewing area, experience Disney Junior – Live on Stage! and ride the popular Toy Story Mania!™ attraction!
• The remainder of the day can be used to “hop” to any theme park and explore on your own.

The “Thrills of Walt Disney World® Resort, a VIP Tour” package is for the families with thrill seekers! Some of the highlights of this adventure include:

• A Walt Disney World® VIP Tour Guide that will show you around the parks while exploring some of the most thrilling and chilling attractions, like The Haunted Mansion®, Splash Mountain®, Space Mountain® and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad®. Your Guide will help you maximize your time by using FASTPASS® entrances at available attractions.
• Transfers in a private van to Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ theme park. There you will take a ride popular attractions like Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster® Starring Aerosmith, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ and Toy Story Mania!™!
• A quick-service lunch and beverage (included with your tour.)
• A trip to Disney’s Animal Kingdom® theme park with visits to Expedition Everest® and Dinosaur!
• The remainder of the day can be used to “hop” to any theme park and explore on your own.

If you would like to take advantage of these VIP Port Adventures, contact your Magic Maker® while availability still exists!

Certain restrictions may apply. Port Adventures are subject to availability.

This April, one of Epcot’s® most popular attractions, Test Track®, will close for refurbishment. When it reopens in Fall of 2012, it will present guests with a whole new experience!

The re-imagining of the attraction will change the queue area into a new “Chevrolet Design Center” allowing guests to become automotive designers. After creating their own custom concept vehicle, guests buckle in to one of the 6-person Test Track® “SimCars” and try out their customized vehicle on the Test Track® circuit. After experiencing the hills, switchbacks and straight-aways of the circuit, guests will receive scores in the post-show area grading the performance of their concept vehicles.

Exact closure dates have not been announced. As of now, the Future World attraction is scheduled to be closed April – September 2012.

Star Wars™ Weekends will return the Walt Disney World® Resort May 18 – June 10, 2012. Taking place at Disney’s Hollywood Studios™, the event celebrates the popular Star Wars™ films and the animated TV series Star Wars™: The Clone Wars.

In addition to the Star Wars™ experiences Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ host year round – Stars Tours The Adventure Continue and the Jedi Training Academy – several additional activities are available for guest during the event:

• Meet-and-Greet opportunities with many Star Wars™ characters
• Autograph sessions with Star Wars™ actors and creative talent
• Star Wars™ parades and motorcades
• Hyperspace Hoopla – a party that ends the day with music, comedy and dancing
• One-of-a-kind Star Wars™ memorabilia

The event runs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May 18-June 10, 2012 and requires regular theme park admission. We will bring you additional information about Star Wars™ Weekend as it is released.

A fun new show will be taking over the stage at the Hollywood Pictures Backlot in the Disney California Adventure® Park. ElecTRONica will have its last show this spring to make room for the Mad T Party.

The Mad T Party, based on Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland” will feature many familiar characters with a few surprises! The new nighttime family celebration will have a live band, games, dancing, and some very unique entertainment.

The psychedelic event will start Summer 2012. We will bring you more details as they become available.

*Images are Walt Disney Imagineering Concept Art, actual construction and show design may vary