Disney News

While guests are enjoying the final days of Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival, Cast Members at the Walt Disney World® Resort are busy finalizing plans for the 21st Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival!

Next years festival, which runs Mar. 5-May 18, 2014, will welcome several new topiaries to the mix. Be on the lookout for Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy character topiaries in a new World Showcase display and a new Timon topiary who will join his buddy Pumbaa in the Outpost. This year’s front entrance display will feature Goofy, Donald and Daisy Duck on a butterfly hunt adventure.

After a popular debut in 2013, Garden Marketplaces will return in 2014. These Garden Marketplaces mix garden- and backyard-living-inspired food and beverage items into the annual Epcot® festival of blossoms. While many of last year’s favorite dishes will return for 2014, several new options like a Piggylicious Bacon Cupcakes and a Barbecued Chicken Leg will make their way to the menus.

Complete details of the festival have not been released, but you can expect the return of other features like the seminars hosted by HGTV design celebrities, interactive playgrounds for the kids, Tinker Bell’s Butterfly House, and the Flower Power Concert Series.

If you’d like to experience the 21st Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival for yourself, now’s the time to plan! Contact your Magic Maker® today for more details and find out how you can save up to 35% off your Resort stay during the festival!

Club Cool inside Innoventions® at Epcot® has introduced some new flavors to their lineup.

For those not familiar with the attraction, Club Cool is hosted by Coca-Cola® and features an International Tasting Station. Eight different international Coca-Cola® soft drink products are available for guests to try a complimentary sample of.

Most of the previous lineup of sodas has been replaced. However, fans of Beverly have no reason to worry –  the popular drink from Italy along with VegitaBeta from Japan will remain options to guests.

New flavors include:

• Fanta (Pineapple) – Greece
• Fanta (Melon Frosty) – Thailand
• Bibo – Fruit-flavored juice drink from South Africa
• Sparberry – Raspberry cream-flavored soda from Zimbabwe
• Guarana Kuat – Guarana berry flavored soft drink from Brazil
• Inca Kola – Peruvian favorite known as “The Taste of Peru” tastes like liquid bubblegum

Be sure to swing by Club Cool on your next visit to Epcot® to try out these new flavors!

As the days keep crossing off the calendar, we continue to inch closer and closer to the favorite season of many at Walt Disney World® Resort, Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year!

As Walt Disney World® Resort readies to ‘deck the halls’, anticipation is building for the wide array of yuletide festivities that will be offered at the most magical place on Earth! From sparkling lights and breathtaking displays to special seasonal parades and captivating fireworks, Walt Disney World® Resort is preparing to fill you with an extra dose of holiday cheer!

On select nights beginning November 8^th, through December 20^th, Magic Kingdom® Park hosts a magical Christmastime celebration, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is an exclusive ticketed event where you will be able to catch Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmas Parade, Holiday Wishes: Celebrate the Spirit of the Season fireworks show, Celebrate the Season Show, Totally Tomorrowland Christmas and other magical Christmas offerings including complimentary cookies and hot cocoa and a magical snowfall on Main Street, U.S.A.® Area.

Magic Kingdom® Park isn’t the only park to celebrate the season. Disney’s Hollywood Studios® also comes to life with a brilliant display of glittering lights that are all perfectly synchronized to Christmas music. From November 8^th to January 5^th, Streets of America ‘light up’ with The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. You can even become a part of the show by purchasing ear hats that glow in sync with The Osborn Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights as you glow with the show!

From November 9^th to January 2^nd, Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park becomes home to Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade, a spirited safari themed parade filled with some of your favorite Disney Characters!

Epcot® hosts Holidays Around the World from November 29^th to December 30^th. Throughout World Showcase you can experience Christmastime traditions from around the globe in An International Yuletide Extravaganza! In Futureworld, “Joyful! A Gospel Celebration of the Season” takes the stage in an uplifting holiday concert! Of course we’d be amiss if we didn’t mention Candlelight Processional, where you will experience the story of Christmas with a celebrity narrator, 50-piece orchestra and a mass choir. Finally, you can cap off the night with a special holiday presentation of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.

Throughout various Walt Disney World® Resort hotels you can see the ‘sweet’ creations that are at various resorts. For instance, Disney’s Boardwalk Resort is home to a scene made entirely out of gingerbread and chocolate! You can even visit Stitch’s Bakery Store Front as Cast Members create gingerbread houses right in front of your eyes!

Even Jungle Cruise® Attraction is getting into the Christmas spirit as it goes “Jingle Cruise” for the Holidays at Disneland® and Walt Disney World® Resorts. In the new seasonal storyline, you’ll see that the Skippers have become homesick for the holidays, and have taken matters into their own hands! It is an attraction you won’t want to miss this Christmas season!

These are just SOME of the many amazing things that await you on a trip to Walt Disney World® Resort during the holiday seasons. Contact your Magic Maker® today to start planning all of the magic for the most wonderful time of the year!

A new year-round perk at the Walt Disney World® Resort is now available for Disney Visa® Cardmembers.

Cardmembers using their Disney Visa® or Disney Rewards® Redemption Card for payment can request a 10% discount from their server at select Walt Disney World® restaurants. This is a great opportunity for Cardmembers to save while exploring the wide variety of dining options available.

Participating locations include:

• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
  • Jiko*
  • Sanaa
• Disney’s BoardWalk
  • ESPN Club
  • Flying Fish Cafe*
  • Kouzzina by Cat Cora®
• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
  • Shutters at Old Port Royale
• Disney’s Contemporary Resort
  • The Wave… of American Flavors
• Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
  • Trail’s End Restaurant
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
  • Citricos*
  • Grand Floridian Cafe
• Disney’s Old Key West Resort
  • Olivia’s Cafe
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
  • Boatwright’s Dining Hall
• Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
  • Turf Club
• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
  • Artist Point*
  • Whispering Canyon Cafe
• Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
  • Captain’s Grill
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios®
  • The Hollywood Brown Derby*
  • Hollywood & Vine*
• Epcot®
  • Biergarten Restaurant*

Offer excludes alcoholic beverages, merchandise, tobacco, room service, holiday buffets, tax and gratuity. Must use your valid Disney Visa® Card and/or Disney Rewards® Redemption Card at time of purchase. Subject to restaurant operating hours and closures. Restaurant seating is subject to availability. Please refer to your Disney Visa® Cardmember information for more details.
* = This discount is not available on the following dates: 2013 – 11/28, 12/24, 12/25, 12/31  2014 –  1/1, 2/14, 3/20, 5/11 and 7/4. 

The holidays are right around the corner at the Walt Disney World® Resort! From elaborate decorations to the larger-than-life gingerbread creations, the entire resort area is festive from top to bottom. We can guarantee that you’ve never seen anything quite like the Walt Disney World® Resort during the holidays.

In addition to the decorations, there are so many other things to see and do this holiday season. You won’t want to miss:

• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party – This special-ticketed event inside Magic Kingdom® Park is sure to put you in the Christmas spirit. Entertainment highlights of the party include seasonal stage shows, a special Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade, and a fireworks spectacular called Holiday Wishes: Celebrate the Spirit of the Season. The party is a popular event, so buy your tickets in advance to ensure availability and receive a discount. Click here for more details.
• Jingle Cruise – Debuting in 2013 is the holiday overlay of the Jungle Cruise® attraction in Magic Kingdom® Park. With new jokes and updated scripts available only during the holiday season, the Jingle Cruise is sure to be a hit! Click here for more details.
• Epcot® Candlelight Processional – The Candlelight Processional – a joyous retelling of the Christmas story performed by a celebrity narrator, a 50-piece orchestra, and a mass choir – is one of the most beloved holiday traditions at the Walt Disney World® Resort. The processional starts Nov. 29 and runs through Dec. 30, 2013. Because of the popularity of the show, we suggest purchasing the Candlelight Processional Dinner Package to receive guaranteed admission to the show and to a preferred viewing location for IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. Click here for more details and a listing of celebrity narrators.
• Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights – Imagine millions of glimmering lights synchronized to some of your favorite holiday music. Imagine no more and enjoy the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®. From Nov. 8, 2013 – Jan. 5, 2014, this stunning display that was once at an Arkansas residence now lights up the entire Streets of America area of the park. New this year, the “Glow with the Show” ears will interact with this display.

There’s this and so much more to explore this holiday at the Walt Disney World® Resort. And for just a few more days (through 11/3), you can save up to 30% on rooms at select Walt Disney World® hotels for stays most nights 11/10 – 11/22 and 11/30 – 12/23, 2013. For more details on this excellent promotion, click here or contact your Magic Maker®!

Early next month, the Jungle Cruise® attraction at Walt Disney World® and Disneyland® Resorts will receive their first-ever overlay making it the “Jingle Cruise” just in time for the holiday season!

Similar to the holiday overlays Disneyland® Park guests enjoy on Haunted Mansion®, Space Mountain® and it’s a small world®, the “Jingle Cruise” overlay will bring holiday decorations, music, and even new jokes to the attraction. The Jungle Cruise® attractions in Magic Kingdom® and Disneyland® Parks will both receive the overlay. While a start date hasn’t been announced for the “Jingle Cruise” in Florida, the California version is set to begin on Nov. 12, 2013. All work is scheduled to be performed on the attraction after park hours, so the attraction should be operational while changes are being made.

It’s not too late to experience this and everything else your favorite Disney Destination has in store this holiday season. Contact your Magic Maker® today!

Even though Magic Kingdom® Park opened its gates on Oct. 1, 1971, the official dedication ceremony wasn’t held until weeks later on Oct. 25. As one would expect, the ceremony was quite the event. While the entire hour and a half ceremony was truly something to remember, one of the day’s highlights was the Grand Opening Parade!

Take a step back in time with Forrest Bahruth, Show Director for Walt Disney World® Resort, as he gives us details on that amazing day 42 years ago today.

This week Walt Disney World® Resort celebrated the grand opening of their 12^th resort in the Disney Vacation Club Family. As a neighbor to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa bring the same lush accommodations, Victorian elegance and amazing location Disney guests have come to adore.

Sharing the same monorail loop as another Disney jewel, Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is an exciting new addition to both the Disney Vacation Club and Disney’s Deluxe monorail resorts.

From Deluxe Studios that sleep five guests, to 2 Bedroom Villas that sleep up to nine guests, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa’s lavishly appointed accommodations are full of charm and elegance, evoking Palm Beach’s golden era.

Not just a resort to lay your head down at night, as a guest at The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa you are right at Senses – A Disney Spa at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.  You can both relax and rejuvenate yourself in this full service spa and health club with the same beautifully appointed Victorian-themed elegance that you will experience throughout The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

Now is the best time to experience the newness of The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and all that a Walt Disney World® Resort vacation has to offer. Contact your Magic Maker® today to experience the magic of a Disney vacation!

When Prince Eric’s Village Market opened last month inside the New Fantasyland® area of Magic Kingdom® Park, it made available a wide selection of healthier snacks and juices. Located across from Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid attraction, the market makes obtaining “better for you” choices even more convenient – and many are included as snacks on the Disney Dining Plans!

Selections available at Prince Eric’s Village Market include:

• Simply Orange®, Minute Maid®, Honest Ade® and Odwalla® Juices
• Frozen Lemonades and Shaved Ice
• Fresh Fruits & Vegetables
• Hummus & Chips
• Dried Fruit and Trail Mixes

Fantasyland® isn’t the only area in Magic Kingdom® Park to offer healthy options, though. From the baked sweet potatoes available at Liberty Square Market to the fruit smoothies at Auntie Gravity’s, finding a nutritious snack will be easier than you think!

New magical makeovers are now available for our young guests sailing on the Disney Dream®! These mini-makeover packages are similar to but not as extensive as those found at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or The Pirates League at Disney Parks or aboard the Disney Fantasy®.

There are two different experiences – a Glitter & Go that has a Princess theme and Skulls & Scurry which is Pirates themed.

Glitter & Go

• Glitter & Go Package ($14.95) – Sparkle like a Princess with the perfect amount of glimmer and glitz. Package includes:
  • Light Makeup
  • Shimmering Lip Gloss
  • Face Gem
  • Hair Twist with Mickey Hair Clip

Skulls & Scurry

• Basic Skulls & Scurry ($14.95) – Package includes:
  • Eye Patch
  • Earring
  • Scar
  • Bandana
• Empress Skulls & Scurry ($14.95) – Package includes:
  • Shimmering Makeup
  • Eye Patch
  • Earring
  • Bandana
• Deluxe Skulls & Scurry ($34.95) – Package includes:
  • Smokey eyes
  • Beard
  • Eye Patch
  • Earring
  • Sword
  • Bandana
• Deluxe Mermaid ($34.95) – Package Includes:
  • Luminous Eye Makeup
  • Eye Patch
  • Earring
  • Bandana
  • Color changing necklace

These magical makeovers are only available for limited times during select days of your sailing and appointments are not accepted, so be sure to check your Personal Navigator for more details. To participate, guests must be at least 3 years old. The Glitter & Go experience is limited to guests ages 3-12. For additional information, please contact your Magic Maker®.

Children must be accompanied by an adult at least 18 years of age or older during the experience. Subject to restrictions. All pricing, package components and accessories are subject to change without notice.