As another decade comes to a close, there’s no denying that the 2010s have brought countless changes for Disney Parks and Resorts. We said goodbye to a few beloved attractions to make way for new lands and attractions. We welcomed new characters into the Parks with opportunities to meet and greet them. And we saw new Resort accommodations open in both Florida’s vacation kingdom and in Hawaii.
With so many changes throughout the past decade, one thing has remained constant. Disney Parks and Resorts continues to provide magical experiences to our guests that help create unforgettable family memories each and every day. It’s unmatched in the travel industry, and we’re proud to be a partner in assisting with the magic!
We asked our Magic Makers® what their top moments of the decade have been, and we’re happy to share those with you!
Our Magic Maker’s Top 10 Disney Parks & Resorts Additions of the 2010s!
Disney Paint the Night Parade
Making its debut in 2015 for the 60th Anniversary of Disneyland® Park, many guests referred to the award-winning Disney Paint the Night Parade as a modern reincarnation of the beloved Main Street Electrical Parade. The parade featured an array of Disney characters and more than 1.5 million LED lights that created a river of color flowing down the parade route. While the parade has been dark since Fall of 2018, there’s always hope for it to return in the future.
Disney Skyliner
The Disney Skyliner is the newest addition on our list, just opening on Sep. 29 of 2019! Coined as the “most magical flight on Earth,” Disney Skyliner is an innovative gondola system that connects Epcot® and Disney’s Hollywood Studios® to Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and the brand new Disney’s Riviera Resort. This complimentary transportation option runs daily, but operating hours can vary.
Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawai‘i
Opening in August of 2011, Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa brought the magic of Disney to Hawai‘i. During development, Walt Disney Imagineers worked closely with local artisans and cultural experts to ensure the natural wonders and rich traditions of Hawai‘i was an integral part of this oceanfront resort. Aulani Resort is far more than just another hotel – featuring over 800 accommodation options from hotel rooms to villas, several dining options including 2 restaurants, a spa and fitness center, kids club, and a large aquatics area including a private snorkeling lagoon.
Pandora—The World of Avatar
In May of 2017, Walt Disney World® Resort started transporting guests of Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park to a new land 4.4 light years away! Pandora—The World of Avatar is a 12-acre land inspired by the blockbuster motion picture AVATAR from filmmaker James Cameron. The otherworldly beauty of Pandora—The World of Avatar that amazes by day has a totally different feel at night when the bioluminescent flora throughout the land begins to glow. It also host the park’s most popular attraction, Avatar Flight of Passage.
Toy Story Land
In June of 2018, this “toy-riffic” new land came to life at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®! Across eleven fun-filled acres designed to recreate Andy’s toy-filled backyard from the Disney·Pixar “Toy Story” films, you get a chance to “play big” in the wonderful world where Woody, Buzz, Jessie and all their pals come out to play. In addition to the existing beloved Toy Story Mania!® attraction, two new rides made their debut with the land – Alien Swirling Saucers and Slinky Dog Dash!
Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy
Early in the decade, Disney Cruise Line doubled their existing fleet by adding the Disney Dream (maiden voyage on Jan. 26, 2011) and Disney Fantasy (maiden voyage on Mar. 31, 2012). At 1,115 feet, these two sister ships are longer than the Eiffel Tower is tall and debuted the first water coaster at sea – AquaDuck! But they are the new kids in town for only another year as three more ships are scheduled for completion in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Both ships continue to sail various itineraries out of their home port of Port Canaveral, FL.
Cars Land®
When Cars Land opened in June 2012, Bob Iger, president and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, called it the crown jewel of the Disney California Adventure® Park expansion. Years later, it still holds a special place in the hearts of fans of the Disney•Pixar Cars film franchise. In addition to meeting some of your favorite Cars friends and enjoying some food at a roadside eatery, you can ride one of the lands three attractions – Radiator Springs Racers®, Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters®, or Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree®.
New Fantasyland®
Of all of Magic Kingdom® Park’s lands, New Fantasyland® is the fairest of all! Opening in December of 2012 with some components opening at later dates, this expansion brought new attractions, dining, shopping, character interactions, recreation and more to the park. And years later, some of its locations are still among the park’s most popular – like the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train attraction and the Be Our Guest Restaurant inside Beast’s Castle.
Disney FastPass+ and Disney MaxPass
Disney FASTPASS® Service is a virtual queuing system we’ve all known and loved since the late 90s. But this past decade, that system received a bit of a technological refresh. At Walt Disney World® Resort, Disney FastPass+ allows you to make selections before your vacation even begins so that you know your “must-do” fun is locked in. This service remains complementary and may be changed on the fly using the My Disney Experience mobile app. At Disneyland® Resort, in addition to the orignal Disney FASTPASS® Service, they’ve added a new Disney MaxPass option. For $15 per day per ticket, you can make the process digital allowing you to reserve digital Disney FASTPASS® selections from your mobile devices while in the parks, as well as download, share and save unlimited Disney PhotoPass® photos from your day. Your Magic Maker® has all the details on these services and can provide more details on how to use them to their full potential!
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is the newest land to debut at both the Walt Disney World® and Disneyland® Resorts. This land transports you to a galaxy far, far away where you can live your own Star Wars adventures as you explore the planet of Batuu. In addition to some galactic food, beverage and merchandise options, you’ll find two brand new attractions: Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (opening Jan. 17, 2020, at Disneyland® Park). As one may expect, requests to visit Batuu are high, so the locals are often having to make changes to operational procedures and hours to meet the demand. Our Magic Makers® will have the latest information for you on how you can make the most of your time on the planet.
Happy New Year! Here’s to another decade of Magical Memories!
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