NEWS ROUNDUP – New Halloween Celebration, Skyliner Reopens, October Food News, New Candlelight Narrators, New Play Disney Parks App Changes, Frozen 2 Sneak Peek & More

This week Disney announced a great new option for celebrating Halloween. D-Lux Burger made a big change this week. Disney also unveiled a bunch of new food items around property along with some other dining related updates in the October edition of Disney Best Bites. Also, after a short break for additional tweaks and testing, the Disney Skyliner reopened last week. The final two narrators were announced for the Candlelight processional and Disney World increased the number of Ultimate Disney Christmas Packages available. Get a sneak peek at Frozen 2 and check out all the new Disney Play App achievement and trading pins. All this and more in this week’s news roundup.

1 – Disney Skyliner Reopens After Malfunction

After being closed following a malfunction on October 5, the Disney Skyliner reopened on Monday, October 14. We enjoyed a family Skyliner ride on Friday and didn’t experience any problems. There were many speculations about what caused the incident. See the link below for Disney’s official statement and response.

Click here for more information about the Disney Skyliner reopening.

2 – Best-Bites October 2019

This week we learned of a new breakfast option at Rose & Crown in the UK Pavilion, new menu items at Flying Fish at Disney’s Boardwalk, and new menu items at Whispering Canyon Café at Disney’s Wilderness Resort. The very popular Hatbox Ghost Tiki Mug also went on sale this week. Get all the details at the link below.

Click here to read the Best-Bites October 2019 at Walt Disney World.

3 – Celebrate Halloween at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon

This week we enjoyed a great fall day at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon. It wasn’t crazy hot, and the crowds were very low! That’s why we are so excited that Disney has announced special activities and character appearances for Halloween day. Catch all the details at the link below.

Learn how to celebrate Halloween at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon!

4 – Two New Narrators Announced for Epcot’s Candlelight Processional

The Candlelight Processional is a very popular holiday favorite at Walt Disney World. Each evening a celebrity narrator tells the Christmas Story and is accompanied by the Walt Disney World Orchestra and a mass choir. This past week the final two narrators have been announced. Warwick Davis and Chita Rivera have been added to the narrator line up for the 2019 Candlelight Processional. Here is the lineup:

• Ming-Na Wen – November 29 through December 1
• Neil Patrick Harris – December 2 through December 5
• Whoopi Goldberg – December 6 and 7
• Isabella Rossellini – December 8 through 10
• Chita Rivera – December 11 through 12
• Gary Sinise – December 13 through 15
• Pat Sajak – December 16 through 18
• Warwick Davis – December 19 through 21
• Steven Curtis Chapman – December 22 through 24
• Edward James Olmos – December 25 and 26
• Marlee Matlin – December 27 and 28
• Lisa Ling – December 29 and 30

 5 – Chicken Breasts Now Available at D-Lux Burger in Disney Springs

If the offerings at D-Lux Burger sound great but you don’t eat red meat or you’re in the mood something different, we have good news.  You can now swap out any burger for a grilled or fried chicken breast! Simply ask a cast member when placing your order.

6 – More Ultimate Disney Christmas Packages Available at Walt Disney World

Speaking of the holidays. Disney has increased the number of 2019 Ultimate Disney Christmas Packages! Disney cast member Jeremy Schoolfield has all the details below.

Good news! Due to overwhelming popularity, we’ve increased the number of 2019 Ultimate Disney Christmas Packages available and extended the booking window for this special offer. The package is a great way to experience all the holiday fun of a Walt Disney World Resort vacation, with an itinerary full of Yuletide offerings – including a five-night stay at a select Disney resort hotel from Dec. 21-26, 2019. Also included are four-day theme park tickets with the Park Hopper Option, plus exclusive holiday experiences just for guests taking advantage of this magical offer. Details include:

Saturday, December 21: Exclusive nighttime access to experience Avatar Flight of Passage, Na’vi River Journey and Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Plus, catch an exclusive showing of the park’s new “Rivers of Light: We Are One” show on Discovery River.

Sunday, December 22: Tickets to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, where you can see the brand-new “Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks” nighttime spectacular.

Monday, December 23, or Tuesday, December 24 (one night per reservation): Access to an exclusive reserved viewing area to watch “Epcot Forever,” the new nighttime spectacular at Epcot. Plus, each guest (ages 3 and older) receives a digital $50 Epcot Theme Park Dine Promo Card to use at participating locations in the park.

Wednesday, December 25: An Ultimate Disney Christmas gift delivered to your resort hotel room!

The holiday season is a special time at The Most Magical Place on Earth, from snow dancing above your head along Main Street, USA at Magic Kingdom Park to sumptuous smells wafting out of Holiday Kitchens in Epcot, or new festive décor at Disney’s Animal Kingdom to high-tech projection shows at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. These are just a few of the holiday happenings taking place across all four theme parks, just waiting for you to discover.

The Ultimate Disney Christmas Package now can be booked through November 23.

For more details and help booking your vacation, call our travel partners Magical Vacation Planners at (407) 442-0227. You can also get a no obligation, FREE vacation quote by clicking here.  Their services are free to you and they can answer any questions you may have.

7 – Get at Special Look at Frozen 2 at Disney Parks

We’re just about a month away from the premiere of Frozen 2! Guests will soon be able to get a sneak peek of the film. Disney cast member Shawn Slater:

When it premiered six years ago, “Frozen” became an instant classic, as audiences embraced the music-filled tale of two sisters. Next month, their story continues with the debut of Disney’s epic new adventure, “Frozen 2.” Here’s a special message from two of the stars of the film, Kristen Bell and Josh Gad.

For a limited time this fall, guests visiting Disney Parks and sailing with Disney Cruise Line will get an early glimpse of scenes from “Frozen 2.” Beginning November 3, a special look at moments from the film will be presented in the Hyperion Theater at Disney California Adventure park, for guests gathered to experience the “Frozen – Live at the Hyperion” stage spectacular.

Sneak Peeks of the film will also be shown in the Studio Theater at Walt Disney Studios park in Disneyland Paris starting November 4, as part of the Walt Disney Presents attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios beginning on November 5, and onboard Disney Cruise Line during the month of November.

In Disney’s new adventure, “Frozen 2,” Elsa sets out together with Anna, Kristoff, Olaf, and Sven, on a dangerous but remarkable journey to discover why she was born with magical powers. The answer is calling her and threatening her kingdom. Elsa once feared her powers were too much for the world. Now, she must hope they are enough.

Disney’s “Frozen 2” arrives in US theaters on November 22, 2019

8 – New Play Disney Parks App Achievements and Trading Pins

The Play Disney Parks mobile app is a fun way to pass the time in queues and explore Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. This week Disney released new achievements and trading pins! Disney cast member Michael Ramirez shares all the details below.

Fans of the Play Disney Parks mobile app love to earn and collect uniquely themed digital achievements after enjoying select attractions throughout Walt Disney World Resort. Today, we are excited to share that many new digital achievements have been added to the Play Disney Parks app! Here’s the lineup of newly added attractions and experiences where you can start earning achievements today.

At Walt Disney World Resort:

Magic Kingdom Park

• Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress
• Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid

Epcot

• Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros
• Soarin’ Around the World
• Living with the Land
• Mission: SPACE
• Journey into Imagination with Figment
• Frozen Ever After
• Test Track Presented by Chevrolet®
• The Seas with Nemo & Friends
• Spaceship Earth

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• Fantasmic!
• Voyage of The Little Mermaid
• Alien Swirling Saucers
• Slinky Dog Dash

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

• Avatar Flight of Passage
• Na’vi River Journey
• Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
• Kali River Rapids
• DINOSAUR
• Festival of the Lion King
• Kilimanjaro Safaris

Additionally, guests who earn the digital achievements on the Play Disney Parks app at the following attractions will be able to purchase new commemorative trading pins, found at select locations, while supplies last.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park at Walt Disney World Resort

• Enjoy the Festival of the Lion King show and earn a digital achievement in order to purchase the Pride of the Pride Lands trading pin, which can be found at Discovery Trading Company, Mariya’s Souvenirs and the Africa Hub Cart.
• Earn a digital achievement after journeying through Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain in order to purchase the Everest Mountaineer pin at Discovery Trading Company and Serka Zong Bazaar.

To earn digital achievements in the Play Disney Parks app, guests simply need to be logged in, opted into Bluetooth and Location Services, and ride or watch the attractions or shows, as applicable, featuring these achievements. Once the qualifying achievement has been earned and unlocked in the app, guests can then show the digital achievement screen to a cast member to purchase the applicable commemorative pin at participating locations.

The Play Disney Parks mobile app is free to download in the Apple or Google Play App stores. The Play Disney Parks app allows guests of all ages to immerse themselves in the stories of Disney Parks with in-queue games at select attractions, interactive land-wide experiences, Disney trivia, official Disney Parks playlists through Apple Music®, and more!

9 – Newsweek Ranks Disney Cruise Line #1 Brand for Customer Service

Today, Newsweek announced that Disney Cruise Line topped its list of brands that exemplify America’s best customer service for the second year in a row. Customers ranked Disney Cruise Line as the no. 1 company overall, across a variety of industries, as well as in the cruise line operator category.

“Great service is at the heart of everything we do,” said Jeff Vahle, president of Disney Cruise Line. “If you have sailed with us, you know that our Crew Members pay close attention to the details. They take the time to understand your preferences and go out of their way to turn ordinary encounters into magical moments. It’s what we are known for at Disney, and we couldn’t be prouder of this recognition from Newsweek.”

Newsweek and Statista identified America’s Best Customer Service brands based on an independent survey of more than 20,000 US customers who have either made purchases, used services, or gathered information about products or services in the past three years. Customers were asked whether they would recommend brands to friends or family and to assess brands in the following areas: quality of communications, professional competence, range of services, customer focus and accessibility.

10 – New Pandora Charms Available on Disney Cruise Line

Pandora Charms are a great way to commemorate a Disney vacation. Now you can collect exclusive Pandora charms on your next Disney cruise. Disney cast member Melanie Curtsinger has all the details.

Yet again, Pandora and Disney Cruise Line have partnered to offer you another unique way to commemorate your Disney cruise vacation! Over the summer, Pandora released four new charms exclusively for Disney Cruise Line guests.

Each sterling silver dangle charm is adorned with an elegant, colored enamel logo representing one of the four Disney ships. This is the first time Pandora has released designs specifically to our individual ships.

The charms are only available on the corresponding ship, which means you’ll need to sail across the fleet to collect all four. Happy cruising!

11 – New Wishables Now on Disney Cruise Line

Wishables is another line of collectible items also on the Disney Cruise Line. You can now get the new Disney Parks Wishables on your next cruise. Disney cast member Thomas Smith shares more below.

If you’ve been following along for updates on our favorite huggable Disney Parks pals, the #DisneyParksWishables collection, then get ready to set sail with us because the Disney Cruise Line collection is available now on all four of our ships!

That’s right, available exclusively on the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, and Disney Fantasy, the newest Disney Parks Wishables collection features Captain Mickey, Captain Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto and Goofy in their finest nautical get-ups. Both Captain Mickey and Captain Minnie are available as open edition options and the rest of the gang can be found in the blind bags — so it’s a surprise when you open it up!

Disney Cruise Line vacations can take you to a wide variety of destinations — from Disney’s private island paradise, Castaway Cay, to Europe, Alaska, and more! Now you can make your next Disney cruise even more exciting by collecting these Wishables and taking them with you for all of your vacation fun. Whether you’re laying out by the pool, enjoying a Broadway-style show, or hanging out with your favorite Disney characters on the ship, these new Wishables are the perfect souvenir to bring along with you!

Pick up the newest Disney Cruise Line Wishables collection during your next Disney Cruise Line vacation, and don’t forget to share your open-ocean adventures on social using #DisneyParksWishables.

12 – Glow in the Dark Graveyard Ear Headbands Now Available at Disney Parks

Disney ear headbands are extremely popular, and now you can add another fun headband to your collection. Disney cast member Michael Ramirez has all the details below.

Your favorite Grim Grinning Ghosts have come to socialize at Disney Parks! Right now, you can find a glow-in-the-dark headband inspired by the Haunted Mansion attraction.

The Singing Busts from the attraction are front and center while silhouettes of The Hitchhiking Ghosts and Gravedigger adorn the headband’s purple ears. And that’s not all! The headband includes a glow-in-the-dark “Grim Grinning Ghosts” embroidered on the side.

Hurry back to Disney Parks and add this haunting headband to your collection this fall season available while supplies last.