DISNEY NEWS ROUNDUP: Another Round of Spring & Summer Sales Released, Epcot Construction Update, Festival of the Arts Opening, New Club runDisney Announced, Marathon Weekend, New Merchandise, Cruise News & More
Wow! For the second we in a row we were surprised by room, ticket and package sales being released by Disney. We also have an update on construction on Epcot (along with a bunch of photos and video). Speaking of Epcot, the next big Epcot festival kicks off this week. Elsewhere around property, lots of crazy people got up in the middle of the night to participate in the annual Disney World Marathon weekend. Disney also unveiled Club runDisney, which many of the runners from this weekend will no doubt be signing up for. Disney Cruise Line announced the return of Marvel Day at Sea along with a discounted deposit sale. There’s some new Star Wars-themed merchandise to check out, and some Disneyland news as well. All this and more in this week’s news round up.
1 – More Spring & Summer Sales Announced
Early this week, we were surprised to wake up to another round of spring and summer sales for Walt Disney World in 2020. These sales come on the heels of last week’s free dining offer. Now is a great time to book your 2020 Walt Disney World vacation. If you’ve been thinking of a Disney cruise, there is also a 50% deposit offer as well.
Click here for details on the Spring & Summer Sales.
Click here for information on the 2020 free dining promotion for Walt Disney World.
Click here for the 15 exciting things coming to Walt Disney World in 2020.
2 – Construction Updates at Epcot
Last week we shared with you news of recent closures at Epcot. This week we visited the park and got photos of Mickey’s new greeting area and took a ride on the monorail to see all of the construction progress. Check out the links below to see the updates.
Click here to see Mickey and Joy’s new greeting locations.
Click here to see a video of all of the construction progress being made from the monorail.
Click here for everything you need to know about the transformation of Epcot.
3 – The Epcot International Festival of the Arts Opens January 17
Epcot International Festival of the Arts at Walt Disney World Resort will unveil its annual global celebration of visual, culinary and performing arts January 17, and continue for 39 days through February 24, 2020. The event features visiting artists, an array of foodie delights, and opportunities for guests to embrace their own inner artists. We’ll be getting a sneak peek at the offerings of the festival on Monday, January 13. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and check out our Instagram Story for photos and video of what you can expect at the festival!
If you’re a Walt Disney World annual passholder, there are some exclusive offerings just for you during the festival. Disney cast member Jennifer Fickley-Baker shares more below.
The Epcot International Festival of the Arts will return on January 17-February 24, and today we have an exciting update on special offers planned exclusively for Annual Passholders.
This year, you can pick up a complimentary “Artful Mickey” Passholder magnet painted by Will Gay, who will be featured at this year’s festival. Passholders can also purchase exclusive merchandise and enjoy discounts on Disney on Broadway Concert Series Dining Packages. Enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner before attending an evening showcase of iconic Disney on Broadway songs at the America Gardens Theatre. Passholders can save 10% on dining packages!
Also use your annual pass to take the time to enjoy all that the festival has to offer this season, including art seminars and workshops, art performances – from acrobatics to living statues, Figment’s Brush with the Masters Scavenger Hunt, Food Studios that offer twists on delectable bites, including the new Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine and much more!
And don’t forget – three new films will debut at Epcot on the starting day of the festival. Guests can enjoy the “Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along” at the France pavilion; “Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360” at the Canada pavilion and “Awesome Planet” at The Land pavilion.
4 – 2020 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
This weekend, more than 75,000 athletes and spectators arrived to tackle the 2020 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. The event ranks among the nation’s most popular destination races. As one of Central Florida’s largest sporting events, the four-day race weekend offers activities for runners of all ages and levels, including the 5K, 10K, half marathon, full marathon, runDisney Kids Races, and runDisney Health and Fitness Expo. There were 12,100 Florida runners participating in Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend races, including 2,966 from the Central Florida area. There were also 9,740 runners tackling Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge, which celebrated its 15th year. Congratulations to all of the runners who raced in tough (warm and humid) conditions!
2020 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Fun Facts
- 72 countries are represented during race weekend. Top 3 International countries are Brazil at 1,893 runners, Canada with 1186 runners, and the United Kingdom at 603 runners.
- Participants are 60% female and 40% male.
- For 34% of the marathon participants, the 26.2-mile race will be their first-ever marathon.
- 75 “perfect” marathon runners have participated in the marathon race since 1994.
- This year participants running the marathon will run through Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park for the first time in 20 years.
- Two participants, Don Gworek and Tom Torkildsen are “perfect” in all three races: the marathon, Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge, and Dopey Challenge.
- 20,000 pounds of mixed recycling was collected during the 2019 Disney Marathon Weekend.
- 9,256 pounds of clothing was collected during the 2019 Disney Marathon Weekend.
5 – runDisney Unveils Club runDisney
Calling all runDisney fans! If you are looking for exclusive benefits for your runDisney race experience, you’ll be interested in the all-new Club runDisney that was announced this week. Check out all the details at the link below.
Click here to learn more about Club runDisney.
6 – Disney Cruise Line Announces Return of Marvel Day at Sea in 2021
Last year, Chad and I had the time of our lives on our Marvel Day at Sea Disney Cruise on the Disney Magic. It was an amazing experience that turned us into super Marvel fans! From the fantastic special entertainment, to the meet and greets with our favorite heroes, to the special sessions with the creative minds from Marvel Studios, we loved every minute of it. That’s why we’re so excited to hear the news that Marvel Day at Sea is returning in 2021! Catch all the details at the link below.
Click here for details on Marvel Day at Sea, including our full review.
7 – Disneyland Resort Announces Limited-Time Offers for 2020
Disneyland Resort is kicking off the new year with exciting new experiences and special vacation values, and now is an ideal time for families to visit with limited-time ticket and hotel offers available at the resort’s two theme parks and three hotels in Southern California. Guests can book now and save on magical visits to enjoy new shows and attractions, annual festivals and world-class entertainment at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park, along with Disney-themed accommodations at the resort’s on-property hotels.
Special Ticket Offer for Southern California Residents
For a limited time, Southern California residents can visit the Disneyland Resort theme parks for $67 per day with the purchase of a three-day, one-park per day ticket.* Park Hopper options also are available. The tickets are available for purchase Jan. 7 through May 18, 2020. Eligible guests may purchase up to five tickets per person, per day, and prices are the same for adults and children. This special ticket also includes one Magic Morning,** which gives admission to select attractions on select days at Disneyland park one hour before the park opens to the general public. These special tickets may be purchased by clicking here or through a travel agent. Southern California residents may redeem their tickets on any three separate days through May 21, 2020.
Special Ticket Offer for Kids Everywhere
For families visiting from outside of Southern California, there’s a special value for kids. For a limited time, guests can save on Disneyland Resort park tickets for children ages 3 to 9 for $67 per day with the purchase of a three-day, one-park per day ticket.*** Park Hopper options also are available. The tickets are available for purchase Jan. 7 through May 18, 2020. Guests may purchase up to eight tickets per person, per day. This special ticket also includes one Magic Morning,** which gives admission into select attractions on select days at Disneyland park one hour before the park opens to the general public. These special tickets may be purchased by clicking here or through a travel agent. This three-day ticket expires 13 days after first use or on May 21, 2020, whichever occurs first.
Guests may use their park admission to enjoy thrilling and distinctly Disney experiences.
Save Up to 25 Percent on Select Stays at the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort
Disney vacationers who wish to stay and play in the heart of the magic will enjoy special savings with room offers at the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort. Hotel guests can save up to 25 percent off select rooms, Sunday-Thursday nights, based upon availability through April 16, 2020. Guests can save up to 20 percent on standard rooms and 25 percent on premium rooms at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa; up to 20 percent on standard rooms and 25 percent on premium rooms at Disneyland Hotel, and up to 10 percent on standard and premium rooms at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel. These room offers may be reserved for stays now through April 16, 2020, when booked by March 16, 2020.
The Hotels of the Disneyland Resort offer easy, convenient access to both parks, with benefits and magical touches that only a Disneyland hotel can provide. Whether it’s discovering whimsical Disney art at Disneyland Hotel, stepping back in time to the golden days of California beachfronts at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, or appreciating Craftsman-style elegance at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, staying at any of the resort hotels provides the Disney magic from check-in to check-out.
Enchanted experiences available at the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort include character dining, character wake-up calls by request and themed room elements. Hotel guests can make the most of their time with the Extra Magic Hour, with their valid theme park ticket. Extra Magic Hour offers park admission to a designated theme park one hour earlier than the general public and is only available for guests who stay at a Disneyland Resort Hotel.
8 – All-New Star Wars Apparel Collection from Her Universe Now at Disney Parks
Calling all Star Wars fans! There is a new line of Star Wars apparel from Her Universe now at Disney Parks and coming soon to shopDisney.com. Here are more details from Disney cast member Thomas Smith:
Now available at Disney Parks, the newest collection of Star Wars-themed apparel from Her Universe has a variety of items that will make the perfect addition to your park’s wardrobe. The collection features t-shirts, joggers, jackets and more in a striking black and white look that will really make you feel the Force!
“I am a huge Star Wars fan and I love showing off my fandom proudly! When designing this collection, we wanted to create the perfect outfit to wear while living your best life on Batuu” says Ashley Eckstein, voice of Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars and founder of Her Universe. “Whether it’s drinking blue milk, picking out your perfect lightsaber or flying the Millennium Falcon, everyone wants that wearable souvenir and photo that shows the perfect day at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge!”
Inspired by ‘90’s fashion trends and a black and white color palette, this collection is perfectly balanced and gives fans the opportunity to proudly wear their fandom in a fashion-forward way. With bold Star Wars logos, both Rebel and Imperial symbols and the classic phrase “May the Force Be with You,” there is something for everyone with this simple and sleek collection. Several pieces even feature a hidden, inside trim with the reminder to “Choose Your Destiny.”
Her Universe pieces for women and Our Universe pieces for men and unisex are now available across Disney Parks. At Disneyland Resort you can find the collection at the Star Trader and Launch Bay at Disneyland park, Elias & Co. at Disney California Adventure Park and World of Disney at the Downtown Disney District. At Walt Disney World Resort, you can find the collection at Tattoine Traders and Launch Bay at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Bayview Gifts at Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Star Wars: Galactic Outpost, Star Wars: Trading Post and World of Disney at Disney Springs. The collection will also be available on shopDisney starting Jan. 27! Choose Your Destiny in the new Her Universe Collection available now at Disney Parks and on shopDisney soon!
What’s New at Walt Disney World!
It’s a very exciting time growth and development at Walt Disney World. In fact, there are so many new things opening, coming and happening, it’s hard to keep track. Here’s a cheat sheet to help keep things straight and make sure you haven’t missed anything.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – Now Open
Click here for our full review of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
Disney Skyliner – Now Open
Click here for what you need to know about the Disney Skyliner
Epcot Forever – Now Open
Click here to learn more about Epcot Forever.
The Epcot Experience – Now Open
Click here to learn more about the Epcot Experience.
Disney’s Riviera Resort – Now Open
Click here for what you need to know about Disney’s Riviera Resort.
Reimagined Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort – Now Open
Click here for our review and walkthrough with photos and video.
NBA Experience at Disney Springs – Now Open
Click here for our review and what you need to know about this fun new experience.
Coming Soon to Disney World!
Coming in 2020
Click here for the 15 exciting things coming to Walt Disney World in 2020.
Epcot International Festival of the Arts, January 17-February 24, 2020
Click here for the latest on the Epcot International Festival of the Arts.
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway – Opening March 4, 2020
Click here for what we know so far about Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, March 4-June 1, 2020
Epcot Reimagined – Now Through Fall 2021 for Walt Disney World’s 50thAnniversary
Click here for more on our sneak peek at updates coming to the France pavilion in 2020.
Click here for what you need to know about the new Epcot – including details on 20 new experiences!
Drawn to Life – New Cirque du Soleil Show – April 17, 2020
Click here for everything we know about this new show!
Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Celebration – 2021
Click here for our rundown of everything that’s coming for Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary!
Star Wars Hotel – 2021
Disney Cruise Line’s Lighthouse Point – Disney’s 2nd Island in the Caribbean – unknown
Click here for everything we know about Lighthouse Point!
For a no obligation, FREE Quote on a Disney vacation package, please contact our travel partner Magical Vacation Planner at 407-442-0227 (407-442-0215 for Spanish). You can also request a FREE quote online by Clicking HERE.