DISNEY NEWS ROUNDUP – Paid FastPass Coming to US Parks; Multiple Restaurant & Buffet Reopenings Announced; New Details on Upcoming MK Fireworks Show Released; Face Covering Update; Remy News; Very Merriest Tickets On Sale & More
In the six years since the launch of DisneyLists.com, we’ve seen a lot of unpopular announcements from Disney that got the Disney World fan community and our readers pretty upset. Even the smallest changes usually have people lighting torches and grabbing pitchforks. However, not even one of those announcements in the past even came close to the unbelievable, and nearly universal, negative reaction to the decision to charge guests for access to FastPass. Different, but closely related, was the unveiling of a suite of new planning tools and services within the My Disney Experience app, Disney Genie and Disney Genie+.
Disney moved to flood the zone with good news the rest of the week with tons of dining-related news include the reopening of a bunch of restaurants, the return of buffets, and some new dining experiences. Tickets went on sale for the Christmas After Hours event as well as the new Cirque du Soleil show. Disney revealed new details on the new Magic Kingdom fireworks show, announced the slight loosening of their face covering policy, and provided details on how queuing will work for the new Remy ride. All this and more are below in this week’s news roundup.
1 – Disney Retires FastPass – Announces Lightning Lane (Paid Fastpass) – Reveals Details on Disney Genie
This week, the big news that drew a very strong (and basically unified) response from Disney fans was the announcement of a new service, Disney Genie. In addition, Disney confirmed the retirement of FastPass+, and the news that guests would now have to pay to skip the line was the focus of most of the ire since those services were once a free benefit for all Disney World guests. Check out the news announcement at the link below. We’ve also been working hard to get all the information we can on Disney Genie, and we’ve compiled your top sixteen questions and have answered them so you, too, can learn what to expect. Learn more at the link below.
Click here for the news announcement about Disney Genie.
2 – Disney World Announces Reopenings of Multiple Buffets, Breakfast Service Offerings, Festival Marketplaces, and More!
We’re happy to report that even more restaurants are reopening soon at Walt Disney World. This week Boma reopened with its traditional buffet service. More buffets are returning soon as well. In addition, more restaurants will be offering breakfast service, and seven Global Marketplaces opened early to guests at the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival. Learn more at the link below.
3 – Disney Shares More Information on the New Magic Kingdom Fireworks Show ‘Disney Enchantment’
A new fireworks show is in the works for the 50th-anniversary celebration. Disney has released new details on the story of the show and what we can expect to see. Learn more at the link below.
4 – New Dining Experiences Coming to Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Earlier this summer, The Wave… of American Flavors closed for refurbishment. Disney has announced that a new restaurant is coming to the space. They’ve also noted a new dining experience is coming to California Grill. Learn more at the link below.
Click here to learn more about new dining experiences coming to Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
5 – Disney’s Very Merriest After Hours Tickets On Sale
Tickets are now on sale for “Disney Very Merriest After Hours,” a new specially ticketed event that begins November 8 and continues on select nights through the holiday season. The four-hour experience features the entire “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade,” “Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks,” Disney characters throughout the park, holiday music, and décor, treats included, and much more. Given the popularity of Disney After Hours Boo Bash, we expect most dates for Disney’s Very Merriest After Hours will eventually sell out even though sales are off to a slow start (no dates have sold out at the time this article was published). Learn more about the event below.
Click here to learn about Disney Very Merriest After Hours Event.
6 – Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Will Open with Virtual Queue, No Standby
This week we learned that Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure will not open with a traditional stand-by line. Instead, guests wanting to enjoy the attraction will need to join the Virtual Queue at 7:00 am via the My Disney Experience App. Once Lightning Lane is launched if guests are unable to secure a place in the virtual queue, purchasing the Lightning Lane entrance may be an additional option to experience the attraction, subject to limited availability.
7 – Face Covering Policy Updated at Walt Disney World
Since July 30, 2021, guests have been required to wear face coverings at all indoor locations and all attractions at Walt Disney World, even if those attractions were outdoors. This week, Disney updated its policy to clarified and updated the policy to remove the requirement from outdoor queues and attractions. Read the latest policy below:
Face coverings are required for all Guests (ages 2 and up) in all indoor locations, regardless of vaccination status. This includes upon entering and throughout all indoor attractions and indoor queues and in Disney buses, monorail, and Disney Skyliner, regardless of vaccination status. Face coverings are optional for guests in outdoor areas.
8 – Cirque du Soleil Tickets Now On Sale
After more than a year of waiting, Disney has announced that Drawn to Life is scheduled to open on November 18. The highly anticipated, new family-friendly show coming to Disney Springs is a collaboration between Cirque du Soleil, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Walt Disney Imagineering and will take residency at Disney Springs. Tickets are now on sale. Visit the link below to learn more about the show and to purchase tickets.
Click here to learn about Drawn to Life and to purchase tickets for the show.
9 – Disney Wish
Disney Cruise Line is taking classic storytelling into an all-new realm of immersive family fun aboard the Disney Wish with the debut of Disney Uncharted Adventure. This first-of-its-kind interactive experience will lead guests on a journey from bow to stern and beyond the stars. Learn more at the link below.
10 – NBA Experience Permanently Closed
To the shock and astonishment of absolutely no one, this week we learned that the NBA Experience at Disney Springs, which has been closed since March 2020 because of the pandemic, will remain closed and not reopen. The NBA Experience opened to guests in 2019. It was a one-of-a-kind environment in collaboration with the NBA, where guests entered the world of professional basketball. The high-energy, family-friendly venue was packed with 13 different basketball-related activities across 44,000 square feet and two floors. During its short seven-month run, it struggled to get guests in the door.
Disney has said that an announcement about the future of the location will be released at a further date.
11 – First-Ever Disney Princess Week Kicks Off This Week
Disney has announced the first-ever World Princess week, and it kicks off this coming week. Disney Cast Member Becca Goldenberg has the details below.
Hopefully you’ve heard by now that Disney’s Ultimate Princess Celebration is underway. Well, I am thrilled to announce that—as part of the exciting festivities—next week we will kick off the first-ever World Princess Week! “What does that mean” you ask? Well, it means that we’re going to be sharing the latest on all new products, digital content, unique offerings from our parks and resorts, and more surprises! Here’s a roundup of how you can join in on the celebration next week:
Walt Disney World Resort
Starting Aug. 23, there will be a new Tiana-themed playground available during the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival! This playground is an awesome offering guests can enjoy during the kick-off of Walt Disney World Resort’s 50th anniversary celebration, “The World’s Most Magical Celebration, which begins Oct. 1. There will also be some sumptuous themed food and beverage offerings across Walt Disney World Resort, inspired by the 14 Disney princesses and “Frozen” queens all week long (check them all out here). On Aug. 26, plan a visit to Disney Springs Marketplace with your own little princesses, who will be invited to take part in a Princess Promenade at the AdventHealth Waterside Stage. Taking place from 2-6 p.m. for one day only, costumes are encouraged, and guests will enjoy a princess-themed entertainment performance.
When you’re walking around Disney Springs, be sure to check out the latest Princess-inspired merchandise and snap a pic in front of the three art expression walls, themed to the “Tales of Courage and Kindness” storybook collection. Lastly, Movies Under the Stars at Walt Disney World Resorts will feature a line-up of Disney Princess movies, so you can get lost in your favorite fairy tales with some of your favorites you know and love.
Disneyland Resort
Over at Disneyland Resort, Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures will return to Napa Rose at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa on Aug. 26 … and reservations are now available! This magical experience is for princes and princesses of all ages, and I for one am THRILLED that it’s coming back … and not just because I’ve missed those chocolate princess cake pops so much.
Also, if you haven’t checked out the new state-of-the art audio and visual technology inside the updated Snow White’s Enchanted Wish, this is the perfect time to do it! This newly enhanced experience at Disneyland park tells the story of Snow White in a new way, and the attraction remains the only ride-through Princess attraction at Disneyland park. While you’re there, stop to wave hello to Queens Anna and Elsa as they ride on a float along Main Street, U.S.A., and on to “it’s a small world.” Enjoy the music from “Frozen” as they march on by!
At Downtown Disney District, stop by California Sole to get your Disney Princess Havaianas before you treat yourself to a Raspberry Cream Macaron at Kayla’s Cake, the perfect sweet for any prince or princess. Also at Downtown Disney District, stop by The LEGO Store and check out the new Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, and Tiana’s Story Book Adventure, a LEGO set with a Princess Storybook. While you’re at Downtown Disney District, be sure to check out the photo opp at Downtown Disney District featuring Moana artwork from the “Tales of Courage and Kindness” storybook collection.
runDisney
The Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend races go on sale on Aug. 24. Taking place during the magic of the Walt Disney World Resort 50th Anniversary celebration, the weekend features events for all skill levels, coveted regal medals and Disney entertainment. Be inspired by some of your favorite Disney heroes to reach new heights of courage and kindness that propel you triumphantly to the finish line that ends with happily ever after!
New Courage and Kindness Products and Digital Offerings
In keeping with the spirit of the celebration, a range of new products will launch during World Princess Week from brands such as Enchanted Disney Fine Jewelry, Lokai and Love Your Melon, all of which emphasize kindness through charitable giving. Additional products from Hasbro, JAKKS Pacific, the LEGO Group, Funko, ColourPop Cosmetics and others will also hit retailers globally.
Get excited, because an all-new Disney Designer Collection Princess Doll from shopDisney.com will launch each month, with 12 designs, starting with Princess Jasmine in October. There are two new Disney nuiMOs plush characters: Ariel Disney nuiMOs and a new Jasmine Disney nuiMOs— the perfect additions to your collection of those fashion-forward plush!
Pandora Jewelry is celebrating too, with beautiful Pandora charms featuring Cinderella, Tiana, and Jasmine. Hand-finished in sterling silver with vivid pops of colors, these are the perfect accessory for World Princess Week and year-round!
I’m also excited to announce a new Princess Loungewear collection, which will launch on shopDisney.com and at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort just in time for World Princess Week on Aug. 23! Among the new items are cute T-shirts and super soft velour sweatshirts and jogger pants featuring fairytale lyrics, Princess silhouettes, and aspirational Princess mottos.
World Princess Week is also being celebrated on the Blitz-tastic mobile game, Disney Emoji Blitz! To kick off the week’s festivities, they’re running a brand-new Pocahontas Villain event August 18-22. Then, be sure to log in on Aug. 23 to collect one FREE “Frozen” Emoji: Queen Elsa or Queen Anna! As you complete events and missions, you’ll automatically collect Princess Tokens all month long, which can earn you Disney Princess Emojis including Belle, Rapunzel, Tiana, Moana, Jasmine, Ariel and Cinderella! Download Disney Emoji Blitz now for free with in-app purchases on the App Store and Google Play.
New titles launching from Disney Publishing Worldwide include a rom-com reimagining inspired by Cinderella’s story called “If the Shoe Fits,” fifty delicious kid-friendly recipes in “The Disney Princess Cookbook,” and a holiday-inspired picture book called “12 Days of Princess.” Lastly, a hardcover deluxe storybook collection called “Tales of Courage and Kindness,” which features 14 original stories and artwork inspired by the iconic Disney Princesses and “Frozen” heroes, will be available for fans in early October.
In other Princess news, shopDisney’s Ultimate Princess Celebration Hotline will launch on Aug. 23, this time with all-new recorded messages from five Disney Princess characters who can be reached by contacting 1-877-70-DISNEY, and two “Frozen” queens, Anna and Elsa, who can be heard only by visiting shopDisney.com.
To wrap up the week of celebration, Disney Channel will unveil an all-new music special, “Disney Princess Remixed – An Ultimate Princess Celebration,” Friday, Aug. 27 (7:30 p.m. EDT/PDT). The half-hour special will celebrate the empowering attributes of Disney princesses and “Frozen” queens through reimagined performances of their iconic songs. GRAMMY Award-winning recording artist Brandy will also debut her music video for “Starting Now.” “Disney Princess Remixed – An Ultimate Princess Celebration” will also be available on Disney+ same day in select markets, including the U.S.
That’s just a sampling of what’s to come! Make sure that you’re following along daily on the Disney Parks Blog, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram channels, as well as the website https://disney.com/ultimateprincesscelebration, for the latest on fan-favorite Disney Princess news. There will also be the first-ever TikTok Live event from Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa on Aug. 25, featuring an appearance from Moana in honor of the 10th anniversary of the resort.
Make sure to use #UltimatePrincessCelebration to join the conversation and here’s to the best World Princess Week ever!
12 – Sweet Treats at Disney Parks Celebrating World Princess Week
As part of World Princess Week, Disney Parks are offering limited-time sweet treats. Disney Cast Member Karen McClintock shares more below.
The first-ever World Princess Week, part of the Ultimate Princess Celebration, starts August 23 and celebrates the courage and kindness displayed by Disney Princesses and Queens. We have pulled together a list of all the yummy sweet treats our talented pastry chefs have created for this special week (August 23-29) dedicated to all things Princess and Queens.
Be sure to check out all the fun festivities on Disney Parks Blog during World Princess Week and join in the conversation by sharing your own acts of kindness throughout the week using #UltimatePrincessCelebration. Now that’s sweet!
Amorette’s Patisserie, Disney Springs
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- Tiana Petit Cake – Dark chocolate chiffon cake, raspberry mousse, raspberry pâte fruit, and chocolate crisp pearls
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The Ganachery, Disney Springs
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- Princess Chocolate Bars – Ganache chocolate bars featuring Jasmine, Ariel, and Snow White
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World Premiere Food Court, Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
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- Mulan and Rapunzel Cookies – Sugar cookie featuring Mulan or Rapunzel
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Landscapes of Flavors, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
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- Mermaid Cupcake – Vanilla cupcake filled with pineapple topped with coconut buttercream and a white chocolate mermaid tail
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Contempo Café, Disney’s Contemporary Resort
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- Cinderella Cupcake – Vanilla cake with vanilla crème custard filling, buttercream, white chocolate slipper, and fondant pumpkin (available now through September 30)
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Goods to Go, Conch Flatts General Store, and Turtle Shack Poolside Snacks, Disney’s Old Key West Resort
The Artist Palette, Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
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- Snow White Cupcake – Vanilla cupcake with spiced caramel apple filling topped with caramel buttercream, red chocolate dip, and a red bow
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Capt. Cook’s and Kona Island, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
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- Moana Cupcake – Vanilla cupcake, toasted coconut mousse, and vanilla buttercream with white chocolate Moana accent piece
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Everything Pop Shopping and Dining, Disney’s Pop Century Resort
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- Aurora Cupcake – Vanilla cupcake filled with marshmallow topped with strawberry buttercream, gold chocolate crown, and sprinkles
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Le Petit Café, Disney’s Riviera Resort
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- Belle Cheesecake – Lemon cheesecake with lemon curd in a vanilla tart shell decorated with modeling chocolate to resemble Belle
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I.C. Expeditions and Warming Hut, Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park
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- Elsa Freeze Sundae – Vanilla soft-serve ice cream with a blue raspberry swirl topped with sleigh ride winter sprinkles and a while chocolate Elsa topper
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I.C. Expeditions, Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park
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- Elsa the Snow Queen Cone – Crystalized white chocolate waffle cone, vanilla soft-serve, and spiraled frozen fractals
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Creature Comforts, Disney Animal Kingdom Theme Park
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- Pocahontas Dessert – Pineapple banana cake with cream cheese coconut mousse and colored sprinkles glazed in turquoise glaçage and finished with a chocolate gem, chocolate feather, and sugar flower
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Block & Hans, EPCOT
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- Arendelle Aqua Lemonade – Frozen lemonade with cotton candy syrup
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Oasis Sweets & Sips, EPCOT
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- Mosaic Cookie – Sugar cookies sandwiched with apricot jam and topped with mosaic fondant and chocolate Jasmine
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Sunshine Seasons, EPCOT
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- Sisters Cupcake – Strawberry cupcake with strawberry filling and strawberry buttercream topped with a chocolate crown
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Traveler’s Café, EPCOT
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- Sisters Cookie – Sugar cookies sandwiched with chocolate ganache and garnished with chocolate Elsa and Anna
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The Trolley Car Café, Disney’s Hollywood Studios
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- Seaside Brownie – Brownie topped with chocolate fudge, graham cracker crumbs, and seaside-themed chocolate
- Merida Cupcake – Yellow cupcake filled with a mixture of green, red, orange, and black sprinkles with green and burnt orange buttercream, gold crisp pearls, and chocolate arrow
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Prince Eric’s Village Market, Magic Kingdom Park
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- Mermaid Slushy – Frozen blue raspberry and frozen green apple topped with whipped cream and a mermaid tale
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Cinderella’s Royal Table, Magic Kingdom Park
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- Cinderella Slipper – White chocolate or milk chocolate slipper filled with chocolate mousse and raspberry coulis garnished with fresh berries
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The Princess Madeleine Trio from Maurice’s Treats at Disneyland park is just too adorable!
There are three flavored madeleines dipped in colored chocolate to represent our favorite Princesses:
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- Belle – Citrus-flavored madeleine
- Snow White – Chocolate chip madeleine
- Aurora – Raspberry-flavored madeleine
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There will be plenty of sweet treats for all princesses and princes (at any age!) at Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures – chocolate princess cake pops, petite raspberry tarts, seashell macarons, sorbet, and more.
And Disney Princesses will greet you on a private patio for an exclusive photo opportunity. Throughout the experience, little princesses and princes will enjoy fun Princess-themed activities and receive a special keepsake to remember their special morning!
Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures at Napa Rose at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa opens on Aug. 26, with booking now available.
(Note: Offerings subject to availability.)
13 – Behind the Scenes on the ‘Disney Fab 50 Character Collection’
The ‘Disney Fab 50 Character Collection’ is part of the “The World Most Magical Celebration” coming to Walt Disney World to celebrate the 50th Anniversary. Disney has shared a behind-the-scenes look at the sculptures. Disney Cast Member Ryan March shares more below.
While most of the content I’m so fortunate to help produce for Disney fans is created with Disney Vacation Club Members in mind, some content-creating occasions are just too big to limit to a single community of fans.
Over the past several weeks, I’ve had the privilege of being part of the team working with a wide range of Disney cast members, Legends and celebrities to playfully reveal 50 beloved characters that, beginning Oct. 1 and throughout “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” will await discovery as golden sculptures in Walt Disney World Theme Parks in honor of the 50th anniversary.
Surprise revealers have joined in on the fun from across The Walt Disney Company, representing Disney+, Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Disney Theatrical Group, National Geographic, Walt Disney Imagineering, Disney Vacation Club and more.
It’s a star-studded group, from Disney super-fan John Stamos (star of the Disney+ Original Series “Big Shot”) revealing Dumbo (Disney’s original “big shot?”) from the Dumbo ride vehicle he keeps in his living room, to Orlando native Michael James Scott (“Genie” in “Aladdin” on Broadway) revealing Abu from the New Amsterdam Theatre, to the incomparable Annie Potts joining us from home to reveal Woody and Bo Peep, the latter of whom being the “Toy Story” character to whom she’s proudly lent her voice.
Just as Walt Disney World guests will soon search for their favorite character sculptures in the parks, fans have turned the reveal campaign into something of a digital scavenger hunt, tracking down reveal videos on various Disney and celebrity Instagram pages, and saving them to their own personal Instagram Collections. As my younger and considerably cooler colleagues taught me, you do this by tapping and holding the post’s bookmark icon, clicking the “save to” link and then creating or adding to a collection. (Tip: you can find the broad collection of video reveals released thus far by visiting @WaltDisneyWorld on Instagram and checking out the #DisneyWorld50 collection of stories.)
We have more characters to reveal in the days ahead, so keep hunting and stay tuned as we continue unveiling the full lineup of friends gathering for the 18-month-long celebration.
In the meantime, our colleagues at Walt Disney Imagineering have captured this fun, behind-the-scenes look at the sculptures’ creation. While our reveal videos have shared artist renderings of the sculptures, this video offers your first look at the actual sculptures – and they’re spectacular!
All of us behind these “Disney Fab 50 Character Collection” reveals thank you for joining us for this virtual “E-ticket” ride across the company, and we look forward to seeing social feeds filled with your own photos of these stunning sculptures at Walt Disney World Resort during “The World’s Most Magical Celebration!”
14 – Halloween Merchandise Now Available at Disney Parks and shopDisney.com
If you’re looking to get into the Halloween spirit, Disney Parks and shopDisney.com have got you covered. This year there is a lot to choose from. Learn more at the link below.
Click here for a look at Halloween merchandise, now available at shopDisney.com.
What’s New and Happening Now at Walt Disney World Resort
Now Through November 20, 2021 – 2021 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival
Click here for photos of the menu boards with pricing for easy planning.
Click here for full menus and lots of photos of items available.
Click here for our Instagram Story with photos of food and beverage items, merchandise, and more.
August 10 – October 31, 2021 – Disney After Hours Boo Bash at Magic Kingdom
Click here for our review and the 14 things you need to know about “Disney After Hours Boo Bash.”
Click here for details on where to find Halloween treats at Walt Disney World this fall.
Coming Soon to Walt Disney World
Upcoming Resort Reopenings
- August 26 – Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
- August 26 – Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House
- September 16 – All-Star Sports Music Resort
- October 14 – Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – River Side
- October 28 – Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
- December 9 – All-Star Sports Resort
Mid-September – Space 220 New Restaurant Opening in EPCOT
Click here for information on the new Space 220 restaurant coming to EPCOT.
October 1, 2021 – The Most Magical Celebration – 50 Years of Walt Disney World
October 1, 2021 – Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure & France Pavilion Expansion Opens
Fall 2021 – Disney Genie – New Planning Tools, Paid Access to New Lighting Lane
Click here for the news announcement about Disney Genie.
November 8 – December 30, 2021 – Holiday Season at Walt Disney World
Click here for details on the 2021 holiday offerings at Walt Disney World.
Click here for details on the new “Disney’s Very Merriest After Hours” at Magic Kingdom.
Jungle Cruise – Updated in Phases, while remaining open to guests in 2021
Spring 2022 – Star Wars Hotel
Now Through 2022 and Beyond – EPCOT Reimagined
Click here for what we know about the New EPCOT and what’s coming!
New and Coming Soon to Disneyland Resort
Disneyland Resort – Now Open
Click here for details on the reimagined Snow White’s Enchanted Wish – now open!
Halloween Time is Back This Fall at Disneyland Resort
Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure – Now Open
Click here for more on the Avengers Campus! Now open at Disney California Adventure!
Click here for details on food and beverage offerings inside Avengers Campus.
Click here for information on merchandise available inside Avengers Campus.
Coming Soon to Disney Cruise Line
Return to Cruising
The Disney Wish
Click here for information on bookings for the inaugural season in summer 2022.
Click here for more information on new dining experiences on the Disney Wish.
Itineraries in 2022
Click here to learn about Summer 2022 Itineraries on the Disney Cruise Line
Click here to learn about Early 2022 Itineraries on the Disney Cruise Line
Click here to learn about Marvel Day at Sea and Star Wars Day at Sea in Early 2022
Click here to learn about Halloween and Holiday Themed Cruises in fall 2022
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.