DISNEY NEWS ROUNDUP: EPCOT Festival Dates Announced; Annual Pass Price Increase; Holiday Menus Released; First Look at New Moana Splash Pad & More
This week, we learned the dates of the first EPCOT Festival of 2025, saw price increases for Walt Disney World annual passes, got a first look at a new Moana splash play area, and got a look at holiday menus including for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Learn about these stories and more below.
1 – Disney Announces Dates of 2025 EPCOT Festival of the Arts
This week, we learned the 2025 EPCOT Festival of the Arts dates! This short festival runs from mid-January to mid-February and celebrates the arts! Visit the link below for the dates!
Click here for the dates of the 2025 EPCOT Festival of the Arts.
2 – Disney Raises Walt Disney World Annual Pass Prices by Up to $100
It’s that time of year! Disney World has raised the prices of its annual passes as the normally do going into a new year. The last increase was in October 2023, and we saw similar price increases to what we see every year. Passes have been increased anywhere from $30-$100. Visit the link below for more details.
Click here to learn about the new Walt Disney World annual pass prices.
3 – Disney Releases Holiday Menus for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Magic Kingdom
The holiday season is rapidly approaching! Magic Kingdom will have limited-time holiday food and beverages. Some items will be exclusive to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Check out the offerings at the link below.
Click here for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Magic Kingdom holiday menus!
4 – Dates Selling Out for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
The first Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is less than two weeks away. Ahead of the party, several dates have sold out: three dates in November and three in December. Like all years, we expect the parties to sell out. If you plan to attend the party, we recommend purchasing your tickets as soon as possible. Visit the link below for our review from last year to get an idea of what you can expect at the party.
Click here for our review of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
5 – Disney Shares First Look at New Moana Splash Play Area at New Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Resort
The Island Tower coming to Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows at Walt Disney World is opening December 21, 2024! Disney shared a first look at the new Moana splash play area this week. See the photos at the link below.
6 – Orlando High School Student Gets On-The-Spot College Acceptance and $50K Scholarship During HBCU Week Foundation College Fair at Walt Disney World Resort
An Orlando-area high school student, who has worked hard to achieve her academic dreams while providing support for her family, got some good news Thursday at the HBCU Week Foundation College Fair at Walt Disney World Resort – she’s going to college!
In a surprise moment, Evans High School senior Beth Elia was awarded on-the-spot college acceptance and a $50,000 scholarship to Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) in nearby Daytona Beach. Making the moment even more magical, she was congratulated by Walt Disney World Resort President Jeff Vahle as well as Disney on the Yard executives and actor Anthony Anderson, star of the ABC hit comedy “black-ish’’ and an HBCU graduate (Howard University) at the college fair for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
Elia, a student ambassador with ELEVATE Orlando, maintains a 4.3 GPA and will be the first person in her immediate family to attend college. She plans to study criminology in hopes of becoming an FBI agent, all while supporting her mother who has grappled with significant health challenges and ongoing medical expenses in recent years. Elia hopes her college journey will inspire her younger siblings to pursue higher education and follow their own career dreams.
Elia was among the more than 5,000 students, the majority from Central Florida, the Southeast and beyond, who attended the college fair Thursday along with representatives from 35 HBCUs. It was an energetic event featuring music, a DJ and a performance by Drum Major Mickey Mouse.
It was the second time Walt Disney World Resort has hosted the HBCU Week Foundation College Fair. Disney was the host site in 2022, where more than $11 million in scholarships was awarded.
Walt Disney World’s support of the HBCU Week Foundation College Fair is part of an ongoing collaboration between the foundation and Disney on the Yard, an initiative focused on deepening Disney’s engagement with HBCUs. By working closely with HBCUs, Disney aims to continue building a long-term hiring pipeline for HBCU graduates through the development of student internships, mentorship opportunities, career and employee spotlights, scholarships and more.
What’s New and Happening Now at Walt Disney World Resort
Now Through October 31, Select Nights – Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
Click here for the five can’t miss entertainment at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party!
Click here for the 13 Tips & Tricks for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party!
Now Through November 23, 2024 – EPCOT Food & Wine Festival
Click here for what you need to know about the 2024 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival!
Click here for the menus for the 2024 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival!
Now Open! – Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Click here for our review and what you need to know about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
Click here for information on how to ride Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
Click here for details on a new, unique PhotoPass ops for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Magic Kingdom.
Now Open – CommuniCore Plaza and CommuniCore Hall
Click here for more on CommuniCore Plaza and CommuniCore Hall!
Coming to Walt Disney World
November-December, Select Nights – Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party & Jollywood Nights
Click here for dates and details for 2024 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party & Jollywood Nights.
Click here for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Magic Kingdom holiday menus!
Click here for details on the 2024 Jollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Click here for details on the Candlelight Processional at the 2024 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays.
November 23-December 30 – EPCOT Festival of the Holidays
2025 – Reimagined ‘The Little Mermaid’ Live Show Coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios
D23 Horizons Projects Announced for Walt Disney World
Click here to learn more about the Villains’ land coming to Magic Kingdom.
Click here to learn more about the Monsters, Inc. land coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Click here to learn more about the Cars expansion in Frontierland in Magic Kingdom!
Click here to learn more about Tropical Americas Coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Click here to learn more about the new nighttime parade coming to Magic Kingdom.
Click here to learn more about the lounges coming to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT!
Click here to learn more about Test Track reopening in 2025.
New & Coming Soon to Disney Cruise Line
Now Open – Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point – DCL’s Newest Private Island
Click here for an overview of Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point and what you need to know.
Click here for the menus for Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.
Itineraries in 2024-2026
Click here to learn more about 2024 Halloween and Holiday Cruises on Disney Cruise Line.
Click here to learn about Disney Cruise Line’s Early 2025 Itineraries.
Click here to learn about Disney Cruise Lines’ summer 2025 itineraries.
Click here for details on Fall 2025 and Spring 2025 itineraries; now booking!
Disney Treasure – Sailing December 2024
Click here to learn about the new Haunted Mansion-themed lounge coming to the Disney Treasure!
Click here to learn about the new and exclusive Broadway-style show coming to the Disney Treasure!
Click here for more details about “Disney The Tale of Moana,” coming to the Disney Treasure.
Click here for a First Look at Disney Treasure Menus.
Click here for details on “The Aristocats”- Themed Lounge Coming to the Disney Treasure.
Click here for details on the new Marvel-themed Dining Experience Coming to the Disney Treasure.
Disney Destiny – Sailing November 2025
Click here for “Everything New Coming to the Disney Destiny Sailing in 2025.”
Click here for an overview of what you can expect on the Disney Destiny.
Click here for all the details on the upcoming Disney Destiny, sailing in 2025.
Click here for “Discover the Disney Destiny Day 1 – Your Own Heroes Journey.”
Click here for “Discover the Disney Destiny Day 2 – Villains.”
Disney Adventure, Sailing from Singapore
Click here for the grand reveal of the Disney Adventure, sailing in 2025!
Click here for details about the Disney Adventure, sailing from Singapore in 2025.
D23 Horizons Announcements
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