WDW Daily News

October 24, 2024

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party – and that’s because it’s almost here! In just a few short weeks, from Nov. 8 through Dec. 20, 2024, Magic Kingdom Park will be transformed into a winter wonderland for this beloved holiday event. Filled with festive bites and holiday festivities, this year’s party will leave guests feeling holly and jolly!

As the sun goes down, guests can get ready to be in the spirit of the season with the return of the nighttime extravaganza, Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show, the fan-favorite Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, and, of course, plenty of character greetings all throughout the park. We can’t forget the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party staple – all the cookies and cocoa guests can fit in their stocking.

This year, taste buds are about to be in a winter wonderland (of flavor). With over 30 new items, like the Gingerbread Milk Shake, Festive Beignets, and Lasagna Flatbread, and returning favorites, including Candy Cane Tart and Christmas Cookie Cake Roll, the culinary teams have definitely earned their spots on the nice list with this yuletide selection of treats.

Guests should get ready to make their treats list and check it twice, because the Foodie Guide to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is here. And we can’t wait to unwrap it all.

Main Street Bakery

• Letter To Santa: Flourless chocolate cake, hot cocoa mousse, and marshmallow topped with chocolate pieces (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
• Mickey-shaped Cinnamon Roll with holiday-themed icing (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and regular park hours)

Plaza Ice Cream Parlor Hosted by Edy’s

• Gingerbread Milk Shake: Vanilla ice cream, gingerbread syrup, and ginger snap crumbles topped with whipped cream and a chocolate piece (New) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
• Peppermint Brownie Sundae: House-baked brownie topped with peppermint ice cream, hot fudge, and chocolate granola with candy cane pieces (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and regular park hours)
• Peppermint Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich: Peppermint ice cream sandwiched between two oatmeal-peppermint chip cookies and rolled in candy cane pieces (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)

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October 18, 2024

There’s no place like Walt Disney World Resort for the holidays! Here’s a look into some of the ways guests can celebrate the holiday season at Walt Disney World – and the best part is they’re all included with a park ticket. So, guests should take note and start making their wish list, because these festive experiences are ones they’ll want to check off twice!

EPCOT

For guests who consider themselves world travelers at heart and crave experiencing holidays from around the globe, EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth is a must. From Nov. 29 to Dec. 30, 2024, guests can enjoy vibrant decorations and offerings that transform EPCOT into a festive wonderland.

Throughout the World Showcase, guests can listen to lively storytellers as they share holiday legends from around the world! Tales of traditions fill guests’ hearts with holiday cheer while learning about cultural celebrations. Guests can experience the warmth of Las Posadas in Mexico, the joyous spirit of Hanukkah nestled between Morocco and France and the meaningful customs of Daruma in Japan, just to name a few. Plus, guests can enjoy festive cuisine from countries near and far through the Holiday Kitchens ringing culinary traditions to life!

Guests will gather around World Showcase Plaza to witness a beautiful tribute to Christmas and Kwanzaa with Gospel, R&B and holiday songs at “JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season.” This high-energy show is one of our favorites every year.

Guests can’t miss the ultimate Walt Disney World holiday fan favorite, Candlelight Processional! Guesrs can experience the moving story of Christmas at the America Gardens Theater, where a celebrity narrator is accompanied by a glorious, massed choir, 50-piece orchestra, herald trumpets and even the Voices of Liberty. It’s sure to get everyone in the holiday spirit. This year’s narrators, which include Nico Santos and Titus Burgess, are sure to bring extra inspiration!

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October 16, 2024

The holidays are all about cherished family traditions—and at the 2024 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth, there are traditions new and old from all corners of the globe! Now’s the time for guests to start planning merry moments for the season – check out the top three must-see holiday entertainment highlights of the festival, all included with an EPCOT ticket.

Around the World Stories

Guests can stroll around World Showcase where seasonal legends and stories come alive with Holiday Storytellers. They can meet the mischievous Barn Santa in the Norway pavilion for a great laugh or listen to the tale of La Befana in Italy, the kind-hearted witch who visits on the Eve of the Epiphany; take in the wonders of Lunar New Year with a Chinese Lion Dance viewing or discover the traditions of Hanukkah located between Morocco and France. Every culture has its special way of celebrating the holidays, and there’s no better place than EPCOT to experience the magic of it all!

Jam at JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season in an All-New Location

Guests can experience the joy of Christmas in the uplifting Gospel, R&B, and holiday songs of JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season. Guests will join the choir as they harmonize for the holidays in their new location at CommuniCore Plaza. This unique celebration happens only four times a day, so guests can’t miss their chance to catch a glimpse of the holiday cheer they bring.

Hear Tidings of Comfort and Joy with the Candlelight Processional

For many guests, the Candlelight Processional is a must-do tradition each year. The beloved show tells the story of Christmas through a stunning performance, featuring a celebrity narrator, a mass choir of Disney cast members and young singers from the community, a 50-piece orchestra, herald trumpets, and the incredible Voices of Liberty.  Showtimes this year have adjusted to 5:00 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.

Celebrity Narrators Bring Merry & Bright Star Power

So, who will be the celebrity narrators bringing the story of Christmas to life in an unforgettable way during the Candlelight Processional? This year’s list of celebrity narrators is packed with all the stars to light up the America Gardens Theatre:

• 11/29 – 11/30 Josh Gad
• 12/1 – 12/2 Nico Santos (NEW)
• 12/3-12/5 Chrissy Metz
• 12/6 – 12/7 Whoopi Goldberg
• 12/8 – 12/10 Tituss Burgess (NEW)
• 12/11 – 12/12 Brendan Fraser
• 12/13 – 12/14 Ralph Macchio (NEW)
• 12/15 – 12/16 Gary Sinise
• 12/17 – 12/18 Neil Patrick Harris
• 12/19 – 12/21 Pat Sajak
• 12/22 – 12/23 Gloria Estefan
• 12/24 – 12/26 Edward James Olmos
• 12/27 – 12/28 Sterling K Brown
• 12/29 – 12/30 Jodi Benson

Candlelight Processional Dining Packages 

The Candlelight Processional is a family favorite event for a reason. Why not elevate it with a delicious dining package that includes reserved seating, ensuring that guests and their families won’t miss a moment of the holiday magic? Guests can choose from fifteen distinctive eateries, ranging from character dining at Chip ‘N’ Dale’s Harvest Feast at Garden Grill Restaurant in The Land pavilion to dining at Le Cellier Steakhouse in the Canada pavilion. The package includes options for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with guaranteed seating for one of three Candlelight Processional shows. Guests can book their dining package starting Oct. 29; for more information visit DisneyWorld.com.

Guests can believe in the magic of the holidays with their families at the 2024 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth. The season of cheer is here!

October 16, 2024

We’re just about a month away from the most wonderful time of the year at the Most Magical, Merriest Place On Earth, and guests should get ready for some holly jolly news to add to their “Reasons To Visit Walt Disney World For The Holidays Starting November 12” list.

Meet Santa Claus at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

Over the last few years, guests may have seen Kris Kringle waving to park-goers as he sailed around the waterways of Disney’s Animal Kingdom during the holiday cavalcades. This year, guests can meet Santa Claus at the 75th Annual Dino Institute Holiday Party on the patio at Restaurantosaurus. As the guest of honor himself, Santa’s checked his list twice and invited everyone to join him in this festive new location as the students and faculty of the Dino Institute celebrate the season in (pre)-historic fashion from November 12-December 24. Guests should bring the whole family, because a Santa sighting is perfect for the little ones!

Other Wild Ways to Celebrate the Holidays

After stopping by Restaurantosaurus to say “ho ho ho” to Santa, guests should be sure to hoof it back to Discovery Island for the return of the happiest little animal herd around – the Merry Menagerie. These enchanting puppets feature winter animals of all sorts … and we need to boop each creature gently on the nose to start our holidays off right.

Guests can also meet the holiday hosts with the most, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, dressed in their festive finest together at Adventurers Outpost.

And, after a full day of shopping for their gift list (Merry Menagerie merch, anyone?) and sampling delicious goodies (stay tuned for a holiday Foodie Guide coming soon!), guests can stop by after dark for sensational, seasonal Tree of Life Awakenings that bring the spirits of winter animals to life.

Fresh Festive Entertainment at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

We all know Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a festive place to be with the cutest retro holiday decorations – and this year, there are three new entertainment acts to fill the whole family with joy, all starting November 12!

Marvel at the skills of Juggling Elves – these holiday helpers deliver festive cheer with a side of shenanigans as they show off their skills of juggling, comedy and more!

Catch the jaunty jolly tunes of the Holiday Spirit Band. This dynamic brass group will make everyone want to join in the fun and stroll into Santa’s good graces.

And guests should pick up their feet and march along with Seasons Jukebox as they bring all the performance and pep of a collegiate marching band. Hard-hitting horns, rocking drummers, and dazzling dancers will bring to life everyone’s favorite holiday classics and more.

Of course, other beloved Disney’s Hollywood Studios holiday fun also begins on November 12 – like the holiday overlay to For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration; another fabulous place to find Santa greeting guests at It’s A Wonderful Shop; and Sunset Seasons Greetings – with festive projections on The Hollywood Tower Hotel and magical snowfall – all along Sunset Boulevard once the sun sets on Tinsel Town.

And guests get all of that with their park ticket to Disney’s Hollywood Studios! If guests are looking for even more razzle dazzle in their holiday celebrations, they can’t forget about all the extra entertainment and festive fun at the separately ticketed event, Disney Jollywood Nights.

Make Your List, Check It Twice

As we count down to the start of holidays at Walt Disney World, we hope guests are making plans to visit with the whole family for some holly jolly memory making. Stay tuned for even more reasons to visit during the holidays all week!

October 16, 2024

In the coming weeks, Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort will begin piloting a new service providing expedited entry to theme park attractions: Lightning Lane Premier Pass.

Lightning Lane Premier Pass will be offered in very limited quantities and will give guests one-time entry to each available Lightning Lane entrance in the theme park they are visiting that day. This includes attractions included in both Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass, but with Lightning Lane Premier Pass, guests do not need to select an experience time. Lightning Lane Premier Pass will be a premium offering, and prices will vary based on the date and theme park guests are visiting.

At Disneyland Resort, the Lightning Lane Premier Pass will be available first come, first served beginning two days in advance of a theme park reservation and will be valid for use in both theme parks. The first date it will be available is October 23, 2024.

At Walt Disney World, when Lightning Lane Premier Pass launches, it will be available to guests staying at Disney Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resorts and may be purchased up to seven days in advance of their stay. It will only be valid for use in one park of the guest’s choice per day. The first date it will be available is October 30, 2024.

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Leading running brand to become the official running shoe of runDisney starting in 2025; New multi-year agreement includes Brooks creating Disney-themed running shoes and official race shirts for all runDisney race weekends

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Oct. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Brooks Running, a leading performance brand, is the official running shoe of the popular runDisney race series through a new multi-year collaboration announced today that will include Brooks creating Disney-themed running shoes.

As the official running shoe for runDisney, Brooks will offer shoes and provide official race shirts at runDisney race weekends starting with an upcoming 2025 runDisney race. At the same time, Brooks will create Disney-themed running shoes featuring popular Disney characters. And in 2026, Brooks will design Brooks jackets for Club runDisney members.

“The energy that running unlocks is powerful, and there’s no better illustration of that than the energy you experience at a runDisney race,” said Melanie Allen, SVP and Chief Marketing Officer at Brooks Running. “We are very proud to work with runDisney and can’t wait to create more magic together for runners everywhere.”

This new collaboration brings together two titans of the running world with a shared belief that running can create powerful emotion, camaraderie and connection. The runDisney race series includes six race weekends between Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California, plus virtual races, and is among the largest in the United States with more than 170,000 runners participating in its race weekends each race season. Each race weekend features a 5K, 10K, 10-miler or half marathon, challenge events (e.g. 10K and a half marathon) and a health and fitness expo, plus yoga, kids races and post-race parties at select race weekends. The Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend also offers a full 26.2-mile marathon.

Brooks creates performance footwear, apparel and accessories for runners worldwide with the aim of inspiring everyone to run their path by creating the best gear, tools and experiences. Since 2022, Brooks has maintained the No. 1 market share in the adult performance running footwear market at U.S. national retail outlets.

“This collaboration allows runners to marry their passion for the Disney brand with the creativity, technology and running industry expertise that is synonymous with Brooks,” said runDisney Vice President Adam Ball. “We are already busy brainstorming on the many ways we can continue to elevate the Disney running experience for the thousands of recreational and dedicated runners who participate in our runDisney events every year.”

For more information about runDisney, visit www.rundisney.com. For more information about Brooks Running, visit www.brooksrunning.com.

About Brooks Running

Brooks Running creates market-leading performance running footwear, apparel, sports bras, and accessories distributed worldwide. Brooks exists to inspire everyone to run and be active, through innovative gear, tools, and experiences designed to take you to the place that makes you feel more alive. Since 1914, Brooks has been propelled by a never-ending curiosity with how humans move, pushing the limits of motion science, engineering, and technology to create gear that unlocks the power of energy and movement for everyone. Brooks is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and is headquartered in Seattle, Washington. Visit www.brooksrunning.com for more information or follow @brooksrunning.

About runDisney

runDisney is one of the largest race organizers in the United States with as many as 170,000 runners participating in runDisney events each race season. There are six on-site race weekends—four at Walt Disney World Resort and two at Disneyland Resort— with races ranging from 5Ks to a marathon, plus a health and fitness expo and yoga events at select race weekends.  These events combine the magic of Disney with the excitement of running, offering participants of all ages and abilities the chance to run through Disney theme parks, earn exclusive Disney-themed medals and enjoy world-famous entertainment, characters and guest service. Beyond racing, runDisney promotes a healthy lifestyle through training tips and resources found on www.rundisney.com.

SOURCE Walt Disney World Resort

October 15, 2024

We’re just a few weeks away from the return of the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which means that the holiday season is just around the corner! This year’s Parade will feature a brand-new Disney Cruise Line float, “Magic Meets the Seas,” along with a new, specially choregraphed performance starring beloved characters from Disney Animation, Pixar, and more.   

This year’s float design features the bows of eight Disney Cruise Line ships, with the focal point being the highly anticipated Disney Treasure which will sail on its Maiden Voyage in December! The float celebrates the growing Disney Cruise Fleet, including the five ships currently sailing and the three set to debut this year and next – Disney Treasure, Disney Destiny, and Disney Adventure. It also showcases the unprecedented growth of Disney Cruise Line, which recently announced that the fleet will expand to 13 ships by 2031! 

Leading the way atop the float will be Captain Mickey Mouse and Captain Minnie Mouse. The famous duo will be joined by a number of special guests who represent the stories and experiences that will be brought to life onboard the Disney Treasure, including Aladdin, Princess Jasmine, Miguel, and Moana.  

Known for the Broadway style shows on board its ships, it’s only fitting for Disney Cruise Line to bring a taste of its magical entertainment to the streets of New York. Spectators at the Parade and those tuning in at home will be treated to a toe-tapping number starring Mickey, Minnie and their pals from Pixar Animation Studios’ “Coco,” Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Beauty and the Beast” and more. The melody of memories from favorite Disney films will build to a confetti-filled finale set to the magnetic new Disney Treasure anthem, “Live the Adventure.”

The Walt Disney World theme parks, Disney Springs and possibly other areas will reopen on Friday, October 11

By: Disney

October 7, 2024

We are closely monitoring the path of the projected storm, and the safety of our Guests and Cast Members remains our top priority. Walt Disney World Resort is currently operating under normal conditions and will continue to be on Tuesday, Oct. 8. Looking ahead, we are making adjustments based on the latest weather forecast and some areas with unique environments.

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, the Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, and the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa will temporarily close beginning at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9.

Clients that need assistance in booking alternative accommodations for their guests at another Disney Resort hotel should call 407-939-2744. 

The reopening timeline for the resort remains tentative, and subject to safety conditions. We encourage Guests to check DisneyWorld.com/Weather for the most up-to-date information.

Starting today, guests can plan their 2025 visit and save up to $200 per night with a 3-night, 2-day room and ticket package, or save up to 25% on room-only bookings at select Disney Resort hotels. Learn more at DisneyWorld.com/offers. Plus, the new year means more fun with the launch of a brand-new water park perk for guests staying at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel in 2025.  

Staying at a Disney Resort hotel makes it convenient to maximize memory-making time. 

Visit a Disney Water Park on Check-In Day 

Staying at a Disney Resort hotel gives guests ultimate flexibility during a vacation with several perkslike complimentary resort transportation. For 2025 stays, water park admission is included on check-in day.* Guests can brave thrilling raft rides with the whole family, let the little ones explore a water play area just for kids, or relax on the sandy shores of the wave pool. 

Be First in the Parks 

Remember those perks we mentioned? Disney Resort hotel guests can enter the park 30 minutes earlier than everyone else, every single day**. Being among the first to walk down Main Street and take in the views of Cinderella Castle is something guests don’t forget.  

Explore More at the Resorts 

A Disney Resort hotel is more than a home base for guests’ Disney World vacation. From poolside activities to movies under the stars, there’s a world of recreation right outside the door to keep guests connected to the magic. And they never know when a special guest might make an appearance at their resort (hint: surprise character visits).  

Whether celebrating a special occasion, the vacation of a lifetime, or just a day of fun, we’re incredibly honored so many guests choose to create some of their most cherished memories with Disney.

*Admission subject to availability. Visit https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/water-park-disney-resort-benefit/ for more details. 

**To enter a park, valid theme park admission and a park reservation (if applicable) are required.  

For more information please reach out to anyone at Wish Upon a Star With Us.