WDW Daily News

April 10, 2024

Guests should get ready to clap their hands, paws, or anything else they’ve got, because today we’re digging a little deeper! It’s time to reveal the last batch of musicians hoping to hit the big time at Tiana’s celebration during Mardi Gras season! We’re almost there for the summer opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom Park, and later this year at Disneyland.

The musical tapestry of New Orleans is woven with traditions and voices from all over the world. We’ve gotten a sneak peek at critters who play Zydeco music, and critters who perform Rara music, and now it’s time to introduce guests to critters who bring the jazzy sounds and complex rhythms of Afro-Cuban music to life in the bayou.

Felipe the Frog – Deep among the cypress trees, guests will hear band leader Felipe making musical magic on the piano! Felipe is also the proprietor of an exclusive bayou night club, where the local fireflies love to dance the night away to a musical recipe of hot rhythms and spicy melodies. He’s an old-school family guy, especially to his “family” in the band.

Mayra the Frog – Have guests ever seen a frog play a flower blossom like a trumpet? They will when they meet Mayra; guests should be sure to stick around for one of her toe-tapping solos. Mayra’s the most ambitious of the four frogs and has been practicing her instrument since she was just a tadpole!

Mondo the Frog – Mondo is a natural on the conga drums, which he made as a happy accident when his favorite bottle cap got stuck on his second-favorite acorn. From there, the rhythm in Mondo’s soul took over! He’s very copacetic and accepts what comes, a trait as steady and reliable as his drumbeat.

Isabel the Green Tree Frog – Learning from Mondo’s example, Isabel loves getting lost in the music playing her congas. She’s the youngest member of the group, and there’s nothing she loves more than “going with the flow” and getting to play drums all night long!

From Zydeco to Rara to Afro-Cuban jazz, guests will hear all kinds of musical flavors from critters big and small around the bayou, just like they would walking the streets of the French Quarter in the Crescent City. Of course, not everyonethey’ll meet in the attraction is a musician – among others are a couple of amphibious friends who love to sit back, relax, and catch up on all the gossip from around the bayou. Gloria and Delores the frogs are best friends who love to observe folks as they float in logs down the bayou. Guests shouldn’t be surprised if they keep their watchful eyes on them as they float by.

Also, guests can keep an eye out for Lari the armadillo. This mischievous fella, while quiet in demeanor, seems to always show up where least expected. We hear he has a habit of “borrowing” things that aren’t his (although those things eventually make it into the right “paws”).

Speaking of critters big and small, guests will meet them throughout the attraction, and some really are … big, with an even bigger personality.

Just like Tiana said, we’re getting closer and closer every day with progress on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. We hope guests are looking forward to joining these musicians down in the bayou!

Get ready, Disney pin traders! We know guests have been waiting for even more ways to trade Disney pins, and starting now, they can once again trade with cast members using lanyards and packs across all of Walt Disney World.  

Did you know there are Disney pins that are exclusive for cast member trading for a limited time? It’s true! Eagle-eyed guests may find pins from new Hidden Disney pin sets while trading across Walt Disney World. Each set contains five standard and uniquely themed designs.  

Later this year, a retail mystery pouch will be available with the original five pins, plus a sixth pin in each set — known as a “chaser” pin. For those who love an even bigger challenge, within the retail mystery pouch there will be a NEW element this year with the introduction of a “super chaser” pin in one particular set — an even rarer find! 

Happy trading, everyone!

April 9, 2024

Beginning today, guests can save on Disney Resort hotels this summer at Walt Disney World!

Save Up to 30% on Rooms at Select Disney Resort Hotels When You Stay 5 Nights or Longer This Summer and Early Fall

Save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels when your Clients stay 5 consecutive nights or longer—or save up to 25% on shorter stays. This offer is valid for stays most nights from July 8 to October 3, 2024..

Disney® Visa® Cardmembers: Enjoy This Delicious Deal

Disney Visa Cardmembers: Enjoy a FREE dining plan when you use your Disney Visa Card to purchase a non-discounted 4-night, 4-day Walt Disney Travel Company package that includes a room at a select Disney Resort hotel and a theme park ticket with a Park Hopper option—for arrivals most nights from:

• July 1 to July 31, 2024
• September 1 to September 7, 2024
• December 9 to December 21, 2024

Florida Residents: Save Up to 30% on Rooms at Select Disney Resort Hotels This Summer and Early Fall

Stay in the magic this summer and early fall! Florida residents can save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels, valid for stays most nights from July 8 through October 3, 2024.

There is also a special offer for Annual Passholders to save up to 35% on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels.

*For more details about any of these offers feel free to reach out to any travel planner at Wish Upon a Star with Us.

By: Disney Destinations

April 5, 2024

Disney Imagineers are gearing up to bring the next iteration of Test Track to life and are reaching back into their history for inspiration, including the original World of Motion attraction from the early days of EPCOT. Today, we’re sharing a first look at a brand-new rendering of the attraction.

To prepare for this new version, Test Track presented by Chevrolet will close temporarily beginning June 17, 2024. We will have more details about the continuation of the Test Track story at a later time.

April 5, 2024

Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite returns to the Disneyland Resort for its second year with colorful celebrations, joyful photo opportunities, event merchandise, fabulous food and divine drinks. As previously shared, this separately ticketed, after-hours event will be held at Disneyland park on June 18 and 20, 2024. Today, we’re excited to share more details about the fun guests can expect at this event, plus information on when tickets will go on sale!

Themed Entertainment, Food and More Coming to Pride Nite

Take a look at the Poster for the new scene for Star Tours!

By: Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences & Products

April 3, 2024

Earlier today during The Walt Disney Company Annual Meeting of Shareholders, our CEO Bob Iger shared some incredible updates from across the company … including an update at Disney Experiences that I am very excited about. 

We were thrilled to unveil a piece of inspirational artwork developed for a potential new Avatar experience at the Disneyland Resort. We are excited about the stories our guests could experience at Walt’s original theme park destination after approval of DisneylandForward – including the chance to experience all-new Avatar adventures with a visit to Pandora. 

April 2, 2024

Are guests ready to head back into the bayou and discover more new Disney characters who are part of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure? It’s time to introduce more of our critter musicians, the perfect musical accompaniment for Princess Tiana’s party during Mardi Gras season.

Previously, guests learned about the critters who play Zydeco music – and now, let’s get ready to march with Rara! Often found at festivals and street processions, Rara is a musical tradition from Haiti that’s part of the of the musical history and melting pot of New Orleans. The genre includes unique instruments with beautiful, distinctive sounds.

Here are the Rara musicians guests will discover further down the bayou!

Octavia the Bobcat – Octavia plays the vaksina single-note horn instrument popular in Rara music. She’s an adventurous bobcat kitten, and she loves climbing and hanging out in trees almost as much as she loves performing. This daredevil almost never gets scared.

Pawpaw the Bobcat – Not only is Pawpaw Octavia’s devoted grandfather, but he also taught her how to play the vaksin! Pawpaw lives to make Octavia smile and has the view that everything has a way of working itself out – he’s seen it all but isn’t jaded.

Claude the Louisiana Black Bear – Claude is a salt of the earth kind of bear (or, as they say in the bayou, “salt of the mound”) who plays his horn along with the other members of his family. He’s a tinkerer who loves to create with things found in the forest, and is frequently funny without intending to be, especially when it comes to his home-grown creations.

Bernadette the Louisiana Black Bear – Bernadette loves to enjoy life, from splashing in the waters of her bayou home with her cub, Sebastián, to playing the horn with her mate, Claude. She’s a clear thinker and is warm and supportive. Bernadette loves to sink into the bayou waters and munch on plants (so long as Sebastián is clearly within sight).

Sebastián the Louisiana Black Bear – Though he’s definitely a “mama’s cub,” Sebastián charted his own musical course as a drummer, despite his parents being devoted horn players. He’s happy to follow his friend Octavia’s adventurous lead as they explore and play, and is fascinated with the small details in the bayou, like the insects and mushrooms.

Phina the Gray Fox – Phina’s enthusiasm extends beyond her drumming, as she’s constantly thinking of new ideas with optimism and energy! This imaginative fox is continually starting new projects with excitement, and her friends accept and celebrate her unique thinking.

Not only will guests meet these new friends as Audio-Animatronics figures throughout the attraction, but some of them will also appear in the Walt Disney World attraction poster, which guests can find below! It looks like they’re ready to put on quite the memorable performance, and a few more critters are left to be revealed …

Come back next week for the reveal of the last group of talented critters. Guests will soon be able to cheer on their favorites once Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opens in Walt Disney World Resort this summer, and later this year at Disneyland Resort.

Guests have watched murals and metalwork flourishes for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure come to life. They’ve followed along with construction updates. They’ve seen an Audio-Animatronics figure of Tiana make her debut. Now, we’d like to welcome guests among the cypress trees, water lilies, and Spanish moss to learn about some of the new Audio-Animatronics friends who play an important role in this musical adventure.

In the bayou, Princess Tiana is getting ready to throw a big party, but there’s been a bit of a mix-up between Prince Naveen and Louis. Uh oh — the princess suddenly finds herself in need of a band. We previously shared that all-new Disney characters were being created for this attraction and that’s where the critters come in. Even with the richest roux for gumbo and the most delicious beignets, a true Mardi Gras celebration isn’t complete without music. Guests will follow Tiana and Louis into the bayou in a last-minute search for this essential missing ingredient for her party — musical critters!

Who are the critters?

In the first critter encounter, guests will discover a group of critter musicians playing a rendition of a favorite song from The Princess and the Frog, “Gonna Take You There.” This raucous Zydeco musical recipe of fiddle, accordion, washboard, and other instrument voices will have guests singing along as they float down the river under dancing fireflies. The familiar melody is being played on charming makeshift instruments constructed from natural materials and some human-made found objects. But who’s behind this critter band? Guests can meet some of the adorable musicians and get to know them a little more.

Byhalia the Beaver – Byhalia doesn’t just build dams; she helps build musical instruments using natural materials from the bayou. As a strong-willed percussionist, it’s safe to say Byhalia is the heartbeat of the band, as well as a natural designer and engineer.

Gritty the Rabbit – Always willing to dig a little deeper to help others, Gritty plays the washboard (a found automobile license plate) with a high-energy flair. It’s the perfect instrument for someone who’s often overzealous and digs to relieve her nerves.

Beau the Opossum – Seeing limitless possibilities, no one finds more wonder in the bayou and the sounds of zydeco music than Beau. All she knows is beauty, especially her own. Guests can find her plucking out the low notes with her upright gourd bass, which of course, involves some musical dexterity with her tail.

Apollo the Raccoon – Apollo loves transforming abandoned objects into works of musical art – like his squeezebox. He’s full of energy and storytelling, especially about the objects he finds in the bayou. He’s particularly close with Rufus and appreciates Rufus’ calm demeanor.

Rufus the Turtle – Rufus may be a turtle, but he’s quick to jump into rhythm with his harmonica. He’s also the first to join in on new adventures! He’s genuine and sincere but may come across as a little sarcastic at times with his habitual sighing. Rufus loves going on adventures with Apollo.

Timoléon the Otter – He’s the eldest of the band, but Timoléon’s fiddle-playing is inspired by all the ‘kids’ he spends his time around while in the bayou. When he’s not sawing out a jig, he’s famous for telling stories of days long ago about his explorations of every corner of the bayou.

In addition to these talented new friends, Tiana wonders who else guests might discover in the bayou. More on that soon, but it’s not every day we get to debut brand-new original Disney characters as part of an attraction in our theme parks! And, if guests wish they had a critter friend of their own, they are in luck: Beau, Apollo and Rufus will soon be available in the form of huggable plushies for guests to take home.

There’s more to come from the other talented critters guests will meet in Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, which opens at Walt Disney World Resort this summer, and later this year at Disneyland Resort.

Summer will be here before we know it, which means the grand opening of Disney Cruise Line’s newest destination, Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, is quickly approaching! Today, we’re excited to unveil a first look at some of the Bahamian-inspired merchandise that will be available at this one-of-a kind island retreat.

From Bahamian-inspired Mickey and Minnie plush to apparel with the festive feel of Junkanoo, these collections will give guests a chance to bring home keepsakes that reflect some of the experiences at this vibrant island destination.

Junkanoo-Inspired Collection: Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point will be filled with the sights and sounds of Junkanoo, a longstanding Bahamian tradition filled with colorful parades. The bright hues and festive patterns of Junkanoo merge with nods to Mickey Mouse himself in this Bahamian-inspired collection including a spirit jersey, designer Loungefly backpack and ear headband. 

Mickey and Minnie Plush: Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse are debuting designer tropical looks for Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, which feature a Bahamian twist on Minnie Mouse’s iconic polka dots and conch shell-patterned shorts on Mickey Mouse. These new looks will be available in a luggage-friendly size with these adorable new plush exclusive to Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.

Theodore Elyett Collection: Take home a designer look of your own from the same artist behind Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse’s looks! Acclaimed Bahamian fashion designer Theodore Elyett created a uniquely Bahamian clothing line, including this ear headband full of the bright colors, patterns and straw, often seen in local art. Disney Cruise Line will partner with a variety of Bahamian artists at Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point throughout the island architecture, décor, and merchandise, and Theodore’s artist spotlight collection will include men’s and women’s apparel.

Guests will find these collections exclusively at Disney Cruise Line’s new island destination, which will open this summer!