WDW Daily News

When it comes to fun on the high seas, Condé Nast Traveler readers chose Disney Cruise Line as the #1 Top Large Cruise Line in the World for the eighth consecutive year. Readers rated our fleet of four the highest from more than 400 cruise ships across multiple brands.

Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards is one of the longest-running and most prestigious recognitions of excellence in the travel industry. This year, more than 600,000 Condé Nast Travelerreaders from across the globe rated their travel experiences. 

We couldn’t say it any better than our Disney Cruise Line President Jeff Vahle: “Being recognized once again by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler is a source of great pride for our team, whether they make their magic on our ships, at our private island Castaway Cay or behind the scenes. This award speaks to their commitment to always going above and beyond – and making every guest’s experience truly special.”


Disney Cruise Line blends the magic of Disney entertainment with the excitement of ocean cruising, offering incredible onboard experiences and itineraries to the sun-drenched destinations of the Caribbean year-around and awe-inspiring seasonal sailings throughout Alaska and Europe. Most Caribbean itineraries also include a stop at Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise Line’s award-winning private island in The Bahamas. 

Disney Cruise Line is always looking to give guests more exciting opportunities, and this year we decided to “dig a little deeper” for inspiration. In 2020, the Disney Wonder will set sail from New Orleans for the first time, celebrating the magic of NOLA with Tiana and friends. The world of “The Princess and the Frog” is brought to life like never before onboard the Disney Wonder, with new features like a New Orleans-themed lounge that transports guests into the heart of the city’s iconic French Quarter. 

As we expand our horizons, we look forward to the delivery of three new ships in 2021, 2022 and 2023. The recently announced Disney Wish will be the first to make her debut as the fifth ship in our fleet. Rapunzel and her feisty sidekick Pascal will be featured on the stern, and, at approximately 144,000 gross tons and 1,250 guest staterooms, the Disney Wish will be slightly larger than the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.

Our Disney Cruise Line team is proud to be No. 1 in the hearts of Condé Nast Traveler readers, and we couldn’t be happier knowing our guests’ experiences are truly special year after year. 

Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort is in the midst of a historic transformation, developing groundbreaking attractions and other unforgettable experiences. For a glimpse into the park’s bright future, visit Walt Disney Imagineering presents the Epcot Experience, which just opened inside the Odyssey Events Pavilion (between Test Track and the Mexico pavilion). This is the first in-depth look at what’s happening all across the park.

Epcot Experience is just part of the excitement happening at the park right now. A new nighttime spectacular, “Epcot Forever,” made its grand debut last week, full of fireworks, special effects and music that celebrate the past, present and future of Epcot every night above World Showcase Lagoon. Fall is also the time for foodies, as we’re right in the middle of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, offering tastes and sips from around the world along with the popular Eat to the Beat Concert Series each evening.

With so many industry worrywarts and Star Wars purists taking a dim view of Disney’s (NYSE:DIS) bicoastal Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge expansion, I figured I’d check out Florida’s version on Saturday afternoon. Would I get pelted by drifting tumbleweed while slurping down some blue milk? Would my voice echo in a barren Droid Depot? Would I leave accepting that the first phase of what initially seemed like a slam-dunk expansion has turned into a colossal flop for ages?

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Everyone’s favorite elves are returning once again this holiday season for the popular holiday nighttime spectacular at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®. In addition to fun holiday decorations and offerings throughout the park, “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” is a fabulously festive fireworks spectacular that occurs every night from Nov. 8, 2019, to Jan. 5, 2020. And with the return of this popular show comes the return of the amazing “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” Dessert Party! If guests are looking to add a sweet ending to their fun-filled day in the park, this festive holiday dining experience is the way to go. 

First, you can head over to Echo Lake to enjoy an array of holiday-themed snacks, decadent desserts, beer, wine, and specialty alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. On the menu this year are items including warm cheese fondue with pretzel bread, roasted onion dip with kettle chips, winter-spiced trail mix, Yule log cake, caramel apple verrine, and more. There will also be festive holiday cookies and assorted beverages such as a gingerbread martini and hot chocolate. And while guests take part in the festivities, Chip and Dale will available for character greetings! 

Before the show, guests will be escorted to a reserved viewing area to enjoy Wonderful World of Animation – a beautiful projection show that takes them on a journey through more than 90 years of Disney and Pixar animation – followed by “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!,” a Santa-sized spectacular jam-packed with holiday music, fireworks, special effects, and dazzling state-of-the-art projections.

Reservations are now open for the “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” Dessert Party for bookings starting on Nov. 8, 2019. This festive dining experience will occur nightly Nov. 8, 2019 –Jan. 5, 2020. The event will start 1.5 hours prior to each night’s showtime. Event times are subject to change without notice and vary throughout the season.

Reservations can be made online at the Walt Disney World Resort Website or by calling (407) WDW-DINE (407 939-3463).

Earlier this year, we shared that Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park will receive an early “gift” of festive new holiday décor in every land. Today, we’re happy to share a behind-the-scenes look at what you can expect at the park this holiday season.

When guests visit Discovery Island will find themselves in the midst of a celebration of winter, hand-crafted by the eclectic community of artists who reside here. The village is filled with sparkling white holiday decorations, and animal-inspired luminaries line the rooftops. And during the day, Discovery Island will spring to life with a holiday gathering of winter animals with artisan-sculpted puppets, including reindeer, foxes, polar bears, penguins and more.

Each evening, the Tree of Life will awaken with a series of wintry tales, complemented by a holiday-inspired musical score – and will sparkle and shimmer throughout the night, alive with the magic of nature and the spirit of the holidays.

In Asia, guests can see how the residents of Anandapur have decorated the theatre district in celebration of Diwali, the holiday festival of lights in India. Glowing flowers, lanterns and more illuminate the square between Anandapur Theater and the waterfront stage, home to authentic cultural performances.

The Africa section of the park will offer new decor and DinoLand, U.S.A. will fill with the sounds of the holidays thanks to a Truck-O-Saurus pumping holiday tunes. Plus, guests can see some of their favorite Characters with their best holiday décor and accessories. 

This year, the holiday spirit will reach Pandora – The World of Avatar, where the ex-pats living and working on the moon will bring a little Christmastime fun to their home, with a display of kitschy holiday décor at Pongu Pongu that combines vintage pieces from Earth with items handcrafted from materials indigenous to Pandora.

Stay tuned for more updates!

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This week, the Disney Wonder set sail and delighted Guests with a collection of brand-new enhancements! The centerpiece of the beautiful and exciting changes throughout the ship was unveiled — French Quarter Lounge. Here, the wonderful world of Princess Tiana comes to life in new ways with the addition of this New Orleans-themed lounge that transports guests deeper into the heart of the city’s iconic French Quarter. 

Inspired by the Disney animated feature “The Princess and the Frog,” the French Quarter Lounge is the perfect complement to Tiana’s Place Restaurant, which is just steps away on the Disney Wonder. The jazzy lounge invites your Clients deeper into the story. 

Each evening at the French Quarter Lounge, Guests can enjoy live music on the lounge’s gazebo stage, sip a New Orleans-themed specialty drink and dance the night away.

The French Quarter Lounge is designed as a whimsical outdoor space in New Orleans featuring decorative details like a storefront window with a wrought-iron balcony above. If your Clients are fans of “The Princess and the Frog,” they’ll notice that the hats in the display are inspired by hats worn by their favorite characters in the film.

Throughout the lounge, other inspired details include a full-sized streetcar on the St. Charles line – the same trolley that Tiana rides in the film. Authentic wooden bench seating creates a cozy place to sit, listen to music and experience the ambiance. Guests can step aboard the handsome streetcar which is the picture-perfect spot for family memories.

The bar is a focal part of the lounge with New Orleans-style wrought-iron adornments and shutters. In addition to offering specialty cocktails, non-alcoholic beverages and coffees, the bar also displays elements inspired by the popular character, Dr. Facilier. A mural on the wall is painted with Dr. Facilier’s shadow and his business card from the film – another cool photo spot! A door in the area is based on the entrance to Dr. Facilier’s shop, with signage and three flickering “candles” overhead.

The story continues all day long in the French Quarter Lounge with New Orleans-themed family activities, trivia, character meet-and-greets and music that bring the bayou spirit of family gatherings and fun to life.

Elsewhere on the Disney Wonder, adults have a reimagined space all their own in Cove Café, an exclusive retreat redesigned as a coffee shop for world travelers, complete with warm, comfortable and trendy décor. 

With ample, seating and ocean views, Cove Café is the perfect place to sip a specialty coffee or tea throughout the day, and indulge in wine or a cocktail and light bites during the evening hours. Just steps away, the adjacent Signals Bar has also received an update with a similar look.

Vibe, the space on the ship reserved for teens ages 14-17, has transformed into a contemporary place to hang out with friends while at sea. The club has a timeless feel with an open, bright redesign that includes framed quotes on the walls, a light color palette and metal work. A new coffee bar and updated virtual reality technology add to the list of activities just for teens. 

Aboard the Disney Wonder, youcan experience a variety of itineraries and ports of call throughout the year including Alaska, the Mexican Riviera, Caribbean and Bahamas. For the first time, the Disney Wonder will also call New Orleans home in 2020 with Caribbean and Bahamian itineraries departing from this new home port beginning Feb. 7. And just announced, the Disney Wonder will be returning to New Orleans in early 2021. 

What would Star Wars look like with Kevin Feige in charge? President of Marvel Studios since 2015, Kevin Feige has earned his place in history as the architect of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He’s about to take his biggest step beyond Marvel, though, with recent news that Feige will produce a mystery Star Wars movie. Little is known about the project at this stage, but apparently Feige has told a major actor he has a role in mind for them.

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Have you ever wanted to travel the galaxy on a luxury cruiseliner?

Or train to be a Jedi like Luke Skywalker? If so, you’re in luck, as Disney is planning a galactic adventure like none other. With an ultra-immersive two-night themed hotel experience, guests will be able to live aboard an actual starship.

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With three new Disney ships on the horizon, anticipation is high to discover more details about our expanding fleet. 

Recently, we revealed the name of our fifth ship – and offered a first look at some of the vessel’s iconic features. Now, we’re sharing this fun video that highlights everything we’ve unveiled so far about the Disney Wish, including why we chose the name, what is the inspiration for the grand atrium’s design and which beloved character will adorn the ship’s stern. Take a look…

Disney Cruise Line has established itself as a leader in the cruise industry, providing a setting where families can reconnect, adults can recharge and children can experience all Disney has to offer. As we continue to expand our blueprint for family cruising, with three more ships scheduled for completion in 2021, 2022 and 2023, stay tuned for more exciting details.

We are so excited to announce that Disney Early Morning Magic at Magic Kingdom® Park is returning with new dates for this year and next!

Starting on Nov. 13, 2019, you can enjoy limited-entry, early access to favorite attractions throughout Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park and also have a delicious breakfast. 

Some of the returning attractions are Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Princess Fairytale Hall, “it’s a small world”, Mad Tea Party, and Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid.

The morning will also include breakfast at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café that comes with scrambled eggs, bacon, breakfast potatoes, pancakes, assorted pastries and more. Breakfast runs from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., and exclusive event-only access to the attractions lasts from 7:45 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

Disney Early Morning Magic requires a separate reservation – $89 for adults and $79 for children (regular theme park admission is required). Admission will be limited, so be sure to book your reservation as soon as possible! 

You can book this experience by visiting the Walt Disney World® Resort website or calling the Disney Reservation Center at (407)WDW-PLAY/ (407)939-7529. (Note: Disney Early Morning Magic will be offered on different dates than Extra Magic Hours.)