Big changes are coming to Epcot! At the D23 Destination D: Celebrating Mickey Mouse event, Disney Parks’ Experiences and Consumer Products Chairman Bob Chapek announced plans for a serious overhaul, which include new attractions and an updated nighttime fireworks show for the Orlando destination that’s comprised of the World Showcase and Future World.
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WATCH: Disney Reveals a First Look at Two Rides Opening at New Star Wars Land in 2019
Disney is preparing for the launch of their new Star Wars rides!
The Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge lands, debuting in 2019, will bring the beloved movie franchise to life at both Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. and Disney World‘s Hollywood Studios in Orlando — and they just unveiled a first look at their two main attractions.
Disney Chefs Bake Up Holiday Magic with Gingerbread Displays at Disney Parks and Resorts, Disney Cruise Line
Wide-eyed wonderment will wash over Disney guests this holiday season when they see gingerbread displays at select Disney theme parks and Disney resort hotels, as well as the ships of Disney Cruise Line.
So magical is the aroma of gingerbread at holiday-time that National Gingerbread Day is celebrated Wednesday, Nov. 21. In the spirit of the season, Disney chefs decked the halls (roofs, doorways and windows, too) to create life-sized, gingerbread houses yummy enough to eat.
Here’s a look at storybook houses, carousels and other confections baked with love by Disney chefs, with savory sweets for sale in most locations:
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – This year marks the 20th anniversary of this resort hotel’s gingerbread house. A classic recipe from Austria inspires the ornaments, cookies and a house standing 14 feet tall in the lobby. Home to The Bake Shop, the gingerbread house is the perfect place to pick up holiday treats. Gingerbread house decorating demonstrations occur daily Dec. 1-25.
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort – Cinderella Castle is re-created with an “it’s a small world” backdrop depicting Cinderella and Prince Charming greeting guests in the castle forecourt. The 18-foot display is crafted from thousands of gingerbread blocks. A life-sized spinning carousel highlights the display.
- Disney’s Beach Club Resort – Donald Duck- and Daisy Duck-themed horses are decorated with chocolate, sugar and fondant in this scrumptious classic carousel.
- Disney’s BoardWalk Resort – A delightful gingerbread version of the resort’s BoardWalk features iconic locales such as BoardWalk Bakery, Flying Fish, Trattoria al Forno and more.
- The American Adventure – Patriotic flair meets pastry magic at Epcot, where gingerbread renditions of the U.S. Capitol, Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument (topped with golden Mickey ears!) are on display
- Amorette’s Patisserie – This sophisticated pastry shop at Disney Springs dresses up its front window with a miniature gingerbread replica of itself – right down to the gingerbread trees!
- The Haunted Mansion – Disneyland Resort turns to Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” to create a wonderfully spooky gingerbread display inside this classic attraction. A giant spider with glowing eyes hangs over the Grand Hall Table, attempting to pry the edible gingerbread mansion from its foundation as gingerbread zombies watch in amazement.
- Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa – Disney artists, engineers and bakers teamed up on a gingerbread house that adds to the resort hotel’s festive lobby. With over 600 pounds of gingerbread and adorned with Hidden Mickeys, this grandly Californian gingerbread house is on display all season long.
- Disney Cruise Line – Aboard the four Disney Cruise Line ships, the chef competition is on! Bakery teams are challenged to create their own individual gingerbread houses for display throughout the holiday season in the atrium lobby of each ship. Taking weeks to conceptualize and construct, each features more than 600 pounds of gingerbread dough, 200-plus pounds of sugar and 5,000 gingerbread bricks.
- Aulani – A Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii gets its gingerbread on with “A Kakamora Holiday.” This festive display includes a chocolate tree, a Moana-inspired gingerbread hut, chocolate sleigh and merrymaking Kakamoras celebrating with a tropical twist.
New Details Unveiled On Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Set to Open July 2019
UPDATE: We’re excited to share that you can start booking reservations for at Gran Destino Tower beginning Nov. 27, 2018.
Earlier this fall, we shared renderings of the exciting expansion that’s underway at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. Last week Disney Parks, Experiences and Consumer Products Chairman Bob Chapek unveiled more about the reimagining, including the name of the new 15-story centerpiece of the resort, the Gran Destino Tower, and the opening month of July 2019.
Gran Destino Tower will serve as the new main entrance point for guests visiting the resort, and will add a total of 545 new guest rooms (including 50 suites) to the resort, as well as feature a gorgeous two-story lobby. A themed table-service restaurant is also planned for the top of Gran Destino Tower, which will serve up delicious food and incredible views of the Walt Disney World® Resort.
An oasis set on the shore of Lago Dorado, the reimagined Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort celebrates the daring spirit of the great Spanish explorers, artists, writers and architects. Throughout the resort, you will discover a blend of classic Spanish influences, imaginative Disney touches and modern comforts both inside and out. The resort’s more than 1,800 existing rooms have also been fully updated with new fixtures, furnishings and lighting. A second new restaurant is planned to open on an island in the middle of the resort’s 14-acre lake, Lago Dorado, with new walkways stretching across the water, making it convenient no matter where guests stay at the resort. And a fresh color palette will tie the entire resort experience together, blending the new and the newly reimagined.
Stay tuned for future updates!
What You Need To Know About All The Disney Dining Plans
Not sure if you’ve heard this about Disney, but they’ve got a lot to eat there. Oh, you did know that? And you’re overwhelmed by all your options? Well, lucky for you, we’re breaking ’em all down today. Out of the goodness of our hearts. And for no other reason. Of course.
Dick Van Dyke Reveals He Paid Walt Disney $4,000 to Play Banker in ‘Mary Poppins’
“I had to pay him to do the part … and I’d do it again,” the 92-year-old actor said of his fight to play a second role in the 1964 film, during a sit-down interview with Lin-Manuel Miranda for ‘Mary Poppins Returns: Behind the Magic — A Special Edition of 20/20,’ set to air Thursday.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Disney Christmas Vacation
Christmas at Disney provides a breathtaking display of festive food, magical entertainment and Christmas decor. The Disney parks go all out for the holidays, making it a must-see time of year for fans of all ages.
But which resort will best fit your merriment needs this holiday season? And when should you go? And how can you get a discount?
Christmas at Disney World: Big celebrations, bigger crowds
USA Today takes a look at the way Walt Disney World gets decorated for the Christmas season.
Florida Residents: Spring into 2019 with Great Rates at Select Disney Resort Hotels
Now, more than ever is a great time for you to stay in the middle of the magic with great Florida resident rates valid for travel January 1 through April 27, 2019.
For example, as a Florida resident, they can take advantage of rates as low as $79 per night, plus tax in a standard room at a select Disney’s All-Star Resort most Monday through Wednesday nights January 7 through February 13, 2019.
Staying at a uniquely themed Disney Resort hotel will help them make the most of their trip by giving them the opportunity to enjoy convenient benefits like early access to FastPass+ planning, Extra Magic Hour and a variety of complimentary transportation options.
Book this room offer now through April 27, 2019.
Sample Prices
These sample prices are valid for stays most Monday through Wednesday nights in a standard room or room with a standard view during the dates specified in the chart below. See all Disney Resort hotels included in this offer on the Offer Details tab.
|
Resorts |
Sample Prices |
Sample Prices |
Sample Prices |
| Disney’s All-Star Resort hotels (Standard Room) |
$79 per night, |
$102 per night, |
$102 per night, |
| Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort (Standard Room) |
$139 per night, |
$161 per night, |
$161 per night, |
| Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (Standard View) |
$243 per night, |
$284 per night, |
$284 per night, |
Important Details:
- Additional per-adult charges may apply if more than two adults per room at Disney Value, Moderate and Deluxe Resorts and Studios at Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts.
- Cannot be combined with any other discounts or promotions.
- Advance reservations required.
- Offer excludes the following room types: campsites, 3-bedroom villas, Cabins at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows.
- Proof of Florida residency required at check-in.
- Valid admission is required to enjoy theme parks and special events and is not included in this offer.
Disney Is Spending More on Theme Parks Than It Did on Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm Combined
There is nothing small about Walt Disney World. It is made up of four separate theme parks in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., near Orlando, with combined annual attendance of 56 million. The resort sprawls across 25,000 acres, an area nearly twice the size of Manhattan. A steel beam needed to build an “Avatar” attraction last year was so massive that Disney had to borrow crawler-transporters from NASA.
