WDW Daily News

From the complexity of the design to the thrill of each milestone, ship-building is truly awe-inspiring. So it’s no wonder our friends at National Geographic decided to document the construction of our newest Disney Cruise Line ship, the Disney Wish … and now, they’re sharing a behind-the-scenes look at this incredible process with the world!

“Making the Wish: Disney’s Newest Cruise Ship” premieres this Saturday, Dec. 24, at 9:00 p.m. EST on National Geographic Channel. This 90-minute special follows the process of designing, constructing and launching the Disney Wish through the eyes of the incredible Disney Cruise Line and Walt Disney Imagineering teams that brought the ship to life.

At the helm of this first-of-its-kind Disney Cruise Line documentary are National Geographic filmmakers Chad Cohen (director, writer and producer) and Bethany Jones (producer and writer) in partnership with Disney Yellow Shoes. Check out the teaser trailer and official description below:

“At a two-centuries old shipyard on Germany’s North Sea, a marvel of modern engineering is taking shape. Hundreds of construction workers, engineers, architects, designers, animators, composers, storytellers, cast and crew are transforming 144,000 tons of steel into perhaps the most enchanting vessel ever to take to sea. They’re making the Disney Wish a reality.”

We hope everyone will grab some popcorn, gather their family and friends, and tune in this Saturday to watch the debut of “Making the Wish: Disney’s Newest Cruise Ship” on National Geographic! 

Cast members and Imagineers are celebrating a moment of nostalgia at Magic Kingdom Park this week as we prepare to welcome guests aboard the Walt Disney World Railroad once again for the holiday season. This opening-day attraction returns with a completely refreshed track looping the park, and another new surprise for fans and first-comers alike.

Not only did this historic train undergo track updates and maintenance—as 100-year-old vintage steam trains do—the creative minds at Walt Disney Imagineering also seized this moment to revisit the narration and introduce an all-new voice to bring guests into the beloved stories they encounter as they travel from one magical land to the next. “The familiar whistle of its steam engine will be complemented by exciting new sounds and voices,” the team of Imagineers shared. “A new conductor has assumed the role, carrying on the long tradition of warm welcomes and amusing anecdotes while adding fresh commentary and story to the journey.”

The creative voiceover process is as detailed as the train operation itself, and it all starts with our conductor. For these meticulously restored steam trains, we know the scenic grand circle tour must be guided by a voice our guests can envision and resonate with. Someone who grew up on Main Street, U.S.A., dreaming of the day they’d be on the railroad. They’ve now achieved that dream, and they know everyone and everything at Magic Kingdom … an unofficial mayor of sorts. This conductor is humble, genial, and knowledgeable, and he’s eager to help passengers of these iconic steam trains get to their destinations around the park he loves so dearly.

While our conductor points guests to the familiar sights on their left and right, we embrace what makes Magic Kingdom a place unlike any other, where guests can escape into completely new worlds and celebrate with characters they love. This legacy attraction now holds true the very nostalgia of opening day and blends it with the wonder of new adventures, immersing everyone into story after story as it loops around the park. Guests may even encounter a character or two along the way!

We are delighted to share Walt Disney’s love of trains with the world once again, taking guests for the iconic grand circle tour of Magic Kingdom this holiday season. 

Hear ye, hear ye! Beginning Tuesday, Feb. 28, beloved Disney princesses will once again visit guests dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table at Magic Kingdom Park.

We are filled with excitement for our regal friends to return with this one-of-a-kind character dining experience in 2023. Prior to Feb. 28, guests can still enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner in this spectacular storybook setting inside of Cinderella castle. It’s the perfect place for park-goers to fuel up for adventures ahead with delicious breakfast fare, or to feast like royalty with enchanting prix-fixe lunch and dinner experiences.

Remember, to dine at Cinderella’s Royal Table, guests will need a confirmed dining reservation for all members of their party who are dining, regardless of age. Guests will also be required to have valid park admission and park reservations on the same day of their dining reservation for each Guest age three (3) and up. Reservations and additional details are available at DisneyWorld.com.

By: Disney Destinations

December 15, 2022

A visit to Walt Disney World lets guests leave reality behind and step into stories both familiar and new. And after a day of those exhilarating adventures, is there anything better than coming back to the fresh lobby scents, amenities and relaxation of a Disney Resort hotel?

We’ve had a lot to celebrate across our more than 25 resort hotels during our 50^th Anniversary celebration, and today we’re sharing an inside look at some big and exciting renovations that have been happening around our world. From new dining offerings, room remodels and expansions to refreshed lobby spaces, new furniture, smart technology and more … our Disney Resorts Collection has been rolling out constant, fresh updates ready to welcome guests real soon.

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Andy’s backyard is getting ready for more toys! Roundup Rodeo BBQ will open in Spring 2023 to welcome guests for delicious barbecue and toy-sized fun. We’re excited to share more details about the world’s first “Toy Story” table service restaurant, coming to Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Here’s a closer look at Roundup Rodeo BBQ, and how Imagineers collaborated with Disney Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney World Food & Beverage to design this one-of-a-kind dining experience. 

Using his imagination, Woody’s Roundup toys, and other playthings, Andy has built a rodeo restaurant for all his pals. We are excited for guests to enter the dining room and discover just how much fun Andy had creating a rollicking place for honorary toys to enjoy barbecue-inspired comfort foods served family-style, with platters of house-smoked meats, a roundup of sides and some miniature sweet surprises along the way.

In this wild, western setting, guests can find a steam train supported by colored pencils, a suspiciously impressive house of cards, and game boards featuring beloved characters from the “Toy Story” films. To fill the stands of his rodeo arena, Andy has decorated the cardboard box with hand-drawn audience members! The dining room also features the rodeo’s star performers: Jessie, Trixie, and Bo Peep with her leapin’ sheep Billy, Goat, and Gruff!

What we are really excited about with bringing these toys, games, and sets to the park is the collaboration with our pals at Disney Pixar Animation Studios to design figures unique to this restaurant and artwork that can only be found at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Imagineers worked closely with animators and designers at the renowned animation studio to bring characters and art from the films to life in new ways unique to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. They even designed full comic strips about Woody’s adventures, which Andy has used as part of the dining room ceiling!

Stay tuned for more rodeo fun as we work towards our Spring 2023 opening!

As part of the overarching transformation of EPCOT, Disney’s DuckTales World Showcase Adventure will debut to guests on Dec. 16 with the Play Disney Parks app!

Join Scrooge McDuck, his nephews and friends as they travel around EPCOT World Showcase on a quacky quest to find the Seven Plunders of the World —and return them to their rightful owners. This expedition is about adventure and faraway destinations, not plunder. Life is better when we explore the world around us. The treasures are hidden in each country pavilion:

• Mexico
• Norway
• China
• Germany
• Japan
• France
• United Kingdom

Each country has three assignments and one finale; each mission takes approximately 25-30 minutes to complete. Guests are encouraged to replay countries at their leisure as there are variables to the set of missions a Guest can receive. When a country is completed, guests will receive an achievement within the Disney Play App. Once all the countries have been completed, guests will unlock the finale mission which is playable within the app itself!

To play Disney DuckTales World Showcase Adventure, guests will be required to create an account for the Play Disney Parks app. Download the latest version of the Play Disney Parks app though either the App Store on iOS Devices or the Google Play Store on Android Devices.

Disneyland After Dark events are returning to the Disneyland Resort in 2023! Love is in the air for the ultimate date night at a royal gathering with two specially themed, limited-time after-park hours events, Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts’ Nite, and introducing for the very first time, Disneyland After Dark: Princess Nite! Magical entertainment, encounters with beloved Disney characters, one-of-a-kind photo opportunities, scrumptious foods and drinks, collectible merchandise and more make these special celebrations guests won’t want to miss!

Disneyland After Dark begins with a three-hour pre-party mix-in from 6 p.m. to  9 p.m. PT at Disneyland park, then the private party begins from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. PT, which also means guests may ride some popular attractions after regular park hours! Additionally, at each of these events, guests will receive unlimited digital downloads of Disney PhotoPass photos taken during the party, plus commemorative keepsakes including a souvenir credential and event guide map. 

Here are a few of the splendid details:

Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts’ Nite

Jan. 31, Feb. 2, 5, 7, 9, 14, 16, 2023, at Disneyland Park

Sweethearts’ Nite will take place on seven different “date nights” in Disneyland park – the most ever for a Disneyland After Dark event:

• Gaze up at a special themed fireworks show 
• Dance at the Royal Ball hosted by Aladdin and Jasmine near “it’s a small world”
• Take a moonlit cruise on the Mark Twain Riverboat with the sounds of a live jazz ensemble
• Relax and unwind to the sounds of island music from a Polynesian trio drifting through the night air at The Tropical Hideaway
• Delight in many deliciously themed menu items available for purchase, created just for the event 
• Capture your moment with photo opportunities with darling Disney couples and spots inspired by romantic scenes from Disney films such as “Lady and the Tramp” and “The Little Mermaid,” including  unlimited Disney PhotoPass digital photo downloads from the party
• Enjoy pre-party mix-in admission to Disneyland park starting at 6 p.m., no theme park reservation required

Disneyland After Dark: Princess Nite

March 7 & 9, 2023, at Disneyland Park

Guests are invited to be royally fierce at Disneyland After Dark: Princess Nite! This all-new, first-ever event will be a celebration under the stars where adventurous heroines and aspirational hearts unite! Immerse in this empowering night at Disneyland park with iconic characters who light the world with kindness, courage, and a touch of magic. With shimmering décor, special photo opportunities, themed food and beverage offerings, commemorative keepsakes and characters galore, guests will be ready to step into their own adventure of bravery and grace.

• Receive a royal welcome at the Disneyland Train Station featuring Princess Minnie Mouse and Princess Daisy Duck with fanfare trumpeters 
• Enjoy an inspiring musical concert celebrating heartwarming, adventurous heroines including Moana, Merida and more accompanied by live vocalists 
• Raise the royal roof and dance the night away at the high-energy, candy-themed dance party at Tomorrowland stage with Vanellope Von Schweetz
• Revel in Tiana’s Southern hospitality and dance along to jazz music in New Orleans Square
• Savor specialty menu items befitting royalty throughout Disneyland park, available for purchase 
• Picture yourself in photo backdrops inspired by Disney films like “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Princess Diaries” including unlimited Disney PhotoPass digital photo downloads from the party
• Have a ball with pre-party mix-in admission to Disneyland park starting at 6 p.m., no theme park reservation required

Tickets will be available on Disneyland.com beginning next week. On Dec. 12, 2022 (no earlier than 9 a.m. PT), a limited number of tickets for these Disneyland After Dark events go on pre-sale for Magic Key holders. On Dec. 14, 2022 (no earlier than 9 a.m. PT), tickets will go on sale to the general public and are subject to availability.*

*The number of tickets available for each event date are limited, and event tickets are valid only for the specific event date and hours. Parking fees are not included in the ticket price. Tickets must be purchased online and are not available on the day of the event. Limit eight (8) tickets per person, per event date, and no discounts apply. Tickets not required for guests ages 2 and under. Tickets are non-refundable and may not be resold or transferred for commercial purposes. Costumes are subject to Disney guidelines and should not be obstructive or offensive; please check special event costume guidelines at https://disneyland.disney.go.com/faq/parks/dress/ for restrictions. Disney PhotoPass service is subject to the Disney PhotoPass terms and expiration policy found at Disneyland.com/photopass-terms-conditions/. Online registration required.  Only select attractions, experiences, offerings, and services will be available during the event.  Event,  event elements, and available offerings may be modified and limited in availability, and are subject to restrictions, change or cancellation without notice or liability. No refunds given for any changes or cancellations whether due to inclement weather or otherwise. Visit Disneyland.com/updates for important information to know before visiting the Disneyland Resort.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is bringing some new flavors and dishes to its menus for guests to enjoy! For those venturing over to the resort, they’ll find some delicious updates coming to multiple locations, including The Mara and Jiko: The Cooking Place. In this edition of What’s Cooking from Disney Eats, we’ll be giving everyone the full run-down of all the new dishes on the way!

Starting out at Maji Pool Bar, this spot will be refreshing its menu starting on Dec. 8 to add poolside snacks with an African twist. First up is the Shrimp Bakuli, which means bowl in Swahili. This dish is inspired by the open-air food markets found in Zanzibar, Chef Sahib Bhatti’s home country, where each evening as the sun sets, the vendors prepare seafood delicacies with the day’s catch. The bakuli includes chilled poached shrimp, pickled carrots, and Basmati rice with a flavorful soy-ginger dressing and berbere aïoli.

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Over the past year, Disney has rolled out a series of helpful updates and enhancements to Disney Genie+ service. They are excited to share this update for both Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort.

To make it easier to change plans on the go, guests are now able to modify Lightning Lane selections made with Disney Genie+ service, without having to cancel and rebook their selection. Guests can now quickly search for and select other available attractions or arrival windows, helping them maximize their time in the theme parks.

Guests may select the three dots icon on their Lightning Lane selection from the Tip Board or My Day tab of Disney Genie service, and then select “Modify Plan” from the menu that appears.

After selecting “Modify Plan,” Lightning Lane experiences available at the park where the selection was originally made will appear. Guests may adjust their arrival window to a different time that is currently available, or may select a new experience to replace their Lightning Lane selection.

By selecting one of these options, the guest will be able to confirm the change. For guests who want to make a change for specific members of their party, they can adjust the party members prior to confirming the change.

In early 2024, Disney Cruise Line is going to be on island time! A variety of fan-favorite tropical locales are in store for guests and their family, including itineraries to the Caribbean, Mexico, Bahamas and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.

With sailings from two home ports in the Sunshine State as well as voyages from Texas, Louisiana and California, guests can escape the winter blues with a magical vacation at sea from wherever they are in 2024.  

Bookings open to the public on Dec. 15, 2022. Clients that are Disney Cruise Line Castaway Club and select other affinity groups may take advantage of the following extended early booking windows:

• Platinum Castaway Club Members, Golden Oak and Club 33 Members: Monday, Dec. 12, 2022
• Gold Castaway Club Members: Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022
• Silver Castaway Club Members, Disney Vacation Club and Adventure Insiders: Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022 
• Bookings open to all Guests: Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022

Sun-Drenched Getaways from South Florida

The Disney Dream will begin early 2024 with an assortment of three- and four-night getaways to the Bahamas and five-night vacations to the western Caribbean, all of which will feature classic Disney Cruise Line experiences such as Broadway-style shows, innovative dining, character encounters and fireworks at sea.

All sailings from Florida will include a stop at Castaway Cay, a picturesque private island oasis reserved exclusively for Disney Cruise Line guests. Located in the turquoise waters of the Bahamas, Castaway Cay provides the ultimate escape with something for everyone in the family, including adventure, relaxation and quality time.

Tropical Vacations from Central Florida

The Disney Wish will kick off 2024 with three- and four-night voyages to Nassau, Bahamas, and Castaway Cay departing from Port Canaveral, Florida, Disney Cruise Line’s home port located just one hour from Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. Cruises aboard the Disney Wish combine enchanting entertainment and numerous Disney Cruise Line firsts, bringing to life Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars stories around every corner of the vessel. 

Also from Port Canaveral, the Disney Fantasy will continue seven-night sailings to the white-sand beaches of the eastern and western Caribbean. Eastern Caribbean cruises will visit Tortola and St. Thomas, while western Caribbean itineraries will feature the ports of Cozumel, Mexico; Grand Cayman; and Falmouth, Jamaica. Every Disney Fantasy sailing also includes a stop at Castaway Cay, along with several days at sea, giving the family more time to enjoy all the fun and relaxation offered on board.

Caribbean Adventures from Texas and Louisiana

The Disney Magic will have two limited-time engagements in Galveston in early 2024. After ringing in the New Year from the Lonestar State, the ship will embark on Caribbean adventures ranging in length from four to six nights through the end of January. Upon returning for another month-long stint between March and April, the ship will sail cruises ranging from four to seven nights to the western Caribbean during the popular spring break period.

New Orleans will welcome the Disney Magic back for a second consecutive year in February 2024 with four-, five- and seven-night cruises to the Caribbean. The Big Easy is the perfect city to extend a vacation either before or after a cruise to enjoy jazz and jambalaya in the city that inspired Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “The Princess and the Frog.”  

Mexican Escapes from California

After returning from its inaugural season in Australia and New Zealand, the Disney Wonder will arrive in San Diego, California in March 2024 for three- to seven-night voyages to Mexico, including the Baja peninsula. Known for its vibrant culture, stunning beaches and saltwater adventures, families can visit some of Mexico’s most prized destinations, including Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Ensenada, along with stops to the inviting shores of Catalina Island off the California coast.