WDW Daily News

We’re still a month away from the May 27 debut of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at Walt Disney World Resort but … would you like a sneak peek? In the immortal words of Rocket … oh yeah.

So embrace your inner outlaw and check out the video below for a look inside the new Wonders of Xandar pavilion at EPCOT. You’ll also get a glimpse of what happens when you’re called into action alongside the Guardians of the Galaxy to save humanity from Eson the Celestial!

Get ready for an intergalactic chase through time and space as we prepare for the opening of this new family-thrill coaster at EPCOT.

Climb aboard explorers and hold on tight, because it’s time to take a deep dive into the creation of the freshly reimagined show, “Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!” – opening this summer at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park!

Stepping inside the Theater in the Wild, Guests will catch up with the group of fish from Dr. P. Sherman’s office in “Finding Nemo,” who have made their way across the ocean to the Marine Life Institute. The fish tell Nemo’s story in this fully updated, 25-minute show, incorporating live performers and puppets, along with many of the beloved songs and production numbers from the original “Finding Nemo: The Musical.”

In addition to a new script, the show will feature new scenic set pieces and a new LED video wall designed to visually extend the world created by the physical sets on stage. We aren’t talking small set pieces either. Be on the lookout for a 32-foot-long sunken submarine and a fish tank volcano standing nearly 15 feet tall!

Working in close collaboration with Pixar Animation Studios, artists and designers at Disney Live Entertainment also developed a new aesthetic for “Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!” inspired by layered, cut paper sculptures. The resulting look is fresh and unique to the show, while staying true to the designs in the original film. Check out the video below for a sneak peek.

“Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!” is just one of the many ways Disney is adding even more magic to the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary celebration in the coming months.

May 8 is coming up, which means Mother’s Day is just around the corner! The Disney chefs have put their creativity to the test when making delicious offerings to celebrate this year. From Walt Disney World Resort to Disneyland Resort, there are plenty of eats and sips to honor mothers, aunts, grandmothers, caregivers, mother figures, or any special person in your life!

This year, express your appreciation through flavors and enjoy these mouthwatering Mother’s Day treats!

Disneyland Resort

Disneyland Park

Plaza Inn

• Mother’s Day Brunch: Drop “inn” to enjoy a meal with family right in the middle of Main Street, U.S.A. with classic American fare joined by Minnie Mouse and her friends. Starting April 20, you can reserve your spot.

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In honor of the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary celebration, Disney PhotoPass Service is introducing “Cinderella Castle Mural of Memories,” which lets Guests magically transform Cinderella Castle with their photos. While at Magic Kingdom Park, Guests can use the My Disney Experience app to add select Disney PhotoPass photos to Cinderella Castle using  augmented reality technology, brought to life through Disney’s collaboration with Snap.

Once Guests get started, the experience will prompt them to select a portrait-oriented Disney PhotoPass photo from their photo gallery within the My Disney Experience app. If Guests prefer not to use one of these photos, they can also choose from a collection of images featuring Disney icons and favorite characters.

This experience, available for $9.99, includes:

• A spot on Cinderella Castle to digitally pin a photo, which will be waiting for Guests to view again and again during visits to Magic Kingdom Park throughout the celebration and beyond (for at least three years).
• A special video of Guests’ photos flying from the castle that can be downloaded and shared.
• The ability to download a high-resolution version of the pinned photo from your Disney PhotoPass gallery without watermarks (a $16.95 value), both in its original form and an additional version with a special border applied that includes your first name. If you’re a Disney cast member, Annual Passholder, Disney Vacation Club Member, or Club 33 Member, you’ll even receive a personalized border reflecting your affiliation.

As the celebration continues, additional sections of the castle will be released, onto which Guests can pin their memories. Encourage Guests to check back each visit to Magic Kingdom Park to see how the mural has grown!

Get your appetites ready! Connections Café & Eatery officially opens April 27 at EPCOT. Some guests may even get the chance for a sneak peek if they’re in the park over the next few days.

For guests who enjoy food inspired by delicious cuisines from around the world, they’re going to love this new quick-service restaurant. Plus, who could pass up a beautifully decorated new space to relax in some air-conditioning? It’s a win-win!

The fast-casual restaurant’s design includes nods to Walt Disney’s original plans for EPCOT. The new location features two distinct experiences all under one roof – an eatery on one side serving lunch and dinner menus, and a café and pastry shop on the other open all day long. This large new dining location is the next step in the ongoing transformation of EPCOT and a highlight of the newly-named World Celebration neighborhood.

If walking past Spaceship Earth on the way into the park, guests can find Connections Café and Eatery on the left-hand side. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer a full view of the bright, open space featuring modern décor and inviting aromas of pastries baking, fresh coffee brewing and delicious burgers on the grill. Since World Celebration is located in the center of the park, Connections Café & Eatery offers some incredible views. From a Xandarian Starblaster on one side to Spaceship Earth on the other, this is a great spot to sit back and enjoy quality time with friends and family around a tasty meal or drink.

A colorful mural spans one entire wall, called “Global Gathering.” This magnificent piece of art depicts the heart of this restaurant – people from around the world gathering around food. It’s one of the largest murals Walt Disney Imagineering has ever created. Guests might even notice the scenes blend seamlessly from sunrise to sunset.

Guests will be captivated by the chefs at work in three show kitchens. Catch them grilling, sautéing and baking everything from burgers to pizzas and sprinkling a little extra pixie dust on delightful desserts from milkshakes to waffles.

Whether guests prefer coffee or tea, people from all over the globe love sitting together to savor a brewed beverage. This idea is on prominent display in Connections Café through a colorful showcase of how various cultures enjoy their favorite drinks.

And while enjoying a meal or that much-needed cup of coffee, don’t forget to look down! There are three original floor inlays inspired by Walt’s 1966 “Florida Project” site plans, where EPCOT was to serve as the literal and conceptual “center” of Walt Disney World. Thoughtful details like these really bring this location to life by honoring the original dream of EPCOT and the magic of possibility. The park’s original DNA is woven throughout Connections Café and Eatery, the latest example of how this EPCOT transformation honors our past while moving us forward into the future.

EPCOT has always been a place where inspiration and big ideas come to life. With the opening of Connections Café & Eatery, that vision continues to become reality as we celebrate one another, what makes us unique and the commonalities that tie us all together.

As you know, updates to our health and safety guidelines at Walt Disney World Resort have been very gradual and intentional.

Given recent guidance and trends, Guests may now choose whether to wear a face covering on monorails and buses at Walt Disney World Resort, effective immediately. It is recommended Guests who are not fully vaccinated continue wearing a face covering in all indoor locations and enclosed transportation.

Slowly but surely, the Marvel characters are amping up their presence in the Disney theme parks. The latest attraction modeled after some popular characters from the MCU is the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind roller coaster, which is gearing up for its official launch on May 27, 2022.

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The return of the nighttime spectaculars at Disneyland Resort is just days away! The “Main Street Electrical Parade” and “Disneyland Forever” fireworks are returning to Disneyland park, and “World of Color” will be back for guests to enjoy at Disney California Adventure park beginning Friday, April 22!

Believe it or not, the “Main Street Electrical Parade” is celebrating its 50^th anniversary this year. Generations of Guests have been delighting in this fan-favorite spectacular for five decades, and the enchantment will continue for a whole new generation of dreamers. It’s bound to be a magical homecoming!

In honor of the parade’s milestone anniversary, the “Main Street Electrical Parade” will return with an all-new, enchanted grand finale that celebrates the theme of togetherness. This universal theme is reflected in the creative concept of the new finale sequence.

Inspired by both the original design of classic “Main Street Electrical Parade” floats and Disney Legend Mary Blair’s iconic art style on “it’s a small world,” the new grand finale brings together more than a dozen Disney Animation and Pixar stories. These stories are interpreted in thousands of sparkling lights and electro-synthe-magnetic musical sound, with unique representations of beloved characters as animated dolls.

Two of the show directors for “Main Street Electrical Parade,” Jordan Peterson and Robin Trowbridge, are here to explain a bit more about the new finale, and an exciting first look!

It’s almost time – get ready to “ignite the night” at Disneyland Resort once again!

Theme Park reservations and valid admission for the same Park on the same day are required for Park entry. Park reservations are limited, subject to availability and not guaranteed. Entertainment, experiences, and offerings may be modified, limited in availability or unavailable, and are subject to restrictions, and change or cancellation without notice. Park admission and offerings are not guaranteed. Visit Disneyland.com/Updates for important information to know before visiting.

Here at Disneyland Resort, we are dedicated to reducing food waste, diverting more than five million pounds of food from landfills and donating 2,000 pounds of food per month to Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County. Visiting the Disneyland Resort during Earth Month? Here are a few ways Guests can be a part of our efforts to “Zero in on Zero Waste” this April with some helpful tips and fun events!

Check out the Environmental Art Challenge at Disney California Adventure Park

While enjoying the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival through April 26, Guests can head over to the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail where they can vote on their favorite environmental art pieces, all created by Disneyland Resort Cast Members with recycled and reused materials. Guests can simply drop a token next to the one they like the most, and it could be the winner! The art pieces will be on display for Guests to enjoy through April 30.

Use Reusable Utensils

Speaking of the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival, as Guests enjoy your food, they can use reusable utensils to help save on waste! Bring some from home, or they are available to purchase at each Food & Wine Festival Marketplace and select food and beverage locations throughout the resort. Guests can continue to reuse and enjoy even after the festival is over!

Take Advantage of the New Food Waste Bins

Disneyland Resort has an eye-catching, themed lineup of different trash cans making it easier for Guests to know where to discard their waste. Done with that soda but still have ice leftover? Simply dump it down the special funnel on the trash can labeled “Liquids and Ice.” Doing this helps keep the other materials like paper, plastic or aluminum dry for sorting and recycling. More recently, a new member was added to the lineup of receptacles… food waste bins! Throw any leftover fries, pizza crusts or fruit peels in the new food scrap receptacles located at Galactic Grill inside Disneyland Park (and be on the lookout for more locations coming soon!) These actions will help the Disneyland Resort reach the goal of zero waste to landfill by 2030.

Enjoy Earth Month Activities at the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort

Every Thursday from April 7-28, 2022, Guests at the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort can join in on family-friendly Earth Month activities!* Curious about what bugs are actually helpful for the garden? The Disneyland Resort horticulture team is going to host a “Beneficial Garden Insects Show & Tell” at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. And those reusable utensils? Guests will have the chance to decorate their own pouch to take home.* For more information on these activities, Guests can contact Hotel Guest Services during their stay.

Put your Environmental IQ to the Test with Waste Trivia on Play Disney Parks app

From April 22-28, Guests can test their environmental knowledge, whether in the parks or at home, on the Play Disney Parks app with zero waste trivia questions!

Have a “Whale” of a Time in Downtown Disney District

Coming from the Wyland Foundation’s Streams of Hope is a mural of Stella, a baby gray whale, at the Downtown Disney District adjacent from Star Wars™ Trading Post. Guests can learn about ways to protect our oceans with this new art feature throughout the month of April!

*Additional fees may be required.

**Message, data and roaming rates may apply. Availability subject to handset limitations and features may vary by handset or service provider. Coverage and app stores not available everywhere. If you’re under 18, get your parents’ permission first.  Some app features require valid theme park admission and park reservation.

When it comes to Magic Shots, Disney PhotoPass Service offers a wonderful variety during the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival. Birds, bees, fairies and flowers – we’ve got it all!  

Here’s a sneak peek at five Magic Shots Guests can capture with Disney PhotoPass Service at EPCOT during the festival. While we’ve included the locations where each one of these shots is available, Guests should be sure to ask any photographer throughout the park what Magic Shot they offer at their individual location.

We can’t talk about Bruno flowers and magic and not mention Isabela. This Magic Shot is available by the water near Journey Into Imagination With Figment.

At Walt Disney World Resort, anything is possible. Guests should keep their eyes peeled for this sweet Orange Bird Magic Shot, available near the main entrance of the park and at photo spots next to Spaceship Earth.

Spike can fly into Guest photos anywhere in World Showcase.   

Get a photo with a kaleidoscope of butterflies near the entrance to World Showcase, close to Port of Entry.    

Lastly, Guests can swing by any Disney PhotoPass location at EPCOT to capture this pixie-dusted Magic Shot. 

Guests can also make their own magic with one of our newest Disney PhotoPass Lenses. It’s available to use anywhere at Walt Disney World Resort through the My Disney Experience app with the purchase of Disney Genie+ service.*

Enjoy letting your imagination grow wild at the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival!

*With the purchase of Disney Genie+ service, Walt Disney World guests can access many Disney PhotoPass Lenses in the My Disney Experience app as soon as they enter the park. Select Disney PhotoPass Lenses are accessible only within designated areas of Walt Disney World Resort. Other Disney PhotoPass Lenses will remain accessible in the My Disney Experience app until 5:59 a.m. on the 45^th day after the day on which the Disney Genie+ service was used; certain states and localities are excluded. Many Disney PhotoPass Lenses use technology that detects the coordinates of key points on a guest’s face and/or hands and may be used only by guests 18 years of age and older who have consented to use of this technology. Therefore, guests unable to provide such consent, as well as guests under 18 years of age, will have fewer lenses available to use. To access Disney PhotoPass Lenses, an eligible mobile device with the My Disney Experience app with access to the device’s camera and location is required. A purchase of Disney Genie+ service at Walt Disney World Resort does not include downloads of a guest’s Disney PhotoPass photos or videos that were captured by photographers and onboard attractions. Use of Disney PhotoPass Lenses is subject to the Terms and Conditions. Subject to restrictions and change without notice.