WDW Daily News

Fifty years ago, fandom was changed forever when Nostalgia ‘72 took over the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont Illinois, creating the first space in the midwest for fans to gather and celebrate comics. Now known as FAN EXPO Chicago, the convention will return for its biggest show yet – bringing an incredible round-up of legendary celebrities, comic creators, voice actors and cosplayers to the Windy City from July 7 to July 10.

To celebrate the golden anniversary, FAN EXPO Chicago has assembled an incredible roster of superstar comic artists and writers, headlined by legends Brian Michael Bendis (writer, creator of “Naomi”), Geoff Johns (writer, creator of “Stargirl”), Joe Quesada (CCO, Marvel Entertainment) Greg Capullo (“Batman”), Marc Silvestri (celebrating 30 years of Image Comics), Kevin Smith (“Daredevil”), Leinil Francis Yu (“X-Men”), Jorge Molina (“Batman”) and dozens of others.

In 1972, Chicago collectibles dealer and local school teacher Nancy Warner made history when she united 2,000 of Chicago’s biggest comic fans in the midwest’s first ever comic and collectibles convention. Beginning as a space by and for comic collectors, and expanding to include exhibits, attractions and celebrities from all walks of fandom, what is now known as FAN EXPO Chicago is gearing up for its biggest year ever – while paying homage to the traditional comic culture that started it all.

“While the phrase ‘comic con’ continues to grow in popularity with convention groups throughout the world, it sometimes feels like those groups have left the actual comics in the dust,” said Andrew Moyes, vice president of FAN EXPO HQ. “Fandom culture is more than just blockbuster movies – it’s a deep loyalty to and appreciation of the classics and a celebration of the everlasting impact those comics, characters and creators have had on each of us. At FAN EXPO Chicago, we’re working to take the fan experience to new levels, while also staying true to the root of who we – and our guests – are.”

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Guests will once again be able to travel around Walt Disney World in style with Minnie Vans Connected by Lyft beginning June 29, available on demand right from their smartphone. With special drop-off locations that can only be accessed by Minnie Vans, Guests using this service can reach select Walt Disney World destinations quickly and with a bit of extra pixie dust that only our Disney Cast Members can provide.

Our specially trained Disney Cast Member drivers, many of whom are returning experts from the service’s previous run, are revving up to welcome Guests back onboard this private transportation with a personalized approach that makes traveling around Walt Disney World even more magical. Whether sharing tips for planning their day, installing car seats for little ones (two available per vehicle) or playing fan-favorite music throughout their journey, our Cast Members are ready to provide an exceptional experience tailored to your client’s family of up to six passengers

We’re excited to share new details for the first-ever Disneyland After Dark: Grad Nite Reunion, taking place at Disney California Adventure Park June 23, 28, and 30, 2022.

That’s right! It’s almost time for the most epic throwback to high school grad night! This separately ticketed Disneyland After Dark event is a reunion party celebrating past and present decades. We invite Guests to remember the fun, reunite with friends and get a little nostalgic. From entertainment experiences to unique cafeteria-inspired foods, park attractions access, usually with shorter wait times, and more, it is an evening of grad nights of yesteryears and today’s “Greatest Hits!”

New details:

Dance and Sing the Decades Away

• Guests can join a high-energy moving pep-rally on the parade route featuring Mickey’s glee club and Goofy’s dance team amped up with music by the All-American College Band
• In Cars Land, enjoy a Route 66 street party throwing back to the 60s, including “Hot-Rod” the DJ spinning classic tunes from the 60s, plus learn the Hully Gully and more with dance instructor “Cam”
• In Hollywood Land, enjoy a graduating class dance party as a DJ plays multiple present-day hit tracks, including top genres, like Hip Hop, Cumbia, Reggae, Punk, Funk and more
• In Pacific Wharf, sing all night long in our totally retro disco karaoke to the greatest disco hits of the 70s & 80s

Capture Special Memories

• Guests will be able to capture photos with characters such as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Daisy, Chip and Dale in their graduation cap and gown outfits, of course
• Picture themselves aboard a school bus on their way to grad night

Savor Nostalgic Flavors

Enjoy unique cafeteria-inspired foods throughout Disney California Adventure Park, including at Award Wieners, Clarabelle’s Hand Scooped Ice Cream, Cozy Cone Motel, Pacific Wharf Café, Hollywood Lounge, Pym Test Kitchen, Terran Treats, Schmoozies!, Smokejumpers Grill and more. Mobile order is available at select locations, so Guests won’t want to forget to download the Disneyland app in advance to mobile order many of these limited-time food and beverage offerings during the event!

Here are a few our Guests can look out for!

The OG Hot Dog from Award Wieners in Hollywood Land: Bacon-wrapped all-beef footlong hot dog with grilled onions, mayo, mustard, spicy ketchup and pickled jalapeno relish served on a toasted bun with choice of mandarin oranges or filmstrip fries.

All That and a Berry Cereal shake from Schmoozies! in Hollywood Land: Vanilla ice cream shake with crunchy cereal topped with whipped cream and berry cereal.

The Stupendous Sriracha & Bacon Pizza Slice from Pym Test Kitchen in Avengers Campus: Spicy sriracha pizza with spicy candied bacon and fried eggs, served with kale Caesar salad.

It’s Like a Unicorn Raspberry Cheesecake Ration from Terran Treats in Avengers Campus: Yellow raspberry-flavored spiral churro with cheesecake icing.

Cherry Cone-vertible from Cozy Cone Motel in Cars Land: Vanilla soft serve served in a cinnamon bread cone with warm cherries.

Cheeseburger Mac Burger from Smokejumpers Grill in Grizzly Peak: Double burger patties topped with cheeseburger mac, burger sauce, pickles and cheese sauce served with crinkle-cut fries.

Bling Bling Cereal Churro from Goofy’s Churro Cart: Classic churro rolled in chocolate cookie crumbs topped with cereal mix and condensed milk.

Party attire is encouraged for this event, so don’t let Guests forget to show their school spirit! (Please read the Disneyland Resort Attire Guidelines.)

How’s all that for an update of the decades? And don’t forget – also included with Guests’ tickets, they’ll have three additional hours pre-party to mix-in at Disney California Adventure Park!

Disneyland After Dark: Grad Nite Reunion is only available for three nights – availability is limited. Don’t let Guests miss experiencing grad night once more at Disney California Adventure Park!

Visit Disneyland.com/DisneylandAfterDark for additional details. Parking fees are not included in the ticket price

On June 13, 2022, Disney’s Animal Kingdom will debut “Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!” marking the freshly reimagined return of one of its most popular musical entertainment experiences. This fully updated, 25-minute stage show incorporates live performers and puppets, along with many favorite production numbers from the original “Finding Nemo: The Musical.” In addition to a new script, the show features new set pieces with a fresh look, and a new LED video wall designed to visually extend the world created by the physical sets on stage – such as a 32-foot-long sunken submarine and a 15-foot-tall fish tank volcano.

Disney PhotoPass Service is bringing Guests a lens that will help them live their Star Wars story wherever they are – without needing to make the jump to hyperspace.

First, they can use this lens to select their species. Maybe they’re a Zabrak with a crown of horns protruding through their head. Perhaps they’re a Twi’lek or Togruta showing off their very striking features. Or, maybe they’re simply a human. That’s fine too!

Then they can discover who they truly are, because they can choose to unveil their hidden identity as one of the Empire’s Jedi-hunting Inquisitors – just like those seen in the new limited series “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” now streaming only on Disney+. 

I sense a disturbance in the Force.

Now through June 7, Guests can enjoy complimentary access to this lens in the Snapchat app by visiting the Lenses section of the Disney PhotoPass Service Snapchat profile. Whether they’re in the parks or at home, they can use this lens to capture out-of-this-galaxy photos and videos.

Starting June 8, this lens will be available exclusively in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios through the My Disney Experience app with the purchase of Disney Genie+ service.* With their purchase, they’ll unlock many other Disney PhotoPass Lenses, giving them a fun new way to capture the magic of Walt Disney World Resort right from their mobile device.                           

*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.

Beginning today, Disney Parks are celebrating PRIDE Month as part of our commitment to recognize and celebrate the contributions, cultures and experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community. 

This year, at all four Walt Disney World theme parks, look for all-new incredible, Pride-themed backdrops celebrating love. Each park photo wall is unique, themed to its surroundings and honors the diversity and pride within the LGBTQIA+ community, like the one above at EPCOT.

For those who want to do something a little different, Disney PhotoPass Service will have photo props like a rainbow umbrella, Magic Shots and colorful photo opportunities throughout Walt Disney World, plus new virtual backdrops at the Disney PhotoPass Studio at Disney Springs.

At Disney Springs, Guests will find new décor and photo opportunities in celebration of Pride Month, as well as a new photo opportunity inspired by Love, Victor – a Hulu Original Series. The final season will debut on June 15 on Hulu and Disney+. Don’t miss the Disney Springs Art Walk, which celebrates the work of both local artists and artists from around the globe and currently features a new piece from Chad Mize, a multimedia artist, designer and muralist.

Locations including T-REX Cafe, Kendra Scott, Kate Spade New York, Coca Cola Store and more will also have exciting offerings throughout the month of June. Learn more here about the latest Pride Month offerings at Disney Springs.  

Of course, no celebration is complete without food! Coming soon, keep an eye out for this month’s Foodie Guide to limited-time food and beverage offerings available throughout Walt Disney World and Disneyland.

In the My Disney Experience app, look for new pass designs for Disney MagicMobile service, now available on eligible iPhones, Apple Watch or Google Pay enabled Android phones. Personalize your pass with a variety of designs in honor of Pride Month.

  

The brand new Disney Pride Collection is available throughout Walt Disney World this month and beyond, with apparel, accessories, pins and more from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars. And this month is the perfect time to shop, with profits from the Disney Pride Collection benefiting organizations that support LGBTQIA+ youth and families, including Zebra Coalition, based here in Central Florida.

In an effort to further support the Zebra Coalition in its mission to provide a community where all youth feel safe and empowered, we are donating an additional $100,000 to help expand its housing and counseling services. To learn more about this organization and others, visit TWDCPrideCollection.com.

No matter what our guests are celebrating, an iconic ear hat has been a Disney tradition since the very beginning. This month, we’re introducing new stitching colors options to Share Your Pride. These new personalization options will be available year-round and feature the colors of the pride and transgender flags. Personalization options are available at Curtain Call Collectibles at Magic Kingdom Park, Gateway Gifts at EPCOT and Disney’s Wonderful World of Memories at Disney Springs

We hope you’re ready for some foodie news that’ll rock Guests’ taste buds’ world because we’ve got some exciting updates that are coming soon to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. From sweets to the savory, there are plenty of new items joining the treats roster at the park, and they are not to be missed.

The foodie adventure is about to begin. Let’s get into this edition of What’s Cooking, shall we?

Whether they’ve been to Sci-Fi Dine-in Theater Restaurant before or have always wanted to drive into this retro classic, the new menu premiering June 2 is not to be missed. This “theater” is debuting some super tasty offerings including appetizers, entrées, and desserts. Guests can start their meal with the Sci-fi Smoked Wings tossed in a porter barbecue sauce with a house-made pineapple and poppy seed coleslaw or the Spinach and Artichoke Dip, a plant-based blend of spinach, artichoke, red peppers, cauliflower, cashew cheese, and oat milk served with house-made chips.

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The Eat to the Beat Concert Series presented by Florida Blue Medicare is ready to serve up some piping hot tunes at the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival presented by CORKCICLE starting this July!

This year, we’re following the same recipe as our recent festivals, with internationally recognized artists as well as local bands bringing their sizzling sounds to the America Gardens Theatre stage. Our five-star menu has something for every taste – from house favorites like Baha Men, Tiffany, and Air Supply, to fresh-to-the-festival acts like Hoobastank, Los Amigos Invisibles and Stokley.

Get a taste of the announced artists below:

• July 14-15 – Baha Men
• July 16-18 – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
• July 29-30 – Taylor Dayne
• July 31-Aug. 1 – Tiffany
• Aug. 5-8 – Joey Fatone & Friends
• Aug. 12-13 – The Devon Allman Project
• Aug. 14-15 – Christopher Cross
• Aug. 19-20 – Journey former Lead Vocalist Steve Augeri
• Aug. 21-22 – Air Supply
• Sept. 2-3 – Southern Avenue
• Sept. 4-5 – Kris Allen & David Cook
• Sept. 9-10 – Hoobastank (NEW)
• Sept. 16-17 – Los Amigos Invisibles (NEW)
• Sept. 23-24 – BBMak
• Sept. 30-Oct. 1 – Stokley (NEW)
• Oct. 2-3 – Sheila E.
• Oct. 7-8 – Mark Wills
• Oct. 9-10 – 38 Special
• Oct. 23-24 – Billy Ocean
• Oct. 28-31 – Hanson
• Nov. 4-7 – Boyz II Men

Beginning May 24, Guests can secure their spot at the show by reserving an Eat to the Beat Dining Package available Friday-Monday. Find out more by visiting TasteEPCOT.com. 

The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival runs July 14 through Nov. 19, giving Guests plenty of time to taste their way around the world with an irresistible selection of gourmet plates and refreshing beverages at more than 25 Global Marketplaces located throughout the park. That’s nearly 130 days to feast on heartwarming dishes inspired by campfire-cooked summertime favorites at Flavors from Fire, dig into South American cuisine and culture at Brazil, or snack on crispy yucca fries at The Fry Basket.  

Cheese lovers will want to check out Emile’s Fromage Montage, where they can sample a variety of delicious cheeses served in inventive ways. Purchase any five cheese dishes listed in the Festival Passport and collect a stamp for each cheese dish purchased. Once they’ve collected all five stamps, Guests can bring the stamped Festival Passport to Shimmering Sips for a specialty item. 

To experience EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, Guests must have both valid admission and a park reservation for EPCOT on the same date.

It’s almost time for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind to launch into EPCOT on May 27, and we can’t wait for the world to experience this intergalactic chase through space and time. Before clients help save the galaxy, there are a few things to know about how to experience this incredible new attraction, which will open with a virtual queue. Clients may also have the opportunity to purchase an individual Lightning Lane entry to the attraction. At this time, there will not be a standby queue option.

How to enter the virtual queue

Beginning at 7 a.m. on the day of their park reservation, clients with a valid ticket or pass and a Disney Park Pass Reservation for EPCOT will be able to check for an available boarding group via the My Disney Experience app* and request access to the virtual queue. This can be done before clients leave their Resort hotel or on the way to the park.

At 1 p.m., there will be another opportunity to join the virtual queue for anyone who wasn’t able to join a boarding group earlier in the day. Keep in mind, you must be inside EPCOT to access this second virtual queue opportunity.

In order to give as many guests as possible the opportunity to save the galaxy, each person can enter the virtual queue no more than once per day during regular park hours. Please note that joining the virtual queue does not guarantee the ability to experience Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

Virtual queue during extended evening hours

Registered guests staying at a Disney Deluxe Resort, Disney Deluxe Villa Resort or other select hotels will have an additional opportunity to request to join the virtual queue at 6 p.m. on select dates during extended evening theme park hours. Guests with this benefit do not need to be in EPCOT to request to join at that time.

Guests will need valid admission and a theme park reservation for the same park on the same day to experience extended evening hours — or, guests may experience extended evening hours if they have a ticket or annual pass with the Park Hopper option and first enter the park where they made their reservation.

How to purchase individual Lightning Lane entry

Clients with valid park admission and a park reservation can purchase individual Lightning Lane entry in the My Disney Experience app* via the Disney Genie service on the same day of their visit, subject to availability.

Virtual queue and individual Lightning Lane entry are only accessible via the My Disney Experience app*. If clients have questions or need assistance registering for virtual queue or purchasing an individual Lightning Lane entry, look for one of the Guest Experience Team Cast Members throughout the park, who will be happy to assist.

How to download and share attraction photos

After experiencing Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, don’t forget about the attraction photo! There will be two options to automatically link the attraction photo to a My Disney Experience account:

• Enable Bluetooth® on a mobile device for the My Disney Experience app* before riding. Log in to the app sometime earlier that day, and keep the device out of low power mode. Then, just keep the device in a pocket or bag while enjoying the ride.*
• Wear a MagicBand that is linked to a My Disney Experience account.

We can’t wait to welcome everyone to this awesome new family thrill-coaster! As Rocket says, “It’s save the galaxy time – again.”

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

DIsney is making an adjustment to how guests purchase Disney Genie+ service at Walt Disney World Resort, which remains popular and in high demand amongst our guests.  

Beginning June 8, Disney Genie+ will only be offered through the My Disney Experience app on the day of visit – we will no longer offer the option to purchase this service pre-arrival as a ticket add-on for dates remaining in 2022 and in 2023.  

This means that, moving forward, whether guests have an Annual Pass, multi- or single-day ticket, they will now purchase Disney Genie+ on the day of their visit via the My Disney Experience app, one day at a time, subject to availability.

If guests have already purchased a ticket or package that includes Disney Genie+ service for dates later in 2022, the service will be honored during their visit. Please also note this update is also only happening at Walt Disney World Resort and will not affect Disneyland Resort, as the services vary at each destination.

Additionally, Walt Disney World Resort theme park tickets, Disney Resort hotel stays and packages for visits in 2023 will also open bookings beginning June 8. We look forward to sharing additional details about our 2023 packages and ticket product soon.

We are excited to share that our early theme park entry benefit for Disney Resort hotel guests will continue for visits throughout all of 2023, giving Resort guests the first chance to enjoy select attractions at every theme park, every day (valid admission, park reservation and Resort id required).