WDW Daily News

Disney Cruise Line Guests will be immersed in the ever-unfolding stories of their favorite toys, monsters and heroes during the all-new Pixar Day at Sea aboard special sailings on the Disney Fantasy in early 2023.

Featuring one-of-a-kind experiences, this day-long celebration on select seven-night voyages will bring to life the beloved Pixar tales of “Toy Story,” “Monsters, Inc.,” “The Incredibles,” “Finding Nemo” and more exclusively for Disney Cruise Line Guests. Themed dining, character encounters, dance parties and a theatrical musical experience await families on this fun-filled day at sea that culminates with a deck party of incredible proportions.

A Pixar film festival, exclusive merchandise and photo opportunities will also be available as part of the new celebration. Other details and highlights include: 

Character Encounters

• From morning until night, Guests will dance, play and interact with their favorite Pixar pals, including Woody, Buzz Lightyear and Bo Peep from “Toy Story”; Mike, Sulley and Boo from “Monsters, Inc.”; Joy and Sadness from “Inside Out”; Dug and Russell from “Up”; and everyone’s favorite supers – Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl and Frozone from “The Incredibles.”

Immersive Entertainment

• A new nighttime spectacular will call upon Disney Cruise Line Guests to help the Incredibles save the day.
• A first-of-its-kind theatrical experience will bring to life the beloved story of Miguel and his family from “Coco” through live music and puppetry.
• Families will be able to join their favorite characters from the beloved Pixar films for a dance party bash. 

Dining Filled with Character

• A new, interactive character dining experience hosted by Sheriff Woody, Jesse and Bullseye will kick-start the day with sing-a-longs, cowboy serenades and all the country breakfast fixins.
• Families will enjoy a Pixar-themed dinner with dishes inspired by the Pixar Animation Studios’ California locale.
• Guests will immerse themselves in undersea magic while dining in Animator’s Palate with visits from some of their favorite “Finding Nemo” friends, including interactive conversations with Crush.

Pixar Day at Sea will be included on nine select Disney Fantasy cruises from January through March 2023. Departing from Port Canaveral, Florida, the Disney Fantasy will sail to several Guest-favorite destinations in the eastern and western Caribbean. Eastern Caribbean itineraries feature stops in ports such as Tortola, St. Thomas and San Juan, Puerto Rico, while western Caribbean sailings visit Cozumel, Mexico; Grand Cayman; and Falmouth, Jamaica. Every cruise includes a visit to Disney’s private island oasis, Castaway Cay.

In an effort to continually enhance the Guest experience here at Walt Disney World, we refresh our offerings from time to time. As previously announced in May 2021, Disney Skyliner transportation between EPCOT International Gateway, Disney’s Riviera Resort and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort will be unavailable from Sunday, Jan. 23 through Friday, Jan. 28.

Alternate transportation will be available to help Guests reach their destination during this refurbishment.

Yee-haw, attention all honorary toys! After enjoying a rollicking ride through Toy Story Mania!, Guests will soon be treated to a new experience that is filled to the brim with fun. Andy discovered Jessie’s Trading Post playset tucked away in the attic, and is bringing it downstairs to set up shop—full of the coolest toys and finest souvenirs handpicked by the rootinest, tootinest cowgirl.

Also coming in 2022 to Andy’s backyard is the previously announced Roundup Rodeo BBQ restaurant! In this unique, fun, family-friendly dining experience, Guests will enjoy delicious barbecue fare while surrounded by a kaleidoscope of toys, games, and playsets that Andy has brought together to create his one-of-a-kind rodeo.

Stepping into the lobby and waiting area, Guests experience first-hand what it feels like to be one of Andy’s honorary toys, before progressing into two larger dining room spaces where Andy’s rodeo takes place. Here, the rodeo will be in full swing, with western town and train station playsets mixing with surprising, playful details, like some fan-favorite Pixar characters as they’ve never been seen before!

Get your air guitars ready, because the popular Garden Rocks Concert Series returns to the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival this March! New this year, internationally recognized artists will bring the groove to the America Gardens Theater stage Friday-Monday, while local Orlando bands step into the spotlight Tuesday-Thursday.

The series features something for everyone – from returning favorites like The Guess Who, Rick Springfield and Simple Plan to Latin hitmakers Melina León and Claudia Leitte, Christian music superstar TobyMac and groovin’ legends Kool & The Gang. 

• March 4-5 – The Guess Who
• March 6-7 – Rick Springfield
• March 11-12 – Melina Leon – NEW to Garden Rocks
• March 18-19 – Mike DelGuidice, currently on tour with Billy Joel – NEW
• March 20-21 – Kool & The Gang – NEW to Garden Rocks
• March 25-28 – The Orchestra starring former members of ELO
• April 1-2 – The Spinners
• April 3-4 – The Pointer Sisters
• April 8-9 – Blue October – NEW to Garden Rocks
• April 15-16 – Tommy DeCarlo, singer of the band Boston – NEW
• April 17-18 – Don Felder, Formerly of The Eagles
• April 22-23 – STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas
• April 24-25 – Claudia Leitte – NEW
• April 29-30 – Berlin
• May 1-2 – TobyMac
• May 6-7 – Blood, Sweat & Tears
• May 8-9 – The Commodores – NEW to Garden Rocks
• May 13-14 – Ambrosia with Peter Beckett – NEW
• May 20-21 – A Flock Of Seagulls
• May 22-23 – Collin Raye – NEW
• May 27-28 – Thelma Houston – NEW
• May 29-30 – Little River Band
• June 3-6 – Simple Plan
• June 10-13 – Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone
• June 17-20 – Plain White T’s

Beginning Jan. 19, Guests can secure their spot at the show by booking a Garden Rocks Dining Package available Friday-Monday. Find out more by visiting FreshEPCOT.com. Stay tuned for more details about the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival happening during the 18-month long Walt Disney World Resort 50th Anniversary celebration.

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

It’s a good day to be a Disney Foodie! We’ve got some exciting news of upcoming reopenings and updates from Guest-favorite dining locations. This edition of Best Bites has everything Guests need to know about a few delicious eateries at the Walt Disney World Resort that are opening their doors once again, featuring some tasty new dishes and services. Flying Fish at Disney’s BoardWalk, The Turf Club Bar and Grill at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, and Jiko – The Cooking Place at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge will soon be serving up their offerings for patrons to feast upon.

From savory flavors to seafood specialties, even decadent desserts, these restaurants have something for everyone and are back to bring our Guests the joys of food. Discover some of the signature plates from these establishments and check out some new updates to other already opened Disney favorites.

Explore the returning favorites and enhanced creations the talented chefs at these restaurants have created for their highly anticipated reopenings.

The chefs from Flying Fish over at Disney’s BoardWalk are ready to welcome Guests back on Jan. 27 with their signature seafood dishes. Enjoy a taste of luxury with unrivaled flavors, sustainable seafood, and steak offerings.

When it comes to entrées, this restaurant does not disappoint. The Seafood Pearl Pasta consists of all the favorites – shrimp, lobster, scallops, clams, and mussels. For another option from the sea, consider the Plancha-seared Scallops accompanied with savory grits, sweet corn, and Peppadew emulsion. How delicious!

After indulging in dinner, there’s no better way to conclude a trip to Flying Fish than with a sweet finish. For chocolate lovers, the Cocoa Breach accompanied with delicious vanilla custard is the treat for you.

Get ready for a night at the races again starting on Feb. 3 with a nice trip out to Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. Here Guests will find The Turf Club Bar and Grill, a special spot with a reputation for delicious American flavors in every dish. Begin the evening on a high note right out of the gate with the New York Cider-braised Mussels appetizer flavored with garlic, chorizo, fennel, Fresno chili, and apple cider topped with a grilled baguette.

Moving on to the next course, the Grilled Pork Chop or Braised Lamb Tagliatelle both have a place in the winner’s circle of flavor. And don’t forget to top off the meal with one of the delightful desserts, like the New York Cheesecake. Yum!

Beginning on Feb. 17, venture over to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge to savor the tastes and flavors of African, Indian, and Mediterranean cuisine at Jiko – The Cooking Place. As this spot welcomes Guests again, try the Seafood Tagine. Filled with prawns scallops, squid, and Littleneck clams, this dish is a shellfish lover’s dream!

For a sweet finish, the returning Kilimanjaro dessert is not just gorgeous, but delicious too. Decadent dark chocolate mousse, pistachio financier, pink peppercorn meringue, cacao nib crunch, and ras el hanout pineapples – what could be better?

Along with these exciting openings, there is some more news to share about two other locations – Cape May Café at Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Ale & Compass Restaurant at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, both of which will be featuring the return of some of their beloved offerings.

Over at Cape May Café on Feb. 15, embrace the New England vibes as Guests once again feast upon an all-you-care-to-enjoy, buffet breakfast with tasty items like pull-a-part bread with vanilla sauce, beef hash, and an omelet station. And what breakfast is complete without Mickey and Minnie waffles? As the sun goes down, the buffets keep coming with options like cornbread, seasonal harvest salad, seafood boil, and a daily carving station, just to name a few. Guests can also choose to upgrade their meal with snow crab legs or even a whole lobster, both purchased by the pound. It’s best to bring an appetite for these exciting returns because Guests will want a bite of everything!

Next door at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort starting Jan. 31, the Ale & Compass Restaurant is back with some returning breakfast options and exciting, new lunch offerings. Start off by indulging in one of the delicious à la carte entrées, like Blueberry Bacon Pancakes. And don’t forget to enhance breakfast with a tasty buffet filled with dazzling additions to the entrée, including pastries, fresh fruit, yogurt parfaits, overnight oats, and house-made cheddar biscuits with country gravy. What a perfect start to a Disney day. 

Starting January 20, Guests can begin booking reservations to ensure they get their taste of these fantastic locations. 

(Note: All offerings are subject to change.)

The newest attraction at EPCOT, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, had its delicious debut just in time for The World’s Most Magical Celebration honoring the 50^th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort! Since the attraction opened on Oct. 1, 2021, scores of EPCOT Guests have joined Remy in a visit to Gusteau’s bustling kitchen using the virtual queue, which we introduced as part of the exciting launch.

Now, Guests may experience this incredible attraction using a standby queue instead of a virtual queue beginning January 10, 2022. With this change, we will end the use of virtual queue for now for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. Guests also have the opportunity to purchase access to a Lightning Lane queue at this attraction. 

Virtual queues continue to be helpful with the launch of popular attractions and the debut of new experiences and offerings, so we may use it again from time to time for select attractions in the future.  

Be sure to take advantage of the complimentary Disney Genie service, helping Guests create their best Disney day. Built right into the My Disney Experience app, Disney Genie does the planning for our Guests—with a personalized itinerary feature and all of their favorites displayed instantly with real-time tips and predictions. Guests may also purchase next available Lightning Lane entry at select attractions with Disney Genie + service or by purchasing access to Lightning Lane entry at select individual foradded flexibility.*

*Attractions with Lightning Lane entrances that are Disney Genie+ and individual purchases are limited in availability, subject to change or closure, may vary by date, are not guaranteed and may not be available at all on the date of visit or at the time you make a selection.

Running from Jan. 14 through Feb. 21, 2022 – right in the midst of the eighteen month-long Walt Disney World Resort 50th Anniversary Celebration – the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts will showcase visual, culinary and performing arts from across the globe. This year, the chefs and mixologists have crafted items that aren’t just delicious, but truly works of art.

Get a glimpse of the 15 Food Studios featuring some returning favorites and soon-to-be hits taking the foodie stage for the first time, like the brand-new The Craftsman’s Courtyard. For some added fun, be sure to pick up a Festival Passport to try out the Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine, a returning food stroll featuring some true culinary masterpieces. As Guests travel throughout the Festival, they can collect stamps by purchasing five of these decadent dishes to redeem a special prize from Deco Delights to enjoy.

And now for the pièce de résistance – the Foodie Guide to the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts!

Read more

The last two years have been filled with dizzying changes at the Walt Disney World theme parks. While some of the changes were of the pandemic protocol variety, others were genuinely exciting new offerings in and around the parks.

Full Story

Put them in, coach! Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort will welcome Guests back beginning March 31, 2022.

Guests can begin booking their stays.

This exciting announcement means that all Walt Disney World Resort hotels will be operating by the spring for the first time since 2020.

With The Walt Disney World Resort 50^th Anniversary celebration well underway and the holidays just around the corner, it’s an exciting time to visit. For Guests with a love of animals, adventure and the outdoors – and those seeking to discover how Walt Disney’s vision, innovation and creativity brought Magic Kingdom Park to life – things are about to get a lot more exciting with the return of some of our fan-favorite tours from our Enchanting Extras Collection!

Guests who want to get even closer to the magic of nature and Disney now can book a number of tours as we continue our phased approach to bring back these world-class offerings and experiences. Looking for the perfect holiday gift idea you won’t soon lose or forget? Putting together a bucket list for the new year and looking to add some excitement? Making a resolution to spend more time outdoors? Then try one of the following tours available for booking now and returning beginning February 6, 2022:

Disney’s Keys to the Kingdom

Unlock the fascinating history of Magic Kingdom Park, where fantasy reigns, and gain backstage access to legendary hidden areas on this five-hour walking tour! Access the underground “Utilidor” service tunnels, learn hidden secrets of classic attractions, enjoy a delicious lunch and so much more on this backstage tour of the most iconic theme park at Walt Disney World Resort.

Caring for Giants

Delve into the wondrous world of the largest inhabitants of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park during this 60-minute tour for an experience Guests will never forget. Meet with a knowledgeable guide who will provide insight into the inner workings of our African elephant herd and share a glimpse into the day-to-day care for these amazing animals. Learn how Disney’s conservation efforts are dedicated to the preservation of wild elephant populations around the world as Guests observe these gentle giants from a private, backstage viewing area! 

Wild Africa Trek

Perhaps my personal favorite, Wild Africa Trek combines action, adventure and education into a three-hour exhilarating safari adventure at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, where nature is truly alive with magic. Cross a swinging rope bridge near crocodiles and view towering giraffes, powerful rhinos and hippos as Guests ride across the open savanna in a rugged safari vehicle. Along the journey, a knowledgeable guide will share insights about the majestic animals you’re viewing as well as details about the park’s dedication to animal conservation around the world.

Up Close with Rhinos

Want to get even closer to nature? This 60-minute tour takes Guests backstage to meet our planet’s second-largest land animal in ways few people can. As each guide introduce Guests to the white rhinos at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, they’ll offer fascinating insights into the species’ behavior and biology, and discuss the challenges that threaten populations in the wild.

Savor the Savanna

Is all of this excitement making you hungry? Then explore the sights, sounds – and TASTES – of Africa on Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park’s Savor the Savanna tour. Indulge in a sampling of African-inspired cuisine, paired with a selection of regional beer and wine offerings, as Guests gaze out across the Harambe Wildlife Reserve. And listen as a private guide shares tales of the unique residents who inhabit the reserve and the special animal care provided at the park. 

Walt Disney World Resort is sure to be even more magical as we welcome back these fan favorites in 2022 and continue The World’s Most Magical Celebration in honor of the Walt Disney World Resort 50^th anniversary! 

Advance bookings are highly recommended for all tours. Experiences located at Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park require valid theme park admission and reservations.

Stay tuned for more updates on future tour offerings from the Enchanting Extras Collection, including Starlight Safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.