Hundred dollar sandwiches. Two hundred dollar per person park tickets. Eight hundred dollar standard hotel rooms. Has Disneyland finally gotten too expensive? According to a recent study, the answer is yes.
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Fireworks Spectaculars Are Back at Disney Parks This Summer
What could be more perfect this year than a summertime visit to a Disney theme park? As we continue to see more communities adjust and ease COVID-19 guidelines, there’s a new sense of optimism with many positive signs moving forward. We’re encouraged by it too, seeing more families making travel plans, friends dining out together more often and more Americans returning to work. And at Disney theme parks, we’re gradually bringing back more of our beloved park experiences.
A Disney tradition since 1957, fireworks shows are what Walt Disney called the perfect “kiss goodnight” at the close of a magical day, and this summer the skies above Disney theme parks will sparkle with color once more. Beginning in July, just in time for the nation’s Independence Day celebrations, our incredibly popular nighttime fireworks spectaculars are returning to Disney parks!
At Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, July 1 marks the start of nightly fireworks performances at Magic Kingdom Park and EPCOT. “Happily Ever After” will transform Cinderella Castle with lights, projections and pyrotechnics, as moments from favorite Disney stories encourage Guests to grab hold of their dreams and make them come true. And as part of the ongoing transformation of EPCOT, “EPCOT Forever” will produce a spectacle of fireworks, music and lighting effects over World Showcase Lagoon, highlighting the themes of innovation, exploration, imagination and celebration at the core of the park’s past, present and future.
As Disneyland Park in California welcomes back all guests, the fun starts July 4 with “Mickey’s Mix Magic” presented nightly throughout the summer. State-of-the-art projections, show lighting and lasers will transform Main Street, U.S.A., Sleeping Beauty Castle and the façade of “it’s a small world” into a dazzling, family fun dance party that goes sky high with fireworks to celebrate the leader of the club, Mickey Mouse.
If Guests simply can’t wait until their next visit to see some Disney fireworks, they can enjoy a virtual viewing of “Happily Ever After” right now with #DisneyMagicMoments at home. And stay tuned for opportunities to join us for upcoming live streams this summer!
As a reminder, valid park admission and a park reservation are required for park entry and must be linked to Guests’ account. Visit DisneyTravelTradeInfo.com/dlr and DisneyTravelTradeInfo.com/wdw for important information, including park attendance requirements.
Disney may soon charge for something it’s been giving away for decades
Since reopening after last year’s pandemic-related closures, Walt Disney World has been without FastPass, the skip the line program that’s complimentary for all guests.
23 details you may miss in Disneyland’s new Marvel-themed land Avengers Campus
Check out 23 details you may miss in Disneyland’s new Marvel-themed land Avengers Campus
Guests Can Treat Themselves to a Flavorful Journey at the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival Presented by CORKCICLE®, Beginning July 15
This summer, Guests can embark on a tasty tour across six continents at the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival presented by CORKCICLE® at Walt Disney World Resort. This delicious celebration, which kicks off July 15 and runs through Nov. 20, features a full menu of new flavors and sips along with live entertainment, family activities and more. That’s 129 days of fun for the entire family!
Global Marketplaces will serve up a host of international flavors, including fan-favorite dishes from Hawai’i, Australia, Germany, Canada and Greece, as well as new spicy, savory and sweet plates to please Guests’ palate. We’ll have more details on specific menu items in an upcoming Foodie Guide, but there are new Global Marketplace concepts coming to Morocco, The American Adventure and throughout the park in July, with even more marketplaces opening in the fall.
CORKCICLE is the presenting sponsor for this year’s festival, and Guests can visit Shimmering Sips Global Marketplace and four other locations during the event to discover several sparkling beverage options available for purchase in an exclusive keepsake CORKCICLE premium beverage container.
Guests can also commemorate their visit and bring the culinary magic home with other official event merchandise created just for the festival, including apparel, home décor, trading pins and more.
Popular entertainment is back too, with performances by Voices of Liberty, Mariachi Cobre and Jammin’ Chefs. The festival will also open with America Gardens Bandstand presented by Florida Blue Medicare, a live-music concert series performed Friday through Monday evenings. Local bands from across Central Florida will take to the America Gardens Theatre stage, playing popular songs of yesterday and today.
For families, Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak will send kids of all ages on a savory scavenger hunt around the festival. Another way for families to have fun together is by participating in Emile’s Fromage Montage. Guests will find new ways to experience cheese when they purchase five participating dishes from select Global Marketplaces, including a passionfruit cheesecake with toasted macadamia nuts. Collect five stamps and scurry over to Shimmering Sips for a prize!
The festival is available with valid theme park admission and a park reservation for the same date. Keep checking back for more details.
Go ‘Behind the Attraction’ in a New Original Series Coming to Disney+ on July 16
A new series is coming to Disney+ on July 16 that gives an exclusive peek ‘behind the curtain’ of the most beloved attractions and destinations at Disney Parks and Resorts around the world, from Jungle Cruise to “it’s a small world” to the Haunted Mansion to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
“Behind the Attraction” is a 10-part series narrated by Paget Brewster that delves into Disney Parks’ rich, amazing history using archival and never-before-seen footage and photographs to unveil how the attractions came to be and how they’ve been refined over the years as new ideas surface and technology evolves.
Hear the unique story behind each Castle at the Parks and learn how Disney Imagineers designed and built them and discover the intricacies of the transportation systems at each park, and how the iconic Disneyland Hotel came to be.
Including rare interviews with Walt Disney, each episode also features exclusive interviews with Disney Legends and dozens of past and present Imagineers, including Bob Weis, Jeanette Lomboy, Kim Irvine, Scott Trowbridge, Tom Fitzgerald, Scot Drake, Carmen Smith, Joe Rohde, and others who divulge insider secrets of the parks and how iconic Disney attractions were brought to life.
And today, we’re sharing a special look at the new poster art for the series:
Be sure to check out all 10 episodes available to stream on Friday, July 16 on Disney+.
Announcing New Openings and Offerings – Sebastian’s Bistro, ‘Ohana, Wine Country Trattoria, Lamplight Lounge Brunch, and More
We are so excited to announce booking and opening dates for some of our Guests’ favorite Disney dining locations! Check out all the delicious details below.
Disneyland Resort
Many travelers at Disneyland Park have missed sipping on Fuzzy Tauntauns and listening to DJ R-3X rock it (in his quirky way!). All our favorite bounty hunters, smugglers and galactic travelers will be happy to know that Oga’s Cantina will open on June 17 with bookings available June 14. Under the shadow of the spire!
Guests planning to visit Disney California Adventure Park can soon get their fix of plant-based Potato Flautas or Indulgent French Toast at Lamplight Lounge Brunch, opening July 9 with booking available June 14. (Friday, Saturday, Sunday brunch only.)
Guests looking to dine alfresco with a plate of delicious Spaghetti Aglio Olio accompanied by the perfect glass of wine at Wine Country Trattoria will be pleased to hear that the restaurant opens July 17 with bookings available June 14.
Here are a few more Disneyland Park openings and offerings we are excited to share:
- Tiki Juice Bar (mobile order available) – Opening June 17
- Docking Bay Food & Cargo (mobile order available) – Opening June 17
- Alien Pizza Planet (mobile order available) – Opening June 17
- Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante – Opening June 17
- Candy Palace – Currently making Nuttles (chopped pecan pieces layered with freshly made caramel with a dollop of milk chocolate on top) on Mondays and Fridays
- Candy Palace – Currently making Rocky Road (mix of milk chocolate, chopped almonds, and house-made marshmallows in a small pie tin) on Saturdays
Downtown Disney District
There are two new yummy treats available at Downtown Disney District – one in the glass and one to grab on the go.
- Beignet-flavored Cocktail at Ralph Brennen’s Jazz Kitchen – Wedding cake-flavored vodka, vanilla syrup, butterscotch schnapps, and half and half topped with a mini glazed beignet
- French Toast Churro at California Churro – Dusted in powdered sugar and served with a side of maple syrup
Walt Disney World
Sebastian’s Bistro at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort (Opening June 24 with nightly walk-in availability through July 4; booking available June 10 for reservations starting July 5)
Disney Skyliner conveniently stops at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, making it an easy (and fun!) trip for Guests to dine at Sebastian’s Bistro, which will reopen with delicious tastes of the Caribbean and a new family-style meal at dinner.
Sebastian’s signature buttery house-baked pull-apart rolls will get Guests started, and the entire table will enjoy the Taste of the Caribbean platter featuring oven-roasted citrus chicken, slow-cooked mojo pork with mango sambal, and grilled flank steak with mojito relish. This hearty platter comes with sides of cilantro rice and beans, vegetable curry, and grilled broccolini. Coconut shrimp can also be ordered as an add-on to the meal. The best part? Guests finish with the ultimate sweet treat – the popular coconut-pineapple bread pudding!
‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (Opening July 9; booking available June 10)
With the backdrop of tropical greenery, ‘Ohana will again offer their fabulous all-you-care-to-enjoy breakfast and dinner offerings when they reopen. Although Disney characters will not be hosting breakfast, a strolling musician will entertain Guests for dinner.
For breakfast, Guests can start with pineapple-coconut breakfast bread, move on to Stitch and Mickey Mouse waffles, then dig into “eggs”cellent breakfast skillets with ham, sausage, and breakfast potatoes.
The ‘Ohana dinner features all-you-care-to-enjoy platters of grilled beef steak, roasted chicken, sausage, and island shrimp casserole served with fried rice and roasted broccolini. And yes, ‘Ohana pot stickers, crispy soy chicken wings, and the signature ‘Ohana bread pudding served warm with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream are back! Yippee!
Tusker House Restaurant, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park (Opening June 20; booking now available)
Donald Duck and his Disney friends are welcoming Guests back to this lively Harambe marketplace. At Tusker House Restaurant, Guests can graze on a bountiful family-style menu brimming with African-inspired flavors while snapping photos of favorite Disney characters. For breakfast, Guests can start their adventure with Mickey and Simba waffles, Durban chicken and egg curry with jasmine rice, and much more. Lunch and dinner offerings include Moroccan-spiced beef, Berber-marinated pork, spit-roasted herb chicken, and Cape Malay green curry shrimp.
Here are additional quick-service locations at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park now open:
- Terra Treats (serving pizza slices)
- Isle of Java (serving fresh-brewed espresso, cappuccino, and sweet treats)
- Trilo-Bites (service DOLE Whip orange)
- Drinkwallah Snacks & Frozen Beverages
BoardWalk Ice Cream Shop, Disney’s BoardWalk
Craving a frozen sweet treat? Guests can take a stroll around Crescent Lake on Disney’s BoardWalk and visit BoardWalk Ice Cream Shop. Featuring scoops and sundaes to go, Guests can satisfy their craving with a good old-fashioned sundae plus brownie and strawberry splash shortcake a la modes, and of course, the kid-favorite, Mickey Mouse Sundaes!
Photos: TRON Roller Coaster Construction at Magic Kingdom 6/2/21
Take a look at the latest construction photos from the TRON Roller Coaster Coming to Magic Kingdom.
More Details Revealed for “Disney After Hours Boo Bash”!
Fantasy reigns at Magic KingdomPark, especially as we get ready for Walt Disney World Resort’s 50thanniversary in October and “The World’s Most Magical Celebration.” Case in point, we recently announced the park will soon be the ghost host for “Disney After Hours Boo Bash” on 23 select nights later this year, starting Aug. 10 and continuing through Oct. 31 from 9 p.m. to midnight.* We are thrilled to share some more frightfully fun details on what Guests will experience during this limited-capacity separately ticketed event:
- Special cavalcades will pop up throughout the night including “Mickey’s Happy Halloween Cavalcade,” with Mickey Mouse and friends dressed up for the occasion. In the “Disney Villain
sHalloween Cavalcade,” villains will take to the street and celebrate their favorite time of the year. “Jack’s Nightmare Cavalcade” will feature Jack Skellington, Sally and Oogie Boogie riding down the parade path to “This is Halloween,” and last, but definitely not least (we would never say that about her!), Maleficent will also make an appearance in the form of a fire-breathing dragon. - Some favorite friends will be lurking about – from the lovely Miss Carlotta at the Haunted Mansion to Goofy and Chip ‘n’ Dale in their Halloween best, with other surprise characters popping up across the park, too. Guests can even stop and listen to the Cadaver Dans during their special comeback (from the dead) performance.
- Select complimentary snacks like ice cream novelties and popcorn, along with select beverages, are included in the cost of the event.
- After the park closes to day guests, enjoy less time waiting in line for more than 20 attractions including Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Haunted Mansion attraction, Jungle Cruise, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Peter Pan’s Flight, Space Mountain and more.
- A variety of specialty food and drinks will be available for purchase including an Apple Ginger Dale frozen drink (frozen apple cider mixed with ginger ale and topped with whipped cream) and a Foolish Mortal Funnel Cake.)**
- Disney PhotoPass will also be available to takemagical and spooky shots throughout the night.
- “Disney After Hours Boo Bash” tickets will grant admission to Magic Kingdom park as early as 7 p.m., giving Guests time to enjoy even more of their favorite Magic Kingdomhaunts before the event begins. These dated event tickets do not require an additional day theme park ticket or Disney Park Pass theme park reservation.
As we shared previously, all foolish mortals can dress in costume for the event and Guests can get their fill of Halloween candy while trick-or-treating around the park. Costume masks are not permitted for adults; they can only be worn by children under 14. As a reminder, information on attractions, dining, experiences and other offerings currently available can be found on DisneyTravelTradeInfo.com/WDW, as well as the Know Before You Go section on the Disney Travel Agents website. Be sure to check the Costume Policy for the most up-to-date information. Please note that health and safety measures, policies and operational guidelines are subject to change.
Tickets for this hauntingly fun-filled three-hour event will go on sale June 15 and can be purchased online or by calling 407-939-4240. Guests of select Walt Disney WorldResort hotels can book their tickets as early as June 8. Tickets during the early booking window will only be available by phone.
Tickets start at $129 – $139 USD, plus tax for August/September nights and $159 – $169, plus tax for October nights, and $199, plus tax for Halloween. Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members can take advantage of a $10 discount for event nights in August and September. A limited number of tickets are available. Tickets are commissionable. Please visit Training & Benefits > Commissions on the Disney Travel Agents website for more details.
Here are the dates for “Disney After Hours Boo Bash”:
- Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021
- Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021
- Friday, Aug. 20, 2021
- Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021
- Friday, Aug. 27, 2021
- Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021
- Friday, Sept. 3, 2021
- Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021
- Friday, Sept. 10, 2021
- Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021
- Friday, Sept. 17, 2021
- Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021
- Friday, Sept. 24, 2021
- Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021
- Friday, Oct. 8, 2021
- Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021
- Friday, Oct. 15, 2021
- Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021
- Friday, Oct. 22, 2021
- Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021
- Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021
- Friday, Oct. 29, 2021
- Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021
This fall, the decorations on Main Street, U.S.A., will receive a magical transformation for the event nights in October as “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” begins. Walt Disney Imagineering, in partnership with the Walt Disney World Resort Holiday Services team, will blend a fall look with the enchanting story of Cinderella by creating special pumpkin coach decorations that will add to the park’s sparkling EARidescence during this magical time.
*Some event nights in August and September will be from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
**This item will be on sale outside event hours Oct. 1 to Nov. 1.
Disney Theme Park Reservation Window Expands, Allowing More Time to Plan Visits
The booking window for theme park reservations has expanded out to 120 days, allowing guests even more time to plan their return to the resort! Guests can check the theme park reservation calendar for availability.
