WDW Daily News

It’s the most wonderful time of year to visit Walt Disney World Resort, as the holiday season is in full swing across our Resort hotels. Whether Guests are staying with us on vacation or just stopping by for the day, these fantastic locales are merry and bright with yuletide décor that enhances the stories they tell.

From iconic Christmas trees to festive flourishes of garland adorning the front entrances and more, our resorts have decked their halls in celebration of the season for a fun holiday atmosphere. For instance, Guests can’t miss the massive and magnificent tree outside Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Or they can gaze in wonder at the tree stretching into the upper reaches of the soaring lobby at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Traditional tunes and holiday melodies fill the air in the classic setting of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, as a talented pianist performs live music most afternoons and evenings in the lobby. And while Guests are visiting one of these magical places, they may just spot a favorite Disney pal taking in the sights, as well.

The tinsel and trimmings make our resorts a wonderful way to check some names off the holiday shopping list, too. Guests will find great gift ideas for family and friends, especially anyone looking for an ornament from their favorite home away from home at The Most Magical Place on Earth. Resort gift shops offer exclusive pieces that can only be found here! 

When it’s time to take a break from merry-making, Guests can treat their taste buds with jolly specialties across our resorts. Holiday flavors of eggnog, peppermint, pumpkin, chocolate and more dance across the dessert menus at all our resorts throughout the season. Here are just a few tasty morsels: 

The triple-chocolate Happy Holidays Grand Cake Pop from Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

A Christmas Candy Drop from Le Petit Café at Disney’s Riviera Resort, filled with milk chocolate mousse, chocolate sponge, hazelnut custard and cherry reduction.  

Plant-based macarons available at The Artist’s Palette inside Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. 

Cookie Trees featuring stacks of vanilla cookies decorated with royal icing, mini-pearls and snow sugar, along with a delightful miniature Gingerbread Carousel with hidden Mickeys and a sugar replica of this year’s gingerbread pin from Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resort. 

And speaking of sweets, our pastry chefs cooked up some holiday cheer this year for gingerbread fans with a lineup of delicious cookies, kits and more. Highlights include a classic Gingerbread Mickey available at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort’s BoardWalk Bakery and the Contemporary Gingerbread House Kit from the Contempo Café at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

Guests will find all sorts of other special gingerbread items available at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resort, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, and Disney’s BoardWalk Resort. If Guests aren’t staying at a Walt Disney WorldResort hotel, a dining reservation may be required to park at the resort. Depending on the location’s capacity, Guests without reservations may be redirected to park nearby and walk, or take Walt Disney WorldTransportation to the resort. 

Just shared on ABC, check out this behind-the-scenes look of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure where guests will rendezvous with Chef Remy through Gusteau’s bustling Paris restaurant at the France Pavilion at EPCOT at Walt Disney World Resort! Coming 2021.

Walt Disney Co. is planning to shed 32,000 employees by the end of March — 4,000 more than previously announced — as the coronavirus pandemic continues to hammer its parks and resorts business.

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Take a look at some of the Christmas Merchandise available now at Walt Disney World.

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Starting today, the Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays will bring seasonal fun from around the globe to the Walt Disney World Resort. Through Dec. 31, 2020, this magical event features delicious food, activities for the whole family, a chance to see Disney characters in their holiday finest and more. 

We were out in the park today to chronicle some of the merriment as guests got their first taste of the festival. Check out the photos below for the seasonal fun already underway at EPCOT! 




There is plenty of festive merchandise available throughout World Showcase as part of this year’s festival, including fragrances, apparel, ornaments, dolls, stocking stuffers, tree trimmings and so much more. And don’t miss the special holiday collection featuring everyone’s favorite dynamic duo, Chip ‘n’ Dale. The mischievous chipmunks can be found playfully adorning apparel, cookware and more. 



Happy holidays from Walt Disney World!  

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! It’s that time of year again when I share what I’m thankful for – Disney Edition.  I wanted to focus on something beyond what we all are most thankful for, such as a healthy and safe family, a good job, etc…

I wanted to write about things that I am thankful for, Disney style. Disney has created so many wonderful memories for my family I thought it would be fun to create a list. After reading my list I would like to hear your thoughts via Twitter.

I am thankful for….

• Walt Disney having the vision to create a place where families could have fun together in a safe environment
• The Walt Disney Co. continuously expanding and improving their parks, resorts, and service
• Being able to travel to Walt Disney World (and occasionally Disneyland) several times a year to get a different experience each time
• Having a wife and kids who love Disney as much as I do
• Minnie Mouse opening up her arms to greet my youngest daughter on a pathway at Animal Kingdom and giving her a HUGE hug, which is something she still remembers to this day
• The look of amazement the first time my daughters stepped foot into Magic Kingdom
• The look of joy the first time my daughters met a Princess
• The look of bewilderment on my face when Belle picked me to play Beast at “Storytime with Belle”
• The ability to have two sets of grandparents who “get” what Disney is about and love to vacation with us
• Being able to help friends and families maximize their time during their Walt Disney World vacations
• Being able to see my daughters reaction when she finally reached the magical 48” height mark
• Blizzard Beach’s Summit Plummet helping me overcome my fear of heights
• Disney Vacation Club allowing our family to have accommodations that we otherwise might not be able to afford
• The smell of the Pop Century lobby after a 20 hour drive
• The ability to head right to your room without checking in after a 20 hour drive and arriving late in the night. (Thank you Magic Bands)
• Entering my resort room, turning on the TV, and hearing the sounds of Walt Disney World Today Channel
• The time we were able to experience riding in the front of the monorail
• My youngest daughter, Peyton, who has Polycystic Kidney Disease, to be healthy enough to ride most attractions that she wants to
• Being able to “scream like a little girl” on Expedition Everest and fitting right in with everyone else
• Not looking like a fool wearing a crazy Disney hat around the parks
• Having a place where I can make a wish and truly believe it will come true
• Imagineers always wanting to “plus” an attraction
• Being old enough that my daughter, Jacey, had already completed the Disney College Program
• Being fortunate enough to start planning another Disney trip right now

Take a look at the new colors of the entrance to Walt Disney World via the Western Way! It’s not quite finished though as the “Walt Disney World” letters will be in white, the flags atop still need to be installed, and the new slogan will also be added. Regardless it looks amazing right now!

Brightline and Walt Disney World Resort announced an agreement Monday to build a train station at Disney Springs.

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While Avengers Campus at the Disneyland Resort will open to aspiring Super Heroes at a future top-secret date, Peter Parker has already begun testing his latest prototype: Spider-Bots!

As revealed at the D23 Expo last year, The Worldwide Engineering Brigade or as the kids call it, WEB, is devoted to empowering the next generation of heroes with cutting edge technologies – like Spider-Bots. While we look forward to inviting you to our WEB open house in the future, for now, you can get your hands on your very own Spider-Bot!

Spider-Bots and the latest WEB apparel from Avengers Campus will be available in the Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort, at both World of Disney and Disneyland Resort Backlot Premiere Shop beginning Dec. 4.

Every Super Hero needs a friendly sidekick to help protect their neighborhood. These Spider-Bots put you in control of the action to battle opponents with programmed combat and defensive abilities. They can crawl backward and forward, crouch, spin 360°, stare down with their laser eyes, attack opponent Spider-Bots and even blast off their shields. Check out this video to learn how to swing into action with a Spider-Bot.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/6495WZKDkEIC

From grabbing a quick bite on the go to sitting down to a fun meal with a fairytale view, dining at Walt Disney World Resort has something for everyone. And with three more dining options soon returning to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom Park, there’s even more choices to fill the day on your next visit. 

Guests planning to shrink down to the size of a toy in Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios are sure to work up a human-sized appetite exploring Andy’s backyard. Beginning Nov. 25, Woody’s Lunch Box will be the perfect place to lasso that hunger with classic American fare, old-fashioned soda floats and other Toy Story-themed specialties.  

Over in Magic Kingdom Park, and just in time for the holidays, two restaurants will once again offer great food and stunning views of the holiday décor, Cinderella Castle and Main Street, U.S.A. 

On Dec. 13, The Crystal Palace will reopen its doors, and while our friends from the Hundred-Acre Wood will be taking a break from greeting Guests, the restaurant will now be offering a family-style dining experience. There will be new individually plated entrées including crispy fried chicken with honey pot drizzle, fire-roasted prime rib of beef, fried cauliflower and more. Reservations open beginning Dec. 1.

Just a few days later on Dec. 17, a favorite outdoor dining spot, Tomorrowland Terrace, will also reopen. It will feature a refreshed quick-service menu of seafood favorites, including lobster rolls and fried shrimp.