WDW Daily News

Beginning in the next few months, Walt Disney World Annual Passholders will be able to visit the theme parks after 2 p.m. without needing a park reservation, except on Saturdays and Sundays at Magic Kingdom Park. Pass blockout dates will continue to apply like they do today. While the theme park reservation system remains important to manage attendance in our parks, especially on busier days, Disney realized their Passholders enjoy more spontaneous visits – and this change will make that possible. Passholders will also receive access to Disney PhotoPass lenses and one complimentary Cinderella Castle Mural of Memories experience (age restrictions apply). Visit Cinderella Castle Mural of Memories and Disney PhotoPass Lenses for details, restrictions and other information.* 

We’ll share a start date with Passholders soon for when these offerings will become available, as well as information about a new offering that is planned where you can create and share short Disney-themed video slideshows with favorite photos from your theme park visits.

Beginning this evening, Jan. 10, overnight self-parking will once again be offered complimentary to guests staying at Disney Resort hotels at Walt Disney World. This is a Disney difference many of you have asked us to bring back, and we’re happy to reintroduce it to make your vacation a little easier and more affordable – whether you’re road tripping across the country, renting a car or vacationing as a local Florida resident. As a reminder, Disney Resort hotel guests also continue to receive complimentary standard parking at Walt Disney World theme parks, daily early theme park entry (with valid admission and a park reservation) and complimentary on-site transportation options such as buses, monorails and Disney Skyliner. oy complimentary self-parking when staying at a Disney Resort hotel

Mark your calendars as today we are excited to share event and registration dates for the 2023-2024 runDisney race season, including information on the much-anticipated return of the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend in January 2024! From exciting races through Disney Parks to virtual events Guests can run anywhere in the world, runDisney is home to the most magical races on Earth. As we look towards the new year, runners can gear up for even more miles and magic to come during next race season – take a look below at the dates.

We’re so excited to bring runDisney races back to the west coast in 2024 and are even more excited for the return of the fan-favorite Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend. Taking place January 11-14, 2024, the weekend will include three endurance events, a challenge and more that are sure to be filled with memorable moments and magical miles running through the Happiest Place on Earth. Stay tuned for more details about the race course, medals and more in the coming months!

We’re also thrilled that with the return of the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend, runDisney will also be reintroducing the runDisney Coast to Coast Race Challenge in 2024! More information about the Challenge and how to qualify will be available on runDisney.com in January 2023.

With entertainment, beloved characters, and Disney magic at every mile, runDisney races are memorable experiences for runners of all ages and skill levels. They’re also the only opportunity for runners and Disney fans alike to run unique courses through Disney Parks.

runDisney Virtual events are also a great way to have fun while designing a race course and running from any destination of choice! Whether Guests rae looking for some motivation to train for their next runDisney race or get a taste of the magic wherever they run, our Virtual Race events are perfect for everyone!

Start marking your calendar and be sure to check back to runDisney.com for all news and updates!

January 5, 2023

This Spring and Summer, Clients can stay in the magic with special offers at Walt Disney World Resort.

Stay in the magic with this special offer—and make sweet summer memories to savor!

Clients can get up to a $750 Disney Dining Promo Card when they purchase a non-discounted 5-night, 4-day vacation package that includes a room at a select Disney Deluxe Resort or Disney Deluxe Villa Resort and theme park ticket(s).

This offer is valid for arrivals most nights July 1 to July 10, 2023 and August 1 to September 14, 2023. A lower-value Disney Dining Promo Card may also be available when you purchase this package during other select summer arrival dates.

Stay in the magic with this special offer—and spring into fun or make sweet summer memories at Walt Disney World Resort.

Clients can save on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels:

• Save up to 25% on stays most nights April 10 through July 10, 2023
• Save up to 20% on stays most nights March 1 through March 31, 2023

There’s magic all around for Clients at Walt Disney World Resort. And you can enjoy even more enchantment with special benefits for Guests of Disney Resort hotels—including early entry to the theme parks 30 minutes before regular park opening to experience select attractions (with valid park admission and a theme park reservation).

*Please contact any of the agents at Wish Upon a Star with Us who can help you with this offer.

By: Disney Destinations

December 21, 2022

Beginning March 1, Chef Mickey’s will transition back to buffet-style dining, allowing guests to enjoy all-you-care-to-eat breakfast and dinner experiences once again.

This family-favorite dining spot located in the heart of Disney’s Contemporary Resort is the perfect place for guests to start their day with fun twists on traditional breakfast foods or take a break from the day’s activities to savor delicious dinner fare. The best part? While guests are dining, Mickey Mouse and some of his favorite pals will stop by to greet them!

We highly recommend making reservations in advance for this dining experience, as availability is not guaranteed day-of. For additional dining details and reservation availability, visit DisneyWorld.com

The Walt Disney Company will be celebrating its 100^th anniversary in 2023. As we’ve previously announced, the heart of the celebration will be here at the Disneyland Resort, and begins on Jan. 27, 2023.

The Disney100 celebration at Disneyland Resort will include many special limited-time offerings taking place around the resort all year long, and will kick off with one extremely special new nighttime spectacular: “Wondrous Journeys,” created by Disney Live Entertainment.

This all-new nighttime spectacular will celebrate 100 years of Walt Disney Animation Studios in an experience that ignites the dreamer in all of us. “Wondrous Journeys” will feature nods to every film released by the iconic studio over the past century, with music, characters and special moments from favorite stories including “Encanto,” (depicted above), “Hercules,” “The Princess and the Frog,” “Peter Pan,” “Frozen,” “Treasure Planet,” “Big Hero 6,” “Moana,” and more.

After three decades in the motion picture business, Walt Disney created a whole new form of family entertainment in 1955 with the opening of Disneyland park. That’s why Disneyland, Walt’s original park, is the perfect place to debut “Wondrous Journeys.”

The spectacular will also feature an original new song, “It’s Wondrous,” that promises to capture our heart and spark our imagination. Check out this behind-the-scenes look at the recording session for this song, and hear from some of the creative minds behind this new spectacular:

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Throughout “Wondrous Journeys,” guests will embark on an adventure filled with artistry, music, storytelling, and heart as we celebrate the dreamers at Disney Animation who have shared their imagination and talents with the world for one hundred years.

State-of-the-art projection effects will surround guests with blank pieces of paper, pencil sketches, and splashes of color, as the artistry of animators breathe life into beloved characters from Mickey Mouse and Bambi to Ariel and Mirabel. And in a thrilling moment of heroism, Baymax soars high above Sleeping Beauty Castle inspiring us all to fight for our dreams.

Special lighting effects, projections, and more carry us on an adventure full of possibilities, excitement, heartache, and determination that help us realize we all face trials and triumphs along the way to making our dreams come true.

Main Street, U.S.A., Sleeping Beauty Castle, the façade of “it’s a small world” and the Rivers of America will turn into an artist’s canvas and bring stories to life all around guests. And on select nights, “Wondrous Journeys” will go even bigger with the addition of sparkling fireworks in the sky above Disneyland park.

“Wondrous Journeys” is sure to uplift and inspire everyone as they come to the close of a magical day at Disneyland park! We cannot wait to debut “Wondrous Journeys” for guests very soon, beginning Jan. 27, 2023.

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

Walt Disney World Resort is ending the year in style – foodie style that is – with plenty of treats to ring in 2023 with a satisfied stomach.

All across the resort, there are multiple delights to indulge in. From the Clock Strikes 12 dessert from Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood to the 2023 Celebration Mickey Piñata at the All-Star Resorts, and the Champagne Beignet at Scat Cat’s Club – Café, your tastebuds will be so excited to welcome the new year.

And for Guests who don’t have a dining reservation at a table-service restaurant, there are plenty of quick-service locations at the Disney Resorts with delicious dishes and sips to enjoy!

It’s time to countdown the treats coming to Walt Disney World Resort this new year in 3, 2, 1…

Available at Various Resorts

Celebration Charcuterie & Cheese featuring cured meats, duck confit, aged cheeses, savory cookies, and accompaniments (Available Dec. 31 and Jan. 1); Available at the following:

• World Premiere at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
• Intermission at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
• End Zone at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
• Landscape of Flavors at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
• Centertown Market at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
• Riverside Mill Food Court at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
• Everything POP Shopping & Dining at Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort, Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, and Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort

From the complexity of the design to the thrill of each milestone, ship-building is truly awe-inspiring. So it’s no wonder our friends at National Geographic decided to document the construction of our newest Disney Cruise Line ship, the Disney Wish … and now, they’re sharing a behind-the-scenes look at this incredible process with the world!

“Making the Wish: Disney’s Newest Cruise Ship” premieres this Saturday, Dec. 24, at 9:00 p.m. EST on National Geographic Channel. This 90-minute special follows the process of designing, constructing and launching the Disney Wish through the eyes of the incredible Disney Cruise Line and Walt Disney Imagineering teams that brought the ship to life.

At the helm of this first-of-its-kind Disney Cruise Line documentary are National Geographic filmmakers Chad Cohen (director, writer and producer) and Bethany Jones (producer and writer) in partnership with Disney Yellow Shoes. Check out the teaser trailer and official description below:

“At a two-centuries old shipyard on Germany’s North Sea, a marvel of modern engineering is taking shape. Hundreds of construction workers, engineers, architects, designers, animators, composers, storytellers, cast and crew are transforming 144,000 tons of steel into perhaps the most enchanting vessel ever to take to sea. They’re making the Disney Wish a reality.”

We hope everyone will grab some popcorn, gather their family and friends, and tune in this Saturday to watch the debut of “Making the Wish: Disney’s Newest Cruise Ship” on National Geographic! 

Cast members and Imagineers are celebrating a moment of nostalgia at Magic Kingdom Park this week as we prepare to welcome guests aboard the Walt Disney World Railroad once again for the holiday season. This opening-day attraction returns with a completely refreshed track looping the park, and another new surprise for fans and first-comers alike.

Not only did this historic train undergo track updates and maintenance—as 100-year-old vintage steam trains do—the creative minds at Walt Disney Imagineering also seized this moment to revisit the narration and introduce an all-new voice to bring guests into the beloved stories they encounter as they travel from one magical land to the next. “The familiar whistle of its steam engine will be complemented by exciting new sounds and voices,” the team of Imagineers shared. “A new conductor has assumed the role, carrying on the long tradition of warm welcomes and amusing anecdotes while adding fresh commentary and story to the journey.”

The creative voiceover process is as detailed as the train operation itself, and it all starts with our conductor. For these meticulously restored steam trains, we know the scenic grand circle tour must be guided by a voice our guests can envision and resonate with. Someone who grew up on Main Street, U.S.A., dreaming of the day they’d be on the railroad. They’ve now achieved that dream, and they know everyone and everything at Magic Kingdom … an unofficial mayor of sorts. This conductor is humble, genial, and knowledgeable, and he’s eager to help passengers of these iconic steam trains get to their destinations around the park he loves so dearly.

While our conductor points guests to the familiar sights on their left and right, we embrace what makes Magic Kingdom a place unlike any other, where guests can escape into completely new worlds and celebrate with characters they love. This legacy attraction now holds true the very nostalgia of opening day and blends it with the wonder of new adventures, immersing everyone into story after story as it loops around the park. Guests may even encounter a character or two along the way!

We are delighted to share Walt Disney’s love of trains with the world once again, taking guests for the iconic grand circle tour of Magic Kingdom this holiday season. 

Hear ye, hear ye! Beginning Tuesday, Feb. 28, beloved Disney princesses will once again visit guests dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table at Magic Kingdom Park.

We are filled with excitement for our regal friends to return with this one-of-a-kind character dining experience in 2023. Prior to Feb. 28, guests can still enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner in this spectacular storybook setting inside of Cinderella castle. It’s the perfect place for park-goers to fuel up for adventures ahead with delicious breakfast fare, or to feast like royalty with enchanting prix-fixe lunch and dinner experiences.

Remember, to dine at Cinderella’s Royal Table, guests will need a confirmed dining reservation for all members of their party who are dining, regardless of age. Guests will also be required to have valid park admission and park reservations on the same day of their dining reservation for each Guest age three (3) and up. Reservations and additional details are available at DisneyWorld.com.