WDW Daily News

By: Disney Destinations

December 15, 2022

A visit to Walt Disney World lets guests leave reality behind and step into stories both familiar and new. And after a day of those exhilarating adventures, is there anything better than coming back to the fresh lobby scents, amenities and relaxation of a Disney Resort hotel?

We’ve had a lot to celebrate across our more than 25 resort hotels during our 50^th Anniversary celebration, and today we’re sharing an inside look at some big and exciting renovations that have been happening around our world. From new dining offerings, room remodels and expansions to refreshed lobby spaces, new furniture, smart technology and more … our Disney Resorts Collection has been rolling out constant, fresh updates ready to welcome guests real soon.

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Andy’s backyard is getting ready for more toys! Roundup Rodeo BBQ will open in Spring 2023 to welcome guests for delicious barbecue and toy-sized fun. We’re excited to share more details about the world’s first “Toy Story” table service restaurant, coming to Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Here’s a closer look at Roundup Rodeo BBQ, and how Imagineers collaborated with Disney Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney World Food & Beverage to design this one-of-a-kind dining experience. 

Using his imagination, Woody’s Roundup toys, and other playthings, Andy has built a rodeo restaurant for all his pals. We are excited for guests to enter the dining room and discover just how much fun Andy had creating a rollicking place for honorary toys to enjoy barbecue-inspired comfort foods served family-style, with platters of house-smoked meats, a roundup of sides and some miniature sweet surprises along the way.

In this wild, western setting, guests can find a steam train supported by colored pencils, a suspiciously impressive house of cards, and game boards featuring beloved characters from the “Toy Story” films. To fill the stands of his rodeo arena, Andy has decorated the cardboard box with hand-drawn audience members! The dining room also features the rodeo’s star performers: Jessie, Trixie, and Bo Peep with her leapin’ sheep Billy, Goat, and Gruff!

What we are really excited about with bringing these toys, games, and sets to the park is the collaboration with our pals at Disney Pixar Animation Studios to design figures unique to this restaurant and artwork that can only be found at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Imagineers worked closely with animators and designers at the renowned animation studio to bring characters and art from the films to life in new ways unique to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. They even designed full comic strips about Woody’s adventures, which Andy has used as part of the dining room ceiling!

Stay tuned for more rodeo fun as we work towards our Spring 2023 opening!

As part of the overarching transformation of EPCOT, Disney’s DuckTales World Showcase Adventure will debut to guests on Dec. 16 with the Play Disney Parks app!

Join Scrooge McDuck, his nephews and friends as they travel around EPCOT World Showcase on a quacky quest to find the Seven Plunders of the World —and return them to their rightful owners. This expedition is about adventure and faraway destinations, not plunder. Life is better when we explore the world around us. The treasures are hidden in each country pavilion:

• Mexico
• Norway
• China
• Germany
• Japan
• France
• United Kingdom

Each country has three assignments and one finale; each mission takes approximately 25-30 minutes to complete. Guests are encouraged to replay countries at their leisure as there are variables to the set of missions a Guest can receive. When a country is completed, guests will receive an achievement within the Disney Play App. Once all the countries have been completed, guests will unlock the finale mission which is playable within the app itself!

To play Disney DuckTales World Showcase Adventure, guests will be required to create an account for the Play Disney Parks app. Download the latest version of the Play Disney Parks app though either the App Store on iOS Devices or the Google Play Store on Android Devices.

Disneyland After Dark events are returning to the Disneyland Resort in 2023! Love is in the air for the ultimate date night at a royal gathering with two specially themed, limited-time after-park hours events, Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts’ Nite, and introducing for the very first time, Disneyland After Dark: Princess Nite! Magical entertainment, encounters with beloved Disney characters, one-of-a-kind photo opportunities, scrumptious foods and drinks, collectible merchandise and more make these special celebrations guests won’t want to miss!

Disneyland After Dark begins with a three-hour pre-party mix-in from 6 p.m. to  9 p.m. PT at Disneyland park, then the private party begins from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. PT, which also means guests may ride some popular attractions after regular park hours! Additionally, at each of these events, guests will receive unlimited digital downloads of Disney PhotoPass photos taken during the party, plus commemorative keepsakes including a souvenir credential and event guide map. 

Here are a few of the splendid details:

Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts’ Nite

Jan. 31, Feb. 2, 5, 7, 9, 14, 16, 2023, at Disneyland Park

Sweethearts’ Nite will take place on seven different “date nights” in Disneyland park – the most ever for a Disneyland After Dark event:

• Gaze up at a special themed fireworks show 
• Dance at the Royal Ball hosted by Aladdin and Jasmine near “it’s a small world”
• Take a moonlit cruise on the Mark Twain Riverboat with the sounds of a live jazz ensemble
• Relax and unwind to the sounds of island music from a Polynesian trio drifting through the night air at The Tropical Hideaway
• Delight in many deliciously themed menu items available for purchase, created just for the event 
• Capture your moment with photo opportunities with darling Disney couples and spots inspired by romantic scenes from Disney films such as “Lady and the Tramp” and “The Little Mermaid,” including  unlimited Disney PhotoPass digital photo downloads from the party
• Enjoy pre-party mix-in admission to Disneyland park starting at 6 p.m., no theme park reservation required

Disneyland After Dark: Princess Nite

March 7 & 9, 2023, at Disneyland Park

Guests are invited to be royally fierce at Disneyland After Dark: Princess Nite! This all-new, first-ever event will be a celebration under the stars where adventurous heroines and aspirational hearts unite! Immerse in this empowering night at Disneyland park with iconic characters who light the world with kindness, courage, and a touch of magic. With shimmering décor, special photo opportunities, themed food and beverage offerings, commemorative keepsakes and characters galore, guests will be ready to step into their own adventure of bravery and grace.

• Receive a royal welcome at the Disneyland Train Station featuring Princess Minnie Mouse and Princess Daisy Duck with fanfare trumpeters 
• Enjoy an inspiring musical concert celebrating heartwarming, adventurous heroines including Moana, Merida and more accompanied by live vocalists 
• Raise the royal roof and dance the night away at the high-energy, candy-themed dance party at Tomorrowland stage with Vanellope Von Schweetz
• Revel in Tiana’s Southern hospitality and dance along to jazz music in New Orleans Square
• Savor specialty menu items befitting royalty throughout Disneyland park, available for purchase 
• Picture yourself in photo backdrops inspired by Disney films like “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Princess Diaries” including unlimited Disney PhotoPass digital photo downloads from the party
• Have a ball with pre-party mix-in admission to Disneyland park starting at 6 p.m., no theme park reservation required

Tickets will be available on Disneyland.com beginning next week. On Dec. 12, 2022 (no earlier than 9 a.m. PT), a limited number of tickets for these Disneyland After Dark events go on pre-sale for Magic Key holders. On Dec. 14, 2022 (no earlier than 9 a.m. PT), tickets will go on sale to the general public and are subject to availability.*

*The number of tickets available for each event date are limited, and event tickets are valid only for the specific event date and hours. Parking fees are not included in the ticket price. Tickets must be purchased online and are not available on the day of the event. Limit eight (8) tickets per person, per event date, and no discounts apply. Tickets not required for guests ages 2 and under. Tickets are non-refundable and may not be resold or transferred for commercial purposes. Costumes are subject to Disney guidelines and should not be obstructive or offensive; please check special event costume guidelines at https://disneyland.disney.go.com/faq/parks/dress/ for restrictions. Disney PhotoPass service is subject to the Disney PhotoPass terms and expiration policy found at Disneyland.com/photopass-terms-conditions/. Online registration required.  Only select attractions, experiences, offerings, and services will be available during the event.  Event,  event elements, and available offerings may be modified and limited in availability, and are subject to restrictions, change or cancellation without notice or liability. No refunds given for any changes or cancellations whether due to inclement weather or otherwise. Visit Disneyland.com/updates for important information to know before visiting the Disneyland Resort.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is bringing some new flavors and dishes to its menus for guests to enjoy! For those venturing over to the resort, they’ll find some delicious updates coming to multiple locations, including The Mara and Jiko: The Cooking Place. In this edition of What’s Cooking from Disney Eats, we’ll be giving everyone the full run-down of all the new dishes on the way!

Starting out at Maji Pool Bar, this spot will be refreshing its menu starting on Dec. 8 to add poolside snacks with an African twist. First up is the Shrimp Bakuli, which means bowl in Swahili. This dish is inspired by the open-air food markets found in Zanzibar, Chef Sahib Bhatti’s home country, where each evening as the sun sets, the vendors prepare seafood delicacies with the day’s catch. The bakuli includes chilled poached shrimp, pickled carrots, and Basmati rice with a flavorful soy-ginger dressing and berbere aïoli.

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Over the past year, Disney has rolled out a series of helpful updates and enhancements to Disney Genie+ service. They are excited to share this update for both Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort.

To make it easier to change plans on the go, guests are now able to modify Lightning Lane selections made with Disney Genie+ service, without having to cancel and rebook their selection. Guests can now quickly search for and select other available attractions or arrival windows, helping them maximize their time in the theme parks.

Guests may select the three dots icon on their Lightning Lane selection from the Tip Board or My Day tab of Disney Genie service, and then select “Modify Plan” from the menu that appears.

After selecting “Modify Plan,” Lightning Lane experiences available at the park where the selection was originally made will appear. Guests may adjust their arrival window to a different time that is currently available, or may select a new experience to replace their Lightning Lane selection.

By selecting one of these options, the guest will be able to confirm the change. For guests who want to make a change for specific members of their party, they can adjust the party members prior to confirming the change.

In early 2024, Disney Cruise Line is going to be on island time! A variety of fan-favorite tropical locales are in store for guests and their family, including itineraries to the Caribbean, Mexico, Bahamas and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.

With sailings from two home ports in the Sunshine State as well as voyages from Texas, Louisiana and California, guests can escape the winter blues with a magical vacation at sea from wherever they are in 2024.  

Bookings open to the public on Dec. 15, 2022. Clients that are Disney Cruise Line Castaway Club and select other affinity groups may take advantage of the following extended early booking windows:

• Platinum Castaway Club Members, Golden Oak and Club 33 Members: Monday, Dec. 12, 2022
• Gold Castaway Club Members: Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022
• Silver Castaway Club Members, Disney Vacation Club and Adventure Insiders: Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022 
• Bookings open to all Guests: Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022

Sun-Drenched Getaways from South Florida

The Disney Dream will begin early 2024 with an assortment of three- and four-night getaways to the Bahamas and five-night vacations to the western Caribbean, all of which will feature classic Disney Cruise Line experiences such as Broadway-style shows, innovative dining, character encounters and fireworks at sea.

All sailings from Florida will include a stop at Castaway Cay, a picturesque private island oasis reserved exclusively for Disney Cruise Line guests. Located in the turquoise waters of the Bahamas, Castaway Cay provides the ultimate escape with something for everyone in the family, including adventure, relaxation and quality time.

Tropical Vacations from Central Florida

The Disney Wish will kick off 2024 with three- and four-night voyages to Nassau, Bahamas, and Castaway Cay departing from Port Canaveral, Florida, Disney Cruise Line’s home port located just one hour from Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. Cruises aboard the Disney Wish combine enchanting entertainment and numerous Disney Cruise Line firsts, bringing to life Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars stories around every corner of the vessel. 

Also from Port Canaveral, the Disney Fantasy will continue seven-night sailings to the white-sand beaches of the eastern and western Caribbean. Eastern Caribbean cruises will visit Tortola and St. Thomas, while western Caribbean itineraries will feature the ports of Cozumel, Mexico; Grand Cayman; and Falmouth, Jamaica. Every Disney Fantasy sailing also includes a stop at Castaway Cay, along with several days at sea, giving the family more time to enjoy all the fun and relaxation offered on board.

Caribbean Adventures from Texas and Louisiana

The Disney Magic will have two limited-time engagements in Galveston in early 2024. After ringing in the New Year from the Lonestar State, the ship will embark on Caribbean adventures ranging in length from four to six nights through the end of January. Upon returning for another month-long stint between March and April, the ship will sail cruises ranging from four to seven nights to the western Caribbean during the popular spring break period.

New Orleans will welcome the Disney Magic back for a second consecutive year in February 2024 with four-, five- and seven-night cruises to the Caribbean. The Big Easy is the perfect city to extend a vacation either before or after a cruise to enjoy jazz and jambalaya in the city that inspired Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “The Princess and the Frog.”  

Mexican Escapes from California

After returning from its inaugural season in Australia and New Zealand, the Disney Wonder will arrive in San Diego, California in March 2024 for three- to seven-night voyages to Mexico, including the Baja peninsula. Known for its vibrant culture, stunning beaches and saltwater adventures, families can visit some of Mexico’s most prized destinations, including Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Ensenada, along with stops to the inviting shores of Catalina Island off the California coast.

By: Disney Destinations

For the past 25 years, Disney Cruise Line has made magic at sea by delivering world-class, award-winning cruise vacations full of memories that last a lifetime. And today we have exciting news to share!

Cruise Critic has named Disney Cruise Line the “Best Cruise Line for Families” in the Ocean Category of its 2022 Editor’s Picks. Chosen by the cruise guide’s international team of editors, these awards identify the best in the industry while helping Guests pick the right cruise to fit their needs. 

Disney Cruise Line was applauded for introducing new approaches to family-friendly cruising – including spacious staterooms with segmented bathrooms – along with our exceptional crew members who deliver legendary Disney service to our guests.

Disney Cruise Line has also received top honors from U.S. News & World Report, earning two Gold
Badges that recognize Disney as the “Best Cruise Line for Families” and “Best Cruise Line in the Caribbean” for the ninth year in a row.

To rank cruise lines, U.S. News & World Report considers ship quality, itinerary offerings, reputation among travelers, and results from health assessments conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

On behalf of all our cast and crew members, we are honored to be named among the best at sea, and we hope to welcome everyone onboard soon. Learn more about our “Silver Anniversary at Sea” kicking off next year and booking a Disney cruise at DisneyCruise.com.

We’re getting closer to going down the bayou with Tiana and friends as progress continues on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Since the attraction was announced in 2020, Imagineers have been hard at work designing an immersive experience inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios film “The Princess and the Frog” and the heart and culture of New Orleans. We’ve shared additional details and some sneak peeks since then at events such as ESSENCE Fest and D23 Expo 2022, demonstrating how our research brought us to New Orleans in an effort to remain authentic to the story’s setting.

Today, we are excited to give guests a first look at a new scene and some of the brand-new characters we’re creating specifically for this attraction. In Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, guests will join Princess Tiana and jazz-loving alligator Louis during Mardi Gras season as they prepare to host a one-of-a-kind celebration for the people of New Orleans. This new scene is the thrilling moment guests first drop into the bayou and encounter some friends both new and familiar.

As guests can see here, fireflies will light up the night and invite them deeper into the bayou … almost like they’re waving everyone forward. What guests can’t tell from this rendering – so they’ll just have to trust us on this one – is that beautiful zydeco music will fill the air. Zydeco is a special blend of rhythm and blues that was born in Louisiana, and when guests hear it, they’ll feel like they’ve truly stepped into Tiana’s world.

Here guests will find Louis, who explains where this amazing music is coming from. Tiana made some new friends out here – a band full of adorable critters, including an otter, a rabbit, a racoon, a beaver, a turtle and others. The band members sing and play instruments made of natural materials they found in the bayou. It feels like they may have a bigger role to play in this story … but we’ll just have to wait and see on that one.

Like so many musical genres, zydeco brings together the sounds and styles of many cultures. We wanted that spirit reflected in this scene (and throughout the attraction) so that all our guests feel welcome to join in the celebration. It’s emblematic of what we’re always striving for with our attractions – bringing people of different backgrounds together through timeless Disney stories. This new musical adventure provides us with a song sheet to write that concept into reality.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will take guests on a journey inspired by the story and characters from the hit film, picking up where that story left off. In preparation for this new experience and the many exciting updates ahead, Splash Mountain at Walt Disney World Resort will be closed starting Jan. 23, 2023, so we can begin the next phase of this attraction’s development. Additional information about Splash Mountain at Disneyland Resort will be shared at a later date.

Continue following along for all updates relating to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure as it makes its way to Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort in 2024.

The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts presented by AT&T returns to celebrate visual, culinary, and performing arts beginning Jan. 13, and we’re sharing a first look at who will take the stage at the DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series! Three times each evening, Guests can witness some of Broadway’s biggest stars perfor  ming songs from more than 25 years of award-winning DISNEY ON BROADWAY stage productions.

Here’s the full lineup of show-stopping performers you’ll see at the festival this year:

• Jan. 13, 15, 16, 19, 20 – Kara Lindsay (“Newsies”) & Kevin Massey (“Tarzan”)
• Jan. 14, 17, 18, 21, 22 – Arielle Jacobs (“Aladdin”) & Adam Jacobs (“Aladdin”)
• Jan. 23, 25, 26, 29, 30, Feb. 2, 3 – Patti Murin (“Frozen”) & Robert Creighton (“Frozen”)
• Jan. 24, 27, 28, 31, Feb. 1, 4, 5– Mandy Gonzalez (“AIDA”) & L. Steven Taylor (“The Lion King”)
• Feb. 7, 10, 11, 14, 15, 18, 19 – Kissy Simmons (“The Lion King”) & Josh Strickland (“Tarzan”)
• Feb. 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 16, 17 – Ashley Brown (“Mary Poppins”) & Michael James Scott (“Aladdin”)
• Feb. 20 – Special, extended finale performance featuring Brown, Scott, Simmons & Strickland

DISNEY ON BROADWAY Dining Packages will be on sale Dec. 13 for theater lovers who want a guaranteed seat for the action. Stay tuned for more details on the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts!