WDW Daily News

From time to time, Disney occasionally refreshes offerings across the Walt Disney World Resort. As part of that work, the following Disney Resort hotel feature pools will be unavailable from approximately January through April 2024 as they undergo routine maintenance:

• Fantasia Pool at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
• Fuentes del Morro Pool at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• Doubloon Lagoon at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter

Guests staying at these resorts may utilize other resort pools during the downtime. 

We’ve got some exciting foodie news to share with you! Late this summer, the new BoardWalk Deli will be opening its doors at Disney’s BoardWalk. This location, previously the BoardWalk Bakery, is inspired by the delis of the Northeast region, with a menu that takes guests on a road trip of classic sweet and savory flavors from New York to the Jersey Shore.

Delicatessen translates to “all things delicious,” and that’s exactly what visitors will experience. With that, let’s get into what dishes guests can expect at this exciting new spot.

Whether guests are heading out for a day in the parks or planning a cozy breakfast in their room, they can stop by the Deli to select from house-baked bagels with a choice of schmear, a variety of sweet breakfast pastries, or a warm bagel sandwich. Some of these delicious options include an Everything Bagel Sandwich with cage-free eggs, sausage, and cheddar cheese, a Bagel Breakfast Sandwich with cage-free eggs, bacon, sweet caramelized onions, and cheddar cheese, or a Plant-based Ciabatta Sandwich with “egg” Florentine, plant-based cheese, tomato jam, and arugula that provides an exciting contrast of flavors. What a way to start their day!

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The highly anticipated Disney Wish, the newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, has officially made its debut! A team of Wish Upon a Star with Us Vacation Planners were onboard for the Maiden Voyage of this incredible new ship, as well as a media preview cruise before the ship officially set sail. After 4 ships and more than 20 years in the cruise industry, Disney has completely re-imagined cruising with the stunning design, unique innovations and amazing experiences on the Disney Wish.

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MagicBand+ is launching July 27 at Walt Disney World Resort!

At Walt Disney World, MagicBand+ can do everything a MagicBand can do and more – from entering theme parks with a tap* and connecting guests’ Disney PhotoPass memories, to unlocking Disney Resort hotel rooms and more. 

MagicBand+ also has great new features, including color-changing lights, haptic vibrations and gesture recognition – plus it pairs to a smartphone using the My Disney Experience app. Once MagicBand+ launches, guests can pick the perfect band from more than 25 designs and enjoy several new experiences available at launch.

Disney Fab 50 Quest

As part of the Walt Disney World 50^th Anniversary celebration, guests can interact with the Disney Fab 50 Character Collection throughout all four theme parks with the “Disney Fab 50 Quest.” Help Tinker Bell bring the sculptures to life across all four Walt Disney World theme parks using virtual pixie dust from Tink.

Guests can wave their hand to sprinkle virtual pixie dust at each Disney Fab 50 Character sculpture for different reactions! To unlock even more, use the Play Disney Parks app to collect the sculptures and enter the worlds of favorite characters through an augmented reality feature.**

Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters

On Batuu, the bounty hunting business is booming. MagicBand+ is the guide to seeking numerous virtual bounties hidden across Black Spire Outpost with the Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters experience. Vibrations and lights on MagicBand+ guide guests down the right path. When you find your Bounty, use the Play Disney Parks app’s augmented reality thermal viewer to reveal who’s hiding in the shadows.** Local guild master Raga Bua will reward guests with galactic credits.

Nighttime Spectaculars

MagicBand+ brings the magic of Disney nighttime spectaculars closer than ever before during “Disney Enchantment” at Magic Kingdom Park and “Harmonious” at EPCOT! MagicBand+ complements the magic in the skies, lighting up and vibrating in sync with fireworks, visual effects, and music. Guests’ MagicBand+ will also engage as all four theme park icons transform into Beacons of Magic!

Before Guests embark on these experiences, make sure the MagicBand+ is charged, up to date and paired to a device.

Disney Resort hotel guests may purchase MagicBand+ online at special prices before their arrival. Annual Passholder discounts will also be available on MagicBand+. All guests can buy MagicBand+ at select stores across Walt Disney World and online at shopDisney, starting at $34.99.

At Walt Disney World, guests can purchase a MagicBand+ at the following locations: 

• Magic Kingdom Park: Emporium  
• EPCOT: Pin Traders – Camera Center  
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Celebrity 5 & 10 and Tatooine Traders 
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park: Discovery Trading Company  
• Disney Springs: Disney’s Pin Traders  
• Select merchandise locations at Disney Resort hotels 

Although features and experiences across Disney Parks will vary, Disneyland Resort guests will be able to get in on the MagicBand+ fun later this year. Stay tuned for more updates on the exciting future for MagicBand+ at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts!

*With valid admission and park reservation

**To use the Play Disney Parks mobile app to enhance the MagicBand+ experience, guests must be logged into the Play Disney Parks app with the Disney account linked with their MagicBand

Take a look at the merchandise for the 2022 Epcot Food and Wine Festival.

For the next 129 delicious days, guests can sip, savor, shop and repeat across six continents at the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival presented by CORKCICLE! The festival kicks off today and continues through Nov. 19, offering new experiences for foodies and fun-loving families.

A passport for the palate, this iconic festival is a magical taste tour – one that whisks guests off on a fun and flavorful journey. It’s a delicious celebration of the best in global food and drink along with live entertainment, family activities and more. This year, our creative Disney culinarily teams have dreamed up unique dishes as nearly one third of the menu offerings are new.

Let’s take a first look… or rather a first bite… at this year’s festival:

At the EPCOT main entrance guests will find a new display featuring Chef Remy welcoming all connoisseurs of fine cuisine.

Then, guests can grab a Festival Passport to use as their handy guide to discover all the new sips and fresh bites available at the more than 25 Global Marketplaces throughout the park. These special food and beverage locations celebrate the best in global cuisine.

Debuting this year is The Fry Basket showcasing French fries presented with unique savory and sweet toppings – like the Fry Flight, featuring three different flavors! Or, check out India, a guest-favorite marketplace returning with three brand-new menu items.

For those who like to get an early start enjoying the festival and all that EPCOT has to offer, the Belgium marketplace will open at 8:30 a.m. daily to serve up delicious Belgian Waffles topped with either Warm Chocolate Ganache or Berry Compote and Whipped Cream, as well as Chilled Mocha Coffee.

All other marketplaces – including The Swanky Saucy Swine, Coastal Eats, Hops & Barley, The Alps, Germany, Spain, Canada, Australia, Greece, Brazil and Flavors from Fire to name just a few – will open at 11:00am daily to entice guests with exciting new options and returning fan-favorites. Be sure to check out the full Festival Foodie Guide for photos of many delectable offerings.

Recently, we shared the full lineup for the Eat to the Beat Concert Series presented by Florida Blue Medicare. Be sure to check out this incredible list of performances and make plans for which guests want to see. And don’t forget about Eat to the Beat Dining Packages (for Friday through Monday concerts), which include a leisurely meal at a select EPCOT restaurant and guaranteed seating at a performance later that same day. To see the full lineup of artists, performance dates and pricing, and to make a dining package reservation, visit TasteEpcot.com.

It’s time to sip, savor…and shop! Five new merchandise collections offer up fun and whimsical kitchenware, tabletop items, apparel, novelties and unique collectibles featuring favorite Disney characters such as Chef Minnie Mouse, Chef Mickey Mouse, Princess Tiana, Chef Figment and Chef Remy. Merchandise can be found at festival retail locations across EPCOT, with additional pieces debuting throughout the festival. Select items are also available on shopDisney.com.

But that’s not all! There are other ways to have even more fun exploring the festival. If guests are a cheese lover, have them try Emile’s Fromage Montage and take a walk on the tasty side to sample dishes featuring cheese served in inventive ways. Or, kids of all ages can embark on a Ratatouille-inspired scavenger hunt that’s très magnifique in Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak.

Experiences introduced as part of the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary celebration offer even more ways to cultivate fresh memories. Guests can enjoy Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and join Chef Remy on a daring culinary journey as they zip, dash and scurry through Gusteau’s bustling Paris restaurant. Then, they can end their delectable day by watching “Harmonious” – one of the largest nighttime spectaculars ever created for a Disney Park.

To experience the 2022 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, guests will need both a valid park admission and a park reservation for EPCOT on the same date. Visit TasteEpcot.com for more details

As the Disney Wish sets sail on her maiden voyage in just a few days, we have more exciting news to share: Disney Cruise Line was named the Best Large-Ship Ocean Cruise Line by the readers of Travel + Leisure!

This year marks the fourth in a row – and sixth time in the past eight years – that Disney Cruise Line sits at the top of this list. To generate its annual rankings, Travel + Leisure asks readers to rate cruise ships on the quality of their service, staterooms, food, entertainment, itineraries and shore excursions.

Cast Members and Crew at Disney Cruise Line are proud to know that our guests continue to love their Disney cruise vacations year after year, and we can’t wait for them to experience the Disney Wish soon!

Infused with more Disney storytelling than ever before, the enchanting ship is filled with one-of-a-kind entertainment and innovative firsts. These include the first Disney attraction at sea, family dining adventures themed to “Frozen” and Marvel, an immersive tour of the Star Warsgalaxy, interactive virtual quests that unlock hidden magic around every corner, original Broadway-style stage productions, signature fireworks at sea, a real-life wonderland for kids, an expanded collection of experiences exclusively for adults, and more.

The Disney Wish will sail its maiden voyage on July 14, followed by a season of three- and four-night cruises to Nassau, Bahamas, and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, from Port Canaveral, Florida

Message from DVC to members:

Dear Disney Vacation Club Member,

At Disney Vacation Club^®, we know that flexibility is top of mind when it comes to planning your vacations with us. From accommodation types and length of stay to planning for multiple trips per year, we know you appreciate a variety of options.

With that in mind, our team is pleased to share that you are once again able to borrow your fullallotment of Vacation Points from your next Use Year to this Use Year.

Eligible Members are also able to use their points for Disney Collection exchange experiences such as, Disney Cruise Line, National Geographic Expeditions, Adventures by Disney^® or Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.

You can find more information on banking and borrowing Vacation Points at DisneyVacationClub.com.

We can’t wait to welcome you home again during your next vacation!

Sincerely,

Bill Diercksen
Senior Vice President and General Manager
Disney Vacation Club and Aulani

Today we had the awesome opportunity to attend FAN EXPO Chicago (formerly Wizard World). Celebrating its 50th Anniversary July 7-10, FAN EXPO Chicago has so much to offer its fans. Over 4 days, fans of comics, sci fi, horror, anime and gaming get the chance to interact and share their interests with like-minded people from around the country.

Maybe you want to get your photo taken or get an autograph from a celebrity. We saw lines of people waiting to meet the voice actors from Demon Slayer, My Hero Academia, and Kim Possible as well as celebrities like Sean Astin, Ashley Eckstein, Carl Weathers and numerous others. It was fun to watch people in their cosplay waiting to meet their favorites from film, television, and animation. If gaming is your thing, then be sure to stop by the Gaming Zone to play free games or take part in a tournament. In the Family Zone, kids of all ages can participate in drawing demos, slime making and a kids cosplay contest. Feeling like getting some new ink? Be sure to stop by Tattoo Alley. The talented artists from Ink Fusion Empire are on-site to give you an amazing souvenir from FAN EXPO.

I know that one thing I love about FAN EXPO are the cosplayers. From toddlers to teens to adults, there is so much freedom in cosplaying. Some choose to keep it simple while others go all out with their costume creations. Where else on the planet can you walk past 2 different Deadpools, Princess Belle, a stormtrooper, a ghostbuster, and Mario all within 25 feet? It is incredible!! For 2022, FAN EXPO brought back the Cosplay Grand Prix: The Windy City Qualifier.

Novices, journeymen and masters compete for prizes and recognition. Finally, FAN EXPO has shopping, shopping and more shopping. Need a certain comic book? Check! Looking for plushies and cutie pillows? Check! T-shirts and hoodies? Check! Pop culture toys? Check! Accessories for your cosplay? Check! Unique artwork from some of the most talented artists around? Check! FAN EXPO literally has something for everyone when it comes to shopping on the expo floor. If you can’t make it to Chicago, there are Fan Expo events throughout the year in the United States and Canada. FAN EXPO is truly a place for fans to come together to have fun and celebrate their interests.

For guests who have been waiting patiently for that special hug while they feast on delicious eats – they’re in luck! The time has come for even more character dining experiences to make their grand return!

Across Walt Disney World, some guest-favorite restaurants are gearing up to welcome favorite pals back, including Stitch for breakfast at ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Minnie and her friends for breakfast at Cape May Caféat Disney’s Beach Club Resort, and Winnie the Pooh and friends at The Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom Park for both lunch and dinner.

Get ready for some hugs, laughs, and lasting memories because here are the places getting character dining back soon!

Let’s start with a trip to Magic Kingdom Park, where there are some special characters coming back for a friendship celebration nestled within Main Street, U.S.A. On September 20, some friends from the Hundred Acre Wood will be rejoining the celebratory feasting for lunch and dinner at The Crystal Palace: A Buffet with Characters featuring Winnie the Pooh and Friends. This greenhouse-inspired beauty is the perfect place to spend a day with some hugs and a feast, with options like Carved Prime Rib, Seasonal Ravioli, and Peel & Eat Shrimp.

At Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, get ready for some relaxing vibes and breakfast classics at the ‘Ohana Best Friends Breakfast featuring Lilo and Stitch, coming back on September 27! Nothing beats getting some love from everyone’s favorite mischievous friend, Stitch, to start off the day. Get some hugs in, and enjoy tasty treats like the Pineapple Coconut Breakfast Bread and Mickey Waffles and sip on the iconic Lilikoi Juice and the yummy Moana Smoothie.

Over at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, find Cape May Café, a New-England inspired spot serving up some tasty eats in an all-you-care-to-enjoy buffet! On October 4, the Cape May Café Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast will be making its exciting return. Have some fun with Disney friends and enjoy morning favorites at this feast, including the mouthwatering Salted Caramel “Beach Buns.” And what breakfast is complete without the famous Mickey and Minnie Waffles? Fuel up for the day the right way with these unforgettable characters and dishes.

(Note: All offerings are subject to change and availability.)