WDW Daily News

In honor of the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary celebration, Disney PhotoPass Service is introducing “Cinderella Castle Mural of Memories,” which lets Guests magically transform Cinderella Castle with their photos. While at Magic Kingdom Park, Guests can use the My Disney Experience app to add select Disney PhotoPass photos to Cinderella Castle using  augmented reality technology, brought to life through Disney’s collaboration with Snap.

Once Guests get started, the experience will prompt them to select a portrait-oriented Disney PhotoPass photo from their photo gallery within the My Disney Experience app. If Guests prefer not to use one of these photos, they can also choose from a collection of images featuring Disney icons and favorite characters.

This experience, available for $9.99, includes:

• A spot on Cinderella Castle to digitally pin a photo, which will be waiting for Guests to view again and again during visits to Magic Kingdom Park throughout the celebration and beyond (for at least three years).
• A special video of Guests’ photos flying from the castle that can be downloaded and shared.
• The ability to download a high-resolution version of the pinned photo from your Disney PhotoPass gallery without watermarks (a $16.95 value), both in its original form and an additional version with a special border applied that includes your first name. If you’re a Disney cast member, Annual Passholder, Disney Vacation Club Member, or Club 33 Member, you’ll even receive a personalized border reflecting your affiliation.

As the celebration continues, additional sections of the castle will be released, onto which Guests can pin their memories. Encourage Guests to check back each visit to Magic Kingdom Park to see how the mural has grown!

Get your appetites ready! Connections Café & Eatery officially opens April 27 at EPCOT. Some guests may even get the chance for a sneak peek if they’re in the park over the next few days.

For guests who enjoy food inspired by delicious cuisines from around the world, they’re going to love this new quick-service restaurant. Plus, who could pass up a beautifully decorated new space to relax in some air-conditioning? It’s a win-win!

The fast-casual restaurant’s design includes nods to Walt Disney’s original plans for EPCOT. The new location features two distinct experiences all under one roof – an eatery on one side serving lunch and dinner menus, and a café and pastry shop on the other open all day long. This large new dining location is the next step in the ongoing transformation of EPCOT and a highlight of the newly-named World Celebration neighborhood.

If walking past Spaceship Earth on the way into the park, guests can find Connections Café and Eatery on the left-hand side. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer a full view of the bright, open space featuring modern décor and inviting aromas of pastries baking, fresh coffee brewing and delicious burgers on the grill. Since World Celebration is located in the center of the park, Connections Café & Eatery offers some incredible views. From a Xandarian Starblaster on one side to Spaceship Earth on the other, this is a great spot to sit back and enjoy quality time with friends and family around a tasty meal or drink.

A colorful mural spans one entire wall, called “Global Gathering.” This magnificent piece of art depicts the heart of this restaurant – people from around the world gathering around food. It’s one of the largest murals Walt Disney Imagineering has ever created. Guests might even notice the scenes blend seamlessly from sunrise to sunset.

Guests will be captivated by the chefs at work in three show kitchens. Catch them grilling, sautéing and baking everything from burgers to pizzas and sprinkling a little extra pixie dust on delightful desserts from milkshakes to waffles.

Whether guests prefer coffee or tea, people from all over the globe love sitting together to savor a brewed beverage. This idea is on prominent display in Connections Café through a colorful showcase of how various cultures enjoy their favorite drinks.

And while enjoying a meal or that much-needed cup of coffee, don’t forget to look down! There are three original floor inlays inspired by Walt’s 1966 “Florida Project” site plans, where EPCOT was to serve as the literal and conceptual “center” of Walt Disney World. Thoughtful details like these really bring this location to life by honoring the original dream of EPCOT and the magic of possibility. The park’s original DNA is woven throughout Connections Café and Eatery, the latest example of how this EPCOT transformation honors our past while moving us forward into the future.

EPCOT has always been a place where inspiration and big ideas come to life. With the opening of Connections Café & Eatery, that vision continues to become reality as we celebrate one another, what makes us unique and the commonalities that tie us all together.

As you know, updates to our health and safety guidelines at Walt Disney World Resort have been very gradual and intentional.

Given recent guidance and trends, Guests may now choose whether to wear a face covering on monorails and buses at Walt Disney World Resort, effective immediately. It is recommended Guests who are not fully vaccinated continue wearing a face covering in all indoor locations and enclosed transportation.

Slowly but surely, the Marvel characters are amping up their presence in the Disney theme parks. The latest attraction modeled after some popular characters from the MCU is the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind roller coaster, which is gearing up for its official launch on May 27, 2022.

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The return of the nighttime spectaculars at Disneyland Resort is just days away! The “Main Street Electrical Parade” and “Disneyland Forever” fireworks are returning to Disneyland park, and “World of Color” will be back for guests to enjoy at Disney California Adventure park beginning Friday, April 22!

Believe it or not, the “Main Street Electrical Parade” is celebrating its 50^th anniversary this year. Generations of Guests have been delighting in this fan-favorite spectacular for five decades, and the enchantment will continue for a whole new generation of dreamers. It’s bound to be a magical homecoming!

In honor of the parade’s milestone anniversary, the “Main Street Electrical Parade” will return with an all-new, enchanted grand finale that celebrates the theme of togetherness. This universal theme is reflected in the creative concept of the new finale sequence.

Inspired by both the original design of classic “Main Street Electrical Parade” floats and Disney Legend Mary Blair’s iconic art style on “it’s a small world,” the new grand finale brings together more than a dozen Disney Animation and Pixar stories. These stories are interpreted in thousands of sparkling lights and electro-synthe-magnetic musical sound, with unique representations of beloved characters as animated dolls.

Two of the show directors for “Main Street Electrical Parade,” Jordan Peterson and Robin Trowbridge, are here to explain a bit more about the new finale, and an exciting first look!

It’s almost time – get ready to “ignite the night” at Disneyland Resort once again!

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

Here at Disneyland Resort, we are dedicated to reducing food waste, diverting more than five million pounds of food from landfills and donating 2,000 pounds of food per month to Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County. Visiting the Disneyland Resort during Earth Month? Here are a few ways Guests can be a part of our efforts to “Zero in on Zero Waste” this April with some helpful tips and fun events!

Check out the Environmental Art Challenge at Disney California Adventure Park

While enjoying the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival through April 26, Guests can head over to the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail where they can vote on their favorite environmental art pieces, all created by Disneyland Resort Cast Members with recycled and reused materials. Guests can simply drop a token next to the one they like the most, and it could be the winner! The art pieces will be on display for Guests to enjoy through April 30.

Use Reusable Utensils

Speaking of the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival, as Guests enjoy your food, they can use reusable utensils to help save on waste! Bring some from home, or they are available to purchase at each Food & Wine Festival Marketplace and select food and beverage locations throughout the resort. Guests can continue to reuse and enjoy even after the festival is over!

Take Advantage of the New Food Waste Bins

Disneyland Resort has an eye-catching, themed lineup of different trash cans making it easier for Guests to know where to discard their waste. Done with that soda but still have ice leftover? Simply dump it down the special funnel on the trash can labeled “Liquids and Ice.” Doing this helps keep the other materials like paper, plastic or aluminum dry for sorting and recycling. More recently, a new member was added to the lineup of receptacles… food waste bins! Throw any leftover fries, pizza crusts or fruit peels in the new food scrap receptacles located at Galactic Grill inside Disneyland Park (and be on the lookout for more locations coming soon!) These actions will help the Disneyland Resort reach the goal of zero waste to landfill by 2030.

Enjoy Earth Month Activities at the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort

Every Thursday from April 7-28, 2022, Guests at the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort can join in on family-friendly Earth Month activities!* Curious about what bugs are actually helpful for the garden? The Disneyland Resort horticulture team is going to host a “Beneficial Garden Insects Show & Tell” at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. And those reusable utensils? Guests will have the chance to decorate their own pouch to take home.* For more information on these activities, Guests can contact Hotel Guest Services during their stay.

Put your Environmental IQ to the Test with Waste Trivia on Play Disney Parks app

From April 22-28, Guests can test their environmental knowledge, whether in the parks or at home, on the Play Disney Parks app with zero waste trivia questions!

Have a “Whale” of a Time in Downtown Disney District

Coming from the Wyland Foundation’s Streams of Hope is a mural of Stella, a baby gray whale, at the Downtown Disney District adjacent from Star Wars™ Trading Post. Guests can learn about ways to protect our oceans with this new art feature throughout the month of April!

*Additional fees may be required.

**Message, data and roaming rates may apply. Availability subject to handset limitations and features may vary by handset or service provider. Coverage and app stores not available everywhere. If you’re under 18, get your parents’ permission first.  Some app features require valid theme park admission and park reservation.

When it comes to Magic Shots, Disney PhotoPass Service offers a wonderful variety during the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival. Birds, bees, fairies and flowers – we’ve got it all!  

Here’s a sneak peek at five Magic Shots Guests can capture with Disney PhotoPass Service at EPCOT during the festival. While we’ve included the locations where each one of these shots is available, Guests should be sure to ask any photographer throughout the park what Magic Shot they offer at their individual location.

We can’t talk about Bruno flowers and magic and not mention Isabela. This Magic Shot is available by the water near Journey Into Imagination With Figment.

At Walt Disney World Resort, anything is possible. Guests should keep their eyes peeled for this sweet Orange Bird Magic Shot, available near the main entrance of the park and at photo spots next to Spaceship Earth.

Spike can fly into Guest photos anywhere in World Showcase.   

Get a photo with a kaleidoscope of butterflies near the entrance to World Showcase, close to Port of Entry.    

Lastly, Guests can swing by any Disney PhotoPass location at EPCOT to capture this pixie-dusted Magic Shot. 

Guests can also make their own magic with one of our newest Disney PhotoPass Lenses. It’s available to use anywhere at Walt Disney World Resort through the My Disney Experience app with the purchase of Disney Genie+ service.*

Enjoy letting your imagination grow wild at the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival!

*With the purchase of Disney Genie+ service, Walt Disney World guests can access many Disney PhotoPass Lenses in the My Disney Experience app as soon as they enter the park. Select Disney PhotoPass Lenses are accessible only within designated areas of Walt Disney World Resort. Other Disney PhotoPass Lenses will remain accessible in the My Disney Experience app until 5:59 a.m. on the 45^th day after the day on which the Disney Genie+ service was used; certain states and localities are excluded. Many Disney PhotoPass Lenses use technology that detects the coordinates of key points on a guest’s face and/or hands and may be used only by guests 18 years of age and older who have consented to use of this technology. Therefore, guests unable to provide such consent, as well as guests under 18 years of age, will have fewer lenses available to use. To access Disney PhotoPass Lenses, an eligible mobile device with the My Disney Experience app with access to the device’s camera and location is required. A purchase of Disney Genie+ service at Walt Disney World Resort does not include downloads of a guest’s Disney PhotoPass photos or videos that were captured by photographers and onboard attractions. Use of Disney PhotoPass Lenses is subject to the Terms and Conditions. Subject to restrictions and change without notice.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park has always been home to some of our Guest’s favorite entertainment experiences at Walt Disney World Resort. With so much to do and see, our Guests won’t want to miss a thing – and today, we have some updates to share about entertainment at the park.

First up, let’s look to the sky as some of our favorite Disney characters take flight in “Disney KiteTails.” Since its debut as part of the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary celebration, this show has been delighting Guests with a vibrant celebration of music, color and kites – some as large as 30 feet long – depicting Simba, Baloo and more! Just in time for summer fun, we’re shifting the focus of the show so guests will be able to experience “Disney KiteTails” from anywhere around the Discovery River Lagoon, with shorter and more frequent performances throughout the day.  

Between “Disney KiteTails” performances, Discovery River will come alive with our Character Flotillas! Setting sail in succession, these high-energy boats will fill the waters throughout the park with music, EARidescent 50^th anniversary moments and characters including Mickey and friends, Timon, Rafiki and Pocahontas several times each day. 

Speaking of Guest favorites, a certain group of high-flying primates will be making their return to “Festival of the Lion King.” Not only will the delightful Tumble Monkeys be back to their acrobatic hijinks this summer, but the show’s iconic birds will once again soar above the stage.

That’s not the only excitement on the horizon. Guests visiting the park will soon be able to share a high-five with Mickey & Minnie at Adventurers Outpost and take in the newly updated “Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond” – both opening in the coming months as we continue to add even more magic to The World’s Most Magical Celebration!

It’s time to hop on over to Disney Parks because Easter will soon be upon us and with that, tons of treats to fill up the Easter basket with adorable snacks and delicious sips.

This tasty eggs-travaganza is packed with returning classics and adorable treats to enjoy at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort. These dazzling delights aren’t just for the tastebuds to enjoy, but for the eyes too! To make this year even more festive, the gorgeous hand-crafted Easter egg displays are back and sprinkled across Walt Disney World Resort hotels and are a must-see.

Walt Disney World Resort

Available at Multiple Resorts April 10 through 23 

• Coconut Sugar Bunny Cupcake: Carrot cake cupcake filled with pineapple topped with cream cheese buttercream and a coconut sugar bunny (available on Mobile Order) (New) Available at the following:
  • Landscape of Flavors at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
  • Centertown Market at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
  • Sassagoula Floatworks at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
  • Riverside Mill at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
  • Everything Pop 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

 World Premiere Food Court, Intermission Food Court, and End Zone Food Court (available on Mobile Order from April 10 through 23) 

• Spring Into Easter: Strawberry mousse with blueberry compote and lemon curd on vanilla cake (New)

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Ever since we announced that the Disneyland Resort is bringing back its nighttime spectaculars, we’ve been awaiting April 22, when the “Main Street Electrical Parade” and “Disneyland Forever” fireworks spectacular will return to Disneyland Park, and “World of Color” will return to Disney California Adventure Park. As we all look forward to celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the “Main Street Electrical Parade,” check out the new merchandise, coming soon to Disneyland Resort and shopDisney, and a dining package that will light up the world!

The “Main Street Electrical Parade” all-over print t-shirt with glow ink and “Main Street Electrical Parade” leggings will completely immerse Guests in this fan-favorite offering. They incorporate a fresh take on the original designs of the parade floats, so when sporting these, the glowing lights of the floats may not be the only things turning heads!

With a celebration as exciting as this one, Guests will have to wear the perfect pair of ears, right? The “Main Street Electrical Parade” ear headband and split seam tee will make Guests feel like they’re part of the show, whether they’re in the park or at home.

Guests will want to have their hands free to clap along to the music that will accompany the new grand finale sequence, so this “Main Street Electrical Parade” mini backpack by Loungefly is perfect for holding all the park essentials.

This “Main Street Electrical Parade” dress features classic Pete’s dragon Elliott and is perfectly complemented by a sash that salutes the 50^th anniversary of this timeless classic.

At Plaza Inn in Disneyland Park, Guests can savor a scrumptious lunch with a dining package that comes with a meal, beverage, dessert, and entrance to a reserved viewing area for the “Main Street Electrical Parade,” which will include an exciting new finale for which everyone will want a stellar seat. Experiencing the thousands of sparkling lights and musical sounds as the floats go by will be even sweeter after enjoying some world-famous Plaza Inn fried chicken, house made mac and cheese, Mickey-shaped sweet honey corn bread, and a decadent berry cheesecake. Reservations for the “Main Street Electrical Parade” dining package will open no earlier than April 14.

This electrifying new merchandise is coming soon to Disneyland Resort and shopDisney.

There’s even more excitement on the way soon, including a nighttime spectacular foodie guide. With just about two weeks to go, get ready to “ignite the night” once again!

*Dining packages and entertainment offerings are subject to restrictions, and change or cancellation without notice. Both a theme park reservation and valid admission for the same park on the same date for each person ages 3 and older are required for park entry. Park reservations are limited, subject to availability, and are not guaranteed. A dining package is nonrefundable, may not be exchanged or sold, and does not include theme park admission.