WDW Daily News

For Guests visiting Walt Disney World Resort during this most wonderful time of year, Disney PhotoPass photographers are ready to capture the holiday fun with fa-la-la-la lots of photos!

Guests can find holiday-themed Magic Shots at all four theme parks and Disney Springs and should ask each photographer they visit which Magic Shots they can offer at their location. 

Looking for a unique addition to a digital holiday card? At Magic Kingdom Park, jingle all the way to the photographer near the lawn in front of The Plaza Restaurant to enjoy our Super Zoom Magic Shot with a holly-jolly makeover.

One of the best places to experience the holiday season is at Disney Springs. Between shopping for gifts for everyone on the list and enjoying the merry entertainment and atmosphere, stop by the Disney PhotoPass Studio in the Marketplace to capture photos with themed virtual backdrops.

While visiting Disney Springs, don’t miss snapping a photo with Santa through Dec. 24 at Once Upon a Toy. A Disney PhotoPass photographer will be present, so Guests won’t have to take Santa selfies. Please note that physical distancing is in place at this photo opportunity, and a virtual queue will be available. Just like the Disney PhotoPass Studio, because this is an indoor experience, masks are required.

For Guests that want to add some joy to their photos, photographers at select locations will be offering a variety of handheld props such as the one below to use in photos.   

Keep spirits bright by looking back on these photos year-round and for years to come. With Memory Maker, Guests can download and share all of the Disney PhotoPass photos and videos from their vacation – including those taken onboard attractions and captured by photographers. To learn more or make a purchase, click here. 

There’s nothing better than the magic of Disney and the magic of the holiday season coming together, and our photographers are ready to capture it.

*Disney PhotoPass Service and Memory Maker are subject to the applicable terms and policies. If Memory Maker is purchased at the advance purchase price, any photos taken within 3 days of the date Memory Maker is purchased are not included and must be purchased separately. A MagicBand, or an eligible mobile device with Bluetooth® technology enabled for the My Disney Experience app, is required to receive certain attraction photos and other digital content. Online registration required. Disney PhotoPass Photos in your account will expire pursuant to the expiration policy. Downloads are restricted to personal use only. Not responsible for missing, lost or damaged photos. Subject to restrictions and change without notice. Valid theme park admission required for certain photo locations. 

Disney has officially launched a Super Zoom Magic Shot at EPCOT. That’s right, Disney PhotoPass photographers are now offering Super Zoom Magic Shots at all four Walt Disney World Theme Parks!

 

Guests can capture the new Super Zoom Magic Shot at EPCOT by visiting the photographer stationed just past the fountain near the main entrance of the park, almost right next to the recently introduced Tiny World Magic Shot! Nearby, photographers are also offering classic family photos and Magic Shots featuring some of our favorite Disney characters.

If World Showcase is more their style, Guests will find Disney PhotoPass photographers in a number of spots as they travel from country to country.

For Guests that have an active Disney PhotoPass entitlement such as Memory Maker or Memory Maker One Day, they can download and share Super Zoom and Tiny World Magic Shots at no extra cost, alongside all of their other Disney PhotoPass vacation memories captured around Walt Disney World Resort.

The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts – our celebration of the best in visual, culinary, and performing arts – returns January 14 – February 21, 2022, during The World’s Most Magical Celebration. And in 2022, we’re thrilled to welcome back the incomparable DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series, with three performances each evening headlined by Broadway stars performing favorite songs from more than 25 years of award-winning DISNEY ON BROADWAY stage productions.

Here’s the full lineup of jaw-dropping talents performing at this year’s DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series:

• Jan. 14, 16, 17, 20 & 21 – Arielle Jacobs (“Aladdin”) & Adam Jacobs (“Aladdin”)
• Jan. 15, 18, 19, 22 & 23 – Kerry Butler (“Beauty and the Beast”) & Telly Leung (“Aladdin”)
• Jan. 24, 26, 27, 30, 31 and Feb. 3 & 4 – Heidi Blickenstaff (“Freaky Friday,” “The Little Mermaid”) & Robert Creighton (“Frozen”)
• Jan. 25, 28, 29 and Feb. 1, 2, 5 & 6 – Kara Lindsay (“Newsies”) & Dan DeLuca (“Newsies”)
• Feb. 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 17 & 18 – Ashley Brown (“Mary Poppins”) & Josh Strickland (“Tarzan”)
• Feb. 8, 11, 12, 15, 16, 19 & 20 – Kissy Simmons (“The Lion King”) & Michael James Scott (“Aladdin”)
• Feb. 21 – Special, extended finale performance featuring Brown, Strickland, Simmons & Scott

All shows are performed at America Gardens Theatre and are included with theme park admission. Look for more information soon about DISNEY ON BROADWAY Dining Packages. 

We reached several milestones in the construction of the Disney Wish since we last shared an update. We are so excited about the progress that we wanted to celebrate it today. Let’s take a look at these moments together, shall we? We are thrilled to invite Guests behind the scenes with a time-lapse video that captures the past few months of our construction journey!

Forward Funnel Installed

In July, the huge forward funnel was installed on the top deck. Our iconic red funnels are unique to Disney Cruise Line and one of our favorite details of the Disney fleet. They are sleek and graceful, reminiscent of classic ocean liners, with the Disney Cruise Line logo visible on each side.

Aboard the Disney Wish, the aft funnel houses the main engines’ exhaust pipes, and the forward funnel offers a truly unique and new experience — the Wish Tower Suite. This 2,000-foot penthouse in the sky will provide unparalleled views of the ocean. All that is left is outfitting the space.

Last Block Mounted

In August, our team of Imagineers at the Meyer Werft shipyard completed the momentous milestone of mounting the last block on the Disney Wish. This was a special moment for our team. After months of dedication and hard work, we were able to see the exterior of the ship come together. The Disney Wish is nearly complete from a construction point of view! We continue to work on the interior outfitting, cabin installations and ship commissioning.

Stern Filigree Completed

Lastly, we have the completion of the “stern filigree.” The stern filigree proudly carries the name of the ship: Disney Wish. This is a preview of what is to come for the bow filigree, so stay tuned for future updates.

Sharing these photos is like flipping through a photo album of memories. Not only does each milestone signify another step toward launching our newest ship next summer, but it also represents the incredible team who made each milestone possible. We look forward to sharing more soon.

We are excited to announce that two Walt Disney World Resort hotel restaurants are reopening and share other tasty tidbits. This Best Bites has everything from Snow White and Grumpy to “Dynamite” Cinnamon Roll Sticks and an Orange Bird Holiday Citrus Swirl. Check out all the yummy details below. Enjoy!

Heigh-Ho, Heigh-Ho – it’s off to dinner we go! Yes, Story Book Dining at Artist Point, inspired by the Disney film “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” will reopen Dec. 16 at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Reservations can be made beginning Dec. 2.

As part of our new Character Dining experience, all Guests will see Snow White, Dopey, Grumpy, and The Queen stroll through the Enchanted Forest while enjoying a bountiful prix fixe dinner with the choice of individually plated entrées and shared starters and desserts. Guests can start their storybook adventure with a wickedly refreshing cocktail like the Enchanted Apple with a hint of sour apple. The Royal Prime Rib Roast and the vegetarian A Stroll Through Nature are both returning as well as the decadent “Poison” Apple dessert with dark chocolate-apple mousse. Delish!

Boatwright’s Dining Hall, a hidden gem at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, will be serving up their Southern specialties for dinner starting Dec. 14. Reservations can be made beginning Dec. 2.

Enjoy the flavors of the Louisiana bayou with the all-you-care-to-enjoy Chef’s Platter featuring ribs, Nashville hot chicken, smoked sausage, and barbecued beef brisket with mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, street corn, and green beans. For Guests that have been craving General Fulton’s Prime Rib or the Deep-South Shrimp and Grits, they are back as well as the signature Boatwright’s Jambalaya and the plant-based Boatwright’s Harvest Jambalaya. And for a touch of Southern sweetness, be sure to order up the Mississippi Mud Crème Brûlée, a decadent chocolate brûlée with a chocolate shortbread cookie.

The over-the-top 50^th Celebration Shake at Beaches and Cream Soda Shop at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts is a birthday cake-flavored shake drizzled in gold glitter glaze topped with a slice of commemorative 50th celebration birthday cake. Now that is celebrating in style!

Want to start your breakfast off with a bang of sweetness? Try the “Dynamite“ Cinnamon Roll Sticks at Whispering Canyon Café at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge! Each order has five fiery red sticks filled with cinnamon schmear sprinkled with crushed red-hot candies and a drizzle of cinnamon oil. And for the dynamite wick – bacon! These sharable sticks of cinnamon goodness are served with a warm candied nut glaze.

The White Chocolate Peppermint Cream Cheese Mousse with peppermint sauce and chocolate cookie crumbles will be offered at Satu’li Canteen at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park from Dec. 20-27. White chocolate, peppermint, and cream cheese mousse? Can it get any better for the holidays?

La Crêperie de Paris is now taking reservations for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Tucked away in the France pavilion at EPCOT, this table restaurant serves savory galettes and sweet dessert crêpes, along with some of Brittany’s famous hard ciders.

Guests can order from the prix fixe menu with the choice of soup of the day or salade maison; choice of one galette with a glass of hard cider, soda, or juice; choice of one dessert crêpe.

Magic Kingdom Park chefs have rolled out two new offerings for The World’s Most Magical Celebration. Over at Main Street Bakery, the Opening Day Celebration Cake has arrived with milk chocolate mousse, raspberry center, and gluten-friendly chocolate cake topped with balloon sprinkles and a chocolate piece.

It’s Grumpy’s turn to get his own Seven Dwarfs Specialty Cone at Storybook Treats – a cranberry vanilla soft-serve in a cone with a chocolate belt buckle and an adorable “Grumpy” chocolate face! This treat is only available through Jan. 9.

Another delicious treat at Magic Kingdom Park offered only through Jan. 9 is the Black Forest Cheesecake at Pinocchio Village Haus. Guests just have a few more weeks to try this tasty chocolate cheesecake topped with cherry compote, whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and a white chocolate coin inspired by the “it’s a small world” attraction.

Three refreshing holiday offerings are making a splash at Disney’s Water Parks from Dec. 12-Jan. 7. That Orange Bird Santa is all sorts of cute!

• Orange Bird Holiday Citrus Swirl –DOLE Whip Orange and Lime swirl in a holiday waffle cone, and a white chocolate Orange Bird Santa (available at Warming Hut) 
• Merry Merry Melon –Melon- and apple-flavored frozen rum cocktail with a red sugared rim topped with a cherry (available at Frostbite Freddie’s) 
• Peppermint Milkshake –Peppermint-flavored milkshake with white chocolate whipped cream and holiday sprinkles (available at Lottawatta Lodge)

(Note: All offerings subject to change.)

Take a look at these video clips of the new light show on Spaceship Earth at Epcot.

Check out some photos from the new light show on Spaceship Earth at Epcot

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Cue up your mixtape and prepare for something awesome … because it’s about to be save the galaxy time!

This morning at Destination D23, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro revealed Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will open summer 2022 at EPCOT as part of the Walt Disney World Resort 50^th Anniversary celebration. This thrilling new family-friendly coaster matches the “grandosity” and fun of the blockbuster “Guardians of the Galaxy” films in what will be one of the longest fully enclosed coasters in the world. 

Josh made this exciting announcement with a little help from a friend … check out the video below to hear from Academy Award® nominee Glenn Close, who for our attraction will reprise her role from “Guardians of the Galaxy” as Nova Prime, the leader of Xandar and commander of the Nova Corps.

Guests will see Nova Prime in the new Wonders of Xandar “other-world” pavilion at EPCOT, which the Xandarians are currently constructing in the park’s newly renamed World Discovery neighborhood. It’s here Guests will learn more about Xandarians and their advanced technologies, which they’re bringing to us here on Earth – or Terra, as they call our planet.

In these new renderings Josh shared this morning, Guests can see the Xandar Gallery, home to Xandarian models, artifacts and other treasures from their culture, including their heroes like … the Guardians of the Galaxy! It’s all well and good until they show up, though, and adventure ensues in an intergalactic chase through time and space.

Here’s a teaser image for the attraction, also unveiled this morning by Josh. There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s take a closer look:

• First off, we have those lovable cosmic misfits bursting right out at us – Rocket (look at that mischievous smirk on his face … he always has a plan, right?), Groot, Gamora, Drax and Star-Lord brandishing his beloved cassette player.
• Swooping past the Guardians are Guests aboard the innovative new ride vehicles for this coaster, which are unlike anything else in the galaxy.
• Just below Gamora is Star-Lord’s ship. If the Guardians are around, it’s a good bet they’re aboard.
• And speaking of ships, let’s take a look at the Starblasters in the upper left. These Nova Corps vessels are emerging from a jump point, the Xandarian method for crossing vast distances of space in mere moments. Who knows what’s on the other side?
• I am Groot.

So that’s what we have to share today … and it’s a lot! We’ll be covering all things Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind here on the Disney Travel Agents website as we get ready for its debut next summer during our 18-month celebration of the Walt Disney World Resort 50^th Anniversary that began on Oct. 1.

With the recent launch of Disney PhotoPass Lenses at Walt Disney World Resort, there’s a super fun new way to capture memories all across the resort and beyond! Guests can interact with themed effects that transform themselves and the world around them – all while snapping as many photos and videos as they’d like on their own device to save and share.

We’re excited to share that we’ve just launched even more Disney PhotoPass Lenses! These new Lenses, along with our current collection, are available through the My Disney Experience app with a purchase of Disney Genie+ service. Guests should be sure to download the latest version of the My Disney Experience app to join in on the fun!

With the newest Lenses, Guests can embrace their icy powers like Elsa, adopt a problem free philosophy with Timon, bundle up and avoid the clutches of the Yeti, accessorize with themed glasses that reflect magical icons, and show off their sweet and salty sides!

While many Disney PhotoPass Lenses can be used across Walt Disney World Resort, others like the Timon and Expedition Everest Lenses will be available exclusively in specific areas of the parks. 

To celebrate this launch, we met with a few of our Disney PhotoPass photographers to give them a first look. Our photographers capture magical moments for our Guests every day, so we wanted to turn the camera lens on them. They got to spend some time enjoying our Lenses, including a sneak peek at the new ones – check it out!

We thank our photographers for all that they do to make our Guests’ visit to Walt Disney World Resort extra special.

A select sampling of lenses are complimentary through the Snapchat app.* One of these lenses is themed to “Lady and the Tramp.” Since Guests can access this lens at home, we invite them and their favorite furry friend to share a plate of spaghetti on a “Bella Notte.”  

Whether enjoying these lenses through the My Disney Experience app or the Snapchat app, Guests can share their favorite photos and videos with us on social media by tagging #DisneyPhotoPass for a chance to be featured on our pages.

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 45thday 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

*Use of the Snapchat app is subject to Snap Inc.’s terms of service and privacy policy.

From Disney:

Just in time for Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse’s birthday this week, we have some exciting news to share about the Disneyland Resort!

An ambitious reimagining of Mickey’s Toontown in Disneyland Park will debut in early 2023, alongside the new attraction, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. This news was shared today at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Expo by Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, Josh D’Amaro.

Building on the legacy of Mickey’s Toontown, Imagineers are working to create some all-new experiences so families and young children can have more opportunities to play together inside Disneyland Park. The beloved Mickey’s Toontown will transform into a vibrant symphony of sights, sounds, and sensations. Focusing on today’s families with young children, Mickey’s Toontown will feature new play experiences, as well as open, grassy play spaces for everyone to unplug. The land will have landscaping for both spontaneous family play and parental relaxation.

“We are so excited to leverage Disney’s powerful brand, develop new stories and share even more magical experiences with our Guests,” said D’Amaro. “The newly reimagined Mickey’s Toontown will be a welcoming place where families and younger Guests can connect and play together in fun new ways.”  

Even with a greener and more spacious Mickey’s Toontown, the land will offer more play activities and attractions than ever before. From active play to tactile play, new experiences will let children play, slide, spin, splash, touch and listen!

One of the new areas coming to Mickey’s Toontown will be CenTOONial Park, the first space Guests will see when they enter. This natural space will be anchored by two interactive play experiences.

At the center of CenTOONial Park will be a fountain, designed for play, which will also become a center icon for Mickey’s Toontown. As its base, water tables will invite Guests to play with the water and have a sensory experience. At night, the fountain will be brought to life in a unique spectacle.

A nearby dreaming tree will be inspired by the tree a young Walt Disney would daydream under in his hometown. Sculpted tree roots will provide an opportunity for children to play, crawl and explore, and undulating topography will offer rolling hills and a place to sit and dream.

In addition to reopening in 2023 with the new, family-friendly and adventurous Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Mickey’s Toontown will still be home to many beloved characters including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck and more!

Mickey’s Toontown will close in March of 2022 to begin creating these all-new experiences. We will have lots more detail to share with our Guests in the future, so stay TOONED!