WDW Daily News

“Magic Happens,” the new, daytime parade will debut in Disneyland Park® on Feb. 28 for you to enjoy. Before the first float rolls out onto Main Street, U.S.A., get a little glimpse at how the creative team designed the stunning floats that will help to bring these magical stories to life.

Senior Art Director Scott Shaffer recently gave a workshop tour as they were creating some of the nine newly designed floats. As seen in the video below, the floats are in various stages of production. From the almost complete “The Sword in the Stone” unit to the beginning stages of the “Sleeping Beauty” finale, it’s awe-inspiring to see these innovative, moving works of art coming together.

With the opening of two heavily hyped Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge lands, the Force continues to be strong at Mickey’s theme parks on both coasts. The Dec. 5 debut of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, part of Walt Disney World in Florida, rounded out the initial phase of the revolutionary land in grand style.

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Disney’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge park is now selling space sporks for $11, despite the utensils being free of charge when the park opened.

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Although the Fastpass+ system has changed a lot at both Disney World and Disneyland over the years, Fastpasses are still a great value for both theme parks and a cool way to make sure you and your family can get on a few major rides with only a short wait.

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It’s almost the tastiest time of year for foodies as the Disney California Adventure® Food & Wine Festival returns to the Disneyland Resort®! From Feb. 28 to April 21, you can enjoy the California-inspired festival with a classic Disney twist. They will get to experience specialty eats and sips, culinary experiences and entertainment that will satisfy any palate.

This year, the Festival Marketplace will welcome back some favorite marketplaces, such as Avocado Time and Cluck-A-Doodle-Moo. The best way for you to enjoy all of the marketplaces is to purchase the popular Sip and Savor Pass, which includes eight opportunities to try all of their favorite and new palate discoveries! Over at Sonoma Terrace, they can enjoy a new limited-time expanded wine and beer menu under the relaxing shade. The festival continues at the Paradise Gardens Bandstand and Palisades Stage with live music.

You will want to make sure they experience “Jammin’ Chefs,” where their favorite Disney characters join in on some cooking themed musical fun.

Over at the Hollywood Backlot Stage, they can learn how to add some sizzle into their kitchen as Disney and celebrity chefs share their secrets and tips to preparing their favorite dishes during cooking demonstrations. On select days, you can even join Chef Daniella Malfitano for a special demonstration dedicated to family-friendly cooking.   

If the kids want to take control in the kitchen, they can with Chef Goofy at Jr. Chef. On select days, kids can create their own treats with the supervision of Chef Goofy at the Hollywood Backlot Stage. Additionally, make sure they stop by the craft stations throughout the festival! 

The excitement continues with new signature events that take the culinary storytelling experience to new temperatures. Reservations fill quickly, so make sure you claim their spot today! Take a look at this years experiences below:

NEW! Disney Culinary Adventure Tour – On Wednesdays and Thursdays during the festival, you have the opportunity to take a behind-the-scenes tour of one of the many kitchens in Disney California Adventure Park. They’ll learn from guest chefs as they prepare menus and see how the festival comes to life! 

Winemaker Reception – You can indulge their senses with exquisite food and wine pairings as a professional winemaker explains the grandeur of their experience at Carthay Circle Restaurant.  

• Enjoy the tasting of Skywalker Vineyards on Mar. 20 
• Enjoy the tasting of Fess Parker Winery on Mar. 27 
• Enjoy the tasting of Silverado Vineyard on Apr. 10 

Winemaker Dinner – You can embark on an unforgettable 5-course meal and wine pairing at Steakhouse 55 while learning from their very own vintner on March 18. 

Wine, Beer & Spirits Seminars – On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the festival, you can visit Sonoma Terrace to partake in wine, beer and spirits seminars. They’ll learn from winemakers, brewmasters and distillers as they quench their thirst and learn what goes into making their favorite sips. 

There is so much for you to enjoy at the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival this year. From California-inspired tastes and sips to the indulgent Winemaker Dinner, there is something for everybody!

For events taking place in Disney California Adventure Park, valid theme park admission is required. Additional fees and advanced reservations for seminars, demonstrations and events may be required, and space at the events is limited. Full payment is due at time of booking, and there are no cancellations, exchanges or refunds. Guests must be 21 years of age or older to consume alcohol and to participate in some events; valid photo ID required. Subject to restrictions and change or cancellation without notice.

By: Disney DestinationsJanuary 24, 2020

This year, the popular Disney on Broadway Concert Series returned to the 2020 Epcot® International Festival of the Arts – and guests are loving it!

We’re happy to share that we’ll present a live stream of one of these concerts, which will take place on Saturday, January 25. That evening’s Disney on Broadway Concert Series concert will feature performances by Broadway stars Alton Fitzgerald White and Kissy Simmons (“The Lion King”), Heidi Blickenstaff (“The Little Mermaid”) and Gavin Lee (“Mary Poppins”). 

The live stream will begin at 7:55 p.m. on Disney Parks Blog. 

You can enjoy daily performances as a part of the Disney on Broadway Concert Series, headlined by Broadway stars who reprise favorite songs from past performances in award-winning Disney shows. 

All concerts are included with Theme Park admission. Upcoming performances include: 

• Jan. 26, 28, 29; Feb. 1, 2, 5 and 6 – Kara Lindsay (“Newsies”) and Kevin Massey (“Tarzan”)
• Jan. 27, 30, 31, Feb. 3, 4, 7 and 8 – Liana Hunt (“Newsies”) and Adam Jacobs (“Aladdin”)
• Feb. 9 – Special performance featuring Lindsay, Massey, Hunt and Jacobs
• Feb. 10, 12, 13, 18, 19, 22 and 23 – Ashley Brown (“Mary Poppins”) and Josh Strickland (“Tarzan”)
• Feb. 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20 and 21 – Syndee Winters (“The Lion King”) and Michael James Scott (“Aladdin”)
• Feb. 24 – Special performance featuring Brown, Strickland, Winters and Scott.

For a limited time beginning February 7, you can get an early glimpse of scenes from “Onward” visiting Disney Parks. Sneak peeks of the film will be shown in the Tomorrowland Theater at Disneyland Park® and as part of the Walt Disney Presents attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®. You can also catch this special look at a part of the film aboard Disney Cruise Line®, during select sailings in February and early March.

Set in a suburban fantasy world, Disney and Pixar’s “Onward” introduces two teenage elf brothers – Ian & Barley – who embark on an extraordinary quest after being given the chance to spend one more day with their father.

Here’s a special message from Academy Award-winner Octavia Spencer, who plays the Manticore in the film.

“Onward” releases in theaters on March 6, 2020.

A final site plan and conditional use permit application for a proposed Disney Vacation Club Resort next to the Disneyland Hotel was filed with the city of Anaheim.

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Out-of-this-world adventures return to Disney Cruise Line in 2021 with Star Wars Day at Sea. This special day-long celebration is filled with unique character encounters, unforgettable live shows and Star Wars-themed activities for the entire family. Star Wars Day at Sea takes place on seven-night Disney Fantasy cruises to the Caribbean from January through March.

With more than a dozen of the galaxy’s most formidable and heroic characters onboard, you can meet with the best of the Resistance including Chewbacca, C-3PO and R2-D2; come face-to-face with Darth Vader; and be on watch as Stormtroopers, Bounty Hunters and Jawas roam the ship. 

Force-sensitive children learn the ways of the Jedi and use their new-found skills in a face-off against Darth Vader and Kylo Ren in Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple. The whole family can celebrate the greatest moments from the Star Wars galaxy with the “Summon the Force” deck party, complete with a fireworks show of galactic proportions.

Costume celebrations, movie screenings, trivia sessions, the Star Wars Drawing Academy and a ship-wide Porg-themed adventure are more of the ways you can feel the Force on Star Wars Day at Sea. Unique food and beverage and special merchandise are also available on these sailings in early 2021. 

Star Wars Day at Sea Itineraries
With cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean, you can celebrate your love of the Star Wars saga and enjoy tropical destinations, coupled with classic Disney magic and entertainment all week long onboard the Disney Fantasy. All Star Wars Day at Sea sailings make a stop in Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island in the Bahamas reserved exclusively for Disney Cruise Line guests, home to pristine beaches, crystal blue waters and fun-filled leisure and recreational activities for all ages.

Star Wars Day at Sea will be offered on nine Disney Fantasy seven-night Caribbean cruises sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida.

Departing Jan. 2, Jan. 16, Jan. 30, Feb. 13 and Feb. 27, the Western Caribbean itinerary includes Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; Falmouth, Jamaica; and Disney’s private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay.

Departing Jan. 9, Jan. 23 and Feb. 20, the Eastern Caribbean itinerary includes Tortola, St. Thomas and Castaway Cay.

Departing Feb. 6, the Eastern Caribbean itinerary includes St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Castaway Cay.

From now through Feb. 9, you can celebrate Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure Park®! You can ring in the Year of the Mouse with spectacular entertainment, festive eats and family activities that welcome another year of good fortune. See what’s in store for them this Lunar New Year celebration:

You can experience “Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession,” “Hurry Home – Lunar New Year Celebration,” and live musicians and dancers at Paradise Gardens Park. They can take a stroll through four festive marketplaces to enjoy Asian fare and drinks, encounter favorite characters in their Lunar New Year-themed attire and get inspired by local artisans as they craft Chinese calligraphy, dragon’s pearl coloring crafts and face paintings. 

With so much to see and do, you cannot miss celebrating Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure Park!