WDW Daily News

Hundreds of new plant-based dishes have landed on menus at Walt Disney World® Resort! 

Just last month, we shared that all of our major quick and table service restaurants would be dishing up delectable new options at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland® Resort – accompanied by a new plant-based menu icon, a green leaf. Now, we’re excited to introduce more of these tasty offerings, including some delicious new choices.

Each one is made from plant-based ingredients like vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, seeds and legumes – and without animal meat, dairy, eggs or honey. From sweet treats to three-course meals, and everything in between, there are more than 400 craveable creations to choose from.

Are you planning a trip to Walt Disney World® Resort? Be sure to check out the brand-new Guide to Plant-Based Dining on the resort’s website to learn where these dishes – and many more! – can be found during their visit.

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Guests don’t have to journey to an enchanted forest to try these new treats celebrating the premiere of Disney’s highly-anticipated animated film, “Frozen 2.” All they have to do is visit Walt Disney World® Resort, where they’ll find a variety of yummy sweets across property.  While some items are coming soon, others are available now. Guests won’t want to miss these. And don’t forget,  “Frozen 2” hits theaters Nov. 22, 2019. 

Magic Kingdom® Park (available starting Nov. 8)

• Olaf’s Frozen Hot Chocolate Cake (Main Street Bakery, available all day) – gluten-friendly chocolate cake layered with chocolate crispy pearls, chocolate panna cotta, and marshmallow fluff
• Sven’s Carrot Cake (Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café, Exclusive to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party) – carrot cake topped with cream cheese frosting, sugar carrots, and a chocolate piece

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon® Water Park, Leaning Palms

• Elsa’s Frozen Wave – cotton candy vanilla milkshake with whipped cream, fall and winter sprinkles, and a white chocolate coin 

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If you are looking for a way to celebrate and honor the Day of the Dead, el Día de los Muertos, head to Epcot® where Mariachi Cobre Presents the Story of “Coco” will return Oct. 31-Nov. 2, 2019.

The beloved story of Disney Pixar’s “Coco” comes to life in this amazing show where Mariachi Cobre, joined by Folklórico dancers, tell the story of Miguel through vibrant dance and song at the Mexico pavilion at Epcot.

The show honors the movie’s theme, which celebrates the tradition of remembering friends and family members who are no longer with us, and helping support their spiritual journey.

This joyous celebration will be performed four times a day from Thursday, Oct. 31 through Sunday, Nov. 2 at the Mexico pavilion in World Showcase. 

To kick off the week, we’re celebrating an exciting milestone for Disney Skyliner at the Walt Disney World® Resort – 1 million guests magically transported! 

Since opening just weeks ago, this popular state-of-the-art transportation system has offered a convenient way to get around the Walt Disney World Resort with an extra dash of pixie dust.  The beautiful Disney Skyliner gondolas glide across the sky providing amazing bird’s-eye views of the property.  

The gondolas have already become a popular way to travel to resort locations.  Disney Skyliner connects Epcot® and Disney’s Hollywood Studios® to four Disney resort hotels: Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort (and the forthcoming Disney’s Riviera Resort,  set to open Dec. 16, 2019).

Plus, the Disney Skyliner station at International Gateway at Epcot is conveniently located just a short walk away from Disney’s BoardWalk entertainment district, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. 

We’re proud to celebrate this exciting milestone for Disney Skyliner and look forward to offering the best transportation experiences to many, many more Walt Disney World Resort Guests in the future.    

If you’re as excited about the new Disney+ streaming service as we are, chances are you’ve probably got your list of favorite movies and series already picked out. Films like Mary Poppins, Peter Pan, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit are all well and good, but what about some of the unsung heroes of the Disney library?

Full Story

Ways abound to simply save money at Walt Disney World, but what if you could actually level up your trip for basically no extra cost?

Full Story

“Avenger” fans assemble! Guests of all ages can now build and buy their own Super Hero gauntlet at Super Hero Headquarters at Disney Springs®.

Here’s how it works: Stark Industries has created a selection of gauntlet modules inspired by Captain America, Hulk, Iron Man and Spider-Man. You can choose four modules to add together to create their own unique gauntlet inspired by their favorite hero – or mix together modules that represent multiple heroes. The modules they choose determine the voice, sound effects and the color of light of the gauntlet. Guests can even add an optional launcher that shoots button activated projectiles.

Check out the video below, in which a few brave fans test out the process!

Recently Matt Martin, Creative Executive of Franchise Story & Content from the Lucasfilm Story Group, visited Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios® in Florida, and while he was exploring the planet of Batuu, he met with some of the authors who helped bring some of the stories of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to life.  

Matt got the chance to explore Batuu with authors Delilah Dawson (author of “Galaxy’s Edge: Black Spire”), Zoraida Cordova (author of “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge A Crash of Fate”) and Ethan Sacks (author of “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge” comic series) along with illustrator Will Sliney. Check out some of their stories below!  

Since the launch of Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, we’ve had a great time partnering with Lucasfilm and Industrial Light & Magic to update the attraction with new and exciting destinations. Passengers who board the Starspeeder 1000 never know where in the galaxy their pilot C-3PO and navigator R2-D2 will take them. We’ve added flights to Jakku, Crait and even Batuu!  Along the way, we’ve encountered many of our favorite characters from the Skywalker saga.

I know that many of you are as excited as I am about the December 20th film launch of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Today we’re excited to announce that Star Tours – The Adventures Continue at Disneyland® Resort, Walt Disney World® Resort, Disneyland Paris and Tokyo Disney Resort will be adding new destinations inspired by the latest episode of the Star Wars saga. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hits theaters on Dec. 20, 2019. 

In the trailers for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, fans caught glimpses of the ocean moon Kef Bir. All we can say at this point is that Starspeeders will be heading there soon!

UPDATE: Circle of Flavors: Harambe at Night will be returning to Disney’s Animal Kingdom® this December! Reservations are open starting today for bookings beginning on Dec. 4, 2019.

Earlier this year, we launched an all-new dining adventure coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park select nights.  Circle of Flavors: Harambe at Night is a family-friendly progressive dining experience drawing inspiration from the many facets of African cultures. In addition to celebrating the beloved story of “The Lion King,” this experience honors some of the most majestic and endangered African animals through delicious flavors, fun activities, live music, and appreciation for animal conservation.

One of these fun activities is a Kilimanjaro Safaris Virtual Realty experience. After enjoying a welcome reception at the train station in Harambe, you will hop on the train and journey to Rafiki’s Planet Watch. Here they’ll have the opportunity to try out a virtual reality 360-degree safari experience like they’ve never seen before, one that is only available exclusively during Circle of Flavors: Harambe at Night! “Join our Pride” and get up close and personal with the sights and sounds of Pride Rock, coming face-to-face with our amazing host, the African lions. 

In addition to virtual reality, you will be able to indulge on a culinary expedition of food and beverages throughout the entire experience. When they begin their journey at the Harambe Train Station, they’ll enjoy a welcome reception featuring meat pies, Durban chips and dip, and a hand-selected array of meats and cheeses as well as Harambellini, a specialty beverage featuring sparkling South African wine blended with a bright burst of passion fruit, orange, and guava juices. And for the kiddos, they can nibble on cheese, fruit, and Tofaa (chocolate caramel-dipped green apples). 

During the welcome reception, you will receive a boarding pass that allows them to hop on the train and head to Rafiki’s Planet Watch, where fun activities (including the VR experience and character greetings with familiar friends Timon and Rafiki) and more bites and refreshments await them. Theyt can snack on spiced crisp plaintains, South African oat and coconut bars, and Sundowner Safari Mix with spiced nuts and dried fruit. Kids can enjoy seasonal fruit and Trail Mix Bites with granola, chocolate chips, raisins, and honey. For the adults, the specialty beverages featured here are the Chief’s Shandy (Tusker beer blended with lemonade), and Wanjohi’s Dawa, a refreshing blend of tequila, pineapple, mango, and Ancho chile. 

Next, you can hop back on the train to head back to their final destination: Harambe Market. Here they’ll partake in a delicious dinner while enjoying upbeat music from African musicians, a dance party, and captivating storytelling. On the menu is an array of hearty dishes and yummy desserts inspired by the five featured African animals. Around the marketplace, you will find stations representing each of the animals and a selection of additional offerings in the courtyard.

The African Lion Station

• Char-Grilled Steak with Herb-Infused Mealie, Chakalaka, and a Red Wine Sauce
• Chicken with Fingerling Potatoes, Kool Slaai, and Mango Sambal
• Chicken Tenders (Kid’s Option)

The Cape Buffalo Station

• Shrimp Curry with Sustainable Shrimp, Cape Malay Green Coconut Curry, and Fragrant Basmati Rice
• Grilled Sweet Corn with Farmer’s Cheese, Chili-Lime Spice, and Citrus Aioli
• Barbecued Ribs (Kid’s Option)
• Macaroni and Cheese (Kid’s Option)

The Rhinoceros Station

• Vegetable Curry with Roasted Seasonal Vegetables served over Basmati Rice
• Vegetarian Potato and Pea Samosa, Pickled Vegetables, and Tamarind Dipping Sauce
• Barbecued Ribs (Kid’s Option)
• Macaroni and Cheese (Kid’s Option)

The African Elephant Station

• Smoked Honey-glazed Pork Belly with White Bean Purée, Caramelized Apple-Bacon Chutney, and Curry-Apple Gastrique

The Leopard Station

• Sustainable Fish with Coriander-Fennel Slaw and Dhania Chutney
• Grilled Lamb with Goat Cheese Polenta and Roasted Garlic Sauce
• Mini Corn Dog (Kid’s Option)

Harambe Market Courtyard Station

• Petite Greens, Local Tomatoes, Cucumber, Sweety Drop Peppers, Citrus, and Citrus Vinaigrette
• Boerie Roll with South African Farmers’ Style Sausage, Peppadews, and Pickled Vegetables
• African Spiced Popcorn

Dessert Station

• Honey-Caramel Candy Bar with Crispy Pearls
• Animal-inspired Cupcakes
• Lions S’mores Pop with Chocolate and Graham Cracker Crumbs

Specialty Beverages

• Talking Monkey – Coffee Liqueur, Banana Liqueur, and Espresso-infused Snow Leopard Vodka
• Marketplace Sangria – Blend of African Wine and Rooibos Tea finished with a Citrus and Mint Infusion
• Safari Sunset – Passion Fruit, Strawberry, Orange, and Guava Juices blended with Rum
• Assorted African-inspired Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beverages (Also available at the Welcome Reception and Rafiki’s Planet Watch Train Station)
• Assorted African Beer and Wine (Also available at the Welcome Reception and Rafiki’s Planet Watch Train Station)

Menus and options are subject to change, but at each station, you will learn a little bit about each of the Big Five animals. Children are invited to choose their favorite Big Five animal charm and learn more about them while creating their very own bracelet or necklace. 

Circle of Flavors: Harambe at Night will be available again on select nights beginning Dec. 4, 2019 from 6-9pm for a limited time at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Pricing is $125 plus tax for adults and $99 plus tax for children ages 3-9 and separate park admission is required. Visit the Walt Disney World Resort website to make reservations.