WDW Daily News

If you are planning to visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios beginning Aug. 29, 2019, you can now make reservations for several galactic experiences.

Whether it’s customizing their own legendary lightsaber, building a droid at Black Spire Outpost’s industrial depot or hanging out at Oga’s Cantina, there’s much to explore as Guests become part of the Star Wars story.

Craft a Lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop – Constructing a lightsaber is a rite of passage in the life of a Jedi, as this elegant weapon from a more civilized age is attuned to its wielder through the Force. Inside Savi’s Workshop, you will feel the presence of the Force as they craft their own lightsabers, customizing them with various hilts, accessories and the all-important kyber crystals.

For the Savi’s Workshop experience, there will be limited walk-up availability but reservations are highly recommended. A credit card deposit of $199 is required for each reservation. Cancellations can be made up to the day before without penalty; any no-shows will be charged the full price of the experience. Guests can also bring one guest to observe the experience. 

Build a Droid Inside the Droid Depot – Droids can be some of the most loyal companions in the entire Star Wars galaxy, and now you can have the chance to build and customize their own astromech friends at the Droid Depot. Patrons pick pieces and parts off a conveyor belt to construct one of two core models (R-series or BB-series), which can then interact with elements throughout Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

At Droid Depot, reservations are highly recommended and there will be limited walk-up availability. Cancellations can be made up to the day before without penalty; any no-shows will be charged the full price of the experience. Guests may also bring one person along for the build experience.

Hang Out at Oga’s Cantina – Oga’s Cantina in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is the notorious watering hole where smugglers, bounty hunters, and weary travelers of all ages can come partake in some out-of-this-world refreshments. To make trip planning easier, Oga’s Cantina will follow the 180-day reservation process currently offered for restaurants and experiences requiring reservations. While there will be limited walk-up availability, reservations are highly recommended. And like our other experiences, cancellations can be made up to the day before without penalty; however, any no-shows will be charged.

Reservations for the experiences above can now be made through My Disney Experience app or on Disneyworld.com. Reservations will be available for dates up to 180 days out.

*Reservations for the above experiences in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge are highly recommended. Walk-up availability may be limited.

The newest Walt Disney World resort, Disney’s Riviera Resort, is currently under construction and is opening for guests to enjoy beginning Dec. 16, 2019.

Now is your chance to get a sneak peek at the crafting of Disney’s Riviera Resort in a new special. The Art of Inspiration is an exclusive first look into the creation of the newest Disney Vacation Club Resort. You can view this online, on-demand show now through Oct. 8, at ArtofRiviera.com.

As we know, Walt Disney was always interested in fellow artists – where they studied, who their influences were and how they brought their creations to life. In The Art of Inspiration, this great tradition of artistic inspiration and storytelling is revealed as you hear from Imagineers and artisans who helped develop the resort. They will share their influences including their love of Disney and European artistry, and just how they are making Disney’s Riviera Resort into a place that both inspires and feels like home.

In the special, you’ll also get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the making of the Disney Skyliner. Coming fall 2019, Skyliner will connect Disney’s Riviera Resort to Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and other Walt Disney World Resorts.

By: Disney DestinationsAugust 8, 2019

The remote planet of Batuu is filled with new and exotic flavors from a galaxy far, far away. While exploring Black Spire Outpost inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland park, you will most likely come across the Milk Stand, serving local delicacies – Blue Milk and Green Milk.

Direct from Bubo Wamba Family Farms, Batuu’s legendary blue and green treats offer travelers an invigorating, refreshing drink. These frosty confections are delicious blends of exotic tastes and fruity accents. 

Ever since Luke Skywalker sat down for a family meal in “Star Wars: A New Hope,” Star Wars fans have wanted the answer to a question four decades in the making: What does Blue Milk taste like? So, we set out and asked guests this burning question!

No trip to Batuu would be complete without tasting Blue (or Green) Milk.

Freeform will spend this September airing 30 Days of Disney, a whole month’s worth of Mouse House programming — from beloved animated classics to an inside look at the new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge theme park attraction.

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From droids to porgs, you are guaranteed to come across an intriguing collection of authentic Star Wars creations during their visit to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park.

When you step foot in Black Spire Outpost, they’ll encounter unique merchant shops and stalls waiting to be discovered. Wander the lively marketplace in search of rare and fascinating creatures or stop by the antiquities shop to uncover mysterious galactic artifacts.

Check out the video below, which features a few of the shopping locations at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.



At Droid Depot, your Clients are invited to construct their own astromech droids. Choose from either a BB-series or R-series as droid parts come and go on conveyor belts. Then, Guests place their finished droid in an activation station to bring them to life. Watch as the droid interacts with other astromech droids, as well as certain elements throughout Black Spire Outpost. In addition, Droid Depot offers pre-built droids, droid-inspired toys and apparel, and more. Reservations for Droid Depot now can be made in advance via Disneyland.com or the Disneyland app. A valid credit card number is required at the time of booking. Droid Depot may also accommodate walk-ins each day, subject to availability.

The Black Spire Outpost marketplace features vendors from across the galaxy. The Creature Stall houses some of the galaxy’s most unique (and cuddly) pets, while Black Spire Outfitters showcases the latest in galactically trendy apparel and accessories.* The Toydarian Toymaker stall is full of toys and games crafted by a Toydarian (the flying alien species was first seen in “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace”). And all tourists visiting Batuu will want to make a stop at Jewels of Bith, offering “trinkets to treasure” and other accessories.

Inside Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities, find a selection of rare and mysterious items for sale representing different eras of the Star Wars galaxy, including holocrons, ancient Jedi and Sith artifacts, lightsabers and more. Guests will also see Dok-Ondar at his desk checking his inventory and barking the occasional order at his assistants.

Guests can also show where their loyalties lie with the gear and accessories they pick up within the land. Resistance Supply is a “makeshift” location at the Resistance’s hidden command post, selling pins, badges, hats and other accessories. First Order Cargo, meanwhile, is located near the First Order TIE echelon ship, and offers pins, caps, gear, model ships and more.

All merchandise is subject to availability, while supplies last. 

*Costumes may not be worn by guests 14 years of age or older. Appropriate Disney bounding – dressing in outfits inspired by favorite characters – is permitted. 

While you’re strolling around Disney World on a hot day, debating which ride to check out next and munching one of these delicious foods you must try at Disney, chances are you’re not swatting away mosquitoes. 

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Disney will offer a discounted rate for its consumers if they subscribe to all three of its streaming services — Hulu, ESPN+ and the upcoming Disney+ — for $12.99 a month, CEO Bob Iger said during the company’s earnings call on Tuesday. The all-in-one bundle, which consists of the ad-supported version of Hulu, will be available on Nov. 12, the same day that Disney+ launches. 

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The beloved “Main Street Electrical Parade” is returning to Disneyland Park Aug. 2, 2019, to bring guests of multiple generations a sense of wonder, joy and – for some – warm nostalgia. The iconic parade will travel down Main Street, U.S.A., for a limited-time engagement, through Sept. 30.

“Main Street Electrical Parade” made its world debut at Disneyland June 17, 1972, and later appeared at Disney Parks around the world. This spectacular pageant of nighttime magic and imagination entertained guests at Disneyland until it “glowed away” on Nov. 25, 1996. Most recently, the dazzling after-dark parade ran for a limited-time at Disneyland in 2017, and prior to that, it illuminated Disney California Adventure Park from 2001-2010. Here’s a closer look at the legacy of the “Main Street Electrical Parade”, by the numbers.

• 600,000 lights sparkle in the parade’s nighttime journey from Small World Mall in Fantasyland to Town Square on Main Street, U.S.A. (approximate number).
• 22 floats illuminate the parade route at Disneyland, nearly doubling the number of floats from the parade’s debut (12) in 1972.
• 7 films are represented in the parade: “Alice in Wonderland,” “Cinderella,” “Peter Pan,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Pinocchio,” “Dumbo” and “Pete’s Dragon.”
• 27 beloved Disney characters perform throughout the show including Goofy, Mickey Mouse, Cinderella, Captain Hook and Tinker Bell.
• 80 parade performers (estimated number per night) bring the magic to light including 10 To Honor America patriots, 16 royal court dancers and the Seven Dwarfs.
• 35 dazzling, lighted costumes are worn by the parade performers.
• 8 jittering insect floats spin and dance for guests during the “Alice in Wonderland” sequence.
• At 18 1/2 feet high, the Clock Tower in the “Cinderella” sequence of the parade, is the tallest float.
• At 118 feet long, the To Honor America float is the longest float in the parade. It was added in 1979 after the success of the bicentennial tribute parade “America on Parade.”
• At 5,600 pounds, the massive Elliot float, added in 1977 for the release of “Pete’s Dragon,” measures 16 feet tall, 10 feet wide and 38 feet long.
• 2 composers, Jean-Jacques Perrey and Gershon Kingsley, wrote the iconic synthesizer piece known as “Baroque Hoedown” in 1967, and the song was adapted for the “Main Street Electrical Parade” in 1972, interwoven with classic Disney themes to create the now iconic parade soundtrack.
• 6 different colors of light bulbs flash throughout the parade, in amber, blue, green, chartreuse, red and pink.
• 150,000 glowing amber lights are used in the production, the most of any color.
• 80 highly skilled cast members were involved in the creation of “Main Street Electrical Parade”, including 20 designers and 60 craftspeople.
• 5 Disney Parks have presented versions of the “Main Street Electrical Parade” including Disneyland, Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom Park, Disney California Adventure Park, Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris.

Historical:

• Nearly 3,600 performances entertained guests at Disneyland from June 17, 1972 to Nov. 25, 1996.
• 900 miles is the approximate distance traveled by the “Main Street Electrical Parade” during its original run at Disneyland, nearly the distance from Anaheim, Calif., to Seattle, Wash.
• In 2005, “Main Street Electrical Parade” creator and former director of entertainment Robert Jani was inducted as a Disney Legend.
• June 17, 1972, marked the debut of the “Main Street Electrical Parade”, and it returned for its encore performance at Disneyland 45 years later – Jan. 20-June 18, 2017.
• 500,000 hand-tinted white miniature bulbs twinkled each night in the early versions of the parade.
• 500 miles of wiring were used to light the floats during early years of the parade, enough to travel to the top of the Matterhorn and back nearly 9,000 times.
• Approximately 75 million guests viewed the “Main Street Electrical Parade” during its original run at Disneyland.

A little rain should never put a damper on a full day of magic at Walt Disney World® Resort, where the fun always shines! There are always exciting activities, attractions and entertainment for the whole family to enjoy.  Here are just a few favorite picks!

Magic Kingdom® Park  

• When the afternoon parades at Magic Kingdom Park can’t be performed as planned, Disney friends come out to play in the “Rainy Day Cavalcade.”* This cheery procession brings Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and their pals down the street in antique vehicles, accompanied by a special musical soundtrack and parade performers in colorful rain slickers and galoshes!
• Guests can hop on a rip-roaring rocket into the furthest reaches of outer space on Space Mountain attraction, set sail on a swashbuckling voyage on Pirates of the Caribbean attraction, and climb aboard a gloomy Doom Buggy on the Haunted Mansion attraction. 

Epcot®

• Guests can take flight on Soarin’ Around the World.  This indoor attraction allows Guests to experience a breezy, airborne adventure as they hang glide above the breathtaking marvels of the world.
• Guests can go under the sea—without getting wet—on The Seas with Nemo & Friends attraction before getting close up with clown fish, sharks and more in a massive 5.7-million-gallon saltwater aquarium.
• They can also catch popular Disney and Pixar short films—in amazing 4D at the Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios®

• Guests can check into the infamous Hollywood Tower Hotel on The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction.  Inside they’ll be hurtled up and down aboard an elevator-style lift and brought into…the Twilight Zone.    
• They can also make their way over to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith attraction and race along the darkened freeways of Los Angeles in a super-stretch limo to the rockin’ tunes of Aerosmith.
• Guests can sing along with Anna & Elsa in For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Singalong Celebration.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park

• In Africa, Guests can head over to “The Festival of the Lion King,” a high-energy show filled with songs, pageantry and puppetry celebrating the classic movie, “The Lion King.”
• Guests can venture over to Pandora – The World of Avatar area where they can take a mystical journey into Pandora’s glowing bioluminescent rainforest on Na’vi River Journey attraction. This indoor boat ride will take them on a visually stunning adventure!  

Character Dining Character dining is a great way for you to meet some of your favorite Disney characters while avoiding the rain.  Some favorite rainy day restaurants include:  

• The Crystal Palace at Magic Kingdom Park where you can relish in an all-you-care-to-enjoy buffet with some of your favorite friends from the Hundred-Acre Wood.
• You can dine like royalty at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Epcot. This enchanting experience invites them to feast inside a medieval castle while interacting with some beloved Disney Princesses.

• They can also join Safari Donald Duck and friends at Tusker House Restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This Harambe marketplace eatery allows you to enjoy African inspired dishes alongside some of their favorite Disney characters. 
• Guests can also take a step back in time as you dine at Hollywood & Vine in Disney’s Hollywood Studios to meet some Disney Junior Characters during a memorable breakfast buffet or Minnie Mouse and friends at seasonal dining parties!

The weather may not always cooperate, but being prepared can help make your visit at Walt Disney World Resort a success! Our new umbrellas and raincoats are can be found in the World of Disney at Disney Springs®, Once Upon A Time at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Future World kiosk and Mouse Gear at Epcot and the Emporium at Magic Kingdom Park.

What’s your favorite rainy day attraction at Walt Disney World Resort?

*The “Rainy Day Cavalcade” will not occur if there is lightning in the area due to safety concerns.

The small quarters of Main Street U.S.A help to set the tone for Disneyland and Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. For most people, it’s simply the entranceway before finding their way to all the exciting rides, character meet-ups, or the Disney themed restaurants. But to others, Main Street U.S.A a cardinal aspect of Disney.

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