With single-day tickets to Disney World now starting at $109, squeezing the most out of a vacation to the Happiest Place on Earth is more important than ever. For most visitors, this means finding ways to spend less time in line and more time looking for Anna and Elsa.
Archive for Disney Parks
‘Inside Disney Parks’ Holiday Show – Toy Story Land Decorations, Roller Skiers of Arendelle, World of Disney and More
The one-and-only Mickey Mouse is helping us kick off the holidays with a special episode of “Inside Disney Parks” featuring favorites of the season at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort. This time, we go backstage at Magic Kingdom Park with the skilled Roller Skiers of Arendelle before dropping by the newly decorated Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Also, we take a closer look at the reimagined World of Disney stores in Downtown Disney District in California and Disney Springs in Florida and even share some new gift ideas for the holidays.
Here’s a look at some of the topics covered during the show:
- Holidays at Toy Story Land – What would Andy do to spruce up his backyard for the holidays? Walt Disney Imagineering Assistant Producer Hannah Brennan takes us on a tour of the land decorated for the holidays with cranberry-and-popcorn garland, an oversized Hamm cookie and more.
- Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade – Disney Parks Live Entertainment Show Director Tara Anderson shares the inspiration behind the Roller Skiers at Walt Disney World Resort.
- World of Disney Reimagined for Holidays – Disney Parks Blog author Michael Ramirez visits the World of Disney at the Disneyland Resort and shows us how magic can be found throughout the store and Disney Springs Marketing and Sales Strategy Manager Darcy Clark highlights the new Mickey Mouse Club Collection and other great gifts at the Walt Disney World Resort location.
- Mickey’s 90th Birthday – Mickey Mouse co-hosts our holiday show in his new celebration outfit. Mickey’s birthday celebration will span across the globe with special in-park activations at all six Disney resorts around the world, bringing the party well into the New Year for all things Mickey Mouse.
Disney’s Holiday Churros For 2018 Will Take You To A Whole New World
Desserts at Disneyland Parks are getting a bippity-boppity-boo, Cinderella style makeover. Disney’s holiday churros for 2018 have a new fantastic point of view — if you know what I mean — on the fried pastry. You’ll want to get in the car or hop on your magic carpet to get a taste of the magic being whipped up at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California.
18 New Experiences Await Guests Celebrating the Holidays in 2018 at Walt Disney World Resort
For families around the globe, a trip to Walt Disney World Resort is a holiday tradition. Whether guests are returning during their favorite time of year or spending their first holiday season with Mickey Mouse and all his friends, there is plenty of excitement and enchantment around every corner of the 40-square-mile resort.
At this special time of year, Walt Disney World transforms into a wonderland of holiday sights, sounds and tastes. Whether meeting a favorite character or gazing at the twinkling lights of a Christmas tree, indulging in a scrumptious morsel or discovering the perfect gift for family and friends, this is the place where holiday dreams come true. Here’s a look at 18 different ways Walt Disney World will be new to guests during the most wonderful time of 2018.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Toy Story Land Holiday Decor and More – Holiday fun comes to this brand-new land, including an oversized cranberry-and-popcorn garland and a 10-foot-tall Hamm sugar cookie. Guests will hear sleigh bells ringing on Slinky Dog Dash, while Alien Swirling Saucers will offer two holiday tunes with themed lighting. Toy Story characters will also don new looks for the season, as Woody and Jessie will sport special holiday vests and sprigs of holly on their hats, while Buzz Lightyear will wear a snazzy Santa hat.
- Disney Junior Dance Party! Debuts Dec. 22 – Like a great big present tucked under the tree, the new Disney Junior Dance Party! will hit the stage at Disney’s Hollywood Studios just before Christmas. This high-energy live show will feature beloved Disney Junior pals including Vampirina and Doc McStuffins.
- Sunset Seasons Greetings Adds Laser Effects – New laser effects complement this popular holiday experience that transforms the Hollywood Tower Hotel into scenes of the season. Stroll along Sunset Boulevard as snow twinkles in the twilight and Disney characters share their favorite seasonal stories.
- Meet Vampirina at Animation Courtyard – The star of hit Disney Junior television show “Vampirina” now greets guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Vampirina welcomes visitors in the park’s Animation Courtyard.
Epcot
- Indulge in the Holiday Cookie Stroll – Guests can stroll World Showcase and purchase delicious cookies at various locations, collecting cookie stamps along the way. Those who acquire five or more stamps will be rewarded with a complimentary “completer” cookie and a cold glass of milk!
- First-Time Candlelight Processional Narrators Take to the Stage – Each year at the America Gardens Theatre, celebrity narrators tell the story of Christmas accompanied by a full choir and a 50-piece orchestra. New narrators this year include Helen Hunt (Nov. 24-25), Alfonso Ribeiro (Nov. 26-27), Bart Millard (Dec. 10-12) and Auli’i Cravalho (Dec. 21-23). And for the first time, this holiday tradition will be presented on Thanksgiving evening, Nov. 22.
- Enjoy Fresh New Bites at Holiday Kitchens – During the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays, guests will savor some of the most delectable holiday dishes from across the globe at 12 specialty kitchens set around World Showcase. New items this year include black forest roulade with cherry whipped cream at the Bavaria Holiday Kitchen in the Germany pavilion and sofrito-marinated beef with sweet plantains and olives at the Feast of the Three Kings Holiday Kitchen. A brand-new kitchen this year, L’Chaim!, will feature traditional Hebrew dishes such as pastrami on rye, chicken and matzo ball soup, egg cream and more.
- Bid a Fond Farewell to IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth – This nighttime spectacular of fireworks, special effects, flame torches and more includes a special holiday finale from Nov. 18 to Dec. 30. This will be the final holiday season for IllumiNations, as the show is scheduled to conclude at the end of summer 2019, with new thrills on World Showcase Lagoon set to debut immediately afterward.
Magic Kingdom Park
- Discover New Merchandise and Collectibles at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party – The specially ticketed event will feature a wide range of new items to make everyone’s holiday extra special. Gift ideas will include new short- and long-sleeve shirts, pins, a merry Magic Band and more.
- Very Merry Morsels Await – Guests will find festive new treats at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, such as the Sugar Rush Jumbo Red Velvet Cupcake or the Vanellope Éclair with rainbow cereal topping.
- Holiday Music Happening in Tomorrowland – A new a cappella group will sing holiday favorites in Tomorrowland during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Look for them in between performances of “A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas”!
- New Sweet-and-Savory Party Debuts on Town Square – Tony’s Most Merriest Town Square Party will debut this year as part of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. In this special experience, guests will discover a mix of sweet and savory treats including Tony’s famous meatballs, red velvet cupcakes and much more. The $99/person ticket also includes beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as special reserved viewing for Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- Celebrate Diwali with Friends from “Up” – New this year, a Diwali celebration lights up the new live show UP! A Great Bird Adventure. Diwali is India’s annual Festival of Lights, and this year it adds a holiday touch to the magic of nature. Guests will join fun-loving pals Russell and Dug from Disney•Pixar’s “Up” in hearing about the story of Diwali from a Wilderness Explorer and discovering some of the world’s most exotic birds.
Play Disney Parks Mobile App
- Holiday Cheer Adds to Fun on the Play Disney Parks Mobile App – New this year, guests will discover several holiday-themed offerings in the Play Disney Parks mobile app. This fun new app debuted earlier this year and brings to life unique interactive experiences at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort, including themed games, digital achievements, Disney trivia, music and more. More details about holiday offerings on the Play Disney Parks app will be announced soon.
Disney Springs
- Experience the Reimagined World of Disney – One of the best and most exciting places to shop for holiday gifts is the reimagined World of Disney store at Disney Springs. This retail destination features new decor, displays and magical flourishes that turn shopping into a truly Disney
- Discover Holiday Merchandise at Disney Springs – Guests stepping inside the reimagined World of Disney or the festive Disney’s Days of Christmas shop will discover a bountiful array of seasonal delights, including the Nordic-inspired Disney Parks Holiday Collection 2018.
- Skip Down the Christmas Tree Trail at Disney Springs – Guests will enjoy a walk-through wonderland of Christmas trees decorated with Disney imagery and characters. This year’s trail features 27 unique holiday trees with new additions inspired by Toy Story, The Haunted Mansion, vintage Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and Star Wars.
Resorts
- Look Festive and Fabulous with Character Couture – Character Couture packages offer sophisticated hairstyles, as well as detailed makeup and nail designs inspired by Disney characters. During the holidays, guests will be able to look their best for the season with wintry and festive makeovers. Services are available at salons at select resort hotels; appointments are strongly recommended.
Disney VAMPIRINA Ghoul Girls Rock! DVD Review
Disney Junior’s Vampirina is the the “it” girl, or ghoul, of the year! In October we were lucky enough to attend Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World. We saw some of the cutest little Vampirinas playing in the park and rocking the Magic Kingdom. The costumes were fantastic. Vampirina is such a great character. She teaches the importance of being yourself and how to be accepting of others even if they are different. (Pretty sure some grown ups in this country could use that lesson as well). In Disneys Vampirina Ghoul Girls Rock!, Vampirina, Poppy, Bridget and the whole gang go through the ups and downs that come with being a kid, even a vampire kid. As a person who isn’t too thrilled with getting up in front of a crowd, I really liked the episode “The Ghoul Girls” because they talked about how it is ok to be nervous to go on stage. It is great to see a show acknowledge these emotions and not just act like everyone is always perfect in every situation. In “Game Night” Poppy and Bridget find their voices and tell Vee that they don’t like the same game she likes. Instead of getting mad at them, Vee sees things from their side and realizes she didn’t even try to play their games. Again, I just love the lessons in Vampirina. At my school, SEL (Social Emotional Learning ) is part of the curriculum because so many students just are not getting these lessons at younger ages. These episodes teach exactly what I am trying to get across to my kiddos in class. In a world where people interact less and less because of technology, a young ghoul from Transylvania may be the answer to many of society’s issues. Vampirina Ghoul Girls Rock! is full of fun friendship lessons, fantastic songs, and wacky adventures that children of all ages will enjoy.
Ralph and Vanellope Go from Breaking the Internet to Visiting Disney Parks This Fall
Disney’s all-new animated adventure “Ralph Breaks the Internet” is coming to theaters November 21. To celebrate, Ralph and best friend Vanellope von Schweetz are once again venturing beyond Litwak’s arcade for special appearances in Disney Parks.
Beginning November 9, Disneyland® Resort guests will find Ralph and Vanellope in Hollywood Land at Disney California Adventure® park. They’ll also be heading east to Walt Disney World® Resort, where you’ll be able to meet them at Epcot®, starting November 21 in Innoventions West. And a new experiment will soon be underway at the Imagination Institute, creating a portal into other dimensions. This winter, that portal opens a window on the internet for Ralph and Venellope to step through for regular encounters with Epcot guests in the ImageWorks area of the Imagination! pavilion.
Who’s ready to see Ralph and Vanellope in Disney Parks and to check out their new movie, “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” this fall?
6 Movie-Focused Disney World Rides That We Wish Existed
One of the reasons we love theme parks is because they let us experience our favorite movies in more visceral ways, making us part of the action, not simply witness it. But some of our favorite films have never been given that experience. While we’ve been able to feel like we have flown through a galaxy far, far, away and gone Under the Sea, for some reason Walt Disney World has never seen fit to create theme park attractions for some of it’s most popular and entertaining films. Here are some rides we’d love to experience at Walt Disney World at some point in the future.
Disney-PIXAR Incredibles 2 Review
Feeling the need to fight some villains? Then suit up and join Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, Violet, Dash, and baby Jack Jack in a family friendly action packed adventure now on Blu-Ray and DVD. Disney-PIXAR Incredibles 2 starts where the original movie left off in 2004.
That is a long wait for some of us who saw The Incredibles in theaters and have been pondering what the future would hold for this crime fighting family. The twist this time is that Helen/Elastigirl is front and center while Bob/Mr. Incredible stays home with the kids. I LOVE this idea! It is so great for kids today to see that dad can help with the day to day routines at home while mom goes off to save the world. Incredibles 2 features some new obstacles for the family, but they still all come together and show how important family truly is even if you don’t all have super powers. Those of us with teenagers can certainly relate to the Violet’s angst. Those of us who teach or have ever helped with homework can definitely feel the struggle of having to help with the “new” way to do math. It is spot on perfect when Bob says “Why would they change math?” Good question!
My first laugh out loud moment was when Dash is eating dinner and says “We want to fight bad guys. It defines who I am!” That kid is hilarious. The scene stealer of the show is absolutely Jack-Jack. I am sure first time parents think their baby is exactly like Jack-Jack when he morphs through his many powers. I bet they have also fallen asleep while reading that bedtime story. There are just so many references to real life parenting and families. My other laugh till I snort scene is when Lucius/Frozone sees Jack-Jack’s powers and shouts, “What the….?” Too funny!
The storyline is amazing as always with a Disney-PIXAR film. You will literally be laughing out loud from beginning to end. After the film, be sure to watch the Bonus Extras. My favorite was Paths to Pixar:Everyday Heroes. In this bonus there are interview with members of the PIXAR creative team. Some are even married and work there together. So jealous of those couples. They all discuss how their real lives made it into the script. When Helen and Bob are talking and she is brushing her teeth during the conversation, they captured married life so wonderfully. They talk about not sleeping in those first few months of parenthood as well as dealing with the drama of having a teenage girl in the house.
There is so much realism that Incredibles 2 just connects with so many people of all ages. Disney-PIXAR Incredibles 2 on Blu-Ray and DVD is an absolute must have for your movie collection. Find your supersuit, grab your mask, and bring a copy home to your own super family.
29 photos of Disney during the holidays that prove it’s the most magical time to visit
Disney around the holidays is even more amazing than it is year-round. From the rides that get a spooky makeover during Halloween to “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party,” Disney goes all out with its holiday celebrations.
Disney’s Two New Mummy Donuts Might Be Their Cutest Ones Ever
The only thing better than eating a sweet treat is eating a sweet treat that’s impossibly cute. Disney never fails to deliver here: For every season and occasion, we can always count on a variety of new, super festive desserts around the parks.
