WDW Daily News

January 18, 2023

Disney Cruise Line is turning 25 this summer! From dazzling new entertainment offerings and family activities to inspired menu items and a themed merchandise collection, there is so much to look forward to on board all five ships from May through September of 2023.

With the official celebration beginning in just a few months, we’re excited to reveal more details about the brand-new magic guests can experience during our “Silver Anniversary at Sea.”

Watch a New Fireworks Show Light Up the Night 

In 1998, Disney Cruise Line made history as the first cruise line ever to produce a fireworks show at sea! In the 25 years since, fireworks have remained a quintessential part of the Disney Cruise Line experience, inspiring core memories for generations of dreamers.

Today, we are thrilled to share that the night sky will shine even brighter this summer as a shimmering new fireworks display premieres on select “Silver Anniversary at Sea” itineraries!

Created in honor of Disney Cruise Line’s 25^th anniversary, the limited-time evening extravaganza will uphold the cherished Disney tradition of fireworks and honor Disney’s continuing legacy of adventure. The dazzling spectacle will be set to the tunes of iconic and beloved Disney music, and anchoring the show will be a brand-new signature song created especially for the “Silver Anniversary at Sea.”

The 25^th anniversary fireworks show will be featured on most Bahamian, Caribbean and Mediterranean cruises this summer.

Say “Cheers” During a Shimmering Soiree

A captain’s reception is a well-known cruising tradition that has been enjoyed by Disney Cruise Line guests since the very beginning. In honor of our “Silver Anniversary at Sea,” we are reimagining this time-honored event into a one-of-a-kind celebratory experience, adding an extra dose of magic to sailings this summer.

On one evening each cruise, guests will be invited to join their ship’s captain and cruise director in the atrium for an anniversary toast. The festive affair will feature appearances from Captain Mickey Mouse and Captain Minnie Mouse — dressed for the occasion in their shimmering new looks, of course! — and a delightful rendition of the “Silver Anniversary at Sea” theme song.

Celebrate with A Limited-Edition Castaway Club Gift

If guests have sailed with Disney Cruise Line before, they can be part of the best club on the high seas – the Castaway Club, which recognizes returning Disney Cruise Line guests with exclusive rewards and perks.

We’re excited to announce that all Castaway Club members who sail during the “Silver Anniversary at Sea” this summer will receive a limited-edition framed art print in their stateroom to commemorate this once-in-a-lifetime celebration until supplies last. As shown above, this design was created by Disney artist Joe Kaminski, whose work is featured in The Art of Disney galleries, Disney resort hotels and Disney Cruise Line ships. (One 11×14 framed print will be delivered per stateroom.)

Now is everyone’s chance to take part in a milestone celebration 25 years in the making! Make sure to check back here for even more “Silver Anniversary at Sea” news

During the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, guests can celebrate the art of photography with themed photo ops from January 13 through February 20, 2023!

There are quite a few places around EPCOT to capture works of art during the festival with Disney PhotoPass Service, but here are five of our favorites!

Figment Magic Shots

Magic Shots are all about using our imagination, which of course leads us to Figment! This year, we’re introducing three new Magic Shots inspired by everyone’s favorite playful dragon. Guests can find these Magic Shots at the following locations:

• Figment Wings: Most Disney PhotoPass locations in EPCOT
• Figment Chalk Art: At the main entrance to the park and near the entrance to World Showcase under the Monorail beam
• Figment Flying: Most Disney PhotoPass locations in EPCOT

 

Tiny World Magic Shot: Festival of the Arts Edition 

This 360-degree shot near the main entrance of the park (now available both during the day and after dark!) has quickly become a fan favorite, so we’re giving it a bright splash of color during the festival. Even if guests have taken this photo before, be sure they stop by for this limited-time edition.

 

Artful Step-in Frames

All around EPCOT, guests can literally step into works of art. The more they have fun with it, the better their photos will be! Disney PhotoPass photographers will be at select locations to help guests strike a perfect pose.  

 

Paintbrush Prop + Magic Shot

No, these Magic Shots aren’t a figment of our imagination! After 6 p.m. at the main entrance of the park, a photographer can offer guests a special prop that creates a beautiful light painting Magic Shot when the photo appears in their gallery. Art made easy!

 

Pixel Stick

When the sun goes down, the famous pixel stick comes out! Guests can bask in the glow of the light while a photographer creates a painting around them. Every photo taken through this method is a completely unique work of art. It’s available near Creations Shop on the pathway to World Showcase. When guests see a giant light-up stick being masterfully twirled around, they’ll know they’re in the right place.

Guests can easel-y download and share these and all of the other Disney PhotoPass photos and videos from their entire visit by purchasing Memory Maker or Memory Maker One Day entitlement.

Just as Tiana transformed an old sugar mill into her dream restaurant in the Walt Disney Animation Studios film, “The Princess and the Frog,” soon the French Market Restaurant in New Orleans Square at Disneyland park will be reimagined into Tiana’s Palace!

As we initially shared at D23 Expo, we are excited for the opportunity to tell even more Tiana stories in New Orleans Square. We recently opened Eudora’s Chic Boutique Featuring Tiana’s Gourmet Secrets, a new retail shop that Tiana opened with her mother, Eudora. Up next will be Tiana’s Palace later this year, followed by Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the thrilling attraction that will open in Disneyland park in 2024.

Tiana’s Palace will be the newest restaurant on Orleans Street. Within its peach-colored walls and fancy green wrought-iron balconies, guests will find elegant fixtures and appointments reminiscent of Tiana’s life and friendships. The new Tiana’s Palace will have much of the same pinch of pizzazz and flair as the restaurant from the film, offering authentic New Orleans flavors inspired by Tiana’s friends and adventures in this quick-service style restaurant. While Tiana’s Palace is not a character dining location, guests may find Tiana in New Orleans Square.  

The menu at Tiana’s Palace will expand on many of the current favorites served in the location, explore seasonal flavors and, of course, offer some New Orleans classics. Tiana’s Palace is sure to be a gathering place for friends and family to enjoy great food and celebrate together, just like Tiana and her father James dreamed of.

Disney Imagineers are partnering with Disney Animation artists from the original film to bring this story to life at Disneyland park. In fact, the film designers took inspiration from the exterior of the original French Market Restaurant in New Orleans Square when designing Tiana’s Palace for the movie, so this is a long-dreamt homecoming.

To begin this work, French Market Restaurant (and Mint Julep Bar) will be closed beginning February 17, 2023, and will reopen as Tiana’s Palace (alongside Mint Julep Bar with its famous mint juleps and Mickey beignets) later in the year.

We look forward to sharing additional details about this exciting new restaurant!

EPCOT

As we shared at D23 Expo in September, an all-new nighttime spectacular is planned to debut at EPCOT later this year. Before the new show launches, we will bring back ‘EPCOT Forever’ as an interim show over the skies of World Showcase Lagoon starting April 3. Similar to how it appeared in 2021, ‘EPCOT Forever’ is the perfect offering while our Entertainment team preps the Lagoon, including a phased removal of fireworks platforms following the final ‘Harmonious’ performance on April 2. A limited-time spectacle of lasers, lighting, special effects, and fireworks, ‘EPCOT Forever’ returns with a collection of songs that offer both a trip down memory lane and a look toward the future.  

Magic Kingdom Park

Fan-favorite nighttime spectacular ‘Happily Ever After’ returns to Magic Kingdom Park on April 3, featuring all-new projections down Main Street, U.S.A. ‘Disney Enchantment’ will be offered through April 2. Get ready to reach out and find your happily ever after at Cinderella Castle soon!

By: Disney Destinations

January 10, 2023

TRON Lightcycle / Run presented by Enterprise officially opens April 4 at Magic Kingdom Park!

The story of TRON Lightcycle / Run picks up after “TRON: Legacy” where Kevin’s son, Sam Flynn, has opened a second gateway into a digital world called the Grid. The first portal was built at Shanghai Disneyland with the original TRON Lightcycle Power Run.

When guests enter the queue at Magic Kingdom, they’ll feel as if they’ve been digitized and transported to the Grid for a special Lightcycle race. It’s your Team Blue against the Grid’s menacing Programs, Team Orange. Your goal is to be the first to race through eight Energy Gates and secure victory. The attraction will be one of the fastest coasters at any Disney theme park in the world.

Before the attraction officially opens, cast members will be the first to enter the Grid during special previews. And we heard preview opportunities are coming for guests too, including Annual Passholders and eligible Disney Vacation Club Members.

See you in the Grid.

Beginning in the next few months, guests purchasing Disney Genie+ service will also receive digital downloads of their Disney PhotoPass attraction photos, taken in the park on the day of their purchase, at no additional charge. Attraction photos are taken while in the parks at more than a dozen of our most popular attractions including Space Mountain, Slinky Dog Dash, Test Track, Expedition Everest and more. I always love looking back at family photos at our favorite attractions – it’s a perfect way to remember and celebrate your theme park visit together. An exact launch date will be announced at a later time. Disney PhotoPass terms and conditions and expiration policy apply.

All of these updates are specific to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida – be sure to check out our Disney Travel News post on Disneyland Resort for updates they announced today. 

Please know we will keep listening to you and adapting as we focus on making the guest experience even better for more people who visit us here at The Most Magical Place on Earth.

That includes making planning easier for everyone. For example, we recently added the ability to modify Disney Genie+ attraction selections in the My Disney Experience app, began automatically making theme park reservations with the purchase of 1-day, 1-park specific tickets and made our dining reservation policy more flexible if you need to modify or cancel.

Beginning in the next few months, Walt Disney World Annual Passholders will be able to visit the theme parks after 2 p.m. without needing a park reservation, except on Saturdays and Sundays at Magic Kingdom Park. Pass blockout dates will continue to apply like they do today. While the theme park reservation system remains important to manage attendance in our parks, especially on busier days, Disney realized their Passholders enjoy more spontaneous visits – and this change will make that possible. Passholders will also receive access to Disney PhotoPass lenses and one complimentary Cinderella Castle Mural of Memories experience (age restrictions apply). Visit Cinderella Castle Mural of Memories and Disney PhotoPass Lenses for details, restrictions and other information.* 

We’ll share a start date with Passholders soon for when these offerings will become available, as well as information about a new offering that is planned where you can create and share short Disney-themed video slideshows with favorite photos from your theme park visits.

Beginning this evening, Jan. 10, overnight self-parking will once again be offered complimentary to guests staying at Disney Resort hotels at Walt Disney World. This is a Disney difference many of you have asked us to bring back, and we’re happy to reintroduce it to make your vacation a little easier and more affordable – whether you’re road tripping across the country, renting a car or vacationing as a local Florida resident. As a reminder, Disney Resort hotel guests also continue to receive complimentary standard parking at Walt Disney World theme parks, daily early theme park entry (with valid admission and a park reservation) and complimentary on-site transportation options such as buses, monorails and Disney Skyliner. oy complimentary self-parking when staying at a Disney Resort hotel

Mark your calendars as today we are excited to share event and registration dates for the 2023-2024 runDisney race season, including information on the much-anticipated return of the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend in January 2024! From exciting races through Disney Parks to virtual events Guests can run anywhere in the world, runDisney is home to the most magical races on Earth. As we look towards the new year, runners can gear up for even more miles and magic to come during next race season – take a look below at the dates.

We’re so excited to bring runDisney races back to the west coast in 2024 and are even more excited for the return of the fan-favorite Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend. Taking place January 11-14, 2024, the weekend will include three endurance events, a challenge and more that are sure to be filled with memorable moments and magical miles running through the Happiest Place on Earth. Stay tuned for more details about the race course, medals and more in the coming months!

We’re also thrilled that with the return of the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend, runDisney will also be reintroducing the runDisney Coast to Coast Race Challenge in 2024! More information about the Challenge and how to qualify will be available on runDisney.com in January 2023.

With entertainment, beloved characters, and Disney magic at every mile, runDisney races are memorable experiences for runners of all ages and skill levels. They’re also the only opportunity for runners and Disney fans alike to run unique courses through Disney Parks.

runDisney Virtual events are also a great way to have fun while designing a race course and running from any destination of choice! Whether Guests rae looking for some motivation to train for their next runDisney race or get a taste of the magic wherever they run, our Virtual Race events are perfect for everyone!

Start marking your calendar and be sure to check back to runDisney.com for all news and updates!