WDW Daily News

What’s the buzz? The Taste of EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival has begun! Guests can enjoy searching the World Showcase to find Spike the Bee hiding among the incredible topiaries and fresh, fragrant gardens, and they can also carry him all over Walt Disney WorldResort with our two new Disney Gift Card wristlet designs to celebrate the festival! Guests can find these special-edition cards at merchandise locations throughout EPCOT and at EPCOT resort area hotels for the length of the festival, while supplies last.

Our first design depicts Spike bringing flowers to EPCOT to share with a topiary version of our (usually purple) pal Figment! The second features Spike taking the time to smell those beautiful blooms. Both designs come with coordinating coiled wristlets and can be activated with as little as $15. Best of all, Guests can use either of these Disney Gift Cards for practically all things Disney! Yes, that includes the scrumptious eats available at Outdoor Kitchens located on the promenade throughout the festival. So, Guests can load up their mini Disney Gift Card and wear it around their wrist while they explore everything the festival (and Walt Disney World Resort as a whole) has to offer! When it’s time to pay, Guests can simply show the cast member the back of their card so they can scan it. Touch free and easy…there’s no better way to pay!

Disney Gift Cards are reloadable and never expire. Guests can stop by a merchandise or food and beverage location and ask a cast member for assistance. And if they don’t spend it all at the festival, these and all other Disney Gift Cards, can still be used for practically all things Disney from theme park tickets to Mickey merchandise at Disney Destinations nationwide! If Guests want to purchase a traditional or digital Disney Gift Card in advance, they can visit shopdisney.com to select from 60+ designs featuring some of their favorite characters and matching carriers!

As we shared earlier this year, Disney is building on the original story of the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland park and Magic Kingdom Park. They’re adding more humor, wildlife and skipper heart to the classic attraction, and as part of a much larger effort, this updated experience will welcome new characters from around the world.

The enhancements include several new scenes Guests will experience along the river, all interconnected. Their world-famous skippers will continue to share the unique adventure and interactions Guests expect on the Jungle Cruise. 

The new scenes will heighten the skippers’ legendary comedic tone, beginning with a trapped safari party that finds itself up a tree after their journey goes awry. Unexpected scenarios along the way will give the jungle and animals the last laugh!

For those looking to dive deeper, we’re also expanding the attraction’s backstory, centered around Alberta Falls, granddaughter of world-renowned Dr. Albert Falls, as the proprietor of the Jungle Navigation Company Ltd.

Jungle Cruise fans might be familiar with her name; however, wouldn’t you know it, we recently uncovered a copy of an interview with Alberta Falls that was featured in a 1938 issue of The Daily Gnus about her and the World-Famous Jungle Cruise. We hope you’ll enjoy getting to know her!

Stay tuned for more details coming later this year!

After being closed for more than one year, magic is finally returning to the Disneyland Resort theme parks! Disneyland park and Disney California Adventure park are planning to officially reopen to the public on April 30, with limited capacity.

Guests will soon be welcomed back to enjoy unforgettable attractions, see beloved Disney friends, shop for the latest merchandise, savor the world-famous food and drinks, capture fun photos and cherish special magical moments.

Guests can get ready to once again experience favorite attractions at both parks, from thrilling adventures like the new Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and the Incredicoaster to family-friendly experiences like Peter Pan’s Flight and Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree. New magic will be unveiled, too, as the reimagined Snow White’s Enchanted Wish opens to guests for the very first time.

From surprise appearances along Main Street, U.S.A., and Pixar Pier to playful interactions, characters from favorite Disney stories will entertain and delight. Beloved characters will pop up in new ways and sometimes in unexpected places as they remain mindful of physical distancing. Certain experiences that draw large group gatherings – such as parades and nighttime spectaculars – will return at a later date.

Because theme park capacity will be significantly limited to comply with governmental requirements and promote physical distancing, the Disneyland Resort will manage attendance through a new theme park reservation system that requires all guests to obtain a reservation for park entry in advance. To enter a park, both a park reservation and valid admission for the same park on the same date are required for guests ages 3 and up. Theme park reservations will be limited and subject to availability and, until further notice, only California residents may visit the parks in line with current state guidelines. More details about this new reservation system will be available soon.

In the days leading up to the public opening on April 30, DisneylandResort will invite cast members and members of the local community to be the first theme park guests after more than a year of closure. A Touch of Disney, the limited-time ticketed experience which has sold out, will go on as planned from March 18 through April 19.

Guests will also have the opportunity to stay in the middle of the magic as the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort plan to welcome guests once again, with a phased reopening. Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa plans to reopen on April 29, with limited capacity. Disney Vacation Club Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel& Spa will plan to reopen May 2. Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel and the Disneyland Hotel will reopen at a later date.

The health and well-being of guests and cast members remain a top priority. Just as the Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort reopened with enhanced health and safety measures, operational changes will be in place at the theme parks and hotels to align with guidance from health authorities and learnings from our parks around the world to promote physical distancing, enhanced cleanliness and reduced contact. This guidance is fluid and applicable at any given time as community situations change. With that guidance, many factors will determine the timing of when offerings may be available. Cast members will be available to explain our new procedures and answer questions Guests may have.

Visit Disneyland.com often for the most current information, including future details about ticket sales and reservations, and which experiences are currently available or will be offered.* Stay tuned for additional reopening details, coming soon!

*Upon reopening, certain parks, hotels, restaurants, attractions, experiences and other offerings will be modified or unavailable, will have limited capacity and will be subject to limited availability or even closure, and park admission and offerings are not guaranteed.

The Taste of EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival has arrived! Happening now through July 5, Guests can commemorate their visit or just celebrate their love of EPCOT with apparel, headwear, drinkware and much more, featuring fan-favorites such as Orange Bird, Figment, Minnie Mouse and Spike the Bee. Here’s a round-up of all the must-haves available now across EPCOT at Walt Disney WorldResort and on shopDisney.com. 

Orange Bird Collection

For Disney fans, Orange Bird is definitely a favorite! He’s bringing the sunshine to the 2021 Taste of EPCOTInternational Flower & Garden Festival. Orange Bird’s spunky attitude and iconic citrus-inspired design can be found across apparel, headwear, drinkware and more. This collection includes a fun floral Minnie Mouse headband featuring Orange Bird on its green, sequenced bow.

The Orange Bird headband complements other vibrant pieces within the collection including the spirit jersey and now Guests can take Orange Bird everywhere they go with a sunny tumbler!

Minnie Wildflowers Collection

Minnie Mouse has brought blooming fashion to this year’s festival once again with merchandise featuring beautiful floral patterns and bows. This mug, vase and watering can pop with varying blush tones and gold accents and are perfect for spring home décor.

Minnie is also featured throughout the pattern of this year’s Dooney & Bourke festival collection. These fashionable floral finds are essential to a spring look.

Spike The Bee Collection

For Guests that are fans of Spike the Bee, it’s definitely meant to “bee” that there are festival products for them! As the host of Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration, Spike is buzzing all around this year’s festival. The pattern and collection design is inspired by golden honeycombs and includes garden essentials, a baseball cap, tumbler by Corkcicle and more.
                                     

Figment World of Nature Collection 

No EPCOT festival would be complete without Figment! Guests can bring a piece of EPCOT to their homes with a planter inspired by Spaceship Earth and journal to hold imaginative ideas.

The Taste of EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival runs through July 5 and is available with valid admission and a park reservation for the same date. Merchandise is available while supplies last and can be found throughout EPCOT at Walt Disney World Resort along with select items on shopDisney.com. Happy Spring!

Last year, Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom Park received a royal makeover, with a new color scheme that included bold, shimmering and regal enhancements. Today, we are excited to share the first look at the newest piece of EARidescent embellishment that continues this glistening adornment.  

Last night, Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney World teams installed the first décor piece that will adorn the castle for “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” later this year, honoring the 50^th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort. The castle’s new décor features a royal blue jewel, with gold detailing and shimmering draping.

Walt Disney Imagineering developed new colors, gold detailing and vibrant hues for this makeover, drawing inspiration from Disney Legend Mary Blair’s vision of the classic film, “Cinderella.”

The overall Cinderella Castle makeover will continue in the coming months, as the turrets and towers receive shimmering pearls, jewels and ribbons in royal blues and iridescent golds. At night, this royal landmark will be a vision to behold, as it becomes one of the shining Beacons of Magic, shimmering with EARidescence.

Stay tuned for more updates on this regal enhancement and the 50^th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort, which starts on Oct. 1, 2021.

The MagicBand, the colorful wristband guests wear at Walt Disney World Resort, makes each visit even simpler and more seamless. They’ve continued to invent and innovate, and soon, they’ll be debuting a new option: Disney MagicMobile service! 

Launching in phases starting later this year, Disney MagicMobile service is a convenient and contactless way to access MagicBand features like theme park entry through the power of an iPhone, Apple Watch or other smart device. Guests will be able to create a Disney MagicMobile pass through the My Disney Experience app and add it to their smart device’s digital wallet. It works like magic – most features will be available by just holding up your smart device near an access point, just like you do with a MagicBand. Disney MagicMobile service and its features will roll out first on Apple devices.

Guests may choose to use Disney MagicMobile service or a MagicBand – pick whichever option works best during their visit. They can even use both and alternate between the two for added flexibility. We’ll also soon be introducing more MagicBands in trendy new colors and fun designs featuring favorite Disney characters and stories.

Our existing digital room key feature will continue to be available specifically within the My Disney Experience app, which helps guests expedite their arrival by using online check-in service, going directly to their Disney Resort hotel room and using their phone to unlock their door. Disney Resort hotel guests may also still pick up a Key to the World card at their convenience by visiting the front desk. 

Stay tuned for more information on Disney MagicMobile service and MagicBands!

Everyone’s favorite “Little Chef” is cooking up something really big for Walt Disney World Resort’s 50^thanniversary, because the grand opening of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at EPCOT is set for Oct. 1 of this year! That date may sound familiar, as it will also mark exactly 50 years since Walt Disney World officially opened for the first time. So Chef Remy will help us kick off “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” in Parisian style. In this delicious new attraction, guests will feel like they’ve shrunk to the size of Chef Remy as they scurry through Gusteau’s famous restaurant on a wild adventure for the whole family (no height requirement!). Based on Disney and Pixar’s Academy Award®-winning “Ratatouille,” the experience will be part of a newly expanded France pavilion inside EPCOT that will also open Oct. 1. 



When rounding the corner into this new portion of the pavilion, guests will be transported into a fanciful version of Paris that feels straight out of the animated film. As you can see in this beautiful nighttime photo we’re sharing today, it’s easy to understand why little Remy fell so head-over-heels in love with the “city of lights.”



And oh wait … there’s more! Also opening Oct. 1 will be La Crêperie de Paris, a new restaurant offering both table- and quick-service options. The menu will feature sweet crepes, savory buckwheat galettes (naturally gluten friendly) and authentic French hard cider. The attraction, restaurant and pavilion expansion are all part of the historic transformation of EPCOT currently underway, celebrating how the impossible becomes possible through the power of imagination … and a little Disney magic. This amazing time in the park’s history has already brought us a reimagined main entrance with new entrance fountain, “The Soul of Jazz” exhibit and new films in three different pavilions, with much more on the way. 



We’re looking forward to Remy joining us for “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” an 18-month event that will feature new experiences at the four Walt Disney World theme parks and beyond, where shimmering EARidescent décor will appear as if by magic.

By: Disney DestinationsMarch 5, 2021

Reimagining is underway at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort at Walt Disney World Resort! Have a look at these new photos we’re sharing for the first time, taking you inside a newly reimagined guest room at the resort.

These reimagined spaces feature a new color palette inspired by the Pacific Ocean and its many islands, including details, patterns and textures from the hit Walt Disney Animation Studios film “Moana” – look closely and you might even spot some characters from the story!

You’ll also see all-new furnishings and fixtures. In the bathrooms, for instance, Disney Imagineers took inspiration from the sandy ocean floor for the tiles and carved details in the vanity. The colorful patterns found throughout the room bring a whole new energy to the space, evoking undulating ocean waves and tropical flowers.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is now accepting bookings for late July 2021, and the next time guests pull up to the Great Ceremonial House, they’ll notice even more exciting changes we’re currently working on. The porte cochere is in the midst of a dramatic overhaul that will feature a high-pitched, open-truss roof covered in a thatch style with pops of color. Above the porte cochere, the Monorail station is receiving new wooden screens with tropical colors, adding to the open and airy vibe befitting of the South Seas.

This popular locale joins the other Disney Resort hotels of Walt Disney World in creating the Disney Resorts Collection, where the magic found in the theme parks extends to every moment of a guest’s vacation. Disney Resort hotels offer a wide selection of fantastic settings to choose from, inspired by worlds both real and imagined. Guests are fully immersed in our legendary storytelling and guest service that extend beyond our theme parks to every moment of a stay, whether visiting an African savanna, strolling a seaside boardwalk, seeing a favorite Disney character or so much more – there’s magic seemingly around every corner.

We’ll have more to share about the developments happening at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort in the weeks and months to come. This exciting progress is part of the overall evolution of our Disney Resort hotels, as we infuse even more Disney touches across our collection – just in time for “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” beginning Oct. 1, 2021, in honor of Walt Disney World’s 50^thanniversary.

Spring is in the air at Walt Disney World Resort today as the Taste ofEPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival blooms now through July 5, 2021. This event spreads its butterfly wings across the entire park, offering fun for the whole family inspired by the season.   

We were out in the park today to capture some images of the festival’s opening day, which you can see here. And there’s all sorts of springtime activities for Guests to explore when they visit: 

• Check out nearly 100 individual topiaries all around the park, many featuring Disney characters.
• Take leisurely walks through 20 different garden areas, like the English Tea Garden Presented by Twinings of London in the United Kingdom pavilion. 
• Indulge in fresh bites and sips from more than 20 locations, including Outdoor Kitchens around World Showcase. 
• Take in live music as it fills the air at America Gardens Theatre, the Mill Stage at the Canada pavilion and inside World Showplace. 
• Search for Spike the Bee on Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration scavenger hunt. 
• And bring the festival home with special merchandise featuring Minnie Mouse, Figment, Spike and that lovable Orange Bird. 

This is just a snapshot of what Guests can find at the festival. For complete details – including menus, live music schedules, etc. – Guests can check out FreshEPCOT.com and follow #FreshEPCOT on social media platforms.  

Anyone stopping by the park today also may have noticed a new look for the main entrance plaza, where flags of six original EPCOT icons were raised for the first time and now flank Spaceship Earth. These flags, along with new lighting and music debuting today in the plaza, are the latest moments in the ongoing transformation of EPCOT, as the park continues to inspire us to see the real world in more fantastic ways. 

The freshest flavors of spring – on the plate and in the glass – are showcased at Taste of EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival March 3 through July 5, 2021.

This Foodie Guide lists all the sweet and savory bites as well as refreshing sips at the over 20 festival-exclusive Outdoor Kitchens. The newest Outdoor Kitchens are the EPCOT Sunshine Griddle offering delicious brunch items, and EPCOT Farmers Feast, where a rotating seasonal menu will offer the finest local ingredients through the festival. And check out the new Orange Bird sipper – how is it possible he is even more adorable this year?

Returning is the Garden Graze, a fun food stroll highlighting five delicious offerings at the festival – all listed in the Festival Passport. Upon their Garden Graze purchase, Guests will receive a stamp for your Festival Passport. Once they’ve collected all five stamps, they can bring their Festival Passport to Pineapple Promenade Outdoor Kitchen to receive a complimentary prize exclusive to the festival. Guests can complete the Garden Graze at their leisure, and they can even bring back your stamped Festival Passport to EPCOT at any time during the festival to complete your Garden Graze.

Also new for this year’s festival are some tasty musical morsels for Guests’ ears! Each weekend, they can enjoy a series of concerts featuring local bands from Orlando, also known as the “City Beautiful.” Friday through Monday evenings, these “City Beautiful” bands will take the stage at America Gardens Theatre to perform popular songs of yesterday and today.

We have listed all the fantastic new offerings in this Foodie Guide:

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