WDW Daily News

Disney continues to take a measured and deliberate approach to reopening their Walt Disney World Resort hotels, and as of today, are now accepting bookings for: 

• Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort for arrivals beginning March 22
• Disney’s Beach Club Resort for arrivals beginning May 30
• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge for arrivals beginning June 6.

As we previously shared, future reopening dates of Disney Resort hotels are subject to change and Guests’ reservations could still be modified to other Disney Resort hotels. 

Calling all members of the Resistance! Disney is making a slight adjustment to the virtual queue process for one of the most popular experiences at Walt Disney World Resort, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

Beginning Sunday, Dec. 20, the distribution times for virtual queue enrollment will be 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. Keep in mind, to access the 1 p.m. virtual queue opportunity Guests must have a valid ticket or pass, a Disney Park Pass Reservation for Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and be inside the park. Access to a boarding group is subject to availability and not guaranteed.

As a reminder, only Guests with a Disney Park Pass reservation for Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be able to experience Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. When Park Hopper hours become available on Jan. 1, 2021, Guests visiting from another theme park will not be able to request to join the virtual queue. you are encouraged to explore other areas of the park, including in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge where youuuuu may experience Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run among other offerings.

Since the opening of the park in 1998, Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park has continued to grow and evolve, bringing new encounters to the savanna. Today, that evolution continues as we introduce a new species of Nigerian dwarf goats to the experience.

As Guests wrap up their journey on the Harambe Wildlife Reserve they’ll see a warden’s outpost where these miniature West African goats chase, climb and play like kids. But don’t let their size fool you, they are fully grown adults.

Originally from Nigeria, the goats are considered to be of high value because of the high protein milk they provide, which is also very sweet. By being able to help support the village with the goat milk products, there is less of a need for people to rely on wildlife, which in turn helps keep wildlife and their habitats protected. With the Warden’s outpost being on the edge of the reserve, this shared land is managed in a way that helps protect local wildlife so both the animals and humans can live near each other in harmony.

On your next visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, be sure to hop aboard Kilimanjaro Safaris to witness these fun, playful goats yourself! And if you think goats are the G.O.A.T. (the greatest of all time!), you’ll be happy to hear that the Affection Section at Rafiki’s Planet Watch has reopened for up-close visits with goats and other animals.

During this unusual time, race organizers around the world continue to pause on hosting in-person race events that draw large crowds. As we look to the 2021 Star Wars Rival Run Weekend, we will convert this race to a virtual event, similar to the previous runDisney race weekends this season. In addition, we will reimagine the theming of this race weekend for 2022 and will share more information on that at a later date.

While we share our Guests’ disappointment that we will not be taking our final run in the Star Wars Rival Run Weekend together in person, we have based this decision on the unique circumstances of hosting a road race experience on this scale under the current environment. 

Participants who registered through runDisney.com will have the option of receiving a full refund for the race. Those who are registered with a U.S. mailing address may convert their existing registration to the new virtual event that can be completed from home, a local running track or favorite running trail. 

In addition to the satisfaction of completing the race they’ve trained for, eligible participants in the virtual race will receive a medal for each distance they complete and the option of a race shirt. Registered participants will receive an email today with instructions on how to make their registration selection before December 18, 2020.

For those who would still like to register for the 2021 Star Wars Rival Run Weekend virtual event, we will open additional registration opportunities on a limited basis Tuesday, December 15, at 10 a.m. ET. This race event may be completed from home, a local running track or favorite running trail.

Participants who’ve booked through a charity or tour operator should reach out directly to that organization. Athletes who’ve booked through the Walt Disney Travel Company may call them at 407-939-4786 (407-939-IRUN) for available options.

2021 Star Wars Rival Run Weekend Refund Option
Runners registered for the 2021 Star Wars Rival Run Weekend at Walt Disney World Resort who select the refund option will receive a refund back to their original form of payment for the following. If a Guest no longer has their original form of payment used when registering, they may contact runDisney by December 18, 2020 to receive a refund via check or a Digital Disney Gift Card for the following:

• Race registrations (Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, Challenges and Kids Races)
• Commemorative merchandise (automatic refund – no virtual option)
• Processing fee

Additionally, any registered participant with a shipping address outside of the U.S. will automatically receive a refund back to their original form of payment. At this time, only participants with a valid U.S. shipping address are eligible for the virtual option.

Refund timing:
Refunds from runDisney can be expected to be processed within six to eight weeks. If you haven’t received your refund by then, please visit the “contact us” section on runDisney.com.

2021 Star Wars Rival Run Weekend Virtual Race Options
All registered participants with a valid U.S. shipping address for the 2021 Star Wars Rival Run Weekend at Walt Disney World Resort who purchased their registrations on runDisney.com will have the option to participate in a virtual race. Please note PO Boxes and APO Boxes are not considered valid shipping addresses for this purpose. Participants who select this option will receive the following based on their registration(s):

• Race distance medal(s)
• Option of event tech shirt(s)
• Digital Bib and finisher certificate
• Digital Toolkit including start/finish line and mile markers
• Digital Goody Bag
• Virtual playlist
• A Digital Disney Gift Card for select races

Guests with a U.S. mailing address who already have received a refund for their registration may still register to participate in the virtual race option by registering at runDisney.com beginning December 15, 2020 at 10 a.m. ET.

Digital Disney Gift Cards for select races:
Eligible athletes registered for select events during the 2021 Star Wars Rival Run Weekend at Walt Disney World Resort will receive a Digital Disney Gift Card:

• Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, Challenge

Digital Disney Gift Card timing:
Digital Disney Gift Cards from runDisney can be expected to be processed within six to eight weeks. If you haven’t received your Digital Disney Gift Card by then, please visit the “contact us” section on runDisney.com.

Charitable donations
Donations made to Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida will not be refunded and will be delivered to that organization as originally planned.

Club runDisney Charter Membership
Guests who purchased the inaugural year of the Club runDisney membership have received a second year of membership at no charge.

Future Races:
We’re looking at every aspect of the runDisney experience and making decisions with the safety and well-being of our athletes, volunteers, Cast Members and Guests at the forefront of our planning. At this time, we have no updates regarding future runDisney events. We thank you for your continued patience and understanding.

Are you ready for a fresh start in 2021? You can grab a paintbrush and indulge their artistic side (and their palate … and maybe their palette) with an inspiring visit to the Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, running Jan. 8 – Feb. 22, 2021, at Walt Disney World Resort.

This global celebration mixes visual, culinary and performing arts from around the world into an entertaining blend that’s fun for the entire family. More than 100 Disney and visiting artists will display their work, and guests can show off their own talents by participating in interactive experiences such as a larger-than-life paint-by-number mural or learning to draw some of their favorite Disney characters. Guests can also step into famous works of art, thanks to artful photo ops.

Guests can also discover dishes to feast on with delicious Disney twists and art-inspired menus. And, of course, no visit is complete without finding the perfect piece of artwork or Festival merchandise to bring home.

New in 2021

Voices of Liberty will take centerstage at America Gardens Theatre with a brand-new showcase – The Disney Songbook. From “When You Wish Upon a Star” to “Let It Go,” the ensemble will perform Disney songs and celebrate the artistry of Disney composers and lyricists.

Over at World Showplace, guests can catch live performances by “Art Defying Gravity,” a spectacle of thrilling strength acts, and “Visual Art in Performance,” a high-energy, onstage visual artist who paints favorite Disney characters before their eyes in just a matter of minutes.

Food Studios located around World Showcase are where guests can view – and eat – great works of art. Vibrante &VívidoFood Studio, a new location between France and Morocco, will feature a mouthwatering (and photo-ready) chilled seafood cocktail with octopus, scallops, shrimp, black garlic aïoli, tomato coconut sauce and serrano lime oil. Or, guests can indulge on Blue Corn Pupusa stuffed with cheese and topped with shredded pork, guajillo and árbol chile sauce, cabbage slaw and aji amarillo crema.  

Other ways to enjoy the Festival: Guests can take part in the Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine, where they can use the Festival Passport as a guide to purchase five vibrant food items and receive a complimentary, tasty technicolor treat. The popular Figment’s Brush with the Masters returns this year, as well, inviting Guests to help Figment learn about art on a scavenger hunt around World Showcase; guests will be able to purchase a map and stickers for the family-friendly hunt at a variety of merchandise locations.  Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Arts will run for 46 days and be available with valid admission and a park reservation for the same date.

Disney Princesses Tiana and Moana — of Princes and the Frog and Moana fame — will be getting their own Disney Plus original series premiering in the next few years. Both will be longform musical comedies.

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Star Wars fans who can’t get enough of the franchise may have just gotten the early Christmas present of their dreams, as Disney unveiled a whopping slate of 10 new Star Wars television series coming to Disney+ over the next two years, including some based around characters that are already fan favorites.

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After the success of Pixar’s Coco, Disney Studios is returning to the well of animated musicals built around magic and Latino culture and families — but this time with Hamilton-creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.

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Disney isn’t messing around. On Thursday, the Mouse House inundated us with a ton of announcements about their upcoming projects on the 2021-22 schedule.

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe is expanding in huge, exciting ways! Revealed during The Walt Disney Company’s 2020 Investor Day presentation by Kevin Feige, president, Marvel Studios, and chief creative officer, Marvel, get ready for new series coming to Disney+, along with brand new films in the near future.

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