Archive for Walt Disney World

New Holiday Offerings Bring a Flurry of Fun to Disney’s Hollywood Studios

A flurry of fun will greet Guests visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios this holiday season. Festivities will include an immersive new nighttime experience that wraps all of Sunset Boulevard in holiday magic with jolly decorations, merry treats and beloved characters sharing their love for the holidays.

It’s all part of the holiday happenings that will take place Nov. 9 to Dec. 31. Guests will also enjoy returning seasonal fun throughout the park, including the popular “Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam!” nighttime projection and fireworks show and special holiday meals and dessert parties.  Of course, Santa will be there too!

  • NEW! Sunset Seasons Greetings – This new holiday experience features spectacular projections of Mickey, Minnie and other beloved Disney characters sharing their favorite Christmas stories as a snowy Sunset Boulevard twinkles with stunning holiday decorations. Holiday magic brings billboards to life and transforms the famous Hollywood Tower Hotel into scenes of the season – a giant pile of Christmas gifts, a gingerbread house and a frozen winter wonderland! A frosty summer-loving snowman might even make an appearance to share his holiday wish! This fantastic and heartwarming experience runs continuously throughout the night.
  • NEW! Enhanced holiday décor around Echo Lake – Extra-large ornaments, colorful garlands and a giant Christmas tree centered on the water will make Echo Lake the merriest of places this holiday season. Even Dinosaur Gertie will be dressed for the occasion with a dino-sized Santa hat.
  • “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” Returns – The hit holiday show returns Nov. 9 sending beloved Disney animated characters on a spirited yuletide adventure to get Santa back to the North Pole in time for Christmas Eve. “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” combines state-of-the-art projections, fireworks, special effects and Christmas music to create a dazzling, one-of-a-kind holiday experience for guests – capped by a special message from Santa himself.
  • “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” Dessert Party – Guests can wrap up their jolly holiday evenings with reserved viewing of the “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” nighttime spectacular. The nightly party includes holiday-inspired snacks, delicious desserts, wine, beer, and specialty alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. A surprise Disney character will also join the fun, posing for pictures and signing autographs. This fun-filled special event is offered Nov. 9-Dec. 30, 2017. Book online at com/dining or call (407) WDW-DINE. 
  • A new friend joins the cast of ‘For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration’ – Holiday fun continues at the Hyperion Theater as Anna, Elsa and Kristoff welcome Olaf to this popular sing-along celebration. Just for the holidays, the show will include, all-new songs from Disney’s new animated short “Olaf’s Frozen Adventure.” 
  • Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood and Vine – Meet Minnie, Mickey, Daisy, Donald and Goofy for lunch and dinner celebrations centered on seasonal deliciousness. From Nov. 6-Jan. 7, the mouse-with-the-mostest will deck the halls for a banquet filled with holiday cheer and the joy of the season! To make a reservation, check availability and book online at com/dining or call (407) WDW-DINE.
  • Santa Claus returns to the Once Upon a Time shop Nov. 9-Dec. 24 – The beautiful and vintage setting of the Once Upon a Time shop recalls bygone days of Santa’s visits to great department stores across the country. Santa will be at the shop daily to greet guests and listen to holiday wishes. Santa Goofy will step in Dec. 25-Dec. 31 after Old Saint Nick returns to the North Pole.
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DISNEY AFTER HOURS DATES ANNOUNCED FOR 2018 AT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT

Last year, the Disney After Hours ticketed event nights debuted at Magic Kingdom® Park and delighted Guests with quick access to some of the park’s most popular attractions and character greetings. We’re happy to share today that Disney After Hours events will return for select dates in January, February and March 2018.

If you’re new to Disney After Hours, an event night is limited to a small number of Guests, allowing guests to maximize their time in the park with little to no wait at 25 attractions and experiences, like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid, Space Mountain and many more. The Disney After Hours ticket allows park entry as early as 7 p.m., which gives guests time to enjoy the park’s nightly “Happily Ever After” fireworks, and then remain in the park until 11 p.m. and some nights to 12 a.m.

Disney After Hours event nights are currently set for Jan. 19, 26, and 30, Feb. 8 and 15, March 1 and 8, 2018. (Please note that Disney After Hours does not replace Extra Magic Hours (EMH) for our resort Guests and are instead held on non-EMH dates.)

Only a limited number of tickets are available for each night, so be sure to purchase tickets for your Clients today by calling the Disney Reservation Center at 407-827-7185.  The advance ticket price is $119 per adult or child (tax not included).

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‘Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular’ Show during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

The “Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular” show during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Park features the mischievous Sanderson Sisters from Disney’s Hocus Pocus, who throw an evil Halloween party with appearances by Dr. Facilier, Oogie Boogie, Maleficent and other great Disney villains, along with dancers, projections and special effects. Walt Disney World Resort is located in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mariah Wild, photographer)

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Disney World dodges major Hurricane Irma damage

Walt Disney World and neighboring attractions at Universal Orlando will reopen Tuesday after missing a major hit from Hurricane Irma.

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Watch – B-Roll: Tiger Cubs at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Sohni, a Sumatran tiger at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, recently gave birth to a pair of tiger cubs, the first in the park’s history. Guests can expect to see Sohni and her cubs on the Maharajah Jungle Trek within the next several months.

B-Roll included:

  • Tiger cubs bonding with their mother, Sohni, at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

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TOUR ON THE WILD SIDE WITH THE NEWEST ENCHANTING EXTRAS ADDITION AT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT

We’re excited to announce the newest addition to the Enchanting Extras Collection — the Ultimate Nights of Adventure VIP Tour at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park!

Guests can prepare for an adventure like no other as this tour gives them the opportunity — as the park transitions from day to night — to experience the magic of nature in a totally unique way. Tour guides share detailed knowledge while guests explore the Disney’s Animal Kingdom lands to observe the critters, creatures and other denizens of the park. Plus, your Clients get to enjoy certain attractions with expedited FastPass+ access. The Ultimate Nights of Adventure VIP Tour is a great way for guests to make the most of their time in Disney’s Animal Kingdom!

The tour takes approximately four hours, and there is a discount available for Disney Visa cardholders and Annual Passholders.

The Enchanting Extras Collection lets guests enjoy extra, unparalleled access to what Walt Disney World® Resort has to offer.   From behind-the-scenes tours and culinary adventures to special events and encounters with nature and more, there is a wide range of enchantment that awaits guests beyond the theme park fun.

Other experiences in the collection include limited-time events throughout the year that make each season special, like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Disney Night of Joy, the Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival and more. Guests can view wild animals of nearly every color, shape and size in their natural habitat with Wild Africa Trek. Plus dessert parties that cater to everyone’s sweet tooth, each set to the backdrop of a popular special event — including Celebration at the Top – Sip, Savor, Sparkle; Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party; Tiana’s Riverboat Party; and the new Frozen Ever After Dessert Party.

Separate park admission is required. For more information about the Enchanting Extras Collection or to make reservations, call 407-WDW-PLAY (939-7529).

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Video – “It’s a Great Time for….Disney’s Hollywood Studios

It’s a great time for guests to visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios®. Here, they can take center stage in the worlds of movies, television, music and theater. They can blast off on an outer space adventure, hang tight in a “haunted” elevator,” ride a rockin’ roller coaster and much more. Plus, they can watch as movie magic comes to life during sturring stage shows, blazing stunt spectaculars and Disney Character experiences. Check out this video to see more!

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3 Reasons Disney Investors Should Toast Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival

The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival opens today at Walt Disney‘s Florida resort, kicking off a 75-day festival that will feature kiosks selling foodie-approved edibles and drinks, as well as stages offering culinary workshops and nightly concerts. It’s a big deal for Epcot, Disney World’s second-most-popular park.

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First Look: Slinky Dog Dash Ride Vehicle Arrives at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

The Slinky Dog Dash attraction, currently under construction in Toy Story Land, celebrated a major milestone today – National Slinky Day – with the reveal of the coaster’s first Slinky Dog ride vehicle.

Slinky Dog Dash is one of two major attractions coming to Toy Story Land, a 12-acre expansion that’s set to open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios® in Summer 2018. In Toy Story Land, guests will shrink to the size of a toy and explore the world of Andy’s backyard on two fun family attractions – Slinky Dog Dash and Alien Swirling Saucers.

Slinky Dog Dash is a family coaster themed as if Andy built it in his backyard using his Mega Coaster Play Kit and some of his other favorite toys. The attraction’s ride vehicles, inspired by the character of Slinky in the film, will send riders dipping, dodging and dashing around turns and drops Andy has created to stretch Slinky’s coils to the max.

The second attraction, Alien Swirling Saucers, is designed as a toy play set that Andy got from Pizza Planet, inspired by the first “Toy Story” film. Aliens are flying around in their toy flying saucers and trying to capture your rocket toy vehicle using “The Claw.”

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Six Don’t Miss Experiences Opening Weekend at 22nd Annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

Kicking off Aug. 31, 2017 and celebrating 35 years of Epcot® with 35 delectable marketplaces, the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is bigger and better than ever, with sips and tastes throughout the park, celebrity chefs, culinary workshops, live music and special tasting experiences. And it’s 75 days, so guests have until Nov. 13, 2017 to experience it all.

To get started, encourage guests to make the Festival Center their first stop to pick up a schedule and a complimentary festival passport and check out options for navigating the festival. Here are some don’t-miss experiences starting opening weekend:

  • The global marketplaces. There are 35 this year for guests to sip and taste their way through Future World and World Showcase, and while some favorites are back, they can check out the five new additions: Active Eats (sweet avocado crema with strawberries, cake and tortilla streusel); The Almond Orchard (cauliflower risotto with pulled chicken, artichokes, spinach and Parmesan cheese); Coastal Eats (lump crab cake with slaw and avocado lemongrass cream); Flavors From Fire (smoked corned beef with crispy potatoes, pickled onions and Blonde Ale Beer fondue); the Light Lab with all sorts of spirited concoctions. They might consider a Tasting Sampler voucher ($65) for eight food or beverage items (some exclusions may apply). Plus they’ll get a limited-release Epcot Food & Wine Festival trading pin.
  • Celebrity sightings. Guests can start their day Sunday, Sept. 3, with Chef Shaun O’Neale (winner of FOX TV’s “MasterChef”) first up for “What’s Cookin’ With . . .” held on select Friday and Sunday mornings in the Festival Center ($129). A cooking demo, breakfast and time for Q&A is all part of the fun. They can also catch returning favorites such as Alex Guarnaschelli, Buddy Valastro, Geoffrey Zakarian, Jamie Deen, Robert Irvine and more (schedule at epcotfoodfestival.com; reservations 407-939-3378).
  • Live music every single night. There’s impromptu entertainment all around World Showcase Promenade, but each evening rocks out with the fantastic Eat to the Beat Concert Series on the outdoor stage at America Gardens Theatre three times nightly. First up: Delta Rae, a folk rock band from North Carolina, Aug. 31-Sept. 1 (“Bottom of the River”).
  • Culinary demos. Every day in the Festival Center (2:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 12:15 and 2:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday) guests can meet a chef and hear stories and tips while they create a dish that everyone gets to taste ($17). On a sunny afternoon, it’s a great respite from the Florida heat. Reservations recommended at epcotfoodfestival.com or by calling 407-939-3378.
  • Mix It, Make It, Celebrate It! If guests like hands-on experiences, this is for them — chefs, bakers, mixologists and other pros show guests the ropes ($49). Opening day, it’s Chef Emily Ellyn mixing up fun with Cask & Crew Whiskey, and guests get to play bartender and mix their own cocktail. (Mondays through Thursdays, additional hosts and topics are at epcotfoodfestival.com.)
  • Kids part of the equation? Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak returns, a fun way to play together in this culinary scavenger hunt that takes guests all over World Showcase. And many of the global marketplaces are featuring dishes geared toward kids’ palates.

Looking ahead, some of our favorite celeb chefs are coming up: Sept. 15, Stuart O’Keeffe; Sept. 17, Jet Tila; Sept. 29, Graham Elliott. And there are five Party for the Senses grand tasting events this year (Sept. 23, Oct. 7, Oct. 14, Oct. 21 and Nov. 11), an extravaganza of food, beverages and themed live entertainment.

The festival runs through Nov. 13 – 75 days in all. Back to Basics series, Eat to the Beat concerts, cultural adventures, Festival Passport and all attractions and park entertainment are included with regular Epcot admission. Party for the Senses grand tasting events, signature dinners and other special wine and culinary programs require reservations and separate event admission. Guests can book some events at epcotfoodfestival.com and call 407-WDW-FEST (939-3378) for all others.

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