WDW Daily News

Six-year-old Jermaine Bell of Jacksonville, Fla., spent more than a year saving money for his birthday trip to the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. However, hurricane Dorian changed Jermaine’s plans in a big way. Millions of people have since been inspired by the story of this little boy’s selfless act of compassion.

As the hurricane approached the South Carolina coast, Jermaine emptied his piggy bank and bought hundreds of hot dogs, bags of chips and bottled water. He served them free of charge to hurricane evacuees who passed through the South Carolina town where he was visiting his grandmother.

On Sunday, Sept. 8, Jermaine celebrated his seventh birthday. Mickey Mouse and a group of Walt Disney World cast members made a surprise visit at the birthday party where Jermaine learned that he and his family are going to Walt Disney World after all. The family will enjoy a VIP getaway at the vacation kingdom later this month.

The Disney Parks are some of the most beloved theme parks in the world. Only in the wonderful world of Disney can you experience some of the most enchanting experiences, the most thrilling rides, and meet all of your favorite characters of the large and small screen.

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Saturday was a bittersweet day for fans who enjoy sipping free Beverly at Disney‘s (NYSE:DIS) Epcot, and not just because the tart Italian carbonated beverage is also notoriously bittersweet in taste. Disney World’s second-oldest theme park is the next gated attraction slated for a major overhaul, and that makeover continued over the weekend with Club Cool and several nearby attractions closing down. 

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This week, Disney Visa Card holders received a brochure for the upcoming streaming service, Disney+.  In the mailer, it confirmed that Disney+ will feature exclusive live specials.

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By: Disney DestinationsSeptember 6, 2019

Happy hauntings have returned to the Disneyland® Resort as Halloween Time begins today through Oct. 31!

Halloween magic can be found around every corner as favorite experiences are transformed for the season. Both parks are decked out for the occasion with spook-tacular décor, seasonal attraction overlays and Halloween-themed treats – not to mention Disney villains lurking throughout the resort!

Are your Clients excited to see “Halloween Screams” nighttime spectacular at Disneyland Park? Or, would they rather take a spin around Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree in Cars Land at Disney California Adventure® Park? 

Disney® Visa® Cardmembers can save up to 30% on select rooms at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel® &  Spa at the Disneyland Resort!¹ Cardmembers can save when booking select rooms at the Disneyland® Resort most Sunday through Thursday nights from Oct. 13 to Dec. 19, 2019. Guests can take advantage of Cardmember advance booking with their Disney® Visa® Debit Card now through Sept. 11, 2019. 

Number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Savings based on the non-discounted price for the same room at the same hotel. Premium room types include Premium, Deluxe and Woods/Garden/Courtyard rooms; select Concierge rooms; and Artisan Junior and Family suites. Not valid on previously booked rooms. 1 night minimum stay. See important details below.¹ 

1. Savings based on the non-discounted price for the same room at the same hotel for travel most Sunday through Thursday nights during the applicable dates between October 13 through December 19, 2019. Book from September 5 through December 5, 2019; travel must be completed by December 20, 2019. Premium room types included in this offer are Premium, Deluxe and Woods/Garden/Courtyard rooms; select Concierge rooms; and only Artisan, Junior and Family suites. Must mention the offer when booking and use a valid Disney Visa Card or Disney Rewards Redemption Card to pay the deposit. Not valid on previously booked rooms. Advance reservations required. Subject to availability as the number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Excludes applicable fees and taxes. Disney Visa Cardmember must stay in the room. Limit two (2) rooms per reservation and occupancy restrictions apply per room. Not valid in combination with any other hotel discounts or offers. Subject to restrictions and change without notice. Separate Theme Park admission required to enjoy the Parks.

2. The current Extra Magic Hour schedule allows registered Resort hotel Guests access to one park on select days: Disneyland^® Park on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and Disney California Adventure^® Park on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Check Disneyland.com for schedule of when each park offers Extra Magic Hour. For admission, each registered hotel Guest (ages 3 and older) must have a valid theme park ticket and an active hotel room key card. To take full advantage of the Extra Magic Hour experience, we strongly recommended that you arrive at least one hour and 15 minutes prior to regular park opening. Applicable theme park days and times of operation and all other elements including, but not limited to, operation of attractions, entertainment, stores and restaurants and appearances of Characters may vary and are subject to change without notice. Subject to capacity, cancellation and other restrictions.

3. Offers and offer elements including, but not limited to, participating locations and eligible items, are subject to availability and additional restrictions and exclusions, and may change or be canceled without notice. Must use a valid Disney Visa Card and/or Disney Rewards Redemption Card to receive special offers. Merchandise discount may not be available for certain items and at certain locations including Disneyland^® Resort and Walt Disney World^® Resort Operating Participant locations and any other locations or kiosks that are not owned or operated by the owners of the Disneyland^® Resort or Walt Disney World^® Resort. To receive a merchandise discount, you must mention the specific offer. For entry into the Disney Character Experience or Star Wars Character Experience Photo Opportunities, must present your valid Disney Visa Card. Not valid in combination with other offers, discounts, promotions or with any previous purchase. Minimum purchase and/or separate admission may be required. Offers are for personal use only and may not be transferred or resold. Please visitDisneyDebit.com/Perks for full terms and conditions for each offer. Chase is not responsible or liable for fulfillment of these Disney Theme Park and Resort perks.

4. The Character Experience Photo Opportunities are offered daily during set hours–the Disney Character Experience is at Disney California Adventure^® Park and the Star Wars Character Experience is at Disneyland^®Park. Separate Theme Park admission required for each Character Experience Opportunity. Must present a valid Disney Visa Card for entry for up to 6 people per cardmember account (each cardmember account may be used for entry only one time per day). Operating times, days of the week, locations and appearance of Characters may vary and are subject to restrictions and change or cancellation without notice. Offer includes complimentary downloads of your Disney PhotoPass^® photos taken at the Disney Visa Character Experience location that are associated to your Disney account. To access complimentary downloads of your Disney PhotoPass^® photos taken at the Disney Visa Character Experience location, go to Disneyland.com/photopass and log-in using your existing account or create an account. Any medium scanned by the photographer at the time of capture must be linked to your Disney account or you may claim Disney PhotoPass^® cards provided to you by the photographer by entering the Disney PhotoPass^® ID number found on the back of your Disney PhotoPass^® card. One photo session per valid cardmember account per day. Offer not valid for photos taken at other Disney PhotoPass^® locations or attractions photos. Photos will expire pursuant to the expiration policy atDisneyland.disney.go.com/photopass-expiration-policy. Not responsible for missing, lost or damaged photos. Not valid in combination with other offers, discounts or promotions. Offer is for personal use only and may not be transferred or resold. Please visit DisneyDebit.com/Perks for additional information.

Offer made by Disney. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and its affiliates are not affiliates of Disney and are not responsible for offer fulfillment.

For all inquiries regarding the Disney Debit Card, please visit DisneyDebit.com.

Great news for all fans heading to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney World Resort – the mobile order service is now available at select food and beverage locations within the newest galactic land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®.

Starting this week, guests can save time and skip the line to order their food at three new locations in Batuu using their My Disney Experience app.

The newest locations accepting mobile orders in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge include the Milk Stand and Ronto Roasters, which start today, and Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo starting tomorrow, Sept. 6, 2019.

Using the My Disney Experience app, guests can easily browse menus to order ahead from wherever they happen to be. Upon arriving at the restaurant or food location, guests can just tap “I’m Here” in the app and head to the designated pick-up counter where Cast Members will deliver their food. It’s a great way for guests to save time to enjoy all there is to see and do during their visit to Batuu.

Please note that using the mobile order service does not guarantee entry to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

Ordering amazing meals ahead like Yobshrimp Noodle Salad, Smoked Kaadu Ribs, Ronto Wrap, or Blue Milk (or Green Milk!) is now as easy as just a few taps in the My Disney Experience app.

It’s September 5 – or 9/5 – a date that’s become known as Lightning McQueen Day, when we celebrate the legendary Piston Cup champion from Disney and Pixar’s “Cars.” And what better day to highlight Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy, the all-new high-octane show that debuted at Disney’s Hollywood Studios® earlier this year at Walt Disney World® Resort.

Disney Parks Live Entertainment worked closely with partners at Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering to create the show, which tells a completely new story that puts you right in the middle of the world of “Cars.” It’s a thrilling adventure, with Guests in the role of rookie racer, as Lightning McQueen showcases some of what he’s learned over the years. Of course, as McQueen has discovered throughout his career, things don’t always go according to plan, and he has to think fast to get back on course. Friends like Mater, Cruz Ramirez and other pals from Radiator Springs chime in with their support, as Lightning gears up for the challenge.

Like other Pixar productions, Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy also includes a handful of Easter Eggs, rewarding sharp-eyed viewers and repeat visitors. If they look close, your Clients just might spot the Pizza Planet truck, which, after appearing in Pixar’s first-ever feature film, “Toy Story” (released in 1995, inspiring Lightning McQueen’s number), has appeared in every Pixar feature since. Another blink-and-miss-it reference is “A-113,” for the classroom at California Institute of the Arts where many Disney and Pixar animators studied their craft. There’s also a Hidden Mickey somewhere in the show, but we won’t “leak” that one. Your Clients will have to go and find it for themselves!

Be sure you race on over to Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy for some high-octane fun at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

The annual Epcot® International Festival of the Arts at Walt Disney World® Resort invites Guests to immerse themselves in the visual, culinary and performing arts in ways that only Disney can offer, including live concerts and art performances, workshops, art signings and much more. Today, we’re happy to share that this popular festival will return to the park Jan. 17-Feb. 24, 2020.

One highlight of the festival is the Disney on Broadway Concert Series, in which Disney on Broadway stars pair up to perform their favorite songs from award-winning productions at the America Gardens Theatre. We’re happy to confirm that the Disney on Broadway Concert Series will again return to the park nightly during the festival. 

In addition to Epcot International Festival of the Arts offerings, you visiting during the festival will also be able to enjoy fun new film experiences in World Showcase. As previously announced, the new “Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along” will debut in January 2020 in the France pavilion in addition to Impressions de France. This new sing-along adventure is directed by Don Hahn, producer of both the animated and live-action versions of this tale as old as time. “Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360” will debut in January 2020 in the Canada pavilion with new scenes and a new story. The Land pavilion will welcome a new film, “Awesome Planet,” in January 2020 showcasing the beauty, diversity and dynamic story of the planet.

And of course, you will be able to cap off their day by taking in the new nighttime show “Epcot Forever,” which debuts Oct. 1, 2019. The show will be an all-new spectacle of fireworks, music, lighting, lasers and choreographed special-effect kites that will take guests on a journey through the past, present and future of Epcot. Before this amazing new show debuts, don’t forget to bid a fond farewell to “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” before it closes on Sept. 30, 2019.

There are new eats and treats coming to the Downtown Disney® District at the Disneyland® Resort!

Coming this holiday season is Asian Street Eats by Chef Hung Huynh, a new concept from Earl Enterprises, the same restaurant group that brings you Earl of Sandwich and other popular eateries. This trendy take-out window will serve a flavorful variety of Asian dishes and will be located on the west end of the Downtown Disney District – the eatery’s first location in Orange County.

Jamba Juice has fresh news of its own! Recently, Jamba Juice announced a more simplified name – Jamba – to better reflect its menu of smoothies, juices and bowls catering to a broad spectrum of tastes. The name change is part of a larger modernization of its store design coming to the Downtown Disney District.

Jamba will close for renovations later this year to make way for the new look in early 2020, inspired by Jamba’s California juice-shop roots. Modern touches of light wood and colorful environmental elements will create the perfect backdrop for your favorite menu items.  Look for digital menus and an even better online ordering experience through the new Jamba mobile app with in-store “grab-and-go” coolers for seamless online order pick-up.

Jamba first opened in San Luis Obispo, Calif., in 1990 as a little juice shop with a big idea: that eating better should be easy. For nearly 30 years, Jamba has led the way in creating and defining the smoothie and juice category as we know it. 

The addition of Asian Street Eats and the updated Jamba are fresh examples of the enhanced dining you are sure to enjoy in the Downtown Disney District. 

Whether your Clients want to grab a quick and tasty beverage or bite before or after their day in the parks, or sit, rest and relax with an amazing meal, make sure they don’t miss a stop along the Downtown Disney District!