WDW Daily News

By: Disney Destinations

Happy New Year! This year, more than ever, we’re bringing your favorite stories to life in fun, innovative ways at our theme parks and resorts, on our cruise ships and through our amazing products and experiences around the world. From Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and the launch of the new Disney Treasure cruise ship, to the first-of-its-kind Pixar Place Hotel and other highly anticipated experiences, here are some sensational things to look forward to in 2024: 

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort

In 2024, the all-new Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will open at Disneyland park at Disneyland Resort and Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort. 

This attraction brings guests into Princess Tiana’s world like never before on a musical journey inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios film “The Princess and the Frog.”

When the attraction opens, guests will join Princess Tiana, Naveen and jazz-loving alligator Louis on an adventure as they prepare to host a one-of-a-kind Mardi Gras celebration. Along the way, they’ll see familiar faces, make new friends and travel through the bayou to original music inspired by songs from the film as they are brought into the next chapter of Tiana’s story.

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January 3, 2024

Beginning today, guests may book special offers for stays at Walt Disney World Resort hotels this spring and summer!

A FREE and Delicious Deal for Disney+ Subscribers

Disney+ Subscribers: Enjoy a FREE dining plan when you purchase a non-discounted 4-night, 4-day Walt Disney Travel Company package that includes a room at a select Disney Resort hotel and a theme park ticket with a Park Hopper option—for arrivals most nights from July 1 to September 30, 2024. You can contact any agent at Wish Upon a Star with Us for more details.

Save Up to 35% on Rooms at Select Disney Resort Hotels When You Stay 5 Nights or Longer

Save up to 35% on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels when you stay 5 consecutive nights or longer—or save up to 30% on shorter stays. This offer is valid for stays most nights from July 8 to October 3, 2024. Other savings may be available for stays from March 25 to July 7, 2024. You can contact any agent at Wish Upon a Star with Us for more details.

Florida Residents: Save Up to 30% on Rooms at Select Disney Resort Hotels This Spring and Early Summer

Stay in the magic this spring and early summer! Florida residents can save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels, valid for stays most nights March 25 through July 7, 2024. You can contact any agent at Wish Upon a Star with Us for more details.

Duffy is currently meeting guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios inside the Christmas Toy Shop next to Mama Melrose and Pizzarizzo. We are not sure how long he will be here for meet and greets but we are guessing through New Years Eve.

How many wonders can one cavern hold? What’s a fire and why does it burn? When will a stage show return to the Animation Courtyard theater at Disney’s Hollywood Studios? All valid questions – which we can’t wait to dive into!

“The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure,” a fully reimagined theatrical production inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios classic “The Little Mermaid,” will debut in the newly refreshed Animation Courtyard theater in fall 2024. 

As part of our continued investment in the parks experience, Disney Live Entertainment has been dreaming up innovative ways to bring new life to the beloved story of Ariel’s journey to be part of the human world. When it opens, the show will feature stunning new set pieces, cutting-edge effects, and a bold new design that captures Ariel’s imagination and emotions through her unique view of the world around her.

“The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure” will have guests flipping their fins to musical numbers inspired by the film including “Part of Your World,” “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” and more. Check out this beautiful concept artwork of the show’s “Kiss the Girl” scene – an all-new addition that captures the magic of this fresh production. 

With construction inside the theater well underway, we can’t wait to share more in the coming months as the show comes together. 

December 18, 2023

2024 is looking bright at Walt Disney World Resort! Throughout the year we’ve been sharing updates that will make planning a vacation simpler, and today we are sharing a few tips to help make the most out of a visit.

Good-To-Go Days Calendar Coming Jan. 11

In 2024, resolve to be more spontaneous with “good-to-go” days for Annual Passholders! As Passholders prepare for their visits next year, we wanted to share more about how good-to-go days will work:

• On good-to-go days, Annual Passholders may enter the theme parks without needing a reservation (blockout dates will continue to apply like they do today).
• The theme park reservation calendar, Annual Passholder admissions calendar and My Disney Experience app will show days that are good-to-go. The first good-to-go days will be added to the calendars starting Jan. 11, 2024.
• Good-to-go days will be added periodically and may be released days or weeks in advance.

With the return of all-day Park Hopper access, Passholders can enter another Walt Disney World theme park any time during park hours.* Annual Passholders may also continue to visit without a park reservation after 2 p.m. unless visiting Magic Kingdom Park on a Saturday or Sunday (blockout dates continue to apply).

And beginning Jan. 9…

All-Day Park Hopper Access is Coming Back

Have a ticket with Park Hopper benefits or an Annual Pass? If so, don’t forget guests may visit another theme park ANY TIME OF DAY during park hours (subject to capacity limitations).* Start the morning watching the sun rise over the savannah at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, then head on over to EPCOT to lunch around the world.

Theme Park Reservation Updates

Guests who purchase date-based tickets, the standard Disney theme park tickets, no longer need to make theme park reservations!

Dining Plans Return

The convenience and peace of mind of pre-paying for meals and snacks is right around the corner as Disney Resort hotel guests may once again purchase vacation packages with dining plans. Choose from two popular options: Packages that include either the Disney Quick Service Dining Plan or the Disney Dining Plan. Both plans are a great value for families with young children!

What’s New with Dining Plans

For all the Disney foodies out there, dining reservations are open for booking for guests staying at Disney Resort hotels who purchase a vacation package with a Disney dining plan for arrivals in January through early February! Guests can book dining up to 60 days in advance, and as a Disney Resort hotel guest, guests may book dining for their entire length of stay (up to 10 days).

Pro tip: We recently made it easier to check availability so guests can now see every available reservation for their selected location and date!

Here are some additional tips to help get the most out of a dining plan:

• Guests may redeem meals and snacks at any time during their stay.
• Guests can see how many meals and snacks they have remaining in the My Disney Experience app. And don’t forget, using mobile order service in the app makes it easy to find quick and nearby dining options using a dining plan!

From the return of fan-favorites like dining plans and all-day Park Hopper access to the introduction of good-to-go days, there’s much to look forward to in the New Year. And there’s even more on the horizon later in 2024 – like the completion of the transformation of EPCOT and the opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom Park! Stay tuned to Disney Travel News for updates.

*To use the Park Hopper benefit, Annual Passholders must make a theme park reservation for the first park they plan to visit AND enter that first park prior to visiting another. Or, they can enter a theme park without a reservation on a “good-to-go” day for that park or after 2 p.m. (except Magic Kingdom on Saturdays and Sundays) before visiting another park. Passes are subject to the Walt Disney World Resort Annual Pass Terms and Conditions.

December 18, 2023

Travel Weekly readers have spoken and Disney has received two 2023 Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards! 

For the 21^st year in a row, Walt Disney World Resort has been named the Best Theme Park. With unforgettable new experiences across our four theme parks, unique resorts to explore and so much to see and do, it’s no wonder that Walt Disney World Resort is The Most Magical Place on Earth.

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December 18, 2023

With Christmas Day now just a week away, we thought it’d be a perfect time to share a special look at the 19 elaborately decorated Christmas trees (including some guests can interact with) at this year’s Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll presented by AdventHealth at Walt Disney World Resort!

From now until Dec. 30, Disney Springs is decorated to the nines for the holidays with special experiences, decor and 19 beautiful Christmas trees designed for fans of Disney favorites like “Encanto,” “Frozen,” Star Wars and more!

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December 15, 2023

Walt Disney World has announced the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival will return on Feb. 28, 2024!

This fan-favorite springtime event will be abloom with brilliant gardens, fresh flavors and lively entertainment. Guests can marvel at the topiary displays, gardens and exhibits, and enjoy all the delicious menu items the outdoor kitchens have to offer.

We look forward to sharing more details about the festival soon!

We’re continuing our holiday fun this week with a special look at some can’t miss experiences at the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth.

This popular EPCOT festival is a celebration of the holidays like none other – packed with dazzling live entertainment like the popular Candlelight Processional and Holiday Storytellers along with delicious seasonal treats, family-friendly activities and more. 

Today, we’ve got nine popular things you need to do before the festivities end on Dec. 30.

Candlelight Processional is Disney Parks Tradition

Our first must-do is the guest favorite EPCOT Candlelight Processional – guaranteed to get you in the holiday spirit.  This special retelling of the Christmas story by celebrity narrators features an amazing choir of Disney cast members and local community groups and a 50-piece live orchestra with herald trumpets. 

Here’s an updated list of list of celebrity narrators performing now through to the end of the festival:

• Brendan Fraser (NEW): Dec. 12-14
• Eva Longoria (NEW): Dec. 15-16
• Joey McIntyre (NEW): Dec. 17-18
• Sterling K. Brown (NEW): Dec. 19-20
• Jordan Fisher (NEW): Dec. 21-23
• Steven Curtis Chapman: Dec. 24-26
• Audra McDonald (NEW): Dec. 27-28
• Lisa Ling: Dec. 29-30 *

Notice the number of NEW celebrity narrators you can still enjoy in coming weeks.  Performances are nightly at America Gardens Theatre at EPCOT with showtimes at 5:15, 7 and 8:30 p.m.

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Welcome to the official ship’s log for the Disney Treasure! Follow along for an exclusive look into the complex ship building process as we document all the important milestones of the Disney Treasure’s journey. The Disney Treasure’s story began with the start of construction in January of 2023 and has continued to evolve ever since. Return here for the latest developments in the Disney Treasure’s progress as the world patiently waits for Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship to officially set sail in 2024. The adventure is just beginning!

The holidays are quickly approaching, but construction of the Disney Treasure hasn’t slowed down at Meyer Werft Shipyard in Germany. In fact, a lot of progress has taken place in recent weeks, including lifting of the forward and aft funnels to their rightful place atop the ship. Complete with a coat of primer paint, the icons that are known across the entire fleet have officially found their new home, bringing the Disney Treasure one step closer to completion.

Of course, the funnels on the Disney Treasure aren’t just for looks – guests will also be able to plunge through the forward funnel while riding the AquaMouse, Disney’s attraction at sea, or even stay inside the funnel in the two-story EPCOT-themed Tomorrow Tower Suite!