WDW Daily News

In just days, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will welcome its first Guests at the Disneyland® Resort! And to celebrate, we’re thrilled to share that our Disney Parks Blog partners will be hosting a special #DisneyParksLIVE stream presented by AT&T covering the dedication ceremony of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Resort on May 29.  And we’ll be sharing it right here on Disney Travel News!

Be sure to head to the Disney Travel News section of this website on May 29 at 8:20 p.m. PDT | 11:20 p.m. EDT for a first look at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and to see the historic dedication moment from Disneyland Resort in California.  

Now, more than ever, Walt Disney World Resort is the place to make lifelong memories with family and friends. For the first time, you can purchase the new Summer One World Ticket as a great way to experience all that’s fresh and exciting at the resort’s four theme parks and two water parks, with six admissions for only $74 per admission (plus tax) – a total price of $444 (plus tax).* 

Starting June 4, you will be able to purchase the Summer One World Ticket. For a total price of $444 (plus tax), this ticket includes one admission to each of the Walt Disney World theme parks and water parks. This ticket will be commissionable. Ticket details:

• Summer One World Tickets must be purchased between Jun 4, 2019, and Aug. 23, 2019.
• Each Summer One World Ticket includes six admissions – one admission to each of the four Walt Disney World theme parks and each of the two water parks.
• You have flexibility in how they use these tickets, including visiting more than one park per day.
• Tickets must be used June 4, 2019 – Aug. 28, 2019.

Pairing the Summer One World Ticket with a Disney resort hotel stay helps your Clients remain immersed in magic for every moment of a Walt Disney World vacation. And, you can save up to 25 percent on rooms at select Disney resort hotels for stays most nights May 28, 2019, through Aug. 28, 2019, when booking through Aug. 28, 2019.** 

Summer 2019 will be an amazing time to visit Walt Disney World, with new experiences at all four theme parks:

• Anything can happen during Mickey & Minnie’s Surprise Celebration at Magic Kingdom Park, including the new “Move It! Shake It! MousekeDance It! Street Party,” featuring those true originals, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse.
• Party with Pixar pals at Disney’s Hollywood Studios during the park’s 30^th anniversary year, featuring The Incredibles, Mike and Sulley from Disney•Pixar’s “Monsters, Inc.;” Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the gang at the new Toy Story Land; and the new Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy that takes you into the world of Cars.
• Pandora – The World of Avatar comes to life each night at Disney’s Animal Kingdom with bioluminescent fauna and flora. And now evenings in the park are about to be even more special with the May 24 planned debut of “Rivers of Light: We Are One,” introducing additional stunning imagery and familiar animal characters to the popular nighttime show on Discovery River. Also beginning May 24, the Tree of Life will awaken in a whole new way to honor the 25^thanniversary of “The Lion King,” with beautiful projections on the iconic tree featuring music and animation paying tribute to the classic film.
• “Guardians of the Galaxy – Awesome Mix Live!” will return to Epcot this summer. Star-Lord and Gamora from the Guardians of the Galaxy films will take you on a musical journey through the cosmos, showcasing hits from Star-Lord’s Awesome Mix tapes. Live shows will take place daily from June 14 through Aug. 18.

*Ticket valid 6/4/19 – 8/28/19 for one admission to Magic Kingdom® Park, one admission to Epcot®, one admission to Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park, one admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios®, one admission to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, and one admission to Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park. Each park may be visited only once. Tickets are nonrefundable, nontransferable and exclude activities/events separately priced. Admission is subject to capacity closures and other restrictions. Water parks are subject to rehabilitation, seasonal and weather closures. After expiration date, the price paid for a wholly unused ticket can be applied to the purchase of a new ticket with an equal or higher price. **The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Length-of-stay requirements may apply. Savings based on the non-discounted price of the same room. Additional per-adult charges may apply if there are more than two adults per room at Disney Value, Moderate, Deluxe and Studios at Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts. Cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion. Advance reservations required. Offer excludes the following room types: 3-bedroom villas, campsites, Cabins at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows.

Over the coming months, we will expand the popular mobile order food service to additional restaurants at Disney Resort hotels, including: Everything POP Shopping & Dining at Disney’s Pop Century Resort, The Mara at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Contempo Café at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

These restaurants will join our existing mobile order lineup of Centertown Market and Spyglass Grill at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and over 20 other quick-service locations throughout the four theme parks and Disney Springs® area.

With the service, you can order ahead from wherever they happen to be, skip the order line and head directly to the pick-up counter where Cast Members deliver their food – helping you save time to enjoy all there is to see and do at Walt Disney World® Resort.

And don’t forget, if you have a Disney dining plan they can now redeem your meals and snacks through the service. We’ve also recently introduced a new enhanced look that makes the ordering experience easier than ever.

The mobile order service is yet another way we are improving the vacation experience for Guests through the My Disney Experience app, especially at Disney Resort hotels, where select Guests can streamline check in to start their vacation even faster, use their mobile device as a digital key, view bus times and much more. 

One of our most beloved Disneyland Resort attractions, Haunted Mansion, is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year. To celebrate, we’re throwing an “under the hill” soiree and we’re so excited to share details with you today.

In August, you can choose to attend one of the “The Haunted Mansion: Celebrating 50 Years of Retirement Unliving” events. These after-hours events at Disneyland Park are filled with chills, thrills and frightful fun. Your Clients can unearth commemorative anniversary merchandise items, delight in spirited sips and bites, enjoy special entertainment, character encounters, photo ops, and access to several west-side park attractions, plus a few supernatural surprises.

Here are the event highlights:

• Gather for a 13th Hour Celebration Kick-off moment along the Rivers of America. Madame Leota will make a special appearance to conjure up the ensuing party festivities, lovingly referred to as a “Swinging Wake.” Other supernatural surprises include a lively cavalcade of musicians, dancers and performers from beyond the grave.
• Re-create hauntingly fun moments and scenes from the attraction against themed backdrops. You will also receive unlimited digital downloads of Disney PhotoPass photos taken during the event.
• Enjoy event-themed food and beverages, in addition to other unique menu items available for purchase at select park locations.
• Mix and mingle with some of our dearly departed souls and otherworldly characters from the Haunted Mansion.
• Pay homage to 50 phenomenal years through themed décor as 999 tenants anxiously await their newest arrivals.
• Enjoy after-hours access to select attractions in New Orleans Square, Critter Country, Frontierland and Adventureland. Note: Select attractions will close early during the event.
• See and be seen while wearing attire inspired by favorite happy haunts! Plus, limited-time Snapchat filters and event hashtags are great for pics posted on social media feeds.
• Get a first look at all of the Estate Merchandise that has been conjured up for the event. You won’t believe your eyes.

Event Ticket Tip: When purchasing the event ticket, yous will be allowed to purchase one (1) ticket per person, per event date, per transaction. You might wonder why, and it is due to the merchandise offerings that will be released in conjunction with the event which requires each ticketed event Guest to have a unique registration ID.

A limited quantity of tickets for both event nights will be available beginning Thursday, May 23, 2019 at 10 a.m. PT.  Learn more about the event, details and pricing, including how to purchase tickets here. Tickets are non-commissionable.

Hurry Back …

Tickets to the event are valid only for the specific event date and hours.  Tickets can only be purchased online – availability is limited, while supplies last.  No discounts apply. Parking fees not included in ticket price. Tickets are non-refundable and may not be resold or transferred for commercial use. Costumes are subject to Disney guidelines and should not be obstructive or offensive; please check special event costume guidelines athttps://disneyland.disney.go.com/faq/parks/dress/ for restrictions. Disney PhotoPass is subject to the Disney PhotoPass terms and conditions at https://disneyland.disney.go.com/photopass-terms-conditions/. Online registration required. Offer and event elements are subject to restrictions, change or cancellation without notice. No refunds given for any such changes or cancellations whether due to inclement weather or otherwise.

Everyone will be feeling extra merry and bright at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park this holiday season, with festive new entertainment and holiday décor in every land!

It all begins when you cross the bridge to Discovery Island, finding themselves in the midst of a celebration of winter, hand-crafted by the eclectic community of artists who make the island their home. The village is filled with sparkling white holiday decorations. Colorful, animal-inspired luminaries line the rooftops, and wireframe lanterns in the shape of beautiful birds can be found perched throughout the area. And during the day, Discovery Island springs to life with a holiday gathering of winter animals, realized in the form of life-size, artisan-sculpted puppets. Reindeer, foxes, polar bears, penguins and more interact with guests, accompanied by serenading musicians as they create a playful atmosphere of festive fun.

As day becomes night, the rooftop luminaries and bird lanterns all around Discovery Island bring a warm and festive glow to the entire village. At the center of everything, the Tree of Lifeawakens with a series of wintry tales, complemented by a familiar and heartwarming holiday-inspired musical score. Between awakening moments, the Tree of Life continues to shimmer and sparkle throughout the night, alive with the magic of nature and the spirit of the holidays.

Over in Dinoland, U.S.A., all the Disney character friends gathered for Donald’s Dino-Bash! get into the spirit with colorful holiday decorations in the style of Donald Duck and each of his pals, and at night, you are invited to gather ‘round Truck-O-Saurus for the Holiday Hoopla Dance Party with Chip ‘n Dale and plenty of interactive fun and games.

In Asia, the residents of Anandapur have decorated the theatre district in celebration of Diwali, the holiday festival of lights in India. Glowing flowers, lanterns and more illuminate the square between Anandapur Theater and the waterfront stage, home to authentic cultural performances.

The village of Harambe in Africa welcomes visitors with a unique holiday presentation, blending the inspiration and style of western traditions with the colors and textiles of authentic African celebrations. The various groups appearing throughout Harambe introduce holiday-inspired enhancements, including costume additions and new music, to their performances. The holiday fun continues inside Tusker House for dining with Disney friends, where Mickey and his pals spread holiday cheer throughout the meal.

The holiday spirit even reaches Pandora – The World of Avatar, where the ex-pats living and working on the moon of Pandora bring a little Christmastime fun to their alien home, with a display at Pongu Pongu of kitschy holiday décor, combining vintage pieces from Earth with items handcrafted from materials indigenous to Pandora.

It’s going to be an extra magical holiday season at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and across Walt Disney World® Resort, filled with wonder and delight in all four parks! Make plans for you to join us, starting Nov. 8, 2019.

UPDATE: The new MagicBand upgrade options are now available!

There is a certain magic and anticipation that comes with planning your visit to Walt Disney World Resort, especially when it is time to choose a MagicBand customized with your name and favorite color. And soon, we’ll be adding even more ways to further customize these beloved wearables!  

Soon, Disney Resort hotel guests and new and renewing Annual Passholders will have the option to upgrade, at a discounted price, from a complimentary solid-color MagicBand to one of more than 30 new MagicBand options featuring favorite Disney characters and designs. These new MagicBand options will be available for pre-arrival purchase at a special price of $14.99 off retail cost through the My Disney Experience website.

Check out the video below to get a sneak peek!  

A colorful selection of complimentary MagicBands is still available for guests who choose not to upgrade to one of the new options, and these new design options can also be shipped to guests’ homes (U.S. addresses only) if ordered 11 or more days ahead of arrival and can be personalized if done so at least 6 or more days ahead of arrival. 

The MagicBand, which recently celebrated its fifth anniversary, effortlessly links the Walt Disney World Resort vacation choices and plans guests make in the My Disney Experience app – from entering the parks to redeeming FastPass+ selections, using dining plan credits, linking Disney PhotoPass photos and more.

When visiting Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, travelers will be able to interact with the land in a way unlike anything they’ve seen before in a Disney park, and will be able to play on their Star Wars: Datapad for a landwide interactive experience through the Play Disney Parks mobile app. Through the app, visitors will be able to turn their mobile device into their own Datapad and within it will find several tools at their disposal to use while exploring the planet Batuu, and may even uncover some surprises!

You can use the “hacking” feature to interact with certain door panels or droids to see their memories, or open the  “scanning” tool to peek inside of cargo crates they may spot while walking around. The handy “translation” tool will help you understand Aurebesh (the written language of the Star Wars galaxy) signs throughout Black Spire Outpost, and Guests can even tap into and decrypt signals from antennas or communications devices and listen to secret messages with the “tuning” feature.

Throughout Black Spire Outpost, the First Order is trying to install surveillance devices in door panels to spy on the Resistance. You can use their Datapad to join in “Outpost Control,” a landwide game, and choose to support either side as they vie for a hold on the land. Winners may even find themselves rewarded with galactic credits for their efforts.

Your Star Wars adventure continues when you make their way to get in line at Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. While getting ready to board the most famous ship in the galaxy, Guests can even take on a job for Hondo Ohnaka, the pirate turned “legitimate” businessman operating Ohnaka Transport Solutions out of Black Spire Outpost. When Guests reroute misplaced cargo, they’ll learn how to keep their cover under pressure and prep the Falcon for their flight in this in-queue game!

Be sure to download the Play Disney Parks app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store before your visit to check out these exciting features and experiences, available when Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens at the Disneyland® Resort on May 31, 2019, and at Walt Disney World® Resort on August 29, 2019! And don’t forget there’s more to explore across both resorts with the Play Disney Parks app. From in-queue games and Disney trivia, to specially curated Apple Music®* playlists and playful ride achievements, there is fun for all to enjoy together.

If your Clients are planning to visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at the Disneyland Resort between May 31 (opening day) and June 23, 2019, a reservation and theme park admission are required. After June 23, 2019, reservations will not be required for visits to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland park. Theme parks, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and experiences are subject to capacity.

Available for iPhone® and smartphones for Android™.

Message, data and roaming rates may apply. Availability subject to handset limitations, and features may vary by handset, service provider or otherwise. Coverage and app stores not available everywhere. Music streaming feature requires an Apple Music subscription. Separate Apple Music terms and conditions apply. Subscription plan renews automatically after trial. If you’re under 18, get your parents’ permission first. Some features require separate theme park admission.

Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone and Apple Music are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

Android and Google Play are trademarks of Google LLC.

On January 15, 2020, runDisney is returning to Disney’s private island paradise during a four-night cruise on the Disney Dream for the Disney Castaway Cay Challenge. This sailing, which departs the Monday after Marathon Weekend, will be adding some extra pixie dust to its stop on Castaway Cay. Before you enjoy the island’s white sand beaches, snorkel lagoons and more, you’ll have an unforgettable race alongside Disney characters while experiencing enhanced entertainment and, of course, tropical ocean breezes!

While every stop at Castaway Cay features a 5K race, this exclusive runDisney Challenge is only open to runners that participated in at least one of the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend races. Challenge participants can also enjoy a course chat to prepare for the race, a runDisney trivia competition, exclusive merchandise available onboard and a beer and champagne tent on Castaway Cay to celebrate after the race.

Every finisher in the Castaway Cay Challenge will receive a medal uniquely designed for the 2020 race. Stay tuned for our reveal of the new medal design!

In addition to a runDisney race through paradise, the four-night cruise on the Disney Dream will be packed with ways to relax and recharge, like spa treatments, fun deck parties and water activities, Broadway-style shows, world-class dining and more. On Castaway Cay, you can enjoy snorkeling in the lagoon, resting in a hammock or indulging in a delicious lunch in an open-air BBQ dining location… once thet finish running, of course!

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens in just two weeks at the Disneyland Resort and we know there are many of you who want to get those special; mementos to commemorate the occasion. But fear not collectors – we’ve got you covered, even if you don’t have a Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge reservation. To read more, visit the Disney Parks Blog: http://bit.ly/2YywT9S

One of the most memorable days over the past three years at the Disneyland construction site of the new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge themed land involved a construction worker riding on a droid skateboard that left R2-D2 “footprints” in the freshly poured cement.

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