WDW Daily News

With a collection of new initiatives, Disney Cruise Line is making a splash to inspire the next generation of female leaders in the maritime industry. The debut of Captain Minnie Mouse, new nautical youth programs and new scholarships are designed to empower girls and young women to pursue careers in the cruise industry and chart a course for success.

Introducing Captain Minnie Mouse

We know how Disney characters have a unique ability to inspire and connect with children. Now at Disney Cruise Line,Captain Minnie Mouse will encourage young girls around the world to consider a career in the maritime industry. She will spread the message of exploring new horizons, both by land and by sea.

Captain Minnie Mouse, in her crisp new uniform with smart white trousers or skirt and a bold red jacket emblazoned with captain’s insignia, will make the rounds on all Disney ships starting in April.

Take a look at Photo Gallery – An Incredible Celebration at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Click on an image for a larger view.

We have an exciting announcement to share! Disneyland® Park Guests will be able to step into a cartoon world and join Mickey and his friends on Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, coming to Mickey’s Toontown in 2022!

This first major Mickey-themed ride-through attraction at Disneyland Park will put your Clients inside the wacky and unpredictable world of a Mickey Mouse cartoon short where anything can happen! Once your Clients step into the cartoon world of Mickey and Minnie, they’ll board a train with Goofy as the engineer. Then, one magical moment after the next leads your Clients to a zany, out-of-control adventure filled with surprising twists and turns.

With an original story and lovable theme song, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway uses state-of-the-art technologies and dazzling visual effects to transform the cartoon world into an incredible and immersive multi-dimensional experience.

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is also planned to open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios® in Walt Disney World® Resort in spring 2020.

Take a look at a Photo Gallery – The Edna Mode Experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Click on an image for a larger view.

Disney Skyliner is an all-new transportation experience set to debut this fall at Walt Disney World® Resort. Testing of the system’s nearly 300 Guest cabins and other elements is well underway, and today we have new details to share about this innovative transportation system.   

Disney Skyliner will offer your Clients sweeping views while whisking them between Epcot®, Disney’s Hollywood Studios® and four Disney resort hotels. Each cabin can accommodate up to 10 Guests, including those traveling with wheelchairs or assistive devices. And with the system constantly in motion, your Clients will arrive at their selected destinations in minutes while enjoying the comfort of cabins specifically tailored for the Florida climate.

Check out the video below for a peek inside a Disney Skyliner cabin and to hear Walt Disney World Resort Senior Vice President Thomas Mazloum and Walt Disney Imagineering Principal Architect Dean Huspen tell you more about this unique transportation system.

For Star Wars fans there’s a lot to be excited about this week. That’s why we’ve collected all of the exciting news that was just shared on Saturday at Star WarsCelebration related to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Consider this a one-stop-shop for all the exciting things we learned about the land coming to both Disneyland®Resort and Walt Disney World® Resort.

Coca-Cola Announcement:

When visiting Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, you will be able to enjoy classic Coca-Cola products just like in the rest of Disney Parks, but with a special galactic twist…

Earth Day is right around the corner, and at Walt Disney World® Resort, we’re celebrating by sharing a behind-the-scenes look at the brand new 270-acre, 50-megawatt solar facility that’s helping to power the magic!

Built in collaboration with the Reedy Creek Improvement District and solar developer Origis Energy USA, this facility is expected to generate enough renewable clean energy to operate two of Disney’s four theme parks in Central Florida annually, all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50,000 tons per year. That’s equivalent to removing about 10,000 automobiles from the roads annually.

At the same time, the solar facility is providing an important habitat for native wildlife in Central Florida. A team of Disney environmental and horticulture experts collaborated to help make more than two-thirds of the facility pollinator friendly, with the goal of creating a nurturing and welcoming habitat for butterflies, bees and other insects, including endangered and at-risk species. This team is also managing and monitoring an experimental test garden at the facility. This research will help determine the ideal combination of native plants and soil for pollinators.   

The effort to safeguard endangered pollinators aligns with the Disney Conservation Fund’songoing focus on saving wildlife, including butterflies.

Who says Villains can only come out at Halloween? Get ready for Disney Villains After Hours! Tickets go on sale soon – April 29, 2019 – for this wicked fun special event, offered on select nights this summer from June 6-Aug. 8, 2019.

A dark magic is taking over Magic Kingdom Park and inviting your Clients to run amuck in the Villains’ scary world. The party DJ gets things lit, energizing the castle stage with sick beats and transforming the entire Central Plaza of the park into a killer club scene. As the party heats up, the DJ introduces the “Caretaker” for the evening, the Lord of the Dead, Hades, who arrives in a burst of blue flames for the all-new show, “Villains Unite the Night.”

With Meg by his side, Hades sits atop his dark throne awaiting the alignment of five planets, following a prophecy that states when the five come together he will be able to rule the universe. But this dastardly plan doesn’t go quite as expected, when an assemblage of Disney Villains interrupts his party. Jafar, The Queen, Dr. Facilier and Maleficent arrive with henchmen in tow, prepared to showcase their power with spine-tingling displays of skill. It seems these Villains have also heard the prophecy and believe they are the ones who will rule all.

May 1, 2019 marks the 30th anniversary of Disney’s Hollywood Studios® at Walt Disney World® Resort. In addition to new attractions, entertainment, and merchandise, there will be an incredible menu of limited-time offerings starting May 1 as well as a few legacy menu items that have been offered since the park opened. Your Clients won’t want to miss out on these yummy treats. 

• Kylo Ren Cupcake – peanut butter and chocolate cupcake – Found at Rosie’s All-American Café and Dockside Diner
• Lightsaber Churros – churros dusted in red or blue sugar – Found at Anaheim Produce, Market at Pixar Place, Pretzel Palooza, and various churro carts throughout the park
• Playful Luxo Ball – mango mousse, banana sponge cake, caramel chocolate, and rice croquant – Found at The Trolley Car Café and BaseLine Tap House
• Incredibles Macarons – black and red almond macarons with mango passion ganache – Found at Market at Pixar Place and BaseLine Tap House
• The Sorcerer’s Hat – lemon sponge cake with vanilla swiss buttercream, lemon curd, and white chocolate glaze – Found at ABC Commissary and Fantasmic! Food Carts
• Mickey Mouse’s Celebration Cake – chocolate sponge cake with chocolate cream, vanilla marshmallow, and passion fruit crispy pearls –Found at Backlot Express
• Minnie Mouse’s Celebration Cake – yellow cake with strawberry cream, strawberry marshmallow, and strawberry crispy pearls – Found at Backlot Express
• Key Lime Pie Verrine – layers of Key lime custard and graham cracker finished with whipped cream and a white chocolate 30th anniversary logo – Found at Rosie’s All-American Café and Backlot Express
• Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Verrine – lemon cheesecake topped with blueberries, white chocolate crispy pearls, and a white chocolate 30th anniversary logo – Found at Catalina Eddie’s 
• Tres Leches Verrine – tres leches cake served with whipped cream, a fresh strawberry, strawberry candy rocks, and a white chocolate 30th anniversary logo – Found at Fairfax Fare
• Raspberry Mousse Verrine – raspberry mousse topped with fresh raspberries and a white chocolate 30th anniversary logo – Found at ABC Commissary
• Galaxy Margarita – silver tequila, blue curaçao, sweet and sour mix – Found at various walk-up bars throughout the park
• Celebration Fizz – vanilla vodka, cranberry juice, prosecco – Found at Tune-In Lounge and The Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge
• Banana Split Cocktail – vanilla vodka, crème de cacao, crème de banana, strawberry monin, pineapple juice – Found at various walk-up bars throughout the park

The Disney’s Hollywood Studios® 30^thAnniversary will take place May 1, 2019, and is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the past, present, and the new, exciting future of Disney’s Hollywood Studios as the park continues to evolve into a thrilling destination where your Clients can let their adventure begin.

Here’s a taste of how Guests can celebrate the milestone anniversary at the park on May 1, 2019:

• View a Star Studded Celebration – A Disney’s Hollywood Studios 30^thAnniversary Star-Studded Celebration cavalcade starring Mickey and friends will step off at 10 a.m. and will head down Hollywood Blvd.

• Pick Up a Commemorative 30th Anniversary Guide Map & Button – Guests entering the park can grab a special 30th anniversary commemorative guide map and button.
• Grab Exclusive 30th Anniversary Merchandise – Special 30th anniversary merchandise will be unveiled on May 1, including a new adult T-shirt, baseball cap, Tervis 24-oz tumbler, MagicBand, ornament and much more. Annual passholders can also shop for some items exclusively created for them. Merchandise can be found starting at 8 a.m. in Grand Park, while supplies last. (Please note: Merchandise will go on sale at 8 a.m., Disney’s Hollywood Studios opens at 9 a.m.)
• Taste Special Food & Beverage Items – A slew of special anniversary food & beverage items will be available throughout the park, including Kylo Ren Cupcakes, Incredibles Macarons, Tres Leches Verrine and many more.  
• Stay For the Debut of “Wonderful World of Animation” – The park’s new nighttime projection show will light up the park for its official debut on May 1, 2019. Your Clients can watch in wonder as the façade of the Chinese Theatre is magically transformed – displaying this stirring tribute to animation. Behold spectacular sequences celebrating themes like magic, family, adventure, romance and friendship. Each theme is brought to life through unforgettable moments from beloved films—like “Sleeping Beauty,” “The Incredibles,” “Coco” and many more. The show will debut at 9:05 p.m. ET, just prior to the park’s “Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular” fireworks show.