WDW Daily News

Event and on-sale dates for the 2019-2020 runDisney race season are now available.

With entertainment, special character appearances and other Disney magic in every mile, runDisney races are an unforgettable experience for runners of all ages and skill levels. runDisney races are the only opportunity for runners and Disney fans alike to run through the Walt Disney World® Resort. In fact, the Walt Disney World Marathon takes runners through all four theme parks plus ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex!

Guests can also take the magic of running at home with the Star Wars Virtual Half Marathon and runDisney Virtual Series. Run, jog or walk on a treadmill or around the neighborhood to earn exclusive medals and a finisher certificate.

Check out the on-sale dates for each runDisney event in 2019-2020 as well as race weekend dates below. Mark your calendars!

In summer 2019, NBA Experience will open at Disney Springs® at Walt Disney World® Resort and allow kids of all ages the chance to live out those dreams in a whole new way. Developed by Walt Disney Imagineering in collaboration with the NBA, this one-of-a-kind destination will feature hands-on activities that highlight the action and excitement of professional basketball.

NBA Experience will be full of thrills, whether Guests are  lifelong fans or you’re brand new to the game. When your Clients step inside this immersive environment next year, they will:

• Experience one of the biggest milestones for a basketball player at the NBA Draft with a photo moment that re-creates the atmosphere of the draft stage.
• Track and improve their jump shots and passing skills in a replicated NBA Combine challenge, complete with a scouting report that highlights their stats at the end of the session. 
• Step onto the court and hear the roar of the crowd as they maneuver through a series of timed shots to aim for a high score.
• Execute the perfect slam dunk just like NBA superstars, captured by cameras surrounding adjustable baskets.
• Test their ball-handling skills with an interactive trainer who will challenge them with a variety of dribbling routines.
• Use an oversized slingshot to launch basketballs at hoops of varying heights, making as many shots as possible before the clock runs out in this thrilling timed challenge.
• Immerse themselves in the rich legacy and history of NBA and WNBA championship-winning teams.
• Access a team locker room that showcases up-to-date statistics and visuals of top NBA and WNBA players.
• Test their knowledge of the NBA and WNBA – past and present – during a trivia game with up to 25 participants competing against one another to be champion.

• Enjoy two 180-degree cinematic presentations that showcase the in-arena experience moments before the start of the game, as well as special stories from the players’ perspectives.
• Take a seat at an interactive multi-screen module to watch replay clips from NBA games, using the tools at their stations to make the right calls. 
• Play interactive basketball games, from the fan-favorite Pop-A-Shot to modern video games

To top it all off, your Clients will be able to explore a retail store featuring exclusive NBA-themed merchandise designed by Disney.

We’ll share more details in the coming months, so stay tuned as we get ready for the grand opening of NBA Experience next summer. 

Wetzel’s Pretzels, an innovator of soft, fresh-baked pretzels, has returned to the Downtown Disney® District at the Disneyland® Resort after an extensive renovation. Wetzel’s celebrated its grand re-opening this week.

This flagship store features a California-inspired design with an indoor-outdoor feel and a modern, upscale look. Wetzel’s commissioned two local artists: Trek Thunder Kelly and Dan Medina. Kelly, known for his large-scale murals—including the Sky Mural in Venice Beach—painted a mural that wraps around the inside of the store with images of Pasadena, Wetzel’s hometown, and 12 hidden pretzels. Medina, known for his bronze sculptures, such as the Antonio Aguilar monument in Los Angeles, designed custom door handles that create a pretzel when the doors are closed.

In the Downtown Disney District, Wetzel’s Pretzels serves its most popular items, including the company’s full line of pretzels, Wetzel’s Dogs, Bitz, and fresh and frozen lemonade. The pretzels are baked from scratch throughout the day from simple ingredients such as flour, filtered water, yeast and a touch of salt; it’s been the Wetzel’s way since the company’s first location opened 25 years ago.

Downtown Disney District is the place to be with a myriad of exciting venues, shops and entertainment. This year, the promenade welcomed Splitsville Luxury Lanes, The VOID, The Disney Dress Shop, Salt & Straw scoop shop, a reimagined World of Disney store and the new Napolini. Soon the district will welcome the new Naples Ristorante e Bar, Ballast Point brewery and Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes, all coming soon!

Starbucks‘ “You Are Here” mugs make for a really cute souvenir to pick up from a Starbucks in whatever city you’re visiting. The mugs also are a way to commemorate a trip to the most magical place on earth. Starbucks designed Disney “You Are Here” mugs exclusively for the parks, and now, the ever-popular mugs are available for purchase online.

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No matter how old a person gets, you can never be too old to plop down on your living room couch with a buttery bowl of popcorn, TV remote in hand, ready to watch a Disney movie. Whether it be a classic like “Cinderella,” childhood favorites like “Toy Story” or newer films like “Coco,” Disney never seems to fail when it comes to bringing heart-tugging tales to the table.

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As the calendar turns to 2019 and thoughts turn to new year’s resolutions, now, more than ever is the time for your Clients to spend time with family, making memories that last a lifetime. A visit to Walt Disney World® Resort is the perfect place for families to get away from it all, and special 4-Park Magic Tickets will help them experience the new fun and excitement heading to all four theme parks this coming year.  

Starting Jan. 18, 2019, your Clients will be able to purchase a four-day, 4-Park Magic Value Ticket for $85 per day (plus tax) for a total price of $340 (plus tax). The 4-Park Magic Tickets include one day of admission to Magic Kingdom® Park, one day of admission to Epcot®, one day of admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios® and one day of admission to Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park, for a total of four admissions over four separate days.  

4-Park Magic Tickets will be available for purchase beginning Jan. 18, 2019, at DisneyTravelAgents.com and through the Disney Reservation Center. 4-Park Magic Tickets are seasonally priced for varied usage between Jan. 18 and Sept. 30, 2019, as follows:  

• 4-Park Magic Value Ticket: Valid for admission Jan. 18-March 1, 2019; must be used within seven days from first use, or by March 1, 2019, whichever comes first.
  • Adult: $85 per day, plus tax ($340 total, plus tax) 
  • Child: $80 per day, plus tax ($320 total, plus tax) 
• 4-Park Magic Select Ticket: Valid for admission March 2-March 14; March 27-April 9; April 27-May 27; and Aug. 19-Sept. 30, 2019; must be used within seven days from first use, or by Sept. 30, 2019, whichever comes first.
  • Adult: $89 per day, plus tax ($356 total, plus tax) 
  • Child: $84 per day, plus tax ($336 total, plus tax) 
• 4-Park Magic Summer Ticket: Valid for admission May 28-Aug. 18, 2019; must be used within seven days from first use or by Sept. 30, 2019, whichever comes first.
  • Adult: $95 per day, plus tax ($380 total, plus tax) 
  • Child: $90 per day, plus tax ($360 total, plus tax)

Note: 4-Park Magic Tickets are valid for one theme park per day; tickets can be used to enter each theme park only once. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable and exclude activities/events separately priced. Higher-priced tickets are valid for use on dates with a lower price. 

2019 will be a fantastic time to visit Walt Disney World Resort, with new shows, parties, character experiences and more debuting at all four theme parks, starting Jan. 18, 2019:  

• Anything can happen duringMickey & Minnie’s Surprise Celebration at Magic Kingdom Park, including the new “Move It! Shake It! MousekeDance It! Street Party,” featuring those true originals, Mickey and Minnie Mouse. (Jan. 18-Sept. 30, 2019). 
• Pixar pals will party with Guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studiosduring the park’s 30th anniversary year, featuring The Incredibles, Mike and Sulley from Disney•Pixar’s “Monsters, Inc.” and Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the gang at the new Toy Story Land.  
• To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Disney animated classic “The Lion King,” Rafiki and Timon will help your Clients let their inner animal loose on the dance floor during the “Hakuna Matata Time Dance Party” at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.  
• As part of the Epcot International Festival of the Arts, the Disney on Broadway Concert Series expands to seven days a week, providing more opportunities than ever before for Guests to hear pairs of Disney on Broadway stars sing favorite tunes from award-winning productions. (Jan. 18-Feb. 25, 2019). 

Don’t forget – your Clients can remain inside the magic of a Disney vacation for the entirety of their stay. When booking now through Jan. 2, 2019, your Clients can save up to 25 percent on rooms at select Walt Disney World Resort Hotels for stays most nights Jan. 1-April 27, 2019*. More Details>> 

*The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Savings based on the non-discounted price for 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 Deluxe Villa Resorts. Advance reservations required. Offer excludes the following room types: campsites, three-bedroom villas, Cabins at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, The Little Mermaid Standard Rooms at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows. 25 percent savings is for select Disney Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts. Lower savings may be available for other Disney Resort hotels. Cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion. 

The biggest news at Disney World for 2019 – really, the biggest theme park news in years – will be the debut of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. But wigged-out Obi-Wannabes will need to heed Yoda’s advice: Patience you must have. The land isn’t expected to open until the fall, after the prime summer season. But there are many other cool things on the way to Mickey’s Florida mega-resort in the coming year.

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You can now meet the beloved characters from Disney’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” while enjoying a bountiful dinner at Artist Point, located at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.

The restaurant has been magically transformed into an enchanted forest where you will dine on a fanciful dinner, featuring delicious dishes such as Hunter’s Pie, Winter Squash Bisque, Royal Prime Rib, Seafood Stew, Fairy Tale Gooseberry Pie, and more! While they dine, you will meet Snow White and a few of her forest-dwelling friends as they gleefully frolic around the restaurant. Guests even have an opportunity for an encounter with The Queen!

Book today by calling 407-WDW-DINE (407 939-3463) or by via Disneyworld.com/Dine. 

It should go without saying at this point, but Marvel Studios has some epic plans for Avengers: Endgame.

After the tragic ending of Avengers: Infinity War and the set up of Captain Marvel promising a major foe for Thanos, all hope is not lost for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. According to Marvel Studios, the new movie will feature a surprising ending that fans won’t expect.

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It’s no surprise that Walt Disney World Resort is the most visited theme park in the world. In 2017, nearly 20.5 million people visited the Magic Kingdom. If you add in the three other parks (Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, all four of which get a combined annual attendance of 56 million people), not to mention the waterparks, hotels and entertainment areas like Disney Springs, the numbers are staggering.

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