WDW Daily News

Just as Tiana transformed an old sugar mill into her dream restaurant in the Walt Disney Animation Studios film, “The Princess and the Frog,” soon the French Market Restaurant in New Orleans Square at Disneyland park will be reimagined into Tiana’s Palace!

As we initially shared at D23 Expo, we are excited for the opportunity to tell even more Tiana stories in New Orleans Square. We recently opened Eudora’s Chic Boutique Featuring Tiana’s Gourmet Secrets, a new retail shop that Tiana opened with her mother, Eudora. Up next will be Tiana’s Palace later this year, followed by Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the thrilling attraction that will open in Disneyland park in 2024.

Tiana’s Palace will be the newest restaurant on Orleans Street. Within its peach-colored walls and fancy green wrought-iron balconies, guests will find elegant fixtures and appointments reminiscent of Tiana’s life and friendships. The new Tiana’s Palace will have much of the same pinch of pizzazz and flair as the restaurant from the film, offering authentic New Orleans flavors inspired by Tiana’s friends and adventures in this quick-service style restaurant. While Tiana’s Palace is not a character dining location, guests may find Tiana in New Orleans Square.  

The menu at Tiana’s Palace will expand on many of the current favorites served in the location, explore seasonal flavors and, of course, offer some New Orleans classics. Tiana’s Palace is sure to be a gathering place for friends and family to enjoy great food and celebrate together, just like Tiana and her father James dreamed of.

Disney Imagineers are partnering with Disney Animation artists from the original film to bring this story to life at Disneyland park. In fact, the film designers took inspiration from the exterior of the original French Market Restaurant in New Orleans Square when designing Tiana’s Palace for the movie, so this is a long-dreamt homecoming.

To begin this work, French Market Restaurant (and Mint Julep Bar) will be closed beginning February 17, 2023, and will reopen as Tiana’s Palace (alongside Mint Julep Bar with its famous mint juleps and Mickey beignets) later in the year.

We look forward to sharing additional details about this exciting new restaurant!

EPCOT

As we shared at D23 Expo in September, an all-new nighttime spectacular is planned to debut at EPCOT later this year. Before the new show launches, we will bring back ‘EPCOT Forever’ as an interim show over the skies of World Showcase Lagoon starting April 3. Similar to how it appeared in 2021, ‘EPCOT Forever’ is the perfect offering while our Entertainment team preps the Lagoon, including a phased removal of fireworks platforms following the final ‘Harmonious’ performance on April 2. A limited-time spectacle of lasers, lighting, special effects, and fireworks, ‘EPCOT Forever’ returns with a collection of songs that offer both a trip down memory lane and a look toward the future.  

Magic Kingdom Park

Fan-favorite nighttime spectacular ‘Happily Ever After’ returns to Magic Kingdom Park on April 3, featuring all-new projections down Main Street, U.S.A. ‘Disney Enchantment’ will be offered through April 2. Get ready to reach out and find your happily ever after at Cinderella Castle soon!

By: Disney Destinations

January 10, 2023

TRON Lightcycle / Run presented by Enterprise officially opens April 4 at Magic Kingdom Park!

The story of TRON Lightcycle / Run picks up after “TRON: Legacy” where Kevin’s son, Sam Flynn, has opened a second gateway into a digital world called the Grid. The first portal was built at Shanghai Disneyland with the original TRON Lightcycle Power Run.

When guests enter the queue at Magic Kingdom, they’ll feel as if they’ve been digitized and transported to the Grid for a special Lightcycle race. It’s your Team Blue against the Grid’s menacing Programs, Team Orange. Your goal is to be the first to race through eight Energy Gates and secure victory. The attraction will be one of the fastest coasters at any Disney theme park in the world.

Before the attraction officially opens, cast members will be the first to enter the Grid during special previews. And we heard preview opportunities are coming for guests too, including Annual Passholders and eligible Disney Vacation Club Members.

See you in the Grid.

Beginning in the next few months, guests purchasing Disney Genie+ service will also receive digital downloads of their Disney PhotoPass attraction photos, taken in the park on the day of their purchase, at no additional charge. Attraction photos are taken while in the parks at more than a dozen of our most popular attractions including Space Mountain, Slinky Dog Dash, Test Track, Expedition Everest and more. I always love looking back at family photos at our favorite attractions – it’s a perfect way to remember and celebrate your theme park visit together. An exact launch date will be announced at a later time. Disney PhotoPass terms and conditions and expiration policy apply.

All of these updates are specific to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida – be sure to check out our Disney Travel News post on Disneyland Resort for updates they announced today. 

Please know we will keep listening to you and adapting as we focus on making the guest experience even better for more people who visit us here at The Most Magical Place on Earth.

That includes making planning easier for everyone. For example, we recently added the ability to modify Disney Genie+ attraction selections in the My Disney Experience app, began automatically making theme park reservations with the purchase of 1-day, 1-park specific tickets and made our dining reservation policy more flexible if you need to modify or cancel.

Beginning in the next few months, Walt Disney World Annual Passholders will be able to visit the theme parks after 2 p.m. without needing a park reservation, except on Saturdays and Sundays at Magic Kingdom Park. Pass blockout dates will continue to apply like they do today. While the theme park reservation system remains important to manage attendance in our parks, especially on busier days, Disney realized their Passholders enjoy more spontaneous visits – and this change will make that possible. Passholders will also receive access to Disney PhotoPass lenses and one complimentary Cinderella Castle Mural of Memories experience (age restrictions apply). Visit Cinderella Castle Mural of Memories and Disney PhotoPass Lenses for details, restrictions and other information.* 

We’ll share a start date with Passholders soon for when these offerings will become available, as well as information about a new offering that is planned where you can create and share short Disney-themed video slideshows with favorite photos from your theme park visits.

Beginning this evening, Jan. 10, overnight self-parking will once again be offered complimentary to guests staying at Disney Resort hotels at Walt Disney World. This is a Disney difference many of you have asked us to bring back, and we’re happy to reintroduce it to make your vacation a little easier and more affordable – whether you’re road tripping across the country, renting a car or vacationing as a local Florida resident. As a reminder, Disney Resort hotel guests also continue to receive complimentary standard parking at Walt Disney World theme parks, daily early theme park entry (with valid admission and a park reservation) and complimentary on-site transportation options such as buses, monorails and Disney Skyliner. oy complimentary self-parking when staying at a Disney Resort hotel

Mark your calendars as today we are excited to share event and registration dates for the 2023-2024 runDisney race season, including information on the much-anticipated return of the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend in January 2024! From exciting races through Disney Parks to virtual events Guests can run anywhere in the world, runDisney is home to the most magical races on Earth. As we look towards the new year, runners can gear up for even more miles and magic to come during next race season – take a look below at the dates.

We’re so excited to bring runDisney races back to the west coast in 2024 and are even more excited for the return of the fan-favorite Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend. Taking place January 11-14, 2024, the weekend will include three endurance events, a challenge and more that are sure to be filled with memorable moments and magical miles running through the Happiest Place on Earth. Stay tuned for more details about the race course, medals and more in the coming months!

We’re also thrilled that with the return of the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend, runDisney will also be reintroducing the runDisney Coast to Coast Race Challenge in 2024! More information about the Challenge and how to qualify will be available on runDisney.com in January 2023.

With entertainment, beloved characters, and Disney magic at every mile, runDisney races are memorable experiences for runners of all ages and skill levels. They’re also the only opportunity for runners and Disney fans alike to run unique courses through Disney Parks.

runDisney Virtual events are also a great way to have fun while designing a race course and running from any destination of choice! Whether Guests rae looking for some motivation to train for their next runDisney race or get a taste of the magic wherever they run, our Virtual Race events are perfect for everyone!

Start marking your calendar and be sure to check back to runDisney.com for all news and updates!

January 5, 2023

This Spring and Summer, Clients can stay in the magic with special offers at Walt Disney World Resort.

Stay in the magic with this special offer—and make sweet summer memories to savor!

Clients can get up to a $750 Disney Dining Promo Card when they purchase a non-discounted 5-night, 4-day vacation package that includes a room at a select Disney Deluxe Resort or Disney Deluxe Villa Resort and theme park ticket(s).

This offer is valid for arrivals most nights July 1 to July 10, 2023 and August 1 to September 14, 2023. A lower-value Disney Dining Promo Card may also be available when you purchase this package during other select summer arrival dates.

Stay in the magic with this special offer—and spring into fun or make sweet summer memories at Walt Disney World Resort.

Clients can save on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels:

• Save up to 25% on stays most nights April 10 through July 10, 2023
• Save up to 20% on stays most nights March 1 through March 31, 2023

There’s magic all around for Clients at Walt Disney World Resort. And you can enjoy even more enchantment with special benefits for Guests of Disney Resort hotels—including early entry to the theme parks 30 minutes before regular park opening to experience select attractions (with valid park admission and a theme park reservation).

*Please contact any of the agents at Wish Upon a Star with Us who can help you with this offer.

By: Disney Destinations

December 21, 2022

Beginning March 1, Chef Mickey’s will transition back to buffet-style dining, allowing guests to enjoy all-you-care-to-eat breakfast and dinner experiences once again.

This family-favorite dining spot located in the heart of Disney’s Contemporary Resort is the perfect place for guests to start their day with fun twists on traditional breakfast foods or take a break from the day’s activities to savor delicious dinner fare. The best part? While guests are dining, Mickey Mouse and some of his favorite pals will stop by to greet them!

We highly recommend making reservations in advance for this dining experience, as availability is not guaranteed day-of. For additional dining details and reservation availability, visit DisneyWorld.com