WDW Daily News

Disney+ subscribers can save up to 20% on rooms at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels! Bookings are now available for visits between Dec. 11-25, 2022.

• Save 20% at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Old Key West, Disney’s Riviera Resort, Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa and Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
• Save 15% at Disney’s Art of Animation (Family Suites), Disney’s Port Orleans Resort— French Quarter and Disney’s Port Orleans Resort— Riverside
• Save 10% on the Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort and Disney’s All-Star Music Resort

When Guests stay at a Disney Resort hotel, they’ll enjoy 30 minutes early entry to every Theme Park, every day.

Plus, Guests staying at a Disney Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resort can also enjoy Extended Evening Hours, in select parks, on select nights — now including Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Dec. 15 & 22!

That’s even more time to experience holiday fun at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios– during the Walt Disney World® 50^th Anniversary Celebration. Valid admission, park reservation and Resort ID are required for park entry. 

For more details and to book you vacation please reach out to any of the travel planners at: Wish Upon a Star with Us.

From Disney Cruise Line:

Beginning Sept. 23, 2022, for sailings aboard the Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, Disney Wish and Disney Wonder and beginning Nov. 7, 2022, for sailings aboard the Disney Magic, fully vaccinated Guests are no longer required to participate in COVID-19 testing in order to sail. Guests who are NOT fully vaccinated must continue providing proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken one to 3 days before the sail date. However, Guests who are not fully vaccinated will no longer be required to complete a second test at the terminal on embarkation day.

The following SeaMail will be sent to guests who have booked through travel agents on impacted sailings:

Dear [Guest Who Booked Through A Travel Agent],

All of us at Disney Cruise Line look forward to welcoming you aboard soon. We are reaching out with important updates to the COVID-19 testing requirements for your sailing.

Earlier this month, we communicated that beginning on September 2, 2022, for sailings departing U.S. and Canadian ports, Disney Cruise Line will only require Guests ages 12 and older to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time of sailing, as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Additionally, beginning September 23, 2022, for Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wish sailings departing the U.S., fully vaccinated Guests are no longer required to participate in COVID-19 testing. Unvaccinated Guests (ages 11 and younger) will need to submit proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken 1-3 days before the sail date. Unvaccinated Guests will no longer be required to complete a second COVID-19 test at the terminal on embarkation day. Acceptable vaccines and testing information for Guests ages 11 and younger can be found in the Know Before You Go section of DisneyCruise.com. 

	COVID-19 Testing Requirements for Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wish sailings from the U.S. beginning September 23, 2022	Face Coverings
Fully Vaccinated Guests(All guests ages 12 and over)	No testing required.	Optional
Not Fully Vaccinated Guests(Ages 11 and younger)	Pre-Embarkation Testing:COVID-19 test 1-3 days before the sail date. The test must be a rapid or lab-based PCR test, or Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT). Rapid antigen tests are not accepted.	Optional, Highly Recommended

Upload Proof of Vaccination and/or COVID-19 Test Results

In order to sail, all guests 12 and older (who are required to be vaccinated), plus those under 12 that are vaccinated, must upload their proof of vaccination to the Inspire Diagnostics Safe Passage website by midnight prior to embarkation day. Unvaccinated Guests must upload a negative COVID-19 test result to the Inspire Diagnostics Safe Passage website by midnight prior to embarkation day. Uploading these documents is a requirement for adults and children, regardless of age. A parent or legal guardian will need to use their own account to provide this information on behalf of minors. To learn more about how to provide proof of your negative COVID-19 test result, please visit Before Leaving Home: Know Before You Go.

After appropriate documents have been uploaded and reviewed by Inspire, Guests should see the words “Clear to Arrive” or “Clear to Sail” in the Pre-Sail Screening section when they log into their Safe Passage account before arriving at the port.

It is also recommended that Guests bring a copy of their proof of vaccination or negative COVID- test result with them to the port. Guests who fail to upload proof of vaccination and/or COVID-19 test results may be delayed or denied boarding. If you have any questions about your Safe Passage registration or status, please contact Inspire Diagnostics at 877-250-5132.

Back-to-Back Sailings

Guests who are not fully vaccinated and traveling on back-to-back sailings will be required to complete a COVID-19 test between sailings, paid for by Disney Cruise Line.

Guests Recently Recovered from COVID-19

In some cases, people who have recently recovered from COVID-19 may still test positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. If Guests have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 within 11 to 90 days of their sail date, they may qualify to be considered as “90-Day-Recovered,” with the appropriate documentation and subsequent approval. Not-fully vaccinated Guests who are considered “90-Day-Recovered” are not required to participate in COVID-19 testing during the pre-embarkation phase of their voyage. For details on what documentation is required, please visit Before Leaving Home: Know Before You Go.

Online Check-in

You must complete Online Check-in beginning 30 days prior to your sailing. You will need to submit the required documents as well as select a Port Arrival Time. All Guests, including our Platinum Castaway Club Guests, will need to select a Port Arrival Time. Please be aware that Guests will not be permitted at the terminal or in parking areas before their scheduled arrival time. Guests who arrive early will be asked to return at their scheduled arrival time, and Guests arriving after their scheduled time may be delayed and asked to wait behind those arriving at their scheduled time. Online Check-in can be completed or modified up to one day prior to sailing. After completing Online Check-in, you will receive a Port Arrival Form by email. Bring this with you to the port to expedite your arrival.

As our health and safety protocols and operational guidelines are subject to change, please visit the Know Before You Go section of our website for the latest information and answers to many frequently asked questions.

Guests booked on the Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy or Disney Wish September 23, 2022, through December 31, 2022 may modify or cancel their sailing by September 12, 2022 without any Disney-imposed cancellation fees. Please contact your travel agent for details on how to cancel or modify your booking. Please note that change fees and cancellation fees imposed by third-party suppliers, such as airlines and hotels, as well as travel insurance, are not refundable. Refunds will be processed back to the original form of payment. Standard cancellation policies and terms and conditions apply for any cancellation or modification requests received on or after September 13, 2022.

We look forward to welcoming you aboard soon.

Sincerely,

The Cast and Crew

Disney Cruise Line

Beginning this week, all travel professionals who call Disney Central will hear updated hold music inspired by EPCOT. There will also be a new option to hold without music. Should you choose to hold without music, they will check in every three minutes to let you know you’re still connected. You will then be able to continue without music, or you can opt back into the hold music.

Many exciting things are happening across our parks and resorts in celebration of World Princess Week, and today we are excited to share a first-look at some design details within Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana. This upcoming attraction at EPCOT is taking shape before our eyes, as our Walt Disney Imagineering team and crew of artisans have already begun sculpting the rockwork in this immersive exploration trail.

Designed for all ages, Journey of Water will allow guests to explore and engage with water as it travels from our skies to our oceans and back again. Walt Disney Imagineering partnered with artists and cultural consultants from Walt Disney Animation Studios to bring this experience life, and the team tasked themselves with capturing the beauty of the natural water cycle within the attraction.  We were also inspired by Moana’s fierce determination to protect her environment – her bond with water is unique, and we are excited for guests to learn about the importance of water and experience its playful personality just as she did.

Fans of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Moana” will be delighted to see familiar shapes and characters carved into the rocks and waterways throughout Journey of Water. A great example of this is Moana herself, who will be positioned proudly – celebrating water’s arrival to our ocean.

As part of the design process, Imagineers create models, mock-ups, and maquettes to bring our beloved characters and stories into the parks in sometimes unexpected ways. Above is a behind-the-scenes look for World Princess Week of Principal Dimensional Designer, Jim Towler, sculpting the foam maquette of Moana for this attraction.

This gives a glimpse into the earliest stages of the design process, before paint and additional details have been added. Once the pose of the character is defined, sculptors add detail and texture until the emotional expression of the carving is just right. They then do a paint study and often create full scale samples to test final materials and carving techniques. This process ensures the production and creative vision for the experience align.

Below is another making-of example, showing a sample from the mountain-like forms that will soon mark the entrance to the attraction. Fans will recognize Moana’s iconic spiral, which we portrayed in one of the first concept renderings for Journey of Water.

Every detail helps tell the story.  Here, everyone can see how artisans use paint, scenic treatments, and foliage to bring even more life to our worlds and environments.

It’s certainly an exciting time for our project team as these elements are coming together on site now and in the coming months! Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana will be brought to life within World Nature – the EPCOT neighborhood dedicated to understanding and preserving the beauty, awe, and balance of the natural world. Moana is the perfect role model to inspire us to protect and conserve water and guide us through the Journey of Water.

There’s a lot more to share in the coming weeks and months, so be sure to keep following along here for the latest on this exciting part of the EPCOT transformation!

In consideration of guidance from the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and due to proven success in our theme parks surrounding returning to traditional character greetings, up-close character greetings, including autographs, are now in the process of resuming across our entire Disney Cruise Line fleet!

Traditional character greetings will return to all ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet by Aug. 29!

Walt Disney World Resort introduced a theme park reservation system after reopening in 2020 as a way to manage attendance. They’ve been working on ways to make the Disney Park Pass system easier, and now they’re rolling out some of these updates.  

All guests can now modify their theme park reservations, including dates, park and party members (subject to availability), rather than having to cancel and re-book.   

Guests may also now book theme park reservations with different admission types – so whether you’re an Annual Passholder, date-based ticket holder or visiting with a Cast Member, you can all make your reservations at one time.  

These updates will give guests a more seamless experience when booking and changing their theme park reservations.   

Experience spell-tacular views while sipping sinister concoctions and nibbling on fiendish fare––for eligible Members only. Subject to capacity restrictions and operating hours.

Like the villains who lounged before you, toast to your travels and revel in rebellious recipes while swapping stories of wicked fun and plotting your next (vacation) escape. Cap off the evening with a rooftop viewing of the Disney Enchantment nighttime spectacular at Magic Kingdom park.

Beyond the new furnishings, delight in new menu offerings including carefully crafted concoctions, wicked wines, bubbling brews and ominous appetizers––including the new Seven-Lair Cake.

Hours of Operation and Parking

Top of the World Lounge – A Villains Lair is open from 6:00 PM to midnight daily, subject to capacity restrictions and operating hours.

Check-in time starts at 5:45 PM.

Complimentary parking for eligible Members begins at 5:00 PM, pending availability. Eligible Members must present a digital Member Card and photo ID at security to confirm accessibility.

Please be aware that the lounge may include blockout dates, such as holidays (July 4th, New Year’s Eve, etc.) and special event nights.

Check In

Please review access and eligibility requirements prior to arrival. Upon arrival, Members must check in at the Top of the World Lounge – A Villains Lair desk on the ground floor lobby. At least one Member in the traveling party must accompany the group and present their current MagicBand, digital Membership card and government-issued photo ID in order to gain admission to the lounge and observation deck.

Read more

Hear ye, hear ye! Everyone is cordially invited to indulge in the delicious eats and sips coming to both Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort in honor of World Princess Week. From August 21 through 27, this celebration will highlight some of our favorite characters and featuring some tasty treats to enjoy along the way.

There are plenty of treats on both coasts, including the lovely Snow White 85th Anniversary Petit Cake from Amorette’s Patisserie at Disney Springs and the Tangled Loaf Cake over at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa. And there’s much more than just food. From merchandise, entertainment, and special announcements, this week will be the ultimate celebration honoring our classic Disney royalty. Stay tuned throughout the week for daily princess fun coming your way.

Walt Disney World Resort

Magic Kingdom Park

Cinderella’s Royal Table

• Lost Slipper: White chocolate mini slipper with white cremeux pearls tucked inside a milk chocolate dome served with hot caramel

Friar’s Nook

• Snow White Cone: DOLE Whip lemon, blue cone, chocolate bird, and sugar bow

Read more

Guests can BOOst up their party photos with an extra Halloween touch using Disney PhotoPass Service at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party!

Below are just 13 of the many special photo ops photographers are offering during the party that scream Halloween, alongside details about where guests can find each of them.

Town Square near the flagpole

 

Main Street, U.S.A.

Near the gardens in front of Casey’s Corner and The Plaza Restaurant

In front of Cinderella’s Castle

At the castle walls near Pinocchio Village Haus

In front of Haunted Mansion

In Liberty Square

In Tomorrowland near the Carousel of Progress

At many character greetings

Guests can download all their photos with Memory Maker!* By purchasing Memory Maker, they can take home all of their family’s Disney PhotoPass photos and videos captured at more than 100 locations during their Walt Disney World vacation, including:

• At all Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party PhotoPass locations
• Inside the three Disney PhotoPass Studios
• Onboard 14 attractions
• At scenic spots around the parks (where we also offer more than 70 Magic Shots!)
• And much more!

If guests are only materializing for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, the Memory Maker One Day is a great option for shorter visits.

*Disney PhotoPass Service and Memory Maker are subject to the applicable terms and policies. Includes photos taken during the applicable Memory Maker Window as defined in such terms (generally, photos taken (i) within one day for Memory Maker One Day or (ii) within 30 days from the date of first activation for standard Memory Maker). If Memory Maker is purchased at the advance purchase price, any photos taken within 3 days of the date Memory Maker is purchased are not included and must be purchased separately. A MagicBand, or an eligible mobile device with Bluetooth technology enabled for the My Disney Experience app, is required to receive certain attraction photos and other digital content. Online registration required. Disney PhotoPass Photos in your account will expire pursuant to the expiration policy. Downloads are restricted to personal use only. Not responsible for missing, lost or damaged photos. Subject to restrictions and change without notice. Valid theme park admission required for certain photo locations.

This past July we had to opportunity to do something that has always been on our Disney bucket list….a Disney cruise! We booked a 4 day cruise out of Miami on the Disney Dream with stops at Nassau, Bahamas, Disney’s Castaway Cay Island, and a day at sea. I cannot believe we kept putting this off for so many years. The experience was simply amazing not only because we are Disney fanatics, but also because of the high standards for service, cleanliness, and entertainment.

As Disney cruise rookies we did our best to research as much as we could about this adventure. Previously the Disney Dream was located in Port Canaveral, Florida, but with the debut of the Disney Wish, the Dream was moved to Miami, Florida. We were a bit concerned about this new location, but the whole process at the port was very easy to navigate. We pulled in, dropped off our luggage, parked across the street, and walked back to the ship to check in. There was a short wait in the pre-boarding area, but there was so much excitement in the air that the time went by very quickly. Before we knew it we were walking onto the ship. Mickey Mouse and the crew greeted us and made that very first moment on the ship so special.

We booked an “Oceanview Verandah Stateroom” because we knew we wanted to see the ocean from our room at all times of day. We certainly were not disappointed in the accommodations or the view. There was plenty of storage and space to move around for sure. The separate toilet/vanity room and shower room made getting ready much easier than one large bathroom like most hotel rooms. We quickly got to know our stateroom host, Herrold. He stopped by to check on us soon after we found our room and wanted to know what we needed for our stay. He cleaned our room twice daily and left fun towel sculptures for us each day. His attention to detail in the room was top notch!

Of course after unpacking we headed right out to explore the ship. Yes it did take some time to get acquainted with the ship and where everything was located, but even when we took a wrong turn we found something new to check out. We wanted to see everything the Disney Dream had to offer. The extra large “Funnel Vision” movie screen by the pool was certainly impressive. We ended up watching a few late night movies there during the trip. As we explored that first day we stopped by Cabana’s buffet for lunch then moved to to find the other dining options, adult bars/clubs, the two theaters, adult pool areas, and the shops. The Dream literally has something for every age group. There are even kids clubs for infants all the way to high school teens. Luckily Disney has developed an onboard app to help guests keep track of all of the different activities available throughout the day and where everything is located. BINGO, trivia, animation, stage shows, character meet and greets, cooking, wine tasting and mini-golf are just a few of the choices each day. Or guests could simply sit by the pool and relax all day.

As far as dining, Disney always has amazing options. We were on a rotation at three different restaurants: Royal Palace, Animator’s Palate, and Enchanted Garden. (We did not eat at the two adult-only locations Remy and Palo). Because I have an unusual food allergy I was a little worried about what my options would be for dinner each night. In truth I had nothing to worry about because our wait staff was so accommodating. That is one of the best parts of the Disney cruise experience. Out wait staff followed us to each restaurant so they got to know us and what we needed. Our main server William even took my order for the next night so that could go the chef and make sure everything would be ok for me. The wait staff only had 3-4 tables so the personal service was spectacular. Even when we went to Castaway Cay for the day, the chefs there had heard about my allergy from William and prepared my meal separately rather than have me just go through the regular buffet line. Now that is service!

Clearly I could go on and on about the Disney Cruise experience. In fact, we have already booked another cruise for our fall break. That is how much we enjoyed our first trip. If you are a fan of Disney, a fan of cruises, or if you want to take a vacation where you know the service and high standards are guaranteed, then a Disney Cruise is the perfect choice. The Disney Dream, Fantasy, Magic, Wonder, and Wish are waiting to take you on your next adventure!

For the latest deals and to book your trip with Scott & Becky Donahue of Wish Upon a Star With Us, please contact us here.