WDW Daily News

Take a look at some photos from Halloween on the High Seas on the Disney Dream

We’ve got some very exciting news to share with you. Three, yes three, restaurants are getting some exciting updates in the coming weeks – Tusker House Restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Kona Cafe at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Akershus Royal Banquet Hall at EPCOT.

These favorite foodie spots offer unique dining experiences and delicious cuisines that take everyone’s tastebuds to different cultures across the globe. Not to mention, guests may even find some of their favorite characters at two of them.

Beginning November 1, Tusker House Restaurant will be transitioning to an all-you-care-to-enjoy, buffet style dining experience! That means guests can go and grab all the food they can handle. What makes this spot nestled in the Harambe Marketplace so special is its menu filled with African-inspired flavors.

There are plenty of dishes to keep guests’ eyes (and tastebuds) on when this location goes back to a buffet. From breakfast to dinner, they will be more than satisfied. Guests can kickstart their morning at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park with tasty plates, including an assortment of pastries like the Zebra Coffee Cake, breakfast classics like Simba Waffles and Mickey Waffles, and a variety of breakfast meats.

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Most people only look at the large pumpkin figures as they enter Main Street USA but check out the details and theming of the rest of the smaller pumpkins that line the street.

Here is the latest look at the ongoing construction at Epcot

Take a look at the latest construction photo from October 13, 2022 for Tron Lightcycle Ride at Magic Kingdom

We have a first look today at the all-new Halloween décor aboard our newest ship, the Disney Wish!

The enchantment of the already-gorgeous Grand Hall is elevated with beautiful garland ordained with pumpkins and fall florals.

The highlight of the décor is the all-new Pumpkin Tree. Every Disney Cruise Line ship features a signature Pumpkin Tree in its atrium with a unique look and personality, and the tree on the Disney Wish features lighter bark, graceful branches and a mystical face, setting it apart from the rest. As the tale would have it, this enchanted tree – named Boo! – grew perfect gourds with the help of a Wishing Star at night, producing the perfect pumpkin that became the coach that carried Cinderella to the Prince’s Ball.

Also new this season, we’re putting a spell on Disney Cruise Line guests with a wickedly fun character meet and greet opportunity. While all characters on board adorn Halloween costumes as part of the festivities, Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck and Clarabelle Cow can be found running amuck on each ship as their favorite Halloween sisters, the Sandersons from the movie “Hocus Pocus.”

And that’s not all! Other special experiences for these sailings include:

• Mickey’s Mouse-querade Party: Join favorite Disney characters in Halloween attire for a fun-filled costume party.
• Halloween Isn’t Just For Kids: Adult-exclusive venues across the fleet become a ghoulish setting for costume contests and a Villainous Takeover on the dance floor.
• Spooky Movies: To get guests into the spirit of the season, Halloween-themed movies will be shown on Funnel Vision by the family pool and in staterooms.
• Ghoulish Delights: Enjoy special themed food and beverage items around the ship — and don’t forget about the trick-or-treating.

These spooky cruises will continue throughout the month, or guests can start planning now for their perfect seasonal sailing in 2023 with cruises from Florida, California and New York next fall. 

Cue the music because we’ve been waiting for this one. Fantasmic! returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios soon – November 2022!

Stay tuned for more details, including an opening date!

Take a look at some merchandise for the 2022 Halloween Season at Walt Disney World

We have exciting news to share: Disney After Hours events will return to Walt Disney World Resort starting January 2023! These fan-favorite experiences are scheduled to kick off January 4 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and January 9 at Magic Kingdom Park. They offer an incredible way to experience even more Disney magic during the last months of “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” honoring the Walt Disney World 50^th Anniversary.  

In case you aren’t familiar with Disney After Hours, these late-night, separately ticketed events let you enjoy a Walt Disney World theme park for three additional hours after regular park hours, with treats such as ice cream, popcorn and select beverages included. Best of all, the number of tickets for these events is limited, which means lower wait times for some of Guests’ favorite attractions. 

At Magic Kingdom Park, this means Guests can enjoy more than 20 popular attractions such as Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. 

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios Guests can pilot the Millennium Falcon in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, ride through a zany cartoon adventure in Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, shrink to the size of a toy in Toy Story Land and more. 

With Disney After Hours tickets, Guests can enter the park where the event is taking place as early as 7 p.m. giving them the opportunity to get a jump on the fun! 

Disney After Hours admission is a separately priced ticket not included with regular daytime park admission. Event tickets for Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios can be purchased by all guests starting October 7, 2022, with prices ranging from $129 to $159 (plus tax). Guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels can begin purchasing Disney After Hours tickets as early as October 4. The advance-purchase window is available to Guests of Disney Resort hotels, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels as well as Shades of Green at Walt Disney World Resort. 

Disney Vacation Club members and Walt Disney World Annual Passholders can also purchase specially priced tickets for select dates.

Disney After Hours events at Disney’s Hollywood Studios are scheduled for select nights, January 4 through April 19, 2023. Disney After Hours events at Magic Kingdom Park are scheduled for select nights, January 9 through March 27, 2023. For a full list of events, dates and times, and to purchase tickets, visit the Disney After Hours page of DisneyWorld.com. Entertainment, available attractions and experiences are subject to change.

From Disney:

Given the latest projections for Hurricane Ian, Walt Disney World theme parks and water parks will be closed on Wednesday, Sept. 28 and Thursday, Sept. 29. Disney Springs will be closed on Wednesday, Sept. 28. We anticipate Disney Springs will be closed on Thursday, Sept. 29, and we will provide updates as we continue to track the storm. We are monitoring weather conditions so we can make timely decisions for the safety of our Cast and Guests, including when it’s safe for Cast to return to the site to prepare for reopening.

Walt Disney World Theme Parks and Water Parks

Walt Disney World will temporarily close our theme parks on Wednesday, Sept. 28 and Thursday, Sept. 29:

• Magic Kingdom Park
• EPCOT
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park (Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park is currently closed for the season.)
• Winter Summerland Miniature Golf, Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf

Partially used multi-day theme park tickets with a usage window impacted by Hurricane Ian related park closure will automatically be extended to use the remaining entitlements through any date through September 30, 2023.

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

For the safety of our Guests and Cast Members, Guests must check in to our resorts on Sept. 28, by 3 p.m. Please feel free to reschedule your trip or cancel your stay with us; any customary cancellation fees will be waived.

• Guests that are checked in by 3 p.m. Wednesday will be asked to shelter in place at their resort for the duration of the storm, this includes any resort-to-resort transfers
• Guests are strongly encouraged to enjoy food and beverage offerings at the parks and Disney Springs before returning to their Resort hotels.
• Dining options for Guests staying in our Resort hotels will vary, and in some cases may be very limited. Where available, restaurants will accept walk-ups only; Guests will not need dining reservations.
• Characters will not be available in character dining locations on Wednesday and Thursday
• The Grand Floridian Spa will close at noon Wednesday, Sept. 28.

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa and the Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort will temporarily close Wednesday, Sept. 28 through Friday, Sept. 30 due to the weather. We are contacting Guests with current and upcoming reservations.

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiservoyages departing Tuesday, Sept. 27 and Thursday, Sept. 29 have been canceled due to the potential impact on the Guest experience. Guests with reservations for these dates are asked to please call 407-939-5209 for help with modifying their plans.

Dining, Enchanting Extras, and Special Events

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom has been cancelled for Thursday, Sept. 29.

Effective immediately, we will not enforce cancellation policies until further notice for dining and other experiences like Savi’s Workshop,  Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and VIP Tours.

Performances of Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue have been cancelled Sept. 28 through Sept. 30 in light of the temporary closure of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. Guests with pre-paid reservations will be automatically cancelled and refunded.

Transportation

• Walt Disney World Transportation will stop operating Tuesday night after Disney Springs and the Walt Disney World theme parks close.
• Limited Minnie Van and Mears taxi service will be offered to Walt Disney World resort Guests with existing breakfast reservations.

Other Walt Disney World Experiences

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiservoyages departing Tuesday, Sept. 27 and Thursday, Sept. 29 have been cancelled due to the potential impact on the Guest experience. Guests with reservations for these dates are asked to please call (407) 939-5209 for help with modifying their plans.

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will be closed Wednesday, Sept. 28 and Thursday, Sept. 29.

Disney Springs

Disney Springs will be closed on Wednesday, Sept. 28. We anticipate Disney Springs will be closed on Thursday, Sept. 29, and will provide updates as we continue to track the storm.

Drawn to Life presented by Cirque du Soleil & Disney will be cancelled on Wednesday, Sept. 28 and Thursday Sept 29.

Guests are strongly encouraged to enjoy food and beverage offerings at the parks and Disney Springs before returning to their Resort hotels.

The most up-to-date information about temporary closures and impacts will be available via the My Disney Experience app and DisneyWorld.com/Weather or the Disney Travel website.   

Please note that all reopening timelines are tentative, and subject to safety conditions