WDW Daily News

Innovation is essential to The Walt Disney Company story, dating back to its inception nearly a century ago. As Walt Disney once said, “We’ll always be introducing and testing and demonstrating new materials and new systems.” Well, that promise will come true once again next year when Walt Disney World Resort releases our next-generation wearable technology, MagicBand+.

The original MagicBand was introduced in 2013 at Walt Disney World, making the guest experience in our theme parks and resorts more convenient and hands-free for things like park and guest room entry, retail and dining, Disney PhotoPass and more. MagicBand+ will retain those popular features and add functionality that unlocks new moments of magic for you.

After Guests enter a theme park, MagicBand+ will come alive at various times with color-changing lights, haptic vibrations and gesture recognition. The wearable will allow Guests to engage with favorite Disney moments in new ways, including:

• Play like a bounty hunter in a galaxy far, far away and find virtual bounties throughout Black Spire Outpost in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
• Interact with the “Disney Fab 50 Character Collection,” the golden sculptures spread throughout the Walt Disney World theme parks.
• Experience nighttime spectaculars in a new way as you see the band light up and complement the magic in the skies, including the new “Harmonious” at EPCOT and “Disney Enchantment” at Magic Kingdom Park.

MagicBand+ will be available for purchase beginning next year, including a discounted, pre-arrival price for Disney Resort hotel guests as well as new and renewing Walt Disney World Annual Passholders. Current MagicBands will continue to be available, too, along with the complimentary Disney MagicMobile service that extends MagicBand features, such as park entry, to smart devices.

MagicBand+ will help immerse Guests in Disney stories and connect with characters you love like never before. We’ll have more to share about this exciting new technology in the future, so stay tuned for updates. And be sure to check out all our coverage of the Walt Disney World 50^th anniversary, because “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” begins tomorrow!

Shared by Zach Riddley on the Disney Parks Blog:

What a week this is for EPCOT! Tomorrow we’ll mark the official grand opening for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and La Crêperie de Paris in the newly expanded France pavilion in World Showcase. And then tomorrow night we’ll see the grand premiere of our new nighttime spectacular, “Harmonious,” on World Showcase Lagoon.

And while I’m so excited for you to discover all those new experiences, there’s even MORE in store as we continue to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort over the next 18 months. This morning, I announced our next major attraction, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, will debut in 2022. That’s right, our friends from Xandar will open the first “other-world” showcase pavilion at EPCOT next year, inviting us on an intergalactic chase through space and time!

Today my fellow Imagineers Tom Fitzgerald (left) and Scot Drake (right) gave us a new look inside the Wonders of Xandar pavilion currently under construction. Here you see them in the Galaxarium, which when completed will feature a planetarium-type presentation where the Xandarians show us their world, their people and their advanced technologies.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is a family-friendly adventure, featuring a totally new type of roller coaster experience we’re developing just for this attraction – it’s a storycoaster that rotates 360 degrees so you’re always focused on all the action as you help the Guardians save the galaxy. Not only that, but Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will also feature the first reverse launch on a coaster in Disney history and is one of the longest enclosed coasters in the world. It’s a massive experience that will match the scale and adventure of the Guardians of the Galaxy films.  

As part of the ongoing transformation of EPCOT, we’re infusing this park we love and cherish with more ways to dream, to be inspired and to connect with our world – or other galaxies, in this case. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is going to be a big step in that direction, and we can’t wait for you to experience it.

The inaugural voyage of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser at Walt Disney World Resort will depart March, 1, 2022! General bookings for this immersive adventure in a galaxy far, far away will open less than one month from now, on Oct. 28, 2021. 

Some Disney and Star Wars fans – including Club 33 members, Golden Oak residents, Disney Vacation Club Members, Disney Passholders and Disney Visa Cardmembers – will receive communication about special booking opportunities just for them. During these early booking periods, you may only book during the windows for which they are eligible.

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is a first-of-its-kind vacation experience that goes beyond anything Disney has created before. Guests will become the hero of their own Star Wars story during this two-night adventure, traveling the galaxy in style aboard the Halcyon starcruiser and eventually making their way to the Outer Rim for a planetside excursion to Batuu. Guests choose how to make their way in the galaxy – maybe as a member of the Resistance, or by learning the ancient ways of the Jedi lightsaber. Maybe Guests prefer loyalty to the First Order or the excitement of living life like a smuggler? The decisions are up to them.

We’ve shared a lot of new details about Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser recently. Here’s a quick recap to explore as you prepare for bookings to open:

• Today, Disney Imagineer Ann Morrow Johnson provided a first look at the starcruiser’s bridge as part of this special announcement.

• Disney Imagineers sat down for an in-depth discussion about Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser in this video, sharing all sorts of new details about the experience, including the characters you may meet, the food you may eat and much more.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3RrKnFjBM

• The first commercial for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser gives you a first glimpse at what life on the ship may be like.

Get ready for a special unlike anything you’ve ever seen from Disney Parks! This Friday “The Most Magical Story on Earth: 50 Years of Walt Disney World” airs on ABC and you won’t want to miss it. The primetime special takes viewers on a fascinating journey of Walt Disney World Resort from its origins to its development over time to the impact the Resort has had on pop culture to a special look into the future of the Resort. This riveting story is told through incredible interviews with celebrities, athletes, Disney Imagineers, and Disney executives and cast members past and present. We asked the interviewees to describe Walt Disney World in one word; check out what they had to say:

Hosted by Disney Legend and moderator of ABC’s “The View,” Whoopi Goldberg, the two-hour program will also feature spectacular visuals and musical performances from Christina Aguilera and Halle Bailey in front of the legendary Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park, accompanied by the renowned Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. We are excited to share a behind the scenes look at the making of these iconic performances:

This special is produced by ABC News and Disney Parks. Tune in this Friday October 1 at 8/7c on ABC, stream on Hulu starting October 2, or watch on Disney+ starting October 8.

The 50th anniversary celebration of Walt Disney World Resort starts next week on Oct. 1! And now, air travelers at the Orlando International Airport will feel immersed in the magic as soon as they arrive in Central Florida, after a magical transformation of the passenger arrival experience.

This transformation of exciting Disney touches includes a wide-spanning art installation in the terminal train stations featuring the Disney Fab 50 Character Collection, found throughout all four Walt Disney World theme parks, as well as a photo opportunity with a golden teacup inspired by the famous Mad Tea Party attraction at Magic Kingdom Park, and a glistening glow of projected EARidescent light patterns engaging passengers as they walk through the airport terminal just outside the Magic of Disney Store in the East Hall. Here guests will also pass a 36-foot long video screen showcasing the shimmering EARidescence of the four parks “Beacons of Magic.”

This magical makeover has arrived at Florida’s busiest airport just in time for the start of “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” at Walt Disney World Resort and will stick around through March 2022. Whether flying into Orlando at the beginning, middle or end of the 18-month 50^th Anniversary celebration, Disney can’t wait to share this magical milestone!

As part of The World’s Most Magical Celebration, Guests staying in the magic can enjoy more fun with 30 minute early entry to any Walt Disney World theme park.

Yesterday, a soft opening of this new benefit will be available to Guests of participating Disney Resort and select hotels. Upon arrival to the main entrance of their desired theme park, Guests should look for “Early Entry for Participating Hotels” signage to enter the park.  

Guests must have valid theme park admission, a reservation for the same park on the same day and valid Resort ID, such as a MagicBand, Key to the World Card or Disney MagicMobile pass.

On Oct. 1, two new nighttime spectaculars – “Harmonious” and “Disney Enchantment” – will debut to help kick off our 50th anniversary festivities during “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” at Walt Disney World Resort. And as a special early 50th surprise, there will be LIVE stream performances of both ground-breaking shows on the Disney Travel Professionals Facebook page!

• Wed, 9/29 – LIVE: “Harmonious” at EPCOT at 9:00 p.m. ET.
• Thurs, 9/30 LIVE: “Disney Enchantment” at Magic Kingdom Park at 10:15 p.m. ET.

Beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, join to see “Harmonious” at EPCOT, one of the largest nighttime spectaculars ever created for a Disney park. The show, which is a key milestone in the transformation of EPCOT, pays tribute to the stories and songs that unite us all featuring new technical magic that includes special pyrotechnics, moving fountains, special lighting and media.

Disney Live Entertainment and Walt Disney Imagineering have created a transformative experience with “Harmonious” that invites you to travel the globe through new interpretations of classic Disney songs as you’ve never heard them before. The songs are reimagined in more than a dozen languages by a diverse group of 240 artists from around the world.

“Harmonious” is a unique experience that could only happen at EPCOT, a place dedicated to possibility, wonder and global community. 

Just about 24 hours after the “Harmonious” event, there will be a LIVE stream of the new nighttime spectacular, “Disney Enchantment” along with a special celebratory moment, on Thursday at 10:15 p.m. ET from Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort.   

In “Disney Enchantment,” you’re inspired to believe in magic, with captivating Disney music, enhanced lighting, and immersive projection effects that extend – for the first time – from Cinderella Castle down Main Street, U.S.A. The evening extravaganza features stunning fireworks as well as an emotional original song, entitled “You Are the Magic,” by eight-time GRAMMY-winner and former Walt Disney World Cast Member Philip Lawrence.

Today, we’re sharing a new, magical behind-the-scenes look at how everything is coming together to bring “Disney Enchantment” to life at Magic Kingdom Park.  

This one-of-a-kind show features characters, moments, and music from dozens of Disney and Pixar animated films. It takes you beyond the ordinary to a land of magic, where we’re swept up in a world of wonder filled with friendship, love and fun. Through it all, we’ll discover we only have to look within to find the power to believe and make dreams come true, because the magic was inside us all along!

Plan an escape now for a Halloween getaway to the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort! Spook-tacular displays, tasty treats and new hotel offers will entice Guests to stay for a spell!

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel and the Disneyland Hotel invite you to stay in the magic, just steps from the Downtown Disney District, Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park! The resort is brimming with Halloween festivities you won’t want to miss!

Oooh! Oogie Boogie: Oogie Boogie is quite the sight in the lobby of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. His cauldron is over 4-feet tall! The pastry shop shared what goes into creating this confectionary masterpiece:

• 260 pounds of powdered sugar
• 380 eggs
• 220 pounds of rice cereal
• 95 pounds of marshmallow
• 80 pounds of butter
• 120 pounds of dark chocolate
• 80 pounds of white chocolate
• 480 pounds of fondant
• 370 hours of planning and hands-on work
• 13 hidden Mickeys!

Happy Halloween Treats: To satisfy a sweet tooth, pop by the bakery cart in the lobby of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa for Mickey-shaped monster cookies, Jack Skellington cookies, Oogie Boogie cupcakes, skull-faced cookies, Mickey whoopie pies and chocolate chip cookie shot glasses with milk.

Wickedly Fabulous Décor: Ursula and her “poor unfortunate souls” have taken over Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel with her tentacles enveloping the lobby, while the Disneyland Hotel welcomes “foolish mortals” with Haunted Mansion stretching room art in its lobby.

Trick-or-Treating for Hotel Guests: On Oct. 31, 2021, overnight Guests of the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort are invited to enjoy exclusive, complimentary trick-or-treating. Each hotel will have a treat map of locations, so little ghosts and goblins (and their parents) can visit all three hotels. Hotel Guests are encouraged to sign up at the Front Desk upon check-in.

Stay in the Magic and Save: Save up to 25 percent off select stays at Disneyland Resort Hotels most Sunday through Thursday nights from Oct. 12, 2021, to Dec. 16, 2021. Book now through Dec. 9, 2021.*

*Savings based on the non-discounted price for the same room at the same hotel for most Sunday through Thursday nights from 10/12/21 to 12/16/21. Book from 9/23/21 through 12/9/21; travel must be completed by 12/17/21. Premium room types included in offer are Premium, Deluxe and Woods/Garden/Courtyard rooms; select Concierge rooms; and Artisan, Paradise, Junior and Family suites.  Not valid on previously booked rooms. Advance reservations required.  Subject to availability as the number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited.  Excludes applicable fees and taxes.  Limit two (2) rooms per reservation and occupancy restrictions apply per room. Not valid in combination with any other hotel discounts or offers.  Subject to restrictions and change or cancellation without notice. Separate Theme Park admission and theme park reservation for same date and same park required to enter a Theme Park, and a hotel reservation does not guarantee theme park access. 

An all-new original Halloween special, “Muppets Haunted Mansion,” will debut exclusively on Disney+ starting Oct. 8. Check out the trailer for this funny and thrilling production featuring the Muppets as we’ve never seen them before:

“Muppets Haunted Mansion” takes place on Halloween night, when Gonzo is challenged to spend one very daring night in the most grim grinning place on Earth … the Haunted Mansion. This marks the Muppets’ first-ever Halloween special and features three new original songs, “Rest In Peace,” “Life Hereafter” and “Tie The Knot Tango,” a star-studded Muppets cast, celebrity guest stars and special appearances, and frightful fun for the entire family.

But Guests don’t have to wait until Oct. 8 to celebrate the fun and excitement of this new special. If visiting the Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort, make sure to check out these spooky activities:

At Disneyland Resort:

Currently at the Magic Key Holder event at Disneyland Park, Key Holders can find some fun photo opportunities. Starting Oct. 1, there will be additional photo opportunities near the Esplanade. Check out the uniquely themed Honda Ridgeline that is wrapped to resemble the wallpaper designs that were created especially for “Muppets Haunted Mansion.” Honda is the official vehicle of the Disneyland Resort.

Also beginning Oct. 8, Guests can visit an exhibit with exclusive content from “Muppets Haunted Mansion” inside the Main Street Opera House, near the pre-show area for Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.

At Walt Disney World Resort:

Available now at PizzeRizzo at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Guests will want to try one of four different and delicious eclairs, some of which were inspired by the Muppets stretching portraits featured in “Muppets Haunted Mansion.”

Also at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, starting on Oct. 1, Guests can see exclusive content from “Muppets Haunted Mansion” in the pre-show for Muppet*Vision 3D.

Over at Magic Kingdom Park, beginning Oct. 8, look out for a special Magic Shot that the Disney PhotoPass photographer in front of the Haunted Mansion can add to the photo. Guests might spot a familiar face floating around the photo as Madame Pigota!

Disney Music Group:

Disney Music Group will feature the songs from “Muppets Haunted Mansion” on their Halloween playlist, starting Oct. 8. Visit disneymusic.co/DisneyHalloweenPL for more information.

And make sure to watch “Muppets Haunted Mansion” starting Oct. 8, and streaming only on Disney+!

For additional information on Disney+, please visit disneyplus.com.

Jim Shooter, the former editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics, Matt Hawkins, President/COO of Top Cow since 1998, Angel Medina, artist on The Incredible Hulk, Avengers and The Amazing Spider-Man, and Mike Grell, writer and artist on iconic strips and characters from Superboy to Tarzan to Batman, headline Artist Alley at Wizard World Chicago on October 15-17. The three will be joined by more than 100 others of international, national and local acclaim at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.  Among the other notables on hand will be Dan Parent (Archie Comics), Dan Didio (DC Comics), Kevin Maguire (Justice League, Batman Confidential), Pat Broderick (Firestorm,  Green Lantern), Georges Jeanty (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Stephane Roux (Harley Quinn, Zatanna), John Delaney (DC Adventures, Simpsons, Futurama), Tone Rodriguez (Simpsons, Futurama ), Jeremy Clark (Broken Gargoyles, TMNT: The Last Ronin), Dr. Travis Langley (Batman and Psychology, Doctor Who Psychology), Meg Bonney (Everly), Greg Peters (Animaniacs) and Joe Wos (Mazetoons). Shooter, the founder of valiant, Defiant and Broadway Comics, wrote Superboy, Legion of Super-Heroes, Superman and other titles. He will appear on Saturday only. Hawkins has created or written more than 30 new franchises for the publisher of titles such as Witchblade, Death Vigil and Aphrodite IX. Medina has worked on dozens of titles for Megaton, Marvel, Image and others. Grell has been in the industry for nearly a half-century, most famously revamping Green Arrow, writing and occasionally drawing a redesigned look for the hero.  Artist Alley at Wizard World also features the dedicated Creative Stage, where many artists and writers will share tips and techniques in fun, interactive sessions throughout the three days.  Chicagoland will again be well represented, with numerous local creators in Artist Alley. Among those are: Chris Ness (prints/paintings), Adam Michaels (watercolors and inks), Josh Dizon (fine art), Scott Welninsk (3D prints), Megan Rosenberg (prints, cross stitches), Patrick Olsen (pencil art, digital art),  Amanda Mayer (metal jewelry), Vheto Gutierrez (illustrations), Darryl Young (art prints), Arthur Lashkiba (digital art), Christine Chang (traditional, digital media), Nicky Poblador (Chicago themed fan art), Luis Colindres (illustrations), Tristan Young  (fine art, illustrations), Coleton Mastick (illustrations), John Anthony Rodriguez (canvas, comics), David Stankowicz (illustrations), Jerry Willoughby (comic books), Justin Lowe (accessories), Darrel Damper (illustrations and comics), Rich Kunz (canvas prints), Marcus Lucas (“The Chronicles of Ebonics”) and Kris Voss (illustrations and comics).  Wizard World Chicago will also feature non-stop live entertainment, gaming, exclusive Q&A sessions with top celebrities, movie screenings hosted by stars and directors and more. Details to follow soon, along with programming and entertainment stage schedules. Wizard World events bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop culture: movies, television, gaming, live entertainment, cosplay, comics, sci-fi, graphic novels, toys, original art, collectibles, contests and more. Show hours are Friday, October 15, 4-9 p.m.; Saturday, October 16, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; and Sunday, October 17, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Kids 10 and under are admitted free with paid adult.  Wizard World Chicago is also the place for cosplay, with fans young and old showing off their best costumes throughout the event. Fans dressed as every imaginable character – and some never before dreamed – will roam the convention floor and participate in the famed Wizard World Costume Contest on Saturday evening. Wizard World Chicago 2021 will also mark the final event under the Wizard World brand name. As previously announced, beginning in 2022, former Wizard World events held in Chicago as well as New Orleans, Portland, Cleveland, St. Louis and Philadelphia will be produced under the FAN EXPO name. Wizard World will continue to operate the Wizard World Vault and will be participating at all FAN EXPO events. Tickets start at $39.99. About Wizard World: Wizard World Live produces comic, gaming, and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate the best in pop culture: movies, television, gaming, live entertainment, cosplay, tech, comics, sci-fi, graphic novels, toys, original art, collectibles, contests, and more. Each event features topical programming and entertainment with celebrity Q&A’s, comics-themed sessions, costume contests, movie screenings, evening parties and more.

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