WDW Daily News

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! It’s that time of year again when I share what I’m thankful for – Disney Edition.  I wanted to focus on something beyond what we all are most thankful for, such as a healthy and safe family, a good job, etc…

I wanted to write about things that I am thankful for, Disney style. Disney has created so many wonderful memories for my family I thought it would be fun to create a list. After reading my list I would like to hear your thoughts via Twitter.

I am thankful for….

• Walt Disney having the vision to create a place where families could have fun together in a safe environment
• The Walt Disney Co. continuously expanding and improving their parks, resorts, and service
• Being able to travel to Walt Disney World (and occasionally Disneyland) several times a year to get a different experience each time
• Having a wife and kids who love Disney as much as I do
• Minnie Mouse opening up her arms to greet my youngest daughter on a pathway at Animal Kingdom and giving her a HUGE hug, which is something she still remembers to this day
• The look of amazement the first time my daughters stepped foot into Magic Kingdom
• The look of joy the first time my daughters met a Princess
• The look of bewilderment on my face when Belle picked me to play Beast at “Storytime with Belle”
• The ability to have two sets of grandparents who “get” what Disney is about and love to vacation with us
• Being able to help friends and families maximize their time during their Walt Disney World vacations
• Being able to see my daughters reaction when she finally reached the magical 48” height mark
• Blizzard Beach’s Summit Plummet helping me overcome my fear of heights
• Disney Vacation Club allowing our family to have accommodations that we otherwise might not be able to afford
• The smell of the Pop Century lobby after a 20 hour drive
• The ability to head right to your room without checking in after a 20 hour drive and arriving late in the night. (Thank you Magic Bands)
• Entering my resort room, turning on the TV, and hearing the sounds of Walt Disney World Today Channel
• The time we were able to experience riding in the front of the monorail
• My youngest daughter, Peyton, who has Polycystic Kidney Disease, to be healthy enough to ride most attractions that she wants to
• Being able to “scream like a little girl” on Expedition Everest and fitting right in with everyone else
• Not looking like a fool wearing a crazy Disney hat around the parks
• Having a place where I can make a wish and truly believe it will come true
• Imagineers always wanting to “plus” an attraction
• Being old enough that my daughter, Jacey, had already completed the Disney College Program
• Being fortunate enough to start planning another Disney trip right now

Take a look at the new colors of the entrance to Walt Disney World via the Western Way! It’s not quite finished though as the “Walt Disney World” letters will be in white, the flags atop still need to be installed, and the new slogan will also be added. Regardless it looks amazing right now!

Brightline and Walt Disney World Resort announced an agreement Monday to build a train station at Disney Springs.

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While Avengers Campus at the Disneyland Resort will open to aspiring Super Heroes at a future top-secret date, Peter Parker has already begun testing his latest prototype: Spider-Bots!

As revealed at the D23 Expo last year, The Worldwide Engineering Brigade or as the kids call it, WEB, is devoted to empowering the next generation of heroes with cutting edge technologies – like Spider-Bots. While we look forward to inviting you to our WEB open house in the future, for now, you can get your hands on your very own Spider-Bot!

Spider-Bots and the latest WEB apparel from Avengers Campus will be available in the Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort, at both World of Disney and Disneyland Resort Backlot Premiere Shop beginning Dec. 4.

Every Super Hero needs a friendly sidekick to help protect their neighborhood. These Spider-Bots put you in control of the action to battle opponents with programmed combat and defensive abilities. They can crawl backward and forward, crouch, spin 360°, stare down with their laser eyes, attack opponent Spider-Bots and even blast off their shields. Check out this video to learn how to swing into action with a Spider-Bot.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/6495WZKDkEIC

From grabbing a quick bite on the go to sitting down to a fun meal with a fairytale view, dining at Walt Disney World Resort has something for everyone. And with three more dining options soon returning to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom Park, there’s even more choices to fill the day on your next visit. 

Guests planning to shrink down to the size of a toy in Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios are sure to work up a human-sized appetite exploring Andy’s backyard. Beginning Nov. 25, Woody’s Lunch Box will be the perfect place to lasso that hunger with classic American fare, old-fashioned soda floats and other Toy Story-themed specialties.  

Over in Magic Kingdom Park, and just in time for the holidays, two restaurants will once again offer great food and stunning views of the holiday décor, Cinderella Castle and Main Street, U.S.A. 

On Dec. 13, The Crystal Palace will reopen its doors, and while our friends from the Hundred-Acre Wood will be taking a break from greeting Guests, the restaurant will now be offering a family-style dining experience. There will be new individually plated entrées including crispy fried chicken with honey pot drizzle, fire-roasted prime rib of beef, fried cauliflower and more. Reservations open beginning Dec. 1.

Just a few days later on Dec. 17, a favorite outdoor dining spot, Tomorrowland Terrace, will also reopen. It will feature a refreshed quick-service menu of seafood favorites, including lobster rolls and fried shrimp.

As the phased reopening of Walt Disney World Resort continues, we are nearing another exciting milestone we know many guests have been looking forward to: the return of the Park Hopper® option! Starting Jan. 1, 2021, guests who purchased a ticket, package or annual pass with Park Hopper benefits will be able to visit more than one park per day, with some new modifications as part of our ongoing focus on health and safety.

With the updated Park Hopper® experience, Guests must make a Disney Park Pass reservation for the first park they plan to visit (reservation requirements are subject to change) AND enter that first park prior to visiting another. Additionally, we will set specific Park Hopper® hours during which this option will be available. Park Hopper® hours will start at 2 p.m. each day and end at the park’s scheduled close time. Guests will soon be able to check DisneyWorld.com/ParkHours and the My Disney Experience app for the most up-to-date Park Hopper® hours, as they could start earlier at a later date, depending on the day and park.



These modifications are designed to help us manage attendance responsibly to continue to foster physical distancing. Additionally, other enhanced health and safety measures remain in effect, including face coverings required for all guests ages two and up.

As a reminder, guests with a ticket, package or pass that includes Park Hopper® benefits get the chance to see and do more during their visit, which could mean a morning on the savanna at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park and an evening stroll by Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park or starting the day living your Star Wars adventure at Disney’s Hollywood Studiosbefore an afternoon traveling around the world at EPCOT. Please note that the ability to visit another park will be subject to the park’s capacity limitations. And, to help us manage attendance, upon the return of the Park Hopper option in January, only guests with a Disney Park Pass reservation for Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be able to experience Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance – Guests visiting from another theme park will not be able to request to join the virtual queue.

Park-to-park transportation is also planned to resume in 2021, with operations beginning each day shortly prior to the start of Park Hopper® hours.

We look forward to starting the new year with the return of this guest favorite option!

To commemorate Mickey Mouse’s birthday, we are excited to reveal a special surprise at the DisneylandResort. Following a refurbishment, the iconic Partners statue in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland park has been restored to its original grandeur!



The beloved Partners statue, created by famed Disney sculptor Blaine Gibson, features Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse. The photo above left was taken at its original unveiling on Nov. 18, 1993, at the hub in Disneyland park to commemorate Mickey’s 65^th birthday. 

Over time, the bronze had oxidized, and because of the applied patina, acrylic polymer and wax, it required a more intensive process than just a simple cleaning or polishing. Over four days, an artisan utilized a process using crushed walnut shells to gently strip the figure down to the bare bronze. After cleaning, various chemicals were applied and heated with a blowtorch to create a reaction and fuse with the bronze. The figure was coated in a polymer to protect the patina, then coated with a very thin layer of wax. 



Guests visiting the Downtown Disney District’s extension into Buena Vista Street will have an opportunity to see the Storytellers statue, which has also been restored. This statue features a 1920s-era Walt in a fedora and traveling attire­ — just off the train from Missouri and ready to realize his dreams with his pal, Mickey.

Happy birthday to the duo who started it all 92 years ago today — Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse!

The magic of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway has rolled into McDonald’s®! Just in time for their birthday celebration, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse have inspired a brand-new line of Happy Meal® toys at McDonald’s, bringing Mouse Rules to the iconic Golden Arches. This means there’s only one rule you need to remember: Anything can happen! 

This new collection features Mickey and Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Donald and Daisy experiencing some of the iconic attractions from across Walt Disney World Resort. Anchored by Engineer Goofy and Mickey and Minnie celebrating Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, these toys connect together to form a 10-car train. Each one also has a unique function to make the character move as it rolls, so as the attraction’s soundtrack says, nothing can stop us now from having fun!

And plans are on track to open Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in 2021.  Based on Disney and Pixar’s hit film, “Ratatouille,” this family-friendly attraction will invite you to shrink down to the scale of a rat for a culinary adventure with Chef Remy. During each adventure, you’ll race across Gusteau’s kitchen floor aboard special trackless ride vehicles in a thrilling 3D chase. 

In a galaxy far, far away, progress continues at Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, where guests will live aboard a starship for a 2-day, 2-night experience. Unlike any typical cruise, though, you can become the heroes of your own Star Wars story in a new type of immersive experience that only Disney could create.

Guests will cruise the galaxy in style aboard the Halcyon, known for its impeccable service and exotic destinations. Onboard, you’ll stay in well-appointed cabins, experience onboard dining, make a planet-side excursion to Black Spire Outpost on Batuu and much more.