Update for October 15 – 21, 2013
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News and Views
Animal Kingdom expansion artwork revealed | Cast members allegedly assaulted by drunken man at Epcot | DAS debuts | New running store coming to Downtown Disney | Palo price increase | What's up with Meetups? | Quick takes | Crowd update
Animal Kingdom expansion concept art released
Disney Parks & Resorts has finally released concept art and video revealing details of the upcoming Avatar-themed expansion at the Animal Kingdom. The images and video shown at the D23 Expo in Japan provide specific details related to attractions that will be part of Avatar's Pandora brought to life. A boat ride will take visitors through the nighttime world of Pandora's bioluminescent forest. Another attraction will allow visitors to “discover what it feels like to soar into the sky riding a banshee.”
More interesting to me than the Avatar artwork is the announcement that there will be new entertainment as part of the expansion, including a nighttime event that will make use of the long-neglected Discovery River. The as-yet unnamed nighttime entertainment will feature live music, lanterns, and water screens. Adding nightly entertainment will extend the time that visitors will spend at Animal Kingdom into the evening hours beyond the time when most would have departed.
Nighttime entertainment at Animal Kingdom will take place on the Discovery River. Image by Disney.
Drunk man arrested for alleged assault of three cast members
As reported by the Orlando Sentinel, Austin DeVan Hill of Pensacola, Florida, was arrested and charged with the assault of three cast members on Saturday. Hill allegedly gained entry into a backstage area of East Innoventions while intoxicated, and when three different cast members tried to prevent him from further entry, he assaulted them with fists and a plastic pipe.
Drunken behavior is always a concern where alcohol is served, but it can take an uptick during the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, as people attempt to drink their way around the kiosks, often making shirts to show off their exploits.
Disability Access Service debuts at Walt Disney World
The new Disability Access Service (DAS) went into effect at Disneyland and Walt Disney World this past Wednesday. The new system replaces the old Guest Assistance Cards that were issued to people with a declared need, creating a system ripe for abuse.
Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix visited the Disneyland Resort this week to check on the new program, and shared the information in yesterday's Disneyland Park Update. Because this program has differing levels of accommodation, she categorized guests into two categories: those who are eligible for a DAS under the new program, and those with disabilities who should not require a DAS to obtain access. There are certainly degrees and grey areas, but the majority of visitors with disabilities should initially fall into one of these two groups:
Category 1: DAS cardholders
DAS cards are issued at Guest Relations inside each park. The guest and cast member discuss each person's specific limitations and needs. If the cast member determines that a DAS card is the appropriate accommodation, the guest is photographed, the cast member prints the pass (with the guest's photo on the pass), and asks the guest to sign the terms and conditions.
After receiving the pass, visitors take it to a greeter at the attraction and request a return time for any attraction in either park. The cast member issues a return time equal to the current stand-by wait time, minus 10 to 15 minutes (for example, 45 to 50 minutes if the stand-by time is 60 minutes). While waiting for their return time, guests using a DAS can obtain a traditional Fastpass from another attraction, ride another attraction with a short line, shop, eat, watch a show, or just wait near the attraction.
At the requested ride, a cast member verifies the return time and that the DAS cardholder is present, then admits the cardholder's party to either the Fastpass return line (if present) or the alternate entrance (where used). While return times are flexible and cardholders need not return exactly when stated, they cannot obtain another return time until they have either ridden or decided to skip the previously assigned attraction.
After riding, cardholders (or another member of their party) select the next attraction and receive a new return time. If a ride has a stand-by line of less than 10 minutes, there is no need to get a return time, which makes using a wait time app (Disney or unofficial) really useful. As stated before, guests using the DAS can also use the traditional Fastpass system where offered—in effect, “double-dipping.”
Category 2: Access without a DAS card
As at Disneyland, certain attractions in the Magic Kingdom were built before the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, meaning they don't offer wheelchair-accessible queues. Where this is the case, wheelchair users will obtain a return time card from the greeter, similar to those used for DAS cardholders. Where queues are wheelchair-accessible, users must wait in the standby line or obtain a Fastpass for the attraction.
Blogger Temporary Tourist shared her experience using the new DAS system at the Magic Kingdom recently. This system is new, and still evolving, so individual implementation may vary as the process evolves. We encourage anyone with personal experience from a visit to the Walt Disney Resort to share your observations of how DAS is administered on our MousePad discussion forum so others who are planning trips have an idea of what to expect.
FIt2Run store coming to Downtown Disney
For those who enjoy runDisney events, this store is a match made in heaven. Fit2Run is a Florida chain of running stores that offers many in-store events like yoga classes, fun runs, and opportunities to test out merchandise. Right now there haven't been any details released about what types of events the West Side store will host. Fit2Run also has a for-fee discount program available through their website ($30 per year). It will be nice to have an on-property option to pick up any last-minute or missing running items for a runDisney race without needing a car.
Disney Cruise Line: Palo Pricing increase
For the first time since October 2010, Disney Cruise Line is increasing the price to dine at Palo, the adults-only restaurant on board all of its fleet. Starting on Thursday, October 3, 2013 on the Disney Dream and Saturday, October 5, 2013 on the Disney Wonder and Disney Fantasy, the price for brunch and dinner increases from $20 to $25. The new pricing takes effect on the Disney Magic starting on October 20, 2013. Disney Cruise Line is honoring the old pricing of $20 for any guests who pre-booked for Palo online.
What's up with meetups?
Late last week, the Disney Parks Blog shared information for fans to sign up for an Imagineer-led tour of the Magic Kingdom castles this week. Those sign-ups are now closed. We shared the information on our Facebook page as soon as we could after hearing about it. These events are generally hosted by Disneyland's social media team, and are announced via its social media channels (including the Disney Parks Blog, Twitter, and Facebook). Sites like MousePlanet are not given advanced notice when an event is about to be announced, since Disney prefers that you visit the Disney Parks Blog regularly and follow all of its social media networks for official announcements and news. That means if you want to know about upcoming Disney Parks meet-ups, you should make sure to “follow” and “like” the various official Disney accounts.
Registration now open for MouseAdventure World Explorers
Join us on November 16 and 17 for an exploration of Walt Disney World like no other. Our fifth Florida MouseAdventure event takes players all around Walt Disney World in a two-day challenge that is sure to make you see WDW in a whole new light.
Registration for our two-day MouseAdventure World Explorers event in Walt Disney World is now open online at MouseAdventure.com.
Pricing for this two-day event is $175 for a team of at least two players up to a maximum of four players. Registration does not include park admission (park hopper admission is required; water park admission is not).
The Coast to Coast Challenge
Every team that participated in the Spring 2013 MouseAdventure event in Disneyland and plays in MouseAdventure World Explorers V in Florida, will receive a special recognition of their dedication.
And, for the true competitors, there will be a special prize awarded to the team with the highest combined score for the Spring 2013 MouseAdventure Musical event at Disneyland and MouseAdventure World Explorers V in Florida. This prize will be awarded at the resort results meet in Florida.
To participate in this challenge, teams must have a score from the Spring 2013 MouseAdventure Musical event at Disneyland (Basic or Advanced division) and complete the Fall 2013 event in Walt Disney World. The majority of players from the team must participate in both events.
Quick takes…
…Walgreens is carrying a line of Disney Villains makeup, including fake eyelash sets. Check out the images from Disney Consumer Products.
…The Downtown Disney Pleasure Island boat dock is closed until early November to allow construction to proceed on the Pleasure Island bypass bridge.
…Reader Dawn is staying at the Wilderness Lodge Villas and shared this note from the resort slipped under her door: “…the Hidden Springs Pool will be temporarily unavailable beginning Tuesday, October 15. During the hours of 9:00am-5:00pm, you may see or hear work in progress. The Hidden Springs Pool will be unavailable for use until late November.” Those staying at the Villas may use the Silver Creek Springs Pool in the interim. It's believed this closure is part of the larger resort-wide initiative to put gates around the main pools.Thanks for the info, Dawn.
…The MousePlanet Newsletter is here! The newsletter contains a recap of the week's articles (in case you miss a day), news that may have developed since the weekly Updates were published, and tips about what's happening at the Disney theme parks for the coming weekend. We'll also include a fun MouseAdventure bonus, such as an Eye Spy or a trivia question. To subscribe to our free newsletter, just enter your e-mail in the box below.
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We are looking for you!Do you write or blog about Walt Disney World or Disney-related topics? Do you have a Disney-related YouTube channel or independent website? If so, we want to meet you. MousePlanet is looking for established writers to cover new areas of the Disney universe, including the international Parks and Resorts.If you are interested in learning how your blog or site can work with MousePlanet, or you have an idea for a great new column, please contact us—we'd love to hear from you! |
Crowd Forecast
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Advertisement Crowd information and forecasts are provided by TouringPlans.com, the website of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, to help you better plan your trip to the Walt Disney World Resort. TouringPlans.com gathers wait time data from a team of in-park researchers and users of their Lines mobile phone application, and then predicts crowd levels for the next 365 days. Using a scale from 1 to 10, TouringPlans.com has a 90 percent accuracy of predicting the crowds to within 1 point, helping visitors prepare for their trips so they can “Do more. Wait less.”
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Don't keep it to yourself! Send us your news tips, rumors, and comments. Email Stephanie here.
Talk about these stories and more on our Walt Disney World discussion forum here.
Resort Events
2013
- Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party – October 17, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31; November 1.
- Epcot International Food & Wine Festival – through November 11
- Holiday Time at Walt Disney World – begins November 8
- Opening night for Osbourn Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights – November 8
- Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party – November 8, 11, 14, 15, 17, 21, 22; December 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20.
- Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend – November 8–9
- MouseAdventure World Explorers V – November 16–17. Keep an eye on our MouseAdventure Facebook page, and register for our MouseAdventure Newsletters for more details as they are announced.
- Candlelight Processional – November 29 through December 30. Dining packages on sale now.
- Pop Warner Football – December 6–14. Participants are staying at Disney's All-Star Resorts, Caribbean Beach Resort, Coronado Springs Resort, and Pop Century Resort.
2014
- Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend – January 9–12
- Disney's Princess Half Marathon Weekend – February 21–23
runDisney events and capacity updates
2013
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Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend – November 8–9.
- November 8 (p.m.): Wine & Dine Pre-race Taste – 95%
- November 9 (a.m.): runDisney Kids' Races – 62%
- November 9 (a.m.): Mickey's Jingle Jungle 5K – Sold Out
- November 9 (p.m.): Wine & Dine Half Marathon – Sold Out
- November 9 (p.m.): Finish Line Party – Sold Out
2014
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Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend – January 9–12.
- January 9: Family Fun Run 5K – Sold Out
- January 10: 10K – Sold Out
- January 11: Half Marathon – Sold Out
- January 12: Marathon – Sold Out
- January 11-12: Goofy Challenge (half and full) – Sold Out
- January 9–11: runDisney Kids' Races – 53%
- January 9–11: Pasta Party in the Park – 51%
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January 9–12: Dopey Challenge (5K, 10K, half, and full) – Sold Out
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Disney's Princess Half-Marathon Weekend – February 21–23.
- February 21: Disney Royal Family 5k – 50%
- February 21–22: runDisney Kids' Races – 50%
- February 22: Enchanted 10k – Sold Out
- February 23: Disney's Princess Half Marathon – Sold Out
- February 22–23: Glass Slipper Challenge (Enchanted 10k and Disney's Princess Half Marathon) – Sold Out
Do you participate in (or are considering signing up for) runDisney events? Visit our Team MousePlanet forum on the MousePad discussion board, where you can join our community of health-minded readers and staff.
Refurbishments and Attraction Closures
Magic Kingdom
- Peter Pan – closed through November 13 for refurbishment.
- Walt Disney World Railroad – closed through November 20 for refurbishment.
- “it's a small world” – closed December 1–12 for refurbishment.
- Splash Mountain – closed January 6, 2014 through March 22, 2014 for refurbishment.
Epcot
- Puffin's Roost shop in Norway partially closed for conversion to Frozen meet-and-greet. Set to reopen in early November.
Disney's Hollywood Studios
- Disney Hollywood Studios closes at 6:00 p.m. on October 26 for a private event.
- Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Playground – closed through November 19 for refurbishment.
- Lights, Motors, Action stunt show – closed November 18–21 for refurbishment.
- Studio Backlot Tour – closed January 5 through March 1, 2014 for refurbishment.
- Both parades (Disney Channel Rocks and Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun Parade) have ended their run. No new parades have been announced.
Animal Kingdom
- No known refurbishments.
- Festival of the Lion King scheduled to move to a new theater—currently under construction—sometime in 2014. No dates have been announced.
Resorts
As reported in July, some refrigerators in non-Disney Vacation Club rooms at Walt Disney World are being replaced due to a product defect. All Walt Disney World Resort rooms with the exception of DVC Villas, the family suites at the Art of Animation and All-Star Movie resorts, and the cabins at Fort Wilderness are impacted. Disney says “the schedule for replacing the refrigerators at these Resorts is expected to last several months.”
In the interim, if you have a reservation at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel and need a refrigerator for medical reasons,we recommend contacting your resort directly to inquire about availability during your trip. The hotel should be able to arrange for one if your room does not yet have a new refrigerator, but supplies may be limited while they work to replace all of the malfunctioning units. Remember, Value resorts do not include in-room refrigerators.
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All-Star Sports
- Arcade closed for conversion into a temporary grab-and-go food location. Expected to reopen in December.
- Food court closed through mid-December for refurbishment. During this time, snacks and drinks will be available from a grab-and-go location in the former arcade. Hot food will be available from the All-Star Music Food Court, and Disney will offer bus service between the resorts.
- Polynesian – Access to the east portion of the Polynesian Beach (closest to the Transportation and Ticket Center), as well as Sunset Point will be unavailable due to a scheduled refurbishment. Some rooms in certain room categories in impacted buildings have been taken off the market during the renovation period. No completion date given at this time.
- Wilderness Lodge Villas – Hidden Springs Pool closed until late November for installation of gates and fence.
Water Parks
- Typhoon Lagoon – closed October 27 through December 21, 2013 for refurbishment.
- Blizzard Beach – closed December 23, 2013 through March 15, 2014 for refurbishment.
Elsewhere
- Disney Palm Golf Course – closed through mid-November for refurbishment.
- Disney Osprey Ridge Golf Course – permanently closed to play.
- Downtown Disney Lots H, I, J, and K (in Westside area) closed until further notice for Disney Springs construction.
- Cirque du Soleil La Nouba – performs Tuesdays through Saturdays. Will not be performed on the following 2013 dates: November 5–6
- Cap'n Jack's Marina (boat rental location) at Downtown Disney closes permanently after October 19.
Current Discounts & Promotions
Note: MousePlanet does not edit past Updates to reflect price increases; for up-to-date prices, check the most recent Walt Disney World Resort Update. For your convenience, we have grouped the discount offers based on the intended audience. Check out the category that best matches you, and pick the offer that works best for you. And keep those tips coming—let us know if you find a better or different offer, so we can share it with other readers!
Discounts for Everyone |
Room Discounts Through December 23 A discount of up to 30% off regular room rates is available at select resorts for most nights from November 10 through November 22 and November 30 through December 23. Advance reservations required. As with all discounts, rooms available at these rates are limited, and minimum length-of-stay requirements may apply for Friday or Saturday arrivals. No group rates or other discounts apply. Campsites, three-bedroom Grand Villas, and standard rooms at Disney's Art of Animation Resort are not included. Discounts vary by accommodation type and date, and availability varies by date. Moderate and Deluxe Resort suites may be available at a lower discount – check with your travel agent. Full details on the offer website. Book by November 3 for reservations from November 10 through November 22 and November 30 through December 23. You can make your reservation through the Walt Disney World Passholder website or by calling (407) 939-7926 or your favorite travel agent. MousePlanet's preferred Disney travel providers are MouseEarVacations.com (link), Small World Vacations (link) and Get Away Today (link).
Save up to 35% on Walt Disney World resort rooms January 5, 2014 through April 12, 2014 Special rates for resort hotels (excluding Art of Animation Little Mermaid rooms, Fort Wilderness campsites, the Villas at Grand Floridian, and 3-bedroom villas). Book through December 31. Advanced booking required. Use booking code JHO. Discounts include:
Additional details are available on our MousePad forum. PhotoPass+ pre-arrival discount Disney's PhotoPass service provides a discount on Disney PhotoPass+ pre-arrival packages. For $149.95 plus tax, Walt Disney World guests receive a voucher to exchange for a PhotoPass+ card upon arrival at the resort, a Photo Gallery CD with more than 400 stock photos ($39.95 value), a unique code to create and order a photo CD upon return from their trip ($169.95 value), print packages at select dining locations ($29.95 value each), and digital photos from select attractions ($14.95 value each). Applicable taxes are charged to all orders. This special offer is only available from this link or by calling the Guest Support line at (407) 560-4300 before you arrive at Walt Disney World Resort. All sales are final, and not eligible for an exchange or refund. The package might take as long as 14 days to arrive, and you must bring your voucher from the package to redeem it, so make sure that you order far enough in advance to allow your materials to arrive. Attractions currently participating in the program are Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Expedition Everest, and Dinosaur. Current participating restaurants are 1900 Park Fare, 'Ohana, Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show, Chef Mickey's, Cinderella's Royal Table, Tusker House Restaurant, Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue, and Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall. |
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Discounts for Annual Passholders |
Save up to 35% on Walt Disney World resort rooms through November 22 and November 30 to December 24 Florida resident rates for resort hotels (excluding Art of Animation Little Mermaid rooms, Fort Wilderness campsites, the Villas at Grand Floridian, and 3-bedroom villas). Book through December 14. Discounts include:
Read full details here (passholder login required). Up to 35% off Tickets to Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba Passholders can purchase $69 (plus tax) Category 2 tickets or $79 (plus tax) Category 1 tickets for Tuesday to Saturday performances on the following dates:
Passholders may purchase tickets for themselves and up to 3 guests. Advanced purchase required. A current, valid annual pass must be presented at the box office to receive the discount when picking up tickets. To purchase tickets, call (407) 939-7328. |
Discounts for Disney Rewards VISA & Debit Card Holders |
20% off food at Paradiso-37 in Downtown Disney through October 31 Disney Visa cardholders receive 20% off food purchases when you pay with a Disney's Visa Card and/or Disney Rewards Redemption Card until October 31, 2013. Cardmembers must bring a printed coupon (available at the Disney Rewards site) to be eligible for the discount. Discount applies to food only. 20% off select guided tours Disney Visa cardholders receive 20% off the non-discounted price of selected guided tours for up to 10 people. The cardholder must participate in the tour, and pay with a Disney's Visa Card and/or Disney Rewards Redemption Card. Tours included:
10% off select restaurants Disney Visa cardholders receive 10% off the check when you pay with a Disney's Visa Card and/or Disney Rewards Redemption Card (be sure to request the discount). Discount excludes alcohol.
10% off merchandise Disney Visa cardholders receive 10% off at participating Disney-owned retail location when you spend a minimum of $50 and pay with a Disney's Visa Card and/or Disney Rewards Redemption Card (be sure to request the discount). Read all of the restrictions on the Disney Visa website. Free 5×7 character photo at a private meet and greet location at Epcot Present your Disney's Premier Visa Card or Disney Rewards Visa Card for access to a private character meet and greet at Epcot for the cardholder and up to 5 guests. The event is hosted daily from 1pm – 7pm inside Innoventions West at Epcot. You'll recieve one free 5 x 7 character photo per day. |
Discounts for Florida Residents |
Save up to 35% on Walt Disney World resort rooms through November 22 and November 30 to December 24 Florida resident rates for resort hotels (excluding Art of Animation Little Mermaid rooms, Fort Wilderness campsites, the Villas at Grand Floridian, and 3-bedroom villas). Book through December 14. Discounts include:
Read full details here. |
Discounts for U.K. Residents |
2014 Free Dining offer for U.K. residents 2014 Free Dining offers for U.K. residents have been released. From the information posted on the Virgin Holidays website, it appears the 2014 program offers free Quick Service Dining Plan plan when booking at a Moderate resort, and free Dining Plan when booking at Deluxe resorts, Old Key West or Saratoga Springs. There are also offers for a free $200 Disney Gift Card and/or a 14-day ticket for the price of a 7-day ticket depending on travel dates. These particular offers are valid for U.K. residents only. |
