Update for November 12 – 18, 2013
Go directly to: News & Views | Join our Networks | Resort Events | Refurbishments and Attraction Closures | Discounts and Promotions | Comments
News and Views
Record-setting Wine & Dine | Holidays are here | Jingle Cruising | New Norway exhibit draws from Iowa museum | Team Disney to close | Construction Update |Quick takes | Crowd update
Wined, dined, and run
The fourth edition of the runDisney Wine & Dine Half Marathon was capped off by a pair of record-setting wins. Justin Scheid (27) of Sparta, New Jersey, won the men's division in a time of 1:11:47, beating the previous record by 90 seconds. Kristen Tenaglia (29) of Seminole, Florida, won the women's division with a time of 1:23:37, nearly three minutes faster than the previous record.
The Wine & Dine Half Marathon is the final race of the 2013 runDisney season. Congratulations to all of those who crossed the finish line! If you participated in the event over the weekend, be sure to share your thoughts on our Team MousePlanet forum.
Holiday time has begun
The first bits of holiday decorations have started popping up around the resort.
Soldiers stand at attention in front of a garland-laden Main Street. Photo by Jeff Kober.
Garlands have been strung along the eaves of Bonjour Gifts. Photo by Jeff Kober.
Gaston uses antlers in all of his decorating, even wreaths. Photo by Jeff Kober.
So many puns, so little time
The “Jingle Cruise” has opened at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, one of the few holiday overlays that has made it to the Florida park. In addition to holiday props, the skippers have a special ride script and holiday jokes all ready for your riding enjoyment.
The overlay will last into early January.
Just swap out the u for an i, and voila! Photo by Jeff Kober.
Even the boats have new holiday-themed names; here's “Eggnog Annie.” Photo by Jeff Kober.
Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix rode the Disneyland version and has a full ride-through video. We'll be recording the Magic Kingdom version later this week, and should have it in the next update.
The holiday-themed Jingle Cruise ride-through. Video by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix..
Have you ridden the Jingle Cruise? Share your experience on our message board.
Norwegian artifacts headed to Epcot
Artifacts from the Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, Iowa, are headed to Epcot to become part of the “Norsk Kultur, Inspiration for Disney's Frozen” exhibit in the Norway pavilion as part of the changes in advance of the release of the film.
The Vesterheim Museum celebrates Norwegian-American heritage and culture and is loaning several items from its collection, including a fiddle, silver brooches, a carved chair, a loom, and examples of decorative painting. For more details, read the full story in the Decorah Newspapers.
Team Mickey store to close in 2014
The sports-themed Team Mickey store in Downtown Disney is set to close in 2014, and will be replaced by a new concept shop containing a variety of merchants. The new shop to be called The Marketplace Co Op, will sell a wide variety of items, including makeup, clothing, home goods, and vintage sportswear. The Disney Parks Blog has the full details of the merchants. There is no information on where the merchandise that was sold at Team Mickey will go, but a likely spot is the Wide World of Sports gift shops.
Construction Update
Take a quick trip with us around the resort to check on construction progress:
The Magic Kingdom bus stop extension is receiving its finishing touches. Photo by Jeff Kober.
Signs for the new bus stops are in place. Photo by Jeff Kober.
The loading and unloading structure for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is nearing completion. Photo by Jeff Kober.
The large empty space vacated by Dumbo's move to Storybook Circus is finally being filled in somewhat. Pinocchio's Village Haus appears to be getting an outdoor seating area. Photo by Jeff Kober.
Quick takes…
…It's possible that this is the last year for the hanging garlands on Main Street during the holiday season, at least for the foreseeable future. The new parade vehicles for 2014 are reportedly too tall to pass under the garlands, so enjoy them this year while you can.
…Sleepy Hollow Refreshments may be getting a special holiday waffle soon, perhaps gingerbread. Whatever it is, it's bound to be good.
…Is it possible that Aunt Polly's on Tom Sawyer Island could reopen this Thanksgiving? @SpencerParks posted that statement to Twitter, and it has fans of the long-shuttered establishment very excited.
…Santa begins greeting guests at Downtown Disney between the World of Disney store and Basin beginning November 15.
…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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Crowd Forecast
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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
- Holiday Time at Walt Disney World
- Osbourne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights
- Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party – November 14, 15, 17, 21, 22; December 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20.
- 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
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 – 55%
- January 9–11: Pasta Party in the Park – 51%
- 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 – 52%
- February 21–22: runDisney Kids' Races – 54%
- 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.
- “it's a small world” – closed December 1–12 for refurbishment.
- Splash Mountain – closed January 6, 2014 through March 22, 2014 for refurbishment.
Epcot
- No known refurbishments.
Disney's Hollywood Studios
- Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Playground – closed through November 19 for refurbishment.
- Lights, Motors, Action stunt show – closed November 18–22 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.
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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 November 15 for installation of gates and fence.
Water Parks
- Typhoon Lagoon – closed 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.
- Downtown Disney Wetzels Pretzels – closed for refurbishment.
- Cirque du Soleil La Nouba – performs Tuesdays through Saturdays. Will not be performed on the following 2013 dates: November 5–6
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 percent 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 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. |
