Update for December 2 – December 9, 2013
Go directly to: News & Views | Join our Networks | Resort Events | Refurbishments and Attraction Closures | Discounts and Promotions | Comments
News and Views
New MyMagic+ planning tool | Christmas Parade filming this weekend | Changes to rebooking policy on Disney Cruise Line | Merchandise Roundup | Construction Update | Quick takes | Crowd update
New MyMagic+ planning tool
Visitors to Walt Disney World have begun to receive a new item in the mail in advance of their visit: a memory stick shaped like the new turnstile-free entry points at the theme parks. The memory stick lights up when inserted into a USB port, and comes pre-loaded with links to videos featuring the Incredibles. The videos explain MyMagic+, Fastpass+, and other features of the new Magic Band system. Have you received one of these packages? Share your experiences on our MousePad forum.
The new MyMagic+ memory stick lights up when plugged into a computer. Photo by Steve Russo.
Christmas Parade filming this weekend
The annual Christmas parade filming at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom will take place this Friday and Saturday, December 6 and 7. The castle performance segments will be filmed on Friday. Tickets have been distributed for the filming, with instructions for attendees to arrive by 7:30 a.m. each day. Day guests may view the filming from select areas.
The filming will affect the entertainment schedule at the Magic Kingdom for those two days:
- Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It!, the Main Street Trolley show, and the flag retreat will not take place on either day.
- The Dream Along with Mickey castle show will not be performed on Friday. Performances on Saturday, December 7 will be at 5:40, 7, and 8 p.m.
- Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom locations on Main Street will not operate on Saturday, December 7.
- The Celebrate a Dream Come True parade will start from Frontierland at 5 p.m. on both days.
Changes to rebooking policy on Disney Cruise Line
In the past, guests on Disney Cruise Line sailings could book a “place holder” cruise for a future sailing to secure discounts and preferred pricing while still at sea, and then move it out to future dates without any penalties. However, beginning November 12, 2013, all new onboard bookings have to complete travel within 18 months from the date booked in order to maintain the onboard booking benefits. Anyone who has already booked onboard will have an additional 6 months to complete their travel.
The changes to the rebooking policy mean that existing cruise reservations must be completed prior to November 30, 2015 to keep the onboard booking benefits. Anyone who is unable to sail within 24 months will have any current onboard booking benefits removed from their reservation.
It's possible that this change will greatly affect place holder bookings onboard cruises, and may result in a rash of cancellations of existing reservations. Discuss these changes on our MousePad message board.
Merchandise Roundup
Here are a few new merchandise items that have shown up around the Walt Disney World resort.
This holiday Vinylmation set can be made into ornaments to hang on a Christmas tree. Photo by Stephanie Wien.
Mickey and Minnie Mouse are all ready for the pond to freeze over in this holiday Vinylmation set. Photo by Stephanie Wien.
This embroidered bowling-style collared shirt features Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Photo by Stephanie Wien.
New shirts in the German pavilion at Epcot include classic characters, including this shirt featuring Goofy. Photo by Stephanie Wien.
Stores have out special holiday treats, including these traditional Christmas items in the German pavilion. Photo by Stephanie Wien.
Magnets in the shape of popular Disney food items are now available. The selection includes those pictured as well as a Mickey waffle. Photo by Stephanie Wien.
Construction Update
Take a quick trip with us around the resort to check on construction progress:
The new theater for Festival of the Lion King is visible behind the Dawa Bar in Animal Kingdom. Photo by Jeff Kober.
The height of the new theater appears taller than the previous theater, and a new retaining wall has been built on the riverbank. Photo by Jeff Kober.
Additional construction continues along the river toward the location of the future Avatar Land area. Photo by Jeff Kober.
The new food trucks in Downtown Disney are themed to the four theme parks. This truck is the Hollywood Studios version. Photo by Jeff Kober.
The Namaste Cafe truck serves food similar to that offered at Sanaa in the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Photo by Jeff Kober.
Disney Quest has received a fresh coating of paint that receives dramatic lighting at night. Photo by Jeff Kober.
Quick takes…
…Correction: the new coffee location near Toy Story Mania is a Joffrey's Coffee kiosk, conveniently located for the early-morning gate crashers eager to hit the attraction first thing.
…New early 2014 hotel discounts are now available for booking. See the discounts section below for more details.
…With the beginning of Holidays Around the World at Epcot, the World Showcase will now be open until 9:30 p.m. each night, with Illuminations beginning at 9:30 nightly instead of 9 p.m.
…The Arabian Nights dinner show in Kissimmee will have its last performance on December 31 after 25 years. The show's remaining performances will be offered at a discount.
…The passageway connecting New Fantasyland and Storybook Circus near the Little Mermaid attraction will be closed from December 2-6, 2013.
Question of the week
MousePlanet reader MommyTo3Boys1Girl is planning a trip to Walt Disney World in the spring next year and would like to know when would be the best time to visit? Have you vacationed at Walt Disney World in the spring? Share your thoughts and experiences on our MousePad discussion forum.
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.
 |
 |
 |
|
|
||
|
|
||
 |
|
 |
|
|
||
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
|
Advertisement “Do more. Wait less.”
|
Join our networks |
|||
|
|
||
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 Very Merry Christmas Party – December 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20.
- Candlelight Processional – 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.
- Holiday Time at Walt Disney World – through January 5, 2014
- Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights – through January 5, 2014
2014
- Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend – January 9–12
- Disney's Princess Half Marathon Weekend – February 21–23
runDisney events and capacity updates
2014
-
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 – 66%
- January 9–11: Pasta Party in the Park – 56%
- January 9–12: Dopey Challenge (5K, 10K, half, and full) – Sold Out
-
Disney's Princess Half-Marathon Weekend – February 21–23.
- February 21: Disney Royal Family 5k – 58%
- February 21–22: runDisney Kids' Races – 60%
- 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
- “it's a small world” – closed December 2–12 for refurbishment.
- Splash Mountain – closed January 6 through March 22, 2014 for refurbishment.
- Casey's Corner – closed January 6 through February 15, 2014 for refurbishment.
- Magic Carpets of Aladdin – closed January 13–30, 2014 for refurbishment.
- Liberty Belle Riverboat – closed January 21–30, 2014 for refurbishment.
- The Barnstormer – closed February 3–5, 2014 for refurbishment.
- Tomorrowland Transit Authority – closed February 10 through March 27, 2014 for refurbishment.
- Pinocchio Village Haus – closed February 17 through March 30, 2014 for refurbishment.
- The Plaza Restaurant – closed February 17 through March 15, 2014 for refurbishment.
Epcot
- No known refurbishments at this time.
Disney's Hollywood Studios
- Studio Backlot Tour – closed January 5 through March 1, 2014 for refurbishment.
- AFI Showcase – closed January 5 through March 1, 2014 for refurbishment.
Disney's Animal Kingdom
- Kali River Rapids – closed December 2–13, 2013 for refurbishment.
- Festival of the Lion King scheduled to close on January 5, 2014 for move to a new theater—currently under construction. Estimated to be dark for six months.
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.
-
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.
- Grand Slam Pool – closed December 11-13, 2013 for refurbishment.
- Surf's Up Pool – closed January 6-24, 2014 for refurbishment.
- All-Star Movies – Fantasia Pool closed December 3-5, 2013 for refurbishment.
- Pop Century – Hippy Dippy Pool closed December 9-11 for refurbishment.
-
Polynesian
- Never Land Club Children's Activity Center – closed for refurbishment January 1-April 1, 2014.
- Access to the east portion of the Polynesian Beach (closest to the Transportation and Ticket Center), as well as Sunset Point will be unavailable until December 2013 due to a scheduled refurbishment. Some rooms in certain room categories in impacted buildings have been taken off the market during the renovation period.
- Port Orleans French Quarter – Doubloon Lagoon Pool closed January 13-February 28, 2014 for refurbishment. Transportation will be provided for guests to use the Ol' Man Island pool at Port Orleans Riverside during this period.
- Port Orleans Riverside – Magnolia Bend Building 80-85 pool deck closed January 20-21, 2014 for refurbishment.
- Saratoga Springs – Congress Park Pool closed January 22-23, 2014 for refurbishment.
Water Parks
- Typhoon Lagoon – closed through December 21, 2013 for refurbishment.
- Blizzard Beach – closed January 6-March 17, 2014 for refurbishment.
Elsewhere
- Disney Palm Golf Course – closed through December 15 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.
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 from January 5 to March 5, 2014 and March 14 through April 12, 2014 A discount of up to 35 percent off regular room rates is available at select resorts for most nights from January 5 to April 12. Advance reservations required; book before December 31. 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. You can make your reservation through the Walt Disney World 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 30% on Walt Disney World resort rooms March 6, 2014 through March 13, 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. Full details on the offer website. Discounts include:
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. |
|---|---|
Discounts for Annual Passholders |
Save up to 35% on Walt Disney World resort rooms from 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 from 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. |
