Update for October 6 – 13, 2014
Go directly to: News & Views | Join our Networks | Resort Events | Refurbishments and Attraction Closures | Discounts and Promotions
News and Views
New Frozen Holiday Premium Package available at Disney's Hollywood Studios | New signs at Walt Disney World Parks posted to clarify park policies | Disney announces new celebrity narrators for Epcot's 2014 Candlelight Processional | Disney marries technology and culinary for new wedding cake option | Flying Fish Cafe serving breakfast for a limited time | Newspaper reports Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show coming to Epcot | Disney's Animal Kingdom Sunrise Safari ending | Walt Disney World merchandise update | Quick takes | Question of the Week | Crowd update
New Frozen Holiday Premium Package available at Disney's Hollywood Studios
Just days after Disney's Hollywood Studios wrapped up its Frozen Summer Fun promotion, park officials announced a new premium package for fans during the holiday season.
Disney's Hollywood Studios offers its Frozen Holiday Premium Package November 7 through 19, November 21 through December 9, and December 11 through January 4, 2015. The new VIP package gives fans exclusive opportunities throughout their day at the park, including:
- Reserved seating for a performance of “For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
- Reserved viewing for the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights
- A Frozen-themed dessert party with special Anna and Elsa cupcakes and other sweets
- A holiday-themed lithograph
- A Frozen pin
Tickets for this VIP experience costs $89 (plus tax) per adult, and $59 (plus tax) per child ages 3–9. These prices include gratuity.
To make a reservation, call (407) 939-1854.
New signs at Walt Disney World Parks clarify park policies
Last week, Disney announced that new signs are going up across all of its theme parks to make rules clearer and more consistent at its parks worldwide. Disney provided this summary about the signage:
- What is on the signs? The update includes the parks’ existing stance prohibiting weapons, allowing e-cigarettes in designated smoking areas only, the rules regarding inappropriate attire (including objectionable tattoos), and the requirement of adult supervision for children younger than 14 at the theme parks. The updates do not change prior Disney theme park rules, but rather reflect existing rules in a more clear and consistent manner that is easier for Guests to find and accessible to Guests at theme parks.
- What will happen to someone who violates any of these park rules? Our goal is for all Guests to have a safe and enjoyable experience in Disney Parks, and whenever possible, we will attempt to guide Guests and help them adhere to these rules. However, we reserve the right to deny admission, or to require a person to leave a park, without refund, liability or compensation, if the circumstances so require.
- Will Guests be allowed to smoke e-cigarettes on Disney property? For the safety and comfort of our Guests, smoking is allowed in designated smoking locations only; this includes traditional cigarettes as well as e-cigarettes.
Disney also made the rules easier to find on its official website. For a comprehensive review of these updates, visit the official Walt Disney World rules website.
Disney announces new celebrity narrators for Epcot's 2014 Candlelight Processional
Disney officials confirmed the addition of Jonathan Groff (Kristoff from Frozen) and actor Joe Morton (of the TV show Scandal) to the list of celebrity narrators for Epcot's 2014 Candlelight Processional. The annual event, held this year from November 28 through December 30 at the American Gardens Theater in World Showcase, features a live reading of the Christmas story accompanied by a live orchestra and choir.
While a few spots still need to be filled, the current confirmed narrator list includes:
- Jodi Benson – November 28–29
- Neil Patrick Harris – November 30 – December 2
- Jonathan Groff – December 3–4
- Whoopi Goldberg – December 5–6
- TBD – December 7–9
- TBD – December 9–11
- Joe Morton – December 12–14
- Chita Rivera – December 15–17
- Ana Gasteyer – December 18–20
- Marlee Matlin – December 21–23
- Isabella Rossellini – December 24–25
- Blair Underwood – December 26–27
- Steven Curtis Chapman – December 28–30
The narrator list could change without notice, so keep checking the event's official website for updates.
The Candlelight Processional has three performances everyday: 5:15 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 8:15 p.m. Visitors do not require event tickets to see the Candlelight Processional, but due to the event's popularity, the lines waiting to get into the theater can get long quickly.
Disney marries technology and culinary for new wedding cake option
Disney Fairytale Weddings just got a burst of extra magic as officials announced a new wedding cake that can not only help make memories, but also showcase important moments or reflections of the happy bride and groom.
Wedding cake animation image mapping allows couples to fully customize their wedding cake by having favorite photos, videos, and even inspirational quotes or sayings to be projected onto the cake. The latest wedding offering brings together the elegance of a wedding reception and the technology used to bring special events to life, such as the Magic Kingdom's nightly “Celebrate the Magic” show at Cinderella Castle, where scenes from many popular Walt Disney movies come to life on the castle.
Disney Parks Blog gave readers a look at the newest wedding cake design last week:
Disney Fairytale Weddings introduced animation image mapping options for their wedding cakes. Video by Disney Parks Blog.
Flying Fish Cafe serving breakfast for a limited time
Last week, the Flying Fish Cafe at Disney's Boardwalk Resort began serving breakfast, from 7:30 to 11:00. Breakfast fare will include waffles with tiramisu mascarpone, soft polenta with fennel sausage, frittata with roasted red pepper and prosciutto, and more. The restaurant only plans to offer breakfast service through December 7.
The restaurant is now available for booking. Guests will receive a Dining Update in their in-room folder with details about the breakfast offerings at Flying Fish Café and the closure of Kouzzina by Cat Cora. After that time, the information will be included in a newly revised in-room folder.
[Edited to add: Reader Don Jones shared some information he received from his server: “As a note, the Flying Fish breakfast service is actually the old Kouzzina executive chef and servers; they're simply relocating while Kouzzina is converted into its new incarnation. It's also an opportunity for them to experiment with what will become the new location's breakfast menu.”]
Newspaper reports Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show coming to Epcot
Last week,Dewayne Bevil of the Orlando Sentinel reported that the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show makes its debut as Epcot's newest live act beginning the week of October. 5.
The report originated from Facebook post on the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show page last week, which said: “It can now be announced and it is official, we have a year-round permanent lumberjack show at Walt Disney World Epcot.”
Sometime later, someone removed the post from the Facebook page, and Disney did not officially make a statement about this announcement.
This new show, if it does come to Epcot, would replace Off Kilter in World Showcase pavilion near the Canada pavilion.
No other confirmation has been released, but the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show Facebook page put up a new post on October 4 that simply stated: “Big night tonight!”
Stay tuned for updates.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Sunrise Safari bookings for DVC Members ends October 19
[Edited: this item originally incorrectly reported that the Safari would end on October 19]
Reservations for Disney's Animal Kingdom Sunrise Safari cannot be made by Disney Vacation Club members past October 19.
The Sunrise Safari can still be booked by guests who are staying in the concierge level at Animal Kingdom Lodge until December 29, after which the tour will no longer be offered. There are no details at this time on any planned replacement.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Sunrise Safari takes guests on an early-morning ride through the park's savannah to get the first glimpse of the animals, before the park officially opens for the day. Guests can take their time snapping photos and looking at the wildlife in a quiet and uncrowded environment. Once the safari ends, guests then head to a private room in Pizzafari for an exclusive breakfast where chefs come out to discuss the menu and make any special dietary accommodations necessary for guests.
Tickets for the Sunrise Safari cost $80 for adults and $45 for children ages 3 through 9 (tax not included).
Qualified visitors can still make reservations by calling (407) 938-4755.
Walt Disney World merchandise update
Now that we've turned the calendar to October, it seems only fitting to talk about some of the latest “spooky” merchandise offered by the Walt Disney World Resort:
- Haunted Mansion fans, pay attention! Through October 12, you can purchase an attraction poster T-shirt. Check out the designs on the Disney Parks Blog. Visit the Park Events official website to order the shirts. Allow four to six weeks for delivery. There will also be a special promotion offering two shirts for $40.00 (plus tax). The shirts are normally $24.95 each.
- Disney Floral and Gifts designed a new Not-So-Scary-Halloween Treat Bag that includes a holiday-decorated canvas tote bag, with light-up eyes and glow-in-the-dark letters. Inside the bag sits Mickey Mouse crispy treats, candy from Goofy's Candy Company, and more. Anyone who cannot get to the Magic Kingdom for MIckey's Not So Scary Halloween Party can buy the treat bags online in a variety styles from the Disney Floral and Gifts website.
QuickTakes
…Rikki Niblett from our sponsor TouringPlans.com reported another change in the Walt Disney World Monorail schedule. The current schedule now runs as follows:
- Magic Kingdom Resort Beam – 7:00 a.m. to one hour after the park closes
- Magic Kingdom Express Beam – 8:30 a.m. to one hour after the park closes
- Epcot Beam – 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. or one hour after Magic Kingdom closes, whichever is earlier.
The schedule changes come from continued construction work on the monorail line for operation upgrade.
…Paul Revere, lead singer of Paul Revere and the Raiders, passed away last week at the age of 76. The popular music group from the 1960s had been a regular feature act during the annual Epcot Flower and Garden Show. Neither the band's website nor Revere's family released a cause of death as of this update's publication.
Question of the Week
Mousepad discussion forum member dawz1026 asked a question about drinks in the Walt Disney World theme parks:
Can you bring in your own bottled beverage to parks? I only drink Zero Vitamin Water and was wondering if you can carry into park a bottle or two, or should I buy the flavored drops to enhance water? I know I am high maintenance lol.
Join in the discussion by visiting the MousePad discussion forum to talk about this topic and many other Walt Disney World-related issues.
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Crowd Forecast
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Talk about these stories and more on our Walt Disney World discussion forum here.
Resort Events
2014
- Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party – October 9, 10, 13, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31.
- Epcot International Food and Wine Festival – through November 10.
- Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic – October 31 and November 1. Tickets and packages now on sale.
- Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend – November 7–8.
- Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party – November 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, 20, 21, 30; December 2,4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19
- Destination D: Attraction Rewind – November 22–23. Additional details expected to be released this spring. The event was originally announced for July 26–27, but was rescheduled.
- Richard Petty's Junior Ride-Along Experience – at the Richard Petty's Driving Experience
2015
- Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend – January 7–11, 2015.
- Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend – February 19–22, 2015.
runDisney events
If 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.
2014
- Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend – November 7–8.
2015
- Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend – January 7–11, 2015. Most events sold out.
- Disney Castaway Cay Challenge – January 12, 2015 – sailing on the Disney Dream.
- Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend – February 19–22, 2015. All races are sold out, but some associated events are still available.
For current information on registration dates and capacity, see Lorree Tachell's runDisney Race Capacity Updates in the Team MousePlanet forum on our MousePad discussion board.
Refurbishments and Attraction Closures
Magic Kingdom
- Walt Disney World Railroad Fantasyland Station – closed through November 8 for refurbishment.
- Walt Disney World Railroad Frontierland Station – closed through November 8 for refurbishment.
- Walt Disney World Railroad Main Street U.S.A. Station – closed through November 8 for refurbishment
- The Magic Carpets of Aladdin – closed November 10–21 for refurbishment
- The Haunted Mansion – closed December 1–19 for refurbishment
- Splash Mountain – closed January 4–30, 2015
- Cinderella's Royal Table – closed January 5 through March 6, 2015 for refurbishment.
- Harmony Barber Shop – closed February 2 through March 30, 2015 (dates subject to change).
Disney's Hollywood Studios
- Fantasmic! – closed November 19–21 for refurbishment
Disney's Animal Kingdom
- Affection Section – closed October 7–November 10 for refurbishment
- Sunrise Safari (for DVC members only) – closes permanently on October 19, 2014
- Pangani Forest Exploration Trail – closed through November 25 for refurbishment
- Kali River Rapids – closed January 20-February 4, 2105
Resorts
As previously reported by MousePlanet, 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 Music Resort – refurbishment of its Intermission Food Court is scheduled for reopening on December 21, according to our sponsor TouringPlans.com.
- Polynesian – Never Land Club Children's Activity Center closed for refurbishment through January 1, 2015.
- Polynesian – refurbishment of the lobby ongoing.
- Wilderness Lodge – refurbishment of its Silver Creek Springs Pool from through late November 2014.
Water Parks
- Typhoon Lagoon – the entire park closed October 26 through December 20 for refurbishment.
- Blizzard Beach – the the entire park closed January 4, 2015 through March 3, 2015.
Elsewhere
- 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 Bridge 4 and restrooms on Pleasure Island are temporarily closed for ongoing construction work.
- 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 |
2014 Free Dining offer for general public Sue from Small World Vacations reports the general public can book a free dining package for specific dates. Offer details: 2014 Vacation Dates
Free Quick Service Plan
Free Table Service Dining Plan
Offer Restrictions
Save up to 30 percent with Room Only Discount Visitors can receive up to a 30 percent discount when making a room only reservation at the Walt Disney World Resort on most arrival days through October 3. Offer exclusions include all of Bay Lake Tower, the Grand Floridian & Spa Villas, and the Art of Animation Little Mermaid Rooms. Memory Maker pre-arrival discount Disney's PhotoPass service provides a discount on Disney Memory Maker pre-arrival packages. For $149 plus tax, Walt Disney World guests can digitally download any photos associated with their Memory Maker account, including photos taken on attractions. The advanced purchase price is a $50 savings. Applicable taxes are charged to all orders. Special offer only available from this link, and must be made more than three days prior to arrival at the Walt Disney World Resort. All sales are final, and not eligible for an exchange or refund. |
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Discounts for Annual Passholders |
Rates starting at $79/night on select dates this fall Disney released new fall discounts for annual passholders for the following travel dates: Now through November 25, and November 29 through December 23, 2014. Rates begin at $79 for value resorts (Sunday through Thursday stays) and go up from there. Book through December 20, 2014. Sample rates:
Advance reservations required. No group rates or other discounts apply. Length of stay requirements
Discounts only applied to travel dates that are valid offer travel dates Additional per adult charges may apply if more than two adults per room Number of rooms allocated for this discount is limited. Offer excludes:
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Discounts for Disney Rewards VISA & Debit Card Holders |
2014 Free Dining Offer for Disney Rewards VISA & Debit Card Holders Sue from Small World Vacations reports the Disney Rewards VISA and Debit Card Holders can now get a free dining discount when booking a qualifying Walt Disney World vacation package. Offer details: 2014 Vacation Dates
Free Quick Service Plan
Free Table Service Dining Plan
Offer Restrictions
Room and ticket discount for travel dates from February 24 through June 15 No discounts available March 6–14 and April 13–19. Buy a minimum four day ticket and get a day free. Room discounts include:
20 percent off select guided tours Disney Visa cardholders receive 20 percent 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 percent off select restaurants Disney Visa cardholders receive 10 percent 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 percent off merchandise Disney Visa cardholders receive 10 percent 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″ x 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 five guests. The event is hosted daily from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. inside Innoventions West at Epcot. You'll receive one free 5″ x 7″ character photo per day. |
Discounts for Florida Residents |
None at this time. |
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 seven-day ticket depending on travel dates. These particular offers are valid for U.K. residents only. |
Discounts for Canada Residents |
Fall 2014 Free Dining offer for Canada residents Offer details: Free Quick Service Plan
Free Table Service Dining Plan for moderate resorts
Free Table Service Dining Plan for deluxe resorts
Free Table Service Dining Plan for deluxe villa resorts
Offer Restrictions
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