Walt Disney World Resort Update for August 23-29, 2016

Walt Disney World Resort Update for August 23–29, 2016

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News and Views

Disney Parks Moms Panel search kicks off September 7 | James Cameron. Jon Landau and Bob Chapek join D23 Destination D: Amazing Adventures lineup | MousePlanet auctions for charity | Views around the World | This and That | Crowd Forecast

Disney Parks Moms Panel search kicks off September 7

On Wednesday, September 7, thousands of ordinary women with an extraordinary love for all things Disney Parks have the chance to apply to become part of the Disney Parks Moms Panel.

This small group, officially sponsored by Disney, answers questions submitted online from readers on everything from how to choose where to stay to the ins and outs of making Fastpass+ reservations, or which excursions are best on the Disney Cruise Line. Though it's called the Moms Panel, panelists include moms, dads, and grandparents.

The application process is intensive. It usually starts with applicants filling out an online form with information about their Disney knowledge and questions about why they want to join the panel. That first wave of applicants is cut down to a smaller second round group, which then has a second round of questions to answer.

Eventually, the third round contestants have a phone interview, where judges then make the final decision. Disney selects only a handful of people to join the Moms Panel each year, and those selected to join receive a Disney vacation as their “reward” for their participation.

The first round of applications begins on September 7 and runs through noon, Wednesday, September 14. We note that Disney is also looking for panelists fluent in French, Spanish, and Portuguese, so be sure to highlight your language skills if applicable.

Round 2 winners will be announced not long after the deadline, but specific details are not shared by Disney.

For more information about the Disney Moms Panel and how to apply, visit the official recruiting website.

James Cameron, Jon Landau, and Bob Chapek join D23 Destination D: Amazing Adventures lineup

Disney announced the addition of three new participants for the D23 Destination D: Amazing Adventures event to be held this November 19–20 in Walt Disney World.

Destination D: Amazing Adventures will take place November 19–20 at Walt Disney World.

Joining Imagineer Joe Rohde in a presentation about Pandora – The World of AVATAR are James Cameron (writer, director, producer) and Jon Landau (producer). The trio will provide the audience with what may be the first truly detailed information about the 12-acre land under construction at Disney's Animal Kingdom park.

Bob Chapek, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, will also participate in a “conversation” with event guests.

Tickets to the two-day event are still available through the event website. General admission is $190 per person for D23 Gold-level members, or $250 for D23 General members.

Attendees of Destination D are guaranteed seats at all panels and presentations, which is a definite advantage when compared to the D23 Expo event held in Anaheim. In addition to the already-announced schedule of panels and presentations, Destination D planners are also working on a “special evening activity” for attendees for Sunday, November 20.

MousePlanet auctions for charity

Items MousePlanet receives at Disney press events are sold at auction to benefit a number of local charities, including Team Muscle Makers for UCMD, an organization founded by MousePlanet readers Melissa Martin Mayorgas and Lonna Eshelman.

The team raises awareness for Ullrich Congenital Muscular Dystrophy. UCMD is a rare form of muscular dystrophy with only a few hundred documented cases worldwide. The team raises money through endurance events, including runDisney events at both Disneyland and now Walt Disney World as an official runDisney charity partner, with the funds going to the Muscle Disease Clinic at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego, CA.

We have one more auction ending this week, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to Team Muscle Makers. We invite you to bookmark the team's eBay for Charity page to be notified when new items are added.

Frozen Anna and Elsa Lithograph – El Capitan Theatre media event gift
Click HERE to bid on this item.

Views Around the World

Resort Hotels

Unlike the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake beaches, currently there are no visible indications whether a rock wall will be built along Crescent Lake beaches at Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

With the closing of Disney's BoardWalk's Seashore Sweets for its transformation into Abracadabar earlier this year, the Screen Door General Store now has a sweets counter. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Hollywood Studios

The food kiosks in the Echo Lake area of Disney's Hollywood Studios have very limited operating hours. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Muppet Vision 3D closed last week for a brief refurbishment. It is scheduled to be open this week. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Construction continues to transform the former Pizza Planet into PizzeRizzo in the Muppets Courtyard. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

New artwork on the construction walls show the artist rendition of PizzeRizzo. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Construction continues at the future PizzeRizzo. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The only visible signs of the construction of the future Star Wars and Toy Story lands beyond the construction walls inside Disney's Hollywood Studios are the couple of pieces of equipment that are taller than the walls. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Over the construction wall in the Muppet Courtyard, some of the props on the now-closed Streets of America remain in place. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The Honey I Shrunk the Kids play area can be seen still standing beyond the construction walls. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

A “Rogue One” promotional poster now hangs in the courtyard outside the Star Wars Launch Bay. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Since the Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular dessert party has moved into a space inside the Star Wars Launch Bay, the check-in area has moved as well. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Once home to Disney Animators in the “fishbowl”, an area inside the Star Wars Launch Bay is now used for hosting the Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular dessert party. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Cupcakes and other Star Wars themed treats fill tables prepared for the Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular dessert party inside the Star Wars Launch Bay. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

With the dessert portion of the party moved into the Star Wars Launch Bay, cast members now rope off a smaller reserved viewing area for viewing the fireworks. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular dessert party's reserved viewing area is located in front of the blue projection tower and now takes up less of the already limited optimal viewing area for the fireworks show. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The end of Hollywood Boulevard closest to the park's entrance provides only very limited viewing of the Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular show. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The farther away from the Center Stage area down Hollywood Boulevard, the more obstructed the view of the Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular show becomes. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Fantasmic! at Disney's Hollywood Studios now has a presenting sponsor. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Following the accidental fall by one of the characters aboard Steamboat Mickey's boat earlier this month, no visible changes have been made to this portion of the show. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Epcot

Monorail Orange approaches Epcot for its circle tour. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The new emergency exit staircase at the Epcot monorail station appears to be nearly complete in this photo. The walls came down a few days later, to show the finished project. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

In less than a month, Colortopia will be the only operating exhibit in Innoventions East. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Stormstruck in Innoventions East is expected to close in a few weeks. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Cast members wait for visitors to enter the Stormstruck attraction in Innoventions East, which is expected to close in September. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Sum of all Thrills in Innoventions East is also expected to close on September 13. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The Margarita kiosk on the World Showcase promenade between the Mexico pavilion and Norway that closed earlier this year has now been removed. The Flower & Garden Festival “temporary kitchen”/kiosk on the other side of the Mexico pavilion remains open with a selection of alcoholic beverages. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Florida wildlife sightings are not unusual at Epcot. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Construction cranes working on the roads outside of Epcot rise above the World Showcase skyline. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

This and That

…”it's a small world” is now closed through September 15 for refurbishment.

…This week is the start of a series of “rolling refurbishment” of four Walt Disney World golf courses. The refurbishment schedule is below:

• Disney's Magnolia Golf Course – closed August 22-28 for refurbishment.
• Disney's Palm Golf Course – closed August 29-September 4 for refurbishment.
• Disney's Lake Buena Vista Golf Course – closed September 5-11 for refurbishment.
• Disney's Oak Trail Golf Course – closed September 12-16 for refurbishment.

…Third Gate Games is happy to announce the dates for their next MouseAdventure events. The next event at the Disneyland Resort will be this fall, on Sunday, October 16 at Disney California Adventure. Registration will open soon for this event. They will also be returning to Walt Disney World in spring 2017 with an event on Saturday, March 4. Registration will open in early 2017, so be sure you are subscribed to their newsletter at mouseadventure.com to get the most up-to-date information as more details are revealed. Are you game?

…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 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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MousePlanet

Resort Events

Check here to see if a park event might fall during your next trip to the Walt Disney World Resort. If you know of any in-park events, official or unofficial, that should be listed here, please send us an e-mail (link).

2016 Resort events

• Star Wars Experiences – Opened December 1, 2015
• Night of Joy – September 9 & 10
• 2016 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival –September 14 – November 14, 2016.
• Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic – Friday and Saturday, October 29 and 30.
• Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party –September – 2, 8, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 29, 30; October – 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30, 31
• D23's Sip & Scream – Wednesday, October 5. The event is sold out
• D23 Behind-the-Scenes Experience: A Midnight Soirée at the Tower of Terror – Wednesday, October 5. The event is sold out.
• “Jersey Week” – November 6–13. Expect larger crowds this week as New Jersey students and families take advantage of a Fall Break created by their school's participation in the New Jersey Teachers Convention.
• Dapper Day at Epcot (unofficial event) – Saturday, November 12, 2016. More information at the event website.
• Destination D – November 19-20, 2016. D23 Members are invited to join the excitement of D23 Destination D: Amazing Adventures, a celebration of Disney adventures of the past, present, and future. More details at the event website.
• Holidays at Walt Disney World – November 7 – December 31, 2016
• Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party – November 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 18, 27, 29; December 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, 22
• Holidays Around the World at Epcot – November 25 – December 30, 2016
• Candlelight Processional at Epcot – November 25 – December 30, 2016

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.

2016

• Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend – November 3–5. All races are sold out, with the exception of the runDisney Kids races. Proof of time deadline has passed.

2017

• Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend – January 4–8, 2017. Registration is now open. Proof of time must be submitted by October 4, 2016.
• Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend – February 24–26, 2017. Registration is now open. Proof of time must be submitted by November 15, 2016.
• Star Wars Half Marathon – The Dark Side Weekend – April 20–23, 2017. Registration is now open. Proof of time must be submitted by January 17, 2017.

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.

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Events

Check here to see if a sporting competition might fall during your next trip to the Walt Disney World Resort. We don't list all events here, but focus on the larger sport and cheer events that might result in extra visitors to the theme parks, and make it harder to secure a hotel room. The All-Star and moderate resort hotels are often the home base for these larger events, so it's worth avoiding those properties if possible.

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex events

2016

• Special Olympics Florida Fall Classic – November 11–12.
• 2016 Pop Warner Super Bowl –December 3–10.

2017

• Pro Bowl week festivities – take place the week prior to the 2017 game on January 29. Additional schedule information to be released.

Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Magic Kingdom

2016

• Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse – closed July 7 – September 24 for refurbishment.
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – closed August 8 – November 18 for refurbishment.
• “it's a small world” – closed August 22 – September 15 for refurbishment.

Epcot

2016

• None scheduled

Disney's Hollywood Studios

2016

• Pizza Planet restaurant – closed for refurbishment. Will reopen in Fall, 2016 as PizzeRizzo

Permanently closed:

• Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show
• Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure
• Studio Catering Co.
• Meet & Greet: Mike and Sulley at Streets of America
• Magic of Disney Animation

Disney's Animal Kingdom

• Dinosaur – closed for refurbishment July 25 – Fall, 2016

Blizzard Beach

• None scheduled

Typhoon Lagoon

• None scheduled

Disney Springs

• Fulton's Crab House – closed for refurbishment. Scheduled to reopen in Fall 2016 as Paddlefish
• Planet Hollywood – closed for refurbishment and transformation into a Planet Hollywood Observatory.
• Disney Quest – scheduled to close sometime in 2016.

Resorts

• Wilderness Lodge and Villas – Hidden Springs pool, resort beach, playground, and Recreation fire pit closed. No opening date provided, but the pool is expected to be closed through 2017. Expect construction-related closures and noise due to construction of the as-yet-unannounced Disney Vacation Club cabins.
• Disney's All-Star Sports – the Grand Slam Pool closes in mid-October for refurbishment. The Surfboard Bay Pool will remain open.
• Disney's Pop Century Resort – the Computer Pool closes in late October for refurbishment, and will reopen in late December. The Hippy Dippy Pool will remain open.

Elsewhere

• Disney's Magnolia Golf Course – closed August 22-28 for refurbishment.
• Disney's Palm Golf Course – closed August 29-September 4 for refurbishment.
• Disney's Lake Buena Vista Golf Course – closed September 5-11 for refurbishment.
• Disney's Oak Trail Golf Course – closed September 12-16 for refurbishment.
• Disney Osprey Ridge Golf Course – permanently closed.

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.