Walt Disney World Resort Update for January 8-14, 2019

Walt Disney World Resort Update for January 8-14, 2019

Writer's note: Happy New Year! The Walt Disney World Resort Update is back for 2019! As I have for almost every December 30-31 since 2002, I braved the crowds of Walt Disney World Resort with one of the Epcot Resorts as my Disney Vacation Club “Home” to avoid driving the roads. In all of those years, Magic Kingdom has much of the same entertainment on both December 30 and 31, including the “Fantasy in the Sky” fireworks show with “Countdown to Midnight” several times both nights and with Extra Magic Hours for Resort guests in the “overnight” after the last fireworks end just after midnight at the start of December 31 and some wee hour later (which, this year, was 2 a.m.). For those that were following along on our Instagram, I broadcast live rides from aboard the PeopleMover, the Tomorrowland Speedway, Big Thunder Mountain, and it's a small world over the course of the “night.”

Magic Kingdom celebrated the New Year with four showings of “Fantasy in the Sky” fireworks, including a countdown. Two each on December 30 and 31. This view is from the Express Monorail entering Disney's Contemporary Resort during the 6:30 p.m. showing on December 30, 2018. Video by Alan S. Dalinka.

As has been true in the past, visiting Magic Kingdom on December 30, particularly after its early evening fireworks showing (which, this time, were 6:30 p.m.), provides a less-crowded experience than New Year's eve itself. On December 31, Magic Kingdom reached capacity and closed to new admissions by midday. Traffic on World Drive stretched from the Magic Kingdom parking toll plaza back to Epcot Center Drive even later in the day, and despite this past year's opening of the new flyovers that permit Magic Kingdom area resort guests and Disney buses to bypass the toll plaza. The other parks remained open to guests throughout the day, though Disney's Animal Kingdom closed hours before Midnight, as usual. Indeed, at around 3:30 p.m., it was very easy to travel by a nearly-empty Disney Bus from Animal Kingdom to Epcot and get in to Epcot in time for the 4 p.m. opening of complimentary hat and horn distribution. December 30 – January 1 photos in our Views Around the World below.

In fact, while Epcot was very busy on New Year's Eve, it was even possible to leave the park by the International Gateway, visit the Epcot Resorts area, and return to the park for the nighttime festivities, both showings of Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, and the countdown to the New Year. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

To kick off the year, Disney has announced ticket discounts for Florida Residents for visits through June 30, its Military Salute for tickets through December 19 and certain hotel rooms through then (except April 14-25), its “Sun & Fun Room Offer” to save up to 30% on select rooms for most nights April 28 to September 30, 2019, when booked by March 24, and its “Free Dine Offer” for everyone purchasing non-discounted five-night/six-day Walt Disney World Travel Co. pacakages (room a select hotels plus ticket with Park Hopper or Park Hopper Plus) by February 10, 2019, for most nights between July 5 and September 30, 2019! Details of those discounts and links are updated in our Current Discounts and Promotions section below and, as always, will remain in the Update each week until they expire.

As we always recommend, never rent or purchase tickets from people approaching you outside Disney property stating they have remaining days or leftover tickets. This practice is against the terms of use for Walt Disney World Theme Park admissions, and may result in denial of entry. There is no way to determine if these tickets are valid until you try to use them to enter the parks. Only purchase Disney theme park tickets directly from Disney, an authorized seller, or a travel agency like MousePlanet travel partner Get Away Today. In fact, just the other day, I watched a family group of six turned away at the entry touchpoints at Disney's Animal Kingdom over a problem with all of their tickets. When last seen, they were being escorted by a Guest Relations cast member toward the ticket booths.

News and Views

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Kevin is “Migrating North” from Paradise Falls

Kevin, the multi-colored exotic South American bird friend of Russell in the Disney-Pixar film UP will soon arrive at Disney's Animal Kingdom. In February, guests will have the opportunity to encounter her (yes, recall, she turns out to be a mother of chicks in the film after Russell decides to name her Kevin) “roaming Discovery Island” according to a comment shared by Shawn Slater, Senior Communications Manager, Disney Parks Live Entertainment, when he responded to a question posted on Disney Parks Blog.

Last Spring, Russell and his dog friend Dug became part of the new live bird show, “UP! A Great Bird Adventure” that replaced “Flights of Wonder” at Disney's Animal Kingdom. In the show, Russell and Dug talk about their friend Kevin, but she does not appear. We noticed in late fall, that a drawing of Kevin by Russell became a part of the show. Shawn Slater's comment, however, makes it sound unlikely that Kevin will join the stage show.

Last month, we noted that a picture drawn by Russell of his bird friend Kevin now appears in “UP! A Great Bird Adventure,” the live bird show that also includes Russell and his dog friend Dug at Disney's Animal Kingdom. File Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Marathon Weekend & NFL Pro Bowl Week Coming Up

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex is the hub for Walt Disney World Resort sporting events, and the next few weeks provide a number of opportunities for the more casual sports fan to visit the complex and see some interesting sights, and for the serious runners and football fans (and professional players) to get some serious work done.

Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Presented by Cigna

The biggest runDisney event of the year gets underway starting tomorrow, with the opening of the runDisney Health & Fitness Expo at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex which is open for free to the public as well as a necessary stop for race participants! Parking is free at the Complex and Disney Bus service is also available from select locations around the Resort. The Expo schedule is:

• Wednesday, January 9, 2019: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
• Thursday, January 10, 2019: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Friday, January 11, 2019: 9:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Saturday, January 12, 2019: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

The Expo includes race bib, shirt and gEAR bag pick-up for runners. For everyone, it includes exhibitors showing off the latest running-related technology, nutrition, apparel and footwear. Past Expos also have included quite a few souvenirs and collectibles opportunities as well, and Disney Parks Blog has highlighted quite a few, including glassware featuring the weekend's logo and race distances, limited-edition pins, figurines and car magnets. runDisney is also introducing several new branded product designs including a fold-away blanket, medal holder and Spirit Jersey. There will also be a special “ear hat” designed for runDisney Kids Races.

The Marathon Weekend, of course, also includes the races themselves. Folks visiting the Resort should be aware of road closures and even walkways in parks and around hotels where cast members alternate between giving runners the right-of-way and letting guests move on. The races start with the Walt Disney World 5K on Thursday, January 10, then continue with the 10K on Friday, the Half Marathon on Saturday, and the full Walt Disney World Marathon on Sunday, January 13. Kids Races are also held on Friday and Saturday.

At least as of this weekend, runDisney.com shows that Registration is still open for all but the 5K and Kids Races, so if you are a runner in town and ready to go, there is you chance. Race Retreat Packages and ChEAR Squad Packages will also be for sale at the Expo. If you are running or going to cheer, we would love to hear from you! Extra kudos, of course, to those running Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge or the Dopey Challenge.

The runDisney Expo mainly uses the new Arena and the older Visa Center, shown here this past Fall during the Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

NFL Pro Bowl Week Returns January 21 to January 27

The NFL Pro Bowl returns to Orlando's Camping World Stadium for the third consecutive year on Sunday, January 27, 2019. In connection with that game pitting stars of the NFL's two conferences, the AFC and the NFC, the NFL Pro Bowl Experience returns to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex for the third time during Pro Bowl Week, January 21 to 27. Fans can check out AFC and NFC team practices, participate in activities such as the 40-yard dash and the revamped NFL Skills Showdown, featuring several new events for the NFL's top skill players, including the 40-yard Splash, a Gridiron Gauntlet obstacle course and a Precision Passing contest.

Among the Pro Bowl players selected for this year's Pro Bowl were New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees, New England Patriots QB Tom Brady, Atlanta Falcons WR Julio Jones, Pittsburgh Steelers WR Antonio Brown, Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes and New York Giants rookie RB Saquon Barkley. All told, the Los Angeles Chargers placed an NFL-best seven players on the AFC Pro Bowl roster, while the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints led the NFC with five players each.

NFL Pro Bowl week at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex is open to the public, with no charge to guests.

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex hosts NFL Pro Bowl Week, January 21 to 27, 2019. File Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Disney Junior Dance Party! Now Playing

On December 22, 2018, Disney's Hollywood Studios debuted its newest version of a show featuring characters from Disney's latest popular TV offerings for younger kids. The Disney Junior Dance Party! is a live show featuring music and characters from current Disney Junior TV shows “Vampirina,” “Doc McStuffins,” “The Lion Guard,” and “Mickey and the Roadster Racers.” The high energy show is in a building in the Animation Courtyard (between the Studios arch and Star Wars Launch Bay), and is hosted by two live actors, Finn Fiesta and DJ Deejay who encourage the audience to sing and dance to Disney Junior songs. Like previous versions of this show, the “seating” area is the floor in front of the stage (which makes its transition to the “dancing area” pretty easy. There are some benches along the back walls of the theater (and guests are also allowed to stand in the back, as I did).

Unlike the most recent shows in this space, all the characters appear full-size or on video (or both), and are not puppets. Indeed, it seems the video in this venue has been upgraded to state-of-the-art, with very high resolution images shown behind the live action and on screens around the sides of the stage. The show is presented numerous times daily and FastPass+ may be available; check the My Disney Experience app, the Times Guide, or the sign outside the venue for times.

Disney Junior Dance Party is located in the soundstage-style building in Animation Courtyard.

Entrance to the the Disney Junior Dance Party is near Star Wars Launch Bay. Disney Junior characters also have meet and greets around the outside of the building in designated areas and they sometimes pass this way on breaks, like Doc McStuffins.

Vampirina appears in person during the show with hosts Finn Fiesta and DJ Deejay and is supported on the video screen behind her by some of her TV friends.

Mickey Mouse also joins in the Dance Party on stage direct from some fun with his Roadster Racers pals.

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

V.I.Passholder Potion Purple Premiere Pop-Up Event and Dining Discounts

Coming up on Thursday, January 10, from 5-7 p.m., Tomorrowland in Magic Kingdom will host this year's first Walt Disney World Annual Passholder V.I.Passholder Event. This “Potion Purple Premiere Pop-Up Event” will provide Annual Passholders with the exclusive opportunity to view and purchase new potion purple merchandise and taste new purple food and beverage offerings. Disney also promises a few other potion purple surprises that they think attendees will find “intoxicating” (though, the media notice we received does not mention any age restrictions, so we are not sure what this will be).

Disney Parks Blog describes the merchandise as including “adult and youth spirit jerseys, 'Vacation Mode' water bottle, Loungefly mini backpack, Loungefly wallet and a new women's Mickey T-shirt.” Registration is not required to attend, but your Annual Pass card and matching photo ID are need and, in fact, will also come in handy should you wish to purchase anything because the 20% Passholder merchandise discount will be available too (merchandise available only while supplies last).

The new Potion Purple Ears Headbands debuted just before the year's end and are available for sale at merchandise locations all around the parks, Disney Springs, and hotels. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

And, speaking of Passholder discounts, the same Disney Parks Blog posted a list of table service restaurants (and the two dinner shows) that are offering a 20% discount for lunch and dinner through January 31, 2019 (exceptions also noted below):

• Biergarten Restaurant at Epcot
• Coral Reef Restaurant at Epcot
• The Hollywood Brown Derby at Disney's Hollywood Studios
• Hollywood & Vine at Disney's Hollywood Studios
• Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen at Magic Kingdom Park
• Tiffins Restaurant at Disney's Animal Kingdom
• Tony's Town Square Restaurant at Magic Kingdom Park
• Ale & Compass Restaurant at Disney's Yacht Club Resort
• Boatwright's Dining Hall at Disney's Port Orleans Resort – Riverside (Dinner Only)
• Citricos at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (Dinner Only)
• Disney's Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
• Flying Fish at Disney's BoardWalk Resort (Dinner Only)
• Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort (8:30 p.m. show only)
• Jiko – The Cooking Place at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort (Dinner Only)
• Sebastian's Bistro at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort (Dinner Only)
• The Wave… of American Flavors at Disney's Contemporary Resort
• Whispering Canyon Café at Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort

Discount is not available for breakfast and does not apply to alcoholic beverages, tax or gratuity and cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. The discount is valid for the Passholder and up to three guests. Starting next week, we will include this list in only the Passholder tab of the Discounts section below.

Finally, there will be a new Passholder magnet with “one little spark of inspiration” for the Epcot International Festival of the Arts. More about that as January 18 approaches.

Epcot Concerts News & Calendar

The Epcot International Festival of the Holidays ended on December 30 and the Candlelight Processional ended its season-long run at America Gardens Theatre. The Disney on Broadway Concert Series will take the stage three times nightly from January 18 through February 25 during the Epcot International Festival of the Arts. Dining packages are available at ArtfulEpcot.com or by calling (407)WDW-DINE. (Workshops around the Festival can also be booked at the website or by calling (407)WDW-TOUR.)

The 2019 edition of the Disney on Broadway Concert Series will run three times nightly for the entire 39-days of the Epcot International Festival of the Arts. File Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Also expanded to seven days a week, beginning on March 6, the Garden Rocks Concert Series takes the stage three times nightly through June 3. Part of the schedule of performers has been released. Announced returning performers include The Spinners and Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone, and new to the Festival performers include TobyMac, Steven Curtis Chapman, Sister Sledge, and Colin Hay of Men at Work. Reservations open this Thursday, December 13. For more information or reservations, call (407)WDW-DINE or visit FreshEpcot.com.

For the convenience of our readers, all of the scheduled Disney on Broadway Concert Series performances at America Gardens Theatre are shown in our Google Calendar of Epcot Events. The performers announced so far for the Garden Rocks Concert Series that follows later this year have also been added to the calendar. While our Google Calendar of Epcot Events includes a list of the scheduled performers, it is always best to check the My Disney Experience app, Times Guide, and, yes, sometimes even signs posted at the park entrances and at the theater noting last minute changes. You can add the whole Event calendar to any calendar that supports the iCal format (like iPhone and Mac) by copying this link and, indeed, if when we get additional information and update the calendar, the calendar will update on your subscribed device as well. The calendar is provided as a courtesy “as is, where is” without any guarantees. Given the effort it took to create it and keep it updated, we do respectfully request that you do not post our entire calendar on another site without first asking our permission. Walt Disney World Resort does provide schedules in the My Disney Experience app, but does not allow you to add dates to calendars outside the app itself.

Views Around the World

We have Views from all around Walt Disney World since we last published an Update. A view of Disney Springs is included together with the latest news about that entertainment, shopping and dining area below.

Magic Kingdom

For those,like me, that want to see the Magic Kingdom celebrate the New Year without the biggest crowd of the year, visit the park on December 30 rather than December 31. This year, the park showed the “Fantasy in the Sky” and Countdown to Midnight fireworks (presented in 360º including a launch site in the middle of Seven Seas Lagoon that “mirrors” the one behind the Castle to the north of the park) at 6:30 p.m. and again leading up to midnight on both December 30 and 31. For Resort guests, December 30 has been an evening Extra Magic Hours night going back to at least December 2002 when I first experienced it. All of the Magic Kingdom photos below are from the night of December 30 into the early pre-dawn hours of December 31, 2018.

Entering Magic Kingdom immediately after the conclusion of the early showing of the “Fantasy in the Sky” fireworks is a bit of a challenge, with many guests still gathered on Main Street U.S.A., while many guests head for the exit.

In Tomorrowland, the new, thinner-profile, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor Sign is now in place.

The Tomorrowland Rockettower Plaza Stage hosted a New Year's Eve Dance Party on both December 30 and 31.

To try to disburse the crowd, inflated markers suggested Fireworks Viewing areas in Tomorrowland (shown here), Fantasyland and Frontierland. Even on nights that the park is showing its traditional fireworks show, Happily Ever After, or its other holiday party versions, fireworks can be seen from these alternative locations (though without a view of the projections on the Castle).

Tomorrowland Speedway was open through New Year's Day and is now closed to accomodate construction and track re-configuration for the TRON Lightcycle-themed rollercoaster coming to Tomorrowland in 2021.

No reopening date for the Tomorrowland Speedway has been announced. I took my final drive for the duration on the night of December 30, 2018, and broadcast it live on our Instagram Story.

Behind the Speedway, the pathway between Tomorrowland and Fantasyland also closed to accomodate construction of the TRON Lightcycle-themed attraction.

Custodial artists created characters on the pavement with wet brooms in Tomorrowland throughout the evening of December 30.

In Fantasyland, Cinderella's Carriage was a Disney PhotoPass photo spot during the final days of 2018, as it has been the final days of the past several years.

Inside The Haunted Mansion in Liberty Square, newly enhanced portraits hang in the gallery (the ones that change with the lightning strikes out the window on the other side of the Doombuggy).

The Jingle Cruise holiday-themed overlay at Jungle Cruise continued until the end of the year. By January 2, the overlay had been completely removed and the Captains returned to the regular pun-filled spiel.

As Midnight approached on December 30, Main Street U.S.A. and the Central Plaza (hub) filled with guests.

The “Fantasy in the Sky” fireworks show uses the musical soundtrack from Magic Kingdom's original fireworks show (with that same name). The New Year's edition of this show that has run annually since “Wishes” replaced the park's original show, introduced the Castle and Fantasyland fireworks launchers plus the 360º perimeter launch locations. All told, the show is quite a colorful spectacle, and concludes with Mickey, Minnie and Goofy leading the final countdown.

During Extra Magic Hours in the first hours of December 31, as has been true in previous years, the park cleared out quite a bit, allowing Resort guests somewhat shorter wait times for attractions. This is our last view of holiday decor at Magic Kingdom until after Halloween.

Even during Extra Magic Hours (approaching 2 a.m.), it was possible to get up close to the Lilly Belle locomotive which is parked at Main Street Station for the duration of the Walt Disney World Rail Road's closure for construction relating to the TRON-themed coaster.

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

Enjoy a replay of “Fantasy in the Sky” Fireworks and the Countdown to 2019 from #DisneyParksLIVE. Video © Disney.

Epcot

The new building to house the Guardians of the Galaxy-themed coaster was largely enclosed by the end of 2018. It is expected to open in 2021.

Meanwhile, inside the Park, the future entrance to the new Guardians-themed attraction, the former Universe of Energy pavilion, is no longer fully enclosed as construction continues within.

Infrastructure continues around the islands in World Showcase Lagoon for the new nighttime spectacular coming in 2020.

Illuminations: Reflections of Earth will end during Fall of 2019. The temporary show named “Epcot Forever” will follow the retirement of Illuminations.

Remember that Illuminations: Reflections of Earth will end its nearly decade-long run this fall and will be replaced by the temporary show, “Epcot Forever” before a “permanent” new spectacle debuts in 2020.

Construction continues behind the France pavilion for Remy's Ratatouille Adventure and, as this photo shows, the cables for the future Disney Skyliner transportation system expected to open later this year are now in place for the portion that runs between Epcot and the turn station on Buena Vista Drive in front of Disney's BoardWalk Resort.

Construction continues at the Epcot station for Disney Skyliner just outside the International Gateway entrance to the park.

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

I spent the last several hours of 2018 and the first few minutes at Epcot, as I have many times before. The very large park felt very crowded, but it was worth the effort. At the special 6:30 p.m. showing of Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, those of us in the crowd got to see what likely was the final showing of the special “holiday finale” to the show, as the entire Illuminations show will end sometime before the 2019 holiday season. Then, after the 11:40 p.m. showing of Illuminations, those of us in the crowd saw what was probably the final showing of the park's around-the-world New Year's celebration and countdown to the New Year (for the same reason). In other words, with Epcot Forever being the temporary end of 2019 through sometime in 2020 show, the end of 2019 ought to have a different New Year's spectacular than we have seen before. Stay tuned.

The final photos from Epcot below are from January 2, 2019.

In addition to the complimentary hats and horns distributed around Walt Disney World, guests could purchase light-up 2019 ear headbands at Epcot on New Year's Eve (and, presumably elsewhere around the Resort).

The special 6:30 p.m. showing of Illuminations: Reflections of Earth included the “holiday finale” with the song “Let There Be Peace on Earth,” marking the end of the 2018 Epcot International Festival of the Holidays.

Epcot held DJ-hosted dance parties all over the park on New Year's Eve; Italy pavilion's dance party was punctuated by lasers and lights.

Throughout New Year's Eve, the Illuminations globe served as a countdown clock until shortly before Illuminations began its final show for 2018.

The Silent Groove was again set up next to Pin Central between Spaceship Earth and the Fountain of Nations. Guests with the special headphones could listen to music selections from the green or red DJ (and the headphones lit the corresponding color).

Nearby, the Fountain Stage held a DJ-hosted dance party as well, but there was no clash of sounds here since the other Future World dance party was the “Silent” Groove.

After counting down to midnight, Epcot's fireworks finale lasted several minutes and then filled the sky over World Showcase Lagoon with light.

Shortly after the New Year began, the kiosks around World Showcase began to take on their signage and appearance for the 2019 Epcot International Festival of the Arts. We will have more details about this year's Festival soon, as it starts on January 18!

With the end of the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays, the entry topiaries at Epcot were removed and the flower bed is at its simplest appearance.

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

Epcot Resorts

With backstage tree cover changed over the years, this is an unexpected view from Disney's Beach Club Villas at The Land pavilion and Spaceship Earth.

Stepping back from the balcony, this is a Deluxe Studio at Disney's Beach Club Villas with a partial view of Epcot.

Even during the busiest season, there were quiet moments to be found around the resorts, like here at the beach at Disney's Beach Club Resort.

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Sunset Seasons Greetings and the rest of the Flurry of Fun concluded over the weekend.

Outside Tatooine Traders at the Exit of Star Tours, construction continues on a new kiosk. Disney has not announced what this construction site will become.

Outside the park, the walkway to the Epcot Resort area has again been reconfigured back to near its original location along the waterway as the new bus loop construction continues.

At the park's main gate, Disney Skyliner station construction continues toward its opening later this year.

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

Disney's Animal Kingdom

As Magic Kingdom filled to capacity, Disney's Animal Kingdom posted signs informing guests looking to park hop of the news. As has been true in the past, Disney's Animal Kingdom closes before midnight on New Year's Eve.

Stella, the baby elephant on Kilimanjaro Safaris is now nearly two years old.

One of the bachelor gorillas keeps an eye on guests at Gorilla Falls.

Last week was the first time in quite awhile that I watched the 3-D “It's Tough to Be a Bug” show in Tree of Life Theatre – the digital projection installed since I last saw the show makes the colors and details more apparent than ever. Outside the exit, a guest that apparently forgot to deposit their honorary bug glasses in the provided bins decided to make one of the nearby animal sculptures an honorary bug too.

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

Disney Skyliner at Hourglass Lake

The future Disney Skyliner station at Hourglass lake sits on the bridge between Disney's Pop Century Resort and Disney's Art of Animation Resort.

It appears that very little, if any, covered queue space has been built at this future Disney Skyliner station.

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

This and That…

…Beyond the berm, keep an eye on our social media channels this week for our coverage of a sailing of Disney Cruise Line's Disney Magic from Miami to the Western Caribbean, including a Marvel Day at Sea (tomorrow, Wednesday, January 9, 2019)! For Mavel Day at Sea in particular, watch MousePlanet on Twitter Live coverage tomorrow and Castaway Cay, Disney's private island in the Bahamas on Thursday (both subject to technology cooperating). I have been privileged to be invited to sail and to share with you on our social media channels and I will have a full article about the experience here on MousePlanet.com soon!

…On New Year's Day, Disney Parks Blog gave a rundown of 19 Magic Experiences to expect at Walt Disney World Resort in 2019. Over the past months, we have told you about all of them. Next week, we will again summarize all of the happenings that begin January 18, from the Epcot International Festival of the Arts, to Mickey & Minnie's Surprise Celebration at Magic Kingdom, and to Disney's Hollywood Studios new “Party with Pixar Pals.” Also, if you want a peek at Disney's Hollywood Studios new 30th anniversary, take a look at that Blog post; the park, which opened as Disney-MGM Studios, opened on May 1, 1989!

…Give Kids the World, the not-for-profit organization in Central Florida that provides free, weeklong dream vacations to children suffering critical illnesses and their families, is hosting a speaker series focused on attractions industry leaders. Its first event is Give Kids The World Presents: An Evening with Lee Cockerell, January 17, 2019, from 7-9 p.m. at Give Kids the World Village, 210 S. Bass Road, Kissimmee, Florida 34786. Lee Cockerell is the former Executive Vice President of Operations of Walt Disney World, and he will discuss his time at the company and provide insights into what makes a great leader. Full event details can be found on this Eventbrite page. Ticket proceeds benefit Give Kids The World. If you are in the area and are interested in attending, Give Kids the World has given us permission to give away four (4) tickets to the event. We do not yet have the details of how those tickets will be distributed, so if you would like them, please email me by using the form you will see by clicking the envelope-shaped link next to my byline atop this Update and we will attempt to work those details out with the first four requests we receive that also include a name and valid email address (and, yes, the first person may request up to four tickets so long as he or she really does plan to use them personally and not resell them, and should that person request less than four, we will try to accomodate the next person that responds with the remaining tickets, and so forth). We are not responsible for misdirected email and we are uncertain when Give Kids the World will provide final ticket information.

…Disney Parks released two more bits of information about Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge opening this summer at Disneyland and next fall here at Disney's Hollywood Studios. First, it provided a new “Behind-the-Scenes Update” video just before the Disney Christmas Day parade telecast began (embedded below), and then, it posted a sneak peek of the new Star Wars: Pirate's Price book that features the Millennium Falcon arrival on Planet Batuu. If you have been following along the backstory Disney has been sharing about Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, Batuu is the setting for the new land, and guests will be able to visit and pilot the Falcon at the village of Black Spire Outpost on this planet. The book will be released today and the excerpt is available on StarWars.com.

Disney provides its latest behind the scenes look at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. Video ©Disney

…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 email in the box below.

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New & Coming Soon at Disney Springs

This section collects all of the Disney Springs retail and dining events we are aware of in one place along with our most recent views of the area. Event items NEW to the Update are marked accordingly.

The fountain in front of Town Center along Buena Vista Drive was lit for the holidays this winter. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The photo backdrop outside the AMC 24 Dine-In Theatres advertises “Mary Poppins Returns.” File Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Enzo's Hideaway Tunnel Bar

NEW Partnering with Goose Island Beer Co., Enzo's will host its first “Smuggler's Series” of 2019, on Saturday, January 19, from 12-2 p.m. The Smuggler's Series is a recurring dining event featuring notable beer, wine, and spirit pairings at the Hideaway. Lunch will feature Bourbon County Stout pairings in partnership with Goose Island Brewery. Goose Island Brewery educator and industry expert, Mike Smith, will formally instruct attendees about the brewery's beer barrel aging program and provide insight on each of the beers selected to complement the dishes on the four-course tasting menu. Enzo's Hideaway Executive Chef John Miele has paired the brews with Italian specialties like aged fontina en carozza, roasted baby beets with burrata, grilled main lobster linguini, ricotta gnudi and braised lamb ragu, and a bittersweet chocolate ganache tart, enhancing the flavors of the stouts in each course. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit this page of PatinaGroup.com.

The Edison

NEWThe Edison's Burger of the Month Series is going to continue through 2019. The restaurant will begin the year with it's January Burger, “The Double Stack Deli Burger,” Its patty is a blend of sirloin, short rib, and brisket and is topped with thinly sliced hot pastrami, corn chips, spicy mustard, and pickles. It is served with The Edison's “famous hand-cut” fries.

Jaleo

Jaleo a Spanish restaurant by José Andrés, has updated its website to reflect that it expects to open during winter 2019. No specific date has been published.

Status of Parking Availability at Disney Springs

Those who visit Disney Springs during the weekends or during busy times of the year at the Resort know that the two parking structures often fill to capacity during those peak times. Even the flat lot on the West Side can fill up during very busy times! Construction continues across Buena Vista Drive at the site of the new “Lemon” garage that will connect to Disney Springs by a series of pedestrian bridges. We have not yet heard when the new structure will be open, but stay tuned and, if you are driving on Buena Vista Drive, observe the overhead signs directing cars to the garages and lots with availability.

Crowd Forecast

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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 email. More runDisney event information

Just click the year you want to expand (or close).

2019 Resort Events

2020 Resort Events

Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Note: Not all attraction closures have been officially confirmed by Disney, and are all subject to change at any time. All refurbishment schedules are estimates only. We recommend checking for updates as you plan your visit. All information is subject to change without notice. To get the most recent updates, visit DisneyWorld.com or use the MyDisneyExperience App on your iOS or Android device.

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Current Discounts and 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.

Walt Disney World Resort theme park tickets are rarely offered at deep discounts unless you are a resident of Florida or eligible for U.S. Military Personnel benefits. It is increasingly true that non-Florida residents tend to benefit the most by purchasing tickets in advance (and, of course, being mindful of the rules relevant to those tickets). As prices go up, it becomes even more important to pay heed: Don't get scammed! Never buy tickets from an unofficial or secondary outlet, such as through eBay or Craigslist. Never rent or purchase tickets from people approaching you outside Disney property stating they have remaining days or leftover tickets. This practice is against the terms of use for Walt Disney World Theme Park admissions, and may result in denial of entry. There is no way to determine if these tickets are valid until you try to use them to enter the parks. Only purchase Disney theme park tickets directly from Disney, an authorized seller, or a travel agency like MousePlanet travel partner Get Away Today.

Be sure to move the calendar to at least seven (7) days out, to see what ticket options and discounts are available for your planned visit.

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For Everyone

For Annual Passholders

For Disney Rewards VISA Credit Card Holders

For Military Personnel

For Florida Residents

For Disney Vacation Club Members

For Canada Residents

For U.K. Residents

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