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Walt Disney World Resort Update for July 3, 2024

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Writer’s Note, News & Views

Have a happy and safe Independence Day, America! I have recapped the Walt Disney World Resort celebrations just after the latest news below.

As I mentioned in our last Walt Disney World Update, I was out of town for a bit. I am back in Central Florida. A few bigger things were announced while I was away, so let’s catch up!

Time to Plan for 2024 Winter Holiday Celebrations

Reaching the midpoint of the year–you know, when it starts to get really hot and humid around Central Florida, traditionally means Walt Disney World is looking ahead and publicizing its Winter Holiday celebrations. The after-hours, extra admission required Disney Jollywood Nights will return to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, following last year’s debut run. Magic Kingdom’s after-hours, extra admission required Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will return as well. The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays will run for the last couple of days of November and all but the last day of December. Disney’s Animal Kingdom will bring back the enchanting Merry Menagerie of artisan-sculpted winter animal puppets, and Disney Springs and the Resorts will feature their holiday trees and decor too.

Disney Jollywood Nights 2024

Having debuted last year, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will host the Disney Jollywood Nights after hours parties on select nights from November 9 through December 21, 2024. The limited capacity, separately ticketed event runs from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.on party nights (party guests may check in and enter the park as early as 6 p.m.). New this year, the party adds a “skating spectacular set to your favorite holiday tunes” as a Hollywood Boulevard “twist on the traditional ice show.” The events will also include over 20 unique character experiences featuring both new and returning favorites, including Phineas and Ferb, Santa Duffy and Santa Stitch, plus Bo Peep, Lotso, Baloo, and King Louie from TaleSpin. The Disney PhotoPass service’s digital downloads are included in the event ticket price.

Concept art of the new 2024 Disney Jollywood Nights ice show courtesy Disney Parks.

Last year’s event introduced the character Ollie, “the most dapper gingerbread man in Hollywood.” This year, Disney will offer a new merchandise collection inspired by Ollie, featuring items like a Minnie Mouse ear headband and festive apparel. Specialty food and beverage will be available for purchase during the event, and, upon exiting the park, each guest will also receive one sweet treat created by Wondermade.

The exclusive live entertainment offerings return for this year’s parties as well. Both “Disney Holidays in Hollywood” hosted by Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, and “What’s This? Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along” will be presented several times during each party. (American Sign Language interpretation will be offered at select shows on November 13 and December 11; additional dates may be requested with at least two weeks advance notice.) The parties will also be the exclusive place to see the “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” nighttime projection and fireworks show.  

The Holiday Fiesta en la Calle will be in the Animation Courtyard during this year’s parties, featuring appearances by Jose Carioca and Panchito from The Three Caballeros!. The Twilight Soirée at the Tip Top Club returns to the Tower Courtyard, and Jazzy Holidays returns to the Hollywood Brown Derby (reservations recommended).

The 2024 event nights are:

November 9, 13, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30
December 2, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21

Full event details are on the Disney World website at DisneyWorld.com/Jollywood or call  407-934-7639. Guests of Disney hotels, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort and Shades of Green may now purchase tickets; general ticket sales open on July 10. Ticket prices are $159 to $179 per ticket, plus tax (prices vary by event date and Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members can save $10/ticket). Many attractions are scheduled (but not guaranteed) to be open during the parties, including Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance which is offered with a standby queue only.

I was out of town during the 2023 invited media debut of Disney Jollywood Nights, but Tim Ellison covered the event for MousePlanet, and some of his views and thoughts are in the Walt Disney World Resort Update for November 21, 2023. Disney has said that the “the yuletide projection show on the Hollywood Tower Hotel” returns this year as well; it appears after sunset most nights whether or not it is a party night; in the past, these projections were named “Sunset Seasons Greetings,” but Disney’s announcement did not mention the show name this year. Last year, the show eliminated the two video billboards along Sunset Boulevard that previously accompanied earlier versions of the projection show.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2024

Right after the end of Magic Kingdom’s Halloween celebrations, the park is quickly redressed for Christmas and the seasonal return of its after-hours, separately ticketed Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party events which are held on select nights. Event tickets are $169 to $219 per ticket, plus tax (prices vary by event date, and Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members can save $10/ticket on select dates marked in bold below — which includes all the November dates except 24-29, and excludes all the December dates except for December 1-5). Full information and tickets are available at DisneyWorld.com/VeryMerry or call 407-934-7639. Tickets are now available for those with hotel reservations at Disney hotels, and those at Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort, and Shades of Green; tickets go on sale to the public on July 10.

This year’s party nights run from 7:00 p.m. to midnight, and party guests may enter the park as early as 4 p.m. without traditional daytime separate tickets. The dates for the 2024 party are:

November 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29
December 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20

The announcement for this year’s party does not highlight anything new other than the merchandise collections. The party includes two showings of Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas Parade, Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show, several showings of Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration on the Cinderella Castle stage, character appearances and dance parties. There are also specialty food and beverage items available to purchase in addition to some cookies and festive beverages offered complimentary around the park. Last year, guests entering the party before 8 p.m. received a complimentary ornament as well, but this year’s announcement is silent on that subject.

During the party, several attractions get some holiday changes as well. Space Mountain features a high-energy holiday tunes soundtrack and festive interior lighting.
Tomorrowland Speedway offers up “a festive freeway filled with thousands of lights, stylized décor and a fun, futuristic holiday soundtrack as you get behind the wheel.”
Mad Tea Party in Fantasyland features four different holiday combos of lights and music. Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor provides a seasonal show. And, as in past years, The Jungle Cruise becomes the Jingle Cruise for both park day guests as well as during the parties, trading in the usual jokes for holiday-themed puns and a bit of additional holiday decoration.

Disney has confirmed that Magic Kingdom will once again host the “Frozen Holiday Surprise” in front of Cinderella Castle, featuring Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Kristoff and the adorable Snowgies nightly, though you may need to keep an eye on its schedule as to whether it is only being performed before or after the park closes to day guests on party nights. When Magic Kingdom offered up previous castle lighting shows, sometimes those shows were scheduled several times nightly, including on party nights, so that both day guests and party guests could have an opportunity to see the show; the announcement so far do not make it clear what this year’s schedule will be.

I was out of town during the invited media debut for last year’s Christmas Party, but Dave & Nan Kent provided coverage in our Walt Disney World Resort Update for November 21, 2024. I have attended quite a few past editions of the party as a media-invited guest and found that as the ticket prices went up over the years, the cap on admission also seemed to get higher such that the parties were more and more crowded in the pre-pandemic years. Guests who enjoy riding attractions with shorter wait times tend to find that during the parties. If your interest is in meeting and greeting some of the more rare characters that appear during these parties, you can expect to spend a great deal of your time in queues for these characters. The events also offer specialty dining and fireworks viewing opportunities for additional charges.

2024 Holidays at the Rest of Walt Disney World Resort

Thanksgiving in the United States is the fourth Thursday of November. This year, at November 28th, that’s as late in the month as it can be on the calendar, and the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays gets underway the next day and runs through December 30th. That will make this year’s Festival the shortest EPCOT Festival in a long time. The park will offer up its usual holiday entertainment offerings, from the three times nightly Candlelight Processional (celebrity narrator, mass choir, large orchestra) and other storytellers around the World Showcase. There will be Holiday Kitchens offering up seasonal food and beverage, and plenty of merchandise options.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom will feature the Merry Menagerie of artisan-sculpted winter animal puppets and holiday décor in the plaza on Discovery Island in front of the Tree of Life. Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Daisy will appear in the park in their festive attire. Disney has not said whether there will be nighttime “awakenings” of the Tree of Life, but those are likely too given the early sunsets of winter (which, likely, will again coincide with the early park closing times at Disney’s Animal Kingdom).

During the holiday season, Santa Claus will appear at all four theme parks and at Disney Springs. Disney has not yet posted all of the details, but expect, as in the past, that Santa’s appearances will end on Christmas Eve or Day. At Disney Springs, Santa often has had a virtual queue for his meet and greet there, so we will keep an eye out for that news as well.

Speaking of Disney Springs, the Christmas Tree Stroll will be back, featuring themed trees across all the neighborhoods of Disney Springs. The Town Center neighborhood will also have Disney “snow” from time to time during the season.

Finally, Disney has not shared the particulars yet, but it has announced that gingerbread displays and holiday decor will return around the Resort as well. At minimum, from past experience, expect the life-sized gingerbread house to return to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort’s lobby, and gingerbread displays at Disney’s Contemporary Resort on the Grand Canyon Concourse, as well as the lobbies of Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resort, and, perhaps, Disney’s BoardWalk too. If you are considering making hotel reservations, Disney is offering up to a 30% discount on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels for stays most nights from November 24 to December 25, plus other savings for stays most Sunday to Thursday nights between October 6 to November 21. Disney is offering a free Park Hopper option added to park tickets when guests upgrade to a Walt Disney Travel Company package that includes a non-discounted 4-day or longer date-based ticket. Contact Disney or your travel agent for details.

Lightning Lane: The Next Generation

Quite a few months ago (I did not go check, but it even may have been more than a year by now), Disney said that it would once again offer guests the ability to book some attraction reservations in advance of park visits rather than the present daily Genie+ and individual Lightning Lane access purchase options it now offers. Well, without me typing another sentence, you know that Fastpass+ is not returning and the new options come with price tags, but Disney has finally announced what its new scheme for guests to make park plans looks like.

Starting July 24, 2024, the Genie+ service will be replaced by a new, and even more complicated scheme for potentially reserving attraction entry times for select attractions at the theme parks of Walt Disney World Resort. In other words, if you are familiar with Genie+ service and have built up strategies around using it to its fullest, or if you never heard of or considered using Genie+, you are pretty much back at the same place. And I say potentially reserving entry times because, Disney does not and, realistically, could not guarantee that an attraction you select will be operating when you get there, let alone, at all or ever again. Oh, and the Genie Service itself is not going away; the plan-your-day tool in the My Disney Experience app, only the “+” is being retired.

Okay, enough with my snark for the moment, here are the details of the new scheme that those visiting the parks need to know.

Nearly all of the attractions in all four theme parks have traditional standby queues. The standby queue is the old-fashioned, tried and true way of experiencing a theme park attraction or show, where guests enter a line, typically with a sign that says how long your expected wait time from a particular point will be, and then move forward bit by bit until it’s the guest’s turn. Standby queues are not going anywhere, and if that is all you are interested in, you need not read further and you certainly do not need to spend more than you did to get in to the park in the first place.

Since the opening of the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge area at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in the summer of 2019, Disney has sometimes used a virtual queue instead of a traditional standby queue. The rules for accessing an attraction by a virtual queue have changed a few times and which attractions use a virtual queue have changed (and will change again). At publication of this Update, EPCOT’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and Magic Kingdom’s TRON Lightcycle / Run and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure are the only attractions that are using a virtual queue and do not have a standby queue during regular park operating hours. The virtual queues are a free “boarding group” reservation system that opens each day at 7 a.m. Eastern, and provides a limited number of guests to receive boarding group assignments; boarding group numbers are then welcomed to ride during the operating day, and when a guest’s assigned number is reached (guests receive a push notification if that is turned on with their mobile device, the boarding groups are also posted in the app and throughout the park on digital displays), the guests with that group number have an hour to get to the entrance of that attraction and then wait for a turn to experience the attraction; an additional opportunity to obtain a boarding group usually opens at 1 p.m. (to be eligible, all members of the boarding group must have already entered the park where the attraction is located); and for those deluxe resort guests eligible for extended hours at a park with an attraction using a virtual queue, a third opportunity to obtain a boarding group may open at 6 p.m.

To skip some standby or virtual queues, starting July 24, guests can purchase Lightning Lane Passes. There are two types of Lightning Lane Passes, a Lightning Lane Multi Pass, and a Lightning Lane Single Pass. To try to keep this simple, we’ll start with the Lightning Lane Single Pass, since on July 24, it applies to only five attractions: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and TRON Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Avatar Flight of Passage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Guests may purchase up to two Lightning Lane Single Passes per day (subject to availability), and each attraction is priced separately and daily, and the Lightning Lane Single Pass grants entry to the specifically chosen attraction in a specific time window selected at purchase.

The Lightning Lane Multi Pass brings back some of the benefits and some of the complexities of the old version of FastPass+ for those that remember it. But, having said that, put aside those memories, this is what you need to know now: Lightning Lane Multi Pass allows guests to choose up to 3 multi pass experiences and arrival windows in a theme park. Once in a park and after visiting the guest’s first multi pass experience, the guest may make an additional selection of a multi pass experience to visit later (and may continue to do so after each experience, subject to availability). Guests that purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass also receive digital downloads of select attraction photos and videos from that day, captured with Disney PhotoPass Service, and have access to Disney PhotoPass Lenses in the My Disney Experience app.

The next layer of complexity here is that (like the old FastPass+ system) multi pass experiences are tiered. In other words, guests cannot simply select any three attractions that have a Lightning Lane entrance; rather, there are attractions where guests may only select one attraction from a group of attractions (I can hear Genie singing, try one from Column A, and two from Column B). On July 24, the multi pass experiences and relevant tiers are:

MAGIC KINGDOM

Choose up to one experience from this group:

Choose your other 2 experiences—or all 3—from this group:

EPCOT

Choose up to one experience from this group:

Choose your other 2 experiences—or all 3—from this group:

DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

Choose up to one experience from this group:

Choose your other 2 experiences—or all 3—from this group:

DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM

Choose up to 3 experiences:

The initial three multi pass experiences selected all must be for the same park, but for guests with the Park Hopper option, after using the first pass, selections can be made in another park.

Guests of Disney resort hotels, Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort, and Shades of Green get the most advance purchase benefit in the new scheme. Those guests may purchase up to 7 days in advance of their stay. Indeed, that last word is critical for those that like to plan because the longer your stay, the more days in advance you will be able to purchase and book those Lightning Lane Passes for the length of stay (up to 14 days maximum). Of course, for folks thinking of gaming the system by making some sort of refundable hotel reservation and then canceling it after buying Lightning Lane Passes, Disney has its eyes on you too: the FAQ says that by canceling the hotel reservation you forfeit any advance purchase Lightning Lane Pass benefits too, and there are no refunds, but you will still be able to use your purchased benefits and make selections when you are within the appropriate time frame (subject to availability).

Guests with date-based tickets with a specific first use date selected at purchase may purchase Lightning Lane Passes up to 3 days in advance of that designated first use date for the total number of admission days on that ticket. Annual Passholders and guests with any other non-date based ticket (like those that still hold never expiring tickets from back when Disney sold those, and comps, and many of the resident offers Disney makes from time-to-time, among others) may make Lightning Lane Pass purchases up to 3 days in advance of a park visit (and all the usual Park Reservation rules still apply to folks in this category).

Disney says prices for Lightning Lane Passes will be published in the My Disney Experience app by July 24. The app is required for making all purchases, and, as with the other virtual queues and skip-the-queue benefits of the past, for your party to ride together, everyone in your party needs to be linked in the app. The app will have a Lightning Lane Passes section on the Home Screen, and from there, you will make your purchases and attraction/time selections, and confirm the purchase. Modifications can be made in the app too, but the various benefits are not transferable or refundable. Guests are limited to one Lightning Lane entry per attraction per day.

Advance Lightning Lane Pass purchases may not be available to guests while outside the United States. I have found no reference to that in the various terms and conditions on DisneyWorld.com: the official published details and FAQs are here. But, the My Disney Experience app must be used for purchasing Lightning Lane Passes, and Disney’s website notes that it is not available in all countries. I reached out to Disney for clarification and have been told:

Upon arrival in the United States, if a guest is staying at a Disney Resort hotel they can plan and make purchases for their entire length of stay (up to 14 days). The My Disney Experience app is intended for use only in the U.S.

Using a bit of deduction, then, Disney cannot suggest any workarounds for that app limitation, as the app must have been designed to comply with existing laws in the United States only.

Celebrating the Grand Opening of the new Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground

On July 1, Disney Vacation Club celebrated the opening of the new Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort Campground. MousePlanet was hosted by Disney at an invited media event at Fort Wilderness on Monday to mark the occasion.

Chip and Dale have long represented Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground, and they were on hand for the Disney Vacation Club grand opening celebration for the new Cabins. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

While not all of the 350 new cabins have yet been installed, and some of the old cabins are still in-use (on a loop-by-loop basis around the Resort), the new cabins are the latest addition to the Disney Vacation Club. Like all DVC properties, the new Cabins are available to Members using vacation club points, or anyone through central reservations for cash. The new cabins have the same footprint as those at Fort Wilderness that they are replacing, with 527 square feet of living space plus an outdoor deck. The cabins are categorized as one bedroom units that sleep up to six guests with a queen sized bed and a bunk bed in the bedroom, and a pull-down queen sized bed in the living area. Each unit also has a full kitchen, a bathroom with a shower, and a separate sink and vanity. Disney Parks Blog provides a more complete description here, and, of course, Disney Vacation Club is Disney’s version of a timeshare property which is represented as “points” that may be used to book accommodations at not only the resort where they are purchased, but at other Disney Vacation Club properties, and (subject to a bunch of conditions) other Disney vacation options and exchange programs around the world.

Disney Vacation Club model cabin stands near Pioneer Hall.
Disney Vacation Club celebrated the opening of the new Cabins on July 1, 2024, inside Pioneer Hall.
New Disney Vacation Club Cabins have been installed in several “loops” of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, replacing the older cabins which were not part of DVC. Additional loops are still in the process of being transitioned from the old cabins to the new DVC units which are identical one bedroom units on the inside, but different colors on the outside.

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

Unlike many DVC one bedroom villas, these cabins do not have soaking or whirlpool tubs and they do not have laundry facilities in the cabin (there are laundry facilities around the Fort Wilderness Resort). The number of points DVC members need to use to rent cabins, however, is a bit more akin to the price of the studio accommodations at some of the other DVC resorts than the one bedroom villas at those resorts. Disney previously invited MousePlanet and other media sites to the Central Florida warehouse where the cabins were being pre-fabricated and gave us a tour of one of them this spring, and we shared those details in the First Look post.

Pioneer Hall is central to Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort; it hosted the Media Event and has long been home to the “Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue” dinner show. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

All of the facilities of Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground are available to guests that stay in the Cabins (extra charges apply to many things, as is true at all of the Walt Disney World Resort hotels). Many guests at Fort Wilderness rent (or bring their own) golf carts to drive around the large Resort, and there are designated parking places for them. Campers at Fort Wilderness are “famous” for decorating their carts and parts of the campgrounds for seasonal holidays and other occasions. Disney showed off the fishing excursions and Tri Circle D ranch to media, along with the recently refurbished Crocket’s Tavern during the media event.

Fishing excursions are available on Bay Lake (extra fees apply). Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.
Fishing excursions on Bay Lake are led by Disney Cast Members. Video by Alan S. Dalinka.
Tri Circle D Ranch has been a part of Fort Wilderness since the Resort opened in 1971. This new building replaced old facilities a few years ago.
Crocket’s Tavern at Pioneer Hall includes both table service dining inside and this outdoor window.
Campers often decorate their campgrounds at the Resort.

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

Independence Day Celebrations 2024

Disney Parks Blog shared Walt Disney World’s plans for this year’s Fourth of July celebrations.

  • “Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky” returns to sky over Magic Kingdom with the mirror location over Seven Seas Lagoon, both tonight, July 3, and on July 4 at 9:20 p.m. Magic Kingdom has extended operating hours on both days, starting at 8 a.m., and running until midnight on July 3, and 1 a.m. on July 4, with DJs mixing tunes at a dance party in front of Cinderella Castle and throughout the park on both days as well. (Those are later operating hours without requiring separate admission than we have seen since New Year’s Eve.)
  • EPCOT will present “The Heartbeat of Freedom” immediately following the usual 9 p.m. presentation of the fireworks show “Luminous–The Symphony of Us” on both July 3 and 4. Voices of Liberty singers will perform patriotic numbers throughout the day in the rotunda of The American Adventure. Disney characters dressed in their “Spirit of ’76” attire will meet guests throughout the day at The American Adventure as well (those meet-and-greets are usually outside in the plaza near the restrooms). Spaceship Earth will be lit up after dark in a red, white, and blue display.
Disney characters will meet guests in their “Spirit of ’76” outfits to celebrate Independence Day. Photo courtesy Disney Parks.
Spaceship Earth will be lit up in red, white, and blue to celebrate Independence Day. Photo courtesy Disney Parks.

Don’t forget, at this time of year in Central Florida, the days and nights can be very hot, with high humidity, and nearly daily thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening. Overnight temperatures are rarely as low as even 70º, and humidity tends to stay high overnight too. Stay hydrated, and be prepared for periods of rain (typically, an hour or two)! It is also officially Tropical Storm Season and it is already messy in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico; Hurricane Beryl does not appear to be a threat to Florida, but my thoughts are with those in the path of this still Category 4 Hurricane.

This & That & Reminders…

…With Tiana’s Bayou Adventure’s opening last week on June 28, Disney announced that the attraction’s soundtrack is now available on Walt Disney Records across all streaming platforms. Grammy-Award winners, PJ Morton and Terence Blanchard, recorded the special soundtrack in New Orleans with some of the city’s most prolific talent from Jon Batiste to Trombone Shorty, Jon Clearly and more. There is an all-new, original song made just for the attraction, and there are new renditions of familiar favorites from the Walt Disney Animation Studios’ film The Princess and the Frog.

…Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Staring Aerosmith has reopened after its long temporary closure at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. As its name suggests, it still features Aerosmith, as Disney said it would after this refurbishment.

…REMINDER: Country Bears Musical Jamboree will open in Frontierland on July 17. The new show includes country and western versions of songs from the Disney song book and updated looks for the cast of bears who have been a staple of Magic Kingdom since it opened in 1971. Recording artist Emily Ann Roberts is the voice of Trixie in this upcoming new version, and she appeared at the June press event that showed off the Resort’s newest offerings to perform the version of the song “Try Everything” from the film Zootopia that is part of the updated show.

During the press event, Disney showed off a new piece of concept art for the Country Bears Musical Jamboree, opening at Magic Kingdom on July 17. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

..REMINDER: The American Adventure at EPCOT is now home to a temporary new exhibit, Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors, from the George W. Bush Institute. The exhibit features 60 oil paintings by former President Bush of service members and veterans who have served in military uniform with honor since 9/11, and whom the President has come to know personally since leaving office. Each painting is accompanied by the inspiring story of the veteran depicted personally written by President Bush. This exhibit is part of Disney’s admiration for those who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces and veterans, with additional events to be shared and then followed by the 2024 return of the Department of Defense Warrior Games at Walt Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, June 21-30.

“Portraits of Courage,” a new exhibit featuring paintings by former President George W. Bush, is now on display around the rotunda of The America Adventure. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.
The paintings by former President Bush feature military personal that President Bush has gotten to know since he served in office, and he tells their stories in the descriptions that accompany the paintings. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

…REMINDER: Joy from Inside Out and Inside Out 2 is now making appearances at Pixar Place in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The character appearance is part of Walt Disney World’s summer celebration which is scheduled though September 6. Character appearances sometimes continue beyond the marketing period, so we will keep an eye out for word about whether Joy will continue to appear beyond the summer; she previously made regular appearances at EPCOT.

…REMINDER: Disney Vacation Club has announced “Welcome Home Weeks” are coming this summer, a limited-time “celebration” from July 22 through August 24. Special events and special treats are scheduled at Disney Vacation Club resorts (including Aulani, Disney’s Vero Beach, Disney’s Hilton Head, and in the parks) for DVC members eligible for Membership Extras. Starting July 22, eligible members will also be able to stream Westward Walt—a short film examining Walt Disney’s first days in California—by select a specified link and then logging in with the username and password linked to their DVC account. As of this Update, not all of the dates and details have been published, but DVC says to watch this page of its website for details.

…REMINDER: Disney’s Animal Kingdom is now celebrating of the 30th anniversary of the release of Disney’s animated classic The Lion King with special menu items and merchandise, Timon and Rafiki meeting and greeting at Rafiki’s Planet Watch, and the opportunity to learn to draw characters from the film at Animation Experience. That celebration is scheduled to run through September 6, and, Disney Parks Blog has published highlights of the limited time food and beverage offerings. It has also shared a few looks at special merchandise offerings and noted that the long-running “Festival of the Lion King Show” now interacts with Magic+ plus with lights and haptic vibrations.

Timon and Rafiki from Disney’s animated classic “The Lion King” are now meeting and greeting outside Conservation Station at Rafiki’s Planet Watch in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. (Catch the train over there near the exit to Kilimanjaro Safaris.) Photo courtesy Disney Parks.

…REMINDER: Disney Vacation Club recently provided a brief update on the construction of Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows and noted that it is projected to open in December 2024 with a variety of room types that will sleep from two to nine guests, such as duo studios, one- and two-bedroom villas, and a brand-new category of two-bedroom penthouse villas. After its initial update, DVC also provided a room tour video (embedded immediately below). DVC members can now make cash-only rental reservations for Island Tower by calling Member Services at (800) 800-9800 (points-based reservations will be available later); all guests can book rental reservations online or by calling (407) 934-7639.


Disney Vacation Club shared a room tour of a one-bedroom villa coming to the new Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows. Video courtesy Disney.

Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
The 10-story Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows is expected to open in December 2024.
Interior-Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
Walt Disney Imagineering collaborated with over a dozen artists from around the world to create unique artworks that will be displayed throughout the Island Tower.
Lobby-Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
Inside the lobby, guests will be greeted by an art panel installation on the ceiling inspired by several Polynesian Islands, showcasing wildlife native to each locale. Each animal holds a strong connection to the islands and symbolizes values important to Polynesians.

Concept art courtesy Disney.

…REMINDER: The remaining Disney Vacation Club Moonlight Magic event nights are coming up this summer. These complimentary, after-hours events feature select attractions with shorter-than-usual wait times, plus character greetings, entertainment and more. The remaining events are:

  • Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park – July 11 (registration closed)
  • Disney’s Hollywood Studios – August 27: Early Registration August 1st for those with finalized hotel reservations as of July 28 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern; general registration August 15.

A link to the event registration queue is posted online shortly before the registration windows open. If you are an eligible member and have a hotel reservation that includes August 27 (with the party size finalized by July 28 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern),, keep an eye on your email for a registration reminder for the Disney’s Hollywood Studios event with a link. The registration link will also be available on the event website itself, with an additional registration link available when general registration opens for members that are eligible for the “Membership Extras” (having bought the required number of points directly from DVC). Note: Eligible Disney Vacation Club members are limited to attending one Moonlight Magic event per theme park, per calendar year. The Hotel Reservation Finalization (Party Size) deadline is the date by which an eligible DVC member’s qualifying hotel reservation has to have the number of guests listed on the hotel reservation that will be the maximum number of Moonlight Magic guests that can attend an event (if successfully registered); the hotel reservation may be modified after this date subject to the usual reservation rules, but those modifications will not increase the number of attendees that can attend a registered event. Canceling a qualifying hotel reservation after registering for a Moonlight Magic event during the Early Registration window will cancel that registration. The DVC member must attend the Moonlight Magic event to check in with all of their guests present at the same time.

…REMINDER: Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic celebrates 15 Years this year with the return of its Food & Wine Classic on Friday, November 15 and Saturday, November 16, 2024. The event will run an additional half-hour longer each evening than in the past, giving guests more time to enjoy the sips, flavors and music. Tickets are available now at SwanDolphinFoodAndWineClassic.com, including a bundle offering with a 15 percent discount for tickets for both Friday and Saturday night. The discounted bundle gives attendees a taste of everything the Food & Wine Classic has to offer, with different menu items featured each night. Additionally, favorite stations from years past will make an exclusive return, paying tribute to the event’s early years.

The 2024 Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic will take place along the causeway between the two hotel towers on November 15 and 16. Photo courtesy Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort.

More information about the 2024 event, including educational seminars, will be released soon. For the latest information or to purchase tickets, guests can visit SwanDolphinFoodAndWineClassic.com, like swandolphinfwc on Facebook, or call 1-888-828-8850. Discounted hotel packages are available with proof of ticket purchase.

…Ever After is the reimagined location at Disney Springs where guests can now purchase customized headbands. The custom character headbands debuted at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and Disneyland Resort in California earlier this year. This Disney-operated store location previously focused on jewelry and accessories. 

…Speaking of Disney Springs, the restaurants there are also celebrating the Flavors of Summer again this month and through August 11. There’s a whole Disney Parks Blog foodie guide to check out too.

…REMINDER: Guests at Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant this summer at Disney Springs can also enjoy the new “Summer Lovin’ Menu” offerings from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. The seasonal menu features four Raglan Road appetizers and five cocktail specials at just $10 each. Nine select entrees at $20 each include the restaurant’s famous Fish N Chips, Shepherd’s Pie (both Shepherd’s Pie to Try and This Shepherd Went Vegan pie), The OMG Burger, and That Salad with Chicken. Starters like the buttermilk-marinated Bang Bang Chicken or a Soul Soup & Salad Combo paired with the pub’s Irish Gunpowder gin-based Blathanna Blossom, the vodka-forward Blueberry Mint Lemonade, and other super summer sippers are also available. The Summer Lovin’ Menu will be served throughout summer at all indoor Raglan Road bars and tables, on the patio, and at the Hole in the Wall bar. The full All-Day Menu will be available daily as well.

…REMINDER: Walt Disney World Golf will be hosting the 2024 PGA Family Golf Championship at Disney’s Palm Golf Course, September 28th & 29th, 2024. The PGA Family Golf Championship will bring together teams of 2 to 4 players, who are all biologically or legally related, to compete in two days of weekend fun and create great memories and moments with their loved ones. PGA Family Golf brings family members of all ages and skill levels together on multi-generational teams, and programs are hosted exclusively by PGA of America Golf Professionals and LPGA Professionals. Learn more on the official Walt Disney World Golf Blog.

…Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Dream is getting some enhancements in time for its fall sailings from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Among the changes, the forward funnel will become the new Dream Tower Suite, themed as an homage to Sorcerer Mickey, the ship’s stern’s featured character.

…And, speaking of Disney Cruise Line, this week, Disney shared some details of the menus for its next ship, Disney Treasure, which is scheduled to set sail late this year. Disney also shared a first look at the Scat Cat Lounge inspired by The Aristocats. The “Ship’s Log,” on Disney Parks Blog shared news that the ship will also feature a Guardians of the Galaxy-themed meal in its World of Marvel dining room.

…And even further away, DCL shared some new details of Disney Adventure, its first ship that will home port in Asia starting next year.

…REMINDER: Give Kids the World Village, the 89-acre, whimsical nonprofit resort in Kissimmee that provides cost-free week-long trips to critically ill children and their families, announced that its Gingerbread Run is returning this fall and will take place at night – under the holiday lights! On Saturday, November 23, you’ll have the chance to run, roll or stroll a 5K or family fun run through the whimsical storybook Village illuminated by thousands of holiday lights. Information and registration is available on this page of the Village’s website.

And there are other ways to support the Village at live events even if you are not in Central Florida. Coasting for Kids: Summer Inversion Tour offers one-of-a-kind behind-the-scenes experiences and opportunities to witness the magic behind classic coasters at a number of parks around the country, with proceeds supporting the Village. Visit this page of GKTW.org, choose your parks, learn the details and register for the limited spots.

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Resort Reservations, Ticket Advice & Special Offers

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.

Disney Springs area hotels have special rates are available to book through July 15, 2024 for stays through July 31, 2024, based on availability. Some blackout dates may apply, and availability may be limited. The rates do not include the Resort Services Fee or daily parking fee (if applicable), taxes or gratuities. The offer is not valid with any other special offers, promotions, existing reservations, or for groups. Rates and more information for the seven official hotels is available at https://disneyspringshotels.com/magic/.

The 4-day Florida Resident Discover Disney Ticket is $235 ($59 per day), plus tax, and offers admission to one theme park per day. The ticket is valid through September 28, 2024, and park reservations are required. The ticket can be used on consecutive or non-consecutive days, and there is no fuse, so you can use the first admission in April and space out your remaining visits over the summer.

A 3-day version of the ticket is also available for $219 ($73 per day).

Both of these tickets also offer optional upgrades:

  • Park Hopper Option — $40 More Per Ticket, Plus Tax.
    Visit more than one theme park on the same day.
  • Water Park and Sports Option — $35 More Per Ticket, Plus Tax.
    Visit one theme park per day. Plus, get a certain number of visits to a water park, golf course or miniature golf course based on the length of your ticket. For example, if you purchase a 3-Day Florida Resident Discover Disney Ticket with the Water Park and Sports option, you can visit a Walt Disney World theme park on 3 days with an advance theme park reservation—and visit a Disney water park on 3 additional days by September 28, 2024.
  • Park Hopper Plus Option — $55 More Per Ticket, Plus Tax.
    Visit more than one theme park on the same day. Plus, get a certain number of visits to a water park, golf course or miniature golf course based on the length of your ticket. This option is a combination of the Park Hopper option and the Water Park and Sports option.

It really is important to stress the necessity for making your park reservations as soon as you complete your purchase. Disney is only setting aside a limited number of reservations for this ticket type each day, and states, “Reservations may be unavailable for any particular date or park, especially as you get closer to the date of visit or ticket expiration date.”

If you are not a Florida Resident, or you are, but park reservations are not available for the dates you want to visit, Disney is also offering the 4-Day, 4-Park Magic Ticket from $99 Per Day, Plus Tax (Total Price from $396, Plus Tax). The 4-Park Magic Ticket includes one admission to each of the 4 Walt Disney World theme parks—Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios—for a total of 4 admissions, on 4 separate days. Limit one admission per theme park, one theme park per day. This is a date-based ticket, so it does not require a theme park reservation to enter a park, but you must pick a start date through September 22, 2024, and the ticket must be used within 7 days of the selected start date. This ticket cannot be used to enter the same theme park more than once.

If you are willing to skip Magic Kingdom, Disney is also offering a Special 3-Day, 3-Park Ticket to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, EPCOT and Disney’s Animal Kingdom only, starting from $89 per day, plus tax (total price starting from $267, plus tax). This is also a date-based ticket that does not require a theme park reservation to enter a park, but you must pick a start date through September 24, 2024, and the ticket must be used within 5 days of the selected start date.

Disney+ subscribers can get a FREE dining plan when purchasing a non-discounted 4-night, 4-day Walt Disney Travel Company package that includes a room at a select Disney Resort hotel and theme park ticket with a Park Hopper option. This offer is valid for arrivals most nights July 1 through September 30, 2024. Visit DisneyWorld.com/SpecialOffers for additional offer details!

Disney Rewards Visa Card users can get a free dining plan when using the card to purchase a non-discounted 4-night/4 day Walt Disney Travel Company Package including room at select hotels and tickets with Park Hopper Option for arrivals most nights July 1 – 31, September 1 – 7, and December 9 – 21, 2024. More details, restrictions, information, and the opportunity to book are on this page of the DisneyWorld website.

Florida residents can save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels, valid for stays most nights from July 8 through October 3, 2024. Which resort qualifies for which discount and booking opportunities are available on this page of DisneyWorld.com.

Details and more special offers are available on this page of DisneyWorld.com.

MousePlanet’s travel partner Get Away Today is available to help you book rooms and packages.

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REMINDER: Get Away Today’s Walt Disney World Resort vacation packages can now be booked completely on its website! No cumbersome quotes needed! Simply compare all your favorite Walt Disney World Resort hotels and Get Away Today’s hand selected off-property hotels in a few clicks, and then customize for your included tickets for your vacation.

Get Away Today’s Walt Disney World Resort vacation packages now have the option to add Layaway Plans, which allow you to pay the total balance up to eight days prior to travel. You can also add their popular “Peace of Mind Plan” when booking a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel, which allows any reschedules and cancellations up to five days prior to travel with no penalty.

When booking with Get Away Today, all Walt Disney World Resort on-site packages include Get Away Today’s e-concierge, which includes its Best Price Guarantee, Dining Reservation Reminders, access to their Concierge Team email for help before and during your vacation, and more.

Looking to go beyond Walt Disney World Resort when visiting Central Florida? Check out Get Away Today’s Universal Orlando Resort ticket offers too.

Only purchase Disney theme park tickets directly from Disney, an authorized seller, or a travel agency like MousePlanet travel partner Get Away Today! As always, we remind our readers that 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. Historically, 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). 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.

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