Walt Disney World Resort Update for May 3-9, 2016

Walt Disney World Resort Update for May 3–9, 2016

Go directly to: News & Views | Join our Networks | Resort Events | Merchandise Events | Refurbishments and Attraction Closures | Discounts and Promotions

News and Views

Disney Weddings storms the Castle | Disney discounts After Hours event | Judge dismisses lawsuit against Disney World over Disabled Access Service | Joffrey's Magic in Your Mug sweepstakes | This and That | Crowd Forecast

Disney Weddings storms the Castle

If you've ever dreamed of getting married in the shadow of Cinderella Castle during park hours, the Disney Weddings team now has a package that will allow you to do just that. As part of the Wishes Collection, Disney Fairy Tale Weddings now offers a ceremony in the East Plaza Garden inside the Magic Kingdom.

Disney Fairy Tale Weddings now offers couples the opportunity to exchange vows inside the Magic Kingdom during park hours. Photo © Disney.

The ceremony is held right in the heart of the Magic Kingdom at 9:30 a.m., just as the first park guests are racing towards Fantasyland after rope drop. The venue holds up to 100 guests.

As you might expect, this package is not for the budget-minded couple. The venue fee alone starts at $25,000, and you should expect the final package to be over $75,000. The venue rental fee includes chair rental, a sound system, and a trio of musicians, but Disney transportation and Disney fine art photography services are extra.

The Plaza East near Cinderella Castle, previously the nighttime location for FastPass+ viewing for Wishes Fireworks, is now available for weddings by day. As previously reported, at night, some or all of the area is used for desert party fireworks viewing. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

If you're in the market for this type of one-of-a-kind wedding, head over to the Fairy Tale Wedding website for more information.

Disney Wishes Wedding: Magic Kingdom's East Plaza Garden.

Disney discounts After Hours event for passholders and DVC members

Back in March we wrote about the Disney After Hours event, a premium event offering exclusive access to the Magic Kingdom park for three hours after official park closing. The event is $150 per person, $40 more than a ticket to visit the same park during normal business hours.

The first event, hosted on April 14, apparently sold so poorly that hundreds of members of the Disney Vacation Club who were staying on property that night received an invitation to attend the event—with up to three guests—at no charge.

The day of the April 21 event, a number of Walt Disney World Resort hotel guests reported receiving complimentary tickets to that evening's event from the concierge staff at their hotel.

It seems clear that this event isn't selling as well as Disney expected, so the company has now extended a 50% discount offer to Walt Disney World Resort annual passholders and to members of the Disney Vacation Club for the remaining dates: May 5, 8, 12, and 19. Interested passholders or DVC members can purchase discounted tickets by calling (407) 560-7277, or in person at any Magic Kingdom ticket booth or guest relations window.

Guests who purchase the ticket have access to the Magic Kingdom starting at 7:00 p.m., three or four hours (depending on date) earlier than the park's posted closing time. The “after hours” portion runs until three hours after the theme park closes to the public, so 1:00 a.m. or 2:00 a.m. depending on date. The event includes select attractions and character experiences, along with ice cream novelties and bottled soft drinks from vending carts around the park.

Judge dismisses lawsuit against Disney World over Disabled Access Service

A federal judge in Florida has dismissed the first in a series of lawsuits against Walt Disney World which each claim that Disney's Disabled Assistance System (DAS) violates the Americans with Disabilities Act. In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Anne Conway wrote in part, “Plaintiff was given an opportunity to experience Magic Kingdom in a similar manner as guests that do not need accommodations,” and noted that the “DAS and readmission passes are existing means that afford equal access.”

The lawsuit was the first of dozens of similar suits filed in Orlando over the Disability Access Service policy, which replaced the previous Guest Assistance Pass policy in 2013. Parents of children with developmental disorders and cognitive impairments attacked the DAS, claiming the blanket policy failed to adequately address the unique needs of their children.

A similar lawsuit is pending in Los Angeles against the Disneyland Resort, and is scheduled for trial in August.

For those interested in a more detailed understanding of the changes and concerns raised, MousePlanet has written extensively about the policy change, starting with the first announcement change in September 2013, and the operational details in October 2013. We also discussed the claims made in the first 16 lawsuits filed in April 2014. You can also read the original trial brief.

Joffrey's Magic in Your Mug sweepstakes

Joffrey's, the Official Specialty Coffee of the Walt Disney World Resort is hosting their second-annual Magic in Your Mug sweepstakes. The grand prize is a 5-day Walt Disney World Resort vacation for the winner and up to three guests, including airfare, hotel accommodations, theme park tickets, and a Joffrey's beverage card.

Enter via the contest website. The contest is open May 1 through May 31, 2016, and you are limited to one entry per person. The winner will be notified on or after June 10, 2016.

The contest is open to legal residents of the continental United States, including the District of Columbia. (Sorry, Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, you have to sit this one out), who have reached the age of majority in their home state. Employees and immediate family of Joffrey's or Disney are not eligible. See the official contest rules for all eligibility details.

Views from around the World

Contributing photographer Alan Dalinka shares his photos from around Walt Disney World this week.

Epcot

This year's Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival has entered its final month. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The “Frozen”-themed additions to the Norway pavilion continue toward their expected Summer completion. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The Florida Fresh display and kitchen is located between Morocco and France along the World Showcase Promenade. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Experimenting with different iPhone Apps for photos can yield interesting results when viewing Illuminations. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Disney Springs

Construction cranes working on the road interchange and flyover at Buena Vista Drive and Epcot Center Drive rise above the China pavilion between Epcot and Disney Springs. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Magic Kingdom

The City Hall restrooms are closed for refurbishment; City Hall remains open. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Animal Kingdom

The Discovery Island Trail remains closed for construction around the base of the Tree of Life. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Construction continues around the base of the Tree of Life. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The amphitheater built for the Rivers of Light nighttime spectacular sits empty awaiting the launch of the temporary show based on “The Jungle Book” around Memorial Day. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

This shade of blue flags and banners now decorate the side of the Rivers of Light amphitheater closest to the Theater in the Wilderness (home to Finding Nemo: The Musical). Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

With the construction walls nearly all removed around the Discovery River, new vistas abound. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The dinosaur towering over Chester and Hester's Dino Rama has been painted green. On signs around the area, the dinosaur logo is still its former yellowish color. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

New support structures have been installed in the currently closed upper seating area of Flame Tree BBQ. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

This and That

…Sprinkles Cupcakes has confirmed their Disney Springs location (and the Cupcake ATM) will open on May 15th as part of the Town Center debut.

…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 – December 1, 2015 – ???
• 2016 Flower & Garden Festival – March 2 – May 30, 2016
• MouseAdventure Silly Symphonies (unofficial event) – Saturday, May 14. A puzzle hunt at Epcot and the Epcot Resorts. More information at the event website.
• Gay Days at Walt Disney World (annual unofficial event) – June 2–5. More information on the event website. To whatever degree there are “organized” events, the schedule calls for attendees to visit the parks on these days:
  • Thursday, June 2 – Animal Kingdom
  • Friday, June 3 – Disney's Hollywood Studios
  • Saturday, June 4 – Magic Kingdom (the busiest day of the event)
  • Sunday, June 5 – Epcot
• Night of Joy – September 9 & 10
• 2016 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival –September 14 through November 14, 2016.
• Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic – dates to be announced.
• 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
• “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.
• Holidays at Walt Disney World – dates to be announced.
• 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 – dates to be announced.
• Candlelight Processional at Epcot – dates to be announced.

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, 2016. All races are sold out, with the exception of the runDisney Kids races. Proof of time must be submitted by August 2, 2016

2017

• Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend – January 4–8, 2017. Registration opens at Noon (Eastern) on Tuesday, April 26. Proof of time must be submitted by October 4, 2016.
• Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend – February 24–26, 2017. Registration date has not been announced. Proof of time must be submitted by November 15, 2016.

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.

2016 ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex events

• Varsity All Star’s Cheerleading Championship – April 29 – May 1.
• Special Olympics Florida Summer Games – May 20 – 21.
• AAU National Club Championship – June 30 – July 3.
• Special Olympics Florida Fall Classic – November 11 – 12.
• 2016 Pop Warner Super Bowl –December 3, 2016 – December 10, 2016

Merchandise Events

Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Magic Kingdom

2016

• Walt Disney World Railroad – closed through April 23 for refurbishment.
• Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse – closed July 7 – September 24 for refurbishment.
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – closed August 8 – November 18 for refurbishment.
• Liberty Square Riverboat – closed August 15 – 21 for refurbishment.
• “it's a small world” – closed August 22 – September 15 for refurbishment.

Epcot

2016

• Soarin' – closed as of January 4, 2016. Reopens sometime in “summer of 2016” as Soarin' Around the World, with a new ride film.
• Maelstrom – permanently closed for construction of Frozen Ever After attraction. New ride expected to open May, 2016.

Disney's Hollywood Studios

2016

• Magic of Disney Animation – building permanently closed for future expansion. Part of the space has been converted to the Star Wars Launch Bay.
• One Man's Dream theater – an expanded sneak peek at Alice Through the Looking Glass begins May 6 .
• Pizza Planet restaurant – closed January 11 for refurbishment. Reopening date TBD.
• Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show – permanently closed on April 3, 2016 to make way for the Star Wars Land expansion.
• Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure – permanently closed on April 3, 2016 to make way for the Star Wars Land expansion.
• Studio Catering Co. – closed on April 3, 2016 to make way for the Star Wars Land expansion.
• Meet & Greet: Mike and Sulley at Streets of America – closed on April 3, 2016 to make way for the Star Wars Land expansion.

Disney's Animal Kingdom

• Tiffins – the park's new table-service restaurant will open Memorial Day weekend for lunch and dinner.

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 January 1 – June 1, 2016 for refurbishment and transformation into a Planet Hollywood Observatory.
• Disney Springs Bridge 4 and restrooms on Pleasure Island – temporarily closed for ongoing construction work.
• Disney Springs Lots A-G – closed through August 1, 2016.
• Disney Springs Lots H, I, J, and K (in Westside area) – closed until further notice for construction.
• Disney Quest – scheduled to close sometime in 2016.

May 15 openings:

• Disney Springs Town Center
• The Daily Poutine
• B.B. Wolf’s Sausage Co.
• Amorette’s Patisserie
• Sprinkles Cupcakes

May 22 openings:

• Aristocrepes

Resorts

• Boardwalk Inn
  • Exterior painting and repair during daylight hours, through May 5, 2016
  • Flying Fish Cafe closed February 1 – September 30, 2016 for refurbishment.
  • Seashore Sweets – closes February 1 as part of the Flying Fish refurbishment.
• 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.

Elsewhere

• 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.

Don't keep it to yourself! Send us your news tips, rumors, and comments.