Walt Disney World Resort Update for November 19-25, 2019

Walt Disney World Resort Update for November 19 – 25, 2019

Writer's note: As we keep an eye on the published Walt Disney World theme park operating hours in the My Disney Experience app through the end of the year, we continue to note very few nights where any of the parks plan to offer Extra Magic Hours after the end of regular published operating hours for Resort guests. This is particularly noteworthy over at Disney's Hollywood Studios during December which, on December 5, will open Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance to complete the attraction line up inside Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. In December, that park's operating schedule is 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. through the 19th, then until 10 p.m. through the 30th, and Midnight on the 31st (returning to 9 p.m. closing on January 1). The park has a published morning Extra Magic Hour from 8-9 a.m. each Sunday.

Magic Kingdom has posted nighttime Extra Magic Hours for the first three Wednesdays of December (4, 11 & 18), and has finally posted its usual nighttime Extra Magic Hours after the conclusion of the regular December 30 operating day (which, this year, means it will remain open to Resort guests from midnight until 2 a.m.) Magic Kingdom posted scattered dates with a morning Extra magic Hour in December. Epcot has nighttime Extra Magic Hours posted on Tuesday nights in December except New Year's Eve, and an Extra Magic Hour scheduled each Thursday morning. Animal Kingdom offers only morning Extra Magic hour on the first three Saturdays and on December 30.

With holiday revelries and crowds building and around the Resort, it was an otherwise quiet week for news. Yesterday, my latest chat with Garry Meier was posted and is now available. We discuss Disney+, Aulani and Hawaii, the Disney Holidays celebrations, Frozen 2, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Thanks for listening!

For those that want to jump right to my discussion with Garry about the latest Disney news, it starts at 28:53.

News and Views

Headlines are auto-generated here

Frozen 2 Experiences Coming to Epcot November 22

With Disney's Frozen 2 opening nationally in theaters on November 22, Epcot will be the theme park place to find the film-related special celebrations starting that day. At the Royal Sommerhus at Norway pavilion, Anna and Elsa will appear with their new looks inspired by the new film. Nearby, at The Fjording Shop, kids costumes featuring the royal sisters' new look will also be available for sale.

Disney's “Frozen 2” opens in theaters nationally on November 22. Video ©Disney.

The Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe at Norway pavilion will debut a brand new cupcake filled with chocolate buttercream and decorated with “fire frosting” topped off with a white chocolate Bruni. Other treats inspired by the new film will also be available.

Disney Parks Blog promises that there will be other “warm” surprises available exclusively on November 22 at Epcot.

On this past Sunday, Disney Vacation Club hosted an advanced screening of the film for Members fortunate enough to register in time. I was one of those fortunate enough to register and, without revealing any details other than that the whole gang of heroes from the original Frozen are back, I have to say that I really enjoyed this film. As the Update Writer, I tend to avoid reviews in favor of reporting, but this animated musical was a delightful surprise for me and, indeed, I enjoyed it a great deal more than Frozen.

This weekend, the western entrance to the AMC Dine-In 24 Theatres was decorated to promote “Frozen 2” ahead of the Disney Vacation Club and Disney Parks Blog previews of the movie on Sunday.

The photo backdrop near the Orange Garage escalator now also promotes “Frozen 2” which opens November 22.

On Sunday, a “Frozen 2” tour promotion truck had sponsored themed “goodies” for kids only (as my group of adults were told).

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

Disney Parks Celebrate Family Volunteer Day

This coming Saturday, November 23, at 10:30 a.m. Eastern, Bob Chapek, Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products will join Mickey Mouse and friends and the Aguirre family who were recently named the first-ever Disney and Points of Light Volunteer Family of the Year on the Marketplace stage at Disney Springs, to mark the start of Family Volunteer Day celebrations at Disney parks and resorts around the world. Between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., a “Volunteer Village” featuring activities that support local nonprofits will be open nearby. Guests that participate in the activity of creating “Clean the World” postcards for Operation Uplift will receive special offers for Disney Springs retail and dining locations valid that day.

Disney will also donate $1 to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida for every purchase transaction at Once Upon a Toy and Goofy's Candy Company on November 23. We have been invited to the event at Disney Springs and will report on Social Media and in future Updates. Disney plans to post updates to Disney Parks Blog Instagram and is encouraging everyone volunteering in their communities that day to post using #VolunteerTogether and to tag @DisneyParks.

Epcot Concerts & Candlelight Processional News and Calendar

Tonight, American Gardens Theatre wraps up the 2019 run of the Eat to the Beat Concert Series with concerts by D'Capella at 5:30, 6:45, and 8:00 p.m. The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival itself, however, continues until this Saturday night, November 23. The slightly early end to the Concert Series allows the stage to be set for the November 29 opening of this year's Epcot International Festival of the Holidays and its three times nightly performances of Candlelight Processional through December 30. The Candlelight Processional combines a live orchestra, massed choir and celebrity narrator in the retelling of the traditional Christmas story. Neil Patrick Harris, Gary Sinise, Whoopi Goldberg, Pat Sajak, Steven Curtis Chapman, Edward James Olmos, Lisa Ling, Isabella Rossellini, Marlee Matlin, Warwick Davis, Chita Rivera, and Ming-Na Wen are all scheduled as celebrity narrators this year. Guaranteed seating for all performances is available by booking a breakfast, lunch, or dinner Candlelight Processional Dining Package at select Epcot eateries. Availability is limited and advance reservations are highly recommended and can be made up to 180 days prior to your visit. Bookings for Candlelight Processional Dining Packages and more information is available on EpcotHolidays.com or by calling (407)WDW-DINE.

Neil Patrick Harris is scheduled to return to Epcot to narrate Candlelight Procession for the 12th year. File photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

From January 17 to February 24, 2020, Epcot International Festival of the Arts returns and the America Gardens Theatre will again host nightly Disney on Broadway Concerts three times nightly. This week, Disney Parks Blog revealed a partial schedule of the performing duos which include Kissy Simmons & Alton Fitzgerald White, Heidi Blickenstaff & Gavin Lee, Kara Lindsay & Kevin Massey, and Ashley Brown & Josh Strickland. More information about both the whole Festival and the shows themselves is available on ArtfulEpcot.com or by calling (407)939-5277. Booking for dining packages and workshops is also now open for the entire 2020 Festival.

From March 4 to June 1, 2020, the park presents the 27th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival with its, as yet unspecified schedule, Garden Rocks Concert Series.

For the convenience of our readers, all of the scheduled Celebrity Narrators for Candlelight Processional at America Gardens Theatre are shown in our Google Calendar of Epcot Events. We will have also added the announced Disney on Broadway Concert Series performers so far, and we will add Garden Rocks Concert Series performers when they are announced. You can add the entire Event calendar to any calendar that supports the iCal format (like iPhone and Mac) by copying this link and, as we get additional information and update the calendar, the calendar will update on your subscribed device as well.

While our Google Calendar of Epcot Events lists announced performers, it is still 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 any last minute changes. The calendar is provided as a courtesy “as is, where is” without any guarantees. 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

In a week with an above-average number of grey-sky dies, we have just a few views from Epcot. Views of Disney Springs, as always, are grouped with the news from that part of the Resort below.

Epcot

With lots of trees removed between The Seas and Innoventions West, it is possible to capture a new view of Spaceship Earth. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

As here in The Land pavilion, Epcot has begun decorating for the holidays while the Food & Wine Festival continues through November 23. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

New lighted poles have been installed along one of the recently reopened walkways in Future World West overlooking Imagination! Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Born to Polka entertains at the Germany pavilion's stage which has been decorated for the holidays. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

This and That…

…UPDATE: The #DisneyParksLIVE stream of Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! was rescheduled for tonight, November 19, starting at 8:55 p.m. Eastern. Disney's Hollywood Studios saw the return of both of its seasonal nighttime offerings: Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! the nighttime spectacular centered on the Chinese Theatre, and Sunset Seasons Greetings with projections on The Hollywood Tower Hotel (Tower of Terror) and video screens along Sunset Boulevard on November 8.

…Following up on our media-invited tour of the holiday decor around Disney's Animal Kingdom that we reported on last week, this week, Disney Parks Blog further highlighted some of the new decor on Discovery Island. The snowflakes woven into the garland in this part of the park were handmade by artisans from the Augusta Training Shop, a nonprofit organization in Augusta, Georgia that employs adults with cognitive and physical disabilities.

Artisans at the Augusta Training Shop handmade the snowflakes for Discovery Island at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Video ©Disney.

…Mickey and Minnie Mouse marked their 91st anniversary of their big screen debut yesterday, November 18. In honor of the occasion, Disney Parks Blog released a new poster for Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway, the pair's first ever ride-through attraction, which is expected to debut at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Spring 2020 in the Chinese Theatre. The attraction is also scheduled to open in Toontown at Disneyland in Anaheim in 2022.

Disney Parks Blog debuted a new attraction poster for Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway in honor of the pair's November 18 birthday. The attraction is expected to open at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Spring 2020. Image ©Disney.

…The latest addition to the Disney Skyliner merchandise line-up is a new Disney Skyliner Mickey Mouse Funko Pop that went on sale on November 16 at the locations where Disney Skyliner merchandise is sold (in other words, at the shops closest to the stations along the new transportation system).

…The Tri-Circle-D Ranch transformation project continues at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground with a new barn and pasture area expected to be completed in Spring 2020. The cast that work with “The Happiest Horses on Earth” continue to offer pony and horseback trail ride opportunities, as well as carriage and sleigh rides.

Tri-Circle-D Ranch, home to “The Happiest Horses on Earth” continues its transformation through spring 2020, but opportunities to experience pony and horseback trail rides as well as carriage and sleigh rides continue. Video ©Disney.

…REMINDER: Disney-owned ABC and Disney Channel will again show Disney Parks Holiday Specials this year. ABC starts the holidays schedule with “The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration,” Thursday, November 28 (8-10 p.m. EST). Next on the schedule is “Disney Channel Holiday Party @ Walt Disney World,” premiering Friday, December 13 (8-8:30 p.m. EST) on Disney Channel and the DisneyNOW app. As part of the annual tradition, the “Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade” airs Christmas morning, Wednesday, December 25 (10 a.m. to noon EST, 9-11 a.m. CST/MST/PST, though airtimes may vary, so check listings for ABC and on the ABC app).

…ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex hosts the Orlando Invitational, an early-season NCAA college basketball tournament, on November 28, 29 and December 1. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.

…For those interested in collecting pieces of history from Disneyland and Walt Disney World, Van Eaton Galleries in Sherman Oaks, California, is hosting a public exhibition through December 6, of over 1,500 items from Disney Parks history that will be offered for auction December 7 and 8. The full auction catalogs trace the history of Disney Parks, with many original pieces from the late Marty Sklar's collection, and can be viewed on the Van Eaton Galleries Website.

…More kudos rolling in for Disney Cruise Line, which, for the seventh year in a row, earned the number one ranking for Best Cruise Lines for Families & Best Cruise Lines in the Caribbean from U.S. News & World Report.

…And beyond the Resort in Central Florida, LEGOLAND Florida Resort last week introduced the “Florida Prepaid Schoolhouse,” an indoor play area for younger guests to explore learning and careers created in partnership with Florida Prepaid College Savings Plans. To celebrate the opening, Florida Prepaid is giving away 10 college scholarships sponsored by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation. Through November 24 at 5 p.m. Eastern, families can enter to win one of 10 packages that each include a 2-Year Florida College Plan Scholarship and two tickets to LEGOLAND Florida Resort. Entrants are also automatically entered to win one of four LEGOLAND Florida Resort weekly prize packs (though, note, that the last weekly prize will be awarded November 22). For more information, including the contest rules, go to MyFloridaPrepaid.com/scholarship.

…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 (including those immediately under this paragraph). Event items NEW to the Update are marked accordingly. For even more of the latest news around Disney Springs, follow its official Twitter Feed: @DisneySprings.

…NEW For those considering making their Black Friday shopping outing to Disney Springs, Disney Parks Blog has the highlights of some of the specials Disney and its retail partners plan for the big day, with some locations opening as early as 8 a.m.

…NEW The Ron Jon Surf Shop held its grand opening on Friday in Town Center near the Lime Garage pedestrian entrance. The 10,000 square foot shop features two floors of “beach essentials” and souvenirs. As we noted last week, the door handles out front are shaped like surfboards too.

Ron Jon Surf Shop is now open at Disney Springs in Town Center. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

…Disney's new Disney+ video streaming service which launched yesterday, Tuesday, November 12, opened a new pop-up location near Paddlefish. If you are one of our West Coast readers, you can find a similar pop-up location at Downtown Disney District near Disney Home at Disneyland Resort. Everyone, of course, can visit DisneyPlus.com for more information.

The Disney+ pop-up store is located near Paddlefish restaurant. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Jaleo

NEW On Tuesday, December 10, from 7-9 p.m., Jaleo welcomes Raquél Pérez-Cuevas from Ontañón to Disney Springs for a one-night only experience. Raquél is working to carry on the tradition of grape growing in Spain, and she will bring five of her family's award-winning wines to Jaleo for a private, seated dinner featuring a special menu from Jaleo Disney Springs Head Chef Rodolfo L. Guzman Aranda and his team to pair with the Ontañón wines from Rioja, Rueda, and Ribera del Duero, including:

• Hinojo salad of fennel, tomato, asparagus, and orange dressed with passionfruit vinaigrette
• The traditional Spanish dish Gambas al Ajillo (shrimp sautéed with garlic)
• Arroz Meloso con Bacalao (creamy rice with seafood)
• Costillas de Cordero con Miel y Romero (Josper-grilled lamb chops with rosemary sauce and honey aioli)
• Flan Mama Marisa (the classic Spanish custard with 'espuma' of Catalan cream and oranges)

Tickets are $115 per person. Visit this EventBrite webpage for more information and tickets.

Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant

Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant will offer a dinner special for both Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Its butter- and herb-roasted turkey with garlic mashed potatoes, duck fat potato roasties, honey glazed carrots, bacon-braised Brussels sprouts, sausage-and-walnut stuffing, red wine jus and cranberry sauce will be available for order from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. on both holidays, and the complete dinner is $28.95 for adults and $14 for kids (available both inside the pub and on the patio). The regular pub menu will also be available, and from 4:30 p.m. through the wee hours, its holiday celebration includes performances by its live Irish bands and the Raglan Road Irish Dancers.

Looking further ahead to New Year's Eve, Raglan Road will ring in the new year twice that night. At both midnight Ireland time (7 p.m. Eastern) and at Midnight at the pub, Raglan will have free Champagne toasts. There is no cover charge for the celebration.

Raglan Road has live entertainment daily and has been in this spot since the neighborhood was Pleasure Island. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Maria & Enzo's

Ricotta Gnudi featuring Turkey Bolognese, parmesan cream and charred lemon gremolata, is Maria & Enzo's “authentic Italian twist” on Thanksgiving this year for $27. Reservations available at its website.

Enzo's Hideaway

Turkey Sausage “Carbonara,” made with Pappardelle pasta, roasted winter squash, toasted garlic, and rapini is the advertised star of Enzo's Hideaway's Thanksgiving gourmet holiday meal for $27. It is also serving a Pumpkin Pannacotta made with with spiced chocolate crumb, mandarin orage, and cinnamon gelato for $11. Reservations available at its website.

The Edison

The Edison offers a traditional prix-fixe Thanksgiving menu “with all the classic trimmings” all day long for $32/person and $19/child (nine and under). The menu includes oven-roasted turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, house-made stuffing, brown sugar honey glazed baby carrots, and cranberry chutney. Reservations available at its website.

Morimoto Asia

Back by popular demand, Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto will present holiday-themed beers and gourmet pan-Asian light bites at Morimoto Asia in Disney Springs during the highly-anticipated second annual “12 Beers of Christmas” event.

The event will take place on Sunday, Dec. 8, from 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Tickets are $64++ per person. Guests must be 21 years or older to attend. In celebration of the craft-beer movement and the most wonderful time of the year, attendees will enjoy 12 specialty beers from local breweries all across Central Florida, such as Crooked Can Brewing Company and Rogue Ales. The brews will be paired with Morimoto Asia's famous pan-Asian cuisine from 12 food stations.

Morimoto himself will host the event and will be autographing copies of his cookbook Mastering the Art of Japanese Home Cooking. The cookbook will be sold at the event, with proceeds going to Give Kids the World Village, a nonprofit resort for critically ill children and their families who visit Florida on their “wish trips.”

Tickets are available on the event website.

NEW Views Around Disney Springs

Demolition of the former Bongo's continues to make way for Beatrix. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

From across Village Lake, it is easy to see that the demolition of the larger-than-life “pineapple” at the former Bongo's has begun. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

In prior years, this modernist Christmas tree stood near Bongo's in the Food Truck park.

The steampunk penguins are back for the holidays between Planet Hollywood and STK.

Oversized ornaments decorate spots all around Disney Springs.

The Town Center Christmas Tree was installed over the past week.

The holiday chandeliers were also installed this past week.

Amorette's is now selling a Santa Mickey-style dome cake.

Amorette's also has introduced a “Frozen” petit cake.

World of Disney is now completely decked out for holiday shoppers.

The dog-nuts or Disney Springs' version of peanuts characters are back near the Marketplace Co-Op.

The Marketplace Christmas tree towers over Earl of Sandwich just before the entrance to the Christmas Tree trail.

The Spices and Teas shop next door to Earl of Sandwich has closed.

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

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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

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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.

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