Walt Disney World Resort Update for November 29 – December 5, 2016

Walt Disney World Resort Update for November 29 – December 5, 2016

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

News and Views

More 2017 Festival dates announced | Holidays Around the World at Epcot | Tiana and the Enchanting Extras | Views around the World | This and That | Crowd Forecast

More 2017 Festival dates announced

The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival has barely concluded in Walt Disney World, but Disney would like you to go ahead and mark your calendars to return for another helping next year. The dates for the 2017 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival are August 31 through November 13, 2017.

Disney has also announced that the 24th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival will take place March 1 – May 29, 2017. While many of the scheduled Festival Center events and presentations take place Friday through Sunday, the 2017 event will feature an extended operating schedule from March 1–5 for the first time.

Holidays Around the World at Epcot

The Holidays Around the World celebration began this weekend at Epcot, and runs through December 30, 2016. The event features displays of holiday traditions at many of the pavilions around Epcot, and this year introduced new seasonal marketplaces offering food and beverages around World Showcase.

A signature element of the Holidays Around the World event is the Candlelight Processional, a reading of the biblical Christmas Story by a celebrity narrator, backed by a 50-piece orchestra and a 400-voice massed choir.

When you enter Epcot for the day, be sure to pick up a Holidays Around the World Holiday Passport at one of Epcot's entrances. Like the Food & Wine Festival Passport, this booklet includes a list of the different food and beverage offerings around the park. The Holiday Passport also includes listings of the various Holiday entertainment as well, though you still need to pick up a Times Guide to see when each performance is scheduled during your visit.

The Candlelight Processional is performed at the America Gardens Theater three times nightly each night through December 30. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Celebrity narrator Neil Patrick Harris drew large, lively crowds even on Cyber Monday (as he joked) to The Candlelight Processional. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

New at Epcot for the 2016 Holiday Season are the “Marketplaces” around World Showcase offering holiday food and beverages in several of the kiosks that most recently were used for the 2016 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. Alpine Haus, shown here, is located in the former Brazil kiosk between Morocco and France. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Epcot Holidays Around the World merchandise is sold at several kiosks around World Showcase. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Santa's Village in the plaza at The American Adventure includes the Christmas Tree, several merchandise kiosks, a Santa & Mrs. Claus photo opportunity and the American Holiday Table marketplace offering food and beverages. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Santa & Mrs. Claus meet and greet guests in the plaza at The American Adventure during posted times. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The planter in the plaza near Mouse Gear in Future World includes a snowman amongst a holiday floral display. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The planter in the plaza near Mouse Gear also includes winter-themed Goofy and Donald Duck topiaries. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Be sure to pick up a Holidays Around the World Holiday Passport at one of Epcot's entrances which, like the Food & Wine Festival Passport includes a list of the different food and beverage offerings around the Park. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

As Epcot celebrates “Holidays Around the World,” Holiday entertainment around World Showcase is drawn from the cultures of the represented countries. This is Pere Noël at France. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Holiday decor is all around World Showcase at Epcot. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Topiary snowflakes decorate the Norway pavilion. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Seasonal Southern Delights is the Holiday Marketplace kiosk in Showplace Plaza where the Florida Fresh Food & Wine kiosk operated this Fall. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Feast of the Three Kings Holiday Marketplace is along the pathway from World Showcase near Canada to Future World West. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Feast of the Three Kings Holiday Marketplace includes themed decor. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The Canadian Holiday Voyageurs band has returned to the stage at Canada for the Holiday Season. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The performance stage outside The American Adventure hosts Kwanza and Hanukkah presentations. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The large Holiday-themed tea set is on display outside the Rose & Crown Pub at the United Kingdom pavilion. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Tiana and the Enchanting Extras

Starting this week, visitors to the Magic Kingdom have a new way to see the Festival of Fantasy Parade from Liberty Square. The new Tiana’s Riverboat Party Ice Cream Social & Parade Viewing offering uses the Liberty Belle Riverboat as a viewing platform for the parade as it makes its way through Liberty Square. Before the parade, guests at the Ice Cream Social snack on ice cream and soft drinks while they mix and mingle with Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen on the shores of the Rivers of America. Once the parade passes, Tiana and Naveen join the group for a photo. The cost is $49 for adults, $29 for ages 9 and under. Reservations are available by calling 407-WDW-DINE.

With this new offering, Disney has officially launched a new brand called Enchanting Extras Collection, an array of special events that cost extra. All of those added-cost dessert parties, guided tours, spa treatments, in-room celebrations, after-hours events and recreational offerings now fall under the Enchanting Extras umbrella. You can view the partial Enchanting Extras menu on the Walt Disney World website, but note that the new Tiana’s Riverboat Party Ice Cream Social & Parade Viewing is not yet listed.

Views Around the World

Alan catches us up on the latest happenings at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Disney's Hollywood Studios

The period-appropriate Santa statue greets visitors to Disney's Hollywood Studios from atop The Darkroom on Hollywood Boulevard. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The completed PizzeRizzo is now open for business. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The Muppets themed PizzeRizzo restaurant has opened in the former Pizza Planet location with a very similar menu. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The interior of the restaurant has been entirely rethemed and there are now six cashier podiums that could be put in use for up to 12 order-taking positions. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Even the trash cans inside PizzeRizzo have been themed with Muppets-type humor. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

With the elimination of the video games that used to take up space in the former Pizza Planet, there is more than ample seating inside PizzeRizzo. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

A bit of the former New York Street finds a new home on one of the walls of PizzeRizzo, along with humorous records and artifacts that you have to get up rather close to in order to read. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

PizzeRizzo even includes (possibly/hopefully a tongue-in-cheek) wedding reception dining room, complete with disco-ball and lighting. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

PizzeRizzo also has a large, upper-level outdoor seating area overlooking the Muppets Courtyard. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

PizzeRizzo's new upper level outdoor seating area provides new views of the area. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

From the upper level of PizzeRizzo, it appears that the Miss Piggy fountain in Muppets Courtyard is now (hopefully, only temporarily due to nearby construction) a planter. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The upper level of PizzeRizzo also provides a look into the construction site for the upcoming Star Wars and Toy Story Lands. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Signage has been removed from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame courtyard as the area's transformation into an outdoor food court continues. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Several construction cranes now are visible beyond the walls near Pixar Place (and the exit of Toy Story Mania). Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Dr. Strange makes appearances in a themed area near the Toy Story Land and Star Wars Land construction wall near Pixar Place (and the exit of Toy Story Mania). Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Holiday beverage lights and cupcakes are available at select food locations at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Resort Hotels

Making my way around Walt Disney World Resorts, this week I discovered the new snake and alligator warning signs and fencing along the water at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

This and That

…Cast members at Disney's Animal Kingdom park were invited to see a preview of the Rivers of Light nighttime show this weekend. All forms of photography were prohibited during the preview, and the few reviews posted to social media indicate that the show is still very much a work in progress, with major elements either missing or not working during the performance. Cast members who attended the preview and spoke with MousePlanet staff afterwards had mixed reactions, with one calling the show stunning, and another giving it a much less favorable review. Disney has not yet given any hint as to a new time line for the show's public debut.

…The former Toluca Legs stand on Sunset Boulevard reopened this week with a new name–Sunshine Cafe–and a completely revamped menu of nothing but holiday sweets and treats. The star attraction is a pre-packaged decorate-your-own gingerbread cookie kit for $14.99, (plan ahead next year and you can buy a case of a dozen kits for $90 direct from the bakery). There are also adult holiday beverages, assorted cookies, and the standard selection of fountain drinks.

The menu of Sunshine Cafe on Sunset Boulevard consists entirely of Holiday Treats. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

…Park visitors can now meet Moana at the One Man's Dream attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Maui does not appear in this meet-and-greet.

Moana now is available for “meet and greets” in a newly constructed area inside One Man's Dream. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

…The MousePlanet Newsletter is here! The newsletter contains a recap of the week's articles (in case you miss a day), news that may have developed since the weekly Updates were published, and tips about what's happening at the Disney theme parks for the coming weekend. We'll also include a fun bonus, such as an Eye Spy or a trivia question. To subscribe to our free newsletter, just enter your e-mail in the box below.

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Crowd Forecast

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MousePlanet

Resort Events

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

2016 Resort events

• Star Wars Experiences – Opened December 1, 2015
• Holidays at Walt Disney World – November 7 through December 31, 2016
• Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party – November 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 18, 27, 29; December 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, 22
• Holidays Around the World at Epcot – November 25 through December 30, 2016
• Candlelight Processional at Epcot – November 25 through December 30, 2016

2017 Resort events

• Epcot International Festival of the Arts – January 13 through February 20, 2017
• Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival – March 1 – May 29, 2017.
• MouseAdventure – Saturday, March 4, 2017
• Epcot International Food & Wine Festival – August 31 through November 13, 2017.
• Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic – Dates TBD
• Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party –Dates TBD
• Holidays at Walt Disney World –Dates TBD
• Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party–Dates TBD
• Holidays Around the World at Epcot –Dates TBD
• Candlelight Processional at Epcot –Dates TBD

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.

2017

• Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend – January 4–8, 2017. Registration is now open. Proof of time deadline has passed.
• Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend – February 24–26, 2017. Registration is now open. Proof of time deadline has passed.
• Star Wars Half Marathon – The Dark Side Weekend – April 20–23, 2017. Registration is now open. Proof of time must be submitted by January 17, 2017.
• Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend – November 2–5, 2017. Registration opens January 17, 2017. Proof of time must be submitted by August 1, 2017.

2018

• 25th Anniversary Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend – January 3–7, 2018. Registration opens February 14, 2017. Proof of time deadline TBD.
• 10th Anniversary Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend – February 22–25, 2017. Registration opens May 2, 2017. Proof of time deadline TBD.
• Star Wars Half Marathon – The Dark Side Weekend – April 18–22, 2017. Registration opens May 23, 2017. Proof of time deadline TBD.
• Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend – TBD

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.

Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Magic Kingdom

2107

• The Hall of Presidents – closes January 17, 2017 to add an audio-animatronic figure of the 45th president of the United States. Expected to reopen July, 2017.

Epcot

Permanently closed:

• Sum of All Thrills – closed permanently on September 14.
• Storm Struck – closed permanently on September 14.

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Permanently closed:

• Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show
• Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure
• Studio Catering Co.
• Meet & Greet: Mike and Sulley at Streets of America
• Magic of Disney Animation
• The Writer's Stop
• Academy of Television Sciences Hall of Fame

Disney's Animal Kingdom

• None at this time

Blizzard Beach

• Closed October 23 – December 24 for seasonal refurbishment.

Typhoon Lagoon

• Closed December 24 – March 11, 2017 for seasonal refurbishment.

Disney Springs

• Fulton's Crab House – closed for refurbishment. Scheduled to reopen in Fall 2016 as Paddlefish
• Planet Hollywood – closed for refurbishment and transformation into a Planet Hollywood Observatory.
• Disney Quest – scheduled to close sometime in 2017.

Resorts

• Wilderness Lodge and Villas – Hidden Springs pool, resort beach, playground, and Recreation fire pit closed. No opening date provided, but the pool is expected to be closed through 2017. Expect construction-related closures and noise due to construction of the as-yet-unannounced Disney Vacation Club cabins.
• Disney's All-Star Sports – the Grand Slam Pool closed October 10 for refurbishment, and is expected to reopen by December 2. The Surfboard Bay Pool will remain open.
• Disney's Pop Century Resort – the Computer Pool closed October 31 for refurbishment, and is expected to reopen by December 23. The Hippy Dippy Pool will remain open.

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.