Writer’s Note, News & Views
I apologize that our Walt Disney World Resort Updates have been absent for a bit. I did remotely assist our MousePlanet social media coverage of the D23 Ultimate Fan event in Anaheim, and I did make sure that Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix got my insights on the D23 announcements about Walt Disney World Expansion which are included in her post 23+ Theme Park Announcements from D23. At the moment, I really do not have anything significant to add to our coverage–Walt Disney World has not announced closing dates for attractions and areas slated for reimagining associated with those announcements, including Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s “It’s Tough to Be a Bug” in the Tree of Life Theater which Disney has announced will be replaced by “Zootopia: Better Zoogether,” a new 3D show/experience in Winter 2025.
Since my last Walt Disney World Resort Update, my good friend and occasional MousePlanet Contributor, Tim Ellison, unexpectedly passed away. I first met Tim when he was a Disney Cast Member assigned by the Disney Public Relations team as my “Media Rep” for the opening of Pandora-The World of AVATAR at Disney’s Animal Kingdom back in 2017. Over the seven years that followed, that media event turned out to be just one of the many fun adventures we shared as friends. Tim was a passionate Disney fan that understood and was fun to talk with about the business of themed entertainment in general. He also had active annual passes at Sea World and Universal Orlando over many of the years I knew him, and even after he left the Disney cast, he visited Disneyland and Walt Disney World theme parks far more frequently than I have since the global pandemic. Tim was one of a very small number of friends that have accompanied me to Aulani, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and aboard Disney Cruise Line, including Disney’s Castaway Cay; Tim had joined me out at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort a couple of times, and was among a group of friends I had booked a visit to Disney’s Hilton Head Resort with later this year. I will miss sharing more adventures with Tim and discussing the latest Disney business decisions.
Speaking of Central Florida weather, we are coming upon the peak of Tropical Storm season in what was forecast to be an active year. Fortunately, as of this posting, the Atlantic Ocean remains more quiet than expected. If you are heading to Central Florida, always keep an eye on the latest Tropical Storm forecasts, though, as when the warnings get heavy for the region, Disney can modify or suspend park and other operations and posts those notices on DisneyWorld.com — and, of course, I’ll be notifying you too on our channels. As for daily preparedness, September tends to be the last really rainy month of the year. There have been several flash flood advisories from just seemingly-ordinary thunderstorms this week, and some areas have seen heavy damage as a result, but nothing major in the attractions-area. In any event, be aware that a Central Florida downpour tends to be very much unlike what you may have experienced in more northern regions around the U.S.A.; do not attempt to drive or hike through flooded areas!
TRON Lightcycle / Run To Have a Standby Queue Starting September 9, 2024
Since its opening in Spring of 2023, Magic Kingdom’s TRON Lightcycle / Run roller coaster attraction has been available to guests via virtual queue and paid Lightning Lane individual access only. The My Disney Experience app says that a standby queue will be available for the attraction starting September 9, 2024.
For those that like celebrity sightings in the park, Jared Leto was at Magic Kingdom recently to ride TRON Lightcycle / Run ahead of the October 10, 2025 premiere of “TRON: Ares” from Disney Studios. Video courtesy Good Morning America (part of the Walt Disney Company)..@JaredLeto says he "feels like he's home" riding Tron at @WaltDisneyWorld for the first time. 👏https://t.co/HJ05OMeXCi pic.twitter.com/0sHnuKf35z
— Good Morning America (@GMA) August 26, 2024
This queue change will leave Tiana’s Bayou Adventure as the only Magic Kingdom attraction with a virtual queue during regular park hours; the attraction has been using a standby queue during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party event nights. Over at EPCOT, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind continues to operate with a virtual queue. Either or both of those attractions could change soon too, so keep an eye on My Disney Experience for the status of virtual queues.
New Villains Show Coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Summer 2025
For those that paid close attention to Disney’s announcements at the D23 event about its plans for Walt Disney World Resort, you probably also noticed that only the new nighttime parade at Magic Kingdom, the updated Test Track at EPCOT, and some new lounges (the pirates-themed tavern at Magic Kingdom and the conversion of the former VIP lounge above Spaceship Earth’s exit area) are expected to debut in 2025. Meanwhile, just a little way up I-4, Universal Orlando Resort will be opening its brand new EPIC Universe theme park to much fanfare in 2025, and, well, we all know Disney will not be willing to give up the spotlight entirely.
My expectation for 2025 has been that Disney will try to fill its Florida parks with more live entertainment that we have seen since before the pandemic–the nighttime parade at Magic Kingdom announced at D23 was among my suspicions, and we already know that the new live action/puppet/digital animation “The Little Mermaid–A Musical Adventure” is expected to debut this Fall at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This week, Disney announced a new villains show will join the Disney’s Hollywood Studios lineup in Summer 2025. As posted on Disney Parks Blog:
The creative minds at Disney Live Entertainment will transform Sunset Showcase into the mysterious, reflective realm of the Magic Mirror. The show will feature appearances by dozens of the most infamous evildoers, with fiendish foes Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook and Maleficent each breaking through the glass to take the stage in live production numbers.
The concept art for the new show displays a much larger audience than would seem to fit inside Sunset Showcase in its current configuration. Sunset Showcase is currently home to Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy, which debuted back in April 2019, and which Disney says to see again before October 7, 2024, as it will close to make way for the new show.
Mirror mirror on the wall…a new Disney Villains show will enthrall! 🖤 Debuting at Disney's Hollywood Studios summer 2025: https://t.co/gkKAZfgMhy 🪞🎶 pic.twitter.com/F2ps4qrGSm
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) September 3, 2024
Having said that, though, as you may recall, Sunset Showcase was built as a “flex-space” for Disney Live Entertainment as the old backlot theater space at the park was being shut down to make way for what became Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. When Sunset Showcase opened in late 2015, it sometime served as “Club Disney,” featuring a DJ-hosted dance party. In addition to corporate rentals, media events, and other uses, the space also previously hosted the ticketed experience named “Club Villain,” which Disney described as “dining and entertainment offering that provides a spellbinding evening to enjoy savory culinary delights from New Orleans and beyond, fiendish concoctions from the Potions Bar, meet with the villains and dance the night away.”
Disney Parks Blog did specifically point out that “the Disney Villains’ appearance in this new show comes in addition to the future Villains-themed land announced for Magic Kingdom.” (emphasis added)
2025 Disney After Hours Dates Announced
This past week, Disney announced a slate of 2025 Disney After Hours events at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. These hard ticket events allow guests to enter a park as early as 7 p.m. and then to stay three hours after the parks close, with shorter wait times for attractions, characters meeting opportunities, and no extra charge snacks like ice cream, popcorn, and select drinks. Magic Kingdom and EPCOT events are from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Disney’s Hollywood Studios event times are from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. (except March 26 and April 1, which are also 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.).
The number of tickets for each event night is limited, but Disney does not share just how low. When these events were brand new, the ticket cap was quite low, and, during some of the invited media opportunities we had to explore the parks’ events, we found we could have attractions and sections of the park with no other guests around. When Disney created the themed Disney Villains After Hours events, all of the invited media events I attended and the event I paid for were, in my opinion, oversold such that Magic Kingdom still felt crowded on those nights. Your mileage is solely at Disney’s discretion and the number of your fellow guests that decide to purchase tickets to an after hours event.
Magic Kingdom
- January 6, 13, 20 and 27
- February 3, 10, 17 and 24
- March 3, 17, 24 and 31
- April 7 and 28
- May 5, 12 and 19
EPCOT
- February 27
- May 8 and 29
- June 19 and 26
- July 10, 24 and 31
- August 7, 14, 21 and 28
- September 11 and 25
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
These special nights will take place on:
- January 22 and 29
- February 12 and 19
- March 5 and 26*
- April 1* and 30
- May 14 and 28
- June 4,11 and 25
- July 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30
- August 6, 20 and 27
- September 3
*On March 26 and April 1, Disney After Hours will run from 10 p.m. until 1 a.m.
Tickets
Disney After Hours ticket prices range from $175 to $185 (plus tax) for Magic Kingdom, $155 to $175 (plus tax) for EPCOT and $155 to $185 (plus tax) for Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club members can find discounted tickets for EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios only, so be sure to be logged in to your My Disney Experience account when purchasing tickets online. Tickets went on sale for guests staying at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels, and Shades of Green today, September 4, 2024. For all other guests, tickets will go on sale September 10th. More information and tickets are available at: DisneyWorld.com/AfterHours.
2024 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is Underway Through November 23, 2024
The 2024 edition of the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival got underway last Thursday, and Disney invited MousePlanet to the opening day. Unlike many past media days at festivals, Disney gave us no particular agenda and did not highlight any particular elements to look for this year.
As you probably know by now, this is the first festival to get underway at EPCOT since Disney Parks proclaimed that the “historic transformation” of the park was “complete,” and, indeed, the part of the park now known as World Celebration that used to be the center of Future World is now fully open without construction walls.
The CommuniCore Hall building which opened this past December, is now the park’s “Festival Center,” but other than including a larger-than-average Global Marketplace (Festival-speak for food and beverage kiosk counter), a few dozen tables, and a temporary merchandise area, it does not really offer anything new. Indeed, the interior does not have any festival-specific theme on its grey interior walls, and the outside CommuniCore Plaza continues to show the limited run of “Celebración Encanto” which no longer has a published final performance day. The nearby World Celebration Gardens area has no additional festival-related decor or theming.
As in the past, the guide to the full festival offerings is the complimentary Festival Passport guests can pick up when entering the park and at many of the Global Marketplaces around the park. The Festival Passport includes the menus for the World Marketplaces and the other park locations offering festival-specific food and beverage items, as well as information about EPCOT’s allergy-friendly menu and plant-based offerings. The Festival Passport is also where guests can collect stamps for purchasing items on this year’s edition of Emile’s Fromage Montage, where upon completion of five of the specified items earns a Festival “treat” from Shimmering Sips when turning in the completed Passport.
The Festival Passport highlights some of the Festival-specific merchandise collections available this year. And it provides an overview of family friendly activities, like the basic details about this year’s edition of Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak, the scavenger hunt that you can play for fun by spotting hidden Remy around the park or that you can play for a prize by purchasing a map at designated merchandise locations and then returning the completed map for the prize. Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit will also be available for a limited time during the festival for those looking for a Halloween-themed scavenger hunt. In conjunction with the start of the Festival, EPCOT also produced its first ever “Fun for Families with Kids” guide that highlights some of the family-friendly smaller experiences all around the park that families might not spot on their own because their younger family members do not meet height requirements or are scared to experience the larger attraction in the vicinity (a prime example are the post-show interactive experiences at Mission: SPACE that guests can visit just by entering the pavilion through the gift shop).
Festival Merchandise is available in CommuniCore Hall and other locations, including Creations Shop (where you can find Passholder exclusive merchandise). Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.
Odyssey pavilion is once again home to the Brew-Wing Lab presented by Muppet Labs. The pickle milkshake is back, as are the Unnecessarily Spicy Yet Extremely Tasty Wings, this year with Carolina Reaper Pepper Curry (which I was told is even spicier than last year’s version). Muppet Labs merchandise is available at Creations Shop. Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.
The scheduled three-times nightly Eat to the Beat Concert Series has also returned as part of this year’s Food & Wine Festival. Standby queues are available for all concerts. For the headline acts, dining packages are available that provide guaranteed concert seating from specific Disney-operated table service restaurants at EPCOT, and the Regal Eagle Smokehouse at The American Adventure pavilion offers a same-day as purchased limited number of quick service dining packages that provide guaranteed concert seating (a sign out front usually displays whether there are packages remaining for specific concert times).
This & That & Reminders…
…The Little League team from Lake Mary, Florida, which is located in Central Florida, won the 2024 Little League World Series, so Disney gave them the champions treatment of a Magic Kingdom parade last week.
See how the local 2024 Little League World Champions celebrated their victory today at @WaltDisneyWorld: https://t.co/t3kj446adB 🏆⚾️ pic.twitter.com/bGwYtWk1iN
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) August 30, 2024
…REMINDER: The Timon and Pumbaa Passholder magnet is available at Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures in Disney’s Animal Kingdom during regular park operating hours through September 22, 2024. The park also has Lion King-themed Passholder-exclusive treats and PhotoPass experiences available during this time in honor of the 30th anniversary of the film’s debut. Usual Passholder requirements apply.
…UPDATED REMINDER: Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party nights are underway at Magic Kingdom. The select nights, extra ticket required after-hours events run until Halloween. Remember that if you are visiting the park on a party night and do not have the extra ticket for the party, you will be gently swept out of the park at 6 p.m. and there will be no showing of the Happily Ever After Fireworks that night. If you do have the ticket for the party, at the park’s main entrance, you can get your wristband and mix in with the day guests as early as 4 p.m. without a separate park ticket or reservation. If you have a ticket to be in the park during regular park hours and a ticket for the party, you can find wristband distribution locations scattered around the park where you can have your tickets checked and your wristbands issued. Disney Parks Blog has published its Foodie Guide for the party (and many of the items are also available during regular park hours through October 31 as well)–the exclusive party item on the list that will probably generate the most buzz is the Minnie Mouse: Hocus Pocus Halloween Dress-up Sipper which will be available at Sleepy Hollow Refreshments (limited to two per person, per transaction, while supplies last). MousePlanet was invited by Disney to attend the debut edition of the 2024 party, and that sipper sold out within the first hour or so of that night’s party.
Be aware that for this year’s party nights, the Boo-To-You Halloween Parade’s early performance is scheduled earlier than in past years (be sure to check My Disney Experience for times). Also new this year, some Hitchhiking Ghosts (actors) materialize on the upper level of Frontierland near the Country Bears Musical Jamboree; other times the Cadaver Dans return to perform in that space.
…NEW: Raglan Road at Disney Springs celebrates Oktoberfeis this year from September 9 through October 6. Over this past Labor Day weekend, Raglan invited MousePlanet to preview this year’s Great Irish Hooley that we shared on our Instagram Story (and it remains available as a Highlight), where the team at Raglan also showed off some of its new offerings starting September 9 for Oktoberfeis. Raglan partnered with Crooked Can Brewing in Winter Garden, FL, for a special Bavarian Irish Pumpkin Ale for the occasion, and I got to sample it (and enjoyed its flavor). Potato Pretzel, Pork Chop Schnitzel, and Apple Strudle are some of its special offerings for Oktoberfeis.
…REMINDER: For nearly two decades, restaurants around Orlando annual have participated in Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining program. The participating restaurants offer three-course, prix-fixe dinners at “exceptional” prices. Every meal served supports charities. This year, the event runs through September 30th. Like last year, participating restaurants offer either $40 or $60 menus. Each of the offered three-course dinners includes the choice of an appetizer, entree and dessert from the restaurant’s Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining menu. Tax and gratuity are not included. The organizers ask that diners please tip based on the total meal value. Participating restaurants at Disney Springs include Summer House on the Lake, Jaleo, Maria & Enzo’s, and The Edison. Amare at The Walt Disney World Swan Reserve is also participating, and there are several dozen more in the Lake Buena Vista, Dr. Phillips, and I-Drive area, all within a fairly short ride of Walt Disney World Resort (plus more Downtown Orlando and throughout the area getting up to that 150 participants number). For all the participating restaurants and their special menus, visit MagicalDining.com.
…UPDATED REMINDER: “Drawn to Life” presented by Cirque du Soleil and Disney at Disney Springs has a new Florida Resident ticket offer featuring adult tickets at child prices. The offer includes the new Page to Stage Signature Experience, which features an intimate behind-the-scenes look at the show, including a backstage tour and artist meet-and-greet, in addition to premium show seating, collectible merchandise and more. (We were invited to a preview of that behind the scenes experience back in May and provided more details about it in the Walt Disney World Resort Update for May 7, 2024, and our short Instagram Reel is embedded immediately below.)
Florida residents can purchase show-only tickets for as low as $56 now through September 8, 2024. Guests can experience “Drawn to Life” at Disney Springs Wednesdays through Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. The Page to Stage Signature Experience will be offered at the child price of $225 (including taxes and fees), which features premium seating for the show. Page to Stage is offered following the second performance on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets can be purchased at cirquedusoleil.com/drawn-to-life or at the Disney Springs box office and are subject to availability. Offer valid for seat categories 1, 2, 3, 4. Offer also valid for tickets to the “Page to Stage” experience on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday late shows only. To be eligible for the Florida Resident – Adult for Child Price Offer, a valid Florida billing zip code must be provided. Limit nine (9) tickets per transaction and per guest. Offer is available on Adult (Age 10+) priced tickets only. Tickets are subject to taxes and fees. Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. The Florida Resident – Adult for Child Price is subject to availability and cannot be combined with any other offers.
Cirque du Soleil has also released its performance schedule and opened tickets sales for 2025. Performances will be offered twice a day at Disney Springs, five days a week in 2025, Tuesdays through Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Matinee shows will continue to be offered on Sundays at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Beginning October 2, 2024, the Page to Stage Signature Experience will also be available five nights per week following the second performance each day.
Tickets for all performances can be purchased at cirquedusoleil.com/drawn-to-life or at the Disney Springs box office and are subject to availability.
…REMINDER: Looking ahead to winter, tickets are now on sale for Breakfast with Santa at Maria and Enzo’s at Disney Springs. Offered on select dates in December, this breakfast experience will include a spread of classic menu items, visits from Santa’s merry band of elves, holiday carolers and take-home treats. After enjoying breakfast, guests will get to meet Santa himself. Children can share their holiday wishes with him, and will receive a keepsake photo from their special meet and greet. Tickets are $45 for children and $79 for adults, and are available with more information here.
…REMINDER: Applications are now open for the 2025 Disney Dreamers Academy event at www.DisneyDreamersAcademy.com, where high school students looking to achieve their dreams can be nominated or apply themselves. Disney Dreamers Academy is an annual four-day transformational program at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, designed to broaden career and personal development for a select group of 100 teens from Black and underrepresented communities across America. The 100 selected students receive an all-expense-paid trip, along with one parent or guardian, to Walt Disney World Resort to experience a combination of inspiration, education and fun at The Most Magical Place on Earth. MousePlanet has been hosted by Disney at several past editions of Disney Dreamers Academy and has reported on them in past Walt Disney World Resort Updates.
…UPDATED MENUS AND SEMINAR DETAILS + 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, from 5:30-9:30 p.m. The event runs a 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.
To celebrate the event’s 15th year, the just-released menu lineup features 45 dishes, the most in the Food & Wine Classic’s history. The Swan & Dolphin says, “A tribute to the resort’s award-winning restaurants and passions of its incomparable culinary team, guests will embark on a global culinary journey without ever leaving the resort.”
New dishes on the 2024 menu include:
- Baja Style Fish Taco with shaved cabbage, pico de gallo, Rosa Mexicano white sauce and corn tortilla from Rosa Mexicano
- Red Wine Braised Beef Short Rib with browned butter potato gnocchi, porcini mushroom purée, pecorino romano, fennel and parsley salad from Il Mulino
- Korean “No Mayo” Salad with rice noodles, bean sprouts, cucumber, kimchi, cashew and bibim from Cabana Bar and Beach Club
- Hand-Made Harissa Spiced Lamb Sausage with bulgar wheat, smoked yogurt and fennel-onion salad from Amare
- Slow Roasted Pernil with garlic and sour orange marinated crispy skinned pork, white rice, black beans, sweet plantains and fresh lime from For the Love of Florida specialty area
Returning favorites include:
- Roasted Linz Heritage Black Angus Beef Tenderloin with baked marble potatoes, caramelized onion purée, horseradish and béarnaise sauce from Shula’s Steak House
- Signature Classic Guacamole en Molcajete with fresh tortilla chips and roasted tomato salsa from Rosa Mexicano
- Butter Poached Bay Scallops with Florida corn purée, charred scallion vinaigrette, radish threads and shallot butter from For the Love of Florida specialty area
- Dragon Roll with crispy shrimp, yellowfin tuna, avocado, cream cheese, kewpie mayonnaise and eel sauce from Kimonos
- Gua Bao with sweet and spicy glazed pork belly, pickled cucumber, red chile, toasted sesame and hot sauce from Chinatown specialty area
All-new dessert options will include:
- Caramel Banana Crème Brûlée
- Nougat Rum Dark Chocolate Mousse
- Pistachio Raspberry Mousse with white chocolate foam
- Mandarin Cream Beignet
The complete 2024 Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic menu can be found at https://swandolphin.com/wp-pdf/foodandwine/FWCMENU.pdf.
This year’s event features three interactive seminars taught by members of the resort’s award-winning food and beverage team, allowing guests to expand their knowledge in what the resort says is “a delicious way”:
- (NEW) Beer Here! will take guests on a flavorful journey through Florida’s craft beer scene, celebrating the vibrant and diverse brews of the Sunshine State
- (NEW) Salud! A Journey Through Spain guides attendees through Spain’s rich winemaking heritage, with cuisine pairing tips and more
- Craft Cocktails, a fan favorite, breaks down the components of a great cocktail and how to make a perfect drink in your own home
All seminars will take place at the Swan Reserve on Saturday, Nov. 16 from 4:30-5:30 p.m., just prior to the outdoor festival, and are $85 per person, excluding tax. Seminars require separate tickets and space is limited. More information can be found at swandolphinfoodandwineclassic.com/seminars/.
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.
…REMINDER: Before the fall comes around, Florida residents and Disney Annual Passholders can save up to 30% off regular rates on hotel stays at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin. Guests can visit swandolphin.com/offers/ for more information or to book.
…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.
…NEW: For those looking to sail on the last of the three Disney Wish-class ships that Disney has named (ahead of the next, as yet unnamed batch of ships announced at the D23 event), bookings for the Disney Destiny will open September 12, 2024, with earlier opportunities for those with status in the DCL Castaway Club, Disney Vacation Club, and some others (if you have status, you probably know already). Disney Destiny will sail its maiden voyage from Disney’s terminal at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on November 20, 2025. That special four-night cruise will also include stops at both of Disney Cruise Line’s island destinations in The Bahamas – Disney Castaway Cay and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. The maiden voyage will be followed by an inaugural season of four- and five-night cruises to The Bahamas and Western Caribbean. Every sailing will include a day at either Disney Castaway Cay or Disney Lookout Cay — some itineraries will visit both. Visit DisneyCruise.com or contact your favorite travel agent (like our travel partner, Get Away Today).
Disney Parks Blog also shared details about the ship’s Cask and Cannon, a new pub inspired by the Disney Parks “Pirates of the Caribbean” attractions around the world. Its menu will include rare, specialty and vintage rums. There will also be a not-so-secret selection of “bootlegged” brews developed specially for the venue and “served straight from the barrel in true pirate style.”
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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.
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 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 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 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.
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 and resort package stay offers too. Right now, for example, you can get 2 days free with a 2-Park, 3-Day ticket for 5 days of fun when you book with Get Away Today! Enjoy all of the thrills, entertainment and fun that Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure has to offer for as low as $62 per day. Upgrade to a 3-Park ticket to experience Universal Volcano Bay water theme park (which may be closed on some dates). This offer is valid for travel now – April 16, 2025.
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.
…REMINDER: Limited Time Special Offer from Evermore Orlando Resort – Families can save 20% on stays in 5–11-bedroom vacation homes (within sight of and just minutes away from Walt Disney World Resort) November 15, 2024 – January 12, 2025, and enjoy a complimentary Evermore to Your Door holiday meal delivery and kitchen tidy-up service, when they book by September 30, 2024. Terms and conditions apply, including that stays must be at least 5 consecutive nights. To book, visit EvermoreResort.com and use promo code HOLIDAY24.
