Author: disneyparks.disney.go.com

As the phased reopening of Walt Disney World Resort continues, we are nearing another exciting milestone we know many guests have been looking forward to: the return of the Park Hopper option! Starting Jan. 1, 2021, guests who purchased a ticket or annual pass with Park Hopper benefits will be able to visit more than one park per day, with some new modifications as part of our ongoing focus on health and safety.

With the updated Park Hopper experience, guests must make a Disney Park Pass reservation for the first park they plan to visit AND enter that first park prior to visiting another. At this time, a park reservation is not required after the first park, however, reservation requirements are subject to change.

Additionally, we will set specific Park Hopper hours during which this option will be available. Park Hopper hours will start at 2 p.m. each day and end at the park’s scheduled close time. Guests will soon be able to check DisneyWorld.com/ParkHours and the My Disney Experience app for the most up-to-date Park Hopper hours, as they could start earlier at a later date, depending on the day and park.

These modifications are designed to help us continue managing attendance in a way that fosters physical distancing. Additionally, other enhanced health and safety measures remain in effect, including face coverings required for all guests ages two and up.

As a reminder, guests with a ticket or pass that includes Park Hopper benefits get the chance to see and do more during their visit, which could mean a morning on the savanna at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park and an evening stroll by Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park or starting the day living your Star Wars adventure at Disney’s Hollywood Studios before an afternoon traveling around the world at EPCOT. Please note that the ability to visit another park will be subject to the park’s capacity limitations.

If you have any questions, you may visit our Know Before You Go page on DisneyWorld.com, call the Disney Reservation Center, contact your travel professional or reach out to planDisney to get helpful tips and information on your upcoming Disney vacation. 

We look forward to starting the new year with the return of this guest favorite option!

From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com

Filed Under: Vacation Planning, Walt Disney World Resort, WDW

EPCOT holds a very special place in my heart. As a boy, it inspired me to dream of a better future – a place where anything is possible. And now I’m honored to lead the team of Disney Imagineers dreaming up the new future for this park we all love.  

As part of the D23 Fantastic Worlds Celebration, today I joined Melissa Valiquette, vice president of EPCOT, to talk about the park’s historic transformation happening right now. You can watch the entire session by clicking on the video below, but to whet your appetite, I thought it’d be fun to share a few highlights from our discussion.  

It’s been a while since we last talked with you about the new neighborhoods that will unify EPCOT, so we gave a refresher on World Celebration, World Discovery, World Nature and World Showcase. 

To that end, we talked a bit about the park’s reimagined entrance, and how it sets the tone for the entire transformation with its gorgeous new color palette and an open, inviting layout. Earlier this year we installed gleaming new pylons as part of the work we’re doing on the new fountain at the base of Spaceship Earth, which I’m excited to share will be completed by the end of this year. The fountain will have a new lighting package that will be joined by new lighting for the iconic geosphere of Spaceship Earth, as well. When we’re done, it will feel like a completely new way to begin your journey into the park.

Our work continues on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, the awesome and out-of-this-world new coaster experience coming to what will soon be known as World Discovery. We’ve just recently put a few of the attraction’s vehicles on the track for initial “push/pull” testing, which you can see happening in the photo above. When it’s ready, this is going to be a great adventure for families to take together.  

We have a new nighttime spectacular planned for World Showcase Lagoon – “Harmonious” will be one of the largest shows ever created for a Disney park. But as you can see in this new artist concept rendering, it will provide a new energy to the park during the daytime, too, with fountains out on the lagoon.    

We also heard from Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald and, from Pixar Animation, Roger Gould and Harley Jessup, who gave us a deep dive into the creation of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, the fantastic new family-friendly attraction set to open next year as part of a newly expanded France pavilion. They provided a look at the attraction’s incredible marquee we recently installed, and discussed how it plays into the whimsical architecture of this newly expanded area of the pavilion. This session is a fascinating window into our collaborative work with Pixar I know you’ll enjoy.    

This is just a snapshot from our in-depth discussion of all the goings-on at EPCOT right now. Go see the full presentation for yourself below, and then be sure to follow me @thezachriddley for more on the historic transformation of EPCOT as it unfolds! 

From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com

Filed Under: Epcot, Walt Disney World Resort

Have you ever wanted to explore the planet of Batuu beyond what you’ve seen at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge? Well now, you can! ILMxLAB, Lucasfilm’s award-winning immersive entertainment studio, has just released their latest virtual reality adventure, Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge. The new experience, created in collaboration with Oculus Studios, is available now on the Oculus Quest platform. 

Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge takes place on the outskirts of Black Spire Outpost on the planet of Batuu, as depicted in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the immersive epic lands at Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Players take on the role of a droid repair technician operating near Batuu, but when a group of Guavian Death Gang pirates attack they’ll be forced to jettison the ship’s mysterious cargo and head for the escape pods. After crashing on the planet, players will discover never-before-revealed areas of Batuu, and discover that anyone in the galaxy can become a hero.  

During their adventure, players will meet unforgettable new characters like Seezelslak (Bobby Moynihan), a boisterous Azumel bartender and nefarious Guavian Death Gang cell leader Tara Rashin (Debra Wilson). They will also adventure alongside classic characters like R2-D2, C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) and the owner of Black Spire Outpost’s Droid Depot, Mubo (Matthew Wood). 

“Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge is a dream project for all of us at ILMxLAB,” said director Jose Perez III. “Building off the groundbreaking work for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, our team worked tirelessly to expand the story of Black Spire Outpost. We are excited for fans to have the opportunity to battle evil space pirates, explore Batuu, engage with iconic characters, or just hang out in Seezelslak’s cantina and play a relaxing game of Repulsor Darts.” 

Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge also features Temple of Darkness, an anthological VR story set hundreds of years before the events of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. Thanks to Seezelslak’s storytelling skills, players will step into the role of Jedi Padawan Ady Sun’Zee (Ellie Araiza) and work alongside Jedi Master Yoda (Frank Oz) to confront the darkness that now lurks within a Jedi Temple  — and within herself. 

To get the latest details about Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge, follow ILMxLAB on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, or head to their website.  

From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com

Filed Under: Uncategorized, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Just when we need it most, Disney kicks off the holidays with a special treat! The fifth anniversary edition of “The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration,” airs Thanksgiving night at 9/8c on ABC!

Original hosts Derek and Julianne Hough return, kicking off the night with a glittering new holiday performance, while Trevor Jackson (Freeform’s “grown-ish”) hosts from Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Together, they will take viewers on a wintry ride through fan-favorite performances from the past five years and new heartwarming family moments. You’ll also get a brand-new sneak peek into Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure coming in 2021 to EPCOT in Florida.

In addition to magical holiday moments, viewers will also get a sneak preview of Disney and Pixar’s all-new feature-film “Soul,” before it becomes available exclusively on Disney+ (where Disney+ is available) beginning Dec. 25, 2020. Featuring the voices of Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey, “Soul” introduces a middles-school band teacher who teams up with a sarcastic new soul on a mission to figure out exactly what makes life worth living.

Musical performances include:

• Emmy® Award-winning hosts Derek Hough and Julianne Hough sing and dance through a medley of holiday classics in a fantastical new show open
• GRAMMY® Award-winning singer/songwriter Ciara gives a festive spin on a “Jingle Bells/Jingle Bell Rock” medley (2017)
• Multiple GRAMMY® Award-winner Kelly Clarkson belts her version of “Underneath The Tree” (2016)
• Global superstar Jason Derulo performs his take on “Silent Night” (2017)
• Grammy® Award-nominated OneRepublic perform a rocking rendition of “What a Wonderful World” (2016)
• GRAMMY® Award-winner Meghan Trainor and Brett Eldridge share a sweet rendition of “Baby It’s Cold Outside” (2018)
• Grammy® Award-winning and multi-platinum-selling artist Pentatonix give their rendition of “Deck the Halls” (2019) 
• TONY® Award-winning actress Idina Menzel joins fellow “Frozen” star Kristen Bell for a chilling performance of “When We’re Together” from “Olaf’s Frozen Adventure” (2017)
• Boyz II Men take on “Let It Snow” alongside ‘December Baby” singer/songwriter JoJo (2016)
• World renowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli lends his voice to a rendition of “White Christmas” (2018)
• Aloe Blacc performs “I’ve got Your Xmas Right Here” (2018)
• Global superstar Becky G performs “Santa Baby” (2016)
• Following the release of his new album “Christmas in the Islands,” multiple GRAMMY® Award-winning global reggae/dancehall & pop music icon Shaggy sings “Jamaican Drummer Boy” (2019)

What performances are you most excited to see this year?

From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com

Filed Under: Uncategorized

The magic of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway has rolled into McDonald’s! Just in time for their birthday celebration, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse have inspired a brand-new line of Happy Meal® toys at McDonald’s, bringing Mouse Rules to the iconic Golden Arches. This means there’s only one rule you need to remember: Anything can happen! 

This new collection features Mickey and Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Donald and Daisy experiencing some of the iconic attractions from across Walt Disney World Resort. Anchored by Engineer Goofy and Mickey and Minnie celebrating Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, these toys connect together to form a 10-car train. Each one also has a unique function to make the character move as it rolls, so as the attraction’s soundtrack says, nothing can stop us now from having fun!  

Now through Dec. 14, while supplies last, when you purchase a Happy Meal at participating McDonald’s locations, you can enter for a chance to win a vacation for four to Walt Disney World Resort and experience the attraction that inspired it all: Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disney’s Hollywood Studios! Families can also enjoy fun and engaging games at home as part of this Happy Meal program through the McDonald’s Happy Meal App. 

Click here for more information on how to enter this fun-filled family getaway!  

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER/WIN A PRIZE. A PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE CHANCES OF WINNING. 
Hop Aboard to Win Sweepstakes at McDonald’s entry period ends 1/18/21, at 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time (“ET”). To participate, go to the McDonald’s App or www.MagicAtMcD.com and scan/enter the code found with the Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway toy in themed Happy Meal^® boxes available while supplies last at participating McDonald’s restaurants. Enter without making a purchase as described in the Official Rules avail. at participating McDonald’s, in the McDonald’s App or at www.MagicAtMcD.com. See Official Rules for complete no purchase entry/prizes/ARVs/odds/prize claim deadlines and other details. Open only to residents of the 50 U.S./DC who are 18+. Void where prohibited. Each Code or mail-in entry is valid for one entry into the Sweepstakes. Codes are not reusable. 15 prizes, each a trip for 4 to Walt Disney World_®Resort, ARV: $10,985 ea. The odds of winning a prize will be determined by the number of entries received. Limit 5 entries per day and limit one prize per household. Trip must be completed by 12/15/22. Sponsor: McDonald’s USA, LLC, 110 N. Carpenter St., Chicago, IL 60607-2101.  

 ©2020 McDonald’s The Happy Meal Box design is the trademark of the McDonald’s Corporation and its affiliates. ©Disney   

From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com

Filed Under: Uncategorized