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Disney Parks

Club 33 and Golden Oaks Members Can Also Attend Disney World’s Early Previews!

Disney World has just announced the dates of its annual passholder previews!

Club 33 and Golden Oaks Members Can Also Attend Disney World’s Early Previews!

Magic Kingdom

But Disney World APs aren’t the only folks who’ll be welcomed back before the parks reopen to the general public!

Thanks to reporter Scott Gustin, we’ve just learned Club 33 and Golden Oaks members will also have early access to the theme parks on July 9th!

NEW: July 9 is also the scheduled preview date for Club 33 and Golden Oak.

— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) June 19, 2020

That means if you’re not a Disney World Annual Passholder, but you’re a Club 33 or Golden Oaks member, you will also be eligible to attend the early preview.

Although not explicitly stated, we’re expecting reservations will most likely be required, as is the case for Annual Passholders. Park reservations will be limited, and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The preview dates are as follows:

  • Club 33 and Golden Oak Previews of Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom — July 9th
  • Annual Passholder Previews of Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom — July 9th and July 10th
  • Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom Park Reopening — July 11th
  • Hollywood Studios and Epcot Park Reopening — July 15th

We’ll keep you posted on all further developments!

Are you a Club 33 or Golden Oaks member? Let us know if you’ll be attending the preview in the comments below!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Animal Kingdom, Disney News, disney’s hollywood studios, Epcot, Featured, magic kingdom, Walt Disney World, Annual Passholder, ap preview, Club 33, club 33 members, Disney World, early access, golden oaks, golden oaks members, july 9th, phased reopening, preview, reopening, theme parks

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Disney Parks

NEWS: Here’s the Full List of Tours That Will Not Be Available When Walt Disney World Reopens

Walt Disney World Resort will begin reopening to guests at select Resort hotels on June 22nd followed by the theme parks beginning on July 11th.

NEWS: Here’s the Full List of Tours That Will Not Be Available When Walt Disney World Reopens

Cinderella Castle

While we have known for some time that — upon initial reopening — experiences around the Resort will see modifications (and, in some cases, will be unavailable), we are getting a full picture of what that means for specific offerings and special events. For instance, it was just announced that Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party has been canceled for this fall. (The Epcot Food and Wine Festival, however, will return SOON!).

Offerings that will also be unavailable upon initial reopening include things like unique dining experiences (which you can see listed here), and enhancements such as backstage tours. At press time, these include — but are not limited to — the Disney Private VIP Tours and nature experiences including the Wild Africa Trek at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

NEWS: Here’s the Full List of Tours That Will Not Be Available When Walt Disney World Reopens

Animal Kingdom Tours sign

We’ll take a look at the lists of unavailable experiences — as found on the Walt Disney World website — for each of these kind of offerings below.

Walt Disney World Tours

The following Walt Disney World Tours will be unavailable upon the initial reopening:

  • Backstage Magic
  • Behind the Seeds
  • Disney Private VIP Tours
  • Disney’s Family Magic Tour
  • Disney’s Keys to the Kingdom Tour
  • Disney’s The Magic Behind Our Steam Trains Tour
  • Taste of Magic Kingdom Park VIP Tour
  • The UnDISCOVERed Future World
  • Ultimate Day of Thrills VIP Tour
  • Ultimate Disney Classics VIP Tour
  • Ultimate Nights of Adventure VIP Tour
  • Up Close with Rhinos
  • Walt Disney: Marceline to Magic Kingdom Tour
  • World Showcase: DestiNations Discovered
  • Wild Africa Trek
  • Wild Africa Trek (Morning)

Wild Africa Trek is also mentioned under the next group of impacted offerings, featuring nature experiences.

Walt Disney World Nature Tours

The following Walt Disney World Nature Tours will also be unavailable upon the initial reopening:

  • A Path Less Traveled Tour
  • Behind the Seeds
  • Caring for Giants
  • Dine with an Animal Specialist
  • Epcot Seas Adventures – Aqua Tour
  • Epcot Seas Adventures – DiveQuest
  • Epcot Seas Adventures – Dolphins in Depth
  • Savor the Savanna: Evening Safari Experience
  • Sense of Africa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
  • Starlight Safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
  • Up Close with Rhinos
  • Wanyama Safari
  • Wild Africa Trek
  • Wild Africa Trek (Morning)

As a reminder, Disney has already stated that guests who have previously booked experiences that are impacted will receive refunds.

Also note that Disney states that details may change, so we’ll be keeping you posted as more information is provided! To learn more about what the Walt Disney World Resort experience will look like upon reopening, you can visit the links below.

What are your thoughts of the modified offerings at Walt Disney World upon reopening? Please let us know with a comment.

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Animal Kingdom, disney parks, disney’s hollywood studios, Epcot, Featured, magic kingdom, Walt Disney World, Backstage Tours, Disney Tours, disney world tours, Hollywood Studios, VIP Tours, Walt Disney World cancellations, Walt Disney World refunds, walt disney world reopening

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Disney Lists Disney Parks

7 Problems You WON’T Have When Disney World Reopens

Here at DFB, we take pride in our Disney World trouble-shooting capabilities! We love decoding the theme parks and breaking down all of the key pieces of advice we need to equip y’all with so that you can have the best time EVER on your vacations!

7 Problems You WON’T Have When Disney World Reopens

Hollywood Studios

Recently it dawned on us while we’ve been dishing out Disney World advice to our family and friends that some of the theme parks’ biggest challenges might no longer be applicable when the parks reopen!

7 Problems You WON’T Have When Disney World Reopens

We Feel Ya, Mickey Mouse

Yes, we’re bummed that certain guest experiences are being modified or will be temporarily unavailable for a large portion of 2020, but try to look on the bright side — with less stuff happening, we might be in for a MUCH easier time at the parks when Disney World officially reopens July 11th and July 15th!

Here are some major problems you likely WON’T have to solve in Disney World this year!

Finding a Parking Space

How much do you dislike parking at Magic Kingdom? No? Just us?

7 Problems You WON’T Have When Disney World Reopens

Magic Kingdom

Since the parks will be opening with a limited capacity, we’re thinking this could mean waaay fewer cars! Of course, more folks might be driving instead of flying to Disney World this year so we can’t guarantee you won’t still lose your car (as we have on occasion!). But the idea of an easy-breezy time finding our car at the Transportation and Ticket Center sounds like a dream!

Getting a Seat on the Bus

Sometimes finding a spot to sit down on the bus is next to impossible! We can count on one hand how many times we’ve actually been able to sit down and relax on a bus heading home from the parks at the end of the night! Normally we’re elbow to elbow, standing room only, and counting down the seconds ’til we get to our resort!

7 Problems You WON’T Have When Disney World Reopens

Minnie Bus

But thanks to fewer passengers being loaded onto Disney World’s buses when the parks reopen, and required limited capacity and physical distancing, finding a seat might not be such a rare treat! Now that’s a big change our tired feet and aching bodies could really get used to!

A Shared Log

It’s likely that when rides begin operating at Disney World again strangers won’t be seated together on some attractions that place guests in close quarters, like Splash Mountain.

Logs are normally filled to capacity, but we have a feeling Disney World will be taking a lot of extra precautions by spacing out peeps as much as possible! This has some potential to be a one-log-per-family scenario!

7 Problems You WON’T Have When Disney World Reopens

Splash Mountain

And that’s just one example — think about riding Pirates of the Caribbean, it’s a small world, or even Spaceship Earth with smaller groups or JUST your fam (btw, Spaceship Earth WILL be reopening since its reno got postponed!). A lot fewer friends in our ride vehicles sounds downright magical to us — not to sound antisocial or anything!

7 Problems You WON’T Have When Disney World Reopens

Omnimovers in Action on Spaceship Earth

This also means PERFECT on-ride pics of JUST your family! No more wondering why grandma’s face is blocked by some guy in front of her in the pic from Frozen Ever After! Finally, a PhotoPass in-ride family portrait worthy of a frame!

Waiting in Long Standby Lines

And while we’re still awaiting more details about the new virtual queue system Disney World will be implementing, Disney CEO Bob Chapek has already stated rides will have significantly shorter wait times due to the parks operating with a limited number of guests!

7 Problems You WON’T Have When Disney World Reopens

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Fewer people? Less waiting? This is starting to sound like a pretty sweet deal if you ask us!

Not Bringing Enough Hand Sanitizer With You

Didn’t we hear somewhere that all the water rides and pools are having their H20 replaced with Purell?  Boy wouldn’t that be nice, but we kid, WE KID!

7 Problems You WON’T Have When Disney World Reopens

Travel-Size Hand Sanitizer

Ok, hand sanitizer madness hasn’t gotten THAT bad, but here’s the thing — Disney World will provide plenty of free hand sanitizer as well as additional places for guests to wash their hands when the parks reopen. Don’t freak out if you can’t find the stuff at your local grocery stores. Rest assured hand sanitizer will be in high supply!

Having to Stake Out Your Spot for the Parade or Fireworks

Even though we’re sad about Disney World’s parades and fireworks being canceled for now, at least we won’t have to lose an hour (or MORE!) of our time staking out the perfect viewing spot!

(Real talk — we love the fireworks and parades and are quite bummed these will be missing for a while — and we know lots of you are, too — but we’re trying to see the bright side.)

7 Problems You WON’T Have When Disney World Reopens

Heavy Fireworks Crowds

We’re also not going to miss getting caught and almost trampled in the mass exodus of people once the parade and firework crowds let out. That doesn’t mean we won’t be wishing for these special events to return — but if there’s a silver lining to be found, we’ll just enjoy more time on rides than waiting for shows!

Making Awkward Chit-Chat With Disney Face Characters

Since most character experiences (except for Topolino Terrace’s character breakfast) won’t be resuming right away, another thing we’ll be cutting back on is the awkward small talk we sometimes have with face characters. Meeting Mickey and Minnie seems easy-breezy, but coming up with a few topics to discuss with princesses requires a lot of effort!

7 Problems You WON’T Have When Disney World Reopens

Snow White!

Don’t get us wrong — we love a chance to gab with Cinderella or Snow White! But there are only so many ways a grown man or woman can ask about gooseberry pies or talking mice before it starts to get weird!

We’re just trying to stay positive and hopeful about the new routine once Disney World reopens (which is shaping up to be something we NEVER thought we’d ever experience!). But if you only take away one piece of info from this story, remember this — Disney World is so much more than just a sum of its parts. Take some of those parts away, and it will still be Disney World, no matter what! We just have to look on the bright side!

What are some things you’re looking forward to not having to deal with when Disney World reopens? Tell us what they are in the comments below!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Animal Kingdom, disney’s hollywood studios, Epcot, Featured, magic kingdom, Walt Disney World, disney world attractions, fewer cars, fewer people, find a seat on the bus, fireworks, get to sit on the bus, good things, hand sanitizer, less challenges, less crowded, less people, limited capacity, make chit chat, no parade spots, problems you won’t have to deal with, ride more attractions, shorter waits, sit down on bus, standby lines, talk to face characters, won’t have to stake out a spot

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Disney Food Disney News Disney Parks

NEWS: Afternoon Tea, Jiko Wine Tasting, Dessert Parties, and MORE Will Not Be Available When Walt Disney World Reopens

ICYMI, yesterday delivered a LOT of news about special events at Walt Disney World Resort.

NEWS: Afternoon Tea, Jiko Wine Tasting, Dessert Parties, and MORE Will Not Be Available When Walt Disney World Reopens

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

With decisions made to promote safety in light of the current global health situation, it was announced, for instance, that Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party has been canceled for the fall. The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, however, will return — and SOON! (You can read all about it here.)

Of course, these are just two examples of Special Events and unique experiences that are typically available to guests, either as seasonal offerings or year-round enhancements.

NEWS: Afternoon Tea, Jiko Wine Tasting, Dessert Parties, and MORE Will Not Be Available When Walt Disney World Reopens

Afternoon Tea at The Grand Floridian

And — even though we have known for some time that experiences will be modified, with many not offered upon the initial reopening of Walt Disney World — a full list of experiences that will NOT be available upon reopening has been added to the Walt Disney World website. Of course, standing reservations have been canceled for experiences, and the ability to book these experiences has been unavailable since. But we thought this specific list would be helpful for those currently in the planning stages.

Walt Disney World Dining Experiences

Offerings that will not be available include select special Dining Events — ranging from Afternoon Tea at The Grand Floridian to Jiko Wine Tasting and more (such as Dining Packages for select shows and spectaculars) — as listed below:

  • Afternoon Tea at the Garden View Tea Room
  • Cake Decorating Experience at Amorette’s Patisserie
  • Circle of Flavors: Harambe at Night
  • Dine with an Animal Specialist
  • Dining with an Imagineer – Cítricos
  • Dining with an Imagineer – The Hollywood Brown Derby
  • Disney Early Morning Magic – Fantasyland
  • Epcot Forever Dining Package
  • Fantasmic! Dining Package
  • Festival of the Lion King Signature Dining Package
  • Highway in the Sky Dine Around
  • Jiko Wine Tasting
  • Rivers of Light Dining Package
  • Savor the Savanna: Evening Safari Experience
  • Sense of Africa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
  • Signature Celebration at Cinderella’s Royal Table
  • Taste of Magic Kingdom Park VIP Tour
  • Tiffins Talks
  • Victoria & Albert’s Chef’s Table Dinner
  • Wanyama Safari
  • Wonderland Tea Party at 1900 Park Fare

Walt Disney World Dessert Parties

Of course, we have also known that — upon the initial reopening — nighttime spectaculars and parades (essentially, in-park events which lend themselves to large group gatherings) will not be part of the park experience. This naturally affects the availability of Dessert Parties and Dining Packages, which are add-on offerings that include reserved viewing areas for these popular shows.

The Dessert Parties that will NOT be available upon reopening include:

  • Fantasmic! Dessert & VIP Viewing Experience
  • Ferrytale Fireworks: A Sparkling Dessert Cruise
  • Fireworks Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace
  • Fireworks Dessert Party with Plaza Garden Viewing
  • Frozen Ever After Dessert Party
  • Pirates & Pals Fireworks Voyage
  • Rivers of Light Dessert Party
  • Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

As a reminder, Disney has already stated that previously booked experiences that are affected by cancellations will be refunded, and you can read about that here.

We will be taking a look today at additional experiences that will not be available upon the reopening of Walt Disney World, which includes select Tours, Nature Experiences, and more.

In the meantime, to learn more about the upcoming reopening of Walt Disney World Resort — which begins with select Disney Resort hotels on June 22nd, followed by the theme parks starting with Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom on July 11th and EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on July 15th — you can visit any of the links below.

What do you think of these modifications? Please let us know with a comment.

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Animal Kingdom, disney parks, disney resorts, disney’s hollywood studios, Epcot, Featured, magic kingdom, Walt Disney World, afternoon tea at grand floridian, Amorette’s Cake Decorating Experience, Circle of Flavors, Dine with an Animal Specialist, Dine with an Imagineer, Disney Early Morning Magic, Highway in the Sky Dine Around, jiko wine tasting, Special Dining events, walt disney world reopening, walt disney world resort

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Disney News Disney Parks

NEWS! Even MORE Disney World Cast Members Were Called Back Today!

Today, we learned that Cast Members at numerous dining locations, resorts, and festivals across Walt Disney World have been called back to work.

NEWS! Even MORE Disney World Cast Members Were Called Back Today!

Magic Kingdom

As select Walt Disney World hotels gear up to reopen on June 22nd and the theme parks in mid-July, we learned that even MORE Disney World Cast Members will be going back to work soon.

According to a Facebook post from Local 362, the union of attractions, custodial, and vacation planning Cast Members at Disney World, full-time attractions Cast Members will be recalled on June 28th.

NEWS! Even MORE Disney World Cast Members Were Called Back Today!

Haunted Mansion Cast Members

This recall of full-time Cast Members includes those who work at the ESPN Wide World of Sports, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, Cirque du Soleil, auto plaza, and Disney World’s mini-golf courses.

NEWS! Even MORE Disney World Cast Members Were Called Back Today!

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

While Cast Members for Cirque du Soleil, the water parks, and more are being called back to work, keep in mind we still have no OFFICIAL word from Walt Disney World about when these experiences will reopen.

NEWS! Even MORE Disney World Cast Members Were Called Back Today!

Part-time attractions cast members at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom will also be recalled for a June 28th start date, roughly two weeks before the theme parks begin to reopen.

NEWS! Even MORE Disney World Cast Members Were Called Back Today!

Spaceship Earth

With Cast Members coming back to work, it’s really starting to feel like Walt Disney World is reopening soon! And when we know more about Cast Members going back to work and what, exactly, Disney World will look like upon reopening, you know we’ll fill you in!

Are you excited for Disney World to reopen? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Animal Kingdom, disney parks, disney’s hollywood studios, Epcot, Featured, magic kingdom, Walt Disney World, auto plaza, Blizzard Beach, cast members, cirque du soleil, Disney World, Disney World reopening, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, ESPN Wide World of Sports, Local 362, mini golf, typhoon lagoon, Unite Here Local 737 union