April 10, 2017

Walt Disney World Theme Parks

General

New! My Disney Experience App Available: The My Disney Experience app is a one-stop shop for all things Walt Disney World from viewing park hours, purchasing tickets and merchandise, making FastPass+ selections, getting turn by turn directions, accessing vacation photos and sharing them through Disney PhotoPass and much more. A newly redesigned My Disney Experience app is now available for all mobile users! The new My Disney Experience mobile app opens right to the park maps to help you find attractions, restaurants, restrooms and more. It makes it easier for you to navigate through our parks so you can spend more time enjoying the magic of Walt Disney World Resort. A new section called “Spotlight” highlights new park experiences and entertainment offerings to help you find out the latest and greatest happenings at the parks. And when you stay at one of our Disney resorts, you will be able to use the new feature called “My Resort Dashboard,” which gives you access to your resort reservation details all in one place, including the ability to see room number, theme, building and floor once you have your room assignment.

(Photo Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog)

Magic Kingdom Park

New! Security Screening Changes: Bag check is no longer held at the entrance to Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park. Now, guests arriving at TTC will go through security screening before boarding the monorail or ferry at TTC. Guests arriving by Disney Resort hotel busses are now screened in a new area built just beyond the Ferry boat dock. Guests traveling via resort boat launch from Disney’s Polynesian Resort, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Disney’s Fort Wilderness or Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa will have their bags checked at the arrival docks. Guests arriving from resort hotels on the monorail loop will have bags checked before boarding the monorail.

Epcot

New! New PhotoPass Special Photo Opportunity at China Pavilion: Disney PhotoPass Service is now offering a new way for you to take home a remarkable keepsake of your visit into our “Forbidden City.”Every evening beginning at 7:30 p.m. (weather permitting), a Disney PhotoPass photographer stationed at the China Pavilion will offer this special prop that you can include in your photos! You can purchase photos taken with this prop individually or receive unlimited digital downloads of all your vacation photos from Disney PhotoPass Service by purchasing Memory Maker before, during or after your visit to Walt Disney World Resort.

(Photo Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog)

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Reminder! Star Wars Galactic Nights This Week: April 14 is the first-ever Star Wars: Galactic Nights event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The event will include celebrity chats, behind-the-scenes looks, attractions and much more.

Vanessa Marshall, the voice of Hera Syndulla from Star Wars Rebels, will serve as host of “Inside the Saga: Celebrity Chat Show” and take you behind the scenes of the latest installment to the Star Wars franchise, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. This event-exclusive offering will take place multiple times throughout the event in the Epic Theater. You also won’t want to miss the Inside the Saga pre-show, featuring Star Wars Show hosts, Andi Gutierrez and Anthony Carboni.

Guests of all ages can explore Disney’s Hollywood Studios in the Sieze the Saga Interactive Scavenger Hunt, searching for unique Star Wars photo backdrops. Guests will step into immersive and iconic scenes from the films, including a newly created backdrop from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and receive a themed piece representing each of the eight Star Wars films. These pieces will come together to form a one of a kind event keepsake.

Here’s a look at other event offerings:

• Rebel Base Activities – The Rebel Base will serve as the event hub with multiple events, hosted shows, Star Wars dance parties and more taking place in the center of the park.
• Can’t miss Star Wars photo ops – Don your Star Wars finest (see costume guidelines here) and enjoy iconic Star Wars backdrops, including the debut appearance of BB-8, Han Solo cast in carbonite, Jabba the Hutt’s Palace, the Hoth Wampa Cave and more.
• Galactic Nights Stars in Cars Motorcade – This procession will welcome in Star Wars celebrities down Hollywood Blvd.
• Imperial March & March of the First Order – Get your cameras ready for the arrival of the dark side. Darth Vader will lead a battalion of stormtroopers on a dramatic march down Hollywood Blvd to the Event Stage. Captain Phasma will also lead a unit of First Order stormtroopers through the park, pausing to give a demonstration of power and strength.
• “Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away” – Watch high-energy clips of the best moments from the film saga juxtaposed with character moments on stage, featuring Chewbacca, Darth Vader, Kylo Ren and more.
• “Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular” – The skies will come alive with the power of the Force, as the park’s popular Star Wars-themed nighttime spectacular lights up the night.
• Show Your Star Wars Spirit – Come dressed as your favorite character and celebrate 40 years of Star Wars milestones.
• Other popular attractions will be open, including Star Wars Launch Bay. Additional offerings will include the chance to experience Star Tours-The Adventures Continue attraction, AWR Trooper sightings, roaming droids, Star Wars-themed F&B, special merchandise and much more.

(Photo Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog)

The event will be held at the park from 7 p.m.-midnight. The Star Wars: Galactic Nights ticket costs $129 plus tax for adults and $124 plus tax for children ages 9 and under. Tickets to the Star Wars: Disney Vacation Club and Passholder discount available. Tickets are extremely limited, so click here or call 407-827-7036 for more information or to book now.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

New! Rivers of Light to be Performed Nightly: “Rivers of Light” will begin holding performances seven days week for the spring and summer seasons. The show debuted earlier this year, but has not previously been available every night. The enhanced performance schedule will allow more Guests than ever to discover the magic of nature along Discovery River. To accommodate Guests during the upcoming Easter holiday period, the show will be performed twice nightly from April 9-22. From April 23-Sept. 4, the show is scheduled to be performed once nightly.

New! Party for the Planet Returns: Party for the Planet Presented by Disneynature – The annual Earth Day celebration at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park is expanding to three full days, April 21-23. Throughout the day, guests are encouraged to connect with nature by engaging in fun activities in every land of the park. Meet some of the animal care experts, educators and conservation specialists to see first-hand how Disney cares for animals and works to save endangered species worldwide. Also, be on the lookout for some specially-themed treats and more!

(Photo Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog)

Disney Springs

New! Fuel Rods Now Available at Disney Springs: Guests looking to recharge their phones and other devices can pick up a portable charging battery in several locations at Disney Springs. Each battery comes with a set of USB cables able to charge a Guest’s mobile phone, tablet or other device. Once a Guest purchases a fuel rod, they can swap them at any kiosk for a fully charged battery. At Disney Springs, fuel rod kiosks are located in the Marketplace at the Disney PhotoPass studio, in Town Center at Sundries and on the West Side at DisneyQuest.

New! STK Now Offers Brunch: STK now offers brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. The brunch menu will feature mimosas and spicy Bloody Mary’s, lemon ricotta pancakes, fried chicken and funnel cake, beef short rib and egg sandwich and more.

New! The Polite Pig Opens April 10: The Polite Pig will open in Town Center at Disney Springs on April 10, 2017. The Polite Pig will feature “modern barbecue” in an open kitchen, with Southern sides like a tomato and watermelon salad, mac and cheese and smoked corn with lime butter. There’s a bar with seven different sauces to top your ‘cue, from Layla’s Sweet to Fresno Hot Sauce. Add a solid selection of craft beers and cocktails, and a bourbon bar with more than 50 selections, from small batch bourbons to a Pappy Van Winkle 23-Year Family Reserve. This new dining establishment is newest concept for award-winning Orlando Chefs James and Julie Petrakis. The proprietors are a husband-wife team who are also owners of The Ravenous Pig and Swine & Sons in Winter Park and Cask & Larder at Orlando International Airport.

(Photo Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog)

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

New! Bayou Pirate Adventure Discontinued at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort: Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside will no longer offers the Bayou Pirate Adventure cruise. Guests still have the option to choose from three pirate adventures at other resorts, including: Disney’s Pirate Adventure at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa; Islands of the Caribbean Pirate Cruise at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and Albatross Treasure Cruise at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort and Disney’s Beach Club Resort.

New! Easter Religious Services Available at Disney’s Contemporary Resort: Easter Sunday religious services will be held in the Fantasia Ballroom at Disney’s Contemporary Resort on April 16. Catholic Masses will take place at 8:00am and 10:30am and a Protestant Service will take place at 9:15am. Parking restrictions will apply. Guests around the monorail beam are to use watercraft and monorail transportation, which begins at 7:00am. All other Guests should to take a bus to Magic Kingdom Park and board the shuttle to Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Shuttle service begins at 7:00am.

New! Easter Activities at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa: On Sunday, April 16, 2017, Guests will find various Spring activities with the Recreation team including a Candy Scramble, Egg-citing games, specialty arts and crafts, Hippity Hoppity Dance party and more! Additionally, the specialty edible Easter eggs will be on display in the lobby and guests can also vote for their favorite cast-created Spring Bonnet in the Summer Lace shop.

Walt Disney World Resort – Merchandise

New! First Look at Na’vi Translator Device: The excitement for the opening of Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom continues with the sneak peek from the Disney Parks Blog of a new item that will immerse guests in their in-park experience like never before and connect them to this exotic new land – the Na’vi Translator. Guests using the translator can learn how to pronounce 90 Na’vi words using interchangeable translation cards. The device also lights up at night, which makes it perfect for nighttime explorations on Pandora. The Na’vi Translator set will come packaged with 15 translation cards. The device has a clasp that extends up to 12-inches and can be attached to a belt or backpack.

(Photo Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog)

Additional translation cards will be sold in trading card packs, each containing eight randomly selected cards. There are some common cards such as Nouns (Blue) and Adjectives (Purple). Other cards will be less common to find in the trading packs including Animals (Orange), Phrases (Aqua), and Landscapes (Tan). The rarest cards are Plants (Green) and Gear (Yellow).

Closures and Refurbishments

Click here to view the latest renovations and closures at Walt Disney World Resort

Dawn Caitano

917-494-5771

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